I slowly made my way through Eversong Woods, not wanting to arrive back in the city suspiciously quickly. The forest around me seemed magical, the trees were in their autumn colouring, their trunks a golden yellow while the leaves were somewhere between orange and brown, and drifted lazily on the drafts that made their way through the foliage. As I neared a pathway, I ditched my robe and walked towards Silvermoon, quickly formulating a plan on how to get into the city. As I approached the Shepherd's Gate, the huge statue of Keal'Thas looming over me, two guards held out their arms and shouted something in Thalassian.

'I really need to learn this language', I thought as they approached.

Again, they said something in the language of the Blood Elves that I didn't understand, but by the looks on their faces they had just asked me a question. I looked from one of the guards to the other, a confused look on my face.

'What is your business in Silvermoon?' the other one asked in Orcish.

'I've come from Tranquilien,' I answered, making sure the only part they really understood was the last word.

'Again, why are you in Silvermoon?' He asked.

'I've come from Tranquilien. I'm on an urgent mission to Undercity; I need to use the Translocation Orb.' I answered quickly in a mix between Orcish and Gutterspeak, adding emphasis to 'Tranquilien', 'Undercity' and 'Translocation'.

The guards parted, granting me passage into the city. I casually made my way to Seliena's apartment, and quietly let myself in. The Elf was sat on the sofa, clutching nervously at the blanket I had used last night, her face paler than usual.

'Where the hell have you been?' she hissed at me.

'Out in the woods,' I shrugged back at her.

'Do you have any idea how worried I've been?' She asked, standing up and throwing the blanket on the floor, 'I didn't know if you'd escaped, if you'd been captured, killed, anything!'

'I didn't realise I had to report back to you every 5 minutes, Mrs. Faidz.' I replied, letting the last part out rather mockingly.

'Don't take that tone with me, we're supposed to look out for each other,' she said, raising her voice.

'We do look out for each other,' I said, picking up the blanket, folding it and placing it on the sofa.

'So letting me sit here worrying is your idea of looking out for me?' she asked, almost hysterically. 'What if you'd been caught, or died? Then I'd have been here worrying forever without knowing.'

'It's one of the dangers of the job, Seliena. You don't like it, then quit.' I answered her casually.

'I can't quit,' she replied, her face falling, her voice dropping to an almost inaudible level.

'Why not? Every time we go on a mission we end up going through this shit,' I said, leaning up against a wall.

'I can't say…it's...complicated,' She paused, 'you wouldn't understand.'

'Okay,' I shrugged.

'Don't you even care about my problems?' She asked, her voice rising again, her eyes flashing a violent green so bright it would have lit the room up, had it not already been lit.

'No. Your problems are precisely that: your problems.' I said casually.

'Get out!' The Elf screamed, pushing me towards the stained glass door.

Caught off guard, I stumbled out backwards onto a balcony, the door slamming in front of me. I heard something break inside the apartment, then the unmistakable sound of muffled sobbing. Clearly I had said something to upset her.

I sat down on one of the chairs, leaning forwards slightly, my elbows supported on my knees. I pulled off my gloves and slowly flexed my right hand, then my left. They were getting stiff. I knew I didn't have a lot of years left in this kind of work. We might be undead, but we still aged, and soon, provided I lived that long, I would have to hang up my blades and get a less intense job, maybe like what Miles did.

'Maybe I could start up my own group of assassins,' I thought to myself, 'obviously, I'd only take in the best of the best. We'd be the elite of the Horde assassins. Known by all. Seen by none. I just need a cool name. It'd beat working for the apothecaries, sitting their playing with dangerous stuff that could blow up in your face at any minute. Unless I went with the poison specialists, I'd make the world's most deadly poison. Nah, it's too dangerous, what if my hand melts off?'

I flexed my hand again, contemplating a life without it.

'No, I need it too much. I think I'd be better off starting my own assassins. Maybe if Seliena and I saved u-'. I cut off, my thoughts drifting to Seliena. She was still sobbing, presumably into her pillow.

