"Follow me. I know of a breath taking view." She led Neven up the steps along the wall itself. The view was even more incredible. The lightning bugs followed the young couple and danced around them in a display of lights. Neven could now see the Ancient Oak. It was colossal in size, and even dwarfed the guardian of Asylum if he were to stand next in his dragon form.

"UNBELIEVABLE!" Neven's eyes went wide with excitement, "That is the largest tree I have ever seen. How old is it? Do you know?"

"Some call it the Tree of Life, some say its called, Yggdrasil, the World's Tree, and those of a place called Pandora, call it the Aiwa. We've always known it be the Ancient Tree. All the fey in the Realm live there. They have one Elder that counsels them and their ties with the Sidhe are also present there too. How old it is, even the Bronze Man doesn't know. Your guess is as good as mine, Neven." Seri held out her hand and several of the lightning bugs landed on it, "Make a wish."

"Do you want me to say it aloud or do so silently?" Neven asked a little unsure about what to do next.

Seri smiled warmly before him, "Say it with heart, say it with mind, and always believe." The cool breeze of the late evening picked up a little on the top of the wall. She stepped to the left as the wind blew between her and the thief. The starlight sky was both mesmerizing and dangerous at the top of the wall.

Neven closed his eyes and silently made his wish. Upon opening his eyes he smiled at Seri, "My wish came true."

Seri released the tiny creature back with its fellows and wrapped her arms around the thief again, "And what is your wish?" The wind swirled around the young pair on the wall over looking both the Ancient Tree and the city of Asylum. Lights of a different kind flashed in the western sky though. Seri was too engaged with Neven to notice the storm on the horizon.

"That I would find happiness," Neven replied, "And I have found it--with you!" With that said, he gave Seri a kiss.

Seri embraced him again slowly and lost in the moment when she began to feel rain drops. "Oh, my dear Neven, we should continue this under cover. I only tell you this because the rain here will soak you to the bone in minutes and that would totally kill the mood. And I don't want to loose you to the elements either."

"I borrowed these from the watch early today," She held up a set of keys. "They'll unlock any tower on this wall. Pick one."

***********

Mertul came back with a tray of drinks ordered by them, "Elven wine for the ranger. Your stein of Dragon Fire, sire, and Brandy for the swordsman, eh, you can have the bottle. Everything is still paid for when Alyson gave me a single platinum coin."

"She paid in platinum?" Madeous was about to take a swig from his stein but stopped himself.

"Aye, my lord. All drinks, meals and lodging has been paid for. Enough for an entire week's worth." The dwarf woman smiled and walked back to the bar.

"You seem surprised, Madeous," Irzen took a swig of brandy straight from the bottle and ignored his tankard altogether, "Your neice is quite wealthy. She is--or was before she abdicated her post--the High Lady of Stormhaven. Before she departed that barony, she took with her a bit of their wealth. Alyson is a woman of no small financial means."

"Not really, no. Alyson has what it takes to lead people against an enemy if need be," He took a big swig, "As far as wealth goes, that's runs in the family either back on Earth or here in the Realm. At least it used to be like that with everyone..."

"What happened?" Irzen asked with a raised eyebrow, "If you don't mind my asking."

"The Curse," He said flatly. "That damn curse Venger cast on us when we were forced to flee. We had come so far only to fail in bringing justice and peace to the Realm." Madeous took a big gulp of his drink. "I always wondered if it had any effect here in the Realm, it did not but unfortunately I also still have a company to run back on Earth. I was thinking about handing it down to the vice president of the company since my luck is better here than there. At the same time, I am reminded of losing Celestra over and over again. Watching her being thrown into a portal to yet another world unable to return. Seems like I'm stuck. Catch twenty-two."

"What would you give to find her?" Irzen asked, "Celestra, I mean. What would you be prepared to endure for a single shot at finding her again?"

Willow raised his eyebrow at this question but said nothing.

Madeous grew quiet for several moments to ponder the swordsman question. Then he looked him in the eye, "I haven't thought of it like that since everything happened, and perhaps its time to do something about it. I'm just not sure how or where to start looking."

"Who is Celestra?" Irzen asked as he took another swig from his bottle, "How important is she? Not just to you, but to the Realm as a whole. Would you count her as a historical figure whose exploits are worthy of a bardic tale or two?"

"What are you driving at, Irzen?" Willow asked curiously.

"Bear with me, Willow," Irzen cautioned the Ranger, "The answer to these questions are important." The Swordsman waited for Madeous' answer.

