Captain Lion nodded to the ranger and spotted the shield maiden, "So you are the one who aided the loremaster, Arlhenwe in the undercroft, young lady?"

"Yes, sir," Serna smiled, "It was me. But I wasn't alone. I had help from Caliaphy, she's a fairy from Asylum. Together with Arlhenwe we were able to raise the wards and protect the cities."

"A fairy, young lady?" Captain Lion smoothed out his mustache, "Well now, where is this fairy that I might see her?"

"The Bronze Man banished her because she refused to behave herself after we completed our mission," Serna confessed, "She decided to engage in some mischief making and was unapologetic about it. So, she got banished. But don't worry, you can see her tomorrow. That is when her banishment will end."

"Banished her?" Captain Lion nodded with approval, "Well, I suppose it was justified in that regard, young lady, however, not all mischief is one sided."

"True," Serna confessed, "And when she returns tomorrow morning, you can get her side of the story. So, how did you and your people get here so fast, Captain Lion?"

The airship captain offered a hand to the shield maiden, "Perhaps it is best I show you the ship I came in on, young lady. Then you shall a tale to tell others you meet in your journey."

"Okay!" Serna chirped as she allowed Captain Lion to lead her away from the gathering.

Captain Lion lead Serna up to the next floor and out to the balcony where his airship was docked next to the highest tower. Instead of sails there was a one massive balloon that was filled with gas allowing the ship to fly through the skies instead of in the water. "Well, what do you think?"

"WWWOOOOWWW!" Serna gasped in complete disbelief, "I've been on an airship once before--when my friends and I escaped The Black City--but nothing like this one. Where are the sails? How do you catch the wind? How does it stay aloft? Do you use magic or what?"

"The large balloon is filled with a special kind of gas that holds the ship afloat. Most of the inner workings of the ship is clockwork and gears with a bit of alchemy thrown in the mix. The only magic aboard the ship are the Tinker Gnomes and all their constructs, which you can see are repairing and cleaning up the battlefield in the distance." Captain Lion pointed out for Serna.

"A gas lighter than air?!" The Shield Maiden shook her head is pure disbelief, "That's pretty incredible." Serna looked off into the distance, "And those Tinker Gnomes work pretty fast. Wait a minute! Is there someone out on the battlefield just sitting there? One of your people mayhaps?"

**********

Prince Willow followed the servant back to the throne room of the king.

When the ranger entered, he could see his father and his brother, Yew, prince of Westfall.

"Willow!" Yew turned to see him come in and embraced him, "Thank you! Thank you for defending Westfall and aiding my wife when our hour was most desperate. My only regret was that I could not be there myself. Instead, my over-confidence got the better of me and the enemy overwhelmed my company."

"Yew!" Prince Willow embraced his older brother warmly, "It is good to see you on your feet. And you need neither thank me for defending Westfall nor for aiding Liliandra. We are kin are we not? And what I did is what kin does for each other in their time of need!"

Yew went quiet as the memories from his imprisonment came up to the surface again. Closing his eyes he calmed down and looked back at Willow, "Father has told me everything. I am glad that you came back home with allies when we needed them the most. Willow, will you stay home now? I have missed the company of my brother, as Ash and Birch have."

"And I have missed your company as well, brother!" Willow confessed, "And Ash and Birch and father's company too! And while I have few reasons to continue my leave-taking, with all that has been going on, I have yet to decide upon whether I would stay or go. Simply put, I have not seriously thought about what I want to do next."

"I was hoping that you would stay for awhile at least, Willow," Yew placed a hand on the ranger's shoulder, "for old times sake. Then if you choose to leave and rejoin your friends, Ash, Birch and myself would understand. Now I know telling tales of high adventure is not your area of expertise but consider what father could learn of the outside world beyond our borders to prevent anything else from happening?"

"When did you get to be so wise?" Willow gave Yew a quizzical look with a sly grin, "Methinks you've been listening to Liliandra as of late. You know she is smarter than the both of us put together, don't you?"

