New trainees rolled in through the Crimson Blades' gates in late summer, and just as many also left.

Some of Tiene's friends had decided to leave but remained part of the guild. They would work from their home base, wherever they chose to live and be contactable through the standard network when duty requested their presence.

Only two of her group stayed at the complex, Thil'las and Emmek, and they, like Tiene, took on new roles at the guild. They became the new generation of trainers. And now they all lived in the towers - the residences of the elite.

On a sadder note, the Blades said goodbye to three long-standing trainers. Two of them retired, their reason; they would leave the task of developing future young Blades to the newer, more agile coaches. The third was Ylwen, formerly known as 'the scary redhead', who had decided to leave the guild to concentrate on her family.

Colleagues arranged for a meal and a farewell drink at Capital Inn as a friendly send-off for the three mentors.

Reflective, Tiene couldn't help but feel they were all leaving the ship before it sank and took them with it.

During the retirement dinner, Tiene was delighted to see Louvel and Fyn. They too were enjoying a meal - a custom insisted upon by the little priest whenever he paid a visit to the city.

She introduced Brett, Thil'las and Emmek as they joined the noble rogue and little priest in Louvel's favourite booth in the tavern. The conversation was hushed, peppered with light laughter and clinking of glasses to cover the fact that guarded secrets were being shared.

"I have some news for you, which you are not going to like," Louvel said to Tiene in particular. Glances flitted between her three colleagues, a sense of dread weighing heavily from the noble rogue's words.

"Tell me then," Tiene said before taking a sip of wine.

"I was working on a recent little escapade in Eastweald. There, I found out someone is working with your esteemed leader who you know quite well if I recall correctly from past conversations. And he is also linked to Kel'Thuzad and..."

"He's dead, Arthas killed him," Thil'las said quietly.

"Yes, I know," Louvel said, a little put out by the night elf's interruption. "- but his work lives on in Caer Darrow. Only, a new face has taken on the role of Headmaster, shall we say."

Tiene sat forward. "As in teaching necromancy, you mean?"

"Whether he is teaching it or merely enjoying it I do not know, Tiene, but he is a rather flamboyant character I hear - a bit like myself I guess," Louvel said with a smirk as he lifted his glass.

"A name please?" Tiene said.

Leaning closer to her, Louvel whispered, "His name, is Dar'Khan Drathir."

Tiene paled, and her eyes were wide. Of all the people, she thought. Thil'las and Emmek, being none the wiser, glanced at each other and shrugged.

Brett's brow furrowed. "Tiene, he was at Rhonin's wedding, remember?"

"Yes," Tiene replied, bitter, but amazed Brett had remembered.

The second in command looked perplexed. "Come to think of it he's been hovering in the background long before now. Damn! I thought he was familiar!"

"What do you mean?" Tiene asked.

"It was years ago when Sauren was a teenager. The magus used to meet with him - infrequently, yes, but still - how could I have forgotten about that?"

"Well, I don't remember him," Louvel said.

"You were never around when he was," explained Brett.

Louvel nodded and sipped his wine.

Tiene's face hardened. "And yet they pretended to have just met at Rhonin's wedding?"

Brett's face paled. "Tiene, I'm sorry..."

"Not your fault, Brett. Besides, how were you to know they were in cahoots for years? I think we can safely assume Sauren has gone out of his way to try to ensure you especially, know as little as possible about some things he does. Furthermore, Dar'Khan has not been seen in or around the complex in recent times, certainly not since I started, so again, it was hard to make the connection."

Brett nodded, appreciative Tiene was so understanding. His face, however, was lined with guilt.

A riding glove landed with a slap on the table in front of the group. "Good evening," Sauren said in a low rasp.

It took a conscious effort for Tiene not to look alarmed or guilty. She turned around, a warm smile lighting her face. "There you are! I wondered if you would show for dinner."

"Ylwen is one of my finest; I had to come and say - goodbye." His eyes lingered on Louvel and Brett before moving back to Teine. "Not being rude, but why are you sitting here instead of with the guild group?" His tone, restrained.

Again, Tiene managed to hold a smile. "I was introducing Brett, Thil'las and Emmek to my friends," she said. "And we are still waiting for our food anyway, so now was a good time. Would you care to join us?" She made a show of moving along to let him sit down.

Sauren held her stare, then glanced around the group in the booth. After a moment, he smiled. "No, thank you. I think I will sit with the others. I take it you will be returning to our table when dinner is served?"

