Zarlel's rapiers clashed with the two short swords that Xzereth held. Zarlel broke the lock before it really began, and he slashed his left rapier at one of the other shadowy figures that was coming up to him, while his right blade thrust down at Xzereth's stomach. Both blades were met by steel, so Zarlel did not waste any time in ducking out of the way of Xzereth's second blade and the third figure's single longsword. He went into a role, to Xzereth's right, and thrust his right rapier at the third figure. This time, there was no sound of steel on steel, but steel piercing flesh. The figure grunted, and fell to the floor as Zarlel withdrew his bloodied blade.
"Is that honestly the best you've trained, Xzereth? Surely you have something better?" Zarlel said as he stood up from his crouch.
Xzereth looked at her enemy with utter contempt, "Those who fall do not deserve life. It is the way of my people, and you should know that all to well. The weak do not deserve what the strong have! Now shut up and die!" Xzereth went into a wild flurry of attack that came from all directions, which cut of her last ally from attacking. Zarlel fended of each strike with a parry from his rapiers with grace and ease that defied the vicious woman. Soon Xzereth made a mistake, and Zarlel was able to slip past her and engage his other enemy. He had barely gotten his blades in striking position, when his left was caught by something and ripped from his hand. Zarlel followed through with his attack, though, and another foe fell to the ground. Now there was only Xzereth, and the one who had disarmed his left hand.
There was a swish through the air, and Zarlel ducked and rolled to the right. A whip cracked and the stone of the floor cracked as well. The whip was obviously made of steel. Zarlel began to have the feeling that if he survived his encounter it would be very narrowly.
"Why won't you just accept your fate, elf! You know there is no way for you to survive!" Xzereth said, contempt dripping from her voice so heavily it could almost be seen. She hated Zarlel, but for reasons known only to herself and Zarlel.
"I won't accept my fate because this is not my fate!" Zarlel yelled. He tossed his remaining rapier into his empty hand, and pulled forth a throwing knife, and in less than a second, the knife was buried in his enemy's throat.
Zarlel looked at the corpse, not feeling any satisfaction in the death of his most hated enemy. He almost forgot about his other enemy that still lived, until there was a clash of metal by his feet. Looking down, he saw his rapier. Quickly snatching it up, he looked around in search of the unknown assailant.
"Greetings, Zarlel Lefrunel. Do not be alarmed. I am an ally. Maybe not a friend, but not an enemy either. My name is Ray'ne Falaone. I am a drow mercenary, hired by this one. I am a several hundred years old. I was alive back when Baenre was still alive."
"I don't care about your history! Why did you try and kill me?"
"On the contrary Zarlel. I merely disarmed you. I did not try and kill you. If I had, I would have succeeded. Now, I want to make a deal with you." Ray'ne said as she moved closer to the elf.
"A deal? What makes you think I'd even bother listening to you?" Zarlel asked.
"Because, I know where your parents are. They were not killed, but they were taken away. And before you ask, no they are not in Menzobarranzen. They are on the surface, held by an ally of Xzereth. I will not give anymore information until you agree to my offer."
"Which is?" Zarlel asked. The elf had not sheathed his weapons, and was not going to until he was far away from the drow.
"I shall walk with you to the surface, and explain things on the way. It will probably take that long to explain everything anyway."
"Fine. But you walk ahead of me. You claim to be an ally, but I doubt the words of a drow."