Hi.
-Statyck
/*\
Though he was loathe to admit it, Eversong was beautiful. The rivers flowed clear and flashed colors in the light. The trees stood tall, red and orange foliage trailing to the ground. The dragonkin living on the land matched the trees in color, and upon taming one the hunter found them to be very good companions. He'd have to see if he couldn't find an egg to bring back to his sister. She'd love to have a creature like this.
Yes. The Night Elf thought to himself. I suppose this place is rather nice. Pity it's riddled with enemies. Just up the river, he could hear laughter. Though it was pretty the river made him uneasy. It was not ordinary. Even the portions that passed through the Dead Scar remained untainted, and he could sense the magical sparks of energy in the water. It was so smooth, so subtle, that it almost seemed natural.
In fact, the arcane energy was everywhere. He could sense its presence in the boughs of the trees, the soil beneath his feet. It even existed in the blood of the animals around him.
Was this always arcane land? He mused. Did the Blood Elves do this? Or did they simply adapt to it? Though it was an intriguing notion, he didn't have time to wonder. The sun was setting and the laughter grew closer. He needed to return to camp. He retreated into the dusk, and made his way back.
Though Eversong was nice, it was still enemy territory. He'd be happy to leave. He'd mapped out nearly the entire region, and after he and his group captured their target, he could go back to Teldrassil.
/*\
"Lilliya," A soft voice called. "Lilliya, wake up." The girl in question grumbled in response and pulled the light covers over her head. The voice lost its soothing quality. "Lilliya I'm serious."
"Don't wanna." She murmured. "I'm so tired." The voice sighed and the girl felt the covers being ripped away from her.
The room wasn't chilly, but there was a breeze. That was the thing about Elven architecture. There were no windows or doors. Even the aristocrats lived in extremely open housing. The rooms were connected by outdoor ramps, and the walls gave way to gaping doorways covered by nothing more than sheer curtains.
Lilliya jolted up and hurled a fireball at her brother. He immediately ducked down and hastily put out the flame devouring the curtains behind him.
"What the hell, Lilliya?!"
"You have some serious audacity, brother." She growled. "You haven't spoken two words to me since you returned and now you're rousing me out of bed on my day off?"
"Lilliya that's not-"
"Not what. Your intention? Then please tell me Kael, what are you doing?" She could see him trying to calm down. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and glanced back to her.
"I've made some plans. There is someone I would like you to meet today." Lilliya tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.
"Who?"
"You'll see. Take a bath and get dressed. There's already hot water in the basin and I brought you your favorite tea." Lilliya raised an eyebrow and stood up from the bed, smoothing her nightgown and striding over to her chest to pick out a robe for the day.
"Do you even know what my favorite tea is anymore?" She asked. "You were gone an awfully long time." The man looked as though he wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but thought better of it. He took a deep breath and his eyes softened.
"Dragonleaf. Dragonleaf is your favorite tea." He smiled at the surprised look on her face. "I also brought you gingerbread cookies for breakfast." He paused, and let the smile get bigger. "Don't tell mother." To this she fell silent. Gingerbread cookies? 'Don't tell mother'? He's trying awfully hard to get on my good side today. She thought. What did you do Kael?
"I didn't think you would remember." And with that she strode past Kael and made her way down to the washroom.
/*\
"Thaellas!" The hunter turned, watching as the little gnome ran up to him. "Thaellas, the captain is calling! We're gonna start the raid soon!"
"Yes," he responded, "I'll be right there. Just allow me to finish packing, Holly." She nodded and raced to the other side of the camp, informing everyone else of the captain's orders. He sometimes felt amazed at her. Who knew that such a tiny body could hold so much energy?
He finished packing up his tent, stood up, and wove his silvery hair into a tight braid. It was more comfortable to just let it hang down his back, but he could not allow a few stray hairs to disrupt his vision.
