"What is this all about?" Ava asked, as soon as they were sitting in the privacy of Caruur's tent. "You seem almost...excited."

"As you know, I have never seen myself as a leader here. Despite what you may believe, I lack the innate leadership qualities you and Darshan both possess. I will never inspire warriors to follow me into battle, to keep going when there is no hope. No, knowledge is what I can bring to the table and that is what I've been working on for the last five years.

"Our core numbers may have shrank but the Green Crescent now has more tendrils in Azeroth than ever before. You remember how it was, I needed to slink off into Orgrimmar regularly to hear the latest updates of the war. Or go to the nearest inn and hope to eavesdrop on a drunkard. Of course, most people here still believe that's how I spend my visits away from here."

"And what are you doing?"

"I have been building a network of spies. And a highly efficient one at that, if I may say so myself."

Caruur leaned back with a proud smile on his face, keen to see Ava's reaction. Her face lit up with joy.

"This is wonderful! This could change everything! Will, this is just momentous. You don't know what it was like before, we would only learn about political events long after they took place and at the cost of sending some of us away from the camp for long periods of time. We were often isolated and aiming blindly at what we needed to do. A proper spy network means we can finally react to political changes almost immediately, not to mention the value of being able to know about the public mood as well. It could be an excellent tool for recruiting."

"Exactly", said Caruur. "The information has been invaluable but with our lack of core members there's not a lot we can do with it. We can use it however, to clear your name. And once that's done, I'm confident your diplomacy and confidence will inspire people to join us full time as you have done in the past."

Ava opened her mouth to reply but snapped it shut when she looked at Will. He had been silent for the entire exchange, looking thoughtfully at the table. He had never signed up for this, only ended up in this war-torn world because he was worried about her. He had followed Ava into danger and now he was watching Salandria take over. It was crazy how excited she had become at the prospect of growing the Green Crescent. Plans and plots all started to form in her mind but she reluctantly pushed them out of her head. She had only been back a couple of days, was Ava really disappearing so soon already?

Will remained silent and she reached over to squeeze his hand. "First we should just work on clearing my name. That will benefit everyone here, no matter what happens afterwards."

Caruur coughed in an embarrassed fashion. "Er, yes, yes, of course. Plenty of, um, time for all that afterwards. In the meantime, you'll be happy to note that among my informants I have people high up in Silvermoon, Stormwind and Ironforge."

"Wow, that really is an achievement. Who else in the camp is involved in this?"

"Three others. I have the list of all spies memorised, but in case something happens to me the list is also divided out between the three. The names are too valuable to leave with just one person outside myself. In case there was ever a leak..."

"Yes, that was the right thing to do."

"Given the level of organisation and separation involved, I've also begun to regard it as an entirely different structure. I call it the Third Eye and I am the head. It will be fully at our disposal to find out who murdered Darshan's parents."

"What do you think you're looking for? Do you have any new information?"

"No, not exactly. But something Eshara said yesterday started me thinking again. I'm ashamed I didn't see it before. I fear that in the drama surrounding the aftermath of the murders, we may have overlooked something, uncharacteristically I may add. Eshara said that maybe it wasn't the Alliance that was meant to be damaged by these murders. And she's right. Darshan's family had some involvement with the Alliance but they were hardly prime targets in the war. Relations between the two factions were never going to altered a jot, nor their war plans. The only group that have been damaged by the murders is the Green Crescent."

"So the plan was to destroy the leadership of the group and let the effects filter down?"

"If it was, it worked remarkably well. We were almost totally annihilated as a force, it was fortunate we weren't disbanded in entirety."

Silence ensued as the implications of what Caruur suggested settled on the group. It was Will who finally spoke, breaking his reverie.

"So you think someone ordered the murders of these elves to hurt the Green Crescent? Someone who you were inconveniencing with your actions?"

"It stands to reason. Of course, that could be anyone or any group in either faction. We weren't exactly in the business of making friends."

From the little I know of this place, what you're suggesting is extremely dangerous. If it's true, murder is no obstacle to the people behind it and even poking into this could get everyone killed. How safe is it to even ask these questions to your spies?"

"They may not be able to find the answers but I trust them with other enquiries. This should be no different."

"Do you know who had any knowledge of the Green Crescent five years ago?"

"My resources were not what they are now. But it's a question I've asked before now and, to my knowledge, nobody of importance in either faction knew of our existence. However, all it would have taken is one slip for it to get out."

"Where are you going to start looking?"

"Anywhere I can. I have a feeling the answer lies in whatever so-called evidence Darshan has. In the absence of that, however, I have a few contacts who would be particularly useful to seek out. I'll have some people flying and teleporting out by noon. I think it best I remain here for the moment."

Will nodded his head, looking focused. Ava looked at him with pride. He had been so strong since it all happened and he was proving to have a better grasp of how to proceed than she may have originally thought. She silently admonished herself for ever having doubted him.

"In the meantime", Caruur continued, "it might be worthwhile to get to know your new comrades. You may need their support before this matter is over."

The pair nodded and headed towards the tent exit. As Will left, Ava drew back and said "Thank you for holding on to the necklace, Caruur." At his blank expression she added "the one I kept from Liadrin."

"Ah, yes, of course. You needn't thank me, however. I gave it to Ruaran for safe-keeping, he must have left it there for you."

"Well I am glad to have it anyway."

As she turned away again, the tauren said "I don't mean to offend but I didn't think you would be so sentimental."

"She raised me Caruur. Despite everything, I miss her. I'm sure she misses me too."

"Yes...I suppose she does. A committed woman, Liadrin, from what you've told me. She is certainly devoted to the Sin'dorei."

"Yes. Her devotion to our people knows no bounds. I hope I'm following in her footsteps, in my own way."

With that, Ava left to join Will and Caruur was left thinking about the formidable Lady Liadrin.