Galen oversaw the deployment of his forces at Dangarok Fortress. He determined that ten thousand troops would be the minimum required for the mission.
Three thousand high-ranking knights, one thousand priests, and one thousand wizards already accounted for half that number. The rest were a mix of regular infantry and musketeers, along with some farmers, as basic camps still needed laborers. Finally, Galen included the Gryphon Riders. These were openly displayed, as they were disciples of the Firebeard Dwarves and maintained ties with the Wildhammer clan.
After gathering his forces, Galen was ready to depart for the Hinterlands. A large contingent of high elves would accompany them.
"Hmph!"
A disgruntled snort interrupted Galen's thoughts. Sylvanas entered the fortress hall, her expression frosty.
"What's wrong, my Queen? What has angered you?" Galen asked, surprised. Sylvanas was known for her strength and competence. He couldn't imagine any of her Farstrider rangers daring to provoke her.
He quickly realized, however, that Alleria was also present.
"Hmph!" Another snort, conveying a sense of aggrieved defeat.
"Is it your sister?" Galen inquired cautiously.
"She won't allow me to lead the Farstriders to the Hinterlands! She's forcing me to stay in Tarren Mill as a liaison!" Sylvanas said, lacking her usual commanding presence. Given the long lifespans of high elves, Sylvanas was still relatively young. She hadn't yet had decades to hone her skills in the army, not until the Scourge invasion. In military matters, she was indeed less experienced than her sister Alleria.
Alleria Windrunner was a natural leader. She had participated in the Troll Wars from a young age, reportedly killing hundreds of trolls and earning a fearsome reputation among them.
"So, will you obey Alleria's orders?" Galen asked.
"Ha! Are you kidding? I am the Ranger-General appointed by Silvermoon. Would Lor'themar and Halduron dare to bypass me and follow her orders directly?" Sylvanas retorted, regaining some of her pride. While her battle record couldn't yet compare to Alleria's, she was a skilled commander in her own right.
"Then there's no issue. Your sister can only command the small support teams accompanying her. The Farstrider Legion is still under your command. As its leader, you should accompany them to the Hinterlands. She's not Kael'thas; she doesn't have the authority to strip you of your command." Galen was puzzled. If Sylvanas hadn't lost the argument, why was she so upset?
Sylvanas hesitated, unable to voice her true concerns: her sister's warning about the dangers of a relationship with a human prince, and the bleak future of unions between long-lived and short-lived races.
"Hmph!" Another snort. Galen began to panic.
What should I say? How do I comfort her? Help needed urgently!
"Sylvanas, I actually hope that both you and your sister will accompany the army this time!" Galen blurted out, having exhausted his repertoire of comforting words.
"Why bring her?" Sylvanas protested. The thought of spending time with her sister and enduring her constant nagging was unbearable.
"This time, the greatest danger lies not with our human kingdoms, but with Quel'Thalas, given the alliance between the Amani trolls and the Orcs," Galen explained bluntly.
"But the Hinterlands are far from our borders. It's a long journey for the Orcs. Is it really worth it?" Sylvanas seemed puzzled.
"The Orcs may not want to go there," Galen replied, "but once they're in the Hinterlands, their Warchief won't be the only one making decisions. He has to consider the trolls' desires as well."
Galen knew that the current generation of Orcs was still somewhat rational after drinking the demon blood. The Orcs still in Draenor had succumbed to its influence, becoming bloodthirsty and savage. Orgrim sought aid from his homeland to launch a second invasion, a difficult task.
The most influential Orc in Draenor was Ner'zhul of the Shadowmoon Clan. This old shaman, originally a spiritual leader, had resisted the demons but was manipulated by Kil'jaeden and Gul'dan.
Orgrim and the first wave of Orcs were, in a sense, acting against the demons' wishes.
Orgrim valued his troll allies. Although attacking Silvermoon was less strategically valuable than striking Lordaeron, it would deeply alarm the high elves in the Alliance.
The Windrunner family's territory was near the border, and the Alliance's two most formidable elven warriors were the Windrunner sisters.
"So, Zul'jin's hatred for Quel'Thalas, for taking the Eversong Woods, their ancestral lands, is that great?" Sylvanas realized.
"So, you were gloating earlier?" Sylvanas asked, a hint of menace in her voice.
"No, Sylvanas," Galen quickly clarified, "I'm thinking of you and your sister's safety. If the Orcs suddenly attack your kingdom, the isolationist factions within your country will surely blame you."
Reasonable, leveraging strength, secretly maneuvering! Wonderful! I'm truly a genius!
"He is right. Both of us should depart with the army, and quickly," a voice said. Alleria, clad in green, entered the hall. "Sylvanas, gather the troops! Galen, I hope your army can keep pace. If not, don't blame us for leaving you behind."
"No problem, Lady Alleria!" Galen replied.
When it came to mobilizing troops, Galen's forces were unmatched. He simply used a recall spell, and soldiers stationed at Crusader Fortress in the Barrens teleported directly to Dangarok. Within fifteen minutes, before Sylvanas had even left Dangarok, Galen's army was fully assembled.
"Alan, you will lead the paladin personal guard and three thousand knights. Mike, you will command the infantry, priests, and wizards!" Galen assigned command to his two trusted guard captains.
"Depart! Our destination: the Hinterlands!"