Chapter 2

Alyna and Kyala road side by side up the access road towards their company headquarters, Farstrider Sanctuary. It had been a long month away, and it had taken most of that time to sort out the troll incursion. She was proud of the work her company had done, and they had even managed to escort the infuriating magisters to the southern valley to get their research done. They had created a portal and used it to go back to Silvermoon two weeks ago, and Alyna was glad to be almost home herself.

That was until she saw a ranger running towards them, a frantic look on his face. "Captain! By the Sunwell, I'm glad you're back!"

She pulled her steed to a halt as he approached. "What's wrong?"

He shook his head as he recovered from his sprint. "They arrived this morning and … well, Captain. It's your father, Magister Salonar. He says he's on urgent business."

Alyna felt her blood freeze in her body. She had feared what the magisters she had escorted would say about what they had seen her do, but for her father to have arrived so quickly meant they must have reported to the Magisterium as soon as they'd landed in Silvermoon.

"Is he alone?" she asked quietly, already knowing the answer.

"No, ma'am. He has half a dozen arcanists with him, armed with battle-staves."

Alyna closed her eyes and felt her head drop dejectedly. "Shit," she muttered quietly to herself. To her ranger, she said, "Thank you for warning me. Please return to your post."

The ranger saluted and trotted back up the road.

When she looked up, Kyala had pulled her mount close enough to Alyna that their legs were touching. She had a look of genuine concern on her face. "Why do I get the feeling you know what this is about?"

Alyna looked up the road towards her home, suddenly not wanting to go any further.

"Because I do," she said simply.

"Care to fill me in?"

She knew she could easily turn her steed around, and gallop away. She could go back down south, and disappear into the hills. If she wanted, she could make the journey over them and escape into the human lands beyond. But what good would that do her? She would be alone, and she would be dangerous to be around if she couldn't get her magic under control.

And she would never see Sylvanas again.

Alyna sighed deeply and kicked her steed into a walk. "Not particularly, but you're all about to find out anyway."

Kyala manoeuvred her steed to remain level with her captain. "Alyna, you're scaring me."

"There's nothing for you to be scared about, my friend," she replied, not bothering to chastise her for using her name instead of her title. "They're not here for you."

"Here for … Alyna?" There was genuine fear in her friend's voice now and she felt a strong hand grab her forearm. "Is this what I think it is?" she whispered loudly, but not enough for those behind to hear.

Alyna patted Kyala's hand fondly. "About Sylvanas?" She almost laughed. "No, no. It's not about her." She tilted her head sideways for a moment, thinking. "This is … much worse."

She could see her friend mouthing the word 'worse' as she tried to wrap her mind around what could possibly be worse than Alyna's family finding out about her romantic relationship with Sylvanas. Not giving her another chance to ask more questions, Alyna urged her horse into a trot. The rest of her unit joined her, and they rode proudly the rest of the way.

As they passed through the main gate, a horn sounded to signal her arrival home for what she knew would be her last time. The access road led straight into a large central parade ground, and she could see an expensive looking carriage drawn up along the side. She instantly recognised her family's crest emblazoned along the side. She rode past it, and pulled her steed to a halt in front of the largest building in the area. In front of it, flanked by his arcanists, was her expensively-robed magister father.

As she dismounted, she could see her rangers beginning to gather. It was not unusual for some to come greet her when she arrived home after being away for a while, but this time was different. It was as if they could all sense that something was about to happen, and everyone who was home had turned out to witness it.

Inwardly, she sighed. A small part of her had hoped this would happen privately, but she now knew her humiliation would be public. Still, she held her head high as she approached her father, sensing more than seeing Kyala at her side, and grateful for it.

He had visibly aged since she last saw him over ninety years ago. He'd had little to do with her once he had determined she would never be a mage, focusing instead on her older siblings. When she had announced her acceptance to the Farstrider Academy he had all but cut her out of his life. She hadn't cared. They'd never seen eye to eye.

"Magister Salonar," she greeted him formally. "Welcome to Farstrider Sanctuary."

He stared at her coolly. "Hello, Alyna."

He had used her first name on purpose, and it had the intended effect despite her best efforts to the contrary. She let her frustration show. "Well, if it's going to be like that … what are you doing here?"

Her father briefly glanced at one of his arcanists and then back at Alyna. "By order of the Magisterium and the Council of Silvermoon, I am here to formally test you … for the presence and practice of magic." She heard several gasps from the rangers around her, the loudest coming from Kyala. "Remove your gauntlet, and hold out your hand."

