Ambrose and Hedgefield were the first to return. For a moment, it looked like they'd just remain silent, but to Ambrose's surprise, Hedgefield spoke up. "The elder's way of greeting you made me wonder... what it's like to be a Human here?"

Ambrose was caught off guard, both by the question itself and the genuine interest behind it. Even so, he managed to formulate a reply. "Truth be told, I feel out of place most of the time. I don't think Elves and Humans are all that different, but our current diplomatic situation makes it pretty difficult for us."

Hedgefield shook his head. "I'm not asking about Humans in general, I'm asking about you. Do you even agree with all you're doing, or do you merely do it because you're forced to?"

Ambrose wasn't able to answer that easily, so his reply was a hesitant one. "While I do feel forced, I can't say I don't want this either. Does that make sense?" He sighed, as he tried to explain himself. "I've worked most of my life as a medicine man and this ability I've gained suddenly made me able to become some sort of ultimate medicine man. What I've learned so far shows that I'm capable of some things that I would've never thought possible before, such as healing wounds or illness that would normally have a low chance of survival. If anything, sticking around with this group might help me understand that ability all the more."

Hedgefield squinted his eyes. He didn't seem to buy into it. "What if you wouldn't have had that ability. Would you still help the prince out with his investigation?"

Once again, it was difficult for Ambrose to reply. "We've got some sort of informal code among us, as medicine man in the Human Kingdom, namely that we heal all those who need it. We don't look at background, social status, species or race. To that extend, I don't think that I'm doing my job any less well than I'd have done it in the Human Kingdom."

Hedgefield didn't give up that easily. "Wouldn't you rather heal other Humans though? I'm sure the chance that they'd treat you as a second-rate or even third-rate person is a lot less omnipresent among other Humans. In fact, wouldn't someone with your work even be respected?"

Ambrose nodded. Hedgefield was correct and somehow that made him feel driven into a corner. "You're right." He was silent, trying to think of what he really wanted. It was difficult to formulate. If anything, he wasn't really sure of it himself. "I guess I'm curious to see where this all leads. Maybe this ability will develop further and maybe the Elves will start treating me differently. Who knows, maybe my aid as a Human might even make some of them think better of all of us Humans. Besides, I'm already glad to have met you, as well as the others in our group, as you've shown me that the same prejudice isn't present in you guys."

Hedgefield looked a bit startled at that statement. He soon admitted why this was the case. "In all honesty, there was a time when I thought Humans were disgusting, ugly and wretched creatures. My father had some very strong opinions on Humans and on the war against them. He used to say your species should've gone extinct long ago. It's easy to blindly take over such an opinion, but it takes time to let go of it. If it wasn't for my many years in the army, which taught me that our own species was more than capable of everything my father accused Humans to do, I might not even have doubted all that he taught me."

Ambrose was silenced for a moment, once again trying to find an answer. Eventually, he sighed. "Well, at the very least I'm glad you've changed your mind. Let's hope others will follow."

Hedgefield nodded. "Once all of this is over, I'm more than willing to see if I can help that along. Having come from such a place myself, I might be able to convince others more easily."

It was evening when the rest of the group got back together, but there was more than a little bit of awkwardness in the air. It was clear that all of them were mostly used to working solo, so Ambrose eventually tried to break the ice. "Well, Hedgefield and I have been able to talk with a former member of the Elder council..."

About an hour later, all three groups had shared their findings. Neither Itzal nor Maiara seemed to be all that enthusiastic about having to share what they learned, but it seemed like they were both curious to learn what the other had managed to find out. As a result, they were willing to give in and tell their own side of the story in exchange.

After putting all they learned together, another challenge arose. It seemed like all of the involved parties wished to prevent escalating the current tensions, so they figured that putting them around a table might actually solve some things. In the worst case scenario, the plan would backfire and they'd start arguing even more. Were that to happen, they could use the authority they gained by working for Prince Frode to put pressure on them.

The only one that seemed to be against the idea was Hedgefield. "They may claim that they want peace, but their actions don't show it."

Itzal replied. "While you are correct, I believe that their actions were exactly what led them to the current impasse, and that all of them realize that they need to move on from it soon, before things deteriorate even further."

Maiara agreed. "Going through the list of traders and suppliers shows us there is a clear trend. The daily supplies are becoming more expensive, and some rarer necessities aren't even brought here any-more. Instead, there is a rise in deals that seem more than a little illicit. All in all, there are a lot of signs that the people are getting ready for the worst, but any sane person would realize that the worst is the worst for everyone involved. The Liberators will risk escalating a war with the Empire, which is a war they will lose. The Empire will have to spent a huge amount of their forces to subjugate an area that will forever be rebellious afterwards, and the Forest Elves that are fleeing the autonomous zone know they'll be the ones to get caught up in the crossfire. More so than they already are, at least."

Luna suddenly spoke up, something she didn't do often. "What about the third party?"

