OF BLOOD AND HONOR CHRIS METZEN ONE A Clash of Arms Asoft, cool breeze ble thro!"h the !

##er bra$ches of the m%"ht& oa' trees of the Hearth"le$ (oo)s* A #eacef!l +!%et ha) falle$ o,er the tra$+!%l forest, lea,%$" T%r%o$ For)r%$" alo$e %th h%s tho!"hts* H%s "ra& stall%o$, M%ra)or, trotte) at a$ eas& #ace alo$" the %$)%$" h!$t%$" #ath* Tho!"h "ame ha) bee$ stra$"el& scarce for the #ast fe ee's, T%r%o$ came to h!$t here he$e,er the o##ort!$%t& #rese$te) %tself* He #referre) the "ra$)e!r a$) cr%s# a%r of the o#e$ co!$tr& to the m!st&, co$f%$%$" halls of h%s 'ee#* He ha) bee$ h!$t%$" %$ these oo)s s%$ce he as a small bo& a$) '$e the%r $!mero!s, %$)%$" tra%ls l%'e the bac' of h%s ha$)* Th%s as the o$e #lace he co!l) al a&s f%$) ref!"e from the b!r)e$s a$) b!rea!crat%c #ress!res of h%s stat%o$* He m!se) that some)a& he o!l) br%$" h%s &o!$" so$, Taela$, to h!$t %th h%m so that the bo& co!l) e-#er%e$ce the r!""e) ma.est& of h%s homela$) for h%mself* Lor) /ala)%$ T%r%o$ For)r%$" as a #o erf!l ma$* He as stro$" %$ both m%$) a$) bo)&, a$) as co!$te) as o$e of the "reatest arr%ors of h%s )a&* Tho!"h he as sl%"htl& o,er f%ft& &ears of a"e, he st%ll loo'e) as f%t a$) )&$am%c as he ha) he$ a &o!$"er ma$* H%s s%"$at!re b!sh& m!stache a$) h%s $eatl& tr%mme) bro $ ha%r ere strea'e) %th "ra&, b!t h%s #%erc%$" "ree$ e&es st%ll sho$e %th a$ e$er"& that bel%e) h%s &ears* T%r%o$ as the "o,er$or of the #ros#ero!s All%a$ce #r%$c%#al%t& of Hearth"le$, a lar"e foreste) re"%o$ $estle) at the crossroa)s bet ee$ the to er%$" Alterac Mo!$ta%$s a$) the m%st0shro!)e) shores of Darro mere La'e* He as res#ecte) as a .!st "o,er$or a$) h%s $ame a$) )ee)s ere ho$ore) thro!"ho!t the '%$")om of Lor)aero$* H%s "reat 'ee#, Mar)e$hol)e, as the ce$ter of commerce a$) tra)e for the b!stl%$" re"%o$* The c%t%ze$s of Hearth"le$ too' "reat #r%)e %$ the fact that the 'ee#1s m%"ht& alls ha) $e,er falle$ to %$,a)ers, e,e$ )!r%$" the )ar'est )a&s of the orc%sh %$,as%o$ of Lor)aero$* 2et, of late, T%r%o$ as )%s"r!$tle) to f%$) a )%ffere$t '%$) of arm& sc!rr&%$" orr%e)l& thro!"h the halls of h%s home* I$ rece$t ee's the 'ee# ha) bee$ o,err!$ %th tra,el%$" )%"$%tar%es a$) re#rese$tat%,es from the ,ar%o!s $at%o$s of the All%a$ce, ho #asse) thro!"h Hearth"le$ o$ the%r secret )%#lomat%c erra$)s* He ha) met %th ma$& of them %$ #erso$, offer%$" h%s hos#%tal%t& a$) ass%sta$ce here,er he co!l)* Tho!"h the )%"$%tar%es ere a##ro#r%atel& a##rec%at%,e of h%s efforts, T%r%o$ co!l) se$se a "ro %$" te$s%o$ %th%$ all of them* He s!s#ecte) that the& ere char"e) %th carr&%$" )%re $e s )%rectl& to the All%a$ce H%"h Co!$c%l* Tr& as he m%"ht, he co!l) $ot )%scer$ the s#ec%f%cs beh%$) the%r !r"e$t comm!$%+!3s* 2et T%r%o$ For)r%$" as $o fool* After th%rt& &ears of ser,%$" the All%a$ce as a /ala)%$, he reco"$%ze) that o$l& o$e th%$" co!l) ca!se the other %se sto%c em%ssar%es to be so tro!ble)4 (ar as ret!r$%$" to Lor)aero$* 555 It ha) bee$ $earl& t el,e &ears s%$ce the ar a"a%$st the orc%sh Hor)e ha) e$)e)* It as a terr%ble co$fl%ct that ha) ra"e) across the $orthla$)s, lea,%$" ma$& of the All%a$ce '%$")oms raze) a$) blac'e$e) %$ %ts a'e* Too ma$& bra,e me$ fell before the ram#a"%$" Hor)e as f%$all& sto##e)* T%r%o$ ha) lost a $!mber of "oo) fr%e$)s a$) sol)%ers o,er the co!rse of the ar* Tho!"h the All%a$ce ha) rall%e) at the ele,e$th ho!r a$) #!lle) ,%ctor& from the cl!tches of certa%$ )efeat, %t ha) #a%) a hea,& #r%ce* Almost a$ e$t%re "e$erat%o$ of &o!$" me$ ha) selflessl& "%,e$ the%r l%,es to %$s!re that ma$'%$) o!l) $e,er be sla,es to sa,a"e orc o,erlor)s* Near the ar1s e$), the battere) a$) lea)erless orc cla$s ere ro!$)e) !# a$) #lace) %th%$ "!ar)e) reser,es $ear the o!ts'%rts of the All%a$ce la$)s* Tho!"h, as a #reca!t%o$ar& meas!re, %t as $ecessar& to #ol%ce the reser,es %th f!ll re"%me$ts of '$%"hts a$) footme$, the orcs rema%$e) )oc%le a$) #ass%,e* I$)ee), as t%me #asse), the orcs seeme) to lose the%r ra"%$" bloo)l!st com#letel& a$) la#se %$to a stra$"e comm!$al st!#or* Some s!##ose) that the fo!l br!tes1 lethar"& as bro!"ht o$ b& %$act%,%t&, b!t T%r%o$ rema%$e) to be co$,%$ce)* He ha) see$, f%rstha$), the orcs1 br!tal%t& a$) sa,a"er& %$ battle* Memor%es of the%r he%$o!s atroc%t%es ha) 6

#la"!e) h%s )reams for &ears after the ar* He, for o$e, o!l) $e,er bel%e,e that the%r arl%'e a&s ha) left them com#letel&* 555 T%r%o$ #ra&e) e,er& $%"ht, as he al a&s ha), that co$fl%ct o!l) $e,er e$)a$"er h%s #eo#le a"a%$* /erha#s $a%,el&, he ho#e) fer,e$tl& that h%s &o!$" so$ o!l) be s#are) the r%"ors a$) horrors of ar* As a /ala)%$, he ha) see$ far too ma$& ch%l)re$ or#ha$e) or left for )ea) o,er the co!rse of the tra"%c co$fl%ct* He o$)ere) ho a$& ch%l) co!l) $ot become col) a$) )%sassoc%ate) he$ face) %th terror a$) ,%ole$ce all aro!$) them* He o!l) certa%$l& $e,er allo that to ha##e$ to h%s o $ bo&, that as certa%$* 2et, )es#%te h%s best %shes, he co!l) $ot %"$ore the real%t& of the #rese$t s%t!at%o$* H%s closest a%)es a$) a),%sors ha) bee$ tell%$" h%m of the "r%m r!mors for mo$ths $o 7that the orcs ere o$ce a"a%$ o$ the mo,e* Har) as %t as to bel%e,e, the #rese$ce of so ma$& em%ssar%es %$ h%s 'ee# co$f%rme) %t to be tr!e* If the orcs ere fool%sh e$o!"h to r%se !# a"a%$, he o!l) )o hate,er %t too' %$ or)er to sto# them* D!t& ha) al a&s bee$ the o$e co$sta$t %$ h%s l%fe* He ha) s#e$t the ma.or%t& of h%s &ears )efe$)%$" Lor)aero$ %$ o$e a& or a$other* Tho!"h he ha) $ot bee$ bor$ a $oble, h%s e$th!s%asm a$) ho$or ha) o$ h%m the ra$' of '$%"ht at the te$)er a"e of e%"htee$* T%r%o$ ser,e) h%s '%$" %th !$)&%$" lo&alt& a$) o$ a "reat )eal of res#ect from h%s s!#er%ors* 2ears later, he$ the orcs f%rst %$,a)e) Lor)aero$, %$te$t o$ cr!sh%$" c%,%l%zat%o$, he as o$e of the f%rst '$%"hts to be "%,e$ the ho$or of sta$)%$" %th 8ther the L%"htbr%$"er a$) be%$" a$o%$te) as a hol& /ala)%$* 8ther, T%r%o$, a$) a $!mber of )e,o!t '$%"hts ere ha$)0#%c'e) b& the Archb%sho# Alo$s!s Faol to become l%,%$" ,essels of the hol& L%"ht* The%r s#ec%al, sacre) char"e as t ofol)4 a%)e) b& the hol& L%"ht, the /ala)%$s o!l) $ot o$l& lea) the f%"ht a"a%$st the ,%le forces of )ar'$ess, b!t heal the o!$)s %$fl%cte) !#o$ the %$$oce$t c%t%ze$s of h!ma$%t& as ell* T%r%o$ a$) h%s fello s ere "%,e$ the )%,%$e #o er to heal o!$)s a$) c!re )%seases of e,er& '%$)* The& ere %mb!e) %th "reat stre$"th a$) %s)om that e$able) them to rall& the%r brethre$ a$) "%,e "lor& to the L%"ht* I$)ee), the /ala)%$s1 lea)ersh%# a$) stre$"th hel#e) to t!r$ the t%)e of the ar a$) %$s!re the s!r,%,al of h!ma$%t&* Tho!"h h%s o $ L%"ht0"%,e$ #o ers ha) a$e) some hat o,er the &ears, T%r%o$ co!l) st%ll feel stre$"th a$) "race flo thro!"h h%s a"%$" l%mbs* S!rel& he o!l) ha,e stre$"th e$o!"h he$ he $ee)e) %t the most* For h%s so$ a$) for h%s #eo#le, he o!l) ha,e stre$"th e$o!"h, he ,o e)* 555 Clear%$" h%s hea) of co$cer$s, T%r%o$ sto##e) to "et h%s bear%$"s* To h%s s!r#r%se, he fo!$) that he1) a$)ere) m!ch farther !# the %$)%$" #ath tha$ he1) %$te$)e)* The #ath s$a'e) %ts a& !# a$) o,er the )e$sel& foreste) mo!$ta%$* There ere $o o!t#osts th%s far !#, T%r%o$ remembere)* As a matter of fact, he co!l)$1t recall the last t%me he ha) ,e$t!re) !# th%s far* He too' a mome$t to )r%$' %$ the ra bea!t& of the #lace* He co!l) hear babbl%$" streams $earb& a$) smell the clea$, cr%s# a%r* The s'& as bl!e a$) clear as he atche) t o falco$s c%rcle h%"h abo,e* He tr!l& lo,e) th%s la$)* He tol) h%mself that he1) ret!r$ to th%s s#ot he$ a more o##ort!$e mome$t #rese$te) %tself* R!$$%$" h%s ha$) thro!"h h%s th%$$%$", "ra&%$" ha%r, he ch%)e) h%mself for becom%$" so lost %$ tho!"ht* He ha) come o!t to h!$t, after all* T%r%o$ )eftl& t!r$e) h%s mo!$t aro!$) o$ the th%$ #ath a$) s#!rre) M%ra)or to a +!%c'er #ace bac' )o $ the mo!$ta%$* He #!lle) shar#l& o$ the re%$s a$) steere) h%s fa%thf!l mo!$t %$to the )e$se oo)s* After a fe m%$!tes he slo e) h%s #ace a$) "allo#e) %$to a %)e clear%$" that s!rro!$)e) the r!%$s of a$ aba$)o$e) "!ar) to er* He sto##e) $ear the ol) to er1s base a$) #eere) !# at the lo$el& str!ct!re* L%'e ma$& other r!%$s that )otte) the la$), %t as a #a%$f!l rem%$)er of a )ar'er t%me* The to er1s alls ere bro'e$ a$) scarre) b& blac'e$e) blastmar's* Ob,%o!sl& the or' of orc%sh cata#!lts, he tho!"ht* He remembere) ho the )estr!ct%,e mach%$es ha) h!rle) the%r f%er& #ro.ect%les from "reat )%sta$ces a$) )e,astate) e$t%re ,%lla"es )!r%$" the ar* He o$)ere) ho the r!%$e) str!ct!re co!l) st%ll be sta$)%$" after ha,%$" bee$ left to the !$for"%,%$" eleme$ts for so lo$"* (h%le e-am%$%$" the to er1s base he ca!"ht s%"ht of stra$"e trac's !#o$ the "ro!$)*

He )%smo!$te) to %$s#ect them* H%s bloo) $earl& froze %$ h%s ,e%$s as he real%ze) that the o,ers%ze) trac's ha) $ot bee$ ma)e b& a$& ma$7a$) that the& ere fresh* T%r%o$ +!%c'l& loo'e) aro!$) a$) fo!$) more trac's scattere) thro!"ho!t the clear%$"* He s!rm%se) that orcs ha) bee$ here %th%$ the #ast fe )a&s at least* Co!l) the ,%le br!tes be mob%l%z%$" so soo$, he o$)ere): No* There ha) to be some other e-#la$at%o$* Hearth"le$1s bor)ers ere sec!re* There as $o a& that a "ro!# of orcs co!l) "o !$)etecte) %$ h%s la$) for a$& le$"th of t%me* S!btlet&, of all th%$"s, as )ef%$%tel& $ot a #art of the%r $at!re* H%s sco!ts a$) "!ar)sme$ o!l) ha,e bee$ alerte) to a$& orc%sh %$c!rs%o$ %$to Hearth"le$ %mme)%atel& !#o$ the%r arr%,al* 2et the fresh trac's ere there, .!st the same* 555 T%r%o$ al'e) M%ra)or aro!$) to the bac' of the to er a$) )re h%s hea,& bastar) s or) from the scabbar) attache) to h%s sa))le* He %she) fer,e$tl& that he ha) bro!"ht h%s m%"ht& arhammer %$stea)* Tho!"h he as ell0#ract%ce) %th a bla)e, he o!l) ha,e #referre) to %el) h%s tra)%t%o$al hammer, as all /ala)%$s )%) %$ the face of )a$"er* As stealth%l& as he co!l), T%r%o$ cre#t aro!$) the to er a$) e$tere) thro!"h hat as left of %ts fro$t )oor* A $!mber of lar"e oo)e$ beams ha) falle$ from the r%c'et& ce%l%$" a$) s#l%$tere) all o,er the ch%##e) sto$e floor* He %$s#ecte) the )%la#%)ate) "!ar)room a$) fo!$) a small, ma'esh%ft f%re #%t $ear a ra""e), #atch or' be)roll* The f%re %$ the ash0la)e$ #%t ha) o$l& rece$tl& b!r$t o!t* A##are$tl& the orcs ha) ta'e$ !# res%)e$ce %th%$ the ol) to er* Stra$"el&, he sa $o ea#o$s or to'e$ tro#h%es, h%ch orcs ere fo$) of collect%$"* He o$)ere) hat co!l) #ossess the br!tes to so rec'lessl& s+!at o$ All%a$ce0hel) la$)s* Dec%)%$" to ret!r$ to the 'ee# a$) "ather h%s me$, T%r%o$ e-%te) the to er a$) stro)e bol)l& o!t %$to the clear%$"* To h%s s!r#r%se, he %mme)%atel& loc'e) e&es %th a "ar"a$t!a$ orc, ho ha) s!))e$l& emer"e) from the tree l%$e* The orc, ho seeme) as startle) as T%r%o$, )ro##e) the b!$)le of f%re oo) %t ha) bee$ carr&%$" a$) reache) for the broa) battle0a- that as sl!$" to %ts bac'* T%r%o$ "r%tte) h%s teeth a$) bra$)%she) h%s o $ s or) threate$%$"l&* Slo l&, the orc #la$te) h%s feet f%rml& o$ the "ro!$), !$sl%$"%$" the m%"ht& a-* 555 It ha) bee$ &ears s%$ce T%r%o$ ha) la%) e&es o$ a$ orc* He loo'e) !#o$ the br!te %th !$abashe) a e a$) re,!ls%o$* 2et, thro!"h h%s s!r"%$" a)re$al%$e, T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that there as someth%$" +!%te )%ffere$t abo!t th%s orc* Certa%$l&, the creat!re as as %mme$se a$) ell0m!scle) as a$& other he ha) behel)* Its coarse, "ree$ s'%$ a$) a#e0l%'e sta$ce mar'e) %t as clearl& as a$& other orc* E,e$ %ts h%)eo!s t!s's a$) #o%$te) ears ere rem%$%sce$t of e,er& sa,a"e that T%r%o$ ha) face) )!r%$" the ar* B!t someth%$" %$ the creat!re1s stat!re a$) )emea$or seeme) )%ffere$t* There as a$ a"e) e%"ht %$ %ts sta$ce a$) far too ma$& r%$'les aro!$) %ts e&es* Its ratt& bear) a$) r%t!all& to#0'$otte) ha%r bore hea,& strea's of "ra&* (here most orc arr%ors a)or$e) themsel,es %th m%smatche) #lates of armor a$) s#%'e) "a!$tlets, th%s o$e ore o$l& st%tche) f!rs a$) r!))& leather #a$ts* Its calm lethal%t& a$) ass!re), comfortable battle sta$ce clearl& %$)%cate) that th%s orc as $o ram#a"%$" &o!$"ster, b!t, %$)ee), a seaso$e) ,etera$* Des#%te %ts a##are$t a"e, %t as #ote$t%all& more )a$"ero!s tha$ a$& orc T%r%o$ ha) e,er face)* The h!l'%$" creat!re stoo) mot%o$less for a lo$" mome$t, as %f )ar%$" T%r%o$ to ma'e the f%rst mo,e* T%r%o$ +!%c'l& s!r,e&e) the tree l%$e to ma'e certa%$ there ere $o other orcs #re#ar%$" to amb!sh h%m* /eer%$" bac' at the orc, he fo!$) that %t ha) $ot mo,e) e,e$ a$ %$ch* The orc $o))e) as %f to co$f%rm that %t as alo$e* The creat!re1s '$o %$" "aze left T%r%o$ %th the %m#ress%o$ that %t a$te) h%s f!ll atte$t%o$ before %t e$"a"e) h%m %$ combat* Feel%$" some hat !$h%$"e) b& the orc1s calm )emea$or, T%r%o$ l!$"e) for ar)* The orc eas%l& s%)este##e) T%r%o$1s %$%t%al attac' a$) bro!"ht h%s "reat a- aro!$) %$ a %)e arc* Refle-%,el&, T%r%o$ )!c'e) !$)er the sa,a"e str%'e a$) rolle) %$to a )efe$s%,e cro!ch* Se%z%$" the mome$t, he thr!st h%s bla)e !# at the orc1s e-#ose) bell&* The creat!re e-#ertl& bloc'e) the thr!st %th the haft of h%s a-, a$) lea#t bac' ar) to "%,e h%mself more room to ma$e!,er* T%r%o$ fe%$te) to h%s r%"ht a$) the$ bro!"ht h%s bla)e aro!$) %$ a s ee#%$" re,erse thr!st* Mome$tar%l& ca!"ht off "!ar) b& the cle,er mo,e, the orc h%rle) aro!$) %$ the o##os%te )%rect%o$ a$) bro!"ht h%s a;

)o $ %$ a fast o,erhea) s %#e, mea$t to c!t T%r%o$ %$ t o* T%r%o$ rolle) o!t of the a& as the acrashe) )o $ o$l& %$ches from here he ha) stoo)* The t o o##o$e$ts stra%"hte$e) a$) s+!are) off o$ce more* The& stare) at o$e a$other %$ s!r#r%se* T%r%o$ ha) to a)m%t that the orc as as form%)able a foe as he ha) e,er face)* The "r%m sm%le that #asse) o,er the orc1s best%al face seeme) to %m#art a s%m%lar res#ect for T%r%o$1s o $ ab%l%t%es* 555 The& be"a$ to c%rcle o$e a$other, each s%z%$" !# the other1s stre$"ths a$) ea'$esses* T%r%o$ as a"a%$ s!r#r%se) b& the orc1s )emea$or a$) foc!s* E,er& other orc he ha) e$co!$tere) ha) r!she) for ar) %th rec'less aba$)o$, #referr%$" sa,a"er& a$) br!te force to f%$esse a$) tact%cal ma$e!,er%$"* Th%s orc, ho e,er, )emo$strate) remar'able s'%ll a$) self0co$trol* For a mome$t, T%r%o$ o$)ere) hether or $ot he co!l) act!all& best the creat!re* For a s#l%t seco$), he orr%e) that h%s t%re) l%mbs a$) refle-es o!l) fa%l h%m at a cr!c%al mome$t* S#ora)%c tho!"hts of h%s belo,e) %fe a$) so$ be%$" left to fe$) for themsel,es %tho!t h%m flashe) thro!"h h%s m%$), ea'e$%$" h%s resol,e b& a fract%o$* (%th a )er%s%,e s$ort, he shoo' off h%s )o!bts a$) rea)%e) h%s ea#o$* He ha) face) )eath a h!$)re) t%mes* He ha) a .ob to )o* He rela-e) sl%"htl& a$) rem%$)e) h%mself that h%s battle %$st%$cts ere as shar# as e,er* A$) he ha) the #o er of the L%"ht o$ h%s s%)e* No matter ho %m#ress%,e the orc1s f%"ht%$" #ro ess m%"ht be, %t as st%ll a creat!re of )ar'$ess as far as he as co$cer$e)7%t as the s or$ e$em& of h!ma$%t&, a$) for that %t ha) to )%e* 555 R!sh%$" for ar) %th "r%m resol,e, T%r%o$ slashe) at the orc %th e,er& o!$ce of stre$"th he co!l) m!ster* The orc as force) to "%,e "ro!$) before the /ala)%$1s f!r%o!s attac'* T%r%o$ #!she) the orc bac' ar) !$t%l %t felt as %f h%s s or) arm o!l) b!rst %$to flames* The orc ma$a"e) to bloc' a$) co!$ter a $!mber of the /ala)%$1s thr!sts, b!t as thro $ off0bala$ce b& a$ e-#ertl& #lace) str%'e* T%r%o$ c!t a "a#%$" "ash %$ the orc1s th%"h, se$)%$" the br!te st!mbl%$" %$to the )!st* The ol) orc "r!$te) lo!)l& as %t slamme) )o $ o$to the #ac'e) )%rt* <r%##%$" %ts bloo)%e) le" %$ #a%$, the orc attem#te) to r%se a"a%$, clearl& e-#ect%$" T%r%o$ to ta'e a),a$ta"e of %ts #recar%o!s #os%t%o$* To %ts ob,%o!s s!r#r%se, T%r%o$ bac'e) off a$) slo l& mot%o$e) for %t to r%se* The orc bl%$'e) %$ asto$%shme$t* T%r%o$ as a /ala)%$7a =$%"ht of the S%l,er Ha$)7a$) to h%m, b!tcher%$" a falle$ foe %$ the m%)st of s%$"le combat as !$+!est%o$abl& )%sho$orable* The hol& co)e of h%s Or)er )ema$)e) that he "%,e the orc a re#r%e,e* He $o))e) to the orc %$ ass!ra$ce, a$) o$ce more mot%o$e) for h%m to r%se* <r%tt%$" h%s shar#, &ello e) teeth %$ #a%$, the orc slo l& reco,ere) h%s a- a$) "ot to h%s feet* The& stoo) there for a mome$t, fac%$" each other %th e&es loc'e)* The orc stra%"hte$e) sl%"htl& a$) ra%se) h%s cle$che) f%st to h%s heart* A sal!te, T%r%o$ real%ze)* No %t as T%r%o$1s t!r$ to bl%$' %$ )%sbel%ef* Certa%$l& $o sa,a"e orc ha) e,er sal!te) h%m %$ battle before* He co$ce)e) that #erha#s there as more to the f%erce creat!re tha$ he o!l) ha,e "!esse)* Ne,ertheless, %t as h%s e$em&* He $o))e) to the orc %$ !$)ersta$)%$" a$) ra%se) h%s s or) a"a%$* Th%s t%me %t as the orc ho s!r"e) for ar)* 8$able to s!##ort %ts "reat e%"ht !#o$ %ts o!$)e) le", the orc as force) to l!$"e at the /ala)%$ %th short, ,%ole$t lea#s* (%el)%$" %ts hea,& a- %th o$e ha$), the m%"ht& orc slashe) %l)l& at T%r%o$* The /ala)%$ as har)0#resse) to e,a)e the br!te1s sa,a"e blo s, a$) as force) bac' to ar) the to er1s e$tra$ce* Barel& )o)"%$" a #art%c!larl& br!tal str%'e, T%r%o$ crashe) %$to the "!ar)room thro!"h the o#e$ )oor a&* Mome$tar%l& st!$$e), T%r%o$ roare) as the razor0shar# a- b%t )ee# %$to h%s left arm* F%"ht%$" to 'ee# h%s hea) clear from #a%$, he ma$a"e) to slash at the orc1s e-#ose) ha$)* The s!r#r%se) orc ho le) %$ ra"e as h%s a- clattere) !#o$ the sto$e floor* T%r%o$ mo,e) %$, ho#%$" to e$) the )!el as +!%c'l& as #oss%ble* I$sta$tl&, the orc "rabbe) hol) of a falle$ beam a$) s !$" at the a),a$c%$" /ala)%$* T%r%o$ bac'e) !# a #ace as the orc s !$" the beam %$ a cl!ms& arc* The beam smashe) %$to the br%ttle all* D!st a$) loose roc' ra%$e) )o $ from the h%"h ce%l%$"* The rema%$%$" beams >

crea'e) a$) "roa$e) as the to er1s alls sh%fte) the%r e%"ht* T%r%o$ co$t%$!e) h%s attac', c!tt%$" the orc1s ma'esh%ft ea#o$ to s#l%$ters %th e,er& fe,ere) str%'e* Real%z%$" the )es#erate $at!re of %ts s%t!at%o$, the orc )ro##e) hat as left of the beam a$) l!$"e) stra%"ht at T%r%o$ %th %ts s%$e & arms o!tstretche)* Ho l%$" %$ f!r&, the mass%,e orc reache) o!t for T%r%o$1s throat* The /ala)%$ ma$a"e) to stab the orc o$ce before the f!ll e%"ht of the creat!re1s bo)& slamme) %$to h%s* The t o e$ta$"le) combata$ts crashe) %$to the ea'e$e) all as the r%c'et& ce%l%$" f%$all& "a,e a& a$) colla#se) )o $ !#o$ them* 555 T%r%o$ o'e to the so!$)s of crea'%$" t%mber a$) clatter%$" sto$e* He bl%$'e) as th%c' clo!)s of )!st settle) all aro!$) h%m* All else as blac' %$ the shattere) "!ar)room* H%s bo)& as $!mb, b!t he co!l) feel a "reat #ress!re !#o$ h%s chest* As the )!st cleare), he co!l) see that he as #%$$e) !$)er a lar"e, s#l%t beam* H%s le"s, too, ere #%$$e) be$eath %mme$se ch!$'s of mortar* Fra$t%call&, he loo'e) aro!$) for a$& s%"$ of the orc* He o!l) be )efe$seless %f the creat!re )ec%)e) to f%$%sh h%m off* Reach%$" )o $, he "rabbe) hol) of the beam a$) hea,e) %th all of h%s rema%$%$" stre$"th* The beam to##le) to the s%)e a$) clattere) a"a%$st the r!bble* /a%$ %mme)%atel& floo)e) T%r%o$1s bo)&* H%s hea) s am as the o#e$ c!t o$ h%s arm "!she) h%s #rec%o!s bloo) !#o$ the floor* He attem#te) to l%ft h%mself !# a$) felt a$ ac!te b!rst of #a%$ as h%s bro'e$ r%bs "ro!$) a"a%$st o$e a$other* H%s r%"ht le", too, felt l%'e %t m%"ht be bro'e$ be$eath the hea,& bloc's of mortar* H%s battere) bo)& reel%$" from a"o$& a$) e-ha!st%o$, T%r%o$ felt as %f he o!l) blac' o!t* He co!l) hear the rema%$%$" alls of the str!ct!re crea'%$" a$) "roa$%$"* The hole to er as "o%$" to colla#se* (%th co$sc%o!s$ess ra#%)l& sl%##%$" a a&, T%r%o$ se$se) a r!stl%$" beh%$) h%m* F%"ht%$" to sta& a a'e, T%r%o$ barel& t!r$e) to see the orc1s "ree$, me$ac%$" ha$)s reach%$" o!t for h%m* H%s "as# of terror as c!t short as blac'$ess o,ertoo' h%m* T(O 8$a$s ere) ?!est%o$s S!$l%"ht casca)e) )o $ from the o#e$ s'&l%"ht %$ the cathe)ral1s ,a!lte) ce%l%$"* D!st motes s#%rale) %$ a laz& )a$ce, blo $ b& the soft %$) that afte) thro!"h the "ra$)%ose hall* Ro s of lar"e, h%te ca$)les stoo) before the base of a$ %mme$se tr%#t&ch %$)o of sta%$e) "lass* The %ma"e of a #ro!), re"al arr%or as )e#%cte) %$ the %$)o * Tho!sa$)s of t%$&, colore) shar)s of "lass #ortra&e) the ma$1s broa) feat!res a$) $oble bear%$"* S!rro!$)e) b& a halo of "ol)e$ l%"ht, the ma$ hel) a m%"ht& arhammer %$ o$e ha$) a$) a lar"e, leatherbo!$) tome %$ the other* The %$scr%#t%o$ o$ the tome rea)4 @Esar!s thar $o1Dara)orA7@B& Bloo) a$) Ho$or (e Ser,e*A T%r%o$ For)r%$" loo'e) !# to ar) the colorf!l %ma"e a$) felt h%s s#%r%t soar* =$eel%$" !#o$ a$ or$atel& car,e) )a%s, T%r%o$ h!mbl& bo e) h%s hea) %$ #ra&er* To h%s left, a "ro!# of somber me$ )resse) %$ flo %$" h%te robes stoo) %$ atte$)a$ce* The& ere cler%cs7 arr%or #r%ests7 ho ha%le) from the Northsh%re re"%o$* The #%o!s cler%cs ere #rese$t %$ or)er to offer T%r%o$ the%r s!##ort a$)s#%r%t!al "!%)a$ce, sho!l) he re+!%re %t* To h%s %mme)%ate r%"ht, a$other "ro!# stoo) %$ obser,a$ce, all )resse) %$ hea,& s!%ts of h%"hl& #ol%she) armor* The& ere the =$%"hts of the S%l,er Ha$)7the /ala)%$s* The sh%$%$" /ala)%$s ere the cham#%o$s of Lor)aero$ a$) the All%a$ce* The& stoo) %$ s!##ort of T%r%o$7the $e est %$%t%ate to the%r hallo e) ra$'s* Before h%m as a ,ast altar that la& )%rectl& be$eath the e$ormo!s sta%$e) "lass %$)o * The stream%$" s!$l%"ht as foc!se) at the ce$ter of the altar, here a$other robe) ma$ sat %$ me)%tat%,e s%le$ce, cra)l%$" a lar"e boo' %$ h%s la#* T%r%o$ as o$l& ,a"!el& a are of the others "athere) %$ the cathe)ral beh%$) h%m, chatt%$" a$-%o!sl& h%le a%t%$" for the ceremo$& to be"%$* The robe) ma$ o$ the altar ra%se) h%s ha$), call%$" for the "athere) masses to fall s%le$t* T%r%o$ hel) h%s breath* Th%s as the mome$t for h%ch he ha) a%te)* The robe) ma$ stoo) a$) slo l& al'e) for ar) to a))ress the '$eel%$" T%r%o$* The Archb%sho# sto##e) as he reache) the or$ate )a%s a$) o#e$e) the lar"e boo' he ha) bee$ hol)%$"* (%th a ,o%ce l%'e th!$)er, the Archb%sho# rea) alo!)4

