Northwatch； but Jalod s words put it to the front。
She wasn t sure what was wrong； precisely； but she intended to find out。
As they marched toward the edge of the clearing； Private Strov made sure to keep Sergeant Jalod in his sight at all
times。 He wasn t sure what had gotten into the old buzzard； but Strov didn t like it； not one bit。
It was one thing to plain about the orcs。 That was to be expected； given the history； though Strov himself
generally thought of the orcs as victims of demonic influence。 Made as much sense to hate them as it did Medivh；
and he was revered as a hero despite what the demons did to him。 Still and all； he could see why some might view
the orcs with animosity。
But Lady Proudmoore？ The only ones who had reason to think ill of her were the Burning Legion and those that
were sympathetic to their cause。
Jalod was never one to express such feelings in the past。 Which led Strov to think that perhaps the sergeant was
losing his marbles。 Nothing wrong with that it happened to the best of people but it could endanger them。 One
of the things they drilled into you in training was that you had to rely on the people in your unit。 Strov wasn t sure
he could rely on Jalod anymore。
So intent was he on keeping the sergeant in his sight line at all times； Strov was slow to pick up on something he
should have noticed earlier。 The trees and rocks； along with some storage sheds used for Northwatch； provided an
almost circular border。 As they neared the circle s edge； Strov saw four figures in cloaks hiding behind the storage
sheds； the trees； or the rocks。 They were well concealed； but Strov had a keener eye than most。
Ambush！
At Strov s cry； all seven of them got into a fighter s crouch and unsheathed their swords。 Simultaneously； seven
figures Strov had missed three of them leapt out from cover。
The figures were massive； their cloaks doing an inadequate job of hiding the fact that they were orcs； though doing
a fine job of hiding any distinguishing features they might have had。
Strov noticed something else as he parried the club that was swinging toward his head： the cloaks had an emblem
on the breast of a sword on fire。 That was familiar to Strov； but he couldn t take the time to follow up on the
thought just at the moment； as the becloaked orc was doing everything possible to end Strov s life。
The orc swung the club thrice more； and all three times Strov parried； but on the third he also stepped in and kicked
the orc in the stomach。 Not expecting such an attack； the orc stumbled； and Strov thrust at it with his sword。
However； the orc had the wherewithal to block the thrust with its club。
Unfortunately for the orc； this put Strov on the offensive。 He kept ing with different thrusts and strikes； hoping
to catch the orc unawares； but his foe was well trained and had amazingly fast reflexes and was now ready for
additional kicks or punches Strov might deliver。 Many humans； Strov knew； relied wholly on their weapons to
fight； but Strov had always preferred to use his entire body。
Strov thrust low； hoping that the orc would parry low enough to open up for a strike to the head。 However； the orc
anticipated； and only held the club with one hand； the other hand raised and protecting its face。
So Strov kicked down at the orc s leg。
The kick wasn t hard enough to break any bones； but the orc stumbled and waved both arms to keep its balance。
That gave Strov the opening he needed to run the orc through the chest。
Or so he thought。 The sword managed to perate the cloak easily enough； about halfway up the blade； but Strov
felt no peration of flesh； and when he yanked his sword out which took more effort than expected there was
no blood on the blade。
Strov gritted his teeth； refusing to let his surprise at not scoring first blood distract him from his foe； who was now
standing steady once more。
Taking a deep breath； Strov moved in and refused to let up。 He swung at the orc s neck； which was blocked； then
immediately went for the stomach； then the neck again； then the legs。 His arms were a blur as he pushed the orc
back farther and farther； giving no quarter； barely giving his foe sufficient time to even parry and hoping that
sooner or later； that parry would not e。
Suddenly； a sword blade seemingly came out of nowhere and slashed at the orc s head。 The cloak was rent by the
blade； and half of it fell off to reveal the angry green face of a male orc。 His left tusk had that burning sword
emblem engraved in it。
The blade in question belonged to Colonel Lorena。 Strov assumed that she had dispatched her own foe。
As for the orc； he yelled out the word for retreat in the orcish tongue； and then they all yelled the phrase； Galtak
Ered nash！ Strov knew many languages； including those of the orcs； trolls； goblins； and dwarves； as well as all
four elven dialects。 He d never heard that phrase before。
His foe now running away； Strov turned to see that Ian and Mal were down the former dead with his throat ripped
open； the latter alive but with a leg injury but besides himself； Lorena； Jalod； Paolo； and Clai were uninjured。 One
of the orcs lay on the ground as well。 The other six were retreating； two of them bleeding。
Strov； Clai； give chase； Lorena said as she ran toward Mal。
Clai was the most brutal fighter in the detail。 Strov noted that his fellow private had a great deal of orc blood on his
sword。 You were able to strike flesh？ Strov asked as they ran in the same direction as the remaining six orcs。
Nodding； Clai said； Only when I got the head or the neck。 It s like their bodies were made outta smoke or
somethin 。
The figures had all gone through one of the overhanging willow branches that almost served as a wall。 Only a few
paces behind； Clai and Strov ran through to find
nothing。 Of the orcs； there was no sign。 Even the blood trail of the two injured ones was gone。 The ground was
visible for half a league it was impossible for the orcs to have gone from sight in the time available。
Strov stopped short and took a deep breath。 You smell that？
Clai shook his head。
Sulfur。 And spices thyme； I think。
Sounding confused； Clai asked； So？
Magic。 Which also explains why they couldn t be stabbed。
An almost manic gleam in his eye； Clai asked； Demons？
Pray not。 Strov shuddered。 Clai was but a youth； a recent recruit who had been too young to fight the Burning
Legion。 His eagerness to fight demons was that of one who had never had to fight any。
Turning； Strov ran back through the leaves toward Lorena； Clai on his heels。
The colonel was kneeling by Mal； along with Paolo； the latter binding Mal s wounds。 Upon seeing Strov and Clai；
she got to her feet and angrily asked； What happened？
They disappeared； ma am。 pletely even their blood trail。 And there s the stink of magic。
Lorena spat。 Dammit！ She let out a breath through her teeth； then pointed at the cloak on the ground。 But that
figures。 That one s。
Looking closely； Strov saw that the cloak was flat on the ground。 Using his sword； he poked the garment； which
disturbed som