Old Friends

Braeth'el made his way through the dimly lit tavern, weaving between drunken patrons and tables filled with rather shady characters engaged in who knew what manner of business. Deep in the heart of Silvermoon's Murder Row, the little tavern was a gathering place for many of the city's less reputable citizens and a place where one's business was generally not questioned.

Braeth'el moved deeper into the tavern, the local patrons leaving him alone after taking one look at the muscular spymaster. The people in the tavern had their own worries and tangling with someone who looked like he could feed them their own weapons was not high on the agenda. The general rule of the place was be strong or be a victim, and Braeth'el was hardly a victim.

Furthest from the exit, the light was even dimmer, the patrons this far into the place whispering amongst themselves or drinking themselves into a stupor. Braeth'el stepped over one inebriated tavern-goer and pressed on towards a table near the wall where a lone figure sat by himself. As he approached, Braeth'el took a moment to study the Sin'dorei to ensure he had the right person, and a smirk played over his face as he confirmed the other's identity.

Long red hair was tied up in a top-knot to keep it out of the elf's face. Wearing a studded leather vest with pants and combat boots that had seen long years of use, the elf was clearly in better physical shape even than Braeth'el. Bulging muscles rippled along the elf's arms as he brought a cold ale up to his lips, and scars that appeared to be claw marks were visible even from a distance in the dim lighting. As Braeth'el stepped closer, fel green eyes studied him from beneath the mug of ale before the elf set the glass down hard, giving the other a long hard stare.

For a moment, neither elf moved and then Braeth'el grinned, stepping forward and extending his hand, "Ketheron, you old dragonhawk!"

The elf at the table returned the grin, his hand coming up to clasp Braeth'el's wrist, who did the same, their handshake a well established ritual between two friends who hadn't seen one another for years, "Brae! You salty bastard; I can't believe you're actually still alive! I half expected someone to attack me here in the tavern after I sent that letter."

Braeth'el smirked, turning and shoving a passed-out drunk from a nearby stool and sliding it over to Ketheron's table. He nodded at a passing waitress, gesturing for two more ales and completely ignoring her half-naked rear as she shimmied away to go fetch the drinks. In the hazy smoke and dimness of the tavern's interior he laughed, still studying his old friend, "Come on now, our enemies were a little smarter than that, no?"

Ketheron chuckled, taking another pull of his ale, "No, not really. Anyone that fucked with the two of us at once always ended up paying for it the hard way. Still, it's a relief to know you actually are alive and the rumors I've heard about you are true."

Braeth'el smiled, leaning against the table and nodding at his friend, "You as well. When I got your letter I couldn't believe you'd rolled back into town. Last I heard of you was about some fighting out in the Plaguelands and later Northrend. You still with an outfit?"

Ketheron shook his head, "Nah, my last group was some mercs heading out to Draenor. Finished training that bunch about a month ago. Probably chewed up and spit out by the Iron Horde now from what I hear about that place."

Braeth'el chuckled, "I somehow doubt they got chewed up if you were training them. I'm still alive aren't I? Your training sticks and works well."

Ketheron grinned, nodding, "I suppose it does. Either way, I'm done with that group for now. Probably sign up with some more mercs soon and do it all over again or maybe head out there myself if I've the urge. Figured though I'd check to see if the rumors were true while I was stopped over here. Sure enough, you're not only alive, but still working for the Dayfires eh?"

Braeth'el paused a moment as the half-naked waitress returned, setting two cold mugs of ale down on the table. He grinned, tossing her a few coins before shoving one of the drinks over at his friend, leaving a trail of condensation on the table. Ketheron grinned, finishing his first and setting the empty mug aside before picking up the second, and Braeth'el joined him, taking up his own mug and taking a long pull on the cold ale, "Yep. Got a sweet position there and I'm not likely to be leaving. A lot has happened since you've been gone, Keth. It'll rock your world."

Ketheron smirked, leaning back in his chair, "Well, enlighten me. Is there some trouble or..?"

Braeth'el shook his head, leaning forward and smiling, "Bia's alive, Keth. She was hidden away for all these years by Tel'athar. They had a child together."

Ketheron's eyes widened in surprise and then a large smile spread across his face. He raised his mug at Braeth'el, his voice low, "That...is probably the best news I've heard in many years. Always liked your sister and I'm glad to hear it. It was hard when she left, hard on both of us. Looks like things are turning around for you now."

Braeth'el took another drink, nodding at his old friend, "I'd say so. And it doesn't have to be just me. When I got your letter I started to think back on everything and where we've all been with our lives. I know it was hard for you, after...you know."

Ketheron nodded, his smile fading a bit as he spoke, "Aye, it was hard when Arcadia passed. Sometimes I wish I'd have gone with her. Life just hasn't been the same since you know? Either way, I do what I know how to do and keep living. She'd have wanted that."

Braeth'el was silent for a few, taking a few more drinks, "She would have, but she'd have wanted you to be happy too. You know that. I've got a nice place now, a life I can be happy with. I didn't think I'd say such a thing, but I've found a woman who is to me as she was to you, Keth. I'm settling down, getting out of the business."

Ketheron's eyes widened in shock and he shook his head, "Well...I never thought I'd see the damn day! Who is she?"

"The Lady Kyliska Sunfire, ruler of House Sunfire which is where the Dayfires ended up," Braeth'el said with a grin.

Ketheron laughed, taking another drink and slamming his mug down, "Well fuck me, next I'll be having to call you Lord Braeth'el the Trollslayer or some such eh? That's pretty damn amazing I've got to say. I bet Bia is just about as shocked as I am."

Braeth'el laughed, "I haven't discussed it too much with her yet. She set out as soon as she came back to go fetch her daughter from trouble. I'll have to break it to her slowly so she doesn't faint away."

Ketheron's laughter grew, "Yeah, like your sister's some kind of delicate flower. Please; the woman's kicked my ass enough times for me to know better than that. Likely you don't want her kicking your lady's ass too."

Braeth'el joined him in laughing, shaking his head, "When you meet Kyliska, you'll know that nobody just goes and kicks her ass. She's...a lot like we were, back then."

Ketheron nodded, bringing his mug up in a toast to his friend, "Well, here's to you and the Lady Kyliska then! I hope you really can settle down. Let me tell you though; if you do, you don't ever let her go, you understand? I made that mistake; I thought I knew better how to protect 'Cadia, and I let her down in the end. Don't end up like me. If she's really like Bia, then you two fight together, stand together, and die together one day. Don't let this 'settling down' crap get in the way of that."

Braeth'el brought his glass up, nodding in respect at his friend, "I won't, Keth. And you know that shit wasn't your fault. I think you've spent enough time dwelling on it too. Why don't you stay a bit longer? We've got plenty of work for you, and we've got a pretty little guard captain with a mouth on her that might keep you in line for a few days."

Ketheron barked out another laugh, finishing his ale and slamming the empty glass down, "If you had told me a hundred years ago that it was you ending up trying to get me laid I'd have laughed my ass off at you. Times change eh?"

"They do indeed my friend," Braeth'el said with a smile. "Even so, consider it yes? We could use someone like you around."

Ketheron nodded, "I just might do that. I've had enough of mercs anyway. They fight for pay but they never pay me enough to train them. I don't know about settling down, but if there's trouble I'm always around, you know that. Besides, I want to see this Kyliska that's won you over. She'd better have an amazing ass and tits if she's won the heart of Tel'athar's spymaster."

Braeth'el grinned and nodded, "Oh, she's pretty fucking amazing. And let me tell you, beyond her curves there's a fire in her that you wouldn't believe. She's a fighter for sure, and she'll keep me warm when my bones are tired and cold I'm thinking."

Ketheron nodded, gesturing to a passing waitress to bring them more to drink, eyeing her up like a piece of candy before turning his attention back to Braeth'el, "Good. I'll want to meet her. And of course this guard captain! But before that, let's have another round and how about you fill me in on what's been going on around here while I've been away."

Braeth'el nodded, leaning towards his friend, his voice low, "Ha! So, remember Tel'athar's bitch of a wife? Boy do I have a story for you..."

Ketheron leaned forward as well, a smirk on his face as his friend began to tell the tales of the years between his last visit to Silvermoon, the two talking long into the deepest hours of the night. It was a reunion of two friends from childhood separated by the paths they'd chosen to walk, but still honoring the spirit of their camaraderie from all the years before. When they parted, it was with the knowledge that it would not be their last meeting, and that things were changing for the better.

Banishing Worries

Braeth'el pushed through the foliage, making his way down the narrow footpath in the heart of Eversong. The sunlight was bright and warm, slanting down through the trees as a faint breeze rustled the branches above him. In his hand he carried an envelope, the seal on it broken and the documents within it already committed to memory.

Rosellina had been true to her word, and she had compiled a complete report for Braeth'el and left it at their agreed upon drop-off. The SI:7 agent was efficient, and the intelligence she provided, while not exactly what he'd been hoping for, had at least given him a few avenues to explore in their search for Telatha. Certainly it appeared that a group matching her description was observed by Alliance intelligence passing through into Shadowmoon Valley, although whether it was by choice or under coercion it was hard to tell based on the spotty visual descriptions and distance from which the scout had seen them.

That part of the report was not what brought Braeth'el out into the woods however, for Rosellina had also fulfilled the second part of her promise. Contained within the seemingly innocuous envelope was information pertaining to Kyliska's biological father and sister. The location of their home, and a time to meet with them had also been included. Braeth'el had poured over the information, not happy at all with the fact that he knew Kyliska would want to go and see them, suspecting a trap of some sort. Rosellina may have been pleasant to work with, but she was an SI:7 agent and she had her own agenda. He would never allow her friendly facade to fool him into complacence.

Ahead the sound of a stream bubbling over rocks could be heard, and Braeth'el walked the rest of the way down the path towards the sound, his thoughts still brooding. He'd gone to seek Kyliska, only to be informed by the guards that she had seemed melancholy and had told them she was going to go tan by herself at a secluded area in Eversong. Braeth'el knew several places she liked to go for thinking (and tanning!) and had selected the most likely of them to seek her out.

As he pushed through the last bit of foilage along the path, he stopped and stared, having found the Sin'dorei he was seeking. Kyliska stood in the middle of a pool of water that was fed by the flowing stream, a glistening waterfall flowing from a rocky outcropping above pouring down into one end of the rippling water. The sunlight reflected down onto the bubbling surface, breaking into a thousand glimmers of light and bouncing around the clearing that surrounded the pool.

It was not the beautiful scenery that caused Braeth'el to pause however, it was Kyliska herself. Clad in a skimpy red and gold bikini that covered very little, she stood beneath the flowing waterfall, the liquid cascading down her sculpted, tanned body and glimmering in beads on her smooth skin. Her long bleach-blonde hair hung down her back, and her head was tilted up into the flowing water as she ran her hands through it.

