"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 to 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.
"Hail and well met!" Willow announced to everyone in the room.
"Good morning!" Irzen walked in behind Willow before he turned to address The Bronze Man, "My apologies for last night, Lazheros. My Drow counterpart has both a quick wit and a short temper. His remarks towards you were cruel and I just want to apologize on his behalf."
Madeous came in, filled his plate with ham, eggs, and potatoes along with a big glass of juice, and sat down at the opposite end of the table.
He noticed Alyson wearing a metallic robe but his hunger took president at the moment.
The Bronze Man had just sat down with plate of white fish and a plate of oysters. He looked over at the swordsman, "Apology accepted."
The elementalist had the kurori get off her lap and got up out of her chair and refilled her plate with an assortment of pastries. She noticed her uncle immediately stopped eating and just stared at her. "What?"
Caliaphy climbed back up in her chair next to Serna and quietly mooched fruit off of Alyson's plate.
Madeous blinked then shot a glance over to Lazheros, who was quietly observing the both of them. "When?"
"What are you talking about, Uncle Madeous?" Alyson looked confused.
Madeous got up out of his seat, "May I talk to you in the other room, Alyson?"
She shrugged and set her plate down on the table, and followed her uncle out into the lobby.
*******
"What could possible be so important for you to ask me to step out here?" Her eyes narrowed with a hint of disgust.
The platinum knight crossed his arms, "That?" He pointed to her robe, "When did he give you that?"
"Last night. Why? What's the problem?"
He sighed and looked her in the eye, "The robe is more than just a gift, it..--"
Alyson leaned back against the wall, "Reminds you of what Celestra gave you, isn't it? Maybe you need to stop trying to right a wrong, and start moving forward. It can't hurt to get advice from my friends, uncle. What are you afraid of? I may be family but I am not a little girl anymore. I can make my own decisions now."
Madeous was a proud and strong man but he wasn't infallible. He was stubborn at times that nearly cost the lives of his party members early on in their campaign but he did learn to trust and earn the loyalty of them. Her words rang true in his mind, he couldn't keep her safe anymore. She made a choice when the Realm called her back and she has done just fine by the company she keeps.
********
Alyson turned around and headed back into the dining hall to be among friends. She took her place next to Lazheros again and noticed her plate looked much lighter than she thought. Crumbs lead to inconspicuous trail to the kurori sitting next to her.
Madeous collected his thoughts once more and sat down again, "Lord Irzen, the offer you suggested last night at the tavern? I've decided to take up that offer and see what becomes of it."
Seri sat next to her mother and between Neven with her plate of eggs, potatoes, and fruit. She was hungry but not on the level that the thief was and giggled from time to time.
Caliaphy nearly cleaned Alyson's plate of pastries when the elementalist grabbed her hand, "And now, you can replace what you've helped yourself of, Caliaphy. That food was for me not you. Go on now."
"Awww!" The kurori sighed in protest. "But...but...they were getting cold."
Caliaphy looked at the Bronze Man for support and found none as he had witnessed her eating them one by one until she got caught. "You're on my side, right Bronze Man?"
"Oh no, small one. I most certainly am not." He chuckled, "Listen to what Alyson asked you to do, Caliaphy it is only fair."
The kurori grumbled in defeat with the odds stacked against her. Taking Alyson's plate over to the food table, she filled with pastries just like the ones she'd eaten moments before.
"Hey!" Alyson watched Caliaphy closely, "Refill the plate, not refill your stomach. That's enough. Thank you."
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