Morning's Spar

Zak jerked awake, breathing hard. He could still hear that blasted clock...

No, he realized with a gasp of relief, what he was hearing wasn't a clock. There was something tapping against a bedframe a few doors down; he wasn't sure what it was, but at least it wasn't that...annoyingly regular. He untangled himself from the bedclothes and rose, picking up his weapons. He needed to spar with someone, probably more than one someone, and work that dream out.

There was, he quickly realized, a problem. In Whiterun, there was a specified sparring ground outside the Companion's mead hall, where he could go out and have several willing sparring partners in short order. He had no idea where he would go to find either here in this city.

Nevano was waiting for him, despite it being very early still. He motioned Zak to follow him. Zak followed. Of all the people there, Nevano seemed to know his way around the best.

"I had...an odd dream," he said as they went out.

"So I heard." Nevano gave him a bit of a rueful smile. "Normally the Daedra Lords aren't overly concerned with each other but now they are all in each other's business. Azura told me to expect you. And to bring a fork."

"Why a fork?" Zak shook his head. "That...I don't understand. Though...that insane woman I was speaking with did say to tell you to...bring or do 'the thing'. She did not clarify."

"Think of it as code; Azura warning me that things will be a bit insane." Nevano explained, winding through the streets. It was still early and not many were out; but he avoided the main roads nonetheless. "And that was Nikki. You know, I was contemplating asking her for help. Seems she thought the same thing. Good to know Sheogorath is on our side. He can be a nasty one to contend with, despite the jokes and the cheese. I'll bring her along soon. For now...you tend to blow off steam with sparring. Difficult to do in a city. Fortunately, I know just the place."

He nodded gratefully. "That was...I was glad Ebonarm was there." He stopped suddenly. "Wait. You...know her?"

"Do you remember me telling the story about the skunk and the new recruits?" Nevano asked.

"Yes, I do."

"One of the recruits quit the moment we got back. Just couldn't take it. Sat down outside the gate and cried. A bit pathetic, really. Granted, skunks are bad but try wading through Bravil's sewers going after trolls. That is bad." Nevano wrinkled his nose. "The other recruit...laughed. And asked for another contract. While still stinking of skunk. She stuck around. In fact, she rose through the ranks and even helped save the Fighters Guild later. So much spunk...she would give Oreyn as good as she got. They'd spend hours trading barbs while he whipped her into quite a damn good fighter. She and I became great friends." He paused. "When I heard what had happened here in Cyrodiil with the Oblivion Crisis, it really wasn't all that much of a shock to know that Nikki was in the middle of it all. Ravenlight reminds me a bit of her, actually."

"So she's a friend." Zak nodded slowly. "I don't...see the resemblance to Ravenlight, though."

Nevano pointed to a statue. "That's because you met the after. I knew the before."

The statue depicted a young woman, her expression calm and bold, a dagger clenched in both hands. Her hair flowed loose and long around her and at her feet was, of all things, a pig.

Zak considered her curiously. "Quite a difference," he muttered. "Part of her...still looks the same."

"What do you notice about all the statues of heroes?" Nevano asked.

Zak shrugged. "I don't usually pay attention." He wasn't all that used to even seeing statues of healers, let alone examining them.

"That's...the problem." Nevano smiled sadly. "Everyone sees a statue, in this noble pose, and no longer pays attention. The statue is strong. No chips or cracks. People feel safe knowing nothing will happen to it. But it's not always the same with the subject themselves. Nikki fought some terrible battles and...despite the outcome, despite Martin knowing exactly what he was doing, she felt like she failed in the end. Saving the Fighters Guild wrought a terrible price too, one that Oreyn really struggled with as well. She was holding on by a thread when that darn pig, Genevieve, died. Genevieve was her constant companion. Followed her along on so many adventures, digging gardens up while we talked with people, squealing and goring enemies. Wasn't afraid of much. Then she died. Nikki couldn't take it any longer." He was silent for a few seconds, staring at the image. "Then Sheogorath needed her help. I never got the full story there but at its end, Sheogorath was, ironically, the only one who could help her with her fractured mind. Learning how to embrace being insane kept her from breaking so much that there was no return." Nevano said. "She didn't burn out, not entirely."

Zak gazed at the statue, his face softening by a few degrees. It was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

"She really is a good person at heart. She might be off the wall now but she watches over everyone in her own way. She likes to encourage me to make trouble. She likes watching it. She throws a fork at me whenever she wants to see something fun happen." Nevano grinned.

