"I am pleased that we are agreed," smiled Edwin. He took a small sip of ruby wine, letting his upper lip play on the rim. "It is unfortunate that you happened to surface in this barbarian wilderness, no doubt you will find Thay more to your liking. Besides, you always struck me as too intelligent for your companions."

Viconia smiled at him and reclined very slightly on the bed, crossing her legs in such a way as to show them off to the best angle. The silk of the Grand Dukes' guest linen felt soft and seductive under her hand and she stroked her fingertips over it invitingly.

"More intelligent than Arowan is hardly the zenith of compliments," she teased her new ally. "She can barely read. Come, you can do better."

Edwin raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. He had not known that, though it did not entirely shock him. The hairless-wonder had not been shown the fundamentals of personal grooming in Candlekeep, so why would they bother teaching her literacy?

"Not just the ranger," he assured her. "You could outwit any of them. Even the wizard lacked the basic skill to produce a simple magic missile." Viconia's eyes narrowed slightly. She had no wish to talk about Xan. "Whereas you…"

"What about me?" smirked the drow, reclining on the bed to show off her figure to full effect. Edwin appreciated the view. That foolish elf must be kicking himself for throwing this away. The Thayan supposed (correctly) that she was the reason for his sulking about on the rooftops on execution day. Obviously, he had no intention of mentioning to Viconia that Xan was in the city. He had planned to tell her after Dynaheir's assassination, and perhaps save himself the expense and inconvenience of taking her to Thay. Yet if she meant to offer him other services, maybe he would not bother bringing up Xan's presence at all.

"Yes Odesseiron," he thought to himself, "Take her back to Thay, bed her and show her off until the novelty wears thin. Then palm her off on some mid-ranking soldier and let her think it was her own idea."

Viconia had no better plans in mind for Edwin, though she was rather enjoying being compared favourably to the detestable Arowan. Moreover, since Xan had the gall to end their relationship, she had been feeling inexplicably bad. For some peculiar reason she had found herself pondering why it was that he had wanted to end their romance. It had even crossed her mind, albeit briefly, that perhaps she was not as attractive as she thought she was…?

No! Impossible, and here was an appreciative male to remind her of it. She would cooperate with Edwin's plan, go with him to Thay and let him introduce her to their culture. Then she would dump him for one of his superiors and work her way up the ranks. Maybe have a few daughters and spread her influence through marriage. It would take a while, but drow lived a long time (at least in the absence of other drow). House De'Vir was back in business, finally!

Xan was in a far less decisive mood. He had returned to the Inn after the trial and was currently sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands trying to decide what to do. He was utterly, completely and hopelessly in love with Viconia. To call it mere despair would be his greatest understatement since the time he had described a Demon Knight as 'bad.' Was she even capable of returning his love? What did love even mean to someone who had been raised for decades in the belief that she was fundamentally superior not only to his gender but to his entire race?

Yet every time he closed his eyes the image of her naked and moaning beneath him in their bed swam before him. He replayed her witty insults over and over in his head, remembered the passionate, insistent press of her lips over his own. Xan ached for Viconia so desperately that it felt as if his heart might force its way out of his chest in an attempt to reach her.

He stood up abruptly and started pacing the room, his mind and heart unable to reach agreement on a course of action. It was madness, utter madness, to condemn himself to the exiled, vilified existence he would be forced to lead with her. It would be a foolish thing even if she did return his feelings, but as it was, she didn't! At least… not in the way he wanted her too. By the time the wizard had finally come to a decision, and settled his anxiety enough to attempt to refresh his spells, the nails on his hands were gnawed to little bleeding stubs.

Back in the Ducal Palace, Viconia was in no mood to sleep. A quick ear pressed against the door to Coran's bedroom told her that Safana was unlikely to be putting in an appearance any time soon. How laughably feeble rivven females were. She understood that slaying her treacherous male had not been a viable option for the thief, but to let him back into her bed? Ridiculous! Almost as bad as Arowan with that monk. Males will always treat you as badly as you are willing to be treated.

