The Wicked Demesne of Butterfly Sunrider

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The cool, smooth ivory tiles clicked against each other as I and three others shuffled for my third mahjong game of the night. I was on a roll. My last game had finished before it had even begun with a "heavenly win" and the less serious players had either retreated to other, less competitive tables, back to their tea to lick their wounds, or if female, hovered around me like honeybees, buzzing with appreciation for every crafty move I made. They especially liked it when I flipped my chips downward along the knuckles of my hand. I was so buried in the part that I had started to wink back at them and let them pour my tea, peel my lychees, and pop the fruit's sweet white flesh into my mouth for me.

Magnos, I think, would have been pleased.

Eighteen stacks, two tiles high...

The dealer threw three dice. Next game, it would be my turn to deal, if I didn't clean everyone out first. I tented my fingers and took a moment to notice my current opponents.

The Dowager was one of my most stubborn opponents, an ancient but clearly wealthy woman that no one wanted to make eye contact with who sat across from me. She had kept changing in her jewelry for more chips and plum wine and was now almost completely bereft of any ornamentation beyond her sumptuous silken robes, tiny slippers and the little lion-faced dog that perched on her lap. The diminutive pooch looked vaguely familiar to me at the time, but I could not place where I'd seen him.

The Doctor sat to my left. The current dealer, she was a soft-spoken blind woman in what I guessed to be her early 30s. She wore a plum colored cap and matching robes. Despite her condition, her fingers were nimble and precise, and whispers I'd overheard led me to believe that she was a doctor!

The Thief, on my right, was a man said to be the leader of the Guild, a semi-criminal organization operating out of the Imperial City. Semi-criminal, as this new leader was weeding out the slave traders from his employ, but certainly had no problem with poisoners, thieves, or loan-sharks working under him. His personal bodyguard, a huge, bearded bear of a man wielding twin axes, drank heavily with a much shorter, skinnier and harried-looking man by his side at a table near to us. The Guild Leader didn't look like he needed the protection. His muscles rippled under his open, sky-blue vest. Strapped to his back were twin sabers, still sharp. His wits were as keen as his blades and his fingers were so quick, that I consciously kept my chips near so that he didn't surreptitiously make off with them.

The Doctor took four tiles to the the left of the divide. The rest of us followed suit until we each had twelve tiles. The Doctor slid a fingertip across her tiles and frowned. The Dowager looked at her tiles, looked at the board, looked at the tiles again and sighed wearily before pouring herself another drink. I looked at my tiles, did not smile, but sipped my tea and smacked my lips. I may have been cleaning up, but it was soon apparent that I still had a lot to learn about playing mahjong in Shou Lung.

The Thief watched me closely, smiled to himself, and then called over his shoulder, "Hou, you'd better fetch my wife. It looks like this game and the next will be brief."

Surprisingly, it was the small, hen-pecked looking man who answered. "Are you sure that's necessary?"

The Thief smiled. "Yes, tell her I want her to blow on my dice when it's my turn to deal. For good luck." The short, harried man took off into the night.

The Doctor started first. "Discarding nine wan."

I chuckled at the Thief and scooped up the desired tile. "You think your wife can save you from the sound thrashing I'm giving to your wallet? Discarding one suo."

The Thief smirked at me. "Not my wallet, no. Discarding xi wind."

It took six turns, but I had my desired hand by the end. I spread out my hand proudly. "Baiban pung (three of-a-kind). Nine wan kong (four of-a-kind). Seven suo sheung (straight of three). Dong eyes (pair)."

The crowd that had gathered to watch our game gasped as the Dowager pulled a small headpiece from from her hair, causing it to fall around her face in grey tangles. She slapped it on the table and demanded more chips. The Thief mumbled under his breath, "Any moment now, Ling!"

Everything came to a stop as an imposing-looking young woman walked through the door. It was odd, the respect commanded by one so young and so informally dressed. She dressed in an elegant dark blue and gold pantsuit and wore her hair in a practical style that was parted down the middle in the front and drawn into a conservative bun in the back. The circular jade pendant she wore matched the one the Thief also wore around his neck.

Ah, I thought, she's his wife.

And then she turned and stared at me, narrowing her eyes. A not unfriendly smile crept across her face. She crossed the room, whispered in the Thief's ear, whereupon he got up and she sat down in his place. It was my turn to deal, so I threw the dice, and we began to shuffle the tiles again.

I turned to her and said, "So, you've come to rescue your husband from the slaughter?"

You can imagine my shock when she answered me in Elvish. "No, I'm here to rescue the Princess." She gestured towards the Dowager. And then I remembered that I'd seen a portrait of the old woman and her little dog in one of my books. My eyes popped, but I said nothing. I was in way over my head and I could only hope at that point to get back to Silverymoon alive.

She let that sink in for a while, until we started to take our four tiles at a time, and continued with "and I'm here to make you a deal, as I can see that you mean no malice."

Crap.

She must be able to see through the disguise other spell. I looked at my hands to see if the spell had worn off. Still Magnos' hands. True seeing, then. Must be a powerful mage.

Tentatively, I spoke in Elvish back to her. It sounded lovely uttered by Magnos' voice. "What do you want?"

The woman chuckled heartily and then pinned me down with her eyes. "I want you to lose, little creature. You did not come in here to drain the royal coffers. You came in here because you want something."

I gulped, and ransacked my mind for information. If this woman was here to keep me from bankrupting the Princess Dowager, then who was she? And then I remembered. Out loud. "Scholar Ling. A Wu Jen. Rose from an obscure fishing village to become the chief adviser to the new Empress, Sun Lian. Some say you disposed of her father yourself."

"That's part of the story, yes. But what is it that you want, curious little creature?"

I sighed and looked at my tiles. Another "heavenly win" sat in front of me, mocking me. What did I want more? To win everything or to get what I came in for? I drew a deep breath and exhaled as I pushed all my chips in. "There is an amulet in the market. Ruby, surrounded by pearls on a gold chain. I want it."

Ling sat back and thought a moment while I drew a worthless tile and discarded a valuable one. "Ah, I know the one. It once belonged to a Wu Jen of the previous dynasty. It is an artifact of some arcane power, now being peddled for some collector to snatch it up. But why would you want that, little druid?" She smiled playfully. Like a cat about to devour a mouse.

I smiled back. "I never said I wanted it for myself."

