A Fox in the Shadows

[Veleris]

Veleris watched the Blackskull emblem bounce by and sighed. “I’d really rather you found another way to deal with them. Krianne will take this as another attack. Not to mention their own leadership. But then, these people are – in the lingo of the streets – ‘scumbags.’”

She regarded Jensine a long time, utterly motionless. When she finally spoke, it was nearly a whisper. “What you are offering is tantamount to dangling opium in front of a recovering addict. Power is, as I have discovered, as insidious an addiction as any other.” She looked away as though the following admission was going to be painful, and she needed lack of eye contact to get through it. “I have watched you for a long time, Jensine. You have a reserve of power you have only just begun to realize. Under the proper Dark guidance you could become more powerful than Krianne ever will be. I meant…” She sighed. “I meant to lure you into darkness, twist you into a thing of dark majesty and incomparable might. By the time I was ready to claim my place in this world, you’d have been an instrument to lay whole cities waste.”

She paused and looked back at Jensine. “That Miss Fields would challenge me was inevitable and expected while I was in Icecrown. She did not know it, but it was in fact PART of her training. But then touching the mind of Prince Arthas Menethil and then wielding the Redeemer changed… everything. Made me see past the glorious future image of myself I had constructed, let me see what should I suppose have been obvious: That if I took his path, I would end up just like him. Krianne’s action, horrendous as it seems, was… bad timing.”

“Do you know why she hates you so? It was more than that you attacked Ranastrasz – likely, by the way, a bit of a dark indulgence on your part – but that she knew if you were brought in and proved to be the stronger that you would take her place.”

“And then one day YOU would have challenged me.”

She closed her eyes a moment, then took another sip of water. “So. Think carefully about what you are offering. Consider the potential – the very real potential – for danger to you, me, even the world.”

“As to this,” she said, indicating her body, “I do hope it passes. I rather liked being pretty.” She smiled and added, “But then, the last time I was in Goldshire I didn’t even get hit on. So maybe it doesn’t matter.”

[JensineMikkal]

Jensine stared at Veleris. She...honestly didn't know what to say. What had been about a day's worth of decision making for Jen had apparently been a Viggul plot all along. The implications of this confirmed suspicions Jensine had had for a while now: Veleris cared nothing about the guild, other than the opportunities they presented her.

But the fact that Veleris was telling her all this, without provocation or coercion, confirmed Jensine's other guess. Veleris had indeed changed.

Jensine closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought. In her fight with Mal'ganis, Jensine had come across power she never knew she had. With Spana's book learning she was beginning to understand how she had it, but not the feelings she was experiencing. At that moment, she had wanted nothing more than to kill Mal'ganis, a goal she had failed to accomplish anyway. It was a blood thirst, a hunger, that she was not used too.

A memory flashed before her, unbidden. Down in the cellars of the HIdden Hall, inside a small room lit by a single torch. A rampaging undead. Jolaris, bloody tracks where her face had once been. Gwydion, desperately trying to stem the blood spurting from his throat. Jensine, running right past them after her fleeing brother. She had put her needs above those of her superiors, nearly losing a close friend and the man who had become like a father to her. All for a stupid and asinine idea that she could reform Malles.

Jensine was intimately familiar with her darker side. A year ago, she had been horrified and tried to flee from it. But now, she embraced it, accepting it as a part of herself. It was there. Nothing more. Jensine controlled herself well. She wasn't shunning her newfound abilities. She was learning to use them better.

And what better way to practice than confronting her present enemies?

Jensine stood and thumped her chest with her fist. "Knight-Captain Mikkal, at your service."

[Jadelyn Sorrowsong]

Jade nodded, and sat on the floor beside Kateri. She settled herself, breathing deeply, allowing all the care of the past few days slip from her mind. She began to see both Neh'teywah and Ama'teyah approach them slowly and lay beside their other halves. Jade knew in her heart that she would miss Kateri's constant presence in the halls, she'd grown accustomed to her in the passing weeks before she'd been attacked. though now... now with Veleris as an ally... she would not be so alone in the house, she hoped. Jade felt herself slip into her meditative state and eased into utter relaxation. Soon the elements would speak to her again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sneaking around the hall was easy these days, there was always a way to get passed a guard or two if need be, though with the attacks lately the guards were easier to predict considering they were circling where the two attacks had taken place. "Fools" she said to herself, they really were though, no one would be stupid enough to entertain the thought of striking there again. Their ignorance annoyed her, although not as much as the fact Vikkira had taken care of that before she'd had the chance herself. It wasn't fair dammit. She'd been doing this too long to let that warlock steal her fun... and what of the other assassins she'd caught glimpses of the past few days... the other rogue for instance Echoess she'd heard, now she was good. Ashnara smiled to herself as she lingered along the shadows trailing the path that Echoess had taken into the room where they'd been keeping Krianne. She crouched on the beam that game her the most cover and the best vantage point and flashed a crooked smile to Echoess as she caught her attention. Ashnara drew a dagger from her belt and aimed carefully at the pair underneath them.
"You take one and I'll take the other?" She mouthed to Echoess and waited for her reply.

[Jadelyn Sorrowsong]

Ashnara nodded and silently sheathed her dagger with a frown and waited. She now understood what Echoess had been waiting for as she honed her ears to listen to the conversation below. There was something big and they were waiting to hear what it was. Meanwhile Ashnara amused herself by carving her name in elvish into the wood she crouched on.... They could start talking ANY time now.

[Veleris]

(The sick room)

Kaendren Fields patted her battered sister's hand and said to Ranastrsz, "I'll go. My hearth thingie goes to Dalaran anyway. Be back soonest." To Kriane she added, "Don't worry, baby. We'll have you fixed up in a jiffy."