For a moment the platinum knight pondered the questions at hand, and finally gave him a reply. "She's the Golden Lady. A paladin of Bahamut, righteous to the core, my bonded companion--," He stopped mid sentence and gave the swordsman a hard stare, "What you playing at, Irzen? I can hold my liquor. You don't strike me as the type that can hold yours. Careful, you don't get yourself hurt."

A couple of militia guards doing the night patrol came in drenched. They rung out their cloaks at the door. One spoke up to the patrons of the tavern, "Storm blew in folks. Watch your step if you choose to leave out in that mess."

The other added, "Better yet just stay inside where its dry."

The regular patrons broke out into laughter at the sight of the militia guards who both went up to the bar and asked for a stiff drink each.

**************

Three kids went scrambling in separate directions trying to avoid getting tagged by Caliaphy. One nearly ran into Serna but dodged at the last moment.

"Look out!" The Shield Maiden cried out as the girl narrowly missed her. After the dodge, Serna turned and saw Caliaphy off in the distance, "Uh! Oh! I better run for it."

With that said, the Shield Maiden took off at a full sprint.

"Hahahaha! There you are Serna! I'm coming to get you!" Caliaphy ignored the other children and gave chase.

"You'll never catch me, Calipahy! NEVER!" Serna laughed as she ran away from her friend down one street, through an alley and into another street.

"Silly shield maiden, never say never! Teeheehee!" Caliaphy was hot on her heels who knew the terrain far better than Serna did.

War Scribe watched everything transpire and muttered, "That little pest is going to get caught for sure."

Out of sight but not out ear shot, Caliaphy's sharp hearing picked up a certain chronicler whispering somewhere nearby. If she couldn't catch Serna in time, she knew exactly where to find War Scribe.

Serna ran for all she was worth up and down alleys and streets with Caliaphy right behind her. The Shield Maiden took a wrong turn and found herself at a dead end with a high wall blocking her path.

"Rats! I went right when I should have went left," Serna complained as she prepared to backtrack down the alley she came.

"Teeheehee! Someone got turned around and around, and is now stuck," Caliaphy darted up behind her so fast that it caught the shield maiden by surprise, "TAG! YOU'RE IT!"

"DARN! You got me!" Serna declared in a huff.

The kurori elf stopped for a moment and looked towards the west. She squinted to see a little better and saw storm clouds brewing up in the distance. "Oh! No! A storm is coming! Oh well, we can play some more later after the storm passes. Are you okay with that, Serna?"

"Sure," The Shield Maiden hunched her shoulders, "I see no reason for us to get needlessly wet. We can play later."

Caliaphy whistled again, "Game over, friends. There's a storm brewing in the west and heading here like no tomorrow. Thanks all! Come on, Serna, let's see if Madame Mabel will let us stay with her. Eh, War Scribe, you're welcome to come with us as well."

War Scribe stepped out from her hiding space and looked off into the distance, "Thanks, you little brat, I'll hang with you for a bit. But I have the funny feeling that my services might soon be needed elsewhere."

"Elsewhere? Do you have to go? We were actually enjoying playing with you, War Scribe." Caliaphy smiled at the chronicler, "You know you're not half as bad as you think you are. But who am I to judge. Of course, I would not want any part of your job."

"I always have to go, sooner or later," The Drowling stuck her tongue out at Caliaphy, "And I had fun too. And of course you would not want my job. I doubt you've ever done an honest day's work in your life. Muwha! Ha! Ha!"

Caliaphy now could see a wall of water bearing down on them, "Time to go!" She lead them to Madame Mabel's washer womens place. An odd name for a laundry mat but the name stuck along time ago. War Scribe and Serna could see a bunch of women aging from late teens to adults hustling about with wet linens being placed elsewhere to dry.

"Aye, Caliaphy." A woman with red hair, green eyes, and an Irish accent walked over to her, "Come to help out, have you? Who are your friends, lass?"

"Actually Madame Mabel, we were playing Hide and Seek in the Commons when the storm blew in. We'd like to wait if out if thats okay?"

"Sure. Sure. As long as you don't have a tantrum like Seama, you and your friends are welcome." Madame Mabel eyed the trio.

"She what?" Caliaphy blinked.

"Threw a fit like a wee babe! Hopefully, The Bronze Man set 'er straight." She said in a huff.

Quake got done lugging in the heavy loads of laundry and came to find Madame Mabel and found Serna, Caliaphy, and least of all, War Scribe. "It's the three amigas! Hahaha! Wait a minute," It dawned on the elemental, "you actually stayed and played with the kids, War Scribe?"