A Mutual Understanding (Fantasy RP, PM Interest)

My name is Jacob Chrome, I am a human adventurer, a wizard, who has been on the road for about two years now since I left the city life and the magical academy. I am more well built then your average wizard, my mother is a paladin and she taught me to never let myself get scrawny and weak because of my studies, I would not just need brains but brawns as well to survive. Because of my training in both magic and physical combat have I managed to learn how to cast magic while wearing metal armor, which is very hard for most people as metal interferes with the magic unless it is some kind of metal that doesn't affect arcane spell casting.

I am not a big time adventurer I've been through a couple of forests, killed some ogres and saved a kidnapped farm girl or two. My biggest achievement is the time I dueled an elder demon who a cult had summoned to a game of wits, I lost he was allowed to roam the physical realm, I won, he would return to hell. After two hours had I managed to beat him with a riddle without any answer, he finally conceived defeat and returned to hell. That incident earned me the nickname Jacob the Tome, but it is still just a small incident.

Currently I am walking through the forest near the foot of the Chiguij Mountains, home of several mountain monsters and orc clans, a dangerous place but luckily is the forest not as dangerous and if you walk around the mountain through this forest you will reach the capital city of Jun'va, Jeffry's Creek, named after the king and giant-slayer Thomas Jeffry. I stopped by a small lake, intending to get myself a good wash up, dressing off my robe, chain mail and gear, except a knife I keep strapped to my wrist and a dagger I have strapped to my leg, I move to the lake and is about to step into it when I spot a dark figure moving out of the water just a few feet away and blink in shock when I see a dark elf. I am about to back away when I step on a branch and I find myself with a practically naked drow sitting on top of me with a dagger against my throat, I had drawn my own and held it aimed at her heard, right against one of her large tits, and we stare one another down, we have a stalemate folks.

OOC: A dark elf woman from the underdark has fled to the surface, probably a rebel or a slave, and meets up with a human wizard when bathing after escaping out of the mountains where the entrance to the underdark lay. The two confront each other and speak to one another, still with daggers at each other's vital points, before coming to an agreement to protect one another, he would protect her from the prejudice of the surface and she would aid him in his adventures. Warning, will contain pregnancy at some point.

OOC: Closed for Annisthyrienne.

Spiriel had been on the run, frightened, alone, desperate for more days than she could count now. This strange upperworld with its too bright sun beating down on her all the time kept her off balance, uncomfortable, and uneasy. She felt like she was constantly squinting to protect her eyes. She hadn't thought her escape through enough to realize what sort of protective clothing she would need. But then again, there hadn't been time. She had to take the opportunity to run when she had the chance, and she had been on the run ever since.

The drow would send capture patrols after her, and she had been trying to evade them. She thought that if she traveled when it was most uncomfortable for her, the same discomfort would discourage them from traveling during that time. She might better avoid the patrols that way. She stayed still at night whenever possible, hiding.

But there were many other dangers that she hadn't considered. Their hereditary enemies, the orcs, patrolled the upper canyons of these mountains, and she had been trying to avoid their patrols too. She had worked her way down and out of the mountains, now in the foothills below the range. She was hungry, tired, and scared, but she was free. Now if she could just stay that way.

The one time of day that she truly enjoyed was dusk. When the great bright orb in the sky dipped low enough to drop below the trees or the mountains, it eased her vision, and she could relax just a little. This was one such time. She had discovered a clear mountain lake and decided to indulge in a bath to refresh herself. It was risky. She knew that other kinds of creatures besides orcs and drow might be about. In the last couple days since coming off the mountain, she had hidden whenever she had encountered members of the other races. She knew any lightside elf that found her would kill her on sight. Humans probably weren't much better disposed towards her kind.

Spiriel closed her eyes for just a moment, enjoying the cool clear water she was immersed in. She would still be hungry, maybe scared too, when she finished here, but at least she would be clean and cool. The constant sun seemed to burn into her black skin without mercy as she traveled during the days. This was a welcome relief. She would have to find a place to hide for the night still, and time was slipping away. She slipped under the water one last time before reluctantly heading for the shore. Just as she was stepping out to her clothing, she heard a branch crack close by!

She snatched her only weapon - a small sacrificial dagger stolen from the temple of Lolth during her escape - and pounced using all the dexterity of her race, resembling nothing so much as a svelte black panther in female form as she landed on the unwary pale creature who had surprised her, the small knife going to his throat as if by sheer instinct. Spiriel was no warrior, nothing more than a temple slave in the underdark. But she possessed the instincts of her race, and the desperation of a slave who had tasted freedom and would not let it be stolen from her now.

The adrenaline that served her so well in her movement now made her pant and her large breasts heaved. She became aware even as she stared down into the wide eyes of the human male she sat astride, of a sharp coldness pressing just under her left breast. She looked down to see the human's dagger point aimed right at her heart. Realizing that she was caught in a stalemate, her pretty dark features curled up in an almost feral snarl of frustration and anger. To have come so far and now to be undone, or even killed, by a human, of all things! Still, she had her knife to his throat too, and one quick slice would kill him just as well. He dared not press his point home, or risk his own death.

For what seemed like several long moments, all she could do was breathe and try to think of what to do. Time was on the side of this human. She had to get away and find a place to hide before the patrols caught up with her. She hadn't time to get dressed and this human would no doubt attack her while she was vulnerable. He could probably even stab her before she could get away. She saw no other choice. Maybe he could be reasoned with. Maybe he had no interest in hurting her, and was only trying to defend himself. She sought her limited memories for the words of the common trade language that the humans were said to use. She didn't know a lot of the words, but she had to try.

Holding up her free hand, palm open and outward towards him, she spoke in her heavy drow accented words, "No...kill, Man." She only hoped he understood. She slowly reached her hand down to use one finger to gently try to push the dagger point away from her chest, even as she eased the pressure on the knife at his throat, her eyes locked on his the whole time.

I understood her words, though they were rather broken, I had read a bit about drows and knew a bit of their language, though I normally used as translation spell to understand new languages, better to get the spell underway. Speaking up in a bit of broken drowish I motioned with my own freehand to indicate I was going to cast a non combat spell. "Will not hurt drow, cast spell for good speech." Pointing my index and middle finger against my throat I channel some magic through it and speak up a single word. "Lukctau." And Repeat my gently pressing it against her own throat, coughing a bit as the magic worked out its effect I spoke up in common. "Can you understand me now?" At her nod I nod in return and take deep breathe to collect myself.