Ling's face softened, as she looked from the Thief, who was now chatting it up with his bodyguard, back to me. "I cannot give you what your heart wants, but the amulet will be yours, I promise you."

Every turn was a small blow to my ego as I threw away strategically vital pieces and kept useless ones. As my hot streak ended, people returned to their tables and their homes. My attendants dissolved one by one into the background. It was not enough for me to simply give back what I had won, indeed, the Scholar refused me on that. I had to lose. I feel as though Ling was trying to teach me something in my voluntary defeat, about pride, about temperance, about sacrifice. I hoped that I had learned enough so I'd never have to go through something so humiliating again. At least I was allowed to lose everything in one game.

When the game ended, the Doctor bid us all goodbye, and she patted the arms of the Scholar and the Thief as she left. The Princess Dowager sat pliantly as her finery was returned to her person by the Scholar and the Thief together.

The Scholar, slipping earrings back on to the Dowager's ears, whispered to the Thief, "You don't have to stay. I've got this under control."

The Thief, slipping rings back onto the Dowager's fingers, whispered back, "You have everything under control. Always. I'm still here because I want to be near you." He took her hand gently and kissed her fingertips.

"Always." Ling replied. Then she shook her head as she began to re-arrange the Dowager's hair. "Sky, we've talked about this."

Sky smiled wistfully and handed the Dowager's headpiece to Ling. "And we'll talk about it again, I'm sure. I realize that Lian needs you daily for guidance and counsel so that she will become a more wise and compassionate leader, but she doesn't need you to tuck her into bed at night! What I want to know is, will I see you later?"

Ling scowled at Sky, her mouth a tight, forbidding line. But when he smiled and waggled his eyebrows at her, her eyes began to dance and she snorted out a laugh. Ah, we are all fools for love, I thought with a smile. "Tomorrow," she said. Sky nodded and turned to leave but she told him to follow us.

As we walked out, I walked past Methrammar, who was watching me with a bewildered expression. I shrugged, mouthed for him to follow us and continued out into the cooling night air with the Scholar and the Dowager. A handful of the Imperial Guard was waiting. Ling instructed them to take the Dowager back to the Palace.

"Shall we wait for you, Scholar?" asked one of the guards.

Ling considered. "No."

The guards all smiled.

Ling rolled her eyes and waved them off. "Oh, stop it. You're like a bunch of old women!"

After the royal carriage pulled away, Ling took me by the hand and returned to speaking elvish. "Come."

The Scholar kept her word, and where it would have taken a life's savings from one such as me, the amulet was given to Ling with just the mere pointing of her finger. She tucked it away in a pocket over my heart and said, "Do not be afraid to let your heart lead you, little creature."

She smiled at me one last time and ran to Sky, taking his hand, and stealing away with him into the night.

Methrammar was waiting for me. I ran to him. We walked back to our inn in silence. Finally, when we reached the bottom of the stairs, he asked, "Did you win big?"

I smiled, and answered, "I got what I came for."

We mounted the last flight of the stairs together. Methrammar laughed and said, "Good. Now, let's get that silly man-suit off of you!"

We stepped outside into the Imperial City. Nothing I'd seen in books could have prepared me for the majestic beauty of this place.

Nor even my dreams.

The inn stood on a hill and to the south of us, we could see the Forbidden City. Like the Imperial City itself, the Forbidden City was entirely contained by a wall (comparatively opulent, which featured dragons in a colorful mosaic). The home of the Imperial Family was not just a single palace, but a palatial complex. As outsiders, we weren't allowed to set foot inside the palace, but the view from where I stood was enough to last a lifetime; in each corner stood a tower that was a pavilion onto itself, in the center of each side of the wall loomed a massive and imposing gate . Immediately bursting into view were the bold red walls and yellow roof tiles that ruled the schemes of all buildings of the complex. But if you looked closer, you could see the splashes of aqua and green, of purple and white. And there wasn't just one palace alone. There was the The Palace of Earthly Purity (where the Empress lived) and the Palace of Heavenly Purity (where the Emperor lived). Further dotting the royal campus were the "minor palaces": The Hall of Mental Cultivation and the Hall of Union. Off in the distance I caught a glimpse of the Tombs of the Emperors.

To the north, spread at my feet was the city itself. Though not as epic in splendor as the Forbidden City, it was nothing to sneeze at. It was different, but somehow the approach was the same. There was that same meticulous effort of living in harmony with the elements and the surrounding flora, but with such delicate-looking architecture - buildings made of mostly wood and paper and sometimes decorated with the most intricate rosewood carvings - and with such beauty! Strung on wires and dotted throughout the city like multicolored gems were lanterns of all colors (mostly red). It being summer, many of the surrounding trees were heavy with fruits, among them plum, cherry and orange trees that leant a light, sweet scent that somehow managed to hold its own with the smell of spices, of cooking, of life surrounding them. Far, far to the east was the great Temple of Heaven, gleaming white, red and blue in the midday sun.

Tears stung my eyes as I gasped in something like wonder. Methrammar wrapped his arms around me from behind and whispered into my ear. "Is it everything you thought it would be?" Wordlessly, I kissed his cheek and sobbed. He chuckled. "Today the city is yours, my love! You may do whatever your heart desires."

I scanned the surrounding area. It appeared that the market district was straight ahead. And where there was a market, there would be food stalls. Yum! Never mind that I just ate. How often does one get to come to Shou Lung?

I quivered with anticipation. "First, I'll need a trunk. For everything I'm going to buy!" My voice grew from a whisper to an excited squeal towards the end that turned more than a few heads. Methrammar hired a man with something called a rickshaw to hold my trunk while I shopped. I fet sad and guilty to see a human being hitched to a wagon like a beast to carry my things, and even though I knew it was an accepted custom, I made Methrammar promise to see that he was compensated as well as any denizen of Silverymoon.

Of course I bought things for myself. Paintings to put up in my bedroom, small stoneware representations of the local deities, jade jewelry, an ivory mahjongg game set, spices for cooking, a few bottles of plum wine, an antique feather fan, incense, and of course clothes. I even was able to buy some lacquered masks and sake from Wa, and crafts from Wa, well, they are simply unavailable in Faerun, period.

