The Shield Maiden stormed into the baths just as the Swordsman was leaving them clad in a long white Elven robe.

"Good morning, Serna. How goes it?"

"It goes," The Shield Maiden walked past him without even looking at him and into the baths closing the door behind her.

"What was that about?" Irzen asked shaking his head before he decided to listen to his stomach and follow his nose to the kitchens so he could get something to eat.

Serna dropped her shield, quickly disrobed and promptly jumped into the nearest hot bath she could find all without missing a step.

The Shield Maiden took her time both to calm down and to cleanse herself. Although she had to admit that the baths were lovely and this was exactly what she needed.

***

Alyson walked back in the palace with a very wet kurori that looked more like a cat who gotten a bath against her will. Caliaphy hung in sheer defeat defiantly with her arms still crossed with the biggest fat lip she could produce as they approached Lazheros looking out over the balcony.

"Alyson was MEAN to me, Bronze Man!" The kurori protested.

The bronze man looked in their direction and burst out laughing, "Hahahahaha! I see Alyson has bested you finally!"

"But--"

"I warned you several times Caliaphy, not to underestimate her." He calmed down enough gesturing towards the baths, "You will find Serna there."

"It shouldn't take too long giving this one a real bath, so she smells normal again," The elementalist smirked. ~The look on her face was priceless.~

Alyson continued on towards the baths with Caliaphy passing the swordsman on the way there, "You look better, Irzen."

"Thanks, I feel better too!" The Swordsman continued on towards the kitchens, "I'll see you guys later. Breakfast calls. By the way, what is that ungodly smell?"

"Oh? I gave Caliaphy here loooooooooong over due payback for all the times she bailed on me back in Asylum when I visited during the summer time." Alyson stepped to the side. "She smells of horse crap but when you came back from the battle field last night, you...you ah took the award for being ripe."

"If you say so," Irzen responded flatly.

"THIS isn't OVER!" Caliaphy protested again.

"I think War Scribe would approve of my method of payback, eh? See you in a bit, Irzen." The elementalist laughed again as they walked to the baths.

"Well, this thing you two have got going on sounds like a personal beef to me," The Swordsman concluded as he walked off, "As far as I'm concerned, my name is Bennett and I'm not in it. I will see you two at breakfast, ciao!"

*****

The elementalist entered through the door of the baths with a firm grip on a disgruntled kurori. With one hand she undressed Caliaphy and dropped her into the pool with a splash. "There, now you can get cleaned up, my little friend."

"Hmph!" The kurori huffed.

"Good morning, Serna." Alyson waved to the shield maiden and went over to wash herself off of the mud and stink from chasing Caliaphy throughout the palace.

"Serna, didn't you hear me?" Caliaphy waded over to the shield maiden, "I was hoping you would of come to my aid."

****

Lazheros had followed Alyson with Caliaphy half way down to the baths and stopped as he saw Irzen pass by them. A drow among all these wood elves must be quite a sight for Willow's kin. He watched the Swordsman head to the dining hall where everyone had met last night before the enemy crashed the gathering.