"So that's where they come from," he commented absently.

"Yup! I will ask you keep that to yourself though." Nevano laughed. "Everyone getting all worked up over the forks just makes her laugh harder. She's a good friend. I like helping her laugh."

"Well...you'll get the chance to do so in person." Zak turned away from the statue. "She's coming. To Mundus, I mean. I don't know when."

"I know. I know how to help her get here. We'll do that in a bit." Nevano led him through a gate to an area that had green gardens all around a massive stone and wooden circular structure. The street led up to a wood and metal gate, where a man was setting up banners. The musk of some sort of animal hung in the air. "You have sparred with everyone else. I think I want a turn now."

Zak nodded, looking around. "What is this place?"

"Welcome to the arena." Nevano led him through the gate. "Where people throw money around while fighters kill animals or each other. Mostly animals. Costs money when they kill each other all the time."

"Hey, this isn't open to outsiders! Gladiators only!" The man setting up the banners yelled. Nevano casually threw a handful of drakes his way, not breaking stride. "These are Morrowind drakes!"

"Like you don't have someone in a bank somewhere who converts coin." Nevano said, still not stopping. "That's what I thought."

"Hm. Now this I'm more familiar with." Zak looked around with a dark expression. "Been in a few before."

"Something tells me they weren't nearly as regulated as this one." Nevano sighed. "And a lot more people died."

"A lot more people. It was...the point." He shook his head, banishing the memories. "So. We can spar here without trouble?"

"I paid off the gate guard. It's still really early. I doubt they've even fed the animals yet." Nevano said. "No one should bother us. If they do, a few more drakes will shut them up. The combatants practice in the bloodworks."

Zak nodded, walking to the center and unsheathing his blades. "All right then. Let's see what you can do."

Nevano smiled and drew Trueflame and Hopesfire.

Zak started, quick, probing strikes solely designed to test an opponent's skill. Nevano blocked them easily though his technique was...strange. He blocked a certain way with his left hand, a style that most definitely suited his personality but his right was a completely different.

"Interesting." Zak sped up a little, using a slightly different pattern. "That's not something I've seen on one person before."

Nevano grinned widely and shifted, easily keeping up, his left side adjusting to more offensive while his right became more defensive

Zak grinned in response. "This will be fun." He shifted his own fighting style, moving in and out, switching between offensive and defensive in swift and confusing motions. Nevano managed to keep pace, though a pattern soon emerged. His left side was a rather random, loose style that was prone to sudden strikes while the right was...more formal and intense, meeting Zak blow for blow while getting its own strike in. Zak sped up, continuing to dance in and out. He also began to twist from side to side, moving out of range of first one side or the other, delivering sharp, stinging strikes as he did.

The left sword, Hopesfire, flew out of Nevano's hand. Far from being thrown off by it, Nevano switched completely to his right side, speeding up and meeting Zak's faster pace.

Zak moved in, hard and fast. His goal didn't appear to have been throwing Nevano off, so much as narrowing the fighting style down to one. Now, with his attention no longer divided between two opponents in one body, he could focus.

Nevano broke off suddenly, angling sideways almost perpendicular and dropped into a back roll, scooping up Hopesfire and coming up ready for Zak again. Zak was ready as he started to come back up, swatting him hard on the back with the flat of one blade.

Nevano erupted at that, lunging in a wind fury that set Zak back a step. His right suddenly matched his left, his eyes burning. The Drow wasn't put off for long, and lunged in, matching the fury with a more controlled one of his own.

After several long seconds, Nevano's eyes flashed gold and both sides took on the more intense and controlled style of the right.

"Nerevar, I presume?" Zak wasn't thrown off in the slightest.

"Until his rage subsides." Nerevar nodded, not breaking stride.

"He should talk with my son. Learn how to channel it." They continued to dance, Zak happily pushing the old king and testing his limits. "I'm going to assume he didn't like getting smacked across the backside?"

"This rage needs to be curbed, not used." Nerevar had obviously received more than just formal fighting education, judging by the underhanded blocks he used. "His past still dictates his present actions."

"I understand that." Zak added a few sneaky blows of his own, nodding in approval. "Had to learn it myself."

Nerevar smiled, obviously enjoying himself and suddenly fighting like a mercenary. "He holds on to much."

"We have an audience," Zak noted idly. He'd noticed, with his attention to surroundings, that a number of people had gathered around to watch, despite the early hour. A few looked annoyed; but none of them were about to tell the two they couldn't fight there. "Shall we give them a show?"

