A/N: This chapter is somewhat of a test – by request of readers (;-D) did my best to use quotation marks in direct speech instead of dashes. The reason I never did it before is simple – while I'm relatively good in English grammar and vocabulary, I'm a total jerk in English punctuation. So… have mercy. But if it works out fine, don't mind writing the same way from now on.

Enjoy, feedbacks are appreciated, as always.

P.S.: And – yup, Del is a lefthander :)

IX: Githyanki, Go Home!

…A knock on the door awakened her from another delirious dream evoked by alcohol… and everything else that happened the previous day and what she'd been glad to regard as a dream too. For some time Adele just sat on the bed, trying to grasp if there was a knock at all - until it recurred. Snatching her clothes from the floor, the woman got dressed hastily and shouted, "It's opened".

Neeshka's horned head poked into the room.

"Morning," the tiefling grinned. "Didn't want to wake you up, it's early, I know, but… well, there's someone here to see you."

"Who?" the woman asked suspiciously, as if she expected a visit from Black Garius himself – whoever he was.

"That guy, Cormick, who's kinda your boss or something. Said it's something urgent."

"Damn," Adele put on her jerkin, fastening it on her way as she followed Neeshka into the main room.

On the threshold she tarried, realizing that if the damned ranger was still in the room, she would just lie on the floor and die.

Neeshka looked back at her, eyeing the half-elf questioningly, and the woman shook her head dismissively and entered the room. Discovering to her relief that Bishop - as well as his wolf - was absent, she gave a nod of welcome to Duncan and Sal behind the counter, Elanee curled in the chair, Khelgar who was gobbling up his breakfast at the table, and Qara sitting on the couch idly and feeding her weasel from her hand. Cormick was standing near the counter, and as the woman entered, advanced her with a troubled look on his face. Despite that he was her superior, the fact that they were both from West Harbor never left any seniority or affectation in their relations, which reminded more of those between distant relatives.

"Adele," he greeted her.

"Something happened?" she wondered, though it sounded more like a statement than a question. I bet something did.

"We've just received word from the Nine. They believe there are assassins in Neverwinter."

"More Luskans?"

"No, these are not native… far from it," Cormick cleared his throat. "Anyway, we were asked for our help in dealing with them."

"So, you want me to help the Nine in…?"

"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that, Adele. The thing is, Captain and I made some inquires with our intelligencers in the Thieves Guild… These assassins had already turned to the thieves in order to find their target… and according to the description the target is you."

Duncan blanched. Adele just closed her eyes wearily.

"Now that's going too far!" Khelgar exclaimed. "What in the Hells had ar lassie done to piss off the whole Faerun!"

"I don't know," Cormick answered, still looking at the woman. "But we decided that it would be best to inform you about that before any actions are taken."

"Just my luck…" she whispered and sighed. "Will I ever be left in peace?"

Casavir entered the room and stopped, regarding everyone present with a guarded glance. "Is something wrong?" he asked.

Neeshka threw her hands up in frustration, "There are assassins after Del!"

The paladin looked point-blank at Cormick, "I hope the Watch is going to do anything about that?"

"Of course!" he answered. "There's no way we're going to allow some creatures harm one of our finest men."

Adele's eyes flung open, "Creatures?"

"Yes. They are no human beings. In the Guild we were told that they are some unknown skinny scaled creatures…"

"Githyanki," Elanee whispered and shook her head. "From bad to worse."

"So they made their way here, finally," Adele muttered. "Damn…"

Cormick shrugged, "I have no idea how you've managed to get yourself so… interesting enemies, but they are after you. Don't know what they need, though."

"And you don't want to, believe me."

"Strangely enough, I do. Anyway, what they need is enough to want you dead."

"We shall not allow that to happen," Casavir stated.

"Yeah, like Hells we will!" Neeshka added. "Those gith didn't get enough from us if they're still asking – but they will!"

"Listen…" Adele looked at Cormick again, "Does the Watch know their… location?"

"Well, it seems to be in the north of the Merchant Quarter, not far from the warehouse you had taken from Moire's gang. Want to go there with the rest of our forces? I can understand that…"

"No," Adele licked her lips, "Please, do your best to delay the Nine or anyone else from any actions. Buy me some time."

Cormick blinked at her, "You want to deal with them by yourself? But they are after you. They'll be expecting you."

