"We honor our ancestors here. We serve neither gods nor those of the land or sea but ourselves." Tarendil snapped her fingers.

"That's interesting!" Irzen noted, "Your culture seems more a combination of Chinese, Japanese and Korean with a little Kara Tur thrown into the mix. Fascinating--as Spock would say."

The wizard, Arathorn chimed in, "Mind your manners around the queen lest you earn her ire. Trust me, you don't want to see what she can do to you in the arena."

"Is that a threat, a warning or a challenge?" Irzen asked the Wizard.

"Take it as all three, Lord Irzen," Zesstra added, "Tarendil does not suffer those who are ill-mannered."

"And how would you know such things of a Surface Elf Queen?" The Swordsman asked The Paladin.

"As her consort, I should know." Zesstra gently squeezed the Queen's hand.

Madeous silently took in the knowledge of each person's thoughts and insight regarding their form of justice.

The platinum knight coughed loudly to get the queen's attention, "I understand that relationships are open around here but where Alyson and myself come from, it's more private."

"Then it is a good thing that we are not where you are from, my lord." Zesstra replied evenly.

The queen smirked, "I remember. Zesstra, we will continue our play later, hmmm."

"Yes, my courtesan," Zesstra gave Tarendil a playful swat on her butt, "Later!"

Arathorn shook his head at the two of them, while open relationships were common place here, he couldn't quite wrap his head around the idea that the queen had a drow consort. He lead the queen and company to the main hall and took his seat. "I wonder where our illustrious guardian is?"

"Knowing Master Shinrin, anywhere and everywhere would be the appropriate answer." Zesstra took her seat beside the queen.

Tarendil glanced towards the bronze man, "I'm sure Grand Master Shinrin is around. He has a habit of popping up or in like someone else I know."

Lazheros smirked, "Grand Master Shinrin and myself are what we are, my lady. Surely, you'd realize that long ago."

"That's funny!" Irzen grinned as he took his seat directly opposite Zesstra, "Because I was thinking about Dungeon Master when you referenced someone popping up or in, your majesty. In fact, it was he that directed us here."

Arathorn blinked, "Thee, Dungeon Master?"

"The same," Irzen replied flatly, "He mentioned in one of his riddles something about a popular ruler among her people facing a threat from within. When I first heard about it, I thought he was referencing an old friend of ours, Baroness Meleranti of Deeping Dale, but I think he might be referencing your liege."

Zesstra turned towards Tarendil, "That would explain the timing of your brother's return and the timing of their arrival here. None of this is a coincidence. This is fate!"

Madeous glanced towards Alyson and then over to Lazheros, "I wouldn't call it fate, per say but Dungeon Master's advice usually gets the adventurers where they need to go and do."

"Madeous has a point," Irzen added, "It's less fate and more Dungeon Master sending us into harm's way to clean up either a mess he made or someone else's mess."

"I see," Zesstra responded with a snap of her fingers, "Then if it is not fate surely it is the divine word of Elistraee herself."

Irzen turned to Madeous without skipping a beat, "Didn't she hear a single word we just said?"

Alyson shook her head, "Ah, she seems too focused on the queen and keeping her safe. I don't even know if she actually met Dungeon Master, Irzen."

"I think there's a more simpler explanation," Irzen replied before he turned to Zesstra, "You're an Oath of Devotion Paladin aren't you?"

"For Elistraee I live and for Elistraee I die!" Zesstra declared proudly.

"Yeah, I thought so," Irzen replied flatly before he turned back towards Alyson, "That explains everything. She's a zealot! She's got nothing but her god on the brain."

"And proud of it!" Zesstra beamed from ear to ear, "Elistraee cherishes her most devout children."

"There are different levels of devotion. Some like Zesstra venerate their deity. Others like Perceval in Asylum, are devoted to the people, not just to his service and belief in the Lord of the North Wind." Madeous stated.

"But the TRUE Oath of Devotion types concern me," Irzen replied honestly, "The TRUE ones have only one deity or one service or one belief they cling to--often to the exclusion of all others. I know from experience that such single-minded and fanatical devotion can be a dangerous thing!" The Swordsman eyed The Paladin, "A very dangerous thing indeed!"

Lazheros sighed, "Zesstra. When Dungeon Master appears it is usually to give advice or add more clues in order for adventurers to succeed in the quest."

"I have never met him," The Paladin replied, "I have heard of him yet I have never met him. Does he frequent your company often or favors you as much as my god favors her children?"

