Chapter 28 – The Accomplice And The Prince
Another batch of new trainees rolled in through the gates of Crimson Blade late summer and just as many also left. It was a sad time for Tiene in one way, some of her friends had decided to leave, but they would remain part of the guild, only work from their home base, wherever they decided that would be.
Only two of her group remained, Thil'las and Emmek, and they, like her, stayed on at the guild in a higher capacity than mere mature students. They became the new generation of trainers. And now they all lived in the towers, though the night elf and the dwarf were in the one across from Tiene.
On a sadder note they said goodbye to Ylwen, who decided to leave the guild and concentrate on family. A friendly gathering of trainers attended Capital Inn for a meal and a farewell drink with her. Two other trainers also retired, said they were leaving the task of developing young Blades to the newer, more agile ones. Tiene couldn't help but feel they were all getting out before whatever was looming over the land, reached out and made its mark. She never voiced this to anyone, except Brett and her trustee fellow trainers Thil'las and Emmek, who were firmly on board with the conspiracy against Sauren.
During the retirement dinner, Tiene was delighted to meet up with Louvel and Fyn, who was paying one of his regular visits to the city. She introduced Brett, Thil'las and Emmek as they joined the rogue and little priest in Louvel's favourite booth in the tavern. Conversation was hushed, peppered with light laughter and clinking of glasses to cover any suspicion that guarded secrets were being relayed.
"I have some news for you, which you are not going to like," Louvel said to Tiene in particular. Glances flitted between her three Blade colleagues, a sense of dread weighing heavily on the noble rogue's words.
"Tell me then," Tiene said before taking a sip of wine.
"I was working on a recent little escapade in Eastweald. There, I found out there is someone working with your esteemed leader who you know quite well, if I recall from past conversations. And they are both linked to Kel'Thuzad..."
"He's dead, Arthas killed him," Thil'las said quietly.
"Yes, I know, but his work lives on in Caer Darrow apparently. Only, a new face has taken on his role."
Tiene sat forward. "As in teaching necromancy?"
"Whether he is teaching it or merely enjoying it I do not know, but he is a rather flamboyant character I hear, a bit like myself I guess," Louvel said with a smirk as he lifted his glass.
"A name please?" Tiene said.
Leaning closer to her, Louvel whispered, "His name, is Dar'Khan Drathir."
Tiene paled, her eyes wide. Thil'las and Emmek, being none the wiser, glanced at each other and shrugged. Brett's brow furrowed. "Wasn't that the name of the mage at Rhonin's wedding...?"
"Yes," Tiene replied, quite amazed that Brett recalled that, it was so long ago. Then again, Dar'Khan was not a man you met and forgot easily.
A riding glove landed with a slap on the table in front of the group. "Good evening," Sauren said in a low rasp.
It took a conscious effort for Tiene not to show alarm at the sudden appearance of her guild leader. She looked round, a warm smile on her face. "I wondered if you would show for Ylwen's dinner."
"She was one of my finest, I had to come and say...goodbye," his eyes lingered on Louvel before moving back to Teine and her collegues. "Not being rude, but why are you sitting here instead of with your guild group?"
Again, Tiene managed to hold a smile. "I was introducing Brett, Thil'las and Emmek to my friends," she said. "And we are still waiting on our food anyway, so now was a good time. Would you care to join us?" She made a show of moving along to let him sit down.
Sauren looked at her, then around the group in the booth. After a moment he smiled. "No, thank you. I think I will sit with the others. I take it you will be returning to our table when dinner is served?"
"Indeed we will," Tiene replied.
The guild leader turned to leave.
"Oh, Sauren," Louvel said, lifting the riding glove from his table. "I think you forgot something," he passed the glove to the platinum haired leader.
Sauren moved round to stand beside the noble rogue, the corners of his mouth twitching. "So I did," he replied, snatching the glove from Louvel's hand.
As the guild leader stepped down towards the guild's table, his face conveyed a look that made Tiene wary. There was a tangible animosity between him and Louvel it seemed. They had been like old friends for long enough, but now, there was an atmosphere.
"Do not aggravate him Louvel," she said in a whisper.
Louvel smiled reassuringly. "Do not worry, Tiene. I can look after myself. However my dear, I think it would be in your best interests if you joined him at the other table."
"I need to know more about what you found out though," she said.
"Nothing more to tell really, other than what I have already told you."
"Keep me posted then please." She stood, the others following her lead.
"I will," he said raising his glass to her.
The group of Blades then went to sit beside their guild. Tiene moved to an empty seat beside Thil'las, but before she managed to pull the chair out, Sauren growled, "Not there, Tiene," he said, his eyes flaring. He pushed out the chair next to himself. "Here."
She smiled and took the seat he indicated. He inched his closer to hers and rested his arm around its back rest. It was a subtle show of ownership, not that she considered herself owned, but the alpha in Sauren did. She let it slide, as she often did, if it was prudent.
A small boy about six years old, ran out of the kitchen and round the tables, laughing. Sauren watched the boy, a slow smile curling his mouth. The boy ran past Sauren a few times and then, quick as a flash the guild master reached out and scooped him up, holding him in the air above his head. The boy continued giggling. Tiene watched, somewhat amazed as the platinum haired guild master laughed with the boy. "And what is your name, young man?"
"Billy!" the boy answered excitedly, flapping his arms as if he were a bird.