"Indeed we will," Tiene replied.

The Guild Master turned to leave.

"Oh, Sauren," Louvel said, lifting the riding glove from his table. "I think you forgot something," he passed the glove to the incensed Guild leader.

Sauren moved round to stand beside the noble rogue, the corners of his mouth twitching. "So I did," he replied, snatching the glove from Louvel's hand.

As Sauren stepped down towards the guild's table, his face conveyed a look which made Tiene wary. A tangible animosity had just passed between him and Louvel. They had been friends for years, but now, there was an atmosphere.

"Do not aggravate him Louvel," she said in a whisper.

Louvel smiled reassuringly. "Do not worry, Tiene. I can look after myself. However, my dear, I think it would be in your best interests if you joined him at the other table."

"I need to know more about what you found out though," she said.

"There is nothing more to tell, other than what I have already told you."

"Keep me posted then, please." She stood, the others following her lead.

"I will," he said, raising his glass to her.

Tiene and her colleagues went to sit beside their guild. Tiene moved to an empty seat beside Thil'las.

"Not there, Tiene," Sauren said, his eyes flaring. "Here." He pushed out the chair next to himself.

She sat down. He inched closer to her seat and rested his arm around its backrest. It was a subtle show of ownership, not that she considered herself owned, but the alpha in Sauren did. She let it slide, as she often did if she deemed it prudent.

Chortling erupted from the kitchens and a small boy about six years old, ran out around the tables, laughing.

Sauren watched the boy, a slow smile curving his mouth. The lad ran past Sauren a few times and then, quick as a flash the Guild Master reached out and scooped him up. The boy squealed with delight as Sauren held him in the air, above his head.

Tiene watched amazed, as the Guild Master - irritable just a few moments before - laughed with the boy. "And what is your name, young man?" he asked the giggling child.

"Billy!" the boy answered excitedly, flapping his arms as if he were a bird.

"You're an energetic one, Billy," Sauren said, lowering the young lad to the ground and ruffling his hair. "But you may get hurt if you run around like that in here."

The boy stared at the Guild Master, suddenly in awe of the man who was speaking to him. "No I won't," he replied, his chubby face full of sparkle at seeing all the black leather armour and glinting blades in front of him. "Are you a soldier?"

"Mmm - sort of," Sauren replied, smiling. "How come you are up so late, anyway?" The Guild Master rested his elbow on his knee and leaned down, so he was eye level with the boy. "Won't your mother be angry at you being out of bed?"

"No, it was Mama who brought me here because the lady who watches me when Mama works couldn't come tonight. She was sick."

"Billy!" A voice called to the boy, shrill.

Billy spun around and smiled. "Mama!" He ran to the woman and hugged her skirts as she held up two plates of food intended for the guild's table.

Tiene watched as Sauren's posture changed abruptly, and his smile vanished. 'Mama' was none other than the waitress who'd been mesmerised by Sauren on Tiene's first visit to the inn. She had also waited on Louvel and her on another occasion.

The waitress continued with her work and served Ylwen and one of the other trainers with their meals.

"Mama, that man lifted me like I was a bird. I was flying!" Billy said.

"Do not pester the customers Billy," the woman said, shooing the boy behind her. "I am sorry," she apologised to all at the guild table, Sauren included.

Sauren straightened in his chair. "Where is the boy's father?" he asked gruffly.

"In the kitchen, sir," she replied, looked directly at the Guild Master. "He is the one cooking your dinner."

"Ah!" said the Guild Master. He lowered his head.

The waitress whispered as she leaned in to collect some empty tankards. "You needn't have worried; he came well after your time. Sir."

The wench turned to see Tiene looking at her, and a small smirk played on her lips. She knew Tiene had overheard. The waitress then returned to the kitchen for more of the table's orders.

Teine's eyes rested on her Guild Master. With indifference, she tried to hold his stare, determined to keep her thoughts hidden. Judging by Sauren's reaction to the waitress that first day, Tiene had already suspected she'd been one of his 'pets' - most likely from a time before Tiene even joined the guild.

Still, judging by the boy's age, Sauren must have thought there was a chance he was the father. His reaction to Billy's mother, however, puzzled Tiene. He had been good with the boy, playful, and yes, he'd demonstrated his paternal side - but why, once he saw Billy's mother, did he seem so displeased by the possibility the boy was his?

