As they were getting ready to depart, and gathering in the main hall, the Domo came to talk with his Lord.

After resolving a minor theft business between themselves, Negrath was presented with an offer of horses to speed the journey, since it seemed obvious enough that they had no intention of returning anytime soon…

Attempting to decline, on the basis that the horses would have to be away from home just as long as they, he got to hear that the Keep-keeper had sent runners to the city the previous evening. They would be waiting at the town gates, ready to bring the animals home in due course.

Smiling amusedly he shook his head and raised his hands;

-"All right, I surrender." He laughed.

Turning to his friends, he called imperiously;

-"Friends! Today we Ride!"

Belated cheers all around, as it became clear for them what he meant.

Viconia quipped, stepping from a distant staircase;

-"Hope they got a monster of a horse for our Friendly Mass of Muscle, there."

Minsc smiled at her;

-"So they do, golden-hearted dark-skinned one. So they do."

Suddenly having all but Negrath look at him strangely, he gestured to his personal shoulderwarmer;

-"Boo knows."

-"Does he also know what the Drow do with little furballs that ruin our reputation?" Viconia queried, aiming it at the little animal directly, feigning a snarl…which neither Boo nor Minsc reacted to.

-"Mystra's toenails!" the Drow swore, turning a exasperated glare at Negrath;

-"Now they'll -never- take me seriously!"

-"Oh, I believe we will take you seriously enough." Jaheira commented; "If you ever turn tail on him."

-"I reckon your precious…"

-"DON'T go there…" the druid warned, gripping her next-to-ancient, yet sturdy staff with both hands.

-"What?" The Cleric snarled, stepping closer to the druid, her hands like claws;

-"You intend to punish me with that older-than-death-TWIG!?! Perhaps my way back into respect is to whip you a good one!"

-"This" Jaheira growled; "Is more than solid enough to break your stubborn back thrice over without even bending. Wonder if the same can be said about your threshold for pain?"

-"Boo Sorry!" the ranger bellowed, running to stand between the two enflamed magic-users;

-"Boo not know Vicky not wanting others know!"

-"What clued you in?" hissed the Drow, attempting to circle the massive warrior to continue her progress.

Minsc would have none of that.

Boo scurrying down the rangers clothes to the floor, the large man grabbed Viconia by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

Usually friendly expression gone, he looked down at her as to a petulant child, and used his volume to give his voice intended effect;

-"Viconia among friends, now. No secrets among warriors of good! Boo knows your good to. Now all in group knows…all but you.

You say you hate what surfacers do to you, say you hate having to move among them, seeing the looks they have given you while you walked with Dynaheir and Minsc, and now with Minsc and Aerie. Boo wants to know: Have Viconia ever tried to be nice first instead of last?!?"

-"…you…you speak the truth, ranger…" the Drow Cleric at last replied, glancing down at her arms, looking a little darker than usual…;

-"…but do you think we could talk of this after I've gotten the blood back in my arms?"

Looking at her curiously for a moment, he let go of her shoulders as though having burned himself;

-"Minsc sorry! You hurt?"

-"Not worse than before." the cleric mumbled, using what little control was left in her hands to call forth one of her less used(and therefore unmodified) healing spells.

Looking dumbly at her, the ranger mumbled, presumably to the just-retrieved rodent;

-"Drow -are- different…"

As she once again could wriggle her fingers freely, she gestured for him to listen;

-"You asked if I ever tried being nice first instead of last…Minsc, what would you do if you met a Drow in the forest…that wasn't me?"

-"Minsc would…" a warning squeak stopped him, and he looked down at his pet with a sad look on his face;

-"Yes, Boo, I know. The Drow would be kicked liberally by Minsc if he saw such a creature in the forest…" another squeak, and Minsc smiled in enlightenment;

-"But not if the Drow came to him asking for help."

-"I…believe I know what you mean to say…you would consider the circumstances…but Minsc,…even if the Drow did so…"

-"Minsc and Boo would have to sleep one-eyed a night or three. Has done it before…"

-"…when I joined you."

-"……yes." Were the pitiful reply.

-"That's OK, Minsc. You think I were asleep the first week?"

-"You were. Minsc remembers!"

-"Minsc remembers an arranged bundle of clothes and covers in whatever deep shadow happened to be around."

-"…You that good?"

-"I can describe to you, in detail, the rounds you took on your watch, and what you said about me to Boo…From what I saw from my perch in whatever elevation I could find, the only one to not glare suspiciously over at where I had claimed my bed for the night, where Negrath and Dynaheir. Yes, Jaheira." The cleric answered the druid's soundless objection, "even Khalid."

Pausing briefly, Viconia smiled as she was wont to do, and hinted;

-"What I could tell about those first seven nights…"

Negrath could have sworn he saw Jaheira blush as the Drow turned around to go and retrieve her pack.