"I agree!" Serna laughed as the two of them headed towards the dining hall. As they walked, the Shield Maiden suddenly broke into a sprint leaving Caliaphy behind, "Race you there!"

****

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!"

After some time, the Princess entered followed by her handmaidens and royal guards who stood on either side as she entered. "I want to thank you for all that you have done, for aiding Willow and the people of Westfall stand against a terrible foe. My husband, Prince Yew is still recovering from his ordeal. Please, eat, drink, and accept our hospitality while we seek to rid this enemy of our lands once and for all."

"Thank you, your Highness, and you're welcome! We are more than happy to help," Irzen gave a curt bow, "And good morning! I am glad that your husband is doing better. And a meal would be good right about now. I for one am quite hungry."

The Swordsman walked over to the table, seized a platter and began to place food upon it before he sat down to eat.

The bronze man nodded graciously to the princess allowing Alyson to go ahead of him. When he read Princess Liliandra's thoughts, she seemed very concerned for her husband's current state of mind. Physically healed but his mind...broken. He kept it to himself for now.

Alyson followed behind Irzen and filled a plate of food for herself and sat down.

"Mind if I cut in line?" War Scribe popped up literally in front of Lazheros, grabbed a platter and began to fill it with food, "I hope you don't mind. Ladies first after all."

"One would question if you were a lady, chronicler," The bronze man said in a hushed tone enough for War Scribe to hear filled a plate of food and drink for himself.

"Drowlings are all women, Lazheros," War Scribe hissed back with a vicious smile, "But we are rarely ladies!"

"Apparently," The bronze man deadpanned, "That remains to be seen..."

Irzen heard it sure enough with his sharp ears and did his best to stifle a laugh.

The Drowling turned to The Princess, "Good morningtide, your Highness, I hope all is well with you this day? Your husband is recovering well, I trust?"

The princess shook her head, "Just because you are a chronicler and your skill set requires you to record for Validor, doesn't mean you can just teleport wherever you please. A simple appearance would suffice, or perhaps asking to join instead assuming that you're above the law."

"Forgive me, your Highness," War Scribe apologized, "This is merely a trick I like to play on my friends."

Irzen coughed hard.

"Allies." War Scribe corrected herself.

Irzen coughed less hard.

"Associates?" War Scribe smiled sheepishly.

Irzen gave a small cough.

"Acquaintances?!" War Scribe concluded uncertainly.

Irzen remained silent and gave War Scribe a 'thumbs up'.

The elementalist stifled a giggle.

The kurori trotted in past the elementalist who was sitting down at one of the smaller tables and over to the food. The smell of sweet fruits beckoned Caliaphy over.

Serna came racing into the room and saw Caliaphy was busy making her way over to the food table.

"Wait a minute!" The Shield Maiden huffed as she caught her breath, "How did you get here before me?"

"Teeeheehehee!" Caliaphy bragged, "I just did a mad dash without flying cuz' I'm that good.

"Uh huh!" Serna huffed as she walked over to the table, picked up a plate and began to retrieve some food.

Lazheros turned around with his food and joined Alyson but before he did he gave the kurori a look of 'don't do that again.'

"What did I do?" Caliaphy shrugged.

"Small one, you have a tendency to cheat," The bronze man sipped his tea again, "..a...lot."

"Hmph!" The kurori flicked her wings at the bronze man as if to insult him as she strode past.

Serna giggled a little as she got her food and prepared to seat herself.