After surrendering her horse into the care of a groom and following the other members of the Russian expeditionary force through yet another portal Patsy founded herself in a huge room that seemed to be on the roof of a massive building.

And it was full of distinct delegations that to her eyes seemed to be separating and merging in distinct alliances.

Patsy’s eyes widened in surprise, surely that wasn’t, was it? It certainly looked like Ashes standing with the big delegation that somehow seemed to trying to upstage the Russian delegation. She watched Alexander join the other Russians present in this huge airy room that commanded spectacular vistas over the ocean and shore. It certainly seemed to be impressing the elves if not the dwarves.

She grinned ruefully; the poor sea elf kids seemed to bearing up well under the attention of most of the elves that had come with them.

She accepted an amulet from one of the circulating waiters along with a small plate of small delicate cakes and pastries. As soon as she accepted the amulet she was able to understand the young man. He assured her that it was a loan and that it used the dungeon’s magic to act as a universal translator but only within the dungeon’s domain.

Then it got very boring as numerous self important politicians in love with the sound of their own voices launched into speech. Patsy slowly worked her way round the room avoiding some rude individuals that seemed determined to ask stupid intrusive questions while smiling falsely into some strange objects that all seemed to have glass lenses and were carried by other people.

“Is that you Ashes? What is this dungeon?”

Ashes jerked and stared, “Patsy? Wow you’ve changed. For the better.” Ashes licked her lips nervously, “Antonio Rodrigues Muñoz was human before the System changed him into a dungeon. He still seems very human and... and,” Ashes waved a hand vaguely around the room.

“But... How can a dungeon...”

Ashes shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know, is he has this luxury hotel, hosts water sports, hires out aquatic security and has a travel business. He even has training dungeons for the enthusiasts. I don’t think the Guild knows what to make of him or his grandson.”

Patsy stood in open mouthed shock.

Ashes giggled nervously, “And what are you doing here? When did you get to Earth – err Midgard?”

“I was on the run when I met up with Alexander and his elves. He kind of took me in, I think he believed I would be better off in Midgard.”

Ashes smiled, “you will, but you’ll need patience. The age of majority on Midgard is eighteen.”

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“What! But that’s ridiculous,” exclaimed Patsy.

Ashes smiled angelically, “I was adopted and have a father and mother now, and a dorky but nice older brother. Me I couldn’t be happier. Hey how about we swap contact details. Phone and email? I even have a facebook page though I don’t put much on it. Don’t much trust facebook.”

“Err... What are those things?” asked Patsy confused.

* * *

Antor, João and Tessarra remained together and resisted any attempts to separate them. They remained polite and they endured the attention of the high elf delegations with commendable patience.

Silverfin standing with an arm around Tessana and Galianna remained close to the children while Druissa kept an eye on their backs.

The other sea elf children also showed commendable patience and relied on their parents for refuge on occasion.

* * *

Serenica hovered near the Avatar of the Luso dungeon and watched unbelieving as he joked with his Companion and Voice while sipping a glass of red wine. And if that wasn’t enough Moonbeam’s sister Moonbright and mother Starflare were enjoying the party as was the Voice of Moonbright’s dungeon.

And this was a working party. This dungeon was making alliances and deals. He was arranging for – commerce and he had both Human and Sahuagin lawyers present. And he was using his access to the high temple of Bast to sway the elves and to a lesser extent the dwarves.

Then on the second day he had introduced the representatives of the Undersea Oreolean Empire from Aquadel. And there was even a special meeting hall especially designed to allow aquatic and surface dwellers to interact.

Later when Serenica returned home she related her experience to her mother and her dungeon companion. Magestica was incredulous and it took Serenica a long time to half convince her mother, the titular head of the dungeon pixies clan that what she had witnessed had in fact happened and that yes three dungeons had entered into a close alliance that was strengthened by the fact that their companions were related.

* * *

Lilly, Guild Master of the Midgard branch of the Adventurer’s Guild was shocked, the past week had finally forced her to see what Silverfin Wavedancer had been trying to tell her about what she now knew for sure was the most important dungeon on Midgard. And the most unorthodox, she still doubted that it was particularly dangerous – as a dungeon – but it was a commercial and political entity.

‘Argh! How am I to treat this dungeon? It is well on its way to making itself indispensible to several powerful states. And with that damn temple the elves and dwarves will ally to protect it, while all the while seeking to take it over.’

She shook herself and turned to Elorinal, “What are you grinning at?”

“You! Now you know how I felt when this dungeon dumped all these high elf delegations in my hands. This time at least it has mellowed them. Which will help me immensely.”

Lilly gave him a sour look, “Only because it wanted to make alliances. Did you see all the dungeon pixies? At least three dungeons were represented at these talks and two of them are mine. Arghh!”

Elorinal smiled slightly. “Starflare signed several agreements for Bluestone. Were you aware that Luso and Bluestone are allied through their companions? And Antonio is arming him while mercenaries from Midgard are training his monsters.”

“Silverfin had informed me of the alliance. But... Are you sure about the arming and mercenaries?”

“Yes. And it is another potential headache for you as the assistant to the guild master in Verilanium accompanied the delegation of the Kingdom of Brakaridas. He was an appalled witness to this meeting.”