魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第26部分

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Jaina。　　

Aloud；　she　said；　Zmodlor　s　here；　all　right。　　She　shuddered。　He　s　everywhere。　　The　demon　had　obviously　set　up
shop　in　this　cave；　and　his　essence　was　in　the　very　rock。　She　hadn　t　been　so　overwhelmed　by　foulness　since　she
confronted　her　son　at　Kharazan　though　some　of　the　feeling　might　have　been　due　to　the　mist。　It　only　added　to　the　
general　unpleasantness　of　the　dank　cave。　Jaina　cast　a　light　spell　that　allowed　them　to　see；　but　all　that　served　to　do
was　make　the　mist　brighter。　Then　again；　Aegwynn　had　no　interest　in　getting　a　better　look　at　the　damp　walls；
stalactites　the　points　of　which　threatened　the　top　of　her　head　and　uneven　stone　floor。　

After　they　d　walked　twenty　paces　into　the　cave；　Aegwynn　stiffened。　There　s

I　ve　got　it；　　Jaina　said。　She　muttered　a　quick　incantation。　

Aegwynn　nodded。　Both　she　and　Jaina　had　sensed　the　simple　entrapment　spell。　A　lowlevel　spell　that　any　firstyear
apprentice　could　cast　successfully；　it　was　probably　designed　mostly　to　stop　any　stray　animals　or　people　from
wandering　in　unannounced。　It　was　unlikely　that　someone　would　be　walking　about　up　in　this　nightmare；　but
Aegwynn　had　seen　stranger　in　her　time。　It　would　be　just　like　some　wolf　or　a　lunatic　mountainclimbing　dwarf　to
e　up　here　and　meander　into　the　cavern　just　as　Zmodlor　and　his　minions　were　in　the　middle　of　casting　something　
that　required　concentration。　Best　not　to　take　chances。　

However；　dismantling　the　spell　might　well　serve　as　an　alarm。　Aegwynn　made　sure　to　keep　Lorena　and　her　sword
and　Jaina　and　her　magicks　between　herself　and　the　rest　of　the　cave　at　all　times。　

Moments　later；　Lorena　cried；　Get　down！　　

Not　being　a　fool；　Aegwynn　immediately　dropped　to　the　cold　floor。　Lorena　did　likewise。　

Jaina；　however；　stood　her　ground　and　held　up　her　hands。　The　fireball　that　roared　toward　her　looked　about　to
consume　her　　

but　it　stopped　an　arm　slength　before　doing　so；　dissipating　instantly。　

Clambering　to　her　feet；　Aegwynn　said；　I　d　say　they　know　we　re　here。　　

Indeed。　　Jaina　s　voice　was　only　a　whisper。　

Oh　yes。　　

Aegwynn　sighed。　The　voice　seemed　to　e　from　everywhere　a　popular　demon　trick。　Can　the　theatrics；
Zmodlor。　We　re　not　your　brainless　minions；　and　we　re　not　impressed。　　
　
Aegwynn！　What　a　pleasant　surprise。　I　had　thought　you　had　long　since　died　at　the　hands　of　your　son。　How　fortunate　
that　I　get　to　do　it　myself；　instead。　I　owe　you　for　what　you　did　to　me。　　

Even　as　the　demon　ranted；　Aegwynn　heard　strange　cackling　noises。　

I　know　that　laugh。　　Lorena　sounded　disgusted。　Grellkin。　　

Sure　enough；　a　score　of　little　demons；　covered　in　fur　that　matched　the　color　of　the　mist；　scampered　toward　them。　

Moving　forward　to　protect　Aegwynn　and　Jaina　both；　Lorena　said；　I　really　really　hate　these　guys。　　Then　she　
charged　ahead　and　attacked。　

The　fuzzy　creatures　were　too　much　for　one　woman　to　handle；　luckily；　there　were　two　women　to　do　so。　Jaina　cast
several　spells　that　had　various　effects　on　the　grellkin。　Some　had　their　fur　catch　fire。　Others　stopped　breathing。
Others　were　blown　into　the　cave　walls　by　sudden　galeforce　winds　in　the　enclosed　space。　None　of　these　were　
particularly　impressive　spells；　but　they　were　all　minor　enough　that　they　allowed　Jaina　to　conserve　her　power。　

But　that　was　only　the　first　wave。　After　the　first　twenty　were　killed；　twenty　more　replaced　them。　

This　is　a　distraction；　　Aegwynn　said。　

Yes；　　Jaina　said。　She　cast　another　spell　that　disintegrated　the　twenty　grellkin。　

Another　line　of　ten　were　behind　them。　

Colonel；　　Jaina　said　quickly；　can　you　handle　these？　　

Lorena　grinned。　Watch　me。　　

Good。　　

As　the　colonel　waded　into　the　demonic　attackers；　Jaina　closed　her　eyes　and　almost　stumbled。　Aegwynn　moved　to
grab　her。　Are　you　all　right？　　

