Riding beside Alexander and Valentina Nadia cocked her head to one side and grinned to herself, it was time to throw a cat amongst the pigeons.

“You do realize that the System is either lying to us or stretching the truth,” she said with a straight face.

Valentina glanced at the young girl as Alexander asked, “why do you think that?”

Nadia shrugged a shoulder, “it’s obvious, you remember it told us we wouldn’t have liked version 2.0 because computers wouldn’t work but,” she grinned toothily, “on the day we rid the universe of a gaggle of useless deities, just how did we do that Alexander?”

“Why we...”

Valentina’s eyes widened in surprise, “lying yes, but – stretching the truth?”

Nadia waved her free hand at the trees surrounding them, “presumably this place is operating under version 2.0 and my tablet is constantly needing to be rebooted and it’s slow. Also the radios, I’ve heard you complain of their range and reliability Alexander. The missiles worked but they were designed to be used in a nuclear battlefield or war so I assume they had multiple redundancies.”

Nadia looked at Valentina, “so computers work badly and need constant rebooting. So stretching the truth which is worse for us than outright lying.”

Valentina blinked surprised, “are you looking for a job with the FSB?”

Nadia snickered, “are sure you could trust me considering my god?”

* * *

Meanwhile on Alcadar at fort Rock Crag that protected the world gate to Stratsiosina commander Huus looked up in annoyance as one of his men burst into his office unannounced.

“Sir, sir a delegation from the court of Tall Trees is approaching the gate and they’re being escorted by a full company of the Goddess’ Own.”

Huus came to his feet alarmed, a few years ago he wouldn’t have been worried but after the savage civil war that had raged in the realm of Tall Trees a veteran company of the Goddess’ Own could wipe his command out without breaking into a sweat.

Commander Baron Huus hurried out of his office yelling for an honour guard to be assembled in the courtyard and headed for the curtain wall above the gates to examine his visitors for himself. He gripped the parapet in disbelief, a full delegation headed by a senior priestess with junior priests, acolytes and nobles of the court with a full company of warriors, more priests and mages.

He rushed down to the courtyard, “Open the gates, form up the honour company to receive guests, band strike up the anthem of the Goddess of the Trees.”

He hurried to place himself at the head of his guard alongside his lieutenant.

Captain the lady Bluebell Bloodsword nodded in satisfaction as the gates of Rock Crag slowly swung open and the drawbridge dropped bridging the moat as the strains of the Lady’s anthem rang out, not the best musicians but more than satisfactory for humans. She signalled two squads to enter first to guard against treachery, she truly felt it unnecessary but two years bitter experience had ingrained the need for caution at all times.

Senior priestess Aurea watched with satisfaction and joined her captain of the guard as Lord Iron Oak strode past with his herald and entered the fort.

Baron Huus watched in relief as only two squads of the Goddess’ Own entered his fort and formed opposite his honour guard, they were followed by an obvious noble though the rapier and main gauch at his waist were obviously not for show. He stepped forward and saluted. “Welcome to Rock Crag, what can we do for you.”

Lord Iron Oak acknowledged the fort commanders salute and replied, “We are here to greet our brothers and sisters from Midgard, they should be arriving at your fort on Stratsiosina shortly. We wish you to allow a delegation with some guards trough the world gate to welcome them to our world in the name of our Lady.”

‘Well I can’t stop you with what I’ve got so,’ thought Huus.

“Certainly, I’ll give orders to allow you through.”

Soon his fort was full of elves, veteran war hardened elves and he was leading the delegation when a runner from Stratsiosina hurried up with a message, “Sir our guard at the pass reports that they were briefly captured by a party of high elves and then released shortly after. There a signs that a sizable mounted party traversed the pass.”

“The mirrors?”

“Yes sir.”

Turning to the elven delegation, “It would appear your brothers are indeed close.”

They crossed the world gate and headed for the main gate of this the twin of the fortress on Alcadar.

* * *

Lieutenant Vasili Novosiltsev drew up his horse as the trees came to an end surrounding an open meadow that contained a flimsy looking fortress, he shook his head ruefully, those straight walls should hold up well to primitive arms but with their RPGs and mortars... heh!

His radio chirped eight times, good his men were in position, then he saw that some important looking individuals were assembling on the fortifications above the gate. ‘No gate house, tcha!’

“Sergeant set up our mortar, Dimitri you’re with me, lets go talk with these people.”

Huus was startled when shortly after he arrived on the walkway of the curtain wall two drably clothed mounted elves trotted out of the trees and approached the gates. They stopped in easy hailing distance.

“Hail the Fort, we wish to use your world gate so that we may proceed to Polovtsi,” shouted lieutenant Novosiltsev.

“Who’s we?” asked Baron Huus even as he ordered a new honor guard assembled just in case.

“Just our fact finding patrol looking to confirm something our ruler heard about Polovtsi.”

“When they arrive we will open the gates.”

The two elves returned to the woods and once there seemed to disappear.

Haas bowed to the senior priestess, “Lady, what do you wish done.”

Captain the lady Bluebell Bloodsword with one squad watched from the curtain wall of the fort, she nodded with approval as a mounted column of elves led by a man, a woman and a girl emerged from the wood at a fast trot, she made a signal to advise Lady Aurea that the elves they had been told about had arrived.

The gates opened and the drawbridge was lowered as the column left the wood and shortly thereafter a further ten elves fell in behind it.

Senior priestess Aurea watched as the strangers approached the open gates of the fort, slowed to a walk and entered the courtyard before dismounting. She stiffened in astonishment at the sight of the girl, a high elf royal with divine blood. She bowed respectfully.