Disclaimer: I don't own them.

I think this could have come out better, but I wasn't feeling well while I wrote it (sore throat, general exhaustion and all that). I promise the next one will be more entertaining.

C

Ayren

C

"I don't know," he answers "since I don't own anything I usually would offer myself as payment, but I think the taste of these guys here differs from what I'm used to, so that doesn't seem to be an option."

Maybe I shouldn't have asked. How can he talk about this so lightly? I would prefer to suffer through a lot of pain before even considering selling myself, but I guess that's because my upbringing was so different from his. Not that it did me any good.

"Don't worry." I mumble, desperation creeping in. "We'll find a way."

In the end it is the guard who comes up with a solution all by himself, before we even get the chance to ask for anything. It's quite ironic actually, because he wants to know "my secret". My secret meaning the secret of single-handedly knocking out ten dwarves while being absolutely drunk, which apparently is what got me into this dirty hole in the first place. While I have no idea how on earth I managed to do that, I don't let myself be hindered by this lack of knowledge and convince the idiot to go looking for Ayren, by promising to give him lessons. He seems quite happy about it and has an eager expression on his broad face as he runs off to find my cousin.

Hah, it certainly has advantages to be considered an honest person by nearly everybody! I find it very amusing that so many people tend to take whatever I tell them at face value, because mostly they're so impressed by the fact that I'm an Elf, they don't take into account that I could be lying through my teeth. Of course this works better in small villages. In big cities people are accustomed to being cheated and act more careful.

Andy, who didn't say a single word during the whole encounter, starts laughing as soon as my oh so willing victim has left the building.

"You know" he gasps while still struggling to breathe properly between fits of helpless giggling "I would never have thought of something this ridiculous! That was so amazing. How did you know he would believe your bullshit?"

I grin and say nothing. It's better he doesn't know how incredibly lucky we were to get a guard who's stupid enough to believe my lies. There are enough other problems to worry about. Ayren has to be talked into assisting our escape and while I'm fairly certain she will help us in the end, we could end up wasting a lot of precious time until she's convinced. For now all we can do is to wait for the guard to come back.

"Do you think she'll help us?" Andy wants to know as soon as he's recovered enough to speak coherently once more.

"I'd say it's at least possible and I can't think of anything else to get us out of here."

"Me neither." He admits "I must say I'm lucky to have you with me. Now once we get out of this cell we only have to find somebody who's able to kill him."

Considering how frightened he was before it's very strange to see him talk about murdering the other Drow so calmly. And besides "He said he would let us go if we…"

I stop when I see Andy's incredulous expression.

"He won't?"

"You didn't really believe him did you? I told you he likes to play games!"

Maybe I should hold on to at least some of my prejudices. I feel a bit embarrassed, now that Andy pointed it out I can see how stupid it was to think Enzageyn would follow through with what he promised.

"Ok, so he'll kill us regardless of what he said if we don't find a way to get rid of him."

"Yes he will, after he's turned you into a sniveling, drooling lunatic of course, because by then you'll be no fun to play with anymore. And I have to tell you that killing him will be most difficult! He's one of the best mages in the whole city." He pauses "Do you by any chance know a powerful mage or at least someone with a strong death wish who could distract him long enough for you to throw a knife at him?"

Me? I try to picture myself while throwing a knife at this terribly dangerous person? My aim isn't so bad, but it's not good enough either and I certainly do not have a death wish. Was that a serious question or was he trying to be funny? I shake my head just to be sure. I'm afraid I don't understand Drow humor.

"Ah well, pity that. So we'll have to settle for second best then."

"What do you mean?"

"There still is the guy who killed my Master. Maybe if we manage to find him and somehow get Enzageyn to show up before he kills us they will finish each other off and we can just walk away."

There are far too many uncertainties in this plan for my taste, but I can't think of anything better. At least it's simple and doesn't involve the necessity of me taking any direct action other than hiding at the appropriate time. Think I'm a coward now? Fine go ahead I don't mind, I've been called worse.

"Sounds good. Do you think you'll be able to find him though?"

Andy shrugs. "I know his name, so we do at least have something to start with."

At this point we're interrupted by the guard who has already found Ayren. I didn't expect him to be that fast, but it seems my promise speed him up quite a bit. I nearly start to feel sorry for the poor sod, but it's really not my fault that he's so gullible. My cousin is a different matter though. She's already looking at me with utter disdain. I hope she won't leave until I've had a chance to explain our situation and thereby wreck our only chance to get out of our restraining surroundings before Mr. Scary comes along.

"There you are. How could I expect anything else? You're such a disgrace Toren, your mother would die of shame if she could see you now!"

Argh, she's started ranting. How I hate that! At least she's not speaking common so nobody else understands a word of her tirade. If I want to get her attention anytime soon I have to but in now before she gets started properly, otherwise she'll go on for hours. I know that from bitter experience. All my relatives used to lecture me about my bad behavior, but none of them has ever shown Ayren's endurance.

As soon as she has to pause a second in order to draw breath I launch into a quick explanation of the situation, which to my great satisfaction leaves her speechless for at least a minute. First she only stares and then I can practically see the realization dawning on her pretty face. Very good, everything proceeds as I anticipated. Now all she has to do is to agree. Do it, come on I plead silently, do it now and I promise I won't call you bitch any more. God, see what being here does to me? I'm seriously considering to actually be nice to one of my hated relatives!

"You are asking me to rescue the life of a Drow?" The hateful glance in Andy's direction speaks volumes, so he knows what the bitch is saying although he can't understand us. I try again.

"No, what I'm asking you to do is to help me get out of here so I don't end up dead or as the new pet slave of some sadistic Drow mage! The fact that there's another Drow sitting next to me has nothing whatsoever to do with MY situation. Even though I would appreciate it if you could manage to free him as well, because he knows the other one better than I do."

Her excuses are dwindling and she knows it. Frowning she says: "You know that you probably deserve to be left here?"

"Yes." I'd say anything now!

"You are disgusting!"

"Yes. Will you help us?"

Her face shows her reluctance very clearly, but in the end I'm rewarded with a curt nod.

"Fine, I will get you out, if you promise that you'll never bother me again."

"Agreed."

It's not like I'd ever go anywhere near her as long as I have a choice. Without another word she turns and goes to make arrangements for our release.

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