A Pardon for Alia

A Pardon for Alia 

"OK, I'll take the job in exchange for a pardon for Alia," Jon told Shaw. "But I think it's poor form to charge Alia because she chose me and not you."

Shaw gave Chess a look that implied severe gastric distress or unforeseen annoyance with the Agent of Cheese. "Good. I am sending a guy with you, just in case." Shaw signaled to his lieutenant, the goblin named Renzick. Also known as "The Shiv." Renzick motioned a large fellow clad in the regulation black of a SI:7 operative. Black leather armor, cloak, high leather boots, and a black mask and hood. Jon spotted several blades of various lengths concealed about his person. From his belt hung two two-foot-long hardwood batons. "This is Kosh. He will do with you and take charge of the letters once you obtain them."

Agent Kosh, a pleasure," said Jon. "Batons?"

Kosh shrugged. "I don't like killing when it can be avoided."

"Hence his working name," commented Renzick with a nasty grin.

Jon raised an eyebrow. "You carry three throwing blades, likely envenomed."

Kosh shrugged again. "I'm not a fanatic about it."

"I see," said Chess. He approved the theory so long as it didn't interfere with the mission. "Meet me at the Pig & Whistle for breakfast, and we'll go to Boralus."

"By ship?" Kosh asked.

"Don't be absurd. My wife is a Dalaran Magna, and I get seasick easily."

"...I thought you were Kul Tiran?" asked Kosh.

"Common mistake. I'm Gilnean."

"Really? I'd have expected someone... with more fur."

"How rude!" Jon said. "Just for that, you must endure a joke. Knock knock?"

"Whose there?" responded Kosh.

"Kosh," said Jon.

Kosh gave Jon a deadpan look. "Not funny."

*      *      *      *      *

Kosh arrived via a rooftop path at sunrise and settled into a comfortable spot to watch the entrance to the Pig & Whistle Tavern, Jon Chess' unofficial 'office' when he was in Stormwind. Kosh was cautious and wanted to ensure that there were no watchers or ambushers in place for the breakfast meeting with Chess.

He opened the flask at his belt and drank; early morning stakeouts required strong coffee.

"You know, they have better coffee inside," came a voice behind Kosh. Kosh froze, slowly turning to face the owner of the vote. 

"I thought we were meeting inside?" grumbled Kosh.

"We were meeting inside, but apparently, we are both... cautious people," commented Chess.

"Paranoid, more like," said Kosh.

"It's not paranoia when you find someone skulking on the rooftops," said Chess.

"I was not skulking. I was surveilling," said Kosh.

"Well, if you are done, I can have breakfast ready in a half-hour. With fresh-ground coffee from Kul Tiras."

"I thought you were Gilnean?"

"I am Gilnean, but I work in Boralus."

"That explains why Shaw hired you."

"Shaw hired me because he's an egotistical bastard. He knew the only way I'd help him was to protect Alia." Jon motioned to the entrance of the tavern. "Shall we eat?"

Minutes later, the pair entered the standard room of the tavern.

"Alia, my Beloved, this fellow is Kosh, my babysitter from Shaw," Jon said. Kosh noted that when Jon spoke to his wife, his face lit up with a genuine smile. Kosh was used to Jon's smirk but could never remember seeing him smile.

Alia Atherton Chess was a woman of medium height and a slender build. Her chestnut hair fell loosely down past her shoulders. Her eyes were an arcane shade of purple. She was dressed in black and deep purple robes cut in Kul Tiras fashion, but her boots had the sigil of Dalaran on them. She smiled gently but smirked like Jon when she sketched a slight bow and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kosh. I'm afraid you work for a jerk, but I don't hold that against you."

"There are few congenial people in my line of work, Mistress Chess," said Kosh, returning the bow with a deeper one of his own.

"That is an unfortunate truth," confirmed Alia with a smile. "Come, let us sit while Jon makes breakfast."

Kosh smiled. "Jon's file doesn't really say anything about Jon cooking...?" 

"Really? When was the last time you read his file?" Alia asked curiously.

"Well, last night, to prepare for the mission," said Kosh.

"Ah. Jon's SI:7 file is a bizarre beast, constantly being revised by people with influence. It's one of the reasons why Master Shaw is not fond of Jon," informed Alia. "The Stormwind Crown, Lady Jaina Proudmoore, the Uncrowned, the Gilnean Crown... all of these sometimes ask Jon to work for them rather than SI:7. They know Jon can be trusted when he accepts an assignment, whereas SI:7... let's just say that there is a history of SI:7 instability. Jon doesn't have files to steal." 

"I see," said Kosh.

"I don't think you do," commented Alia. "If you ever see Jon naked, you'd have a better idea." Alia thought of the constant reminders of past interrogations, which had marked his body with scars and burn marks, both mundane and magical. 

"I'll take your word for it," Kosh said uncomfortably.

"Smart man. Jon loves to cook, though, and has done so for several militia groups in the past - at least those who did not dwell on the fact that Jon is always making venoms and poisons for his own use." Alia giggled at the nervous smile rising on Kosh's face.

After surviving breakfast, Alia opened a portal to Boralus.

(Apologies. This snippet was a work in progress, but will remained unfinished due to personal issues.)