She is perfection. Everything about her is absolutely gorgeous. How could I ever doubt how I feel about her? What does it matter what is contained in this file? There is not a hint of Kaldorei about her. Her skin is flawless, her ears just the right length, and her body...well, there is that to consider isn't there?

Braeth'el grinned to himself, his eyes roaming over the object of his desire and the one who had surprisingly won his heart. His feelings for Kyliska were still new and fresh; they were unusual for him and not something he'd experienced in many years or thought to feel again. Each time he laid his eyes upon her, the force and strength of those feelings became apparent again and each time they surprised him with their intensity.

None of this matters to me. Only she matters. I should just tell her that the file was never delivered, but that too would disappoint her. I can't shield her from everything, even though right now I'd certainly like to.

He stood on the edge of the pool, shifting uncertainly in place, the file in his hand almost like a burning ember so intense was his desire to be rid of it. But he knew that she would be upset if he did that, and as he considered it further, she turned and saw him.

Her face fell the moment she laid eyes on him, the beautiful smile he was accustomed to erased with a frown of worry. He knew that she was aware of what he was holding, why he was here. He could see the hidden anxiety in her expression, the constant worry over whether or not he really accepted her for what she was. He could tell in the nervous way she paused under the flowing water, standing in the thigh-deep pool and gazing at him with her beautiful fel-green eyes that she didn't know what would come next.

He dropped the folder on the ground beside him, letting it rest on the sand there, delaying the news and the further anxiety it would bring her. There was something more she needed before she was ready to face that; he knew that she needed to know she didn't face it alone.

He reached down and yanked off his shirt, tossing it over the file as if to cover that eventuality and make it disappear. He kicked off his boots and pants and waded into the pool towards her, the fresh water cool but refreshing on his skin. The spray from the waterfall filled the air with a fine mist that beaded on his sculpted muscles as he drew near to her, his hand coming out to beckon her from the waterfall.

She took his hand in her own, drawing near to her, a question in her eyes. Her lips parted to give voice to her worries, "Braeth'el...is that...?"

He smiled, pulling her close to him, her scantily clad body pressed against his bare chest, his arms wrapped around her as he looked into her eyes, "Shhh. That is something we will worry about later. First you need to know that you are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on, and that without you my world would be incomplete. Whatever is in that file is irrelevant to that. Whatever the future holds, you need to know that I will be beside you. I need to be there with you."

Her lips trembled as emotions passed through her, all of the worry that she likely was continuing to build up inside temporarily laid to rest. He drew her close, their mouths meeting in a passionate kiss that left her trembling against him and left his heart racing in his chest. He pulled her tight against him, feeling her hands wrap around his midsection and run over his chiseled stomach. His hands slid down her back, feeling the softness of her wet hair give way to smooth skin, his palm cupping her thong-clad rear as she wrapped a leg around him.

And then all of their worries were gone for a moment, the passion that had ignited between them months ago renewed once more. She gasped when he picked her up and carried her to a more shallow part of the pool, laughing as she kissed him once before he dropped her in the water playfully, sinking down into it beside her. Her hands roamed over his body, and she felt his touch on her own, the love and desire for her plain in his eyes.

The waterfall continued to to flow merrily, the bubbling sound of its waters nearly drowning out the laughter and then passion of the two lovers joined together beneath it. Abandoned on the sandy shore of the pool, the intelligence file sat forgotten and hidden beneath a pile of discarded clothing, the danger and worry it brought banished for a time and likely not to return as strongly once clearer heads examined it.

Whether it would be a good thing for Kyliska to meet her biological father or not was a moot point now, for there was no doubt in her mind that whatever happened, someone would always stand beside her and accept her for who she was. 

Dead Weight

Captain Jonathan Blackwell shook his head, grimacing as he crouched in the dense foliage. One of his soldiers crouched beside him, her gaze affixed on the orcish encampment below, her eyes narrowed in concern. Beside her a Draenei knelt in the soft dirt, his gaze also affixed on the distant encampment. Their mission was going to be a difficult one and extremely dangerous, and wasn't something he relished.

A loud popping noise next to him made him turn and glare angrily at the fourth and last member of their scout team. Serephel Westdale had been 'assigned' to accompany his scout mission over his express objections, and the young woman had been nothing but a burden since they set out. He hissed between his teeth, his voice low, "Are you actually popping gum right now...?"

Serephel tilted her head and offered him a beautiful but vapid smile, nodding quietly at him while the rest of the party turned their attention to her, all of them glaring now. Captain Blackwell's frown deepened and he hissed at her again, "Do you mind?"

Serephel blinked once, her eyes wide as she dug into one of her pouches. She reached towards him, offering him a piece of gum as well, "Oh sure!"

Captain Blackwell wanted to throttle the moron, but he had little choice in the matter. Despite the fact that he'd seen her do nothing except complain about the 'woeful lack of closet space for her shoes' and generally get in the way of the construction activities at their garrison, the garrison commander for some reason stood behind the young noble. He'd even gone so far as to shake his head when Jonathan had first met her and attempted to instruct her on why she shouldn't wear a dress one might wear to a fashionable restaurant out into the field to scout a deadly orc encampment that might have members who were practicing fel magic.

Fortunately, the commander was not here now and he was able to speak more freely, "Put the gum away, now. We're scouting here and can't afford to make any noise. Do you fully understand that, Lady Westdale? Or do I need to draw pictures to explain it to you?"

Behind him the draenei scout they had enlisted muttered something in his native tongue, gesturing at the young noble. Beside Captain Blackwell, the other soldier stirred, translating for the alien who spoke not a wit of Common, "Sir, he says she's bad news and we need to get rid of her."

Serephel blinked a few times, stuffing her extra gum back into a pouch and pouting, "Whatever! I'm totally going to be useful here and besides you can't get rid of me because the commander said so. You don't have to be jerks about it. It's not that big a deal."

Captain Blackwell sighed, a hand coming up to his temples. The entire mission would fail if his team members were fighting, "Lady Westdale, this is a dangerous situation. We have to be very careful and you're making our local scout nervous when you fail to obey common sense strategies. Just...do me a favor and try your very best okay?"

Serephel awarded him with another dazzling smile, nodding happily, "Oh sure, I can do that. But I think it's a waste of time. Those orcs down there definitely know we're here. You guys aren't being careful at all."

Jonathan gave off a deeper, long-suffering sigh as he replied, "Lady Westdale, I assure you we've taken every precaution in our scoutin-"

His words were cut off by a crackle that came from the nearby underbrush. Instantly the entire scouting party tensed, except for Serephel who just had a smug look on her face. Captain Blackwell drew his sword, while his second in command put an arrow on her bowstring and the Draenei scout drew daggers.

Silence fell over the woods around them, Shadowmoon Valley's native creatures sensing that people were moving through the foliage. Jonathan sat in a state of heightened alert, ready for any ambush. Unfortunately, it turned out that Serephel was right, and a loud warcry rose up from the bushes beside them, echoed by additional shouts from the woods all around them. Captain Blackwell jumped up, his sword parrying the first blow from a brutish orc that lurched from the nearby woods, the weapon clanging loudly as it deflected the blow.

Unfortunately a second orc lunged behind him, the haft of its ax connecting solidly with the back of his head. Captain Blackwell felt a stinging pain in his skull as the world blackened around him and he lost consciousness.

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

As he awakened, Jonathan felt a ringing pain in the back of his head. He groaned once, blinking his eyes as fading daylight made him squint. He tried to move, only to find that he was restrained. As he became more aware, he opened his eyes fully, realizing he was tied to a wooden stake, his back against it and his body sitting on the dirt ground before it. Wincing with pain, he turned his head to see the rest of the scouting party similarly tied up, his second in command and the draenei looking somewhat bruised in their faces, likely from rough handling by the orcs.

He groaned again, his voice hoarse as he spoke, "Report..."

His second in command, who was tied to the stake furthest on the other end of the group, croaked out a response, "We've been taken to that camp we were scouting, sir. They interrogated myself and the Draenei. Prissy over here was spared the brunt of their questioning for some reason; likely because she looks useless."

Jonathan frowned, shaking his head to clear it. They were in dire straits, captured by fel-using orcs and lost deep in the forests of Shadowmoon. No one would be coming to rescue them, and it didn't look good.

Just as he thought that, several orcs walked across the dirt clearing before the stakes, bypassing a rough hide tent that was sitting nearby. They walked to the end of the line where Jonathan's second in command was tied up, grinning as they used daggers to hack her bonds. They grabbed her roughly, laughing as she struggled and dragged her away towards a slope of dirt about twenty yards from the group that seemed to dip down into a pit-area that Jonathan couldn't see from his vantage point on the ground.

With the female officer yelling and screaming now, the still-laughing orcs dragged her out of sight, her screams rising up from the pit for a time before finally falling silent. The trio of orcs that had taken her returned from their grizzly work, still grinning as they approached the next in line. Jonathan cursed as Serephel's bonds were hacked loose and she was taken in turn towards the pit. She didn't struggle, seeming to be in a daze as the orcs roughly dragged her out of sight.

Oddly, the sounds of her screams did not rise from the out-of-sight pit in the distance. Jonathan blinked once, glancing at the rather beat up looking Draenei beside him as the sound of orcs yelling came from the pit. Horrified, Jonathan watched as a fine red mist seemed to spray up from the pit, the sound of what could only be cracking bones reaching his ear. The sounds did little to attract the attention of the rest of the encampment, the orcs there being used to horrific rituals and the like.

To Jonathan's everlasting surprise, Serephel stumbled from the sloped pit, her clothing completely covered in gore and a dazed and confused look on her face. She blinked a few times, her nose crinkling as she flicked her arms, trying to get what was obviously not her own blood off her bare skin. She looked down at herself frowning before glancing over at Jonathan.

Captain Blackwell had no idea how the simple-minded woman had managed to escape, but he knew that she was his only chance to get free himself. His voice a low whisper, he hissed at her, "Lady Westdale! Over here! Cut our bonds loose!"

Serephel looked at him for a moment, blinking again before dropping into a crouch. To Jonathan's irritation, she crept across the open dirt clearing, heading for the hide tent nearby and completely ignoring his commands. He hissed again, his voice only slightly louder, "Sssss! Lady Westdale! Come over here immediately! What are you doing?! Are you fucking crazy?!"

Serephel continued to ignore him, disappearing into the tent, the sound of her rummaging around in the structure coming from the hides for a few moments. Jonathan ground his teeth in frustration, wanting to scream at the vapid noblewoman. A moment later, his worst fears were realized as a rather large orc wearing ceremonial robes decorated with what could only be Draenei skulls walked into the clearing from the camp.

