Steel Roses Have Sharp Thorns (Snow & Cassia 01) Part Four

 

"Snow? May I ask a favor of you?" said Cheyr, one of the dancers.  Snow looked up at the Draenei woman, no somewhat more conservatively clad then when she'd been dancing on stage -- not that was difficult, given that during her last set of performances she had been clad in scandalously little. The red magewave lingerie had been replaced by a wide-brimmed jungle hat, a crimson silk vest, and red mageweave trousers. The color set off her light blue skin tone, and the hat obscured most of her raven-black short hair.

"Sure" Snow responded cautiously. A week ago when Cassia had begun work as a bouncer at the Steel Rose, the owner-manager Phaedra had introduced Snow to the staff; while not an official employee, he had been introduced as the son of a colleague from her adventuring days, and Cassia's cousin. Snow had dinner every night at the Steel Rose, which functioned as a restaurant until the dancers begun their work shift, and then Snow relocated to one of the tables furthest from the stage. The dancers took his presence in stride; Snow tipped each dancer,  spending gold, when most of the patrons gave copper and silver.

"I was wondering if I might impose upon you to walk me home?" Cheyr asked. It was not an unreasonable request; given the prevalence of criminals skulking in the neighborhood, the dancers often asked one of the bouncers to escort them home in the late night or early morning hours when they finished their sets. It was however, the first time on of them had asked Snow.

"It would be an honor, Cheyr," he assured her.

Cheyr collected her full-length cloak, and guided Snow, to his surprise to the kitchen. Cheyr guided them past the kitchen staff, who ignored them completely as Cheyr led him down the stairs into the pantry. The building in which the Steel Rose resided had several levels, and the back door entrance to the pantry went down to the water. The pantry itself was enchanted with cold spell, the better to keep the food ingredients fresh. 

Cheyr and Snow stepped out the back door. The back door was heavy wood, reinforced with steel and magic, and was more like a bank vault door, not the back door to a restaurant pantry. "It's very useful to have an entrance well away from the customers," Cheyr commented. "I suspect it is,: agreed Snow.

Snow offered Chyr his arm as if the two were on a date. 

"Oh, a gentleman!: said Chyr with a pixie-like grin. "The other bouncers don't offer me their arm."

"No doubt so that they don't encumber their sword arms," informed Snow.

"Really? I was thinking that it's because they don't see us as real women, but as a commodity they label 'dancers'," said Cheyr.

"If that is so, then they need to find better oculists," said Snow. Cheyr chuckled.

They walked together in a comfortable silence. Many of the dancers stayed at a tenement of apartments scarce an arrow shot from the Proudmoore Barracks, including Cassia, who had taken up residence in a small studio apartment. Snow walked her up the stairs and to the door of her apartment.

"Thank you for the escort," said Cheyr, meeting Snow's eyes. "Perhaps I can reward you with a drink?"

"That is a kind offer, but I should be getting back," said Snow. "But I would love to take you for a coffee during the day, when neither one of us is otherwise occupied."

"Its a date!" Cheyr said, leaning down. Her azure lips were soft on Snow's, and the initial kiss was sweet. Snow pulled back as they disengaged, and he was surprised when her hand snaked into the hair at the back of Snow's head and puled him forward into a second kiss that lasted considerably longer. Her mouth tasted of cinnamon, and her tongue traced his own lips as she pulled back. 

Snow was still bemused ad aroused when she slid into her apartment. He snapped out of it when he heard Cheyr slide the four locks into place. 

Snow returned to the Steel Rose, but was forced to use the normal front entrance; he did not have a key to the back door. 

As Snow entered, along with a half-dozen patrons. Cassia caught his eye, and nodded, beckoning him to sit next to her. 

"Cheyr get home safely?" Cassia asked as Snow sat down at her table. 

"Quite safe," confirmed Snow. 

"And you must have come right back," Cassia teased. "Poor Snow."

"Well, we do have a coffee date soon," Snow admitted.

Cassia giggled. "You are determined to break Reina's heart." Cassia was aware that her elder sister Reina and Snow had been intimate,even if she did not know how many times. 

"She doesn't want me, she's made that quite clear," said Snow stoically. Cassia's heart broke a little bit at the bitter heartache that had laced his voice, but Snow's heart wasn't the first Reina had damaged, if not broken. Cassia firmed up her own voice. "Snow,I have something I want you to do."

