Kristie wanted to reach up to the rope tied around her neck to loosen it, but she knew better than to try it. The first thing Marisa had done after Maggie and Nelson were taken away was loop this rope around her neck. It's purpose was simple. If Kristie didn't do what Marisa wanted her to do, the rope would be pulled and the loop would tighten. The more she resisted, the tighter the rope became and the more she couldn't breathe. Kristie learned to 'heel' pretty quickly, though nothing stopped her from giving the insane woman a cautious glare. She was appalled at being treated like an animal, but also feared what the woman could do to her.

"Let's try something new." Marisa was clearly enjoying this as she pointed to a book on a table. "Fetch."

Kristie narrowed her eyes, staying put. A quick tug on the 'leash' part of the rope caused Kristie to stumble forward. Her hands, now bound in front of her, automatically went up to loosen the choking rope. Another tug pulled her completely off-balance and Kristie had to use her hands to keep herself from falling face first on the dirt floor. She stayed on the floor, trying to loosen the rope, barely able to breathe. A heeled black boot stepped on her hands, crushing them to her chest. "Lower your hands, Pet, and I'll loosen the noose."

It took all of Kristie's will to fight the urge to try and loosen the rope herself. When Marisa's foot moved, Kristie lowered her hands to her stomach. "What a good girl." Marisa leaned down and tugged at the 'collar' portion of the rope, then gave Kristie's head a pat as she gasped for air. "Do what your Mistress say's and you'll be just fine."

I gotta get out of here, thought Kristie. Just then, a low hum began to sound from one corner of the room and Marisa tugged lightly on the rope. "Up!" Kristie quickly climbed to her knees and then feet, not wanting to be choked again. She stayed close behind the woman as they went to the door. "Markus! Take this."

As the former defias named Markus came into the room, he was handed Kristie's leash. Kristie gave him a look wondering if she would be able to escape from him. Markus seemed to know what she was thinking and shook his head as he leaned in closer, "Don't even think about it." Kristie suppressed a shiver.

Marisa walked to the corner where the hum was coming from. She uncovered a bowl of some sort and talked into it. "Report, Terrell."

A voice emanated from what Kristie could only conclude was a scrying bowl. "The charges are set and ready."

"Good. Any problems?"

"Yeah. The mother decided to try and write a warning to SI:7. I stopped her."

Marisa's steel-grey eyes glared at Kristie as she asked, "Did you punish her?" Kristie could almost hear the smile in the man's voice as he said that he did. "Move the mother to the bowl." Kristie couldn't see in the bowl but she had assumed the man did as Marisa had asked. Marisa then summoned Markus over with Kristie so that she could see into the scrying bowl.

Kristie gave a small gasp as her own mother's tear-stained face came into view. "Mom!"

"Kristie, honey! Forgive me! I had to-" She was cut off by Terrell and Kristie moved forward as though to try and stop the man.

The rope began to tighten and Kristie automatically stopped. "Leave her alone!"

Marisa grabbed Kristie's chin with a black gloved hand. "I give the commands here, Pet." Then the woman backhanded Kristie, in full view of her mother. She turned to the scrying bowl. "That was just a warning, Mother. Some mother. More concerned about everyone else, over her own kin." Marisa's steely gaze went to Kristie and back to the bowl. "Bring forth Baros."

When Kristie saw her father, she felt almost ashamed, though she had no reason to. She could only guess that it was because of her current situation that is now causing her father a great deal of despair. She could see it in his face as he spoke. "I've done as you asked, now let her go!"

"Ah, ah, ah, my dear traitorous Baros. You have one more job to perform." She paused as she knew Terrell or Omar was pulling out a remote switch. "You are going to be the one to blow up Stormwind Keep." Her voice practically purred in the joy of informing him of his next duty. She watched him splutter in shock at this.

"But...the people...the people have to be warned!"

"Father don't do it! Don't-" Kristie's words were cut off as Markus gave a sharp tug on the rope. Kristie's hand went to her throat to loosen the noose. Oh how she wished she could just pull it off.

"You'll do as you're told! Not only for the safety of your daughter, but now for the safety of your wife as well!"

