Alyson went into the kitchen grabbing the bread bin with utensils and brought it out to the dining area placing it where it needed to when she heard multiple familiar voices pop in the lobby.

********

"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."

"How about that one?" Neven picked the tower that was closest to them though it was fifty yards away.

"Okay!" She headed straight for the one he pointed at. She ran through the keys until she found the right one to unlock the door. It opened and she pulled Neven in behind her just as the wall of water hit. **WHOOSH!** Closing the door, she scoped out the tower just in case they were not alone. "All clear. We have our own private tower for the evening."

"Sounds like a winner to me," Neven wrapped his arms around Seri's waist, "Now, where were we?"

She giggled and teased him a little with her hands running down his chest to his belt then back up to his chin. She licked her lips hungrily, "Show me what you got, Neven." She took off her cloak and dropped in on the floor. "You're not shy are you?"

"Far from it," Neven took his cloak, pulled it over his head and slipped both himself and Seri into the Shadow World, "You showed me your world, Seri, now let me show you mine. What do you think?"

She looked around, everything was black and white. Even her and Neven, "Umm...its kinda cool. Not what I was expecting."

Neven laughed, "It never is what people expect. Welcome to the Shadow Realm, Seri, it's the world behind our world. And portals to it exist everywhere. All you need is a shadow--any shadow--and you can get here."

"It's kinda of creepy here, Neven and there are things looking back at us. Take me back, please. I'd rather see Deeping Dale or Storm Haven, not the Shadow Realm." Seri was starting to freak out, "Take me back to Asylum where's there's color and real people."

"Sure, no problem!" Neven and Seri emerged from the Shadow Realm and back into the tower through one of the shadows cast by candlelight, "We're back! Are you okay?"

"All I want to do is spend quality time with you, Neven, tonight. Just the two of us, and then I planned on going to the lighthouse for breakfast. The Bronze Man is hosting a buffet for Alyson and her friends." Seri hugged the thief again and whispered in his ear, "Okay?"

"Sure, that's fine with me," Neven smiled as he returned Seri's hug with one of his own, "And I have no plans for tomorrow either. I'll join you for the buffet. Now, where were we?"

Neven planted a soft kiss upon Seri's lips.

Seri enjoyed her evening with Neven very much as the sound of falling blanketed the city. The light of the morning suns peaked through the window slits of the tower on the eastern wall of Asylum. The sun beams pushed out the cold dampness that the storm brought in with it and warmed the tower interior. Seri opened her eyes still enveloped in the thief's arms. She had a magical time with him and hoped that there would be plenty more together. "Neven," caressing his face, "are you awake? Shall get up and go to the lighthouse for breakfast. I confess, I am quite hungry, how about you?"

***********

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.

Irzen looked at both of the guards before he turned his attention back to Madeous, "I am playing at nothing! Venger banished her to another world, right? And Celestra is a paladin of Bahamut, right? Well, considering the importance of the players in that little drama, I bet dollars to donuts there was a Chronicler of Validor around at the time to record that event. And if there was one present, then she probably recorded which world Venger sent Celestra off to. So--"

"--so all we have to do is get War Scribe to take us to The Great Library, find the right tome that would have that knowledge and then we would know where Venger sent her." Willow nodded his head in agreement.

"The Great Library? It doesn't exist!" Madeous downed another gulp of his drink. He wiped his chin off and sighed, "There might of been here during the invasion of the Torque Armanda thirty years ago. Mind you time is different here in the Realm than on Earth. And I recall that Armendes stated there was one."

"It does exist," Irzen replied calmly, "How do you think my friends and I sneaked into The Black City without Venger's knowledge? The Great Library has a portal that connects to the Draznien Library located in The Black City. Or at least it had one until we sucked the city into a black hole. However, we have a Chronicler of Validor who can take us to The Great Library."

"And War Scribe is bound by her god to aid all who seek knowledge there," Willow added, "She cannot refuse us even if she wanted to."

"So, what are you afraid of, Madeous?" Irzen asked the Platinum Knight, "Or, more to the point, what do you have to lose?"

"Look the only place I know of is Sigil, the city of Doors which is located between the Prime Material and the Outlands. Alyson spoke of a great library but that's the Akashic Records which is only attainable by Astral Projection, or physically going to the Etheric Plane." The platinum knight took another big gulp of his stein and waved Mertul over for a refill.

He sat back and stared across the tavern and then blinked, "I will consider what you've offered at least."

"Why don't you consider instead what War Scribe has to say," Irzen counter-offered, "I can summon her here if you wish. All you have to do is say the word and I can bring her here."

"So what say you, Madeous," Willow added, "This is as good a chance as you are liable to get."

The platinum knight finished his second stein of Dragon Fire and stood up, "As I said I will consider what you suggested, Irzen. Two, you both are invited to the lighthouse for the breakfast buffet, or you may get breakfast here, your choice. I bid you good night."

Madeous brought the stein up to the bar and headed up to his room for the evening. There was a lot on his mind or was it the alcohol talking. He was glad to see Alyson again and how far she had come in the Realm thus far. Her choice of company was somewhat questionable but more so, he figured that she might actually stay in Asylum to be with Lazheros. He couldn't say no anymore, she was a grown woman quite capable of making her own decisions. In the morning, he would head back to the lighthouse for the breakfast buffet one last time before he would depart.

