A/N: Writing exercise with some ideas I have swimming in my head. If people like it, I may turn it into a small side project while I continue Dreams of the Heart. Constructive criticism, as always, is encouraged and appreciated. Oh, and the troll isn't Darkspear, so I more or less made up her accent. That is all I will say about that. Also, if you enjoy any of my stories, feel free to check out my website in my profile dedicated to my WoW fanfic.

Disclaimer: World of Warcraft is property of Blizzard Entertainment and I do not own it in any form or fashion. The characters in this story are my own while the setting takes place in the world/universe of WoW.

The Lie

"You take care of it?"

A heavy breath seethed past his lips in a vaporous haze, leaving winding, wispy tails in the air. His words were miasma. With the thickness of the smoke wafting about the room as a listless cloud of white, Taja'ki could only just make out his face. But a smoldering orange which was evidently producing the endless veil of fog was at least clearly visible.

"Ja, Taji take care 'o it, donna' worreh."

The man was silent, another large puff of smoke leaving his lips instead. Parting the smoke, a hand with only three large digits reached out to her expectantly. Taja'ki needed no prompting from the two at either side of her to slowly relinquish the item had been holding in a fist at her side. Somehow, it didn't surprise her that he'd need proof.

The hand retreated back behind the evanescent brume, studying the tiny circlet stained with crimson splotches in silent scrutiny. Another large puff of smoke. The acridity of the smoke burned at Taja'ki's eyes, forcing a well of dampness to collect, but controlled enough to not let one tear escape.

"And?" the deep voice breathed once more, emptiness echoing in that one word. Taja'ki pulled her lips back into a grin, running a hand through her braids.

"Taji did it quick. Midd'a o' da' Barrens wher'a no'ra one fin' 'im. Joo wan' Taji shoul' go inna' details, ja?"

There was a soft snort of repulsion, accompanied with an expulsion of smoke. Taji was prodded in the shoulder by the figure at her side. She was being dismissed. The two similarly dressed figures escorted Taji down the hall, out of the smoggy room, and through the inconspicuous door leading out into the back alley. The door, cleverly disguised as part of the wall, clicked shut, and Taja'ki stretched, popping her back in various places, her posture relaxing visibly.

"We finished?"

A shadow detached itself from the inky backdrop, melding into a humanoid, corporeal form and penetrating the troll with two sun-like orbs.

"Ja. Lessa' go, 'eh? We still got stuff ta' do."

The dusky streets of Orgrimmar were desolate for the most part, which was to be expected with burly gorilla's posing as orc guards on every corner. Even exuding the slightest hint of suspicion during that time of night was enough probable cause to get one forcibly detained. If this were the least bit apparent to Taja'ki, she either failed to realize it or ignored it, walking with her same cocky strut and smug expression.

Shadowing behind her like some sinister doppelganger, the figure behind her fell in step alongside her, barely moving any of the muscles still left in his face as he addressed the troll in a grating hiss.

"You know he's going to kill you if he finds out."

Taja'ki's swagger remained uninterrupted. "Taji donna' know wha' joo be talkin' abou'."

A breathless sigh chided her before the man continued, "Did you think I wouldn't know? Rai'zen doesn't know you like I do. I thought I trained you better."

Only the labored rise and fall of heavy feet and the soft sashay of robes brushing along the well worn path muddled through the humid night air, until Taja'ki finally bared her long, pointed tusks at the Undead in a wry grin.

"Taji no'ra coul' eva' pull one ova' on Korot."

"And I could never teach you to overcome your impulsive tendencies," Korot replied testily, jamming his arms into the folds of his sleeves. "You're of more use to me alive than dead, and for that reason alone, I'd rather not see all my years of training you go to waste because "Taji" went soft."

Taji's amber eyes cut deeply into the man at her side from the very edge of her peripheral vision, her voice dipping low and losing it's characteristic roguish facetiousness.

"Lissen 'ere, deada'. Taji be many tings-" She again exposed her tusks fully for a wicked half grin. "Some goo' an' mos' me motha' woul' turn in 'er grave tah 'ear 'bout." The humor on her face dissipated. "Bu' know dis; Taji's skills an' her blade may be bought wit' a price… bu' her own sense 'a 'onor an' pride canna' not. Taji donna' betray no frien's, ya' tal'ley?"

Korot could not help a disbelieving head shake and a shadow of a smile. "You are quite the piece of work, Taji. I have never seen anyone embrace insanity with such remorseless vigor. You are truly something else."

With a boisterous chuckle, Taji grabbed her cape from behind, peering over the top of it and jutting her jaw in a noble, pompous fashion.

"Ja, Taji be sometin' else alrigh'. Taji really be da' 'ero in dis'guise. But joo donna' tell nobody, ja?"

The Forsaken continued to shake his head at the troll, the mirth in his smile not reaching his eyes. "Ja."

The spicy, sediment laden winds of Durotar greeted them briskly as the two exited the city, tiny pinpricks of sparkling dust perforating the darkened sky above.

"Wher'a we be 'eaded now ta' sell da' stuff, boss'a man?"

"Silvermoon City, of course."

"Silva'moon be Taji's favo'rit place, ja. S'in City."

Taji hefted an arm around Korot's almost nonexistent shoulders, peering into his impassive face with an impish grin.

"We fin' lossa' goo' lookin' woomans dere, ja?"

Kotor's shoulder's rose and fell in the tell tale signs of a sigh.

"Don't you ever think of anything else?"

The warrior winked cheekily, steering them toward the zeppelin that would take them to the Undercity, and then from there, just a summon away from the famed Sin'dorei City of decadence and debauchery.

"Ja, som'time, Taji tink abou' mens… bu' dat no'ra last long."

Taji felt his shoulders rise and fall.

"... On the way... let us discuss this impulsive tendency of yours... "

"Watch them... "

Rai'zen pulled his lips back over his teeth for what could have been either a forced smile or a curved sneer. His words twined around his tusks like an airborne serpent, and he inhaled them deeply, cherishing the causticity.

"Watch them all..."