"Dahlin! it has been too long. Sit, sit!"

Jaina smiled at Enda as she took a seat across from her, popping her collar a little to obscure the twin bruises that were growing more and more annoying to try to hide. She took an offered cup of tea. "How are you?"

"Marvelous. Kasa and her snooty wife have relocated to Suramar! Good riddance! I am expanding into their space with a new line of low cost fashion for men I am calling The Galnir Collection."

Tea went up Jaina's nose and she coughed. "Galnir?! Champion of the Horde, husband to Minuial, big broody musclebound Galnir?!"

"Of course, dahlin." Enda looked at her like it was obvious. "He's a delight and ya really should see him in a suit. Hubba hubba." Enda coughed and cleared her throat. "I mean, he's divine. His wife too, a literal angel!" She gestured at a dress on display. "Inspired that magnificent piece."

Jaina turned to look at it. It was white with highlights of the faintest rose gold, laces looping around the arms. The top part was like a wrap and the skirt was asymmetrical with the left leg exposed up to the hip. "It's beautiful."

"I can fit one to ya, if ya'd like." Enda looked at her knowingly, and Jaina rubbed her arm.

"You know what? Let's do it."

"Hell yea- Wonderful!." Enda rose to her feet, then circled around Jaina. "Ya know. There is something different about ya. I can't quite place it."

Jaina turned her torso a little, trying to keep Enda from noticing the bruises on her neck.

"No collars!" She shot her hands out, flipping Jaina's collar down. "It's out of style! … and what's this."

Enda poked the bruise and Jaina winced. "It's nothing. Just...the cat. He decided I needed to be groomed."

It wasn't a total lie; Varian did have that habit and didn't seem to realize that neither Jaina nor Sylvanas had fur. Though Jaina had been sworn to take to her grave the vision of Varian atop Sylvanas's head, grooming her hair. The memory brought a smile to her lips.

"I see." Enda narrowed her eyes, and adjusted her glasses. "Come. Come come come."

She started walking towards the back of the shop and Jaina got up to follow. "Where's Xu?"

"Xu, my dear, is in Stormwind." Enda disappeared into the back, only to peek her head back out the door. "Walk faster! We don't saunter!"

Jaina sped up and entered Enda's living space. "What's Xu doing in Stormwind?"

"Setting up shop of course." Enda hopped up onto a table and pulled Jaina over. "Our first Alliance expansion! It's marvelous!" She whipped out a brush and some make-up. "Just gimme a moment and we'll cover these hickeys up."

"It's not a-"

"Do I look like some spring chicken to ya?" Enda asked.

Jaina closed her mouth and allowed Enda to apply the make-up. She wondered how many others had looked and said nothing. Or for that matter, what people assumed had happened. Tensely, she said. "Everything is fine."

"Mm." Enda took a step back and inspected her work. "I didn't suggest otherwise, dahling."

Flushing, Jaina turned her collar down, deciding she'd need a more permanent solution than cover-up, and that she really needed to take Sylvanas to task for marking her like that.

That this might have been the point was not something she was willing to entertain. "Thank you, Enda."

"It won't last all day, dahling. Just get yourself a healing potion and you'll be fixed right up."

"Yes, that will be easy to do without awkward questions." Jaina put her hand over her neck then pulled it away before she could smudge the concealer. "Do you need to measure me again for that dress?"

Enda looked between her and the dress and rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "You're here. Assume the position! We are going to make you angelic!"

It only took Enda a short time to measure her. Jaina's measurements weren't too different from the last time, a fact that brought some relief to her vain side. She left Enda with a promise to meet her for lunch the next day and returned to the Hold.

Operation Coverup lasted about as long as it took for Sylvanas to notice once Jaina took her usual position. She could feel Sylvanas's eyes on her as she helped negotiate terms on behalf of an Alliance hog farmer hoping to partner with his Horde counterpart.

It was an easy task, and as soon as Sylvanas dismissed them, she was at Jaina's side. Cold hands wrapped around Jaina's throat, thumbs wiping away at the make-up. It was almost too gentle; Jaina felt her body responding when Sylvanas squeezed harder before letting go.

Sylvanas stepped back, rubbing the cover-up between her index and middle fingers. She looked at Jaina and smirked.

With Sylvanas determined to make her suffer, Jaina needed to find another way to deal with the immediate problem. She didn't want to ask a healer, and the only one she'd willingly consider had accompanied her mate on a mission and was thus unreachable.

Just buying a healing potion sounded simple, but had a number of implications to not-so-casual observers that she didn't want to deal with. Because then she'd have to think about it and thinking about it was embarrassing and a little horrifying.

But as she took a walk through the cool night outside the gates, Jaina had an idea.

Ihz's mule train was set up near one of the pig farms again and Jaina slipped in, stepping over a sleeping raptor and giving Millet a friendly pat. The mule nuzzled at her hand and Jaina let herself have a few minutes just leaning against the beast, listening to her breathe. "Glad you're feeling better."