He affixed his gaze on Jonathan, grinning as he spoke in accented Common, "What is this? You're still alive? Someone is going to pay for disobeying me, although it will give me some fun at least."

He took a step towards Jonathan, his grin widening as the captain strained against his bonds. He laughed, the sound echoing through the clearing, "Ah yes, squirm little puny thing. You will soon taste the fires of my magic and suffer before you die."

It was at that moment that Serephel reappeared from within the tent, holding what appeared to be a staff in her hand. She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the orc, her eyes wide. The creature turned, hearing the sound of her fashionable and rather combat-useless boots on the rough terrain, his smile fading to a frown, "What have we here? A thief? You dare to touch my things you little wretch?! You've no idea the power you hold in your hands."

To Jonathan's surprise, Serephel smiled at the orc and reached up to caress a rune on the staff. The object glowed and she twisted her fingers, seemingly completing a spell and causing the weapon to blaze with fel power. The orc blinked in surprise, his tone menacing now, "So you've learned a parlor trick or two. It matters little, you will still die like the others."

He brought his hand up, chanting something and conjuring a blade in his grip that seemingly was made of glowing fel fire, his eyes blazing with demonic power. As Jonathan watched helplessly, the orc roared and charged the most useless member of his scouting team, the blade arcing up and coming down towards her head while she stood motionless.

Jonathan closed his eyes, not wanting to see Serephel be cleaved in half. Instead of hearing the wet sound of her broken body hitting the ground, he instead heard the orc gasp. When he opened his eyes, his own breath escaped him in a gasp as well.

Serephel had caught the blade, not with with the staff and not with a weapon, but with her bare hand. Beautiful black wings spread from her back as her arm was extended above her, holding the flaming weapon as if it were a mere nothing. She grinned at the orc now, and Jonathan could swear he saw fangs in her mouth, the woman looking far more demonic than anything else.

The air behind the orc twinkled and shimmered, and suddenly a succubus was there, her whip coming out to strike the orc in the back. He howled, whirling to lash out at the demon that had wounded him, the nether-maiden dodging his attack. Behind him Serephel stepped forward, dropping the staff for a moment, her arms wrapping around his neck, her nails digging into his flesh as she grabbed and twisted.

The orc's neck snapped audibly and the creature's sword flamed out as it collapsed forward onto the ground. Serephel grinned, a boot coming down to kick the orc in the face several times, the succubus shimmering again and fading into invisibility. For a moment, the clearing was utterly silent, only the sound of Jonathan's gasping breath and the struggles of the Draenei beside him to be heard.

Serephel seemed to sigh, her eyes closing as the wings on her back faded into a black mist that dissipated a moment later. Looking entirely normal now, she stooped down to pick up the staff, walking casually through the open clearing, her clothing stained with the blood of orcs that Jonathan now realized she'd personally mutilated down in the pit.

She stopped before him, squatting down so she could stare into his eyes, her cleavage strategically displayed for him. He squirmed against his bonds, wishing he could melt through the post to which he was now bound, understanding that their 'useless' party member was anything but what she had appeared to be.

"So we like, totally have a problem here," Serephel mused, setting the staff down for a moment and tapping her chin with one pink-painted nail. "You two saw some naughty things that maybe you shouldn't have."

Jonathan's eyes widened and he shook his head, "I won't tell a soul! I swear! Just release us!"

Serephel smiled at him, nodding, "I could so do that you know? But you see, the problem is our friend here." She pointed at the Draenei beside him.

Jonathan cursed, seeing the creature eyeing Serephel warily and struggling mightily against his bonds. There was no way to communicate with him with his second in command dead now, and it was obvious what he thought of the fel-tainted woman squatting before him. He glanced back at Serephel, noting that she was absently drawing figures in the dirt with her finger. She looked back up at him and nodded, "So you see the problem?"

"You can't just leave us here!" Jonathan said, "We're part of the garrison's forces!"

Serephel grinned, her voice low, "But if I leave you here, no one will ever know what happened to you, or about...other things. So it is totally a good plan. Unless...well, you are kind of cute and I'd hate to waste you. Do you know how to be a good boy and keep your mouth shut? If you can't, this guy over here is definitely going to tell the rest of the locals and that will ruin my plans and your ability to use them as scouts. I bet it would totally get a lot of your other men killed too!"

Jonathan's heart pounded in his chest as he realized he was literally bargaining for his life. He considered her for a moment, considered what she had done and what she could do. Considered the point of strategy she had made concerning the local Draenei. Finally, he nodded slowly, loathing himself but also not wanting to die.

Serephel seemed to perk up at this, smiling at him again, "Perfect! So wait here okay? I'll be right back!"

With that she rose, walking casually towards the Draenei beside him. The air beside her shimmered again, the succubus appearing and walking beside its mistress. Serephel sighed, the wings appearing on her back again, the smokey black appendages spreading out and obscuring his view of Serephel, the demon, and the Draenei. He saw Serephel kneel, and judging by the hooves that were poking out from the edge of her wings, he assumed the succubus was also kneeling.

Then Jonathan heard sounds. Horrible sucking sounds, the likes of which only made him think of someone sucking marrow from a bone. Serephel's wings obscured whatever it was she was doing, and Jonathan was grateful that he didn't have to see it. The Draenei moaned once, whatever was happening to him obviously going to be fatal, and both Serephel and the demon remained silent.

A moment later Serephel rose, her succubus fading away again, the wings on her back fading to nothing. She turned, walking back to where Captain Blackwell was imprisoned, leaving behind a dessicated corpse of a Draenei that looked as if it had died long ago. She knelt down before Jonathan again, smiling sweetly at him and staring into his eyes.

For a moment he said nothing, utterly disgusted with himself, the look likely passing across his face as he looked away. Serephel frowned, reaching out and grasping his face with one delicate hand, forcing him to look directly into her eyes. The irony that her pink-painted nails were digging into his cheek and were a deadly threat was not lost on him as she spoke softly to him, "Now don't be a bad boy, okay? I'll definitely let you go, but you're going to do as I ask. I really don't want to have to hurt you because I think you're pretty nice and probably useful to the garrison you know?"

Jonathan nodded, not breaking his gaze from her. His confirmation clearly pleased her, and she leaned forward, her lips touching his forehead and her bosom almost in his face as she kissed him. He felt a burning sensation on his head where her lips had met his flesh, and he knew she'd cast some sort of spell. She leaned back, looking at him and smiling, "Perfect! So if you betray me, I'll totally rip off all your skin while you're still alive. But if you are a good boy, we will never talk about this again okay? I'll even see to it that your life is a little easier if you want to do more favors for me. I like favors."

Jonathan grunted and nodded, "As you wish...Lady Westdale. Can we go now, before more orcs show up?"

Serephel blinked and then looked around, gathering up the staff and nodding, "Oh yeah, sure! Let me just get you out of here."

She rose, walking around behind the post to which Jonathan was tied. He felt searing heat near his hands for a moment, and then he was free, his bonds burned away. As he rose and rubbed feeling back into his hands, he watched Serephel warily. She gave him a happy smile, turning and casually strolling from the clearing, leaving the dead behind.

Ashamed of himself but grateful he wasn't about to die, Jonathan walked after the slowly retreating noble, wondering how he was going to explain what happened and knowing that Serephel was going to be watching him very closely. He was out of one frying pan and into perhaps a greater fire.

Regardless, he was not going to cross her. He'd seen the look in her eyes when she'd told him what she would do to him if he did. Whatever her goal was, she was going to see it accomplished and he'd best not stand in her way if he wanted to see retirement.

Seeking the Forbidden

The bartender of the Slaughtered Lamb gave the woman before him a funny look, shaking his head and sighing as he slid the beverage across the bar towards her. Why she had elected to order a hot spiced tea of all things in a place like the Lamb was beyond him; the woman looked like she was lost from another part of town and had no idea where she was.

For her part, Serephel Westdale merely smiled and nodded her thanks, taking up the small cup of tea that the bartender had taken a good ten minutes to scrounge up and turning to walk from the bar towards a distant table. Clad is an extremely fashionable outfit consisting of a short white, navel-exposing shirt with a plunging neckline and more traditional striped skirt, her thick heels made a clunking noise as she navigated between tables. Through the wall of her dirty-blonde, nearly brown hair, she noted a few of the tavern's regular customers giving her equally strange looks and she merely shrugged them off, continuing on her way. Not everyone could look so good after all; the poor dears were likely extremely jealous.

Serephel made her way to the back of the tavern, where a table awaited her with another woman sitting and awkwardly playing with the tablecloth. The woman, like Serephel, was in her mid-twenties and dressed equally well (although not quite as nicely as Serephel if one were to ask her!), and it was clear that she sat alone because she simply did not fit in amongst the other patrons there.

"Ah here we are, Tiffany!" Serephel said happily, setting her teacup down and then taking a seat across from her friend. Tiffany Caldwell had been Serephel's friend for several years now, and the two shared many common interests as well as an unspoken political alliance. She was as close to Serephel as anyone could be, and the noblewoman found herself genuinely glad to see her friend.

For her part, Tiffany nodded and then gestured around the Slaughtered Lamb, "Do we need to meet here of all places? I mean...come on, seriously..."

Serephel waved a well-manicured hand and nodded, "Yes silly! I already told you I've made contact with others here who will be able to aid us in our various experiments. While the decor is not to my liking, it's not terrible and we will simply have to get used to it. It's not like we have to stay here. Can you imagine?"

Tiffany shook her head, studying her friend for a moment, "Well, at least no one will see us here. They wouldn't be caught dead in a dive like this!"

Serephel smiled and nodded, taking a sip of her tea and setting the cup down again. She tilted her head, her face becoming somewhat serious, "I have important news to share with you."

Tiffany perked up at this, staring at her friend, "Ohhhh do tell! Let me guess, the dresses we ordered have arrived? An invitation to another ball? Someone's asked for your hand?"

Serephel rolled her eyes and shook her head, "No, none of that! Do you think I would have waited if those dresses arrived? I'd have been at your estate before the sun rose. No, it is my parents. They are going on their spring trip and likely staying this time until mid-fall at the least."

Tiffany groaned, shaking her head, "That means you'll be away for like ever! How will we get anything accomplished? What about the mid-summer festival? Ugh!"

Serephel smiled and took another sip of her tea, delivering what was earth-shattering news to her friend with a demure smile, "I don't have to go with them this year. In fact, they've already begun to pack."

Tiffany blinked, staring at her friend, "You can't be serious? They're letting you stay by yourself after....you know."

