魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第5部分

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better　vision；　it　s　true；　but　we　also　do　not　do　battle　in　stealth。　I　do　not　believe　that　your　patrol　did　not　hear　what
happened。　　

Thrall

The　orc　turned　around；　throwing　his　hands　into　the　air。　I　had　thought　that　things　would　be　different　here！　I　had
thought　that　your　people　had　finally　e　to　accept　mine　as　equals。　I　should　have　realized　that　when　it　came　to
taking　up　arms　against　their　own　to　aid　an　orc；　humans　would　abandon　us。　　

Now　Jaina　was　having　a　harder　time　reining　in　her　temper。　How　dare　you？　I　had　thought　that；　after　all　we　d　been
through；　you　d　at　least　give　my　people　the　benefit　of　the　doubt。　　

The　evidence

What　evidence？　To　whom　have　you　spoken　besides　this　Captain　Bolik　and　his　crew？　　

Thrall　s　silence　answered　Jaina　s　question。　

I　will　find　out　which　patrol　ship　it　was。　Where　was　ath　ar　attacked？　　

Half　a　league　off　the　coast　near　Ratchet；　an　hour　from　port。　　

Jaina　nodded。　I　ll　have　one　of　my　soldiers　investigate。　Those　patrols　are　coordinated　by　Northwatch。　　

Thrall　tensed。　

What　is　it？　　

The　orc　turned　back　around　to　face　her。　There　is　considerable　pressure　on　me　to　take　Northwatch　Keep　back　by　
force。　　

And　there　is　considerable　pressure　on　me　to　keep　it。　　

Thrall　and　Jaina　stared　at　each　other。　Now　that　he　faced　her　again；　Jaina　saw　something　different　in　the　orc　s　blue　
eyes：　not　anger；　but　confusion。　

How　did　this　happen？　　Thrall　asked　the　question　in　a　quieter　voice；　all　belligerence　now　seemingly　burned　out　of
him。　How　did　it　e　to　where　we　bicker　over　such　idiocy？　　
　
Jaina　couldn　t　help　but　laugh。　We　are　leaders；　Thrall。　　

Leaders　take　their　warriors　into　battle。　　

In　times　of　war；　yes；　　Jaina　said。　In　times　of　peace；　they　lead　them　differently。　War　is　a　grand　endeavor　that
subsumes　daily　existence；　but　when　it　ends；　there　is　still　daily　existence。　　She　walked　over　to　her　old　rade　and
put　her　small　hand　on　his　massive　arm。　I　will　investigate　this；　Thrall；　and　learn　the　truth。　And　if　my　soldiers　did　not
do　their　duty　by　our　alliance；　then　I　swear　to　you　they　will　be　punished。　　

Thrall　nodded。　Thank　you；　Jaina。　And　I　apologize　for　my　accusations。　But　my　people　have　endured　so　much。　I　
have　endured　so　much；　and　I　will　not　see　our　people　mistreated　again。　　

Nor　will　I；　　Jaina　said　quietly。　And　perhaps 　She　hesitated。　

What？　　

Perhaps　we　should　draft　a　formal　treaty。　Because　you　were　right　before　you　and　I　may　trust　each　other；　but　not　
all　humans　and　orcs　will　do　likewise。　And　much　as　we　may　wish　it　otherwise；　we　will　not　live　forever。　　

Thrall　nodded。　It　is　often…difficult　to　remind　my　people　that　you　are　no　longer　our　slavemasters。　In　many　ways；
they　wish　to　continue　the　rebellion　even　though　the　time　of　orc　enslavement　is　long　past。　Sometimes　I　get　caught　up
in　their　fervor；　especially　since　I　was　raised　in　bondage　by　a　creature　as　foul　as　any　member　of　the　Burning　Legion。
Sometimes　I　believe　the　worst；　and　so　will　my　people　when　I　am　gone　and　can　no　longer　remind　them。　So　perhaps
you　are　correct。　　

Let　us　solve　this　crisis　first；　　Jaina　said；　giving　Thrall　a　smile。　Then　we　will　speak　of　treaties。　　

Thank　you。　　Then　Thrall　shook　his　head　and　chuckled。　

What　is　it？　　

You　are　nothing　like　her　in　any　way；　but　when　you　smiled；　just　for　an　instant；　you　reminded　me　of　Tari。　　

Jaina　remembered　that　Taretha　Foxton；　whom　most　called　Tari；　was　the　daughter　of　a　member　of　Aedelas
Blackmoore　s　household；　and　had　been　instrumental　in　Thrall　s　escape　from　Blackmoore　s　clutches　at　the　cost　of
her　own　life。　

Orcs　immortalized　their　history　in　song　form：　a　lok　amon　chronicled　the　starting　of　a　family；　a　lok　tra　a　battle；　a　
lok　vadnod　the　life　of　a　hero。　To　the　best　of　anyone　s　knowledge；　the　only　human　ever　to　have　a　lok　vadnod　sung　
of　her　life　was　named　Tari。　

