all； I beat Sargeras； and he was a god； so what did they know？ She snarled。 I was such an idiot。
Don t be ridiculous。 Jaina couldn t believe this。 Bad enough that the greatest wizard of her time； the woman she d
idolized all her life； turned out to be such an unpleasant person； but now she was just being idiotic。 It was
Sargeras。 Any mage would have made the same mistake you did。 As you said； he was a god。 He knew he would
have to trick you because of your power； and he knew how to manipulate you。 What you did was perfectly natural。
Aegwynn stared at one of the corners of the ramshackle hut that she apparently called home。 I did far far more
than that。 There was also Medivh。
Now Jaina was even more confused。 I knew Medivh； Magna。 He was
Whirling to look at Jaina； Aegwynn snapped； I m not talking about what my son was。 I m talking about how he
was。
What do you mean？ Jaina asked； genuinely confused。 Medivh was fathered by Nielas Aran； and
Fathered ？ Aegwynn let out a noise that sounded like a rock shattering。 That s far too generous a term for it。
Sixtynine years ago…
The summons had been insistent this time； which was the only reason why Aegwynn responded to it。 The
Guardians of Tirisfal had changed over the years。 The three elves were the same； but the humans and the gnome
had all died and been replaced； and then their replacements died and themselves had successors。 In many ways；
though； they had not changed at all。 Rather than deal with them in any way； or deal with an apprentice； Aegwynn
had used her magicks to extend her life so she could continue to do her duty as Guardian。
She had almost fallen to her death while standing on a parapet in Lordaeron； casting a seeker spell for one of
Sargeras s former thralls； rumored to be out and about in the city。 In the midst of the incantation； the council had
decided to hit her with a summons so powerful that she almost lost her balance。 It was the third summons in as
many days； and the first that had interfered with her ability to function。
Realizing that she would not hear the end of it until she answered； she teleported to the Tirisfal Glade。 She stood on
top of the very rock Falric who had also long since died； as had her other three fellow apprentices； all perishing
while fighting demons had transmuted into fool s gold all those centuries ago； time having exposed and tarnished
it so it was a dull brown instead of the bright golden color it was eight hundred years past。
What is it that s so important that you interrupt my work？
It has been eight centuries； Aegwynn； one of the new humans said。 Aegwynn had never bothered to learn his
name。 It is past time you relinquished your duties。
Drawing herself up to her full height which made her taller than any of the men surrounding her in this glade
she said； I am properly addressed as Magna。 That s one of those ridiculous rules you insist on foisting upon the
magical world。 The word was a dwarven one meaning protector； and had been the honorific for every Guardian
since the first。 Aegwynn didn t care much for titles； but the council s insistence on the rules and regulations； and
their disapproval of her flaunting them； made her sensitive to their own violations。
Relfthra threw it back in her face。 Ah； so now you re a stickler for rules； eh？
The human gave Relfthra a look； and then said； The point； Magna； is that you know as well as any of us the risks
of what you are doing。 The longer you extend your age； the greater the risk that it will be undone。 The deaging
magicks are not precise； nor are they stable。 In midconflict； in midcasting； you could find yourself suddenly
brought to your natural age。 If that happens without a successor
Aegwynn held up a hand。 The last thing she needed from these fools was a lecture on the ways of magic。 She was a
stronger magician than any of them。 Had they faced down Sargeras himself？ Very well。 I will find a successor and
transfer the Guardian power to that person。
Gritting his teeth； the human said； We will choose your successor； just as we chose Scavell s and that of every
Guardian before him。
No。 I shall make the choice。 I believe I know better than anyone what is involved in being a Guardian certainly
more than you who stand around this glade and make pronouncements while the rest of us do the actual work。
Magna the human started； but Aegwynn wished to hear no more。
I have heard your advice； and for once it is worth heeding。 She smiled。 I suppose it was bound to happen
eventually。 Even a village idiot may stumble upon a valuable philosophy once in a while。 When my successor is
chosen； you will be informed。 That is all。
Without waiting to be dismissed； she teleported back to the parapet。 While the council s words were in fact true； she
was in the midst of doing her duty。 She once again cast the seeker spell to determine if the demon was loose in
Lordaeron； as rumored。
Once that was taken care of there was no demon； only some teenagers indulging in magicks they didn t
