Icecrown Citadel (13)

Vanguard Port has been renamed Witherer Port, and Scarlet Cathedral has been renamed Dark Forsaken Bastion, becoming the Forsaken's main base in Northrend. Apart from Maraudon, the Forsaken's many leaders have never held a full-scale meeting anywhere else.

"I've heard that the Argent Crusade and the Knights of the Ebon Blade have begun to attempt to establish positions in front of the gates of Icecrown Citadel..." Rassuvios said, relaying information that everyone present already knew. He didn't finish his sentence, thinking that some people must have sensed the dissatisfaction in his tone. The reason no one objected to him was because they shared his resentment.

The Forsaken should have been the ones to launch the first attack on Icecrown Citadel.

"Where is Lord the Witherer?" Nathos asked, a question everyone else wanted to know. Nathanos was very punctual and never late for meetings, especially those concerning the Lich King.

Everyone turned to look at Belmont, who shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

"Is there anywhere the Shadowblade can't monitor?" Veronalara said sarcastically, immediately drawing a strange look from Belmont. She had almost forgotten that the Shadowblade leader's intelligence was provided directly to the Witherer. Could her private meeting with Sylvanas have already attracted Nathanos's attention? If so, she might already be under surveillance.

Belmont didn't refute Veronalara; he was facing the fortress gate when he saw the person everyone was talking about appear.

"The Witherer has arrived!" Belmont's voice boomed, sounding strange but enough to make everyone take it seriously.

Nathanos was used to ignoring the Forsaken's respect for him, and simply confirmed who had come here.

"Four?" he said with a slight smile. "I didn't expect so many people to come even with this last-minute summons."

Belmont pulled out a seat for him. The meeting was held at a round table covered in white cloth, left behind by the Scarlet Crusade, with the crimson insignia Crimson Crusade Lordaeron still emblazoned in the center. Nathanos's slightly cracked lips curved into a smile. The Crimson Crusade proclaimed their intention to annihilate all Undead creatures, yet now, with the decisive battle imminent, they were holed up in Lordaeron. The only fleet they had sent to Icecrown Citadel had also been wiped out.

"Actually, Giznok came too, but..."

"It's alright." Nathanos gestured for Belmont to sit down. "What I'm about to say has nothing to do with him anyway. He just needs to prepare the machinery the Forsaken will need when they attack."

After everyone was seated, Nathanos observed the varying degrees of excitement on each person's face and said, "As you all said, the final assault on Icecrown Citadel is about to begin. Our moment of revenge has finally arrived."

"When shall we proceed, sir?" Rassuvios's fiery temper was exactly the same as when he was alive; it was hard to imagine that he could still perform his recruit training duties well even after his death.

Nathos rarely spoke at meetings, but today was an exception. He spoke to the instructor, saying, "I must remind you, Rassuvios, that every action is based on a plan. And we don't even have a plan right now."

"Enough!" Before Rassuvios could reply, Belmont ended any potential argument between him and Nathos. The leader of the Shadowblade continued, "Master, the Forsaken are at your command at any time."

Nathanos closed his eyes and pondered for a few seconds before meeting everyone's gaze. "Unfortunately, someone else wants to share this feast with us."

Rassuvios stood up and shouted, "Then wipe them all out, especially..."

"Especially Stormwind City, right?" Nathanos saw right through his instructor's thoughts. If a dead person were to be resurrected and remember the thing they remembered most clearly from their life, it would be the moment they died, and also... why they died. "Stormwind City is also the Lich King's enemy and will participate in the attack on Icecrown Citadel." The Witherer's eyes narrowed. "Don't forget, Rassuvios."

The instructor sat down resentfully and stopped talking.

"I've heard that the Alliance and the Horde haven't reached an agreement, Lord the Witherer. What if they start fighting?"

Nathanos's gaze shifted from Rassuvios to Veronalara. So far, he hadn't sent Belmont to investigate the Dark Ranger. "This has nothing to do with the Forsaken," The Witherer gave Belmont a look, who nodded and unfolded a map on the round table. "This is a map of the outer perimeter of Icecrown Citadel. Because of the Lich King, we can't investigate the interior. But the Alliance and Horde will act separately. The Alliance will follow Tirion Fordring in attacking through the main gate, while the Horde will attack the outer walls. If they fight, it will only be on the walls or in the air; the Skybreaker and Doomhammer might just meet."

"Then from which direction should we attack?" Veronalara pressed.

Nathanos smiled at her, wondering if the Dark Ranger was eager to deliver the message to Sylvanas. "We will directly attack the second level of the fortress, and the four of you and I will be on the battlefield. There are at least several of the Lich King's powerful minions up there. Also, if the Alliance and Horde don't encounter the Frost Queen Sindragosa in the air, then we will be the ones to meet her. Therefore, this battle is bound to be extremely costly."

"Wait a moment, Master." Belmont, who never questioned Nathanos, suddenly understood the Witherer's meaning. He asked with trepidation, "You mean we shouldn't attack the Lich King directly, but instead give this honor to someone else?"

"You want to Lich King with your own hands?" Nathanos retorted, drawing numerous strange gazes upon him. It was as if they were asking: What do you mean by that? Don't you want to?

"Tirion Fordring, the Ashbringer, and his champion warriors trained in the Silver Arena will proceed directly to the Frozen Throne." Nathanos paused for a moment, and unlike the others, there was no trace of regret on his face. Anyone with eyes could see that he had accepted this fact with equanimity, without even consulting the other leaders of the Forsaken.

Rassuvios said unwillingly, "We have endured for so many years, my lord. Our only request is this opportunity, the chance to personally destroy the Lich King. How can we give it to someone else? I absolutely disagree!"

"You seem to have misunderstood!" Nathanos stared at him coldly. "I'm not negotiating with you, but making a decision. You may disobey, but Forsaken, and someone can take your place in attacking Icecrown Citadel at any time."