Through the message spell to Del... "I'd say leave his name out, he has too big of a head about all of this already."

Raven otherwise remains silent as they meet with the king, breathing a sigh of relief when the king finally leaves.

The prince welcomes Althaea to the castle and offers to take her on a tour of the public areas as you all chat.  At Del's words, Lintelér gives a half smile and says, "I know my brother is a bit of an...a bit hard-headed and overly sure of himself. But somehow, he nearly always manages to come out on top. Is there some particular danger or pitfall that concerns you?"

As you all step out of the conference room into the main corridor, a young high elf lady runs down the stairs (with perfect grace and elegance) and throws herself at Quentin, embracing him. "Quentin!  It's been so long! I've worried about you so much!" The princess walks down behind her, at a much more sedate pace, but smiling fondly.

"Captain Tharivol is out on the training grounds, at the moment," says the prince. "We shall pass that way as we show Miss Althaea the castle. It will be a nice surprise for him. I have also taken the liberty of inviting Miss Blackwood's mother to dinner," he adds with a  nod toward Raven.

Well, Del is a little nervous about busting on his friend's boyfriend's brother's drinking buddy Lemmet's booze-related schemes are not so bad, and oddly Prince Kolrando's obtuseness is ironically well-suited to resisting the young Naica's charms. But when he had taken over the Court of Fools, then-king Lemmet had put them into a deal with the hags - some of those 30 thousand we rescued were transported from Yonpinigel to Essy through that arrangement. Lemmet's greed for graft is easy for the hags to exploit - I do not think he even means to do bad, he just gravitates that way. So any danger would be exploitation by our enemies of the Prince's tolerance for his friend's weaknesses.

Lintelér nods. "I could warn Kal, but it would probably make him even more stubborn about trusting Lemmet. Perhaps I will send a note to Captain Kibble, advising her to keep an eye on him. In all honesty, Lemmet Naica is a very petty criminal, and in my opinion, not a competent one. If he was involved in the hags' plot, he was most likely in over his head. If Kal can make use of him in the ranks, or at least keep him out of trouble temporarily, it will be a good thing for everybody."

Eventually, your walk takes you to the courtyard, where a few dozen warriors are training with the sword.  You have had plenty of time to learn and observe fighting in the field, and it's obvious these elves are young and very inexperienced.  Their trainer sees you, gives a few more instructions, and sets the trainees to sparring before coming to join you.  "Quentin!  You troublemaker!" Tharivol Adiyodi calls as he approaches. "The castle's full of tales of your adventures, and I'm constantly being forced to brag that it's my little brother the bards are singing about! I think you owe me a few drinks." He laughs.

Elwin ponders his situation as they all continue walking. What would the prince want to talk to him about? For a second, he reflected, and worried if it was about the commotion caused in Slate City. But, he laid his mind to rest  on that point--he didn't really think the prince would worry about something that trivial, in comparison to his normal duties, and even if he did, it would be an excellent time to raise the question of when exactly a knight's authority extended to arresting the obviously corrupt. "Bah, it's probably just because I made some mistake on my coat of arms," he chided; it wasn't like he knew THAT much about heraldry after all, despite having scrutinized the ones he'd seen in his youth rather intently, and having been shown the basics.

He also found his thoughts frequently returning to Lady Sessara. Which was silly, of course. She'd provided surprisingly hospitable conversation, but--it wasn't as if a noblewoman like her held any REAL interest in him, especially once he admitted to his true heritage. Better to just focus on this meeting, he thought, steeling his mind for whatever was about to come their way.

Quentin smiles and chuckles at his sister and brother happy to see them once again. “I thought this would be a better use of my time then school again. Plus, you haven’t even heard the half of it. I’ll happily pay for all the rounds you can handle and regal you with what’s happening out in the world.”

For some reason Del always seems to have this jaunty tune stuck in his head in this particular mix of company, so he will be forgiven if he hums a bit baam baam ba-dum bumbumbum...

In time, everyone joins together in the dining hall.  You are interspersed among the castle denizens and the various dignitaries and guests. All conversation seems to center on 'the hag problem' as the noble begin trying to make sense of the situation, and you are asked many questions by the

Quentin is seated near the Prince, along with his brother and sister, as they catch up with events.

