魔兽争霸官方小说:仇恨之轮-Cycle of Hatred(英文版)- 第23部分

Eight　centuries　ago；　the　council　had　given　her　the　power　of　the　Guardian；　and　it　had　been　the　most　wonderful
experience　of　her　life。　It　was　what　it　might　have　been　like　for　a　blind　person　to　see　for　the　first　time。　When　she　
passed　that　power　on　to　Medivh；　it　had　been　less　wonderful；　but　still　she　had　a　feeling　of　satisfaction　in　creating　her
legacy；　and　the　departure　of　the　power　had　been　smooth　and　pleasant；　like　drifting　slowly　to　sleep。　

Now；　though；　her　power　was　being　ripped　from　her　by　Medivh；　and　it　felt　like　being　struck　blind；　deaf；　and　dumb。
Her　entire　body　felt　deadened　it　was　less　like　falling　asleep　and　more　like　falling　into　a　a。　

But　she　remained　awake　and　aware　of　all　that　was　happening。　And　she　realized　that　if　she　stayed　here；　Medivh　or；
rather；　Sargeras　would　keep　her　here。　She　would　reside　in　the　keep　s　dungeon；　no　doubt；　able　to　see　and　hear　all　
that　went　on；　be　made　aware　of　every　foul　deed　that　her　son　performed　in　Sargeras　s　name。　

She　also　realized　something　else　she　was　still　young。　Which　meant　that　Medivh　had　not　taken　the　deaging　magic
from　her。　
　
That　was　her　salvation；　she　realized。　She　gathered　up　the　remaining　tatters　of　her　concentration　and　unleashed　the
magic　of　the　deaging　spells；　grabbing　it；　harnessing　it；　and　reforming　it　into　a　teleport　spell　that　would　take　her
away　from　here。　

Moments　later；　her　hair　having　gone　white；　her　skin　having　wrinkled；　her　bones　having　grown　weaker；　she　found
herself　on　Kalimdor；　in　a　grassy　region　in　the　mountains　of　the　continent　s　eastern　coast。　



Proudmoore　s　voice　was　quiet　when　she　said；　That　must　have　been　terrible　for　you。　　

It　was。　　Aegwynn　shuddered。　In　fact；　it　was　worse　than　that；　but　she　had　simply　hit　the　high　points　for　
Proudmoore　s　benefit。　She　had　actually　tried　to　reason　with　Medivh；　and　tried　to　get　an　explanation　from　him　as　to
why　he　did　what　he　did　as　if　Sargeras　needed　a　reason。　But　she　saw　no　need　to　burden　Proudmoore　with　that
much　the　point　of　the　story　was　to　show　the　depths　of　her　own　stupidity。　She　continued：　When　I　came　here；　I　
was　able　to　use　what　little　magic　I　had　left　to　determine　that　there　was　no　one　around。　I　built　my　hut；　planted　my　
garden；　dug　my　well。　The　wards　didn　t　go　up　until　Thrall　and　his　people　settled　nearby。　　

I　m　not　surprised。　　There　was　an　odd　tone　to　Proudmoore　s　voice　when　she　said　that　as　if　she　knew　something　
Aegwynn　didn　t。　

What　s　that　supposed　to　mean？　　

Before　Proudmoore　could　answer；　Aegwynn　heard　something。　Proudmoore　heard　it　too；　as　they　both　turned　to　face　
south。　It　sounded　familiar；　but　it　was　a　noise　Aegwynn　hadn　t　heard　in　years。　

Moments　later；　her　suspicion　was　confirmed：　the　noise　was　made　by　the　displacement　of　air　by　a　massive　dirigible；
which　was　now　ing　around　one　of　the　Bladescar　peaks。　It　stopped　right　in　front　of　the　wards　and　hovered。
Aegwynn　assumed　a　mage　or　at　the　very　least；　a　sensitive　was　on　board。　

A　rope　ladder　fell　from　the　undercarriage；　and　a　figure　in　plate　armor　started　to　climb　down。　As　the　figure　came
closer；　Aegwynn　recognized　the　insignia　on　the　armor　as　that　of　a　colonel。　

To　her　shock；　the　figure　was　a　human　female。　She　turned　and　gave　Proudmoore　a　questioning　glance。　

The　girl　smiled。　If　a　woman　can　be　a　Guardian　of　Tirisfal；　why　can　t　a　woman　be　a　colonel？　　

