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To run from battle was shameful。 But Byrok knew he had a higher duty to perform the Burning Blade had
returned； only this time they were humans。 And all the attackers； not just the two he d noticed before； wore that
flaming sword image somewhere on them： a necklace； a tattoo； something。
This was information that needed to get back to Thrall。
So Byrok ran。
Or； rather； he hobbled。 His wounds were taking their toll。 It became a struggle even to breathe。
But still he ran。
Dimly； he registered that the six humans were giving chase； but he couldn t afford to pay attention to that。 He had
to get back to rimmar and tell Thrall what was happening。 Even with his injury； his strides were greater than
those of the humans； and he could outrun them。 Once he pulled far enough ahead； he would lose them in the
underbrush of this land that he knew better than any outsider possibly could。 Besides； they only seemed to want to
beat up an orc。 They probably did not realize that Byrok understood their gutter tongue； and therefore they did not
know that Byrok knew who they were。 They would not chase him past the point where it would be useful to them。
Or so he hoped。
No longer were there any thoughts in Byrok s mind。 He cleared his head of all save the critical imperative of
putting one foot down in front of the other； the ground slamming into his soles。 He ignored the pain in his leg； and
in all the other places they d beat or cut him； ignored the fact that his one good eye was getting foggy； ignored the
fatigue that drained the strength from his limbs。
Still he ran。
Then he stumbled。 His left leg refused to lift as it was supposed to but his right leg continued to run； and so he
crashed to the ground； high grass and dirt getting in his nose and mouth and eye。
Must…get…up…
You ain t goin nowhere； monster。 Byrok could hear the voice； hear the humans footfalls； and then feel the
pressure when two of them sat on his back； immobilizing him。 Cause； here s the thing your time is over。 Orcs
don t belong in this world； and so we re gonna take you out of it。 Got me？
Byrok managed the effort of lifting his head so he could see two of the humans。 He spat at them。
The humans just laughed。 Let s do it； boys。 Galtak Ered nash！
The other five all replied in kind： Galtak Ered nash！ Then they started beating the orc。
Six
A n hour after she had finished questioning Davin and Avinal； Colonel Lorena gathered her detail at a clearing just
outside Northwatch。 Rocks and thick trees dotted the landscape； and sagebrush poked out through the uneven
ground。 The sun shone down on the ground and the flora； making everything seem to glow and also keeping
everyone quite warm in their plate mail。
Most of the detail Lorena took were simply the top names on the duty roster； but she had handpicked two of them。
Though young； Strov was her most trusted soldier he did his duty provise when
necessary； but when it wasn t； would follow orders to the letter。 He could also follow anyone without losing them
or letting his prey know he was there。
The other was the opposite of Strov： Jalod was an old soldier who had fought against orcs back when nobody knew
what an orc was。 Rumor had it that he had trained Admiral Proudmoore； though Lorena put very little stock in that
one。 Either way； he d seen everything； done everything； and lived to tell exaggerated stories about all of it。
Strov said； Like I said in the watch office； ma am； the other crew corroborated what Captain Avinal said。 They
couldn t see a thing out there。 I doubt they had any confirmation that either ath ar or the pirates were even
there。
And if they were； another soldier； a veteran named Paolo； added； they weren t in no shape to be helpin nobody。
Sailors I talked to was scared when they spoke of it。
Mal； who d served in Azeroth s navy years ago； nodded。 Can t blame em。 Fog s the worst。 No way to get your
bearings。 Usually best to just drop anchor till it passes。 Surprised they didn t； truth be told。
What does it matter？
That was Jalod。 Lorena frowned。 What do you ？
Them orcs decimated Admiral Proudmoore s fleet！ Killed one of the finest men ever to draw breath！ If it were me
in charge of Avinal s boat； I d a been helpin the pirates。 It s shameful is what it is； Lady Proudmoore betraying her
own to those savages betraying her own father for such as they。 It s shameful that she s got us doing this when we
should be goin after those monsters！
Everyone shifted unfortably on their feet at those words。
That is； everyone except for Lorena； who unsheathed her sword and put the point right at Jalod s throat。 The old
man seemed surprised at that； and his blue eyes grew wide with fear； even under the folds of wrinkly flesh that
covered his face。
Speaking in a low and dangerous tone； Lorena said； Never speak ill of Lady Proudmoore in my presence again；
Sergeant。 I don t care who you served with or how many trolls and demons you ve killed； if you ever even think
such thoughts about Lady Proudmoore； I will tear you open stem to stern and feed the pieces to the dogs。 Do I make
myself clear？
Strov stepped forward。 I m sure the sergeant meant no disrespect to Lady Proudmoore； ma am。
Course not。 Jalod s voice was shakier now。 I ain t got nothin but respect for her； ma am； you know that。 It s
just
Just what？
Jalod swallowed； his Adam s apple butting up against Lorena s sword point。 Them orcs can t be trusted is all I m
sayin 。
That wasn t all Jalod was saying； but Lorena lowered her sword anyhow。 Jalod s decades of service earned him the
benefit of several dozen doubts； and those words were very much out of character for a man who had eagerly
served under Lady Proudmoore for years now； going back to the days before Arthas turned。 Indeed； had it been
anyone else； she would not have bothered with the warning and would have gone straight to the disemboweling。
Sheathing her sword； Lorena said； Let s head back to the dock。 We ve got a long trip home。
As they marched back toward the docks where their transport ship was berthed； Lorena wondered what was going
on。 She d been a soldier for all of her adult life。 The youngest of ten children； and the only girl； she d wanted to be
a soldier just like her brothers and father。 She had even convinced herself that she was a boy； right up until she
reached her thirteenth summer and her body forced her to confront the reality that she was female。 She was so
skilled with a sword and shield that her father overcame his reluctance and sponsored her application to join the Kul
Tiras City Guard。 Over the years； she worked her way up the ranks； finally being promoted to colonel by Lady
Proudmoore herself during the war against the Burning Legion。
Over those years she had honed her instincts the instincts of a soldier from a family of soldiers and those
instincts now told her that there was more to this than a military convoy not seeing a trading ship or the pirates
attacking them in the fog。 The suspicion had been in the back of her mind from the moment she arrived at
Northwatch； but Jalod s words p