immediately¡¡went¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stomach£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡neck¡¡again£»¡¡then¡¡the¡¡legs¡£¡¡His¡¡arms¡¡were¡¡a¡¡blur¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pushed¡¡the¡¡orc¡¡
back¡¡farther¡¡and¡¡farther£»¡¡giving¡¡no¡¡quarter£»¡¡barely¡¡giving¡¡his¡¡foe¡¡sufficient¡¡time¡¡to¡¡even¡¡parry¡¡and¡¡hoping¡¡that
sooner¡¡or¡¡later£»¡¡that¡¡parry¡¡would¡¡not¡¡e¡£¡¡
Suddenly£»¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡blade¡¡seemingly¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡nowhere¡¡and¡¡slashed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡orc¡¡s¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡cloak¡¡was¡¡rent¡¡by¡¡the
blade£»¡¡and¡¡half¡¡of¡¡it¡¡fell¡¡off¡¡to¡¡reveal¡¡the¡¡angry¡¡green¡¡face¡¡of¡¡a¡¡male¡¡orc¡£¡¡His¡¡left¡¡tusk¡¡had¡¡that¡¡burning¡¡sword
emblem¡¡engraved¡¡in¡¡it¡£¡¡
The¡¡blade¡¡in¡¡question¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡Colonel¡¡Lorena¡£¡¡Strov¡¡assumed¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡dispatched¡¡her¡¡own¡¡foe¡£¡¡
As¡¡for¡¡the¡¡orc£»¡¡he¡¡yelled¡¡out¡¡the¡¡word¡¡for¡¡retreat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡orcish¡¡tongue£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡all¡¡yelled¡¡the¡¡phrase£»¡¡Galtak
Ered¡¡nash£¡¡¡¡¡Strov¡¡knew¡¡many¡¡languages£»¡¡including¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡orcs£»¡¡trolls£»¡¡goblins£»¡¡and¡¡dwarves£»¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡all
four¡¡elven¡¡dialects¡£¡¡He¡¡d¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡that¡¡phrase¡¡before¡£¡¡
His¡¡foe¡¡now¡¡running¡¡away£»¡¡Strov¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡see¡¡that¡¡Ian¡¡and¡¡Mal¡¡were¡¡down¡¡the¡¡former¡¡dead¡¡with¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡ripped
open£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡alive¡¡but¡¡with¡¡a¡¡leg¡¡injury¡¡but¡¡besides¡¡himself£»¡¡Lorena£»¡¡Jalod£»¡¡Paolo£»¡¡and¡¡Clai¡¡were¡¡uninjured¡£¡¡One¡¡
of¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡as¡¡well¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡six¡¡were¡¡retreating£»¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡bleeding¡£¡¡
Strov£»¡¡Clai£»¡¡give¡¡chase£»¡¡¡¡Lorena¡¡said¡¡as¡¡she¡¡ran¡¡toward¡¡Mal¡£¡¡
Clai¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡brutal¡¡fighter¡¡in¡¡the¡¡detail¡£¡¡Strov¡¡noted¡¡that¡¡his¡¡fellow¡¡private¡¡had¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡orc¡¡blood¡¡on¡¡his
sword¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡strike¡¡flesh£¿¡¡¡¡Strov¡¡asked¡¡as¡¡they¡¡ran¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡direction¡¡as¡¡the¡¡remaining¡¡six¡¡orcs¡£¡¡
Nodding£»¡¡Clai¡¡said£»¡¡Only¡¡when¡¡I¡¡got¡¡the¡¡head¡¡or¡¡the¡¡neck¡£¡¡It¡¡s¡¡like¡¡their¡¡bodies¡¡were¡¡made¡¡outta¡¡smoke¡¡or¡¡
somethin¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡figures¡¡had¡¡all¡¡gone¡¡through¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡overhanging¡¡willow¡¡branches¡¡that¡¡almost¡¡served¡¡as¡¡a¡¡wall¡£¡¡Only¡¡a¡¡few
paces¡¡behind£»¡¡Clai¡¡and¡¡Strov¡¡ran¡¡through¡¡to¡¡find¡¡¡¡
