Peace and Quiet: such rare commodities these days, but he found both as he meditated here. Only three short years ago, when he had ascended to the position as Head of the Frost Order, the previous Archmage had presented him with the key to this Sanctum where all his predecessors had come when they needed to contemplate the nature of their magic. Sitting in the very centre of the chamber the floor around him was covered in a sheet of thick ice with large icicles hanging down from the ceiling, some of which met the cones of ice which arose from the ground in certain places.

“Master Maestro,” called a youthful female voice as she unintentionally shattered his meditation, this was quickly followed by a solid thud and the sound of something sliding along the ice.

Opening his eyes Maestro looked down to see the raven black hair of his personal aide, Kayla, a young and incredibly enthusiastic, if slightly accident prone, frost mage. He sighed quietly as she pushed herself up to a kneeling position and smiled up at him, while the plunging neck line of her robe caused rather naughty thoughts to flash in his mind for a moment.

“Are you alright Kayla?” he asked and her smile became brighter.

“Oh yes, I just slipped Master Maestro,” she assured him. “I came to inform you that Mistress Inferni is waiting in the Council Chamber,” she said and held out a small book which she kept his appointments in. “This is your schedule for the rest of the day”

“Very well,” he replied and helped her to her feet.

Passing through the Frost Wing of the mage guild Maestro found himself as always a person of awe to the young students who stepped aside for him. Any other day the sight and sound of so many bright enthusiastic faces would have filled him with a sense of pride but not this time. The dominating thought in his head as he made his way through the passageways of the guild, just as it had been while he had been meditating in his chamber, was the growing antagonism between the magi of the Arcane Order and those of the Fire and Frost.

His route to the council chamber took him past the grand lecture hall where many classes from all three orders were taught. Unfortunately, entering the hall was a group of arcane novices and their teacher for this lecture was none other than Maestro’s estranged younger sister Asta. She caught sight of him and her expression which had already been one of stern discipline turned to that of loathing, to which he shook his head sadly and walked past. Ever since the very public altercation between himself and Archmage Ringus their relationship, which had been strained at the best of times, was now down right hostile.

It had exposed to everyone just how ambitious his sister was, when she had put Tinkertot, her own daughter, in danger just to further her influence with the Archmage and her own position within the guild. What was more, when he and his brother in law Tout’Sweet had stopped it, she had sided with Ringus who had been performing magical tests which could have seriously harmed the little girl if not out right killed her. These actions were not something he would ever forgive or forget.

The altercation had also brought the long building tensions between the three mage orders out into the open. Now when even novices of different orders stepped into the same room as each other the belligerence was palpable. Since that day things had only gotten worse as Ringus had locked himself away in his chambers refusing to attend the weekly council meetings between the orders which were now little more than a place for the once respectable members of Gnomeregan’s magical leadership to scream accusations and insults at each other, before lapsing into reproachful silences.

Thankfully the council chamber was empty this morning, apart from Mistress Inferni head of the Fire Order and her aide, a rather plump, self-satisfied looking gnome called Cogs. The two had been discussing Inferni’s own schedule for today when Maestro and Kayla entered. After Maestro had taken his seat she dismissed Cog.

“I’ll wait outside Master Maestro,” Kayla whispered and exited out through the door that Cog politely held open for her. Maestro wondered if it was only his imagination or was the swaying of her hips a little move obvious as she walked away, then with an unworried shrug he turned to Infenri.

“I think your aide has taking a liking to you,” his old friend teased as soon as they were alone.

“Kayla,” Maestro replied. “I’m almost old enough to be her father” he protested. “Well older brother at least.”

“That not what she thinks I’m telling you,” Inferni smiled. “For someone as smart and magically gifted as you are Maestro when it comes to females you seem to be rather dumb.”

“Did you ask to see me just to talk about my social life?” he asked becoming rather tired of this particular conversation. The teasing smile and expression on her face vanished in a instant to be replaced by more serious and strained ones, something that he regretted having caused.

“You’re right we do need to talk about this business with Ringus and the Arcane order.” She agreed. “The situation is getting worse, I caught a few of the students talking about sneaking over to the arcane wing and releasing the animals they keep there for their polymorph training.” Both mages smiled slightly at the memories of sheep, turtles and even a seal or two running amok through the arcane wing’s classrooms and labs as such an event had taken place once or twice before. “But in this current climate of hostility a prank like that would be blown out of all proportion and could spark reprisals.”

