Lingering Malice

"At first, there is nothing, and I am nothing. At least that is what my senses tell me. I cannot see. I cannot feel. There is nothing to touch, taste, or smell. Around me is a great void of emptiness that is soul-crushing in its vast lack of any reference point.

I exist in this state for a length of time that cannot be measured, as time has no meaning here. Was it days? Years? Centuries? Or perhaps only five minutes? There is no way for me to tell, and it is maddening to be suddenly torn from ones entire frame of reference.

After the sudden shock of arriving here and the unknown time spent contemplating where here is, things begin to come back to me. I exist. That much is at first plainly clear. I am thinking after all, am I not? These thoughts echo out into the nothingness that surrounds me, and I realize that I am generating newness in emptiness merely with my existence.

With the awareness that I still exist comes a flood of thoughts, some of them memories and some of them simply echoes of sensory input that I no longer feel. I was not always like this, and not always in this place. I know that much. I was once...alive? Yes, I was alive, although the definition of living may vary from one person to another. That is another thought in itself; there were others and I was once in a place where other conscious beings walked.

How did I come to be here? The answer comes to me out of nothing, but I know it is truth when it forms. I died. No, I was slain. My form's existence came to an end, and I should have passed into the great darkness that takes us all at the end of our days. And yet I did not, for this is not that darkness. How do I know this? Because I do not suffer here, and I know that for my deeds in life I deserved to suffer.

Details of who and what I was slowly return to me. I was once a young noble who toyed with unspeakable darkness like it was my plaything. Others who walked this path with me paid the price long ago, and I watched as they fell one by one. In some cases I aided in their demise, using my intimate knowledge of these dark powers to hunt others who would harm the world in which I once moved.

I remember...preparing myself for this eventuality. More than once in life I was brought to the brink of death. I hunted evils after all and used great evil to do so. With each near-brush with the hereafter I came to know that punishment awaited me for the things I'd dabbled in, and so I delved further into the powers I had. 

There are ways to cheat death; any necromancer can tell you this. Some steal the life from others, extending their own lives indefinitely. Others are so powerful in their magic that they create an arcane device known as a phylactery, which their soul will return to in death. This type of artifact would allow one to become an undead creature known as a lich.

And yet, each of these methods have drawbacks. A living person sustained by the lifeforce of others can be slain. A lich can be destroyed, a phylactery splintered apart. Seeing these weaknesses, I took steps to circumvent them. I created a void, a space in which my spirit could seek refuge in the most desperate hour when my form had finally come to an end. Connected only on the fringe of those realms in which spirits roam, I will linger in this sanctuary forever.

And yet...my spirit burns now. Burns with the need to press onward. Ever in life, and even in the half-life I lived at the end of my days, I was propelled to excel. I was raised this way, raised to be perfect in everything to which I applied my skills. My parents would accept nothing else after all, and even now, when the concerns of mortals are beyond me, this is ingrained in who I was and who my spirit is.

As the thoughts swirl through my mind and I slowly come to understand who and what I was, time passes. Living people are born, age and die. Worlds turn and stars glitter brightly, all of it unknown to me. Severed from everything, I finally reach out beyond this void to seek something, anything to anchor myself.

I hear a voice chanting. I do not know the language that is spoken, but it is not necessary. I can hear the inflection of words and the steady rhythm with which they are spoken and I know instinctively that someone, somewhere is casting a spell that they should not be casting. A spell designed to reach out into the darkness, seeking power. It is like a lifeline, like a glowing tendril in the vast nothingness in which I float. Reaching out to it is as simple as picking up a string from the floor.

And then I am tumbling, tumbling down the length of the thread, all of the power, the knowledge that I had stored within me flaring to life as I hurtle towards the voice that foolishly continues to chant the evil spell that she thinks will bring her power but will instead bring her doom.

My collision with her form, her magic is like running into a concrete wall. She struggles against me, but her studies, her craft is inferior to my own. I have spent years honing my skills, perfecting my art, and a novice such as she cannot resist my power for long. Her very soul shudders as it comes into contact with mine, as it wars with mine. 

And then it is over, and she has passed from the world, another victim of dark magics that she should have known not to play with. Her passing means little to me, for she deserved it in the end. I experience her existence briefly as her spirit flees its shell, know that she was a cultist seeking to do unspeakable things. Her death is a blessing to whatever world she walked upon.

And then I feel pain. Unendurable, everlasting pain. It is like a bittersweet cup to sip from and I gulp it down, the pain the first thing I've experienced in who knows how long. I feel for the first time, I feel a body shuddering, my body shuddering. I feel the shell that I have claimed, I feel my magic locking my spirit in place within it, anchoring me. I feel eyelids flutter open, and the glow of my magic fading as eyes focus on the evil arcane symbols scrawled on the floor around where I sit.

I lean forward for a moment, simply enjoying the soul-wrenching agony and the feeling of breath panting from between my lips...or rather, HER lips. The form I have stolen. I shake my head, dismissing the thought, knowing that I must get my bearings and continue my work. Evil to fight evil, magic to slay those who would destroy worlds. 

I regain my composure and sit back on my haunches, taking in the moldy, dark cave in which I find myself. I smile, knowing that my banishment is complete. Knowing that those who had slain me hadn't the slightest idea what they were doing, or how to actually destroy me in my former life. Connected to my sanctuary, I can still feel that place, and mark it later as a journey I must take in order to seek vengeance. But that can wait for now, as there is work to be done here as well judging by the fact that cultists were able to call far enough to draw my attention.

As I rise, my smile widens, the last of my knowledge coming to me. As I walk from the opening of the cave, one last thought lingers in my subconscious, finally revealed to me.

I am Kerryann Westdale, and those who wish to dabble in dark powers should be wary, for there are some who are so much better at it."

~Kerryann's first spiritual transcendence.  

Like No One Is Watching

Braeth'el was annoyed. Actually, 'annoyed' didn't entirely cover the full array of emotions adequately. Angry. Worried. Tense. Stressed out. All of these things combined perhaps. It wasn't even worth classifying in his mind and really just felt like a lead weight pressing down on him. In his line of work he was used to dangerous and stressful situations, but it was rare that he became emotionally invested in the situation enough to actually feel it pressing down on him. Perhaps it was the fact that he was something of a free agent now, a situation that was uncomfortable and unusual for him.

Regardless of the why behind his feelings, he had to deal with the situation that was causing them immediately. He scowled as he stood before the large, golden double doors, taking a deep breath and smoothing out his features before pushing them open.

As soon as the barrier had been removed, a wave of sound hit him. The sounds of voices in conversation, the laughter and revelry of people enjoying themselves, the sounds of hands clapping in time with music, and of course the beautiful music itself floating through the hall all around him. He paused in the entryway, absorbing it all in an instant as his training and instincts had taught him to do, assessing the moment and planning two steps ahead.

It was, of course, a party. One of the usual galas thrown in Silvermoon by the noble houses. This one was a masquerade and seemed to be a bit overboard in terms of the decorations, number of musicians, and guest list. The hall was somewhat cramped with all of the Sin'dorei it contained, and Braeth'el's immediate assessment was that the gala had been thrown by a lesser known noble house seeking to increase its reputation and prestige. As was often the case, events like this could propel those lower down the social chain to soaring heights if the event was successful or they gained the ear of the right people.

All of this passed through the trained spy's mind in a moment, setting his body in motion almost without thought. As if he were born to it, he slipped amongst the party-goers, his carefully tailored golden and red doublet with its matching golden mask making him blend into the crowd and disappear in a moment. Trained from birth in the craft of spying, Braeth'el had attended events identical to this one more times than he cared to remember. They were excellent places to gather intelligence, meet contacts, or even plot an assassination if such were required, and he'd been trained long ago to mingle with the mighty who attended such events.

His current concern was not to gather intelligence however, nor to plan assassinations, it was instead to find one Telatha Dayfire that had decided it would be an excellent idea to slip from her quarters in the inn without notifying her guards or any other member of her House where she was going. That she would do something so dangerous without even consulting him was infuriating, but the anger was something that he found strangely pushed to the side and replaced with actual concern for her well being. Her naivety was jaw-dropping to his experienced mind, and he had already prepared a lengthy speech for her once he located her.

Even as the thought crossed his mind, his eyes caught the sight of faintly glowing fel runes amongst a mass of party-goers standing at the edge of the hall's dance floor. Braeth'el smoothly moved through the crowd, navigating towards where he had spotted them. His hand darted between people, slyly grabbing an arm and gently pulling his target towards him. He spun the Sin'dorei he'd grabbed around and then blinked in surprise as he met her gaze.

A giggle came from behind a red mask as Bellemasra's lips curled into a smirk. She looked down, nodding at the fact that he was holding her hand, "Can I help you with something, Mister Braeth'el?"

Braeth'el sighed, rolling his eyes and releasing his grip on Telatha's coven-member. Of course she'd bring her 'friends' with her. The fact that he hadn't even checked their quarters showed just how unused to Telatha's nature he was; his former employer didn't have a gaggle of girlfriends that she'd go places with nor would she have invited them out for a clandestine party even if she had. Telatha on the other hand not only trusted those who served her House, but actively encouraged their friendship and camaraderie. 

Bellemasra's eyebrow shot up in question as Braeth'el sighed again. He shook his head, keeping his voice low and his tone pleasant so as not to disturb the warlock, "I imagine she is here with you then?"

Bellemasra nodded at him and gave him a knowing wink before subtly tilting her head towards the dance floor behind them, "Naturally, Mister Braeth'el."

Braeth'el gave Bellemasra a polite nod of thanks before moving past her and heading deeper into the crowd. Just beyond where she stood was the edge of the dance floor, and beyond that point Sin'dorei were paired together, twirling and moving in time with the music as their bodies flowed across the dance floor. He paused at the edge of that boundary, preparing himself to cut in but wanting to at least have a destination in mind before he did.

He was rewarded for his patience a moment later as the crowd thinned slightly, the music picking up in pace as a dance began wherein Sin'dorei would rapidly change partners. Amongst the glimmering gold and red and swirling dresses he caught the glimpse of a deep purple gown, its owner twirling as her partner passed her off to the elf beside him in exchange for a golden haired beauty in a red dress. As Braeth'el peered into the moving crowd, he caught sight of Telatha's markings glowing fel green beneath a purple hawkstrider mask that covered the upper half of her face.

