[Demon's Hand] Chapter 11: Public Drunkenness

[Talabrina]

A voice can be heard singing in the darkness and soon a silver light chases away the darkness. Talabrina quickly moves towards Sala after her spell is cast and kneels by her side. "Lady Sala," says Talabrina gently, "Can thee hear me? How doth thee feel?" Talabrina checks Sala over thouroughly to be certain that there are no further injuries.

Once Talabrina has done this she looks around at the rest of the group. "Is evryone else alright?" Talabrina asks.

[Granite]

Granite's head now rotated to face Talabrina. "I am unaffected." was his reply.

[Ifreet]

After the demon's departure, Ifreet seems to snap out of whatever trance he is in. This is shown by blinking, looking about, a slight frown, and a stormy expression as the spell to retain his emotions wears off. As well as additional hacking and coughing from the speech spell, of course. He seems slightly weakened but none the worse for wear. After checking down to make sure Sala is all right, he moves towards the rings, picks one up, looks it over, and gets part of a makeshift necklace from under his clothes to hang it on before tucking it back under his clothing. This done, he moves towards the bag, looks it over, and opens it to view the contents.

[Bag]

Within the bag is a polished onyx sphere. A faint glow can be seem in the murky depths of the sphere but it is unclear if it is actually there or a reflection on the surface. Light in weight but solid, the sphere is also the size of a man's fist.

[Kaa]

Kaa let out a long breath once he was sure the Demon was gone and Talabrina's light dispursed the darkness. He immediately turned and raced to Sala's side. "Speak child. We were fools to get you involved in this. I beg your forgiveness, Lady."

[Talonn]

Talonn stood for still for several heartbeats and tried to calm himself. He was greatly fatigued from the his use of the 'Rage' and would need the night to recover. He moved his eyes about the room and observed the others regaining their composure. He hoped no one noticed that the glow had left his swirling eyes. He smiled inwardly at how he had released the last of the 'Its' energy at the Demon as it disappeared. Talonn knew it was folly to believe that he had done harm to the Demon but he could not help feeling a little better having done something to the foul monster.

Talonn looked at Sala and murmured a prayer that she would recover and not be scarred by the Demon's torture. He wanted to go to her and try to make her better but felt he would be of little help. The Demon and his use of the 'Rage' had, for the time being, washed him clean of nearly all emotion. He knew that the others, Kaa above all, would notice and be uneasy with his presence.

This was not the first time he had felt so empty of life. It was something that usually accompanied the aftermath of a battle with 'It'. Since this was not why he felt so now, he was content to remain this way for a while. So, he stood motionless and stared at the rings in the center of the circle. In time he would return to normal, but for now, Talonn simply tried to savor the absence of being.

[Hammer]

Hammer quickly walked to the rings, picked one up then walked purposely to the door and unbarred it. After opening the door, He reached for his Hammer, and walked out of Nagard's home. Once outside, he laid waste to all matter of brush and bushes in a fit of rage. He swung his Hammer at anything that caught his eye, and howled like a frustrated beast.

[Ifreet]

With the storm of anger still riding across his face and eyes, barely held in check, Ifreet fishes the stone out, looks it over, slips it into some pouch or pocket about his person, then stows away all of his weapons. Except his sword. He then does something along the lines of what Hammer did. Only he doesn't bother going outside first. After leaving the chairs and tables in piles of broken wood and sawdust on the floor, Ifreet calms down once more, straightens his clothes, and walks over to tend to his horse, which nuzzles his and lets out a soft whinny as he begins brushing the blood-red bay's coat.

[Nagard]

The wizard sighed heavily and went about clearing the circle and putting away what was left after Ifreet's bout with it. He hoped the girl had a chance now. She had enough power to interest him. Perhaps she would come back after all this was done.

[Sala]

As Hammer left the room Pine scurried in and ran up to the unconscious Sala. He got up on her chest and curled up over her birthmark. She didn't hurt anymore and that was all that mattered to him.

Sala slowly came to. She fearfully looked at her legs and found them normal once more. Her entire body ached. It was the pain that had knocked her out. After a moment or two she sat up, dislodging Pine who moved to curl around her neck. The room spun for a moment, but slowed quickly. She wondered what had happened to the room. It was a mess. Had the demon done it? Remembering the demon made her want to be sick. She swallowed a couple of times to stop the nausea and said in a cracking voice, "I am as good as I can be. I hurt all over. Thank you all for being here." She surreptitiously looked at Talonn, noticeing that he looked odd. "I couldn't have done it without having you, my friends, here with me."

