Zenobya Amberblaze

The Hunted (part 1)

Zeno sighed and gently patted Fifalr's neck before releasing him to the skies above Tol Barad. Diplomacy had never been her strong point in life, and even more so wasn't in undeath. She made sure to secure her blades in their sheaths so as to appear as least threatening as possible before entering the tavern. She was not there to cause a scene, which is why she was visiting on an off night as opposed to during their scheduled faction-neutral mixers.

She walked through the door, eyes searching for signs of activity, settling on a pair of employees conversing softly by the fireplace. One of them was an Illidari who worked security and she was hoping he'd be there, and the other... Well, this was unfortunate.

Dizarak Sanar stiffened at the sight of his sister's friend. Why is she here, again?

The other employee simply glanced up at her. “Can I help you?”

Zeno ignored the stare coming from Diz and kept her attention on the Illidari. “I was hoping someone would be here. I have questions and didn't want to raise alarm in a crowded place.”

Diz spoke first. “Questions for... who?”

Zeno narrowed her eyes at Diz. “Security. It is a matter of the safety of my employer.”

“Who is your boss?” the Illidari asked while passing glances between the two. Clearly they knew each other and the relationship wasn't cordial.

Diz relaxed a bit, So this isn't about Zara. “Captain Windgrave,” he answered before the death knight could speak.

Zeno again kept her attention on the Illidari. “Have you noticed any unusual characters frequenting the tavern? Death knights, perhaps?” The second question came out with a hiss.

“Besides you skulking about?” Diz snapped before cowering slightly at the frozen glare that was turned his way.

“Yes, besides me.”

“We get all kinds of people here, my dear,” the Illidari cut in. “Is there someone in particular we should be looking out for?”

Zeno sighed again and sat rather heavily beside the fire, away from the pair but close enough to have a discussion. “Captain Windgrave is being hunted. I have reason to believe it is one of my former associates.”

“Do you have a description of the person?” the Illidari asked. “We can most certainly keep an eye out for them.”

“We-... I have not been able to pinpoint exactly who.” Zeno had a pained expression as she chose her next words carefully. “Some of us did not take well to our change in leadership. They have inexplicably 'disappeared', and no they are not dead.”

“Well that does make what you're asking a bit more difficult,” the Illidari reasoned. “But she would be quite safe in the tavern; it's extremely difficult to sneak past our guard staff.”

Diz frowned into his drink, brows furrowed. “Who all knows and is looking out? And why bring this to us?”

Zeno looked toward the large void male. “Bolvar does not have nearly as tight a hold on us as Arthas did. We enjoy a certain amount of autonomy that we didn't before, which makes keeping track of the rank and file more difficult. I fear the one who nearly killed the Captain back in Icecrown is out to finish the job. I am not sure who knows, which is why I am here now. I know she frequents this place.”

Diz had sipped his drink and choked on it at this information. The Illidari looked to him with concern when he finally spoke. “We have to tell Wayland.”

The Illidari agreed; Olathia's mate indeed needed to be informed. “I can imagine he'd be the only one she'd allow as a bodyguard. She strikes me as too proud to accept one.”

Zeno kept her thoughts to herself on that statement. He couldn't be more wrong. The reason for not telling her directly was to avoid panic. The Captain deserved to enjoy her peace.

“Does Zara know?” Diz asked, a little sheepishly.

Zeno narrowed her eyes at no one in general. “I have not told her.”

The Illidari spoke again. “I feel that would be very important information to her.”

“Zara has enough things to worry about.” She shot the Illidari a very pointed look.

“It's unlike you to go about without her,” Diz observed.

“This is a personal mission, completely solo and covert.” Clearly the other two didn't agree with her reasoning but kept their mouths shut. Zeno sneered, “I will not have one of mine stepping out of line and threatening what little peace we have, regardless of Bolvar's lack of involvement.” The expression the Illidari wore showed he thought it was a little too late for that. Diz was about to speak again but shrank away at the sneer. “Those of us who had higher rank have ways of keeping track of our soldiers. Not exactly telepathy, but...” How to explain... “The whispers have gone silent.”

