“Come little one… We must move on now,” his voice was ancient and raspy, but its tone was gentle and warm, even if the touch of his wizen, greyish hand upon her pale shoulder was cold… almost lifeless. Calastra looked up into the face hidden by his deep, dark hood and smiled back at him, turning away from the beautiful sunny glade and the brightly colored butterflies that had fascinated her while they rested there beneath the ancient oak… ideally wondering if it was as old as he was. Though nearly a century old she was still just a child in the eyes of the star elves, no more than thirteen in human terms, but she was tired of being cuddled. She wanted to explore this strange new world she had discovered, with its bright sunny days that light the forest in glorious golden hues and its deep dark nights that turned the woods into a place of mysterious wonder. “There is still far to go and much for you to see,” he ushered her on down the path and back into the deep woods. He had been alone so long that he had all but forgotten that the others had fled to another place, abandoning their woodland home… and him. But now he had her; a beautiful child of his own blood. Her curiosity and delight at every new experience had woken his long dead heart, and he reveled in see the world through her eyes and sharing in her innocent joy. She was his now… and he would never give her back! From the shadows of the tree line some hundred feet away Saevel motioned for the others to hold their position. The Masters of the Yuirwood had standing orders that should any of their order encounter the dark cloaked figure known only as the Ancient they keep their distance and do nothing to draw his attention. Considered a myth by most of the Yuirwood’s residence, those who had encountered him, and survived, reported that he ignore any one who did not try to approach him or interfere with his purpose… whatever that was! “Star elf girl worth much,” one of the orcs grunted to Saevel as he started to move forward until the half-elven forester shoved it back. “Not enough to try and take her from him,” he warned. “Even the Masters will not challenge him! Besides, we have more than enough to satisfy her for now.” He gazed past the orc to survey the line of bond half-elves. Simply villages; the people he had once sworn to protect, and then turned his eyes away with a disgusted scowl. “Girl worth more,” the orc challenged with a growl. “Go ahead then… try to take her from a wizard who has stalked these woods for over two thousand years,” Saevel taunted. “I’ll sit right here and watch you get blasted back to Thay.” The orcs grumbled amongst themselves; they knew the might that a single mage could wield, and, though not the brightest race in Faerun, knew it would take powerful magic for even an elf to survive so long. “Come on,” Saevel commanded when the dark figure and his young charge were well out of sight. “We have to deliver these wretches, and you don’t want to keep her waiting… Do you?”