Spy Master
King Wrynn Varian Wrynn sat on his throne at Stormwind Keep, adjusting his collar for the third time. Countess Katanara Prysto stood beside him, watching King every move.
He seemed a little nervous.
Katnara raised the corners of her mouth. "Your King, you look very anxious."
"No, Katnarara, I just have some...thoughts." Varian sighed as he waited for Regent Bolvar Fordragon to bring the envoy from Lordaeron.
The King stared intently at the throne room doors, and in that moment, he suddenly understood the feelings Terenas had had when he received him years ago. Everything had happened so suddenly; his friend Arthas had gone from Guardian of Lordaeron to Destroyer, and King Terenas, who was like a father to Varian, had passed away. When the news arrived, Stormwind City was celebrating the Harvest Festival, but the wheat delivered to the treasury was quickly depleted by the influx of refugees.
Varian summoned many Lordaeron refugees who were still relatively mentally sound, inquiring about the situation in the north, but what he heard was utterly fantastical. The dead were resurrected, demons, and all sorts of repulsive monsters. By the Holy Light, what had Lordaeron become?
"What should I say?" Varian asked, needing Katnara's help now, and trusting the Countess's advice to put him at ease, at least so he wouldn't be so heartbroken as to weep over meeting the Lordaeron envoy.
"Ask Lordaeron what they want, then consider whether or not to offer assistance. It's that simple, Your Majesty. The initiative is in your hands."
"That makes sense."
He quickly regained his composure, straightened up, and made one last adjustment to his clothes. A moment later, Bolvar returned, followed by a much shorter young man. If it weren't for the difference in the way their arms swung as they walked, Varian might not have even noticed that someone was following the Regent of Stormwind City.
"Your King, the envoy has arrived!" Bolvar said with a bow. After receiving a signal from Varian, he stood to Varian's left, with Katnara on his right.
The Regent whispered a few words in Varian's ear, explaining the envoy's purpose. Having learned everything, Varian sized up the envoy brought before him. Bolvar had told him the envoy had come to request reinforcements, hoping Stormwind City could aid Lordaeron, which was in dire straits. Strangely, the envoy's clothes were remarkably clean, showing no signs of travel fatigue. This made one wonder if the situation in Lordaeron was actually not as bad as rumored.
"What's your name?" Katnara asked when Varian didn't answer.
"My name is Gray Maines, and I bring you the latest news from the Kingdom of Lordaeron."
After Gray finished speaking with King Varian, Bolvar settled him in an inn. The Regent himself went to the Old Town, not far from Stormwind Keep. The Old Town of Stormwind City was one of the best-preserved parts of the kingdom after the Second War, and it best bears witness to the Stormwind Kingdom's former glory. The houses here are predominantly red, and the streets are lined with shops selling weapons and armor, and there are even poison dealers.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Lord Regent. What brings you here?"
Bolvar was not angered by the other person's rude language, because the person speaking to him was of humble status but also had something special about him.
"I have brought His King the King's latest orders, Obers. Where is Shaw? Take me to him."
"Plz follow me."
They arrived together at SI:7's command post. Bolvar saw a symbol at the entrance: a short sword, the emblem of SI:7.
Mathias Shaw, the master spy and head of Stormwind City's intelligence agency, SI:7, was reviewing past intelligence files. When Bolvar arrived, he could clearly see the Regent's serious expression.
Bolvar held little affection for Shaw; in the Paladin's view, SI:7 assassinations were dishonorable. However, the spymaster's grandmother, Pasonia, had served several King of Stormwind and was now loyal to Varian. The young King possessed enough wisdom to understand and value the role SI:7 spies played for the kingdom. Bolvar knew he would never know how many SI:7 members had sacrificed their lives in the shadows. Unlike Warrior, these shadowy figures lived and died silently, their deeds rarely known.
"What brings you here, Duke Bolvar?" Shaw addressed Bolvar with a different title. The position of regent was almost equal to that of the King, but the master spies only answered to the latter. If Bolvar brought orders that were his own and not from the King, Shaw would immediately throw him out.
"This is the latest task His Majesty the King has given you." Bolvar held out his hand and handed Shaw a parchment scroll.
The other person took it and peeled off the seal. Shaw glanced at it up and down, then threw it into the brazier. His brow furrowed.
"Nathanos Marius. He was involved in the construction of the Ironforge subway tunnel many years ago when Stormwind City was newly built. I met him once, and he was a very nice person."
Bolvar nodded. "Lothar and Uther have mentioned him to me before, but now he's probably our enemy."
"Where did you get the information?" Shaw asked.
"Information came from Gray Maines, an envoy from Lordaeron, who claimed to have seen Nathanos in Dalaran as an Undead." Bolvar suddenly paused. He seemed to anticipate what Shaw was about to ask. "His Majesty the King did not issue a direct order to eliminate him, because he, like you, is skeptical of this information, and therefore hopes that SI:7 can provide him with an answer," the Regent continued.
"Send someone to the north?" Shaw, somewhat surprised. He maintained his calm tone.
"Yes," Bolvar confirmed.
"I will complete the mission. In fact, Nathanos' cousin Stephan Marius has also arrived in Stormwind City. Should we keep an eye on him?"
Bolvar pressed his lips together tightly, and after a moment said, "It's best not to do this before confirming Nathanos's situation, but for safety's sake, we must be careful. Do as you say, but we must not let Stephan find out, and of course, we must not harm him."