Edmond Returns

Laila and Edmond

Sentinel Hill was all aflurry with activity. Women and men were scurrying around making fast repairs, putting up more tents and doing the slow work of weeks all within a morning.

“Whatever is happening?” Laila asked Elsharin as they made ready for their day.

“Exciting news! I guess you haven’t been paying attention. A messenger has gotten through to the Cathedral of Light, and the priests there were able to send back in return. They are sympathetic to our plight and though politics does not allow them to stand up and voice their full support, they have agreed to send some paladins here to assist the people’s militia. It will not be many and most new-minted and green as that grass out there after the rainfall, but it is more help and even though they are still paladins-in-training everyone here knows that each one of them will be worth five farmer’s sons.”

As Elsharin spoke, she looked around cautiously, hoping no farmer’s sons were in earshot.

“In any case, the word is that the troop was sent out on the road only shortly after the messenger was dispatched and that they should be arriving today if they’ve made haste. That is why everyone is scurrying about, there’s almost no notice of this and everyone wants to make the place presentable for the paladins.”

“Really,” said Laila. “Compare that to when we came. Not so much as a dusting of the furniture! We came in like thieves in the night and when we were here it was as if it were no more than expected, not a grand event with lots of gratitude.”

“Now, now,” said Elsharin. “Don’t be petty. Being affiliated with the church has its perks. You know people are uncomfortable about mages because of the arcane energies we use.”

Laila blushed. It was true, and there was no reason for her to get angry for not being treated special. Being treated like a special guest was a treat and an honor, not something she deserved and on reflection, she realized that it cheapened her desire to help if she expected the townsfolk to rush around cleaning up for her because of it. She was here because she wanted to be, not because she felt she was owed something for it. Her mental scolding was only just beginning when the jingling noises began from up the road.

Around the bend and into the entrance road leading into Sentinel Hill walked five white coursers all decked out in the regalia of the Alliance. On them rode the paladins, shining even in the thin winter sunlight, their silver armor and brilliant plumage dazzling to the eye.

“So they come in state,” observed Elsharin. “That is smart thinking. Although there are only five of them, and young at that, in their full regalia they look impressive and imposing. They look as if they represent authority and order, which is anathema to the Defias, who need chaos to thrive.”

The paladins pulled up in front of Gryan Stoutmantle, saluted in unison, and then dismounted and knelt before him. The lead said in a loud, clear voice “The Paladins of Stormwind are honored to come to your aid. Please accept our service, humble though it may be, to aid you in protecting your lands from the Defias.”

Stoutmantle grinned broadly and patted the lead paladin on the shoulder. “Good on you, lads.” he said. “We are most honored and relieved by your presence. We will get to business later, but today will be spent in getting yourselves acquainted with our little town here, settling yourselves in, and getting a nice hearty meal in you.”

The first thing Stoutmantle did was lead the boys over to Laila and Elsharin. “Paladin squad, I would like you to meet our mage squad,” he said by way of introduction. “The mage tower felt similarly to the archbishop and they sent over these two mages to help out. This is Magister Elsharin and Corporal Laila Greenwalker. They are in charge of a quadron here and you may be working with them, depending on what the plan is.”

Laila gave a slight bow, not knowing what the boys’ stations were, she had know idea what measure of respect they owed her or she owed them, but she wished to be courteous nonetheless. The paladins all saluted in unison. In their helmets they barely seemed human, but she felt sure that underneath them they were all gawking at Elsharin anyway.

Each paladin introduced himself, starting with the leader, and Laila had to keep herself from fainting when he introduced himself as Edmond Mason. Edmond … was here. She felt Elsharin’s cool blue gaze turned to her as the mage sensed her shock, and Laila gathered herself under that stare and stood firm. As the paladins left to make their rounds with Stoutmantle, Edmond lingered behind and Laila found that Elsharin had suddenly disappeared.

Laila blushed deeply and looked intently at the ground. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, not even that blank helmet. She wasn’t prepared to explain herself, not yet.

“Laila,” Edmond said, a world of pain and hurt coming through in his voice. “You know what I want to ask you, are you going to make me say it?”

“I had to Edmond. I am so sorry I left the way I did, but I had to. I knew you would never let me go alone and it was necessary. I had so much growing to do. Still have so much growing to do.”

