"What's going on?" Caslow, after flying for a while, clearly saw a group of orcs setting up camp on the west bank of the Redwater River.
They hadn't hurried to march while it was still light but instead chose to make camp.
"Could it be a large tribe migrating?" Caslow worried that their anxiousness had mistakenly turned the migration of the wild orcs into a surprise attack.
"No, that's not it! This is an army! There are no elderly or young orcs!" Caslow instructed Kalador to lower their altitude slightly, hiding among the clouds to observe.
After all, the dragon knights, who primarily fought in the sky, had exceptional vision, and with the Dragon Eye skill activated, Caslow could even see the totems on the orcs' bodies from a kilometer above.
"What are they waiting for?" Caslow decided to return and report this news to Rynar; after all, these orcs wouldn't be reaching Riverguard anytime soon.
---
"What? They've set up camp by the river?" Rynar exclaimed. Given the brainless nature of the orcs, shouldn't they have rushed over in a frenzy?
"Perhaps they're waiting for orcs from elsewhere to join forces for an attack! Like those from Gundabad and Dol Guldur!" Reynard stood up.
"Imagine if we're bravely fighting ahead, and suddenly a horde of orcs appears behind us! Even if they're just wild orcs wielding bone clubs and wooden sticks!" Reynard continued.
A chill crept over everyone's hearts... If such a thing were to happen, the entire alliance's defenses would collapse like a line of dominoes.
"We need to discuss how to deal with them with our allies in Loshanier," Caslow suggested.
"No! We don't need to discuss anything! Gather all the soldiers!" Rynar said coldly, waving his hand as he exited the tent.
"It seems you're in trouble!" Elandor landed on a dragon in the city; this was Rynar's first close look at a giant dragon.
The 30-meter-long Star Dragon was covered in deep blue scales, sparkling with tiny stars.
Its underbelly was pearly white, while its sapphire-like claws glimmered with a chilling light.
The dragon's eyes, as dark as the night, shone with a golden slit pupil; however, this dragon didn't wear any armor, just a saddle?
Poor form! Caslow's dragon was fully equipped with armor.
This clearly showed that the Kingdom of Singrey was quite short on funds; otherwise, they wouldn't allow their giant dragon to run around unarmored.
It is well-known that dragon riders, as one of the highest-end combat forces, should be adorned with lavish resources.
The dragon riders of the Zaltarion Empire not only had luxurious gear for themselves but also equipped their dragons extravagantly.
Seeing the naked dragon rider, Rynar could only sigh in admiration for their poverty! They couldn't even afford armor for their dragons…
"Sir Elandor? What brings you here?" Rynar asked, puzzled.
Given that Loshanier was facing the constant threat of war with Dol Guldur, Rynar didn't plan to ask for their aid in this conflict.
After all, although there were thousands of wild orcs, their quality... Besides sneaking in, Rynar's soldiers could crush them with their eyes closed in a frontal fight.
"I came to see if you need any help. It looks like you're planning to take action against the wild orcs to the east?" Elandor observed the tense gathering of troops.
"Of course! We can't just wait for them to come looking for us," Rynar replied with a smile.
"Well, after all, it's better for us to maintain the initiative. Although Loshanier and the king can't support your army, I can follow your commands," Elandor humbly offered, bringing goodwill and support from the two kings.
"No, no, no, Loshanier needs high-end combat power to hold the fort!
If the orcs from Dol Guldur suddenly advance, we don't know if they have other hidden cards. Leaving you here is the best choice," Rynar denied.
"But your soldiers are few!"
"But we fear nothing!" Rynar calmly met the eyes of the dragon rider.
"Alright... I will convey your wishes to the two kings!" Through Rynar's eyes, Elandor saw calmness and fearlessness.
"Good luck." After bowing respectfully, Elandor mounted his dragon, and the Star Dragon spread its wings and soared into the sky.
"My lord, we're at a disadvantage in this battle!" Caslow quietly approached Rynar from behind.
"But we have no other choice... We are caught between enemies, and our forces are stretched thin...
We can't hold back! Loshanier must not fall!
The orcs from the north and south must not unite! We can't rely on luck to repeat the Battle of the Lonely Mountain," Rynar calmly watched the assembled soldiers moving out of the city.
---
"My lord! A total of 1,047 men have gathered! Apart from the ranger from Elaris Woods, everyone else, including the soldiers from the prairie elves, is here," Caslow reported to Rynar.
"Alright, let the knights set off first!" Rynar turned to Reynard.
"Radir, Riverguard is entrusted to you! Please organize the young men to stand guard. If we do not return..." Rynar left the sentence hanging.
"May the Dragon God protect you... my king," Aivy whispered as she bowed.
"Hmm." Rynar managed a weak smile.
---
"Are we really going to charge in like this?" Vanervi asked, somewhat incredulously.
"What? The brave and battle-hardened prairie elves are actually scared?" Rynar asked curiously.
"No, no, no, I just wanted to ask, are we really just going to plunge in?" Vanervi felt that something was amiss.
"When the disparity in numbers is too great, all tactics are futile," Rynar calmly gazed ahead.
"But I noticed we only have three days' worth of rations! What will we do when we run out?"
Vanervi exclaimed in frustration, meaning that once they finished their food in the next three days, they would have nothing left.
"Three days? That's enough! We'll advance light and reach there in at most three days!
If we defeat them, Caslow will bring us plenty of food.
If we fail... then there's no need to worry about how we'll come back," Rynar said indifferently.
"Damn it... you make a very good point!" Vanervi vented his feelings.
He felt it was unfair for the prairie elves to have such a tragic fate; he had just led his people to flee, and now he had to bring them back to the battlefield so soon.
"Save your strength..." Rynar sighed lightly. He had just noticed that the equipment status of the prairie elves was quite poor.
Though well-maintained, it was clear that their craftsmanship and materials were inferior to those of other elf tribes.
"For our homeland! We fear nothing!" Rynar firmly resolved in his heart.
---
"What! A group of prairie elves discovered us and ran away?" the wild orc king, Onavir, roared, furious that his incompetent subordinates had just reported this now.
"They left days ago!" Onavir said angrily.
"At least five sunsets... my king..." the trembling orc knelt on the ground.
"Roar!" Onavir furiously swung his war hammer, smashing the scout's head, splattering dark green and white matter everywhere.
"Damn elves! Useless trash!" Onavir raged in anger.
"Send my orders! Strike camp and advance to the foot of the Lonely Mountain!" Onavir commanded furiously.
"The dwarves at the Lonely Mountain may have already gotten wind of this.
We can't wait for Azog and Bolg any longer." Onavir decided to lead his army into battle alone; at least he could catch the Lonely Mountain coalition off guard.
"Let's go!" Onavir roared as he rode a wolf.
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