They had arrived in the camp and settled in. They were fed, clothed and given time to rest and recover. The food looked like green sludge, thick and viscous, but despite its revolting appearance tasted just fine. Mariel received a set of new clothes, a strange leather-like apparel that seemed to adjust itself to her body. Snug, but not tight, it also kept everything but the coldest gusts from her skin, which she compensated for with a dark leather longcoat. It was long into the night when Yvrain, together with the elven lady in chains and his remaining retinue returned to the camp. The site was easily defendable with only two points of entry, both across open ground. In addition, Yvrain's soldiers had fortified the place with rubble walls and three soldiers were in the process of setting up one of the ship's massive ballistae to cover the main approach.

"I wonder where the others are..." Mariel looked up at the sky. The storm had cleared, though some ominous clouds in the distance told of more snow.

"Well... I know for certain that Casindire and Saya survived, but we got separated during the storm, Tizare's alive too."

"How do you know?"

"Gut feeling... I don't like his ilk... And that feeling hasn't left me, so he's alive. Not sure about Daristan and Saryssa though... But they're capable enough."

Just then, Siah manifested next to Mariel. Immediately, the guards standing around came to attention.

"Please Mariel, tell them to stand down." Siah's very welcome, if burdened voice reverberated through her mind. With a wave, the guards resumed their own activities. "I've missed you... Your friend is good company, and a useful weapon, but I've bonded with you."

"I missed you too Siah, I'm glad you are okay, but how come you can use so much power all of a sudden?"

"Not sure." Siravin interjected. "It seems that Siah can use my body as a way of increasing the magnitude of her powers by a whole lot... I'm guessing it has something to do with our crystals."

"And mine's not active... I'm sorry for being a third wheel." She apologized, dejected, but immediately met stringent denials from the other two.

"Don't worry. You have a strange way of bringing people together which has proven very useful." Siah commented.

"I just wish we'd stop losing them all the time..." Siravin mumbled, rubbing his chin while peering into the small iron stove close by, deep in thought.

Just then, Yvrain entered the tent carrying a few notes and some magnificent-looking bird on his shoulder. While approaching, the bird almost seemed to disappear for a second as if somehow its colours adjusted to the background from her point of view.

"Okay. It looks like, through some incredible piece of luck, we've snagged one of the local commanders of the crown prince... Mariel, no words can really describe our gratitude to you for having broken the stalemate."

"I did nothing. Siravin and Siah deserve the praise... All I did was being ambushed and captured."

Yvrain made no moves to continue with the topic and instead handed them each a small written note. "These are intelligence reports... We've located the male elf you told me of Siravin, he's my, uncle. Together with him was a female of my kind and a small group of civilians... Unfortunately. the civilians perished in an ambush... We'll rescue the remaining captives, and also try to secure a hold of the old Archive of Wonders... In it, with luck, we'll find the means to end the war, and perhaps, also get you three home."

"Wait... He's your uncle?"

"Yes..."Yvrain flashed a difficult expression, equally split between anger and regret.