World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm Page 0,118

cast an ugly shadow on his reputation in the eyes of many—too many. Why, he was as much a victim as Cairne.

So he forced his head higher, and quickened his pace. Baine was waiting for him. He was bigger than Cairne, or perhaps he simply stood straighter than the aging bull had. He stood quietly, holding his father’s enormous totem at his side. Hamuul Runetotem, Stormsong Grimtotem, and several others waited a slight distance behind Baine.

Garrosh eyed Baine up and down, taking his measure. Large, powerful, with the calmness that Garrosh recognized from Cairne, he waited almost placidly.

“Garrosh Hellscream,” Baine said in his deep, rumbling voice, and inclined his head.

“Baine Bloodhoof,” Garrosh replied. “I think we have much to discuss.”

Baine nodded to Hamuul. The elderly archdruid caught the eye of the others standing behind Baine and gestured to them. They inclined their heads and walked several paces away, giving the two what privacy they could atop this barren needle.

“You robbed me of more time with my father, whom I loved,” Baine said bluntly.

So this was how it was to be played. No false courtesies, which Garrosh despised. Good.

“Your father challenged me. I had no choice but to accept that challenge, or my honor—and his—would forever be sullied.”

Baine’s expression did not change. “You used trickery and poison to win. That sullies your honor even more.”

Garrosh was tempted to retort hotly but instead took a deep breath. “Much as it shames me to admit it, I was deceived by Magatha Grimtotem. It was she who poisoned Gorehowl. I will never know if I could have defeated your father in fair combat, and so I am as cheated as you are.”

He wondered if Baine would understand what that admission cost him.

“You stand there with your honor tarnished because she tricked you. I stand here, bereft of my father, gathering up corpses of innocents. I think one of us has lost more than the other.”

Garrosh said nothing, his cheeks growing hot, with what emotion, he did not know. But he knew what Baine had said was true. “I will expect the same challenge from the son as the father, then,” he said.

“You will not have it.”

Garrosh frowned, not understanding. Baine continued. “Do not think that I would not enjoy fighting you, Garrosh Hellscream. Whatever was on the blade, yours was the hand that cut down my father. But tauren are not so petty. The true killer was Magatha, not you. My father issued the mak’gora, and the argument between you and he is settled, even if, due to Magatha’s treachery, the fight was no fair one. Cairne Bloodhoof always put the tauren people first. They need what protection and support the Horde can provide, and I will do all in my power to see that they get it. I cannot claim to honor his memory and yet disregard what is best for them.”

“I, too, loved and respected my father, and have striven to honor his memory. I did not ever seek to dishonor Cairne Bloodhoof, Baine. Your understanding of that despite the treachery that slew him speaks well of you as a leader of your people.”

Baine’s ear twitched. He was still angry, and Garrosh did not blame him in the slightest.

“Yet—your mercy to the Grimtotem confuses me. I have heard that although you have driven them out, you did not exact revenge on them either. Here, the mak’gora or even stronger revenge seems appropriate. Why did you not execute the Grimtotem? Or at least their deceitful matriarch?”

“Whatever the Grimtotem are, they are tauren. My father suspected that Magatha might prove treacherous, and he kept her here so he could watch her. He chose that path so as not to cause division and strife. I honor his wish. There are other ways to punish than killing. Ways that are perhaps even more just.”

Garrosh struggled with that for a moment, but he knew in the end, he would want to honor his own father’s wishes just as Baine had. He contented himself with saying, “It is good, to honor the wishes and memory of one’s father.”

Baine smiled coldly. “As I have ample proof now that Magatha is a traitor, she has been banished and her power crippled. The same punishment is shared by all Grimtotem who chose to go with her. Many have repented of their actions and stayed. There is a separate Grimtotem faction now, led by Stormsong, who saved my life and has proven himself loyal to me. Magatha and any Grimtotem who follow