With　refreshing　honesty；　Jaina　said；　No。　I　can　cast　the　banishment；　but　only　if　I　don　t　cast　anything　else。　Lorena　
has　to　take　care

A　piercing　scream　echoed　throughout　the　cavern　as　Lorena　managed　to　stab　the　last　three　grellkin　with　one　thrust　of
her　sword。　She　yanked　the　sword　out；　and　the　creatures　collapsed　to　the　floor。　Staring　at　the　ichorencrusted　blade；
Lorena　sighed。　I　m　never　going　to　get　these　stains　off。　　

I　suspect　that　will　be　the　least　of　your　problems。　　

This　time　the　voice　didn　t　e　from　everywhere：　it　came　from　right　in　front　of　them。　

The　orange　mist　parted；　which　Aegwynn　knew　couldn　t　possibly　be　a　good　sign。　It　revealed　the　massive　form　of
Zmodlor。　

TwentyThree　

P　anic　rooted　Davin　to　the　very　spot。　Around　him；　his　soldiers　were　dying；　their　limbs　being　hacked　off；　blades
slicing　through　their　chests；　axes　cutting　off　their　heads。　

And　Davin　simply　stood　there；　waiting　to　die。　
　
He　had　thought　for　sure　that　as　soon　as　the　fighting　menced；　Burx　would　cleave　him　in　two　with　his　ax。　But　the　
orc　got　sidetracked　by　a　couple　of　other　soldiers　who　leapt　in　to　defend　their　manding　officer。　Davin　wasn　t
entirely　clear　what　he　had　done　to　inspire　such　loyalty。　

After　that；　no　one　came　after　him。　Orcs　and　trolls　picked　humans　to　fight；　or　vice　versa；　and　somehow　Davin；
standing　closer　to　the　shoreline　than　anyone　else；　got　ignored。　

The　body　of　a　troll　fell　at　his　feet。　The　body　of　Corporal　Barnes　flew　past　in　a　high　arc　and　landed　in　the　water。
Davin　wondered　why　Barnes　s　orc　opponent　felt　the　need　to　throw　Barnes　so　far；　then　decided　that　he　really　didn　t
want　to　know。　

Then　the　world　exploded。　

An　earthquake　shook　the　ground　so　heavily　that　it　acplished　what　panic　had　prevented：　it　got　Davin　to　move；
albeit　to　fall　to　the　ground。　

Though　there　hadn　t　been　a　cloud　in　the　sky　a　moment　ago　in　fact；　it　had　been　a　clear；　sunny　day　now　the　skies
had　gone　dark；　and　thunder　and　lightning　struck　the　ground　with　an　earsplitting　crack。　

Davin　heard　a　rumble　and　looked　to　the　shoreline　to　see　a　massive　wave　start　to　rise　up。　In　all　the　time　Davin　had
been　assigned　to　Northwatch；　he　d　never　seen　a　wave　that　big　hit　the　shore　that　wasn　t　due　to　the　wake　of　a　boat。　

However；　this　wave　was　as　high　as　the　keep　s　wall　and　it　was　about　to　e　crashing　down　right　on　Davin。　

Quickly；　he　tried　to　clamber　to　his　feet；　but　his　boots　could　not　gain　purchase　on　the　sand；　and　he　fell　on　his　face。
Spitting　sand　out　of　his　mouth　and　trying　not　to　inhale　all　the　sand　in　his　nose；　Davin　gave　in　to　the　inevitable　and
braced　himself　by　shoving　his　fists　down　into　the　sand。　

The　water　slammed　into　him；　almost　uprooting　him　from　the　spot；　but　his　armor　and　anchored　hands　kept　him
weighted　down。　He　wondered　how　the　other　soldiers　who　were　less　secure　fared；　he　didn　t　much　care　about　the　orcs
and　trolls。　Mostly；　though；　he　wondered　if　he　d　ever　be　able　to　breathe　again。　

Seconds　later；　the　water　flowed　back　in　the　other　direction。　The　wave　had　washed　the　sand　off　his　face；　though　he　
was　now　drenched；　water　matting　his　hair　and　causing　his　beard　to　weigh　heavily　on　his　face。　

You　have　shamed　me　this　day；　my　warriors！　　

Davin　rolled　over　onto　his　back　and　looked　up。　The　skies　were　still　dark；　save　for　one　spot；　in　which　hovered　a　
dirigible。　

Briefly；　Davin　allowed　himself　to　feel　hope　perhaps　the　airship　belonged　to　Colonel　Lorena；　who　had　freed
herself　and　Lady　Proudmoore　from　the　Burning　Blade。　This　sudden　meteorological　nightmare　could　easily　have　
been　the　lady　s　doing；　after　all。　They　had　e　to　rally　the　troops；　drive　the　orcs　back；　and　save　the　day。　

