Kristie leaned back against Adam's chest, with his arms wrapped comfortably around her waist. She watched Shaw, Maggie, and her father as they all sat at a table. "Mom must be worried," she commented randomly.

"I've sent word that Baros is okay," Mathias said. "She's knows I'm looking after him."

Kristie frowned. She didn't understand why this man was looking after her father like this. Dad had always said that he didn't consider the man a friend. Even Shaw didn't seem to want to admit to a friendship. Yet, here he was when any one of his agents could look after her father including Adam. She crossed her arms in front of her, feeling determined to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

"All right, Dad. Fess up."

Baros raised an eyebrow. "Fess up? Just what am I supposed to confess to?"

She pointed to Mathias Shaw. "Him." The two men looked at each other and Kristie smiled to herself. "Don't you dare say you aren't friends. I can see Shaw getting involved when Marissa threatened us because she also threatened Stormwind. But here? Dad, you're not really in any life-threatening danger."

"Actually, there is a threat if Baros runs off at the mouth like he usually does. There are a number of rogues here who don't appreciate being insulted by him," Mathias interjected.

"Hrumph! I say it like it is!" Baros stood and moved over towards the window, looking out into the night sky.

"No. Your vision is skewed by your prejudice."

"I have good reason to hate rogues, Mathias! You know that better than anyone!"

Kristie couldn't let this comment pass. "That's another thing. You hate rogues and insist they are not trustworthy, yet you trust Shaw."

Mathias sighed and glanced around the room before going to stand next to Maggie. He gave her a look that made Kristie wonder if something more was going on between those two. But she didn't dwell on it. Her main focus right now was Mathias and Baros. "Maggie," Shaw said, "please go stand by the door. Keep an ear out for unwanted guests." She nodded and walked to the closed door as Shaw addressed Baros again. "It's time you told her, Baros. She needs to learn about it sooner or later anyhow."

Her dad sighed and hung his head for just a moment before looking at Kristie. He rolled up his sleeve and showed her his right arm. On the inside between the elbow and wrist was a scar. Kristie glanced up at her father's face in confusion. Mathias had rolled his sleeve up and put his right arm next to Baros' arm. He had a scar in almost the exact same spot.

Kristie both felt and heard Adam gasp behind her. She glanced back to see a look of surprise on his face. A quick look at Maggie told her the other rogue was surprised as well. She turned back to her father and Shaw. "I don't understand."

"A blood-promise." Adam's voice rumbled behind her and she saw Mathias nod.

"What's a blood-promise?"

Shaw rolled his sleeve back down. "An unbreakable promise for a rogue." He moved to sit on a chair as Baros sat down on the bed. Mathias looked at Kristie, Adam, and Maggie. "What we are about to reveal is not to leave this room, understand?"

The three nodded their heads silently and Baros started the tale. "It all started before the riot..."

"Pack up some things and take Kristie to Ironforge, Elenor." I had burst into my home as soon as possible to warn my family.

She immediately stopped what she was doing to face me with concern. "Why? What's happened?"

"Edwin plans to start a riot." I went into the bedroom and pulled out a traveling case for her. I still couldn't believe Edwin had asked me to participate in this. He knows I'm not a violent man.

Following me, she raised an eyebrow. "Edwin? Riot? You're kidding, right?"

"No, Elenor. I'm dead serious. I don't wont you and Kristie anywhere near Stormwind when it happens either! Once you get to Ironforge, look up Gemma Stoneshard. She'll help you find a place if she doesn't offer her own for you to stay."

I left the room, carrying the traveling case and planned to head towards Kristie's room when I froze. Sitting there in my living room was VanCleef, inspecting his dagger. "Going somewhere, Baros?"

I didn't answer right away. I was shocked to see the man in my house without invitation. But when Elenor came up behind me, I shook myself out of my stupor. "Not me. I'm sending Elenor and Kristie away until the riot is over. I don't want them getting hurt."

"Of course not. I wouldn't want to see them hurt either." He tilted his head to look at my wife. "Hello, Elenor."

