From: Kay Silversong <sylverrose@snet.net>

>"Come, Lady Bard, " he called out, "Lurker, Lady Rainbow and companions,
>Ynis, Fallen Angel, Seashimmer, Jonas and anyone else who wants a ride out
>of here! We don't have much time, he can't hold that forever!"

Kay heard someone calling that the noncombatants were leaving, but she
chose to stay. While she didn't truly wish to get involved in the mission
of the main group, Kay didn't want anyone to be hurt, and she wished to
learn more of the people in this clearing.

Kay kept her hand on the sword on her left hip and waited for someone to
make a move. Winddancer was a warm presence near her feet, and the troll,
Muranog, was next to her. The dragon, Erelan, was still between them and
the elf, Ember, but Kay didn't think that the dragon was going to attack.
If anything, Kay expected more words first. (These people do so love to
talk. It gets us nowhere. We need to act. But that may just be my
impatience talking. After all, when you have seen as much as I have, you
tend to dislike the subtle pleasantries of conversation...at least in a
situation like this one...) Kay sighed inwardly, then chuckled to herself.
(Now that's something that I've been doing a lot of lately...)

:Dancer? Are you picking anything up?: Kay spared a quick glance at her
bondmate. He simple shook his shaggy head, not bothering with words. Kay
and Winddancer had both heard the dragon's words to the troll and the elf,
and while Kay agreed that motive must be established to prove the elf's
intentions as evil or good, Kay wished that the elf would just explain.
(Word games are silly at this point.)

:Kay, you might as well say something. No one else is. And this could
take a long time if we all just stand around here staring at each other.:
Winddancer snorted and laid his head down on the ground.

:Fine.: Kay decided that maybe mind speech would work best, so that all
could understand. Gathering her strength and the power of the amulet, she
broadcast to anyone that could hear her. :This is ridiculous. We are
standing around like small children fighting over toys. Why don't we all
sit down and figure out what happens next? There is no point in this much
hostility when no one has offered violence outright.: Kay watched, and
waited. (Another thing that I seem to be doing a lot. Watching. Waiting.
Sighing. This could get real old, real fast...)

From: "Abigail Laughlin" <abbykat@hotmail.com>

<<:This is ridiculous. We are standing around like small children
fighting over toys. Why don't we all sit down and figure out what
happens next? There is no point in this much hostility when no one has
offered violence outright.:>>

Solarin's regard swung to Kay. The calm, peaceful elven ranger was gone,
replaced by someone who worse the feral expression of a great cat
confronted with an interloper to his territory. "You display your
ignorance, human. Perhaps there is no point to you, but there is a very
great deal of significance to myself and those like me."

He looked toward the dark elf and back to Kay again. "It is a perversion
of Mara'liweion. It does not deserve to live."

From: ikunkle@andover.edu (Izzy Kunkle)

Atalaya had been watching silently up until the dark elf's arrival; having
said her piece, she merely waited, planned to herself, and continued to
fume quietly at Solarin.

As Ember stepped onto the scene, the paladin stood up, glaring, and placed
a hand on her swordhilt. "I stand behind Solarin's words." she said, rage
crackling in her tone. "That..." and she gestured to Ember as one might an
insect, "is an affront to my gods and my people. I have suffered the
company of a blood-mage; unless there is damned good reason, do not expect
me to endure /this/." Her upper lip curled in disgust and she almost
snarled as she looked around the gathering.

From: Kay Silversong <sylverrose@snet.net>

>Solarin's regard swung to Kay. The calm, peaceful elven ranger was gone,
>replaced by someone who worse the feral expression of a great cat
>confronted with an interloper to his territory. "You display your
>ignorance, human. Perhaps there is no point to you, but there is a very
>great deal of significance to myself and those like me."
>
>He looked toward the dark elf and back to Kay again. "It is a perversion
>of Mara'liweion. It does not deserve to live."