"Nope. They know I'm in Neverwinter, but not where exactly. Otherwise they would have been all over the tavern already, not looking for me through the thieves".

"Figures..." Neeshka nodded, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully.

"Well, and since they want me, then that's exactly what they'll get," Adele saw Cormick frown at her statement and smirked: "I don't think I'll antagonize them more than it already is. And don't want anyone from the outside to get involved or hurt."

"Apart from you," Marshall pointed grimly.

What, I can put myself to harm only at someone's order?

"She will not have to face them single-handed," Casavir assured him. Or her?

"Sure!" Khelgar grinned. "Almost missed those beasties – it'd be nice to pack a dozen of 'em!"

"Why bother?" Qara raised her voice from the couch. "If we know where they are hiding – let's just torch the house and roast them inside."

"But we don't know if there will be anyone else inside," Elanee pointed. "We need to be careful. But it is true that the githyanki pose too much threat to everyone. We can't allow them to leave."

"And we won't," Neeshka snorted. "Hells, I hate those guys!"

"Or maybe we should just talk to them!" Grobnar declared from behind the table, where Adele didn't even notice him at first. "They can't seriously intent to do harm to miss Adele! I mean, why would anybody on Faerun want to do that at all?"

The woman couldn't hold back a smile, "Thanks, Grobnar, but I'm afraid it's exactly the case."

"Is it? Strange. No, I'm absolutely positive it's unbelievable! But – oh, well."

Cormick chuckled, looking at Adele: "Well, what can I say… you are lucky to have your friends. We'll do our best to keep the Nine. Report once you have dispatched them. And… well, be careful."


…The gith chose the place for their lair more than cleverly – there was not a living soul in this part of the city, packed with sheds, warehouses and long abandoned buildings, hanging over the river. Even the Watch seemed to avoid this particular corner of Neverwinter.

They checked few of the empty lop-sided estates, until finally found themselves in front of a desolate structure that used to be a storehouse in its past.

"They are here," Neeshka whispered. "I can… scent them."

"Many?" Adele asked in the same low voice.

"Hells know. But the scent is rich, that's for sure. I can sneak in and check…"

"No, don't risk," she drew a deep breath. "Alright, moving in."

Opening the door, they entered a strange shade, dense, quaky, and shimmering with green.

"Something is in the air," Elanee murmured almost mutely, her eyes hooded. "Something… not of nature, not of this plane."

"Feels like a magic shield of some sort," Qara muttered and jerked her shoulder perplexedly. "And doesn't at the same time."

"Maybe they just made the air here… more suitable," Adele suggested, remembering about gith's inability to stay long out of their home plane. She looked at the paladin for support, and he nodded thoughtfully:

"Perhaps. So that dwelling in our Plane wasn't such a… torture for them."

"We'll give 'em torture, they just hafta wait," Khelgar grinned, rubbing his palms with a quiet creak caused by his gauntlets, and took the axe from his belt. "Got the habit of ramblin' to ar world. Wrong habit."

"Yes, and-" Grobnar started, but Elanee standing closest to him reached out and swiftly covered his mouth. The gnome blinked wonderingly, looking at her above her palm, but the elf just shook her head and put a finger to her lips.

"We should proceed," Casavir stated quietly, turning to others, and hesitated: "Adele?"

The woman didn't react at once – she didn't even get at once that she'd been addressed to. She was just standing and looking at them, and felt pleasant warmth inside of her, warmth that was soothing – even if it seemed crazy at the moment. There, behind the door, were the creatures from another Plane wishing her dead. But here, in front of her, were those who wished her live. Those who were ready to risk their lives fighting her enemies.

Why?

I don't care… I don't care why. Even if it isn't because of me… I don't care for reasons… I love them now. All of them. 'Cause they are here, with me…

Gods, father – what is it you like so much about your solitude?

She smiled and, as her eyes met with the inquiring blue stare of the paladin, shook her head slightly, regaining her senses and at the same time making it clear that she was fine. Casavir shrugged a bit baffled and nodded at the door.

"I have a simple proposition," Qara pointed. "You all open the door and scatter out of the way, and I throw a couple of fireballs in there."

"Better have patience for now," Adele replied, and the girl glared at her:

"What, I'm sorry?"

"I just have serious doubts that they are keeping their main forces behind the first door. Or you want to squander on trifles?"

