A month passed, and much happened. Orgrim reunited with Eitrigg's forces, who had been hiding in Silverpine Forest, their numbers dwindling from twenty thousand to four thousand.
Eitrigg brought news of Gul'dan.
Gul'dan, with his Stormreaver clan and Twilight's Hammer ogres—two full tribes—had evaded detection and returned to the Isle of Tribulation off the Hillsbrad coast.
There, the Horde's landing ships were docked. Gul'dan seized the island and slaughtered Eitrigg's rearguard. Only Eitrigg's son escaped.
Gul'dan attacked his own people and stole the ships! He betrayed the Horde!
This was a major blow. No wonder they hadn't received reinforcements during the siege. The Stormreaver clan was full of powerful warlocks, and the ogres were formidable fighters.
Neither the spellcasters nor the ogres arrived. The Orc warriors were sent to die, losing forty thousand men!
The other Horde chieftains were baffled. If the Horde loses, the entire race will be homeless. Gul'dan is now a wanted man. He has nowhere to go after defeat.
Orgrim recalled Gul'dan's request for a sacred tomb. He seeks greater power, beyond mortals. But Orgrim remained silent. He needed to unite the remaining warriors, which required a target for their rage.
News of Gul'dan's betrayal spread. The demon-blood-crazed Orcs didn't care about details. They only knew they were dying in battle while someone was betraying them.
The army's mood shifted.
From questioning Orgrim's retreat to demanding vengeance on Gul'dan!
Orgrim successfully redirected their anger. They fought towards Durnholde, claiming they would return to the Wetlands for ships to hunt down Gul'dan.
They bypassed Tarren Mill and Dathrohan's militia, fearing pursuit. They hastily burned the surrounding farmland and headed east.
Durnholde had been breached by the Horde's red dragons half a year prior. Now, Orgrim returned to his starting point.
The remaining sixty thousand Orcs attacked fiercely. Durnholde's walls were still damaged and fell within an hour.
The two thousand defenders retreated into the castle. Just as it was about to fall, Kurdran's gryphon riders arrived, forcing the Horde to retreat.
Kurdran's gryphons worried Orgrim. The red dragons weren't on the Isle of Tribulation. Gul'dan killed Zul'jin and the Dragon Knights. Without air support, he lost the initiative.
Orgrim debated whether to continue east or feint and return to the Isle of Tribulation for ships.
Gul'dan only had two clans. He couldn't sail all the ships, and he hadn't destroyed the rest.
The war isn't over. In the Wetlands, Blackhand's sons, Maim and Rend, lead the Black Tooth Grin clan. The Dragonmaw are training red dragons in Grim Batol. The Bleeding Hollow clan is further south.
If I bring sixty thousand warriors south, I can rebuild a large army and destroy Lothar's pursuers.
But we missed our chance to break the humans' spirit. Future battles will be harder and longer!
Orgrim chose to feint and return to the Isle of Tribulation. He cursed Gul'dan and vowed to one day conquer the continent.
He didn't know he almost doomed his army and himself at Thandol Span, joining Durotan and his brother in the afterlife.
Southshore was booming.
Wildhammer clans from the Northeron Highlands had fled the war, with many settling in Southshore. Galen gave them free land south of the city.
They're here now. We should treat them well. The city has everything, and everything is cheap. Once they get used to it, they won't want to leave.
If they settle here permanently, they'll become my subjects!
A slow-boiling frog strategy is my specialty.
Medivh and Aegwynn discussed Gal from the town hall.
"My child, now that you've rescued Alexstrasza, will you help Llane and Lothar restore the kingdom?" Aegwynn asked.
"No, Mother. They think I'm dead. I'll secretly help the Alliance defeat the Orcs. Restoring the kingdom is up to Llane and Lothar."
"But what about the Guardian's power! We can't waste it on you!"
"Mother, I've chosen my successor," Medivh said, but a child's voice interrupted him.
"Oh, Medivh, you old geezer, you're back?"
Old geezer?