Zarathan sat in the lotus position in his cell. Eyes closed and hands folded neatly in his lap. Without opening them he spoke, "Missing the harsh interrogation methods of your homeland, drow? Brutal force and violence will get you killed without remorse in a blink of an eye. We are not barbarians of the Underdark."

"You're worse!" Zesstra quickly surmised, "You are a traitor, a usurper and an attempted kinslayer. And while I cannot interrogate you as my ilk would do back in my homeland, I can however reason with you if--and only if--you are willing to listen to what I have to say. Understand?"

The crown prince inhaled deeply and focused on his meditation much to the dismay of the paladin. He made her wait for his reply and opened his eyes stating, "What could you possibly offer me to keep your attention? Wisdom is lacking and your intelligence is half par."

"My wisdom may be lacking due to my youth but at least I'm not stupid enough to get my butt kicked by my little sister and get dropped into a cell that nullifies my magic." Zesstra quipped, "But this is Tarendil's offer to you: Fully disclose all of your co-conspirators and undue all of the dark magic you have unleashed upon her realm and she will grant you a full pardon for your crimes, a life in permanent exile and the reduction of half of your magical powers. What say you?"

Zarathan waved her off, "Mmmhmm. Wisdom, common sense, being naïve definitely sums all of you. Being blind in your faith will most likely get you killed for sure. You honestly believe that I would put myself in a situation where I am unable to use magic? Is that what you think, you simple minded little girl? Try using your powers in a magic dead zone, where all your prayers go unanswered because your goddess can not hear you or grant you her aid. No smites, no healing, just an average wanna-be fighter who thinks she's a paladin."

"You failed to give me an answer," Zesstra replied, "Aye or nay? Do you agree to your sister's terms or not?"

Zesstra waited in a silent minute before adding, "I will not ask again."

The paladin got her answer by the utter silence of the crown prince. His stare told her he wasn't going to divulge anything to her.

"Very well, Zarathan," Zesstra knocked on the door behind her to indicate to the guards she wanted to leave, "You can stay in this cell and rot here until you love it for all I care. But know this, while you may think your sister is an unfit queen, I KNOW you would make an even more unfit king!"

When the guards opened the door, the Drowling turned and departed with only the clanging of the cell doors behind her to mark her passing.

The queen and her advisor waited for Zesstra to give her report, however, judging by the deliberate sounds of defeat, they realized she was less than successful.

"Sounds like the paladin met a brick wall. Zarathan was good at annoying anyone trying to pick his brain." Arathorn did his best bird voice. His forced transformation by the crown prince was not a permanent situation. In fact, the spell was beginning to wear off which allowed him to speak.

Zesstra returned to the throne room and stood before Tarendil more than a little defeated by her efforts, "My love, Zarathan will not take the deal. He will neither reveal his accomplices nor undue the dark magic he has unleashed upon your lands. What would you have me do next, Tarendil?"

*********

Caliaphy wrinkled her nose and sat down after playing for five minutes, "Ah, Serna. We should worry about them and let Quake work, yeah."

"Worry about who?" Serna turned back to Caliaphy.

The kurori pointed to the strange looking identical copies of the two of them. "Eew! That's gross. There's only one of me, never two."

The Shield Maiden followed the direction to which Caliaphy was pointing and shook her head in disbelief, "What in The Realm?! Caliaphy, is this some fairy magic glamour thing you just whipped up to entertain yourself? Because if it is, it's not funny."

"I'm not doing it, Serna. They just appeared." The kurori took on a defensive stance.

The dark versions of Caliaphy and Serna advance with dark copies of their weapons.

"Who are you?" Serna asked both of their evil opposites, "What are you? Where did you come from? And why are you here?"

The copy of Serna grinned, "Oh, I'm the better version of you. The best version actually. I get what I want no matter the cost."

The copy of Caliaphy stuck out its tongue, "Yeah, you has been wanna be star elf. I'm the most beautiful one. All shall love me and despair!"

****

Quake slowly made her way towards the glowing rock. ~ This should be easy not hard.~ The rock acted like a magnet that was repelling her instead of attracting her. The closer she got the stronger the push back. "HEY!"

****

"Where did you come from? And why are you here?" Serna readied her weapon.

