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.

"Good morning, Alyson," The Shield Maiden waved back to the Elementalist.

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

"No! I didn't hear a thing." Serna replied honestly, "I was talking to Laz before I came to the baths. Were you attacked? Are you hurt?" The Shield Maiden caught a whiff of her friend and clamped her fingers over her own nose, "And why do you stink?!"

Caliaphy waded back over to the soaps and lathered herself all over really good, including her hair. After scrubbing every part thoroughly, the kurori went over and washed it all out. Satisfied, Caliaphy waded back over to Serna, "Umm, Alyson pranked me."

"Correction," Alyson finished drying herself off, "I got her back for all the times she left me with the blame when I was a kid, Serna. So, watch out for her tricks because when the going gets too tough, she'll hang you out to dry."

"Anyway, I'm done here. Catch up when you two can for some breakfast. I have a feeling it'll be a long time before we get another hearty meal like this," The elementalist left Serna and Caliaphy alone in the baths.

"Is that what you're going to do to me, Caliaphy?" Serna asked with some concern, "When things get tough, are you going to leave me out to dry the first chance you get?"

Caliaphy lowered her head in shame, "....I-I won't do that to you, Serna...at least not here or anywhere else in the Realm. Asylum is my home and it was easy for me to just bail and hide using magic. The Bronze Man wouldn't let Alyson use her magic, so...that gave me an unfair advantage on her. But you're a normal human with a magical shield to protect you. So, from here on out, I will stay by your side and help you out. I promise!"

"Okay!" Serna chirped with a smile, "Masha, my boss and the Head of Servants for the Palace of Deeping Dale, once told me 'You should always take people at their word until they break it.' So, I'm going to take you at your word until you break it. Deal?"

Caliaphy perked up with a smile extending her hand, "Deal." And followed through with a hug.

The Shield Maiden gave the Fairy a hug of her own before she said, "Now let's get cleaned up and get out of here. I'm getting hungry. How about you?"

****

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.

The Swordsman marched into the dining hall to see whether or not the Wood Elves had prepared the morning's breakfast for them. Irzen noticed some She-Elf Servants were in the process of moving food out onto a nearby table. So, the Swordsman decided to lean against the dining table and wait until they had finished setting everything up.

Alyson came back out into the hallway where Lazheros waited for her. Her stomach grumbled loudly, "Shall we?"

The bronze man walked side by side with the elementalist to the dining hall and saw the swordsman there.

"Good morning, you two!" Irzen declared with a friendly wave, "I hope the both of you had a good nights sleep. I know I did. Who knew the floor of an Elven bathhouse could be so comfortable?"

Alyson looked over at Lazheros and shrugged, "Each to their own," And turned to the swordsman, "How are you not pruney?"

"I think it has something to do with your physical form as a drow being resistant to the moisture of the Underdark?"

"You are correct!" Irzen grinned from ear to ear, "Plus I was born on an island surrounded by an underground sea. Moisture is a part of life in Naermon Nithren as much as the darkness. Simply put, pound for pound I have a tougher skin than you two do."

Lazheros raised an eye brow, "In this form, you have me beat on that regard, Lord Irzen."

As they talked the elven servants came out with a variety of food platters and drinks for Prince Willow's friends and allies. A few minutes later they returned through the same doors they came from.

The elementalist inhaled the smell of venison, fish, fruits and vegetables. "Should we wait for Willow and Princess Liliandra?"

"It would be good manners if we did," The Swordsman admitted, "However, I hope they don't take too long. I'm getting hungrier by the minute and that food looks oh so good!"