She spied what she needed in a pouch alongside an assortment of wool wraps, herbs, and other equine first-aid supplies, and pulled out the healing potion. Since Jaina wasn't about to steal from her friend, she left two gold in its place, the coins clinking together softly as she slid them into the pouch.

Her misdeed done, she turned to go, and nearly ran into one of the others. It was a mare, dark brown and solidly built. Her ears turned away, and Jaina cooed softly. "I'm sorry. Hey, easy..."

She reached out to try to pet her.

"Barley! No!"

Only quick reflexes on Jaina's part stopped her from losing a chunk of skin as the mule's teeth snapped in the air where her arm had been. Jaina stumbled back and nearly landed on her butt.

Ihz rushed over, rubbing blearily at her eyes as she gripped Barley's halter. The danger was probably past, but she still untied the mare and moved her to the far side of a dark grey gelding, carefully backing her off to keep heavy-looking rear hooves pointed away from the nearest human face.

Mule secured with a safe buffer, she turned to Jaina, crossing her arms. "Dat was stupid. You don' put your weapon hand in front of an animal you don' know, Lady. Barley's a...mare." There was a dry note that translated the word to a right bitch. "She'd'a taken your damn fingers off just to prove she could. Well done," she added to her herd dog, who'd apparently noticed a suspicious stranger poking around the camp in the dead of night. Nettle's tail wagged as she relaxed.

"I'm usually better with animals." Jaina got to her feet and brushed herself down. When she looked up again, she saw that Ihz was studying her closely.

Pointing with her tusks, Ihz confirmed Jaina's fears; her voice was entirely too soft to be directed at anyone who wasn't a mule. "Dat consensual?"

Jaina's hand snapped to her neck, the action betraying her as surely as the color on her face. "Yes."

Ihz held her hands up warily, concern giving way to self-preservation the moment it was no longer needed. "Den you better tell me it was the Warchief. An' if it wasn't, Lady, lie."

Oh gods. Jaina rustled her hand through her hair, suddenly looking as tired as she felt. "Yes! That's half the problem."

The troll stared at her a moment, then offered a single shoulder shrug and turned to fish through the pouch. She turned around, coins in her palm. "You coulda just asked."

Jaina smiled sheepishly and shook her head. "Buy them all some apples."

"You hear dat, Amaranth?" Ihz scritched behind the ears of a white mule. "Da Lady of Orgrimmar is buyin' us a treat."

"The… what?" Jaina approached cautiously, holding her hand out until it seemed to safe to touch this one. Amaranth was leaning into her mistress' touch, but flicked huge ears forward in a cheerful manner when she felt Jaina's hand on her neck.

"Dats what dey been callin' you." Ihz gave her a critical eye. "Never heard dat one? Since you always seem t'be around an' making yourself useful."

"I guess it is less of a mouthful than 'consort of the Warchief,'" Jaina agreed, stroking Amaranth's nose. She didn't know how she felt about that, or what it might mean except maybe Nathanos developing an impossible ulcer which Jaina considered a net positive.

"Never a fan a'mouthfuls myself." Ihz jerked her chin. "Go ahead, mon, drink up."

Feeling somewhat abashed, Jaina knocked back the potion. "So...what would you have done if I'd said no, earlier?"

Ihz didn't hesitate. "Whatever you needed."

Jaina smiled at her. "Thank you."

It seemed that Jaina had finally resorted to some kind of healing. It was a pity; Sylvanas had enjoyed watching her squirm, but it had always been a matter of how long Jaina would go before swallowing her pride and asking someone for help.

"Warchief."

She tore her gaze from Jaina and looked at Nathanos. "How many were lost?"

"As with the others, the entire ship's complement." Nathanos gave Jaina a contemptuous look. "That marks the third ship this month."

"Are you accusing me of something?" Jaina asked, narrowing her eyes and leaning on her staff pointedly. "Because the Alliance has lost four. A fisher, two merchants, and a Man of War."

Sylvanas held up her hand. "No one is accusing anyone."

Jaina glared a moment longer at Nathanos, before she turned to Sylvanas. "I suggest that we implement convoys. Protection in numbers. Perhaps even a few joint convoys between Horde and Alliance vess-"

"You're in no position to-"

"Nathanos," Jaina snapped. "I am the Consort to the Warchief, the Lady of Orgrimmar and, oh yes, a Lord Admiral. Which of us has the sea in our blood again?"

Nathano's tone grew low, dangerous, his eyes flaring. "You are not to decide Horde military matters. You are an interloper here. You don't belong, and I don't trust you."

Boots clacking on the floor, Jaina approached Nathanos until they were chest to chest. "You will treat me with the respect I deserve."

Nathanos lifted his chin. "I will respect you when you've earned it. You live at my Lady's pleasure."