Serephel most certainly did know. Although she was twenty-six, her wealthy parents typically kept a close eye on her after she had been expelled from her studies in Dalaran several years prior. Her expulsion had come under suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of several of her peers, and although Serephel had never been formally charged with a crime, it was a black mark on her record. She'd had to complete her studies in the arcane with a personal tutor purchased at great expense by her parents. Of course, only Serephel knew that she actually had killed those students, or that she'd had very good reason to slaughter the would-be cultists.

Serephel grimaced and waved a dismissive hand, "That was years ago. Apparently they have decided that I am not likely to cause such serious trouble again I suppose. Regardless, I'm being left to my own devices for like, the rest of the year!"

Tiffany grinned, "This is fantastic news! You'll be able to find a date for the upcoming Woodbury Ball I hope?"

Serephel grinned and then shook her head, her voice low and triumphant, "I'm afraid not my friend, for there is a second and even more exciting part of my news!"

Tiffany practically fell out of her chair in suspense, staring hard at her friend, "Oh heavens just tell me already! It is clear you've been waiting for this moment for days!"

Serephel smiled, holding the moment a second longer as she took another sip of tea before setting the cup down, "I have used my monthly stipend from the family treasury to purchase a commission with the Alliance. Well...purchase is a strong word, more like bribe I guess. Whatever! This time next week I shall be on Draenor and will be an 'officer' at one of the Alliance garrisons there!"

Tiffany blinked in shock, clearly not expecting this. She sat back on her chair, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she blurted out, "You what? You're going to Draenor?! Isn't it like ridiculously dangerous there...? I don't understand!"

Serephel nodded and then shrugged, "I guess it is or whatever, but that is beside the point. The point is that there is apparently a Shadow Council on this Draenor. Think about it for a minute. All of our plans, our studies, all of it came from the original Shadow Council in some form or another. Imagine if we can gain bits of the source of this knowledge? Imagine what we could learn? It will change everything!"

Tiffany nodded slowly, beginning to understand her friend's point, "You...will join them then? Or...what?"

Serephel barked out a laugh, shaking her head, "Oh you're so droll. No, my friend, I won't. Why would I do that? If I wanted to be enslaved by such powers I'd have remained at Dalaran all those years past. No, I will steal what I can and bring it back here, and then we will dissect the information and our power will grow. Why, I bet between the two of us and a few of the others we could-"

Serephel's words were cut off as a shadow fell over the table, and the two young noblewomen looked up to see a man looming over them. He was wearing tattered robes, his long black hair and beard disheveled and messy. He placed both hands on their table, palms down as he glared at them, his breath stinking of some alcohol, "You two lasses don't belong in here."

Serephel's nose crinkled up in distaste, her pretty face scrunched in a look of disgust, "Excuse you; we're having a conversation here and I don't think you should just come over here and-"

The man slammed his hands on the table, spilling Serephel's tea and making the table hop. Tiffany sat upright, eyes wide as he glared at each of them in turn, "I said you don't belong here. This place has a certain type of clientele, and prissy noble bitches are not amongst them. Get lost."

Serephel's expression went from distaste to annoyance, all traces of cheerfulness or empathy leaving her eyes as she stared at the man. When she responded, her voice was a dead, flat tone, "We know the purpose of those who go into the crypts. We'll sit where we please. Get away from our table. Now."

The man's eyes widened in anger and he glared at Serephel, leaning close to her face, "You little brat! You think you'll talk to me like that and get away with it?! I'm going to-"

Serephel leaned closer and the man's words faltered as he noticed that her eyes had gone from brown to completely black, all of the white parts obscured by some dark energy. There was a heaviness in the air now, the taint of some otherworldly presence that weighed on the mind and clawed at rational thought. Serephel's head tilted at an almost unnatural angle as she studied him, as if sizing up prey. Her nails pressed into the table top (had they been that long and sharp before..?) and her voice was a hiss now, "You're going to what? You have exactly one more second to remove yourself from my presence before I bathe in your blood."

The man reeled back as if he'd been slapped, his eyes wide. He glanced over at Tiffany only to find her giggling inappropriately, small horns dotting her forehead and the stink of corrupted fel magic filling the air around the two. There was a faint glimmer of green energy coming from various pieces of jewelry the two noblewomen wore, and he realized he had made an extremely grievous error. He took a step back, dipping his head in respect, his voice apologetic, "Forgive me, Ladies. I had mistaken you for...something else. I apologize for interrupting your conversation."

Just like that, Serephel's entire demeanor had changed to normal once more, and she nodded and smiled at the man, "Of course, of course. We all make errors in judgement from time to time. Mistakes are typically not fatal you know? Could you be a dear though and fetch me more tea? It seems you've spilled mine."

The man nodded and scurried off to obtain more tea for the noble, and Serephel returned her attention to Tiffany. She frowned, nodding at her friend and pointing at her head, "Um, Tiff? You uh...yeah."

Tiffany blinked and then giggled again, her eyes closing as she focused. The small horns on her forehead faded away, obscured by some magic that the two powerful warlocks had devised together some time ago, or rather, that Serephel had devised and her friend had followed along with. There was little question as to who was the most powerful, and if Serephel had anything to say about it, her trip to Draenor in the coming weeks would result in her power increasing tenfold. Her coven could have the scraps she chose to leave for them.

Tiffany smiled at her friend and reached up to fix her hair, "Better?"

"Much better," Serephel nodded. "Now then, where were we? Oh yes, so if I'm going on this journey, you know what this means right?"

Tiffany grinned and leaned forward, the two women saying the words together at the same time, "Shopping trip!"

Serephel laughed, nodding as the man returned with her tea. She took a sip and set the cup down with a satisfied sigh. Things were about to change for her, and the events of her past would fall to the wayside when she was able to show just what it was she could do. There would be great power in her future, and if the past came back to conflict with her here and now, well she would deal with that handily.

Secret Affairs

Kyliska stirred as the bed moved beside her, one fel-green eye opening halfway as she quietly observed Braeth'el in silence for a moment. He had risen from the bed before the dawn, his half naked body illuminated by a small magical sphere he had lit on a nightstand that was just dim enough to avoid disturbing her but gave him light to see. She smiled as she watched him stretch for a moment before bending down and drawing his pants on, his muscles rippling as he pulled a tight fitting shirt on over his head. His hands ran through his blonde hair a few times to neaten it up and he began to walk from the room.

"Where are you going love?" Kyliska said sleepily.

"I've got some tasks to attend to. Nothing important though. You've no need to get up yet, Kyli," Braeth'el responded. He paused by a dresser to pick up several of his daggers, inspecting them carefully before placing them in a sheath.

Kyliska stirred, sitting up and watching him, curiosity building, "At this time of day? And why do you need weapons?"

He turned and walked back to her, bending down and planting a kiss on her forehead, "I always carry weapons, you know that. And sometimes work requires that I be up early. Agents send reports in at all times. You know how it goes."

Kyliska frowned, patting the bed beside her, "I'd rather you stayed here with me. Can't it wait? If it is not important then I see no reason to rush off. Besides, I'm awake now. And naked under these sheets."

Braeth'el grinned and shook his head, "That is an extremely tempting argument, however this particular appointment cannot wait. Fear not, I'll be back before noon and then we can...spend some time together, hmm?"

Kyliska pouted slightly at this, tilting her head as she watched Braeth'el turn to leave, "I wish you would just tell me what you're doing. I'm the Lady Sunfire after all!"

Braeth'el smiled at her and nodded, "And I shall...when there is something to tell. The key to being a good spymaster is rooting through the useless reports and finding the gems of information that are actually important. I will keep you updated!"

With that he was out the door, the barrier closing softly behind him and his footsteps fading away. Kyliska sat in bed, her mood souring the more she thought about it.

Why is he keeping a spy mission secret from me? Why couldn't he just tell me? And why is he leaving so early in the day? This is ridiculous!

Irritated now, Kyliska cast off her sheets, rising from her bed and walking naked over to her dresser. She quickly selected a pair of pants, shirt, and some light chain armor to throw over it before stepping into some boots and hurrying out the door.

The corridors beyond were dark and silent, most of the House still asleep and only a few servants stirring. Kyliska hurried down the hallway, peering through the darkness in search of Braeth'el. Failing to find him, her mood soured further and she turned around, heading up a staircase that lead into Biara's sanctum area. Here Kyliska walked more quietly, careful not to disturb anyone as she made her way into Biara's study, closing the wooden doors quietly behind her.

She made her way to Biara's desk, frowning as she saw stacks of papers all over it; it would take forever to find anything out about Braeth'el's mission if she had to go through all of that! Fortunately, Kyliska felt it was highly unlikely that Biara would simply keep a secret mission dossier on the top of her desk, and so with a great deal of force and very little stealth, Kyliska forced open a cabinet next to the desk that contained more files.

She lit a small candle, using the flickering illumination to pour over Biara's many hand-written notes and folders until she finally stumbled upon what she was seeking; a file with Braeth'el's scrawling handwriting on it entitled Rosellina Cooke.

With a grunt of satisfaction, Kyliska took the file over to Biara's desk, settling into her sister's chair and reading the file over in the darkness, the small sphere of candlelight illuminating a report that slowly made Kyliska's eyebrows perk up higher and higher in surprise and irritation, until finally she felt raging jealously coursing through her.

That son of a bitch is meeting with a human woman and didn't tell me! He kissed her! What the fel?!

In a flash Kyliska was out of the chair and dashing through the hallway. She spotted one of Biara's apprentices and grabbed the Sin'dorei by his arm, "You there! I need a portal opened right now!"

The sleepy apprentice blinked in surprise, his words stuttered as he replied, "L-Lady Sunfire? Should I fetch your sister?"

"No! I want a portal in this hallway two seconds ago!" Kyliska nearly shouted.

"Y-yes of course, Lady S-sunfire. Where would you like to g-go?" the apprentice replied.

"Booty Bay," Kyliska replied grimly.

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

Braeth'el looked up as the door to the tavern opened and a hooded figure entered the enclosed space, the sounds of the market outside in Booty Bay filtering into the room for a moment. He studied the figure, admiring the generous curves of her body as she made her way through the crowd, her form deftly avoiding the groping hands of the inebriated patrons as she approached.

When she was within a few feet of his table, Braeth'el rose, his hands carefully at his side. The woman, a human, paused as well, reaching up to casually push her hood back. Jet black hair cascaded from the hood, framing a lovely, dark-skinned face and brown eyes that appraised him carefully. Rosellina Cooke looked just as she had the last time Braeth'el had seen her, and for a moment it was as if they were again together in the Tanaris desert sizing each other up.

"Mister Braeth'el," Rosellina said in a neutral tone. "I received your missive. I hope that you are in good health."

