Azshara's Purpose

Before long, Zalsha, a creature with the upper body of a beautiful woman and the lower body of a many-legged insect, led the Baron and the wandering mage through the corridors of the underwater palace into a grand hall. In the center stood an even higher platform, where a tall figure with three legs and four arms gazed narcissistically at the flowing water behind it.

"Your Majesty, the envoys have arrived." The beautiful insect-woman bowed low, not daring to meet the queen's gaze.

"You may leave." Azshara's voice remained as ethereal and mysterious as ever.

The insect-woman backed out of the hall with her head lowered. Only Azshara and the human representatives remained.

"Oh? A human nobleman, and a powerful mage." Azshara moved forward on her three tentacled legs as a current gently carried her down.

Howard swallowed hard. Whether it was fear or excitement, even he did not know. He bowed to Azshara with the most elegant posture a Stormwind City noble could manage. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Baron Howard of Stormwind City. This time, I represent King Varian and Lady Jaina of Theramore in taking up residence in Nazjatar. Please accept my sincere respects."

Azshara nodded, then turned her gaze toward the cloaked wandering mage behind him. "And that powerful mage?"

"She is an archmage sent by my family, responsible for protecting my safety on this journey." Howard did not actually know much about the mage who accompanied him, but he knew she was certainly a watcher sent by either the King or Jaina. Calling her a mage sent by his family meant that no matter what went wrong, it could not be traced back to him.

Azshara raised all four hands in a thoughtful pose, then circled the wandering mage twice on her three tentacled legs.