“Agreed, but if our vaulted archmage wont even come out of his chambers to meet with us, what can we possibly do to stop this rivalry and suspicion from boiling over into such pranks or even violence?” he asked of both Inferni and himself. “I’m worried that soon this will no longer be a quiet internal matter that we can deal with on our own, my brother in law has informed me that even the High Tinkerer himself is becoming concerned and has asked that the army be ready should things start to get out of hand.”

“What!?!,” Inferni gasped her face a mask of horror. “The last thing we need is the army getting involved in this, we need to talk to Tout’Sweet about this urgently.” She insisted.

“I already had Kayla make an appointment to see him later today, to discuss this and other matters. You’re welcome to join, that is if you’re not busy elsewhere.” He offered.

“This is far more important, I’ll have Cog clear my morning schedule,” she accepted earnestly. With that decided some of the stress in the room lifted but the sombre attitude refused to dissipate.

“Why is he doing this?” Maestro asked his friend. “Cant he see what his actions are doing to the guild? I just can’t get my head around it,” he added, Inferni leaned back against her chair and looked at him oddly.

“You really can’t can you,” she said. “He is acting out of fear, a fear of you.” She told him simply, he looked at her blankly. “You’re the youngest Order Master in the history of the guild, even when you were a novice the teachers noticed your talent, it’s the reason your predecessor Master Chill-wind made you his sole apprentice so that he could oversee your progress personally. Despite the fact that Ringus and I have several years over you, it’s clear to everyone that you are more powerful than both of us. I have heard countless times that many, within and outside these halls, think that you should be Archmage and if I have heard that you can be sure he has as well.”

“So he really thinks I’m after his position, that’s what all of this is about!” Maestro exclaimed. “All that running about talking with over primped big headed aristocrats and nobles, I would sooner tear out my own hair.”

“Be that as it may, you’ll never convince Ringus of that,” she countered. “You don’t know it but he has viewed you as a threat for years, he even went so far as to directly oppose Master Chill-Wind when he announced that he was stepping down and that you would succeed him.”

“You’re joking, Ringus attempted to interfere in the internal affairs and decisions of the frost order.”

“Oh yes, he even went so far as to ‘suggest’ an alternative,” Inferni remembered, Maestro made some noises like those of a cat being strangled. “Chill-Wind was not for having that, so he threw Ringus out of this very chamber and told him to keep his own house in order rather than cause trouble in others.”

“Master Chill-Wind never told me any of this,” Maestro said.

“It all happened while you were away with most of the young mages helping the alliance against the horde at the end of the second war,” she shrugged. “After that he did not want the event to undermine your confidence when you first took the job, I guess he hoped Ringus would come around.” For a brief moment the two of them sat back and thought about what they had just been discussing. Maestro remembered something that he had been meaning to ask Inferni about and used it to change the subject.”

“Has there been any word on the whereabouts of the apprentice you sent to Dalaran?” he asked. Inferni sighed and looked away.

“No, there has been no word of her since she entered the Wetlands two years ago,” she answered him. “I’m still in regular contact with the headmaster of the Dalaran school but they are just as much in the dark as to what happened to her as anyone.”

“We can talk to Tout’Sweet about this as well maybe, he can ask the dwarfs to send out a few search parties?” he suggested.

“You think that he would be able to convince them?” she asked with a small amount of hope in her voice.

“I have no doubt he has a very good relations with many of the dwarfs, the Stormpike clan most of all,” He smiled, “Speaking of him, its time we were off.” And with that the two gnomes gathered their documents and headed for their meeting with the city’s most senior military commander.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Asta stood and fixed her robe before walking to the door and leaving the Archmage’s chamber. Looking over her shoulder she saw that Ringus was already getting back to work, though now he had a stupid, satisfied and rather smug looking expression on his face. Turning her gaze away from him she opened the door and left, only to run into his aide Sagebolt and none other than the Mekgineer himself.

“Greetings Sir,” she said to him, both he and the Archmage’s aide gave her strange smiles as they passed her by and entered to speak with Ringus. It was only after they had entered to speak with Ringus that she spotted her reflection in a mirror which revealed that she had just greeted the second most powerful gnome in the city with a very distinctive fluid on her robe and in her hair.

