Here we go, folks, a PORC Tale from Kriella and the others---lest you think to skip over it, it's best you don't--it has some 
minorly important info that when it comes up later, you'd be like 'Huh?' when you read what happens much later...Thanks 
to Chris for letting me speak for Kriella ;-)

Rathine rubbed his pointed chin as he watched Kriella come out of her trance.  The Dreadmaster was lovely, even
more so than Nyxalinth.  But the Dremora Lord wasn't a fool.  He didn't care to join his clan brothers in the Darkness--the 
Darkness that Nyxalinth had sent them to in Battlespire.  Besides, it was the Shadow Walker who truly fired his blood.
     He thought back to the one and only time he'd had her in his bed, held her in his arms.  How magnificent she had
been!  A mortal truly worth of anyone's attentions.  And that had been under coercion.  Envy burned in Rathine's heart as
he wondered what it was like for the dark elf, Zerith, to have her willing and eager for him.  His hatred of Emerald Vex 
flared even hotter.  The Dremora Lord smiled as he imagined the look on his old rival's face.

    Skudge watched the Dremora through slitted, narrow red eyes.  He was smart enough to know that Rathine was
thinking of Nyx again.  The look on Rathine's face was a mixture of what Skudge called the 'Horny Bastard' look, along 
with envy and the faraway look of memory.  The little Scamp glared daggers at the dremora, who ignored him.  Skudge 
shook his head.  He had a very bad feeling about what was going on in Rathine's mind--and heart.

    Kriella, now fully awake, noticed that look as well.  At first, she'd thought it had been directed at her, and her ire had
rose up.  Then she saw the faraway look in his eyes, and she knew.  She cleared her throat.  "Rathine."
   "Hmm?  Oh, beg pardon.  I was in thought."
   "As I noticed," she remarked drily.  "Nyx knows that we are on our way.  She knows what we have planned."
   "Ahh.  Very good," he replied.  "I will enjoy seeing her again."  A strand of autumn brown hair had come loose from the
horsetail he wore: he tucked it back in absently.
   "Seeing all you get to do!" Skudge snarled.  "Zerith not let you touch! Zerith knock your ass down!"
   Rathine's violet eyes narrowed dangerously.  "I personally do not give a cracked piece of iron about Nyx's dark elf
paramour," the Dremora replied coldly, "nor does Clan Dremora.  The dark elf can fall into the Lake of Dreams, for all any
of us care."  The anger and jealousy were plain in his voice as he spoke.  "I am here because Imago Storm has
requested it."  Suddenly his face and voice were once again as cold and smooth as a glacial lake.  His handsome
features once more unreadable, he said, "Do not attach emotions to my tryst with Nyxalinth," he continued coldly.  "Clan
Dremora is honorable--I am here to repay a debt."  He turned his broad back to them.

    Kriella and Skudge exchanged a look  Once again, the Dremora had used the Shadow Walker's nickname, seemingly
unaware of it.  And there was no mistaking the emotions in his voice.
   "Skudge, would you like to go downstairs and get some lunch?" Kriella asked him.
   "Yes!  Skudge want!"  And he did, but he also winked at Kriella to show he understood what she was doing.
    "Come on then."  Without a second glance at the brooding Dremora Lord, they went downstairs.
    Once out of earshot, Kriella turned to face Skudge.  She got down on a level with him, saying, "We have a problem,
little friend."
   Skudge nodded.  "Rathine not just horny bastard, he horny bastard in love!"
   Again, Kriella was stunned by the scamp's obvious intelligence.  "You're right, Skudge.  But how could you tell?"
   Skudge smiled.  "He have same look on face when he talk about Nyx as Nyx have when she talk about Zerith, or you
when you talk about Tenaka."
    The Dreadmaster stood back up, shaking her head in wonder.  "Well, come on, Skudge.  Let's get you some lunch.  I
may as well get some for myself, and some ale, as well, for I feel that Tenaka and the others will return anon."  The dark
elf and the scamp trotted down the steps.


----------------------------
Shadow Walkers Realm
http://www.livid.org
mailto://sherrian@pagan.net

PGP Public Key Fingerprint: F3C8 947E 0895 B415  00FC 5980 6497 91F4