Noirwind

Take a look into the life of a not-so-ordninary servant of the light!

Topic/Postby Lilandris » 21 Jun 2014, 15:51

Part 2

So here it is at last, way overdue, but by god how long this is. Way longer than any other story I've worked on before I reckon. This story is over 8000 words in it's entirety!(including part 1) Well, hope you enjoy, I certainly enjoyed writing it too!

Click here for extra noir

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The whole situation made me sick. Being the loyal person I was to all the people I named my closest friends gave me a habit of feeling like I was having both my heart and gut poked at by hungry ravens whenever my friends were in deep water. And this water was as deep as The Vile Reef. It became apparent to me that there was a reason why I don’t conduct the kind of work that Keurlan undoubtedly does. I didn’t have the stone cold attitude to it; mine was that of fire spreading in dry Westfall grass, volatile and unpredictable. You can’t do this kind of work if you let it get personal. And the Islerocks had made it all too personal from the start by taking Alice. But I wasn’t about to turn around and walk away, I had put too much of myself in this already. I saw myself in need of cooling off at home for a day after the visit we had paid Mr. Suronich. But maybe it only made it worse to sit here, restlessly. Both for myself -and- for Alice, I could imagine she didn’t like the situation she was in. It tugged at my soul just thinking about her, as if there was a link between us right now; a string she’d pull and hope to get my attention with. Well, Alice, you have my attention, but I have to at least try to not do anything stupid while solving our predicament. Walking back and forth over the wooden floors of Keurlan’s residence wouldn’t solve anything. This waste of time would only let my mind simmer and fuel my rage even further the longer it went on. All I could think of was Alice, and all I could hear was the ringing of the church bell that was my own self-righteousness.

I lit myself a tobacco roll, hopefully to help cool my head. I walked back and forth across the floor while taking hasty drags from the roll. Halfway through it I halted by my desk by the wall and almost slammed the tobacco roll into the ashtray there.
“This isn’t working!” I walked quickly towards the door, but halfway there I was halted by the sound of Keurlan’s voice.
“Hold your horses, Lil, bribing a manservant is one thing, but the Stormwind Guard won’t let us barge into the Census Office and make demands so easily.”
Keurlan was right, sadly. I closed my eyes and pinched my nose bridge; my mind was churning to the point of headache. I must have stood there for a whole minute when suddenly I remembered as if through divine intervention that I could perhaps pull some strings myself; Keurlan wasn’t the only one in Stormwind who knew a name or two.
“How about we pay the High Priestess a visit?” I turned my head to look at Keurlan, for once he had a look of slight confusion on his face. I continued: “As much as I prefer not to bother with the people in the Cathedral, their word carries weight in Stormwind. If we can get some official documents and signatures behind us, then the Census Office won’t bat an eye at our request.”
“I like the way you’re thinking, Lil.” He gave a grin, like a man being proud of a family member. “However, while -I- have no qualms about it, are you sure -you- are okay with pulling those kind of strings for this... shady ordeal we find ourselves in?”
“I find myself needed to let the ends justify the means, besides, -we- are the good guys here!” I paused for a moment as if to reassure myself that I was right. “And with those kind of people behind us, we would have a strong case either way.” I didn’t wait for Keurlan to reply, I just marched straight out the door. Keurlan wasn’t far behind.

The Cathedral of Stormwind always looked beautiful, come rain or snow, day or night, it never failed to present it’s beauty. Whether it was due to impeccable architecture or The Light’s grace I couldn’t say, but it was likely that it was a bit of both. The dusk gave the sky a look akin to fire, an intense red-orange transitioning eventually into an indigo blue as the sun slowly crawled below the horizon. The glaring evening sky gave the Cathedral a look of righteousness about it. It was hard to explain exactly why it gave me that association, but it was an omen too good to pass up. Keurlan grabbed my arm gently as I stepped onto the stairs up into the Cathedral, I turned around to see, to my surprise, an apologetic look on his face.
“Lil, dear... Eh, do you mind if I wait out here?”
I don’t think I’d ever heard such a voice from him before, it wasn’t like him at all. He obviously read the puzzled look I had on my face, and he looked like he wanted to explain himself but struggling to choose the right words. It suddenly dawned on me what was wrong. I couldn’t help but smile.
“Keurlan, you share a bed with one of The Light’s devoted servants. Going inside the Cathedral shouldn’t be a problem at all. Besides, when did you grow a conscience?” My last comment came out a bit more harsh than intended.
“Ouch, that hurts, Lil...”
“I’m sorry, I-...” I ended up apologizing, despite the fact he didn’t seem too struck by it. He gave a grin suddenly. “...Come on you big fool, no need for you to leave your lady’s side at this time.” I smirked back at him.

