Well, crap.

I really hadn't expected Viconia to confront me about what had happened. I certainly didn't expect her to confront me about it then. We were taking a break during the second day's journey, about halfway to Suldanessellar. I had wandered off into the woods to empty my bladder while everyone took five. I finished taking my piss, and turned around. I was in the process of buttoning back up when I ran into her. I turned all kinds of red.

"Hello, abbil."

"Hello, Viconia. Do you mind...?"

"No, not at all. Your organs...intrigue me. "

Yeah, I bet they do, I thought to myself as I finished the task at hand. She was staring appreciatively at me, hips swaying a little as she shifted her weight. I was embarrassed and tired, more than anything. The brief strength that Jaheira had imparted on me was long gone by now. Viconia glanced over her shoulder, then turned back to me.

"I am glad you have found your strength once again, jaluk. "

"Uhh...thank you?"

"It burns in my mind still, your...our triumphs."

She advanced on me a single step. My first instinct was to take a step back...but I couldn't now, could I? I had to look strong in her. Male imperative first, the fact that she enjoyed it second. I took a step forwards, a challenge.

"The fall of Sarevok."

Yes, ever our triumph. She stuck by us, helped fell Tazok. Now that I remember it, she helped me fell him twice. I smirked. Yes, she had joined the group perhaps a month after Jaheira. She seemed to perk up a little, seeing the light in my eyes.

"Yes...you recall our glorious battles. Irenicus. Bodhi."

Hard fights, and none of my companions ever wavered. Damnation, none of us! NONE! It seemed incredible now that I looked back on it. I must have been nuts to have done the things I did. Assaults on vampire strongholds, returning to tell the tale. Battles in Hell. But somehow, in the midst of all this insanity, she had been by my side.

"The beholders. The Illithid."

I didn't think there was a sweeter sound than the crunch of splitting a Mind Flayer's skull open. Loathe beasts, we had slain a dozen at least in our adventures. Under Athkatla, we had found at least thirty adventurers who had failed to clear them out. Poor bastards hadn't been strong enough, tough enough. But me and Viconia had stood side by side, gritting our teeth through the pain, and slew each and every one of them we saw.

"The Matron Mother. Phaere."

Cunning foes, yes, but outwitted in the end. Ust' Natha was burning behind us as we fled towards daylight. Scores of drow dead. Two houses in ruin. I had defeated the dark elves. I doubted many people could boast that, much less putting their city to the torch.

"Firkraag."

An ancient red...subdued. Killed. Skinned, his head mounted above his former lair. A surge of pride rippled through me. Who could have done such a thing? Me. Courage that bordered on stupidity, I guess. What's the expression? 'If you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough.'

"Nothing stands in our way, abbil. Nothing can stop us. Nothing can slow us."

She had her arms around my neck now, grinding against my crotch. She traced a finger along my neck, down my sternum, to my navel. I shivered, my hands on her hips. Something primal came over me. That lust, the yearning for money, power, women, glory, riches... she was right. Sure, there had been a few close calls, but nothing HAD been able to stop us. Three dragons, dead. Archmage? Dead. Beholders? Dead. Illithids? Dead. Vampires? You'd better believe they've met Final Death. Demons? Back to the Abyss that spawned them. I felt...exalted. Superhuman. Invincible.

"See, ussta mrannd'ssinss? Together, we can lay waste to our foes, carve out an empire..."

I snapped out of that pretty quick. My dreams were simple- good ale, good friends, good food. I pulled away from her. She put the past in a way that made me feel great, yeah...but she was playing with me. I could feel it. Another attempt to capture...no, secure a powerful male. An equal.

"No, no empire. Laying waste to our foes, sure. But that's only because they're always doing stuff like stealing my soul."

Her eyes narrowed. She was obviously unimpressed.

"Really, jaluk? I hadn't noticed. You will always have enemies, you know. For what you have done."

I just shook my head. She rolled her eyes, turned away. She called out to me over her shoulder.

"You are strong, of that there is no question. You are powerful beyond my wildest imaginations. But that is only in the flesh- your mind is weak."

She stalked off, irritated. I shrugged to myself- more drama, nothing new. I thought about it, and realized I was better off with her giving me a bit of space. Yeah, Viconia is a great cleric, great fighter, decent friend...but a surprisingly poor choice of mate. She has the curves, the body, but what about the other qualities? Loyalty, for one. I shook my head, thankful that she didn't knee me in the family jewels...again. Never a dull moment, I suppose.

A/N: So it begins...and now, there are two.