#@arrelwarburn

E’an scowled a little. Arrel and him share a number of things. This scowl is one of them. “An I don’t suppose you brought any money with you, ne?”

No. No I didn’t bring any money. I was told not to bring anything I could lose. Other than a small bag with Rea’s letter and communicator I was as empty of cash as could be. “I might have to make Dar proud then.”

The warrior looked at me shaking his head in a confused way. Turning to face him I just smiled lightly. For a man who knows so much, he really didn’t know me. It’s probably for the best though. Our paths are not ready to cross.

“I was a rogue when I was growing up. Never let the skill set go rusty.”

“You’re going to  steal?” E’an’s voice was touching that warning anger side. “What kind of woman are you?”

What kind indeed… Years of living to survive gave me a strange bunch of skills that I didn’t use too often, but always kept at the ready. “One who will do what it takes to live, and to insure those I care about live.”

E’an scowled again taking a step closer. “You can’t steal from someone innocent.”

Now I don’t take offence easily, but E’an knows how to make me offensive. “Mate. I’m going to pick some rich, pissy noble, someone who’s not going to feel their gold go missing okay? I swore to Lochlyn I’d make Kiden proud while I’m here. So. Stealing from a Stormwind noble is as good as I can manage right now.”

Slipping away from E’an I got my first moment to distance myself about what I’ve just lived through. My mind still burned with the images I had seen. No one on this Azeroth or my own Azeroth would know about it, hell few could even fathom it. Should I have felt scared, yes. Did I? Weirdly… no.

The nobles were pretty easy to pick out. Unlike the ones in our Azeroth, few of them looked to be battle savvy. I need to thank one of my lucky stars for this. My target was a thin weasel fellow who was busy looking at one of the pretty girls who moved past him. Pulling my dress down a touch and clearing my hair from my shoulders I strutted towards him.

A smash and grab is a trade old tradition. Darsa’s first lesion for when I learned to pick a pocket. First I made it like I tripped, an easy enough feat when I’m wearing a dress. Stumbling I crash into the noble moving quickly with may hands to untie the bag from his pouch. Apologies were said. I’d bat my eyes a few times as I make a elegant break away from the guy.

The key thing to any smash and grab is the get away. You only have a short amount of time until they know something is wrong. Don’t look at your spoils, you can do that once you’re out of danger. For me the ‘out of danger’ was coming back to where I had left E’an. Of course seeing me in my fluffed state he shot me a warning look.

“That was illegal.” He muttered under his breath.

Handing him the pouch of coin I did one last look to make sure I wasn’t followed. “How would you get money then?” I muttered back looking up at him. “They aren’t going to miss it, and honestly, you need rest.”

His eyes searched mine for a moment. “I do… Please tell me you don’t have anymore surprises?”

We started to walk towards and in as I shook my head. “Unless you count the languages I can speak, all my skills are kinda known to you.”

There was a moment he looked down at me. Like he was remembering something. The trip had totally wrecked him. He was already not in good shape when we left, now I could see just how tired he was. A good nights sleep and us making a plan will do the best for both of us.

Looking down my blush wasn’t able to be kept at bay. My engagement ring. Every day since Arrel asked I’d been staring at it. Part of this life felt like a dream. A year ago I’d have laughed saying I wouldn’t be jumping into a relationship. Then again, that was before I found safety and a reason to fight.

“He asked me a few days ago.” I said feeling like I should explain myself.

“Yeah I get that Mal. Your guy asked me if he could marry you.” Darsa grinned at me in a triumphant way. For a man who had no family till recently I knew him getting to be one of the people Arrel thought to ask was putting some air into that ego of his.

“I hope you said yes or this is going to be one uncomfortable conversation.” I quipped looking up at Darsa.

Darsa scoffed. “Nah, I gave him the all clear.” Then Darsa paused, his expressions are always so readable to me. My brother was suddenly feeling guilty about something, luckily he’s one of the most honest men I know, so I didn’t have to wait long. “Course that was before he got pissy and did some weird shit.”

