Lazheros placed a hand gently on her shoulder with a smile, "Just be yourself, child. Just be who you are."

"I can do that. I can be myself. Wow! That's the first time I've ever seen you smile." Serna smiled back at the Bronze Man, "You should smile more often. You have a really nice smile."

"What do you mean I don't smile, or that I should smile more often?" The bronze man gave her a quizzical look followed by a chuckle, "Silly child, I smiled and laughed quite a bit at the lighthouse when everyone was there for breakfast."

"I never said you didn't smile," Serna corrected Lazheros, "I just said you should smile more often. And ask yourself this question: Can you ever really smile and laugh enough?"

"No." The bronze man agreed with her.

"Good! So let's get a move-on we have a kingdom to save!" Serna chirped optimistically as she led the way back to the others.

*********

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.

The Shield Maiden walked over to Dragolem, "I think I'll take you up on that offer of a ride now."

Dragolem cracked his head side to side for a second before he dropped to all fours to let the shield maiden climb onto his back.

Serna climbed atop Draconic Elemental and held on to him tightly, "Ready when you are, Dragolem."

"Suit yourself," The Swordsman remounted the goat, "I never thought I'd be riding a goat, but then I never thought the ride would be as smooth as it has been."

"Look at this way, Irzen, you can scout way ahead if you see or hear trouble. Two, a wargoat is a formidable steed for any enemy to take head on." The elementalist followed behind Dragolem with the Bronze Man next to her.

"Both good points," Irzen nodded in agreement.

"Follow me," Having retrieved all of his arrows, the Prince led them in the direction towards Westfell by way of the Ridge Line Pass.

The party made their way across the Ridge Line pass without any more trouble. It seemed that whatever bandits, goblins, or larger creatures were no longer a threat. As they came down off the pass and into the woodlands, sounds of battle could be heard up ahead. Sounds of elves and orcs clashing with common folks shouting and screaming for cover.

Irzen dismounted and quietly moved on ahead to see what was transpiring before the others arrived on the scene.

As the swordsman scouted ahead quietly he came upon a battle between orcs with their worgs and elves on horses in the center of the town. Some of the elves had dismounted creating a wall between the common folk and the raiding orcs. To the far south western side of the village, Irzen could see another giant with his own groups of heavily armored orcs guarding two large wagons with empty cages on them.

Caliaphy snapped awake from the sounds of people screaming for help. "Oh-no! We have to help them!"

Irzen turned and made his way back to the others relaying to them all that he had seen, "Well, guys, what do you think? I'm thinking its a slaving party, but for the life of me I don't know why. Grummasht's army will no doubt have camp followers who do all of the odd jobs that an army on the march needs done. And having his sentries keep an eye on a large number of captives or slaves would only slow his army down. This makes no sense."

"Sentries, huh? I can take out the sentries easily enough. You okay with that, Serna? Or are you gonna stay with the ranger?" Dragolem added his thoughts to the battle up ahead.

"I think I'm going to wait and see what Willow wants us to do," Serna replied honestly, "After all, this is his kingdom, these are his lands, and he is our leader on this adventure. Isn't he?"

"It would seem that Gruumasht has taken to using strategies from other opponents he may have encountered while in the service of Venger or otherwise. He's smart for an orc and that makes him dangerous for my liking," Lazheros touched his holy symbol and his weapon and shield reappeared.

"I warned you that we weren't going up against any old run-of-the-mill Orc," Irzen warned The Bronze Man, "Gruumasht is a strategist, a tactician and a thinking-man's Orc all rolled into one."

"I can take out the wagons and cages before they're put into use, unless you have another suggestion?" The elementalist said.

"I have what Irzen would call a 'game plan'" Willow pulled out a dagger, dropped to one knee and beckoned to everyone, "Please draw near, here is what we are going to do."

The Shield Maiden and the Swordsman moved towards their friend.

The Prince began to draw in the dirt with the point of his dagger, "Serna and Lazheros, I want you two to ride into the center of town atop the war-goat. Serna use your shield to protect your advance. Lazheros, use your mace and shield to cut down anyone that tries to oppose you. The war-goat will plow the road and do the rest. Once you reach the center of town, Serna, I want you to use your shield to set up a dome to protect both the soldiers and the commoners that are trapped there. Lazheros, heal those who are injured and give aid and comfort where you can."

Willow turned to the Elementalist and her creation, "Alyson, I need you to firebomb that wagon and all of the Orcs near it. I will pick off what stragglers remain. Dragolem, the Giant is all yours. Cut him down and take him down. No mercy."

"And what do you need me to do?" Irzen asked eagerly.

"Stay by my side and slay any who attack us," The Prince responded coldly, "I will be using my bow the entire time and thus I will be exposed. I need you to watch my back while I'm dropping targets."

"Done!" Irzen firmly nodded.

"Any questions?" Willow asked, "Anything not clear?"