"The witch and her bodyguard are performing some sort of petty ritual for the dead Bhaalspawn," said Viconia, returning to her room. She slowly took off her boots and gloves and Edwin's eyes darkened with lust. "What shall we do while we wait? We have plenty of time."

"Is that so?" replied Edwin, locking the door. "Perhaps I should introduce you to the legendary skills of the Red Wizards? I daresay the Evereskan had a few tricks up his sleeve but my people have a well-deserved reputation for… creativity."

Viconia fluttered her lashes over her ruby eyes and gave him a come-hither smile. The wizard stepped smugly from the door to her bed, and minutes later the bedsprings started to squeak.

Sunlight streamed through Xan's grubby window in the Elfsong Tavern and he sat up taking his first mournful breath of the day. He dressed slowly and set out toward the Ducal Palace like a man walking to the gallows. Or at least, how he had always imagined a man would walk to the gallows until he had actually witnessed it first-hand. Eric had met his end with not so much resigned dignity as hysterical terror. Nevertheless it was with much trepidation that he set out to make his peace with Viconia.

He dawdled at market stalls along the way, toying with the idea of trying to appease her with flowers or some small piece of jewellery. Still, he knew deep down that nothing less than his unswerving, eternal devotion would be enough to satisfy his mistress. Which is what, he had decided, he was willing to give to her. If that meant spending the rest of his short life as her spat on and scolded servant, then so be it.

At the same moment as Xan made up his mind, Edwin gave a shuddering groan and rolled off of Viconia. She propped herself up on one elbow, her silver hair cascading down her bare back, watching the wizard dispassionately. He was not repulsive, neither was he particularly attractive and his grandiose boasts of sexual prowess had turned out to be mostly bluster.

'Marginally above average' was the rating she would give the Thayan were she being truthful. She needed him as an ally for now though, so this was not the time for honesty. Maybe later. Much later when she had settled in Thay and upgraded to a more powerful man-servant.

"It is true what they say about the red wizards then," she purred, stroking his chest. There was some muscle there, certainly more than Xan possessed, but also a distinct bit of paunch around the middle. He had overdone it on the perfume too. When they went for round two, Viconia had been obligated to opt for girl-on-top. There was a real danger of her suffocating on the fumes had it been the other way around.

"Indeed," he croaked, recovering somewhat and hoisting himself up onto his elbows. "But entertaining though this was, it is not sufficient for our partnership to proceed. Are we still in agreement as to what must be done?"

Viconia forced a strained smile. It wasn't as if she had many options left at this point. Even if Jaheira had not vanished with her mewling excuse for a husband, her leadership had become intolerable. Xan had abandoned her and Arrow was not powerful enough to protect her without the support of Rasaad. Besides she had no desire to follow the monk or the ranger around the slums of Baldur's Gate doling out soup to beggars.

That left Freya or Edwin. She did not doubt for an instant that she could wrap the sapphically-inclined werewolf around her finger and perhaps live comfortably in the Ducal Palace for a time. There was a 'but,' however, and it was a big 'but.' Freya was very much in the public eye, and Viconia knew how fickle a mob's mood could be. Lycanthrope, drow, Bhaalspawn and Sharran was a combination that had the potential to attract a pitchfork wielding crowd in very short order.

"Then it seems we have a witch to murder," she replied to Edwin, nibbling his lip teasingly. He laughed throatily but it seemed she was not going to get a third rise out of him in one day. It was hardly worth the effort anyway.

"Excellent!" said Edwin, standing up with rather more energy then Viconia would have expected given his recent exertions. His narrow eyes danced with malice and he was rubbing his fingers together in anticipation. He was more enthused about murdering Dynaheir than he had been about sleeping with Viconia, the drow noted, taking mild offence.

The first step of Edwin's grand scheme was to obtain the Soultaker dagger that they had taken from Durlag's tower. Currently this was in the possession of Rasaad. The monk did not prove difficult to locate. There was really only one place he could be. Viconia carefully covered her face and head then set out for the docks with her new lover in tow. The drow had little experience with naval matters but the expedition taught her very quickly to detest all things nautical.

