shadow0015: 1. somewhat bitchier, not too bitchier or else she wouldn't be Nat.
2. It stretches down to her elbows for 2 reasons. A) An important factor for the kiss scene. B) It's important for the sequel.
3. I assume it's SEEL-a-MEN
4. Zarra will wrap you around her finger. In her own words however, 'You'll like what she does with that finger.'
5. Wagers are always fun.
6. I'll fix it later. I'm a bit lazy.
7. 'The Price of Acceptance' is all about Sharwyn and Joragin, the two redheaded bards.
Review 2
1. I'm glad you like Seel.
2. I agree, that's why I intend to put in some jokes about his height, hitting doors and so on.
3. I put it on another site where it automatically censors out the words.
4. ditto 4
5. She's a noble. In medieval times nobles apparently had servants transport their BEDS from place to place if they wanted that.
6. I figured that since I can't have an annoying pseudo dragon (Drak) I'd have an obnoxious dwarf. I always have to have an amusing side-kick for the hero. :)
7. He was based on Jan Jansen, who cracks me up too.
8. I'm gonna put a lot of Nickelback music in this fic, mostly because Seelamin was modeled after Chad Kroeger.
9. I'm gonna explain it. And don't worry, I LOVE long reviews. (hug)
Chapter Three
Nathyrra walked through the halls of house Kant'tar. Her acute sense of hearing picked up the words, 'Rebellion', 'Rise to Power' and 'House Kiliath' Nathyrra shook her head. The matron mother was too weak, it would be impossible for that house to rise to power.
She smiled when she saw Seelamin but then stopped in her tracks. She had smiled because of him!?
Seelamin was listening to Nackor. Certainly, the dwarf was annoying but Seelamin liked him despite this. Nackor was yammering on about another relative. "So anyway, Porker didn't like the man very much so he gave him a good kick in the crotch. That made some of the other charity workers mad and they tried to pin down Porker. Porker was named that for a reason however and rolled out of the room, knocking the weaklings down like they were bowling pins…"
Nathyrra walked over to Seelamin. Seelamin looked at her. "Hello, Nat-"
"Ah, Nathyrra, my dusky little tequila, how are you?" Nackor interrupted.
Nathyrra stared at him. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she asked flatly.
"Well it all started when I was born. Mammy wanted to name me 'Clarence' but then we found out about my intestinal gas disorder and decided to name me 'Nackor' after my grandfather, because he always had some problems in the flatulence department…"
Nathyrra raised an eyebrow and addressed Seelamin. "How did this happen?"
Seelamin's eyes crinkled as though he were smiling, "Well it all goes back to Tommy Two-toes…"
"Ah yes! My uncle was the victim of a tragic accident involving croquet mallets, butcher knives, and penguins…"
"I am not listening to this." Nathyrra stated before walking off.
As she walked through the halls she noticed that Seelamin was walking towards her. She started walking faster, hoping to avoid him. It was no use however, his stride was twice the size of hers and he caught up with her rather easily. "We were just kidding, Nathyrra."
"That dwarf is obnoxious." she shook her head. "Why does my mother even have him?!"
"He told me that he would amuse Matron Mother Vasenna with his stories before you were born. It made him an honored slave and virtually untouchable."
"Damn."
A few minutes of silence passed. Nathyrra looked up at the barbarian. She saw that he had done something different; he had tied his blond hair back, revealing precisely five piercings on his left ear.
"Are piercings a custom of your tribe as well?" she asked.
He stared at her, a bit surprised by the question. "Yes they are actually. A Silver Panther will pierce their ears for each important death in their lives. My own piercings represent my mother, my father, my first kill, Gargonis, Arayna and…Tianna. I will also receive a six piercing for the person who takes my life, if I am killed in battle that is."
"Arayna and Tianna? Who are they?"
A look of sadness crossed Seelamin's face. "I…"
They interrupted by a recruit rushing towards them. The recruit stopped in front of the seven foot man. "Sir, permission to speak, sir!"
"Permission granted." said Seelamin.
The recruit took a minute to catch his breath. "Raiding party of beholders. Heading told the house from the north."
"How much time do we have?"
"I…I don't know."
"Alright then." Seelamin turned the drow's head so that is golden eyes locked with Seelamin's own grey. "Go to my room, bring me my armor and my axe. NOW!"
Nathyrra watched the recruit's retreating back before turning towards Seelamin. "Do you even know what a beholder is?" she asked, one eyebrow arched.
"It's a threat to the house, that's all I have to know."
"Yes it is but that's not all you should know." She cleared her throat. "A beholder is basically a mass of floating eyeballs. It's a repulsive creature with teeth like knives that can cut a man or a woman to pieces."
"How does one fight against a beholder?"
"Carefully. If you can place some kind of magical resistance on yourself, that will offer protection against their eye-rays, which they will use against you first, trying to keep a distance."
