theatrically¡¡on¡¡the¡¡flared¡¡rests¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡However£»¡¡Lady¡¡Proudmoore¡¡is¡¡busy¡¡helping¡¡her¡¡precious¡¡orc¡¡
friends£»¡¡while¡¡they¡¡mount¡¡defenses¡¡and¡¡prepare¡¡to¡¡destroy¡¡us¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡allow¡¡what¡¡she¡¡has¡¡built¡¡to¡¡be¡¡destroyed¡¡by¡¡
her¡¡own¡¡shortsightedness¡¡when¡¡it¡¡es¡¡to¡¡Thrall¡£¡¡Now¡¡then£»¡¡Colonel£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡your¡¡orders¡£¡¡Kindly¡¡carry¡¡them
out¡£¡¡¡¡
Kristoff£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mistake¡£¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡try¡¡to¡¡find¡¡Strov¡¡and¡¡find¡¡out
No¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Kristoff¡¡softened£»¡¡and¡¡lowered¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡to¡¡his¡¡side¡£¡¡Very¡¡well£»¡¡Colonel£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡grant¡¡you¡¡one¡¡
concession£º¡¡you¡¡may¡¡assign¡¡two¡¡soldiers¡¡to¡¡search¡¡for¡¡Private¡¡Strov¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡spare¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡
She¡¡supposed¡¡that¡¡was¡¡the¡¡best¡¡she¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡get¡¡from¡¡the¡¡chamberlain¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you¡£¡¡Now¡¡if¡¡you¡¡ll¡¡excuse¡¡me£»¡¡it¡¡
seems¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡put¡¡a¡¡senior¡¡staff¡¡together¡£¡¡¡¡
Picking¡¡up¡¡the¡¡scroll¡¡once¡¡again¡¡with¡¡his¡¡right¡¡hand£»¡¡Kristoff¡¡waved¡¡dismissively¡¡with¡¡his¡¡left¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡
She¡¡turned¡¡on¡¡her¡¡heel¡¡and¡¡angrily¡¡left¡¡the¡¡throne¡¡room¡£¡¡
Fourteen¡¡
A¡¡s¡¡Aegwynn¡¡told¡¡the¡¡story¡¡of¡¡how¡¡she¡¡was¡¡made¡¡Guardian£»¡¡Jaina¡¡found¡¡surprise¡¡piling¡¡upon¡¡shock¡£¡¡The¡¡histories
she¡¡had¡¡read¡¡had¡¡always¡¡painted¡¡the¡¡appointment¡¡of¡¡Aegwynn¡¡in¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡a¡¡positive¡¡light¡£¡¡The¡¡notion¡¡that¡¡the
council¡¡was¡¡reluctant¡¡to¡¡appoint¡¡her£»¡¡and¡¡did¡¡so¡¡despite¡¡misgivings¡¡about¡¡her¡¡sex¡¡and¡¡that¡¡they¡¡would¡¡have¡¡
resisted¡¡her¡¡methods¡¡so¡¡thoroughly¡¡was¡¡pletely¡¡alien¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡
Of¡¡course£»¡¡Aegwynn¡¡s¡¡memories¡¡of¡¡those¡¡days¡¡were¡¡several¡¡centuries¡¡old¡£¡¡Your¡¡account¡¡of¡¡matters¡¡does¡¡not¡¡match
what¡¡is¡¡in¡¡the¡¡history¡¡scrolls£»¡¡Magna¡£¡¡¡¡
No£»¡¡¡¡Aegwynn¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡sigh¡£¡¡It¡¡wouldn¡¡t¡£¡¡Better¡¡to¡¡let¡¡you¡¡young¡¡mages¡¡think¡¡that¡¡all¡¡wizards¡¡function¡¡in
perfect¡¡harmony¡£¡¡Figure¡¡you¡¡might¡¡learn¡¡from¡¡their¡¡lack¡¡of¡¡example¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡slumped¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡farther
in¡¡her¡¡seat¡£¡¡But¡¡no£»¡¡they¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡want¡¡a¡¡girl¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡appointed¡¡me¡¡because¡¡they¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡have¡¡a¡¡choice¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡
the¡¡best¡¡qualified¡¡certainly¡¡more¡¡than¡¡the¡¡other¡¡four¡£¡¡And¡¡they¡¡regretted¡¡it¡¡every¡¡minute¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡up¡¡straight¡£
