Kerri slowly released her rapier, raising her hands. With deliberate, exaggerated care, she brushed the ale off her leather vest and the blowsy sleeves of her white silk shirt, now plastered to her chest. She didn't look angry - she looked amused, with a small, private smile on her face. She chuckled as she shook her damp sleeves, releasing a sudden brown shower onto the flagstones, sizing the clumsy warrior up all the while. Raising her voice to be clearly heard through the noise, she spoke to his retreating back. <"It's too bad I'm not a lady. A lady could afford to buy another shirt like this without a second thought."> Her eyes flicked about the gathering crowd; more than a few potential employers stood among them, watching. Her voice hardened. <"So, friend, how do you think we should work this out?"> Her smile wasn't friendly at all.
            Though the noise level didn't die down, the nearby patrons moved aside to give the fighters room, some (mostly foreigners) going to finish their drinks in quieter corners, others (mostly locals) gathering to watch the fun. They pointed at her and murmured something to each other, grinning; the words suitor and dragon emerged from their quiet talking.
            Ty translated the challenge to Vhivi, adding with a grin, <"It may be a moment before it is safe to address your issue, Vhivi. Meanwhile, I must watch Kerri's back. Not an unpleasant task, though I'm a front man myself.">
            As Kerri squared off, Vhivi scooted her chair away and watched for a moment with a look of forbearance, then rolled her eyes to the rough-beam ceiling. <"Tymora! The heavens spare me from warriors!"> Her gaze slid away from Kerri and Heimdall to the crowd at large, taking note of the interest the brewing confrontation was generating. A mischievous sparkle was in her eyes as she eyed their dangling moneypouches.
            With uncanny speed, the growing tension conjured a barmaid. <"No trobble,"> she said warningly, one hand dropping to a truncheon previously unnoticed, tucked behind her apron. <"Trobble go out,"> she added, her thick accent less amusing when coupled with the look in her eyes and the easy way she hefted the shield-sized tray of drinks on her other arm. She tossed her head at the entrance to illustrate her meaning, giving the group a final dark look as she returned to waiting the tables. Undeterred by her warning, more locals had turned to stare at the confrontation, grinning and muttering among themselves at the unexpected entertainment. Coin was passed from hand to hand as the murmur of the crowd took on a note of anticipation.
            Behind the group, the Loviatan rose, leaning forward on the table. "I am qvite prepared to leave," she said dryly, adressing Heimdall. "I vil garb myself vhile you attend to your... business." Turning to murmur a farewell to the burly man still seated, she headed for the stairwell that led up to the second story. She favored her right leg, leaning on the ironshod staff she had taken from the wall. Chairs scraped as people made way for her, slowly oozing back into position to watch the fight after she had passed. Foreigners were pushed aside to give her room, greetings murmured with respectfully bowed heads, and though she didn't stop to speak to anyone, the priestess did acknowledge the greetings with a brief smile for each speaker, a brief touch to the forehead of those who asked for the blessing of Loviatar. At her table, Horgas leaned back with one of the huge tankards of the region in hand. Dark ale trickled through his spiky beard as he took a drink, watching Heimdall with amusement.
            Heimdall sighed and glanced down with a roll of his eyes. He turned, ignoring the staring eyes and murmuring voices. A little disgusted at the stranger's opportunistic effort to extract money, and more than a little annoyed at her companion's arrogant behavior, he frowned at them. <"Look, I have no desire to argue with you, least of all over a stained shirt. I have pressing matters to attend."> He tossed a tarnished silver raven to her. The young woman caught the coin out of the air with a quick flick of her wrist and tucked it into a pocket of her vest without blinking. <"There must be a washerwoman in this city who could take care of that for you, but I suggest you get yourself a new blouse. Perhaps one of a fabric more suited for traveling?"> He motioned about the room; crowded as it was, there were few clean shirts. <"This,"> he ran his finger over the floorboards, coating the tip of his glove with the sooty sludge that had been tracked in, <"is not exactly a good town for white silk, even without my help. Are you appeased, or do you just have your heart set on meeting me in the alley?"> With that, he winked at her and started to leave.
