Chapter 9

           Jainaracedthroughthegardens,latetohermeetingwithArchmageAntonidas.She’ddoneitagain—losttrackoftimewithhernoseburiedinabook.Hermasterwasalwayschidingheraboutthat,butshecouldn’thelpit.Herslipperedfeettookherdownbetweentherowsofgoldenbarkappletrees,thefruithangingheavyandripe.Shefeltabriefbrushofsorrowassherememberedaconversationheldhereonlyafewshortyearsago—whenArthashadappearedbehindher,slippinghishandsoverhereyes,andwhispering,"Guesswho?"

           Arthas.Shemissedhimstill.Shesupposedshealwayswould.Thebreakuphadbeenunexpectedandhurtful,andthetimingcouldn’thavebeenworse—shestillcringedasshethoughtabouthavingtocontinuethroughtheformalWinterVeilballasifnothinghadgonewrong—butastheinitialshockhadfadedshehadgrowntounderstandhisreasoning.Theywerebothyoungyetand,ashehadpointedoutatthetime,theyhadresponsibilitiesandtrainingtocomplete.She’dpromisedhimthey’dalwaysstayfriends,andshehadmeantit,thenandafterward.Inorderforhertokeepthatpromise,shehadhadtoheal.Andsoshehaddone.

           Certainlymuchhadhappenedinthosefewshortyearstokeepherbusyandfocusedelsewhere.Fiveyearsago,apowerfulwizardnamedKel’ThuzadhaddrawntheireoftheKirinTorwithhisdabblinginunnaturalnecromanticmagic.Hehadleft,suddenlyandmysteriously,afterbeingseverelyreprimandedandtoldinnouncertaintermstoceasehisexperimentsimmediately.