You Were Grinning Foolishly Right in Front of Me

"What do you want to do?"

Teron Gorefiend clearly didn't want to see the Horde split apart either. He was very interested in what Kaldara had said.

"I don't know, so I came to ask you."

Kaldara said.

"Why me?"

Teron Gorefiend asked in return.

Malone also thought it made no sense at all—Kaldara shouldn't have known Teron Gorefiend's true identity, right?

If he didn't know where the Death Knights came from, why would he ask an outsider for advice about the Horde's internal affairs?

"Because I'm not good at thinking, and neither are the other Orcs. I figure you Death Knights can't be stupider than Orcs, can you?"

Kaldara asked.

So that was what this guy was thinking... Wasn't that a little too casual? Malone silently grumbled.

"I don't have any ideas. Besides, we've arrived. You should go back."

Teron Gorefiend stopped and spoke to Kaldara.

Malone looked up. Without realizing it, they had already reached the small hill. The prisoner camp where Tiffany was being held lay just beyond it.

"I'll go check on her first."

Malone no longer cared whether Orgrim was suited to be Warchief of the Orcs, or how Teron Gorefiend and Kaldara planned to make up for Orgrim's weakness.

He only wanted to see whether Tiffany was safe and sound.

"You don't mind if I come along, do you?"

Kaldara watched Malone disappear behind the hill, then looked at Teron Gorefiend.

"I told you I don't have any ideas. Why are you still hanging around instead of leaving?"

Teron Gorefiend stared intently at Kaldara.

Although this Blademaster had said things in front of Orgrim that helped Teron Gorefiend and Malone get away sooner, Teron Gorefiend wasn't as quick to trust people as Malone was.

"Three people will come up with an idea faster than one."

Kaldara said defensively.

"Don't do anything threatening, or I guarantee you'll regret it. I'm not Orgrim. I don't need to think things through."

Teron Gorefiend warned him.

This time, Kaldara didn't say anything provocative like "Go ahead and try." He only shrugged.

Teron Gorefiend said no more and walked toward the other side of the hill. Kaldara followed close behind with a brisk stride. What a strange pair.

Malone had already rushed to the wooden hut in the prisoner camp. The few Death Knights were still standing guard there.

Malone tried to rush inside, but they stopped him.

"What are you doing?"

Malone glared at the Death Knight blocking his way, furious and shocked.

"You can't go in."

The Death Knight said stiffly.

"Why? Did something happen inside? Who went in? How dare you..."

Malone flew into a rage and nearly attacked the Death Knight.

"No one went in. But Teron Gorefiend said no one could enter until he came back, including us."

The Death Knight said.

"That includes you, of course."

Another Death Knight added.

"You don't know who I am?"

Malone asked in surprise.

"We do. You're Maicomarlon, our comrade."

One Death Knight replied.

"Teron Gorefiend thinks highly of you."

Another Death Knight added.

"Then why are you stopping me? Listen, I'm grateful that you've protected this place, but..."

Malone wasn't too worried about Tiffany's safety now. These Death Knights were very dutiful guards—so dutiful that they'd even stopped him!

"No one can go in until Teron Gorefiend returns."

The Death Knight continued to stand in Malone's way, speaking coldly.

"You... Are you dead in the head? Can't you think for yourself?"

Malone felt like cursing him out.

"I am dead, yes."

The Death Knight replied.

"What happened?"

Teron Gorefiend's voice came from behind Malone.

"Are we fighting? Count me in!"

Kaldara said, eager to see some chaos.

"You can go in now."

The Death Knight stepped aside, clearing the way for Malone.

"Teron Gorefiend is back."

The fellow seemed to notice Malone's startled expression and added this explanation.

What a bunch of weirdos... Malone shook his head and stepped into the little hut.

At a glance, Malone saw the person he'd been worrying about—but right now, he felt like laughing.

Tiffany was still sitting on the hay. Her injured leg kept her from moving around, and she had no one to talk to.

Perhaps to relieve her boredom or to dispel her fear, Malone saw her holding two blades of grass she'd found somewhere, weaving them back and forth for fun.

Maybe she was so focused that she hadn't noticed him come in, even though he'd made a slight noise.

Her long, fair fingers darted between the yellowed blades of grass, making Malone feel a little dazzled.

Seeing that Tiffany was all right, Malone finally felt at ease.

He wanted to speak to Tiffany, but worried that he might startle her.

Malone knew the girl must be feeling uneasy, like a fawn in the woods, frightened by the slightest sound.

Malone decided to stay quiet for now. It wasn't as if his eyes needed a break, after all. Tiffany in front of him looked lovely—her face, her fingers, even the way she bowed her head in concentration.

But Malone only watched for a few seconds.

The girl soon snapped one of the blades of grass. As she looked around for another, she noticed Malone standing by the doorway.

"Ah!"

Tiffany let out a small cry. But Malone could tell there was little fright in it; her voice held far more joy.

I'm not so useless after all. Although he couldn't beat Teron Gorefiend or Kaldara, and probably couldn't beat Orgrim or Zul'jin either, at least...

He was the only person in this camp who could make Tiffany smile when she saw him. Malone felt rather pleased with himself.

Of course, he forgot that apart from Tiffany, he was the only human in the camp.

"Mr. Malone, you're back!"

Tiffany said softly.

"Mm, I'm back."

Malone nodded, went over to Tiffany, and sat down beside her.

"Did anything happen?"

Tiffany asked worriedly.

"No."

Malone answered with a smile.

"That Orc king... Oh, no, Warchief. He didn't give you a hard time because of me, did he, Mr. Malone?"

Tiffany was still worried.

"No, don't worry, Tiffany. You're no longer an issue. The Orcs are too caught up in their own infighting to pay any attention to you. But that's good for us, because it'll make it easier to leave."

Malone continued smiling as he spoke.

Even though he knew his smile looked silly, Malone kept trying to smile, until the muscles in his face felt stiff and a little sore.

My smile might be silly and ugly, but it should be the most reassuring expression Tiffany can see right now, shouldn't it?