Infiltrating Kul Tiras [Please Recommend]

Later that day, in Sage's Keep in Stormsong Valley, in northern Kul Tiras.

"Feeling any better lately, Aaron?" asked Waycrest Stormsong, the gray-haired head of House Stormsong and another of Kul Tiras's admirals. He watched his eldest son with fatherly affection as he quietly inquired about his health.

"I'm fine now, Father. Maybe studying magic wore me out a little and made me hallucinate. There's no need to worry. Here's a letter from Admiral Daelin. Please take a look."

Aaron Stormsong, the future Lord Stormsong, was still a promising young man. The most gifted Tidesage in a century, he had become a mid-ranking Tidesage in his twenties. If all went well, advancing to the highest rank before he turned thirty would be no difficult feat.

Because of his steady nature and exceptional talent, Aaron had already been named heir by Waycrest, whose years were catching up with him.

Even so, Aaron remained as kind and humble as ever, never overstepping his bounds. Waycrest was very pleased with how his eldest son conducted himself. He gave his son an approving glance, took the letter from him, and began to read in a quiet voice.

The letter wasn't long, and Waycrest finished it in no time. The admiral sighed, folded it, and put it away in a drawer before turning to Aaron, who was standing nearby.

"Daelin's had a hard time of it these past few years... and now there's trouble again. So be it. These old bones of mine can still help him for a few more years. But Aaron, House Stormsong and the Tidesages will depend on you from now on. You'll have to work hard."

As the only heroic-tier Tidesage alive, Waycrest Stormsong had always been Daelin Proudmoore's right-hand man. But he was already over fifty, and so had devoted himself to grooming a successor, hoping to raise another hero for Kul Tiras before he passed away.

"Don't worry. I will." Aaron heard the expectations in his father's words and quickly agreed. After thinking it over, he cautiously added, "Father, Brannon's about to turn one. Do you think you could hold a blessing ceremony for him...?"

At that, the old man's face darkened at once.

"Your brother's a disappointment, and his son's a coward. Just seeing those two makes me angry..." Though Admiral Waycrest was a Tidesage, after a lifetime of military service, he couldn't stand spoiled young nobles. Perhaps the mild climate of Stormsong Valley had made life too comfortable, but even their family of soldiers had produced a useless dandy who couldn't hold a gun. It infuriated him.

"Please don't be angry, Father. He's still family, after all. You..." Aaron hurried to soothe him.

"We'll discuss it another time! Find me the fastest ship you can. I'm leaving for Boralus right now." Admiral Waycrest didn't want to talk about it anymore and cut his son off.

"It's already late. Wouldn't it be better to leave tomorrow morning?"

"So what if it's late? I'll sleep on the ship. You were born aboard a ship, so why are you afraid of the water now?" The old man shot his son a sideways glance. His decision was final.

"No, I'm not. I'll arrange it right away."

Aaron didn't yet have the authority he would one day wield as Lord Stormsong. He could only agree and hurry outside to find his father a ship.

At the same time, in the great hall of Waycrest Manor in Drustvar, southwest of there, Lord Waycrest's family was enjoying the sumptuous dinner their lady of the house had prepared.

Lord Arthur Waycrest had once made his living as a merchant at sea. But because of his status, he had eventually taken over as head of House Waycrest. After settling down, he had traded commerce for politics and become Daelin's most valuable partner in governing Kul Tiras. He and Admiral Waycrest, one handling domestic affairs and the other foreign, were Daelin Proudmoore's two trusted right-hand men.

Arthur now had a beautiful wife and a lovely young daughter, and his life was a happy one. The only flaw was that years spent away from home in his youth had left him in poor health. But that did nothing to lessen his wife and daughter's love for him.

"Arthur, don't read those documents at the table. You'll teach Lucille this bad habit." Arthur's wife, Meredith Waycrest, playfully tapped his arm. She glanced at their daughter, who was giggling nearby, and chided him for thinking about work during dinner.

"Daelin sent a letter. He says Jaina was kidnapped by someone who showed up along the way. He wants me to meet him in Boralus tomorrow. Looks like there's something important to discuss."

"Jaina was kidnapped by a bad guy? Dad, take me with you! I'll help you beat up the bad guys!" The six- or seven-year-old Lucille Waycrest perked up as soon as she heard that someone had hurt her beloved Jaina. She rolled up her sleeves as if she were really about to go catch the "bad guys."

"Don't be a nuisance. When you're done eating, go practice your lessons. Have you learned the tune I taught you last time?" Meredith was strict about her daughter's education, but always gentle with her husband. She gave him a mildly reproachful look.

"You haven't been feeling well lately. Can't you stay home...? There are plenty of admirals and captains in Boralus. Surely they don't need you, the man in charge of logistics, to make an appearance?"

"No... Jaina might just be a pretext... Never mind. You girls, young and old, stay home and behave. I'll bring back some big fish for you in a couple of days."

Arthur patted the sulking Lucille's head, comforting his daughter, who was brooding over her parents openly "showing off their affection."

"I don't want any fish. The harbor's right next to the manor, and they catch more fish every day than I can count. I want Jaina..." Lucille pouted and muttered unhappily.

"When are you leaving?" Meredith asked softly.

"I'm leaving now. I've already had a ship prepared. Don't worry, I'll be back soon..." Knowing his wife would worry, Arthur quickly promised her.

Her husband had made up his mind, so Meredith didn't say anything more. But as she watched him leave, a trace of worry hid in her gentle gaze.

The heads of the three great houses had all received Daelin's secret message, some earlier than others. Their reactions revealed the different degrees of closeness among Kul Tiras's four great houses.

Tomorrow, the powerful figures of Kul Tiras would gather at Proudmoore Keep. The whole nation would be thrown into turmoil, and a storm would be on the verge of breaking!

And at this sensitive moment, Liam was leisurely warming himself by a fire on a beach in southeastern Kul Tiras. One couldn't help but admire his thick skin...