Realm Chronicles

by Realmwriters

What if there was a world that was untouched by the modern world, a world deep below the surface? Two modern day women stumble upon this world only to suffer in its unforgiving realm.

7. Where there be training, there be drow

            Alex lied in bed looking at the ceiling.  "I hope Kristi's plan works."

            Pharaun appeared at Alex's door and broke her thoughts, "well my dear, are you ready for your training?"

            Alex turned to Pharaun startled, "What!?  What training?  Don't you think we have had enough?"

            "Enough? On the contrary, we've only just begun. . ."

            "Only just begun?"

            "Of course only just begun.  I'm not through training you yet."

            Looking up to Pharaun, "I think I have had more than enough training with you."  She turned away from him.

            "Oh, but I don't," Pharaun said sarcastically.  He muttered an incantation, transporting them to another room.

            Alex looked around and sighed, "not again.  So what are we going to do this time, my dear wizard?"  She added a hint of sarcasm toward the end.

            "Well, I have a few spells I'd like to try on you."  He smiled, but not nicely.

            Alex took a step back.  "What did you just say!?"

            "You heard me, they won't damage you. . .permanently."

            In the meanwhile, Kristi sat in her room and let out a sigh.  She had been awake all night contemplating a plan.  Jarlaxle slowly made his way to the room where Kristi was staying, a smile on his face.  Kristi opened the door before Jarlaxle got to it and stalked out of the room angered.

            "Now now now, my dear where are you going this morning?"

            "Why? Aren't you through with your little. . .training exercises?"           

            Jarlaxle looked Kristi in the eye. "We have only just begun my dear."

            Staring back, "I had a bad feeling you'd say that."

            "Now now, enough with the rudeness."

            Kristi's eyes flashed in anger.  "Fine.  Well, what are we doing today then?"

            "You shall see, come along."  Jarlaxle motioned for Kristi to follow.  She sighed and did just that.  He led her into a room with a few other Drow males and one female."

            "What in the nine hells?"  She thought to herself, 'dammit, I'm screwed."

            Jarlaxle motioned for the female to come forward and Kristi averted her eyes. 

            She looked to Jarlaxle instead.  "What is going on?"

            "Kristi, I would like you to meet Larenil."

            Kristi wasn't sure what to say, but she managed "greetings," in an emotionally cold voice.

            Jarlaxle went on.  "She was once a high Priestess in the twenty-fourth House until it was destroyed. But myself, being the noble drow that I am, saved her from death and made her one of my own."

            Kristi muttered, "noble."  However, after seeing a look of malice cross the female's face she just nodded to his words.  "So what does this have to do with me?"

            "I have brought you here to learn some of the tricks of a Priestess; they will come in handy much later."

            Kristi seemed to think about it for a moment.  "I guess they'll come in handy."  Facing the priestess, "so when do we start?"

            The priestess looked to Kristi.  "Right now my dear."  She looked to Jarlaxle, who nodded, and released a spell at Kristi causing her to fall to the ground, shivering with extreme cold.

            The spell caught Kristi by surprise and she fell to the ground.  The cold must have dulled her rational thoughts because she glared and asked, "Is that all you got?"  She struggled to stand.

The priestess regarded Kristi.  "Stubborn human. . .I shall remedy that in time."  Turning to Jarlaxle, "is it always like this?"

Jarlaxle nodded.   "She is quite the stubborn one."

Kristi mumbled, "I'm right here."

"She refuses to give in, and that is why I asked for your help on this matter."

"Jarlaxle, the charmer of mercenaries, wielder of great sword skill cannot break a human?"  She said the preceding words mockingly intrigued.

Jarlaxle glared, but then softened his gaze.  "I have told you, she is stubborn."  Looking to Kristi, "shall we continue this my dear?"

"Continue what?"

"Your 'training' of course," he looked to the priestess who nodded and took a step toward Kristi.

Kristi could sense the priestess Larenil behind her, but stood in front of Jarlaxle.  When she sensed a spell coming from Larenil, she did the only thing she could think of. . .she ducked.  The spell hit Jarlaxle and he fell to the ground unconscious, twitching slightly.

Kristi turned to the priestess.  "If I were you I wouldn't stick around to wake him up."  She stood over Jarlaxle and winced thinking, 'glad that wasn't me.'  Realizing there were still other drow in the room she faced them.  "Me?  Stubborn?"  They quickly made an exit and Kristi interpreted that as victory muttering, "wusses."  Of course she didn't realize that they didn't want to get in the way of Jarlaxle's wrath.  After a moment Kristi wondered where Alex was and slowly started to wander in her direction, leaving a stunned priestess.