@I$ the L%"ht, e "ather to em#o er o!r brother* I$ %ts "race, he %ll be ma)e a$e * I$ %ts #o er, he shall e)!cate the masses* I$ %ts stre$"th, he shall combat the sha)o * A$), %$ %ts %s)om, he shall lea) h%s brethre$ to the eter$al re ar)s of #ara)%se*A F%$%sh%$" the ,erse, the Archb%sho# close) the boo' a$) t!r$e) to ar) the me$ o$ the left* T%r%o$ felt a r!sh of e-c%teme$t s ee# thro!"h h%s bo)&* He breathe) %$ )ee#l& a$) tr%e) to foc!s o$ the solem$%t& of the mome$t* @Cler%cs of the Northsh%re, %f &o! )eem th%s ma$ orth&, #lace &o!r bless%$"s !#o$ h%m,A the Archb%sho# sa%) %$ a r%t!al%st%c to$e* O$e of the h%te0robe) me$ al'e) for ar), carr&%$" a$ embro%)ere) )ar' bl!e stole %$ h%s ha$)s* The Cler%c reache) the )a%s a$) re,ere$tl& #lace) the blesse) stole aro!$) T%r%o$1s $ec'* He )%##e) h%s th!mb %$ a small ,%al of sacre) o%l a$) a$o%$te) T%r%o$1s s eat%$" bro %th %t* @B& the "race of the L%"ht, ma& &o!r brethre$ be heale),A the Cler%c sa%) %$ a h%s#er* He bo e) a$) bac'e) a a& to sta$) o$ce more amo$"st h%s fello s* The Archb%sho# t!r$e) to the me$ o$ the r%"ht a$) s#o'e a"a%$4 @=$%"hts of the S%l,er Ha$), %f &o! )eem th%s ma$ orth&, #lace &o!r bless%$"s !#o$ h%m*A T o of the armore) me$ mo,e) for ar) %th ob,%o!s #r%)e o$ the%r faces a$) stoo) solem$l& %$ fro$t of the )a%s* O$e of the me$ hel) a "reat, t o0ha$)e) arhammer* The hammer1s s%l,er& hea) as etche) %th hol& r!$es a$) %ts haft as met%c!lo!sl& ra##e) %$ bl!e leather* T%r%o$ co!l) o$l& mar,el at the ea#o$1s e-ce#t%o$al craftsma$sh%# a$) bea!t&* The '$%"ht la%) the hammer o$ the )a%s before T%r%o$1s feet* He the$ bo e) h%s hea) a$) bac'e) a a&* The seco$) '$%"ht, carr&%$" )!al ceremo$%al sho!l)er #lates, ste##e) for ar) a$) loo'e) T%r%o$ %$ the e&e* He as Sa%)a$ Dathroha$, o$e of T%r%o$1s closest fr%e$)s* The '$%"ht1s face as al%"ht %th #r%)e a$) e-c%teme$t* T%r%o$ sm%le) '$o %$"l&* C%s%bl& com#os%$" h%mself, Sa%)a$ #lace) the s%l,er sho!l)er #lates !#o$ T%r%o$1s sho!l)ers a$) s#o'e %$ a ster$ ,o%ce* @B& the stre$"th of the L%"ht, ma& &o!r e$em%es be !$)o$e*A After he f%$%she) s#ea'%$", Sa%)a$ a).!ste) the s%l,er #lates so that the bl!e stole streame) o!t from be$eath them* He the$ bac'e) a a& a$) ret!r$e) to the "ro!# of atte$)a$t '$%"hts* T%r%o$1s heart #o!$)e) %$ h%s chest* He as so o,ercome %th .o& that he felt almost l%"ht0hea)e)* The Archb%sho# stro)e for ar) o$ce a"a%$ a$) #lace) h%s ha$) !#o$ T%r%o$1s hea)* @Ar%se a$) be reco"$%ze),A he sa%)* T%r%o$ "ot to h%s feet a$) mar,ele) at the sheer ma"$%t!)e of the ho$or be%$" besto e) !#o$ h%m* The Archb%sho# le,ele) h%s "aze at T%r%o$, the$ rea) alo!) from the boo'* @Do &o!, T%r%o$ For)r%$", ,o to !#hol) the ho$or a$) co)es of the Or)er of the S%l,er Ha$):A @I )o,A T%r%o$ re#l%e) ear$estl&* @Do &o! ,o to al' %$ the "race of the L%"ht a$) s#rea) %ts %s)om to &o!r fello ma$:A @I )o*A @Do &o! ,o to ,a$+!%sh e,%l here,er %t be fo!$), a$) #rotect the ea' a$) %$$oce$t %th &o!r ,er& l%fe:A T%r%o$ s allo e) har) a$) $o))e) h%le sa&%$", @B& m& bloo) a$) ho$or, I )o*A He e-hale) softl&, o,ercome %th emot%o$* The Archb%sho# close) the boo' a$) al'e) bac' to ar) the ce$ter of the altar* T!r$%$" to face the e$t%re assembl&, the Archb%sho# sa%), @Brothers7&o! ho ha,e "athere) here to bear %t$ess7ra%se &o!r ha$)s a$) let the L%"ht %ll!m%$ate th%s ma$*A Each of the Cler%cs a$) '$%"hts ra%se) the%r r%"ht ha$)s a$) #o%$te) to ar) T%r%o$* To T%r%o$1s amazeme$t, the%r ha$)s be"a$ to "lo %th asoft, "ol)e$ ra)%a$ce* He s!##ose) that, %$ the e-c%teme$t of the mome$t, h%s e&es ere #la&%$" tr%c's o$ h%m* 2et, as he atche) %$ o$)er, the s!$l%"ht that #o!re) %$ from abo,e be"a$ to mo,e slo l& across the floor* As %f %$ res#o$se to the assembl&1s comma$), the l%"ht came to rest !#o$ T%r%o$ h%mself* /art%all& bl%$)e) b& the %$te$se ra)%a$ce, T%r%o$ felt h%s bo)& arme) a$) e$er"%ze) b& %ts hol& #o er* E,er& f%ber of h%s be%$" as %"$%te)

b& )%,%$e f%re* He co!l) se$se l%fe0"%,%$" e$er"%es flo %$" thro!"h h%s l%mbs, e$er"%es e$o!"h to heal a$& o!$) or c!re a$& )%sease* He m!se) that these e$er"%es ere e$o!"h to b!r$ e,e$ the so!ls of the acc!rse) )e$%ze$s of the sha)o * Des#%te h%mself, he sh!))ere) %$,ol!$tar%l&* Ablaze %th ho#e a$) .o&, T%r%o$ '$elt )o $ a$) too' hol) of the m%"ht& hammer7the s&mbol of h%s hol& a##o%$tme$t a$) stat%o$* (%th .o&o!s tears stream%$" )o $ h%s face, he ra%se) h%s hea) a$) loo'e) to ar) the Archb%sho#, ho sm%le) arml& bac' at h%m* @Ar%se, T%r%o$ For)r%$"7/ala)%$ )efe$)er of Lor)aero$* (elcome to the Or)er of the S%l,er Ha$)*A The e$t%re assembl& er!#te) %$ cheers* Tr!m#ets blare) from the h%"h balco$%es a$) the cheerf!l )%$ echoe) thro!"h the ,ast$ess of the Cathe)ral of L%"ht* 555 T%r%o$ o'e %th a start* The so!$) of ch%l)re$1s frol%c'%$" la!"hter came thro!"h the $earb& %$)o * O!ts%)e he co!l) hear the fam%l%ar so!$)s of commerce a$) tra)e be%$" co$)!cte) %th%$ the "ro!$)s of Mar)e$hol)e 'ee#* He as home, %$ h%s o $ be)* Sha'%$" h%s hea) to clear h%s "ro""& m%$), he o$)ere) ho lo$" he ha) sle#t* H%s sheets ere soa'e) %th s eat a$) he smelle) as %f he ha)$1t bathe) %$ a ee'* H%s hea) as #o!$)%$" so har) he felt as %f %t o!l) b!rst* S%"h%$" hea,%l&, he remembere) that he ha) bee$ )ream%$"* He tr%e) to recall the )ream1s )eta%ls, b!t )!e to the %$cessa$t #o!$)%$" %$ h%s s'!ll, he co!l) o$l& "ras# the fa%$test flashes of %ma"er&4 a robe) ma$, a sh%$& hammer, a$) a ,%c%o!s orc*A ,%c%o!s orc: He s!rm%se) that he ha) )reamt of h%s a##o%$tme$t as a /ala)%$* B!t s!rel& there ere $o orcs #rese$t at that .o&o!s ceremo$&* Slo l&, more %ma"es be"a$ to flash %$ h%s m%$)* There ha) bee$ a f%"ht bet ee$ h%mself a$) the orc7a$) he ha) lost* No$se$se, he tho!"ht abse$tl&* He m!se) that h%s )reams ere becom%$" e,e$ more %ma"%$at%,e %$ h%s ol) a"e* L%ft%$" h%s hea) from the s eat0soa'e) #%llo , he attem#te) to "et !# a$) o!t of be)* A sear%$" #a%$ shot thro!"h h%m a$) he la& bac' )o $, #a$t%$" for breath* He str%##e) the bla$'ets from h%s bo)& a$) sa that h%s e$t%re m%)sect%o$ ha) bee$ $eatl& ba$)a"e)* Br!%ses a$) small lacerat%o$s co,ere) most of h%s ach%$" bo)&* He as s!r#r%se) to f%$) that h%s arm ha) also bee$ )resse) a$) ba$)a"e)* Fra$t%call&, he tr%e) to recall hat ha) ha##e$e) to h%m* Ha) the f%"ht a"a%$st the orc bee$ real: For some stra$"e reaso$, h%s memor& seeme) haz& a$) sl!""%sh* H%s face co$torte) %th #a%$ as he str!""le) o!t of be)* (ra##%$" h%mself %$ h%s )ress%$" robe, he ma)e h%s a& to ar) the s%tt%$" room of h%s #r%,ate chambers* He fo!$) h%s &o!$" %fe, =ara$)ra, s%tt%$" +!%etl& %th her $ee)le or' %$ a lar"e #l!sh cha%r $ear a$ o#e$ %$)o * At see%$" h%m e$ter the room, =ara$)ra thre )o $ her embro%)er& a$) r!she) to meet h%m* She h!""e) h%m arml&, caref!l $ot to s+!eeze h%m too t%"htl&* @Tha$' the L%"ht, &o!1re a a'e,A she sa%)* Her &o!$", )el%cate feat!res ere f%-e) %th both rel%ef a$) co$cer$* Her bl!e e&es seeme) to stare stra%"ht thro!"h h%m, as the& al a&s )%)* He sm%le) bac' a$) '%sse) her forehea) l%"htl&* He mar,ele), for #erha#s the te$ tho!sa$)th t%me, at her bea!t&* @I as be"%$$%$" to o$)er %f &o! ere "o%$" to slee# clear thro!"h m%)&ear,A she sa%)* H%s e&ebro arche) +!est%o$%$"l& as he stro'e) her soft, "ol)e$ ha%r* @(hat )o &o! mea$: Ho lo$" ha,e I sle#t:A he as'e)* @Nearl& fo!r )a&s,A she re#l%e) flatl&* T%r%o$ bl%$'e) %$ )%sbel%ef* @Fo!r )a&s,A he m!mble) to h%mself* That o!l) e-#la%$ the haz& memor&, he m!se)* @=ara$)ra, hat1s ha##e$e) to me: (h& ha,e I sle#t so lo$":A he as'e)* She shr!""e), sha'%$" her hea) sl%"htl&* @(e1re $ot e-actl& s!re hat ha##e$e) to &o!,A she re#l%e)* @2o! left %$ the mor$%$" to "o h!$t%$" a$) ere "o$e for ho!rs* S%$ce &o!1re almost $e,er late %$ ret!r$%$", I as orr%e) that &o!1) bee$ h!rt* I se$t Ar)e$ o!t to f%$) &o!*A T%r%o$ sm%le)* Ar)e$ as the ca#ta%$ of the 'ee#1s "!ar)s, a$) #erha#s h%s most lo&al fr%e$)* He sho!l) ha,e "!esse) that Ar)e$ o!l) "o search%$" for h%m* =ara$)ra co$t%$!e), @E!st as he as lea,%$" the 'ee#, he came across &o! ato# M%ra)or* He sa%) that &o! ere !$co$sc%o!s he$ he fo!$) &o!, a$) that &o!1) bee$ t%e) to the sa))le %th &o!r o $ re%$s*A

T%r%o$ c!##e) h%s ach%$" hea) %$ h%s ha$)s* @T%e) to m& sa))le: No$e of th%s ma'es a$& se$se,A he sa%) ear%l&* She #lace) her cool ha$) a"a%$st h%s forehea), sooth%$"l&* @2o!r r%bs ere bro'e$ a$) &o!r arm ha) bee$ sl%ce) o#e$* (e feare) &o! ha) bee$ attac'e) b& a ro"!e br%stlebear* Barth%las heale) &o! as soo$ as Ar)e$ bro!"ht &o! %$s%)e*A T%r%o$ sat )o $ hea,%l& %$ her cha%r*Barth%las: Barth%las ha) heale) h%m: The &o!th as o$l& rece$tl& a$o%$te) as a /ala)%$, a$) T%r%o$ as s!r#r%se) to hear that h%s #o ers ha) )e,elo#e) so +!%c'l&* The some hat arro"a$t b!t )e,o!t Barth%las ha) bee$ ass%"$e) as T%r%o$1s Seco$)7h%s s!ccessor as Lor) /ala)%$ o,er Hearth"le$* He ha) t!tore) the &o!$" /ala)%$ %$ the a&s of the%r hol& Or)er a$) %$str!cte) h%m %$ the #rotocols of the #ol%t%cal are$a* Tho!"h he as "la) the &o!th ha) bee$ able to heal h%m, he ha) other matters to #o$)er*Ha) the f%"ht %th the orc reall& ta'e$ #lace : =ara$)ra '$eele) )o $, close to h%m* @Barth%las1 heal%$" ta-e) &o! "reatl&, a$) left h%m e-ha!ste)* As &o! sle#t, &o! cr%e) o!t a $!mber of t%mes %$ )el%r%!m,A she sa%)* He loo'e) at her +!est%o$%$"l&* @A$):A he as'e)* @(ell,A she be"a$ %th a loo' of co$cer$ cross%$" her face, @&o! ere rambl%$" o$ abo!t orcs, T%r%o$* 2o! sa%) that there ere orcs %$ Hearth"le$*A He la%) bac' %$ the cha%r ear%l&* The memor%es of the f!r%o!s e$co!$ter came r!sh%$" bac' at h%m* The f%"htha) bee$ real* He loo'e) %$to her cr&stal bl!e e&es a$) $o))e) "r%ml&* @It as a$ orc,A he tol) her* =ara$)ra sat bac' o$ her feet, mo!th a"a#e* @L%"ht sa,e !s,A she m!ttere)* E!st the$ the )oor slamme) o#e$ a$) f%,e0&ear0ol) Taela$ came bo!$)%$" %$to the room* @/o##aG /o##aGA the bo& sho!te), r!$$%$" o,er to h%s #are$ts* =ara$)ra stra%"hte$e) a$) stoo) !# as Taela$ lea#e) !# %$to T%r%o$1s la#* T%r%o$ "r!$te) as the small bo& thre h%mself a"a%$st h%s sore chest* @Taela$, m& bo&, ho are &o!:A he as'e), ra##%$" h%s so$ !# %$ a heart& h!"* Taela$ beame) a co& sm%le !# at h%m a$) shr!""e) h%s sho!l)ers* @Ha,e &o! bee$ "oo) for &o!r mother:A Taela$ $o))e) e-c%te)l&* @He1s m%$)f!l ofte$ e$o!"h,A Ar)e$1s stro$" ,o%ce boome) from the )oor a&* @B!t he1s .!st as ramb!$ct%o!s as h%s father e,er as*A =ara$)ra sm%le) arml& at the lo&al "!ar)sma$ as he e$tere) the room* @I ho#e I1m $ot %$tr!)%$" o$ a$&th%$"* I sa Taela$ there hea)%$" th%s a& l%'e a ra"%$" o"re a$) tho!"ht to catch h%m before he o'e &o!, T%r%o$* It seems I sho!l)$1t ha,e orr%e)*A (%th a "r!$t, T%r%o$ rose %th Taela$ %$ h%s arms a$) al'e) for ar) to "reet h%s ol) fr%e$)* The t o shoo' ha$)s heart%l&* @=ara$)ra tells me that I sho!l) tha$' &o! for ha!l%$" me bac' to the 'ee#* Ho$estl&, Ar)e$, %f I ha) a "ol) mar' for e,er& t%me &o!1,e f%she) me o!t of tro!ble * * *A @No$se$se* I .!st le) &o!r horse bac'* If &o! tha$' a$&o$e, %t sho!l) be Barth%las* He .!st abo!t b!r$t h%mself o!t tr&%$" to heal &o!* 2o!1) ta'e$ a #rett& "oo) beat%$", ol) fr%e$)* I$ a$& case, I1m "la) to see &o! bac' amo$"st the l%,%$"* 2o! ha) !s co$cer$e) there for a h%le*A @I '$o ,A T%r%o$ sa%)* @There are some th%$"s e sho!l) )%sc!ss, %mme)%atel&*A Ar)e$ $o))e), cast%$" a s%)elo$" loo' at Taela$ a$) =ara$)ra* Catch%$" the ca#ta%$1s s!btle h%$t, =ara$)ra too' Taela$ from T%r%o$1s arms a$) sa%), @I1ll lea,e &o! both to %t, the$* 2o!1,e "ot #la$s to ma'e* A$) th%s l%ttle o$e $ee)s to "o )o $ for h%s $a#*A She '%sse) the bo& o$ the chee'* Taela$, h%$%$" %th )%s#leas!re, str!""le) to brea' free of her f%rm "ras#* =ara$)ra la!"he) softl& to herself* @E!st l%'e h%s father,A she sa%) %th a "%""le* Both T%r%o$ a$) Ar)e$ sm%le) as she left* @I1ll see &o! later, so$,A T%r%o$ sa%), atch%$" them lea,e* O$ce the& ere o!t of earshot, he t!r$e) to face Ar)e$, h%s face a mas' of co$cer$* @It as a$ orc, Ar)e$* More tha$ l%'el&, %t1s st%ll al%,e* As far as I co!l) tell, %t as alo$e o!t there* A$), !$t%l e '$o other %se, I a$t to 'ee# th%s bet ee$ !s a$) hoe,er else as o$

ha$) he$ &o! bro!"ht me %$* I )o$1t a$t to #a$%c the e$t%re #ro,%$ce %$ case th%s as .!st a sol%tar& %$c%)e$t*A Ar)e$1s stro$" .a t%"hte$e) $ot%ceabl&* @There ma& be a #roblem o$ that fro$t alrea)&, m%lor)* Barth%las a$) I ere both o$ ha$) h%le &o! sle#t* (e both hear) &o! m!tter abo!t the orc,A he sa%)* T%r%o$ "r%mace) as Ar)e$ co$t%$!e)* @2o! '$o Barth%las as ell as I )o* O$ce he hear) &o! sa& Iorc,1 he fle %$to a ra"e a$) starte) call%$" for a f!ll re"%me$t to sco!r the co!$tr&s%)e %$ search of a$& more of the br!tes* I $earl& ha) to s%t o$ h%m to calm h%m )o $*A @I a##rec%ate the la)1s e$th!s%asm, b!t h%s fer,or co!l) be #roblemat%c,A T%r%o$ state) r&l&* @That o!l) be a$ !$)erstateme$t,A Ar)e$ a))e), sm%l%$"* Both me$ ha) reco"$%ze) earl& o$ Barth%las1 almost zealo!s obsess%o$ to face orcs %$ battle* Barth%las1 #are$ts ha) bee$ m!r)ere) b& orcs )!r%$" the ar, h%ch ha) left the tra!mat%ze) &o!th or#ha$e) a$) %$co$solable* Dec%)%$" to s#e$) the rest of h%s l%fe combat%$" the orcs1 e,%l, Barth%las !$)er e$t &ears of r%"oro!s tra%$%$" a$) st!)&* 2et, tra"%call&, the f%er& &o!th as acce#te) as a /ala)%$ o$l& after the ar ha) e$)e)* Des#%te all h%s tra%$%$" a$) #re#arat%o$, Barth%las as tort!re) b& the fact that he o!l)$1t ha,e the cha$ce to a,e$"e h%s sla!"htere) #are$ts* He also felt that he co!l) o$l& %$ the res#ect of h%s s!#er%ors b& bloo)&%$" h%s ha$)s "lor%o!sl& %$ battle, as the& ha) )!r%$" the ar* He )reame) of becom%$" a m%"ht& hero a$) ta'%$" ,e$"ea$ce !#o$ the creat!res that ha) ta'e$ h%s fam%l& from h%m* Altho!"h he em#ath%ze) %th the &o!$"er /ala)%$, T%r%o$ '$e that that '%$) of th%$'%$" co!l) lea) to )%saster* @I )o!bt he1s bee$ t%"ht0mo!the) abo!t m& e$co!$ter* Es#ec%all& after he heale) m& o!$)s* Ho ma$& '$o abo!t th%s, Ar)e$:A T%r%o$ as'e) a$-%o!sl&* @R!mors ha,e bee$ fl&%$" all aro!$) the 'ee# for the #ast fe )a&s* /erso$all&, I1,e hear) .!st abo!t e,er&th%$" from a$ orc ra%)%$" #art& to a f!ll0fle)"e) %$,as%o$ force a%t%$" to )esce$) !#o$ !s* 2o! '$o ho %t %s* /eo#le are terr%f%e) that the Hor)e %ll ret!r$* A$) Barth%las, s#ec%f%call&, %s terr%f%e) that he o$1t "et to )efeat %t s%$"leha$)e)l& %f %t e,er )oes,A Ar)e$ re#l%e)* T%r%o$ #atte) h%m reass!r%$"l& o$ the sho!l)er* @Let1s .!st ho#e %t )oes$1t come to that,A T%r%o$ sa%) %$ ear$est* @Assemble m& a),%sors* (e1ll )%sc!ss th%s f!rther %$ co!$c%l*A Ar)e$ sal!te) cr%s#l& a$) t!r$e) to lea,e* T%r%o$ cleare) h%s throat* @Ar)e$,A he sa%) softl&* @O$e last th%$" * * *A Ar)e$ sto##e) %$ h%s trac's a$) st%ffe$e)* @2o! sa the sha#e I as %$ he$ &o! fo!$) me:A @2es,A Ar)e$ re#l%e)* @There1s $o a& I co!l) ha,e t%e) m&self to M%ra)or a$) fo!$) m& a& home %$ that co$)%t%o$*A @No, m%lor)* There1s $o a&*A @A$) &o! sa $o o$e else o!t there: No o$e ho co!l) ha,e hel#e) me a$) le) the horse bac' here:A @No, m%lor)* There as $o o$e abo!t* I e,e$ e$t bac' later to search for trac's* I fo!$) $oth%$"* Someo$e )ef%$%tel& t%e) &o! to &o!r horse* A$), for the l%fe of me, I ca$1t f%"!re o!t ho,A Ar)e$ f%$%she)* T%r%o$ $o))e) a$) mot%o$e) for h%m to "o* Left alo$e, T%r%o$ #o$)ere) o$ ho h%s a$o$&mo!s sa,%or co!l) ha,e bee$* As far as he '$e , the o$l& t o #eo#le %$ the oo)s that mor$%$" ere h%mself a$) the m&ster%o!s ol) orc* Br%efl&, T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f %t as the orc that ha) sa,e) h%m* H%s #ast e-#er%e$ce %th the creat!res #rom#te) h%m to )%sre"ar) the $ot%o$* The best%al creat!res ha) $o $ot%o$ of ho$or* From all he ha) see$ of them, he as certa%$ that the& o!l) $e,er "o o!t of the%r a& to sho com#ass%o$ to ar) a$other creat!re, least of all a hate) e$em&* St%ll, )es#%te h%s co$,%ct%o$s, T%r%o$1s %$st%$cts tol) h%m that %t ha) bee$ the orc after all* 555 Ca$)les fl!ttere) %$ the me)%!m0s%ze co!$c%l room* At the room1s ce$ter sat a lar"e oa' table, co,ere) b& a$ %mme$se ma# that )%s#la&e) the la$)s of Hearth"le$ )o $ to the most m%$!te )eta%l* S%- me$ ere seate) aro!$) the table, co$,ers%$" amo$"st themsel,es* At the hea) of the table sat T%r%o$, ho stare) +!%etl& at the sect%o$ of ma# that %$)%cate) the oo)la$)s s!rro!$)%$" the r!%$e) to er* Lost %$ tho!"ht, T%r%o$ as )%s%$tereste) %$ h%s a),%sors1 %)le J

co$,ersat%o$* He co!l)$1t tear h%s m%$) from the $a""%$" +!est%o$7 ho ha) sa,e) h%m a$) le) h%s horse home: He remembere) clearl& that the orc ha) sal!te) h%m he$ he allo e) the creat!re a re#r%e,e )!r%$" the%r combat* /erha#s the br!te ha) some sembla$ce of ho$or after all, T%r%o$ m!se)* No, %t ha) to be a m%sta'e* Orcs ere ,%le a$) sa,a"e* The%r '%$) '$e $oth%$" of c%,%l%t& or com#ass%o$, he rem%$)e) h%mself* B!t st%ll, h%s heart tol) h%m that %t as the orc ho ha) sa,e) h%m* H%s tho!"hts ere %$terr!#te) as the )oor s !$" o#e$ to a)m%t a tall, sle$)er &o!$" ma$* Res#le$)e$t %$ h%s s%l,er #late armor, %th a )ee# "ree$ cloa' flo %$" beh%$) h%m, Barth%las loo'e) e,er& b%t the cr!sa)%$" /ala)%$* Tho!"h he as $earl& th%rt& &ears &o!$"er tha$ T%r%o$, Barth%las hel) h%s oath as a =$%"ht of the S%l,er Ha$) as sacre) as the el)er /ala)%$ )%)* As al a&s, Barth%las mo,e) %th a fl!%) "race, barel& e,e$ ac'$o le)"%$" the #rese$ce of the other me$ %$ the room* Brash a$) some hat #om#o!s, Barth%las rarel& e$t o!t of h%s a& to ac'$o le)"e a$&o$e ho as $ot a L%"ht0blesse) /ala)%$* T%r%o$ stoo) a$) sal!te) the &o!$"er ma$ as he e$tere)* @<reet%$"s, Barth%las* I tha$' &o! for &o!r heal%$"* If $ot for &o!, I1) ha,e "o$e o$ m& a& to .o%$ the L%"ht,A T%r%o$ sa%), r!bb%$" h%s st%ll sore r%bs* Altho!"h h%s o!$)s ha) heale) com#letel&, h%s bo)& as st%ll te$)er* Barth%las shoo' h%s hea) )%sm%ss%,el& a$) ret!r$e) T%r%o$1s sal!te* @It as $oth%$", m%lor)* I )%) .!st as &o! o!l) ha,e )o$e for me %f the c%rc!msta$ces ha) bee$ re,erse),A Barth%las sa%) co$f%)e$tl&* @I )earl& %sh that %t ha) bee$ me fac%$" that orc* If I ha), %ts hea) o!l) $o a)or$ the 'ee#1s battleme$ts*A T%r%o$ $ot%ce) a fe of the a),%sors e-cha$"%$" s!r#r%se) "la$ces* As as !s!all& the case, the &o!$" /ala)%$1s e$th!s%asm bor)ere) o$ %m#ert%$e$ce* T%r%o$ sm%le) at the &o!$" ma$ %th #ract%ce) #at%e$ce* @(h%ch, of co!rse,A Barth%las co$t%$!e), @%s $ot to sa& that &o! co!l)$1t ha,e )efeate) the br!te &o!rself, m%lor)*A @(ell, I1m s!re &o! o!l) ha,e #!t the fear of the All%a$ce %$to %t, at least, Barth%las* E!st the same, for the t%me be%$", I )o$1t a$t a$& of &o! )%sc!ss%$" th%s matter %th a$&o$e else* I1) rather $ot r%le the c%t%ze$r& !$t%l e ha,e a better !$)ersta$)%$" of hat e1re )eal%$" %th here,A T%r%o$ sa%)* Barth%las $earl& cho'e)* @M%lor), %th res#ect, are &o! s!""est%$" that e 'ee# s%le$t h%le the e$em& cree#s !$h%$)ere) thro!"h o!r la$)s: (e m!st sco!r the oo)s %mme)%atel&G E,er& seco$) e aste here co!l) #ro,%)e the orcs %th e$o!"h t%me to7A T%r%o$ c!t h%m off* @2o! are ass!m%$" that there are more orcs o!t there, Barth%las* I as there, a$) I sa $o$e* I %ll $ot so!$) the call to arms before e1,e co$f%rme) the facts* Th%s %s $ot the t%me to start .!m#%$" at sha)o s* (e m!st rema%$ calm a$) be ,%"%la$t*A @E!m#%$" at sha)o s: A$ orc%sh force someho sl%#s !$)etecte) %$to o!r la$)s, o$e of %ts members beats &o! to a #!l#, a$) &o! a$t to rema%$ calm: Th%s %s ma)$essGA A fe of the a),%sors "as#e) at the &o!$" ma$1s a!)ac%t&, b!t Barth%las co$t%$!e), !$abate)* @(e sho!l) mob%l%ze a h!$t%$" #art& r%"ht th%s %$sta$tGA T%r%o$ cle$che) h%s f%sts a$) tr%e) to 'ee# h%s ,o%ce e,e$* The a),%sors, ho ha) 'e#t s%le$t )!r%$" the%r heate) e-cha$"e, seeme) %$ce$se) b& Barth%las1 )%sres#ectf!l ra$t%$"s* @2o!1ll atch &o!r to$e %th me, bo&* I am st%ll "o,er$or of th%s #ro,%$ce, a$) &o!r )%rect s!#er%or as a /ala)%$* For so lo$" as I am, e %ll )o th%$"s the a&I see f%t* 2o! are to sta$) )o $ a$) rema%$ %th%$ the 'ee#1s "ro!$)s !$t%l I or)er &o! to )o other %se* Is that clear:A T%r%o$ "ro le)* Barth%las as bes%)e h%mself %th ra"e* @I ho#e a$) #ra& to the L%"ht that m%lor) %s$1t so sha'e$ b& h%s rece$t beat%$" that he fears to )o h%s clear )!t&*A @That %ll bee$o!"h, Barth%lasG 2o!1,e "o$e too farGA o$e of the co!$c%lor1s sho!te)* Br%stl%$" %th a$"er, T%r%o$ ste##e) !# to the &o!$" /ala)%$ a$) loo'e) h%m )ea) %$ the e&e* @2o! ma& lea,e m& co!$c%l room $o ,A he sa%) to Barth%las* The &o!$" /ala)%$ cho'e) bac' h%s ra"e a$) stea)%e) h%mself* He calme) ,%s%bl&* @Of co!rse, m%lor),A he sa%) %$ a stra%$e) ,o%ce* @I %ll a a%t &o!r or)ers ea"erl&*A (%th that he s$a##e) a cr%s# sal!te a$) left the room* 6K

