The next couple of days flew by in a kind of blissful haze.

There were the usual chores to do, sure, but they seemed easier than before, less annoying, even fun at times.

It was as if a curtain had been lifted and only now Ylena could see the world for what it really was- a wonderful place to live in.

Everything seemed changed.

Colors were brighter, scents more intense, even the food tasted better, if she had been hungry- which she wasn't.

The sun shone as warm as ever and it was a pleasure to be outside.

She felt like she was walking on clouds ( that was, once she was able to again walk properly. Nathanos had given his all, that was certain. )

Faces looked more beautiful and friendly than before. Under each of their respective uniforms and battlegear was a real person with a real history.

Ylena smiled at everyone she met and most of them, even the grimmest warriors, smiled back.

The feeling was illusive and she knew it- the world had not changed overnight, the war was still there and their future as uncertain as before, but suddenly the situation seemed to her less desperate.

And indeed, despite the loss of the Golden Fleet and the worrying news from all warfronts that followed it, the alliance seemed to be in no hurry to use their advantage and push the attacks.

The boy king was known for his peace-loving attitude.

Perhaps he had come to the realization that the murder of a sovereign, who had so far done next to nothing to support the horde's war efforts, had been a step too far.

An opinion, that would not be shared by everyone and cause tensions and disagreement among the alliance leadership. And that was a good thing, when it bought the horde some time to come up with a new strategy-

Ylena passed a group of Zandalari street kids who were playing football with something that looked suspiciously like a shrunken Night Elf head.

How- tasteless.

She usually cared little for those unwashed, cheeky brats, but today their joyful screeching and laughter made her heart swell with a sudden fondness for them.

There was no denying it- she was happy.

And she was starting to feel something she hadn't felt for a long time, something that went beyond the daily struggle for survival.

Hope.

No longer for a great victory, or promotion and honor and glory.

Just for a good, simple life when all this was over. All of a sudden, it seemed possible- and worthwile.

She had not seen Nathanos again after their steamy night of love, but that was fine.

He probably needed time to figure out his feelings, and she expected no special treatment from him because they were now lovers. It would only cause suspicion and jelousy when it looked like he favored her over the other champions. The higher the position you were in, the more careful you had to be. She understood that.

And of course she had also not forgotten their last conversation, before it had moved to more- pleasing- subjects. How he had questioned her about her knowledge about Derek Proudmoore's rescue.

He had said he believed to know who the suspects were, and that they would be brought to justice rather sooner than later.

But the days passed and nothing happened.

Nobody got arrested.

Zelling was still going about his business aboard the Banshee's Wail and Baine could be found in his usual place at the Great Seal.

Ylena didn't have the chance to talk to either of them about the matter- not that she would have wanted to.

Best to stay out of their way and pretend she had nothing to do with all this- which, strictly speaking, she had not.

Something that could not be said about her involvement in Saurfang's escape, but all witnesses of her deeds in the swamps were dead, and the young troll Zekhan probably ( hopefully ) knew better than to mention it to the wrong people.

No one would ever learn about the incident and most likely, nothing would come off it any way.

It could just as well have never happened.

The only downside of her happiness was the fact that she had no one to talk about it.

She had never been good at making friends and the ones she had could be counted on three troll fingers.

The most obvious choice would have been Quinni, but to her great chagrin, the enchantress seemed to have left Zuldazar for happier shores.

She hadn't shown up at work one day, and neither her collegues at the Hall of Glimmers nor her innkeeper knew where she had gone. Perhaps she had returned to Silvermoon. Being no soldier, she was free to leave whenever she liked, and had probably decided that Zuldazar was no longer a safe and profitable enough place.

Quinni had never liked the island anyway, but Ylena was still a bit miffed that her friend had left without even telling her goodbye.

In lack of another female friend to talk to, and with no immediate tasks to perform for the time being, Ylena bought a ride to Xibala, where Thaedruill was stationed.

The archeology camp to the far west of Zuldazar was a collaborate project of Sindorei and Shaldorei.

Ylena remembered how Thaedruil had complained to her about having to work in a hostile wilderness, but the camp itself turned out to be a cozy little oasis designed in typical Elven style.

The Blood Elves and Highborne there seemed to get along pretty well- not least thanks to considerable supplies of arcwine the latter had contributed to help "breaking down barriers". Whoever wasn't busy digging up dinosaur skeletons sat in peaceful harmony on cushions beneath huge parasols, drinking and chatting.

Thaedruill- himself no longer exactly sober despite the early hour- rose at Ylena's sight and hurried to introduce her to the leader of the expedition- a pretty, dark-haired woman named Tae'shara Bloodwatcher.

The fellow Sindorei eyed her suspiciously at first, but when it became clear that Ylena had no intentions to steal her new apprentice, she let go of her frosty attitude and began to praise Thaedruill's skills. Apparently he had been of invaluable help with her research, as well as in defending the place from continuously attacking hordes of dark iron dwarves.

Now and then, the young Nightborne interrupted her and tried to downplay his feats, but the expression on his face and his posture belied his feigned modesty.

He was practically glowing under the praise, moreso since it came from someone he was visibly very fond of.

Ylena smiled.

She was happy to see him happy.

