Of Blood and Honor (5 page)

Tirion bowed his head, struggling to make sense of the orc’s words.
This can’t be right,
he thought. This creature is a merciless savage. How could it speak so? Yet Tirion knew that the orc’s words rang true. He could feel the orc’s sincerity—and beneath it, deeply buried pain and sorrow. As a Paladin, he had developed a certain empathic ability to sense deep emotions from others. The curious ability had never proven to be more useful. He pulled himself together and simply went with the moment.

“I should thank you, then,” Tirion began, wondering how to properly address the creature.

Sensing Tirion’s confusion, the orc spoke. “I am Eitrigg, human. You may call me Eitrigg.” Relieved, Tirion replied, “Thank you, Eitrigg. Thank you for saving my life.”

The orc nodded again and stood up. Tirion noticed that the orc walked with a distinct limp. He surmised that the cut he had given the creature during their battle was likely infected. Without giving Tirion a second glance, the orc limped over toward the ruined tower.

“I am Tirion Fordring,” the Paladin began. “I should tell you that I am the lord of this land, Eitrigg, and that your presence here upsets many of those whom I entrust with its protection.”

The orc laughed softly. “I wager they slept well enough before you found me,” the orc said. “I have lived here in these woods for many long years, human. I move from place to place, keeping hidden, finding shelter where I can. I have made great sport of evading your scouts and your
Rangers.
”

The latter was spoken with distinct scorn. Orcs were not known for their fondness of elven Rangers. The cunning, forest-running Rangers had sworn to gain vengeance against the Horde after the orcs had destroyed the elves’ enchanted homeland of Quel’Thalas. Tirion wondered if Eitrigg was telling the truth.
Could this orc have remained undetected for so long?

Eitrigg snorted and said, “It was bad luck that led you to me.”

“Perhaps,” Tirion began, “but your being here creates a serious problem for me. My people hate your kind, Eitrigg. Your race brought nothing but misery and chaos to these lands. They would kill you in a heartbeat if they could. How, then, can I be merciful? How can I let you stay, knowing what your people have done?”

“I have abandoned them, human! I live here in solitude—in exile,” Eitrigg said warily. “I no longer wish to pay for their sins.”

“I don’t understand,” the Paladin replied. “Are you saying that you’ve disavowed your own people?”

My people are lost!” the orc spat. “Truth be told, they were lost long before they ever came to this strange world. When the Horde finally fell before your standards, I decided to take my leave of it forever.”

Eitrigg reached down and rolled a large chunk of mortar onto its side. Tirion was impressed with the orc’s strength. It would have taken at least two stout men to move the stone. The orc motioned for Tirion to sit and then sat himself down cross-legged on the ground. Tirion took a seat on the leveled mortar.

“There is much you do not know about my people. Their honor and their pride left them long ago. I decided my duty to them was finished when my sons were killed,” Eitrigg said grimly.

“Were your sons warriors?” Tirion asked. Eitrigg scoffed loudly.

“All orcs are warriors, human,” he said, as if Tirion were a brainless child. “We know little else. Despite my sons’ strength and prowess, they were betrayed by their own leaders. During the last war our clan Chieftains fought amongst themselves over petty rivalries. As one particularly bloody battle concluded, my sons were ordered to pull back from the front lines. One of our Chieftain’s rivals, hoping to advance his clan’s standing within the Horde, countermanded the order and sent my sons and their brethren back to be slaughtered. It was a dark day for our clan. . . .” Eitrigg said, lost in thought. “A dark day for me,” he finished.

Tirion’s mind reeled. He was well aware of the fact that orcs frequently fought amongst themselves. Yet Eitrigg’s apparent grief moved him. He never imagined that such treachery could affect an orc so.

“I realized then that there was no hope. Corruption and enmity had completely overshadowed my people’s spirit. I felt that it was only a matter of time before the Horde devoured itself from within,” Eitrigg said.

“Where did the corruption come from, Eitrigg? What drove your people to such depravity?” Tirion asked.

Eitrigg’s brow raised and he appeared to be deep in thought. “In my grandfather’s time, my people were simple and proud. There were a few dozen clans then. They lived and hunted within the wilds of our world. They were all hunters back then—mighty warriors who lived by an honorable code and worshiped the spirits of the elements themselves. Thunder and lightning coursed through the blood of my ancestors!” Eitrigg said proudly, lost in the haze of reverie. “Wise Shamans guided them and kept the peace between the clans.”