The High Priestess greeted us and took us to her office quarters where we sat down.
“Madam Lightmancer, Sir, how may the Cathedral of Light be of service to you today?” She spoke in a soft voice, but a look of concern was on her face, no doubt she could sense my inner turmoil; a trait many people of her position had, most of their job being to address the people and their pleas, and not least understand them. “It looks as if you are hesitant to ask that which you came here to ask, Madam Lightmancer. Please, speak your troubles, that I may advise you on them.” The elevated speech of the clergy was different from the one you’d hear from nobles, it gave a sense of humble authority, rather than the sickening, assertive authority that nobles gave off.
“High Priestess... Me and my.. other half here... We are investigating the abduction of a child here in Stormwind. We have reason to believe that the culprits are on the higher end of Stormwind’s food chain. Sadly, this leaves them... Out of reach for the two of us, and we were hoping you’d be able to help us, being the High Priestess of The Stormwind Cathedral.”
“But of course, the children of Stormwind are of the utmost importance, orphans or no. We make our highest efforts to give all the children of the city and it’s lands assistance in any way we can if needed. How can I assist your investigation, Madam Lightmancer?”
“I am glad to hear that, High Priestess... Our investigations thus far has led us to believe there may have been tampering with documents in the Stormwind Census Office. This poses a problem for us, as neither of us have the authority to demand insight in their documents. However, it is likely that they would deny us either way, as the one who would have done the tampering -is- one of the heads of Stormwind Census. But if we show up with a document informing of our investigation with your signature and blessing, the High Priestess of Stormwind, they would have no choice but to let us in. Defying the Cathedral in their work for justice and the well-being of Stormwind’s citizens is bad for the public image, not to mention considered a crime in some cases.”
“I admire you, Madam Lightmancer. You have such fervor when you put your mind to something. If it comes to it, you would do everything within your power and more to reach your goal. It’s a trait I’m afraid many of us here at the Cathedral lack, perhaps that is why you left us? No doubt The Light had other plans for you than to stand behind the altar out there.” She gestured to the door behind me with both hands with a slight sweeping motion. “If my word could help bring the corrupt to justice, and more importantly bring a child safely home, then it would be the Light’s will that I assist you. I will pen the document you need myself at once. It may take a little while, please feel free to wait in the main hall in the meantime.” She gave a bright and comforting smile.
“You have my deepest thanks, High Priestess.” I stood up and bowed, before me and Keurlan left the room.

The main hall was empty at this time. It felt like a good time to offer prayer at the altar.
“I wish to go say my prayers, Keurlan, I’m sure there’s a pew you can sit on somewhere in here.” I smiled at him, I really appreciated him standing by me in this whole ordeal, giving me his support.
“Do you mind if I stand here and watch?” He smiled back at me.
“If you wish, dear.” I kissed him before walking up to the altar. Carefully I kneeled and closed my eyes in prayer.

Thoughts raced through my head, to the point where it was almost getting hard to focus on prayer. This didn’t happen often, and only if I was stressed. Poor Alice’s face flashed under my eyelids constantly, it was only fitting my prayers were devoted to her well being. I rose to my hooves when I was done, I felt a strange, mixed sensation of exhaustion and reassurance; The Light would watch over Alice tonight. I sighed heavily, loud enough for anyone in the whole hall to hear. Keurlan came over and put his hand on my shoulder. Keurlan had always been heavy-handed, but his hand felt even heavier this time. I looked at him, and our concerned eyes met. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he saw exactly how I felt. The High Priestess returned a moment later. I approached her to meet her half-way over the floor. She handed me a rolled up sheet of parchment wax-sealed with the Cathedral’s seal. The parchment felt a little heavier and thicker than the normal kind.
“Using your best parchment I see?”
“Of course.” I could detect a hint of smugness in her smile. “I’m only happy to help, madam Lightmancer. I believe in your path, and I see it as my duty and honor to aid you. While your work is... Different from ours here at the Cathedral, I know you wouldn’t be doing it if it wasn’t The Light’s will. I hope this proves to you that we’re not -all- the same here at the Cathedral.” She gave a wink, I had to admit I wouldn’t have expected her to make such a sly expression. I bowed to the High Priestess as I bid her farewell. It was getting late, and by now my body was aching from lack of rest. It was no use for us to try to keep working without sleep.
“I’m sorry, Alice, I need to rest, the Light will watch over you tonight.”
I couldn’t help feeling guilty.

