"Damn it, we're too late!"
Lothar pulled the reins tight as he looked down into the valley below.
He was leading the human cavalry, the high elf mounted archers, and other mounted units, pressing on day and night in hopes of reaching and reinforcing the defenders of Caer Darrow as quickly as possible.
The rest of the infantry followed closely behind.
Originally, the best course of action was to continue northward through the Broken Ridge, then cross mountains along the Horde's path to reach Caer Darrow.
That route would've allowed them to march across relatively open ground, advancing directly to Caer Darrow.
But now, they weren't sure if the time saved by a longer march was worth the strategic advantage.
Lothar had hoped to rally more forces from Terenas Menethil, but Lordaeron City wasn't on the way.
He'd considered a detour, but the Horde was advancing on Caer Darrow too quickly. This left him with no choice but to march at full speed. They had to reach it in time!
Now, standing at the edge of the mountains, looking down past the valley leading into Caer Darrow and the lake below, the sight before him filled him with frustration.
The Horde was already there. They filled the entire valley. The besieged town looked like a withering leaf hanging from an autumn branch, ready to fall at any moment.
"They haven't breached the walls," Alleria noted, standing beside him.
Alaric wasn't present, so the mounted archers he had formed were now under her command.
She and Liadrin stepped up next to Lothar, surveying the scene together.
"It's not too late yet."
"Yes, you're right," Lothar agreed, shaking off his disappointment to better assess the situation with a calm mind.
"This battle isn't lost. With our reinforcements, Caer Darrow will not fall."
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"In fact, this could become our advantage," he said calmly, analyzing the situation from all angles.
"The Horde doesn't know we're here. We can trap them in the middle. But first, we must make contact with Thorne and the defenders."
"Let me do it!" Liadrin volunteered. "Just give me a griffon. General Anduin and Lady Alleria need to command the troops. Let me handle the message."
Alleria, who originally intended to go herself, hesitated. After a moment of internal struggle over her longing to see Alaric again, she conceded to the sensible plan.
"...Be careful," she said, personally leading over a griffon and placing the reins in the paladin's hands.
"According to Thorne's intel, the orcs have a powerful warlock among them. Unlike death knights, warlocks excel in long-range and demonic magic. The skies aren't safe either."
"Warlock!"
Liadrin was surprised by the unfamiliar term.
After all, the last time the Horde had used warlocks was during the First War against Stormwind.
In the war against the Alliance of Lordaeron, to avoid the shame of fel magic tainting orcish honor again, Orgrim had replaced warlocks with death knights.
This meant the Alliance had little current knowledge of warlocks.
"I thought those evil spellcasters had all vanished." The paladin nodded with confidence.
"Don't worry. Don't underestimate me. Under the Light's protection, they won't lay a finger on me."
As if responding to her will, the Seal of Chastity in her hand glowed with brilliant golden light.
…
"Commander, look!"
Alaric looked up, seeing a soldier shouting and pointing beyond the city wall.
He assumed the orcs were regrouping for another attack and followed the direction of the pointing hand, but the soldier was pointing upward.
Alaric's vision far exceeded that of ordinary humans. He lifted his gaze.
When he saw a familiar girl riding on the back of a griffon, he was momentarily surprised.
"Archers, lower your arrows. That's not an enemy," he ordered loudly, eyes fixed on the approaching silhouette. "No one fires without my command."
The archers standing guard obeyed without hesitation, lowering their fully drawn bows.
In these past few days, under Alaric's command, these defeated soldiers, survivors from Alterac, had somehow managed to hold out for three full days behind Caer Darrow's not so sturdy walls.
Throughout the battles, no matter how fierce the Horde's assaults or how afraid they were inside, Alaric's steady and strategic leadership made Caer Darrow feel like a reef standing firm amid crashing waves.
The once-demoralized soldiers had come to respect the mage-commander. Whatever orders he gave, they obeyed without question.
But the humans defending the city not attacking the airborne rider didn't mean she was truly safe.
The orcs below had spotted the uninvited guest as well. When they realized their throwing weapons couldn't reach her, Orgrim finally gave the order for Gul'dan to act.
A shadow bolt of deep violet-black shot from the orc warlock's hand, imbued with deadly, life-draining power. It streaked toward the griffon like a guided missile.
This single bolt, launched by one of the most powerful warlocks, could snuff out both the griffon and its rider in an instant.
Yet the rider on the griffon's back didn't panic at all.
Just as the shadow bolt was about to hit, a flash of golden light burst from the griffon's back. Holy energy neutralized the dark projectile completely.
The attack failed to land, but Gul'dan wasn't disturbed. Instead, he revealed a curious smile.
He didn't bother firing another shadow bolt. Instead, he raised both hands and began chanting a wicked incantation.
This time, he changed tactics. As his spellcasting intensified, the sky above the griffon rider darkened from clear blue to a sinister green.
Then, countless fel fireballs rained from the heavens, engulfing the airspace around the rider entirely.
The griffon rider attempted to repeat her earlier tactic, using the Light to shield against the barrage.
Even the powerful fel flames could not pierce the Light's barrier. The rider was safely encased within it.
However, Gul'dan was far too powerful. His Rain of Fire lasted much longer than expected. Soon, the holy shield began to flicker, growing faint, struggling to hold.
From the walls of Caer Darrow, Alaric let out a sigh.
He understood that if he didn't act now, the griffon rider bringing their message would not be able to hold out. In the end, she would be consumed by the Rain of Fire and fall from the sky.
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