"All right then, let's start with introductions. My name is Jacob Chrome, traveling Wizard adventurer, trying to get past these mountains to Jeffry's Creek, the capital of Jun'va to look for new possible work. You?" As I speak I am having a hard time not looking at her large breasts, I mean they are big and glistering from the recent bath, it is making my dick harden, though I try not to let those thoughts get to me is it hard to keep the twelve inch pole from rising.

Spiriel was a little surprised when the human man spoke her language, even though it was only a short phrase. But he said he wouldn't hurt her, and that was the important thing. She watched him warily as he cast his magick, gently touching her throat. She felt a tickle inside, and cleared her throat, almost coughing.

Listening carefully to the strange sound of his words in her head, which didn't quite sync up with his lips, she learned his name and that he was a wizard. He was trying to get to the human city she had heard stories about from the raiding patrols who ventured to the surface. That he hadn't meant to harm her was becoming clear. She lifted her knife away from his throat and sat up. A puzzled look came over her face as she felt his manhood under her, pressing against her sex and between the swells of her butt. She blushed, remembering her nakedness, and scrambled up and off of him.

She covered her pussy with one hand, crossing her arms over her breasts with the other as she stood aside while he got to his feet. "I am called Spiriel T'arnienn. I'm sorry for attacking you. I don't wish to kill you, Jacob Chrome. You frightened me, that is all. I thought you were an enemy come to take me back to the Underdark, or some other creature intending to harm me. I will not harm you if you will let me be in peace with you." (OOC: Some things don't translate exactly do to cultural differences, although the words come through.)

She waited for him to stand up before continuing, an idea slowly taking shape in her mind now. "Jacob Chrome, will you let me get my clothes? I came to the lake to bathe. If you are here for the same reason, I will wait for you while I dress. I want to talk more with you." With his agreement, she turned and went back to quickly dress in the simple spidersilk tunic as he entered the lake. She saw him turn back once he was in up to his waist to watch her. She could feel his eyes on her, sure that he stared at every inch of her dusky naked body. She had to wiggle slightly to get the tunic to slide on over her wet body, and it set parts of her in motion that was almost mesmerizing for Jacob to watch. She sat to put on her short boots, crossing one dark leg over the other. The movement exposed a nearly hidden view of her silky white pubic hair to Jacob, but she seemed not to notice.

Spiriel tilted her head slightly as she regarded him. "Jacob Chrome, I am running away from the Underdark and the cruel treatment of the priestesses of Lolth. They send patrols after me to bring me back. If they find me they will either kill me or make a slave of me. Many other enemies abound in this surface world everywhere I turn. I need help. I need someone who can protect me from some of these dangers, and help me to understand how to survive here. You are a wizard? You could help me, protect me. Would you do this?"

I nodded at her offer to let me bath as I got up on my feet and strapped back my dagger into its sheath, I then stepped into the cool water and began to clean myself. With careful scrubbing I washed away the week old dirt, sweat and wounds on my body, using soem of my magic to clean out the wounds as I touched them, this was very basic healing magic and abotu the only thing I knew. As I cleaned mysore and dirty body I felt myself turning around and watched as her nude body dressed itself, her beautiful curves wiggling as she pulled on her clothes and armor pieces, those sexy hips and tits swaying like lures for a big fish, I felt my cock harden further but I made sure to remember the fact that she needed proper gear once we reached the city.

Thankfully was my cock flaccid once I stepped out of the cold water, I was used to beign naked around others, my mother and father were both nudists who prefered to walk around the house naked then clothed, this made me lose a lot of my shyness about my body but I wasn't a nudist, just not caring about wether I am naked or not. I magically call my clothes and gear to me and dress up in front of her like she had done me, I know she's watching but I am uncertain if she's watching my body for the reasons I am thinking as being a wizard have I not been able to get many dates with the different reputations of wizard around the world. Strapping my magical bag to my waist along with my longsword and with my gloves on I gripped my regular looking steel staff and brushed off some dust that had gotten on my dark brown colored and blue lined robes when I put it aside to bath.

"Well I am more then willing to help you out against the prejudice of the surface, I can tell you are telling the truth as no evil drow would have let a human at his or her mercy live even with a dagger at their hearts they would have slit my throat. You didn't and that shows you are not evil and you do not have the combat training many drows have." I then grinned and patted her shoulder. "But with your natural talent and speed I think I can get you up to a proper standard in fighting, you look like you can carry a bit of weight around with your toned body so a heavier sets of armor would fit you perfectly. This way you can help me out in return by helping me in my adventures as a travelign companion and maybe friend."

I then pulled out a regular steel longsword, heavy wooden shield and a scale mail armor I had salvaged from some orc bandits earlier this day and held them out for the startled drow. "Here these will be your tools for now until you get stronger and can decide what kind of fighting style you prefer, one handed with shield, dual wielding two weapons or using a two handed weapon." With her gear properly on I took the lead and strode forward along the road, leading the drow on what I didn't know would become the biggest adventure of our lives.

Spiriel watched the man come out of the water, dripping wet. She tried to be polite, but she thought since he had seen plenty of her nakedness, she had every right to have a peek of her own. Her eyes took the measure of him as he dressed. He was taller and generally bigger than she was, as most humans would be, she figured. She admired the well toned muscles made fit by plenty of combat training. And she didn't miss the chance to get a look at his manhood. She had felt it under her when she sat astride him, and she knew he had felt huge to her. Now she could see that, even flaccid from the cold water, he was impressive, easily larger than any male drow she had been forced by the priestesses to service. That was an unwelcome memory she tried hard to suppress.

She answered his evaluation of her, eager to show she could be worth taking along on his travels. "I can carry enough weight that armor shouldn't be a problem. I'm no warrior, tis true, but I can do other things to help you in exchange for your protection, and I can learn quickly if you will teach me. I can tend wounds; I know a little healing magic. I can carry things for you, and I will cook food for you, if you have some." Her belly rumbled at the idea of eating. She was hungry, not having had more than what little she could scrounge on the run for the last several days.

He handed her the armor, sword, and shield and she looked at it as if she was lost, but swung the sword back and forth, cutting the air experimentally. It seemed like she could get used to it quickly. How much could there be to learning how to use it? It was basically a longer knife, right? And the shield was simply to be put between an enemy's weapon and wherever she didn't want to be cut or bashed. She figured she could do that too. She wasn't sure how the armor was supposed to go on, and since it had been originally intended for a large orc, it didn't fit too well either, making it harder to put on correctly. She wrinkled her nose at the blood staining the small hole piercing the scales, until she noticed that the hole was about the same size as the sword he wore on his hip. She gulped nervously at the realization. Finally he helped her put the armor on correctly.

