Having been given the go ahead Jessa takes her guard and those that want to go with her and check out the upcoming army to see if they are going to have a war on two fronts after all.

She and those with her glide silently through the lengthening shadows. Dhiren is the only one to stay by her side. Jessa gets a look at the nearing army and isn't sure just what to make of it. 

Dhiren notices her reaction and silently asks her what the problem is.

"There are many that are caravan guards there. I recognize several of them that are marching towards us. I had no idea that they even knew how to march in sync let alone fight as a group. But they should be back in Kyron or Castlerock, not here, not now."

Dhiren can hear what she isn't saying. They should be where it's safe not where the fighting is going to be the hottest and deadliest. He's sure that she's reflecting back on the fight that lost her Nathan.

Jessa sends the signal for the others to gather back to the boundaries. Once they do Jessa and Dhiren walk next to the sentries and startle them badly. "Shit, prince, princess are you here because of the army that's coming?" The startled man asks them motioning towards the humans that are making their way to Lexin.

"Yeah. I'll deal with it if you don't mind?" Jessa asks but it's more like a statement that he better not try to stop her.

The sentry is more than willing to let Jessa take over. He'd been one of the guards that had seen her go against the now dead prince. "Please deal with it how you would." He doesn't even care if his king would have handled it differently. He has no doubt that Dennis has given Jessa leave to deal with the humans. He doubts that Dennis would try to stop Jessa from doing anything.

Dhiren hides his smirk from the nervous guard. He feels the relief from the guard once Jessa steps forward to stop the advancing humans.

"Just what the hell are you all doing here? You should be back defending Kyron or even Castlerock, not come to where things are about to become a hot bed of fighting." Jessa says more than a little irritatedly.

There is a great deal of relief as word is passed among the group that Jessa is the one to greet them and not one of the snooty elves. They had been afraid that the elves would shoot to kill and not even hear them out.

"Jessa, we were sent here by Alaric. He sends this to you," one of the men makes his way forward and holds out a sealed letter.

"Alaric sent you?" Jessa allows the disbelief to come out heavily at this. "And you listened to him? Just what the hell did he tell you to get you all into the front lines of the upcoming battle? How many of you even have any training in arms other than as guards?"

"We volunteered when Alaric asked for some willing to come to Lexin to help fight the invaders. We all have some military experience and know how to follow orders of those in command. Most of us don't have immediate family so we are more expendable and we want to save as many of those that have families. Alaric said that he explains everything in the letter. Most of us owe you and Nathan our lives. We feel that now is the time to pay that debt. Perhaps we won't make that great of a difference, but we are hopeful that we will make at least a small one."

Perhaps it is now too dark to see the tears in the man's eyes, but Jessa and Dhiren can hear them in his voice and they can see many of the other guards nodding to what their spokesman has said.

Jessa listens patiently to what he has to say as she taps the unopened missive onto one hand.

No one, not even Dhiren can tell what Jessa is thinking, but he can guess that she is thinking about a battle long ago and far away where much was lost and gained.

Suddenly Jessa stands up straighter and turns to the guards. "Is there a location where these fine people would be able to set up a camp?"

The guard stares at Jessa in shock before shaking his head and replies, "Of course Princess."

"Follow your guide and stay with him. I haven't had a lot of time here so not many are used to humans being here. They will be watching you and waiting for an excuse to fight with you. Don't give them one. I don't have time to deal with those kind of messes. We are just a day or two away from the invading force coming into Lexin. If you are going to cause problems you are invited to leave."

The ex caravan guards are quick to assure her that they won't cause problems. They don't see Jessa roll her eyes at their assurances. She's worked with too many of them to take them at their words, but she does lean over and whisper something to the guard that will be their guide. He nods and shows the newly arrived humans the way into Lexin.

Jasper comes over to Jessa and Dhiren. "There is another group of humans about a half day out from here. What do you want me to do, Jessa?"

"Take Ricardo and scout them, then report back to Kallen if he's there, if not then to the ancient one or Alaric if he's back by then." Jessa is less than thrilled with Alaric right now and doesn't bother hiding her irritation. Now she knows why he suddenly took off when the human army was announced.

"Jessa? Where are you and I going to be?" Dhiren asks silently as they return to the palace.

"We will be working with Shandira and her assassins on freeing the dragons and making traps for the invading army. What would you like to do?" Jessa asks him but hopes that he'll accompany her. She doesn't like the idea that they will be separated if he chooses to help with setting the traps.

Dhiren shrugs, "I would prefer to be with you, but if you would like to send me elsewhere I will do that as well. I'm not as proficient at trap building as I am at walking silently though. As a matter of fact that's one of my weakest areas."

"Well that's good to know.  But I'm rather glad since I wanted you with me as I go to liberate the dragons. I'll need to talk to them before giving them all the antidotes. If they are going to just turn around and betray us it will be better to give them the other potion that I have an abundance of from Shandira."

"What is the other potion that she has given you?" Dhiren wonders just when in the hell Shandira gave Jessa anything. He has been watching her rather closely.

"We can't be sure that they are just prisoners because of the potion. They've been with the malignant leader for many years. Perhaps more than two centuries or more. Some or many might have changed over to evil. I have to talk to them to figure that out." Jessa neatly avoids answering Dhiren's question.

"You will have to be in the middle of the camp to be able to do that, Jessa." Dhiren says shocked and standing still because of her words.

"Yes, I am aware. I believe that we are both up to the job. If you aren't sure I won't have you risk your life."

"How do you expect to go into the center of an armed enemy's camp and not be seen?" Dhiren demands as he jogs to catch up to Jessa.

"I'll be taking my best guards they'll be taking up positions around camp and will make sure that we aren't bothered. However, I don't think they'll be necessary. We'll both be doing the spell to alter our appearances. You'll make a fine strapping human. I'll be a rather small male human. According to Mel and the other little ones there are plenty of humans in the camp. He doesn't think they are dragon kin, but you never can tell. They'll just think you are too. They just might think I'm a runt human and they might even pick on me a bit. If they do you aren't to interfere at all. I'll deal with it."

Dhiren doesn't like that at all, but has no doubt that Jessa will be able to deal with any bullies that might pick on her.

Shortly they are back in the palace and talk to Shandira. Kallen and a handful of other elves are standing around with packs at their feet or on their backs. Some of Jessa's and Dhiren's guards are also readying themselves to leave as well.

Jessa goes to Shandira, "Well, Shandira, are your people ready?"

"We were just awaiting you, Princess." Shandira replies. Dhiren shakes his head at the thunderous look Jessa gives the goddess.

"Please, Shandira, don't call Jessa princess. Call her by name or she just might hurt you. We can't afford those kinds of problems right now." Dhiren is quick to tell the goddess even as they stop by her.

Shandira looks at Dhiren startled then at Jessa and nods her head. "Okay, now that we are all ready shall we?"

Jessa feels a slight disorientation then steadies herself in the darkness. Shandira motions towards a flickering in the otherwise dark area. Jessa and Dhiren move silently. They are unable to see the others with them, but they can feel rather than see or hear them. Jessa has no doubt that they will take up advantageous locations to watch her and Dhiren.

Jessa and Dhiren stop well into the tree line to look at the invaders and to adjust how they look. Jessa even changes the weapons to look like cheaply made human weapons. Things she sees the other humans wearing.

Once they are both ready they slip silently from the shadows over to the location Jessa can feel the dragons to be. She's just not sure what kind of dragon she'll find.