There was the sea itself, as flat and endless as the horrible sky, only her fear of falling into it could really come true. There were the sailors themselves, with their disrespectful and threatening catcalling. The otherworldly screeching of gulls, the horrible stench of fish and the unwashed throng of humans and elves bustling all around her. At least Arrow's headscarf kept the nasty, salty sea breezes off of her face. Some probing of the locals by Edwin, lubricated by a gold coin or two, revealed that there was just one ship bound for Calimport that day. They found it and bribed their way aboard.

"Let us be quick," hissed Viconia anxiously. "I would hate to still be aboard when this cursed death-trap begins its journey!"

"You will need to board one to reach Thay," pointed out Edwin in an amused voice. The creaking wooden vessel bobbed gently in the sheltered water of the dock. Viconia started to look a little queasy.

They crept up on the monk who was meditating in a small passenger's cabin. At least he was sitting in a meditating pose, but he seemed a long way from experiencing inner peace. His face was contorted in an expression of murderous fury. Viconia took a step toward him, but Edwin placed a restraining hand on her arm. He focussed his powers carefully, charmed and stepped back sharply around the corner and out of sight. The monk felt something as the magical energy struck his back and turned around. The cleric summoned her flaming sword again ready for a fight, but the monk simply nodded at her sadly.

"Hello, my friend," simpered Viconia in a falsely sweet voice. "I came to check that you were alright."

Rasaad stared at her as though she were mad, but Edwin's charm had been successful and he answered her as though she were a trusted confidant.

"Alright? How could I be alright?" he cried, anguished. "Arowan has murdered my brother!"

"Murdered your brother?" Viconia blinked. She was here for a reason, and Edwin would not thank her for getting distracted, but the monk had peaked her curiosity with this bizarre statement.

"Maybe that is too strong," sighed the monk despairingly, burying his head into his hands, "But had I known the truth I would not have left my brother atop that mountain. We could have taken him to a temple and had him revived. I would have weaned him off of the numbing potions. I would have restored him."

"Not possible," said Viconia with certainty. "The nearest temple was too far away. By the time you got Gamaz to one it would probably have been far too late to attempt a resurrection spell."

"Probably," Rasaad echoed, laying a delicate stress on the word. "But not certainly. Arowan took away my chance to try and I can never really forgive her for it. Never."

From around the corner an impatient little cough reminded her both of Edwin's presence and the limited duration of charm spells. The ship's timbers gave a nasty little groan, which also prompted her to speed up the conversation.

"We will miss you," she told him, not entirely untruthfully. The moon monk's lame crush on Arrow and attachment to Selune were irritating character flaws to be sure. On the other hand she had found him rather pleasant to look at, particularly on those occasions when he had removed his shirt. He took personal hygiene unusually seriously for an adventurer, so by exercising a little stealth in the evenings, she'd had the opportunity to enjoy that view frequently during their travels.

"I will miss you too Viconia," replied Rasaad. Outside there was a lull in the barrage of sailors bellowing, and the distant squawk of a gull could just be made out. Then, prompted by the charm spell to be forthcoming, Rasaad added, "Though your beauty has caused me much discomfort during our adventures."

Edwin, who was listening to every word, snorted loudly. Viconia blinked her red eyes in surprise and shook her head with a wry smile. Well that was a true enough statement. Rasaad's reticence when it came to his own sexuality was perplexing to the drow, but also curiously endearing. She had found teasing him most entertaining, but with the exception of that incident with the succubus, she had never gotten a very satisfying response.

"Be that as it may," she said, suddenly feeling a little flustered herself, "Arrow sent me to retrieve the Soultaker dagger. The Grand Dukes demanded that she turn it over to them so that they can free the trapped souls. Obviously she can't collect it from you herself, given the circumstances, so she sent me."

"How could this happen?" poor charmed Rasaad asked in a hollow voice, fumbling through his pack and handing Viconia the dagger. She baulked. The foolish rivvil had just been carrying it loose in his bag! Had he no concept of how dangerous the artefact was? One little scratch and their souls would be lost forever! She hastily sheathed the Soultaker in a pair of stockings and stashed it into her pack. Now was the time to run before the charm wore off, but the monk looked so broken that she hesitated. "I love her," said the monk helplessly, "I thought she cared for me. How could she do this to me Viconia?"

