A Desert Rose

Night had fallen over the sands of Tanaris, the temperature dropping off abruptly. Travelers in the desert wastes typically would take shelter at this time, either in tents or in cave openings that dotted the rocky outcroppings throughout the region. Some even ventured further into the cavernous tunnels beneath the sands, although many did not return from such adventures.

Rosellina herself had entered one of the shallow caverns as night had fallen, following the tracks of the Waste Wanderer bandits that had taken their prisoners away from the wreckage of the pillaged camp. Over dune and through blowing sandstorms she had tracked them, the trail tenuous in some places and clear in others. At the end of their travels, the bandits had entered a narrow cave mouth, setting sentries and lighting torches to illuminate its depths. Rosellina came to the conclusion that the bandits were using the caves as a base of operations as they raided across the deserts and did business with the local pirates that landed amongst the coves of the Tanaris shoreline.

Infiltrating the caverns had been child's play; the bandits were not very alert after their successful raid and their sentries had been drinking. She'd slipped past them in the night without even having to try very hard, making her way deeper within the snaking tunnels and keeping herself concealed whenever the occasional raider passed by. Along the way she noted that the bandits had a large supply of stores, weapons, and other pilfered goods stored in side caverns and along the walls of the tunnels.

After a time Rosellina found herself slipping into a wider chamber deep within the bandits' hideout, her eyes taking in the sight of the prisoners she'd been seeking. They were manacled to the walls, their arms held high above their heads by the chains, forcing their backs and shoulders into uncomfortable positions. Rosellina felt pity for them as soon as she saw them, hurrying into the room and checking for guards. It was clear for the time being and she quickly looked the prisoners over, ignoring the soft cries for help that many of them uttered.

“Y-you actually came after me...?” the voice said with some degree of shock. Rosellina turned her head to see Braeth'el hanging from one of the walls, his face bruised and his lips puffy from the beating he'd received and lack of water. “You really are n-new to the business aren't you? S-should have cut your losses Rose...”

Rosellina rolled her eyes, walking over to him and checking him for serious injuries. Satisfied that he was unwounded, she stepped closer, her voice a whisper, “I need you and you know it. You know who the buyer was. I have to get you out of here so we can figure this out. I've got the weapons.”

He nodded, appraising her with his eyes before replying, “Well, I'm glad you've managed to keep working on the case while I've been hanging around...”

Rosellina smirked, stepping still closer and reaching up to examine the manacles. They were locked but a few tools in her belt pouch would handle that. They were up high over her head though and picking them would be difficult. She took out her tools, pressing herself against Braeth'el as she reached up to begin working, her face inches from his. She began the process, pick manipulating the tumblers before she realized that she felt uncomfortable, she looked down to see Braeth'el staring into her eyes.

To her everlasting surprise, the blood elf leaned forward and kissed her. She found herself at a loss both for words and for breath, the kiss immediately making her flush. His lips tasted salty and had a copper tang of blood on them, and for a moment she just leaned against him, her eyes slipping closed.

Around them the other prisoners began to complain, whispered murmurs of “Are you serious?” “Get a room!” and “Is this really the right time for that...?” rising into the air. Rosellina broke off the kiss, flushing bright red as she reached up to work on the lock again.

“Just in case we don't make it,” Braeth'el said. “In this business, you learn to take those moments of enjoyment that you can, while you can.”

Rosellina huffed, still working at the lock, trying to fight back a smile as she whispered back, “We're going to make it. It'll just be one more minu-”

“And what do we have here?!” a voice shouted. Rosellina's head snapped around and her eyes widened. Four men had entered the room, three of them obviously some sort of honor guards and the fourth the leader of the bandits. She could tell by the golden ornamentation that decorated his leather armor, wrists, and fingers. But that was not why she stared in abject shock at the man, or why she found herself frozen in place.

He looked exactly like Rosellina.

It wasn't just a faint resemblance like the other bandits had, the man had the same features, the same soft curve to his eyes, the same resolute expression that Rosellina herself often wore. If there was any doubt that her heritage was from this region, that doubt had been dashed away in an instant. Numbly Rosellina pressed the lock picking tools into Braeth'el's hands, praying he'd be able to finish the work and free himself while she confronted the threat. The other prisoners moaned in terror as she stepped into the center of the room.

The resemblance between the bandit lord and Rosellina was not lost on the man. He stared at her, his glare boring into her, “So..it seems that you live, despite the efforts of my men. To think that a daughter of Karag has been alive and wandering the world all this time; it is enough to make me laugh.”

Rosellina felt like she'd been slapped. She eyed the man warily, studying his features and then looking over his honor guards. She didn't like what she saw; the men were obviously well trained and prepared for violence at any given moment. Despite this, she also felt a burning need to know. “Y-you...you are my father...?”

Bandit Lord Karag laughed, the sound echoing in the chambers, “I would think so. Long ago a daughter was lost to me, spirited away by her bitch of a mother. Although she paid for this with her life, it is clear that the child has lived on and returns to us. Isn't that so...Rose? It is easy enough to remember what she called you, naming you after the flowers that bloom here.”

Rosellina felt a chill run down her spine as he said her name. She shook her head, trying to deny it but there was no way other explanation. She had finally discovered where she was from in the most horrible way possible. “That is my name, and your words likely ring true. I have come for these prisoners, and this elf particularly.”

The bandit lord laughed again, shaking his head, “You will have nothing! Did you think that being my daughter would get you special privileges? That I would be overjoyed to see you? Your mother was harem trash, and there are dozens more like you in this camp. You are a nothing, and you will do as you are told. These prisoners are our claim in battle, and will be sold soon enough. Step away from them and surrender your weapons. You will rejoin our camp and take the place you were meant to have when you were born before your mother disobeyed me.”

