The grand spires of Stormwind loomed on the horizon. Hilde stood at the bow of the great ship, shoulder to shoulder with the other refugees. It had been a journey of months on the laden freighter, standing room only on the crowded deck, to reach the grand kingdom far to the south of the Scourge menace.

Muffled curses came from behind her, as the sailors cuffed their way through the crowd, securing the ship for landing. Hilde stepped closer to the rail, her fingers clenching and unclenching on her small sack of possessions. One hand drifted up to touch the small letter hidden in her bodice like a talisman. It was nearly time to see if Christof's message would guarantee her a home amongst the warlocks of this city.

Although the paladin had left her money to pay for a room in Southshore until the boat arrived, Hilde had checked out the next morning before the dust had even settled behind their horses. The innkeeper's sick leers and promises to "watch over her" had eroded any desire to stay. She had mingled with the other refugees while waiting for the freighter; drifting from campfire to campfire, using her precious coin to purchase meager amounts of food and supplies for the trip. Everything she owned was wrapped within the folds of her leather traveling cloak. And in the end, with the berths far oversold, it was only Christof's writ that ensured she was taken on for the journey south.

The sailors bellowed, sails furled, and the ship settled against the quay with a bump. Dockhands quickly made fast the vessel, and the passenger ramp descended to the dock. Refugees scrambled towards the ramp, many mumbling prayers of thanksgiving. Hilde followed more slowly, her hands tight on her bundled possessions.

The mass of people was jammed at the end of the wharf. Hilde could just see flashes of blue and silver armored guards, in the bold tabards of the city. One was holding a large piece of parchment, while the others were motioning for silence. Finally one guard slammed down a large staff, quieting the mob.

"Refugees of the north, the kingdom of Stormwind welcomes you!" The guard's voice boomed out over the crowd. "In order to ensure no infection of our city, all incoming people must be examined for traces of Scourge contamination. Refusal to submit to examination will be taken as confirmation of infection, and you will be executed!"

Several children in the crowd began to wail, and mutters began to rise. The squad of guards pulled their weapons, the tips gleaming in the early morning light. The initial guard lowered his parchment and snapped his gauntleted fingers.

"Priests, front and center! Form four orderly lines! The priests will conduct the examination."

Four white-robed and heavily cowled figures stepped forward between the guards, glowing with a pale golden gleam. Sullenly, the passengers fell into lines. Each person stepped up to one of these figures, was touched lightly on the head, and received a nod. When it was Hilde's turn, she was struck by the coolness of the fingertips resting on her head, and the glittering eyes behind the cowl, resting just a second too long before she received her nod.

Shifting the bundle in her arms, Hilde began the long walk up the great stone ramps to the city proper. The sun rose behind her, its fiery rays blasting waves of heat down into the stone. She felt like a worm caught between the sky and stone, crawling up the endless ramps.

Finally she reached the top, and turned to look out over the harbor. Most of the other refugees labored below to climb the great ramps. The sun skittered its light over the harbor, shivering its blades of light into sparkles atop each wave. The great ships bobbed sonorously, and workers swarmed; loading and unloading cargo. It was its own little world, far removed from the horrors of the north.

She turned to go through the archway into the city proper, and noticed the guards at either side. Hilde took a deep breath, and approached the nearest sentinel.

"Pardon me, sir, but could you tell me…"

"Just come in on the boat, didntcha?" The soldier chuckled. "Aye the city is overwhelming at the best of times. You want to know where the best inn is? It's The Gilded Rose, in the Trade District. Ah, that Allison is a sight for sore eyes, she is. Best service in town! Just go straight, then take a left, then go over the canal, and follow the street. Tell her Guard Dwight in the Harbor sent ya"

Hilde frowned. "No sir, I don't need the inn right now. I am looking for…"

The female soldier across the way laughed. "Dwight, Dwight, how much is Allison slipping you to keep sending people her way? Look at 'er. It's obvious she's come to visit someone in the Stocks! To the right, over the canal, and straight on to the big fortress, love."

"No, I need the warlocks! Where are the warlocks!" Hilde cried. The female guard shook her head, wrinkling up her nose behind her helmet.

"Bad truck with those folks," Guard Dwight sighed. "But, if that's what ye want to know. Follow the path straight, then take a right. Go over the canals, into the place marked Magic Quarter. You'll be lookin' for a tavern called "The Slaughtered Lamb." That's where they hang out allright."

Hilde nodded her thanks, and stepped out into the city. The cobblestone streets teemed with people. Shopkeepers called from their porches, brightly colored wares flickering in the sunlight. Bells tolled, adding to the din. Mounted figures rushed to and fro, nearly knocking down anyone foolish enough to be in their way.

It took some time to work through the mob, but finally Hilde entered the archway proudly festooned with banners labeling it "Magic Quarter". The din vanished the moment she passed through. An unnatural calm descended, blocking out any hint of the city outside. She wandered the grassy paths, stunned at the huge, fanciful spires and butterfly-like people flitting in and out of them.

On her third circuit, she finally spotted a strange tavern, adorned with a crude sign depicting a beheaded lamb. Hilde took a deep breath and walked inside.

It was empty, save for a darkly colored man behind the bar. His eyes burned a bright green as he stared at her, flicking up and down, then narrowing. He set down his rag and crossed his arms.

"Whatcho want?"

"I need to see Vivian Shadowblade," Hilde said. She patted her upper chest. "I have a message for her."

"Give to me. She get."

"No, I need to see her personally."

The man spat and snapped his fingers. A squawk echoed from behind the bar, and a small imp leapt into view. It chortled and cavorted, its burning eyes glaring in a way that made Hilde slightly sick to see. The man cracked it on the head.