For a moment he watched her, admiring the way she was able to move amongst the dancers, her steps perfectly aligned with this partner or that as the dancers changed partners rapidly. With a half-smile on his face, he plunged into the midst of the crowd, his hands reaching out to catch those of a dark-haired Sin'dorei as he began to move towards his target.

He passed off his partner to another elf, taking up a second Sin'dorei and twirling her around as he made his way deeper into the crowd. This one peered at him from behind a silver mask, her eyes devouring him as he moved with her. Braeth'el smirked, offering her a wink before he passed her off again, turning to reach for his next partner, his hands moving out to take hers in his.

And then Telatha was in his arms, her eyes wide with shock as she realized just who had caught her. Braeth'el gave himself a moment to congratulate himself not only on surprising her, but on successfully catching her just as the wild changing of partners came to a close and another song was struck up by the musicians.

"Braeth'el," Telatha whispered as he pulled her close to begin the next dance. Her voice was low enough so that only he could hear it, and he admitted that she at least had some small amount of sense to her.

He twirled her around once, grudgingly admitting to himself that her dress was gorgeous as her skirts fanned out around her before bringing her close to him again. His voice was also low, whispered almost directly into her ear as the two came together once more, the sound not even reaching the other couples dancing around them, "Lady Dayfire...this is extremely dangerous and you know it. If someone were to discover you before you've made allies..."

He didn't get to finish as the dance required him to twirl her again, but he didn't have to; the message was clear and he could see disappointment on her face as it sunk in. A part of him regretted that he was making what would otherwise be an enjoyable dance less fun for her, but she needed to understand the danger she was in.

To his surprise, as she came in close against him again, she pressed her other hand into his, her voice firm but not angry, "Firstly, if we're to be dancing, you will call me Tela or Telatha at the least. I came here to enjoy myself; not to bring my worries with me."

She pressed against him and he managed to surprise her again by leading her into the next steps of the dance, his perfect movements ingrained into him after years of practice. That she matched him step for step made a bit of amusement creep over his features as she began to lecture him.

"Secondly, I am aware of the dangers," Telatha continued, her voice low as she whispered into his ear. "I am not a child, but my naming-day was not so long ago. I wish to truly live, to enjoy what little I have been given. I understand my responsibilities, but I have the right to live as much as any other. Is that too much to ask? Is it too much to desire to at least enjoy this moment? Perhaps doom will fall upon us tomorrow, and if it does I will face it bravely, but tonight I just wish to dance."

Braeth'el said nothing for a moment, twirling her again as the other dancers around him were doing, contemplating her words. As she drew near again, both of her hands pressed against his, he looked down at her and met her gaze. Her eyes were like deep pools of fel green magic, a sense of longing in them for something, for approval or at least forgiveness for taking a moment for herself.

In that instant as Braeth'el stared into her eyes, a thought came to him that he had never considered before.

Perhaps that is the difference between her and her half-sister. Does Biara Sunfire actually enjoy her life, or is it all a chore? If you can't enjoy life, what value would you place in the lives of others? Did she do this out of recklessness, or because she actually enjoys the little things she can have?

His mind made up, Braeth'el nodded at Telatha, drawing her close to him again as the music played on. With a devious smile on his face, he twirled her again, and this time when she returned to him, instead of bring her close, he caught her in his arms and dipped her low, supporting her slight weight as he leaned over her. The surprise on her face was priceless, and he couldn't help but pull her up and send her into another twirl, the moves perfectly choreographed to the timing of the music.

A moment later it was his turn to be surprised as Telatha laughed and returned to him, moving her body close against his and then jumping lightly up, forcing him to catch her and twirl her in the air before dipping her down again. As he lowered her down, their eyes met again, and this time there was a look of gratitude on her face as he held her, their bodies inches apart. He could feel her heart pounding in her chest as he held her close, and smiled as he realized how happy that moment had made her.

It would not be until later that he realized his own heart had been beating heavily itself.

When he brought her back up and against him again, he realized to his horror that the dancers around them were not only staring at them, but a few were applauding the rather difficult moves the two had just displayed. Beside him Telatha had begun to blush a bright pink, the color traveling all the way up to her eartips.

Way to be subtle there, Braeth'el. Oh don't worry, I'm sure no one will notice the two people in the center of the dance floor being applauded...   

With that he shook his head, looking down at Telatha and seeing the smile on her face. Perhaps it didn't matter in the end, because she'd had her moment. Maybe tomorrow the news of this would get out and all of their foes would fall upon them like wolves, but for tonight, it didn't matter.

With a sigh, more at himself than at the situation, Braeth'el gently lead Telatha from the dance floor and towards the tables full of food, the blushing noble happily trailing along behind him eager to get out of the spotlight. Food and wine and perhaps a bit more dancing, and then he'd take her and her coven-members back to the inn and that would be that.

It would not be until hours later that the group from House Dayfire returned to their suites at the inn, their echoing laughter as sweet as the wine they'd tasted that night.

Journal Entry- September Twelfth, Evening

"I have given much thought to our current state of affairs and the situation at hand. Although we have met with some success in establishing a presence in the city, and we have managed to procure at least some of the much needed spell components and other supplies that Dawnslight Isle requires, I still feel like we are in a precarious position.

Before we are able to open portals to other areas of Quel'Thalas to fully secure our supply lines I must at least attain a non-aggression pact with one or more Houses. This will ensure that we have a suitable location for such a portal, and also reduce the risk that any of my people will come under attack from our rivals. This has always been my objective, and I will continue to seek out House Felo'melorn nobles in order to achieve these ends. It appears that we may have some room to negotiate with the local covens of warlocks within the city as well, although I will approach this with a wary eye indeed, for those who practice my arts are generally not the type to be reliable in their promises or deeds.

This brings me to another consideration, and one that has long bothered me; the Horde. In order to ensure that House Dayfire prospers, I must make a show of force to assist those who are our allies. Beyond the fact that this will encourage other Sin'dorei to stand behind the Dayfire banner once more, it is vital that in our weakened state we reach out to others wherein our strengths can be combined.

I fear this very much, more than I can even say in words. Why do I fear it? Because of my half-sister, Biara. I have had years to study her, to come to understand what she did and why she did it. What else was I to do with my idle time on Dawnslight Isle? It is a beautiful place, but let us not pretend that it was not a prison until the portals were opened once more. And so I watched her, watched as she rose to power and the methods she employed to do so.

Can I blame her for what she did? Not entirely. I understand that she had to make a show of force, much like I do. I understand that she had to be aggressive to inspire others to fight beside her. It is my understanding of her methods that brings me the most fear, for I know how her story came to an end, with the utter destruction of everything that our House stood for.

And yet, force is needed. The Horde will not support me if I do not support the Horde. And this cannot apply just to the Sin'dorei, but all of those who have struggled under the yoke of oppression and lived on the edge of devastation. I fear that I must carefully walk a path similar to my half-sister's, and that is what I dread the most, that I might become like her and her bloody-handed sister Kyliska.

There is one advantage I have that she did not, although she and others would consider it a weakness; I have no armies to throw at my enemies. Power comes in several forms. It comes in wealth, which my father was thoughtful enough to see to. It comes in strength of arms, of which my pitiful one hundred souls would not hold a candle to the mighty armies of the world. It comes in magic, of which we have sufficient supply to defend ourselves at the least. Finally, it comes in allies.

I feel that it is in this last part that my half-sister faltered the worst, for she did not understand the value of the lives in her care. We must fight, of that there is no question, but we must conserve as well. It is only when those whom we command can trust in us that they retain their loyalty. If House Dayfire falls again, it will not be because my mistakes have lead to betrayal from within, but because our foes have pressed down on us so hard that all of Quel'Thalas must cry out at the injustice.

As for the Alliance and the Horde....well, we must support the Horde and gather what strength we may. This does not have to come at the cost of all of those who rely upon me to make wise decisions however. I will drench my hands in as much blood as my half-sister and Blood Knight Sunfire, but it will not be at the cost of all of my retainers and allies. I will also be sure to take care with how I apply force, for there is a saying that is very pertinent to these thoughts:

Strike at the child, and the hand of the mother and father shall be set against you for all of time. Strike down the mother and father before the child, and you have raised the next generation of foes to stand against you.

I will remember this when planning my battles. Innocents will perish, as they did when my half-sister lead this House, but it must be minimized to the extent possible, and we must make their military fear to do battle with us with our strategies rather than our terror. This is the only way to truly succeed.

May the Light guide me to the wisdom needed to lead this House in these endeavors, and may the sun always illuminate my path, lest I walk into the darkness beyond. I pray that I can find the way."
~Felmancer Telatha Dayfire, Scion of House Dayfire

Judged

The thick, heavy curtains were pushed aside with some difficulty as Telatha passed beneath the foreboding golden arch that marked the end of the corridor and the beginning of the chambers beyond. As she passed through the opening, she held the curtain back so that Bellemasra and Laerille could pass through with somewhat less difficulty than she had. As the two moved past the opening and the curtain fell back into place, the light dimmed to the point that it was almost difficult to see, with only a dim fel glow from crystals floating across what appeared to be a large chamber illuminating the space.

This deep within the Sanctum of Silvermoon it was to be expected that it would be somewhat dark and dim, as the warlocks who performed their research and magic within the city preferred to have their privacy, and their spells were hardly ones that would promote a light-hearted, brightly lit environment. Even so, the dimness was a bit much for Telatha, and she found herself squinting to see the vague outlines of whoever was there to meet her.

"You were told to come alone," a voice boomed out, echoing through the chamber.

Telatha considered this for a moment before responding, pondering the summons that had brought her to this place. She'd received a letter demanding her immediate attendance at the Sanctum from some of the higher ranking warlocks within the city. Naturally none of them had actually signed the document, although the wording of the letter and its tone implied that at least one or two of those who had summoned her were members of the Magistrate. Although she could not ignore such a summons, she had hardly been inclined to trust other warlocks simply on their word alone, especially on an unsigned document.

"Given that I was not told who was summoning me, I am hardly beholden to follow a series of instructions that are randomly provided to me," Telatha said, her voice firm but not hostile.

