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Brothers	By : Koori Category: +S through Z > World of Warcraft Views: 1830 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own World of Warcraft, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter Forty – Thomas Conway, Age 46
Thomas watched as Sara worked her way behind him, scattering the seeds which would become this year's harvest. Her long curly hair tied back by a handkerchief to keep it off her face as she worked. The first couple months after the loss of his sons had been tough but his wife and daughters quickly stepped in to fill the hole, at least when it came to the fields and chores. Behind Sara came his lovely wife Norah raking the dirt over the kernels. She looked up and caught his gaze on her. She was still as beautiful to him now as she was twenty-five years ago when he asked her to marry him. He smiled and she returned it.
"Not time for a break, dear one," she said. "We still need to finish this field."
Sara stood up and stretched. "Yeah, we have to beat York and Grant!" The two men were doing the same in the west field. Wendy and Rosemary were back at the homestead, watching over his grandchildren: Lucy and the newest arrival eight-month old Nate, named after his uncle. The thought of either of his sons was like a hot-poker to the heart and he quickly looked away from the women and brought his hoe down into the earth. If they just knew what happened, there could be closure and they could move on. As it was they were left in a permanent what-if state.
As he toiled he couldn't help but think of Foster and Nathaniel. Wishing now he had done something different that night, almost a year ago now. The boys had known the land he had been so sure they would just hideout until elves grew bored and disappeared for another ten years. And then the days turned to weeks without notice and two months after they had vanished he had found Knight grazing with the horses, still in his tack. The leather showing extensive sun damage and the stallion had sores from being left under the saddle for too long. Then there was Nathaniel's ring tied to the saddle horn, what did that mean? His son would never go without his ring … which meant … Thomas sighed. As he had done those many years ago the ring was now once again on a chain around his neck. This time there was no crying infant which would draw comfort from it. Finishing the final row he sat the hoe down and went to take the rake from his wife.
"Don't look so gloomy, my husband," she said letting him take it. "Focus on the love we have now and those that need you. I know where your mind wanders; it goes down the same paths as mine. We can do nothing for our sons. If they are with the Light then we will see them again, someday. We must concern ourselves with those that still need us here."
"I know, beloved," he said kissing her. "They don't haunt me as often as they used to, just once in a while there is a word or a memory that reminds me. I will be fine. I'll love on my grandbabies when we get home."
The rest of the field work went quickly and soon the three of them headed over to the west field, where they were met by York and Grant who had also finished. Sara and York engaged in good nature ribbing as to who had finished the planting first. The group walked back to the homestead and was greeted enthusiastically by Wags the Third. Who was just as big as his grand-sire. After the litter of dogs from the cave had passed on from old age, Norah had insisted on downsizing the pack. So they were down to Wags who slept outside the barn like those before him and Buttercup, York and Wendy's dog.
Patting the giant behemoth of a canine on the head, the women headed off to shower while the men went to the barn to take care of the animals. Thomas was dumping slop into the trough for the pigs, Lucy ran up. "Grandpa, look!" She shouted running up to him.
He still marveled at being a grandfather, this was the reason he had started working these lands, to leave behind a legacy for his children and their children. She held out her hands and he knelt down, as she opened them he saw two ladybugs crawling on her palms. He smiled. "Make sure you let them go near, Grandma's roses," he said.
"I will," Lucy promised as she raced off to show her father.
That night as the family gathered for the evening meal, Wendy mentioned a letter had arrived from Jenna earlier, which was always welcomed news. Thomas took the correspondence, opened it and read it aloud.
Dear Everyone,
Hope this letter finds everyone in good health and spirit. I think of you often when I walk past the fields of Elwynn Forest, it helps me still feel connected with you all. I completed my priestess training and have taken up a small practice in the town of Goldshire. Last time I wrote I spoke of returning home after my education but I've met a man…"
He was interrupted by the women at the table exclamations. Thomas smiled and waited for them to calm down before continuing.
I've met man, his name is Argus, he's a blacksmith and almost as good as Henry. He's a good man; I think you would like him Pa. I hope one day you'll get to meet him. Don't worry, we're taking it slow. We've only kissed once or maybe twice.
Once again Thomas's letter reading was interrupted by the females around him. "Should I wait until after dinner?" he asked with a smirk.
"Oh you better not," Sara said, "it's just getting good!"
I won't bore you with the details, but thought I should let you know why I won't return like I promised. How is teaching going, big sis? Hopefully there aren't too many students that take after our brothers. Still surprised they managed to make it all the way though their schooling. Speaking of bothers, have the two of you found women to make honest yet?
Thomas stopped reading, the table had fallen quiet. "We should have written her months ago," he said.
"It wouldn't do her any good," Norah replied. "She doesn't need to know, yet."
"She'll know when Bethany shows up to join her as a priestess," Sara said. "She left last week."
"Can't believe she's given up," Wendy said softly.
"It's been a year," Sara replied. "In her words, she's not getting any younger. But what will our sister think when she finds out …"
"I sent a letter with Bethany," Thomas said. "That explains everything to her. It was the best I could do."
"Is there more?" Norah asked gesturing at the letter.
Nodding he went to read when there was a knock on the door. The table looked at one another curiously and Norah shrugged, they weren't expecting company. Thomas stood and opened the door, standing there was a stranger. It was a balding man, in ragged clothes, Thomas first thought was a beggar looking for a handout.
