"I can, but it might not be effective. I've already had the priestesses begin preparations. We can unleash a storm to trigger a tsunami at any time." Vashj frowned. It would take some time for the Naga to summon a tsunami, something they had agreed upon earlier.
Dealing with allies? The High Elves had never looked at the human kingdoms as equals, so they couldn't be considered allies at all. Arthas just wanted to add fuel to the fire of this Horde invasion. With someone else playing the villain, couldn't he just be the good guy?
"I'll have someone create some trouble near the Sunwell. By then, the support the Sunwell can provide to Silvermoon City will be extremely limited. Vashj, go and preside over the ritual. Sink those arrogant fools to the bottom of the sea. Don't forget, they were the traitors of old!" Arthas's smile was sinister. He was clearly a Paladin, yet he was engaging in such despicable schemes, completely betraying the meaning of the Holy Light!
Vashj nodded slightly, a flicker of hatred in her eyes. The enmity between the several elven races was immense.
"Your Highness, I am once again glad that we are allies and not enemies."
"We will be allies forever. By the way, I have a plan to establish a stronghold in Vashj'ir. That was once your territory. Would you be interested in showing me around Vashj'ir when the time comes?"
Arthas proposed with a smile. "If you find that too forward, then just pretend I never said it."
Vashj'ir was an underwater world that appeared during the Cataclysm, a terrifying place. It could trigger many people's thalassophobia. Sometimes you'd be swimming along, and suddenly a giant sea serpent would bite you to death. Such a sudden demise would surely startle anyone.
But it was undeniable that this sea region possessed abundant resources and could serve as a transit and supply station. If he could occupy it and develop a stronghold, the rich resources within could fill Arthas's coffers once again.
"Of course. It's just that there are still many filthy Kvaldir there right now. If Your Highness wishes to go, you must be careful. Besides those filthy seaweed-men, there are also many of Neptulon's minions. I, for one, would be very much looking forward to Your Highness helping me reclaim Vashj'ir." With just a few words, Vashj had roped Arthas onto her pirate ship.
Who was using whom was still uncertain!
The two of them plotted a grand show aimed at Silvermoon City. These arrogant High Elves would definitely pay the price for their pride. They should have just obediently joined the Alliance and agreed to his demands. If they insisted on courting death, then they couldn't blame him.
Furthermore, Arthas knew that the Horde's target had never been Silvermoon City, but Lordaeron. Once the siege of Silvermoon City dragged on, Orgrim would withdraw his forces within three days and launch a surprise attack on Lordaeron through the Kingdom of Alterac.
It was impossible from anywhere else; the wide-open terrain would make it easy to spot the Horde's movements. Once discovered, all their efforts would be wasted, and they might even be surrounded and annihilated.
The only possibility was through the Kingdom of Alterac. Although the main passes were guarded by Alliance forces, there were some lesser-used mountain paths they could take, which would require a local guide.
Therefore, Arthas had to pose a threat to Silvermoon's Sunwell. If he couldn't threaten the Sunwell itself, he had to create a breach in its defenses.
This would force the High Elves to divert their attention to deal with it; otherwise, if the Sunwell was breached, they would be completely finished.
To repair the Sunwell's defenses, their support for the front lines would be limited, which could very well lead to the collapse of the front. Compared to the Orcs, the elves' physiques were simply too frail, one might even say pathetically weak.
In Silvermoon City, the Horde's siege army had just retreated, but the entire defensive line remained impregnable.
This time, with the help of Silvermoon's mages drawing upon the near-infinite power of the Sunwell, whether they were Orcs, Trolls, or even Ogre magi, all met their end on the spot. They simply couldn't break through Silvermoon City's defenses. Although the city walls had been bombarded several times, they had held.
Alleria's pretty face was stained with black soot. She hadn't slept for the last two days, as she was responsible for the defense of the walls. When the news of her mother's death in the line of duty arrived, she almost fainted.
Despite her immense grief, she forced it down, turning her sorrow into motivation to slaughter Orcs and Trolls. If not for the Horde's invasion, her parents would not have died. Someone had to pay the price for this. All Orcs and Trolls had to die! Hatred fueled her power, her aura surging, showing faint signs of a breakthrough.
"Big Sister, do you think it would have been better if we had returned to Windrunner Spire first instead of coming to Silvermoon City?" Her third sister, Vereesa, was worried. She was also a Ranger. She had been in Silvermoon City on business, helping a noble capture a certain animal, and had thus missed the chance to stay and guard their home.
"I don't know. No matter what, we must protect Silvermoon City and prevent more people from dying. Arthas will support the Windrunners. He definitely will." Alleria's eyes were filled with grief, but when she mentioned her lover, her eyes shone with light. She had great faith in Arthas.
"Is Arthas really that amazing?" Vereesa was curious. Her big sister had gone on one trip and fallen in love with a human! A short-lived human. So what if he was a prince? He was still short-lived.
"He is a man who excels at creating miracles." Alleria used her pinky finger to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the gesture unspeakably charming. Just as she was about to speak again, a horn blast sounded. "The Horde is attacking again! Back to your posts! Be careful!"
At the same time, a figure stealthily arrived at the Isle of Quel'Danas, where the Sunwell was located. This furtive figure was none other than the traitor Dar'Khan, a High Elf mage who had grown to resent Silvermoon City due to dissatisfaction with his own status.
At this moment, Dar'Khan reached the Greengill Coast near the Sunwell. He came ashore here, planted a Tidal Charmstone just outside the forest, and marked it with magic. He looked with a hint of resentment at the Sunwell Plateau garrison in the distance.
That was a position that should have been his, but a member of the Silvermoon Council, disdaining his common birth, had given the position to a member of another family. They had even mocked him relentlessly.
With such accumulated resentment, it was no surprise that he had become a traitor. When a person loses hope, they either become a salted fish and lie flat, or they become a madman bent on destruction.