nothing¡£¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡orcs£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡sign¡£¡¡Even¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡trail¡¡of¡¡the¡¡two¡¡injured¡¡ones¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡The¡¡ground¡¡was
visible¡¡for¡¡half¡¡a¡¡league¡¡it¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡for¡¡the¡¡orcs¡¡to¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡from¡¡sight¡¡in¡¡the¡¡time¡¡available¡£¡¡
Strov¡¡stopped¡¡short¡¡and¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡£¡¡You¡¡smell¡¡that£¿¡¡¡¡
Clai¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡
Sulfur¡£¡¡And¡¡spices¡¡thyme£»¡¡I¡¡think¡£¡¡¡¡
Sounding¡¡confused£»¡¡Clai¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¡So£¿¡¡¡¡
Magic¡£¡¡Which¡¡also¡¡explains¡¡why¡¡they¡¡couldn¡¡t¡¡be¡¡stabbed¡£¡¡¡¡
An¡¡almost¡¡manic¡¡gleam¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eye£»¡¡Clai¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¡Demons£¿¡¡¡¡
Pray¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡Strov¡¡shuddered¡£¡¡Clai¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡youth£»¡¡a¡¡recent¡¡recruit¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡too¡¡young¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡the¡¡Burning¡¡
Legion¡£¡¡His¡¡eagerness¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡demons¡¡was¡¡that¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡had¡¡never¡¡had¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡any¡£¡¡
¡¡
Turning£»¡¡Strov¡¡ran¡¡back¡¡through¡¡the¡¡leaves¡¡toward¡¡Lorena£»¡¡Clai¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heels¡£¡¡
The¡¡colonel¡¡was¡¡kneeling¡¡by¡¡Mal£»¡¡along¡¡with¡¡Paolo£»¡¡the¡¡latter¡¡binding¡¡Mal¡¡s¡¡wounds¡£¡¡Upon¡¡seeing¡¡Strov¡¡and¡¡Clai£»
she¡¡got¡¡to¡¡her¡¡feet¡¡and¡¡angrily¡¡asked£»¡¡What¡¡happened£¿¡¡¡¡
They¡¡disappeared£»¡¡ma¡¡am¡£¡¡pletely¡¡even¡¡their¡¡blood¡¡trail¡£¡¡And¡¡there¡¡s¡¡the¡¡stink¡¡of¡¡magic¡£¡¡¡¡
Lorena¡¡spat¡£¡¡Dammit£¡¡¡¡¡She¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡breath¡¡through¡¡her¡¡teeth£»¡¡then¡¡pointed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡But¡¡that
figures¡£¡¡That¡¡one¡¡s¡£¡¡¡¡
Looking¡¡closely£»¡¡Strov¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡cloak¡¡was¡¡flat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡Using¡¡his¡¡sword£»¡¡he¡¡poked¡¡the¡¡garment£»¡¡which
disturbed¡¡some¡¡ashes¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡colonel¡£¡¡
Definitely¡¡magic£»¡¡¡¡she¡¡said¡¡with¡¡a¡¡nod¡£¡¡
Ma¡¡am£»¡¡something¡¡s¡¡familiar¡¡about ¡¡Then£»¡¡finally£»¡¡Strov¡¡placed¡¡it£»¡¡recalling¡¡a¡¡recent¡¡conversation¡¡with¡¡his
brother¡£¡¡That¡¡s¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡
What¡¡s¡¡it£»¡¡Private£¿¡¡¡¡
When¡¡last¡¡I¡¡was¡¡home£»¡¡my¡¡brother¡¡Manuel¡¡told¡¡me¡¡of¡¡a¡¡group¡¡that¡¡calls¡¡itself¡¡the¡¡Burning¡¡Blade¡£¡¡Someone¡¡tried¡¡to
recruit¡¡him¡¡for¡¡it¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡¡he¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Demonsbane¡£¡¡Said¡¡they¡¡re¡¡looking¡¡for¡¡people¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡their¡¡meetings