I took a break inside a bustling teahouse where I was able to win a considerable amount of money playing mahjongg (I learned the game as a child from my mother, who in turn had picked up the game during her honeymoon in Thesk; I went on to be Lady's College champion two years in a row) with the rather loud and pushy locals, that is, until someone took notice of my pointed ears and accused me of using elven sorcery to cheat. Methrammar was able to glean as much via a translate spell. I had to give all my winnings back, but at least they didn't make me leave before I could finish my tea and zhájiàngmiàn, or wheat noodles with fried bean and meat sauce. As I slurped up the greasy but delicious nest before me, I pondered what I should get my new companions.

Ralenthra likes delicate, beautiful things with fine craftsmanship. A gold and jade necklace perhaps? Kronk, well, I'd have to get him something he couldn't lose too easily. Hmm. I think I noticed a piercing in his left ear. Maybe I could get him a nice ivory earring with gold inlay...

Magnos was a problem. I knew what he'd like. Something flashy and gaudy that he could show off. I saw a gorgeous ruby amulet with the stone the size of my thumb and surrounded by pearls that I was sure he would have gushed over. But was it too personal? I mean, that kind of jewelry for a man I hardly know? He might think I was in love with him, and then I'd never hear the end of it. On the opposite end of the spectrum...I could get him a pen. There were some lovely pens that were pieces of art unto themselves! But who gives a pen as a gift to anybody but their father? It's absurd! A musical instrument? Hmm. I wonder how Magnos feels about the bardic arts. Clothes? He's not your personal paper doll, Seledra. I was uncomfortably conscious of the fact that Magnos had Shou heritage and didn't want to insult him, even though he was as far from that part of himself as a hawk from the moon.

As hard as I tried to come up with a more genteel alternative, the image of the amulet danced through my brain long after night fell and I grew sleepy and content in Methrammar's arms. It occurred to me that Methrammar might not want to pay that much for it if he knew who it was for. But I had a plan.

The blindfold was taken off and someone was pointing a lit wand in my face.

“Care to explain why a city employee vouched for the character of and has been harboring a known criminal since Greengrass of this year?”

My life, as I knew it, was over. So, I decided to adopt an air of defiance. “I’m sorry. Didn’t you bring me in for having that Lauthaul token in my purse? Why don’t you stick to that topic instead and leave May out of this?” As far as I knew at this point, Ralenthra had been caught stealing, and that her identity was still a secret.

I was wrong. He lifted his hand as if he was going to strike me. “There are penalties when a woman lies, Miss Nailo. Even the spoiled daughter of a hardened mercenary and a renegade sorceress is not above Silverymoon justice.”

“Excuse me? My father was an adventurer and my mother…my mother is…”

“Under house arrest for the last 20 years for her attack on a young man you were once involved with, Miss Nailo. Of course, we look the other way from time to time, like when you two went out to lunch recently. It seems that your father and her penchant for drink have…broken her spirit enough to keep her in line.”

So my dream was true. “And my father?”

“Mystra’s tits, girl, I am not here to answer your queries about family secrets! Suffice it to say that MANY have been kept from you. You have no small amount of intuition about you. That’s why you were expelled for attempting to break into the Hall of Records!”

I got a good look at his badge and smirked. “Be careful, Captain. I’m not sure the High Lady would appreciate you blaspheming her mother like that.”

He smirked. “You don’t deny conspiring to break into the Hall of Records?”

“I thought that I was expelled for…”

“…your public fling with Aelthas? Oh, you poor little fool. It was Aelthas who told the deans about your plan when he was taken in for questioning. Your public deflowering was only a minor prank which would have yielded a small slap on the wrist, shall we say.”

My head was spinning. Smelling blood in the water, he continued.

“The Alchemy department at the Conclave reported the theft of a vial of an experimental concoction called Potion of Forgetfulness at around the time of your expulsion. Can you tell me anything about this?”

“What?”

“’What’ is no kind of answer, Miss Nailo. Yes or no, can you tell me about the current whereabouts of this potion?” I remained silent. He continued. “Because the concoction made that year was highly unstable. It, er…leaks.”

I said nothing.

“It breaks down over time, Miss Nailo. After a while, it only takes a trigger for the victim to regain his or her memory. It would be…unfortunate…if it were to be used. It would only delay the inevitable.”

At this point, I tried to block him out. I meditated on the elements:

May the powers of earth sustain me…

“So you see, Miss Nailo, we have enough on you to not only take your job away, but to put you in the dungeon for quite a while.” I felt Captain Tagen caress my cheek mockingly. “Too bad that pretty girls like you don’t do too well in prison.”

He got up and began to pace the floor confidently.

“That is, unless you think your knight in shining armor will save you. You’d be wrong of course. Methrammar may fancy you, but in his heart of hearts, the Lady named Silverymoon will always come first. We’ve established already that you have run through whatever influence your parents once had in bailing you out, so you have little choice but to cooperate.”

I said nothing and kept my eyes tight shut.

“So…tell me about your accomplices. Ralenthra Ilphukiir, for instance. Were you aware that while working as a mercenary in Menzoberranzan, she led raids on the surface to capture slaves? She helped separate families, destabilize settlements. At least one small village was burned to the ground to cover their trail. There was…no sign of survivors. We have documentation.”

She had never told me, but in the beginning, our relationship had been based on ‘plausible deniability’. It hurt me that there may be some truth in what Tagen was saying, but I wasn’t going to sell her out over something she’d done years ago. She was a different person now, I knew it. I spoke. “I met her earlier this year, at the Greengrass Festival outside town. I was in a bar, getting drunk, when I saw a bunch of drunken human males picking on someone much smaller than them. I got cocky, started a fight with them to stop them. By hook or by crook, we took out the whole bar together. She got me out of there, healed me up. I saw no reason not to trust her after she could so easily have disposed of me then. She. Is. My. Friend.”

Captain Tagen nodded. “You just keep adding to your laundry list of crimes, Miss Nailo. Drunk and Disorderly. Multiple Assault charges. Tut, tut, my dear. Such a scandal!” He drew close to me and tucked a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. “Why can’t you just admit to yourself that you were played? She easily could have killed you, yes, but she needed you to get into Silverymoon. And you played right into her hands! Typical of Mielikki followers, I’m afraid. Too soft, far too trusting. Testify that your drow ‘friend’ Ralenthra bewitched you and that she masterminded this whole affair with the tokens to take Silverymoon down from within, to allow her filthy people a way inside the most vulnerable places in our fair city. If you don’t turn on her first, she’ll turn on you. Say it.”

I said nothing, but shook my head and looked away.

