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impressive specimen than Aegwynn had been willing to credit。
Perhaps there was something to the girl s hero worship after all。
Lorena said； Ma am； it is my firm belief that Chamberlain Kristoff is a member of the Burning Blade that he has
conspired to increase our forces at Northwatch and provoke the orcs into a conflict。
Proudmoore s face fell。 Kristoff？ I don t believe that。
But the colonel spent the next several minutes explaining what had happened in Proudmoore s absence from
Theramore。
When she was done； Aegwynn asked； When did this Burning Blade start？
We re not sure； Proudmoore said。 We think it s related to a former orc clan。 Why？
Because Zmodlor started a cult called the Burning Blade。 In fact； the sword he was going to use to sacrifice the
children he d imprisoned was covered in oil and was to be set alight when the sacrifice menced。 Since Zmodlor
is around； it s possible he was involved with those orcs as well。
Lorena spoke up before Proudmoore could respond to that。 Milady； why are you behind these wards？ I brought
Booraven with us to track you down； and she said there were wards up so we couldn t pass。 But why haven t you
e out from behind them？
I m afraid I can t。 When I arrived here； I was able to perate the wards that had been put up； but they ve been
replaced with demonic wards from the very same Zmodlor that Magna Aegwynn was just discussing。 I m afraid I
do not have the knowledge to bypass them。
A pity； Aegwynn said。 If these were still my wards； I would let you through in an instant。
Snorting； Proudmoore said； Don t be ridiculous they were never your wards。 They were Medivh s。
Aegwynn stared at Proudmoore in openmouthed shock。 How did you
When I first arrived here； I recognized the magic used for the wards as belonging to one of the Tirisfalen。 But after
I perated them； I realized I knew which of the Tirisfalen it was； because I d encountered it before。 As I tried to
tell you earlier； I knew Medivh it was he that brought human and orc to this land； and he that convinced us to ally
against the Burning Legion。 I know his magic quite well。
Lorena spoke before Aegwynn could respond。 Milady； with respect； time grows short。 We must get you out of
there。 There has to be a way。
Proudmoore looked at Aegwynn。 There is。 Teach me that spell of Meitre s。 Pointing at the colonel； she added；
We now have the conduit。
Very well； Aegwynn said； if it means you ll leave me in peace。
I m afraid that s not possible。
Aegwynn blinked。 I beg your pardon？
You re ing with us。
Snorting； Aegwynn said； Am I？
Yes。 You are the magna； the Guardian who is all that stands between us and the demonic hordes。 It is your
responsibility to e with us。
On what are you basing this ridiculous notion？
You said that Zmodlor built these wards。 That means he is active for all we know； he is responsible for the
Burning Blade that is even now cutting through the alliance Thrall and I built at your son s behest。 But you thought
you defeated him eight centuries ago obviously you didn t finish the job； and it is your responsibility
What do you know of responsibility？ Aegwynn cried。 For eight
Yes； I know what you did； Magna； you ve told me quite a bit about your failures； your deceits； your lies； your
arrogance but what you ve also reminded me of is that you never once shirked your responsibility as Guardian。
Everything you did from facing Zmodlor to defying the council to siring Medivh was done because you
believed in what you did。 Regardless of your mistakes； of your defeats； you never once shirked that responsibility。
Until now。 Proudmoore shook her head。 You asked me what I know of responsibility； and right now I d say more
than you； because you never had to be responsible to anyone save yourself。 I have led people into battle； and I have
ruled them when the battle was over and right now； the people who have trusted me need me； and it may well be
because of a demon you were supposed to have killed。 I will not see everything we have built here be brought down
by your selfpity； Magna。
I believe I ve earned the right to determine my own destiny。
Because you brought Medivh back？
Again Proudmoore had managed to stun Aegwynn with her perspicacity。 She found herself unable to speak。
We always wondered how Medivh came back from the dead after Khadgar and Lothar defeated him。 It would
have taken powerful magic to do so。 I might have been able to do it； and so could one or two others； but if they had；
they would have admitted it。 You said you were drained by your fight with Medivh； but there is one thing that could
substitute for that necessary power； and that s the bond between mother and son。
Aegwynn nodded； staring off into space at an indeterminate point on one of the Bladescar peaks。 With what was
left of the deaging magic； I was able to scry in the well water and learn what was happening。 I saw my son killed
by his apprentice and his best friend and I saw Sargeras banished from him。 So I spent years building up the
power to bring him back。 When I did； it almost killed me。 That was why the wards were Medivh s I no longer had
the strength to cast them。 Or anything else。 I still don t。 She turned to face Proudmoore。 That was my swan song；
Lady Proudmoore。 It cannot even begin to make up for all I have done wrong。
I disagree。 What you ve done is sire a son who saved the world。 It may have taken a while； but what he did was
exactly what you would have done what you conceived him to do。 He went against the conventional wisdom and
was proactive in fighting the Burning Legion by convincing Thrall and me to unite our forces。 He didn t learn that
from Sargeras； and he didn t learn that from whatever afterlife you retrieved him from he learned that from you。
Lorena had been standing semipatiently during this entire conversation； her obvious respect for Lady Proudmoore
overing her soldier s desire for action。 Milady
Yes； of course； Aegwynn said； your colonel is right。 Zmodlor needs to be defeated permanently this time。 She
sighed。 Prepare yourself； Colonel Lorena this may hurt a bit。 Lady Proudmoore； repeat after me。
And then Aegwynn taught Jaina Proudmoore Meitre s peration spell。
Seventeen
T hrall had spent the day hearing petitions。 Most were for mundane matters that he would have thought his fellow
orcs could handle on their own。 Some were for disputes in which the two sides simply were not capable of agreeing；
and so a neutral third party 。 In truth； it could have been anyone who settled them； but as
Warchief； it was his duty。
When the last of the petitioners had left the throne room； Thrall rose from the animalskin seat and paced the room；
grateful for the opportunity to stretch his legs。 He still had not heard from Jaina regarding the thunder lizards； but he
had not received any more reports of rampaging thunder lizards； either； so he presumed that the situation was in
hand。 He just hoped she solved it soon so he could consult her about this Flaming Sword。
Kalthar and Burx both entered then。 The latter spoke in an urgent tone。 Warchief； there s someone here who has to
talk to you。 Now。
Thrall did not like the idea of Burx giving him orders； but before he could say anything； Kalthar gave Thrall a
significant look。
Do you think I should see this person； shaman？ Thrall asked。
I do； Kalthar said quietly。
Very well。 Thrall stood his ground； having grown tired of the throne。
Burx went out and led one of the scouts in。 A jungle troll； he was dressed in decorative armor and the mask that was
traditional among those of the Darkspear tribe： feathers； wood； and paint bining with a triangular helmet to
present a fearsome affect。 By contrast； when he removed his helm； it was to reveal a friendly； open face； far gentler
than one would expect from the fearsome Darkspears。 Jungle trolls wielded powerful magicks； ones that no other
race had ever been able to master though Thrall knew of some humans who had tried and failed； at the cost of
their souls and the Darkspears had sworn allegiance to Thrall。
This； Burx said；