"I don't know why they started this war!" Zuga said, shaking his head with a sigh. "Perhaps they thought this was the best opportunity to expand their territory!"
"But with such a huge gap in strength between the two sides, didn't they realize that?" Fifteen asked incredulously.
"No! They knew," Zuga said, shaking his head. "That's why the wars between Zul'Aman and Quel'Thalas were never very large before. They always restrained themselves to keep the fighting from spreading."
"Oh, I see!" Fifteen nodded. "They were gambling! But they certainly never expected the orcs to turn toward Lordaeron halfway through, causing their defeat!"
"They really shouldn't have started this war!" Zuga shook his head, his voice heavy with helplessness.
"This must be hard on you," Fifteen said, patting Zuga on the shoulder.
"You said the Quel'Thalas army drove Zul'Aman's forces all the way from Fairbreeze Village to south of Tranquillien?" Zuga turned to ask.
"That was how things stood the last time I returned to the Hinterlands, anyway. But things change in an instant during a war. I don't know exactly what the situation is now!" Fifteen said.
"Then do you think Zul'Aman's army can still hold out?" Zuga asked, seemingly clinging to a sliver of hope.
Fifteen looked at Zuga, then shook his head and sighed. "Even if I said they could, you probably wouldn't believe it yourself!"
Zuga nodded and said nothing more.
Fifteen stood and patted Zuga's shoulder again without saying anything. He knew Zuga needed some time to think calmly and come to terms with things.
Fifteen walked to the bow, where the cold wind blowing off the sea cleared his head a little. He actually wanted to tell Zuga. No one knew the situation in Quel'Thalas better than he did, but he did not dare speak