Kay turned to face the elf. Her normal calm expression was replaced by
anger. Kay grabbed the hilt of her katana, ready to unsheathe it.
Winddancer leapt up and crouched in front of Kay, looking from her to the
elf that had made her angry, not sure which one to protect. "Don't tell me
that I display ignorance, _boy_. I know full well what the Dark Elves are.
I have met their kind before. I have fought their kind before. Of course
they don't deserve to live. But before we hack her into pieces and leave
her remains to the elements, we need to know how much she knows and who she
has told it to. Think with your head, child, instead of you emotions."
Kay snarled her words; she was going to lose her temper if she wasn't
careful. Winddancer stood up, watching the exchange still.
:If I may say, this bickering isn't doing anyone any good. We still don't
know why the Dark Elf is here, and what that one knows. Might that not be
more useful than arguing amongst ourselves?: He decided that it was the
elf that needed the protection, for Kay was on the verge of pulling her
sword out and running him through. The large wolf planted himself firmly
in front of the elf and faced his bondmate. :Killing him would do us no
good.:

Kay didn't respond. She did, however, take her hand away from her sword a
little. She waited for the next round, defiant and angry.

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

: Kay turned to face the elf. Her normal calm expression was replaced by
:anger. Kay grabbed the hilt of her katana, ready to unsheathe it.
:Winddancer leapt up and crouched in front of Kay, looking from her to the
:elf that had made her angry, not sure which one to protect. "Don't tell me
:that I display ignorance, _boy_. I know full well what the Dark Elves are.
: I have met their kind before. I have fought their kind before. Of course
:they don't deserve to live. But before we hack her into pieces and leave
:her remains to the elements, we need to know how much she knows and who she
:has told it to. Think with your head, child, instead of you emotions."

Kay snarled her words, and seemed to listen to someone before taking her hand
away from her sword a little. She waited for the next round, defiant and angry.

===
Shadowblade had just turned away from Ynys' farewell when the clearing erupted
with quarrelling among the members of the fighter's groups. (Ai gods, save us
from ourselves.)

She finished the last knot on Erelan's harness and stood up, brushing her hands
on her breeches and tucking loose strands of her hair behind her ears. With a
frown on her face, she moved between Kay and Solarin and stood there, arms
crossed and feet at shoulder width.

The two of them ceased their exchange of words and glares to turn two pairs of
angry eyes her way. (Yes, if ever I need a miracle, it is now. Ynys, where are
you when I need you?) She turned her head to first glance at Solarin on her
left, then at Kay on her right. There the three of them stood, silent.

When Shadowblade sensed that she had caught their attention, she spoke directly
to the front of her, ignoring the daggers they would soon throw her way. "I did
not think to work with a group suffering from internal conflict. We have come
together to fight a common enemy. We must work together and not quarrel among
ourselves." She paused and bludgeoned her way on. "We are fighting among
ourselves over a dark elf. Who knows if she has come among us solely for this
purpose? To sow discord."

She turned to face the dark elf. "Solarin has his points of view," her tone
changing from that of rebuke to one of guarded welcome. "I may or may not share
them, cousin. You have yet to explain what you are doing amongst us, and who you
claim alliance to."

She pitched her voice so that Atalaya and Solarin may hear her, "I am not one to
care for racial prejudices clouding a more important judgement. We have stood
among ourselves bickering while you have merely stood by and watched. You now
have a chance to explain yourself. We will all listen," She turned and addressed
the clearing. "Won't we?"

From: Adrienne Metz <ametz@U.Arizona.EDU>

Aya broke from her own swirling thoughts when she heard Sofaltis ask,
"Mayhaps you can tell me what that just was?"

She sighed heavily and looked toward Sofatlis.(Obviously no knight in
shining armor there.) "That was a demon. 'Demon'ari' I believe they are
called, two souls sharing one body. And they are very, very dangerous."
She bent her head and rubbed her hand across her forehead. "You should go now. This gem I'm wearing is going to attract all sorts of nasties."
Standing, she stifled back tears. She took Ruvan to the ranger. "Return
to the clearing, and bring Ruvan to Dak. I'm sure he'll take care of him."

Sofaltis did not react for a minute.

"Please, go now." She turned and began to walk down the road, the opposite direction.

