Argent Dawn spent the entire midday at Balnir Farmstead, spending considerable time arranging work for the laborers and reorganizing the prisoners.
Humans could follow the Argent Dawn back to the Monastery, while other races could only go to Venomspider Gorge. Pulhart provided the Elves and Dwarves with some weapons and equipment to assist in escorting the other prisoners.
As the only Night Elf in the team, Beryl Bladesong was too conspicuous, Unas couldn't keep her by his side even if he wanted to.
"Why do I have to go to that Canyon? I want to go home with Brother Unas!" Upon learning that she would be separated from Unas, Beryl immediately pouted.
These words made Unas feel quite elated. No girl had ever said she wanted to go home with him before, even though the Monastery wasn't his home.
He also wanted to keep this cheerful Elf girl by his side, but military orders were paramount. So many people had seen a Night Elf with him; he couldn't just make Beryl disappear.
"I told Stonebrows he would take care of you, and I also found out that there are Night Elves stationed in the stronghold of Venomspider Gorge, so you can reunite with your kin," Unas comforted the Elf girl.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Beryl was indeed very excited upon hearing the news; she hadn't seen her compatriots in a long time.
"I will also accompany the escort team to the valley, and I will leave after you are settled." Unas has decided to go to the Venomspider Gorge, firstly to confirm Beryl's safety and put his mind at ease, and secondly because he is very curious about that place and wonders how it differs from the one in the game.
"Brother Unas, thank you so much!" Beryl's silver eyes sparkled like countless little stars.
Unas smiled and patted her head, when he suddenly felt a murderous aura behind him. He turned around and saw Whitemane glancing at them sideways. When she noticed Unas looking over, she quickly looked away.
Had the vinegar jar been overturned again? Unas thought to himself with secret delight; being too popular was, after all, a kind of trouble.
Venomspider Gorge is a wide valley near Farshire, even larger than the Farshire. The valley is covered with lush forests and has large areas of flat, fertile land, but it has never been developed. The reason for this is the giant Poison Spiders that are everywhere in the valley.
This land seems to possess some kind of magic; natural disasters Scourge cannot affect its ecology, and Undead creatures dare not invade.
If the threat of the spiders can be eliminated, this place will be a good base. The Argent Dawn probably saw this as well, which is why they set up their base here.
At dusk, the Knights reached the fork in the Canyon. Unas parted ways with the vanguard and escorted Beryl and Stonebrow's group of Dwarves into the valley.
The air in Venomspider Gorge seemed fresher than outside, and the mountains and waters were lush and green all around. Beryl was overjoyed. "I feel like the Forest here is welcoming me!"
"Not just in the Forest, anyone would welcome the lovely Beryl." Unas felt his conversation skills with girls had improved considerably.
"Really? Brother Unas will welcome me too?"
"Haha, I'm just saying goodbye."
Chatting and laughing all the way, they soon approached their destination. From a distance, the stronghold was built on a high ground backed by a cliff. Only a narrow, man-made passage extended down in a zigzag shape, ensuring that the camp was easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it could also easily become a dead end if surrounded.
The scouts had already brought news of their arrival. At that moment, a small group of people was coming to meet them on the path. Leading them were a female Elf Ranger and a human Knight, oh, and a Dwarf Warrior riding Pony, huffing and puffing as he desperately followed behind them.
The Elves and humans arrived first and were about to exchange pleasantries with the officer in charge of escorting the prisoners when a loud voice boomed from behind them. "Hey you two bastards, couldn't you have waited for me?!"
"Redbrow!" Unas was admiring the High Elf ranger at the front of the group when Stonebrow beside him suddenly shouted, her voice almost trembling with tears.
The grumbling Dwarf Warrior, hearing the shout, craned his neck to look and immediately widened his eyes. "Jommod!"
The red-bearded Dwarf Warrior immediately dismounted and ran over. "My brother, you're not dead yet!"
"You're not dead either, that's wonderful!" Stonebrow stepped forward and hugged his brother, and the two Dwarves staged a family reunion that was anything but touching.
This Dwarf Warrior seemed to be the leader of the Dwarves in the stronghold. With Stonebrow's connection, Beryl would surely not be bullied in the valley. Thinking of this, Unas stepped forward to exchange pleasantries.
After introduction, it was revealed that this Dwarf Warrior was Stonebrow's cousin, Dugal Redbrow. He was originally a minor lord in Loch Modan, but was ordered by the Dwarf King to join the Alliance army aiding Lordaeron.
After the Alliance's defeat, he was stranded in Farshire, and later expelled by Abbendis's order. He held the highest position among the Dwarves in the valley, so he became their Dwarf.
"I heard the Argent Dawn had a great harvest this time, and it seems it was indeed quite substantial," the Dwarf Warrior said, looking at the long line and the provisions carried on each person's back.
"That's right. We're really grateful to the Argent Dawn for saving us this time, otherwise your brother would still be working for the Dreadlord," Stonebrow said, patting his cousin's shoulder with an air of seniority, and then inquired, "How's the situation here?"
Dugal Redbrow frowned slightly, his deep red eyebrows furrowing. "Not good. There are quite a few wounded, and we're almost out of food. You've come at just the right time."
Just then, a loud whistle rang out; it was the human Knight who had greeted the squad, seemingly reminding the Dwarf Warriors to rejoin the group.
The Dugal Redbrow exchange did cause a bit of traffic congestion. The two cousins hadn't seen each other in a long time and had a lot to say, but now wasn't the time. Redbrow clicked his tongue and said, "Brother, let's talk later."
After saying that, he muttered to himself and went back to the front row. Led by the human Knight, the group continued to move forward, ascending the narrow and steep path, until a low Stone Wall came into view of Unas.
The mottled marks on the Stone Wall indicate that a fierce battle once took place here. Approaching the Stone Wall, one can also smell a pungent odor. The wooden door in the center of the Stone Wall is wide open, and the people in the stronghold stand on both sides to welcome them.
Although it is a gathering place for different races, the majority of the population are humans, followed by Dwarves Elves. Most of these humans have been turned away from the Monasteries for various reasons and have no choice but to come here to seek refuge.
Of course, we cannot rule out the possibility that a saintly figure might have come here to help the alien race.
Upon entering the gate, the scene inside was much smaller than Unas had imagined. Near the Stone Wall was a group of damaged buildings, which appeared to have been destroyed in a battle.
The wooden houses, large and small, are crammed together on the surrounding uneven hillsides, seemingly unable to accommodate so many people.
Walking a little further in and around a big bend, Unas suddenly realized that the mountain wall in front of him was covered with a dense array of Caves, and people were peeking out of many of the cave entrances to watch the excitement.
Stonebrow told him that the population of this stronghold should be around two thousand, and with the newly added prisoners, it might exceed three thousand.
Unas felt a bitter taste in his mouth. This place was already short of food, and with so many more mouths to feed, the spoils of war could last for a while, but without a stable food source, they would be doomed.
Unas shook his head, wondering what the leaders of the Argent Dawn were planning. It wasn't something a nobody like him should care about; he only wished for the safety of his friends, Beryl and Stonebrow.