Chapter Two

Mara Steele heaved a sigh, leaning against the cool stone of the sill and gazing out through the window of the room she'd been given at the bustling sea-side fort below. Northwatch Hold, crouched along the shores of Kalimdor, was a far clip from her home in Stormwind City. And right at that moment Mara felt the differences—and her own bleak homesickness—most poignantly.

She was the daughter and youngest child of Count Gregor Steele, who was an accomplished warrior and well-respected member of Stormwind's House of Nobles. Her older brother Alec had followed proudly in his father's footsteps, making quite a name for himself on the distant shores of Northrend and steadily climbing the ranks in Stormwind's armies as a result. In contrast Mara had done nothing but disappoint her father and fall woefully short of the family name's lofty expectations from the moment of birth—starting with the unforgivable sin of said event resulting in her mother's death. Something she doubted her father would ever forgive her for.

He had been struggling for years to find something useful and worthwhile for her to accomplish, with little success. Mara was beyond plain in looks and social grace, so the chances of her marrying 'up' and advancing the family name in that way were slim to none. She had no aptitude for the arcane arts, so magic studies were out. She had even less skill in martial combat, so warrior training was out, too. At a loss for anything else to do with her, her father had finally foisted her off onto the priests in the Cathedral of Light. While Mara had come to enjoy the quiet solitude that life in the church afforded her, she wasn't exactly the most pious of individuals either. Thus—while she mostly succeeded in her studies—she never really excelled at them either. With a lackluster graduation into the ranks of the priesthood of Light, her father had then decided that she needed some real, hands-on training in the field to refine her skills. So when her brother—fresh from his triumphant return in Northrend—had been sent to Northwatch Hold a few weeks ago, Mara got sent along with him to bolster their healing ranks. Whether she liked it or not.

Mara snorted now, glaring absently at the proceedings below. Likely he hopes I'll get killed out here and then he'll finally be rid of the embarrassment. It still hurt to acknowledge that ugly truth, even though she'd had years to get used to the idea, and she winced.

Her attention was suddenly pulled from her own melancholy by a sudden commotion below. Mara straightened, peering closer, and gasped as she realized that her brother and his scouting party had returned from their trip into Ashenvale. And what's more, it also appeared as though they had a prisoner in tow. She couldn't discern much about it from such a distance other than the fact that it looked male and that the hue of his olive-green skin hinted that it was an orc. He was draped rather inelegantly across the back of a draft horse, tied hands and feet beneath the beast's belly to prevent escape. Streaks of dried blood caked the horse's fur and tack, visible even from such a distance, and she began to think it would be a small miracle if the poor man was even still alive. Inwardly Mara winced.

Curiosity being one of her biggest flaws—along with very pale skin that far too easily easily betrayed a blush—Mara hurriedly turned from her window then and set about getting dressed, wanting to be present down below when the entourage entered the hall. Hopefully to catch a closer glimpse of this captive and learn the reasoning behind it. She tossed off her nightgown—the fine mageweave ending up in an ungracious pile at the foot of her bed—hurriedly struggling into her undergarments and then the heavy white and silver robes of her profession. Somewhat breathless after her fight with the suffocatingly thick fabric and frustrating laces, Mara hopped on one foot and then the other as she slipped into her leather, laced sandals. And then she was scooping up the heavy fall of her dark blond hair, twisting and coiling it into a haphazard bun at the back of her head. A few long pins jabbed into key areas kept the mass in place. She scooped up her plain acolyte's staff on the way out the door almost as an afterthought.

She hurried down the stairs of the eastern tower and then into the main hall just in time to see Alec and his men enter. Two of them held the orc captive between them, each with a hold on one of his massive arms. They were forced to carry him along, his legs dragging the floor uselessly, as the orc was either unconscious or too weak to support his own weight. As his head was lolled forward onto his chest and moved bonelessly with each step of the guards, she was leaning toward the former. Mara came to stand behind and off to the side of the woman perched at attention at the back of the hall. Of whom her brother and the men now approached and saluted respectfully. Though Alec was technically of higher rank within the armies of Stormwind, Northwatch itself was under direct command of Theramore and Lady Jaina Proudmoore, not King Varian Wrynn. Therefore certain protocols had to be observed.

