While the uproar over how to deal with Alterac dominated the Alliance's discussions, another matter demanded attention, the fate of the Barov family of Alterac.
Unlike in the original timeline, where the Barovs defected only after the Alliance invaded, this time around, the Barov family had already passed on information about Alterac's betrayal to various Alliance factions as soon as Alterac considered siding with the Horde.
Their actions had prevented Lordaeron from being ambushed.
Moreover, it was the Barovs who, when the Horde prepared to retreat from Alterac, led the kingdom's last remaining forces to halt the Horde's army at the gates.
In the end, they inflicted heavy losses on the Horde, forcing the Horde to sacrifice many elite troops during the siege.
Such accomplishments were more than enough to prove their loyalty, and to demonstrate that they were different from the Alterac royal family.
In the original timeline, even though Alterac eventually joined the Alliance and helped them defeat the orcs in the region, the Barovs were still punished for their fence-sitting.
Terenas stripped them of most of their lands, leaving them with only the core region of Caer Darrow.
But now, given the Barov family's immense contribution, the Alliance not only had no reason to punish them, they ought to reward them.
At least, that was the theory.
Terenas had initially intended to do just that, though he was known for his political maneuvering, he was generally a principled and relatively just king.
Unfortunately, many were unwilling to see the Barov family continue to thrive.
These dissenters were mainly nobles from Lordaeron, Stromgarde, and other kingdoms.
In fact, even former nobles of Alterac resented the Barovs' good fortune.
They believed that it was the Barov family's betrayal of Alterac that had led to their current miserable state.
Had it not been for the Barovs, they fancied they might have become the true masters of Lordaeron, a delusion, of course.
Regardless, just like in the original timeline, these individuals were among the Barov family's staunchest enemies.
In fact, they loathed the Barovs even more in this life, since under Alaric's guidance, the Barovs had acted more decisively and ruthlessly than they ever had in the original.
Perhaps in the original timeline, Alex Barov had silently acquiesced to King Perenolde's proposal because so many nobles supported it.
But the Barovs' eventual downfall had clearly proven him wrong, without sufficient power, playing both sides inevitably led to making enemies of all, with no good end.
Still, the traitorous nobles of Alterac were now powerless and insignificant. Their opinions no longer carried weight. But the voices of the nobles from Lordaeron and Stromgarde, those did matter.
Azeroth's level of civilization still resembled medieval Earth. Most kingdoms were feudal monarchies. Under such a system, even kings had to heed their nobles' counsel.
In times of peace, the Barovs' noble lineage, vast lands, and immense wealth had long earned them the position of leading noble family.
Their status among the nobility was unmatched.
Now, however, the Barovs had become prey.
Why? Because the family had lost all its male heirs.
A widow and her orphaned daughter, easy targets in the eyes of nobles.
To every noble, marrying Jandice Barov, the Barov widow, or her daughter meant a chance to inherit lands comparable to a small kingdom and immeasurable wealth.
But there was only one Barov family, and only one Illucia Barov. How could the nobles divide her?
After intense competition, the great noble families of several kingdoms reached a consensus.
They would exert pressure through the Alliance's council responsible for dealing with the Barov family, forcing the Barovs to choose one of their houses for a political marriage.
In return, the chosen house would agree to divide the Barov estate and wealth among the rest.
It must be said, when nobles unite, their power is formidable. Even kings must sometimes bend to their will.
Had Alaric not intervened, their scheme would likely have succeeded.
In that case, the Barovs would have faced a grim fate.
Jandice would have been forced, either personally or through her daughter Illucia, to marry into one of the noble houses she despised, handing over the Barov legacy.
The Alliance would thus spare the Barovs, but the Barovs would no longer be their own masters.
But just when the nobles thought their plot had succeeded, Alaric stepped in.
As second only to Lothar among the Alliance's commanders, Alaric, though a mage with no background or personal power base, had earned immense prestige across the Alliance.
Especially among the armies of the various kingdoms, through his conduct in the war.
And he was unlike Lothar.
Though Lothar held great influence, he hailed from Stormwind.
Had Stormwind not been nearly destroyed, the other kingdoms would never have allowed a man of another realm to wield such sway over their own armies.
Even now, while Stormwind was being rebuilt, the kingdoms remained wary of Lothar's growing influence across the Eastern Kingdoms.
In the original timeline, Lothar died in the final battle against the orcs, sparing the Alliance from dealing with this problem.
But things were different now. Alaric had saved Lothar, keeping this key Alliance figure alive.
Even with Stormwind still weakened, the other kingdoms couldn't just stand by as an outsider commanded loyalty from their troops.
Fortunately, most of Azeroth's human kings, with a few exceptions, were not malicious or treacherous. They did not betray their allies outright.
But that didn't mean they did nothing.
One of the ways they shifted focus was by changing the public narrative, from Lothar to Alaric.
The general line was: Lothar was the foundation, but the true mastermind, the one whose strategies defeated the Horde, was this brilliant mage…
To them, Alaric was still a mage, one who had risen to prominence suddenly.
Unlike Lothar, who came up the ranks as a warrior and had forged strong ties with common soldiers, Alaric lacked that grassroots popularity.
He commanded respect, yes, but not kinship.
Ironically, that worked in Alaric's favor. He became a legendary figure, known to all.
Now Alaric resembled the Medivh of old. Though he held no tangible power, everyone treated him with reverence. Every kingdom sought to win his favor.
And the more detached he remained, the higher his status climbed.
Alaric himself gave them no cause for concern.
After the war, he did not use his influence to meddle in national politics or scramble for power. His aloofness only made others respect him more.
So when the issue of dividing the spoils reached the Barov family, Alaric spoke for the first time at the council.
"Illucia Barov is my second apprentice."
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