It turns out that the Twilight Cultist didn't come to assassinate Moira, but to welcome their holy child—the masterpiece of "God" within the womb of the Dwarf woman.
When Moira was imprisoned in the palace dungeon, she knew that her unborn child was doomed. Her only hope was to seek help from the Twilight Cultist were still loyal to Thaurissan and were lurking in Shadowforge City.
But at that time, Rendaen was very concerned about her situation. The guards were tight and there was no chance for her to escape. While she was living in constant fear, the Twilight Cultist secretly sent a message: their "god" had actually responded to her plea.
To be honest, Moira wasn't particularly interested in the deity her husband, Thaurissan, was so devoted to; it was only out of a sense of duty as a wife that she followed his lead.
Unexpectedly, in her most perilous moment, she was blessed by "God," Moira almost became a truly devout believer, until she saw the gift of God wrapped in a change of clothes and sent to prison.
A disgusting, thin, fleshy spike, looking like a deformed octopus tentacle—no, a million times more disgusting—was trembling slightly, like a living black snake.
According to Twilight Cultists, this fleshy splinter is part of the body of "God," and possessing this gift is a great honor.
The method to save the child was to insert this fleshy thorn into the abdomen, which would put the fetus into a state of apparent death, thus deceiving Rendaen and dispelling his "concern" for the mother and child.
Moira hesitated for a long time. She considered dying to end it all, and she also considered enduring humiliation and choosing not to have the child.
Every second was agonizing; perhaps the next moment, Rendaen's poison would be delivered. There was no use thinking about it.
Ultimately, motherhood triumphed over everything, rescuing her from the hell of anxiety.
Moira cursed and wept, enduring immense pain as she completed the indescribable task, before finally fainting.
Upon waking, she immediately felt that the baby's heartbeat in her womb had stopped, which worried her greatly, but she was quickly relieved.
Two days later, a man who looked like a physician led a group of soldiers into the dungeon and forced her to drink a large bottle of bitter medicine, which was said to be a powerful abortifacient.
The excruciating abdominal cramps kept Moira rolling on the floor for half the night until the next morning when the physician returned. After a rough examination, he left satisfied—the unborn child was confirmed dead.
Moira's protruding belly gradually flattened, which completely dispelled Rendaen's doubts.
Only the Dwarf herself knew that the fetus in her womb had not died, but had undergone an incredible transformation: he had been restored to his original life form, but the occasional fetal movements told Moira that he was still alive.
A plan for revenge was then woven into the Dwarf's mind: after escaping, she would immediately gather the warlords who were still loyal to the Thaurissan Dynasty and return to Ironforge together.
Once the child is born, he will be the sole legitimate heir to Ironforge. If he can use this to control a portion of Ironforge's power, he will naturally be able to launch a counterattack against Blackrock Depths and reclaim the throne of Dark Iron.
All of this wasn't something Magni forced upon her; Moira herself revealed it along the way. She hadn't expected that the Twilight Cultist only saw her as a hen that laid eggs, discarding her like trash in order to obtain the "Holy Child."
The traumatic experience distorted the Dwarf's mind, making her extremely eager to confide in others, which is how Magni learned what had happened.
"This is truly bizarre. What exactly is the purpose of this so-called Twilight Holy Son?" Unas exclaimed after hearing Magni's explanation.
"I don't know, but it must be something evil," Magni said worriedly. "If we can escape this time, I must get my grandson back."
"Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost to facilitate peace talks."
"I believe in you, Paladin," Magni said, his eyes gleaming. "If we manage to escape this time and return home, I will send men to escort your refugees back to Stormwind City, ensuring their safety."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" This promise is very important. Stormwind City, under the control of the Black Dragon Princess, is in grave danger, and gaining the support of the Bronzebeard Dwarves is crucial.
Unas bid farewell to Magni with some satisfaction and returned to the Dark Iron Formation at the mouth of the mountain pass.
Saina Huohua, who had been eagerly waiting there, quickly came forward and asked, "Brother Unas, how did the talks go?"
"It's alright. For now, we'll hold back and wait for His Majesty Rendaen to arrive."
After waiting for another day and night, Rendaen finally arrived, along with most of the forces from Blackrock Depths, a dark mass of nearly 20,000 men that almost filled the entire valley.
Such a huge threat did not deter the Bronzebeard army; they even advanced another half a mile to demonstrate their fighting spirit.
Unas and the Dwarf lords were soon summoned to a large, hastily dug cave, where the king's pre-war council was held.
Following the guards into the cave, all the Dwarf lords were already there, sitting on the ground in a circle, except for Rendaen, who had a chair.
Unas first apologized to Rendaen, since Moira had infiltrated Blackrock Depths from his party, and he bore the greatest responsibility for the incident.
Rendaen had already received the news and knew what had happened. After listening to Unas's explanation, he did not blame the Paladin too much.
Moira was secretly rescued from the dungeon in the palace. As the master of the palace, Rendaen himself also had faults for neglecting his duties.
"At this critical moment, the power of Knight Unas is needed. You should atone for your crimes by killing many enemies."
