"I understand, Your Excellency," Khadgar thought of the two mages who had died in the tower, "and you asked him how he was, and he had always been. ”

"Uh-huh," said Lothar, "he's a very powerful man. ”

Khadgar broke out in a cold sweat, afraid that the other party would also follow the path of those wizards who killed themselves. He hastened to say: "He thinks highly of you. ”

"What did he say?" asked Lothar, looking very concerned.

"He just mentioned," Khadgar said carefully, "that you were always taking care of him when he was sick. ”

"Indeed," the warrior said mutteredly as he ate, and he began to attack the other chicken leg again.

"You also said that you are very committed to the law and conventions, and you are a very reputable person. Khadgar added that he felt that was what Medivan thought of the fighter.

"It's good to know that he said that," Lothar said, mouthful of food. The conversation between them was interrupted for a moment. It was only after Lothar had easily swallowed the mouthful of food that he continued, "Did he mention the Guardian?"

"We talked about it," Khadgar said, feeling like he was walking a tightrope. Medivin didn't tell him how much Lotsa knew. He felt that silence was the best way to deal with all kinds of things. So he said half a sentence and didn't continue.

"It's not convenient for apprentices to talk about teachers, is it?" Lothar laughed a little contrivedly, "Come on, you're from Dalaran, the lair of the strongest mages, where every square foot hides more secrets than the rest of the continent combined. Of course, I still don't mean anything specific. ”

Khadgar shrugged his shoulders and expressed disdain for the claim. For the sake of the scene, he still said, "I find that there is less competition and disagreement between mages here than Lordaeron. ”

"Are you saying that when your mentors sent you, they didn't give you a list of things they wanted you to pry out from the astral mage?" Lothar grinned sinisterly, just like Medivan had just done.

Khadgar felt that his face must be red. The old warrior's verbal offensive continued to intensify, and he felt that he was about to be unable to resist: "All of Violet City's requests are within Medivan's consideration. He has always been a very generous man. ”

"Hmph," Lothar visibly disagreed, "they want something unrealistic. I know a little bit about the local mages, including Hagra and Hajarin - may their souls rest in peace. They were always pestering him, wanting this and that. If I didn't arrive, I would come and complain to me and His Majesty the King. As if we could influence him. ”

"I don't think anyone can," he said, but instead of continuing, he took a sip of his wine and slipped it over.

Not even his mother. I know," said Lothar, an ordinary phrase that sounded like a sharp sword to Khadgar. Khadgar found himself eager to ask Lothar more about Egwene, but he restrained himself.

"I think I'm too young. I probably don't understand it yet," he said, "I've seen stories about her, and she seems to be a powerful mage. ”

"And that power is now on him," Lothar said, "and she and one of the court mages in this palace gave birth to him, made him eat the essence of magic instead of milking, and then instilled her power in him. Yes, I know all about that time after he fell into a coma. I found out by sorting together the clues piece by piece by my own investigation. It was so heavy, he was so small at the time. I've been worried about him until now. ”

"You're afraid he's too strong," Khadgar said, but he was immediately stunned by Lothar's sudden, sharp gaze. The young mage was annoyed by the momentary blurt out. He shouldn't have been so straightforward about his thoughts, especially when he was assigning his host as a guest.

Lothar smiled and shook her head: "Completely opposite, kid, I'm afraid he's not strong enough." Terror is coming upon this kingdom. You've seen those orcs months ago, and they're popping up in droves. And the trolls, we thought they were going extinct. But recently there have been more and more of them. And as we speak, Medivan is out hunting a demon. A bad time is coming, and I hope, no. I prayed that he would be able to handle all this trouble. After he fell into a coma, we spent more than twenty years without a Guardian. I don't want to go through another 20 years like that, especially in extraordinary times like this. ”

Khadgar was embarrassed now: "Then when you just asked how he was doing, you actually wanted to ask ......"

