Episode Nine: Al loses shirts while Myrielle flirts

At midmorning, when priestesses were racing up and down the hallway to get ready for their early tasks and classes nextdoor within the Cathedral of Light, Alessandre decided it was time to reveal himself. Without much flourish, he simply got out of bed and stood outside. He wasn't fully clothed, but he had both his mithril rapier and dagger attached firmly to his belt. As always, his stash of throwing knives wasn't too far down his bootleg.

As expected, the priestesses raised a sufficient alarm at the handsome shirtless male elf who'd appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Alessandre observed idly that some other training school might not have sent immediately for the man in charge. A group of warlocks, for instance would have attempted to flay an intruder alive, a schoolhouse full of mages would humiliate him by turning him into various farm animals, warriors would have challenged him… no doubt that a bunch of female rogues would try to seduce him out of his weapons, armor, or get information from him instantly. Why would the head rogue need to know he was even there if Alessandre just cooperated with them? The way that people's class choices nearly always aligned with their personalities amused Alessandre.

Inevitably, Priest Benactus came storming down the hallway towards Opalbane's room. His holy shield was up and he held a thick tattered book humbly against his chest. He looked like a sacred prophet. With a flourish, Benactus raised his hand over his head as if her were exorcising Alessandre and said,

"Lecherer! Begone from this house of the Light! We have no use for your kind here. It is only the Light that compels me to send you away from this place without incident, because I know well that I should always forgive mine enemies."

Alessandre had been smoking his pipe steadily for the last hour. The hallway was hazy with it. He folded his arms across his purple chest impatiently and sighed.

"It took you long enough, Benactus. I may be a lecher, I'll give you that. But not with your Opalbane."

Benactus looked sideways at Alessandre, as if he guessed they shared some kind of secret. The ladies in the hallway had their holy shields up as well and cowered behind him at the tall dark-skinned stranger.

"If you wish to confess… please excuse me sir. My office is only down the hallway."

"Now that's just insulting to my race. I'm not one of your High Elf friends either." Alessandre took a long drag and blew it out as he lilted his head back. He didn't have to watch for Benactus' reaction. Alessandre already knew he'd got him.

"I know the difference between elves! I thought you might… What… do you want?" Benactus asked carefully.

"They call me Alessandre. I was sent here by Master Rogue Shadowstep of the Cenarion Enclave in Darnassus." All of Stormwind knew that High Priestess Tyrande was punishing Feathershine for the fiasco in the courts of Stormwind a month earlier, so Alessandre was careful to leave her name out of it. "I was hand-selected to protect Opalbane while she recovers here in Stormwind. I may not always be here, just before her door like I am right now," he said and took his pipe out of his mouth, "But that's the kind of work I do. I'm a rogue, so I'm sneaky… I may be around and you'll never know it. But where I am is not your business, do you understand? All you need to know is that I'm doing my job, which means I'm watching you and everyone else here. Well, except for the lovely ladies in this dormitory. I don't use my elite skills for mere peeping." Alessandre stifled a laugh. It's not like it didn't ever happen… but Benactus didn't need to know that. In fact, between two men that kind of thing was assumed.

"Why should I believe you? Opalbane, are you still in there? Are you alright?"

Gently, Opalbane's muffled beckoning could be heard beyond the door, and Alessandre opened it for her. Both men entered her room. At the last moment, Benactus urged the other priestesses to disperse.

"Priest Benactus, I see you've met my bodyguard. He arrived just this morning."

"Did he now?" Benactus clearly did not believe it.

"Oh yes, Benactus." Alessandre answered. "Unlike most Night Elves, I was also born just yesterday, and I have no intention of keeping any tabs on you whatsoever. But it's not like you don't have a choice in the matter. Darnassus doesn't want any kind of international incident… you are welcome to put me out, that is, if you don't mind Opalbane also sleeping in the street."

What else could Benactus say? Everything depended on Opalbane staying in his care.

"What do you want? Gold?"

Alessandre took another long drag of his pipe and then blew the white smoke in Benactus' face. "Oh, no, Benactus. I am going to have your hide. And you can tell all your little friends the same thing."

Later that day, in front of SI: 7 in Old Town…

"Thank you for meeting me on such short notice." Second Commander Myrielle Fadeleaf greeted her Human rogue contact as he entered the fort. SI: 7 stood out from the dingy wooden shops and taverns in the Old District. The brilliant limestone fortress not only boasted a wing for prominent officers in the Alliance army, but it was also a sophisticated command center for the Human rogue organization that headed Alliance intelligence. Located in Old Town, it could not be more convenient for Human spies. With elite soldiers relaxing just upstairs, it could not be any safer.

