Christie Golden: War Crimes

Nothing more.

Every Alliance leader had received the same letter, and Jaina saw some of them at the foot of the hill, getting into similarly refurbished carts for the trek up to the temple. Queen-Regent Moira Thaurissan, one of the three joint leaders of the dwarves, appeared to be arguing with an unruffled pandaren, pointing with annoyance at the cart. No doubt she did not find it “suitable” for her royal self.

“I remember,” said Vereesa, “and it seems to be important to the celestials. And if it is so cursed important, why were we not allowed to just fly to the temple? Why waste time with this cart?”

“We are here by their invitation,” Kalec said. “If they are willing to wait until we arrive by this method, we should be, too. It is not that long a ride.”

“Spoken with the patience of a dragon,” Vereesa said.

“I am what I am,” he replied, seemingly unperturbed by her comment. Yes, thought Jaina, he was indeed what he was, who he was, and she was glad of it, though much yet remained for them to sort through in their relationship.

She tried to settle back into the embroidered cushions and enjoy the slow ride up the curving path. Pandaria exuded remarkable peace and offered beauty wherever one’s eye fell. Cherry trees exploded with pink blossoms, a few fluttering about as the wind swayed the branches. Statues of white tigers guarded the first graceful gateway, and the path began to grow steeper. As the cart made its steady way forward and the cold pressed in, Jaina was grateful for the heat of the various braziers they passed, and wrapped a cloak more tightly about her slender frame. The earth bore first a scant dusting of snow, then drifts as the altitude increased. Jaina became aware of a profound sense of lightness, and all at once she understood. She well knew the import of casting a spell with focus and purposefulness, and it was suddenly clear to her that in their own way, the celestials were giving their guests a chance to do precisely that. By taking a leisurely cart ride up the mountain, skirting the outlying exterior structures, and being exposed to beauty and peacefulness the entire way, Jaina and her companions had the opportunity to set aside the duties of their everyday world and arrive mentally fresh. She permitted the air, scented with the subtle fragrance of the cherry blossoms, to cleanse her mind.

She and Kalec were seated so they faced backward, so Jaina didn’t see what twisted Vereesa’s beautiful visage into a scowl and thinned Varian’s lips as the cart halted before the first of the swaying rope bridges. The high elf’s hand automatically went to her side, and then curled into a fist as she remembered they had been asked to bring no weapons to the temple.

“What are they doing here?” Vereesa snapped, then answered her own question. “Well, Garrosh is their former leader. I suppose they would be present when his fate is announced.”

Jaina turned in her seat, looking up at the courtyard of the temple proper, and her eyes widened slightly. Her gut clenched as she was reminded of Garrosh’s tactic at Theramore—assembling the greatest Alliance military tacticians in one place—as it seemed that the invitation the Alliance leaders had received was extended to the Horde as well. The blue-skinned troll Vol’jin, of course, was here. Varian’s counterpart as the new warchief. Would he be better than an orc? Worse? Did it matter? Not even the former warchief Thrall, who now went by his birth-name of Go’el, could curb the Horde’s hunger for violence, and he had tried.

Even as she thought about him, her gaze found the orc shaman. At Go’el’s side was his mate, Aggra, who carried a small bundle.

Go’el’s son.

Jaina had heard Go’el had become a father, and there was word that Aggra was again with child. Once, Jaina would have been invited to hold this little one, but that time had passed. Go’el was surveying the crowd, and his eyes, as blue as Jaina’s own, met hers.

Anger and unhappiness surged through her, and she looked away.

Seeking distraction, Jaina turned her attention to the tallest of the leaders, Baine Bloodhoof. Save for Go’el, Baine was the only Horde leader Jaina had ever been able to think of as a friend. Garrosh had first slain the tauren’s father, Cairne, and then stood by while the Grimtotem tauren attacked Thunder Bluff. Unable to get aid from the Horde, Baine had turned to Jaina for help against Magatha, which Jaina had been glad to give. Baine had returned the favor by warning her of the impending attack on Theramore. Of course, Baine had assumed it would be an ordinary battle. He had not known of the stolen Focusing Iris, or the deadly purpose Garrosh had planned for it. In Jaina’s opinion, any debts between them had been paid.

She spotted a few others too: Lor’themar Theron of the blood elves, with whom she had recently, albeit under duress, negotiated; and the obnoxious goblin Trade Prince Jastor Gallywix, sporting his ridiculous top hat.

A pandaren clad in the robes of a monk bowed in greeting as they exited the cart. “Honored guests,” he said. “You are welcome. Here there will be only peace, as you attend the first ever gathering of all the leaders of Azeroth. Do you promise to abide by this rule?”

“I thought we were here to see justice done,” Vereesa began, but Jaina laid a hand on her arm. Vereesa bit her lip, and said nothing more. Since the murder of her husband, Vereesa had gravitated to Jaina, and the leader of the Kirin Tor was the only one who seemed able to pour oil on the churning waters of Vereesa’s loathing of the Horde.

“You understand that there is not peace in our hearts,” Jaina said to the monk. “There is pain, and anger, and a desire for justice, as Vereesa has said. For my part, however, I will offer no violence.”

The other three answered in kind, although Vereesa uttered the words with difficulty, and the pandaren invited them to follow him up the swaying rope bridge and the massive central staircase, and into the coliseum.

Aysa Cloudsinger, among the first of the pandaren who had joined the Alliance, stood at the entrance to the temple, and the newcomers bowed to her. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure at seeing them. Aysa had settled in Stormwind City, and Jaina had not seen her since the monk’s arrival some time ago.

“I knew you would come,” Aysa said, bowing to each of them in turn. “Thank you.”

“Aysa,” Varian said. “Can you tell us what is going on?”

“All I know is that those who lead the factions of Alliance and Horde were requested to come here peacefully, and that the August Celestials have made some sort of decision,” she said. “Please—enter the temple in silence, and stand with your fellows in the center area, on the left. The celestials will arrive soon.” Her normally modulated voice was higher than usual, betraying the strain and concern she felt. That was not a good sign, but they all nodded agreement.

Quietly, Jaina asked, “Is Ji here?” Aysa’s stride faltered. Ji Firepaw was the first pandaren to ally with the Horde, as Aysa had chosen the Alliance. It had divided them until Garrosh had turned on Ji, who had come perilously close to execution. That the two cared deeply for one another was obvious, but what would happen between them now was not so clear.

“He is here,” Aysa said. “For now, we are together, and this time is precious to us both.” She offered no more, and Jaina did not press her. The archmage hoped that perhaps this trial would make Ji realize that the Horde was the wrong side for him to have chosen.

The Temple of the White Tiger was vast. Here, in the cavernous arena that was at the center of the temple, pandaren monks trained, the disciplined practice under Xuen’s watchful eyes turning them into masters of their martial art. Despite the size, somehow the temple did not feel oppressive. Perhaps it was because despite the copious amount of seats, no one gathered here to witness death—only skill.