魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第23部分

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What　are　you　talking　about？　　Kristoff　asked。　

Please；　Kristoff；　　the　lady　said；　tell　me　that　Aegwynn　is　mistaken。　Please　tell　me　that　you　have　not　consorted　with
Zmodlor　and　the　Burning　Blade。　　

Milady；　it　isn　t　what　you　think。　　

Her　stomach　having　finished　torturing　her；　Lorena　was　finally　able　to　stand　upright。　She　saw　a　rather　interesting　
tableau。　Kristoff　stood　in　front　of　the　throne；　looking　frightened。　Aegwynn　looked　mildly　peeved；　which　wasn　t
qualitatively　different　from　how　she　d　looked　since　Lorena　met　her。　

But　in　Lady　Proudmoore；　she　saw　something　new：　a　cold　fury。　A　storm　seemed　to　be　gathering　behind　her　eyes；
and　Lorena　found　herself　very　grateful　that　the　lady　was　on　her　side。　

Not　what　I　think？　What　is　it；　exactly；　Kristoff；　that　I　should　think？　　

The　orcs　must　be　eliminated；　milady。　Zmodlor　has　the　same　goal；　and　he　is　a　minor　demon。　I　have　already　put　in
place　the　sequence　of　events　that　will　banish　him　from　the　world　altogether　when　we　are　done。　　

　　Done　？　Done　with　what？　Tell　me　what　it　is　you　ve　set　in　motion；　Kristoff。　　
　
A　chain　of　events　that　will　drive　the　orcs　from　this　world　forever。　It　is　for　the　best；　milady。　They　do　not　belong　in
this　world；　and

You　idiot！　　

Kristoff　reacted　as　if　he　d　been　slapped。　Lorena　was　no　less　surprised　than　the　chamberlain。　In　all　the　time　she　d
served　under　her；　the　colonel　had　never　heard　Lady　Proudmoore　speak　with　such　vehement　anger。　

Zmodlor　is　a　demon。　Do　you　truly　believe　that　you　will　be　able　to　stop　him？　　She　pointed　at　the　old　woman。　This
is　Aegwynn；　the　greatest　of　the　Guardians。　　

Aegwynn　snorted　at　that；　but　both　the　lady　and　Kristoff　ignored　her。　

She　was　unable　to　pletely　defeat　Zmodlor　at　the　height　of　her　power。　What　makes　you　think　you　ll　fare　better？　
And　even　if　you　could；　no　goal　is　worth　risking　an　alliance　with　a　demon。　Their　only　purpose　is　to　create　havoc　and
desolation。　Or　was　the　destruction　of　Lordaeron　not　enough　for　you？　Must　Kalimdor　follow　in　its　wake　once　this
war　you　seem　bent　on　starting　at　Northwatch　breaks　out？　　

Besides；　　Aegwynn　said；　even　if　you　had　the　means　to　destroy　or　banish　Zmodlor；　you　couldn　t　do　it。　You　re　in
his　thrall。　　

That　s　absurd！　　Kristoff　sounded　even　more　nervous　now。　Ours　is　simply　an　alliance　of　convenience；　and　once　
the　orcs　are　gone

The　orcs　are　our　allies；　Kristoff！　　Lightning　seemed　to　crackle　around　her　golden　hair；　and　a　small　breeze　seemed
to　materialize　at　her　ankles；　billowing　the　lady　s　white　cloak。　That　alliance　was　fed　in　blood。　And　the　demons　
are　the　enemies　of　everything　that　lives。　How　could　you　betray　us　betray　me　like　that？　　

Kristoff　was　sweating　profusely　now。　I　swear　to　you；　milady；　it　is　not　a　betrayal。　I　was　simply　doing　what　was　best
for　Theramore！　The　Burning　Blade　is　simply　a　cult　of　warlocks　under　Zmodlor　s　direction　that　are　bringing　out　the　
natural　hostility　toward　orcs。　They　re　doing　nothing　but　abetting　what　s　already　there！　　

What　about　the　orcs　who　are　members？　　Lorena　asked。　

What？　　Kristoff　sounded　confused。　

The　orcs　who　attacked　me　and　my　troops　at　Northwatch；　they　were　part　of　the　Burning　Blade　and　they　were　
orcs。　How　do　they　fit　in？　　

I 　Kristoff　seemed　to　be　at　a　loss。　

Lady　Proudmoore　angrily　shook　her　head。　How　many；　Kristoff？　How　many　will　die　to　provide　your　perfect　orc
free　world？　　

Now　Kristoff　seemed　to　be　on　surer　ground。　Far　fewer　than　if　we　wait　until　Thrall　dies　and　the　orcs　revert　to　type。
This　was　the　only

Enough！　　Now　the　breeze　kicked　into　high　gear；　and　lightning　shot　out　from　the　lady　s　fingertips。　

Kristoff　screamed　a　second　later；　clutching　his　left　shoulder。　Smoke　started　to　wisp　out　from　it　between　his　fingers。　

