按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the trees in Thunder Ridge lots of times。 Certainly no orc would defile the land like that。
Although Thrall was reluctant to believe ill of the humans； Burx was right that no orc of Durotar would do such a
thing。 They could not have transported so much lumber from Thunder Ridge to the coast without anyone noticing。
If they went by land； they d be seen same if they went by airship。
There is a third way； Kalthar said。
Sighing； Thrall shook his head again。 Magic。
Yes； magic； Burx said。 And the most powerful wizard in Theramore is your precious Lady Proudmoore Jaina
herself。
It is not Lady Proudmoore； Kalthar said。 This defiling of the land is reprehensible and the humans are both
responsible； and not responsible。
What s that supposed to mean？ Burx asked angrily。
You speak in riddles； Thrall said。 Then he laughed。 As usual。
There are great forces at work here； Thrall； Kalthar said。 Powerful sorcery。
Burx stomped his foot again。 Lady Proudmoore has powerful sorcery。 The humans got every reason to want those
trees。 It gives them stronger wood for their boats which makes it easier for them to harass our trading ships。 Plus；
it lets the thunder lizards loose； which messes up our farms。 Burx walked up in front of Thrall s throne； his face so
close that his and Thrall s tusks almost touched。 It fits； Warchief。 And you know it。
In a low tone； Thrall said； What I know； Burx； is that Lady Proudmoore stood against her own father rather than
destroy the alliance between Durotar and Theramore。 Do you truly think she would abandon it now over trees？
Burx backed off； throwing up his arms。 Who can say how humans think？
I can。 As you were so quick to point out before； Burx； I was raised with humans I have seen both the best and the
worst humanity has to offer。 And I can tell you now that； while there are most definitely humans who would do this；
Jaina Proudmoore is not one of them。
Folding his arms defiantly in front of his chest； Burx said； There aren t any other human mages on Kalimdor that
we know about。 Who s that leave； Warchief？
I do not know。 Thrall smiled。 When Lieutenant Blackmoore had me educated like a human； he had me read
many philosophical and scientific treatises。 Something that stood out in those lessons was one ment that the
beginning of wisdom is the statement I do not know。 The person who cannot make that statement is one who will
never learn anything。 And I have prided myself on my ability to learn； Burx。 He stood again。 Send warriors to
Drygulch。 Try to corral the thunder lizards。 Provide whatever aid they need to bring this problem under control。
Then he faced Kaltnar。 Fetch the talisman。 I would speak to Lady Proudmoore。
We should take action！ Burx stomped his foot again； even as Kalthar slowly walked out of the room to do as
Thrall had instructed。 We should not be talking。
Talking is the second step to learning things； Burx。 I intend to learn who was responsible for this。 Now go and
follow my instructions。
Burx started to say something； but Thrall would not let him。
There will be no more from you； Burx！ You have made your position quite clear！ However； I think even you will
agree that the needs of Drygulch are more immediate。 Now go and do as I have said before our farms truly are
devastated。
Of course； Warchief； Burx said。 He saluted as the boy had； and then departed。
Thrall hoped that his defense of Jaina was earned。 In his heart； he knew it was。 But if Jaina Proudmoore did not
steal their trees and let loose the thunder lizards who did？
Eight
L orena was led into Lady Proudmoore s chambers by Duree； that lunatic old woman who managed the lady s
affairs； only to find that the room was empty。
Whirling on Duree； over whom she loomed by a full head； Lorena said； Where is she？
She ll be back soon； stop your fretting。 It s been an hour since she went off to meet with that orc Warchief
oughta be back any moment now。
Frowning； Lorena asked； She s meeting with Thrall？
Putting her hand to her mouth； Duree said； Oh dear； I wasn t supposed to mention that。 Just fet I said anything；
will you please； dear？
The colonel said nothing； instead twisting her square face into a snarl designed with the express purpose of getting
the old woman out of the chambers。
At that； it succeeded rather admirably； as Duree dashed from the chambers； her spectacles falling off her nose。
A moment later； Kristoff entered。 Colonel。 Duree said you had a report。
