The door opposite him opened and he dismissed the image quickly. A broad shouldered human entered and promptly kneeled. "You summoned me?"
Rickard surveyed him for a moment. Brilliant blond hair made a stark contrast to his almost black eyes. Two swords were crossed on his back, so that a hilt showed over each shoulder. Loose fitting brown and black clothing allowed him to blend in with the shadows of an Inn wall, where he most often did his work. "I have a task for you. One unlike anything you've ever done before." Rickard smiled.
The newcomer stood up. "Yes, sir?"
Rickard did not rise. "Spade, I am going to give you a task that many would give their lives for. I require some . . . items."
"And those are?"
Rickard smiled. "The blood of an Elven Druid, the blood of a green dragon, and a branch from the world tree. Take these." A leather bag floated up from next to Rickard's chair. Spade watched this with ill disguised amazement. He had heard about Rickard's power, power that no other living being possessed, but he had never seen them in action. The bag floated over to him. Inside were two glass vials, a black wooden case, a gold coin about the size of his eye, and a dagger. "The vials are for the blood, they have been enchanted to stop time from affecting their contents. The same goes for the box. The coin, when held, creates a field that will stop sound. Sound can enter, but can't escape. And the dagger will kill a dragon; all you have to do is pierce its hide. That is all you should need."
Spade was silent for a moment. "I understand. I shall not disappoint you." With a bow, he left.
Rickard sat for a moment, thinking. Then he got up, pulled a letter out of his pocket, and went to the door. Opening it, he gave the letter to one of the guards. "See that this gets to Faranell." The guard nodded and walked away.
Mikael sat on the outskirts of Thunder Bluff, holding a sealed letter. He had gone looking for Rin Bluehoof, but only found an empty tent. Nothing of interest, or so he thought. Partially hidden under a pot was the letter he now held in his hand. There was no writing on it. No mark aside from a strange triangular symbol on the corner. That was what had caught his eye, the fact that the symbol was in gold.
Turning it over, he opened it and read.
After you read this, destroy it. You are to leave your position as Cairne's advisor. Instead, ingratiate yourself with Magatha Grimtotem. She will prove to be most useful if Thrall continues to stick his nose where it doesn't belong. Advise Thrall that a siege on Ironforge is a bad idea, that it would likely end in the destruction of the horde, and that an unprovoked attack would dishonor the horde. That should keep him from giving it any further consideration.
In three days you must travel to the Undercity and meet with the Master Apothecary Faranell. He will give you two vials of a powerful poison. Keep one and deliver the other to me. Save the one you keep in a safe place, for you will need to use it soon. Leave the other vial near the lake in Witherbark Village.
Finally, you must ensure that all rumors of Mizren's death and the information he gave Thrall are quashed. No one can be allowed to know of us. I presume I needn't remind you of the price of failure.
The note was no help. It explained nothing, and created hundreds of new questions. Why Magatha? More importantly, what was the poison for? That was a question he could answer. If Rin never got the note, than he couldn't pick up the poison. And chances were that Faranell didn't know who would be receiving it. Mikael would pick it up himself.
"Listen closely to what I am about to tell you." Benedictus said once he and Gerald were in his private quarters. "Recently, I have acquired information linked to the disappearance of King Varian Wrynn." Gerald's eyes widened. "Until now, we believed his kidnapping to be the work of the Defias, but our new evidence suggests that it was far more than just the brotherhood."
"But, who, if not the Defias, would do such a thing?" Asked Gerald.
"That's what we want to know. Unfortunately, I can not show you the evidence, as it is currently in the process of being examined. But I know for a fact that connections can be made to more than ten groups around the world. Including the Defias and the Twilight's Hammer. These are groups that we know to be hostile. The problem is that there are also references to members of the alliance. Such as Lady Prestor."
"But, she's an advisor to the King!"
"Yes, and that's what disturbs me. I always had some misgivings about her being so close to the king, but if this is true, all of Stormwind could be in danger."
"How do you figure?"
"If she had a hand in the kidnapping of the king, what else has she been doing? I'll watch her, you have more important business."
"And what would that be?" Asked Gerald.
"I want you to do some exploring for me. We have information, I can't say how we got it, but we know that there is an area to the west of Gnomeregan had something to do with the kidnapping. Go and search the mountains in that area." He pulled a note from a pocket of his robes. "Take this and give it to Gryth Thurden, the gryphon master of Ironforge. He'll take you up personally to scout the area. Take no action. Find out what's there and return to me. Understood?" Benedictus fixed him with a stern stare. Gerald nodded innocently. "Good, than you may leave. May the light protect you."
Gerald bowed and turned to go, then looked back at the Archbishop. "If I may ask, why did you choose me to do this?"
Benedictus smiled. "Because your abbot spoke so highly of you. He has complete faith in your abilities, and so do I."
Gerald looked at him a moment before leaving. Turning, he fixed his thoughts on the task set before him. It was night now, so he would have some time to rest when he got to Ironforge. Time to contemplate what to do when he found what he was looking for. He wouldn't let the abbot or Benedictus down.