M: While writing this, I realized the following things;

1. I have lost my mind.

2. I need to stop watching 'Reno 911'

3. Manny is even crazier than I am for deciding to cut down my therapy sessions.

4. I should be shot for writing this.

Chapter Twenty-One

Ilmra and Nathyrra made their way towards the inn. They had been traveling for several hours, trekking towards the tavern where the priest would meet them. They had said little to each other, for there was not much to discuss, but Nathyrra suddenly spoke. "Ilmra?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you volunteer to be my partner in this mission? Churmice is not the only one who refuses to work with me due to my past. Why don't you?"

Ilmra gave her a warm smile. "Eilistraee teaches us not to judge others by their sins. Your past is not who you are, Nathyrra. I accept you for who you've become."

Despite herself, Nathyrra smiled as well. "Thank you. That means more to me than you think."

Several minutes later, they arrived at their destination. Nathyrra looked around. "Alright then, where's the ambassador?"

"I don't know. He should be near." Ilmra replied.

A man dressed in a long, blue robe decorated with feathers and beads of all colors walked out of the inn. His dark brown eyes gazed imperiously at the two drow.

"That must be him."

"Careful, Ilmra, he does not speak our language and we must be careful not to offend him."

Ilmra approached him and bowed. "Your honor, we have been commanded by our Lady Seer to bring you to our camp. Allow us to welcome you to our land."

The ambassador stared at her for several seconds. He then got down on his hands and knees and kissed the ground. Nathyrra and Ilmra both blinked at this display. After a moment, the man stood up and gestured for the two females to do the same. Nathyrra looked at Ilmra. Ilmra shrugged and bent down to kiss the ground. Nathyrra did the same.

The ambassador then gestured for them to remain kneeling. They obeyed, and the ambassador said several words in his native language before bending down and grabbing their behinds.

Nathyrra's eyes bulged, but soon narrowed. "If he does not remove his hand I am going to kick his ass."

"Calm down, Nathyrra. Eilistraee teaches us to be tolerant of other people's cultures." Ilmra responded.

"The last man who grabbed my ass wound up dead by my hand."

"Don't kill him, Nat." Ilmra pleaded.

Nathyrra sighed. "Redemption is harder than I thought."

A minute later, the priest stood up and started to run away.

"Your Honor!" Nathyrra and Ilmra shouted in unison.

The priest grabbed onto a pole and hissed at them.

An idea formed in Ilmra's head. She pulled out a scroll and cast a teleportation spell. A glowing portal to take them back to the Seer's camp appeared.

Mother Seer said to use it if we encountered anything we couldn't handle…I suppose this counts, Ilmra thought.

Nathyrra was trying to figure out if there was any way she could pry the ambassador from the pole without hurting him. Perhaps I could use a stun spell…

"Nat!" Ilmra shouted. "Distract him with your butt!"

Nathyrra glared at Ilmra, realizing her plan. "Why can't you distract him?"

"Because yours is bigger!"

"I DO NOT HAVE A FAT ASS! As soon as we get back to the Seer's camp I am going to dangle you from the ceiling of the temple Lolth, you little-"

"I never said your ass was fat! I just said that yours was bigger than mine!"

"Well, it's better than that scrawny little thing you call an ass!"

"This arguing is pointless. Get busy!"

Nathyrra gritted her teeth and walked over to the portal. "Your Honor! Check this out!" She struck a pose.

The ambassador's eyes widened and he ran towards the drow. The former assassin quickly moved out of his way and watched as the priest went through the portal.

Nathyrra frowned. Last time I let some male grab my ass like that.

Ilmra looked at Nathyrra and smirked. She soon burst out laughing, her tanzanite eyes filling with tears of mirth.

Nathyrra's expression was anything but amused. "Vith'os." She snapped before walking through the portal.

XXXXX

When they arrived at the Seer's camp, the ambassador once again kissed the ground. Nathyrra and Ilmra sighed and copied him. The ambassador saw that the Seer was coming and instead of grabbing their butts, he merely stepped on Nathyrra's head before running towards the Seer.

The impact of his weight made Nathyrra slam face first into the ground.

Ilmra blinked. "Nat…Nat…?"

Nathyrra let out a slight whimper and rolled over. "Am I going to die?"

"Nat," Ilmra put her hand above Nathyrra's face. "How manyhands am I holding up?"

"What's a hand?"

"Are you alright? You've got a nasty bump on your head now…"

Nathyrra wore a slightly dazed grin. "I want a knife. Not just any knife. I want one that's shiny…and pointy…and is made by dreams and starlight…"

Ilmra raised her brows. "Have you ever seen starlight?"

"I did twice." Nathyrra let out a giggle. "I saw shooting stars. I was with my lover and-"

"No, no, I don't want to know." Ilmra said quickly. "Let's get you to a healer." She wrapped Nathyrra's arm around her shoulder and stole a quick glance at the Seer.

The Seer did not seem at all surprised when the ambassador grabbed her butt. She even glanced at Ilmra, giving her a smile that was half-amused, half-wicked.

Ilmra gaped at her. She knew!

"My sister used to push me into swimming pools when I was a little girl. She would then curse at me and throw sharp objects when I didn't practice swimming." Nathyrra said brightly.

Ilmra looked at her. "I better get you to the healer."

XXXXX

A few hours later, Nathyrra woke up. A sharp stab of pain raced through her head. The drow winced. "I feel like someone just stepped on my head."

"Oh good. You're forming coherent sentences now. Someone DID step on your head, Nat." said a familiar voice.

Nathyrra looked at Ilmra. "Really? All I remember is the ambassador…" "That rotten bastard!"

Ilmra laughed. "It's a good thing that's all you remember."

Nathyrra gave her a suspicious look. "What did I say?"

"Something about a dagger that's powered by dreams and starlight…"

"Great." Nathyrra stood up and pulled on her clothes. "We should see the Seer about our mission."

"Right behind you."

The two women left for the temple of Lolth.

AM: My sincerest apologies for that. I blame writer's block among other things. If you'll excuse me, I am now going to kick myself in the head.