Arandori Dewfeather

A Visitor at Glimmerglen

Why they all had wanted to throw the book at her was not known.  Perhaps Alan had something to use as leverage.  Still, here she was, confined to Fio’s estate until the trial.  It certainly could have been worse, considering they wanted Arandori Riverseeker to remain in custody

Fio had championed for her and had won.  She had full access to all of Glimmerglen which meant she could still visit Fio, the beach, and the little lambs.  Fio had even paid off the debts to finalize the divorce.

Here she was, watching the little lambs jump around.  A lot of little lambs.

“There you are.” A familiar voice murmured in her ear.  Chills ran down her spine but she didn’t move.

“We’re done, Alan.  I don’t ever have to see you or talk to you again.”  Her fingers gripped the fence railing.

“Oh, darlin’ we’re far from done.  Especially if you don’t wanna go to prison for attempted murder.”  His voice lowered as he sneered into her ear. “You tried to kill me ‘n I’ve got proof.”

Arandori tried to spin around, but was caught between his body and the fence.  He leaned against her, grasping the railing on either side of her body.  “I didn’t and you know it!”

“Oh, but ya did.  I don’t know any different,” he lied, “An they won’t either.  They’re more than eager to hear my story about a filthy whore like you who left their husband to die in a fire.”

Bile rose in Dori’s throat and she swallowed back the bad taste in her mouth.  Her eyes darted around, looking for Fio or one of the patrols…anyone.  She felt the tears brim in her eyes but was determined to not let him see, know how he made her feel. Instead, she took a deep measured breath and willed the tears to dry. “Whatcha want sugar?”

Her husband chuckled and leaned closer.  “That’s my girl. You know I want you.”

“Well, here I am.”  She glanced over her shoulder before looking back across the pasture and all the tiny lambs.  “But Fio finalized the Divorce today. You’ve got your money.  More than you’d ever have found a way to get hands on.”

“I figured you’d be long gone by now.  Besides, how’d you even get in?”

Dori played it a little too well or maybe he just didn’t care.  His hand left the fence and moved to her hip, giving a little squeeze.  “Oh, darlin’, it’s no trouble.  All ya gotta do is say you’re gonna buy some glass or cloth.  But no one even asked.  Look like ya know where you’re goin’ ‘n that ya belong, and most folks don’t even notice ya.”  He nuzzled into her hair.  “So, ya ready to go?”

“He’s not wrong, you know,” Fiorenze said, her melodic accent carrying over the distant, quiet bustle of her town. “We do try to keep trade open, but everything on my land is within my own jurisdiction. That’s part of the reason I gave you the house, Darling, though you should’ve told me sooner that’s what this man called you! I would have gone with something entirely different,” her saccharine sweet smile bloomed across her face, helping to put a veneer of velvet over the sharp undercurrent in her tone.

She stepped into within a few paces of Arandori, giving the other woman an “out” if she so chose, the quiet clinking of her golden armor muffled by the official, deep scarlet silk that marked her regalia as Sunreaver. Her eyes drifted over Alan and sized him up for a fraction of a moment before extending her hand to the man so he could kiss her rings, “Lady Tel’vaiel, I do expect you to bow.”

He looked the part of a man who partied too much and surfed from couch to couch…or bench to  bench.  He took a step back and lifted the hand at Dori’s waist to rub at his scruffy jaw.  “Heh…”  A low growl of a chuckle as he looked between the two women.  “Ah, shit.  This is your hoity toity bitch, ain’t it?  Fuck all, Dori.”  His beady eyes settled back on Dori. “But I reckon you are, ain’t ya? Can’t say that I blame ya, she’s hot as fuck.”  He grinned as he raked his eyes over Fio for emphasis.

Dori took her opportunity to take a step towards Fio, away from him. “Why don’t ya just get the hell away from here, Alan.  Take your money ‘n enjoy it. Let me be.”

Alan held his hands up in surrender. “I just wanted to say hello. I figured we could at least catch up a lil, yeah?”  One corner of his mouth curled into a smirk. “Guess we’ll hafta do that later, yeah?”

Dori rolled her eyes. “Yeah.  Catch up? I think the time for catchin’ up is done.”

All the polite warmth left Fiorenze’s voice at a noticeable pace as she drew her hand back towards herself, the years of rule and command snapping into place all at once with a sharp, crisp snap of consonants, “Mister Riverseeker, you can bow of your own accord or I can have one of my guards force you to your knees in front of everyone in the town square. Do your lawyers know you’re here? Mine do, as will Magistrate Dhal’maier within the hour.”

Her smile remained, confident in her position of power, “There will be no catching up, not now, not ever. Rest assured if I see you on my lands again after this you’ll be thrown in Silvermoon’s prisons for trespassing on a Noble’s lands.”

A scowl crept, the lines of his face deepening.  He curtly bowed, at least smart enough to realize when he was bested. “I ain’t wantin’ no trouble, no trouble at all.”  He took a few steps back but that sly grin returned. “Nice visit. Nice to meet ya.”  He dipped his head then looked Dori in the eyes, pausing before turning and disappearing into the market crowd.

Dori let out a long held breath. “Fucker.”  She sheepishly looked over at Fio, “Sorry and thanks.  Yet again.”  

Fiorenze watched Arandori’s husband walk away, expression slipping into something more placid, “No need to apologize, Dori. The good thing about a man like that is he’s stupid enough to get himself tangled up in everything that will lead to his failure without realizing that’s what he’s doing.”

She turned her eyes over to her friend, watching her carefully for a moment before a friendlier, more impish smile bloomed across her features, “He certainly wanted trouble, but I suspect he wasn’t prepared for the kind he found.”

As he disappeared into the crowd, Dori exhaled and visibly relaxed.  She turned to Fio. “Sorry about that. Guess he found me.” She chuckled quietly, looking back down the path for reassurance that he was gone. “I told ya this was all gonna be bad. Maybe he’s gone now anyway. But no, I reckon he didn’t prepare to find any sort of trouble.”

She smiled at her friend.  “Always was the type to think everything would just roll right off him. Heh, prolly thought it because it usually does. He always comes out smellin’ like a rose.”

“Ah, well. If he somehow manages to make it past my Guards again to harass you, feel free to stab him. My laws don’t cater much to harassers and I’d probably have to fine you juuuust a smidge to stay golden in the eyes of Quel’thalas’ laws, but that seems like it might actually be worth it,” her laugh was light enough as she offered her arm out so Arandori could link her own in tandem, “You’re more than welcome to have dinner with me at Meadowrun tonight, anyway. Just in case.”

Dori hooked her arm in Fio’s and gave her a little squeeze.  “Ha!  Ya might fine me, but then you’d have to pay that as well.  Dinner and a drink sounds like a great plan.  Get that grubby husband of mine out of our minds.  What is for dinner as well?”

“Something good, I suppose. I was too busy to ask before I left to come down!”