Muttering curses under her breath at Ringus for his cavalier and increasingly arrogant attitude. Ever since the confrontation with Tout’Sweet and Maestro he had been treating her as if she was some kind of servant that he could call on anytime he wanted. A prime example had been earlier today, when she had been in the middle of teaching her class of young novices when Sagebolt had entered stating that the Archmage wished to see her immediately. There was a lecherous smirk on his face as he said it as he knew what many others suspected about their relationship.

Hoping that no one else would spot what was on her robes and hair she headed quickly towards the room she had taken up in the arcane wing of the guild hall. As she did so she spotted her brother for the second time today with Inferni, head of the Fire Order, walking together. Asta felt all the resentment and jealousy well up once more as it did every time she saw him. He had always been the more gifted of them, always the more successful and no matter what she attempted it never seemed to be enough. She could never surpass him, not that she was willing to admit this to anyone.

Then it seemed she finally had, through Tinkertot, her daughter who was more magically gifted than most adults including, Asta hoped, Maestro, something that she had eagerly informed Ringus of. Just as she had hoped the Archmage insisted the child be tested, even though she was still too young, however when she had boasted to her husband Tout’Sweet about the honour she had secured for their child he had been totally against it, beginning the most intense argument of their lives.

His arguments did not matter though as she had already decided to take Tinkertot to be tested with or without Tout’Sweets blessing. Even that however did not go as she had planned as their daughter proved that she was a daddy’s girl, she bit Ringus on the hand, before smashing a priceless amulet and fleeing from the room in tears

It had been the most humiliating experience of her life which only got worse when Tout’Sweet had come barging into the Guild hall to ‘rescue’ Tinkertot. The resulting argument between her husband and the Archmage brought out her brother, who once again with his actions and arguments had put her back in his shadow.

Soon they passed out of view and Asta continued on her way. She was keen to get cleaned up and continue her studies into new polymorph techniques, something she had been working on for a few months now. It was due to this that she had been given a trio of troggs which had been turned into sheep using her newly developed spell combinations; it now fell to her to monitor the spell and see how long it could be maintained.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

“The Commander is in a briefing with his officers,” Tout’Sweet’s aide Helen informed the two magi as she led them through the training area which was full of gnome soldiers training intensely. “But there is someone who would be more than happy to see you while you wait I’m sure.” She added with a smile.

No sooner had Helen said this than they heard the sound of a child squealing in excitement, then giggling like crazy and Maestro knew just who it was who was making the sounds. He smiled as for the moment the laughter took all his cares and worries away. His smile broadened as he saw its source, his beautiful niece Tinkertot who was being entertained by her father’s elite guard.

“Uncle Maestro!” Tinkertot yelled in happiness as she spotted him before running to him and literally throwing herself into his arms. She hugged him fiercely almost choking him. “Daddy put me in charge of overseeing his bodyguards sparring training,” she told him proudly.

“Really,” he exclaimed in mock disbelief, she nodded fiercely.

“Just ask Sergeant Jasmine,” she said looked over her shoulder at a short black haired gnome. “Daddy had a uniform made for me and gave me these captain bars,” Tinkertot added her young voice filled with pride.

“And don’t you look like the quintessential professional officer,” he joked; she gave him a funny look then giggled.

“You talk funny sometimes uncle,” and hugged him again.

“I think we should let ‘Captain Tinkertot’ get back to her important duties,” Helen stated in a very official voice but then winked at the little girl. “The Commander should be about finished with his officer briefing,” she added. Maestro put his niece down and she ran off taking the hand of Sergeant Jasmine who led her back to the dueling mats.

“Wow, she is just utterly adorable,” Inferni said as they turned and began to head towards the building where Tout’Sweet was currently. “I can’t even comprehend what Ringus or your sister were thinking putting such a sweet girl through our testing procedures,” She added. Maestro nodded a moment before Helen spoke up.

“Ever since the ‘incident’ Tinkertot has been under the protection of Sergeant Jasmine and four others of the elite guard at all times,” Tout’Sweet’s aide informed them. “And they have reported that some of Ringus’s followers have been skulking about, even caught one of the worthless currs when he attempted to lure her away with sweets just yesterday.” The magi looked shocked by this information.

