Chapter 65

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 065: Stonewatch Keep

Stonewatch Keep is the most important military base in Redridge. The walls here are very thick, and the castle is very strong. Next to Stonewatch Keep, a waterfall flows through a bridge and crashes down, making a loud sound that can be heard from far away, which is very magnificent.

For hundreds of years, this place has been the frontline against the fierce enemies from the north, the dwarfs and the Redridge Gnolls. The walls need to be thick and the castle needs to be strong to defend against the dwarfs with heavy siege weapons and the reckless Gnolls who are crazy in battle.

The existence of Stonewatch Keep ensures that enemies cannot attack Lakeshire without taking over this important place first, let alone advancing to Eastvale and Goldshire. Therefore, Stonewatch Keep has become the secure heart of all human forces in Redridge, and its strength has been enhanced by generations of kings.

Years ago when the Dark Portal opened, even the vanguard led by the then Warchief Blackhand of the Horde almost failed here. It was only when the main forces arrived, with a huge advantage in numbers and the powerful magic of the elite warlocks from the Shadow Council, that the stone walls were destroyed and this place was conquered.

Nowadays, Stonewatch Keep has lost its former glory due to several damaged walls and it is full of cracks and damages everywhere. Rebuilding it is very difficult, hence the progress is very slow until today.

Jesse dismounted from his horse at a camp outside Stonewatch Keep. Maybe it was the fresh air in Redridge or the sight of the scenery below the mountain that made him feel relaxed both physically and mentally after the journey. He hoped Greed would recover quickly like him.

A guard noticed Jesse coming from the Wizard’s Sanctum and led him across the bridge into Stonewatch Keep to meet the commander.

The commander of Stonewatch Keep was a bald man. He looked Jesse up and down for a long time without saying anything.

Jesse felt uneasy standing in the courtyard of Stonewatch Keep. He suspected that maybe these veteran soldiers who had experienced the Orc Wars were more sensitive to dark magic or demons than mages. He wondered if he had exposed something about himself without realizing it.

"What are you here for?" he asked.

"Jesse Seso," Jesse replied, "from the Wizard’s Sanctum in Stormwind."

"You don’t have to keep emphasizing that you’re from the Wizard’s Sanctum, I know what that place is," the commander said, with his hands on his hips. "We have a few mages in our castle too, mages are nothing special."

Jesse said, "I have been entrusted by a mage to deliver a very important package here."

The commander nodded and sarcastically remarked, "Mages always have very important things."

"My boss instructed me to personally deliver the package to Martin Harold," Jesse said.

"Martin Harold," the commander looked at the people around him and asked, "Is he that young man who went bald in his twenties?"

The person beside nodded in agreement, and the commander continued, "Looks like you really are from there. I’m just a bit curious how someone like you could journey through the entire valley to get to Stonewatch Keep alone, did you encounter any troubles on the way, like Gnolls, Murlocs, or anything?"

"He’s a mage, Colonel," a soldier beside reminded, "Mages always have their ways."

"Don’t need your words," the commander, known as Colonel, said, glancing at Jesse and asked, "Is that horse yours?"

"No, sir," Jesse honestly replied, "The horse belongs to Mage Quarter. After the mission is complete, I need to return the horse, so I need to do it quickly."

"Call me Colonel Troteman." Colonel Troteman waved his hand and said to a young soldier beside him, "Take him to see those mages. It seems that Lakevale is much more peaceful nowadays than before."

"Also, feed that horse. Look at the pretty girl looking so hungry," tutted the Colonel.

The Colonel stared at the package in Jesse’s arms until the guard led him into the Stonewatch Keep. Inside, there were soldiers, guards, and officials bustling around.

However, the people here dressed differently from the Stormwind army and the Lakeshire militia. Curiously, Jesse asked his escort, "Are you allied with Stormwind?"

"We are loyal to King Varian, of course," the soldier leading him answered, "But after the Orc War, we became an independent unit led by Colonel Troteman. We are tasked with defending Stonewatch Keep, preventing the conflict between the Blackrock Orcs and Dark Iron Dwarves from spreading here. Of course, we also need to maintain security around the area, currently dealing with Gnoll issues."

"The mages from the Wizard’s Sanctum were a big help in the battle to reclaim Stonewatch Keep last year, sir." The soldier smiled as they climbed the stairs and turned back, "Colonel Troteman’s words were not meant to target you intentionally. It’s just that the situation is tense now, with various tricks from the Gnolls – poison, bombs, theft, always trying to cause trouble."

"I understand," Jesse said, "The Three Crossroads area has always been tense; the kingdom has deployed many troops there."

"Really? Are the Gnolls still causing trouble there?" The soldier sighed and said, "I have a sister who does business in Grand Town and often travels to this side of Lakeshire. It’s been several years since I last went back. I hope she’s doing well."

On the second floor, the soldier knocked on a wooden door and said, "The masters of the Wizard’s Sanctum usually study and read books here. We ask for their help if someone here is injured or sick. It’s really hard work."

At that moment, a middle-aged man with black hair opened the door.

"Master Morganth," the soldier said. "He’s from the Stormwind Wizard’s Sanctum, here to deliver a package. If there are any issues, just let me know. I’ll be downstairs."

"Thank you," the middle-aged man said.

Morganth?

Jesse remembered this person. Morganth used to be a mage in Stormwind, but he was expelled from the Wizard’s Sanctum for studying forbidden dark magic. He held a grudge and eventually betrayed the kingdom, helping the Blackrock Orcs take over Stonewatch Keep.

Clearly, he had not been expelled from the kingdom or the Wizard’s Sanctum, and other mages had not noticed his connection to dark magic.

Morganth was not yet old, probably under forty, with a thin, angular face and a rather gloomy demeanor.

He had long black hair, wore a tight-fitting shirt and pants, and looked a bit proud when talking to people.

Morganth looked at Jesse and Jesse suddenly remembered that his Orc warlock magic wand was still behind him.

He hoped he wouldn’t be noticed right away, he never thought he would encounter such a powerful wizard here.

However, Morganth didn’t care about what was behind him at all, he only looked at what Jesse held in his hands, maybe it wasn’t Malin’s package, but Jesse’s Warlock Pack around his waist.

"Are you sent by Master Malin? Come in."