"Please," said Rathine. "Allow me to purchase you a beverage." As he spoke, the Daedra waved over one of the serving girls. Before Kriella could object, he had ordered her a drink and pressed something that looked like money into the young girls palm. Kriella did not know whether or not it was money – she had been taught that Daedra could not be trusted but Rathine had shown her already that he was no ordinary Daedra – and she did not intend to ask. They had left Skudge in Kriella's room. Joel had been forced to clean up Nyx's and allow someone else to take it. Kriella looked over and saw the man who had taken Nyx's room. He was quite tall and seemed to like wearing green. Kriella had thought it ironic at first that someone who liked green should take a room emptied by Emerald Vex, but had given it no further thought since. She was growing tired of waiting for Tenaka to return, and she could not go back to Geddon without learning where he was. She had never been possessed of much in the way of patience, and it was really starting to show. Skudge didn't seem to realise, but she was sure that Rathine had. He was simply too polite to mention it. She had thought of many things that she could do. Her first idea had been to contact the Great Lord, but she discarded that quickly. She had considered going to the Mages Guild, but she remembered Nyx telling her that they had been unable to help. One by one, she had ideas and then discarded them. The only thing left was to await Tenaka, but where he was, she did not have the faintest idea. "Don't you want your drink?" asked Rathine. As always, he was being the perfect gentleman, which only served to infuriate Kriella more. Ever since she walked from the Labyrinth with Tenaka, she had been taught that Daedra were evil, untrustworthy and generally unpleasant. Rathine was none of these things, or at least he seemed that way. She remembered the argument that had arisen between the Dremora and Skudge earlier. It seemed that Skudge remembered Nyx's encounter with Rathine none too fondly. In fact, he seemed very angry about what Rathine had made Nyx do. It had been quite funny to see the little scamp so irate. Eventually Kriella had had to quiet them. "I am not in the mood," she replied. "I am going to my room. I need to laugh again. Skudge should be able to make me do that." Rathine rose and held out his arm for Kriella to hold. The Dreadmaster smiled. She knew now that the Dremora had no romantic interest in her. He was simply trying to annoy her. She took his arm and allowed him to escort her to her room. As she was walking up the stairs, the thought occurred to her that before meeting Rathine, she would not have trusted a Daedra to escort her anywhere. But what with meeting Skudge who was perfectly harmless and Rathine who seemed almost noble, she was beginning to change her views. She opened the door and walked in with Rathine. As she closed the door and locked it, Skudge emerged from the wardrobe. She threw a small piece of bread and cheese in his direction and he hungrily caught it and began to eat. He gave Kriella a big, toothy grin. As expected, she laughed. "I hope you two can be civil today," she said. "Civil! With a Scamp!" said Rathine. He sounded as if the very idea offended him, but he was still smiling. Kriella knew that he was joking, but she doubted that Skudge would. "Civil!" replied Skudge. "Skudge not civil. Dremora horny bastard." Kriella burst out laughing and Rathine smiled. Skudge, not realising that they were laughing at him joined in. Suddenly, they stopped as Kriella heard a knock at the door. Skudge ran to the wardrobe and Kriella waited until he was hidden before opening the door. Outside was the man who had taken Nyx's room. "Yes," said Kriella. "Hello," replied the man. "I found something in my room, and Joel said that it might have been Nyx's. He suggested that I give it to you." "Oh. Come in." The man came in and a worried look crossed his face when his gaze met Rathine's. It was almost recognition, but nothing passed the Dremora's features. Kriella was briefly surprised but then thought no more of it. How could the man know Rathine. Mortals were not usually in the habit of knowing Daedra personally. She turned her back on the man to close the door and then felt the tell tale signals of magic being used behind her. "Kriella," shouted Skudge's high voice. "Look out!" Kriella turned and saw a sight that almost made her faint. Where the man had stood only moments ago, there now stood a strange beast. It was a deep, blood red colour, with horns and a sharply pointed tail. As she stood, transfixed by the sight, Rathine leapt to his feet and, dipping his shoulder, charged into the back of the crimson fiend. It stumbled slightly, but soon regained its balance, throwing out an arm to send the Dremora to the other end of the room. Kriella drew her dual katanas and raised one of them to point at the monster. It smiled and walked towards her, slowly and deliberately. The Dreadmaster charged, twin blades slicing. The creature stood tall and attacked. Kriella knew there was no real hope of beating it alone but still she went slowly towards it, katanas in hand. She lunged and slashed, but the creature beat back her every attack. Suddenly, she stepped back and delivered a stunning riposte, but still she could not breach the beast's defences. Rathine was still slumped in the corner. It must have hit him quite hard – she knew that the Dremora was not weak. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the wardrobe door slowly open. She looked over and saw the beast preparing to attack again, but instead of advancing, it seemed to be withdrawing. She watched it, curious now. As it reached the far wall, it flung its hands out before it and Kriella stood in surprise at the fireball that flew towards her. Moving quickly, she dodged it and turned so as to make the creature stand with its back to the wardrobe. She smiled and raised her swords again. The creature advanced and she saw the door open again. As the creature attacked, Skudge walked out of the wardrobe, holding his long, steel spear. As the creature prepared its attack, the little Scamp ran forward and impaled it on his spear. It straightened and then fell to the ground, ripping the weapon from Skudge's hands. Kriella walked over to Rathine, sheathing her swords as she went. He was beginning to awaken and Kriella knelt beside him. "What was it?" she asked. "Morphoid," he answered. "Another thing that Vex likes to use. He must be worried. Those things do not come cheap." "So Emerald Vex is worried is he?" said Kriella. "Rightly so."