VanCleef wanted to bombard Stormwind City with the Dreadnought. Although that was an impossible dream, it at least showed that he believed the Dreadnought could break through Stormwind City's naval blockade.
So, after some simple logical deduction, Shawn could be certain of one thing: Stormwind City's ships weren't particularly powerful in battle...
Yes, they weren't particularly powerful. Stormwind City wasn't a major naval power to begin with, but a major trading power. Most of its ships were merchant vessels.
Under Mathias Shaw's arrangements, Shawn, Rick, and Vanessa boarded a merchant ship. To avoid drawing attention, it was a genuine merchant vessel whose captain intended to trade in Theramore. The three of them were merely small-time merchants hitching a ride.
Two other people joined the three of them aboard the ship.
One was Prince Anduin Wrynn, who was only nine years old.
Yes, Grand Duke Bolvar Fordragon of Stormwind had secretly put Prince Anduin Wrynn aboard the merchant ship. Since Stormwind City was already under the Black Dragon Princess's control, Prince Anduin was no longer safe there. Besides, having the prince with them would improve their chances of winning Lady Jaina's trust.
What remained in Stormwind City was merely a mirror image left by a high-ranking court mage. As long as the Black Dragon Princess didn't approach Anduin herself, the deception would go undetected.
Besides Prince Anduin, there was also an Index-level high-ranking assassin. His mission was to deliver the prince safely to Theramore and remain with him until he met Lady Jaina. Of course, he might have had another mission as well: keeping watch over Shawn and his companions.
Well, he was just a bit player. We didn't need to bother with him, and he had no role to play in this book.
Getting from Stormwind City to Theramore meant