13. warcraft - of blood and honor by chris metzen (bonus)

8/12/2019 13. WarCraft - Of Blood and Honor by Chris Metzen (Bonus)

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OF BLOOD AND HONOR

CHRIS METZEN

ONE

A Clash of Arms

Asoft, cool breeze ble thro!"h the !##er bra$ches of the m%"ht& oa' trees of the Hearth"le$

(oo)s* A #eacef!l +!%et ha) falle$ oer the tra$+!%l forest, lea%$" T%r%o$ For)r%$" alo$e %thh%s tho!"hts* H%s "ra& stall%o$, M%ra)or, trotte) at a$ eas& #ace alo$" the %$)%$" h!$t%$" #ath*

Tho!"h "ame ha) bee$ stra$"el& scarce for the #ast fe ee's, T%r%o$ came to h!$t here

he$eer the o##ort!$%t& #rese$te) %tself* He #referre) the "ra$)e!r a$) cr%s# a%r of the o#e$

co!$tr& to the m!st&, co$f%$%$" halls of h%s 'ee#* He ha) bee$ h!$t%$" %$ these oo)s s%$ce he

as a small bo& a$) '$e the%r $!mero!s, %$)%$" tra%ls l%'e the bac' of h%s ha$)* Th%s as the

o$e #lace he co!l) ala&s f%$) ref!"e from the b!r)e$s a$) b!rea!crat%c #ress!res of h%s stat%o$*

He m!se) that some)a& he o!l) br%$" h%s &o!$" so$, Taela$, to h!$t %th h%m so that the bo&

co!l) e-#er%e$ce the r!""e) ma.est& of h%s homela$) for h%mself*

Lor) /ala)%$ T%r%o$ For)r%$" as a #oerf!l ma$* He as stro$" %$ both m%$) a$) bo)&, a$)

as co!$te) as o$e of the "reatest arr%ors of h%s )a&* Tho!"h he as sl%"htl& oer f%ft& &ears of

a"e, he st%ll loo'e) as f%t a$) )&$am%c as he ha) he$ a &o!$"er ma$* H%s s%"$at!re b!sh&m!stache a$) h%s $eatl& tr%mme) bro$ ha%r ere strea'e) %th "ra&, b!t h%s #%erc%$" "ree$ e&es

st%ll sho$e %th a$ e$er"& that bel%e) h%s &ears*

T%r%o$ as the "oer$or of the #ros#ero!s All%a$ce #r%$c%#al%t& of Hearth"le$, a lar"e foreste)

re"%o$ $estle) at the crossroa)s betee$ the toer%$" Alterac Mo!$ta%$s a$) the m%st0shro!)e)

shores of Darromere La'e* He as res#ecte) as a .!st "oer$or a$) h%s $ame a$) )ee)s ere

ho$ore) thro!"ho!t the '%$")om of Lor)aero$* H%s "reat 'ee#, Mar)e$hol)e, as the ce$ter of

commerce a$) tra)e for the b!stl%$" re"%o$* The c%t%ze$s of Hearth"le$ too' "reat #r%)e %$ the

fact that the 'ee#1s m%"ht& alls ha) $eer falle$ to %$a)ers, ee$ )!r%$" the )ar'est )a&s of the

orc%sh %$as%o$ of Lor)aero$* 2et, of late, T%r%o$ as )%s"r!$tle) to f%$) a )%ffere$t '%$) of arm&

sc!rr&%$" orr%e)l& thro!"h the halls of h%s home*

I$ rece$t ee's the 'ee# ha) bee$ oerr!$ %th trael%$" )%"$%tar%es a$) re#rese$tat%es from

the ar%o!s $at%o$s of the All%a$ce, ho #asse) thro!"h Hearth"le$ o$ the%r secret )%#lomat%c

erra$)s* He ha) met %th ma$& of them %$ #erso$, offer%$" h%s hos#%tal%t& a$) ass%sta$ce

hereer he co!l)* Tho!"h the )%"$%tar%es ere a##ro#r%atel& a##rec%at%e of h%s efforts, T%r%o$

co!l) se$se a "ro%$" te$s%o$ %th%$ all of them* He s!s#ecte) that the& ere char"e) %th

carr&%$" )%re $es )%rectl& to the All%a$ce H%"h Co!$c%l* Tr& as he m%"ht, he co!l) $ot )%scer$

the s#ec%f%cs beh%$) the%r !r"e$t comm!$%+!3s* 2et T%r%o$ For)r%$" as $o fool* After th%rt&

&ears of ser%$" the All%a$ce as a /ala)%$, he reco"$%ze) that o$l& o$e th%$" co!l) ca!se the

other%se sto%c em%ssar%es to be so tro!ble)4 (ar as ret!r$%$" to Lor)aero$*

5 5 5

It ha) bee$ $earl& tele &ears s%$ce the ar a"a%$st the orc%sh Hor)e ha) e$)e)* It as aterr%ble co$fl%ct that ha) ra"e) across the $orthla$)s, lea%$" ma$& of the All%a$ce '%$")oms

raze) a$) blac'e$e) %$ %ts a'e* Too ma$& brae me$ fell before the ram#a"%$" Hor)e as

f%$all& sto##e)* T%r%o$ ha) lost a $!mber of "oo) fr%e$)s a$) sol)%ers oer the co!rse of the ar*

Tho!"h the All%a$ce ha) rall%e) at the elee$th ho!r a$) #!lle) %ctor& from the cl!tches of

certa%$ )efeat, %t ha) #a%) a hea& #r%ce* Almost a$ e$t%re "e$erat%o$ of &o!$" me$ ha) selflessl&

"%e$ the%r l%es to %$s!re that ma$'%$) o!l) $eer be slaes to saa"e orc oerlor)s*

Near the ar1s e$), the battere) a$) lea)erless orc cla$s ere ro!$)e) !# a$) #lace) %th%$

"!ar)e) reseres $ear the o!ts'%rts of the All%a$ce la$)s* Tho!"h, as a #reca!t%o$ar& meas!re, %t

as $ecessar& to #ol%ce the reseres %th f!ll re"%me$ts of '$%"hts a$) footme$, the orcs

rema%$e) )oc%le a$) #ass%e* I$)ee), as t%me #asse), the orcs seeme) to lose the%r ra"%$"

bloo)l!st com#letel& a$) la#se %$to a stra$"e comm!$al st!#or* Some s!##ose) that the fo!lbr!tes1 lethar"& as bro!"ht o$ b& %$act%%t&, b!t T%r%o$ rema%$e) to be co$%$ce)* He ha) see$,

f%rstha$), the orcs1 br!tal%t& a$) saa"er& %$ battle* Memor%es of the%r he%$o!s atroc%t%es ha)

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#la"!e) h%s )reams for &ears after the ar* He, for o$e, o!l) $eer bel%ee that the%r arl%'e

a&s ha) left them com#letel&*

5 5 5

T%r%o$ #ra&e) eer& $%"ht, as he ala&s ha), that co$fl%ct o!l) $eer e$)a$"er h%s #eo#le a"a%$*

/erha#s $a%el&, he ho#e) fere$tl& that h%s &o!$" so$ o!l) be s#are) the r%"ors a$) horrors of

ar* As a /ala)%$, he ha) see$ far too ma$& ch%l)re$ or#ha$e) or left for )ea) oer the co!rse of

the tra"%c co$fl%ct* He o$)ere) ho a$& ch%l) co!l) $ot become col) a$) )%sassoc%ate) he$face) %th terror a$) %ole$ce all aro!$) them* He o!l) certa%$l& $eer allo that to ha##e$ to

h%s o$ bo&, that as certa%$* 2et, )es#%te h%s best %shes, he co!l) $ot %"$ore the real%t& of the

#rese$t s%t!at%o$* H%s closest a%)es a$) a)%sors ha) bee$ tell%$" h%m of the "r%m r!mors for

mo$ths $o7that the orcs ere o$ce a"a%$ o$ the moe* Har) as %t as to bel%ee, the #rese$ce

of so ma$& em%ssar%es %$ h%s 'ee# co$f%rme) %t to be tr!e*

If the orcs ere fool%sh e$o!"h to r%se !# a"a%$, he o!l) )o hateer %t too' %$ or)er to sto#

them* D!t& ha) ala&s bee$ the o$e co$sta$t %$ h%s l%fe* He ha) s#e$t the ma.or%t& of h%s &ears

)efe$)%$" Lor)aero$ %$ o$e a& or a$other* Tho!"h he ha) $ot bee$ bor$ a $oble, h%s

e$th!s%asm a$) ho$or ha) o$ h%m the ra$' of '$%"ht at the te$)er a"e of e%"htee$* T%r%o$

sere) h%s '%$" %th !$)&%$" lo&alt& a$) o$ a "reat )eal of res#ect from h%s s!#er%ors* 2ears

later, he$ the orcs f%rst %$a)e) Lor)aero$, %$te$t o$ cr!sh%$" c%%l%zat%o$, he as o$e of thef%rst '$%"hts to be "%e$ the ho$or of sta$)%$" %th 8ther the L%"htbr%$"er a$) be%$" a$o%$te) as

a hol& /ala)%$*

8ther, T%r%o$, a$) a $!mber of )eo!t '$%"hts ere ha$)0#%c'e) b& the Archb%sho# Alo$s!s

Faol to become l%%$" essels of the hol& L%"ht* The%r s#ec%al, sacre) char"e as tofol)4 a%)e)

b& the hol& L%"ht, the /ala)%$s o!l) $ot o$l& lea) the f%"ht a"a%$st the %le forces of )ar'$ess,

b!t heal the o!$)s %$fl%cte) !#o$ the %$$oce$t c%t%ze$s of h!ma$%t& as ell* T%r%o$ a$) h%s

fellos ere "%e$ the )%%$e #oer to heal o!$)s a$) c!re )%seases of eer& '%$)* The& ere

%mb!e) %th "reat stre$"th a$) %s)om that e$able) them to rall& the%r brethre$ a$) "%e "lor&

to the L%"ht* I$)ee), the /ala)%$s1 lea)ersh%# a$) stre$"th hel#e) to t!r$ the t%)e of the ar a$)

%$s!re the s!r%al of h!ma$%t&*

Tho!"h h%s o$ L%"ht0"%e$ #oers ha) a$e) somehat oer the &ears, T%r%o$ co!l) st%ll feel

stre$"th a$) "race flo thro!"h h%s a"%$" l%mbs* S!rel& he o!l) hae stre$"th e$o!"h he$ he

$ee)e) %t the most* For h%s so$ a$) for h%s #eo#le, he o!l) hae stre$"th e$o!"h, he oe)*

5 5 5

Clear%$" h%s hea) of co$cer$s, T%r%o$ sto##e) to "et h%s bear%$"s* To h%s s!r#r%se, he fo!$) that

he1) a$)ere) m!ch farther !# the %$)%$" #ath tha$ he1) %$te$)e)* The #ath s$a'e) %ts a& !#

a$) oer the )e$sel& foreste) mo!$ta%$* There ere $o o!t#osts th%s far !#, T%r%o$ remembere)*

As a matter of fact, he co!l)$1t recall the last t%me he ha) e$t!re) !# th%s far* He too' a mome$t

to )r%$' %$ the ra bea!t& of the #lace* He co!l) hear babbl%$" streams $earb& a$) smell the

clea$, cr%s# a%r* The s'& as bl!e a$) clear as he atche) to falco$s c%rcle h%"h aboe* He tr!l&

loe) th%s la$)* He tol) h%mself that he1) ret!r$ to th%s s#ot he$ a more o##ort!$e mome$t#rese$te) %tself* R!$$%$" h%s ha$) thro!"h h%s th%$$%$", "ra&%$" ha%r, he ch%)e) h%mself for

becom%$" so lost %$ tho!"ht* He ha) come o!t to h!$t, after all* T%r%o$ )eftl& t!r$e) h%s mo!$t

aro!$) o$ the th%$ #ath a$) s#!rre) M%ra)or to a +!%c'er #ace bac' )o$ the mo!$ta%$* He

#!lle) shar#l& o$ the re%$s a$) steere) h%s fa%thf!l mo!$t %$to the )e$se oo)s*

After a fe m%$!tes he sloe) h%s #ace a$) "allo#e) %$to a %)e clear%$" that s!rro!$)e) the

r!%$s of a$ aba$)o$e) "!ar) toer* He sto##e) $ear the ol) toer1s base a$) #eere) !# at the

lo$el& str!ct!re* L%'e ma$& other r!%$s that )otte) the la$), %t as a #a%$f!l rem%$)er of a )ar'er

t%me* The toer1s alls ere bro'e$ a$) scarre) b& blac'e$e) blastmar's* Ob%o!sl& the or'

of orc%sh cata#!lts, he tho!"ht* He remembere) ho the )estr!ct%e mach%$es ha) h!rle) the%r

f%er& #ro.ect%les from "reat )%sta$ces a$) )eastate) e$t%re %lla"es )!r%$" the ar* He o$)ere)

ho the r!%$e) str!ct!re co!l) st%ll be sta$)%$" after ha%$" bee$ left to the !$for"%%$" eleme$tsfor so lo$"* (h%le e-am%$%$" the toer1s base he ca!"ht s%"ht of stra$"e trac's !#o$ the "ro!$)*

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He )%smo!$te) to %$s#ect them* H%s bloo) $earl& froze %$ h%s e%$s as he real%ze) that the

oers%ze) trac's ha) $ot bee$ ma)e b& a$& ma$7a$) that the& ere fresh*

T%r%o$ +!%c'l& loo'e) aro!$) a$) fo!$) more trac's scattere) thro!"ho!t the clear%$"* He

s!rm%se) that orcs ha) bee$ here %th%$ the #ast fe )a&s at least* Co!l) the %le br!tes be

mob%l%z%$" so soo$, he o$)ere): No* There ha) to be some other e-#la$at%o$* Hearth"le$1s

bor)ers ere sec!re* There as $o a& that a "ro!# of orcs co!l) "o !$)etecte) %$ h%s la$) for

a$& le$"th of t%me* S!btlet&, of all th%$"s, as )ef%$%tel& $ot a #art of the%r $at!re* H%s sco!ts a$)"!ar)sme$ o!l) hae bee$ alerte) to a$& orc%sh %$c!rs%o$ %$to Hearth"le$ %mme)%atel& !#o$

the%r arr%al* 2et the fresh trac's ere there, .!st the same*

5 5 5

T%r%o$ al'e) M%ra)or aro!$) to the bac' of the toer a$) )re h%s hea& bastar) sor) from

the scabbar) attache) to h%s sa))le* He %she) fere$tl& that he ha) bro!"ht h%s m%"ht&

arhammer %$stea)* Tho!"h he as ell0#ract%ce) %th a bla)e, he o!l) hae #referre) to