The female officer herself was dressed in resplendent silver armor and the white tabard tooled in gold with the anchor emblem of Theramore, her silver hair swept back regally. Captain Fairmount acknowledged her brother's entrance coolly and then turned a disgusted sneer to their captive.

"Is there a reason why you're dragging one of those . . . things into my halls, Commander Steele?" she called. "It's bleeding all over my floors."

Alec sighed, pulling off his plumed helm and handing it off to a squire who had scurried up to attend him. "This orc came upon two of our scouts while we were moving through an oasis," he explained. "He killed one, almost killed another. His training and superior equipment suggests that he's more than just a common grunt among the Horde's ranks. It's vital I find out what he knows about our future operations here in the Barrens, and more importantly who he might have tipped off about them before we captured him."

Captain Fairmount sighed. "Very well, take it below and put it in one of the iron cages."

"If you don't have someone see to that wound of his, the only thing you're going to be interrogating is a corpse."

Everyone in the room turned to Mara at her sudden outburst. She swallowed, feeling her face heat up with discomfort at suddenly being the center of attention—a position she was never particularly comfortable with in any circumstance.

"Mistress Steele," the Captain murmured in faintly bemused greeting. "I hadn't realized that you'd joined us."

"Mara," Alec called, the warning in his tone and suddenly thunderous expression. She pressed on despite it, however.

"How long has he had that wound without treatment?" she demanded, then answered herself after waiting a beat. "A week or more by the look of it. You're lucky he isn't already dead weight."

"So you want to just bandage it up, do you?" one of her brother's men suddenly demanded, lip curled in disgust. She recognized the soldier from the trip out here, Lieutenant Bale Kollins. A particularly mean-tempered man who had taken a fierce dislike of her after she'd had the audacity to turn down his rather boorish advances. "What are you," he sneered then, "some kind've orc-lover?"

Dark mutterings lit up the hall at that, and Mara blanched. Being accused of sympathizing with the Horde or any of its people was a serious offense in Stormwind. It wasn't uncommon for those who did so to suddenly disappear from the city soon after their traitorous rumblings began, never to be seen or heard from again. In actuality, Mara didn't think of herself as a Horde sympathizer, though. She just wasn't completely and unrelentingly prejudiced against them, either.

Before Mara could think of a way to respond to Kollins, her brother turned to glare over his shoulder at the soldier, who immediately backed down. Apparently he'd remembered a little too late that the woman he'd just blatantly insulted was the younger sister of his superior. "That will be all, Lieutenant," Alec snapped coldly. Flushing, Kollins immediately turned on his heel and quit the hall.

"Well, Commander," Fairmount suddenly called, bringing the attention away from Kollins' uncomfortable exit, "your sister is the most qualified among us." The silver-haired officer turned to Mara, eyebrow lifted. "You believe he'll die without treatment?"

Mara nodded. "It's a small wonder that he hasn't already, Captain," she confirmed. The other woman turned back to her now-frowning brother.

"It wouldn't do for all your well-laid plans of interrogation to get ruined by the orc dying too quickly. Let your sister patch him up. Then when he's stable, you can begin your questioning."

Though clearly not happy with this decision, it was still Fairmount's keep, not his. Therefore Alec bowed slightly in acquiescence, then motioned for Mara to follow him as he led the way out of the hall. Most of the soldiers peeled away to return to the barracks afterward, only the two that carried the orc remained with them. They started down the stairs leading to the dungeons first. Mara would have followed, but a hand suddenly curling around her upper arm halted her progress. She turned back to see Alec frowning down at her fiercely.

"Careful, little sister," he muttered. "That beast is the enemy, you would do well to remember that."

"That beast is still a sentient creature, Alec," she snapped back, "enemy or not! From what I heard, the only thing he's guilty of is trying to protect his home and country—no different than any of us would have done in his position—and in return you're all treating him as less than an animal!"

Alec just shook his head, unmoved by her outburst. "You always were a soft touch, Mara. You need to cure yourself of it, or that naivety of yours will get you killed out here. If given free rein that sentient creature you're so eager to protect would rape you blind and then snap your neck afterward without an ounce of remorse or pity. Trust me," he finished darkly. "I've seen it."