who¡¡aren¡¡t¡¡happy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡way¡¡things¡¡are£»¡¡but¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡say¡¡no¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡
Jalod¡¡snorted¡£¡¡Ain¡¡t¡¡nobody¡¡happy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡way¡¡things¡¡are¡£¡¡Ain¡¡t¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡be¡¡havin¡¡¡¡meetin¡¡s¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡
Strov¡¡thought¡¡this¡¡was¡¡odd£»¡¡given¡¡what¡¡Jalod¡¡had¡¡been¡¡saying¡¡earlier£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡respond¡¡directly£»¡¡instead
continuing¡¡his¡¡report¡¡to¡¡the¡¡colonel¡£¡¡Ma¡¡am£»¡¡the¡¡orc¡¡I¡¡fought¡¡had¡¡a¡¡sword¡¡afire¡¡carved¡¡into¡¡his¡¡tusk¡£¡¡¡¡
A¡¡burning¡¡blade¡£¡¡¡¡Lorena¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡The¡¡one¡¡I¡¡fought¡¡the¡¡one¡¡that¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡ashes¡¡over¡¡there¡¡had¡¡a¡¡
burning¡¡blade¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡dangling¡¡from¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡ring¡£¡¡¡¡
Clai¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡hand¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡may£»¡¡ma¡¡am£¿¡¡¡¡Lorena¡¡nodded¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡my¡¡foes¡¡had¡¡one¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡the¡¡one¡¡Private¡¡Strov
fought£»¡¡ma¡¡am£»¡¡on¡¡his¡¡tusk¡£¡¡¡¡
Dammit¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡at¡¡Paolo£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡now¡¡standing¡¡over¡¡Mal¡£¡¡How¡¡is¡¡he£¿¡¡¡¡
Needs¡¡a¡¡real¡¡healer£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡ll¡¡keep¡¡till¡¡we¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Theramore¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡past¡¡Lorena¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡main¡¡part¡¡of¡¡
Northwatch¡£¡¡I¡¡wouldn¡¡t¡¡trust¡¡no¡¡infirmary¡¡in¡¡this¡¡place£»¡¡ma¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡
Through¡¡gritted¡¡teeth£»¡¡Mal¡¡said£»¡¡Second¡¡that£»¡¡ma¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡
Fine¡£¡¡¡¡Sheathing¡¡her¡¡sword¡¡without¡¡wiping¡¡it¡¡down¡¡Strov¡¡assumed¡¡she¡¡d¡¡do¡¡it¡¡once¡¡they¡¡were¡¡under¡¡way¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
boat¡¡Lorena¡¡started¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡docks¡£¡¡Let¡¡s¡¡get¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡and¡¡give¡¡him¡¡some¡¡of¡¡my¡¡whiskey¡¡to¡¡ease¡¡the¡¡pain
when¡¡we¡¡board¡£¡¡¡¡
Smiling¡¡raggedly£»¡¡Mal¡¡said£»¡¡The¡¡colonel¡¡s¡¡a¡¡generous¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡
Giving¡¡the¡¡corporal¡¡a¡¡half¡¡smile¡¡in¡¡return£»¡¡Lorena¡¡said£»¡¡Not¡¡that¡¡generous¡¡just¡¡two¡¡fingers£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡more¡£¡¡That
stuff¡¡s¡¡expensive¡£¡¡¡¡
Paolo¡¡signaled¡¡to¡¡Clai£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡two¡¡of¡¡them¡¡picked¡¡Mal¡¡up£»¡¡keeping¡¡his¡¡wounded¡¡leg¡¡steady¡¡while¡¡they¡¡carried¡¡him£»