%el) h%s tra)%t%o$al hammer, as all /ala)%$s )%) %$ the face of )a$"er*

As stealth%l& as he co!l), T%r%o$ cre#t aro!$) the toer a$) e$tere) thro!"h hat as left of %ts

fro$t )oor* A $!mber of lar"e oo)e$ beams ha) falle$ from the r%c'et& ce%l%$" a$) s#l%$tere)

all oer the ch%##e) sto$e floor* He %$s#ecte) the )%la#%)ate) "!ar)room a$) fo!$) a small,

ma'esh%ft f%re #%t $ear a ra""e), #atchor' be)roll* The f%re %$ the ash0la)e$ #%t ha) o$l&rece$tl& b!r$t o!t* A##are$tl& the orcs ha) ta'e$ !# res%)e$ce %th%$ the ol) toer* Stra$"el&,

he sa $o ea#o$s or to'e$ tro#h%es, h%ch orcs ere fo$) of collect%$"* He o$)ere) hat

co!l) #ossess the br!tes to so rec'lessl& s+!at o$ All%a$ce0hel) la$)s*

Dec%)%$" to ret!r$ to the 'ee# a$) "ather h%s me$, T%r%o$ e-%te) the toer a$) stro)e bol)l& o!t

%$to the clear%$"* To h%s s!r#r%se, he %mme)%atel& loc'e) e&es %th a "ar"a$t!a$ orc, ho ha)

s!))e$l& emer"e) from the tree l%$e* The orc, ho seeme) as startle) as T%r%o$, )ro##e) the

b!$)le of f%reoo) %t ha) bee$ carr&%$" a$) reache) for the broa) battle0a- that as sl!$" to %ts

bac'* T%r%o$ "r%tte) h%s teeth a$) bra$)%she) h%s o$ sor) threate$%$"l&* Slol&, the orc

#la$te) h%s feet f%rml& o$ the "ro!$), !$sl%$"%$" the m%"ht& a-*

5 5 5

It ha) bee$ &ears s%$ce T%r%o$ ha) la%) e&es o$ a$ orc* He loo'e) !#o$ the br!te %th !$abashe)

ae a$) re!ls%o$* 2et, thro!"h h%s s!r"%$" a)re$al%$e, T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that there as someth%$"

+!%te )%ffere$t abo!t th%s orc* Certa%$l&, the creat!re as as %mme$se a$) ell0m!scle) as a$&

other he ha) behel)* Its coarse, "ree$ s'%$ a$) a#e0l%'e sta$ce mar'e) %t as clearl& as a$& other

orc* Ee$ %ts h%)eo!s t!s's a$) #o%$te) ears ere rem%$%sce$t of eer& saa"e that T%r%o$ ha)

face) )!r%$" the ar* B!t someth%$" %$ the creat!re1s stat!re a$) )emea$or seeme) )%ffere$t*

There as a$ a"e) e%"ht %$ %ts sta$ce a$) far too ma$& r%$'les aro!$) %ts e&es* Its ratt& bear)

a$) r%t!all& to#0'$otte) ha%r bore hea& strea's of "ra&* (here most orc arr%ors a)or$e)

themseles %th m%smatche) #lates of armor a$) s#%'e) "a!$tlets, th%s o$e ore o$l& st%tche)

f!rs a$) r!))& leather #a$ts* Its calm lethal%t& a$) ass!re), comfortable battle sta$ce clearl&

%$)%cate) that th%s orc as $o ram#a"%$" &o!$"ster, b!t, %$)ee), a seaso$e) etera$* Des#%te %tsa##are$t a"e, %t as #ote$t%all& more )a$"ero!s tha$ a$& orc T%r%o$ ha) eer face)*

The h!l'%$" creat!re stoo) mot%o$less for a lo$" mome$t, as %f )ar%$" T%r%o$ to ma'e the f%rst

moe* T%r%o$ +!%c'l& s!re&e) the tree l%$e to ma'e certa%$ there ere $o other orcs #re#ar%$" to

amb!sh h%m* /eer%$" bac' at the orc, he fo!$) that %t ha) $ot moe) ee$ a$ %$ch* The orc

$o))e) as %f to co$f%rm that %t as alo$e* The creat!re1s '$o%$" "aze left T%r%o$ %th the

%m#ress%o$ that %t a$te) h%s f!ll atte$t%o$ before %t e$"a"e) h%m %$ combat*

Feel%$" somehat !$h%$"e) b& the orc1s calm )emea$or, T%r%o$ l!$"e) forar)* The orc eas%l&

s%)este##e) T%r%o$1s %$%t%al attac' a$) bro!"ht h%s "reat a- aro!$) %$ a %)e arc* Refle-%el&,

T%r%o$ )!c'e) !$)er the saa"e str%'e a$) rolle) %$to a )efe$s%e cro!ch* Se%z%$" the mome$t, he

thr!st h%s bla)e !# at the orc1s e-#ose) bell&* The creat!re e-#ertl& bloc'e) the thr!st %th the

haft of h%s a-, a$) lea#t bac'ar) to "%e h%mself more room to ma$e!er* T%r%o$ fe%$te) to h%sr%"ht a$) the$ bro!"ht h%s bla)e aro!$) %$ a see#%$" reerse thr!st* Mome$tar%l& ca!"ht off

"!ar) b& the cleer moe, the orc h%rle) aro!$) %$ the o##os%te )%rect%o$ a$) bro!"ht h%s a-

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)o$ %$ a fast oerhea) s%#e, mea$t to c!t T%r%o$ %$ to* T%r%o$ rolle) o!t of the a& as the a-

crashe) )o$ o$l& %$ches from here he ha) stoo)* The to o##o$e$ts stra%"hte$e) a$) s+!are)

off o$ce more* The& stare) at o$e a$other %$ s!r#r%se* T%r%o$ ha) to a)m%t that the orc as as

form%)able a foe as he ha) eer face)* The "r%m sm%le that #asse) oer the orc1s best%al face

seeme) to %m#art a s%m%lar res#ect for T%r%o$1s o$ ab%l%t%es*

5 5 5

The& be"a$ to c%rcle o$e a$other, each s%z%$" !# the other1s stre$"ths a$) ea'$esses* T%r%o$as a"a%$ s!r#r%se) b& the orc1s )emea$or a$) foc!s* Eer& other orc he ha) e$co!$tere) ha)

r!she) forar) %th rec'less aba$)o$, #referr%$" saa"er& a$) br!te force to f%$esse a$) tact%cal

ma$e!er%$"* Th%s orc, hoeer, )emo$strate) remar'able s'%ll a$) self0co$trol*

For a mome$t, T%r%o$ o$)ere) hether or $ot he co!l) act!all& best the creat!re* For a s#l%t

seco$), he orr%e) that h%s t%re) l%mbs a$) refle-es o!l) fa%l h%m at a cr!c%al mome$t* S#ora)%c

tho!"hts of h%s beloe) %fe a$) so$ be%$" left to fe$) for themseles %tho!t h%m flashe)

thro!"h h%s m%$), ea'e$%$" h%s resole b& a fract%o$* (%th a )er%s%e s$ort, he shoo' off h%s

)o!bts a$) rea)%e) h%s ea#o$* He ha) face) )eath a h!$)re) t%mes* He ha) a .ob to )o* He

rela-e) sl%"htl& a$) rem%$)e) h%mself that h%s battle %$st%$cts ere as shar# as eer* A$) he ha)

the #oer of the L%"ht o$ h%s s%)e* No matter ho %m#ress%e the orc1s f%"ht%$" #roess m%"ht

be, %t as st%ll a creat!re of )ar'$ess as far as he as co$cer$e)7%t as the sor$ e$em& ofh!ma$%t&, a$) for that %t ha) to )%e*

5 5 5

R!sh%$" forar) %th "r%m resole, T%r%o$ slashe) at the orc %th eer& o!$ce of stre$"th he

co!l)

m!ster* The orc as force) to "%e "ro!$) before the /ala)%$1s f!r%o!s attac'* T%r%o$ #!she) the

orc bac'ar) !$t%l %t felt as %f h%s sor) arm o!l) b!rst %$to flames* The orc ma$a"e) to bloc'

a$) co!$ter a $!mber of the /ala)%$1s thr!sts, b!t as thro$ off0bala$ce b& a$ e-#ertl& #lace)

str%'e* T%r%o$ c!t a "a#%$" "ash %$ the orc1s th%"h, se$)%$" the br!te st!mbl%$" %$to the )!st* The

ol) orc "r!$te) lo!)l& as %t slamme) )o$ o$to the #ac'e) )%rt*


5/41

crea'e) a$) "roa$e) as the toer1s alls sh%fte) the%r e%"ht* T%r%o$ co$t%$!e) h%s attac',

c!tt%$" the orc1s ma'esh%ft ea#o$ to s#l%$ters %th eer& feere) str%'e* Real%z%$" the )es#erate

$at!re of %ts s%t!at%o$, the orc )ro##e) hat as left of the beam a$) l!$"e) stra%"ht at T%r%o$

%th %ts s%$e& arms o!tstretche)* Hol%$" %$ f!r&, the mass%e orc reache) o!t for T%r%o$1s

throat* The /ala)%$ ma$a"e) to stab the orc o$ce before the f!ll e%"ht of the creat!re1s bo)&

slamme) %$to h%s* The to e$ta$"le) combata$ts crashe) %$to the ea'e$e) all as the r%c'et&

ce%l%$" f%$all& "ae a& a$) colla#se) )o$ !#o$ them*5 5 5

T%r%o$ o'e to the so!$)s of crea'%$" t%mber a$) clatter%$" sto$e* He bl%$'e) as th%c' clo!)s of

)!st settle) all aro!$) h%m* All else as blac' %$ the shattere) "!ar)room* H%s bo)& as $!mb,

b!t he co!l) feel a "reat #ress!re !#o$ h%s chest* As the )!st cleare), he co!l) see that he as

#%$$e) !$)er a lar"e, s#l%t beam* H%s le"s, too, ere #%$$e) be$eath %mme$se ch!$'s of mortar*

Fra$t%call&, he loo'e) aro!$) for a$& s%"$ of the orc* He o!l) be )efe$seless %f the creat!re

)ec%)e) to f%$%sh h%m off* Reach%$" )o$, he "rabbe) hol) of the beam a$) heae) %th all of

h%s rema%$%$" stre$"th* The beam to##le) to the s%)e a$) clattere) a"a%$st the r!bble*

/a%$ %mme)%atel& floo)e) T%r%o$1s bo)&* H%s hea) sam as the o#e$ c!t o$ h%s arm "!she) h%s

#rec%o!s bloo) !#o$ the floor* He attem#te) to l%ft h%mself !# a$) felt a$ ac!te b!rst of #a%$ as

h%s bro'e$ r%bs "ro!$) a"a%$st o$e a$other* H%s r%"ht le", too, felt l%'e %t m%"ht be bro'e$ be$eaththe hea& bloc's of

mortar* H%s battere) bo)& reel%$" from a"o$& a$) e-ha!st%o$, T%r%o$ felt as %f he o!l) blac'

o!t* He co!l) hear the rema%$%$" alls of the str!ct!re crea'%$" a$) "roa$%$"* The hole toer

as "o%$" to colla#se* (%th co$sc%o!s$ess ra#%)l& sl%##%$" aa&, T%r%o$ se$se) a r!stl%$" beh%$)

h%m* F%"ht%$" to sta& aa'e, T%r%o$ barel& t!r$e) to see the orc1s "ree$, me$ac%$" ha$)s

reach%$" o!t for h%m* H%s "as# of terror as c!t short as blac'$ess oertoo' h%m*

T(O

8$a$sere) ?!est%o$s

S!$l%"ht casca)e) )o$ from the o#e$ s'&l%"ht %$ the cathe)ral1s a!lte) ce%l%$"* D!st motes

s#%rale) %$ a laz& )a$ce, blo$ b& the soft %$) that afte) thro!"h the "ra$)%ose hall* Ros of

lar"e, h%te ca$)les stoo) before the base of a$ %mme$se tr%#t&ch %$)o of sta%$e) "lass* The

%ma"e of a #ro!), re"al arr%or as )e#%cte) %$ the %$)o* Tho!sa$)s of t%$&, colore) shar)s

of "lass #ortra&e) the ma$1s broa) feat!res a$) $oble bear%$"* S!rro!$)e) b& a halo of "ol)e$

l%"ht, the ma$ hel) a m%"ht& arhammer %$ o$e ha$) a$) a lar"e, leatherbo!$) tome %$ the other*

The %$scr%#t%o$ o$ the tome rea)4 @Esar!s thar $o1Dara)or7@B& Bloo) a$) Ho$or (e Sere*

T%r%o$ For)r%$" loo'e) !# toar) the colorf!l %ma"e a$) felt h%s s#%r%t soar* =$eel%$" !#o$ a$

or$atel& care) )a%s, T%r%o$ h!mbl& boe) h%s hea) %$ #ra&er* To h%s left, a "ro!# of somber

me$ )resse) %$ flo%$" h%te robes stoo) %$ atte$)a$ce* The& ere cler%cs7arr%or #r%ests7

ho ha%le) from the Northsh%re re"%o$* The #%o!s cler%cs ere #rese$t %$ or)er to offer T%r%o$

the%r s!##ort a$)s#%r%t!al "!%)a$ce, sho!l) he re+!%re %t* To h%s %mme)%ate r%"ht, a$other "ro!#stoo) %$ obsera$ce, all )resse) %$ hea& s!%ts of h%"hl& #ol%she) armor* The& ere the =$%"hts

of the S%ler Ha$)7the /ala)%$s* The sh%$%$" /ala)%$s ere the cham#%o$s of Lor)aero$ a$)

the All%a$ce* The& stoo) %$ s!##ort of T%r%o$7the $eest %$%t%ate to the%r halloe) ra$'s* Before

h%m as a ast altar that la& )%rectl& be$eath the e$ormo!s sta%$e) "lass %$)o* The stream%$"

s!$l%"ht as foc!se) at the ce$ter of the altar, here a$other robe) ma$ sat %$ me)%tat%e s%le$ce,

cra)l%$" a lar"e boo' %$ h%s la#* T%r%o$ as o$l& a"!el& aare of the others "athere) %$ the

cathe)ral beh%$) h%m, chatt%$" a$-%o!sl& h%le a%t%$" for the ceremo$& to be"%$*

The robe) ma$ o$ the altar ra%se) h%s ha$), call%$" for the "athere) masses to fall s%le$t* T%r%o$

hel) h%s breath* Th%s as the mome$t for h%ch he ha) a%te)* The robe) ma$ stoo) a$) slol&

al'e) forar) to a))ress the '$eel%$" T%r%o$* The Archb%sho# sto##e) as he reache) the or$ate

)a%s a$) o#e$e) the lar"e boo' he ha) bee$ hol)%$"* (%th a o%ce l%'e th!$)er, the Archb%sho#rea) alo!)4


6/41

@I$ the L%"ht, e "ather to em#oer o!r brother* I$ %ts "race, he %ll be ma)e a$e* I$ %ts

#oer, he shall e)!cate the masses* I$ %ts stre$"th, he shall combat the sha)o* A$), %$ %ts

%s)om, he shall lea) h%s brethre$ to the eter$al rear)s of #ara)%se* F%$%sh%$" the erse, the

