Finally finishing his meal, Irzen turned towards Princess Liliandra, "You said that you wish to talk of war this morning, your Highness. What would you like to discuss?"

"Please give me a few more minutes, Lord Irzen," Liliandra nodded to the swordsman, "I would like all of us to finish our morning meal first."

"As you wish, your Highness," Irzen conceded as he waited for the others to finish their meals.

At the far end of the table the elementalist had finished her meal and slowly sipped her drink. She glanced to either side of her and saw both Serna and Caliaphy sitting there giving her support. Breathing deeply, she calmed herself back to normal burying the Black Witch deep down. She opened her eyes and the light returned once more. "Thanks you two. Thanks for being there."

"Alyson, you got really scary but as long as you remember being silly, you're okay by me." The kurori smiled giving her a hug.

"Me too!" The Shield Maiden smiled and gave The Elementalist a warm hug as well, "We're all friends here and looking out for each other is what we do."

The elementalist expected a hug from Caliaphy but not from the shield maiden. She sat there stunned for a second by wrapping her arms around both of them in a group hug.

Lazheros sat back in his chair watching the three of them embracing each other for comfort. He simply observed the shared kindness between them and smiled.

Irzen took note of the love fest at the end of the table and smiled as well. Willow also took note and nodded his head in silent agreement.

Even Princess Liliandra smiled at the three of them and looked across to the ranger, "Willow, why aren't you smiling? Moments like these are precious regardless of who they are."

"You're right," Prince Willow gave a sad smile, "With all that has been going on, with all that we have endured and with all that we have yet to endure, I sometimes forget to enjoy moments such as these when they come." The Prince took The Princess' hand into his own and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Thank you for reminding me, Lili."

She stood up from her chair, "Are all finished? If you are please, join me in the next room with my officers who may have more information on our enemy."

Irzen rose from his chair, "Princess, thank you for the sumptuous meal you have provided this morning. It was excellent and truly worthy of your people's famed hospitality."

As soon as everyone got up from their seats, a guard entered and approached the princess relaying a message that the cavalry captains had come. The guard turned towards the door motioning them to enter. First Captain Andearaen came in followed by Captain Mandur of the Hill Dwarves.

"Your highness," Captain Andaerean bowed before both Willow and Liliandra.

"Captain Andaerean, Captain Mandur, you are most welcome here," Willow acknowledged the Wood Elf.

"My Liege," The dwarven captain bowed glancing about the room and noticed the bronze man standing to the left of the princess, "You are most welcome, Grand Cleric. How does my cousin fare these days in Asylum?"

"Captain Mandur, it has been some time since you came to visit," Lazheros nodded in kind, "Knight-Captain Martuk fares well keeping order and in keeping would be enemies at bay."

Liliandra looked at Lazheros curiously, "Grand Cleric? Are you not the Guardian of Asylum as well?"

"To clarify, your highness, Grand Cleric is the name those who serve Bahamut choose to call me. The common folk refer to me as the Bronze Man, to friends who know me by name. I am still and will always be the Guardian of Asylum since founding it long ago." Lazheros stated.

"Captain Mandur, it is good to see you again," Irzen smiled, "Thank you for the loan of the wargoat. It has served me well."

Captain Mandur looked the elven captain for a moment then shrugged, "If the wargoat was loan as you call it, it would of returned right after you rejoined your fellows, Lord Irzen. The wargoat did not return and therefore you have a mighty fine steed at your side. Two, since you are from the Underdark, you have a steed that is quite capable of traversing the rough and rocky terrain that horses simply aren't capable of walking on."

"That is VERY good to know," The Swordsman grinned from ear to ear, "That is very good to know indeed."

The princess waved for everyone to follow her into the next room and centered in the middle was a huge table with a map of the entire kingdom of Northaven. The capital being in the center and Westfall at the western point. The southern valley was still watched by both the wardens and the hill dwarves keeping the horde at bay there.

"My riders and army is set on the inner most part of the southern valley along the border from Westfall to the eastern side. I also received word that my cousin, Knight-Captain Martuk has sent a phalanx of axe throwers, guardians fighters, champions and clerics of Moradin and Clanggeddin Silverbeard, more wargoats, a few rune keepers from Port Thelmys, and finally four of the Iron hills finest catapults. Total is roughly five hundred added to my own troops brings it up to seven hundred." Mandur tugged his beard describing what his regiment entailed.

Irzen listened carefully but said nothing.

"Thank you for your aid and for that of your cousin as well," Willow reassured Mandur, "In our darkest hour, it is good to know that we have such stout and true friends as your Hill Dwarven kin to call upon."

Serna took everything in but said nothing as well. All she did was take the occassional glance at Caliaphy every now and then to see what she would do next.

"Before the horde came, the cavalry consisted of three thousand riders." The elven captain pointing out where the main force was located, "One third was dispatched to the capital, another thousand was sent scouting and accessing the size, and make up of the horde, giants, ogres, orcs, worgs, elite orcs, Gruumasht and one hooded figure using the black arts."

"Barakas most likely," Lazheros glanced to the swordsman, "Did you ever encounter this fell half-orc?"

"Yes," Irzen replied simply, "Although, when I knew him a hundred years ago, he wasn't practicing the black arts at all. He was Gruumasht's Chief Torturer. He never really tortured people for information. He did it purely for Gruumasht's amusement. Humph! It seems Barakas has stepped up his game since the last time I saw him. He's gone from whips and chains to black magic."

The Swordsman turned to the Elven Captain, "You said that you had three thousand cavalry but you split them into three groups. One guards the capital, the second was out scouting but where is the third one?"