From: Kay Maynard <sylverrose@snet.net>

<snip>
<<She pitched her voice so that Atalaya and Solarin may hear her, "I am not
one to
care for racial prejudices clouding a more important judgement. We have stood
among ourselves bickering while you have merely stood by and watched. You now
have a chance to explain yourself. We will all listen," She turned and
addressed the clearing. "Won't we?">>

Kay stepped backward when the lady elf stepped into the middle of the
argument. (She's right. My temper was too quick.) Kay moved her hand
away from her sword and relaxed a little. When she didn't make any move
for a weapon, Winddancer sat down, relaxing on the ground again. :That's
better, Silver. So quick to draw! What would your mother have said?:

:She'd tell me to be quicker. But it doesn't matter, not anymore, so drop
it, all right?: Kay sighed and stepped back again. "You are quite right.
I apologise for my quick words." Kay waited patiently for the dark elf to
explain herself, or for someone else to add their two coins to the
conversation.

From: Divine Knight Ámp <jpugh@bscn.com>

*blink*
Jonas came to with a start. He'd let his mind wander off again, the
fourth or fifth time it had happened in the last few hours. (I can't
make a habit out of this, this is how people get _killed_...) It was
odd, though. Something, a blade of grass, a pebble, would catch his eye,
and next he knew, a quarter of an hour would have passed. (Why am I
doing this? I should know better...even a novice would have the common
sense to stay focused in a situation like this...these people are
crazy...I hardly know them and I can see that...) He would have
continued in this vein, but the next moment he felt a Gate-no, two-
being opened close by. He laughed vaguely. (Stupid, stupid, stupid.
That'll bring the roof down on us, for certain and for sure...) The idea
of being able to wield the unholy energy of the demon bound in his blade
was becoming more and more attractive. (The wings, the wings....
...
...what?) A chill ran through his arm, almost but not quite painful. He
turned and saw the Angel staring at him uneasily. (Heh. As if she had
the ability to make me do anything she said....I'm more than she is, far
far more...) He laughed to himself, a laugh with a touch of insanity in
it, but managed to keep the expression on his face bland as he faced the
servant of his God.

"Yes, Bright One?"

From: "ksd" <fallenangel_ksd@mindspring.com>

Fallenangel blinked, turning back toward the Knight after having been
distracted by the going-ons in the rest of the clearing. With a sudden
shock, she felt a surge of emotion from the Sword that Jonas was carrying
that made her lean back in shock. (What the.... Is it awaking?....)

"Yes, Bright One?" The Knight asked, most likely in response to her look.

"Knight." She half-inclined her head, acknowledging his question. "The
non-combatants are leaving via a Gate, presumably to a town. If you wish to
go with them, I suggest you leave now - or stay. I wish to take my leave of
you, for I must depart; my errand, which your presence has jostled me to
recall, has taken temporary importance over this quest. And, there seems to
be plenty of talent to handle this situation." Taking a deep breath, and
trying to shake off the stilted, awkward phrases that came to mind, she
continued.

"I must return that sword to the Church from which you stole it." Drawing
herself up and nudging her horse Donas into a formal pose, she looked down
regally upon Avare. "Under the vows you swore to Laoghaire as a Divine
Knight, return to me that sword."

From: Jeffery Melville <darvoso@fortwayne.infi.net>

> She sighed heavily and looked toward Sofatlis.(Obviously no knight in
> shining armor there.) "That was a demon. 'Demon'ari' I believe they are
> called, two souls sharing one body. And they are very, very dangerous."

(Demons...that would explain the wings...why does evil always have to look so good..)

> She bent her head and rubbed her hand across her forhead. "You should go now. This gem I'm wearing is going to attract all sorts of nasties."

He smiled faintly, wondering if the threat of danger was really supposed to make him flee..because if it was supposed to, it would fail. (Unless the lady can come up with a good reason why I shouldn't help her, she's going to get stuck with me. I refuse to let her wander in this dangerous forest...)

> Standing, she stifled back tears. She took Ruvan to the ranger. "Return
> to the clearing, and bring Ruvan to Dak. I'm sure he'll take care of him."

He blinked again, regarding her carefully, his green eyes widening in shock. (She wishes to leave her child...) He knew what it was like to be left by one's parents, to not know...and he refused to let another child, when he had the ability to make it not so, suffer his same fate.

> "Please, go now." She turned and began to walk down the road, the opposite direction.