"Blunt, direct and to the point," Irzen turned to Willow, "In spite of my best nature, I am beginning to like this man."

Willow nodded as he followed Madeous' example, "But he does have a point. Rest would be most welcome right now. How about you?"

"I agree," Irzen pulled himself up from the table and walked with Willow back to the bar, "A good night's rest would do me a world of good."

Madeous awoke from a good night's sleep. He stretched a bit before reciting the dogma of Bahamut quietly facing north. When he was finished, he exited the room and waited downstairs for Irzen and Willow to join him.

***********

Madame Mabel sat down on one of the many stools that randomly littered the main room, "So, will ye be staying for the night 'ere too? I don't have beds just hammocks 'ere. Then in the morning was heading to the lighthouse for some breakfast. The Bronze Man does host a fantastic variety of foods for guests."

"I might, I might not, it all depends," The Chronicler replied dismissively.

"Thank you for the offer," Serna declared as she sat down on a stool, "I really would not mind waiting out the storm here."

"I'm sure the lady will be glad to have her clothes and gear back as well." Quake grabbed another stool and sat down next to Madame Mabel.

"Aye." She gave the elemental a wink. She also took notice of the chronicler's outfit, "So, little drowling, what profession do you do that requires one such as yourself to wear that?"

"Little?!" War Scribe stared in shock at the Washer Woman, "Who are you calling 'little'? I will have you know that I am TALL for a Drow. I will also have you know that I am War Scribe, Chronicler of Validor, Chief Librarian of the Great Library and Keeper of Knowledge for The Realm of Dungeons and Dragons. My profession does not REQUIRE me to wear anything. I CHOOSE to wear what I wear because it is beautiful, seductive, form-fitting and smoking hot! And what of you Washer Woman? Do you choose what to wear because of YOUR profession?"

Quake burst out laughing from Madame Mabel's inquiry towards War Scribe, "Hahahah!"

"Laugh it up, dragon bait!" War Scribe snarled at Quake.

"Hahaha! I was trained in the old profession, a courtesan and enjoyed every bit of it. I entertained men or women for pleasure. Sometimes both at the Horizon's Crest, and now my friend, Gaston runs it. So, if you're looking for a 'special' kind of loving that's the place to be." Madame Mabel kept the conversation from getting too risque in front of Serna, who may or may not of known what she was implying.

"The only loving I'm looking for is a newer way to die," War Scribe replied honestly, "For me, hanging out with my best friend Death is its own reward."

"I've retired from the business to run a better hard working one and I like keeping the ladies in line. They're a rowdy bunch and any man who comes in 'ere barking and treating women like property gets softened up here then they're sent up to the fighters guild to blow off steam in the arena." She winked at the chronicler.

Caliaphy turned red with embarrassment, "Awkward."

"Softened up?" Serna asked no one in particular as she scratched her head.

Quake looked at the shield maiden, "She was really saying that stupid men who bully women get beat up a little by a mob washer women armed with wet towels."

"OOOOOOHHHHH!" Serna nodded in acknowledgement, "NOW I understand. Thanks, Quake!"

"That's quite a boast!" War Scribe acknowledged as she rose from her seat, walked over to Madame Mable and placed a finger under the Washer Woman's chin forcing her to look up at her, "You must be very good at your craft to soften hardened men to that extent. But I'm curious, why not soften me up? Show me your talents and let me be the judge as to whether your boasts are true or idol chatter."

Madame Mabel shook her head in disbelief, "Whatever you do in your spare time is not 'me business. Two, if there weren't younglings present I might oblige ye. There are some things that are just for adults only."

*******

"Point taken!" War Scribe teleported both herself and Madame Mabel into a vacant bedroom upstairs, "But bear two things in mind: One, you started this conversation, I did not. And two, neither Serna nor Caliaphy are here."

"So," The Drowling seductively sauntered up to Madame Mabel and once again placed her finger under the Washer Woman's chin, "Show me how you soften men up, Madame Mabel, and I'll show you how I break them down! Mwuaha! Ha! Ha!"

Madame Mabel placed both hands on her hips, "Are ye daft, little drowling? I am not in the mood to show ye how the ladies and I soften up men tonight. If ye want to get some rough loving go to Horzion's Crest I mentioned earlier. You can get whipped by plenty of folks who'd be more than happy to oblige ye!"

With that said, she left the chronicler there and headed back down to where Serna, Quake and Caliaphy were. "Oy! That 'ere friend of yours, Serna is a real piece of work. Hammocks are over there to the right. See you all in the morning."

The storm lasted most of the evening and into the wee hours of the morning before tapering off. The light of the suns shown down upon Madame Mabel's place and warmed up the city limits once more. Some of the citizens woke up early to ply their wares, and trades for the new day.

Quake was already awake standing in the open window soaking up the morning sun like a cat recharging itself. Caliaphy woke before Serna and fluttered about happily when Madame Mabel came out with Alyson's freshly cleaned robe and gear.

Caliaphy grinned excitedly, "I can't wait for Serna to wake up, so we can go and get some food. Hey where's that silly drowling? Did she..?"

Madame Mabel shook her head, "I cut her off at the pass last night. I am ready to see Alyson again. It's been awhile since I last saw 'er. You say she's all grown now?"

Quake nodded, "Yup, the lady is as you say, is all grown up Madame Mabel but I'll let you be the judge of that."