She pointed to where the various other guilds were located throughout Asylum. They passed the fountain and saw a bunch of children there playing around it. "Hide and Seek, they call it. Must be good enough to bring all the little ones out to play, huh?"

"I agree," Neven nodded his head, "I have heard about this game. I wonder who is 'IT'".

"I would guess and say it was that weird female drow friend of yours back at the Temple of Bahamut." Seri told Neven, "I mean, she was the one of whom, Caliaphy pick out to play. Guess we'll have to wait and see."

"Yeah I guess so," Neven smiled to himself, "Although I have to admit that War Scribe never struck me as the kind of person who likes to play games so much as she likes to cheat at them. Believe me, whatever rules Caliaphy may have set for this game, War Scribe is going to break them the first chance she gets."

Seri stopped and looked directly into his eyes, "I may be a thief and so are you but cheating won't get you anywhere here in Asylum. War Scribe as you call her, is gonna find out the hard way not to mess with Caliaphy. You know the phrase 'tar and feather?' Yeah, cheaters always meet a rather interesting defeat at the hands of a Kurori elf."

"No kidding," Neven looked completely surprised at Seri's remark, "And how do you know this? Through personal experience perhaps?"

Seri shrugged and confessed, "Yeah, I tried to cheat my way in a similar game. I was totally humiliated in the process but I learned from my mistake. Sometimes its worth it to play the game as it should be not as you would like it to go."

She leaned against his shoulder, "So, anyway, do you want to see more of Asylum, or watch who wins?"

"Nah!" Neven grinned at Seri as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Let's see more of Asylum. I'll hear about who won the game later."

**********

"Greetings, Lazheros, I have to say that all of this is somewhat surprising," Irzen quipped upon seeing the Bronze Man, "I was half expecting your domicile to be a dragon's lair full of gold coins, silver chalices, chests strewn with emeralds, rubies and diamonds littered about the cavern floor. Not a lighthouse full of old books and even older scrolls. Or am I seeing only what you want me to see?"

The Bronze Man opened his eyes and leaned forward placing his arms up under his chin as he viewed the three of them. He viewed the swordsman in utter silence. His gaze pierced the swordsman's mind enough to make him recoil as a warning. "The lighthouse is my home. If you're referring to a dragon's lair, you'll find none here. Many have searched for what they believed to be my 'lair,' and only found the remains of broken and ruined ships at the bottom of the sea."

"Fair enough," Irzen acknowledged as he did his best to stand his ground, "Not all treasure is gold and diamonds, some treasure is less tangible than others."

"And some treasure is valued in the measure of friends, and those of whom share a bond." Lazheros breathed deeply with thoughts of the elementalist coming to mind but kept his gaze on the swordsman for a few moments more.

Armendes clamored over with some drinks, "refreshments?" He needed to defuse the situation. He knew all too well, when someone learned about the Bronze Man's true nature, the conversation could go south fast.

"Thank you," Willow took one of the drinks.

"Yes, thank you," Irzen accepted one of the drinks.

Madeous gestured to Armendes, "I'll have one, thanks. Still acting as custodian of the lighthouse?"

"Yes, yes. Still not interested in venturing outside and having salt seize my mechanical parts solid. No thank you!" Armendes metallic voice echoed through the lighthouse.

"Ah, a hot cup of coffee!" Madeous breathed in the aroma of the caffeinated drink. He liked his black with sugar. Unlike, Alyson who liked it with both milk and sugar.

"I have a couple of questions," Irzen asked Lazheros, "Why are you here? And what is your role in Asylum?"

The Bronze Man relaxed a little with the swordsman's questions, "I am here because I founded Asylum six hundred years ago. Once a mere fishing village to a free independent trade city. The people of Asylum are the descendants of those people that once lived a more simple life. Two, I am the Guardian of Asylum. A cleric of Bahamut, and friend of Madeous Khyng and his kin. I do not hold myself above anyone else here in the city. Everyone here is treated equally and fairly unless someone becomes a Disturber of the Peace."

Armendes clamored away with the empty tray and then returned to the lobby. He reached over to the wall on the right and revealed a hidden door, "You are welcome to visit the library and learn more of Asylum's history. This door leads right to the library. The only rule is that you cannot take any with you. All tomes, and books may be read here within the lighthouse."

"It's a good thing War Scribe doesn't know about your library," Willow added, "The Chronicler would do her best to take every tome and scroll you have and add it to the collection of Validor's Great Library if she were given half the chance."

Armendes lurched backward suddenly, "A chronicler of Validor? Here in Asylum? Been a long time since the last one visited, or was it when the Torque Armada invaded? My memory is a bit sketchy on the subject. My spells prevent any uninvited beings such as the Chronicler's of Validor from entering. Best she not be told of this library. Some collections are even above her pay grade."

