"Hold, in the name of Lolth!"

It had been a long day guarding the temple, and now especially because the normal temple guards seemed to have suddenly disappeared without any reason at all. The female armored elite-guard stumbled across a small group of Drow who were 'behaving suspiciously', the behavior in question having something to do with walking around in a closed-off section of the temple.

"I..." the female started to say, but found herself being unable to do so, due to a nasty case of having an axe embedded in her gullet. The surprised female let out a groan and doubled over, resting on her knees. Before she could act next, she saw the floor getting closer and closer, and then all faded to black.

"RRRRAAGGHH, DIEDIEDIE!" shouted the gruff dwarf as he landed his axe again and again in her still-twitching headless corpse. "ACH, I be 'avin' so much bloody fun!" Korgan roared. "Why the bloody hell did we nay be doin' this 2 bleedin' months ago?!"

"It's not as easy as it looks," Phaere said, who had changed into a supple and well-fitting chainmail and brandished a pair of vicious twin maces. "All the guards have been taken care off on my end. Everybody has their price," she added. "But my Mother's personal guards and her inner circle could not be bribed. We are still in for a tough fight."

"Don't worry, Phaere," Imoen smiled. "We'll get to Sinvyl and Vinvyl before something bad happens to them."

"Where did they go?" Laska asked. "This temple is... confusing."

"The temple's lay-out is much like a web is spun," Viconia said. "It's tradition."

"Speaking of tradition..." Jan started to say, but was met with poisonous looks in his general direction. "Well, fine. This story might very well have been the key to surviving this temple, so don't come crying to me if we get horribly slaughtered. 'Oh, Jan, why didn't I listen to your amazing story when I had the chance!', your heads will shout as they roll across the floor."

"Och," Korgan chuckled. "There be only one 'ead 'ere," he grinned. "Oy, anyone be up for golf?"

The group continued their path through the inner sanctum of the temple, passing delicately carved murals, depicting the glories of Lolth through the high halls of the temple interior. Finally, they came to a large open space, seemingly a foyer, because at the end of the room were two gigantic double doors. There was no doubt their target was straight ahead. Unfortunately, there was also a large contingement of warrior-priestesses between them and the door.

"Hold!" one of the lead priestesses confronted the group. "I am war-commander T'tan, head of the order of the DemonWeb Slayers, keeper of the ninth circle of Zerranim, slayer of Niranta Longbranch the Drow hunter, destroyer of..." her closing argument was a shocked gurgle which followed a zoom through the air. The arrow that killed her entered through her eye and passed right through her brain and skull.

All eyes turned towards Imoen, still holding her bow. Imoen shrugged. "Got bored."

Naturally, the remaining warrior-priestesses stormed the party in a blind rage. It was Keldorn who waited for them and, with a few violent slashes into the air with Carsomyr, dispatched and/or dismembered several of them before they retreated for a more coordinated offense.

Unfortunately for them, they were not prepared for Minsc. The gentle giant danced to the rhythm of Boo's excited squeaks, grabbed one of the priestesses by the ankle, and literally used the woman as a flail to beat up two other priestesses.

Dynaheir slammed her staff into the neck of a particularly hapless priestess, pinning her to the wall. Suddenly, however, Dynaheir became aware that the priestesses had a small crossbow now aimed at her heart. The priestess grinned savagely, but Dynaheir grinned back. With a few magic words, a lighting-bolt shot through the metal staff, electrocuting the hapless priestess and turning her into a crisp.

Phaere was holding her own against no less than two priestesses. Her twin maces slammed into their armor, pressing both of them back. Phaere dodged a blow and managed to break through her opponent's defenses. One mace landed upon the priestes' skull, the other smashed her face, causing her to be dead before she even dropped to the ground. The other priestess took a few steps back. Now, one of the last ones left, she attempted a last-ditch effort to turn the tide... Phaere recognized the spell from her years of training at Arach-Tilith : the woman was attempting to summon a pit-fiend.

But just as Phaere wanted to shout out a warning, Laska took care at the problem, literally slicing the priestess to ribbons with her twirling blades.

The remaining three priestesses looked at each other for a moment, and then fled into a back-passage leading away from the ante-chamber.

"I guess they weren't true believers," Laska said.

"Only when they're winning," Viconia chuckled.

The two ornately carved doors opened easily, giving way to a foul and frequently used torture and sacrificial chamber. It was round, very high, easily fifteen meters and lined with obsidian-stone pillars. On the floor was a huge seal, the symbol of Lolth. In the middle of the seal was a small stone dais, with a wide sacrificial slab sitting on top. There was no window, no bench and no hope for anyone fated to die in this room.

