魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第6部分

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framed　an　angular　face　and　hawk　nose；　a　visage　that　seemed　to　wear　a　perpetual　scowl。　

Jaina　shared　Thrall　s　story　of　the　attack　on　ath　ar　and　the　nearby　vessel　doing　nothing　to　help。　

Raising　a　thin　eyebrow；　Kristoff　said；　The　story　does　not　seem　credible。　Half　a　league　off　Ratchet；　you　said？　　
　
Jaina　nodded。　

There　were　no　military　boats　assigned　to　that　region；　milady。　　

The　fog　was　thick　it　s　possible　that　the　boat　Captain　Bolik　saw　was　off　course。　　

Kristoff　nodded；　conceding　the　point。　However；　milady；　it　is　also　possible　that　Captain　Bolik　was　mistaken。　　

It　seems　unlikely。　　Jaina　walked　around　to　the　other　side　of　her　desk　and　sat　in　the　chair；　placing　the　shipping　
records　on　the　only　open　space。　Orcs　have　keener　eyesight　than　we　do；　remember；　and　they　tend　to　use　the　most　
gifted　in　eyesight　as　lookouts。　　

We　must　also　consider　the　possibility　that　the　orcs　are　lying。　　Before　Jaina　could　object　to　this　notion　which　she　
very　much　intended　to　do　Kristoff　held　up　a　longfingered　hand。　I　do　not　speak　of　Thrall；　now；　milady。　The　orcs　　
Warchief　is　an　honorable　man；　it　s　true。　You　do　well　to　place　your　trust　in　him；　and　I　believe　that　he　is　simply　
relaying　what　he　was　told　by　his　people。　　

Then　what　are　you　saying？　　Jaina　knew　the　answer　to　the　question；　but　wanted　to　hear　Kristoff　confirm　it。　

I　am　saying　the　same　thing　that　I　have　said　to　you　all　along；　milady　we　cannot　afford　to　blindly　trust　the　orcs。
Individual　orcs　have　proven　honorable；　yes；　but　orcs　as　a　whole？　We　would　be　fools　to　assume　that　they　all　wish　us
well；　and　that　they　all　will　be　as　enlightened　as　Thrall。　He　was　a　strong　ally　against　the　Burning　Legion；　and　I　have　
nothing　but　admiration　for　what　he　has　done　but　what　he　has　done　is　temporary。　　Kristoff　set　his　thin　hands　down
on　the　desk；　leaning　toward　Jaina。　The　only　thing　keeping　the　orcs　in　line　is　Thrall；　and　the　minute　he　is　gone；　I　
can　assure　you；　milady；　the　orcs　will　revert　to　type　and　do　everything　they　can　to　destroy　us。　　

Jaina　barked　a　laugh；　involuntarily。　Kristoff　s　words　mirrored　Jaina　and　Thrall　s　conversation　yet　it　seemed　less
rational　ing　out　of　the　chamberlain　s　mouth。　

Kristoff　straightened。　Something　amuses　you；　milady？　　

No。　I　believe　you　are　overestimating　the　situation。　　

And　I　believe　you　are　underestimating　it。　This　citystate　is　all　that　keeps　Kalimdor　from　being　run　entirely　by　the　
orcs。　　Kristoff　hesitated；　which　was　unusual。　The　chamberlain　had　made　a　career　out　of　being　forthright；　which　was
one　of　his　more　useful　characteristics。　

What　is　it；　Kristoff？　　

Our　allies　are…concerned。　The　notion　of　an　entire　continent　under　orc　rule　is…disturbing　to　many。　At　present；
little　is　being　done；　in　part　because　there　are　other　issues；　but

But　right　now　I　m　all　that　is　preventing　an　invasion？　　

As　long　as　the　Lady　Proudmoore　great　wizard；　victor　against　the　Burning　Legion　rules　the　humans　on
Kalimdor；　the　rest　of　the　world　will　sleep　well　at　night。　The　moment　they　believe　that　the　Lady　Proudmoore　cannot
keep　the　orcs　in　line；　that　will　change。　And　the　invasion　force　will　make　your　late　father　s　fleet　look　like　a　pair　of　
rowboats。　　

Jaina　leaned　back　in　her　chair。　In　truth；　she　had　given　little　thought　to　the　world　beyond　Kalimdor；　busy　as　she　had
been　with　fighting　the　demons　and　then　building　Theramore。　And　her　own　father　s　attack　drove　home　the　fact　that
those　who　had　not　actually　fought　alongside　the　orcs　still　viewed　them　as　little　more　than　animals。　

But　Kristoff　should　have　known　better。　What　is　it　you　are　suggesting；　Chamberlain？　　
　
That　this　Captain　Bolik　might　be　an　agitator；　trying　to　turn　Thrall　against　you　against　us。　Even　with　Northwatch；
we　are　very　much　alone　within　Theramore　s　gates；　and　could　easily　find　ourselves　surrounded　by　orcs　and　more；
with　the　trolls　already　on　their　side　and　the　goblins　unlikely　to　take　any　side。　　