Kristie gasped and risked another choking. "No!" She attacked Marisa blindly, trying to hit her with her bound fists as best she could. The rope suddenly constricted around her neck and Kristie found she couldn't breathe. Her hands struggled to grasp the part of the rope around her neck. Somewhere in the distance, she could hear her father calling out to her as Marisa's furious face turned on her. The woman in black cast a spell and Kristie suddenly felt very cold. Her face turned bluish. Whether this was due to the lack of oxygen or the frost spell it didn't matter. Kristie saw black spots popping in and out of the edge of her vision. They slowly grew bigger and bigger until all she could see was blackness and her body went limp.

Markus caught her and loosened the rope, checking for a pulse. He nodded his head as Marisa turned back to the scrying bowl noting Baros' pale face and taking gratification in it. "She's still alive...for now. Remember, if you don't do as you're told, Terrell and Omar have instructions to kill your wife first, then inform me so that I may have the extreme pleasure of killing your daughter for your treachery! When the time comes, I expect you to push that button, but know this...I have a remote as well. If you don't explode the walls of the Keep, not only will your family suffer, but I'll set off the charges myself and you'll still have lost!" She waved a hand over the scrying bowl, making it inactive again.

...

Major Mattingly and Rinzik arrived at what was left of Stormwind's front gate along with their troops. Mattingly was surprised that no one had started to remove the rubble and he immediately ordered his men to go in to make a clearing. They went in, but as soon as they picked up a stone or piece of wood, the sound of an arrow flying sounded and one was sticking out of the ground next to one of the soldiers. More arrows came from up in the mountain sides that flanked Stormwind's crushed gates. Some gunshots were heard as well as a couple of soldiers fell down.

Mattingly saw the danger his men were in and immediately ordered, "Pull back! Pull back!" The soldiers ran back out of range of the sharpshooters.

Rinzik motioned to his men and they dismounted quickly and quietly. "We'll take care of the ones on the left." He and the rest of his men vanished. He didn't have to give orders. Rinzik knew his team well. They would strike quickly and deadly and give no mercy save for one or two to be retained for questioning. They made their way up the mountain and paused to count how many were shooting those below. There were nine shooters. He had seven men with him. In his mind, the odds were in SI:7's favor.

The signal was given and the shooters almost didn't know what had happened. A couple shouted out a warning, but it was too late for those on this side of the gates. Some of the shooters on the right side of the fallen gates saw what was happening and began aiming for the agents. Fortunately, the SW mages had rallied and came to help, freezing, polymorphing, and sending their arcane bolts at the bandits. It was all over within a few minutes.

Mattingly and his men cheered on the mages and agents and got to work immediately clearing a path into SW. When Rinzik rejoined Mattingly, he gave a casual comment, not looking at the man. "Distraction it may have been, but I'm inclined to believe there was more to this. Those bandits were organized, yes. But beaten, too easily."

The major glanced at the goblin in retrospection. "True. It seemed much like one of their hit and runs they usually do in Goldshire...only on a grander scale."

Rinzik smiled calculatingly. "Perhaps it was both distraction and hostages they were after."

Mattingly only grunted and began once again to help clear the rubble.

...

Captain Bandor walked around the top deck of the juggernaut and used a handkerchief to wipe the perspiration off of his forehead. He shielded his eyes and glanced up at the sky. The sun had been bearing down on them all day. By his estimation of the sun's position, he judged it to be about 4:00. Despite the warm weather, he kept his captains coat on, insisting on proper decorum. He glanced down at the prisoners, especially the two paladins in full armor. He knew they must be roasting inside their armor. Still, he did not provide any relief for them.

One prisoner shifted, trying to find a more comfortable position than on his knees. Quentin walked over to one of Marisa's adepts that had come along and ordered her to conjure up some bread and water for himself. His crew would get their own food and water from the galley. He casually ate and drank the water as he walked in front of his prisoners, disregarding their gazes upon his water. About an hour ago, he had fired upon a ship most likely coming from Teldrassil. One shot was all that was needed to force the unarmed ship to turn around. It was probably rerouted to Menethil Harbor. He didn't give chase as he would have were he on the Sea's Castle. No, the juggernaut was staying put.