Braeth'el grinned, stepping towards her, his arms wide and his voice loud enough for the rest of the tavern to hear, "Ah Rosellina! My desert delight! It is so good to see you again. I've missed you terribly!"

He wrapped his arms around her, hugging her tightly, the entire thing an act designed to throw off curiosity from the other patrons. As he pressed her close against him, he felt her hands roaming over his body, her fingertips deftly finding and identifying every weapon that he had on him. He did the same, smirking as his hands ran over her nicely curved rear, giving it a squeeze....to check for daggers of course!

The life of a spy is quite demanding. So much work to do.

With a grin that was mirrored on Rosellina's face, he released the woman, sinking down into his chair and watching as she did the same. She leaned forward, her shirt designed to give him an excellent view of her cleavage and her positioning precisely aligned such that he would notice that fact. He gave her the courtesy of glancing at her once, but then immediately locked gazes with her; he was not here for games, and he knew any allure she attempted to produce was merely a weapon in her arsenal; SI:7 had trained her well.

"I am here to provide you with an offer," Braeth'el said in a low tone. He spoke now to avoid having the other patrons hear him, all business.

He saw Rosellina shift, her expression making it clear that she understood he was not going to fall for any tricks or play her games. He felt her leg slide up against his, knowing that it was not intended as a seduction so much as to gauge if he was going to tense up in an attempt to stab her. She smiled, her tone not matching the expression, "I have been instructed to hear your proposal."

"We need to know the whereabouts of a Sin'dorei. She resembles the Lady Biara Dayfire, whom I know you have intelligence on. I need to know if she was taken by Alliance forces," Braeth'el stated plainly; it was better to get to the point.

Rosellina nodded, leaning back in her chair slightly, obviously intrigued, "And what do you offer in exchange?"

Braeth'el reached very slowly up to his shirt, taking out a small folder and placing it on the table, "A dossier outlining a recent attack by Iron Horde forces on a Sin'dorei garrison. It details their strengths, movements, and military capabilities in Frostfire Ridge."

Rosellina nodded, studying Braeth'el closely, "I am authorized to accept a reasonable bargain from you. This seems like an adequate trade. You wish me to comb through our prisoner records and any reports of our forces' interactions with Sin'dorei, which I can easily accomplish. The Sin'dorei's name is...?"

"Telatha Dayfire," Braeth'el responded. "I will be personally grateful if you are able to provide information allowing us to locate her. This...arrangement appeals to Lady Dayfire, and should it bear fruit will result in future, similar arrangements against hostile forces."

Rosellina nodded and smiled. Her hand came out and gently slid the folder across the table. She picked it up, judging its weight in her hand before sliding it into her bodice. She nodded at Braeth'el, her voice low, "The deal is accepted. I will provide you with any intelligence I can find, or lack thereof, using the dead drop we've established by the lake. You will have your information within a fortnight."

Braeth'el nodded, "Thank you. It was nice seeing you again, Rose. Take care of yourself."

She smiled, rising from her chair, "I always do. Be seeing you, Brae."

With that she made her way out of the bar, her hood back on to cover her hair and her movements avoiding the patrons again. Braeth'el smiled as he watched her leave, knowing she would do as she said. His smile turned into a frown a moment later as a cowled figure rose from a table across the tavern and began to follow the human woman. This would not have been of concern as he knew Rosellina could handle herself, but it bothered him because he immediately recognized the shape and movements of the figure who followed the spy.

By the Sunwell, why is Kyliska here?!

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

Kyliska was raging. Not only had Braeth'el snuck away to meet with a human woman and an Alliance spy of all things, but he'd....he'd touched her! He'd flirted with her! And she had done everything she could to steal Kyliska's man! She was going to pay for this!

She stalked after the woman, making little effort to hide herself and confident in the fact that the noise of the market would mask her movements. As the woman turned down a side alley, Kyliska followed her, her hands clenched into fists.

She rounded the corner, breaking into a run to catch the woman, only to find the trained spy ready for her. Rosellina ambushed the Sin'dorei, her arm coming out at neck height to clothes-line the rushing elf. Kyliska grunted as she was knocked backwards, falling hard on her mail-armored back. She immediately rolled, deftly avoiding Rosellina's boot as it came down where her skull was a moment before.

With a snarl, Kyliska lashed out with her legs, sweeping the woman's feet out from under her and sending her tumbling into a wall. Kyliska rolled, lurching to her feet and slamming into the spy as Rosellina also stood, the two colliding with another grunt and slamming against the alley wall. Rosellina grimaced as Kyliska pressed in on her, the physically stronger Sin'dorei trying to twist one of the woman's arms. In a panic, Rosellina brought her knee up into Kyliska's crotch, sending stinging pain through the elf's body as the spy then brought her forehead down into Kyliska's face.

Kyliska reeled back, not letting go of her opponent and tearing Rosellina's shirt at the shoulder seam, bits of fabric in her hand as she windmilled backwards. Rosellina lurched forward, her undergarments clearly visible as she lashed out and attempted to punch Kyliska in the face; a move that was blocked by a quick arm thrust from the Sin'dorei.

Kyliska dropped the fabric in her hand, her fist coming up to catch Rosellina in the jaw, "You filthy bitch! Stay away from my man!"

Rosellina grunted from the impact, stumbling backwards only to gasp as Kyliska rushed her and wrapped her arms around her, attempting to squeeze the air out of her in a bear hug. She strained against Kyliska's arms, the two struggling in place, Rosellina's half-covered bosom squished against Kyliska's, both of them panting.

"I don't know if I should break this up, or let you two keep going so I can watch for a bit..." Braeth'el said with a smirk.

Both women instantly turned to glare at Braeth'el, Kyliska releasing Rosellina and shoving her away, "Shut up, Braeth'el! I'm not done with her and then you and I are going to have a chat. How dare you two meet up like this?! In public?! I thought we had something special!"

Rosellina blinked, a smile crossing her face as she wiped blood from her lip. She made a half-hearted attempted to cover her bra, only partially succeeding, "Ah, I see what this is about now. I was wondering why a clumsy spy was following me and then why she was trying to punch me. Who are you?"

Kyliska turned and nearly spat at Rosellina, "I'm the Lady Sunfire, and I'll be asking the questions here harlot!"

"Kyliska! Calm down," Braeth'el said. "It isn't at all what you are thinking it is and I-"

"I SAID SHUT UP!" Kyliska yelled. "I KNOW WHAT I SAW!"

Rosellina blinked a few times, glancing between the two elves and nodding at Braeth'el speaking in perfect Thalassian, "Bedding your employer, Brae? Not very wise, but I suppose you know your business. Lady Sunfire, I am not having an affair with your 'man' as it were. We were conducting business."

Kyliska growled, jabbing a finger at Rosellina, "I know what I saw!"

"What you saw was a standard practice to ensure that neither of us were armed with anything that the other was unaware of," Rosellina stated calmly. "Did it occur to you that Mister Braeth'el is probably something like one hundred and fifty or more years older than me? I think I can find someone my own age, wouldn't you say?"

"She's right, Kyli, it wasn't what you are thinking at all," Braeth'el said reassuringly.

"Whatever, I know what I saw," Kyliska said sullenly. "I should kill you now, alliance bitch!"

Rosellina tilted her head, studying Kyliska carefully before replying, "You could do that, yes. But then of course you'd never hear more of your sister or....your father."

Kyliska reeled back as if the woman had slapped her, her tone suddenly deadly quiet, "What? What do you know of my father? Say what you mean and stop it with the spy bullshit."

Rosellina dipped her head in respect, a smile on her face, "I not only know who your father is, but I happen to be acquainted with him. I could tell you where you could find him, and I could even arrange a meeting for you. That is, of course, if you don't kill me. Not that you could..."

Braeth'el stepped closer, concern on his face now, "Kyliska, what is she talking about? I think we should head back home and let this go. She's an SI:7 agent...."

Kyliska ignored Braeth'el, staring at Rosellina intently, "Tell me where he is. I...have things I want to say to him."

Rosellina smiled and nodded, "Of course you do. I will tell you, but not now. I'd like to leave here alive. I will pass the information on to you in two days time, and will see to it that you can meet him. Is that acceptable?"

Kyliska nodded, "Fine. Get out of my sight then."

Braeth'el held up a hand, "Wait...what is this about? Someone tell me. Now."

Rosellina pulled at the sleeve of her torn shirt, studying Braeth'el keenly before speaking, "Although it is not my place to say this, you should know who it is you work for, Brae. Your Lady Sunfire, your lover, was sired by a Kaldorei long ago. She is not what she seems, and has as many secrets as she accuses you of having. I am willing to aid her in her goals, out of respect for our mutual cooperation in the past, but you should know what it is we are all dealing with here. If you will excuse me, I will go and make myself decent now. Lady Sunfire, I will have the information you requested by the date I have set. Good day to you both."

With that, Rosellina dipped into a bow before rising and slowly backing away from the two elves, leaving a stunned looking Braeth'el to stare questioningly at Kyliska. Kyliska merely looked back at him, sorrow in her eyes as her expression gave truth to the human's words.

"But...why? How could you not tell me?" Braeth'el said softly.

"No one can know, Brae. They'd...someone would kill me if they knew. My mother...she and....it's just so hard to come to terms with," Kyliska sobbed, beginning to weep openly. All of her previous ire had been forgotten in the moment she had discovered that she could meet her real father and tell him all the things that were on her mind.

For a moment, she simply sobbed quietly by herself, her eyes closed in misery. She was surprised then, when she felt Braeth'el's arms wrap around her, gently holding her against his broad chest. She wept bitterly against him, relief flowing through her as his hand came up to pat her hair and soothe her, his tone soft, "It doesn't matter, Kyli. I love you anyway. I can't suddenly stop loving you because your heritage is not what I thought it was. We'll...get through this together."

Kyliska wrapped her arms around Braeth'el, her voice unsteady as she held him tight, "I love you more than anything in the world, and I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Only my sister knows."

He continued to pat her, soothing her and calming her, simply holding her for a time. "It is alright, my heart. Let's go home. We can talk about this, and decide what to do. Rosellina is an enemy agent, and if she is offering you information for free there must be a reason for it. I will...tell you all about her, so that your mind is at ease, alright?"

Kyliska sniffled once and then nodded, leaning up to kiss Braeth'el, "Alright. I-I'm sorry too. I should have known....you know."

He smiled at her and shook his head, "I know. Let's get you home and start the day anew, shall we?"

She nodded and her sniffling ceased, "Y-yes, I'd like that."

Together, hand in hand, they walked out of the alley, the future before them uncertain but their bond as strong as it ever was.