Silence met her words, but it was not a calm, peaceful silence. She could sense malefic beings moving in the darkness, shifting in position as if to study her. That there were demons within the chamber was beyond a doubt, and Telatha shivered once as she came to realize just how dangerous this place was. Across the chamber a pair of fel green eyes glowed, as if their owner had lifted his head and his cowl had fallen back. They burned into her, and Telatha found herself planting her hands on her hips and lifting her chin up, as if defying them to judge her.

"You are not the first who has entered the city with the use of Fel magics, nor will you be the last," the voice responded, sounding a bit hostile. "It is for us to decide if you pose a threat or a boon to our kind here. Your failure to follow the most basic of instructions has already put you at a disadvantage when we consider your...future position."

The threat lingered in the air, and Telatha stared at the glowing pair of eyes that she could see, feeling defiant, "I am Felmancer Telatha Dayfire, Scion of House Dayfire and one who serves my people. Judge me as you will, threaten what you like, I will continue on my course until my last breath. Test me and see for yourself whether or not I am worthy to be here. You will find that I am not lacking in the powers that we call upon."

Laughter rang out, this time from another part of the chamber. Additional eyes glowed in the darkness, first one pair, then three, then five, until Telatha felt she was surrounded by peering eyes on forms she could barely make out. The voice spoke again, its tone mocking now, "Your titles and your blood mean nothing to us. You either threaten this city with your power or you do not. It is this which we will determine 'Scion'."

Telatha shifted in position as she felt fel magic building within the room. Demonic laughter echoed in the darkness, and she felt her defensive wards flare up as a tendril of power reached out, as if probing her defenses. The voice boomed out again, sounding somewhat bitter, "You do indeed have power, young Felmancer. Power enough to be of use to us, if your defiant nature can be...corrected. You will learn soon enough to fall in line if you wish to be successful in this city."

Telatha glared at the pair of eyes, shaking her head, "I will plot my own course in this life. I sincerely doubt your generous nature when it comes to those in my care. I have learned long ago that others who ply our craft are those with whom we should be most wary. I will work beside you, I will aid those of you who require it, but I will not bend knee to any within this city. Am I clear?"

The fel magic in the room thickened, and Telatha felt it pressing in around her, until she was almost encased in energy pressing in from all directions against her wards. She cried out as they nearly failed, focusing as much of her energies as possible in maintaining the barrier between her and the evil magic. Forced into immobility by her battle, she could only glare at the eyes across the darkness as they turned to look at her companions.

"You there, step forward," the voice said. To illustrate his point, a glowing orb of fel energy began to hover in front of Bellemasra, who stepped forward to stand beside the struggling Telatha.

"What would you say if we offered you all of her power and position, provided that you agreed to serve this coven at our beck and call? Think carefully, girl, for your future could be glorious depending on your decision," the voice said in a tone that bespoke certain destruction for Telatha.

Bellemasra didn't even hesitate, shaking her head and speaking firmly, "Absolutely not. Lady Dayfire is the Scion of our House, and I will not forsake her. Beyond that, she is my friend and I will stand beside her against you if there need be violence between us."

The voice growled, sending the fel orb spinning over to Laerille as it spoke, "You then. Step forward and claim all of the power of this so-called 'Scion' and become one of us. Our powers are vast and the rewards will be beyond your wildest dreams."

Laerille's tone was hostile as she glared at the glowing eyes in the darkness, "I stand beside Lady Dayfire, and should harm come to her know that harm will come to you before this day ends."

Cackling, vile laughter met the response, and Telatha gasped as she felt the magic pressing in around her increase, her wards beginning to fail. Just as she believed she would be crushed by the power, Laerille moved beside her, her hand reaching out and her fingers interlocking with Telatha's. Instantly the runes on Laerille's face and arm began to burn with fel magic as she fed energy into Telatha's wards, and the pressure lessened.

A second later Bellemasra stepped forward, grasping Telatha's other hand and interlocking their fingers, feeding her own magic into the mix. The runes on all three Sin'dorei glowed brightly, nearly banishing the darkness around them as Telatha's magic was empowered.

With her eyes glowing so brightly that her pupils were no longer visible, Telatha smiled impishly and barked out a word in demonic. A felhunter appeared from the nether, sucking away the spell that was crushing her and shredding it into nothing. A cold, fel-tainted wind blew in the chamber, setting the dresses and capes of the three Sin'dorei to shifting as they stood hand in hand, facing the darkness.

Telatha opened her mouth to speak, and Laerille and Bellemasra spoke in unison with her, the words echoing, "The coven united."

Silence descended on the room as the spells pressing Telatha failed. The sense of demonic energies vanished an instant later, as did the fel lights that glowed fitfully in the darkness. Fires flared up in the chandeliers and the roomed was bathed in light, revealing a circular stone chamber that was devoid of anything but a singular, robed figure whose glowing eyes stared out of his cowl.

His voice was no longer full of menace, and instead had a tone that almost indicated he'd conceded a point, "Well done....Lady Dayfire. It is clear that you are neither tainted, nor weak. You are neither rash, nor timid. You do not stand alone, but do not use the force of your following to press your agenda unless pressed yourself. You will do...for now. See to it that you do not disrupt the order of the city."

Telatha opened her mouth to reply but felfires suddenly roared up around the warlock in front of them, consuming him instantly and leaving behind only a pile of sulfur as he was transported away by his magic. Telatha closed her mouth, turning to nod at her two coven members as they released their grip on her hand and all three let their magic fade.

After a moment, Telatha shrugged, turning to leave the chamber, her voice light, "Well, that could have gone worse I guess! Maybe this will help us gain some ground in the city. At the very least we won't have to worry about them sending demons to destroy us. Probably to spy on us, but not to destroy us."

As they walked away, Laerille looked back at the empty chamber behind them, smiling sweetly as she replied, "I agree, Lady Dayfire. It would be shame to have to destroy their summoned minions for no reason."

Bellemasra nodded and then her face crinkled up in distaste, "Can we get back to the inn now? I fear we all need a bath. I hate the stink of sulfur on my clothes."

Telatha laughed, nodding as she lead the way back to daylight and the relative safety of the streets of Silvermoon. Time would tell how their connection to the covens within the city would develop, and whether or not it would be a blessing or a curse.

Prisoner Beneath the Rocks

Telatha settled herself onto the plush divan, sighing as she took the weight off her feet and stretching her legs out across the cushioned surface beneath her. The past day and a half had seen much activity and she was feeling the strain both physically and from the tension of their perilous position.

Telatha turned her head, looking at the small table standing beside the divan in her suite of rooms, studying the objects there and smiling. While others might have a vase of flowers or perhaps some decorative piece of art to brighten a room, Telatha had a circlet sitting beside her with two demon horns firmly affixed to it; a gift to her for a task she'd completed for some of the local warlock covens of Silvermoon. Beside this sat her journal, which she reached over to pick up, casually dismissing the wards on the book's cover.

Braeth'el had not liked the idea of Telatha reaching out to the community of warlocks within the city, but by the same token he knew that they were somewhat neutral and not affiliated with any particular House. If Telatha's goal of connecting with a friendly group like House Felo'melorn failed, she would always have this network to potentially fall back on, however potentially dangerous they might be. At the very least, they had connections to the Magistrate and it could only help Telatha's position.

All of this was far from Telatha's mind however as she opened her journal to a fresh page, taking the magical quill from the book's binding and setting it to paper. The enchanted quill began to write, squeezing demon's blood onto the page as Telatha swiftly jotted down her thoughts for the morning.

My mission has been a success thus far. Although I have not yet managed to establish contact with the other Houses, I have at least been able to secure us a safe place to stay within the city thanks to Braeth'el's efforts. Our small portion of the coven has opened a small portal in our suite of rooms, allowing us to connect with those we left behind on Dawnslight Isle. Laerille has already been seen to by one of our priestesses and she will make a full recovery, praise the sun.

Yesterday I approached several of the other covens within the city, hoping to gain favor with them by performing some deed or another. Although I am wary to deal with my own kind due to the nature of the magics we handle regularly, I have little choice in the matter until I am able to gain more powerful allies that will protect us from our potential foes.

Of our enemies, I have seen little thus far. Beyond the ambush at the portal's opening in the ruins of my father's spire, none of the other Houses are aware of our presence yet, nor could they strike at us in the heart of the city now. I know this will change in time, and I feel the fear of it in my heart. I can only pray that we succeed; at least we've been able to send back some much needed supplies to help bolster the failing spells on the island. Our people will eat for another season thanks to our bold move to come to Silvermoon, so I do not regret this choice.

There is another matter that weighs heavily on my mind this morning, and I feel that only by writing it down will it leave me be long enough to concentrate on other matters. When I approached the warlock covens in Silvermoon, they asked that I obtain for them several spell components deep within Blackrock Mountain. Cultists have sprung up within the ruins once more, or perhaps they never left that place to begin with. Regardless of the cause, I purchased a magical portal to the area and sought out those objects that the other covens had requested. I think it made Braeth'el upset to know that he could not come with me, but I could not expose him to the dangerous powers that our coven deals with regularly; I value him too much to risk him to that.

While within the bleak depths of that place, I had an encounter that I could not have anticipated. Within the dark passageways I found a lone Sin'dorei wandering by herself, her body and clothing in a deteriorated state that lead me to believe that much hardship had been inflicted upon her. Whether she was a newly escaped prisoner from one of the cults of that place, or someone who had run free and then come back with only vengeance in her heart I cannot say. What I do know is that she was wary at first, more so than even I myself was. It took great effort just to gift her enough magic to partially mend her more grievous wounds.

She called herself Darva, and she claimed that she sought something within the black depths. Seeing her state and knowing that she could be further injured, I decided to accompany her as I myself had to face the dangers down below and thought to offer her some protection. Never have I been so wrong! It was not me who afforded the other protection, but Darva herself who protected me. The magic at her command was beyond most of those of my coven, her felfires burning so hotly as to scorch and crack the stones beneath our feet as we progressed.

Needless to say, few of the cultists of that place offered us much challenge. Darva's magic burned them away when they sought to stand before us, and we spent much time walking alone in the echoing dark stone passageways. Always she sought something, always she pushed forward, like a person driven.

