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had neither the time nor the inclination for it。
Still and all； she managed to dredge up the flirtatiousness that she had first used on Jonas as a teenager； and started
speaking to Aran。 She suddenly became fascinated in his hobbies and his interest in dwarven music。
All of it served one purpose； which was for him to share his bed with her。
The next morning； she knew that she had been impregnated by his seed。 She had been mildly disheartened to realize
that the embryo within her would grow to be a male child。 She had been hoping for a daughter； as yet another poke
in the eye to the Guardians of Tirisfal。 But even so； this boy would serve the purpose for which he had been
conceived。
Taking her leave of a rather disappointed Aran who truly had expected little else； but had been hoping that
Aegwynn could at least have been polite about it she departed Stormwind。 For nine months； she performed her
tasks as Guardian as much as she could； and eventually bore Medivh。 Only then did she return； handing the infant
to Aran and declaring him to be her heir。
I can see by the look on your face that you re horrified。 Aegwynn said the words to Jaina with a vicious smile。
I am。 Jaina spoke true。 She had fought alongside Medivh it was he who had encouraged Jaina to ally herself
with Thrall and the orcs against the Burning Legion but she d had no idea that the prophet s origins were so
tawdry。 Indeed； she knew very little about him； save that he had returned from the dead and was trying to atone for
his sins by doing everything he could to stop the Burning Legion。
That is why I told you the story； Aegwynn said。 I m no hero； I m no role model； I m no shining beacon to
inspire wizards of any sex。 What I am is an arrogant ass who let her power and the wiles of a clever demon destroy
her and the rest of the world。
Jaina shook her head。 She remembered many conversations with Kristoff about how the lessons of history are rarely
in the written word； for such accounts were invariably biased in favor of what the writer wished the reader to know
about。 She realized that the histories she d read about the Guardians of Tirisfal in Antonidas s library were as
vulnerable to such biases as the historical texts that Kristoff had spoken of。
Then； suddenly； a feeling pricked at the back of Jaina s neck。 She stood up。
So did Aegwynn no doubt the old woman felt the same thing。 She confirmed it by saying； The wards are back
up。
Jaina found it interesting that Aegwynn felt that especially given Jaina s own ability to break down the wards
without her knowledge。 It confirmed a growing suspicion of hers。
Of greater concern； however； was that these wards felt far more powerful。 And had entirely the wrong feel。
Something is wrong。
Yes I know this magic。 Never thought I d encounter it again； to be honest。 Aegwynn made a tch noise。 In fact；
I m not really sure how it s possible。
Before asking Aegwynn to explain herself； Jaina had to make sure she could perate the wards。 She attempted a
teleport spell； this time adding a wardperation incantation to the mix； bracing herself for the ensuing pain
should it not succeed。
Sure enough； it didn t。 It would have worked previously she hadn t used the peration spell to teleport the
thunder lizards only because she needed to investigate the highlands before bringing hundreds of agitated animals
there。 Closing her eyes briefly to block out the pain； she turned to Aegwynn。 I can t get through them。
I was afraid of that。 Aegwynn sighed； apparently not relishing being stuck with the little girl。
Jaina wasn t entirely thrilled with the prospect； either； but more because she couldn t fulfill her promise to Thrall
while trapped in these highlands。
You said you knew this magic？
Aegwynn nodded。 Yes。 Remember Zmodlor； the first demon I encountered the one who imprisoned those
schoolchildren？
Jaina nodded。
These wards are his。
Fifteen
K ristoff hated sitting on the throne。
Intellectually； he understood the need for it。 Leaders needed to convey that they were in a position of authority； and
the intimidating physicality of a giant chair that was raised above everyone else in the room conveyed that authority
beautifully。
But he hated sitting in it。 He was convinced that he would damage the authority of the position by making some
kind of mistake。 Because Kristoff knew his limitations he was no leader。 He d spent years observing leaders
firsthand and studying leaders he didn t have access to； and knew as much as anyone living about what good
leaders had to do right and what bad leaders often did wrong。 One thing he had learned early on was that the
arrogant rarely lasted long。 Leaders made mistakes； and the arrogant never admitted to such a thing； a conflict that
often resulted in selfdestruction or destruction from outside forces。 Certainly； that was true of Kristoff s previous
employer； Garithos； if the Highlord had simply listened to Kristoff or any of the other six people giving him the
same advice he wouldn t have sided with the Forsaken。 As Kristoff had predicted； the undead creatures betrayed
Garithos and his warriors and led to his downfall。 By that time； Kristoff had left for greener pastures。
This tendency was rather unfortunate； because the arrogant were usually the only ones who pursued leadership
positions in the first place。 The conundrum had fascinated Kristoff as a young student； and also explained why there
were so few truly great leaders。
Kristoff was also selfaware enough to know that he was incredibly arrogant。 That supreme confidence in his own
abilities was why he made such a good advisor to Lady Proudmoore； but it was also why he was so terribly unfit to
take her place。
Nevertheless； he did as he was told； and served in the lady s stead until she returned from her ridiculous errand。
On top of everything else； Kristoff also hated the throne because it was a damned unfortable piece of furniture。
For the proper effect； one had to sit on it straight； with arms on the armrests； gazing down upon one s petitioners
with an allknowing eye。 The problem was； sitting like that was hell on Kristoff s back。 He could only avoid spine
chewing agony if he sat slumped； and off to the side。 The problem there was that he looked like he was treating the
throne like a sofa； which was not the right impression to give。
It was a difficult situation； and Kristoff fervently wished that the lady hadn t hared off into orc country to do
whatever ludicrous thing she was doing。 As if the needs of Theramore weren t of considerably more import than the
disposition of some rampaging reptiles in Durotar。
Lady Proudmoore had done amazing things。 For starters； few of her sex had been able to acplish what she had
done； either as a wizard or as a ruler。 Oh； there were plenty of female monarchs； true； but they generally came to
their position by heredity or marriage； not through sheer force of will as the lady had done。 While it was Medivh
who first encouraged the notion； it was Jaina Proudmoore who managed the heretofore inconceivable task of
uniting human and