A Strategic Bathroom Break

As she walked over to Second Minister Harmon, Kathy walked up to them and wimply said, "This way guys." And then lead them to a table near the other group and, instead of pulling the seats out for them, simply placed a couple of menus on the table and started to walk away.

Feeling like he had been insulted, Harmon ordered, "halt! I DEMAND that you tell me what you told them right NOW!"

Smiling at him, Kathy answered, "Hmmm, let's see, I said welcome Maelyn Khadim, Welcome Joseph Tanyn, welcome Angie Tamm, Welcome David Daughtry" and continued naming off each of the archeologists and observers that she had seated until Harmon got frustrated and interrupted her.

He interrupted by saying, "STOP! I KNOW you said more than that! I saw you talking to that girl when I first aproached and you were talking to that Tanyn kid when I walked in the door! What did you say to them is what I want to know!"

"I was unaware that you were interested in my conversations with my family." Kathy responded, "but since you asked, I guess I will have to share it with you."

Before she could start sharing those conversations, Harmon stopped her by demanding, "And how are them two related to YOU a mere servant at the BAKERY?!"

Smiling in a malicious manner, Kathy answered, "I thought our Second minister would know what our Prime Minister knows about my genealogical history that makes him keep me from approaching the palace grounds during this project but, since you are lacking in that information, I am the granddaughter of the last King of the Tanyn name and am the grandmother of Joseph Tanyn who is father was my firstborn son.. I am also the grandmother of Angie Tamm who is the daughter of my last child. Would you like for me to go into more detail or does that suffice? Or would you rather require me to ask Anton to show you the paperwork when you go home tonight?"

"NO! Calling my father is unnecessary!" Harmon insisted, "I will have to take your word for it until I have checked your paperwork in the morning! But remember that you are NOT allowed even NEAR the palace grounds during this project even if you DO have family on the site!"

"I understand that part Harmon! Your father was EXTREMELY clear on that point!" Kathy forcefully replied, "But at the same time YOU will keep your nose out of discussions I have HERE with my family members! Because once you stick that nose even in my direction I will inform your father that you are violating our agreement and that if you aren't corrected IMEDIATELY that I will consider our agreement null and void and will march DIRECTLY to that throne room and claim that throne! Understand?!"

Reluctantly, Harmon answered, "I understand! As much as I hate allowing you to freely speak to them, I will allow you to have discussions with them but about ONLY about family matters! Not about anything to do with that throne!"

"That, my son, I already know and have already been following because that has been the agreement me and your father have been following for TWENTY YEARS now!" Kathy aggressively informed him, "So why don't YOU sit down and learn how to follow your FATHER'S orders!"

When Harmon then angrily sat down, Kathy took their food orders and gleefully informed him as she walked away, "By the way boy, Your father told me that I was to only turn in the ticket for the archeologists and to require you to pay for the ticket for your fellow observers."

After turning in the food order for Harmon and the observers accompanying him, Kathy prepared the drinks for the others and was delivering them while informing them of this food that they were going to be treating them all informing them, "Ladies and gentlemen, the observers that are present with you can fill you in on how good these following dishes are. For some of you we will be treating you to a dish similar to what the French have claimed as a French dip but is made with some corned beef instead of that bland roast beef their delicate stomachs dictate. Others will be treated to our exquisite tasting dish that is similar to what the Italians that stole it call Romanoff but is nowhere near as bland. And, for those of you whose stomachs prefer bland food, we have for you what we stole from the Italians and modified that we call lazy lasagna. I hope you all enjoy." She then walked up to Joseph, leaned down to him while facing away from Harmon's view, and added before returning to the kitchen, Joseph, please nod a couple of times as I am talking. Miss Maelyn, although I am facing towards joseph, this message is for you and it is simply for you to visit the bathroom here in a bit if you would like to know more of your family's secrets being as I am not supposed to be talking to you."

in reply she nonchalantly grunted in an affirmative manner and, a short while later intentionally announced loud enough for Harmon to hear, "Well guys, this bladder may be a super bladder strong enough to hold out all day, but that teas has it begging me to empty it. So I've gotta go visit the ladies room before that food gets here!" She then stood up and made her way to the restrooms.

