魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第25部分

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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；　if　needs　be。　　

Indeed。　Colonel　may　I　have　another　piece？　　

Lorena　laughed　and　said；　　Help　yourself。　　

Taking　another　piece　of　meat　this　time　one　she　didn　t　recognize　Aegwynn　wondered　what　would　happen　after
this　was　over。　She　found　the　prospect　of　returning　to　her　little　hut　in　the　Bladescar　Highlands　to　be　less　enthralling　
than　she　would　have　thought。　Jaina　had　been　correct　humans　and　orcs　had　built　a　life　here；　and　it　was　because　of
Medivh。　Which　meant；　ultimately；　it　was　because　of　her。　Perhaps　it　would　be　best　if　she　reaped　the　fruits　of　her
labors…。　

Before　she　could　ponder　further；　Jaina　entered　the　dining　hall。　I　ve　found　them。　We　must　move　quickly。　　

The　young　mage　looked　ragged。　Aegwynn　stood　up。　Are　you　well？　　

A　little　tired。　I　ll　be　fine；　　Jaina　said　dismissively。　
　
Aegwynn　pointed　at　the　plate　of　meat。　Eat　something　you　ll　be　of　no　use　to　anyone　if　you　collapse；　and　I　know
better　than　anyone　what　happens　to　spells　that　aren　t　cast　with　full　concentration。　　

Jaina　opened　her　mouth；　then　closed　it。　You　re　right；　of　course；　Magna。　　

Lorena　leaned　over　to　Jaina。　She　doesn　t　like　to　be　called　that。　　

At　that；　Aegwynn　barked　a　laugh。　She　was　really　starting　to　like　this　colonel。　

After　Jaina　wolfed　down　some　of　Lorena　s　meat　Aegwynn　was　amused　to　realize　that　Lorena　had　gotten　the
smallest　share　of　her　own　meal　the　lady　said；　The　Burning　Blade　is　operating　out　of　a　cavern　atop　Dreadmist
Peak。　　

Lorena　winced。　Oh；　great。　　

Looking　at　Lorena；　Aegwynn　asked；　　What　s　the　problem？　　

Dreadmist　Peak　is　aptly　named。　The　upper　regions　of　the　mountain　are　choked　with　this　orange　mist。　　

Dismissively；　Jaina　said；　It　s　residuum　from　an　ancient　demonic　curse　on　the　place。　That　s　probably　why　Zmodlor　
chose　it　that；　and　its　location；　since　it　s　about　equidistant　from　both　rimmar　and　Theramore。　In　any　case；　my　
magicks　will　protect　all　three　of　us　from　the　effects　of　the　mist。　　

Good；　　Lorena　said　emphatically。　

Also；　Duree　was　able　to　find　this。　　Jaina　pulled　a　familiarlooking　desealed　scroll　from　inside　her　cloak　and
handed　it　to　Aegwynn。　

She　took　it；　noted　that　the　broken　seal　was　that　of　the　Tirisfalen；　then　opened　it　and　laughed。　The　scroll　s　lettering　
was　in　her　own　handwriting。　

Handing　it　back　to　Jaina；　Aegwynn　said；　That　s　my　refinement　of　the　banishdemon　spell。　I　wrote　that　three　
hundred　years　ago；　after　Erthalif　died　and　I　got　access　to　his　redoubt。　　She　shuddered　at　the　memory　of　the　old　elf　s
library；　which　would　have　had　to　be　several　orders　of　magnitude　neater　before　it　could　be　considered　merely　a　
mess。　It　took　her　and　Erthalif　s　staff　ten　weeks　just　to　anize　the　scrolls；　scrub　away　the　desiccated　food　and
drink；　and　chase　off　the　vermin。　When　she　found　the　notes　taken　by　the　legendary　elf　wizard　Kithros　on　the　moving　
of　objects　from　one　realm　to　another；　Aegwynn　had　been　able　to　incorporate　them　into　a　more　efficient　spell　for　
banishing　demons。　I　daresay　if　I　d　had　this　eight　hundred　years　ago；　we　wouldn　t　be　dealing　with　Zmodlor　today。　　

Jaina　put　the　scroll　back　in　her　cloak。　Actually；　no。　I　checked　up；　and　it　turns　out　that　you　were　pletely　
successful　in　banishing　Zmodlor　the　first　time。　But　when　the　Burning　Legion　attacked；　they　recruited　many　
demons；　including　ones　that　had　been　banished　by　the　Tirisfalen。　When　the　war　ended；　several　stragglers　managed
to　stay　in　this　world　even　when　the　legion　was　driven　back。　　

And　Zmodlor　was　one　of　them？　　Aegwynn　asked。　

Yes。　　Jaina　nodded。　

Unsheathing　her　sword　and　sounding　to　Aegwynn　remarkably　gungho　for　someone　who　was　so　appalled　by　the
notion　of　going　to　this　Dreadmist　place　Lorena　said；　Milady；　if　I　may　ask　what　are　we　waiting　for？　　

