Silvermoon had been a fun experience, even more so with the prospect of the wealth coming my way.
I should have figured there would be a bounty, Dar'Khan was probably the person the entire country most wanted dead, bar perhaps the lich king himself.
I hadn't seen the city since before the Scourge invasion, and the sight of the city, just as beautiful as it had always been, was refreshing.
The "attendents." Lor'Themar had sent my way had been pleasant as well.
They had heard through the grapevine a little of what had happend, and where very eager to show their thanks.
But eventually the time came were I would need to leave.
I stayed in the city for another day as my prize was arranged.
When the time came I was presented with no less than seven carts of gold, gems, and other assorted wealth.
Each cart was drawn by a healthy and well cared for stallion.
It was difficult to put a number to on sight alone, but I had been informed it was upwards of thirty thousand gold.
It was at the very least a considerable portion of the wealth the defias had stolen in the more than a decade they had horded it.
A dozen Elves in enchanted plate armor, blood knights, surrounded my new treasures.
"A show of friendship." Lor'Themar had said.
A group of magisters stood behind the knights, bringing power to a series of inscriptions, and over them a tear opened in reality.
Home lay beyond. I smirked at the sight.
I was bid a fond farewell from Lor'Themar himself, alongside several of his advisors. He suggested I leave before word of my actions spread fully.
I took the advice, I did not have time for celebration, and I would certainly be pulled into them if I remained any longer.
Soon I would be at war with the legion itself, and directly too. Good.
I strode through the portal easily, followed by my temporary helpers.
Dozens of drawn blades met my eyes. I rose my hands into the air, my smirk growing at the sight of a small army of soldiers on the other side. "We come in peace, defenders of Westfall."
Things had changed since I had left, the weapons were better tended to, and they were all equiped in plate armor as most of the infantry men in Stormwind were.
Many of them wore a new tabbard, A black skull on a green background.
The garrison of Sentinel hill bowed at my words, the officer at their head called out to me.
"My lord! We had received word your travels to Silvermoon, but we did not expect you to return so soon!"
He looked to my entourage in surprise.
"Nor did we expect you to arrive in such a manner."
I could see why, the creation of a portal in this manner, one that had not been prepared on both sides, was an incredible expenditure of energy.
The magisters had probably drained several of the massive fel crystals used to power the cities magics just to create it.
"I ran into some trouble on the way, and the Elves were kind enough to arrange a quicker means of transportation."
His eyes fell on the wealth being carted forward. "The...talks...went well then?"
I chuckled. "Yes, they did indeed."
I turned to the bloodnights. "You may return to Silvermoon. My men can take the carts from here."
One of the elves looked at me through a visored helm, before nodding. His fist rose in the air, and at the sight of it clenching the rest of the knights walked back through the portal.
My soldiers sheathed their blades, looking to me as the portal faded away. I paused before I spoke again.
"So Stoutmantel and Ebonlocke decided on a standard then?"
He looked down to his tabard, before looking back up to me.
"Yes my lord, the green for the fields of Westfall, and the skull for, well-"
"Me?"
He nodded.
"Fair enough then. Gather some men and ready the wealth for transport. I need to speak to Stoutmantel about whats to come."
He saluted. "Yes, King Marcus." before striding off.
I walked to the tower of Sentinel Hill, watching as hundreds of people went about their business, slowly rebuilding their lives.
It was funny. This land was arguably one of the most impoverished and oppressed places in Azeroth not too long ago.
And yet, as more monstrosities emerged from the shadows, as the world tetered closer and closer to destruction, these lands will only grow.
As the rest of the world is ground into nothing, this kingdom will be a beacon of false hope.
One day the world will find itself hanging from a ledge, reaching out to us for help.
They'll find nothing but our boots stomping down on them.
Stoutmantel greeted me as an old friend when I finally entered the tower.
"Marcus! I'll admit I was disappointed to hear you would be departing so soon after you had decided to go personally to Outland. Our timetable would have made it impossible."
He laughed, smacking me on the back. "With a few days to spare aswell!
"I never would have thought you'd convince the Elves to teleport you! and with a great pile of gold no less!"
Something about my face put a damper on his good cheer, he went silent shortly after.
"How are the troops?"
His face grew serious.
"Over the past two months we've had an influx of soldiers, many of the men come from the homeless the alliance sent to us."
He thought for a moment.
"Four thousand new recruits outside of the guard for the countryside, well enough trained for bandits I suppose."
I sighed."But not the legion?"
He shook his head. "I fear as it is we'll lose most of them."
I sat down at the table of the war room as he spoke further.
"They know the risks, and they are loyal if nothing else."
I shook my head. "I can't take them with me."
He scoffed.
"You arent suggesting going alone? The nation wouldnt stand for it! I-"
He was readying to work himself into a tirade.
"While I was with the Elves I heard grave news. Spies report the Amani trolls have left their lands in their entirety, sailing for a war with the Gurubashi in the name of the resurgence of their empire.'
He silenced immediately.
"Truly?"
I nodded. "They'll be sailing past Westfall in a few months. If they find any success in that war we'll have a new and very dangerous neighbor."
I looked at him seriously. "I'll spend the next few days gathering what mercenaries I can for Outland, but I need you to focus on establishing fortifications along Deadwind pass and the mountain boundary into Stranglethorn."
He slammed his fist onto the table, before taking a breath.
When he looked at me again it was with steel in his eyes. "It will be done."
I placed a hand on his shoulder as I began to make my way out. "I know."