“What did they do?” Maestro asked alarmed by the news

“Gave him the beating of his life and locked him in a holding cell,” Helen answered. “He is still there if you want to talk to him,” she offered.

“After we talk to Tout’Sweet,” the frost mage decided.

It was clear from the glares they received from every soldier who they passed that as magi they were not welcome, just as within the Guild the ‘incident’ between Tout’Sweet and Ringus was common knowledge. Even though they both opposed the Archmage in the conflict, to the front line grunt a caster was a caster and that’s all there was too it. If he and his brother in law could not find a solution to the current crisis quickly then it could escalate and the damage to both groups and even the city would be catastrophic.

Helen suddenly came to a stop and Maestro realized that while his mind had been focusing on the attitude of those around them, they had arrived outside the room where Tout’Sweet was briefing his officers. Only a moment later the doors opened and gnomes dressed in high ranking military uniforms came out with stern looks on their faces, some narrowed their eyes when they spotted the waiting magi, apparently sharing the same views as their troops about casters. Once the last of them had left the trio entered the room to find the commander sitting at the end of a long metal table with his eyes closed and looking rather tired.

“Commander, Master Maestro of the Frost Order and Mistress Inferni of the Fire Order are here to see you,” Helen announced formally, Tout’Sweet opened his eyes and smiled wearily at them.

“Thank you Helen. Maestro, Inferni please take a seat” he responded, both magi took seats next to him on the left side while Helen motioned for two young cadets to move up and offer them some refreshments. “I’m glad you both have come there are many things that we need to discuss, Helen will you please see about the arrangements for Tinkertot,” He requested she nodded and led the cadets from the room.

“You look exhausted my friend,” Maestro commented, Tout’Sweet shook his head and smiled.

“There has been a lot going on the last few days, not least the fact that I have had to attend lengthy meetings with the High Tinker three times in as many days to request and explain why I want to call up and train our reservists at the same time as boosting our recruitment. For two of them Mekgineer Thermaplugg was there.” The commander added the last part in a tone that suggested he was far from happy about this.

“I take it that he was opposed to your requests then?” Inferni inquired.

“Oh very much so,” Tout’Sweet answered. “He challenged me on every request I made and my reasons for them.”

“But you must have managed to convince the High Tinker,” she commented. “From the looks of the training grounds that is,” she added.

“Only partly, he agreed to allow me to reactivate the reservists, that’s all,” the commander sighed in frustration, just then the door at the back of the room opened and three figures entered, two gnomes and surprisingly a dwarf. “Ah I was hoping you would all be free to join us,” Tout’Sweet greeted the new comers. “This is Mistress Inferni of the Fire Order and Master Maestro of the Frost,” he introduced the magi to them. “Maestro, Inferni allow me to present Captain Quickblade my replacement as the leader of the city’s elite guard, Siege-smith Cogspinner who is in command of the army’s war-machines, and lastly Proudhammer chief aid to the dwarven ambassador.” There was a series of polite greetings and shaking hands.

“I am here as the voice and ears of the dwarven ambassador,” Proudhammer explained to the gnomes. He was a stocky figure even for a dwarf, with a flaming orange beard, a deep scar cut into his nose and across his face where an orc dagger had struck him during one of the countless skirmishes for Ironforge. His expression was grave but friendly and from the way he sat it was clear he took his role in this meeting very seriously. “Many within the dwarf court share your concerns about the activities of the Troggs within our lands, or rather the lack of it.”

“Lands?” Maestro inquired. “You mean that it’s not just within the valley that the Troggs have disappeared?” Proudhammer nodded.

“Yes throughout the mountains our scouts have reported that most, if not all of the Trogg camps now stand empty and that they discovered tracks leading from them to a network of caves which seems to run deep under the surface.”

“So there could be an army of vicious, bloodthirsty savages within striking distance of our homes and we have no idea of its location,” Captain Quickblade summed up, somberly. “As you have requested commander I have stepped up all training in both numbers and intensity for all soldiers. Also as a cover for your increased patrols into the lower regions of the city I have included them in this new training regime, which means a substantial boost to our numbers down there,” she added with a nod of satisfaction.

“Excellent work Captain,” Tout’Sweet commented on his subordinate’s creative thinking. “Cogspinner how goes your tasks?” he asked the Siege-Smith.