And　so　Jaina　bowed　her　head　and　said；　I　am　honored　to　be　so　associated。　I　will　send　Colonel　Lorena　to
Northwatch；　and　as　soon　as　she　reports；　I　will　inform　you。　　

Thrall　shook　his　head。　Another　woman　in　your　military。　Humans　astound　me　sometimes。　　

Jaina　s　tone　grew　frosty；　again；　she　tightly　gripped　the　staff。　What　do　you　mean？　Can　men　and　women　not　be
equals　in　your　world？　　

Of　course　not。　Nor　would　I　say；　　he　added　quickly　before　Jaina　could　interrupt；　that　they　are　unequal　any　more　
than　I　would　say　that　an　insect　and　a　flopletely　different　purposes。　　

Grateful　for　the　opening；　Jaina　said　the　same　thing　to　Thrall　that　she　had　said　to　Antonidas　when　as　a　brash　young　
woman　she　had　insisted　on　being　his　apprentice。　Back　then；　the　archmage　had　said　to　her；　It　is　no　more　
women　s　nature　to　bee　wizards　than　it　is　a　dog　s　nature　to　pose　an　aria。　　
　
As　then；　she　now　said　to　Thrall：　Is　not　what　separates　us　from　animals　that　we　can　change　our　nature？　After　all；
there　are　those　who　would　argue　that　an　orc　s　nature　was　to　be　a　slave。　　Then　Jaina　shook　her　head。　However；
there　are　many　who　think　as　you　do。　It　is　why　women　have　to　work　twice　as　hard　to　achieve　the　same　position　as　a　
man　which　is　why　I　trust　Lorena　more　than　any　of　my　other　colonels。　She　will　learn　the　truth。　　

At　that；　Thrall　threw　his　massive　head　back　and　laughed　heartily。　You　are　a　fine　woman；　Jaina　Proudmoore。　You
remind　me　how　much　I　still　have　to　learn　about　humans；　despite　having　been　raised　by　them。　　

Given　who　raised　you；　I　d　say　that　was　more　because　you　were　raised　by　them。　　

Thrall　nodded。　A　fine　point。　Have　your　female　colonel　investigate　the　matter。　We　will　speak　again　when　she　is
done。　　He　moved　toward　the　rope　ladder　that　still　dangled　from　the　hovering　airship。　

Thrall。　　He　stopped　and　turned　to　face　her。　She　gave　him　as　encouraging　a　look　as　she　could。　We　will　not　let　this
alliance　fail。　　

Again；　he　nodded。　No；　we　shall　not。　　With　that；　he　climbed　the　rope。　

Jaina；　for　her　part；　muttered　an　incantation　in　a　language　known　only　to　mages；　then　took　a　deep　breath。　Her
stomach　felt　as　if　it　were　being　sucked　out　through　her　nose；　as　the　butte；　the　airship；　Thrall；　and　Razor　Hill　shifted
and　altered　around　her；　growing　indistinct　and　hazy。　A　moment；　and　then　everything　coalesced　into　the　familiar
surroundings　of　her　chambers　on　the　top　floor　of　the　largest　of　the　castles　that　made　up　the　tallest　structures　in
Theramore。　

She　did　most　of　the　work　of　state　here；　in　this　small　room　with　its　desk　and　thousands　of　scrolls；　rather　than　in　the　
throne　room；　an　ostentatious　title　for　a　like　space。　Jaina　sat　in　that　throne　as　little　as　possible　even　during　the
weekly　occasions　when　she　saw　petitioners；　she　generally　paced　in　front　of　the　embarrassingly　large　chair　rather　
than　actually　park　herself　in　it　and　used　the　room　sparingly。　These　chambers　felt　more　like　Antonidas　s　study；
where　she　learned　her　craft；　plete　with　disanized　desk　and　badly　sorted　scrolls。　That　made　it　feel　like　home。　

Something　else　the　throne　room　had　that　the　chambers　didn　t　was　a　window　with　a　view。　Jaina　knew　she　d　never
get　any　work　done　if　there　was　a　view　of　Theramore　she　would　be　distracted　alternately　by　wonder　at　what　they　d
built　here　and　fright　at　her　responsibility　for　it。　

Teleporting　was　always　an　intense；　draining　process；　and　while　Jaina　s　training　allowed　her　to　be　battleready　
instantly　upon　pleting　a　teleport；　all　things　being　equal；　she　preferred　to　give　herself　a　little　time　to　recover。　She　
gave　herself　those　moments　now　before　calling　out　to　her　secretary。　Duree！　　

