Outside, the high noon sun shone bright upon the town but, inside the windowless armory, it was dark as night. The sputtering feeble torches were all that filled the dark corners of the hall.
Mariella could hear voices coming from the far end of the corridor where the door to the sergeant's quarters stood open. One of the voices was deep and warm while the other was high and obviously feminine. As Mariella's footsteps grew nearer, the voices ceased.
Feeling slightly intrusive, the guardswoman nearly turned back, but at that moment, someone emerged from the doorway.
It was a woman, dressed in a breathtaking gown of sapphire blue that hugged and accentuated her voluptuous figure almost painfully to Mariella's eyes. Her hair was golden and pinned up in a fancy twist, loose curls framing her exquisite face softly.
In short, she was a beautiful lady. Mariella couldn't help but feel slightly awed by her lavish appearance. After all, Mariella herself was from humble beginnings.
They stood, quietly surveying each other for a long moment before the other woman spoke.
"Williem," she said loudly. Her voice had a drawl to it that Mariella had only ever heard in the upper-class society of Stormwind. "I think your maid is here," she said, smiling nastily at Mariella before sweeping past her.
Mariella stood rooted to the spot, floored by the woman's rudeness. As she passed, leaving a flowery scent in the air and a bitter taste in Mariella's mouth, the guardswoman came to recognize her as Lorraine. She was the sergeant's lady.
There was the scuffing of leather boots against stone and Sergeant Dean appeared in the hall, pulling a shirt down over his head.
Mariella's cheeks grew warm as she glimpsed the hard-cut muscle before it disappeared beneath the worn cloth of his tunic. Somehow, she regained her senses quick enough to remember to salute the sergeant.
He eyed her warily, as if she were some sort of Gnomish time bomb.
"I suppose you're here about your new orders," he said, finally.
Mariella shook her head slowly.
"Actually no, sir, I'm here to-" Mariella blinked at him, his words suddenly registering in her reeling mind. "What new orders, sir?"
"The ones I issued to you this morning. Surely, Greenweld has given them to you by now," he replied, folding his arms and leaning against the doorframe. His hair hung loose again.
"I received nothing from the corporal, sir," Mariella replied truthfully.
After a moment, the sergeant turned and walked back through the doorway, motioning for her to follow. Mariella hesitated, then hurried after him.
The sergeant's quarters were large and roomy but predictably vacant of personal belongings. The only part of the room that really looked lived in was the bed, which appeared to have been only recently vacated. Mariella felt herself blushing again. She could only imagine what sort of activities had taken place in it just prior to her unannounced arrival.
The sergeant rummaged noisily through the drawers of a study desk that stood beneath the only window in the room. The curtains had been drawn shut against the harsh sunlight.
Finally, the sergeant returned to her, a large roll of yellowing paper clutched in his fist.
"What's this?" she asked as he offered it to her.
"A map," he replied. "Of Hillsbrad. You'll need it when you do your escorts for the first couple of rounds," he added when she continued to look puzzled.
"Escorts?" she asked, unable to hide her excitement.
Sergeant Dean nodded, smiling at her for the first time since their last unhappy encounter several weeks ago.
"We have a lot of traffic coming and going from Southshore on a daily basis. Most of them are farmers and miners that leave the town headed for the Fields and Azurelode Mine just for a day's worth of work. Many of their families, and a few themselves, have approached me with a request for an escort to guard them on their daily trips. Due to the increase of risk in venturing outside of the city limits, I've decided it best to grant these people the protection and reassurance they've asked for."
"You mean…?" Mariella trailed off, sounding hopeful.
He merely nodded again, a half-smile still playing at his lips as he spoke.
"Starting tomorrow you and Kennon will be accompanying the farmers, miners, and various travelers to their desired locations. Depending where these are, you will be required to stay with them until they've reached reasonable sanctuary or until they need to return to town."
"Oh, thank you, sir! I swear I'll do my best to protect them! I won't let you down!" Mariella replied earnestly. At last, she had been given a worthy task. But, something wasn't right…
"Sir, are these people truly at high risk? The forces from Tarren Mill hardly ever stray as far east as the Mines."
At this, the sergeant shook his head, rubbing tiredly at his eyes with his thumb and forefinger.
"It isn't the Forsaken that we're guarding them from. Recently, we've had an upsurge of activity in the Syndicate. They've been attacking and pillaging nearly every caravan we send out to the mines and elsewhere."
Mariella nodded.
"I see."
An awkward silence reigned for several moments, in which Mariella became painfully aware of the fact that she was standing so very close to her handsome, un-armored, sergeant in his personal living quarters.
"I, uh-" Mariella stammered, casting around for anything to say to distract herself, and hopefully the sergeant, from her obvious blush. "I best get back to the stables, then, sir."
"You are forthwith relieved of your stable duties," he said. "You do not have to return if you wish."
Mariella blinked, growing panicky as her mind processed the many possible intentions and meanings of the sergeant's reply.
"I- I, um- I do, sir! I really, really like it in the…uh, horse stalls," she stuttered. "Stables! Stables, I meant! I love the stables!" she finished, her voice high-pitched and her cheeks burning bright pink.
Sergeant Dean looked on the verge of laughter.
"I see. I was unaware you were so passionate for your work," he replied playfully, a handsome chuckle escaping his lips.
"Oh, I am, sir! Very passionate! I live to fulfill your commands, ha ha!" Mariella exclaimed, feeling more foolish by the second. "Um, permission to be dismissed, sir?" she asked or rather nearly pleaded.
"Permission granted. Don't overwork yourself in there, soldier," he said, grinning with clear amusement.
"Thank you, sir! Good day, sir!" Mariella squeaked, quickly saluting the sergeant before darting from the room.