"Absolutely...Nevano has calmed enough to rejoin on the left side but I wish to remain here for the rest of our spar. I am enjoying this too much." Nerevar grinned broadly.

"Keep up then." His smile grew feral. "Both of you." And he erupted.

Both Nevano and Nerevar knew they couldn't beat him. This was a true master here, one they had a deep respect and admiration for. This wasn't about winning though; it was about lasting. And neither Nevano or Nerevar had lived as long as they had by being completely useless with a blade. Zak, however, wasn't simply looking to win. He wanted to push them, test them: find their limits. Also, he had trained warriors for decades; a part of him was slipping into that mentality again. He wanted to find the limits they didn't know they had.

Nerevar had no problem, was even enjoying it. Nevano, still getting over his earlier eruption, found himself getting frustrated. Though perhaps it was a good thing there were still a few vestiges of anger in him. He didn't get sloppy. He pushed harder. Zak smiled to see it and pushed back, making them fight for every possible advantage.

Though he was enjoying it, Nerevar stepped back, allowing Nevano to regain full control again. Aside from a small shift in weight from right to left, they were practiced enough that Trueflame and Hopesfire never stopped or slipped. Nevano threw himself fully into it now that Nerevar wasn't holding him back, redoubling his efforts.

The change was noticeable, and Zak started pushing in earnest. Any openings he caught resulted in a quick, stinging blow, while parries and pushbacks were rewarded with at least an approving nod. Nevano's face was perfectly serious, completely focused, his movements getting smoother, faster and more precise, his hands slowly starting to match.

They had likely been sparring for twenty minutes or longer before Zak ended it. A sharp blow to Nevano's wrist knocked Hopesfire loose again, and the second scimitar caught and held Trueflame just long enough for the first blade to snap back and up, resting at Nevano's collar.

Nevano blinked, almost as if coming out of a trance. For several seconds he stood, panting for air, while his mind struggled to catch up with what all his body had just done.

Zak sheathed his blades and clapped him on the shoulder, a real, unguarded grin on his face for the first time since they'd met each other. "Good job," he praised.

Nevano smiled back. "I...thanks. Sorry about...that bit earlier. Wasn't expecting it."

"You should." The Drow's face turned serious. "If we spar again, a blow like that will make you blind and clumsy. Fighting me, it'll get you knocked back on your arse. In a real fight, it could get you killed. Always expect an enemy to find those weaknesses."

"Usually doesn't bother me. I don't know what it was about that one particular strike that sent me into a spiral but...something to work on..." Nevano hesitated a bit. "If you don't mind sparring with me again."

"I don't. Though not right now. Fight like that, neither one of us will be at our best." Zak grinned. "Later, though, I'll be glad to. Expect to be knocked flat a few more times: after this, I will be training you, and Drizzt can tell you what I'm like when actually training."

"Later, yes." Nevano grinned, suddenly excited. "That's fine. You'd like Oreyn. Old goat threw me headfirst into a tree."

"Doesn't always improve the fighting skills," Zak said dryly, "but the backside...that gets through to them. Might pick up some minor injuries, too, though I'll try to keep those to a minimum to keep Elealda, Drelasa, and Ravenlight happy."

"I ran my mouth." Nevano shrugged. "But the point is...I can't promise I won't get mouthy but I can promise that I want to learn. Haven't felt this in a very, very long time. Almost forgot how I used to chase every chance to know more. Really want to chase that again."

"For my part, I almost forgot what it was to train someone." Zak smiled. "I think I'll enjoy this myself. And I can handle mouthy; though it'll probably earn you a swat to the side of the head if it happens during sparring."

"I'm sure I'll survive those!" Nevano grinned broadly. "I'm looking forward to this. Thank you. In the meantime...we've given these fetchers enough of a show and they didn't even pay." Nevano picked up Hopesfire, brushing sand off it. "We should go back before the others think we did something stupid and get worried. Don't want to add to it."

Zak nodded, then held out one arm and looked at himself, his skin glistening like basalt under a sun shower. "Yes, but...I think I heard something about baths yesterday? We might want to stop by those first."

"Not a bad idea. Still early enough it should be quiet. It's just down the street from the inn." Nevano sheathed his swords. "Nikki isn't ready yet. She'll let me know."

Zak nodded and followed Nevano out of the arena, ignoring the stunned looks that followed them.

