World of Warcraft®

Packing her bags had been simple, the wilderness was no stranger to her. She took necessities and nothing more, traveling light and ready for action. The trip was not something she enjoyed. The company of Trent and that rogue he had with him was a damper on her spirit. She had to consider however if she really wanted him.

He had been almost cruel in his approach. His hands grabbed her with a grip that left bruises. Was that what she wanted? She was in too deep now to back away. Besides the gold was good. She would find entertainment from someone else.

The Hinterlands was green and had many wild creatures to hunt. She could not take time to hunt however, she was after bigger game. Bringing up the rear of their little procession she kept a sharp eye out for those who might follow. Nothing had caught her eyes and she rode with confidence they had not been followed from Silvermoon.

Trent had threatened her with his eyes, his hands had been rough with her as he explained he did not tolerate dissension or betrayal. She had merely tried to reassure him she was loyal. It seemed he trusted no one.

Her eyes narrowed as she rode behind them. If he did not trust anyone, she highly doubted he could be trusted himself. She would have to be on her toes if she would survive this and profit. The smile crossing her lips was not seen as he ignored her.

Elre ensconced herself in a corner of the small tavern, boots propped up on the table as she considered the broken vial in her hand. Thoughtfully, "What were you doing playing with this Jon..." She shook her head a bit and slumped down, her head tilted back against the chair and her eyes mostly closed as she thought, one foot lightly tapping in time to the beat of a song only she could hear.

The tiny flames atop the triad of candelabra tips stood like statues, steadily melting the wax beneath their familiar glow. The airflow in the elaborate cellar was desperately lacking, but this failed to phase the slight elf-woman sprawled upon a red velvet divan in the corner of the room. A simple robe of the finest ebony embersilk draped loosely about her body as she bit the tip of thumb ever so lightly, laying there seeming to pose for an artist of the highest caliber.

This, though, was far from an aesthetic scenario despite Auraelith's personal fascination with it all. Her head cocked slightly as she regarded the candles framing the grotesquely exquisite dungeon, the wax rolling down like droplets of snow-white blood. Her heart thundered despite her outward composure when there was a light knock upon the chamber's fel iron door, two stunning elf beauties, clad in clingy blood-red dresses silently entering to tidy the room. Aura's eyes drank in each one, scrutinizing every movement, every misstep, every breath. Within minutes they succeeded in returning the chamber to it's picturesque state, save for the expertly weaved oriental rug directly in front of Aura.

Three fully-armored men, their garb and tabards revealing them to be among Silvermoon's finest knights, stepped into the room once the maids posed like mannequins on either side of the door they had entered, signaling that their role had been fulfilled. Two of the men tended to the refuse upon the rug and exited, the third removed his right gauntlet and, taking a knee before the enigmatic mistress, outstretched his free hand. His eyes locked unsteadily with her own as she slid the rolled parchment from his grasp, a wicked grin finally breaking her peculiar trance.

The letter unfurled, her gaze shifting to read it thoroughly though her grin ceased to fade, only widening as she absorbed every word, every implication.

“He'll expect compensation for these feasts and he knows I'll provide. But see to it that he receives word that the first feast was a bit dull for my taste. I expect a bit of kick for the coming night's spread.” She paused briefly, inhaling through her nose as she lifted her eyes from the letter back to the knight in silent anticipation. She had forgotten how much she adored making someone squirm.

“Wrap this up.” The wave of a petite porcelain hand dismissed the remaining knight and one of the maids who had remained within the room. Beckoning the second maid to her side, she savored the thought of this renewed freedom Trenetir had so graciously offered her. It was fun- pure, unadulterated fun- to be so trusted by one so treacherous. For the first time in decades, Auraelith not only felt satisfied, but ached for more. Boredom had fathered a beast within the shards that formed her soul.

“Be sure he knows I await his next delivery and that when he returns, I expect him to dine with me.”

He sat in the corner of the tavern, a hood drawn low over his bright emerald gaze. Not usually a man of subtlety his patience was tried with each passing moment. A wave of anticipation creeped through him as he spotted Elre. He could not hide his grin but it would go unseen, thanks to the shadow of his hood. He seemed to slither back into the corner, melding with the wall.

A quick inclination of his head would mark the target: Elre.

The sight of Trent in his corner made Lindi smile, though she was hidden from view of the other Night elf in the room. Her disguise was perfect, the troll had outdone himself. She had not asked who this disguise was made from, though she had a feeling it would not be a surprise to the bartender to see her there.

She casually made her way to the door and came out of the Shadows as if she had just entered the room. Her eyes took in the quiet scene and she made her way to the bar. "Dwarven ale please." she said softly. Her eyes warm and inviting to the dwarf behind the counter.

He hurried to pour a mug for her, smiling as she dropped a few silver on the bar. "Heya, I thank ye fer the business." he went back to polishing glasses.

