Alliance Affairs
Sylvanas remembered this was probably her second time visiting Stormwind Keep. Since the Silver Covenant announced their presence in Dalaran, she had rarely been involved in the Alliance's internal affairs. Some information came from Jaina, and others from rumors. The Female Elf had never imagined she would one day personally provide intelligence to the Alliance —she usually told Jaina everything she knew, who would then relay it to Lady Theramore. But this time was an exception, because Jaina believed her message was far too important to be conveyed to Varian personally.
The atmosphere was rather oppressive. The meeting room on the side of the throne room at Stormwind Keep was used for holding war council meetings. Varian's decision to place them there led Sylvanas to guess that the King intended for them to keep things brief and to the point, like a military intelligence report.
"Maybe I really shouldn't be here."
"You've come again." Jaina took a sip of tea and poured a cup for Sylvanas as well. "This is the third time you've said the same thing."
The Female Elf gave the mage a reproachful look, but before she could speak, the mage added, "You can't stay on the fringes of the Alliance forever, Sylvanas. You are also one of the Alliance's leaders, representing the Alliance's position in Dalaran."
"I want to maintain the status quo," the Ranger-General thought to Jaina, but it sounded rather irresponsible. She took a deep breath and said bitterly, "I'm not joking, Jaina. But Varian and I always end up arguing whenever we meet. Perhaps I really should stay in Theramore and help you train your troops; I remember the promise I made when I joined your side."
Jaina smiled, but without any hint of sarcasm towards Sylvanas. "Don't worry. Since you left, the troops in Theramore have been training continuously, and their weapons and equipment are all crafted by skilled artisans from Ironforge." She took a bite of the cake and pastry on the small plate in front of her, finding it quite delicious, and asked in a light and cheerful voice, "Would you like to try some Darnassus pastries, ma'am?"
"I need water now, so I can be prepared when I face Varian later," Sylvanas waved away the mage's offer. Even by human standards, Jaina looked exceptionally young and beautiful. Her long, golden hair always cascaded over her shoulders, making her look nothing like a woman nearing thirty. She always wore a smile, and her blue eyes possessed a shrewdness and wisdom that rivaled anyone else's.
"Varian isn't the kind of difficult person you think he is."
"If he can get along well with his son, then I might agree with what you said."
Sylvanas's answer surprised Jaina. Very few knew about King Varian's family affairs. He had an indescribable conflict with his son Anduin King Wrynn. In short, Anduin inherited the gentleness and kindness of his deceased mother, Queen Tiffin, but bore no resemblance to his father.
Varian is decisive, impulsive, and acts with lightning speed. This is, of course, related to his unique past. Even after all these years, Onyxia, the Black Dragon Princess, remains a thorn in the side of the Ghost Wolf. Now, few speak of the King's past. The Stormwind City nobles once suffered the suspicion of the kingdom's people, and Varian will not allow such rumors to circulate again. Therefore, from the outside, the King and his child appear very close. Only a few close to Varian know the true nature of the father and son. Jaina is certain Sylvanas is not among these people, but she knows what happened to the King, and the mage can only admire the Silver Covenant's intelligence capabilities.
There was a knock on the meeting room door. Jaina and Sylvanas exchanged a glance, cleared their throats, and said, "Come in."
A middle-aged man with short brown hair, wearing a monocle and a shirt of the same color as his hair, walked in through the door. He looked like an advisor, but Sylvanas's keen intuition could sense a faint murderous aura emanating from him.
"It's an honor to meet you, Ms. Proudmoore. I am Talbert, the military advisor of Stormwind City." The man was very polite, then looked at the Female Elf sitting next to Jaina with a puzzled expression.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Advisor Talbert. You're quite famous in Fortress of Courage in Northrend." Jaina nodded, then introduced, "This is Sylvanas, Ranger-General of the Silver Covenant. She's the one who has intelligence to share with His Majesty the King."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, madam." Tabor bowed to Sylvanas. This gesture struck the Ranger-General as odd, perhaps a little too overly respectful.
"Please forgive my swiftness, Advisor," Sylvanas said, glancing at the door with some disappointment. "When will His Majesty the King appear?"
Talbert returned an apologetic look. "This... I'm truly sorry, but the relationship between the Horde and the Alliance has been very tense lately. There are clashes everywhere— Ashenvale, Stoneclaw Mountain, Feralas, and the Barrens. His Majesty the King believes this is a harbinger of war. He is actively making preparations, so he is temporarily unable to spare the time."
"It's only been a few years, and the Alliance and the Horde are already at war again?"
"The Horde has just welcomed a new Great Chief," Jaina interjected. Sylvanas's attitude towards the Horde was one of rejection, but she was completely indifferent to the Alliance. If Varian had overheard her words, a verbal altercation between the two would likely have been inevitable. "They are also trying to overcome the difficult situation following the war. So the Horde's recent actions may not be aimed at the Alliance."
"You must understand, madam." Talbert's expression told Jaina that he disagreed with her. "The Horde's new Great Chief is nothing like Thrall, who had any foresight; he's a complete militarist."
The female mage frowned, beginning to reconsider Talbert's words. When the Old Gods, sealed within Ulduar, awakened, Rhonin had hoped the Alliance and Horde would join forces against Old Gods threat. However, Varian and the Warsong Expeditionary Force Commander—now the Great Chief —Horde had clashed immediately upon meeting. The Ghost Wolf had always been so powerful; Thrall had previously deliberately avoided conflict with the Alliance, but now someone similar to Varian had taken over the Horde.
What did this mean? Jaina glanced at Sylvanas with some concern. The Female Elf was talking to Tarbell about something, but she couldn't hear them.
There are far too many conflicts of interest between the Alliance and the Horde, and with Grommash becoming Great Chief, perhaps they will no longer yield to each other for the sake of peace.