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cause problems later； but by then the die would be cast。 The only way for Jaina Proudmoore to see that the orcs
were not to be trusted was to accelerate the inevitable war between them。
To that end； he picked up the stone once again； this time with both hands rather than one； which the stone registered
as a desire to send a message。 This time； the stone glowed blue。 This is Chamberlain Kristoff。 I m afraid our worst
fears have been realized。 Both Lady Proudmoore and Colonel Lorena have been taken by the foul orc cult known as
the Burning Blade。 The orcs must be made to pay for this。 Major Davin； you are to take charge of all forces at
Northwatch and prepare for war。
When he put the stone back down； the glow faded； its message sent through the aether to its counterpart in the keep。
After that； he retreated to the chambers to finish the work he had been in the middle of。 However； the stink of sulfur
permeated the air as soon as he arrived at the entryway； which meant that Zmodlor had arrived。
Galtak Ered nash。 Report； Chamberlain。
Kristoff wrinkled his nose； both because of the smell and in general disgust。 He hated being involved with demons；
and if the stakes weren t so high； he would just as soon run this creature through。 But another lesson of leadership
Kristoff had learned was that sometimes one had to make strange allies in order to serve the greater good of one s
people。 That was why Lady Proudmoore had taken the extraordinary step of bringing human and orc together in the
first place； and why Kristoff now had to take the same step with Zmodlor。 It was a temporary alliance with a minor
demon who meant little in the grand scheme of things。 In truth； Kristoff was using Zmodlor playing on the
creature s vanity and bowing and scraping before him in order for him to do precisely what Kristoff wished。
All goes according to plan。 The people of Theramore are primed to attack the orcs and destroy them。
Good。 I will derive great pleasure from seeing those foul traitors wiped from this world。
As will I。 Kristoff meant those words。 Zmodlor had been a useful ally to Kristoff because the two of them shared
a fervent desire to rid the world of orcs。 And when this was all over； and the orcs were no longer a factor； Kristoff
fully intended to rid the world of Zmodlor as well…。
May our hearts desires e to us sooner rather than later； Chamberlain。 Farewell。 Galtak Ered nash。
Nodding； Kristoff repeated those two words in Zmodlor s native tongue that translated as： All hail the Burning
Blade。
Sixteen
A egwynn watched with bitter amusement as Jaina Proudmoore tried to break the demonic wards。 The girl had left
Aegwynn s hut to go to the periphery of the wards which were in the same location as the previous ones and try
to perate them from close up； at which Aegwynn didn t expect her to be any more successful。
Zmodlor obviously had no interest in meeting Aegwynn again； since he d gone to the trouble to trap her here once
Proudmoore dispersed the old wards。 After all； as long as those wards； which were up due to Aegwynn s desire；
were in place； Zmodlor had nothing to worry about。 But if the wards went down； he d be concerned； and so would
have a backup in place。
Not that it mattererd。 Aegwynn was long past the point of being able to fight demons magically。
After her latest failed attempt； Proudmoore reached into her cloak and pulled out some jerky。 Almost
unconsciously； Aegwynn nodded her approval。 Whoever mentored the girl was sensible enough to teach her the
practicalities。 That was something Scavell； for all his brilliance； had never covered。 It wasn t until the third time she
collapsed from hunger following the pursuit of a demon that she thought to bring food with her on such missions。
Then the girl turned to face Aegwynn。 Perhaps if we bine our forces； we can do it。
Not bloodly likely。 Aegwynn laughed bitterly。 Adding my forces to yours would give you the same result。 My
magical abilities have long since…atrophied。 The word was inaccurate； but was sufficient for the purposes of
answering Proudmoore s question。 A pity there s no one on the other side to serve as a conduit。
A conduit for what？
Aegwynn revised her estimate of Proudmoore s teacher back downward。 Don t you know Meitre s peration
spell？
Proudmoore shook her head。 Most of Meitre s scrolls were destroyed ten years ago。 I learned the ones that were
salvaged； but that one doesn t sound familiar。
Pity； was all Aegwynn would say。 It mattered little to her whose wards were up； as long as they kept her safe
here。 She wanted nothing more than to live out the rest of her days away from the world she d already done too
much damage to。
Why are you so weakened？
Aegwynn sighed。 She should have expected that。
Then again； perhaps Proudmoore needed to hear the entire story。 Or at least； Aegwynn s own verison of it。
Twentyfive years ago…
Medivh had taken up residence in the tower of Kharazan in the Redridge Mountains； located in a series of hillocks。
Surrounded only by vines and weeds the old trees of the Elwynn Forest no longer made it up this far； they had
died after Medivh took up residence the tor on which Medivh had his keep was shaped exactly like a human skull。
Aegwynn found the shape to be sadly appropriate。 She approached the place now on foot； having no desire to do
anything to alert her son to her approach。
The Guardians of Tirisfal were dead。 Orcs now rampaged throughout Azeroth。 War had broken out all over the
world。 The source of all this？
Her own flesh and blood。
She didn t know how it was possible。 She had sired Medivh to carry on her work； not unravel it。
Only when she arrived at the gates did she feel it。 Her son was present； she knew that much； as were Moroes； the
house servant； and the cook though the latter two were both asleep in their respective chambers。 But she felt
another； one whose essence was intertwined with that of her son。 One whom she had defeated centuries ago。
No longer bothering with her attempt to arrive subtly； she cast a wind spell that slammed into the gate； gale forces
shattering the wood into a thousand pieces。
Her son stood on the other side。 He had inherited Aegwynn s great height and her eyes； from Nielas Aran came his
broad shoulders and elegant nose。 His grayflecked hair was tied back in a respectable ponytail； and he kept his salt
andpepper beard well trimmed。 His maroon cloak flowed behind him in the breeze。
Yet the being that stood before her was unrecognizable as her son。 For； though her eyes saw Medivh； her entire
wizardly being saw only Sargeras。
How is this possible？ I killed you。
Medivh laughed a demonic laugh。 Mother； are you truly that much of a fool？ Did you really think that a mere girl
could destroy the greatness that is Sargeras？ He used you。 Used you to make me。 He hid within you； then when
you so ably seduced my father transferred his essence to my fetus。 He has been my constant panion my
mentor； the parent you never let me have。
Aegwynn couldn t believe it。 How could she have been so blind？ You killed th