During this time I took many opportunities to study her. Her behavior was erratic, but not unbelievable given the tale she told of her imprisonment and the horrors that had been inflicted on her. Even so, I had to be sure, and I studied her closely for signs of contamination. I was pleased to note that she does not appear to be demon-possessed or corrupted by the powers she wields; quite the opposite actually, I witnessed her using up the very soul essence of demons countless times during our travels together. 

Had she shown signs of having fallen to the will of the Legion I would have struck her down where she stood to prevent her power from spreading across Azeroth. As it was though, I could only pity her, seeing her state as the result of much undeserved abuse and degradation at the hands of her enemies. I felt some kinship with her in this; although my prison was far more beautiful and comfortable, I too was forced to sit apart from the world for many decades. 

I fear that my current position leaves me little ability to aid this unfortunate Sin'dorei. I have one hundred and twenty-three souls already in my care, and I must make decisions for them first and foremost. Once their needs are seen to and I have afforded them some level of safety, I can add the one hundred twenty fourth person to worry about.

That being said, I did what I could for Darva. I left her in a place that I believe will do her good. A place where the sun will shine on her and her isolation will at least be in safety. Perhaps it will do something to quell her raging mind and put her at ease. When chance allows I shall visit her again if I can, and do what I may to aid her. I do not wish to bring my own troubles down upon her already troubled head of course.

There are so many factors to consider in the position I find myself in. At least in this case though, I can be at ease in knowing that there is little doubt that aiding her was the right thing to do. What fate will befall her and myself time will tell, but at least I have that.
~Felmancer Telatha Dayfire, Scion of House Dayfire
 

Deals Gone Bad

Braeth'el nodded to the ranger guarding the common area of the suite of rooms that the group had obtained in Silvermoon City's larger inn. The Sin'dorei nodded back at the spymaster as he pushed aside the curtains, peeking into the bedchambers beyond. Laying peacefully in sleep, Telatha Dayfire didn't at all represent what she actually was to the other elves in the suite; a symbol of hope for a better future. Instead, she just seemed like a young lady who was in a dire situation and that had few resources at hand to deal with it.

Braeth'el studied her for a moment from the doorway, ensuring that she was well and that her chambers were empty of any threat before sighing. Over the past few days, Telatha had more and more come to represent something to him as well; not just hope for the future, but actually someone whom he could support without the quagmire of moral dilemma that had so plagued his career as a spy. When he had sworn to defend the Dayfire family long ago at the start of his career, a part of his vow had been to ensure that Quel'Thalas prospered. Under Telatha's father House Dayfire had prospered, but so too had the common citizenry of Quel'Thalas. Tel'athar Dayfire had been a great man, and it was only in his illegitimate daughter that Braeth'el once again saw the spirit and drive that had made him so.

"I will not fail you, my Lady," Braeth'el whispered to no one. He looked at Telatha's sleeping form one last time before turning away. She needed resources and assistance and there were ways for him to obtain them, but it would be dangerous. The time had come though to put some effort into this if he wanted her to succeed, and he'd already decided that he did. It was no longer a choice, just another task to check off his list.

As he walked away, he never saw the glowing green demonic eye perched above the doorway peering at him. He never saw the fel magic fade as the eye faded, nor the fel green glow of a pair of eyes opening on the bed behind him as the curtains fell closed once more...

*******************************

The alley was dark and dingy and not at all typical of much of Silvermoon. Near the edge of the ruins where the Wretched still often held sway, the safety of the place was questionable and was even more questionable at night. As Braeth'el waited impatiently, he considered the two escape routes from the place and frowned; it was far more enclosed than he'd prefer, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Ah, there you are Braeth'el," a voice called out. Braeth'el turned to see a Sin'dorei walking down the alley towards him, his red and gold leather armor only glinting slightly in the dim light.

"Ketharis," Braeth'el said, feeling somewhat relieved. "I didn't think you'd actually come."

The other elf paused near him, grinning, "I didn't think that you would come. You've been in a bit of trouble there, my friend."

Braeth'el nodded, feeling the weight of the words, "I know, I know. Events have moved beyond what I would have imagined a mere month ago. But I have discovered that there are always options if one knows where to look. That's why I've called you here tonight."

Ketharis held up a hand, shaking his head, "I don't want to know Braeth'el. You're poison right now. You know that you've got House Sunfire and House Dawnsea looking for you? You're a loose game piece now, a piece of unfinished business. No one is going to deal with you."

Braeth'el's face hardened, "And so that's the end of it then? After all the favors I pulled for you and some of the others, I won't be 'dealt with'? Lives are at stake here, Ketharis. This goes beyond the normal games that the Houses play. Things need to change, and for the better. This is a new start, a chance to do that and put an end to all the misery. The fact that I didn't see it before now shows how wrapped up I was in all of it."

Ketharis grinned, "You can't change the world, Braeth'el. Whatever you think you've found, it won't make a difference. Things are as they are, and as I said, you're a loose end that needs to be tidied up."

Braeth'el paused, studying the other elf, suddenly feeling ill at ease. His tone was stern and one of his hands drifted to his belt, "I see that we won't be able to deal then. I am sorry for that."

Ketharis shook his head and Braeth'el noted two shadows detaching themselves from the gloom at the end of the alley, heading towards the group. He could hear similar movement from the other end of the alley behind him as Ketharis spoke, "Sorry Braeth'el, but they pay an awful lot for loose ends. Way more than you could ever pay me. Come along peacefully and these lovely House Dawnsea guards will treat you well. You'll be an honored guest. And me? I'll be rich."

Braeth'el drew his weapons, dropping into a crouch as he prepared to sell his life dearly. His heart sank as he realized he'd failed. Not only had his attempt to reconnect with the spy network of the city been thwarted, but now he'd been exposed to the worst of his enemies, all before he could obtain the information and supplies that Telatha needed. His one regret was that she'd never know what happened to him; he'd simply disappear. His jaw locked in a grimace as he prepared himself to make sure that a few of House Dawnsea's men also disappeared this evening.

Ketharis drew a blade, grinning as he stepped towards Braeth'el, "Bad choice Braeth'el. Just give it up and you won't be hurt too badly."

As he stepped forward with the House Dawnsea guards behind him, he paused, his eyes growing wide. To Braeth'el's surprise he began to shake, the blade falling out of his hands and clattering on the stones of the alley as he fell to his knees and began to howl in pain. The other two guards looked down at him for a moment and then their eyes widened. One of the screamed and turned, running headfirst into the narrow alley's wall while the other threw his blade down and lowered himself to the ground, curling into a fetal position and mewling pathetically.

Braeth'el blinked once as the trio engaged in their bizarre actions before he looked past them and saw a petite, robed and cowled figure standing in the shadows of the alley. A pair of fel green eyes stared at him from the cowl, and fel runes marked the side of the elf's face. Braeth'el found himself smiling despite himself, whispering her name, "Telatha....of all the foolish..."

He had little time to finish the thought as he felt stirring behind him. He dove forward into a roll, moving between the incapacitated elves and coming up in a crouch, narrowly avoiding the blows of the two attackers behind him. To his surprised they were armored Blood Knights; it was clear that House Dawnsea was taking no chances with his capture.

As he prepared for battle, he felt Telatha moving up behind him and shook his head; now he'd put her in danger as well with his foolish attempts to meet his contacts. He'd need to ensure she was safe and get her out of there. Telatha though apparently had other plans, surprising him again as she marched past him, fists planted on her hips. Braeth'el noted that one of the elves she had incapacitated was beginning to stir, reaching for his blade where it had fallen in the alley. He moved forward, acting quickly.

Telatha's voice rang out in the narrow alley, echoing from the stones, "I order you to stand down at once. This man is under my protection and you will not lay your hands on him! By the name of House D-"

Telatha's rather stern orders were interrupted by two events, the first being that Braeth'el had clamped a hand over her mouth to avoid her giving away her identity. The second event was that his other arm had let go of his blade and wrapped around her waist, heaving her up into the air and backwards like a doll. He acted just in time as one of the Blood Knights attempted to lunge at her with his blade, the weapon narrowly missing the noble.

As he whirled and set the now squealing Telatha down, Braeth'el's mind noted with amusement how light and fragile she felt. This thought was followed up with regret at that fact, given that two of the elves she'd originally struck with magic had now risen up with their weapons in hand, hemming them both in as the Blood Knights pressed their attack. That someone so small and fragile would meet a bloody, violent end in an alleyway seemed wrong somehow.

Of course, Braeth'el didn't realize that Telatha had more tricks up her sleeve. As he turned to offer her an apologetic look, she shouted a word in Demonic. The harsh sound echoed through the alley, and Braeth'el felt it settle in the pit of his stomach. The elf he was staring at no longer resembled the petite young woman, but now had glowing red eyes and flames shooting from what was a maw rather than a mask covering part of her face. He looked down to see insects crawling all over the alleyway and all over his body, his heart pounding in his chest as fear nearly made him fall to his knees.

The spell was not cast at him; he'd merely seen the barest edge of it. The others around them screamed pathetically and ran fleeing from the battle, their boots pounding away on the wet stones of the alley as they fled, weapons left behind and their coarse shouts echoing into the distance. Braeth'el took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging terror he felt, blinking once and forcing himself to look at Telatha again.

There was no fire breathing monster, no insects and no flaming red eyes. There was just the young Sin'dorei again, her eyebrow arched in concern as she studied his face. She reached out, placing a reassuring hand on his arm and he took a deep breath, nodding to her to indicate that he was alright.

"We need to go now, Braeth'el," she said in a low voice. "The spell will not hold forever. Back to the center of the city and the safety of the inn."

To Braeth'el's surprise, he felt Telatha's hand reach down and her fingers entwine with his own as she turned to lead him to safety. Still trying to catch his breath, he let her lead him away, the novelty of being rescued by her when it should have been the reverse making him smirk at himself as they left the darkness of the alley and returned to the walkways of the city proper.

They wouldn't speak of the event again that evening, but each of them would come to realize that they could count on the other in the days to come. For the first time in his career, Braeth'el began to think of his employer as a friend rather than just a House name.

It would make all the difference in the end.

Tempting the Scion

Telatha sighed, running the brush through her long, flowing red hair one last time before setting it down on the vanity and looking at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her was not displeasing, but the young noble in the mirror was certainly one that Telatha believed should not be carrying such burdens as the ones she bore, at least not at her age. It was for older, wiser heads to lead Houses and delve into politics. Unfortunately she was given little choice in the matter though, and she would do what she must.