“But … I don’t understand. I thought we were friends.”

“We were–are friends, Edmond. You are my best friend. But you must admit you saw me as a kid–as a naive girl–more like a little sister than someone to give equal respect.”

Edmond paused at that, and then it was his turn to blush. “It’s a bit painful to hear you say that, but you are right, and it is truly not fair. I can only offer my apologies, for our lots are the same and it is not right for me to make you feel that way.” He looked chastened.

“It is all right. I can fully understand why, which is why I went off to change things. I don’t know if it can be different now. But maybe … maybe we can start over, and you can judge for yourself what manner of friend we are.”

Edmond smiled shyly. “I accept your offer, my lady. It is more than I hoped for, I believed you to be so angry with me. Now that we find ourselves working together, let us start anew as colleagues, and we shall see what happens next.”

Laila grinned gratefully. Her instinct was to hug him, she held herself back and just took his hand in hers and gave it a happy squeeze, then let go.

“Come now, let me show you the camp and the inn. There you will meet many people you will come to rely on. Follow me, paladin.” Laila walked off toward the camp, feeling lighter than she had in many months.

Erik

Erik and Laila

It was yet again another gray, drizzly day. Laila sighed, “When will spring ever come?”

“I don’t know, but the more you grump, the slower it goes for the rest of us as well,” Erik returned gruffly. Laila blushed. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m used to spouting my complaints at the wall, I forget that people aren’t so keen to hear them.”

“Oh, so I’m no more entertaining than the wall, am I?”

Laila began to stammer, “No … I … I didn’t mean … you …”

Erik laughed. “Pay no mind to me, I’ve always been a tease.” He suddenly dropped the smile and became serious. “I mean … sorry Corporal, I forget my place.”

Laila waved it off. “In the walls of the inn you may be at ease. However, when we are on duty I expect you to maintain decorum.” She cringed inwardly. To herself she sounded like a bossy child, but it had to be this way. Elsharin gave her no end of grief whenever she was lax with their team. Laila understood. In battle, the hierarchy was important. If the team didn’t work automatically, with each person in their place and orders descending from higher ranks to lower ranks, then it would be chaos. She maintained authority, even though it felt a sham, because it would be a matter of life or death that her authority hold in a battle situation.

Today, however, they were not in battle or even on duty. She and Erik were not on a leave day, but they had been asked to stay in Sentinel Hill to help with anything needed there and to serve as a home guard in case of any danger. So far, with the bad weather, there was nothing much to be done. A bit later they would go out and relieve the watch for a while, but other than that they were just sitting indoors staying warm.

“Was it nice to live here, before the Defias came?” asked Laila. “I have been thinking that I would like to settle here whenever things are peaceful again.”

“Yes, it was nice enough,” said Erik. “A bit boring, I suppose. It’s farm country so we mostly just worked the land. I didn’t see anyone but our family and the farmhands most days, although I did get to see the other families of Westfall during holidays and feast days. We would all gather in Moonbrook and everyone would visit and catch up with each other. Also, we often shared meals and visits with our neighbors, the Furlbrows and the Saldeans.”

“What were your plans for the future before the Defias came? Simply to take over the farm?”

“Mostly. I had no wish for anything else. I’ve never known another place, and I’ve never cared to.  If our neighbors had had any daughters I probably would have been long promised to one of them, but they did not. Instead I hoped to meet a merchant’s daughter that I liked in Moonbrook on one of the festival days and court her. It would be a good connection for both families, since our farm did quite well. Then maybe if we had more than one child, we could send a child to work for that side of the family and become a merchant. I am not ashamed of being a farmer and I like it well, but it would be a fine thing for the family to have a branch of merchants.”

“I understand. It sounds very nice, actually … a life so planned out. So long as you agree with the plan, of course.”

“Yes, it truly is. The only thing I was worried about was that I might not find a girl I liked. I really wanted a local girl who loves this area as much as I and who was close with her family. I worried that such a woman may not exist. Unfortunately, I never even got to find out. First the Horde overran Moonbrook and when they were only starting to rebuild, the Defias came. All of this happened before I reached an age to begin looking for someone to court. And now, well … this is all there is left.”