Archb%sho# close) the boo' a$) t!r$e) toar) the me$ o$ the left* T%r%o$ felt a r!sh of

e-c%teme$t see# thro!"h h%s bo)&* He breathe) %$ )ee#l& a$) tr%e) to foc!s o$ the solem$%t& of

the mome$t*

@Cler%cs of the Northsh%re, %f &o! )eem th%s ma$ orth&, #lace &o!r bless%$"s !#o$ h%m, theArchb%sho# sa%) %$ a r%t!al%st%c to$e* O$e of the h%te0robe) me$ al'e) forar), carr&%$" a$

embro%)ere) )ar' bl!e stole %$ h%s ha$)s* The Cler%c reache) the )a%s a$) reere$tl& #lace) the

blesse) stole aro!$) T%r%o$1s $ec'* He )%##e) h%s th!mb %$ a small %al of sacre) o%l a$)

a$o%$te) T%r%o$1s seat%$" bro %th %t*

@B& the "race of the L%"ht, ma& &o!r brethre$ be heale), the Cler%c sa%) %$ a h%s#er* He boe)

a$) bac'e) aa& to sta$) o$ce more amo$"st h%s fellos*

The Archb%sho# t!r$e) to the me$ o$ the r%"ht a$) s#o'e a"a%$4 @=$%"hts of the S%ler Ha$), %f

&o! )eem th%s ma$ orth&, #lace &o!r bless%$"s !#o$ h%m*

To of the armore) me$ moe) forar) %th ob%o!s #r%)e o$ the%r faces a$) stoo) solem$l& %$

fro$t of the )a%s* O$e of the me$ hel) a "reat, to0ha$)e) arhammer* The hammer1s s%ler&

hea) as etche) %th hol& r!$es a$) %ts haft as met%c!lo!sl& ra##e) %$ bl!e leather* T%r%o$co!l) o$l& marel at the ea#o$1s e-ce#t%o$al craftsma$sh%# a$) bea!t&* The '$%"ht la%) the

hammer o$ the )a%s before T%r%o$1s feet* He the$ boe) h%s hea) a$) bac'e) aa&* The seco$)

'$%"ht, carr&%$" )!al ceremo$%al sho!l)er #lates, ste##e) forar) a$) loo'e) T%r%o$ %$ the e&e*

He as Sa%)a$ Dathroha$, o$e of T%r%o$1s closest fr%e$)s* The '$%"ht1s face as al%"ht %th

#r%)e a$) e-c%teme$t* T%r%o$ sm%le) '$o%$"l&* %s%bl& com#os%$" h%mself, Sa%)a$ #lace) the

s%ler sho!l)er #lates !#o$ T%r%o$1s sho!l)ers a$) s#o'e %$ a ster$ o%ce* @B& the stre$"th of the

L%"ht, ma& &o!r e$em%es be !$)o$e*

After he f%$%she) s#ea'%$", Sa%)a$ a).!ste) the s%ler #lates so that the bl!e stole streame) o!t

from be$eath them* He the$ bac'e) aa& a$) ret!r$e) to the "ro!# of atte$)a$t '$%"hts* T%r%o$1s

heart #o!$)e) %$ h%s chest* He as so oercome %th .o& that he felt almost l%"ht0hea)e)* The

Archb%sho# stro)e forar) o$ce a"a%$ a$) #lace) h%s ha$) !#o$ T%r%o$1s hea)*

@Ar%se a$) be reco"$%ze), he sa%)* T%r%o$ "ot to h%s feet a$) marele) at the sheer ma"$%t!)e of

the ho$or be%$" bestoe) !#o$ h%m* The Archb%sho# leele) h%s "aze at T%r%o$, the$ rea) alo!)

from the boo'*

@Do &o!, T%r%o$ For)r%$", o to !#hol) the ho$or a$) co)es of the Or)er of the S%ler Ha$):

@I )o, T%r%o$ re#l%e) ear$estl&*

@Do &o! o to al' %$ the "race of the L%"ht a$) s#rea) %ts %s)om to &o!r fello ma$:

@I )o*

@Do &o! o to a$+!%sh e%l hereer %t be fo!$), a$) #rotect the ea' a$) %$$oce$t %th &o!r

er& l%fe:

T%r%o$ salloe) har) a$) $o))e) h%le sa&%$", @B& m& bloo) a$) ho$or, I )o* He e-hale)softl&, oercome %th emot%o$*

The Archb%sho# close) the boo' a$) al'e) bac' toar) the ce$ter of the altar*

T!r$%$" to face the e$t%re assembl&, the Archb%sho# sa%), @Brothers7&o! ho hae "athere)

here to bear %t$ess7ra%se &o!r ha$)s a$) let the L%"ht %ll!m%$ate th%s ma$* Each of the Cler%cs

a$) '$%"hts ra%se) the%r r%"ht ha$)s a$) #o%$te) toar) T%r%o$* To T%r%o$1s amazeme$t, the%r

ha$)s be"a$ to "lo %th asoft, "ol)e$ ra)%a$ce* He s!##ose) that, %$ the e-c%teme$t of the

mome$t, h%s e&es ere #la&%$" tr%c's o$ h%m* 2et, as he atche) %$ o$)er, the s!$l%"ht that

#o!re) %$ from aboe be"a$ to moe slol& across the floor* As %f %$ res#o$se to the assembl&1s

comma$), the l%"ht came to rest !#o$ T%r%o$ h%mself* /art%all& bl%$)e) b& the %$te$se ra)%a$ce,

T%r%o$ felt h%s bo)& arme) a$) e$er"%ze) b& %ts hol& #oer* Eer& f%ber of h%s be%$" as

%"$%te)


7/41

b& )%%$e f%re* He co!l) se$se l%fe0"%%$" e$er"%es flo%$" thro!"h h%s l%mbs, e$er"%es e$o!"h to

heal a$& o!$) or c!re a$& )%sease* He m!se) that these e$er"%es ere e$o!"h to b!r$ ee$ the

so!ls of the acc!rse) )e$%ze$s of the sha)o* Des#%te h%mself, he sh!))ere) %$ol!$tar%l&*

Ablaze %th ho#e a$) .o&, T%r%o$ '$elt )o$ a$) too' hol) of the m%"ht& hammer7the s&mbol

of h%s hol& a##o%$tme$t a$) stat%o$* (%th .o&o!s tears stream%$" )o$ h%s face, he ra%se) h%s

hea) a$) loo'e) toar) the Archb%sho#, ho sm%le) arml& bac' at h%m*

@Ar%se, T%r%o$ For)r%$"7/ala)%$ )efe$)er of Lor)aero$* (elcome to the Or)er of the S%lerHa$)*

The e$t%re assembl& er!#te) %$ cheers* Tr!m#ets blare) from the h%"h balco$%es a$) the cheerf!l

)%$ echoe) thro!"h the ast$ess of the Cathe)ral of L%"ht*

5 5 5

T%r%o$ o'e %th a start* The so!$) of ch%l)re$1s frol%c'%$" la!"hter came thro!"h the $earb&

%$)o* O!ts%)e he co!l) hear the fam%l%ar so!$)s of commerce a$) tra)e be%$" co$)!cte)

%th%$ the "ro!$)s of Mar)e$hol)e 'ee#* He as home, %$ h%s o$ be)* Sha'%$" h%s hea) to

clear h%s "ro""& m%$), he o$)ere) ho lo$" he ha) sle#t* H%s sheets ere soa'e) %th seat

a$) he smelle) as %f he ha)$1t bathe) %$ a ee'* H%s hea) as #o!$)%$" so har) he felt as %f %t

o!l) b!rst* S%"h%$" hea%l&, he remembere) that he ha) bee$ )ream%$"* He tr%e) to recall the

)ream1s )eta%ls, b!t )!e to the %$cessa$t #o!$)%$" %$ h%s s'!ll, he co!l) o$l& "ras# the fa%$testflashes of %ma"er&4 a robe) ma$, a sh%$& hammer, a$) a %c%o!s orc*A %c%o!s orc: He s!rm%se)

that he ha) )reamt of h%s a##o%$tme$t as a /ala)%$* B!t s!rel& there ere $o orcs #rese$t at that

.o&o!s ceremo$&* Slol&, more %ma"es be"a$ to flash %$ h%s m%$)* There ha) bee$ a f%"ht

betee$ h%mself a$) the orc7a$) he ha) lost* No$se$se, he tho!"ht abse$tl&* He m!se) that h%s

)reams ere becom%$" ee$ more %ma"%$at%e %$ h%s ol) a"e*

L%ft%$" h%s hea) from the seat0soa'e) #%llo, he attem#te) to "et !# a$) o!t of be)* A sear%$"

#a%$ shot thro!"h h%m a$) he la& bac' )o$, #a$t%$" for breath* He str%##e) the bla$'ets from

h%s bo)& a$) sa that h%s e$t%re m%)sect%o$ ha) bee$ $eatl& ba$)a"e)* Br!%ses a$) small

lacerat%o$s coere) most of h%s ach%$" bo)&* He as s!r#r%se) to f%$) that h%s arm ha) also bee$

)resse) a$) ba$)a"e)* Fra$t%call&, he tr%e) to recall hat ha) ha##e$e) to h%m* Ha) the f%"ht

a"a%$st the orc bee$ real: For some stra$"e reaso$, h%s memor& seeme) haz& a$) sl!""%sh* H%s

face co$torte) %th #a%$ as he str!""le) o!t of be)* (ra##%$" h%mself %$ h%s )ress%$" robe, he

ma)e h%s a& toar) the s%tt%$" room of h%s #r%ate chambers*

He fo!$) h%s &o!$" %fe, =ara$)ra, s%tt%$" +!%etl& %th her $ee)leor' %$ a lar"e #l!sh cha%r

$ear a$ o#e$ %$)o* At see%$" h%m e$ter the room, =ara$)ra thre )o$ her embro%)er& a$)

r!she) to meet h%m* She h!""e) h%m arml&, caref!l $ot to s+!eeze h%m too t%"htl&*

@Tha$' the L%"ht, &o!1re aa'e, she sa%)* Her &o!$", )el%cate feat!res ere f%-e) %th both

rel%ef a$) co$cer$* Her bl!e e&es seeme) to stare stra%"ht thro!"h h%m, as the& ala&s )%)* He

sm%le) bac' a$) '%sse) her forehea) l%"htl&* He marele), for #erha#s the te$ tho!sa$)th t%me, at

her bea!t&* @I as be"%$$%$" to o$)er %f &o! ere "o%$" to slee# clear thro!"h m%)&ear, she

sa%)* H%s e&ebro arche) +!est%o$%$"l& as he stro'e) her soft, "ol)e$ ha%r*@(hat )o &o! mea$: Ho lo$" hae I sle#t: he as'e)*

@Nearl& fo!r )a&s, she re#l%e) flatl&* T%r%o$ bl%$'e) %$ )%sbel%ef*

@Fo!r )a&s, he m!mble) to h%mself* That o!l) e-#la%$ the haz& memor&, he m!se)*

@=ara$)ra, hat1s ha##e$e) to me: (h& hae I sle#t so lo$": he as'e)* She shr!""e), sha'%$"

her hea) sl%"htl&*

@(e1re $ot e-actl& s!re hat ha##e$e) to &o!, she re#l%e)* @2o! left %$ the mor$%$" to "o

h!$t%$" a$) ere "o$e for ho!rs* S%$ce &o!1re almost $eer late %$ ret!r$%$", I as orr%e) that

&o!1) bee$ h!rt* I se$t Ar)e$ o!t to f%$) &o!* T%r%o$ sm%le)* Ar)e$ as the ca#ta%$ of the

'ee#1s "!ar)s, a$) #erha#s h%s most lo&al fr%e$)* He sho!l) hae "!esse) that Ar)e$ o!l) "o

search%$" for h%m* =ara$)ra co$t%$!e), @!st as he as lea%$" the 'ee#, he came across &o!

ato# M%ra)or* He sa%) that &o! ere !$co$sc%o!s he$ he fo!$) &o!, a$) that &o!1) bee$ t%e) tothe sa))le %th &o!r o$ re%$s*


8/41

T%r%o$ c!##e) h%s ach%$" hea) %$ h%s ha$)s* @T%e) to m& sa))le: No$e of th%s ma'es a$& se$se,

he sa%) ear%l&*

She #lace) her cool ha$) a"a%$st h%s forehea), sooth%$"l&* @2o!r r%bs ere bro'e$ a$) &o!r arm

ha) bee$ sl%ce) o#e$* (e feare) &o! ha) bee$ attac'e) b& a ro"!e br%stlebear* Barth%las heale)

&o! as soo$ as Ar)e$ bro!"ht &o! %$s%)e*

T%r%o$ sat )o$ hea%l& %$ her cha%r*Barth%las: Barth%las ha) heale) h%m: The &o!th as o$l&

rece$tl& a$o%$te) as a /ala)%$, a$) T%r%o$ as s!r#r%se) to hear that h%s #oers ha) )eelo#e) so+!%c'l&* The somehat arro"a$t b!t )eo!t Barth%las ha) bee$ ass%"$e) as T%r%o$1s Seco$)7h%s

s!ccessor as Lor) /ala)%$ oer Hearth"le$* He ha) t!tore) the &o!$" /ala)%$ %$ the a&s of the%r

hol& Or)er a$) %$str!cte) h%m %$ the #rotocols of the #ol%t%cal are$a* Tho!"h he as "la) the

&o!th ha) bee$ able to heal h%m, he ha) other matters to #o$)er*Ha) the f%"ht %th the orc reall&

ta'e$ #lace :

=ara$)ra '$eele) )o$, close to h%m* @Barth%las1 heal%$" ta-e) &o! "reatl&, a$) left h%m

e-ha!ste)* As &o! sle#t, &o! cr%e) o!t a $!mber of t%mes %$ )el%r%!m, she sa%)*

He loo'e) at her +!est%o$%$"l&* @A$): he as'e)*

@(ell, she be"a$ %th a loo' of co$cer$ cross%$" her face, @&o! ere rambl%$" o$ abo!t orcs,

T%r%o$* 2o! sa%) that there ere orcs %$ Hearth"le$*

He la%) bac' %$ the cha%r ear%l&* The memor%es of the f!r%o!s e$co!$ter came r!sh%$" bac' ath%m* The f%"htha) bee$ real* He loo'e) %$to her cr&stal bl!e e&es a$) $o))e) "r%ml&*

@Itas a$ orc, he tol) her* =ara$)ra sat bac' o$ her feet, mo!th a"a#e*

@L%"ht sae !s, she m!ttere)* !st the$ the )oor slamme) o#e$ a$) f%e0&ear0ol) Taela$ came

bo!$)%$" %$to the room*

@/o##aG /o##aG the bo& sho!te), r!$$%$" oer to h%s #are$ts* =ara$)ra stra%"hte$e) a$) stoo)

!# as Taela$ lea#e) !# %$to T%r%o$1s la#* T%r%o$ "r!$te) as the small bo& thre h%mself a"a%$st

h%s sore chest*

@Taela$, m& bo&, ho are &o!: he as'e), ra##%$" h%s so$ !# %$ a heart& h!"* Taela$ beame) a

co& sm%le !# at h%m a$) shr!""e) h%s sho!l)ers* @Hae &o! bee$ "oo) for &o!r mother: Taela$