She nodded her head in response, a confused look on her face. I could understand her confusion. Edwin was our friend. He had even come over for dinner a few times. Vanessa and Kristie used to play together. Yet, despite the man's amiable attitude, there was a hardness in his eyes that we hadn't seen before. "Aren't you sending Vanessa away to safety?"

"Hm? Vanessa? Yes. She'll be safe." He stood up and stepped closer to me. "Need help seeing them off, Baros?"

"Uh, no. Elenor knows where to go."

"You sure?" He moved behind and between us, draping his right arm around my shoulders, and his left arm around Elenor's shoulder's. The dagger he had been inspecting was hanging lazily from his left hand. "I wouldn't want to see anything happen to my dear friends."

I tried hard not to look at the dagger. Edwin wouldn't hurt us, would he? We were friends. He sounded cordial enough, but I couldn't help but feel there was an underlying threat from him. "We'll be fine, Edwin. Thank you for your concern."

The man smiled and stepped away. "There's a meeting tonight. I'll expect you there, Baros."

I nodded. "I'll be there."

"Good. Keep an eye and ear out for anyone who may decide to turn traitor. If we find out that anyone is going to try and warn anyone outside our guild, then we're going to have to ...teach them a lesson." He opened the front door and glanced back at us. "See you tonight."

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding as Elenor turned to look at me with frightened eyes. "Baros. What happened to him? It's like I don't even know him anymore."

"I don't know, Elenor. This whole trouble with the nobles has been hard on everyone. I think it hit him harder. He's furious about not getting paid and seems to think this riot will change their minds."

"Innocent people will get hurt." She began packing the traveling case.

"I know. I know." I put my hand to my temple. I had a feeling this headache was going to last for a few days. "The riot is supposed to happen tomorrow. I'll send word, or come myself after everything has calmed down."

She paused and looked at me with worry. "Why don't you come with us? You don't have to be there, do you?"

"I wish I could. But being part of the leadership of the guild, I'm expected to be there and... you heard Edwin. He made it clear that I'm supposed to participate."

Later that night, I felt my world crash around me. I decided I may as well not have a job. I wasn't sure I was safe in Stormwind anymore. And the man I had once admired and called friend, was trying to force me to be an accomplice to murder!

VanCleef and some of his rogue buddies had decided that at some point during the riot, they were going to attack SI:7 and take out as many of the leadership as they could, including Edwin's former trainer and friend, Mathias Shaw. I realized my position in the guild was a farce. I was there for my skills only and was expected to do as I was told.

After the meeting, VanCleef insisted that I stay at his place for the night. "After all, you don't have anyone waiting for you at home." By now, I knew it was just an excuse. I knew Edwin didn't trust me. And I didn't trust him anymore either.

The crowds in front of the Keep were growing more and more restless the next day. I watched in awe as Edwin and his buddies whispered and encouraged more and more restlessness among them. I pretended to participate, fearing what Edwin would do if I did nothing. The riot wasn't supposed to start until later that day. Despite my fears, however, I had decided that I had to quietly warn someone, but who? And how?

A break came when a patrol of Stormwind Calvary came riding through, separating me from Edwin and company. VanCleef immediately began stirring up trouble with them and had temporarily forgotten about me. I quickly slipped away and made my way into the Dwarven District. I had to stop and make sure I wasn't being followed.

I hadn't really known fear until that day. I didn't like it at all. I feared for my own safety. But more importantly, I feared for my family. After making sure I wasn't followed, I turned and carefully made my way into Old Town. I couldn't go into the Keep. There were too many Stonemason's Guild members there who would recognize me.

I put my cloak's hood over my head in hopes of hiding my face and entered the SI:7 building. After a minute of just trying to sulk in a corner and not be noticed, I realized that I was actually standing out by doing such a thing there. So, I approached one of the agents and told him that it was imperative that I speak with someone in charge right away- preferably Mathias Shaw.

The rogue ignored me. The agents were all busy just trying to keep up with helping the Stormwind Guard maintain peace among the growing crowds in the streets. I finally had decided to make my way upstairs in search of help. After I reached the top of the stairs, I heard a scuffle and thud behind me.

