I have some for you. I have been able to secure assistance from the rest of the Alliance in one form or another. Most will offer military might; others supplies.”
Shandris smiled savagely. “The Horde will rue their ambition.”
“Perhaps . . .”
“Something you know? A vision from Elune?”
The high priestess shook her head. “No. No more visions. Merely a . . . feeling . . . on my part.”
“And not a good one. What is it?”
“The Horde knows full well that we can muster strong reinforcements. They must be following a strategy unlike any previous.”
Shandris was not impressed. “Whatever they have in mind, I will be ready for it.”
Tyrande put a motherly hand on Shandris’s shoulder. “You know my faith in you is absolute. But I have come to a decision. I will be joining you. I will be leading this expedition.”
The other night elf did not show any disappointment, only understanding. “You also had to make promises to some of our allies, promises that require you to go to Ashenvale to see them through.”
“Your ‘eyes’ are as good as ever. I only agreed to most of that a little bit ago.”
“It makes sense, especially if we need to keep them from arguing among themselves.” Shandris held up a parchment that she had brought with her. “As I thought anyway that it would be the case, I have got all you need jotted down here. Might be good if we go over it.”
The high priestess smiled proudly. “Thank you, Shandris.”
“Thank me if we survive this.” The younger night elf moved to the table and spread the parchment open. It proved much larger than it had first appeared, and there was hardly an empty space upon it. Shandris had made the most use of the parchment, and with necessity. The reinforcing of Ashenvale required great consideration . . . and all of it quickly.
And as Tyrande bent over the parchment and started to listen to her adopted daughter, she prayed to the Mother Moon that there would be time enough.
Varian caught wind of the worgen long before he saw the first. He knew that they could not smell his scent yet, for the wind blew toward him. The king also knew that they did not hear him, either, despite their acute senses. The curse might have given the Gilneans heightened senses, but they had not had the years to hone them as he had. They were still basically who they had been, while he had a lifetime of experience.
Those who accompanied Genn included other surviving members of the nobility, male and female. However, in addition, favored officers and Genn’s own personal staff and guards would also be included in the “royal” hunt. Aside from Genn, the guards would be the ones that Varian would have to watch out for most. Although the Gilnean monarch was their first priority, in what was considered a safe land the soldiers would also probably have some leeway in pursuing the prey. That meant that Varian would actually be competing against several rivals . . . which suited him just fine.
Varian had only one real reason for following. Malfurion’s plot had had the opposite effect. Varian had decided to take the archdruid’s suggestion and use it to embarrass Genn in front of his own people. The Gilneans would see that their vaunted leader was still a failure who would only bring them to further ruin.
The idea that, by shaming Genn, Varian wanted to assuage his own sense of failure had crept into the lord of Stormwind’s mind, but he had quickly and soundly buried that thought deep. All that mattered was putting the king of Gilneas in his place.
A sleek form darted among the trees to his left. One of the younger worgen. Varian used the momentary observation to judge the creatures. The worgen moved more fluidly than he had first estimated, but the king saw flaws of which he could take advantage.
The worgen glanced back at him. Initial surprise gave way to a reaction Varian found odd. The long ears of the other hunter straightened and Varian had the sense that not only was the worgen studying him, he was also seeing something that was not readily apparent to the king. The worgen briefly ducked his head low as he ran, a sign that Varian had recognized among Genn’s followers as one of respect for a pack member of higher status.
The young worgen vanished among the trees, but not because he outpaced the lord of Stormwind.