Despite knowing that Rasaad would never be confiding his feelings in her like this in an uncharmed state, something about his sad, brown eyes gazing up into her own melted her a little. She sat down on the bed beside him and wrapped her arms around him comfortingly. Those muscles were as solid as they looked. His head drooped onto her shoulder, burying his face into her silver hair.

"Arrow clearly adored you," she sighed, with a bite of impatience in her voice at the monk's melodrama. "You could not have got your brother to a temple in time and I am in no doubt that Khalid would have died if we had attempted it instead of allowing him to heal from his injuries. Gamaz left you with little option but to kill him and she hid the truth from you to spare your feelings."

She stood up, knowing that she needed to get out before the spell wore off and Rasaad realised he had been tricked. To her horror, the man was crying again.

"You are weak moon monk!" she spat at him, her drow instincts kicking in and making her lash out, swift as an adder. "You slew a powerful enemy, spared yourself attachment to a weak female and now you have a home to go back to which is more than I can say! Desist this self-pity, it is revolting!"

She turned and stormed away. Edwin raised a questioning eyebrow as she passed him. She merely nodded in confirmation that she had his dagger and he smiled a smug, superior smile. They disembarked and he held out his hands, muttering to himself gleefully when she handed him the Soultaker dagger. He unwrapped and inspected it for himself, then pulled his own dagger from its sheath and tossed it aside, replacing it with this one. The discarded weapon clinked away on the cobblestones but was quickly snatched up by a passing urchin.

"Yes, this will make everything so much easier," he smiled devilishly. He shoved the drow's stockings which had been wrapping the dangerous blade into his pocket. Viconia looked at him with a vexed expression.

"Will it?" she demanded, "The monk is sure to come after us once your magic wears off!"

"Then shall we make haste, dearest?" asked Edwin, laying a sarcastic stress upon the pet name. Viconia's scarlet eyes narrowed dangerously. Given how speedy Rasaad could be, the answer was clearly yes, and for all the Red Wizard's feigned indifference he ran alongside her back to the palace.

"Make yourself invisible again. I have an idea," she whispered to him when they were just around the corner. She walked up to the guard on door-duty, uncoiling her headscarf as she went. "Arowan has said she would prefer not to see the monk, Rasaad yn Bashir again," she lied boldly. "If he turns up here send him on his way, and be warned that he may attempt to force the issue."

"Yes ma'am. No problem," the young guard said dutifully. "That were quite a drama them two had on the scaffold weren't it?"

"Indeed. You saw how angry he was. I think he might try to kill her in revenge now," Viconia continued, elaborating on the original deception. "I bet he would say anything to get to her. He'd make up any story."

"I think we're smart enough to see through anything like that," the guard replied, tapping her nose with a wink. "You can count on us ma'am!"

Viconia stepped over the threshold with a wicked smile. That should stall the sunny soul for a while.

"I am impressed," the invisible Edwin whispered behind her as they hurried up the red velvet staircase. It must have been a magnificent great rug once, but constant abuse by Freya's large, muddy boots had already wrecked it. "Viconia, you will do well in Thay."

Maybe too well. Her sleek capacity for improvised deception alongside her treacherous nature were useful now, but she could just as easily end up turning on him. Maybe taking her home with him was not such a wise career move… but one problem at a time. Deal with the witch first, then find an excuse to ditch the cleric.

They reached the floor with all the guest rooms and Viconia strode down it confidently, shadowed by Edwin. She did not feel any need to be stealthy since this was, of course, exactly where she was supposed to be. They passed the door leading to Arrow and Imoen's room, bypassing the one Viconia shared with Safana and the smaller one where Coran was currently bunking alone.

She paused, listening, at the door to the room Dynaheir shared with her bodyguard Minsc. There were no sounds coming from within. Nevertheless, she opened her bag and took out a selection of strengthening and agility potions which she swallowed in quick succession. They burned slightly slipping down her throat, and a wonderful feeling of power flooded through her. She looked around her for some direction from Edwin. This was his plan after all, but she was unsure exactly where the invisible Thayan was standing.

