"I accidentally fell down; I just wanted to soak up some sun."
Unas was still trying to find a way to refute him when the king, who had remained silent on the bed, spoke up to defuse the situation. Perhaps he also felt ashamed of being so frightened as to jump off the building?
Scarface persisted, pointing to the broken wooden door, "Your Majesty, forgive my disrespect, but your door was forcibly broken open. How did this happen?"
"It was me," Unas answered first. "His Majesty was silent for a long time inside, and I was afraid something had happened. Sure enough..." He implied that he had saved the king from "accidentally" falling down the stairs.
"You have committed trespassing in the king's bedchamber; you cannot escape your punishment!"
Luisa, desperate to protect her husband, exclaimed, "I made him do it!"
The old marshal also said, "In urgent situations, expediency is necessary. Adhering to the law in everything is too rigid. I hope His Majesty will pardon Unas for his disrespect. He was the one who made the greatest contribution in the Black Dragon War and is also Princess Calia's husband."
Varian glanced at the Paladin with slight surprise. He could deal with an insignificant nobody at will, but the husband of the princess of Lordaeron was a completely different story.
He nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the bedsheets covering him, his expression like that of a puppet.
With the king himself in this state, the Scarface officer had no choice but to turn his attention to the marshal, "Windsor, I have always respected you and trusted you completely to ensure the fortress's safety. I never imagined you would become an accomplice to foreigners trespassing!"
The old marshal was momentarily speechless, but did not refute, bowing to the king and saying, "If Your Majesty no longer trusts me, I am willing to relinquish all my posts and accept any punishment!"
Varian paused for a moment, then said almost pleadingly, "No, I..." but couldn't finish the sentence, as if there was something he couldn't bring himself to say.
The old marshal firmly replied, "If Your Majesty is still willing to trust me, I will certainly not fail in this mission. Please grant my previous request."
Seeing Varian hesitate again, the Paladin gave Luisa a wink, and the princess immediately said, "Varian, I've been standing here for so long, don't you even have the courage to look at me?!"
"No, I..." The king's response was similar, his eyes darting around.
"I need your help, and my country and the people of Lordaeron need your help too. Please stop being so vague and evasive!" Luisa was practically berate the other party.
"Your Highness may be a princess of Lordaeron, but you cannot be so disrespectful to His Majesty!" the Scarface officer interjected.
"Quiet down," Oink, who had been remaining neutral and waiting quietly beside him, suddenly said, "We have distinguished guests."
After speaking, he lightly tapped the void with his staff, and a circular blue Portal appeared out of thin air, revealing three figures in succession.
Leading the group was a beautiful blonde female mage in her prime. Her slightly glamorous face made her radiant, and a sweet smile graced her lips, instantly winning people's favor.
Following closely behind was a blue-haired Night Elf. Her white robe accentuated her tall and elegant figure. She lacked the wildness typical of Night Elves, instead radiating a natural warmth and gentleness.
The last one was a majestic middle-aged man dressed in full armor, whose meticulously groomed hair and beard made him look very elegant.
"Jaina of Theramore, and," the female mage raised her hand to introduce herself, "Shiroma Moonwhisper, the Priestess of the Moon of Silithus, and Lord Darius Crowley of Gilneas, greet you all."
The Night Elf bowed and said, "We have come in haste; please forgive us, Your Majesty and all."
The middle-aged nobleman of Gilneas also bowed in apology.
It was indeed somewhat abrupt for the foreign guests to arrive directly in the king's bedroom through Portal. The three of them were traveling in Goblin airship over the Great Sea when Jaina suddenly received an urgent message from the Mage Academy that the king had fallen from a building, so she hurriedly cast a spell to appear.
Despite the presence of historical figures before him, Unas remained unmoved. Perhaps he had become numb from seeing so many, or even felt a bit irritated. The arrival of these individuals had disrupted his plans.
He already knew the female mage and the Night Elf would come, but the appearance of the lord from Gilneas was somewhat unexpected.
Jaina proved to be a master of diplomacy, not only managing to communicate with the closed-off Gilneas, but also receiving magical information from the Stormwind Mage Academy in a timely manner.