"Ah, well," Yew started to say, "having my life flash before my eyes and the thought of having our homeland flattened and conquered by the horde came to mind."

The Ranger chuckled before he got serious, "But you make a good point brother. True, our father could use what I have learned from the outside world to prevent something like this from happening again. And true, it would be good to stay home for awhile for old times sake. But there is another reason, a deeper reason, why I should stay awhile."

"That my son is up to you. I have come to respect what you did and why you did it despite my misgivings years ago. You've grown wise in your travels, fought many foes, and returned to help defend the kingdom." King Sunrider told his youngest.

Willow looked at both his father and his brother, "Ash, Birch, you and I are the Sons of Sunrider! That means something to our people. It means hope. It means order. I means continuity. It means that regardless of what happens either today or tomorrow, there will always be an Elven king--born of our bloodline--sitting upon The Mahogany Throne! This knowledge provides both aid and comfort to our people. Two things which they will need as they try to rebuild their lives and as we try to rebuild our kingdom."

Prince Willow sighed, "When we stand before our people with our father upon the throne and the four of us flanking him, our people take great solace in knowing that their king is not only with them but that their princes stand with them as well. We are the Sons of Sunrider, Tenth of his name, we are a symbol of their hope for not only today but also for a brighter tomorrow. Therefore, I will stay."

Yew gave Willow a nod, "Thank you, little brother. It will be good to be in your company after these long years."

Willow held up his hands, "But only until our land is healed and our reconstruction is complete. Our people need us to be a family--a whole family--again! And while my head tells me that my duty as prince lies here with you now, my heart longs for the open road. This may not be the answer that you want to hear, father, brother, but this is where I stand. What say you?"

Sunrider took a deep breath and said, "I cannot make you stay, Willow, however would you consider spending equal time with your friends and with your family and kin? You are of royal blood, a prince and no longer in exile, perhaps in certain instances you could rally those in need of aid when the time arises."

"I find those terms agreeable, father," Willow replied evenly, "I would be more than happy to split my time betwixt my family and my friends. But since I have spent so much time with my friends, it is only fair that I now spend some time with my family. So, with that said, what is thy bidding, father? What would you ask of your son and prince?"

King Sunrider placed both hands upon Willow's shoulders, "Go. Be with your friends, you have truly earned it, my son. Yew, go with him. I will be along in a bit."

"As you wish, father," Prince Willow bowed before he departed with Prince Yew. While they walked towards the party, Willow asked his older brother, "How do you fare? Are you recovering well from your injuries?"

*********

While they were in the banquet hall, Irzen and Birch were among the troops celebrating their victory and literally trying to drink each other under the table.

"Lord Drow, I have never heard of this vintage called Cannard!" Birch settled himself near a table amidst the revelry of the Elven and Dwarven soldiers, "Is this a delicacy where you are from?"

Irzen offered the prince his wineskin full of the hard liquor, "I assure you, your highness, there is nothing delicate about Cannard. Try some and see for yourself."

"As you wish!" Birch threw his head back and took a long swig of the liquid until he had his fill. "YE GODS! This concoction has a kick to it! You Drow make strong stuff! This Cannard burns like fire all the way down! My eyes--my eyes are watering like a pool of glistening rain! And my head, my head feels like an anvil hammered by a thousand blacksmiths using tiny hammers!"

Irzen broke out into a raucous laugh.

"Do you have more?" The Prince asked with a silly grin.

Mandur came over upon hearing the raucous laughter at their end of the banquet hall refilling his stein with ale. He knew where this was going and took a wager on how long he would fare before he passed out.

"Plenty!" Irzen grinned from ear to ear as he pulled out another wineskin, "Drink up, your highness, there's plenty where that came from."

The hill dwarf sat down near a table with his fellows watching the bardic prince drink down another wineskin of Cannard. "Da lad has lare idea yir'th about oz happen!"

translation:: "The lad has no idea what's about to happen!"