each¡¡on¡¡a¡¡side£»¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡docks¡£¡¡Strov£»¡¡meanwhile£»¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡Ian¡¡s¡¡bloodied¡¡corpse¡£¡¡
¡¡
Lorena¡¡said¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡they¡¡walked£»¡¡Private£»¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡we¡¡re¡¡back¡¡in¡¡Theramore£»¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡your¡¡brother¡£
I¡¡want¡¡to¡¡know¡¡everything¡¡possible¡¡about¡¡this¡¡Burning¡¡Blade¡£¡¡¡¡
Yes£»¡¡ma¡¡am¡£¡¡¡¡
Seven¡¡
T¡¡he¡¡stonewalled¡¡room¡¡that¡¡housed¡¡Thrall¡¡s¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡power¡¡as¡¡Warchief¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Horde¡¡was¡¡chilly¡£¡¡Thrall¡¡liked¡¡it¡¡that
way¡¡orcs¡¡were¡¡not¡¡creatures¡¡of¡¡cold£»¡¡so¡¡they¡¡were¡¡unfortable¡¡here¡£¡¡He¡¡found¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡best¡¡for¡¡people¡¡not¡¡to
be¡¡fortable¡¡while¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡their¡¡leader¡£¡¡So¡¡when¡¡the¡¡place¡¡was¡¡constructed£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡sure¡¡the
stonework¡¡was¡¡thick¡¡and¡¡there¡¡were¡¡no¡¡windows¡£¡¡Illumination¡¡was¡¡provided¡¡only¡¡by¡¡lanterns£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡torches£»
since¡¡they¡¡gave¡¡off¡¡less¡¡heat¡£¡¡
Not¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡ever¡¡so¡¡cold¡¡as¡¡to¡¡be¡¡truly¡¡unpleasant¡£¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡his¡¡people¡¡to¡¡suffer¡¡when¡¡they¡¡were¡¡
petitioning¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡nor¡¡did¡¡he¡¡want¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡at¡¡ease¡£¡¡It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡difficult¡¡road¡¡that¡¡Thrall¡¡had¡¡traveled£»
and¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡precious¡¡and¡¡precarious¡¡his¡¡current¡¡position¡¡was¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡therefore¡¡take¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡every¡¡
opportunity¡¡he¡¡could£»¡¡even¡¡so¡¡minor¡¡a¡¡one¡¡as¡¡keeping¡¡his¡¡throne¡¡room¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡side¡£¡¡
He¡¡met¡¡now¡¡with¡¡Kalthar£»¡¡his¡¡shaman£»¡¡and¡¡Burx£»¡¡his¡¡strongest¡¡warrior¡£¡¡Both¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡Thrall£»¡¡who¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡
leather¡¡chair¡¡made¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hides¡¡of¡¡creatures¡¡Thrall¡¡himself¡¡had¡¡slain¡£¡¡
The¡¡humans¡¡are¡¡still¡¡in¡¡Northwatch¡¡Keep¡£¡¡Last¡¡we¡¡heard£»¡¡a¡¡ship¡¡with¡¡more¡¡troops¡¡was¡¡showing¡¡up¡£¡¡Sounds¡¡to¡¡me
like¡¡they¡¡re¡¡reinforcing¡£¡¡¡¡
Hardly¡£¡¡¡¡Thrall¡¡leaned¡¡back¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chair¡£¡¡Lady¡¡Proudmoore¡¡informed¡¡me¡¡that¡¡she¡¡was¡¡sending¡¡one¡¡of¡¡her¡¡warriors
to¡¡investigate¡¡Captain¡¡Bolik¡¡s¡¡report¡£¡¡¡¡
Burx¡¡drew¡¡himself¡¡up¡£¡¡They¡¡don¡¡t¡¡trust¡¡a¡¡warrior¡¡s¡¡word£¿¡¡¡¡
Kalthar£»¡¡whose¡¡green¡¡skin¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡pale¡¡and¡¡wrinkled¡¡with¡¡age£»¡¡laughed¡¡throatily¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡sure£»¡¡Burx£»¡¡that¡¡they¡¡trust