Nevano was in a much lighter mood, almost bouncy, as he led them through back roads, away from the growing crowds in the streets. Zak watched him in amusement, for once able to ignore the crowds. There was hope, for the first time in a very, very, very long time, that he could finally shake his past. He was finally excited to see the future and felt a fire kindle in his belly to do whatever was necessary to fight to protect that future.

There were a few people in the bath house when Zak and Nevano entered, though the Drow was ignoring them. At first, they were perfectly content to ignore the pair of Dunmer themselves.

That, however, was before Zak came out of the back room, stripped to the skin.

Drizzt had an impressive physique: lithe and graceful, and so well-defined that he looked as though a staff that struck him would shatter before it did any damage. Men would stare with envy; any woman fortunate enough to see him with his shirt off would stare and drool. Zak, however, was broader and burlier than his son, and his physique did not inspire envy...so much as make nearly any man who saw it feel himself wither into insignificance.

Drizzt, perhaps, could be compared to a racehorse, combining power and speed. Zak, however, was a warhorse-the unstoppable walls of muscle favored by armored knights.

Nevano garnered attention as well, and not just because he himself was a well put together bundle of muscle. No, he had eyes on him for the same reason Ravenlight did: with scars covering his entire backside from his neck, down his back, over his buttocks and thighs and, far more sparsely, his calves. The normal scars from past fights littered him here and there but the crater on his left shoulder where it met his neck gained its own small audience. He ignored them, used to it by now.

Zak ignored the scars covering Nevano, and the stares they were both garnering, and sank into the hot water with a groan of pleasure. Nevano shot the gawkers a glare that said they'd better find a new place to look and relaxed back with a muttered curse in Dunmeri.

After a few moments, though, Nevano happened to notice that Zak had a rather...distinctive scar of his own, not merely the few dozen thin ones on both front and back that were the mark of a veteran warrior. It was normally unnoticeable; but either the exertion of earlier or the heat of the water had made it turn reddish, and more obvious.

It was the mark of a long gash across his chest: directly over his heart.

Nevano gave it no more than a glance. Zak's past was a painful one, judging by what had happened when he helped Veleth. And no hero, as Nevano knew painfully well, made it through without something catastrophic that no amount of alcohol could erase. But, Zak was here. And alive. Not surviving once was not a mark of unworthiness. That one was given a second chance to live again was something of note. Like pulling a sword from a stone.

Others...did more than glance. Nevano's scars had garnered a lot of interest; but they were, by and large, scars that could have been survived, albeit by a hair and a frantic amount of healing. A gash that long above the heart was something else, and the whispers and murmurs got to the point that he stopped basking in the heat and glared. It was a little like suddenly being glared at by a dragon, and even the ones who had Legion tattoos quickly found something else to talk about.

Nevano smiled a bit at that. Because one warning wasn't enough. The third time either of them had to do something, the baths might be closed for a few days to drain the blood. Oooh, wait, the ladies would get mad at that. Nevano frowned a bit. Surely there was something else he could do to get his point across that wouldn't include needing to avoid a few frighteningly powerful magic users...

"Soldiers! Get out and line up, you maggots!" A very cranky old soldier in full armor all but charged in, glaring hard enough to set stone on fire, reminding Nevano delightfully of more than one irritable warrior he was very fond of. "What are you all doing?! Sitting in here, soaking and staring and gossiping like a bunch of old women on washing day! Get your worthless hides out now!"

"YES SIR!" Water splashed everywhere as most of the occupants all but flew out.

"Bullshit!" The commander bellowed after them. "Sound off like you have a pair of balls between your legs, you maggots! Sitting in here like you earned time off! By the time I'm done with you twinkle-toed, arse-lickers you're going to wish you stayed in your bunks dreaming of pink dragons and fluffy kittens and whatever else you sissy, sewer-brained maggots dream of! You have fifteen seconds to get outside in full uniform before you sign your gods-damned death warrants on a full death march in the swamps!"

Zak watched, eyebrows slightly raised. He glanced over at Nevano. "I think I like him," he muttered.

"Someone throw him a commendation." Nevano said. "I'd say leave time but he looks like the kind to throw it back at whoever tries to force time off on him with enough cuss words to set an elder dragon on fire."

"You're damned fecking right!" The crusty old soldier stomped out after his men who were running out of the baths in various states of dress, frantically pulling on armor as they ran. "Five fecking seconds left! If I see a single gods-damned buckle out of place, the entire damned lot of you maggots are shoveling shit in the sewers for a week!"