In¡¡the¡¡end£»¡¡we¡¡all¡¡did¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡wasn¡¡t¡¡for¡¡me¡¡¡¡¡
Jaina¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡That¡¡s¡¡ridiculous¡£¡¡You¡¡did¡¡so¡¡much¡£¡¡¡¡
¡¡
What¡¡did¡¡I¡¡do£¿¡¡I¡¡insisted¡¡that¡¡Tirisfal¡¡be¡¡more¡¡proactive¡¡in¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡the¡¡demons£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡did¡¡my¡¡insistence¡¡
acplish£»¡¡exactly£¿¡¡For¡¡eight¡¡centuries£»¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡stem¡¡the¡¡tide£»¡¡to¡¡no¡¡avail¡£¡¡Zmodlor¡¡was¡¡just¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡So¡¡many¡¡
demons£»¡¡so¡¡many¡¡battles£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡I¡¡was¡¡still¡¡tricked¡¡by¡¡Sargeras¡£¡¡I
This¡¡time£»¡¡Jaina¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡need¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡story¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡what¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡you¡¡when¡¡you¡¡faced¡¡Sargeras¡£¡¡You
destroyed¡¡his¡¡physical¡¡form£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡soul¡¡remained¡¡inside¡¡you¡¡and¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡on¡¡to¡¡Medivh¡£¡¡¡¡
Chuckling¡¡bitterly£»¡¡Aegwynn¡¡said£»¡¡And¡¡you¡¡still¡¡think¡¡I¡¡was¡¡a¡¡great¡¡wizard£¿¡¡I¡¡let¡¡my¡¡arrogance¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡my¡¡
judgment¡£¡¡I¡¡assumed¡¡the¡¡Tirisfalen¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡group¡¡of¡¡hidebound¡¡old¡¡fools£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡what¡¡they¡¡truly¡¡were£º
experienced¡¡mages¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡better¡¡than¡¡me¡£¡¡After¡¡I¡¡¡¡defeated¡¡¡¡Sargeras£»¡¡I¡¡became¡¡more¡¡arrogant£»¡¡if¡¡that¡¡s¡¡even
possible¡£¡¡I¡¡ignored¡¡every¡¡summons¡¡the¡¡council¡¡sent¡¡me£»¡¡disregarded¡¡their¡¡procedures£»¡¡disobeyed¡¡their¡¡orders¡£¡¡After
all£»¡¡I¡¡beat¡¡Sargeras£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡god£»¡¡so¡¡what¡¡did¡¡they¡¡know£¿¡¡¡¡She¡¡snarled¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡such¡¡an¡¡idiot¡£¡¡¡¡
Don¡¡t¡¡be¡¡ridiculous¡£¡¡¡¡Jaina¡¡couldn¡¡t¡¡believe¡¡this¡£¡¡Bad¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡wizard¡¡of¡¡her¡¡time£»¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡she¡¡d
idolized¡¡all¡¡her¡¡life£»¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡such¡¡an¡¡unpleasant¡¡person£»¡¡but¡¡now¡¡she¡¡was¡¡just¡¡being¡¡idiotic¡£¡¡It¡¡was
Sargeras¡£¡¡Any¡¡mage¡¡would¡¡have¡¡made¡¡the¡¡same¡¡mistake¡¡you¡¡did¡£¡¡As¡¡you¡¡said£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡god¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡would
have¡¡to¡¡trick¡¡you¡¡because¡¡of¡¡your¡¡power£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡to¡¡manipulate¡¡you¡£¡¡What¡¡you¡¡did¡¡was¡¡perfectly¡¡natural¡£¡¡¡¡
Aegwynn¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corners¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ramshackle¡¡hut¡¡that¡¡she¡¡apparently¡¡called¡¡home¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡far¡¡far¡¡more¡¡
than¡¡that¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡also¡¡Medivh¡£¡¡¡¡
Now¡¡Jaina¡¡was¡¡even¡¡more¡¡confused¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡Medivh£»¡¡Magna¡£¡¡He¡¡was