The　old　widow　came　in　through　the　main　entrance。　The　chambers　had　three　entrances。　Two　of　them　were　known　to
all：　the　one　Duree　had　just　used；　and　the　one　to　the　hallway　and　staircase　that　led　to　Jaina　s　private　apartments。　The
third　was　a　secret　passageway　meant　to　be　an　escape　route。　Only　six　other　people　knew　of　it；　and　five　of　those　were　
the　workers　who　had　built　it。　

Duree　glared　at　Jaina　through　her　spectacles。　No　need　to　shout；　I　m　sitting　right　outside　the　door　like　I　always　am。
How　d　your　meeting　with　the　orc　go？　　

Sighing；　Jaina　said；　not　for　the　first　time；　His　name　is　Thrall。　　

Duree　waved　her　arms　about　so　much　that　the　frail　woman　almost　lost　her　balance。　Her　spectacles　fell　off　her　nose　
and　dangled　from　their　string　around　her　neck。　I　know；　but　it　s　such　a　stupid　name。　I　mean；　orcs　have　names　like　
Hellscream　and　Doomhammer　and　Drek　Than　and　Burx　and　the　like；　and　he　calls　himself　Thrall？　What　self
respecting　orc　would　call　himself　that？　　

Not　bothering　to　explain　that　Thrall　was　more　selfrespecting　than　any　orc　she　d　known　since　the　explanation　had
never　worked　the　previous　hundred　times　she　d　tried　it　Jaina　said　instead；　It　s　Drek　Thar；　not　Drek　Than。　　
　
Either　way。　　Duree　put　her　spectacles　back　on　her　nose。　Those　are　good　orc　names。　Not　Thrall。　Anyhow；　how　d　it
go？　　

We　have　a　problem。　Get　Kristoff　in　here；　and　have　one　of　the　boys　find　Colonel　Lorena　and　tell　her　to　put　a　detail
together　that　s　traveling　to　Northwatch；　and　then　to　report　to　me。　　Jaina　sat　at　her　desk　and　started　sorting　through
the　scrolls；　trying　to　find　the　shipping　reports。　

Why　Lorena？　Shouldn　t　you　get　Lothar　or　Pierce？　Someone　less　I　don　t　know；　feminine？　They　re　a　rough　bunch
in　Northwatch。　　

Wondering　if　she　was　going　to　have　this　conversation　every　time　Lorena　s　name　came　up；　Jaina　said；　Lorena　s
tougher　than　Lothar　and　Pierce　bined。　She　ll　be　fine。　　

Duree　pouted；　a　poor　sight　on　such　an　old　woman。　It　ain　t　right。　Military　ain　t　women　s　work。　　

Giving　up　on　finding　the　shipping　records；　she　instead　glared　at　her　secretary。　　Neither　is　running　a　citystate。　　

Well；　that　s　different；　　Duree　said　weakly。　

How？　　

It　just　is。　　

Jaina　shook　her　head。　Three　years；　and　Duree　had　yet　to　e　up　with　a　better　answer　than　that。　Just　go　get
Kristoff　and　send　for　Lorena　before　I　turn　you　into　a　newt。　　

You　turn　me　into　a　newt；　you　ll　never　find　anything　again。　　

Throwing　up　her　hands　in　frustration。　I　can　t　find　anything　now。　Where　are　the　damn　shipping　records？　　

Smiling；　Duree　said；　Kristoff　has　em。　I　ll　tell　him　to　bring　　em　when　he　es；　shall　I？　　

Please。　　

Duree　bowed；　which　caused　her　spectacles　to　fall　off　again。　Then　she　left　the　chambers。　Jaina　briefly　considered
throwing　a　fireball　after　her；　but　decided　against　it。　Duree　was　right　without　her；　Jaina　never　would　be　able　to　find
anything。　

Moments　later；　Kristoff　arrived；　several　scrolls　in　hand。　Duree　said　you　wanted　to　see　me；　milady。　Or　did　you　just
want　these？　　He　indicated　the　scrolls。　

Both；　actually。　Thank　you；　　she　added　as　she　took　the　scrolls　from　him。　

Kristoff　was　Jaina　s　chamberlain。　While　she　ruled　Theramore；　Kristoff　was　the　one　who　ran　it。　His　capacity　for
irritating　minutiae　made　him　ideal　for　the　job；　and　had　been　the　primary　thing　keeping　Jaina　from　indulging　in　a
homicidal　rage　when　being　leader　became　too　much　for　her　notverybroad　shoulders　to　bear。　He　had　been　the　clerk
to　Highlord　Garithos　before　the　war；　when　his　anizational　skills　had　bee　legendary。　

Certainly；　he　did　not　advance　in　the　military　due　to　any　physical　prowess。　Kristoff　was　tall　but　rail　thin；　seeming　
almost　as　fragile　as　Duree；　who　at　least　had　old　age　to　blame。　His　straight；　dark；　justpastshoulderlength　hair
framed　an　angular　face　and　hawk　nose；　a　visage　that　seemed　t