The Crusaders’ Pinnacle

“Stand proud in knowing that it was you who helped establish the Argent Crusade inside the walls of Icecrown,” Gustav said. “The Crusaders’ Pinnacle now stands in direct defiance of the Lich King and his twisted minions. Highlord Fordring and the crusaders who survived await your arrival at Crusaders’ Pinnacle. Travel once more through the Breach and seek out the highlord!”

The crusaders who survived. He is a priest and he counts. He has been counting since the day he had eleven men on cots and nothing to give them but time, and he was still counting when I brought him a bottle back empty ten souls later, and he counted this morning before he sent me up the road.

So I went through the Breach again. I have lost track of how many times now. It has been an assault route, an escape, a supply line, and a scar, and today it was simply the way to work.

The hill has changed since the fire went out. There is a keep on it. There are walls where the tent line was and a gate frame standing where I planted the banner, and Silas’s people were up on the scaffolding as I came in with the heartwood I carried out of Crystalsong going into the frames. Wood that plague cannot enter. 

The skulls are still under it. Nobody has moved them and I do not believe anybody intends to.

Fordring was at the overlook with the Citadel filling the whole northern sky in front of him.

“A long and arduous journey awaits us as we make our way to the gates of Icecrown Citadel. I, and the soldiers of the Argent Crusade, wish to thank you for all that you have done. We rest easier knowing that you will fight alongside us in this cursed place.”

Then he saluted me.

I returned it.

The Crusade had its foothold and the Citadel had not moved an inch, and the next lead came from an unlikely direction entirely, a goblin at Aldur’thar who thought the whole war was a matter of perspective and that It’s All Fun and Games.