Ambrose figured where she was heading, and decided to back her up. "The third party forms a significant risk. If their involvement is at play, they might be out for the worst-case scenario."

Maiara rebutted. "That's only more reason to get those three together. If Blue, Sparrow and Aritz can meet face to face, there won't be anyone to whisper lies to them. They can hear what they think directly from each-other. "

Itzal suddenly grinned. "Which means the third party will do whatever they can to prevent such an event from going smoothly. In other words, they'll try to stop it, they'll try to infiltrate it, and they might even decide to attack directly. Last time I tried baiting a group like that, I had it backfire on me, as the infiltrators were higher up the chain than expected. It left me and my friends without back-up, and was almost the end of the line for me. Well, I guess we've the army itself backing us this time, and the likelihood of them being infiltrated is very low."

Maiara replied. "It's low, but not impossible."

"What's life without a little risk?" Itzal said teasingly.

Maiara sighed. "It's safe, coordinated, controllable, and a whole other array of good things. I suggest we have a back-up plan, just in case."

Ambrose decided to back-up Maiara. "I agree."

Hedgefield spoke up. "If you want me to, I can select some men and lead them myself. That way, we'd at least have one group that's reliable."

Itzal was quick to go along with it. "Sounds like a plan."

Maiara wasn't convinced. "We can't be sure if that will be enough. You've said it yourself. Infiltrators can be higher up than we might expect."

Suddenly, Ambrose had an idea. "What about having the meeting take place in public? We can arrange for it to be within viewing distance of everyone, but out of hearing distance. That way, everyone can talk without being listened in on. At the same time, everyone can see what's happening from a distance. That would make it difficult for a third party to attack us, and even if they do, it will be clear to everyone that none of the people at the table started the fight, so they won't have much benefit from attacking us to sow discord."

Itzal was enthusiast. "Oh, I like that!"

After a bit of silence, Maiara also agreed. "That seems like the best plan we can have, although I suggest for us to keep Hedgefield at the ready with a small selection of loyal soldiers as well, just in case."

Itzal stood up. "Alright, let's meet with all involved parties, somewhere early tomorrow morning. We can have the meeting take place in the afternoon. After all, it is better not to waste any time here, as waiting around only gives our opponents more time to prepare something."

The rest agreed, and after discussing a few more details, they went their separate ways for the night. The plan had given them an odd sort of satisfaction, despite being nervous.

The setting for the afternoon was something never seen before. A round table with three seats was placed at the lowest part between two hills. Soldiers were stationed as guards in a wide circle around it, at a point from where you could no longer hear them speaking, but from where you could still see the people at the table. A lot of people had arrived to do just that, as they were with enough men and women to crowd around the entire circle of guards. It was like half the camp had come to see what was going on with this place. Three people approached the table, all followed by four others. Representing the Liberators was Sparrow, accompanied by two of his men, as well as by Itzal and Luna. Representing the guards was Lieutenant General Blue, accompanied by two of his men, as well as Maiara and Qadir. Representing the Elder Council was Aritz, accompanied by two of the council's guards, as well as Ambrose himself and a man called Goldlake. Aritz had introduced Goldlake as the most important trader in the camp, and although Ambrose hadn't heard of him, most Elves seemed to recognize his name. Ambrose debated if he should allow Aritz to bring this man, but eventually decided to allow it for as long as Goldlake would come unarmed.

As Sparrow, Blue and Aritz sat down, Ambrose could feel the tension rise.

Aritz spoke up first. "Let me just confirm this. We're all here to stop the escalating tension in this camp, and to make sure it doesn't turn into a bloodbath."

Blue nodded. "That is correct. The army would prefer a peaceful resolution."

Sparrow nodded. "As would the Liberators. I am proud to share that we even crafted a plan to further this goal."

Blue gave him a firm look. "Let's not waste any time. Tell us your plan."

"I suggest a combined investigation into what's going on at the Heart of the Forest. The things happening there are a bigger threat to us Forest Elves than the Empire could ever be, so we are willing to allow the army to enter the autonomous zone, for as long as they accept us Liberators to accompany them."

Aritz spoke up with a surprising fierceness for his age. "That is not for you to decide, but for the Elder Council!"

Sparrow grimaced. "I'm sorry old man, but the Elder Council has lost its power when they failed to solve the issues at the Heart of the Forest. Your group begged us to solve their issues, so you cannot longer complain when we're actually doing so."

Aritz slammed his fist on the table. "I thought we gathered here to solve the rising tension, not to escalate it by insulting each-other."

Sparrow didn't back down. "I was planning to negotiate with the army, yes, not with someone that outlived their purpose."

Aritz's face grew a darker shade of red, and Ambrose was ready to interfere. Surprisingly enough, Blue spoke up first. "The army will only deal with you if you allow Elder Aritz to have a say in this. We don't want to deal with a group of Forest Elves that can't even show a resemblance of leadership due to infighting. At least try to work together for your own sakes."

Sparrow sighed. "Fine, let the old man have his say."