How To Solve A Problem Like Alyna

Chapter 1

Alyna sat nervously on the grass, trying not to fidget. Around her, other youths were also waiting, but they were far more relaxed than she was. They sat in small groups, laughing and telling stories related to why they were here today; the Farstriders were recruiting. The event only happened once in four or five years, and the recruiters would only be in Silvermoon City for two days. Today was the second day. She had showed up yesterday but had lost her nerve after seeing all the skilled-looking prospects.

Nearby, parents stood casually, talking amongst themselves. Looking at them, she knew they all had one thing in common – they were Farstriders themselves, or had been and were retired. Their children had been raised in the tradition of the forests under the tutelage of their ranger parents, and had been given their first bow probably before they could walk.

Alyna's parents were not amongst them. They were magisters, not Farstriders, and they had no idea their youngest daughter was here. Her bow was not a paid-for creation made by experts, but crafted by her own hand under the guidance of one of her father's hunters, whom she had begged to help her.

She sat alone for most of the morning, with her homemade bow and three homemade arrows across her lap, waiting for her turn.

The rangers used a small enclosure within the city. It wasn't large enough to be a base like the ones she had heard about that were dotted throughout Quel'Thalas, but it was large enough to provide for their needs while visiting the city. Somehow, the noise of the city did not reach inside despite being surrounded by it. A few small buildings dotted the grassy area, with the grandest one being used for the interviews. The hopefuls were gathered haphazardly around the archery range, waiting with differing levels of impatience.

For the hundredth time, she dug a piece of paper out of a pocket. She had scrutinised the flyer many times to make sure she had everything. Her own bow, check. Three arrows, check. Loose, comfortable clothing, check. Filled out application … she turned the flyer around to quickly scan the information she had filled out on the back … check.

Muffled giggles erupted from the group of girls sitting across from her. Alyna ignored them. Her elven ears could hear they were talking about her. She knew she was different, and tried to not take their words to heart.

"Lady Alyna Salonar?"

Alyna looked up at the ranger with the clipboard. She had not heard him approach. As she stood, the girls stared, their mouths open to various degrees. She realised she was not just the only titled elf there, but they had recognised the family name of the current grand magister of Silvermoon, who was her grandfather. Their gossiping had told her they had assumed her family was too poor to afford to buy her quality equipment. She wondered what they were thinking now as they watched her follow the ranger to her interview.

As they entered the building, Alyna was taken aback slightly by how simple the space looked. She was used to the reds, whites and golds of the city, but the décor was distinctly different within the ranger cabin. The furniture was all bare, natural woods. Earthy tones of greens, browns, and dark mahogany reds dominated. She smiled slightly, finding it very comforting and welcoming.

"Captain, this is Lady Alyna Salonar," introduced the ranger. He looked at her, and gestured towards a female elf sitting behind a desk. "Ranger-Captain Sylvanas Windrunner." He looked her up and down slightly before lowering his voice to a whisper, "Good luck." She watched him leave, realising he had genuinely meant it.

His words then sunk in.

Windrunner?

Alyna turned to stare at the woman now regarding her with pale grey-blue eyes. The Windrunner family formed part of the ruling Council of Silvermoon, along with Alyna's and a few other powerful families. Their current representative was a well respected magister, but what they were famous for was providing the nation with some of the most gifted rangers in living memory. Alyna had never met Sylvanas, but she had heard the gossip. For all the talent the family had, the woman before her was rumoured to be the best. She had just been promoted to captain, and was the youngest ever to earn the rank.

She took a deep breath, and walked forward. She then remembered the flyer and she tried to pass the arrows into the same hand that was holding her bow so she could pull it out of her pocket, but the manoeuvre did not happen as she hoped. One of the arrows slipped from her grip. She pulled her hand out of her pocket to try and grab it, only for her grip on her bow to loosen. The arrows and bow clattered to the floor, slowly followed by the dropped flyer.

"By the Sunwell, I'm so sorry!" She bent down to collect her things.

