The Scent of War

Malkorok hurried to Grommash Hold, knowing the Warchief awaited him with good news from Northrend, but he was about to disappoint Grommash. No! The Blackrock Orc shook his head; it wasn't him, it should be those on the mission.

There were no other unauthorized personnel inside the fortress, and the chief took secrecy very seriously.

"Great Chief." Malkorok clasped his hands to his chest and knelt on one knee. Such a grand gesture made Garrosh frown; the Blackrock Orc's expression and behavior seemed to suggest to him that the plan had failed.

"How is it?" Grommash asked.

"Total annihilation!" Malkorok could almost feel the fury rising in the hearts of the Mag'han Orcs the chieftain's throne. Before that fury could be unleashed, he quickly continued, "We were originally successful, but on the return journey, we were attacked, everyone died, and we lost everything."

Garrosh strode over and grabbed Malkorok's arm, his grip so tight that the lieutenant's teeth chattered in pain. "Who did this?"

"We don't know. We can't even confirm their race. The enemy's deception is brilliant. The bodies of the action team were found with all sorts of arrows, and there were flags at the scene, seemingly left on purpose, and..."

"And what?" Grommash tried his best to keep his voice down, so he could only release more of his anger through force, which made things difficult for Malkorok.

"And the item left no trace. We... have failed!"

Garrosh kicked Malkorok away, sending the Blackrock Orc crashing to the ground as he struggled to look at the Great Chief was now in a state of near madness.

"You promised me success, Malkorok. You've let me down!"

"I am willing to accept any punishment, Great Chief." The Blackrock lieutenant maintained his initial demeanor, though blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "But we must find out who took what rightfully belonged to the Horde. And how did anyone know our plans? Our routes are top secret, even the Alliance ..."

"Who else could it be but Alliance dogs?" Garrosh roared at him. "Those who participated in the Nexus War and the Twilight Judgment War have all described the power of that artifact, Malkorok. You should know very well what the consequences would be if the Alliance used it against us."

Malkorok, drenched in sweat, lowered his head, unable to meet Grommash's eyes. He awaited the Great Chief's command.

"We need to speed things up!" Garrosh said quickly. "My plans must not be changed, they must not be."

"But we no longer have that weapon, what should we do..."

"Fool! Is Prism of Focus the only way to achieve our goal? Find another alternative," Garrosh said. "Bring me the architect of the old Kargath Legion. I want a bomb, a bomb that can destroy a city!"

"What if the Alliance really did steal the Prism of Focus and are using it against us?"

Reason told Garrosh he was right, but Malkorok's words reminded him of Cairne and Vol'jin; the former was dead, and the latter was the person he hated most. Grommash hated the so-called "consequences" that bound his hands and feet. He didn't need to consider consequences; he only needed victory, the victory of the Horde.

"Then raze the Northwatch Hold to the ground before the Alliance can act!"

"We must respond immediately, Jaina, there's no time to lose!" Sylvanas said emotionally.

"Should we believe this news?" Tervosh asked on Jaina's behalf. He, Jaina, and Baine, who arrived later, were gathered in the Mage Tower, arguing incessantly around the long table where Jaina usually worked. An open map of Kalimdor lay on top of the books covering the table. "That... Undead, can his words be trusted?" The Archmage asked, noticing the Ranger-General's murderous gaze fixed on him. Although Tervosh didn't understand why Sylvanas was so agitated, he voiced his doubts. In fact, his question contained another element: why would Sylvanas have a friend who dealt with the Undead? It was highly suspicious.

"I agree with Tervosh," Baine said. "Perhaps this is some kind of conspiracy."

"Do you expect to take up arms only when the enemy comes knocking on your door?" Sylvanas retorted. "How many people in this city don't hate the Undead? My friend..." the Ranger gritted her teeth as she said those words, "... knowing all this, you still risked sending someone to inform us, and you call it a conspiracy?"

"Because it sounds like..." Baine's tone was firm, "Or to put it more politely, a prank. What if we go on high alert and the Horde doesn't show up; or what if others find out that Lady Jaina has started believing a dead man..."

"They are simply cursed." Sylvanas's fingernail had already scratched a crack in the map. "Their mindset is no different from when they were alive, as evidenced by the fact that they risked their lives to deliver the message."

"But that Undead didn't reveal any useful information." Jaina replied gravely, trying to calm the agitated Sylvanas with rational words. "Without specifying the number of enemies, when the Horde would attack, or even the source of the intelligence, how can we believe it's true, Sylvanas? Based on your friendship with your friend? Who is your friend?"

The Ranger-General was stunned for a moment, her expression a mixture of pain and incomprehension as she tried to answer. She opened her mouth several times but no sound came out. In the end, she could only say perfunctorily, "You know him."

"I know countless people connected to the Undead, but this race is undoubtedly an enemy of the Alliance."

"Not all Undead are the Scourge," Sylvanas said. "Think of the Knights of the Ebon Blade; they were once under the Lich King, but they are still fighting for justice. Not to mention, many Death Knights have joined the Alliance."

Jaina found it hard to deny these words, and her heart sank considerably. But when she saw the Female Elf's expression, her doubts subsided. Sylvanas was always calm and collected, nothing could disturb her composure, but now she looked much worse than Jaina remembered. It was as if she couldn't speak of some truth or injustice. That feeling was very similar to when she faced her father.