Aegwynn　had　no　choice　but　to　concede　the　point。　

Milady；　　the　woman　said　as　she　came　down　off　the　bottom　rung　of　the　rope；　I　m　afraid　I　bring　bad　news。　　She　
then　looked　askance　at　Aegwynn。　

Colonel　Lorena；　this　is　Magna　Aegwynn。　You　may　speak　as　freely　to　her　as　you　would　to　me。　　

The　colonel　nodded　and　started　to　speak。　Apparently　the　word　of　Jaina　Proudmoore　was　enough　for　this　colonel。
Aegwynn　grudgingly　admitted　to　being　impressed。　A　woman　didn　t　rise　to　such　a　position　without　a　great　deal　of
hard　work　she　suspected　that　Lorena　was　twice　as　good　as　any　male　colonel；　simply　because　she　would　have　to　be
to　succeed。　If　someone　that　talented　trusted　Proudmoore　so　implicitly；　then　Proudmoore　may　have　been　a　more　
impressive　specimen　than　Aegwynn　had　been　willing　to　credit。　

Perhaps　there　was　something　to　the　girl　s　hero　worship　after　all。　

Lorena　said；　Ma　am；　it　is　my　firm　belief　that　Chamberlain　Kristoff　is　a　member　of　the　Burning　Blade　that　he　has　
conspired　to　increase　our　forces　at　Northwatch　and　provoke　the　orcs　into　a　conflict。　　
　
Proudmoore　s　face　fell。　Kristoff？　I　don　t　believe　that。　　

But　the　colonel　spent　the　next　several　minutes　explaining　what　had　happened　in　Proudmoore　s　absence　from
Theramore。　

When　she　was　done；　Aegwynn　asked；　　When　did　this　Burning　Blade　start？　　

We　re　not　sure；　　Proudmoore　said。　We　think　it　s　related　to　a　former　orc　clan。　Why？　　

Because　Zmodlor　started　a　cult　called　the　Burning　Blade。　In　fact；　the　sword　he　was　going　to　use　to　sacrifice　the
children　he　d　imprisoned　was　covered　in　oil　and　was　to　be　set　alight　when　the　sacrifice　menced。　Since　Zmodlor　
is　around；　it　s　possible　he　was　involved　with　those　orcs　as　well。　　

Lorena　spoke　up　before　Proudmoore　could　respond　to　that。　　Milady；　why　are　you　behind　these　wards？　I　brought
Booraven　with　us　to　track　you　down；　and　she　said　there　were　wards　up　so　we　couldn　t　pass。　But　why　haven　t　you
e　out　from　behind　them？　　

I　m　afraid　I　can　t。　When　I　arrived　here；　I　was　able　to　perate　the　wards　that　had　been　put　up；　but　they　ve　been
replaced　with　demonic　wards　from　the　very　same　Zmodlor　that　Magna　Aegwynn　was　just　discussing。　I　m　afraid　I　
do　not　have　the　knowledge　to　bypass　them。　　

A　pity；　　Aegwynn　said。　If　these　were　still　my　wards；　I　would　let　you　through　in　an　instant。　　

Snorting；　Proudmoore　said；　Don　t　be　ridiculous　they　were　never　your　wards。　They　were　Medivh　s。　　

Aegwynn　stared　at　Proudmoore　in　openmouthed　shock。　How　did　you

When　I　first　arrived　here；　I　recognized　the　magic　used　for　the　wards　as　belonging　to　one　of　the　Tirisfalen。　But　after
I　perated　them；　I　realized　I　knew　which　of　the　Tirisfalen　it　was；　because　I　d　encountered　it　before。　As　I　tried　to
tell　you　earlier；　I　knew　Medivh　it　was　he　that　brought　human　and　orc　to　this　land；　and　he　that　convinced　us　to　ally　
against　the　Burning　Legion。　I　know　his　magic　quite　well。　　

Lorena　spoke　before　Aegwynn　could　respond。　Milady；　with　respect；　time　grows　short。　We　must　get　you　out　of
there。　There　has　to　be　a　way。　　

Proudmoore　looked　at　Aegwynn。　There　is。　Teach　me　that　spell　of　Meitre　s。　　Pointing　at　the　colonel；　she　added；
We　now　have　the　conduit。　　

Very　well；　　Aegwynn　said；　if　it　means　you　ll　leave　me　in　peace。　　

I　m　afraid　that　s　not　possible。　　

Aegwynn　blinked。　I　beg　your　pardon？　　

You　re　ing　with　us。　　

Snorting；　Aegwynn　said；　Am　I？　　

Yes。　You　are　the　magna；　the　Guardian　who　is　all　that　stands　between　us　and　the　demonic　hordes。　It　is　your
responsibility　to　e　with　us。　　