"Do you suppose she shags that addled warrior?" she speculated to break the tension.

"Simian mating rituals are of limited interest to me," whispered Edwin, as Viconia began casting blessing and armour spells over herself. "Now summon that burning blade of yours and open the door. I will provide cover fire. Do not kill the witch! I must stab her with Soultaker, otherwise they might be able to revive her and all of this will have been for nothing."

"Understood," whispered Viconia, concentrating on her petition for Shar's blessing. Her weapon appeared, crackling with heat in her palm. With a nod at Edwin, she turned the handle and kicked the door in, hard.

There was no response, and after scanning the room quickly with her eyes, she sagged in disappointment. Beside her Edwin cursed under his breath. There were no travelling cloaks or shoes and they had taken their packs with them. It seemed that the Rashemen pair had gone out.

"Very well, we will wait for them," Edwin huffed in irritation. "Patience Odesseiron, patience… you have waited this long…"

They stepped inside, but luck was on Dynaheir's side that day. Arrow was returning from distributing her remaining gold among the beggars outside the palace. She would have little use for extra money in the Cloud Peak mountains. As she rounded the corner she was alarmed to catch sight of Viconia's dark ankle and flaming blade vanishing into the witch's private room. Her eyes were almost too puffy from crying to roll them. Almost, but not quite.

She hovered in the hallway, picking unconsciously at the gold leaf wallpaper, her brown eyes narrowed at the closed door. If she screamed for the guards now, and the gods knew Viconia deserved it, then she could be rid of her hated rival in a very permanent way. There could only be one reason for Viconia lurking about that room so armed. One way or another, Edwin had managed to get to her, and now she was doing his dirty work for him.

The ranger dithered, taking far longer to make up her mind than she strictly speaking ought to have done. The truth was that for all of the crying god's doctrine of forgiveness, she was itching to settle the score with Viconia. Still, she knew she'd regret it if she actually ended up watching the drow swing. The same grotesque mob who had scooped up samples of her brother's glittering dust would no doubt appreciate some silvery drow hair to add to their collections. Or perhaps Officer Vai would take her scalp for her wig shop. The mental image of Viconia's disembodied silver hair draped over a shop dummy with a price tag attached brought Arrow back to her senses. Of course, she wouldn't call the guards.

With a reluctant sigh she retrieved her quiver and arrows from her room. Imoen had collapsed into a shivering sleep. Dried tears for Eric clung to her pale face and her pink hair was all mussed up over the pillow. It had taken on a lank, unwashed quality and there were great grey sacs beneath her eyes. Arrow decided to let her sleep and set off after Viconia alone.

She marched herself down the corridor and thrust open the oak door to Dynaheir's room. Then she stepped back sharply, but the missiles and spells she expected to be ambushed with never came.

"Don't attack me Viconia," Arrow snapped. "It's me, and I don't have the witch with me. I'm coming in now. We need to have a serious talk."

She stepped into the room, leaving the door ajar, but there was no sign of the drow. She waited for what felt like ages but wherever Viconia was hiding she seemed in no hurry to come out. Arrow shrugged and sat down on Safana's bed. She wasn't going to be fooled, she knew what she saw. At length the cleric gave up on trying to make the ranger think she had made a mistake and stepped out from behind a dresser, one hand holding her flaming sword, the other resting on her hip defiantly.

"Don't do it Viconia," sighed Arrow wearily.

"What exactly is it you think I'm going to do?" asked Viconia delicately. There was a shadow in her eyes and her expression was dangerous, like a fox watching a cornered chicken.

"Dynaheir is a good person," said Arrow, missing the vibe and standing up. "You'd be far better off siding with her than that creep Edwin, and besides if you assassinate her now, you'll get caught. I've seen you here, I'd be forced to turn you in!"

"You won't do that," the other woman replied with certainty.

"Yes, I will Viconia," insisted Arrow seriously. "Ilmatari are forgiving but that doesn't mean I can let you stroll around the city murdering whoever you feel like. If anything happens to Dynaheir I will have to report it."