Unas bowed slightly. "Thank you for your forgiveness, Your Majesty. Your heart is as vast as the earth."
"I knew there were still some spies loyal to Thaurissan lurking around me. This is a good opportunity. When I get back, I'll find them all!"
The Thaurissan family has ruled the Dark Iron Dwarves for centuries, possessing a deep and powerful foundation. Coupled with a group of loyal followers brainwashed by the Twilight Cultist, there must be quite a few spies hidden in Shadowforge City. Rendaen will be very busy.
"I heard you went to see Magni?"
"Yes, Your Majesty..." Unas recounted Magni's peace terms one by one.
The cave immediately erupted in chaos, with several hot-tempered Dwarf lords shouting wildly:
"Heh heh, Challenge? What a ridiculous idea! That Bronzebeard brat must be afraid of our Dark Iron army!"
"Your Majesty, ignore the Bronzebeard brat's schemes and tricks! Let's launch a full-scale attack immediately and annihilate them without leaving a single survivor!"
"That's right! Your Majesty is of inestimable worth. Magni is not worthy to duel you. If anyone should duel, it should be me!"
"Bullshit! His Majesty is brave and mighty; he can easily chop off that Bronzebeard brat's head!"
Others naturally had different opinions, and after everyone had expressed their views, Rendaen fell into deep thought.
The Dwarf lords were clearly divided into two factions:
The pro-war faction believed this was a golden opportunity. The enemy commander, Magni Bronzebeard, was surrounded. They should disregard any duel and simply send their army forward. If they could kill Magni on the battlefield, the Bronzebeard Dwarves would surely be defeated in one battle.
The peace faction, however, believed that there was no need to launch a full-scale war. Even if they won this battle, there would be little benefit to be gained. Their side was not prepared for the expedition to Ironforge —no one was confident that they could take that majestic city in the snowy mountains in a short time.
Moreover, the threats from both above and below Blackrock Depths have not yet been eliminated, so it is not advisable to linger with the Bronzebeard Dwarves for too long. We should agree to a duel and finish the battle quickly.
Magni offered very generous terms: a huge profit if they won, and even if they lost, their side wouldn't suffer any real losses; at most, Rendaen, who was going to duel, would lose face.
Judging from the number of Dwarf lords, the pro-war faction held an absolute advantage, while the peace faction also had its reasons. Rendaen frowned, finding it difficult to make a decision.
Unas was like an outsider, watching the Dwarf lords bicker endlessly. He was certainly a proponent of peace talks, but as a human, he had a natural distance from these Dark Iron lords and found it difficult to truly participate.
After a short while, Rendaen seemed to have grown tired of the endless debate. He waved his hand, dismissing most of the lower-ranking lords and leaving only a few above the Hill rank.
Unas was entitled to stay, but his foreign identity made him waver.
Moreover, in the eyes of these Dark Iron Dwarves, his close association with Magni and overly proactive persuasion might backfire.
Rendaen, however, spoke up first, asking, "Knight Unas, why didn't you offer your opinion?"
The opportunity had arrived. Unas first feigned modesty, then said, "Everyone's points are valid, but from the perspective of the greatest benefit, I suggest Your Majesty choose Challenge."
First, the odds of winning are very high. Magni has been chased by Saina Huohua for three days and three nights and is exhausted. I have observed him closely. Although he has not suffered fatal injuries, he is covered with wounds of all sizes, and his fighting ability must have been severely reduced.
Secondly, the terms can still be negotiated. Magni's bottom line is his daughter. As long as His Majesty agrees to release Moira, we can demand more benefits than just ceding territory and paying reparations.
Third, Your Majesty's main enemies now are not the Bronzebeard Clan, but the Dark Iron rebels, the Fire Elementals, and the Twilight Cultist. These are the forces that truly threaten you. Do not waste your strength on secondary enemies.
Rendaen stood up from his chair and paced back and forth; the Paladin's words had clearly swayed him.
"Hmph! Since you like dueling so much, why don't you represent the Dark Iron and duel that Bronzebeard brat!" A war-loving lord, seeing the atmosphere turning sour, immediately began to shout, his target the Paladin.
"No problem, I'm certainly willing to do it for Your Majesty," Unas retorted, "However, Your Majesty's personal involvement would better demonstrate the prestige of the Dark Iron Clan."
"What do you mean by this? Can't you demonstrate the majesty of the Dark Iron Army by going up there yourself?"
"I am, after all, a human being..."
"What's wrong with being human? Since you've accepted the title and territory bestowed upon you by His Majesty, you are a subject of the Dark Iron Kingdom! If you dare to refuse again, you are a traitor!"
When did I ever make excuses?
"Yes, when did Knight Unas make excuses?" Saina Huohua chimed in quietly.
"You..."
"Stop arguing!"
Rendaen stopped the argument in time, "I've made up my mind, I'll accept Magni's offer to duel."
"Your Majesty! Don't listen to this traitor!" The pro-war faction on the other side wailed in despair.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Unas and Saina Huohua exclaimed in unison.