Aiden felt extremely distressed. He signaled to stop the car, then got out and greeted Timmy: "Hello, little Timmy!"
Timmy looked at him in surprise: "Uncle Aiden!"
Aiden forced a smile in response, then said to Uncle John, who was holding him: "I'm very sorry, we were one step too late."
Uncle John knew that this was a noble and high-ranking lord, with angel guards by his side, so he hurriedly said with trepidation: "No, no, it's all because those orcs are too cruel. And those black mages who desecrate corpses."
Aiden said: "Uncle John, please be sure to tell those people who are struggling because of this war that if they are willing, they can go to Durnholde Castle. It will provide them with safe housing, sufficient food, and enough work to support their families. This is the only thing I can help with right now."
He hoped that he could rescue the villagers who had been taken away by the orcs, and rescue Timmy's parents. But everything failed because of the Scourge's actions. If he were to avenge the villagers, the target of revenge should also be the Scourge—but Broxigar had already escaped.
"Thank you, thank you so much, Lord!" Uncle John thanked him repeatedly. He had never seen such a benevolent lord in his life. The nobles usually regarded them as "pariahs." He didn't expect this esteemed lord to even call him "Uncle." Moreover, their village was indeed facing a survival crisis due to the orcs' looting. Aiden's help was definitely a timely help. Uncle John believed that many people would be willing to seek refuge with such a benevolent lord.
...
As early as a few years ago, when people discovered the continent of Northrend in the north, colonists opened a safe sea route from the North Sea pier of Lordaeron to the Borean Tundra of Northrend, and built fortresses and piers there. Currently, the port named Valiance Keep is the only natural ice-free port discovered by humans on the Northrend coastline.
After Rhonin received the task of seeking the essence of life from the Red Dragon Queen, he and Krasus went to Stratholme to pick up another companion, Vereesa Windrunner, whom he had been thinking about day and night. But unlike his joy, Vereesa seemed reluctant and indifferent, seemingly deliberately distancing herself from him. Rhonin realized that there must be some problem with their love. Vereesa's attitude changed after she went home.
Rhonin forced himself not to think about these Troubles. Although he was suffering internally, he was unwilling to put down his pride and beg Vereesa to change her mind.
So, although they were on the same ship to Northrend, they rarely spoke or communicated with each other. Each of them was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and their faces were sullen.
Krasus had been watching this situation all along. However, he couldn't express any opinion.
All the orcs were on another ship traveling with them. They were all very clear about this fact. Although they didn't have the slightest liking for the orcs, they had to take into account the Alliance's strategy. However, because of the estrangement in their hearts, the people on the two ships hardly communicated at all.
Krasus's true form is a red dragon. More than ten years ago, the orcs enslaved his lover, Queen Alexstrasza, and some of his clansmen, forcing underage red dragons to serve the orcs and slaughter the people of Azeroth. Of course, he hated the orcs very much in his heart.
Vereesa had more than a dozen relatives who sacrificed when the orcs attacked Quel'Thalas, including her beloved younger brother, Lirath.
Rhonin was better off; his parents were still alive. However, the past conflicts between humans and orcs made it impossible for him to have any good feelings towards the orcs.
The fact that the two ships have been able to coexist peacefully for so long is the result of both sides exercising restraint.
In the early morning, Vereesa, who had eaten breakfast, came to the deck to get some fresh air. The captain told them that they would be able to land at Valiance Keep tomorrow morning. This voyage was coming to an end. She didn't want to stay in the cabin all the time, and every time she saw Rhonin, her heart was always conflicted. On one side was her own feelings, and on the other side was her family's dissuasion. She could see the deep affection in Rhonin's eyes, and she also remembered that in the last letter, he mentioned that he had encountered a near-death experience in Scholomance, and enthusiastically told her that he would give her a "surprise" when they met.
Vereesa was looking forward to what the surprise would be, a confession or a proposal?
But her family's unanimous opposition broke her heart.
Vereesa didn't know how long her cold disguise could last under Rhonin's sad gaze. She even thought that maybe she should be more willful, ignoring her family's opposition and the eyes of the world, bravely facing her heart, and choosing the person she loved.
When she was bored, she inadvertently caught sight of something approaching in the sky. It seemed to be a bird?
Vereesa took a closer look and realized that it was not a bird at all, but a strange-looking dragon!
She exclaimed and immediately shouted, "Rhonin! Come out!"