"Anything else?"
"The rays are not their only weapon, however. Some beholders are accomplished wizards... and as a last resort, their bite can also be quite deadly."
She continued, "The average beholder has no special armor or protection against magic and weapons, however. What kills most will also kill them."
"What kinds of effects do their eye-beams have?"
Nathyrra thought more a minute before starting to count on her fingers. "Disintegration. Paralyzation. Pain. I've seen their central eye banish all magic, as well." She shrugged, "Beyond that I suppose you'll have to see for yourself."
Oh shit. Seelamin thought this but let no emotion appear on his face. "Very well then, I'll be going."
"Wait," Nathyrra grabbed his arm. "I'm coming too."
"You are?"
"Yes, am I not capable of handling myself on a battlefield!?" she cried indignantly.
"I never implied that. I'm just surprised that you actually participate in this is all."
"I've been 'participating' in this since I was an adolescent." she assured him. "One more thing," she chanted a spell of magical protection on Seelamin. "That should help you against the beholders." I will not let him die. I've too much pride to lose this wager.
He nodded but did not smile, "Thank you."
---
Seelamin roared a war cry and attacked the nearest beholder. The beholder lashed out at him with its enormous tongue. Nathyrra materialized next to him, fighting the beholder. Seelamin stole a glance at her. Whatever she lacked in strength she made up in speed. Her style was quick and subtle, patiently waiting for the opportunity to strike.
The fight was soon over. Seelamin wiped his sweaty brow and looked over at the dead. The bodies of the beholder littered the ground. There were no drow amongst the dead however, proving that Seelamin had lost no men. The barbarian took pride in his soldiers; they had shown him that they were skilled enough to fight in a battle.
"Let's go!" shouted the captain of the guards. Everyone started to move except for Seelamin. The captain sighed in exasperation and walked over to Seelamin. "Why are you not moving, slave?"
Seelamin looked down at the drow. "It is a custom in my tribe that we burn the dead, both allies and enemies."
The captain snorted. "Your customs can rot in Hell. We're leaving, fool."
Seelamin snarled and punched the captain, breaking his nose. The captain fell to the ground, clutching his nose. Seelamin picked up the man, dangling him above the ground by at least four feet.
"Never. Insult. My. HONOR!" the barbarian roared. The drow was starting to turn blue.
"SEELAMIN! PUT HIM DOWN!" shouted Nathyrra.
"He has insulted me greatly. I must punish him by REARRANGING HIS FACE!" Seelamin raised his arm.
Nathyrra grabbed his arm before Seelamin could swing. "Let it go, Seelamin."
"He has insulted me; I will not let this pass."
"Seelamin, I am the only mage here." she pointed at his collar. "I will hurt you if necessary."
Seelamin snorted. "By casting magical protection on me you have also destroyed the electrical currents that will course through my body if you use your magic."
"Damn it." Nathyrra cursed. She shook her head. "He is not worth it."
"He's worth my fist connecting with his face. Let me do it!"
Nathyrra sighed. "You brought this on yourself." She brought up her knee and delivered a solid kick to Seelamin's jewels. His eyes widened in pain and dropped the drow, curling up on the ground in a fetal position.
The captain unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Seelamin. Nathyrra held up her hand to stop him. "If attempt to hurt him then your genitals will pay the price." she told him. He gulped and took a step back, away from Nathyrra and her armored boots.
Nathyrra looked at all of the soldiers. "If anyone tells Mother Vasenna of what occurred today, then they shall be rewarded with a long and painful death." she said coldly, before turning around and casting fire spells on the bodies.
Nathyrra knelt down next to Seelamin. "Get up, you little girl."
"If I were a girl then it wouldn't have hurt nearly as much when you kicked me with those damned armored shoes."
---
Seelamin watched as Zarra walked off. She had spent the last half-hour flirting with him but in truth he wasn't interested. His thoughts turned back to Arayna. Old memories of her had been plaguing him as of late. A little girl, at least six years old appeared. She smiled and walked over to Arayna. Arayna grinned back and picked up Tianna. Their smiles were clear in his mind, though they had been dead for years.
Another woman appeared. She had elbow-length white hair, almost like spun silver. Her expression was curious, one eyebrow arched and her blue eyes calculating. A feeling of confusion took over Seelamin. Why is Nathyrra in my thoughts all of a sudden?
His reverie was interrupted by Nackor walking over and sitting down next to him. "That Zarra's a pretty one, ain't she?"
"She is." agreed Seelamin.
"Do you think I'd have a chance with her?"
"To tell the truth, I don't she'd be very interested in you, Nackor."
"That's not true! My cousin Joe is married to a drow. She's the meanest woman you'll ever but gods' help me I am so turned on just thinking about her. Did I tell you she once…"
Seelamin mentally chuckled as Nackor continued. The dwarf was a bit irritating at time but he was a good friend.