Five days later, the Horde was establishing its own forward position in the Hillsbrad Foothills. They would not overlook even the slightest bit of usable supplies in the surrounding area—timber, stone, and so on.
Orgrim was carefully considering a foolproof strategy for dealing with the humans. More than anyone, he understood humanity's resilience. Before him lay a map of the north provided by the Forest Trolls. Upon seeing such vast lands, Orgrim wanted to claim them at once.
"Rend," he called, and his adjutant entered.
"What are your orders, Great Chief?"
"Send three messengers to notify Zul'jin, Maim, and Grommash. Tell them to accelerate all preparations immediately."
"Yes, I'll go at once."
"Wait." Orgrim waved Rend back, having thought of something else. "Send another messenger to the Dragonmaw Clan. I want to know how Zuluhed is progressing with that matter."
"Great Chief!" A soldier rushed in, nearly unable to stop himself.
Doomhammer frowned. "What is it? Have the humans attacked?"
The soldier shook his head, then nodded.
"Speak clearly, warrior."
"They're humans, but they haven't come to attack. He says he's a messenger."
"A messenger? Ha!" Rend burst into laughter. "Great Chief, let me chop him into chunks and send him back."
"No." Orgrim stopped him. "Bring him here to see me."
The adjutant found it strange that Doomhammer would do this. They had encountered human messengers before, but they had always killed them outright to make the humans understand. Orgrim had said that doing so would frighten the humans, but this time the Great Chief clearly had other thoughts.
Rend arrived outside the camp, where the human messenger waited under the escort of two cavalrymen. All three looked extremely nervous.
"Let them in!" Rend shouted at the soldiers. "The Great Chief wants to see them." A wave of jeers