Baros kissed his wife goodbye as he left for work. The repairs to Stormwind had finally been completed and new projects are on the table to improve the looks and efficiency of the city, as well as some proposed improvements to it's security. Those are the plans he had to go over today to see what the military had proposed was feasible.

He paused at the door to his office in the City Hall when he saw someone inside waiting for him. With a sigh he entered. "What do you want, Shaw?" He grumbled and went to his desk without looking at the SI:7 leader.

"Good to see you, too." Mathias wasn't too pleased either, but he had business here. "I'm here to inquire about those plans for improvements to Stormwind's security."

"Couldn't you have just snooped around and found it out without talking to me? I mean that's what you do, isn't it?"

Shaw narrowed his eyes and wondered why he bothered to put up with him sometimes. "If I felt you were keeping important information from me, then I just might do that. But you're not, so let's get back to business."

Baros huffed and straightened his back. "Fine. What do you need to know?"

They spoke of the improvements, adding a wall here, changing a barrier there. After awhile, Shaw cleared his throat. "Baros, there's something else I want...but it'll have to be kept top secret."

"Why am I not surprised?" Baros crossed his arms ignoring Shaw's glare. "What is it?"

He pointed to the blueprints of the city. "I want tunnels dug going from here, to here, and here to here." He pointed to the appropriate spots on the blueprints. "Then some corridor's." He pointed again. "And of course, I don't want them marked on the blueprints. Only you, myself, Rinzik, and the royal family are to know of them. The stonecutters you assign must be highly trusted, and be willing to have mind blocks put in place, preventing them from recalling their part in making them."

Baros bristled. He hated secret stuff, but understood the need for it for the most part. "That's going to take a lot of gold from the taxpayers, Shaw. I can tell you that right away."

"SI:7 will pay for it, not the taxpayers."

The architect raised an eyebrow. "Out of your own coffers, eh? I wonder if the guild is paid too much for their services."

Mathias gave a knowing smile. "It's from a...different source."

Baros raised his hand. "I don't wanna know any more." He shook his head. "I'll draw up some ideas later and get back to you on this. For now, I have other official business to do." He cleaned up his desk and locked away certain papers before exiting the building to go do his rounds looking after some of his workers and the progress of their projects.

Shaw glanced at the safe Baros had put the papers in after the architect had left. If that was the only security the man had for certain important papers, he may have to assign an agent to keep watch around here during this project. Mathias grinned as he thought how much Baros would just love to have another rogue hanging around his business. With that thought, he left for his headquarters.

...

Ileeya wasn't up for preparing lunch just yet. So, she brought out a bowl of fruit and some moonberry juice to put on the table. No one had spoken since they had started their journey to the house. Even now, as they sat at the table, they were silent. The only one making any noise was Amy who was playing off to the side with Sabine. Jelune sat with her, ready to keep the child distracted from the conversation at the table.

Kristie pulled out her sketchbook from her pack, waiting for someone to say something. But the silence seemed to continue with the blood elf and Adam exchanging cautious looks. Ileeya seemed unsure of where to start. Kristie decided to break the silence herself. "I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Kristie Alexston. You are...?"

"Kirlothenin Dawnwhisper."

She ignored Adam's warning look. "So, I take it you all met in Booty Bay?"

Silence.

Oookay, she thought to herself.... Let's try something else. Kristie looked at the the infant. "What's her name?"

"Adorei." Ileeya turned the baby to Kristie so she could get a better look.

"She's beautiful." Kristie admired the small elf and immediately began to sketch her. She made quick work of the eyes and shape of the head. The ears were a little more erect than Ileeya's and the hair was lighter. It was almost the same color as Kirlothenin's. Kristie stopped the sketching and looked at the blood elf as she slowly began to realize what she was seeing. Adorei had mixed parentage.

Kirlothenin watched her with a mild but cautious curiosity. Kristie looked back at Ileeya. The night elf sighed as she realized that Kristie had figured it out. "This is what we wanted to talk to you about." She cleared her throat. "Please hear us through before reacting." She glanced at Adam when she said this. "About a month after we last saw you, Kirlothenin...erm...convinced us to help him on a mission."

"That's putting it mildly." Kirlothenin stood in slight annoyance, not wanting to sit through this. "If you insist on telling them our history, then they deserve to know the whole truth." He looked at Adam and Kristie. "I kidnapped them and forced Jelune to help me on a dangerous mission."

Adam narrowed his eyes, but because Ileeya wanted him to hear the whole story, he refrained from saying or doing anything...for now.

