But after the Frostwolf Rangers and the Nightstalkers had hunted them down together the night before, the Vilebranch Troll Rogues had already suffered devastating losses. As a result, few had been available that day to follow them into the valley. After all, it was a considerable distance, and they had no air force to carry messages over long distances. They could only relay information from one messenger to the next, like a chain of beacon towers. That gave the Nightstalkers a chance to discover them-and brought about their deaths.
As the troops marched swiftly back along their original route, Yu Lin Bloodhawk occasionally spotted one or two Vilebranch Troll corpses beside the road. They appeared to have died quite recently, since their blood had not yet dried.
"Have the Nightstalkers outside the valley started taking action too?" Yu Lin Bloodhawk asked Sylvanas as they walked.
"No! Those outside must not act! If they did, the Troll Rogues out there would notice and alert the Troll forces. We only need to leave a few Nightstalkers to keep watch."
Sylvanas explained, "What matters is the Troll Rogues inside the valley who have been following us. We absolutely cannot let them send word that we're returning overnight! Some of the Nightstalkers will clear out the Troll Rogues inside the valley. The rest will guard the inner side of the entrance and kill any Troll Rogue who tries to get out, to prevent word from leaking."
As he walked, Yu Lin Bloodhawk marveled at how thoroughly Sylvanas had thought everything through. He wondered whether, if he were a Vilebranch Troll unaware of the situation, he would have fallen for this girl's trap too.
The Vilebranch Trolls in Jintha'Alor probably still had no idea that they were returning overnight. They might still be foolishly waiting