Having gathered just inside the district exit the following night, they were approached by a figure that seemed to move with the kind of grace that exuded malice...this was a creature who had no natural enemies…and knew it.

As what they knew to be their "proposed" employer came near, Aerie shuddered, and withdrew behind Minsc.

-"I see you still follow your primitive emotions." She greeted Negrath, glancing over the rest of his troupe, momentarily pausing on Minsc, before turning back to the Kensai as Boo escaped back into Minsc' pack.

-"I'd rather have them than the Bhaal-heritage any day." Were the level reply.

-"I'm sure you would." The vampire commented in her inimitable way; before continuing; "My name is Bodhi. You will know the name well if you decide to make an enemy of me. There are, as you are probably aware, some…disagreement between the local Thieves Guild and myself. In the interest of gaining the upper hand, I would have you intercept a delivery they are smuggling into the city in the morning. You will be at the docks at dawn, and take whatever action necessary to ensure that the delivery goes into my hands.

Do not worry about mistakes. There will be no other ships of the delivery sort at that time. You will know the parcel when you see it…that is, if you know to look among their legal goods.

And now, anything I can do for you?"

-"Return Viconia." Negrath answered plainly, enthusiastic nods from the group following the statement.

-"Not so fast, Human. Consider…do you not want Imoen as well?"

-"You saying I can only have one of them returned to me?!?"

-"Not if you can add double the coin to the pot.

Don't forget; do what I told you, and the Shadow Thieves shall not help you…and you will only have me.

What will it be, emotional one? One…or both? 20 000? Or 40?"

-"40 000?!?!?!?"

-"Not so loud, You may wake the dead." The vampire queen chuckled.

-"How in Helm's grace would I be able to get that kind of coin?!?"

-"The same way you got what you already have; do whatever you must to accomplish your goal. She is worth it, no?"

Turning to look behind her, she smiled;

-"Lead her closer. Let him see we still hold to our word."

From beneath the deep shadow of the nearby archway, the two he remembered from the other night approached, carrying a still-limp Viconia between them.

Furious, Negrath spat;

-"What have you done to her?!? Do you doubt your ability to hold a conscious Drow?"

-"Not at all." Bodhi replied, grabbing his hand and squeezing 'til he could have sworn he heard bone breaking.

-"As you can probably tell, we are well capable of dealing with mere mortals. We just do not want to be bothered with having to keep her Silenced all the time…Clerics can be an awfully vocal crowd, as you well know…"

-"Just keep those long claws of your off of her. A scratch on that skin, and your "life" is forfeit. This I swear."

-"Hear that, girls? Be nice, or this man will be most dissatisfied…and we wouldn't want that, now would we?" Bodhi smiled.

-"No, mistress." The two leered, well aware that whatever the Kensai might swear, he had no power over them whatsoever.

-"Well, then. I suggest you return to bed…-your- bed, as your lover's bed will be rather empty…and get what rest you can…I do not believe the shadow- men would let you search their cargo without objecting most profusely…do you?"

-"Agreed." Negrath growled, looking at their prisoner, wishing she could hear him;

-"I'll get you free, Viconia. They won't be having you for long."

-"That entirely depends on your speed in doing my bidding…mind you, this will not be all…"

-"Just keep those fangs of yours off of her!"

-"We'll see, Bhaalspawn…we'll see. Do be hasty now. Will not do to fight while tired."

And with that, the pale creatures left, vanishing in the shadows as Minsc and Keldorn put heavy hands on The Kensai's shoulders…just in case.

Turning tiredly, Negrath slung his arms over the shoulders of Jaheira and Aerie, preferring their support to the more uneven offered by the bladeswingers.

What the two women thought of the arrangement, they kept to themselves…



At the top of the stairs of the inn, Aerie slid from under his arm, following Minsc, while Keldorn threw a quizzical glance at Jaheira, proceeding to his room as she smiled, grateful for the unspoken offer of replacement, but declining.

Settling her passenger on his bed, she looked into his eyes for a moment…eyes that still could only see the Drow being hauled back into the shadows, unable to even smirk at him.

Finding himself staring the Harper in the face as she stroked his cheek with compassion, he looked down at his legs, unsure of why he didn't feel them.

Following his gaze, she put a hand on his knee, and smiled;

-"I believe Keldorn will be able to massage this back into fit order, should it be necessary…as it is not, why don't we just let him sleep, and follow his example?"

-"…I know I'm younger than you…"

-"In experience, your a toddler compared to me…sometimes I wish it was the other way around…then I wouldn't have so much to regret…never having done…never having said…"

Voice fading, she lowered her head, only to lift it a moment or so later, tears glistening in her eyes, and rage almost burning the skin from his face;

-"The killing blow is mine. Do not doubt this."

-"Minsc…"

-"Minsc lost his mage counterpart! I lost my husband! You dare to compare it?!?"

With some preceding noises, the ranger soon stood in the doorway, eager to set things right;

-"Dynaheir more than counterpart. Dynaheir Minsc's witch!"

-"Bitch, more like." Jaheira mumbled, the rage still working her system making the "correction" just loud enough for The berserker to hear.

-"Yes, Jaheira. Woman she was."

-"Allow me to speak to you as a commoner, Minsc, and pretend you understand what I'm saying;

Dynaheir…was…a…BITCH!

Could you imagine to tell me who she thought she was?!?"

-"Jaheira, wasn't this why Kagain had to flee?" Negrath commented tonelessly, having less than no interest in what the two others did.

-"Let's distract him, then." She replied casually, stretched her body up along a Minsc that, eyes squeezed shut, fought to maintain control…and kissed him.

Shocked out of his rage, the large warrior stumbled backwards out of the room, whereas Jaheira smacked it shut, locking it with the key Negrath had left in it.

Turning back to the bed as she wiped her mouth, she climbed onto it, and over to his other side.

There, she crawled between the covers, and reached for the Bhaalspawn whose existence had caused her to become a widow.

Rage drained the moment the key turned in the door, she pleaded, tears having escaped their prison and running down her cheeks unchecked;

-"Please…we may both benefit from not being alone tonight…Just…just hold me. Please."

Looking at this usually stern Harper that begged him to hold her, Negrath could only think of how Viconia would never have done such a thing.

Moving under the covers to her, more for her comfort than his own, he soon found himself humming a lullaby, in the interest of silencing her crying…