"The conversation between Madeous and Irzen doesn't concern any of you, younglings." Lazheros walked behind 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."

Caliaphy batted her eye lashes, "Gosh!"

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

Quake rolled her eyes, "Good grief, Charlie Brown. We can't all be like little Miss Fancy Pants now can we."

Lazheros chuckled softly, "I can definitely see much of Alyson's personality within you, Quake."

"You can say what you will, Quake." Serna snapped at the Dragon Elemental, "But I am only telling you what I saw and I am only sharing with how I saw it. My words, flowery though they may be, fall far short of what I acutally saw Caliaphy become. I just no know better way to describe it, that's all."

"Look, I'm just saying what the lady is thinking at the moment in regards to you two talking about little miss high and shiny there." The elemental pointed to Caliaphy.

"Okay, I can understand that," Serna acknowledged, "But let me ask you a question, Quake, can you speak independent of Alyson or do you always reflect her thoughts?"

"I can do both but the lady is in a foul mood at the moment. So what you're asking is that I speak my own mind, right? I believe you Serna about what you said in regard to Caliaphy. We are creatures of magic and act accordingly to whatever event takes place." Quake replied in earnest.

The kurori crossed her little arms in defiance, "So what are you gonna do about it, rock head?"

"Enough!" Lazheros's voice deepened, "This is not the place to start a name-calling contest, or someone will find herself banished again. Do I make myself clear?"

Caliaphy's eyes watered with crocodile tears and ran over to Serna, "He's being mean to me, Serna!"

Serna gave Caliaphy a hug and took up for her friend, "Okay, alright, we get it, Laz! You're older, wiser, stronger and more powerful than all of us put together. And you can banish ANY of us ANY time you want. But just because you have to power to do it, doesn't mean you SHOULD do it!"

He crossed his arms and replied sternly, "You have a lot to learn, child. This is just a simple ploy that Caliaphy does when she doesn't get her own way. She is Seelie and Seelie do not play fair. Or have you forgotten what she did to you in Arbor Haven? There is always a consequence for one's actions regardless of the outcome. Until you've grown up, you will not understand what Caliaphy is capable of."

The kurori was really milking it for all its worth in Serna's embrace and even let slip a smirk taunting the Bronze Man.

"Fine!" Serna released Caliaphy and stared down The Bronze Man, "Tell me what Caliaphy is capable of doing! No riddles, no double-talk, tell me straight. What is Calaphy capable of doing?"

Caliaphy got a little too over confident and a giggle slipped out, "...teeheehee!"

Lazheros didn't need to tell Serna anything now. He merely waited for her to notice that she had her strings played by the kurori.

Quake stood by watching to see if Serna was ready to beat the crap out of Caliaphy any time now.

Serna turned on Caliaphy, "You tricked me! Is that all I am to you? Someone to be played with?! Someone to be toyed with?!"

"Well, I am Seelie and its my nature to play tricks and pull strings," Caliaphy shook her finger at the Shield Maiden. "I get it. You're an orphan, who didn't have a life until the Swordsman and Alyson showed. Can't say I blame you wanting to get out and see the world beyond your sheltered life."

"It may have been a sheltered life but it was a good one until I ran into YOU!" Serna stuck her tongue out at Caliaphy.

The kurori made a face and stuck her tongue out to match wits with the human girl.

"I stood up for you!" The Shield Maiden ran off in pure consternation, "I thought you were my friend, Caliaphy, but I was wrong! DEAD WRONG!"

"And to think I'm a pest to War Scribe," Quake commented, "The only difference is that I can give right back. You, Caliaphy, are a true pest."

"Hmph!" The kurori waved off Quake and turned to face Serna, "And you, you can't take a joke if it hit you in the butt, Serna. No matter what I do, you can't seem to just let it go! At least Alyson was more fun than you!"

"GET BENT!" Serna snapped back at Caliaphy.

The Bronze Man narrowed his eyes at the kurori, "Perhaps I was too lenient with you in granting your wish to travel the Realm. Since leaving Asylum, I have noticed your true colors coming out."

Caliaphy shrank away from him, "....uh..I-I-ah. I'm sorry..."

"I won't banish you, Caliaphy. That decision is solely up to the shield maiden." The Bronze Man replied.

********

Time slowed down with only Lazheros and Serna moving now, "I can however place a Geas upon Caliaphy preventing her from lying to you if you wish, child but it will be temporary."

"You can?" Serna turned towards Lazheros with an evil grin, "Can you place a geas upon her that would force her to truthfully answer any question that is put to her? You know, like the one War Scribe's god placed upon her?"

"The Geas on the chronicler was placed there by Validor himself, however, I can place one on her to prevent her from pulling any more tricks on you. Since her animal form is that of cat, she will most likely attract canines of various size to chase her. Or you could just distract her with the charm bracelet the Elder gave you. Fae cannot resist shiny little trinkets and charms. Your choice." Lazheros offered two solutions to Serna."

Serna thought about it for a good long minute and then replied, "You know what, Laz, let's go with your original suggestion. Can you please place a geas upon Caliaphy preventing her from lying to me? That would be enough and I can take it from there."

"Very well, child but remember this karma will always find a way to return the favor." Lazheros said as time started to move again.

"I know and I will be ready when that day comes," Serna replied in earnest, "But for now, do it!"

******

He reached over and touched the top of Caliaphy's head and spoke words in draconic and Serna could see a little sparkly halo resting above the kurori's head.

"Hey! What did you do, Bronze Man?" Caliaphy wrinkled her nose suddenly.

"Perhaps you should ask, Serna." The bronze man gestured to the girl.

Serna smiled at Caliaphy with an evil grin but said nothing.

The kurori scratched her head and wrinkled her nose slightly, "Are you sure you he didn't do anything, Serna? And why are you grinning?"

By this time Madeous had made his way up asking Lazheros in draconic, "What just happened?"

"I merely asked the child a question regarding her predicament." Lazheros replied.

The platinum knight eyed both Serna and Caliaphy sighing, "As long as you two stay out of trouble here, we should be fine. Has anyone seen Alyson?"

"Mhmm. Alyson is outside the inn at the moment," Lazheros gestured to the elementalist down the street, "I will leave these three with you and swordsman for a bit."

Madeous raised a hand to interject, "Now wait a minute--"

"Pardon sire," Quake stepped between him and Lazheros, "We should find a place to rest or at least a place to eat. What do you think, Irzen?"