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of us with a spear and calling for our blood, Iskar retorted. Do you wish to see Hellscream or not? If
you do not slay the child, you may rest assured that you will not leave this cave alive.
The boy was crying now, silently. Thrall was instantly reminded of his parting with Taretha, and her
description of weeping. Her image filled his mind. He thought of her, and of Sergeant. He thought of how
saddened he had been when his appearance had frightened the little girl in the village.
And then he thought of Blackmoore s handsome, contemptuous face; of all the men who had spat upon
him and called him monster and greenskin and worse.
But those memories did not condone cold-blooded murder. Thrall made his decision. He dropped the
bloody ax to the floor.
If this child takes up arms against me in the future, he said, choosing his words slowly and deliberately,
then I shall kill him on the battlefield. And I shall take a certain pleasure in the doing, because I will
know that I am fighting for the rights of my people. But I will not kill a bound child who lies helpless
before me, human though he is. And if this means I never see Hellscream, so be it. If it means I must fight
all of you and fall beneath your numbers, I say again, so be it. I would rather die than commit such a
dishonorable atrocity.
He steadied himself, arms outstretched, waiting for the attack that would come. Iskar sighed.
A pity, he said, but you have chosen your own destiny. He lifted his hand.
At that moment, a terrible scream pierced the still, cool air. It echoed and reverberated through the
cavern, hurting Thrall s ears and piercing him to the bone. He shrank back from the noise. The animal
skin covering one of the caves was torn down and a tall, red-eyed orc emerged. Thrall had gotten used
to the appearance of his people, but this orc was unlike any he had yet seen.
Long black hair flowed down his back in a thick tangle. Each large ear was pierced several times,
reminding Thrall oddly of Sergeant, and the dozen or so rings glinted in the firelight. His leather clothing of
red and black contrasted strikingly with his green skin, and several chains attached to various places on
his body swayed with his movements. His entire jaw seemed to be painted black, and at the moment, it
was open wider than Thrall would have believed possible. It was he who was making the terrifying noise,
and Thrall realized that Grom Hellscream had gotten his name for a very good reason.
The shriek faded, and Grom spoke. Never had I thought to see this! He marched up to Thrall and
stared at him. His eyes were flame-colored, and something dark and frightening seemed to dance in their
centers in place of pupils. Thrall assumed the comment to be derogatory, but he was not about to be
cowed. He drew himself up to his full imposing height, determined to meet death with an unbowed head.
He opened his mouth to reply to Grom s comment, but the orc chieftain continued.
How is it you know of mercy, Thrall of Durnholde? How is it you know when to offer it, and for what
reasons?
The orcs were murmuring among themselves now, confused. Iskar bowed.
Noble Hellscream, he began, we had thought that this child s capture would please you. We
expected
Iwould expect that its parents would track it down to our lair, you fool! cried Grom. We are
warriors, fierce and proud. At least we once were. He shuddered, as if from a fever, and for a moment
seemed to Thrall to be pale and tired. But that impression was gone as quickly as it had come. We do
not butcher children. I assume whoever caught the whelp had the presence of mind to blindfold it?
Of course, lord, said Rekshak, looking offended.
Then take him back where you found him the same way. Hellscream marched over to the child and
removed the gag. The boy was too terrified to cry out. Listen to me, tiny human. Tell your people that
the orcs had you, and chose not to harm you. Tell them, and he looked over at Thrall, that they showed
you mercy. Also tell them if they try to find us, they will fail. We will be on the move soon. Do you
understand?
The boy nodded. Good. To Rekshak, he said, Take him back.Now. And the next time you find a
human pup, leave it be.
Rekshak nodded. With a definite lack of gentleness, he took the boy by the arm and hauled him to his
feet.
Rekshak, said Grom, his harsh voice heavy with warning. If you disobey me and the boy comes to
harm, I shall know of it. And I shall not forgive.
Rekshak scowled impotently. As my lord wills, he said, and, still roughly hauling the boy, began to
ascend one of the many winding stone corridors that emptied into the cavern.
Iskar looked confused. My lord, he began, this is the pet of Blackmoore! He stinks of humans, he
brags of his fear of killing
I have no fear of killing those who deserve to die, Thrall growled. I do not choose to kill those who
do not.
Hellscream reached out and put a hand on Iskar s shoulder, then placed the other on Thrall s, reaching
up to do so. Iskar, my old friend, he said, his rough voice soft, you have seen me when the bloodlust [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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of us with a spear and calling for our blood, Iskar retorted. Do you wish to see Hellscream or not? If
you do not slay the child, you may rest assured that you will not leave this cave alive.