Instinctively；　Lorena　ran　to　Kristoff　and　ripped　away　the　cloth　of　his　shirt。　

There　was　a　tattoo　on　his　shoulder　blade　of　a　sword　on　fire；　identical　to　the　ones　Lorena；　Strov；　Clai；　Jalod；　and　the　
others　saw　on　the　orcs　they　fought　at　Northwatch。　The　tattoo　was　now　burning。　
　
A　second　later；　the　tattoo　was　gone；　leaving　only　charred　flesh　in　its　wake。　Kristoff　collapsed　to　the　floor　like　a　sack
of　suet；　his　eyes　fluttering。　

In　a　quiet　voice；　Aegwynn　said；　Zmodlor　s　gone。　　

Yes。　　Lady　Proudmoore　sounded　calmer　now。　And　my　casting　that　exorcism　spell　likely　alerted　him　to　the　fact
that　we　re　on　to　him。　　

M　sorry…　　

Lorena　knelt　down　at　Kristoff　s　side。　His　words　were　barely　a　whisper。　

Thought…what　I　did…of　own　free　will…but　Zmodlor…controlled…everything。　So…sorry…sorry…　　

The　light　faded　from　his　eyes。　

All　three　women　stood　in　silence　for　several　seconds。　

The　sad　thing　to　Lorena　was　that　Kristoff　hadn　t　been　a　bad　person；　truly。　He　had　done　what　he　thought　best　for
Theramore。　He　had　been　doing　his　duty。　Of　course；　he　had　done　it　spectacularly　badly；　but　his　heart　had　been　in　the　
right　place。　That；　in　turn；　made　her　feel　guilty。　There　had　been　times　when　she　wished　Kristoff　dead；　but　now　that
he　was　dead；　she　felt　sad。　

She　looked　at　Lady　Proudmoore。　We　have　to　get　to　Northwatch。　If　we　re　lucky；　the　war　won　t　have　started　yet；
and　maybe　we　can　get　the　troops　to　stand　down。　You　ve　got　to　do　it　in　person；　though；　milady　Major　Davin　won　t
take　orders　from　anyone　else。　　

Lady　Proudmoore　nodded。　You　re　right。　I　ll

No。　　

That　was　Aegwynn。　The　lady　gazed　at　her　coolly。　I　beg　your　pardon？　　

There　s　magic　afoot　here；　Lady　Proudmoore；　and　you　re　the　only　person　in　Kalimdor　who　can　stop　it。　Your　
erstwhile　chamberlain　was　right　about　one　thing　Zmodlor　is　a　minor　demon。　He　was　a　sycophant　of　Sargeras　s。
He　doesn　t　have　the　power　to　influence　so　many　people　or　to　raze　a　forest　and　teleport　the　trees；　if　it　es　to
that。　Those　warlocks　Kristoff　mentioned　are　the　source　of　all　this　they　re　acting　in　Zmodlor　s　name；　probably　in　
exchange　for　rare　scrolls　or　some　other　such　thing。　　She　shook　her　head。　Warlocks　go　after　spells　like　an　addict　to
a　poppy　plant。　It　s　revolting。　　

We　don　t　have　time　to　go　on　a　hunt　for　a　group　of　warlocks；　　Lorena　said。　

Those　warlocks　are　the　source　of　all　this；　Colonel；　　Aegwynn　said。　

Lorena　looked　at　Lady　Proudmoore。　For　all　we　know；　milady；　the　fighting　has　already　started。　If　it　hasn　t；　it　may　
at　any　second；　if　Kristoff　was　right　about　those　orc　and　troll　troops　heading　down。　Once　the　fighting　starts；　it　won　t
matter　who　or　what　caused　it　there　will　be　bloodshed；　and　once　that　line　is　crossed；　the　alliance　will　be
permanently　sundered。　　

Aegwynn　also　regarded　the　lady。　Time　is　of　the　essence。　You　said　yourself　that　Zmodlor　knows　that　you　re　on　to
him。　We　have　to　strike　now；　before　he　has　a　chance　to　form　a　strategy　against　you。　And　you　can　t　be　in　two　places
at　once。　　
　
Then　the　lady　smiled。　It　was　a　radiant　smile；　one　that　Lorena　took　as　something　of　a　relief　after　the　anger　she　had
displayed　toward　Kristoff。　I　don　t　need　to　be　in　two　places　at　once。　　She　walked　to　the　entryway　of　her　chambers。
Lorena　and　Aegwynn　exchanged　confused　glances；　and　then　followed。　

When　they　walked　in；　they　saw　Lady　Proudmoore　rummaging　through　the　scrolls　on　her　desk；　before　finally　saying；
Aha！　　

She　turned　around　and　held　up　a　rock　that　was　carved　into　an　intricate　shape。　Then　it　started　to　glow…。　

Nieen　

S　ir；　the　orcs；　they　ve　set　up　camp。　　

Major　Davin　started　ripping　out　tufts　of　his　beard；　dress　code　be　damned。　How　many？　　

