Chapter Sixteen: Kael'thas Sunstrider

The evening banquet proceeded as scheduled, though the turnout was modest, with some familiar faces from Arthas’s circle present. Among them were Lor’themar Theron, Sylvanas’s adjutant who usually blended into the background, his colleague Haduren Brightwing, captain of the rangers, and several others he had crossed paths with in the ranger units before.

“You truly are remarkable. I must apologize for my earlier words and actions, Your Highness,” Lor’themar said, raising a cup filled with the elves’ distinctive fruit wine. “Forgive my impulsiveness—I was simply too worried about the lady’s safety.”

“That’s understandable, Lord Lor’themar, no need to apologize. It only shows you are a trustworthy adjutant,” Arthas replied, clinking his glass with Lor’themar’s. “I’d be glad to have a comrade as responsible as you by my side.”

“Ha! Alas, Lady Windrunner would hardly allow me to transfer my service to you, Your Highness. I know her nature quite well,” Lor’themar smiled, beginning to boast, only to catch Haduren frantically signaling him from the side.

Haduren must be drunk, Arthas thought—after just a few drinks, and already so tipsy. That’s just pathetic!

“Oh? I didn’t realize my adjutant was so well acquainted with me. Then tell me, what kind of person do you think I am?”

“Heh, that’s easy. Though the lady seems calm and composed normally, when the moment is critical, she actually...” Lor’themar trailed off abruptly. He stiffened and turned around to see Sylvanas standing quietly just behind him.

Sylvanas had changed out of her armor, now dressed in a pale blue silk gown with a white shawl draped over her shoulders. She looked nothing like the decisive ranger general, more like an elven lady next door. Yet the coldness subtly etched in her brow betrayed her mood—it was far from lighthearted.

“Uh, I mean, well,” Lor’themar stammered, tongue suddenly tied, unsure if it was the wine or nerves.

“Enough, Lor’themar. We’ll talk about my character properly once we return to the Farstriders. That’s final,” Sylvanas said firmly, leaving no room for explanation.

Haduren sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. He had been blatantly trying to warn Lor’themar, yet the poor fellow hadn’t noticed that the lady had been standing behind him for quite some time. Just a few drinks in and he was already this wasted—if only he’d eaten something, it wouldn’t have been so bad.

Lor’themar, as usual, was so inconspicuous. Wouldn’t it be better just to stick to being a reliable adjutant, rather than commenting on the lady’s temperament? This was Windrunner’s home turf, and she was the strongest ranger here!

After dealing with the disheveled Lor’themar, Sylvanas gracefully approached Arthas and whispered, “Arthas, someone wishes to see you.”

“See me?” Arthas was momentarily puzzled. While he recognized the prominent figures here, none really knew him except Sylvanas. Could he possibly have an acquaintance among the elves?

Sylvanas pursed her lips softly. “We can talk upstairs. He’s waiting for you in the reception room on the second floor.”

Still bewildered, Arthas followed her upstairs to the reception room, where he met a tall high elf with black hair, clad in Dalaran mage robes.

“And who might this be?” Arthas asked, feeling a strange familiarity about the elf but unable to recall his name.

“Allow me to introduce—this is Archmage Rommath, Prince Kael’thas’s close confidant.”

Upon hearing the introduction, Arthas suddenly understood. This was one of Kael’thas’s followers and later the personal advisor to Regent Lor’themar.

The black-haired elf’s expression was stern, clearly a serious man, but upon seeing Arthas, he forced a smile. “A pleasure to meet you, Prince Arthas.”

“Likewise, Lord Rommath. So, are you the one who invited me here?”

“No,” Rommath shook his head, then waved a hand, conjuring a floating magical crystal. “It is the prince who wishes to see you.”

The prince? Arthas knew that was not referring to himself, but to the elves’ prince—Kael’thas Sunstrider.

Guided by Rommath, the magic crystal quickly projected a three-dimensional hologram. Recognizing the flamboyant style and handsome face rivaling his own, Arthas smiled and greeted, “Kael’thas, so it’s you looking for me?”