“That is really unfortunate, but have you looked around at the refugees here? Surely there must be someone who might meet your requirements.”

“There are a few young women here, but none have caught my fancy unfortunately. And it is hard to think of things like that when I do not know what the future will be any longer. But I do not like to dwell on this now. What of you? Your story must be an interesting one, for a lady such as yourself to end up here.”

Laila almost laughed to be called a lady. “Not so interesting as all that, I am afraid,” she said ruefully. “I’d like to tell you I’m a bastard of the king who has been hidden away from him, or a disgraced daughter drummed out of house and home, but the truth is, I’m just an orphan–one of many in these troubled times–and I am simply trying to make my way somehow.”

Erik looked sad. “I am so sorry. I am truly grateful and lucky to still have my family. We were fortuitous that are farm was located far enough away that we had warning to get away. What happened to your parents?”

Laila took a breath. “The Defias killed them,” she said. “They were simple forest folk who made their living off of the beasts and plants of the wood. They were in the way of the Defias, who wanted our small enclave for their own. Most of the people who lived there were killed, but a friend of my parents managed to escape and take me with him. A kindhearted abbot took me in so I could retain a connection to my past, rather than have to go to the orphanage in the city. Now my life is dedicated to repaying the kindness that helped raise me to an adult. I will serve Stormwind all my days, even though I sometimes fear that it is not Stormwind that cares about its people, but only a few special souls. Nonetheless, some of those special souls have been mentors of mine in the military, and I am honored to continue my service in tribute to them.”

Erik just stared at her. “You are very different than I expected.”

“I predicted as much. Do not worry about it, I would have thought the same.”

Erik saluted her. “Corporal,” he said.

For the first time, she felt she had earned the title.

The Fireteam

Laila and Keagan

Laila awoke on the morning after her arrival back in Westfall as nervous as she’d ever been. She had brought the reports of the mage council in Stormwind to Elsharin and to Captain Stoutmantle, who had stayed up late arranging the new assignments, but had sent Laila to bed, as if her new promotion counted for nothing. As a result, she knew nothing of the new team she was second in command of, except what she had been told by Mage Cannon: that it was made up of an infantryman, sapper, and a ranger. The first two she had worked with before and was well used to their types and their ways, but the third was something new. Of course, she was well used to the forest people of her childhood, but she did not know how an army ranger might differ.

The day was cloudy and the air was chill, but the weather looked to hold clear. She bundled into a heavy cloak and gloves, relieved that it wasn’t pouring any more. She gratefully accepted a cup of Heather’s tea for breakfast, but couldn’t stomach more than an oatcake for breakfast. Finally ready, she stepped outside and met Elsharin coming down from the tower. “Are you ready,” said the elf. “It’s time to meet our new team.”

She led Laila back past the inn to a small village of thick canvas tents. The crackle of fires and the aroma of dark coffee, beans and thick bacon made her feel a bit cozy despite the crisp, penetrating chill in the air. Sitting around one of the fires, jesting over their morning coffee were the three new troops. What must be the infantryman was little more than a teenager. He was a large boy who had the cornfed look that revealed him to be a farmer’s son or farmhand who was lately out of a home and a job. With him was a dwarf with a pinched face, wrinkled brow, bald pate, and wiry shock of bright red beard that stood at odd contrast to his hairless scalp. And finally, the ranger, whom Laila tried hard not to openly stare at. She was a night elf, a type of folk Laila had never seen before. She was huge, towering over not only Laila and the dwarf but even the robust farmboy and the willowy Elsharin. She was solidly built too, with muscular arms and legs. A snaggletoothed boar with wicked looking tusks, of the sort that roamed the area stood next to her, snorting and snuffling at a plate of beans.

They obviously had plenty of warning about their new assignment, for as Laila and Elsharin came near, they snapped to attention. The boy and the dwarf looked at them dubiously and Laila’s heart sank as she realized they probably didn’t look much like inspiring leaders. Elsharin looked more like a princess until you could see what she could do with arcane energies, and Laila looked like a scruffy child–she was more than aware of that. Only the night elf betrayed none of her thoughts, only looked at them attentively. Laila remembered her studies and realized that the night elf probably understood more than the others about Elsharin’s age. She was a high elf and therefore had a much longer life span than a human. Despite her relatively youthful appearance, Elsharin was over 200 years old. The night elf could be any age at all, a thought which intimidated Laila. Night elves had been immortal until recently so any one of them might be thousands of years old. Laila had to imagine this one was relatively young, or else what would she be doing here? Even so, in order to be an adult at all, she would be many, many years older than Laila.

