Bang!
"Idiots! Useless trash! You have the nerve to come back!"
While the rangers celebrated their victory, Zul'jin stood atop the altar platform in Zul'Aman, his face contorted with rage as he kicked Akil'zon and Nalorakk, who knelt before him begging for mercy.
Zul'jin had held high hopes for this attack on the High Elves. Even if they could not seriously hurt those long-ears, they should at least have seized some resources from them.
Yet the final outcome had been vastly different from what he had imagined. With the rise of the High Elves' new stars, not only had they failed to seize any resources, but their own army had suffered a devastating blow. Even one of their most important commanders had been captured alive.
This was a major blow to the Amani Trolls, who had long suffered from a shortage of talent. Although Zul'jin was always talking about killing these useless idiots, he actually placed great importance on these vital fighters.
Losing Halazzi just like that in a single war would have a considerable impact on his future plans.
Akil'zon and Nalorakk did not dare talk back. They could only prostrate themselves and let Zul'jin vent his fury. Their losses truly had been disastrous this time, and they had nothing to say.
Jan'alai, a follower of the Dragonhawk spirit, was also silent as a mouse. He kept his mouth firmly shut, not daring to plead for the two, and could only signal with his eyes for them to endure it.
Hex Lord Malacrass carefully watched Zul'jin's expression from the side. Only when he saw that some of his anger had finally subsided did he quietly offer a suggestion.
"What if... we sneaked into Tranquillien and rescued Halazzi? Given how slowly the High Elves get things done, he probably hasn't been transported back to Silvermoon City yet."
Having finally vented his anger, Zul'jin let out a heavy breath, sat down on his throne, and began considering Malacrass's proposal.
"No... there's no rescuing that idiot Halazzi. We're seriously short of manpower after taking such a heavy blow. If we're discovered sneaking in, we may suffer even greater losses..."
"Daakara! You'll take Halazzi's place from now on. The lynx spirit is yours to handle!"
In the end, Zul'jin selected one of his most trusted warriors, Daakara, the most promising of the Amani Trolls, to replace Halazzi as the lynx spirit's chief follower.
After all, these primal animal spirits were hardly gentle gods. If they went without offerings for a while, they might turn on the Trolls instead.
Below the altar, a tall Troll crouched respectfully in a bow. "Yes! Great Zul'jin, Daakara will give everything he has to the Amani!"
Had Charlemagne heard the name of the Troll warrior Zul'jin had just appointed, he would certainly have remembered him. He was the Amani Troll chieftain who succeeded Zul'jin as their leader after his death.
At the moment, however, Charlemagne was busy discussing the Sun King's rewards with his mentor, Lireesa, who had just returned.
On this trip to Silvermoon City, Lireesa had already reached a preliminary agreement with the Sun King on the content of the award ceremony. She had also taken the opportunity to relay Charlemagne's request to Anasterian.
"Haha, what a spirited young elf! No high office, no money, no beautiful women-he actually chose an artifact to improve his strength?"
The Sun King, who had not enjoyed such a great victory in a long time, was delighted. He had been worrying over what position to arrange for Charlemagne, but the message Lireesa relayed saved him further headaches.
Below the steps of the throne, Dar'Khan Drathir, a member of the Silvermoon Council, smiled gently and spoke up to clear up Anasterian's puzzlement.
"I've heard of this eldest son of the Theron family as well. Apparently, until ten years ago, he lived in a daze, never quite clearheaded. During that crushing defeat ten years ago, he lost both his parents, one after the other. After coming to his senses, he seemed determined to make up for the hundreds of years he had wasted, rapidly becoming one of the ranger forces' finest at an astonishing rate of improvement."
"Of course, this also owed much to the careful guidance of his mentor, General Lireesa. Still, for this young fellow to reach the Advanced rank in just ten short years, his talent is truly remarkable."
Sun King Anasterian stroked his long white beard and nodded in satisfaction.
"He is indeed an outstanding young member of our Quel'dorei. It seems that while his parents' deaths dealt him a terrible blow, they also gave him the drive to seek revenge."
"Hehe, there's more to it than that. I hear that Alleria Windrunner, who is currently accompanying Prince Kael'thas on a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom of Stormwind-General Lireesa's eldest daughter-is his lover."
A slightly teasing smile appeared on Dar'Khan's face at just the right moment, though it carried no sense of mockery.
Anasterian paused, then burst into laughter.
"So that's it! So that's it! No wonder he has no interest in beautiful women. His heart already belongs to someone, does it? General Lireesa's eldest daughter... I recall she's quite a striking beauty herself?"
Lireesa wore a somewhat helpless smile. "Yes... though it may sound like boasting, Alleria is indeed exceptionally beautiful. I've watched their relationship develop step by step over these past ten years, and they only made it official recently."
"Good! Since our young warrior wants Thori'dal, I'll grant his wish! His achievements this time certainly warrant it. Capturing a Troll commander alive is a feat no one has accomplished since the end of the Troll Wars."
"Lianda!"
"Here! What are Your Majesty's orders?"
Hearing Anasterian call her, Lianda, who stood in attendance nearby, hurriedly answered with respect.
"Go to the Sunwell on the Isle of Quel'Danas and retrieve Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury. This artifact, passed down from the age of the Highborne, is finally about to find a new master once again!"
"Yes!"
Watching Lianda leave, Lireesa also felt sincerely proud of her prized pupil.
Unfortunately, like Alleria, he wanted to become one of the Farstriders and travel beyond Quel'Thalas...
After she told Anasterian about this as well, the Sun King did not mind much. He waved a hand and said, "He's young! It's perfectly normal to want to get out and see the world. When I was young, before I took the throne, I traveled through various countries myself. Since he wants to join the Farstriders and travel abroad, let him go."
"Yes. Thank you for your understanding, Your Majesty."
Anasterian still needed to discuss the specific arrangements for the award ceremony with the Silvermoon Council, so Lireesa tactfully took her leave first.
On the third day after she teleported back to Tranquillien to await word from Anasterian, a Dragonhawk Rider descended from the sky with the Sun King's latest orders.
(End of chapter)