"Are you hungry, sir?" he asked, "we don't have much but sure we can find something to fill your belly."
"Starving, sir," the man replied, "but I'm curious have I found the Conway residents?"
Thomas frowned and nodded slightly. "That you have, what brings you to my door, stranger?"
"Your son, sir," the man replied, "Foster."
There were gasps behind him and Thomas raised his hand toward his family. "What do you know about my boy, Mister?"
"It would be a story I could tell better with a full belly and something to drink," the man said looking hopeful. "I've been on the move for months now, trying to find his family. Didn't have much to go on, he wasn't one to speak much about it. Knew his family name and that he grew up in these parts. Got lucky in the town a ways back, some men there pointed me this way."
Norah appeared at his side and offered the man a cold beef sandwich and a glass of ale. Thomas gestured to the bench on the porch. "Eat," he said, "then we'll talk. I'll be right back." As the visitor sat down and greedily started devouring his meal, Thomas shut the door and walked Norah back over to the table. "No one get your hopes up," he said.
"Too late," Norah replied with a small smile, "I have to hope, it's all I have left when it comes to the boys."
"There is a chance he just overheard one of our neighbors talking," Thomas said, "and wants to take advantage of the situation."
"Only our closest friends know the true reason the boys are gone," Sara said, "most think they joined the military."
"Yeah but even they may have mentioned something in passing," he said, "just please I want to speak to him alone. I'm afraid he's just after money."
Norah patted his hand and nodded. "All right, my husband, we will leave it in your very capable hands."
Thomas kissed her and stepped out onto the porch; the stranger had finished his sandwich and was gulping down the last of his ale. "All right, Mister," Thomas said folding his arms across his chest. "You've had your food and your drink, now tell me where my son is."
"Arathi Highlands," the man said rubbing a dirty sleeve across his mouth.
The Highlands were far to the south, Thomas frowned. "And what exactly is my son doing in the Arathi Highlands?"
"Right this moment?" the man said with a smirk. "He's a naga's slut."
Thomas grabbed the man by his filthy shirt and slammed him hard against the wall. He heard shouts from within. "Don't hurt me!" the man all but squeaked.
"The only reason you're still breathing is because you may or may not have information about my child," Thomas said darkly. "I would ask just for the facts of my son's fate and leave the color commentary out of it."
"I can see where Foster gets his potency from," the man said, "like father like son. Before I tell you anymore, your son once spoke of a reward for his return …"
Thomas slapped the man hard. "How dare you ransom knowledge of my son for gold!" as he drew back his hand again Norah appeared and grabbed his wrist.
"Let him go," she said. Thomas glared at his wife and she returned the look unflinching. "Let him go," she repeated, "we can't find our son without him."
He shoved the man away. "He's lying through his teeth," Thomas said, "He knows nothing. Get the hell off my property and go play your sick games with someone else!"
"I ain't lying!" the man said, "your boy didn't speak much about your family except for one … a brother. That damn man fretted like a lost lover about the fact those elves took his brother away."
Norah reached into her dress and tossed a small purse toward the man. "That has ten gold coins in it," she said. "You bring our boy home and we'll play you a hundred times that amount."
"Oh no, ma'am," the man said shaking his head. "I ain't going against Gilbert and his men. I'll tell you what I know but it will be up to you to get Foster back if you can."
"Then by the Light," Thomas growled, "Speak and speak quickly … start with your name."
"Percy Peebles, sir … up to about six months ago I worked for a man named Arthur Burton. It was he who bought your boy from those bandits."
"Bought?" Thomas said, "My son is a free man."
"Yeah," Percy said with a shrug, "he said that a lot those first days too. But like Mr. Burton said, free men don't get sold. Your boy was a good worker, knew his way around the farm like he was raised to do so. Was more or less mindful too, just an occasional attitude adjustment needed …" the man rambled seemly forgetting who he was speaking to.
Norah gripped her enraged husband's arm and shook her head. "Now is not the time, let him talk," she whispered.
"Anyhow, the men there in the Highlands … most of them are noble born and well they get bored easily. I don't know when the cage matches started. Orcs not only make decent field hands they are brutal in the arena. Mr. Burton had a couple he was using when we acquired Foster. The first match we sent Foster in, he decimated that green-skin, after that it was only Foster we brought. That boy made the boss a killing at first, but then the other owners realized what Mr. Burton had and were reluctant to pit their orcs against him. So his challengers became more grueling as time went on. Then Mr. Burton put him in a cage with a naga, half-snake, half-dragon beast. Your boy didn't stand a chance, he was defeated pretty quickly, his first and last loss in the ring. The naga wouldn't let us claim him and in the end kept him as a who …" the man looked over at Norah, "as a pet of sorts."
"Mr. Burton's boy, Jasper, tried to free Foster once. The naga threw this bone spike at him, right between the eyes, killed him dead." Percy shrugged, "after that to pay off gambling debts he had to sell our orc wench to Gilbert and eventually the farm, which was about six months ago now. I was out of work and your son's words of a family came back to me. No man deserves to be locked away like your boy is; I thought I could do right and bring news to you."
"You'll do more than that," Thomas said. "You're going to take me to my boy."
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Brothers