"We were already here, toots. We were waiting for the right time to make an appearance." Said the Serna copy.

"Yeah! What better way to help Zarathan take over Skyfall Aerie than to replace the help!" The shadow version of the kurori said gleefully.

"You made a big mistake coming here if Zarathan sent you!" Serna readied her shield with a look of determination on her face, "Caliaphy, let's take them!"

Caliaphy pulled out her triangle and chimed a tune of inspiration for Serna and snapped at the copies, "Hit the road Jack! Don't come back no more! No more!"

The dark fae's head jerked suddenly from the Vicious Mockery of Caliaphy's assault. "Eeeee!"

The shadow copy of Serna flipped the shield over and dropped it the ground using it as a skate board. Then jumped on it with intent to knock the girl over.

Because Serna had never seen a skateboard before she was completely unprepared this attack. Dark Serna slammed into the Shield Maiden and knocked her flat on her back dazing her a little. However, Serna was quickly able to scramble to her feet, "You got lucky, evil me! It won't happen again."

"I'm always lucky, has-been! In fact, when you're out of the way, I'll make sure your lover boy prince is in capable hands, mwhahahahaha!" Shadow Serna grinned.

At first, Serna was shocked by the comment but then she quickly got angry by the insistence that this 'thing' was going to get her hands on her one true love, Willow. "I don't think so!" Serna returned her evil opposite's attack with one of her own when she bashed Dark Serna in the face with her shield knocking the villain off of her feet and sending her backward.

Evil Caliaphy followed suit, "No place like the UnSeelie to take over the Seelie court just like it was in the beginning!"

The kurori clanged her triangle harder causing the ground to upheave and splinter forcing shadow one and two to back off. "It's called dancing! Now lets see how you two dummies dance!"

"Yeah! Make them dance an Ibathar Jig until their legs fall off, Caliaphy!" Serna added as she prepared herself for another possible attack.

The two shadows screeched from the Irresistible dance of the kurori's instrument and collided with each other. Their plan came up short when something beneath the ground grabbed them.

"EEEEEKKKK!"

Quake had both shadow puppets by the legs, "HEY, why don't you stay in the gloom where you're supposed to be! I got this Serna. Caliaphy."

"Thanks for the save, Quake, cook'em good!" Serna added with a vicious smile.

The fire stone dragon's eyes glowed brightly burning the shadows to nothing. Once done, she turned to towards the two of them, "About the glowing rock thingy. It's behind some powerful magic barrier. I think it's apart of the floating islands. You know to keep high in the sky. I don't have that kind of power like the Lady to break through it, so we'll have to find another way."

"We need to tell the Queen about the glowing rock and the barrier," The Shield Maiden offered, "This is her home. She may know a way for us to get down there that we might have overlooked or not even seen. Unless either of you have a better idea."

++++

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."

"I would pay to see either Caliaphy or War Scribe pull that trick off!" Irzen laughed, "Besides, when was the last time you took a bath, Alyson? Maybe a dousing of soapy ice water would do you some good."

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."

"Swordsman? Bowman? It depends upon the situation." Irzen added, "But you raise an interesting point, Archer, if we cannot go back the way we came; then how in The Realm are we going to get out of here?"

"The way forward and a word of advice, stop insulting my friend or you'll get burned in ways that the cleric there won't be able to cure," Archer said matter-a-factly. She brought her fingers to her lips and whistled, "Open the door, we're going through. You know the drill, lads and see you on the other side!"

Stanis and his fellows lead the way into the cavern which was quite large and open despite being a damp and dark. Even though the path was well traveled, it was hard to tell if anyone or anything ever passed through the area.

"Nice, very nice," Irzen whispered to Stanis, "It reminds me of home. On an engineering note, how long did it take your people to put this path together. It looks old yet it has clearly been used and shaped into the stone for a long time."

"This tunnel will bring up and behind the Tower of the Winds just out of sight of Venger's citadel and away from the horde camped out in front of it." Stanis said gruffly.

"Well, that's good to know." Irzen deadpanned, "It would be a shame if we wound up popping out of a hole and into the midst of the horde encampment. So, how many of your people are down here? Do you have a small mining operation or a big one going on?"