continue their study of the arcane, no matter what the cost.
There were twenty at this gathering, twenty of the strongest. Var’dyn Skyseeker was leader of the twenty and had aspirations to be much more: the eventual successor to the Highborne’s speaker, Archmage Mordent Evenshade. Var’dyn now guided the spell that the twenty cast, a test of their power. The swirling energies gathered within the circle the casters formed. The faces of each male and female in the group glowed from not only the radiance but also his or her deep enthrallment.
Var’dyn gestured, and the energies came together in one powerful yet compact sphere. He gestured again, and tendrils reached out in the four directions of the compass.
We are now ready, he told the others through the link that their spellwork created.
As one, the Highborne drew a sign in the air. The tendrils grew stronger, and more erupted from the sphere. The sphere itself pulsated rapidly—
A horrific wind tore through the region. Highborne cried out in surprise as they were buffeted. The circle broke, but Var’dyn kept the link solid. They had come this far with their efforts; he was not about to let them all fail.
Then, what at first some mistook for thunder roiled through the area. Var’dyn looked up, but there were no clouds. He stared at the treetops, which shook violently . . . more violently than the wind demanded. It was they, in fact, that were the source of the deafening roar.
“Keep to your efforts!” Var’dyn snapped at some of his companions, the clearly unnatural actions of the forest finally unnerving them enough to cause risk to the spell. He led the way, concentrating harder and trying to draw the others back into the effort.
A tremendous wrenching drowned out the roar. One of the nearest trees bent down. Its limbs now acted like so many tentacles from some kraken. They reached for those Highborne below them.
More wrenching arose from beyond the boundaries of the gathering. Everywhere, the closest trees stretched their branches toward the spellcasters.
The link weakened beyond Var’dyn’s will to keep it intact. The gathered energies faded, and the tendrils dissipated. The sphere shrank—and then melted away with a pitiful hiss.
As it vanished, many of the exhausted Highborne slumped to the ground. Var’dyn remained standing, although it was secretly an effort to do so. Gritting his teeth, he searched the forest for the cause of the disaster.
“I made matters very clear regarding the practice of your arcane arts!” boomed a voice from every direction. “This goes against everything upon which the archmage and I agreed!”
One of the other spellcasters thrust a finger toward Var’dyn’s left. There, the branches and underbrush gave way of their own accord to open a path to a lone figure wielding only a staff.
“Archdruid . . .” Var’dyn did not bow to Malfurion Stormrage, though he did nod his head in respect. “I have petitioned over and over about some mild changes in our agreement, but received no suitable answer. We need more leeway in our efforts; our powers will stagnate if we cannot utilize them in a sufficient manner—”
Malfurion strode up to Var’dyn, then raised the staff slightly. Var’dyn wisely quieted. “Your petition is still under consideration by both Mordent and me—as you have been informed more than once—and there has been no answer on it for reasons you have already been told! The reputation of the Highborne will always be stained by their past. As the archmage’s thero’shan, you should understand that. You Highborne chose to stay in Eldre’Thalas, defending and hiding in your special city as the war bloodily played out elsewhere.”
“We fought for our home!”
“You stood by while the queen’s counselor, Xavius, oversaw the creation of the portal that let the Legion into our world; you stood silent when Queen Azshara chose the demons over her own people; and you continue your practice of arcane magic, even though it is the same magic that drew the Legion to us. Even the millennia have not stripped the people’s memories of those final days. It was difficult enough even to gain your kind the right to come to Darnassus. . . .”
“We came here thanks to your promises, Archdruid! We came here with the assurance that we were to be a part of night elf society again, yet also with the understanding that we will maintain our own identity too! However, as you yourself so eagerly point out, we are still ostracized! We must be able to openly practice our