Irzen strode through the doorway and gave Alyson a smile before he rejoined the others at the table, "Greetings all, how goes the festivities? What's been happening while I've been indisposed?"

The bronze man sipped his tea quietly at first, "The ranger and the shield maiden left to talk in private again. You will have to wait and see when they return."

"Fair enough," Irzen made his way over to Lazheros and plopped himself down right beside him, "Say, you're not harboring any ill will towards me because I drank you under the table are you?"

The elementalist stood up from her seat and gave Irzen a hard stare, "You need to shut now, or the one with current bragging rights won't mean a damn thing."

Mandur also got up from his seat across the table while his fellows remained seated, "I would heed the words of the elementalist, Lord Irzen. Not only did you win said contest but you became an embarrassment to everyone else here."

The Crown Prince and the Horse Lord merely observed the conversation at a respectable distance.

Lazheros looked the swordsman eye to eye, "Harboring a grudge, no. I will forget that I was drunk under the table by a lesser race, Swordsman. Consider yourself fortunate in that regard and while Alyson would rather send you flying out the window for the obnoxious display earlier, she will not."

"Thank you, Lazheros, I greatly appreciate the fact that you bear me no ill will," The Swordsman rose from his seat and turned towards Alyson, "And I wish to apologize to you for my boorish behavior earlier this evening. It was more the Cannard talking than me. However, I have enough sense to know when my company is neither welcome nor wanted, I shall bid all of you a good eventide."

Mandur nodded, "Apology accepted."

"Thank you, Mandur, you're a good guy with a forgiving heart," With that said, the Drow Swordsman left the room and headed out of the dining hall into the cool, crisp night air.

"Well, I'd say Irzen is in the top three for the most drunkenness. You have the Angry Irish drunk, the Rude French drunk, and now the extremely obnoxious Drow drunk." The elementalist sat back down next to the bronze man.

Without fanfare, both Serna and Willow returned to the room a little sullen but in good spirits.

"What did we miss?" The Shield Maiden chirped trying to lighten the mood.

The bronze man turned around in his seat, "Lord Irzen returned from his stupor as it were. On a side note, I do not recommend getting into a drinking contest whilst visiting another kingdom. Armendes would concur on the bad manners of a certain drow swordsman a few hours past. So, child, were able to discuss what you needed to with the ranger?"

"I did," Serna replied before she studied Lazheros, thought for a minute and then surmised, "Let me guess, you got into a drinking contest with Lord Irzen and you lost, didn't you?"

The bronze man raised an eye brow, "What matters is that one was bested by another and leave it at that. Now my question for you Serna, did you accept Captain Lion's offer?"

"You did! You did lose to Captain Irzen!" The Shield Maiden laughed, "I know you lost because you're trying to change the subject. How in The Realm did you lose to him?! Does Captain Irzen have a hollow leg or what?"

Alyson added, "In a way, I'm glad you weren't here to listen to the boorish attitude from Irzen, Serna. He was becoming more and more obnoxious. So how would Baroness Meleranti have dealt with a guest who got drunk and unruly in the palace?"

"The Baroness would do what she always does when guests got drunk and unruly," Serna replied without hesitation, "She would have The Chamberlain spike the guest's drink with knockout drops. Then when they passed out, she would have us Servants carry the guest to their room for the night or to their coach so they could be taken home."
The Shield Maiden added with a sly grin, "The Baroness was always good about not causing a scene and wanted everyone at her parties to have a good time--in spite of the fact that some guests would come down with 'fainting spells'."

********

Prince Yew having arrived late and after the battle for his homeland, wandering through the same doors where the Swordsman went.

"So Willow says you've traveled with him outside of Northaven. How did you cross paths with my brother?" The Horse Lord asked him.

Irzen turned to face Prince Yew, "Yes, your Highness, your brother and I did meet outside of Northaven. We met on the road to the city of Deeping Dale by way of Stormhaven far to the south of these lands. Prince Willow was accompanying Alyson at the time and I joined them to offer my sword since all he had was his bow at the time and Alyson her magicks. We made a good team and had many great adventures together. The prince saved my life more times than I can count and I did as much for him as well."

"I confess, I am a little envious of Willow in that regard. While I rule with Liliandra in Westfall, I don't get much time to see other kingdoms like he has. Even Ash is in the same situation as I am, and Birch, well, he is a free spirit and follows the winds of inspiration to record in his tales." The Horse Lord walked up next to Irzen and gazed out over the land.

"I admit I will never know the full weight of what it means to rule a kingdom," The Swordsman replied, "Before I became a Mercenary Captain, I was both a Nobleman and an Arms Merchant among my people. While I was born into nobility I was never born into royalty. For generations, my family's wealth came from the sale of arms not from holding lands."

"So then what I've heard from traders and merchants who wandered to and from the Underdark was true on that regard, Lord Irzen." Prince Yew said.

Irzen spread his arms wide towards the land, "What you have here is both a beautiful and wonderful thing. You rule a part of the Realm in which nature and Elfkind are in harmony. You, your brothers, your wives and your father have much to be proud of in all that you have here."

"If you had the chance to make a living up here on the surface, would you take your family with you? Could you forgive those who descended from those sided against the original dark elves corrupted by Lolth? My father believes it is folly for me thinking like this," He sighed staring at the stone floor, "maybe he is right, maybe he's not."

"Yes!" Irzen replied honestly, "I could forgive those ancient grudges if I, in turn, were forgiven the offenses my people have committed against you Surface Elves. And yes, I could see myself making a living as an Arms Merchant on the Surface World. And I would bring my son as well. He, like me, is an explorer and arms merchant who would relish the challenge of exploring new lands and finding new markets for selling our family's arms."

"My daughter would not join us!" The Swordsman sighed as he looked at the floor, "She would remain in The Underdark and run our family business from there. She has too much of her mother in her. She clings to the old ways like a child clings to a much-loved toy. She does not nurse the ancient grudges which exist betwixt our peoples--she harbors them!"

The Swordsman turned to face The Horse Lord, "The Realm outside of these lands can be harsh at times. It can make allies of enemies as it did in the case of your brother and I. Prince Willow and I knew that we needed each other to survive in The Realm, and so, we buried our differences and worked together to keep ourselves and our friends alive. Your brother is a good Archer, an excellent Ranger and an even better friend."

Filled with hope again, the Horse Lord looked back towards the Swordsman, "The best in the kingdom entire. Birch is good but he's not that good when it comes to long distance archery no matter how much he says he is."

"That may be so, your Highness, but I have seen your brother, Prince Birch, in battle," The Swordsman confessed, "He is a grandmaster with the sword. You know, I have faced many Swordsmen in my time. I have yet to remember anyone whom I fought that I thought could be your brother's equal. And forgive me for saying so, but he is every bit as good as your brother, Prince Ash, if not better with the blade."

Irzen added, "I, too, fancy myself a Swordsman. I am a very good one in fact. But I will say this in all honesty: I would not want to face your brother, Prince Birch, in a sword fight. Not. At. All."