            Kerri chuckled again. <"Unfortunately for both of us, this was my last night in town after a long, long stay. I don't wear this on the road, but sometimes there's cause to celebrate."> She sighed a long-suffering, exaggerated sigh. <"Thanks for the coin, but I'm sure our friends here would be disappointed if we didn't give them a show. If you're in such a hurry, maybe you should watch where you're going. Shouldn't take long. You're not worried about a little girl like me, are you? Come on, it'll give you a bit of exercise while your lover readies herself."> She grinned, cracking her knuckles. A flush of excitement was on her; she hadn't had a decent fight in weeks.

            Events had progressed faster than Ty would have scripted, but life so often refused to dance to his tune. It was tiresome, really. Grabbing his sketchbook, he took off after the departing Lady whom Vhivi needed to contact, calling back, <"Watch Kerri's back, will you, please?"> He tried to push his way through the onlookers, but they were nowhere near as cooperative as they had been for the priestess, and he found himself having to squeeze through what little space they grudgingly relinquished. Switching languages, he said, <"Kerri, we have business to attend to, and paying fines and damages will complicate things. Arrange a time and place for a match where we can sell tickets if you must exercise. A silver to each of you if you will put things on hold.">
            Heimdall had wanted to avoid a fight inside the Breakwater if he could avoid it, and the man's sudden flash of sensibility came as a welcome relief. "Of course," Heimdall muttered as he moved over to get out of this fellow's way. He looked at Kerri and smiled. <"Sorry, honey, guess I'll have to take a rain check!"> With that he turned to catch up with Alexana.
            Leaping gracefully and quickly after the hobbling priestess, Ty closed on her before she had gotten too far. "Pardons m'lady. But I have a client who seems to have information that might be intended for you. The name Tjesnitjérs came up in discussion, and I thought I overheard you speak the same name. If I am wrong, a thousand pardons. She gave me this as a rough guide to who she seeks." Ty presented the sketch for the priestess to evaluate and waited for a reply.
            Turning slowly, the priestess gave Ty an inscrutable look. She betrayed no emotion as she took the paper from him to study. "A client, you say. Vhat is is she vants, this... client?" Her hand slid almost imperceptibly down her staff, towards the whip coiled at her belt. "Who sends her?"
            "Ah, that information was being determined when Grace over there blundered about like a bull in a pottery bazaar. The client is right over there if you wish to ask her yourself. Or, if this is matter best suited to more private listening, we could adjourn to a more secure location. How shall we proceed, m'lady?"
            Heimdall caught only the last bits of their conversation. I - a bull! he thought with a scowl. He was beginning to lose his sense of patience for the continued digs against him for one very simple, non-threatening act of overzealousness. After all, the room was crowded, and it wasn't as if he'd barreled into her like a klutz. He'd merely bumped her chair with his! He frowned, worried that no good could come from such petty people. Keeping this in mind, he approached with caution, to stand behind Alexana and to her right, saying nothing to the man, and quietly waiting for the priestess to reply.
            The crowd turned back to their previous activities, probably displeased that the fight was not to be happening. Vhivi looked at Kerri and shrugged, then stood and walked over to where Ty was conversing with the priestess. Eyeing the hooded woman frankly, the priestess nodded back towards their table. "If you vish to speak vith me, let us sit and drink like civilized people. You - you do not understand me?" At Vhivi's blank look she nodded. "Then you are translaitor. It is good."
            When they were all settled back at her table, she raised a hand, summoning a barmaid with impressive alacrity. "So. You vish to speak business concerning the Tjesnitjérs - I am of that family. Before you say vhat you vant, I vill know who you are - and it is best to hear from the mouth of the master, yes? So. Do you accept the gift of the Goddess, she by whose sufferance our trials are eased, in the name of Bane?" Her eyes held Vhivi's as she drew off the black kid gloves that encased her arms from shoulder to finger, revealing a crisscrossing of scars and welts, some old, some new. A quick word to the barmaid produced a small bowl of salt, another of soot from the hearth.
