魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第8部分

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To　run　from　battle　was　shameful。　But　Byrok　knew　he　had　a　higher　duty　to　perform　the　Burning　Blade　had
returned；　only　this　time　they　were　humans。　And　all　the　attackers；　not　just　the　two　he　d　noticed　before；　wore　that
flaming　sword　image　somewhere　on　them：　a　necklace；　a　tattoo；　something。　

This　was　information　that　needed　to　get　back　to　Thrall。　

So　Byrok　ran。　
　
Or；　rather；　he　hobbled。　His　wounds　were　taking　their　toll。　It　became　a　struggle　even　to　breathe。　

But　still　he　ran。　

Dimly；　he　registered　that　the　six　humans　were　giving　chase；　but　he　couldn　t　afford　to　pay　attention　to　that。　He　had
to　get　back　to　rimmar　and　tell　Thrall　what　was　happening。　Even　with　his　injury；　his　strides　were　greater　than
those　of　the　humans；　and　he　could　outrun　them。　Once　he　pulled　far　enough　ahead；　he　would　lose　them　in　the
underbrush　of　this　land　that　he　knew　better　than　any　outsider　possibly　could。　Besides；　they　only　seemed　to　want　to
beat　up　an　orc。　They　probably　did　not　realize　that　Byrok　understood　their　gutter　tongue；　and　therefore　they　did　not　
know　that　Byrok　knew　who　they　were。　They　would　not　chase　him　past　the　point　where　it　would　be　useful　to　them。　

Or　so　he　hoped。　

No　longer　were　there　any　thoughts　in　Byrok　s　mind。　He　cleared　his　head　of　all　save　the　critical　imperative　of
putting　one　foot　down　in　front　of　the　other；　the　ground　slamming　into　his　soles。　He　ignored　the　pain　in　his　leg；　and
in　all　the　other　places　they　d　beat　or　cut　him；　ignored　the　fact　that　his　one　good　eye　was　getting　foggy；　ignored　the
fatigue　that　drained　the　strength　from　his　limbs。　

Still　he　ran。　

Then　he　stumbled。　His　left　leg　refused　to　lift　as　it　was　supposed　to　but　his　right　leg　continued　to　run；　and　so　he　
crashed　to　the　ground；　high　grass　and　dirt　getting　in　his　nose　and　mouth　and　eye。　

Must…get…up…　　

You　ain　t　goin　　nowhere；　monster。　　Byrok　could　hear　the　voice；　hear　the　humans　　footfalls；　and　then　feel　the　
pressure　when　two　of　them　sat　on　his　back；　immobilizing　him。　　　Cause；　here　s　the　thing　your　time　is　over。　Orcs
don　t　belong　in　this　world；　and　so　we　re　gonna　take　you　out　of　it。　Got　me？　　

Byrok　managed　the　effort　of　lifting　his　head　so　he　could　see　two　of　the　humans。　He　spat　at　them。　

The　humans　just　laughed。　Let　s　do　it；　boys。　Galtak　Ered　nash！　　

The　other　five　all　replied　in　kind：　Galtak　Ered　nash！　　Then　they　started　beating　the　orc。　

Six　

A　n　hour　after　she　had　finished　questioning　Davin　and　Avinal；　Colonel　Lorena　gathered　her　detail　at　a　clearing　just　
outside　Northwatch。　Rocks　and　thick　trees　dotted　the　landscape；　and　sagebrush　poked　out　through　the　uneven
ground。　The　sun　shone　down　on　the　ground　and　the　flora；　making　everything　seem　to　glow　and　also　keeping　
everyone　quite　warm　in　their　plate　mail。　

Most　of　the　detail　Lorena　took　were　simply　the　top　names　on　the　duty　roster；　but　she　had　handpicked　two　of　them。
Though　young；　Strov　was　her　most　trusted　soldier　he　did　his　duty　provise　when
necessary；　but　when　it　wasn　t；　would　follow　orders　to　the　letter。　He　could　also　follow　anyone　without　losing　them
or　letting　his　prey　know　he　was　there。　

The　other　was　the　opposite　of　Strov：　Jalod　was　an　old　soldier　who　had　fought　against　orcs　back　when　nobody　knew
what　an　orc　was。　Rumor　had　it　that　he　had　trained　Admiral　Proudmoore；　though　Lorena　put　very　little　stock　in　that
one。　Either　way；　he　d　seen　everything；　done　everything；　and　lived　to　tell　exaggerated　stories　about　all　of　it。　

Strov　said；　Like　I　said　in　the　watch　office；　ma　am；　the　other　crew　corroborated　what　Captain　Avinal　said。　They　
couldn　t　see　a　thing　out　there。　I　doubt　they　had　any　confirmation　that　either　ath　ar　or　the　pirates　were　even
there。　　
　
And　if　they　were；　　another　soldier；　a　veteran　named　Paolo；　added；　they　weren　t　in　no　shape　to　be　helpin　　nobody。
Sailors　I　talked　to　was　scared　when　they　spoke　of　it。　　