"Not… necessarily."

There was something about the drow's tone that Arrow didn't like. Viconia had slipped sideways to position herself between the ranger and the door. She was looking at her with a twisted smile.

"Oh," said Arrow, raising her bow as the penny finally dropped. "Shit!"

The ranger knew at once that she was in serious trouble. She was an excellent archer but useless in melee and reliant on cover from the rest of her party. Worse, Viconia had known a fight was coming and had prepared in advance. The tell-tale shimmer of magical energy around her told Arrow that she had loaded herself with potions and protection charms.

Adrenaline coursed through Arrow as she looked for a way out. There was a window but it was too small and too high to jump out of easily. Besides they were some height above street level. Viconia was barring her way to the only exit, eyeing her calculatingly.

The drow had not struck at her yet. Arrow would have time to fire once before that evil flame sword reached her and Viconia was bracing herself for it. Clearly the cleric's plan was to let that one shot hit her, and then take the archer down. There was no way, especially with Viconia's protection spells active, that she would be able to fell the cleric with a single arrow.

"Why are you doing Edwin's dirty work for him?" Arrow asked angrily, in an attempt to buy herself some more time. If she could keep the Sharran talking a little longer there was always a chance that Minsc and Dynaheir might come back.

"It's nothing personal Arowan," Viconia sneered. "If I help him kill his witch, I get his protection. Though I must admit, after tolerating you and Jaheira barking orders at me all this time, killing you will make a refreshing change of pace. Alright. Maybe it is personal."

"We saved your life!" cried Arrow, aghast. "We took you in!"

While she kept the cleric talking, she was thinking. Viconia had inadvertently told her something when she said 'help him kill his witch.' Help. Not do it for him. That meant Edwin was here, and if he was hiding, that suggested he had used most of his protection spells on the melee fighter instead of himself. She scanned the room as Viconia launched into a long and predictably scathing response, letting her know exactly how foolish she had been to shelter a drow in the first place and every mistake she had made since.

"Come on Eddy," thought Arrow, scanning the room. "Where are you?"

There! One of the red velvet curtains drawn back from the window was fatter than the other. It was also moving, just slightly. Without warning, and cutting Viconia off mid-sentence, Arrow spun about and fired at the spot where she expected Edwin's upper torso to be.

There was a thud, and then a loud ripping sound as the Thayan fell, dragging the curtain and half the rail down as he went. He landed prone on the ground, still pinned to the drapes by the arrow shaft, which Arrow was satisfied to see had pierced his lung. Blood was bubbling from his mouth but he was neither moving nor making a sound. A fatal shot. The shock had rendered him immediately unconscious and without healing he would be dead very soon.

Viconia's expression had changed from one of triumph to grave alarm.

"Better tend to him quick Viconia," taunted Arrow. She drew her hunting dagger. There was no way she would be able to survive hand to hand combat with Viconia but she could keep her occupied long enough for Edwin to die. "If you lose him you've got no one else now and I know for a fact that you don't have enough gold for a revival."

"Yes but you do!" the cleric said softly.

"Nope. Gave all my gold away," panted Arrow. "Not much use for gold in the Cloud Peaks so I handed all but a few coins to the beggars outside. Bet you're kicking yourself now? You shouldn't have wasted all your money on buying Xan those fancy books!"

Viconia gnashed her teeth together. The drow seemed to be swelling with rage. "You gave it away to beggars? You really are pathetic! Even that snivelling elf had more backbone!"

"I'm pathetic?" retorted Arrow. "At least I don't throw myself at every man I see. On the subject of which, Viconia, your latest conquest isn't doing so good."

Edwin had lost an alarming amount of blood but more than that, he wasn't breathing. With every heartbeat a fresh wave of red had erupted from his wound but these pulses were becoming weaker with each passing second. His hands were turning blueish-grey.

"Oh, so now the truth comes out!" Viconia hissed. "Lady Virtue is just as hateful as the rest of us. Admit it, you've always despised me! I've seen the way you look at me when I talk to the moon monk."