Pitching his voice tonally so that it wouldn't carry far, but still having resonace, he spoke cautiously, her form dwindling away as he posed his words, then...

"M'lady. I know you leave for your child's sake, you think it will be better for him to be rid of you. I say that isn't so. You carry a mage cursed necklace, and I say to you, another mage can undo what has been done. You will suffer a worse fate alone than any you could possibly suffer with a group. Perhaps a friend you shall find, a loved one, or merely just the companionship of a group. Regardless, don't leave your child in the care of another." Here his voice cracked a bit, still full of bitterness that he was left by his more... 'enlightened' kin to die for his heritage. "I would die a happier man if I knew who my parents were, where I came from... The not knowing is worse than knowing that tomorrow I may die. Please m'lady, don't leave a legacy of pain. I sense within you the capacity for great care, love, and perhaps in that, you can find
the destiny for which it is that you seek. I know that I'm only a simple ranger, a young boy by looks, and perhaps not as old as you, even in true years, but I know what it is to search, sometimes endlessly, for that which we can't seem to find. I beseech you, don't leave now. If the group drives you away, then let us, or if they won't consent, I, take you somewhere safe. You and your child. I know... a friend, who lives about two day's travel at a normal pace who can take you in, if a home it is that you require."

Through this speech, he held the young boy carefully, not quite sure of how to deal with a child, petting his hair calmingly, cradling him. He was amazed at how lively the boy was, how animated, and seemingly... protected. Something about him that he couldn't quite put his finger on, but more than likely bespoke of a destiny in the future.
(One wonders who this lady truly is. For she's more than what she seems, as is most of this group.) His thoughts flickered back to the demonar'i, then shuddered internally, and he once again turned his thoughts to the woman.

"M'lady. If nothing I say moves you, I will take the baby to Dak, and let you go your own way, about as destiny blows a wind. But I think you would regret leaving...the future unfolds for you here..not out there..."

His voice tapered off, realzing, oddly in retrospect, that perhaps he was talking more to himself, than to her, for his own life seemed to follow that...a leaf blown about by destiny's ill will, and that perhaps here, he could make his own...


From: Heather Arnold <typodrgn@arches.uga.edu>

Erelan crouched against the ground, waiting for the tension to break,
waiting for some sign of good judgement in the circle of hastily spoken
words and flaring tempers.

She glanced worriedly at the sky. It was early yet in the night, but
there was no guarantee how long this cloud cover would last. Without the
concealing mists, a dragon in the sky - even one only faintly backlit by
moonlight - was a rather conspicuous target. She turned to look at
Shadowblade.

:Lady-blade,: she mindsent softly. :We should away soon, while the
darkness still can disguise us. Do you dare leave the clearing on our
task, in the midst of this turmoil?:

<<Shadowblade finished the last knot on Erelan's harness and stood up,
brushing her hands on her breeches and tucking loose strands of her hair
behind her ears. With a frown on her face, she moved between Kay and
Solarin and stood there, arms crossed and feet at shoulder width. She
spoke directly to the front of her, ignoring the daggers they would soon
throw her way. "I did not think to work with a group suffering from
internal conflict. We have come together to fight a common enemy. We must
work together and not quarrel among ourselves." She paused and bludgeoned
her way on. "We are fighting among ourselves over a dark elf. Who knows if
she has come among us solely for this purpose? To sow discord.">>

Erelan listened and glanced over at the dark elf, wishing she could remain
in the clearing and see the danger through to its end. :I cannot stay and
aid you, song-sister. I would that I could, but I have duties elsewhere.
I ask again that you speak for yourself - tell them you mean no harm.
These are good people, and will not accost the innocent. If you be not so
innocent... I wish you the luck of the dark moon, and advise that you
retreat in haste, and do not cross the path of this company again.:

With that final word, the teal dragon drew back slowly, keeping an eye on
Muranog, and carefully shook out her wings. She eyed the work Shadowblade
had done on the harness, and gave a satisfied nod. That would do very
well indeed, and it appeared that it would safely hold all the weight she
was capable of carrying. Stretching the last few kinks out of her back,
she awaited Shadowblade's answer and the beginning of the night journey.

