魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第24部分

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Then　they　promoted　him。　

Davin　was　stunned。　He　was　no　hero；　he　was；　in　fact；　the　exact　opposite。　But　every　attempt　to　clear　the　air　just　
resulted　in　his　being　considered　unduly　modest。　It　was　maddening　instead　of　being　relieved　of　bat；　he　was　put　
in　charge　of　other　troops。　

Shortly　thereafter；　the　war　was　kind　enough　to　end；　thus　sparing　Davin　the　embarrassment　of　having　to　actually　lead
troops　into　a　battle　he　was　incapable　of　fighting。　The　Burning　Legion　was　driven　back　to　whatever　hell　they　had
e　from；　and　Davin　was　given　another　promotion；　this　time　to　major。　After　Admiral　Proudmoore　s　arrival　and
subsequent　death；　Davin　was　put　in　charge　of　Northwatch　Keep。　

Until　recently；　he　had　weled　the　duty。　Northwatch　was　fairly　peaceful；　and　while　Davin　s　cowardice　made　
bat　an　impossibility；　he　did　fine　at　administration。　

Assuming；　of　course；　that　nothing　went　wrong。　

Davin　didn　t　especially　like　Colonel　Lorena；　but　he　really　wished　she　were　here　right　now；　instead　of　off　with　the
Burning　Blade。　For　one　thing；　she　was　a　lot　better　at　running　a　garrison　of　troops　than　he　was。　Unlike　Davin　s；
Lorena　s　promotions　had　actually　been　based　on　merit。　

For　another；　if　the　Burning　Blade　could　get　her；　not　to　mention　Lady　Proudmoore；　what　hope　did　Davin　have？　

Oreil　came　running　in；　his　toobig　armor　clanking　with　each　step。　Major　Davin！　Major　Davin！　The　orcs　re
moving！　It　happened　as　soon　as　the　boats　docked！　　

Davin　sighed　yet　again。　When　did　the　boats　dock？　　

Didn　t　anyone　tell　you？　　Oreil　blinked　a　few　times。　Oh；　wait；　I　was　supposed　to　do　that。　I　m　sorry；　sir；　but　I　got
all　overexcited。　Please　don　t　courtmartial　me。　　

Getting　up　from　his　desk　and　heading　out　the　door；　Davin　said；　Private；　right　now　a　courtmartial　is　the　least　of
your　worries。　　
　
Slowly；　Davin　walked　down　the　narrow　staircase　that　led　to　the　ground　floor　of　the　tower　at　Northwatch　s　center。
Northwatch　was　built　on　an　uneven　hill　that　sloped　down　to　the　Great　Sea。　The　eastern　border　of　the　keep　was　a　
stone　wall　that　had　been　built　between　two　of　the　hillocks；　the　buildings　that　made　up　Northwatch　were　on　the
western　side　of　the　wall；　with　a　beach　lined　with　palm　trees　on　the　eastern　side。　

As　he　approached　the　archway　that　led　through　that　stone　wall　and　onto　the　beach；　Davin　saw　orcs　and　trolls。　

Many　many　orcs　and　trolls。　

Their　boats　were　all　tethered　to　poles　that　had　been　sunk　into　the　sand。　There　were　dozens　of　them；　each　with　a　full
plement　of　about　a　dozen　trolls　or　orcs。　Some　wore　animal　skins；　others　wore　the　heads　of　vicious　beasts　as
helms。　All　of　them　were　armed　with　axes　and　broadswords　and　morningstars　and　maces；　and　other　weapons　that　all　
appeared　at　first　glance　to　be　bigger　than　Davin　himself。　

So　this　is　it；　　he　muttered。　We　re　going　to　die。　　

What　was　that；　Major？　　one　of　the　troops　guarding　the　archway　asked。　

Shaking　his　head　quickly；　Davin　said；　Nothing。　　Somehow；　the　major　managed　to　force　himself　to　keep　putting　
one　foot　in　front　of　the　other。　As　he　passed　through　the　archway；　his　boots　started　to　sink　into　the　sand　with　each
step。　

Dimly；　he　registered　that　dozens　of　troops　had　fallen　into　line　behind　him。　He　took　a　quick　glance　back　to　see　that
several　of　them　were　forming　a　skirmish　line　in　front　of　the　wall；　and　others　were　taking　up　position　atop　it。　Davin
was　grateful　that　someone　had　the　wherewithal　to　give　that　order；　and　he　briefly　wondered　who　it　was。　

Turning　back　to　face　the　new　arrivals；　he　said；　I　m　Maj

He　cut　himself　off。　His　voice　was　breaking。　

Clearing　his　throat；　he　started　again。　I　m　Major　Davin。　I　m　in　charge　of　Northwatch　Keep。　What　business　do　you
have　here？　　