$o))e) e-c%te)l&*

@He1s m%$)f!l ofte$ e$o!"h, Ar)e$1s stro$" o%ce boome) from the )oora&* @B!t he1s .!st as

ramb!$ct%o!s as h%s father eer as* =ara$)ra sm%le) arml& at the lo&al "!ar)sma$ as he

e$tere) the room* @I ho#e I1m $ot %$tr!)%$" o$ a$&th%$"* I sa Taela$ there hea)%$" th%s a&

l%'e a ra"%$" o"re a$)

tho!"ht to catch h%m before he o'e &o!, T%r%o$* It seems I sho!l)$1t hae orr%e)* (%th a

"r!$t, T%r%o$ rose %th Taela$ %$ h%s arms a$) al'e) forar) to "reet h%s ol) fr%e$)* The to

shoo' ha$)s heart%l&*

@=ara$)ra tells me that I sho!l) tha$' &o! for ha!l%$" me bac' to the 'ee#* Ho$estl&, Ar)e$, %f I

ha) a "ol) mar' for eer& t%me &o!1e f%she) me o!t of tro!ble * * *

@No$se$se* I .!st le) &o!r horse bac'* If &o! tha$' a$&o$e, %t sho!l) be Barth%las* He .!st abo!t

b!r$t h%mself o!t tr&%$" to heal &o!* 2o!1) ta'e$ a #rett& "oo) beat%$", ol) fr%e$)* I$ a$& case,I1m "la) to see &o! bac' amo$"st the l%%$"* 2o! ha) !s co$cer$e) there for a h%le*

@I '$o, T%r%o$ sa%)* @There are some th%$"s e sho!l) )%sc!ss, %mme)%atel&* Ar)e$ $o))e),

cast%$" a s%)elo$" loo' at Taela$ a$) =ara$)ra* Catch%$" the ca#ta%$1s s!btle h%$t, =ara$)ra too'

Taela$ from T%r%o$1s arms a$) sa%), @I1ll leae &o! both to %t, the$* 2o!1e "ot #la$s to ma'e*

A$) th%s l%ttle o$e $ee)s to "o )o$ for h%s $a#* She '%sse) the bo& o$ the chee'* Taela$,

h%$%$" %th )%s#leas!re, str!""le) to brea' free of her f%rm "ras#* =ara$)ra la!"he) softl& to

herself*

@!st l%'e h%s father, she sa%) %th a "%""le* Both T%r%o$ a$) Ar)e$ sm%le) as she left*

@I1ll see &o! later, so$, T%r%o$ sa%), atch%$" them leae* O$ce the& ere o!t of earshot, he

t!r$e) to face Ar)e$, h%s face a mas' of co$cer$*

@It as a$ orc, Ar)e$* More tha$ l%'el&, %t1s st%ll al%e* As far as I co!l) tell, %t as alo$e o!tthere* A$), !$t%l e '$o other%se, I a$t to 'ee# th%s betee$ !s a$) hoeer else as o$


9/41

ha$) he$ &o! bro!"ht me %$* I )o$1t a$t to #a$%c the e$t%re #ro%$ce %$ case th%s as .!st a

sol%tar& %$c%)e$t*

Ar)e$1s stro$" .a t%"hte$e) $ot%ceabl&* @There ma& be a #roblem o$ that fro$t alrea)&, m%lor)*

Barth%las a$) I ere both o$ ha$) h%le &o! sle#t* (e both hear) &o! m!tter abo!t the orc, he

sa%)* T%r%o$ "r%mace) as Ar)e$ co$t%$!e)* @2o! '$o Barth%las as ell as I )o* O$ce he hear)

&o! sa& orc,1 he fle %$to a ra"e a$) starte) call%$" for a f!ll re"%me$t to sco!r the co!$tr&s%)e

%$ search of a$& more of the br!tes* I $earl& ha) to s%t o$ h%m to calm h%m )o$*@I a##rec%ate the la)1s e$th!s%asm, b!t h%s feror co!l) be #roblemat%c, T%r%o$ state) r&l&*

@That o!l) be a$ !$)erstateme$t, Ar)e$ a))e), sm%l%$"* Both me$ ha) reco"$%ze) earl& o$

Barth%las1 almost zealo!s obsess%o$ to face orcs %$ battle* Barth%las1 #are$ts ha) bee$ m!r)ere)

b& orcs )!r%$" the ar, h%ch ha) left the tra!mat%ze) &o!th or#ha$e) a$) %$co$solable*

Dec%)%$" to s#e$) the rest of h%s l%fe combat%$" the orcs1 e%l, Barth%las !$)ere$t &ears of

r%"oro!s tra%$%$" a$) st!)&* 2et, tra"%call&, the f%er& &o!th as acce#te) as a /ala)%$ o$l& after

the ar ha) e$)e)* Des#%te all h%s tra%$%$" a$) #re#arat%o$, Barth%las as tort!re) b& the fact that

he o!l)$1t hae the cha$ce to ae$"e h%s sla!"htere) #are$ts* He also felt that he co!l) o$l&

%$ the res#ect of h%s s!#er%ors b& bloo)&%$" h%s ha$)s "lor%o!sl& %$ battle, as the& ha) )!r%$"

the ar* He )reame) of becom%$" a m%"ht& hero a$) ta'%$" e$"ea$ce !#o$ the creat!res that

ha) ta'e$ h%s fam%l& from h%m*Altho!"h he em#ath%ze) %th the &o!$"er /ala)%$, T%r%o$ '$e that that '%$) of th%$'%$" co!l)

lea) to )%saster* @I )o!bt he1s bee$ t%"ht0mo!the) abo!t m& e$co!$ter* Es#ec%all& after he heale)

m& o!$)s* Ho ma$& '$o abo!t th%s, Ar)e$: T%r%o$ as'e) a$-%o!sl&*

@R!mors hae bee$ fl&%$" all aro!$) the 'ee# for the #ast fe )a&s* /erso$all&, I1e hear) .!st

abo!t eer&th%$" from a$ orc ra%)%$" #art& to a f!ll0fle)"e) %$as%o$ force a%t%$" to )esce$)

!#o$ !s* 2o! '$o ho %t %s* /eo#le are terr%f%e) that the Hor)e %ll ret!r$* A$) Barth%las,

s#ec%f%call&, %s terr%f%e) that he o$1t "et to )efeat %t s%$"leha$)e)l& %f %t eer )oes, Ar)e$

re#l%e)* T%r%o$ #atte) h%m reass!r%$"l& o$

the sho!l)er*

@Let1s .!st ho#e %t )oes$1t come to that, T%r%o$ sa%) %$ ear$est* @Assemble m& a)%sors* (e1ll

)%sc!ss th%s f!rther %$ co!$c%l* Ar)e$ sal!te) cr%s#l& a$) t!r$e) to leae* T%r%o$ cleare) h%s

throat* @Ar)e$, he sa%) softl&* @O$e last th%$" * * * Ar)e$ sto##e) %$ h%s trac's a$) st%ffe$e)*

@2o! sa the sha#e I as %$ he$ &o! fo!$) me:

@2es, Ar)e$ re#l%e)*

@There1s $o a& I co!l) hae t%e) m&self to M%ra)or a$) fo!$) m& a& home %$ that co$)%t%o$*

@No, m%lor)* There1s $o a&*

@A$) &o! sa $o o$e else o!t there: No o$e ho co!l) hae hel#e) me a$) le) the horse bac'

here:

@No, m%lor)* There as $o o$e abo!t* I ee$ e$t bac' later to search for trac's* I fo!$)

$oth%$"* Someo$e )ef%$%tel& t%e) &o! to &o!r horse* A$), for the l%fe of me, I ca$1t f%"!re o!t

ho, Ar)e$ f%$%she)* T%r%o$ $o))e) a$) mot%o$e) for h%m to "o* Left alo$e, T%r%o$ #o$)ere) o$ho h%s a$o$&mo!s sa%or co!l) hae bee$* As far as he '$e, the o$l& to #eo#le %$ the oo)s

that mor$%$" ere h%mself a$) the m&ster%o!s ol) orc* Br%efl&, T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f %t as the orc

that ha) sae) h%m* H%s #ast e-#er%e$ce %th the creat!res #rom#te) h%m to )%sre"ar) the $ot%o$*

The best%al creat!res ha) $o $ot%o$ of ho$or* From all he ha) see$ of them, he as certa%$ that

the& o!l) $eer "o o!t of the%r a& to sho com#ass%o$ toar) a$other creat!re, least of all a

hate) e$em&* St%ll, )es#%te h%s co$%ct%o$s, T%r%o$1s %$st%$cts tol) h%m that %t ha) bee$ the orc

after all*

5 5 5

Ca$)les fl!ttere) %$ the me)%!m0s%ze co!$c%l room* At the room1s ce$ter sat a lar"e oa' table,

coere) b& a$ %mme$se ma# that )%s#la&e) the la$)s of Hearth"le$ )o$ to the most m%$!te

)eta%l* S%- me$ ere seate) aro!$) the table, co$ers%$" amo$"st themseles* At the hea) of thetable sat T%r%o$, ho stare) +!%etl& at the sect%o$ of ma# that %$)%cate) the oo)la$)s

s!rro!$)%$" the r!%$e) toer* Lost %$ tho!"ht, T%r%o$ as )%s%$tereste) %$ h%s a)%sors1 %)le

J


10/41

co$ersat%o$* He co!l)$1t tear h%s m%$) from the $a""%$" +!est%o$7ho ha) sae) h%m a$) le)

h%s horse home: He remembere) clearl& that the orc ha) sal!te) h%m he$ he alloe) the

creat!re a re#r%ee )!r%$" the%r combat* /erha#s the br!te ha) some sembla$ce of ho$or after all,

T%r%o$ m!se)* No, %t ha) to be a m%sta'e* Orcs ere %le a$) saa"e* The%r '%$) '$e $oth%$" of

c%%l%t& or com#ass%o$, he rem%$)e) h%mself* B!t st%ll, h%s heart tol) h%m that %t as the orc ho

ha) sae) h%m*

H%s tho!"hts ere %$terr!#te) as the )oor s!$" o#e$ to a)m%t a tall, sle$)er &o!$" ma$*Res#le$)e$t %$ h%s s%ler #late armor, %th a )ee# "ree$ cloa' flo%$" beh%$) h%m, Barth%las

loo'e) eer& b%t the cr!sa)%$" /ala)%$* Tho!"h he as $earl& th%rt& &ears &o!$"er tha$ T%r%o$,

Barth%las hel) h%s oath as a =$%"ht of the S%ler Ha$) as sacre) as the el)er /ala)%$ )%)* As

ala&s, Barth%las moe) %th a fl!%) "race, barel& ee$ ac'$ole)"%$" the #rese$ce of the other

me$ %$ the room* Brash a$) somehat #om#o!s, Barth%las rarel& e$t o!t of h%s a& to

ac'$ole)"e a$&o$e ho as $ot a L%"ht0blesse) /ala)%$*

T%r%o$ stoo) a$) sal!te) the &o!$"er ma$ as he e$tere)*

@


11/41

@2es, I1m s!re &o! %ll, T%r%o$ sa%) "r%ml&* Eer&o$e seeme) to s%"h as the te$s%o$ )ra%$e)

from the room* T%r%o$ r!bbe) h%s e&es ear%l& a$) sat bac' )o$*

O$e of the a)%sors s#o'e* @M%lor), he %s brash, b!t he %s a "oo) ma$ at heart* I1m s!re he )%)$1t

mea$7

@I '$o hat he %s* A$) I '$o hat he mea$t* Barth%las has ala&s bee$ r!le) b& h%s #ass%o$s*

The&1re hat ma'e h%m a$ e-ce#t%o$al /ala)%$* Hoeer, the& also ma'e h%m a l%ab%l%t& %$

)el%cate s%t!at%o$s, T%r%o$ state)* He felt t%re), l%'e a$ ol) ma$* @O$ce he calms )o$, he1llcome aro!$)* He ala&s )oes*

@B!t m%lor), hat %f he1s r%"ht: (hat %f there are more orcs o!t there a%t%$" to str%'e at !s, a$)

e s%t here a$) )o $oth%$": the a)%sor as'e)*

T%r%o$ ra$ h%s f%$"ers oer the s#ot o$ the ma# that %$)%cate) the bro'e$ toer* @8$)er $o

c%rc!msta$ces %ll I )o$oth%$", ol) fr%e$)* I1ll ta'e care of th%s matter m&self* Before the& ha) a

cha$ce to ar"!e the #o%$t f!rther, he rose a$) al'e) toar) the e-%t, lea%$" the a)%sors to

stare at o$e a$other %$ co$f!s%o$* @B!t o$ the off cha$ce that he %s r%"ht * * * ma& the L%"ht hel#

!s all*

Later that ee$%$", T%r%o$ sat alo$e %$ the 'ee#1s s#ac%o!s )%$%$" hall* H%s #late of foo) ha) "o$e

col), a$) he #%c'e) at %t abse$tl& %th h%s for'* He as th%$'%$" abo!t the ol) orc a"a%$* (as %t

tr!l& #oss%ble that the orc ha) sae) h%s l%fe: He o!l) hae to f%$) o!t soo$* If Barth%las asr%"ht, the$ eer&th%$" he1) or'e) for co!l) come crash%$" )o$ at a$& mome$t*

Beh%$) h%m he hear) a +!%et sc!ffl%$" of small feet* Loo'%$" aro!$), he sa slee#&0e&e) Taela$

emer"%$" from the a).o%$%$" s%tt%$" room*

@Sho!l)$1t &o! be aslee#, &o!$" ma$: he as'e)* The bo& crale) %$to h%s la# a$) loo'e) !# at

h%m %$ ae* T%r%o$ sm%le) at h%s so$, th%$'%$" ho m!ch the bo& resemble) h%s mother* Sa$)&

blo$) ha%r* B%" bl!e e&es* He as certa%$l& a seet, %$$oce$t ch%l), T%r%o$ tho!"ht*

@D%) the "ree$ me$ come bac' a"a%$, /o##a: Taela$ as'e)* T%r%o$ $o))e) a$) r!ffle) the

bo&1s ha%r*

@2es* B!t &o! )o$1t $ee) to orr&, so$* 2o!1ll be safe e$o!"h here %$ the 'ee#*

@Are &o! "o%$" to f%"ht the "ree$ me$, /o##a: the bo& as'e)* T%r%o$1s bro crease)*

@I )o$1t '$o &et, so$* I .!st )o$1t '$o*

THREE

A (arr%or1s Tale

T%r%o$ o'e earl& the $e-t mor$%$"* Sl%##%$" o!t of be) so as $ot to a'e =ara$)ra, he )resse)

a$) ma)e h%s a& )o$ to h%s #erso$al rea)& room* There, )%s#la&e) !#o$ a$ or$ate sta$) $ear

the )ar'e$e) room1s ce$ter, as h%s armor* The hea& s%ler #lates %th the%r "ol) l%$%$" sho$e

br%"htl& %$ the earl& mor$%$" l%"ht, )es#%te the $!mero!s "o!"es a$) )e$ts that coere)

them*Scars of battle, he tho!"ht ar%l&* A$& o$e of the )ee# "o!"es co!l) hae s%"$%f%e) a fatal

o!$), ha) he bee$ a less ca!t%o!s ma$ oer the &ears* He ho#e) s%le$tl& that h%s l!c' o!l)

hol) o!t %th hateer tro!bles ere com%$"*As +!%etl& as he co!l), he sl%##e) the armor #lates o$ o$e at a t%me a$) b!c'le) them %$to #lace*