Qara pursed her lips and finally shifted her shoulder haughtily. "Well, yeah, point… You take all the giblets, I follow behind."

Adele smiled inwardly at how actually easy it was to hold Qara and her overwhelming power at bay – all it took was to stroke her feathers the right way and let her think that the idea of holding back was her own. The woman nodded at the paladin, and Casavir opened the door. She stepped into the corridor right after him and Khelgar, hearing behind her back almost imperceptible rustling of Neeshka's footsteps as the tiefling made a dive aside, blending with thick shadows.

Shivery greenish haze suddenly seemed to start to deplete, dissipate, and, looking back for a moment, Adele saw Elanee's lips moving silently. The druid's bright eyes were hollow, eyelashes fluttered slightly, and the woman could swear that the air around the elf was getting clearer. Adele moved a bit, shielding Elanee with herself to give her time and opportunity to continue to disperse the atmosphere of githyanki's lair. Maybe it could weaken the creatures themselves.

Grobnar checked his small light crossbow and readied a bolt, murmuring some song under his breath. Adele remembered her initial shock as she had saw the gnome with weapon for the first time – before that the mere idea of Grobnar harming anybody seemed wild. But then again, he had kept himself alive somehow before they met him.

Qara, bringing up the rear, was casting quick glances from side to side, as if looking for something or someone she could put on fire finally. Adele saw tiny sparkles of flames flaring along the sorceress' fingers and her staff, and only hoped that the girl would manager to keep that fire bubbling inside of her long enough.

Some noise rang out deep within the building, followed by familiar gnashing of giths' voices, and Adele tightened her grip on the rapier. It appeared that the creatures felt something was wrong with their protective air-field.

The door at the end of the corridor opened, letting out a quartet of giths, who were probably sent to check things up. Casavir and Khelgar struck simultaneously, bringing down the two of them at once. The third creature rush to the attack, obviously not hoping to defeat superior forces, but to give chance to the last gith to fall back and alert others. Which he did.

Or rather would have done, if his colorless fish-like eyes hadn't caught the sight of Adele.

"Kalach-Cha!" he hissed and with astonishing speed and fury darted towards the woman.

The paladin's sword gashed his belly, but that didn't stop the gith, didn't even slowed him down – he jumped forward, forcing his way through Casavir and the dwarf as if it wasn't his blood flowing down his legs. Adele made a stride towards him, at the same time stooping down to avoid the slashing hit of his blade aimed at her throat, and lunged from below to throw the githyanki back, right on Khelgar's axe.

"That's a foolhardy fellow," the dwarf remarked almost approvingly, wiping off the blood from his axe.

Guess they want me dead much more than to live themselves…

She had no time to evolve the thought as the room behind an opened door lit up with a blaze of white-blue radiance of magic, and its shafts shot from the doorway, flooding the corridor and sending their band flying like rag-dolls. Adele's shoulder hit the wall, she heard a dry click of a joint dislocated and grimaced, feeling her arm growing numb.

"Back off!" Qara shouted almost triumphally, putting her staff in front of her, and bended a bit, taking a firm stand.

As the ray of magic reached her, it hit the shield she cast and scattered, surrounding the girl with a shining hemisphere. The strength of the blast made her grind her teeth but never wiped off the grin from her paled face, and the sorceress took a few heavy steps forwards, driving the light back to the door. Under the shelter of her magic shield, Neeshka snatched out one of her throwing daggers and hurled in the doorway, probably aiming at the gith mage who was the reason for the conundrum. There came a raspy yell, and the light faded immediately.

Not wasting time, Qara started to the room, scratching the point of her staff across the floor, as if it was a match, and striking a whole wave of fire from the battens underfoot. The flames flew into the doorway, sweeping away several giths. The survivors were finished by Casavir and Khelgar, those two making a wonderful fighting team.

Wincing from pain again, Adele shifted her rapier to the right hand and followed them, to run up against a gith who lurked behind the corner. Reflexes true to her, the woman jinked, when the githyanki himself suddenly stumbled and fell forward. Adele managed to pierce his neck before his body touched the floor, and looked at Grobnar who put another bolt into his crossbow instead of the one fired to gith's knee and with the familiar unruffled cheerfulness paced into the room. Looking back at Elanee and making sure the elf was in one piece, Adele fell into his steps.