Jaina　shook　her　head。　Kristoff　s　prediction　was　the　worst　nightmare　of　every　human　living　on　Kalimdor。　It　seemed
like　only　yesterday　that　they　were　well　on　the　road　to　making　those　nightmares　an　impossibility。　Trade　with　the　orcs
was　going　smoothly；　the　Barrens　neutral　territory　between　Durotar　and　Theramore　had　been　peaceful　and
orderly；　and　the　two　species　that　had　once　despised　each　other　had　lived　in　peace　for　three　years。　

The　question　Jaina　now　asked　herself　was　whether　or　not　this　was　a　portent　of　how　things　should　be；　or　simply　a　
resting　period　while　they　recovered　from　the　Burning　Legion　and　just　the　calm　before　the　inevitable　storm？　

Before　Jaina　could　contemplate　further；　a　tall；　darkhaired　woman　with　a　square　face；　pointed　nose；　and　broad
shoulders　entered。　She　wore　the　standard　military　uniform　of　plate　armor　with　a　green　tabbard　depicting　the　anchor
shaped　emblem　of　Kul　Tiras；　the　former　home　of　the　Proudmoore　family。　

Raising　her　right　hand　to　her　forehead　in　salute；　she　said；　Colonel　Lorena　reporting　as　ordered；　milady。　　

Standing；　Jaina　said；　Thank　you；　Colonel。　Stand　easy。　Duree　told　you　what　is　required？　　Jaina　always　felt　short
next　to　Lorena　and　so　preferred　to　stand　in　her　presence；　to　give　herself　as　much　height　as　her　smaller　form　would
provide。　

Lowering　her　hand　and　putting　both　arms　behind　her　back；　but　otherwise　still　standing　ramrod　straight　with　perfect
posture；　Lorena　said；　Yes；　ma　am；　she　did。　We　leave　for　Northwatch　within　the　hour；　and　I　ve　sent　a　runner　to
inform　Major　Davin　of　our　arrival。　　

Good。　That　ll　be　all；　both　of　you。　　

Lorena　saluted；　turned　on　her　heel；　and　exited。　Kristoff；　however；　hung　back　a　moment。　

When　the　chamberlain　refused　to　speak；　Jaina　prompted　him。　What　is　it；　Kristoff？　　

It　might　be　wise　to　have　the　detail　acpanying　Lorena　remain　at　Northwatch　to　fortify　it。　　

Without　hesitation；　Jaina　said；　No。　　

Milady

The　orcs　want　us　out　of　Northwatch　altogether；　Kristoff。　And　while　I　understand　why　we　can　t　accede　to　that
request；　I　am　not　going　to　do　something　as　provocative　as　reinforce　it；　especially　when　they　believe　that　we　refused
to　help　them　against　pirates。　　

I　still　think

You　ve　been　excused；　Chamberlain；　　Jaina　said　frostily。　

Kristoff　glowered　at　her　for　a　moment　before　bowing　low；　spreading　his　arms；　and　saying；　Milady；　　before　taking　
his　leave。　

Four　

I　　m　not　sure　I　understand　what　the　problem　is；　Colonel。　　
　
Lorena　stared　out　the　window　of　the　small　watch　office　for　Northwatch　Keep。　The　statement　had　been　made　by　
Major　Davin；　the　current　mandant　of　Northwatch；　who　had　been　frustrating　Lorena　since　she　and　her　six
soldier　detail　arrived　an　hour　ago。　

From　his　seat　at　the　small　desk　in　the　watch　office　s　center；　Davin；　a　stout　man　with　a　thick　beard；　had　told　Lorena　
that　there　was　a　convoy　ship　that　had　gotten　lost　in　the　fog。　It　was　possible　that　that　was　the　ship　the　orcs　claimed　to
have　seen。　

Lorena　turned　to　look　down　at　him　made　easy　by　his　being　seated；　though　Lorena　was　taller　than　the　major　even
when　standing　and　said；　The　problem；　Major；　is　that　the　orcs　were　expecting　help　from　us。　And　they　should　ve　
gotten　it。　　

What　for？　　Davin　sounded　genuinely　confused。　

They　re　our　allies。　　Lorena　couldn　t　believe　she　needed　to　explain　this。　Davin　was　a　hero　during　the　war；　having　
been　the　only　survivor　of　a　brutal　massacre　of　his　platoon；　which　was　escorting　a　wizard　who　was　also　killed。　The　
intelligence　he　brought　back　had　been　invaluable。　

But　now　the　war　hero　just　shrugged。　They　fought　with　us；　sure；　but　that　was　necessity。　Colonel；　they　re　not　even
civilized。　Only　reason　to　put　up　with　em　s　cause　of　Thrall；　and　he　s　only　worth　it　cause　he　was　raised　by　humans。
But　what　happens　to　them　ain　t　our　concern。　　