Lindi picked up the mug and took a long swig. Glancing at the other Night elf in the bar she sauntered over. "Greetings, sister. Long ways from home?" her silver eyes examining the silverhaired elf.

Without showing any signs of surprise, Elre opened her eyes to glance up at the other woman. She watched her for a long moment, before inclining her head in greeting. "Greetings." She glanced around the tavern as the broken vial discreetly disappeared. "I would think that depends on your definition of 'home'. I live not too far from here." She shifts a bit to kick a chair out towards the elf in invitation, before replacing her feet on the edge of the table. She examined the other woman curiously.

"What brings you out to this little patch of paradise little sister?" She raises an eyebrow. "Seems a bit odd to find a fellow Kal'Dorei so far out of the way of any of the capital cities."

A soft chuckle escapes her lips as she looks at the chair. "I am on my way home to tell the truth, I just stopped for a quick bit of liquid. It's a long ways to go. Can I get you a drink? I hate to come to a table empty handed."

Her eyes swept the room, "Kind of quiet here, guess they don't get much business this far out of the way. What will you have? Ale? Bourbon?"she drained her mug so she had an excuse to go back to the bar anyway.

"On your way home? From where?" She waves a hand at the door. "Not much out there except Trolls and the Forsaken once you get to the plaguelands." She wrinkles her nose a tiny bit. "And our cousins of course." She considers the other woman for a quiet moment, before shrugging. "Just tea for me I'm afraid. Go ahead and put the drinks on my tab."

She followed the woman's glance and smiles faintly. "The dwarves from the Keep come down here when they're off duty. Other then that they don't get many customers."

He drank in the scene, straining his ears as he attempted to listen to the conversations above the usual din of the taproom. He leaned back in his seat, could it be so simple? HE remembered the adage about chickens and quickly dismissed them.

The figure in the corner drew forth a folio from which he began to read. Patience, it was a virtue he lacked, but would need in force this night. A hand brought his glass to his lip, sipping the wine.

Lindi smiled and went back to the bar, setting her mug down for a refill and ordering a tea for Elre. Handing the dwarf a gold piece and shrugging, "Sorry nothing smaller, and I need the change." he chuckled and went to his cash drawer to get change after he set the tea down on the counter.

With her back to the table and the tea in front of her if took only a second for Lindi to slip the potion into the tea from the vial in her cuff. She took her change and made her way back to the table. "I was mining for some iron here in the Northern part of the Kingdoms, a lot of it here. My treat, I needed to get some change anyway."

Lindi set the tea down in front of Elre and sat in the chair. Looking over at the bartender she called out to him, "Got any food? Some rabbit stew would be good..."

He grumbled about needing to stir a pot and went in back to make the stew. Lindi waited for the elf to begin sipping the drugged tea. Her mug of ale in hand as she smiled at the other elf. "You live around here? What kind of work do you do?" making pleasant conversation.

She watches the other woman wander over to the bar, her eyes thoughtful. She flicks her braid out of the way and finally sits up when the woman comes back with two mugs. "Can't say I noticed. I'm more of an alchemist then anything." She takes the cup between two hands as she watches the other woman.

Suddenly, "What's your name exactly?" She smiles. "Seems rude to let someone buy me a drink without at least knowing who to thank." She flicks a glance at the dwarf and leans in to the other woman. "You don't want to eat here, trust me. Worst food I've ever tasted, next to trail rations." She settles back again, and shrugs casually.

"I live up near the Peak, most of the time. Tend to move about a lot." She lifts the tea to inhale as she watches the other woman. "What do I do?" She chuckles. "A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Whatever brings in the money."

Lindi tilts her head, embarrassed, "I am sorry, it's Brae, I will take your advice. But I do hope to find something better than trail rations, getting tired of those!" she giggles softly. The false name coming to her mouth easily. She has done this before, never know who might be listening. Leaving a false trail is always smart.

Lindi sips her ale and sniffs the air, "If that is rabbit stew he is cooking...it smells like skunk...maybe you are right!" her eyes sparkle a bit, the silver seems to be tinted an odd shade of pale green. She does not notice however as the drug should be taking effect soon.

"Drink up and we will sneak out of here. I know I can find rabbit out in these woods." she leans forward to wink at Elre. Hoping the elf will drink the tea and leave with her before the dwarf comes back from the kitchen.

The conversations wafted over him, like the stench of the sour meat that perpetuated the old building. That familiar stench of fire, bad meat, sweat, and Fel knew what else.

Time stood still. Her lips were upon the cup and then it was no longer. The same lips which had defamed him, declared against him and nearly ruined him. Satisfaction took ages, years at times to be achieved, but it was always worth the wait.

His mind wandered...

A dark cell

The emptiness

The sound of the door closing.

The sound of the door closing rang out like a clarion. A dwarf huffed and puffed as he entered the tavern. By the looks of him he was a Wildhammer. With no regard for the other patrons he slapped down a handful of coins and called for an ale.