She sighed and contemplated Kaa for a moment, "I was already involved. At least this way i have a chance of never having to go through that again. I can't imagine being that creature's Prince's pet for eternity. I am just sorry that all of you are dragged into it with me now."

[Qki]

For several moments after the demon departed, Qki stood where he was and gazed thoughtfully into the center of the room. Where was all this leading? Things were progressing so fast since he came into the world. Every moment seemed to bring something new. Now this demon... and what was all that about an oath?

He stepped to the pile of rings. Just as the demon had suggested, the resonance of one of them was right. He picked it up and attached it to the back of a metal plate on his abdomen. With that done, he walked over to the others. "Why did Talabrina need to use `oathbinding'?" The word was obviously foreign to the golem. "Doesn't the demon trust us? If we say we're going to do something, we're going to do it." He paused. "Right?"

[Talabrina]

Talabrina smiled at Sala and reached into her cloak and brought out a small bag. "Dragged milady? I for one would not wish to miss the excitement." Talabrina reached into the bag an drew forth a odd shaped leaf and hands it to Sala. "Chew on this Lady Sala, it wil calm the nausea and redeuce the pain thou art feeling."

"The demon made us swear an oath because if we try to back out of this then he will have our souls and methinks things will happen that will make us want to back out." Talabrina says looking at Qki. Then Talabrina gave Kaa a hug and smiled at him before moving on to Talonn. "Lord Talonn? Art thee well?"

[Sala]

Sala took the leaf from Talabrina and sniffed it carefully. Pine didn't react negatively so she took a tiny nibble. It wasn't that she didn't trust Talabrina, rather that she had spent too much time alone in the wood to not be careful around odd plant life. When nothing untoward happened she popped the rest in her mouth, happy for anything that would make her feel better.

[Kaa]

Kaa smiled and patted Sala's hand. "Lass, no one has ever dragged me anywhere I did not want to go. We are dedicated to your freedom, more so now that we are oathbound. I just don't like the idea that you seem to be the one bearing so much of the burden. Enough of this. We have faced a Demon together and yet live. What do we have to fear from a silly Lich?" His beard waggled as he laughed.

[Sala]

The elf maiden smiled at him almost against her will. She was tired and she hurt and she was scared, but for some reason Kaa seemed to be able to make her forget that if only for a moment.

[Hammer]

After about ten minutes, Hammer ran out of things to destroy. Looking around in disgust about him, he slowly walked over to the water wheel and sat down by the river. He allowed himself to calm down, and soon he was catching a quick nap.

[Kaa]

Kaa turned to look at the circle then looked to Talonn as Talabrina's comment drew his attention to the half-elf. Kaa's laughter faded as he recognized the look on Talonn's face. Instinctively, his hand moved slowly to the axe that was not there. Swallowing a curse, Kaa slowly stepped between Sala, Talabrina, and Talonn. "Aye, be ye well, lad? You look a might bit worn on the edges."

[Talonn]

Talonn did not turn to face them. He kept his eyes on the rings but knew by the sound that the heavy footed dwarf was taking a defensive stance against him. Not wanting to frighten them further, he said, "Relax, everyone, especially you, Kaa. All is as it should be. We have conquered the first step of our quest. I believe that this calls for a small celebration. Talabrina, you claim to have the power to provide us with food and drink. Well, my dear Lady, I believe this is the time to produce the proof. You had best be quick about it as well. Yon dwarf gets mighty testy when he hasn't eaten more than four times in a day."

Talonn looked at them and flashed a grin that he hope looked genuine. He walked to the center of the circle and scooped up the rings. He tossed one to Granite, handed Kaa one of the bands and dropped the last two into Talabrina's hand. "It appears you are to wear one as well, Lady Sala." With a wink, he added, " I hope you feel better soon. I would hate to have you moping about during the celebration."

[Granite]

Granite reached out as the ring flew toward him, catching it in one hand. He held it in the same position as he caught it, tilting his head down, apparently examining it. "I am expected to carry this. I will carry it." Granite said, then pressed the ring to the middle of his chest. A small depression formed where the ring was held against him, and he slipped the ring into it. The pocket closed around it, and smoothed over. He lowered his hand, leaving no mark to indicate what he had just done.

