WarCraft: War of The Ancients Book Two. Richard A. Knaak

tion>

      

      A point of utter blackness formed in the center of the fiery sphere. From far within it, a voice filled Mannoroth’s mind, a voice as familiar to him as his own.

       Mannoroth … it is you …

      But not that of Sargeras.

      We have waited too long … it said in a cold, analytical tone that made even the huge demon shrink into himself. The way must be made completely open for him. I will see to it that it is finally done. Be ready for me, Mannoroth … I come to you even now.

      And with that, the blackness spread, becoming a huge emptiness above the pattern. The portal was not quite as it had been when first the night elves created it, but that was because the one who spoke from the other realm now also strengthened it. This time, it would not collapse.

      “To your knees!” Mannoroth roared. Still under his sway, the sorcerers had no choice but to immediately obey. The Fel Guard and night elven soldiers in attendance followed suit a moment later. Even Captain Varo’then quickly knelt.

      The demon was the last to kneel, but he did so with the most deference. Almost as much as he feared Sargeras, he feared this one.

      We are ready, he informed the other. Mannoroth now kept his gaze on the floor. Any single act, however minute, that could be construed as defiance might mean his painful demise. We, the unworthy, await your presence … Archimonde …

      WARCRAFT®

      WAR OF THE ANCIENTS

      TRILOGY

      BOOK TWO

      THE DEMON SOUL

      RICHARD A. KNAAK

      This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

      © 2018 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. Warcraft, World of Warcraft, and Blizzard Entertainment are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the U.S. and/or other countries. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the copyright holders.

      ISBN: 978-1-9456831-0-7

      First Pocket Books printing November 2004

      First Blizzard Entertainment printing March 2018

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Cover art by Bill Petras

      Printed in China

       For Thomas “Sonny” Garrett,accomplished writer and friend

      CONTENTS

       ONE

       TWO

       THREE

       FOUR

       FIVE

       SIX

       SEVEN

       EIGHT

       NINE

       TEN

       ELEVEN

       TWELVE

       THIRTEEN

       FOURTEEN

       FIFTEEN

       SIXTEEN

       SEVENTEEN

       EIGHTEEN

       NINETEEN

       TWENTY

       TWENTY-ONE

       TWENTY-TWO

       TWENTY-THREE

       TWENTY-FOUR

       ABOUT THE AUTHOR

      THE DEMON SOUL

      ONE

      The voices whispered in his head as he moved through the huge cavern. Where once they were but an occasional occurrence, now they never ceased. Even in his sleep, he could not escape their presence … not that he wanted to do so anymore. The huge black dragon had heard them for so long that they were now a part of him, indistinguishable from his own twisted thoughts.

       The night elves will destroy the world …

       The Well is out of control …

       No one can be trusted … they want your secrets, your power …

       Malygos would take what is yours …

       Alexstrasza seeks dominion over you …

       They are no better than the demons …

       They must be dealt with like the demons …

      Over and over, the voices repeated such dire things, warning him of duplicity, betrayal. He could trust no one but himself. The others were tainted by the lesser races. They would see his decision as a danger, not the only hope for the world.

      The dragon unleashed a puff of noxious smoke as he snorted at such treachery from those who had once been his comrades. Though he had the power to save everything, he had to be careful; if they discovered the truth too soon, it would mean calamity.

      They must not know its secret until it is beyond their altering, he decided. It cannot be presented until the spell must be cast. I will not let them destroy my work!

      Huge claws scraped fresh the rock floor of the cavern as the scaly behemoth entered his sanctum. As massive as the dragon was, the rounded cavern dwarfed him. A molten river flowed through the center. Massive crystal formations glittered in the walls. Huge stalactites hung like swords of doom from above, while stalagmites