Riding in through the city gates of Athkatla, Negrath found half a dozen youths from the keep falling into a run to follow the group.

Reining the animals in at the city stables, he gestured for the group to dismount, while he himself stayed on to instruct the runners to go nice on the four-legged transports, before following his friends into a nearby inn to rent a room for a night or two. They had heard to much of the struggle between the guilds to think Aran wouldn't take the opportunity to use their need for his help to his own advantage.



Having let the group take a last day in the city, well aware that none of them would be guaranteed a return trip from Spellhold, Negrath, as the sun faded from the sky, soon found himself knocking at the door of Viconia's room at their chosen inn…

Hearing nothing, he tried the handle…unlocked. Easing it open, he quietly stepped inside…and found himself face to face with a Drow whose clothes could not aid in distinguishing her from the darkness of the room…basically because she weren't in them.

-"Coming to take what is yours, eh?" she queried, face unreadable, as she stepped closer to reach a hand holding her key behind him to lock the door;

-"I thought I had informed you of what I wanted from you."

-"Yes…rudeness." He mumbled, unsure what she was thinking about.

-"Not exactly, but close enough. Tell me though, would you have done the same if I told you to stay out?"

-"…not if I were thinking clearly" he responded, having given it a moments consideration.

Looking at him in thought, she eventually replied;

-"Good…I suppose. I like to know I can do that. And if the door is locked?"

-"If I had already knocked without getting a response within reasonable amount of time, I'd tear it down."

-"My, I had better sleep lightly then…as if I know any other way…"she concluded, as though to herself.

-"…Such is a good ability…isn't it?"

-"Not in a city, it isn't."

-"Then it seems we are in as much need for the same thing." He nodded.

-"You have come to exhaust me with your stolen learning's then?" she grinned mischievously.

-"Not tonight." He said, gently leading her toward her recently departed bed.

-"But…what if there won't be another chance…" he could almost believe he heard a pleading tone in her voice, as she turned decidedly worried eyes on him.

-"What is this? The independent Drow Cleric needs a human male for her nightly ritual?" he grinned, chuckling as she smilingly shook her head;

-"No, but I find that…it's better to sleep afterwards…and…I like the mutual services we provide each other as well,…perhaps a tad more than I should…"

-"Nonsense. Joy has no upper limit. Nor has sorrow a bottom…that's the two sides of the coin that is emotion…would you rather do without them…now, that you are starting to pay attention to them?"

-"Not if Shar came to me in person to demand it." She replied in an instant, sighing contentedly as she slid under the quilt of the royal bed, looking back at him as he, having shed what little covering he had worn, followed her.

-"And what is this lesson that will help me sleep without baffling me with your knowledge?"

-"Viconia, what is the most beautiful, calming sight you know?"

-"…You remember I told you about that underground lake?"

At his nod, she continued;

-"With you with me, I think sitting in a boat on that would be it…unless you can suggest better?"

-"Tell me; do you prefer black to dark blue? A tall roof to a heaven? If not, or if you do not know, I think it wouldn't be impossible to find a suiting place at some of the lakes Amn has to offer…remember the stars we watched? Can you imagine it?"

-"mhm" she nodded, musing, before closing her eyes, and almost purring with satisfaction.

Opening her eyes to look at him, she wiped her eyes to get at the water having gathered there, querying softly;

-"You think it's anything near as perfect as I just pictured it?"

-"If we both have a good idea of the others description, I should think so," he smiled; "…now, how bout adding some shadows to that? We are back at the keep, watching the setting sun…imagine a great lake running by, glittering in the fading light, and adding a play of color to its surroundings as the water reflects the sun's last rays…

Lying back, she closed her eyes, and immediately smiled in pure joy…a joy not born of the image however, but by the idea that instantly popped into her head…

Opening her eyes to look at him gazing at her, leaning on his elbow in the large bed, she informed him that it could be made real;

-"You have the coin, the land and the necessary water-access…the farmers would benefit from it, and we would be living in an area of nightly perfection!"

"Remind me to get to it as soon as we return." He grinned, without allowing the light to fade in her eyes at the thought of what they might face in the near future; "But for my sake, just try to be there in your mind, all right?"

As she nodded, he gestured for her to lie on her side, away from him, and, sliding closer to lay his arms around her waist, whispered;

-"I'm there too. I should think it should make that nasty light sleep less than a memory.

Turning her head to look at him, she queried, voice a half-pleading, half- insecure murmur;

-"Nothing but this tonight, then?"

-"Do you want there to be more?"

Lifting an arm to stroke her fingers through his hair, she chuckled lightly as he eased her access by kissing her unprotected shoulder.

-"No…" a spark of mischief in her eyes; "but expect to be dragged behind the first available bush, starting as we set foot on the path to Spellhold."

-"Not before?" he wondered, puzzlement evident as he looked at her.

-"No,…" Turning in his grasp to lie face to face with him, she caressed the side of his face as she smiled;

-"If this thief-lord that has offered to help is anything like the rest of you humans, he no doubt will put us through some tasks first…but as soon as they send us on toward our goal, I'll start looking for shrubbery…"

With that, she casually turned him on his back, still with his arms around her waist, and proceeded to put her head on his chest, mumbled "Thank you.", and were soon sleeping soundly.

Finding himself carefully lifting one arm from her back, he spent some moments stroking her hair, reveling in the feel and shining color of it…

Looking up into the ceiling, enjoying the weight of her, he couldn't help but wonder how long he would be able to enjoy the company of this "new" Viconia…

He found himself hoping she would never really change…