"Tell me," Snow said.

"You see the short guy with the blue hair, the guy with the Kul Tiran woman, sitting away from the stage?"

Peebles and
Ophelia

'Yes," Snow confirmed. The gnome had bright blue hair, standing up with hair mousse. His thin handlebar mustache stuck out like whiskers on a cat. , and the only weapon visible was a short stiletto more useful for opening bottles of wine than tickling someone else's ribs.

His companion was a blonde Kul Tiran women of heroic proportions, heavily muscled and wearing Cuir boli armor. She had a broadsword slung over her shoulder, and several thick-bladed daggers in a baldrick around her chest.

"The guy is named Peebles, and he's an alchemist by trade. Kharel tells me that the woman is a bravo who used to belong to the Scrimshaw is Ophelia, but Kharel says that few people quit the Scrimshaw Gang, and he would know." 

Kharel himself had been an enforcer for the Scrimshaw Gang before they'd left his crippled body behind for dead. Unable to do the Scrimshaw's dirty work, they'd cut him loose to beg, borrow, or steal to survive. Phaedra had found him and healed him, and he had become the first employee of the Steel Rose.

"People keep coming to his table, and strike up conversations before leaving," informed Cassia. "His visitors don't stay long, but funny thing; Ophelia gets up and leaves a few minutes later. Ophelia comes back after a short while, but alone."

"So... what are they doing," Snow asked.

"No idea - that was what I need you for?" said Cassia in a pleading voice.

"Well, lets see if we can find out," said Snow.

The
Baroness

Snow took a seat near the stage, not coincidentally where he could pretend to toggle the dancers but also surreptitiously observe his assigned quarry. It was difficult to feign interest in the dancers while focusing his attention on actually keeping tabs on the pair. It was during and energetic routine by the Ren'dorei dancer known on stage as The Baroness that he observed what appeared to be a scion of a Kul Tiran noble family, dressed for a night out, sit down at the table with Peebles and Ophelia, engaging them in quiet conversation.

The fellow and Peebles spoke for almost five minutes before the fellow got up and left. Perhaps two more minutes passed before Ophelia likewise headed for the door.

Snow got up, tossed a tip on the stage, and pretending to be slightly inebriated, staggered out the door, following Ophelia. Ophelia had not gotten very far, and was just passing the Loose Cannon Inn, where she was joined by the  Snow pulled his cloak above his head and followed at a discrete distance.

The Scion and Ophelia walked together in silence, heading into the Dampwick Ward neighborhood.  The streets were deserted at this time of night; no children running through the muddy streets, no proselytizing religious fanatics. just criminals, prostitutes, and the citizens that would be often referred to after the criminal element had made themselves known as 'victims'.

Ophelia and her companion made a right turn and temporarily vanished from sight. When Snow turned the corner, he found his way blocked by shady-looking members of the Scrimshaw Gang.

Snow VS Scrimshaw Gang!

"Well, well, well... a plump pigeon, ready for the plucking," began one of the thugs, but he got no further before Snow, who had carried a loaded flintlock under her cloak, placed a bullet into his head while throwing the cloak over the head of the second thug, and grabbing the third thug, spinning him into the line of sight for the fourth Scrimshaw, who taken by surprise and looking for a clean flintlock shot of his own. 

Snow placed his boot on the ample rear of his shield, and booted him forward. Snow grabbed his grapple hook gun and fired the hook and training cable past the sniper, turning the control to "retract" and dropping low as the sniper fired. The sniper was pulling a second flintlock from his belt when the grappling hook found purchase in the sniper's neck. The hook sunk more deeply as Snow put his full weight on the retracting cable, dragging the sniper over the railing.  

The cloak-entangled thug freed himself and drew a rapier while the thug with the sore ass drew two thick Kul Tiran Marine daggers while Snow drew his rapier and warhammer. Snow feinted a lunge at the daggerman to lure the rapier into his own lunge. Snow bound the opposing rapier and used the warhammer to split the Scrimshaw skull into pulp.

