She sipped at the hot liquid, visiting with her friends over elven brew until early evening. Then Stergis pulled out a bottle of gnome- made wine. It was a light blend perfect for entertaiuning  a fdew good friends. 

By the end of the evening all of them had a great time. As they hugged Ravenessa and Stergis good-bye, Jim walked Trinity out of the castle. The empress knew this w3as her best chance to talk to Daniel.  She needed to find out what was going on with him. She hoped it wasn't bad news. 

"Walk me out to Soranto, would you?"  She asked.

"Sure, I'd like that a lot." He replied to her.

Once she had gotten him out of the room and alone in the hallway, she stopped and looked at him.

"What's going on? You said you needed to speak with me alone?' 

He nodded, giving her a blank hopeful stare.

"Whatever it is you can tell me." She said.

The warlock st5epped closer, took a deep breath and kissed her.

She didn't know how to react. Shock came over her. Of all that he could have said or done she wasn't expecting that. 

She just stared at him. 

"Say something. You're no0t angry with me are you?" He asked in a panic.

The empress kissed him back. "I'm not angry with you, but I do need to get back home." She said, walking to meet up with the witch and the dragon.