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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 orc。 She was； in his expert opinion； the greatest leader the world had ever seen； and Kristoff
considered it an honor to be her most trusted advisor。
Which was why her blind spot for the orcs was so maddening。 Kristoff could understand it of all the leaders he
had encountered and studied； the only one he might consider Lady Proudmoore s equal was Thrall。 His
acplishment bringing the orcs together and throwing off the yoke of the demonic curse that had brought them
so low was even more impressive。
But Thrall ong orcs。 At their heart； orcs were uncivilized beasts； barely able to
prehend speech。 Their customs and mores were barbaric； their behavior unacceptable。 Yes； Thrall had kept
them in line； using what he learned while being raised among humans to bring a semblance of civilization to them；
but Thrall was mortal。 When he died； so would the orcs temporary flirtation with humanity； and they would
descend right back into the vicious animals that they were when Sargeras first brought them here。
However； Lady Proudmoore would not hear those words。 Certainly； Kristoff had tried； but even the greatest of
leaders had their blind spots； and this was hers。 She insisted on her belief that orcs could live in harmony with
humans； to the point that she betrayed her own father。
That was when Kristoff realized that extraordinary action would need to be taken。 The lady let her own father be
killed rather than betray the trust of creatures who； beyond Thrall； would never return the favor。
Under other circumstances； Kristoff would never have done what he did。 Every day； he awakened wondering if he
had done the right thing。 But every day； he also awakened in fear。 From the moment he first came to Kalimdor
through the end of the war and the founding of Theramore； Kristoff lived in abject terror that everything they had
built would be destroyed。 Aside from one fort on the Merchant Coast； the human presence on Kalimdor consisted of
a small island off the eastern coast； surrounded on three sides by creatures who were at best indifferent； and at worst
hostile to humans； and on the fourth by the Great Sea。
Despite his fears； despite his advice； the lady constantly took actions that favored the orcs to the detriment of
humans。 She claimed it was to benefit the alliance； that they were stronger united than they would be apart。 The
truly tragic thing was that she believed it。
But Kristoff knew better。 And when Lady Proudmoore proved herself incapable of seeing the bigger picture； the
very bigger picture that Kristoff had trained all his life to see； he got outside help。
Duree poked her shriveled head into the chambers。 Sir； the scrying stone from Northwatch is getting all glowy。 I
think it s got a message。
Dryly； Kristoff said； That s usually what that means； yes。 He got up from behind the lady s desk and went out
into the throne room； where the stone was kept。 Presumably； that was either Lorena or Davin informing him that the
former had finally arrived； her troops having gotten there that morning。 Kristoff s plan to have Lorena already in
place when the troop carrier arrived was dashed by the airship s having mechanical problems that delayed its
takeoff； plus the troop carrier benefited from a strong wind that hastened its arrival。
Walking up to the stone； which sat on a pedestal in the southwest corner of the throne room； Kristoff saw that it was
indeed alight with the crimson glow that indicated that its counterpart at Northwatch had been activated and used。
Hesitating for a moment； Kristoff grabbed it。 As expected； it sent a painful shock up his arm that almost forced him
to drop it。 The glow dissipated concurrently with the shock； followed by Major Davin s voice。 It sounded like
Davin was deep inside a cave and shouting toward the mouth。
Lord Chamberlain； it s my sad duty to inform you that Colonel Lorena s airship has yet to report。 Spotters saw the
airship； but it was heading northeast。 The troops have arrived； but I don t know what the colonel had in mind for
em。 Please advise。
Kristoff sighed as he put the stone back on its pedestal。 Damn that woman！
What woman？ Duree asked。
Colonel Lorena。 Who did she take with her on the airship？
Without hesitating； the old woman called up the answer from memory。 Peculiar though her manner might have
been； the woman was incredibly efficient。 Major Bek； Captain Harcort； Captain Mirra； and Lieutenant Noroj。 Oh；
and Corporal Booraven。
Frowning； Kristoff asked； Why did she bring a corporal along？ He had specifically told the colonel to have her
senior staff on the airship and to send the troops along by boat。 Then a memory started niggling at him。 I know that
name from somewhere。
Duree； bless her； came to his rescue。 She s the one they called the goodluck charm； back during the war。 A
sensitive； if I m rememberin right can sniff out magic at a hundred paces。
Right； of course。 Kri