The three wardens all lowered their weapons slowly. The leader motioned all of them to follow through a well hidden trail leading to the fort. When they arrived, the party could see a fully armed and well defended fort manned by a full compliment of wardens and rangers eyeing all of them warily. The main doors were made of the English oak, a thick and dense wood capable of holding back any threat save for a battering ram, or magic. The leader of the outpost came down a spiral staircase flanked by two other wardens, "Mae govannen."

"Aaye ar' Mae govannen, kano," The Prince placed his hand over his heart as he greeted the commander, "Ya naa lle? Ar' sut uma lle fare?"

"Yo! Lazheros," The Dark Elf whispered over to the Bronze Man and Caliaphy, "Can either of you please translate for those of us who are Wood Elven impaired?"

Lazheros made his way up next to the party as the elves themselves dispersed within the fort. The ranger's kin were always welcomed but the company he kept at the moment made the elven commander wary especially with a drow in the party. He bowed before the commander out of respect and custom, "Mae govannen. Amin naa, Lazheros, ar' these naa Melloneamin Alyson, Serna, Caliaphy, and tella nan' il, Lord Irzen."

"Well that's rude for him to walk off like that," The Swordsman whispered to The Elementalist, "A simple 'no' would have sufficed."

The elmentalist sighed at him.

Irzen turned towards Caliaphy, "How about a translation? What the hell did he just say?"

The fairy flew over to the swordsman whispering, "The Bronze Man introduced us."

"Thanks, Caliaphy, at least I know who to rely on from this moment forward," The Swordsman smiled at the Fairy.

The Warden Commander nodded in kind acknowledging him, "Kano Ivran. So, these are your allies, Prince Willow? The hour is late, and this enemy takes what it wants when it wants. Most of the scouts I sent out have not returned and yet you return with survivors and have slain an ogre?"

"We have," The Prince mentioned openly, "How many of these Ogres have you seen in the valley? We were told that the horde control all of the roads leading into and out of the Southern Valley. Is this true? Are we completely surrounded?"

"It is. I will speak with just you my prince, your allies will stay here until I feel comfortable." Irvan motioned for Willow to follow him up to his station.

Irzen stood at a military parade rest as he waited for what else was going to happen.

"As you wish," The Prince followed The Warden Commander into this station and after he did so he asked, "Emissary Orym told us some of what was happening here. Elbauthin told us more as well. But I sense you have a larger and greater understanding of things on the ground as of late. Just what exactly are we up against? How bad off are we? Where is the rest of our sire's armies? Why have not the other kingdoms my brothers married into responded yet?"

Commander Irvan placed both hands behind his back when he addressed the ranger now, "The Southern Valley fell to the horde two weeks ago. I have not received any word from the other regions. There is but one path that leads out of the valley to the edge of the capital, my prince. The last I heard from the king was assembling the army to defend the capital. Allies are in very short supply of late. Our dwarven neighbors have gone quiet as well when the horde came. Furthermore, why is there a drow amongst your allies? A drow?!"

"A drow who has saved my life as often as I have saved his," The Prince began in earnest, "A drow who has earned the right to call himself my friend. A drow who is here of his own volition and who seeks neither fame nor fortune for standing by my side. And, more importantly, a Drow who knows the enemy that we are fighting."

Willow pointed out towards the entrance, "That Drow out there is Lord Dy'var Irzen, Captain of the Shadow Riders, a calvary mercenary company that used to scout for years for Grummasht's armies before he had a falling out with The Dark Lord. That drow has knowledge of our enemy that could turn the tide of this war in our favor. That drow is here because I asked him to be here to help me, nay to help us, save our kingdom. THAT is why that Drow is an ally! THAT is why that Drow is here!"