I decided to write something a little different from my usual dark tales. I needed a small break from my major series Avarice, so I could further polish, and round out the rest of book three. It is almost finished with.
This new story is my first venture into writing something very different. It's a love story. I usually craft all my own universes, characters, and lore, but this time I have embarked on my first ever fanfic. They say one writes best about subjects they know well, and I have for many years loved the universe of World of Warcraft. It was I confess a very fun thing to write, so I present to you my newest novel, which is complete, and scheduled for release once per week. Forbidden Alliance. I hope you all enjoy it.
To be a Ranger.
Sasha Wrynn already missed her cousin Erin terribly. Her constant companion of her childhood years had only recently departed to study mage craft with the Kirin Tor, in the far away mystical city of Dalaran.
Sad as she was, Sasha could not begrudge Erin this wondrous opportunity. Only those who showed the most prodigious talent were selected to attend this prestigious establishment. They had hugged one another and cried their tears of farewell at the Stormwind portal room. Erin would be far away and studying for many years all of the arcane arts, and hopefully one day she would become a full fledged mage of the Kirin Tor.
Growing up the two cousins were inseparable, even in so far as being raised at the same breast. Sasha's mother had died in childbirth, leaving her Father Devin Wrynn to care for her alone. As fortune would have it his sister in law Evelyn, had just given birth to Erin, allowing Devin in his grief a small respite from the worry of seeking out a wet nurse who was a stranger in Stormwind.
Hence the two families raised both Erin and Sasha Wrynn together, everyone often mistaking them for sisters. They were happy times. Devin who was very career oriented never remarried, and he named his daughter Sasha after the woman he had loved and lost.
With her cherished cousin's absence, and many of her close friends as well, as they all had been admitted to the appropriate colleges for their talents, Sasha today found herself quite alone. So she did what she often did, she rose early and set off for a day away from the cloying confines of the cities stone and mortar walls, into the surrounding Elwynn forest.
She had packed lunch, a 'ranger's luncheon,' she had termed it, a simple haunch of some of her uncle Benjamin's best smoked ham, he was very proud of his secret recipe. She was sure that in a few hours she would work up quite the appetite. She didn't bring a canteen, as there were abundant pools of water that were pristine and clear that she could stop at along the way for refreshment. Though she did have to be wary, and ever on the lookout for the vicious swarms of blue, sharp toothed murlocs.
The morning was fine and golden, the sun shone brilliantly, birds sang in the trees, and light fluffy clouds filled the sky, as she left the imposing gates of Stormwind behind, to follow the cobbled road out into the forest toward Goldshire. The huge spreading oaks covered the roadway above her head, and she breathed of the fresh air deeply, scenting the greenery and nature all around. There was nothing Sasha Wrynn loved more.
There were very few travelers on the road this morning, but it was not surprising given the current political climate. War was once again in the wind. She smiled and gave a cheery hello to the Stormwind guards on patrol in their polished blue and argent finery. Their crisp blue and white tabards bearing the regal lion of Stormwind. The roads were still not safe, the Defias were everywhere, waiting to rob or murder anyone in their path who looked like easy prey. There was much unrest currently, and very few of the principalities were safe.
She realized she would have to be careful, her Father had told her many times he didn't like the idea of her going into Elwynn alone, but he never forbade her excursions. After all he was a ranger, and he understood his impetuous daughter's desires even if no one else did. She was however, strictly forbidden to cross into the environs of Redridge or Westfall, and Sasha had given her Father her solemn word she would always stay close to home.
The sleepy little town of Goldshire loomed, there was indeed little there, just a few scattered stone and thatched roofed cottages, the flight master who lent his trained gryphons as taxis to urgent travelers for various sums of gold, a smithy, the carts of a few traveling peddlers, and lastly the infamous Lion's Pride Inn.
Sasha looked across at the large establishment, the red lantern burned bright, hanging in the doorway, that unspoken symbol of carnal delights within. This inn was as always plying a very brusque trade, even at this early hour. Many humans, a smattering of elves, thickset dwarves, tiny gnomes, and even a massive Draenei, sauntered from the inn, looking very satisfied.
Though she was eighteen, and there was nothing to stop her from going inside, Sasha curbed her impulse. She had been tempted to at least take a peek, as she had always been curious as to the goings on in this notorious building, but the presence of Marshal Dughan at the smithy opposite, had quashed that idea. He knew her Father well, and she was sure that he would tell him if she dared to venture inside.
Instead she waved at him, and he called out to her. "How's the 'princess' today?' He quipped cheerily on seeing his friend's lovely daughter.
"I wish!" Sasha replied cheekily. For although she shared the regal name of the House Wrynn, she was no immediate relative to the handsome King Varian Wrynn, or his cute son Anduin. It appeared their families had diverged generations ago, but it didn't spare her from the jibes of friends, or other's confusion.
"Be careful out there today, stick to the patrolled roads." Marshal Dugan advised, "too many Defias about."
"I will," she assured him as she pushed her long, lustrous, chocolate braid back over her shoulder, and took the road to the northeast that ran all the way to Redridge.
She did not follow the road for long before veering off into the forest proper, she knew just beyond here was a deep, crystal clear lake, and further over towards the red hills that shone with the promise of abundant copper, there were some deep kobold caves.
Kobolds were vicious, disgusting creatures, kind of like large overgrown rats with ugly tufted fur, and an unhealthy obsession for candles. Sasha had no desire to meet one, so she moved carefully and kept a very good observation of her periphery just as her Father had taught her to do.
If only she could have been a ranger, marksman, or a beast master like her Father. It was something Sasha Wrynn had longed for all her young life, but the problem being that so very few humans possessed the stamina, accuracy of aim, survival skills, or that rare, innate ability to communicate with animals that was required.
Most rangers were elves, like Lor'themar or the Windrunner sisters. They had natural talents that made this profession easy for them to excel in. Sasha's Father was one of the very few human men who had attained the title of Ranger, and she didn't know of a single human female who had. That thought often made her sad.
