"So which way should we go?" Quake hummed and hawed to no one in particular.

"I was thinking we should go and check on Baroness Meleranti," Irzen replied honestly, "It's been awhile and I would like to check up on her. Unless someone has a better idea."

"Okay. Ah, let's go around Storm Haven instead of through it because I don't want to be spotted or seen by the people there in case one of Venger's lackeys is lurking about." The elementalist told him.

"You mean you don't want to go through Storm Haven because you are afraid that they might try and make you their leader again." Irzen corrected Alyson with a knowing grin, "You know, you're pretty unique, Alyson. I've never met someone who is so quick to run from power."

"I entered the Realm just outside of Storm Haven and met up with Esme, another person from Earth who disappeared, or maybe found a way back to Earth, who knows. When she left, I was neck deep in learning what the Dunamon's were really planning and got the hell out of there after acquiring the Eye of Saffron, traveling one thousand years into the past, meeting a younger version of the Gareth, the druid and met Willow." Alyson paused and took a deep breath before continuing and found out the ear shattering way why War Scribe can't die. I didn't ask to be their leader, I just happened to be there when they needed help that's all which is why I left the reins with the Mayor instead."

"What about flying over the city, high enough to avoid--," The platinum knight started to say until Quake cut him off.

"NOPE! NOPE! NOPE! You won't get me off the ground again!" The fire-stone dragon reared up suddenly.

"Why not go underground?" Caliaphy suggested.

"Into the Underdark?" The Swordsman raised an eyebrow before he shook his head, "That is a bad idea for more reasons than I can count. We're better off going a league or two around Storm Haven than traversing the Underdark to get to Deeping Dale."

"We could go underground but not as deep as the Underdark but I would rather stay above ground this time. It was wayyyyyyyy too creepy any where near Storm Haven with a black gate buried deep in the old tunnels under that city." Quake shuddered.

"A black gate beneath the city?" Irzen raised an eyebrow on this one.

"The short, short version, the Dunnamon's a.k.a. were two upper level demons trying to bring the Nameless One back to the Realm by sacrificing all the citizens of Storm Haven in one massive ritual. We met Willow, War Scribe, and Gareth. We stole the Eye of Saffron from the bad guys and well, the Lady reached out and made a long-distance-phone-call and left a message. Uh, then horn head showed up and we won. At least, the Lady admitted she was out of her league when she arrived outside the city." Quake's huge form shuddered.

"WOW! That's pretty desperate when you have to call upon The Dark Lord for help." Irzen shook his head in pure disbelief.

Madeous surveyed the region, "Then we go around. Perhaps back up along the coast towards Eastport then cut across the plains along the northern pass through the Shimmerhorn Mountains to Deeping Dale."

"A sound idea, Madeous and I would rather not venture towards Storm Haven either but rather keep along the coast line." The bronze man nodded in agreement.

"Okay! I have to ask the question," Irzen turned to both Madeous and Lazheros, "I understand why Alyson wants to avoid Storm Haven like the plague, but why do you two want to avoid that city?"

"Storm Haven is too modern of a city here in the Realm for my liking with its very dark history being so close to Venger's territory." The Bronze Man replied.

The Platinum Knight studied the Swordsman for a moment and replied, "I do not want to attract any unnecessary attention concerning both Alyson and myself. I have a great deal of renown with the people of the Realm itself, however, it only takes one to open their mouth for the spies of Venger to hear and report to him."

"Point taken!" Irzen admitted somewhat reluctantly, "So, we're off to Eastport! Hey! Would anybody like to drop in on Prince Birch and say hello! I'm sure he would be more than happy to receive us considering the fact we helped save his father's kingdom and all."

"Umm, okay. Sure." Alyson shrugged and started walking north.

Caliaphy sat on Serna's shoulder humming a little tune, "Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight..."

"That sounds nice," The Shield Maiden mused with a smile.

Alyson stopped when she heard the kurori singing her favorite childhood song, "A nice song best sung at night when the stars fill the heavens."

Madeous walked along side the Swordsman, "Irzen, when was the last time you were home in the Underdark? Surely, there's a part of you that longs to return home and to see how your kin have been."

"It's been a full century since my Shadow Riders and I rode out of Naermon Nithren," The Swordsman sighed wistfully, "And I do long to return home and to see how my son is carrying on our family business and how my daughter is doing in her arcane studies. I miss them. I also miss my men. It was after my Shadow Riders defeated a contingent of Venger's army at the Battle of The Nudorn March, that I was plucked from them and dropped into Alyson and Willow's company. My men had standing orders that they were to return to Naermon Nithren should I fall in battle or disappear for an extended period of time. I wonder, sometimes, if they returned home. I wonder if they are waiting for me there."

Lazheros looked over at the elemental pondering something, "Alyson told me that you've already laid your first clutch of eggs and they've hatched?"

Quake stayed back about ten feet behind the party to keep pace with him, "Yes. Gifts of fire, stone and metal to the Duergar of Mount Chasme. We freed them the mindflayers and in return I gained a lair and provided them with smaller versions of myself as guardians."