Elsharin introduced she and Laila. It felt so strange to be introduced as Corporal Greenwalker. She knew she had promoted much more quickly than was normal and imagined her new team probably thought she was some spoiled noble whose parents had bought her a position. How quickly they would learn the truth of that! Laila couldn’t act like a noble if she tried, she barely even knew what they were like. She tried her best to look grim and competent, but felt more like a child playacting.

The troops introduced themselves. The farmboy was named Erik Jansen. He was indeed the son of a farmer. He and his family had been driven off of their stead. His mother was acting as a seamstress for the militia and his father was helping with the building at Sentinel Hill. He was determined to reclaim the family stead, so he had joined the militia. The sapper was Keagan Barrelfist. His family were mostly merchants, heavy in the beer shipping business. He was one of the few who had joined the military and had made a special request to assist the people’s militia when his family’s business was disrupted by the Defias activity. Lastly, there was Lorell Oakleaf, the night elf ranger. She had apparently joined the militia voluntarily. All she would say of her story was that she was a wanderer who liked to travel the world on her hunt. She had felt for the plight of the people, and the lack of response from the human capital angered her, so she had joined the cause. Laila immediately felt a great admiration for her. She was so free, but so noble all the same. Laila had felt proud of her contributions in the army, but she knew she had had little choice. She was an orphan and there was little opportunity for her besides the military with her training. She hadn’t the means or connections for the type of schooling that most mages went in for. She was bound to this way of life if she wanted to continue her training.

The first day went relatively smoothly. They were given a routine patrol so that they could get used to each other and settle in to their new group. By the end of the day, the ice was somewhat broken between the five of them, and there was a greater ease among them as the day ended. The three new members even invited Elsharin and Laila to share their fire and a cup of ale in the evening, and wanting to embrace this tentative invitation, they accepted gratefully, even though the site of Elsharin sitting at a campfire with a mug of ale nearly sent Laila into fits of unbecoming laughter. It seemed that things would be okay, but it was when they were faced with real danger that their troop would really be put to the test.

Promotion

Laila's New Uniform

Laila soon fell into a routine in Westfall that was both monotonous and reassuring. While she liked feeling like she had a place somewhere, and like she was helping to keep order in the civilized areas of the region, she fretted at the sameness of her routine, which was helpful for preserving the status quo, but wasn’t doing anything to retake the area from the Defias. She knew there were plans in the works, but at her level, she had no knowledge of what they were and was not involved in them, and it became increasingly more frustrating. In turn, she became increasingly more irritable and rebellious. Although she was maturing, it seemed she was still a bit of a slave to her emotions. On one level she knew she was acting more like spoiled child than a soldier, but on another level, she knew she was ready for something more than what she was being given.

One rainy morning, she was lingering over her morning tea and biscuit. She had awoken early to make sure everything was moved out of the way of the holes in the roof and was now reluctant to go outside and start her patrol in the wet weather. Elsharin came in, shaking off the rain like a glorious stallion, pretending not to notice how late Laila was in leaving the inn.

“Ah, Laila, I am glad you are still here,” she said instead. “I was not looking forward to tracking you down in this weather. Your duties are suspended for the time being, as there is a coach here to take you to Stormwind. You’ve been asked to report into the Tower there for a meeting with Jennea Cannon and some of the other mages.

Laila looked up, her face going pale. She could only imagine that someone had reported her attitude to them. Perhaps she was going to be recalled … sent back to Elwynn. How humiliating that would be. She began to stammer a response, but Elsharin cut her off. “It is no use, I have no idea what this is about and there’s no use worrying about it before you find out for yourself. Chances are it’s some parchment they forgot to have you sign.”

