Duthan

The Rangers' weaponry was to being taken to Tranquillien, a small settlement in neighbouring Ghostlands before moving on to the Farstrider Enclave. Sited nearby on the southern shore of Lake Elrendar, the Rangers would reconvene there and await orders for the attack. The Amani trolls' camps and capital city, Zul'Aman, lay to the south-east.

With the last of his arrows and extra bows primed and ready, Duthan gathered his armaments and loaded them onto the cart for transportation. Retaining ample missiles in a quiver and one of his favoured bows to aid them in their journey to Ghostlands, Duthan joined Lor'themar who was seeing to his own supplies. "Any news then?" Duthan asked.

"Aye, and it's not good, my friend." They finished securing the cart and shouted to the young boy steering it, to head out. They watched as three carts trundled towards the entrance of Silvermoon. The two rangers headed back to the lodge to collect some final items for their trek. Keeping his voice low, Lor'themar informed Duthan of latest developments. "It seems our king is none too pleased with the Alliance. He complains bitterly of their poor leadership and the resulting devastation of our forests. It looks like he is ready to abandon the Alliance altogether."

"War is war, Lor'themar, casualties are inevitable. I doubt we would have fared any better without the Alliance fighting by our side."

"True, but this is political Duthan - a subject in which I prefer not to become heavily involved. Give me a bow in my hand instead of a quill, any day."

Duthan smiled. He knew of his friend's loathing of politics; he also knew he had the makings of a good leader too, although Lor'themar would dispute this.

"What of the Ranger-General, has she voiced an opinion?"

"Hmm." Lor'themar cocked an eyebrow. "Sylvanas will fight for Quel'thalas to the end, but I'm not sure how she will feel when she hears about her sisters. Both Vereesa and Alleria are still loyal to the Alliance, and I hear Alleria has tried to advocate our remaining with them, but it has fallen on deaf ears. She has since crossed into the Dark Portal with her unit of Rangers." Lor'themar eyes became a little distant. "I fear we may never see them again," he murmured, pensive, before returning his attention to the task in hand.

Gathering the last of their things, they headed out. Lor'themar led his squad and Sylvanas, further ahead still, rode at the helm of the Ranger unit.

Lor'themar fell back beside Duthan, continuing their quiet conversation. "This battle we go to, Duthan, will be arduous, of that I have no doubt. Their numbers may well be depleted since we fought back the Horde, but still, they are a formidable foe and their loathing of us, of all elven kind really, is ingrained in them. I cannot foresee a timely end to this conflict."

"Well, aren't you the cheery soul today," Duthan said with a smirk, glancing sideways at his captain.

Lor'themar grinned back and laughed lightly. "Added responsibility brings out the morbidity in me."

"If responsibility does that to you, let's pray Dar'Khan doesn't get the recognition he desires then."

Lor'themar fell silent. Duthan felt instant remorse for having implied the captain's friend had dubious intentions. "Apologies, Lor'themar. He is your friend, that was unkind of me."

Lor'themar looked at him, his lips holding a winsome smile. "No need to apologise Duthan. I suppose a friend is perhaps a little generous. I owe him a debt for getting the Lady Liadrin, Galell and myself out of a sticky situation once, but that is about it. We are friendly, more than we are friends, I would say. But, yes. How did it turn out last night then? I thought it best to leave once Tiene went walking with him."

"Inaris' nose was seriously out of joint." Duthan chuckled.

Lor'themar smirked. "Oh? How so?"

"Dar'Khan ported himself and Tiene out of Inaris' viewpoint."

Lor'themar looked surprised. "He did what? I can understand Inaris being annoyed then. Also, it was inappropriate of Dar'Khan to do that."

"I suppose so, but it was funny seeing Inaris' face. He does not like being outsmarted."

The two of them laughed again. "I take it everything turned out alright though, or else you wouldn't be here," Lor'themar commented.

Duthan puffed out his chest; his voice filled with pride. "Well, apparently, our little sister took good care of herself."

"Did she have to?" Lor'themar could not hide the concern in his voice.

