Maggie landed her gryphon at the base of the mountainside where Ravenholdt Manor was. It had been a few years since she had last been here. And then, it was only in attempts to get some more training. She had to admit the guild was the best at pickpocketing, lockpicking, and finding traps. Most rogues came here to learn those skills from them. She had never met Ravenholdt while she was here, though. She learned her skill from one of their lower ranked, but none-the-less skilled, trainers.

She entered the tunnel and walked the length of it, knowing there will be two guards at the entrance. She quickly made the hand signal to show that she was welcomed there. The guards let her pass and she made her way up the hill to the manor.

A quick question and she was led to a room where Shaw was talking with an older man with white hair. She waited at the entrance, merely clearing her throat to alert them of her presence. Shaw didn't turn around, but the older man glanced in her direction for a moment. After another minute, the two wrapped up their conversation and Mathias finally turned to her, motioning her forward. "Maggie Strome, meet Lord Jorach Ravenholdt."

Ravenholdt gave Maggie an appreciative look and nodded his head in greeting. "A pleasure to meet such a lovely young lady."

Maggie couldn't help but grin at his formal manners. She'd heard enough about him to know he could be just as ruthless as any rogue. "The pleasure is mine to finally meet the leader of this illustrious guild." She could dish it out as much as he could.

Shaw cleared his throat, keeping the topic on business. "Do you have something to report, Agent Strome?"

She looked at him. Did she detect a slight bit of jealousy behind that hard look? "Yes, sir." Her voice was all business. She glanced at Ravenholdt, unwilling to give her report in front of him. Ravenholdt picked up on this and excused himself from the room.

Once he was gone, Maggie told Shaw all she had found, and not found, in Moonglade. After thinking it over, Shaw finally replied, "I don't think Kristie's here. It's not Jorach's style, though I wouldn't put it past him to use the information to his advantage. Besides, if he had wanted to use a hostage, he would have taken Elenor."

"What do we tell Baros?"

Mathias thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Don't tell him anything, yet. He doesn't need this added to his repertoire of worries."

Maggie watched him. She could tell he was concerned about something, but wasn't sure just what. "Orders, sir?" She opted to keep things on the business level.

Shaw remained quiet. He seemed to be at a quandary and she softened her attitude a little, concerned about his indecisiveness. "Mathias? What's wrong?"

"I can't leave here to help search for Kristie and Adam." He finally looked at her. "Despite Jorach's assurances of no harm to Baros, he cannot guarantee how the rogues around here will react to Baros' attitude towards them. Not all rogues here are a part of his guild, nor ours."

Maggie listened and suspected there was something more going on than protecting a Stormwind citizen. Shaw could have any one of his agents protect him, but he's choosing to look after Baros himself. It must have something to do with the odd love/hate friendship the two have. "So, you stay here then. What's the problem?"

Shaw scratched underneath his goatee. "What are your leads to find Kristie?"

Maggie raised one eyebrow just slightly at Shaw's change of subject. "Next to nothing. Dormir is trying to find his daughter through something called the Emerald Dream. The only possible lead I have is one who disappeared along with them.

"Kirlothenin."

This time Maggie blinked in surprise. "You know him?"

"Not personally. But we've been keeping tabs on him from time to time."

"I noticed." She sighed. "What do you think? Could he have conjured a portal to take them out of there?"

"Possibly. Possibly. Whether it's for protection or otherwise, we have yet to determine. But my gut says he's as much a victim in this."

"Then I have nothing to go on, other than that cult, and the Cenarion Circle is investigating that."

Shaw leaned back against a table. "You mentioned a musty smell inside the house?" At Maggie's nod, he pondered this for a few more minutes before speaking again. "How would you take a whole house full of people that could easily fight back, yet leave no signs of a struggle?"

After thinking a moment, she answered, "Gas." Maggie rested her weight on one leg as she crossed her arms in front of her. "That doesn't narrow our search much. Any alchemist could put something together."

"Go visit our friend upstairs, Maggie. Keep him in his room and out of trouble. I'll be back in a few hours."

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "Sure. But you'll owe me." She grinned.

He was in the process of leaving, but turned his head to glance back at her. "No I won't. You're doing your job. Not to mention you like the old man, despite his crankiness...or maybe because of it."

"You're no fun. Get!" She waved him off, but was rewarded by an amused smile from Shaw before he disappeared.

...

Kirlothenin wrapped his robes more tightly around himself. It was cold tonight. The forsaken in the Sepulcher hadn't bothered to give either of them blankets. He and Adam had to sit back to back to use each other's body warmth to keep from getting too cold. But neither one of them could sleep.

After they had arrived at the Sepulcher, the broken wheel had been taken off the cage. The forsaken woman had then teleported back to Undercity with the wheel to be fixed as there were no supplies to fix it at the Sepulcher.

Kirlothenin knew exactly why she was escorting them over land instead of just creating a portal that would take them directly to Undercity. It was an exercise in torment. The dread of knowing what could happen once they reached the Apothecarium and become 'test subjects'. It was meant to torment. But it wasn't working on him. And he suspected it worked little on the rogue inside the cage with him.