"I appear when I need to be Paladin. I see you have all made your way here to Skyfall Aerie. Beware of those close to you for there are some who favor the weak over the strong and powerful." Dungeon Master materialized before them and raised any eye brow towards the platinum knight, "I see you have ventured more in the Realm of late, Platinum Knight."

"Where in the Underdark did you come from?" Zesstra gasped at the appearance of the Gnome.

"Don't mind him, that's just Dungeon Master." Irzen waved him off, "He puts in sudden appearances like this ALL the time.

Madeous crossed his arms, "My journey continues with my niece, Dungeon Master. It is something I have missed since my days as a young adventurer myself. To make amends and let things happen as they should."

"Then know this, Madeous, king of the Kingdom beyond the Great Veil, continue on this journey and your love may yet return to you." Dungeon Master told him.

For once, the man who was stoic showed emotion in his face. The thought of his beloved returning from being banished filled him with renewed hope.

"Elistraee's blessings be upon you, Dungeon Master," Zesstra smiled at the Gnome, "Pray tell what brings you here to Skyfall Aerie?"

**********

Zarathrin watched through the Orb of Seeing from his chambers. The platinum knight was a problem. He had nearly crossed paths with the legendary knight in his dealings with Venger. The others weren't the issue save for the young sorcerer which Venger mentioned off and on. She had potential.

**********

"Wait a minute!" Serna got between Caliaphy and Quake, "There's no need to get hostile. We're all friends here. And we're all here to have some fun. So, Quake, if you don't want to be a slide, that's okay. We'll take our fun elsewhere, okay?"

Quake flopped back over on her side, "Just making my point clear, Serna. I'm just antsy being up here and not on complete solid ground."

Serverus shook his head, "But this is solid ground."

The elemental dragon whipped another avariel kid up into the air with her tail muttering, "It's not the same thing. I can't feel the deep earth beneath my feet, the connection is all wacky."

"As solid as it gets by the looks of me." Serna replied, "How much more solid do you need the ground to be in order to feel comfortable, Quake?"

She sat up and looked at the shield maiden, "Think of it as being homesick. Have you ever wanted to go back to Deeping Dale since leaving? You know that place of comfort and home."

"During the early month of our adventures, no!" Serna replied, "Back then I had my sisters Kana and Lysana to keep me company. Now, Deeping Dale seems to me to be but a distant memory. I like being here. I like travelling with you guys. I do miss Baroness Meleranti and the friends I made in the palace and among the townsfolk. But I don't miss Deeping Dale per se. Does that make sense?"

Quake moved closer to the girl face to face, "Yes. It does. I was made and forged back on Earth. The same world where the platinum knight hails from. I was given life here cuz' the Lady willed it so."

The avariel children were all in awe and intrigue with the conversation between the elemental dragon and the human girl.

"Really?!" Serna replied with a raised eyebrow, "I didn't know that! I thought you were born and raised in the Realm and you came into Alyson's service. I did not know that she made you what you are. That's pretty cool! So, I guess Alyson is your mother, isn't she?"

Quake raised her head up proudly, "Uh, I guess you call her that but I wouldn't go too far. I prefer the Lady and in a sense I am an aspect of her, just as Dragolem and Mermidon are. My ability to produce my own offspring as it were was pure lucky and things happen for a reason."

Serverus tapped Serna on the shoulder, "Don't mind the lump of earthy dragon there, they're usually grumpy up here. It's normal."

"Hey! Who are you calling lumpy?!" The elemental dragon snorted.

The kurori finally chimed in, "He's not wrong. At least you're not an Air-head."

Nothing but grumbling came from Quake as both Caliaphy and Serverus kept up the 'pun war'.

Serna giggled before she ushered both Serverus and Caliaphy away, "Okay, you two, let's leave Quake alone so she can adjust to her new surroundings. So, Serverus, where do you play your version of tag."

Serverus grinned and pointed up, "There on the plateau. There's some hills with bushes, kinda like capture the flag. There's two teams, one blue, the other green. The goal is to capture the opposing flag without getting caught by the other team."

"Sounds like fun," Serna headed off towards the plateau, "So which team will Caliaphy and I be on?"

"You're with me. Both of you and Glint. Two teams of four. We're blue, they're green." Serverus pointed out.

"Neat!" Serna turned towards the Fairy, "It's time to have some fun, Caliaphy! Are you ready to take on some flying elves?"