She didn't hear the light scrape of the chair as the captain moved around the desk to help her, so when a hand appeared next to hers as she reached for her bow, Alyna jumped.

"It's okay," came the patient words. She looked up to find Sylvanas kneeling in front of her. The captain was staring at the bow she had picked up. As she examined the bow, Alyna felt transfixed. Sylvanas' long hair was a startling colour of gold as it fell around her shoulders with her movement. Her skin was lightly tanned, and perfect. Up close, she could tell Sylvanas was wearing makeup but, unlike the trends in the city, the tones were natural and highlighted the natural beauty she already possessed. Her eyes then flicked up as she raised a perfect golden eyebrow. "Interesting bow you have here."

Alyna felt flustered. "Uh … I … made it."

That surprised the captain, and she sat back on her heels. "You made it?" There was a hint of disbelief in her tone.

"Yes, uh … Captain." Was that the right way to address her? There was no correction, so she continued. "I asked one of my father's hunters to show me how, and he did, and he then helped me find what I needed."

Sylvanas looked at what Alyna was holding. "The arrows too?"

She nodded, mutely.

Gracefully, Sylvanas stood, holding the bow, and moved back to her desk. She gestured for Alyna to take the seat opposite her as she settled herself into her chair. She put the bow on the desk.

"Forgive my curiosity, Lady Sa—"

"Please, call me Alyna," she managed as she grabbed the flyer and tried to get comfortable in the chair.

Sylvanas gave her a curious look. Amongst the nobility, formality was expected, and demanded. Though a ranger, Sylvanas was also from a noble family, and would be very aware of the strict etiquette of the city nobles. Inviting her to use her first name was unusual for a first meeting. Alyna had gambled that if she showed she was not attached to her title, she would show her willingness to leave behind the comforts of noble life she knew Sylvanas expected her to be attached to. The truth was, Alyna couldn't wait to be treated like a normal person.

The captain nodded her agreement, "Alyna it is then." She continued where she had left off. "Why did you go to the effort of making your own bow? Your family more than have the means to buy you one."

Alyna looked at her creation. She had been very proud of it, and had practised eagerly every moment she could sneak away from her family for the last year. When she had seen the bows of the others outside though, she realised just how mediocre hers was. She felt her shoulders slump slightly. "My Father refused to buy me one, and my allowance wouldn't cover it." She had also tried to get a job to pay for it, but her father had been incensed. No daughter of his would be found doing 'menial tasks'.

A golden eyebrow raised again. "I see." Alyna realised she probably did. As she was aware of the Windrunners, Sylvanas would also know the Salonars. Her family were an unbroken line of magic-wielders. Every family looking to strengthen the magical talent in their own bloodline looked to try and marry into the Salonar line. And here was Alyna looking to become a ranger.

The captain spoke carefully, clearly trying not to offend Alyna. "You are aware that we cannot accept magi into our ranks, Alyna?"

Alyna tried to hold onto Sylvanas' gaze. "I have no affinity for magic." She swallowed the lump in her throat that had formed at the words. "I failed the dusting."

Two eyebrows shot up this time in undisguised surprise. The dusting was the colloquial term for the official test done on all teenagers to determine if they possessed any magical talent. It involved placing a special magical dust into the palm of the hand. If the child had any potential for magic, the dust would react. No one in Alyna's family had ever failed the test, so she was told. Until she came along.

"I'm … sorry," was all Sylvanas could manage. She then added, "That must have been difficult for you."

Alyna shrugged nonchalantly. "It is what it is." In truth, it had been devastating. Her mother had cried for days and her father had demanded the arcane dust be tested to make sure it was genuine. When it passed the test, Alyna was retested multiple times before her father angrily accepted the results. Since that day, her father had treated her like she was broken. Her older brother and sister had done the same, with added taunting. She lost friends as they tested positive, and she had started to feel increasingly isolated. It had been the scandal of the year amongst the nobility. She figured Sylvanas had not heard about it due to not living in the city. For that, she was grateful.

The captain narrowed her eyes slightly, aware that Alyna was making light of the situation. "When did you decide you wanted to join the Farstriders?"