"You're right, I don't like you Viconia, though the gods know I tried! I make no apology for it either. Ilmater commands me to shelter the weak but he doesn't say I have to enjoy doing it," Arrow replied. Viconia raised her weapon, but the ranger pointed a warning finger at Edwin. "Tick-tock Viconia! You don't have the gold to revive him and you're running out of time."

"I'll strip your body and sell your equipment!" she raged.

"Yeah right!" Arrow actually laughed at this. "How are the people of Baldur's Gate going to react to a drow selling bloodstained gear while dragging a human man's corpse around? Because you can't leave the wizard here! You think when Dynaheir returns and finds his body in her bedroom she's just going to hand him back to you?"

Viconia hissed and lowered her sword.

"Perhaps you are slightly less stupid than I thought, Arowan," she conceded.

"Best get on with it Viconia," the ranger sneered.

With a snarl, the drow turned from her and skidded to Edwin's side. Wasting no time, Arrow hurled herself toward the exit. As she reached the doorway, a hot streak of firey pain roasted her side. Viconia had thrown her flaming sword at her retreating back, and though she did not throw it with enough skill or strength to actually pierce Arrow's flank, the ranger was badly burned.

The summoned blade flickered out of existence and Arrow half-ran, half-collapsed along the corridor and down the staircase. At the bottom were two guards who sprang to attention at the sight of her. Arguing with them, and each other, were the last two people she expected to see.

"You're mad, human!" Xan was raging at Rasaad. "How could Viconia have charmed you, and what use would she have for the Soultaker dagger?"

"Let me through!" Rasaad demanded, ignoring Xan and yelling at the guards. "Arrow and the others are in danger, I have to warn them!"

"Xan?" Arrow managed weakly. "Rasaad?"

The two men turned and looked at her, both going rather pale as they took in her injury. For a moment, Rasaad forgot to be angry with her. Xan, on the other hand, was breathing in the burning smell of her flesh and leathers and taking in the large scorch wound. Undeniably, it did look like Viconia's work.

"We stopped the monk, just like you asked!" the guard told Arrow proudly. Arrow slung her arm over the young woman's shoulder and used her to steady herself.

"I asked no such thing," panted Arrow, clutching her side in agony. Sweat was pouring down her forehead from the pain. "I take it Viconia instructed you to do that?"

"That's right ma'am!" trilled the guard. Arrow stared at the dim doorwoman, who was looking ridiculously pleased with herself and shrugged helplessly. There was no cure for that level of stupid.

"Arowan?" Rasaad gaped, "What happened?"

"Viconia," replied Arrow breathing heavily. Blood and some other clear fluid was gushing from the wound and down her hand, hot and sticky. "She's working with Edwin… Attacked me…"

"A charm spell!" cried Xan. "You look after the ranger. I'll rescue Viconia!"

"She isn't charmed!" Arrow called after him irately, but it was a futile effort. Deaf to what he did not want to believe and moonblade readied, Xan pelted up the steps two at a time, into the room that Arrow had just vacated.

"Here, I have healing potions," said Rasaad. He watched with concerned eyes as Arrow drank them one after another. The wound healed, and new pink flesh replaced the burnt tissue. Where the sharp edge of the flaming blade had struck though, there was an angry knotted mark. This was going to leave a scar. "What do you suppose she wanted the Soultaker for?"

"They were going to use it on Dynaheir," said Arrow, angrily. "I don't know why I'm surprised. Edwin was itching to take that weapon for himself as soon as he found it. I suppose the idea is that it would stop her being resurrected."

"I cannot believe Viconia would do such a thing," said Rasaad. Then he looked back at Arrow. Now that she was out of immediate danger, the anger he had felt before was starting to creep back and he added, "But it seems I am a poor judge of character."

Arrow was long in the habit of suppressing her feelings. Her lonely childhood in Candlekeep, for which everyone always told her she should be so grateful, had set her on that path from an early age. Following the teachings of Ilmater had further honed her bottling skills into an art form. The price for this constant stoicism, however, was that when she did snap she snapped hard.