Lorena looked at the chamberlain。 Like the old woman； Kristoff was a necessary evil after all； a nation did not run
on soldiering alone。 One of the first lessons her father and brothers had taught her was to be good to the clerks and
the like。 They were the people who kept any unit functioning； far more than any highranking officers。
She found Duree so annoying that she did not put that advice to good use with her； but Kristoff was the lady s right
hand。 So Lorena put aside her intense dislike for the man himself and forced a smile onto her face。
Yes； Chamberlain； I have a report for the lady； which I ll give her as soon as she arrives。
Kristoff smiled。 It was the most insincere smile Lorena had ever seen； and after spending years guarding the keep at
Kul Tiras； it was against some stiff petition。 You may give it to me； and I can assure you that I will pass it on
to Lady Proudmoore。
I prefer to wait for milady myself； sir； if you don t mind。
She is away on official business。 Kristoff inhaled sharply。 She could be some time。
Giving the chamberlain an insincere smile of her own； the colonel said； The lady s a mage when her business is
conducted； she ll be back in an instant。 And she wished me to report directly to her。
Colonel
Whatever Kristoff was about to say was lost to a loud popping sound and a flash of light that heralded the arrival of
Lady Proudmoore。
She wasn t much to look at； the colonel had always thought； but she had also learned early on that mages were not
ones to judge on appearances。 Lorena had spent all her life trying to make herself look as male as possible
keeping her hair cut short； not shaving her legs； wearing undergarments that hid her breasts and even with all that；
she was often dismissed as being just a woman。 It amazed Lorena how this small； pale woman with her golden
hair and deep blue eyes managed to gain the respect of so many。
In part； Lorena supposed it was the way she carried herself。 She seemed to be the tallest person in whatever room
she stood in； even though she was often the shortest。 Her clothes all tended to be white： boots； blouse； pantaloons；
cloak。 Most amazingly； the clothes remained a shiny white。 It took a week out of every year of a soldier s life to
keep the white trim in the plate armor from turning brown or gray； and most were unsuccessful； yet Lady
Proudmoore s clothes almost glowed。
Lorena supposed that was a fortuitous side effect of being a powerful mage。
Colonel； you ve returned。 Lady Proudmoore spoke as if she d been standing in the room all along。 Please
report。
Quickly and concisely； Lorena told the lady； as well as the chamberlain； what she and her people had learned at
Northwatch。
Kristoff pursed his thin lips。 I ve never heard of this Burning Blade。
I have。 The lady had flipped back her hood； letting her golden curls loose； and sat at her desk while Lorena was
giving her report； and she now put a finger to her chin。 There was an orc clan by that name； but they ve been
wiped out。 And some of the Elite Guard have mentioned it in passing。
Lorena didn t like the sound of this。 It was one thing for Strov to have heard of it； but if rumors of this anization
were reaching the lady s personal guards； then something was amiss。 These were orcs； ma am； that much I m sure
of。
Or were made to look like orcs； Lady Proudmoore said。 They obviously had use of magic which is vexing
enough and therefore could have been deliberately masking themselves。 After all； an unprovoked attack on human
soldiers by orcs would do much to destabilize our alliance。
It is also possible； Kristoff said； that these are orc agitators who are using this extinct clan for their own
purposes。
Lorena shook her head。 That doesn t explain how Private Strov s brother heard of them in a Theramore tavern。
The lady nodded； her thoughts seeming to turn inward； as if she fot there were others in the room。 Lorena had
known few wizards in her time； but they all had a tendency to wander mentally。
However； unlike those other mages who often needed a club to the head to pay attention to the world around
them Lady Proudmoore usually was able to bring herself back to reality on her own。 She did so now； and stood
up。 Colonel； I want you to investigate this Burning Blade。 We need to know who they are； how they operate；
especially if they re using magic。 If they have orc recruits； then why try to lure humans？ Get to the bottom of it；
Lorena use whoever you need。
Standing straight； Lorena saluted。 Yes； ma am。
Kristoff； I m afraid I m going to need to depart immediately。 Thunder lizards ha