sure what they were wearing humans fascination with outerwear beyond what was absolutely necessary was
something that had always baffled Bolik。 He knew what Lady Proudmoore s military wore； but that was it。
Kill the pirates！ Bolik cried； but his crew needed no such prompting。 The battle was joined。 Bolik lifted his
father s mace in his right hand and swung it at the closest human； who ducked out of the way； then lunged with his
sword。
Bolik parried the sword with his left arm； but by the time he was able to whirl the mace around his head for a
second strike； the human had gotten his sword up to block the mace。 However； when he leaned in to do so； the
human moved his stomach closer to Bolik； making it easy for the orc captain to punch his foe with his fist。
Doubling over in pain and coughing； the human collapsed to the deck； and Bolik brought his mace down on the
back of the human s neck。
Two more then leapt in front of Bolik； no doubt expecting him to cower at twotoone odds。 But Bolik was made of
sterner stuff。 Though born a slave in this world； he had been freed by Thrall； and swore he would never cower
before a human again。 He had fought alongside them； true； but never would he bow to one as an inferior。
Nor to two who came at him with swords。
The pirate to his left attacked with his blade a curved one of a type Bolik had seen only once before while the
one on his right swung two shorter swords。 Bolik blocked the curved blade with his left arm； though this time the
edge bit into his forearm； while using the mace to deflect one of the two short swords。 The other short sword missed
Bolik s chest by a hair。
Although the movement sent searing pain through his left arm； Bolik brought the limb swiftly downward； the blade
still stuck in it。 His superior strength and leverage meant that the foe on his left was now disarmed； his weapon
lodged in Bolik s own flesh。 Kicking at the pirate to his right； Bolik grabbed the head of the one on his left and
pushed down； forcing the pirate to his knees。
The one with the short swords flailed as he stumbled to the deck； managing to avoid a legbreaking kick； but unable
to keep his balance in the bargain。
Bolik； still with his massive left hand on the head of the curvedswordholding pirate； cast that fool aside。 The
human s head hit the mast with a satisfying thud。
However； that move gave the other one a chance to regain his footing。 Even as he lunged with his two tiny swords；
Bolik leaned back and to his right； straightened his right arm behind him； then swung the mace over his head；
bringing it smashing down on the human s skull； killing him instantly。
Vak！ Bolik yelled up the mast as he removed the curved sword from his arm and tossed it to the deck next to its
insensate owner。 Sound the horn！ The pirates likely didn t know the orcish tongue； and so wouldn t expect it
when the foghorn went off。
Seconds later； an earsplitting noise filled the air。 Bolik was prepared for the sound that felt as if it vibrated his very
bones； as were his crew； he assumed he couldn t really see most of them。
The humans that Bolik could see were caught off guard； however； which Bolik had counted on。 The orcs that Bolik
could see pressed their advantage。 Bolik himself started twirling his mace over his head until he found a good
target。 His father s weapon slammed into the shoulder of a nearby pirate； who fell to the floor； screaming in agony。
Bolik heard a human voice yell a word in the human tongue that he was fairly sure meant retreat； a guess that was
proven accurate as the pirates started to climb the ropes back to their vessel。 Bolik saw Kag slice off the leg of one
of the retreaters； causing the victim to fall into the Great Sea。
Kag turned to Bolik。 Do we give chase？
Shaking his head； Bolik said； No。 Let them go。 There was little point in trying to chase a ship in this bedamned
fog。 Check the cargo。
Nodding acknowledgment； Kag ran off to the hold entry； his footfalls echoing on the deck。
Gazing upward； Bolik said； Lookout； what about the human ship？
They didn t move； Vak said； until after we sounded fog。 Then they moved off。 Don t see em now。
Bolik s fists tightened； his right hand gripping the handle of his father s mace so hard； he thought it might break。
The humans were their allies。 If some of Lady Proudmoore s precious soldiers were nearby； why did they not assist
when brigands boarded ath ar？
Sir； Kag said； returning alongside Forx； the warrior in charge of guarding the cargo； one of the crates was
smashed。 Another was thrown overboard by one of the humans to cover his retreat。
Forx added； They sent most o their men to the hold。 We drove em back good； we did； sir。 They d a taken it all
otherwise。
You did well； Forx。 And you will be rewarded。 Bolik knew his words would have meaning。 Two crates lost
meant twenty percent of their cargo was useless； which meant a twenty percent reduction in wages。 Bolik put a
hand on Forx s shoulder。 You shall all receive the same cut you would have if all the cargo came intact the
