What Goes Around Comes Around

There wasn't a cloud in the sky. The white sun hung overhead, its light especially glaring. Perhaps loneliness had made it angry, and it poured all its fury down upon the earth. The grass drooped beneath the blazing heat, and the little animals had no desire to venture out and play in such weather. As far as the eye could see, the whole land looked utterly lifeless.

An army appeared on the edge of the land, its soldiers advancing slowly in neat, straight ranks. It was a defeated army. Yes, the queen's forces had lost. They trudged along with their heads bowed and their faces blank. Without their battered armor, you might not have even recognized them as soldiers. Azshara had finally paid the price for her arrogance. The Amani Trolls had breached Suramar, the city of magic. Its defenders had fought desperately, battling in a river of blood, but the odds had been too great, and they had ultimately been forced to retreat. The city had fallen. The trolls killed and ate people, looted whatever they could find, and burned down houses. The beautiful city of magic, Suramar, was finished. As the trolls, laden with plunder, happily prepared to head home, another group of Kaldorei dealt them a crushing blow. The Warrior Legion of Eldre'Thalas ambushed them on the road they had to take home, in a battle that would go down in history. After fierce fighting, the trolls left the ground strewn with corpses and supplies, then fled back to their homeland with what remained of their forces. The Amani Trolls had been badly weakened by the battle. They had no choice but to retreat deep into the forest, lick their wounds, and wait for a chance to rise again.

Let's turn back time to three days earlier, to Zin-Azshari's Kingdom Council Hall.

"What! The Amani have attacked Suramar City?" Lord Xavius, the minister left in charge, had received the scout's report, and his face changed dramatically.

"Notify Her Majesty at once!"

The Zandalari front. The queen's tent.

"Do I only get to see you when something serious happens?" Azshara looked at the man before her and asked casually, utterly unconcerned that they were at the front lines of a war.

Perhaps by coincidence, just as Azar was wondering how to respond, a mage rushed in, shouting, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Amani army has attacked Suramar!"

"What! When did this happen?" Azshara sprang to her feet.

"Lord Xavius just sent word!"

"Azar..." A trace of panic entered Azshara's eyes. She was a woman, after all, and unexpected crises could still catch her off guard—especially in the unfamiliar realm of warfare. Now she could only turn to her husband, who had seen countless battles.

"Contact Xavius immediately. Cast the spell right here!" Azar knew there was no time for courtesy. He immediately shifted into battle-command mode.

The mage began casting at once. Before long, Xavius's face appeared before them.

"Xavius, what's the situation in Suramar? How many troops have the Amani brought? Can the defenders hold?"

"It's not looking good. Communications have been down for some time. I estimate they're close to being overwhelmed."

"Doesn't Suramar have two Mage Legions stationed there? And an elite Warrior Legion?"

"...The Amani must have committed all their forces. The defenders are under tremendous pressure."

At that, Azar guessed what had happened. Azshara had been trying to save face, and had stripped Suramar of its defenders.

"You... What am I supposed to do with you? Do you have to compete with me in everything? Look at what's happened! That city holds the magical heart of the entire Sin'dorei!"

"..."

"I told you ages ago to watch out for the Zandalari. They were bound to have another move up their sleeve. You just wouldn't listen!"

"..."

Everyone knew that when a woman played the victim, a man usually had no answer. Azar watched her in silence. After venting his anger, he didn't know what to say either.

"Falco! Dath'Remar! Assemble the troops! Everyone, stand by!"

The entire Kaldorei camp sprang into action. Junior officers began gathering their troops, while the senior commanders assembled in the queen's tent to await Azar's orders.

"This was definitely coordinated. Otherwise, the timing wouldn't be so perfect. While we're facing off against two armies here, they're attacking one of our most important cities over there," Daphne said first.

"Generals, the enemy has played their hand. Now it's our turn. Speak freely," Azar said solemnly.

"We've reached our most dangerous hour. Generals, let's send those damned trolls to hell!" Azshara also wanted to make her presence felt, though her words sounded more like an outlet for her anger.

"We may not have enough time," Dath'Remar said anxiously.

"The key question is whether Suramar's defenders can hold out," one general said.

"I doubt they can. The Amani came prepared this time. They won't give up so easily," Falco said.

"To hell with the Amani! They dared to launch a sneak attack on me? I'll make sure not one of them gets home!" The moment Azar stepped onto the battlefield, his demeanor changed completely. Pointing at the map, he glared with wide, furious eyes.

"See this valley? It's the only way back for them! I'll bury every last one of them there!"

"Prince, I must remind you that we don't have time!" Dath'Remar clearly didn't agree with the plan.

"How are we supposed to get there? Fly? We have no reports at all. How many Amani are there? How many should we send? We know nothing!"

"Right! We'll fly there!" Azar said decisively.

"Saruman, set up a teleportation array! I want to send the entire army over in one go!" Azar waved his arm excitedly.

"But, Prince, for an array that large, we'll need to set one up on the other side as well. Otherwise, teleporting the army will be extremely risky."

"I know! Here's what we'll do: send a team of high-ranking mages and a squad of Sentinels over first. They'll each handle their own tasks—the mages will set up the array, and the Sentinels will scout the terrain and keep an eye on the trolls."

"Understood. I'll make the preparations right away. Who will lead the Sentinels?"

"Maiev!"

"Here!"

"You'll lead the Sentinels. Make sure the mages stay safe. Go pick your people."

"Daphne! All the forces of Eldre'Thalas are under your command. Once you get there, you can make decisions on your own without waiting for approval. I have just one demand: beat the Amani so badly they won't dare leave Zul'Aman for a thousand years!" Azar glared at Daphne, his eyes wide and fierce.

"As you wish, Prince!" Daphne answered, her gaze steady and her voice resolute.

"Dath'Remar!"

"Yes, Prince."

"Assemble the entire army and begin the general offensive! They thought they could take advantage of me? Not one of them is getting away!"

They said a man was most attractive when he was serious. Throughout the whole affair, Azshara had spoken only once. For the rest of the time, she watched Azar as he laid out the battle plans. She was deeply captivated by the way he looked in that moment. This was her man. When it mattered most, he hadn't abandoned her; he had taken on all the responsibility without hesitation. Azshara had never seen Azar command a battle, but that didn't stop her from imagining it. Women were romantics who admired heroes, after all, and queens were no exception. As it happened, the battlefield was a man's finest stage.