bedding down and that's the end of it. Now, then, we move on to what must happen next.'
'Zin-Azshari, certainly!' piped up Lord Stareye. 'Queen Azshara must be saved!'
The other nobles echoed his sentiments. Krasus frowned, but said nothing. He and the others had discussed the matter before their arrival, and all had agreed that the night elves would cling to the belief that their monarch was a prisoner of the demons. Since Zin-Azshari was also the access point by which the Burning Legion entered Kalimdor, it seemed futile to argue for any other course of action. For one reason or another, the capital had to be taken.
Krasus did not think, however, that Malfurion's people could do it alone.
Ignoring protocol, he stepped up and demanded, 'My Lord Ravencrest! I must speak again on a subject I know you wish not to hear, but that cannot be avoided!'
Ravencrest accepted a goblet of wine poured by Lord Stareye. Even in the midst of crisis, the hierarchy of the night elves insisted on some benefits. 'You'd be referring to communications with dwarves and such.'
Next to him, Stareye scoffed. Similar expressions graced the features of most of the other nobles.
Despite that it was clear that this would be a repeat of all his previous defeats, the mage persisted. 'At this moment, the dwarves, tauren, and other races are surely fighting their own struggles against the Burning Legion. Separately, there is some small chance that you will survive, but a concerted effort by all could see Zin-Azshari taken with a loss of far fewer lives!'
'Tauren in Zin-Azshari?' blurted one noble. 'How barbaric!'
'They'd rather have the demons there?' muttered Rhonin to Malfurion.
'You wouldn't understand,' the druid replied morosely.
'No, I wouldn't.'
The bearded commander downed his wine, then handed the goblet back to Lord Stareye. He eyed the mage as one would a respected, albeit misguided, elder. 'Master Krasus, your contributions to our strategy have been well appreciated. Your knowledge of your craft exceeds that of any of our sorcerers. In the guidance of the arts, I heartily turn to you for suggestions.' Ravencrest's frown deepened. 'However, when it comes to other matters, I must remind you that you aren't one of us. You don't understand basic truths. Even if I did something as mad as summon the dwarves and tauren to our aid, do you think honestly they would come? They distrust us as much as we do them! For that matter, even if they would join us, do you expect our soldiers to fight alongside?'
'The dwarves are more likely to turn on us,' interjected Stareye. 'Their avarice is well-documented. They would rob us and then scurry back to their holes.'
Another officer added, 'And the tauren would spend as much time fighting with one another. They are beasts more than intelligent creatures! Their chaos would spill over into our fighters, cause such disarray that we would be easily wiped out by the demons!'
Lord Ravencrest agreed. 'You see, Master Krasus? We would be inviting not only bedlam into our midst, but certain destruction.'
'We may yet face that by going on alone.'
'This particular discussion is at an end, good wizard, and I must respectfully order that you do not bring it up again.'
The two stared at each other for several seconds…and it was Ravencrest who glanced away first. Despite that small victory, though, Krasus acquiesced.
'Forgive me for overstepping my bounds,' he said.
'We are about to discuss supplies and logistics, Master Krasus. There really is no need for the presence of any spellcaster during this session, save Illidan, who serves me directly. I would suggest that you and the others get some much needed rest yourselves. Your skills will be welcome when we advance again.'
Krasus bowed politely, saying nothing more. With the others following, he calmly glided out of the tent.
But once out of earshot of those within, the pale mage commented bitterly, 'Their shortsightedness will put a tragic end to this struggle. Alliance with the other races is the key to victory…'
'They won't accept them,' Malfurion insisted. 'My people will never fight alongside such.'
'They accepted Korialstrasz readily enough,' countered Rhonin.
'There are few who can deny a dragon, Master Rhonin.'
'Too true,' muttered Krasus, looking thoughtful. 'Rhonin, I must go find them.'
'Find who?'
'My-the dragons, of course.'
Brox snorted and Malfurion looked startled. The druid knew that Krasus had a link with Korialstrasz, but even now he did not understand the full truth.
'The dragons, Master Krasus? But they're a force unto themselves! How can you possibly think to do so?'
'I have my methods…but to accomplish the fact also requires swift transportation. The night sabers will never do for that. I need something that can fly.'
'Like a dragon?' Rhonin asked wryly.
'Something smaller will suffice, my friend.'
To the surprise of the others, it was Malfurion who suddenly came up with a suggestion. 'There are woods not far from here. Perhaps…perhaps I can contact Cenarius. He may have a solution.'
From Krasus's expression, this was not entirely satisfying, but no one could come up with anything better. He finally nodded, saying, 'We shall have to depart as soon as possible, then. Captain Shadowsong will otherwise either seek to detain us or, even worse, follow with his troops behind us. I fear that will draw both the Burning Legion and the night elves to our mission.'
Jarod and the rest of the bodyguard had been given time to recuperate. No one thought the wizards in physical danger amidst the host, and the soldiers could hardly defend against any magical assault better than their charges. Come the march, the bodyguard would immediately resume its duties, of course.
But by then, Krasus hoped to be on his way.
'Do you really think this necessary?' asked the redtressed wizard.
'I go for two reasons, Rhonin. The first is that of which we speak. The dragons can turn the tide. As for the second reason, that is more personal. I go to see why I sense only silence from them. That should not be so, as you understand. I need to discover the truth.'
He received no more objections. Lord Ravencrest intended for the night elves to march at first dark, and Krasus had to be far from here before he was discovered missing.
Rhonin nodded. 'What about Brox and me?'
'If our druid friend here can gain me transportation as he says, he will be able to return well before nightfall. In the meantime, you and Brox must try to stay from the sight of Lord Ravencrest. He may ask about us. He will be furious enough when he discovers I have left.'
'Maybe, maybe not. At least no one will be questioning his decisions out loud.'
Ignoring the human's jest, Krasus turned to Malfurion. 'We must go. If we take a pair of night sabers toward the area of the refugees, the soldiers will not bother with us much. We can then come around and head toward the woods.' He let out a slight hiss. 'And then we must pray that your patron will come to our aid.'
They quickly left the others, following the elder mage's suggestion as to their course. Soldiers eyed them with some suspicion and curiosity, but as the pair were not heading toward the front, the looks did not last long.
Malfurion was still uncomfortable with Krasus's mission, but did not question the conjurer. He respected the latter's wisdom and knew that Krasus understood the dragons better than anyone he had ever met. Often, he even seemed almost one of them. Surely somewhere in his past, Krasus had enjoyed the unique experience of having dwelled among the ancient creatures for some period of time. What other explanation could there be for his link to the leviathans?
It took nearly three hours, but they finally entered the woods. The comfort Malfurion felt the last time he had entered such a place did not touch him now. This forest had experienced the taint of the Legion and the marks remained. If not for the sudden turnaround by the defenders, it very well would have been reduced to ruin already.
Despite the imminent threat, life still abounded here. Birds sang, and the druid could sense the trees
