"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."

Quake just watched the kurori spin around and around trying to find the piece of invisible pie that wasn't there and giggled.

Finally Caliaphy stopped spinning and narrowed her eyes at the shield maiden, "Ha ha ha very funny, Serna."

Serna giggled, "Yeah, it was pretty funny!" In an attempt to change the subject, she added, "So are we ready to rejoin the others or shall we explore more?"

"I don't know, Serna," Quake said watching the intense conversation between Irzen and Madeous, "Uh, maybe go back and see if the lady wants to do something."

"Sure," The Shield Maiden chirped as she got to her feet, "Let's go! I'm sure Alyson wouldn't mind getting into a little trouble before we see the prince."


*******

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?"

"Both." Madeous held up his hand to his niece indicting her to be quiet. Then he turned his attention back to the swordsman, "And I had your complete and utter attention, Irzen, which is why you did not hear Alyson. A family trait passed down from my own father who could hold anyone's gaze while someone else approached unseen or unheard. A skill that I employed with every encounter when dealing with Venger."

"Good to know," Irzen smiled, "Mind teaching that skill to me when we have time? As a fair trade, I'll offer one skill I know."

He relaxed his fierce gaze, "To know your enemy, you must learn from your enemy, Irzen. Surely someone of your skill could engage an enemy in one on one combat without actually engaging said enemy into a stand still? I have yet to see how a single drow could go one on one with Venger and survive unscathed. Anyone can do it, it just takes the right set of skills, allies and trust to do it. Are you capable of such a feat, Irzen?"

"Am I capable?" Irzen laughed, "I actually performed that feat. I faced off against The Dark Lord himself and defeated him. Granted, I had him cornered in a cell that suppressed all forms of magic. I also had my sword in my hand and he had nothing but bad intentions. But I didn't let that stop me from emasculating him, driving my blade through his back and into his heart and rescuing my friends in the process."

Alyson growled quietly but was cut off by the platinum knight, "What?"

With an evil grin that was worthy of a Drow, Irzen concluded, "Sometimes you can beat the odds with a careful choice of where to fight."

Madeous paused briefly, "Why don't you and Lazheros find a tavern to rest and relax because it would seem that you need it, Alyson." He then turned back to the swordsman, "A smart decision on your part then, Irzen."

"Smart AND necessary," Irzen added with a broad smile, "Naked and unarmed, the Dark Lord was still a formidable opponent. One that I neither took lightly nor to whom showed any mercy. That is why I did my best to dispatch him in the manner that I did."

She threw up her hands in protest and walked away disgusted.

Quake and company walked over, "Uh, Lady are you okay?"

The elementalist continued to sulk in silence.

"I take that as a no," Caliaphy whispered to Serna.

Serna whispered back to Caliaphy, "I agree."

"The conversation between Madeous and Irzen doesn't concern any of you, younglings." Lazheros walked quietly following the elementalist.

"Eeep!" The Shield Maiden nearly jumped out of her skin as The Grand Cleric walked past them, "Lazheros, stop doing that!"

"Hey!" The kurori ran up in front of the Bronze Man, "I'm older than those three."

"That may be but you haven't acted your true age in a very, very long time, Caliaphy." The bronze man told her.

"Not true! Not true! When I thought Serna might be harmed at the battle of Westfall...I did grow up but only for a brief moment." Caliaphy argued.

Lazheros glanced over to the shield maiden with a questioning look, "She revealed herself to you, young one?"

"She did, Laz," Serna spoke up proudly, "And when she did, she was--beautiful." The Shield Maiden turned towards Caliaphy, "She was as radiant as the morning suns coming over the horizon. As fair as a sea of stars upon the night sky. And as elegant as the finest robes worn by the greatest of queens."

The Shield Maiden turned back to The Grand Cleric, "Caliaphy was magnificent and regal and wonderful!"