魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)-第25章

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prepared　the　dirigible　for　its　return　trip。　

When　she　came　back　down　the　ladder；　Lady　Proudmoore　had　finished。　As　soon　as　Lorena　had　stepped　off　the
bottom　rung；　Bek　ordered　the　ladder　pulled　back　up；　and　the　airship　began　its　journey　back　southward。　
　
The　chamberlain　s　been　spending　most　of　his　time　in　the　throne　room。　　Lorena　found　herself　unable　to　keep　the
disdain　out　of　her　voice；　then　wondered　why　she　even　tried。　And　most　of　that　s　been　on　your　throne。　　

Lady　Proudmoore　nodded。　Kristoff　always　emphasized　the　importance　of　sitting　on　the　throne。　　

A　little　too　much；　if　you　ask　me；　　Lorena　nodded。　

In　any　event；　I　am　ready。　　

Lorena　braced　herself。　She　d　been　teleported　only　once；　back　during　the　war；　and　it　had　made　her　sick　to　her　
stromach。　

Sure　enough；　the　world　turned　upside　down　and　inside　out；　and　Lorena　felt　as　if　her　head　had　been　removed　and
placed　between　her　knees；　while　her　feet　were　sticking　up　out　of　her　neck。　

A　second　later；　the　world　normalized；　and　Lorena　heaved。　Dimly；　as　she　bent　over　on　the　stone　floor；　she　registered
that　this　was　Lady　Proudmoore　s　throne　room；　and　Duree　was　going　to　scream　at　her　for　retching　all　over　the　floor。　

Milady！　　That　was　Kristoff　s　voice。　You　re　back　and　with　Colonel　Lorena。　We　were　afraid　you　d　been　taken　by　
the　Burning　Blade。　You　ll　be　happy　to　know　that　we　ve　reinforced　Northwatch　which　is　good；　as　orc　and　troll　
troops　are　headed　there　by　land　and　by　sea。　And　who　is　this？　　

Lorena　heaved　once　again；　her　stomach　clenching　so　badly　it　made　being　the　conduit　for　the　lady　s　spell　seem
heavenly　by　parison。　

My　name　is　Aegwynn。　　

Really？　　Kristoff　sounded　surprised；　as　if　he　knew　who　Aegwynn　was。　Lorena　herself　still　had　no　idea；　beyond　the
fact　that　she　was　a　very　old　woman。　

Yes。　And　while　I　m　no　longer　truly　a　Tirisfalen；　I　still　know　the　stink　of　demonkind　when　I　smell　it；　and　it　s　all　
over　you。　　

Though　there　was　nothing　left　in　her　stomach；　Lorena　heaved　again；　wondering　what　a　teeris　fallen　was。　

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。