Sitara stared the priestess down. They'd been standing there for probably five minutes, just staring. Neither of them blinked.
"Well?" She finally asked, irritated.
"You are to impatient." Tryande sighed.
Sitara gripped Zin Kal tightly, her knuckles turning white. Feeling the urge to cuss out the queen, she just glared.
"Koltira Fireweaver is a Blood Elf, as I'm sure you know. He was part of the very first Horde group to land on Northrend's shores."
"Northrend?" Sitara perked up. Now they were getting somewhere.
"Indeed." Tryande looked at her wisely. "I am blind as to what happened to him. I'm afraid that Northrend was where I last heard of him."
"Is he missing?"
"No, child. But you must not think that I know where every Horde member is."
Sitara frowned. She'd been thinking something very close to that.
Tryande gave out an elegant sigh, her pale eyes suddenly filled with sorrow. "I have seen so many deaths, child. So much hate, betrayal…." She looked into the distance. "So many young ones die."
Sitara raised a blonde eyebrow.
"Child, this path you are heading towards is full of pain and sorrow. Your impatience guides you, drives you. Leave, go back to Azuremyst, I beg of you. You will only gain the feeling of being broken and abandoned if you go the Northrend."
A pregnant silence filled the room. Finally, the young girl said, "I don't believe you."
"Pardon?"
"You're a friend, and so I don't believe you. 'Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty.'" She quoted.
Pure surprise flickered across the Elf's face. "So wise for one so young."
"If you have no other way to help me…"
"Thassarian may know something. He was in the Borean Tundra, from what I last heard."
Sitara smiled inside. "Thank you, priestess."
"Ande'thoras ethil." She answered abruptly.
"And yours as well." Sitara quietly exited.
Tryande Whisperwind sat still for a moment.
"She was a rude child." The Shaman Elf said softly, appearing to come out of nowhere.
"No. That was her defense mechanism. She's like a caged songbird, a beautiful song is trapped inside of her heart, and only the one to set her free will hear it's sweet tones."
"Pray that the person is her father."
"Or someone who could replace him." Tryande agreed.
"Perhaps Thassarian, if Koltira does not accept her?"
"Good wish, Nevarial Darkshadow. I only pray someone will accept her."
"It is in Elune's hands."
II
Heaving a sigh, Sitara lightly stepped off of the boat and walked quickly along the Stormwind Harbor. As soon as they saw her, the guards tightened their grip on their swords and glared at her. Obviously they had heard of her insult to their king. Sitara would be bluntly honest: She cared nothing about how they felt.
How do you think I feel? She silently asked. I'm going through more than all of you.
If any of them heard these silent inquiries, they did not answer. Snorting, she yawned, stretched, and then sat on the dock, waiting for the boat The Kraken to arrive. A few more adventurers arrived, looking excited to be on their way to Northrend. One or two of them looked at her in surprise, but she either glared back or ignored them.
As the boat suddenly pulled into view, just a speck on the distance, Sitara heard 'heys' and 'watch its' coming from behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she made a silent sound of shock as a group of guards approached the dock, their eyes obviously hunting for her.
Damn. Didn't think he'd call the guards on me. Stupid king, maybe next time I'll join a Horde group just to kill him. Sitara dropped to the ground, gathering her cloak around her and crawling into the middle of the crowd of adventurers. Hurry up boat… she thought in a sing-song voice.
Just as the guards converged on the adventurers, the boat arrived, light hearted bells ringing. Sitara made a break for it, slipping in between two dwarves and flying into the boat's cabins. She tossed some coin at the captain, who caught it in shock, as she ran into the closest open room and slammed the door. Immediately deciding the wasn't enough to protect her, Sitara opened the closet and slipped into it, closing the door before burying herself in all of the storage items. She curled into a ball and waited.
The door flew open, and someone crashed around the room before yanking open the closet door. Sitara could keenly sense a foot kicking through the supplies, continuously missing her by mere inches. Soon, however, the man left (she knew it was a man by the heavy steps), and the door slammed.
Cautiously, she opened the closet door, untangling herself from the supplies. "That was much to close." She murmured to herself, curling up into a tight ball on the bed.
Tiredly, she waited for the boat to make port in Valiance.
III
It wasn't actually that long of a boat ride. She napped through most of it, and had a little bit of bread and water before they'd come to a halt at the docks. Yawning, she'd escaped the boat and it's wary crew for even more wary soldiers. Ignoring the odd looks she got; (she was the only child dressed as an adventurer in the place), she spoke to the flight master. Before talking with the innkeeper to set her hearthstone there. It buzzed warmly as soon as the innkeeper cast his spell.
Then, she trotted up the stairs, passed the bedrooms, and seated herself on the balcony. Not noticing the other woman entering the bedroom/balcony, Sitara hummed to herself: "Thassarian, Thassarian, where shall I find you, Thassarian?"
A gasp behind her told her of the unexpected guest. Bristling, she yanked Zin Kal off of her back and spun around, slamming the woman in the stomach with her short staff before twisting it and pressing it against the girls throat, choking her.
"Why were you spying on me?"
"Wasn't…I…help…"
"?" Sitara pressed tighter.
Shakily, the woman raised her hand and pointed at herself.
"Thass…sister!"
Blinking, Sitara released the woman. She collapsed, coughing.
"You're Thassarian's sister?"
"Yes. My name is Leryssa." She answered, light coughs still leaving her mouth.
"Congratulations." Sitara answered.
"Why are you looking for my brother?"
Immediately, Sitara grew defensive. "My reasons and my business are my own. Just by glad that no harm shall come to him from my hand."
Leryssa looked at her for a long moment.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know." Leryssa confessed.
Sitara covered her face with her hand, slowly shaking her head side to side.
"I recently received word from William Allerton, a family friend, that my brother enlisted here in Valiance Keep on the same day he did. Thing is… my brother's been dead for years. I sold everything I owned to come here and look for my brother, only to be stonewalled by local bureaucracy. I've been threatened with arrest if I keep snooping around."
"So you need help."
"Yes."
"Fine."
Leryssa smiled. "You'll help?"
"Not for you, for myself. But yeah, I'll find him alive, or I'll find his corpse."
Leryssa's eyes grew said and her smile dropped. "Guess that's all I can ask."
"I'd say so. In fact, I'd go as far as to say you've asked to much. A little weakling like you has no business here."
Before the girl could respond, Sitara jumped off the balcony and away from the inn.