Nekros gave him just enough movement so that Rhonin could see the orc out of the corner of his eye.
The commander had his wooden leg squarely on the wizard's spine, and Rhonin had no doubt that just a
bit more pressure would snap the spine completely. “I d-don't have it!” The near-full weight of Nekros's
massive body made it nearly impossible to breathe, much less speak. “I don't even know w-where it is!”
“I've no patience for your lies, human!” Nekros pushed a little harder. A hint of desperation colored his
otherwise arrogant tone. “I need it now!”
“Nekrosss . . .” interrupted a thundering, hate-filled voice. “You had them ssslay mychildren!Mychildren
!”
Rhonin felt the orc suddenly shift, as if turning. Nekros let out a gasp, then, “No—!”
A shadow overwhelmed both Rhonin and his adversary. A hot, almost searing wind washed over the
mage. He heard Nekros Skullcrusher scream—
—and suddenly the orc's weight vanished from his back.
Rhonin immediately rolled onto his back, certain that whatever had taken his enemy would now take
him. Vereesa came to his aid, dragging him to her just as the mage registered what had created the vast
shadow and why the voice accompanying it had been familiar.
Scales hanging loose in some areas, her wings bent awkwardly, the Dragonqueen Alexstrasza still
presented a most astounding sight. She towered over all else, her head high in the sky as she roared in
defiance. Of Nekros, Rhonin saw no sign; the great dragon had either swallowed the orc whole or tossed
his body far away.
Alexstrasza roared again, then dipped her head down toward the wizard and elf. Vereesa looked ready
to defend them both, but Rhonin signaled her to lower her blade.
“Human, elf, you have my gratitude for finally enabling me to avenge my children! Now, though, there
are others who need my aid, however minuscule it might prove!”
She cast her eyes skyward, where four titans fought. Rhonin followed her gaze, watched for a moment
as Ysera, Nozdormu, and Malygos battled Deathwing seemingly without result. Again and again the trio
dove in, and each time the black monster repelled them easily.
“Three against one and they still can't do anything?”
Alexstrasza, already testing her wings for departure, paused to reply, “Because of theDemon Soul,we
are more than halved! Only Deathwing remains whole! Would that it could be wielded against him or that
we could regain the power lost to it, but neither of those options exists! We can only fight and hope for
the best!” A roar from above shook the earth. “I must go now! Forgive me for leaving you thus! Thank
you again!”
With that, the Dragonqueen rose into the air, her tail casually sweeping nearby orcs away yet ever
avoiding the valiant dwarven attackers.
“There must be something we can do!” Rhonin looked around for theDemon Soul.It had to be
somewhere.
“Never mind it!” Vereesa called. She deflected the ax of an orc, then ran the warrior through. “We still
need to save ourselves!”
Rhonin, however, continued to search despite the pitched battle around him. Suddenly, his gaze alighted
on a glittering object half-covered by the arm of a dead dwarf. The wizard raced over to it, hoping
against hope.
Sure enough, it proved to be the draconic artifact. Rhonin studied it in open admiration. So simple and
elegant, yet containing forces beyond the ability of any wizard, save perhaps the infamous Medivh. So
much power. With it, Nekros could have become War Chief of the Horde. With it, Rhonin could
become master of Dalaran, emperor of all the Lordaeron kingdoms. . . .
What was he thinking?Rhonin shook his head, scattering such thoughts. TheDemon Soulhad a seductive
touch to it, one of which he had to beware.
Falstad, atop the gryphon, dropped down to join them. Somewhere along the way, he had managed to
gain an orc battle-ax, which he had already clearly used well.
“Wizard! What ails you? Rom and his band may have the orcs on the run at last, but here 'tis not the
place to stand and gawk at baubles!”
Rhonin ignored him, just as he had Vereesa. Somehow the key to defeating Deathwing had to be in
using theDemon Soul!Whatotherforce could possibly do that? Even the four great dragons seemed not
enough.
He held up the artifact, sensing its tremendous power and knowing that none of that power would help,
at least not in its present form.
Which meant that perhaps nothing,nothing,would be able to stop Deathwing from achieving his goals. .
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