O$ce f%$%she), he stoo) %$ fro$t of a f!ll0le$"th m%rror a$) loo'e) h%mself oer* He loo'e) m!ch

the same as he ala&s ha), )es#%te a fe more "ra& ha%rs fram%$" h%s t%re) face* He marele) at

ho ell the hea& s!%t st%ll f%t after all these &ears* He ha) to a)m%t to feel%$" a certa%$

%$)estr!ct%b%l%t& eer& t%me he ore the armor* 2et that as a &o!$" ma$1s $ot%o$* No o$e as

%$%$c%ble*No o$e l%e) foreer, he tho!"ht "r%ml&*

(al'%$" oer to the sto$e f%re#lace set %$to the far all, T%r%o$ reache) o!t for h%s tr!st&

arhammer, h%ch reste) o$ the oa' ma$tel aboe* The e-#ertl& e%"hte) hammer felt "oo) %$

h%s ha$)s* The hol& r!$es etche) %$ %ts hea) sho$e as br%"htl& as the& eer ha)*

@(%th a$& l!c', I o$1t $ee) &o!r stre$"th to)a&, ol) fr%e$), he m!ttere)* He t!c'e) the

hammer !$)er h%s arm a$) stro)e )o$ toar) the 'ee#1s stables*5 5 5

66


12/41

The s!$ as .!st brea'%$" oer the )%sta$t Alterac #ea's as T%r%o$ f%$%she) sa))l%$" M%ra)or* He

sl!$" the hammer %$to %ts sa))le0hoo# a$) ma)e rea)& to mo!$t the seaso$e) arhorse* He #!t

h%s foot %$ the st%rr!# a$) "r!$te) %$ #a%$* H%s r%bs st%ll ache), a$) the hea& armor ma)e %t

)%ff%c!lt for h%m to #!ll h%s o$ e%"ht !#*

@Ma& I as' hat &o!1re )o%$": a s!s#%c%o!s o%ce as'e) from the stable1s )ar' e$tr&a&* T%r%o$

too' h%s foot from the st%rr!# a$) t!r$e) to face Ar)e$* The ca#ta%$ of the "!ar)1s face as ster$

a$) etche) %th co$cer$*@I am "o%$" to %$est%"ate the toer1s r!%$s* If the orcs are #la$$%$" a$ %$as%o$ of m& la$), the$

I1ll f%$) #roof of %t m&self, T%r%o$ sa%) flatl&*

Ar)e$ $o))e)* @


13/41

@That %s ho &o! h!ma$s )o %t, %s %t $ot: the orc as'e) %$ fl!%) s#eech* Its o%ce as )ee# a$)

"r%tt&, b!t %ts art%c!lat%o$ as e-ce#t%o$al* T%r%o$ as )!mbfo!$)e), h%s shoc' e%)e$t o$ h%s

face* The orc1s h%)eo!s feat!res co$torte) %$ hat T%r%o$ s!rm%se) as a "r%$*

@2o! * * * &o! s#ea' o!r la$"!a"e: T%r%o$ as'e) sha'%l&*

The ol) orc e&e) h%m ster$l&* @Do &o! th%$' m& #eo#le s!r%e) %$ &o!r orl) th%s lo$" !s%$"

br!te stre$"th alo$e: %t as'e)* @2o!r '%$) has ala&s !$)erest%mate) m%$e* That %s h& &o!

lost the f%rst ar, I th%$'*T%r%o$ co!l) o$l& marel at the creat!re* Here sat a th%$" of )ar'$ess7a %le, m!r)er%$" beast*

A$) &et, %t s#o'e %th fl!%)%t& a$) %t* Th%s creat!re )%) $ot r!sh to tear o!t h%s heart, as he

o!l) hae e-#ecte)* It merel& sat, rea)%$" h%m %th %ts cleer, '$o%$" e&es* T%r%o$ sh!))ere),

feel%$" fasc%$ate) a$) re#!lse) at the same t%me* (%tho!t th%$'%$", he bl!rte) o!t the +!est%o$ he

ha) bee$ as'%$" h%mself ceaselessl&4 @I m!st '$o* D%) &o! #!ll me from the toer a$) lea) m&

horse bac' to the roa):

The ol) orc hel) h%m %$ h%s "aze for a lo$" h%le a$) the$ $o))e) o$ce* @I )%), %t sa%)*

T%r%o$ e-hale) shar#l&* @(h& o!l) &o! )o that: he as'e)* @(e are sor$ e$em%es*

The orc seeme) to co$s%)er the #o%$t for a mome$t* @2o! hae "reat ho$or, for a h!ma$* That

m!ch as clear from o!r f%"ht* No ho$orable arr%or )eseres to )%e l%'e a tra##e) a$%mal* It

o!l) $ot hae bee$ r%"ht to s%m#l& leae &o! there, the orc f%$%she)* T%r%o$ )%)$1t '$oe-actl& hat he ha) e-#ecte) to hear, b!t he as clearl& !$#re#are) for that a$ser* @Bes%)es,

the orc co$t%$!e), @I hae see$ e$o!"h )eath %$ m& t%me*

T%r%o$ boe) h%s hea), str!""l%$" to ma'e se$se of the orc1s or)s*Th%s ca$1t be r%"ht, he

tho!"ht* Th%s creat!re %s a merc%less saa"e* Ho co!l) %t s#ea' so: 2et T%r%o$ '$e that the

orc1s or)s ra$" tr!e* He co!l) feel the orc1s s%$cer%t&7a$) be$eath %t, )ee#l& b!r%e) #a%$ a$)

sorro* As a /ala)%$, he ha) )eelo#e) a certa%$ em#ath%c ab%l%t& to se$se )ee# emot%o$s from

others* The c!r%o!s ab%l%t& ha) $eer #roe$ to be more !sef!l* He #!lle) h%mself to"ether a$)

s%m#l& e$t %th the mome$t*

@I sho!l) tha$' &o!, the$, T%r%o$ be"a$, o$)er%$" ho to #ro#erl& a))ress the creat!re*

Se$s%$" T%r%o$1s co$f!s%o$, the orc s#o'e* @I am E%tr%"", h!ma$* 2o! ma& call me E%tr%""*

Rel%ee), T%r%o$ re#l%e), @Tha$' &o!, E%tr%""* Tha$' &o! for sa%$" m& l%fe*

The orc $o))e) a"a%$ a$) stoo) !#* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that the orc al'e) %th a )%st%$ct l%m#* He

s!rm%se) that the c!t he ha) "%e$ the creat!re )!r%$" the%r battle as l%'el& %$fecte)* (%tho!t

"%%$" T%r%o$ a seco$) "la$ce, the orc l%m#e) oer toar) the r!%$e) toer*

@I am T%r%o$ For)r%$", the /ala)%$ be"a$* @I sho!l) tell &o! that I am the lor) of th%s la$),

E%tr%"", a$) that &o!r #rese$ce here !#sets ma$& of those hom I e$tr!st %th %ts #rotect%o$*

The orc la!"he) softl&* @I a"er the& sle#t ell e$o!"h before &o! fo!$) me, the orc sa%)* @I

hae l%e) here %$ these oo)s for ma$& lo$" &ears, h!ma$* I moe from #lace to #lace, 'ee#%$"

h%))e$, f%$)%$" shelter here I ca$* I hae ma)e "reat s#ort of ea)%$" &o!r sco!ts a$)

&o!rRa$"ers*

The latter as s#o'e$ %th )%st%$ct scor$* Orcs ere $ot '$o$ for the%r fo$)$ess of ele$Ra$"ers* The c!$$%$", forest0r!$$%$" Ra$"ers ha) sor$ to "a%$ e$"ea$ce a"a%$st the Hor)e

after the orcs ha) )estro&e) the eles1 e$cha$te) homela$) of ?!el1Thalas* T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f

E%tr%"" as tell%$" the tr!th* Co!l) th%s orc hae rema%$e) !$)etecte) for so lo$":

E%tr%"" s$orte) a$) sa%), @It as ba) l!c' that le) &o! to me*

@/erha#s, T%r%o$ be"a$, @b!t &o!r be%$" here creates a ser%o!s #roblem for me* M& #eo#le hate

&o!r '%$), E%tr%""* 2o!r race bro!"ht $oth%$" b!t m%ser& a$) chaos to these la$)s* The& o!l)

'%ll &o! %$ a heartbeat %f the& co!l)* Ho, the$, ca$ I be merc%f!l: Ho ca$ I let &o! sta&,

'$o%$" hat &o!r #eo#le hae )o$e:

@I hae aba$)o$e) them, h!ma$G I l%e here %$ sol%t!)e7%$ e-%le, E%tr%"" sa%) ar%l&* @I $o

lo$"er %sh to #a& for the%r s%$s*

@I )o$1t !$)ersta$), the /ala)%$ re#l%e)* @Are &o! sa&%$" that &o!1e )%saoe) &o!r o$#eo#le:

6;


14/41

M& #eo#le are lostG the orc s#at* @Tr!th be tol), the& ere lost lo$" before the& eer came to

th%s stra$"e orl)* (he$ the Hor)e f%$all& fell before &o!r sta$)ar)s, I )ec%)e) to ta'e m& leae

of %t foreer*

E%tr%"" reache) )o$ a$) rolle) a lar"e ch!$' of mortar o$to %ts s%)e* T%r%o$ as %m#resse) %th

the orc1s stre$"th* It o!l) hae ta'e$ at least to sto!t me$ to moe the sto$e* The orc

mot%o$e) for T%r%o$ to s%t a$) the$ sat h%mself )o$ cross0le""e) o$ the "ro!$)* T%r%o$ too' a

seat o$ the leele) mortar*@There %s m!ch &o! )o $ot '$o abo!t m& #eo#le* The%r ho$or a$) the%r #r%)e left them lo$"

a"o* I )ec%)e) m& )!t& to them as f%$%she) he$ m& so$s ere '%lle), E%tr%"" sa%) "r%ml&*

@(ere &o!r so$s arr%ors: T%r%o$ as'e)* E%tr%"" scoffe) lo!)l&*

@All orcs are arr%ors, h!ma$, he sa%), as %f T%r%o$ ere a bra%$less ch%l)* @(e '$o l%ttle else*

Des#%te m& so$s1 stre$"th a$) #roess, the& ere betra&e) b& the%r o$ lea)ers* D!r%$" the last

ar o!r cla$ Ch%efta%$s fo!"ht amo$"st themseles oer #ett& r%alr%es* As o$e #art%c!larl&

bloo)& battle co$cl!)e), m& so$s ere or)ere) to #!ll bac' from the fro$t l%$es* O$e of o!r

Ch%efta%$1s r%als, ho#%$" to a)a$ce h%s cla$1s sta$)%$" %th%$ the Hor)e, co!$terma$)e) the

or)er a$) se$t m& so$s a$) the%r brethre$ bac' to be sla!"htere)* It as a )ar' )a& for o!r cla$* *

* * E%tr%"" sa%), lost %$ tho!"ht* @A )ar' )a& for me,

he f%$%she)*T%r%o$1s m%$) reele)* He as ell aare of the fact that orcs fre+!e$tl& fo!"ht amo$"st

themseles* 2et E%tr%""1s a##are$t "r%ef moe) h%m* He $eer %ma"%$e) that s!ch treacher&

co!l) affect a$ orc so*

@I real%ze) the$ that there as $o ho#e* Corr!#t%o$ a$) e$m%t& ha) com#letel& oersha)oe) m&

#eo#le1s s#%r%t* I felt that %t as o$l& a matter of t%me before the Hor)e )eo!re) %tself from

%th%$, E%tr%"" sa%)*

@(here )%) the corr!#t%o$ come from, E%tr%"": (hat )roe &o!r #eo#le to s!ch )e#ra%t&:

T%r%o$ as'e)*

E%tr%""1s bro ra%se) a$) he a##eare) to be )ee# %$ tho!"ht* @I$ m& "ra$)father1s t%me, m&

#eo#le ere s%m#le a$) #ro!)* There ere a fe )oze$ cla$s the$* The& l%e) a$) h!$te) %th%$

the %l)s of o!r orl)* The& ere all h!$ters bac' the$7m%"ht& arr%ors ho l%e) b& a$

ho$orable co)e a$) orsh%#e) the s#%r%ts of the eleme$ts themseles* Th!$)er a$) l%"ht$%$"

co!rse) thro!"h the bloo) of m& a$cestorsG E%tr%"" sa%) #ro!)l&, lost %$ the haze of reer%e*

@(%se Shama$s "!%)e) them a$) 'e#t the #eace betee$ the cla$s*

T%r%o$ lea$e) %$, ha$"%$" o$ the ol) orc1s or)s* S!rel&, $o h!ma$ ears ha) eer hear) th%s

m!ch of the orcs1 h%stor& before* @A$) the$: T%r%o$ as'e) a$-%o!sl&* He o$)ere) %f th%s as

ho Taela$ felt, as he rea) the bo& stor%es before h%s be)t%me* E%tr%"" co$t%$!e) somberl&*

@A $e or)er rose !# amo$"st the cla$s, #rom%s%$" to !$%te them a$) for"e them %$to a #oerf!l

$at%o$* Ma$& of the Shama$s )%scar)e) the%r a$c%e$t tra)%t%o$s a$) be"a$ to #ract%ce )ar'

ma"%cs* The& be"a$ to call themseles (arloc's* For some mal%"$ #!r#ose, the& !se) the%r

sha)o& #oers to corr!#t the cla$s a$) )r%e them to he%$o!s acts of %ole$ce* The& )%)s!ccee) %$ !$%t%$" m& #eo#le, after a fash%o$, E%tr%"" state) r&l&* @8$)er the (arloc's1 r!le,

the cla$sere !$%te)7as a ram#a"%$" Hor)e* O!r $oble arr%or tra)%t%o$s ere #ererte) to

sere the%r )ar', secret%e e$)s* It as the (arloc's ho bro!"ht m& #eo#le to &o!r orl),

h!ma$* It as the& ho )roe !s to ma'e ar a"a%$st &o!*

T%r%o$ shoo' h%s hea) %$ be%l)erme$t* @A$) $o o$e s#o'e o!t a"a%$st them: O!t of a$ e$t%re

race of arr%ors, $o o$e as %ll%$" to f%"ht them: T%r%o$ as'e) heate)l&*

@There ere a fe ho o!l) $ot s!bm%t* O$e of the )%ss%)e$t cla$s, le) b& a$ orc $ame)

D!rota$, challe$"e) the (arloc's o#e$l& a$) tr%e) to co$%$ce the other cla$s of the%r foll&* I

remember the m%"ht& D!rota$ ell* He as a "reat hero* 8$fort!$atel&, fe orcs hee)e)

D!rota$1s ar$%$"s* The (arloc's1 hol) oer the%r hearts bl%$)e) them to reaso$* For h%s

co!ra"e, D!rota$ as e-%le), alo$" %th h%s cla$* I hear) that the (arloc's1 assass%$s f%$all&'%lle) h%m, &ears later* S!ch %s the a& of the Hor)e, E%tr%"" f%$%she)* @Ma)$ess, T%r%o$ sa%)*

