Serna sighed, "I think I know what you're thinking. We weren't slaves, Laz. The Baroness was good to us. We were her servants and we were fairly paid for the work that we did. Besides, work in the palace was a far cry better than living in an orphanage. There I had to work everyday with no days off and the only thing I got for my trouble was three hot meals, a cot, the clothes on my back, the shoes on my feet and a room shared with ten other girls."

"Depends on what city you grew up in I suppose," The bronze man continued onward around the perimeter of the village.

The Shield Maiden hunched her shoulders, "So you tell me which is better? The palace or an orphanage?"

"There is no palace in Asylum, there is an orphanage but they have the option of finding an apprenticeship with one of the guilds if they so choose, or to learn a trade but it's not required. In your case, the palace was the better option than the orphanage. In Asylum, there are two groups of children, those who live on the farm near the poor district, and those of the merchant district, either way they all get along." Lazheros replied. ~This one is a bit of a challenge, Alysiane.~

The elementalist sat down on the edge of the dried up water fountain and smirked.

"It must be nice," Serna replied honestly, "To have many options from which you can choose. I only had a few. And when the time came, I took another option I figured might not come again--I chose a life of adventure with my friends and my sisters. And I've never regretted it. Not even once."

"The Fighters guild in Asylum would be the best place to hone your skills as a defender. There are many masters there who are willing to teach their skills in hopes that they may be bested by their students. The shield is mainly a defensive weapon but it has other uses. Knight Captain Martuk is Asylum's chief defender, Serna, perhaps if you choose to return to Asylum at some point, I am sure he would be able to teach you some maneuvers with the shield." The bronze man turned the corner and came to the corpse of the necromancer. To make sure the wizard did not return by other means, he cast Sacred Flame and the body was reduced to ash.

"Thank you for the invitation, Laz," Serna began, "But, I don't think I really want to return to Asylum. After all, who would be willing to teach a 'Disturber of the Peace' anything? No one in the Fighter's Guild I am sure. And I doubt Knight Captain Martuk would do it considering how he feels about both me and Neven. Thank you but no thank you."

Lazheros turned in her direction, "So you know what the title means then? There is a way for you to get it taken away but that's your choice, Serna."

Serna looked up at Lazheros, "It means that I'm an outlaw. And that no one will want to have anything to do with me. I'd rather be here, among friends, who like me and who want to be with me whether or not I am a Disturber of the Peace. You understand, don't you?"

*******

Dragolem face palmed and smacked the butt of the goat and it took off through the scrub brush, "Ride like a horse, Irzen. Don't speak it, just do it. This is embarrassing."

"No more embarrassing than you getting sucker-punched by The Jester and almost sent into orbit," The Swordsman laughed as he got his 'steed' under control, "Well, are you going to join me or are you just going to stand there and look impressive?"

"Just go! I'll be right behind you, Irzen!" Dragolem growled at him.

"As you wish," Irzen rode onward as the goat made its way through the brambles and brush.

Dragolem was able to run on all fours and keep up with Irzen and his new mount as they sped back across the valley towards the others. The draconian would pause occasionally to make sure they weren't headed into an ambush or surprised by scouting orc riders. There were none and it would seem that Captain Mandur and his fellow dwarves had done an excellent job holding the horde at bay.

Irzen, ever the expert horseman, matched his movements to that of the goat as he rode it across the valley and back to the others. The Swordsman thought it odd to be riding such an animal but then these were odd times.

*********

Eventually both Dragolem and Irzen made it back to the others entering the now empty village with a bunch of burnt corpses lying about.

Alyson turned to them as they approached, "I take it all is well with Danvald and his fellows?"

"What the hell happened here?!" The Swordsman exclaimed at all of the carnage he saw, "Was it the horde? Or something else? Or someone else?"