The Fire within the Ice.
By Lamdak the Rogue
It was the day he always had feared. The day he knew would come eventually. He tried to lead a celibate life but her whimsical way and delicate beauty captivated him. First he was content to be her friend but in time both wanted more so in time they became lovers. He still exerted care and caution in their relationship and for a time he relaxed and reveled in the happiness he had found in her arms. But now she was here in his study, eyes red and swollen with happiness as she clutched at a red and gold handkerchief and told him that she was with child. His child. Lor'Themar sat down heavily in his chair and sighed rubbing his throbbing head. Part of him rejoiced but his mind raced with how much he hated his role as regent and if Silvermoon learned he had an heir, that child would be expected to pick up that heavy burden in time. He wouldn't wish that role on his worst enemy and the Sunwell knew he has several. There was the possibility of assassination as well. He knew several that would not hesitate slitting a babe's throat in the cradle and that was not something he would be able to recover from. Seradrae watched Lor'Themar as the worried looks crossed his face and sat back slumping in her chair.
"You don't want the child do you?" She asked unhappily.
"Quite the contrary. I want the child very much but...being born to me would mean a life of hardship and danger. These are uncertain times my love."
"Then I will return to Evensong." she said rising now determined. "I will not kill this baby while it sleeps within me."
Lor'Themar rose and walked around his desk to take Seradrae's hands. He kissed the backs of both her hands and pressed his forehead to hers.
"I would never ask that. I simply do not want this child to suffer the unhappiness I have had to endure."
"Then we will make sure that this baby knows nothing but happiness and cheer. After the babe is born, I will return to Evensong to my parents house and you can visit us. It's not far but far enough that we will be safe. This can work Lor'Themar, we must try for the sake of the child."
"Yes..yes you are right Seradrae." And with that Lor'Themar clung to the small hope that he would be able to raise a family quietly and peacefully.
10 months later, Lor'Themar was standing in a small room pacing back and forth waiting for news from the priests. A few moments later, a male priest came out and looked at the regent sadly. "I am very sorry my lord. But the poison has done it's work. We cannot save her and the babe is now in danger. We have to remove the child or both will die."
Lor'Themar ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply. Tears escaped his remaining eye as he tried to form the words to speak. The priest could see his turmoil and gently took the regent's arm and led him into the birthing room. Seradrae was so very pale as she laid there struggling to breath. She looked to Lor'Themar and spoke in a weak raspy voice.
"Please...Please my love...Save the baby. I beg you...save our baby."
Lor'Themar looked to the priest and nodded his head. The priests gathered around Seradrae and began there work. After a few minutes, the wailing of a newborn could be heard. Lor'Themar watched as the priests cleaned the baby and wrapped her in silken swaddling blankets.
"Seradrae..look...she is beautiful." Lor'Themar looked down at his wife then let out a choked sob. Her eyes held the blankness of one who had passed on. The regent was inconsolable and could not be spoken to for the rest of the day. That night Lor'Themar stirred himself and sought out the priest.
"The poison used to kill Seradrae...what was it?"
"A deadly plant extract from the Wetlands. More then likely, it was a rogue that poisoned her. My lord...this is obviously an Alliance plot."
"I hardly think Wrynn would make such an obvious move. No...there is a deeper plot here and it is best if the child is taken away. Take her to Murder Row...leave her at Nerisen's house...many abandon their children there. Nerisen will take her in."
"But my lord! Nerisen is a rogue. You would allow her to be raised in the manner that killed your wife?
"I would grant her a life that can be lived. I would grant her the ability to have the skills to survive in this violent and cruel world. Nerisen is harsh but he will be fair as well. Just take her there and stay until she has been taken in then come back here. Make sure no one recognizes you. This is my command."
The priest sighed and nodded his head slowly then watched the regent leave his chambers. The priest walked to the room where the baby was sleeping. He looked down at the infant and felt as if he wanted to cry himself. This child didn't deserve the life she would lead as a rogue. It was a harsh and violent existence. Why was Lor'Themar condemning his first born to such a fate? Still he had been given a command by his regent and he was duty bound to obey. He wrapped her up carefully in a red and gold blanket and stole out of palace. He made his way to Murder Row, a place where warlocks conjured their demons and rogues perfected the art of killing and maiming. The priest wore a rough spun brown cloak with a large hood to keep people from seeing his face and recognizing him. He stood before Nerisen's large house and shook his head. This was wrong, all wrong. He would leave the child with a nice family and just tell Lor'Themar that he did as he was told. No one would be the wiser. He turned around but stopped when he saw a lone man standing in the empty street. He wore a black hood and had the typical leather armor of a rogue. The man removed his hood showing a shock of silver white hair and a scared face.
