"Sylvanas, Alleria, what has happened to make you so anxious?" The expressions of the two Windrunners puzzled Galen. The aftereffects of his drunkenness made his brain work slowly, otherwise he should have been able to guess the reason.
"The Orcs are heading north! Galen!"
Sylvanas told Galen the latest news, having calmed down from her initial panic.
She realized Galen had known this all along. His decision to bring her north, instead of leaving her in the Hillsbrad region as a liaison, was a warning: the Orcs would attack Quel'Thalas!
Galen had foreseen it!
"Don't worry, this is all expected!" Galen's composure reassured the two Windrunners. Anyone would be worried about their home being in danger. After traveling thousands of miles to help, they now faced the threat of their homeland being raided.
"Kurdran, tell me the latest news!" Galen asked the Wildhammer High Thane, his new brother.
"My scouts report that the Orcs retreated northeast and are now stationed along the south bank of the Yaggol River!"
The Yaggol River is a large river in the northern Hinterlands, originating in the northwest mountains and flowing east into the Sea of Forbidden. It also marks the boundary between the mortal and dragon territories of the Hinterlands.
Galen knew that a Green Dragon stronghold called Seradane lay north of this river, guarding one of the entrances to the Emerald Dream.
"This isn't the most important news. My scouts estimate the Orcish force to be only about 30,000 to 40,000 strong. Yet, these ladies report at least 150,000 Orcs entered the Hinterlands!" Kurdran said, observing Galen's continued calm.
The remaining 100,000 Orcs could easily sweep across the undefended human territories to the north, especially with the main human army positioned in the Hillsbrad region.
"After receiving the news, we sent Gryphon Knights north and found many traces of them crossing the mountains!"
If the Orcs crossed the mountains north of the Hinterlands, they could reach Andorhal, Lordaeron's agricultural center, the holy city of Stratholme, and even the royal city of Lordaeron. A successful Orcish attack would be a devastating blow to the Alliance.
Galen's calmness stemmed from his preparations. He had embedded many base farmers among the refugees in the Hillsbrad region, who had fled north. These farmers had already mapped out Eastweald and Westweald in Lordaeron, confirming the absence of large Orcish forces outside the fortified towns and villages.
Based on his predictions and the original timeline, Zul'jin was likely leading the main Orcish force north.
"Though I hate to admit it, the Orcs are powerful. A mere feint almost cost us our home and delayed your advance north!" Kurdran said, both lamenting the Orcish combat prowess and admiring Orgrim's strategy.
"Galen, they're heading to Quel'Thalas! We must leave quickly. Your knights can reach them in time to help! They already have a head start of several days!" Alleria exclaimed, then shook her head. "Lend me a Gryphon; I'll go warn them myself!"
The Windrunner family lived near the kingdom's border. Alleria feared for their safety. Despite the kingdom's strengthened defenses, Quel'Thalas couldn't withstand 100,000 Orcs and an unknown number of Trolls!
"No!"
Galen's voice was firm. "You're not going alone! And I'm not unprepared!"
"There are still Orcs in the forest. We can't risk them following or overtaking us. I need to leave some forces here to ensure the safety of our Wildhammer allies and contain this Orcish detachment!"
Kurdran nodded. "Thank you for your help. Once the Hinterlands are safe, my warriors and I will join you in the north to deal with the remaining Orcs. The sky is the Wildhammer Gryphons' domain, and we fear no Red Dragons!"
"Then I'll gather the troops, and we'll take your knights and Farstriders out!" Sylvanas trusted Galen more than Alleria. She forced herself to remain calm and listen to Galen, unlike the distraught Alleria.
"Hold on, Sylvanas. I said I have a backup plan!" Galen said, taking out several strange objects from his backpack.
Before the bewildered onlookers, Galen assembled these items.
Gandalf's latest masterpiece, a costly endeavor, was finally complete: the remote communicator.
It was, in fact, a video communicator, resembling a laptop computer due to its larger size and numerous arcane amplifiers. It no longer required Gandalf as the arcane signal source.
Galen turned it on and pressed the number two button. A light flashed on the screen. Sylvanas and Alleria waited for two minutes, and a handsome elf in a blood-red mage robe appeared.
"Your Highness!" Sylvanas and Alleria recognized their High Elf Prince, Kael'thas.
"Greetings, Windrunner ladies, greetings, Galen!" Kael'thas's clear voice came from the communicator.
"Have you returned to Quel'Thalas?" Galen asked, unable to determine from the High Elf-style room behind Kael'thas whether he was in his mage tower in Dalaran or Silvermoon City.
"I'm in Tranquillien!" Kael'thas's answer relieved the Windrunners. The prince was back in Quel'Thalas, on the front lines.
"I've been back for three days and just arrived in Tranquillien today. I'm starting to disperse our people from the border, but the effect is limited."
Kael'thas rubbed his forehead, annoyed. The High Elven leadership was overconfident in their magical defenses, and the long-lived elves believed the previous invasion was a fluke. Many stubborn elders refused to leave their homes.
"Then it depends on your methods, Kael. Strength isn't enough; you must show your father that you're a capable heir, not an indecisive leader!"
"You're thousands of years old, and I still have to teach you how to do things?"
Galen mocked him.