'She'd never work with me now, in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she got her pay for this job and I never saw her again. What did I do wrong?' I asked myself, reclining in the chair and closing my eyes.

The sound of the balcony door opening brought me out of my reverie. Night had fallen; several of the windows opposite me glowed, with shadows moving around inside them. Seliena slowly stepped out of the door, wearing a loose fitting red cotton robe. Her skin was very pale, and the skin around her eyes was red, she'd clearly been crying for a long time. She stood at the edge of the balcony, her arms resting on the railing, her weight on one leg as the other crossed behind her.

'I'm sorry,' She said, her voice croaky.

'It's fine,' I said, standing next to her and rubbing her shoulder.

'That was my first time killing someone, well, someone I had to look at first. My emotions are all over the place.'

'This job can do that to you. This probably isn't going to help you, but be grateful that it wasn't up close, because those kind of kills take a lot of getting used to,' I said, trying to be reassuring.

'Are you used to it now? Killing someone?' Seliena asked, looking up at me.

'Yeah, I've been doing this for a long time, I'm just a bitter old man with a blade and a guy telling me where to point it,' I answered, staring blankly out into Murder Row.

'You're not a bitter old man,' the Elf replied, linking her arm with mine.

'Yes, I am,' I chuckled.

'Do you remember how we met?' Seliena asked, changing the subject.

I nodded silently.

'You never told me the story from your point of view.' She said, looking up at me expectantly.

'I was on my way to Astranaar, I had just met a contact in Thousand Needles, and my target would be in Astranaar for the next few days. It was just north of the Crossroads, I was aching all over from riding my horse all day, it was almost as bony as I am. So there I was, riding along and feeling sorry for myself. I looked around and there you were, staggering through the dead grass, you were pale, sweaty, your eyes were half closed. I looked away for a second, and then looked back at you. You passed out. I picked you up and took you to the outpost in the northern Barrens, and waited until you were better. Honestly, I couldn't believe you went out there without any water or supplies. So I waited for a few hours, and you started to come to. You asked me my name, I gave it you, and then I left and finished my job. I went back to get paid and there you were with Miles, you'd given him some bullshit story about being an orphan and me saying I'd look out for you, so I promised him I'd help.'

'So, why did you help me? Why didn't you just leave me?' the Elf asked.

'I don't honestly know. I saw you, and you looked so weak and helpless, something inside me told me to help you. I guess as used to killing people I am, I can't just let someone die.' I said, staring at nothing in particular.

'That doesn't sound like a bitter old man to me.' Seliena said, smiling as she shivered and squeezed my arm.

I wrapped my cloak around her, my arm around her also, her head rested on my shoulder. Neither of us spoke, we both just stared out, lost in our own thoughts. After what seemed like forever, I shifted uncomfortably; I hadn't spent this long touching someone since I was a human.

'Let's go in.' The Elf said, letting go of my arm.

She led me into the apartment, and motioned for me to sit down while she activated the magical lamps and set the fire going.

'Faidz, I've been thinking,' Seliena said, nervously picking at one hand with the other as she sat opposite me. 'I want to ask you something, but I'm not quite sure how to go about it, or if you'll think I've stepped over the line or anything.'

'Just ask me then, that's the only way you'll find out.' I said.

'Well, it's about your promotion. I heard Miles say that you'll be able to take an apprentice, and I was wondering…' She paused, choosing her next words, 'I mean, if you wouldn't mind, if, maybe, I could be your apprentice.'

I sat back on the sofa, relaxing slightly, when she started again, not even giving me time to answer.

'I know we don't always get on, and I shout at you and stuff, but you're the best, and I learn quick, and who better to learn from than the best, right?' Seliena said at a pace which made it almost impossible to understand her.

'Seliena, stop, calm down. Honestly, I wasn't going to ask anyone else. You've proven you're more than capable, you're pretty much my apprentice anyway, I said, watching her features break out into a smile, 'Although you do put me through a lot of shit.'

