EPISODE 10

            Rose stared longingly at the door of the room she was working in, struggling against the urge to bolt for it. She'd never make it. She knew that for a fact. Her master had set two of the other slaves working in the room to watching her when he was gone since her connection to Lloth interfered with his mind control if he didn't make contact with her every so often. She'd already tried three times to escape, and each time she'd failed. The other two slaves had reported her both times and she hadn't made it beyond the hallway outside the room before her master reappeared and she felt the hated shame and self-loathing at disappointing him as she'd done. She couldn't stand that feeling. When his mind touched hers and she wanted nothing more than to please him . . . despair welled up within her as she turned her gaze from the door and from Slayer's pleading gaze (she was convinced her master had left the panther there just to torment her) and back to making salves and potions.

                "Oh Zojikoe," she murmured quietly, fighting back tears, "I forgive you for getting me into this whole mess. Just please . . . please just get me out of it!"

***
                Mezzen stared at his master in dismay.

                "But . . . but why?!" He asked. "I . . . I don't want to go!" His master glared at him.

                Oh honestly, Mezzen! It snapped. I've spoiled you rotten I think! I have to go away for a day or two, and I'm not leaving you here to your own devices. It leveled an angry glare at the boy. I've seen you talking to that other slave, and I'm starting to wonder what the two of you talk about.

                "Nothing," Mezzen said defensively. "I just . . . talk to him is all. I never have anybody to talk to around here! There's nobody like me around here who doesn't walk around like a vegetable! Except for Zoe! He's not totally gone yet, and he still remembers some stuff! Like . . . like . . ." Suddenly remembering who he was talking to, Mezzen lowered his eyes and sniffled. "Can't you just . . . leave me here? Please? Get Zoe to watch me!" The illithid snorted derisively.

                That would imply trusting you, it responded. And I don't. No, Mezzen, my decision is final. Take what you need for a couple days and meet me outside in a few minutes. And no more arguments! Without waiting for the boy to reply the illithid glided out of the room. Mezzen sighed irritably and got to his feet.

                "It's not fair!" He said sulkily, kicking his bed. "Now I won't get to see Zojikoe!" Using a few words he'd heard Zojikoe use the night before when the mage had stubbed his toe, the little boy gathered up his things, shoved them in a bag and walked out into the hallway to meet his master.

                Don't pout, his master told him irritably. Mezzen, you're to be on your best behavior, understand? I don't need you making a fool out of me.

                "I will be," Mezzen said, just a touch petulantly. "I promise I'll be good."

                Not quite an hour later, Mezzen found himself staring around at his temporary new quarters, his temporary new master behind him.

                Have you ever been to a gladiator match? The illithid asked curiously. Mezzen shook his head and put his bag on the small bed.

                "No," he said. "I don't think so." The illithid nodded to itself.

                Well, it said, since I'm stuck with you tomorrow anyway, I suppose I may as well take you. I've got a gladiator in the arena, he's a drow, like you, and he's quite the fighter! The illithid grinned vainly. He has yet to be defeated!

                "What's his name?" Mezzen asked curiously.

                Why does it matter? The illithid asked. Dil something or other I think. I don't know. It's not really important. He didn't notice Mezzen's eyes suddenly growing wide and startled.

                "Dil?" He asked. "Dil'andau?!"

                Yes, I think that's it, the illithid said. Not a very bright drow . . . but an excellent fighter. He'll be worth the investment that one. It walked out of the room rubbing it's tentacled hands together in anticipation of the profits Dil'andau would bring and shut the door behind it. Mezzen jumped to his feet and cheered in excitement, quieting down when the illithid stuck its head back in through the door and gave him an odd look.

                "Sorry," he said, trying to contain his excitement. The illithid shook its head and closed the door again. Mezzen gave a quieter cheer. "This is great!" He gasped. "Dil'andau! Zojikoe talked about him! Maybe the others will be here! Ka . . . and . . . and Rose!" He paused at that thought. What was Rose like, anyway? He'd heard Zojikoe's descriptions of her . . . was she really like that? "Maybe I'll get to meet her!" He said suddenly. Then he paused. "But what if she doesn't like me? What if she thinks I'm annoying?! What if she hates me!" He groaned and fell back on his bed. "Maybe this isn't going to be as good as I thought . . ." Then his expression hardened with determination. "But I'll never know if I don't at least try . . . all I've gotta do is find Dil'andau . . . maybe he'll know where the others are." He grinned to himself and settled back on his pillows, yawning sleepily.