"Always were a helm... " muttered Snow hypocritically - he rarely wore a helmet - and spun to face the remaining Scrimshaw bravo warily; Snow had no monopoly on thrown weapons. Only the superior reach of Snow's rapier kept the Scrimshaw at bay. At the next attack, Snow dodged left and sent a cloud of sulphur, cayenne pepper powder, and ground pepper into his face. The cayenne pepper temporarily blinded him, his nose was overwhelmed by the ground pepper, and the sulphur coated his lungs. As the fellow sneezed uncontrollably and his eyes closed, burning and watering, Snow stabbed him in the throat.

Snow grabbed one of the orphaned daggers and headed for Ophelia's last known location. There were only a few possibilities for their destination; if they were willing to do their business in the street, the could have done it a lot sooner. At this time of night, most of the shops in the Dampwick Ward area were closed.

The only really feasible place nearby was a tavern called The Drunken Gryphon, and what recommended it to Snow was both its proximity, and the fact that is was a known hangout for Scrimshaw Gang members.

Snow had been in time to watch Ophelia exchange a purse of gold for a small wooden box.

Ophelia left while the fellow was finishing his beer. Snow followed him when he finished, and in a dark alley, relieved him first of his consciousness then the wooden box. Snow returned to the Steel Rose, and met with Phaedra and Cassia in Phaedra's office. He reported the events, and opened the box, revealing a set of 12 crystal vials, each containing a supply of the drug Sa'Diablo.

Sa'Diablo was made by mixing Warlock soulshards with other ingredients. Ground into a fine power, SaDiablo was easy to mix into alcohol. It was a mild euphoric and aphrodisiac, healing physical damage while making the user feel invincible. 

It was also highly addictive, and because of the addiction the Admiralty had made it illegal.

Phaedra was furious. "I'll have them banned. I'll have them arrested! I'll... " she sputtered.

"... you will do nothing but swear out a complaint," said Cassia. "I will also swear out a witness statement, as will Snow, and then we will notify the proper authorities."

"The 'proper authorities' have proven corrupt and uncaring as to the enforcement of law in this neighborhood," said Phaedra, her tone bitter. 

"Normally,  I'd agree... but you should know that as my mother is the aide to the High Admiral herself, I think we'll be able to get Auntie Jaina's attention", said Cassia, glossing over her father's role as Jaina's spymaster and privy agent, first in Theramore and then in Kul Tiras. 

"You call thhe Lord High Admiral 'Auntie Jaina?" laughed Snow.

"Of course I do; she's our Godmother." Cassia smirked. "But lets keep that a secret, shall we?

(WIP)

Steel Roses Have Sharp Thorns (Snow & Cassia 01) Part Three

While Cassia reported for duty at the Steel Rose, Snow walked down the lane to the nearby Loose Cannon Inn. It had been a long morning, and Snow's breakfast was a distant memory; once he had landed on the docks of Boralus he had rushed at a fast pace to accommodate Cassia's schedule. When Cassia asked him to wait outside the Steel Rose, he was just as happy.

The Loose Cannon was located in Hook Point in Boralus, a short distance from the Steel Rose. The place is run by Crimper Mirjam, who presumably earned her name from the nautical practice of of kidnapping people to serve as sailors by coercive techniques such as trickery, intimidation, or violence.  Although forewarned by her name, her establishment was still popular among the stevedores and dockworkers of the Ashvane docks. 

Still Snow was well-aware of the myriad drugs used by the unscrupulous to knock out potential targets to be impressed. Snow entered and walked up to an open seat at the bar. "A bottle of Dalaran Noir, please," Snow ordered; one of the ways to minimize getting something slipped into his drink was to order a sealed bottle.

A Shady Individual

"Wise choice," came from a voice behind him. Turning in his seat, he saw that a shady individual had come up stealthily behind him. She wore heavy nautiful boots, leather trousers, and a dark grey shirt. She wore a golden anchor around her neck. At her waist she carried both a mariner's cutlass and a ling dagger. "It seemed like a reasonable precaution, under the circumstances, this is my first time here, after all."

"Yes, well... perhaps, but I find that playing it safe restricts my freedom," she replied. 

Snow's ears perked up. "That may be so, but freedom just means free from obligation, which would weigh heavily on royals across the seven kingdoms, although the power has an upside, I imagine; but only the Uncrowned are truly free." Snow supplied the proper countersign, identifying him as a member of the Uncrowned.