Raven's mother Marita shows up looking confused, with her lute strapped to her back.  She is delighted and surprised to see Raven.  "I couldn't imagine why I'd been invited to the castle, unless they wanted me to entertain," she says.  "When did you get back? How have you been? What have you been up to, or don't I want to know?"  She is accompanied by the bard Ullethil, who also greets Raven warmly. You notice they are wearing matching rings.

Del is approached by Lord Romgrol Aldalire. He introduces himself as the royal bard, and asks after Ziia, and whether she is doing well in Del's care. "It was I who suggested to the King that you be given the crwth," he says. "Somehow I knew it was fated by the gods."

Elwin seems a bit isolated, with no family in the kingdom, and a distinct shortage of knights and warriors in Lomalos at present to talk shop with. He remembers his dream meeting with his patron that took place at this castle, in this kingdom where their entire quest began.  Prince Lintelér briefly leaves Quentin to speak with him privately, then returns to the table.

(Sorry it's slow, guys, I have stuff going on. :D If you have anything you want to communicate to your families, discuss, or take care of, or requests you want to make from the Lomalos royalty/nobility in terms of backup and supplies, or let me know about stuff you plan to bring up in the after-dinner strategy meeting, you can do it now.)

Del thanks the Aldalire Bard I am so very grateful, Brother Bard my Lord Romgrol. Fated, one must think, else how could she have spent so long unplayed? In Master Zanderfell's library there is an account - I count some sixty centuries plus who knows how long unaccounted for in her history, and I think Zanderfell himself was the one who rescued Fair Ziia when her tree was stricken. Del of course has the crwth out and bows a bit of something as he speaks I am in Her care more than the other, and both of us serving Someone Higher I feel - my magic has changed through something like divine intercession, Our Blessedly Veiled One be praised...Del relates how Ziia appeared at Z's place and spoke with Rambleoake and other stories, always with the sense that he is talking about Ziia with Her right there

The Aldalires being famously smart, Del will bounce ideas about what he thinks we are going to do next - try out hoops, with M's amulet as their return ticket, and Q's teleportation for return if needed, using the Lomolos castle &or the Thamasaille for a base. Causing trouble for the hags and repatriating the Feywild folks. Not for too long though, since we have a Brinehold party to crash

"So you have finally tied the knot then?" Raven asks her mother right off, nodding to the matched rings. "About time." She then answers her mother's questions, telling all about her adventures up to now. She would finish by introducing her mother to the two hatchlings and her tressym.

"Yes, I finally annoyed her for so long she gave up ignoring me," Ullethil chuckles.

"We'll see how long it lasts, if he keeps stealing all my lines," Marita says.

"And I have gained not only a delightful wife, but a charming daughter," Ullethil adds with a gallant bow. "See, little bird, how profitable it is to be an insufferable bore!"

Marita rolls her eyes, but she and Ullethil seem quite happy with one another, and you are used to their sniping--it's been going on as long as you can remember.  Marita and Ullethil are delighted with the hatchlings and tressym. They spend the dinner asking after Sir Amnarel and news of the places you've traveled to. They also let you know that Huark and Half a Broken Cup are doing well. Cup has actually been attending school regularly, and has even made a new best friend--a tortle child recently arrived in the city, and feeling just as out of place as the tabaxi cub.

Lord Romgrol smiles at Del. "I am flattered that such a competent adventurer would ask my advice on his future actions. It sounds to me like you and your friends have things well in hand. I do miss my own adventuring days. They are long past, though, and these days I merely teach, or rather, attempt to teach music to the bored children of our noble houses."  Del finds himself discussing music and religion through the dinner with Romgrol, Fiannor Vithan the High Priestess, and Talos Vithan, the High Druid--the wizened little old three-quarter elf is here, with his attendant fussing over him as usual, and occasionally being shouted at for it.

Quentin spends most of the dinner with his brother and sister, who eagerly fill him in on all the court gossip, and tales of their lives in the Lomalos court. Caelynn tells you with satisfaction that she has no less than four suitors at the moment. "And not ONE of them cares a fig about my not having magic. Well, maybe Rufero Simul does a bit, but not much. Unfortunately, they have all gone away with the recruiters. I do hope they all return. Though I will have to decide between them, then." She looks worried.  Thorivale tries to lighten the mood with some stories of the horse races he and his friends recently attended. The prince seems tired, distracted and busy, frequently leaving to speak with one or another of the guests.