With another sigh, likely from tension, Telatha rose and walked the short distance to the luxurious bed behind her. The suite of inn rooms they'd rented in Silvermoon were not lacking for creature comforts, although Telatha would have gladly traded the extra luxury for the security of returning home to Dawnslight Isle where her friends and those she cared about awaited news from her anxiously. It would be difficult to sleep with such heavy thoughts going through her mind, but Telatha knew she had to try; the next few days would be busy with trying to locate and contact members of House Felo'melorn to seek refuge. She'd need to be focused and calm when speaking with them and knew she needed as much rest as she could get.

Slipping out of the robe she wore, Telatha climbed into bed, pulling the silken covers up over herself and whispering a word of magic to dim the magical lanterns in the room. As darkness settled around her, Telatha found herself relaxing slightly; possibly enough to catch a few hours of sleep at least. She closed her eyes, starting to drift off towards slumber.

An hour or two slipped by as Telatha slept fitfully, her mind not ready to surrender all of its worries even in her dreams. As she tossed and turned, a deeper pool of shadow fell over her, and she found herself abruptly awakened as a hand was pressed over her mouth. She gasped as she awoke, finding two pairs of fel green eyes staring into her own from mere inches away.

"Shhhh, be very quiet, my Lady," Braeth'el's voice whispered to her. Telatha's heart was pounding in her chest as she realized he held a dagger in his hands. She nodded once, not making a sound to indicate that she'd understood what he said, placing her trust in him.

After a second he removed his hand, his head dipping closer to hers, his lips almost pressed to one of her long ears, "Someone has been investigating our quarters here in the inn. A spy. I'm not sure who they work for, but I've lost track of them. I need to check your quarters to ensure your safety, my Lady. Please remain still and silent. Pretend you are sleeping."

Telatha nodded again and Braeth'el offered her a reassuring smile before moving off her bed and stalking across the room, blade ready. As Telatha watched his shadow moving, she saw him search her closets and the bathing room attached to her bedchambers. Despite his advice, she found herself nervously slipping out of her bed, her magic coming to her fingertips as he moved out of sight into the adjoining room.

After what seemed like an eternity, Braeth'el reappeared from the bathing room, his blade sheathed as he shook his head to indicate that he hadn't seen any enemies. As he approached Telatha, she had to pause and give him credit for the fact that he didn't even look at her despite the fact that she was wearing nothing more than an extremely short nightgown. At best he'd glanced once at the glowing runes visible through the sheer material on her right hip and on her left ankle, but it was all a very professional assessment.

"It appears that whoever it was either never entered your quarters or has departed before we were able to corner him," Braeth'el said. "It's concerning, but I don't think that the person gleaned any intelligence while here. They likely are just trying to figure out who we are. It does add a bit of urgency to your mission though. I advise you to contact House Felo'melorn as soon as possible, my Lady."

Telatha nodded, her voice still low, "I will try my best Braeth'el. And...thank you. For seeing to my safety I mean. It is appreciated."

Braeth'el paused, as if he were surprised that she was thanking him. He shook his head, offering her a slight bow of respect, "It is my pleasure to aid you, my Lady. Get some rest."

With that he turned and departed, closing the privacy curtains that blocked the room off from the rest of the suite. Telatha sank down on the edge of her bed, still feeling ill at ease despite his reassurance; she was in a dangerous situation, and she knew it.

A voice stirred behind her, female in tone and sultry, "He's cute, isn't he? And he obviously cares about you."

Telatha rolled her eyes, saying nothing as she sensed the presence of the succubus drawing near to her. The demoness sat on the edge of the bed, close behind Telatha, her voice nearly purring into the young noble's ear, "It's okay to think about it you know. I can tell that you still are. You still feel him pressed down on top of you, don't you? You can still taste his fingertips on your lips."

Telatha sighed, saying nothing and trying to ignore the creature. She knew what its goal was; the same as any other demon. Even so, the words were difficult to completely tune out, and she found herself staring at the empty doorway where Braeth'el had departed.

"You wonder what it would be like, I know you do," the demoness continued, moving closer to Telatha and running a hand down her back, feeling the soft young skin of the Sin'dorei. She could see the goosebumps her touch raised and feeling the beating of the elf's heart through her flesh. "It is only natural. And you've no experience with it. It's almost sad to think that you've spent all of this time, and never really had any fun."

Telatha bit her lip, trying to ignore the creature as she leaned even closer, her hot breath in the elf's ear now, "You know, I can show you what you're missing. I can even show you what it would be like with him. You have but to command me, and you know it."

The demoness smiled, feeling Telatha's heartbeat pick up in pace, hearing her breath draw in suddenly at the suggestion, and feeling her shoulder quiver beneath her touch. It was so easy to tempt those who didn't know any better, and the noble's flesh would be delicious. There was nothing quite like corrupting the pure and innocent as far as such demons were concerned!

The demoness leaned forward, her lips practically pressed to Telatha's ear now, about to whisper some further little nothings to sway her. As she moved forward, the young noble suddenly turned, the fel runes on her face blazing with power as her hand lashed out. To the succubus's everlasting surprise, she found her tongue forcibly held between two of Telatha's manicured nails.

"Don't listen to them," Telatha said. The demoness could tell that she was not really talking to her though, but instead reciting something from one of the silly little tomes that Telatha's coven had made. She squeaked a protest, the sound meaningless with her tongue in the pincer-like grip of the Sin'dorei.

Telatha stared the demoness down, power flickering in the air around her as she shook her head, "You do not control me. I am the one with the power here. It is clear that you have forgotten your role as a tool. I cannot complete my objectives with such foulness whispering in my ear, so I'm afraid you'll have to go for a time. I do hope you enjoy your banishment."

The demoness's eyes widened in shock and she tried to protest, but it was far too late as Telatha spat out several words in demonic, the spell flaring to life in the air. Through her contact with the demon the spell flowed from Telatha and then back, purple energies surrounding the creature. With a shriek the demoness was swallowed by the spell, her form shrinking into a purple haze that coalesced in Telatha's hand in the form of a glowing purple gem.

Telatha sighed, shaking her head at the gem as the runes on her face slowly faded, "You really should have known better. I've warned you several times before about attempting to choose a mate for me or even suggesting such things. When the time comes, it will come. I have other things to worry about right now. Like the lives of my people."

With a shrug, Telatha rose, setting the glowing gem down on the nightstand beside her bed before slipping under the covers again. Through the purple glow of the gem's side, she could see the succubus screaming silently at her imprisonment. It meant little to the trained warlock however; demons were tools and were the enemy, they were not things to take advice from.

As she settled down on her pillow again, Telatha found her thoughts drifting back to Braeth'el, and everything he'd done for them so far. Despite herself, Telatha found herself smiling as she recalled the several occasions that he'd been there for her so far. Whether the demoness was right or wrong about what she said, he was at the very least going to become a dear friend.

With a secret smile Telatha closed her eyes and sighed, her last thought of the day that Braeth'el also was rather cute, as spymasters went.

Fel Energy and You- An Introduction to the Coven

*Penned neatly by Telatha Dayfire, a tome is provided to new members of the House Dayfire coven when they begin learning the Fel arts. The letter below is the first page of this tome.*

Greetings! You have been provided with this introductory primer in order to help you begin learning about Fel magic and your role in House Dayfire's coven. As a coven member, you will channel and make use of powers that are both fantastic as well as dangerous. This introductory course will list the basic elements that you should keep in mind as you begin your journey of learning.

To begin, the rules below are fundamental to your understanding of the Fel arts. While the rules are in no particular order of importance, the first rule is considered the 'prime' rule, and should be kept in mind above all others.

Rule 1: "Don't listen to them." Fel magic is composed of dark energy that is shared with powers both vile and demonic. During your studies, you will encounter many such entities and external forces. They are never to be trusted, never to be heeded, and never to be listened to. They provide no advice, no council, and no wisdom. They seek only to lay you low and corrupt your soul. Your will and your will alone determines your course; never listen to outside forces.

Rule 2: "They are not Sin'dorei." You will summon, control, and speak with many foul creatures while using your powers. It is natural to think of others in a personal sense, and to give elven traits to objects and creatures that otherwise do not have them. "A bunny is cute, therefore it must be friendly." Pressing elven traits onto demonic entities will only weaken you to the reality of what they are; creatures made of vile energy bent on your destruction at all times. Do not personify your tools and instead realize what they are.

Rule 3: "Together we stand strong, alone we fall to corruption." You are a part of House Dayfire's coven. Together the coven works towards a better future for our people as a whole. We do not stand alone, mighty towers against a sea of foes. Instead we stand side by side, hand in hand, from the greatest of us to the least of us, as equals. Through your fellow coven members you will gain wisdom, understanding, and protection. You will watch them for corruption, as they will watch you, and you will accept their guidance and words of caution when they have seen dangers to you that you have overlooked. As a whole we prosper, grow in power, and remain safe from the magic we wield. 

Rule 4: "Fel magic is fire." Fel magic, like fire, is a valuable tool that can be used to do wondrous things. It can empower our creations, fuel our realm, and defend us from harm. Like fire however, Fel magic can burn. Unlike fire, it can burn not only your flesh, but your very soul. When wielding it, never forget that you wield fires that would rage out of control but for your will. It is you who decide its course, and you who are ultimately responsible to keep the fire in check.

Rule 5: "They are not pets, nor beloved companions." During the course of your work, you will summon many foul creatures. Some may pretend, in their own devious way, to be friendly, likeable, or even beautiful to the eye. These creatures are not pets. They are not loyal to you. They are not beloved companions to which you should attach emotions. At every moment, they seek your demise. They are not to be trusted, not to be thought of as guards or protectors. You order them to do your will, and you must order them with great care lest they lay you low.

Rule 6: "Do not bow to the will of the Legion." Fel magic comes from dangerous sources, and the Burning Legion seeks to use this energy to destroy much of creation. When wielding your magic, do so with valid purpose. Do not destroy out of hand, do not apply the magic when it is not needed, do not seek to create the very destruction the Legion would commit on its own. Your power is a responsibility and burden, and should be looked on as something you wield with honor for Quel'Thalas. To do less is to risk all that we have worked to build. 