Laila took a deep breath and recovered her composure. Truly, it probably was something administrative, and the mages were taking advantage of the bad weather, when duties were not as critical as they were on better days when trouble was more likely. She checked out a book from the shelves of the inn and wrapped her thickest woolen cloak around her. Heather packed her a lunch of moonberry juice, smoked salmon and a crusty bread, wishing her well. Laila knew the innkeeper could sense her nerves. Heather was beloved by the refugees of Sentinel Hill for her ability to understand and empathize with the feelings of her patrons and anticipate their needs, both physical and emotional. Whenever Westfall was made safe again, Heather would never want for custom. Already those who passed through spread the word that despite the turmoil of the region and the unfinished nature of the settlement, Heather’s innkeep was a haven for those who must travel through the area.

Laila gave Heather a hug and thanked her for the lunch, promising she would back as soon as possible to help decorate the inn for Winter Veil. Then she headed out to her coach, which had arrived, and settled in for the ride to Stormwind.

Once she arrived at the tower, she nervously made her way up to the inner sanctum, where Jennea Cannon and some of the other mages were waiting for her. Entering the room, she first saluted, then knelt before them respectfully.

“Please rise, Laila,” commanded Jennea. “And do not be worried. We think you will be pleased with the news we have for you.”

Laila breathed a sigh of relief.

“Captain Stoutmantle and Elsharin both have good reports for you. Captain Stoutmantle says you have performed your duties faithfully and well, and have aided in some key missions as well as accomplishing your regular patrol successfully so that the people have been able to keep what foothold they still have in Westfall. Elsharin reports that you have been steadily increasing your knowledge and power. She reports that you show great aptitude for frost disciplines and have been most adept at learning to strategically approach a fight.

Normally, we would not do this so soon, but Westfall is exceedingly shorthanded and Gryan is asking for all the help we can give for his next big push against the Defias. He specifically has asked that you be involved. The Stormwind Army structure does not allow for someone with the rank of specialist to be acting at the level he wishes you to act. A specialist is not entitled to command other soldiers. Therefore, we are now promoting you to the rank of corporal. As corporal, you will be assigned to a quadron of foot soldiers, along with Elsharin. She will be commanding the squad, but you will be second-in-command and entitled to issue orders to your men and women”

Laila stood frozen. Commanding other soldiers? Already?

“Do not look so frightened,” Jennea reassured her. “The team you will be commanding is just a fireteam. Besides you and Elsharin, there will be only three other soldiers on your team that you will be responsible for – an infantryman, a sapper, and a ranger, plus you and Elsharin. Your team will be part of a larger unit that has someone else at the head. It is really not so much responsibility, but you need to be able to direct the sodliers on your small team.”

Laila nodded and saluted. “Yes, Mage Cannon.”

“Very good. Now your new title comes with a new uniform to denote your rank. Go to the quartermaster downstairs and we will get you outfitted.”

It was a very relieved and proud Laila that emerged from the tower, ready to return home. Her new uniform was the purple that represented the mage classes and she wore it proudly. Being allowed to wear the mage purple so soon gave her hope that some day she may also wear the colors of the Kirin Tor. She was a long way from Dalaran now, but perhaps if she proved herself, she would find herself there someday.

A Break

Elsharin speaks to Laila

Elsharin entered the inn to find Laila precariously perched atop a ladder, patching a hole in the wall. Nearby, Heather the innkeeper changing the bed linens. She looked up as Elsharin entered, blushed and then went back to her work, too shy to speak. That happened often to the high elf. Her kind had not been seen in this rural area for years and most didn’t know quite what to make of her.

Laila smiled as she came in. “Hello, El,” she said, cheerily. “Do you have leave today too? Want to help us do some fixing up around here?” Elsharin grimaced. Laila loved to work with her hands, but Elsharin was a mage born and bred. She preferred intellectual pursuits to physical ones, and if she had time off she would be speeding back to Stormwind or simply relaxing with a book. She had been pleasantly surprised to find that the people of Westfall valued books and reading and the farmers and locals had made sure to save their books when leaving home. They had each marked their names in the books, and then put them into a small library in the inn so that everyone could enjoy them until it was safe to go home.

“No Laila, no leave for me. I have to go meet with someone shortly, but I thought I would come speak with you before I go. May I?”