the¡¡word¡¡of¡¡an¡¡orc¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡you¡¡would¡¡trust¡¡the¡¡word¡¡of¡¡a¡¡human¡£¡¡¡¡
Humans¡¡are¡¡cowardly¡¡and¡¡despicable£»¡¡¡¡Burx¡¡said¡¡dismissively¡£¡¡
The¡¡humans¡¡of¡¡Theramore¡¡are¡¡no¡¡such¡¡thing¡£¡¡¡¡Thrall¡¡leaned¡¡forward¡£¡¡And¡¡I¡¡will¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡them¡¡being¡¡spoken¡¡ill¡¡of
in¡¡my¡¡presence¡¡again¡£¡¡¡¡
Burx¡¡stamped¡¡his¡¡foot¡£¡¡Thrall¡¡had¡¡to¡¡restrain¡¡a¡¡laugh¡¡at¡¡the¡¡warrior¡¡s¡¡expense¡£¡¡The¡¡gesture¡¡reminded¡¡Thrall¡¡of¡¡a¡¡
human¡¡child¡¡throwing¡¡a¡¡temper¡¡tantrum£»¡¡however£»¡¡among¡¡orcs£»¡¡the¡¡action¡¡was¡¡a¡¡legitimate¡¡sign¡¡of¡¡displeasure¡£¡¡For¡¡
all¡¡he¡¡was¡¡lord¡¡of¡¡the¡¡clans£»¡¡there¡¡were¡¡times¡¡when¡¡Thrall¡¡had¡¡to¡¡forcibly¡¡remind¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡raised
among¡¡his¡¡own¡¡kind¡£¡¡
This¡¡is¡¡our¡¡land£»¡¡Thrall£¡¡¡Ours£¡¡¡The¡¡humans¡¡don¡¡t¡¡have¡¡any¡¡claim¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡Let¡¡them¡¡go¡¡back¡¡across¡¡the¡¡Great¡¡Sea¡¡
where¡¡they¡¡belong¡¡and¡¡let¡¡us¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡what¡¡life¡¡was¡¡like¡¡before¡¡the¡¡demons¡¡cursed¡¡us¡¡away¡¡from¡¡all¡¡foul
influences£»¡¡mortal¡¡or¡¡not¡£¡¡¡¡
Thrall¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡He¡¡d¡¡thought¡¡these¡¡arguments¡¡had¡¡ended¡¡two¡¡years¡¡ago¡£¡¡The¡¡humans¡¡occupy¡¡the¡¡harshest
land¡¡on¡¡Kalimdor£»¡¡and¡¡precious¡¡little¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡We¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡even¡¡take¡¡the¡¡Dustwallow¡¡Marshes¡£¡¡Jaina¡¡s¡¡people
¡¡¡¡Jaina¡¡£¿¡¡¡¡Burx¡¡sneered¡¡the¡¡name¡£¡¡
Now¡¡Thrall¡¡stood¡£¡¡Be¡¡very¡¡careful£»¡¡Burx¡£¡¡Lady¡¡Proudmoore¡¡Jaina¡¡has¡¡earned¡¡my¡¡respect¡£¡¡You£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other
hand£»¡¡are¡¡rapidly¡¡losing¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡
¡¡
Burx¡¡cowered¡¡a¡¡bit¡£¡¡I¡¡m¡¡sorry£»¡¡Warchief¡¡but¡¡you¡¡gotta¡¡understand£»¡¡you¡¡were¡¡raised¡¡with¡¡them¡£¡¡It¡¡can
sometimes¡¡blind¡¡you¡¡to¡¡what¡¡s¡¡obvious¡¡to¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡
I¡¡am¡¡blind¡¡to¡¡nothing£»¡¡Burx¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡recall¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡I¡¡who¡¡opened¡¡the¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡orcs¡¡throughout¡¡this¡¡world¡¡who
had¡¡fallen¡¡prey¡¡to¡¡the¡¡demonic¡¡curse¡¡and¡¡to¡¡human¡¡imprisonment£»¡¡and¡¡reminded¡¡them¡¡of¡¡who¡¡they¡¡were¡£¡¡Do¡¡not¡¡
presume¡¡to¡¡lecture¡¡me¡¡now¡¡on
They¡¡were¡¡interrupted¡¡by¡¡a¡¡breathless¡¡young¡¡orc¡¡who¡¡ran¡¡in¡£¡¡Thunder¡¡lizards£¡¡¡¡¡
Thrall¡¡blinked¡£¡¡Thunder¡¡Ridge£»¡¡the¡¡home¡¡of¡¡the¡¡creatures¡¡in¡¡question£»¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡here¡¡if¡¡there¡¡were¡¡any¡¡in
rimmar£»¡¡there¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡greater¡¡warning¡£¡¡
Where£¿¡¡¡¡Burx¡¡asked¡£¡¡
Far¡¡from¡¡here£»¡¡obviously£»¡¡¡¡Kalthar¡¡said¡¡witheringly£»¡¡otherwise¡¡there¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡young¡¡
messenger¡£¡¡¡¡
The¡¡boy¡¡did¡¡indeed¡¡wear¡¡the¡¡lightningshaped¡¡nose¡¡ring¡¡that¡¡indicated¡¡a¡¡messenger¡£¡¡No¡¡doubt¡¡he¡¡had¡¡run¡¡from