Whirling¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡Jaina£»¡¡Aegwynn¡¡snapped£»¡¡I¡¡m¡¡not¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡what¡¡my¡¡son¡¡was¡£¡¡I¡¡m¡¡talking¡¡about¡¡how¡¡he¡¡
was¡£¡¡¡¡
What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¡¡¡Jaina¡¡asked£»¡¡genuinely¡¡confused¡£¡¡¡¡Medivh¡¡was¡¡fathered¡¡by¡¡Nielas¡¡Aran£»¡¡and
¡¡¡¡Fathered¡¡£¿¡¡¡¡Aegwynn¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡noise¡¡that¡¡sounded¡¡like¡¡a¡¡rock¡¡shattering¡£¡¡That¡¡s¡¡far¡¡too¡¡generous¡¡a¡¡term¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡
Sixtynine¡¡years¡¡ago¡¡¡¡¡
The¡¡summons¡¡had¡¡been¡¡insistent¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡Aegwynn¡¡responded¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡
Guardians¡¡of¡¡Tirisfal¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡years¡£¡¡The¡¡three¡¡elves¡¡were¡¡the¡¡same£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡humans¡¡and¡¡the¡¡gnome
had¡¡all¡¡died¡¡and¡¡been¡¡replaced£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡their¡¡replacements¡¡died¡¡and¡¡themselves¡¡had¡¡successors¡£¡¡In¡¡many¡¡ways£»
though£»¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡changed¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡Rather¡¡than¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡them¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way£»¡¡or¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡an¡¡apprentice£»¡¡Aegwynn
had¡¡used¡¡her¡¡magicks¡¡to¡¡extend¡¡her¡¡life¡¡so¡¡she¡¡could¡¡continue¡¡to¡¡do¡¡her¡¡duty¡¡as¡¡Guardian¡£¡¡
She¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡fallen¡¡to¡¡her¡¡death¡¡while¡¡standing¡¡on¡¡a¡¡parapet¡¡in¡¡Lordaeron£»¡¡casting¡¡a¡¡seeker¡¡spell¡¡for¡¡one¡¡of
Sargeras¡¡s¡¡former¡¡thralls£»¡¡rumored¡¡to¡¡be¡¡out¡¡and¡¡about¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡the¡¡incantation£»¡¡the¡¡council¡¡had
decided¡¡to¡¡hit¡¡her¡¡with¡¡a¡¡summons¡¡so¡¡powerful¡¡that¡¡she¡¡almost¡¡lost¡¡her¡¡balance¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡third¡¡summons¡¡in¡¡as
many¡¡days£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡first¡¡that¡¡had¡¡interfered¡¡with¡¡her¡¡ability¡¡to¡¡function¡£¡¡
Realizing¡¡that¡¡she¡¡would¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡it¡¡until¡¡she¡¡answered£»¡¡she¡¡teleported¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Tirisfal¡¡Glade¡£¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡on
top¡¡of¡¡the¡¡very¡¡rock¡¡Falric¡¡who¡¡had¡¡also¡¡long¡¡since¡¡died£»¡¡as¡¡had¡¡her¡¡other¡¡three¡¡fellow¡¡apprentices£»¡¡all¡¡perishing¡¡
while¡¡fighting¡¡demons¡¡had¡¡transmuted¡¡into¡¡fool¡¡s¡¡gold¡¡all¡¡those¡¡centuries¡¡ago£»¡¡time¡¡having¡¡exposed¡¡and¡¡tarnished
it¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dull¡¡brown¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bright¡¡golden¡¡color¡¡it¡¡was¡¡eight¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡past¡£¡¡
What¡¡is¡¡it¡¡that¡¡s¡¡so¡¡important¡¡that¡¡you¡¡interrupt¡¡my¡¡work£¿¡¡¡¡
It¡¡has¡¡been¡¡eight¡¡centuries£»¡¡Aegwynn£»¡¡¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡humans¡¡said¡£¡¡Aegwynn¡¡had¡¡never¡¡bothered¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡his
name¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡past¡¡time¡¡you¡¡relinquished¡¡your¡¡duties¡£¡¡¡¡
¡¡
Drawing¡¡herself¡¡up¡¡to¡¡her¡¡full¡¡height¡¡which¡¡made¡¡her¡¡taller¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men¡¡surrounding¡¡her¡¡in¡¡this¡¡glade
she¡¡said£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡properly¡¡addressed¡¡as¡¡Magna¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡s¡¡one¡¡of¡¡those¡¡ridiculous¡¡rules¡¡you¡¡insist¡¡on¡¡foisting¡¡upon¡¡the
magical¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡word¡¡was¡¡a¡¡dwarven¡¡one¡¡meaning¡¡¡¡protector£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡the¡¡honorific¡¡for¡¡every¡¡Guardian
since¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡Aegwynn¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡care¡¡much¡¡for¡¡titles£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡council¡¡s¡¡insistence¡¡on¡¡the¡¡rules¡¡and¡¡regulations£»¡¡and
their¡¡disapproval¡¡of¡¡her¡¡flaunting¡¡them£»¡¡made¡¡her¡¡sensitive¡¡to¡¡their¡¡own¡¡violations¡£¡¡
Relfthra¡¡threw¡¡it¡¡back¡¡in¡¡her¡¡face¡£¡¡Ah£»¡¡so¡¡now¡¡you¡¡re¡¡a¡¡stickler¡¡for¡¡rules£»¡¡eh£¿¡¡¡¡
The¡¡human¡¡gave¡¡Relfthra¡¡a¡¡look£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡said£»¡¡The¡¡point£»¡¡Magna£»¡¡is¡¡that¡¡you¡¡know¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡any¡¡of¡¡us¡¡the¡¡risks¡¡
of¡¡what¡¡you¡¡are¡¡doing¡£¡¡The¡¡longer¡¡you¡¡extend¡¡your¡¡age£»¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡the¡¡risk¡¡that¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡undone¡£¡¡The¡¡deaging¡¡
magicks¡¡are¡¡not¡¡precise£»¡¡nor¡¡are¡¡they¡¡stable¡£¡¡In¡¡midconflict£»¡¡in¡¡midcasting£»¡¡you¡¡could¡¡find¡¡yourself¡¡suddenly¡¡
brought¡¡to¡¡your¡¡natural¡¡age¡£¡¡If¡¡that¡¡happens¡¡without¡¡a¡¡successor
Aegwynn¡¡held¡¡up¡¡a¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡last¡¡thing¡¡she¡¡needed¡¡from¡¡these¡¡fools¡¡was¡¡a¡¡lecture¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡magic¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡a¡¡
stronger¡¡magician¡¡than¡¡any¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Had¡¡they¡¡faced¡¡down¡¡Sargeras¡¡himself£¿¡¡¡¡Very¡¡well¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡find¡¡a¡¡successor¡¡and
transfer¡¡the¡¡Guardian¡¡power¡¡to¡¡that¡¡person¡£¡¡¡¡
Gritting¡¡his¡¡teeth£»¡¡the¡¡human¡¡said£»¡¡We¡¡will¡¡choose¡¡your¡¡successor£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡we¡¡chose¡¡Scavell¡¡s¡¡and¡¡that¡¡of¡¡every¡¡
Guardian¡¡before¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡
No¡£¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡make¡¡the¡¡choice¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡I¡¡know¡¡better¡¡than¡¡anyone¡¡what¡¡is¡¡involved¡¡in¡¡being¡¡a¡¡Guardian¡¡certainly¡¡
more¡¡than¡¡you¡¡who¡¡stand¡¡around¡¡this¡¡glade¡¡and¡¡make¡¡pronouncements¡¡while¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡¡do¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡
Magna ¡¡the¡¡human¡¡started£»¡¡but¡¡Aegwynn¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡
I¡¡have¡¡heard¡¡your¡¡advice£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡once¡¡it¡¡is¡¡worth¡¡heeding¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡smiled¡£¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡happen
