Quilik heard the turning of a key in a lock. He didn't bother to look up. He knew it was either Kakrin or Jasper, coming to torment him. He heard light and padded footsteps approaching him. He braced himself for the expected blow of a heavy club, or the sting of a small needle-sized crossbow bolt. Instead, a slender, gentle feminin hand gripped his, while a soothing ointment was rubbed on his face. He looked up.

"Who are you?"

Standing in front of him was a tall slender elf whose beauty surpassed anything he had ever seen. Her features were flawless. Her dark red hair seemed as though a beautiful waterfall, cascading down to her lower shoulders. Her lips were crimson and looked as though she had rubbed sweet berries on them. Her fine skin was had a slight turquoise hue to it. She was clothed only in tattered rags, and two bowls rested beside her. One filled with fruit and water, the other with some of the ointment that healed his wounds. What caught Quilik the most, however, was her eyes. Green as emerald, and shining brilliantly against the darkness in the room. The woman looked down at him and smiled, showing her perfect white teeth.

"My name is Lynn. I am to be your servant for the remainder of the time that you are here," she said. She reached into a pouch by her hip and pulled out a tiny key. She then unlocked Quilik from his chains and helped him up. Picking up her two bowls, she motioned for him to follow her. Obligingly, he did.

She took him into a luxurious room, draped in silks and other fineries. In the middle, a large bed rested. A table sat in the far corner with prachments and scrolls rolled up and lined neatly across it, and a bookcase filled with tomes and books rested next to it.

"This will be your room. Rest now, I know that you are weary," Lynn said, opening the door and leaving. Quilik closed the door behind him. He pulled off what was left of his armor and climbed into the bed.

***

Anomen slept peacefully for most of the night. However, when dawn approached, his blissful rest was interrupted by the sound of someone nearby screaming in pain and agony. Muttering curses under his breath, he reached for his mace and climbed off his cot. He listened only for a moment, and then headed towards the noise. In a clearing of trees, he saw Jasper, running around clutching his head.

"No, please! Go away! Stop talking to me!" Jasper screamed to an invisible person. Anomen stepped back in shock.

"Are you alright?" he asked Jasper, raising an eyebrow. Jasper did not even seeme to notice.

"You're drunk! Stop talking! Leave me alone!"

***

Kakrin stared at the scrying bowl in a drunken stupor, yelling random things that came into his head into the bowl.

Stop it! Jasper's voice screamed. Kakrin didn't notice. He quaffed another gulp from the keg of Dwarven Spirits that rested next to him. Hiccupping, he again began to yell into the bowl.

"GGAAWWW! Dithz good! Bardeneter! Gimme another one!"

My friend, you may not know this, but whenever you shout like that it hurts like a mother-

Kakrin shut Jasper's voice out of his head, for at that moment Lynn had entered the room. In her hands she carried a scroll and a large blackjack [1].

"Ah, Leaf! Yer here! Havaaaa...aaa drink! *hic*!" Kakrin said, thrusting the keg into Lynn's arms. Lynn set the keg down and stared at Kakrin for a moment, and then handed Kakrin a chalice filled with a magical hangover remedy. Kakrin slammed his chin onto the table and stared at the chalice with one constantly dilating eye.

"Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Wheeeoooh!" he said. He then swatted the chalice and began to giggle maniacally as the contents spilled all over the floor. Lynn sighed and shook her head. Walking over to Kakrin, she hefted the blackjack and slammed it down onto his head. Kakrin giggled again.

"Take me to my drunk! I am room!" he said, smashing his head onto the table and blacking out.

***

Jasper suddenly stopped screaming. Damn! This is not good, and certainly not inconspicuous, he thought. Anomen walked up to him.

"Jasper, art thou in stable health? Or do ye wish that I would cast a spell to cure ye of the foul demons that reside in thine head?" he asked. Jasper shook his head violently, spraying droplets of sweat everywhere.

"No, my good friend. 'Tis gone now, and I doubt that it will return," he said. Anomen looked at him disbelievingly, but did not further press the issue.

"Come, Tymora surely looks brightly down on us this day, for I was the only awakened because of your...sufferings," Anomen said, motioning back to the camp. When they arrived, Jasper felt lucky indeed. All the party members slept soundly on their cots around a long dead fire. He looked with some concern towards Jahiera, who was shivering violently in her sleep. As he stepped forward, Anomen put a hand on his shoulder and silently told the elf not to awaken her.

"Let her rest. Helm knows that she will need it."

Jasper nodded his head in agreement and then traced a finger in the dirt and looked towards the north.

"We should not tarry. Someone is following us. I suggest we let them rest for an hour longer, and then begin traveling. If we make good time, we should reach Baldur's Gate before Highsun," he said.

[1] A blackjack is a large metal club commonly used by thieves to knock out unsuspecting guards or noblemen. This weapon is rarely used to kill, due to it's horrible design for combat.