He now turned to observe Stormwind Harbor. There was no movement upon the docks. Had there been, he would have ordered the cannons to fire. His cannons could reach the docks and just barely beyond if the aim was right. He made sure to keep The Defiant's Vengeance just out of reach of the Stormwind defensive cannons. He was waiting. Bandor knew Wrynn would be furious at seeing this ship just sitting out here without rhyme or reason. Of course he was intelligent enough to at least connect the two explosions with the reason this ship was here. But there had been no contact to the king or anyone else as to exactly why any of this was happening in the first place.

The captain allowed himself a self-satisfied smile. Leaving Stormwind alone for awhile to question the actions of the juggernaut and other bandits was nearly a stroke of genius by Marisa in his opinion. Of course, the city would be retaliating. And by now, they may have even recovered from the initial explosions. That didn't matter. There were more surprises in store for them.

He looked in his cup, seeing a bit of water left over. In full view of the parched prisoners, he shrugged and poured the last of the water onto the deck. It was time for the next installment of the plan. He turned to the prisoner he had seen shifting position earlier and pulled out his sword. "Untie this man," he ordered one of his crew. His sword kept the man in his spot as Bandor called to his first mate to bring the papers. He never took his eyes off of the prisoner as the requested papers were handed to him. "Aren't you the lucky one? You've been chosen for a very important mission." He stuffed the papers into the top of the man's tunic as his sword tip cut into the man's abdomen.

The prisoner clenched his teeth in pain, but tried hard not to cry out in pain. Lord Grayson, of course protested and insisted on being allowed to heal the injured prisoner, but Bandor would not listen. He wanted the man wounded. If he were injured, then he would be all the more intent on getting to his destination as soon as possible. "Take him to the dinghy."

Bandor stayed on the top deck as his men dragged the man to the small rowboat. Once there, he called out, "Take good care of those papers, my good sir. And do make haste to the harbor. I'd rather not have to waste more parchment writing new letters." With that said, the crew members set him roughly inside the dinghy and pushed it off, letting the man row towards the harbor with blood still spreading on his tunic.

The wounded man rowed quickly and with as much energy as he could muster, but halfway there, he found he was already waning due to lack of nourishment, water, and blood. He slowed his progress in order to save his energy, allowing the small boat to glide for a little bit before rowing again. By the time he reached the harbor, he was dizzy and could barely move. Luckily for him, others had seen him coming. The dwarven gryphon rider, Thargold Ironwing, who had flown out towards the ship earlier now came flying down to the docks and helped the man from the boat and onto his gryphon. He then swiftly flew him to the Cathedral steps where some priests had come out to help the released prisoner.

Before the prisoner allowed himself to be tended to, he insisted on giving the papers to Thargold. The dwarf took them with a little confusion. But as soon as he saw what they were, he jumped back onto his gryphon, Cloudstrike, and made for Stormwind Keep.

...

Adam squinted his eyes at the bright sunlight as he exited the traveling prison they were in. Like the others, his arms were tied behind his back and he had to concentrate to keep his balance on the steps to the ground. The rogue quickly took note of his surroundings. There was a small house next to a short dock on a river. Across the water he recognized the woods of Duskwood. So, they were still in Elwynn Forest.

"Dockmaster! More guests!" Adam didn't bother to look to see who had called out as he heard a familiar whinny. He turned his head to see Indy along with a few other horses behind the prison. The bandits had stolen their horses! Adam made a subtle motion with his hand, motioning for his horse to stay put. It amazed him, sometimes, how underestimated horses are by people. He knew his horse at least was a very intelligent animal and he had trained the beast various hand signals to follow. This had gotten him out of jams in the past. One of the bandits pushed him forward and Adam returned his attention to his surroundings.

Marshal Dughan struggled to free himself, having no desire to be used as a hostage. He was rewarded by a shove forward and a punch to the gut. The thug who hit him glanced around to the rest of the prisoners, his eyes settling on Adam. "Anyone else want to resist?" Adam only looked back at him and shook his head once. He ignored the glare from the marshal.

