After VanCleef left, Bolvar immediately instructed the Stormwind Keep guards on either side of him, "Please bring Archmages Andromath and Malin of the Wizards' Guild here as quickly as possible. I have an important matter that requires their help. Remember, this must be done in secret. Do not breathe a word of it, especially to anyone from the Council of Nobles."
More than an hour later, night had long since shrouded the sky.
A speeding carriage stopped before the gates of the Wizard's Sanctum. A messenger scrambled out of it and, after presenting the regent's credentials, entered the hall. He found Andromath constructing an important magic array and whispered to him, "Archmage, the duke regent invites you to dinner at Stormwind Keep. This is extremely important, so please be sure to attend. We must leave now."
"But Dalaran requires me to deliver the finished product next week-"
The messenger leaned close to his ear, his manner exceptionally grave. "Duke Bolvar needs your help now. This is extremely urgent, so please do not delay. Besides, Duke Bolvar may be able to speak with Dalaran and secure an extension for your project, giving you more time."
"Then I thank the regent for his kindness." Andromath nodded and followed the messenger, climbing into the carriage in the darkness and traveling to Stormwind Keep that night.
After the carriage departed, the figures of three rogues flickered in and out of sight in the darkness.
"Just as expected, Felix. Everything went exactly as you thought. The mage from the Wizard's Sanctum really was summoned away," Vladimir said quietly.
"Then do we still need to go to Stormwind Keep?" Joseph's voice betrayed immense worry. He had thought everything was settled, only for Felix to tell him that all their victories were illusory, merely the beginning of an even greater conspiracy!
"I don't think there's any need anymore," Vladimir said, then looked at Felix. "Felix, we should go notify the guildmaster immediately and have them prepare early, before we're all caught in one fell swoop!"
"No, we don't have enough evidence yet. The guildmaster won't believe us."
Although Felix said this, what he actually feared more was that VanCleef would fail to hold his tongue and trust those around him too much, allowing Baros to find out. Baros would leak the news to SI:7 and bring the crackdown down on them ahead of time.
"What we should do now is escape Stormwind City as quickly as possible and find a way to get to Goldshire and rescue little Vanessa in time, before she falls into the hands of those despicable, shameless nobles. Vanessa is the guildmaster's weak spot. Those bastards are very likely to use her to threaten him. You need to understand that these filthy, vile dragons are capable of anything."
"You're right. Let's leave now," Joseph said. "I know Vanessa is staying near the Lion's Pride Inn. Our Stonemasons' Guild has a branch in Goldshire, and the brothers from that branch are looking after her there."
"No, Joseph, you have a more important mission, and it's something neither Vladimir nor I can do." Felix grew increasingly serious. "Listen carefully to every word I say next."
"Because I'm not good at working with mortar, Foreman Lightfinger has never thought much of me. He looks down on Vladimir too. But you're different. You're a key technical expert in our crew, even in the entire guild. Those foremen are more willing to believe you."
"So, at the most critical moment, you must find a convincing excuse to get every foreman to call all the brothers out of the dormitories. You absolutely cannot let them stay inside and let Stormwind City's dogs trap them like fish in a barrel!"
After pausing for a moment, Felix asked, "Also, I remember you helped design the sewers, right?"
Seeing Joseph nod twice, Felix continued, "If the situation changes, you should immediately lead the brothers into the sewers and hide them. Anywhere will do. I believe there must be places like that in the underground drainage system."
Vladimir patted Joseph's shoulder. "Brother, in a sense, the fate of the Stonemasons' Guild rests on your shoulders. Remember, you must make those foremen believe you. That's how more of our brothers can survive. The more brothers survive, the better our chances of succeeding in what comes afterward!"
Joseph took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "Vladimir, Felix, I won't let you down, and I won't let the Stonemasons' Guild down!"
Several Archmages from the Wizards' Guild had already gathered at Stormwind Keep. After half an hour of working together, they finally succeeded in opening a portal to Dalaran there.
"Grand Duke, please do not forget your promise to me," Andromath said. "Otherwise, I will have no choice but to breach the contract for that project."
"Rest assured. I will certainly mention this to Antonidas." Bolvar smiled, but immediately grew serious again. "Everyone, please be sure to keep this matter secret. Do not let those leaders of the Council of Nobles find out."
"But Bolvar, why is that necessary?" Malin asked. "Going to Dalaran isn't anything shameful-"
"Malin, say no more. The regent has his reasons for arranging things this way. Grand Duke, rest assured. Until you return from Dalaran, we will not let word of this get out."
"Thank you for your trouble." Bolvar nodded to them, then vanished into the portal's blue curtain of light.
At that moment, somewhere the mages of the Wizards' Guild could not see, a stunningly beautiful woman was secretly observing everything.
"Bolvar, you've finally cleared off, have you? You naughty man, you really do make me miss you..." Katrana murmured to herself. No one knew whether she was recalling her lingering embraces in the grand duke's bed.
"Ah, the show is about to begin. What a pity you won't get to see it."
Suddenly, Katrana covered her mouth and chuckled. "Darling, you're worried about word getting out, aren't you? Don't worry. I'll keep your secret for you. The entire Council of Nobles will keep your secret for you."
She had originally devised a more complicated plan, but now it seemed that, as long as she seized the opportunity before her, that plan would be of no use at all.
Three hours earlier.
Bolvar had only just given the Stormwind Keep guards the order that this "must be done in secret; do not breathe a word of it" when a human guard immediately made his way stealthily to Katrana Prestor's residence.
Of course, this "human" guard was actually a Black Dragonkin. He had applied for the position a year earlier and, ever since, had conscientiously stood guard and kept watch for King Wrynn.
As everyone knew, among the royal guards of Stormwind Keep, you could find almost every powerful race in Azeroth.
You could find members of the Cult of the Damned here, Black Dragonkin, demons, Dreadlords, Twilight cultists, and faceless ones. You could even find human soldiers loyal to the king here.
Before you continue