Emissary Orym sighed, "Your father sent for them upon hearing the southern region being attacked by other members of the high council. Hopefully, they would have arrived at the capital. As to the name of this orc warlord, I do not know his name. However, the scouts reported that he was far taller, wearing heavy armor and wields two great axes."

"Axes, you say?" Lazheros stepped next to the Ranger. "During my travels with Madeous Khyng, we encountered a fierce and brutal Orc barbarian in service to Venger wielding two battle axes. He goes by Gruumasht, and he is not to be taken lightly. It took all of us to take him on, and that was only when we fought our way through his troops."

Irzen drew close and took a good hard look at the map as well. Serna kept silent yet watched the proceedings with great interest.

"Gruumasht?!" Orym went rigid, "We will be glad to have you and your friends lend us any aid, my prince."

"So old Gruumasht finally decided to step out of Venger's shadow," Irzen smiled wistfully before he turned to everyone, "I know this Orc. When I was in service to The Dark Lord, we met several times during war councils as we planned for campaigns."

"Gruumasht has no love of elves of any kind going back to old rivalries and animosity of who's the better race to conquer and enslave or kill on sight." The Bronze Man added.

"True, but he is willing to work with them so long as it achieves their ends," Irzen corrected The Bronze Man, "Trust me, I've had more encounters with this Orc than you have. I know who we are dealing with."

The Drow Swordsman sighed, "This Orc you face is no fool! He is as brilliant as he is ugly. Gruumasht is a charismatic war leader, a brilliant strategist and an able tactician. Venger awarded him a medal called The Blood Cross for successfully laying siege to the City Fortress of Harandspar."

"A smart orc?" Alyson frowned, "Well snap, that can't be good at all."

Irzen concluded, "I suspect most of his horde are probably comprised of his own troops. All of his Orcs are battle-hardened warriors who would gladly follow their leader into the Ninth Plane of Hell. It will not be easy to stop this Orc and his horde, Willow, I promise you that!"

Armendes stepped forward and addressed Emissary Orym, "There was mention of a possible traitor?"

Orym glanced up at the golem, "We've learned that someone of considerable influence has been aiding this fell orc which would make sense in how he's been able to counter our battle tactics. Which makes this situation more dangerous."

"Do you know the identity of this traitor?" Willow asked, "Or is he hidden from us?"

"We do not know if this traitor is male to begin with. What we do know is that this individual has intimate knowledge of the noble estates throughout the kingdom. So far, the ones your elder brothers married into are safe, which makes me wonder if this has connection with you, my prince, upon your exile."

Alyson remained quiet in the back, rubbing her wrists with anticipation. The spirit of the gauntlets was anxious sensing another piece of the Crimson Dragon armor within reach.

"Maybe, maybe not!" Willow half thought to himself, "Both events could be merely, coincidence."

"In my line of work, Willow," Irzen added, "There is no such thing as coincidence."

Armendes looked at Lazheros for a moment. The two of them conversed in draconic and came to an agreement, "I might be able to assist in finding out who this traitor is but it will take some time. There is a professor at the Alchemists guild who might have better insight on how to deal with the horde. He's an odd fellow but very knowledgeable with geography, er reading old maps through the centuries. His name is Professor Tyme."

The Emissary took the wizard's insight into consideration, "Ah, well on that note, I will consider that as a wild card option as you call it."

Irzen turned towards the Emissary, "Is there anything else that we should know? Or more to the point, is there anything else that your prince should know?"

Orym looked at the drow swordsman warily, "I welcome your personal insight regarding this war orc, however, I will let the prince ask since it pertains to him solely."

"It pertains to us ALL if you wish to have our aid," Irzen responded flatly, "But, since we are in your embassy and thus your guests here, I will be more than happy to defer to your prince."

Willow gave Irzen a look and then turned to his Emissary, "Orym, what else must I know? What are you not telling me? Is there more that I need to know and you are shy about sharing such knowledge in mixed company? Answer me, in private or public, but answer me you will."

The emissary glared at the drow swordsman, "You are here at the behest of my prince, you will know your place!" He calmed down a little and turned his attention back to Willow, "Your father is convinced that when you chose exile over the arranged marriage to Lady Meliantha, she began to act strangely from the gift she received, or rather it simply appeared through some means of magic."

Irzen merely gave the emissary a sardonic smile.

Alyson approached Emissary Orym, "Pardon, my lord when did she acquire this strange gift?"

Orym glanced past the ranger's shoulder, "Just before the horde was seen on the southern most reaches of the kingdom. There was a strange and ancient magical force that was felt all over the kingdom."

One of the elven guards added, "And the sound of an Ancient dragon roar but no one saw any sign of any dragon. There have been no dragons in the kingdom of North Haven for the past five hundred years."

Serna said not a word as she attentively watched and listened to everything transpiring around her.

Lazheros and Armendes turned to the elementalist who was now in gold draconic armor. The wizard gasped and the bronze man remained calm, "Another piece of the Crimson Dragon is calling her Emissary Orym. The ancient dragon roar that you all heard was a summons that she cannot dismiss or deny. Should any of you encounter the other with the piece that the elementalist finds, do not interfere."

"Fair enough," Irzen quipped non-chalantly.

Emissary Orym spoke up, "The legend of the Crimson Dragon is true, then I invite all of you to lend us your aid. Any more details will be given at a later time by order of your father, Prince Willow."

"First you beg for my help, then you tell me to know my place, now you go back to begging for my help once more," Irzen wistfully announced to the Emissary, "I wonder which are you going to do right before Gruumasht reaches down your throat, rips out your heart and laughs at you while your dying in a pool of your own blood?"