"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?"

"It's possible that one of them is merely taking a break from clean-up. You see, Tinker gnomes don't celebrate like the rest of us. They are always busy, busy, busy when tasked with a job. When they're not busy, they will come and join us at their leisure." Captain Lion pulled out his spy glass and handed it to Serna, "Why don't you see for yourself, young lady."

"Okay!" Serna peered through the spy glass and got a better look at a sight that completely astonished her, "Wait a minute! That's not a Tinker Gnome! That's War Scribe!"

"Who is War Scribe?" He glanced down with a odd look.

"She's a friend of ours," Serna lowered the spy glass and handed it back to Captain Lion, "War Scribe is a Drowling who is also a Chronicler of the Realm. She's stark raving nuts but she helps us out from time to time. I wonder what she is doing just sitting there. Alone?"

He took the spy glass and looked through it to see the chronicler and pondered, "Would you like to go and see her then? We can take a life boat out to there?"

"Sure, if you don't mind," Serna replied in earnest, "She's immortal and I know she can take care of herself. I'm just curious as to why she's sitting out there. And it won't take long, we can check on her and get back to the party in no time, okay?"

The airship captain pulled out a small whistle and blew into it. The high pitched noise signaled to his main ship to send one of the life boats, a modified version of a small sailing boat except that the sail was a solar panel and there where two more tinker gnomes piloting it. The life boat docked and a small plank was lowered to the balcony where they stood, "Young ladies first."

"Thank you," Serna stepped onto the small plank and quickly alighted onto the lifeboat.

Once aboard, the lifeboat sailed across and over the wall of the city down to the battle field where the chronicler was seen sitting down. Slowing down and coming to complete stop.

Before Serna and Captain Lion, War Scribe sat upon the ground in a complete stupor. The Drowling's eyes were glazed over and her body was covered head to toe in blood and guts as she sat upon the ground in a lotus position. The Chronicler had a distant stare as though she were viewing something just beyond the horizon.

"Um, War Scribe, what's wrong?" The Shield Maiden asked the Chronicler uncertainly, "Are you alright? Why are you sitting here?"

The only words that escaped War Scribe's lips was a barely audible whisper, "Thalack zhah ji ssin'urn!"

Serna turned to Captain Lion, "Do you know what she just said, sir? I can't speak Drow."

Translation: "War is so beautiful!"

He shrugged, "I'm not a mage. Besides flying an airship, I am what Alyson would call a Gunslinger. A ranged fighter using round projectiles fired from this."

He took out one of his guns and showed the Shield Maiden.

Serna gasped when she saw Captain Lion's gun, "Wait a minute! Are you from Earth?!"

"Yes from a time nearly nearly one hundred years before Madeous Khyng and his family came to the Realm." He replied.

"No way!" Serna shook her head in disbelief, "Captain Irzen, well at least the Human half of him, comes from Earth as well. Roughly around the same time as Alyson give or take a few decades. Wow! What a small Realm it is isn't it?"

"Hahaha! Let us return if War Scribe is lost in thought, Serna. I am sure the chronicler is quite capable of making an appearance with her resume." Captain Lion motioned to the tinker gnome at the helm and the life boat began to rise up once more.

**********

"Knowing Ash he has probably thanked everyone for their contributions to our war effort," Willow chuckled a little, "And knowing Birch he is either doing one of three things: Regaling everyone with a song or story about our momentous victory OR smoking that brand of Halfling's leaf he loves so much OR passed out drunk from too much wine and hard liquor. Take your pick!"

When they reached the banquet hall, both Willow and Yew could clearly see Birch passed out in a drunken stupor on the far side of the room. To their left were Captain Mandur, Alyson, Lazheros, Irzen and Dungeon Master.

"How about the third option you just mentioned, little brother." The horse lord quipped.

"I knew it was one of the three," Willow smiled, "Oh well, it's just Birch being Birch. I'll see to it that he makes his way back to Cauladra safe and sound before the end of this night. So, what are you planning to drink, big brother? I am looking to quench my thirst with some of our finest wine and then I'll introduce you to my friends."

"We shall both bring our brother back to Cauladra, Willow. You need not burden yourself to carry him back. Your friends can wait until we return." The horse lord said making his way over to Birch.

*********

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?"

There was a brief eerie silence from both Mandur and Alyson when Irzen asked him the question.

The bronze man set his drink down and gave the swordsman a hard stare, "No. Not even Alyson knows where it is. Your homeland is far easier to find if you ask the right person. However, I would be willing to part with something if it would stop you from asking that again."

Irzen held up both hands, "Easy, big guy, easy! It was just a proposal, nothing more. Okay, how about this idea? I would like a magical repeating crossbow that never runs out crossbow bolts. Do you have one in your lair that you would be willing to part with?"

"Aren't you a melee fighter, Irzen? Why the change?" The elementalist asked the swordsman.

