You Again!

Andy first accompanied Tyrande on a tour around the camp. He had to admit, the Dark Elves had mastered the use of nature's power. The camp was surrounded by a low earthen wall, with an additional layer of protection made from green plants.

As he passed the wall, Andy deliberately examined the plants. Each one was enormous and thick, some trees and others vines. He reached out to touch one. Tyrande tried to stop him, but it was too late.

The vine he was about to touch moved like a living snake. Its tip shot upward, whipped around behind Andy, coiled around his waist, and lifted him into the air. It was so fast and powerful that he couldn't have dodged it even if he'd tried.

Andona, who was touring the camp with Tyrande, let out a cold laugh. He could have stopped Andy from touching the vines in time, but he hadn't. He thought the insolent brat deserved a little punishment for acting so brazenly in front of him and Tyrande.

"Hmph. If you think those vines are lifeless, why do you suppose we keep them here?" Andona said. "These vines and trees were arranged by powerful Druids. They're infused with profound secrets of nature magic!"

Andy dangled in the air as the vine swung him back and forth. He didn't bother thinking about Andona's attitude and shouted, "This is amazing! It's practically a natural barrier!"

Tyrande smiled and walked to the wall, reaching out to stroke the plants. A glow spread across her hand. Slowly, the vine lowered Andy and released him, then slithered off to the side.

"Scared?" Tyrande asked with a smile.

"Not really. With this as a barrier, we should be able to hold back the Orcs for now." Andy glanced at the green wall.

"You said 'for now'?" Andona said with a frown. "Do you really think those Orcs you mentioned can cross the Maelstrom and reach this side?"

"They definitely will." Andy met Andona's gaze. "Lord Malfurion brought back word that they'd arrive in four or five days, but they still haven't come ashore. That means they must have taken the long route and gone far around the Maelstrom!"

"Even if what you say is true, can't this barrier, built with the hard work of so many powerful Druids, hold them back?" Andona was getting annoyed. This kid was putting them down while making the enemy sound stronger!

"The Elves have Druids, but do you know what the Orcs have?" Andy said calmly, looking at Andona, who was on the verge of losing his temper. "You've seen the Orc you captured, haven't you? What chance do you think you'd have of defeating him?"

Andona's face flushed red, but he had no answer. When they'd captured that Orc, half the twelve-member scout squad had been lost, and they hadn't even managed to bring him down. Only after Andona's reinforcements and Lord Malfurion arrived had they finally subdued the Orc. Of course, they'd been trying to capture him alive. If they'd been willing to kill him, perhaps the Orc wouldn't have lasted long.

"Orcs are known for their physical strength, but some of them also possess formidable magic," Andy said. "Once you actually face them, you'll see how terrifying the Orcs as a race can be!"

"Andy is right." Tyrande interrupted the general, who was about to argue again. "Malfurion has confirmed that the Orcs do have spellcasters."

After making another round of the camp, Tyrande returned to the tree-shaped fortress. A guard came in and said, "High Priest, Commander, Larsen has returned."

"Bring him in," Andona said.

A moment later, Larsen followed the guard inside, head lowered. He knew why Tyrande wanted to see him, so when Weiwei had come to ask about it, he'd slipped out on patrol—and stayed away for a long time. He'd figured Tyrande wouldn't come all the way out to find him, and that if he waited long enough, the matter would blow over. But today, just as he'd returned to camp, his superior had stopped him and sent him to the command post.

"High Priest, General!" Larsen knelt on one knee and bowed.

"Rise," Tyrande said.

Larsen stood and looked up. He saw Hilar beside Tyrande. "Hilar, you're here too?" His heart lifted with delight. "Why is it you again?" But then he noticed Andy on the other side, and the joy on his face clouded over.

"Larsen, where is the Orc you brought back?" Tyrande asked.

"I... well..." Larsen stammered, unable to get a full sentence out.

"'Well' what?" Andona had had enough. "She asked you a question. Why are you stammering?"

"I..." Larsen suddenly dropped to his knees. "I beg the High Priest to punish me. The Orc prisoner resisted too fiercely on the way back, so I executed him!"

"Then why didn't you report it? Why have you kept it hidden until now?" Tyrande finally showed a hint of anger.

"I... well..." Sweat trickled down Larsen's neck. Only then did he realize that something might have gone wrong.

"Where's the body?" Andy asked from the side.

Larsen and Andona both frowned. Larsen shot Andona a furtive glance and saw that he looked displeased too. Then Larsen put on a stern face and said, "The High Priest is questioning me. Why are you butting in?"

Andy didn't get angry. He simply asked, "I just want to know where the body went."

"What's it to you?" Larsen said with a sneer.

"If you won't say, I'll say it for you." Andy walked up to Larsen. "Did you leave the body in the village where the Furbolgs live?"

Larsen was genuinely startled. He'd thought he'd covered his tracks so well that no one would notice. Besides, what was wrong with leaving it there? They were just a bunch of lowly Furbolgs.

"Hmph. So I was right." Andy's voice turned cold. "Do you know that your mistake cost more than a dozen members of a merchant caravan their lives? Do you know that it nearly put the residents of Darnassus in danger?"

"And nearly cost Andy his life!" Hilar suddenly added.

"What?" Larsen thought he'd misheard. Something really had happened? How could that be?

"You're surprised, aren't you? And confused too?" Andy's anger grew as he spoke. "I told you at the time that if the Orc died, the Fel inside him would spiral out of control and contaminate the environment and living creatures around us. Luckily, it only tainted the Furbolg chief. Otherwise, the Furbolgs around Darnassus would have gone berserk and attacked the city!"

"Enough!" Tyrande stood up and turned to Larsen. "You understand the situation now. Don't let it happen again. You may leave."