State of 'Affairs'

Lodo ran his fingers through his blonde, shoulder length long hair.

"Why do women have to be so persistent," He thought to himself.

"Katla, I agree with Lodo, it is not safe for you to come with us across the grand promenade to reach the Liquor Tavern," Kunne said," A load of spelljammer ships just docked to barter for slaves. It is no place for a woman."

"I am no ordinary woman. I can defend myself." Katla shot back with anger in her eyes.

"It is a good thing Lodo chose to keep her ignorant of her relation to the emperor," Kunne thought to himself.

"Bah, Katla, ye are not listening to reason. Its better that the men go do this fer now" Thelvin said, trying to be as menacing as he could.

"You don't scare me either, Dwarf. If you don't like it, you can go crawling back to Mithril Hall and get drunk with your uncle."

"Katla, Even if I chose to shape shift into my form as a dire bear, there is no guarantee I could protect you." Tharros added.

"Oh, now the Orc speaks. I am outnumbered, but not outclassed. Need I remind you it was MY mother's tapestry that made the gate open to get into this place."

"Sweet Lady," Solonund started.

"And I will not be ordered around by one of my father's house servants either, Solonund!"

"But oh, dear lady,"

"And your flattery will not work either. I am going to see the old woman with you whether you like it or not. I am of noble blood, and I will not be put into a cage!"

"And you are saying I'm not!" Lodo said as he got right in her face.

"You may have been a king, Celetide, but it does not change the fact that your mother was human and you are a half breed. Besides, your father was only a moon elf."

Lodo raised his hand to slap Katla's face, but he held it back.

"You have no right, you prissy little over privileged brat! My father was cousin to King Zaor and Queen Amlaruil, YOUR liege lord and lady! This drivel has nothing to do with nobility or social standing! You are just itching to get into a fight. Well if it is a fight you want, fight with me. I guarantee you will loose."

"Lodo! Lodo!" Solonund yelled as he grabbed Lodo's arms.

"You get off of me you womanizing piece of crap!" Lodo said as he whirled aroung and planted a punch squarely on Solonund's jaw. Solonund flew halfway across the room.

Katla started towards Lodo, but was held fast by Thelvin's tight grip.

"Off of me, you Dwarf. This is my fight!"

"Calm down girl. This is no time for yer temper te get the better of ye. Think of yer son. Think of Kelarin."

Tharros quickly went to help restrain Lodo.

"Remember it was your bastard cousin that killed Zaor!"

"Lodo," Tharros said softly," That was harsh. Can't you see you have already won this fight.

"I loved Zaor." Katla said as she fell in a crumpled heap to the floor. "He taught me how to garden and plant flowers when I was little. He was so kind. So much kinder to me than the members of my own family were. Iasa loved him too. He used to say Zaor was more a father to him than his own father was."

Katla was crying so hard that her eyes nearly swelled shut. It took her friends an hour to stop her tears.

"I think it is best I take you to see the old woman tomorrow. Perhaps some of the slave ships will be gone by then." Kunne said.

"You can't talk me out of it. I am going." Katla said softly.

"Alright, but you had better not cause any trouble." Lodo said.

He never could understand why she was so stubborn.

**********

The Ancient Captive knelt in the ruined chapel. The sculptures were gone, as were the walls, but the pedestals where the statues once were, were still there. Weather worn names were still etched into the stone. He did not need that to know which god he was praying to. Of the things he did remember, it was what this chapel looked like before it was ruined.

Walisra came slowly up next to him and knelt beside him. She was wearing her usual clothing, which consisted only of a wrap that covered her womanhood, and gold dust sprinkled all over her skin. The gold dust was to show if anyone had lay a hand on her light gray skin.

The Ancient Captive turned to her and smiled.

"How are you doing today, child?"

"Very well sir."

"I see Ty'Aero has sent you to lie with the emperor again. It is no use, Kirisatt does not lie with women."

"I do not mind. It gives me a chance to be here in this place, at peace. Tell me of Corellon. It is time for my lesson."

"As you wish, child."

The Ancient Captive told her all that he could remember of the trials and victories of Corellon Larethian. He told her of the Seldarine, and how, even if she had some Drow parentage, she may one day find herself among them.

"I have learned something. Something that if anyone else knows I know, would mean my death." she said nervously.

"What have you learned?"

"When I was escorted to the emperor's chambers, he was asleep from too much drink. He talked in his sleep. I… I know your name."

The Ancient Captive's eyes grew wide "Child, please tell me. I promise I will speak of it to no one. You must not say it either, except to me. Please, do not let these shackles and the beatings keep my name from me."

"My Lord, your name is Lokteruost."

Lokteruost kissed Walisra on the forehead and cradled her in his arms like a child.

"Thank you, child. I will be forever grateful. Please, make sure I do not forget it for too long."

"I promise, my Lord."

