魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第23章
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Eight centuries ago； the council had given her the power of the Guardian； and it had been the most wonderful
experience of her life。 It was what it might have been like for a blind person to see for the first time。 When she
passed that power on to Medivh； it had been less wonderful； but still she had a feeling of satisfaction in creating her
legacy； and the departure of the power had been smooth and pleasant； like drifting slowly to sleep。
Now； though； her power was being ripped from her by Medivh； and it felt like being struck blind； deaf； and dumb。
Her entire body felt deadened it was less like falling asleep and more like falling into a a。
But she remained awake and aware of all that was happening。 And she realized that if she stayed here； Medivh or；
rather； Sargeras would keep her here。 She would reside in the keep s dungeon； no doubt； able to see and hear all
that went on； be made aware of every foul deed that her son performed in Sargeras s name。
She also realized something else she was still young。 Which meant that Medivh had not taken the deaging magic
from her。
That was her salvation； she realized。 She gathered up the remaining tatters of her concentration and unleashed the
magic of the deaging spells； grabbing it； harnessing it； and reforming it into a teleport spell that would take her
away from here。
Moments later； her hair having gone white； her skin having wrinkled； her bones having grown weaker； she found
herself on Kalimdor； in a grassy region in the mountains of the continent s eastern coast。
Proudmoore s voice was quiet when she said； That must have been terrible for you。
It was。 Aegwynn shuddered。 In fact； it was worse than that； but she had simply hit the high points for
Proudmoore s benefit。 She had actually tried to reason with Medivh； and tried to get an explanation from him as to
why he did what he did as if Sargeras needed a reason。 But she saw no need to burden Proudmoore with that
much the point of the story was to show the depths of her own stupidity。 She continued： When I came here； I
was able to use what little magic I had left to determine that there was no one around。 I built my hut； planted my
garden； dug my well。 The wards didn t go up until Thrall and his people settled nearby。
I m not surprised。 There was an odd tone to Proudmoore s voice when she said that as if she knew something
Aegwynn didn t。
What s that supposed to mean？
Before Proudmoore could answer； Aegwynn heard something。 Proudmoore heard it too； as they both turned to face
south。 It sounded familiar； but it was a noise Aegwynn hadn t heard in years。
Moments later； her suspicion was confirmed： the noise was made by the displacement of air by a massive dirigible；
which was now ing around one of the Bladescar peaks。 It stopped right in front of the wards and hovered。
Aegwynn assumed a mage or at the very least； a sensitive was on board。
A rope ladder fell from the undercarriage； and a figure in plate armor started to climb down。 As the figure came
closer； Aegwynn recognized the insignia on the armor as that of a colonel。
To her shock； the figure was a human female。 She turned and gave Proudmoore a questioning glance。
The girl smiled。 If a woman can be a Guardian of Tirisfal； why can t a woman be a colonel？
Aegwynn had no choice but to concede the point。
Milady； the woman said as she came down off the bottom rung of the rope； I m afraid I bring bad news。 She
then looked askance at Aegwynn。
Colonel Lorena； this is Magna Aegwynn。 You may speak as freely to her as you would to me。
The colonel nodded and started to speak。 Apparently the word of Jaina Proudmoore was enough for this colonel。
Aegwynn grudgingly admitted to being impressed。 A woman didn t rise to such a position without a great deal of
hard work she suspected that Lorena was twice as good as any male colonel； simply because she would have to be
to succeed。 If someone that talented trusted Proudmoore so implicitly； then Proudmoore may have been a more
impressive specimen than Aegwynn had been willing to credit。
Perhaps there was something to the girl s hero worship after all。
Lorena said； Ma am； it is my firm belief that Chamberlain Kristoff is a member of the Burning Blade that he has
conspired to increase our forces at Northwatch and provoke the orcs into a conflict。
Proudmoore s face fell。 Kristoff？ I don t believe that。
But the colonel spent the next several minutes explaining what had happened in Proudmoore s absence from
Theramore。
When she was done； Aegwynn asked； When did this Burning Blade start？
We re not sure； Proudmoore said。 We think it s related to a former orc clan。 Why？
Because Zmodlor started a cult called the Burning Blade。 In fact； the sword he was going to use to sacrifice the
children he d imprisoned was covered in oil and was to be set alight when the sacrifice menced。 Since Zmodlor
is around； it s possible he was involved with those orcs as well。