“Certainly!” Always cheerful, Laila dusted herself off and hopped down from her perch. Elsharin had come to know this grinning, eager-to-please personality as Laila’s true personality, which came as a surprise since when they had first met she had been an admixture of anger, disappointment, hurt, and shame. She was young though. Elsharin could barely remember being that young, but she knew that youths of that age felt emotion more keenly. Even the slightest setbacks were world-ending to them.

Laila and Elsharin sat down at a rickety table and Elsharin looked a Laila seriously to indicate this was a serious, not a lighthearted conversation.

“Laila,” she said, “You have been given a three-day leave.”

“Yes,” said Laila. “And?”

“Three days is a long leave. As long as you’re like to get. A gryphon ride is cheap and can put you back in Goldshire in less than a half day. Yet you choose to stay here and do menial labor. Why is that?”

Laila scowled at her. “Why does there have to be a reason? I like it here. Even though it’s in this beleaguered state, I feel more at home here than I did in Goldshire. I have even been thinking of settling here permanently, when it becomes possible.”

“So you have said, and I think that is a good thing, but finding your future does not erase your past. Master Wefhellt has been asking after you and says you have not been in touch. He says you have friends in Goldshire, or perhaps one friend in particular who is upset at your silence. I know you spent 18 years at the Abbey there and yet you have not been back once.”

Laila’s face grew stubborn. “So? Perhaps I want to move forward, and not backwards. I have all the time in the world to go back. I want to get to what’s next!”

“Laila. Do you not understand what you do here? You speak as if you are invincible. You do not know how much time you have. What we do here is dangerous. You may not live to see your next birthday, let alone spend all the time in the world waiting to feel better about whatever it is that bothers you and keeps you away from your past. Whoever it is you are afraid to see, you may never have the chance to see again if you wait too long.”

Laila grew pale. “Please … I … I know I must deal with this fear but I cannot just yet. I just need a little more time. It is probably hard for you to understand, who have lived so long. But I have so much I must deal with, and I can only do a little at a time. Here I finally am, where the very heart of the Defias beats. The Defias that killed my parents. This is my oldest wound and it is the one I must deal with first. Once I have healed this most basic and fundamental of my scars, then I will be ready to take on the next.”

Elsharin sighed. “I do understand a little, I suppose. I do not see why you cannot work on both things at once, but as you say, you are young. And it is not for me to tell you how to live your life. I may command you in military matters, but not in this.”

Laila nodded and patted Elsharin’s hand. “Thank you for understanding. At least, as far as you are able. Believe me, I understand that I am a bit … broken, right now. But I am self-aware, and I am working on it. I will be back to Goldshire when I am ready. I just need a little more time to be ready. I am aware that I may never get that time, but that is the risk I take with the path I have chosen. Do not worry about me though, I am happy, for the most part, where I am. I will be all right, I promise.”

Elsharin smiled then. Humans were resilient, as frail as they may seem to her. She had to keep reminding herself of that. “Very well then, continue on with your labors here. I had better go to my meeting anyway. Perhaps I will see you at supper.”

“Perhaps,” said Laila, jumping back up to her perch. She did look happy, actually, mending her little corner of the inn.

Harrying the Defias

Patrolling Westfall with the People's Militia

“Stay in the shadows,” Laila heard a quiet voice warn her. Gathering her twilight-hued robes around her, she shrank into the darkness as much as possible.

“Wilhelm is setting everything up. All you need to do is wait, you will know when it is time to come out because you can hardly miss the explosion that will occur. At that time, Defias will be coming toward the chaos, trying to figure out what’s happened. You need to blast them with all you have. If you notice any of our fires going out of control, try to stop them with your frost.”

Laila nodded, but didn’t say anything, afraid she would betray her nerves by the tremble in her voice. This was very different from an Elwynn Forest patrol. In Elwynn, most of the dangers were easily deterred by a patrol in uniform, and one rarely had to face violence unless you sought it out. Here, the Defias didn’t care. They knew the militia was not much stronger than their ragtag group, made up of farmers and crafters for the most part, just as the Defias had been. This was her first time working with sappers, and it was interesting to say the least. She found that magecraft and engineering abilities were very complimentary skills in a military unit and she was fascinated by the careful planning and strategy that went into their gambits.

