Tolan seemed to have gotten mildly angry, or at least higly concerned, as the lieutenant had spoken, an expression that changed to extreme uncertainty as Sterling described the plan for the War Council. He leaned forward seriously. "And how do I convince them that the overture of returning Ingeld was not bait for a trap when they see your army marching on them?" he asked. "They will not take lightly to one hundred fifty Drow marching into their forest before the alliance is made. I doubt the show of strength will impress them. Do not bring your entire company into this war council before we formalize our pledges of unity, Captain. They will be cut to ribbons before they can get a hundred yards into the forest. Take a small group, perhaps, and fly the flag of truce. I do agree that having all the leaders there to plan and agree upon a strategy is vital to our success. But if they see the entire company of Shadow Riders 'invading their territory,' without an alliance made beforehand, no matter what I might say, they will take it as a threat and act accordingly."
"And what you said, Lieutenant," he added quietly but with deadly seriousness in his voice, "Keep in mind that I have personal ties to the Elves. You are proud to say that you can use this mission as a chance to learn information about them- and though I want to believe otherwise, I fear that you mean in order to use this information against your 'old enemy' in the future. I have higher hopes than that. I have hopes that this alliance might lead to something more. A scaling back in the hostilities between your people, perhaps. This war has gone on far too long. And I hope you understand, if the Elves, for one second, get the impression that you are spying rather than returning a child in good faith, they will shred you into a thousand pieces and there will be nothing I or my men can do to stop them."
"Let us return the child to the Swan May first," Tolan then offered as a slight alteration to Sterling's plan. "It will be easier to gain their trust first as we have a clear offering of peace. Then, with that friendship unofficially 'sealed,' you will be able to begin your push into that part of the forest, and we will be in a better, more united position to approach the Elves. Once we have them convinced of our sincerity, we will arrange this war council. We should be able to meet at the time and place arranged, Captian. Just be sure to bring a delegation rather than your whole company. Camp the rest of your men just outside the forest where they will be ready to join you and move quickly when the alliance is signed. It will be less threatening this way, and I believe it will be easier to convince them not to attack a small group entering the forest than a large company of soldiers. Is that workable, Captain, or do you prefer not to divide your men so?"
