The Prince looked around, "By the shape of the landscape, we are in the Southern Valley. We need to march at least two days to the north to reach the outskirts of the capital."

The Swordsman continued to look around, "I'm surprised. There are no rangers or wardens nearby firing off warning shots at us for invading their territory. Or at least none that I can see."

Willow nodded as he looked around, "Agreed, there is something wrong here. Unless my wardens are better hidden than I thought, none of them would leave the Southern Valley unguarded."

"I have a suggestion," The Swordsman offered to both Lazheros and Alyson, "Could either of you peform a Detect Elf spell or some such thing-a-magigy that would allow us to see if there are any Elves nearby?"

"She's right, Serna. About magic on Earth." The elementalist gave the shield maiden a sad look. "It's because creatures like elves, fairies, and dragons are myth and legend on Earth. There are no dwarves, halflings, or gnomes either, just humans."

"That's sad," Serna sighed as she shook her head in disbelief, "No elves, dwarves, gnomes or halflings. Just humans only? That's depressing."

"Yes." The elementalist said quietly.

"I believe the spell you're referring to is Detect Magic, or Detect Good/Evil spell." The bronze man shook his head at the swordsman's lack of knowledge on the subject of magic in general. "Give me a few moments and I will let you know."

"Take your time," Irzen replied, "I'm in no rush."

Ten minutes later, the Bronze Man opened his eyes turning in the direction to the west, "There on the hillside, I was able to detect at least a dozen humanoid figures. Most likely more of your kin, ranger. A few hundred yards in that direction but that was all I could see and hear, something has made the wildlife of the valley nervous."

"I suspect what might be making the wildlife nervous is the sound of war," The Prince replied, "We shall proceed in that direction but do so cautiously and quietly. Irzen, can you take point?"

"Sure thing," The Swordsman nodded as he waited to see what Willow would ask next.

"Lazheros, can you please cover our rear?" The Prince moved forward, "Serna, please make ready with your shield and stay by my side. Alyson, can you please join Irzen on point and serve as his magical support? Caliaphy, can you please travel with Alyson and Irzen and relay messages from their advance position back to us? Any questions?"

"Works for me," The elementalist said taking point with Irzen, "Caliaphy, how about going in stealth mode to scout up ahead."

Irzen and Serna shook their heads and waited to see what the others would ask if anything.

"Teehee! Like this?" The fairy disappeared from view of the party except to Serna.

"Be back in a flash," The fairy said from nowhere.

"Quietly." Alyson whispered moving forward a little. She noticed that Willow seemed to be out of touch with is home land. Was he not a ranger of the woodlands? ~ Has he forgotten how to look for signs of trouble in his favored terrain? ~

The bronze man said nothing when he agreed to the ranger's plan of advancement ushering him and Serna to start walking. "It is unwise to linger here for any length of time."

*****

The fairy buzzed through the woodland shrubs and low lying dense brush on the steep hill side to see roughly a dozen elves trying desperately to hide anywhere in among the trees or up in them without making any noise. Some of them were bruised and bloodied, and the rest comprised of families with children. They went quiet suddenly to the loud crashing sounds to the south followed by a harsh guttural sounds of some horrible language that hurt
Caliaphy's ears.

********

She backed away behind a thick tree and teleported back to the party reappearing. "There's some elven people up ahead. Mostly families. They're really, really scared, and I heard something REALLY BIG smashing its way towards them!"