May the powers of air inspire me…

“Fair enough, how about the muscle of the operation? Kronk, is it? He has a criminal record as long as my arm, keeps questionable companions, and that’s not even including you or your drow ‘friend’, members of Silverymoon’s Thieves Guild, as well as a renegade and disgraced former Harper. Arson, drunk and disorderly and murder are only some of the crimes he’s accused of. The scarbearer is a menace to society, and you’d be doing Silverymoon a service if you testify against him. Tell me about Kronk.”

“Kronk?” I burst into giggles. “Kronk? You think he had something to do with this? Ha!”

Captain Tagen slammed his fist down on the table. “You will take these proceedings seriously, Miss Nailo. You could face the hangman’s noose tomorrow, for treason.”

“You seriously think Kronk is capable of grand larceny?” Okay, he could be, but he’s not exactly the subtle type. As for the other crimes, I don’t think Kronk would kill anyone who didn’t have it coming. He’s got a good heart, the big lug. “He’s not an example of what we like to call stealthy.”

Tagen growled. “No, but you need someone in case Plan A fails. You need a one-man cavalry.”

I folded my hands in front of me. “Let me tell you what I know of Kronk. Mayurra and I met him in Everlund. He was working as security for Sun & Moon. Perhaps you’ve heard of them? They like to play the harp. He also took down several orcs in Olostin’s Hold single-handedly. Kronk helped save the town.”

“And he let his half-brother escape with a particularly valuable artifact once in the safekeeping of the Harpers that could destabilize the region and put peace talks with…certain parties…at risk.”

Well, that was a rare slip-up on the Captain’s part. If a minor orc chieftain like Urgurth got a hold of a ‘peace-destabilizing artifact’, the only peace that could be sought would be a truce with Obould. I’m not sure the dwarven citadels would like that, but at least they wouldn’t be losing so many to a war on two fronts, one with Obould’s orcs and one with the denizens of the Underdark. It was a smart move, in the long run. That’s why Alustriel rules the Marches.

“This is quite a impressive little plan, Miss Nailo. A two-pronged attack from the Underdark and the Orcs not yet united under King Obould’s banner. Give us Kronk, at least. You’d be doing Luruar a service.”

Again, I shook my head.

May the powers of fire illuminate me…

“Now, what I don’t understand is your connection to Jonah Goodman.”

I was genuinely shocked. “Who?”

“Don’t play stupid. You were still in his arms when we opened the door to your prison wagon upon your arrival here. Surely you are familiar with him.”

I had to fight the urge to laugh. They had the wrong man. All I knew about Jonah was that he was a friend of Magnos’. “Well, he’s much bigger than I am; it was hard to wriggle free.” I grinned nervously.

“My dear girl, he is a wizard, you are a druid. You could have easily taken him down physically; especially since he no longer had his components pack with him.” Oh. Crap. “So, why were you in his arms?”

“Uh…I don’t know a Jonah Goodman. I never met him before in my whole life.” It was still the truth.

“Liar!” The Captain slapped me across the face. No one, not even my father when he was at his most angry had ever struck me before. I was more shocked than hurt, though. I am no delicate flower. I scowled defiantly, despite my swelling lips.

“It would be easier for you if there were an angle here, but there isn’t. Bring your ‘experts’ in here and they’ll find I’m telling you the truth. I. Don’t. Know. Jonah. Goodman.”

“Don’t mock me girl, I am the expert here! I have 100 years experience with the Knights in Silver. You are just a hot little number who lucked into a cushy job as a city druid. Jonah is your firepower. As a member of the Spellguard, he also has access to spell ward tokens. But he doesn’t have any political reasons to bring down Silverymoon. He’s not doing it for money, either. He’s your lover.”

Oh, hell.

It was then that I realized that he had me. It was quite brilliant really, even if it wasn’t (well at least most of it) true. There was just enough truth to make it stick. Physical evidence, motives, and if I didn’t crack under the pressure someone else would. Captain Tagen must have sensed my panic. He smiled, most unpleasantly. “And the last piece clicks into place. It’s all connected. You used that young mage like you used Aelthas Vihuel, like you’re using Methrammar. Have you information on Silverymoon’s vulnerable spots through him as well? You seduced them and got them to do your bidding. But you don’t even care about them; all you care about is that drow whore.”

The intensity in his eyes was nearly manic. He got right in my face and I closed my eyes tight. “All I need from you is a guarantee…that you will testify that your drow ‘friend’ Ralenthra bewitched you and that she masterminded this whole affair with the tokens to take Silverymoon down from within in congress with an alliance of rebel orcs, to allow their filthy peoples a way inside the most vulnerable places in our fair city. Implicate her, the scarbearer and the traitor and you go free. You keep your job, you can go back to your old life, and you can even marry Methrammar if you choose with no more legal interference. Do it. If you don’t, you will lose everything. You may not even be spared the hangman’s noose as a traitor.”

May the powers of water nourish me.

I opened my eyes and a single tear rolled down my cheek. “No.”

Furious, Captain Tagen banged on the steel door behind me three times and called out. “Get this one out of my sight!” He then looked at me in disgust. “You are a disgrace to the elven race. May Corellon have mercy upon you.” And with that, I was seized upon by two guards and led outside towards the holding cells they were keeping Ralenthra, Kronk, Magnos and I in. To my surprise, I was greeted by quite a commotion: Methrammar was here, struggling with five other men trying to hold him back.

“I order you to let me through! I must see her! Seledra! Seledra!”

Tears stung my eyes. “Methrammar,” I whispered softly. I didn’t think he’d come for me.

Captain Tagen coolly strode out of the interrogation room and with a single nod, the wall of men hemming Methrammar in broke apart. He rushed to me and gathered me close to him, kissing me more intensely than he’d ever done before. My already tender bottom lip split into an orchid of blood. Methrammar drew back, horrified. “What did they do to you?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw them men lead Ralenthra away towards the interrogation room. Captain Tagen looked at Ralenthra and then glared at me as a warning before closing the door behind them.

“Nothing. A troll hit me in the face with his club during the raid. I’m lucky I didn’t lose a few teeth.” I said, almost light-heartedly.

He looked around furtively, as he gently wiped my mouth clean with his handkerchief. “Come with me, Seledra. This is no place for you. We can go back to your house…”

“No. I’m not going anywhere without Mayurra.”