Krianne moaned something. Kae smiled and stepped out into the hall where the warlock was pacing. Suspiciously, she asked, "You keeping her safe?"

Vikkara flashed a toothy grin. "Don't worry none, sugar-plum. Anybody who touches her will wind up in the next bunk over twice as bad." She handed Kae a card. "That,s the dude's name and address. Make him understand House Viggul will be most greatful for alacrity. Oh. That means to 'go fast.'"

"I knew what it meant," Kae lied, and left.

Vik lit another cigarette and brooded. Veleris better be tellin' the truth about this change of heart crap, she thought.

[Farseer Kateri]

Kateri sits still as a rail as she meditates, her four totems around her shoulder rustling in a gentle breeze that has blown in from out of nowhere. The two slowly fall into the Elemental Plane, the area is dark, yet they are sitting on a cool pasture of green soft grass. Neh'Teywah sits in Kateri's lap, whispering words to her companion. Ama'Teywah slowly walks up to Jadelyn and sits next to her, purring and rubbing its forehead against her companion's back. Did you know that shaman have four totems? They come to you in visions slowly throughout your life. It's supposedly one of the greatest sites within a shaman's life. If we're lucky, perhaps Kateri's four guides will appear.

Hours seem to pass as the two fall deeper into meditation, each completely at ease and calm, the weight of the world lifted from their shoulders for a short yet peaceful time. Deep, heavy and slow footsteps slowly sound behind Jadelyn, yet for some reason, she does not move to see what is causing them. After a moment or two, heavy and muggy breath is breathing on her head, sniffing. Turning around, Jade finds that she is face to face with a very large creature, its bulky body covered with rough shaggy brown hair. Two ivory colored horns rise from its large head, and dark brown eyes gaze down at the huntress. Ama'Teywah chuckles lightly and nudges Jadelyn, "Seems like Nok'Ten has come to see you." The Bison huffs lightly and thwacks at its side with its thin tail. Walking past Jadelyn the Bison moves to Kateri and lays down next to her, allowing the Shamaness to lean against him.

Nok'Ten is a rare spirit guide, usually only appearing to those who are tough and enduring, since they can survive even the coldest winters of Icecrown. Ama'Teywah whispers to Jadelyn while watching the bison nibble on a few pieces of grass next to Kateri. The lumbering beast huffs gently, the sound surprisingly peaceful. A loud shreak pierces the air, and a noble falcon swoops down and lands upon the large shoulder of the bison. The golden eyes of the falcon stare down at Jadelyn, but the spirit does not speak. Something scurries past Jadelyn's legs, and a tiny mouse scurries past and hops into Kateri's lap. Her four spirit guides are surrounding her, all but Neh'Teywah eying Jade curiously. There is a beat of silence before the Spirit guides are suddenly looking very....unsettled. They perk their heads to the side, listening, and sensing.

Suddenly, large Nok'Ten is on his hooves, stomping and nudging Kateri to wake her. Kateri opens her eyes and looks to her Spirit Guide, who looks flustered and lost, "What is it Nok'Ten?" She whispers to him. The bison speaks in a gruff yet gentle voice, that is touched with panic, "It is your husband and your son! They are in danger!"

[Jadelyn Sorrowsong]

The words of the Bison are all that Jade needs to snap out of her meditative state. In a split second she is back in her bedroom and arming herself. As she slings her bow over her shoulder Kateri opens her eyes.

"Where are we going?" Jade says, still pulling together her armor.

[Farseer Kateri]

Kateri sits there, eyes wide, motionless. She doesn't move, as if her body is unable to. Ama'Teyah nudges Jadelyn gently and whispers, The bond with her husband is gone...he is dead...but her son survived... Tears slowly fall from Kateri's eyes and lunges to her bags to grab at her Hearthstone. She wails in pain and activates it. She looks to Jadelyn and whispers, "Stay here...be safe. I'll be in touch. I love you my sister." And with a flury of magic, she is gone.

[Jadelyn Sorrowsong]

Jade sits on the bed, looking to the spot where Kateri had been. She was heartbroken for her, her eyes welled up and a tear streaked her pale face. She'd felt that pain before, she would leave Kateri to herself to mourn.
She sucked in a breath and looked to the translucent cougar beside her and forced a smile, "I am alright Ama'teyah, my heart breaks for my sister. She is strong though and will come through this just fine." Jade spoke to the spirit, though her words were almost more for herself.
"Korami, if ever there were a good time for you to be here..." She whispered.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ashanara smiled with satisfaction as the "big secret" was finally divulged. It's about damn time... she thought. Looking over at Echoess she smiled her crooked smile and nodded back down at the pair as if to ask again. She itched to use her skill on the two below... they wreaked of power and part of her wanted that too. Rana... that was the magi's name she remembered, he was more than met the eye for certain.... she'd even witnessed that for herself, now he would be a fine trophy for her. She smiled smugly to herself and pulled her dagger from her belt again... and waited.

[Jadelyn Sorrowsong]

With a sick grin Ashnara dropped down behind silently Ranastrasze and with a fluid motion she brought her blade up to his lower spine, so that just the tip was pressing against his back. When he moved to grab her she chuckled and evaded him with ease.

"No no no Rana... I don't think you want to do that... you see, if you move a fraction of an inch I will sever your spine... and then... I'll take my time finishing you off." She flashed a smile and nodded at Echoess to let her know she could push further if more persuasion was needed.

"Now... while I have your attention, what I want from you for now, is information. So spill it." She waited for a moment and when he said nothing she acted, with a flick of the wrist she drew her other hand up, blade in hand and drew it across his cheek quickly, leaving a trail of crimson in the blades wake. The movement was almost too quick to be seen, but she knew Echoess watched her, and her prey carefully.