It was an unprecedented time in Sal's life.

The concentration camps where the orcs were imprisoned were gradually being destroyed, and although the human army was prepared, it was still unable to resist the orcs who had regained their fighting spirit, and more and more of their compatriots joined their ranks. And as rumored, he found the Warsong Clan west of Hillsbrad, where the Iron Will Grom Hellroar leads them against the Bloodthirsty Curse. Thrall and the legendary warrior hit it off at first sight, so when he offered the invitation, they readily agreed to join the resistance.

The Warsong Clan, which had never lost its fighting spirit, greatly strengthened the strength of the orcs and boosted their fighting spirit. Although their hostility towards humans is sharper and resonates, the growing orcs bring Thrall more joy and hope than they do. He saw in these people the shadow of the tribe that had been—but more peaceful, nobler, more glorious.

Until an orc came to him with a message, he still thought so.

"Chief—"

As the orcs bowed to him, Thrall saw a bleeding wound on his neck. Not lethal, but deep, elongated in shape clearly derived from a forged weapon rather than a beast's minions. So he raised his hand and healed the wound with his own strength. The young man touched his neck in amazement, and then remembered what he meant.

"A human has found me, Chief. He jumped out while I was hunting and caught me like a rabbit. But he didn't kill me, he didn't ask me any questions or follow me, he just told me to swear that he would convey a word to you. ”

Sal immediately became vigilant. Aside from the necessary offensive against the concentration camps, he was reluctant to engage in a head-on confrontation with humanity. The human armies that tried to hunt them down were so overwhelmed by the clever tricks that they could only scurry around in vain. But if they still find the orc camp, then he must be prepared for the worst.

"What does he want to say to me?" Sal asked, still unmoved.

The young orc had a strange expression: "He said... He wanted to meet his allies. In Whitti... Special... Er, on the cliff west of Hotel. ”

The word ally was enough for Sal to understand that the message was undoubtedly from Dinen and Albert. While he didn't know how they managed to do what Dumbhold's troops had not been able to do, Dinen had always been able to surprise people, and Thrall was really keen to meet his friends, tell them what they had done, and hear about their experiences.

The only thing that puzzled him was the place name: "Where is Hotel?" ”

"—Ten miles southeast from where we had last set up camp, chief. It was a human village. ”

It was Kerga who suddenly interjected. When they escaped from the camp, he chose not to return to his own clan of orcs, but to follow his new leader. Thrall trusted him as a frostwolf orc. But by this time, the face of this calm and proud warrior was extremely ugly. Anger, vigilance, guilt, shame and other emotions were mixed together, making his expression look rather hideous.

Sal's heart sank inexplicably: "What happened, Kirga?" What's going on there? ”

"I'm sorry, Chief." Kerga lowered his head, "But you can't go there, it must be a trap." ”

Sal's eyes widened in disbelief: "What? No, I don't think you know yet, but that human is my friend, I promise—"

"Maybe he used to be your friend." "But now it's probably not." ”

The Frostwolf Chief took a deep breath and had a vague premonition of something.

"Tell me." "All," he demanded. ”

"I just found out......," said Kerga, disgracefully, "that the night we left the camp, a squad attacked the place without permission. They ransacked and slaughtered that village. ”

Even Blackmore's sudden appearance in front of him wouldn't have shocked Sal any more. Ransack? Slaughter? We? He couldn't even connect the words for a moment, but Kirga's heavy expression pulled him back to reality.

So he finally realized that his compatriots had slaughtered an innocent village.

- and then anger took over him completely.

"Is human food more delicious than the prey that all spirits give us? Is it more glorious to slaughter innocent women and children than to engage trained soldiers? Could it be that the curse of the devil is more powerful than the oath made in the name of the ancestors? Would they rather succumb to senseless hatred than fight for their own people! ”

Thrall's roar echoed through the narrow cavern, the rocks seemed to answer his call, the ground beneath his feet shook with a dull and terrible sound, the not-so-solid stones on the stone walls fell down, and the other two orcs present turned pale with frightening fright. But it also calmed down Sal. He gasped for breath a few times, and finally calmed down.

"I'm sorry, Kirga." Sal first apologized to him, "It's not your responsibility, I shouldn't be angry with you." ”

"No, Chief. It's also my fault. I should have noticed it earlier, and if I couldn't stop them, I should have told you right away. Kerga hung his head in frustration.

"It's our fault." Sal did not refute it again, but corrected his statement. Kerga wanted to continue arguing, but Sal's eyes made him flinch.

After a brief moment of silence, Thrall made a decision.

"Kirga, I want you to find those people, and when I come back I want to see that every single one of them is there."

"Yes, Chief!" Kerga replied loudly with his chest puffed up, and only then did he notice Sal's words, "'Come back'?" Where are you going? ”

Thrall gestured to the young orc who had brought the message: "Go to the appointment." ”

Kerga was taken aback: "What! You can't-"

"I can." Sal said unrefutably, "And I have to." Go now...... Go alone. ”

"But that's a trap! They'll catch you and kill you! "Think about what we are going to do then?" Sal, what are we going to do without you? ”

Thrall was already the leader of the orc runaways, though he never emphasized it, and even received the title of chief with no formal ceremony. But he is younger than Drektar, more peaceful than Hellroar, passionate, virtuous, good at inspiring, and knows their pursuers. The orcs trusted and even relied on him. If something happens to Sal, they're almost certain to be back in a state of disarray.

Thrall knew this, so he hesitated for a moment, but finally shook his head.

