"We won!"
"We won! We won!"
"The Scourge have been driven back! Kul Tiras is safe!"
Kul Tiras's war of national defense lasted five months from beginning to end. The Combined Fleet and army formations lost twenty thousand soldiers, with more than seventy thousand wounded.
After immense sacrifices, the war of national defense ended in complete victory. All forces of the Undead Scourge withdrew from Kul Tiras in succession, while those too slow to retreat were surrounded and annihilated by the Combined Fleet.
After the war ended, Kul Tiras held three days of grand celebrations. November 3 through 5 of every year on the Dark Portal calendar became Victory Days for the war of national defense. Citizens of Kul Tiras would enjoy three days of paid leave, and every household would also receive a subsidy of one gold coin.
That meant the Family Council of Kul Tiras would have to hand out three million gold coins to the public every year, free of charge. Rowan did not mind, though. Wasn't the nation's money the people's money?
To Rowan, money had long since become nothing more than a number. He had little interest in personal indulgence; what he enjoyed was finding ways to return the money he collected to the people. The process was not only enjoyable, but deeply fulfilling.
On the day of the celebration, Rowan approached Arthas and Uther with his cup raised.
Arthas looked distinctly uncomfortable. This war had given him none of what he wanted. He had never imagined that the Scourge would actually flee!
But on such a formal occasion, Arthas had no choice but to raise his cup and join his teacher, Uther, in a toast with Rowan.
Rowan's feelings were sincere. Whatever private disagreements he had with Arthas, the Arthas standing before him did