Birch eagerly took the second flask and began to drink his fill. Once he was done, the Prince turned towards the Swordsman, "You know what, Lord Drow, I think I'm beginning to acquire a taste for this vintage."

Irzen turned towards Mandur and gave him a knowing glance with a mischieveous smile.

Mandur and his fellows burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha!"

The Prince also began to stumble to his feet, "And I feel a song coming on!"

"You don't say!" The Swordsman laughed.

Alyson and Lazheros clearly hear the raucous laughter emanating out from the banquet hall and entered to see Prince Birch in a drinking contest.

After Birch warily rose to his feet, the Elven Prince broke out into a little song and dance that brought silence to the entire room.

On, Moli ol, moli ol, casaer tyl
Iar ail si mia;
Ai eil's car bai jhylol'
Moli Eidor, Balesia, Beli os Belia.
Myrn sosti, eil's bai sosti sai mae
Orys eil myl;
Mai moli ol, moli ol, casaer tyl,
Thys ti eil tia kar.

When he was done, Serna began to clap for him as did the rest of the assemblage. In response, Prince Birch began to take a series of bows and then--mid-bow--he promptly passed out and nearly fell flat on his face before Irzen caught him.

Dragging the unconscious prince over to a nearby chair, the Swordsman plopped him into it and turned to the others, "Eat, drink and make merry everyone! The good prince need only rest a little after entertaining us! I fear his Cannard got the better of him!"

Some of the party broke out into laughter as Irzen returned to drinking his rare vintage.

Translation:

Oh, Shine on, shine on, harvest moon
Up in the sky;
I ain't had no lovin'
Since April, January, June or July.
Snow time, ain't no time to stay
Outdoors and spoon;
So shine on, shine on, harvest moon,
For me and my gal.

"Not bad. Not bad at all, Alyson." Lazheros commented on the bardic prince's song.

She shrugged, "I agree but I prefer your songs over his."

"And that is why you are the only who shall hear them." He smiled and let her go ahead of him.

Making their way over to the swordsman and the hill dwarves, Alyson went over and filled a cup of wine for herself, while Lazheros sat down with Mandur. He reached in his robe and pulled out a stein and filled it with dwarven ale.

Alyson could only stare at him, "Uh, since when do you drink ale, Lazheros?"

"Dwarven ale and only dwarven ale when the occasion is right," The bronze man drank half of it down with a grin.

"Like winning a war, mayhaps?" Irzen smiled at Lazheros and Alyson, "You two did well today. Had you both not been there, I fear the outcome of our struggle would have been less certain. Thanks!"

Alyson rolled her eyes, "You afraid? That's a new one and my uncle didn't need to come after all."

"A pity," Irzen lamented, "I would have liked to have seen your uncle again. I rather enjoyed his company the last time we met."

"You did just fine with the aid I was able to provide to everyone on the battlefield, swordsman. We eliminated two of Venger's warmongers and that should put a dent in his forces for a long while." The bronze man refilled his stein for the third time.

The elementalist sat down next to Lazheros, "So, how's your constitution, Irzen versus Lazheros's constitution?"

Irzen laughed, "My constitution is better than yours, Alyson, and I would wager even better than your boyfriend now that he is working on this third ale. What are you driving at, Elementalist? Why ask such a question?"

"I had my fill of getting drunk in college. No thanks. Anyway I propose a simple drinking contest your Cannard vesus Dwarven Fire Water, or Ale." Alyson leaned back against the edge of the table, "Are you up for the challenge?"

Lazheros raised his stein a little, "Surely someone of your caliber with a drink as potent as Cannard would accept a friendly challenge, Lord Irzen."

"Oh, I'm up for the challenge," Irzen smiled, "But I say let's make our game a little more interesting by adding some stakes. If I win our drinking game, Lazheros, you will show me your lair. If you win, I will show you Naermon Nithren. A trip to your home and a trip to my home are at stake. What do you say, Cleric?"