This particular operation was fairly simple. They had discovered during one of their patrols that a group of Defias had begun a small smuggling operation utilizing the coastal waters. They had set up a makeshift dock and were selling the resources plundered from the people of Westfall to pirates and black market operatives. Not only was it an affront to the hardworking people of Westfall, but having such outsiders come and see the present state of Westfall would only exacerbate the situation, encouraging them to raid and pillage in the North away from the Defias strength, where the citizens were still barely holding on to some of their land and goods.

So the mission was very cut-and-dried. They were to destroy the dock, kill all of the Defias in the area, and then make that area of the coast as inhospitable to landing as possible, to discourage the next groups of people who came by sea seeking stolen goods. Hopefully they would return to where they came from, spreading the word that this new source of illicit trade was no more than a rumor.

Crouching for so long, Laila’s thighs began to ache, begging to be stretched. She was thirsty and hungry as well, but she dared not move until it was time to do so. Suddenly, she heard the crunch of gravel nearby as someone walked over the coarse sand. She tensed, not knowing whether it was friend or enemy. Then she sighed with relief as she heard Wilhelm’s gruff voice whisper sharply. “Ready.” She braced herself.

Not more than a moment later, the peaceful night silence was torn asunder by a flash of bright light and a thunderclap of noise. Laila dashed forward trying to keep calm and spot the Defias. She heard shouts and instinctively turned in that direction, seeing the telltale red scarves. She raised her staff and they exploded into flame. She checked the area, but the beach offered no real way for the fire to burn out of control. A few stray flaming pieces of wood floated harmlessly on the sea.

Suddenly she flew back as a rough hand grabbed her by the ponytail. “All right then girlie, think you’re pretty clever, don’t you? But even the cleverest rabbit finds a snare eventually, and I’ve caught you in mine, little rabbit. And I’m going to skin you alive to make a nice hat for Van Cleef.” Laila forced herself to continue breathing in and out slowly. She wasn’t going to panic. She wasn’t here alone and she was trained.

She spat and the trapper found himself frozen up to the ankles in a solid block of ice. Quickly she smashed him in the face with her staff and then lurched forward when his grip loosened. She ran forward towards the sea and then turned back to hurl a bolt at him but there was no need. One of her fellow patrolmen had overpowered him, knocked him out, and was already knotting him tightly with some strong twine.

“The Marshalls will want to interrogate him. We can maybe find something out about Van Cleef, if he truly knows anything about the man and wasn’t just bragging when he claimed to be in the business of being his haberdasher.”

“Good idea,” said Laila. She surveyed the beach and found their mission to be practically accomplished. The Defias were all dead, except for the one they had captured. The dock was destroyed. Two of the patrolmen took the prisoner back to Sentinel Hill quickly. The rest of them stayed behind and found whatever rocks and other menacing looking objects they could locate to make the beach look inhospitable. Laila felt a little sad. Coming to Westfall marked the first time she had seen the ocean and she had instantly fallen in love with it. She knew that there were lovelier beaches on other shores. The coast of Westfall was rather grey and forbidding, even on the sunniest days, but there was something about it that appealed to her. And she had a sense that the weather, the mineral-rich soil, and the salt air would grow excellent grapes for wine. She had written Milly Osgood back in Northshire to tell her about this place for when conditions were better. Laila had half a mind to inquire about a plot for herself. Having been in the army and having not many living expenses, she had been starting to accumulate a nest egg. Especially since she was able to supplement her income by gathering herbs as she patrolled and selling them to herbalists in the city or locally.

She sighed as she headed wearily back to Sentinel Hill.  A pipe dream for now. Westfall had a long way to go before it was free of the Defias influence and anyone could peacefully settle, especially out near the coast so far away from the militia’s influence. Someday, though. Someday, perhaps.

Arrival in Westfall

The woman that arrived from Westfall was virtually unrecognizable from the girl that had left Goldshire. Poised, inscrutible, and sober atop her mare, her mage’s robe was now the darker hue with the insignia of a specialist. Or at least, so Laila would have liked to have thought of the impression she made. In truth, to the survivors of Sentinel Hill, she looked little more than a child, green and untried. It was the high elf next to her that they all came out to gawk at and it was she who made their hearts swell with a bit of hope.

