Having gathered in the tavern, the rest of the group watched in well-hidden awe, as their "leader" dispatched beast after beast in the fighting pit with glee… Idly pondering if the reason behind her continuos success where that she imagined them all to be Phaere, he found that the gatekeeper had the same suspicions;
"She sure fights well…I'd say to well for one that has no real incentive to do so…who do you think she tells herself she fights?"
Thought flying like little lightning bolts in his mind, he finally came up with a reply that would be accepted;
"Me."
Slightly stunned, the male looked from the hammer-swinging Viconia to the little other than well-trained Drow he saw before him. Swallowing, he asked, voice a frightful whisper;
"What did you do? And why is she not doing it to you directly? You have some kind of power over her?"
"I refused to obey, once. She tries not to harm what little worth I have to her. If you can call being the only male able to please her having power over her, then yes."
Hoping the cleric would never hear about that last answer, he looked back at the woman who still refused to even share a bed -room- with him.
Having made her humanoid opponent (whatever it was) good and dizzy, swaying on it's feet with all concentration on the maintenance of balance, she threw a glance over her shoulder at Negrath, before swinging both hammers up to one side in preparation for the terminal swing. Seeing the arc they would perform, three of her audience turned away as her weapons began their charge; seemingly making a hasty dive towards the floor, the heavy paindealers followed a perfect arc, heads nearly scratching the ground, and up…connecting squarely between its legs… The creature being positively lifted off the floor by the force of it, it landed heavily one stone floor, basically paralyzed. Straddling it, she spent a few moments considering her two closest friends, eventually choosing one, replacing the other in the belt, and, lifting it high over her head, brought it down on her opponents head…
Having been let out as there were no more captured beasts to fight, she walked over to the nearest non-drunk Drow male, demanding to know where proper baths could be had. Being given directions(for some reason the inn "did not have the necessary facilities"), she left,…
…but came soon enough back, walking to sit at their table, right across from Keldorn, and leaned forward, face unreadable;
"You hate Drow, correct?"
At his immediate nod, she continued; "and you do not like me."
As he started to speak, she held up a hand; "Yes or no, Paladin!"
At his almost apologetic nod, she went on; "then this is your lucky day. Two of my house…former house, and three if you count the one that killed himself…sits in a public cell nearby. Just ask for "the outcasts". It will probably be the time of your life."
With that, she turned most expressive eyes on Negrath, before doing a very good impression of -not- running to her room. The rest of the group turning as one to face him, as though wondering what he was still doing there, the Kensai spent a moment hoping they were right in their assumption, and hurried after the Drow.
Finding her door open, and assuming it was for his benefit, he stepped inside, closed it, and faced his loved one. Sitting on the edge of her bed, somehow managing to make it clear that she wanted him beside her, she, as he took up his "appointed seat", leaned into him, putting her arms around him as though intending to break his ribs, and sobbed dryly with despair;
"It is not that they were better than most Drow, and it's not that I even knew them all that well, it's just that I…I've never really understood…"
As her voice failed, Negrath nodded in understanding;
"..How isolated you really are. In how much trouble you really would be if they found out who you are. You are the last of your house, as I doubt the two that -didn't- kill themselves will survive much longer than he did, and you have no opportunity of bringing it back to glory, as they will fall upon you like wolves rather than listen to you…"
"…If Lolth does not get me first. I'm telling you, seriso, every handmaiden that have bothered to acknowledge my existence have looked at me oddly. We need to get this done, and we need to get this done NOW!"
Assuming that to point out her slip would be a bad idea, he silently enjoyed the fact that she at least still wanted him, while responding;
"As you yourself said, that depends entirely on Phaere. And no, you know you cannot harm her without losing your life to whom- or whatever took revenge."
Using his shoulders as leverage, she lifted herself into his lap, wiping at tears that weren't there, and settled in, in the apparent belief that doing so were her only chance for proper rest… Sadly smiling, he kissed her hair, intending to enjoy the moment for as long as she would let him.
Stirring awake, Viconia found herself momentarily confused; where was she? Upon realizing that she still sat on Negrath's lap, she smiled;
"Perhaps you would like me to wake those?" were the query, followed by a nudge of her heel to a leg.
Lifting her over to the bed, he stood, walked around stiffly for awhile, before smiling;
"It wouldn't appear to be -necessary-…"
"Who says it has to be? Come, let me get some flow in that blood of yours."
"Am I forgiven then?"
"Depends on how you perform, male…better not hold anything back now…"
He didn't.
Rejoining their friends, they got to know that Phaere expected them in the temple… A slaughter of walking fish later, they were called to her private quarters, and instructed to perform a switch of the item the Matron Mother intended to bribe her helping Demon with, with a copy of Phaere's own design.
On their way back they were approached by Soulafein, who offered them a second set of fake eggs to switch them with. Having done what they were told to, they, intending to deliver the eggs to Adalon, gave Phaere Soulafein's fakes. As the traitorous Drow left the room, a chattering imp faded into existence before Negrath, congratulating them on a job well done, and demanding the real eggs delivered. Handing them to it, they were informed that their disguise would be terminated in a matter of minutes.
Hurrying to the city exit, Negrath saw Viconia throw glances back at the temple, grinning like…well, like Viconia. Having a certain idea of why, he ignored it, and kept running.
Storming out the City Gates, was like going from the darkness to the light; one moment they were all nigh-invisible in the dark, and then their various lighter shades of skin were visible to the naked eye once more.
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Last modified on September 2, 2001
Copyright © 2001-2003 by Hans-Olav Bråtun. All rights reserved.
