魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第22部分

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Kalthar　and　Burx　both　entered　then。　The　latter　spoke　in　an　urgent　tone。　Warchief；　there　s　someone　here　who　has　to
talk　to　you。　Now。　　

Thrall　did　not　like　the　idea　of　Burx　giving　him　orders；　but　before　he　could　say　anything；　Kalthar　gave　Thrall　a　
significant　look。　

Do　you　think　I　should　see　this　person；　shaman？　　Thrall　asked。　

I　do；　　Kalthar　said　quietly。　

Very　well。　　Thrall　stood　his　ground；　having　grown　tired　of　the　throne。　

Burx　went　out　and　led　one　of　the　scouts　in。　A　jungle　troll；　he　was　dressed　in　decorative　armor　and　the　mask　that　was
traditional　among　those　of　the　Darkspear　tribe：　feathers；　wood；　and　paint　bining　with　a　triangular　helmet　to
present　a　fearsome　affect。　By　contrast；　when　he　removed　his　helm；　it　was　to　reveal　a　friendly；　open　face；　far　gentler
than　one　would　expect　from　the　fearsome　Darkspears。　Jungle　trolls　wielded　powerful　magicks；　ones　that　no　other
race　had　ever　been　able　to　master　though　Thrall　knew　of　some　humans　who　had　tried　and　failed；　at　the　cost　of
their　souls　and　the　Darkspears　had　sworn　allegiance　to　Thrall。　

This；　　Burx　said；　is　Rokhan。　　

The　introduction　was　unnecessary　the　troll　s　reputation　preceded　him　as　one　of　the　finest　scouts　in　Kalimdor。　

Holding　his　helm　under　his　arm；　Rokhan　stepped　forward。　I　m　afraid　I　be　bringin　　some　bad　news；　mon。　The　
humans；　they　be　sendin　　more　troops　to　the　Northwatch。　　

Thrall　couldn　t　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　They　re　reinforcing？　　

That　s　what　it　look　like；　mon。　I　be　seein　　lotsa　boats　full　a　soldiers；　all　headin　　straight　for　the　Northwatch。　And
they　be　sendin　　one　a　they　airships　up　north；　too；　but　it　be　goin　　toward　Bladescar。　　

Thrall　frowned。　How　many　troops？　　

Rokhan　shrugged。　Hard　to　say；　but　they　was　at　least　twenty　boats；　and　them　things　be　carryin　　at　least　twenty　
humans　each。　　

Four　hundred　troops；　　Burx　said。　And　this　happened　right　after　your　friend　Jaina　went　off　to　solve　the　thunder　
lizard　problem　that　the　humans　caused。　We　can　t　wait　for　her　to　finish　that；　Warchief。　I　m　sure　Jaina　s　intentions
are　good；　but　her　people　s　aren　t。　And　we　can　t　ignore　this！　　

Burx　is　correct。　　Kalthar　spoke　in　a　voice　that　sounded　weary；　and　Thrall　was　reminded　just　how　old　the　shaman
was。　The　maintenance　of　Northwatch　Keep　was　a　deliberate　show　of　strength　on　the　humans　　part。　However；　this
reinforcement　in　light　of　other　recent　events　can　only　be　an　act　of　aggression；　and　one　to　which　we　must　respond　in
kind。　　

That　was　Admiral　Proudmoore　s　stronghold。　　Burx　hardly　needed　to　remind　Thrall　of　that；　though　that　didn　t　stop
him。　And　now　the　subjects　of　Admiral　Proudmoore　s　daughter　are　trying　to　finish　his　work　behind　her　back。　　

Burx　s　words　did　not　impress　Thrall　overmuch　but　Kalthar　s　did。　And　Rokhan　was　the　finest　of　his　scouts。　His
observations　were　to　be　trusted。　
　
Very　well。　Burx；　have　Nazgrel　assemble　a　garrison　and　send　them　into　the　Barrens。　Have　them　take　up　position
outside　of　Northwatch。　Then　I　want　you　to　take　a　fleet　of　our　boats　and　send　them　downriver　as　well。　Summon　the
trolls　and　have　them　do　the　same。　　He　sighed。　He　had　hoped　that　the　days　of　fighting　humans　were　past；　but　it
seemed　that　old　hatreds　died　very　hard。　If　the　humans　wish　a　fight；　they　will　find　us　more　than　ready。　　




When　Burx　had　finished　giving　instructions　to　Nazgrel　and　to　the　harbormaster；　he　returned　to　his　home。　He　had
preparations　to　make　before　he　journeyed　down　the　Great　Sea　in　order　to　put　an　end　to　the　human　scourge　once　and
for　all。　

It　was　while　he　was　sharpening　his　ax　that　the　smell　of　sulfur　permeated　his　hut。　He　felt　a　warm　sensation　in　the　
folds　of　his　breeches；　in　the　small　inner　pocket　where　he　hid　the　talisman　that　Zmodlor　had　given　him　as　a　symbol　
of　his　allegiance。　