During the last few weeks she had often thought of her involuntary brother in arms, and felt a little guilty for having neglected him. But now it seemed he had finally found his place, and even come to take pleasure in a job he had considered beneath him at first.

She left the two of them with a satisfied feeling, and not without having promised to visit again soon to learn more about their excavation finds.

Back in Dazar'alor, her spirits lifted up even more when she received a call to the Banshee's Wail.

Nathanos wanted to see her! Had he missed her as much as she had missed him?

There was, however, no chance to ask him ( let alone throw herself into his arms ) because it wasn't him who awaited her on the main deck in front of the entire crew, but instead a dark ranger named Alina with a new job.

"The Dark Lady has important work for you, champion." she informed her in that typical cold, detached voice she shared with all her sisters. " Preparations are beginning for a secret meeting of the horde's leadership at Warfang Hold. I trust I don't need to emphasize that security is of the highest import for this gathering. The goblin, Gallywix, has sent his underlings to make sure the area is swept of any... unwanted guests. I need you to make sure they succeed in their task."

Trying hard not to let her disappointment show, Ylena nodded. "Find and take out alliance spies. Understood. Child's play. Consider it done."

She managed to maintain a straight face but inside her head her thoughts raced. Secret meeting of the horde's leadership? In Stormsong? Whatever did this mean?

Well, maybe nothing to worry about, she tried to calm herself. Perhaps Sylvanas had come up with a new strategy to win the war, now that her plans with Derek Proudmoore had failed.

As Ylena found out upon her arrival, there were indeed a few SI:7 spies lurking about the area, but the alliance secret service had never been known for its efficiency and it wasn't hard for an experienced hunter to track and neutralize them.

What irritated her alot more, was the other part of her job.

Obviously the glutton Gallywix, upon learning about an upcoming meeting with all the horde leaders, had jumped at the chance to sell tickets for the event, and Ylena had to ask a crowd of curious spectators to present them to her.

So much for secrecy.

But at last, every stowaway was chased off and the area cleared and ready to await the arrival of the main actors.

And they all came to the call of their warchief.

Never before had Ylena seen all the horde leaders assembled in one place.

There was the leader of the Sin'dorei, her own people, of course, Lor'themar Theron.

Queen Talanji of the Zandalari.

The orc Eitrigg, who seemed to be the one to speak for his people in Saurfang's absence.

Geyarah, the leader of the Mag'har Clan, known to be one of Sylvanas' most loyal supporters.

First Arcanist Thalyssra of the Nightborne Elves.

Rokhan of the Darkspear tribe.

The leader of the horde friendly Panadaren whose name she kept forgetting.

Mayla of the Highmountain Clan.

Rexxar, the famous half-orc, half-ogre beastmaster with his loyal companion Misha, a giant bear.

Baine, the Tauren leader, of course.

And much to Ylena's surprise, also Thomas Zelling.

But to her great disappointment, no Nathanos.

And when he finally arrived, it was alongside the Banshee Queen herself.

Sylvanas Windrunner walked towards the assembly of horde leaders and made no secret of the reason for the meetings right from the start.

"I have troubling news," she began, but she didn't sound troubled at all, her voice was as cold and unmoved as perpetual ice. "It seems there are traitors in our midst."

Ylena felt her heart sink into her boots. So this meeting wasn't about new war strategies after all. It was about treason.

Treason she had actively participated in!

"Most of you need fear nothing," the warchief continued as she leisurely paced the rows of her subordinates."But Derek Proudmoore didn't flee to Kul Tiras by himself. He had help."

She stopped directly in front of Baine Bloodhoof. "Didn't he? "

The Tauren chieftain's eyes narrowed and his huge nostrils flared.

But then Sylvanas looked from him to the person standing right next to him. "Zelling?"

Nathanos raised his bow and aimed at him.

The tidesage seemed to shrink in his robes. He flinched and opened his destroyed mouth. "I-" he stammered and defensively raised his hands. "I-"

The gaze of his dilated eyes flew across the assembly in panic and then, to her utter, utter horror, fixated on Ylena.

Only the split of a second later, he hit the ground, felled by Nathanos' arrow.

Sylvanas turned her head at her champion, an indignant frown on her chiseled features.

But before she could express her displeasure at his alleged rashness, Baine Blodhood stepped forward and raised his mighty arms.

"No!" he shouted. "I returned Derek Proudmoore to his family. You raised him as a Forsaken, but you planned to deny him of his free will, to violate his mind. I could not stand by and permit such depravity to unfold."

"Thank you," Sylvanas' voice was as cold as the grave she had escaped three times already. "For your honesty."

She made a gesture with her head to the guards she brought with her. "Take him."

"Banshee!" Baine thundered. "Others will see you for what you are. You will leave the horde in ruins!"

Sylvanas watched on impassively as they dragged him away. "There is no place for weakness in our ranks."She let the gaze of her smoldering red eyes roam over the assembled- and visibly shocked- horde leaders and her voice became a tad sharper in unmistakable warning. "Remember your loyalties."

Ylena stood and watched her leave, horrified and - as she had to confess to her shame- at the same time terribly relieved to have escaped the executioneer's axe by a hair's breadth.

She glanced at Nathanos, and for a second, their eyes locked. The expression in his was clear. He knew. And he knew that she knew.

Then he turned around and followed the Dark Lady as she left the scene.