[sala]

Sala blushed and smiled. She attempted to get up from the floor gracefully, but her knees were still weak and she tottered quite a bit. She replied softly and smiled, "I think I will not be moping about then." Sala moved slowly and unsteadily over to talabrina and claimed her ring. She wondered why she needed one since she was intrinsically tied to the mission. Just touching it made her cringe and her stomach churn, but she put it on anyway. Oddly enough the demonic thing made her hand look even more delicate and graceful than before.

[Talonn]

Talonn placed his ring upon his left middle finger. The metal was still hot from the Demon's touch. In his state of hollowness, he almost found it amusing that the ring immediately shrank to fit his finger snuggly. "If you will excuse me, I must seek the outdoors to address some ...gentlemanly matters." With that, Talonn bowed and left the spell room. He stopped in the shattered outer room only long enough to collect his bastard sword and the Harp Bow. He slipped out the door, avoided Hammer's and Ifreet's activities, and disappeared into the woods behind the mill.

[Kaa]

Kaa watched Talonn very closely. Seeing no signs that 'It' was present, he relaxed. It bothered him that Talonn was in this state without 'It' being around but decided not press. It had been a truly odd day for them all. He took the offered ring, removed his helmet and began to weave the ring into his briads. When Talonn was gone, he looked to Talabrina and chuckled. "It has been a while since we have eaten and I think it would do the rest of the group some good to lower their guard a bit. If you do not want to squander your power, I am sure we can scrounge something from Nagard's larder. He might not like the idea, but what can he do. We are under the protection of a Demonlord now, sort of."

[Nagard]

Nagard scowled at them over his beard and suddenly a fish appeared over Kaa's head and hung there threateningly. "I will not have anyone raiding my larder!" After a bity of blustering he smiled brightly and shooed them out of the spell room, "There is food and drink for all in the main room and accomedations will be ready when you wish to sleep if you do not choose to simply sleep on the pillows provided in main room. In the meantime I have to clean. this place is a mess! Your desert friend has an odd choice of manners." To Sala, "You may keep the medallion for what good it might do you." He scanned the main room quickly, "Milara! Come. You can help me clean and I will see what I can do for you." Milara meekly followed him back into the spell room and with that the door closed behind them and the was left to its own devices in the living room. there was a table laden with food and pitchers of various beverages were scattered around. The pillows seemed to have multiplied and were now scattered about the room. it seemed much later than it had been when they had entered the casting room.

[Talabrina]

"I shall cast a spell for a meal the likes of which thou hath never seen I would dare wager, in the morning. In addition to providing a meal it will bestow a major blessing from my goddess upon all who partake of the feast. Thou shall not be disapointed good dwarf rest assured." Talabrina smiled. On thier way out Muffy leaped in to the air and snached the fish in her jaws. No need to waste good fish after all.

[Ifreet]

After putting his sword back in its sheath and grooming his horse, he walks over to Sala and sets a hand on her shoulder. His features aren't the same set-in-stone they usually seem to be, but seem slightly grieving. He turns away quickly, walking back to the main room, then produces a harp from a pouch on his horse that it obviously wouldn't fit in. With a nod to Talabrina, he tunes it, then lowers his head and begins to play softly, a faint haunting melody issuing forth and spreading over the room.

[Sala]

Still a bit wobbly Sala walked up to the table and sat down delicately on the egde of one of the chairs. She started picking at the food in front of her, but wasn't really hungry. At least the nausea had gone away though. She pulled Pine from around her neck and gently stroked him. He slowly turned into a kitten. At the same time she called for Leaf in her mind. The doe hesitantly walked into the room and up to Sala. Sliently Sala told her, "You must go now. I will be leaving in the morning and do not know when I will be back. Where I am going is no plce to ask you to accompany me to. I will find you when I come back and I truly hope that I will be able to come back." She flung her arms around the deer's neck and cried into her neck for several minutes. Wiping her eyes she sent Leaf out. Sala sat at the table, with her head hanging down, miserable. Then she remembered she no longer had her cloak. She had forgotten it in the other room. Suddenly it appeared in fornt of her. She smiled a small smile int he direction of the other room and slid into it, once more hiding her body and most of her face beneath its concealing folds.

[Granite]

Granite strode through the room, ignoring the feast set out for everyone. Outside he went, likewise ignoring the damage caused by Hammer and Ifreet. He walked a short distance away, to a rocky area, then stopped and turned to face the building.