Lorena spoke up before Proudmoore could respond to that。 Milady； why are you behind these wards？ I brought
Booraven with us to track you down； and she said there were wards up so we couldn t pass。 But why haven t you
e out from behind them？
I m afraid I can t。 When I arrived here； I was able to perate the wards that had been put up； but they ve been
replaced with demonic wards from the very same Zmodlor that Magna Aegwynn was just discussing。 I m afraid I
do not have the knowledge to bypass them。
A pity； Aegwynn said。 If these were still my wards； I would let you through in an instant。
Snorting； Proudmoore said； Don t be ridiculous they were never your wards。 They were Medivh s。
Aegwynn stared at Proudmoore in openmouthed shock。 How did you
When I first arrived here； I recognized the magic used for the wards as belonging to one of the Tirisfalen。 But after
I perated them； I realized I knew which of the Tirisfalen it was； because I d encountered it before。 As I tried to
tell you earlier； I knew Medivh it was he that brought human and orc to this land； and he that convinced us to ally
against the Burning Legion。 I know his magic quite well。
Lorena spoke before Aegwynn could respond。 Milady； with respect； time grows short。 We must get you out of
there。 There has to be a way。
Proudmoore looked at Aegwynn。 There is。 Teach me that spell of Meitre s。 Pointing at the colonel； she added；
We now have the conduit。
Very well； Aegwynn said； if it means you ll leave me in peace。
I m afraid that s not possible。
Aegwynn blinked。 I beg your pardon？
You re ing with us。
Snorting； Aegwynn said； Am I？
Yes。 You are the magna； the Guardian who is all that stands between us and the demonic hordes。 It is your
responsibility to e with us。
On what are you basing this ridiculous notion？
You said that Zmodlor built these wards。 That means he is active for all we know； he is responsible for the
Burning Blade that is even now cutting through the alliance Thrall and I built at your son s behest。 But you thought
you defeated him eight centuries ago obviously you didn t finish the job； and it is your responsibility
What do you know of responsibility？ Aegwynn cried。 For eight
Yes； I know what you did； Magna； you ve told me quite a bit about your failures； your deceits； your lies； your
arrogance but what you ve also reminded me of is that you never once shirked your responsibility as Guardian。
Everything you did from facing Zmodlor to defying the council to siring Medivh was done because you
believed in what you did。 Regardless of your mistakes； of your defeats； you never once shirked that responsibility。
Until now。 Proudmoore shook her head。 You asked me what I know of responsibility； and right now I d say more
than you； because you never had to be responsible to anyone save yourself。 I have led people into battle； and I have
ruled them when the battle was over and right now； the people who have trusted me need me； and it may well be
because of a demon you were supposed to have killed。 I will not see everything we have built here be brought down
by your selfpity； Magna。
I believe I ve earned the right to determine my own destiny。
Because you brought Medivh back？
Again Proudmoore had managed to stun Aegwynn with her perspicacity。 She found herself unable to speak。
We always wondered how Medivh came back from the dead after Khadgar and Lothar defeated him。 It would
have taken powerful magic to do so。 I might have been able to do it； and so could one or two others； but if they had；
they would have admitted it。 You said you were drained by your fight with Medivh； but there is one thing that could
substitute for that necessary power； and that s the bond between mother and son。
Aegwynn nodded； staring off into space at an indeterminate point on one of the Bladescar peaks。 With what was
left of the deaging magic； I was able to scry in the well water and learn what was happening。 I saw my son killed
by his apprentice and his best friend and I saw Sargeras banished from him。 So I spent years building up the
power to bring him back。 When I did； it almost killed me。 That was why the wards were Medivh s I no longer had
the strength to cast them。 Or anything else。 I still don t。 She turned to face Proudmoore。 That was my swan song；
Lady Proudmoore。 It cannot even begin to make up for all I have done wrong。
I disagree。 What you ve done is sire a son who saved the world。 It may have taken a while； but what he did was
exactly what you would have done what you conceived him to do。 He went against the conventional wisdom and
was proactive in fighting the Burning Legion by convincing Thrall and me to unite our forces。 He didn t learn that
from Sargeras； and he didn t learn that from whatever afterlife you retrieved him from he learned that from you。
Lorena had been standing semipatiently during this entire conversation； her obvious respect for Lady Proudmoore
overing her soldier s desire for action。 Milady
Yes； of course； Aegwynn said； your colonel is right。 Zmodlor needs to be defeated permanently this time。 She
sighed。 Prepare yourself； Colonel Loren
