The fairy flew up in front of the shield maiden, "No. I like things as they are. I wouldn't change them even if the world ended. Since you won't listen to me, I will show you. The Ranger may come along as well. The place where I'm taking you is The Ancient Oak. Maybe the Elder can show you the rest of the story."

Serna turned towards Willow and whispered, "Um, Willow, I know we just got here, but Caliaphy would like to show us something at her home in The Ancient Oak. Would you like to come along?"

"I would indeed," The Ranger confessed, "I freely admit that I would like to get a closer look at that tree and get to know it better. Madame Mabel, would you object if we departed? We will not be long."

"No. Go and do what ye must." The old courtesan waved them off.

Caliaphy motioned Serna and Willow to follow her outside in the streets. Being in close proximity of the beholder made the kurori nervous still.

******

Once they were outside beyond the sight of both Mertul and Harley, the fairy returned to her true form, "Okay. A few things to know before I take you there, Serna. The Elder does not speak common, he understands it quite well but he finds it distasteful and degrading. If you are asked a question by him, you must answer him no ifs, ands, or butts. Two, we will be SWARMED by more than just Kurori there. Some of the older fae and sprites are down right mean, so watch what you say. They get offended easily, and just because your brave, it won't save you from them trying steal you away. Okay? If you need someone to translate, Willow or myself can translate for you."

Caliaphy grabbed a hand from the ranger and the shield maiden and the three vanished in a ball of blue light and reappeared on a massive branch half way up inside the colossal tree. Exactly to what Caliaphy just told Serna, the three of them were swarmed by all manner of fae and kurori. Some of the older fae towered over the main mob, looking more like trees than fae. They were all curious about who Caliaphy's new friends were when the sound of something wooden tapped a few times causing the crowd to split down the middle.

This one was among the Sidhe. He walked up to the kurori and her friends. He was tall and slender build in simple garb of the forest with greens, yellows, and brown. He wore no shoes on his feet and his eyes were pure white. Perhaps he was blind or ascended to a higher level of sight beyond that of the norm. Stopping no more than ten feet from the trio, he said, "Mae govannen."