Heart of the Mother

Sunlight slanted down through the branches far above, bathing the ancient Highborne ruins with dancing beams of light that played across weather stained marble. A soft breeze stirred the boughs above and blew dead leaves through the open-sky structure, the warmth of spring filling the air all around.

Saveenah sat in what was likely the throne chair of an audience chamber tens of thousands of years before her time. The giant marble chair had huge armrests and a high back, all made of marble and likely, at some point, covered in a soft fabric that made it more comfortable to sit on. Even so, the marble was cool and smooth against her skin and she draped her bare legs over one of the chair's mighty arms, humming softly to herself. Atop her head sat a wreath of vines and twigs that she had made into the shape of a crown.

"Why yes, I would like more tea, thank you," Saveenah said to no one, a smile on her face. She turned her head, nodding at the empty part of the ruined audience chamber in front of her, her tone pleasant as she spoke again, "It is simply most excellent of you to invite me for tea, Kyliska. I absolutely adore what you've done with your decor!"

Across the open space a bird alighted on one of the crumbling bits of marble, the black crow cawing. Its call echoed around the ruins, and made Saveenah giggle, "Yes, yes I know I'm being silly! But what if I really did get to visit my sister? How are you supposed to act? Does she even like tea? I mean, she is a powerful noble Lady and I would not want her to be cross with me for ruining her um...what is the word for that...reputation? Position? I'm not sure!"

Predictably, the crow did not reply, merely titling its head and staring at her. Saveenah got a mischievous look on her face, staring at the crow as if in some sort of contest. The sudden, intense scrutiny made the bird shuffle in place, giving off another loud, echoing caw.

"Well, that is not very helpful at all, my friend!" Saveenah said, a smile returning to her face. "And I don't care if she will probably never invite me to visit, it's fun to imagine what it would be like. Although I have no idea how people sit in these chairs all day! My rear is starting to hurt and it's only been like a few minutes!"

With that she shifted, her legs sliding off the arm of the chair and coming down as she rose from the hard marble, a hand rubbing her own rear before she stretched to get the kinks out of her muscles. She nodded at the bird, walking barefoot across the marble courtyard, her eyes wide as she studied the ruins more closely, imagining how big the building must have been when it was whole.

"It is strange to think that they built all of this and tore down the trees and plants that were here first," Saveenah mused to the crow. The bird flapped its wings before taking flight, moving to a spot closer on the wall to the druidess, landing and cawing again. "You're right, maybe these people simply did not appreciate what they had before they built this."

The crow tilted its head and then nodded again before jumping in place and turning. This time it cawed twice, the sound somewhat more urgent. Saveenah frowned, moving towards where the bird sat and resting her arms on the edge of the crumbled wall. She peered beyond into the forest that surrounded the space. Her eyes widened as she saw something she'd not expected amongst the trees.

Several orcs moved cautiously through the underbrush, axes in hand as they scouted. They paused frequently, exchanging looks before continuing to move forward. Saveenah studied them for a moment, her frown deepening. She did not care for the creatures called orcs. They often hewed down parts of the forest for no reason and were violent. She'd heard that the things they'd done in Ashenvale were worse, and she'd sworn never to approach them. Slowly she began to shift away from the wall's edge, slipping from sight. Unfortunately for her, it was too late and one of the creatures pointed at her and shouted.

Saveenah began to panic, turning and dashing on foot through the ruins, the twig crown tumbling from her head as she ran, the crow cawing again and flying off into the air. She didn't want to confront the creatures or have anything to do with them, but by the sound of the thrashing in the brush beyond it was clear that they had other plans. Saveenah dashed through collapsed and rubble strewn rooms, looking for an exit on the other side that would lead back to the forest.

She dashed through a partially collapsed archway, her eyes wide and her feet sliding to a halt on the marble as she came upon a room that had been completely brought to ruin by some ancient disaster. The mound of rubble before her was many feet high and consisted of sharp and difficult to navigate shards of broken marble. There was no way out of the space and she was going to have to turn around.

Just as she did so, the three orcs she'd spotted burst through the space behind her, all of them a bit out of breath from running. When they saw that they'd trapped Saveenah in the small room they slowed down, grins forming on their faces as they approached her with drawn axes. One of them said something to the others in its harsh, guttural language, and Saveenah found herself cringing back against the ruined pile of marble behind her. "N-no! Stay away from me!"

One of the orcs chuckled, stepping closer and menacing her with its ax, a toothy grin exposing its large teeth and tusk. As Saveenah stared at what was likely approaching death, something stirred within her. It was a streak of stubbornness, a natural passionate fury that flowed through her blood like a sweet wine and filled her with warmth almost instantly. The urge to flee and hide faded as the realization that there would be no flight came to her, another more primal instinct replacing it.

Fury crossed Saveenah's pretty face, her eyes blazing. Her form shimmered and where before had been a cringing Kaldorei now stood a silver-furred saber-cat, its paws planted firmly on the marble. Its head arched back and it roared, the sound echoing through the ruins and giving the orcs pause. The one in the lead stopped his advance, turning to give his companions a questioning glance.

It was a fatal mistake. In the second that the orc turned his attention from the predator-cat, Saveenah lunged, her claws raking the orc and sweeping his ax from his hands. The weapon tumbled to the marble with a clatter even as the orc fell back, grunting from the impact of the cat's weight. Although he likely was only lacerated, Saveenah ignored him, her primal instincts telling her to break free of the trap. She dashed over the orc as he fell, leaping into the air and colliding with the second of the orcs before the creature could raise its weapon.

The orc fell backwards, Saveenah atop him as he tumbled. Her whole body focused on what it was designed to do, Saveenah's head came down, her fangs biting into the orc's shoulder and crushing bone in the tight embrace of her mouth. The creature howled and she tasted its blood on her tongue, even as she released the orc and tumbled off of him, coming up on all four of her paws.

The third orc turned and swung its ax at her, but she nimbly dodged it, the weapon slamming into the marble floor of the ancient ruin and sending chips of stone flying. Fury and bloodlust racing through her, Saveenah swiped a paw out, catching the orc's leg and sending him spinning to the floor, blood gushing from lacerations made by the sharp claws.

And then it was over, all three of the orcs moaning and bleeding in the ruins, the path to the doorway open before her. For a brief moment, Saveenah paused, every fiber of her being screaming at her to slaughter the creatures. She trembled and then shook her head, her furry mane bouncing around her. She turned and dashed through the doorway, shimmering and returning to her true elven form, leaving her attackers wounded and lying in their own blood behind her.

As she dashed into the forest, tears ran down Saveenah's face, her mouth still filled with the taste of her enemy's blood and her thoughts whirling through rage, shame, and triumph. Through it all, the thought that her sister Kyliska would be so disappointed in her for her un-lady-like act repeated over and over in her head.

As the forest closed in around her and calmed her somewhat, Saveenah would never know that Kyliska would likely have howled in pure delight at the bloodshed. She would never know how much alike they really were at heart.

Day Light, Dreams Bright

Feh'menthar Starfeather walked through the forest, his leather armor creaking as he made his way across the vine strewn ground of Feralas. He squinted against bright sunlight that filtered through the endless green leaves of the lush foliage, pushing aside branches as he stepped into a clearing.

He paused on the edge of the open space, looking at a grassy, sunlight-kissed field beyond. Clouds drifted gently in the blue sky above, shafts of sunlight dancing between them and flowing across the ground, making the light dance and making it difficult for his Kaldorei eyes to adjust. He normally would not come out during the daylight hours unless he was on urgent business, but in this case he had made an exception.

In the center of the clearing, a large saber-cat played in the grass, its silver coat shimmering in the sunlight and bits of pollen floating in the air as it rolled over onto its back on the soft turf, disturbing flowers and small insects. It rubbed its nose in the grasses, snorting a bit and purring before tilting its head up, its attention caught by a butterfly that had flown close. It reached up, playfully batting at the flying thing, its claws retracted. The butterfly fluttered up higher before diving down towards the cats nose, and it snorted again, still swatting at the flying insect before it finally drifted off.

"I know that you heard me approach," Feh'menthar said softly. "Why you persist in this game is beyond me, but you should stop. We have much to discuss and I have little time."

The cat paused, snuffling in the grasses again before snorting and giving off a sigh. Its form shimmered and it shrank, the cat's shape quickly giving way to the form of a beautiful adult Kaldorei who lay in the grasses. Her silver hair cascaded around her head, making sparkling patterns in the vibrant green of the field in which she lay. Her dress, what there was of the tattered, homespun thing, clung to her petite form and did little to cover her bare legs and arms. The elf smiled once as the butterfly returned, reaching up gently and allowing it to alight on her outstretched palm, staring at it and at the sky above.

"So you won't even rise to greet your father?" Feh'menthar sighed. "Very well, we will speak like this then. I have asked you not to range this far from our home more than once, and yet here again I find you in a place where danger could be upon you in a moment. You know the nearby ruins are filled with ogres! It took me almost a full day to track you down after I asked the Sentinels if they'd seen you."

Saveenah sighed and rolled her eyes, the butterfly fluttering away into the air. She let her hand fall, her arms outstretched in the grasses around her, "The Sentinels only saw me because I allowed them to because I knew you would worry if I didn't! You are treating me like a little child and I can totally take care of myself!"

Feh'menthar shook his head, walking slowly across the clearing and sitting beside his daughter, studying her for a time. Her words held some weight, for though she was young for a Kaldorei, her mixed heritage had caused her to mature more quickly than he would have expected or preferred. Her life, her journey would be a mystery to them all and was something she'd need to figure out as she aged. Even so, a frown crossed his face, "You know that I set these boundaries for you so that you are safe, Saveenah. You know that there are many who would harm you. I have explained this to you countless times."

Saveenah didn't look at him, instead gazing at the clouds floating above her, her eyes drifting closed as she enjoyed the sunlight dancing across her face. When she spoke, it was with less energy and more conviction, "I saw what happened to these lands when the Cataclysm struck. I felt it in the plants and animals, in the fabric of nature around us. The trees speak to me, the earth speaks to me, it tells me of the damage that was done. You told me that the dragon which did this is gone, and not to worry, but how can I not think about it? This forest is no safer than any other place, is it?"

Feh'menthar shook his head, looking sharply at his daughter, "I have brought you to the most secluded, safest place I could find. The entire world cannot be made safe, but I can keep you from harm. I can keep you from those who would hurt you. But only if you follow my rules. You know that I ask you this out of love, Saveenah."

Saveenah's eyes opened, their silver color reflecting the daylight as she stared into the sky. She brought a hand up, pointing far above at a bird of prey that circled in the sky, "The hunter has no boundaries, no limits on where it can go to seek its meal. It is free to do what it wants! What it needs to do! I need to feel the touch of other forests, other lands beneath my feet. I need to help heal where I can, because I know that this forest was not the only one touched by the dragon! You have to believe me when I say I can help! Please, father, do not set aside my dreams!"

