Kairo awoke some time later. It was night, and there were three figures gathered around a fire in front of him. The figures had their backs to him, and all he could make out was their silhouettes. He took a moment to observe his surroundings before his captors found he was awake. They were in a forest clearing, with mangled trees surrounding them. The trees seemed to almost hover over the camp, as if trying to enter it, but being held back by the fire in its center. It was night, and cloudy, causing the fire to stand out in stark contrast with the rest of the world. He was about 15 feet away from the fire, and fettered to a post in the ground. He tried to move the chains as little as possible, in an attempt to test the stability of the post, but they crepitated slightly, drawing the attention of one of the figures.

"So, you're finally waking up," one of the figures said as he approached Kairo. He kneeled down by the boy and continued, "Drink some water, you'll need to keep up your strength. We've got a long way yet to go." With this, he proffered Kairo a small flask. Kairo gladly took it. Up until this point he had not realized how hungry or thirsty he really was. After taking a drink, he handed the flask back. His captor was facing the fire, so Kairo was able to get a better look at his countenance. He was human, which surprised Kairo more than a little bit, though he seemed to be the only one in this party who wasn't a Dark Elf. He wore a green cloak around his shoulders, with tough leather armor underneath. There was a symbol burnt into the hide, but Kairo was unable to decipher it in the dim light. His hair was coarse, brown, and about shoulder length. His face had a thin growth of stubble, and was scarred from a history of dangerous fights and close calls. It looked like his nose had been broken at some point in his career, though it was up for argument whether or not it had be set later. His eyes were dark brown, and seemed almost to absorb the ambient light, giving the man a haunting appearance.

The ranger noticed his prisoner examining him, and turned his face back into the shadows once more. He whispered, "You would do well to keep your eyes to yourself. I have no objection to you knowing me, but they," he jerked his head over his shoulder, "may take it to be insubordinate, and punish you for it." He went back to the fire, and came back wit ha bit of meat for his prisoner. He gave Kairo some food, and, in conversational tones, said, "My name is Calvin, I'm here to make sure you don't become sport for these Elves here. Xeratul may be powerful enough to hire Dark Elves to do his bidding, but he is far from being able to control them outright."

Kairo swallowed, and opened his mouth in introduce himself, but Calvin interrupted him, "Don't speak. I commiserate with you in this situation, but I have certain restraints as well. I'm not here to be your friend." At this, Kairo resumed his eating. As his hunger abated, he slowed from his gorging pace.

Calvin rose, and turned back to the fire. He then turned his head back towards Kairo, and said, "I suggest you get some sleep while you can. We'll be leaving early tomorrow morning, and moving all day." He then walked back and took his spot next to the fire.

Kairo, his stomach full, was able to go to sleep almost instantly, despite the conditions. His last thought before drifting into slumber was of salvation, but he had no strength to reach this velleity.

***

Kairo was awakened by a rough hand shaking his shoulder. As he opened his eyes, he could see little. He was slightly confused as to where he was, but his memory shortly returned. The sun was still below the horizon, but a dim false dawn had colored the air. He slowly became more aware, and could see Calvin looking at him. The ranger said, "Wake up, sleepy head. We have to get moving." Then Calvin handed Kairo a bit of smoked meat and said, "Ration this. It has to last you all day." His job finished, Calvin walked away from the groggy prince and back to his companions.

Kairo got up, stretched, and took a bite of his breakfast. He could see the rest of his captors breaking camp. He was right about his premonition from the night before. Calvin was the only human in their company. The other two were distinctly Dark Elf, with their pale skin and black hair. Their thin frames also gave them away as being of Elfish origin. By all appearances, Calvin should have been stronger than both of them together. But appearances were not all that was important. All Elves are easily the match for a human nearly twice their size. Kairo realized this as one of the Dark Elves effortlessly lifted a pack which looked like it weighed nearly a hundred pounds. That was probably the one with the tents in it.

Both of the Dark Elves wore tight fitting clothing which was very dull and monotonous. The gray shirts they wore were tucked into tight gray leggings, and accompanied by brown leather boots. Around the waist of each Elf was a belt, with a short sword hanging from it. The hilts were unadorned, and had only a thin covering of twine over the metal of the hilt.

The travelers worked with incredible efficiency, and within moments, they were ready to start the day's journey. They marched in a row, with Kairo third, right behind Calvin, who was his self proclaimed protector. They set of in a generally westward direction, through the forest, but not on any visibly marked trail. After a few minutes, Kairo got up the courage to ask, "Where are we going?"

The lead Elf ley out a guffaw of laughter. His mockery of the question was evident in his paradoxical answer, "To where the end of the world begins!"

Calvin, who was not nearly so furtive, or sly as the other two said, "We're going to Rift. That is where Xeratul resides, and where you shall be condemned, Chosen One."

Kairo heard a tone of resentment in the ranger's voice. Whether Calvin disliked the Elves, or their master, or the prince himself was unclear. Kairo silenced himself, and continued walking.

As he did, he noticed a stand of enormous trees off to his left. They rose above the surrounding woods, and towered impressively into the sky. Almost immediately, he knew the area to be the city of the Elves, Yaldurr. He could see clusters of structures interspersed within the branches. They were all wooden, made of the tree itself. Though he couldn't see any individual people, he could imagine their lifestyle, and how they were going about their lives. He wondered whether the Elves had been having the same problems with undead as the Kingdom had. He continued walking, and his thoughts drifted back to Diarie and Xanthos, now his only two friends in the world. He wondered what they were doing at that very moment.