The dark haired man named Han shook Myrielle's hand, adding an exact amount of pressure that she recognized, then returned with a slight nod.

"I take it your investigation goes well? You must have some new information for us."

Myrielle looked over her shoulder and then lead the man upstairs to a private room. She softly closed the door.

"There were more murders last night." Myrielle began, "Clearly the work of a druid. Maybe he thought that no guards would ever go into Cutthroat Alley, and the temptation to kill without raising suspicion was too great."

"But you were there. You saw it all."

Myrielle sighed. "Yes. I was in the shadows—"

"You know who it is, don't you? Why are you holding back? Is this man—I noted that you said 'he'—some lover of yours? SI: 7 doesn't stand for such sloppy work, you know."

This is why Myrielle loved working with the Human rogues in SI: 7. They were better at reading people than she was, and kept it extremely professional. It was a relief from the salivating men in other rogue networks, and that clairvoyant savvy also kept her on her toes.

Myrielle pouted. It wasn't clear if she was being seductive, or if she was just frustrated. That is the way beautiful mouths work, afterall.

"I have no evidence. Without solid proof that this guy is some kind of freak, the man I'm thinking of can't be the one we're looking for."

Han grew impatient. "Stormwind has been generous with the Cenarion Enclave. We don't understand your druids, but we do trust High Priestess Tyrande. I'm starting to think that we're giving you all too much credit. It is taking too long to solve this. And, to top it off, the Master Rogue Shadowstep wants the Archdruid to order all the Night Elf druids to withdraw from the city… how can that possibly be a permanent solution? It won't catch the killer. All this seems like shoddy work to me."

Myrielle sighed. "I can't tell you why Shadowstep is doing it… but it's partly my suggestion." She relaxed and put her hand on her hip. "I'm almost certain that I have the guy pegged… but I just need evidence. I already made up some story about needing to observe his work so that I can get as close to him as possible without spooking him. I've been here for almost a month already but that's as far as I've been able to get, he's so damn hard to keep track of. Anyways, Han, you know that I can't hand anyone over to you until I'm sure." She pleaded.

"He's also one of your own, then isn't he? He must have some important friends if you're willing to risk the reputation of all the druids in the Alliance on this. And, Myrielle, I'm not fully convinced that you're going to just hand someone like that over to me like you're supposed to. I starting to see where your loyalties lie."

Myrielle slowly stalked the length of the room, her hips swaying gently. It caused her to bounce, and the Human man didn't miss it.

"That's not going to work on me Myrielle." He frowned. "Do I need to remind you that SI: 7 will take this investigation over completely if you can't deliver him? Shadowstep will not be happy about that, sweetheart."

"No… it may not work on you, but maybe on someone else." Myrielle said pensively. "I'd hate to lower myself to that again, but I'm starting to feel like there is no other way to do it."

"I don't know Myrielle. I don't know how you all do it over in Darnassus, but SI: 7 frowns on using seduction to get information. You know well enough that it can go both ways… it makes for volatile situations."

"This would be much easier if Shadowstep were a woman. Then the two of us could just have a nice gossip about the man I have in mind."

Han cocked his head to the side, curiously. "I'll ignore the sexual innuendo that I probably have no chance of understanding anyway. But, it looks like you're gunning for that job too, eh?"

"Who isn't?" Myrielle shrugged. "I think Mistress Rogue Myrielle sounds very sexy don't you? And I'd get a little something out of various men in the Alliance referring to me as their Mistress. So, can I get another week to finish this, Han honey?"

Han shook his head, but Myrielle coyly drew him into hug that was hardly friendly.

"Alright, fine." He grunted. "But any more extensions, and I'm sending you down to Willy's Secret for lingerie, and then I want a dance."

Myrielle threw her hands up in the air. "I'm surprised at you! That is very unprofessional. Though I shouldn't be shocked at your request. All they ever ask us to do is dance!"

"You mean, I could have had more?" Han teased her.

"Maybe but you'll never know, will you?" she joked. "This man's head will be on a platter for you by week's end." She finished authoritatively, and strutted out of the room on her knee-high red leather boots.

Author's note:

I have a forum! You can access it at the "My Forums" link on my Profile page. I created it because I thought it would be a fun way to get feedback on my fanfictions in The Romancer series. I'd also love to hear from anyone who roleplays in World of Warcraft. I might just be looking for a new RP guild, so please drop by if you know of any good ones!

Also, I'm new to forums, so please bear with me if it takes a while for things to get rolling. Happy Reading!