                "Zoe will be so happy . . ."

***

                Zojikoe sighed unhappily as he settled into his bed to rest. He hadn't seen Mezzen that night and was surprised at how disappointed he was. The little kid was starting to grow on the mage. He reached into his robes and pulled out the spider tiara that belonged to Rose and held it for a minute, studying it in the dim light of his room.

                "I'm sorry . . ." He said quietly. "I promise, Rose, I'll find a way to get us out of this." But until then he had to find a way to keep himself from collapsing completely beneath the illithids' mind control. Mezzen had suggested something that would keep him busy. A detailed task involving most of his attention and focus . . . and completely unrelated to illithids.

                "Maybe I'll make something," he murmured to himself. He balanced the spider tiara idly on one hand. "Something for Rose . . ." A slow smile spread across his face. "Yeah. That's what I'll do!" He jumped to his feet. "I'll make something for Rose!" He paused. "But what?!"

***

                Mezzen cheered excitedly as the two gladiators duked it out in the arena below. His temporary master turned to look at him.

                Are you enjoying yourself? It asked in its watery voice. Mezzen grinned and nodded.

                "This is so cool!" He cried. The illithid started to laugh but it was drowned out by the wild cheering of the crowd.

                "Oh no! What'd I miss?!" It cried out loud, whirling back around to the fight. Mezzen was about to turn back to the fight as well but something small and moving caught his eye and he looked down to investigate. A small spider was crawling along below where his feet were swinging off the bench, not quite long enough to reach the ground. It reminded him of the spider hair piece that Zojikoe always carried around with him. At the thought of his friend, Mezzen was suddenly reminded of his purpose in coming here. It wasn't the fight . . .

                Waiting until he was sure that his temporary master, as well as the other illithids around him, were completely engrossed in what was happening in the ring, the small boy slipped quietly out of his seat and moved through the crowd, not quite sure where he was going, but positive he was headed in the right general direction.

                It took him only a few minutes to realize he was hopelessly lost.

                He plunked himself down dejectedly on a nearby bench and sulked. Now I'll never find Dil'andau, he thought in despair. Which means I'll never find Rose, or Ka, or anybody else! And I'll probably be lost forever and I'll never see Zoe again either! I'll be stuck here forever and I'll be eaten by one of those gladiators and nobody would ever know I was missing!

                Before he could slip further into self-pity, however, a flash of color caught his eye and he turned to look. He saw a drowess, dressed in a green robe and with a silver circlet on her head pacing impatiently back and forth in front of a door. Mezzen cocked his head to one side and studied her.

                Hey, she looks a lot like Zoe . . . only crankier . . . he thought to himself. He was about to approach her when the mingled sounds of cheering and booing erupted from the arena and a bloodied gladiator stumbled into the narrow alley they were in. The drowess impatiently herded the gladiator inside and started to shut the door. Mezzen, deciding that whatever was through that door had to be better than being lost forever and getting eaten, bolted off his seat and just managed to get in through the door before it closed. He took one look at the array of fierce looking warriors (many of which with claws and teeth and other things) and suddenly decided that he'd rather be lost forever.

                "You!" Snapped a voice to his side. "What are you doing here?! You shouldn't be in here. Where's your master?!" Mezzen shrieked in fright and started to run off but a hand caught his shoulder and spun him around. He drew in a several startled breaths when he realized it was the drowess.

                "Geez, lady!" He cried. "Don't you know it's not nice to sneak up on a kid like that?! You scared me!" Her mouth dropped in shock for a moment, then closed with a snap and her eyes narrowed.

                "Watch your tone, kid," she hissed. "We may not be in Menzoberranzan, or even Ched Nasad, but I'm still an adult female." Mezzen gave her a blank look.

                "So?" He asked.

                "Why you little .. . oh, never mind. What are you doing here, kid?" She demanded suddenly. "You're not supposed to be back here." Mezzen scratched his head nervously.

                "I . . . I . . . was looking for . . . um . . . Dil'andau actually," he said. "I . . . um . . . wanted to talk to him." The drowess' eyes widened in surprise then narrowed.

                "What do you want with my Dil?" She asked suspiciously. Mezzen gave a small start.

                "Y . . . you're Dil?" He asked. His eyes widened. "I knew it!" He cried. "You are Ka! I did it! I found you! Is Rose here? Can I meet her?" Ka eyed Mezzen and took a startled step back.

