The Shield Maiden turned back to the Fairy, "As your friend, I have one more question I would like to ask, Caliaphy. And it is this: What is your true name?"

Now Caliaphy was really suspicious now eyeing the shield maiden and countered with her own questions, "Why do you WANT to know, Serna? What gives you the RIGHT to know my TRUE name?"

"Ah, Serna," Quake spoke up, "Remember what the Bronze Man just told you? She's Seelie and Seelie are nasty when angered."

"You know what, Quake, you're right!" The Shield Maiden held up her hands, "Caliaphy, please disregard my question. It was a little too personal and I apologize."

Caliaphy narrowed her eyes at Serna still but said nothing. She was too mad to see the glamour that hid the true nature of the bards intent.

Quake relaxed finally, "Thank you. The air in here was getting intense and I'd rather enjoy this fine meal than fight my way out of here because someone got too personal asking the wrong questions."

"You're welcome!" Serna resumed eating her meal and said nothing more.

After a bit, the kurori downed the first fruit drink and started on the second one and wrinkled her nose, "Serna, why did you ask all those questions? I mean some of them were getting too personal. I wouldn't do that to you unless something was wrong."

*****

"What about lodging?" The elementalist inquired.

"Ah, yes. If you so choose to stay here, please make an inquiry at the bar. Ask for, Peppi. She handles all the room and board." Ingnatio said placing down a wooden plank with all the styles of food for them look at. "Anyone else for libations, or shall I take your order?"

"I'll have a tankard of Cannard if you have any!" Irzen added, "And I'm ready to order. I would like roasted mutton along with a side of mixed vegetables and rice. Out of curiosity, what kind of desserts do you have?"

Quake glanced over at the Swordsman, "The three of us bought an apple pie earlier. Homemade style. I'd like a stein of mead and the largest plate of filet minon, er rack of ribs."

"We have an assortment of pies ranging from a glazed apple pie to tiramisu and bread pudding." Ignatio replied as he took down the Swordsman order.

"I'll take a glazed apple pie!" The Swordsman beamed from ear to ear, "And a nice tankard of hot coffee to go with it. Also, I would like my apple pie and coffee to be brought at the end of my meal. Thank you!"

Madeous and Alyson both ordered filet minon with the exception of her ordering a glass of red wine and him with a large stein of dragon's breath.

Lazheros ordered a plate of tuna, a side of oysters, and vegetables and tea.

The waiter took down everyone's order and left them alone only to come back with a tray of drinks. Up on the stage, a pair of bards came out, one with a mandolin and the other clapping his hands to rouse the patrons of the Dandy Muse.

"It looks like we're going to get a show with our meal," The Swordsman laughed as he turned his attention to the stage, "This should be a good one."

Fifteen minutes later Ignatio and another server approached with two platters of food, dispersing them to everyone. He nodded and left with the other server as music erupted from mandolin.

"Good food, good company and good entertainment," The Swordsman mused as he began to eat his meal, "What more can a Drow ask for?"

"So what are the taverns like where you're from, Irzen?" Madeous took a swig of his beer and set it back down on the table. He surveyed the room for a moment and went back to eating his food.

"Stone," Irzen replied flatly, "All the furniture is made of stone. The utensils are made of fine metals and the food is usually quite good--if you are into subterranean dishes like fried cave worms or sauteed coelocanths or baked mushrooms. And the ambiance in our taverns is much darker than this one. Granted, we do have fairy light which we get from slave traders who traffic in the capture and sale of fairies from both the Seelie and Unseelie Courts."

The platinum knight coughed, "What?! Sorry I can't see forcibly having fairies to light your taverns. I know there are natural crystals and lichens that glow in the dark to add to the ambiance."

"At the low-end taverns and inns, glowing crystals and lichens are used to light the darkness," Irzen admitted honestly, "However, at the high-end taverns and inns where I often stay, fairy light is used from real fairies."

The Swordsman continued, "They don't last too long in the Underdark, but they do give off a soft light which is pleasant to our eyes. And we do have performers who sing or play music from time to time. But our favorite past time in our taverns is communal storytelling. At the end of every week, my people like to visit the tavern and listen to and tell stories--tales of high adventure in the deeper places of the Underdark, love stories with tragic endings or war stories from our many conflicts with the Surface Elves. These are our favorites! Anything else you would like to know about Naermon Nithren?"

Madeous took another swig of his beer to wash down the after taste of his meal. The vegetables tasted different here, "No, I'm good. Thanks."

Alyson got up from the table after finishing her meal and drink, "I'm done for the evening."

"Go and get some rest, Alyson. I will take care of the meal." Madeous stood up and let her by.

The Bronze Man also finished his meal and placed his plates on top of the empty stack of dishes. He followed after the elementalist over to the bar and up the stairs.

"Good evening, you two lovebirds," Irzen waved to them, "Sleep well."

"Irzen!" Madeous growled at the swordsman, "Leave them alone. This place is not what is appears to be. Something is off here."

"Such as?" Irzen raised an eyebrow at The Platinum Knight.

"It's something our server said in regards to children. Serna is the only child here. The kurori doesn't count, and the owner I'm guessing is the one with goliath guards posted near him." Madeous took another bite of his steak, "My gut is telling me that this place isn't quite what it appears to be."

"To be fair, not to many people travel with their children these days unless they are part of a caravan." Irzen offered as he scoped out the room, "On top of that, those who travel with children do so with other families and they usually stay at caravansaries as opposed to inns or taverns. Caravansaries allow children more room to play. So, I'm not too surprised by the fact that there are no children here beside Serna. You're going to have to give me a better reason to question this place beyond what your gut is telling you."

"Remember when you mentioned staying at the palace before? I think that would be a better choice for Serna. At least there she would be out of harms way and that eerie song the bard is singing..." He reached down at his belt and pulled out a Gem of True Seeing. Looking through it he cleared his throat, "Crap! Vampires and they're eyeing Serna."

Madeous handed to the gem to the swordsman and glanced over to the elemental, "Quake."

"Yes?"

"Let Alyson know we're heading out. *hematai*" He said dropping five platinum on the table to cover the meal and tips.

The elemental's eyes widened as she mentally relayed the message to Alyson.

*******

Right in the middle of some rest and relaxation, Alyson sat up on the bed and gave the bronze man a look of horror. ~Vampires?!~

"It would appear that things have changed greatly since Chef Halas was here last time. And if that's the case, then Serna is in danger." Lazheros grumbled quietly.