For　a　brief　moment；　Davin　entertained　the　hope　that　the　orcs　would　say　they　were　just　passing　through　for　a　brief
respite　and　would　be　gone　within　the　hour。　He　hoped　it　as　fervently　as　he　had　hoped　that　his　return　from　the　
massacre　of　his　platoon　would　result　in　his　being　cashiered　out；　and　this　hope　looked　to　have　as　much　likelihood　of　
being　reality　as　the　previous　one。　

Sure　enough；　the　biggest；　scariest　looking　one　stepped　forward。　（Davin　was　willing　to　concede　that　this　one　seemed
biggest　and　scariest　because　he　was　the　one　who　stepped　forward。）　

I　am　Burx。　I　speak　for　Thrall；　Warchief　of　the　Horde　and　Lord　of　the　Clans。　This　keep　of　yours　violates　our　
alliance　with　you　people。　You　ve　got　one　hour　to　take　it　down　and　get　rid　of　any　and　all　traces　of　your　presence　
here。　　

Davin　sputtered。　You　you　can　t　be　serious。　There　s　no　way　we　can　take　down　the　entire　keep　in　an　hour！　　

Burx　smiled。　It　was　the　type　of　smile　that　a　large　predator　might　have　right　before　it　pounced　on　its　small；
defenseless　prey。　If　you　don　t　ply　with　this　order；　we　ll　attack。　And　you　ll　die。　　

Of　that　last　part；　Davin　had　very　little　doubt。　

Twenty　
　
J　aina　had　sent　Aegwynn　and　Lorena　to　the　small　dining　hall　that　was　reserved　for　highranking　officers　and
officials　of　state。　For　practical　purposes；　according　to　Duree；　the　little　old　woman　who　assisted　Jaina；　the　latter　
mostly　had　meant　the　nowdeceased　Kristoff　and　Jaina　herself。　The　young　mage　had　given　Aegwynn　permission　to
enter　there；　as　well。　When　Duree　objected；　Jaina　pointed　out　that　a　Guardian　was　of　greater　rank　than　a　head　of
state。　

For　her　part；　Jaina　had　retreated　to　her　chambers　she　too　needed　to　eat；　but　she　had　to　do　it　while　working；　trying　
to　determine　the　location　of　the　warlocks。　Lorena　wanted　to　join　her　troops　at　Northwatch；　in　case　Thrall　was
unable　to　stem　the　tide　of　battle；　but　Jaina　refused。　For　one　thing；　she　trusted　Thrall。　For　another；　she　needed　Lorena　
as　physical　protection　when　they　confronted　Zmodlor　and　his　minions；　especially　since　Kristoff　had　sent　Jaina　s
official　protection；　the　Elite　Guard；　to　Northwatch。　

But　Jaina　needed　to　work　in　solitude；　so　she　sent　the　old　Guardian　and　the　young　colonel　to　the　dining　hall。　

When　the　steward　came　by；　Aegwynn　asked　for　only　a　salad　and　some　fruit　juice；　Lorena　ordered　a　meat　platter　and
boar　s　grog。　Aegwynn　had　never　heard　of　the　latter；　and　Lorena　explained　that　it　was　an　orc　drink。　

Letting　out　a　long　breath；　Aegwynn　said；　How　times　have　changed。　　

What　do　you　mean？　　

It　wasn　t　that　long　ago　that　orcs　were　nothing　but　the　minions　of　the　demons　I　had　dedicated　my　life　to　stopping。
They　were　monsters；　berserkers　that　ravaged　the　countryside　in　the　name　of　Gul　dan；　who　was　in　turn　acting　for　
Sargeras。　The　notion　of　humans　drinking　an　orc　beverage　is…radical；　to　say　the　least。　　

Lorena　smiled。　Yes；　but　isn　t　　that　long　ago　　a　relative　term　when　discussing　someone　as　old　as　you？　　

Aegwynn　chuckled。　A　fair　point。　　

You　re　really　a　thousand　years　old？　　

Smiling　wryly；　Aegwynn　said；　Give　or　take　a　century。　　

Lorena　shook　her　head。　Magic。　I　ve　never　understood　it　always　hated　it；　to　be　honest；　even　when　it　s　being　used
in　my　service。　　

Aegwynn　shrugged。　I　ve　never　wanted　any　other　life　for　myself　but　as　a　wizard。　From　when　I　was　a　little　girl；　it
was　how　I　always　answered　those　tiresome　questions　about　what　I　wanted　to　be　when　I　grew　up。　The　adults　always
looked　at　me　strangely　when　I　said　that　wizards　were　always　men；　after　all。　　That　last　was　said　with　a　certain
bitterness。　

So　were　soldiers。　I　grew　up　with　nine　brothers；　and　they　were　all　soldiers　just　like　my　father。　I　didn　t　see　any　good
reason　why　I　shouldn　t　be　one；　either。　　Lorena　chuckled。　I　got　the　same　strange　looks；　believe　me。　　