Jacob started down the trail, and Spiriel hurried to catch up. She immediately noticed the additional weight of the armor and shield, and the fact that she had to take almost one and a half strides for every one of his, with his legs being longer. She scrambled to keep up with him, glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. "Jacob, do you plan to travel much farther before stopping for the night? The sun is nearly down. We should find a place to hide. The capture patrols will be out and about soon." Although she felt safer with him than alone, she knew they would both be in danger if the patrols caught them.

"Don't worry they will be having trouble tracking us from the mountains, there's orcs and many mountain dwelling monsters who dwell in these parts during the night. There will be no danger until two days have passed, they won't be able to get out of the mountains until then." I stated with a smile before I lead us through the forest until we reached a large open glade, it was a good place for a camp and it was giving open view for the paths leading to it, it would be a good defensive point to be able to see if anyone approached, there was a lot of old branches and sticks that would crack beneath the weight of a wolf.

Taking my magical bag I pull out a tent and a pair of sleeping bags, with my magic I have the tent and sleeping bags beneath a large oak, which would protect us if there was rain. Rolling my shoulder a little I pull off the robe and stuff it into the magical bag and then pull out a cauldron and a bag of vegetables and roots I had gathered from the forest, I had no meat, that had been eaten a few weeks ago so I would probably just make a vegetarian stew.

Making a fire and filling the cauldron with water I summoned with magic I began to heat up the water, the vegetables wouldn't begin to boil until an hour so there wasn't much worry there. "Hey Spiriel, I shall show you how to handle the weapons." Leading her to the center of the glade I help her adjust her grip on the handle of the weapon, the way she held the shield, it was a bit too big for her but it would give her a better handling of shields of proper size since they would feel lighter.

Standing behind her I gently grip her wrist and help her slowly swing the sword, showing her how to swing the blade. "Make sure to flow with the blade, it is not a dagger, it won't obey your arm's movement, the weight will cause you to lose balance if you do not manage to retain control of the weight's movement." With my body against her back I try to ignore how her rump is rubbing against my crotch, glad that the armor is making it easier to ignore, and show her how to move her shield and use the sword at the same time, I swear the air was getting a bit hot cause I was getting rather warm.

Spiriel watched with wonder at all the things Jacob pulled out of his magic sack, the thing looking almost like an oversized drawstring bag or purse, but still way too small to hold everything that he took out of it. Being with a wizard was proving to be a wondrous thing to behold.

Even though she offered to cook for him, he seemed to have everything under control even before she could have started a fire and hung the cauldron. Perhaps doing it her way would have only slowed things down. She was so hungry that she wanted nothing more than to watch the pot boil in anticipation of when it would be ready. It already was beginning to smell delicious, even though she didn't recognize the ingredients. It didn't look like he had any cave mushrooms or bat meat or rock lizard or cave fish or even any glowing lichen to put in. But it made her belly rumble all the same.

She groaned when he suggested a little practice with the heavy sword and shield. In just the short time she'd had to carry it before they stopped to camp, it had seemed to grow in weight until it made her sore just to hold it. Still, he was helping her, so she didn't want to complain. She would do her part to learn and make herself of some use to him.

As he showed her how to hold and swing the sword properly, offering tips on its use, she couldn't help but be keenly aware of his masculine presence standing behind her. His strong muscular arms wrapped around her from behind, his hands covering hers, guiding her motions. Spiriel listened attentively to his instructions, noting how kind but firm his voice sounded to her. She could feel his warm breath tickling her ear as he leaned around her to guide her and spoke his guidance to her.

She quickly picked up on his teachings, and began to get more used to the weight and swing of the blade. "Like this?" she asked as she swung the sword in an overhead arch, downward in a slash across an imaginary foe's body, then brought the shield up on guard in the natural rhythm of strike, block, strike, block. It was the most basic of maneuvers in combat, and she had a long way to go, but it was a start. "I see. I'm getting the hang of it, I think!" She could see the approval on his face when he saw how quickly she was learning, and seeing his smile made her feel good.

He told her how to try a different move, but she pretended as if she didn't understand. When he reached around behind her to show her, she made a point of leaning forward slightly, making him hover over her more, but also allowing her to press her bottom against his loins, rubbing on him ever so slightly, making it seem entirely innocent, of course. She also brought her hands in closer to her body and higher, just up under her breasts, trying to make his hands brush the underside of her tender swells. She was having a hard time concentrating on his lessons when she felt him begin to grow harder behind her.

Our serene moment of near sexual ministration I hear the cauldron boiling and coughing a little I let go of her and pat her shoulder with a grin, keeping myself from showing my flustered face as a sign of arousal and excitment. "Very good, but let's practice some more later the food's ready, I am sorry that there's no meat but there's very few animals that can be hunted in these mountains with all the orcs and monsters around, it makes it extremely hard to even gather roots and herbs around here."

Pulling out two bowls of clay I pour the heavy vegetable stew, or soup if you want to call it that it was a bit thin, and handed it to her before taking my own, fill, the cauldron was emptied to the half by then and left to churr over the fire. I took out a bottle of ale, one of the dozen I got left from my supplies, I had been on the road for a month since I could buy supplies but since I didn't drink much alcohol was it little trouble to keep the few bottles I had to last for so long, the alcohol helps me recover magical energy as well by the alcohol my body consumes.

Taking a sip of the bottle I offer it to her as we sitt on the log, I too koff my chain mail as it was summer and it had been hot enough to walk around in armor during the day but it wouldn't do to sleep with armor on it would be uncomfortable. "Want a sip? It's dwarven ale, very tasty but don't drink too much or you will get a nasty hangover."

She sighed in relief when he said it was time to eat, and followed him to sit on a log by the fire. He handed her a bowl of the wonderful smelling soup and it warmed her hands as she held it. She used the small knife she had to scoop the larger bits of vegetables into her mouth, holding them on her tongue and blowing in and out to cool it. Jacob apologized for the lack of meat, blaming it on the orcs and other monsters. "But Jacob, why can't you take one of the orcs for meat?" she asked innocently. To her people, orcs were little more than animals who happened to wear clothing and use weapons. Slightly more dangerous than a wild animal, but just as useful for food.

