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throwing a fireball after her； but decided against it。 Duree was right without her； Jaina never would be able to find
anything。
Moments later； Kristoff arrived； several scrolls in hand。 Duree said you wanted to see me； milady。 Or did you just
want these？ He indicated the scrolls。
Both； actually。 Thank you； she added as she took the scrolls from him。
Kristoff was Jaina s chamberlain。 While she ruled Theramore； Kristoff was the one who ran it。 His capacity for
irritating minutiae made him ideal for the job； and had been the primary thing keeping Jaina from indulging in a
homicidal rage when being leader became too much for her notverybroad shoulders to bear。 He had been the clerk
to Highlord Garithos before the war； when his anizational skills had bee legendary。
Certainly； he did not advance in the military due to any physical prowess。 Kristoff was tall but rail thin； seeming
almost as fragile as Duree； who at least had old age to blame。 His straight； dark； justpastshoulderlength hair
framed an angular face and hawk nose； a visage that seemed to wear a perpetual scowl。
Jaina shared Thrall s story of the attack on ath ar and the nearby vessel doing nothing to help。
Raising a thin eyebrow； Kristoff said； The story does not seem credible。 Half a league off Ratchet； you said？
Jaina nodded。
There were no military boats assigned to that region； milady。
The fog was thick it s possible that the boat Captain Bolik saw was off course。
Kristoff nodded； conceding the point。 However； milady； it is also possible that Captain Bolik was mistaken。
It seems unlikely。 Jaina walked around to the other side of her desk and sat in the chair； placing the shipping
records on the only open space。 Orcs have keener eyesight than we do； remember； and they tend to use the most
gifted in eyesight as lookouts。
We must also consider the possibility that the orcs are lying。 Before Jaina could object to this notion which she
very much intended to do Kristoff held up a longfingered hand。 I do not speak of Thrall； now； milady。 The orcs
Warchief is an honorable man； it s true。 You do well to place your trust in him； and I believe that he is simply
relaying what he was told by his people。
Then what are you saying？ Jaina knew the answer to the question； but wanted to hear Kristoff confirm it。
I am saying the same thing that I have said to you all along； milady we cannot afford to blindly trust the orcs。
Individual orcs have proven honorable； yes； but orcs as a whole？ We would be fools to assume that they all wish us
well； and that they all will be as enlightened as Thrall。 He was a strong ally against the Burning Legion； and I have
nothing but admiration for what he has done but what he has done is temporary。 Kristoff set his thin hands down
on the desk； leaning toward Jaina。 The only thing keeping the orcs in line is Thrall； and the minute he is gone； I
can assure you； milady； the orcs will revert to type and do everything they can to destroy us。
Jaina barked a laugh； involuntarily。 Kristoff s words mirrored Jaina and Thrall s conversation yet it seemed less
rational ing out of the chamberlain s mouth。
Kristoff straightened。 Something amuses you； milady？
No。 I believe you are overestimating the situation。
And I believe you are underestimating it。 This citystate is all that keeps Kalimdor from being run entirely by the
orcs。 Kristoff hesitated； which was unusual。 The chamberlain had made a career out of being forthright； which was
one of his more useful characteristics。
What is it； Kristoff？
Our allies are…concerned。 The notion of an entire continent under orc rule is…disturbing to many。 At present；
little is being done； in part because there are other issues； but
But right now I m all that is preventing an invasion？
As long as the Lady Proudmoore great wizard； victor against the Burning Legion rules the humans on
Kalimdor； the rest of the world will sleep well at night。 The moment they believe that the Lady Proudmoore cannot
keep the orcs in line； that will change。 And the invasion force will make your late father s fleet look like a pair of
rowboats。
Jaina leaned back in her chair。 In truth； she had given little thought to the world beyond Kalimdor； busy as she had
been with fighting the demons and then building Theramore。 And her own father s attack drove home the fact that
those who had not actually fought alongside the orcs still viewed them as little more than animals。
But Kristoff should have known better。 What is it you are suggesting； Chamberlain？
