Chapter 140: A Doomed Assassination Attempt (Part 1)

Speaking of the participants in the assault on Karazhan, Garona was the first to return to Stormwind City, one step ahead of Lothar.

This had always puzzled Llane. After Garona returned in a somewhat disoriented state, Llane repeatedly inquired about the situation, only to find that Garona's memory seemed to cease when she was knocked unconscious by Sargeras's Fear spell.

Llane and Bolvar didn't blame Garona too much.

On the battlefield, even the bravest knights might not be able to withstand a Fear spell. If it had been before the "Dark Portal" incident, Llane and Bolvar would have considered Garona a deserter. But now, countless battle examples proved that, without some extraordinary willpower or skill, one simply could not be immune to such a spell.

Moreover, by the time Garona returned, Varian had already received news that Lothar was injured but not in grave danger, and Duke was fine. Coupled with the news of Medivh's death, Varian's childhood friends had suffered one death and one injury, so he really didn't have much energy to spare on Garona.

Lothar's injury from that battle, though not severe, had affected his leg. Not only did he sprain his ankle, but during the explosion caused by Medivh, the protective shield wasn't perfect, and several shards had pierced Lothar's wounded leg.

As a result, even though Lothar was eager to return, no one dared to let him ride the bumpy gryphon. Due to Varian's strict orders, Lothar had no choice but to return by carriage, reluctantly.

In addition, the changing war situation had the battle lines in Elwynn Forest steadily pushing toward Stormwind City. Lothar's party had to travel from east to west, almost crossing the entire Duskwood before turning north to return to Stormwind City.

The terrible visibility in Duskwood significantly slowed Lothar's return.

By the time Lothar, with hardly any rest, rushed back to Stormwind City, they were a full month behind Garona's return.

Upon seeing Garona standing beside Varian, Lothar was suddenly reminded of Duke's words.

As a half-orc, Garona originally had no right to enter the power core of the Stormwind Kingdom. In a previous message sent by Lothar, he hinted that Varian should be cautious of Garona, and he secretly passed word to have his men keep an eye on her.

Garona appeared harmless, but her intelligence was too important. For the Alliance, humans were in the dark when it came to the Horde, and much of their military intelligence couldn't bypass her.

Varian had tried isolating Garona first and sending someone to ask her questions when necessary.

Garona didn't mind and answered every question.

The problem was the urgency of military intelligence!

For example, the strength of the various orc clans was uneven. Clans like the Blackrock and Warsong were exceptionally fierce, with not only powerful individual fighters but also large numbers. When the orcs attacked, they often sent troops based on their clans.

Second-tier clans were somewhat weaker, such as the Thunderlord clan.

Third-tier, lesser-known clans were even worse, with a comprehensive disadvantage in numbers, equipment, and basic combat strength.

The difference in strength might mean that a first-tier clan warrior could fight 10 human soldiers, while a third-tier would be 1 against 3.

However, the orc banners were not only ugly but also handmade.

A slip of the hand could make the same clan's flag look like several different totems. Add to that the fact that the scouts' art lessons were taught by physical education teachers, and the resulting confusion easily caused problems at the rear command post.

Llane and the senior officers had been burned by these issues more than once. The most severe instance nearly cost them an elite legion that had been assembled before the war even began.

With Garona, however, things were different.

No matter how cryptic the symbols, she could instantly recognize which clan they belonged to, identifying their characteristics, numbers, and combat strength. In the eyes of many officers, Garona was like a treasure bestowed upon the Kingdom of Stormwind by the heavens.

Even though they were fighting a retreating battle and suffering repeated defeats, at least their losses were decreasing.

Among the suggestions Duke left by way of Marco, there was one to take advantage of the dry summer weather and send a suicide squad on horseback to burn down the Eastvale Logging Camp.

That fire was exhilarating!

The blaze wiped out 3,000 elite warriors from the Blackrock clan, and Stormwind's only loss was five brave fighters.

As time went on, Garona had gradually become an influential figure in the kingdom, and her presence was essential in every military council.

This was particularly true now that the Horde had captured Goldshire, the gateway to Stormwind City, and was on the verge of reaching the city itself. Military councils were being held more frequently.

This particular military council appeared no different from any previous ones.

The only difference was that Prince Varian, accompanied by the queen, quietly listened in.

Varian's participation in the military council was initially opposed by Llane himself. The queen's words, however, changed his mind.

"Llane, he is ten years old. In my opinion, this war with the orcs will last for quite some time. Five years from now, ten years from now, can you guarantee that you will still be able to command the army as you do now? Can you guarantee that the next king of Stormwind will be an excellent, military-minded ruler?"

Llane fell silent. Mortals will eventually grow old. The legacy of conviction is passed down from generation to generation. If these were peaceful times, perhaps Llane shouldn't expose the child to such matters prematurely. But this was an age of war, and even Llane didn't know when he might have to take to the battlefield himself.

Swords and blades are blind, and no one can guarantee that they will return alive from every battle.

Once he falls in battle, Stormwind will need a new king.

"Alright, you've convinced me."

On that day, young Prince Varian was very excited. Although his court education taught him to sit quietly in his designated seat, his eyes kept sweeping over Lothar.

Varian greatly admired Lothar, not only because Lothar taught him swordsmanship, but also because of the many legendary stories about him. The intense gazes he received during the military council made Lothar feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Varian was also curious about Garona. His father and mother often interacted with this fascinating half-orc woman and spoke highly of her, but for security reasons, he didn't have much opportunity to meet Garona.

The military council seemed somewhat dull to Varian, with marshals arguing fiercely over some issue, each insisting on their own viewpoint. Anduin and Bolvar would then state their opinions, and ultimately, Llane would summarize everyone's thoughts and make the final decision.

At that moment, Garona suddenly appeared to be suffering from a headache. She quickly covered her head with one hand and pressed the other on the military sand table.

"What's wrong?"

In the next moment, every person at the council table saw a chilling glint in each other's eyes.

Thanks to Lothar's insistence, Llane was always guarded by two fully armed and skilled royal guards, one on each side.

When the chill descended, the guard between Llane and Garona reacted the quickest. He had been intentionally or unintentionally staring at Garona, so his reaction was swift.