Spiriel ate hungrily, barely giving the food time to cool before scooping it into her mouth. She got a little too eager with one piece and it began burning her tongue. Just then he handed her the bottle. Grateful for the chance to cool her mouth, she took a long draught, thinking it was water. She coughed hard as it hit her, burning its way down her throat. The hot food forgotten, she tried to catch her breath as he warned her about the ale, not to drink too much. Gasping and sputtering, nearly choking, she fanned her mouth to cool her tongue.

She recovered, with Jacob patting her firmly on the back, thinking she had choked on some of the food. By the time her eyes stopped watering, she was already beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol, blossoming in her head, making her feel a little tipsy. She smiled sheepishly as she went back to finishing her food, more carefully this time.

She stood to remove the armor Jacob had given her to wear, but struggling with it, her balance compromised by the strong drink, she nearly fell into Jacob's lap, with the scale shirt pulled partly over her head, trapping her arms. Her strenuous struggles shook her bosom beneath the silk tunic, just visible under the armor shirt. She presented quite the comical sight, trying to get the armor off. As he reached out a hand to steady her, she froze, quietly trembling. It took a minute or two before he realized she was giggling at her own clumsiness.

I had to choke at her suggestion to eat orc meat, while it wasn't cannibalism did I not like the thought of eating a sapient being. "Nah while orcs are foul and all do I not think it is a good thing to eat them, not to mention how diseased many orcs are would it not be healthy to even try to cook the meat."

She drank the ale too swiftly, making her cough a bit, patting her back I watched as she began to get a bit flustered in the face and I knew she was plastered, I had to admit I was a bit tipsy myself. As she began to remove the armor and got stuck halfway as I stood up and held her steady and felt her trembling giggles I couldn't help but laugh as when I understood that she was laughing. Gently I grip the edge of the scale mail and peel it off her head and arms and put it down on the log, with an arm around her waist and the ale bottle still in my hand I take a sip and bump her in the chest with a chuckle, not noticing how my knuckels rubbed agaisnt her big bosom. "Light weights aren't supposed to down ale until they get used to it silly." I stated with a laughter before I kiss her cheek in my tipsy mood, not noticing how her lips opened up and her tongue licked her lips and smooth hands began to trace to dangerous grounds.

Spiriel giggled to herself as she realized she had managed to trap herself inside her own armor. The whole situation was ridiculous, she realized. She might never become a warrior at this rate. Jacob rescued her from her predicament, helping her get the armor off. Her tunic rode up with it as he pulled it off over her head, temporarily exposing most of her bottom, the hem rising up to her crotch level before she was able to smooth it back down into place.

She was acutely aware of his arm around her waist and was grateful for it. The way she felt, she might have fallen on her butt if he had not steadied her. She felt him tap her breast with one hand, jesting with her. "Light weights aren't supposed to down ale until they get used to it silly." The jovial laughter that followed spurred her own, laughing along with him.

Then he kissed her.

It brought her eyes to his handsome face. Her giggling paused as she licked her lips, hoping he might kiss her there instead. It was getting serious now, she thought. She felt his hands on her body, smoothing over her hips and around her waist. For a moment, she flashed back to the temple of Lolth.

It was her coming of age birthday, barely a girl ripened. The high priestess had convinced her parents what an honor it would be to have her devoted to serve the Spider Goddess as a temple maid. They had given her over, eager to advance in position in the Drow society by any means they had.

That night, the high priestess had presided over her initiation into the sect. The ceremony had been little more than a formalization of the gang rape that had followed. The only sacrifice was of her innocence. She could feel the hands of the men on her now, pulling her close to them, feel their hard shafts pressing into her curves, soon to be violating her ruthlessly.

Spiriel pulled away from him then, seemingly lost in another place. Her eyes were wide with alarm and fear, and they seemed to be looking past Jacob, not seeing him at all. She backed away slowly, tears streaming down her cheeks now. "Please, don't hurt me again, I beg you! I will do anything to please you! Just don't hurt me anymore!" Drow sexual encounters incorporated pain and abuse as a matter of course, especially when it was for the delight of the Spider Goddess and her High Priestess's pleasure.

I was shook out of my drunken stupor when she pulled away and began to look straight ahead in alarm and fear, it was as if she couldn't see me at all. Tears fall down her cheeks as she cries out in pained memory of something horrible that had happened in the past to her. I feel my heart ache at her painful memory and decide to do something about it, it might have been the alcohol or it might have been my own rational decision, either is fine. I strode forward, warped my arms gently around her and hugged her against my body, my mouth kissing hers, as I whispered soothingly before being silenced by hers. "Shhhhh you're okay, nobody will hurt you, I swear."

Her body tenses before relaxing and we just enjoy our embrace, her hands warps around my body and I can feel how she desperately clings against me, tears are still slipping down her cheeks but she is no longer lost in her old memories. After five minutes of our kissing embrace I feel her head slip down and rest on my head, her arms slipping down, she was asleep, a slight smile on her lips. Gently I lift her up in my arms like a groom did his bride, and carried her to the tent, after putting out the fire of course.

Lying her into her sleeping bag I hear her fearsome whimpers as she is removed from my embrace and sigh before I weave my magic and combine our sleeping bag and I lied down next to her and she clings to me, her head lying down on my chest, my heartbeat gently lulling her to sleep, and we're both soon asleep in the tent.

Spiriel awoke to the feeling of two strong arms cradling her in safety and comfort. It was a new experience for her. She opened her eyes and turned her head slightly to see the face of the peacefully sleeping human who held her. Her lips turned up in a slight smile, but it quickly changed to a look of puzzlement. She didn't remember how she got in this situation. The last thing she recalled was crying on his shoulder after flashing back to some very bad memories. She lifted the cover of the sleeping bag to look down upon her nude body, her darkness next to his paler skin. He must have undressed her at some point, she thought. Did he also........? Did she.......?

She reached her hand down to feel the warm split mound between her thighs. There as nothing there that would tell her whether they had done anything like that, but she couldn't remember. Her head hurt a little, and she was very thirsty. Her mouth felt very dry. She lifted up on one elbow to look down at Jacob, watching him sleep as she thought about him. Why did he treat her like that? What did he hope to gain from it? In the Underdark, everything that a person did was solely for gain of some kind: power, wealth, influence, social ranking, dominance over another, etc. She could not see how he would get anything out of treating her as if he cared about her, or showing her mercy when she suffered.