Mal；　who　d　served　in　Azeroth　s　navy　years　ago；　nodded。　Can　t　blame　em。　Fog　s　the　worst。　No　way　to　get　your
bearings。　Usually　best　to　just　drop　anchor　till　it　passes。　Surprised　they　didn　t；　truth　be　told。　　

What　does　it　matter？　　

That　was　Jalod。　Lorena　frowned。　What　do　you　？　　

Them　orcs　decimated　Admiral　Proudmoore　s　fleet！　Killed　one　of　the　finest　men　ever　to　draw　breath！　If　it　were　me
in　charge　of　Avinal　s　boat；　I　d　a　been　helpin　　the　pirates。　It　s　shameful　is　what　it　is；　Lady　Proudmoore　betraying　her
own　to　those　savages　betraying　her　own　father　for　such　as　they。　It　s　shameful　that　she　s　got　us　doing　this　when　we　
should　be　goin　　after　those　monsters！　　

Everyone　shifted　unfortably　on　their　feet　at　those　words。　

That　is；　everyone　except　for　Lorena；　who　unsheathed　her　sword　and　put　the　point　right　at　Jalod　s　throat。　The　old
man　seemed　surprised　at　that；　and　his　blue　eyes　grew　wide　with　fear；　even　under　the　folds　of　wrinkly　flesh　that
covered　his　face。　

Speaking　in　a　low　and　dangerous　tone；　Lorena　said；　Never　speak　ill　of　Lady　Proudmoore　in　my　presence　again；
Sergeant。　I　don　t　care　who　you　served　with　or　how　many　trolls　and　demons　you　ve　killed；　if　you　ever　even　think　
such　thoughts　about　Lady　Proudmoore；　I　will　tear　you　open　stem　to　stern　and　feed　the　pieces　to　the　dogs。　Do　I　make　
myself　clear？　　

Strov　stepped　forward。　I　m　sure　the　sergeant　meant　no　disrespect　to　Lady　Proudmoore；　ma　am。　　

Course　not。　　Jalod　s　voice　was　shakier　now。　I　ain　t　got　nothin　　but　respect　for　her；　ma　am；　you　know　that。　It　s
just

Just　what？　　

Jalod　swallowed；　his　Adam　s　apple　butting　up　against　Lorena　s　sword　point。　Them　orcs　can　t　be　trusted　is　all　I　m
sayin　。　　

That　wasn　t　all　Jalod　was　saying；　but　Lorena　lowered　her　sword　anyhow。　Jalod　s　decades　of　service　earned　him　the
benefit　of　several　dozen　doubts；　and　those　words　were　very　much　out　of　character　for　a　man　who　had　eagerly　
served　under　Lady　Proudmoore　for　years　now；　going　back　to　the　days　before　Arthas　turned。　Indeed；　had　it　been
anyone　else；　she　would　not　have　bothered　with　the　warning　and　would　have　gone　straight　to　the　disemboweling。　

Sheathing　her　sword；　Lorena　said；　Let　s　head　back　to　the　dock。　We　ve　got　a　long　trip　home。　　

As　they　marched　back　toward　the　docks　where　their　transport　ship　was　berthed；　Lorena　wondered　what　was　going　
on。　She　d　been　a　soldier　for　all　of　her　adult　life。　The　youngest　of　ten　children；　and　the　only　girl；　she　d　wanted　to　be　
a　soldier　just　like　her　brothers　and　father。　She　had　even　convinced　herself　that　she　was　a　boy；　right　up　until　she
reached　her　thirteenth　summer　and　her　body　forced　her　to　confront　the　reality　that　she　was　female。　She　was　so
skilled　with　a　sword　and　shield　that　her　father　overcame　his　reluctance　and　sponsored　her　application　to　join　the　Kul
Tiras　City　Guard。　Over　the　years；　she　worked　her　way　up　the　ranks；　finally　being　promoted　to　colonel　by　Lady　
Proudmoore　herself　during　the　war　against　the　Burning　Legion。　

Over　those　years　she　had　honed　her　instincts　the　instincts　of　a　soldier　from　a　family　of　soldiers　and　those　
instincts　now　told　her　that　there　was　more　to　this　than　a　military　convoy　not　seeing　a　trading　ship　or　the　pirates
attacking　them　in　the　fog。　The　suspicion　had　been　in　the　back　of　her　mind　from　the　moment　she　arrived　at
Northwatch；　but　Jalod　s　words　put　it　to　the　front。　
　
She　wasn　t　sure　what　was　wrong；　precisely；　but　she　intended　to　find　out。　




As　they　marched　toward　the　edge　of　the　clearing；　Private　Strov　made　sure　to　keep　Sergeant　Jalod　in　his　sight　at　all　
times。　He　wasn　t　sure　what　had　gotten　into　the　old　buzzard；　but　Strov　didn　t　like　it；　not　one　bit。　

