Liliandra sighed waiting for Willow to start eating as it was custom among the wood elves and started with her own meal. "It was a simple question concerning you, Willow by merely asking how you met them. Sadly it did not go the way it was intended."

"Things with my friends seldom go as intended, Lili," The Prince admitted reluctantly, "They seldom do."

The Bronze Man moved down a seat from Irzen giving him space from the heated conversation only moments before. He sat there quietly eating his fish until it was gone.

Irzen also sat in silence eating his meal. The food was good and helped him to calm down quite a bit. By the time he was finished eating, the Swordsman was in a more civil frame of mind.

Lazheros glanced down the table to where Alyson had moved to and smiled softly sipping his tea. He watched as Caliaphy and Serna kept her company rather than the others. He also knew, she preferred the company of children rather than adults. He would stay to aid Prince Willow and his people battle Gruumasht. The matter of Alyson having to deal with another piece of the Crimson Dragon armor was another matter entirely.

Finally finishing his meal, Irzen turned towards Princess Liliandra, "You said that you wish to talk of war this morning, your Highness. What would you like to discuss?"

"Please give me a few more minutes, Lord Irzen," Liliandra nodded to the swordsman, "I would like all of us to finish our morning meal first."

"As you wish, your Highness," Irzen conceded as he waited for the others to finish their meals.

At the far end of the table the elementalist had finished her meal and slowly sipped her drink. She glanced to either side of her and saw both Serna and Caliaphy sitting there giving her support. Breathing deeply, she calmed herself back to normal burying the Black Witch deep down. She opened her eyes and the light returned once more. "Thanks you two. Thanks for being there."

"Alyson, you got really scary but as long as you remember being silly, you're okay by me." The kurori smiled giving her a hug.

"Me too!" The Shield Maiden smiled and gave The Elementalist a warm hug as well, "We're all friends here and looking out for each other is what we do."

The elementalist expected a hug from Caliaphy but not from the shield maiden. She sat there stunned for a second by wrapping her arms around both of them in group hug.

Lazheros sat back in his chair watching the three of them embracing each other for comfort. He simply observed the shared kindness between them and smiled.

Irzen took note of the love fest at the end of the table and smiled as well. Willow also took note and nodded his head in silent agreement.

****

Meanwhile, War Scribe was still being dragged towards the palace gates as she protested, "Unhand me! I have Bardic Immunity!"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as the guards promptly pushed the chronicler out through the gates to the palace. A magical barrier came down preventing her from entering, "By order of Princess Liliandra you are no longer welcome. You may traverse through the city but the palace is off limits to you."

War Scribe laughed as she dusted herself off, "Have no fear, good sirs, the Princess will be begging me to return soon enough. She needs every available asset she can find to win this war and I just so happen to be one of them. You'll see!"

One of the guards posted at the palace gates looked directly at her, "Maybe the princess does and does not but that's not our call. So be off with you!"

"Fine!" The Drowling stuck her tongue out at the Palace Guardsmen, "WHEN the Princess needs me, she can find me at The Evergreen Tavern. Until then, good day to you, sir!"

With a dismissive whip of her hair, War Scribe stormed off towards a nearby alley, ducked into it and came out of it as Lady Harlotta.

War Scribe laughed, "Now I'm good to go! I don't have to worry about anyone accusing me of working for the enemy or trying to kill me BEFORE I can do my job. I can blend in and no on will be the wiser. Validor would be pleased."

On that note, the Drowling casually stolled along the promenade to The Evergreen Tavern where she would regal the patrons with tales of her travels.