2. Fulfilling a Promise

She first sensed her visitor when he was thirty yards away, the gentle crunch of hooves on grass seemed so clear in her meditative state. She sensed no danger, so she remained as she was… savoring each moment of her meditation. When the visitor came close, she smiled, her eyes still shut.

 

“Good morning, human.”

 

She opened her eyes to see an old Draenei, dressed in a simple sky-blue robe. “Yes, it is. And a good morning to you, sir.”

 

“Would you mind if I join you here?”

 

“No. Not at all,” Raealle replied.

 

“Thank you,” the Draenei replied as he lowered his bulky frame to the ground. “This is a good spot. I try to come here as often as I can. But, sadly, things are so hectic here.”

 

“I can imagine, sir. The crash must have been horrific.”

 

The Draenei nodded in agreement as he settled himself on the ground. He shut his eyes, titling his head back slightly. “Meditation is good for the soul, no? Clears the mind… refreshes the body.”

 

“Yes, it is,” Raealle said, turning her eyes to the horizon.

 

“I do not believe I have seen you before. You are not with the Alliance delegation. What brings you to this far off place?”

 

“I’ve come to meet the Prophet Velen.”

 

“Hmm, I see. You wish to meet the Prophet. Must be very important to come all this way simply to see the Prophet. You know, many pilgrims of your kind have been coming here constantly in the months after the crash. Everyone it seems wants to meet Velen… as if he were some sort of living god.” The old Draenei guffawed at his own comment, and sighed deeply before continuing. “You must have important questions for him… about the meaning of life perhaps I would imagine.”

 

Raealle grinned slightly. “No, I do not seek the meaning of life from the Prophet.”

 

“Well then, this is most curious. Ah, perhaps enlightenment is what you seek. I see it now. You seek enlightenment from Velen.” 

 

“No, I do not enlightenment either. In fact, if I meet the Prophet I have no idea what I will say to him beyond a simple ‘Hello.’”

 

“Then why travel to this remote corner of your planet human?”

 

“A promise, to a friend. One of your Anchorites. He suggested I should come here to meet the Prophet Velen. I said I would. And so, here I am.”

 

“So you have not met the Prophet yet?”

 

“No sir. His guards told me that if I wished to see him, I would have to wait. And so I have. For about a week now, I have been camping about a half mile away from the Exodar.”

 

The Draenei was incredulous. “A week! You would sit here for a week? Amazing.”

 

“It’s not, sir. I think it important to keep my word. And so, I will wait. Patience is, after all, a virtue… and a lesson, sir. It reminds me that things shall happen when and how the Light wills them to happen, rather then how I would want them. Besides, I haven’t spent my time here idly. I’ve tried to do what I could when I could for your people.”

 

“For a member of a short-lived race, you are wise, human.”

 

“Thank you, but I am not wise.”

 

The Draenei cocked his head in thought for a moment, before turning to face Raealle. “A wise person once said that the realization that you know nothing was the beginning of enlightenment. It might even have been Velen himself who said it. I cannot remember exactly, it was ages ago.” The Draenei uncrossed his legs and heaved his bulky frame upwards as he rose to his hooves. 

 

“As for myself, I must go. Sadly, moments like these are rare for me. If I am away too long, I will be missed.  Thank you for sharing a moment and some conversation with me… Raealle.”

 

Raealle was not surprised at all with the Draenei’s knowledge of her name.   “Your welcome and likewise… Prophet Velen,” Raealle replied.

 

“When did you recognize me?”

 

“When you were about thirty yards away from me Your Holiness.”

 

The Prophet laughed a deep, hearty laugh. Raealle found it to be irresistible and her face broke into a broad grin at its sound. “So much for me being… how you humans say… incognito?”

 

“Yes, that’s correct, Your Holiness. Incognito.”

 

“Please, no honorifics, yes? My name will suffice.  I received Truuen’s message yesterday. He was quite impressed by you and your experiences together at Uther’s Tomb. He was very insistent that I should meet with you. I can see why… Be sure to stop by my residence tonight. We shall eat and talk.”

 

“Thank you, Velen.”