Over the next few minutes, a curious transformation occurred. His entire body looked as though it had begun to melt, though still remaining entirely stony. Slowly the humanoid form he had assumed collapsed down. Several minutes after the change had begun, Granite had a new form - a roughtly dome shaped piece of stone, covered in black speckles, coating the rocks beneath with its bottom surface.

[Kaa]

Kaa followed Sala into the main room. He paused by his pack long enough to retrieve one of his daggers then headed for the table. Kaa drew a chair closer and added a pillow for comfort before sitting down. He used his dagger to cut away a turkey leg and a chunk of the warm bread. He seized a near by pitcher and sniffed its contents. "Ale!" he sighed as he poured some into his tankard. The dwarf took a long drink then poured himself another. A twinkle appeared in his eye as he noticed Sala's demeanor.

"Tis hard to believe that barely one day ago, we all met for the first time. We have faced much since our meeting. Goblins, a witch, a flesh eating table...", Kaa made a comical face as he glared at the table before him with his dagger at the ready, ".... and a DemonLord. I will tell this, Lady Sala. If I had a grain of sense, I would leave this band before we find ourselves in some serious trouble." Kaa strained to keep a serious face before he burst out laughing. "A toast to Us! Let all furniture beware our wrath!" he shouted before a new fit of laughter caused him to spill his ale into his lap.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina smiles at Ifreet and nods in grattitue to him for the the song. Then she pours herself a glass of the special wine that Nagard had out from before, the wine of eternity. Sipping at it with extreme caution Talabrina cannot help but smile already and nearly misses Kaa's toast. "To Us!" Talabrina laughs as she raises her glass high. Taking a gulp this time of her drink, Talabrina's eyes seem to loose focus for a moment. Then Talbrina looks around the room. "Whershe, I mean where is Lord Talonn?" Talabrina sways a little in her seat.

[Sala]

Sala reached up and gently touched Ifreet's hand. She watched as he moved off and gets his instrument and started to play. After a moment or two Sala started to try some of the food near her with more appetite. The music seemed to help her sadness at asking Leaf to leave. Sala grinned at Kaa and his comments and quickly poured herself a glass of whatever was in front of her to join in the toast. "To us!" She took a sip and sputtered, startled. The liquid was much stronger than she had thought it would be. She wondered what it was. Oh, well. it couldn't be bad or Nagard wouldn't have put it out. She wondered why Talabrina was acting oddly. She was right though Talonn had left awhile ago.

[Ifreet]

Ifreet does not raise his glass in toast. He seems to be slightly preoccupied, and not just with the music. He does not touch the food or drink, and even the blank expression on his face seems strained somehow. He closes his eyes and simply plays. His horse canters up to him and rubs its head against his shoulder, but without disrupting the music.

[Talabrina]

After looking around and not seeing Talonn again, Talabrina pushed back from the table and swayed rather unsteadily to her feet. "Everone can stay here," Talabina declared, "I will go and find Lordsh, I mean Lord Talonn." After making her way to the door, missing it once, Talabrina stumbled outside where she looked around for Talonn. She dimly recalled him saying something about a gentleman and looked about for him as well. No such luck. So Talabrina went crashing through the bushes looking for Talonn.

Meanwhile Muffy watched Talabrina go staggering out and sighed deeply as if debating weather or not to follow her and looked around to see if anyone else was already doing so.

[Kaa]

The dwarf was torn between following Talabrina and staying to comfort Sala. Kaa was worried about Talonn as well but knew that what the he needed now was time to himself. Besides, he could feel the warmth of the ale coursing through him and decided that one staggering buffoon was more than enough. "Fear not for the lad, dear Sala. He is half elvin and a Ranger, a solitary combination, would you agree? He will return shortly and, perhaps, in time to be sent out to find our drunken Lady Talabrina. Have a care yourself, Lady. Yon wine is spiced to mask its potency. A few more mugs of that without eating and we will need Muffy there to hold you down so you don't go staggering off into the forest." Kaa smiled giddily as he took another drink of his ale and then began to gnaw on the turkey leg.

[Sala]

Sala smiled at Kaa from beneath her hood and took another sip of wine. She had never had much experience with alchohol so she wasn't sure what exactly he meant. "Why is Talabrina acting so oddly? You said she was drunk. I remember hearing that word before, but I don't think I've ever seen anyone drunk. Is that why she is wobbly and sounds odd?" She paused and took another sip of the wine. It made her tummy feel nice and warm. "I like this wine. It makes me feel warm inside. Can you pass me some turkey? I don't seem to have one near me."

