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.But those memories did not condone cold-blooded murder.Thrall made his decision.He dropped thebloody 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 willknow that I am fighting for the rights of my people.But I will not kill a bound child who lies helplessbefore me, human though he is.And if this means I never see Hellscream, so be it.If it means I must fightall of you and fall beneath your numbers, I say again, so be it.I would rather die than commit such adishonorable 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 thecavern, hurting Thrall s ears and piercing him to the bone.He shrank back from the noise.The animalskin covering one of the caves was torn down and a tall, red-eyed orc emerged.Thrall had gotten usedto 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 ofred and black contrasted strikingly with his green skin, and several chains attached to various places onhis body swayed with his movements.His entire jaw seemed to be painted black, and at the moment, itwas 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 andstared at him.His eyes were flame-colored, and something dark and frightening seemed to dance in theircenters in place of pupils.Thrall assumed the comment to be derogatory, but he was not about to becowed.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 whatreasons? 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.Weexpected Iwould expect that its parents would track it down to our lair, you fool! cried Grom. We arewarriors, fierce and proud.At least we once were. He shuddered, as if from a fever, and for a momentseemed to Thrall to be pale and tired.But that impression was gone as quickly as it had come. We donot 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 andremoved the gag.The boy was too terrified to cry out. Listen to me, tiny human.Tell your people thatthe orcs had you, and chose not to harm you.Tell them, and he looked over at Thrall, that they showedyou mercy.Also tell them if they try to find us, they will fail.We will be on the move soon.Do youunderstand? The boy nodded. Good. To Rekshak, he said, Take him back.Now.And the next time you find ahuman pup, leave it be. Rekshak nodded.With a definite lack of gentleness, he took the boy by the arm and hauled him to hisfeet. Rekshak, said Grom, his harsh voice heavy with warning. If you disobey me and the boy comes toharm, 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 toascend 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, hebrags 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 whodo not. Hellscream reached out and put a hand on Iskar s shoulder, then placed the other on Thrall s, reachingup to do so. Iskar, my old friend, he said, his rough voice soft, you have seen me when the bloodlusthas come upon me.You have seen me wade in blood up to my knees.I have killed the children of thehumans ere now.But we gave all we had fighting in that manner, and where has it brought us? Low anddefeated, our kind slouch in camps and lift no hand to free themselves, let alone fight for others.That wayof fighting, of making war, has brought us to this.Long have I thought that the ancestors would show mea new way, a way to win back what we have lost.It is a fool who repeats the same actions expecting adifferent outcome, and whatever I may be, I am not a fool.Thrall was strong enough to defeat the finestwe had to offer.He has tasted humankind s ways and turned his back on them to be free.He hasescaped from the camps and against the odds managed to find me.I agree with his choices here today.One day, my old friend, you, too, will see the wisdom in this. He squeezed Iskar s shoulder affectionately. Leave us, now.All of you. Slowly, reluctantly, and not without a few hostile glances in Thrall s direction, the orcs all ascended intodifferent levels of the cave.Thrall waited. We are alone now, said Hellscream. Are you hungry, Thrall of Durnholde? I am ravenous, said Thrall, but I would ask that you not call me Thrall of Durnholde.I escapedDurnholde, and I loathe the thought of it. Hellscream lumbered over to another cave, pulled the skin aside, and withdrew a large chunk of rawmeat.Thrall accepted it, nodded his thanks, and bit into it eagerly.His first honestly earned meal as a freeorc.Deer flesh had never tasted so fine to him. Should we then change your other name? It is the term of a slave, said Hellscream, squatting andwatching Thrall closely with red eyes. It was meant to be a badge of shame. Thrall thought as he chewed and swallowed. No.Blackmoore gave me the name so that I would neverforget that I was something he owned, that I belonged to him. His eyes narrowed. I never will.I willkeep the name, and one day, when I see him again, he will be the one who remembers what he did tome, and regret it with all his heart. Hellscream regarded him closely. You would kill him, then? Thrall did not answer immediately.He thought of the time when he had almost killed Sergeant and seenBlackmoore s face instead, of the countless times since that moment when he had visualizedBlackmoore s handsome, taunting visage while fighting in the ring.He thought of Blackmoore s slurredspeech and the agony that his kicks and fists had caused.He thought of the anguish on Taretha s lovelyface as she spoke of the master of Durnholde
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