"What the hell is going on with him?" replied Lothar. "In these extraordinary times—orcs, trolls, demons, and whatever—I don't want his health to slip through in any way. Lothar looked at Khadgar and lowered her voice, "I can now assume that you already know about the Guardians, right?"

"You can assume that," Khadgar said.

"And the council, right?" said Lothar, "you can remain silent, young man, but your eyes have betrayed you. Stop playing tricks with me, huh?"

Khadgar felt like he was on the edge of a cliff. Medivan had warned him not to divulge too much information to the warrior, but Lothar seemed to know as much as Khadgar - maybe even more.

Lothar continued to lower her voice and said, "We won't use Raumad just because of an ordinary spell fire. Not even two ordinary court mages would be planted in their own spells. And Hagra and Hajarin are two of our best mages, two of our most powerful mages. There was a third before, even stronger than these two, but she had an accident two months ago. All three of them, I believe, are members of your council. ”

A chill rose behind Khadgar's back. He reluctantly said, "I don't think it's convenient for me to talk about it." ”

"You don't need to say," Lothar's furrowed eyebrows looked like the foothills of several ancient mountains, "three powerful mages, the strongest mages in Azeroth. I emphasize to you that while they are not even a piece of Mad's and his mother's fingernails, they are still powerful wizards. Now they're all dead. If a mage is unlucky, or has an accident, I'm okay with it - but three in a row? A warrior wouldn't think it was an accident.

"And," continued the King's warrior, "I have my own sources. There were often merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers who came to Stormwind to be the eyes and ears of old Lothar. My channels cover Ironforge and Alterac, and even all of Lordaeron. There must be a ghost behind this, and the mages are dying one after another like the plague. I suspect that someone, even, something is specifically hunting down the members of that secret council. It's not just this side. It also includes those who live in Dalaran, and I have no doubt about that. ”

Khadgar understood that the old man on the other side was not joking, and he began to discover that these clues were connected to the rumors he had heard before he left Violet Castle. Several elderly mages. died suddenly, and the boss quietly concealed these things. The big secret that Kenrito had tried so hard to hide must be part of the great mystery at present.

Khadgar turned his face away, looking down at the city again.

"Yes, it seems that something like this happened in Dalaran as well. "Lothar Road. "There's not much news from there, but I bet it's going to be similar over there, huh?"

"Do you think the Astral Mage is in danger?" Khadgar asked. Lothar's obvious concern was evident, and he finally intended to confide in him.

"I think Medivan is a danger in itself," Lothar said, "and I have a genuine admiration for the man who has the audacity to live under the same roof with him." It looked like a joke, but Lothar said it with a stern expression. "But you're right, I think there's got to be something behind it, maybe something to do with demons or orcs or something worse. In such periods. I don't want to lose our most powerful weapon. ”

Khadgar looked at Lothar. Was the old warrior really worried about his friend, or was he just afraid of losing a powerful umbrella? Or was it both? Did he really put Medivan's safety first? The old man's face was like a mask covering this qiē, and his deep sea-blue eyes were unwilling to betray his master's true thoughts.

At first, Khadgar thought of him as an ordinary soldier, a dutiful knight, but the king's warriors were much more than that. He constantly presses Khadgar, raiding weaknesses and testing his mouth...... But what is his real purpose?

I need someone to keep the Guardian's secrets, Khadgar remembered what Medivan had said before leaving.

"He's fine," Khadgar said, "you're worried about him." I understand that very well. But he's fine, and I suspect there's no one in the world and nothing that can really hurt him. ”

There was something strange about Lothar's unfathomable eyes, but they were only fleeting. He was going to say something else, to get information from other angles. But a commotion in the tower diverted the two men's attention from the conversation and the empty wine glasses and bitten bones.

Medivan swaggered into the sight of the two, followed by a large group of servants and guards. They were all chattering to blast the strange uninvited guest out, but no one dared to touch him with their hands (which was wise), and they ended up gathering more and more behind him like a long dragon.