Crossing the threshold she narrowed her eyes unwillingly, catching sight of blinding white-violet glare of some kind of magical portal, trapped between several stone wedges, high, bowed and dappled with runes. Beside it towered some boxes, chests and cases – all broken, mouldered, probably left there from the time the building served as a warehouse, not a lair for extraplanar invaders.

The invaders themselves, clustered in the room, were at present more interested in the unexpected attack than in their portal. Taking in the situation, Adele slipped to the side, ignoring the pain in her shoulder, and delivered a blow to the nearest gith who escaped death from Casavir's sword, then slashed open the throat of the other, stealing up to unsuspecting Qara. The sorceress was too occupied with her spells to give note to her might-have-been killer, which made Adele smirk…

…when all of a sudden the portal blazed up even brighter, and within its lambent shroud became faintly visible the outlines of something huge, metallic…

"Oh my," Grobnar breathed out in pure rapture.

A giant blade swished through the air, cleaving the nearby giths in halves, and a thing bearing resemblance to a colossal suit of armor stepped through the portal into the room. His upper extremities ended in long sharp blades without any handles or gripes – mere extensions of the arms.

The giths, stunned by the incursion no less than Adele and her companions, came to consciousness faster and immediately lashed at the new threat. Their swords clanked against steel, yet caused neither damage nor even any visible discomfort to their opponent – while two massive blades cut through their flesh effortlessly, coating the floor with dark sticky blood.

Elanee uttered a few words, sending a bolt of lightning right into the construct's torso. It gave a creaking lurch, but kept its balance, moving to the druidess and trampling the remaining giths under foot.

"Oh Hells," Adele heard Neeshka's whisper. "What is it? And what in Abyss should we do with it?!"

"Actually, we can aim right there," Grobnar said, pointing his finger at what supposed to be the construct's neck. "You see, miss Neeshka? There are those tiny shining runes; they create a sort of magical closing and the whole construction-"

No longer paying attention to his words, the tiefling tossed one of her daggers in her palm and pitched it to the place the gnome pointed at. With a jingle the knife bounced off from the smooth metal surface, but Adele noticed that a couple of runes, giving one last glitter, faded away, and the construct came to a halt. Jumping on the opportunity, Qara hurled a fireball into its head that made it sway and move back a little. Khelgar, arriving just in time, dealt a shattering blow to the construct's knees, making it fall back – right into the portal. The blades scratch the stone wedges…

…and the room was lost in dazzling flash of white.

Instinctively Adele turned away and bent over to hide her face and head from the flying flinders of the portal's bearing. One of them hit her back, and she heard Qara's abrupt shout – though it sounded more like a cry of indignation than pain. When the light faded, Adele stood up straight, opening her eyes and staring at the sorry remains of the portal. Others were also silently goggling at the ruins, towering over githyanki corpses.

"What in the Nine Hells was that?" Qara finally exhaled, switching her widened eyes to others.

"Just to make sure my eyes aren't lyin' to me," Khelgar drawled in unnaturally even voice, not tearing his gaze away from the debris, "a huge suit of armor did smash through here, attack the githyanki - and us - before we drove it back into that portal... right?"

"Yup," Neeshka muttered, astounded. "That's about right."

"Good," the dwarf nodded. "'Cause if it's my drinkin' catchin' up with me, I'm stoppin' right now."

"It was created by the hands of men" Elanee shook her head. "I've never seen a thing like that before, that is for sure."

"Why... that was a golem!" Grobnar gave a jump. "A golem with blades… Wasn't he magnificent?! The construction... the elegance... the sheer sharpness of those blades... the work of a master craftsman indeed! We should follow it!" he lapsed into silence for a second. "I mean... if the portal was still open. Which it's not. But to let it get away before taking a good look at it… Why, we're truly missing out!"

"No, thank you very much," Adele gave her head a startled shake. "Whatever it was, I'm glad it's not here anymore."

"The golem attacked us as well as githyanki," Casavir observed, and the woman looked at him. "That means there is a third party involved."

"…Not that it gladdens me, but guess you're right," she sighed, slipping her fingers into her hair and rubbing the back of her head furiously in hopes to ease drone in her scull. "Alright, people, we take what anyone needs and get away from here. Don't want any other monsters appear and find us."

Neeshka happily threw herself in turning out pockets and bags of the fallen enemies. Qara with slight curiosity was examining a locket from the dead giths mage. Adele were watching them, moving her damaged shoulder uncomfortably from time to time and flinched from sudden spasms of pain, which appeared in unison with the usual dull ache in her chest.