Rosellina shook her head, her voice firm, “No.”

Karag glared at her, fury blazing in his eyes, “You dare to defy me? You are just like your mother, and you will suffer the same fate, bleeding out on the sands that have been our home. You will drop your weapons and surrender now, or your suffering will last for days.”

Rosellina drew her swords, pointing one at the man she now knew was her father, “There is only one man who commands me. His name is King Varian Wrynn. Until the moment that I draw my last breath my blade will strike as he wills it. In the name of the King and the Alliance, I order you to withdraw or Light help you, I will cut you down where you stand, father or not.”

Karag's eyes widened in shock and he roughly gestured, his honor guards advancing on Rosellina as a group. She took a deep breath and waited for them to get close enough before bursting into action.

To say that the bandits were surprised by her ferocious attack would be an understatement. The first man to attack her had his sword cut from his hands with an expert parry, even as the next man received a shallow, but poisoned cut across his arm, blood pouring from the wound that wouldn't clot. Rosellina deftly dodged out of the way of a cut from the third man, kicking sand into his eyes and blinding him. He stumbled away from her, furiously rubbing at his face as he tried to clear his vision.

The man Rosellina had cut ran at her again, and she parried his blow and then gouged open his chest with the tip of her sword, sending him reeling back and dazing him. The man she had disarmed attempted to bend down to retrieve his weapon and got a boot to the face for his troubles, his body tumbling back into the sand behind him.

Karag roared as his men were defeated, not even waiting for them to get out of the way as he drew a wicked two handed sword and charged Rosellina. He brought the weapon up and then slashed it down at her, arms rippling with strength, “Die daughter. Join your mother in death!”

Rosellina managed to block the blow by catching it in the 'X' of her crossed swords. Unfortunately Karag was far stronger than her, his blow shattering one of her rapiers and forcing her feet back in the sand. Partially disarmed, Rosellina flicked her wrist and engaged a gnomish device in her bracer, blades flicking out. She punched her fist into her father's shoulder, the blades tearing into his half-pauldron and leaving three bloody holes there. He howled, swinging his sword around and attempting to decapitate Rosellina, forcing her to drop to the sand to avoid the blow.

With a grin on his face he loomed over her, sword coming up as he prepared to deliver the death blow, his words echoing in the room, “It is a shame. You honor our line with your skill in battle, but your disobedience means I must end you. Die daughter, by the one that created you.”

His blow never came. Even as he went to bring the sword up, a rather solid metal cudgel struck him in the back of the skull and laid him out cold on the sandy floor of the room. Braeth'el stood behind him, a smirk on his face and the manacles on the walls behind him hanging empty. He looked at Rosellina and nodded, “I figured you didn't want me to kill daddy out of hand. Perhaps he'll learn a valuable lesson about being a proper role model after he wakes up.”

Rosellina merely nodded, breathing hard and shaking from what she'd just been through both emotionally and physically. Braeth'el held a hand out to her, and she took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Without a word he turned to leave and she paused, “What about the other prisoners...?”

“Leave them. We don't have time. The fighting was heard throughout the caverns,” came the curt reply as the blood elf walked out of the room.

She knew he was right, but it didn't sit well with her. She walked over to her father's unconscious form, searching him quickly and taking the keys for the manacles from his belt. She pressed it into the hands of one of the prisoners, at least giving them the chance to free themselves before she turned and hurried after the blood elf.

Minutes later the two had made their way through the caverns, using stealth and guile to avoid detection by the guards. Without further conflict they managed to win their freedom, walking out onto the moonlit sands of Tanaris together, with Rosellina leading Braeth'el away.

She opened her mouth to say something to the elf when suddenly she felt the metal cudgel he had picked up collide with the back of her head. She saw stars for a moment before blackness rose to claim her.

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

Rosellina woke up with a stinging headache, her body leaning casually against a palm tree at a deserted oasis in the middle of Tanaris. She blinked, rubbing her aching skull as she took in her surroundings. She'd been placed carefully so as to avoid having the sun beat down on her while she was unconscious, and judging by the light it seemed she must have been out for a few hours.

Beneath her was a blanket to keep her comfortable from the heated sand, and a water-skin lay beside her, taken from the sparkling blue waters of the oasis. Rosellina groaned, still rubbing her head and taking a drink before noticing a note beneath the water skin. It was written in elegant script, the message clean and concise.

Rose,

Terribly sorry, but my mission must come first. The next stage will bring the weapons (which I've taken) to Quel'Thalas and beyond. Places where you cannot tread. Rest assured that this will be resolved to both of our satisfactions.

I hope you like the oasis. It is a good place to recover after a difficult adventure. I have left you there both for appreciation for my rescue as well as because of the fact that it seemed most fitting for a beautiful desert rose. I will remember you fondly.

With warmth,

Braeth'el

Spymaster of House Sunfire

Rosellina's eyes widened as she read the letter, her emotions ranging from outrage to amusement to a flush of embarrassment at the end. She shook her head, taking the note and dousing it with water until the ink ran; she couldn't have evidence of her working with a Sin'dorei spy after all. It could put both of them at risk.

She sighed, shaking her head. Braeth'el didn't understand how SI:7 worked. It was not enough that she knew he would continue with their objective; she had to have evidence herself that it was complete and report on the identity of the buyer. She wasn't out of the game yet, just a step behind once again.

“Really, next time I AM going to get one step ahead of you Braeth'el,” she murmured, rubbing the back of her head again.

She sighed, rising and walking towards the sparkling water of the oasis. She'd had enough emotional and physical trauma for one day. It was time to recover and plan her next steps. She resolutely decided not to think about the man that had fathered her, and what had become of her mother; those were things for another day, something to investigate when duty didn't call her.

Rosellina Cooke wouldn't stop until she saw the mission through to the end.