Unas glanced at the bearded Oink, but the man remained expressionless, as if he hadn't done anything.
Unas sneered inwardly. Jaina was a powerful spellcaster and a disciple of Archmage Antonidas, with countless connections in the mage world. Stormwind Mage Academy was naturally more willing to be close to her, and when something happened, they sent her a magical message immediately.
After exchanging pleasantries and briefly inquiring about the situation, the female mage immediately sat down by the bedside, intending to check Varian's injuries. Proficient in water and ice magic, she also had some knowledge of healing spells.
Such an overly intimate gesture would be nothing unusual between two old friends, but the king waved his hand dismissively, preventing the female sorceress from touching his leg.
Jaina stood up in shock. Little did she know that Varian was not disgusted by her, but by his own disheveled state—he felt utterly humiliated under the gaze of these familiar and unfamiliar figures, and now only wished that everyone in the room would disappear quickly, instead of being surrounded by him like a circus act.
"It seems His Majesty needs rest. Let's all leave," Jaina commanded, like a mistress of the house.
"No, I won't go out!" Luisa suddenly shouted, her tone somewhat unreasonable.
Unas was startled. Since entering the palace, the frail Luisa had expressed a lot of angry words with his encouragement, but it was clear that she was still somewhat apprehensive. But now she was acting on her own initiative, and this was genuine anger.
"Your Calia, it's so good to see you safe and sound!" Jaina seemed to only then notice the princess of Lordaeron, her eyes shining with genuine joy, and she raised her foot to embrace her.
Luisa pursed her lips and turned her head away, not responding to Jaina's enthusiasm. The female mage gave an awkward smile and stopped in her tracks.
She probably knew perfectly well why she was being treated so coldly: when faced with the crisis in Stratholme, she followed Uther's decision and abandoned Prince Arthas.
But that was only because of a difference in the concept of justice. Although she felt remorse, Jaina did not think she had done anything wrong—no matter what, the prince should not have slaughtered civilians.
As Arthas's two closest women, one was a flower raised in the deep palace, and the other was a spellcaster who had gone out to study and train since childhood. Their personalities and experiences were completely different.
Furthermore, Arthas's fall from grace made Luisa, who already disliked her brother's fiancée, even more disgusted with her.
The atmosphere turned tense for a moment. Jaina said gently, "Whatever it is, we shouldn't disturb Varian's rest at this time..."
"We've waited too long, we need an answer today!" Not wanting to lose in terms of momentum to this annoying woman, Luisa displayed the authority of a superior for the first time, her tone extremely firm.
Lord Crowley of Gilneas couldn't stand it any longer. He had come at the mage's invitation, so naturally he sided with her. "Your Calia, what answer do you require?!"
"Your Varian, please grant me your assistance in restoring my kingdom!"
Calia's father had helped Varian restore his kingdom, so this request wasn't unreasonable.
The King of Stormwind City lowered his head and murmured, "This... this..." He simply didn't have the courage to agree.
Jaina glanced at Varian with a puzzled look, then turned to Calia and said, "The reason I've gathered representatives from various countries here is to rebuild the Alliance. The matter of reclaiming Lordaeron's territory can certainly be on the agenda, but it must be discussed carefully."
Calia sensed the stalling tactic in the other's words and grew even angrier, shouting, "Jaina! What right do you have to decide to 'take it slow'? Are you the leader of the Alliance? Or the Queen of Lordaeron?!"
Jaina calmly replied, "Your Highness, please do not be agitated. The Scourge and the Forsaken have been entrenched in the north for a long time and their power is immense. It is impossible to eliminate them in a short period of time. The most urgent task is to prevent the catastrophe that will destroy the world."
She nodded to the Night Elf beside her, and the elegant white-robed priestess cleared her throat, saying, "I have come on behalf of the night elves to warn you all—the seal on Ahn'Qiraj is beginning to weaken!"
Half of the people in the room looked puzzled, having no idea what Ahn'Qiraj was. After all, the War of the Shifting Sands was an event from a thousand years ago, and apart from the most learned, no one had the leisure to learn about it.