Trenetir's gaze, while disturbed by the appearance of the dwarf, quickly turned back to the pair of night elves.

Elre inclines her head. "A pleasure to meet you Brae. I'm Elre." She raises an eyebrow at the giggle, before smiling faintly. "At least they don't taste like boiled boot leather. I've had the rations that orcs are expected to eat, and..." She shudders theatrically. "Let's just say it wasn't pleasant."

She laughs at the comment. "That's not the stew, that's the proprietor you're smelling I'm afraid." Her gaze sharpens suddenly and she watches Brae intently, before shaking her head a bit. "I'm afraid rabbit's scarce around here. Ghost and her menagerie have a fondness for hunting rabbit. I do, however, know an excellent fishing hole." She drains the tea and stands up. "Shall we?"

Standing and flashing a smile, Linde drained her own mug and started for the door. "I agree, fish is better anyway." she made sure to follow close behind the elf in case the drug took hold before they made it to the door. She gave not more than a superficial glance to the wildhammer dwarf. As Elre made her way to the door she nodded subtly to Trent.

The sooner they were out of the building the better she would feel. Her hands itching to grab her dagger should either the dwarf or the elf suspect anything. She had never been so nervous, but she did not show it in the slightest.

The dwarf made no motion to them other than a curious shrug. He was more interested in his ale. The bartender came out of the kitchen and had a bowl in hand. "Here's yer stew...where ya goin'?" Lindi froze.

"Give it to him, I am sure he will enjoy it.." she grinned. "I decided I wanted fish." casually urging Elre out the door before the bartender could protest further.

She frowns a bit as Brae gets in her personal space and speeds up a bit to get some distance between the two of them. "I'll have to swing by the keep for my fishing gear. Shouldn't take much time." Her eyes blurred for an instant and she paused just outside the door to shake her head clear, her frown deepening.

She glances back at Brae, her eyes suspicious as she staggers. "The fel did you put in that tea." She turns, staggering backwards as she fumbles out a knife, her eyes glazing over even as she does so. With a soft curse in Darnassian, she falls to her knees, and then slumps over, the drug taking effect.

Before Elre can hit the ground Lindi wraps an arm around her and drags her further from the door, looking for Trent. Not that she could not lift the elf, but not sure if he had transport ready to get them out of there. Behind some bushes she pauses. They are out of sight of the door in case the dwarf or anyone else comes along.

Using her ropes she binds Elre's hands and feet, and wrapping her in a blanket, gets ready to sling the unconscious elf onto the saddle of her horse. The animal stamps nervously and Lindi holds his head to calm him. "Where are you, Trent?" she whispers softly. She cannot lift the elf by herself and calm the animal. Noise is not needed right now.

He couldn't very well follow them out the front door. With a nod to the bartender he slipped through the kitchen and out the back, he was always surprised to see what gold could buy a stranger, apparently a great deal in this case.

A low rumbling racket can be heard coming from around the back of the tavern. Trenetir sits atop a wagon that appears to be filled to the brim with boxes of spices, flours, and linen. "Just back here." Beneath the cloak he flashed a quick smile to Lindi, "Check her pockets first, anything identifying needs saved for the other."

In the darkness they would load Elre in the back of the wagon, her form hidden by the supplies. "How long will that last?" He asked of the drug.

Glad to see he had thought of a good way to transport the now helpless elf, Lindi helped him load her into the wagon. Not totally heartless, she arranged the form so it was curled in a ball, making sure she could breathe freely. They arranged boxes around her to cover the space and bags on top of that.

"She should be out for at least a few hours before we will have to dose her again. I have syringes if we cannot get her to drink. I assume you want her to arrive to your destination alive?" her voice low. No need to alarm anyone.

She had pulled what she could from Elre's pockets, and searched all the spare places people like to store knives and shuriken. It was amazing how much one could conceal. The trove of daggers, throwing knives and even needles was something Lindi prided herself on. This elf had everything needed to be a first class rogue. Lindi chuckled. "And to think she was taken by a Sindorei. I have it all, Sir."

Tucking the trove of weapons and identifying papers in a pouch, she put them in her saddlebags and mounted her now calm horse. "Let's go, the sooner we get out of here the less likely we will run into any of her friends."

He nodded in agreement, "The farther away the better. Do you have arrangements made for that... other? See to them now so that there is nothing tying us to this place. I cannot get the stench of the South out of my nostrils soon enough."

Trenetir regarded Lindi in her disguise, a wry smirk befalling his lips. "I won't get tired of seeing that." He chuckled as he urged the wagon on, taking to the mountain trail headed north. A rather unfamiliar feeling bubbled up in his chest, happiness? Yes, but something more.. satisfaction. Lindi had not disappointed him, no in fact she had surprised him. The body double. It was a perfect plan. None would be looking for someone who was dead.

Tilting his head to the sky, listening to the sounds of the mountainside. The mountain road was deserted, the grin on his lips had little to do with the woman passed out in the back of the wagon.