understand； had they continued； that demon would have been summoned； but Aegwynn was able to forestall their
adolescent efforts she traveled to Stormwind； specifically to the home of Nielas Aran。
Aran had been an admirer of hers for many years。 Aegwynn barely paid any attention to him； except insofar as he
was more talented than most of the mages who were part of the Tirisfalen。 He was blissfully free of the prejudices
of the council； and had done well by his craft； serving also as the court magician for King Landan Wrynn。 Were she
several centuries younger； she might have admired his steel blue eyes and his broad shoulders and his easy laugh。
However； she wasn t several centuries younger； and so had neither interest in him nor desire to even acknowledge
his interest in her。 She d had plenty of dalliances in her younger days； starting with Jonas； but she d long since lost
patience with them。 Eight hundred years of life had exposed romance to be a mass of fallacy and artifice； and she
had neither the time nor the inclination for it。
Still and all； she managed to dredge up the flirtatiousness that she had first used on Jonas as a teenager； and started
speaking to Aran。 She suddenly became fascinated in his hobbies and his interest in dwarven music。
All of it served one purpose； which was for him to share his bed with her。
The next morning； she knew that she had been impregnated by his seed。 She had been mildly disheartened to realize
that the embryo within her would grow to be a male child。 She had been hoping for a daughter； as yet another poke
in the eye to the Guardians of Tirisfal。 But even so； this boy would serve the purpose for which he had been
conceived。
Taking her leave of a rather disappointed Aran who truly had expected little else； but had been hoping that
Aegwynn could at least have been polite about it she departed Stormwind。 For nine months； she performed her
tasks as Guardian as much as she could； and eventually bore Medivh。 Only then did she return； handing the infant
to Aran and declaring him to be her heir。
I can see by the look on your face that you re horrified。 Aegwynn said the words to Jaina with a vicious smile。
I am。 Jaina spoke true。 She had fought alongside Medivh it was he who had encouraged Jaina to ally herself
with Thrall and the orcs against the Burning Legion but she d had no idea that the prophet s origins were so
tawdry。 Indeed； she knew very little about him； save that he had returned from the dead and was trying to atone for
his sins by doing everything he could to stop the Burning Legion。
That is why I told you the story； Aegwynn said。 I m no hero； I m no role model； I m no shining beacon to
inspire wizards of any sex。 What I am is an arrogant ass who let her power and the wiles of a clever demon destroy
her and the rest of the world。
Jaina shook her head。 She remembered many conversations with Kristoff about how the lessons of history are rarely
in the written word； for such accounts were invariably biased in favor of what the writer wished the reader to know
about。 She realized that the histories she d read about the Guardians of Tirisfal in Antonidas s library were as
vulnerable to such biases as the historical texts that Kristoff had spoken of。
Then； suddenly； a feeling pricked at the back of Jaina s neck。 She stood up。
So did Aegwynn no doubt the old woman felt the same thing。 She confirmed it by saying； The wards are back
up。
Jaina found it interesting that Aegwynn felt that especially given Jaina s own ability to break down the wards
without her knowledge。 It confirmed a growing suspicion of hers。
Of greater concern； however； was that these wards felt far more powerful。 And had entirely the wrong feel。
Something is wrong。
Yes I know this magic。 Never thought I d encounter it again； to be honest。 Aegwynn made a tch noise。 In fact；
I m not really sure how it s possible。
Before asking Aegwynn to explain herself； Jaina had to make sure she could perate the wards。 She attempted a
teleport spell； this time adding a wardperation incantation to the mix； bracing herself for the ensuing pain
should it not succeed。
Sure enough； it didn t。 It would have worked previously she hadn t used the peration spell to teleport the
thunder lizards only because she needed to investigate the highlands before bringing hundreds of agitated animals
there。 Closing her eyes briefly to block out the pain； she turned to Aegwynn。 I can t get through them。
I was afraid of that。 Aegwynn sighed； apparently not relishing being stuck with the little girl。
Jaina wasn t entirely thrilled with the prospect； either； but more because she couldn t fulfill her promise to Thrall
while trapped in these highlands。
You said you knew this magic？
Aegwynn nodded。 Yes。 Remember Zmodlor； the first demon I encountered the one who imprisoned those
schoolchildren？
Jaina nodded。
These wards are his。
Fifteen
K ristoff hated sitting on the throne。
Intellectually； he understood the need for it。 Leaders needed to convey that they were in a po