@2es, I1m s!re &o! %ll,A T%r%o$ sa%) "r%ml&* E,er&o$e seeme) to s%"h as the te$s%o$ )ra%$e) from the room* T%r%o$ r!bbe) h%s e&es ear%l& a$) sat bac' )o $* O$e of the a),%sors s#o'e* @M%lor), he %s brash, b!t he %s a "oo) ma$ at heart* I1m s!re he )%)$1t mea$7A @I '$o hat he %s* A$) I '$o hat he mea$t* Barth%las has al a&s bee$ r!le) b& h%s #ass%o$s* The&1re hat ma'e h%m a$ e-ce#t%o$al /ala)%$* Ho e,er, the& also ma'e h%m a l%ab%l%t& %$ )el%cate s%t!at%o$s,A T%r%o$ state)* He felt t%re), l%'e a$ ol) ma$* @O$ce he calms )o $, he1ll come aro!$)* He al a&s )oes*A @B!t m%lor), hat %f he1s r%"ht: (hat %f there are more orcs o!t there a%t%$" to str%'e at !s, a$) e s%t here a$) )o $oth%$":A the a),%sor as'e)* T%r%o$ ra$ h%s f%$"ers o,er the s#ot o$ the ma# that %$)%cate) the bro'e$ to er* @8$)er $o c%rc!msta$ces %ll I )o$oth%$", ol) fr%e$)* I1ll ta'e care of th%s matter m&self*A Before the& ha) a cha$ce to ar"!e the #o%$t f!rther, he rose a$) al'e) to ar) the e-%t, lea,%$" the a),%sors to stare at o$e a$other %$ co$f!s%o$* @B!t o$ the off cha$ce that he %s r%"ht * * * ma& the L%"ht hel# !s all*A Later that e,e$%$", T%r%o$ sat alo$e %$ the 'ee#1s s#ac%o!s )%$%$" hall* H%s #late of foo) ha) "o$e col), a$) he #%c'e) at %t abse$tl& %th h%s for'* He as th%$'%$" abo!t the ol) orc a"a%$* (as %t tr!l& #oss%ble that the orc ha) sa,e) h%s l%fe: He o!l) ha,e to f%$) o!t soo$* If Barth%las as r%"ht, the$ e,er&th%$" he1) or'e) for co!l) come crash%$" )o $ at a$& mome$t* Beh%$) h%m he hear) a +!%et sc!ffl%$" of small feet* Loo'%$" aro!$), he sa slee#&0e&e) Taela$ emer"%$" from the a).o%$%$" s%tt%$" room* @Sho!l)$1t &o! be aslee#, &o!$" ma$:A he as'e)* The bo& cra le) %$to h%s la# a$) loo'e) !# at h%m %$ a e* T%r%o$ sm%le) at h%s so$, th%$'%$" ho m!ch the bo& resemble) h%s mother* Sa$)& blo$) ha%r* B%" bl!e e&es* He as certa%$l& a s eet, %$$oce$t ch%l), T%r%o$ tho!"ht* @D%) the "ree$ me$ come bac' a"a%$, /o##a:A Taela$ as'e)* T%r%o$ $o))e) a$) r!ffle) the bo&1s ha%r* @2es* B!t &o! )o$1t $ee) to orr&, so$* 2o!1ll be safe e$o!"h here %$ the 'ee#*A @Are &o! "o%$" to f%"ht the "ree$ me$, /o##a:A the bo& as'e)* T%r%o$1s bro crease)* @I )o$1t '$o &et, so$* I .!st )o$1t '$o *A THREE A (arr%or1s Tale T%r%o$ o'e earl& the $e-t mor$%$"* Sl%##%$" o!t of be) so as $ot to a'e =ara$)ra, he )resse) a$) ma)e h%s a& )o $ to h%s #erso$al rea)& room* There, )%s#la&e) !#o$ a$ or$ate sta$) $ear the )ar'e$e) room1s ce$ter, as h%s armor* The hea,& s%l,er #lates %th the%r "ol) l%$%$" sho$e br%"htl& %$ the earl& mor$%$" l%"ht, )es#%te the $!mero!s "o!"es a$) )e$ts that co,ere) them*Scars of battle, he tho!"ht ar%l&* A$& o$e of the )ee# "o!"es co!l) ha,e s%"$%f%e) a fatal o!$), ha) he bee$ a less ca!t%o!s ma$ o,er the &ears* He ho#e) s%le$tl& that h%s l!c' o!l) hol) o!t %th hate,er tro!bles ere com%$"* As +!%etl& as he co!l), he sl%##e) the armor #lates o$ o$e at a t%me a$) b!c'le) them %$to #lace* O$ce f%$%she), he stoo) %$ fro$t of a f!ll0le$"th m%rror a$) loo'e) h%mself o,er* He loo'e) m!ch the same as he al a&s ha), )es#%te a fe more "ra& ha%rs fram%$" h%s t%re) face* He mar,ele) at ho ell the hea,& s!%t st%ll f%t after all these &ears* He ha) to a)m%t to feel%$" a certa%$ %$)estr!ct%b%l%t& e,er& t%me he ore the armor* 2et that as a &o!$" ma$1s $ot%o$* No o$e as %$,%$c%ble*No o$e l%,e) fore,er, he tho!"ht "r%ml&* (al'%$" o,er to the sto$e f%re#lace set %$to the far all, T%r%o$ reache) o!t for h%s tr!st& arhammer, h%ch reste) o$ the oa' ma$tel abo,e* The e-#ertl& e%"hte) hammer felt "oo) %$ h%s ha$)s* The hol& r!$es etche) %$ %ts hea) sho$e as br%"htl& as the& e,er ha)* @(%th a$& l!c', I o$1t $ee) &o!r stre$"th to)a&, ol) fr%e$),A he m!ttere)* He t!c'e) the hammer !$)er h%s arm a$) stro)e )o $ to ar) the 'ee#1s stables* 555

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The s!$ as .!st brea'%$" o,er the )%sta$t Alterac #ea's as T%r%o$ f%$%she) sa))l%$" M%ra)or* He sl!$" the hammer %$to %ts sa))le0hoo# a$) ma)e rea)& to mo!$t the seaso$e) arhorse* He #!t h%s foot %$ the st%rr!# a$) "r!$te) %$ #a%$* H%s r%bs st%ll ache), a$) the hea,& armor ma)e %t )%ff%c!lt for h%m to #!ll h%s o $ e%"ht !#* @Ma& I as' hat &o!1re )o%$":A a s!s#%c%o!s ,o%ce as'e) from the stable1s )ar' e$tr& a&* T%r%o$ too' h%s foot from the st%rr!# a$) t!r$e) to face Ar)e$* The ca#ta%$ of the "!ar)1s face as ster$ a$) etche) %th co$cer$* @I am "o%$" to %$,est%"ate the to er1s r!%$s* If the orcs are #la$$%$" a$ %$,as%o$ of m& la$), the$ I1ll f%$) #roof of %t m&self,A T%r%o$ sa%) flatl&* Ar)e$ $o))e)* @<reat* The$ I1ll sa))le !# a$) "o %th &o!*A @I )o $ot %sh to ha,e com#a$&* Th%s %s someth%$" I m!st )o alo$e, Ar)e$,A T%r%o$ sa%)* There as %ro$ %$ h%s ,o%ce, a$) the ca#ta%$1s co$cer$ "re more a##are$t* @I )o$1t l%'e th%s, T%r%o$* (hat e-actl& are &o! tr&%$" to #ro,e: Hea)%$" off !$escorte) so soo$ after &o!r7A T%r%o$ c!t h%m off* @M& hat, Ar)e$: M& )efeat:A T%r%o$ as'e) heate)l&* Ar)e$ lo ere) h%s "aze a$) sh%fte) !$comfortabl&* T%r%o$ mo!$te) the horse, e-hale) )ee#l&, a$) c!rtl& sa%), @I1ll be bac' %$ a fe ho!rs* Tr& to 'ee# a$ e&e o$ Barth%las h%le I1m "o$e* I ha,e a feel%$" he1ll tr& to st%r !# tro!ble*A He )!" h%s s#!rs %$to M%ra)or1s s%)es a$) s#e) o!t to ar) the )%sta$t tree l%$e* (%th "ro %$" !$ease, Ar)e$ atche) h%s lor) "allo# a a& %$to the )%sta$ce* Someho he '$e that T%r%o$ as$1t tell%$" h%m e,er&th%$"* 555 F%$)%$" h%s a& bac' to the r!%$e) to er as$1t as eas& a tas' as T%r%o$ ha) tho!"ht %t o!l) be* It too' h%m ho!rs to %$) h%s a& bac' !# the mo!$ta%$ tra%l* The mor$%$" fo" st%ll cl!$" to the "ro!$) alo$" the %$)%$" #ath, b!t he co!l) st%ll ma'e o!t the to er1s bro'e$ frame thro!"h the trees* As he $eare) %t, he slo e) to a$ eas& ca$ter, att!$e) to a$& so!$)s of )a$"er*Th%s %s $ot a %se mo,e, he tho!"ht7a##roach%$" h%s e$em&1s e$cam#me$t %tho!t so m!ch as a s+!%re to a%) h%m* H%s horse1s hea,& bar)%$" a$) h%s o $ flash%$" armor ere e$o!"h to a$$o!$ce h%s #rese$ce to a$&o$e for m%les aro!$)*Nee) to be more ca!t%o!s, he tho!"ht* After all, there as st%ll a "oo) cha$ce that the orc ha) $ot bee$ alo$e he$ he e$co!$tere) %t* 2et someth%$" %$ h%s "!t tol) h%m that th%s as $ot the case* Someth%$" )ee# %$s%)e tol) h%m that he ha) $oth%$" to fear* Thro %$" ca!t%o$ to the %$), T%r%o$ ro)e bol)l& !# to the to er1s base a$) )%smo!$te)* Loo'%$" !#, he co!l) see here the o$ce m%"ht& alls ha) colla#se) %$ ar)* The str!ct!ral )ama"e to the to er as e-te$s%,e, a$) he o$)ere) fleet%$"l& ho he co!l) ha,e s!r,%,e) the )%saster at all* He loo'e) abo!t the #lace for a$& s%"$ of the orc* He sa $o$e* The to er loo'e) )eserte)* A lo , "!tt!ral "r!$t ca!"ht h%s atte$t%o$ a$) he t!r$e) to see the orc s%tt%$" o$ a lar"e roc' $ear the tree l%$e* The creat!re seeme) calm a$) #o%se), b!t %ts "reat battle0a- lea$e) $earb& %th%$ eas& reach*So the creat!re, too, as ca!t%o!s, T%r%o$ tho!"ht to h%mself* The #ro!) /ala)%$ remo,e) h%s helmet a$) set %t o$ the #ommel of M%ra)or1s sa))le* The "reat horse s$orte) lo!)l&, se$s%$" %ts master1s te$s%o$* From the cor$er of h%s e&e, T%r%o$ ca!"ht s%"ht of the arhammer stra##e) to the sa))le a$) reache) for %ts ha$)le* Imme)%atel&, the orc "rabbe) for h%s a-* T%r%o$ +!%c'l& #!lle) h%s ha$) a a& a$) too' a ste# bac' from the horse* The orc "r!$te) softl& a$) rela-e)* It "r%$$e) at h%m '$o %$"l&* T%r%o$ too' a )ee# breath a$) the$ al'e) slo l& to ar) the orc* As he al'e) for ar), he real%ze) that he co!l) ha,e bee$ sorel& m%sta'e$ abo!t the ol) orc* /erha#s the creat!re )%) %$te$) to '%ll h%m after all* Ma&be someo$e else ha) m%rac!lo!sl& sa,e) h%m from the to er1s rec'a"e* Ma&be* B!t he ha) to '$o for s!re, o$e a& or a$other* Sto##%$" o$l& a fe #aces from here the orc sat, T%r%o$ ra%se) h%s f%st to h%s heart %$ sal!te*That ha) bee$ the orc1s sal!te, r%"ht: I$ ret!r$, the orc ra%se) a st%ff ha$) to h%s o $ "r%zzle) bro *

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@That %s ho &o! h!ma$s )o %t, %s %t $ot:A the orc as'e) %$ fl!%) s#eech* Its ,o%ce as )ee# a$) "r%tt&, b!t %ts art%c!lat%o$ as e-ce#t%o$al* T%r%o$ as )!mbfo!$)e), h%s shoc' e,%)e$t o$ h%s face* The orc1s h%)eo!s feat!res co$torte) %$ hat T%r%o$ s!rm%se) as a "r%$* @2o! * * * &o! s#ea' o!r la$"!a"e:A T%r%o$ as'e) sha'%l&* The ol) orc e&e) h%m ster$l&* @Do &o! th%$' m& #eo#le s!r,%,e) %$ &o!r orl) th%s lo$" !s%$" br!te stre$"th alo$e:A %t as'e)* @2o!r '%$) has al a&s !$)erest%mate) m%$e* That %s h& &o! lost the f%rst ar, I th%$'*A T%r%o$ co!l) o$l& mar,el at the creat!re* Here sat a th%$" of )ar'$ess7a ,%le, m!r)er%$" beast* A$) &et, %t s#o'e %th fl!%)%t& a$) %t* Th%s creat!re )%) $ot r!sh to tear o!t h%s heart, as he o!l) ha,e e-#ecte)* It merel& sat, rea)%$" h%m %th %ts cle,er, '$o %$" e&es* T%r%o$ sh!))ere), feel%$" fasc%$ate) a$) re#!lse) at the same t%me* (%tho!t th%$'%$", he bl!rte) o!t the +!est%o$ he ha) bee$ as'%$" h%mself ceaselessl&4 @I m!st '$o * D%) &o! #!ll me from the to er a$) lea) m& horse bac' to the roa):A The ol) orc hel) h%m %$ h%s "aze for a lo$" h%le a$) the$ $o))e) o$ce* @I )%),A %t sa%)* T%r%o$ e-hale) shar#l&* @(h& o!l) &o! )o that:A he as'e)* @(e are s or$ e$em%es*A The orc seeme) to co$s%)er the #o%$t for a mome$t* @2o! ha,e "reat ho$or, for a h!ma$* That m!ch as clear from o!r f%"ht* No ho$orable arr%or )eser,es to )%e l%'e a tra##e) a$%mal* It o!l) $ot ha,e bee$ r%"ht to s%m#l& lea,e &o! there,A the orc f%$%she)* T%r%o$ )%)$1t '$o e-actl& hat he ha) e-#ecte) to hear, b!t he as clearl& !$#re#are) for that a$s er* @Bes%)es,A the orc co$t%$!e), @I ha,e see$ e$o!"h )eath %$ m& t%me*A T%r%o$ bo e) h%s hea), str!""l%$" to ma'e se$se of the orc1s or)s*Th%s ca$1t be r%"ht, he tho!"ht* Th%s creat!re %s a merc%less sa,a"e* Ho co!l) %t s#ea' so: 2et T%r%o$ '$e that the orc1s or)s ra$" tr!e* He co!l) feel the orc1s s%$cer%t&7a$) be$eath %t, )ee#l& b!r%e) #a%$ a$) sorro * As a /ala)%$, he ha) )e,elo#e) a certa%$ em#ath%c ab%l%t& to se$se )ee# emot%o$s from others* The c!r%o!s ab%l%t& ha) $e,er #ro,e$ to be more !sef!l* He #!lle) h%mself to"ether a$) s%m#l& e$t %th the mome$t* @I sho!l) tha$' &o!, the$,A T%r%o$ be"a$, o$)er%$" ho to #ro#erl& a))ress the creat!re* Se$s%$" T%r%o$1s co$f!s%o$, the orc s#o'e* @I am E%tr%"", h!ma$* 2o! ma& call me E%tr%""*A Rel%e,e), T%r%o$ re#l%e), @Tha$' &o!, E%tr%""* Tha$' &o! for sa,%$" m& l%fe*A The orc $o))e) a"a%$ a$) stoo) !#* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that the orc al'e) %th a )%st%$ct l%m#* He s!rm%se) that the c!t he ha) "%,e$ the creat!re )!r%$" the%r battle as l%'el& %$fecte)* (%tho!t "%,%$" T%r%o$ a seco$) "la$ce, the orc l%m#e) o,er to ar) the r!%$e) to er* @I am T%r%o$ For)r%$",A the /ala)%$ be"a$* @I sho!l) tell &o! that I am the lor) of th%s la$), E%tr%"", a$) that &o!r #rese$ce here !#sets ma$& of those hom I e$tr!st %th %ts #rotect%o$*A The orc la!"he) softl&* @I a"er the& sle#t ell e$o!"h before &o! fo!$) me,A the orc sa%)* @I ha,e l%,e) here %$ these oo)s for ma$& lo$" &ears, h!ma$* I mo,e from #lace to #lace, 'ee#%$" h%))e$, f%$)%$" shelter here I ca$* I ha,e ma)e "reat s#ort of e,a)%$" &o!r sco!ts a$) &o!rRa$"ers* A The latter as s#o'e$ %th )%st%$ct scor$* Orcs ere $ot '$o $ for the%r fo$)$ess of el,e$ Ra$"ers* The c!$$%$", forest0r!$$%$" Ra$"ers ha) s or$ to "a%$ ,e$"ea$ce a"a%$st the Hor)e after the orcs ha) )estro&e) the el,es1 e$cha$te) homela$) of ?!el1Thalas* T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f E%tr%"" as tell%$" the tr!th* Co!l) th%s orc ha,e rema%$e) !$)etecte) for so lo$": E%tr%"" s$orte) a$) sa%), @It as ba) l!c' that le) &o! to me*A @/erha#s,A T%r%o$ be"a$, @b!t &o!r be%$" here creates a ser%o!s #roblem for me* M& #eo#le hate &o!r '%$), E%tr%""* 2o!r race bro!"ht $oth%$" b!t m%ser& a$) chaos to these la$)s* The& o!l) '%ll &o! %$ a heartbeat %f the& co!l)* Ho , the$, ca$ I be merc%f!l: Ho ca$ I let &o! sta&, '$o %$" hat &o!r #eo#le ha,e )o$e:A @I ha,e aba$)o$e) them, h!ma$G I l%,e here %$ sol%t!)e7%$ e-%le,A E%tr%"" sa%) ar%l&* @I $o lo$"er %sh to #a& for the%r s%$s*A @I )o$1t !$)ersta$),A the /ala)%$ re#l%e)* @Are &o! sa&%$" that &o!1,e )%sa,o e) &o!r o $ #eo#le:A

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M& #eo#le are lostGA the orc s#at* @Tr!th be tol), the& ere lost lo$" before the& e,er came to th%s stra$"e orl)* (he$ the Hor)e f%$all& fell before &o!r sta$)ar)s, I )ec%)e) to ta'e m& lea,e of %t fore,er*A E%tr%"" reache) )o $ a$) rolle) a lar"e ch!$' of mortar o$to %ts s%)e* T%r%o$ as %m#resse) %th the orc1s stre$"th* It o!l) ha,e ta'e$ at least t o sto!t me$ to mo,e the sto$e* The orc mot%o$e) for T%r%o$ to s%t a$) the$ sat h%mself )o $ cross0le""e) o$ the "ro!$)* T%r%o$ too' a seat o$ the le,ele) mortar* @There %s m!ch &o! )o $ot '$o abo!t m& #eo#le* The%r ho$or a$) the%r #r%)e left them lo$" a"o* I )ec%)e) m& )!t& to them as f%$%she) he$ m& so$s ere '%lle),A E%tr%"" sa%) "r%ml&* @(ere &o!r so$s arr%ors:A T%r%o$ as'e)* E%tr%"" scoffe) lo!)l&* @All orcs are arr%ors, h!ma$,A he sa%), as %f T%r%o$ ere a bra%$less ch%l)* @(e '$o l%ttle else* Des#%te m& so$s1 stre$"th a$) #ro ess, the& ere betra&e) b& the%r o $ lea)ers* D!r%$" the last ar o!r cla$ Ch%efta%$s fo!"ht amo$"st themsel,es o,er #ett& r%,alr%es* As o$e #art%c!larl& bloo)& battle co$cl!)e), m& so$s ere or)ere) to #!ll bac' from the fro$t l%$es* O$e of o!r Ch%efta%$1s r%,als, ho#%$" to a),a$ce h%s cla$1s sta$)%$" %th%$ the Hor)e, co!$terma$)e) the or)er a$) se$t m& so$s a$) the%r brethre$ bac' to be sla!"htere)* It as a )ar' )a& for o!r cla$* * * *A E%tr%"" sa%), lost %$ tho!"ht* @A )ar' )a& for me,A he f%$%she)* T%r%o$1s m%$) reele)* He as ell a are of the fact that orcs fre+!e$tl& fo!"ht amo$"st themsel,es* 2et E%tr%""1s a##are$t "r%ef mo,e) h%m* He $e,er %ma"%$e) that s!ch treacher& co!l) affect a$ orc so* @I real%ze) the$ that there as $o ho#e* Corr!#t%o$ a$) e$m%t& ha) com#letel& o,ersha)o e) m& #eo#le1s s#%r%t* I felt that %t as o$l& a matter of t%me before the Hor)e )e,o!re) %tself from %th%$,A E%tr%"" sa%)* @(here )%) the corr!#t%o$ come from, E%tr%"": (hat )ro,e &o!r #eo#le to s!ch )e#ra,%t&:A T%r%o$ as'e)* E%tr%""1s bro ra%se) a$) he a##eare) to be )ee# %$ tho!"ht* @I$ m& "ra$)father1s t%me, m& #eo#le ere s%m#le a$) #ro!)* There ere a fe )oze$ cla$s the$* The& l%,e) a$) h!$te) %th%$ the %l)s of o!r orl)* The& ere all h!$ters bac' the$7m%"ht& arr%ors ho l%,e) b& a$ ho$orable co)e a$) orsh%#e) the s#%r%ts of the eleme$ts themsel,es* Th!$)er a$) l%"ht$%$" co!rse) thro!"h the bloo) of m& a$cestorsGA E%tr%"" sa%) #ro!)l&, lost %$ the haze of re,er%e* @(%se Shama$s "!%)e) them a$) 'e#t the #eace bet ee$ the cla$s*A T%r%o$ lea$e) %$, ha$"%$" o$ the ol) orc1s or)s* S!rel&, $o h!ma$ ears ha) e,er hear) th%s m!ch of the orcs1 h%stor& before* @A$) the$:A T%r%o$ as'e) a$-%o!sl&* He o$)ere) %f th%s as ho Taela$ felt, as he rea) the bo& stor%es before h%s be)t%me* E%tr%"" co$t%$!e) somberl&* @A $e or)er rose !# amo$"st the cla$s, #rom%s%$" to !$%te them a$) for"e them %$to a #o erf!l $at%o$* Ma$& of the Shama$s )%scar)e) the%r a$c%e$t tra)%t%o$s a$) be"a$ to #ract%ce )ar' ma"%cs* The& be"a$ to call themsel,es (arloc's* For some mal%"$ #!r#ose, the& !se) the%r sha)o & #o ers to corr!#t the cla$s a$) )r%,e them to he%$o!s acts of ,%ole$ce* The& )%) s!ccee) %$ !$%t%$" m& #eo#le, after a fash%o$,A E%tr%"" state) r&l&* @8$)er the (arloc's1 r!le, the cla$s ere !$%te)7as a ram#a"%$" Hor)e* O!r $oble arr%or tra)%t%o$s ere #er,erte) to ser,e the%r )ar', secret%,e e$)s* It as the (arloc's ho bro!"ht m& #eo#le to &o!r orl), h!ma$* It as the& ho )ro,e !s to ma'e ar a"a%$st &o!*A T%r%o$ shoo' h%s hea) %$ be %l)erme$t* @A$) $o o$e s#o'e o!t a"a%$st them: O!t of a$ e$t%re race of arr%ors, $o o$e as %ll%$" to f%"ht them:A T%r%o$ as'e) heate)l&* @There ere a fe ho o!l) $ot s!bm%t* O$e of the )%ss%)e$t cla$s, le) b& a$ orc $ame) D!rota$, challe$"e) the (arloc's o#e$l& a$) tr%e) to co$,%$ce the other cla$s of the%r foll&* I remember the m%"ht& D!rota$ ell* He as a "reat hero* 8$fort!$atel&, fe orcs hee)e) D!rota$1s ar$%$"s* The (arloc's1 hol) o,er the%r hearts bl%$)e) them to reaso$* For h%s co!ra"e, D!rota$ as e-%le), alo$" %th h%s cla$* I hear) that the (arloc's1 assass%$s f%$all& '%lle) h%m, &ears later* S!ch %s the a& of the Hor)e,A E%tr%"" f%$%she)* @Ma)$ess,A T%r%o$ sa%)*

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@If &o!r #eo#le tr!l& ,al!e) ho$or, as &o!1,e sa%), the$ I ca$1t bel%e,e that the&1) let themsel,es be co$trolle) so eas%l&*A E%tr%"" sco le) a$) sat s%le$tl& for a mome$t* He loo'e) !# %th ster$ e&es a$) re#l%e), @It as a terr%ble mome$t!m that "r%##e) !s %$ those )a&s, h!ma$* After D!rota$ as ta'e$ a a&, fear a$) #ara$o%a o,ertoo' m& #eo#le* No$e o!l) sta$) a"a%$st the (arloc's*A T%r%o$ scoffe) )er%s%,el&* Br%stl%$" %th a$"er, E%tr%"" er!#te)* @Ha,e &o! e,er stoo) a"a%$st the %ll of a$ e$t%re $at%o$, h!ma$: Ha,e &o! e,er +!est%o$e) a$ or)er, '$o %$" that to )%sobe& mea$t %mme)%ate )eath:A T%r%o$ loo'e) a a&*No* He co!l) scarcel& %ma"%$e hat that m!st ha,e bee$ l%'e* E%tr%"" $o))e), feel%$" h%s #o%$t ha) bee$ ma)e* @It as r!more) that the (arloc's co$sorte) %th )emo$s a$) )re o$ the%r %$fer$al #o ers* /erso$all&, I bel%e,e %t to be tr!e* The )ar'$ess that too' hol) of m& #eo#le co!l) $ot ha,e bee$ bor$ %$ o!r hearts*A T%r%o$ te$se)* He remembere) hear%$" that the orcs ha) set )emo$s loose to so terror thro!"ho!t the h!ma$ ra$'s* The ,er& tho!"ht a##alle) h%m* @It seems &o!r #eo#le ha,e s!ffere) "reatl&, E%tr%"", e,e$ before the& ro!se) the rath of m%$e,A T%r%o$ sa%) %th a $ote of #r%)e %$ h%s ,o%ce* E%tr%"" "a,e h%m a s%)elo$" "la$ce* @Ho e,er, &o!r stor& %s a remar'able o$e* I fear I ma& ha,e m%s.!)"e) &o! a$) &o!r #eo#le alo$" ma$& l%$es*A E%tr%"" "r!$te) as %f am!se) a$) stoo) !# to stretch h%s bac'* @Act!all&,A T%r%o$ co$t%$!e), @ e are m!ch al%'e, &o! a$) I* (e are both ol) sol)%ers ho ha,e sacr%f%ce) m!ch for o!r7A E%tr%"" c!t h%m off %th a a,e of h%s s%$e & ha$)* @(e are$oth%$" al%'e, h!ma$,A he "ro le)* @I am a re$e"a)e l%,%$" as a$ e-%le %$ a host%le la$)G 2o! are a ealth& lor), lo,e) b& a free #eo#le, able to l%,e l%fe as &o! %sh* (e are $oth%$" al%'eGA Embarrasse) b& h%s o!tb!rst, the ol) orc sco le) a$) loo'e) a a& %$to the )%sta$ce* T%r%o$ co$s%)ere) the orc1s harsh or)s for a mome$t* @2o! are r%"ht, of co!rse* O!r #eo#le are at ar* Th!s, I m!st as' &o!, E%tr%"", o$ &o!r ho$or7are there a$& other orcs %$ m& la$): Does the Hor)e #la$ to attac' th%s re"%o$:A E%tr%"" s%"he) hea,%l& a$) sat bac' )o $* He shoo' h%s hea) %$ )%sma& a$) loo'e) T%r%o$ %$ the e&e* @As I ha,e tol) &o!, h!ma$, I l%,e here alo$e* I ha,e $o %$terest %$ )eal%$" %th others of m& '%$)* I ha,e$1t e,e$ see$ a$other orc %$ &ears* I ca$$ot tell &o! hat the Hor)e #la$s $o * I ca$ o$l& ass!re &o! that th%s bro'e$ ol) arr%or has $o #la$s to assa!lt &o!r 'ee# or ma'e a$& tro!ble for &o! hatsoe,er* I .!st a$t to be left alo$e to l%,e o!t m& rema%$%$" &ears %$ sol%t!)e* After a l%fet%me of fr!%tless ar, #eace %s the o$l& comfort I ha,e left*A T%r%o$ $o))e)* @As a arr%or of ho$or, I acce#t &o!r or)s, E%tr%""* A$), %$ ret!r$ for ha,%$" sa,e) m& l%fe, I %ll allo &o! &o!r sol%t!)e* So lo$" as &o! rema%$ h%))e$ a$) lea,e m& #eo#le !$moleste), &o! ma& sta& here for as lo$" as &o! %sh*A E%tr%"" sm%r'e) sl%"htl& %$ )%sbel%ef* @I th%$' #erha#s &o!r brethre$ %ll h!$t me )o $ )es#%te &o!, h!ma$* To them, I am the s!m of the%r fears,A the ol) orc sa%)* @2et I am the%r lor), E%tr%""* The& shall )o as I sa&* I "%,e &o! m& solem$ oath as a L%"ht0s or$ /ala)%$ that &o!r secret %ll be safe* No$e shall h!$t &o! h%le I ha,e #o er to #re,e$t %t,A T%r%o$ ,o e)* For a br%ef mome$t, T%r%o$ re"rette) ma'%$" s!ch a bol) stateme$t* He '$e %t o!l) be e-tremel& )%ff%c!lt to f!lf%ll h%s char"e %f matters became com#l%cate)* If h%s comra)es e,er fo!$) o!t that he ha) ma)e s!ch a #act, the& o!l) certa%$l& bra$) h%m as a tra%tor* Ho e,er, h%s %$st%$cts tol) h%m that th%s as the r%"ht )ec%s%o$* He stoo), resol,e)* E%tr%"" "r!$te) %$ sat%sfact%o$* @O$ &o!r ho$or, the$,A he sa%), r%s%$" to h%s feet o$ce more* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) the orc1s l%m# a"a%$* E%tr%"" as ob,%o!sl& %$ "reat #a%$* @O$ m& ho$or,A T%r%o$ re#l%e), "az%$" at the orc1s o!$)e) le"* @2o! '$o , E%tr%"", I ca$ heal &o!r o!$)* It %s a #o er I ha,e,A he sa%)* The orc ch!c'le) %$ am!seme$t* @Tha$' &o!, b!t %t1s $ot $ecessar&,A E%tr%"" state)* @/a%$ %s a "reat teacher* A##are$tl&, e,e$ after all m& battles, I st%ll ha,e m!ch to lear$*A T%r%o$ la!"he) o!t lo!)* He as tr!l& be"%$$%$" to l%'e the ol) orc ho, $ot a$ ho!r before, he co$s%)ere) to be the most he%$o!s ,%lla%$* @/erha#s some)a& I ca$ ret!r$ a$) co$,erse %th &o! f!rther* I m!st a)m%t &o! are $ot at all hat I e-#ecte) to f%$),A the /ala)%$ ch%)e)* 6B

