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 go after it with our dying
breath。 And beyond； if needs be。
Indeed。 Colonel may I have another piece？
Lorena laughed and said； Help yourself。
Taking another piece of meat this time one she didn t recognize Aegwynn wondered what would happen after
this was over。 She found the prospect of returning to her little hut in the Bladescar Highlands to be less enthralling
than she would have thought。 Jaina had been correct humans and orcs had built a life here； and it was because of
Medivh。 Which meant； ultimately； it was because of her。 Perhaps it would be best if she reaped the fruits of her
labors…。
Before she could ponder further； Jaina entered the dining hall。 I ve found them。 We must move quickly。
The young mage looked ragged。 Aegwynn stood up。 Are you well？
A little tired。 I ll be fine； Jaina said dismissively。
Aegwynn pointed at the plate of meat。 Eat something you ll be of no use to anyone if you collapse； and I know
better than anyone what happens to spells that aren t cast with full concentration。
Jaina opened her mouth； then closed it。 You re right； of course； Magna。
Lorena leaned over to Jaina。 She doesn t like to be called that。
At that； Aegwynn barked a laugh。 She was really starting to like this colonel。
After Jaina wolfed down some of Lorena s meat Aegwynn was amused to realize that Lorena had gotten the
smallest share of her own meal the lady said； The Burning Blade is operating out of a cavern atop Dreadmist
Peak。
Lorena winced。 Oh； great。
Looking at Lorena； Aegwynn asked； What s the problem？
Dreadmist Peak is aptly named。 The upper regions of the mountain are choked with this orange mist。
Dismissively； Jaina said； It s residuum from an ancient demonic curse on the place。 That s probably why Zmodlor
chose it that； and its location； since it s about equidistant from both rimmar and Theramore。 In any case； my
magicks will protect all three of us from the effects of the mist。
Good； Lorena said emphatically。
Also； Duree