Galtak　Ered　nash。　Does　all　go　according　to　plan？　　

Burx　hated　the　idea　of　swearing　his　allegiance　to　anyone　save　his　own　Warchief；　but　he　played　along　and　replied；
Galtak　Ered　nash。　It　does。　Thrall　is　sending　troops　by　land　and　by　sea。　Within　two　days；　our　people　will　be　at　war
with　the　humans。　Within　a　week　of　that；　the　humans　will　be　destroyed。　　

Excellent。　You　have　done　well；　Burx。　　

I　just　want　to　do　what　s　right　for　the　orcs。　That　s　all　I　care　about。　　

Of　course。　Both　our　causes　are　served　by　this　war。　Galtak　Ered　nash。　　

As　far　as　Burx　was　concerned；　it　was　the　lesser　of　two　evils；　was　all。　The　demons　were　bastards；　yeah；　but　they　
always　had　the　orcs　　best　interests　in　mind。　They　brought　the　orcs　to　this　world　so　they　could　rule　it。　It　wasn　t　the
demons　　fault　that　the　humans　were　able　to　do　so　well；　to　imprison　them　and　make　them　fet　who　they　were。
Sure；　the　demons　were　using　the　orcs；　but　at　least　they　never　humiliated　them。　

Burx　had　grown　up　a　slave。　Humans　regularly　beat　him；　taunted　him；　defecated　on　him；　and　then　forced　him　to
clean　up　their　messes　while　they　laughed　at　him。　They　called　him　all　manner　of　names；　the　kindest　of　which　was
you　greenskinned　oaf；　　and　they　made　sure　to　give　him　the　most　degrading　tasks。　Burx　was　never　sure　why　he　was
singled　out　among　the　orcs　on　the　estate　for　the　horrible　duties　no　one　ever　bothered　to　tell　him。　Perhaps　he　was
simply　picked　at　random。　

pared　to　what　he　went　through　as　a　human　slave；　what　the　demons　did　was　nothing。　And　if　it　meant
cooperating　with　one　of　them　to　make　sure　that　the　plague　that　was　humanity　was　wiped　out；　that　was　okay　with
Burx。　

He　owed　Thrall　everything　and　more；　but　Thrall　could　not　get　past　his　blind　spot　regarding　the　humans。　But　then；
Thrall　had　been　well　regarded　by　his　master。　True；　Aedelas　Blackmoore　had　had　nasty　plans　for　Thrall；　but　he　had
treated　him　a　lot　better　than　Burx　s　master　did　better　than　most　orcs；　in　fact。　

Slowly　but　surely；　Thrall　was　seeing　the　error　of　his　ways。　This　troop　amassment　at　Northwatch　had　finally　done　it。
At　this　point；　it　was　just　a　matter　of　time。　Orc　and　troll　warriors　so　close　to　human　soldiers　it　would　be　a　powder
keg。　

Burx　finished　sharpening　his　ax；　looking　forward　to　seeing　it　run　red　with　human　blood。　

Eighteen　
　
L　orena　s　chest　pounded；　and　she　had　trouble　breathing。　Her　plate　mail　felt　as　if　it　were　constricting　her。　

But　Lady　Proudmoore　and　her　friend　named　Aegwynn；　apparently；　and　whoever　she　was；　the　lady　looked　on　her
with　more　respect　and　awe　than　Lorena　had　ever　seen　her　display　before　were　able　to　step　through　the　demonic　
wards　that　kept　them　trapped。　Apparently；　they　had　to　use　Lorena　s　body　on　the　other　side　of　the　wards　to　disrupt
them。　The　colonel　didn　t　understand　any　of　it。　Talk　of　magic　usually　just　gave　her　a　headache；　all　she　cared　about
was　whether　or　not　it　worked。　When　the　lady　cast　the　spell；　it　almost　always　did。　

Lady　Proudmoore　then　turned　to　the　older　woman。　Magna；　I　have　a　request。　　

Oh？　　

Would　you　object　to　sharing　your　space　with　some　thunder　lizards？　I　can　cast　wards　that　will　keep　your　house；　
your　garden；　and　your　well　safe。　And　the　highlands　will　keep　them　contained。　　She　quickly　explained　the　situation
with　the　thunder　lizards。　

At　that；　the　old　woman　laughed。　I　have　no　objection　whatsoever。　I　had　a　thunder　lizard　as　a　pet　once。　　

Lorena　s　jaw　fell　open。　Please　tell　me　you　re　joking。　　

Not　at　all。　It　was　shortly　after　my　four　hundredth　birthday。　After　so　long；　the　loneliness　got　rather　overwhelming；
so　I　decided　to　have　a　pet。　I　viewed　domesticating　a　kodo　as　a　challenge。　I　named　him　Scavell；　after　my　mentor。　　

