Free Jaina Proudmoore: Tides of War by Christie Golden

themselves into work and research. Kinndy returned to Dalaran, where, with Rhonin’s blessing, she had access to the library. Jaina envied her the task.
    “I remember when that was my duty,” she told Kinndy, giving the gnome a quick hug. “There was nothing I liked better than poring through those old tomes and scrolls and simply learning.” She felt a slight pang; the “new Dalaran” was beautiful, but she no longer belonged there.
    “It was probably more fun when the fate of the world didn’t rest on your research,” Kinndy said morosely. Jaina had to agree.
    Pained, who was in charge of Jaina’s spy network, departed whenshe heard the news. “I will go into the field and learn what I can,” she said. “My spies are diligent, but they might not understand what they need to look for in this situation.” She eyed Kalecgos. “I assume you may be safe here, with this… person, my lady.”
    “I think my own skills and those of a former Aspect will keep me safe in the event of any threat, yes, Pained,” Jaina said. Her voice held no amusement, as she knew how seriously Pained took her duties. The night elf’s gaze flickered to Kalec, then back to Jaina. Pained saluted.
    “Lady.”
    Once Kinndy and Pained had departed for their respective errands, Jaina looked at Tervosh and Kalecgos, nodded briskly, and said, “Let’s get to work. Kalec—earlier you said that you were able to track the Focusing Iris. Why haven’t you simply followed it? Why come to me?”
    He glanced down, looking slightly sick. “I said I had been able to follow it. The trail… vanished shortly after I reached Kalimdor.”
    “What?” Tervosh was irritated. “It couldn’t just stop.”
    “Yes,” Jaina said, her voice heavy. “It could. Whoever stole this thing must have a great deal of power at their disposal if they could stand against five dragons. But they didn’t know enough about it at that time to completely conceal the theft. That’s why Kalec was able to track it.”
    “My thoughts exactly,” Kalec said. “At some point, they either did learn enough about it or found a mage who was sufficiently powerful to hide its emanation from me.”
    Tervosh put his face in his hands for a moment. “That’s—someone very powerful indeed.”
    “True,” Jaina said. She lifted her chin in slight defiance of the bad news. “They may have a powerful mage, or more than one. But so do we. And we have the benefit of someone who knows everything about the Focusing Iris. We’d better settle in for a bit while Kalec brings us up to speed.”
    “What do you need to know?”
    “Everything,” she said firmly. “Don’t just give us the basics. We need all the details. Even something that seems insignificant could prove useful. Tervosh and I must know what you know.”
    Kalecgos smiled ruefully. “That could take some time.”
    •   •   •
    It did. He talked until it was time for the midday meal, when they paused briefly to eat, and then until dinner, and continued after that. Even a dragon’s voice, it seemed, became hoarse if he spoke too long. The hour grew late, and that first night, the three all stumbled off to their various bedchambers with heavy-lidded eyes. Jaina didn’t know how the others slept, but as for herself, she had nightmares.
    She awoke the next morning feeling groggy and unrested. Her ritual did not restore her as it usually did, and the sky was overcast and lowering. She felt a heaviness sink into her chest, and sighed. Not wanting to look out on the gray day, she let the curtain fall and went downstairs.
    Kalecgos gave her a warm smile as she entered the little parlor, but it faltered as he noticed her pallor.
    “Didn’t sleep well?”
    She shook her head. “You?”
    “Well enough. Though I was troubled with bad dreams. I blame your chef. That dinner tasted delicious, but obviously there was a fragment of an underdone potato hiding in there somewhere.”
    Despite the direness of the situation,