Methrammar nodded, with a sad smile. “I was afraid you’d say that. Mystra knows I can’t make you do something you don’t want to do.” He took his cloak off and wrapped it around my shoulders, then kissed me softly on the forehead. “Just stay safe, my love. I’ll come for you again in the morning.” Tagen’s men then put me back in my cell, right across from the one Magnos and Kronk shared. Kronk was asleep and was probably going to wake up with a nasty headache. Still, I feel as though he’d done this before. I got the impression that Magnos had been watching me since I stepped out of the interrogation room. He smirked and clapped sarcastically.

“How touching.”

“Excuse me?”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Was that…Methrammar?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes.”

“You two are lovers?”

“What do you think, genius?”

Magnos held out one hand, made a fist, jutted out his thumb and pointed downwards with it sharply. At the same time, he stuck out his tongue. “Pbthbththths”

“That’s lovely, Magnos. Maybe when you graduate from kindergarten, we can discuss it further.”

“I. Don’t. Like. Him.”

My mouth fell agape. “Uh…you don’t have to. Who I take to my bed is none of your concern.”

“Not yet, it isn’t.”

“More like not EVER.”

“Your holiness,” He pointed to his head with both hands. “I see myself in your…future.”

“You’re delusional.”

“No, he is. The man is either blind or he’s just stupid. Either way, I would have hit that Captain in the face for roughing you up like that if you were…if I were him. I can’t believe he swallowed that line you gave him.” He mimicked my voice. “’Oh, a big nasty troll hit me!’ I’m surprised you didn’t say that you walked into a wall or something.” For a moment, I was a little flattered at his concern, fake or not. I almost wanted to give him a little heads up about the identity problem they had, but…

I shrugged off Methrammar’s cloak to reveal my well-muscled arms, lifted my right hand high above my head and jumped up, grabbing the bars above my head and began to pull myself up repetitively. “And just what were you going to hit him with? Magic Missile? I can take care of myself, thank you very much. I don’t need a man to do it for me.”

He snorted and leaned back with his arms behind his head, crossing his legs languorously. “I can see that.” He paused, as if for effect. “So, are drow women as insatiably hot in bed as they say?”

“Is that all you think about? You disgust me.” I can’t believe I slept with this man. Almost.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He smirked.

I must have been drunker than I thought that night. “You're the most contemptible person I've ever met in all my life!”

He raised an eyebrow at me. “Confidentially, I think you're a bit of a stinker. I’m getting some sleep, your grace!” And with that, he rolled over on his cot, turning his back on me. How dare he!

I stamped my foot, turned by back to him and finished my repetitions with my left arm before meditating again. That bastard. How I hate him!



Ralenthra returned from her interrogation apparently unscathed. She re-entered our cell with no resistance, but when I dropped from doing my pull-ups and moved to embrace her, she held up her hand to halt me. Out of the vision of the guards, she quickly signed that we would speak later. Dejected, I nodded, and looked past her to see Magnos being led out of his cell. He turned his head towards me and managed a wink and a grin before getting hustled down the corridor to the interrogation room. With him gone, Ralenthra wanting silence and Kronk still sleeping, I felt...isolation. Wrapping Methrammar's cloak around me, I sat on the cold stone floor and meditated in an attempt to shut out my surroundings...

...which worked fine until I started hearing and feeling a commotion coming from the interrogation room.

Blast.

Blast.

Creak.

Blast.

Creak.

Blast.

My eyes flew open. What in Mielikki's name was going on in there? Probably something he already had coming, the cheeky bastard. I shook my head vigorously in an effort to shed such pettiness and refocus my thoughts. The blasting and creaking continued and it took all the inner serenity I had to keep from grinding my teeth in response. Finally, there was a great crashing noise, followed by silence. My stomach dipped. Forest Queen, am I actually worried about that obnoxious man? Well, of course I was worried! In my gut I knew he was as innocent as I was, in a manner of speaking of course, and he was getting worked over just like I had.

It was silent for what seemed like ages. I finally turned around to look at Ralenthra, who seemed to have noticed the unusually long silence as well. She raised an eyebrow then shrugged and looked away as she took her hair down and started to braid it. Finally, a gruff and authoritative voice broke the silence.

"That won't be necessary."

I heard Magnos, his breathing a little shaky. "Are you going to help me get out of here?"

The gruff voice responded in a tone that sounded like the owner was just about to dig into a rich and decadent dessert. "You could say that. You're clearly not Jonah Goodman. That must make you Magnos."

Way to go, genius.

"You could say that," responded Magnos. I could picture his smirk as if he were right in front of me.

Their voices, soon joined by those of Tagen and one of the guards, dropped into murmurs too quiet for me to make out until I heard Tagen speak in a deferential tone, "Yes, Eaerlraun."

Magnos was back to his usual routine of insulting people who could turn him into a grease spot, presumably Tagen. "Does that mean we're still on for tomorrow night?"

In spite of myself, I chortled. Ralenthra gave an exasperated sigh. He was shoved along the corridor by the guard Vasher and accompanied by Captain Tagen. Seeing Magnos get manhandled amused Kronk enough to elicit a snort of laughter.

Tagen had his back to me at this point and said to Kronk, "You're next."

Kronk looked at Magnos, "They hurt magic man?"

Magnos, still being held up by the shoulders, shook his head, if a little weakly.

"They save that for women and furniture." I flushed a little and was glad that his back was turned so he couldn't see the tiny smile on my face. Vasher then shoved him to the ground of their cell and grabbed Kronk's arm, leading the half-orc out of the cell. The cell door was still open, and Tagen was still in earshot, so I took a chance.

"Captain Tagen?"

"Yes, Miss Nailo?"

"I am still considered a city druid in the employ of Silverymoon, am I not?"

"For now. Yes."

"Then I de...humbly request that you allow me to examine the mage. He seems to be hurt."

"Yes. I know." Oh, I bet you do.

"Let me do my job."

"Are conjugal visits part of your job description, Miss Nailo?"

My face flushed in embarrassment and anger. "Captain Tagen, continue to interfere in my work and I will see to it that Lord Methrammar interferes in yours."

It was my trump card. I was only going to be able to play it once. Tagen froze for a moment, as if considering, then he gestured to the guard known to us as Griggs. "Let her...service the mage. When she's done, put her back in her cell."

Magnos still lying on the floor, snickered. "She's going to service me. Heh."