Tirion leaned in, hanging on the old orc’s words. Surely, no human ears had ever heard this much of the orcs’ history before. “And then?” Tirion asked anxiously. He wondered if this was how Taelan felt, as he read the boy stories before his bedtime. Eitrigg continued somberly.

“A new order rose up amongst the clans, promising to unite them and forge them into a powerful nation. Many of the Shamans discarded their ancient traditions and began to practice dark magics. They began to call themselves Warlocks. For some malign purpose, they used their shadowy powers to corrupt the clans and drive them to heinous acts of violence. They did succeed in uniting my people, after a fashion,” Eitrigg stated wryly. “Under the Warlocks’ rule, the clans
were
united—as a rampaging Horde. Our noble warrior traditions were perverted to serve their dark, secretive ends. It was the Warlocks who brought my people to your world, human. It was they who drove us to make war against you.”

Tirion shook his head in bewilderment. “And no one spoke out against them? Out of an entire race of warriors, no one was willing to fight them?” Tirion asked heatedly.

“There were a few who would not submit. One of the dissident clans, led by an orc named Durotan, challenged the Warlocks openly and tried to convince the other clans of their folly. I remember the mighty Durotan well. He was a great hero. Unfortunately, few orcs heeded Durotan’s warnings. The Warlocks’ hold over their hearts blinded them to reason. For his courage, Durotan was exiled, along with his clan. I heard that the Warlocks’ assassins finally killed him, years later. Such is the way of the Horde,” Eitrigg finished. “Madness,” Tirion said. “If your people truly valued honor, as you’ve said, then I can’t believe that they’d let themselves be controlled so easily.”

Eitrigg scowled and sat silently for a moment. He looked up with stern eyes and replied, “It was a terrible momentum that gripped us in those days, human. After Durotan was taken away, fear and paranoia overtook my people. None would stand against the Warlocks.”

Tirion scoffed derisively.

Bristling with anger, Eitrigg erupted. “Have you ever stood against the will of an entire nation, human? Have you ever questioned an order, knowing that to disobey meant immediate death?”

Tirion looked away.
No.
He could scarcely imagine what that must have been like.

Eitrigg nodded, feeling his point had been made. “It was rumored that the Warlocks consorted with demons and drew on their infernal powers. Personally, I believe it to be true. The darkness that took hold of my people could not have been born in our hearts.”

Tirion tensed. He remembered hearing that the orcs had set demons loose to sow terror throughout the human ranks. The very thought appalled him. “It seems your people have suffered greatly, Eitrigg, even before they roused the wrath of mine,” Tirion said with a note of pride in his voice. Eitrigg gave him a sidelong glance. “However, your story is a remarkable one. I fear I may have misjudged you and your people along many lines.”

Eitrigg grunted as if amused and stood up to stretch his back. “Actually,” Tirion continued, “we are much alike, you and I. We are both old soldiers who have sacrificed much for our—”

Eitrigg cut him off with a wave of his sinewy hand. “We are
nothing
alike, human,” he growled. “I am a renegade living as an exile in a hostile land! You are a wealthy lord, loved by a free people, able to live life as you wish. We are nothing alike!” Embarrassed by his outburst, the old orc scowled and looked away into the distance.

Tirion considered the orc’s harsh words for a moment. “You are right, of course. Our people are at war. Thus, I must ask you, Eitrigg, on your honor—are there any other orcs in my land? Does the Horde plan to attack this region?”

Eitrigg sighed heavily and sat back down. He shook his head in dismay and looked Tirion in the eye. “As I have told you, human, I live here alone. I have no interest in dealing with others of my kind. I haven’t even seen another orc in years. I cannot tell you what the Horde plans now. I can only assure you that this broken old warrior has no plans to assault your keep or make any trouble for you whatsoever. I just want to be left alone to live out my remaining years in solitude. After a lifetime of fruitless war, peace is the only comfort I have left.”

Tirion nodded. “As a warrior of honor, I accept your words, Eitrigg. And, in return for having saved my life, I will allow you your solitude. So long as you remain hidden and leave my people unmolested, you may stay here for as long as you wish.”