"Nerisen." The priest said softly.
"Priest. I warned Lor'Themar that you would disobey him. Your soft heart was easy to predict."
"You spoke with Lor'Themar? When?"
"This morning. I was the one that told Lor'Themar that Seradrae was killed by a rogue. He went to you to confirm the fact. I also told him to give me the child for safe keeping."
The priest's face became hard now and he shook his head. "You would turn this innocent into a cold blooded killer. I cannot allow that."
"Innocent?" Nerisen said with a chuckle. "She stopped being an innocent when that rogue tried to kill her in her mother's belly. She is a combatant now and I will give her the means to win. Now hand her over to me and obey your regent." Nerisen's hand rested lightly on his dagger. The priest gently set the baby down and looked back up at Nerisen as he tapped his staff on the ground. Nerisen could feel the priest gathering his magic and acted quickly. He melded into the shadows and appeared behind the priest drawing his dagger across his neck. The old man fell to his knees choking on his own blood then fell to his side dead. Nerisen calmly sheathed his dagger and picked up the baby. The priest was going to have to die no matter what. Now only he and Lor'Theman were the only ones who knew where and who she was. The baby was still sleeping and Nerisen could see small wisps of black hair across her forehead. This was good. She took more after her mother then Lor'Themar. Nerisen reached down and ran his fingers through the blood pooling at his feet. He then gently smeared the baby's forehead and cheeks with blood.
"There. Now you can be taken in and your new life will begin."
Nerisen walked into his house and called for one of his maids. The maid was also a seasoned rogue but past her years as a fighter. She came in and saw the baby in Nerisen's arms.
"A new recruit? Where did you find it?"
"Outside. There is a dead priest outside as well. Who knows what happened. Take the baby upstairs and call for a wet nurse to be here early."
The maid nodded her head and gently took the sleeping babe. She lifted the blanket and looked to see what gender the baby was.
"A girl. What name shall you give her?"
"Give her the name Lyrana but I want people to know her as...Lamdak."
The maid raised a brow curiously at this name. Nerisen smiled and tossed his gloves down on his desk. "It means the darkness in the old tongue. I have high hopes for this little one. Now go. I have to set her budget and see to other affairs. Summon me when she begins walking."
The next few months passed quickly and Lamdak grew strong. The maid and her wet nurse were kind but also distant. It was needed that the girl be as self sufficient as possible. At 8 months she began to walk.
The maid was standing at the far end of the room and encouraging Lamdak to walk to her. The door opened and Nerisen came in quietly. He said nothing and sat on the arm of a chair and watched Lamdak walk unsteadily to the maid. The maid smiled and hugged Lamdak when she made the whole way without falling. Nerisen watched the whole thing carefully then moved over to them.
"She is catching on well. This is good." Nerisen looked around and saw a toy on the floor and picked it up holding on to it. Lamdak saw this and gave a little cry. She toddled over and tried to take the toy back but Nerisen held on to it easily.
"She is a little possessive of her toys." The maid said. She wasn't bothered by Nerisen's actions as she had seen this many times before. This was how the training always started. Lamdak was still trying to get the toy back from Nerisen and where most children would have begun crying, Lamdak simply kept trying to get her toy back. After a while she gave an angry grunt then went to the corner of the room and picked up a stick and came back to Nerisen and began to hit his wrist. Nerisen gave a chuckle at this then held his arm out to his side then dropped the toy. Lamdak rushed over and picked it up then took it to the other side of the room.
"Good. Very good. Proceed with the usual. Take her outside, make sure she gets fresh air. Get her as mobile as possible. When she turns five, pack her belongings and send her to me at my house the Ghostlands."
"Yes my lord."
The next few years passed quickly and before anyone knew it, Lamdak had turned five. She came inside from swimming to see the maid packing up her clothes.
"What are you doing?"
"You turned five yesterday. It is time for you to leave here. You will be sent to the Ghostlands. To Nerisen's house."
"Why?"