On the floor lay one of Edwin's right-hand rogues in a pool of his own blood. Mathias Shaw was standing over him, cleaning off his short sword. "If I had arrived a second later, you'd be dead now, Mr. Alexston." He put his sword away and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now tell me why this man would risk coming in here of all places to kill you?"

I babbled out as much as I could about the riot and the impending attack on the SI:7 building. When I was done, Shaw instructed a goblin named Rinzik to take me to a safe place and watch over me. I didn't know what had happened after that. It wasn't until much later, when Shaw returned with a man named Count Erlgadin that I had found out about Queen Tiffin's death along with how VanCleef and my former guild had been run out of Stormwind.

The whole time I had been waiting there, I had thought about how my life had been turned upside down all because of Edwin VanCleef. I realized with dismay that the man had put his own desires above even what was best for his guild. But he had convinced his guild that what they wanted was what he wanted. He was a smooth talker and excelled in his rogue abilities.

That was when I had made a vow never to befriend a rogue again. They just couldn't be trusted.

But there was more to worry about right now. "Baros Alexston," the Count said. "On behalf of the House of Nobles, I want to thank you for your effort in trying to stop the riot. I only wish more could have been done."

I said nothing in response. I hadn't been able to stop the riot. I'd only been able to maybe save SI:7...maybe. Who knows. Maybe they would have survived without my warning. And then I'd have put my life in jeopardy for nothing.

"I know this seems like bad timing, Mr. Alexston, but we'd like to offer you the job of City Architect of Stormwind." I knew that had been Edwin's job until today. "We're well aware of your skills and both the House of Nobles and the citizens of Stormwind look upon you with respect. We need to fix the damages that have been done and put this ugly event in our history behind us quickly. And we need you to do it. You already know these walls and buildings. There's no better person for the job. Will you accept?"

I gave him a look of disbelief. "No. I'm sorry. But VanCleef is still out there. Right now, there's probably still doubt about my involvement in this. But if I accept that position, I might as well paint a red and white target on my back and walk right into the middle of wherever he went to. I have a family to think about, Count. I can't accept this position. I'm sorry." I stood up and moved away, trying to think about what I could do now. Maybe I'll apply for a job in Ironforge with the Royal Stonecutter's Union there.

"Mr. Alexston, would you reconsider?" It was Shaw speaking now. "Count Erlgadin is right. What Stormwind really needs right now is stability and a return to normalcy. We can't show any weakness to our enemies who would use this as an opportunity to weaken us further and try to defeat us. Do you really want that on your conscience? Don't you have any love for your city?"

My eyes snapped in Shaw's direction. "Don't you have any family, Shaw? No? Well, I do! And I have to think about them first! I am not willing to risk their lives for this job! There are other skilled architects and engineers. Talk to them."

"Most of them left with VanCleef, Mr. Alexston. And of those that remain, we don't trust...except you. Because you tried to help us." Mathias looked me in the eyes. "If you're concerned about VanCleef, I promise to have my agents protect you and your family."

"What good is the promise of a rogue!" My temper flared at full force. "VanCleef was my friend! He betrayed me. He betrayed my family. He betrayed my homeland! Dammit, he was your friend, too, and look what he had planned for you! And he was a rogue!"

"Not all rogues are-"

"You're a rogue! You expect me to believe you? It's not your life and family on the line!" I could hear the silence as Mathias Shaw regarded me with a cool stare.

"Mr. Alexston, if VanCleef was not a concern, if you were not fearful for your and your family's life, would you take the job?"

I had to pause and calm my temper before replying. "Yes."

Shaw looked at the noble and asked him to please step out until further notice. Once he was gone, Shaw turned back to me. "Mr. Alexston, there is a special promise written in the rogue's unspoken code of ethics. Yes, we have a code of ethics. Yes, it's known only to rogues...until now.