E%tr%""1s mass%,e, &ello e) t!s's seeme) to stretch as he sm%le)* @Nor are &o! hat I e-#ecte), h!ma$*A T%r%o$ "a,e the orc1s sal!te a"a%$ a$) mo!$te) M%ra)or %th a "r!$t* He )!" h%s s#!rs %$to the stall%o$1s fla$' a$) ro)e off be&o$) the orc1s s%"ht* 555 A tho!sa$) )%ffere$t tho!"hts floo)e) T%r%o$1s m%$) as he ro)e home alo$" the %$)%$" #ath* He o$)ere) %f he ha) ma)e a m%sta'e b& offer%$" the orc sa$ct!ar& %$ h%s la$)s* Ne,ertheless, he ha) "%,e$ h%s or) that he o!l) 'ee# the orc1s secret safe* (hate,er else ha##e$e), he as ho$or0bo!$) to #rotect the ol) orc from #ersec!t%o$, a$) that as that* It as $earl& )!s' as he ro)e bac' %$to the 'ee#1s stables* T%re)l&, T%r%o$ ha$)e) h%s re%$s to the stable bo& a$) hea)e) %$s%)e* All he a$te) as to slee# a$) clear the )a&1s b!s%$ess from h%s m%$)* As he reache) for the )oor ha$)le that le) %$to the '%tche$s, a stro$" ha$) ca!"ht h%s arm* T%r%o$ loo'e) !# to f%$) Barth%las bloc'%$" h%s a&* There as a l%"ht %$ the &o!th1s e&es that ma)e T%r%o$ ,er& !$eas&* @M%lor),A Barth%las be"a$ %c%l&, @ e m!st tal' %mme)%atel&*A T%r%o$ s%"he) %$ fr!strat%o$* @I1m ,er& t%re), Barth%las* (e ca$ tal' %$ the mor$%$" %f &o! %sh*A Barth%las1 "r%# o$l& t%"hte$e)* @I )o$1t th%$' &o! !$)ersta$), m%lor)* 2o! see, I '$o here &o! ere to)a&,A the &o!$" /ala)%$ state)* H%s e&es $e,er bl%$'e), b!t hel) T%r%o$ %$ the%r frost& )e#ths* T%r%o$ o$)ere) %f Ar)e$ ha) betra&e) h%m a$) tol) of h%s erra$)* No* Ar)e$ ha) al a&s bee$ lo&al* @I '$o that &o! '$o there are orcs %$ Hearth"le$, T%r%o$* I ca$ see %t %$ &o!r e&es* I #ra&, for &o!r sa'e, that &o!1re $ot co,er%$" !# a$& #ert%$e$t %$format%o$*A T%r%o$ br%stle)* He co!l) ha$)le the &o!th1s arro"a$ce, b!t he o!l) $ot be threate$e) %$ h%s o $ home b& a$ o,erl& zealo!s bo&* @I tol) &o! before, Barth%las* 2o! %ll a))ress me %th the #ro#er res#ect,A T%r%o$ state) f!r%o!sl&* @As for &o!r co$cer$s, I ha,e )eterm%$e) that m& e$co!$ter as a$ %solate) %$c%)e$t* That1s all &o! $ee) to '$o for the t%me be%$"* I s!""est that &o! for"et abo!t th%s b!s%$ess a$) let the matter )ro#* No ta'e &o!r ha$) a a& a$) let me #ass before I lose m& tem#er*A Slo l&, Barth%las release) h%s "r%# a$) too' a ste# bac'* H%s #%erc%$" e&es $e,er left T%r%o$1s* The el)er /ala)%$ t!r$e) br!s+!el& a$) e$tere) the 'ee#* Left sta$)%$" alo$e, Barth%las sco le) %$ fr!strat%o$* @Th%s %s $ot o,er, m%lor),A the &o!$" /ala)%$ h%sse) to h%mself, cle$ch%$" h%s f%sts* @Th%s %s $ot o,er b& far*A 555 T%r%o$ ma)e h%s a& to h%s #r%,ate chambers* He ceremo$%o!sl& remo,e) h%s armor a$) #lace) h%s arhammer bac' !#o$ the ma$tel* He e$tere) h%s be)room a$) crashe) )o $ hea,%l& o$ the be)* All he a$te) %$ the orl) as .!st a fe ho!rs of slee#* E!st as h%s hea) h%t the #l!sh #%llo , =ara$)ra al'e) %$to the room* She as s!r#r%se) to f%$) h%m there* @Oh, &o!1re home,A she sa%) s eetl&* @(here )%) &o! "o r!$$%$" off to th%s mor$%$", T%r%o$: I as'e) Ar)e$, b!t he o!l)$1t tell me a$&th%$"*A Her ,o%ce as f!ll of co$cer$* T%r%o$ te$se)* He )%)$1t a$t to )%sc!ss the matter abo!t the orc at all* He ha) "%,e$ h%s or) to 'ee# E%tr%""1s secret safe, a$) the last th%$" he a$te) as to be force) to l%e to h%s %fe abo!t h%s act%,%t%es* B!t, loo'%$" %$to her e&es, T%r%o$ co!l) tell she as$1t "o%$" to settle for a$&th%$" less tha$ the hole stor&* @I e$t o!t to %$s#ect the s%te here I fo!"ht the orc, =ara$)ra* I $ee)e) to f%$) o!t %f there ere more orcs %$ m& la$)s,A he sa%), a ta) too %rr%tabl&* @I a$te) to "o alo$e, so I tol) Ar)e$ $ot to s#ea' abo!t %t %th a$&o$e*A =ara$)ra fro $e) a$) fol)e) her arms !$)er her breasts* She )%) that e,er& t%me she as !#set %th h%m* @2o! e$t off alo$e o$l& )a&s after &o!r attac': Ho ca$ &o! be so rec'less, T%r%o$: (hat ere &o! tr&%$" to #ro,e: It1s $ot l%'e &o!1re a &o!$" ma$ a$&moreGA she sa%) heate)l&*

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T%r%o$ fl%$che)* F%rst Barth%las a$) $o h%s %fe* @I1,e bee$ sol)%er%$" for more &ears tha$ &o!1,e bee$ al%,e, "%rlG The last th%$" I $ee) from &o! %s a lect!re o$ ho to #erform m& )!t%es #ro#erl&GA he "ro le)* T%r%o$ rarel& s#o'e to her l%'e that, a$) =ara$)ra $e,er reall& '$e ho to res#o$) he$ he )%)* She )ec%)e) that a tact%cal cha$"e of s!b.ect as $ee)e) %$ or)er to sal,a"e the co$,ersat%o$* @D%) &o! f%$) hat &o! ere loo'%$" for:A she as'e), tr&%$" to ma'e her ,o%ce so!$) as %$$oce$t as #oss%ble* T%r%o$ force) h%mself to calm )o $, b!t '$e that th%s $e l%$e of +!est%o$%$" o!l)$1t fare ell for her e%ther* @2es, I )%),A he sa%) %$ a$ e,e$ to$e* @I am co$,%$ce) that m& e$co!$ter as a$ %solate) e,e$t, a$) that e ha,e $oth%$" to fear from the orcs*A =ara$)ra br%"hte$e) a$) sat )o $ bes%)e h%m o$ the be)* She too' h%s ha$) %$ hers* @I1m so rel%e,e)* That1s o$)erf!l, T%r%o$, b!t ho ca$ &o! be so s!re:A she as'e)* T%r%o$1s heart sa$'* He o!l) $ot l%e to her* @I ca$1t tell &o!, m& lo,e,A he sa%) softl&* @(h& $ot: If there %s $oth%$" to fear, as &o! sa&, the$ there sho!l)$1t be a$& #roblem %th tell%$" me, sho!l) there:A she as'e)* Someth%$" %$ her ,o%ce so!$)e) h!rt* @It %s a matter of ho$or, =ara$)ra* I ca$$ot tell &o!,A he re#eate)* (%th a start, =ara$)ra r%##e) her ha$) a a& a$) stoo) !# from the be)* T%r%o$ half e-#ecte) l%"ht$%$" bolts to b!rst forth from her e&es* @Ho$or* It al a&s comes )o $ to that %th &o!, T%r%o$G 2o!1re .!st as e-as#erat%$" as that ,a%$"lor%o!s Barth%lasG Is &o!r #rec%o!s ho$or reall& more %m#orta$t to &o! tha$ &o!r o $ %fe:A She c!##e) her face %th her ha$)s a$) seeme) to be o$ the ,er"e of tears* T%r%o$ loo'e) !# at her a$) a$s ere) as "e$tl& as he co!l)* @2o! o!l)$1t !$)ersta$), m& lo,e* I am a /ala)%$* There %s a "reat )eal e-#ecte) of me* * * *A he sa%), h%s ,o%ce tra%l%$" off* There as a$ !$character%st%c $ote of self0#%t& %$ h%s to$e* =ara$)ra too' her ha$)s from her face a$) ha) to restra%$ herself from h%tt%$" h%m* @2o!1re r%"ht, I )o$1t !$)ersta$)G B!t I '$o e-actl& hat1s e-#ecte) of &o!,A she &elle) as tears starte) flo %$" )o $ her re))e$%$" chee's* @2o!1re e-#ecte) to act l%'e m& h!sba$) a$) $ot tr& to shelter me from &o!r s%ll& l%ttle secrets l%'e I1m st%ll a "%rl %$ #%"ta%lsG 2o!1re e-#ecte) to act l%'e a res#o$s%ble lor) a$) $ot "o "all%,a$t%$" off alo$e a$) #!tt%$" &o!rself %$ )a$"erGA T%r%o$ loo'e) a a& as she be"a$ to sob* @2o!1re s!##ose) to be caref!l a$) sta& al%,e so that o!r so$ )oes$1t "ro !# %tho!t a father,A she f%$%she)* T%r%o$ stoo) !# a$) too' her %$ h%s arms* @I '$o , )earest* I )%) ta'e a$ !$$ecessar& r%s'* B!t &o!1,e "ot to tr!st me o$ th%s, =ara$)ra* E,er&th%$" %ll be all r%"ht,A he tol) her sooth%$"l&* She %#e) the tears from her e&es a$) loo'e) at her h!sba$)1s face* She o!l) tr& to tr!st h%s .!)"me$t* She as abo!t to tell h%m as m!ch he$ a +!%et sh!ffl%$" of feet a$$o!$ce) that Taela$ ha) e$tere) the room* T%r%o$ a$) =ara$)ra loo'e) to ar) the )oor to see the%r blear&0 e&e) so$ sta$)%$" before them* A##are$tl&, the%r ar"!%$" ha) o'e$ the bo& !#* @Are &o! t o f%"ht%$":A the bo& as'e) t%m%)l&, h%s b%" bl!e e&es "l%ste$%$" %th co$cer$* T%r%o$ al'e) o,er a$) scoo#e) the bo& !# %$ h%s arms* @No, so$, &o!r mother1s .!st orr%e) abo!t the orcs, %s all,A he sa%) sooth%$"l&* Taela$ seeme) to th%$' for a mome$t* @/o##a, are the orcs as mea$ a$) cr!el as e,er&o$e sa&s the& are:A the bo& as'e)* T%r%o$ as$1t #re#are) for s!ch a )%rect +!est%o$* He tho!"ht abo!t h%s re,eal%$" co$,ersat%o$ %th E%tr%"", a$) mar,ele) that he as$1t so s!re a$&more* He certa%$l& )%)$1t a$t to l%e to h%s so$*There ha) to be some ho#e for f!t!re "e$erat%o$s* @(ell, so$, that1s har) to a$s er,A he sa%) slo l&* Foc!se) o$ Taela$ as he as, T%r%o$ )%)$1t see =ara$)ra1s %$cre)!lo!s stare* The bo& l%ste$e) %$te$tl& as h%s father co$t%$!e)* @I th%$' there are some orcs ho ca$ be "oo)* The&1re .!st har)er to f%$), %s all,A T%r%o$ sa%) "e$tl&* =ara$)ra co!l)$1t bel%e,e her ears* Her ebb%$" a$"er floo)e) bac' %$to her* @Reall&, /o##a:A Taela$ as'e)* @I th%$' so,A T%r%o$ re#l%e)* @Somet%mes e $ee) to be caref!l of ho +!%c'l& e .!)"e #eo#le, so$*A 6F

The bo& seeme) #lease) %th the a$s er* =ara$)ra as $ot* Des#%te e,er&th%$" else, she o!l) be )am$e) %f she let T%r%o$ f%ll the bo&1s hea) %th s!ch $o$se$se* @Do$1t tell h%m thatGA she h%sse)* @Orcs are m%$)less beasts ho sho!l) all be h!$te) )o $ a$) '%lle)G Ho ca$ &o! e,e$ sa& that, '$o %$" hat the&1,e )o$e to o!r orl)G (hat1s "otte$ %$to &o!, T%r%o$:A she &elle), s$atch%$" Taela$ from h%s arms* Se$s%$" her a$"er, the bo& be"a$ to cr&* She stro'e) h%s ha%r lo,%$"l& as she t!r$e) to lea,e* @Do$1t orr&, bab&,A she sa%), @&o!r father1s .!st t%re)* (e1ll let h%m "et some rest, all r%"ht:A she sa%) as she left the room br%s'l& %tho!t e,e$ t!r$%$" to ac'$o le)"e T%r%o$* Left alo$e, T%r%o$ a$)ere) o,er to a$ or$ate ser,%$" sta$) a$) #o!re) h%mself a c!# of ch%lle) %$e* Ta'%$" a )ee# s%#, he sat )o $ hea,%l& a$) mar,ele) at ho +!%c'l& h%s e$t%re orl) ha) t!r$e) !#s%)e )o $* FO8R The Cha%$s of Comma$) T o )a&s #asse) b& +!%etl& %$ Hearth"le$* The r!mors of the s!##ose) orc%sh threat ha) )%e) )o $ s%"$%f%ca$tl&* T%r%o$ felt rela-e), a$) m!se) that he m%"ht e,e$ be able to #!t the hole matter beh%$) h%m for "oo)* So lo$" as E%tr%"" sta&e) a a& from #eo#le, T%r%o$ o!l)$1t ha,e to orr& abo!t ta'%$" act%o$ a$) betra&%$" h%s oath to the ol) orc* He as s!r#r%se) to f%$) that Barth%las ha) rema%$e) +!%et abo!t the %ss!e for the #ast fe )a&s* 2et, )es#%te the &o!$" /ala)%$1s s%le$ce, T%r%o$ se$se) that Barth%las o!l)$1t rest so lo$" as he s!s#ecte) there ere orcs %$ Hearth"le$* After h%s !$e-#ecte) h%at!s, T%r%o$ sl%##e) bac' %$to h%s role as the la$)s1 "o,er$or %th relat%,e ease* The some hat mo$oto$o!s b!rea!crat%c )!t%es of h%s off%ce ser,e) to 'ee# h%s m%$) off of E%tr%"" a$) the%r fatef!l e$co!$ter* He s#e$t hat #r%,ate t%me he co!l) f%$) %th Taela$ a$) =ara$)ra* S!r#r%s%$"l&, h%s %fe seeme) to ha,e for"otte$ abo!t the%r ar"!me$t from the #re,%o!s $%"ht* She acte) as cheerf!l as she al a&s ha), a$) $e,er o$ce broache) the s!b.ect of orcs a"a%$* T%r%o$ as tha$'f!l for the #eace a$) +!%et* After the #ast ee', he ha) ha) h%s f%ll of e-c%teme$t a$) )a$"er* 555 The s!$ as ce$tere) %$ the cr&stal bl!e s'& as T%r%o$ sat o$ a lar"e balco$& o,erloo'%$" the 'ee#1s stables a$) r%)%$" corral* Locate) at the rear of the 'ee#1s "ro!$)s, the balco$& offere) a breathta'%$" ,%e of the m%"ht& s$o 0ca##e) Alterac #ea's %$ the )%sta$ce* He atche) as, far belo h%m %$ the corral, =ara$)ra le) a small, h%te #o$& aro!$) %$ c%rcles* 8#o$ the #o$&1s bac' sat Taela$, ho as clearl& ha,%$" the t%me of h%s l%fe* The la!"h%$" bo& fla%le) h%s t%$& arms "leef!ll&, call%$" for h%s mother to "o faster a$) faster* =ara$)ra la!"he) %th her so$, a$) 'e#t rem%$)%$" h%m to hol) o$to the #o$&1s ma$e %th both ha$)s* T%r%o$ "aze) at them both %$te$tl&* The& ere the ce$ter of h%s orl) a$) the so!rce of all h%s .o&* He o!l) $ot fa%l them* He ha) tho!"ht lo$" a$) har) abo!t hat =ara$)ra ha) sa%) to h%m )!r%$" the%r heate) ar"!me$t* /erha#s h%s ho$or as a self%sh th%$" after all, he m!se)* B!t e,e$ %f %t as, %t as a$ %$te"ral #art of h%m* It )ef%$e) h%m as clearl& as h%s o $ face )%)* As a /ala)%$ he co!l) $ot a$) o!l) $ot )%scar) %t o!t of ha$)* All )e#e$)e) o$ %t* He s%m#l& ho#e) that %t o!l) $e,er come bet ee$ h%m a$) h%s lo,e) o$es a"a%$* 555 Ar)e$1s hea,& boots cla$'e) lo!)l& !#o$ the balco$&1s sto$e floor* The ca#ta%$ of the "!ar) stro)e !# beh%$) T%r%o$ a$) bo e) c!rtl&* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that Ar)e$ as %$)e)* A##are$tl&, the lo&al ca#ta%$ ha) r!she) to f%$) h%m* T%r%o$ stoo) !# a$) sal!te) the &o!$"er ma$* He sa that Ar)e$1s face as )ra $ a$) #ale* @(hat %s %t, Ar)e$: (h& are &o! %$ s!ch a h!rr&:A The ca#ta%$ str!""le) to catch h%s breath* @I1,e bee$ loo'%$" all o,er for &o!, m%lor),A Ar)e$ sa%) %$ a ras#& to$e* @(e ha,e ,%s%tors at the "ate*A T%r%o$ te$se)* For a br%ef mome$t, he feare)

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the orst* Certa%$l&, ,%s%tors to the 'ee# ere commo$ e$o!"h* The o$l& th%$" T%r%o$ %ma"%$e) that o!l) affect Ar)e$ so as a$ arm& of orcs scal%$" the alls* @(hat ,%s%tors: Is there some #roblem:A the /ala)%$ as'e) t%"htl&* Ar)e$ shoo' h%s hea) a$) "!l#e) a%r* @A$ e$,o& from Stratholme, m%lor)* Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$ has come %$ #erso$, escorte) b& a f!ll re"%me$t* He %shes to s#ea' to &o! %mme)%atel&*A T%r%o$1s .a )ro##e)*Lor) Dathroha$, here: he o$)ere)* The Lor) Comma$)er as $ot o$l& h%s )%rect s!#er%or, b!t o$e of h%s ol)est fr%e$)s as ell* Dathroha$ as a "reat lea)er a$) a$ ho$orable arr%or* He a$) T%r%o$ ha) sa,e) each other1s l%,es more tha$ o$ce )!r%$" the ar* D!e to the%r %$creas%$" )!t%es, the t o fr%e$)s ha)$1t see$ each other %$ &ears* B!t h& o!l) the "reat lor) ,e$t!re all the a& from the #ro,%$ce1s ca#%tal for a$ !$a$$o!$ce) ,%s%t escorte) b& so lar"e a force: A b!rst of #a$%c s!r"e) thro!"h T%r%o$1s bo)&*Dathroha$ '$e abo!t the orc* It as the o$l& e-#la$at%o$ for h%s ,%s%t, T%r%o$ co$cl!)e)* He '$e that %t m!st ha,e bee$ Barth%las ho ha) alerte) the Lor) Comma$)er to h%s rece$t e$co!$ter %th E%tr%""* T%r%o$ %$hale) )ee#l& a$) stea)%e) h%mself* He #atte) Ar)e$ reass!r%$"l& o$ the sho!l)er a$), %th a s%)elo$" "la$ce at h%s %fe a$) so$ belo , stro)e o!t to ar) the ma%$ "ate* 555 Lor) Comma$)er Sa%)a$ Dathroha$ as a$ %m#os%$" f%"!re* He stoo) $earl& s%- a$) a half feet tall a$) as res#le$)e$t %$ h%s or$ate, sh%$%$" armor* A "ol)0r%mme), m%)$%"ht0bl!e cloa' co,ere) h%s broa) sho!l)ers a$) flo e) o!t re"all& beh%$) h%m* H%s a"e) feat!res ere mar'e) b& lo$" &ears of battle a$) str%fe* H%s e,e$l& cro##e) ha%r a$) $eatl& tr%mme) bear) ere "ra&, b!t h%s #%erc%$" bl!e e&es sho$e %th a ,%"or a$) stre$"th that bel%e) h%s &ears* 8#o$ see%$" T%r%o$ a##roach, Dathroha$1s ster$ co!$te$a$ce bro'e a$) he sm%le) %)el&* He stro)e for ar) a$) embrace) h%s fr%e$) %$ a bear h!"* T%r%o$ felt the a%r esca#e from h%s l!$"s* The m%"ht& Dathroha$ $earl& l%fte) h%m from the floor* Dathroha$ let o!t a )ee#, barrel0cheste) la!"h* @T%r%o$, m& fr%e$), %t1s "oo) to see &o!* Ho lo$" has %t bee$, fo!r &ears:A Dathroha$ as'e)* He release) T%r%o$ a$) the /ala)%$ stra%"hte$e) formall&* @Almost fo!r &ears e-actl&, m%lor),A T%r%o$ re#l%e)* Dathroha$ sm%r'e) a$) sla##e) h%s bac', $earl& se$)%$" T%r%o$ st!mbl%$"* @Let1s $ot start %th all that Im& lor)1 r!bb%shG 2o!1re o$e of the fe me$ al%,e ho st%ll remembers me as a s$ot0 $ose) hel#* (e1re o$ e,e$ "ro!$) here, &o! a$) I,A Dathroha$ sa%) h!moro!sl&* T%r%o$ force) h%mself to rela- a$) sm%le) bac'* @Ha,e %t &o!r a& the$,Sa%)a$* A He sla##e) h%s ha$) o$ the taller ma$1s sho!l)er #late* @It1s "oo) to see &o!, too,A he sa%) arml&* Tho!"h Dathroha$1s )emea$or as as fam%l%ar a$) ra!co!s as %t ha) e,er bee$, there as a l%"ht of co$cer$ %$ h%s shar# e&es* T%r%o$ loo'e) #ast h%s fr%e$) a$) sa ro !#o$ ro of armore) footme$ sta$)%$" o$ the #la%$ be&o$) the 'ee#1s alls* H%s heart sa$'* Altho!"h he as "la) to see h%s fr%e$), T%r%o$ '$e that the #rese$ce of so ma$& sol)%ers mea$t tro!ble* @Tell me, Sa%)a$, h& )%)$1t &o! %$form me of &o!r .o!r$e&: I co!l) ha,e #re#are) a "reat feast, ha) I '$o $ &o! ere com%$",A T%r%o$ sa%), tr&%$" to 'ee# h%s ,o%ce o#e$ a$) fr%e$)l&* Dathroha$ $o))e) a$) s#rea) h%s ha$)s %)e* @I a#olo"%ze for the %$tr!s%o$, T%r%o$, b!t e ha,e !r"e$t b!s%$ess to co$)!ct* I felt I ha) to come a$) see &o! as soo$ as #oss%ble* B!t let1s lea,e o!r b!s%$ess !$t%l later* 2o! $ee) t%me to "ather &o!r a),%sors for a meet%$",A he sa%) %$ a more somber to$e* @Is there tro!ble, Sa%)a$: Are e "o%$" to ar:A T%r%o$ as'e), $ot '$o %$" hat else to sa&* Dathroha$ hel) h%m %$ h%s #%erc%$" "aze, st!)&%$" h%s feat!res* @That1s hat I1m here to f%$) o!t, T%r%o$,A he sa%) at last*He )oes'$o abo!t E%tr%"", T%r%o$ co$cl!)e)* @For $o , I1m a$-%o!s to meet &o!r lo,el& br%)e a$) &o!r so$,A Dathroha$ sa%) arml&* @I re"ret that I co!l)$1t ,%s%t a$) see the la) he$ he as bor$* 2o! '$o ho %t %s*A

6J

T%r%o$ $o))e)* @He1s a "oo) bo&* A f!t!re /ala)%$,A he sa%) ass!re)l&* He felt bea)s of s eat form%$" o$ h%s bro * He tr%e) to calm h%mself a$) beha,e $at!rall&* He felt as %f Dathroha$ ere loo'%$" r%"ht thro!"h h%m* He $earl& .!m#e) as Dathroha$ belte) o!t a heart& la!"h* @Of that I ha,e l%ttle )o!bt* I s!s#ect that the For)r%$" l%$e %ll al a&s be there to )efe$) Lor)aero$ a$) %ts #eo#le,A Dathroha$ sa%), sm%l%$"* T%r%o$ sm%le) bac' a$) $o))e) h%le sa&%$", @I certa%$l& ho#e so*A 555 Ho!rs later, T%r%o$1s a),%sors ha) "athere) %$ the co!$c%l room* A fe of Dathroha$1s se$%or l%e!te$a$ts ere #rese$t as ell* Barth%las, ho loo'e) ,er& e-c%te) b& the $e arr%,als, stoo) $ear the bac' of the room a$) rema%$e) s%le$t* Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$ ha) ta'e$ a seat at the hea) of the table, $e-t to T%r%o$* There as a te$s%o$ %$ the room as all #rese$t s#ec!late) o$ the !r"e$t matter that Dathroha$ ha) come to )%sc!ss* @No , the$,A Dathroha$ be"a$, loo'%$" le,ell& at T%r%o$* @I rece%,e) $e s that there are orcs %$ Hearth"le$* (hat e-actl& %s the c!rre$t s%t!at%o$:A he as'e)* T%r%o$ s allo e), h%s throat s!))e$l& )r&* @M%lor), a fe )a&s a"o, I ha) a$ e$co!$ter %th a$ orc arr%or,A he sa%)* @Tho!"h I o!$)e) %t ba)l&, I as '$oc'e) o!t before I co!l) sla& the creat!re* I ret!r$e) to the s#ot here e battle) %$ or)er to )eterm%$e %f the creat!re st%ll l%,e)* A$), to )%scer$ hether or $ot there are others of %ts '%$) %th%$ m& bor)ers* M& f%$)%$"s le) me to bel%e,e that %t as a$ %solate) %$c%)e$t a$) that there ere $o other orcs accom#a$&%$" %t,A T%r%o$ f%$%she)* He as o$ )a$"ero!s "ro!$)* He ha) $o %sh to l%e to h%s s!#er%or* Ho$or forba)e %t* Dathroha$ lea$e) bac' %$ h%s cha%r, r!bb%$" h%s bear)e) ch%$ a$) #o$)er%$" T%r%o$1s res#o$se* @A$) &o! co$)!cte) &o!r %$,est%"at%o$ alo$e:A Dathroha$ as'e)* T%r%o$ $o))e)* @2es, m%lor)*A @It %s !$fort!$ate that &o! )%)$1t ha,e others %th &o! to ,er%f& &o!r f%$)%$"s, T%r%o$* A##are$tl&, &o!r reta%$ers )o$1t share &o!r o#t%m%st%c a##ra%sal of the s%t!at%o$*A Dathroha$ sa%) "r%ml&* T%r%o$ sco le)* He )%)$1t e,e$ ha,e to loo' at the bac' of the room to se$se Barth%las1 sm!" sat%sfact%o$* @/ala)%$ Barth%las se$t me $e s of the affa%r* He seems to bel%e,e that the threat to these la$)s %s far more )%re tha$ &o! )o* I ha,e come to f%$) o!t for m&self %f th%s la$) %s %$ #er%l,A the Lor) Comma$)er sa%) ster$l&* T%r%o$ the$ t!r$e) to stare at Barth%las1 bem!se) face* He fo!"ht )o $ h%s ra"e at the &o!th1s a!)ac%t&* He t!r$e) bac' to Dathroha$* @Sa%)a$, e1,e bee$ fr%e$)s for &ears* S!rel& &o! )o$1t )o!bt m& .!)"me$t %$ th%s matter: Ho$estl&, &o!$" Barth%las1 act%o$s are a clear affro$t to m& a!thor%t& o,er th%s la$)* H%s zeal %s comme$)able, b!t to orr& &o! o,er s!ch a m%$or matter %s #er#le-%$" to sa& the leastGA Dathroha$ #!t h%s ha$) o$ T%r%o$1s arm to calm h%m* @T%r%o$, I ha,e al a&s tr!ste) &o!r .!)"me$t* I ha,e $e,er +!est%o$e) &o!r ho$or or a!thor%t&, a$) I )o $ot %$te$) to start )o%$" so $o * 8$)er $ormal c%rc!msta$ces, I o!l) $e,er %$ter,e$e %$ a matter l%'e th%s, b!t certa%$ e,e$ts ha,e tra$s#%re) that force me to loo' cr%t%call& at a$& #oss%ble orc%sh %$c!rs%o$s*A Dathroha$ lea$e) %$ a$) searche) the e&es of the "athere) a),%sors* @For some t%me, e ha,e bee$ rece%,%$" re#orts that there %s a $e , !#start (arch%ef amo$"st the orcs* A##are$tl&, th%s &o!$" orc %s %$te$t o$ rall&%$" the cla$s a$) re0form%$" the Hor)e* Tho!"h the& are fe , h%s fa$at%cal arr%ors ha,e someho o,err!$ ma$& of the "!ar)e) reser,es a$) a##ear to be amass%$" stro$"er $!mbers* The All%a$ce H%"h Comma$) has )eeme) that e are %$ a state of emer"e$c&* I tell &o! all of th%s so that &o! !$)ersta$) m& mot%,es* If there %s a$& tr!th beh%$) Barth%las1 cla%ms, the$ %t %s %m#erat%,e that e #re#are o!rsel,es for ar,A he sa%) "r%ml&* The shoc'e) a),%sors be"a$ to co$,erse amo$"st themsel,es* Dathroha$ t!r$e) to face T%r%o$* @Ol) fr%e$), %th all )!e res#ect, I ca$$ot rel& o$ &o!r %$st%$cts alo$e* Th%s s%t!at%o$ %s far too ,olat%le*A T%r%o$ shoo' h%s hea) %$ )%sbel%ef* He brace) h%mself for hat he '$e as com%$" $e-t* 9K

