Drizzt Do'Urden is so not mine. None of R.A. Salvatore's characters are, and I do not profit from them:) With that, here is a long awaited update. I intend to try to get you guys another by next week!

As Chara took her throne once more in the tent of meeting, she contemplated the elf's reaction to her threat to kill his ally. He was definitely confident she couldn't, so a magical beast perhaps? She tried to think of all of the possibilities, but her mind kept recalling a certain dimpled smile. "Damn it," she muttered to herself as Meekra sauntered in, followed by her second-in-command. She noticed the merchants were already kneeling before her. She would deal with them first. Meekra was an arrogant man. One that Chara needed to be careful with. It would not do to shame him in front of those he considered beneath him.

"You are the merchants that led the group following Muric's blundering excuse of an assault, am I correct?" she asked, studying the two men as the translator relayed her words. One of the men was slender, with skin so dark brown, it was nearly black, like the color of her elf. However, he was far from handsome. His features looked pinched. Shrewd. The other was a heavier man. One could say he looked jovial, if not for his cold, calculating eyes. Both were opulently dressed, garishly so. It seemed they wished to impress her. They failed in that regard.

"That is correct, Princess," stated the dark one. An arched brow from her and the hiss of her second's blade alerted the merchant to the blunder, "I beg your pardon, Exalted One!" he all but shouted, prostrating himself before her.

She smiled. Her eyes meeting those of his companion, she asked, "Which of you is the tactician? I was pleased with the manner in which you handled your men yesterday." She rested her elbow on the side of her throne, setting her chin in her palm as she awaited the reply. Though, she was nearly certain she knew the answer already.

"I am, Exalted One," said the heavier of the two. His voice seemed at odds with the rest of him. It was too high pitched. He was a man of many contradictions, it seemed.

"Your name?"

"Berdran, Exalted One," he answered, bowing beside his colleague.

"Berdran," she said, as if tasting the name, contemplating the man. "You are now in charge of all the merchant forces. It seems the post was made vacant last night." She watched, amused, as the color drained from his face when the translator relayed her words. He must have been present during Muric's demise. "I trust, Berdran, that you will not disappoint me," she told him, dismissing them both—as well as the translator—with a wave of her hand. When the two merchants had bowed themselves out, she turned her full attention onto her warlock.

He would need to be handled with more care. He was, after all, a very dangerous man. And warlocks could be volatile. However, to show him that she felt threatened by him was to show weakness, and as the Emperor's heir, she could not be weak. "Meekra," she said, a burning smile upon her face, "I lost a great many men last night." She stood gracefully from her throne when he moved to bow before her, and approached the warlock as he regained his feet. "Do you know why I requested that Father send you?" she asked him, meeting his hard gaze. She felt triumphant when he dropped his eyes to the floor.

"No, Exalted One. I do not," he answered.

She circled him, much as a predator would. She wanted him to feel intimidated. "You are said to be the best among your guild, Meekra, and I need the best of everything," she told him, knowing that stroking his ego was just as important as keeping him off balance. "I demand the best," she added, as she came to a stop before him. "And yet, our enemies managed to bypass your shields and strike at my soldiers. How, Meekra?" she demanded, coming flush up to him, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"I am looking into the matter, Exalted One."

She smiled dazzlingly at him, knowing it would put him further on edge. "I am glad, Meekra. I am sure you will not fail me again," she told him, returning to her throne and sitting tall within it. "From what I have garnered from my . . . captive, the creature is most likely an ally of his and magical. You are dismissed for now" she said, motioning her cupbearer for wine. "I expect a progress report this evening," she added, taking her goblet in hand. She watched as he bowed himself out of her presence. He would consider the attack a personal affront and an embarrassment to himself. He would be relentless to find the answer.

She waited until the warlock was gone, her mind still troubled by the enemy's successful assault on her camp last night, before she spoke again. "Jofat," she called, knowing her second stood in the shadows near the entrance.

"Exalted One," he said, stepping from the shadows to prostrate himself before her.

She waited for him to return to his feet, before asking, "are we prepared to resume the assault upon the elves?" She took a sip of her wine. The warm, mulled flavor bursting across her tongue soothed her ire somewhat, as she gazed on the commander.

She had fancied herself in love with him once. Jofat was a handsome commander, after all, and the son of a powerful family. It seemed forever ago when she had broached the subject of marriage with her father. But her father had made it clear. If she was to be his heir, she could not allow such sentiments to hinder her judgement. She had slaves to appease her fancies. More powerful men were meant to be handled with care and cunning. And when she married, if would need to be to strengthen her own position, not to give the throne to another powerful family, even if that family's son seemed to be her most loyal subject.

His dark, almond-shaped eyes met hers, "we are, Exalted One. Shall I lead the assault on your behalf, or do you care to do so today?" he asked, knowing her answer already.

"After the debacle last night, I cannot fail to lead the assault. Have them ready my horse," she said, tossing back her head to down the last of her wine. "And Jofat, have the slave masters attend to proper bindings for my newest acquisition, hm?"