The Uncrowned was a secret organization of rogues, thieves, and ne'er-do-wells led by the Shadows, their leaders, who form the Council of Shadows. The Uncrowned was organized to co-ordinate the battle against the Burning Legion during the demons' third invasion.  Members included select individuals from Ravenholdt, Deathstalkers, SI:7,  the Shattered Hand, Steamwheedle Cartel, Shado-Pan, Bloodsail Buccaneers, Hidden Circle, Gnomeregan Covert Ops, Royal Apothecary Society, and the Defias Brotherhood.

Snow had been offered membership in Dalaran, and worked for his assigned leader as called upon. 

"That is a good point. my friend," the woman said. "Maybe we might continue this discussion, and share your wine, in private? I have a room here, after all."

"I would like that," Snow said.

Snow followed the woman, noting that the leather trousers fitted her shapely ass very well. 

They reached her room and she unlocked the door, entering and beckoning for him to follow. The room was well-appointed, with a  narrow bed in one corner, a small round table with two chairs. A wardrobe was pushed against the wall, next to a narrow bookcase.

"Please have a seat and open the wine? I'd offer to open it but you would distrust as to whether or not I might drug the wine," she said, chuckling. 

Snow sat in one of the chairs. "Actually, I wasn't planning to drink the wine at all."

"Fair enough," she said. "My name is Roxanne, and Mirjam employs me as, well, as bait. Unwitting sailors come to my room, we have a drink or two, and then when they become... insistently amorous, the bouncer comes up and knocks them out. They wake up onboard an outbound sailing ship, an unwilling part of the crew."

"You, on the other hand... well, I was warned that you would be coming, and that was to help in any way I can. I assume that the Shadows have an interest in the Steel Rose?" Snow opened his mouth to respond, but Roxanne stopped him. "Never mind...none of my business." 

Snow kept his mouth shut. "Well, my Uncrowned handler has an interest... his daughter is a bouncer there, now, " he thought. Or did Chess have another agenda?

"Just know that I am here to back you up in any way you need, " Roxanne said. "And... if you need.. never mind." Roxanne blushed. Her sudden surge of attraction to Snow was, under the circumstances, inappropriate and unprofessional

"...if I need?" Snow said.

"Well, if you need to talk with someone, on a personal basis... well, I would welcome such," she elaborated. "Its not often that I find someone with whom I can be completely honest. Being an operative of the Uncrowned can be very lonely."

Snow paused for a moment. "Perhaps we can have dinner together then, sometime soon?

Roxanne blushed even more. I'd like that... but given that we both work at night, lets make it lunch, instead?" 

"It's a date," Snow said.

((As is so often the case, the outline for this installment changed in the writing, becoming totally different!))

Steel Roses Have Sharp Thorns (Snow & Cassia 01) Part Two

The front entrance

   Phaedra   

Cassia Chess entered the Steel Rose, where she hoped to find employment as a bouncer; her Uncle Griffonclaw had asked her to help out his friend Phaedra, who was the owner and proprietor.  She and her friend Snow, the adopted son of Uncle Griffonclaw had come to Boralus, where Cassia had grown up, so that she could take the job, if Phaedra approved of her.

The Steel Rose was a "Gentleman's Club" in the city of Boralus in Kul Tiras, in the Hook Point neighborhood next to the Dampwick Ward area and the Ashvane Docks.  The location was roughly equidistant, allowing Phaedra to draw from a wide variety of customers; any given night saw a mixture of soliders from the nearby Proudmoore Barracks, the Ashvane Docks area sailors and dockworkers, and visitors and tourists to the Hook Point market. The downside to the location was the prevalence of crime in the area. The notorious Scrimshaw Gang were a heavy presence in the neighborhood, even if they had no business relationship with the Steel Rose.

Cassia found herself in the entrance antechamber to a large room. There was a long bar off to the right wall, and a raised stage along the left wall.. There were tables strewn throughout,  a staircase up and a pair of doors, one of which was marked with a sign that said "Kitchen" and the other "Privy". A third door was attached to the stage, and said "Dancers Only."

While Cassia's eyes adjusted to the darkness, a large Kul Tiran clad in heavy leather armor bestirred himself from a table where he had been having lunch and came forward.

"Excuse me, Miss," he began. "We don't open for some hours yet."

"That's fine," said Cassia. "I'm actually here to see Phaedra about a job."

