Chapter 7

The sky over Silvermoon as unusually dark. Thunderbolts crackled with ominous power as sharp bullets of rain battered the city below. Thire had a large, beige raincoat on over his armor, concealing a large cone shaped object. He was in Eversong proper, not the city, however. The canopy of the woods did little to protect those caught in the storm, but Thire was a man of determination, and could easily fight off torrential rain. He walked down a stone path for a time before coming to a large, cast iron gate decorated with angelic sprites and demonic figures alike. He pushed open the barrier with trepidation, confronting the forest of marked granite tombstones before him. He walked another path, looking at the graves with a melancholy demeanor, before coming to a sepulcher carved of ivory and marble. He removed the cone from his cloak, revealing it to be a gorgeous bouquet of bright pearl roses. He set them at the foot of the Mausoleum before stepping back.

"Hey, Lilena...its..err...Its me. Its Thire, I just wanted to update you on somethings...things have been turbulent since you left..." Thire looked towards the crypt door as his eyes swelled with tears. "The warden has...ended the investigation. I pleaded to him to continue but...to no avail. I remain ardent, however...I always want you to know that." He sighed, looking down at the drenched ground. "I wish I was there... I wish I could've stopped him... I wish we could've been together longer... But wishes are nothing in the real world... Not in this world... I love you, Lilena."

Thire departed, leaving the soaked flowers at his Wife's grave. He tried as best as he could to fight back tears. Eventually, he slumped onto the stone wall that enclosed the dead, and let his sorrows pour out.

Thire remembered all of this. His visit to the tomb only two weeks prior to this day. He remembered the fury and the pain that built up inside of him when he visited that grave. He would not let his feelings get in the way of his investigation, however. He needed to find out what was in the package the Warden gave him. He reached the Prison, and scaled several floors in order to reach the maroon level. He walked with great caution, making sure the Warden wasn't around the next corner. Thire finally made in to the Maroon Floor and ran towards the Maroon Barracks, looking for the key to cell five. The barracks were much different than the Red floor guard room. The wall was colored a dark shade of gray that evoked an emotionless aura. Several guards were seated at tables placed at random intervals. This room represented the dark heart and iron hand required for working on this floor.

"Ah, Knight Blackdawn. Something I can do for you?" said a Knight positioned at a wooden desk.

"Yes, I do. I need the key to Block 64, Cell Five. It is imperative that I speak to HF-11 immediately."

"Really? Hmm..." The knight swiveled in his chair, "Let me check something." The guard went into a small supply closet, and came back with a clipboard marked with days and times. "The warden doesn't have to down for this time. Why do you need to see HF-11?"

"I've found new evidence regarding the cartel. I need to ask him some important questions on the matter."

"Shouldn't you report to the Warden first?"

"I will, after I am done with questioning. I'll be able to provide stronger evidence if I have answers from a reliable source."

"Aye," said the guard. He went to a small keyrack and pulled off a key marked "Five". He tossed the shiny bronze object towards Thire.

"Thank you, Sir." Thire said, heading towards the door. Thire had not taken the package out of his satchel before coming to the Prison. His pack was slightly overflowing when the warden put the object inside, and the large brown box had only made things worst. On his way out, Thire's metal boot hit a crack in the floor, sending him flying. Although he managed to save himself from a bloodied nose, Thire could not reach his package in time. The box slid across the floor, stopping at the feet of another guard.

"What is this Blackdawn?" The knight looked down at the package, then at Thire who was still laying on the ground.

"Err..." Thire tried to keep his composure. He rushed over to the brown wrapped object. "Its a research packet from my cousin... He works in the Stonetalon Mountains. In Kalimdor?"

"Um, Sure...whatever you say chap.." The knight walked away without any second thoughts.

Thire picked up his parcel and headed towards Haldroun's cell. He wiped the sweat from his brow, knowing he escaped a scolding from the Warden for not delivering the package on time. He walked down the somewhat grime incrusted hallway. He unlocked the door marked 'Cell Five', and walked in to find a somewhat dismal Haldroun sitting on his cot. Haldroun had expected another Black Floor guard or Torture master, and sighed with relief when he saw Thire walk through the door.

"Expecting me to be someone I'm not, Haldroun?" asked Thire, with a smirk.

"Who, a torturer? Yes, actually. But don't say thats something you're not, Mr. Blackdawn. Everyone has a dark side, Thire, all that matters is what happens when your dark side is unleashed."

Thire thought this over with consideration. Questioning what Haldroun had just said.

"Sure... Haldroun, I've got something of importance for you."

"Really? What is it? Another apple I hope." Haldroun stated with a comical ring to his voice

"Not exactly." Thire placed the package on the cot, "I received this package but ten minutes ago. I believe you know something about it."