Lokteruost slowly rocked Walisra until she fell asleep. He lay her on the floor of the chapel next to him, got back on his knees, and began to pray again.

"Your Piousness! Where are you?" a shrill falsetto voice broke the silence.

"I am here, praying, as always, your Highness."

Kirisatt walked up the steps of the ruined chapel. He was wearing a gaudy ball gown. His face was garishly painted. His crown was woven through his blonde hair to keep it was falling off. He smelled of cheap wine and cheaper perfume.

"Oh, I see. You took care of the whore for me. Ty'Aero will not suspect a thing. Tell me, was she good for you?" Kirisatt said with a shrill giggle.

"I did not touch her like that. I doubt the Headmaster of the Black Wizards will be convinced you touched her."

"OOh, I see. You were waiting for me, weren't you, lover. I make you feel so much better than any whore, no matter how much platinum an hour she charges." Kirisatt said as he walked up behind Lokteruost. Kirisatt put his hands on Lokteruost's shoulders and whispered into his ear.

"Well, I am here, your Piousness."

Lokteruost closed his eyes, silently wept, and prayed for the torture to be over soon.

**********

Ty'Aero was using the body of one of his master students to project his soul onto. He was an Arch Shadow Wizard. He had been born in what later became the Anauroch Desert, but his family had relocated to the plane of shadow when he was very young. That day, he was shopping the slave markets for girls that looked like boys. All of his attempts to make the emperor procreate had failed. He hoped that perhaps among the slaves he could find a hermaphrodite with enough of the feminine to bear a child.

"Master Ty'Aero," A slaver called out, " I have some fine specimens for you to examine. I actually found a couple of hermaphrodites, they are human, mind you, but better than nothing."

Ty'Aero looked at the slaves, "None of these will suit for the emperor, but I will buy a couple of the females for myself. My last concubine met with an unfortunate, accident."

"Yes sir! Any of these lovelies you see, are at rock bottom prices, for this place at least."

Ty'Aero poured out the platinum for the two moon Elven girls and headed back for his tower at the Academy.

"I wish sun elf slaves were not so rare. If I could disguise one as a boy, perhaps the fop will impregnate one."

He looked up art the haze that covered the sky. With all the smoke the billowing tower foundry spewed into the air, it was difficult to see whether it was sunny or cloudy. As for seeing the moon or stars, it was impossible within Myth Fredaine. Ty'Aero instructed his master student to take his new concubines where they needed to be and pulled his soul back to his own body.

**********

Verien, the master of the veiled knights, the Mythal thieves and assassins guild, watched as Ty'Aero left the host body. The Drow man always got the chills whenever he saw it done. Verien was in a foul mood. Several of the merchants on the grand promenade had failed to pay the protection tax. He was going to kill the merchants. That was not the problem. He hated having to find a way of disposing of their merchandise in a profitable manner.

"Vhaeraun, give me strength," he said as he crept behind the first of the offenders.

The slave trader went down easily. Verien decided it would be fun to let the slaves run rampant a while before the Illithids came off of their spelljammers to shop. Illithids were cheapskates. It is true that all the merchants in Myth Fredaine only dealt in platinum, but the quality of slaves was second to none.

The freed slaves squealed with delight and tried to find a place to hide. They were quickly captured by other slavers in the promenade.

"Not profitable, but that was fun to watch, " he chuckled to himself as he made his way to the next offender's stall.

This merchant was selling silverware and cutlery. He was new to the Mythal. Verien had not seen him before that day.

" Idiot, came here just to make a fast plat. Well if you don't pay, you go away, permanently." Verien smiled as the merchant's body fell in a pool of blood.

He left the body where it was. There was no need to clean up. Dead bodies were normal around here. They disappeared at night, when the priests of the temple of Ghaunadaur let their slimes and oozes out on the streets to play.

"Verien." cooed a female Drow wearing nothing but a wrap around her womanhood. "you have not been to see me lately. Your half sister keeping your manhood happy? I doubt it."

"I am working, Arasia, go back to the temple and pray Fredaine finds you another conquest."

"Oh, Verien, " she continued to coo," come and see me later then, please!"

"Alright, if Walisra is not back, I will see you."

The girl giggled and headed back for the temple of Fredaine.

"Stupid Fredaine priestesses. I wonder why Walisra lets them wander about. They should stay in goddess Fredaine's brothel where they belong."

He made his way to the last of the offending merchants. This time, the merchant saw him and threw a bag of platinum at his feet.

"There! Take your protection tax!" The merchant bellowed.

"Thank you for your business," Verien replied as he scooped up the bag of coins and examined them.

He made his way back to the lover's temple, which housed both the temple of Fredaine and the temple of Vhaeraun. The veiled knights' headquarters was in the basement.

"Damn," He groaned," I got done too quickly. Walisra will not be back from the Jagged Palace for another hour at least. Well, at least I have Arasia to fall back on, but she is not near as good as Walisra."

**********

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