Both of them were continuously plotting ways of escaping before they reached the dreaded city. The problem was, neither one had come up with an effective escape plan.

"Tell me something, elf..."

Kirlothenin barely turned his head in response to Adam's voice. He glanced around the area. There were some patrolling dreadguards and a dark ranger nearby, but none close enough to the cage to hear their conversation.

"Why did you take her?"

The mage was a little surprised at this question and couldn't figure out why Adam was asking about Ileeya, other than from boredom...or morbid curiosity. "She wasn't my first choice. I originally wanted the sentinel with them- someone who understood war and the risk of capture." He scowled to himself. "But the shaman in our group killed her. So I settled on Ileeya, instead." He was quiet for a moment and closed his eyes. "It doesn't matter, now. I've made many mistakes. Leave it at that." Silence fell between them. But Kirlothenin was now thinking back to that time. One thing came to mind and he spoke once more. "Although..." He paused to consider his words. "I am grateful now that you were there for her."

There was no response. Kirlothenin let the silence linger for awhile. "It's my turn to ask you a question.' He waited for a response from Adam, but none came. He asked his question anyhow. "Tell me about you and Miss Alexston." He felt the man stiffen.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm bored. Humor me."

Adam was silent for a few minutes, but then began to tell him how the two had met and how he had been assigned to protect her. He skimmed over the tale of their adventures together trying to hide from a mad woman. When he got to the part where he had been awoken one morning by her and they had laughed, Kirlothenin had to interrupt. "You're on the run for your lives, and you tickle her?" He recalled when the man had tickled Amy after the fight with Omen.

Now Adam's head turned to the side as though he wanted to see the elf. "Why not? Just because darkness looms around us, doesn't mean we can't enjoy each other's presence. It's a sort of stress relief. Besides, I like hearing Kristie laugh."

"Yet you cling to the dark fate of your brother and refuse to forgive your father." Silence. Adam's head faced forward again. Kirlothenin could feel the very air get thick with the human's brooding. He sighed inwardly. "Forgive me. It was none of my business. Please go on with your tale."

Adam kept silent for a few more minutes, but finally relented and continued his story. When he told Kirlothenin of the Morsuleto Runestone, the mage had to fully turn around and look at the rogue in surprise. "She survived the Morsuleto Stone?"

Adam sighed and turned to face him. "Yes. Is it really that hard for people to believe?"

"Yes. How?"

He could barely see the man's face in the low torchlight of the area. "Lady Proudmoore removed it by cutting it out of her arm and placing it on a boar. I don't know much more than that."

"I may have to have a chat with Lady Proudmoore again some time," Kirlothenin muttered.

"Why?"

The mage could hear the concern in Adam's tone of voice. He merely waved his hand. "Simple intellectual curiosity." He paused, then told Adam, "You've got a strong-spirited woman, Adam." He paused. "She and Ileeya would be good for each other. At least they are together when we cannot be with them."

"Jelune would protect them as best he could." Adam turned back around and so did Kirlothenin so that they were back to back once more.

"He's gotten better at his hunting skills. But without his pet and weapons? He's just as helpless as we are at the moment."

"Kristie's smart, Kirlothenin." The mage noticed this was the first time Adam had said his name without disgust in his tone. "I'll bet she'll figure a way out of there."

"But she cannot fight."

"I've taught her a few defensive moves. But she uses her head more than any physical fighting abilities. And what she lacks in skill, Ileeya and Jelune can make up for it."

Kirlothenin noticed that Adam hadn't mentioned someone. "And Lord Aron?"

There was a low growl from Adam's throat. "He'll sit back and do nothing, letting others fight for him. He can rot there."

Kirlothenin frowned. This man can hold a long grudge, it seemed. This concerned him. He half-turned towards the man once more. "Adam, we may have had our differences, but we need to work together here."

The human glared at him in the small light afforded them. "I'm not stupid, blood elf. Can you not see that I am trying to figure out a way out of this?"

"Yes. I can see that. But what happens after we escape? You were clear with your feelings towards me before all of this. You don't like me."

"Do I have to?"

Kirlothenin sighed. "No. I don't expect you would."

"We wouldn't even be in this situation if you hadn't taken her in the first place!"

The mage's temperament finally snapped. "I am well aware of my failings, rogue! But, I'm the one who has to live with my mistakes, not you!"

Adam had opened his mouth to make a retort when a low cackle of a laugh interrupted the two. "Jerold said you two would be entertaining. I had almost lost hope." The forsaken mage had returned.

...

Ileeya awoke to the sounds of crying. At first, she thought it was Amy. The situation they were in was hard enough on the adults in the group. But to have a child suffer through this... She silently sighed. But soon realized that it wasn't Amy, but Kristie who was trying so hard to be quiet in her crying. Ileeya sat up. The wall torches died out awhile ago. But the night elf could still see in the dark. Kristie was curled up on the pile of hay within her cell, closer to Ileeya's cell, than Amy's. Perhaps because she didn't want to wake the child.