The War of the Shifting Sands was a major battle between the Zerg in Silithus and the Night Elves and Dragonflight. Ultimately, it was the three dragons who risked their lives to rush into Ahn'Qiraj to buy time and finally seal the Zerg's lair.
Shiroma was a participant in this battle and one of the creators of the seal. No one knew the inside story better than her. With a brief explanation, she made the puzzled group understand the whole story.
"Our investigations have revealed Silithid Hive in Silithus, Un'Goro Crater, Tanaris, and Feralas. Traces of the Silithid have also been found in the Shimmering Flats, Thousand Needles, and even the Barrens. The entire southern part of Kalimdor is being invaded by the Zerg. We cannot stand idly by and allow them to multiply, or a swarm of Zerg will engulf the entire world!"
"The Barrens?" The Night Elf's words were alarmist, but the old marshal's attention was elsewhere. "That's Orcs territory, isn't it?"
"Yes, so we have also been in contact with the Horde and have issued warnings to them."
When the Orcs migrated westward, they carved out a large territory in the red sands of Kalimdor. In order to build their own cities, the Orcs launched a massive invasion of Ashenvale, slaughtering and driving out the Night Elf inhabitants and plundering various resources. This led to several wars between the two sides, forging a deep-seated hatred. This is also the main reason Night Elves joined the Alliance.
Later, due to the arrival of Archimonde the Defiler, the two sides had to unite to face this powerful otherworldly demon. However, after the victory at Battle of Mount Hyjal, friction between the two sides continued—the arrival of the Orcs Horde squeezed out the Night Elves ' living space, which was an irreconcilable conflict.
The fact that Shiroma was able to set aside the conflict between the two sides to contact the Orcs shows that the Zerg are indeed a powerful enemy comparable to the Defiler.
The old marshal pondered for a moment, then asked, "What do you plan to do?"
"We don't need to worry about the swarms that have slipped out of the seal; we should be able to eliminate them. The key lies in Ahn'Qiraj. If we allow the Zerg within to multiply and reach a point where their numbers become overwhelming, it will be too late. Therefore," Shiroma emphasized, "We must proactively open the seal, Ahn'Qiraj, destroy the Mother Nest, and eliminate this threat forever!"
"But," the old marshal frowned, "Even with the help of the Dragonflight a thousand years ago, you couldn't do this; you could only place a seal on Ahn'Qiraj. Why are you so confident you can do it now?"
"A thousand years ago, the Dragonflight didn't mobilize in large numbers; only a handful of dragons lent their assistance. Our Night Elf race wasn't very large, and facing a swarm of insects hundreds or thousands of times larger, it was difficult for us to gain the upper hand. Now, however, the situation is very different. If the Alliance and the various races of the Horde can form a massive coalition army, and with the help of the dragons, completely eliminating the threat of Ahn'Qiraj is not just a dream."
"This... the matter of peace talks with the Horde still needs His Majesty's decision." The old marshal passed the buck.
Varian kept his head down, as if he hadn't heard.
"Wait, if I may ask," Unas couldn't help but interject, "Can insects fly across the Great Sea?"
"Who are you?" Jaina's expression turned hostile, because the Paladin's meaning was clear: if the insects couldn't cross the vast ocean, they couldn't threaten the Eastern Kingdoms, and Stormwind City had nothing to fear.
"He is my husband, the dragon-slaying hero of Stormwind City!" Calia answered first, praising her husband's achievements.
"So it is His Highness the Prince of Lordaeron. I still do not know his name?"
Unas had not been officially recognized, but since Jaina was calling him that, she didn't deny it and replied, "Unas-Lawugade."
Jaina nodded, frantically searching her memory for the surname, but to no avail. She asked doubtfully, "Prince Unas, are you aware of the first article of the Covenant?"
Unas genuinely didn't know, so the old marshal answered for him, "An alliance of offense and defense."
"That's right. Alliance members must help each other. If one side is in trouble, all sides have an obligation to support it and stand together through thick and thin."
Shiroma added, "While ordinary insectoids may find it difficult to fly across the sea, their leaders, the Qiraji, possess extremely high intelligence. They can learn how we cross the sea." The implication was that the Eastern Kingdoms were not safe under the insect plague either.