Ileeya continued. "During that mission..." She looked at Kirlothenin and found herself unable to continue.

Kirlothenin sighed. She and Jelune were the ones who wanted to tell them what had happened. He didn't think it was any of their business. Now she's expecting him to continue the sordid story of all his misdeeds? He gripped the back of the chair that was in front of him. "During the mission, I lost control of myself. Alcohol and dreams led me to do something I would not have thought I'd ever do." He nodded towards the infant. "Adorei is the result."

Adam shot up, his hands formed into fists and Kristie quickly grabbed his arm. She hissed quietly in his ear, "Not in front of Amy!" Adam's only acknowledgment was to stay still. He glared at Kirlothenin.

"There's more." Ileeya spoke again. "When he found out that I was pregnant, he came to me and asked me not to terminate. After...discussing it, I agreed."

Kirlothenin gave a derisive laugh. "Discussing. More like after you tried to beat me to a pulp."

"Well, do you blame me?" She threw him a glare.

"No." He answered softly. "I deserved it, and more." His tone turned more serious as he addressed Adam and Kristie but kept his gaze on Ileeya. "She showed great mercy to me."

Kristie felt the need to interrupt at this point. "Ileeya, why are you telling us this? Don't get me wrong, I'm quite curious and frankly, fascinated by your story, but...it's very personal. You don't have to tell us."

There was silence for a moment, then Ileeya spoke. "Jelune and I talked about this last night. When he said that Adam had written to him wanting to meet up at the festival, we considered whether or not to tell you the truth." Ileeya lowered her silver eyes. "I didn't want that. I mean, I didn't want everyone to know how Adorei came about. But neither did I want to lie. And Jelune seemed to think that you two would understand."

She looked at Adorei who was yawning and beginning to grab at Ileeya's tunic. "Right now we need friends and allies who will support us and Adorei. This child will have too many enemies just because of her mixed heritage." She looked at them. "And since you two are neither kaldorei, nor sin'dorei..."

Kristie understood where she was going. "...then we would have no prejudices in that regard." She wondered if they were aware that humans struggle with their own prejudices as well? There are a few half-elves in Stormwind, the result of high elf and human couples. Half-elves were often treated with disrespect, although Kristie never understood why. She looked at Adam who was about ready to burst from his own frustration. She decided it might be best to go for a walk to let him work that energy out.

Throwing a pointed look in Adam's direction she asked, "Do you mind if Adam and I go for a walk? We can continue afterwards, if you want." She placed a hand on Ileeya's arm to give her some reassurance. "I really would like to hear more. But let what we've heard so far sink in a bit, okay?"

Ileeya nodded her understanding. "Adorei is wanting to nurse now anyhow. I'll take her upstairs."

Kristie smiled, then turned to Jelune, but he waved her on before she could say anything. "Amy and I are having too much fun with Sabine to walk with you, right Amy?" The child nodded and Kristie could have almost hugged him for his thoughtfulness.

She led Adam outside, but he refused to go beyond the property line. He paced back and forth, keeping one eye on the window that they could see Amy through. "You're too trusting, Kristie." He would have brought Amy out with them if it wasn't for the topic of discussion he knew was going to happen.

"Jelune can look after her, and I don't believe Kirlothenin has any reason to harm her. And that's not why we're out here."

Adam ran his hand through his hair. "I know. What do you expect me to do? Accept him as though he hasn't done anything? You heard what he did!"

She checked her own temper before replying. "I heard. But I also saw the regret in his body language and facial expression and the tone of voice. You also heard what Ileeya said. She wants our support, not our judgment."

"I'm not judging her."

"No. But apparently, there seems to have been some sort of resolution between those two. I think she wants us to accept him as well."

"No! I will not accept him just like that! You should have seen the smug look on his face when he was ready to sell her into slavery! I was there, Kristie."

Kristie put her hands on his arms and looked into his eyes. "Maybe that's why I can look at them a bit more objectively. Adam, she's our friend, and she needs us. You don't have to trust him. Just don't...beat him up, okay?" She gave a small smile. "I think that's all she wants."

Adam wrapped his arms around her and rested his forehead against hers. "I'll give her the benefit of the doubt for now." He sighed. "She does seem to care about that kid, doesn't she?"

Kristie nodded her head. "Regardless of how the child came about, I saw how much she loved her from the start. Perhaps that's why she tolerates Kirlothenin." There was silence between them for a few minutes as Kristie's mind turned from Kirlothenin to another father she had spoken to earlier that morning. She hadn't had time to tell Adam about his father's visit before they left for the festival. But was now a good time?