Rule 7: "Let no outsider abscond with your power." Your creations, your magic are yours to wield and yours alone. Others will seek to wrest such power from you, or steal that which you have created. Those outside of the coven should be monitored with care to ensure that dangerous magics are not removed from your sphere of control. Innocents may be injured if you fail to act. 

Rule 8: "Say your fears." The coven is a community wherein you are safe to freely speak what you will. It is here that you should bring your fears, your concerns and minor worries. What may seem like a simple, vexing thing to you could be more dire when looked at by the eyes of all. Together we defeat problems, alone they build up unchecked. 

Rule 9: "The coven united." The coven is a place of safety, wherein you should feel free to express your ideas, learn, and grow in the arts. It is not a place to test your magic against others, or for boastful talk or demonstration. We all learn together, and together we grow in power. Your magics shall never be used against those in the coven, nor shall they use their own against you. Bonded by more than blood, we are united as one.

With these basic rules in mind, the rest of your lessons will build upon the spells contained within this primer. Always remember these nine rules, for they will keep you safe from harm and see to it that you gain both in power, and in fame as others appreciate the work you do to better all of Quel'Thalas. We are proud to welcome you, our new brothers and sisters, into our coven and our home. Let us work as one to make a better future.
~Felmancer Telatha Dayfire, Scion of House Dayfire

First Contact

Braeth'el checked his daggers one final time, turning to look over the group with him. From House Dayfire's limited manpower, a total of six would be accompanying him on their journey to Silvermoon. Three were rangers, with one of them being the elf that Braeth'el had met during the conference and later come to learn was named Kesteran. He was the leader of House Dayfire's military forces and had many years of experience in the field; simply having him and his well trained rangers along for the trip put Braeth'el somewhat at ease.

The other three included Telatha herself, and two other members of her coven including the elf Laerille that Braeth'el had met during the meeting. The other elf was named Bellemasra and, like Telatha and Laerille, had Fel runes decorating her face and arms. As for Telatha herself, Braeth'el had insisted that if she were going to accompany the group, she would need to at least hide her face so as not to be mistaken for Biara and attacked by the enemies of House Sunfire.

The noble had agreed to Braeth'el's suggestion, adorning her face with a red and gold half-mask that obscured her features. As Braeth'el turned to look over the group, he could tell she was smiling at him from beneath her mask by the way her eyes scrunched up at the corners. Rather than looking fierce as a half-masked warlock with visible Fel runes might, Braeth'el thought she looked almost cute beneath the disguise, her petite form and simple robes hiding how important she was and any powers she might have.

Shaking his head to clear such thoughts from his mind, he nodded at Kesteran and then addressed the group, his voice firm, "Alright everyone, we're ready to proceed it seems. I need you to all stay close to me, as there may still be foes in the ruins that this portal connects to. We need only win free of the ruins and enter the city proper to achieve some level of safety; there is no way that either House Sunfire nor House Dawnsea will openly attack us on the cobblestones of Sunfury Court."

The other elves all nodded, several looking solemn or grim, and Braeth'el took a deep breath before turning towards the portal, muttering to himself, "Well, here goes nothing."

With that he slipped through the portal, the magic swallowing him up and depositing him back within the ruins of Dayfire Spire, the empty portal room around him looking much the same as when he'd left. The others quickly appeared behind him, staying close and the rangers holding their weapons ready. With silent hand signals to Kesteran, Braeth'el indicated that the rangers should keep a wary eyes on their surroundings and began to lead the group further into the ruins.

At first all went well, and the party moved swiftly through the ruins without incident. As Braeth'el rounded a corner, something alerted him and he held up a hand to halt the group. He dropped down into a crouch, peering ahead along the path. At first he could not identify what it was that had alerted him, but after carefully looking over the rubble strewn path he saw what it was finally; there was freshly fallen rubble blocking a path off to the right. It was clear that someone had altered the path away from the portal room, funneling any travelers down a narrow corridor of fallen stone.

Braeth'el was about to warn the others behind him when he felt someone crouch down beside him and a delicate hand pressed against his shoulder. Telatha's voice came to him over his shoulder, "Is there trouble?"

For a moment he was surprised that she had come forward herself, and then he was struck by the faint but pleasant scent of mint that she perfumed herself with. He shook his head, having to clear his thoughts for the second time that morning before replying, "I think we're being herded down a specific path. They were probably expecting me to come out this way and have prepared an ambush. I'm sorry, my Lady. I may be responsible for leading you into danger."

He felt her hand squeeze his shoulder in reassurance as she answered, "Nonsense. This was always going to be dangerous. And please, call me Telatha or Tela. You are not my vassal, Braeth'el."

He smiled at this, nodding, "Very well...Tela. We're going to need to run from one section of cover to the next. If you look a head, there are fallen arches that we can shelter beneath. I would suggest we hurry to them and assess the situation before proceeding further into more open spaces."

She nodded, turning and whispering the instructions to those behind her. Braeth'el took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come before rising and dashing down the narrow corridor ahead. Behind him he could hear the others doing the same, their footsteps pounding on the rubble. Just as he'd expected, the minute they moved out into the open heads appeared above them on the rubble 'walls' of the corridor, spells and arrows beginning to fall. Fortunately they space they had to dash through was not overly long, and all of the party managed to hurry beneath the shelter of the broken rock arch, each of them gasping for breath.

"Is anyone hit?" Braeth'el asked. Behind them, the narrow corridor where they'd run had scorched and smoking spots where spells had hit and spent arrows laying along the path. The party checked themselves over, each shaking their heads to indicate they were well. Just as they had done this, a bolt of fire was hurled down into the opening of the archway, striking one of the walls and sending chips of stone flying in all directions. A ranger grunted as he was hit by shrapnel.

Telatha hurried over to the ranger, checking his wound, "Are you alright?!"

The ranger nodded, pulling his ringmail away from his skin to examine the wound, "It's just a scratch, my Lady. Please, let us hurry and get you out of danger."

Braeth'el grunted, seconding the opinion and looking to the path ahead. Above them he could hear the shouts of their ambushers and the sounds of boots scurrying on stones as they attempted to cut off further retreat through the rubble. "We need to hurry! The next part is longer, and we will be under fire the whole time. Everyone move as quickly as possible and stay together!"

With that he was off, dashing down the narrow corridor of stone as arrows came down around him. Behind him the rest of the group ran as fast as they could, narrowly avoiding the deadly rain of fire from the elves above them. As Braeth'el made it to cover, he turned and watched as Kesteran joined him, another ranger and Telatha's coven member Bellemasra arriving quickly behind him. Trailing further behind was the last ranger, Telatha, and Laerille.

Just as it seemed the others might make it, a bolt of ice from one of the ambushing spellcasters on the wall struck the stones in front of Laerille. With a scream she threw her hands up and skidded to a halt as she was pelted with stones. It was too late though as a section of the rubble broke away and fell on her, hurling her to the ground and pinning one of her legs beneath it. Her voice cried out in terror, "I've been hit!"

Telatha and the last ranger skidded to a halt, both of them having just reached the edge of the archway. In horror, Telatha looked back, seeing her friend fallen on the path behind them, "Oh Light we need to help her!"

Braeth'el reached out, grabbing her shoulder and shaking his head, "Leave her! You can't go out there again, you'll be murdered!"

Kesteran nodded his agreement, his voice sad, "Aye, my Lady, there are too many foes!"

It was in that moment that Braeth'el came to know that Telatha was truly of Dayfire blood. With anger marring what features of her face he could see, she shoved him away, her voice venomous, "I will NOT leave her! Stay here if you like but I am going back!"

"My Lady! NO!" Kesteran yelled. Braeth'el tried to reach a hand out to stop her but it was too late; she easily avoided his grasp and ran back out into the open, her boots pounding on the stones as she dashed towards Laerille.

To Braeth'el's everlasting surprise, he found himself dashing after the foolish young noble, shaking his head at her audacity and his own stupidity. He shouldn't care; he knew what was going to happen and he was only adding to the body count by putting himself out in the open. And yet....he had to help her. Her bravery deserved at least that much.

Ahead of him Telatha reached Laerille, spells slashing into the ground around her and arrows clattering from the stones. She skidded to a halt, futilely attempting to lift the stone from her friend. Laerille cried out, shaking her head, "My Lady! Go! Get away! They'll kill you too!"

Telatha steadfastly refused, continuing to pull on the stone as her voice echoed out, "No! I will not leave you behind!"

Braeth'el's heart jumped into his throat as he saw two Sin'dorei rise up on the walls above, magic already flaring in their hands. Ahead of him, an assassin jumped down, blades drawn as he dashed towards Telatha's unprotected back. Another jumped down on the far side, speeding towards the two elves struggling in the ruins.

He didn't even think. Fully into his combat awareness, Braeth'el did what he was trained to do; he killed. His blades flashed out, a knife hitting the would-be assassin in the back and spinning him around. Braeth'el's blade parried the next blow, and he lunged, impaling the elf whom he recognized as a House Sunfire assassin on his blade.

Even as his foe fell, Braeth'el's heart sank. Magic flashed on the walls above him, trailing down towards the struggling noble. He had only a second to call out before the spells struck, his voice almost a dirge, "Telatha! WATCH OUT!"

He saw Telatha fall over her friend in the second before the spells hit, explosions rocking the stones and creating a vortex of fire that filled his view. Already mourning, Braeth'el almost turned away but paused as the fire began to swirl up into the air, whipping in a frenzy.

Within the fire stood Telatha, Fel magic surrounding her like a bubble, the flames not reaching her or Laerille who she sheltered beneath herself. In that moment Braeth'el saw her power, saw the runes on her face flaring so brightly he could barely see the young noble. He could tell from where he was that she was angry though, and her anger finally was given release.

Fire rained down upon the walls as she pointed, Fel magic conjured in a second and sweeping her foes from their perches. Elves screamed as they were burned alive, Laerille reaching out to grasp Telatha's leg and feeding more magic into the flames. The coven members had trained together for years, and together their spells were more than enough to drive back the would-be assailants.