"That human, he's my friend." "He trusted me, but I betrayed his trust," he said slowly. I couldn't have failed more. I need to go to him and make things clear. And I know who he is, if..."

At this point, Thrall choked briefly for a moment, as if something was blocking his throat. The passion of the argument subsided, and he finally realized what a difficult situation he was about to face.

"If he decides to break with me," he finally said, "he won't do anything in this meeting, not this time." ”

Yes, Dineen doesn't set up any ambushes, that's not his style. If provoked to the extreme, his former friends will only propose a one-on-one death match to him without hesitation. And Sal naturally couldn't refuse - he could only hope that things hadn't come to this point.

"I'll take my frostwolves with me." He said, "Xue Ge will protect me." ”

Kerga lowered his head a little, as if someone was waiting to cut his neck from behind: "... Yes, Chief. ”

***

Despite his resolute attitude during the argument, when he saw the figure on the edge of the cliff in the distance, Sal realized that he wanted to run away more than forward. For a moment he almost did that, but Xue Ge arched his hand with his nose and pulled him back. So Thrall mustered up his courage and walked on.

He didn't know if this place had been deliberately chosen. But the spread of the forest came to an abrupt halt at the bottom of the cliffs. There is nothing to hide from the bare cliffs, and it is impossible for anyone who wants to hide here.

Dinen stood there, alone, with his back to the direction he had come, standing motionless with his arms folded, as if he had not heard Sal's deliberately dull footsteps. But when Thrall stopped, he turned around. They looked at each other for a moment, then Dineen nodded.

"There's no ambush here, and there's not a paladin who is so angry that he wants to smash your head. It's just me - I think you should know why I say that, or you're going to tell me you don't. ”

Sal was silent. He had never seen Dineen like this. The irritability and irritability that had never existed seemed to be there, replaced by a calm with a hint of tiredness and boredom. But he would rather yell at him than this cold calm.

Dinen didn't continue, and Thrall realized that he was waiting for his response, but he didn't know how to answer.

"I know." He whispered.

Dineh's expression didn't change at all, as if he hadn't heard anything.

"I mean, the Kirga told me about it, while you, the messenger, were delivering the message, in order to prevent me from coming. Until then, I don't know. I should have stopped them, I never allowed them, I ......" Sal stumbled, feeling like his ability to express himself had never been so bad.

In the end, all he could say was, "...... I'm ashamed. ”

Dineen closed his eyes.

"When I lost myself, I vowed to give everything to the only place I had left, and that was the Alliance. I fought for the Alliance, and her enemies are my enemies. ”

He spoke slowly, and Thrall realized that the way he spoke slowly and clearly with each word was a means of controlling Dining's emotions. He was by no means completely indifferent to Sal's words, as he had appeared.

"But now, with my own hands, I have released her enemies from the cage. I came up with plans, revealed intelligence, gave them strength and hope...... And they turned their weapons on my people. ”

He snapped his eyes open, staring at the restless and guilty young orc in front of him.

"—I am not in a position to accuse or seek justice from you, Sal. Because we are all accomplices, you and I are accomplices in this massacre. ”

Sal subconsciously opened his mouth. He wanted to say that it wasn't your fault, that I didn't manage them, didn't notice what they were thinking, and didn't even know why they did it......

But Dineen's gaze stopped him, just as Kerga had been silent in front of him before. He was also silent in front of Dineen.

Because it's useless.

Even if someone can take all the responsibility, it still can't relieve their inner pain and self-blame. This self-condemnation, which originates from noble conduct, is transformed into a heavier shackle. They, Dining, Albert and Thrall, even if they had not personally participated in the massacre, inevitably bore the same responsibility. Their hands are also stained with the blood of innocents, and there is no doubt that this is not something that can be easily let go.

So Sal could only be silent, and savored the pain in silence. Xue Ge rubbed his leg as if he had felt something, silently comforting the young orc leader.

In the end, it was Dineen who broke the silence.

"I was meant to tell you that we found the details of the Cursed Cult's stronghold. But I don't know if you can still use it now. ”

Sal understood his concerns. At a time when his control over the orcs was insufficient, attacking the Cursed Sect of Humanity could easily be seen as an attempt to attack the human settlement, which could turn into a larger-scale slaughter.

"I will." "I promise you I can do it," Sal said firmly. ”

They all knew that his assurances were not as strong as they used to be. But Dineen didn't point this out directly.

"I hope you understand the situation, Sal." He said slowly, "Albert and I are leaving." We have to rush to Stratholme. ”

No matter how many meanings there were behind this sentence, Sal only understood the one he wanted to understand.

"It'll be fine," he repeated, "I promise." ”

Dineen looked at him for a moment.

"I think I made a mistake. Thrall. "All this time I have told you that the orcs are a race of free nature, a glorious culture, and ancient customs, and they are noble and worthy of respect. I say this because I want you to be like that—but what I'm not telling you is that your people have lost it long ago, long before they drank the blood of the devil.

"Even though it all started with a deception, they did take pleasure in the slaughter and plundering of another innocent race. They no longer fight to defend themselves, but to wield weapons for destruction.

"Ask your people, ask your teachers, do they remember the Draenei? When they bemoaned their current depravity and decadence, when they cursed and hated the curse of the devil, did they at the same time regret the blood debt they had committed?

If not, then they're not the orcs you ideally are. As you try to encourage them to return to their traditions, you must also remember that you are dealing with a beast that fears power, not words. You have to show authority and demand obedience from them. ”

"That's the leader's responsibility -- your responsibility."