It　was　one　thing　to　plain　about　the　orcs。　That　was　to　be　expected；　given　the　history；　though　Strov　himself
generally　thought　of　the　orcs　as　victims　of　demonic　influence。　Made　as　much　sense　to　hate　them　as　it　did　Medivh；
and　he　was　revered　as　a　hero　despite　what　the　demons　did　to　him。　Still　and　all；　he　could　see　why　some　might　view
the　orcs　with　animosity。　

But　Lady　Proudmoore？　The　only　ones　who　had　reason　to　think　ill　of　her　were　the　Burning　Legion　and　those　that
were　sympathetic　to　their　cause。　

Jalod　was　never　one　to　express　such　feelings　in　the　past。　Which　led　Strov　to　think　that　perhaps　the　sergeant　was
losing　his　marbles。　Nothing　wrong　with　that　it　happened　to　the　best　of　people　but　it　could　endanger　them。　One　
of　the　things　they　drilled　into　you　in　training　was　that　you　had　to　rely　on　the　people　in　your　unit。　Strov　wasn　t　sure　
he　could　rely　on　Jalod　anymore。　

So　intent　was　he　on　keeping　the　sergeant　in　his　sight　line　at　all　times；　Strov　was　slow　to　pick　up　on　something　he　
should　have　noticed　earlier。　The　trees　and　rocks；　along　with　some　storage　sheds　used　for　Northwatch；　provided　an
almost　circular　border。　As　they　neared　the　circle　s　edge；　Strov　saw　four　figures　in　cloaks　hiding　behind　the　storage　
sheds；　the　trees；　or　the　rocks。　They　were　well　concealed；　but　Strov　had　a　keener　eye　than　most。　

Ambush！　　

At　Strov　s　cry；　all　seven　of　them　got　into　a　fighter　s　crouch　and　unsheathed　their　swords。　Simultaneously；　seven
figures　Strov　had　missed　three　of　them　leapt　out　from　cover。　

The　figures　were　massive；　their　cloaks　doing　an　inadequate　job　of　hiding　the　fact　that　they　were　orcs；　though　doing　
a　fine　job　of　hiding　any　distinguishing　features　they　might　have　had。　

Strov　noticed　something　else　as　he　parried　the　club　that　was　swinging　toward　his　head：　the　cloaks　had　an　emblem
on　the　breast　of　a　sword　on　fire。　That　was　familiar　to　Strov；　but　he　couldn　t　take　the　time　to　follow　up　on　the　
thought　just　at　the　moment；　as　the　becloaked　orc　was　doing　everything　possible　to　end　Strov　s　life。　

The　orc　swung　the　club　thrice　more；　and　all　three　times　Strov　parried；　but　on　the　third　he　also　stepped　in　and　kicked
the　orc　in　the　stomach。　Not　expecting　such　an　attack；　the　orc　stumbled；　and　Strov　thrust　at　it　with　his　sword。
However；　the　orc　had　the　wherewithal　to　block　the　thrust　with　its　club。　

Unfortunately　for　the　orc；　this　put　Strov　on　the　offensive。　He　kept　ing　with　different　thrusts　and　strikes；　hoping　
to　catch　the　orc　unawares；　but　his　foe　was　well　trained　and　had　amazingly　fast　reflexes　and　was　now　ready　for　
additional　kicks　or　punches　Strov　might　deliver。　Many　humans；　Strov　knew；　relied　wholly　on　their　weapons　to
fight；　but　Strov　had　always　preferred　to　use　his　entire　body。　

Strov　thrust　low；　hoping　that　the　orc　would　parry　low　enough　to　open　up　for　a　strike　to　the　head。　However；　the　orc　
anticipated；　and　only　held　the　club　with　one　hand；　the　other　hand　raised　and　protecting　its　face。　

So　Strov　kicked　down　at　the　orc　s　leg。　

The　kick　wasn　t　hard　enough　to　break　any　bones；　but　the　orc　stumbled　and　waved　both　arms　to　keep　its　balance。
That　gave　Strov　the　opening　he　needed　to　run　the　orc　through　the　chest。　
　
Or　so　he　thought。　The　sword　managed　to　perate　the　cloak　easily　enough；　about　halfway　up　the　blade；　but　Strov
felt　no　peration　of　flesh；　and　when　he　yanked　his　sword　out　which　took　more　effort　than　expected　there　was
no　blood　on　the　blade。　

Strov　gritted　his　teeth；　refusing　to　let　his　surprise　at　not　scoring　first　blood　distract　him　from　his　foe；　who　was　now
standing　steady　once　more。　

Taking　a　deep　breath；　Strov　moved　in　and　refused　to　let　up。　He　swung　at　the　orc　s　neck；　which　was　blocked；　then
immediately　went　for　the　stomach；　th