"Oh, do shut up," I said as I was led from one cell to another. The doors slammed behind me. I knelt down and felt his forehead. It was warmer than it should be. They'd hit him pretty hard, whatever it was. From his initial symptoms, I guessed that it was a low-level evocation spell, but when one is a young human wizard "blessed" with a wizard's stamina, it wouldn't take much to do some serious damage. Still, I needed to get a closer look. I scooped an arm behind his shoulders and drew him to a seated position. He leaned into me and his lips brushed my ear. I shuddered.

He whispered, "They're testing us, you know."

That was better than thinking that Tagen actually believed the yarn he'd spun in his efforts to get me to pin the blame on the others. I nodded and got us to our feet before walking him to his bunk and leaning him against it as I started to remove his cloak and robe. He chuckled, "Why, you little minx..."

I groaned as I pulled his robe off of him. "This isn't what you think, Magnos." I cringed. He'd never gotten around to introducing himself in the carriage. Maybe in all the hustle and bustle since then, he'd forgotten, though. Remembering how meticulous he was about his clothes and how I'd teased him mercilessly at the Dancing Goat about this trait, I started folding his robe neatly and placed it at the head of the mattress where a pillow would normally be.

Still weak in the knees, he fell into me again. Again, his mouth and his hot breath found my ear. "I don't remember telling you my name, Seledra."

I grunted a little and turned my head so my lips could reach his ear. "I heard voices down the hall. And you're the only person I've seen since who looks like a Magnos. Lucky guess, huh? Hail Tymora!" I cut my babbling off with a giggle and hoped that I hadn't called him by name earlier. Gently, I moved him to a seated position on his bunk and started undoing the laces of his shirt. After I pulled it over his head, I laid him down and assessed the damage. Just as I'd suspected, a low-level evocation spell delivered point blank to the chest. The skin of his chest looked red and irritated, a large, purple bruise was spreading over the direct area of impact and he was having some difficulty breathing. Probably magic missile. I placed my hand on his chest, smiled and said jokingly, "Oh, Magnos. You didn't have to go defending my honor like that."

He chuckled again. "Anything for a lady."

I closed my eyes and began to chant softly to Mielikki.. I felt my hand grow warm and tingly with healing energy that transferred from my goddess to me to Magnos. The bruise turned from purple, to green to yellow and finally faded completely; the surrounding redness dissipated and his breathing returned to normal, so I started to move my hand away, but he'd caught me by the wrist and drew me close to him. "Don't go yet. Feels good." He softly brushed my swollen lip with his left thumb and opened his eyes. "Why didn't you heal yourself first? Now you'll have a scar." Magnos gave me a disapproving look that made the dimples in his cheeks pop.

Struggling valiantly not to laugh, I broke eye contact with him, shrugged and gently freed myself from his grip. "Ah, I'll be okay. When I get home I'll take a potion." I then got up and faced the door. "Guard?"

It was the second morning in a row that I had checked in on Ralenthra only to find that she wasn't there. After closing the door, I smiled. Maybe her gambit worked after all. As for myself, I had a morning shift today to be followed by lunch with my mother (oh joy) and a stop at Tiggywinkles to pick up my bodice.

Shiera told me that my sole assignment was to help a sow in the Southbank district give birth and handed me a pair of elbow length leather gloves. Ah, job benefits. And I love little piglets!

Laerune Brightwing is a widowed half-elf who single-handedly runs the largest farm in Silverymoon's city limits. The City's druids visit her often, sometimes to help in the birthing of livestock, sometimes to discreetly recommend brews and salves to treat her rather promiscuous four daughters. I was glad it was just going to be the sow today, because I was not looking forward to inspecting sores and checking out whether the pus emanating from their private parts were yellow or green. Yecch.

When I got there, I could see why I had been summoned. Some of the piglets were breech, so I would definitely have to take an active role in the birth, or the sow would die. It took THREE HOURS, but the sow and all six of her piglets were saved. My gloves, however, were another story. After taking my leave, I headed towards my parents' house.

When she opened the door she was (thankfully) sober, but she crinkled her nose at me and ordered me to the bath before she would take me anywhere. In the middle of the bath, she tossed one of my older dresses (white with red cherries embroidered in the bodice and at the hem) and a pair of slippers (red to match the cherries) into the room so I would have something "adequate" to change into. When I was finally presentable (after putting my hair up into a braided halo), we were able to ride to a posh Calishite place near the palace on the east side of Northbank. Mother and I sat on little mats and ate with our hands spicy roasted chicken, couscous and grapes while drinking a sweet wine. Since we were in public, my mother was in no danger of intoxicating herself, but I was not out of the woods yet.

She smiled and keeping that frozen smile on her face, asked "So, when were you going to tell your mother that you are being courted by Methrammar Aerasumé?"

My jaw hung open. "I...just met him!"

She raised an eyebrow at me and her violet eyes sparkled. "But he is courting you, is he not?"

I took a large sip of my sweet wine and gulped it down. When I didn't answer her, she continued. "My sources say you are."

I rolled my eyes. "Again with your sources. Who are these people and why are you spying on me, mother?"

"I don't spy. I am simply looking after you. I am glad that you have finally stopped chasing after humans and have found someone at least slightly more worthy of our bloodline."

"That was almost twenty years ago. Can't you just let it go?"

She twirled a loose tendril of her red hair around a long finger. "Well, I'm quite sure that Aelthas has not let it go."

I dropped my chicken onto my plate. Mother looked as if she had said something that she had not meant to. "What is that supposed to mean?"

She daubed her mouth delicately with her napkin. "My dear child, have you been to the Lady's College since your...unfortunate departure?"

"I can't say I've had the pleasure."

"Well, I wouldn't suggest getting too close, as he may be nursing quite the grudge." As if anticipating my unspoken question, she placed her hand on mine. "Don't think he escaped punishment for what he did to you, blood of my blood."

And with that, she changed the subject. She wanted to know all about Methrammar and the wedding. I told her all I could while still leaving out any information about Ralenthra, the Harpers, the army of orcs led by Kronk's half brother, Taeghen's betrayal and the less than exciting boff I'd had at the hands (and otherwise) of the aforementioned Methrammar. She seemed pleased enough with the paltry information that I had left to tell her, but then I slipped up and told her about Unebrion. She paled and shook her head.

"The fool girl didn't kill him?"

"No, he yielded to her. He's blood. She couldn't bring herself to do it when she found out who he was."

She drank down the rest of her wine and cursed. "Takasi. Celeborn should have drowned the boy at birth."

"Mother, you're disturbing me."

