Chapter Four
A few days later, Tytula was back on the endless sand dunes, headed for Rileikoul. In speaking with the very friendly Killashandra DeKrys, she had picked up a rumor that the Lady Breeder, Inrahi, was offering up a clutch for adoption. The parents were the Black female Nys'Asi and the Bronze male Denyv'e, so many of the rare colored hatchlings would probably turn out to be browns.
Tytula had also found out quite a bit about Lady Inrahi. She was very, well, sassy, and she didn't take orders from anyone except Dwahro, and she did that grudgingly. She was known for her use of the blade, and also for her waspishness if you caught her in a bad mood. Killashandra had told Tytula that Inrahi liked jewelry and fine fabrics, so Tytula had gone out of her way to find the best items anywhere. She was now quite nervous about the whole ordeal, as Inrahi rarely wasted any politeness on other women.
When the Lesthpoldian girl reached the gates to Rileikoul, she was greeted by the same security guard.
"Hey, I remember you," the man grunted. "You're that girl that liked them varmint Drakkins." Tytula could tell that the man was quite drunk, and she edged nervously past. She wasn't about to ask him for directions, seeing as they would most likely lead her to a pit full of alligators or something.
Tytula ran through the streets of the city, looking for someone that might know the way to Inrahi's dwelling. When she saw a particularly rich-looking woman, she decided to try her luck.
"Excuse me, ma'am," Tytula called as the Drow woman turned slowly around. The lady's coal black eyes immediately snapped to the sack of jewels and clothes on Tytula's back. "Could you lead me to the dwelling of Inrahi?"
"So that's where you're headed," the lady said haughtily. "Follow me. It's this way."
Tytula, feeling a bit confused, followed the woman as they walked swiftly down the streets of the Drow city. Tytula had to run to keep up with the lady's long stride.
Soon, Tytula and her guide reached a large white house on the outskirts of town. The woman flung open the door, and it nearly closed in Tytula's face as she followed. The woman kicked off her shoes in the entrance, and flopped down in a thick leather chair.
"Well, sit, child," the Drow said firmly. Tytula sat.
"May I, uh, have an audience with Her Ladyship?" Tytula asked.
The woman raised one thickly penciled eyebrow and asked, "What more could you ask for?"
"So, you're..." Tytula trailed off, seeing the Drow in a new light. Inrahi was wearing a long, black silk dress with a smooth, furry boa slung carelessly around her shoulders. She was wearing leathery black boots with impossibly high heels, and she wore a dagger in her belt. Her hair was thick and bushy, cut in a graceful 'V' down her back. She looked relatively young.
"It is I, Inrahi," the Lady Breeder scoffed. "So, what do you want?"
"I heard you have a clutch waiting," Tytula explained carefully, "and I have a large offering in exchange for one of your hatchlings."
"Ah, yes," Inrahi said slowly. "Nys'asi, my pride and joy. Yes, come here, baby," Inrahi cooed in a sickeningly sweet voice. She reached out with a perfectly manicured hand, and turned the lights down very low. Tytula automatically placed her night-vision goggles on the bridge of her nose. Inrahi's eyes seemed to glow in the darkness.
And, suddenly, they weren't the only eyes in the room. Two brilliant yellow orbs were staring straight at Tytula, but the body attatched to them seemed to blend into the surrounding darkness.
"This is Nys'asi," Inrahi explained. "She is the mother of my clutch." Tytula didn't like the way Inrahi said 'my clutch,' as if she owned everything about her Drakkins.
"Well?" Inrahi crooned in the same syrupy voice. "Is she up to our standards?"
Nys'asi purred and growled at the same time, and trotted over to Inrahi's side. The Drakkin was rewarded with a quick scratch with one long, red nail. Inrahi turned her attention back to Tytula, still seated on the chair in front of the Lady, and Nys'asi slipped away into the darkness.
"If you've done your research," Inrahi said smugly, "you'll know that the clutchmother always knows who to trust. Did you know that...what's your name again?"
"Tytula," Tytula said quickly. "And, yes, I knew that. I've been here before. I currently care for Perturmiles, a green Drakkin from Dwahro's clutch. They were just awarded to their --"
"I know that, you silly, silly girl!" Inrahi exploded. "I'm just shocked I didn't think of the idea myself. That old man Dwahro doesn't know what he's doing, dealing with foreigners. He's much to lenient, as I can well see."
Tytula narrowed her eyes slightly, but said nothing.
"So what do you have in that pack there?" Inrahi said, changing the subject, feeling as though she had had her full say in the matter.
Tytula emptied the contents of her pack onto the glass table (to view the offering, click here). Inrahi narrowed her eyes, and picked carefully through the pile of jewelry and fine fabrics from all over the galaxy. She also uncovered a magical pen that wrote in all different colors and styles of writing implement. The Lady Breeder was surprised to find solid gold bracelets and necklaces, as well as solid DragonStone rings.
"Very nice," Inrahi said simply. Tytula, judging by the Lady's normal attitude, considered this the highest of compliments. "I suppose I will consider your offer. Maybe." Tytula could tell that the Lady was battling against the concept of having such riches and wonderful things. "I'll ask you the questions, just in case. Color?"
Inrahi whipped out a pad of paper, and lifted the magical pen from the pile of offerings. After fiddling with it for a moment, she began to scrawl in a beautiful shade of emerald green. Tytula saw the Lady Breeder scrawl 'Tytula' at the top.
"I suppose I would take blue, if I need to have a common color. If I could be allowed to have an uncommon color, I would most definitely like an Albino."
Inrahi looked at the hopeful adopter strangely. Any Drakkin owner knew that Albinos were useless in the fighting arena. The Lady jotted her request down, anyway.
"What gender would you prefer?" the Breeder asked slyly. Tytula, however, knew that it was unheard of to directly request a female from a breeder.
"I suppose I would like another male," Tytula sighed, "but it would be so wonderful to have a female. They are so much more intelligent, and it would be able to say more than 'tytyty...'"
Inrahi jotted down more information on her notepad, this time in turquoise. Tytula grinned at the Breeder's enjoyment of her new gift.
"Any name ideas?" Inrahi asked, scrawling away.
"I'm not sure," Tytula replied. "I'll have to meet the Drakkin first, and learn more about its personality."
"Lastly, I suppose I'll ask Dwahro to tell me about the accomodations that you've set up for your Drakkins. Tell me again, what kind of Drakkin do you already own?"
"A male green," Tytula said happily. "His name is Perturmiles, and he's the sweetest Drakkin hatchling ever to --"
"Enough," Inrahi snapped, sounding quite irritated. "This audience has gone on quite long enough. Leave me to my thoughts." The Lady Breeder clicked away, across the marble floor of her entrance room. Tytula stared after her, and walked out of the house. She was a bit annoyed with the attitude of Inrahi. Perhaps, she thought, she would have been better off if she were a handsome young man.
But, Tytula supposed, it went well considering that she was dealing with Inrahi. Tytula could only hope that Perturmiles would soon have another Drakkin to befriend. He would probably be better off with someone of his own species to converse with. And he could chew on the other Drakkin instead of her, she thought, laughing to herself as she left Rileikoul to return to Dracogrex.