Eitrigg smirked slightly in disbelief. “I think perhaps your brethren will hunt me down despite you, human. To them, I am the sum of their fears,” the old orc said.

“Yet I am their lord, Eitrigg. They shall do as I say. I give you my solemn oath as a Light-sworn Paladin that your secret will be safe. None shall hunt you while I have power to prevent it,” Tirion vowed. For a brief moment, Tirion regretted making such a bold statement. He knew it would be extremely difficult to fulfill his charge if matters became complicated. If his comrades ever found out that he had made such a pact, they would certainly brand him as a traitor. However, his instincts told him that this was the right decision. He stood, resolved.

Eitrigg grunted in satisfaction. “On your honor, then,” he said, rising to his feet once more. Tirion noticed the orc’s limp again. Eitrigg was obviously in great pain.

“On my honor,” Tirion replied, gazing at the orc’s wounded leg. “You know, Eitrigg, I can heal your wound. It is a power I have,” he said.

The orc chuckled in amusement. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary,” Eitrigg stated. “Pain is a great teacher. Apparently, even after all my battles, I still have much to learn.”

Tirion laughed out loud. He was truly beginning to like the old orc who, not an hour before, he considered to be the most heinous villain. “Perhaps someday I can return and converse with you further. I must admit you are not at all what I expected to find,” the Paladin chided.

Eitrigg’s massive, yellowed tusks seemed to stretch as he smiled. “Nor are you what I expected, human.”

Tirion gave the orc’s salute again and mounted Mirador with a grunt. He dug his spurs into the stallion’s flank and rode off beyond the orc’s sight.

*    *    *

A thousand different thoughts flooded Tirion’s mind as he rode home along the winding path. He wondered if he had made a mistake by offering the orc sanctuary in his lands. Nevertheless, he had given his word that he would keep the orc’s secret safe. Whatever else happened, he was honor-bound to protect the old orc from persecution, and that was that.

It was nearly dusk as he rode back into the keep’s stables. Tiredly, Tirion handed his reins to the stable boy and headed inside. All he wanted was to sleep and clear the day’s business from his mind. As he reached for the door handle that led into the kitchens, a strong hand caught his arm. Tirion looked up to find Barthilas blocking his way. There was a light in the youth’s eyes that made Tirion very uneasy.

“Milord,” Barthilas began icily, “we must talk immediately.”

Tirion sighed in frustration. “I’m very tired, Barthilas. We can talk in the morning if you wish.”

Barthilas’ grip only tightened. “I don’t think you understand, milord. You see, I know where you were today,” the young Paladin stated. His eyes never blinked, but held Tirion in their frosty depths. Tirion wondered if Arden had betrayed him and told of his errand. No. Arden had always been loyal.

“I know that you know there are orcs in Hearthglen, Tirion. I can see it in your eyes. I pray, for your sake, that you’re not covering up any pertinent information.”

Tirion bristled. He could handle the youth’s arrogance, but he would not be threatened in his own home by an overly zealous boy.

“I told you before, Barthilas. You will address me with the proper respect,” Tirion stated furiously. “As for your concerns, I have determined that my encounter was an isolated incident. That’s all you need to know for the time being. I suggest that you forget about this business and let the matter drop. Now take your hand away and let me pass before I lose my temper.”

Slowly, Barthilas released his grip and took a step back. His piercing eyes never left Tirion’s. The elder Paladin turned brusquely and entered the keep.

Left standing alone, Barthilas scowled in frustration.

“This is not over, milord,” the young Paladin hissed to himself, clenching his fists. “This is not over by far.”

*    *    *

Tirion made his way to his private chambers. He ceremoniously removed his armor and placed his warhammer back upon the mantel. He entered his bedroom and crashed down heavily on the bed. All he wanted in the world was just a few hours of sleep. Just as his head hit the plush pillow, Karandra walked into the room. She was surprised to find him there.

“Oh, you’re home,” she said sweetly. “Where did you go running off to this morning, Tirion? I asked Arden, but he wouldn’t tell me anything.” Her voice was full of concern.

Tirion tensed. He didn’t want to discuss the matter about the orc at all. He had given his word to keep Eitrigg’s secret safe, and the last thing he wanted was to be forced to lie to his wife about his activities. But, looking into her eyes, Tirion could tell she wasn’t going to settle for anything less than the whole story.