You heard me, they won't damage you. . .permanently.

Pharaun's words echoed in her mind.  She mumbled, "I do not like the sound of that."

"The spells will merely make you tolerant of pain," Pharaun said with a grin.

"There is no way I am going along with this," Alex said shaking her head.  "No."

Pharaun smiled and chanted a spell.  Waving his arms about he extended his hand and had Alex fall to the ground.  Walking over to her, "You're now going to tell me everything I wish to know."

Looking up to Pharaun, "Never!"

"There is no such thing as never."  He laughed and held out his hand, clenching it into a fist to make her cringe in pain.  "I'll ask a question and you'll answer."

            Alex grit her teeth in pain.  "No!  I will not tell you anything!"

            Pharaun stared into her eyes hypnotically.  "Are you afraid?"

Alex looked to Pharaun and grinned despite the pain.  "'Stop making me repeat myself! Its bad for my health!'"

Increasing the intensity of the spell, "I asked, are you afraid?"

Alex squeezed her eyes shut and growled out, "No. . .not anymore."

"You should just answer the questions Alex."

"And why should I?  Just so you can kill me later?"

"Kill you?  Oh no, we never planned on killing you.  We much prefer torture."

            "You Bastard!"

            "Oh please, you'd probably prefer torture to an evening as Jarlaxle's bed slave

            Alex glared at him.  "I would never sleep in the same room as him, never!"

            "You don't need to shout."

            "'If that was a joke it sucked, and if you were being sarcastic, it was even worse.'"

            "And if that was an original philosophical connotation I'm the matron mother. . ."

            Alex couldn't help but laugh.

            Pharaun sighed and was a little flustered.  "Great, the one human is rubbing off on me."

            Alex laughed again.  "We will win in the end; you will not have your way."

            "You are gravely mistaken.  However, I do have one question my dear. . .how long did you think you could get away with it?"

            "Get away with what?"

            "You know of what I speak."

            "I know nothing."

            "Knowing nothing implies that you know something.  It would be a shame if your friend were suddenly hurt by what she's attempting."  Pharaun knew Alex was hiding something and he wanted to continue baiting her until he found out.

            Alex thought before she spoke.  "And what are you implying?"

            Ever since the incident with the girl, Pharaun had been suspicious as to what transpired.  "I imply only what really happened to the girl."

            Alex looked down to the floor.  "Kristi killed that girl. You saw exactly what I saw."

            "Your eyes betray you."

            "How so?!  You saw exactly what I saw!  She died in that room!"

            "Of course she did. . .but I wonder, why haven't you winced in pain once yet today?"  Pharaun slowly started to extract the truth with a spell he was inwardly chanting.  "It is not likely you're friend has not resisted."

            "I know not what Kristi does. . ."

            "She does seem rather enigmatic, yet you claim you know not of what she does.  Is she not your friend?"

            Alex still tried to keep up the bluff.  "I was until she killed that girl."

            "I thought that you said that, no matter what you'd always be friends.  Isn't that what you said?"  Pharaun slowly smiled to himself.

            Trying to make up for her mistake, "yes, that was true, but then she murdered that girl just by your asking."

            Pharaun looked to her.  "Yet she killed the girl for you.  The girl's life for yours. . ."

            Alex faltered.  "I. . .I. . ."

            "Ah my dear, you falter. . .you've given me what I needed to know."

            "What have I given you?"

            "The fact that your friendship has not lapsed."

            "And you can prove this by?"

            "By the very spell I've been casting as we've been speaking.  The girl was not killed; your friend somehow bypassed the spell with a loophole. . .but how?"

            Alex sighed in defeat.  "I know not and even if I did I would never tell you."

            "Precisely, the bond of friendship still remains, that's all I needed to know.  I shall have to confront your friend.  I believe Jarlaxle will try to extract that information from Kristi."

            "She will never speak. . ."

            Pharaun chuckled and started to chant a spell.

            Meanwhile, Jarlaxle started to stir on the ground.  He eventually stood up and shook his head groggily.  Finding the room empty he drew his sword and stalked down the corridor.  Finding Kristi slightly distracted he walked in front of her.  "Where are you going?"

            "Um. . .the washroom?"

"I think not," Jarlaxle said.  Reaching into his cloak he pulled out an ivory wand.  Pointing it at Kristi he spoke the command word and a sticky spider web shot at her.

