World of Warcraft: Dragonflight - War of the Scaleborn - Exclusive Book Excerpt

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight became the latest expansion to the long-running MMORPG series in 2022. Now Random Hosue Worlds is expanding on that new Warcraft mythology with a companion novel called World of Warcraft: Dragonflight - War of the Scaleborn.

IGN can exclusively debut a new excerpt from the book, which is written by Courtney Alameda. Read on for a taste of the latest World of Warcraft adventure.

“I must return to my duties, but Queen Alexstrasza will meet you here in the antechamber,” Saristrasz said, almost by way of apology. “Keeper Tyr requested an impromptu audience with the Aspects after the ceremony, and they have only just arrived. I do not expect them to be long.”

“Very well,” Vyranoth replied, though she was anxious to quit the city.

Saristrasz dipped his head. “If there is anything else you need, the drakonid will assist you.” With another bow of his head, the majordomo turned and exited the antechamber, leaving her alone.

Two red drakonid stood watch outside, giving Vyranoth her privacy. The antechamber’s only egress point seemed to be its entrance, and the thought put Vyranoth on edge. The drakonid were more manifestations of the titans’ stain—tarasek taken and twisted by Order magic. Were natural tarasek not enough for the keepers? Must they, too, be befouled by magic?

Vyranoth knew she need not be troubled. Alexstrasza’s heart remained noble and true, and the Dragon Queen would not force Order magic upon anyone. Still, she could not ignore the doubt creeping into her mind. It mingled with a yearning, too, which left Vyranoth adrift on uncertain winds. While Vyranoth rejected the idea of submitting to the keepers’ Order magic, she liked the idea of dragonkind living together in harmony. Like Alexstrasza, Vyranoth believed dragonkind could achieve greater things when they worked together. That perhaps they needed one another.

The Broodlands were home to many dragons, both ordered and primal, but the Aspects had clearly delineated territories in which their word was law: the Waking Shores, the Emerald Plains, the Azure Span, and Thaldraszus. The Broodlands were surrounded by the greater Dragonwilds, where most of the primal dragons had retreated after the Aspects began ordering new dragons.

Much as Vyranoth did not mind this arrangement in theory, trusting the keepers seemed like folly. Tyr had helped the Aspects destroy Galakrond, but beyond this, Vyranoth had no reason to trust his motives.

Minutes passed, stretching longer. The sun changed its slant. Just as Vyranoth considered taking her leave, an oblong-shaped light flared at the top of the staircase in the middle of the room. Vyranoth had seen the blue dragonflight creating similar magical rifts before—she believed they called them portals. Keeper Tyr emerged from the light, followed closely by Alexstrasza.

Paying Vyranoth no heed, Tyr said, “Think carefully upon my words, Alexstrasza. I only wish to see your dragonflights thrive.”

Alexstrasza lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes, a subconscious gesture that had forever signaled her polite disagreement. To see her do it now, in her ordered form, was . . . unsettling.

“I will consider your counsel,” Alexstrasza said.

The keeper nodded. “See that you do.”

Alexstrasza’s eyes narrowed further as the keeper turned away.

Vyranoth cocked her head, thinking. So, the Dragon Queen appears to retain her free will, but the keepers still seek to exert control over her. What is it that Tyr wants Alexstrasza to do?

“For now, I shall take my leave of Valdrakken,” Tyr said, starting down the steps. “I will return when Neltharion and the black dragonflight are ready to empower their Oathstone.”

“Very well,” Alexstrasza said.

Keeper Tyr swept past Vyranoth, barely sparing her a glance.

As soon as he was gone, Alexstrasza shed her solemnity. “Vyranoth!” she cried, bounding down the stairs. She pressed her cheek to Vyranoth’s. “Words cannot express how glad I am to see you, my friend. Thank you for coming.”

The joy in her voice melted the ice in Vyranoth’s heart.

“And I, you,” Vyranoth said. Alexstrasza still smelled like herself, at least—though there was a new, underlying note that Vyranoth couldn’t quite identify. To her palate, it seemed to be the scent of smoke and stardust, something not of their world.

“Tell me, was your journey a good one?” Alexstrasza asked. “Have you eaten?”

“The winds were calm. The Broodlands have blossomed under your care.”

Alexstrasza beamed, her golden eyes glowing. “I would love to show you more—the gardens of Valdrakken, perhaps? Or perhaps the new construction on Neltharion’s Obsidian Citadel? There are so many wonders to share. Give me but a moment to inform the other Aspects, and then we can take flight.”

Before Vyranoth could muster an answer, Alexstrasza turned to the portal and started back up the stairs.

“That . . . will not be necessary,” Vyranoth said, trying to take the cold bite out of her tone.

Alexstrasza pivoted back to face her friend. “Whatever do you mean? I was hoping we might at least spend the afternoon together.”

“You know I treasure our friendship, Alexstrasza, but this . . .” Vyranoth trailed off, shaking her head.

“If you have something to say to me, please continue.” Alexstrasza used a hint of that same diplomatic, queenly tone she had used with the keeper. “You have always been my most honest and straightforward of friends, Vyranoth. You know you can be true with me.”

Vyranoth prided herself in her sincerity and forthrightness, but somehow, this issue felt more fraught than most. To criticize Order magic was to criticize Alexstrasza herself. Vyranoth needed to choose her next words carefully. She no more wanted to hurt her friend than she wanted to bend to the keepers’ will.

“You are following unknown winds, my friend, and I worry for you,” Vyranoth said. “You are the most honorable of our kind, Alexstrasza. I loved you as you were, and it pains me to see you bow, to change yourself for another. From where I stand—admittedly, on the outside—I fear the keepers seek to exert control over you and your flights.”

“My agency remains inviolate,” Alexstrasza said. “Tyr offers what guidance he can, but my decisions are my own.”

“What will you do if he asks you to force dragons to join your flights?” Vyranoth asked. “Will you disregard the desires of those who disagree with you?”

“No, never,” Alexstrasza said with a shake of her head. “I have sworn that Order magic will always be a choice.”

“Swear it to me, then,” Vyranoth said. “Swear to me that you will never force a primal dragon to bow to the will of the keepers.”

Alexstrasza looked Vyranoth square in the eye. “I swear it.”

In all their long years of friendship, Vyranoth had never known Alexstrasza to lie. Deceit wasn’t in her nature. And yet, the Alexstrasza standing before Vyranoth today was not the same dragon who Vyranoth had known through the long ages. The keepers’ magic altered Alexstrasza’s physical form; had it changed her integrity, too? Would she, like her keepers, do anything to achieve her goals . . . even lie to one of her oldest and dearest friends?

Vyranoth could not answer these questions. Only time could do that.

“I trust you, Alexstrasza,” Vyranoth said, leaning forward and pressing her forehead to her friend’s, “but I do not trust your keepers.”

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight - War of the Scaleborn will be released on Tuesday, October 31. You can preorder a copy of the book below:

See it on Amazon

IGN's Leana Hafer gave World of Warcraft: Dragonflight a 7 out of 10, writing, "Dragonflight reignites the sense of wonder and exploration that originally drew me to World of Warcraft, for about the first 30 or 40 hours. Beyond that, it definitely starts to feel a bit threadbare. Dragon riding is fun as hell, and I love the design of the new zones. But this expansion's back-to-basics approach is very much a double-edged sword."

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Source：https://www.ign.com/articles/world-of-warcraft-dragonflight-war-of-the-scaleborn-exclusive-book-excerpt

World of Warcraft: Dragonflight - War of the Scaleborn - Exclusive Book Excerpt

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