Ileeya reached through the bars and was just barely able to brush her fingertips against Kristie's arm. The human woman was startled and sat up looking around. Ileeya realized she couldn't see who had touched her. "It's okay, Kristie. It was just me."

The human turned her head towards Ileeya's voice, but not seeing her. Ileeya told her to come closer. When she did so, the night elf wrapped her arms around her to give her some comfort. Kristie relaxed against her. "I'm sorry I woke you."

Ileeya smiled, even though Kristie couldn't see it. "It's okay."

There was silence between them and Ileeya wondered if her friend had fallen asleep. But Kristie spoke again. "I tried hard not to show fear in front of Adam or Amy. But I couldn't hold back anymore."

Ileeya's eyes flicked to the sleeping child. The girl had been exhausted. She knew Kristie was trying to be strong for the both of them. "We'll get out of here." She said it with conviction. Neither of them had any idea if Lord Aron would succeed in releasing Kristie and Amy. Both suspected the forsaken of betrayal and just taking the gold and not letting them go. They couldn't rely on him. "Kir will find a way out and come back for us. I have a feeling, Adam will be right alongside him."

At this, Kristie sat up, but held Ileeya's hand. "You're very sure of Kirlothenin, aren't you?"

"He promised to protect me and Adorei..." Ileeya's voice trailed off as she contemplated the 'relationship' between her and the blood elf. "He's in love with me."

There was silence for a moment. "I wondered." Kristie tried to gaze at her friend. "I thought I saw it in his eyes when he looked at you. But..." It was her turn to trail off and Ileeya thought she knew what Kristie was thinking.

"...But do I love him?" The druid saw Kristie nod. "I wish I could answer that for myself."

"You're not happy."

Ileeya fell silent. "There was much that had happened between us..."

"Find your happiness, Ileeya, and you'll figure it out."

Ileeya blinked in surprise at this simple statement said with such conviction. Things were too complicated for such a simple solution. She chose not to dwell on it and changed the subject instead. "Do you still have nightmares?"

"Sometimes, but not like before."

They fell silent once more. Kristie lay back down to get some more rest. "Thanks, Ileeya." The night elf smiled sadly and lay down herself.

...

Lord Aron's heart felt like it was about to pound through his chest. He drew in huge gulps of air as his numbing legs continued to run towards Galen's Fall. The gryphon he had rented from Ironforge had been very fast. But it had been so used to landing in Refuge Point, Lord Aron had had to pull back on the reigns with all his strength to get him to fly further northeast.

As Thoradin's Wall came into view, he landed the great bird-beast and dismounted. He wasn't about to let the noble creature be taken by the Horde. He had thanked the animal and told it to fly back to Refuge Point where it would be safe. He had then hefted his backpack full of gold onto his back and taken off towards the gate of the wall where the small Horde settlement of Galen's Fall was situated.

But the distance to the settlement was farther than he had thought. Two dreadguards came out of the nighttime darkness and the nobleman stopped, leaning over and resting his hands on his knees, gulping in huge amounts of needed air. His chest felt constricted from the exertion. He was so focused on just breathing for the moment that he couldn't even react to the sword tips prodding him forward. He finally was able to slow his breathing enough to move forward at the dreadguards demands.

They arrived in the camp where Gavor was waiting with a frown. "I was just about to get on my mount to retrieve your friends. It seems my felguard is going to be disappointed."

Lord Aron begged for some water. After some searching, a glass was brought to him with dirty water in it. After drinking it down with a grimace, Lord Aron was finally able to speak. "I misjudged the distance, Gavor. I thought I had landed closer to the wall than I had."

"No excuses!" He made a signal to the dreadguards. One held him while the other searched for any weapons. Lord Aron realized he hadn't even thought of that. Apparently satisfied, the dreadguards backed off, much to Aron's relief. He didn't like dead hands touching him.

Gavor took the backpack and looked inside. A smile crossed his features. Aron grimaced at the grotesque sight. The forsaken's smile had spread wider than it possibly could on a human. "It's all there, warlock. Now take me back so I can set my friends free!"

The forsaken glanced at him. "And, I'm sure, you want the antidote."

Lord Aron gave him a glare. "Of course! And the bastard better give it to me!" He was good at lying. It was practically par for course to hide one's true feelings on a matter when one was a politician.

The warlock put a blindfold over Lord Aron's eyes once more and helped him onto the proto-drake. The nobleman was exhausted. It was the middle of the night and the ride would take at least an hour and a half if not more, if he judged his distances right, comparing to the amount of time it had taken to get to Menethil Harbor. His biggest concern right now was not to fall asleep on the way there. Once he had returned, hopefully, he'll be able to get everyone out of there. And once everyone was out, they will help him go rescue Adam.

Author's Note: Don't worry. The action picks up next chapter. ;)