“As you requested I have begun bringing out our older war-machines and cannons for a full refit. So far ten of them are now ready for deployment on your orders.” Cogspinner said with a hit if pride in his voice.

“Umm, excuse me but that’s not something which would go unnoticed,” Inferni pointed out. “If there is a threat to our home, wouldn’t such actions reveal that we are aware of it.”

“You’re right about that Mistress Inferni,” Tout’Sweet agreed. “That’s why the reason we are giving for the refurbishments is so that they are ready to take part in the annual celebration of the Alliance’s victory over the Horde later this year.” He then looked at Maestro who had been sitting quietly throughout the discussion. “Something on your mind old friend?” the commander asked.

“You realise that we are forming a conspiracy to counter another that may or may not exist.” He answered. “We could just be jumping at shadows but I have a terrible feeling that we are not.” The room fell into a morbid heavy silence for a few moments.

“On another note I do have some good news for you,” Proudhammer stated as all eyes turned to look at him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
(Two Weeks Earlier)
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Her eyes were closed tightly and sweat began to run down her brow as she concentrated on the words for this, her final summoning. The words of the incantations needed to be said precisely with the correct emphasis on the right syllables if she was too succeed. Her skin already bore many cuts and bruises that she had sustained for failing the spells her master taught her and, since he was an orc he had as such a very poor view on failure.

The noble high quality robes which she had been giving upon her graduation were little more than rags which she had long given up even attempting to wash not to mention managing her hair. Long blades of grass and reeds had become tangled up in it before she had taken her master’s knife and cut it short, though the results were far from aesthetically pleasing. Even now after almost two years of servitude to and education from her aging orc instructor she still felt like a child learning the basics in front of him.

Before her, a dark mass began to flow through the metal bracers she had placed in front of her and quickly its form began to take shape. Powerful arms filled the bracers which grew simultaneously down in to strong hands and up to a massive upper torso which tapered to a point floating just about the ground. Its head was not on top of its body but rather protruded out in front of it ending in a featureless head with two sickly white glowing eyes.

“Excellent, Young one,” her master commented coming up behind her and patting her on the head as one would a child. “A perfect voidwalker, quite an achievement for one who is still learning our ways.” he added proudly before he broke into a fit of coughing which caused him to double over for a moment and then sit back down.

“Master,” she said, momentarily forgetting about her minion and quickly offering him some water from her flask. “Your chest is getting worse,” she stated simply as he drank, her skill in the orcish language had come on just as rapidly as her powers in the dark arts of demonic magic. “You need to rest,” she insisted but he shook his head and patted the ground next to him indicating that he wanted her to sit there.

“I’m afraid that rest will do me little good anymore my young apprentice.” He told her. “It seems that my end is finally approaching, I can no longer hold back the darkness any more. The only regret I have is that I will not be able to complete your training as my apprentice,” he coughed again “But I will give you something to help you continue on alone,” he added then produced a small book not much bigger that his hand, though it was clearly decades old it was still in fine condition with its gold corners untarnished and its dark velvet cover remaining pristine. “This is my Grimlore within its pages are all the spells that I and my other apprentices ever cast, it’s yours now.”

“But Master…” she began but he held up his hand for silence.

“No, no more talk, now dismiss your minion and get some sleep,” he dismissed her.

Not knowing what else to say she did as he asked and the void walker merely faded away as its energies returned to the void. Sitting on her small bed she leafed through the tome that he had given her and found that it did indeed contain a great number of spells and incantations, only a few of which she already knew, some that she could master with a little effort and yet others that she could not even think how to even begin attempting. With an unsettled sigh she pulled her thin blanket over her and went to sleep.

Waking early as she had done every morning since she had accepted his offer she used her powers to ignite a small amount of wood and began to cook breakfast. Unlike all other mornings however her master was already up and dressed, his body posture immediately put her on edge as he turned and approached her. Around them the sounds of the wetlands waking up to another rain filled day filled the air, but today there was something else there as well, a faint but distinctive sound of heavily armoured feet walking through the marsh. With these sounds in her ears she stood in front of him looking up with a questioning look on her face.

“Its time,” was all he said before his balled up fist struck her and she blacked out…

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Gentle hands lifted her from the ground where she lay, but her blurred vision could make out no details of who the hands belonged to. As they pressed on parts of her body which were still tender from the sudden beating she had suffered, she let out a small groan alerting the ones who held her that she was waking.