"You alright?" Elanee asked, noticing her gesture.

"Seems my shoulder's out of joint."

"Let me have a look."

"Nah, let's get to the Flagon first. I'm fine, really. Thank the gods, I'm only a bit worse in fight with my right arm," she moved her shoulder again. "Or I have even a better idea. You all go to the Flagon without me – and I'm going to save the time and meanwhile go to the Watch. I doubt that Cormick and Brelaina will manage to throw dust in the Nine's eyes for long…"


…She did her best not to skip back to the Flagon, as the visit to the Watch finally yielded long-awaited fruit – a pass to Blacklake District. Well, her still aching shoulder was one the reasons preventing her from skipping – and any others too jerky movements – so, not reaching the tavern, Adele turned to Sand's shop in order to buy some painkilling potion or ointment.

Entering the shop, she sank into familiar semi-darkness filled with the most diverse smells, which made her nose tickle and head dizzy a bit. After a few minutes of looking for Sand, Adele at last found the elf behind an enormous pile of books, where the wizard was busy collating them, checking the spines and making some notes in a thick journal.

"Good day, Adele," he greeted her, regarding the woman with a fleeting gaze and returning to his records. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Need some healing stuff."

"Gaping wound, superficial, internal bleeding, no bleeding, magical damage or-"

"…Uh, just a dislocation, actually. Some painkiller is fine."

"I see," he shut the book and turned to one of the shelves filled up with numerous bottles, jugs and vessels. The spotty cat jumped down from the shelf to his shoulder, but the elf didn't pay attention to that. "Just a moment. It was here somewhere…"

"I'm in no hurry," Adele answered, tilting her head so that she was able to read the titles of the books. Not that those titles meant anything to her, but natural curiosity took the best of her as usual. After studying several of them, she blinked vacantly and shook her head slightly, looking back at Sand. "Oh, by the way, I've got permission to visit Blacklake."

"Indeed? My congratulations. And best of luck in making contact with Aldanon," something close to a jeer rang in his voice, but when the elf turned back to her his ever-young chiselled face was as nonchalant as usual. He placed a couple of flat tins in front of her. "There you go. Twenty-eight golds. Rub in twice a day. And I highly recommend keeping it in warmth, otherwise the essence of brahn might crystallize."

Essence of what?

Adele hemmed. "Well, good to know."

A thin knowing smile ran across his lips as if he saw her thoughts. "Everything is good to know," he scratched the neck of the cat still sprawled on his shoulders. "Anything else?"

"Guess not," she took the tins, laying the coins out on the counter, then hesitated. "Listen, have you by chance heard anything about a certain guy named Black Garius?"

His tapering fingers, busy with counting gold, lingered in the air, while the elf himself stared into space thoughtfully.

"The name is familiar…" he drawled, frowning a bit. "I believe he is a wizard of the Hosttowers of the Arcane… Yes, definitely, a low-level one. Or was, better to say. I heard he rose quite much."

Adele arched her brow in surprise. "You had some dealings with the Arcane Brotherhood?"

"The true rulers of Luskan? No, no more than any other wizard in this region. I have no suicidal propensities – and to deal with the Hosttowers is to invite death, either slow or quick."

"But you seem to know a lot about them."

"…Then I shall exercise my privilege to be evasive on this matter. Bear in mind, my dear, that in this city one does not talk of dealings with them – merely saying the name can draw scrying to you," he looked her over, before his icy-blue eyes met hers again. "Why would you even ask of them, hmm?"

Adele smiled: "Killed one just now." His thin brows rose a bit in surprise and almost appreciation, but Adele shrugged, "And I shall keep the rest to myself, thanks for your advice."

"Oh," shadow of disappointment crossed his face, yet he made a non-committal gesture. "That is up to you, of course. Above all, pieces of advice from me are free of charge."

Smiling again, Adele nodded him at parting and left the shop, looking at the ground absently as she walked to the Flagon.

It seemed that this Garius fellow was scheming something… Something bad, it's clear as noonday. The worst thing was that she had crossed his path somehow – already and without even knowing about that. Well, he surely knew that.

Adele rubbed her lids, advancing the entrance to the tavern.

Oh, the Hells with Garius… I've got enough on my hands without him.