"GET OUT!" she hollered. The commotion had attracted some attention and heads were starting to emerge from the landings. Imoen was peering down at her, and framed at the top of the stairs Freya, the great golden werewolf, was watching her sister with a quizzical expression.

Colour rushed to Rasaad's face and his muscles tensed. Even after what she had done, he had come to warn her about Viconia and healed her injuries. He had missed his boat and would have to find work to afford to book passage on another. By what conceivable, twisted logic was she angry with him? Arrow, conversely, had been picked up and dropped repeatedly by the monk and she was sick to death of it.

"Get out," she repeated in a cold, pained voice. She notched an arrow and pointed it at his kneecap. "Do not make me tell you again."

Upstairs, Xan stood framed in the doorway, panting and livid. Viconia's head shot up, staring at him in utter shock as if she could not believe her own ruby eyes. Edwin was sitting up in a pool of his own blood. The arrow was lying on the floor beside him and he was conscious once more, but in obvious agony as Viconia continued to weave her healing magics.

"LET HER GO!" thundered Xan.

Edwin gave a dark little chuckle.

"She is not under any spell, magic-monkey," the Thayan replied.

"Viconia, what is this?" the elf cried in disbelief.

"You abandoned me!" cried Viconia defensively, dropping Edwin's head. It hit the hardwood floor with a loud crack and he grunted in pain, clutching at the not-quite-healed spot where Arrow's shot had pierced his lung.

"So you decided to work for him?" Xan shrieked.

"She does more than work for me," sneered Edwin from the floor. "No chance of her wishing to ride you again. Not now that she has experienced a real wizard's cock."

Blood pounded in Xan's ears, and he fought back the urge to vomit. This was a bad dream, it had to be. His Viconia with… with Edwin? He felt as though the pair of them had reached into him and pulled his insides out.

"Viconia?" he managed weakly. His moonblade hung loosely in his palm.

"Why did you come back?" she howled.

The pair of them locked eyes with each other. Xan's were wet with sorrow, and his whole body was shaking. He tried to speak but he couldn't find the words. All his predictions of doom and his speculation about how badly wrong things would go had turned out to be optimistic. He had endured Mulahey's cave, yet this feeling was so much worse than anything he had imagined possible. Viconia yearned for the power to cast wish or a time or memory altering spell. She had given up on Xan too quickly, but now it was over, hopeless.

"It doesn't matter now," said Xan in a barely audible whisper. "Goodbye Viconia."

The elf turned and bolted, almost knocking Imoen over in his haste to get away. Without so much as bidding Arrow and Rasaad goodbye, he ran from the Ducal palace and did not stop running. His feet carried him rapidly from the city, pausing only when he collapsed from exhaustion. He rested by the side of the road where he fell. In the morning, he rose and carried on fleeing until he was back within the walls of Evereska, which he would never leave again.

Xan spent the next few years trying to forget about Viconia, keeping nothing of her except the leather-bound History of the Drow that she had gifted to him. These became required reading for every new student of Xan's, in order that they might be forewarned and not repeat his mistakes. He avoided hearing talk of the outside world and for a long time assumed that she had been hanged for the attempted murder of Dynaheir. The thought tore at his soul whenever he closed his eyes.

However, as much to her own surprise as anyone else's, Viconia did not hang. Arrow refused to tell the Flaming Fist what had transpired in Dynaheir's bedroom, though judging by her expression the Rashemen woman could hazard a guess. Edwin stumbled out into the street clutching at his chest. He was tailed discretely by Freya, who warned the Thayan in no uncertain terms of the fate that awaited him if she scented him anywhere near her party again.

"This is the last time I protect you," Arrow told Viconia icily, at the door to the Ducal Palace. "The very last time. Next time we meet it will be as enemies, and Viconia?"

"Yes?" the Sharran replied acidly.

"If you throw this chance away and end up forcing me to kill you, I am not going to feel the least bit guilty about it." Arrow smiled at Viconia sarcastically. "Just so you know."

"Neither will I rivvil," the drow promised her, taking her hand in an ironic gesture of sisterhood. "Neither will I."