            Vhivi regarded Alexana's gaze and then studied the scars and welts with some interest. She turned to Ty and was about to respond when the words began to sink in -- accept the gift? Mouth of the master? Vhivi looked at the scars again, then her eyes widened in trepidation, snapped to the small bowls of salt and soot, then back to Alexana. <"Wait a second! What are you saying here? I'll gladly tell you what I can about myself ... relevant to my quest, anyway... but..."> Vhivi withdrew her arms from the table and placed her hands on the seat of her chair, <"Uhhh ... ceremonies give me the <jitters!>What... what are you asking me to do?">
            "I ask only that you accept the largess of the Goddess, that she might allow you to speak the tongue of the favored people," the priestess said, smiling. The dagger she drew from her belt was wickedly sharp, and serrated in the fashion of the Moonsea. She held it with great familiarity as she extended her hand to Vhivi, waiting... but her eyes were kind. "The pain is small sacrifice for the favor of the Goddess," she added. She was quite clearly convinced of receiving the boon she asked - and incapable of entertaining the thought that Vhivi might object to such an honor.
            Kerri listened closely to Ty's translation with mounting trepidation. She had nothing against magic, but she had never liked the priests of the dark gods. One of the things she really did not like about the region was the influence of the dark clergy here. She had to struggle to keep her face blank. But when the woman extended the dagger toward Vhivi and Kerri saw her expression - she didn't appear to want to recieve this gift - Kerri had to speak. <"What is this? Ty, I don't think your friend wants the lady to use that thing on her."> She started to stand up from the table, hand on the hilt of her rapier, watching the priestess's bodyguard as she did so.
            A crease formed upon Heimdall's brow as Kerri rose from her seat. He gazed at her intensely as she came to the defense of her companion. He shook his head slowly, gently, and beckoned her to calm as Ty held out his hand to indicate Kerri should keep her blade undrawn. <"It is her decision to make... Vhivi's I mean. If betrayal was meant to a complete stranger, one like our priestess here could arrange it without risking herself."> At Kerri's sudden movement, the beefy man beside the priestess scowled and half-rose. "You vould attack one of the Favored?! Heathen svine-!" He cut off at a motion from the Loviatan. "Horgas, it is all right." Her eyes flicked for a moment towards the silent Heimdall, a trace of dissatisfaction in them. Horgas, red-faced with outrage, scowled furiously but returned to his seat, clutching the table as though wishing Kerri's bones were in his hands.
            Unlike Horgas, Heimdall couldn't help but like this eager young woman, even if she didn't know what was good for her. His smile became something of a smirk as he matched Kerri's movements, watching her eyes carefully. He could plainly see that she was disturbed by all this. For a moment, he wished he could explain things better to her, but - that seemed to be Ty's job. Kerri glowered at the priestess's bodyguard before sitting down at both Ty's and Heimdall's request. Her smile returned long enough to flash at Vhivi, who seemed to be working out the problem with the priestess, then smoothed out as her watchful gaze returned to the two men on the other side of the table.
            Ty meanwhile indicated to Heimdall that he too might want to take a seat. <"That silver I promised you two is not fully earned yet. I promise to do nothing more to distract you, warrior. I find the way of the mosquito can work to advantage when done right. But for now that moment is done. Oh, pardon me, back to work...">
            Vhivi, who had just about regained her composure, shifted forward and leaned her elbows back on the table. Having noted Kerri's reaction, Vhivi shot the warrior a quick smile, and then returned her gaze to Alexana. After several moments, Vhivi had collected her thoughts and spoke, <"Your offer is most generous, enlightened one. I have a great desire to be able to converse in the Tongue of the Favored People, and yours seems a most expeditious route. I'm afraid, though, that the cost may be too high: Obeisance to Loviatar. I fear I have not the fortitude to honor such a goddess in the manner that befits so... exalted a deity. I am sorry, but I must, most humbly, decline your offer... unless... perhaps there's another way I might repay you for such a gift? A way that is more within my humble means?"> Until then, Heimdall's expression had been completely unreadable, but with that he winced.