"The Defias Brotherhood are guilty of similar acts," she shot back stubbornly, "even worse. Does that mean others should condemn our entire race for the actions of a depraved few?" Alec just rolled his eyes at that, shaking his head.

"Let's leave the traitorous political discussions for later, shall we?" he muttered blandly. "For now, just get that orc well enough to talk. I need to know what he knows, the sooner the better." His steel colored eyes turned troubled, and Mara bit her lip in response. "He could jeopardize our entire mission."

What that mission was exactly, Alec nor anyone else had seen fit to completely divulge to her as yet. She had eyes and ears, however, and a few strong suspicions because of it. For the moment, though, Mara had more pressing matters than puzzling over her brother's motives in the Barrens. To that end she pulled free of her brother's hold and started down the stairs after the others. Alec wasn't far behind.

At the base Mara had to pause a moment to allow her eyes to adjust to the darker atmosphere. She tried not to study the iron cages, manacles, racks and other implements of various torture too closely, instead focusing her entire self onto her newest patient. The soldiers had lifted him up and spread him out onto his back on one of the wooden tables, and were now working to lock his hands and ankles into the cuffs.

"Is that entirely necessary?" she demanded, causing the men to hesitate and look in her direction in uncertainty.

"Yes, it is," Alec answered blandly from behind. He'd taken up position on the far wall, leaning one shoulder against it and watching her with brooding eyes. "Unless you want the beast to fly up off that table and snap you in half as soon as you touch the barb in his gut."

Mara grit her teeth at that, but didn't answer. She waited until they were done securing him instead, then stepped forward to get a closer look. The orc lay frightfully still, head turned to one side and eyes closed. If not for the subtle movement of his great chest from his breathing, she would have suspected him already dead. She carefully peeled back what remained of his tunic on one side, grimacing a little at how it had become plastered to his flesh from his own dried blood. Then she bit her lip. A barbed crossbow bolt. She would have to cut him open to remove it safely, only healing him afterwards. Anything else only guaranteed greater injury.

"Alright then," she heaved, attempting to sound calm and confident when in reality she was close to fighting off a nervous panic. She wasn't incredibly skilled in her field, after all. Mediocre at best. Novice and mid-ranking spells, sure. Surgery? That was something else entirely. She did her best not to let her trepidation show, however. "I'll need a very sharp knife," she announced, "some bandages, hot water, some crushed peacebloom and a lot more light. A couple of healing potions wouldn't be remiss, either. You'll find most of that in my pack in the tower upstairs."

One of the soldiers snorted. "You want to waste a perfectly good healing potion on a greenskin?" Mara frowned.

"I didn't ask for your commentary, sir. Just do as I asked."

Gallingly the man glanced at her brother before he moved. Alec only hesitated a moment before he nodded, prompting both men to hasten back out of the dungeon on their errands. While she waited, Mara set about removing the orc's now thoroughly ruined tunic, which was made quite complicated given that they'd chained him down to the table. After a moment or two of futile struggling, a red-faced Mara lifted up to shoot her now faintly grinning older brother a venomous glare.

"You know, you could come over here and help me rather than standing over there smirking like a loon."

"I could," he agreed easily. But didn't move. Her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Alec!"

He sighed again at that, rolling his eyes to the ceiling and looking terribly set upon, but finally pushed himself away from the wall and neared. He reached out to take two fist-full's of the orc's faded tunic, but Mara caught one of his forearms before he could tense.

"Carefully," she admonished sternly, winning her another glare. "Unless you want to risk more damage than you've already caused by carting him across the Barrens like a sack of grain, that is."

"Shall I cosset him up in a wool blanket after I'm done?" he snapped testily. Despite his rancor, Alec adjusted his hold and gave a much more controlled tug than he'd originally planned. The linen garment—already sorely abused—shredded easily under her brother's superior strength, until the front was rent open completely from neck to hem. Alec tossed the two ends wide, completely exposing the orc's powerful torso.

"Satisfied?" he questioned and Mara just lifted her chin, rolling up the sleeves of her robes.

"That will do for now, thank you." Despite the tense situation, she couldn't help a slight smile at the way he bent at the waist at that, giving her a sarcastic bow.