This　warning；　　Jaina　replied。　I　was　unable　to　scry　too　closely；　for　fear　of　being　detected；　so　I　m　not　sure　what
kind　of　protection　Zmodlor　and　his　warlocks　will　have。　We　must　be　ready　for　anything。　　She　turned　to　face　
Aegwynn。　Magna　Aegwynn　you　need　not　acpany　us。　It　may　be　dangerous。　　
　
Aegwynn　snorted。　This　was　a　hell　of　a　time　for　her　to　say　that；　and　a　bit　of　a　reversal　from　her　earlier　lecture　on　her
responsibilities　as　Guardian。　Then　again；　at　the　time　they　had　thought　that　she　had　failed　in　her　banishment　of　
Zmodlor；　and　now　they　knew　that　was　not　the　case。　Yet；　she　still　felt　some　measure　of　responsibility。　I　was　facing　
dangers　far　worse　than　that　little　twerp　of　a　demon　when　your　greatgreatgrandparents　were　infants。　We　re　wasting　
time。　　

Jaina　smiled。　Then　let　s　go。　　

TwentyOne　

C　orporal　Rych　had　no　idea　who　it　was　who　started　the　fighting。　

One　moment；　he　was　standing　there　in　the　skirmish　line　in　front　of　Northwatch　Keep　s　wall；　Private　Hoban　on　his　
left；　Private　Allyn　on　his　right。　They　stood　about　twenty　paces　behind　Major　Davin。　The　major　himself　was
amazing；　just　standing　up　to　that　orc　like　the　war　hero　he　was；　not　scared　or　nothing。　Did　them　all　proud；　the　major
did。　

The　next　moment；　the　skirmish　line　was　shattered；　and　orcs；　trolls；　and　humans　were　getting　into　it。　All　around　him；
he　heard　the　clang　of　metal　on　metal；　and　the　shouts　of　both　sides　imploring　their　fellows　to　kill　their　foes。　

Not　that　Rych　minded　all　that　much。　The　orcs　had　their　nerve；　they　did。　Wasn　t　enough　they　had　to　pull　their　stunts
in　trade　at　Ratchet；　leading　to　a　good　man　like　Captain　Joq　getting　pinched　by　the　bruisers；　now　they　had　to　e
and　try　to　kick　them　out　of　their　rightful　place　in　Northwatch。　

Rych　wasn　t　putting　up　with　that；　he　wasn　t。　

He　unsheathed　the　family　claymore。　Father　was　part　of　the　Kul　Tiras　Irregulars　back　in　the　day；　and　used　the
claymore　to　good　effect。　After　he　died　of　the　flu；　Mother　joined　up　and　killed　plenty。　She　died　fighting　the　Burning　
Legion；　and　the　claymore　came　to　Rych　which　was　a　relief；　as　the　longsword　he　d　been　using　was　crap。　

Although　he　wasn　t　as　good　with　it　as　Mother；　he　was　better　than　Father　was；　and　he　intended　to　spill　plenty　of　orc　
and　troll　blood　with　it。　

One　of　the　trolls　came　right　at　him；　holding　up　a　huge　cleaver。　Rych　parried　the　cleaver；　then　kicked　the　troll　in　the　
stomach。　That　trick　always　worked　on　the　drunks　he　used　to　clear　out　of　Mowbry　s　Tavern　back　home。　

Unfortunately；　trolls　had　tougher　bellies；　and　this　one　just　laughed　and　swung　again　with　the　cleaver。　

Blood　pooled　in　the　sand　under　him；　but　Rych　couldn　t　spare　a　glance　to　see　whose　it　was　as　he　parried　the　cleaver
again。　

You　ve　had　this　in　　a　long　time；　　the　troll　said　as　he　lifted　the　cleaver。　

While　the　troll　was　wasting　time　saying　this；　Rych　stabbed　the　troll　in　the　chest。　

His　foe　falling　to　the　sand　as　Rych　removed　the　claymore；　he　turned　to　see　that　the　blood　was　from　both　Hoban　and
Allyn；　who　lay　dead　in　the　sand；　blood　pouring　from　multiple　wounds。　An　orc　was　charging　toward　the　keep　gates；
blood　dripping　from　his　ax。　Screaming；　Rych　ran　for　the　orc　and　stabbed　the　greenskin　in　the　back。　

Ey！　Human！　　

Rych　whirled　around　to　see　another　orc。　

You　killed　Gorx！　　
　
Gorx　killed　my　friends；　　Rych　said　with　a　snarl。　

Yeah；　fought　em；　but　you　stabbed　im　inna　back！　　

Not　seeing　the　big　deal；　Rych　said　again；　He　killed　my　friends！　　

Raising　his　greatsword；　the　orc　said；　Well；　now　I　m　gonna　kill　you！　　

The　greatsword　was　a　lot　bigger　than　Rych　s　claymore；　but　that　meant　it　took　the　orc　a　lot　longer　to　swing　it；　as　he
had　to　wind　up　to　strike；　which　gave　Rych　plenty　of　time　to　either　dodge　or　parry。　An　attempt　at　the　latter　resulted
in　an　impact　of　blade　on　blade　that　sent　convulsions　through　his　entire　body；　leaving　Rych　to　embrace　the　efficacy　
of　the　former。　