            <"If not, then perhaps we can suffer the use of a translator and proceed to the business regarding Lord Tjesnitjérs? Since you're related, it's possible you yourself may be able to help and we need not trouble the Lord himself,"> Vhivi concluded. Thinking herself very clever, she mustered as much courage as she could, she smiled expectantly at the intimidating priestess.
            A thought crossed Ty's mind, and he reached out to touch Vhivi on the forearm while looking directly into the priestess' eyes. "This is a gift you have bestowed upon yourself, is it not? So you have no real need of my services, do you?"
            The noblewoman stared at Vhivi. "You deny the Goddess' boon?" she asked, obviously not quite believing what she was hearing. Shaking her head as though to clear it, she focused on something more comprehensible. Looking to Ty, she said, "Your belief in Loviatar's generosity is good, but she does not give to those who have no need. Vith you here, there is no need to beg the Maiden's sufferance more than vonce." Visibly gathering herself to face the inexplicable, she turned back to Vhivi.
            "Then... you say you are too veak to stand the test of Loviatar?" Pity filled her eyes - and scorn. She picked up her gloves and began to tug them back on. "Very vell. I am the Lady Alexana Tjesnitjérs. Vhat is it that you need from me?" Her throaty voice had unconsciously taken on the slow, clear cadence used when speaking to small children.

            Lady Alexana paused as Ty yelled after them, turning with a scowl. Horgas, too, was stormy-faced as his conversation with Kerri was broken into, but he turned his dark eyes on Heimdall. "Vot you mean, 'even priestess of Loviatar?'" Her Order, they save my boys in the Crusade! You spit upon them, you-?" He rose like a mountain, heavy muscles bunching as he clenched his fists.
            "Horgas! Enough!" The priestess' voice, throaty though it was, was sharp enough to stop the huge man in his tracks. Alexana stalked back to the table, transfixing the man with a glare. "I have hired him, and I cannot use him battered from a fight! I am sure he meant no harm." She gave Heimdall a slight smile, but her voice was tight. Turning to Vhivi, she continued, "I am sure you and your fellow have much to discuss, and this may be the vay of adventurers, but my business is best not shouted across a taproom. Please follow me now, and discover your man's... talents some other time." With a raised eyebrow, she turned and left the room, heading up the stairs. Horgas sank back into his seat, still scowling, and waved his stein for a refill.
            Vhivi listened to the priestess, then shifted her gaze to Ty for the translation and burst out in peals of laughter, <"Oh Ty! You should see your face right now! What did she just say to you?"> Still chuckling, her eyes twinkling and wearing her sunburst smile, Vhivi took hold of Ty's arm and listened to the translation as she tried to pull Ty after the priestess. When he concluded Vhivi laughed again, then released his arm and strode after the priestess; her tinkling laughter floating over the hum of conversation around them.
            As he watched Alexana walk away, Heimdall was still rather confused. "What... no, you've mistaken me, Horgas. I only meant that if a soul could so choose an ally, he could consider himself lucky if she be a Loviatan loyal." Horgas only grunted, but his sour expression lightened. Heimdall tapped the table twice before leaving, and then followed Alexana quickly up the stairs. He frowned as he followed, wondering if perhaps he had angered one of the gods today - it seemed that he was suffering an unusual rise in his contribution to the general offense of these urbanites. He nodded and thought, Best to leave the city soon, then.
            At the bar, Cyravel received a glass of Silverymoon white wine, an excellent vintage. The barkeep hovered nearby, sneaking surreptitious looks at her and polishing the gleaming bar until business called him away. So they weren't taking to the streets just yet. Better for her. Cyravel slid the twenty coppers across the bar to the barkeep with a small smile and a sideways look at the crowd of humans behind her. The young ranger turned around on her seat again, glass of wine in hand, both to escape the barman's surreptitious glances and to keep an eye on her charge's companions.
            At least one of them seemed to be staying at the table, so she deemed her quarry safe to be alone upstairs. The other elf girl didn't seem happy about something- probably Cyravel, from the expression she'd given when Vhivi entered the room- but it looked like she had friends going up with her to watch her back. The short haired elf sipped her fine wine and seemed to bask in the attention of the humans, apparently enjoying the tumult she was causing in the crowd.