Irzen just grinned at Alyson.

Taking a deep breath Lazheros studied the drow swordsman for a moment and said, "Why the change of heart, Lord Irzen? Alyson does have an interesting point. One would begin to question if you were truly a swordsman when asking for a magical ranged weapon. Perhaps, leading with that question instead of the first will get a better and less threatening response, hmm?"

"Perhaps I was testing you to see what your reaction would be, hmm?" Irzen grinned from ear to ear, "GOTCHA! Now the tester has become the tested!"

"Well played, swordsman," Lazheros admitted.

The Swordsman held up his hands once more, "But on a serious note, I decided to go with a magical repeating crossbow for two reasons: One, a range weapon would be handy to have considering the fact that we might lose our main user of range weapons--Prince Willow. Two, I decided to opt for a magical range weapon because I figured you would not give me my first choice--a Night Mare!"

Lazheros was about to take another drink of his ale and coughed, "You jest, swordsman. That is something I will not do, however, if you go to the Mages Guild in Port Thelmys I'm sure someone there would be able to grant your request. I don't deal with or summon fiends, I banish them."

"Fair enough!" Irzen laughed, "I suspected that would be your answer. So, you know what I want from our little game. What do you want from me should you win?"

Lazheros thought for a moment and replied, "When I asked Serna why you chose to be of two minds sharing one body, her reply was simple enough. So my request is to see the human half outside of the drow long enough to know both sides of your story."

"Impossible!" Irzen replied flatly, "It was Dungeon Master's magic that brought us together, only his magic can tear us apart. And since Dungeon Master is not here, I'm afraid you are completely out of luck.

"Not here? Of course I'm here. Nothing is impossible, Swordsman." The voice of Dungeon Master came from the table top.

"YAAAHHH!" Irzen jumped out of his seat and turned to confront the Gnome, "Dungeon Master, stop doing that! It is impolite to sneak up on people like that. Plus you come when you're not asked and heed us not when we call you! Don't tell me you just stopped by partake in our merry-making. I suspect you are here for another reason, aren't you?"

"All in due time, swordsman." Dungeon Master cracked a smile.

The bronze man and Mandur turned in the gnome's direction with a chuckle.

"Are you forgetting that I fight at range. You know, a Mage/Sorcerer here. Hello!" Alyson pointed out the obvious to the swordsman.

"You have been more the Dragon and less the Mage as of late, Alyson," The Swordsman confessed evenly, "And you are not always around. You spend more time with your boyfriend--even in battle--than you do with the rest of us these days."

Her eyes narrowed, "Well excuse me for living. You have no right to tell me that I harbor more than one spirit when there are two of you sharing a body. Who's the hypocrite now?!"

"I do not mind that you share a body with a Dragon, Alyson, I do mind that you are not always present when you are needed, "Irzen snapped his fingers, "And I just realized something, there is a way that you can speak to Sterling without undoing Dungeon Master's spell. Let me ask you this question, Laz, how good are you at navigating The Realm of Dreams?"

Dungeon Master folded his arms, "That won't be necessary Swordsman depending on who wins this friendly contest."

"Dungeon Master, you know as well as I do that if we are separated from each other for too long, it could kill us both," Irzen warned the Gnome before he turned to Lazheros, "Should you win, Cleric, you must make your conversation with my other half a quick one. Agreed?"

"There is one such place where The Guardian of Asylum will be able to see both of you together, swordsman and that is Between the Worlds, if you lose the contest. There and only there you shall both have some peace of mind to reflect on things that were, things that are, and things have yet come to pass." Dungeon Master informed the swordsman.

"I have never heard to this place," Irzen confessed, "But if Lazheros is willing to meet my other self there, then I will not object to it."

"Agreed." Lazheros grabbed his stein and refilled it, "So, Lord Irzen, game on?"

"Game on!" Irzen grabbed a nearby stein and filled it with Cannard, "Let's see how hollow your leg really is, Cleric, begin!"

After five rounds with Irzen in the lead, the dwarven fire water finally caught up with the bronze man. As he was about to take his last sip of his ale, everything suddenly went blurry and he face planted on the table top.

Dungeon Master face palmed when one of the Realm's legendary creatures was bested by one of the lesser races in a drinking contest. Mandur and his fellows got up and carried the bronze man out of the banquet hall all the way to their quarters down at the barracks.

While Alyson could only stare at the swordsman, "Damn."

"Consider yourself very lucky swordsman besting a dragon at a drinking contest. They don't forget and will find a way to repeat the contest better suited to their needs." Dungeon Master waved his hands in a particular manner and a heavy crossbow with unlimited ammo appeared in front of him on the table.

"As for your other request, seek out the Tinker Gnomes that came with Captain Lion on his airship. You find the way through that door." Dungeon Master pointed to the balcony where Serna went with Captain Lion.