Entering the main balcony of his newly acquired fortress, Negrath surveyed the surrounding landscape with a thoughtful expression on his face...

Downstairs, in the main hall, his friends were still doing their best to empty the cellar's supply of wine, or see just how far the servants could be pressed before loosing their cool, if they weren't simply wandering the halls of their new home.

Idly wondering where the Drow was, he was not surprised to find her gliding up to stand beside him at the banister.

-"I thought the Drow preferred to stay away from the sun?" he queried, referring to the setting orb of light which, in the final stages of day, burned so brightly, yet so dimly, so as to make ignoring it impossible.

That it stared them right in the face, didn't exactly help matters...

-"I have had to get used to a lot of things around you, human." Were the reply, traces of the loathing she held for his race still evident.

Warring with it since he had first heard her speak, having rescued her from a mob of angry townsfolk intending to burn her, were a distinct tone of gratefulness.

-"Anything in particular you'd like to blame me for?"

Glancing at her as she remained silent, he found her looking at him with eyes that told him she didn't have a single one...and hated herself for it.

-"Suit yourself." He told her, before turning to go back downstairs and join the rest of his merry companions, smiling as he, a ways down the stairs, heard light feet following him...



Upon entering the main hall, he was greeted by the sight of a room in utter chaos.

In the middle of a sea of broken chairs, melted plates, and an assortment of food items evidently used as projectiles, he saw his companions, kneeling around a figure that could only be that of his strongest fighter.

Joining them, he found that the big lug seemed to be merely asleep...looking at the faces around him, he discovered that two were missing;

Viconia, who had stopped at the bottom of the stairs, presumably as surprised at the scene as he had been, and Korgan.

-"What happened here? And why weren't I called for?"

-"As I can recall things," Jaheira began, "That greasy little dwarf you insisted on having follow us, managed the incredible feat of stupidity it is to speak badly of the dead...one specific, in this case, whose memory it was particularly moronic to spit on..."

-"I take it we're not talking about the valiant Khalid?"

-"No," were the toneless reply, as she looked right at him, "had that been the case, he would be dead now, strangled in his bed by vines grown for that specific purpose."

-"Am I to believe that a diminutive dwarf actually insulted...her...in Minsc's presence?"

-"In Minsc's -armed- presence."

-"a bigger evidence of brainrot, I doubt it's possible to produce."

-"Oh, it's possible...it's simply to make your comment about Khalid, in spite." The Druid stated.

-"...I believe you. Anyway," he continued, looking at the others, " where's the fool now?"

-"In his room, where I hope he stays!" exclaimed Aerie.

-"No danger of him doing anything else, I should think." Keldorn stated.

-"He knows that if anything were to happen to Minsc while we're here, all blame will land squarely on his shoulders. And he won't be going anywhere near our dear giant again, if either of them has anything to say about it...all you see around us is a product of the Bearded One attempting to defend himself, or simply hide...uselessly, of course.

As soon as Aerie arrived, she put the berserker to sleep as fast as I have ever seen it done.

As you came down, we were wondering how to get him upstairs...there's not enough strength potions to quite complete the task without us passing out in his room."

-"There's for only hiring women and old men," Negrath mused, to which his friends only replied with a slightly wounded silence...they knew whatever comment he made, were based on the facts pertaining to that particular situation...

As it was, only three in the room had any chance of making a useful addition of strength to the task of carrying Minsc upstairs...and Minsc was one of them.

-"Well, then. Viconia, go get some pillows and a cover or two from his room...And if you can find something to put between him and the floor, bring that too.

Jaheira, help her. The rest of you...help the servants clean up this mess."

-"Lad, I'm aware that you rule these lands in Nalia's place, but within our group you have no right to order any of us about, seeing that we're supposed to be equals. If I help the servants, it will be because I wish to help, not because a Bhaalspawn from Candlekeep's dusty tomes tells me to."

-"...I'm sorry if anything else were perceived as my intention...I just thought I should spare you the trouble of offering."

-"Then why deal Aerie the same blow? She's an avariel, and therefore more suited to your position than your kind ever will be...nothing personal."

-"Do I sense a degree of self-restraint, Keldorn?"

-"Indeed."

-"Then I shall relieve you of that, at least. And do not think I expect you to help them do all of it. How far you'll stretch your hand of aid, is up to you. Good night, sir Knight."

-"Good night, my friend."



------



Wandering into Viconia's room around midnight, he found that she was already awake.

-"I assume that it wasn't the sound of my boots that made my presence known?"

-"No, it was your human stench. It travels three spear-lengths ahead of you at all times...one should think you could afford a bath on your busy schedule."

The admonishment were delivered in an even, chill tone, that made him think she had been woken long enough beforehand to actually grow bored waiting for him...

-"I have been thinking."

-"About what? How to best annoy your travelling companions?"

-"No. About how to make you like me. I thank you for the idea of a bath."

-"And that honesty of yours! Do you simply not know how to keep a secret, or are you more addled than Minsc?"

-"Have you ever listened to some of the things he says Boo tells him? The two of them shares a mind more worthy of respect than any you, or I, have ever met, milady."

-"You are the keeper of this place, not I."

-"Would you accept a proposal to share the ownership, then?"

-"...are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting?"

-"I do believe so, yes."

-"Do you know I could kill you where you stand?"

-"Yes."

-"Then why?"

-"I'm curious."

-"...go take that bath, human. You need it," Viconia finally stated, turning away from him in her bed.

Repeating the gesture where he stood, he walked out the door in search of a tub and a servant that knew how to fill it...