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 some ashes。 Then he looked back at the colonel。
Definitely magic； she said with a nod。
Ma am； something s familiar about Then； finally； Strov placed it； recalling a recent conversation with his
brother。 That s it！
What s it； Private？
When last I was home； my brother Manuel told me of a group that calls itself the Burning Blade。 Someone tried to
recruit him for it the last time he was in the Demonsbane。 Said they re looking for people to e to their meetings
who aren t happy with the way things are； but didn t say no more than that。
Jalod snorted。 Ain t nobody happy with the way things are。 Ain t no reason to be havin meetin s about it。
Strov thought this was odd； given what Jalod had been saying earlier； but did not respond directly； instead
continuing his report to the colonel。 Ma am； the orc I fought had a sword afire carved into his tusk。
A burning blade。 Lorena shook her head。 The one I fought the one that turned to ashes over there had a
burning blade of his own dangling from his nose ring。
Clai raised a hand。 If I may； ma am？ Lorena nodded。 One of my foes had one it was like the one Private Strov
fought； ma am； on his tusk。
Dammit。 She looked over at Paolo； who was now standing over Mal。 How is he？
Needs a real healer； but it ll keep till we get back to Theramore。 He looked past Lorena toward the main part of
Northwatch。 I wouldn t trust no infirmary in this place； ma am。
Through gritted teeth； Mal said； Second that； ma am。
Fine。 Sheathing her sword without wiping it down Strov assumed she d do it once they were under way in the
boat Lorena started toward the docks。 Let s get to the ship and give him some of my whiskey to ease the pain
when we board。
Smiling raggedly； Mal said； The colonel s a generous woman。
Giving the corporal a half smile in return； Lorena said； Not that generous just two fingers； and no more。 That
stuff s expensive。
Paolo signaled to Clai； and the two of them picked Mal up； keeping his wounded leg steady while they carried him；
each on a side； toward the docks。 Strov； meanwhile； picked up Ian s bloodied corpse。
Lorena said to him as they walked； Private； as soon as we re back in Theramore； I want you to talk to your brother。
I want to know everything possible about this Burning Blade。
Yes； ma am。
Seven
T he stonewalled room that housed Thrall s seat of power as Warchief of the Horde was chilly。 Thrall liked it that
way orcs were not creatures of cold； so they were unfortable here。 He found that it was best for people not to
be fortable while in the presence of their leader。 So when the place was constructed； he had made sure the
stonework was thick and there were no windows。 Illumination was provided only by lanterns； rather than torches；
since they gave off less heat。
Not that it was ever so cold as to be truly unpleasant。 He did not want his people to suffer when they were
petitioning him； but nor did he want them to be entirely at ease。 It had been a difficult road that Thrall had traveled；
and he knew how precious and precarious his current position was。 He would therefore take advantage of every
opportunity he could； even so minor a one as keeping his throne room a bit on the cold side。
He met now with Kalthar； his shaman； and Burx； his strongest warrior。 Both stood before Thrall； who sat on the
leather chair made from the hides of creatures Thrall himself had slain。
The humans are still in Northwatch Keep。 Last we heard； a ship with more troops was showing up。 Sounds to me
like they re reinforcing。
Hardly。 Thrall leaned back in his chair。 Lady Proudmoore informed me that she was sending one of her warriors
to investigate Captain Bolik s report。
Burx drew himself up。 They don t trust a warrior s word？
Kalthar； whose green skin had grown pale and wrinkled with age； laughed throatily。 I am sure； Burx； that they trust
the word of an orc as much as you would trust the word of a human。
Humans are cowardly and despicable； Burx said dismissively。
The humans of Theramore are no such thing。 Thrall leaned forward。 And I will not hear them being spoken ill of
in my presence again。
Burx stamped his foot。 Thrall had to restrain a laugh at the warrior s expense。 The gesture reminded Thrall of a
human child throwing a temper tantrum； however； among orcs； the action was a legitimate sign of displeasure。 For
all he was lord of the clans； there were times when Thrall had to forcibly remind himself that he had not been raised
among his own kind。
This is our land； Thrall！ Ours！ The humans don t have any claim to it。 Let them go back across the Great Sea
where they belong and let us get back to what life was like before the demons cursed us away from all foul
influences； mortal or not。
Thrall shook his head。 He d thought these arguments had ended two years ago。 The humans occupy the harshest
land on Kalimdor； and precious little of it。 We didn t even take the Dustwallow Marshes。 Jaina s people
Jaina ？ Burx sneered the name。
Now Thrall stood。 Be very careful； Burx。 Lady Proudmoore Jaina has earned my respect。 You； on the other
hand； are rapidly losing it。
Burx cowered a bit。 I m sorry； Warchief but you gotta understand； you were raised with them。 It can
sometimes blind you to what s obvious to the rest of us。
I am blind to nothing； Burx。 You may recall that it was I who opened the eyes of orcs throughout this world who
had fallen prey to the demonic curse and to human imprisonment； and reminded them of who they were。 Do not
presume to lecture me now on
They were interrupted by a breathless young orc who ran in。 Thunder lizards！
Thrall blinked。 Thunder Ridge； the home of the creatures in question； was far from here if there were any in
rimmar； there would have been greater warning。
Where？ Burx asked。
Far from here； obviously； Kalthar said witheringly； otherwise there would have been more than a young
messenger。
The boy did indeed wear the lightningshaped nose ring that indicated a messenger。 No doubt he had run from
Thunder Ridge to report to Thrall。 Speak； Thrall said to the youth。
I m from Drygulch Ravine； Warchief。 The thunder lizards； they ve escaped the ridge； they have。
How s that possible？ Burx asked。
Glaring at the warrior； Thrall said； Let him speak； and perhaps we shall learn。 To the boy； he said； Continue。
A farmer； name of Tulk； he heard himself a stampede。 He went callin his sons to him； and they drove the lizards
off； they did； afore they destroyed his crops。 But nobody never heard of no thunder lizards leavin the ridge afore；
so he went gatherin up his sons and the next farmer over and his sons； and they all went to the ridge； they did。
Thrall nodded。 Thunder Ridge was bordered by a dense forest of thicktrunked trees that the lizards could not
rampage through。 One could travel gingerly or lithely through the forests； but thunder lizards were never creatures
who moved thus。
When they g