"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."

She laughed, "Ha ha ha ha! I bet!" Leading him back down towards the Neverending Story Tavern, she pointed to the Alchemists guild hall which was supported by massive steam engines and strange mechanical automatons and constructs working on the exterior of the building. "The alchemists came up with a way to create the airships to keep up with the times. Some say, that the founders came from the same world as Alyson. The industrial age they called it with all the machines and tinkering. Dwarves and gnomes flocked to its halls to learn more of crafting metals in ways that magic could only dream of."

"WOW!" Neven gasped at the sight of the building, "I can say that until I reached the Black City, I had never seen anything such as an airship as you call it. The Half-Orc Bruno had one and we used it to escape that place. As far as I know, there are no other places in the Realm that even have these things."

Seri had heard horror stories of the Black City from travelers who were fortunate enough to come back alive. The dreaded city of Venger's war machine gave her the chills. "You escaped the Black City?!?"

"Yes, but it wasn't easy," Neven replied, "My friends and I had to fight our way into the city to rescue High Lady Alyson and Serna and we had to fight our way out of the city as well. We barely escaped with our lives but escape we did. How about you? Have you had any narrow escapes during your time as a Thief?"

"Me? No. I'm usually the one getting everyone else out of trouble with the militia. Sarafina and Jasper help to but its usually just me getting the new recruits out of sight before the guards show up." Seri smiled again as they continued walking down the street. The stars in the night sky were breath taking to the pair.

"It is beautiful tonight," Neven wrapped his arm around Seri's waist, "Just like you!"

She blushed, "Thanks. Neven, have you ever thought about maybe staying here? At least for awhile? I really like you. We all do. But mostly me, would you at least consider and think about it." Seri stammered a bit in her words, "I understand if you can't stay here. Friends come first..."

Neven smiled as she blushed, "I confess that I never thought about staying here. I'm glad you like me. I like you too, Seri, and I will make you this promise. I will think about it and consider it. Okay?"

Neven gave Seria a soft kiss on her lips.

***********

The Bronze Man narrowed his eyes at the swordsman, "Tell me, swordsman, what are you like when sleep has been denied to you? When it is denied to the elementalist, people die, and buildings are melted into slag by the Primordial fire that resides within her. Even now, I know that the lack of sleep in you makes you more blunt and vicious especially with each question that I have asked you of late."

"Sleep deprived I may be," Irzen admitted reluctantly, "But I am no fool! All that has transpired today has been a test. I know when I am being tested and I despise being tested, especially by someone as smug and self-righteous as you."

Lazheros stood up and walked around the desk. He stood not more than a few feet from Irzen. His gaze once more pierced the swordsman's mind, "You should leave now. For Alyson's wrath is the least of your concerns if you continue to push the subject."

Irzen willed himself to take a step forward towards Lazheros as his hand drifted to the pommel of his sword, "I will depart. But know this, I hold many titles to my name but there is one that I would not mind having: the title of Dragon Slayer!"

Outside the lighthouse, the knight heard an irate drow swordsman getting too aggressive with the Bronze Man. He readied his shield in case of retaliation from the drow swordsman, who was becoming increasingly hostile with the Bronze Man.

"Lord Irzen, it is time for us to go." Willow seized Irzen by the arm and proceeded to drag him out of the room.

"Test me again, dragon, and I might just earn that title," The Swordsman concluded before he was forced to depart.

Lazheros wasn't intimidated in the least by the aggressive nature of the Lord Irzen. He had seen plenty of individuals through his long life just like him.

"And we are leaving, good eventide, my lords," Willow finally dragged Irzen out of the lighthouse and did his best to steadily push the Drow down the path towards the boat.

The knight kept his distance from the swordsman's volatile nature. Drow were noted for their quickness and speed which on more than one occasion dropped an enemy so fast that it gave their enemies pause before engaging them.

The Bronze Man walked to the threshold of the lighthouse, and watched the ranger 'assist' the swordsman back down towards the dock. *Wux sveargith, korth?* He waited until all three were back on the boat before walking back into the lighthouse. The door closed behind him for the night.

Lazheros did not consider himself to be self-righteous as the swordsman proclaimed. Perhaps if he was a gold dragon instead of bronze that would of been more accurate.

Madeous shook his head at the swordsman in disbelief, "I won't ask. I don't want to know what your issue is with Lazheros. All that matters is that the peace is kept here in Asylum."

"My issue with that dragon is that I do not like being tested like I'm some tardy child at school!" Irzen snapped back at Madeous, "I am a mercenary captain and a lord of noble house! When I walk into your home either greet me at the door or slam it in my face, don't treat me like a child because it amuses you! Treat me like a guest or an unwanted visitor."

