> Sylvanas shook her head. “This cease-fire is a mistake. It will only lead to pain for my people. They cannot be human, and to dangle this temptation of reunion with loved ones will result in them growing discontented with who they really are—Forsaken. They will deteriorate to heartbroken shells, wanting something they can never have. I have no wish to see them suffer so.” Again, she thought of her own attempt at connection with the living and how all it had done was stir up old ghosts best left resting in peace.

> “You could use this to your advantage,” Nathanos said. “Vellcinda said that many Forsaken wish their next death to be their Last Death. They do not wish to keep existing. And one reason commonly cited is that they want to be with those they loved while they lived.”

> Sylvanas turned her head to him slowly, considering his words.

> “If you authorize this experience—this reconnection with people they loved in life—and present it to them as something that you have generously granted them, perhaps they will be more amenable to accepting your solution: finding ways to keep the Forsaken as a race from going extinct.”

> “It is fraternizing with the enemy,” Sylvanas said. “Letting them interact with life and the living.”

> “Perhaps. But even so, it is only for a single day. Give them this hope, this moment with people they thought they’d never see again. Then—”

> “Then I hold the power to their happiness, at least in this aspect,” she finished. “Or they might decide they hate the living and be all the more devoted to their Dark Lady.” Either way Sylvanas would win.

> He nodded. “At the very least, it will demonstrate to them that you are listening to their concerns. I truly believe the Desolate Council to be ultimately harmless. They’re not radical traitors. Give them this chance, once. If you see benefits, you can determine if you wish to repeat it.”

> “You make a good argument.” She unfolded the crumpled missive and read it again. “It will be difficult for my archers to stay their hands with so many humans in front of them.”

> “They will obey you, my queen,” Nathanos said. It was the truth. Her dark rangers would never loose an arrow without her orders. And Sylvanas was not ready for a war with the Alliance, not over this, at least.