Peering to the Future
His hands were around her throat, and he only increased the pressure. At first, there was resistance, even attempts at desperate words. First, insults, then pleading. The begging lowered and lowered until there was nothing but choking, and attempts at breath that were met with no success.
"Thalin... Thalin please... try to understand..."
A voice came from deeper within his head, saying the same phrase over and over again.
Kill her. Kill her. Kill her. She betrayed you, Thalin. Now kill her. Secure your fate. Embrace your destiny like every Sunstalker.
There was no more words of resistance, soon. The woman’s face turned purple, and she was spent. The last image Thalin saw before the vision became blank was a mirror in front of the woman -- he had strangled her in front of a vanity -- and he saw himself. His eyes, glowing purple, skin tingling with a similarly colored magic.
He looked angry, and had no remorse for the murder. He could barely recognize the woman, anyways. Furthermore, he could barely recognize himself.
Thalin opened his eyes carefully, and was greeted by a splitting headache. It truly felt as though someone had driven a nail into his head by hammer. He groaned, and shifted his position, sitting up in his bed. He nudged a body near him, and shivered in a bit of shock.
He remembered quick enough that he had company over the night. For the life of him, though, he could not remember her name. It was not exactly her name that mattered. More so the “company” part.
Though whenever these dreams struck Thalin, he often did not resolve to taking advantage of this sort of situation. He first immediately considered contemplation. As usual, it was a disturbing dream that unnerved him to his core. Though he often dreamed vaguely of events in the past. Things that had not happened, possibilities with immensely dark tones.
Just coming to realize he was encroaching even more unfamiliar territory, he stopped himself, and got out of his bed. He was careful not to wake the stranger in his bed, and gathered his clothes. Then, his armor. He was suited in plate that covered most of his body, only his arms were uncovered somewhat as to assist in proper quick movement.
He then made his way out, and immediately saw her sitting on a decorative chair, her back to the door. She sipped from a glass full of clear water. When Thalin stepped out, her ears flicked.
“Prompt as always, Thalin,” Valowyn said.
Thalin sighed loudly, and stepped beside Valowyn. He saw now that she was sifting through papers intently, and had handed him three. “How long have you been here?”
“Couple minutes, I figured you were sleeping in. Long night?”
“Long dream,” Thalin corrected.
“Bad ones?” She asked, glancing upwards. “You aren’t testing the products, are you?”
“Not when I expect to work the following day,” he gave a chuckle that Valowyn did not find quite as funny.
As a matter of fact, Valowyn replied seriously with, “Your mother makes the claim bad dreams run in the Sunstalker family, not hers. Your father... well, he said nothing, as he usually does.”
Thalin had heard the same thing from his mother. Though he never fully knew what it meant. His father had not spoken a word for as long as Thalin could remember -- mute, entirely. Most believed that his father was insane for this, though Thalin truly believed something had taken his voice from him. Perhaps out of shock, or maybe he was always that way, from birth.
Valowyn did not linger on the subject, however, knowing it was a sensitive subject. So she returned to business, something that could properly distract Thalin.
“A couple of things, Thalin. Three, as a matter of fact.”
Thalin shifted through each of the papers and skimmed them. There was a name on each one that he recognized immediately. There was no need for a briefing. So he perked one of his brows and asked, “You’re going to explain each of them this time? I know these saps, I’ll handle it.”
“No, that’s one thing. Deal with them how you see fit, that’s why I delivered them all at once -- these are not any special people. Just be sure they’re fit enough to pay.”
“So that’s one, what’s two and three?” Thalin looked to Valowyn, and she uncrossed her legs, and placed her hands on her knees. She was wearing a simple tunic and clean, blue pants. It was clear she was still uncomfortable with the prospect, likely being far more used to robes, but throughout working with the Sunstalkers, she was urged to be more casual. Though that was not why she sighed, and placed a hand on Thalin’s arm.
“Sit down a second, Thalin.”
“Oh shit -- what is it?”
“Nothing, nothing, I swear.” She was an awful liar -- or perhaps Thalin was good at catching lies? He suspected the aforementioned more so. He sat anyways, however, sitting up in the chair, tense with expectation.
