Snow FitzSilver (10) - Arranging For Gilnean White

The man that most people knew at Jonathan Chess crouched in the shadows inside the deserted Pyrewood Chapel. He had stepped into the Shadows out of paranoid reflex; throughout his career his paranoia had kept him alive. He had avoided returning to Pyrewood since the Horde had destroyed Theramore; Theramore had been the first home he had known since he had first been recruited by Elling Trias to serve Jaina Proudmoore at the newly-established city-state. She remembered Trias from before his retirement, when he had served the Alliance as spymaster. 

It might have been another decade before he returned to Pyrewood, except for the letter he had received from Snow FitzSilver. 

Snow had been another orphan from the assembled refugees trapped outside the Gilneas Wall. Jon's half brother, the paladin Griffonclaw, had brought him to the safety of the Stormwind Orphanage, ultimately adopting him as part of the family.

Snow had asked for a meeting, and given all Snow had given to the family, Jon did not for a minute hesitate to make the trip from Boralus. Of course, the fact that his wife Alia was a mage simplified the travel arrangements...

Most people would have been startled when Chess stepped out of the Shadows to greet his nephew, but Snow had grow used to that; Uncle Jon had been using that trick to increase Snow's situational awareness as he had grown up. 

An uncharacteristic smile crossed over Jon's face. He would never have allowed his children to join "the family business", but he was very proud of the man Snow had become.

"Uncle Jon... I have applied for a job as an intelligence operative with the Gilnean Crown," Snow informed. 

"I.. am not horribly surprised. I guess I'll have to find someone else to run 'errands' for me," said Chess. "I am very proud of you, kid. I do have one question, though?"

"What's that?"

"Do you need a delivery of Gilnean White?" asked Chess.

Snow FitzSilver (09) - A Letter from Ironforge

 Arrived in the mail, postmarked from Ironforge

Snow FitzSilver (08) - A Letter From Boralus

Snow FitzSilver returned from a long day in the fields of the farms in Light's Blooming, having spent much of the day killing spiders and scrapping renegade farm reapers. He had returned to the inn in Dunelle's Kindness, and when had approached the front desk to ask about the availability of a bath, the person at the desk had handed him a letter! He had been so excited that he had forgotten all about the bath, and rushed up the stairs to his room. "I'm home!" he called out, and smirked as a large lump in his bed twitched; he had been adopted by a lynx kitten, who found noting quite as agreeable as burrowing in the bedclothes for warmth.

Snow laid out a small mound of shredded crispy mutton, knowing that the little ingrate beast would soon be tempted from the bed by the scent of dinner. Using one of his omnipresent throwing knives, Snow neatly slit open the letter and sat down to read it.

Snow recognized the neat letters in well-ordered rows; Alia had taught all of her children, and later Snow, to write in a disciplined, legible fashion. 

 Dear Snow,

The "Twins", as you so helpfully coined them, are only a year or two older than you, but I dearly appreciate your compliment, nephew. The arcane may keep my appearance young, but my body is not as kind of a record keeper. I will give the remaining family your well wishes. 

Snow grinned; it was just like her to accept the compliment inn a dismissive fashion. Snow blamed Jon; he was so ready with glib comments that the women in the Chess family long ago became used to them, and did not take them seriously. Of course, the Titans help Jon if he ever stopped paying homage to their beauty, brains, and kind hearts.

I confess, I am relieved that you've written, as odd as our family relations are. After Dalaran, after losing so much and so many, coming so close to losing my boys, I find myself with a strange longing of any reminder that not all was lost.

Snow winced at her obvious pain; while she would be the first to admit that she mourned the loss of the libraries and their resources, Snow knew that her loss went much deeper; while Dalaran had been a marvelous, magical city, Alia has virtually grown up in it's academia, and whether or nor she liked her fellow students, instructors, librarians, and bureaucrats, they had been the underpinnings of her life, whether friends, acquaintances, rivals, or fools - they were the framework of her existence. To have them ripped apart from existence while Jon, Alia, and Baron did their best to save...dozens? Maybe hundreds? 

Snow could not imagine the pain. Andyet, the High Admiral of Kul Tiras had called, and they had responded. 

Jon's close friend, the gnome who had delighted in teaching Snow how to use a child construction kit to make mechanical race vehicles with enthusiasm and glee... Phredaria Godgears, a close family friend to the Chess clan, was gone, officially listed as missing; nobody thought that she had survived. She had always had time to help Snow learn; she tousled his hair and said that he wasn't the first street rat to become family. 

As much as I was and am wary of that place of employment, I thank the Light you and Cassia were at the club when it happened. Do not forget, we may not be blood, but you are just as much a part of this family as I am. You in particular are in too deep, and loved too much to allow that.