"No, not as far I can gather. But, she took a blade with her in case."

"She what?"

"I know! Little Tiene, not so little now, really. I think she will make a very skilled rogue."

"You spoke to your father then?"

"Didn't need to, she did it herself, albeit a little bluntly, to begin with, remember?"

"Ah yes, her announcement at the dinner table." Lor'themar nodded.

"We spoke at length this morning, all of us. It turns out father was also in the Crimson Blades."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"It doesn't? It took Inaris and me a moment to grasp, let alone Tiene."

"Well, not being blood kin, sometimes you see things immediate family do not."

Duthan nodded. That made sense he guessed. "Anyway, Father is going to write requesting she train with the Crimson Blades."

"That is great news, Duthan. She will do well, I am sure of it."

A shout from up ahead made Lor'themar return to the front of his squad. The unit had reached the exit of Silvermoon, The Shepherd's Gate.

The Ranger General, Sylvanas Windrunner, turned to speak to her Rangers. She was a formidable woman. The middle of three sisters, Sylvanas in many ways outshone her kin and had succeeded her mother Lireesa in becoming Ranger-General.

She was a strong leader with unequalled ferocity in defending her people. It was easy to assume she was simply another fragile elf female in need of protection going by her slender figure, flowing blonde hair and alabaster beauty of her elven features. But once she donned the leather armour, picked up her bow and nocked an arrow pointing it in your direction, you knew you had little, if any chance, of dodging that missile. Her entire body became an extension of that weapon. She excelled at her military craft, and she expected nothing less from her Rangers.

If you were in any way weak, you were dismissed - instantly. Her high expectations did not, however, ward off hopeful recruits. If anything, it ensured there were plenty of young men and women willing to prove themselves to be in her service. As she spoke to her loyal Rangers, they all looked at her with enormous respect.

"We march into battle once more with the Amani tribe. This time we will wipe them out, raze them to the ground. I want every man and woman in this unit to be absolutely clear on that matter. We will fight for Quel'thalas and our people until our last breath. We shall prevail. Anu belore dela'na*. Rangers! Move forward!"

The unit of Farstriders moved out and headed south to the burnt lands of Ghostlands.

              Inaris

Inaris made his way to The Sanctum, the warlocks guild, in Silvermoon City. There, warlocks honed their skills and studied the properties of magic, perfecting their spells. Based within Murder Row, it was a relatively quiet area of the city housing only one other training hall, that of the rogues, and with the Silvermoon Inn providing refreshments, it was an ideal location for those wishing to focus on their craft.

Already a very adept warlock, Inaris still studied enthusiastically, but he had no desire to go to war, like his brother. Over the years, he had fought in some minor battles involving the trolls, and, by all accounts, he proved to be very skilled; but it was not his ultimate goal. 

He wanted to teach, and he aspired to be the most knowledgeable sorcerer of his class. Being a bit of a Lothario, his choice of profession would also make his other favourite activity easier to pursue - especially when husbands or suitors were away on the front line.

Passing the Students of Shadow guildhall, Inaris' felt a sharp, brutal tug at his sleeve. He turned around slowly, half expecting an angry male to punch him, but was amazed to find Tiene looking up at him. He sighed, relieved, a smug grin stretching his lips; an expression Tiene wasn't new to witnessing.

She shook her head in disbelief. "You will never learn, will you?" she said haughtily.

"What?" he feigned innocence.

"Honestly, Inaris? One of these days your face is going to run into the fist of a furious husband, suitor or father, and you won't be so darned smug after that."

Inaris shrugged.

"And you had the cheek to look all shocked at me this morning?" Tiene reprimanded.

"That's different," he said with an affectionate smile. "You are my baby sister and still pure -" Tiene cocked an eyebrow at him. "You are, aren't you?" he whispered, leaning in, concerned.

She slapped his arm. "Yes! I am, and I am not your baby sister. I am a grown woman."

"If you say so." He smirked.

Tiene slapped him again.

He laughed. "So what are you doing here then Tiene? I'm on my way to study and running a little late."

