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thinks it s one of the Theramore military convoys other times； he says he looks nothing like any regular human or
orc boat。
What do you think？
Without hesitating； Kag said； Lookout wouldn t say if he wasn t sure。 If he says he saw Theramore military； then
says something else； that means he saw something different the first time。 I think it s two ships。 Besides； the wake s
enough for two； or for one going round in circles。 This fog； one s as like as the other。
Bolik nodded his agreement。 Their lookout； Vak； could look at two specks on the horizon and tell you which was
the fishing boat and which the troop carrier。 Probably tell you whether or not the fishing boat was built by gnomes
or humans； too； and whether the troop carrier was made before or after the Burning Legion s invasion。 Three ships
this close is asking for trouble。 We may need to sound the horn。 Get
Ship ho！
Casting his glance up the mast； Bolik tried to see Vak； but the mast above his head was swallowed by fog。 Vak s
voice carried down from what humans called the crow s nest； for reasons Bolik never understood he knew that
a crow was a type of bird； but he wasn t sure what its nest had to do with a lookout post but the captain could not
see him。
Kag called up。 What do you see？
Ship approaching！ Humans！ Not flying no colors I can see！
What about the military ship？
Can t see em now； but caught em a second ago！ Runnin parallel now！
Bolik didn t like this。 A human ship flying no colors usually meant pirates。 It might not have flying colors was
almost pointless in fog like this and they might simply have been unable to see the orc ship。 Bolik wasn t about to
risk the possibility or his cargo。 If the crates in his hold weren t safely delivered to Razor Hill； Bolik didn t get
paid； which meant the crew didn t get paid。 Days the crew lost wages were never good days to be a shipmaster。
Sound the horn。 And put guards on the cargo hold。
Kag nodded。 Yes； sir。
Harpoons！
At Vak s cry； Bolik cursed。 Harpoons meant only one of two things。 One was that the other ship had mistaken
ath ar for a large seafaring creature such as a whale or a sea serpent。 The other was that they were pirates and
the harpoons were attached to boarding lines。
Since sea serpents and whales didn t migrate this far north as a general rule； Bolik felt safe in assuming it was the
latter。
The harpoons slammed into the deck； the side of the staircase that led belowdecks； and other places Bolik couldn t
see in the fog。 Then the lines that were attached to them went taut。
Prepare for boarders！ Kag cried。
Bolik heard a voice say； Cut the lines！
The sound of a fist hitting flesh was followed by Kag saying； Don t be a fool！ Swords can t cut through those
ropes； and you ll leave yourself open。
Any other conversation was cut short by the sudden arrival of the very boarders in question； appearing as if by
magic in the fog。 They were human； Bolik saw； and not in any kind of military uniform。 Beyond that； Bolik wasn t
sure what they were wearing humans fascination with outerwear beyond what was absolutely necessary was
something that had always baffled Bolik。 He knew what Lady Proudmoore s military wore； but that was it。
Kill the pirates！ Bolik cried； but his crew needed no such prompting。 The battle was joined。 Bolik lifted his
father s mace in his right hand and swung it at the closest human； who ducked out of the way； then lunged with his
sword。
Bolik parried the sword with his left arm； but by the time he was able to whirl the mace around his head for a
second strike； the human had gotten his sword up to block the mace。 However； when he leaned in to do so； the
human moved his stomach closer to Bolik； making it easy for the orc captain to punch his foe with his fist。
Doubling over in pain and coughing； the human collapsed to the deck； and Bolik brought his mace down on the
back of the human s neck。
Two more then leapt in front of Bolik； no doubt expecting him to cower at twotoone odds。 But Bolik was made of
sterner stuff。 Though born a slave in this world； he had been freed by Thrall； and swore he would never cower
before a human again。 He had fought alongside them； true； but never would he bow to one as an inferior。
Nor to two who came at him with swords。
The pirate to his left attacked with his blade a curved one of a type Bolik had seen only once before while the
one on his right swung two shorter swords。 Bolik blocked the curved blade with his left arm； though this time the