@At f%rst l%"ht, e %ll hea) o!t a$) sco!r the oo)la$)s for more )ef%$%t%,e #roof of orc%sh act%,%t&* T%r%o$, I a$t &o! to #erso$all& lea) !s to here &o! e$co!$tere) the orc* If the creat!re be fo!$), e %ll ta'e %t bac' to Stratholme for %$terro"at%o$,A Dathroha$ f%$%she)* T%r%o$1s heart )ro##e)* There as $o a& o!t $o * He ha) bee$ "%,e$ a )%rect or)er* He o!l) be force) to brea' h%s ,o to E%tr%""* @As &o! %sh, m%lor),A T%r%o$ sa%) %$ a stra%$e) ,o%ce* Dathroha$ seeme) co$te$t to let the matter rest* He )%sm%sse) the a),%sors a$) s!""este) that e,er&o$e #re#are the%r me$* T%r%o$ stoo) to e-%t a$) sa Barth%las star%$" at h%m from the )oor a&* The &o!$" /ala)%$1s face as al%"ht %th ,%ctor&* T%r%o$ ha) to f%"ht bac' the s!))e$ !r"e to stra$"le the sm%r'%$" &o!th* (%tho!t "%,%$" Barth%las a seco$) "la$ce, he left the room a$) ma)e rea)& for the mor$%$"1s e-#e)%t%o$* 555 Da $ ha) alrea)& bathe) the la$) %th %ts f%rst ra&s as the force of '$%"hts a$) footme$ ma)e the%r a& %$to the foreste) footh%lls* T%r%o$, Ar)e$ a$) Dathroha$ le) the sh%$%$" col!m$ )o $ the )!st& h!$t%$" #ath that s$a'e) %ts a& thro!"h the )e$se oo)s* Barth%las h!$" bac' beh%$) them, #referr%$" to co$,erse %th the ,etera$ sol)%ers !$)er Dathroha$1s comma$)* Clearl&, the &o!$" /ala)%$ as ea"er to #ro,e h%mself %$ battle* T%r%o$ as "la) that the &o!th sta&e) a a&* He as )%s"!ste) %th Barth%las a$) )%)$1t e,e$ a$t to see h%s face* T%r%o$ as %$ a "r%m moo)* He ha) sle#t l%ttle )!r%$" the $%"ht, a$) o'e %th h%s "!ts t%e) %$ '$ots* He %she) that he co!l) someho ar$ E%tr%"" so that the ol) orc co!l) e,a)e ca#t!re* B!t T%r%o$ '$e that, e,e$ %f he co!l) ar$ the orc, h%s act%o$s o!l) betra& h%s s!#er%or1s )%rect or)er* He '$e that there as $o a& to !#hol) h%s ,o a$) )o h%s )!t& at the same t%me* H%s #rec%o!s ho$or as %$ "reat #er%l* The& ro)e for ho!rs !# %$to the mo!$ta%$s as T%r%o$ le) the a&* He '$e e-actl& here he as "o%$"* Before lo$" the bro'e$ to er1s rema%$%$" alls co!l) be see$ thro!"h the trees* Dathroha$ lea$e) %$ a$) as'e) T%r%o$ %f %t as the to er the& so!"ht* @That %s here I f%rst e$co!$tere) the orc, m%lor),A T%r%o$ sa%) %$ a +!%et ,o%ce* Dathroha$ $o))e), se$s%$" T%r%o$1s a##rehe$s%o$* @Are &o! certa%$, T%r%o$: 2o! seem rather #e$s%,e th%s mor$%$"*A @I am certa%$, m%lor),A T%r%o$ re#l%e) h!s'%l&* @I1m f%$e* I1m .!st a ta) t%re), %s all*A Dathroha$ #atte) h%s sho!l)er reass!r%$"l&* The Lor) Comma$)er mot%o$e) for h%s me$ to ta'e !# #os%t%o$s alo$" the roa)* He the$ calle) for a $!mber of "!ar)s to come to the fro$t of the col!m$* Ar)e$ as amo$" those ho came for ar)* The ca#ta%$ sm%le) !# at T%r%o$, b!t the /ala)%$ )%)$1t feel l%'e sm%l%$" at all* T%r%o$ sh!))ere) as t o of the "!ar)s #!lle) a ma'esh%ft a"o$0ca"e beh%$) them* The r%c'et& ca"e as )es%"$e) to hol) a$) tra$s#ort a small $!mber of #r%so$ers o,er lo$" )%sta$ces* He fer,e$tl& ho#e) that %t o!l) sta& em#t&* Dathroha$, feel%$" that stealth o!l) be %se !$t%l the& co$f%rme) that there ere $!mero!s orcs %$ the area, or)ere) h%s me$ to rema%$ beh%$) as he a$) a small "ro!# mo,e) %$ o$ the lo$el& to er* Barth%las, %th a f%er& e$th!s%asm, ro)e ea"erl& beh%$) the Lor) Comma$)er* T%r%o$, Ar)e$ a$) s%- footme$ co$t%$!e) !# the #ath after them* 555 The clear%$" aro!$) the to er as +!%et, b!t the footme$ mo,e) +!%etl& e$o!"h )es#%te the%r c!mbersome armor a$) ea#o$s* Follo %$" the %$str!ct%o$s he ha) bee$ "%,e$ earl%er, Ar)e$ comma$)e) h%s "!ar)s to e$c%rcle the to er* Barth%las )%smo!$te) a$) retr%e,e) h%s arhammer from %ts sa))le0loo#* Escorte) b& t o footme$, Barth%las ca!t%o!sl& ma)e h%s a& to the to er1s e$tra$ce* Sto##%$" a short )%sta$ce from the ra,a"e) e$tr& a&, Barth%las calle) o!t %$ h%s most a!thor%tat%,e ,o%ce4 @(e come %$ the $ame of the All%a$ceG Come o!t from there a$) s!rre$)er &o!rsel,es, &o! fo!l beasts, or e1ll be force) to '%ll &o!GA H%s ,o%ce as e)"& a$) +!a,ere) sl%"htl&* T%r%o$ '$e that the !$seaso$e) /ala)%$ as +!a'%$" %$ h%s boots* Bea)s of s eat ra$ )o $ Barth%las1 sco l%$" face* A sh!ffl%$" $o%se came from the to er1s r!%$e) "!ar)room* The t o footme$ 96

$ear Barth%las brace) themsel,es for a$ attac'* Barth%las "r%##e) h%s arhammer t%"htl&, tr&%$" to 'ee# h%s $er,es %$ chec'* Slo l&, the s%lho!ette of a lar"e orc emer"e) from the room1s sha)o s a$) stoo) %$ the e$tra$ce a&* E%tr%"" hel) h%s battle0a- %th both ha$)s a$) loo'e) rea)& to "o )o $ f%"ht%$"* The orc sca$$e) the h!ma$ faces %th f!r%o!s e&es* He ca!"ht s%"ht of T%r%o$, s%tt%$" ato# h%s horse, a$) he sco le) )ee#l&* T%r%o$1s e&es loc'e) %th the orc1s for a mome$t, b!t he as force) to loo' a a&* The orc1s )%s"!ste) "aze tol) T%r%o$ e,er&th%$" he $ee)e) to '$o 7that E%tr%"" tho!"ht h%s $ot%o$ of ho$or as la!"hable* The ol) orc ha) sa,e) h%s l%fe, a$) he ha) re#a%) the )ebt b& lea)%$" e$em%es stra%"ht to h%s home* Ne,er %$ h%s l%fe ha) T%r%o$ felt s!ch )e.ect%o$ a$) self0loath%$"* E%tr%"" too' a co!#le of ste#s %$to the clear%$"* T%r%o$ $ot%ce) that he as l%m#%$" more tha$ he$ he last sa h%m* The orc1s o!$) m!st be ba)l& %$fecte), he tho!"ht* E%tr%""1s e&es blaze) %th hate a$) f!r&* T%r%o$ co!l) see that the orc o!l) $ot allo h%mself to be ta'e$ al%,e* As %f %$ res#o$se to h%s tho!"ht, Dathroha$ s#o'e !#* @I )o $ot a$t the creat!re '%lle)* I $ee) h%m al%,eGA he sa%)* Barth%las too' a +!%c' mome$t to loo' bac' %$ )%sma&, b!t seeme) to !$)ersta$) the or)er clearl& e$o!"h* Ar)e$ a$) h%s "!ar)s co$,er"e) o$ the to er, %$te$)%$" to a%) %$ the orc1s ca#t!re* Barth%las as so $er,o!s h%s ha$)s shoo'* He co!l) feel the e&es of Dathroha$ a$) T%r%o$ !#o$ h%m* Th%s as the mome$t he ha) a%te) for* Th%s as h%s mome$t of "lor&* (%th a stra$"le) cr&, Barth%las l!$"e) at the orc, s %$"%$" h%s hammer7%$te$t o$ )el%,er%$" a '%ll%$" blo to the orc, re"ar)less of hat Dathroha$ ha) as'e)*S!rel&, $o sa,a"e beast co!l) match h%s L%"ht0bor$ #o ers, he tho!"ht* T%r%o$ %$ce) as E%tr%"" a)e#tl& bloc'e) the &o!$" /ala)%$1s cl!ms& blo a$) slamme) h%s sto!t f%st %$to Barth%las1 face* /a$%c'%$", Barth%las )ro##e) h%s hammer as E%tr%"" '%c'e) h%m s+!arel& %$ the m%)sect%o$* The &o!$" /ala)%$, ha,%$" ha) the %$) '$oc'e) o!t of h%m, crashe) to the "ro!$) a$) )o!ble) o,er %$ a fetal #os%t%o$* E%tr%"" "r!$te) )er%s%,el& at Barth%las1 ea'$ess a$) %$e#t%t!)e* The t o footme$ r!she) at the orc, slash%$" %l)l&* E%tr%"" #arr%e) the f%rst footma$1s attac' a$) str!c' the seco$) footma$ s+!arel& %$ the chest, $earl& c!tt%$" the arr%or %$ half* The rema%$%$" footma$, see%$" the orc1s a##are$t sa,a"er& a$) s'%ll, bac'e) off a #ace %$ horror* Ar)e$ a$) h%s "!ar)s, e$ra"e) b& the%r comra)e1s s %ft )eath, r!she) for ar) ma)l&* T%r%o$ sa that the& o!l) '%ll the orc %f the& co!l)* @Do$1t '%ll h%mGA T%r%o$ screame) fra$t%call& as the arr%ors )esce$)e) !#o$ the ol) orc* Dathroha$, se$s%$" T%r%o$1s ob,%o!s co$cer$ for the creat!re, loo'e) at h%s fr%e$) +!est%o$%$"l&* @2o! seem ,er& co$cer$e) for the orc1s safet&, T%r%o$,A the Lor) Comma$)er sa%) e,e$l&* @Th%s%s .!st a ro!t%$e ca#t!re* Are &o! all r%"ht:A T%r%o$ "r%tte) h%s teeth* He co!l)$1t .!st s%t there a$) atch the #ro!) orc be c!t )o $* B!t $e%ther co!l) he be" for the orc1s release* To )o so o!l) bra$) h%m as a tra%tor* Th%s as all h%s )o%$"* E%tr%"" fo!"ht bra,el& a"a%$st the footme$, b!t he as eas%l& o!tma$e!,ere), )!e to h%s o!$)e) le"* The s%- footme$ s!ccee)e) %$ #!ll%$" the m%"ht& orc )o $ to the "ro!$)* Ar)e$ smashe) the orc1s ha$), a$) E%tr%"" loose) h%s hol) o$ h%s a-* The arr%ors %mme)%atel& be"a$ to beat the orc to %th%$ a$ %$ch of h%s l%fe* E,er& f%ber of T%r%o$1s bo)& as ablaze %th ra"e as he atche) the footme$ s!b)!e the orc* He )%smo!$te) +!%c'l& a$) al'e) for ar), %$te$)%$" to #!ll the footme$ a a&* As the footme$ #!lle) the blee)%$" orc to h%s feet, T%r%o$1s resol,e to sa,e the creat!re sl%##e) a$) he sto##e)*(hat as he th%$'%$": He co!l)$1t let th%s ha##e$, b!t $e%ther co!l) he ta'e !# arms a"a%$st h%s o $ me$* H%s e,er& m!scle te$se) as he stoo) !$)ec%)e)* (%th a lo!) moa$, Barth%las ra%se) h%mself !# from the )%rt* Ar)e$ hel#e) h%m to sta$) a$) br!she) h%m off* Barth%las, feel%$" )ee#l& embarrasse) a$) shame) before h%s s!#er%ors, r!she) at the orc %$ a ra"e* Ar)e$ a$) T%r%o$ both "rabbe) the &o!$" /ala)%$1s arms a$) restra%$e) h%m* The& e-cha$"e) '$o %$" "la$ces a$) hel) Barth%las !$t%l he calme)* 99

@The bastar) creat!re fo!"ht )%sho$orabl&GA Barth%las screame)* @He sho!l) be '%lle) r%"ht hereG Let me "oGA He co$t%$!e) to stra%$ a"a%$st T%r%o$ a$) Ar)e$* @I ha,e or)ere) that %t rema%$ al%,e, Barth%las,A Dathroha$ sa%)* @2o!r o!$)e) #r%)e %s $ot $earl& as %m#orta$t as the %$format%o$ the creat!re ma& ha,e* Restra%$ the beast,A he or)ere)* Imme)%atel& a $!mber of footme$ a##eare), #!ll%$" the a"o$0ca"e beh%$) them* The& too' hol) of E%tr%"" a$) thre h%m %$to the ca"e* T%r%o$ t!r$e) to face Dathroha$* @M%lor), s!rel& th%s ol) orc %s $o threat to a$&o$e,A T%r%o$ be"a$* Dathroha$ loo'e) at h%m %$ amazeme$t* @(hat %s th%s, T%r%o$: Are &o! act!all& s!""est%$" that e t!r$ the beast loose:A Barth%las a$) Ar)e$ stare) at h%m as ell, both shoc'e) b& T%r%o$1s stateme$t* T%r%o$ t!r$e) bac' to "aze at the beate$ orc* H%s face s olle$ a$) )r%##%$" bloo), E%tr%"" stare) stra%"ht bac'*So m!ch for &o!r ho$or, the orc1s "aze seeme) to sa&* The footme$ co$t%$!e) to beat a$) h%# E%tr%"" thro!"h the ca"e1s bars* The& s#%t a$) h!rle) obsce$%t%es at the ol) orc* T%r%o$1s $er,es f%$all& s$a##e)* He )ashe) for ar) a$) "rabbe) the "!ar) ho as h%##%$" the orc* He "rabbe) the h%# from the &o!$" ma$ a$) be"a$ to lash h%m %th %t %$stea)* @Ho )oes %t feel:A T%r%o$ sho!te) at the terr%f%e) "!ar), ho attem#te) to sh%el) h%mself from the /ala)%$1s ra"%$" str%'es* Dathroha$ loo'e) o$ %$ !$abashe) )%sbel%ef* Ar)e$ felt the same* He r!she) for ar) a$) "rabbe) h%s lor)1s arm* @T%r%o$, #leaseG (hat are &o! )o%$":A Ar)e$ &elle)* T%r%o$ shr!""e) h%m off a$) stoo) to face Dathroha$ %th the l%"ht of ra"e %$ h%s e&es* @The orc m!st be set freeGA he &elle)* @It %s a matter of ho$orGA T%r%o$ #!she) Ar)e$ a a& a$) smashe) at the ca"e1s loc' %th the haft of the h%#1s lo$" ha$)le* @T%r%o$, ha,e &o! ta'e$ lea,e of &o!r se$ses:A Dathroha$ &elle) %$ a )ee# ,o%ce* Barth%las merel& stoo) b&, mo!th a"a#e* T%r%o$ co$t%$!e) to smash at the loc'* Sha'%$" h%s hea) ear%l&, Dathroha$ or)ere) the footme$ to se%ze a$) restra%$ the ra"%$" /ala)%$* Ar)e$1s troo#s "rabbe) hol) of T%r%o$1s arms a$) restle) h%m to the "ro!$)* T%r%o$ fo!"ht %th all of h%s stre$"th, b!t the &o!$"er me$ eas%l& o,er#o ere) h%m* Ar)e$ #lea)e) %th h%m to s!bm%t* @M& lor), #lease sto#G (hat the hell %s ro$" %th &o!:A he as'e)* After a br%ef str!""le, the "!ar)s bro!"ht T%r%o$ to h%s feet* The /ala)%$ loo'e) at E%tr%"", a$) as met o$l& %th a bla$' stare %$ ret!r$* @T%r%o$, hat %$ the L%"ht1s $ame has come o,er &o!: 2o!r act%o$s are treaso$o!sG Tell me &o! ha,e some e-#la$at%o$ for all of th%sG Tell me &o! )%)$1t .!st tr& to free th%s creat!reGA Dathroha$ &elle)* T%r%o$ attem#te) to com#ose h%mself* @Th%s orc sa,e) m& l%fe, Sa%)a$GA T%r%o$ &elle)* @D!r%$" o!r battle, #art of the to er1s ce%l%$" colla#se)* I as left tra##e) a$) )efe$seless* The orc #!lle) me free before the e$t%re roof came crash%$" )o $* I '$o %t so!$)s %m#oss%ble, b!t %t ha##e$e)*A Dathroha$ as st!$$e)* Ar)e$ co!l) o$l& stare at h%s lor) %$ shoc'*Certa%$l& T%r%o$ )%)$1t reall& bel%e,e the orc ha) sa,e) h%m, )%) he: He loo'e) %$to h%s lor)1s e&es a$) '$e that, %$)ee), he )%)* @I ,o e) to let h%m l%,e %$ #eace, a$) b& m& ho$or, I %ll f%"ht to see that he )oesGA T%r%o$ re$e e) h%s str!""le a"a%$st the footme$, attem#t%$" to free h%s arms* Barth%las seeme) to come o!t of h%s mome$tar& shoc'* @Tra%torGA the &o!$" /ala)%$ screame)* @He %s a tra%tor to the All%a$ceG He1s bee$ co$sort%$" %th th%s beast all alo$"GA Dathroha$ co!l)$1t bel%e,e h%s ears* He ha) al a&s '$o $ T%r%o$ to be a$ ho$orable, le,elhea)e) ma$* B!t here he as, )ef&%$" h%s s!#er%or a$) s%)%$" %th h%s mortal e$em& all the same* @T%r%o$, I1m tr&%$" har) to be #at%e$t* Ob,%o!sl&, &o!1re ,er& co$f!se) abo!t th%s creat!re* Re"ar)less of hat &o! bel%e,e ha##e$e), %f &o! )o $ot )es%st, I %ll be force) to ha,e &o! arreste) a$) #lace) o$ tr%al for treaso$G 2o! %ll cease th%s se$seless$ess at o$ceGA T%r%o$ #ers%ste)* @Dam$ %t, Sa%)a$G Th%s %s a matter of ho$orG Do$1t &o! !$)ersta$) that:A he "ro le) thro!"h cle$che) teeth*

9;

@I sta$) %t$ess to h%s treacher&, m%lor),A Barth%las sa%) #ro!)l& to Dathroha$* Ob,%o!sl& the &o!$" /ala)%$ so!"ht to ma'e !# for h%s )efeat b& e$)ear%$" h%mself to the co$fl%cte) Lor) Comma$)er* @Sh!t !#, Barth%lasGA Dathroha$ "ro le)* (%th a hea,& heart, he mot%o$e) for the footme$ to s!b)!e T%r%o$* @2o! lea,e me $o cho%ce here, T%r%o$* I hereb& char"e &o! %th treaso$ a"a%$st the All%a$ceG Ca#ta%$ Ar)e$, see that the #r%so$er %s bo!$) a$) #lace) !#o$ h%s horse* He %ll be ta'e$ to Stratholme alo$" %th th%s orc a$) #!t o$ tr%al*A Ar)e$ bo e) h%s hea) %$ sorro * Slo l&, he t%e) T%r%o$1s ha$)s to"ether a$) le) h%m to h%s horse* @I am sorr&, m%lor),A Ar)e$ sa%), loo'%$" T%r%o$ %$ the e&e* T%r%o$ fro $e) at h%s lo&al ser,a$t* @It %s I ho am sorr&, Ar)e$* Th%s %s all m& o $ )o%$"* (hat I1,e )o$e, I1,e )o$e for ho$or1s sa'e,A T%r%o$ sa%) softl&* Ar)e$ shoo' h%s hea) +!est%o$%$"l&* @T%r%o$, hat ho$or %s there %$ betra&al:A he as'e) %$ a h%s#er* @I am a /ala)%$ of the L%"ht, Ar)e$* 2o! o!l)$1t !$)ersta$)*A Ar)e$ hel#e) h%m !# o$ h%s horse* Dathroha$ ro)e !# to T%r%o$ a$) stare) at h%m* @I $e,er tho!"ht I1) l%,e to see the )a&,A the Lor) Comma$)er sa%)* T%r%o$ a,o%)e) h%s ol) fr%e$)1s "aze* Dathroha$, o,ercome b& fr!strat%o$ a$) sorro , a$"r%l& t!r$e) a a& a$) mot%o$e) for h%s troo#s to mo,e o!t* FICE A Tr%al of (%ll T%r%o$ sat %$ a small hol)%$" cell that as a).ace$t to the Hall of E!st%ce, here h%s tr%al as to be hel)* Thro!"h a small %$)o , c!t h%"h %$to the cell1s all, he co!l) hear the so!$)s of commerce a$) act%,%t& ema$at%$" from the b!stl%$" mar'et#lace of Stratholme* /er%o)%call& he hear) hammer%$" so!$)s com%$" from the ma%$ s+!are* The c%t&1s clamoro!s so!$)s ere ,er& )%ffere$t from the rela-%$" r!ral )%$ of Mar)e$hol)e 'ee#* Fer,e$tl&, he %she) he ere bac' there $o * He ha) $o %)ea ho h%s tr%al o!l) "o, b!t he ha) the )%st%$ct %m#ress%o$ that $o matter hat ha##e$e) %$ the co!rt, h%s l%fe o!l) be %rre,ocabl& cha$"e)* He tho!"ht abo!t h%s fam%l& a$) the l%fe of affl!e$ce a$) ease he1) share) %th them* Des#%te h%mself, he o$)ere) %f he ha)$1t thro $ %t all a a& o$ a fa$c%f!l, self%sh h%m* He ha) bee$ hel) %$ c!sto)& for three )a&s* To)a& he as to be tr%e) for treaso$ a"a%$st the la$) he ha) s#e$t h%s l%fe )efe$)%$"* He co!l) scarcel& bel%e,e %t, b!t )e#e$)%$" o$ hat the co!rt )ec%)e), he co!l) face e%ther e-ec!t%o$ or s#e$)%$" the rest of h%s )a&s %$ #r%so$* =ara$)ra o!l) $e,er for"%,e h%m for ta'%$" s!ch a r%s' for the sa'e of ho$or alo$e* He o$)ere) %f he1) be able to for"%,e h%mself %f h%s %fe as force) to ra%se the%r so$ alo$e* He la!"he) softl& to h%mself* He al a&s bel%e,e) that the o$l& th%$" that co!l) #oss%bl& 'ee# h%m from h%s lo,e) o$es as the e$em&*(hat ha,e I )o$e: he as'e) h%mself o,er a$) o,er* He as s!r#r%se) to hear footste#s echo thro!"h the a).ace$t corr%)or*S!rel&, the #rocee)%$"s ha,e$1t starte) &et, he tho!"ht m%serabl&* He hear) the "!ar)s o!ts%)e the )oor +!est%o$ someo$e as the latch cl%c'e) a$) the )oor o#e$e)* Ar)e$ al'e) somberl& %$to the room* T%r%o$ br%"hte$e) some hat a$) shoo' h%s fr%e$)1s ha$)* @It1s "oo) to see &o!, Ar)e$* Ha,e &o! bee$ home s%$ce m& arrest: Ha,e &o! s#o'e$ %th m& %fe:A he as'e) h!rr%e)l&* Ar)e$ shoo' h%s hea) a$) mot%o$e) for T%r%o$ to s%t )o $ o$ h%s cot* @No* The& o$1t allo me to lea,e !$t%l the tr%al %s f%$%she), m%lor),A the ca#ta%$ state) flatl&* @I )o$1t '$o %f =ara$)ra1s bee$ tol) or $ot*A T%r%o$ sco le)* He '$e she m!st be bes%)e herself %th orr&* @(hat of the orc:A T%r%o$ as'e)* @(hat )%) the& )o %th h%m:A Ar)e$ te$se)* @(h& )o &o! care, T%r%o$: It %s &o!r e$em&G I )o$1t !$)ersta$) h& &o!1re so co$cer$e) abo!t %tG There1s $o a& the creat!re o!l) ha,e sa,e) &o!r l%feG It1s a m%$)less br!teGA Ar)e$ s#at*

9>

T%r%o$ loo'e) h%m s+!are %$ the e&e* @E!st a$s er me, Ca#ta%$,A T%r%o$ sa%) as calml& as he co!l)* He ha) to atch h%s to$e7Ar)e$ m%"ht be the o$l& fr%e$) he ha) left* @The&1,e bee$ %$terro"at%$" the creat!re for the #ast fe $%"hts,A Ar)e$ sa%)* @A##are$tl&, %t )%)$1t offer !# a$&th%$" the& )%)$1t alrea)& '$o * I hear) some of the local "!ar)s boast%$" abo!t ho the&1) beate$ the hell o!t of %t* The&1re "o%$" to ha$" the retche) beast tomorro mor$%$" %$ the s+!are*A T%r%o$1s heart sa$'* E%tr%"" as "o%$" to )%e, a$) %t as all h%s fa!lt* Someho , he ha) to f%$) a a& to ma'e ame$)s7to #!t th%$"s r%"ht* Ar)e$ se$se) T%r%o$1s te$s%o$* @M%lor), the& m%"ht e-ec!te &o! for th%s,A Ar)e$ be"a$* @If &o! co$fess a$) cla%m that &o! lost &o!r se$ses, ma&be the&1ll rele$t a$) let &o! "o* S!rel& th%s matter %s$1t orth )&%$" forG 2o!1re a Lor) /ala)%$, for the L%"ht1s sa'eG /eo#le )e#e$) o$ &o!G 2o!1,e "ot to s$a# o!t of th%sGA the ca#ta%$ f%$%she) heate)l&* T%r%o$ o$l& shoo' h%s hea)* @I ca$1t, Ar)e$* It %s a matter of ho$or* I s ore to #rotect the orc, a$) I betra&e) that ,o * (hate,er #!$%shme$t the& char"e me %th, %t %s ell )eser,e)*A Ar)e$ ra$ h%s ha$)s thro!"h h%s ha%r %$ fr!strat%o$* @Th%s ma'es $o se$se, T%r%o$* Th%$' abo!t &o!r %fe a$) ch%l)GA Ar)e$ &elle)* T%r%o$ stoo) !# to face h%m* @I am, ol) fr%e$)* (hat '%$) of e-am#le o!l) I set for m& so$ %f m& or) co!$te) for $oth%$": (hat '%$) of ma$ o!l) I be see$ as the$:A T%r%o$ as'e)* Ar)e$ t!r$e) a a&, br%stl%$"* @It1s $ot that s%m#le, a$) &o! '$o %tGA the ca#ta%$ bello e)* @E!st a)m%t that &o! ma)e a m%sta'eG A)m%t that &o! ere ro$" to s%)e %th the orc, a$) the& m%"ht be le$%e$tG (h& )o e e,e$ ha,e to )%sc!ss th%s: Ha,e &o! lost all se$se, ma$:A E!st the$ the )oor o#e$e) a$) t o "!ar)s ste##e) %$* @2o!1ll ha,e to lea,e $o , Ca#ta%$,A o$e of the "!ar)s sa%)* @(e are to escort the #r%so$er to the Hall $o *A Ar)e$ "a,e T%r%o$ a last, #lea)%$" loo' a$) marche) o!t the )oor %$ a h!ff* T%r%o$ stra%"hte$e) a$) attem#te) to loo' as #ro!) a$) co$f%)e$t as he co!l)* @I am rea)&, "e$tleme$,A he sa%) to them* The& bo!$) h%s ha$)s a$) le) h%m o!ts%)e* The br%"ht, m%))a& s!$ ca!se) T%r%o$ to %$ce sl%"htl&* H%s l%mbs ere t%re) a$) cram#e) from the #ast fe )a&s of %$act%,%t&* The "!ar)s marche) h%m across the s+!are to ar) the %m#os%$" str!ct!re of the Hall of E!st%ce* O!t of the cor$er of h%s e&e, T%r%o$ ca!"ht s%"ht of the "allo s1 scaffol)%$" be%$" erecte)* He s!rm%se) that %t as the so!rce of the hammer%$" he ha) bee$ hear%$"* Br%efl&, he ,%s!al%ze) E%tr%"" sta$)%$" !#o$ the "allo s %th a ro#e t%e) aro!$) h%s $ec'* T%r%o$ ha) to or' har) %$ or)er to 'ee# h%s force) sembla$ce of co$f%)e$ce* If E%tr%"" )%e), the$ all h%s efforts o!l) ha,e bee$ for $oth%$"* 555 A$ ho!r later, T%r%o$ as seate) %$ a lar"e oa'e$ cha%r %$ the m%))le of the #ol%she) co!rtroom floor* Before h%m as a$ %mme$se sta"e a)or$e) %th fo!r thro$e0l%'e cha%rs* At the ce$ter of the sta"e, )%rectl& %$ fro$t of h%m, as a lar"e lecter$ here the .!)"e o!l) co$)!ct the tr%al* Abo,e the sta"e as a$ e$ormo!s h%te fla" bear%$" a st&l%ze) bl!e letterL, h%ch s%"$%f%e) the All%a$ce of Lor)aero$* L%$%$" the ,ast alls of the chamber ere other h!"e ba$$ers re#rese$t%$" the se,e$ $at%o$s of the All%a$ce* A lar"e bl!e ba$$er embro%)ere) %th a "ol)e$ l%o$ s%"$%f%e) the '%$")om of Storm %$)* A$other ba$$er, blac' %th a re)0"a!$tlete) f%st, re#rese$te) the '%$")om of Strom"ar)e* T%r%o$ as too $er,o!s to loo' aro!$) at the others* Tho!"h he co!l) $ot bear to t!r$ aro!$) a$) see h%s comra)es1 acc!s%$" faces, he co!l) hear a h!$)re) ,o%ces h%s#er%$" a$) m!tter%$" at o$ce thro!"ho!t the "ra$)%ose chamber* Thro!"h the )%$, he )%scer$e) that e,er&o$e %$ atte$)a$ce as shoc'e) to hear that he ha) betra&e) them* Ma$& of the o$loo'ers ha) ser,e) !$)er h%s comma$) )!r%$" the ar, a$) ma$& others he co$s%)ere) to be "oo) fr%e$)s* He co!l) feel the%r comm!$al co$f!s%o$ a$) scor$ b!ffet h%m %$ a,es* H%s tr%al o!l) $ot be a$ eas& o$e* Far to h%s r%"ht, he ca!"ht s%"ht of Barth%las s%tt%$" %$ atte$)a$ce* The &o!$" /ala)%$ ha) a co$)em$%$" loo' %$ h%s e&e as he "aze) %$te$tl& at T%r%o$* T%r%o$ o$)ere) h& the &o!th ha)

9B

t!r$e) o$ h%m so com#letel& a$) bee$ so ea"er to see h%m )%s"race)* He t!r$e) a a& from Barth%las as a$other armore) /ala)%$ ma)e h%s a& to the fro$t of the sta"e* @Defe$)ers of Lor)aero$,A the /ala)%$ sa%) %$ a clear ,o%ce, @to)a& e sta$) %$ .!)"me$t of o$e of o!r o $* The tr%al of Lor) T%r%o$ For)r%$" %ll $o comme$ce*A T%r%o$ real%ze) that h%s #alms ere s eat%$"* He ha) to #h&s%call& restra%$ h%mself from sha'%$"* He '$e that the fo!r .!rors o!l) e$ter the Hall soo$* E,er& ma.or tr%al %$ Lor)aero$ as #res%)e) o,er b& fo!r of the h%"hest0ra$'%$" lor)s %th%$ the All%a$ce* T%r%o$ as s!re that he1) reco"$%ze ma$& of them as h%s #eers* The atte$)a$t o$loo'ers h!she) as the f%rst of the .!rors e$tere)* @All ha%l Lor) A)m%ral Dael%$ /ro!)moore of =!l1T%ras,A the /ala)%$ sa%) as the tall, la$'& f%"!re al'e) across the sta"e* Lor) /ro!)moore too' the thro$e0l%'e seat o$ the far r%"ht %th a loo' of )%s+!%et o$ h%s #ro!) face* T%r%o$ '$e /ro!)moore ell* Des#%te be%$" a tact%cal "e$%!s, the Lor) A)m%ral as o$e of the "reatest heroes of the ar* H%s off%cer1s !$%form a$) lar"e, ceremo$%al hat ere )ee# bl!e a$) a)or$e) %th "ol)e$ me)als a$) #%$s s%"$%f&%$" h%s ra$' as master of the All%a$ce1s $a,%es* The /ala)%$ s#o'e a"a%$* @All ha%l Arch0Ma"e A$to$%)as of the Ma"ocrac& of Dalara$,A he sa%) as the seco$) .!ror stro)e %$* A h!sh )esce$)e) !#o$ the cro ) as the m&ster%o!s %zar) too' h%s seat* H%s la,e$)er hoo)e) robe as a)or$e) %th blac' a$) "ol) tr%m, a$) he carr%e) a "reat, #ol%she) staff %$ h%s ha$)s* E,er )%str!stf!l of ma"%c, T%r%o$ ha)$1t ha) ma$& )eal%$"s %th %zar)s o,er the &ears, a$) as some hat )%sco$certe) to f%$) that h%s fate as $o %$ the ha$)s of o$e* He loo'e) bac' to the /ala)%$ as the last t o .!rors ere a$$o!$ce)* The ,e$erable Archb%sho#, Alo$s!s Faol, ho ha) a$o%$te) T%r%o$ as a /ala)%$ lo$" a"o, al'e) %$ a$) too' a seat $e-t to the lecter$* Follo %$" the Archb%sho# as the &o!$" #r%$ce of Lor)aero$, Arthas, ho ha) o$l& rece$tl& bee$ ma)e a f!ll /ala)%$* T%r%o$ ha) $e,er met the &o!$" #r%$ce before, b!t he co!l) see that the ha$)some &o!th ra)%ate) "oo)$ess a$) %s)om )es#%te h%s relat%,el& &o!$" a"e* T%r%o$ %she) fer,e$tl& that Barth%las ha) ha) the #r%$ce1s com#os!re, )a&s before* (%th the .!rors assemble), the /ala)%$ mot%o$e) for e,er&o$e to r%se for the .!)"e1s e$tra$ce* All of the atte$)a$t me$ a$) ome$ rose as 8ther the L%"htbr%$"er e$tere) the Hall a$) al'e) for ar) to the or$ate lecter$* The m%"ht&, hol& #atro$ of the =$%"hts of the S%l,er Ha$) sca$$e) the assembl& %th ster$ e&es the color of ocea$ storms* H%s or$atel& etche) s%l,er armor seeme) to reflect e,er& l%"ht so!rce %$ the ,ast Hall7bath%$" 8ther %$ a halo of sh%mmer%$" bea!t&* 8ther as the f%rst /ala)%$, a$) as hel) to be the m%"ht%est arr%or amo$"st the arm%es of the All%a$ce* He as also hel) to be the %sest a$) most $oble of all the hol& /ala)%$s* E,er&o$e %$ the room as co e) b& h%s comma$)%$" #rese$ce* T%r%o$1s m%$) reele)* 8# !$t%l that #o%$t, he as resol,e) to sta$) b& h%s )ec%s%o$ a$) acce#t h%s fate %th ho$or* B!t, loo'%$" !# at the ster$ ,%sa"e of h%s #o erf!l s!#er%or, h%s co!ra"e a,ere)*/erha#s Ar)e$ as r%"ht: he tho!"ht fra$t%call&*Ma&be he sho!l) be" for the co!rt1s merc& a$) for"et that he e,er ma)e a ,o to a$ e$em& of h!ma$%t&: H%s tho!"hts ere )%sr!#te) as the L%"htbr%$"er1s #o erf!l, melo)%o!s ,o%ce f%lle) h%s ears* @Lor) /ala)%$ For)r%$",A 8ther be"a$* @2o! are char"e) %th treaso$ a"a%$st the All%a$ce a$) fa%l%$" to obe& a )%rect or)er "%,e$ to &o! b& &o!r s!#er%or* As &o! '$o , th%s %s a )%re char"e* The $oble lor)s "athere) here %ll hear &o!r case a$) .!)"e &o! accor)%$"l& !$)er the L%"ht* Ho )o &o! #lea) to the char"es a"a%$st &o!:A T%r%o$ cle$che) h%s f%sts to 'ee# them from sha'%$"* He barel& fo!$) the ,o%ce to a$s er* @I am "!%lt& as char"e), m%lor)* I acce#t f!ll res#o$s%b%l%t& for m& act%o$s,A T%r%o$ sa%)* A h!$)re) a$"r& ,o%ces floo)e) the room at o$ce* A##are$tl&, ma$& of the o$loo'ers ha) bel%e,e) the char"es to be "reatl& e-a""erate) or false* The assembl& as shoc'e) to hear T%r%o$ a)m%t h%s "!%lt so o#e$l&* T%r%o$ loo'e) beh%$) h%m to atch the cro )1s ra!co!s react%o$* He ca!"ht s%"ht of Ar)e$ s%tt%$" r%"ht beh%$) h%m* The ca#ta%$1s tort!re) e-#ress%o$ seeme) to #lea)