"Hey!"  The web bound her where she stood and Jarlaxle stalked closer to her.  "Great. . .just great."

Walking up to Kristi, "You have outwitted me for the last time."

"Outwitted?  I just ducked!"

"Does it matter?  You are the one that is entangled in the web."

"Oh very funny," Kristi said darkly.  Her anger seemed to radiate from her being and the spider webs about her melted.  She blinked in surprise, but quickly covered it with sarcasm.  "What was that about entangled?"

Jarlaxle glared and put his sword to her throat in the blink of an eye.  Kristi was surprised at his quick movement, but didn't flinch.  "Now tell me my dear, tell me what happened yesterday.  Pharaun suspects something and I wish to know what."

"What happened is in the past, it's really not best not to dwell on it."

He pressed the sword slightly, drawing a few beads of blood.  "Tell me."

Kristi flinched.  "If you kill me you'll never know."

"From what I have heard your friend already confesses."

"I do not believe you."

Jarlaxle's head and Kristi's eyes turned to see Pharaun and Alex appear in the corridor beside them.  Alex appeared confused and slightly dazed, Pharaun appeared to be amused by that fact.

"Has all gone well?"

Pharaun nodded to Jarlaxle.  "Of course I have most of the information we require."

"Good good."  Kristi glared at Jarlaxle and he looked back to her.  "Please stop glaring, it will help nothing."  Kristi just smiled evilly, knowing that her glaring was getting to him.  Jarlaxle tried to ignore her.  "What information are we missing?"

"Just the how?"  Pharaun walked toward Jarlaxle and Kristi.  "I want to know how they've bypassed one of the most powerful spells in Menzoberranzan."

Kristi's eyes widened and she inwardly thought, 'One of the most what?!  Of all the spells to find a loophole-!'  Kristi wished she could look to the ground, but due to the sword at her throat, it wasn't the greatest of ideas.

Alex looked down to the ground, trying to think of a way out of their current situation.

 Pharaun looked to Kristi.  "We shall break you yet."

"I highly doubt it."

He smiled evilly.  "So you think, so you think."

            "The soul will not break because it is made of that which binds the universe together."  Quoting philosophy, "'I think therefore I am.'"

            "Enough of this!" He cast a temporary spell of silence on Kristi.

            Kristi looked to Pharaun and spoke to him mentally.

            (Oh yeah like that'll work, wouldn't you know? I'm usually the quiet one)

            Kristi knew the mental link between her and Alex could not be destroyed.  She smiled slightly, knowing that Alex was thinking back to philosophy class.

            Alex giggled despite the situation, causing both Jarlaxle and Pharaun to turn towards her.  Jarlaxle walked over to her, causing Kristi's glare to intensify.

            "You find this amusing?"

            She looked up with a slight smile on her face.  "No. . ."  She looked to Kristi then back to Jarlaxle, smiling a little more as she thought of happier times.

            "Why don't you tell me what you smile at Alex?"

            Alex was startled from her thoughts.  "It. . .it is nothing of importance."

            "Nothing of importance, yet you laugh."

            Looking into Jarlaxle's eyes, "I was remembering happier times, those of which do not concern you."

            "Why should they not concern me? Do you think I know nothing of happiness in this dark city?"

            "How can you know happiness in this dark place?"

            "The darkness merely hides happiness," Jarlaxle looked off distantly.  But then he looked to Alex, "but I have known happiness."

            "Do not look at me like that," Alex said as she shuddered under his gaze.

            "Like what?"  He continued to look at her.

            Kristi was off in her own thoughts and was glad that Alex could remember a good memory.  She touched the cut on her neck lightly and flinched hoping no one noticed.  She put on a stony, emotional mask.

            Being the observant drow that he is, Pharaun noticed Kristi's flinch.  "Hurt my dear?"

            Kristi gave him a quick look and said defensively.  (Oh shut up)

            Pharaun grinned and then leaned forward.  He touched her cut with his fingertips.  Kristi flinched, but forced her face to remain stoic even though she felt a little faint.  "This may make you weak," Pharaun told her.  He began to chant and slowly the cut on Kristi's neck healed.

            Touching her neck in surprise Kristi looked to Pharaun.  She was surprised that he helped her and that no one noticed.  She struggled to remain standing, but she fell toward Pharaun.  He smiled and caught Kristi easily, holding her steady in his arms.  She slowly fell unconscious, unaware that she even physically fell.