            Ty nodded to Kerri.<"Okay. Looks like we are getting out of here. As bearer please bring along my pack. You're stronger then I am anyway. I'll take the bow and quiver to lighten it some for you."> As he detached and slung his archery gear, Ty waved his hand that Vhivi should proceed ahead of him. All the elves in the world and he got probably the only one that couldn't speak one of the tongues he wanted to learn.
            Kerri nodded at Ty and picked up his pack to sling it over one shoulder. Her own gear was up in one of the inn's rooms. If they were going to leave, she would have to carry all of her things. Too much, with Ty's pack. But that was to worry about later. <"If we're leaving, you'll need to carry your own pack after I get my gear from upstairs. Unless you want me to be more pack mule than swordswoman, that is.">

            Ty did not make a big deal of this, having other concerns at the moment of higher priority, but what was done by Kerri sat poorly with him. But he made an effort to be tolerant in this case. <"The sword is but a tool, it brings nothing to the bargaining table. One's word is suppose to be enough. Since yours seems to need to be locked with oath and blood to stand once given, I shall ignore it for now. And free you of what you agreed to,"> he called to her back. Ty had dragged his gear around before, and loaded up now to start along as soon as the priestess began to move out.

            The discovery that there were not one, but two elves at the Breakwater spread quickly through the taproom, and a few people began trickling in from outside to join the gawkers... including a brutish pair in red and brown that Ty knew all too well. The patrons around Cyravel and Vhivi stared unabashedly as they had their argument, not paying the slightest attention to Kerri and a jug-eared man, both in floppy hats, followed them outside.
            As they exited into the Godscourt, there was a moment of respite as the crowd got clogged in the doorway. Lady Alexana and Heimdall were waiting, already mounted; Horgas stood nearby, leaned against the sooty wall. Alexana seemed surprised to find Ty, Kerri and Cyravel trailing her new recruit. Vhivi was quick to note the family crest she had been searching for on the Lady's tabard, and branded on the flank of the grungy gray mule she had on a lead. Both the horse and mule were scarred and muzzled; both looked as though the muzzle was a wise choice.
            "Say goodbye to your lover and... friends qvickly - the day, it is short, and the night perilous."
            Vhivi, caught completely by surprise, stopped and stared for a moment at the priestess and then scanned the crowd that had formed. With an impish grin and sparkle of humor in her eyes, she drawled, "Lover, your eminence? Precisely vhich lover are you reffering to?" She looked pointedly at Ty and Kerri then said, "That one is my partner. Surely you knew? Vhere I go he chooses to go. I think he believes I vould stiff him his share if he let me out of his sight. The voman vith him is in his service."
            Vhivi turned and motioned at Cyravel, "And this is a countryman of mine sent all this vay to assist in my qvest. Cyravel by name. Apparently the Council has finally seen the merit of my need. I do believe she vould follow of her own accord and ve vould be most unlikely to avoid her doing so. It vould be most impolite to leave her out in the vilderness, alone, vhile ve travel as a group in safety. No?"
            The steely resolve had returned to Vhivi's eyes as she regarded the priestess and continued, "You are looking for help for your uncle. I am looking for help of my own. Our paths have merged for a time so my help is yours, but your help is mine and thus that of my companions." She looked away and flipped her hand nonchalanltly, "Say but the vord and I continue my qvest vithout your help, othervise let us qvit dithering about and get the move on."
            The Lady Alexana leaned on the pommel of her saddle, smiling with wry amusement. "Von can hear you are a foreigner to our lands; no von who lives in the high land vould risk offending the Favored of the gods. You are of course free to go, but I think you vill find it difficult to speak to Lord Tjesnitjérs vhen he is delivered to me in pieces." The noblewoman looked to Cyravel. "If you will stay, I am honored to accept your aid. You have my gratitude." Her gaze shifted to take in Ty and Kerri as well. "As do any who vill aid me. If you vill come, get your mounts and ve vill ride immediately."