Our visit to the Census Office proved me right on one hand; they backed off with their suspicions when I waved the document at them. I decided to play it smart and have one of the secretaries assist me, rather than the bosses. As I was about to get started to search through the Islerock papers for anything suspicious, one of the bosses came along with an annoyed look on his face, a tall and thin man in dark, fancy clothing.
“What exactly is going on here?” He spoke in an annoyed, yet diplomatic voice.
I straightened myself up and handed over the document from the Cathedral once again. He skimmed through it, seemingly skipping to the important parts, he obviously had experience with reading official documents. When he had finished, he shrugged and rolled up the parchment before handing it back to me.
“Very well, carry on. Let us know if you need anything.” He turned on his boot heels and strode off again. His composure and seemingly lack of interest led me to believe he wasn’t the boss who was in the Islerocks’ pocket. Fortuitous in which case, as it was better the less the Islerocks knew I was on their trail. Before too long I came upon an entry among the Islerocks’ children that struck me as odd. Not only were all the other children in their family boys, they had all come of age several years ago. This entry was for a girl, the name was of course not Alice, but the noted appearance matched Alice almost on the dot. It was also noted she was adopted, unlike all the others who were clearly stated to be blood heirs. Keurlan returned from having a look around the Census Office, just as I was looking over the attached birth certificate. He stood behind me on my left, looking over my shoulder.
“Find anything, dear?”
“I think so, have a look at this, anything strange about it to you?” I handed him the birth certificate. He looked at it thoroughly, he even seemed to check the weight of the parchment by waving it slightly in the air. He also looked at the file entry a few times, specifically the adoption process notes. After a moment of examination he spoke:
“I think this might be a forgery... A very good one, but forgery none the less.”
“No doubt if it’s done by someone who handles this stuff every day. What makes you think it’s a forgery?”
“The orphan part, ironically enough. I will need to cross-check with some references from adoption papers.” He walked over to the archive shelves hurriedly, searched through them for a large book before returning to the desk I was seated by. The desk creaked as the heavy book came down on it. He opened it up and leafed through it to a random adoption entry. Then he examined it, while letting his eyes fall upon the supposed forgery several times as well, comparing the two. He opened several other adoption entries as well.
“Yes, this is most likely a forgery.” He nodded.
“Go on.”
“The fact that the birth certificate is found alongside the family entry at all makes it highly abnormal by the looks of it. You see here...” He pointed in the books. “...This one states she is a war orphan. But in this adoption archive none of the war orphan entries have any birth certificates attached, in fact, they clearly state they don’t have one attached.”
“So does this give us any leverage? This sounds circumstantial to me.”
“It is, I’m afraid.” He sighed. “I’ve worked on less than this before, but it is on the knife’s edge. The law could easily go in the Islerocks’ favor.”
“Well, we still have investigative authority with this document here. Why don’t we bring this document and say we wish to compare directly? Ask to see Alice, I mean. If they refuse to cooperate, they are actively obstructing justice, which is a crime. In turn, it would carry considerable risk of scandal and loss of reputation with the King, who’s bootstraps they cling so firmly to.”
“And when we’re stood in the same room as Alice..?”
“We observe her reactions first of all. She is a child, and her emotional response is likely to be highly noticeable.”
“I suppose it’s the best we can do at this point.” He shrugged.
“Let us not waste time then, let’s go pay them a visit.”