Kodo？　　Lorena　asked　with　a　frown。　

Aegwynn　shrugged。　It　s　what　we　called　them　then。　In　any　event；　I　ve　always　had　a　fondness　for　those　beasts；　and　
I　m　more　than　happy　to　share　my　home　with　them。　　

Thank　you；　Magna。　　Lady　Proudmoore　then　turned　to　Lorena。　Give　me　a　few　minutes　to　plete　the　task　that
took　me　to　Durotar　in　the　first　place；　and　then　we　will　return　to　Theramore　I　ll　teleport　the　three　of　us。　Instruct
your　soldiers　to　return　to　Theramore　immediately　via　the　airship。　　She　smiled　wryly。　I　m　afraid　teleporting　the
entirety　of　the　airship　after　bringing　the　thunder　lizards　here　will　tax　me　beyond　my　capacity　to　be　useful。　　

Very　good；　milady；　　Lorena　said　with　a　nod。　

Thank　you；　Colonel。　　The　lady　said　the　words　with　a　heartfelt　smile；　and　Lorena　felt　a　rush　of　pride。　The　colonel
had　taken　a　huge　risk　ing　here；　trusting　Booraven　s　abilities　to　find　Lady　Proudmoore　in　orc　country；　and
hoping　that　the　lady　would　not　be　angered　at　her　presumptuousness。　But　it　seemed　she　had　been　right　to　trust　her　
instincts　and　on　top　of　that；　she　had　been　instrumental　in　freeing　the　lady　and　her　friend　from　their　prison。　

While　Lady　Proudmoore　closed　her　eyes　and　concentrated　on　her　spellcasting；　Lorena　looked　at　the　old　woman。
You　re　really　four　hundred　years　old？　　

Over　eight　hundred。　　

Lorena　nodded。　Ah。　　She　blinked　twice。　You　ve　aged　rather　well。　　

Aegwynn　smirked。　You　should　ve　seen　me　thirty　years　ago。　　

Deciding　that　this　conversation　was　getting　far　too　bizarre　to　suit　her；　Lorena　instead　went　to　the　rope　ladder　to　give
Major　Bek　and　the　others　their　new　instructions。　Bek　acknowledged　the　order；　wished　her　the　best　of　luck；　and
prepared　the　dirigible　for　its　return　trip。　

When　she　came　back　down　the　ladder；　Lady　Proudmoore　had　finished。　As　soon　as　Lorena　had　stepped　off　the
bottom　rung；　Bek　ordered　the　ladder　pulled　back　up；　and　the　airship　began　its　journey　back　southward。　
　
The　chamberlain　s　been　spending　most　of　his　time　in　the　throne　room。　　Lorena　found　herself　unable　to　keep　the
disdain　out　of　her　voice；　then　wondered　why　she　even　tried。　And　most　of　that　s　been　on　your　throne。　　

Lady　Proudmoore　nodded。　Kristoff　always　emphasized　the　importance　of　sitting　on　the　throne。　　

A　little　too　much；　if　you　ask　me；　　Lorena　nodded。　

In　any　event；　I　am　ready。　　

Lorena　braced　herself。　She　d　been　teleported　only　once；　back　during　the　war；　and　it　had　made　her　sick　to　her　
stromach。　

Sure　enough；　the　world　turned　upside　down　and　inside　out；　and　Lorena　felt　as　if　her　head　had　been　removed　and
placed　between　her　knees；　while　her　feet　were　sticking　up　out　of　her　neck。　

A　second　later；　the　world　normalized；　and　Lorena　heaved。　Dimly；　as　she　bent　over　on　the　stone　floor；　she　registered
that　this　was　Lady　Proudmoore　s　throne　room；　and　Duree　was　going　to　scream　at　her　for　retching　all　over　the　floor。　

Milady！　　That　was　Kristoff　s　voice。　You　re　back　and　with　Colonel　Lorena。　We　were　afraid　you　d　been　taken　by　
the　Burning　Blade。　You　ll　be　happy　to　know　that　we　ve　reinforced　Northwatch　which　is　good；　as　orc　and　troll　
troops　are　headed　there　by　land　and　by　sea。　And　who　is　this？　　

Lorena　heaved　once　again；　her　stomach　clenching　so　badly　it　made　being　the　conduit　for　the　lady　s　spell　seem
heavenly　by　parison。　

My　name　is　Aegwynn。　　

Really？　　Kristoff　sounded　surprised；　as　if　he　knew　who　Aegwynn　was。　Lorena　herself　still　had　no　idea；　beyond　the
fact　that　she　was　a　very　old　woman。　

Yes。　And　while　I　m　no　longer　truly　a　Tirisfalen；　I　still　know　the　stink　of　demonkind　when　I　smell　it；　and　it　s　all　
over　you。　　

Though　there　was　nothing　left　in　her　stomach；　Lorena　heaved　again；　wondering　what　a　teeris　fallen　was。　

What　are　you　talking　about？　　Kristoff　asked。　

Please；　Kristoff；　　the　lady　said；　tell　me　that　A