Chapter 2

Alyna ran. Her green tunic and pants were loose fitting, and allowed her the freedom of movement she required. She definitely preferred them over the brightly-coloured gowns she was expected to wear most of the time. She let her feet carry her to the teleportation orbs in Sunfury Spire. The guards recognised her, and let her pass without being questioned, though they did give her attire a strange look.

She teleported to Quel'Danas, and kept running, her burgundy ponytail bouncing behind her and her bow in her hand. By the time she got to the Magister's Terrace her tunic was sticking to her back courtesy of her sweat. As she bounded up the ramp, she made to dart through the entryway, until a long spear haft blocked her way.

"Magisters only young la—" He stopped before squinting at her panting, sweaty green form. "Young Lady Salonar! I'm sorry, I didn't recognise you."

"I'm here to see my grandfather," she managed to get out.

The guard shook his head. "He left about an hour ago, with your father in fact."

Alyna felt a lump form in her stomach. The guard wouldn't know where they had gone, so she didn't bother asking. She thanked him, and started walking back down the ramp. She broke into a light trot as she started heading back towards the teleportation orb. If they had gone to the Council Chambers she would never be able to get the signature. Her only hope was if they had gone home. Her grandfather didn't live with them, but he did spend more time at her home than they did at his, so she gambled. She was going home.

By the time she made it home, she was red-faced and panting. An hour had already passed since she left her interview, and she was very keenly aware of the passage of time. She stumbled through the foyer of the large manor house, and stopped. Her sensitive ears flicked as she actively listened to the sounds in the home, and relief flooded her body as she heard two familiar male voices. She made her way through the corridors of her childhood home towards the back house where a large room with sofas, arm chairs and large windows facing south was situated.

As she entered the room, both men stopped their conversation and turned to her. Her father was a younger version of her grandfather, and slightly taller. Her grandfather, Grand Magister Belo'vir Salonar, had dark burgundy hair like her own that was streaked with grey. His robes were grander, as befitting his status. But the main stark difference between them, were their eyes. Her grandfather's eyes twinkled and smiled at her, while her father's were hard and disapproving.

"What, by the Sunwell, are you wearing, child? And what is that in your hand?" demanded her father.

She looked down at her bow. Her father scared her when he was angry, and she had to fight her instinct to run to her room. "It's a bow, Father. I … went to the Farstrider compound. They're recruiting."

"A bow? How would you know how to use such a thing?" He stepped forward, eyeing her closely.

She held the bow to her chest, replying defensively. "I can use it! I even made it!"

He shook his head. "What nonsense. Well, now you're home you can go clean up and change out of those rags." He turned to rejoin his father.

"They want to recruit me, Father. Please, I really want to be a Farstrider." Slowly, he turned to stare at her in disbelief. She held out the worn flyer. "If you sign it, I can go with them."

For a few moments, he was speechless. She glanced at her grandfather, but his features were carefully neutral. When she looked back at her father, he erupted.

"You went behind my back and tried to sign up to the Farstriders? What on Azeroth were you thinking, child?!"

"What am I supposed to do, Father? I cannot study magic and you won't let me take any kind of job to even pass the time! The rangers would give me a home and a purpose, and I can help the quel'dorei in my own way!"

Her father's face turned red with rage. He moved forward and grabbed the bow out of her hand before she could pull it away. With a furious grunt, he snapped the weapon over his knee as Alyna stared, open mouthed. Her grandfather finally reacted by shouting, "Athanos! No!"

Athanos whirled on his father and shook the two bits of the bow. "No child of mine will be running around the forests like some peasant!"

"That's utter nonsense, Athanos! The Farstriders are certainly not peasants, and have honourably defended Quel'Thalas for generations. They're extremely talented at what they do."

Alyna felt herself sink numbly into a chair as her father gestured at her. "Talent she lacks. Farstriders are as much bred as magisters are."

Belo'vir also gestured at his granddaughter. "Young Alyna said she has been accepted by them. They don't just take anyone. Sunwell knows Lady Lansor was in bits yesterday because her son was rejected, and he was winning competitions with his archery and combat skills."

Her father snorted his disgust. "That ranger is clearly clueless then if the Lansor boy is not a good candidate but Alyna is."

Her grandfather sighed. "Captain Windrunner knows what she is doing, I'm sure."

"Alleria?" Alonso asked, confused. "She has more sense than to accept Alyna into the Academy."

Belo'vir shook his head. "I believe it is Sylvanas, the younger sister, who is running the next Academy."

"Well, that explains it then," groaned her father. "She doesn't exactly have a reputation for doing what is expected of her."

"To exceptional results, Athanos. That is why she has advanced as rapidly as she has." Belo'vir raised a hand and placed it on his son's shoulder. "Don't you think it is worth considering that if the most talented ranger of our time thinks your daughter has potential, that you should let her pursue this path?"