She glared at him angrily, steadfastly refusing to obey. The arcanist had handed him a small pouch, and she knew exactly what was in it – arcane dust. Mages used their bodies as conduits for all magic, but the vast majority of spells required the use of a mage's hands in order to cast it. That use left a residual effect that was undetectable, unless it came into contact with arcane dust. She knew as soon as the dust came into contact with her palm that it would result in sparks of energy. As a child she had watched all of her friends be tested this way. She remembered desperately wanting to see those sparks from her own palm, and had been distraught when the dust had just settled in a small pink pile in the centre of her hand.

Now, she would give anything to see that pink pile again, but she knew that would not happen.

"Alyna, hold out your palm," he urged.

Sighing dejectedly, she removed her left gauntlet and did as she was asked. Her father tugged on his own glove, making sure it was secure before he dipped his fingers into the pouch and sprinkled the fine pink dust over her palm.

The pain was instant as her hand flared violently, and she cried out in pain. Even her father took a step back in surprise, the rest of the dust in his hand thankfully falling to the floor.

"You stupid girl!" He cried out in alarm. "Your lack of training has forced your magic to become chaotic! Why didn't you come home?" he lamented angrily. "You should have known better than to resist such a blessing!"

Alyna felt hot tears on her cheeks as she grit her teeth through the pain. She was vaguely aware of Kyala trying to help, but she shrugged her away. Alyna was angry and she whirled on her father.

"I should have known better?!" She laughed in disbelief. "How the hell am I supposed to know anything about magic when you utterly refused to even talk to me about it when you saw I wasn't manifesting it when I was young?" She tried to support her still burning hand as she spat her words. "You didn't give a damn about me and treated me like I didn't exist to you anymore, all because I couldn't cast a spell! The moment you thought I wouldn't be a mage was the moment I ceased to exist for you!" She stepped closer, but raised her voice for everyone to hear. "Whatever 'ignorance' I possess is entirely down to you not giving a shit about your own daughter! All because I'm different."

He slapped her hard across the face, and she reeled from the blow, almost falling to the floor. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner! If nothing else, I am your father!"

She held her stinging cheek with her good hand, her other still simmering painfully as she cradled it. "Your blood runs through my veins, but you have been no father to me."

He stepped towards her and growled, "Insolent child! You will learn respect if you have any sense about you."

She held her ground. "Respect is earned, and all you've earned is my enduring contempt for everything that you are and represent."

"Perhaps that is how things work out here amongst the animals and filth, but where you're going civilised people live by different rules."

Her rangers rankled at the insult as Alyna recoiled, the full impact of his words hitting her. "I'm not going anywhere," she stated stubbornly, though she had no idea how she could prevent her removal.

"You have no say in the matter," he replied bluntly. "Any person showing signs of magic has to be taken to Quel'Danas for training. You're a danger to yourself and to all those around you, particularly as your lack of training has twisted what you have into something chaotic. It's a small miracle you've not accidentally killed anyone yet."

She shook her head. "No. I can find someone to train me here."

His face hardened and two of the arcanists he had brought with him stepped forward. One murmured a few words and Alyna looked down at her hands, a ribbon of arcane energy wrapping itself around her wrists and binding them together.

"What? Wait!" she cried in alarm.

Her rangers now flowed into action to protect their captain, loading bows and drawing swords. Her father glanced around as his mages readied their staves before addressing his daughter. "You and I both know your wood and steel are harmless against the magic we wield, Alyna. Order them to stand down, or we will defend ourselves."

She looked around at her people, momentarily proud of them for standing up for her despite knowing her father was right. "Stand down," she ordered.

Kyala stepped forward, her bow still loaded. "But, Captain!"

She shook her head sadly. "I'm sorry, my friend. I'll find another way to fight this, but you have to let them take me."

Their eyes locked briefly and she could see she was not the only one hurting. "We'll find the general and let her know," Kyala promised.

Her father chuckled wryly. "Ranger General Windrunner knows the law, and cannot interfere with a writ from the Magisterium regarding a mage."

"I'm a Ranger Captain and fall under her command."

He shook his head. "The moment you manifested magic everything else ceased to matter. You're a Farstrider no longer. I suggest you accept that fact quickly, for your own sake."

"No …" she whispered as the enormity of what was happening began to sink in. "No! I can learn to control it and return here."

"That won't be possible, Alyna." He sighed impatiently. "You're a mage. You don't have to concern yourself now with anything else." He held his hand out towards her and she could sense a faint tingling through her body as he examined her magically. He grimaced at what he sensed and sighed. "We can't portal back because your magic is too unstable, even if your hands are bound. We'll have to take the damn carriage." He signalled to one of his mages who took hold of her arm and she instinctively tried to shrug him off, which led him to tighten his grip painfully. She could not resist as he half-dragged her to the waiting carriage.

Panic beginning to sink in, she turned to look at Kyala one last time. "Find her!"

"I will!" came the determined reply.