Return

Augustine and Abbendis traveled together toward Southshore. They first headed west from Tyr's Hand, passing through Kaolin's Crossroads and Lake Mereldar. After resupplying briefly at Crown Guard Tower, they crossed the Thondroril River and entered the Ruins of Andorhal, now known as the Western Plaguelands.

Taking side paths to avoid the dense Undead forces stationed in Andorhal, they eventually reached Frost Camp at Chillwind Camp. The combined forces of Stormwind City and the Silver Dawn had established a crude forward outpost here. The Scarlet Crusade had not joined the operation because of its excessively fanatical methods of attack.

Reaching this place meant they had more or less escaped the all-pervasive Scourge Undead of Northrend. After destroying prosperous Andorhal, the Scourge had not continued its assault southward, instead gathering amid Andorhal's ruins. No one knew what kind of offensive they were planning.

After a day's rest, Augustine introduced the options to his companion. "There are two roads from here to Southshore. One follows the old route between the Kingdom of Lordaeron and the Kingdom of Alterac. It was built to a very high standard at enormous expense. Even now, it remains the preferred road for large caravans traveling to Northrend."

"The other route is much rougher. We can head directly south along the slopes of the Alterac Mountains until we see the Hillsbrad River, which rises amid the high mountains. Following the river will bring us to Hillsbrad soon enough. The only problem is that the road is difficult, and many fierce beasts lurk there."

"Then why mention the second road? Is there a problem with taking the first?" Abbendis quickly caught the hidden meaning in his words.

"Because there are too many bandits there. They control the most important town along that road—Strahnbrad, once the jewel of the Kingdom of Alterac. When I headed north to join the Order of the Silver Hand, those Syndicate thugs crazily attacked an entire merchant caravan guarded by soldiers. They were driven off in the end, but believe me, it was far from a pleasant memory." Augustine deeply despised the Syndicate bandits along the way.

"Then we'll take the second road. We've killed far too many Undead these past few days. I don't want to keep living every day on edge in human territory." Abbendis made her choice quickly.

"You've made a wise decision. We may reach Southshore even faster."

After spending so many days together, Augustine still did not know her exact identity. But aside from the Scarlet Crusade's intolerable fanaticism, he had to admit that she was an excellent knight as well.

Whether enduring the hardships of the journey or facing small Undead forces, this Scarlet Crusade envoy had proven herself a fine companion and comrade.

Abbendis, who had concealed her identity, had likewise noticed Augustine's strengths. Aside from his indecisive nature, he possessed many knightly virtues worthy of praise.

During night watches and in battle, he always took the initiative to attack, drawing more monsters toward himself and making her safer.

Both secretly regretted that they could not fight alongside such an outstanding knight. Yet the long-standing rift between the Scarlet Crusade and the Silver Dawn forced them to bury that beautiful wish in their hearts and continue onward in silence.

After a difficult journey through the rugged mountain roads of the Alterac Mountains, across muddy marshes along the Hillsbrad River, and after killing quite a few fierce beasts that had tried to seize them as prey, the two finally entered the Hillsbrad Foothills.

The climate here was much warmer than Northrend's. Vast grasslands and dense forests stretched everywhere, with animals occasionally passing nearby. Abbendis had seen enough of the lands corrupted by the Scourge in the Plaguelands.

Only after moving far from the Undead could the world be filled with the scent of life.

Even the savage-looking brown bear by the forest's edge seemed somewhat adorable. Sensing the joy radiating from the female knight beside him, Augustine could not help but smile. He had been away from home for years; the sunny boy he once was had become a young knight who knew nothing but fighting and killing all day.

With mixed emotions in his heart, Augustine heard Abbendis ask, "Is that Tarren Mill ahead, the place once occupied by the Undead?"

Augustine looked up. He had once passed through here on his way to Stratholme to take part in the Order of the Silver Hand's knight selection. The lively, prosperous town from his memories had long since vanished. The same rotten stench of Undead that filled Northrend rose from the blackened gray earth, with no sign of life anywhere.

Viewed from the sky, it looked like a disgusting cancerous growth abruptly appearing upon Hillsbrad's green land.

After Roderick's great fire, only Tarren Mill's old windmill still turned tirelessly. Whenever the wind grew a little stronger, the poorly maintained structure groaned with a strained creak. Perhaps one day, it would collapse completely beneath the passage of time, erasing the last memory of Tarren Mill from people's hearts.

Though he had witnessed even crueler and more terrifying scenes in Andorhal, Augustine still felt a dull ache in his heart when faced with the drastic changes to his homeland. Abbendis, on the other hand, adapted to the sight more easily. The people of Lordaeron in Northrend had suffered hardships countless times worse than this.

She silently watched Tarren Mill reduced to ashes, wondering what kind of person Knight Roderick was. According to Augustine, he was merely a kind-hearted young man with decent martial skill. Abbendis simply could not connect such a person with the cold-blooded, ruthless knight described in the intelligence reports.

Lost in their separate thoughts, the two traveled on for a while longer. In the distance, the restored Eastwatch Tower came into view, and the flags of the human kingdoms fluttering above it put them at ease.

Having been spotted by the tower guards long ago, they soon encountered a squad of soldiers armed to the teeth. "Honored knights, may I ask where you are headed?"

The soldiers were highly vigilant, though their attitude remained fairly polite. Abbendis did not wish to speak with soldiers of such low rank, so Augustine had no choice but to introduce them and tell the men that they had important matters to discuss with Knight Roderick in person.

Half escorted and half watched by the soldiers, they were brought into Watchtower Village. Augustine found that everything here differed from his memories. Human farmland lined the Hillsbrad River, vast enough that its end could not be seen.

Dwarf craftsmen and soldiers could occasionally be seen in the village. Judging by their banners, they were elite troops of the Stormpike Clan. Augustine was also surprised by the close relationship between Roderick and the Dwarf clan.

Abbendis remained silent along the way. In truth, she had been secretly assessing the combat strength of these ordinary soldiers. Even with that astonishing battle report, she naturally still had doubts about how much fighting power such a local militia force truly possessed.

But now she had confirmed the intelligence report's accuracy. These soldiers wore the standard infantry equipment of the Kingdom of Lordaeron, which she recognized well. The double-headed eagles on their chests and the Kingdom of Lordaeron banners flying over Watchtower Village greatly increased her goodwill toward the place.

Their equipment was no worse than that of the Scarlet Crusade's own core forces, while their spirited fighting will even surpassed that of the Crusade's lower-ranking soldiers.

The Dark Raven Knights, who maintained such close ties with the Dwarf Stormpike Clan, were even stronger than the intelligence reports had suggested. After all, the Dwarves had not directly taken the field in the last battle.