Thaellas called his new pet – a dragonhawk, he thought the name was – and strode to the center of camp. Finally, at long last, the anticipation would come to a climax. After months of planning and weeks of camping, they were going to carry out their mission. Though he'd be glad to be done with it, he felt a little uncertain.
The captain was a human man. He was nearing his forties, he looked like, and an eyepatch covered his left socket. His breath always smelled of liquor, though his habits did not detract from his fighting skills. He was fair in his judgement of other people and he paid fairly. That is, after the mission concluded. He wasn't the easiest man to work with either, he rejected any idea that was not his own. It didn't help that Thaellas had also heard rumors about Captain James Pitch. Rumors that placed him in shady places participating in sketchy activities.
Their mission was simple. Captain Pitch was intent on capturing a Blood Elf, and he refused to give any reason.
Why would a human man want to capture a young, beautiful Sin'dorei woman?
/*\
Lilliya washed up in the bath and took an exceptionally long time brushing out her long bronze hair. She huffed and straightened her robe. She'd chosen one of her silk robes. It was comfortable, and her brother had said she'd be meeting someone new today. She glared at the mirror. Her brother was erratic but he always had a reason for doing things. Now that her father had passed, certain responsibilities had passed on to Kael.
She was certain that was why he'd come home. Not because he missed them, not because he wanted to check in, but rather their father. If he came back, there would be a lot for him to inherit.
There was only one reason why he would spontaneously ask her to go out and meet someone of his acquaintance. He knew she didn't typically like being around other people – her studies were far more important – and he'd been unusually nice to her that morning. She could still taste the spicy gingerbread and light Dragonleaf on her lips.
Lilliya walked back to her room and chose a staff. She retrieved her bag as well as her spell book. Yes, the more she thought about it the more obvious it was. There was definitely something suspicious about this. If this was what she thought it was, she just might have to kill Kael.
/*\
About an hour later she was following him into a stranger's house. A mansion it looked like, with a main hall and several rooms branching off into ramps to the upper floors.
Kael led her into the living area, and shook hands with an older man. They spoke in hushed tones for a moment before someone else entered the room. Kael grinned and embraced the newcomer. The two men smiled at each other and exchanged pleasantries before he turned and introduced him.
"Lilliya, this is Matis Morninglight, and his son is a good friend of mine." Hesitantly she nodded at him and said hello. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck begin to rise.
"Hello Lilliya." He said. "I look forward to courting you." She tilted her head.
"I'm sorry?" She squeaked. Vyir stared at her blankly then shot a sideways look to Kael.
"You didn't tell her?" He asked. Kael shrugged.
"She wouldn't have cooperated."
"Tell me what?" Lilliya intervened, taking a step back. All three men looked at her and she couldn't help but notice that they were between her and the door. This was not good.
"Relax, sister." Kael said. "This is nothing serious, I just wanted to introduce you to a potential suitor." She raised an eyebrow.
"I did not realize you thought me stupid, brother. Tell me the truth." It was at this point that Vyir took a step forward and intervened.
"Lilliya, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance. For the past few months my father and I have been speaking with your brother. It is our understanding that it is time for you to marry, and I would like to be the first in line for your hand."
All Lilliya could do was stare at him.
/*\
Thaellas watched as the draenei paladin walked up to the captain. Human men were small compared to the night elves alone. Thaellas towered over Captain Pitch, standing at 7'4" above his measly 6'0". Draenei were even bigger. The paladin – Derul – was nearly a foot taller than Thaellas. When the man came stomping out of his tent, horns gleaming and sword unsheathed, the elf found himself impressed by the human man's indifference. Derul's sheer size made Pitch seem positively fragile. It would take very little for Derul to hurt the captain, and he definitely wanted to.
"Is something the matter, Derul?" Captain Pitch inquired, staring intently at his flask.
"Tell me why you want that girl." The draenei growled, his heavy accent nearly marring his words. The captain had to stand up and crane his neck to make eye contact with the enraged man standing before him.