She watched Ifreet and his horse. "Ifreet? Is something bothering you?"

[Kaa]

Kaa couldn't help but grin at Sala. He carved her some of the breast meat and passed it to her. "Talabrina is drunk and that is why she is acting like she has lost her senses. Spirits have a way of loosening the tongue as well as the body. You shall know what is is like if you do not slow thy drinking. That is what that warm feeling means, you are well on your way to being drunk. Have some of this bread, it helps ward off the wine's effect."

[Sala]

Sala smiled at him and took the turkey and bread. She nibbled on the bread and turkey, still takeing a few sips of the wine because she liked the way it made her feel. In fact she was starting to feel a bit sleepy.

[Qki]

This "drunk" thing seemed very interesting. Talabrina certainly seemed to be having fun. "Can I be drunk, Kaa?" he piped up.

[Kaa]

Kaa looks at Qki and smiles. "Do you eat or drink, laddie? If you have to eat or drink to live, then I would think that you could be drunk. If not, then I think the closest thing to being drunk for you would be if you were surrounded by metal that didn't, how do you say, resonate correctly. If I understand what you have said, it makes you feel very odd when metal reacts that way to you. It is the same for us, except it is more of a pleasant sensation."

[Qki]

Qki looked down. "I've never eaten anything before... I don't know what I'd do with it..." Indeed, none of the parts that made up the little golem resembled a stomach or other digestive parts. He recoiled as Kaa explained what being drunk was like. How could anything like a bad resonance be pleasant? It was an awful feeling! "I don't want to be drunk any more. How could it be like a bad resonance? Talabrina seems to be so happy!"

[Kaa]

Kaa looked to Ifreet. The man had been acting strangely since the summoning. "Are ye well, lad? I respect your desire not to talk but perhaps it would ease your burden if you were to share what saddens you so."

[Ifreet]

Ifreet shakes his head slightly as Kaa says that it his desire not to speak, then stops playing the music and unwraps the cloth around his neck, revealing horrible gouges clear through his throat, the skin a sickly yellow, and bleeding slightly from his speaking earlier. He then wraps it back up and rubs his horse's nose gently.

[Sala]

Sala sat in shock for a moment. She had no idea what to say. That was just horrible. "What, what happened to your throat? Could Talabrina help you?" Sala started to yawn and just missed covering it with her hand. She blinked muzzily and took another sip of wine.

[Ifreet]

He holds out his hand and an image rises from the table, showing Ifreet, and another figure. The other figure looks mostly like a bald human in dark robes, but the skin is streched to tight over the head, the joints bend a little too far, the eyes are a little too sunken and intense, as well as a few other minor things that make him seem other than a normal human. The Ifreet image charges towards the other figure, swinging his word. The blade bounces off of an invisible barrier an inch away from striking him, and the figure seems to laugh, though no sound comes from the illusions. The figure then reaches out, putting his hand through the Ifreet-image's throat, grasping, and tearing away violently. The illusion fades slowly.

[Sala]

Sala turned slightly green at this violent picture show. She asks, horrified, "Who was that? What was that? How did you survive and why didn't you get it healed?"

[Qki]

Much as the little image had seemed to be harming Ifreet, Qki couldn't help but be entranced by the show. These guys could do the most wonderful things!

[Ifreet]

Ifreet wonders for a moment if she really expects him to answer any of those, then gives Qki a slight smile. After considering a moment, he produces another image of the same figure leading a large band of monsters and demons, including some who look quite a bit like the one they visited so recently. The picture stays for a moment to allow a good view of them, then fades slowly.

[Kaa]

A grim expression crosses Kaa's face as Ifreet displays his wound and the images that explained how he came by it. Kaa looked solemnly into his ale for a long moment. He lifted the tankard slowly, drank it dry, and placed it back upon the table. "Ifreet, I beg your forgiveness for intruding upon your pain. I have been into the cup too many times this night and it has loosened my tongue. I pray that it heals quickly and you will be well soon. Sala my dear, you should get some rest. Tonights ordeal has drained you of precious energy that you may well need on the morrow. Qki, if you sleep, I suggest that you do so now. Dawn will come swiftly." Kaa climbed slowly from the chair and settled into a stack of pillows. Moments later, soft snoring could be heard from beneath his beard.