            Cyravel simply inclined her head in acceptance of the priestess' gratitude. There was no need to respond. She mounted Vhivi's horse deftly after the other elf had taken her seat in the saddle. Cyravel rode easily in spite of not having a saddle or stirrups, though whether because of natural agility or being a trained horsewoman it was unclear. The young elf didn't have a horse of her own, clearly.
            But she did have at least one animal companion. Lia was unobtrusive, shadowing the group to one side, sometimes gliding ahead into the trees, sometimes falling behind. Always, though, the large owl's brown and black feathers made her a shadow under the high boughs of the forest and she flew in silence that made the quiet of the party seem loud.

            The darkness was growing under the roiling black clouds as the group passed through the north gates, the guards bowing low as Alexana passed without challenge. A number of people were loitering about the passageway, but were far too caught up in gaping at the elves on a warhorse to notice anything else. Small farms crowded up against the walls and the road, which shortly curved west. Leaving it, the group continued northwest, keeping a steady pace through the yellow grass and rugged hillsides. Oddly, time seemed to wind back as the smoke overhead dispersed, letting through the red light of the sinking sun.
            Once out of the city Ty removed the disguise at their first rest. Since they had something to haul the gear, he removed his chain shirt from where it was rolled in his blanket and donned it. Ty was happy to get past the watch and out of town before he was noticed and trouble erupted. Since a mount was provided, Ty made no more of the matter of Kerri's contract, putting it down to poor translation, or so he put it to her. But he paid no silver either.

            It was close to sundown when a distant sound reached them, and Alexana raised a hand for everyone to stop. The noise repeated itself: a teeth-grating shriek, piercing and deep. The horses shifted nervously as Alexana turned back to the others, grim-faced. "It is a dragon - look." She pointed up over the steep, fog-shrouded hills to the north. High overhead, something with batlike wings swooped through the air, disappearing down into the mist with alarming speed. Cyravel frowned, unable to make out the beast's color in the growing murk, and her head followed the huge silhouette across the sky. The dragon was a complication Ty hoped they could maneuver around. Somehow he did not feel they were ready yet for any but the youngest of drakes to block their way.
            Alexana shook her head. "I vant to go on, but you must put this in your ears." Reaching into a pouch, she drew forth a small yellowish ball. Tearing two chunks from it, she handed it to the next in line. "Make sure your ears, they are filled," she warned. "Riding may draw its attention; ve vill dismount and valk until sundown, down in the gullies - ve vill try to hide from it behind the rocks. Everyvon must be silent from now on - the dragons, they hear everything." Stuffing the wax into her ears, she dismounted and waited for the others to follow suit. Raising a finger to her lips in a final admonition, she led them down the side of the hill, into cover.
            Travelling in silence through the blood-red light gave everything an uneasy sense of unreality, and everyone was relieved when Alexana signalled a halt for the night in a deep valley, surrounded by the thorny black bushes that grew everywhere. Attempts to speak in so much as a loud whisper were sharply reprimanded, and there was no campfire as the group ate and prepared to sleep. Alexana signed for them to take their watches two by two, scanning their surroundings frequently.
            The conditions they traveled under certainly hindered getting acquainted. Or what Ty would have considered properly organized. He remained silent, unless needed to translate something for Kerri.
            Cyravel seemed unaffected by the enforced silence, which in truth she was. The young elf had gone days without speaking in the past, especially as she wandered under the great trees of old Cormanthyr where elf-made noises seemed to intrude on the peace of the trees and their inhabitants.
            A cold camp was not Ty's idea of a great way to go, but he made no remarks, just removing from the pack some warmer clothing. Since they were not talking, he took it upon himself to set up traps to warn them if enemies tried to approach along the most obvious routes. Normally he set them to sound an alarm, but with the wax in, he opted for a flagging to be triggered that should catch the eye of those on watch. He also deployed caltrops in the spaces he knew he would go to if he were trying to sneak up upon the camp. These he pointed out to all so no one would get a rude surprise if the sought the latrine area in the course of the night.
            The night was black as pitch; it was unclear whether the priestess thought they could see in the dark, or expected them to guard the camp regardless. The darkness echoed with the howls and shrieks of strange creatures, and the light of morning brought with it a palpable sense of relief.