World of Warcraft: The Shattering: Prelude to Cataclysm Page 0,72
an area of mutual connection. Garrosh had exploded, and Thrall had had to try to calm him down. The end result was that, officially, nothing had happened.
But, unofficially, Thrall had given Hamuul permission to do whatever he thought would benefit the Horde. And Hamuul had spent the last several months clandestinely sending letters, couriers, and even representatives.
“Surprisingly well, considering everything,” Hamuul replied. “It took a while to even get an initial response from the kaldorei. They were deeply angry.”
“So were we.”
“I explained that to them, and fortunately there are those among them who still call me friend and believed my words. It has been slow, Cairne. Slower than I would have liked, slower than I think was necessary, but things ripen in their own time. I did not wish to force a meeting, but it seems that the kaldorei now would be amenable to one such.”
“This news makes an old bull happy,” Cairne exclaimed, his heart swelling. “I am pleased to hear that there are some who hear the whispers of reason over the shouts of aggression.”
“It is easier to hear such things in the Moonglade,” Hamuul said, and Cairne nodded.
“When and where would such a meeting take place?” Cairne inquired.
“Ashenvale. A few more days of letters, and then I think it will happen.”
“Ashenvale? Why not the Moonglade itself?”
“Remulos does not get involved in these sorts of affairs,” Hamuul replied. Remulos was one of the sons of the demigod Cenarius, who had taught druidism to Malfurion Stormrage. A powerful, beautiful being, Remulos’s form was that of a night elf and a stag; his hair and beard made of moss; his hands not flesh, but leafy, wooden talons. In this tranquil place he oversaw, peace reigned.
“He cannot prevent casual discussions, but we would not bring such potentially explosive issues to the Moonglade without his blessing. If this goes well, however, Remulos has indicated that he would permit a second meeting in the Moonglade.”
“That would be good,” Cairne said. “Ashenvale is still too volatile a place for my liking. You will be attending, I take it?”
“I will. I will be leading the meeting, along with an archdruid who is essentially my counterpart among the kaldorei.”
“Take some of my best warriors with you,” Cairne urged.
“No.” Hamuul shook his head firmly. “I will not give anyone an excuse to take up arms, saying that I myself come to do so. The only weapons will be the claws, teeth, and talons we all possess in our bestial forms. My counterpart has agreed to do the same. Swords do not befit those who come with peace in their hearts.”
“Hrrm,” rumbled Cairne, stroking his beard. “What you say is true, though I could wish it otherwise. Still, I would not want to see anyone attack you in your bear shape, old friend. They would not end up the victor.”
Hamuul chuckled. “Let us hope we do not find out. I will be careful, Cairne. More than my own life is riding on the outcome of this gathering. We are all aware of the risk we take, and we deem it worth it.”
Cairne nodded and spread his arms, indicating the sacred grounds before them. “I hope I do not have to come here to commune with you afterward.”
Hamuul threw back his head and laughed.
TWENTY
Five bears, their fur of varied shades but all shaggy and huge, walked the verdant forests of Ashenvale. They paused to snuffle or paw at something that interested them here and there, and did not appear to be together. Bears seldom were. Still, if one had watched them long enough, and followed their apparently aimless wandering, one would have noticed that they all seemed to be heading in the same direction.
One also might have noticed that they had horns.
They reached a certain spot in the mountains slightly west of the Talondeep Path. One, a larger, more grizzled-looking beast than the others, scouted about for a few minutes, sniffing cautiously, then rose up on its hind legs and lifted its forepaws to the sky.
Claws, black and shiny, turned to long, strong fingers. Brown and white fur rippled and shortened. The bear muzzle elongated, horns now jutting from a larger head with calm, deep-set eyes. Skeleton and organs shifted within the short-furred skin. Hind legs turned to long, strong limbs with hooves and not paws, and the short tail elongated and grew whiplike, with a tuft at the end.
“I can smell them; they are coming,” Hamuul Runetotem assured his fellows. “And they are alone.”