Most thought Laila her servant, if they noticed her at all. The past month in Westbrook Garrison had indeed changed Laila, much more than was apparent. She had learned discipline and she had also learned a bit about leadership and decisionmaking. But more important, she had learned more about the Defias. She had also realized that no matter what she told herself, the reason she stayed in the army was because of them. She had had plenty of opportunity to give it up and settle in Elwynn, her mentors always offered her that choice, and her sharp eye and cheerful demeanor could served her quite well as a florist and herbalist. But something kept her going and she realized that she simply could not settle while the Defias still roamed the land. They disrupted so many lives–had disrupted hers permanently.

One thing she had learned was that they had a leader. His name was Edwin Van Cleef. She had read through intelligence reports on the man and learned that he had always been a thief, but he was also a very skilled engineer and mason. After Stormwind was destroyed, he had been one of the first and foremost of volunteers to rebuild it. He was also one of the first and most vocal to rise against the city.

Laila grimaced. She couldn’t help but feel that while the Defias were a menace that needed to be quelled, the city did indeed owe some of these men reparations for their work. On the other hand, Van Cleef’s Defias had at this point wrested far more from travelers, citizens, nobles and the outlying landholdings than they could possibly have been owed and yet his men still were dirty, poor, and hungry. Van Cleef himself could have chosen to take his due for himself and his men and then put the entire matter to bed, but instead he carried on and it was increasingly clear that he desired nothing less than the utter destruction of Stormwind itself.

Laila still didn’t care all that much for the capital, but she was now fiercely protective of the simple and good people who lived in the surrounding countryside. No more innocents should die or have their hard work stolen from them by the Defias. Laila had determined that the single most important security efforts should be dedicated to finding and destroying Van Cleef. When he was gone, she believed that the Defias could be dissolved, especially if they were offered honest wages for honest work. She had seen the conditions they lived in and they weren’t nice. She believed that most, if not all of the lower level bandits would trade it in to work as a farmhand with room and board or to work as a real miner, rather than a slave of the Defias Brotherhood.

Which was what brought her to Westfall. After speaking up passionately for this within the council meetings of the Stormwind mages, they had finally come to agree slightly. At first they had barely listened, she was little more than a scribe to them. But Elsharin had heard and agreed with her, and her support had greatly swayed the other mages.

The intelligence reports they had suggested that the heaviest activity was in Westfall where the Defias has seized most of the property and there were rumors of a secret hideout underground where the leadership was to be found. Elsharin and Laila had been dispatched to meet with the leader of the volunteer army at Sentinel Hill in Westfall to offer their help. As they learned more, they were to report back and reinforcements may be sent as needed.

So here they were. A grizzled and grey man in a uniform they would soon identify as that of the People’s Militia of Westfall came out to greet them. He introduced himself as Gryan Stoutmantle. Laila had already heard talk of him in Westbrook Garrison. He apparently was a paladin from Lordaeron. No one knew how he had ended up in Westfall or why he was leading this militia. Laila knew well what had become of Lordaeron though, and she guessed that he did not want the same to happen to his new home. If he was anything like her, that is. On a smaller scale, her tale was not so different. On a much smaller scale.

He was pleased to see them, especially Elsharin. It was clear she was a high level mage. He assigned Laila to a motley team of snipers, rogues, and sappers. Their mission was to harry the low level Defias members and disrupt the business of the Defias in Westfall including the smuggling, hunting, and mining operations. She was a bit disappointed that she would be separated from Elsharin, who would be working on higher-level tactics and intelligence gathering. Elsharin promised Laila they would pull her in whenever possible. She knew how much this meant to Laila.

In the meantime, Laila got situated. Sentinel Hill was a makeshift place. Its main feature was the tower, which was the most secure location in the area, and had a commanding view of the surrounding area. Nearby, workmen were hastily building up buildings to create a village to house the refugees from the surrounding area. Sentinel Hill was truly the last refuge left in the region. If it fell, Westfall would belong completely to the Defias. As Laila made a spot for herself in the spare and as yet unfinished inn, which also served as a barracks, she pledged herself to defend this little town and help them to take back their land. Starting tomorrow.