Behind Telatha the second assassin lunged, his blade arcing down towards her head. It was halted an inch from her flame-red locks as a voidwalker appeared, its claws grabbing the assassin's wrist and hurling him backwards. From behind the flames and spells Braeth'el could hear him screaming as the vicious demon began to tear him apart, Telatha standing amidst the destruction, directing her magic one final time to drive those who would kill her people...no, her FRIENDS, away from the battle.

And then it was over. The flames died, the Fel magic receeded, the demon disappeared back into whatever hell it had been conjured from, and there was only Telatha and Laerille remaining. With magic flaring on her runes again, she turned and reached down, using some demonic strength to hurl what was probably a boulder weighing a few hundred pounds off of her friend, kneeling down to embrace the fallen elf.

Braeth'el finally reached them, skidding to a halt as he watched Telatha apply a glowing fel-green stone to Laerille's wounded leg, hearing the elf sigh as her injuries were partially mended. He shook his head, reaching down to scoop up the wounded elf before meeting Telatha's gaze.

There was determination in her eyes now, and he got a sense that she would let nothing stop her from saving her people. They said nothing, there being nothing that needed to be said in the silence between them. He merely nodded at her, and she turned and walked towards the rangers who were even now securing the area, their bows at the ready.

As she walked away, Braeth'el found himself admiring Telatha, his voice barely a whisper, "She's...something isn't she?"

In his arms, the wounded Laerille nodded, smiling up at the assassin, "She'll be the best friend you will ever have, if you let her be. I promise you that."

Braeth'el merely nodded, walking after the young noble, the wounded coven member clinging to him as they continued to make their way to safety from the ruins.

Dark Times

Braeth'el sighed as he walked down the corridor, feeling somewhat anxious. Physically he was in much better shape than he had been only a day before. Having been attended to by a skilled priestess, his wounds were on the mend and he was only a little stiff now. He'd been given comfortable quarters, several delicious hot meals, and even the opportunity to stretch a bit in a practice room and training area that the estate had on its grounds.

Although he'd had only a little time to explore, he understood the basic layout of the place where he found himself now. The estate was a large complex that sat atop a rise on a tiny island. There were only a few acres of land beyond the estate itself; just enough for a few small gardens and the like. The island itself rose from the sea, the water crashing against jagged rocks that formed its coasts, making landing a ship near it difficult if not impossible. How the estate even came to be on the island in the first place was a mystery that likely had an answer involving the word 'magic' in it somewhere.

Braeth'el brushed the thought aside as he came to a double door. His escort, the same priestess that had been tending to his injuries, stepped forward and opened the doors for him, leading him into a small council chamber. In the center of the elegant room was a long, polished hardwood table designed to allow a group to speak in conference. The priestess guided Braeth'el to an empty chair at the conference table, pulling it out for him and waiting for him to seat himself comfortably before pushing the chair in for him and leaving. In front of him Braeth'el found a glass of wine and a small empty journal with an attached pencil should he wish to take notes. It was all very formal and business-like, and he found himself grinning at the strange situation.

After situating himself, he glanced around the room, taking in the other elves who were also seated at the table. At the head of the table stood a large, high-backed chair that was currently empty. The two seats closest to this chair were occupied by two female Sin'dorei, both of whom were wearing intricate robes and had magical Fel markings on their faces. One of them had similar markings running down her arm where her sleeve allowed him to see her skin. Clearly the pair were part of a coven of warlocks that were present on the island.

Braeth'el turned, studying the next Sin'dorei along the length of the table and the one sitting opposite from him. An older elf, he was equipped with fine golden and red chainmail armor, a captain's rank pin affixed to his brilliant red cloak. It was clear from the look of him that he was the island's captain of the guard, and would be advising on military matters.

Towards the end of the table sat two older Sin'dorei with somewhat graying hair, a male and female that were both wearing robes but had no sign of magical artifacts on them. The female seemed to radiant a calming presence, and Braeth'el's keen eyes caught sight of a holy symbol at her throat as she turned and spoke to the old elf across from her in a soft whisper. He smiled at her, reaching to pat her hand as he replied, and it became obvious the two were likely a pair.

Just as Braeth'el had completed his evaluation of the elves in the room, a second door leading into the chambers opened and Telatha Dayfire entered the room, walking to the table with a confident stride. She sat elegantly in the large chair at the table's head, smiling at the others in the room. Braeth'el was again struck by her similarity to Biara Sunfire, and found his eyes traveling down to the Fel markings on her face. Did she know how similar they were to the Magistrix's own markings? Did she do it on purpose? With a start Braeth'el realized he'd been staring and when he brought his gaze back up, he found Telatha's eyes affixed on his. She offered him a smile and wink, seeming to confirm his thoughts before she turned her attention to those at the table.

"Good morning everyone, thank you for joining me today," Telatha began, her eyes looking over the others in attendance. "As you all know, the portal to our island has been reactivated after all these years, allowing us to easily reconnect with Silvermoon City and the rest of Quel'Thalas. This momentous event has the potential to be a great boon for our people here, but may represent great harm as well."

Braeth'el shifted in place, stunned to realized that not only had Telatha invited him to a meeting, but to what would likely be a top-secret, extremely important meeting with her advisors. And yet she didn't know him at all. The naivety of the gesture was unbelievable; it was clear she had never navigated the cut throat politics of Silvermoon. Either that or she was overly trusting in nature, which clashed with the fact that she was literally covered in Fel magic. It was almost surreal to the experienced spy, and yet he found himself already starting to like the young noble.

Telatha looked around the room, studying each of the people seated there before continuing, "I have gathered you here today to discuss what our next steps should be. As you know, we have many needs here that must be met, and I do not believe we should throw away the opportunities this event offers us. However, I know some of you will have concerns that we must all discuss."

To Braeth'el's surprise, the older elf at the end of the table actually spoke without being asked; clearly Telatha allowed her advisors freedom to speak their mind, "My Lady, as you know, our little island contains one hundred twenty three souls. One hundred twenty four once Galadry gives birth. Since the fall of the Sunwell the spells that once allowed us to magically grow food and produce fresh water have been waning. Even with our efforts to reinforce the spells, other momentous events such as the Cataclysm damaged the wards and even the anchor stones that were used for this magic. In time, the spells will fade completely, and we will no longer be able to provide for those who live here. I urge you to consider this situation carefully as a result."

Telatha nodded, turning to look at one of the warlocks sitting nearby, "And what of the portal, Laerille? Has the coven managed to secure it on both ends? Will it remain stable and can we open and close it as needed?"

The Sin'dorei she addressed nodded, smiling, "Yes, my Lady. Our spells have been effective and control of the new portal is now established. In addition it seems that when our guest, Mister Braeth'el, arrived he unwittingly destroyed the portal wards that had been present over the island. With time and materials we will be able to open additional portals to other parts of Quel'Thalas. The one we have now leads to the ruins of the Dayfire Spire, and is not entirely useful for transporting large amounts of goods and materials."

Telatha took this news in, smiling at her coven leader before looking at the others, "It is my belief that we must take advantage of this situation. As Astrael indicated, our food and water supplies must be seen to first. We cannot allow what remains of House Dayfire to die out due to the lack of basic necessities. We either need to establish new portals to other parts of Quel'Thalas, or make arrangements for ships to arrive to deliver the needed supplies."

The elf across from Braeth'el stirred, clearing his throat, "My Lady, I should point out that entering Silvermoon could put our people at risk. There are clearly going to be hostile Houses that would not wish to see you succeed, not the least of which is House Sunfire. I would recommend we send diplomats first to make arrangements for such materials. We cannot fend off an attack by one of the other Houses with the few men we have here."

Telatha opened her mouth to respond and the elf named Laerille cut in before she could answer, "He's right of course! We should send a diplomat first as it might be dangerous. I will volunteer to reach out to some of the other Houses to see what aid we can gain."

Telatha smiled and then shook her head, "No, I will not allow any of you to put yourselves in danger for me. I will do this task myself, although others may accompany me."

This was met by a chorus of objections, the old elf at the end of the table the loudest and talking over the others, "My Lady...you represent the only hope that the remnants of House Dayfire have. If you are killed or captured, the rest of us will be bereft of our homes. I urge you to reconsider this course. You do not even know for sure if the other Houses will accept you given your weak blood line. They may dismiss you out of hand."

Telatha smiled, holding a hand up to silence the objections. Braeth'el noted with some surprise that the others at the table fell silent not because they feared this noble, but because they respected her. He could see it on their faces, see it in the pride the older couple had for her, or the joy of friendship the two coven members had for her. It was completely alien to Braeth'el given his dealings with Telatha's half-sister Biara.

"Please, everyone, I understand your concerns," Telatha said softly, looking at each of them in turn. "I know that this course is dangerous, but I believe that if we are to prosper, if we are to truly restore the Dayfire name, that I must be the one to step forth. The other Houses will not respect me or aid any of us if they do not believe I am willing to take matters into my own hands for my people. I will, of course, defer to each of you in terms of making sure we have security and the like, but I know in my heart that I must do this."

This was met with silence as each of the elves looked at each other. After a moment, there was a general nodding of heads as they fell into agreement. Into the silence, Braeth'el spoke, his voice still somewhat froggy from his injuries, "My Lady Dayfire, if I may speak?"

Telatha turned to him, smiling happily, "Of course, Braeth'el, that is why I invited you here. Your insights may aid us in choosing the right path. I do not wish to come into conflict with your former employer unless she challenges my rights to a name that she cast aside."

Braeth'el nodded, looking at the others, "I would suggest then that you consider carefully who is most likely to aid you, and who might seek to destroy you. You will likely be safe in Silvermoon for a time, as the other Houses are unaware of your existence. Once that changes, then your concerns will come more to the fore. Before that happens, you need to secure alliances, or at least friendships, lest they come down on you like a hammer."

Telatha nodded, obviously soaking in the advice, "What do you suggest then, Braeth'el? I am open to hear anything you would recommend."

Braeth'el smiled, leaning forward as if sharing a secret with the young noble. He spoke only two words, but he knew he was steering her in the right direction, steering her to the safety that she deserved. The fact that he actually wanted her to be safe went to show how charismatic she was.

"House Felo'melorn."

Telatha smiled, nodding at Braeth'el and then looking at the others again, "So be it. Let us begin our preparations then. We will take steps to begin establishing new portals, begin taking inventory of what supplies we need, and each of you shall prepare suggestions for who will be accompanying me on our expedition. We shall set forth in a few days and seek to contact this House Felo'melorn. If need be, I shall beg them to aid us. House Dayfire will not fade while I guide this ship, I promise you that."