"This promise is called a blood-promise, and it's more than just making a vow. When a rogue makes a blood-promise, he mixes his blood with whomever he is making the vow to, making them blood-brothers. And it's not just in name. They literally become family. The bond is there to make sure that the vow is not broken. If it ever gets broken, the one who broke the promise will have basically committed suicide because he will be a target from any and all rogues who find out about his broken promise."

I considered his words, and knew what the man was possibly offering. "You would make such a promise?"

"If it's the only way for you to trust me. I don't say this lightly, Mr. Alexston. I don't particularly care for binding myself to you and your family. But I fully believe that Stormwind needs you. And if I'm to make a promise to you, I must elicit one from you as well."

"What promise do you want from me?" I asked cautiously.

"There are two parts to this promise. The first is that you promise to keep your word to accept the job of City Architect and always do it to the best of your ability-"

"What kind of man do you take me for? There's no point in doing a half-ass job-"

"And you will not betray our trust, like your predecessor did."

"Is that all?"

"No. The second part of your promise is to never tell anyone about this blood-promise, other than your family at your discretion. And they may not tell anyone about it either. This is for your own safety as well as mine. I have many enemies who would love to find a chink in my armor...a weak spot. And if I make this blood-promise, you and your family would become just that for me."

I thought this over for a few minutes. It sounded like it might be something I could trust. But there was still the matter of my family's safety. "If I'm to put my neck on the line, then I expect the same from you, Shaw! In exchange for accepting this job I expect full protection from you and SI:7! This protection would be for not only me, but my wife, daughter, and any future family there might be!"

Mathias glanced at the goblin in the room who had obviously stayed to be a witness to this promise. "Baros, I can make this promise without the need for bloodflow and additional risk to you and your family."

I stood my ground. "I'm afraid it's the only way I will trust your promise."

"Then so be it." Shaw motioned to Rinzik who began to clean one of his daggers. "We use his dagger since he is the witness to the blood-promise. Roll up your sleeve."

I did as I was asked and saw that Mathias did the same thing. Once both arms were bare, the goblin placed the dagger against my arm and Mathias grasped my arm just below the elbow, with me grasping Mathias' arm as well. The blade of the dagger sat between our arms. We each repeated our promises, looking each other in the eyes. Rinzik pulled the blade down fast cutting the skin of both of our arms. The cuts came together and Rinzik put a hand on the sides of our arms, pressing them together to make sure our blood mingled inside each other.

"It is done." Those were the first and only words the goblin had spoken in the meeting.

Mathias handed me a handkerchief to clean up the excess blood and to use as a temporary bandage. Once the evidence of the promise was cleaned up, Count Erlgadin was asked back into the room. "Sir," Shaw addressed him, "Mr. Alexston has graciously accepted your offer."

When Baros finished telling his story, Mathias spoke up. "So, Miss Alexston ...Kristie, by the laws of this blood-promise, you could technically call me uncle. Though, please don't for security's sake."

Kristie was still taking things in. She had never realized the risks her father had taken for her and her mom. "There's been agents watching us ever since?"

"Well, up until VanCleef's death. After that, the high security wasn't needed. Since then, I just had some agents patrol the area occasionally."

Kristie said nothing more. Instead, she went up to her father and gave him a hug. Then she turned to Shaw and gave him a hug as well before returning to Adam's side.

Adam put on a grin as he wrapped his arms around Kristie, and looked at Shaw. "Does this mean that after Kristie and I are married, I get to call you Uncle Matty?"

Shaw narrowed his eyes and glanced at Maggie with an unspoken command. Obligingly, she moved and cuffed Adam on the back of the head. "Ow. I'll take that as a no."

…

There was a pounding on the door. "Adam?" Amy's voice was muffled by the door. Maggie opened the door and the child rushed in scared and babbling. "I tried to help, I wasn't sure- and then he threw up and fell down, and I didn't know- I just- I came here- He's sick! Really, really sick!"

Kristie held Amy by the shoulders and forced her to look at her. "Who's sick, Amy?"

The girl turned to Adam. "Your dad!"