A couple of the family elders spent time traveling in the Feywilds, and chat with Mindartis and Althaea, asking whether they have been to the same places, or met any of the same people. The Simul elder, Lady Valvyre, spent some time in her youth in a village not far from your own, and you share the memories of some of the local sights.  Flitterbug seems totally bored by the conversation, and keeps trying to sneak peeks into her sorcery book without being too obvious...a task made difficult by the fact that the book is bigger than she is.

Some of the wardens and elders served as Knights of the Hall of Courts, and chat with Elwin about strategy for the coming conflict, and about their adventures and the arts of knighthood.

There is little time wasted after the meal, and the meeting begins with the king asking you to give an accounting of your ongoing adventures, and the hag situation.  Everyone is deeply concerned, and Prince Lintelér speaks at length about the army he is building for your support.  "My brother, Prince Kalrondo, is recruiting among the western courts, and Sir Almos Vithan has taken a band to recruit south of the Arasrok.  Tomorrow, Captain Tharivol sets out to begin recruiting among the courts to the east. My mother, Queen Nenlelun, travels north to seek support from her friends among the high elves. I shall ask Dean Lonvari to write his friends in the Halfling Republic on our behalf, and we will contact our ambassadors in the Three Peaks, the Bolgen Hills, and the Silver Mountain."  The king sits back quietly and lets Prince Lintelér preside over the meeting and respond to questions, suggestions, comments and complaints. Soon the discussion turns to providing supplies and weapons for the newly recruited army, and in no time the family heads are squabbling over who will be providing what. It is quite late when the meeting finally breaks up.

As you prepare to head for your rooms, Prince Lintelér stops you and says, "Please, don't hesitate to ask for anything that will make your task easier. Goodness knows, I am making it harder by...well...let's save that conversation for tomorrow, shall we? Goodnight, my friends."

Del feels a certain calm at the evening conversation on music and the divine. Slate City hijinks are a little unsettling, even if a reasonably good conclusion. He did not get even to the refrain of his last battle song - Wake Up is echoing a bit - and he had to play the peacemaker despite his revolutionary fervor - How long? Not long. Cause what you reap is what you sow! He's thinking of some new trippy battle music for the Feywild (preveiw) 

So when it comes to the Princes question I cannot really guess, Highness, what we might need in the other worlds. We need a base here, surely, that we can return to as we explore. I feel we will be popping through the hags' hoops, finding what we find, and returning. Hopefully we find a way to return the good refugees staying even now at the school dorm yonder. And I imagine we will find a way to do some mischief against our foes. If we find the right kind of trouble at a large scale...perhaps...is your Army interested in taking a fight across the ether to where the enemy hides? That would be some planning likely, but we may find a need for numbers

Quentin smiles at his Prince a small little glint of mischievous in his eyes as he says, “Can I spend the night on your chambers?” 

<<spit take>>  Smmoooove. Have fun stoimin' the castle! Do ya tink it vill voik? It'd take a miracle

The prince seems startled by Quentin's boldness, but soon returns it with a sly smile. "Will this be another wild session of studying together, then?"

Quentin grins, "Of course, I have lots of new spells to show you." 

Captain Tharivol stands. "It's been a pleasure meeting you all," he says. "But I must see that my troops are getting ready to move out tomorrow, and get some rest myself. Besides, I can see that my little brother is exhausted, and dying to get to bed." He winks as he leaves.  

The first person to depart seems to send a ripple through the meeting room, and the other nobles and dignitaries make their farewells and exit.  Marita and Ullethil invite Raven and any others who want to go to the Lark and Swallow for the night. Any who choose to stay in the castle will be led to their rooms by a too-young-to-fight page with eyes full of hero worship. Except possibly Quentin, who, i assume, leaves arm in arm with the prince?

Del will stay at the castle - he wants to do stuff when he goes back to Free City, feels wrong to just drop in for a kip

(Yes sorry. I didn’t see that last sentence)

Mindartis seems more interested at staying at the castle, and bids those that go to the inn farewell.