difference will e out of my own share。
Kag s eyes grew wide。 You honor us all； Captain。
Not at all you defended my ship。 You won t be penalized for that。
Forx smiled。 I ll inform your warriors； sir。
Bolik turned to Kag as Forx went off。 Assess damage； dump any human bodies into the sea； and put us back on
course。 He took a breath； then blew it out through his tusks。 And when we return； I want a messenger found。
Thrall must be informed of this right away。
Nodding； Kag said； Yes； Captain。
Staring into the fog that had allowed the pirates to get so close for their attack； Bolik thought back on Rabin s
words； and decided that no use they could get from fog would be worth this…。
Three
L ady Jaina Proudmoore stood atop the butte on Razor Hill； gazing out over the land where she helped form the
most unlikely alliance in the history of the world。
Razor Hill was orc territory； of course； but Jaina and Thrall had agreed that； given her abilities； it was best for their
meetings to happen on orc land； where Thrall generally was。 For Jaina s part； her magic allowed her to go wherever
she wished in an instant。
In truth； when the summons had e from Thrall； it had e as a relief。 Jaina s entire adult life； it seemed；
consisted of going from one crisis to another。 She had fought demons and orcs and warlords； and had the fate of the
world in her small hands more than once。
She once was the lover of Arthas； when he was a noble warrior； but he had been corrupted； was now the Lich King
of the Scourge； the cruelest warlord in a world that had seen its fair share of them。 Some day； she knew； she would
have to face him in battle。 Medivh； the Sargerascursed wizard who had seemingly doomed humanity by letting
demons and orcs overrun this world； became a staunch ally who convinced Jaina and Thrall to unite their people
with the night elves against the Burning Legion。
After that； when the humans built Theramore as their new home on Kalimdor； Jaina had thought that things would
calm down。 But things were never calm when one ruled； even in times of peace； and she found that the daytoday
running of Theramore almost made her long for the days when she was fighting for her life。
Almost； but not quite。 In truth； she had few regrets but she also grabbed the opportunity for a respite like a desert
traveler grabbing a water flask。
Standing at one edge of the butte； she looked far down on the small orc village at the base of the hills。 Well
defended huts dotted the harsh brown landscape。 Even in times of peace； the orcs made sure their homes would not
be taken。 A few orcs walked between the huts； greeting each other； some pausing to speak。 Jaina couldn t help but
smile at such quotidian simplicity。
Then she heard the low； steady rumble that heralded the arrival of Thrall s airship。 Turning around； she saw the
massive dirigible approach。 As it grew closer； she saw that only Thrall stood in the undercarriage that was carried
along beneath the massive hotairfilled canvas that propelled the machine through the air。 Said canvas was
decorated with a variety of symbols； some of which Jaina recognized as pictographs from an old version of the orc
language。 One； she knew； was the symbol of Thrall s family； the Frostwolf clan。 That was the main thing that
differentiated orc airships from the ones Jaina s people used the airships that Theramore had rented from the
goblins were more nondescript affairs。 Jaina wondered if the orcs way might not be better to imbue their non
living transports with personalities akin to that of living mounts。
In the past； when they d met on the butte； Thrall had at least brought a guard or two。 That he was traveling alone
now concerned Jaina greatly。
As the airship approached； Thrall pulled some levers； and the dirigible slowed； finally ing to a hover over the
butte。 Pulling one final lever； Thrall lowered a rope ladder and climbed down。 Like most orcs； Thrall had green skin
and black hair； the latter braided and draped over his shoulders。 The black plate armor with bronze trim he wore
belonged to rim Doomhammer； Thrall s mentor and the man for whom Durotar s capital city had been named。
Strapped to his back was rim s weapon； from which he derived his last name： the Doomhammer； a twohanded
weapon that Jaina had seen Thrall use in battle。 The blood of many a demon had been shed with that great hammer。
What stood out about Thrall most； though； were his blue eyes； a color rarely found in orcs。 They bespoke both his
intelligence and his kindness。
Three years ago； while both Theramore and the cities of Durotar were being built； Jaina had given Thrall a magical
talisman： a small stone carved in the shape of one of the old Tirisfalen runes。 Jaina had its twin in her own
possession。 Thrall needed only to hold it and think of her； and Jaina s talisman would glow； the reverse also held
true。 If they wished to meet in secret； to discuss issues that affected one or the other； or both； of their people away
from the politics of their positions as leaders or if the