Lazheros just sighed at the shield maiden, "My only advise you young one is just be yourself to the best of your abilities. Don't change because you want to, only change if you have no other option left."

"But if I don't change unless I am forced to, then how can I grow?" Serna asked with child-like honesty, "And if I don't grow, then how will I become a better person?"

"What I am saying has nothing to do as you grow physically, Serna. You will grow with each passing day. You are a still a child soon to become a teenager, a young adult, and so on. Learn and remember those who are your friends, allies, and yes, enemies will teach you things that you may or may not like but that is life and all of its oddities. You have your role models to learn from, those who were, those who are, and those who have to come along. Enjoy life and be brave in the face of adversary." The bronze man smiled warmly.

********

"Captain Mandur is his name. He is the cousin of Knight Captain Martuk, Asylum's second-chief defender," The Swordsman added before he handed the scroll to The Prince, "He wanted us to give you this scroll. He said that a messenger was sent from the king to learn why one of his older sons, Prince Yew, went missing after receiving word to mobilize when the horde began its conquest. His domain was off to the west of the capital. The messanger got waylaid and was forced to take an alternate route for reasons unknown. This is the message for Prince Yew. Captain Mandur wanted us to see to it that he got it or to give it to you."

"Knight-Captain Martuk is Asylum's Chief defender, Irzen. He is responsible for maintaining the primary defenses of the city itself." The elementalist told him.

"That's funny," The Swordsman quipped, "I was under the impression that the dragon cleric that could crap thunder and shoot lightning was the chief defender of Asylum. Don't get me wrong, Martuk looks formidable. But comparing him to Lazheros would be the equivalent of comparing Muhammad Ali to Godzilla."

The Elementalist stood up and walked right up to the Swordsman, "How would you like it if I called you a second rate lord of your homeland in front of your people? I know for a fact, it would NOT go over too well. You did not meet Knight-Captain Martuk, you met Knight-Commander Owen on the temple grounds. What you would know as a GOOD cop/BAD cop routine. You met the BAD cop, who without batting an eyelash, would of smited you where you stood had Lazheros not been present."

"He would have tried and failed," Irzen replied coldly.

"Enough! You two!" Willow accepted the scroll, opened it and began to read it.

"I told Mandur that we'd do the latter as opposed to the former," Irzen continued, "Because if we tried delivering this message directly to Prince Yew, I feared that we would not receive a warm reception from him or his soldiers. Thus, the message is yours. So, if you don't mind my asking, what does it say?"

Prince Yew:

House of Bark, King of Northaven, you are
ordered to mobilize the cavalry at once. Full contingent to ready at sunrise on fifth day.

You are to hold back the invading horde as
much as you can spare. If this enemy starts to overwhelm, fall back to Westfall, and so forth.>

Signed: (Seal of the Sunrider, Tenth of his line
of the House of Bark, King of Northaven.)

Prince Willow read the message aloud so all could hear it. He sighed and turned to the others, "Thoughts anyone?"

Lazheros came over shaking his head at the Swordsman then turned to the Ranger, "Perhaps, what Emissary Orym mentioned about their being a turncoat, or traitor forced the messenger to an alternative route and came upon the hill dwarves, who are loyal to the sovereign of this land."

Alyson shrugged, "Could be this traitor, or could be Gruumasht found a way to undermine some of the defenses that your father had placed in case of an invasion."

"It could be both," Irzen confessed, "A well placed traitor could have forced the messenger to take an alternative route or ended the messenger's life. On the other hand, Gruumasht has cast his forces far and wide throughout this valley. They could have happened upon the messenger purely by accident."

"Either way we have to deliver that message. Don't we, Willow?" Serna asked The Prince.

"Indeed we must," The Prince sighed, "The fate of my people may very well depend upon it. I know the way to Westfell. If we leave now and do not tarry in our pace, then we can reach its borders by nightfall. If you need any rest, take it now. If you need any more supplies, secure them now. In five minutes, we leave for The Kingdom of Westfell.

"Agreed." The elementalist nodded.

Dragolem looked over at the shield maiden, "If you get too tired, you can ride on my back, or you can ride with the swordsman on the goat."

"Thanks, Dragolem," Serna smiled at the Draconic Elemental, "I was right about you, you're not all bad."

"You can use my goat if you like, Alyson," Irzen offered, "I have more than enough endurance to carry me to Westfell without falling faint."

"I am fine for now, Irzen. Thanks, I will keep it mind." Alyson realized that Quake would worked out great here being big enough to carry everyone.

Willow went to retrieve his arrows and return them to his quiver.

"We are ready whenever you are, Prince Willow." Lazheros gestured towards the Ridge Line pass once more.