“Your family wants to hire more for your end of things. A bookkeeper, and one you should become... well, acquainted with.”
“Some bastard to dig around our numbers? Something like that could get us in trouble, since they’ll know the inner-workings of things. We’ve discussed this, Valowyn.”
“No,” Valowyn retorted, “I’ve heard you deny this and shoot it down before I have the chance to state my case. Now, you have no choice.” Valowyn sighed again, and leaned forward, “Thalin, hear me out.”
Thalin tried leaning back, but still looked tense as all hell. His shoulders were up, and hands gripped his knees tight. He looked ready to fight this.
“Your leadership,” Valowyn started, her tone reflecting seriousness, both of empathetic and blunt at the same time -- something Thalin came to appreciate, “has been wonderful throughout the years.” She held a hand out, as if counting each of their accomplishments.
“We’ve quadrupled sales, gained a reputation that is indestructible, we have loyal customers in some of the most renowned families of Silvermoon, and we’ve moving our businesses beyond these walls. All because we decided to be here, instead of scuffling about in troll hovels.”
Thalin nodded, and rotated his jaw. He relaxed a bit realizing he could not fight that.
“The woman I seek to begin her job, she... is trusted. My only concern is she is not as hardened as you or I, Thalin. She can do her job, but we will have to bring her up. It is essential for the future of this business.”
There was a pause, a long one. Thalin seemed to think on it. It felt longer than it actually was, for a strength of Thalin’s was fast decision making. Thirty seconds, and no longer passed before he said, “Then you bring her up, and I’ll be sure she’s suitable.”
“It’s decided, then.” Valowyn said.
“The final bit?”
“Right,” Valowyn said, swallowing loudly. Thalin tried to stand, but Valowyn placed a hand on his arm, signaling him to stay seated. “You might want to stay seated for this, too.”
Thalin, this time, was relaxed entirely. Valowyn, however, was not. She rubbed her head.
“Word has gotten out that the human kingdoms are in shambles, Thalin. Plague ravages their land, and the dead rise and attack the living.” She looked at Thalin, and finished her words with, “This could bode unwell for us. Our efforts have redirected to organizing humanitarian assignments -- militaristic supplies in case the worst happens, and Quel’thalas has to fight this. We have a contract signed by Dath’remar Sunstrider himself.”
Thalin nodded his head in understanding.
“If this goes well, the future of the Sunstalker family, and all it pursues, will be undeniable. Certainly the humans will find a way to recover from this, as well, for without their aid we cannot--”
“We can survive without the humans,” Thalin said, bluntly.
“Cell...” She resorted to calling him by his other nickname to break past the rough exterior. It often worked -- it was an established agreement that only the trusted could refer to him as ‘Cell’, referencing the first half of his name. Cellan’thalin. Most barely knew his full name, and simply called him Thalin.
Thalin exhaled and rubbed his head. He uttered out, trying and failing to restrain his sarcasm, “Long live Lordaeron, right?” He then stood himself up, glancing at the papers in his hands again, “I should get on this, now. I’ll meet with the bookkeeper tonight?”
Valowyn nodded, seeming a bit distracted. “She turned down Dalaran so she may study the Light, and now she has agreed to work with us in favor of the Light itself.”
“So a faithful one, hm? Now I see why you’ve warned me.”
“Be nice,” Valowyn warned. “Don’t give her a damn reason to use numbers against us.”
As Thalin started to leave, Valowyn said one last thing, “Right, and visit your parents, too, your mother had something to tell you. Something important, it seemed.”
Thalin left attempting to shake off attempts to understand that dream. He wondered if he should try telling his father? Thalin could not help but cling to a hope that maybe, just maybe, his father would spout out words finally in an attempt to understand it all as much as his son had.
Though it all had to be thought another time. For now, the less savory work of the business had to be finished. Even with a substance that was not addictive entirely, there were still deadbeats unwilling to pay. And to offer loans so fast and readily available, there were pompous sorts who did not remember who brought them their good fortune, expensive houses, and valuable trinkets.
It was not their significant others, oh no.
It was the Sunstalker family.