After receiving Orgrim's assurance, Aiden Perenolde finally summoned all his generals and nobles to disclose the news.
Until now, he had only discussed the decision with a select few high-ranking nobles in private.
Naturally, the Barov family, who held half of Alterac's lands, had not been included.
Their territory was the first to fall to the Horde, and even now they remained trapped on an island in the middle of a lake, waiting for rescue from the outside world.
What would they think if they knew their king had sold them out like this?
"You summoned us, my lord?" General Haas, commander of Alterac's army, stood at the partially open door of the map room.
The other military leaders stood behind him.
"Yes. Come in, generals, officers," Perenolde gestured, trying to keep his voice even. "I've just received the latest intelligence about the Horde. I believe you all need to be informed."
Haas exchanged quick glances with several others, but no one spoke. They followed him toward the massive wall-sized map.
"I received this information from a reliable source," Perenolde began.
"The Horde has already occupied a significant portion of Alterac. The Barov family's lands have completely fallen, and now the Horde is stationed at Megan's Ridge."
Several officers inhaled sharply in surprise.
"Clearly, they're planning to strike the Kingdom of Lordaeron, and have chosen to cross the mountains in order to appear north of the capital."
"When will they begin their attack?" Colonel Kadan asked urgently. "How many are there? What kind of weapons are they carrying?"
Some of the other officers murmured behind him.
Perenolde raised a hand, and the room fell silent.
"I don't know when they will attack," he replied.
"Though I suspect it will be within a day or two, no more. I also don't know their exact numbers, but all reports describe them as a formidable force."
At that, the king let out a weak laugh, he knew just how hollow it sounded.
"But that is no longer our concern."
General Haas straightened.
"No longer our concern, my lord?" he asked, his heavy breathing causing his thick grey beard to sway.
"But we are members of the Alliance. We've all sworn to stand against the Horde."
"Things have changed," Perenolde reminded him, now drenched in sweat.
"I've reconsidered our options and decided to redefine our role in this conflict. From this moment forward, Alterac is no longer part of the Alliance."
He drew a deep breath.
"Believe me, this path will give us a better future."
The officers looked utterly stunned.
"My lord, you mean to say..." Kadan began.
"I've signed a non-aggression pact with the Horde," Perenolde said.
"We will not interfere with their passage through the mountains. In return, they have agreed to leave Alterac unharmed."
The officers looked confused. Some were clearly angry or heartbroken.
"You mean to collaborate with the Horde, my lord?" Haas asked softly, unable to hide the disgust in his voice.
"Yes, I'm collaborating with the orcs!" Perenolde finally lost control and shouted. "Because I want us to live!"
He poured out his fear and fury in every word.
"Do you know what we're facing? The Horde, an entire Horde, is coming to sweep through these mountains!
Through our homeland! Do you have any idea how many of them there are? Tens of thousands!"
Haas and some others reluctantly nodded, they had seen the same reports.
"Do you even know what orcs look like? I once stood as close to one as I am to you now.
They're enormous! As tall as trolls, but twice as wide! All muscle, with sharp fangs, the one I saw carried a warhammer that took three men to lift, and to him, it swung as light as a child's toy!
No one can stop them! They'll slaughter us all,don't you get it? They already destroyed Stormwind. Alterac will be next!"
"But the Alliance," Haas began, but Perenolde cut him off with a bitter laugh.
"The Alliance? Where are they now?" he snapped. "Let me be perfectly clear: they are not here!
We created the Alliance to protect our kingdoms in times like this, but the Horde is right under our nose, and where is this precious Alliance?
They've abandoned us! Can't you see that?"
His voice rose to a near-hysterical pitch, and it took a while before he calmed down enough to speak again.
"Now is the time for every kingdom to look to its own future," he said as steadily as he could. "I must put Alterac first. Any other king would do the same."
"Yes, but those green-skinned brutes..." another officer, Trand, began.
