魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第27部分

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The　orcs　and　trolls　all　looked　at　Burx　with　a　mixture　of　surprise　and　revulsion。　There　were　a　few；　Davin　noticed；
who　seemed　confused。　One　of　the　latter　spoke　up。　Is　this　true；　Burx？　You　made　a　deal　with　a　demon？　　

To　wipe　out　the　humans；　I　d　make　a　deal　with　a　thousand　demons！　They　gotta　be　destroyed！　　

Then；　to　accentuate　his　point；　Burx　charged　right　at　Davin。　

Every　instinct　in　Davin　s　body　cried　to　run　away；　but　he　could　no　more　make　his　legs　move　now　than　he　could
when　the　wave　hit。　He　saw　Burx　s　ax　as　the　orc　swung　it　upward　in　preparation　for　cleaving　Davin　s　skull。　

But　before　he　could　plete　the　swing；　Burx　s　entire　body　convulsed。　He　stopped　moving　forward　and　fell　to　the　
sand。　As　he　did　so；　Davin　saw　that　Thrall　had　struck　Burx　from　behind　with　Doomhammer。　

You　have　brought　disgrace　to　Durotar；　Burx。　You　have　caused　the　dishonorable　deaths　of　orc　and　troll　and　human
warrior　alike。　This　blight　can　only　be　eliminated　by　your　death。　As　Warchief；　it　is　my　solemn　duty　to　carry　out　that
sentence。　　
　
Thrall　raised　Doomhammer　over　his　head　and　then　brought　it　down　hard　on　Burx　s　head。　

Davin　flinched　as　blood　and　gore　splattered　all　over　the　sand；　onto　Thrall；　and　onto　Davin　himself。　He　was；
however；　too　frightened　to　actually　move　to　wipe　any　of　it　off；　not　even　the　blood　that　mixed　in　with　the　water　on
his　left　cheek　or　the　bits　of　skull　in　his　beard。　

Thrall　likewise　made　no　attempt　to　remove　the　stains　of　Burx　s　death　from　his　person　and　he　was　much　more　
fouled　by　it。　Davin　supposed　that　it　served　as　a　badge　of　honor　to　an　orc。　The　Warchief　stepped　forward　and　said　to
Davin；　You　have　the　apologies　of　Durotar　for　this　traitor　s　behavior；　Major；　and　for　this　terrible　battle　that　has
happened　this　day。　I　will　not　permit　the　Burning　Blade　to　influence　my　people　anymore。　I　hope　the　same　will　be
said　for　you。　　

Not　trusting　his　mouth　to　work　properly；　Davin　simply　nodded。　

We　will　depart。　I　am　sorry　we　did　not　arrive　soon　enough　to　avoid　bloodshed；　but　first　I　had　to　order　the　troops
amassed　on　land　to　stand　down。　We　all　shall　return　to　Durotar；　and　not　attack　you　again。　　The　Warchief　stepped
forward。　Unless　you　give　us　reason　to。　　

Again；　Davin　nodded；　more　eagerly　this　time。　

He　continued　to　stand　there　as　Thrall　ordered　his　troops　to　gather　their　dead　and　wounded　and　return　to　their　boats
and　set　sail　northward　for　Kolkar　Crag。　Davin　remained　standing　with　his　boots　sunk　into　the　sand；　bits　of　Burx　s
blood；　skull；　and　brains　on　various　portions　of　his　armor　and　person；　as　Thrall　climbed　back　up　the　ladder　to　his
airship；　and　both　airship　and　waterborne　vessels　proceeded　northward。　

Davin　was　stunned　to　realize　that；　for　the　second　time；　his　prayer　had　been　answered；　and　he　was　starting　to　think
there　might　be　something　to　the　whole　praying　thing。　

He　was　equally　stunned　at　how　quickly　everything　had　changed　all　because　of　Thrall　s　words。　Yes；　his　rather　
spectacular　actions　got　everyone　to　stop　fighting　for　a　minute；　but　that　would　ve　been　only　temporary。　Thrall　s
words　were　what　convinced　the　orcs　and　trolls　to　stop　fighting　and　retreat。　

Much　as　he　hated　to　admit　it　about　an　orc；　Davin　was　impressed。　

Finally；　a　captain　whose　name　Davin　couldn　t　for　the　life　of　him　remember；　asked；　　Orders；　Major？　　

Ah　stand　down；　Captain。　　He　let　out　a　breath　he　hadn　t　even　realized　he　was　holding；　suddenly　feeling　very　
exhausted。　Stand　down。　　

TwentyFour　

N　ot　five　minutes　ago；　Aegwynn　had　urged　Zmodlor　to　cease　his　parlor　tricks。　The　disembodied　voice　trick　was
probably　menacing　to　the　average　person；　but　it　was　a　simple　trick　that　any　firstyear　apprentice　could　pull　off。　So　it　
didn　t　impress　Aegwynn　all　that　much。　