The boy was crying now, silently. Thrall was instantly reminded of his parting with Taretha, and her
description of weeping. Her image filled his mind. He thought of her, and of Sergeant. He thought of how
saddened he had been when his appearance had frightened the little girl in the village.
And then he thought of Blackmoore s handsome, contemptuous face; of all the men who had spat upon
him and called him monster and greenskin and worse.
But those memories did not condone cold-blooded murder. Thrall made his decision. He dropped the
bloody ax to the floor.
If this child takes up arms against me in the future, he said, choosing his words slowly and deliberately,
then I shall kill him on the battlefield. And I shall take a certain pleasure in the doing, because I will
know that I am fighting for the rights of my people. But I will not kill a bound child who lies helpless
before me, human though he is. And if this means I never see Hellscream, so be it. If it means I must fight
all of you and fall beneath your numbers, I say again, so be it. I would rather die than commit such a
dishonorable atrocity.
He steadied himself, arms outstretched, waiting for the attack that would come. Iskar sighed.
A pity, he said, but you have chosen your own destiny. He lifted his hand.
At that moment, a terrible scream pierced the still, cool air. It echoed and reverberated through the
cavern, hurting Thrall s ears and piercing him to the bone. He shrank back from the noise. The animal
skin covering one of the caves was torn down and a tall, red-eyed orc emerged. Thrall had gotten used
to the appearance of his people, but this orc was unlike any he had yet seen.
Long black hair flowed down his back in a thick tangle. Each large ear was pierced several times,
reminding Thrall oddly of Sergeant, and the dozen or so rings glinted in the firelight. His leather clothing of
red and black contrasted strikingly with his green skin, and several chains attached to various places on
his body swayed with his movements. His entire jaw seemed to be painted black, and at the moment, it
was open wider than Thrall would have believed possible. It was he who was making the terrifying noise,
and Thrall realized that Grom Hellscream had gotten his name for a very good reason.
The shriek faded, and Grom spoke. Never had I thought to see this! He marched up to Thrall and
stared at him. His eyes were flame-colored, and something dark and frightening seemed to dance in their
centers in place of pupils. Thrall assumed the comment to be derogatory, but he was not about to be
cowed. He drew himself up to his full imposing height, determined to meet death with an unbowed head.
He opened his mouth to reply to Grom s comment, but the orc chieftain continued.
How is it you know of mercy, Thrall of Durnholde? How is it you know when to offer it, and for what
reasons?
The orcs were murmuring among themselves now, confused. Iskar bowed.
Noble Hellscream, he began, we had thought that this child s capture would please you. We
expected
Iwould expect that its parents would track it down to our lair, you fool! cried Grom. We are
warriors, fierce and proud. At least we once were. He shuddered, as if from a fever, and for a moment
seemed to Thrall to be pale and tired. But that impression was gone as quickly as it had come. We do
not butcher children. I assume whoever caught the whelp had the presence of mind to blindfold it?
Of course, lord, said Rekshak, looking offended.
Then take him back where you found him the same way. Hellscream marched over to the child and
removed the gag. The boy was too terrified to cry out. Listen to me, tiny human. Tell your people that
the orcs had you, and chose not to harm you. Tell them, and he looked over at Thrall, that they showed
you mercy. Also tell them if they try to find us, they will fail. We will be on the move soon. Do you
understand?
The boy nodded. Good. To Rekshak, he said, Take him back.Now. And the next time you find a
human pup, leave it be.
Rekshak nodded. With a definite lack of gentleness, he took the boy by the arm and hauled him to his
feet.
Rekshak, said Grom, his harsh voice heavy with warning. If you disobey me and the boy comes to
harm, I shall know of it. And I shall not forgive.
Rekshak scowled impotently. As my lord wills, he said, and, still roughly hauling the boy, began to
ascend one of the many winding stone corridors that emptied into the cavern.
Iskar looked confused. My lord, he began, this is the pet of Blackmoore! He stinks of humans, he
brags of his fear of killing
I have no fear of killing those who deserve to die, Thrall growled. I do not choose to kill those who
do not.
Hellscream reached out and put a hand on Iskar s shoulder, then placed the other on Thrall s, reaching
up to do so. Iskar, my old friend, he said, his rough voice soft, you have seen me when the bloodlust [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]