whatever alcohol they found right to him. That meant ignoring protocol about entering the presence of their ruler. The sooner he could drink himself deeper into oblivion, the better.
“Come in, damn you!” he roared when they still did not enter. “And bring what drink you’ve found quickly!”
The door opened at last, but the voice that followed was one of the last Varian wanted to hear. “I have brought no spirits, but thought there might be a way to raise yours.”
The king still did not turn away from his son’s quarters. “You’ll forgive me if I’m in no mood for company, not even yours.”
Malfurion walked around Varian, blocking his view. “Anduin would not want you like this, especially because of some argument with him. Neither would your wife.”
The king frowned. “Please leave, Archdruid.”
Undaunted, Malfurion said, “If it is not a talk you desire, perhaps you would like to find a way to more directly vent your frustrations.”
Despite himself, Varian was interested. “If you’ve something to keep me from thinking for a while, name it.”
“Something much better than all this drinking. A hunt.”
“A hunt?” He sat up. “You, a druid, want to take me on a hunt? Doesn’t that go against your beliefs?”
“The hunt is an essential part of nature. It keeps the balance. We do not condemn the bear—or the wolf—for its part in it, and if men, night elves, and others take but what they need and respect where that bounty comes from, there is no contradiction. Azeroth nourishes us and, in return, those of my calling aid it in whatever little fashion we can.”
“‘Whatever little fashion’ . . . I know the extent of your power, Archdruid.”
Malfurion shrugged. “I have been blessed with gifts, but they come with responsibility.”
Varian nodded. “The price of true leadership is to understand that all the advantages come with heavy responsibility. I know that too well.”
“Enough of this talk, though. I only came to offer you respite through a hunt. If you are not interested . . .”
The king rose. “Oh, I’m interested.”
“Good! We can gather your men—”
This earned the archdruid a snort of derision. “I’m not like some of those overfed monarchs who play at hunting by having a hundred beaters frighten some poor beast out of the bush so that he and his pathetic courtiers can surround it and either hack it to death or fill it with enough arrows to make it look like a pincushion! That’s not hunting; that’s true barbarism that even the orcs wouldn’t accept! No . . . I prefer to hunt alone, with just my bow and my stealth. If that’s enough, I bring home food. If not, the beast proves himself my better.”
“A reasonable point.” The night elf gestured to the door. “Then it will be just you and me.”
“You’re going to hunt too? You can call the beasts right to you! What sort of hunting is that?”
The archdruid simply smiled. “You do not know me if you think I would abuse my power in that manner. Come, we will see who fares best.”
Eager to do whatever he could to forget Anduin’s flight, Varian did not hesitate any longer. He seized his bow and quiver from where they were stored and, with the night elf leading, gratefully abandoned his quarters.
As they departed, two of his servants returned. Both had been successful in their efforts to procure wine or ale.
“Leave those inside,” the king decided, just in case the night elf’s offer proved insufficient to fix what was ailing him. “The archdruid and I are going for a walk. Alone.”
The guards eyed the bow but, as usual, did not protest. Varian forgot them as he kept pace with the night elf. Already, doubts were creeping into him. Alone, he might find the hunt to his liking, but if he had to have the night elf at his side at all times, he could not pursue his quarry as he needed. That would only serve to stifle Varian.
He was ready to turn around and head back to the wine and ale when at last they reached a segment of the forest far from any visible night elven structure. Malfurion let his guest view the area in silence.
“Looks like good hunting territory,” Varian admitted. He eyed the archdruid, who was only armed with a staff. “You plan on using that thing?”
In answer, Malfurion set it against a tree. “No, I prefer to hunt as the animals hunt . . . and as one.”
Now at last the human understood