She thought about how strange it seemed that she was lying next to a human at this moment. Just the day before, she had been on the run, desperate, hungry, afraid to find enemies at every turn. All her life, the stories she had heard about the surface dwellers said that elves would kill a drow on sight, and humans weren't much better. They were said to be unpredictable, sometimes acting as if they were allies to the drow, and then at other times killing without mercy any dark elf unlucky enough to cross their path. Spiriel wondered if Jacob would turn on her at some point, and try to kill her.

But she hoped he was one of the good humans who seemed to accept her kind. So far, he had not acted like any drow she had ever known. He had treated her fairly, hadn't tried to hurt her, except for making her practice with that heavy sword and shield. He had even acted like he cared when she was hurting. She really couldn't figure him out.

She slowly began to remember the events of the night before. He had kissed her lips, but gently, not demanding. Giving, not taking. He had held her in his arms too, and she had clung to him, liking the feeling of safety that she got from his arms around her. Her smile returned at the memory of that feeling, and of waking up with that feeling again.

She laid back down beside him, taking his hand and rolling over, turning her back to him, spooning her bottom into the warmth of his body and pulling his strong arm around her. She could feel the length of his manhood nestled between the globes of her ass cheeks, hot against her flesh.

Once again, she briefly remembered the nights of cruel usage of her body by the men and women of the Spider Cult. There was really only one useful skill that she had to offer as an escaped temple sex slave. She wondered if Jacob would make her use that skill to pay for his kindness. As she mused on these thoughts, she enjoyed the warmth of his body and the feeling of security with his arms around her. The feeling of contentment nearly lulled her to sleep again.

When I woke up I had the beautiful drow in my arms, her back pressed against my front and my hardened penis between her large firm buttocks, it was hard but thank god she hadn't noticed. Gently I pull myself away and step out of the sleeping bag, letting her sleep in the tent, she was pretty exhausted when I meet her yesterday. Taking out the cauldron I had used yesterday I emptied the remaining stew into two newly washed bowls, magic is wonderful, but considering she couldn't handle alcohol so much would I need to get her some fresh water.

I trace a rune circles on the side of a large elm tree, from there I pulled out an empty waterskin and with a well chosen command word I caused a yet of water to be drawn out of the water which flew like a beam into the waterskin, filling it up like a balloon. I didn't like to do this since if I did it too much the tree would die from dehydration. With a gale of cold air from my palms I cool down the still timid water and begin to pack up the camp, the tent would have to wait until she woke up though.

Digging up some earth over the burned out fire wood I begin to carve runes around the camp, which would activate once orcs or drows decided to come after us after we've left it. These runes would cause the trees to temporarily spring to life and strike with their branches roots and vines. And with this the trees and plants would hopefully kill many and make them disinterested in following but I know about the stubbornness of drows, through the orcs would be easier to persuade so it wouldn't be a complete failure.

Donning my clothes ,armor and gear I pull out her own gear an put it inside the tent, with the two bowls of stew heated with some fire from my palms I hear her wake up in the tent and hear her dress up. With a grin I hold out a bowl of steaming stew to her, my own floating by my face. "Good morning sleepy head, I got us some water, about five galleons, it will last us the trip to the city but better not to waste it." I stated as I put down the full waterskin by her side.

Spiriel woke up more refreshed and better rested than she had been since she ran away from the Underdark. It was amazing what one night in safety and without fear or anxiety had done for her, physically and mentally. But she looked around in confusion. She was alone, and she wondered where the human man was. Did he leave her behind? She spotted the armor, shield, and sword next to her own clothing and decided to get dressed. She heard him moving around outside the tent and knew that he hadn’t left her alone.

She emerged from the tent after rolling up the sleeping bags, one tucked under each arm, her shield slung over her back and her sword slung on her hip. This time she hadn’t needed help donning the armor after studying the straps and lacings that held it in place. Her silky white hair was messed from sleeping, and it gave her a sexy look even as she raked her slim black fingers through it, trying to straighten it. She blinked as she emerged into the bright sunlight of morning, still not quite used to the brightness of the upper world.

Jacob greeted her cheerfully, telling her about the water. She wasted no time indulging in a drink to wash away the cotton mouthed feeling left by the strong drink the night before. The soothing relief brought a smile to her dusky lips. She accepted teh warm bowl of stew from him and ate her breakfast in silent thought.

Afterwards, as they set to packing away the rest of the camp, she seemed thoughtful. Turning towards Jacob, she tilted her head to the side, regarding him with a puzzled look. “Why Jacob, Chrome? Why do you do you do these things? Why do you show concern for me? Why give me these belongings? What is it that you gain by this?” She pitched in to help him pack the tent away as she listened to his answer.

"Hehe I guess it's because who raised me, my mother is a Paladin of Ilmater, the wounded god, she sees the world not in black and white like many do but in a grey shade. She taught me to never take something for granted, to never judge the outside for the inside but of course she taught me how to fight so I would be able to defend myself as that is anyone's right to fight for survival. I have no idea who my father is, I was born from a rape, but my mother loves me even though I was born from a man's rape of her body. How could I turn evil with such a loving and good willed mother?" As I explained this we had managed to gather up the tent and the sleeping bags into my bag, along with the newly filled waterskin and the cleaned bowls and cauldron.

Strapping the bag to my belt, sealing it to the belt with a set of arcane words of power I take my staff and point northwards, I could sense hostility from the path behind us, the hunters were moving but they were still far away, though thye had set off some of the minor alarm runes I had set out. "We should reach the city before nightfall, if your persuers get past the orcs and mosnters during night then the ywill be set back by the trap I have set up in the glade." Once more we set off and I helped her step through the large roots of the forest giants but soon after about three hours we reached the open fields, we were not far away from them ain road leading towards Jeffry's Creek, it had gone fasster then I assumed, we shoul reach the city within sundown if things keeps going like this.

Once we stepped through the fields and onto the hard rock tile road I smirked and looekd u pat the blue sky. "This is very good, we made good time, we should be at the city before nightfall if we keep moving." As we walked down the road I pulled out an apple I had taken from a tree we had passed in the forest and handed it to her before pulling out another for myself and too ka bite out of the red fruit, we weewalking in silence but I had an uneasy feeling, I could hear the sound of hooves in the distance, probably a trader, diligense or patrol moving along the road away from the city towards the souther port town of Genva.

She listened to his explanation, but it still wasn’t clear to her how he would benefit from being kind to her. Drow ways told her there must be something he wanted from her, and would demand payment from her at some point, probably when it was most inopportune for her. Then again, she wondered, he wasn’t a drow; he was human. Maybe human ways were different. And maybe he was a different sort of human too. That is what his words seemed to be saying, if she understood him correctly. He didn’t even ask her to carry the waterskin or any part of the load of the camp supplies. He put everything in his magic bag and carried it himself.

