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Kalthar and Burx both entered then。 The latter spoke in an urgent tone。 Warchief； there s someone here who has to
talk to you。 Now。
Thrall did not like the idea of Burx giving him orders； but before he could say anything； Kalthar gave Thrall a
significant look。
Do you think I should see this person； shaman？ Thrall asked。
I do； Kalthar said quietly。
Very well。 Thrall stood his ground； having grown tired of the throne。
Burx went out and led one of the scouts in。 A jungle troll； he was dressed in decorative armor and the mask that was
traditional among those of the Darkspear tribe： feathers； wood； and paint bining with a triangular helmet to
present a fearsome affect。 By contrast； when he removed his helm； it was to reveal a friendly； open face； far gentler
than one would expect from the fearsome Darkspears。 Jungle trolls wielded powerful magicks； ones that no other
race had ever been able to master though Thrall knew of some humans who had tried and failed； at the cost of
their souls and the Darkspears had sworn allegiance to Thrall。
This； Burx said； is Rokhan。
The introduction was unnecessary the troll s reputation preceded him as one of the finest scouts in Kalimdor。
Holding his helm under his arm； Rokhan stepped forward。 I m afraid I be bringin some bad news； mon。 The
humans； they be sendin more troops to the Northwatch。
Thrall couldn t believe what he was hearing。 They re reinforcing？
That s what it look like； mon。 I be seein lotsa boats full a soldiers； all headin straight for the Northwatch。 And
they be sendin one a they airships up north； too； but it be goin toward Bladescar。
Thrall frowned。 How many troops？
Rokhan shrugged。 Hard to say； but they was at least twenty boats； and them things be carryin at least twenty
humans each。
Four hundred troops； Burx said。 And this happened right after your friend Jaina went off to solve the thunder
lizard problem that the humans caused。 We can t wait for her to finish that； Warchief。 I m sure Jaina s intentions
are good； but her people s aren t。 And we can t ignore this！
Burx is correct。 Kalthar spoke in a voice that sounded weary； and Thrall was reminded just how old the shaman
was。 The maintenance of Northwatch Keep was a deliberate show of strength on the humans part。 However； this
reinforcement in light of other recent events can only be an act of aggression； and one to which we must respond in
kind。
That was Admiral Proudmoore s stronghold。 Burx hardly needed to remind Thrall of that； though that didn t stop
him。 And now the subjects of Admiral Proudmoore s daughter are trying to finish his work behind her back。
Burx s words did not impress Thrall overmuch but Kalthar s did。 And Rokhan was the finest of his scouts。 His
observations were to be trusted。
Very well。 Burx； have Nazgrel assemble a garrison and send them into the Barrens。 Have them take up position
outside of Northwatch。 Then I want you to take a fleet of our boats and send them downriver as well。 Summon the
trolls and have them do the same。 He sighed。 He had hoped that the days of fighting humans were past； but it
seemed that old hatreds died very hard。 If the humans wish a fight； they will find us more than ready。
When Burx had finished giving instructions to Nazgrel and to the harbormaster； he returned to his home。 He had
preparations to make before he journeyed down the Great Sea in order to put an end to the human scourge once and
for all。
It was while he was sharpening his ax that the smell of sulfur permeated his hut。 He felt a warm sensation in the
folds of his breeches； in the small inner pocket where he hid the talisman that Zmodlor had given him as a symbol
of his allegiance。
Galtak Ered nash。 Does all go according to plan？
Burx hated the idea of swearing his allegiance to anyone save his own Warchief； but he played along and replied；
Galtak Ered nash。 It does。 Thrall is sending troops by land and by sea。 Within two days； our people will be at war
with the humans。 Within a week of that； the humans will be destroyed。
Excellent。 You have done well； Burx。
I just want to do what s right for the orcs。 That s all I care about。
Of course。 Both our causes are served by this war。 Galtak Ered nash。
As far as Burx was concerned； it was the lesser of two evils； was all。 The demons were bastards； yeah； but they
always had the orcs best interests in mind。 They brought the orcs to this world so they could rule it。 It wasn t the
demons fault that the humans were able to do so well； to imprison them and make them fet who they were。
Sure； the demons were using the orcs； but at least they never humiliated them。
Burx had grown up a slave。 Humans regularly beat him； taunted him； defecated on him； and then forced him to
clean up their messes while they laughed at him。 They called him all manner of names； the kindest of which was
you greenskinned oaf； and they made sure to give him the most degrading tasks。 Burx was never sure why he was
singled out among the orcs on the estate for the horrible duties no one ever bothered to tell him。 Perhaps he was
simply picked at random。
pared to what he went through as a human slave； what the demons did was nothing。 And if it meant
cooperating with one of them to make sure that the plague that was humanity was wiped out； that was okay with
Burx。
He owed Thrall everything and more； but Thrall could not get past his blind spot regarding the humans。 But then；
Thrall had been well regarded by his master。 True； Aedelas Blackmoore had had nasty plans for Thrall； but he had
treated him a lot better than Burx s master did better than most orcs； in fact。
Slowly but surely； Thrall was seeing the error of his ways。 This troop amassment at Northwatch had finally done it。
At this point； it was just a matter of time。 Orc and troll warriors so close to human soldiers it would be a powder
keg。
Burx finished sharpening his ax； looking forward to seeing it run red with human blood。
Eighteen
L orena s chest pounded； and she had trouble breathing。 Her plate mail felt as if it were constricting her。
But Lady Proudmoore and her friend named Aegwynn； apparently； and whoever she was； the lady looked on her
with more respect and awe than Lorena had ever seen her display before were able to step through the demonic
wards that kept them trapped。 Apparently； they had to use Lorena s body on the other side of the wards to disrupt
them。 The colonel didn t understand any of it。 Talk of magic usually just gave her a headache； all she cared about
was whether or not it worked。 When the lady cast the spell； it almost always did。
Lady Proudmoore then turned to the older woman。 Magna； I have a request。
Oh？
Would you object to sharing your space with some thunder lizards？ I can cast wards that will keep your house；
your garden； and your well safe。 And the highlands will keep them contained。 She quickly explained the situation
with the thunder lizards。
At that； the old woman laughed。 I have no objection whatsoever。 I had a thunder lizard as a pet once。
Lorena s jaw fell open。 Please tel