Chapter Seventeen: Lady of Loss

Jarlaxle ran his hand down his face in frustration.

"So this was all just a way to use me to meet up with your pleasant little friends." His gaze rolled over Vaelirra, who sat across from him in the study.

"Oh, don't be so surprised, Jarlaxle. You couldn't have truly thought that I was so desperate that I'd come groveling at your door. I had a purpose in coming here." She sipped her wine and studied his face for a moment. Her expression softened a bit, reminding him of the last time they'd spent lovemaking. "I'm glad I got to see you. But this is more than about your feelings or our former affair."

He shook his head. "So you just plan to run in with a child you claim is mine, pretend to be a victim in need of protection, then take her and leave when your friends show up, never to be seen again?"

"But she is yours-"

"Oh I know she is," he snapped. "Because I confirmed it."

Vaelirra smirked. "Of course you did. Of course you would. We just had to get Gromph in on this, didn't we." Her eyes turned hard but her mouth spread in a beautiful smile that had lure no doubt dozens of men into her web-including him. "You do know I thought she was his at first?"

"Yes I have surmised that you and he were an item. I also know about your little addiction." Jarlaxle rolled his eyes. "I don't care about that. And frankly, darling, while our dalliance was certainly pleasant, I could have any woman, or man for that matter, that I want." He layed his hands on the table fingers spread as he stared her dead in the eyes. "I am interested in Kesrith now. She is just as much my child as she is yours. I have the right and the duty to be her father. I will not let you take her away. Especially when you cannot even control yourself."

"Control myself? Because I enjoying indulging myself a little, then I am out of control?"

"When you indulge yourself so much that you leave her unsupervised, then yes you are out of control."

"I am not talking about this with you. I am grateful for your help. But I will be leaving soon. And Kes will be leaving with me."

"You don't know what is going to happen, Vaelirra! And you can't just take her away. I have a right to be in her life. I have paternal rights."

Her face incredulous, Vaelirra just blinked at him for a few moments. "I guess they are right when they say that drow who come up to the surface for a while have bizarre notions. You are a male, Jarlaxle. You sired her, yes. But you will never have any say in her destiny. It doesn't matter what these savages do or how they run their households. I am not one, nor is Kesrith. If you fancy yourself to be one, then that is none of my business, except that I would prefer to limit your influence over her."

"And what will you do with her? Sell her to the Shadovar? You can't believe that Shar is somehow better than Lolth."

"I know that Shar is better. I have felt her. Kesrith will be taught the ways of Shar. I couldn't teach her down there without my mother and sisters finding out. There are drow who worship her now. More and more our people are falling away from Lolth. Shar is making her move to take our people from the Spider Queen and I believe that Kes is a part of that plan."

"So Kesrith, our daughter, will be used somehow by this goddess and her agents? How exactly is this any different from what your mother is doing?"

Vaelirra rose up from the table and slapped him. "Never compare me to that bitch! Really Jarlaxle, I have nothing more to say to you about this."

Jarlaxle was going to argue again but the door open and Valas rushed in.

"Kesrith is gone. So are the Shadovar agents."

"Get all of the company on it. I want Kesrith found, now. If you have to, eliminate the Shadovar."

Valas nodded and left.

"Well, Vaelirra. Aren't you going to help me save our child from your wonderful friends?"