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provisions for our alliance。 We trusted that our bond had been fed in blood； and we would never betray each
other。
I have not betrayed you； Thrall。 Jaina tensed briefly； but with the ease of long practice； kept her emotions in
check。 She didn t appreciate the blanket accusation of betrayal without even the conversational niceties or even an
acknowledgment of their bond beyond his outofnowhere belief that she d broken it but the first thing she had
been taught as an apprentice mage was that strong emotions and wizardry didn t always mix well。 She increased her
grip on the ornate wooden staff she carried； a legacy from her mentor； Archmage Antonidas。
I do not believe you have。 Thrall s tone was still belligerent。 Unlike his fellow orcs； gruffness was not Thrall s
default manner； no doubt due to his human upbringing。 However； it seems your people may not hold to our bond
as strongly as you。
Her voice tight； Jaina asked； Thrall； what are you talking about？
One of our merchant vessels； the ath ar； was harassed by pirates。
Jaina frowned。 As much as they tried to prevent it； privateering remained a problem on the seas。 We ve increased
the patrols as much as possible； but
Patrols are useless if they are just going to sit and watch！ The ath ar saw one of your patrols nearby！ It was
close enough to be seen in dense fog； yet they did nothing to aid Captain Bolik and his crew！ Bolik even sounded
the foghorn； and your people just sat。
Her calm in inverse proportion to Thrall s anger； Jaina asked； You say your lookout could see them。 That doesn t
necessarily mean that they could see ath ar。
That brought Thrall up short。
Jaina continued。 Your people have better vision than we do。 And when they heard the foghorn； they probably took
it as a sign to get out of the way。
If they were close enough for my people to see； they were close enough to hear a boarding party！ My people have
better vision； it s true； but we also do not do battle in stealth。 I do not believe that your patrol did not hear what
happened。
Thrall
The orc turned around； throwing his hands into the air。 I had thought that things would be different here！ I had
thought that your people had finally e to accept mine as equals。 I should have realized that when it came to
taking up arms against their own to aid an orc； humans would abandon us。
Now Jaina was having a harder time reining in her temper。 How dare you？ I had thought that； after all we d been
through； you d at least give my people the benefit of the doubt。
The evidence
What evidence？ To whom have you spoken besides this Captain Bolik and his crew？
Thrall s silence answered Jaina s question。
I will find out which patrol ship it was。 Where was ath ar attacked？
Half a league off the coast near Ratchet； an hour from port。
Jaina nodded。 I ll have one of my soldiers investigate。 Those patrols are coordinated by Northwatch。
Thrall tensed。
What is it？
The orc turned back around to face her。 There is considerable pressure on me to take Northwatch Keep back by
force。
And there is considerable pressure on me to keep it。
Thrall and Jaina stared at each other。 Now that he faced her again； Jaina saw something different in the orc s blue
eyes： not anger； but confusion。
How did this happen？ Thrall asked the question in a quieter voice； all belligerence now seemingly burned out of
him。 How did it e to where we bicker over such idiocy？
Jaina couldn t help but laugh。 We are leaders； Thrall。
Leaders take their warriors into battle。
In times of war； yes； Jaina said。 In times of peace； they lead them differently。 War is a grand endeavor that
subsumes daily existence； but when it ends； there is still daily existence。 She walked over to her old rade and
put her small hand on his massive arm。 I will investigate this； Thrall； and learn the truth。 And if my soldiers did not
do their duty by our alliance； then I swear to you they will be punished。
Thrall nodded。 Thank you； Jaina。 And I apologize for my accusations。 But my people have endured so much。 I
have endured so much； and I will not see our people mistreated again。
Nor will I； Jaina said quietly。 And perhaps She hesitated。
What？
Perhaps we should draft a formal treaty。 Because you were right before you and I may trust each other； but not
all humans and orcs will do likewise。 And much as we may wish it otherwise； we will not live forever。
Thrall nodded。 It is often…difficult to remind my people that you are no longer our slavemasters。 In many ways；
they wish to continue the rebellion even though the time of orc enslavement is long past。 Sometimes I get caught up
in their fervor； especially since I was raised in bondage by a creature as foul as any member of the Burning Legion。
Sometimes I believe the worst； and so will my people when I am gone and can no longer remind them。 So perhaps
you are correct。
Let us solve this crisis first； Jaina said； giving Thrall a smile。 Then we will speak of treaties。
Thank you。 Then Thrall shook his head and chuckled。
What is it？
You are nothing like her in any way； but when you smiled； just for an instant； you reminded me of Tari。
Jaina remembered that Taretha Foxton； whom most called Tari； was the daughter of a member of Aedelas
Blackmoore s household； and had been instrumental in Thrall s escape from Blackmoore s clutches at the cost of
her own life。
Orcs immortalized their history in song form： a lok amon chronicled the starting of a family； a lok tra a battle； a
lok vadnod the life of a hero。 To the best of anyone s knowledge； the only human ever to have a lok vadnod sung
of her life was named Tari。
And so Jaina bowed her head and said； I am honored to be so associated。 I will send Colonel Lorena to
Northwatch； and as soon as she reports； I will inform you。
Thrall shook his head。 Another woman in your military。 Humans astound me sometimes。
Jaina s tone grew frosty； again； she tightly gripped the staff。 What do you mean？ Can men and women not be
equals in your world？
Of course not。 Nor would I say； he added quickly before Jaina could interrupt； that they are unequal any more
than I would say that an insect and a flopletely different purposes。
Grateful for the opening； Jaina said the same thing to Thrall that she had said to Antonidas when as a brash young
woman she had insisted on being his apprentice。 Back then； the archmage had said to her； It is no more
women s nature to bee wizards than it is a dog s nature to pose an aria。
As then； she now said to Thrall： Is not what separates us from animals that we can change our nature？ After all；
there are those who would argue that an orc s nature was to be a slave。 Then Jaina shook her head。 However；
there are many who think as you do。 It is why women have to work twice as hard to achieve the same position as a
man which is why I trust Lorena more than any of my other colonels。 She will learn the truth。
At that； Thrall threw his massive head back and laughed heartily。 You are a fine woman； Jaina Proudmoore。 You
remind me how much I still have t