The Recovery

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Jan crept across the white marbled room. He stopped briefly, disabled the arrow trap in the middle of the room, and continued to the altar. This was trapped to. A soft 'click' said that the Gem was completely defenceless. The gnome cautiously picked up the Gem. It glowed in his hands. From the back of the room where the others had been waiting Haer' Dalis clapped.

"The Gem!" He cried "We have it my birds! Come let us to the playhouse fly! The inn is in the Bridge District, in the basement of the Five Flagons."

"It looks like a piece of coral!" Said Jan.

"Looks can be deceiving, my gnomish friend"said Haer' Dalis "Come, let us away!"



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As Rade stumbled back through the sewers, her mind was racing. The Bard, he was so exotic, but there was something about him,something she couldn't quite place. She looked at Haer' Dalis.

He was humming something tunefully under his breath, his violet eyes clearly visible in the gloom. He caught her eye and slowed, so he was walking beside her.

"Aye, my Raven, is there something you need?" he asked Rade.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, I am in your debt and I will answer as best I can"

"Not to be rude or anything but, what are you?" A strange look wandered into Haer' Dalis' purple eyes. Oh no!, Rade thought to herself, You've offended him now, you idiot!.

"I'm sorry, I, ah, didn't mean to offend you or anything...."

"I am not offended, my Raven, in fact I get that question so often it doesn't offend me anymore. I am just trying to think of a sutiable answer" he smiled, and Rade's stomach did a back flip.

"Hmmm," Haer' Delis pondered "I guess you primes would call me a Tiefling."

"A Tiefling, whats that?"

"Lets just say my father was an elf, but my mother was no human." he winced

"What was your mother? Please tell me!" Rade insisted.

"My, are we not a nosy fox, my raven!" he laughed "Nay, nay. I will not tell you at this time. Ask again a while later, maybe then this poets toung will be looser."

"Ok then, but whats a Prime?"

"A dweller of the prime material plane" Haer' Dalis answered simply. Rade looked confused

"What?"

"Hear."

"But then where WWWWWWAAAAAAHHHHH!" 'THUMP' "Owwww!" Rade had triped over a loose pipe and landed on Jan.

"Sorry Jan!" Rade said, cheeks ablaze.

"Hear,let me help" said Haer'Dalis offering his hand to Rade. He was stronger than rade had expected and she lost her balance and fell forward, grabbing onto Haer' Dalis, ending in an unintentional embrace. Haer' Dalis looked at her, slightly shocked.

"Why my Raven, I never thought you felt this way about me!" he joked. He grabbed her shoulders and stood her on her feet.

"I..I'm seriously sorry!" Rade mumbled. Gods, how could I be so stupid!, she thought, He now must think me some kind of pervert! She looked at the floor about to explode with embarrassment. Haer'Dalis, on the other hand looked not the slightest bit embarrassed.

" I do not mind, my Raven." he said, lifting her head with two long fingers. He flashed one of his heart melting smiles and walked off. The crumpled heap that was Jan said:

" Will somebody help the gnome? Ohh! My Penny!!"

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The Bridge District smelt badly of fish. Zugothra looked around uneasily and stuck close to Rade. The streets where lined with beggars, sailors and courtesans. As they neared the inn, a particular courtesan named Rose Bouquet stepped up to Haer' Dalis and said:

" Well, well, well. I see the Bridge isn't just poor saliors and even poorer husbands. Hows about you ditch the elf hear" she gestured to Rade "and come with me for a bit 'o fun"

"A...Tempting....Offer, my dear, but I have other business to attend to at this time. Excuse me." Haer' Dalis quickened his pace. Rose pouted. When Rose was out of sight, Haer' Dalis sighed.

" I hate it when women are like that. Where er'e this Sparrow flys thay seem to folow, like hungy sharks to a wounded fish."

"Well I can see why" Rade said, then her hand flew to her mouth in shock at what she had just said.

"What was that, my Raven?" Haer'Dalis enquired.

"No, nothing. Nothing at all." stammered Rade, and moved forward quickly. Haer' Dalis opened his mouth to make some remark or such when he spotted where they were.

"Ah, the Play house, come let us enter. Miss Reaelis will be pleased with the gifts we bring!" He dashed inside.

"Raelis?" Wispered Rade and followed him in.



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I hope you readers arn't bored so far! I would just like to apoligise about the spelling mistakes! Im deslexsic (I think thats who you spell it!) Luv Clare