Alyna shifted slightly in her seat. "A year ago. My father took me to Fairbreeze Village for the installation of the new magisterix there. A Farstrider unit also happened to be about on patrol and I got to see them do a few things. One was kind enough to tell me a bit about his day to day life, and … well. I found it very appealing."

Slowly, Sylvanas asked, "You've only used a bow for a year?"

Alyna blushed. "Sort of. I've had to hide my training from my father."

The captain leant back in her chair. Alyna felt a knot forming in her stomach. "You're aware that pretty much all of the successful applicants will have used a bow for ten, fifteen years, if not more?"

Alyna looked down at her arrows and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. She knew Sylvanas wasn't being intentionally mean, but she couldn't help but feel that she was being told it wasn't worth her time to try. She felt the sting at the back of her eyes, and rapidly blinked away the threat of tears. She took a deep breath to calm herself, and then looked up at the waiting captain.

"I know I haven't grown up in a ranger family, like you or those outside. But that doesn't mean I cannot learn. You know what things are like, and you know I can't really learn if I stay at home. I can't just leave, because my father's influence will always make sure I am forced to return, unless I join an organisation large enough to not bow to his pressure." She sat back in her chair, the words taking on an emotional tone as she felt like she was begging. "I've done everything I can to be here, and when my father finds out he will be furious that I've spent a year going behind his back. I know there's more to a ranger than using a bow, and I know I can do it. All I ask for is a chance to prove I can be as good as those outside. And if I'm not … at least I tried."

She watched the grey-blue eyes scrutinise her for a very long minute. Sylvanas then reached out and pushed Alyna's bow towards her, before she stood and strode away from the desk. Alyna's heart sank. She felt her grip on her arrows tighten at the rejection. How could she make the captain see she could do this?

Quiet footfalls marked the captain's return.

"Come on then."

Alyna looked up to see Sylvanas standing near the door. She had a quiver of arrows and what Alyna guessed to be her own bow in her other hand. The young elf's eyes widened, and she grabbed her bow and almost ran to the door as Sylvanas opened it and strode down to the archery range. Alyna watched as the captain set up one of the targets forty feet away. She was keenly aware that all the other applicants, and their parents, were watching; their conversations having ceased with the appearance of Sylvanas.

The captain stood next to Alyna and gestured at the target. "In your own time, show me what you can do."

Nervously, Alyna nodded. She placed two of her arrows on the ground and nocked one into the string on her bow. She raised the bow, pulled back on the string, and aimed as best she could. She fired. Though a clumsy flight, the arrow hit the target, about halfway to the centre. She heard a couple of sniggers from the onlookers, and her face burned as she tried to ignore them. She looked at Sylvanas, who gestured she fire the other two, so she did. The second arrow landed near the first, and slightly nearer the centre, and the third landed similarly to the second.

"Hand me your bow, please," asked Sylvanas. Alyna did as requested. She watched as the captain drew back on the string a few times, her arm muscles flexing as she did so. She then rested the bow against a post, and picked up her own. She adjusted the string on her bow, and tested it a few times before she held it out to Alyna. The young woman's jaw dropped. The bow was exquisitely crafted, with intricate elven symbols and text carved into the rare wood. Gingerly, she took hold of the grip.

"Now, let's see what you can do with my bow, and straight arrows."

Alyna plucked an arrow from the quiver. Immediately, she could feel it was better weighted than hers had been. The head was more streamline, and the fletching was perfect. She nocked it, and raised the bow. She felt a nervous shudder go through her body, and she lowered the bow again. She didn't want to shoot until she was fully prepared. She breathed deeply, and then tried again. This time, she released the arrow.

It landed further away than the first three. The sniggers were not subtle this time, and she felt her face heat up.

Before she had a chance to let the wave of disappointment overwhelm her, the captain said, "Again."

This time, as she aimed, she adjusted her aim to compensate for how far she missed with the first arrow, and then she fired.

The arrow thudded home, just inside the centre circle. The chattering behind her stopped, and she felt elation flash through her body.