From: troll@netcomuk.co.uk

Muranog glared at the dark elf, his runesword blazing in his hand as he faced her.

"I grow tired of waiting, child of Mara'liweion," the troll Adept rumbled, his eyes
still blazing angrily. "Will you tell us who you are and what brings you here? Or
must we consider you a threat, and deal with you accordingly?"

:Aptly put, mindmate,: Sable commented in private mindspeech, flexing the steel
battle-claws she wore on her hooves as she waited, tensed for action, beside her
troll partner. :How dangerous is this one? I cannot read her, her shields are too
strong.:

:Nor can I,: Muranog sighed mentally in response, :but she penetrated my wards,
invoked in the Name of Graal, and I had thought none but a god could do that.
Or at least, one aided by a god. Perhaps this one is a personal agent of Mara'liweion?
Earthfire knows, you and I have faced such before, during the war.:

:A Priestess-Adept? By all that is holy, I hope not,: snorted the black war sheep.
:Not in this place, with noncombatants liable to get underfoot the moment she
invokes battle magics, and human fools such as this Kay Silversong likely to
defend her. Prepare for action, mindmate, it may come sooner than we would like.:

Muranog gave no reply, either verbal or mental, but for the tightening of his
grip on his runesword and the fire in his glare as he faced the dark elf woman.

From: "Angie" <heraldtg@mbox3.singnet.com.sg>

Typo turned to look at Shadowblade.

::Lady-blade,: she mindsent softly. :We should away soon, while the
:darkness still can disguise us. Do you dare leave the clearing on our
:task, in the midst of this turmoil?:


:What,: Shadowblade's mind juggled with the new Voice in her head. :oh, it's
you, Erelan.: 'Blade continued waiting for the dark elf's response, and
considered her options. If she were to leave now, it would all be disjointed and
show her impatience. On the other hand, the task was more important than the
dark elf. And what if she had come for precisely that purpose? (Damn, why does
she remain quiet? Maybe she _is_ trying to slow us down.)

Shadowblade continued frowning. If if if _if_. There was no time for "if"s.
:Erelan, friend, I suppose we could leave now. If _only_ Ember would respond.
But the task cannot wait for one such as her. Now, I need only find a way to
move out of this situation. Wait a while...:

She uncrossed her arms and moved a few steps back towards the dragon. (How can I
do this without looking stupid...)

From: Rainbow <cf@leightons.demon.co.uk>

Rainbow looked at the swirling gate in front of her, and raised an
eyebrow contemptuously, trying not to show how awed she was by the
power. :Shall we go?: She looked at Dee'rina and climbed onto the
pegasus's back.
Jay glared. :We ought to _go home_ not, not run off on another
adventure! We have the chance!:
Rainbow just tossed her hair back, and rode fearlessly into the portal.
:I don't like this!: Dee'rina's voice shook slightly.
:Go on, it'll only last a moment...: Rainbow soothed as they stepped
into space.
Rainbow heard a whinny as Jatoka reached the threshold, and then
nothing, until they emerged on the other side.


From: Seashimer@aol.com

((::sighs:: I'm very sorry for introducing a character just as my RL starting
filling up. . .I think things have calmed down some (don't I always, though),
so let's see what I can do to catch up.))

(Ok, the paladin is there, Solarin is there, Kay is there, and Muranog is
there. Everyone except Kay is ready to kill her. I miss anything?)

Ember surveyed the party gathered around her with satisfaction. (No trouble
drawing their attention at least-- but then, there never is). Arms folded
across her chest, with hands tucked carefully in the folds of her robe, she
listened to them arguing about her with a faint smile on her face. (So. .
.the young human refuses to trust the advice of her elders, does she? Perhaps
I can. . . but later). She watched as the dragon cleared the scene before
speaking, for she was perhaps the one being in the clearing whom she feared.

