Benzhi and Anastasia made their way through the portal, which was still open, to the Glade. Once on the other side, Benzhi could see the Grey Elves were all safe and sound, seated and surrounding the Willow listening to Mother.

Benzhi closed the portal. The amount of power draw from the portals was not massive, however, Benzhi was conscious of the issues at Dawnharbour not to mention securing enough stored qi energy for any future emergency. He was going to make it a priority to train up Anastasia and head out to the plains and harvest as many solid qi cores as they could with Reyas, Gisael and a team of harvesters.

"Mother," Benzhi called as he approached the Willow with Anastasia following. They were still dressed in their robes from Dawnharbour, Benzhi had left behind his leathers, hopefully, Ulfgrim would not be upset. The leathers had seen better days with all the fights they had seen him through.

"Benzhi, what a favour this is," she waved her hand indicating the Grey Elves, "they are of the people, the Fae, they are part of the lost children."

"They don't look like the Fae, your wood elves," Benzhi stated, not unkindly.

Mother looked thoughtful, "Eons ago we were one people, the Fae, now there are as many peoples as the grasses."

Benzhi was a little confused, he only knew of a couple of types of grasses, but supposed there were a lot.

Mother continued, "as the people spread through the worlds, they changed, adapting to their land. The Grey Elves ancestors were the same as the Wood Elves. Now they have tortured cores, slaves to the Myrkalfar the best and the worst of our kind," Mother looked sadly at the Grey Elves who merely looked at her with awe and listened.

"Can you heal them, Mother?" Benzhi asked.

She nodded, "it will take time, as is with all things, the physical heals quickly, the spirit heals slowly."

"Do you need my aid?" Benzhi asked.

She nodded again, "It will be better if we work together, as we did when we formed the Alpine Forest."

Benzhi smiled, "oh I can do that, no problem." Benzhi merged with the Land Core in the lake, his manipulation skills had progressed and he was able to reach out with a stream of qi at this distance easily, where a few months ago it seemed impossible.

Once Benzhi connected with the Land Core he connected with Mother, he would provide the juice then sit back and watch her manipulation skills in awe. Past events made more sense to him now, he realised that when they opened the first portal back to the world Mother and Gisael had travelled from, that he had assisted her and she had done the work, he was just ignorant of it at the time.

She could have taught him portal techniques, he suddenly realised. Damn, right under his nose all this time, he should pay more attention to what Mother could teach him.

Mother sent qi streams out, amazingly to all three hundred Grey Elves at once, it was Benzhi's turn to be gobsmacked, this kind of finesse and control was so far beyond him, he did not know how far it was. It wasn't just the fact she sent out three hundred qi streams, but each one of them began to undo the intricate prison surrounding the Grey Elves qi cores.

Benzhi watched the closest grey elf carefully as Mother performed the miraculous operation. She unpicked the web, strand by strand, neatly releasing the prison without causing any sudden shock or rupture. After an hour, she was done, they had used a large amount of qi from the Land Core, but it was not anything they could not afford.

The Grey Elves themselves were in various states of stupor, shock, rest and jubilation. The small ones were dancing and signing, where the older Masters, who must have been affected the most, lay unconscious on the grass.

Benzhi held Mother's hands and looked her in the eye, "that was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed, including the forming of the Alpine Forest, and that was fucking amazing."

"I am tired Benzhi," Mother said, smiling sadly, "undoing this great evil was taxing."

"I have no doubt, go rest, we can talk later," Benzhi said, "and Mother. Thank you."

She smiled weakly and dissipated.

Benzhi turned to Anastasia, "did you see that? Oh damn, I forgot to show you." Benzhi could have layered qi on Anastasia's eyes so she could see, but he had been so occupied that it slipped his mind.

Anastasia smiled, "I am sure it would have been beyond my comprehension."

"Too right," Benzhi said, "it was certainly beyond mine."

"Let me introduce you to the locals, the guardians, artisans and gatherers. Then we head to rejoin the Vanguard," Benzhi stated.

Benzhi introduced Anastasia to all the Fae who were present, discussed integrating the Grey Elves and explained the events of the past week. Ailen had been healed and was back to training. It had only been a week since he was healed, so Ailen still had work to do before he was ready for action.

Benzhi then explained his plans for a culling of the portal spawn to enhance their Land Cores and for training purposes. He received nods from Talila and the gatherers, everyone was impressed that he would be able to portal them directly to the edge of the Alpine Forest and back, cutting down the times of the operation dramatically.

"Thank you Talila and Asheria," Benzhi addressed the head guardian and gatherer, "I will call foryou in about seven days when we are ready for the hunt. First, we must see to some training and how the Stoneskin and Gael clans are faring. Hopefully, this is enough time for you to assist the Grey Elves to settle in."

Talila smiled and nodded, "it will not be a burden. We will come with ten gatherers and four guardians when you call, we may even bring some of the grey elves if they are up to it."

"I will leave that in your hands Talila, thank you," Benzhi replied, "we will travel to the Stoneskin Stronghold, I have waited long enough before reuniting with Gisael and Reyas."

"Who are they," asked Anastasia.

"They are part of the Vanguard, the three of us fight as one," Benzhi replied.

Anastasia whistled, "three of you? That is something I am looking forward to seeing."

Benzhi laughed, "oh no, not three of me, we have only one idiot who runs madly around charging everything. They are much more skilled, precise and beautiful."

"Oh, my my," said Anastasia, "you sounded wistful when you said that."

Benzhi laughed again, "let us be off, it is almost sundown."