Feh'menthar sighed, reaching out to pat his daughter's shoulder, "Saveenah, I understand your desire, your passion for this, but I cannot risk it. Not until you are older, not until things that I must deal with have been handled. My work must be seen through to the end."

"You're always working! It's not fair and I don't want to stay here alone anymore!" Saveenah pouted, her outburst surprising him.

"Saveenah...if I could, I would have your mother and your sister here with us. We would, all four of us, be safe and happy in this secluded place. That cannot be though, and so I must make difficult decisions for us in order to protect what we do have. You will simply have to trust me," Feh'menthar said.

"Fine..." Saveenah said, sighing heavily and bringing her arms to her sides to pick at her dress. She wiggled in the grass, her bare feet sweeping aside blades of the foliage as she looked up at him, "One day soon though, this will not be enough! I want to see more! I want to see...why I want to see my sister!"

Feh'menthar's frown deepened, "Would that such were possible. Your sister....ah, but she has lived so differently from you, from us. I do not even know if she would be accepting of you. I have heard tell that she is a powerful Lady now, in charge of an entire House."

Saveenah turned and looked at him, eyes wide, "But she would accept me! I saw her once, just briefly! She would, I'm telling you! And is she...like the ancestors? She has a house like they did? Does she know what happened to them?"

Feh'menthar shook his head, "I know you saw her once, but that doesn't mean that she hasn't changed. Power and prestige change people, especially when magic is involved. She is just like the ancestors, but hopefully in time we can change her mind on things, yes? If I could get her to come here, she would stay."

Saveenah frowned, "Only if she wants to! If she has a fancy house she would not like living in the trees or in the ruins of the ancestors. Remember that, father!"

Feh'menthar chuckled and shook his head, "Of course she wouldn't, but minds can be changed, yes? Anyway, I cannot stay here long, I merely came to tell you that you must return to the lands closer to our home. I must go away on business once again and I do not want to worry after you while I'm gone. Promise me you will return home?"

Saveenah sighed, remaining silent for a moment before finally nodding, "I promise..."

Feh'menthar leaned over, kissing his daughter on the forehead before rising, "Good, thank you Saveenah. I will return as soon as I can. Do not get into trouble while I'm gone. I love you."

"I love you too, father," Saveenah said, watching him as he turned to leave the clearing.

As soon as he was gone, a grin crossed her face and she tilted her head up to look down at herself. Both her hands had crossed fingers, and she had even crossed both her big toes while she had spoken her promise. It totally and completely did not count! Not at all!

She rolled over in the grass, giggling to herself as her form shimmered. A second later a large cat trotted from the field, heading towards the nearby Highborne ruins that thrust up from the forest beyond. It was there that the ogres had made dwellings, and Saveenah was mighty curious as to what they were up to. She'd not fought with an ogre in several weeks and didn't appreciate them despoiling the forest.

Besides, it would be some fun, and she liked to have fun!

The Wild Child

*Feralas wilds, night time.*

Henrik Elmswood sighed, leaning forward on his camp chair to throw another log on the fire. It crackled merrily before him, driving away the moisture that came with the cloying mists that traveled across the grounds around his encampment. Behind him he had erected a tent, purchased in Stormwind long before he had begun to plan out the specifics of this mini-expedition, the shelter perfect for two people to rest in comfortably and stocked with an ample quantity of supplies.

Henrik was planning to stay in the wilderness for a few days. After taking classes in Stormwind's library relating to anthropology and archaeology, he'd scheduled a little vacation for himself and his wife so that they could explore some honest to goodness ruins. The vacation was a welcome break from his work in logistics, and he was looking forward to diving into some ancient elven artifacts come the morning.

He shifted in his chair, peering out into the darkness of the wilderness around him, the dense foliage close in on the little clearing he'd found to set up the tent. As his eyes wandered across the varying shades of blackness that the campfire did little to dispel, he paused for a moment in freight. There, in the nearby bushes, a pair of silver cat eyes stared back at him from the night, quietly observing him.

Terrified, he rose slowly from his camp chair, staring hard at the foliage where they eyes had appeared. He picked up a log, although it was debatable what such a blunt weapon would do against a big cat. Even so, it made him feel better as he blinked a few times, peering into the night. To his surprise, in the moment he had taken his gaze from the location to pick up the log, the eyes had disappeared.

After a few more terror filled moments, he began to relax, shaking his head and dropping the log back into the pile he'd made. Perhaps it had been his imagination or a trick of the fire's glow. Sighing again, he eased himself back down into his chair, peering across the glowing campfire.

And seeing an elf sitting upon a log on the opposite side of the fire where none had been a moment before. Henrik sputtered out a curse, falling over backwards in his chair in surprise. He scrambled to his knees, peering from around the toppled camp chair, staring hard at the intruder.

His first thought was that she was beautiful, with flowing silver hair that matched the silver glow of her eyes perfectly. Smooth, lightly purple skin was exposed along her arms and much of her legs, the barefoot elf sitting with her legs crossed upon the log. Although her head was forward and her hair fell around her face, Henrik could see that blue markings resembling a butterfly spread across her face.

For a moment, he simply stared at the exotic intruder, noting that she was paying him almost no attention, her focus on a small journal in her hand and a small piece of what appeared to be charcoal that she rubbed on the page as she drew...what...a picture of the camp it seemed, of his tent.

Slowly he rose from his place on the ground, righting his chair and clearing his throat, "Um...hello there..?"

The night elf, for she was indeed a rather petite Kaldorei, looked up at him, her head tilting to the side as if confused and curious at the same time. Henrik blinked once and then shook his head, trying the greeting again in rough Darnassian, "Hello there, miss."

She smiled at him, nodding and speaking in Darnassian, "Hello! It's nice to meet you! Did you know that you've made a camp on haunted grounds? Also you're a human right? I've not seen many of your kind here! Is that your tent? I don't usually need a tent because if you know where to look there's plenty of shelter out in the wilds here. You should be careful not to make your fire too big! Did you know that you could attract things to your camp with the light?"

Henrik blinked at the barrage of questions and information, his Darnassian rough enough to make it take him several moments to parse through everything she'd just said. After a moment he smiled and shook his head with a laugh, "Hello! I'm Henrik, and yes I'm a human. I'm not so sure about haunted grounds or things being attracted to my camp, but thank you for the warning. And yes, this is my tent which I purchased so I could stay in the wilderness for a few days. What is your name, child?"

The elf blinked a few times and then resumed her drawing, talking as she worked, "Oh, I'm Saveenah! And you really shouldn't camp here! There are dead ancestors who don't like it when people come near their old houses. I don't see why they are like that; if I was dead I wouldn't care if someone was near my house because I wouldn't be using it anymore, but they used to use a lot of magic and maybe that made them angry or something. My father said that they were bad people but I think they were just people who lived the way they knew best at the time!"

Henrik smiled, sinking into his chair and studying the elf. Clearly she was a native to the area, and though he thought little of ghost stories, he would still listen to her words and heed her advice if she had any to offer, "Can you explain more, Saveenah? What old houses do you mean?"

Saveenah tilted her head, pausing her drawing (which appeared to be quite good!) and stared at him, her silver eyes unblinking, "The old houses! You know, the nobles and things? The magic users? The ones that lived here a long time ago? They get mad when you touch their things!"

Henrik shook his head, trying to speak slowly, "I'm not sure I follow, Saveenah. I have been looking for ruins, but I've not found any yet if that is what you mean."

Saveenah grinned, "You're silly. You are camped right on top of them! Look, let me show you."

She unfolded her legs, rising from the log and setting her journal down for a moment. She walked barefoot across the grassy clearing, studying the ground intensely as if searching for something. After a moment, she knelt down near to where Henrik was sitting, her hand pressed against the grass and vines that grew in that spot. To Henrik's surprise, some of the vines seemed to writhe beneath her touch, slowly moving away from her hand as if growing away from it. As they moved, they dragged the earth and grasses with them, revealing ancient stones with rather dire looking magical symbols on them. Saveenah smiled up at him, "See? The old houses!"

Henrik rose from his chair, approaching the spot that Saveenah had revealed. He noted with curiosity that she moved away from him, always keeping a certain distance from him as a wild animal might. He knelt next to the spot, his eyes widening as he recognized the ancient Darnassian carvings of the Highborne. Saveenah had indeed been right; he'd been encamped on top of some hidden ruins, and based on the markings on the stones they might once have been held by a powerful Highborne family in the ancient past. It would make an amazing find and be something to study...in the light of day. Staying encamped in such a place could be quite dangerous though.

He looked up at Saveenah, nodding his thanks, "I think I understand now. Thank you, Saveenah. But, may I ask you, how did you know these were here?"

Saveenah shrugged, wandering back to the log to collect her journal, "The vines warned me. They've been containing this danger for countless eons. You should not explore this place; some of the ruins in the wilderness are safe because the ancestors have long since left, but sometimes they stay for whatever reason! Maybe because it is so beautiful here, although I think they didn't care about the forest, which is silly!"

Henrik nodded, slowly rising, his eyes affixed on the stone, "Well, I do not need to be warned twice. I'll see to it that the camp is moved before another hour passes. While I'm not afraid of ghosts, I don't need to press my luck either!"

Saveenah looked at him, her face sad, "You should be afraid of them. They don't like you. You're not of the forest, and not of their kind. They don't like me either even though I've tried to talk with some of them. Just leave them alone and they will leave you alone!"

"Okay, Saveenah, I will remember that," Henrik said with a smile. The elf was something of a fey creature of the forest but this was obviously her home and she likely knew far more than he did about it. He was not so educated as to think he knew everything!

Saveenah smiled, perking up and forgetting all about the dark matters they had just been discussing, her smile a beautiful sight to behold, "Oh good! Sometimes people don't listen to me for some reason and then I have to go get help for them! It's a long trip to get help!"

Henrik chuckled at this, already starting to fold up his camp chair, "I just bet it is my friend."

"Friend...I have not had many friends," Saveenah said, clearly happy. "There is just the wild out here, which can be your friend if you are wise or your enemy if you aren't careful!"

Henrik opened his mouth to respond when the tent flap behind him moved, his wife Ellen making her way out of the tent, blinking sleep from her eyes. She peered up at him, a curious expression on her face, "Who are you talking to?"

Henrik turned to gesture to Saveenah, only to find that she was gone. There was no trace she had ever been there, no footprints where she'd trod; there was only the night looming endlessly from around the little glow of their campfire, and a spot of exposed ruins on the ground near his feet. He paused, surprise passing over his face as he responded slowly, "I was talking to...a friend. I think we need to move our camp; it may not be safe here. There was another clearing back down the trail a bit. Let's relocate there."