A moment later and the two guards returned with her requested items, then stood back with Alec and watched with varying expressions of curiosity as she got to work. Mara made sure the extra torches they'd brought gave her sufficient light, then made use of the water first, scrubbing down her hands and the blade she intended to use as best she could. Her healing spell would counteract most disease and infection if all went well, but it never hurt to be cautious.

Afterward Mara returned to the orc's side. She took the crushed peacebloom and—after mixing in a little water to create a paste—carefully smoothed the mixture in and around the wound. It would numb his flesh to an extent, the best she could do for him in these circumstances. When that was done, and after a deep, bracing breath, she finally put the blade to his flesh and carefully began opening the skin surrounding the thick wooden shaft embedded there. Despite the peacebloom and even unconscious and insensible the orc immediately jerked and tried to twist away from her, an agonized groan tearing out of his chest. Mara wrenched a little, watching with baited breath as the orc's impossibly powerful arms pulled at his bonds. The wood that the manacles were bolted to creaked dangerously, but held. Suddenly Alec's quip about the pain-riddled orc snapping her in half held much more weight than it had before.

Mara forced herself to block out the orc's pain and completely focus on the task in front of her instead. A strange sort of calm overtook her while she worked. This new Mara cut away at the raw and deadened flesh, mopping away the excess blood that flowed with wadded up linen bandages, slowly and carefully revealing the deadly barbed arrowhead lodged within him. Meanwhile any part of her not engaged in this bloody event was mentally pacing back and forth, wringing her hands and dissolving into a hysterical mess.

Mara lost all track of time, utterly focused as she was on doing things right—or as right as she knew how, anyway. By the time she finally pulled the wicked arrowhead completely free from the orc's ravaged flesh the torches were guttering low and she was covered in a fine sheen of sweat. She set the thing aside, soon to be forgotten, and turned back to the orc. His olive-colored skin had grown an even more sickly shade, his breathing dangerously shallow. Mara bit her lip, then closed her eyes and forced herself to concentrate. Bringing the spells to mind, she carefully laid her hands over the wound in the orc's flank, heedless of the blood.

Her lips moved soundlessly as she chanted, calling upon her ties to the Light, tenuous though they may be. Even still she was filled with a rush of power and strength, calm and serenity—as only the touch of the Light could bring. Though her eyes were closed, Mara could still sense the sudden brightening of the room and knew from experience that the luminescence was coming from her. From the Light, working through her, as she called upon the strongest healing spell she had at her disposal.

A moment later and the light faded. Mara slumped a little where she stood, her knees suddenly wobbly and weak. She forced her aching muscles to straighten however, and her eyes to reopen in order to survey the results of her labor.

The orc lay as still as he had before, but his color had vastly improved. His breathing, as well, was stronger, steadier. More than that the flesh of his wound had closed over, completely healed, leaving only a pale white scar in its wake.

"It's done," she announced needlessly, even her tone somewhat sluggish and worn. "He should recover fully."

"Very well then," Alec murmured, coming away from the wall once more. He glanced at one of the soldiers who had remained. "Put him in one of the cages, and have someone stand watch. Notify me the moment he wakes up."

Mara had frowned long before he was through. "Alec, you can't just—," She was interrupted when he stepped forward and caught her by the elbow, turning her away and leading her back toward the stairs. As weak as a newborn kitten after her ordeal, there was little she could do but stumble somewhat after him.

"Your part in this is over, little sister," he admonished sternly, though not unkindly. "Go upstairs and get yourself cleaned up, and rest for the remainder of the day. I know you nearly put yourself into a coma with that spell," he muttered the last darkly, half under his breath.

"Alec, what is it you hope to gain out of that orc?" she demanded softly as they entered back into the main of the fort, and he steered her toward the stairs that would take her to her borrowed chambers. She stared up at her older brother, who's expression had become shuttered and blank. "What are we doing out here? And why are we risking all-out war with the Horde to do it?"

Alec just shook his head, his silvery eyes guarded. "Later," was all he replied with, stopping at the base of the stairs and giving her a gentle push forward. "Go on, Mara. I'll see you at supper." He started to turn away, but changed his mind at the last minute and met her troubled gaze squarely. "And for the love of the Light, little sister, put that orc out of your mind and stay out of it."

And then he was striding away, leaving Mara to stare after him, even more confused and troubled than she had been before.