Deekin, who was heading over to check on Nessa, hides behind a rock and takes in the whole conversation. With Burg to protect him, he can finally afford to ignore Nathrrya's threats.

He waits until Nathrrya's walked past him before clearing his throat, "You dos anything to Boss and I tells them both. What you thinks Valen does to you then?"

Nathrrya considers if she could take the tiefling in single combat and decides that it's not worth the risk. Inwardly, she gnashes her teeth in frustration but decides that what the kobold doesn't know, he can't get upset over.

She can find other ways to milk that stupid cow.

She grins at the kobold, "I thought you didn't like the stinky goat man and that something had to be done."

Deekin looks at her hesitantly and nods, "So, creepy drow lady, whats you got in mind?"

Nathrrya crouches down and begins whispering the kobold's ear.

After a while she stops and he frowns at her, "What makes you thinks that work? Nothing else you does works. Burg says you's…in…incompetent."

Nathrrya turns around and stomps off, speculating on exactly how the kobold ought to meet the most painful end possible.

&&&&&&&

Nessa sits with her pack in hand, on a rock, wondering what to do next. Nathrrya means to blackmail her and Nessa's not sure what she can do about it. She decides to go talk to Deekin about it. Gathering up her things, she goes off to find Deekin deep in conversation with Burg. She frowns at him, "Deekin, who's this?"

Deekin grins, "This be Burg."

Nessa rolls her eyes, "Deekin what you are doing with a devil?"

Deekin's grin only grows, "Creepy drow lady summons him, but she…"

Burg turns to her and gives her a disturbing smile. When he speaks, his urbane voice is quite soothing. He snorts out another cloud of brimstone with a light chuckle, "Ah….what my little friend means to say is that she muffed the binding ritual, leaving me free in the prime. It's really quite delightful here. Since our scaly companion has neglected to make proper introductions, I would assume that you are Nessa."

Nessa nods hesitantly.

With a graceful gesture at Deekin, he continues, "Good…your little friend here has been quite concerned about you. He fears that this "goat man" will hurt you. However, you appear to be quite unharmed. Why don't you tell me about this goat man? I'm assuming that he's some sort of a tiefling."

Nessa bites her lip, "Well, he's a tanar'ri."

Burg gives Deekin a sidelong glance, "So that's why you were asking me about the Blood War." Burg gestures at Nessa, "Please continue…sorry to have interrupted you. You were saying…"

Nessa takes a deep breath and launches into a description of the days events as she knows them. Given what Deekin's already told him, Burg quickly assembles a fairly accurate picture. When Nessa gets to the part about Nathrrya blackmailing her, Burg laughs loudly. Nessa stops, shocked suddenly.

Burg shakes his head, "No wonder you mortals sign our contracts….Let me spell this out for you. What do you think Valen would do to Nathrrya if he knew she spiked his food in the first place?"

Nessa's eyes get big, "She wouldn't….besides I ate some of it and I'm fine."

Burg shakes his head, "Think carefully…did it come out the same cook pot?"

Nessa starts to speak and her eyes go wide. She thinks for a moment and then lowers her head. After a long moment, all that can be heard is a very soft, "No." She looks up at the devil, eyes blazing, "Gods! I've been such a fool."

Burg nods, "Yes, but now your eyes have been opened. The solution to your dilemma is that you tell Nathrrya to pike off. If she tries to black mail you, you'll spill everything to Valen and let him deal with her." Burg gives her a confidential wink and puts a friendly hand on her arm, "I've seen what vengeful tanar'ri do. She won't like it."

Deekin looks at Nessa, pouting, "Deekin not likes goat man. Goat man all big and musclely and mean."

&&&&&&

Valen finishes dressing and decides that he probably ought to return Nessa's things to her. He gathers everything and tucks it under his arm. Heading back down the passage, he sighs heavily, missing Lairani.

He stops for a moment, just before stepping out into the main cavern and wipes at his eyes. He can see Nessa some distance way talking to Deekin and someone else, who he assumes is Nathrrya. Squaring his shoulders, he marches forward. He can hear Nessa's voice and as he approaches the words become clear.

&&&&&&

Nessa crouches next to Deekin and hugs him tightly, "Deekin, he's really not that bad. He's been hurt a lot so he tries to keep everyone at a distance. Valen's way of doing that is by being…prickly. Do you remember those cactus pears in the desert? All prickly on the outside but sweet and juicy on the inside? It's kind of like that."

Deekin glares at her, "Goat man is mean to everyone. Mean to little Deekin. Mean to you, too. Deekin not knows why you likes him."

Nessa tries again to explain it, "Deekin, Valen isn't like that, really. He doesn't make friends because he doesn't want to get hurt again. I think that if you give him a chance…"

Deekin shakes his head, "Deekin not cares what you say. Deekin not likes him."

Nessa shrugs, "Well, Deekin…I do like him. I like him quite a bit and I want to you make an effort to be nicer to him."

Deekin stands up glaring at Nessa, "Yes, I sees how much you likes him. Deekin not likes him."

&&&&&&

Valen's head cocks to the side as his memory is tripped and his mouth opens in a silent "O". He sucks in a sharp breath as he replays a portion of his very fuzzy memories of the past few hours.

