“I’m sorry for waking you up this late.” James said, sitting on a long wooden stool with Alaris and Princess Rosepost.

“You don’t have to apologize,” Aviar replied, sitting on a chair across from them. “I’d rather you wake me than end up dead.”

James had led them to Aviar’s cabin in the Luminescent Forest as none of them knew where else to go. They couldn’t just stay in the field outside the kingdom. Surely, they would’ve been found and killed.

“We have to help them.” the Princess said.

“Your Highness, I don’t think many people survived.” Alaris stated.

“I don’t care if only a sheep or chicken is what’s left. Any life is worth saving.” she urged.

“Even if we could help, we couldn’t do it alone.” James said.

“I’m sure the elves would be more than happy to.” Aviar suggested.

“But will that be enough?” Alaris questioned. “You saw how fast everything happened. I don’t think the elve, or their griffins, are strong enough.”

“They wouldn’t be able to help anyway because their army disappeared.” James sighed.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Right.” Aviar agreed.

Alaris and the Princess’ faces showed confusion. Neither of them knew exactly what happened in Arlinbliss. All they knew was that two sorcerers had captured the elves, one had been imprisoned, and one had escaped.

“How does an army just disappear?” stuttered the Princess.

James shrugged. “We still don’t know where the other sorcerer went either. And to be honest, I forgot all that happened.”

“What about the dwarves?” a woman asked.

The woman Alaris pulled from the corpse she was cradling had been sitting on the floor by a bookshelf the entire time and all of them forgot she was there. The quieter her weeping became, the more she vanished into the shadows of their minds.

“The dwarves aren’t too far from here.” she said, standing up and slowly approaching them while wiping her irritated eyes with her scarred hand.

“The dwarves only help when it benefits them,” the Princess stated. “And the King-”

She paused, as if a wave of harsh reality crashed down on her. “I don’t have anything to give them.”

“It’s probably our only choice. The only other kingdoms and cities are up North and that’s too far.” said James.

“Alright then. Don’t be surprised when they ask for some form of gold in return.” doubted Princess Rosepost.

“If we’re going to leave, we should probably do it now.” Aviar suggested as he stood up and grabbed a map off a bookshelf.

Then, they all left through the door of his cabin, following Aviar as they headed toward Daroeth-Keeth, the kingdom of the dwarves.