"Should have come up with punishments like that while I was still Weapons Master," Zak muttered. "Get the same results without having to possibly replace soldiers afterward."

"Anytime sewers are brought in as punishment, expect results because no one comes away from that without seeing what you've eaten for breakfast a second time." Nevano said. "Though I have a feeling that if I ever hear you start cussing like that, I better start running as hard and as fast as I can until you say stop or until my lungs burst."

The grin Zak gave him was about as unnerving as the one Kriifadneh had back on the island. "Don't push me to that point," was all he said.

"A trick the twins have yet to learn; don't be an obnoxious arse to one who can flay your hide before you can blink." Nevano said. "Though they are pretty young. They got time to learn it and enough intact hide to survive the flaying it'll take to learn said lesson."

"Be interesting to see what they can do," Zak agreed, sinking back into the water.

"They are amazing trackers. They can navigate in most terrain like no other. More like dogs than mer." Nevano said, leaning back. "They know how to hunt but what they know about fighting, Veleth taught them. Not to say he didn't teach them well, but they are far younger than they said they are and Veleth spent more time teaching them how to trust him and how to...behave, really. Plenty of room to learn there."

"Something tells me that's mostly what I'll be teaching them," Zak sighed. "Troublemakers."

"Separated from home too soon." Nevano said. "That's a whole tribe they summon. Something bad happened and two boys were tossed out to fend for themselves."

"Hm." The Drow frowned. "That's...I don't know what to make of that."

"I can give insight there. Lack of trust is the big thing. See, they are Velothi. Ashlanders. Already not the most respected among Dunmer but to compound matters, they are mainlander Ashlanders. Those tribes have...a well deserved and rather hated reputation." Nevano said. "They made it to a city but instead of any sort of help, they were kicked off like mangy dogs. They got lucky though, when they got assigned to Veleth. I'm sure it was intended as an insult to him but instead, he earned their loyalty. Did you see how they were when he was in that uproar with Sul? They already respect you, especially after what you did for Bull. I really think if you earn their trust, you might find a pair of even more eager students."

Zak nodded slowly. "Trust...was never something I fostered before, except in one person. It wasn't a virtue in Menzoberranzan, or in the Underdark. I came to trust the one person I called friend very reluctantly, and I don't believe I understood its real worth until I-until I started training my son. Now, though, it's...something of a novelty. Be interesting to see how it changes things."

"From all the stories I've heard...makes even the twisted politics that make up the Dunmeri court look like a breezy summer day at the shore with a basket full of kittens." Nevano nodded. "Drelasa, for one, is determined to prove that not all dark elf women are...mal fahrag ikalam."

Zak raised an eyebrow at him and said something in a tongue with more than its fair share of sibilants.

"Evil bitches." Nevano nodded. "I don't know enough curses to fully describe it properly, really."

"That...describes them." His eyes closed, and he ducked under the water for a moment. "Yvonnel's...changing. Though half the time I still agree with Ravenlight about her."

Nevano scrubbed the sand from his wild mane of hair, gingerly poking at the still-raw scar on his head. "From Drizzt's stories, you might yawn at Morgiah. That hag wouldn't last five minutes underground where you are from. I'm half tempted to toss her there..."

He smiled harshly. "It can be arranged, apparently..."

"She does anything against someone with the last name Veleth and I just might be tempted." Nevano growled. "Again, I should say."

"That's right. She's the bitch who sent assassins after your mother." Zak's eyes flashed. He genuinely respected Drelasa.

"And her son." Nevano grunted. "They handled it, the Morag Tong certainly won't be taking that particular contract for a very long time, but Morgiah...I will get her back for that. Drelasa will get indignant, saying there's no reason to worry about her. She is right, she's scary when she's angry but...dammit, she's part of the family I've patched together. No one touches her like that and gets to sleep without fear at night."

From the approving look in the Drow's eyes, Zak not only agreed...but was plotting on how to help him with that.

"She's Queen Mother, like her mother was. Her youngest daughter, Felsi, is queen. Unlike Barenziah, no one likes Morgiah." Nevano tilted his head. "Felsi sees reason when you strong arm her. Morgiah...I'd rather be done with her entirely. But that's a plot for another time. When Drelasa isn't nearby to sniff it out before I come up with a convincing excuse that it's not because I worry about her. Though...we have Jorun back. She has Jorun back. Though he's a damn wolf..."