"To be trained. You have seen the other rogues here? You are to become one."
"But I thought Lerisa or Helmar would see to my training?"
"No." The maid put the last shirt in the bag. "Lord Nerisen is seeing to your training personally."
The maid took the towel from Lamdak and began to dry Lamdak's hair. "Lord Nerisen sees great potential in you."
"Potential for what?"
The maid stopped toweling for a moment then set the cloth aside. She pulled Lamdak to her placing her hands on the child's small shoulders.
"Lamdak being a rogue means you walk a path that is covered in blood. Blood you have taken from others. To be a rogue means you are willing to deal in dark deeds that need to be done for the greater good. Many people revile and hate us for what we do but we are more necessary then they will ever know."
Lamdak said nothing but the maid could tell she still did not understand.
"Lamdak, you were found on the street. Your parents abandoned you, they discarded you. Nerisen said he found you next to a dead man. A man that was probably going to sell you for wine or far worse. Having started life like that, what do you think you should do now?"
Lamdak had asked many times where she came from but no one ever answered her question. Tears ran down her face having learned that she had been thrown away like some rotten piece of fruit. She had been cast into the darkness so the darkness would be her home. The shadows would be her playground and if the world thought so little of her, then she would not grieve taking lives. Lamdak wiped her eyes and walked over to her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
"I want to leave straight away."
The maid nodded her head and called for her to be taken to the flight master. She watched with mixed feelings as Lamdak flew away. She hoped Nerisen would train her well. She saw the cold resolve settle in the little girl when she told her the truth and knew that one day, Lamdak would become a very dangerous person.
During the flight Lamdak saw much of the land but when she crossed into the Ghostlands, the sky grew dark and the landscape became sickly looking. Strange animals stalked the undergrowth and ancient troll ruins dotted the area like a pox. She landed the main town where a Silvermoon ranger was waiting for her. He placed her on a black hawkstrider and then mounted his own and led her into the wilds. They came to a blood elf house on the edge of a dark murky lake. Nerisen was waiting at the entrance and when Lamdak's hawkstrider stopped, Nerisen helped her down and nodded his head to the ranger. The ranger left and Nerisen took Lamdak inside. The house was large and decorated in standard blood elf fashion. He showed her to her room then sat her down in a chair at a small table on the terrace.
"This will be your home till your training is finished. After you are done here, I will send you into the world. How long your training takes will depend on you Lamdak. I expect excellence from all my students. From you, I expect more. I expect something truly exceptional and spectacular."
"What if I fail?"
"Then you are only failing yourself. The potential is there and ultimately it will be on you too bring it to life. I can only show you the way and I shall."
"Maid told me that I was..cast away. Is that true?"
Nerisen sat back considering the little girl in front of him. This was a pivotal moment here, what he said could make or break her. He needed a blank canvas in which to make the perfect assassin but the foundation of that canvas had to be strong. He sat there for some time just staring at her and finally she dropped her eyes downward and sighed.
"If that's true then why are you making all this effort? I was cast away because I was weak or bad wasn't I?"
"Lamdak, people throw away things of great value and import everyday without ever realizing it. But the trick is making sure you know your worth. You are intelligent and determined and a quick capacity for learning. Value yourself Lamdak because no one else will. Place yourself apart, above and alone from all others. When you can do this, then your potential will unfold like a great bloom."
Something in Nerisen's words struck her deeply. She could feel the truth of it deep in her soul and slowly began to nod her head. She looked up at him with a new shine of determination in her dark green eyes.
"I will learn all you can teach me Nerisen."
"Good," he said with a smile. "Very good. We will start tomorrow. Your task for today is learn this house and the nearby surroundings." He got up to leave but she called him back when he was at her door. She had heard stories before she left Silvermoon about how some teachers demanded special favors of their pupils. Favors that scarred and terrorized the young at night in beds of silk. She had to know.
"Are you going to...Will you make me...do things with you?"
Nerisen raised a brow for a moment then it dawned on him what she was trying to ask.
"It has never been the way of my house to take such pleasures from the young like that. I certainly have no intention of seeking that from you at this time. When you have grown to adulthood though we will talk of how such pleasures can be used to an advantage but only when you have matured and can appreciate the education. Now get some rest and learn the house."
He left the room seeing the look of relief in her eyes as he shut the door. He liked her boldness. This was going to be an interesting journey indeed.