“Everythin’ comes to an end,” Ringo Flinthammer said from inside. “Even war. Arthas is finished, on the trash heap with what remains o’ tha blue dragonflight, tha black dragonflight, tha Burnin’ Legion, tha Qiraji, the Old Gods, tha naga, tha Amani trolls, Hakkar, Kael’thas, Illidan, and now tha Scourge. Ain’t no one else left to fight.”

“What are you talking about?” Widge Gearloose snapped. “There’s still the Frostmane Trolls, the troggs, the Dragonmaw Clan, the Dark Irons …”

“They’re all on the run, and ye know it. Face it: For the first time in almost 33 years, we’re at peace.”

“So, this is it? You’re just retiring?”

“Everyone’s doin’ it: Dahzabelle is teaching paladin stuff to a new generation of knights. Daenyx is headed back ta tha Exodar to study some crystal stuff. Salvemini’s writing a book. Me brothers are about the only dwarves Ah know who ain’t talkin’ about openin’ a bar: Durkon and Bragh have already asked the army ta station them anywhere warmer than Northrend; Ah reckon they’ll be sorry when they end up in Bael Modan. And me brother Ely’s back in Tinker Town; he’s studying gnomish echogno …”

“Economics.”

“Right. Says he’s going ta change the nature of money.”

“What does that mean? Like putting it on paper?”

“Paper? Where’d that come from? Nay, the gnomes are making it scented for blind folks to use.”

“Oh, yeah, I can picture that.”

“Besides, the Kirin Tor have offered membership to every mage what fought in tha Nexus War and ye all seem ta have taken them up on it.”

“Only because real estate in Theramore is so expensive,” Widge muttered. “Stop changing the subject! You can’t retire! You fought with the Shattered Sun Offensive and the Ashen Verdict! You fought beside Brann Bronzebeard in Ulduar! The blood elves still have a price on your head!”

“Aye,” Ringo growled from the room behind Widge, his voice muffled a moment by the sound of him pulling something over his head. “But we have a wee bairn now. Ah don’t want him growing up only knowin’ Ah killed a powerful number o’ elves. Beli and meself, we’re goin’ ta settle down. We already bought a wee place overlooking Thelsamar. Beli’s goin’ ta paint landscapes and Ah’ll fish and hunt and we’ll raise the wee one together.”

“That’s it? You’re going to fish and hunt? You’ll go crazy! You’ll be back fighting dragons in six months, at most.”

“Well, Ah thought about that,” Ringo said, walking out. “So, Ah’ve got something else to occupy me time …”

“Ah’ve joined the Ironforge Mountaineers.”