Haldroun looked at it with intrigue, like a lost pet had come running back to its owner.

"Who gave this to you exactly?"

"That isn't entirely important at the moment. What is important is what is inside this box."

Haldroun kept his gaze on the package, looking at it with great distress.

"Well, its one of two things... One, it could be an explosive charge, or Two...a drug shipment."

Thire looked at Haldroun with disbelief.

"Are...are you sure?"

"Aye, I recognize this packaging. The runners use it for special deliveries. Wether its delivering substances or delivering death. Only the higher members have access to these packages. Where did you get it from again?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Tell me. I'm an understanding man."

"Heh... The warden."

"Really... Then it makes sense. I think we've found the leader of the cartel. Your Warden."

"Wait... This makes no sense at all! The warden is an honorable man, he wouldn't dare do any of this!"

"Would he? Do you honestly trust him?"

Thire sat on this notion. He had experienced the warden's fury, his disappointments, and his insults. For a moment, he lost his trust in the warden.

"...I trust him as far as my profession goes... beyond that, No. No, I do not. We need to get this package open..."

"Aye."

Thire and Haldroun proceeded to open the package. They took great care in removing the brown linen, as they did not want to set off anything explosive. They lifted the top off the box to find a large amount of Bloodthistle leaves underneath a small blue piece of parchment.

"Well, its not a bomb... Lucky us..." Haldroun looked up towards Thire, who kept his eyes fixed on the package, his hand trembling slightly

"Err... Haldroun..." Thire pointed at a metallic object that covered the bottom of the package. A light ticking could be heard emanating from the center.

"Well, its a bomb... Lucky us..." Haldroun wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I've dealt with this before...Disarming these bombs... We've got to find the timer, it should be near the center towards the left.."

Thire pushed aside the leaves and the note, and found the timer. Three wires extended into the bomb, one red, one blue, one green. Haldroun looked at the timer, and gulped in fright.

"The timer.. is set to fifteen minutes... I think we might be in a bit of a situation here."

"Really now?"

"Hold on, Hold on... I can do this..." Haldroun started to hum a tune, followed by a song "King Varian Wrynn, leader of the free, walked on Elywnn's forest of green...not bludgeoned in red, by death's decree, but rather taken a hostage on the blue great sea... Blue..."

Haldroun pulled out the blue wire with speed. After a few seconds, the timer stopped.

"Well...that was a close one..." Haldroun said, with some relief. "Looks like your warden has some explaining to do"

A few hours later

Thire stormed through the administration offices. He carried with him the disarmed bomb and the shipment of Bloodthistle. He opened the door marked 'Warden' without knocking, something uncommon for him. He barged into the Warden's tea time, but Silas was not agitated whatsoever.

"Ah, Thire. How are you? I hope the package I gave you was delivered safely." The warden was sipping another small glass of Mint tea.

"What the hell did you make me deliver!" Thire yelled in rage.

"I don't know why you're so angry, Blackdawn. It was a simple package."

"Simple,eh. It was simple alright. A shipment of Bloodthistle?? What are you doing having me being a runner for drugs!"

"A runner? That package was confiscated from another runner we found in the city! It was to be handed to a Government official for testing."

"A government official? Would you send a government agent a Bomb? An armed bomb?" Thire held up the device "I'm starting to question your credibility, Warden."

"How did you disarm it??" The warden asked as if the bomb was designed to be fool-proof.

"Had Haldroun do it. You know, HF-11. The man you had me question."

"Really now..."

"Believe it, Silas... I don't know why you imprisoned him. He seems completely innocent of the crimes you've burdened him with."

"So, you trust him? You trust a man so dangerous we had to place him on the Maroon floor?"

"I certainly trust him more than I trust you, Warden."

"What if I told you a secret. A secret about HF-11 that I have withheld from you for a long time..."

"What Silas. Another lie? Another one of your schemes to get me to do your bidding?"

"No more lies, Only truth."

"Fine then. Let me hear it. Tell me the story, eh?"

"What if I told you the man who killed your wife was not a fugitive, but rather imprisoned here in this jail. "

"What are you saying Silas..."

"Oh, don't tell me a man as smart as you hasn't thought about it? A man as smart as you hasn't given it a notion?"

"No... No, he couldn't. He's not of that caliber."

"Is he? Two counts of murder. One for an 'herb' salesman. Another for a Knight who happened to be on patrol..."

Thire looked at Silas with extreme fury. He came to an epiphany, that this man might have murdered his wife.

"What do you want me to do, Warden..."

"Question him. Get his side of the story. I'll bet it checks out. Do that for me, and I'll give you answers about that package..."

Thire grudgingly walked towards Maroon block, vengeance boiling inside of him.