“Easy there lass,” came a gruff yet friendly voice. “You’re safe now,” the voice assured her.

“What?? Who??” was all she could say.

“Save your strength, we’ll be back in Menethil Harbour in less that an hour and our priests will have you as good as new, don’t you worry.” while she had now reasoned who the speaker was, her vision cleared enough for her to make out a large green figure floating in a pool of marsh water with three crossbow bolts buried in its chest, then she blacked out again.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
(Present Day)
* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Is she alright?” Inferni asked, her excitement and nervousness clear for all in the room to hear. “When can I see her?”

“She is currently resting in the embassy medical ward but our priests say that she is fully recovered and can leave at anytime,” Proudhammer, the ambassadors aide assured her. “We can leave as soon as this meeting ends. Commander is there anything else you wish to discuss while we are all here?” Tout’Sweet shook his head at the question and rose from his chair.

“No we have covered everything of importance so far, I’ll let you all return to your duties, dismissed.” he saluted them. The Captain and Siege-smith left together, while Inferni quickly joined Proudhammer as he left for the embassy, leaving Maestro and Tout’Sweet alone in the briefing room. It was clear to the frost mage that his friend carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, and there was little he could do to help him.

“Have you spoken with Asta recently?” Tout’Sweet suddenly asked.

“No, she keeps herself pretty much to the Arcane wing of the guild hall,” Maestro answered with a sad shake of his head. “I’m sorry to tell you this but she is spending more and more time with Ringus these days,” he added and noticed his friend’s facial expression darken.

“I’m sending Tinkertot to stay with her grandparents in Stormwind,” Tout’Sweet declared. “The attempt by Ringus’s men to kidnap her means that she is not safe here,”

“Good idea, I know that mom and dad will love having their only grandchild with them that’s for sure,” Maestro agreed. He knew that Tout’Sweet was talking about his parents as his friend’s had died years ago.

Tinkertot’s grandparents were both heroes of the second war as they were part of a band of gnomes who designed, built and piloted the most advanced and ingenious vessels in the alliance navy, Gnomish Submarines. Now with the war long over their jobs were to maintain these truly unique crafts. Something which, with the completion of the Deep Run Tram, was now so much simpler.

“Has there been any sign of those scouts you sent into the caverns beneath the city?” Maestro asked changing the subject.

“No not since they left the city,” Tout’Sweet replied. “I can’t help but think I have sent them all to their deaths,” he added and the room fell into a morbid silence once more.

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

Asta was both tired and irritated, she had never been good at teaching, but as a senior member of the Arcane Order it was her duty to instruct the students in the ways and art of magic, but that did not mean she had to like it. They asked too many questions which they never remembered the answers to, forcing her to repeat herself time and time again. Finally after what seemed an eternity class had ended and the little brats had filed out leaving her alone with her other charges, Ringus’s sheep.

The dumb animals’ bleating was giving her a head ache just as it always did, that combined with the anger at the world and her exhaustion caused the words in the student’s papers which they had all just completed, to blur. Struggling to stay awake and to concentrate on marking this drivel that passed for their knowledge became too much for her head and she passed out. Suddenly one of the sheep bleated right into her left ear causing her to scream in surprise and spill her papers onto the floor.

“Do that again and I’ll be having lamb chops for dinner,” she yelled at the fluffy mammal, a small fire ball forming in her hands but it dissipated in an instant, when she saw that the morphing around the eyes had dispelled and staring at her was not the savage bestial glare of a trogg but the that of an intelligent yet very angry gnome.

Jumping up from her seat Asta stepped away from the sheep as it began to glow, the intensity of the light forced her to cover her eyes. When the light died away a young female gnome stood where the farm animal had been, her long pink hair hung about her face and shoulders in an unkempt fashion. Before Asta could even open her mouth the pink haired gnome was on top of her, pinning her to the floor, hands squeezing down on her throat.

“Pixi, don’t kill her,” a stern male voice called. “Rascal check the door, make sure that it’s locked,” he ordered another and moments later there was the sound of the bolts on her door being slid into place. “Good now let’s find some information,” the voice commented as Asta was pulled back up to her feet.