            Pharaun called to Jarlaxle, who turned his head, "what?"  He noticed Kristi's state.  "Oh yes, I forgot that the blade was poisoned.  Do what you will with her, I care not."  He turned his attention back to Alex.

            "I am going to take her to my chambers to heal.  She has worn herself out. We need them healthy."  He chanted a spell and returned to his room with Kristi.  He placed her on his bed, and then seated himself at his desk.

            Alex blinked, looking to where Pharaun once was with her friend.  "Kristi?!"  She ran forward.

            "She is of no concern to you now, she must heal after all."

            "I cannot trust him with her, just as I cannot trust you."

            "Of course you should not trust us, but it appears as if you will have to for now."

             "And why should I?  You have given me no reason to trust you."

            Jarlaxle casually asked, "Is the reason that you still live enough?"

            Alex growled and looked away.

            "How about if I trust you, you trust me?"  Jarlaxle regarded her thoughtfully.  "Become my assistant, my second in command for the time being."

            "What do you mean?"

            "I mean what I say."

            "I cannot betray my friend that way.  Never."  She was startled over this whole new turn of events.

            "What betrayal? She will live and train with you until the Council meeting."  Reaching to his side he pulled out a dagger and handed it to her.  "Keep this with you as a token of my trust."

            Alex looked to the dagger and stammered, "I. . .I. . .can't. . ."

            "You are not signing away your soul.  You do not have to kill with the dagger.  It is but protection."

            "Protection?"

            Placing it in her hand, "Of course protection, being close to a mercenary has its advantages. . .and disadvantages."

            "What kind of disadvantages?"

            "Well, we do get the occasional assassin, but as long as you have this my dear you will be able to defend yourself when I'm not around."

            Looking to the dagger, "how will it protect me?  Is it magical?"

            "In a way yes, with your magic it will protect you.  Do you accept it?"

            Alex closed her eyes and looked away.  "Why, why do you offer this to me?"

            "For your protection, I'd very much dislike it, if you were killed."

            "I don't understand.  Why are you offering for me to be your second in command?  Why have you not killed me from the start?"

            "Because you my dear are special and that is all you need to know."  He closed her hand around the dagger's hilt.  "You may retire to your chamber now."  He walked away, leaving Alex to ponder in the corridor.

            Meanwhile, Kristi tossed and turned in a dark sleep.  The darkness of her slumber was only enhanced by the watchful eyes of Pharaun.  She awoke suddenly and groggily held her head.

            "You are awake my dear.  How do you feel?"

            Noticing Pharaun for the first time and wondering where she was she said, "what the-".  She got up quickly and her head throbbed in pain.  She quickly composed herself.  "Um. . .I just have a headache." 

            Pharaun walked over to Kristi and pushed her back on the bed.  "Rest.  Here, drink this."  He handed her a glass.

            Kristi held it and examined the liquid within the glass.  "What is it?"

            "It will clear your head from pain and help you rest."

            Since Kristi was ever the hater of headaches and loathed them with a passion, she drank the contents of the glass.  She mumbled, "I feel like huge spider ran over me and I'd like to find the owner of it."

            Pharaun chuckled despite himself.

            Kristi shook her head.  "Pharaun laughing. . . oh great just what I need, a nightmare.  I must still be dreaming ."  Pinching herself, "guess not."  She looked to Pharaun in her weakened state.  "Why did you help me?"  She felt very dizzy since she hadn't slept in the past two days.

            He turned his head to the side.  "Because you were weakened and we need you to be strong."

            "Right. . ."

            He turned back to Kristi.  "You should rest. You are still not fully healed."

            Dizzily, "I'm going to pass out now."  Her head fell back onto the bed.

            Pharaun sighed.  "I told you, you were still weak."  He brushed a stray strand of hair from her cheek and tilted his head, placing his hand on her cheek.  Shaking his head he conjured another bed and went into reverie.

            Alex had since returned to her room and was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the dagger Jarlaxle gave her.  The dagger seemed to radiate an eerie glow at her touch.  "How can I accept this?"

            Jarlaxle sat in his chamber and watched Alex's image through an enchanted crystal.  Yes, there were many advantages to being a mercenary and one of them included being able to acquire scrying devices.  He watched Alex and said to himself, "Ah my dear, you've already accepted it."

            "This dagger represents all that Kristi and I are fighting against," Alex said.  She sighed heavily.

            In an intrigued voice, "Now what could you possibly be fighting against?"

            He watched Alex put the dagger to the side and then fall asleep.  The hours passed and morning began in Menzoberranzan.

            Alex slowly woke up.  "I wonder if Kristi is okay."