Snow had not wanted to weep, but he could help himself. Dane "Griffonclaw" FitzSilver had taken a six-year-old orphan and given him a family with strong ties, one that had given him direction, an education, training, and a firm platform from which to live his life. Uncle Jon had given him more than that; he had given him the means to make a difference.

Aunt Alia had made him family.

As for what we require, your well-being is first priority, but besides the obvious, this tired wife would ask that you keep an eye out for your "cousins" and "uncle". Baron's arm is still recovering, but I know he is eager to join the other researchers in this Mereldar to research the impressive crystal that is down there.

 Baron in Mereldar? Of course he would be coming; there was research to do, experiments to be made, and Baron Chess had no lack of ambition. Snow would make sure that he was well-situated.nd he would do it in such a way that Baron would think that he was doing Snow a favor. Baron would never ask for help, but a chance to have Snow owe him one? Snow would find a good apartment, make it safe, and then ask Baron if he could "watch" it for Snow as Snow was required to work away from Mereldar. 

Bishop is... Bishop. I suspect he stayed long enough to ensure his brother would survive the trip down before he ran off on the first ship to this 'Siren Isle'.

Ah yes. Bishop might not be speaking to his brother, but - like Snow - he would do his best to help keep Baron safe. Snow shook his head; Reina and Cassia had scolded and remonstrated with the Twins, reminding them on how their friction wore down their mother's spirit, and perhaps we might see both of them visit at the same time during Winterfest. 

I don't know for sure, he never writes, and Jon- Well my husband is ever faithful to the Lord Admiral, and to me in all matters except where the safeguarding of his life is concerned. We may have returned to Boralus for a time, to ensure the enemies within the Admiralty do not destroy it in her absence, but I would be a fool to forget that one shadowy summon in the middle of the night would see him off right back into that forsaken underground. He is her best man, even now.

Snow did not actually know whether or not Jon had been entirely forthcoming about the assignments Jon periodically asked Snow to do. So far, one could not point to anything that might indicate that Snow was going to follow into the "family business" - entering the service of Kul Tiras - but it was also not off the table. 

Snow would do anything any of the family asked of them. That is what family did.

In summary, your aunt requires that in the course of your other duties and jobs, you ensure that you still have a family to call yours. I will be sure to send cheese in the meantime.

Love, 

Alia

Snow smiled. Cheese. Always cheese.

(PS: Please ask around the Arathi for tips on training the lynxes while they are cubs. Jon brought one as a companion to Cassia more on a whim then with any sense of how unruly these creatures are between kitten and adult. This one 'Vanilla' insists on spilling my coffee every chance she gets!)

Snow would make sure to send Alia a supply of Vorquin Filet, so she could give Vanilla a taste of what some of the lynxes ate in the wild.

 

Snow FitzSilver (07) - A Letter to Boralus

Dear Aunt Alia,

It feels strange calling you "Aunt", given that you seem far too young to have a child my age, but I don't want to fail to show the proper respect and familial affection I hold for you. if you have any suggestions, I am always open.

I don't seem to have that problem with our Agent of Cheese. "That Bastard" seems to work well enough, and all of the rest of the family know immediately to whom I refer. 

That Bastard suggested that when I find myself in Khaz Algar that I take a moment to write to you, and reassure you that I am well. Or at least, well enough. Please give my affection to the Princess and the Paladin, and kindly ignore the Twins; but please tell them that I gave them enough regard to tell you they were to be ignored. 

They'll understand, and ignore me right back, which beats the beating they promised me when they thought my eye alighted on Reina with too much... enthusiasm. 

In any case, I have finished escorting the beautiful and clever Ren'dorei Annya Brightstone to Mereldar, where she has taken up residence. I have myself moved on to a small town called Dunelle's Kindness, where the Innkeeper has a penchant for over-cooking the mutton. It is, however, inexpensive and clean.

Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you are the family while I am here. And send cheese - its not very well-appreciated here, apparently.

Love,

Snow

A Steamy Romance - A Tarnished Night in Blackrock

 (WIP)

The walls of the immense tunnels below Blackrock Mountain, an active volcano, had been initially formed by geothermic lava tubes, then expanded and smoothed by the Dark Iron artisans over centuries, in service to the demigod Ragnaros, summoned by them in the distant past.    

The Tarnished Knight ran his hand over the smooth, almost glass-lick obsidian, impressed by the skilled workmanship, even as he deplored the use to which they had been put. 

The Tarnished Knight had been assigned the task of rescuing a prisoner in the Shadowforge City prison cells, located in the volcanic bowels of the lower city. There was a prisoner, a human named Shill Dinger, who had a key piece of information about the upper echelons of the Scarlet Inquisition, information that Matthias Shaw wanted. Shaw had made the request of the Silver Hand, and the Silver Hand had assigned the task to their most expendable operative... him.

There was only one hitch - to spring the prisoner, he would need the key to his cell.