(2) Itchweed

"You're on your own today," Morgan spoke as Morgana entered his laboratory.

Not only was Morgan Farron an excellent hunter, he was also a blacksmith and an alchemist. When he wasn't sniping, he was busy experimenting and creating new weapons along with potions. Someone of greatest creations were very useful to the Alliance in times of need.

"I suggest you dive for more itchweed," Farron finished.

"I understand," Morgana spoke, keeping her gaze low as she passed through his lab, grabbed her essentials for the day, and left into the streets of Stormwind.

When he wasn't training her, Morgan preferred she still make herself useful in serving him a different way. Farron had no desire to farm his materials he needed for his creations, hence why he had a daughter to do those things for him. Morgana was often tasked with gathering which she never argued about.

Itchweed only grew in select places, usually those that were not clear waters clean to drink from. The best place to retrieve the prized weed was from Stormwind's own water, unless Morgana had the ability to travel to Kalimdor. Stormwind's cemetery had a neighboring body of water the weed grew in, and plenty of it. But the water was murky and no one liked diving for it.

Morgana sighed as she passed through the early hours of Stormwind to the cemetery.

Itchweed, as its name suggests, was rather difficult to farm as it caused a large rash on any exposed skin it touched. It created itchiness and flaking while making the skin very thin in the bare areas; bleeding was inevitable if one itched the affected skin.

However, since itchweed was challenging to farm, it also came with a very high sell price on the auction house. Morgana had many profitable days or even weeks selling the plant to the people of Stormwind. She wasn't sure what people needed or used it for but was glad it sold at what it did.

She threw down her things crouching down to pull out the essentials; goggles and a knife. Once the weed was cut was when the itchiness began to spread. She would only have a few moments to reach the surface and exit the water before it spread. Morgana could take multiple dives but would need to wait shortly in between for the itch to disperse in the water.

Morgana looked around then suddenly becoming self aware of what she was doing. Entering the murky waters of Stormwind was rather gross and people already judged her based on her stature. She sighed as she walked into the water falling forward at the close drop off.

The water itself wasn't very cold but the murkiness always seemed to make her uneasy. What was in it? What if something new was in the waters she needed to know about? Only one way to find out since no one else in Stormwind would bother diving into its waters. Morgana lowered her goggles to her face taking one last glance around her.

Morgana inhaled sharply before she dove down. The lake wasn't terribly deep but it did grow dark the further one dove. Morgana was able to make out a few of the dead branches and stones in the lake moving around for her goal in mind. The weeds didn't grow very big and required one to cut them right at the start in order to get the full plant in hand. Morgana wrapped one arm in the weed to keep her steady as the other began to cut into it.

From the moment her knife sliced small black pieces began to rise up in the water. This was the itchy part; it looked like pepper in the water but was far more annoying than it looked. Morgana pulled back then keeping her face and body to the side as she continued with the knife. As the weed was cut through Morgana pushed herself quickly up and over to the surface knowing full well to keep the weed away from her body as she moved.

Morgana threw the weed down before she exited the water making sure the roots were pointing down to the water as the remainder of its itchiness drained out from the cut. She looked at her gloved hands then triple checking if any of the weed made it onto her skin. Morgana once had the weed attach itself to her; a slight scar on her left arm was proof of how the itchiness drove a person to scratch till one bled.

"He technically didn't say how much he wanted," Morgana thought out loud looking down at the weed. "And I'd rather not spend my entire day diving for it."

But how much did she have currently? Morgana sighed realizing she'd need at least one more dive to make it worth it.

She turned back to the lake suddenly seeing someone walking in the cemetery then. Morgana couched down still keeping her gaze locked on the cemetery. She made out two people walking rather slowly. One male, one female, both blonde. She rolled her eyes then recognizing both of them.

One was the Crowned Prince of Stormwind and the other was Amalia B'nargin; whom Morgana as well as the rest of Stormwind assumed was to be the future queen if all the gossip and tabloids were true. Amalia was a lady of stature well educated in all the subjects that mattered; art, music, philosophy, ect. A true lady to barely be compared to the other ladies of the court. Morgana and Amalia had several well dispersed run-ins with each other; neither of which cared for the other.

"Who takes a leisurely stroll through the cemetery?" Morgana laughed, shaking her head. "I guess if you really want to get rid of any suitors you're not interested in, introduce them to your deceased mother."

Morgana slowly slipped back into the water just as the two love birds went out of sight. She found an even bigger weed waiting for her near one of the branches. This along with the one she already brought up should be enough for her to have the rest of the day to herself. The pepper weed in this one was a bit more potent than the other. Morgana nearly released her hold on the weed as it's contents swam through the lake.

Morgana pushed herself up once the weed was completely cut through. As she reached the surface an unwanted visitor was found looming over her previously cut weed.

"Don't touch it," Morgana spoke emerging from the water scaring her visitor. "You'll itch till you bleed."

Lady B'nargin grimaced as she took two very small steps back, "What is it?"

Morgana popped an eyebrow. For a lady well versed in nearly everything she didn't recognize quite possibly the most expensive weed in all of Stormwind if not the Eastern Kingdoms.

"Itchweed," Morgana answered, remembering her status compared to her visitors.

"And the only place to get it is in there?" she asked, still looking quite disgusted. "I guess it only makes sense the scum of Stormwind would go diving in scum."

Morgana playfully flipped her still dripping hair towards Amalia, "Someone's gotta do it."

"You reek!" she exclaimed, taking another step back.

"Any more insults for me today?" Morgana asked, throwing one fist on her hip. "I gotta throw this up on the auction house."

"As if anyone would buy that knowing someone like you dove for it," Amalia spoke still with a disgusted look on her face.

She doesn't even know how expensive this weed is, Morgana thought with a smile. She'll make a great Queen.

"Oh, I'd imagine it'll be sold out before tomorrow morning," Morgana answered, picking up her bag and carrying both plants with the roots up and weeds down.

She left Lady B'nargin there with her thoughts heading back into Stormwind. Her insults were rather hollow to Morgana but stature was important to everyone in Stormwind and possibly all of the Alliance. Morgana was lower on the pole solely because of her parents. Her father was a high ranking officer in Stormwind's Guard and her mother a respectable tailor. But due to the broken bloodline, Morgana would never be taken seriously.

The first auction house was in the Trade District. It was the more popular one Morgana was rarely able to get into but she liked to pass by just to be sure. Today it was busy but it was also early in the day. Morgana sighed as she made her way to the other auction house in the Dwarven District.

The Dwarven District was much quieter than the Trade District, and sometimes the auctioneers were more flexible with her. Most of the time, businesses didn't want her inside during their normal business hours; so Morgana oftentimes had to wait till late at night. Morgana peered in the auction house waiting for any of the auctioneers to give her a signal for her to enter. One or two noticed her and glanced over at the only buyer in the auction house.

One auctioneer looked up quizzically at her. Morgana held up the two itchweeds she had cut earlier. He popped an eyebrow up, glanced down at the patron still waiting, then looked back up using a slight hand gesture to enter.

Morgana entered quickly and quietly to make sure not to disturb those waiting. She handed the weed to the auctioneer letting him examine it before she made her offer.

"Two thousand gold a piece," she said in a whisper.

His eyes went wide, "Excuse me? You have nearly twelve pieces here."

"It sold last week at 1.7 a piece," she responded in a harsher whisper.