9D

to T%r%o$ to reco$s%)er h%s #os%t%o$* T%r%o$ ha) to loo' a a&* Ar)e$ bel%e,e) %$ h%m a$) ha) al a&s ser,e) h%m lo&all&* B!t the ca#ta%$ o!l) $e,er !$)ersta$)* * * * 8ther1s ,o%ce boome) o!t as the m%"ht& /ala)%$ comma$)e) the assembl& to s%le$ce* The "athere) host e$t +!%et as %f %t ha) bee$ str!c' b& l%"ht$%$"* T%r%o$ co!l) almost feel a$ electr%cal te$s%o$ %$ the a%r* He brace) h%mself* @Cer& ell,A 8ther sa%) e,e$l&* @Let the recor) sho that Lor) /ala)%$ For)r%$" has e$tere) a #lea of "!%lt&*A T%r%o$ atche) as the fo!r .!rors co$,erse) amo$"st themsel,es for a br%ef mome$t* Lor) /ro!)moore e$)e) the )%sc!ss%o$ a$) mot%o$e) for 8ther to co$t%$!e* @Let Lor) Comma$)er, Sa%)a$ Dathroha$, come for ar) a$) "%,e h%s test%mo$&,A 8ther comma$)e)* The cro ) st%rre) sl%"htl& as Dathroha$ al'e) to ar) the sta"e* He sto##e) a$) stoo) solem$l& $e-t to T%r%o$1s cha%r* The t o fr%e$)s e-cha$"e) fleet%$" "la$ces* Dathroha$ co!l) o$l& $o) sorro f!ll& at T%r%o$* @Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$, &o! ha,e char"e) th%s ma$ %th treaso$* /lease e-#la%$ for the co!rt the occ!rre$ce a$) the $at!re of th%s ma$1s alle"e) %$fract%o$,A 8ther sa%)* Dathroha$ cleare) h%s throat a$) stra%"hte$e) sl%"htl&* @M& lor)s, I )o %sh to state for the recor) that T%r%o$ For)r%$" has al a&s bee$ a ma$ of ho$or a$) $ob%l%t&* B!t I ca$$ot )e$& hat I sa %th m& o $ e&es* Fo!r )a&s a"o, I le) a )etachme$t %$to the Hearth"le$ (oo)s %$ search of re$e"a)e orcs* Lor) For)r%$" ass%ste) me %th the e-erc%se a$) hel#e) me to trac' )o $ the orc that e c!rre$tl& hol) %$ o!r #r%so$ for e-ec!t%o$* (he$ I "a,e the comma$) to arrest the creat!re, Lor) For)r%$" t!r$e) !#o$ m& me$ a$) attem#te) to set the orc free* I as'e) h%m re#eate)l& to )es%st, b!t he o!l) $ot rele$t* It %s %th a hea,& heart that I "%,e th%s test%mo$&,A Dathroha$ f%$%she)* O$ce a"a%$, m!rm!rs a$) h!she) h%s#ers floate) thro!"h the Hall* The .!rors )%sc!sse) Dathroha$1s or)s as 8ther a))resse) the co!rt a"a%$* @Is there a$&o$e here ho ca$ "%,e cre)e$ce to Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$1s test%mo$&:A T%r%o$1s hole bo)& cle$che) as he sa Barth%las s#r%$" !# from h%s seat* @I ca$, m%lor),A the &o!$" /ala)%$ state) e-c%te)l&* @I as there, !$)er Lor) Dathroha$1s comma$), he$ the %$c%)e$t too' #lace* I bore %t$ess to T%r%o$1s treacher& f%rstha$)*A The scor$ %$ h%s ,o%ce as e,%)e$t he$ he s#o'e h%s s!#er%or1s $ame* T%r%o$ co!l) hear Ar)e$ "roa$%$" beh%$) h%m* 8ther )%sm%sse) Dathroha$ a$) mot%o$e) for Barth%las to come for ar)* Dathroha$ "r%##e) Barth%las %$ a sear%$" "aze as the& #asse) each other* A##are$tl&, the &o!th1s efforts to %$ h%s a& %$to the Lor) Comma$)er1s "oo) "races ere $ot or'%$" as ell as Barth%las ha) #la$$e)* (%th s!r#r%s%$" calm, Barth%las too' h%s #lace $ear T%r%o$1s cha%r* H%s face as #ro!) a$) %$te$t* @State &o!r cla%m,.!$%or /ala)%$ Barth%las,A 8ther sa%) %c%l&* He as ob,%o!sl& )%s"r!$tle) b& the &o!$"er /ala)%$1s lac' of res#ect for h%s s!#er%or* <!%lt& or $ot, T%r%o$ as st%ll to be a))resse) b& h%s t%tle* 8$)eterre), Barth%las co$t%$!e)* @E!st as Lor) Comma$)er Dathroha$ sa%), m%lor), I sa Lor) For)r%$" f%"ht to sa,e the orc from ca#t!re* He sa%) that he ha) ma)e a #act %th the creat!re a$) o!l) be )am$e) %f e %$carcerate) %t,A Barth%las sa%) matter0of0factl&* @2o! see, I '$e he as !# to someth%$"* I ha) a feel%$" that th%s,%le tra%tor as !$tr!st orth& e,e$ before e set o!t to ca#t!re the orcGA @S%le$ceGA 8ther sho!te), h%s ,o%ce re,erberat%$" thro!"h the chamber l%'e th!$)er* He e$s$are) the $o trembl%$" Barth%las %th h%s o,er#o er%$" "aze* @2o! %ll lear$ to co$trol &o!r to$"!e,.!$%or /ala)%$* I ha,e '$o $ th%s ma$ for &ears* (e sa,e) each other1s l%,es more tha$ o$ce, a$) stoo) ,%ctor%o!s before the e$em& more t%mes tha$ I ca$ clearl& remember* (hate,er he ma& ha,e )o$e, he certa%$l& )eser,es more tha$ to be hara$"!e) b& a$ !$seaso$e) bo& l%'e &o!rself*A Barth%las t!r$e) h%te as a sheet a$) loo'e) as %f he m%"ht fa%$t* @2o!r test%mo$& has bee$ hear) a$) %ll be re,%e e) b& the co!rt* 2o! are )%sm%sse),A 8ther f%$%she)* Re))e$%$" %$ embarrassme$t, Barth%las h!rr%e) bac' to h%s seat* T%r%o$ atche) as the .!rors o$ce a"a%$ be"a$ to co$,erse %th o$e a$other* 9F

The fo!r lor)s f%$%she) the%r )el%berat%o$s a$) mot%o$e) that the& ere rea)& to #rocee)* 8ther t!r$e) to stare )o $ at T%r%o$* H%s "aze seeme) to loo' stra%"ht %$to T%r%o$1s heart, search%$" for some e-#la$at%o$ for h%s fr%e$)1s !$#rece)e$te) beha,%or* @Lor) /ala)%$ For)r%$", )o &o! ha,e a$&th%$" to sa& %$ &o!r )efe$se:A 8ther as'e) T%r%o$ le,ell&* T%r%o$ stoo) !# a$) solem$l& a))resse) the co!rt* @M& lor)s, I '$o that the $ot%o$ m!st so!$) #re#ostero!s, b!t the orc sa,e) m& l%fe* I$ ret!r$, I "a,e h%m m& or) as a /ala)%$ that I o!l) #rotect h%s as ell* The orc1s $ame %s E%tr%"", a$) he %s as ho$orable a$ o##o$e$t as I ha,e e,er face)*A Eeers a$) shoc'e) "as#s er!#te) from the assemble) o$loo'ers* T%r%o$ co$t%$!e) !$abate)* @2o! m!st !$)ersta$) me he$ I tell &o!7%$ or)er to follo m& or)ers, I o!l) ha,e ha) to betra& m& ho$or as a /ala)%$* That I co!l) $ot )o* That sa%), I %ll acce#t hate,er #!$%shme$t &o! )eem f%t*A 8ther stro)e o,er to the fo!r .!rors a$) '$elt bes%)e them* He ar"!e) %th them br%efl&, #o%$t%$" h%s f%$"er as %f to stress a #o%$t* After a fe mome$ts, %t a##eare) as %f the .!rors ha) rele$te) a$) 8ther al'e) bac' to the lecter$, ,%ctor%o!s* @Lor) /ala)%$ For)r%$",A he be"a$, @th%s co!rt %s ell a are of &o!r lo$" &ears of ser,%ce %$ )efe$se of Lor)aero$ a$) %ts all%e) '%$")oms* E,er& ma$ here %s a are of &o!r co!ra"e a$) ,alor* Ho e,er, co$sort%$" %th the s or$ e$em%es of h!ma$%t&, re"ar)less of the%r s!##ose) ho$or, %s a "r%e,o!s cr%me* I$ "ra$t%$" the orc am$est&, &o! too' a terr%ble r%s' a$) "amble) the safet& of Hearth"le$ o$ a #erso$al h%m* I$ l%"ht of &o!r ser,%ce, th%s co!rt %s #re#are) to offer &o! a f!ll #ar)o$ %f &o! %ll )%sa,o &o!r oath to the creat!re a$) reaff%rm &o!r comm%tme$t to the All%a$ce*A T%r%o$ cleare) h%s throat* It o!l) be so eas& to s%m#l& "%,e %$ a$) "o home to h%s %fe a$) so$* He t!r$e) to see Ar)e$ r%$"%$" h%s ha$)s %$ a$t%c%#at%o$* @/lease, m%lor)* Comm%t to them a$) be )o$e %th %t,A Ar)e$ h%s#ere) a$-%o!sl&* T%r%o$ sa Dathroha$ ta'e a ste# for ar), as %f !r"%$" h%m to for"et abo!t the orc a$) clear h%s "oo) $ame* @Let1s #!t th%s $o$se$se beh%$) !s, T%r%o$,A Dathroha$ e-cla%me) !$)er h%s breath* @Lor) /ala)%$ For)r%$": (hat %s &o!r a$s er:A 8ther as'e) s!s#%c%o!sl&, see%$" T%r%o$1s hes%tat%o$* T%r%o$ brace) h%mself a$) face) the co!rt members bol)l&* @(hat %s to be )o$e %th the orc, m%lor):A The "reat /ala)%$ loo'e) s!r#r%se) b& the +!est%o$, b!t sa f%t to a$s er a$& a&* @It %ll be e-ec!te), l%'e a$& other e$em& of h!ma$%t&* Re"ar)less of &o!r #erso$al e-#er%e$ce %th the creat!re, %t %s a sa,a"e, m!r)er%$" beast that ca$$ot be allo e) to l%,e*A T%r%o$ bo e) h%s hea) a$) tho!"ht for a mome$t* He #%ct!re) Taela$1s %$$oce$t face %$ h%s m%$)1s e&e* He a$te) to "o home, so ba)l& * * * * He ra%se) h%s hea) a$) sa Dathroha$ "%,e h%m a #lease) sm%leL the Lor) Comma$)er seeme) co$,%$ce) that T%r%o$ o!l) ma'e the r%"ht )ec%s%o$* T%r%o$ sa h%s co!rse #la%$l&* He o!l) ma'e the o$l& )ec%s%o$ ho$or o!l) #erm%t* @I %ll rema%$ comm%tte) to the All%a$ce !$t%l m& )&%$" )a&* Of that, ha,e $o )o!bt,A T%r%o$ sa%) co$f%)e$tl&* @B!t I ca$$ot )%sa,o the oath I too'* To )o so o!l) be to betra& e,er&th%$" I am a$) e,er&th%$" e, as ho$orable me$, hol) )ear*A Th%s t%me the e$t%re "ather%$" er!#te) %$ f!r& a$) shoc'* No$e co!l) bel%e,e T%r%o$1s braze$ )ec%s%o$* E,e$ the $oble .!rors "a#e) o#e$mo!the) at T%r%o$* The t%re) /ala)%$ tho!"ht he hear) Ar)e$ ee#%$" beh%$) h%m, a$) h%s heart sa$' e,e$ lo er* Dathroha$ sat )o $ hea,%l& %$ h%s cha%r, sha'%$" h%s hea) %$ )%sma&* Barth%las seeme) to be o$ the ,er"e of .!m#%$" o!t of h%s seat %$ e-c%teme$t* Ma$& of the "athere) arr%ors be"a$ to sho!t obsce$%t%es at T%r%o$ a$) call h%m a tra%tor* Some s#at at h%m as he stoo) mot%o$less before the sta"e* R!bb%$" h%s e&es ear%l&, 8ther mot%o$e) for the co!rt to fall s%le$t o$ce more* He as bes%)e h%mself %th a$"!%sh o,er hat he m!st )o, b!t T%r%o$ ha) state) h%s #os%t%o$ clearl&* @So be %t,A 8ther sa%) om%$o!sl&* @T%r%o$ For)r%$", from th%s )a& forth &o! are $o lo$"er elcome amo$" the =$%"hts of the S%l,er Ha$)* 2o! are $o lo$"er f%t to bas' %$ the "race of the L%"ht* I hereb& e-comm!$%cate &o! from o!r ra$'s*A 9H

The a!)%e$ce "as#e) at 8ther1s or)s* E-comm!$%cat%o$ as a rare, harsh #!$%shme$t that str%##e) a /ala)%$ of h%s L%"ht0"%,e$ #o ers* Tho!"h %t ha) o$l& bee$ !se) a fe t%mes, e,er& /ala)%$ l%,e) %$ mortal fear of %t* T%r%o$ co!l) $ot fathom hat as abo!t to ha##e$* Before he co!l) !tter a$other or), 8ther ma)e a s ee#%$" mot%o$ %th h%s ha$)* Imme)%atel&, T%r%o$ felt a )ar' sha)o #ass o,er h%m, cho'%$" o!t the hol& #o er of the L%"ht* /a$%c threate$e) to o,er helm h%m as the "race a$) stre$"the$%$" e$er"%es of the L%"ht fle) h%s bo)&* The blesse) e$er"%es, h%ch ha) bee$ s!ch a$ %$te"ral #art of h%m for so lo$", ebbe) a a& .!st as %f the& ha) $e,er bee$* Tho!"h the l%"ht of the Hall $e,er a,ere), T%r%o$ felt as %f he ha) bee$ ra##e) %$ )ar'$ess a$) cast )o $ %$to obl%,%o$* 8$able to %thsta$) the ra"%$" )es#a%r a$) ho#eless$ess that ashe) o,er h%m %$ a,es, T%r%o$ lo ere) h%s hea) %$ ab.ect )es#a%r* 8ther co$t%$!e)* @All tra##%$"s of o!r or)er %ll be str%##e) from &o!,A he sa%) as t o /ala)%$s came for ar) a$) ,%c%o!sl& r%##e) the s%l,er #lates from T%r%o$1s rac'e) bo)&, @as ell as &o!r #erso$al t%tles a$) hol)%$"s*A T%r%o$ str!""le) a"a%$st )es#a%r* Ne,er %$ h%s l%fe ha) he felt so $a'e) a$) #o erless* Ima"es of Taela$ a$) =ara$)ra s%fte) thro!"h h%s tort!re) m%$)* He ha) to "et a "r%# o$ h%mself* He ha) to th%$' of h%s )%"$%t&* O$ obbl& le"s, he stoo) a$) face) the co!rt o$ce more* @2o! shall be e-%le) from these '%$")oms a$) l%,e the rest of &o!r )a&s amo$"st the %l) th%$"s of the orl)* Ma& the L%"ht ha,e merc& o$ &o!r so!l,A 8ther f%$%she)* T%r%o$ felt )aze), H%s hea) s#!$ a$) a$-%et& threate$e) to o,erta'e h%m* He as barel& co$sc%o!s of 8ther1s $e-t or)s to the assembl&4 @Tho!"h %t "oes a"a%$st m& better .!)"me$t, %t %s the %ll of th%s co!rt that /ala)%$ Barth%las ta'e o,er as re"e$t "o,er$or of Hearth"le$, effect%,e %mme)%atel&* Barth%las %s to rema%$ here to o,ersee the mor$%$"1s ha$"%$" a$) the$ ret!r$ home to h%s )!t%es* The e-%le, T%r%o$ For)r%$", %s to be escorte) bac' to Mar)e$hol)e 'ee#* There he %ll collect h%s fam%l& a$) be escorte) to the bor)ers of the All%a$ce la$)s* These #rocee)%$"s are o,er,A 8ther sa%), smash%$" h%s armore) f%st a"a%$st the lecter$* He "aze) at T%r%o$ %$ fr!strat%o$, clearl& )%s"!ste) %th the tr%al1s o!tcome* @M& lor), I ha,e o$e last +!est%o$,A T%r%o$ barel& ma$a"e) to sa&* 8ther #a!se) to l%ste$7a f%$al "est!re of res#ect a$) fr%e$)sh%# for h%s former comra)e* @M& %fe a$) so$ * * * are the& to be e-%le) as ell: (%ll m& s%$ )am$ the%r l%,es as %t has m%$e:A T%r%o$ as'e) sha'%l&* 8ther bo e) h%s hea) %$ sorro * The ma$ before h%m as a "oo) ma$* Th%s as $o a& for a hero to be treate)* @No, T%r%o$* The& ma& rema%$ %$ Lor)aero$ %f the& so )es%re* Th%s as &o!r cr%me, $ot the%rs* The& sho!l) $ot be #!$%she) for &o!r #r%)e,A 8ther sa%)* He the$ t!r$e) h%s bac' o$ T%r%o$ a$) )e#arte)* Lost %$ a haze of )es#a%r a$) "r%ef, T%r%o$ as barel& a are of the "!ar)s ha!l%$" h%m o!t of the <reat Hall* SIM A Sort of Homecom%$" It as t %l%"ht as the t%re) e$,o& ma)e %ts a& bac' to Mar)e$hol)e 'ee#* It ha) be"!$ to ra%$ )!r%$" the after$oo$, a$) the ear& horses tr!)"e) the%r a& )o $ the m!))& roa)* Ar)e$, lea)%$" the somber col!m$ of '$%"hts a$) footme$, loo'e) bac' at T%r%o$ orr%e)l&* T%r%o$ as sl!m#e) o,er %$ h%s sa))le, hee)less of hat tra$s#%re) aro!$) h%m* H%s broa) sho!l)ers )roo#e) ea'l& a$) h%s hea) as bo e) %$ "r%ef* The ceaseless ra%$ ra$ %$ r%,!lets )o $ h%s ha""ar) face* Ar)e$1s heart bro'e, see%$" h%s former lor) a$) master %$ s!ch a state* He as force) to loo' a a&* Loo'%$" to ar) the 'ee#, the ca#ta%$ sa that T%r%o$1s a),%sors ha) "athere) at the ma%$ "ate to "reet the%r ret!r$%$" lor)* T%r%o$1s stomach as t%e) %$ '$ots* He as bloc'e) from the L%"ht* I$ the th%rt& &ears that he ha) ser,e) as a /ala)%$, he $e,er )reame) that the blesse) #o er o!l) be str%##e) from h%m* He felt absol!tel& hollo %$s%)e* (allo %$" %$ )es#a%r a$) m%ser&, he as !$able to e,e$ l%ft h%s e&es to ar) the s%"ht of h%s former home*

9J

Ar)e$ ro)e slo l& !# to the "ate a$) )%smo!$te)* The a),%sors, at see%$" T%r%o$1s $ear0comatose state, as'e) the ca#ta%$ hat as ro$"* Ar)e$ "r%mace)* @There ha,e bee$ some cha$"es,A he sa%) to them c!rtl&* The a),%sors loo'e) at each other %$ co$f!s%o$* @(hat )o &o! mea$, Ca#ta%$: (here ha,e &o! both bee$ these #ast fe )a&s: (hat %s ro$" %th o!r lor):A o$e of them as'e) heate)l&* Ar)e$ bo e) h%s hea) %$ shame a$) sorro * @O!r lor) T%r%o$ has bee$ fo!$) "!%lt& of treaso$ a"a%$st the All%a$ce,A he sa%) %th a hea,& heart* @The H%"h Co!rt has or)ere) that he be e-%le) from o!r la$)s*A The a),%sors "as#e) %$ shoc'* @S!rel& &o! m!st be m%sta'e$* That1s %m#oss%bleGA o$e of the a),%sors sa%) sha'%l&* He loo'e) %$to Ar)e$1s e&es a$) sa that %t clearl& as $ot* @It ca$1t be,A the a),%sor sa%) bla$'l&* Ar)e$ $o))e) "r%ml& a$) hel#e) T%r%o$ )%smo!$t from h%s horse* @(ell, ho %s o!r lor) $o , Ar)e$: (ho %ll r!le o,er Hearth"le$:A a$other a),%sor as'e)* Ar)e$ shoo' h%s hea) a$) scoffe) as he a$s ere), @Barth%las %ll be &o!r $e lor), for the t%me be%$"*AIt )%) so!$) l%'e a ba) .o'e, he tho!"ht to h%mself* He #!t h%s arm aro!$) T%r%o$ a$) starte) to lea) h%m %$s%)e* @I a$t the "!ar)s to sta& alert to$%"ht* T%r%o$ %s to rema%$ here !$)er ho!se arrest* At f%rst l%"ht, I %ll ta'e a #art& of footme$ a$) escort h%m to the bor)er* 8$t%l the$, $e%ther of !s %s to be )%st!rbe)* Is that clear:A the ca#ta%$ as'e) %$ a "ra,ell& ,o%ce* The shoc'e) a),%sors merel& $o))e) the%r asse$t* Ar)e$ )ra""e) T%r%o$ %$ o!t of the ra%$ a$) !shere) h%m to ar) h%s #r%,ate chambers, ho#%$" that he o!l)$1t ha,e to face =ara$)ra before mor$%$"* Not for the f%rst t%me, he o$)ere) %f there as a$&th%$" that he co!l) ha,e )o$e to #re,e$t th%s all from ha##e$%$"* 555 Ar)e$ lea$e) T%r%o$ the a"a%$st all o!ts%)e h%s #r%,ate chambers a$) o#e$e) the )oor* @Tha$'s for &o!r hel#, Ar)e$* Th%s has bee$* * * ,er& )%ff%c!lt* I .!st a$te) &o! to '$o that &o!1,e bee$ a "oo) fr%e$) to me* I1m sorr& all th%s has ha##e$e),A the former /ala)%$ sa%)* Ar)e$ $o))e) a$) t!r$e) a a& slo l&* @If there1s a$&th%$" &o! $ee), let me '$o ,A the ca#ta%$ sa%) as he left* T%r%o$ atche) h%m lea,e a$) fo!$) .!st e$o!"h stre$"th to close the )oor beh%$) h%m a$) colla#se %$ a cha%r* O,ercome %th emot%o$, he b!r%e) h%s face %$ h%s ha$)s* H%s l%mbs o!l) $ot sto# sha'%$", a$) the "$a %$" em#t%$ess %$ h%s "!t threate$e) to )e,o!r hat as left of h%s so!l* He co!l)$1t face h%s %fe a$) tell her hat he1) )o$e* Iro$%call&, after all the &ears he1) ref!se) to l%e to her, he fo!$) $o that he co!l)$1t bear to tell her the tr!th* The a).o%$%$" )oor to Taela$1s room o#e$e) a$) =ara$)ra ste##e) o!t +!%etl&, sh!tt%$" %t beh%$) her* She loo'e) s!r#r%se) to see T%r%o$ s%tt%$" there %$ the )ar'* @T%r%o$, hat has ha##e$e):A she as'e) !r"e$tl&* She l%t a )ecorat%,e la$ter$, a$) %ts soft l%"ht bathe) the room* Sha)o s )a$ce) across the alls as she '$elt )o $ bes%)e her h!sba$)* @(here ha,e &o! bee$: I1,e bee$ orr%e) s%c'*A @I accom#a$%e) Lor) Dathroha$ bac' to Stratholme,A he m!ttere), h%s hea) st%ll bo e)* @2o! '$o , T%r%o$, &o!1,e bee$ s$ea'%$" off +!%te a b%t latel&* If I )%)$1t '$o &o! a$& better, I1) ass!me that &o! ere see'%$" comfort from a$other oma$,A she sa%) teas%$"l&* T%r%o$ ra%se) h%s hea) a$) loo'e) at her* See%$" the )ea)e$e) loo' %$ h%s e&es, she '$e that he as $ot am!se) %$ the least* @T%r%o$, )arl%$", hat1s ro$": Has someth%$" ha##e$e) to &o!:A she as'e) orr%e)l&* He loo'e) o,er to ar) Taela$1s room* @Is the bo& aslee#:A he as'e) +!%etl&* =ara$)ra fro $e) a$) a$s ere) that he as* @I )o$1t +!%te '$o ho to tell &o! th%s, m& lo,e,A he be"a$ somberl&, @b!t I ha,e bee$ bra$)e) a tra%tor a$) str%##e) of m& t%tles*A Her e&es %)e$e) %$ shoc'* He as$1t .o'%$", she real%ze)* I$ fact, as she loo'e) at h%m more closel&, she mar,ele) at ho )efeate) a$) )eflate) he seeme)* I$ all the &ears she ha) '$o $ ;K

h%m, he ha) $e,er loo'e) th%s a&* It fr%"hte$e) her %mme$sel&* She shoo' her hea), !$able to "ras# the e$orm%t& of the s%t!at%o$* @Ho co!l) th%s ha##e$, T%r%o$: (hat ha,e &o! )o$e:A she as'e) %$ a stra$"le) ,o%ce* He close) h%s e&es a$) hel) h%s breath for a mome$t, attem#t%$" to calm the f!r%o!s #o!$)%$" of h%s heart* IDo &o! remember the secret that I 'e#t from &o!:A he as'e)* She $o))e) as her bro crease) %$ a$-%et&* @The orc I fo!"ht %th sa,e) m& l%fe, =ara$)ra* If $ot for h%m, I o!l) ha,e bee$ cr!she) !$)er a colla#s%$" to er* To re#a& h%m for sa,%$" me, I ,o e), o$ m& ho$or, to 'ee# h%s e-%ste$ce secret*A =ara$)ra co,ere) her face* She shoo' her hea) as %f she )%)$1t a$t to hear a$& more, b!t T%r%o$ co$t%$!e) a$& a&* @I as force) to h!$t the orc )o $ !$)er )%rect or)ers* B!t he$ %t came t%me to ca#t!re h%m, m& co$sc%e$ce o,ertoo' me* To !#hol) m& ho$or, I fo!"ht to free %t* I as arreste) o$ the s#ot a$) ta'e$ to Stratholme for tr%al,A he f%$%she)* The& sat there %$ s%le$ce for ma$& lo$" mome$ts* =ara$)ra s$%ffe) a$) %#e) tears from her e&es* @I ca$1t e,e$ be"%$ to %ma"%$e hat &o! ere th%$'%$",A she sa%) breathlessl&* @The orc %s a beast, T%r%o$G It has $o co$ce#t of ho$orG 2o! "amble) all o!r l%,es o$ a st!#%), s%ll& h%mGA she s#at, caref!l to 'ee# her ,o%ce )o $* She )%)$1t a$t to a'e Taela$ a$) let h%m see h%s father %$ s!ch a state* T%r%o$ s%m#l& sat %th h%s hea) bo e)* For some stra$"e reaso$, see%$" h%m %$ s!ch a ea'e$e) state o$l& ma)e her more a$-%o!s* @So hat ha##e$s to !s $o , T%r%o$: D%) &o! e,e$ co$s%)er that h%le &o! ere #la&%$" the mart&r:A she sa%) softl&, )%sa##o%$tme$t ram#a$t %$ her ,o%ce* He stoo) !# a$) al'e) o,er to the %$)o * N%"ht ha) settle) hea,%l& o,er the f%el)s be&o$) the 'ee#* The ra%$ co$t%$!e) to #o!r, as %f $at!re as attem#t%$" to r%) %tself of some fo!l$ess %$ the orl)* @I ha,e bee$ e-%le), =ara$)ra* I am to be escorte) to the bor)er at f%rst l%"ht,A he sa%) "ra,el&* She bl%$'e) %$ shoc'* @E-%le):A she h%s#ere)* @L%"ht0)am$ &o!, T%r%o$G I tol) &o! &o!r #rec%o!s ho$or o!l) be the e$) of !sGA He t!r$e) to face her* @(%tho!t ho$or, oma$, e,er&th%$" e ha,e %s mea$%$"lessGA he sa%), mot%o$%$" aro!$) at the%r la,%sh s!rro!$)%$"s* She a,e) her arm )%sm%ss%,el&* @(%ll &o!r ho$or 'ee# !s fe) a$) 'ee# o!r so$ )ece$tl& clothe): Ho ca$ &o! ma%$ta%$ th%s se$seless obsess%o$ %$ the face of hat1s ha##e$e): (hat ha##e$e) to the res#o$s%ble ma$ I marr%e):A she as'e)* He "r%tte) h%s teeth a$) t!r$e) to face her* @I ha,e al a&s bee$ th%s a&, =ara$)raG Do$1t tal' to me as %f %t1s a$& s!r#r%seG 2o! '$e that marr&%$" a /ala)%$ o!l) )ema$) certa%$ sacr%f%ces*A @A$) I1,e ma)e #le$t& of them* (%ll%$"l&G I hel) m& to$"!e e,er& t%me &o! ro)e off to battle* I sat here, alo$e, for co!$tless ho!rs7 a%t%$" to hear %f &o! ere al%,e or )ea)* Do &o! ha,e a$& %)ea of hat that as l%'e for me: I $e,er com#la%$e) o$ce all those t%mes that &o! left !s for &o!r b!rea!crat%c )!t%es* I '$e &o! ha) a .ob to )o* I '$e #eo#le co!$te) o$ &o!* B!t I co!$te) o$ &o!, too, )am$ %tG I 'e#t %t all %$s%)e so that &o! co!l) I)o &o!r )!t&1 %th ho$or* I '$o all abo!t sacr%f%ces, T%r%o$* B!t th%s t%me the #r%ce %s too h%"h*A @(hat )o &o! mea$ b& that:A he as'e), altho!"h he alrea)& '$e the a$s er* She hel) h%m %$ her f%er& stare* @I lo,e &o!, T%r%o$* /lease bel%e,e that* B!t I o$1t be com%$" %th &o! * * * a$) $e%ther %ll Taela$,A she sa%) softl&* =ara$)ra t!r$e) a a&, !$able to loo' h%m %$ the e&e* @I %ll $ot ha,e o!r so$ "ro !# as a$ o!tcast or be the s!b.ect of r%)%c!le for the rest of h%s l%fe* He )oes$1t )eser,e that, T%r%o$, a$) $e%ther )o I,A she sa%)* T%r%o$ felt as %f h%s l%fe $o lo$"er ha) a$& mea$%$"* Los%$" the L%"ht as )e,astat%$" e$o!"hL he )%)$1t '$o %f he co!l) bear los%$" her too* H%s hea) s#!$*