Spiriel was sure he would want some sort of payment from her sooner or later, and it was looking like it could only be one thing. It was the only use the drow had ever put her to that seemed valuable to them, so she figured that it was her only value. But what she couldn’t understand is what was he waiting for? He could have had her during the night. He was big enough that he could have forced her at any time he wanted to, yet he hadn’t. She walked along beside him in silence for a good part of the morning, pondering this.

When they emerged from the forest, she almost panicked. There was nothing above her but open sky! No way to block the sun’s cruel heat, nothing to protect her from things coming at her from above. In her entire life in the Underdark, she had never been in such an open space. Even since she had run away, she had traveled in canyons with high cliffs on either side, or under the cover of the trees in the forest. But now, she was left with no place to hide. She almost fled in panic back into the trees, but Jacob encouraged her to come and walk by his side.

Swallowing nervously, she finally did come out, looking in all directions, ever watchful for the slightest movement, and jumping at every scurrying animal or bird flushed from hiding into startled flight. It was much brighter to her eyes here too. Eventually though, when nothing too dangerous had jumped out at them, she began to trust Jacob’s judgment and relax just a little.

But his mentioning that they would soon be reaching the town gave her reason to be worried again. “Jacob, I’ve always been told that humans don’t usually like my kind. How can I be safe in a whole town of them? Won’t it be dangerous?” They were walking along a hardened path that seemed to be made of stones made to fit together tightly, like a wall, only on its flat side. Jacob had called it a ‘road’ in his language. He gave her some kind of fruit that crunched when she bit into it and was tangy and full of juice. She munched on it happily as he told her about the human city.

"Yeah there's a good deal of hostility in these parts, but do not worry, I won't let their prejudice risk your safety, if they got something wrong with you then they can take it up with me. But for now, I think this should help you." Reachign into my bag I take out a plain brown cloak which I put on her, strapping it overh er shoulders and then pulling the hood over her head, nobody would see her drowish features unless they tried to look beneath the hood. "There, hopefully it will keep most people from overreacting." But then I look u pas the hooves I had heard earlier were getting clearer, up ahead I could see a patrol of soldiers up ahead, Crimson Mantles, that's what the army of the trade city's military forces was called because of their trademark crimson mantles, helmet combs and banners.

"Halt travelers! What do you have business in Jeffry's creek or are you traveling past it?" My eyes narrowed, that was odd, patrols didn't just ask strangers o nthe road if they were moving to a specific point... and now that I look at them... their mantles look rather worn out and their armor is a bit aged. No knights of the Crimson Guard would allow their gear to fall int osuch disarray, these fellow, were not Crimson Guards, most likely bandits attacking merchants or rich travelers going for the city to trade.

"We are simple pilgrims, here to visit the temple of the city before moving onwards." The false knights looked at one another, there were six in total, each one on an armor dressed horse, a rather fat man in a well decorated armor leaned over to the man who looked like the leader, another proof of their false identity as the man who leaned over was wearing an officer uniform, he would have been the one to be whispered to and not doing the whispering.

After they finished whispering the man gave us a smirk and I leaned my hand into my bag and grasped a vial of alchemsit fire, a chemical mixture that exploded int oa cloud of fire when exposed to impact and oxygen. "Well while you sure look the part of pilgrims do i not think you are what you tell us you are, no pilgrims would walk around in armor unless they got something precious to protect, Ibet yo ugot some precious holy item we can get good cash for! Sack them boys!" Two horsemen strode forward and I lashed out with my hand, throwign the vial, the cloud of fire that erupted caused the horses to panic and throw off their riders, their heavy armor breaking their bones as they were too big for them, and then ran off into the fields.

"Bandits dressed up as Crimson Guards should get some brains before they attempt it." I shouted out before I reached out with my hand and shouted out a single word. "Welvushack!" A bolt of lightning struck out of my palm and seared a hole through a third rider and he fell off his horse, the leader andd his two remaining men looked nervous but they drew their weapons and charged. "Take otu the wizard and capture the girl! We might get a good price for her on the underground slave market!" I drew upon my magic and prepared to cast another spell, but I had to concentrate, I could only hope spiriel didn't get injured.

Spiriel was unsure of what was happening at first. She could understand Jacob's words thanks to the spell he had cast on himself and on her, but she didn't know what these other humans were saying. Still, when they moved to attack Jacob, she grasped the understanding that these were bad men meaning them harm. And when the two men rode forward at her, it was obvious what they intended.

Spiriel froze, momentarily startled to inaction as the two humans on those large thundering animals bore down upon her. Then her survival instincts kicked in and she did what those instincts always compel to do; she turned and ran. She was fleet of foot - her drow agility rivaling that even of their surface cousins, the elves - but even she was no match for the mounted rider and his galloping steed. They ran her down, closing the gap quickly. She could hear the hoof beats drawing closer and closer behind her and in a panicked realization, she knew she couldn't get away.

She impulsively tucked herself into a tight ball and rolled to the ground. The first rider's horse was too close to avoid her, and going too fast. Fortunately for Spiriel, when Jacob had put her cloak on, he had draped it over the shield she had strapped to her back for easier carrying. The shield protected her now from the stumbling hooves of the great beast that tripped over her balled up form. The horse stumbled and went to it's knees on its forelegs, pitching the rider off over it's shoulder.

Although knocked about quite roughly, Spiriel was not hurt seriously thanks to her wooden protection. She barely had time to look up before the second rider bore down upon her. She ducked to one side and he passed her by, missing his grab for her by mere inches. She came to her feet and tried to draw the longsword Jacob had given her, but the other rider was coming at her too fast. She gave up on drawing the sword from it's sheath and scurried out of the rider's path again, but this put her nearer the downed rider, who by now was getting to his feet and coming for her.

Spiriel decided that she couldn't wait for them to come to her, she had to go on the offensive. She managed to pull the longsword out of it's sheath, but she knew she was no match for the bandit, who pulled his own saber and grinned at the prospect of fighting her. He could tell by the way she held the sword that she wasn't accomplished in it's use. She circled him, managing to get him between herself and the mounted bandit. She waited, trying to hold the sword in the 'guard' position that Jacob had taught her. The bandit made his move, lunging at her suddenly, but this is exactly what she had been waiting for. She saw him telegraph his intention just before he started moving, a skill she had learned from constantly having to ascertain the true intentions of the drow men and women who had abused her in the temple of the Spider Goddess.