With his wife helping, Henrik quickly repacked his gear, extinguishing the fire and heading away from the spot that they'd previously been camping. As they made their way through the foliage towards the new camp area, Henrik paused, scanning the darkness around them.

For a brief moment, he could have swore he'd seen two silver cat eyes peering at him from the dark.

Endings

Biara sat at her desk, piles of paperwork stacked up before her in both her completed and unfinished stacks, hours of work ahead of her. She sighed, her quill running across the paper before her as she completed yet another requisition form for the Magistrate to review.

A soft knock on the door brought her blessed relief, and she looked up from her work, "Come in."

The door opened and Rayleth stood there, a grim expression on his face as he paused in the doorway. After a moment he seemed to find his nerve and entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him and walking hesitantly towards the desk, "You summoned me, Magistrix?"

Biara sighed and waved a hand, "You may still call me Biara, and yes I did summon you. It's time we had a talk now that my head is clear."

Rayleth nodded, slowly sinking into a seat across from her, his voice steady, "You have been keeping me away."

Biara met his gaze, her tone even, "I have. After...what happened to me, and what passed between us at that time, I needed time to myself to think. I saw how you reacted when you saw me. It was not what you were expecting, was it?"

Rayleth considered the question for a moment and then finally nodded, "No, it wasn't. I expected you to sometimes need to risk yourself in battle, you are a battle-mage after all, but this was different. You were supposed to have been going to the city to go shopping, and you returned a bloody mess."

Biara sighed, toying with the feathered end of her quill, "Before, I told you about the difficulties of my life, of being with me, but I don't think you had a chance to truly come to terms with it. My life can be taken at any moment. At all times there are enemies who wish me ill, or may be battles that I must face for the good of the Sin'dorei. I cannot shirk these duties or stand idly by while others are placed in grave danger that I could avert with my magic. You now see what I really meant."

Rayleth nodded slowly, "I do."

Biara paused, studying him for a moment, "You may speak freely with me, Rayleth. Even if you say things that are hurtful to me, I will not hold them against you, nor deny you your place here. I need to hear what you are thinking, what you are feeling."

He sighed and nodded, "I was scared. For you I mean, but for us as well. I just never thought...well, that you could be taken from me so easily."

"It made you reconsider, didn't it?" Biara said softly. "This is not the first time that I have had suitors come to this realization, nor will it be the last. Everything that you saw is the truth of the matter. I will die doing what I was born to do; fighting for our city. That day could be a hundred years from now, or it could be tomorrow."

Rayleth looked grim, "I know. I just wish it could be different, that you didn't have to do this. It makes everything so hard."

Biara nodded, "Courage is not the lack of fear, but it is acting even when you do fear. Even so, I will not consider you a coward for being afraid for me, and for what we've had between us. You simply didn't fully understand."

"I don't think words can adequately explain it until you experience it," Rayleth said softly. "I want you to be happy, to be safe, but at the same time what we have is then on a knife's edge."

Biara frowned and sighed again, "It always was, you just didn't know. The only way for us to truly be, is for you to sacrifice more and accept that it must be this way. If you cannot, if the doubt and worry gnaw at you too much, I will not hate you or wish you ill for being unable to handle it. Suitors who I would have expected even more from than you have fled from this, and I understand it."

Rayleth nodded, "I...need some time to think about it, if that's alright?"

Biara smiled sadly, "In some ways, that is all the answer you needed to give, but yes go and take the time you need. You can return to the garrison and when you are ready, send for me. Regardless of what you believe though, promise me one thing?"

Rayleth tilted his head, "What is that?"

"Promise me that you will at least care for me, and be my friend," Biara said softly. "I have too few of those."

"Always, Biara. Always," he replied with conviction. He nodded, slowly rising from his chair and looking at her one last time, "Regardless of how I feel about...all of this, I still admire you for what you do, for your courage. I think everyone should."

Biara smiled and nodded, "If only the world worked that way. Farewell for now, Rayleth. I hope when next we speak it is of more pleasant or casual things."

"Farewell, Biara," Rayleth said with a sad smile. He turned and walked from the room, closing the door behind him.

Biara sighed again, rising from her desk and leaving her pile of paperwork behind. She headed towards a set of double glass doors that lead to the balcony connected to her upper floor office, pushing them open and letting the sunlight in. Walking across the balcony, she leaned against the stone railing, looking down into the courtyard below.

Far below her, Kyliska's Blood Knights trained, the sunlight sparkling off of their swords. Biara leaned on the railing, a head held in one hand as her eyes wandered across the elves training there, spying one that she sought. There, off to one side, two Sin'dorei stood near a third, holy Light flowing from them and into their target as they practiced their healing arts and prayers. The day was hot, and the elves had stripped down to the bare essentials.

The blood knight Myriel wore a tight bodysuit, meant to be donned beneath a set of plate armor. Standing beside her, muscles glistening with sweat in the sunlight, a bare-chested Evindar practiced his magic, his hands aglow as he cast spell after spell, his form rippling as his hands darted forward to place his spells on his target, his blonde hair flowing in the soft breeze.

Biara watched him for a time, smiling secretly as she gazed unobserved at his practicing. When she saw Evindar say something that was apparently a joke and the other Knights around him began to laugh, Biara became amused with herself as a streak of jealously shot through her when Myriel placed a hand on his arm, patting him after whatever jest he'd made.

Oh if only things were different. If only I were truly free now that I've given up my role as the Lady Sunfire and abdicated to Kyliska. Why, if I could do as I pleased, I'd shout down into that courtyard right now and order Evindar to come up into my quarters and-

"A lovely day, isn't it, Biara?" Braeth'el's voice said softly behind her. He moved to stand beside her, his footsteps having been silent.

Biara nearly jumped, her face blushing bright pink in an instant, "Oh y-yes, yes it's a lovely day, Braeth'el."

Braeth'el smiled at her, as if he was quite aware of what she had just been thinking. He said nothing of it though, nodding at her, "I apologize for saying so, but I accidentally overheard what you and Rayleth were discussing. I think you made the right decision to speak to him as you did."

Biara's smile faded and she nodded. She turned and looked back out over the courtyard, "It was hard to let him go. I wanted so badly to have what you and my sister have."

Braeth'el patted her arm reassuringly, "You will one day, but he was not the right one. Think of this; you need someone who will be beside you in battle all of the time. Your life, like my own and Kyliska's, is one of risk. He is a civilian in the end, even if he performed admirably in a battle. I know you, Biara. I've watched over you for your entire life. You need a strong Lord to fight by your side, a Knight or a warrior of renown. You will find it, eventually."

Biara smirked, "Or I'll die of old age long before...and given my contamination with temporal magics, who even knows when that will end up being..."

Braeth'el shook his head, leaning on the railing beside her, "Just be patient, my friend. I never thought that I would find it either. I wasn't even looking for it, but your sister kindled something in me that I would never have found on my own. It will be the same for you one day."

Biara sighed, waving a hand at him, "Just be sure that when you marry her you have a large number of eligible bachelors in your wedding party please."

Braeth'el barked out a laugh and nodded, "I will see it done, Magistrix."

For a time, the two fell silent, merely watching the knights training down below. After a while, Braeth'el stirred, his tone more serious, "I need to ask you how your progress goes in searching for Telatha. I'm becoming worried."

"As am I, honestly," Biara replied. "I've found no sign of her with all of my magical resources, although I have evidence that she survived the battle around the Dark Portal. I have even spent considerable coin for hints of information relating to her and offered to pay goblins of all things to hunt for her, but to no avail thus far."

Braeth'el nodded, "I am grateful that you are expending so much effort on this. I know that you are quite busy with other, much more important things."

Biara looked at him, shaking her head, "Nothing is more important than our family. I will find her, I swear it. Actually...I had a thought, although it is not a pleasant one, about what more we might do."

"Oh?" Braeth'el asked.

Biara looked him directly in the eyes, her tone flat, "We should find out if she was captured by the Alliance. I believe we need to tap into your SI:7 contact."

Braeth'el blinked, "Rosellina Cooke? She would be able to find out if Telatha had been captured or if the Alliance was aware of her whereabouts, but....what would motivate her to aid us?"

Biara gestured behind her, "I have prepared a redacted report of the battle for the Felo'melorn garrison. It fully details the strength, disposition, and deployment of the Iron Horde forces that assaulted that position. Given that the Felo'melorns were wiped out there, and that the Iron Horde still controls that territory, they are hardly state secrets that would bring harm to the Sin'dorei. I am willing to exchange this information for information that will allow us to locate Telatha, but you must ensure we get a fair deal in exchange. You are the only one I would trust with such a task."

Braeth'el considered this carefully, finally nodding, "What you propose isn't treason, as you aren't giving away any state secrets...and we're not technically at war with the Alliance at the moment anyway. It seems like a sound plan, but....Kyliska. She's going to be annoyed with you if she finds out."

Biara's tone was cool now, "Then see to it that she never finds out, Braeth'el. My sister...is quite capable, but she is untested in her new role. She would not understand that sometimes necessity requires bold moves like this. Agent Cooke is not a threat to us, as we know her identity, and if she can be of use to us, then a fair trade is reasonable."

Braeth'el fell quiet for a long time, turning to stare out into space, "I can do this for you, but understand that my days in active service are coming to an end. I send agents to do this kind of work now. I want to settle down, to retire. I want to spend my best years holding your sister in my arms and waking with her in the morning."

Biara nodded, turning away from him and looking out over the courtyard, "And I want to see my daughter grow into an adult, but I know that I will likely die long before that happens. We do what we must for Quel'Thalas and for our family. I understand what you are saying though; I will burden you no further once this task is done, and leave you to your happiness."

Braeth'el nodded, looking troubled, "Very well then, I will do as you ask. Your plan sounds like it could bear fruit. If not, it will reinforce our contact with what could potentially be a non-hostile enemy agent in the long run."

Biara nodded, not looking back at him, "You have your orders then. See to it that my sister remains ignorant of this; she won't understand the need."

Braeth'el turned, his voice carrying over his shoulder as he departed, "I've never betrayed the secrets of this House, not even to you, Biara. I'll do my job, as I've sworn to do long ago."

After he was gone, Biara stood quietly for a time, staring out into the blue sky beyond and ignoring the Knights down below now. Her heart was heavy with the many secrets, plots, and deceptions that had long plagued her rule of House Sunfire. Even now, even when she'd stepped down, they continued to stir and she knew deep within her heart that she would have to continue her course for the good of her people.

"I do what I must for Quel'Thalas," she whispered to no one.