"I don't see why I should. It wasn't relevant when I first hired you."
"It's relevant now." Derul stated. "In light of what I have just discovered." The draenei threw a scroll at the captain's feet. The human picked it up and inspected its contents. He scoffed and let it drop to the ground.
"I did not pay you to rummage through my things."
"Actually, you did not pay us at all." A new voice interjected. Thaellas turned and saw Madrii, Derul's wife. She had joined the venture to accompany her husband, and she had told Thaellas on several occasions that she did not like the captain.
"That's true." Holly added. "You said you'd pay us after the fact. We figured we'd just be splitting ransom money." The gnome paused. "But now I get the feeling you had something a little different in mind."
"Indeed he did." The draenei growled. "He was planning to sell her." Thaellas quirked a brow.
"Sell her," he said slowly, "as in the illegal trafficking of Sin'dorei women?" The captain rolled his eye.
"There is nothing illegal about transporting prisoners to the stockades in Stormwind. You are blowing this entirely out of proportion." Thaellas picked up the scroll and looked through it.
"While that may be true, guards don't typically pay 40,000 gold for just one prisoner. Especially when there is absolutely no listing of whatever crime she committed to warrant going to the stockades."
"She is Sin'dorei. That's crime enough." Thaellas shook his head.
"It is not a crime to exist. She may have been born Horde but as of yet she has done nothing to earn the wrath of the Alliance." The captain moved as though to place a hand on his hip, but at the last moment drew his pistol and shot.
/*\
Lilliya suffered through the encounter with a magnanimous amount of grace. At least she thought so. She had apologized for the scene she made, saying that she had just been surprised. She was quickly forgiven, and they were led to a small gaming table. They played chess while they talked.
Vyir seemed nice, but she did not like the position she'd been put in. He inquired after her studies, asking her questions regarding her choice to be a fire mage in a family of paladins. She answered sparingly and asked about his training. She learned that he was a warrior and if his house wasn't enough, his attitude alone gave away his aristocratic heritage. He recounted tales of adventures he'd had with her brother, and bragged of his family history.
Instead of telling her about himself, he spent his time explaining why he would be a good choice. She suspected he saw her distress, and was trying to persuade her to warm up to him. She nodded politely and smiled.
The encounter lasted for about an hour before Kael and Matis intervened. The first courting session had ended. She was free to leave, and took every ounce of self-discipline she had not to sigh in relief. She had been too angry to even think of enjoying this encounter, and Vyir was very obviously uncomfortable. Tense goodbyes were said, and it was time to go. She refused her brother's hand and rose from the chair, stalking towards the door when footsteps sounded behind her. A hand touched her wrist and she whirled.
"Listen," Vyir said, standing next to her, "I understand your trepidation. I would not like being thrust into something this important without prior knowledge of it either. That being said, I would like to ask you to overlook this first encounter. It was not my intention to frighten you." And then softer, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "I swear, Kael has no tact." Lilliya couldn't help a tiny smile.
"I agree." She answered, and then looked away. She should have known to expect something like this. She couldn't simply tell this suitor to go away, he was Kael's friend. Her brother had definitely done that on purpose. She would have to be a little craftier in order to chase him away, when an idea struck her. "I will agree to see you again, but on one condition."
"And what is that?" she smiled.
"Duel me. You boasted of your family's history, your strength. I want to see if you can live up to your words." Given the conversation they'd been having, it was not an unreasonable request. He was a tad arrogant, and Lilliya knew her own power well. Fire was a force to be reckoned with, and those who commanded it even more so. If she defeated him, his pride would lay in ruins and he would refuse to see her again.
Much to her dismay he was not fazed. Vyir grinned, mischief glimmering in his eyes, and bowed.
"Of course. I will be happy to demonstrate to you my strength, Lilliya Silverspell."
/*\
Long thing is long. Hope you liked it, dear reader!
-Statyck
