Lazheros reined his steed next to the Swordsman, "Apparently you haven't encountered Huorns before, Lord Irzen. Ents, Treants are those of the fey who have a humanoid appearance. Huorns are sentient trees with ageless memories who remember the good and the bad. Most are the old oaks and willow trees one passes by without even knowing that you're being watched. Those who do know of them especially elves of the woodlands and forest have a deep respect for the old trees. So, yes I did need to alter my appearance because these Huorns are some of the oldest in the Realm entire."

"I confess I have never encountered them," Irzen admitted with a grin, "My men and I made forays into Wood Elven enclaves before but we've never encountered such things as Huorns, Ents or Treants. This will be a new experience for me. But I am curious, why are they so partial to those of Elven blood anyway?"

"Bad blood and memories from those not of elven kind traversing the Realm in the old days bringing ruin and death upon the land. It could of have been related to Venger's early rise to power," The bronze man replied quietly.

"That's interesting," The Swordsman admitted, "But let me ask you a question: Are you old enough to remember what the Realm was like before Venger came onto the scene? I've had to live with his dark presence all my life."

"No but anyone in the Realm back then would tell you about the new evil that appeared and that Dungeon Master was sending groups of adventurers in a vain attempt to thwart Venger's campaigns. Besides, I would say that you and I are roughly the same age or so, however, I do know of someone who does remember the Realm before Venger came to power." The bronze man told him.

"Who?" The Swordsman asked with great interest, "I would love to meet them."

Captain Andaerean sent a pair of riders up ahead to scout the area. They rode back relaying information about the entire forest moving up ahead, and to be cautious. The bodies of ogres, orcs and wargs lay broken and bloodied along one of side of moving forest. Screams erupted in the distance followed by hacking sounds and exploding trees engulfed in flames. The elven captain gave the signal to silently charge right into and through the Huorns towards the Horde.

Irzen saw the signal given and motioned to Lazheros, "This is it, Cleric. We're going into battle. Are you ready?"

"Battle is a relative term when dealing with the Horde, swordsman." Lazheros muttered.

"So is death," The Swordsman added as he quickly steeled himself for battle, "Which I intend to deal this day rather than receive. How about you?"

*****

Alyson was given a horse for the long journey to the capital with the ranger and once outside the city walls where Captain Mandur and his kin waited. She dismounted briefly to summon the Elder earth elemental, the JUGGERNAUT. The hill dwarves were in awe of the large creature but felt a strong kinship to it as well.

"AH! MY LADY, I HAVE HEARD YOUR SUMMONS AND ONCE AGAIN I WILL HELP YOU AND YOUR ALLIES AGAINST A MIGHTY FOE!!" The Elder elemental's voice boomed across the open fields.

"I am glad to see you again, JUGGERNAUT. Captain Mandur and his kin require the expertise of the earth as a defense against the Horde." The elementalist commanded the elemental.

"AS YOU WISH, MY LADY!" The JUGGERNAUT turned half a step towards the hill dwarven army and bowed low enough for Captain Mandur to become comfortable with its presence.

"AYE! We shall keep the Horde at bay!" The hill dwarf captain rallied his kin and the sound of the heavy march began with the defense of the city.

Alyson mounted her horse again, "Alright Willow, let's go!"

"Follow me," The Prince rode towards the head of the column that was on its way to the capital.

Surprisingly the massive earth elemental was eerily quiet as it surfed across the ground as though it was made of water. Stopping occasionally to sense any oncoming threats of the advancing Horde but there was none for the first few hours. The hardiness of the hill dwarf legion was the best defense for Arbor Haven as the capital loomed now in the distance. Alyson and Captain Mandur hoped they would make the march in time to add to the defense of the city itself.

Willow rode in silence with his gaze fixed on the trees and woods around them as they rode.

Captain Mandur motioned to the riders on the wargoats to his left and right to spread outwards when the sounds of the woodland creatures fell silent suddenly. He also sent word down the column to keep a look out, possible ambush on the horizon.

The company reached the end of the woods with no incident which bothered Captain Mandur as he scanned the surrounding terrain, "This is all too easy for my liking."

"I agree," The Prince replied evenly.

Just then howls rose up in the distance followed by the baleful horns of warg riders running down the ranger's kin fleeing for the city's outer walls.

"Don't panic!" The Prince advised, "Everyone don't panic. This is what the enemy wants us to do. Captain Mandur, have any of your scouts reported back yet? I wish to know how many we face before we attempt to flee."

*******

Princess Liliandra led Serna with the kitten down into the inner most center of the city itself through a vast archway into the ancient library of the people of Northaven. Sprites and pixies flitted about excitedly between the rows of bookshelves. Most in pristine condition and some so large that it took an Ent to hold. The tree creature blinked slowly with its amber eyes inquiring about the princess's guests, "Whooooo, arrree you?"

"Hello!" Serna replied seemingly unphased, "I am Serna the Shield Maiden. And this is my friend Caliaphy. We're here to help the Princess find some knowledge that she is seeking. Who are you?"

"Are they halflinggggss, Princesss?" The Ent asked Liliandra bending down to her level.

She laughed a little, "No, Sir Gideon, they are friends of Prince Willow and they're here to help us defend against the Horde."

"I'm a Human," Serna began to explain, "And Caliaphy here is a fairy. Although she doesn't look like one right now, but she is. And your name is Sir Gideon, right? What is your job here?"

"I am the Grand Caretaker of the library little human, and that creature appears to be some sort of feline not a fairy as you sayyyyyy," Sir Gideon stood back up and placed the heavy tome back on the high shelf.

"Oh, she can be a fairy when it suits her." Serna laughed, "And so much more besides. Can't you, Caliaphy?"

"MEW!" The kitten climbed up on Serna's shoulders then leaped off and onto the princess's shoulder walking back and forth across them purring up a storm.

"Caliaphy, get off of her now!" The Shield Maiden gasped, "That's no way to treat royalty. She's a princess and our host, show her some respect, okay?"

The kitten kept on purring and snuggling up against the princess's neck until her whiskers tickled Liliandra suddenly and she jumped down to the floor. In a flash of light, the kurori turned back to herself once again. "You're no fun, Serna," she stuck her tongue out at the shield maiden, "and besides, I know what I was doing. What were you doing? Oh, yeah complaining that I wasn't you. I'm not you and you're not me, so there!"

"I never said you had to be me!" Serna retorted to her friend, "I'm just saying that you should show her Highness some respect. I used to work for Baroness Meleranti of Deeping Dale. I was a servant of a royal family. I know how to treat royalty with respect. And walking on their shoulders purring in their ears is NOT how you do it. So there!" The Shield Maiden stuck her tongue out at the Fairy.

The Ent blinked in surprise, "A faerie? Here? There hasn't been a faerie here in centuries!"

"Yes, well, Sir Gideon, they're here to assist me in finding out what the ancient wards beneath Arbor Haven are capable of." Liliandra motioned for Serna to follow.

Without another word of protest, the Shield Maiden followed Princess Liliandra all the while keeping an eye on Caliaphy.

Liliandra lead both Serna and Caliaphy through ancient library's halls and into the archives, "Somewhere in this specific area are scrolls and tomes telling of the old wards that lay beneath the city of Arbor Haven. My mother told me of them when I was a girl but that was long ago and my memory is a bit off. That's why I need your help, Serna and Caliaphy. Some of what I'm looking for are in the old vaults that were built by gnomes and dwarves, the small folk making it difficult for me to reach. The books or scrolls will have a wax seal on them with a leaf emblem."

"Just point me to where you need me to go and I will retrieve them for you, your Highness," Serna replied eagerly, "You can count on me."