The World After Death

"Still no news from the Alliance?" Nathanos asked. But seeing Belmont standing before him empty-handed, he already knew the answer. Otherwise, his intelligence chief should have been carrying a list.

Belmont shook his head. "So far, we have no intelligence on any movements from the Alliance."

The Nathanos of the past might have sighed at that result, but now he merely stared expressionlessly at the palace doors behind Belmont. After absorbing the power of the Heart of Y'sharrj, his emotions had become increasingly easy to control. Without giving anything away, he said, "Word that the Horde delegation has arrived in Lordaeron has already spread. Varian will not stand by and do nothing. Keep watching Stormwind City closely. Even if the Lion King cannot give me a satisfactory answer, he must at least do something. It is important to the rest of my plans."

"I have already contacted our spies in Stormwind City and ordered them all into action." The Forsaken before the throne nodded, then continued with another report. "There is word from Mortuus. He says the Horde envoys are eager to see you. He asks whether he should continue putting them off, or whether you have decided to meet them."

"How long has the Horde delegation been in Lordaeron?" Nathanos asked.

"Nearly a week, master."

A week? Nathanos drummed his fingers against the throne. It was not too long, but neither was it too short. Ideally, he would receive them once the Alliance had also sent a delegation to Lordaeron. But Varian was moving far more slowly than the Witherer had expected. If this dragged on any longer, Vol'jin might think he was deliberately stalling.

"Our High Executor has worked hard. Tell Mortuus that tomorrow night, I will personally go to the embassy and dine with the Horde envoys."