On　what　are　you　basing　this　ridiculous　notion？　　
　
You　said　that　Zmodlor　built　these　wards。　That　means　he　is　active　for　all　we　know；　he　is　responsible　for　the
Burning　Blade　that　is　even　now　cutting　through　the　alliance　Thrall　and　I　built　at　your　son　s　behest。　But　you　thought
you　defeated　him　eight　centuries　ago　obviously　you　didn　t　finish　the　job；　and　it　is　your　responsibility

What　do　you　know　of　responsibility？　　Aegwynn　cried。　For　eight

Yes；　I　know　what　you　did；　Magna；　you　ve　told　me　quite　a　bit　about　your　failures；　your　deceits；　your　lies；　your
arrogance　but　what　you　ve　also　reminded　me　of　is　that　you　never　once　shirked　your　responsibility　as　Guardian。
Everything　you　did　from　facing　Zmodlor　to　defying　the　council　to　siring　Medivh　was　done　because　you
believed　in　what　you　did。　Regardless　of　your　mistakes；　of　your　defeats；　you　never　once　shirked　that　responsibility。
Until　now。　　Proudmoore　shook　her　head。　You　asked　me　what　I　know　of　responsibility；　and　right　now　I　d　say　more　
than　you；　because　you　never　had　to　be　responsible　to　anyone　save　yourself。　I　have　led　people　into　battle；　and　I　have　
ruled　them　when　the　battle　was　over　and　right　now；　the　people　who　have　trusted　me　need　me；　and　it　may　well　be　
because　of　a　demon　you　were　supposed　to　have　killed。　I　will　not　see　everything　we　have　built　here　be　brought　down
by　your　selfpity；　Magna。　　

I　believe　I　ve　earned　the　right　to　determine　my　own　destiny。　　

Because　you　brought　Medivh　back？　　

Again　Proudmoore　had　managed　to　stun　Aegwynn　with　her　perspicacity。　She　found　herself　unable　to　speak。　

We　always　wondered　how　Medivh　came　back　from　the　dead　after　Khadgar　and　Lothar　defeated　him。　It　would
have　taken　powerful　magic　to　do　so。　I　might　have　been　able　to　do　it；　and　so　could　one　or　two　others；　but　if　they　had；
they　would　have　admitted　it。　You　said　you　were　drained　by　your　fight　with　Medivh；　but　there　is　one　thing　that　could
substitute　for　that　necessary　power；　and　that　s　the　bond　between　mother　and　son。　　

Aegwynn　nodded；　staring　off　into　space　at　an　indeterminate　point　on　one　of　the　Bladescar　peaks。　With　what　was
left　of　the　deaging　magic；　I　was　able　to　scry　in　the　well　water　and　learn　what　was　happening。　I　saw　my　son　killed
by　his　apprentice　and　his　best　friend　and　I　saw　Sargeras　banished　from　him。　So　I　spent　years　building　up　the
power　to　bring　him　back。　When　I　did；　it　almost　killed　me。　That　was　why　the　wards　were　Medivh　s　I　no　longer　had
the　strength　to　cast　them。　Or　anything　else。　I　still　don　t。　　She　turned　to　face　Proudmoore。　That　was　my　swan　song；
Lady　Proudmoore。　It　cannot　even　begin　to　make　up　for　all　I　have　done　wrong。　　

I　disagree。　What　you　ve　done　is　sire　a　son　who　saved　the　world。　It　may　have　taken　a　while；　but　what　he　did　was
exactly　what　you　would　have　done　what　you　conceived　him　to　do。　He　went　against　the　conventional　wisdom　and
was　proactive　in　fighting　the　Burning　Legion　by　convincing　Thrall　and　me　to　unite　our　forces。　He　didn　t　learn　that
from　Sargeras；　and　he　didn　t　learn　that　from　whatever　afterlife　you　retrieved　him　from　he　learned　that　from　you。　　

Lorena　had　been　standing　semipatiently　during　this　entire　conversation；　her　obvious　respect　for　Lady　Proudmoore　
overing　her　soldier　s　desire　for　action。　Milady

Yes；　of　course；　　Aegwynn　said；　your　colonel　is　right。　Zmodlor　needs　to　be　defeated　permanently　this　time。　　She　
sighed。　Prepare　yourself；　Colonel　Loren