6>


15/41

@If &o!r #eo#le tr!l& al!e) ho$or, as &o!1e sa%), the$ I ca$1t bel%ee that the&1) let themseles

be co$trolle) so eas%l&*

E%tr%"" scole) a$) sat s%le$tl& for a mome$t* He loo'e) !# %th ster$ e&es a$) re#l%e), @It as

a terr%ble mome$t!m that "r%##e) !s %$ those )a&s, h!ma$* After D!rota$ as ta'e$ aa&, fear

a$) #ara$o%a oertoo' m& #eo#le* No$e o!l) sta$) a"a%$st the (arloc's*

T%r%o$ scoffe) )er%s%el&*

Br%stl%$" %th a$"er, E%tr%"" er!#te)* @Hae &o! eer stoo) a"a%$st the %ll of a$ e$t%re $at%o$,h!ma$: Hae &o! eer +!est%o$e) a$ or)er, '$o%$" that to )%sobe& mea$t %mme)%ate )eath:

T%r%o$ loo'e) aa&*No* He co!l) scarcel& %ma"%$e hat that m!st hae bee$ l%'e*

E%tr%"" $o))e), feel%$" h%s #o%$t ha) bee$ ma)e* @It as r!more) that the (arloc's co$sorte)

%th )emo$s a$) )re o$ the%r %$fer$al #oers* /erso$all&, I bel%ee %t to be tr!e* The )ar'$ess

that too' hol) of m& #eo#le co!l) $ot hae bee$ bor$ %$ o!r hearts*

T%r%o$ te$se)* He remembere) hear%$" that the orcs ha) set )emo$s loose to so terror

thro!"ho!t the h!ma$ ra$'s* The er& tho!"ht a##alle) h%m* @It seems &o!r #eo#le hae

s!ffere) "reatl&, E%tr%"", ee$ before the& ro!se) the rath of m%$e, T%r%o$ sa%) %th a $ote of

#r%)e %$ h%s o%ce* E%tr%"" "ae h%m a s%)elo$" "la$ce* @Hoeer, &o!r stor& %s a remar'able o$e*

I fear I ma& hae m%s.!)"e) &o! a$) &o!r #eo#le alo$" ma$& l%$es*

E%tr%"" "r!$te) as %f am!se) a$) stoo) !# to stretch h%s bac'* @Act!all&, T%r%o$ co$t%$!e), @eare m!ch al%'e, &o! a$) I* (e are both ol) sol)%ers ho hae sacr%f%ce) m!ch for o!r7

E%tr%"" c!t h%m off %th a ae of h%s s%$e& ha$)* @(e are$oth%$" al%'e, h!ma$, he "role)*

@I am a re$e"a)e l%%$" as a$ e-%le %$ a host%le la$)G 2o! are a ealth& lor), loe) b& a free

#eo#le, able to l%e l%fe as &o! %sh* (e are $oth%$" al%'eG Embarrasse) b& h%s o!tb!rst, the ol)

orc scole) a$) loo'e) aa& %$to the )%sta$ce*

T%r%o$ co$s%)ere) the orc1s harsh or)s for a mome$t* @2o! are r%"ht, of co!rse* O!r #eo#le are

at ar* Th!s, I m!st as' &o!, E%tr%"", o$ &o!r ho$or7are there a$& other orcs %$ m& la$): Does

the Hor)e #la$ to attac' th%s re"%o$:

E%tr%"" s%"he) hea%l& a$) sat bac' )o$* He shoo' h%s hea) %$ )%sma& a$) loo'e) T%r%o$ %$ the

e&e* @As I hae tol) &o!, h!ma$, I l%e here alo$e* I hae $o %$terest %$ )eal%$" %th others of m&

'%$)* I hae$1t ee$ see$ a$other orc %$ &ears* I ca$$ot tell &o! hat the Hor)e #la$s $o* I ca$

o$l& ass!re &o! that th%s bro'e$ ol) arr%or has $o #la$s to assa!lt &o!r 'ee# or ma'e a$&

tro!ble for &o! hatsoeer* I .!st a$t to be left alo$e to l%e o!t m& rema%$%$" &ears %$ sol%t!)e*

After a l%fet%me of fr!%tless ar, #eace %s the o$l& comfort I hae left*

T%r%o$ $o))e)* @As a arr%or of ho$or, I acce#t &o!r or)s, E%tr%""* A$), %$ ret!r$ for ha%$"

sae) m& l%fe, I %ll allo &o! &o!r sol%t!)e* So lo$" as &o! rema%$ h%))e$ a$) leae m& #eo#le

!$moleste), &o! ma& sta& here for as lo$" as &o! %sh*

E%tr%"" sm%r'e) sl%"htl& %$ )%sbel%ef* @I th%$' #erha#s &o!r brethre$ %ll h!$t me )o$ )es#%te

&o!, h!ma$* To them, I am the s!m of the%r fears, the ol) orc sa%)*

@2et I am the%r lor), E%tr%""* The& shall )o as I sa&* I "%e &o! m& solem$ oath as a L%"ht0sor$

/ala)%$ that &o!r secret %ll be safe* No$e shall h!$t &o! h%le I hae #oer to #ree$t %t,T%r%o$ oe)* For a br%ef mome$t, T%r%o$ re"rette) ma'%$" s!ch a bol) stateme$t* He '$e %t

o!l) be e-tremel& )%ff%c!lt to f!lf%ll h%s char"e %f matters became com#l%cate)* If h%s comra)es

eer fo!$) o!t that he ha) ma)e s!ch a #act, the& o!l) certa%$l& bra$) h%m as a tra%tor*

Hoeer, h%s %$st%$cts tol) h%m that th%s as the r%"ht )ec%s%o$* He stoo), resole)*

E%tr%"" "r!$te) %$ sat%sfact%o$* @O$ &o!r ho$or, the$, he sa%), r%s%$" to h%s feet o$ce more*

T%r%o$ $ot%ce) the orc1s l%m# a"a%$* E%tr%"" as ob%o!sl& %$ "reat #a%$*

@O$ m& ho$or, T%r%o$ re#l%e), "az%$" at the orc1s o!$)e) le"* @2o! '$o, E%tr%"", I ca$ heal

&o!r o!$)* It %s a #oer I hae, he sa%)*

The orc ch!c'le) %$ am!seme$t* @Tha$' &o!, b!t %t1s $ot $ecessar&, E%tr%"" state)* @/a%$ %s a

"reat teacher* A##are$tl&, ee$ after all m& battles, I st%ll hae m!ch to lear$*

T%r%o$ la!"he) o!t lo!)* He as tr!l& be"%$$%$" to l%'e the ol) orc ho, $ot a$ ho!r before, heco$s%)ere) to be the most he%$o!s %lla%$* @/erha#s some)a& I ca$ ret!r$ a$) co$erse %th &o!

f!rther* I m!st a)m%t &o! are $ot at all hat I e-#ecte) to f%$), the /ala)%$ ch%)e)*

6


16/41

E%tr%""1s mass%e, &elloe) t!s's seeme) to stretch as he sm%le)* @Nor are &o! hat I e-#ecte),

h!ma$*

T%r%o$ "ae the orc1s sal!te a"a%$ a$) mo!$te) M%ra)or %th a "r!$t* He )!" h%s s#!rs %$to the

stall%o$1s fla$' a$) ro)e off be&o$) the orc1s s%"ht*

5 5 5

A tho!sa$) )%ffere$t tho!"hts floo)e) T%r%o$1s m%$) as he ro)e home alo$" the %$)%$" #ath* He

o$)ere) %f he ha) ma)e a m%sta'e b& offer%$" the orc sa$ct!ar& %$ h%s la$)s* Neertheless, heha) "%e$ h%s or) that he o!l) 'ee# the orc1s secret safe* (hateer else ha##e$e), he as

ho$or0bo!$) to #rotect the ol) orc from #ersec!t%o$, a$) that as that*

It as $earl& )!s' as he ro)e bac' %$to the 'ee#1s stables* T%re)l&, T%r%o$ ha$)e) h%s re%$s to the

stable bo& a$) hea)e) %$s%)e* All he a$te) as to slee# a$) clear the )a&1s b!s%$ess from h%s

m%$)* As he reache) for the )oor ha$)le that le) %$to the '%tche$s, a stro$" ha$) ca!"ht h%s arm*

T%r%o$ loo'e) !# to f%$) Barth%las bloc'%$" h%s a&* There as a l%"ht %$ the &o!th1s e&es that

ma)e T%r%o$ er& !$eas&*

@M%lor), Barth%las be"a$ %c%l&, @e m!st tal' %mme)%atel&*

T%r%o$ s%"he) %$ fr!strat%o$* @I1m er& t%re), Barth%las* (e ca$ tal' %$ the mor$%$" %f &o! %sh*

Barth%las1 "r%# o$l& t%"hte$e)* @I )o$1t th%$' &o! !$)ersta$), m%lor)* 2o! see, I '$o here &o!

ere to)a&, the &o!$" /ala)%$ state)* H%s e&es $eer bl%$'e), b!t hel) T%r%o$ %$ the%r frost&)e#ths* T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f Ar)e$ ha) betra&e) h%m a$) tol) of h%s erra$)* No* Ar)e$ ha) ala&s

bee$ lo&al*

@I '$o that &o! '$o there are orcs %$ Hearth"le$, T%r%o$* I ca$ see %t %$ &o!r e&es* I #ra&, for

&o!r sa'e, that &o!1re $ot coer%$" !# a$& #ert%$e$t %$format%o$*

T%r%o$ br%stle)* He co!l) ha$)le the &o!th1s arro"a$ce, b!t he o!l) $ot be threate$e) %$ h%s

o$ home b& a$ oerl& zealo!s bo&*

@I tol) &o! before, Barth%las* 2o! %ll a))ress me %th the #ro#er res#ect, T%r%o$ state)

f!r%o!sl&* @As for &o!r co$cer$s, I hae )eterm%$e) that m& e$co!$ter as a$ %solate) %$c%)e$t*

That1s all &o! $ee) to '$o for the t%me be%$"* I s!""est that &o! for"et abo!t th%s b!s%$ess a$)

let the matter )ro#* No ta'e &o!r ha$) aa& a$) let me #ass before I lose m& tem#er*

Slol&, Barth%las release) h%s "r%# a$) too' a ste# bac'* H%s #%erc%$" e&es $eer left T%r%o$1s*

The el)er /ala)%$ t!r$e) br!s+!el& a$) e$tere) the 'ee#*

Left sta$)%$" alo$e, Barth%las scole) %$ fr!strat%o$*

@Th%s %s $ot oer, m%lor), the &o!$" /ala)%$ h%sse) to h%mself, cle$ch%$" h%s f%sts* @Th%s %s $ot

oer b& far*

5 5 5

T%r%o$ ma)e h%s a& to h%s #r%ate chambers* He ceremo$%o!sl& remoe) h%s armor a$) #lace)

h%s arhammer bac' !#o$ the ma$tel* He e$tere) h%s be)room a$) crashe) )o$ hea%l& o$ the

be)* All he a$te) %$ the orl) as .!st a fe ho!rs of slee#* !st as h%s hea) h%t the #l!sh

#%llo, =ara$)ra al'e) %$to the room* She as s!r#r%se) to f%$) h%m there*

@Oh, &o!1re home, she sa%) seetl&* @(here )%) &o! "o r!$$%$" off to th%s mor$%$", T%r%o$: Ias'e) Ar)e$, b!t he o!l)$1t tell me a$&th%$"* Her o%ce as f!ll of co$cer$*

T%r%o$ te$se)* He )%)$1t a$t to )%sc!ss the matter abo!t the orc at all* He ha) "%e$ h%s or) to

'ee# E%tr%""1s secret safe, a$) the last th%$" he a$te) as to be force) to l%e to h%s %fe abo!t

h%s act%%t%es* B!t, loo'%$" %$to her e&es, T%r%o$ co!l) tell she as$1t "o%$" to settle for a$&th%$"

less tha$ the hole stor&*

@I e$t o!t to %$s#ect the s%te here I fo!"ht the orc, =ara$)ra* I $ee)e) to f%$) o!t %f there ere

more orcs %$ m& la$)s, he sa%), a ta) too %rr%tabl&* @I a$te) to "o alo$e, so I tol) Ar)e$ $ot to

s#ea' abo!t %t %th a$&o$e*

=ara$)ra fro$e) a$) fol)e) her arms !$)er her breasts* She )%) that eer& t%me she as !#set

%th h%m*

@2o! e$t off alo$e o$l& )a&s after &o!r attac': Ho ca$ &o! be so rec'less, T%r%o$: (hatere &o! tr&%$" to #roe: It1s $ot l%'e &o!1re a &o!$" ma$ a$&moreG she sa%) heate)l&*

6


17/41

T%r%o$ fl%$che)* F%rst Barth%las a$) $o h%s %fe* @I1e bee$ sol)%er%$" for more &ears tha$

&o!1e bee$ al%e, "%rlG The last th%$" I $ee) from &o! %s a lect!re o$ ho to #erform m& )!t%es

#ro#erl&G he "role)*

T%r%o$ rarel& s#o'e to her l%'e that, a$) =ara$)ra $eer reall& '$e ho to res#o$) he$ he )%)*

She )ec%)e) that a tact%cal cha$"e of s!b.ect as $ee)e) %$ or)er to sala"e the co$ersat%o$*

@D%) &o! f%$) hat &o! ere loo'%$" for: she as'e), tr&%$" to ma'e her o%ce so!$) as

%$$oce$t as #oss%ble*T%r%o$ force) h%mself to calm )o$, b!t '$e that th%s $e l%$e of +!est%o$%$" o!l)$1t fare

ell for her e%ther* @2es, I )%), he sa%) %$ a$ ee$ to$e* @I am co$%$ce) that m& e$co!$ter as

a$ %solate) ee$t, a$) that e hae $oth%$" to fear from the orcs*

=ara$)ra br%"hte$e) a$) sat )o$ bes%)e h%m o$ the be)* She too' h%s ha$) %$ hers* @I1m so

rel%ee)* That1s o$)erf!l, T%r%o$, b!t ho ca$ &o! be so s!re: she as'e)*

T%r%o$1s heart sa$'* He o!l) $ot l%e to her* @I ca$1t tell &o!, m& loe, he sa%) softl&*

@(h& $ot: If there %s $oth%$" to fear, as &o! sa&, the$ there sho!l)$1t be a$& #roblem %th

tell%$" me, sho!l) there: she as'e)* Someth%$" %$ her o%ce so!$)e) h!rt*

@It %s a matter of ho$or, =ara$)ra* I ca$$ot tell &o!, he re#eate)*

(%th a start, =ara$)ra r%##e) her ha$) aa& a$) stoo) !# from the be)* T%r%o$ half e-#ecte)

l%"ht$%$" bolts to b!rst forth from her e&es*@Ho$or* It ala&s comes )o$ to that %th &o!, T%r%o$G 2o!1re .!st as e-as#erat%$" as that

a%$"lor%o!s Barth%lasG Is &o!r #rec%o!s ho$or reall& more %m#orta$t to &o! tha$ &o!r o$

%fe: She c!##e) her face %th her ha$)s a$) seeme) to be o$ the er"e of tears* T%r%o$ loo'e)

