Niviene Larethian

New People and Places

Niviene watched the children as she walked down the hall, the new assistant dean at her side. Unaccustomed as they were to a woman wearing anything other than a modest, serviceable dress or heavy armor, they were somewhat taken aback by the woman dressed from head to toe in leather. Some of the children cast covert glances while others outright stared, until they realized that the headmistress was looking at them. It wasn’t that the newcomer’s clothes were menacing or risque, it was just an uncommon sight at Darkshire Academy.

The two women walked through the building, Niviene explaining the layout of classes, the daily schedules, and what one could expect from a typical day at the school until finally they stopped at a door on the second floor.

“This will be your office. I’m afraid the room hasn’t been used since the building was completed so it may seem a bit… abandoned. But we’ve cleaned it from top to bottom and left the windows open so it could air out. If there’s anything you need please let me know. If we don’t have it on hand I’ll do my best to see that you get it.” Niviene paused for a moment, her sky blue eyes lingering on her new assistant, “Within reason of course.” she added, a congenial smile taking the barb from her words.

Yarasa nodded, returning the smile, “I’m sure it’ll be fine. I don’t have a taste for exotic things so no worries there.”

Niviene nodded and opened the door, after ushering her companion into the room and leaving her to become acquainted with her new office, the headmistress retreated to her own space next door.

She sat at her desk, a sigh escaping her as she looked down at the other woman’s file. The application stated that Ms. Drothe had had an administrative position with SI7 in Stormwind and that information, upon inquiry, had been confirmed. Niviene knew well enough that the organization would not be forthcoming with news that Yarasa had been anything other than what the application said. She also knew that there was a good chance Yarasa had filled any number of other positions within the organization.

But mostly she knew that, of all the applicants, Ms. Drothe was the one that struck her as most qualified for the job. If there were any issues... and let’s face it, the school was in Duskwood; of course there would be issues… she would be better equipped to handle them than the wife of a member of the Nightwatch, or a former cook, or farmer’s wife. The idea that the children found her slightly intimidating couldn’t hurt either.

The priestess flipped through the pages of the file, scanning it’s content briefly. The woman exuded confidence, she seemed approachable, perhaps even friendly. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but there was something about Yarasa that sparked Niviene’s trust, a trust strong enough that she had no qualms with leaving her own children in her care.

In the other office Yarasa stood at the door, her eyes scanning the room. It wasn’t large but it was comfortable. The windows shone in the filtered sunlight, revealing the thick canopy of trees across the grounds. The furniture gleamed with fresh polish, filling the room with the scent of lemons and honey.

On the desk sat a stack of papers and Yarasa sat, examining them carefully. The headmistress had left her copies of the school roster, divided by grade and class. There was a list of staff members, complete with a short description and biography of each one. Another document proved to be the schedules, while another contained contact information for everyone, student and staff alike. Yara smiled, the headmistress was thorough if nothing else.

As she reached the bottom of the stack one of the documents caught her attention; a description of the paladin training ground and dormitory which was run by Commander Larethian. Yarasa paused, taping a fingertip against her lip. Larethian… she knew that name, had seen it in documents that had come across her desk in Stormwind.

Taking the paper with her, Yarasa went to Niviene’s office to voice her queries.

Niviene listened to Yara’s questions then nodded, “Commander Larethian has retired from active duty and now he trains recruits from the cathedral in Stormwind. They are afforded opportunities here that they wouldn’t receive in the capital. You needn’t worry about them though, my husband is in full control of their care and keeping. I only added the information so you wouldn’t be alarmed at the sounds of combat coming from the yard. No… our only responsibility with them is to make sure there isn’t any untoward fraternizing with our students.”

Yara nodded and returned to her own office, turning the commander’s name over in her thoughts, worrying at it like a dog with a bone. There was something about him… not him precisely, but associated with him… something just on the edge of her memory that nagged at her. Shrugging, the woman put the paper at the bottom of the stack. If she had time she’d look into it further but for now she had plenty of other things to do. Besides, this was her life now. She was no longer a member of SI7.