>>"I grow tired of waiting, child of Mara'liweion," the troll Adept rumbled,
his eyes
still blazing angrily. "Will you tell us who you are and what brings you here?
Or
must we consider you a threat, and deal with you accordingly?"<<

She began to speak almost lazily. "Certainly I shall, although if you have
not already guessed, you are less perceptive than you would have others
believe. As the. . .elves have said already, I am a follower of, what is your
quaint name for her, Mara'liweion. I bear the honor, or, as I suppose you
would cast it, the dishonor of being her priestess. She has sent me here to.
. .aid you in your quest. If I do as she," and she nodded in the direction of
Shadowblade, "suggested, it is entirely inadvertant." Her expression, still
faintly smiling, hardly seemed to support her last words. "I have one task
only; to see that he who holds the power in this region finds himself dead.
Once that is past, I will be on my way, and I assure you that you will be no
happier than myself to part company. Of course," she added, with an edge to
her voice, "it is still up to you if I join you or not. If not, you may
continue on the paths you followed before you undertook this quest, for I
assure you that long before you reach the keep its lord will be dead. My lady
has little patience for such things, and has spared enough time merely to
allow your aid once."

From: Kay Maynard <sylverrose@snet.net>

> "I have one task only; to see that he who holds the power in this region
finds himself dead.
>Once that is past, I will be on my way, and I assure you that you will be
no happier than myself to >part company. Of course," she added, with an
edge to her voice, "it is still up to you if I join you or >not. If not,
you may continue on the paths you followed before you undertook this quest,
for I
>assure you that long before you reach the keep its lord will be dead. My
lady has little patience for >such things, and has spared enough time
merely to allow your aid once."

Kay listened to the dark elf, keeping one eye on the others in the little
group around the intruder. (I must keep my temper. There is no reason to
kill anyone here yet. Just because no one listens to anyone else, that's
no reason to get upset. These children have no idea what they speak of.
As though names or race determines what is in a person's heart!) Kay shook
her head silently. Her lips curved in a slight smile, more sarcastic than
anything. "This is a simple thing to substantiate. Simply petition one of
your own gods and ask if this one speaks the truth." She dropped lightly
to the ground, kneeling. She bowed her head, and the soft sounds of
chanting could be heard.

Kay knelt in supplication before her Goddess. She asked for advice, and
received a surprising answer. When she awoke from her self-imposed trance,
no time had passed. The rest of the group didn't appear to have moved.
(So my Goddess has granted me the gift of time yet again.) She stood, and
grinned. "My Goddess has given me the choice. Trust can work wonders, so
I have chosen trust. There is a chance that I am wrong, but I will, for
now, trust that you, Ember, are not going to betray us. For now." Kay
crossed her arms and waited for reactions from the rest of the group, ready
to defend her postition.

From: "Tim & Tiffanie" <tntgray@sprintmail.com>

Aya's running off was the single most imbecilic thing Xenon had yet seen
while in the company of this group. It defied reason and he had learned
that in such cases, that the most likely answer to such an occurrence was
that there was no or very little reason involved. Dak passed through the
gate as did Sand the Bard, (who foolishly left her other senses open to view
an active gate and would likely be possessed of a severe head ache on the
other side) as well as the creature Ynis. Others began to pass through as
well including the young nobles from Animi and their fractious steeds and
arguments, and the Dark one Delane.

(Lucky occurrence, that, and good riddance to the lot of them) Xenon thought
to himself. He was still troubled by Aya's taking the baby into the woods,
but his concentration and Kang's were to a very large extent involved in the
evacuation of the non combatants.

(Nothing I can do about it at the moment) Xenon thought and then accepted
that the consequences were presently outside of his control, and he
concentrated on maintaining the gate solid and true to the locale he had
selected.

He had selected a medium sized town, about two hundred miles away in Teren,
a place well known for its decent treatment of travelers and quaint pride in
fair prices...at least of late. From there passage could be obtained by
caravan or by river and then sea to whatever destinations these people chose
to continue to. There were a large number of decent inns, and he was sure
the little bard could get work....his gift of personal attention to her as
reward and quiet tribute to her for her good taste in choosing to snuggle
betimes with him. Many had learned that doing as he desired them to paid
well. And no small number had found that the opposite was true as well.

The gate exited into a grove of trees, just inside the east gate of the city
wall, and he could see the travelers and Dak on the other side. He managed
to motion to Dak to return once all of the others had left the clearing, and
he smiled faintly with increasing strain as Dak led the black back thru the
gate.

