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.

Willow entered and prepared himself a seafood platter of various fish, shellfishes and potatoes.

The Bronze Man had just sat down with a plate of white fish and a plate of oysters. He looked over at the swordsman, "Apology accepted."

"Thank you!" The Swordsman acknowledged before he prepared a plate for himself, sat down and began to eat.

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."

Irzen looked at Madeous in pure shock, "You have? If you don't mind my asking, what changed your mind?"

Madeous gestured towards Alyson with his free hand, "Even my niece is wise beyond her years on certain things."

Even Willow appeared to be surprised by this reversal.

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.

Neven steadily ate and munched his way through his meal. The Thief was hungry and made absolutely no bones about it.

Madame Mabel eyed the young thief chowing down next to her daughter, "Slow down, laddie. Enjoy ye food. Savor it, 'don inhale it.

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."

The kurori brought the plate of pastries back over to Alyson. "Here you go, Alyson. See they reappeared. Teeheehee!"

"Thank you, Caliaphy." She took the place and set it in front of her.

"Ooooh! The high elf is here too. I'm gonna go say hi," Caliaphy giggled as she trotted around to the far end of the table with a big smile on her face looking at the ranger. "Hi there!"