Sunlight streamed down from the sky. Aerie Peak rose high above the surrounding land, its summit thrusting into the heavens.
The wind blew steadily through Wildhammer Fortress on Aerie Peak, where the streets were clean. Few members of other races lived here; almost everyone was a dwarf.
The buildings were unlike those in Ironforge, where consideration had been given to other races. There, buildings were tall by dwarven standards, allowing humans and other races to enter easily.
Here among the Wildhammer Dwarves, the buildings were low. Rex swept his gaze across them and found almost nowhere he could enter comfortably. He would have to stoop through every doorway, and once inside, his head would nearly touch the ceiling.
"Your Highness, we should set out," Falstad Wildhammer said, checking the sky before rising and walking over to Rex.
"Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, everything is ready."
"Then let's go. We need to reach our destination before dark." Rex set down his cup and stood as well.
He walked out alongside Falstad Wildhammer and gave the signal to gather the resting Gryphon Riders.
The Gryphon Riders had ended up taking quite a detour this time. With the change in plans, they had been forced to return from the mountains along the border between the Eastern Plaguelands and the Hinterlands.
Once everyone had assembled, Rex mounted the Netherwing King, rose straight into the air, and flew off.
Over a thousand Gryphon Riders swept through the sky in a dense mass, blotting out a vast stretch of it.
Time passed little by little, and the daylight gradually began to fade.
Rex reached his destination, a valley where preparations had long since been completed. After dismounting from the Netherwing King, he stood beside him and watched the Gryphon Riders behind him dismount one after another.
They