frankly, was much more important to him than the lives of all the Highborne combined . . . Malfurion’s whereabouts. Nothing mattered more than rescuing the archdruid.
Jarod leaned over Eadrik. With his finger, he drew a crescent moon in the air over the worgen’s body. The sign of Elune. He prayed that the Mother Moon would take Eadrik’s spirit to wherever the worgen’s kind should go after death. Eadrik had proven himself as good a comrade as any Jarod had fought beside in the war. The members of the Alliance were fools if they did not see what having such beings on their side could mean. It might even be able to swing the advantage away from the Horde, who thus far seemed better suited to the wild world Azeroth had become.
The night elf headed off at as great a pace as he could. However, only then did he recall that he had forgotten to make certain from Neva that there were no more traps between Malfurion and him. It would take only one misstep to end the archdruid’s rescue before it began.
And this time, there would be no one to save Jarod, either.
24
ASHENVALE AT WAR
As Jarod had begun his day in search of Malfurion, events quickened in Ashenvale. With Elune’s guidance, Tyrande had worked miracles in the form of moon-affected currents to see to it that the ships reached Ashenvale even more quickly than estimated. Shandris had immediately sent heralds to the outposts to alert them of their coming and, in turn, learn where matters stood. As this went on, the newly arrived force wasted no time in moving out and marching. During the march, Tyrande explained to those priestesses who had accompanied her as to what their roles would be and what risks they would have to take.
Thus it was that Haldrissa and her Sentinels had the great pleasure—and relief—of watching the reinforcements arrive the next day, and they instantly began melding with the defenders already at the river. With Denea and the rest of her staff at her side, Haldrissa quickly rode up to meet the arrival of the high priestess and general.
Tyrande Whisperwind was an arresting sight. She did not wear the soft, shimmering robes of the temple now but rather the armor of a warrior of the moon goddess. Her formfitting armor, which covered her from neck to foot, had been crafted with layered plates that allowed her ease of movement. A gossamer cloak the color of moonlight and attached at the shoulders fluttered in the breeze. The high priestess also wore a winged helmet that covered the top half of her head.
“Hail, Commander Haldrissa,” Tyrande said without preamble. “I give thanks to the Mother Moon that we find you holding here.”
“The Horde has made no sign of movement since Silverwing fell. . . .”
Their expressions turned more dour at her answer. Tyrande and Shandris had been informed of the outpost’s destruction the moment that they had arrived, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow. For a long time Silverwing had been admired as an example of night elf determination in the face of extreme adversity.
“The damned orcs will pay,” Shandris remarked with relish. “Whatever tricks they have been using are not going to help them anymore!”
“Let us temper our desire to avenge the brave defenders of Silverwing and elsewhere in Ashenvale with the knowledge that Garrosh Hellscream commands the Horde now, not Thrall,” said Tyrande. “This is a different Horde in many respects, Shandris. We must move with thought and caution.”
“Oh, we will. We will move with the thought of crushing the orcs and the caution of not getting their blood in our eyes when we cut them down.”
The high priestess’s brow arched. Haldrissa said nothing, but Denea and most of the other Sentinels present nodded hearty agreement with the general.
“We need to know all that has transpired,” Tyrande told the commander, “and where you think your weakest points in the line might be.”
Haldrissa wasted no time in explaining all as best she could. A daring Denea tossed in her own suggestions when there seemed a point of hesitation on the senior officer’s part, including the belief that a thrust forward now would enable them to push the Horde back even to Silverwing. Haldrissa did not silence her second, a part of her wondering if Denea had a sharper grasp than her at the moment. Not once did the younger Sentinel pause in uncertainty as she did, and all that Denea suggested