Joining the Group

Jess was officially joining the underground group at the Slaughtered Lamb the following evening. When he arrived at the tavern this time, the bartender, Zare, came out from behind the counter as soon as he saw him.

"Gakin's waiting for you."

Jess watched Zare leave through the door. Apparently he was supposed to head into the basement alone.

He'd already drunk a shadow protection potion just in case. His throat still felt unpleasantly sour. He'd also hidden the dagger he'd taken from Gakin behind his back. He was worried the man might try something stupid again.

It was hard not to be suspicious in a place like this. Gakin was waiting by the entrance to the maze of cell-like rooms. He unlocked the door when Jess arrived.

"You'll meet plenty of talented people tonight, Jess. Most of them share your passion for the dark arts and your curiosity about another world."

"Another world?"

"Draenor, on the other side of the Dark Portal. It must be a paradise for dark magic." Gakin asked, "Don't you dream of going there?"

Not particularly, to be honest. But Jess nodded anyway.

Gakin led him back and forth through the twisting basement corridors. Eventually they passed through a secret passage into a spacious hall. A bonfire burned in the middle, casting a strange glow over every face in the room.

Jess was starting to wonder whether everyone was going to die of carbon monoxide poisoning when he spotted a vent in the ceiling. Even though it was still fairly light outside, the vent was completely dark. It definitely didn't open directly outdoors. Maybe it led into the tavern kitchen's chimney.

Come to think of it, did this world even have carbon monoxide?

Just as his thoughts were wandering off in another direction, Gakin raised his voice.

"Welcome our new member, Jess Seso!"

"Jess Seso."

The whole group chanted his name together. With all those unfamiliar faces flickering in the firelight, Jess felt a chill run through him. He instinctively hated strange scenes like this, which reminded him of a pyramid scheme.

Gakin walked up to a woman. Jess took a closer look and finally recognized Surena.

Surena looked at Jess, then at Gakin, with a complicated expression. Gakin calmly said, "This is Surena Caledon. I believe you've already met."

Next, he approached a red-haired woman.

"This is Ursula Deline, our best member when it comes to alchemy. She's from Lordaeron too."

Ursula Deline looked to be in her twenties. Her long red hair was messy as weeds, making her look rather untidy. She gave a small nod, and Jess nodded back.

But as Jess walked past, Ursula frowned slightly, as if she'd caught a scent. Jess grew nervous. Could she smell the shadow protection potion he'd taken?

Hopefully this supposed expert alchemist just thought he smelled sweaty because he hadn't had time to bathe. Hopefully she hadn't really noticed anything suspicious.

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In the end, she said nothing. Gakin had already moved over to a black-haired man.

The man had smooth, shoulder-length hair and somewhat Eastern-looking features. He appeared to be in his early thirties. He wore a blue-and-black shirt and silk trousers so dark gray they were almost black. There was a touch of arrogance in the way he looked at Jess.

"The most gifted among us. I believe his powers are no weaker than mine," Gakin said proudly. "Gardes 'Blackclaw.'"

Gardes stepped forward and offered Jess his hand.

"Welcome."

His manner was warmer than his appearance suggested. Judging by the way the others looked at him, his standing in the group was probably no lower than Gakin's.

Though the nickname "Blackclaw" was a bit over the top. Nobody else had a title like that.

"Erlan Dudemore. You've met before as well."

Gakin went over to the next man. Looking at Erlan beside everyone else, Jess finally realized just how tall and heavily built he was.

"Little brother Jess, I knew the first time we met that you had what it takes to join us." Erlan's face creased into a smile. "Gakin, you'd better take good care of him."

"Of course." Gakin looked toward Surena, who was staring blankly in their direction. "We treat all our members the same."

Looking at the three of them, Jess had already imagined an entire love-triangle drama. Did Gakin know about Surena and Erlan's affair? And if he did, what on earth was going on here? This was getting beyond his understanding.

After the introductions, Gakin brought Jess to the bonfire.

"Now we'll hold your initiation ceremony."

At that moment Zare suddenly appeared, dragging in a half-grown lamb that bleated nonstop.

"End its life," Gakin said.

So they really were the Slaughtered Lamb. Did they have to take the name quite so literally?

"It's a simple way to experience the meaning of sacrifice, newcomer," Gardes said beside him. "To begin to understand that there isn't much laughter or happiness on the path of the dark arts."

Gakin looked at Gardes and nodded in agreement. "Use the dagger I gave you."

Jess had killed plenty of wolves by now. Killing one lamb shouldn't be a problem. He didn't think it would be difficult at all as he walked over.

But when he actually lowered his head and looked at the lamb, he hesitated.

A lamb was nothing like a wolf. With a wolf, if you didn't kill it, you were the one who would be hurt or killed.

This lamb, though, was being pinned down and bleating in fear and despair. It was a cute little thing, too. Suddenly Jess found he couldn't bring himself to do it.

"Do we really need to?" he asked, turning back.

He saw Gardes smile. Erlan said, "It's a necessary step."

Jess didn't hesitate any longer. He drove the dagger into the lamb's throat. When he pulled it out, warm blood splashed onto the web of his hand between thumb and finger.

The lamb struggled weakly and frantically. Zare held it down even harder, making it seem stiffer and more helpless than before.

It was soon carried out of the basement, leaving a pool of blood reflecting the firelight. Jess looked down at the bloody dagger in his hand, unsure what to say.

Was this some kind of test? A test of obedience?

"Congratulations. You've completed the ceremony." Gakin stepped beside the fire, looked around, and spoke loudly. "Jess Seso felt pity for this lamb. That's only human. On the path of the dark arts, we need companions we can trust, not monsters without humanity. But we must also understand that some sacrifices are necessary. We may suffer, struggle, and even regret what we've done. But when the moment comes to make a decision, we must decide."

Everyone in the hall answered together. Jess joined in, though he seriously doubted whether these people were trustworthy companions. After all, he knew perfectly well he was the least trustworthy one there.

Gakin looked so serious as he spoke. It was hard to connect him with the thug who'd flown into a rage because he suspected Surena of having an affair, then cornered Jess with a knife in an alley.

Jess had no idea whether the lamb's death could really stand for all those things. Still, given the circumstances of this group living in hiding, they probably couldn't come up with a much more impressive initiation ceremony.

The lamb became their dinner. They roasted the ribs with some unfamiliar spices, and they actually tasted pretty good.

The warlocks talked and laughed together. They seemed less like a secret society than a group of friends having food and drinks, just as Gakin had said.

Later that night, the women who lived in Stormwind left early. Erlan returned to his temporary room in the basement. Gakin said he sometimes slept here if it got too late, since it was such a long walk back to Goldshire.

Jess was just about to leave when Gardes called after him.

"Newcomer. Gakin wants you. He says it's time to keep his promise."

"Where's Gakin?"

"He's already gone to our practice room. Just come with me."