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one foot in front of the other。 As he passed through the archway； his boots started to sink into the sand with each
step。
Dimly； he registered that dozens of troops had fallen into line behind him。 He took a quick glance back to see that
several of them were forming a skirmish line in front of the wall； and others were taking up position atop it。 Davin
was grateful that someone had the wherewithal to give that order； and he briefly wondered who it was。
Turning back to face the new arrivals； he said； I m Maj
He cut himself off。 His voice was breaking。
Clearing his throat； he started again。 I m Major Davin。 I m in charge of Northwatch Keep。 What business do you
have here？
For a brief moment； Davin entertained the hope that the orcs would say they were just passing through for a brief
respite and would be gone within the hour。 He hoped it as fervently as he had hoped that his return from the
massacre of his platoon would result in his being cashiered out； and this hope looked to have as much likelihood of
being reality as the previous one。
Sure enough； the biggest； scariest looking one stepped forward。 （Davin was willing to concede that this one seemed
biggest and scariest because he was the one who stepped forward。）
I am Burx。 I speak for Thrall； Warchief of the Horde and Lord of the Clans。 This keep of yours violates our
alliance with you people。 You ve got one hour to take it down and get rid of any and all traces of your presence
here。
Davin sputtered。 You you can t be serious。 There s no way we can take down the entire keep in an hour！
Burx smiled。 It was the type of smile that a large predator might have right before it pounced on its small；
defenseless prey。 If you don t ply with this order； we ll attack。 And you ll die。
Of that last part； Davin had very little doubt。
Twenty
J aina had sent Aegwynn and Lorena to the small dining hall that was reserved for highranking officers and
officials of state。 For practical purposes； according to Duree； the little old woman who assisted Jaina； the latter
mostly had meant the nowdeceased Kristoff and Jaina herself。 The young mage had given Aegwynn permission to
enter there； as well。 When Duree objected； Jaina pointed out that a Guardian was of greater rank than a head of
state。
For her part； Jaina had retreated to her chambers she too needed to eat； but she had to do it while working； trying
to determine the location of the warlocks。 Lorena wanted to join her troops at Northwatch； in case Thrall was
unable to stem the tide of battle； but Jaina refused。 For one thing； she trusted Thrall。 For another； she needed Lorena
as physical protection when they confronted Zmodlor and his minions； especially since Kristoff had sent Jaina s
official protection； the Elite Guard； to Northwatch。
But Jaina needed to work in solitude； so she sent the old Guardian and the young colonel to the dining hall。
When the steward came by； Aegwynn asked for only a salad and some fruit juice； Lorena ordered a meat platter and
boar s grog。 Aegwynn had never heard of the latter； and Lorena explained that it was an orc drink。
Letting out a long breath； Aegwynn said； How times have changed。
What do you mean？
It wasn t that long ago that orcs were nothing but the minions of the demons I had dedicated my life to stopping。
They were monsters； berserkers that ravaged the countryside in the name of Gul dan； who was in turn acting for
Sargeras。 The notion of humans drinking an orc beverage is…radical； to say the least。
Lorena smiled。 Yes； but isn t that long ago a relative term when discussing someone as old as you？
Aegwynn chuckled。 A fair point。
You re really a thousand years old？
Smiling wryly； Aegwynn said； Give or take a century。
Lorena shook her head。 Magic。 I ve never understood it always hated it； to be honest； even when it s being used
in my service。
Aegwynn shrugged。 I ve never wanted any other life for myself but as a wizard。 From when I was a little girl； it
was how I always answered those tiresome questions about what I wanted to be when I grew up。 The adults always
looked at me strangely when I said that wizards were always men； after all。 That last was said with a certain
bitterness。
So were soldiers。 I grew up with nine brothers； and they were all soldiers just like my father。 I didn t see any good
reason why I shouldn t be one； either。 Lorena chuckled。 I got the same strange looks； believe me。
The drinks arrived a moment later； as did Aegwynn s salad。 Lorena held up her mug。 Would you like a taste？
Boar s grog smelled about as wretched as the animal for which it was named。 Her nose wrinkling； Aegwynn
politely declined。 I m afraid I haven t had a drink of alcohol in well； centuries。 Mages can t afford the loss of
mental acuity； so I lost the taste for it some time ago。 She held up her mug； which was apparently a mixture of the
squeezings of three or four different fruits。 This is as strong a concoction as I m willing to imbibe。
Makes sense。 Lorena threw back a big gulp of her grog。 Me； I can drink four of these things before I even notice。
Always had a high tolerance。 She grinned。 When I was a rookie with the Kul Tiras City Guard； I always used to
drink the men in my barracks under the table。 We started having contests with the other barracks； and I was always
the secret weapon。 She laughed。 I quadrupled my ine on bets alone during that year。
Aegwynn smiled as she nibbled on her salad。 She found herself enjoying talking with this woman an emotion she
wouldn t have credited herself capable of feeling only a day ago。 She had been thoroughly convinced that she had
no more use for the pany of other people。
The steward brought a pile of assorted meats； cooked to a fine brown。 Aegwynn only recognized some of them； but
she assumed the livestock on Kalimdor was different enough to account for that。 It had been years since she ate
meat； and； unlike the smell of the colonel s drink； the smell of the meat was almost intoxicating。 As a mage； it was
her constant panion the exhaustive requirements of casting spells required regular infusions of protein but
since her selfimposed exile to Kalimdor she hadn t the wherewithal to hunt her own meat； nor the physical need to
consume it； so she had bee a vegetarian。
Mind if I have a bite？ To Aegwynn s surprise； she asked the question shyly another emotion she didn t think
herself still capable of。
Pushing the plate to the center of the table they sat at； Lorena said； Be my guest。
As Aegwynn hungrily chewed a piece of what looked like boar sausage； Lorena asked； I have to ask； Magna
what s it like？
It s Aegwynn； she said while chewing her sausage。 I stopped being the Guardian when I passed on the power to
my son。 And I m certainly unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the title now。 She swallowed。 What s what
like？
Living for so long。 I m a soldier； born and bred； and I ve known from the beginning that I probably won t live to
see my fortieth year。 You ve reached your fortieth decade twice over。 I just can t imagine that。
Aegwynn let out a long breath which now smelled of boar sausage； an odor that was still more pleasant than the
grog named after the same animal。 There really wasn t much time to reflect on things。 Guardian is a fulltime job；
sadly。 Demonic threats have been a constant since before I was born。 The attacks became more overt in recent
times； which probably made things easier。 But when I wasn t stopping demons I was covering up evidence of their
perfidy。 Most people didn t know about it or about me and the council preferred to keep it that way。 She shook
her head。 It s odd I defied them in so many ways； but that particular credo I kept to。 I wonder if that was a
mistake。 Yes； people probably felt safer not knowing the truth； and more people died in the recent wars but the
demons have also been more roundly defeated。 Your Lady Proudmoore and her orc friend did more damage to the
entirety of demonkind than has been done in thousands of years。
We re contentious beings； mortals。 Lorena smirked。 Give us a foe to fight； and we ll