PART 19:

Drak entered the dinning hall to find his friend Maur setting up for that nights dinner party.

"Hi," Maur said. "What are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with you," Drak said.

"I can't talk right now," he said. "Can't you see I'm busy."

Drak watched him as he started setting the table. "How would you like the night off?"

"What are you crazy?" Maur said with a laugh, he starting setting the glasses on the table. "Councilman Ezral picked me specifically to do this job tonight."

"So I'll tell him you got sick at the last minute," Drak said. "Just do this one favor for me."

"I know why you want this job," Maur replied and stopped what he was doing to look at Drak.

"Why?" Drak asked.

"You want to be near Liana," he said with a smile. "When are you going to get it through your head she doesn't love you like you love her."

"Give it time," Drak said. "She'll come around."

"That's what you said a year ago when she came back and you met her. Don't you think you should give it up?"

"No, I'll never stop loving Liana," Drak replied. "And I'll eventually make her see I'm the one for her."

"Don't you see how obsessed you are with her?"

Drak shot an angry look at Maur.

"Well you heard the rumor that's been going around the compound?" Maur asked.

"No, what rumor?"

"That Liana is in love with that human she's been hanging out with."

"That's not true," Drak said angrily.

"Don't get angry with me," Maur said. "It's what I heard."

"Liana knows better than to get involved with someone who isn't her own kind."

"You're starting to sound jealous of this human."

"I'm not jealous," Drak replied defensively.

"Maybe not," Maur said. "But I can tell you don't like this human."

"No I don't," Drak admitted. "I hate him for all the time he's been spending with Liana. That should be me with her not him."

"And you want to take my position so you can spend time with Liana?"

"Yes, I talked with her earlier," Drak said. "Made her see she would be happier with her own kind."

"I see."

"Look are you going to let me work for you tonight or not?" Drak asked getting impatient.

"Alright," Maur said. "I'll do it fort you, but just this once."

"I only need this one time."

Drak watched his friend walk out of the dinning hall. He smiled to himself.

Now I can make sure Liana heeds my words, he thought.

End of Part 19