World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm Page 0,91
hair, and then began to throw things into a small pack he’d brought for day trips with … Light, how he missed Aerin, even now. But he was also glad that she wasn’t here to see what Ironforge had become.
He wouldn’t need much—a change of clothing or two, some money. He had brought a few special things from Stormwind, but now he realized that he could live without them in the face of the urgent need to get away as soon as possible. But there was one thing that meant too much, that was too precious, to part with.
He’d kept it under the bed since Magni’s death, wrapped in the same cloth as it had been when the dwarven king had presented it to him. He hoped word had not reached Moira about the gift. Somehow he suspected the idea wouldn’t sit well with her.
He took a moment to unwrap it and touch the beautiful mace. Fearbreaker. He could use its comfort now. Anduin permitted his hand to close about the weapon for a moment, then he rewrapped it and placed it carefully in the pack.
It was time. He had decided not to tell Wyll. The less the elderly servant knew, the easier they would be on him. Anduin took a deep breath, reached his hand in his pocket, and closed his hand about the hearthstone Jaina had given him. Squeezing his eyes tightly shut, Anduin filled his mind with images of Theramore, of Jaina’s cozy little fireplace—
—and materialized there.
Jaina stared at him. “Anduin, what are you doing here?”
The prince of Stormwind didn’t have a thought to spare for her. All he could do was gape at the enormous, angry-looking tauren clad in armor and feathers who stood directly in front of him.
TWENTY-FOUR
What is this—” the tauren rumbled, in heavy but intelligible Common.
“Baine, Anduin—hold on!” Jaina reached a hand out to each of them.
Baine? “Baine Bloodhoof?” Anduin managed.
“Anduin Wrynn?”
“Everyone hold on!” Jaina cried, more loudly this time. “Baine—I gave Anduin a gift, a stone that enabled him to come visit me whenever he wanted. And given what we’ve heard from Ironforge—or rather, not heard from Ironforge—I’m very, very glad to see you.” She gave him a quick but heartfelt smile. “And Baine—I apologize for his unexpected arrival, but I believe you can trust Anduin.”
“His father has no love for the Horde,” Baine said. “I believe you did not anticipate this, Jaina, but—”
“I am not my father,” Anduin said quietly. He was calming down now, starting to figure out what was going on. Baine Bloodhoof was the son of the tauren high chieftain, Cairne. Cairne and Thrall were good friends, and the tauren were not as hostile to the Alliance as some of the other races that comprised the Horde. If Jaina was on good terms with Thrall, it stood to reason that she would not be averse to meetings—even secret ones—with a representative of Cairne’s.
His composure seemed to impress the young bull. Baine relaxed slightly, regarding him with more curiosity than hostility now. “No,” he said, “we are not our fathers. Even if we wished to be.”
There was something in the tone that alerted Anduin that something was very wrong here. He glanced at Jaina, questioningly. Now that he looked at her, she looked strained and unhappy.
“Sit down, both of you,” she said, indicating the hearth. Baine was far too big to fit into any of the chairs. “I think you two have long stories to share.”
“I intend no offense,” Baine said, continuing to stand, “but I risk a great deal even coming to see you, Lady Jaina. To confide in the heir to the crown of Stormwind? I fear you ask too much.”
“I understand your trepidation,” said Jaina, “and I know right now you’re both focused on your own problems. But bear in mind I am harboring both of you right now, and so you’re just going to have to get along.”
“How can you harbor a fellow Alliance member?” Baine snorted.
“Because Magni Bronzebeard is dead; his daughter, Moira Bronzebeard, has returned to Ironforge from Shadowforge City with a bunch of Dark Iron dwarves and is declaring herself empress; she’s got Ironforge in a lockdown; and she’s going to be very, very upset that I got out,” Anduin said bluntly. Baine was right. There was no reason he should trust Anduin, prince of Stormwind … unless Anduin gave him a reason to. Besides, if he didn’t know already, he soon would. Moira couldn’t keep her intent secret forever. Baine’s massive,