The Harsh Reality

The Harsh Reality

But he did not stay pleased for long. He still chose to speak seriously. "This is not something that can be accomplished easily. Even Southshore cannot manage it right now."

"Historically, the entire Hillsbrad region did not belong to the Kingdom of Lordaeron. Many of the old people here still pine for the Kingdom of Alterac and the Barov Family. Given the current situation, they are naturally more willing to remain in the safety of Southshore."

"The soldiers of Southshore clearly would not be willing to travel to the distant north to fight the Undead. Only Lordaeron refugees have sufficient will to fight. Our cooperation with the Stormpike Dwarves has been very pleasant, but until they settle matters with the Frostwolf Clan Orcs in Alterac's snowy mountains, they will not send a large force to support us."

"As for the Gnome engineers and High Elves I mentioned earlier, there is not a single one here. The mysterious Night Elves are even more out of the question. We do not even know how to contact that legendary race."

"The food shortage is also severe now, and this is already the result of Hillsbrad and Southshore giving us their full support. The Dark Raven Knights currently have no ability to leave Hillsbrad and fight in Northrend."

"Our forces lack sufficient heavy weapons, enough mages and priests, and enough cavalry. Against the high-ranking Undead of Northrend, I fear there would be few living men left after a single battle. I must be responsible for those soldiers."

"The Undead in Silverpine Forest, Durnholde Keep, and the Syndicate bandits entrenched in Alterac all threaten our safety."

"One day, I will lead every Dark Raven soldier to support your campaign in Northrend. But that will take time, at the very least until the Syndicate threat has been removed. The Stromgarde Kingdom of Stromgarde is also on the brink of collapse. I must rescue them first."

Roderick laid out all the difficulties they currently faced in one breath, yet the other party did not seem discouraged in the slightest.

"In Stratholme, in the royal capital of Lordaeron, in Darrowshire, and in Andorhal, countless warriors have already died in the war against the Undead. No one knows where victory lies, and the only thing sustaining us is our faith in the Holy Light."

"Under your plan, victory will no longer be a distant, unattainable wish. I will await the day we meet at Tyr's Hand." Abbendis spoke with wholehearted conviction. In her eyes, Hillsbrad might be facing some difficulties now, but could those difficulties possibly be worse than the Scarlet Crusade directly confronting the main force of the Scourge in the Plaguelands?

For Bridget Abbendis, this night had brought more than a new plan for governing territory and reorganizing armies. More importantly, it had awakened her yearning for victory—something called hope.

It could restore confidence to defeated soldiers and fill everyone with fighting spirit. That was precisely what the Scarlet Crusade, trapped in Northrend's predicament, lacked the most.

For Roderick, he had somehow gained the favor of a beautiful Scarlet commander, along with the ability to indirectly influence the course of the war across the entire Eastern Plaguelands. At last, he could contribute a tiny bit of strength to the changes unfolding across Azeroth.

"Big Sister Envoy, were you with my brother all night yesterday?" Remilia's question made quite a few people spit out their breakfast. Many had seen Roderick and the beautiful Scarlet Crusade knight go up to the second floor of the inn together, and neither had come down all night.

Yet Roderick's prestige and the Scarlet Crusade's reputation kept them from voicing any questions. Even if they had doubts, they could only keep them to themselves. Remi's question voiced nearly everyone's thoughts. The gossip-hungry crowd absolutely adored this angel of Southshore.

"Yes, we spent the night together. I am very grateful to Knight Roderick for answering my doubts."

Although Abbendis had not slept all night, she remained full of vigor, without the slightest sign of fatigue. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed her armor in gold, making her look like a Valkyrie come to life. Many young men who had been secretly glancing at Abbendis were now staring blankly. "Big Sister Envoy, then you are quite lucky. Last time in Dalaran, there was a female mage who liked my brother. She kept chasing after him to ask him questions, but in the end, my brother and I rejected her. It seems my brother has just as good an eye as I do." Remi drank her milk and matter-of-factly recounted that embarrassing bit of history.

Everyone at the table was now too exhausted to make any snide remarks. Roderick had spent the night with a Scarlet Crusade female knight he had just met, and there had even been a female mage from Dalaran pursuing him. Ordinary people simply could not understand such a world.

Albert, who knew some of the details of what had happened in Dalaran, was also choked by Remilia's genius logic and began coughing nonstop.

"Is that so, Remilia? I also like the feeling of being with you." The Scarlet Crusade's grand commander, who had previously known only battle and slaughter, unexpectedly felt a trace of shyness.

She had seen similar looks in the eyes of many Scarlet Crusade soldiers. Those incompetent men had never stirred her heart in the slightest. But Remi's words still sparked a small thought in her mind. That was the man who would defeat the Scourge in the future. What would he think of her?

A trace of bashfulness appeared on the Valkyrie's valiant face, making everyone marvel once more at their captain's extraordinary charm. After breakfast, Albert hurriedly took Remilia away from the group and returned directly to Dalaran. That girl should go torment those mages instead.

According to the plan Abbendis and Roderick had discussed, she would serve as Roderick's temporary adjutant during this period, participating in all affairs concerning Watchtower Village and the Dark Raven Knights. Although the Scarlet Crusade did not have a particularly good reputation, as the strongest human resistance force in Northrend, Abbendis received the greatest respect from these young people of Southshore.

During the day, as she took part in administrative work, Abbendis tried to understand how much food a farmer needed to feed a family of four, and how even a skilled Dwarf blacksmith needed a long rest after swinging a hammer five hundred times in a row before he could continue working.

At night, she would continue explaining certain Scarlet Crusade matters that Roderick did not know, and together they would come up with better solutions. This was also when she was happiest: the two of them alone, working for the cause of justice and for final victory.

"Does this Scarlet Crusade knight have her eye on Roderick? They would not send such an unreliable envoy, would they? Could this be the legendary honey trap?" Arnold muttered to himself as he watched the two gather every night to talk.

Augustine found an opportunity to tell Roderick about some of the Scarlet Crusade's fanaticism, but Roderick did not seem to take it to heart. Meanwhile, the Scarlet envoy who had traveled south with him seemed to have no intention of going back at all. She was more proactive at work than anyone else, leaving Augustine utterly bewildered.

"Didn't you say you would tell everyone today why you left the Silver Dawn?" Roderick asked, looking at the distracted Augustine.

"Oh, it was like this. After the Silver Hand was destroyed, many knights continued fighting under Highlord Mograine and Grand Crusader Saidan Dathrohan. But before long, under the influence of Grand Commander Abbendis and Grand Inquisitor Isillien, this force fell into fanaticism. Many people with differing opinions were arrested and disappeared from then on. It was said that Isillien secretly executed them."

"Some paladins were dissatisfied with their methods, so they broke away and founded the more moderate Silver Dawn. They also received aid from Stormwind City and Dalaran."

"But the Silver Dawn made the same mistake as the Scarlet Crusade. The Scarlet Crusade grew narrower-minded and more radical by the day. The Silver Dawn tried to correct that mistake, yet they wanted to ally with the Horde, including the Forsaken of Lordaeron!" Augustine explained in detail why he had left.