After several passes, Kurdran realized the Orcs were adapting. Their formation tightened, and he spotted Troll Headhunters among them.
The Red Dragons were also likely mobilizing. Kurdran needed to gain altitude quickly to avoid them!
He missed the Bronzebeard Dwarves. The Three Hammers dwarves were once united, but their styles differed.
The Bronzebeards were sturdy, producing many warriors suited for front-line combat. The Dark Irons had strong arcane talent, with many spellcasters. The Wildhammers dominated the skies, each fulfilling their role.
Kurdran wanted to try one last attack. He believed that with enough speed, he could strike before the Orcs could react, while staying out of spear range.
Unfortunately, the Orcs and Trolls had learned from the previous attacks. During the last Gryphon Knight raid, a volley of spears from the forest decimated a squadron in seconds!
"Damn it! These green skins!" Kurdran cursed, pulling at his copper beard as he led his men higher. "We need to negate their advantage, or we'll be overwhelmed. They'll swarm us like ants on a beetle!"
They were vastly outnumbered. Kurdran estimated at least thirty thousand large Orcs and tens of thousands of Trolls. They were also fierce fighters, almost capable of engaging the Gryphons in close combat!
Without assistance, they would soon breach the Vault Wardens' defenses, overrun Aerie Peak, and destroy the eagle statue at its summit!
Kurdran blamed the conservative elders. If they hadn't resisted him and maintained their isolationist policy, he and Falstad would have established large-scale trade and diplomatic relations with the humans long ago.
Isolationism bred backwardness. Meanwhile, other Wildhammer tribes in the Hinterlands were enjoying the benefits of trade, openly opposing Aerie Peak's closed-door policy and drinking fine wines, much to Kurdran's envy!
"High Thane! Falstad is back!"
Hearing the shouts, Kurdran saw his bodyguard leader returning with a small group of human Gryphon Knights.
"High Thane, I've brought human reinforcements!" Falstad shouted from his Gryphon, eager to deliver the good news.
"Humans!" Kurdran's heart leaped with joy. "If they can engage the Orcs and distract them from the sky, we can attack again!"
As he spoke, a deafening rumble came from the southwest mountain road – the sound of a large cavalry charge!
Galen, as the strongest, led the charge, with Paladins led by Arlubar at his side.
Since the Horde adopted the tactic of beheading enemy commanders, the elusive Blademasters had inflicted heavy losses on the Alliance. To counter this, many Alliance officers and generals now wore the same armor as their soldiers.
Galen wore a set of red-painted Monarch armor. While the Paladin's Lightbringer armor was impressive, he didn't want to become a Blademaster's target.
Those who don't heed advice get killed!
"Raise your spears!" Galen ordered.
The three thousand knights raised their two-meter-long fine steel spears, the shafts tucked under their arms, the spear tips gleaming.
The Orcs had also reacted. The sound of charging warhorses in the valley was deafening.
"Wolf Riders! Entangle those human cavalry!" Varok Saurfang, the supreme commander in the Hinterlands, ordered.
During the Eastern Beaches landing, he had witnessed the devastating power of human heavy cavalry. They could easily break through Orcish lines and must be stopped before they reached the main infantry formation!
Aerie Peak was just north of the mountain pass. Like most races, the dwarves used nearby wood for construction. Despite their mountain fortress, they also used wood, creating a large open space below Aerie Peak – perfect for Galen's cavalry.
Three thousand knights faced five thousand Wolf Riders. Both sides charged, and a violent collision ensued.
The Orcish Wolf Riders were at a disadvantage. They were a medium-armored, agile harassment unit.
Heavy cavalry excelled at impact. Thousands of them, charging in formation, created an overwhelming force that could make even fearless Orcs tremble!
Galen, at the forefront, wielded his longsword. He lacked formal knight training and preferred longswords.
After this, I need to practice other weapons. I should be proficient, if not as skilled as with a two-handed sword!
The heavy cavalry inflicted heavy casualties. At the peak of their charge, they discarded their spear-skewered Orcs, drew their broadswords, and engaged in close-quarters combat.
The Wolf Riders were explosive. They were less powerful than the knights in the charge, but gained the upper hand in the melee. Their wolves used their fangs and claws. Fortunately, Galen's knights were fully armored, and their warhorses, enhanced by animal companion technology, were more resilient and intelligent than ordinary beasts.
The Wolf Riders paid a heavy price to slow Galen's charge, but the melee reached a stalemate!
Kurdran was ecstatic!
The humans had successfully drawn the Orcs' attention, freeing the Gryphons to attack from the air!