;6

@I !$)ersta$) ho &o! m!st feel, =ara$)ra* Bel%e,e me, I )o,A he barel& ma$a"e) to sa&* @Are &o! certa%$ th%s %s hat &o! a$t:A @2o!1,e r!%$e) &o!r l%fe* I %ll $ot s%m#l& hol) o$ h%le &o! #l!mmet to the bottom a$) r!%$ o!rs as ellGA she sa%), almost fra$t%call&* She h!""e) herself, tr&%$" to calm her ra $er,es* @I ho#e &o!r #rec%o!s ho$or 'ee#s &o! arm at $%"ht,A she sa%)* @=ara$)ra, a%t,A T%r%o$ sa%) as she left* She al'e) s %ftl& to ar) her room a$) slamme) the )oor sh!t beh%$) her* T%r%o$ hear) the bolt loc', a$) the fa%$t so!$)s of her sobb%$"* 8$able to comfort her, T%r%o$ lea$e) h%s hea) a"a%$st the %$)o 1s cool #a$e of "lass* Abse$tl&, he atche) as the ra%$)ro#s s#lattere) a"a%$st the #a$e* He '$e her ell e$o!"h to '$o that she o!l) $ot cha$"e her m%$)* He ha) lost $earl& e,er&th%$" he ha) e,er care) for* The o$l& th%$" he ha) left %$ the orl) as h%s ho$or* He as$1t e,e$ s!re of that a$&more* As %f %$ a )aze, T%r%o$ al'e) %$to h%s rea)%$" room a$) sat )o $ at h%s lar"e, #ol%she) oa' )es'* He l%t a fe ca$)les a$) "athere) !# a #%ece of #archme$t, %$' a$) a $e +!%ll* (%tho!t reall& '$o %$" e-actl& hat he a$te) to sa&, he starte) scr%bbl%$" )o $ h%s tho!"hts o$ the #archme$t* H%s ha$) shoo' as he rote, smear%$" the %$' %$ s#ots* He em#t%e) h%s heart o!t o$to the #archme$t, e-#ress%$" e,er&th%$" he felt, e-#la%$%$" e,er&th%$" he ha) )o$e* He sat at the )es' a$) rote late %$to the $%"ht* 555 Mor$%$" as o$l& a$ ho!r off he$ T%r%o$ e$tere) Taela$1s )ar'e$e) room* =ara$)ra ha) cr%e) herself to slee# ho!rs before, so T%r%o$ '$e he o!l) be !$)%st!rbe)* He al'e) o,er to here h%s so$ la& slee#%$" #eacef!ll&* S$!""le) %$ h%s bla$'ets, the bo& breathe) stea)%l&* T%r%o$ atche) h%m slee# for a h%le, a e) b& the ch%l)1s %$$oce$ce a$) #!r%t&* He '$e h%s so$ )eser,e) better tha$ a l%fe of force) e-%le* He )eser,e) all of the "oo) th%$"s l%fe ha) to offer* (%th a sha'& ha$), T%r%o$ reache) %$to h%s coat #oc'et a$) retr%e,e) the rolle) #archme$t he ha) r%tte$* Tears f%lle) h%s e&es as he caref!ll& #lace) the $ote !$)er h%s so$1s #%llo */erha#s some)a& the bo& m%"ht !$)ersta$) hat I1,e )o$e, he ho#e)*/erha#s someho he1ll loo' bac' o$ me a$) be #ro!)* T%r%o$ #atte) the bo&1s hea) a$) '%sse) h%m o$ the chee'* @<oo)0b&e, m& so$,A he sa%), f%"ht%$" bac' h%s tears* @Be "oo)*A (%th that, he +!%etl& left a$) close) the )oor beh%$) h%m* 555 Da $ ha) bro'e$ o,er the tra$+!%l f%el)s of Hearth"le$* The o##ress%,e storm clo!)s ha) blo $ a a& a$) the s'& as br%"ht a$) cr&stal clear* I$ a fe ho!rs, the ol) orc E%tr%"" o!l) be ha$"e) %$ Stratholme* T%r%o$ ha) )ec%)e) that he o!l) $ot let that ha##e$* (hate,er else tra$s#%re), E%tr%"" o!l) $ot )%e* He ha) l%ttle tro!ble b&#ass%$" the 'ee#1s la- "!ar)sme$ a$) reach%$" the stables* As +!%etl& as he co!l), he sa))le) M%ra)or a$) #re#are) h%s mea"er s!##l%es for the .o!r$e& to Stratholme* He #lace) h%s foot %$ the st%rr!# a$) ha!le) h%mself !# o$to h%s horse* @Th%s %s the seco$) t%me I1,e ca!"ht &o! tr&%$" to s$ea' off, T%r%o$,A Ar)e$ sa%), sta$)%$" %$ the e$tra$ce a&* T%r%o$1s heart froze* He loo'e) aro!$) a$) sa that there ere $o "!ar)s %th the ca#ta%$* I$ fact, there as $o escort #art& to be see$ a$& here* @I f%"!re) &o!1) tr& someth%$" l%'e th%s,A the ca#ta%$ sa%)* T%r%o$ "r%##e) h%s re%$s t%"htl& a$) cleare) h%s throat* @Are &o! here to sto# me, Ar)e$:A he as'e) t%"htl&* The ca#ta%$ al'e) o,er a$) t%"hte$e) the stra#s of M%ra)or1s sa))leba"s* @E,e$ %f I ha) a m%$) to, I )o!bt that I co!l),A Ar)e$ re#l%e) ho$estl&* @I sat !# all $%"ht th%$'%$" abo!t hat &o! sa%) at the tr%al* I th%$' #erha#s I !$)ersta$) ho &o! felt* 2o! ere o$l& )o%$" hat &o! tho!"ht as r%"ht* 2o! al a&s ha,e* For that, I ca$$ot co$)em$ &o!*A T%r%o$ $o))e) a$) lea$e) )o $* He #lace) h%s ha$) o$ Ar)e$1s sho!l)er* @I $ee) to as' &o! a fa,or, ol) fr%e$)* It %s the most %m#orta$t th%$" I1,e e,er as'e) of &o!,A he sa%) breathlessl&* Ar)e$ loo'e) !# at h%m "ra,el&* @(hate,er %s %$ m& #o er to )o, I %ll )o,A the ca#ta%$ sa%)* @(atch o,er them for me, Ar)e$* =ee# m& bo& safe,A T%r%o$ sa%)* ;9

Ar)e$ reache) !# a$) too' hol) of h%s fr%e$)1s ha$)* @I %ll,A as all he co!l) sa&* Sat%sf%e), T%r%o$ $o))e) to Ar)e$ a$) loo'e) o!t to ar) the )%sta$t tree l%$e* He )!" h%s s#!rs %$to M%ra)or1s s%)es a$) th!$)ere) o!t of the stables* Stratholme as o$l& a fe ho!rs a a&* If he ro)e l%'e the %$), he o!l) ma'e %t %$ t%me to sto# the ha$"%$"* He char"e) )o $ the #ath at brea'$ec' s#ee), #!sh%$" the fa%thf!l M%ra)or faster a$) har)er tha$ he e,er ha) before* SECEN The Dr!ms of (ar T%r%o$ ma)e "oo) t%me reach%$" Stratholme* The s!$ ha) .!st barel& creste) the )%sta$t Alterac #ea's b& the t%me he reache) the c%t&1s o!ts'%rts* He ha) tethere) M%ra)or %$ the oo)s a$) ra$ the last +!arter m%le to the c%t&* As he ra$, he attem#te) to form!late a #la$ to sa,e ol) E%tr%""* M!ch to h%s )%sma&, he came !# %th $oth%$"* He ho#e) that he$ the t%me came, he o!l) th%$' of someth%$" br%ll%a$t that )%)$1t %$,ol,e '%ll%$" or %$.!r%$" h%s o $ #eo#le* Ho e,er, see%$" as ho he as a co$,%cte) tra%tor, the& certa%$l& o!l) ha,e $o +!alms abo!t '%ll%$" h%m* He '$e that the l%'el%hoo) of sa,%$" the orc a$) esca#%$" Stratholme al%,e as sl%m* 8$)eterre), T%r%o$ stealth%l& ma)e h%s a& thro!"h Stratholme1s +!%et, cobblesto$e streets* A fe mercha$ts a$) ,e$)ors ere be"%$$%$" to set !# the%r ares for the )a&1s tra$sact%o$s %$ the mar'et#lace, b!t there ere fe others abo!t at that earl& ho!r* He ma$a"e) to e,a)e the fe "!ar)s he sa al'%$" the streets* Fear%$" that the local "!ar)sme$ o!l) reco"$%ze h%m, T%r%o$ 'e#t to the sha)o s a$) sta&e) ell o!t of s%"ht* As T%r%o$ $eare) the #!bl%c s+!are, he be"a$ to hear lo!) ,o%ces sho!t%$" a$) .eer%$"* He ho#e) he as $ot too late to sa,e the orc* He ste##e) %$to the s+!are a$) sa a lar"e "ather%$" of me$ at %ts ce$ter* Cl%$"%$" to the sha)o s, T%r%o$ cl%mbe) a short sta%rcase a$) s%t!ate) h%mself %$ a small, recesse) alco,e that offere) a f!ll ,%e of the $e l& erecte) "allo s* The cro ) that ha) "athere) aro!$) the scaffol)%$" as com#r%se) mostl& of "!ar)s a$) footme$* The& ha) all come to see the s#ectacle of the ol) orc1s ha$"%$"* Tha$'f!ll&, T%r%o$ real%ze) that the #r%so$er ha) $ot &et bee$ bro!"ht o!t* The "athere) me$ merel& .eere) a$) sho!te) at o$e a$other %$ a$t%c%#at%o$* There ere a $!mber of '$%"hts, )resse) %$ the%r f%$est armor, s!rro!$)%$" the s+!are* The& stoo) +!%et a$) ,%"%la$t, rea)& to %$terce)e %f the ,olat%le cro ) t!r$e) %$to a mob* T%r%o$ reco"$%ze) ma$& of the '$%"hts ho ha) bee$ #rese$t at h%s tr%al* Altho!"h the& ere relat%,el& calm, T%r%o$ '$e that the& a$te) to see the orc ha$"e) as m!ch as the footme$ a$) the "!ar)s )%)* After a fe mome$ts, the "ather%$" st%rre) as a $e comer stro)e !# to the "allo s* T%r%o$ sa that %t as Barth%las* The &o!$" /ala)%$ a,e) a$) sho!te) to the cro ) e$th!s%ast%call&, r%l%$" them !# for hat he ob,%o!sl& co$s%)ere) to be the mor$%$"1s e$terta%$me$t* T%r%o$ as "la) that he co!l)$1t hear Barth%las1 or)s* He s!s#ecte) that the& ere f%lle) %th #o%so$ a$) hatre)* He felt a mome$tar& #a$" of remorse, '$o %$" that h%s belo,e) Hearth"le$ as $o %$ Barth%las1 !$stable ha$)s* 555 T%r%o$ atche) as a seco$) f%"!re emer"e) from the thro$" a$) asce$)e) the scaffol)%$"* Lor) Dathroha$, seem%$"l& obl%,%o!s to the cro )1s ra!co!s )%$, al'e) !# to Barth%las1 s%)e a$) sca$$e) the s+!are %th ster$ e&es* He s#o'e to the cro ) for a mome$t a$) the .eer%$" )%e) )o $ to a lo roar* T%r%o$ hel) h%s breath* He '$e the& o!l) br%$" E%tr%"" o!t soo$* M%$!tes #asse) b& slo l& as T%r%o$ a%te) a$-%o!sl& be$eath the alco,e* A te$s%o$ b!%lt amo$"st the o$loo'ers as ell* The& seeme) more ea"er to atch a $ec' s$a# tha$ see tr!e .!st%ce met* As the )%$ rose !# a"a%$, more a$) more #eo#le "athere) %$ the s+!are* E,e$ ome$ a$) ch%l)re$ e)"e) closer, ho#%$" to catch s%"ht of the terr%ble orc%sh mo$ster* F%$all&, the "ates to the $earb& hol)%$" cell o#e$e) a$) a s+!a) of footme$ stro)e o!t %$ t%"ht format%o$* The "athere) o$loo'ers er!#te) %$ cheers a$) be"a$ to h!rl "arba"e a$) sto$es at the $e comers* Armore) as the& ere, the footme$ too' l%ttle $ot%ce of the cro )1s fer,or or %ts ;;

harmless #ro.ect%les* The%r sh%$& armor flashe) %$ the mor$%$" l%"ht, b!t T%r%o$ co!l) see that the& )ra""e) a h!))le) sha#e amo$" them* It as E%tr%""* The& sto##e) at the base of the scaffol)%$", a$) t o me$ )ra""e) the ol) orc !# the rest of the a&* The orc as barel& able to sta$) a$) h%s "ree$ bo)& as co,ere) %th )ar' br!%ses a$) lacerat%o$s* T%r%o$ o$)ere) ho the ea'e$e) orc co!l) e,e$ al'* A##are$tl& the %$terro"ators ha) ta'e$ the%r t%me %$ beat%$" h%m* Des#%te h%s %$.!r%es, E%tr%"" )%) h%s best to 'ee# h%s hea) ra%se)* He o!l) $ot "%,e h%s torme$tors the sat%sfact%o$ of see%$" h%m bro'e$* T%r%o$ '$e that E%tr%""1s orc%sh s#%r%t as too #ro!) for that* T%r%o$1s heart #o!$)e) %$ h%s chest* A"a%$st s!ch a s#%r%te) "ro!# of arr%ors, he )%)$1t sta$) a cha$ce of sa,%$" the ol) orc*He )%)$1t ha,e a #la$* He )%)$1t e,e$ ha,e a ea#o$ of a$& '%$)* He loo'e) )o $ a$) sa that the ha$"ma$ as a).!st%$" the t%"htl& o!$) $oose*E%tr%"" as o$l& mome$ts a a& from )eath* Fra$t%call&, T%r%o$ lea#e) )o $ from h%s #erch a$) #!she) h%s a& thro!"h the bo%stero!s cro )* I$ the%r e-c%teme$t, $o o$e $ot%ce) the )%s"race) e-%le #ass%$" b& them* The%r atte$t%o$ as foc!se) o$ the "allo s a$) the beate$ "ree$ beast that stoo) before them* T%r%o$ atche) as Lor) Dathroha$ "a,e Barth%las a st%ff sal!te a$) al'e) bac' )o $ to ar) the hol)%$" cell1s "ates* A##are$tl& the Lor) Comma$)er ha) $o %$terest %$ atch%$" the ,!l"ar s#ectacle so soo$ after T%r%o$1s tr%al* Barth%las as $o$e too co$cer$e) to see h%m "o* Sm%l%$" broa)l&, Barth%las or)ere) the ha$"ma$ to #!t the $oose aro!$) the orc1s throat* E%tr%"" sco le) as the ro#e as t%"hte$e) aro!$) h%s m!sc!lar $ec'* The orc1s )ar' e&es stare) stra%"ht for ar), as %f he ere loo'%$" %$to a$other orl) that $o o$e else co!l) see* T%r%o$ cla e) a$) sho,e) h%s a& closer to the scaffol)%$"* Barth%las a,e) h%s ha$) %$ the a%r, mot%o$%$" for s%le$ce* S!r#r%s%$"l&, the ra!co!s cro ) +!%ete) )o $* @M& fello )efe$)ers of Lor)aero$,A he be"a$ #ro!)l&, @I am "la) to see that so ma$& of &o! t!r$e) o!t th%s mor$%$"* Th%s loathsome creat!re that sta$)s before &o! %s a$ affro$t to the L%"ht a$) a$ e$em& of o!r #eo#le* Its c!rse) race bro!"ht ar a$) s!ffer%$" to o!r shores a$) m!r)ere) ma$& of o!r lo,e) o$es %th l%ttle or $o remorse* Th!s,A Barth%las co$t%$!e), star%$" E%tr%"" %$ the e&e, @ e %ll e-t%$"!%sh th%s retche) creat!re1s l%fe .!st as remorselessl&*A E%tr%"" met Barth%las1 fe,ere) "aze %th h%s o $* @Bloo) for bloo)* Debt for )ebt,A the &o!$" /ala)%$ f%$%she)* The cro ) cheere) %l)l& for Barth%las a$) screame) for the orc1s bloo)* T%r%o$ mar,ele) that h%s o $ #eo#le co!l) be so sa,a"e a$) ,%le* He felt s%c' a$) o,er helme) b& the%r smother%$", collect%,e hatre)* Barth%las ste##e) bac' as the ha$"ma$ mo,e) E%tr%"" %$to #os%t%o$ o,er the scaffol)%$"1s tra# )oor* The ol) orc1s sto%c mas' be"a$ to sl%# as )eath a##roache)* E%tr%"" be"a$ to sha'e a$) "ro l a$) f%"ht a"a%$st h%s restra%$ts* The o$loo'ers merel& la!"he) at h%s f!t%le efforts* The& seeme) to re,el %$ the ol) orc1s #a$%c a$) co$f!s%o$* Search%$" for some t&#e of ea#o$, T%r%o$ sa a$ ol), r!ste) sle)"ehammer lea$%$" a"a%$st the base of the scaffol)%$"* He #!she) h%s a& thro!"h the fro$t ro of o$loo'ers a$) )o,e for the sle)"ehammer* T%me seeme) to sta$) st%ll as T%r%o$ reache) o!t to "ras# the !$ %el)& tool* As %f %$ slo mot%o$, he atche) as the ha$"ma$ #lace) h%s ha$) !#o$ the tra# )oor le,er h%le Barth%las ra%se) h%s arm, rea)& to "%,e the s%"$al that o!l) e$) the orc1s l%fe* T%r%o$1s ha$)s close) o,er the sle)"ehammer1s oo)e$ haft as, %$ a s!r"e of l%"ht a$) a)re$al%$e, he char"e) for ar)* 555 The assemble) '$%"hts a$) footme$ &elle) %$ a$"er at see%$" T%r%o$ emer"e from the ro%l%$" cro )* The former /ala)%$ str!c' fast a$) har), lea,%$" the s!r#r%se) footme$ scattere) %$ h%s a'e* A fe alert "!ar)s r!she) at h%m, b!t T%r%o$ s !$" the ol) sle)"ehammer %$ a %)e arc* Caref!l $ot to !se lethal force, T%r%o$ #!$che) a )ee# )e$t %$ o$e "!ar)1s breast#late a$) ;>

smashe) %$ a$other1s helmet0,%sor* See%$" that he ha) bo!"ht h%mself a fe , #rec%o!s seco$)s, T%r%o$ lea#e) !# o$to the scaffol)%$" a$) hea)e) stra%"ht for Barth%las* The &o!$" /ala)%$ as shoc'e) at see%$" T%r%o$ char"%$" at h%m* He f!mble) a ' ar)l& for h%s arhammer, b!t T%r%o$ as too fast* He ramme) h%s sho!l)er %$to Barth%las1 "!t a$) se$t the &o!$" /ala)%$ caree$%$" %l)l& off the #latform* Barth%las la$)e) %th a lo!) th!) a$) as $earl& tram#le) b& the ra"%$" cro )* The hoo)e) ha$"ma$ r!she) for ar) to o,er#o er T%r%o$, b!t the former /ala)%$ stoo) h%s "ro!$)* <rabb%$" the ha$"ma$ b& the arm, T%r%o$ fl%##e) h%m o,er h%s sho!l)er a$) se$t h%m t!mbl%$" )o $ the scaffol)%$"1s ste#s* He co!l) hear the '$%"hts a$) footme$ char"%$" !# the ste#s beh%$) h%m*The& o!l) ha$" h%m for th%s, he tho!"ht fra$t%call&* Not e,e$ the L%"htbr%$"er h%mself co!l) #ar)o$ T%r%o$ for th%s affro$t* As +!%c'l& as he co!l), T%r%o$ ra$ o,er to E%tr%"" a$) !$faste$e) the $oose aro!$) the orc1s $ec'* Left too ea' to sta$), E%tr%"" sl!m#e) hea,%l& %$to T%r%o$1s arms* The orc barel& reco"$%ze) h%s sa,%or1s face* @H!ma$:A E%tr%"" m!mble) +!est%o$%$"l&* T%r%o$ sm%le) )o $ at h%m* @2es, E%tr%"",A T%r%o$ sa%)* @It1s me*A E%tr%"" sh!))ere) %$ #a%$ a$) e-ha!st%o$, b!t f%-e) T%r%o$ %th h%s haz& "aze* @2o! m!st be craz&,A the ol) orc sa%)* T%r%o$ la!"he) to h%mself a$) $o))e) %$ a"reeme$t* He t!r$e) .!st %$ t%me to see Barth%las cl%mb%$" !# o,er the e)"e of the scaffol)%$"* T%r%o$ '$e that the '$%"hts a$) footme$ ere o$l& seco$)s a a&* Barth%las stra%"hte$e) a$) "lo ere) at h%m* @Tra%torG 2o! ha,e )am$e) &o!rself th%s )a&GA the &o!$" /ala)%$ screame)* The shoc'e) cro ) &elle) the%r asse$t a$) be"a$ thro %$" "arba"e at T%r%o$ a$) E%tr%"" both* O!t of the cor$er of h%s e&e, T%r%o$ co!l) see Lor) Dathroha$ loom%$" %$ the bac'"ro!$)* A##are$tl&, he ha)$1t left after all* The Lor) Comma$)er1s face as a mas' of "r%ef a$) re,!ls%o$* T%r%o$ %she) there as some a& to ma'e h%s ol) fr%e$) !$)ersta$) that hat he as )o%$", he as )o%$" for ho$or1s sa'e* Barth%las &elle) for the '$%"hts to se%ze T%r%o$ a$) the orc* As the& a##roache), T%r%o$ stretche) o!t h%s ha$) a$) comma$)e) them to halt* He ha) s#e$t h%s l%fe lea)%$" me$ %$to battle a$) h%s )ee# ,o%ce st%ll carr%e) the e%"ht of comma$)* Ma$& of the '$%"hts ho ha) ser,e) !$)er h%m #re,%o!sl& fo!$) themsel,es co e) b& h%s #rese$ce* T%r%o$ face) them bol)l&* @Hear meGA T%r%o$ sho!te)* H%s ,o%ce boome) o!t o,er the cro ) a$) re,erberate) a"a%$st the s!rro!$)%$" str!ct!res* Ma$& of the o$loo'ers fell stra$"el& s%le$t* @Th%s orc has )o$e &o! $o harmG He %s ol) a$) %$f%rm* H%s )eath o!l) accom#l%sh $oth%$"GA The ho$orable '$%"hts #a!se) for a mome$t, co$s%)er%$" T%r%o$1s #rotests* @B!t %t1s a$ orcG Are e $ot at ar %th %ts '%$):A o$e of the '$%"hts &elle) %$cre)!lo!sl&* T%r%o$ stea)%e) h%mself a$) t%"hte$e) h%s "r%# o$ E%tr%""* @(e ma& ,er& ell beG B!t th%s o$e1s arl%'e )a&s are o,erGA T%r%o$ sa%)* @There %s $o ho$or %$ ha$"%$" s!ch a )efe$seless creat!re*A He sa that a fe of the '$%"hts $o))e) rel!cta$tl&* The rest of the o$loo'ers rema%$e) to be co$,%$ce)* The& co$t%$!e) to .eer a$) call T%r%o$ a$ orc0 lo,%$" tra%tor* @2o!1re $ot f%t to e,e$ s#ea' of ho$or, T%r%o$,A Barth%las s#at a$"r%l&* @2o!1re a tra%toro!s mo$"rel ho )eser,es to )%e r%"ht bes%)e that %$h!ma$ beastGA T%r%o$ te$se)* Barth%las1 or)s h%t h%m l%'e a sla# %$ the face* @I too' a ,o , lo$" a"o, to #rotect the ea' a$) )efe$seless,A T%r%o$ sa%) thro!"h "r%tte) teeth, @a$) I %$te$) to )o .!st that* 2o! see, bo&, that1s hat %t tr!l& mea$s to be a /ala)%$7'$o %$" the )%ffere$ce bet ee$ r%"ht a$) ro$" a$) be%$" able to se#arate .!st%ce from ,e$"ea$ce* 2o!1,e $e,er bee$ able to ma'e those )%st%$ct%o$s, ha,e &o!, Barth%las:A T%r%o$ as'e)* Barth%las $earl& cho'e) %th ra"e* Abo,e the )%$ of the sho!t%$" cro ), a s%$"le beat%$" )r!m boome) o!t lo!) a$) clear* E%tr%""1s ear& hea) .er'e) !# s!))e$l&* He sca$$e) the s+!are1s #er%#her& as %f he e-#ecte) to see a fam%l%ar s%"ht, the$ bo e) h%s hea) a"a%$* T%r%o$ loo'e) at the orc +!est%o$%$"l&, certa%$ that the orc reco"$%ze) the stra$"e beat* A fe of the o$loo'ers t!r$e) to see here the )r!mm%$" as ;B

com%$" from, b!t Barth%las #a%) %t $o m%$)* The &o!$" /ala)%$ ste##e) to ar) T%r%o$ %th h%s f%sts cle$che)* @Ha,e &o! for"otte$ so soo$, T%r%o$: 2o!1re $o lo$"er a /ala)%$G 2o!1re a )%s"race7a$ e-%leG It )oes$1t ma'e a$& )%ffere$ce hat &o! th%$' or bel%e,eGA Barth%las &elle)* @Dam$ %t, Barth%las, &o!1,e "ot to o#e$ &o!r e&esGA T%r%o$ sa%) !r"e$tl&* @After all the &ears I r!le) o,er Hearth"le$, the o$e th%$" I1m absol!tel& certa%$ of %s that ar be"ets o$l& arG If e ca$1t master o!r o $ hatre)s, the$ th%s se$seless co$fl%ct %ll $e,er ceaseG There %ll $e,er be a f!t!re for o!r #eo#leGA Barth%las la!"he) co$tem#t!o!sl& %$ T%r%o$1s face* The stra$"e )r!mm%$" so!$) "re lo!)er a$) as .o%$e) b& $e er, stro$"er )r!ms* At that #o%$t most of the o$loo'ers became a are of the om%$o!s beat%$" of the )r!ms as ell* The& ere startle) to $ote that the !$$er,%$" so!$)s ere "ett%$" closer* The fe ome$ a$) ch%l)re$ ho ere #rese$t be"a$ to co,er the%r ears a$) h!))le to"ether %$ fear a$) co$f!s%o$* The atte$)a$t "!ar)s mo,e) to the e)"es of the s+!are, search%$" for hate,er as ca!s%$" the %$cessa$t )r!mm%$"* @The f!t!re of o!r #eo#le %s $o lo$"er &o!r co$cer$,A Barth%las sa%) col)l&* @I r!le Hearth"le$ $o , T%r%o$* A$) as lo$" as I )o, I s ear that there %ll $e,er be #eace %th the orcsG O$ m& #are$ts1 )e#arte) so!ls, I s ear that e,er& last orc %$ Lor)aero$ %ll b!r$ for hat the&1,e )o$eGA T%r%o$ as shoc'e) b& Barth%las1 or)s* There as $o reaso$%$" %th the &o!$" /ala)%$* He ha) "%,e$ o,er com#letel& to h%s ra"e a$) "r%ef* The m%"ht& )r!ms th!$)ere) all aro!$) the #a$%c'e) s+!are as Barth%las or)ere) h%s troo#s to str%'e* @=%ll the orc $o G =%ll them bothGA he &elle) %$ f!r&* H%s roar as c!t short as a cr!)e, razor0 shar# s#ear tore thro!"h h%s chest* Barth%las1 bloo) s#lattere) across the "allo s as a le"%o$ of sha)o & sha#es lea#t )o $ %$to the s+!are from the s!rro!$)%$" roofto#s* F!r%o!s, h%"h0#%tche) ar cr%es f%lle) the a%r as the sa,a"e orcs a)e) %$to the !$s!s#ect%$" )efe$)ers of Stratholme* The m%"ht& ar0)r!ms th!$)ere) thro!"h the #a$%c0"r%##e) s+!are* 555 T%r%o$ sat st!$$e) as Barth%las sl!m#e) to the "ro!$) %$ a hea#* I$st%$ct%,el&, he reache) o!t to hel# the &o!$" /ala)%$, b!t Barth%las s#at at h%m a$) a,e) h%m off* @2o!1,e bro!"ht th%s )o $ !#o$ !s,A the &o!$" /ala)%$ sa%) sha'%l& as bloo) #o!re) from h%s mo!th* H%s %l), hate0f%lle) e&es loc'e) o$ T%r%o$* @I al a&s '$e &o!1) betra& * * *A as all he ma$a"e) before he fell face)o $ o$ the bloo)0soa'e) scaffol)%$"* The cr!)e orc%sh s#ear st!c' !# from h%s bac' l%'e a sh%#1s mast* T%r%o$ %mme)%atel& s$a##e) to atte$t%o$* He thre )o $ the sle)"ehammer a$) ha!le) E%tr%"" !# o$ h%s feet* Lea$%$" the hea,& orc o$ h%s sho!l)er, T%r%o$ le) E%tr%"" a a& from the "allo s* T%r%o$ co!l)$1t %ma"%$e ho the orc%sh force ha) b&#asse) the c%t&1s o!ter )efe$ses* T&#%call&, the orcs ha) al a&s assa!lte) the%r tar"ets hea)0o$* 2et, as he atche) the battle !$fol) aro!$) h%m, he sa that the stealth& orcs ere !s%$" the roofto#s a$) s!rro!$)%$" cat al's to the%r a),a$ta"e* =$%"hts a$) footme$ ra$ for ar) to meet the orc%sh o$sla!"ht as all hell er!#te) %$ the #!bl%c s+!are* T%r%o$ 'e#t h%s hea) )o $ a$) hea)e) for the s%)e street he ha) !se) earl%er* The so!$)s of clash%$" steel a$) the combata$ts1 f!r%o!s sho!ts of ra"e a$) #a%$ m%-e), creat%$" a ma))e$%$" )%$ abo,e Stratholme* T%r%o$ tr%e) to sh!t o!t the $o%se a$) co$ce$trate o$ sta&%$" al%,e* All aro!$) h%m as a '%ll%$" "ro!$)* M%"ht& orc arr%ors hac'e) at the%r e$em%es %th "reat ar a-es h%le others h!rle) lo$", %c'e) s#ears %th startl%$" #rec%s%o$* A fe orcs, "arbe) %$ hat loo'e) l%'e olf f!rs, char"e) for ar) a$) l%fte) the%r ha$)s to the hea,e$s* Before T%r%o$ '$e hat the& ere )o%$", l%"ht$%$" arce) )o $ from the )ar'e$e) s'& a$) str!c' the fro$t ra$'s of the h!ma$ force* Charre) h!ma$ bo)%es a$) lar"e ch!$'s of sto$e fle

