Following Captain Lion's lead with Sir Gonagle in tow behind Serna and her bodyguards the group eventually made it to the first of the two airships. Captain Lion's ship was a mix of gnome and human crew. Another officer approached them and saluted, "Captain on deck!"

"There are vampires afoot Maxim. Ready the slayers and hunters." The Englishman addressed him.

"Yes sir!" Maxim turned about face and headed back into the ship's interior.

"WOW!" Serna looked around and took in the full majesty of the airship. "It's bigger and more beautiful than the last time I saw it. Captain Lion, how far up can you go? Can you reach the stars?"

"Above the clouds yes, to the stars no I'm afraid." Captain Lion scanned the horizon briefly and headed towards his quarters.

Serna followed along with her Guards, "Awww! I've heard stories of ships that can sail across the sea of stars to other worlds just like our own. Have you heard of them too?"

"One can only dream of such feats, young lady. Perhaps you should ask Madeous for he comes from a time further into the future than I do." The Englishman pulled out both guns from his belt and placed them onto a table against the wall.

"Really?!" Serna asked in wide-eyed disbelief, "I knew you both came from the same world but I NEVER knew both of you came from a different time. WOW! How far apart are you two in terms of time?"

"The Era in which I come from is the early nineteen hundreds, Serna when industry and steam engines were in their prime. I believe the Platinum Knight comes from the mid to latter nineteen hundreds timeline." Captain Lion emptied his ammo out of his guns and replaced it with silver laced incendiary rounds.

"Wow! You two are nearly a hundred years apart!" Serna shook her head in disbelief, "I am REALLY going to have a conversation with Madeous when this vampire stuff is over. There is so much he could tell me and I have so many questions."

After Captain Lion, Sir Gonagle and Serna departed with their retinue, Irzen arrived at the landing and looked around, "So where is her Ladyship and her boy toy Dragon? I thought they would be here by now. Or are they still recovering from their extra-curricular activities?"

******

Alyson mumbled in her sleep, "...okay Quake."

Lazheros got up quietly and left the room briefly to confer with Madeous about the plans set in motion. A few minutes later he returned not that he was worried for Alyson's safety but rather enjoyed their quiet time together.

******

"They will be here shortly, Irzen." Said the platinum knight walking up the gang plank. He stopped just short of him and folded his arms.

"Good to know!" Irzen quipped with a knowing grin, "Are you ready for some vampire hunting?"

A handful of hunters and slayers came out armed to the teeth with wooden stakes and silver crossbow bolts attached to the sides of the crossbows.

The Swordsman made note of the new arrivals, "Someone clearly is ready to kill some vamps! WOW!"

"All of us here, sir, have encountered vamps at some point in our lives. There are very, very few that escape our combined talent of tracking them down and giving them a final death." Maxim stated from the men.

"Then I know that I'm in good company!" Irzen smiled with a nod, "And I am glad to have you and your men with us!"

Sir Gonagle came out of the armory carrying a modified heavy repeating cross bow. The chamber looked similar to a six shooter commonly held by gunslingers from Wild, Wild West in America. "One modified heavy repeating crossbow with specialized bolts already loaded with wooden silver tipped bolts laced with divine energy."

"Nice! Very, very nice, Sir Gonagle!" Irzen accepted the weapon eagerly, "Thank you very much! This will do very nicely. I have to hand it to you, you Tinker Gnomes do know your craft and you know it well. Nice work! Excellent craftsmanship! And perfectly balanced! Thanks again!"

Quake walked up to the swordsman, "Are you sure you want both me and the lady to go to the caverns? Is there some reason why you want to separate us from the real fight?"

"Quake, I will be perfectly honest with you," Irzen replied, "The real reason I want you and Alyson to go to the caverns is to simply cover all of our bases. Honest to God, I don't know where the real fight with the vampires will be. It could be in the caverns. It could be on the docks. Hell, it could be here at the palace itself. But I do know this, if you two want to join us. Then please join us. I like our chances of victory a whole lot better if you two are with us rather than not. But, I leave that choice up to you and her Ladyship. Do what you will!"