Now；　seeing　the　huge；　leatheryskinned；　batwinged；　flameeyed　Zmodlor　standing　before　her；　she　realized　she　
should　have　kept　her　mouth　shut。　Demons　on　the　whole　were　not　pretty　creatures；　but　Zmodlor　was　hideous　even
by　their　standards。　

Surrounding　the　demon　were　eight　hooded　figures。　These；　presumably；　were　the　warlocks；　who　were　chanting　
rhythmically。　

Jaina　reached　into　her　cloak　and　grabbed　the　scroll。　Aegwynn　was　grateful；　as　it　meant　this　would　be　over　soon。
Now　that　Zmodlor　had　revealed　himself；　Jaina　would　be　able　to　cast　the　banishment。　
　
Suddenly；　Jaina　screamed　and　fell　to　the　floor。　

Jaina！　　Aegwynn　ran　to　the　young　mage　s　side。　Lorena；　good　soldier　that　she　was；　moved　to　stand　between　the
demon　and　Jaina。　

Sweat　beaded　on　Jaina　s　forehead　as　she　managed　to　get　to　her　knees。　Through　clenched　teeth；　she　said；
Warlocks…blocking　the　spell。　　

This　close；　Aegwynn　could　feel　the　warlocks　　spellcasting。　It　was　fairly　weak；　though　there　were　about　a　dozen　of
them；　which　added　power　to　their　spells。　Still；　a　mage　of　Jaina　s　stature　should　have　been　able　to　punch　through
that。　

Unless；　of　course；　she　d　overextended　herself。　

Jaina　was　struggling　Aegwynn　could　feel　it　but　she　was　losing　ground　to　Zmodlor　s　minions。　

This　is　even　better　than　I　d　hoped。　I　ll　make　sure　that　the　orcs　are　blamed　for　Proudmoore　s　death。　It　will　send　the
humans　into　a　frenzy。　Nothing　will　stop　them　from　going　to　war；　and　without　her　to　guide　them；　they　ll　lose　but
not　before　they　kill　as　many　orcs　as　possible。　It　will　be　glorious！　　

Like　hell；　　Aegwynn　muttered。　There　was　only　one　thing　for　her　to　do。　

It　had　been　almost　four　years　since　she　brought　Medivh　back。　That　had　drained　all　her　magic　at　the　time；　as　she　d
told　Jaina　but　the　magic　never　went　away　forever。　Two　decades　after　she　had　escaped　to　Bladescar；　she　had　built
up　enough　magical　power　to　bring　back　her　son。　While　she　hadn　t　regained　anywhere　near　that　much　in　the　four
years　since；　she　might　well　have　enough　to　do　what　was　necessary。　If　not　well；　she　d　lived　almost　a　full　
millennium。　As　Lorena　had　so　eloquently　pointed　out；　that　was　a　lot　more　than　most　people　got。　

Sweat　was　now　pouring　down　Jaina　s　face。　She　was　still　kneeling；　fists　clenched　and　resting　on　her　thighs。
Aegwynn　could　feel　the　spell　that　she　herself　had　written　struggling　to　push　past　the　blocks　the　warlocks　were　
putting　up。　

Down　on　one　knee　at　Jaina　s　side；　Aegwynn　grabbed　the　younger　woman　s　left　fist　with　both　hands。　She　closed　her
eyes；　gathered　up　her　thoughts；　her　power；　her　very　life　essence。　Focusing　it；　molding　it；　moving　it；　she　channeled　it
all　into　her　arms…then　her　forearms…then　her　hands…　

And　then　to　Jaina。　

Fatigue　rather　suddenly　overwhelmed　her。　Her　bones　felt　heavy　in　her　skin；　her　muscles　ached　as　if　she　had　just　run
a　race；　and　her　breaths　came　in　shallow　gasps。　Ignoring　all　of　it；　Aegwynn　continued　to　focus；　willing　her　life；　her
magic；　her　very　soul　to　Jaina　Proudmoore。　

Jaina　opened　her　eyes。　Normally　an　icy　blue；　they　were　now　a　fiery　red。　

No！　　

Simultaneously；　both　Aegwynn　and　Jaina　said；　Yes！　　

You　cannot　stop　the　Burning　Blade！　We　will　prevail　over　all；　destroying　everything　in　our　path；　and　then　we
aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAARRRRRRR　
RGH！　　

Zmodlor　s　screams　echoed　not　only　off　the　walls；　but　from　the　mouths　of　the　warlocks；　who　felt　sympathetic
agony　through　the　bond　the　demon　had　with　them。　Though　Aegwynn　s　vision　was　fading；　she　saw　Zmodlor　s
hideous　body　twist　and　contort；　ichor　spewing　from　wounds　that　suddenly　ripped　open。　
　
A　wind　kicked　up　as　the　air　itself　was　rent　asunder　by　the　spell　Aegwynn　had　written　a　portal　to　the　Twisting　
her　pulling　Zmodlor　s　body　into　the　tear。　