The Scarface officer, who hadn't spoken for a while and wasn't really in a position to, couldn't help but say, "The Horde's territory is in central Kalimdor. All you need to do is withdraw from the south and let the Horde's beasts fight the insects to the death!"
Jaina retorted, "The Zerg are a threat to the entire world. At this moment, we must forget the distinction between the Alliance and the Horde, and unite as one!"
The Scarface officer retorted loudly and disrespectfully, "You can forget! I can't forget how the Orcs slaughtered our people and destroyed our homes!"
"Get out!"
The Scarface officer remained unmoved. "You're just a foreign princess; you have no right to command me!"
Jaina let out a long breath, calming herself down. Arguing with this nameless junior officer would be beneath her dignity, so she ignored him and turned to the king on the bed, saying, "Your Majesty Varian, aren't you the one who despises those who abandon their allies? I still remember your boundless anger when Gilneas withdrew from the Alliance during the crisis."
Lord Crowley, standing nearby, showed a hint of embarrassment, but it was precisely because he disagreed with King Gilneas's decision to withdraw from the Alliance that he had accepted Jaina's invitation without her consent, and what the mage said suited his wishes.
Jaina's voice grew increasingly sincere, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for summoning the heads of state without your permission. War with the Zerg is inevitable. We will negotiate with the Horde after we have reached an agreement on this matter. Warchief Thrall has already agreed. If you agree, I will personally escort you to Theramore to meet with Thrall. I guarantee with my life that your journey will be smooth!"
The female mage's attempt to broker another meeting between the two leaders was Varian's biggest worry. Finally, unable to bear the long-winded chatter around him, he clutched his head and screamed hysterically, "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! You got me kidnapped by the Naga! I won't listen to you! I won't go! I won't go!"
Jaina's eyes widened; she never dreamed her old friend would react this way. Where had the strong and valiant Storm King gone?
She quickly bowed deeply, "Please forgive my mistake last time, I will definitely..."
"Get out, all of you!" His Majesty the King almost screamed.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, but no one moved; Varian's outburst was far too unusual.
"I don't care about any bugs, Varian. You must promise to help me restore my kingdom, or I won't leave today!" Calia was no longer afraid of Varian; his behavior had completely eroded her authority.
Jaina retorted sharply, "I also support the restoration of Lordaeron, but not now. The immediate priority is to rebuild the Alliance, make peace with the Horde, and then together destroy the Zerg!"
The Scarface officer interjected, "The bandit army in Westfall, the Undead threat in Duskwood, the Blackrock Orcs in the Redridge Mountains — Stormwind City is surrounded by enemies on three sides. Large swathes of our territory are at war. Where would we find the strength to launch a sea expedition?"
Shiroma replied, "Of course not now. The seal of Ahn'Qiraj cannot be opened so easily. We are searching for the key to the seal, and there is ample time for preparation beforehand. Once the allied forces are established, we can even help you clear out the surrounding area first."
Calia retorted, "Since there's plenty of time, why can't we help Lordaeron restore its kingdom first?"
"Compared to the enemies surrounding Stormwind City, the Undead are far too powerful; how can they be compared?"
Unas defended his wife, saying, "It's always the same excuse. The Undead's strength shouldn't be a reason for you to refuse to contribute. The Scourge also has the ability to destroy the world, so why should the Zerg be given priority?"
"I'm afraid it's because Lady Jaina's Theramore is in south-central Kalimdor, directly facing the threat of the Zerg, that's why she's so impatient!" Calia and her husband chimed in.
"You!" Jaina seemed genuinely angry. "If the Zerg aren't contained first, they will be a far more terrifying enemy than the Undead. Everyone can tell which is more important!"
"Who are you all?" Calia her hand. The only ones in the room who firmly supported Jaina were the Night Elf Priestess. Even Lord Crowley was somewhat dismissive of the Zerg.
"Your Calia, now is not the time for you to settle old scores with me. Your resistance to me is doing you no good..."
"Settling old scores?!" Calia was completely enraged. "Then I'll settle accounts with you. Give me back all the Lordaeron citizens you have in Theramore!"