The Islerock residence, once again. It was time for one final scene; all this had turned into something seemingly worthy of the Karazhan Opera Hall. All too memorable. It was time to please the crowd; end the story. Question was whether this play would end a tragedy, or a heroic epic. Either way the joke would be on me, I hadn’t exactly played the part of a knight in shining armour. Rain was pouring down as the dark sky loomed above Stormwind. A few rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance, getting closer.
The butler opened the door at the Islerock residence, just as he did last time. He didn’t look too pleased to see me again.
“You again? There is no need for this harassment, I was not informed of any meeting today, so you clearly don’t have a scheduled audience with Mr. Islerock. Be gone!”
“Hold your tongue. We are here on official lawful business, we need to see the youngest daughter of the house.” I opened the document from the High Priestess and held it up to him so he could see. There was a clear hesitation from him, mulling over in his head what to do.
“Very well, come inside, I will get the Lady of the house and the daughter.”
We stepped inside and closed the door as the butler strode off hurriedly towards another wing of the house. I pulled back my hood and brushed some water off my sleeves as we waited, not a word was spoken between me and Keurlan as we stood side by side, our eyes were firmly set upon the door on the far side of the entrance hall that the butler had left through. A short moment later, what sounded like a combination of quick steps from a child and long, determined steps of a grown man came from beyond the door. It certainly wasn’t the lady of the house accompanying the child.
A stinging feeling of uneasiness in my stomach caused me to pull my gun, I had a bad feeling about whoever was on the other side of the door, hurrying towards it.

To no surprise, the doors burst open as Mr. Xavius Islerock entered the room with what clearly appeared to be Alice in tow. I pointed the gun at him instinctively, but I didn’t cock it just yet. Mr. Islerock had long, backswept, raven black hair. He was strongly built, but not completely fit, reminiscent of his nobility status and the extravagant life it no doubt brought with it. He spoke with clear anger in his voice.
“What’s this then, what’s so important about my daughter, that you see fit to harass us like this?!” He spoke immediately after the doors had opened. Alice was, as usual, deadly silent. But when she managed to get a view of the situation, and me and Keurlan, she let out an audible gasp, she wrested herself from Mr. Islerock’s hand and ran towards me, putting her arms around my left leg, afterwards shuffling in behind me and peeking out to look back at Mr. Islerock.
“That didn’t look like the reaction of a daughter to me. Mr. Islerock!” I cocked my gun at him. His face turned a little redder and contorted into a snarl.
“You have no right to barge in on our lives like this, we are nobles!”
“Being a noble does not grant you a free pass out of facing justice!”
“Pff, I have plenty of contacts that will keep my hands out of shackles.”
“Too bad the Light’s Justice that I represent doesn’t have courtrooms then.” I took an imposing step towards him. “Keurlan, get Alice out of here safely.”
“As you wish. Come along, Alice, we should leave.” Keurlan took Alice’s hand and led her out of the house, shutting the door behind them. I returned my focus to Mr. Islerock on the other side of the room.

“Why did you do this, why Alice?”
“She can’t speak, so she wouldn’t be speaking up about this. And with a little influence and love she would grow to become part of the family as if her past had been erased. And she will live a much better life here than with that pathetic redneck and hysterical Draenei lady that were looking after her, she will be well cared for.”
“How dare you speak of love! The cynicism of this act is proof enough that there is no love to be had in that cold heart of yours. I can see by the way you use people around you, that all you want is another person to do your bidding, not a daughter! It is not wealth that constitutes a good future, but a loving family. And there is no such thing to be found in this dreadful house.” I could hear my voice growing more and more poisonous.
“You are wrong. I prefer to be pragmatic; it is wealth that puts food on the table, not the -love- that people like you revere so much. Fools is what you are, if you people would only understand, then perhaps Stormwind would be a better place, and the Wrynn monarchy could span all of Azeroth! Compassion is a weakness!”
“It’s not yours to use people as you please, as if they were tools.”
“At least I am building a future.”
“I’m not the one with a gun in my face.” I squeezed the trigger. The Fatebringer’s bell ring bellowed through the room alongside the gunshot as Mr. Islerock’s body fell to the floor and his soul torn from his body and brought to damnation.
And there it was, curtain call. The sound of rain and thunderclaps was like the applause of Titans or Old Gods. I felt no pride nor glory, for this was all shrouded in darkness, and I was just a grim-faced Draenei lady claiming to do The Light’s work while holding a smoking gun. I was disgusted that it had come to this. I holstered my weapon and walked slowly out of the house, into the rain. An all too familiar scene is what it was... At least to me.
Keurlan was waiting for me outside, Alice was safely at his side. I could tell he saw in my face that my work was done. And now he would do his part of keeping it hidden; sweeping it under the rug. He gave a solemn nod as I stopped in front of him, looking him in the eye. He almost seemed troubled at the situation, whether for me or the whole picture I couldn’t tell, and I didn’t care, for once.
“Are you alright, Lil dear?”
I saw no other comfort to the moment than the Light’s word.
“The heavens would open up, and rain would pour from them, as if disgusted by the world below them.”
Someone once said that the closer you stand to the light, the bigger a shadow you will cast. But there are many people who stand close to the light without casting a shadow at all, and I’m sure this deed wouldn’t impress Tirion Fordring much. It didn’t impress me either, this was a dirty job. I told myself the world would be ever so slightly better off from this. But I still couldn’t shake the feeling of bitterness I was left with.

