m: A special thank you to R.A. Salvatore. If it weren't for his book, 'Homeland', I never would have thought of the character, Ilivarra.
shadow0015: I was talking about the song itself. They don't have it on iTunes or Window's media player so I thought you might know. The lyrics are easy to find. As for Nackor…I have plans. (Evil grin) Drow whore, huh? Well, I wouldn't put it past the Valsharass...
naradrith: Writing for Bioware? That makes me wonder, who did create the character of Nat?
Chapter Four
"Welcome." the leader red sister said several days later. Nathyrra was attending the orientation of the order. Five other students stood around of her, each of them surveying the room with paranoid and suspicious eyes.
The instructor continued. "I am Malice, the head instructor." She gestured to the other teachers. "These are your other instructors. Their names are Briza, Vierna, Maya, Baenre, SiNafay, and Ilivarra." The lesser instructors all nodded.
Malice continued, "You will each train with one of these instructors for the first half of the day. They shall be your mentors, your true guides. OBEDIENCE!" she suddenly shouted. Two of the students jumped. One flinched. One's eyes widened. Nathyrra and the last student merely arched their eyebrows.
Malice frowned. "Lesson one; expect all surprises!" she snarled. Her tone softened. "Now then, as I was saying, obedience is the key to survival. Obey all your instructors, and you will survive."
Nathyrra was skeptical of this.
"The punishment for disobedience is death." Malice said coldly. "The punishment for failure is death. The price of hesitance is death. The consequence for laziness is death. The price of mercy is torture…and then death. Do I make myself clear?"
The students nodded.
"You will train with your personal instructors for half day and spend the second part of the day with the other instructors." She gave each of the students an intimidating glare as she said this. "Before you selected by your instructors, we will have a small of your abilities to see what you seem to excel in, and to give you your new names. Let us go."
XXXXX
Ilivarra mentally sighed as the students lined up for their test. They would each fight a conjured troll. The battle would reveal their potential and exceptional skills and would be given a name that signified their skills and abilities. Another load of hotshots who think they're cunning and powerful but usually wind up with a knife in their throat, Ilivarra thought with irritation. Not one of them is worthy of the title 'assassin', some of them aren't even worthy of the title, 'rothe'. (Sigh) I'm getting old for this… Ilivarra was at the peak of her life. With all the experience of four centuries of life and a station of true prestige, it was everything a drow could want. But for some reason, she felt hollow inside.
Shaking her head to clear herself of these thoughts, Ili turned her attention back to the battles. The fourth student had just defeated the troll.
"Zav zotreth!" Malice exclaimed.
Ilivarra scowled. I've pulled better recruits than this out of my ass. Why didn't Malice just call her 'xa'huuli jaluk'? It would be more appropriate.
Ili looked at the next student. She's quick with her blades, but anyone can master that dance.
"Velkyn Velde!" Malice screamed.
Ilivarra mentally winced. How did she ever find the time to learn the ability to scream like that?
The final student stepped forward. Ilivarra noticed that she was older than most of the other students. Odd. She is much older than her comrades. Is the Valsheress certain that she will be able to adapt to our teaching system? Ili watched as she fought. Hmmm…she's good with her blades, but does she have the edge that blades lack?
The student shouted a flame arrow spell. The troll cried out as it was engulfed in flames. The students stared at the final student in amazement. Ilivarra inwardly grinned. Perfect. Two small balls of fire danced between her fingers as she thought this.
"Alurl Faen!" Malice cried. She addressed all of the students. "You have all been given your names. Now each of you will be chosen by an instructor. Ilivarra! You will pick first."
Ilivarra stepped forward and surveyed each of the students. Velkyn Velde straightened with arrogant pride as Ili looked at her. She knew that Ilivarra was one of the greatest trainers in existence, second only to Malice. An icy glare from Ili wiped the smile off of Velkyn's face.
"I choose Alurl Faen!" Ilivarra barked.
XXXXX
Ilivarra lead Nathyrra down a long, narrow hallway. "Here is the entrance." She opened a door. It led to another room with three connecting doors. She pointed at the first one. "That is the weapon room. You are only to go there when I allow you to." She pointed at the second door. "You are not to go in there either."
"What's in there?" Nathyrra asked.
"If you prove yourself, I will tell you." Ilivarra pointed at the last door. "Those are my personal quarters. You-"
"Are not allowed in there."
Ilivarra slugged Nathyrra in the back of the head.
