Compared with Kalimdor, where things were relatively stable, Northrend faced the most dire situation. Varian had eventually left. He had his reasons, but before departing, he had left behind a force of elite elites: the Gryphon Riders led by the Dragonslayer, Kurdran Bronzebeard. Leaving such a crack force behind was the least the Alliance could do after suffering such heavy losses in the Northrend campaign.
Leiluo and Fordring didn't blame him. But Varian's departure with the Alliance army wasn't what troubled them most. What troubled Leiluo and Fordring most was the news Bovar had sent from Icecrown Glacier: the Scourge had been defeated. Its pale, seemingly endless waves of undead had ultimately failed to stop the enemy's Iron Legion.
Iron Giants, Iron Dwarves, and Iron Vrykul were all creations of the Titans. They had avoided infection by the Old Gods' Flesh Curse by taking shelter in Ulduar, where the Keepers dwelled. But now they stood against the flesh-and-blood creatures they had once scorned. This time, however, they had become the Old Gods' minions by another means: they were being controlled. This was even more absolute than the Flesh Curse, for they had betrayed the faith they once held.
The Iron Tide struck fear into anyone who faced it. Even the ocean-like army of the Undead was smashed into disarray by its charge. Icecrown Citadel, once the Scourge's pride, was as flimsy as a veil before Loken's iron army, which pierced through it with ease. The Lich King had lost his throne and fled in every direction like a stray dog.
The news was hardly cause for celebration for Leiluo and Fordring. If they were dealing only with Frost Giants and Frost Trolls, they were still flesh and blood; they could trade their lives for injuries and eventually win. But against