Benzhi stepped through the portal to the Stoneskin Stronghold Land Core, which just happened to be in their great hall where the Clan ate dinner together. If anything the dwarves were social, eating together every night, telling stories, boasting about their day or as they are prone to do, having a good whinge about something not important.

Benzhi strode across the dias, behind the table where the leaders sat. He was met by Skandear wielding a spear pointed at his chest.

"Benzhi!" Skandear roared, "you be giving me a heart attack, yer great mullock."

Benzhi wasn't sure what a mullock was, but it sounded like a term of endearment, in a way. Before he could greet Skandear or take another step Reyas launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck.

"I missed you!" she announced extremely loudly. Much to the laughter of the dwarves. Some of the male dwarves could be heard mumbling, something along the lines of 'I wonder what she was missing?' Whilst elbowing each other and unsubtly winking.

"I missed you too," Benzhi exclaimed under the assault. Her legs were wrapped tightly around him and he breasts were pressed against his chest while she nestled her cheek and lips into the crook of his neck.

"I have not slept well for over a week," she scolded him, "I miss my pillow."

Distance certainly made the heart grow fonder. Benzhi was almost taking Reyas and Gisael for granted until being a part for a week. It had hit him hard. With that thought, Benzhi looked for Gisael, she was standing straight, proudly, trying to look disinterested a dozen paces away.

When he caught her eye, she frowned at him, "who is that?" Gisael asked pointing at Anastasia.

Benzhi slowly unwound Reyas and proceeded to close the portal. Ignoring the question, for the moment, he asked, "we are hungry and it is dinner time, what sort of hosts are you?"

"We be great hosts, and to be a guest it be normal to be invited," Bhar retorted. She was sitting at the main table, on the dias with the master crafters. "And I think it behooves ye to answer Mistress Gisael's question before we feed ye or yer new woman."

"This is Anastasia and she is my disciple, not my new woman," Benzhi stated. Reyas stalked Anastasia, circling and measuring her quality.

Anastasi laughed, "me his woman? Oh, dear, I am a bit old for him."

With that statement, Reyas and Gisael were startled. This woman was beautiful, elegant, confident and certainly not old. She had intelligent fierce dark eyes and luscious dark hair. She had an exotic beauty if anything she was a threat.

Benzhi cleared his throat, "with training she may join the Vanguard, but she has a long way to go."

Anastasia merely smiled and nodded, "I do look forward to learning from you," she indicated the two women, "Benzhi has told me almost nothing about you."

With that statement Gisael was livid.

"What have you been doing? Where have you been? And before you decide someone will be joining the Vanguard, it will not be your decision alone," her nostrils flared, her eyes were incensed. She was the most beautiful when angry, Benzhi thought.

"All in good time," Benzhi waved the questions away, "first we eat and I will tell you all about the last few days."

"Do not leave, ANYTHING, out," Reyas added belatedly. Although she was known as the fiery one, while Gisael was the cold killer, she could not match Gisael for passion on this occasion.

Benzhi found a seat, where Gisael and Reyas had been sitting, a few dwarves kindly moved to make room. Although several now crowded round waiting to hear the tale. Some of the miners, one called Deinos in particular, were looking forward to hearing about how close Benzhi was with Anastasia exactly and in detail.

Benzhi spoke loudly so all the eavesdroppers could hear, he was fairly certain they were going to be disappointed if not downright upset when they heard about Dawnharbour. For the first time Benzhi opened up about where he had come from, Earth, and how he had travelled to the world they now called Basal.

He spoke for hours, describing the QWP, how the Seer had worked for them but had not betrayed the people of the Alpine Forest. He described that after healing Ailen, he then healed the Seer and after that, he had to travel to Earth. As he had explained to Mother, briefly, before leaving.

For the last week, he had done his best to remove the threat from the QWP and then Dawnharbour. Gisael visibly stiffened at the mention of the Myrkalfar and the Grey Elves. By this time all the dwarves had gathered round. All three hundred, pulling up chairs and getting as close as they could. Sitting silently listening to every word with baited breath.

Benzhi described all the events of Dawnharbour and how when he had travelled back, the Seer had left and he with Anastasia had severed their link, back to earth, forever.

Reyas leaned closed and rested her head on his shoulder when he was halfway through the tale, it was a sign that she trusted him and had forgiven any transgressions he may or may not have had with Anastasia.

When Benzhi had finished there was deathly silence for five minutes.

The dwarves were not easily shaken. They were not scared. They just planned and they were exceptionally skilled at planning.

"Kindeag, ye need to double, no, triple all efforts to find white silver and vanadium. I dinnae care what ye need to do. We need to craft mithril weapons for the Vanguard," Barrin ordered.

"Nasven, Gleig, how fares yer training?" Barrin asked the Gael couple who were tailor and leatherworker.

"We are ready Master Barrin, with the right hides, we can begin with the aid of Master Gromnock we will be able to craft the armours," Nasven replied.

Barrin nodded, "Ye will need the flexibility of the hide armour Benzhi, our plate armour would slow you down too much. It will be prepared with the stoneskin runes, so it will be harder to slice or pierce than the best plate and gambeson."

Benzhi was pleased, "thank you Master Barrin, it is more than I could ask. Is there any way I could help Kindeag find this metal?"

"Well unless ye can ask the mountains to spout the white silver from its bowels, I doubt ye can be of much help," Kindeag replied.

"Challenge accepted!" Benzhi exclaimed with a massive grin on his face.

The Dwarves just stared at him like he was mad. 'You never get used to people looking at you like that,' he thought.