Cheese at the Dark Portal

"Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics."

- Gen. Robert H. Barrow, USMC

"Chess!  Get your ragged ass up here!  I have a special delivery for you!" bellowed Elling Trias, Master of Cheese, and Jon's employer.  He had been waiting, his morning coffee (well, the third) clutched in a death grip.  It was over two hours since he had sent his son Ben out with a message that Jon was needed urgently.

The fellow often called Jon Chess has no more cross the threshold of Trias' Cheeses when the boss had bellowing for useful-if-disposable operative. He wasted no time, but took the stairs to the upper office space two steps at a time.

"Finally.  What in Fel's name kept you?" Trias greeted Jon.  

"I was asleep," said Jon, in an amused voice.

"So?"

"With a beautiful companion," replied Jon.'

"So?" Trias was well aware that his Agent of Cheese had the habits of an alley tomcat.

"So, one does not just wake up, put on clothes and leave a woman behind.  One makes coffee or tea, as she prefers, brings her a breakfast tray of fried eggs, bacon, toast, and a peeled orange before telling her that she may stay in the warm bed for as long as she desires," informed Chess.

"All that?" questioned Trias.

"Well, you do all that if you want to be asked to her bed again!" confirmed the Rake of Cheese.

"... I see," said Trias. "You must forgive me, I have been married for far too long."

"If you don't treat your enchanting wife that way, the length of your marriage is remarkable indeed," sniped Chess.

"Bah!" replied Trias, not willing to engage the subject further. "We have a request from the Argent Dawn for an urgent supply of cheese, ale, and whatever hard breads and coffee we can deliver to the Dark Portal."

Jon raised hs eyebrows.

"For the last few weeks, the Dark Portal has shown signs of awakening... yesterday, waves of demons have begin to pour through.  The Argent Dawn has held the line, but they need provisions - and they need it now.  Take a few hours, and then I need you to take what we have. Dalaran is sending us a mage to help with teleportation."

"So I am a glorified pack mule?" questioned Jon.

"Well you are stubborn like one, and I think I owe pack mules apologies for the comparison..." confirmed Trias.

"May I make a suggestion?" asked Jon.

"Of course."

"I would like to request a specific mage...she is both highly skilled, and cool under fire.  I've worked with her before."

"Better than the usual Dalaran mage?"

"Much. This one can take both of us and a fully-laden wagon through," Jon said.

Trias raised an eyebrow. "Indeed?"

"And she still will have enough left to freeze any nearby enemies until I can deal with them" confirmed Jon.

"Sounds like the woman for the job.  Her name?"

"Alia Atherton" Jon answered.