[Qki]

"I've never tried sleeping either. How do you do it? Kaa?" He suddenly realized Kaa was making asome strange noises and wasn't paying attention to him at all. Maybe he should practice some more with his dagger instead fo bothering the dwarf.

[Sala]

"I am so sorry, Ifreet. he doesn't look like a very nice person to have gotten in a fight with, but you are here now. I am happy that you are helping. I think I will feel a little safer knowing that you have been through something like that and are still here." Sala blinked and yawned. "Yes, sleep would be good." Then she noticed that Kaa was already asleep. She smiled at Qki, "Sleep is when people like me and Kaa turn off for awhile to let our bodies rest. I don't think you need to since you are made of metal." With that she moved over to a pile of pillows and curled up into a little ball, Pine snuggled up against her. It took her a while to doze off since she was nervous about tommorro, but the wine helped. Soon she fell into a light sleep.

[Ifreet]

Ifreet nods quietly in appriciation for Kaa's apology, then leans back, puts his harp away, and gets a small jar of some sort of paste and begins eating it as he leans back against some nearby pillows. He nods slightly to Sala, then sits up once again, knowing that he won't get any sleep tonight, like usual.


[Talonn]

Talonn stood on the bank of the stream and relaced his shirt. The quick dip in the cold water was just the thing he needed to bring him back to normal. He brushed his wet hair back from his face and prepared to head back to the mill. As he bent to pick up his Harp bow, he heard the sounds of something coming through the undergrowth. Talonn quickly scooped up the bow and leapt up into a nearby tree. He scampered up several branches until he was within the thick canopy. He quickly loaded the bow and waited to see what was causing such a commotion. By the sound, it could have been a great boar or even a bear. Talonn nearly fell from the tree when he realized that the noisy bear was actually Talabrina. Her staggering immediately brought him on guard for pursuit. She passed under him as he scanned the forest for who might have hurt her and caused her to flee. Seeing no one, Talonn slowly lowered himself to the ground and hoped that she would not cry out if he scared her. "Talabrina! What has happened? Are you well?" he called in a hoarse whisper.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina stopped when she heard the voice, swaying dangerously. The voice seemed very familiar somehow, now whose was it? Talabrina brightened as she remembered that the voice belonged to Talonn and she looked about ahead of her. "Talonn? Now whersh, I mean now where art thee?" She scratched her head thinking that maybe that she was wrong, maybe she had heard the gentleman's voice. Then she turned around and saw Talonn. "Oh there thou art Lordsh, I mean Lord Talonn," said Talabrina looking at him but not really focusing on him. She looked about again, "Now wheresh, I mean where be that gentleman thou were going to talk to?" Talabrina looked at him again. "Thou look wet," she observed.

[Talonn]

For a moment, Talonn stood still and confused. She bore no visible wounds but she was acting very strangely. He relaxed slightly and took a step toward her. The smell of wine drifted to his nose and it all became clear. She was drunk. He quickly unloaded the harp bow and slung it across his back. He could barely contain his laughter as she stood swaying before him.

"Wet? Oh, yes I am a bit. My Lady, the gentleman I spoke about has gone. We concluded our ...business and he left. Would you do me the honor of allowing me to escort you back to thy wine? I am sure that Muffy is most worried about you." Talonn said as he offered her his elbow.

[Talabrina]

"Oh, I doth believe shat I hath had enough wine for this night." Talabrina said as she took Talonn's arm and leaned upon him heavily. "I doth not often drink anything shat is stronger than normal wine, but drow wine... Ahh no the ish a flavor that is such a rare delicacy shat I forgot myself when Lorsh, I mean Lord Kaa made a toast that I gulped a glass and am now rather pleasently drunk." Talabrina giggled. "As for Muffy," she went on, "why would she be worried? The worst that couldsh happen is that I could get killed," said Talabrina dismissively. Then she Looked at Talonn. "Thou knoweth something milord? Thee art very handsome." Talabrina smiled at him with a very direct look and then giggled.

[Talonn]

Talonn tried to hide his smirk as he attempted to guide Talabrina safely through the underbrush. He thought to himself that it was fortunate that he had not been deeper in the woods. He chuckled at the image in his mind of abandoning propriety and hoisting the lady over his shoulder and carrying her back to the mill. For a moment, he even considered doing so now but dismissed the idea when he spotted the edge of forest.