Jaina's eyes glowed a brilliant white light. "And you live at mine. I'm beginning to think that no one will miss you if I kill you. You have doubted me, treated me like an animal and questioned me in front of everyone. Nothing I do is good enough and I'm warning you, I won't have it. Your opinion doesn't matter, Blightcaller."

She stepped away, walking to Sylvanas's left side and putting her hand on the Warchief's shoulder. "Only one person's in the room does."

"Put together the strategy for the convoys," Sylvanas said, turning her head to look at Jaina. "And reach out to King Wrynn, I'd like to set up a meeting about this. Be it pirates or some other source, we cannot allow our fleets to be preyed upon."

Turning back to Nathanos, she said. "Put your little birds to good use. See if we can't discover a source for these sunken ships. And get me a report on our expedition. There's been no word from them or that Alliance ship we all know tailed them."

Nathanos simply nodded.

Sylvanas leaned her head against the back of the throne, studying Jaina beside her and allowing her and only her to see her eyes wander. It always unnerved Jaina, and Sylvanas enjoyed taking advantage of that. Keep her wife guessing and twisting in the wind. Perhaps someday she might actually talk to her about what happened a few days ago. But Sylvanas would not be the one to broach that subject.

Jaina looked at her quizzically. "What?"

Sylvanas glanced at her neck. "You remembered healing potions existed. Pity."

Jaina clapped her hand over her neck, then dropped it back down. "Is that seriously all you're going to say?"

"Yes." Sylvanas leaned her chin on her hand, looking up at Jaina from the throne. "Is that a problem?"

"You're infuriating sometimes."

Sylvanas lifted her other hand. "If that's your belief."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Jaina composed herself. She folded her arms. "This is unrelated to the convoys, but I'd like to take a day in Stormwind with one or both of my shadows."

"That's it?" Sylvanas felt a surge of curiosity rise in her. There hadn't been anything scheduled and Anduin's champions had yet to return from their little spy adventure that Nathanos had been so informative of.

"Just a day. There are a few things I'd like to pick up, including something for you," Jaina replied. "And it's Genn's birthday."

"Really." Sylvanas sat up straight, eyes flashing with the possibilities. "You'll have to give him my regards. I don't have a present for the overgrown mongrel at all."

"I'm… sure he'll appreciate that." Jaina grimaced.

"Collect Tyra and Kalira, and be back before midnight. I'll supply you with an official missive for talks about this convoy idea, since you'll already be there." Sylvanas leaned back again, giving Jaina a dismissive gesture even as she studied her every movement, from the way her chest rose as she breathed to how she carried her shoulders after she turned and walked out of the Hold.

Some days, Jaina was her favorite subject to study.

"I'll assign two rangers to tail her," Nathanos said, stepping to her side.

Sylvanas narrowed her eyes. "No."

"You can't possibly trust-"

"I can do whatever I want, Ranger." Sylvanas rose to her feet, turning towards him and eyeing him. She could feel her anger rising, though she couldn't place exactly why this bothered her-only that it extended beyond his public display with Jaina earlier. Extended, even, beyond Jaina. Nathanos's implication that Kalira and Tyra were either incompetent or disloyal was personal. That she even felt that kind of attachment was something to ignore. "Cease this pointless game. It bores me. If Proudmoore betrays us, I'll snap her neck myself. But she hasn't, and I don't think she will, not without a great pressure upon her. In the meantime this petty feud is a waste of your skills and energy."

Nathanos scowled, jaw tight, but all he could do was incline his head.

She stepped close to him. "You are my friend. The only one I can possibly trust from the old days."

"Kalira?"

"She hates me, half the time." Sylvanas brushed past Nathanos, feeling him tense at the contact. She stopped, holding the position as it made him more and more uncomfortable. Good. Let him squirm. She was still angry.

"She did not choose this, my Lady."

Rage gripped Sylvanas as she turned, grabbing Nathanos by the lapels and lifting him off of the ground. Tendrils of dark energy rippled across her skin, turning her eyes black save for the pinpoint of red at their center. Her voice echoed throughout the hold in a vengeful shriek. "No one chose this. Not her. Not you. Not I!"

Nathanos stared at her, expression impassive though not without a kernel of fear in his eyes. Sylvanas took solace in that and let him go. She stepped back, brushing her tunic clean of nonexistent dust.

He continued to stare at her, then dared to put his hand on her arm. "Proudmoore is getting to you."

She looked at his hand until he removed it. Sylvanas returned to the throne, taking her seat and throwing one leg over an armrest. "Hardly. Just remember, Nathanos. Like everyone else, Lady Proudmoore is simply another arrow in my quiver."

Nathanos remained silent, allowing Sylvanas the chance to brood, to regret the things that had been lost to her, to remember that feeling she'd reclaimed so briefly when Jaina's hands had torched her skin.

The galling thing was that he was right, if a little off the mark.

Jaina reminded Sylvanas of what it was like to be alive, and that was the worst crime she could ever commit.