The　drinks　arrived　a　moment　later；　as　did　Aegwynn　s　salad。　Lorena　held　up　her　mug。　Would　you　like　a　taste？　　

Boar　s　grog　smelled　about　as　wretched　as　the　animal　for　which　it　was　named。　Her　nose　wrinkling；　Aegwynn
politely　declined。　I　m　afraid　I　haven　t　had　a　drink　of　alcohol　in　well；　centuries。　Mages　can　t　afford　the　loss　of
mental　acuity；　so　I　lost　the　taste　for　it　some　time　ago。　　She　held　up　her　mug；　which　was　apparently　a　mixture　of　the　
squeezings　of　three　or　four　different　fruits。　This　is　as　strong　a　concoction　as　I　m　willing　to　imbibe。　　

Makes　sense。　　Lorena　threw　back　a　big　gulp　of　her　grog。　Me；　I　can　drink　four　of　these　things　before　I　even　notice。
Always　had　a　high　tolerance。　　She　grinned。　When　I　was　a　rookie　with　the　Kul　Tiras　City　Guard；　I　always　used　to
drink　the　men　in　my　barracks　under　the　table。　We　started　having　contests　with　the　other　barracks；　and　I　was　always
the　secret　weapon。　　She　laughed。　I　quadrupled　my　ine　on　bets　alone　during　that　year。　　
　
Aegwynn　smiled　as　she　nibbled　on　her　salad。　She　found　herself　enjoying　talking　with　this　woman　an　emotion　she　
wouldn　t　have　credited　herself　capable　of　feeling　only　a　day　ago。　She　had　been　thoroughly　convinced　that　she　had
no　more　use　for　the　pany　of　other　people。　

The　steward　brought　a　pile　of　assorted　meats；　cooked　to　a　fine　brown。　Aegwynn　only　recognized　some　of　them；　but
she　assumed　the　livestock　on　Kalimdor　was　different　enough　to　account　for　that。　It　had　been　years　since　she　ate　
meat；　and；　unlike　the　smell　of　the　colonel　s　drink；　the　smell　of　the　meat　was　almost　intoxicating。　As　a　mage；　it　was
her　constant　panion　the　exhaustive　requirements　of　casting　spells　required　regular　infusions　of　protein　but
since　her　selfimposed　exile　to　Kalimdor　she　hadn　t　the　wherewithal　to　hunt　her　own　meat；　nor　the　physical　need　to
consume　it；　so　she　had　bee　a　vegetarian。　

Mind　if　I　have　a　bite？　　To　Aegwynn　s　surprise；　she　asked　the　question　shyly　another　emotion　she　didn　t　think
herself　still　capable　of。　

Pushing　the　plate　to　the　center　of　the　table　they　sat　at；　Lorena　said；　Be　my　guest。　　

As　Aegwynn　hungrily　chewed　a　piece　of　what　looked　like　boar　sausage；　Lorena　asked；　I　have　to　ask；　Magna
what　s　it　like？　　

It　s　Aegwynn；　　she　said　while　chewing　her　sausage。　I　stopped　being　the　Guardian　when　I　passed　on　the　power　to
my　son。　And　I　m　certainly　unable　to　fulfill　the　responsibilities　of　the　title　now。　　She　swallowed。　What　s　what　
like？　　

Living　for　so　long。　I　m　a　soldier；　born　and　bred；　and　I　ve　known　from　the　beginning　that　I　probably　won　t　live　to
see　my　fortieth　year。　You　ve　reached　your　fortieth　decade　twice　over。　I　just　can　t　imagine　that。　　

Aegwynn　let　out　a　long　breath　which　now　smelled　of　boar　sausage；　an　odor　that　was　still　more　pleasant　than　the
grog　named　after　the　same　animal。　There　really　wasn　t　much　time　to　reflect　on　things。　Guardian　is　a　fulltime　job；
sadly。　Demonic　threats　have　been　a　constant　since　before　I　was　born。　The　attacks　became　more　overt　in　recent
times；　which　probably　made　things　easier。　But　when　I　wasn　t　stopping　demons　I　was　covering　up　evidence　of　their
perfidy。　Most　people　didn　t　know　about　it　or　about　me　and　the　council　preferred　to　keep　it　that　way。　　She　shook
her　head。　It　s　odd　I　defied　them　in　so　many　ways；　but　that　particular　credo　I　kept　to。　I　wonder　if　that　was　a
mistake。　Yes；　people　probably　felt　safer　not　knowing　the　truth；　and　more　people　died　in　the　recent　wars　but　the　
demons　have　also　been　more　roundly　defeated。　Your　Lady　Proudmoore　and　her　orc　friend　did　more　damage　to　the　
entirety　of　demonkind　than　has　been　done　in　thousands　of　years。　　

We　re　contentious　beings；　mortals。　　Lorena　smirked。　Give　us　a　foe　to　fight；　and　we　ll　go　after　it　with　our　dying　
breath。　And　beyond；　i