Alleria led the main fighting forces of the Hinterlands' eastern and western armies, along with some of their auxiliary troops, trailing the three hundred retreating Orc Wolf Riders in a great throng. She was in no hurry and issued no orders for a forced march or anything of the sort. Chasing four legs on two was exhausting. Those riders might have been on their last legs, but they were still cavalry!
The Gryphon Riders could handle chasing and herding them. The mud covering the Swamp of Sorrows severely limited the retreating Orcs' escape routes, giving them no chance to scatter and flee as they could on open plains. If they dared leave the main road and plunge into the swamps, they might as well have surrendered voluntarily. A single Orc, or a group of two or three, could be captured by any ordinary squad of Troll Hunters. More Orcs would merely mean sending a few more squads.
Once land cavalry entered a swamp, they actually moved more slowly than infantry most of the time. They generally could not ride there and often had to spend considerable time helping and tending to their mounts. And these Orcs were already in such terrible shape! If they were smart, they would never go in. In fact, retracing their route along the main road might let them get farther. Well... all right! Never mind how far they could get, since their mounts were already close to collapse. At least it would be more comfortable!
There was no chance these Orcs could escape surveillance. Alleria had not only Gryphon Riders, but Owl Rangers too! When they flew overhead, it hardly mattered whether the ground below was swamp.
Alleria led her infantry slowly after them at a normal marching pace, picking up Orc prisoners along the