Shrugging；　Corporal　Rych　said；　Impossible　to　be　sayin　　for　sure；　sir。　　

Davin　closed　his　eyes　and　counted　to　five。　Take　a　guess。　　

Another　shrug。　Lookout；　he　be　sayin　　there　s　at　least　six　hundred；　sir　but　hard　to　say　for　sure；　sir。　They　be　stayin　　
far　enough　back　that　they　ain　t　violatin　　no　borders　or　nothin　；　but

At　Rych　s　hesitation；　Davin　sighed　and　prompted　him。　But　what？　　

Well；　sir；　right　now　they　just　be　sittin　　there；　but　I　don　t　think　that　ll　be　lastin　；　sir。　Specially　once　those　boats
arrive。　　

Again；　Davin　sighed。　It　seemed　that　sighing　was　all　he　did　these　days。　Dozens　of　boats　carrying　orcs　and　trolls　alike　
were　seen　heading　south　on　the　Great　Sea　a　day　ago；　heading　right　for　Northwatch。　They　d　arrive　within　a　couple　of　
hours。　

At　that　point；　Davin　would　have　a　decision　to　make。　

His　instructions　from　Chamberlain　Kristoff　who；　with　Lady　Proudmoore　promised　by　these　Burning　Blade　
people；　was　in　charge　were　to　hold　Northwatch　no　matter　what。　　

Davin　had　no　idea　how　he　was　supposed　to　do　that。　

He　hadn　t　even　wanted　to　be　a　soldier。　True；　he　had　an　aptitude　for　violence　that　made　him　very　attractive　to　the　
recruiter　who　came　to　his　village　as　a　boy；　but　he　was　also　a　tremendous　physical　coward。　He　managed　to　fake　it　
through　training；　mostly　by　virtue　of　never　actually　being　in　danger。　If　it　was　just　playacting；　Davin　had　no
difficulties　at　all。　Use　his　sword　on　a　straw　dummy？　No　problem。　But　real　bat　against　a　fleshandblood　foe？　
Then　he　was　hopeless。　

So　the　first　time　he　had　faced　off　against　a　person；　he　had　thought　he　d　be　doomed。　But　he　had　lucked　out　by　being　
part　of　a　particularly　talented　platoon。　Davin　had　done　little　when　he　had　faced　off　against　the　renegade　dwarves
who　had　e　to　his　village　to　try　to　escape　dwarven　justice　after　a　failed　attempt　to　overthrow　the　existing　
government。　But　the　rest　of　his　platoon　had　done　quite　well；　capturing　or　killing　all　the　dwarves。　Davin　had　been
able　to　bask　in　the　reflected　glory　of　his　rades。　

Then　the　Burning　Legion　had　e。　

It　had　been　awful。　People　had　died　all　around　him。　Lordaeron　had　been　destroyed。　Humans　and　orcs　had　fought　side　
by　side。　The　entire　world　had　turned　upside　down。　Davin　had　never　understood　why　Lady　Proudmoore　had　chosen
　
to　ally　with　the　orcs　they　were　devils；　not　significantly　better　than　the　demons　themselves　but　nobody　had　asked
Davin　his　advice。　

The　worst　day　had　been　in　some　forest　somewhere。　Davin　hadn　t　even　known　where　it　was；　only　that　he　was　there　
with　the　tattered　remains　of　his　platoon；　and　they　were　trying　to　find　a　demon　stronghold　so　some　wizard　or　other　
could　learn　its　secrets。　Davin　s　job　was　simple：　protect　the　wizard。　Everyone　else　was　seeking　out　the　stronghold。　

Unfortunately；　they　found　it。　The　demons　didn　t　take　kindly　to　the　notion。　

As　soon　as　they　came；　their　eyes　aflame；　Davin　panicked　and　hid　behind　one　of　the　oaks。　He　left　the　wizard
exposed；　and　while　the　mage　tried　his　best　to　defend　himself；　eventually　one　of　the　demons　set　him　afire。　While　
Davin　watched　from　the　safety　of　his　arboreal　hiding　place；　the　wizard　he　was　supposed　to　be　protecting　screamed
in　agony　and　died　very　very　slowly。　

Somehow　Davin　was　never　entirely　clear　why　the　demons　overlooked　him。　Perhaps　they　didn　t　deem　Davin　to
be　a　threat；　which　was　certainly　true。　Either　way；　though；　when　his　platoon　was　wiped　out　and　the　demons　buggered
off　to　wherever　it　was　demons　buggered　off　to；　Davin　ran　back　to　base　camp；　expecting　to　be　excoriated　for　being　
such　a　coward；　but　willing　to　face　the　consequences；　as　long　as　he　wouldn　t　have　to　go　out　and　face　such　a　thing　
again。　

Instead；　they　hailed　him　as　a　hero　for　surviving　the　deadly　onslaught　and　ing　back　to　report　what　had　happened。　

Then　they　promoted　him。　

Davin　was　stunned。　He　was　no　hero；　he　was；　in　fact