Encounter

The Horde army reached Dustwallow Marsh at dusk three days later. The Terror Totem members who had once roamed the marsh were swiftly cleared out, and their camp became a Horde stronghold.

Jaina hoped what she was seeing was not real. She even prayed that it was not. But the magnified image in her telescope made her heart sink!

"So many," she murmured. Horde tents covered the hills and plains, while vast numbers of trees had been felled and turned into materials for their crude shelters.

Baine and Tervosh both looked through their telescopes, their expressions grim.

"Nearly a hundred catapults," Baine said. "Garrosh is determined to win this war."

"Stormwind City's fleet will take at least another day or two to arrive," Jaina said gloomily. "Before the Seventh Legion gets here, we must hold back their assault."

"Interestingly, they do not look like they intend to attack."

Tervosh lowered his telescope. "They are waiting for that bomb. That must be it."

"Where is Sylvanas?" Jaina asked.

"I heard she sent an old man from the city aboard a transport ship bound for Stormwind City. She should be at the city gates now, overseeing the defenses."

"You go help her too, Baine," Jaina continued. Then she turned to Tervosh. "You and I will contact Rhonin. We must use every means possible to persuade him to support us."

Garrosh remained in the Great Chief's campaign tent, refusing every request for an audience. The Horde commanders who had come with him were all fiercely loyal to the Great Chief, but they did not have much patience. Complaints and doubts spread through the camp—why had the Great Chief not yet ordered an attack?

"Tell those fools to shut up." Hellscream sliced the roasting meat over the fire with a knife, his voice