She intended to push the door on her way when it suddenly opened, and Adele bumped into the man who was coming out. Cursing under her breath, she lifted her eyes…

…and froze.

Bishop was staring point-blank at her indifferently for several seconds, then raised his eyebrows: "So?"

"So - what?"

"You're getting out of the way already?"

Swallowing another curse rising in her throat, she folded her arms: "Ladies first, they say."

Nothing changed in his face, yet his eyes flickered with amused sparkles, as if he wanted to smile or laugh but decided not to – instead he bent a bit forward to her and whispered: "Don't see any ladies around."

Adele opened her mouth to answer something – anything – but Bishop already drew himself up and in one swift stir of his arm pushed her aside, like brushing bread-crumbs off the table, and passed by, followed by his wolf who shot Adele single sullen glance. The woman clenched her teeth and looked back over her shoulder, but the ranger and his animal were no longer in sight – probably disappeared in the nearest alleyway. Shaking her head in irritation, she entered the tavern.

In the room she found only Duncan and Elanee, who made herself comfortable in her favorite armchair. Noticing his niece's morose look, the half-elf came up to her.

"Now that's not the face of someone got rid of her enemies. What happened?"

Adele just motioned at the door. "Every time I run into the guy I want to wash myself afterwards."

"Who, Bishop?" Duncan shrugged. "Don't mind him, he treats everyone like dirt. No surprise there – dirt is his life. He spends most of his life digging through it looking for tracks."

"Well, Elanee spent most of her life in the woods too," she nodded at the elf making her smile. "But she has manners nonetheless."

"Eh, don't mind him like I said. May even consider yourself lucky – even his insults are a step up from how he usually treats people."

"Uh-huh. Steps over and moves on?"

"Not over, but right onto," Duncan placed a hand on her shoulder. "Anyway, he gets too rude to you – let me know. Won't take him insulting my kin."

Adele chuckled involuntarily. "Like he'd listen to you."

"Like he has a choice," Duncan muttered, staring at the door.

The woman looked at him quizzically, but the half-elf merely shook his head:

"He… owes me, so… Well, it's a long tale, not worth going into. But again, he goes too far – let me know."

"…Oooookay," Adele answered with a bit taken aback smirk, surprised by this sudden fraternity protectiveness and stepped up to Elanee. "Have a look at my shoulder?"

"Of course," the druidess made her sit down on the couch softly and, as Adele took off her jerkin, carefully pulled the tunic down her shoulder. "Oh, it's not scary."

Adele bit her lip in advance, expecting pain as the elf started to reset the joint, but her cautiousness appeared to be in vain – Elanee's fingers seemed to emit warmth that spread over muscles and reduced any pain possible just like it had eased the ache in her ribs few times before.

"Pull out your arm," the elf said, and Adele obeyed, dragging her arm out of the tunic through the opened neck and using her free hand to hold the shirt on her breasts while the elf rubbed the damaged shoulder carefully.

Casavir entered the room. "I see you have…" he began, but stopped and averted his eyes. "Beg your pardon."

Adele couldn't hold back the chuckle: "It's fine, things are decent," she lowered her voice so that Elanee could be the only one to hear her. "Well, at least there is one well-mannered man in the world still." The elf smiled.

"I've got a pass to Blacklake," Adele continued, not addressing anyone in particular. "So I say we meet that Aldanon as soon as possible. Where's everyone, by the way?"

"Neeshka is in her room," Elanee answered. "Sorts out everything she was able to carry off from githyanki lair. Khelgar is in the kitchen. And Qara said that she won't appear in anyone's presence in her present looks, so she took some money and left to Merchants' quarter for clothes."

"Well, let's hope she'll find the prices to her liking – or the Watch will never water down the whole district," Adele put the tunic back on her shoulder and got up. "And where's Grobnar?"

Duncan rolled his eyes: "Thank the gods, I was able to interest him in the arrangement of our refuse burner. How did you manage to find the only Faerunian bard who doesn't play or sing? Instead he constantly goes on how I can improve the ventilation in the tavern or suggests setting an induced air-draft over the fireplace. Am I the only one who thinks that the lad chose the wrong profession?"

"Everyone is free to choose his own way," Casavir shrugged and looked at Adele. "So we are bound for the Blacklake District?"

"Uh-huh," she muttered, lifting her jerkin from the couch and studying it. "After I'm done with tidying this thing up."