"Ridiculous! They voluntarily followed me across the sea to escape disaster, and now they are citizens of Theramore. Does Your Highness think they are objects to be borrowed and returned?!"
The inhabitants of Theramore actually come from various countries, mainly refugees from Lordaeron, Alterac, and Stromgarde, with Lordaeron people making up the vast majority.
Calia cursed, "You opportunistic robbers!"
Jaina was furious. She believed she had a clear conscience. She had painstakingly led wave after wave of refugees across the sea, expending countless efforts to build Theramore, a refuge for refugees, on the barren shores of Dustwallow Marsh. She had even sacrificed her own father's life to ensure the city's survival against the Horde's fangs.
She did all this not for money, power, or status, but simply to save more people! What a great and noble person she was!
Now she was being called a robber who abducted people; she was so angry that her lips trembled, and she couldn't utter a single word.
The old marshal frowned, also feeling that Princess Calia had gone a bit too far. He waved his hand and said, "Your arguing won't do any good until tomorrow. The final decision must be made by His Majesty the King himself!"
Everyone fell silent, and the pressure returned to King Stormwind—how to help Lordaeron be restored, how to deal with the Zerg, and whether to make peace with the Horde —these crucial questions all needed to be resolved.
Varian's mind was a mess. The graveyard-like silence of the room and the stares of everyone weighed on his back like a mountain. Cold sweat poured down his body and forehead. He finally broke down, burying his face in the covers. His voice, choked with sobs, came through the blankets, muffled and desolate:
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
When a ruler of a country displays such an ugly side, his authority is practically finished.
"Alas," the old marshal sighed painfully, "All of you, get out."
Having driven Varian to this state, Calia felt a pang of pity and stopped arguing. Unas led her out of the king's bedroom, followed by the others, leaving only the old marshal behind.
After a long while, the old marshal finally came out carrying two items. Unas was overjoyed when he saw the item in the old marshal's left hand. It was a gem Seal with a lion carving on it, which was the official seal of the Storm Royal Family.
The old marshal still had a roll of paper in his right hand. He cleared his throat, unrolled the paper, and read, "... Reginald Windsor is hereby appointed as Regent, and the prime minister shall handle all government affairs... Varian Wrynn."
The letter ended with the king's autograph, which the old marshal showed to everyone, and no one objected—dealing with the old marshal was much easier than dealing with the king who only knew how to hide under the covers.
Before the Paladin could even offer his congratulations, the old marshal poured cold water on him, raising the Seal in his hand and saying, "His Majesty has decreed that this Seal, representing the king's authority, be jointly held by the two princesses."
The crowd was in uproar. It was truly rare for a country to entrust its Seal to a foreigner, but any intelligent person would immediately understand that this was because they didn't trust the old marshal to hold all the power.
Varian has no one he can entrust with his life now, so he can only give the Seal to the two princesses who are at odds with each other, in order to create a check on the old marshal.
Jaina and Calia are at odds and it would be difficult for them to unite. It would also be almost impossible for a foreign princess to usurp power in her own country, which is another layer of protection.
Varian, as expected of an heir to a royal family, possesses the mindset of an emperor deeply ingrained in him. Even when his emotions are overwhelmed, he instinctively tries to maintain balance.
"Who... should I entrust this Seal to?" Unas asked a difficult question, knowing that the two women would not back down and the argument would go on and on.
"I'll do it." The Priest took on this heavy responsibility. The Church of the Holy Light's position was indeed the most neutral, and the two women had nothing more to say.
"His Majesty has further instructions," the old marshal solemnly handed the Seal to the Priest, then said, "Once the allied forces are established, the first objective must be to find Anduin; all other matters must come later."
Unas's eyes darted around, and he said, "My latest news is that the Little Prince has gone missing in the Burning Steppes, and has most likely been kidnapped by the Blackrock Orcs."
The old marshal, the former commander-in-chief of the Redridge Mountains Border Guards, harbored a deep hatred for the Old Horde and black Black Dragons of the Burning Steppes. He certainly wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. "If the news is true, we'll raze Blackrock Spire to the ground if we have to, but we must find His Highness!"