I delivered a written report to the High Priestess of the Cathedral the same evening, I figured I owed her that much for her contribution, she could make of it what she wanted. And then I wandered aimlessly around Stormwind, lost in thought as my mind tore at me. I wanted to visit Sigmard and Delandra, and Alice, see if they were alright. But in a strange way, I felt like I didn’t want to see their faces for a little while, a feeling of guilt.

Keurlan woke me the next morning.
“Get up, Lil, I think you should go listen to the town crier.”
I wasn’t feeling too enthusiastic about going anywhere.
“Why, so I can feel even more guilty?”
Keurlan didn’t appreciate my reply, and he raised his voice in what would either be anger or frustration.
“Enough with this moodiness of yours! The Lilandris I know, and -love-, is one that has a spine. One who lived by the words of her creed; ‘Face the consequences standing’. There is no need for this depression you currently embrace.”
I rarely heard Keurlan lose his cool like this, much less against me. But he had a very strong point, it wasn’t like me to be apathetic like this. Suddenly I felt as if I had snapped out of a trance.
“You know what? You’re right. I’m sorry, love.” I got out of bed and dressed myself in another set of holy robes, the ones from last night were still soaked from the rain. Keurlan stood by the door the whole time. “Alright, shall we go then?” I tried my best to smile, but it was hard.
“You know. I still maintain that you look impressive in those robes of yours.” He ran his hands down my arms, and took my hands in his. “Come on, my dear. Let’s go.”
The sun was shining this day, at last. The stormy weather seemed to have passed us by for good now. Birds twittered from the trees in the streets, and the day had a good feeling of pleasantness about it.
A crowd had gathered around the crier, atop his crate, listening to what he had to say.
“The Stormwind Citizen and Individual known as Xavius Islerock, upon investigation undertaken by The Holy Light’s Cathedral of Stormwind, was found to be guilty of kidnapping, extortion and blackmail, corruption, counter-working The Light’s Justice with direct intent, and plotting against the Common People of Stormwind and it’s provinces. The Light decreed he would face Holy Judgement and Retribution, and this was carried out by the Honored and Devoted Servant of The Holy Light Lilandris Len, also known as The Lightmancer. The representative’s delivery of judgement and retribution is to be considered lawful by kingdom law, in accordance with the Holy Judgement Paragraph.”
I was speechless. I couldn’t believe my ears, I turned to Keurlan who returned a shrug and a smile at me, this certainly wasn’t his doing.
“Looks like I don’t have to do any sweeping under the rug after all then.” He grinned.
I turned my eyes back to the crier, the feeling of relief was palpable. Like everything had worked out in the end. Suddenly, another person walked up and stood beside me, a holy-robed lady with her hood up. She pulled it back and revealed a smile as she turned her head to address me. The High Priestess herself, with her gentle and warm voice.
“It is not always that The Light fills us with warmth and good feelings. Sometimes it can make us feel remorseful, or angered and sad. It is The Light giving us a gentle, but uncomfortable reminder, so as to make sure we don’t get too comfortable in passing judgement upon others. Make no mistake, Madam Lightmancer, you’ve done the right thing... Doing the right thing does not always feel good.”
I nodded at her solemnly, then broke a smile at her.
“It means a lot to hear you say that, High Priestess.”
“I’m only glad to be of assistance, such is my path.” She curtsied at me before walking down the street again.
The air of worry was gone, and it was a beautiful day.
“I suppose I should go visit Sigmard and Delandra. You should come too, big man. Afterwards we can pack for a trip into the wilds, just the two of us. Does that sound good?”
“Hmm, I don’t know, Lil, visiting Sigmard and Delandra sounds like a pretty big obstacle for me.” He rubbed his chin and grinned at me.
“Oh shut up you fool, I know you can’t pass up on my offer. No doubt you can’t resist the opportunity to make love to me in the middle of the jungle wilds. Surely you wa- Mmmph!” My retort was cut short by Keurlan grabbing hold of me and sweeping me off my feet in a long, dramatic kiss.
“Let’s go visit Sigmard and Delandra then. My love.”


The end
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Lilandris
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