"They knew he was cursed when he was born. Their foolish mercy will cost them someday." She pointed her finger at me. "If I had been in the same position, I would not have hesitated to do it myself."

"All right, that's enough of that."

"I'm not talking about you, child. Unebrion is cursed. You most certainly are not."

"Well, I still think we should go now."

Despite the fact that we had been speaking rather evenly and calmly in elven in an establishment filled with mostly humans, the subject matter of our conversation still made me uncomfortable. She drew herself up to her full height and I was reminded why my father rarely goes out in public with her as she has a few inches on him. We rode back to my parent's abode in silence with me feeling rather uncomfortable and my mother seeming rather pleased with herself. When we arrived, she embraced me and wished me luck with Methrammar. I can't remember the last time she was so pleased with me about anything.

Before heading back home, I stopped at Tiggywinkles, where unfortunately Aribelle Glittersmoke's five busybody daughters were working without her watchful eye.

Glenda, the oldest, began the interrogation, "So."

I responded, "So what?"

Glinda, the one with green eyes, continued, "How did it happen?"

Larue's Horn, how did they find out about the bodice? I stalled, "How did what happen?"

Goldie, twin to Gilda, proclaimed, "She's stalling." Damn it.

Gilda, twin to Goldie, agreed, "Definitely stalling."

Gwen, the youngest, chimed in, "I think so, too."

I tried to play innocent. "I am not stalling. I just don't know what you're talking about."

Glenda rolled her eyes. "Now you're just playing dumb."

Glinda pointed at me. "You can't fool us!"

Goldie crossed her arms sternly. "Out with it, already!"

Gilda smirked confidently. "We'll drag it out of you eventually."

Gwen piped up. "Yeah."

I think I have something. "Wait, is this about my bodice?"

Glenda sighed, "Now she gets it."

Glinda smacked her forehead with her hand. "Gond preserve us!"

Goldie grinned. "We were beginning to think you'd been conked on the head!"

Gilda nodded. "Or lost your faculties."

Gwen added, "Quite."

I sighed and rolled my eyes indulgently. "Look, it was a job-related thing."

Glenda waggled her eyebrows. "Does your job involve love bites?"

I responded blankly. "Uh, no."

Glinda frowned. "We've seen this before, you know."

Goldie held up my bodice and waved it around. "It bears all the marks of experiencing the throes of passion."

Gilda said confidently, "And Gwen overheard Mother saying she couldn't launder your soiled cloak."

Gwen beamed, "I did."

I smirked. "Well, it isn't what you think, girls."

Glenda put her hands on her hips. "This had better be good."

I started. "You see, there was this little old lady..."

Glinda crinkled her nose. "Ew"

I turned sharply at her. "I told you, it's not like that. She stopped me on my rounds..."

Goldie offered, "And ripped your bodice."

I crossed my arms in mock disgust. "Do you want to hear this or not?"

Gilda jumped up and down. "We do!"

Gwen joined her. "Yes!"

I narrowed my eyes. "Then hold your tongues, all of you. She said she had rats in her cellar."

Glenda put her hands on her hips. "Rats," she said cynically.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "DIRE rats. They went straight for my throat. Fortunately they missed."

Glinda gasped. "Were they big?"

I nodded. "As big as Gwen."

Goldie did a double take at her youngest sister. "Were they...scabby?"

I nodded solemnly. "Very."

The girls collectively shuddered.

I continued, "I barely escaped with my life, let alone my bodice. So you little scamps better keep your minds on more wholesome subjects or people are going to start calling you Guttersmokes."

Shut up for once, they rung me up and sent me on my way.

Before stopping at home, I picked up some Shou takeaway (two servings, in case Ralenthra was back). When I finally arrived at my final destination, I found a letter from Methrammar in my mailbox:

My dearest Seledra,

Your presence is cordially requested at my quarters in Rauvinwatch Keep tomorrow evening, 29 Flamerule 1372. I have already made arrangements with your employer and a coach will be ready to pick you up at your residence at midday. I look forward to seeing you again.

Yours,

Methrammar Aerasumé, High Marshal of the Argent Legion, Rauvinwatch Keep

I guess I should be glad that I hadn't made any plans or anything...

Up, up, up the stairs in the tree...She touched the pond again...I saw Ariadne running though a huge gilded glass temple...numerous people tried to stop her...she couldn't fly...she ran with her long red and white robes trailing behind her...she was screaming something...I couldn't hear...running towards a gate...

"I don't want you to heal both!" a male voice barked. "Do what you can for the moon elf. Shayla, help me tie this one up, then you can guard her until the fight's over out there."

"Why don't we just kill her now?" a female voice, I'm assuming Shayla, asked.

Excuse me?

"I would, but the constable wouldn't like that much. Even for her kind, he insists on giving fair trials. He'll want to question her before he does anything," the male replied.

I opened my eyes to the tiniest slits and much to my distress, I saw a male wood elf yank Ralenthra roughly to her feet, and heard her cry out. Selune, who was lying in my lap, stirred, realizing I was now awake.

The one that must be Shayla tied her arms behind her back. Then she took a piece of cloth and gagged her. The male shoved her back to the floor, and Shayla stood scowling over her with a crossbow. I decided to test my ability to move. Ow. My head hurt so badly that I couldn't hold back a moan.

"I couldn't heal her fully, but I think I helped," said another female. "She almost came to, just now, but she seems to have taken quite a blow to the head and went back out again."

"Stay with her would you, Betha?" the wood elf said as he bent to tie Ralenthra's feet. They certainly weren't taking any chances. "You don't have any healing spells left, anyway, so you may as well stay out of what's going on out there. You be a good little prisoner, inky, if you want to have a chance to make your case to the constable. Shayla here is a little trigger happy sometimes, and she hates drow almost as much as I do."

Bastard.

He then turned and went out to join the battle outside.

My best friend was in horrible pain, bound and gagged like a prisoner right next to me and I was unable to do so much as turn my head without it hurting. Selune was my only chance, as she was uninjured. I stroked the scruff of her neck and sent her pictures in my mind: our surroundings, Tordrin...bring him here...somehow...help...fast.

I was unprepared for her leaping off of my lap and over the wall above my head, too fast for either Betha or Shayla to stop her. It actually took a minute or two for them to recover from it.

"Do you think that wolf was a spy?" Shayla finally asked Betha. Betha shook her head and gesticulated towards my unicorn head amulet. "The moon elf is a Mielikki follower. The wolf probably belongs to her. What I don't understand is why she would leave her when she is ailing."