"I thought I would look in here," she said, hopeful, gesturing towards The Students of Shadow. "But, it might be best if you were to introduce me?"

"Oh?" A teasing smirk played on his lips once more. "I thought you were a grown woman, though. Surely you don't need your big brother to do that?" 

Tiene huffed, a look of disappointment spreading over her face.

Inaris felt a pang of guilt, then smiled sweetly. He put his arm around her shoulders. "Alright, then. Come on." 

She instantly brightened.

They stepped into the rogues' guildhall, and Inaris greeted one of the trainers. Tiene looked up at the platinum-haired male called Nerisen. He seemed an approachable type of person. He knew her brother well going by the way the two of them were conversing.

Inaris glanced to his left and suddenly stopped mid-sentence; his attention had moved away from Nerisen.

Tiene leaned back to look past her brother. She sighed, rolling her eyes; she should have known! A woman had caught his eye. Tutoring three students - putting them through various moves - the female trainer, focused on her work, was oblivious to the admiring glances from the warlock.

Watching and listening, Tiene had to admit the woman was excellent in teaching her pupils the way of the rogue. Glancing back at her brother, she could tell his admiration had nothing to do with the woman's skill.

Tiene noticed a somewhat competitive look cross Nerisen's face. His gaze also hung around the female trainer, and it took Tiene a moment to realise how he and her brother were so friendly. No doubt, the two of them had some wager going in the lady stakes. Huffing, she nudged her brother as a reminder of why they were there.

Looking back at her, Inaris raised his eyebrows, apologetic for being distracted. He resumed with the introduction. "Nerisen, this is Tiene, my baby sister." He flinched, trying not to yelp as Tiene nipped his upper arm, digging her nails into him. "She is going to train as a rogue."

Nerisen bowed his head. "Pleased to meet you, Tiene," he said. "Are you wanting to start training here?"

Tiene suddenly felt embarrassed. She hadn't thought this through before asking to come in here. With her hopes hinging on training with the Crimson Blades, she didn't want to offend or sound disrespectful towards the Students of Shadow by saying no.

"Well," Inaris spoke quietly so only Nerisen could hear, "Father is requesting placement with the Crimson Blades for her, but I wondered if perhaps you could maybe see to giving her a head start - until we hear back from them at least?"

She kept her eyes averted, inwardly cringing. But Nerisen's tone was pleasant as he answered. "It would be an honour. It is not often we have the chance to say a Crimson Blade started here."

Tiene looked up, a little smile tugging the corner of her lips. "I may not be accepted though," she said.

"Oh, I doubt there will be any problems there, Tiene." He bent down to whisper in her ear. "Your parents' reputation is held in high regard." 

Her expression glowed at his knowledge of her parents past. 

Nerisen continued. "There is little which does not reach our ears within our specialisation, Tiene."

Inaris then cleared his throat and leaned in. "And will she train with you, or with that divine creature over there?" He bobbed his head in the female trainer's direction.

Nerisen's pose altered as he stretched his neck and rounded his shoulders. "Tiene will start with this divine creature first," he said, gesturing himself. 

Tiene couldn't help but giggle.

Inaris also laughed but his mirth soon dissipated when Nerisen continued. "Afterwards, when I take Cel to dinner this evening, I will put forth that she trains Tiene in the more specialist skills of being a rogue."

"Oh!" Inaris said, his face showing defeat. "You have dinner arranged?"

Nerisen shrugged. "Well - not yet no, but...."

Inaris moved swiftly over to the female and proceeded to introduce himself.

Tiene and Nerisen watched as he made great play stating he wished for his young sister to train with her. Having observed Cel's methods for a few minutes, he wondered if she could at all, make space in her busy schedule to take on another student.

Tiene stared in disbelief, then wondered how on Azeroth these two males remained friends when their competitiveness in affairs of the heart was apparently fierce.

Nerisen seemed to read her mind. He laughed lightly and whispered, "Oh, he hasn't won the game yet, Tiene."

Tiene rolled her eyes and sighed. Men, she thought.

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* Anu belore dela'na – The sun guides us

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