"Oh... fair enough," he said with a smile. "Let me fetch her for you." The fellow stepped behind the bar and knocked on a closed door that Cassia could not see from the entryway. "Boss, you have a visitor!" he called out through he door in a loud voice. and waited.

A blue-skinned Draenai came out from the back room She had stunning, long platinum hair, and a slender but muscular body, suitable for a paladin sans armor. Her voice was a deep contralto, thick and smokey like a shot of honey with a whisky chaser.  Her manner of dress was most un-paladin like; she wore a emerald green corset, with gold thread trim, with matching lace panties. She wore a pair of gloves that ran just past her elbows, and her long, luxurious legs were encased in pale green silk fishnet stockings.

The Cathedral would have been scandalized!

"I am going to go out on a limb, and name you Cassia, Griffonclaw's squire?" she said, one eyebrow delicately raised.

Cassia could not help but grin; the Chess family was not the only Gilneans with silvered hair, but originally that color had been confined to the royal family; however, as was the case with the nobility of any race and nation, promiscuity had seeded the gene widely throughout the populace of Gilneas. The silver hair had long since stopped being remarkable, but many with the silver hair considered the others as distant kinsmen, no matter how distant. 

"I am Cassia Chess, niece of Griffonclaw; I am not sure I am still anyone's squire, but he is still family, whatever the Cathedral might declare," Cassia declared proudly.  

"You are welcome, Miss Chess," Phaedra said with a nod. "Um... any relation to... "

"A certain Agent of Cheese? He is my father," Cassia confirmed.

"Oh. I had meant that I wondered if you were related to the High Admiral's mage, Alia Chess.," Phaedra said, her azure skin tone darkening with embarrassment."

Now it was Cassia's turn to blush. Alia Atherton-Chess is indeed my beloved and respected mother. Please forgive me for assuming; my father is somewhat... notorious in certain circles."

"Is that so? You shall have to tell me stories, when tie permits!" Phaedra said with a giggle. "You may have a notorious father, but there isn't a mage among my people's scholars who are not familiar with your mother's writings, she is extraordinarily knowledgeable, both as a mage and a lore mistress."

Cassia bowed. "You do her a great honor."

"It is no more than she deserves! But come, let us go into my office and discuss your employment." Phaedra turned to the fellow who had met Cassia at the door. "Kharel, could you ask Vrug to send us some tea? And some fried sweetbread?" 

Kharel nodded, and headed for the kitchen. 

"Vrugbhok is our chef, and is... quite temperamental. He is quite expensive, but his Kul Tiramisu is a preview of the Blessed in the afterlife," Phaedra said, leading Cassia ack to her office. She ushered Cassia inside, and bade her sit one of the two chairs in front of her desk. Seating herself, she began. 
"I assume that Griffonclaw told you of my need for bouncers I can trust?"

"He did, although I must say he did not give me an explanation as to how a Draenei vindicator came to own and operate what some might call a 'den of inequity and sin'?" Cassia asked,

"I admit, it does seem a little strange, but let me explain," Phaedra said. "I came to Boralus to study the Kul Tiran culture; unlike the rest of the Alliance, the Kul Tirans had no Church of the Holy Light, but instead venerated the Tidemother, and that most humans in Kul Tiras, and island nation with strong seafaring traditions, looked to her for protection and guidance. "

"This both horrified and fascinated my people, and there was a call to better understand the Kul Tiran way. I arrived and began to look for ways to help the people of Boralus by service," she said. "I gravitated towards the poor and indigent, as they, more than anyone else, need protection and healing. I struck up a friendship with Matron Westerson, who runs the Boralus Orphanage."

"The charter for the Orphanage demands that those in their care are provided them a safe home, and Madame Westerson does her best to feed, clothe, and educate them, training them to take care of themselves and each other to secure apprenticeships or other livelihood," she continued. "It is an ongoing battle, one that she felt she was losing; too many in her care chose to leave to pursue the life of a criminal. The young women took to the streets as prostitutes, and while that is nor illegal as such, it is illegal to force such women into such through coercion, extortion, or addiction."

Phaedra paused in her narrative when Kharel brought their tea and snacks, setting them down on the desk. Phaedra poured them both cups, urged Cassia to help herself to the fried sweetbread, and continued. 