                "What . . . what are you talking about? How do you know about me, and Dil, and Rose?" Her eyes narrowed. "What are you up to, kid?"

                "This is so great!" Mezzen went on as though he hadn't heard. "Just wait until Zoe hears! He'll be so happy!"

                "Zoe!" Ka cried. "Zojikoe?" Her arm shot out and she grabbed the excited boy by the front of his robes, whipping him around to face her. "What do you know about my brother?" She demanded. Mezzen squeaked in fright and squirmed in her grasp.

                "He's my friend!" He cried. "We talk whenever he gets back from massaging the brain! He . . . he's mentioned you and Dil'andau and Rose and . . . and . . . I thought, if I could find you . . . then . . . well, I never really thought past finding you. But that's okay, 'cause Zoe's really smart! He'll know what to do!" Ka blinked, then started laughing, letting go of her grip on Mezzen's clothes.

                "Zoe . . ." She giggled. "Really smart . . ." She laughed again. "Kid that's the funniest thing I've heard in a while! My brother's an idiot! He couldn't find his way out of a paper bag!" She stood up straighter, ignoring Mezzen's mumbled "he is not" as the beginnings of a plan started to form in her mind. "Here," she said suddenly, taking her pendant from around her neck and dropping it over Mezzen's. "Give that to Zoe. It will release him of his master's control over him. This is important kid, so listen up. Tell him to find Rose and use it on her. I'll take care of Dil'andau." The door opened suddenly and Ka straightened up immediately. "Who's that?" She wondered softly. Mezzen groaned.

                "My babysitter," he muttered. "I think I'm in trouble."

                "It doesn't matter," Ka said, gripping his shoulder and steering him towards the illithid. "Just remember what I told you. Don't forget to tell Zojikoe, or I swear to Lloth, kid, I'll have your head, understand me?" Mezzen nodded mutely as Ka threw him towards his temporary master.

                "This yours?" She asked in the most respectful tone she could muster.

                "Yes," the illithid said sourly. "Unfortunately." It grabbed Mezzen and shoved him towards the door without so much as another word to Ka. "You," it said, "have a lot of explaining to do."

***

                Zojikoe grinned to himself as he worked on his present for Rose. She'll love it! He thought to himself. At least … I hope - he was interrupted by the door creaking slowly open. With a startled gasp he threw his work under the bed and whirled around.

                "Mezzen!" He exclaimed in surprise. "Hey kid! Where have you been? I haven't seen you in a few days!" Mezzen's eyes brightened.

                "Just wait 'till I tell you!" He cried excitedly, bouncing into the room. "I went to the arena! And I got to watch a bunch of guys beat each other up! It was so great! Oh! But that isn't even the best part!" he pulled Ka's pendant off his neck and handed it to Zoe. "You'll never guess who I met there!"

                "Ka!" Zoe breathed in shock. Mezzen blinked, then pouted.

                "You weren't supposed to guess," he said.

                "Where did you meet Ka?" Zojikoe asked, startled.

                "At the arena!" Mezzen said exasperatedly. "And Dil'andau was with her. She had a message for you.  She said . . . um . . . she said . . . um . . . uh-oh . . ."

                "What uh-oh?" Zojikoe asked. "Oh, Mezzen, you didn't forget did you?!"

                "Of course not!" Mezzen cried indignantly. "She told me if I did she'd take my head!" Zojikoe rolled his eyes.

                "Well, at least I know you were definitely talking to Ka," he muttered. "So what did she say then?"

                "It's got something to do with that pendant," Mezzen said. "I . . . I was kind of worked up at the time - "

                "You're always worked up," Zojikoe pointed out. Mezzen ignored him.

                "So I didn't really understand a lot of it, but I'm pretty sure she said that the pendant would protect you from the illithids' mind control. And . . . she said to find Rose and save her, and she'd take care of Dil'andau."

                "Dil'andau," Zojikoe muttered. "That son of a bitch . . . I mean . . . that bad, bad man." He corrected himself in a vain attempt to stop swearing in front of Mezzen.

                "Son of a bitch?" Mezzen repeated curiously, then frowned. "What's a bitch?"

                "Nothing!" Zoe said hastily. "It doesn't matter." He slipped his sister's pendant on around his neck. "Come on, son," he said, getting to his feet. "We've got work to do!"