"Mistress Shadowblade. Bring. Message."

The imp whined, rubbing its head before jumping down and scuttering off into the curtained area behind the main dining room. The man retrieved his rag, continuing to wipe down the bar as if the girl in front of him had ceased to exist. Hilde stood still, trying not to fidget, as she strained for any sound of footsteps, or of the imp returning.

The curtains swept aside, and a tall woman swept into the room. She had fancifully braided glossy black hair, beset with jeweled pins that burned with the same dark amber gleam as her eyes. Her robe alternated red and black velvet, and was cinched with a bright golden belt. She stopped in front of Hilde, her eyes taking in the girl scornfully.

"It smells. You called me here for this?"

Hilde reached into her bodice, pulling out the limp letter. The woman took it with the tips of her fingers, as if not wanting to contaminate herself. She held it up, looking at the seal on the backside.

"Interesting. A message from Christof du Holemhein. Whatever could that boring paladin want?" She turned, snapping her fingers as she drove through the curtains. "Come, girl!"

Hilde forced her feet to move, brushing through the curtain in the woman's wake. Behind the curtain was a smooth stone passageway, lit with green torches. However, she noticed little of her surroundings as she ran to keep up. By the time she burst into the largish, velvet-draped room at the end of the corridor, her hostess was already seated and had opened the letter. She waved absently in Hilde's direction.

"You are dirty, so don't sit on anything," she drawled. "Just stand there while I read."

Hilde sighed, her hands clenched tight around her bundle. Her eyes slid over the furnishings in wonder. The walls were draped in rich tapestries, interspersed with gold and silver plated statues. A full bookcase took up the wall directly behind the lacquered desk. Various strange implements took up chipped tables around the room. It was a strange rustling that drew her eyes back to the woman behind the desk. While she seemed absorbed in the letter, one foot was rocking a cage of rabbits back and forth on the floor.

The rabbits' squirming occupied her attention until, with a jerk, she looked up, and saw the dark amber eyes staring at her from around the edge of the parchment. The woman dropped the letter, tapping the edge against her lips.

"So. A survivor from Scholomance." She dropped the missive to the desk, standing up to tower over the girl. "I am Vivian Shadowblade. You will call me Mistress Shadowblade or simply Mistress from now on. Understand?"

Hilde forced herself to nod. Vivian frowned, pointing down at the letter.

"According to this, you managed to survive when the Scourge took over Scholomance. I assume this is because of what you were taught there. And yet I see a milksop in front of me, barely a hint of demon fire. Do you have backbone girl, or did those light-blasted paladins convince you it was sin?"

Hilde frowned. "They took care of me after I got away. I helped them on patrol for months."

"And yet my dear old friend writes that one of them tried to kill you, is that right?" At Hilde's nod, Vivian shook her head.

"You are old enough, that between you and your demon you should have butchered anyone who tried. That tells me you aren't as progressed as my friend seems to think. Show me your demon, now."

Hilde drew back slightly. "I have no demon."

"What are you talking about girl? Summon it. Imp, voidwalker, I don't care, just summon it now."

"I have summoned a voidwalker before, but only in the ritual room at Scholomance." Hilde sighed. "My voidwalker died defending me near the shores of Andorhal."

Vivian's slap rocked Hilde's head backwards. "In the letter, it says you stole a spellbook before you left, and yet it seems you know nothing. Our demon blood lets us enslave other demons, pulling them into our reality and forcing them to do our will. They cannot die, stupid girl. The link between worlds is all that shatters. Given the tools, they can be resummoned and dispersed in service to us over and over and over. You are NEVER to be without your demon familiar!"

Vivian bent over, opening the rabbit cage and pulling out one hapless victim. She held it out, dangling by the scruff of its neck.

"This is your first test, girl. If they so rigorously controlled summoning at Scholomance, I doubt they taught you this. Your demon blood lets you feel this creature's life force. I want you to stretch out with that feeling, and focus on capturing its soul." She chuckled darkly. "Your demon blood will do the rest."

Hilde held out a shaking hand, pointing towards the squirming rabbit. Abruptly she felt the frantic drumming of its heart quivering in her ears. Long ribbons of energy shot from its body, coalescing around her fingertips. The poor rabbit shrieked, twisting into an impossible agonized shape before falling limp. Hilde swallowed back a sob, her fingers closing tightly around the gleaming pink gem that had suddenly appeared in her hand. It was smooth and warm, but holding it sickened her.

"Good," Vivian purred. "Now, you remember the spell for summoning your voidwalker. To cross the barrier between worlds requires fragments of souls. A self-respecting warlock would never sacrifice their own soul for this task. So we use other souls…animals, people, it makes little difference." She stepped closer, one cold hand surrounding Hilde's. A hard crunch, and the shard broke in her hand.

"Do the spell."

Hilde's lips moved unconsciously. As the fragments fell around her feet, the familiar summoning pattern appeared on the floor. A surge of power crested through her, and the familiar form of Fogg appeared in the room.

"Why…have you…called?" he echoed.

Hilde stood, numb in shock, as her voidwalker floated around her. Vivian sat back on her desk, her eyes coolly measuring the girl. Her fingertips played with a small bell.

"You have potential, once we undo all this unnecessary baggage done by the Light-sucking fools. You cannot afford pity, or remorse. You have already faced some of the prejudice against us out in the world. Here you will learn it is well-placed. You will learn to embrace your demon blood. You will understand power, and learn why we are so feared. You will not be coddled. You sink or swim on your own."

Vivian picked up the bell, ringing it sharply. Two hooded figures appeared, bowing deeply.

"Clean this student up, and give her a room. Her lessons start in the morning."