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C

Rituals

C

When I stumble out on the other side, I'm greeted by the sight of some rather surprised mercenaries who actually start to draw their respective weapons until they notice my bonds and relax a bit. Andy comes next and predictably runs right into me.

"Do you always have to do that?" I inquire waspishly.

"Do you always have to stand in my way?" Is the irritated response. After that we both make an effort to get out of the way as quickly as possible, because none of us particularly wishes to be stepped onto by a Half Spider. I know there was a special name for these things, but I can't quite recall it.

Things happen quickly after our two captors have arrived as well. Someone has fetched the priest and at his sight I wonder fleetingly what might have become of the human, Old Bo. Knowing the usual practises the Drow tend to employ he's probably dead. After a short discussion between Eberral and the other two, during which the bone changes its owner, we're dragged along with everybody else to witness the, as he calls it, greatness of Vhaeraun. In my own humble opinion I have already seen quite enough of that and will remain suitably impressed for the rest of my life, which could be quite short seeing how things are developing at present.

They are obviously just finishing the preparations for some kind of ritual that must have been planned for some time in advance, it appears to be different though to the ones I have observed during the last months. The main attention centres on Ufrelyn and not on an altar, so I guess it has got something to do with his current shape. It's the most logical reason I can come up with and it would most perfectly explain everything that has happened up until now.

I have been tied to a column, which presently provides a surprisingly comfortable place to rest my back and after it becomes clear that this will probably take a long time to complete I let my gaze wander over the faces of the people present.

Everybody is assembled in a perfect circle around Ufrelyn and the priest, who doesn't seem to tire even after nearly half an hour of incessant chanting. Most are Drow, but in a few I can detect hints of the influence of other races, which is a bit unusual for the majority of the dark elves has a strong inclination towards racism and wouldn't allow their blood to mingle with, what they think to be that of lesser races.

Another fifteen minutes later nothing notable has happened, I'm growing increasingly bored and start wishing that they would come to an end sometime soon. I can't tell if Andy feels the same, because we've been put on opposing sides of the circle and several people are between us effectively blocking my view of anything except for their backs and a few narrow gaps, through which I can catch fleeting glimpses of the two occupants of the circle. Just when I'm nearing a state of near drowsing a cloud of bright sparkles suddenly descends on Ufrelyn and my interest returns. The sounds that escape from the misty, sparkling haze indicate that there is a great deal of pain involved in whatever is happening to him. Serves him right! It's such a nice change to not be the one who suffers for once.

After a time much too short for my taste, the pained noises as well as the chanting cease and the mist starts to dissipate, slowly revealing the naked, now two legged shape, that is curled up on the ground panting and sweating from exhaustion. The anticipatory looks of everybody are now directed at him... or rather her as I notice when the haze has cleared enough to make such distinctions. Apparently the change from half spider back to Drow has included an unexpected change of gender as well. If this is the greatness of Vhaeraun I don't want to come into closer contact with it. I'm quite happy with being male for the moment.

Apparently Ufrelyn shares my sentiment, because he looks quite appalled after a short check over his body.

"You made me a woman?" He asks unbelievingly, looking up from where he's kneeling, still dazed from exhaustion. If Eberral is surprised by the turn of events he hides it very well indeed.

"Vhaeraun wishes for the number of his followers to increase. Having females among them is an efficient way of insuring that." He says matter of factly, as if this should have been expected to happen all along.

"You wish to use me for breeding!"

The first sings of anger and rage are creeping in, but there is still some disbelief left. I experience a strange split of emotions, on the one hand I can perfectly understand his horror about such a complete change and the prospect of being used in such a way, but on the other hand I am incredibly happy that it didn't happen to me. Being used while staying the same gender was bad enough, but to be forced into a change so profound only so somebody else can profit from it must be even worse.

When the priest does nothing to deny the accusation and only smiles instead in that self satisfied way that says : "I know more than you do", which tends to drive other people mad, Ufrelyn unwisely decides to attack him in a sudden fit of rage.

I know from experience that doing so while being naked and tired is a sure way to get yourself into trouble and achieve nothing at all, well at least nothing that's remotely advantageous. Kofyr is caught by surprise and reacts a second too late. Before he has even drawn his sword there are five others pointed at various important areas of his body.

I watch with barely contained glee as he is stripped of all his weapons, magical devices and armour. The only thing that would make me even happier is freedom, but since that is highly unlikely right now I'm content to settle for this instead.

Ufrelyn is watching as well from where she is being held securely by two mercenaries and is obviously very unhappy about the way things have turned out, especially when Eberral bestows her with a lingering appreciative gaze, telling her how much he'll enjoy getting her pregnant.

All four of us are put in a tiny, cold and wet cell. If we have to stay here for long I think we'll all die of pneumonia. Especially Ufrelyn who still hasn't been given anything to cover herself with. All in all the two seem to take the betrayal in stride. Such things are to be expected after all when dealing with Drow.

While looking for a place dry enough to sit on I notice that Andy is wearing a small smile, which makes gives me the strong suspicion that he knows something we don't. I abort my search in favour of drawing him into my arms, chin resting on his shoulder and his back to my front, which I decide provides more warmth and comfort than sitting on cold stone. Kofyr throws us an irritated glance.

"Can't you two ever stop touching?" He asks grumpily.

Andy only raises an eyebrow his smile widening.

"Why? Do you find that distracting?"

Instead of a clear answer we only get a growl, so I decide not pursue the matter any further and just leave him alone for the time being. Andy seems to have a different opinion about this though.

"That gateway you had, does it only lead to a specific location?"

Now all of us regard him with instant suspicion.

"It can only bridge a short distance, like the one between here and the alley for example. Why do you ask?"

"Just wondering." He says and pulls out a small gem. "The alley should be sufficient I guess."

"How did you get that?" Kofyr wants to know sharply, hurt pride at being robbed without noticing it shining through his words.

"When you tied me up there at the circle." Andy replies shrugging lightly.

"Never mind." Ufrelyn cuts in desperate to be gone from here. "Just open it already."

This time our wishes match perfectly.

We're lucky for once and nobody stops our departure, so soon all four of us are standing again in the rubbishy, rat infested alley we came from earlier. Andy glances at me uncertainly, taking a tiny step away from the other Drow.

"Where are we going to go now Toren?"

I really only know one place we could go, even if I'm not sure whether it's a good idea to go back to Dai's place and burden him with another visitor. Staying here is out of question though and I don't have any money which could afford us accommodation.

"A friend of mine lives here." I tell Andy softly, hoping despite all appearances that our other two friends will not listen and go away.

"We should be able to sleep over at his place for tonight."

And first thing tomorrow we'll depart as fast as possible from this hellhole of a city! When we turn to leave our present location though I realize a short way down the alley that we've unsurprisingly acquired two shadows.

"Who invited you to come along?" I ask pointedly. Without weapons and in one case even clothes they can't really do much to me can they?

They can, as I discover a second later when I'm suddenly lying on my stomach with a dark Elf on my back, face in some disgusting substance I can't bring myself to identify exactly. Fine so they are still dangerous. Seems like I have no other choice then. Bastards!