            Knowing that Alex was awake, Jarlaxle strolled into her room.  "Well good morning my dear."  Since he heard her previous statement he said, "and I'm sure she's relatively unharmed."

            Alex was startled.  "What are you doing here?"

            "Did you honestly think your training was through?"

            "What else could I possibly be trained for?"

            "My dear, my dear the ways of a drow cannot be learned in just a week.  You must still learn self-defense."  Gesturing to the dagger, "and how to put that to use."

            Alex rolled her eyes.  "Can't we even get a break?"

            "A break?"  He acted as if he had never heard of that concept.

            "Yes, a break. A day of rest and time to heal."

            In a voice far too innocent for its own good, "would you like a break?"

            Alex replied sarcastically.  "Maybe I would."

            "Fine, you can spend a day of rest with me supervising Bregan D'aerthe." 

            Sighing, "why don't I like the sound of that?"

            "There is nothing to worry about my dear, now come along."  He motioned for her to follow. 

            Pharaun stretched and sat up from his bed, coming out of reverie.  He looked over and saw Kristi slowly awakening.

            Kristi opened her eyes and sat up quickly.  She grabbed her head, but shook it off.  It was at this point that she froze and slowly looked around. "Where in the nine hells am I?"

            Pharaun smiled.  "In my chamber of course.  I brought you here to rest."

            Kristi blinked to try and get her bearings.  "Right, of course."  She touched her neck where the cut once was.

            "That is healed as well."

            She worked up the courage to mumble, "um. . .thanks."

            "I took the liberty of healing the wound, it was weakening you.  In addition, the blade was poisoned.  We cannot have you dying now can we?"

            "You have a point," she replied.  She absently thought, 'figures Jarlaxle would have a poisoned sword.'  "Where's Alex? And what was up with the priestess?"

            "Alex is with Jarlaxle," he replied.  "As for the priestess I think she is part of Jarlaxle's group."

            "Oh great, just great."

            "What is wrong my dear?  You seem at edge."

            "Nothing," Kristi said.  She reached out with her thoughts and found that Alex was okay.  Turning her attention back to Pharaun, "me?  At edge?  Never!"

            He chuckled slightly.  "If you say so my dear, if you say so.  But now to more pressing matters.  How does your head feel?"

            "It feels fine.  I've had worse migraines."  She tried to think of worse migraines, but could think of none. 

            "But does it still hurt?"

            A throb in her head seemed to answer.  "Well, just a little. . . but really, I'm fine."

            "I see."  He walked out of the room and then came back with a flask, filled with something.  "Drink this."

            "What is it?"

            "It is a potion that will dull the pain."

            Kristi took the flask from him and sniffed its contents suspiciously.  She handed it back. "No it's okay you really don't have to waste it."

            "I am not wasting it."  He pushed it back toward her.  "Now drink please."

            Kristi was startled at his use of 'please.'  "Okay, I will."  She drank from the flask and felt the pain lessen.

            Jarlaxle led Alex into a small room with a desk in the center.  He sat at the desk's chair and pulled out a box.  Handing it to Alex, "Take this, as a gift from me to you."

            Alex looked at the box.  "What is this?"

            "Do not stare at me suspiciously.  Open it."

            Alex opened the box and her eyes widened.  She pulled out a finely cut silk dress.  "What the-?!"

            "Do you like it?"

            "W. . .wh. . .what is this for?" 

            "It is a gift," he said, "besides members of Bregan D'aerthe are known for their appearance."

            She whispered to herself, "it's beautiful."

            "I am glad that you like it," Jarlaxle said smiling to himself.

            Alex looked up from the dress and said solemnly.  "I will never be accepted into Bregan D'aerthe.  I am human not drow."

            "It does not matter, they accept what I say.  You will prove yourself to them in time."

            Lowering her eyes, "I see."  She looked up again.  "And what are my duties as second in command?"

            "First my dear you have to learn the ropes."

            She looked to him questioningly.

            "One thing we are doing is trading weapons to both the twelfth and thirteenth houses, which are planning to wages war.  I would like you to oversee inventory and assist with the planning."

            "What?!"

            "You seem surprised."

            "I am. . .I mean, how do you expect me to do that?"

            "First, I would like you to see the plans for each house.  There is a meeting I've allocated for that purpose.  It's time for you to learn and prove yourself."

            Alex held up the black silk dress.  "And this?"

            "It's a formal meeting," he replied coolly.  He motioned to his own fine garments.

