Chapter 4

"Shaw!" Varian came out of his chair the moment the Leader of the SI-7 entered the room. "I demand an explanation."

Shaw gritted his teeth, "What do you need me to explain?" A stall tactic. He knew exactly what Varian wanted to know. The problem was that the King had figured out his plan for Fox so quickly. Being to obvious was not Shaw's style.

As if to echo Shaw's thoughts, Varian growled out, "The SI-7 agent you sent to fish with me."

"Fox? Is she a problem?"

"She didn't have the first clue about fishing." Varian crossed his arms and looked down at his lead Rogue. "I am pretty sure you were aware of that before you sent her."

"I can see where that would be a problem. We can rectify it." Shaw shrugged. "But to be honest we had hoped Prince Anduin would have gone along with you as well."

Varian shook his head. How had he forgotten about Anduin? No. He would not be swayed by the trickery that was Mathias Shaw. Waving his hand at the man, Varian added, "It's no longer a problem. I have started teaching her myself."

"This is the problem?" The ginger eyebrow rose. So the King had taken enough of a liking to Fox to want to improve her skill. That was fantastic. Good job, Fox. Shaw could not stop the edges of his mouth from turning up. He had known they could count on her in this matter.

"No. Damn it Shaw, that is not the problem." Varian clinched his fists. He did not miss the look of self satisfaction on the other man's face. "If you had to send someone out with me, then tell me, why you chose one of the most attractive females you have under your command?"

Shaw's shoulders jerked with a repressed laugh. A fist came to his mouth and he gave a sharp cough trying to compose himself before his King. "So you find her attractive? I didn't realize that was a punishable offense. I will decommission her immediately."

"Shaw!" Varian gasped at the man's blatant amusement.

"Excuse me, your Majesty, but I do know my name. You do not have to keep shouting it at me." Shaw folded his hands behind his back and rocked to his heels. He felt like a child that had just learned class had been canceled. Varian approved of Fox. Rogers and Taylor would hail him as a hero to all once the news was out. Soon they would be reaping the rewards of his manipulative scheming.

Varian did not know what had the Rogue so amused. He pointed a finger at Shaw to emphasis his point."You can keep playing this game with me, but we both know exactly why you sent her out there. I will have none of it, Shaw. No more interfering in my life. I mean it."

Stunned for a moment that he was misreading the King's reaction, Shaw hesitated before saying, "So, I take it you do not like Fox, and I should recruit someone else to aid you in your outings?"

"No." Varian groaned. He raised a hand to his temple. Why must Shaw always trying to talk him in circles. "I already told you. I am teaching her to fish."

"So you are keeping her, despite the fact she is offensively pretty?" Shaw did his best not to roll his eyes. It would be so much easier if the King would start making sense.

"Of course, I will keep her on. She is pleasant enough and willing to learn. Also she seems ignorant of whatever you had planned." Varian sunk back into his chair. "Just do not try anything like this again, or there will be consequences."

"Very well, I will make sure that from now on I send only the surliest and gruesome of my agents to your aid." Shaw nodded. He turned and walked from the room without being dismissed. In his mind he grouched. Try to help a man out and this is what you get. The good part was Varian had found Fox favorable in more ways then one. It was a start. Although not as swift one as he had hoped.

Fox was blissfully ignorant of everything going on in the upper chain. She lead Besty out of the stables and looked her over. The gryphon was old, but in remarkable condition. Fox intended on keeping her that way. Years of dedicated care had paid off. What Besty needed now was retired to Stormwind. Only to be taken out for special occasions. Fox had been saving gold for quite a while through her leather working and skinning skills. Thanks to the turtles on the Timeless Isles Fox's purse was actually starting to grow for once.

"Fox, are you seriously taking Besty out again?" Amber stopped as she passed by. "You know you could sign out one of the SI-7's birds."

"No. I don't trust them. To many mixed cues. Last time I had one I was almost thrown." Fox lifted her packs onto Besty's back.

"You keep riding Besty and you are going to fall out of the sky anyway. Fox, She is terribly old. She can't possibly last much longer." Amber warned. The worry seeping into her tone.

"She is going to be around for a good bit longer, but I do intend to get her a replacement soon." Fox looked over the saddle and gave Amber a wink. "I am closer to that goal then you would think."

Amber's gaze moved to Varian standing by his gryphon. "Not soon enough. The King might do away with her if she keeps holding him up."

Fox looked over at Varian. Then she went back to work on the saddle straps. "I wouldn't worry about King Wyrnn. So far he hasn't been as bad as the rumors claim."

"Really?" Amber leaned closer to whisper, "I wonder if perhaps it's the company that has him in a better mood. You think he might be interested in you?"

Fox's head lifted over Besty's back with large eyes. "Hush, you! That isn't even a tiny bit funny. Common women, like us, are only good for one thing where the Nobles are concerned, and hardly that for Royals." Tossing a disapproving growl in for good measure, Fox added, "You keep that in mind before sliding yourself up next to any of them. Trust me, it will only lead to trouble."

"Okay, girl, I hear you." Amber put her hands up. "Though a little excitement on these boring fishing trips would do you good."

"I get all the excitement I need in the conversation, Amber." Fox tossed a leg over Besty, and settled herself in the seat. "Please, don't repeat any of this. Rumors. We all know how they spread."

Amber saluted her fellow agent. "I promise none of the Agents will be hearing anything form me. Just going to report back to Shaw that you are being a hundred percent professional in his Majesty's company."

"I am sure he will be glad to hear it." Fox pressed her feet down in the stirrups. "Amber, while you are at it, tell him that if he ever comes across another baby sitting mission, I would be grateful if he finds someone else. Just because I am doing my best out there doesn't mean I want the position permanently."

Amber watched as Besty lifted into the air. Varian's gryphon moved with little effort to catch up. She lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the sun watching the pair soar off.

"So what did she tell you, Amber?"

Amber swung around to face Shaw. "Not much. Fox is being Fox."

"She didn't say anything about King Wrynn?" Shaw pressed. "Not anything we can work with?"

"The short version would be that, Royals will be Royals, and we should avoid them like the plague." Amber crossed her arms over her chest. "If I didn't know any better, Shaw, I would suspect you were trying to match those two up romanticly."

"Romance is for children and morons." Shaw scoffed.

"Good."

"I just want the King to have a lustful diversion for the rest of his stay here. Wait. Let me correct that, the rest of my stay here." Shaw watched Amber's expression go from mollified to furious. "What?"

"You are a horrible person!" Amber shouted. Clamping her mouth shut she looked around to see if anyone had heard her berating her boss. When she was assured no one had noticed she steadied her tone before adding, "You know, I should tell Fox, what you are up to."

"I forbid it, Amber. I am not making either of them do anything." Shaw shot back.

Amber snarled and shook her head.