"Again," came the same command as before. This time, as she aimed, the captain interrupted, "Stop, and hold your position."

She felt the woman move closer. A hand nudged her arm that was holding the bow up slightly. Strong fingers nudged her elbow into a different position. She felt a boot lightly tapping at her feet to adjust her footing. Her hips were moved, as were her shoulders. She could feel her shoulders, arms and fingers starting to burn with the effort of holding the bow. Then she heard quiet words at her ear, "Ignore the burning for a moment and just focus on how your body feels. Memorise this position, and when you're ready, fire."

Alyna nodded, and tried to focus. It felt very new, though on the whole, more comfortable. She released the arrow, and was not sad when it landed outside the centre. She knew the new position would have changed how she needed to aim. Without being told to, she took another arrow and repeated the process. It was her best one yet. She felt excited to see how her performance improved just by having proper equipment and a little expert advice.

She fired a few more arrows before Sylvanas placed a hand on her shoulder. Alyna blushed slightly when she realised she had been getting carried away.

"I think I've seen enough. Come back inside." She picked up Alyna's bow, and nodded at her own. "Bring that with you."

The captain's face was unreadable as she spoke, and Alyna felt a feeling of dread begin to form. She had become excited at her improvement, but did she do enough? She didn't hit a complete bullseye, and now she worried as Sylvanas placed her bow on the desk again. She held her hand out, and Alyna gave her back her own bow, which she then placed in a weapons rack.

"Have you got your form?"

"Yes!" replied Alyna, eagerly. Surely she would only want to see it if she was going to say yes? She pulled the crumpled paper out of her pocket. Realising the condition, she tried to smooth it out on the desktop before handing it to Sylvanas.

The captain looked at the application. She then pinched the bridge of her nose, a frown forming on her face. "It's not signed."

Alyna fidgeted with the bottom of her tunic. "My father would never consider letting me be a ranger."

Sylvanas gently put the flyer down on the desk. She put a hand each side and leant forward. "Alyna, how old are you?"

"I'm twenty-three," she flatly stated.

The captain sighed. "Under the law, you're still a minor. You need familial permission to join the Farstriders as we are a military organisation." Alyna felt her jaw drop and her body go cold. Sylvanas' voice was heavy with regret. "I'm sorry, Alyna. I cannot accept you without consent from a parent or a senior blood relation."

Alyna shook her head slowly. She looked at her bow, and the paper, and then at Sylvanas. "If I can get it signed, would that … would you … accept me?"

Sylvanas looked directly at her. "I won't coddle the truth for you, Alyna. It wouldn't be fair to do that." She moved around the desk to stand before the young woman. "The Academy will be the most difficult challenge you face in your short life. It will test your body, your mind, your resolve, and push you to your limits. Being accepted into the Academy does not mean you'll become a Farstrider. There are many tests, and failure would mean expulsion. But ..." She took a deep breath, "…yes. You asked for a chance. I am prepared to give it to you." She picked the flyer up from the desk, and held it out to Alyna. "If you can get this signed, I'll accept you into the Academy."

Alyna's eyes had gone wide with surprise and delight. She took the flyer and stared at it. Her face fell as she realised there was no way her father would sign it. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up into the captain's eyes. "Does it have to be my father?"

Sylvanas shook her head. "No. Any direct blood relation can sign. Your mother qualifies, as do any of your grandparents or legally adult siblings."

She looked at the flyer. Her mother would not defy her father, and her brother and sister were taking too much delight in her misery. She did have one relative who might listen to her. "How much time do I have?"

"We leave as soon as there is no one left outside, with all the recruits we've accepted. So you'll need to also pack a bag as well as get this signed. At a guess, I would say two to three hours." She gestured at the bow. "We'll provide you with a new bow, so you can leave that behind." She gave Alyna's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "I hope to see you soon, Alyna."

"Yes, Captain." Alyna nodded. She picked up her bow and turned to leave.

"Good luck," came the quiet words from Sylvanas.

She was definitely going to need it.