As he made to lunge towards her, she flung the longsword directly at his face with all her strength, forcing him to spend his momentum parrying the flung obstacle. It gave her a moment during his confusion to act and she took full advantage of it. She drew the small curved sacrificial knife she had stolen from the temple before fleeing; the same one she had threatened Jacob with. Springing like a jungle panther, she went for his throat, hooking the point in on one side of his neck and spinning around behind him on the opposite side, drawing the knife across his throat as she went. By the time her arm had encircled his neck, his throat gapped open and a cascade of crimson blood spilled over her arm and down his chest. She let his body fall down and away from her, staring coldly at the remaining bandit who had come after her.

Past him, down the road about 75 feet, she could see Jacob dealing with the fat man and two other bandits who had been thrown from their horses and had now regained their feet. He could not help her. He had problems of his own. She looked back at the mounted bandit and knew she would have to deal with him on her own. He looked in shock and horror at what she had done to his companion, and that moment's hesitation gave her the chance to recover her longsword. Now she whipped off the cloak and slung the shield down into position like Jacob instructed her.

The rider spurred his horse towards her in another charge. She gulped down her fear. She knew she would have to get him off that beast if she was to have a fair chance to fight for her life. The horse and rider were coming fast! She didn't have much time to think. She acted out of desperation, totally unpredictable. She ran towards the horse, screaming like a banshee, her white silky hair streaming out behind her like a banner!

Seven feet away from being run down to the ground, her drow agility saved her again. She pivoted on the ball of her foot, to the opposite side of the rider's weapon hand, forcing him to have to strike across his horse's neck to get at her. She spun around in a whirling arc to her weapon side, letting her sword drop downward and bringing her shield arm up and out from her body, turning her arm so that the shield was parallel to the ground and letting her arm whip around, gaining momentum at the outermost arc of her swing. Time seemed to slow down for her. Every detail crystallized in her mind. Her motion brought the shield edge up just under the horses mouth and into it's throat!

The horse caught the edge of the heavy wooden shield in the throat, panicked, and veered suddenly, pitching the rider off to the side. Spiriel's arm went numb from the impact and the top edge of the shield broke off. The rider, now pitched unexpectedly to the ground, was momentarily stunned, but so was Spiriel from the horrendous impact. Pain ripped through her shoulder, and she couldn't lift the shield. She let it drop to the ground. She advanced on the downed bandit.

(to be continued next post. God, I love writing combat scenes!!!)

Spinning my body I rolled away from the men as they rode at me, I had fought many things in my short time as an adventurer and these horses were not the fastest thing I had to learn to time down. I stepped to thel eft, evading a blade from above by leaning my head to the side and then spun low and rolled beneath the two who were trying to cut me from both sides and with my spell charged I aimed both my hands forward and chanted out the words that would unleash the power I desired. "Vreske ven meka haulbo kza!" A massive cone of frost blew out from my palms, aimed high above the horses' bodies, but at perfect range at the riders, the three men had no time to react as my magic froze their upper bodies into ice statues, their bodies shielding the horses' heads from injury, the three doomed men fell off their steeds and shattered once their frozen bodies impacted the ground.

Standing up from my crouched position I saw Spiriel walking towards the remaining bandit, she was wounder on the arm but I must say how she handled herself was amazing considering just how inexperienced she was with actual combat. But I saw a glint in the soldier's hand and saw him pull out a small crossbow from his belt, he was lying on his side, hiding the fact that he was loading the weapon. Thinking fast I rushed forward and I drew upon my magic and with my left hand out I screamed out a magic spell. "Repluvio!" A gust swung out and pushed spirieal to the left as the man rolled over to fire, I didn't foresee the bolt striking my left arm and I have to grip my forearm in pain as it hit me just beneath the elbow, where my chainmail didn't reach.

Raising my right hand I raise two fingers and without speaking the words I fire a lightning bolt, frying the man to a smoldering corpse, I was bleeding badly, I am sure the bolt didn't hit any of my bones but it must have struck a nerve and at least one major blood vein. I couldn't remove the bolt safely until I have some proper medical potions, mine had run out for a week now. But I have other things to worry about, walking over to Spiriel where she lay in the grass I speak out in a slightly strained voice, having a bolt in your arm hurt like hell. "Are you okay Spiriel?"

The bandit laid in the dirt, apparently stunned, images of what she had done to his companion still in his mind. By now, with her cloak and hood gone, he knew he was facing a drow, and he thought based on her actions that she must be some kind of warrior or perhaps an assassin. He thought now that her seeming to be an inexperienced woman was just a charade on her part, designed to fool him and his mate. It had cost his partner his life in the blink of an eye. He was determined not to fall for any of her tricks.

Secretly, keeping his actions hidden from her, he loaded a small crossbow. Suddenly he rose up and fired at her just as a mysterious gust of wind, seemingly coming out of nowhere, blew her to the left, causing the bolt to pass by her, barely a hand's breadth from her breast.

Spiriel recovered from the gust and started towards him again. Her blood was up, and she was in no mood for this. The combination of adrenaline and anger gave her a cold, hard expression, and the cascade of blood all down the front of her armor from the other bandit who's throat she'd cut gave her a very menacing appearance. But she didn't feel as threatening and dangerous as she looked. She knew it would mean her death if her luck didn't hold through this encounter. She'd been exceptionally lucky already. It couldn't last forever.

The bandit, having been foiled in his attempt to shoot her, got quickly to his feet and squared off against her. Spiriel held the longsword in her right hand, her numbed left arm hanging down at her side. She was slightly pivoted to present her right side towards him, weapon foremost. Suddenly the bandit made a feint towards her left side. In her inexperience, she swung, trying to knock his blade away. He reversed his swing back under her guard and upwards, catching her right arm near her bicep.

The gash made her flinch back, and the pain was evident in her eyes as they teared up. It was a giveaway, but he thought it might yet be a ruse to lure him onto making a bold move. His attack had been tentative, as if he didn't really believe he could get through her guard and strike her. As a result, the wound, though painful, wasn't crippling enough to make her drop her sword completely. Still, she could not muster the strength to raise it to defend herself properly. She backed away quickly, making him come after her. Desperately she looked over his shoulder to see if Jacob could help her.