They were led inside and down a flight of hidden stairs. Adam made mental notes of the lay of the place and counted how many guards there were. After a few minutes the eight prisoners were stopped as a door was cautiously opened. The guards used their pistols to keep those already inside at bay while the new arrivals entered. Adam looked around as the door shut.

A curse was made and a female voice said, "What the fel are you doing here?" Adam turned in surprise to see Maggie standing among the hostages.

"I could ask the same of you." He approached her as she turned to another man with dark hair and moustache. He had a day old growth of a beard and wore black clothes.

"Andro, meet our supposed rescuer, Adam." Her voice was full of sarcasm.

Adam raised an eyebrow, ignoring Andro for now. "What's with the tone?"

Maggie kept her voice low so the other prisoners wouldn't hear. "I was figuring you'd be on our trail since you were supposed to be looking after Kristie. Instead you ended up being caught!"

Adam grabbed her arm as his expression became serious. "Is she here?" Kristie was the first person he had looked for once inside. He hadn't seen her and prayed to the Light that he hadn't just made a big mistake.

"Yes. She's with Marisa, the one in charge around here. Almost as soon as we got here, she pulled Kristie aside saying something about her father. We haven't seen her since."

Adam gave a curt nod. "Baros received a note stating that Marisa had her. I happened to be there when he opened it or else I wouldn't have known."

Maggie frowned. "Why not? You were supposed to be watching the Alexstons."

Adam glared at her. "It doesn't matter now. I followed her trail to Goldshire when all fel broke loose and the town was taken over by bandits."

"Goldshire? What does she want with Goldshire?"

"I don't know. Anyways, I learned they were going to separate hostages to be brought here and got myself picked to be one of those hostages. Now how did you get here?"

Maggie told him very briefly about her own experience, giving a nod towards where Nelson was sitting against a wall when she mentioned him. Adam gave the man a quick once over. So that was the man Kristie was dating. He found himself starting to compare the man and himself but stopped. There were more important things to pay attention to right now. Then Andro told of his adventures in Deadmines. "So, we have an insane woman running a bunch of cutthroats and thieves, taking over Goldshire and Deadmines, gathering important hostages, and extorting a city architect. That sound about right?"

Maggie nodded her head. "That pretty much sums it up."

Adam gave Nelson a hard look. From Maggie's story, he had gathered that Nelson and Kristie had gotten caught by the baron. But how? He intended to find out and he approached the noble. Nelson stood up when he saw Adam come towards him. "How did you and Kristie end up here?"

Nelson wondered how this person knew Kristie. Surely she wouldn't fraternize with the likes of him. Although, for some reason this man looked familiar, but he couldn't place him. "We were horseback riding and I decided to visit the baron and introduce her to him."

"You led her into the lion's den!"

Nelson didn't understand why this man was so upset. "I had no idea the baron would betray me! We were just sitting down for morning tea when Kristie decided she had a headache and took Amy-"

"Amy! Where is she?" Adam glanced around the room quickly and then back at Maggie. "You didn't tell me she was in danger!"

"I hadn't had the chance, Adam. She's not here. The baron still has her."

Adam paced back and forth as he tried to keep his temper in check. Not only was Kristie in danger, but Amy was too, and they were in separate places.

"Adam!" Maggie put a hand on his arm, recognizing the concern he had for the two and beginning to realize there was more at stake here than an agent looking after his charge. "We'll come up with a plan and get everyone out of here." She emphasized the word 'everyone' to remind him of his greater duty. "Then I'll help you myself get Amy and bring her home."

Nelson was watching the man pace. Adam? That name had a vague familiarity to it. He tried to recall why when a thought occurred to him. Nelson tried to get a better look at Adam's face without being too obvious about it. It couldn't be!

There was no time to ask him as the door unlocked and opened, a guard entered and looked around. Pointing at Nelson, he said, "You. Marisa wants a word with you." Pistols were aimed into the room as the door was drawn open wider to allow Nelson to exit.