The hand was shrugged off. "No! We are magisters, Father! She will disgrace our bloodline and I will not have it."

Belo'vir gestured between the two of them. "We are magisters, Athanos. Alyna has no affinity." He sighed. "It is time you accepted that. She is too old for that to change. She has to do something with her life, and this is a worthy path."

Alyna felt tears slide down her cheeks, and she brushed them away. She was desperately hoping her grandfather could talk some sense into her father. And soon. Time was running out.

Athanos threw his hands in the air. "And what of her betrothal agreement? They will surely pull out of the contract if she chooses such a career."

Her grandfather brushed away the argument. "That is already looking like it will collapse because of her lack of magic. At least this way, you'll be able to find her a suitable husband within the Farstrider community. It would make our family look more inclusive."

"It will pollute our blood," snapped her father.

"How in the Sunwell did you get such ridiculous notions? I certainly never taught them to you." Belo'vir gave his son a troubled look.

Alyna cleared her throat, starting to get very nervous about the amount of time this was taking. "Grandfather, if I'm to report to the Captain, I need to go quickly."

Belo'vir glared at his son. "Are you going to sign it, Athanos?"

"No," came the firm reply.

The elder Salonar sighed as he gave Alyna an apologetic look. She blurted out, "You can sign it, Grandfather. If … you … wanted to." She looked, and sounded, desperate. But he was her last chance.

"Father … don't you dare," came the low, angry tone from her father. "She's my daughter."

Belo'vir walked over to the sideboard and retrieved a gold candle from the top drawer. He placed it on the table before Alyna and lit it with a gesture of his hand. He looked back at Athanos. "And you are my son. I did not raise you to stand in the way of my granddaughter's happiness. As head of this family, I have every right to intercede." He turned to look down at Alyna. "The form?"

She looked down at the flyer she had continued to hold the entire time. She flattened it out on the table, though the creases were generally beyond help now. Belo'vir dripped gold wax into a small pile in the bottom corner, and pressed a ring he was wearing into it. When he removed it, his unique seal was imprinted neatly into the wax.

Alyna was ecstatic.

Athanos was furious.

"Alyna Salonar! If you leave this house, do not expect to be welcome should you ever return!"

She looked up at her father. In that moment, she felt a small amount of sorrow for him. She couldn't fathom why he was so bitter, but she needed to leave. She knew that fact as deeply as she knew the rangers were where she belonged.

"I'm sorry, Father. I have to go."

Athanos swore, and left the room.

She looked up at her grandfather. He had a troubled look on his face as he watched his son leave, but he broke into a grin when he looked back at her.

He fondly put a hand on her burgundy head. "Go, follow your dreams, Alyna."

She stood and wrapped her arms around him. She cried into his shoulder in gratitude, and he held her tightly. She managed to say, "I won't let you down, Gran'pa." She only used the familiar term for him in private, but she knew he loved the informality they shared.

"I know you won't, precious. Now, you need to go hand that in. And don't forget to write, okay? I want to know what adventures my favourite granddaughter is getting up to."

She nodded, and gave him a kiss on his cheek. She grabbed the flyer, and ran upstairs to grab her bag. She had packed it yesterday in hope this chance would be given to her. Within minutes, she ran out the door and headed towards the compound at a full sprint.

She gasped for air as she charged through the gates, and skidded to a halt. The archery range was empty. Swallowing her panic, her legs burning with fatigue, she ran to the building she was interviewed in and knocked on the door.

No one answered.

Her panic started to rise again, and her breathing quickened but not due to her run. They had to be here. They just had to be!

The stables! She turned and ran down a path that led to the back of the compound. Finally, she could hear voices laughing and talking. She flew into the stables, and to her great relief, she saw faces she knew had been waiting with her earlier in the day mixed in with about a dozen others. Ignoring the strange looks and demeaning comments at her appearance, she looked for the captain.

"Looks like you made it," came the confident, smooth words of the woman who was about to not just make her day, but make her life.

"I g-got it!" She breathlessly stammered, holding out the heavily creased and abused flyer.

The captain took it, and looked at the signature. She raised an eyebrow at the seal of the grand magister, and then looked Alyna up and down with an appraising eye. With a slight smile, she looked over her shoulder and called to a stable boy. "Saddle up another horse, Halvar."

"Yes, Captain!" came the reply.

Sylvanas turned back to Alyna, and gave her a beaming smile that made Alyna's stomach flip with emotion. "You can ride, can't you?"

"Yes, Captain!" She almost shouted, unable to contain her happiness and excitement.

With an amused twinkle in her eye, Sylvanas gestured at the horse being led towards them. "Saddle up then, Alyna Salonar. You're in for the ride of your life."