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；