Adam and Maggie took off as Kristie glanced at her father, asking him with just her eyes to take care of Amy. Without a word, Baros gathered the child in his arms. And Kristie left to get Dormir.

As soon as the druid answered his door, Kristie explained what had happened. She had originally thought to get Ileeya, but decided to ask her help as a last resort. The younger druid needed her rest. As Dormir went to Lord Aron's room, Kristie stopped by her father's room to ask Amy how long Aron had been sick. "About an hour, I think."

When she entered the noble's room, she could smell the foul stench of vomit. Dormir was kneeling on the floor over a prone Lord Aron, whispering some sort of spell. Adam was kneeling at Lord Aron's head, wiping his brow with his bare hand. Kristie quickly went to the bed and pulled the sheet off, tearing a strip from it and handing it to Adam. She threw the rest of the sheet over the vomit on the floor to stave off the smell for now.

Lord Aron was sweating and shaking profusely; his skin, pale and clammy. Kristie almost didn't recognize the proud noble. Her heart went out to him. He had risked a lot to free her and Amy. Whatever his past, she didn't want to see him die. She had to swallow before she could speak. "What happened?"

Adam glanced up at her, worry clearly etched in his features. "Dormir says there's poison in his system."

Kristie's hazel eyes grew wide. "How? The only thing he ingested was food from here- wait." She stopped to recall the dinner they had eaten. Lord Aron had been sitting on the other side of Amy and Kristie recalled that he hadn't touched anything on his plate. She hadn't thought much of it then. "He didn't eat here."

She glanced around the room. "He didn't touch his dinner. He couldn't have ingested poison from here."

Maggie moved closer to examine Lord Aron. "Adam, look for any cuts or needle marks." The two rogues went over his whole body. Kristie politely turned away when Maggie checked the more private areas. As usual, it didn't phase Maggie. They found nothing, however.

"Did he eat any berries or anything while you all were traveling?" Maggie looked up at Kristie.

"No. We didn't see anything. We were attacked by some Syndicate members, but none of them got near Lord Aron." She thought back farther. "The last time he ate was on the island with the Hillsbrad refugees."

Adam shook his head. "I don't see any reason for them to poison him. Kirlothenin, yes. But not Lord Aron who promised to bring their plight to the attention of the House of Nobles."

Kristie thought back then to their escape. "I can't think of anything-" Then she recalled the poison Lord Aron had drank. But he drank the antidote, didn't he? "The poison that Jerold gave him? If the forsaken hadn't given him the antidote then...wait...he would have had symptoms or been dead long before this. Jerold had said it took only twenty hours."

"Sha- shaman." Lord Aron opened his eyes. It was hard for him to speak because of the shaking he was doing. "Purged." He swallowed and tried again. "Sha-a-man p-p-purged it. I-Iron-forge."

Adam narrowed his eyes in concentration. "Shaman purged it. A shaman purged the poison in Ironforge?" Lord Aron's head bobbed up and down.

"Then...wait." Kristie was beginning to realize what had happened. "The antidote! Did you drink the antidote?" Again, his head bobbed up and down. Kristie looked at Adam and Maggie. "Are there poison antidotes that are poisonous themselves?" If anyone knew about poisons, it was a rogue.

Maggie nodded her head. "Sometimes, but usually are not as potent."

Lord Aron winced and rolled to his side so fast, Maggie barely had time to jump out of the way before he vomited again. What came out was a greenish sludge-like substance.

Dormir sighed and sat back, a sheen of perspiration on his brow. "The poison is removed now. If he survives the rest of tonight, then he will live. My healing spells have nourished his body, but it is up to his own body's natural process and will to live if he is to survive. The poison had ransacked most of his body. It was almost too late..."

It was decided that Maggie, Adam, Kristie, and Dormir would take turns staying up and watching Lord Aron to make sure he was okay. The noble was moved to a different room so Ravenholdt's servants could clean the old room. Adam slept in the room with him ...when he slept, that is.

Author's Note:

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.
But in the morning, beware the morning, the lion wakes at light.

In other words... Nah. I'll let you guess. :D