Swallowing hard, Valen starts to approach when Burg squeals in fright and pops out of sight, teleporting away. Valen stops for a moment, but decides that perhaps he frightened Nathrrya.

Frowning, he comes closer, moving slowly to give them a chance to react to his sudden presence. Chewing on his lip, he considers the conversation that he's overhead. It would seem that the elf, according to her own admission, does indeed harbor some sort of feelings for him after all.

He examines his own behavior and groans inwardly, "Gods! I've been a perfect ass. No wonder Deekin doesn't like me." "Still," he reminds himself, "all of that will have to wait until this current…mess gets sorted out."

Approaching the pair, he thrusts the bundle of clothing at Nessa, "I brought you your things. They are…dirty. You might want to wash them soon."

He blushes furiously and for a moment Nessa's heart almost leaps out of her chest. For a split second, she's absolutely certain that he knows and then the moment is gone.

He sighs heavily and sits next to the kobold, "I have been so intent on keeping Nessa safe and on following the Seer's orders that I think I might have been a bit harsh with you. I have been on this mission at the Seer's behest, following her orders. I think that needs to change."

He rolls to his knees, places his flail before him, and genuflects to Nessa as he presses his head to the floor of the cavern at her feet. When he speaks, his voice is laden with an emotion that the elf can't place.

He begins hesitantly, "If you would like to have me at your side, I am yours to command." Nessa blushes hotly, considering exactly what she'd like to command him to do. She struggles for a moment to regain her composure before reaching down and tapping his shoulder.

He rises up and rocks back onto his heels, looking at her face expectantly. She smiles and nods at him. He heaves a sigh and a slow smile spreads across his face in response. Still smiling he says, "Good…now I am here at your request and I will follow your orders."

Nessa laughs, "Your first one is to smile more. It suits you." Nessa blushes for a moment, "Deekin and I have most of your gear. We picked it up when you ran off. We thought you might want it back."

Valen stands and pats Nessa on her shoulder, who winces and grimaces. He frowns, concerned, "Are you hurt? You should let me take a look at that." Before she can protest, he spins her and lifts he collar of her shirt, to reveal a bandage on her shoulder.

A small amount of blood spots the gauze, where the pressure of his hand has reopened the wound. Nessa grabs the collar and pulls it back up. She says, more harshly than she intended, "It nothing. Just a scratch."

Valen stands there, wondering, when a truly terrible thought occurs to him. He swallows heavily, with a sinking feeling. "Why is she so intent on making everything seem normal? Oh…Gods! Surely not…." Before Valen can say anything else, Nessa flops down on the ground and starts pulling his gear out of her pack.

Nathrrya wanders up to find the three of them sitting around sorting out their packs. She approaches cautiously and looks Valen over before sitting down as well. Nathrrya grins at Nessa, "I think I have some of his gear in my pack as well. Would you fetch it for me?"

Nessa shrugs, "I'm busy…you can get it yourself. Deekin might help you though." Nathrrya gestures at Deekin. Deekin looks to Nessa for confirmation and, at Nessa's nod, gets a toothy grin. He might not be making smelly goat man leave, but needling Nathrrya is quickly becoming his new favorite pastime.

&&&&&&&

As the pair strides off into the darkness, Valen takes another deep breath. "Nessa, might we speak," he says hoarsely. "I need to ask you something." She feels a sudden weight in the pit of her stomach and swallows heavily.

"What is it?" she asks slowly. He exhales quickly as if his very breath would force out his query. "I don't remember what happened when I was…um…swimming and…" She looks in his face and sees great concern in his eyes.

He grimaces and takes another deep breath. "It's quite obvious something happened between us. I have to know…did I…um….force you?" His grimace deepens and he closes his eyes tightly, as if afraid of her answer.

She is so surprised by his question that she can't answer immediately. Her eyes grow large in shock and, although she opens her mouth, no sound comes out at first. Mistaking her silence for an affirmative answer, Valen's chin drops to his chest and he covers his face with his hands.

"My lady, I…." he begins. Before he can get any further, she is kneeling with him and taking his hands. Then he hears her chuckling softly and he raises his eyes to meet hers. "No, Valen, you did no such thing."

It is his turn to be rendered speechless, so she continues, blushing furiously as she tires to explain just what did happen between them at the pool. She squeezes his hands and takes a deep breath before plunging in a second time.

She bites her lip, uncertain as to the best way to phrase it. "Some bard you are," she chides herself mentally, "You can't even tell him what the two of you were doing." Realizing that she will have to find a way, she stumbles into her explanation. "Yes….we did…you…uhhh….are…um…quite persuasive….so….ahhh…yes….something did happen," she blushes. "And it was wonderful. I had no idea you could be so warm and sweet. I don't regret it at all and neither should you."

She stops, pretty sure she has already said entirely too much and afraid of his reaction. His face colors to match the red of his hair and he reaches out to gently pull her to him. "Then what cloudy memory I have is generally right, but it was you?" She nods hesitantly. He hugs her a little tighter, then bends to kiss her softly. "Thank you, my lady," he whispers.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&