The look he gave me made me understand what he was mentioning. The Claw. Rebecca had told me about it once in passing, about how she had died. I understand now that she’s afraid Arrel is going to turn into a monster again, but I can’t believe that. If he was, wouldn’t there be something, someone who’d know and stop him? Wouldn’t Arrel not even be here if something like this was going to happen? It was just insane to think he’d risk coming here knowing how it would end and it end in a bad way. No. This wasn’t how Arrel was going to die, and I don’t think I’ll die either.

“I’ve spoken to Arrel about it, everything will be fine.” I said keeping my tone neutral.

For as much as I can read Darsa, he can read me. “Bull shit.” He muttered. “You know something don’t you shadow?”

Now we looked each other square in the eye. His were intense in his judgment of my secrets, I was undoubtedly glairing right back wanting him to back off. Darsa doesn’t back off though. He pushes, it’s his made form of attack. “Come on Mal, if this is going to hurt Kiden-“

“This will have nothing to do with Kiden.” I snapped sharply. After I said it I had noticed my tone. It was my anger still bubbling up about Lord Nishan dropping me as a student, not that Darsa was curious.

But Darsa already heard my warning tone. “Right.” He muttered. “Mal, this is dangerous. You’re my little sis, but this is our home now, don’t you think you should tell people if something dangerous is happening.”

If anyone would understand these next words, it would be Darsa. “I’ll kill the one thing I love before others are harmed by him Dar. I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again, even if that means my heart will be gone for a while.”

Darsa paused and nodded at me. “You need any help with him?”

“Not any you would be able to give… Just.” She looked up at Darsa. “Just make sure you keep everyone safe as I deal with it, okay?”

“You do know asking for help is a thing right?”

Now it was my turn to pause. I understood asking for instruction, help… That was always tricky and required trust. “I don’t think anyone can help me with this.”

“You say that, but I’m smelling someone who’s scared, and hell, you should be after what you’ve lived through.” Darsa then shook his had. “But if you don’t trust, how do you expect people to trust you.”

He saw me freeze, something deep down clicked, that’s why Lord Nishan removed me from his teaching. I couldn’t trust. It’s something I rarely do. The few times I have has lead me to more pain than comfort. Arrel is the first time, and even then I worry he’s keeping things from me. But, trust is what makes Kiden a wonderful place. Lochlyn trusts I won’t run back to the Horde. Darsa trusts I’ll be his supportive sister. Arrel trusts that I’ll be his hope… What do I trust.

Darsa just nodded as if knowing what I was thinking. “You gotta trust some of us Shadow.”

Who could I trust with this. Who would be able to understand and yet keep a secret… I knew. I didn’t like it, but I knew.

Looking up at Darsa I just nodded. “I’ll tell someone, but you’re not going to be able to do anything about it. You focus on Lochlyn. You’ve got a wedding to go to soon don’t you?”

“Yeah, about that.” Darsa walked over to my door and closed it soundly behind him. “Shadow, I need to ask for your help on something, it’s hush hush, only you, me, Cherly, and Suyaa know.”

Now that  got my attention…

He’s not alive. Arrel is right, if my Father was alive my family would be the first to know. He would have moved the world to find us. The man Justiciar Sunvein spoke to used my father’s name, probably to scare me. That’s all they can do now. Try to torment me from afar.

I’ve lived through too much to let them scare me. If the Scarlet Crusade couldn’t break me, neither will Dreed and his men. Garren is right to take me away form Silverpine. The Front is a reminder everyday of what I’ve fighting for and against.

‘These are rabid dogs little moon. We must hunt them all down before they give you away.’

My father wasn’t there. He wasn’t there that night. I’m just imagining, wishfully imagining that he had been there, that I had someone that night who cared. But he wasn’t there. No one was. All of my men had betrayed me. I could hear them all say it… I think…

Didn’t I hear them all agreeing that night? That I was to be eliminated for being weak? All of them had agreed… Right?

I couldn’t keep my breath still for a long minute as my mind circled around the memory, but not able to pin it down. Yes, yes… they had all agreed. I had executed my men for treason, I had been in the right.