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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。 Kristoff remembered that Booraven who had been a private during the war not only was able
to detect demons that couldn t be seen with the naked eye； but also could tell when someone had been possessed by
a member of the Burning Legion。 She also was always able to find Lady Proudmoore； or any other wizard； a skill
several generals made use of when the lady was difficult to track down during a chaotic campaign。
At once； Kristoff realized what Lorena had in mind。 Damn her！ Letting out a long sigh； he muttered； And damn
myself as well。
What was that； sir？ Duree asked。
Nothing； Kristoff said quickly。 He couldn t afford to explain things to Duree。 That ll be all。
Sounding confused； Duree said； All all right； sir。 Looking at him strangely； she left。
For his part； Kristoff stared out the large window。 It was hazy today； and he couldn t see more than a league or two
out on the Great Sea。
Belatedly； Kristoff realized that the mistake was truly his own。 He had let the colonel s hostility toward him
which had always been there； going back to the days of the war affect his own reactions to her。 He treated her
with the same contempt she treated him with； an indulgence that was acceptable； if sometimes counterproductive；
when they both advised the lady； but suicidal when he sat on her throne。 Part of the point of the symbolism of the
raised throne was that the leader had to be above everything else including the petty rivalries of the court。
The very arrogance that had done in Garithos and so many more before him； had done in Kristoff。 If the
chamberlain had treated Lorena with respect； she might have done as he asked。 Because he didn t； she took
Booraven with her to once again serve the purpose of finding Lady Proudmoore。 That explained why she headed
northeast： to Durotar； where the lady was taking care of the thunder lizards。
Much as it galled him； he had only one recourse。 The plan had to go ahead； with some small variations。 They might
cause problems later； but by then the die would be cast。 The only way for Jaina Proudmoore to see that the or