However, as he turned to leave, War Scribe seized Captain Irzen by his hand, "Whoa! Where do you think you're going, big guy? There is no way in the Nine Hells you're going stomping up and down this palace stinking the place up covered in Orc blood and guts. You're going to the baths straightaway!"

The kurori laughed out loud, "AHAHAHAHAHAHA! SCORE ONE FOR THE SILLY DROWLING!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!"

War Scribe just rolled her eyes as she sarcastically deadpanned, "Yay! I made the Fairy laugh."

The Chronicler turned back to the Princess and the Prince, "I'll be back in a minute once I've dropped him off in the baths."

In the blink of an eye, War Scribe and Irzen teleported away.

"Lili, you referred to Captain Irzen as a 'thing', Willow responded calmly, "This 'thing' as you call him may very well hold the key to our victory. But if you don't believe me as it pertains to Captain Irzen's mettle, why not trust the words of one of your own soldiers."

"I was referring to the head of the orc, Willow, not your friend as you call him. Forgive me but I am not comfortable enough to call him friend yet," Liliandra crossed her arms.

"Fair enough," Willow agreed, "Think of him as an ally then but please give him the opportunity to earn your friendship."

The Prince turned to Captain Andaerean who was walking by, "Captain Andaerean, can I have a moment of your time? Let me ask you this question and please speak honestly: How did the Drow acquit himself on the battlefield? Do you believe him to be a friend or a foe of our people?"

Captain Andaerean had finished stabling the horses when he was approached by the ranger, "The drow was exceptional on the battlefield, and had prior knowledge of the orc before engaging the thing to the death. I respect him as a battlefield officer and value his insight when dealing with an enemy on this scale. One soldier to another."

"Thank you, Captain," The Prince turned back to the Princess, "Lili, our list of allies is thin! We may need the help of many whom we do not call friend to win this war. Irzen and the rest of my friends did not come to our aid for gold nor glory nor fame. They came because I asked them to come. They came because they knew I would do no less for them if their lands were in jeopardy. We are beggars in this war, Lili, we cannot be too choosy about those whom we call friend if they are willing to fight with us."

War Scribe reappeared with a smile, "Well, I dumped Irzen in the palace baths where he is scrubbing himself free of the smell of dead Orc. So he should be good to go in an hour or two."

Then the Chronicler sighed at Princess Liliandra, closed her eyes and opened her arms, "Okay, if you're going to run me through or throw me off the parapet or blast me into oblivion or lop off my head for deceiving you, then I guess you better get started. I am at your mercy, Princess, do your worst."

Liliandra sighed, "Had the circumstances been different I might of put you in the dungeon, however, war has come to our lands. You may come and go as needed Chronicler."

"Wait!" War Scribe opened her eyes and stared at Liliandra, "You figured out that I am a Chronicler of Validor? I never told you that. How did you know?"

"You didn't have to tell me. All I had to do is listen to your friends and how they talked to you to figure out what you really were. A true friend is never questioned so harshly, and two Harlotta is NOT an Elvish name period. I know who Validor is and I have visited the Great Library but only a part of it doing my own research as part of my training to become a Sage." Liliandra replied coolly, "At some point, I would like to see the rest of the Great Library, and I was told that it would take several lifetimes to actually see only one forth of the library itself."

Liliandra looked around with a heavy heart, "You should get some rest, the city guards will take shifts throughout the night."

*******

The Bronze Man carried the elementalist back to the guest chambers and shut the door. With a heavy sigh, he had hoped that he would not encounter Barakas again. Setting Alyson down on the bed, he stepped back and grabbed a chair to sit down for a bit. "I wonder if Princess Liliandra might show us something in the archives here to help. To know the history of this city in particular could be a valuable asset."

The elementalist managed to sit up enough against the back of the bed, "Willow is a train wreck. What was he thinking asking us to create a FIRE WALL of that size??! When I encountered the Red Dragon, she was confused and in conflict with whoever she was merged with."

"Oh?" He raised an eye brow.

"Is it possible for a chromatic dragon to be good?"

He thought about it carefully, "I suppose but lets not be too hasty in presuming that even a Red Dragon could be good."

She stretched a little sliding into a more comfortable position, her eyes heavy from battle, "Go. Do what you can. I will be fine, and I will enjoy the peace and quiet."

Lazheros said nothing as he stood up and placed the chair back against the wall where he found it.

Stepping towards her, he left her with a gentle kiss before he departed.

*******

The bronze man walked to the healing room and helped the young acolytes with the soldiers that required an experience hand, setting broken bones, stitching up gashes and the like. Orc weapons aren't meant to slice but to cleave, maim, and crush. There was only so much that he could heal himself, or cast regeneration which would help the riders who didn't loose any limbs during the battle. It had been a long time since he'd seen battle himself, and now he and the others are dealing with one of Venger's former generals. When he was done he headed back to the princess to inform her that all the soldiers were on the mend and retired for the evening. "I bid you all good evening."