Blizzard
The first in a series of three excerpts from Christie Golden's upcoming World of Warcraft novel,
Before the Storm. This latest all-new official prequel to Battle for Azeroth will be available on June 12, 2018 and is available to
pre-order on Amazon. Be sure to check back to catch the second and third excerpts.Download
excerpt one of Before the Storm.Book summary:
Azeroth is dying.The Horde and the Alliance defeated the demonic Burning Legion, but a dire catastrophe is unfolding deep below the surface of the world. There is a mortal wound in the heart of Azeroth, struck by the sword of the fallen titan Sargeras in a final act of cruelty.For Anduin Wrynn, king of Stormwind, and Sylvanas Windrunner, warchief of the Horde and queen of the Forsaken, there is little time to rebuild what remains and even less to mourn what was lost. Azeroth’s devastating wound has revealed a mysterious material known as Azerite. In the right hands, this strange golden substance is capable of incredible feats of creation; in the wrong ones, it could bring forth unthinkable destruction.As Alliance and Horde forces race to uncover the secrets of Azerite and heal the wounded world, Anduin enacts a desperate plan aimed at forging a lasting peace between the factions. Azerite jeopardizes the balance of power, and so Anduin must gain the trust of Sylvanas. But, as ever, the Dark Lady has her own machinations.For peace to be possible, generations of bloodshed and hatred must be brought to and end. But there are truths that neither side is willing to accept and ambitions they are loath to relinquish. As Alliance and Horde alike grasp for the Azerite’s power, their simmering conflict threatens to reignite all-out war—a war that would spell doom for Azeroth.Unto Queen Sylvanas Windrunner, Dark Lady of the Forsaken and
warchief of the Horde, King Anduin Llane Wrynn gives respectful
greetings.
I write to you with a proposition that has nothing to do with
armies, territories, or goods, but it is one that I believe will serve
both the Horde and the Alliance.
I will cut directly to the heart of the matter. When you
approached the Alliance, seeking a home for your people, you
were refused. We were still reeling in terror from what Arthas had
done to Lordaeron and couldn’t understand that your Forsaken
were truly different.
I have spoken recently with a Forsaken who was greatly
respected in life and have learned that despite all he has endured,
he still follows the Light. His name is Alonsus Faol, and he was
once archbishop of Lordaeron. He has agreed to be a go-between
in the interest of helping both the living and the undead.
This missive is about families. Families that were torn apart
not by Horde and Alliance but by Arthas, who rained despair and
devastation upon all of us. Spouses, children, parents—so many
separated, divided first by death, then by fear and anger. Perhaps,
if we can work together, those driven apart can at last be reunited.
We are not currently at war. But I am not so naive as to
believe that means hostilities do not still linger. We have
experienced recent tumultuous change to our very world in the
form of Azerite—a manifestation of the pain Azeroth herself is
feeling. With unity, we could direct our exploration of this
substance in ways that can save her. Let us therefore focus on a
smaller but no less important gesture of unity as a first step toward
a potential future that benefits both the Horde and the Alliance.
I propose what amounts to a single day of a cease-fire. On
this day, those families who have been divided by war and death
will have a chance to meet with the ones they lost. Participation
will be strictly voluntary. All those on the Alliance side will be
thoroughly vetted, and no one who I believe would be a danger to
the Forsaken will be allowed. I would ask the same of you. We
will determine a limited number of participants.
A site suitable for this event is the Arathi Highlands. I will
have my people assemble at the ancient fortress of Stromgarde
Keep. Thoradin’s Wall is close to a Horde outpost. There, in the
open field, with sufficient protection as agreed upon by the two of
us as leaders of human and Forsaken, these ruptured families will
meet. It will last from dawn until dusk. With your agreement,
Archbishop Faol and other priests will facilitate, assist, and offer
comfort as needed.
Should any harm befall my people, be certain I will not
hesitate to retaliate in kind.
I also understand that should my people harm any
Forsaken, you will do likewise.
As a priest, as king of Stormwind, and as the son of Varian
Wrynn, I will guarantee safe passage to the Forsaken who choose
to be involved. If this cease-fire is successful, it could be repeated.
Do not mistake this for an offer of peace. It is only an offer
of a single day’s compassion for people who were cruelly torn
apart by a force that was neither the Horde nor the Alliance.
You and I have both lost family, Warchief. Let us not force
that upon others who, like us, did not choose it.
Done this day by my hand,
King Anduin Llane Wrynn