Or　so　he　thought　the　fourth　time　he　dodged　the　greatsword；　he　bumped　into　Private　Nash。　That　caused　Nash　to
turn　around　in　surprise；　leaving　him　open　to　an　attack　from　an　orc　s　pulverizer。　

Anger　got　Rych　s　blood　boiling。　It　wasn　t　enough　that　these　orcs　had　to　attack；　now　they　were　making　him　screw
up　his　fellow　soldiers。　Screaming　incoherently；　he　ran　at　the　orc　with　his　claymore。　

The　orc　stepped　aside　to　his　left；　holding　out　his　greatsword；　which　cut　through　Rych　s　chest　plate　and　stomach　as
he　ran　past。　Whitehot　agony　sliced　through　his　torso；　and　his　scream　became　even　more　incoherent。　He　flailed　his
claymore　about　with　his　right　hand　while　clutching　his　injured　chest　with　his　left。　

Suddenly；　the　claymore　stopped　short　and　wouldn　t　move。　Wincing　in　searing　pain　even　as　he　did　so；　Rych　turned
to　his　right　to　see　that　the　claymore　had　impaled　the　orc　s　head。　

Serves　you　right；　　he　managed　to　blurt　out　through　clenched　teeth。　

He　yanked　the　claymore　out　of　the　orc　s　skull；　which　shot　a　lot　more　pain　through　his　chest。　For　some　reason；　the　
sounds　of　battle　had　dimmed；　and　all　Rych　could　hear　was　a　persistent　roaring　in　his　ears。　

Using　the　family　weapon　as　a　makeshift　walking　stick；　he　stumbled　forward　in　the　sand；　looking　for　more　orcs　to
kill。　

TwentyTwo　

A　moment　ago；　Aegwynn　had　been　standing　in　Theramore。　

A　moment　ago；　Lorena　had　taken　a　very　deep　breath　and　looked　apprehensive。　Aegwynn　remembered　the　colonel　s
words　about　how　she　hated　magic　not　to　mention　her　nausea　in　response　to　teleporting　last　time。　Briefly；
Aegwynn　wondered　if　it　was　such　a　good　idea　for　Lorena　to　have　eaten　prior　to　this。　

A　moment　ago；　Jaina　Proudmoore　had　looked　determined。　

Now；　they　stood　at　the　mouth　of　a　cave　surrounded　by　a　foulsmelling　orange　mist；　leading　Aegwynn　to　understand
why　Lorena　had　been　so　unenthusiastic　about　ing　here。　The　orange　miasma　hung　in　the　air　like　the　worst　kind
of　fog。　Aegwynn　almost　felt　weighed　down　by　it。　

Aegwynn　had　long　since　grown　inured　to　the　effects　of　teleportation；　so　the　only　disorientation　she　felt　was　related
to　the　mist。　She　shot　a　glance　at　Lorena；　who　looked　a　bit　pale；　but　was　still　holding　her　sword　before　her；　ready　for
anything。　

Jaina；　however；　looked　as　pale　as　Lorena；　which　was　not　a　good　sign。　
　
However；　Aegwynn　said　nothing。　There　was　no　going　back　now；　and　the　last　thing　Jaina　needed　was　someone　
acting　like　a　mother　hen。　Aegwynn　herself　had　certainly　hated　it　when　someone　usually　Scavell；　or；　when　they　
were　sleeping　together；　Jonas；　or　one　of　the　council　fussed　over　her　when　she　was　exhausted　and　still　had　to　do
battle；　so　she　saw　no　reason　to　inflict　that　on　Jaina　now。　

Still；　there　was　cause　for　concern。　Jaina　had　cast　four　teleport　spells　today　that　Aegwynn　knew　about　herself　to
Bladescar；　the　thunder　lizards　to　Bladescar；　the　three　of　them　back　to　Theramore；　and　the　three　of　them　to　this
cave　plus　scrying　Zmodlor　s　location；　doing　whatever　she　did　to　keep　the　thunder　lizards　under　control；　and
inuring　the　three　of　them　to　whatever　this　mist　did　under　normal　circumstances。　That　much　casting　in　one　day　alone
would　start　to　take　its　toll；　and　for　all　Aegwynn　knew　there　was　more　besides。　

As　Jaina　led　the　way　through　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　Aegwynn　wondered　when　she　had　stopped　thinking　of　the　
goldenhaired　mage　as　Lady　Proudmoore or　that　annoying　little　girl and　had　started　thinking　of　her　as
Jaina。　　

Aloud；　she　said；　Zmodlor　s