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mystical summons from the council。
As soon as she arrived at Tirisfal Glade； the gnome whose name； she had since learned； was Erbag said； What
do you think you were doing in Jortas？
Saving them from Zmodlor。 Aegwynn would have thought that her answer was selfevident。
And did you think to learn more about Zmodlor before you destroyed him？ Did you plan a strategy that would
dispose of him in a manner that would contain him without the populace of Jortas learning the truth？ Or did you
just blindly charge in and flail about； hoping you might succeed？
Fatigue and irritation bined to make Aegwynn a bit more forthright than she truly should have been with the
council。 None of those； Erbag； as you well know。 There was no time to plan such a strategy or learn more。 Doing
so would have endangered the children in the schoolhouse that Zmodlor had taken possession of。 There were
children in there。 Was I to hang back and
What you were to do； Erbag said； was as you were told。 Did Scavell not teach you in the ways of the Tirisfalen？
We proceed with caution and with
Aegwynn interrupted the gnome right back。 What you do； Erbag； is react。 And that s all you do； and it s why
you ve made so little headway against these foul creatures over the last several centuries。 Zmodlor was able to take
over an entire schoolhouse and was prepared to use the children of Jortas for a ritual that would have poisoned their
souls。 It was only purest chance that I detected the foul stench of demonmagic and was able to arrive in time。 Your
methods are reactive。
Of course they are！ Erbag was waving his arms back and forth now。 This council was created to react to the
threat of the
And it hasn t worked。 If we are truly to stand firm against these monsters who would invade and destroy our
homes； we cannot allow them to encroach upon us so easily that they capture children before we even know they re
here。 We must be proactive in seeking them out and eliminating them； or we will be overrun。
Erbag was not convinced。 And when the people start to realize that their lives are in danger and they panic
uncontrollably？
Rather than reply to the question； Aegwynn looked at the other councillors。 Does Erbag speak for you all； or is he
simply the loudest？
The oldest of the elves on the council； Relfthra； favored Aegwynn with a small smile。 Both； in fact； Magna。 The
smile fell。 Erbag is correct in that you are too reckless。 Zmodlor was a minor demon in the service of Sargeras； he
might have been able to provide us with useful intelligence about his master。
Yes； and he might have killed all those children before providing us with that intelligence。
Perhaps。 But that is a risk that sometimes we must take in order to fight this war。
Aegwynn was aghast。 We re talking about the lives of children。 Besides which； this isn t a war； it s a holding
action at best。 And it will get us all killed； child and adult alike； if we re not careful。 Before any of the other
mages could criticize her； she said； August mages of the council； with all respect； I beg you I am exhausted and
wish to sleep。 Is there anything else？
Relfthra s face darkened。 Remember your place； Magna Aegwynn。 You are the Guardian； but you serve that
function as the arm of the Council of Tirisfal。 Never fet that。
I doubt that you will ever allow me to； Aegwynn muttered。 If that is all？
For now； Relfthra said。 The words were barely out of his mouth when Aegwynn teleported back to the Violet
Citadel； in desperate need of sleep。
Thirteen
L orena was disappointed； but not entirely surprised； to see Kristoff seated on Lady Proudmoore s throne。 The lady
herself avoided sitting on the thing whenever possible； but the chamberlain would insist on using it when he was
left in charge。
Kristoff wasn t so much sitting in the throne as draping himself on it。 His thin shoulders were slumped； and he was
seated at an angle； one leg hanging off the side。 He was reading a scroll when Lorena came in； led by Duree。
Colonel Lorena to see you； sir； the old woman said meekly。
What is it； Colonel？ Kristoff asked without looking up from the scroll。
Private Strov has disappeared； she said without preamble。
Now he looked up from the scroll； an eyebrow raised。 Is that name supposed to mean something to me？
It is if you bothered to pay attention to meetings in the lady s chambers。
Setting the scroll aside； Kristoff straightened in the throne。 Modify your tone when speaking to me in this room；
Colonel。
Lorena looked aghast at the chamberlain。 I ll speak to you how I please in whatever room we re standing in； thank
you very much。 Lady Proudmoore asked you to manage Theramore in her absence。 That doesn t mean you get to be
the lady。 She smirked。 You haven t the equipment for it； for starters。
Kristoff s eyebrows tented into a frown。 Until Lady Proudmoore returns； I am empowered to act in her stead； and
you will treat that office with respect。
Your office is that of chamberlain； Kristoff； which entitles you to be an advisor to Lady Proudmoore； same as me。
So don t go getting delusions of grandeur。
Leaning back in the throne and picking the scroll back up； Kristoff asked in a bored voice； You came in here for a
reason？
As I said； Private Strov has disappeared。 He s the one I sent to investigate the Burning Blade。 I ve talked to his
brother Manuel says they arranged everything in the Demonsbane。 Strov sat in a corner； Manuel talked to the
person they thought was with the Burning Blade； and Strov followed him。 That was the night before last； and I
haven t heard a thing since。
And why is this my concern？ Kristoff still sounded bored。
Because； you gibbering imbecile； he was investigating this Burning Blade。 The same Burning Blade that attacked
me and my people in Northwatch。 I think it s suspicious； don t you？
Not particularly。 He set the scroll down again。 People desert the military all the time。 It s a sad reality one that
I would think you d be aware of； Colonel。
Tightly； Lorena said； I am aware of it； Chamberlain； but I also know Strov。 He d sooner hack off a limb than
desert。 He s the best soldier I ve got。 I want to tear the island apart and find him。
No。
Lorena s hand went to her sword hilt instinctively； but she knew it would be foolish to stab the man sitting on
Theramore s throne； however much he didn t deserve the seat and did deserve the stabbing。 What do you mean
no ？
I assume the colonel is familiar with the definition of the word…。
Very funny。 She took her hand away from the sword hilt and walked over to the room s large window； as much
so she wouldn t have to look at Kristoff as anything。 The skies were so clear that she could see Alcaz Island to the
northeast。 This Burning Blade has me concerned； Chamberlain。 They have use of magic； and they
Right now； Colonel； the Burning Blade is little more than a rumor one； I might add； that you cannot substantiate；
since your private has gone missing。 I m afraid I cannot devote Theramore s resources to finding a deserter not
when those resources are needed elsewhere。
Whirling around； Lorena asked； What are you talking about？
Your arrival has saved me the trouble of summoning you； Kristoff said。
Lorena had to wonder why he didn t bring this up in the first place； and said so。
Sneering； Kristoff said； It is not your place to question the person who sits on this throne； Colonel； merely to obey
that person s orders。 Right now； that person is telling you that I have just received word that orc troops are massing
at Kolkar Crag。 That s the nearest portion of Durotar to Northwatch。
Not bothering to point out that she knew damn well what Kolkar Crag s location was； she asked with a frown；
When did this happen？
Just this morning。 Major Davin needs additional reinforcements； and I want you to lead them。
While Lorena s job description did not include supervision of all troop movements within Theramore and
Northwatch； it did include her being apprised of them。 Additional reinforcements？ When was Northwatch
reinforced？
Yesterday。 Th