World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm Page 0,90
she really cared, but a thought occurred to him. He decided to run with it.
“It was,” he said, utterly honest. “It’s been even harder to know that he doesn’t approve of the direction in which I wish to take my life. Rumor has it that’s something you would understand.”
For the first time since he saw her, she looked at him with a completely unguarded expression, the spoon partway to her mouth, her eyes wide in astonishment. She looked—vulnerable, flustered, and hastened to recover.
“Why, whatever do you mean?” She uttered a false laugh.
“I hear that Magni wasn’t the best father in the world, even though he might have wanted to be—just like mine,” Anduin said. “That he never quite forgave you for not being the son he wanted.”
Her eyes went hard, but they were oddly shiny, as if with unshed tears. When she spoke, it was as if Anduin’s words had broken a dam. “My father was indeed quite disappointed in my flaw of being born female. He could never believe that I might not want to stay here while constantly being reminded that I’d failed him simply by being born. He decided that the only way I could possibly fall in love with a Dark Iron dwarf was if my husband had enchanted me. Well, he did, Anduin. He enchanted me with the concept of respect. Of having people listen to me when I spoke. Of believing that I could rule, even as a female, and rule well. The Dark Irons welcomed me when my own father dismissed me.”
She laughed without humor. “That’s the only magic Dagran Thaurissan and the Dark Irons used on me. My father thought them only to be despised, only good enough to fight and kill. Well, they are dwarves, just like any other clan of dwarves—heirs to the earthen. The other dwarves could stand to be reminded of that, and that’s what I intend to do.”
“You are the rightful heir,” Anduin agreed. “Magni should have recognized and raised you as such from the day you were born. I’m sorry you only found welcome among the Dark Irons, and you’re right—they’re dwarves, too. But you aren’t going to promote harmony by forcing the people of Ironforge to think like you do. Open up the city. Let people see who the Dark Irons really are, as you have. They can have—”
“They can have what I say they can have!” snapped Moira, her voice strident. “And they will do what I say they will do! I have the right of law on my side, and Dagran—the boy that Magni so wished I had been—will rule when I am gone. His father and I …”
She paused, and the artificial good cheer suddenly replaced the honest anger. “Do you know,” she said, “that is really the first time this thought has occurred to me.”
Discouraged at her reversion to her previous demeanor, Anduin asked, “And what thought might that be?”
“Why, that I am an empress, not just a queen.”
A chill ran down Anduin’s spine.
“Goodness! This changes everything! I have two peoples to rule over. As will my little one, once he comes of age. Such opportunities to be had to build bridges, to bring peace. Do you not agree?”
“Peace is always a noble goal,” he said, his heart sinking. He’d had her, just for a moment, had gotten her speaking honestly. But the moment had passed.
“Indeed. My, my. Sometimes I think I am just a silly little girl still.”
No, you don’t, and neither do I. “I can sympathize. Sometimes I think I’m just a thirteen-year-old boy,” he said.
Moira tittered again. “Ah, your humor delights me, Anduin. While I am certain your father misses you, I am quite, quite sure that I cannot bear to part with you just yet.”
He gave her a smile that he sincerely hoped did not look quite as fake as it actually was.
Several hours later, finally alone in his quarters, Anduin closed the door and leaned against it heavily.
Moira wasn’t mad, or under any spell. He wished she were. She’d been wronged, he had to admit, but instead of turning that into a strength, she’d let her resentment eat away at her. She was calculating, in control, and intent upon bequeathing an empire to her son. Some of what she said made sense. Peace was a good thing. But so was liberty.
He had to get out of here. Had to let someone know what was going on. He took a deep breath, ran his hand through his