Thirty minutes later, Nathyrra let out a slight groan and started to pick herself off the floor. She let out a cry of pain when Ili roughly grabbed her sliver hair and slammed her against a wall. "First lesson," Ilivarra hissed at the dazed Nathyrra. "Never interrupt me." She tightened her grip. Nathyrra squeezed her eyes shut in as her scalp burned with agony.
"Second lesson," Ilivarra continued. "Learn to block, Alurl Faen!"
"My name is Nathyrra." Nathyrra snapped.
Ilivarra twisted Nathyrra around to face her. Ili brought up her fist. "Do you need another nap, child? It would make sense since you are behaving like an infant."
Nathyrra scowled but held her tongue, her eyes smoldering.
"You will be called your real name again when you earn it. For now, you should get some rest."
Seeing Nathyrra's blank look, Ilivarra gritted her teeth in exasperation and said, "You are to stay out here. This is your home."
"Where will I sleep?"
"Your home. Don't look at me like that. Your sleeping conditions will be far worse if you become a fully trained assassin."
Comprehension dawned on Nathyrra. "I see."
"Get some rest, Alurl Faen. We have a long day tomorrow."
XXXXX
Ilivarra gazed at Nathyrra as she slept. The window connecting Ili's room to the center room had an illusion placed on it. It allowed anyone in Ilivarra's room to see out into the center room, but no one in the center room could peer into Ili's room. She is resourceful, Ilivarra thought, remarking on the bed roll that Nathyrra had managed to find.
Ilivarra turned back towards the scroll in her hands. It listed information about her new student, and Ilivarra was quite inquisitive. Let's see. She was the daughter of Matron Vasenna. The only survivor of house Kant'tar. Associated with Nackor Blackhammer. Ili's eyes widened when she saw this. She seeks Nackor? Ilivarra continued reading. I see now. She wishes vengeance on Nackor. Ha! No easy feat. She does not know the real him. She she's see him only as the illusion he presented as a spy. Ilivarra gazed looked at the young drow once more. It will be a challenge to train her. But I enjoy a challenge.
XXXXX
Nathyrra was rudely shaken awake by a steel-toed boot kicking her in the ribs. She grunted and glared at Ilivarra. "What was that for?"
"Wake up, you al'vur. We have work to do." Ilivarra said dispassionately.
"Its three hours past midnight!" Nathyrra protested.
"Shut up and get dressed."
XXXXX
"Wake up, al'vur!" Ilivarra shouted as she attacked Nathyrra. "Sloppy assassins meet their death first!"
"Oh so I have a pet name now? I've always liked being called an 'al'vur'." Nathyrra spat sarcastically and thrust at Ili's head.
Ili dodged. "If your blades were as sharp as your tongue, you would have been able to make a mark on me by now."
Nathyrra swiped at Ili's stomach.
Ili blocked it. "Pathetic! You are no fighter! You are merely a child playing with toys too big for her!"
Nathyrra snarled and increased the rapidity of her attacks.
"Do you honestly think you can beat me, al'vur? It's no wonder Seelamin died, what with a person of your skills trying to save him!"
That was the final straw. Nathyrra let out a scream of rage and charged Ilivarra. Ilivarra easily blocked all of her clumsy, rage-filled attacks. She began to beat Nathyrra back towards the wall. Nathyrra shouted a melf's acid arrow spell and aimed it at Ili.
Ilivarra brought up a shield spell. The arrow shattered as it came into contact with the shield. Ili laughed at the astonished look on Nathyrra's face. "You are not the only one with arcane power, al'vur!"
Nathyrra screamed and ran towards Ilivarra. Ilivarra used her magic to lift Nathyrra into the air and slam her into the wall. Staggering, Nathyrra tried to get up. Ilivarra immediately lifted her up and slammed her against the ceiling. She continued to use the young student as a virtual battering ram until Nathyrra was on the brink of unconsciousness.
Ilivarra uncaringly allowed Nathyrra to drop ten feet onto the ground. She knelt down next to the now badly injured drow. "You have anger. That's good. However, you have no idea how to harness it or to use it to your advantage. Learn how. Rage is no substitute for proper form." Ilivarra stood up. "When you get a chance, fix those wounds of yours. It won't do you any good to be injured when you go to visit your other teachers. Also, straighten up the mess you made here. I don't want blood staining my clean floors."
Nathyrra said nothing, too exhausted and pained to speak.
"I'll leave you to it, Alurl Faen." Ilivarra said and walked out of the room.
Arrow Maker: Drow translations;
rothe: cattle or slave
al'vur: cow
Alurl Faen: Best wizard
Velkyn Velde: Hidden blade
Zav Zotreth: clever strike
xa'huuli jaluk: worthless male