Thanks to Guan and ALS for reviewing.
ALS: Wait till he finds out he has breasts now and a new height of 1,28... g
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Part three - Getting acquainted
Behind the door lay several rooms to explore. Nima loved to poke into people's private chambers. A lot of interesting things could be found in such places. She looked around in the suite. There was a drawer that looked tempting, a closet, some shelves...
About half an hour later, Nima had satisfied her curiosity. And she was badly, badly disappointed. Boring, that was it. Everything in here was absolutely and awfully boring. No family pictures, no jewelry, no money, no private diaries... just some wooden artwork from foreign lands in the living room, several fine embroideries on the walls and some scrolls in the nightstand. But the parchments were covered with some obscure and unreadable scribble. Since they revealed nothing of interest she had put them away again. The whole room was orderly and somehow impersonal without an atmosphere of privacy as one would expect in the living quarters of somebody. But besides an unnerving lack of bright and shining colors -Nima loved everything bright and shiny, especially colors- the room looked more like a room to let.
These were her -his-, quarters? Everything was exquisit and of the best quality. Still, it was a stupid place to live in, Nima decided. She wondered whether it was advisable to look for some secret hideaway under the carpet or behind the shelves. In the meantime she settled herself in front of a small secretary in the sleeping room. Why would anybody need a desk in his sleeping room? When you slept you didn't write. Strange habits. Really strange habits. She shook her head, thinking about what kind of person would live in such a place, and suddenly hit her forehead with the backside of her hand. Stupid girl! She had forgotten one of the most common places to look for secrets. She had left out the bed.
Most people left something under their beds. Most people took this for a very secret place. But people also put their keys under flower pots, beneath carpets or above door frames. Very original indeed. She had learned her lessons about the predictability of humans. This mage definitely was a human. Probably the old under-the-bed-trick would work. The bed was relatively large and soft. At least, her host seemed to prefer nice sleeping conditions. Good boy. She kneeled down and peered into the dusty darkness. And there was something. A chest of some sort. Nima jubilated triumphantly. Finally something to satisfy her curiosity with. She reached for the wooden box. But before she could complete the action, she pulled away hastily, folded her hands and leaned on the mattress. The opening of a nearby door and soft footsteps had caused her to take a sudden break from her investigation tour. Better not to be found snooping around. Besides, she didn't want to share the chest's possible secrets. When this untrustworthy elf didn't know about this, that was better for her. Elves weren't so different from humans after all.
The only pose that could innocently explain her kneeling before the bed, was speaking prayers. She had seen humans do this very often before sleeping. She was a lucky kender knowing so many and exact things about human behavior and rituals. As soon as the footsteps came nearer, she started with an appropriate prayer to a popular human god. All humans she knew worshiped him.
"Oh Paladine, venerable Lord of Law and Honor..."
"Ehem."
A soft hem came from the door. The elf was back again. She appreciated his being here for the moment since he had brought a tablet full of fruit and bread. Nima turned around and seated herself on the bed and watched him expectantly. He shrugged and put the tablet on the secretary.
"I knocked, but no answer came." he murmured.
"I was praying!" she insisted proudly.
He inhaled a deep breath and sighed: "I know."
"It was a correct prayer!" she justified her action. She had done no mistake. She had perfectly copied human standard.
The elf shook his head slightly and stared at her for a while. Then he bowed again.
"What ever you say, master."
Nima nodded and reached for the fruits. Her stomach produced a soft rumbling sound. Boy, was she hungry. She hoped the elf would go away, but he didn't. He just stayed there and observed every of her movements. This was somehow unnerving. Finally she shrugged. At least, bad company was better than no company at all.
"You wam fome foo?" She mumbled, her mouth full of bread and gestured in direction of the plate. The elf stared at her and refused politely.
"I already ate." She could only guess his thoughts by the stony face he always wore, but she had the feeling that behind his mask of nonchalance he was surprised. She took some more bits of bread. The elf was quiet. Nima didn't like quite companions. Talking was much, much better. Besides, she needed more information about this place.
"What did you do today besides rescuing me?" she asked the elf.
"I occupied myself with the lessons you gave me, master."
"Oh fine... What kind of lessons did I give you again?"
"Runes."
He eyed her closely and slightly distrustful.
"Oh. Runes. Hn. I remember..."
Then he did something she had not expected. Before she could react, he spoke a fast incantation and was right in front of her, wielding a fiery blade, that appeared in his hand. The edge of the eerie weapon pointed directly at her throat.
"Who are you?" He asked coldly, all politeness gone.