eventually¡£¡¡Even¡¡a¡¡village¡¡idiot¡¡may¡¡stumble¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡valuable¡¡philosophy¡¡once¡¡in¡¡a¡¡while¡£¡¡When¡¡my¡¡successor¡¡is
chosen£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡informed¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡all¡£¡¡¡¡
Without¡¡waiting¡¡to¡¡be¡¡dismissed£»¡¡she¡¡teleported¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parapet¡£¡¡While¡¡the¡¡council¡¡s¡¡words¡¡were¡¡in¡¡fact¡¡true£»¡¡she¡¡
was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡her¡¡duty¡£¡¡She¡¡once¡¡again¡¡cast¡¡the¡¡seeker¡¡spell¡¡to¡¡determine¡¡if¡¡the¡¡demon¡¡was¡¡loose¡¡in
Lordaeron£»¡¡as¡¡rumored¡£¡¡
Once¡¡that¡¡was¡¡taken¡¡care¡¡of¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡demon£»¡¡only¡¡some¡¡teenagers¡¡indulging¡¡in¡¡magicks¡¡they¡¡didn¡¡t
understand£»¡¡had¡¡they¡¡continued£»¡¡that¡¡demon¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡summoned£»¡¡but¡¡Aegwynn¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡forestall¡¡their
adolescent¡¡efforts¡¡she¡¡traveled¡¡to¡¡Stormwind£»¡¡specifically¡¡to¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡Nielas¡¡Aran¡£¡¡
Aran¡¡had¡¡been¡¡an¡¡admirer¡¡of¡¡hers¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡£¡¡Aegwynn¡¡barely¡¡paid¡¡any¡¡attention¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡except¡¡insofar¡¡as¡¡he
was¡¡more¡¡talented¡¡than¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mages¡¡who¡¡were¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Tirisfalen¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡blissfully¡¡free¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prejudices
of¡¡the¡¡council£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡done¡¡well¡¡by¡¡his¡¡craft£»¡¡serving¡¡also¡¡as¡¡the¡¡court¡¡magician¡¡for¡¡King¡¡Landan¡¡Wrynn¡£¡¡Were¡¡she
several¡¡centuries¡¡younger£»¡¡she¡¡might¡¡have¡¡admired¡¡his¡¡steel¡¡blue¡¡eyes¡¡and¡¡his¡¡broad¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡his¡¡easy¡¡laugh¡£¡¡
However£»¡¡she¡¡wasn¡¡t¡¡several¡¡centuries¡¡younger£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡had¡¡neither¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡him¡¡nor¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡even¡¡acknowledge¡¡
his¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡d¡¡had¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡dalliances¡¡in¡¡her¡¡younger¡¡days£»¡¡starting¡¡with¡¡Jonas£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡d¡¡long¡¡since¡¡lost¡¡
patience¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡Eight¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡of¡¡life¡¡had¡¡exposed¡¡romance¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡fallacy¡¡and¡¡artifice£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡
had¡¡neither¡¡the¡¡time¡¡nor¡¡the¡¡inclination¡¡for¡¡it¡£¡¡
Still¡¡and¡¡all£»¡¡she¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡dredge¡¡up¡¡the¡¡flirtatiousness¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡first¡¡used¡¡on¡¡Jonas¡¡as¡¡a¡¡teenager£»¡¡and¡¡started
speaking¡¡to¡¡Aran¡£¡¡She¡¡suddenly¡¡became¡¡fascinated¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hobbies¡¡and¡¡his¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡dwarven¡¡music¡£¡¡