The two mages ran out immediately after hearing the call. Rhonin thought something had happened and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Vereesa?"
"Look!" Vereesa pointed to the dragon in the sky.
Rhonin's eyesight was not as good as hers. It was not until the dragon got closer that he vaguely recognized it: "A green dragon?"
Krasus shook his head and said, "Not a green dragon, this is a proto-dragon. They have very low intelligence and can only be regarded as beasts, not dragons."
"There are two people riding on it!" As the proto-dragon flew closer, Vereesa could see more clearly. She widened her eyes and said in disbelief, "An elf is riding it! The one behind is…" She gasped.
"An orc." Krasus also saw the other person on the back of the proto-dragon. It was indeed an orc!
"An elf and an orc together on the back of a dragon?" Rhonin couldn't believe it, but that was the reality.
But now, very few people know about the agreement between the orcs and the Alliance, let alone that Silvermoon City refused to join the Alliance, so there is no way to know about this agreement. Given the hatred between the two races, how could such a thing as an orc and an elf riding a dragon together happen?
There must be something fishy about this!
"Call an orc over to take a look!" Rhonin suggested.
So Varok Saurfang from the other ship was brought to this ship.
Vereesa carefully identified the elf riding the dragon. She thought this person looked a little familiar.
"I think that orc looks a bit like you, Saurfang," Krasus said.
Saurfang thought he was being sarcastic, so he retorted, "I think all elves look the same! The elf in front looks no different from you, with similar silver-gray hair!"
Krasus frowned. Although his true identity was not a high elf, he still felt unhappy being provoked like this, especially since he didn't mean to be sarcastic, but it seemed to him that Saurfang and the orc on the dragon's back did have five or six points of similarity.
At this time, the dark green proto-dragon had flown over the fleet. Rhonin saw Vereesa's dazed and horrified look and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Vereesa?"
"I, I must have seen it wrong," Vereesa muttered to herself. She showed an extremely incredible expression, "That elf seems to be the Speaker of the Silvermoon City Council!"
"Dar'Khan?" Rhonin asked.
Vereesa looked at him in astonishment. She didn't think she had told him the Speaker's name.
Rhonin quickly shouted, "Quick, shoot them down! Aiden told me that Dar'Khan is a traitor who has sided with the Lich King!"
"What!" Vereesa was shocked. How could Dar'Khan be a traitor?
Rhonin quickly cast a Fireball spell towards the sky, but the elf on the dragon's back casually cast a spell to block it. The dark green proto-dragon desperately flapped its wings and had already moved out of his spell range.
The other party's response undoubtedly confirmed Rhonin's statement in Vereesa's eyes.
But how could Dar'Khan Drathir, the powerful mage respected by all high elves and the hero of the older generation, betray Silvermoon City?
And the orc Saurfang was also in shock. He opened his mouth wide and unconsciously muttered, "Is that my brother, Broxigar?"
From this moment on, going to the Red Dragon Queen for help was no longer just the responsibility of humans. Vereesa had to represent the high elves to prevent the more terrible things caused by Dar'Khan's betrayal from happening.
Saurfang also had to contribute the orcs' strength in the face of this common disaster in the world of the living. Because he knew very well that his brother, Broxigar Saurfang, had already died in Stratholme three months ago. Now the one on the dragon's back was just a demon who had desecrated his corpse—he saw the bloodstains on this death knight, which were black!
...
After Aiden returned to Durnholde, he personally settled Quinn and Kayle.
Taric's healing spells were quite effective, and Quinn had already woken up. However, she injured her lung and still needed to recuperate for a while. Taric prepared some potions to help her recover.
"Don't do such stupid things again next time," Aiden said to Quinn, who was pale due to weakness and excessive blood loss. "It's not worth it."
"No, it's worth it," Quinn shook her head gently. "You are our commander, and any sacrifice for you is worth it."
Aiden wanted to ask more clearly, but Quinn shook her head and stopped talking. He thought that there must still be some things about Valoran that were being hidden from him. Zilean had always said that he was very important, and so did Kayle and Quinn, but he really didn't find where he was important.
Could it be because of his special connection with the Heart of Valoran?
He couldn't figure it out.
Kayle was still in a deep sleep. Ophiel and Pamyel helped her take off her armor and helmet. Kayle, lying on the bed, closed her eyes tightly, her brows slightly furrowed, looking very weak.