them to practice their craft on occasion . . . but only in a limited way and only in a designated area closer to their encampment, where the druids had set safeguards in place. The archmage kept most of his people under control, but, as Malfurion knew, some of the more ambitious, like Var’dyn, had to be watched more. Even here, Malfurion could sense the residue of some arcane spell. Once the murders were solved, the archdruid would have to have a word with Mordent about Var’dyn’s grasp on where the line was drawn.
Malfurion continued walking as he communed with the trees and other forest life. He had to return to the temple to see to some of the more mundane aspects of leadership. There were those seeking an audience, requisitions to confirm . . . things that as an ordinary druid he would never have had to deal. It made him feel all the more guilty to think of the millennia that Tyrande had dutifully worked to see to the best for their people while he had been . . . away.
Someone else approached. Frowning, Malfurion sighted two grim Sentinels.
“Hail to you, Archdruid Malfurion,” the senior of the two greeted.
“What is it?”
“We have report of another assassination.”
The news struck Malfurion dumb for a moment. He stood there, waiting to be told they were in error, but realizing quickly that it was something that he had been expecting.
“Where?”
“In the deep woods farther north from here. The one called Neva sent the news to us, then went to find Maiev.”
Maiev. It only stood to reason that she should also be informed . . . and yet, the archdruid hesitated to go after her. He had promised the Highborne that these dread crimes would be solved. Another death would only cause things to boil over beyond even his control.
Neva will eventually inform Maiev. I need to make a study of the scene as soon as possible. . . . Having satisfied himself in regards to the notifying of Jarod’s sister, Malfurion indicated to the pair to lead the way.
The Sentinels turned. At first, out of respect for the archdruid, they kept a slower, more even pace. Only when Malfurion purposely took a step or two ahead of them did they finally seem to realize that he preferred speed over propriety.
Although he had a vague notion as to where they journeyed, he was glad that his guides knew the exact location. Malfurion had to assume either that the Highborne had been lured out here or that, like the one Jarod had discovered, the victim had been moved after death.
Even still, his impatience swelled. Eyeing yet another hill to climb, he finally asked, “How much longer?”
“According to what we were told, it should be just over this rise, Archdruid.”
“Good.” He picked up his pace again, moving ahead of the Sentinels.
The trees around him suddenly shook with warning. The archdruid glanced up at them, reading their fear. However, it was not fear for themselves . . . but rather him.
He raised a hand, already casting. At the same time Malfurion shouted, “Get back! There is a—”
He felt as if flames had burst all around him, although he could see nothing. Behind him, Malfurion heard the Sentinels scream. A horrific crackling sound assailed his ears and he suddenly felt not only as if his body were on fire but also as if his skin were being flayed.
Somehow, Malfurion managed to take a step forward. The agony increased, but for some reason the archdruid knew that his best hope was to keep pushing on. In the back of his mind he sensed that the trees were urging him.
The cries of his escorts had faded away. The archdruid could do nothing for them. First he had to save himself. If there was any chance of healing the pair, he could then try. Otherwise they were all surely dead.
He managed another step. The pain lessened ever so slightly.
Through the struggle, Malfurion heard an angry voice. So in pain was he that even had it been someone with whom he was familiar, he could not have identified it. The archdruid only knew that the speaker was very near.
Then, for just a brief moment, the voice became very clear . . . and even closer.
“Why do you not just die already?”
Something struck Malfurion on the head.
22
RITUAL
Genn watched his people continue their preparations to depart. It was with a heavy heart that he had decided to take this course of action, but