"Ye gods, Captain Lion, what an OUTSTANDING idea!" Prince Birch nearly leapt from his seat but barely kept his composure--barely, "We have travelled by sea and by land, NOW, we shall travel by air!" With a distant and wistful look in his eye, Prince Birch seemed almost as if he was speaking to himself, "Ah! My muse speaks to me with words that are on the tip of my mind. I feel a poem coming on!"
The airship captain turned to the shield maiden now, "Young lady, have you considered my offer?"
"I have, Captain Lion," Serna looked up at the airship captain, "And while I do consider your offer a generous one, I'm afraid that I must decline." Looking over at her companions, The Shield Maiden added, "These people are not just my friends, they are my family too! And whether they are here like Prince Willow or in Asylum like Neven or on the road to another part of The Realm, there is a bond of fellowship that I have with them that I am not ready to part with. I hope you understand, Captain Lion, I have a family--and they are right here with me."
"Ah, I see. Well then," He kept a straight face, "I bid you and your friends safe travels, young lady."
"I'm sorry, Captain Lion, I really am," Serna replied with a hint of disappointment on her face.
"Prince Birch, my airship is ready to sail and I shall await you there," Captain Lion gave the royal family one last courtly bow and left for his airship.
Alyson could feel the disappointment in his eyes when Serna declined his offer and sighed. ~ Maybe someday Captain Lion and his wife will find the little girl to raise..~
The Bronze Man bowed once more before ushering Alyson, Serna, and Caliaphy out of the throne room, "Lord Irzen, are you still planning on staying with the group or are you parting ways as well?"
"I'm planning on joining you," Lord Irzen replied, "But, as I recall, the king asked to speak with me alone should we emerge victorious from this war. Now that we have, I will honor the king's request. If you can wait until I return, then I will be more than happy to join the rest of you guys."
Mandur had given his full report in detail to King Sunrider and his sons regarding everything on the previous battle with the horde. He and his fellows were quietly waiting in the hallway when Lazheros, Alyson, Serna and Caliaphy came over, "Ah, Grand Cleric, taking your leave finally of this arduous event?"
"From Northaven, yes. As for the rest of the journey, we shall see where the path leads," Lazheros told him.
"How about you, Captain Mandur," Serna asked somewhat sheepishly, "What are you going to do now? And where are you going to go next?"
"Well, lass, my fellows and I will be returning to the Southern Valley to resume our mining business again," Mandur stroked his thick beard but I would be glad to keep your company until we part ways."
The king stood up from his throne and gestured towards the swordsman, "Lord Irzen, I wish to speak with you before your departure. Please follow me."
********
Sunrider walked towards the door to the left as the guards opened it to another balcony overlooking the surrounding lands. Once there, he waited quietly for Irzen to approach him, "I will be honest with you, Lord Irzen, our dark and fallen cousins of the Underdark have a long and bitter history, therefore my initial reaction was to have you imprisoned upon arrival. And yet you proved me wrong with the loyalty and friendship of my youngest son, Prince Willow. You are rare among your kin, Lord Irzen and so, I grant you free passage throughout my entire kingdom with this seal, should any of my kin question as to why a drow dares to walk these lands."
Sunrider, tenth of his name, produced a signet ring with his seal upon it to Irzen, "Know this, Lord Irzen, while in my kingdom, the ring shall shine true, elsewhere it is just a simple ring of no significant value. Your skills as a warmaster have given me pause and insight. Go now, my friend as you travel the Realm, and Prince Willow may yet return to the company of his friends."
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