"I spent some time wondering how I could raise funds for the Oprhange and offering healing to the street whores working the alleys in Dampwick Ward when one of the women mentioned that if only they could make the men paying for excitement give that money to help the orphanage. and the idea for the Steel Rose was born."

"The Steel Rose provides a safe haven and steady employment for women who want to escape prostitution. whether by dancing, sewing costumes, cleaning, cooking or serving tables. Our dancers provide the patrons with excitement and tease, but go no further. whether  on stage or in one of the upstairs rooms available for private shows; all private shows must have a bouncer present. We sell food, we sell drinks, we function as a cafe before the dancers begin; all profits go to the Boralus Orphanage. Of course, we encourage tipping; the tips all go to the staff."

"Just like that?" asked Cassia, her doubt plain in her tone.

"Well, there were several parties who objected strenuously, not the least of which were members of the Scrimshaw Gang, who had a vested interest in the failure of our little experiment. Hence the need for reliable employees; my bouncers need to be tough and honest; no bribes, no side deals, no special favors."

Cassia nodded. She could easily see how such arrangements were balanced on the edge of a knife of self-interest; to succeed they must not only be seen to be incorruptible, but also stay with the job so that they would not be perceived as a temporary change it the status quo. it would be difficult, but worth doing.

"When can I start?" Cassia asked.

Steel Roses Have Sharp Thorns (Snow & Cassia 01) Part One

 Snow FitzSilver    

The fellow named Snow FitSilver grabbed his heavy sailcloth canvas travel bag and hoisted it over his shoulder, preparing to leave the cramped cabin he had shared on the sea voyage from Stormwind to Boralus with three other passengers. He had not fared well during the crossing; his "sea legs" were more spindly wooden crutches.  Still, he had made provision for his lack of nautical affinity and had brought with him a large supply of Dalaran Red wine, which he had shared liberally with his fellow passengers and crew. His lion's share had been more than enough to keep him in an inebriated state where his travel sickness did not overpower his stomach.

It was not the first time Snow had travelled to Boralus by ocean vessel; he had spent months in Kul Tiras with his companion, Cassia Chess.  Cassia's family lived in Boralus, and so she was virtually a native daughter, even if she was a Paladin sworn to the Light. In fact, the man who had become Snow's foster father was  Cassia's father's half-brother, and it was Snow's trademark Gilnean silver hair that had first brought Snow to his attention. Snow took the name FitzSilver when Dane FitzSilver, also known as Griffonclaw, had adopted him.

Unlike this cousins, he had no mother; Cassia's mother was a Dalaran Lore Mistress who was also in the service of High Admiral Jaina Proudmoore.  Snow had never been comfortable enough with "Aunt" Alia to travel the distance the way Cassia had - via a private mage portal.

Pride. Snow had endured the ocean because of stiff-necked pride. Although the Chess family were among his closest friends, he could never truly forget that regardless of their kindness, Snw was a "poor relation"; that the name FitzSilver was given to the bastard-born of the Silverlaine family seemed fitting.  The older boys Baron and Bishop had warily treated Snow as distant family (all the while making it clear that their younger sisters Reina and Cassia were, romantically speaking, off-limits). Cassia was just a good friend, and Reina had enjoyed teasing the Fel out of Snow's adolescent hormones, almost daring Snow to step over the line and watch her brothers indulge their over-protective natures.

Snow had never been tempted. Busop and Baron he could handle, but the person who really scared Snow was "Uncle" Jon.  He never said a threatening nor unkind word,  but Jonathan Chess was the personal confidential agent of Tess Graymane of Gilneas and the chief spymaster for High Admiral Jaina Proudmoore.  Uncle Jon had personally instructed in the niceties of dagger- and sword-play, interspersed with dirty tactics of which Snow stood in awe. Bishop and Baron might beat him - gently - for their sister's honor, but Jon did not beat opponents - he left behind corpses, often dead before they could recognize the danger. Jon had worked for Jaina since Jaina had reached out to the old Alliance spymaster (before Mathias Shaw), seeking an operative that would be loyal to Jaina and Theramore, not the Alliance. Jon had served Jaina until she went missing after the destruction of Theramore, and served Kul Tiras. He had been a cheese merchant envoy when Jaina had returned to Boralus, and had served both Genn Graymane and Jaina faithfully.