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thro!"h the a%r a$) ra%$e) )o $ !#o$ the chaot%c battlef%el)* St!$$e) b& the sa,a"e eleme$tal attac', the rema%$%$" h!ma$ ra$'s ere force) to #!ll bac' before the orcs1 a esome rath* T%r%o$ as s!r#r%se) to see that the orcs ere or'%$" %$ !$%so$ to o!tma$e!,er a$) fla$' the fra&e) h!ma$ )efe$)ers* To h%s memor&, orcs ha) $e,er bee$ so s%$"!larl& !$%te) %$ battle* Des#%te the%r a##are$t c!$$%$" a$) s'%ll, the orcs1 $!mbers ere fe * T%r%o$ o$)ere) hat the orcs ere after, rec'lessl& attac'%$" a )efe$)e) h!ma$ c%t& %th s!ch a$ %$s!bsta$t%al force* Soo$ e,er& sol)%er %$ Stratholme o!l) be bear%$" )o $ o$ the s+!are*The o!t$!mbere) orcs o!l)$1t sta$) a cha$ce a"a%$st a f!ll& armore) "arr%so$, he tho!"ht* Des#%te the chaos aro!$) h%m, T%r%o$ ma$a"e) to reach the e)"e of the s+!are a$) esca#e )o $ a small alle&* Heft%$" E%tr%""1s )ea) e%"ht !# o$ce more, T%r%o$ t!r$e) to ta'e a last loo' at the e$s!%$" car$a"e* He ca!"ht s%"ht of a$ e$ormo!s orc, )resse) %$ a f!ll s!%t of blac' #late armor* The orc carr%e) a m%"ht& arhammer that resemble) those !se) b& the /ala)%$s7e-ce#t for the fact that the orc1s hammer seeme) to be %"$%te) b& l%,%$" l%"ht$%$"* The )ar' orc a)e) h%s a& thro!"h the ar)e$t h!ma$ )efe$)ers as %f the& ere harmless ch%l)re$* It smashe) a$) battere) e,er&o$e that came $ear %t %th a calm lethal%t&7all the h%le sho!t%$" shar# comma$)s to %ts arr%ors* For a mome$t, T%r%o$ co!l) o$l& atch %$ amazeme$t a$) horror* The m%"ht& orc lea)er as !$l%'e a$& he ha) %t$esse) before* T%r%o$ s$a##e) o!t of h%s )aze a$) h!rr%e)l& ma)e h%s a& o!t of the belea"!ere) c%t& %th E%tr%"" %$ h%s arms* 555 (%th a s!#reme effort, T%r%o$ s!ccee)e) %$ ha!l%$" E%tr%"" o!t of the c%t& a$) %$to the s!rro!$)%$" oo)s* Loo'%$" bac', he co!l) see that a $!mber of f%res ha) bee$ starte) %$ ,ar%o!s #arts of the c%t&* He co!l) hear screams a$) clash%$" ea#o$s e,e$ from th%s )%sta$ce* A##are$tl& the c!$$%$" orcs ere attem#t%$" to )%stract a$) )%,%)e the h!ma$ forces* T%r%o$ $ote) that hoe,er the orcs1 lea)er as, he as far more cle,er tha$ a$& ch%efta%$ he1) e,er hear) of* (ear%l&, T%r%o$ la%) E%tr%"" )o $ o$ the leaf& "ro!$) a$) cro!che) $e-t to h%m* He tr%e) to calm h%mself a$) th%$' clearl& abo!t the s%t!at%o$* He co!l)$1t acco!$t for the orcs1 !$#rece)e$te) attac' o$ the c%t&, a$) o$)ere) %f the creat!res ha) come to free E%tr%"", .!st as he ha)* (hate,er the case, he as "la) that the&1) come* He as "e$!%$el& sorr& to see so ma$& of h%s brethre$ fall before the orcs, b!t at least he1) accom#l%she) hat he1) set o!t to )o* E%tr%"" as al%,e* A$), as fra&e) a$) th%$ as %t as, T%r%o$1s #rec%o!s ho$or as st%ll %$tact* E%tr%"" la& s%le$tl& o$ the matte) forest floor* T%r%o$ be$t )o $ to chec' the orc1s #!lse* Ho#ef!ll& the orc as .!st e-ha!ste) from h%s tr&%$" or)eal, he m!se)* <as#%$" %$ #a$%c, T%r%o$ real%ze) that E%tr%""1s heart ha) sto##e)* The beat%$" the h!ma$s ha) "%,e$ the orc ha) ob,%o!sl& )o$e ser%o!s %$ter$al )ama"e* If he )%)$1t )o someth%$" +!%c'l&, he '$e that E%tr%"" o!l) )%e* I$st%$ct%,el&, he #lace) h%s ha$)s o$ E%tr%""1s chest a$) #ra&e) for the heal%$" #o ers of the L%"ht to ash o,er the battere) orc* S!rel& he as st%ll stro$" e$o!"h to heal e,e$ these "r%e,o!s o!$)s: Slo l&, a feel%$" of )rea) s#rea) thro!"h T%r%o$1s heart* Noth%$" as ha##e$%$"* He bo e) h%s hea) %$ )efeat, remember%$" that he ha) bee$ e-comm!$%cate) from the L%"ht*Th%s ca$1t be ha##e$%$", he tho!"ht m%serabl&* He co!l) almost se$se E%tr%""1s l%fe ebb%$" a a& %$to $oth%$"$ess* @NoGA T%r%o$ "ro le) %$ ho#eless$ess* @2o! %ll $ot )%e, E%tr%""G Do &o! hear me: 2o! %ll $ot )%e o$ meGA he &elle) at the comatose orc* O$ce a"a%$ he sla##e) h%s ha$)s o$ the orc1s chest a$) co$ce$trate) %th all of h%s %ll*@B& the "race of the L%"ht, ma& &o!r brethre$ be heale)*A The #hrase afte) thro!"h h%s m%$) re#eate)l& as he reache) )ee# for the #o er that l!r'e) some here %th%$ h%s s#%r%t*@I$ %ts "race he %ll be ma)e a$e *A The L%"ht co!l) $ot be ta'e$ from h%m, he %$s%ste)* Me$ co!l) str%# h%m of h%s armor a$) t%tles, the& co!l) ta'e a a& h%s home a$) h%s ealth7b!t the L%"ht o!l) al a&s bee$ %th%$ h%m*It ha) to be* Slo l&, T%r%o$ felt a sear%$" heat r%s%$" %th%$ h%s bo)&* It f%lle) h%s ce$ter %th stre$"th a$) l%"ht that s$a'e) o!t to ar) h%s l%mbs* He almost cr%e) o!t %$ .o& as the fam%l%ar e$er"%es race) ;F

thro!"h h%s ha$)s a$) e$"!lfe) the orc1s ra,a"e) bo)&* T%r%o$ felt as %f he ere float%$" o$ a%r* The stre$"th a$) #!r%t& of the L%"ht floo)e) h%s be%$" a$) casca)e) o!t thro!"h h%s bo)& l%'e a halo of hol& f%re* A e) a$) h!mble) b& the rea a'e$e) #o er, T%r%o$ o#e$e) h%s e&es a$) sa that a arm, "ol)e$ "lo ha) e$,elo#e) E%tr%""* He atche) %$ amazeme$t as the br!%ses o$ the orc1s bo)& heale) before h%s ,er& e&es* E,e$ the %$fecte) lacerat%o$ o$ the orc1s le" seale) !# as %f %t ha) $e,er bee$* The sooth%$" e$er"%es s!bs%)e) a$) T%r%o$ )ro##e) to the "ro!$) %$ e-ha!st%o$* He la& there for a fe mome$ts #a$t%$", attem#t%$" to 'ee# h%s hea) from s#%$$%$"* (%th a s$ort, E%tr%"" sat !# a$) loo'e) aro!$) fra$t%call&* The ol) orc as #ale a$) ob,%o!sl& ea', b!t h%s e&es ere br%"ht a$) alert* E%tr%"" +!%c'l& s#r!$" !# %$ a )efe$s%,e cro!ch a$) s$%ffe) the a%r* He sca$$e) the %mme)%ate tree l%$e for a$& s%"$s of )a$"er a$) seeme) to f%$) $o$e* E%tr%"" loo'e) )o $ a$) sa T%r%o$ l&%$" $ear h%m* He sh%fte) bac' o$ h%s ha!$ches )o!btf!ll& a$) stare) at the e-ha!ste) h!ma$ %th s!r#r%se* @H!ma$:A E%tr%"" as'e)* @(hat1s ha##e$e): Ho )%) e "et here:A T%r%o$ "ot to h%s '$ees a$) #atte) the orc reass!r%$"l& o$ the sho!l)er* @(e1re o!ts%)e the c%t&, E%tr%"",A T%r%o$ sa%) e,e$l&* @2o!1re safe for the t%me be%$"* If e1re both ,er& l!c'&, there1ll be $o more ha$"%$"s %$ o!r %mme)%ate f!t!re*A E%tr%"" "r!$te) a$) loo'e) at T%r%o$ )o!btf!ll&* He "la$ce) )o $ at h%s b%" "ree$ ha$)s a$) trace) h%s f%$"ers o,er here h%s o!$)s ha) bee$* @Th%s #o er &o! ha,e, h!ma$,A the orc be"a$, @)%) %t heal m& o!$)s:A T%r%o$ $o))e)* @2es* 2o! tol) me before that #a%$ %s a "oo) teacher* (ell, &o! ere abo!t to ha,e &o!r f%$al lesso$* It o!l) ha,e bee$ a ro!"h o$e, I th%$',A T%r%o$ sa%) .o'%$"l&* E%tr%"" "r%$$e) a$) sla##e) T%r%o$ o$ the bac'* @/erha#s I1,e st!)%e) e$o!"h, after all,A the orc re#l%e) r&l&* The ol) orc co!"he) a fe t%mes a$) ease) h%mself bac' )o $ to a s%tt%$" #os%t%o$* The stra%$ of the #ast fe )a&s #ro,e) to be too m!ch for h%s t%re) ol) bo)&, a$) he #asse) o!t %$ a hea#* Altho!"h he as heale), T%r%o$ '$e from e-#er%e$ce that the orc o!l) be ea' for )a&s* He as s!r#r%se) to hear a s!))e$ r!stl%$" %$ the )e$se bra$ches a$) !$)er"ro th all aro!$) h%m* Loo'%$" aro!$) fra$t%call&, he brace) h%mself for )a$"er* Slo l&7om%$o!sl&7the sha)o s of the trees be"a$ to mo,e a$) sh%ft %$ e,er& )%rect%o$* H!"e, )ar' sha#es too' form a$) mo,e) for ar), e$c%rcl%$" the slee#%$" orc a$) the $er,o!s h!ma$* T el,e %$ all, the creat!res ore loose armor #lates a$) tattere) leathers that co,ere) o$l& the most ,%tal areas of the%r m!sc!lar, "ree$0s'%$$e) bo)%es* Feathers, m!lt%#le tr%bal tr%$'ets a$) bo$e $ec'laces a)or$e) the m%"ht& orc%sh arr%ors ho emer"e) %th catl%'e "race from the sha)o & tree l%$e* The%r b!l"%$" arms a$) best%al, t!s'e) faces ere mar'e) b& .a""e), #r%m%t%,e tattoos that a!"me$te) the%r alrea)& feral a##eara$ce* The& carr%e) broa)0bla)e) a-es a$) hea,& arbla)es %th s!ch #ract%ce) ease that the ea#o$s a##eare) to be $at!ral e-te$s%o$s of the%r bo)%es* T%r%o$ as o,er helme) b& the orcs1 sa,a"e #rese$ce* He as most )%sco$certe) to see the cha$"e %$ the%r bea)& e&es7$o lo$"er ere the orcs1 e&es ablaze %th )e#ra,%t& a$) hateL the& ere cool a$) alert, sho %$" a$ %$tell%"e$ce a$) %t that he co!l) scarcel& cre)%t to them* T%r%o$ hel) h%s breath a$) ma)e s!re $ot to ma'e a$& s!))e$ mo,es* For all he '$e , the orcs m%"ht th%$' that he ha) attac'e) E%tr%"" someho * The orcs s%m#l& stoo), star%$" at the t o o$ the "ro!$) as %f a%t%$" for a comma$)* /a$%c "rate) across T%r%o$1s $er,es* After all he ha) tr%e) to )o, he1) be )am$e) %f he .!st let h%mself be hac'e) to b%ts %$ the %l)s* 2et $o matter hat he tr%e), he '$e that he1) last less tha$ a m%$!te a"a%$st s!ch f%erce arr%ors* S!))e$l&, a lar"er form emer"e) from beh%$) the arr%ors* A $!mber of the orcs ste##e) as%)e s%le$tl& as the%r lea)er ma)e h%s a& for ar)* T%r%o$ "as#e)* It as the orc ch%efta%$ he ha) see$ )!r%$" the battle* Be%$" th%s close, T%r%o$ co!l) see that the "ar"a$t!a$ orc1s blac' #late armor as tr%mme) %th bro$ze r!$%c %$scr%#t%o$s* Ne,er before ha) T%r%o$ e,er see$ a$ orc %$ f!ll armor* The s%"ht as both %m#ress%,e a$) ch%ll%$"* The orc1s m%"ht& sto$e arhammer seeme) to be as ol) as the orl) %tself* The creat!re1s blac' ha%r as t%e) %$to lo$" bra%)s that h!$"

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)o $ o,er %ts armore) torso* Its "ree$ face as some hat less best%al tha$ the other orcs1, a$) %ts f%erce, %$tell%"e$t e&es ere a str%'%$" bl!e* T%r%o$ '$e that th%s as $o or)%$ar& orc* The m%"ht& creat!re ste##e) for ar) a$) '$eele) )o $ bes%)e E%tr%""* T%r%o$ te$se)* He remembere) that E%tr%"" ha) aba$)o$e) h%s )!t%es as a$ orc%sh arr%or*/erha#s these orcs ha) come to #!$%sh h%m: F%"ht%$" bac' h%s fear, T%r%o$ %$che) for ar), %$te$)%$" to )efe$) E%tr%"" %f $ecessar&* The lar"e orc "a,e T%r%o$ a f%erce, threate$%$" "lare N ar$%$" the h!ma$ to sta& #!t a$) rema%$ s%le$t* S!rro!$)e) as he as b& the ch%efta%$1s "!ar)s, T%r%o$ as force) to com#l& %th the orc1s s%le$t comma$)* See%$" that he o!l) be obe&e), the m&ster%o!s orc #lace) h%s lar"e ha$) o$ E%tr%""1s hea) a$) close) h%s e&es, co$ce$trat%$"* E%tr%""1s e&es fl!ttere) o#e$ a$) foc!se) o$ the )ar' orc loom%$" o,er h%m* The m&ster%o!s orc1s feat!res softe$e) sl%"htl&* @2o! are E%tr%"" of the Blac'roc' cla$, are &o! $ot:A the orc as'e) %$ the h!ma$ to$"!e* T%r%o$ ra%se) h%s e&ebro s %$ s!r#r%se*D%) all of the orcs s#ea' so clearl&: he o$)ere)* Sha'%l&, E%tr%"" loo'e) aro!$) at the other orcs a$) $o))e) h%s ear& hea)* @I am he,A he sa%) %$ a lo to$e* The lar"er orc $o))e) a$) stra%"hte$e)* @I tho!"ht so* It1s ta'e$ me a lo$" t%me to trac' &o! )o $, ol) o$e,A he sa%) e,e$l&* E%tr%"" sat !# a$) loo'e) !#o$ the lar"er orc %$te$tl&* @2o!r face %s fam%l%ar to me, arr%or* B!t &o! are far too &o!$" to be * * *A E%tr%"" st!)%e) the orc1s stro$" feat!res for a mome$t a$) sa%), @(ho are &o!:A The orc $o))e) sl%"htl& a$) stoo) !# to h%s f!ll he%"ht* The "athere) orcs seeme) to stra%"hte$ a$) l%ft the%r ch%$s h%"h as the%r lea)er s#o'e* @I am '$o $ as Thrall, ol) o$e* I am (arch%ef of the Hor)e,A he sa%) #ro!)l&* E%tr%""1s .a )ro##e) %)e o#e$* T%r%o$ stare) %$ a e* Th%s, ob,%o!sl&, as the !#start (arch%ef of h%ch Dathroha$ ha) s#o'e$* @I ha,e hear) of &o!,A T%r%o$ sa%), h%s ,o%ce hea,& %th co$tem#t* He sa the s!rro!$)%$" orc "!ar)s st%ffe$ a$) rea)& the%r ea#o$s* A##are$tl& the& )%)$1t ta'e ell to the%r lea)er be%$" %$s!lte)* The orc t!r$e) to stare at the former /ala)%$ %$ s!r#r%se* @A$) hat e-actl& ha,e &o! hear), h!ma$:A T%r%o$ hel) the orc1s f%erce "aze* @I ha,e hear) that &o! #la$ to reb!%l) the Hor)e a$) re$e &o!r ar a"a%$st m& #eo#le,A he sa%) cooll&* @2o! are #art%all& correct,A Thrall be"a$, %th m%l) am!seme$t e,%)e$t %$ h%s to$e* @Iam reb!%l)%$" the Hor)e* 2o! ca$ be s!re that m& #eo#le %ll $ot rema%$ %$ cha%$s for lo$"* Ho e,er, I ha,e $o %$terest %$ ma'%$" ar for ar1s sa'e* Those )ar' )a&s are o,er*A @Those )a&s are o,er:A T%r%o$ as'e) s'e#t%call&* @I .!st atche) as &o! a$) &o!r arr%ors hac'e) &o!r a& thro!"h Stratholme*A Thrall met the h!ma$1s acc!s%$" stare le,ell&* @2o! #res!me m!ch, h!ma$* (e o$l& attac'e) the c%t& to recla%m o$e of o!r o $* T%mes ha,e cha$"e)* 2o!r '%$")oms a$) &o!r #eo#le mea$ $oth%$" to me* I see' o$l& to f%$%sh m& father1s or' a$) f%$) a $e homela$) for m& #eo#le,A Thrall re#l%e) e,e$l&* E%tr%""1s e&es ere %)e %th s!))e$ reco"$%t%o$* @2o!r father1s or':A he s#!ttere) e-c%te)l&* @I '$e I reco"$%ze) &o!r face, arr%orG 2o! are the so$ of D!rota$GA Thrall merel& $o))e) o$ce, $e,er ta'%$" h%s #%erc%$" e&es off T%r%o$* E%tr%"" as bes%)e h%mself %th .o&* @Co!l) %t be, after all these &ears:A he as'e), flabber"aste)* He loo'e) aro!$) at the orcs1 faces, search%$" for f!rther co$f%rmat%o$* The%r #ro!), sto$e0l%'e faces re,eale) $oth%$"* Thrall t!r$e) h%s bac' o$ T%r%o$ a$) '$elt bes%)e E%tr%""* @I ha,e come to br%$" &o! home, ol) o$e,A he sa%) arml&* @I1m sorr& %t too' !s so lo$" to f%$) &o!, b!t e1,e bee$ some hat b!s& these #ast mo$ths* I ha,e alrea)& free) a $!mber of cla$s, b!t I $ee) %se ,etera$s l%'e &o! to hel# me teach them of the ol) a&s* 2o!r #eo#le ha,e $ee) of &o! a"a%$, bra,e E%tr%""*A The ol) orc shoo' h%s hea) %$ shoc'e) )%sbel%ef* He stare) %$to Thrall1s shar# bl!e e&es a$) fo!$) ho#e %th%$ the%r sh%$%$" )e#ths* After &ears of )%s#%r%te) %solat%o$, h%s heart as f%lle)

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%th #r%)e a"a%$* Slo l&, E%tr%"" be"a$ to bel%e,e that there co!l) be a f!t!re for h%s #eo#le after all* @I %ll follo &o!, so$ of D!rota$,A E%tr%"" sa%) #ro!)l&* @I %ll hel# heal o!r #eo#le %$ a$& a& that I ca$*A Thrall $o))e) o$ce a$) #lace) h%s ha$) o$ the ol) orc1s sho!l)er* Cast%$" a s%)elo$" "la$ce at the s!rro!$)%$" "!ar)s, T%r%o$ ca!t%o!sl& stoo) !# a$) face) Thrall* @E%tr%"" tol) me of &o!r father7a$) of h%s fate* He m!st ha,e bee$ a "reat hero to el%c%t s!ch )e,ot%o$ from h%s so$*A Thrall1s face as e-#ress%o$less as he re#l%e), @M& #eo#le ha,e al a&s hel) that %t %s a so$1s )!t& to f%$%sh h%s father1s or'*A T%r%o$ $o))e) sa)l&* He o$)ere) %f Taela$ o!l) e,er share that se$t%me$t* /robabl& $ot, he co$cl!)e)*(hat bo& o!l) e,er be #ro!) of ha,%$" a )%s"race) e-%le as a father: More tha$ l%'el&, Taela$ o!l) o$l& re,%le me for hat I1,e )o$e* Thrall mot%o$e) to ar) E%tr%"" a$) sho!te) a $!mber of short "!tt!ral comma$)s %$ the orc%sh to$"!e* T%r%o$ loo'e) aro!$) as the "!ar)s mo,e) for ar), !$s!re as to hat to e-#ect*(o!l) the orcs '%ll h%m: (o!l) the& let h%m "o: A $!mber of arr%ors '$elt )o $ bes%)e E%tr%"" a$) hoo'e) the%r arms !$)er h%s sho!l)ers* T%r%o$ loo'e) bac' at Thrall, +!est%o$%$"l&* The &o!$" (arch%ef sm%r'e) '$o %$"l& a$) sa%), @2o! r%s'e) &o!r l%fe to sa,e o!r brother, h!ma$* (e ha,e $o +!arrel %th &o!* 2o! are free to "o, so lo$" as &o! )o $ot follo !s*A T%r%o$ e-hale) %$ rel%ef a$) atche) as the orc arr%ors "e$tl& "athere) E%tr%"" !#* Thrall "a,e T%r%o$ a$ orc%sh sal!te a$), %tho!t a seco$) "la$ce, t!r$e) to lea,e* Ma$& of the orcs ha) alrea)& )%sa##eare) bac' %$to the )e$sel& sha)o e) oo)s* T%r%o$ shoo' h%s hea) as %f %$ a )aze* A stro$" ha$) "rabbe) hol) of h%s arm* He loo'e) )o $ a$) sa that %t as E%tr%""* The ol) orc ha) a loo' of #eace a$) f!lf%llme$t !#o$ h%s "$arle) face* @(e are both bo!$) b& bloo) a$) ho$or,brother* I %ll $ot for"et &o!,A E%tr%"" sa%)* T%r%o$ sm%le) a$) ra%se) h%s ha$) to h%s heart as the orcs le) E%tr%"" a a&* He stoo) for a mome$t, atch%$" them "o* The so!$)s of battle st%ll echoe) from %th%$ Stratholme1s alls* He )ec%)e) that he ha) better ma'e h%mself scarce before the h!ma$ troo#s arr%,e)* (%th a s%le$t #ra&er to the L%"ht, T%r%o$ For)r%$" t!r$e) h%s bac' o$ Stratholme a$) set o!t to f%$) solace %th%$ the #er%lo!s, !$charte) %l)la$)s of Lor)aero$* EI<HT A /erfect C%rcle S!$l%"ht casca)e) )o $ thro!"h the o#e$ s'&l%"ht %$ the cathe)ral1s ,a!lte) ce%l%$"* T e$t&0 &ear0ol) Taela$ For)r%$" stoo) !#o$ a$ or$atel& car,e) )a%s a$) bas'e) %$ the armth a$) s#le$)or of the hol& L%"ht* Lar"e s%l,er #lates of armor a)or$e) h%s broa) sho!l)ers* Be$eath the #lates, a caref!ll& embro%)ere) )ar' bl!e stole h!$" from h%s $ec' a$) streame) )o $ h%s chest* He hel) a m%"ht&, t o0ha$)e) s%l,er arhammer %$ h%s ha$)s h%ch, he as tol), ha) o$ce belo$"e) to h%s father* Taela$ as a stro$", ha$)some &o!$" ma$* Bathe) %$ the L%"ht as he as, he seeme) almost tra$sce$)e$t* A$ a"e) Archb%sho# stoo) before Taela$ hol)%$" a lar"e, leather0bo!$) tome* The ol) ma$ ha) the l%"ht of .o& %$ h%s e&es as he a))resse) Taela$* @Do &o!, Taela$ For)r%$", ,o to !#hol) the ho$or a$) co)es of the Or)er of the S%l,er Ha$):A he as'e)* @I )o,A Taela$ re#l%e) s%$cerel&* @Do &o! ,o to al' %$ the "race of the L%"ht a$) s#rea) %ts %s)om to &o!r fello ma$:A @I )o,A Taela$ sa%) sha'%l&* He as o,ercome %th a tho!sa$) )%ffere$t emot%o$s at o$ce a$) ha) to f%"ht to "et a "r%# o$ h%mself* Th%s as the mome$t he ha) a%te) for as lo$" as he co!l) remember* He "la$ce) aro!$) +!%c'l& a$) sa h%s mother sta$)%$" #ro!)l& %$ atte$)a$ce* Tho!"h &ears of har)sh%# a$) lo$el%$ess ha) strea'e) her soft, "ol)e$ ha%r %th s%l,er stra$)s, =ara$)ra as as bea!t%f!l a$) ra)%a$t as she ha) e,er bee$* She mar,ele) at see%$" Taela$ be%$" a$o%$te) as a /ala)%$* She %she) that T%r%o$ co!l) ha,e bee$ #rese$t to see h%s so$ follo %$ h%s footste#s*

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@Do &o! ,o to ,a$+!%sh e,%l here,er %t be fo!$), a$) #rotect the ea' a$) %$$oce$t %th &o!r ,er& l%fe:A the Archb%sho# as'e) Taela$ %$ a r%t!al%st%c to$e* Taela$ s allo e) har) a$) $o))e) h%le sa&%$", @B& m& ho$or, I )o*A The Archb%sho# co$t%$!e) to s#ea' to the assembl& b!t, o,ercome as he as, Taela$ co!l) $ot hear h%s or)s* Obl%,%o!s to the ceremo$& #rocee)%$" aro!$) h%m, he reache) %$to the #oc'et of h%s ceremo$%al cassoc' a$) too' hol) of the rolle), tattere) #archme$t that he al a&s carr%e) %th h%m* It as the $ote h%s father ha) left h%m before he as e-%le) from the '%$")om* Taela$ co!l)$1t co!$t ho ma$& t%mes he ha) rea) the tattere) letter o,er the &ears, b!t he ha) memor%ze) e,er& l%$e, e,er& s!btle stro'e of the +!%ll* He recalle) o$e of the last #assa"es %$ h%s m%$)* M& )ear Taela$, B& the t%me &o!1re ol) e$o!"h to rea) th%s, I %ll ha,e bee$ "o$e a lo$" t%me* I ca$1t a)e+!atel& e-#ress ho #a%$f!l %t %s to ha,e to lea,e &o! a$) &o!r mother beh%$), b!t I s!##ose that somet%mes l%fe forces &o! to ma'e )%ff%c!lt )ec%s%o$s* I fear that &o!1ll $o )o!bt hear ma$& ba) th%$"s abo!t me as &o! "ro ol)er7that #eo#le %ll loo' !#o$ m& act%o$s a$) co$)em$ them as e,%l* I fear that others %ll loo' )o $ !#o$ &o! for the )ec%s%o$s I ha,e ma)e* I o$1t tr& to e-#la%$ e,er&th%$" that1s ha##e$e) %$ th%s $ote, b!t I $ee) &o! to '$o that hat I )%), I )%) for ho$or1s sa'e* Ho$or %s a$ %m#orta$t #art of hat ma'es !s me$, Taela$* O!r or)s a$) o!r )ee)s m!st co!$t for someth%$" %$ th%s orl)* I '$o %t1s as'%$" a "reat )eal, b!t I ho#e that &o! %ll !$)ersta$) that some)a&* I a$t &o! to '$o that I lo,e &o! )earl& a$) that I1ll al a&s carr& &o! close to m& heart* 2o!r l%fe a$) &o!r )ee)s %ll be m& re)em#t%o$, so$* 2o! are m& #r%)e a$) m& ho#e* Be a "oo) ma$* Be a hero* <oo)b&e* Taela$ came o!t of h%s re,er%e .!st %$ t%me to hear the Archb%sho# sa&4 @The$ ar%se, Taela$ For)r%$"7/ala)%$ )efe$)er of Lor)aero$* (elcome to the Or)er of the S%l,er Ha$)*A E!st as %t ha) %$ h%s bo&hoo) )reams, the e$t%re assembl& er!#te) %$ cheers* The .o&o!s )%$ echoe) thro!"ho!t the ,ast cathe)ral, )ro $%$" o!t e,er& other $o%se* H%s fr%e$)s a$) comra)es cla##e) a$) hollere) %$ co$"rat!lat%o$s* Almost e,er&o$e "athere) %$ the cathe)ral as o$ the%r feet .o%$%$" %$ the re,elr&* Beam%$" %th #r%)e, Taela$ t!r$e) a$) sm%le) arml& at h%s mother a$) h%s ol) fr%e$), Ar)e$, ho stoo) a fe #aces beh%$) her* The a"e) "!ar)sma$, ho ha) atche) o,er a$) #rotecte) Taela$ for $earl& f%ftee$ &ears, sm%le) bac' #ro!)l&* Ar)e$ mar,ele) at ho m!ch Taela$ resemble) h%s father* He '$e that T%r%o$ o!l) ha,e bee$ #ro!)* The cro ) s!r"e) !# to co$"rat!late Taela$ a$) elcome h%m to the Or)er* Ar)e$ ha) t!r$e) to ma'e h%s a& to ar) the e-%t, he$, o!t of the cor$er of h%s e&e, he sa a fam%l%ar f%"!re mo,%$" thro!"h the cro )* The tall, $o$)escr%#t f%"!re ore a "ree$, hoo)e) tra,el0cloa' a$) eather0sta%$e) leathers* B!t Ar)e$ o!l) ha,e reco"$%ze) the "ra& ha%re) ma$1s #%erc%$" "ree$ e&es a$& here* For a br%ef seco$), he loc'e) e&es %th the a"e) stra$"er* @T%r%o$,A Ar)e$ h%s#ere) !$)er h%s breath* The stra$"er sm%le) '$o %$"l& at Ar)e$ a$) ra%se) a st%ff ha$) to h%s bro %$ sal!te* He the$ #!lle) h%s hoo) lo o,er h%s face a$) #rom#tl& sl%##e) o!t the bac' of the cathe)ral* Loo'%$" bac' at Taela$, Ar)e$ sa%), @L%'e father, l%'e so$*A Abo!t the A!thor Chr%s Metze$ %s the Creat%,e D%rector for Bl%zzar) E$terta%$me$t a$) has or'e) as both a r%ter a$) )es%"$er for the com#a$& o,er the #ast se,e$ &ears* Chr%s has le) the )e,elo#me$t of Bl%zzar)1s "ame orl)s a$) stor&l%$es, %$cl!)%$" those of the(arcraft, D%ablo, a$)StarCraft ser%es* Chr%s co0 rote the StarCraft short stor& @Re,elat%o$sA %th fello a!thor Sam Moore for the S#r%$" 6JJJ %ss!e ofAmaz%$" Stor%es ma"az%$e*(arcraft4 Of Bloo) a$) Ho$or %s Chr%s1s f%rst solo fora& %$to the orl) of fa$tas&0f%ct%o$* >6