Sir Gonagle was thumbing throug a journal and closed it loudly when he noticed the girl's hair braiding itself. "Huh. Well, deary. I have to go down into the ship to prepare some items for the captain. I won't be long."

"Okay, Sir Gonagle, I'm not going anywhere. I promise!" Serna reassured the Gnome.

Caliaphy nodded and jumped suddenly burying herself underneath Serna's hair, "Is he gone? Is it safe to continue?"

Maxim raised an eye brow at the alchemist, "Ever blunt as always, Sir Gonagle."

"You better believe it and I so much as see that blasted kurori make an appearance in here," The gnome muttered under his breath just before walked out of the cabin.

"Yeah, he's gone." Serna replied in a quick whisper.

"Eh. Just get going, will ya'." Maxim sighed closing the door again, "Don't mind that old gnome, young miss. He's the old fashioned type. Stubborn and down right cranky he is."

"That's okay, Mr. Maxim, I kind of like him." Sern smiled at the other Gnome, "Sir Gonagle strikes me as the kind of person who always lets people know where they stand with him. And I find that to be reassuring."

Maxim walked over and poured himself a glass of water and chugged it down before pouring another and sat down. He watched Serna's hair start braiding itself again and chuckled, "So it is true about what Sir Gonagle said, young miss. Don't worry I won't say anything but I do know of what happened in the past with your little friend."

"Thank you!" Serna replied with a smile, "And she said that she was sorry she did it. Although no amount of sorry can make up for that, I suppose."

He flicked his wrist towards her slightly, "Fah! I said I believe you, young miss not the trouble maker sitting on your shoulder acting like she's an angel. Whatever you do don't let your friend out of your sight on the airship, or I won't stop Sir Gonagle taking out his revenge. That little sprite not only brought down the airship but got into the inner workings of the engine, sparked a fire and destroyed half of the alchemist's research all because her kind don't like science. Which I might add is environmentally safe."

"Don't worry, Mr. Maxin, she's not going anywhere. I promise!" Serna reassured the man, "Now I see why he and everyone else on board is so angry at her. What she did was wrong. I'm just glad no one lost their life behind it."

The first officer coughed, "Just call me 'Officer or First Officer or Maxim. In fact, had that incident not happened I would let you come with below to see the inner works of the airship but I do not wish to tempt fate or hear the unending rants of Sir Gonagle for a second time."

Serna giggled, "That's okay, Maxim, I'm sure Captain Lion will give me a guided tour the moment all of this vampire stuff is over. But I am curious, how did you come to know Captain Lion? Are you from Earth too?"

*******

"This is it! Let's show those lousy vampires what we got!" Prince Birch strode towards the door, "MOUNT UP! WE HAVE MY KINGDOM TO SAVE! FOR EASTPORT!!!!"

"FOR EASTPORT!" Irzen cried out brandishing his sword as he charged from the room.

A thought came to mind when Madeous brought his armored hand to his chest and gave the bronze man a bow. He turned about face and left in pursuit of his quarry. "This reminds me of 'Big Trouble in Little China.' A story full of cautionary tales when dealing with ancient evil. Best part of that story is near the end when 'Jack Burton' and company drink an elixir to improve their odds at beating the bad guys."

"Sounds like my kind of hero," Quake gave him a thumbs up and ran behind the others. She met them outside, "I'll meet everyone down there. Sorry, your highness but I have my own way of getting there."

"As you wish, Lady Quake, as you wish!" Prince Birch emerged into the courtyard outside of the manor hall, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

Quickly one of the stable hands ran up to the Prince with a fresh Elven horse at the ready.

Quake's ability to earth meld came in very handy as the others watched her literally walk down into the cobblestone as if a set of steps appeared.

Captain Lion approached the horse cautiously and noticed it shying away from him, "Even elven horses don't like me, Prince Birch. I shall have to meet you down at the cavern entrance my own way."

"I understand, Captain Lion," Prince Birch mounted his steed and turned towards the others. Irzen had quickly mounted his steed and was ready to go vampire hunting.

Madeous had no problem mounting up on his horse. Elven horses weren't as big as a warhorse but bred for speed and grace. "After you Prince Birch!"

The Englishman's cloak billowed about him and in a wisp of smoke he vanished and reappeared just inside the entrance of the cavern.

"Onward to VICTORY!" Prince Birch cried out as he lead his fellow riders off of the Palace grounds and out into the city proper.

The three of them road their horses out of the palace grounds and down along the western streets the bordered the docks. The citizens of Eastport gave them a wide berth as they rode through. A few minutes later they arrived at the mouth of the cavern where Captain Lion and Quake waited patiently.

The air was damp and suffocating even at the entrance than Quake remembered. The floor of the cave was slick with moisture and the deadness was eerie as hell. The blood mage had prepared for their arrival waiting to lure them into a his domain where he had power. In the deep place of the earth.

Madeous reined his horse to a full stop and dismounted. He could feel the energy emanating from the cave and it made him shudder. "Watch your step. There is nothing natural about this cavern other than the burnt smell of charred bodies from earlier."

"Agreed!" Irzen brought his horse to a stop and quickly dismounted, "I was born in the UnderDark and I know its dangers well. This darkness is not of that stuff. It seems older to me, fouler too!"

Captain Lion had stepped out of the shadows in full view of them, "He is right. The blood mage is expecting us however, I am concerned about you two, Prince Birch and Lord Irzen. While I am neither living nor dead, King Madeous is cursed by Venger and Quake's blood is liquid fire making us immune to having our blood used against us."

Quake held up her hand and motioned everyone to be quiet for a moment. She thought she heard or felt something, "We should be fine until we get to the blood rock and then I'll change back to the real me."

"Okay!" The Swordsman looked at The Airship Captain, "What do you recommend we do, Captain Lion? Stay here and guard the exit should the Blood Mage slip past you guys?"

"I too am curious as to what you wish us to do, Captain Lion." Prince Birch added evenly.