"Thank you, Mistress," Natalia replied, rising to her feet. She bowed, then left the room, her mind in turmoil. She thought back to her conversation with Illiana, was this what the matriarch had tried to warn her about?

By the time the door had closed behind her, Natalia knew what she had to do.

The halls were dark as Natalia made her way through the Volstrum, her candle throwing long black shadows against the walls. She paused at the door, then looked around to make sure she wasn't being observed before opening it.

Inside, the scent of horses met her nose. She was in the stables, heading towards the same room that she had been brought to all those years ago. It had taken a lot of effort to get a note to Stanislav, and now she risked it all by skulking through the Volstrum on this mad errand.

She approached the room to see the door open, a flickering light throwing shadows out into the hall. Moving closer, she peered in to see Stanislav, a lantern in hand.

"Natalia, is that you?" he called out softly.

"Yes," she said, moving into the room and closing the door behind her. "I'm glad to see you made it."

"I came as soon as I could, but it wasn't easy," he said. "The guards asked me a lot of questions. I had to use Illiana's letter to bluff my way through."

"I'm glad you're here," she said.

"What is it that's so important that I had to come in the middle of the night?" Stanislav asked.

"You once told me you'd be willing to do whatever it took to help me. Do you still stand by those words?"

"Of course, why?"

"I have to get away from here!" Natalia burst out.

"Surely you have the freedom to leave the Volstrum whenever you wish?" he asked.

"No, you don't understand. I want to get away from the Volstrum, the city, the whole country, in fact. I need to run away."

"Why? What's happened?" Stanislav asked, a look of concern creasing his features.

"They're going to breed me," she said.

"Breed you? You mean they want you to have children?"

"Yes, they want to expand the Stormwind line, give them more power. They've even picked out potential partners for me."

"Can't you just say no?" he asked. "After all, they can't take your baby without your consent, can they?"

"Consent has nothing to do with it," Natalia announced. "They expect me to bear them a child. I've been given no choice in the matter, other than picking the father."

"How long do you have?" he asked.

"Not long. They've sent for three prospective fathers from Korascajan, and they left weeks ago."

"How MANY weeks ago, do you know?"

"Several, I've been told, why?" she asked.