Medivin stepped over the railing, "I knew you were getting used to it, Lothar. "I knew you liked to stay in this place for your afternoon tea!" The Astral Mage smiled gently, but Khadgar noticed that he was walking a little staggering, as if he was drunk. Medivan had one hand behind his back, as if he was hiding something.

Lothar stood up, her voice visibly full ......of worry, "Madison, are you alright?

"Oh, yes, that demon," Medivan pulled his bloody trophy from behind his back and lazily tossed it towards Lothar.

The red, spherical object spun in circles in the air, spilling the last bits of blood and brains out of it, and slammed into Lothar's heel. It was a demon's skull, still clinging to scraps of flesh, and a large piece of turf stuck in the center of the skull like a great axe, between two protruding goat horns. Khadgar felt that the demon's expression before he died must have been both awe and anger.

"You might want to fill it up and keep it away," Medivan straightened, "and burn the rest of it." Otherwise, no one can guarantee that someone with a brain problem will not do something with a large puddle of demonic blood. ”

Khadgar noticed that Medivan's face was even more ugly, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were noticeably deeper. Lothar may have noticed this, commenting, "Caught so quickly." ”

"Piece of cake!" said Medivan, "my little apprentice has succeeded in revealing the demon's way of escaping, and then it will be easy for me to track it down." I found it on the edge of a cliff, and before I knew who it was, it was doomed - it didn't even have time to know what it was. "The Astral Mage's form is a little shaky.

"Then let's go," said Lothar, with a gentle smile, "and we must report this to the king." He'll be going to throw a feast for you, Mad!"

Medivan raised a hand: "I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the celebration banquet, because we have to go back now." We still have a long way to go. Right, apprentice?"

Lothar looked at Khadgar suspiciously, a little pleading in her eyes. Madison's eyes were calm and tired. He seemed to want Khadgar to speak for him this time.

The young mage coughed, "Uh, of course. We still have a real yàn that needs to be completed urgently. ”

"That's it!" said Medivan at once to pick up the clumsy lie, "we were in such a hurry that we almost forgot about it. We've got to hurry. The Astral Mage turned to the "henchmen": "Prepare our mounts! And immediately the servants scattered as birds and beasts. Medivin turned to Lothar and said, "Of course, I have to ask you to apologize to His Majesty the King on our behalf. ”

Lothar looked back and forth between the two. Finally, he sighed: "Okay." But at least let me send you. ”

"Lead the way," Medivan said, "and don't forget to take that head." Originally, I was going to collect it myself, but I already have one. ”

Lothar picked up the skull with goat's horns and led the way towards the tower. After he passed by Medivan, the astral mage breathed a sigh of relief, and his body softened. He looked more tired and paler. He sighed heavily and walked to the door.

Khadgar hurried forward, intending to support him with his arms. But at the slightest touch, the old mage stiffened as if reflexively. He looked at the young mage's eyes as if they were covered in a mist.

"Astral Mage," Khadgar said.

"What's the matter?" said the Master Juggernaut in an inaudible whisper.

Khadgar couldn't figure out how to phrase it to avoid the astral mage's rebuke, so he simply said, "You're not good,"

But this time he didn't say the wrong thing. Medivan nodded wearily at him: "I was fine just now, but now it's all of a sudden." Lothar may have noticed it, but he wouldn't have said it if I didn't say it. But I'd rather go back and rest than stay here. He paused, his lips stiffening a little under his beard: "I've had a serious illness here. I don't want to have that experience again. ”

Khadgar nodded, not saying anything. Lothar was standing in the doorway, waiting for the two of them.

"I'll have you to lead the way back to Karazhan," Medivan said to Khadgar, deliberately raising his voice to a level that could be heard by everyone around him, "Today's city life is too draining for me as a countryman, and I want to take the opportunity to rest for a while." (To be continued.) )