"For War Scribe nothing is beyond her pay grade," Willow concluded.

Armendes rotated around to face the ranger, "You are mistaken, high born prince. There are a few places within the Realm that are beyond the reach of any chronicler of Validor. And yes, I know who you are. I know by how you walk and handle yourself. It's in your blood. So, my question to you, what will you do to convince me not to mention you to the Embassy of Northhaven?"

"I will do nothing," Willow replied evenly, "You may alert them to my presence if you wish. By the time they learn that I am here my companions and I will be gone from Asylum. I assure you that our stay here is a temporary one."

Madeous nearly choked on his coffee upon hearing Armendes's reply to Willow. He was stunned but then again, he knew the wizard was also a diplomat and would use every advantage possible.

Lazheros sat back in his seat again, "And to whom am I speaking with, Lord Irzen or the other from Earth? You must have come up with sort of accord to allow two souls with one body."

"You're the six hundred year old Bronze Dragon with divine insight, you tell me to whom you are speaking," Irzen grinned mischievously, "And we did arrive at an accord. Its a pact that allows each of us to get what we want yet share this body in relative harmony."

"You presume much, swordsman. Insight I have from centuries of experience. Divine insight is reserved for true threats towards Asylum and its people." The Bronze Man said as he adjusted the pile of scrolls off to the side, so he could see better.

"And what is that you want? It's obvious that the drow half got the better end of the deal. What does the human half get out it?" He asked Irzen again.

"Revenge!" The Swordsman smiled with an evil grin, "Revenge against the Dark Lord and all of his minions! Everytime his friends and I have gone against Venger we have beaten him. And every time we defeat him my desire for vengeance is satisfied until he appears again and then we beat him again. My revenge against Venger will continue so long as Dungeon Master calls upon his pupils to challenge the Dark Lord."

Irzen calmed a little, "And my human half gets to survive in this world. My swordsmanship, my leadership, my tactics, my strategy and my lifetimes worth of experiences on and off the battlefield are at his disposal. His odds of surviving the Realm are quite high so long as he is with me and I am with him. We are one!"

"I see." The Bronze Man was slightly impressed by the display of the two separate souls. He decided to not press further.

********

The little girl was joined by two more. A gnomish boy, and a halfling boy. Both stuck their tongues out teasing and egging the drowling on even more, "Nah! Nah! Nahnanana!"

War Scribe was getting steamed under the collar as she gave chase. However, she saw an opportunity to even the odds and took it. As she ran past a shoppe that sold netting to the fishermen of Asylum, the Drowling grabbed one of the smaller nets and threw it at the three children running ahead of her. War Scribe was able to catch the little girl in the net and confidently strolled towards the child, "I told you I was going to get you, you little brat, and I did! You can't run away now, you're all mine! Muwha! Ha! Ha! "

"Oh! No!" Squealed the little girl who originally teased the drowling, "What will I ever do?!"

"You're going to lie there long enough for me to tag you 'IT', you little brat!" War Scribe snarled as she walked over to the girl, "That's what you're going to do."

The gnomish boy and halfling boy dodged out of the way when War Scribe threw the net. They waited until she was standing in front of the girl and at once, bull rushed the chronicler, flanking her. War Scribe went spinning around so fast from the impact, her foot got caught in the net and the three children escaped only to tease her, "You're good! But WE'RE BETTER!!"

"HEY!!!" War Scribe snarled as she tried to free her foot from the net, "Get me out of this net, you little wretches!"

Caliaphy signed to Serna, "Pssst! Let's go. Watch out for the drowling. We've got to make to the fountain before she does. Come on!"

"Okay!" Serna whispered back to her friend as they made their way to the fountain.

Caliaphy led the shield maiden down a well lit street then turned to the left and up a side street. The sounds of children laughing and cheering up ahead indicated they were almost home safe.

Serna was on the lookout for the Drowling knowing full well that War Scribe could sneak up on them at any time.

War Scribe freed herself from the net and snapped, "That's it! No more Miss Nice Drowling! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" The Chronicler neatly wrapped the net around her arm and moved towards the fountain believing she could cut off any stragglers on the way there.

Caliaphy motioned to Serna, "Faster! She's gaining on us! We need to make it to the fountain! It's one hundred feet ahead. One last sprint to the finish!"

"Alright!" Serna took off at a full sprint which drew the attention of The Chronicler.

"Aha! You two, wretches, I have you right where I want you!" The Drowling gave chase to Caliaphy and Serna as they ran towards the fountain.