"I thank thee, Lady, for your compliments. There are things far worse than death that could befall a lady, such as yourself. Why, some ruffian could stoop to taking advantage of your...casualness and attempt to soil your honor. Tis fortunate that you have me here as a vigilent warder of my Lady's honor." Talonn smiled.

[Hammer]

Hammer was awakened by the noise of Talabrina searching for Talonn. "What was that"? Hammer quickly got up and moved to the door of the mill. Looking inside, he noticed that Granite, Talonn and Talabrina were all missing from the group. Again he heard the noise, and wirled back face the trees. It appeared that the noise was leaving the mill, rather than aproaching it. Hammer quickly moved to the trees, and sat in a battle ready crouch. It could just be one of the party. Or it could be something else. Hammer quickly found Talabrina's tracks, and followed them into the trees.

[Talabrina]

Talabrina smiled at him as her eyes went out of focus and and refocused again. "Thou art sooo sweet milordsh, I mean milord." Then Talabrina took on a shy look and spoke in a soft voice. "I feel so safe with thee around, I doth think that I like thee much milordsh, I mean milord." Talabrina yawned tiredly and aburuptly stopped. "Lordsh Talonn? Methinks thou must needs carry me from here." Talabrina said as her legs buckled and she fell against him. "Prithee remind me to be more careful next time I doth be around drow wine milordsh." Talabrina giggled.

[Talonn]

Talonn felt her knees give. He quickly scooped her into his arms and gently adjusted her so that her head was on his shoulder. Once he felt he had a firm hold on her, Talonn continued walking toward the mill. He could smell the wine as she breathed onto his neck. The aroma reminded him that he had not eaten and his stomach responded with a quiet growl.

Talonn made no attempt to move silently and was quite startled when the huge figure appeared before him. His mind scrambled for a way to arm himself without dropping Talabrina on her head. Just before he was forced to make the decision, he recognized that his attacker was actually Hammer.

"Well met, friend Hammer. Tis I, Talonn. It appears that our dear Lady Talabrina sampled too much of that drow wine. As you can see, she is decidely drunk. Come, lets go see if the others thought to leave us food and drink. Judging by the Lady here, I fear there will be no drow wine for us." Talonn chuckled.

[Hammer]

Hammer could hear the noise now approach him, so stood his ground, holding his huge War Hammer in both hands. When Talonn appeared, Hammer almost leaped to the attack, but he couldn't make out what the sillouette was. Some type of monster. Good thing Talonn spoke.

"Well met. Forgive my intrusion. And food does sound good."

[Talonn]

Talonn carried Talabrina carefully through the door. He did not need to see that Kaa slept for he heard the dwarf's snores in the yard. Talonn noticed that Granite was not present but figured that he was more comfortable outside. He nodded to Ifreet and Qki as he carried Talabrina across the room. He lay her gently on a pile of pillows beside Muffy. He grinned at how peaceful she looked, even with the little drop of spittle escaping the corner of her mouth. He reached slowly to Muffy and scratched her head. "Your lady will sleep well this night, dame cat. I do not envy her head when she wakes, though."

Talonn rose and went to the table. He poured himself a tankard of herbal tea and snatched a few morsals from the table. He kicked a pillow across the room and sat on it with his back against the hearth. He ate quietly and stared intently into the rafters. When he swallowed his last bite and emptied his tankard, he unbuckled his sword belt and lay the sword and Harp bow on top of his pack. He took his folded cloak and placed it behind his head. He fell asleep with his legs folded before him and his arms folded across his chest. His dreams were light and he was not visited by 'It' or his guilt.

[Sala]

As they walked in Sala woke and opened her eyes slightly. She wondered why Talonn was carrying Talabrina. She felt odd about that, but she didn't know why. She watched him set her down and eat. As he started to get ready to sleep she said quietly and sleepily, "G'night, Talonn." Almost immediatley afterwards she was fast asleep.

[Hammer]

Hammer sat at the table wolfing down most of the food he could get his hands on. Since there was no one else to share with, he almost ate everything. He found Kaa's pitcher of Ale, and quickly downed that. Then he found the spice wine, and finished that as well. He sat back in his chair content. He had not eaten like that since he left home.

After a few minutes, he found some pillows to support his huge frame, and quickly fell asleep, secure in the feeling that Nagard's house was well protected.