I barely had time to defend myself as she practically jumped over the coffee table and knelt on the sofa beside me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, and I was sure I felt her plant a kiss on my cheek. I awkwardly wrapped an arm around her and patted her on the back as she repeated her 'thank you's into my shoulder.

'Calm down,' I said, gently breaking the embrace. 'It's going to be a lot of work, this kind of job isn't easy, and although you are skilled at getting information, and I'll admit, you've got some skill with a bow, it's going to take a lot of work to turn you into a killer.'

'I know, I know,' she said, her smile fading slightly, 'but I'm willing.'

'Right. Do you want to leave tomorrow then, and sort everything out with Miles, or would you like to stay in Silvermoon for a while? I'll warn you now, you might not be back for a long time.' I asked her.

'Let's go. Tomorrow. I'll say my goodbyes, and sort everything I need in the morning, then we can leave around lunchtime. Sound good to you?' The Blood Elf said enthusiastically.

The Ruins of Lordaeron materialised around me as I once again hit the floor, while Seliena casually stepped to the onto the cold stone floor, a huge smirk across her face.

'You really aren't good at this, are you?' She asked mockingly.

I simply shot her a dirty look as I stood up, and headed to the Rogue's Quarter. I stepped behind my boss, busy with paperwork, and put on a mock serious tone.

'Miles Dexter. You are wanted in connection to the murder of Athaniar Suntreader.'

The Forsaken bolted upright; I noticed his hand reaching under his desk.

'Hands where I can see them.' I continued.

He placed his hands on the back of his head.

'Gotcha,' I said, dropping the voice and patting him on the shoulder. 'Job done, though.'

'Yes, I heard,' He said, standing and turning to face me. 'Not exactly textbook execution, but you got the job done.'

'There were complications, sir,' I said.

'Save it, Suntreader is dead, no one suspects us, and everything is good. Congratulations on the promotion.' He said, offering his hand.

'Thank you, sir,' I replied, shaking his hand.

'Now, who do you want me to name as your apprentice?' He asked.

'Seliena,' I answered, gesturing towards the Blood Elf.

'Are you sure?' Miles asked, almost shocked.

'Yes, she's proven her capabilities and enthusiasm, and I think she will make a damn good assassin.' I said, nodding towards Seliena.

'And you're ok with this?' The Forsaken asked, looking at Seliena.

'Yes', she replied.

Miles coughed.

'Oh. Yes, sir,' Seliena said.

'Alright,' he said, grabbing a quill writing something on a piece of parchment, 'it's official.'

He rummaged around on his desk until he found another piece of parchment, and handed it to Seliena.

'Take that to the War quarter, you'll get your first daggers.'

Seliena nodded as she took the slip, and quietly left the room.

'Now, your next assignment, it shouldn't be too hard. Most of the legwork is done for you, I have a contact set up who has done pretty much everything you use Seliena for, this is just to take her along and get her into it properly.'

I nodded, 'Who's the target, sir?'

'Kaylai Starsinger. A Night Elf Priestess. She trains the battle priests in Darnassus, but she's currently in Ironforge, passing her knowledge to the dwarves. Her priests are the ones who nearly cost us Warsong Gulch, and we would have lost if those moon lovers weren't so squishy. These dwarves though, well you know what they are like in combat, almost as hard to kill as the Kor'kron. She can't be allowed to train the priests in Ironforge. Also, we don't know how long she's there for, or how long it will take her to train the priests, so again, sooner rather than later.'

'Sounds easy, sir. What's the catch?' I asked.

'That's the thing. We can only get you as close as Loch Modan. You'll have to make your own way from their. Your contact will be in Kharanos, a dwarf by the name of Golganar. Don't contact him in Kharanos, draw him out. Also, we don't have a way of getting you inside Ironforge, you'll either have to sort something out with the contact or find your own way in. Here.'

He handed me a small piece of paper, which I took and pocketed.

'Dismissed.' He said.

I nodded and head out to find Seliena, who was waiting outside, and ready for our first mission officially as partners.