Sauren's gaze was intense, so Tiene looked away and sipped some wine. She decided the subject would not be discussed and should he ask her what she thought about it she would evade the issue or decline to answer.

She considered the waitress for a moment. It was apparent she had overcome both her infatuation and her awkwardness around the Guild Master. She had even developed some sass. Tiene smiled inwardly. Surviving Sauren was possible then, she mused.

The rest of the evening was pleasant enough. Sauren finally relaxed, mainly when he saw Louvel leaving with his little priest friend, Fyn. They did say goodnight to Tiene, all under the watchful eye of Sauren, who merely nodded his farewell.

Later that night, thankfully, his angst towards Louvel did not resurface. Nor did the subject of little Billy, or any possible future 'Billys' arise for that matter.

Sauren handed Tiene a vial, took his pleasure at length, then held her, protective, affectionately, as he drifted off to sleep. He was, indeed a complicated man at times.

As she closed her eyes, Tiene thought of Dar'Khan's involvement in all of the strange goings-on. Oddly, that unnerved her more than anything she knew about what Sauren did - so far anyway.

The Magister had always been hungry for more power, that she knew. And he was embittered against the Magisters on Quel'Danas and their seeming inability to reward him for efforts made in aiding the elven nation.

There was an underlying threat here though, something dark, which unsettled Tiene greatly. But she could not work it out. More investigations were required.

*****

Life went on as usual in Capital City. The economy was stable, trade continued customarily, and the general mood was reasonably relaxed.

Business at the Crimson Blades also carried on - recruits were put through their paces, missions and various tasks were assigned and executed as standard. Yet, there was an ominous cloud hanging over the new rogue network. Strange things were coming through in reports.

The plague was still evident with sightings of strange, lumbering creatures, allegedly undead, reported being seen in the north. Rumours abound of ghostly apparitions roaming the cellars of the once-great human fortress, Caer Darrow persisted for all Scholomance had been vacated of its acolytes; the flamboyant Magister, Dar'Khan Drathir having also seemingly vanished. Where to was unknown.

And then, one early autumn afternoon, darkness finally descended.

Prince Arthas had returned to his home from Northrend. People cheered, happy he was home safe and sound, and he was hailed a hero. Citizens felt safe, for it was he who had cleansed the plague-ridden Stratholme and the surrounding villages. They believed if the current reports of the plague surviving were accurate, then he would once more come to people's rescue.

But, Prince Arthas had come home a different man. His armour no longer bore the crest of Lordareon, and he carried with him a new sword; its edges keened, with runic symbols emblazoned on its steel blade.

Welcomed by his father, King Terenas, he'd knelt in front of the throne. Witnesses told of the room becoming eerily silent in the Prince's presence; they said they could see the chill emanating from the strange blade he carried, its symbols flashing an icy blue.

Disbelief lined King Terenas' face as his son drove the sword through his chest. Arthas stood over the corpse of his father while his blade absorbed the old king's spirit.

The city was left in shock, grieving their king and fearing its prince. Arthas was now declared mad and had fled the city.

Sauren had been nowhere to be seen that afternoon. But by the time news of the King's death had reached the ears of those inside the guild walls, Sauren arrived back with his men. He had merely said he'd had a mission to carry out.

It was around then that talk of The Lich King reached the ears of the common folk. The Lich King, whose kingdom was in Northrend, was a puppet of the Burning Legion.

Everything was now revolving around this powerful foe. Once defeated during the War of The Ancients, news of the Burning Legion's return brought fear to all across Azeroth. Links became more apparent - the recruiting of new disciples, manipulation of those in power, the promise of more glory, and immortality.

The new rogues' network was becoming inundated with information and evidence from all over the lands. The atmosphere was tense; fear rippled through even the most staunch and experienced rogues. The Legion's disciples' - minions - were one thing, but there had to be a specific reason for the cultivation of so many.

It was then that Tiene was driven to write a particular letter to her brother Inaris. She begged him not to divulge specific details to her father or Duthan or Lor'themar, for she did not want them to try to be heroes on her behalf - she had coped admirably, for several years now, and would continue to do so.

Things had changed now, though, and a genuine threat to their world was steadily brewing. Something was coming, and they needed to know what was going on.

Initially, she had deemed it prudent to keep details of Sauren's deceit and the guild's suspicions secret from her family - deciding they only needed to know the basics.

Now, she felt it was time; time for the truth.

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