That this Captain Bolik might be an agitator； trying to turn Thrall against you against us。 Even with Northwatch；
we are very much alone within Theramore s gates； and could easily find ourselves surrounded by orcs and more；
with the trolls already on their side and the goblins unlikely to take any side。
Jaina shook her head。 Kristoff s prediction was the worst nightmare of every human living on Kalimdor。 It seemed
like only yesterday that they were well on the road to making those nightmares an impossibility。 Trade with the orcs
was going smoothly； the Barrens neutral territory between Durotar and Theramore had been peaceful and
orderly； and the two species that had once despised each other had lived in peace for three years。
The question Jaina now asked herself was whether or not this was a portent of how things should be； or simply a
resting period while they recovered from the Burning Legion and just the calm before the inevitable storm？
Before Jaina could contemplate further； a tall； darkhaired woman with a square face； pointed nose； and broad
shoulders entered。 She wore the standard military uniform of plate armor with a green tabbard depicting the anchor
shaped emblem of Kul Tiras； the former home of the Proudmoore family。
Raising her right hand to her forehead in salute； she said； Colonel Lorena reporting as ordered； milady。
Standing； Jaina said； Thank you； Colonel。 Stand easy。 Duree told you what is required？ Jaina always felt short
next to Lorena and so preferred to stand in her presence； to give herself as much height as her smaller form would
provide。
Lowering her hand and putting both arms behind her back； but otherwise still standing ramrod straight with perfect
posture； Lorena said； Yes； ma am； she did。 We leave for Northwatch within the hour； and I ve sent a runner to
inform Major Davin of our arrival。
Good。 That ll be all； both of you。
Lorena saluted； turned on her heel； and exited。 Kristoff； however； hung back a moment。
When the chamberlain refused to speak； Jaina prompted him。 What is it； Kristoff？
It might be wise to have the detail acpanying Lorena remain at Northwatch to fortify it。
Without hesitation； Jaina said； No。
Milady
The orcs want us out of Northwatch altogether； Kristoff。 And while I understand why we can t accede to that
request； I am not going to do something as provocative as reinforce it； especially when they believe that we refused
to help them against pirates。
I still think
You ve been excused； Chamberlain； Jaina said frostily。
Kristoff glowered at her for a moment before bowing low； spreading his arms； and saying； Milady； before taking
his leave。
Four
I m not sure I understand what the problem is； Colonel。
Lorena stared out the window of the small watch office for Northwatch Keep。 The statement had been made by
Major Davin； the current mandant of Northwatch； who had been frustrating Lorena since she and her six
soldier detail arrived an hour ago。
From his seat at the small desk in the watch office s center； Davin； a stout man with a thick beard； had told Lorena
that there was a convoy ship that had gotten lost in the fog。 It was possible that that was the ship the orcs claimed to
have seen。
Lorena turned to look down at him made easy by his being seated； though Lorena was taller than the major even
when standing and said； The problem； Major； is that the orcs were expecting help from us。 And they should ve
gotten it。
What for？ Davin sounded genuinely confused。
They re our allies。 Lorena couldn t believe she needed to explain this。 Davin was a hero during the war； having
been the only survivor of a brutal massacre of his platoon； which was escorting a wizard who was also killed。 The
intelligence he brought back had been invaluable。
But now the war hero just shrugged。 They fought with us； sure； but that was necessity。 Colonel； they re not even
civilized。 Only reason to put up with em s cause of Thrall； and he s only worth it cause he was raised by humans。
But what happens to them ain t our concern。
Lady Proudmoore disagrees with that sentiment； Lorena said in a tight voice； and so do I。 She turned back
around。 The view of the Great Sea from this window was quite spectacular； and Lorena found she preferred it to
looking at Davin s annoying face。 I ve sent my people to find Captain Avinal and his crew to get their side of the
story。
Now Davin stood up。 With all due respect； Colonel； there s no side。 Avinal s boat got lost。 They got back on
course。 They came home。 If an orc ship got