The pink haired gnome called Pixi was joined by Rascal as they each took hold of one of Asta’s arms and held them tightly behind her back leaving her facing their bald, grizzled leader.

“Who are you?” he demanded.

“Asta, my name’s Asta,” she responded quickly and they tensed and the one called Rascal tightened her grip painfully.

“Good,” he responded. “Now where are we, and don’t lie to us,” his tone was flat and very threatening.

“You’re in my class room, within the Arcane wing of the mage’s guild hall,” she answered.

“How far is it to the nearest exit?”

“The main entrance is the closest it’s just down the hall and through the grand lobby,” she informed them.

“That’s too far Sergeant,” Pixi commented. “We are sure to be seen.”

“Well that goes without saying, and the Archmage will probably do something a little more malicious than polymorph us this time,” Rascal added. “We’ll need some disguises if we are to just walk out of here,” she twisted Asta’s arm a small amount indicating that the last statement was for her.

“There are some robes over in the closet over there,” Asta gasped nodding to the large metal containers with her head.

“Then we have our route out of here, now what do we do with you?” the sergeant asked himself more than anyone else.

“Tie her up and leave her here,” Rascal offered. “She’s the Archmage’s little squeeze so I don’t think that the commander will thank us for taking her with us after all she has done, besides she’s probably just as much a traitor as he is.”

“How Dare You!” Asta retorted horrified by the accusation, the tone of her voice was strong enough that the sergeant took half a step back, while Rascal and Pixie’s grip on her arms loosened slightly. “Look I’ll admit I’m not the best mother and a terrible wife, but I’m no traitor.” She added a little more calmly.

“So you had no idea that the Archmage Ringus is hiding an army of Troggs so large it could wipe out the city in the caverns below our feet?!?” the sergeant demanded to know, Asta’s face turned white as a sheet.

“What?!?” she exclaimed. “No I never knew anything about that,” she added and he looked directly into her eyes without blinking.

“Very well I believe you, girls release her,” he ordered, they did though Rascal let go with some reluctance. “Well then Asta, I’m Sergeant Garrotte and these are Pixi and Rascal,” the other two had already moved over to the closets and were taking the robes out. “Lead us out of here please, I’m sure you understand how vital it is that the Commander is told about this threat.”

“Of course, the hall should be empty as the students have all been dismissed to their dorms,” Asta explained as she walked towards the door, opening the door she stepped out into the hallway and looked about to make sure that it was empty. “Come on this way,” she waved her hand.

As quickly as they could the group made their way down towards the large doors which connected the arcane wing to the grand lobby. They had made it half way when a group of chatty students exited one of the other classrooms and began to head in their direction. Thinking fast Asta turned and pointed to a large painting on the wall and began her standard lecture about it, the rogues immediately picked up on what she was doing and turned to look up at the artwork, looking as if they were listening intently.

It seemed to take an eternity for the young students to pass but they did so without even looking at what appeared to be four senior magi discussing yet another boring fact. As soon as they had passed Asta turned and moved quickly for the exit with the others right on her heels, with a small motion of her hand she used her magic to open the large doors. The grand lobby was indeed true to its name, filled with statues and paintings of untold value, but it was also far busier than the arcane wing which they had just left.

There were numerous small groups of gnomes moving this way and that some were students, others teachers while some visitors. However the gnome that Asta spotted instantly was Ringus’s chief aide, Sagebolt, who was giving her party a quizzical and slightly mocking look, it was him that had given her the three poly-morphed rogues to watch over and she realized that it would not take long for him to figure out just what she was doing, once again she needed to think quickly. Then from out of the Frost wing her brother’s little secretary Kayla appeared, wearing her usual cleavage revealing robes.

“Kayla, may I have a word?” Asta asked, the younger gnome glared at her but as she was a senior member of the mage’s guild she could not refuse.

“How can I be of help to you?” Kayla responded her tone respectful but hard.

“I need to find my brother, is he in his office?” she asked. She knew he was not, but more importantly Kayla knew that she knew this. Her brother’s secretary gave her a strange look. “Our cousins from Stormwind arrived just today and I was showing them around the guild hall and they want to see him as well,” she added quickly and loudly enough for the others close by to hear,” without turning her head she had noted that Sagebolt was now moving towards them as he knew that this was a lie, Asta just hoped her brother’s secretary was smarter than she looked.