edge bit into his forearm； while using the mace to deflect one of the two short swords。 The other short sword missed
Bolik s chest by a hair。
Although the movement sent searing pain through his left arm； Bolik brought the limb swiftly downward； the blade
still stuck in it。 His superior strength and leverage meant that the foe on his left was now disarmed； his weapon
lodged in Bolik s own flesh。 Kicking at the pirate to his right； Bolik grabbed the head of the one on his left and
pushed down； forcing the pirate to his knees。
The one with the short swords flailed as he stumbled to the deck； managing to avoid a legbreaking kick； but unable
to keep his balance in the bargain。
Bolik； still with his massive left hand on the head of the curvedswordholding pirate； cast that fool aside。 The
human s head hit the mast with a satisfying thud。
However； that move gave the other one a chance to regain his footing。 Even as he lunged with his two tiny swords；
Bolik leaned back and to his right； straightened his right arm behind him； then swung the mace over his head；
bringing it smashing down on the human s skull； killing him instantly。
Vak！ Bolik yelled up the mast as he removed the curved sword from his arm and tossed it to the deck next to its
insensate owner。 Sound the horn！ The pirates likely didn t know the orcish tongue； and so wouldn t expect it
when the foghorn went off。
Seconds later； an earsplitting noise filled the air。 Bolik was prepared for the sound that felt as if it vibrated his very
bones； as were his crew； he assumed he couldn t really see most of them。
The humans that Bolik could see were caught off guard； however； which Bolik had counted on。 The orcs that Bolik
could see pressed their advantage。 Bolik himself started twirling his mace over his head until he found a good
target。 His father s weapon slammed into the shoulder of a nearby pirate； who fell to the floor； screaming in agony。
Bolik heard a human voice yell a word in the human tongue that he was fairly sure meant retreat； a guess that was
proven accurate as the pirates started to climb the ropes back to their vessel。 Bolik saw Kag slice off the leg of one
of the retreaters； causing the victim to fall into the Great Sea。
Kag turned to Bolik。 Do we give chase？
Shaking his head； Bolik said； No。 Let them go。 There was little point in trying to chase a ship in this bedamned
fog。 Check the cargo。
Nodding acknowledgment； Kag ran off to the hold entry； his footfalls echoing on the deck。
Gazing upward； Bolik said； Lookout； what about the human ship？
They didn t move； Vak said； until after we sounded fog。 Then they moved off。 Don t see em now。
Bolik s fists tightened； his right hand gripping the handle of his father s mace so hard； he thought it might break。
The humans were their allies。 If some of Lady Proudmoore s precious soldiers were nearby； why did they not assist
when brigands boarded ath ar？
Sir； Kag said； returning alongside Forx； the warrior in charge of guarding the cargo； one of the crates was
smashed。 Another was thrown overboard by one of the humans to cover his retreat。
Forx added； They sent most o their men to the hold。 We drove em back good； we did； sir。 They d a taken it all
otherwise。
You did well； Forx。 And you will be rewarded。 Bolik knew his words would have meaning。 Two crates lost
meant twenty percent of their cargo was useless； which meant a twenty percent reduction in wages。 Bolik put a
hand on Forx s shoulder。 You shall all receive the same cut you would have if all the cargo came intact the
difference will e out of my own share。
Kag s eyes grew wide。 You honor us all； Captain。
Not at all you defended my ship。 You won t be penalized for that。
Forx smiled。 I ll inform your warriors； sir。
Bolik turned to Kag as Forx went off。 Assess damage； dump any human bodies into the sea； and put us back on
course。 He took a breath； then blew it out through his tusks。 And when we return； I want a messenger found。
Thrall must be informed of this right away。
Nodding； Kag said； Yes； Captain。
Staring into the fog that had allowed the pirates to get so close for their attack； Bolik thought back on Rabin s
words； and decided that no use they could get from fog would be worth this…。
Three
L ady Jaina Proudmoore stood atop the butte on Razor Hill； gazing out over the land where she helped form the
most unlikely alliance in the history of the world。
Razor Hill was orc territory； of course； but Jaina and Thrall had agreed that； given her abilities； it was best for their
meetings to h