"Sounds like all of them," Neven laughed before his nose caught a wift of what was cooking, "FOOOD!"
"Ahahaha!" Seri laughed him upon entering the buffet area.
***********
The three men made their way through the streets towards the merchant district and finally the docks. The tide had came back in and their only way across was the boat. A militia guard on duty turned to greet them, "Sire, returning to the lighthouse?"
"We are. Was there anyone else you might have seen this morning coming this way?" The platinum knight asked the guard.
"Aye, my lord. Two just ran through not more than a few minutes ago. They just made it to the island before the tide came in. The water is calm this morning after the storm from last night. It should be a fast ride to the lighthouse." The guard steadied the boat for the three to board.
"That must be Neven and Seri," Willow mentioned to no one in particular, "They must have run like the wind to beat the tide."
"A feat worthy of an elf," Irzen quipped.
"Indeed," Willow agreed.
Irzen and Willow climbed on board the boat after Madeous and seated themselves before they began their short voyage.
The militia guard wasn't kidding. Their short boast ride took about five minutes compared to last night when the wind was blowing against them. The same knight that just greeted Seri and Neven only moments ago, grabbed a hold of the rope and steadied the boat for the trio of men to disembark onto the island. "Good morning, my lords. Sire. The Bronze Man is expecting you and your guests. Go with the blessing of Bahamut."
Once again Madeous lead the way to the lighthouse entrance and proceeded through to the smell of food and the sounds of laughter.
***********
Caliaphy decided she wanted to sit in her own chair again and jumped off the elemetalist's lap. "Teeheehee."
"Serna, do you like to swim? There's a really cool place to swim close by and its safe too." The fairy Kurori asked the shield maiden.
"Sure, I love to swim," Serna smiled, "I used to do it all the time early in the morning in Baroness Melaranti's wading pool--before she got up in the morning, of course. I would love to go for a swim with you, Caliaphy."
Caliaphy cocked her head to one side, "Wading pool? The place I'm talking about is the Lagoon. The water is crystal clear, warm year round, and you can see all the sea creatures swimming below you. Don't worry, no monsters there just lots of colorful fish. And maybe the Bronze Man can turn into a dragon so we can have a big water slide to play on."
"That would be NEAT!" Serna's eyes went wide as silver dollars, "Would you really do that? Would you change into a dragon and become a water slide for us?"
Alyson's eyes widen in shock at the kurori's bold statement and tried so hard not break out laughing as she turned to look at Lazheros.
The Bronze Man raised an eye brow at the kurori's brazeness, "Ah, I see just because I am dragon that makes it okay for children regardless of what they are, to use me as a playground?"
Caliaphy grinned, "Uh-huh. I remember when you brought Alyson to the Ancient Oak and we swarmed you. Good times!"
His attention briefly shifted to the elementalist ~ I wonder where she got that idea from, hmm? ~ "I make no promises, Caliaphy."
"Aww! Pretty please?!" The kurori pleaded with the bronze man.
Finally the elementalist spoke up, "That's a tall order, Caliaphy, asking him that. The day is still young and I want to see my uncle off when he leaves Asylum at high noon. But first, lets just enjoy each others company for now, okay?"
Lazheros just sighed at Alyson's pun. While Quake and Madame Mabel snickered on their side of the table.
"Okay," the kurori pouted.
Alyson reached down and started tickling her to make her laugh. "Hey no pouting allowed. Only smiles and laughter are acceptable at this table."
"Ha hahaha! Ahahaha!" Caliaphy squeeled and squirmed from the elementalist tickling her. "Ha! Hahahaha! Okay! Okay! I give! I give!"
The Bronze Man chuckled, "Ah, the sounds of laughter have once again filled the lighthouse once more. Just as it should be, for children are the bringers of happiness and the little joys of life."
The elementalist smiled and helped Caliaphy into her chair. The poor creature was still giddy after being tickled. She turned back to the bronze man, "And to memories old and new." She got up from her chair for seconds. "Finished with your plate, Lazheros, or would you like a refill?"
He met her gaze, "I will refill my own plate, Alyson. Thank you for the offer, though."
She shrugged at him and went to refill her plate with more fruit, bread, and made herself a cup of coffee before returning to her seat at the table. Alyson savored the coffee. It had been awhile since she had it back on Earth. "I wonder where Neven and the others are? Has anyone seen or heard from them?"
"Nope!" Serna declared shaking her head, "I haven't seen or head from Neven since we departed the temple yesterday. I hope he is alright."
"Good morning, everyone." Seri walked through the doorway and saw her mother sitting across from Alyson, "Hello mum."
"Mom?" Alyson and Quake looked at each other then at Madame Mabel.
Madame Mabel smiled, "Aye, Seri is my wee little girl. The youngest and the only one of my brood to stay in Asylum. My sons had too much of their fathers in them and the sea called out to them, and so they went."
The elementalist looked behind Seri and saw the thief. "Come in, Neven. There's plenty of food to pick from. Sit, eat, share stories with us if you like."
"Thanks!" Neven walked in and nodded in acknowledgement to all present before he sat down and began to stuff his face with food.
"Neven!" Serna asked, "Where were you? What happened to you last night? Some of us were worried about you."
"MMMMmmmmMMMMmmmm!!!" Neven replied with a mouthful of food as he ate like a starving man, "MMMMMmmmmmMMMMMMMmmmm!! MMMMummmmmuumMMMMMuummm!!"
"Can someone please translate that into Common?" Serna asked everyone present.
Quake snapped herself back to reality after Madame Mabel's revelation about Seri. Looking over to Neven who was feeding his face and then back to the shield maiden, "I believe it translates to MMMMmmmMMMMmmm in common."
Alyson snickered, "He's really, really hungry, Serna. Let him eat first then he'll tell you how things went yesterday."
Caliaphy broke out into laughter again, "Ahahahahaa!"
Even the bronze man chuckled from the thief's noisy eating. ~ I prefer the sound of your stomach growling like a dragon's roar.~
The elementalist continued to sip her coffee while trying not laugh from the sound of a rather hungry thief. ~ You're weird. ~ Her attention shifted to the bronze man again.
The sounds of guests entering the lobby could be heard by the Bronze Man through the laughter of children in dining area. "It was seem that your uncle has returned, Alyson."
"And not alone." She added setting her coffee back down on the table. The kurori once again decided that she wanted to sit on the elementalist's lap, so Alyson pushed her chair back once more for her.
"Sit still, please. You tend to get a little squirmy, Caliaphy."
The kurori gave her a cheesy grin and whispered, "Could you ask him for me and Serna if he would turn into a dragon for us when we go swimming later?"
Alyson kept her attention on Caliaphy in the hopes that the kurori might change the subject. ~ Did you get all that? ~
Lazheros finished his cup of tea and poured another while it cooled, ~ Only for you, Alysiane. Only for you, child. Seama is more than likely to show up again, perhaps Quake will get the better of her finally. Seama's pranks are still uncontested. ~
"Are you serious?" Alyson said a loud to him.
"Yes. Very." The bronze man glanced over to the elemental again, "Quake do you still wish to polymorph correctly?"
"Oh, yes sir! I do, so very much," Quake listened attentively.
"Very well, I will show you at the lagoon later." Lazheros told her.
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