The others all smiled, each of them rising and bowing as Telatha herself did. Braeth'el rose with the others, watching in wonder as the noble walked from the room, the doors closing softly behind her.

In that moment, he actually believed she might be able to redeem the name of Dayfire.

Shameful Secrets

Sunfire. Felo'melorn. Dawnsea. Sunhaven. The names ran over and over through Braeth'el's mind as he stumbled through the ruins and tumbled stones. Like curses that had descended upon the Sin'dorei, the Houses had directly impacted his life in many ways, mostly bad, and now it seemed they would be the end of him. He cursed bitterly as a loose stone made him trip and he leaned hard against a standing bit of broken wall. He looked down, shaking his head in disgust as his blood dripped onto the grey stones and ran into the dust.

They were coming for him. He could hear their boots scuffing against fallen rocks and other bits of debris that made up the ruins of Dayfire Spire. With the wounds he'd taken, they would likely catch him before much longer, at least if he wasn't fast. It was getting hard to see, his vision greying around the edges as his lifeblood pumped from the stab wound in his kidney. Even so, he pressed on, hoping to find that which he sought.

To think after all of my years of service, it has come to this.

He had made a crucial mistake; he had fought with the Scion of House Sunfire. Biara had not been pleased to hear his opinions about her sister, Kyliska or the recent events between House Sunfire and House Felo'melorn. She had dismissed him in a bit of a rage, and he had left to give her time to calm herself. Had he left it at that, perhaps none of this would have happened, but he'd gone and pressed the point by attempting to get to Kyliska herself to talk to her. It was this crucial error that resulted in his present situation; being hunted through Silvermoon by Biara's men as well as the enemies who had outed his identity in House Dawnsea. As a spy, he had failed, and a failed spy had little time to live in the long run.

There is one more option. I will not let them catch me if I can help it.

He'd been trained from a youth to spy for House Dayfire, which later became House Sunfire. Through all the years he'd recalled his training, he'd memorized the secrets of the House passed down to him from the older spymasters that Tel'athar Dayfire had employed. He'd been a good student, and now he prayed that within the ruins of the spire he could find one of the secrets he'd been taught long ago.

As he coughed up blood, he steeled himself for one last effort, the sound of his pursuers drawing closer. The top of the spire had fallen upon the ruins of the rest of the Dayfire holdings, the structures near the very top crushing those beneath. It was in this part of the ruined edifice that Braeth'el hoped to find his salvation. As he ran, his efforts were rewarded when he encountered a ruined arch sticking up from amongst the stones; part of the lattice of arches that had once surrounded the portal room. He darted beneath the arch, seeing the small insets where the portals had once been activated within the spire.

Behind him he heard shouts as the trail of blood he'd left was discovered, and he increased his pace, hurrying to one of the small spaces where a portal might once have stood. This one contained a statue, and had obviously not been used even in the spire's glory. With a grunt he leaned on the statue, pushing it over all the way and shattering it on the broken marble floor. With a shout he slapped his bloodstained hand on the statue's base, the word of magic he'd uttered activating spells that had been long dormant.

A portal ripped a hole in space, forming as the runes hidden beneath the statue came to life. Without waiting to see if his enemies had found him, Braeth'el hurled himself through the portal, sighing as the magic whisked him away. He didn't know where the portal lead, only that it existed and wherever it lead would be better than being hunted through the ruins of Dayfire Spire by elves that were once his allies.

His vision blurred for a moment as he was taken from one place to another, the old portal's magic still working perfectly well. With a flash of light Braeth'el rematerialized, falling forward on his knees and then collapsing on what appeared to be a cool marble floor, groaning as his wounds finally overcame him.

Through dimming eyes, he looked up, shock snapping him from the brink of unconsciousness as he realized he had appeared in a small audience chamber. His shock was mirrored on the faces of several Sin'dorei who were within the chamber, a half dozen pair of fel green eyes locking on him.

But that was not what made him gasp, what made him claw his way back up to his knees and gape with open mouthed surprise. It was not the small but richly appointed room. Not the spellcasters standing around him. It was her. It was the elf that rose from the throne that sat in the center of the room, her perfect green eyes widened as she looked him over.

He was staring at Biara Sunfire.

She walked towards him, her form graceful as she approached. He braced himself to be struck down with magic, only to feel a hand gently caress his face before tilting his chin up to look at her. As he gazed into glowing green eyes, a singular fact assaulted his dazed mind; the runes on the elf's face glowed fel green, not the light blue of arcane magic.

"You are injured, friend," the elf said softly. To Braeth'el's everlasting surprise, the obviously noble elf fell to her knees beside him, her hands gently supporting him so he didn't fall over, concern on her face. "I can aid you, but it may be painful. I am sorry."

He tried to speak, but found it difficult to breathe let alone force the words out. As he watched dully, she snapped her fingers and one of her attendants dashed off, returning a moment later with a glowing green stone. She took it in her hand, her gaze holding his steadily as she firmly gripped his shoulder, her other hand bringing the stone to his chest.

Fel magic flared around the stone, the power burning through him. He grunted in pain and felt the elf holding him squeeze his shoulder in sympathy as the fel energies torn into his flesh, knitting the worst of his hurts back together. Although the pain was exquisite for a moment, once it faded he felt much better than he had, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"That should hold you for now," the strange not-Biara said, smiling at him. "You've had a rough time of things, and will need rest before you are well enough to travel again. I will see to it that arrangements are made for you."

"T-thank you...my Lady," Braeth'el said. For the first time in a while, he actually didn't feel the need to lie about how he felt. "I'd be gone if not for you, and I am grateful."

"No thanks are needed," the noble elf said, rising slowly. "The Sin'dorei must support one another if we are to move forward as a people. I would do the same for any in Quel'Thalas."

To his surprise, he saw his own blood on her hands and staining the elegant gown she wore. She seemed to not be overly concerned with this fact, wiping her hands on her dress. She paused, looking at the portal before speaking again, "It has been long since that has been activated. Far too long. Does it represent hope, or does it portend darkness falling upon us at last?"

As if to answer her words, the portal flickered and spat magic, forms appearing from it an instant later. Like Braeth'el, they blinked in surprise, weapons in hand as they assessed the situation. There were four of them in total, three assassins and one of Biara Sunfire's hand picked apprentices.

The apprentice  pointed at Braeth'el, triumph in his voice, "You. The game is up. You will be taken to Sunfire Estate and will meet your punishment there. Surrender yourself now."

Braeth'el opened his mouth to answer when the noble cut in, her voice firm, "This Sin'dorei is under my protection now. You will disarm yourselves at once in my presence."

The apprentice sneered at the elf, shaking his head, "This does not concern you. House Sunfire will have this elf for crimes against the Scion. Stand aside or we will take him by force."

From his position on the floor, Braeth'el saw the noble stiffen, her back ramrod straight as she glared at the intruders, "You have entered MY domain now. House Sunfire has no claim, no power here. Those who cast down our name, cast out our people, will not dictate terms to me. Know that this elf is in the custody of House Dayfire now... as are you."

The apprentice blinked in surprise, the others with him growing wary as they realized they were somewhat surrounded by potentially hostile combatants. He pointed at the noble, his voice condescending and magic forming in his hands, "And who are you to dare challenge the will of Magistrix Sunfire?"

The answer that came next would stun Braeth'el for hours to come. To his everlasting surprise, the red-haired elf glared at the apprentice, fel magic glowing brightly in her eyes and on her fingertips as she pointed at the one challenging her, "I am Telatha Dayfire, and you have illegally entered the holdings of House Dayfire. You WILL surrender to me. Now."

Gasps arose from the intruders, and they looked at each other warily. Amongst the four, the spellcaster shook his head, bringing his hands up to cast a spell at Braeth'el, "You are an imposter. This elf belongs to Magistri-"

His sentence was never finished as Telatha Dayfire pointed at him, fel magics flashing in the air. He stumbled once as the magic struck him, fel energies eating away at him from the inside. As the others watched in horror, his skin began to shrink into his body, his vitality sucked out by the vicious spell. A moment later a barely fleshed skeleton collapsed to the ground, the rest of the room dead silent.

Telatha's voice spoke into the silence, the fel runes on her face glowing wickedly as she looked at the other three elves, "I am the Scion of House Dayfire. You may choose to surrender to me, or you may choose as he did, but choose quickly for my patience grows thin. You have trespassed upon what little domain those of the true blood of Tel'athar still hold, and I will tolerate no fools in my presence."

The other three looked at each other, their weapons clattering to the marble floor of the audience chamber as they surrendered, retainers stepping forward to grab them and presumably haul them off towards some dungeon. Braeth'el simply stared, trying to come to terms with everything that had just happened in the past five minutes.

Telatha Dayfire smiled, turning towards him and again kneeling beside him, her eyes level with his, "You will be tended to, and allowed to continue your journey as you choose. I will not let the machinations of the other Houses decide my course of action. For too long I have remained trapped on this island, unable to make a move for fear of obliteration by those who have held titles that they no longer deserve. Choose as you will, friend, but you will always have sanctuary here should you desire it."

With that she rose, turning towards several of her retainers and nodding. The bowed, turning and walking over to the double doors that lead to the chamber, opening them for their Lady. In the distance, Braeth'el could hear the ocean crashing against stones, the sound almost soothing. As Telatha walked away, he called out, his voice echoing in the chamber, "My Lady!"

She paused, turning to look at him, her movements so identical to Biara Sunfire's that Braeth'el could only shake his head in wonder. When she arched an eyebrow in question, he quickly sputtered out what he wanted to say, "I will choose to stay here, my Lady. I owe you for saving my life, and...I wish to learn more."

She smiled, the look identical to another noble he knew, her musical voice containing a hint of sweetness that Biara had never shown him, "Then learn you shall. Get some rest, and we will talk again. I must convene with my advisers to discuss the portal and what it might mean for the true House Dayfire."

With that she turned and walked out of the room, the power in her stride and confidence in her tone leaving Braeth'el with little doubt that he'd just encountered one of Biara Sunfire's blood relatives. The question remained as to whether or not this would be a good thing, or a terrible thing.

Time would tell.