            "So I take it I have to change?"

            "Yes, there is a washroom down the corridor. Unless you'd prefer to change here," he smiled slyly.

            "I'll go to the washroom that you very much," she said heading toward the washroom.

            Pharaun took the liberty of transporting Kristi and himself to Jarlaxle's headquarters.  Kristi made a beeline for the washroom and to her shock saw Alex in it, with a dress on.  "What in the world?"

            Alex stood before a mirror in the washroom in the finely cut dress.  It fit her figure perfectly and the dark color accented her skin.  A slit in the side went up to her thigh.  Noticing Kristi, "um. . .hi."

            "Damn!  You look good!"  Kristi paused, "wait, where did you get that?"  She folded her arms and looked to Alex.

            Alex looked down and whispered, "Jarlaxle."

            "I should have known.  What have you gotten yourself into now?"

            "Um, do you really want to know?"

            Kristi gave her a look.

            She talked extremely fast.  "Jarlaxlemademehissecondincommand."

            "He made you his what?!"

            "You heard right."

            "So what do you have to do?"

            "Um, right now we r going to a 'formal meeting' as he called it and. . ."

            "Formal meeting? In Menzoberranzan? Leave it to Jarlaxle," she said.  Looking to Alex, "and what?"

            "It looks like I'll be assisting with the planning of two Houses waging war on each other."

            Kristi's mouth dropped open.  "Please tell me you have a plan."

            "I wish I did, I really wish I did."

            "Oy vey!  But if I was you, I'd pretend it's a game of Risk, analyze and figure out a plan.  Heck, we come up with our best work at the spur of the moment.  At least I'm not going."  She went to walk out of the washroom.

            "Pharaun, you and the dark-haired one are going to be attending this meeting as well, correct?"

            "Of course Jarlaxle."

            Kristi walked in on their conversation.  "Aw hell."

            "And do you have something for the dark-haired one to wear?"

            Kristi blinked.  "Excuse me?"

            "Yes, I have something," Pharaun said.

            "Grand!"

            Kristi glared at the two of them and rolled her eyes as she heard Alex come up behind her giggling.  Twitching slightly, "grand?"  She thought, 'why me?  Why me?'

            "Well Pharaun, lets see the item that she is going to wear," Jarlaxle said.

            Kristi gritted her teeth and thought, 'I can't believe I have to wear a dress! I wore one for homecoming, prom, and my uncle's wedding. . .'

            Pharaun magically unveiled a dark azure colored dress, with thin straps for the shoulders and a long wavy bottom with a small slit."

            Her eyes widened, but she hid her surprise.  "Why does the meeting have to be formal?"

            Alex whispered, "at least yours is not revealing as mine."

            "Because my dear we here at Bregan D'aerthe are know for out appearances and so are the master of Sorcere," Jarlaxle said looking to Pharaun.

            Pharaun smiled innocently to Kristi and ignored her question.  Handing the dress over to Kristi, he ushered her into the washroom to change.  Nodding to Jarlaxle, he entered a separate washroom to change, with a grin.  Kristi muttered to herself while she changed.

            Jarlaxle walked over to Alex.  "Your friend does not like to dress formally?"

            "Not really. Only when she has to."

            Pharaun appeared from his washroom wearing a sleek navy blue robe for dress occasions.

            Kristi walked gracefully out of the washroom, her dress flowing behind.  Crossing her arms, "I hope you're happy."

            Jarlaxle's eyes widened in surprise.

            Alex's eyes did likewise.  "Kristi?! Is that you?"

            "What are you talking about?  Of course it's me.  I can look like this if I want to."

            "That dress looks so good on you," Alex said looking to her.

            Pharaun whispered to himself, "My dear, you are beautiful."

            Kristi overheard Pharaun but didn't say anything.  "Yeah, sure Alex."  She was embarrassed by the attention.

            Jarlaxle clapped his hands happily.  "Well we all are finally ready to go."  He put his arm around Alex's waist and led them to the meeting room.  Alex stiffened slightly at his touch and walked with him.

            Kristi followed with Pharaun and looked to him.  "Nice robes."

            Pharaun just smirked in reply, his eyes on Kristi.

Author's Note: Whew!  This was a long one to edit, but a good one, lol.  On a random note some of the quotes Alex says are from an anime, Gundam Wing (the ones with three apostrophes). In the next chamber the girls' training continue (Alex with Jarlaxle and Kristi with Pharaun) and their emotions start to play a factor. ::Everyone gestures to their review button in fine garments:: Please review.