“Indeed. I must personally express my gratitude on behalf of Silvermoon City and Quel’Thalas,” Kael’thas said, his gaze complex as he stared at his former rival. Though they no longer cared much about their past conflicts, Arthas often teased him about it.

“Given our relationship, you needn’t be so formal. You sending an archmage just to say thanks seems excessive. I recall these remote projection crystals are quite costly.”

As a prince born to a wealthy family, Kael’thas was naturally affluent. Before the Privy Mechanism was fully operational, Arthas wasn’t as rich as him, but now he had the upper hand—though once Kael’thas ascended the throne, he would likely surpass him again. Such is the life of the truly wealthy and noble.

“Of course, it's not just empty words. I also have a gift for you—it's with Rommath. After our call, he will hand it to you. What it is, you will understand when you see it.”

“Since it’s from you, I won’t refuse,” Arthas said, seeming to see through Kael’thas’s intentions. “But that’s not the main point, is it?”

“You always see right through people, Arthas,” Kael’thas said with a helpless expression. “Rommath.”

“Your Highness, the barrier is in place.”

“Good. Arthas, now I speak as the heir to Quel’Thalas, the future executor of our pact.”

“I’ve already told you why I reside in Dalaran and not Silvermoon City. At first, I simply didn’t want to argue with the Silvermoon Council. But now I see, if I don’t resolve their issues soon, one day they will destroy all of Quel’Thalas.”

“This incident made me realize something—they don’t care about the lives of ordinary people. They don’t even care about the survival of the kingdom!”

Kael’thas’s words burned with barely restrained fury. It was clear his anger toward the Silvermoon Council had reached a breaking point.

“No, I think they do care,” Arthas replied.

Kael’thas was taken aback by Arthas’s words. His blazing anger halted abruptly. Sylvanas and Rommath also looked to Arthas, waiting for his explanation.

“After all, if Silvermoon City falls, their good times are over too.”

Kael’thas chuckled wryly. “I’m being serious, and you’re talking nonsense.”

Interrupted by Arthas, Kael’thas took a moment to compose himself, and his temper cooled considerably. He resumed, “If it comes to that, those councilors will definitely pack up and flee—”

He stopped mid-sentence, as if realizing something.

Arthas smiled meaningfully. “Looks like you’ve figured it out?”

Kael’thas’s smile turned bitter. He had grasped Arthas’s implication. “But such a price is far too high.”

“Dealing with these people is no easy task. The Silvermoon Council mostly represents ancient noble families. Even your father finds them troublesome. How long do you think it will take you to purge them all?”

Arthas spoke casually, but each word struck Kael’thas deeply. His father, the Sun King Anasterian, was nearing the end of his life, yet sustained by the Well of the Sun’s magic, he could live for centuries more.

As prince, Kael’thas’s power was limited, especially since Anasterian’s attitude toward him was far less favorable than Terenas’s was toward Arthas. The Sun King, obsessed with magic, no longer paid much attention to his son as when he was younger.

He was even displeased when Kael’thas went to Dalaran, the human magical kingdom. Holding supreme power as Sun King, he had not felt the Silvermoon Council’s influence directly. To him, the council was merely a tool to govern the realm.

But that tool had long ceased to be what the Sun King recognized. It had become a cancer within the elven kingdom. Though they could not threaten the Sun King’s authority now, what would happen after his passing?

Kael’thas’s worries stemmed precisely from this. He had been overly sheltered by his father, leaving him floundering when confronting the Silvermoon Council. Forced, he fled to Dalaran to learn knowledge unavailable at the Sun Court.

Over the years, he cultivated a circle of trusted allies, but compared to the council’s entrenched influence, his power was still weak. Hence, he sought help from his friend, Prince Arthas of Lordaeron.

As for the idea Arthas wanted to propose, Kael’thas understood it well, but Arthas refrained from mentioning it in front of Sylvanas and Rommath, as their relationship was not yet close enough for such matters.

That was shortly after Kael’thas arrived in Dalaran.