"Because she was going to get help."

The women turned and saw Tordrin in the doorway, his left hand lighly fingering the handle of his longsword. With his right hand, he flicked at the silver harp pin on his chest, "Tordrin Windweaver, Harper Agent at your service - what do we have here?" He looked over at us casually.

Shayla puffed out her chest. "I, um, we" she corrected herself after a sidelong glance from Betha, "discovered this dirty drow trying to kill this wounded moon elf. As you can see, she won't be hurting anyone now." She looked quite proud of herself.

"Since things are under control in here, I'm going to have to ask you to go aid the rest of your townsfolk in the battle outside. We need all the able-bodied warriors we can get, what with the orc army's western reinforcements that just came in. Meanwhile, I can see to the druid's wounds and take the drow into the custody of the Harpers."

Shayla looked skeptical. She shifted her weight from side to side. "Tharivol told me to stay." Tordrin was having nothing of this. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "We have no time to discuss this, soldier! Get out there and fight! I'm sure Tharivol will be proud of your battle prowess. And you, " he looked to Betha, "You can get in the Inn's kitchen and start making up some poultices for the wounded, unless you have some healing spell scrolls at your disposal."

The women marched off to their respective destinations and I dropped my little charade. As soon as they were both out of the stable, Tordrin dropped his pack and weapons to the ground and rushed to Ralenthra's side, taking the bloodstained gag out of her mouth. Selune loped back inside and re-situated herself on my lap. It may have been my double vision at the time, but I swear I saw his hands trembling as he began to free Ralenthra from her bonds and he whispered words I couldn't make out. He then laid her flat on his cloak that he had spread on the ground. Ralenthra appeared at this point to be slipping in and out of consciousness due to the pain. She opened her eyes and tried to smile at Tordrin, but it came out like a wincing grimace instead and she finally passed out cold. Tordrin gently kissed her eyelids and then practically dove into his pack, digging out poultices, bandages and potions. He didn't even look up at me as he complimented me on my original thinking and tossed me a healing potion, which I swiftly guzzled.

"Was there really a reinforcement?" I asked him.

He finally looked up, after having quite swiftly cleaned, packed and wrapped Ralenthra's wounds and took a deep breath. "Yes. Seventy-two heads." He started to tend to my injuries. As if he anticipated my next question, he said, "But some things are more important. Besides, I'm sure Tharivol and company may have to change their minds about drow after fighting side by side with the Talaviirs. All the same, I'm staying with you two in case the militia comes back."

Ralenthra was beginning to heal and she started to murmur in her unconscious state. A pleasant breeze coursed through the stable even as the battle wound down outside. And I finally stopped seeing double.

Evening falls.

At Ralenthra's insistence, we left Silverymoon early in the evening. She seemed so surprised that I was able to play along with her con but she didn't know me before I became a druid.It took more than one expellable offense to expell a Silverymoon Nailo. It took three. My parents gave a lot of money to the University in their efforts to turn me into their picutre of the perfect elven girl and I failed them miserably, on purpose. True, I was not planning for my last indiscretion to be the one that would finally get me expelled; I had, in fact, planned to go out in a much more grand fashion.

My first offense was the re-opening of the portals between the dormitories during curfew hours. This sounds like a smaller offense than it really was. I suppose a small part of me thought I was playing Sune but most of me just thought the ensuing chaos was fun. As part of the deal, I kept my partner's identity a secret; only a gifted mage could have broken the spell wards on the portals and kept them open, confounding even the staff. Of course, only a gifted seductress with a flawless memory could have gotten the necessary "nonexistent" spells right out from under the noses of the supposedly celibate priests of Deneir at the Vault of the Sages without being able to write them down. I was put on probabtion.

My second offense was the theft of a map I had sweet-talked out of Esklindrar the Sage, the man who runs the Map House. It was a complete map of the entire university and could be used to track any object or person with a command and the touch of a wand. I hadn't really stolen it. I had borrowed it, had my partner make a faulty counterfeit copy of it and returned the counterfeit to Esklindrar instead. This time, it seems, I was put on "double secret probation".

My third offense was to be the theft of the genealogical record of my father's family, held in Everdusk Hall, which would have required the assistance of nine more classmates. I was convinced that secrets were being kept from me by my parents, but unfortunately my greatest plan never came to fruition.

My partner, the gifted young human mage betrayed me by convincing me that we should "consummate" our bond of petty crime and elaborate pranks - in front of a mirror. Too bad all the mirrors in the entire University had been enchanted as scrying mirrors and I wound up putting on a free show for everyone - students and faculty alike. Aelthas Vihuel got away scot free, by testifying against me in front of the school board. I hear he's an instructor now...and he hasn't aged well, the old bastard.

Change comes slowly for an elf, but I like to think that I have changed these eighteen years. I try to do good by others without being too preachy. I try to trust people, even though many have betrayed my trust. Finally, I try not to cause trouble just to get a rise out of others. Unfortunately, it seems that trouble follows me now instead of the other way around.

Speaking of which, I may have been too hard on Ralenthra. Even if she was taking advantage of those peoples' kindness, doesn't she deserve some kindness? We've all made mistakes - I'm a living example of that. She's been through more than I could probably imagine. If she were really a bad person, she could have stabbed me in my bed numerous times or robbed me blind. Maybe it's because I'm more useful to her alive and loyal but maybe she just needs a friend. She may have thought she could hide it from me, but even after we were a few miles away from Old City, she was quiet and I think I saw her dab her eyes a few times. Of course, if I ask her, she'll probably just tell me that she's reacting to the eyedrops. Bah. I'll apologize in the morning, as it looks like she's deep in trance.

It's not going to be the most restful of nights. It's hard to enter trance in a bumpy coach, but not impossible. Tomorrow morning we will be in Everlund, the closest "big city" to Amalith. After that, it's a day trip to the village of Olostin's Hold. We'll spend the night there and leave the following morning for Amalith, getting there on the following morning. We'll probably spend three whole days in Everlund then. Plenty of time to get to Amalith and meet up with family and friends. I just hope Ralenthra doesn't get too bored or feel left out. She'd probably like the Loriens, if she gave them a chance.

I gazed at my new green dress from Mistress Nalari, made with more care than the other green dress spun by Mother on an all-night weaving marathon. Decisions, decisions. Decisions that can wait till tomorrow.