Diz knew a little something about that. While silence in your head could be a welcome respite, it could also be unsettling. “And you think this threat will come looking here? Simply because she visits?” It was more of a statement than a question.

“It is no secret that she spends time here. The threat will follow wherever the Captain goes.”

The Illidari simply sipped at his drink, letting Diz take over for a bit. “Between here and the Argent Camp this looming threat has a decent window. Exactly what does the Captain know?”

“She knows not to go anywhere alone and to keep her eyes open.”

“So she knows nothing...” Diz set his drink down and pinched the bridge of his nose. All of this was giving him a migraine.

“I have no doubt in the abilities of your guards, but I also know very well that death knights in general are combat specialists, with some of us more bloodthirsty and determined than others,” Zeno warned.

“Looks like we'll need to call a Raven Guard meeting,” Diz murmered. “First the damned creature stalking the village, and now this.”

The Illidari looked up at Diz and held up his hands. “Don't look at me! Go talk to Caleigh about it. I'm 'just' a guard.”

Diz placed a hand lightly on the Illidari's shoulder. “Someone's got to warn Vynix.”

The Illidari rolled his shoulder under Diz's hand as if stretching a wing. “I'll inform him.”

Zeno watched the exchange calmly, waiting for a moment to relay more information. “Another thing to consider is that the Ebon Blade works closely with Argent. We are free to come and go as we please. A death knight simply being in their camp is no cause for alarm.”

Diz's eyes widened “Oh, shit...”

“Although,” Zeno continued, “I do not believe this rogue agent will cause a ruckus in their camp. They have enough Light-wielders to bring down an entire army of Scourge. Trust me, that's an extremely painful way to go, and I believe enough of a deterrent.” She idly placed a hand to her chest and barely hid a grimace at the memory of her sister's sword.

“Doesn't make it easy on us, eh?” the Illidari interjected.

“She does have a good point,” Diz responded.

“When I have more information, I will definitely share it,” Zeno promised. “Your Raven Guard will be the first to know.”

The Illidari let out a long sigh and finally smiled. “We will let Vynix and our head of security know what's happening. Any move this death knight makes on this island will be taken down faster than a ghoul in the Church of the Holy Light.”

Diz nodded. “So, we aren't telling Zara... or Olathia... or Wayland??”

“Zara needs to focus on getting help if she is to be of any use,” Zeno said flatly. “Wayland should know, if he can keep it quiet.”

The Illidari smirked. “You'll have to give Wayland a new tongue if you want him to talk.”

Diz choked on his drink again. “He's not even here to defend himself from that burn!”

Zeno chuckled and signed as she spoke. “I know he has ways of communicating. This must be kept on the down low.”

Diz looked to Zeno again. “Is that all? I'd best get this information to the head of security right away.”

Zeno nodded curtly. “I would have told them myself, but it could not wait for me to bump into them again and I did not want to cause a scene with patrons about.” She got to her feet. “Thank you for your time, and I apologize for barging in on an off night.”

“Not a problem, my dear,” the Illidari said. “We'd rather you did and let us know.”

“A heads up is better than none,” Diz added, a little surprised at the apology. “Thank you.”

Zeno looked to Diz once more before turning to leave. “You don't have to worry about me reporting back to your sister. I have no thoughts on your personal business or family matters. That is between you and her.”

Diz's eyes widened further than they had all night, which made him look something like one of those bug-eyed stress ball dolls. “That's very kind of you,” he murmured before calling out. “Zenobya, wait...” Zeno stopped and glanced over her shoulder. “Suffer well.”

She nodded in understanding. “And may the shadows conceal you.”

Well that went better than expected, Zeno mused as she let out a sharp whistle. Fifalr swooped down from above the rooftops, and she scratched behind the white dragon's ridges as he nuzzled her chest. She leapt to his back and the pair took off into the skies once more, determined to track down the one who had vanished from Zeno's subconscious thoughts.

mentions: Heart of the Raven, Perchedon Heartthorn, @dizarak, @vynix, @caleigh, @zaravala