The blue dragon continued its assault on Venger. Magical attacks did little to no damage to him but the dragon decided on a full frontal body slam worked quite well as its claws sunk into the nightmare. Lightning crackled from its jaw with a powerful electric jolt.

The Nightmare cried out in agony as the blue dragon sank its claws into its flesh. As lightning cascaded through the Dark Lord and his steed, Venger snarled in anger, "NOOOOOO!!!!" Before he clapped his hands together producing a sharp blast of gale force winds that forced the blue dragon to not only release the Night Mare but also sent it flying backward.

For its part, the Nightmare found this moment to be the perfect opportunity to retreat and did so much to the chagrin of its master who wanted to stay and fight.

"I am not finished with you yet, dragon!" The Dark Lord snarled as the Nightmare carried him into the clouds.

The blue dragon flew away from the confrontation with haste doubling its speed through the clouds despite knowing the Force of Evil was gaining on it.

Venger cut loose with a series of energy blasts that narrowly missed the retreating dragon as it fled into the clouds.

********

Madeous's sword glowed with the presence of the blue dragon nearby and immediately took a defensive stance while guarding Lazheros.

The bronze man forced himself not to engage against his hated foe. Willpower was his strong suit except in the presence of a blue dragon. The ancient rivalry between bronze and blue dragons could be traced all the way back to their origins.

One of the dwarves muttered, "That didn't take long. Hopefully, Stanis made it back."

The monster slayer appeared with Alyson and Irzen. "We need to keep moving. Where's Stanis?"

An older dwarf in battle hardened armor grumbled, "He's waiting for us back at the fort."

Madeous was glad to see Alyson, "You made it. Good. Lead on, Archer. Irzen, I know you have a grudge as much as I do against Venger, save it for another time."

"Works for me." Irzen quipped, "As the old saying goes, he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day."

Lazheros cast Silence on the group to make their travel go unnoticed.

The party traveled through a series of winding passage ways and down into a hidden underground fort. Beaten down from time and age, it still stood as any dwarven structure did. The sound of hammers on metal, and picks breaking rocks could be heard from the deeper part of the cavern. Voice picked up and went quiet with the approach of them. A hidden gated door opened as Archer stepped through motioning them to follow.

"This isn't quite home. Well home is any where the earth and its riches can provide even if its right in Venger's backyard." Archer grinned.

Madeous glanced about noting the defenses and guard patrols, "Are you aware that it wouldn't take Venger long to find this place?"

"I agree with Madeous," Irzen added, "You're either pretty bold or very desperate to be mining for minerals under Venger's very nose. What is so valuable here that you would risk so much to acquire it?"

"Oh, he knows of it, aye. He believed it to be dried up after he forcefully worked my kin to death. All perished save for myself. I played dead and fell into the mine. Years back, I heard a beautiful voice and along came Archer. She nursed me back to health as best she could and helped my kin and I return the bloody favor to horn head." Came a gruff reply from behind them. A harden survivor, Stanis Stonebeard, his gray skin barely shown through the dim light of the fort. His armor worn and battered. An wicked axe strapped to his back. His dwarven lineage was mountain and duergar.

"I have heard tales of dwarves mixing with each other, battlerager. I see the stories are true." Lazheros replied.

"Yeah well, we Elves do it all the time." Irzen shrugged, "No biggie! So, Stanis Stonebeard, are you one of Maurin Graybeard's people?"

Stanis grunted, "No. Maurin Graybeard's clan isn't even in this part of the Realm, swordsman. Why in the hells would you assume that I would be related to him?"

"I did not assume you were related to him," The Swordsman corrected Stanis, "I merely asked if you were one of his people. A simple 'yes' or 'no' would have been sufficient."

"Well, you're not here to talk about family bloodlines, drow. You're here because Archer hates and loathes Venger as much as me. You're here because that floating magical tower needs to be destroyed since 'ole horn had a back up plan when his war machine was destroyed. Rumor has it, you were there in the pit of despair and madness of the Black City." Stanis raised his voice as the massive stone doors closed masking their presence from Venger's patrols.

"The rumors are true! We did all of that and we can more still," Irzen replied to Stanis, "And just between you and me, I jump at any chance I get to nip the Dark Lord's heel!"

Alyson stretched a little, "Uh, yeah. Stanis has a point. Besides, Trokar Whitebeard and his kin lie in the Shimmerhorn mountains between Stormhaven and Deeping Dale. Maybe we should take a trip into the Underdark at some point because you seem to be a little homesick."

"You wouldn't last a day in the Underdark, Alyson," The Swordsman cautioned her, "You're too noisy and attract far too much attention to yourself."

Archer chimed in, "I heard about what happened at Stormhaven. That city seems to be a hot spot or it was the last time I heard."

"Stormhaven can be a hotspot," Irzen added, "But did you know that Alyson was once the Lady Mayor of Stormhaven?"

"Oh really?" Archer smirked, "Ha! I knew you were a natural leader, Ally."

"Don't call me that, Archer. We're not on Earth, we're in the Realm." The elementalist let out a loud sigh and then turned towards the swordsman, "I may be noisy up here on the surface but you should be afraid if I go quiet, Irzen. Besides the Underdark doesn't scare me."

"It should," Irzen replied simply, "I know what would hunt you down there."

"Be that as it may, Irzen," Madeous stated, "my niece can handle herself and I'd be worried if she does go quiet because nothing would stop her if she goes nuclear unless someone opened a portal to elemental plane of water over her head."

Alyson narrowed her eyes at her uncle, "Gee, thanks."

Lazheros coughed, "Prattling on like children isn't going to solve the issue with Venger lurking on the surface especially when we're in his territory."

Archer placed both hands on the hilts of her weapons of power, twin hammers, "I've been to the Underdark and survived. Alyson and I were both deep in the cavernous Underdark long before she ran into you, swordsman or is that cross-bow-drow-man now? Story of the not-so-wonderous pit fall for another time. Anyway, we can't go back the way we came in, safety protocols and such. We dwarves never leave the same way we go in, throws off enemies tracking you."