All¡¡of¡¡it¡¡served¡¡one¡¡purpose£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡for¡¡him¡¡to¡¡share¡¡his¡¡bed¡¡with¡¡her¡£¡¡
The¡¡next¡¡morning£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡impregnated¡¡by¡¡his¡¡seed¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡mildly¡¡disheartened¡¡to¡¡realize¡¡
that¡¡the¡¡embryo¡¡within¡¡her¡¡would¡¡grow¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡male¡¡child¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hoping¡¡for¡¡a¡¡daughter£»¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡another¡¡poke¡¡
¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡eye¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Guardians¡¡of¡¡Tirisfal¡£¡¡But¡¡even¡¡so£»¡¡this¡¡boy¡¡would¡¡serve¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡for¡¡which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been
conceived¡£¡¡
Taking¡¡her¡¡leave¡¡of¡¡a¡¡rather¡¡disappointed¡¡Aran¡¡who¡¡truly¡¡had¡¡expected¡¡little¡¡else£»¡¡but¡¡had¡¡been¡¡hoping¡¡that
Aegwynn¡¡could¡¡at¡¡least¡¡have¡¡been¡¡polite¡¡about¡¡it¡¡she¡¡departed¡¡Stormwind¡£¡¡For¡¡nine¡¡months£»¡¡she¡¡performed¡¡her
tasks¡¡as¡¡Guardian¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡she¡¡could£»¡¡and¡¡eventually¡¡bore¡¡Medivh¡£¡¡Only¡¡then¡¡did¡¡she¡¡return£»¡¡handing¡¡the¡¡infant
to¡¡Aran¡¡and¡¡declaring¡¡him¡¡to¡¡be¡¡her¡¡heir¡£¡¡
I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡by¡¡the¡¡look¡¡on¡¡your¡¡face¡¡that¡¡you¡¡re¡¡horrified¡£¡¡¡¡Aegwynn¡¡said¡¡the¡¡words¡¡to¡¡Jaina¡¡with¡¡a¡¡vicious¡¡smile¡£¡¡
I¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡Jaina¡¡spoke¡¡true¡£¡¡She¡¡had¡¡fought¡¡alongside¡¡Medivh¡¡it¡¡was¡¡he¡¡who¡¡had¡¡encouraged¡¡Jaina¡¡to¡¡ally¡¡herself
with¡¡Thrall¡¡and¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Burning¡¡Legion¡¡but¡¡she¡¡d¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡that¡¡the¡¡prophet¡¡s¡¡origins¡¡were¡¡so
tawdry¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡very¡¡little¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡save¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡returned¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡and¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡atone¡¡for
his¡¡sins¡¡by¡¡doing¡¡everything¡¡he¡¡could¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡the¡¡Burning¡¡Legion¡£¡¡
That¡¡is¡¡why¡¡I¡¡told¡¡you¡¡the¡¡story£»¡¡¡¡Aegwynn¡¡said¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡m¡¡no¡¡hero£»¡¡I¡¡m¡¡no¡¡role¡¡model£»¡¡I¡¡m¡¡no¡¡shining¡¡beacon¡¡to
inspire¡¡wizards¡¡of¡¡any¡¡sex¡£¡¡What¡¡I¡¡am¡¡is¡¡an¡¡arrogant¡¡ass¡¡who¡¡let¡¡her¡¡power¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wiles¡¡of¡¡a¡¡clever¡¡demon¡¡destroy¡¡
her¡¡and¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡¡¡
Jaina¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡She¡¡remembered¡¡many¡¡conversations¡¡with¡¡Kristoff¡¡about¡¡how¡¡the¡¡lessons¡¡of¡¡history¡¡are¡¡rarely¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡written¡¡word£»¡¡for¡¡such¡¡accounts¡¡were¡¡invariably¡¡biased¡¡in¡¡favor¡¡of¡¡what¡¡the¡¡writer¡¡wished¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡to¡¡know¡¡
ab