!# at her a$) a$sere) as "e$tl& as he co!l)*

@2o! o!l)$1t !$)ersta$), m& loe* I am a /ala)%$* There %s a "reat )eal e-#ecte) of me* * * *

he sa%), h%s o%ce tra%l%$" off* There as a$ !$character%st%c $ote of self0#%t& %$ h%s to$e*

=ara$)ra too' her ha$)s from her face a$) ha) to restra%$ herself from h%tt%$" h%m*

@2o!1re r%"ht, I )o$1t !$)ersta$)G B!t I '$o e-actl& hat1s e-#ecte) of &o!, she &elle) as

tears starte) flo%$" )o$ her re))e$%$" chee's* @2o!1re e-#ecte) to act l%'e m& h!sba$) a$)

$ot tr& to shelter me from &o!r s%ll& l%ttle secrets l%'e I1m st%ll a "%rl %$ #%"ta%lsG 2o!1re e-#ecte)

to act l%'e a res#o$s%ble lor) a$) $ot "o "all%a$t%$" off alo$e a$) #!tt%$" &o!rself %$ )a$"erG

T%r%o$ loo'e) aa& as she be"a$ to sob* @2o!1re s!##ose) to be caref!l a$) sta& al%e so that

o!r so$ )oes$1t "ro !# %tho!t a father, she f%$%she)*

T%r%o$ stoo) !# a$) too' her %$ h%s arms* @I '$o, )earest* I )%) ta'e a$ !$$ecessar& r%s'* B!t

&o!1e "ot to tr!st me o$ th%s, =ara$)ra* Eer&th%$" %ll be all r%"ht, he tol) her sooth%$"l&*

She %#e) the tears from her e&es a$) loo'e) at her h!sba$)1s face* She o!l) tr& to tr!st h%s

.!)"me$t* She as abo!t to tell h%m as m!ch he$ a +!%et sh!ffl%$" of feet a$$o!$ce) that

Taela$ ha) e$tere) the room* T%r%o$ a$) =ara$)ra loo'e) toar) the )oor to see the%r blear&0

e&e) so$ sta$)%$" before them* A##are$tl&, the%r ar"!%$" ha) o'e$ the bo& !#*

@Are &o! to f%"ht%$": the bo& as'e) t%m%)l&, h%s b%" bl!e e&es "l%ste$%$" %th co$cer$*

T%r%o$ al'e) oer a$) scoo#e) the bo& !# %$ h%s arms* @No, so$, &o!r mother1s .!st orr%e)abo!t the orcs, %s all, he sa%) sooth%$"l&*

Taela$ seeme) to th%$' for a mome$t* @/o##a, are the orcs as mea$ a$) cr!el as eer&o$e sa&s

the& are: the bo& as'e)*

T%r%o$ as$1t #re#are) for s!ch a )%rect +!est%o$* He tho!"ht abo!t h%s reeal%$" co$ersat%o$

%th E%tr%"", a$) marele) that he as$1t so s!re a$&more* He certa%$l& )%)$1t a$t to l%e to h%s

so$*There ha) to be some ho#e for f!t!re "e$erat%o$s*

@(ell, so$, that1s har) to a$ser, he sa%) slol&* Foc!se) o$ Taela$ as he as, T%r%o$ )%)$1t

see =ara$)ra1s %$cre)!lo!s stare* The bo& l%ste$e) %$te$tl& as h%s father co$t%$!e)* @I th%$' there

are some orcs ho ca$ be "oo)* The&1re .!st har)er to f%$), %s all, T%r%o$ sa%) "e$tl&*

=ara$)ra co!l)$1t bel%ee her ears* Her ebb%$" a$"er floo)e) bac' %$to her*

@Reall&, /o##a: Taela$ as'e)*@I th%$' so, T%r%o$ re#l%e)* @Somet%mes e $ee) to be caref!l of ho +!%c'l& e .!)"e #eo#le,

so$*

6


18/41

The bo& seeme) #lease) %th the a$ser* =ara$)ra as $ot* Des#%te eer&th%$" else, she o!l)

be )am$e) %f she let T%r%o$ f%ll the bo&1s hea) %th s!ch $o$se$se*

@Do$1t tell h%m thatG she h%sse)* @Orcs are m%$)less beasts ho sho!l) all be h!$te) )o$ a$)

'%lle)G Ho ca$ &o! ee$ sa& that, '$o%$" hat the&1e )o$e to o!r orl)G (hat1s "otte$ %$to

&o!, T%r%o$: she &elle), s$atch%$" Taela$ from h%s arms* Se$s%$" her a$"er, the bo& be"a$ to

cr&* She stro'e) h%s ha%r lo%$"l& as she t!r$e) to leae* @Do$1t orr&, bab&, she sa%), @&o!r

father1s .!st t%re)* (e1ll let h%m "et some rest, all r%"ht: she sa%) as she left the room br%s'l&%tho!t ee$ t!r$%$" to ac'$ole)"e T%r%o$*

Left alo$e, T%r%o$ a$)ere) oer to a$ or$ate ser%$" sta$) a$) #o!re) h%mself a c!# of ch%lle)

%$e* Ta'%$" a )ee# s%#, he sat )o$ hea%l& a$) marele) at ho +!%c'l& h%s e$t%re orl) ha)

t!r$e) !#s%)e )o$*

FO8R

The Cha%$s of Comma$)

To )a&s #asse) b& +!%etl& %$ Hearth"le$* The r!mors of the s!##ose) orc%sh threat ha) )%e)

)o$ s%"$%f%ca$tl&* T%r%o$ felt rela-e), a$) m!se) that he m%"ht ee$ be able to #!t the hole

matter beh%$) h%m for "oo)* So lo$" as E%tr%"" sta&e) aa& from #eo#le, T%r%o$ o!l)$1t hae

to orr& abo!t ta'%$" act%o$ a$) betra&%$" h%s oath to the ol) orc* He as s!r#r%se) to f%$) thatBarth%las ha) rema%$e) +!%et abo!t the %ss!e for the #ast fe )a&s* 2et, )es#%te the &o!$"

/ala)%$1s s%le$ce, T%r%o$ se$se) that Barth%las o!l)$1t rest so lo$" as he s!s#ecte) there ere

orcs %$ Hearth"le$*

After h%s !$e-#ecte) h%at!s, T%r%o$ sl%##e) bac' %$to h%s role as the la$)s1 "oer$or %th relat%e

ease* The somehat mo$oto$o!s b!rea!crat%c )!t%es of h%s off%ce sere) to 'ee# h%s m%$) off of

E%tr%"" a$) the%r fatef!l e$co!$ter* He s#e$t hat #r%ate t%me he co!l) f%$) %th Taela$ a$)

=ara$)ra* S!r#r%s%$"l&, h%s %fe seeme) to hae for"otte$ abo!t the%r ar"!me$t from the

#re%o!s $%"ht* She acte) as cheerf!l as she ala&s ha), a$) $eer o$ce broache) the s!b.ect of

orcs a"a%$* T%r%o$ as tha$'f!l for the #eace a$) +!%et* After the #ast ee', he ha) ha) h%s f%ll of

e-c%teme$t a$) )a$"er*

5 5 5

The s!$ as ce$tere) %$ the cr&stal bl!e s'& as T%r%o$ sat o$ a lar"e balco$& oerloo'%$" the

'ee#1s stables a$) r%)%$" corral* Locate) at the rear of the 'ee#1s "ro!$)s, the balco$& offere) a

breathta'%$" %e of the m%"ht& s$o0ca##e) Alterac #ea's %$ the )%sta$ce* He atche) as, far

belo h%m %$ the corral, =ara$)ra le) a small, h%te #o$& aro!$) %$ c%rcles* 8#o$ the #o$&1s

bac' sat Taela$, ho as clearl& ha%$" the t%me of h%s l%fe* The la!"h%$" bo& fla%le) h%s t%$&

arms "leef!ll&, call%$" for h%s mother to "o faster a$) faster* =ara$)ra la!"he) %th her so$, a$)

'e#t rem%$)%$" h%m to hol) o$to the #o$&1s ma$e %th both ha$)s*

T%r%o$ "aze) at them both %$te$tl&* The& ere the ce$ter of h%s orl) a$) the so!rce of all h%s

.o&* He o!l) $ot fa%l them* He ha) tho!"ht lo$" a$) har) abo!t hat =ara$)ra ha) sa%) to h%m

)!r%$" the%r heate) ar"!me$t* /erha#s h%s ho$or as a self%sh th%$" after all, he m!se)* B!t ee$%f %t as, %t as a$ %$te"ral #art of h%m* It )ef%$e) h%m as clearl& as h%s o$ face )%)* As a /ala)%$

he co!l) $ot a$) o!l) $ot )%scar) %t o!t of ha$)* All )e#e$)e) o$ %t* He s%m#l& ho#e) that %t

o!l) $eer come betee$ h%m a$) h%s loe) o$es a"a%$*

5 5 5

Ar)e$1s hea& boots cla$'e) lo!)l& !#o$ the balco$&1s sto$e floor* The ca#ta%$ of the "!ar)

stro)e !# beh%$) T%r%o$ a$) boe) c!rtl&* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that Ar)e$ as %$)e)* A##are$tl&,

the lo&al ca#ta%$ ha)

r!she) to f%$) h%m* T%r%o$ stoo) !# a$) sal!te) the &o!$"er ma$* He sa that Ar)e$1s face as

)ra$ a$) #ale*

@(hat %s %t, Ar)e$: (h& are &o! %$ s!ch a h!rr&:

The ca#ta%$ str!""le) to catch h%s breath* @I1e bee$ loo'%$" all oer for &o!, m%lor), Ar)e$sa%) %$ a ras#& to$e* @(e hae %s%tors at the "ate* T%r%o$ te$se)* For a br%ef mome$t, he feare)

6


19/41

the orst* Certa%$l&, %s%tors to the 'ee# ere commo$ e$o!"h* The o$l& th%$" T%r%o$ %ma"%$e)

that o!l) affect Ar)e$ so as a$ arm& of orcs scal%$" the alls*

@(hat %s%tors: Is there some #roblem: the /ala)%$ as'e) t%"htl&*

Ar)e$ shoo' h%s hea) a$) "!l#e) a%r* @A$ e$o& from Stratholme, m%lor)* Lor) Comma$)er

Dathroha$ has come %$ #erso$, escorte) b& a f!ll re"%me$t* He %shes to s#ea' to &o!

%mme)%atel&*

T%r%o$1s .a )ro##e)*Lor) Dathroha$, here: he o$)ere)* The Lor) Comma$)er as $ot o$l&h%s )%rect s!#er%or, b!t o$e of h%s ol)est fr%e$)s as ell* Dathroha$ as a "reat lea)er a$) a$

ho$orable arr%or* He a$) T%r%o$ ha) sae) each other1s l%es more tha$ o$ce )!r%$" the ar*

D!e to the%r %$creas%$" )!t%es, the to fr%e$)s ha)$1t see$ each other %$ &ears* B!t h& o!l)

the "reat lor) e$t!re all the a& from the #ro%$ce1s ca#%tal for a$ !$a$$o!$ce) %s%t escorte)

b& so lar"e a force: A b!rst of #a$%c s!r"e) thro!"h T%r%o$1s bo)&*Dathroha$ '$e abo!t the

orc* It as the o$l& e-#la$at%o$ for h%s %s%t, T%r%o$ co$cl!)e)* He '$e that %t m!st hae bee$

Barth%las ho ha) alerte) the Lor) Comma$)er to h%s rece$t e$co!$ter %th E%tr%""* T%r%o$

%$hale) )ee#l& a$) stea)%e) h%mself* He #atte) Ar)e$ reass!r%$"l& o$ the sho!l)er a$), %th a

s%)elo$" "la$ce at h%s %fe a$) so$ belo, stro)e o!t toar) the ma%$ "ate*

5 5 5

Lor) Comma$)er Sa%)a$ Dathroha$ as a$ %m#os%$" f%"!re* He stoo) $earl& s%- a$) a half feettall a$) as res#le$)e$t %$ h%s or$ate, sh%$%$" armor* A "ol)0r%mme), m%)$%"ht0bl!e cloa'

coere) h%s broa) sho!l)ers a$) floe) o!t re"all& beh%$) h%m* H%s a"e) feat!res ere mar'e)

b& lo$" &ears of battle a$) str%fe* H%s ee$l& cro##e) ha%r a$) $eatl& tr%mme) bear) ere "ra&,

b!t h%s #%erc%$" bl!e e&es sho$e %th a %"or a$) stre$"th that bel%e) h%s &ears*

8#o$ see%$" T%r%o$ a##roach, Dathroha$1s ster$ co!$te$a$ce bro'e a$) he sm%le) %)el&* He

stro)e forar) a$) embrace) h%s fr%e$) %$ a bear h!"* T%r%o$ felt the a%r esca#e from h%s l!$"s*

The m%"ht& Dathroha$ $earl& l%fte) h%m from the floor* Dathroha$ let o!t a )ee#, barrel0cheste)

la!"h*

@T%r%o$, m& fr%e$), %t1s "oo) to see &o!* Ho lo$" has %t bee$, fo!r &ears: Dathroha$ as'e)* He

release) T%r%o$ a$) the /ala)%$ stra%"hte$e) formall&*

@Almost fo!r &ears e-actl&, m%lor), T%r%o$ re#l%e)*

Dathroha$ sm%r'e) a$) sla##e) h%s bac', $earl& se$)%$" T%r%o$ st!mbl%$"* @Let1s $ot start %th

all that m& lor)1 r!bb%shG 2o!1re o$e of the fe me$ al%e ho st%ll remembers me as a s$ot0

$ose) hel#* (e1re o$ ee$ "ro!$) here, &o! a$) I, Dathroha$ sa%) h!moro!sl&* T%r%o$ force)

h%mself to rela- a$) sm%le) bac'*

@Hae %t &o!r a& the$,Sa%)a$* He sla##e) h%s ha$) o$ the taller ma$1s sho!l)er #late* @It1s

"oo) to see &o!, too, he sa%) arml&* Tho!"h Dathroha$1s )emea$or as as fam%l%ar a$)

ra!co!s as %t ha) eer bee$, there as a l%"ht of co$cer$ %$ h%s shar# e&es* T%r%o$ loo'e) #ast h%s

fr%e$) a$) sa ro !#o$ ro

of armore) footme$ sta$)%$" o$ the #la%$ be&o$) the 'ee#1s alls* H%s heart sa$'* Altho!"h he

as "la) to see h%s fr%e$), T%r%o$ '$e that the #rese$ce of so ma$& sol)%ers mea$t tro!ble*@Tell me, Sa%)a$, h& )%)$1t &o! %$form me of &o!r .o!r$e&: I co!l) hae #re#are) a "reat

feast, ha) I '$o$ &o! ere com%$", T%r%o$ sa%), tr&%$" to 'ee# h%s o%ce o#e$ a$) fr%e$)l&*

Dathroha$ $o))e) a$) s#rea) h%s ha$)s %)e* @I a#olo"%ze for the %$tr!s%o$, T%r%o$, b!t e hae