He then turned to the ranger, "My apologies and thanks, Willow. I now understand why you did what you did and I won't bring up the issue no more, you have my word."

"There is no need for an apology and you are most welcome, Madeous," The Ranger replied calmly, "And we can talk about my situation at any time of your leisure. I really do not mind. Soon we shall be away from Asylum and then it will not matter whether or not my people know that I am here or that I was here. My coming and going will be as if I were a leaf upon the wind."

"What I should do is return home to Naermon Nithren, rebuild my Shadow Riders, rally a few other Drow city-states to my cause, return here with a Drow legion at my back and burn this place to the ground!" Irzen half-grumbled under his breath, "Now THAT would be a fitting test for that test master of a dragon!"

*********

Caliaphy sprinkled fairy dust on the shield maiden as they came ever closer. Serna was hastened by the dust and it gave her the much needed advantage against War Scribe. "RUN! She's got a net! I'll handle the cheater! Run, Serna! Run for the safe zone!"

"Whoa!" When the fairy dust hit Serna, the Shield Maiden ran so fast that she nearly ran out of her boots. But she reached the safe zone well ahead of War Scribe.

The kurori elf whistled again and the rest of the children that were not at the fountain swarmed the chronicler as a whole making it harder for her get to the shield maiden. "I figured you would cheat, silly drowling! So, my friends and I always have a plan B to deal with the likes of you!"

"I did not cheat!" War Scribe stammered, "You said that I could use no magic! And I did not use any magic. This is a perfectly normal net! It is not made of magic nor does it have any magical properties. You never said that I could not use any non-magical items to catch you or any of your friends. YOU were the one who cheated when you used your fairy dust to hasten Serna's escape! So if you're going to use Plan B on anyone, then you should use it on yourself, cheater! Muwha! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

"Oh no! Silly drowling. I said that the person who was IT could not use any MAGIC! I did not say that we couldn't use magic. Besides, from your current disposition, you would of eventually cheated because you hate to lose. Sorry, you don't like the rules of the game! Even Alyson didn't use any magic, and yeah she lost some of the matches but she had fun!" Caliaphy cheered the drowling for effort. "However, you did make an attempt not to cheat, so...I guess. Fair is fair. Not everyone made it to the safe spot, and I would be glad to be it this time. It's only fair."

"Wow! That was easy," The Drowling admitted with a surprised look on her face, "I thought I was going to spend half the day arguing with you. You know what, you're pretty cool, you little wretch!"

A bunch of the children gasped in shocked but most laughed. The kurori elf smirked, "The Commons will be the area for the next round. No going outside the limits, and no hiding in the buildings as before. So, War Scribe, are you up for another run of Hide and Seek?"

"Sure, why not!" The Drowling smiled, "It was fun! Different without any death or killing involved, but fun. I like this game. I like this game a lot."

"YEAAA!" All the children cheered in unison. Caliaphy waved the shield maiden over, "This way to the Commons, Serna!"

"Okay!" Serna followed Caliaphy as War Scribe began to look for a place to hide.

"Serna, that means you need to hide too. I am the one who's it. Counting now, 1, 2, 3," The Kurori elf covered her eyes so Serna could go and hide.

Serna and War Scribe ran off to hide in opposite directions while Caliaphy counted.

***********

Armendes teleported back down to the main entrance of the lighthouse next to Lazheros, "Hmph! You have the gall to COMMAND me? The nerve!"

The Bronze Man sighed heavily, "You did not help the situation, Armendes. The ranger made his choice. Leave him be."

"Fine!"

* Onureth-vaecaesin korth caexstyyr.* Lazheros told Armendes in draconic quietly and walked towards the spiral stairs to the upper levels.

Armendes scowled in protest and went into the library behind the bookshelf. He detested being over-ruled like that. He believed the ranger should own up to his heritage and accept his father's rule instead of being in exile. That's no life for a high born elf.

The Bronze walked to where to the room where Alyson slept. He opened the door and walked in. It was the same room, she had when she spent her summers here as a child. -Still asleep. As it should be.- Although he hadn't experienced her wrath on Earth after the way her parents had used her as a wild card in their eyes. He did feel the rage of a child back then. Her rage was potent and deadly. No one died according to what Madeous had told him but the very building was nearly liquefied and several people were sent to the hospital. Walking over to the window, he opened it to allow the cool night air flow in the room just enough. Glancing at her once more, he pulled the blanket up and covered her with it. Then left for the evening and quietly closed the door behind him.