Then　he　took　a　closer　look　at　the　dirigible；　and　his　heart　sank。　The　canvas　was　decorated　with　several　bizarre　
symbols；　all　of　which　the　major　recognized　as　being　orcish。　At　least　two　of　those　symbols　were　mirrors　for　ones　he　
saw　on　armor　and　weaponry　that　orcs　carried　during　the　war　not　to　mention　on　the　troops　that　were　currently　
killing　his　soldiers。　Davin　s　platoon　mander　during　the　war　had　said　that　they　were　the　orc　equivalent　of　coats
ofarms　for　their　various　clans。　

Davin　had　never　been　a　particularly　religious　sort。　The　only　time　in　his　life　he　d　ever　prayed　was　when　he　was
hiding　behind　the　tree　and　praying　that　the　demons　wouldn　t　notice　him。　That　particular　prayer　was　answered；　but
Davin　didn　t　want　to　push　his　luck；　so　he　never　prayed　again。　

Now；　though；　he　prayed　that　he　would　survive　this　day。　Somehow；　he　found　the　strength　to　get　to　his　feet。　
　
The　words　Davin　had　heard　had　e　from　the　airship。　A　rope　ladder　fell　toward　the　ground　and　went　taut　as　the　
orc　who　owned　the　voice　that　spoke　the　words　climbed　down。　

When　the　orc　arrived　on　the　shore；　the　orcs　all　around　or　at　least　the　ones　Davin　could　see　in　his　peripheral　vision；
as　his　eyes　were　focused　on　the　new　arrival　raised　their　weapons　in　salute。　The　major　also　noticed　that　this　orc　
had　blue　eyes；　and　at　once　he　realized　who　it　had　to　be。　Until　now；　Davin　had　never　actually　met　the　orc　Warchief；
and　he　recalled　that　Thrall　was　also　a　shaman　of　great　power。　Like　Lady　Proudmoore；　he　could　easily　be　
responsible　for　this　inundation。　

Holding　aloft　his　twohanded　hammer　with　one　hand　this；　Davin　knew；　was　the　legendary　Doomhammer　that　had
once　belonged　to　rim；　Thrall　s　mentor　the　orc　cried　out；　I　am　Thrall；　Warchief　of　Durotar；　Lord　of　the　Clans；
Leader　of　the　Horde！　I　e　to　you　now　to　say　that 　He　pointed　at　Burx。 this　orc　does　not　speak　for　me！　　

Over　the　past　halfdozen　years；　Davin　had　had　plenty　of　congress　with　orcs。　There　was　the　war；　of　course；　and
Northwatch　s　location　on　the　Merchant　Coast　meant　that　plenty　of　orcs　came　through　the　area。　

In　all　that　time；　Davin　had　never　seen　quite　the　expression　on　an　orc　s　face　that　he　now　saw　on　Burx　s。　

Warriors　of　Durotar；　you　will　stand　down！　　Again　he　pointed　at　Burx；　but　this　time　with　the　hammer。　This　foul
creature　has　consorted　with　a　demon　in　order　to　bring　about　war　between　our　people。　I　will　not　violate　our　alliance　
to　suit　the　needs　of　the　very　creatures　who　tried　to　destroy　us。　　

Burx　snarled。　I　have　been　your　loyal　servant！　　

Thrall　shook　his　head。　Several　warriors　who　served　with　you　have　reported　a　talisman　you　carry　in　the　shape　of　a　
sword　afire　that　is　the　symbol　of　the　Burning　Blade。　According　to　Jaina　as　well　as　an　ancient　wizard　who　has
allied　herself　with　the　humans　all　those　who　carry　that　symbol　are　in　the　thrall　of　a　demon　known　as　Zmodlor；
who　is　attempting　to　foment　discontent　on　Kalimdor　and　sunder　our　alliance。　As　ever；　demons　do　nothing　but　use　
us　and　then　destroy　us。　　

Indicating　Davin　with　his　weapon；　Burx　said；　These　are　the　bastards　who　tried　to　destroy　us！　They　enslaved　us　and
humiliated　us　and　denied　us　our　heritage！　　

His　voice　a　calm　contrast　to　Burx　s　near　hysteria；　Thrall　said；　Yes；　some　of　them　did　and　they　did　so　because　of
demons　who　drained　our　very　souls　and　forced　us　to　fight　their　war　on　the　people　of　this　world；　a　war　that　we　
eventually　lost。　But　we　have　thrown　off　those　shackles　and　risen　to　be　as　strong　as　ever。　And　the　reason　why；　Burx；
is　because　we　are　warriors。　Because　we　are　pure　of　spirit。　Or；　rather；　most　of　us　are。　I　cannot　call　pure　one　who
consorts　with　foul　creatures　to　cause　orcs　to　violate　their　word。　　

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；