!r"e$t b!s%$ess to co$)!ct* I felt I ha) to come a$) see &o! as soo$ as #oss%ble* B!t let1s leae

o!r b!s%$ess !$t%l later* 2o! $ee) t%me to "ather &o!r a)%sors for a meet%$", he sa%) %$ a more

somber to$e*

@Is there tro!ble, Sa%)a$: Are e "o%$" to ar: T%r%o$ as'e), $ot '$o%$" hat else to sa&*

Dathroha$ hel) h%m %$ h%s #%erc%$" "aze, st!)&%$" h%s feat!res*

@That1s hat I1m here to f%$) o!t, T%r%o$, he sa%) at last*He )oes'$o abo!t E%tr%"", T%r%o$

co$cl!)e)* @For $o, I1m a$-%o!s to meet &o!r loel& br%)e a$) &o!r so$, Dathroha$ sa%)

arml&* @I re"ret that I co!l)$1t %s%t a$) see the la) he$ he as bor$* 2o! '$o ho %t %s*

6J


20/41

T%r%o$ $o))e)* @He1s a "oo) bo&* A f!t!re /ala)%$, he sa%) ass!re)l&* He felt bea)s of seat

form%$" o$ h%s bro* He tr%e) to calm h%mself a$) behae $at!rall&* He felt as %f Dathroha$ ere

loo'%$" r%"ht thro!"h h%m* He $earl& .!m#e) as Dathroha$ belte) o!t a heart& la!"h*

@Of that I hae l%ttle )o!bt* I s!s#ect that the For)r%$" l%$e %ll ala&s be there to )efe$)

Lor)aero$ a$) %ts #eo#le, Dathroha$ sa%), sm%l%$"*

T%r%o$ sm%le) bac' a$) $o))e) h%le sa&%$", @I certa%$l& ho#e so*

5 5 5Ho!rs later, T%r%o$1s a)%sors ha) "athere) %$ the co!$c%l room* A fe of Dathroha$1s se$%or

l%e!te$a$ts ere #rese$t as ell* Barth%las, ho loo'e) er& e-c%te) b& the $e arr%als, stoo)

$ear the bac' of the room a$) rema%$e) s%le$t* Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$ ha) ta'e$ a seat at

the hea) of the table, $e-t to T%r%o$* There as a te$s%o$ %$ the room as all #rese$t s#ec!late) o$

the !r"e$t matter that Dathroha$ ha) come to )%sc!ss*

@No, the$, Dathroha$ be"a$, loo'%$" leell& at T%r%o$* @I rece%e) $es that there are orcs %$

Hearth"le$* (hat e-actl& %s the c!rre$t s%t!at%o$: he as'e)*

T%r%o$ salloe), h%s throat s!))e$l& )r&* @M%lor), a fe )a&s a"o, I ha) a$ e$co!$ter %th a$

orc arr%or, he sa%)* @Tho!"h I o!$)e) %t ba)l&, I as '$oc'e) o!t before I co!l) sla& the

creat!re* I ret!r$e) to the s#ot here e battle) %$ or)er to )eterm%$e %f the creat!re st%ll l%e)*

A$), to )%scer$ hether or $ot there are others of %ts '%$) %th%$ m& bor)ers* M& f%$)%$"s le) meto bel%ee that %t as a$ %solate) %$c%)e$t a$) that there ere $o other orcs accom#a$&%$" %t,

T%r%o$ f%$%she)* He as o$ )a$"ero!s "ro!$)* He ha) $o %sh to l%e to h%s s!#er%or* Ho$or

forba)e %t*

Dathroha$ lea$e) bac' %$ h%s cha%r, r!bb%$" h%s bear)e) ch%$ a$) #o$)er%$" T%r%o$1s res#o$se*

@A$) &o! co$)!cte) &o!r %$est%"at%o$ alo$e: Dathroha$ as'e)*

T%r%o$ $o))e)* @2es, m%lor)*

@It %s !$fort!$ate that &o! )%)$1t hae others %th &o! to er%f& &o!r f%$)%$"s, T%r%o$*

A##are$tl&, &o!r reta%$ers )o$1t share &o!r o#t%m%st%c a##ra%sal of the s%t!at%o$* Dathroha$ sa%)

"r%ml&* T%r%o$ scole)*

He )%)$1t ee$ hae to loo' at the bac' of the room to se$se Barth%las1 sm!" sat%sfact%o$*

@/ala)%$ Barth%las se$t me $es of the affa%r* He seems to bel%ee that the threat to these la$)s %s

far more )%re tha$ &o! )o* I hae come to f%$) o!t for m&self %f th%s la$) %s %$ #er%l, the Lor)

Comma$)er sa%) ster$l&*

T%r%o$ the$ t!r$e) to stare at Barth%las1 bem!se) face* He fo!"ht )o$ h%s ra"e at the &o!th1s

a!)ac%t&* He t!r$e) bac' to Dathroha$* @Sa%)a$, e1e bee$ fr%e$)s for &ears* S!rel& &o! )o$1t

)o!bt m& .!)"me$t %$ th%s matter: Ho$estl&, &o!$" Barth%las1 act%o$s are a clear affro$t to m&

a!thor%t& oer th%s la$)* H%s zeal %s comme$)able, b!t to orr& &o! oer s!ch a m%$or matter %s

#er#le-%$" to sa& the leastG

Dathroha$ #!t h%s ha$) o$ T%r%o$1s arm to calm h%m*

@T%r%o$, I hae ala&s tr!ste) &o!r .!)"me$t* I hae $eer +!est%o$e) &o!r ho$or or a!thor%t&,

a$) I )o $ot %$te$) to start )o%$" so $o* 8$)er $ormal c%rc!msta$ces, I o!l) $eer %$tere$e%$ a matter l%'e th%s, b!t certa%$ ee$ts hae tra$s#%re) that force me to loo' cr%t%call& at a$&

#oss%ble orc%sh %$c!rs%o$s*

Dathroha$ lea$e) %$ a$) searche) the e&es of the "athere) a)%sors* @For some t%me, e hae

bee$ rece%%$" re#orts that there %s a $e, !#start (arch%ef amo$"st the orcs* A##are$tl&, th%s

&o!$" orc %s %$te$t o$ rall&%$" the cla$s a$) re0form%$" the Hor)e* Tho!"h the& are fe, h%s

fa$at%cal arr%ors hae someho oerr!$ ma$& of the "!ar)e) reseres a$) a##ear to be

amass%$" stro$"er $!mbers* The All%a$ce H%"h Comma$) has )eeme) that e are %$ a state of

emer"e$c&* I tell &o! all of th%s so that &o! !$)ersta$) m& mot%es* If there %s a$& tr!th beh%$)

Barth%las1 cla%ms, the$ %t %s %m#erat%e that e #re#are o!rseles for ar, he sa%) "r%ml&*

The shoc'e) a)%sors be"a$ to co$erse amo$"st themseles* Dathroha$ t!r$e) to face T%r%o$*

@Ol) fr%e$), %th all )!e res#ect, I ca$$ot rel& o$ &o!r %$st%$cts alo$e* Th%s s%t!at%o$ %s far tooolat%le*

T%r%o$ shoo' h%s hea) %$ )%sbel%ef* He brace) h%mself for hat he '$e as com%$" $e-t*

9K


21/41

@At f%rst l%"ht, e %ll hea) o!t a$) sco!r the oo)la$)s for more )ef%$%t%e #roof of orc%sh

act%%t&* T%r%o$, I a$t &o! to #erso$all& lea) !s to here &o! e$co!$tere) the orc* If the

creat!re be fo!$), e %ll ta'e %t bac' to Stratholme for %$terro"at%o$, Dathroha$ f%$%she)*

T%r%o$1s heart )ro##e)* There as $o a& o!t $o* He ha) bee$ "%e$ a )%rect or)er* He o!l)

be force) to brea' h%s o to E%tr%""* @As &o! %sh, m%lor), T%r%o$ sa%) %$ a stra%$e) o%ce*

Dathroha$ seeme) co$te$t to let the matter rest* He )%sm%sse) the a)%sors a$) s!""este) that

eer&o$e #re#are the%r me$* T%r%o$ stoo) to e-%t a$) sa Barth%las star%$" at h%m from the)oora&* The &o!$" /ala)%$1s face as al%"ht %th %ctor&* T%r%o$ ha) to f%"ht bac' the s!))e$

!r"e to stra$"le the sm%r'%$" &o!th* (%tho!t "%%$" Barth%las a seco$) "la$ce, he left the room

a$) ma)e rea)& for the mor$%$"1s e-#e)%t%o$*

5 5 5

Da$ ha) alrea)& bathe) the la$) %th %ts f%rst ra&s as the force of '$%"hts a$) footme$ ma)e

the%r a& %$to the foreste) footh%lls* T%r%o$, Ar)e$ a$) Dathroha$ le) the sh%$%$" col!m$ )o$

the )!st& h!$t%$" #ath that s$a'e) %ts a& thro!"h the )e$se oo)s* Barth%las h!$" bac' beh%$)

them, #referr%$" to co$erse %th the etera$ sol)%ers !$)er Dathroha$1s comma$)*

Clearl&, the &o!$" /ala)%$ as ea"er to #roe h%mself %$ battle* T%r%o$ as "la) that the &o!th

sta&e)

aa&* He as )%s"!ste) %th Barth%las a$) )%)$1t ee$ a$t to see h%s face*T%r%o$ as %$ a "r%m moo)* He ha) sle#t l%ttle )!r%$" the $%"ht, a$) o'e %th h%s "!ts t%e) %$

'$ots* He %she) that he co!l) someho ar$ E%tr%"" so that the ol) orc co!l) ea)e ca#t!re*

B!t T%r%o$ '$e that, ee$ %f he co!l) ar$ the orc, h%s act%o$s o!l) betra& h%s s!#er%or1s )%rect

or)er* He '$e that there as $o a& to !#hol) h%s o a$) )o h%s )!t& at the same t%me* H%s

#rec%o!s ho$or as %$ "reat #er%l*

The& ro)e for ho!rs !# %$to the mo!$ta%$s as T%r%o$ le) the a&* He '$e e-actl& here he as

"o%$"* Before lo$" the bro'e$ toer1s rema%$%$" alls co!l) be see$ thro!"h the trees*

Dathroha$ lea$e) %$ a$) as'e) T%r%o$ %f %t as the toer the& so!"ht*

@That %s here I f%rst e$co!$tere) the orc, m%lor), T%r%o$ sa%) %$ a +!%et o%ce*

Dathroha$ $o))e), se$s%$" T%r%o$1s a##rehe$s%o$* @Are &o! certa%$, T%r%o$: 2o! seem rather

#e$s%e th%s mor$%$"*

@I am certa%$, m%lor), T%r%o$ re#l%e) h!s'%l&* @I1m f%$e* I1m .!st a ta) t%re), %s all*

Dathroha$ #atte) h%s sho!l)er reass!r%$"l&* The Lor) Comma$)er mot%o$e) for h%s me$ to ta'e

!# #os%t%o$s alo$" the roa)* He the$ calle) for a $!mber of "!ar)s to come to the fro$t of the

col!m$* Ar)e$ as amo$" those ho came forar)* The ca#ta%$ sm%le) !# at T%r%o$, b!t the

/ala)%$ )%)$1t feel l%'e sm%l%$" at all* T%r%o$ sh!))ere) as to of the "!ar)s #!lle) a ma'esh%ft

a"o$0ca"e beh%$) them* The r%c'et& ca"e as )es%"$e) to hol) a$) tra$s#ort a small $!mber of

#r%so$ers oer lo$" )%sta$ces* He fere$tl& ho#e) that %t o!l) sta& em#t&*

Dathroha$, feel%$" that stealth o!l) be %se !$t%l the& co$f%rme) that there ere $!mero!s orcs

%$ the area, or)ere) h%s me$ to rema%$ beh%$) as he a$) a small "ro!# moe) %$ o$ the lo$el&

toer*Barth%las, %th a f%er& e$th!s%asm, ro)e ea"erl& beh%$) the Lor) Comma$)er* T%r%o$, Ar)e$ a$)

s%- footme$ co$t%$!e) !# the #ath after them*

5 5 5

The clear%$" aro!$) the toer as +!%et, b!t the footme$ moe) +!%etl& e$o!"h )es#%te the%r

c!mbersome armor a$) ea#o$s* Follo%$" the %$str!ct%o$s he ha) bee$ "%e$ earl%er, Ar)e$

comma$)e) h%s "!ar)s to e$c%rcle the toer* Barth%las )%smo!$te) a$) retr%ee) h%s arhammer

from %ts sa))le0loo#* Escorte) b& to footme$, Barth%las ca!t%o!sl& ma)e h%s a& to the toer1s

e$tra$ce* Sto##%$" a short )%sta$ce from the raa"e) e$tr&a&, Barth%las calle) o!t %$ h%s most

a!thor%tat%e o%ce4

@(e come %$ the $ame of the All%a$ceG Come o!t from there a$) s!rre$)er &o!rseles, &o! fo!l

beasts, or e1ll be force) to '%ll &o!G H%s o%ce as e)"& a$) +!aere) sl%"htl&* T%r%o$ '$ethat the !$seaso$e) /ala)%$ as +!a'%$" %$ h%s boots* Bea)s of seat ra$ )o$ Barth%las1

scol%$" face* A sh!ffl%$" $o%se came from the toer1s r!%$e) "!ar)room* The to footme$

96


22/41

$ear Barth%las brace) themseles for a$ attac'* Barth%las "r%##e) h%s arhammer t%"htl&, tr&%$"

to 'ee# h%s $eres %$ chec'*

Slol&, the s%lho!ette of a lar"e orc emer"e) from the room1s sha)os a$) stoo) %$ the

e$tra$cea&* E%tr%"" hel) h%s battle0a- %th both ha$)s a$) loo'e) rea)& to "o )o$ f%"ht%$"*

The orc sca$$e) the h!ma$ faces %th f!r%o!s e&es* He ca!"ht s%"ht of T%r%o$, s%tt%$" ato# h%s

horse, a$) he scole) )ee#l&* T%r%o$1s e&es loc'e) %th the orc1s for a mome$t, b!t he as

force) to loo' aa&* The orc1s )%s"!ste) "aze tol) T%r%o$ eer&th%$" he $ee)e) to '$o7thatE%tr%"" tho!"ht h%s $ot%o$ of ho$or as la!"hable*

The ol) orc ha) sae) h%s l%fe, a$) he ha) re#a%) the )ebt b& lea)%$" e$em%es stra%"ht to h%s

home* Neer %$ h%s l%fe ha) T%r%o$ felt s!ch )e.ect%o$ a$) self0loath%$"*

E%tr%"" too' a co!#le of ste#s %$to the clear%$"* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that he as l%m#%$" more tha$

he$ he last sa h%m* The orc1s o!$) m!st be ba)l& %$fecte), he tho!"ht* E%tr%""1s e&es blaze)

%th hate a$) f!r&* T%r%o$ co!l) see that the orc o!l) $ot allo h%mself to be ta'e$ al%e*

As %f %$ res#o$se to h%s tho!"ht, Dathroha$ s#o'e !#* @I )o $ot a$t the creat!re '%lle)* I $ee)

h%m al%eG he sa%)* Barth%las too' a +!%c' mome$t to loo' bac' %$ )%sma

13. warcraft - of blood and honor by chris metzen (bonus)

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