"I got this," Quake went through a pouch and pulled out five gold pieces handing them to the baker.

The woman reached over to the window sill grabbing the pie carefully, then wrapped it up in some paper with a string. "One apple pie. Thank you for your business."

Quake took the pie and handed it to Serna, "Here you go."

"Thanks, Quake!" Serna smiled, "Let's go find a nice place to sit and eat this thing. Okay?"

Caliaphy practically drooled the entire way to a bench off to the side, "Yummmmmmm!"

The trio found a nearby bench outside of a park and sat down. Serna pulled out her knife, opened the paper containing the pie and proceeded to carve the pie up into equal thirds. "Okay, everyone, grab a slice and dig in."

Caliaphy took her piece and practically inhaled it, well sort of. She was wearing more of it on her face when Quake burst out laughing right after she took her share of the pie.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Serna joined in the laughter as well. The Shield Maiden actually ate her pie and was able to place more of it IN her mouth as opposed to being ON her mouth.

The kurori wiped a large piece of pie crust off her face and savored all of it, "YUMMM! That was FANTASTIC!!"

"It was good." Serna smiled as she calmed down, "Quake, I have a question. How does it feel to be human--or at least human-ish?"

"It's okay and nice to blend in a lot easier in this form, Serna. I mean I still have all of my natural abilities but lets not go there when we are in the city of bardic prince, eh." Quake wiped her mouth after finishing the piece of pie.

"I agree!" The Shield Maiden nodded, "I would hate to have you get into a belching contest with someone and you spew hot lava all over East Port. We would wear out our welcome for sure at that point. Wouldn't you agree, Caliaphy?"

**SLURP!!** Was the sound followed by a snort, a giggle, and more slobbering from Caliaphy savoring the last bits of her piece of pie.

"Are you sure you got it all, Caliaphy?" Serna laughed at the Fairy, "I think you missed a spot."

Lazheros wandered into the herbalist shoppe and came out with a full bag of herbs to replenish his supply. Alyson picked up some for herself and came out with a small bag.

Madeous spied the general goods shoppe, "Basic items that a traveler can't get anywhere else except by those who trade any given city, or road. Wouldn't you agree, Irzen?"

"I would," The Swordsman admitted, "Although I travel light these days. Too many years spent on the move with my Shadow Riders taught me that the lightest traveler is the best traveler. Do you see anything you need, Madeous?"

"Just a few items to replenish what I'm low on," He said walking into the general shoppe and spied a whet stone, a cooking pan, and some twine. He bartered some of his dried meats and caltrops that he seemed to have a lot of, "My brother was a little paranoid about not having enough of these damn things. He always over stocked his supplies when we were on some sort of smash and grab quest."

"I didn't know you had a brother," Irzen smiled as he followed Madeous into the shoppe, "I was an only child. I never knew the luxury of having a brother or a sister in my life."

Madeous just stared at the swordsman for a moment before he replied, "For someone as old as Lazheros, you seem to have short term memory, Irzen. Jack is my brother and Alyson's father, who could break into and out of any castle with the help of Madeline. Those two really caused a lot of headaches for Venger."

"I'm sure they did," Irzen held up his hands, "I mean no offense when I say this: When tales of your adventures are told, bards and storytellers always mention the Platinum Knight and the Bronze Man. They seldom mention the others in your party. Who were the others who took part in your hell-raising campaign against Venger?"

"I just told you two of them, the others are the assassin, Seriah formally sent by Venger himself to take me down." The platinum knight grew quiet for a second, "And Celestra, my beloved lady paladin."

"When we were back in Asylum, I offered to aid you in rescuing her." The Swordsman added, "My offer still stands. War Scribe can be summoned and queried on Celestra's whereabouts. Through that nutty Drowling, we have access to The Great Library which should contain all the knowledge we need to reach Celestra's prison or free her from it. If you like, we can pursue that endeavor once out business in Eastport is concluded. All you have to do is say: Yes! Let's do it."

"I remember. I remember that your timing was off when you called the chronicler in the middle of breakfast too." Madeous finished paying for his supplies and walked out of the shoppe. "As for the offer, I will consider it another time. For now it can wait. And what of your family? Do they not travel beyond the Underdark?"

"Nice try, but changing the subject will not work with me." Irzen followed Madeous out of the shoppe, "Let me ask you this question: What are you afraid of? Why did you not take me up on my offer when I first made it? And why do you hesitate now?"

The platinum knight gave the swordsman a hard stare, "I said I would consider it later, Irzen. For now I want to spend time with Alyson."

Irzen pressed, "I had a wife once. I loved her more than any other Drowling in the Underdark! She gave me two beautiful children and a lifetime of wonderful memories. And if I knew she was only imprisoned on another world instead of being dead, I would move heaven and earth to find her. So I ask: Why do you falter when the woman you lost is so close to being found?"

"Unless, you can convince Venger to remove the curse placed upon my family and release Celestra from her other worldly prison, I suggest you drop the subject before you get hurt." Madeous warned him outright.

"Convince him, no," The Swordsman admitted, "Trick him, yes! But I can only do it with your consent. I have a favor or two that I can call in to get it done. But I would need your full cooperation to pull it off. Interested?"

"Not right now but I will consider it, Irzen." The platinum knight deadpanned.

"Fair enough," The Swordsman concluded with a nod.

"Seriously, Irzen. You really should heed the warning from my uncle," The elementalist said from behind him, "If you think you've seen me angry, you haven't seen him when he's angry. Now stop being a tool and just be civilized."

"Alyson," Her uncle crossed his arms.

"Fine, I will stop." She huffed and walked back over to the Bronze Man quietly listening in on their conversation.

"Sharp ears." Irzen replied with a grin, "And I did not hear her approach. I can be stealthy when I want to be but it is rare that someone can sneak up on me. I wonder, did she learn that from her mother or her father?"