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?"

"The third are the Lancers, heavy horses and riders and they are here in Westfall. Their sole purpose is to trample all in their path and had the horde had gotten closer to the city, they would of been unleashed. The Lancers do not charge head long into the enemy forces rather they flank them from the sides." Captain Andaerean addressed the swordsman, "The heavy horses were gifts from a neighboring human settlement just to north of here. While we prefer horses built for speed and grace, these horses are taller, heavier, and built for war."

"Of that I have no doubt," Irzen nodded in agreement, "Do we have any idea as to the exact location of the horde now? How close is it to the capitol city itself?"

A courier entered and he seemed out of breath, "Ah...pardon..*pant*...the main part of the horde was seen to the northeast of here, your highness. All the towns and villages have been razed to the ground, the people *pant*," he paused for a moment, "either are dead, captured, or worse. Everything is gone and worse, a large part of the horde was heading straight to the city where your older brother resides, Prince Willow. I know he has the army but from what I saw, it may not be enough *pant.*"

"Are you alright, sir?" Serna ran to a nearby table, poured a glass of water and offered it to the courier, "Here! Take a drink. It will help."

The bronze man focused on the courier's thoughts, "He is not lying about any of it." Turning to the Hill Dwarf captain, "Was there anyone else who brought reinforcements?"

Captain Mandur clenched his fist and nodded, "Aye, Grand Cleric, there was someone who came, a human named Captain Lion. My kinfolk said he had an airship under his command."

"Captain Lion is here?" Alyson came over next to Lazheros, "If he's here maybe he's got the tinker gnomes with him."

"Tinker gnomes? Oh boy," Mandur tugged his beard, "Small folk with a knack for clockwork metals?"

"Yes, and maybe they could assist in the defense of the capital along with your kin and Prince Willow's kin." The elementalist grinned.

Irzen's eyes went back to studying the map, "How large is the army at the capitol? How many infantry do you have stationed there?"

"Willow, what did the army and cavalry consist of before you left?" The elemenatalist asked him.

The Prince had been studying the map intently as well, however, he had said not a word during the entire deliberation.

Liliandra watched and waited for the ranger to respond, "Please tell us what you remember and I will either agree or give you an update, Wil."

"Yes? Oh!" The Prince came out of his thoughts and smiled, "Please forgive me, Lili, I was merely taking my father's advice with regards to matters of state. He always told me that a good leader should be silent, listen to all opinions and thoughts around him, consider what is being said and speak only when a question needs to be asked or when a final decision needs to be made. He always believed this way of decision-making inspired trust among his subjects."

Willow continued, "But in answer to your question, Irzen and Alyson, my father always believed that infantry at the capitol had to be a strong. When I left, the king could field a one-hundred thousand infantry to defend the capitol."

"A hundred thousand?!" Irzen whistled in pure disbelief, "That is impressive. I didn't known Elven armies could number so many?"

"They can when you marry your sons into neighboring Elven kingdoms and bind those marriages with war pacts designed to assemble such armies overnight," Willow responded honestly, "My brothers' marriages did far more than merely bind four kingdoms into one empire, they also gave my father an army worthy of an empire."