Before she could tell if she could expect any aid from Jacob, the bandit rushed her again. With a tremendous effort borne of desperation, she managed to raise her sword enough to take the downward blow, but the force of it jarred her wounded arm and swatted the longsword from her grip. Now having no other way to defend herself, she snatched the little knife again from her belt. The bandit realized now that she really was just an inexperienced wench who got lucky. A slow evil grin of triumph spread across his face as he savored the moment. He would take great pleasure in cutting this drow bitch down to size.

He raised his sword high and gave a thundering yell as he charged her. Spiriel screamed! She didn't know what to do, only that if that sword came down in that arc, that she had better not be under it. Knowing that if she backed away he would only keep coming until he overtook her, she opted instead to duck her head and charge into him. In her mind, she envisioned somehow being able to knock him down with a shoulder to his belly, maybe knock the wind out of him. It didn't work out like she'd hoped.

She tackled his torso, planting her shoulder, but only managed to bruise it on his armor. His bulkier body and superior weight stopped her cold. His sword was still raised high to strike, but she had calculated one thing correctly: she was now too close within his guard for him to swing the blade at her. He brought the pommel down into the middle of her back instead, driving a sharp, severe pain through her body that forced her to her knees, crying out in a shriek.

It was all she could do to breathe, and time seemed to stop for her again. She was now on her knees, her arms that had been wrapped around his waist, now hung somewhat loosely draped around each of his legs. She sensed him raising his sword for another strike. Her eyes glanced to her right, seeing her little hook bladed knife in her hand, but she saw something else too. She saw an opening in the backside of his knee that was unarmored, meant to allow him movement.

She struck with the speed of a rock viper, so common in the Underdark. The little hooked blade of the sacrificial knife sank into his flesh behind the knee, curving under the tendon running from thigh to calf. She ripped with all her remaining strength, outward, severing the tendon and bringing a scream to the bandit's lips as he collapsed backwards to the ground. Spiriel was on him in an instant, crawling up his body to straddle him the same way she had straddled Jacob that first time. She raised the little knife high above her head, both her hands on the handle now, and was about to drive it downward, aiming for the bandit's left eye.

Just then he brought up a heavily armored fist against the side of her head, knocking her off of him and away, stunning her senseless. He struggled to get to his feet, unable to put any weight on the leg that she had hamstrung. He found his sword and used it as a crutch, making his way over to stand above her once again. He looked down on her and spat on her in contempt. "Drow bitch! You WILL die NOW!!" So saying he raised his sword high above his head, ready to bring it down in a slice that would cut her head from her body.

But before he could begin his downward swing, the air was rent by a bright flash and a loud boom of thunder. The bandit stiffened and shook, his flesh charring and blackening as the powerful lightning bolt surged through him. It was over in less than a second. The man dropped to the ground, blackened and lifeless.

Spiriel regained enough of her senses to roll away from the dead man, holding tightly to her gashed arm, panting for each breath, her chest heaving. Blood trickled from just above her right temple, running down over her cheek from the blow she'd taken from the armored fist. After a few moments, from somewhere above her, a kind voice, one she'd come to know well, asked, "Are you okay, Spiriel?"

She opened her eyes to look up into Jacob's concerned face. She saw that he, too, had been injured, and it looked serious. "Jacob, you're hurt!" She hurriedly scrambled to her feet, retrieving her little knife from where she had dropped it when she'd been hit by the dead bandit. She hurried to where she had taken off her cloak and quickly cut two strips from the hem. Utilizing the knowledge of healing and treating wounds she had learned from her time in the temple of the Spider Goddess, she carefully bound Jacob's wound, working around the crossbow bolt. She dared not take it out yet.

Afterward, she bound the gash on her own arm. Her left arm had regained it's feeling, but her left shoulder still hurt tremendously. It felt as if the horse had tried to drag it out of the socket. She worked with the knife to cut a couple more strips from the hem of the cloak and fashioned two slings with them, one for herself and one for Jacob. By now, the cloak, once large for her and dragging the ground, now was shortened to hang just behind her knees. But still the hood was intact, and would hide her features.

"Jacob, I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life! And you saved my life too. I owe you a life-debt now. My life is yours until I can repay the debt."

"We're both a bit roughed up, I will get us some proper healing gear in the city." I chuckled and patted her shoulder as I walked over to the corpses and began to loot their corpses, they had apparently been doing this gig for a while now as my meager coins of five gold pieces and thirty silver pieces expanded into a total of one hundred and thirty gold pieces and two hundred and twelve silvers. Their gear was useless though, most of it was low grade stuff decorated to look expensive, the rest that was genuine was too old and rusted to even be worth scrap.

After a little while I find the single useful item these thugs had on them, a medallion with an enchantment that made it hard for piercing weapons and ranged weapons to hit the one wearing it. It was a useful item but also a very common one as well. "Well this is about the only thing that's worth something from these chumps. Here Spiriel you will need this more then I do." I handed her the medallion before putting the two full bags of coins into my magical bag, I could see the city up ahead but we'd be in trouble if these corpses were thought of as real guards. Cutting the head off the supposed leader I warp it in a bag before with Spiriel by my side walks towards the city.

"How are you holding up? This was your first real battle right?" I asked with a bit of concern as we walked towards the city, the bolt in my arm was still hurting but it didn't stop my arm from moving at least.

Spiriel fell in beside Jacob, still fingering the medallion he had placed around her neck. She was smiling happily, despite the many injuries she’d incurred from the fight. In her mind, Jacob had given her a gift.

As she passed the remains of her broken shield, she picked it up and showed it to him. “I’m sorry, Jacob. I broke it. It won’t be much good now, will it?” She let it drop among the discarded items from the bandits. “It was that big animal the man was riding; that is what broke the shield. But it did get the man on the ground. I couldn’t have hoped to fight him on that big animal.”
"How are you holding up? This was your first real battle right?"

She nodded her head, though it made the growing lump from where the armored fist had hit her throb with pain. She thought it would be better to switch to words to answer. “It was the first time I had to fight like that. I’m hurt, and there will be bruises and pain, but I’m alive. We are both alive. They are not.” In her mind, according to the drow way of thinking, that summed things up pretty well. They had survived; their enemies had not. Therefore, they were doing just fine. Nothing else mattered. "I think you'd better teach me more about how to fight with that sword." she said after a few moments of reflection.

Spiriel slipped an arm around Jacobs waist as they walked towards the city, pretending it helped her stay up with him despite her hurts and wounds. But it wasn’t hard to tell that she really didn’t need supporting. When they got close to the city gates, she slipped the cowl of the cloak up over her head again, hiding her features.