Having dismissed her trip to the bathroom as unworthy of further attention, Harmon continued to focus on what he could hear the others at the table were saying in case they said anything he needed to report to his father. Seeing this, Maelyn walked to the bathroom and, as she turned to open the door, heard a whisper behind her. Opening the door and turning around to face the door to the kitchen, she held up a finger real quick and went into the bathroom and used it quickly to cover herself just in case anyone had followed, and to keep others from asking questions if she had indeed ended up having to go later.

Having finished she opened the door like she was fixing to exit, but kept it open and stood against it as she quietly positioned herself to be visible through the small window in the kitchen's door. It quickly opened as well and Kathy, likewise, positioned herself in the short alcove to be out of sight of anyone looking from Harmon's table. She then asked Maelyn, "How much do you know of your ancestry?"

"I was told that my great great… maybe one more great... grandparents used to serve the Queen that got buried by the lava and they managed to barely escape before it reached the palace walls and enclosed everyone else inside to be buried -and most likely also cooked -alive." Maelyn answered, "Why? Do you know of me having some distant relatives left here serving in the kingdom somewhere?"

"Yes I do." Kathy told her with a sad smile, "But I can't tell you who it is yet. I can only tell you after you find the crystal dragon statue that lights up at your touch. I know it sounds vague, but it's the best I can divulge until the palace has been opened and all of the statues have been found."

"All of them?" Maelyn asked in confusion, "I know the Prime minister had mentioned the necessity of his presence if I found the crystal one in the throne room, but that was the only one I was aware of."

"The one in the throne room picks the next dragon to lead by lighting up and staying lit." Kathy explained, "But there is also a crystal dragon statue left by each and every one of the dragonborn that were there that day so that they can one day pass on the power of the dragon spirit that resided in them when their life was cut short."

"So they really did think they could transform into dragons?" Maelyn asked in wonder, "That is unfortunately going to make classifying the artifacts more tedious and confusing than it already is. Yay."

Grinning, Kathy told her, "Don't forget about the part I can't tell you until you find the right dragon. That part, in and of itself, is gonna be a doozy!"

"Well how do I contact you to find out more?" Maelyn asked, "or are we gonna have to continue to meet like this?"

"The best way would be to send one of my grandkids. Either Angie or Joseph down here to eat when you have a question and they can ask me during our 'family time' that these pesky Alwuzars have to allow me." Kathy informed her, "Be careful not to wright it down though because they would be able to intrude on true family conversations and use it as an excuse to make them have to have an observer following them everywhere."

"That's what I don't get!" Maelyn quietly exclaimed in frustration, "Why are them two so much more obsessive about the three of us? I mean none of us has ever lived here and we've signed onto this project more because of the uniqueness of habving a palace and only a palace buried under basalt than we are about our ancient family coming from this place! I just don't understand it!"

Kathy checked to make sure they weren't being observed before telling her, "It basically boils down to a power grab. Anton being Prime Minister gives him massive amounts of power over what happens in this kingdom but his family has always lusted after the power of the throne. But, to their greatest frustration, the throne has been unavailable for just over five hundred years. And that volcano has only recently settled down enough for them to feel safe bringing some in to uncover it."

"But still!" Maelyn grumbled, "Why are they so obsessed with what the three of us do?! I can understand why they'd be wanting to keep an eye on me because I'm leading the project and they would want to make sure I wasn't being reckless on uncovering stuff, but why are they obsessed about me simply talking to you. And why are they so obsessed over two students as well who only have like one close relative that lives her? I mean it just seems like major overkill to me."

"I unfortunately can't tell you any further until you find the dragon you're meant to find," Kathy hesitantly told her before having to return and take Harmon's table their food before taking Maelyn's group theirs, "But the reason they are obsessed with you three are closer to the throne than they are. When you figure out why then we can talk further but until then we're gonna have to use Joseph and Angie as our messengers."

Maelyn nodded understanding and then stepped into view and walked back to her table informing Harmon as she walked past patting her stomach, :You and your boys might want to hold your breath going back there. I think I blew that toilet UP!"