Thunder¡¡Ridge¡¡to¡¡report¡¡to¡¡Thrall¡£¡¡Speak£»¡¡¡¡Thrall¡¡said¡¡to¡¡the¡¡youth¡£¡¡
I¡¡m¡¡from¡¡Drygulch¡¡Ravine£»¡¡Warchief¡£¡¡The¡¡thunder¡¡lizards£»¡¡they¡¡ve¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡ridge£»¡¡they¡¡have¡£¡¡¡¡
How¡¡s¡¡that¡¡possible£¿¡¡¡¡Burx¡¡asked¡£¡¡
Glaring¡¡at¡¡the¡¡warrior£»¡¡Thrall¡¡said£»¡¡¡¡Let¡¡him¡¡speak£»¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡learn¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡the¡¡boy£»¡¡he¡¡said£»¡¡Continue¡£¡¡¡¡
A¡¡farmer£»¡¡name¡¡of¡¡Tulk£»¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡stampede¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡callin¡¡¡¡his¡¡sons¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡drove¡¡the¡¡lizards
off£»¡¡they¡¡did£»¡¡afore¡¡they¡¡destroyed¡¡his¡¡crops¡£¡¡But¡¡nobody¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡no¡¡thunder¡¡lizards¡¡leavin¡¡¡¡the¡¡ridge¡¡afore£»
so¡¡he¡¡went¡¡gatherin¡¡¡¡up¡¡his¡¡sons¡¡and¡¡the¡¡next¡¡farmer¡¡over¡¡and¡¡his¡¡sons£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡all¡¡went¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ridge£»¡¡they¡¡did¡£¡¡¡¡
Thrall¡¡nodded¡£¡¡Thunder¡¡Ridge¡¡was¡¡bordered¡¡by¡¡a¡¡dense¡¡forest¡¡of¡¡thicktrunked¡¡trees¡¡that¡¡the¡¡lizards¡¡could¡¡not¡¡
rampage¡¡through¡£¡¡One¡¡could¡¡travel¡¡gingerly¡¡or¡¡lithely¡¡through¡¡the¡¡forests£»¡¡but¡¡thunder¡¡lizards¡¡were¡¡never¡¡creatures
who¡¡moved¡¡thus¡£¡¡
When¡¡they¡¡got¡¡there£»¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡that¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡had¡¡been¡¡razed¡¡down¡¡to¡¡nothin¡¡£»¡¡it¡¡had¡£¡¡Lizards£»¡¡they¡¡got¡¡themselves
a¡¡clear¡¡path¡¡outta¡¡the¡¡ridge¡£¡¡The¡¡farmers¡¡are¡¡fearin¡¡¡¡for¡¡their¡¡crops£»¡¡they¡¡are¡£¡¡¡¡
Thrall£»¡¡however£»¡¡was¡¡still¡¡back¡¡on¡¡the¡¡first¡¡part¡£¡¡Razed£¿¡¡Razed¡¡how£»¡¡precisely£¿¡¡¡¡
The¡¡trees£»¡¡they¡¡was¡¡all¡¡cut¡¡down¡£¡¡Stumps¡¡left¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡handswidth¡¡or¡¡so¡¡above¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡¡
Burx¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¡Where¡¡were¡¡they¡¡taken£¿¡¡¡¡
The¡¡boy¡¡shrugged¡£¡¡Dunno¡£¡¡They¡¡didn¡¡t¡¡see¡¡no¡¡branches£»¡¡nothin¡¡£»¡¡just¡¡the¡¡stumps¡£¡¡¡¡
Shaking¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡Thrall¡¡asked£»¡¡¡¡How¡¡is¡¡this¡¡possible£¿¡¡¡¡
Don¡¡t¡¡see¡¡how¡¡it¡¡is¡¡possible£»¡¡Warchief£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡said£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡s¡¡what¡¡happened£»¡¡sure¡¡as¡¡I¡¡m¡¡talkin¡¡¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡
You¡¡ve¡¡done¡¡well¡£¡¡¡¡Thrall¡¡saluted¡¡the¡¡boy¡£¡¡Find¡¡yourself¡¡some¡¡food¡¡and¡¡drink¡£¡¡There¡¡may¡¡be¡¡more¡¡questions¡¡for¡¡
you¡¡after¡¡you¡¡ve¡¡had¡¡your¡¡fill¡£¡¡¡¡
Nodding£»¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡said£»¡¡Thank¡¡you£»¡¡Warchief£»¡¡¡¡and¡¡ran¡¡out¡£¡¡
¡¡
The¡¡humans£»¡¡¡¡Burx¡¡said¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡throne¡¡room¡£¡¡It¡¡s¡¡gotta¡¡be¡£¡¡They¡¡ve¡¡asked¡¡for¡¡wood¡¡from
the¡¡trees¡¡in¡¡Thunder¡¡Ridge¡¡lots¡¡of¡¡times¡£¡¡Certainly¡¡no¡¡orc¡¡would¡¡defile¡¡t