Noooooooo！　I　won　t　let　you　trap　me　aga　　　

The　demon　s　words　were　cut　off　by　his　head　being　sucked　in。　

But　the　screams　continued　from　the　warlocks；　even　as　the　ground　shook　under　Aegwynn　s　unsteady　legs。　Moments
later；　they　stopped　as　they；　too；　were　sucked　into　the　Twisting　her；　where　they　would　suffer　anguish　several
orders　of　magnitude　worse　than　what　they　had　planned　for　the　residents　of　Kalimdor。　

The　tear　closed　but　the　cavern　was　still　shaking。　

Showing　a　soldier　s　capacity　for　stating　the　obvious；　Lorena　said；　We　ve　got　to　get　out　of　here！　　

But　Aegwynn　couldn　t　make　her　limbs　move。　Her　arms　and　legs　felt　like　dead　weights；　and　it　took　all　her　energy　
just　to　keep　her　eyes　open。　

One　of　the　stalactites　ripped　from　the　cave　roof　with　a　sharp　crack　and　impaled　the　floor　less　than　a　handsbreadth
from　where　Aegwynn　and　Jaina　both　knelt。　

Aegwynn　heard　Jaina　start　to　mutter　the　incantation　for　the　teleport　spell。　

Then　she　passed　out。　

Epilogue　

O　nce　again；　Lady　Jaina　Proudmoore　stood　atop　the　butte　on　Razor　Hill；　gazing　out　over　Durotar。　

Soon；　she　heard　the　low；　steady　rumble　that　heralded　the　arrival　of　Thrall　s　airship。　This　time；　the　Warchief　came　
with　an　honor　guard；　most　of　whom　remained　in　the　undercarriage　while　he　climbed　down　the　rope　ladder　to　greet
Jaina。　One　warrior；　whom　Jaina　did　not　recognize；　came　down　after　him。　When　they　alighted　on　the　butte；　the
warrior　stood　three　paces　behind　Thrall；　holding　his　ax　at　the　ready　in　front　of　him。　

Smiling　wryly；　Jaina　said；　Do　you　not　trust　me；　Thrall？　　

Thrall　returned　the　smile。　My　own　closest　advisor　betrayed　me；　Jaina。　I　think　it　s　best　if　I　remain　alert　at　all
times　and　with　someone　watching　my　back。　　

A　wise　move。　　

Is　the　threat　truly　ended？　　

Jaina　nodded。　It　would　appear　to　be。　Zmodlor　and　the　warlocks　who　performed　his　magicks　have　been　banished　to
the　Twisting　her。　Even　the　Burning　Legion　would　be　hardpressed　to　liberate　them　and　so　minor　a　demon
would　hardly　be　worth　the　effort。　　

Well　done。　I　only　wish　it　could　have　been　acplished　before　blood　was　spilled　unnecessarily。　　Thrall　s　hand
went　to　his　belt；　from　which　hung　a　talisman　in　the　shape　of　a　flaming　sword。　Jaina　assumed　it　belonged　to　Burx；
the　advisor　who　had　allied　himself　with　Zmodlor；　just　as　Kristoff　had。　According　to　Major　Davin　s　report
provided　along　with　his　letter　of　resignation　Thrall　had　killed　Burx　in　front　of　a　large　cadre　of　orc　and　troll　
warriors　for　consorting　with　the　Burning　Blade。　
　
Sighing；　Jaina　said；　We　were　very　lucky；　Thrall。　Zmodlor　may　have　been　responsible　for　this；　but　he　simply　
brought　up　hatreds　that　were　already　there。　Look　at　how　easily　your　people　and　mine　took　to　killing　each　other　at
Northwatch。　　

Indeed。　It　was　far　easier　for　our　people　to　cooperate　with　the　Burning　Legion　as　a　mon　enemy。　Now…　　His
voice　trailed　off。　

Silence　hung　in　the　air　for　a　few　moments　before　Jaina　spoke　again。　Before；　I　said　that　after　this　crisis　was　solved；
we　would　speak　of　a　treaty　between　our　people。　　

Yes。　If　this　alliance　is　to　outlive　the　two　of　us　and　it　must；　if　both　humans　and　orcs　are　to　survive　then　we　must　
formalize　our　alliance。　　

I　suggest　we　meet　one　week　from　today　at　Ratchet　it　s　a　neutral　port；　and　we　can　work　out　the　specifics。　　

Agreed。　I　shall　bring　Kalthar　he　is　the　wisest　of　us。　　

Jaina　couldn　t　help　herself。　Wiser　even　than　the　Warchief？　　

Thrall　laughed。　Far　far　wiser　than　he。　It　will　be　done；　Jaina。　　

Excellent。　Farewell；　Thrall。　I　will　see　you　in　a　week。　　

Farewell；　Jaina。　May　we　e　out　of　this　crisis　stronger　than　ever。　　

Nodding；　Jaina　cast　the　spell　that　would　bring　her　back　to　her　chambers。　

Aegwynn　was　there　waiting　for　her。　It　had　taken　the　old　woman　a　few　days　to　awaken　after　s