She frowned. There was probably never a good time for that subject. She might as well get it over with. "Adam...There's something I need to-"

"Who are you?"

The two broke apart quickly to see a large night elf druid standing nearby with a stern look on his face. He had shoulder-length green hair and a short beard and mustache. "We're friends of Ileeya and Jelune. I'm Adam and this is Kristie." Adam stepped slightly in front of Kristie as he said this, unsure of why this druid was asking who they were.

The night elf seemed to relax slightly. "My apologies. Ileeya and Jelune did mention you were coming. I had temporarily forgotten. My name is Dormir. I am Ileeya's father." He gave a slight bow of his head in greeting.

Adam returned the gesture. "A pleasure to meet you, sir." He wondered just where this elf stood in regards to Kirlothenin. "We were just getting acquainted with Ileeya's daughter and... Kirlothenin." He watched the druid's face veil over into a mask.

"Yes. My granddaughter is beautiful, is she not?" Adam and Kristie both nodded. The druid studied them for a moment then added, "Adorei is loved by her family. She is, unfortunately, disliked by many others. Others who...do not accept her heritage."

Dormir knelt down and whispered something under his breath. Before their eyes, a purple flower grew out of the ground. "She is fragile, like this flower." All of a sudden, more flowers grew around it. These were larger. On one side were some red flowers. On the other side were blue ones. They seemed to almost crowd out the small purple flower in the midst of them. Dormir took some sticks and stuck them in the ground around the purple blossom, and a small vine wrapped itself around the sticks effectively creating a fence that kept the larger buds back.

"If she is to survive, she will need every post in the fence set firmly in solid ground around her." He stood and looked at them. "Ileeya, Jelune, and I are not enough, as much as we would like it to be." He tapped the top of the largest and strongest-looking stick. "Adorei needs her father." The plants disappeared back into the ground and Dormir gave them a pointed look. "The more posts, the stronger the protective fence will be. Don't you agree?"

Adam nodded his head. "I think I understand a bit better now. Thank you." The druid nodded his head and gave him a brief smile before entering the house. Adam looked at Kristie. "Interesting fellow."

Kristie laughed. "To say the least. I wouldn't mind having a few more conversations with him sometime." They followed him back into the house to introduce him to Amy.

…

Jerold entered his laboratory, quickly searching for the materials he would need. He had no idea how long that group would stay at that house and he wanted to get everything prepared as fast as possible. He'd already prepared the cells for his 'guests'. Now he needed some extra materials to make the capture and transition of prisoners smooth.

Lara entered behind him. "Why not just take them to Undercity?"

"Because I want them to know what's coming." He turned to her. "When I give you the elf and human, you will take them the long way. No portals." He pulled out a pair of shackles and looked them over. They were not what he wanted. "Where are they?" He tossed the shackles to the side.

"I'll do whatever, as long as I get payment ahead of time."

Jerold glared at her. "You'll get your gold." Ever since he had returned empty-handed that one time, very few others would pay him until he delivered, nor would they do services for him until after he paid them. This made things very difficult for him as he had very little money left after paying back the apothecary. It wasn't until only recently that he had finally gotten his own finances stable again. He opened an old wardrobe and knocked things off the top shelf before pausing as he felt what he hoped was what he was looking for. He pulled a stool over and stood on it to reach to the very back of the shelf.

Lara watched him with mild curiosity as he pulled out another pair of shackles. These ones had some sort of inscription on them. Jerold took the key in one of the locks and tested them. Satisfied, he put them in his bag. Next he went to a cabinet with a variety of tubes, vials, and other jars and containers. He deftly pulled different ingredients and stacked them into a box with a handle on it. He then tossed a few things away on a table in search of something else. Lara noted the forsaken had no concern for tidiness...not that she had any concern for it either.

A few minutes later, he had finally finished gathering all he believed he would need and approached her. "Okay, know what your job is?"

She let out a sarcastic cackle. "I'm the portal whore."

Jerold turned his dead gaze on her. "You are more than that, my dear. You know I respect your abilities more than just your portals."

"Sure, Jerold, sure." She brushed him off, but seemed satisfied with his statement. "And just what do you have planned for the others?"

He shrugged. "I have experiments of my own to do. Some will go for that. Perhaps I could use a servant. We'll see if any are worthy. Maybe I'll sell another to the Society. I'll decide after we are successful. Let's go."

She muttered the spell to create the portal to Moonglade. Despite her sarcasm, she was intrigued with this venture. What Jerold had proposed to do was challenging, but his simple solution to attaining it was genius.