Heart of the Mountain

The vast procession of several hundred thousand marched out of Blackrock Spire. The Blackrock Clan warriors, clad in newly upgraded equipment, protected the women, children, and transport convoy in the center. The forest trolls handled reconnaissance, a task they were better suited for. At Rend's demand, the remaining ogres had become laborers responsible for hauling the enormous, heavy supplies.

They had already delayed for three days. Rend simply could not resist the temptation, wasting three full days before finally beginning his escape from Blackrock Spire. Once outside, he calmed down considerably. Though the Burning Steppes were still scorching hot, the comparatively cool breeze blowing over him snapped him awake. Nefarian and his Black Dragonflight would not let him go so easily. They had to flee quickly.

Rend rode Gyth at the very front of the procession. Malkorok guarded the rear, while Vaur remained in the center.

To join up with the Horde's main force, they could only head north. Fortunately, the Blackrock orcs had become familiar with this route when they fled down here before: from the Burning Steppes to the Badlands, then Loch Modan, and finally their destination, the Wetlands.

The only threat to the Blackrock Clan along the way was the dwarves of Ironforge. However, after being battered by the War of the Three Hammers and the Second War, the dwarves had not recovered much of their strength. Some dwarven warriors had followed Muradin Bronzebeard, the younger brother of Bronzebeard King Magni Bronzebeard, north to explore the Arctic.

Thus, most of the dwarves remained within Dun Morogh, which they fully controlled, with only small forces stationed in the other three regions. As long as Rend was careful and moved quickly enough, he should avoid clashing with the dwarven army. From what he remembered, the dwarves had allowed the Blackrock Clan to escape to Blackrock Spire, which showed that they lacked control over the lands beyond Dun Morogh.

Although they encountered small groups of dwarven troops along the way, Rend ordered his men to show goodwill toward the dwarves stationed there and not launch any attacks.

Still, the migration of several hundred thousand people drew the dwarves' attention. Dwarves from the Badlands rode griffins swiftly back to Ironforge to report to their king, Magni Bronzebeard.

Even though Ironforge had no spare strength to control the lands beyond Dun Morogh, King Magni Bronzebeard still gathered an army of 120,000 dwarves to prevent the possibility that the Blackrock Clan was marching on Ironforge. They met Rend in Loch Modan.

Rend had ordered them to speed up the moment they encountered the first group of dwarves, but there were simply too many supplies and the procession was too large. Though the dwarves had rushed their army over, it had still taken them considerable time. In the end, they met anyway.

An army of 120,000 dwarves faced the combined force of several hundred thousand Blackrock Clan warriors and forest trolls. Though the dwarven army had fewer men, they were all regular troops. Even at full strength, the several hundred thousand allied troops were no match for those 120,000 dwarves. Yet Magni did not wish to annihilate this massive mixed army either, for it would cost the dwarves casualties they could not bear. The dwarves were no longer as prosperous as they once had been.

Neither side intended to truly fight. It was not a price either side could afford. Thus, the two leaders—King Magni Bronzebeard and Blackrock Chieftain Rend Blackhand—rode their mounts to the front of their formations.

"State your purpose, damned Horde. Are you joining with the forest trolls again to attack Ironforge?" King Magni asked Rend, sitting atop a massive battle ram and brandishing an enormous warhammer.

"No, King Magni Bronzebeard. My clan and I mean no harm. We do not wish to wage war; we merely wish to pass through this place. I swear that once we leave, we will not return," Rend said, not telling Magni that he intended to wait at Menethil Harbor for the Horde's main army. Otherwise, Magni would never agree.

"Who would believe your nonsense, Rend? We are old rivals. You are as cunning as your father, and I cannot trust you." Magni had clashed with the Blackrock Clan many times on the battlefield. He and his two brothers had all fought Blackhand, Rend, and Maim.

"Please believe me this time, Magni. I swear upon the spirits of my Blackhand family ancestors that I have no evil designs against you Bronzebeard dwarves. And to show my goodwill, I have a gift for you." Rend only said that he would not clash with the dwarves. The humans of Menethil Harbor were another matter entirely.

Malkorok carried a large box before Magni. He bore no weapons, and Magni was confident in his own strength, so he did not stop him.

"I would like to see what you could possibly use to move me," Magni muttered to himself. Then he opened the huge box, and a radiance shone forth from within.

"This... this is... the Heart of the Mountain? Yes, this is the Heart of the Mountain." Inside the box lay a gemstone larger than a palm, shining with dazzling brilliance. It was the dwarves' greatest treasure, the Heart of the Mountain, which had once been taken by the Dark Iron Dwarves. Rend had found it in Nefarian's treasury. By all rights, it should have been in the hands of the Dark Iron Dwarves, yet for some reason it had ended up in Nefarian's treasury.

"Now it has been returned to its rightful owner, Magni. I believe you have felt my sincerity. I will never harm your people, and you do not wish for us to destroy each other either, do you?" This was merely another weight placed upon the scales in Magni's heart, tipping them toward the outcome Rend desired.

"Very well, Rend. I can let you pass and guarantee your safety within dwarven territory. But you must keep your promise as well." The Heart of the Mountain tipped the scales in Magni's heart. He had not wanted to suffer mutual destruction with the Blackrock orcs in the first place, and the return of this dwarven treasure was more than enough to move him.

The dwarven army followed behind the Blackrock Clan until they watched them leave Loch Modan and enter the Wetlands, only then withdrawing.

Rend wiped the cold sweat from his brow. That was close. He had to thank Prince Nefarian; otherwise, there was no way the entire Blackrock Clan could have crossed dwarven territory so safely and easily.

When he saw the Stonewrought Dam, Rend could not help marveling at the dwarves' construction skills. Though the Blackrock Clan was no worse than the dwarves at forging, they had to admire dwarven craftsmanship in construction. Blackrock Foundry was equally advanced, but it differed from the dwarves' stoneworking. Even after their division, the dwarves could still build massive cities such as Blackrock Spire and Grim Batol.

When it came to construction, dwarves truly possessed gifts bestowed by nature. As expected of descendants of the Earthen, whom the Titans had created to assist them in building.

Having received the dwarven king's orders, the dwarven outposts and troops in the Wetlands did not hinder Rend's group. With the dwarves' guarantee, the Blackrock Clan could rest properly and ease the exhaustion from their forced march. They had traveled day and night for many days, which had been an enormous burden on the clan's elderly and children. Now, the orcs were full of vigor once more.