(A well trained war steed at least) he thought and Dak and the Black moved
past. Since it appeared that no one else was going to exit the Kaladh from
this gate this night, Xenon began to weave the pattern slowly together,
condensing the weave of the magic of the gate, until it had coalesced into a
pattern of spell energy which included the remnants of his stabilizing
magics as well. He then returned the magic into the Astral plane and the
earth and sky nearby as life energies, taking the time to direct them as far
as possible to the cleansing of this place, nearby anyway, over time. Then,
the gate closed and the magic grounded fully, he smiled at Dak, and turned
to regard the clearing and assess the situation.

(A dark elf sure enough) he thought. (I wonder if she has any spare spider
silk for sale). Dark elves could be just as haughty as other elves true
enough, but they also possessed a great deal more irreverence on occasion,
and were more practical in Xenon's experience. They could occasionally be
persuaded to part with fine things for the right price....

Erelan and Shadowblade were readying to part on the scouting mission.
(Good) Xenon thought, (At least they wish to concentrate on the job at hand
and not let the little darkling servant guide them about by their pride and
tempers). He spared a glance over to where the most part of the clearing
were blathering at and threatening the dark elf and thought that she must
be having the most extraordinary fun at baiting them. He was interested to
see if the paladin would jump in, or if the troll adept and his war sheep
would just trash her...and likely, most of the nearby Kaladh in the ensuing
battle.

The Dark Elf spoke and Xenon was not the least surprised by her
words.....though he was surprised at the fact that the paladin and Solarin
and the troll didn't attack her on the spot.

(Remarkable restraint on their part) he thought. Then the Dark elf spoke
in a lazy drawl once again.

>>"Certainly I shall, although if you have not already guessed, you are less
perceptive than you would have others believe. As the. . .elves have said
already, I am a follower of, what is your quaint name for her, Mara'liweion.
I bear the honor, or, as I suppose you would cast it, the dishonor of being
her priestess. She has sent me here to. . .aid you in your quest. If I do
as she," and she nodded in the direction of Shadowblade, "suggested, it is entirely inadvertent." Her expression, still
faintly smiling, hardly seemed to support her last words. "I have one task
only; to see that he who holds the power in this region finds himself dead.
Once that is past, I will be on my way, and I assure you that you will be no
happier than myself to part company. Of course," she added, with an edge to
her voice, "it is still up to you if I join you or not. If not, you may
continue on the paths you followed before you undertook this quest, for I
assure you that long before you reach the keep its lord will be dead. My
lady has little patience for such things, and has spared enough time merely
to allow your aid once."<<

(Bravo) Xenon thought, (Please, feel free to do so at your leisure oh dark
priestess), he smiled to himself as he moved towards Erelan motioning Dak
to follow. (If such great power you bear and such deed you desire... please
accomplish it to the greater glory of your goddess). He laughed at his own
sarcasm, but was impressed by her demeanor. (A fitting priestess for a
goddess of lies) he mused. He knew she would only be here for two reasons
generally, one if she did need the help, or two if her goddess told her
too....which would in no wise bode good for at least someone in if not all
of the present party. The dark goddess was jealous and petty, and loved to
use her power to sow dissention and strife to be reaped to Her advantage.
Apparently this priestess was quite a mistress of the technique.

He watched in further amusement as the girl with the wolf knelt and stood in
nearly one motion before the dark elf and then stated that her goddess was
~allowing~ her to choose to trust the dark elf, at least for now. Xenon
nearly choked at how funny that was, and he was sure that the dark elf would
derive no end of amusement from it as well.

(I feel so sorry for the poor wolf to be tied to a ridiculous dupe like that
one) he grinned as he allowed himself to engage in the momentary sarcasm.
He moved up to Erelan and observed the preparations being made. He
continued to watch as they finished preparing to go, and allowed his
sarcastic humor to distract him from his anger at the idiot of a lady, and
he used that term quite loosely, who would dash off into the Kaladh again
with an infant child, and spurn his protection and the safety offered. He
revised his opinion of the sort of touching her god had done to her and
allowed himself a final moments humor at the concept of her head being as
filled with vapors as a bladder over a steam vent. Then he turned to speak
to Dak, and wait for the other scouts to finish their preparations.