"You are a handsome boy, Billy," Sauren said, lowering the young lad to the ground and ruffling his hair. "But you may get hurt if you run around like that in here."
The boy stared at the guild master, suddenly in awe of the man who was playing with him. "No I won't," he replied. His little chubby face full of sparkle at seeing all the black leather armour and glinting blades in front of him. "Are you a soldier?"
"Sort of," Sauren replied smiling broadly. "How come you are up so late anyway?" The guild master rested his elbow on his knee and leaned down so he was eye level with the boy. "Won't your mama be angry at you being out of bed?"
"No, it was mama who brought me here because the lady who watches me when mama works couldn't come tonight. She was sick."
"Billy!" a voice called to the boy.
Billy spun round and smiled. "Mama!" He ran to the woman and hugged her skirts as she held up two plates of food intended for the guild table.
Tiene watched as Sauren's posture changed suddenly, the smile from his face, vanished. Mama was the waitress who had been mesmerised by Sauren a few years back. She continued with her work and served Ylwen and one of the other trainers their meals.
"Mama, that man lifted me like I was a bird. I was flying!"
"Do not pester the customers Billy," the woman said. "I am sorry," she apologised to all at the guild table, Sauren included.
He straightened in his chair. "Where is the boy's father?" he asked.
"He is the chef, sir," she replied and looked directly at him. "He is cooking your dinner."
"Ah," said the guild leader.
"You needn't have worried. Sir." she whispered, although Tiene overheard. She thought the waitress intended for her to hear actually. The waitress moved back to the kitchen for more of the table's orders.
Tiene had gathered, once she understood his needs, that the waitress had been one of his late night pets. She had not known however, that the little boy could have possibly been Sauren's son. And going by the look on his face when he saw who mama was, he had thought the same. She admired the woman though. She had apparently overcome her awkwardness around the guild leader, perhaps had even developed some sass around him. Surviving Sauren was possible then, she mused.
Those little vials obviously were a later addition for his menagerie.
He looked at her, gauging her reaction. She gave no hint as to what she was thinking and that was how she was going to play it. She would not question it. She would not discuss it. She would not express an opinion if he asked. Her concern was it may put him in mind to discuss having sons with her again. Avoidance would hopefully be a good move. She did however, admit to herself, he had been good with the boy.
The rest of the evening was amiable enough. Sauren seemed to relax, particularly when he saw Louvel leaving with his little priest friend. They did come to the table to say goodnight to Tiene, all under the watchful eye of Sauren, who merely nodded his farewell. All in all, the guild had seen Ylwen and the other trainers off nicely.
Later that night, thankfully his angst towards Louvel did not surface. Nor did the subject of little Billy, or any possible future Billy's for that matter. Sauren simply handed her a vial, took his pleasure then held her and drifted off to sleep. He was indeed a complicated man at times.
As she closed her eyes, she thought of Dar'Khan's involvement. Strangely, that unnerved her more than anything she knew about Sauren did, so far anyway. The Magister had always been hungry for more power. He had even told her himself that it was in his nature to always want more. He had been embittered against the Magisters on Quel'Danas and their seeming inability to reward his efforts for the elven nation. There was an underlying threat here though, something which unsettled her greatly, and she could not quite work it out. She would soon find out however, in the weeks to come.
Everything seemed to turn back to normal. Trainers trained the recruits, missions were carried out, orders were obeyed. Life went on as usual in Capital City.
Yet, there was an ominous cloud hanging over the new rogue network. Strange things were coming through in reports. Talk of plague still, strange lumbering things that were neither alive nor dead seen in the north. Rumours abound once more of ghostly apparitions roaming the cellars of the once great human fortress, Caer had been vacated of its acolytes, and the flamboyant Magister had not been seen again for a while. Where he had gone was undetermined.
One early autumn afternoon, prince Arthas had returned to his home in Capital City. People had cheered for the prince's return home, he was being hailed a hero. The citizens felt safe, he had cleansed the plague ridden Stratholme and the surrounding villages some time ago, before vanishing to Northrend to vanquish a servant of the Burning Legion. Now he had come home.
They were not to know that he had returned to them a changed man however. He was dark, driven by an unseen force with an agenda of its own.
He had kneeled in front of the king's throne, welcomed as any son would be by a proud father, only to run the king through with a cursed blade he had found in Northrend, called Frostmourne. The city was left in shock, grieving their king. The prince was now declared mad having fled the city after the murder.
Sauren himself had been nowhere to be seen all that afternoon, along with some of his faithful followers including his trusty henchmen. He had merely said, as he often did, that he and his troupe had a mission to carry out. But when news of the king's death had reached the ears of those inside the guild walls, Sauren arrived back with his men.
Everyone was stunned by what had happened. It was then that talk of The Lich King reached the ears of the common folk. The Lich King, who was a puppet of the Burning Legion. Everything was revolving around the Burning Legion. A powerful foe, thought gone from the lands of Azeroth since the War of The Ancients, was rising again, recruiting new disciples, manipulating those in positions of power, seducing them with more power, more glory, perhaps immortality. Minions were one thing, but there had to be a particular reason for the cultivation of so many.
It was then, that Tiene was driven to write a particular letter to her brother Inaris. She begged him not to tell her father what she would divulge and also begged him, Duthan and even Lor'themar not to try and be heroes either. She had coped with certain things for a number of years now and would continue to do so. Yes, she had kept it all from them on her visits home, but it was necessary then.
Now, she felt it was time. Time for truth.