Lady　Proudmoore　disagrees　with　that　sentiment；　　Lorena　said　in　a　tight　voice；　and　so　do　I。　　She　turned　back
around。　The　view　of　the　Great　Sea　from　this　window　was　quite　spectacular；　and　Lorena　found　she　preferred　it　to
looking　at　Davin　s　annoying　face。　I　ve　sent　my　people　to　find　Captain　Avinal　and　his　crew　to　get　their　side　of　the
story。　　

Now　Davin　stood　up。　With　all　due　respect；　Colonel；　there　s　no　side。　　Avinal　s　boat　got　lost。　They　got　back　on
course。　They　came　home。　If　an　orc　ship　got　itself　attacked　by　pirates；　then　fine；　but　it　s　not　our　problem。　　

Yes；　actually；　it　is。　　She　refused　to　turn　to　look　at　him。　Pirates；　on　the　whole；　aren　t　especially　picky　about　who
they　attack。　They　ll　go　after　goblins；　orcs；　trolls；　ogres；　elves；　dwarves　or　humans。　If　there　are　pirates　operating　
that　close　to　Ratchet；　it　does　concern　us。　　

I　ve　been　assigned　to　this　post　for　three　years；　Colonel。　　Davin　sounded　petulant　now。　I　don　t　need　you　to　tell　me
about　pirates。　　

If　that　s　the　case；　then　you　shouldn　t　need　me　to　remind　you　why　an　orc　ship　being　harassed　is　your　concern。　　

A　small　private　whose　uniform　looked　as　if　it　had　been　fitted　for　someone　a　full　head　taller；　knocked　meekly　on　the　
door　to　the　watch　office。　Uh；　sir；　there　s　some　people　here　to　see　you　and　Colonel　Lorena；　sir；　if　that　s　okay；　sir。　　

Who？　　Davin　asked。　

Uh；　Captain　Avinal；　sir；　and　a　soldier　I　don　t　know；　sir。　　

That　d　be　Strov；　　Lorena　said。　He　s　the　one　I　told　to　bring　the　captain　here。　　

Davin　fixed　Lorena　with　a　glare。　And　what　s　the　use　of　embarrassing　the　man　by　bringin　　him　up　to　the　watch
office　like　a　mon　prisoner？　　

Lorena　started　mentally　posing　the　letter　to　Lady　Proudmoore　and　General　Norris　remending　that　Davin　be
reassigned　to　kitchen　detail。　First　of　all；　Major；　I　would　think　you　d　prefer　that　I　talk　to　your　captain　in　your
presence。　Secondly　do　you　usually　bring　criminals　to　the　watch　office　rather　than　the　brig？　　
　
Apparently；　Davin　was　content　to　continue　glaring　rather　than　answer　her　question。　

So　Lorena　turned　to　the　young　officer。　Send　them　both　in　please；　Private。　　

Irritatingly；　the　private　looked　to　Davin　first。　The　major　nodded；　and　only　then　did　the　private　go　back　out。　

Two　men　then　entered　the　small　office。　Strov　was　the　most　average　person　Lorena　knew　average　height；　weight；
and　build；　brown　hair；　brown　eyes；　small　mustache。　He　looked　like　every　other　adult　human　male　in　the　world；
which　was　one　of　several　reasons　why　he　was　such　a　good　tracker。　So　nondescript　was　he　that　nobody　noticed　he　
was　there。　

Following　Strov　was　a　man　with　the　weathered　look　of　an　experienced　sailor。　His　gait　was　awkward；　as　if　he　
walked　expecting　the　deck　to　buckle　under　him；　and　his　face　bore　the　wrinkles　and　redness　of　long　exposure　to　the　
sun。　

Captain　Avinal；　　Davin　said；　moving　back　to　his　chair；　this　is　Colonel　Lorena。　Lady　Proudmoore　sent　her　up
from　Theramore　to　find　out　why　a　pirate　ship　attacked　an　orc　ship。　　

Avinal　frowned。　I　d　think　that　d　be　obvious；　Colonel。　　

Sparing　a　moment　to　give　Davin　a　glare　of　her　own；　Lorena　then　regarded　Avinal。　The　major　s　stated　reason　for　
my　being　here　is　not　quite　accurate。　I　know　why　a　pirate　ship　attacked　an　orc　trader　what　I　don　t　know　is　why　you
didn　t　help　them。　　

Pointing　at　Strov；　Avinal　asked；　　That　why　this　man　and　his　people　ve　been　harassin　　my　crew？　　

Private　Strov　and　his　rades　are　following　the　lady　s　orders；　Captain；　as　am　I。　　

I　ve　got　a　patrol　to　make；　ma　am。　There　any　way　this　can　wait