Cassia Chess

When Cassia had approached his foster-father Griffonclaw about becoming a paladin, Griffonclaw had asked Snow to accompany Cassia on her travels. Uncle Jon had then given him access to the Universal Exports armory of delices and potions, to facilitate keeping his daughter safe.

Neither Griffonclaw nor Jon had ever charged Snow with defending Cassia with his life; they did not have to. They knew that Snow would die in her defense before letting down the only family he had ever known, even though he'd ever admit it to Cassia.

The sun shown brightly down on the docks of the Boralus harbor. The wind blew Snow's hair across his head like a mother's playful hand as Snow looked out at the landing, wondering if he would be met. He laughed out loud. There was indeed someone to welcome him. A red-scaled dragon, clad in enchanted gold battle harness crouched in front of a ring of children, who were taking turns throwing fish in the air for the dragon to snatch greedily, while singing a Boralus lullaby.

"Rorik!" Snow yelled across the water, and leaped over the side before the ship had docked.  The dragon grinned at Snow and finished the song for his audience, bowing to the applause like the attention-hungry bard that he was. "Snow!" the dragon called back. "Welcome to Boralus, nephew!!" he proclaimed loudly, grinning toothily at the astonished gasps.

“How is my favorite fellow-family-stray?” The nickname was well meant. Rorik’s own addition to the family wasn’t too unlike Snow's. Found as a bruised and scarred egg in the Badlands by a then-apprenticed Alia Atherton, Rorik was reared by hand by the young mage until he could fend for himself (and by that Snow understood it meant “finally" choose his visage so he could buy his own sweet rolls). Since then, he had become the de-facto adoptive brother to Alia, in-law to Jon and Dane, and uncle to all of the children. 

Jon had even forged him citizenship papers for Stormwind.

Snow climbed aboard Rorik, securing his canvas bag tightly to the rider harness. When Snow was ready, Rorik cleaped into the air, and just as he reached apogee of his upward bound unfurled his wings to send him and his passenger higher than the highest rooftops of Boralus. Snow restrained himself from crying out with amazement; Rorik had taught all of the family to be a courteous passenger when aloft. "It is rude to make all the ground-bound jealous - not everyone has their own skytalon taxi," Rorik would remind them.

There was something amazing about looking down on the area as if it were a contour map. From this height Snow could see from the Tradewinds market to the Ashvane Docks to Mariner's Row to their destination in the prosperous neighborhood adjacent to Proudmoore Keep called Upton Borough, where the Chess family lived.

All too soon, Rorik landed with a gentle thud. Snow gathered his bag and gave the red dragon a once-armed hug. "Uncle, I appreciate the lift; it would have been a hot and sweaty walk!"

"Indeed, nephew. I am not amazing?" Rorik postured. "In fact, I think it's time for a swim; the snacks for the children whetted my appetite! Be safe!" he said as he swiftly ascended to ride the winds once more. 

Snow hefted his bag and turned to the door, but before he could knock, it opened and Cassia stepped out to join him. 

"Hello Snow," she greeted him. "I hope your crossing wasn't too bad? Mother would have gladly portaled you with me this morning, you know." 

"I know, but we were not in a hurry," responded Snow. His resistance to using Alia for casual transportation was well-known to the family. 

"I suppose not... well, Father had the apartment in Hook Pointe prepared for you, so let's get you settled and then report for duty?" Cassie asked.

"That sounds good," Snow confirmed.

Cassia stepped inside to get her own baggage, and Snow winced; he was uncomfortably warm in his leathers and gear, but Cassia was clad in a light gambeson under articulated plate armor, and carrying a bastard sword in addition to her own bag, Fortunately, she wore that armor constantly and her body had become whipcord muscle like her Uncle Griffonclaw. She wore her steel-gray hair short, foe convenience when donning a helmet for battle; she had never possessed a large portion of vanity like other women Snow had known. 

As they walked, they discussed Cassia's new job; bouncer for a Gentlemans' Club named the Steel Rose, located in the Hook Point neighborhood next to the Dampwick Ward area and the Ashvane Docks. It was owned and operated by a Draenai paladin named Phaedra, who operated it as a safe haven for the dancers, employees, and patrons. 