Zak hesitated. "Maybe...not for long. Ravenlight and Nevusa were discussing something...a possibility. Not a very strong one yet, so...it's probably best not to tell Drelasa and get her hopes up, but..." He drummed his fingers against his knee, gazing into the distance. "Actually," he muttered, "we could just take him through to them and have them perform the spell..."

"To change him back to him." Nevano went still. "No, I won't tell her. I refuse to break her heart again but to surprise her like that...not to mention to have that mind back with us. Not to mention having my best friend back...vith."

"For that..." Zak hesitated. "I'd almost be willing to risk Jarlaxle. Ravenlight was emphatic that she didn't want him finding out about this place...I see her point. But for you and your friends...for Jorun...and for Drelasa...I'd be willing to risk it, I think."

"For those two, I'll risk just about anything." Nevano said emphatically.

Zak nodded. "We'll talk to Nevusa when we get back, then." He paused suddenly. "If...she's there. I thought I heard someone talking last night, about a possible royal summons...and dressmakers?"

"Oooh yes..." Nevano made a face. "For the wedding. It will...be a flurry."

Zak groaned and sank back into the water. "Now I really know I'd rather train you. That is something I'd rather not be around."

"Count me in. Eagerly." Nevano made a face. "Especially since someone will be there to outfit Farkas. We are in danger of being swept up in that. I will make up a contract to get us out of the city for that."

"I might help," Zak muttered. "Another wedding...gods."

"Silver lining. Well, two, actually." Nevano said. "One, Nevusa is free. If you met what she was born into, this is easy to get through. Nevusa's mother is the only good thing in that family. Other than Nevusa, though that goes without saying. And two, Drelasa is going to find and bring in the two Dunmeri generals that are on their way to Highrock. Now that will be fun."

"Be nice to meet them." Zak glanced up at the skylights to gauge the time and sighed, rising out of the water. "I think we'd better get back, though. We might have been here longer than we intended."

"You will like these two." Nevano grinned and got out as well. "You thought that human commander was cranky? Wait till you meet Garil."

Zak smirked a little. "Looking forward to meeting them."

"Garil thwarted Nikki's initial plan of mischief when we first met." Nevano smiled at the memory as he wrapped a drying sheet around himself. "She helped inspire a better idea later. Finally got that one eye of his to widen in shock. Only took blowing a temple sky high..."

"Did I hear about this before?"

"Probably. It's a popular story." Nevano laughed. "Nikki had fun, Nevusa got to play with magic, Nerevar got to watch his rabid bitch of a former wife's temple turn to rubble."

"Should I mention Nikki's involvement when we get back?" Zak quirked an eyebrow.

"Not about the temple! Her coming? I wasn't going to surprise everyone with that." Nevano laughed, pulling on his armor. "Like Uliamu, she requires a bit of a warning label. Also like Uliamu, she's only dangerous if you are on the wrong side of her."

"Still need to meet her," Zak mused. "And not entirely sure if I want to. Nikki had me ready to run very quickly."

"Her brother will be there to keep her in line." Nevano reassured him. "And she'll be focused mostly on Veleth. She is fairly obsessed with him. Dreyla might hit her over the head with a bone."

Zak blinked at that image. Dreyla was not exactly the most...ferocious of women.

"She's...asked both Veleth and Drelasa to teach her to defend herself." Nevano said. "She's either going to gain enough courage to smack a bone witch with her own bones for flirting with her husband or it'll turn into a damn brawl that'll take all of us and every Velothi there to separate them."

"That...I'll leave to Ravenlight to break up," he muttered. "If she was willing to scream at Boethiah over what happened between me and Veleth that first day..."

"No kidding. She's tough. Very, very tough." Nevano said with plenty of admiration in his voice.

"She's...certainly not afraid to speak her mind. To anyone." He laughed a little. "Me included."

"Well, anyone who isn't afraid to yell at dragons sure isn't afraid to tell off her ragtag crew she calls family." Nevano's smile was warm.

Zak nodded slowly, a look of surprise on his face as he considered, possibly for the first time, that Ravenlight did indeed consider him part of her family.

"Surprise. You got a family that prefers your company and isn't interested in killing you." Nevano smiled.

"It's an improvement," the Drow admitted, his expression suggesting he was finally understanding why Drizzt was so fond of his noisy and often sharp-tongued adoptive sister.

"I never knew my blood family so I have no comparison. But it's so much better than being alone." Nevano led the way out.

Still looking a bit dazed by the realization, Zak followed.