“Of course he is in his Sanctum, please follow me” Kayla responded and opened the doors to the Frost Wing, Kayla looked over at Sagebolt and fixed him with the type of dazzling, flirtatious smile she saved for Maestro, not that the Master of Frost seemed to notice, and for a moment he paused in mid step as his cheeks reddened slightly, all the time she needed to shut the doors behind them. Quickly she led them to Maestro’s private office, where they would be as safe, well as safe as they could be in the guild hall.
“Asta, what are you doing,” Rascal demanded to know. “We were almost at the door.”

“We would never have made it,” Garrotte interjected. “That was Sagebolt, Ringus’s chief aide, was it not Asta?” he asked her and she nodded

“What is going on here?!?” Kayla interrupted them all. “Who are you people?!?”

“I’m afraid there is not time for a proper introduction but I am Sergeant Garrotte, I and my team have information about a threat so dangerous that if it is not countered at once then we could lose the city and everyone in it.” Garrotte assured Kayla.

“Is there another way out of this wing, Kayla?” Asta asked. “Since the grand lobby will undoubtedly be being watched by now.” Kayla looked at them all for a moment and then moved over to one of Maestros bookshelves.

“It’s a cliché I know but here you are” she commented to them and pulled on what appeared to be just another book on the shelves. Without a sound the bookcase slid back and then behind the one on its left, revealing a passageway. “This will take you out of the guild but only the Masters of Frost know exactly where it comes out,” she explained. Nodding their thanks the rogues moved into the corridor quickly, with Asta right behind them. She could still feel Kayla’s eyes on her back as she pressed on into the chilly darkness.

Typical of a Frost mage the passage way ended in a large cold room of a nearby inn, from which they emerged, shivering, to the startled gasps of the barmaids and a few patrons. Though the innkeeper just shook his head and drew a handful of towels out of a small chest he kept by the door.

“Here, toss them in the hamper before you leave,” was all he said in a matter-o-fact way before returning to work.

After a few minutes of rubbing their limbs to get the feeling back into them the four gnomes were on their way again, making sure to place the towels in the hamper as they had been asked to. In the yard outside the inn they hired four Mechanostriders from the inn keeper’s assistant, and were soon riding though the streets as fast as they could without attracting attention. At no point did they stop looking over their shoulders until they were inside the gates of the army’s headquarters.

“Captain Quickblade,” Garrotte called out as he sighted the commanding officer of the army’s elite. “I need to speak with the Commander where can he be located?” he demanded to know.

“He is in the officers’ mess hall with Maestro,” the captain responded, Garrotte saluted and rushed off with the three females almost running to keep up. As she followed in the sergeant’s wake, Asta caught sight of Tinkertot heading towards the exit in the company of five more of her husband’s elite guard. She was sure her daughter had seen her too but the child had not even acknowledged her and she felt a knot twist in her stomach as they rounded a corner and moved out of sight.

“I can make amends later,” she told herself, for now she had to see her husband and brother, and that was certainly not going to be enjoyable…

* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * *

“What is the problem Ringus?” Mekgineer Thermaplugg asked in an irritated tone.

“Sire it would appear that the scouts who discovered your army under the city, have escaped,” Ringus said somewhat warily.

“I thought I told you to dispose of them,” the Mekgineer replied turning to look at the mage, cold fury burning in his eyes.

“I know sire, but…” Ringus began his excuse but the Mekgineer was not about to listen to it.

“But nothing,” he yelled. “I know that you kept those scouts to give yourself the feeling that you had one over on Tout’Sweet,” he spat the words out at his underling. “You have allowed your personal vendetta with the commander to jeopardize our goals, this is something I will not forget.” There was a brief pause in his rant as his eyes grew cold and calculating. “Now what of the child, she is pivotal to our plans, do you have her yet?”

“No my footpads failed to acquire her and now she is guarded round the clock by the commander’s elite guard,” Ringus informed Thermaplugg fearfully.

“Then in light of your incompetence we have no other course but to speed up our timetable, begin the invasion,” the Mekgineer decided, Ringus bowed and turned to leave. “Oh and Archmage, the next time you come before me, you better have the child, or you know what will happen.”

“I will not fail again sire,” Ringus responded and left the chamber…