The club operated in competition with the notorious Kelp Club, the base of operations for the Scrimshaw Gang, who controlled most of the organized criminal enterprises in the area, from smuggling to prostitution to drugs to loan sharking. Many of the local businesses paid them an "insurance fee" to be left alone; the Scrimshaw Gang members would otherwise harass them until they paid. 

"So... a bouncer at a strip club?" Snow asked, raising one eyebrow.

Cassia shrugged. "You know how it works. Phaedra reached out to Griffonclaw for help, Griffonclaw asked me if I would help out for awhile."

Snow nodded; he did indeed know how it worked. Just as Griffonclaw had reached out to Cassia, Jon Chess had reached out to him, asking him to help. "While I have enormous faith in Cassia, I would feel much better if there was a rat bastard nearby to help with the certain moral...limitations under which the Light followers operate."  Long ago Jon had taught Snow the benefits of pre-emptive retributive strikes, i.e. "Hit them back first".

"Besides," Cassia continued, pulling Snow back into the moment, "It's not like I have any other work going for me right now."

Snow nodded. Cassia was pledged to serve the Holy Church of Stormwind since she was sixteen, following the footsteps of service (or so she thought) of her uncle and father. It wasn't until those doctrines turned abrasive against her time in the Dragon Isles that she decided against her oaths. A wise choice in Snow's opinion, but it did have the unintended but logical consequence of throwing her life plan out with the bathwater.

None of which changed Snow's plan in the least; his task was simple; whatever Cassia felt she needed to do next, Snow would be there, keeping the family priorities - keeping Cassia alive - regardless of what dirty tricks he needed to do to make sure it happened. So if Cassia took a job as bouncer in a strip joint, Snow would keep her as safe as possible while enjoying the scenery.

And the scenery promised to be quite enjoyable.

The two of them chatted together amiably on their way to what Jonathan Chess had always referred to as his "annex" a room located above the Scribes & Nobles bookstore in the Hook Point neighborhood of Boralus, adjacent to the Market; originally he had lived there while maintaining his operations for Elling Trias as an Agent of Cheese. After he and Alia had taken residence in Upton Borough, he kept the annex as a safe haven for guests. Jonathan had gladly turned over the keys to Snow, given it's proximity to the Steel Rose.

Snow and Cassia dropped Snow's belongings there; Cassia would stay when she was too tired to walk home from the club. His gear stowed away, they set off through the back streets to the Steel Rose. 

Returning to the main throughfare, they continued walking until they passed Ruff Waters, a pet shop specializing in canine critters. "I used to make Father take me here; he'd pay for a handful of dog treats and I'd pet and feed the dogs until they were gone," Cassia commented as they passed the entrance. 

The two of them turned right and down the stairs into a large, dank area. There was an outdoor bar here, and many of the bar's customers wore the gang colors of the Scrimshaw Gang. Working out of the notorious nightclub called the Kelp Club, the gang controlled much of the illicit goings-on in the seamy underbelly of Boralus, from muggings to prostitution to loan-sharking to gambling to protection rackets. Many of the city guards were well-paid to turn a blind eye to Scrimshaw activities. Cassia and Snow kept a wary eye out, but they were not approached.

They turned right at a set of stairs, climbed another set of stairs. Below them was the black market, where shady dealers offered paintings, books, and other items pilfered from across the city at bargain prices - so long as one did not care about provenance. From there they turned right and right again, walking past the Loose Cannon, run by Crimper Mirjam, who was often found entertaining her customers by dancing on one of the tables. 

The sign of the Steel Rose

Their path dead-ended into a small courtyard overlooking the Ashvane docks. The sign of the Steel Rose was prominently displayed above the front door. Cassia turned to Snow.

"This is the place. Do me a favor, and wait for me back at the Loose Cannon? I have no idea how long this might take; they don't open for awhile yet, I imagine," she half-pleaded with Snow. 

"Sure thing," he said. "Don't worry about me; I've got nothing to do I can't do with a drink and maybe some bar snacks." Snow understood completely; it might send the wrong impression if the new bouncer showed up with an armed escort.  Fortunately, Snow had brought a book, a rare copy of the steamy romance novel BLUE MOON. Cassia's sister Reina had introduced Snow to the series, and the Chess family library had been well-stocked.

Cassia entered the Steel Rose, and Snow turned around to head to the Loose Cannon to wait.