Chapter 8

           ThepalacehadneverbeensocheerilydecoratedfortheFeastofWinterVeilasitwasthisyear.Muradin,everagoodambassadorofhispeople,hadbroughtthedwarventraditiontoLordaeronuponhisarrival.Overtheyearsithadincreasedinpopularity,andthisyearthepeopleseemedtotrulytakeittoheart.

           Thefestivetonehadbeenestablishedafewweeksearlier,whenJainahaddelightedthemsowithhertheatricaldisplayofignitingthewickerman.Shehadbeengrantedpermissiontostaythroughthewinterifshesochose,althoughDalaranwasnotfartoonewhocouldteleportherself.Somethinghadchanged.Itwasbothsubtleandprofound.JainaProudmoorewasstartingtobetreatedasmorethanthedaughteroftherulerofKulTiras,morethanafriend.

           Shewasstartingtobetreatedasamemberoftheroyalfamily.

           ArthasfirstrealizeditwhenhismothertookbothJainaandCaliatobefittedfortheformaldressesfashionrequiredfortheWinterVeilEveball.OtherguestshadspentWinterVeilhere;Liannehadneverbeforewantedtocoordinatetheiroutfitswithherownandthatofherdaughter.

           Too,TerenasnowoftenrequestedthatJainajoinhimandArthaswhentheysattolistentothepeoples’petitions.Shesatontheking’sleft,Arthasonhisright.Inapositionnearlyequaltotheking’sownson.

           Well,Arthasthought,hesupposedthatitwasthelogicalconclusion.