",Are massive and deadly, yes," Perenolde interrupted. "But they are not beyond reason. I met with their leader.
He can speak Common! He listened to me, and agreed that as long as we don't stand in their way, they will ensure our safety."
"Can we trust them?" a junior officer asked.
Seeing many heads nodding in agreement, Perenolde finally relaxed.
If they were asking this, it meant they had accepted the deal in principle, they were just worried whether it would hold.
"We have no choice," the king said slowly. "If the Horde wants to, they can crush us without effort. If they betray us, we're doomed. But if they keep their word, and I believe they will, then Alterac survives. No matter the cost."
"I still don't like it," Haas said stubbornly. "We made promises to other nations."
But he looked uncertain.
Perenolde saw the general was weighing their current situation, and beginning to understand this might be their only path to survival.
"You don't have to like it," Perenolde said sternly. "What you have to do is obey. I am your king, and this is my decision. You swore loyalty to me. I expect you to honor that oath."
He knew it wouldn't silence all their objections, but he hoped it would be enough to hold their loyalty.
Haas stared at him for a long moment.
"You're right, my lord," he finally said. "I will follow your orders."
The other officers nodded as well.
Perenolde smiled.
"Good. As for the Alliance, I will personally bear all consequences. Now then, the Horde will pass through here, here, and here."
He pointed at several southern routes on the map. He was irritated to find his hand trembling.
"All we need to do is make sure these roads are unguarded. That way, the Horde can pass without encountering a single soldier."
Haas studied the routes.
"They plan to attack Lordaeron from the north," he mused, tracing an unmarked line toward the capital. "If it were me, I wouldn't take this path, but I don't know how many of them there are, or how arrogant they might be."
He turned to Perenolde, suspicion in his eyes.
"The soldiers may disobey, my lord," he said coldly. "They may see this as a betrayal of their oath, perhaps worse."
His tone made it clear he agreed with that sentiment.
"If they rebel, we won't be able to stop them."
Perenolde considered for a moment.
"In that case," he said, "tell the soldiers the Horde is planning to use those three northern mountain passes.
If anyone asks for your source, tell them our scouts and spies paid for that intelligence with their lives."
He nodded, satisfied with his cleverness.
"That will keep every soldier busy with their own tasks, and away from the Horde's true path."
Haas nodded stiffly.
"I'll begin deploying them immediately, my lord."
"Good." Perenolde gave him the warmest smile he could muster, signaling that all was forgiven. "You'd best get started right away. I don't want our troops still on the march when the Horde arrives."
The officers saluted and left the map room, everyone except Haas.
"Is there something else, General?" Perenolde asked, sounding very tired.
"A messenger arrived, my lord," the general replied. "From the Alliance. He came while you were... resting. He's waiting outside."
"Bring him in at once," Perenolde said. "Have you spoken to him?"
"Only to learn who sent him. I figured you'd want to hear the message firsthand."
As he said this, Haas moved to the door and gestured. A young, dust-covered messenger in leather armor entered, nervously staring at the floor.
"My lord," the young man said, glancing up before quickly lowering his gaze again. "I bring greetings and a message from Commander Anduin Lothar of the Alliance."
Perenolde nodded, pulled on his cloak, and stepped toward him.
"Thank you, General. That will be all," he said to Haas. The general looked relieved as he closed the door behind him.
"Now then, young man," Perenolde turned to the messenger, "what message do you bring?"
"Lord Lothar says you must take your army to Lordaeron," the young messenger said nervously. "The Horde is likely to attack there, you must help defend the capital."
"I see," Perenolde nodded, stroking his chin and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Does he want you to return with news of our situation?"
The messenger nodded.
"I see," Perenolde said again. "That's a pity."
He turned and abruptly yanked the boy close, plunging a dagger from his other hand deep into his chest.
The blade pierced bone and heart, and the messenger collapsed instantly.
"A written message would've been better," Perenolde muttered to the corpse.
The king had now fully committed to betraying the Alliance.
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