"You're absolutely right," she said softly. "I apologize for my earlier assertion, and for your friend as well..."

Sylvanas shook her head. "He's not my friend," she said. "He was a very important person to me, but thinking about him only brings me pain and regret."

"I'm afraid it's more than that," Jaina said. She squeezed Sylvanas's hand reassuringly, then said to Tervosh and Baine, "Perhaps we should take this seriously. Baine, send out all your scouts immediately and have them keep a close watch on all the Horde around Theramore. Tervosh, send a messenger to the Northwatch Hold. Tell the Alliance commander there that the Horde may be making a move soon."

"Whether it's true or not, you've done a wise thing, ma'am," Baine said, and then immediately went to carry out the order.

"If the Horde is going to attack us, it won't just be the Horde in Durotar that will take action. Should we send people to monitor Thunder Bluff?"

"Your concerns are valid, Tervosh," Jaina nodded. "But I helped Baine when the Tauren were in turmoil, so he shouldn't be so ungrateful."

Sylvanas's voice warned, "This may not be an ordinary attack, Jaina! Perhaps the entire Horde will send its troops to fight."

"We don't know the situation yet, so it's best not to think about the worst-case scenario. Assuming Garrosh's target is indeed us, it will be difficult to defend against them with Theramore's walls. But if that happens, we can ask for support from all sides."

"I hope so," Sylvanas sighed.

"Ms. Jaina."

At that moment, a guard rushed in, and his flustered appearance immediately made the atmosphere tense again.

"What's wrong, guard?"

The guard glanced at Sylvanas, seemingly casually. "Our patrol outside caught a Horde spy. He claims to be a Sin'dorei mage from Dalaran and specifically requests to see Lady Sylvanas, saying he has important information to share."

"Another one has arrived," Jaina said, looking at the Female Elf with a puzzled expression and seeking her opinion.

Sylvanas's face paled. "Sin'dorei," she murmured, immediately realizing who had sent her the message.

Before leaving Quel'Thalas, she even angrily announced that she would abandon her surname, believing that her family had long since left her and were no longer like strangers...

"I know this is inappropriate, Jaina," Sylvanas said. "But please let the messenger in. I believe he brings news we already know."

Jaina glanced at her, a pang of sympathy rising within her. Sylvanas was the one who had the most similar experience to hers in Theramore. "I hope he's just brought some diplomatic words of condolence." She walked to the table, feeling the guards watching her curiously. She reached out her slender hand, picked up the teapot, and slowly poured several cups before saying to the soldier, "Bring him here, guard. Remember to make sure it's discreet and quiet."

"This wasn't part of the plan, child." Nathanos glanced at the dazed Onyxian.

Twilight Dragon felt a pang of guilt, but it wasn't because of his own presumptuous behavior; rather, it was because he had been reprimanded by his father.

Before them lay a clean and comfortable soft bed, upon which lay a pale, frail body, barely clinging to life.

"I... I don't know why," Onyxian said, bowing his head. "But when I saw her lying in a pool of blood, with even the slightest chance of survival, I couldn't turn a blind eye, Father. I instinctively took her with me and brought her here."

"I've seen her." Nathanos looked at Tethys's face. "She's Kalecgos's sister, and that alone is dangerous enough for us. If she finds out that we obtained the Prism of Focus, then we'll probably be accused of being the 'mastermind' behind their attack."

"I understand," Onyxian said, his voice heavy with unease. "I'll get rid of her immediately."

Nathanos stopped him. In an instant, Twilight Dragon saw an extremely complex emotion well up in his father's eyes. "Fine, as long as I make sure she can't leave here. At least until my plan is complete, she has to stay in Maraudon."

Onyxian smiled. "You are wise, Father. I assure you, I will personally monitor her and sever her ties with other members of her kind."

"Before that, there's one more thing you need to do."

"Please speak, Father."

Nathanos nodded toward Tethys. The Twilight Dragon, understanding the gesture, used magic to mute her hearing.

"Although you have sealed the Prism of Focus's trail with magic, we cannot be sure if there are any exceptionally capable individuals among the Blue Dragons. If anyone can still sense the Prism of Focus, even a very faint one, it would be extremely dangerous for us. Therefore, I have decided that the Prism of Focus must be hidden before I set off to find the last element of the plan."

Where do you plan to hide it?

Where will the Blue Dragonflight hide it?

Onyxian paused for a moment, then instantly understood what Nathanos meant. He nodded and turned to leave.

As soon as the human-shaped Twilight Dragon stepped out of the room, a guard immediately approached Nathanos.

"Master, Lord Meryl has returned, and he has brought back the message you requested."

"Tell him to wait for me in the conference room," Nathanos said. "Also, have a few mages set up a magic-suppressing barrier in this room. If the blue dragon wakes up, she must not be harmed, and her emotions should be kept as stable as possible."

"As you wish, Master."

Soon, Nathanos arrived at the conference room alone. Meryl was looking at the Forsaken's strategic map hanging on the wall, where their territories were marked with dark blue skull and crossbow banners.

"A lot has happened while you were gone." The Witherer walked up to the mage. Only then did he notice that Meryl's gaze wasn't fixed on the main roads of Kalimdor or the Eastern Kingdoms, but on the southern end of the map.

"Maybe so, but you can smell the war in Kalimdor," Meryl said.

Nathanos scoffed dismissively, "It's just a war that has nothing to do with the Forsaken."