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Aegwynn was there waiting for her。 It had taken the old woman a few days to awaken after she passed out in the
cave； and Jaina had feared for a time that the Guardian would not recover at all。
Jaina had barely enough left in her to teleport the three of them to a spot a ways down on Dreadmist Peak； away
from the mist。 She could not take them any farther than that； somehow； she had dredged up enough to contact
Theramore and have an airship e to fetch them。
Although Jaina was fairly ragged when the dirigible rescued them； Aegwynn was as weak as a kitten。 A hot meal
and a nap； and Jaina was fine。 Aegwynn； however； needed a lot longer than that。 The Chief Healer s initial
prognosis was not good； but after a few days； he declared her to have the constitution of an elf。
Sure enough； she recovered fully。 She now sat in the guest chair in Jaina s chambers。 About time you got back。
I see you ve recovered fully； Magna your tongue included。
Aegwynn laughed。 So it would seem。
Jaina fell more than sat in her own chair； feeling rather tired。 She wouldn t have minded a few days to recover from
the ordeal herself； but had been unable to take the time。 There was no chamberlain to fob off some of the work on
to。 Duree had handled as much as she could； but as useful as she was； she could not deal with any of the more
plex aspects of running Theramore。 Lorena had been somewhat more helpful； at least in military matters； but
she too had no skill with other aspects of government。 So Jaina was unable to devote herself fully to resting up
much to the irritation of the healer which left her fatigued。
She regarded Aegwynn； who stared back with her deep green eyes。 It frightened Jaina that their entire victory over
Zmodlor was due to the happenstance of her choosing the Bladescar Highlands as the place to relocate the thunder
lizards。 Even if she had discovered that Zmodlor was responsible； without the erstwhile Guardian； she never would
have been able to defeat the demon and his minions。
I want to thank you； Mag Aegwynn。 Without you； all would have been lost。
Aegwynn simply bowed her head in response。
I suppose that you ll want to return to Bladescar？
Actually； Aegwynn said with a lone small smile； no。
Jaina blinked。 No？
I d like to return long enough to retrieve some things； and pick from the garden one last time before the thunder
lizards trample all over it。 But I ve been out of the world for far too long。 I think it s time I started living in it again。
Assuming that the world will have me； at any rate。
Most definitely。 Jaina sat up in her chair。 She had hoped that Aegwynn would feel that way； but had not in her
wildest dreams believed that those hopes would bee reality。 As it happens； I have an opening for a
chamberlain。 It s a position that requires knowledge； insight； and a willingness to put me in my place and tell me
off when I need it。 I d say you qualify in all regards especially the last part。
Laughing； Aegwynn said； Certainly； though the first two are arguable。 Still； I suppose I gained some knowledge
and insight in a thousand years。 She got to her feet。 Jaina did likewise。 Aegwynn held out her hand。 I accept。
Returning the handshake； Jaina said； Excellent。 Thank you again； Aegwynn。 You won t regret this。
No； but you might。 Aegwynn broke the handshake and sat back down。 Here s my first piece of advice to you as
your chamberlain： Kristoff was right。 Zmodlor was a minor demon。 He didn t have the brains to e up with
something like this。
Jaina frowned。 I thought you said he started the Burning Blade。
Yes； but just as a means to cull souls。 A plan of this plexity is far beyond him。 You yourself said that Zmodlor
wasn t the only demon left behind after the Burning Legion was driven back。
Knowing the answer to the question； Jaina felt the need to hear it from the Guardian s lips noheless。 What is it
you re saying； Aegwynn？
I m saying； Jaina； that this is probably not the last we ve heard from the Burning Blade。
About the Author
Keith R。A。 DeCandido is the author of over two dozen novels； plus whole bunches of novellas； short stories；
eBooks； ic books； and nonfiction； in a wide variety of media universes。 In addition to Warcraft； he s played in
the worlds of Star Trek （in all its incarnations； plus some new ones）； StarCraft； SpiderMan； the XMen； Buffy the
Vampire Slayer； Serenity； Farscape； Andromeda； Resident Evil； Xena； and a whole lot more。 He is also the author
of the highfantasy police procedural Dragon Precinct； and the editor of many anthologies； most recently the award
nominated Imaginings and the Star Trek anthologies Tales of the Dominion War and Tales from the Captain s
Table。 His work has journeyed to several bestseller lists； and has received critical acclaim from Entertainment
Weekly； Publishers Weekly； TV Zone； Starburst； Dreamwatch； Library Journal； and Cinescape； among others。 He
lives in New York City with his girlfriend and two lunatic cats。 Find out too much about Keith at his official
website at DeCandido。； keep up with his ramblings on LiveJournal under the rather goofy user name of
kradical； or just send him silly emails at keith@decandido。。
【冷泉泓薇】整理