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 courier graciously accepted the glass of water from the shield maiden.

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?"

"You are correct, Willow. Your father always made sure that that number of defenders never decreased." Liliandra nodded, "They are the best in all of Northaven and with your elder brother, Prince Ash ready to defend or drive back any foe that dared to threaten our kin."

"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."

"So, I would take a guess the reason why the emissaries were sent out was because of the neighboring cities, your people, supplies, and with the hopes of preventing any enemy from getting that close." Lazheros studied the map again.

"Besides the Southern Valley, are there any other trade routes that your people traverse, Willow?" Alyson asked the ranger.