The twins sat on the sacrificial slab, tied together. They were sobbing and frightened, holding on to each other in their possible final moments. At first they didn't even notice someone had entered the room.

And there, on the other side of the seal, stood Ardulace, smug as usual. Next to her stood Xorinn, Phaere's elder sister, wearing her usual black and red robes signifying her rank as a high-priestess of Lolth. Behind them stood Solafein with fifteen of his best warriors, male and female, the absolute elite of Ust Natha.

"Ah, there you are," Ardulace grinned. "How fitting that you all should see my moment of greatest triumph! Especially you, Phaere. Finally I shall prove to you how true power is wielded, my wayward child. And you, Laska," her expression softened. "You must be pleased to see the fruition of your hard work and toils."

The party circled around the trapped twins, taking up defensive positions and keeping an eye on the elite-soldiers. While Phaere kept an eye out, Imoen and Jan started to untie the twins.

"You went too far," Phaere snarled. "Attacking my domain, taking my sisters. I have officially embargoed House Despana. I've cut you off from all trade in Ust Natha!"

Ardulace laughed. "Dear child, in a few moments, you shall beg for scraps from my table."

"Not bloody likely," Phaere snarled. In the meantime, the two sobbing twins were released. Keldorn took the two girls away from the immediate scene of possible combat and ushered them off the dais. Phaere glanced at them over her shoulder and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Let me tell you what I'm going to do," Ardulace grinned. "It all started with Irenicus' visit... and his spectacular gift. Those eggs in hand meant I could do what I wish without the dragon breathing down my neck. This war with the elves would make me immortal. Ardulace, the destroyer of Suldenesselar, the scourge of Ellesime, the destroyer of the woods."

"Get to the point," Laska returned.

"I found a ritual," smiled Ardulace. "A ritual that would make me all-powerful. But I needed to collect the ingredients. The eggs were simple enough, but after that I needed the Book of Rituals from Vilaya and the Gem of Souls from the Forge. Items you were kind enough to provide. The Book of Rituals contains all I need to know, and the Gem of Souls focuses the portal. There were some other items, but those were easier to come by."

"What are you up to, vile fiend?" Keldorn said.

"And what about my sisters?!" Phaere snarled.

Ardulace smiled like a shark. "To sacrifice of my blood is to open the portal."

"You... you'd sacrifice your own children for power?" Keldorn blinked. "Is there no depth to which the Drow won't sink?"

"I will summon a creature that will win the war, make me immortal and will be the key to my eternal rule of all that I behold!" Ardulace grinned. "I've been opposed and criticized... but I will show everyone. Kill everything! Rule the Underdark!"

"The joke is on you, mother!" Phaere grinned. "Now you have no sacrifice!"

"Solafein!" Ardulace snarled. "Get them!"

"Sorry," Solafein said, letting the fifteen elite guards leave. "You're on your own on this one."

"What?! HOW DARE YOU?!"

"Easily," Solafein said while he and his soldiers moved towards the door. "Find another way."

Ardulace thought for a moment, but then apparently got a wicked plan to work with.

"Xorinn," Ardulace purred as he put her arm around her daughter's shoulder. Xorinn, being the loyal and devout priestess of Lolth, never even expected what would happen. A sharp pain exploded in her chest. She looked down to her chest and saw the dagger piercing her heart and suddenly felt her body go weak. "M-mother... M-m-mother?" died on Xorinn's lips. Her last breath rasped through the now silent chamber before she was no more.

A red light exploded from the Soul of Gems. Ripples coursed through the fabric of reality, tearing it apart. A huge tear appeared in the middle of the room, widening and stretching, warping reality. Beyond the opened rift, a hellish landscape could be seen. The air of sulphur spilled into the ante-chamber.

"I summon and bind you, Naraphim, King of Balors!" Ardulace raised her arms to the air. "Ravager of Celestia, destroyer of a thousand devas, Lord of Hunger!"

The suspense was murder. But finally, a tiny cloaked figure stepped through the huge portal. Without much ado, it threw off its cloak, revealing a little grey wrinkled man. "I am FiFi! OVERLORD OF EEEEEVVVVILLLLL!" it cackled merrily.

Ardulace was aghast and started at the weird little creature. "A-are you... Are you... Naraphim?"

Phaere smiled... snorted... chuckled... and finally belly-laughed. "This is IT?! This is your project?! This is your salvation? It's farce?! You're a farce!"

"Shut UP! Shutupshutupshutupshutup!" Ardulace started to pull her hair.

"Wow," Jan chuckled. "So mature you are, boss-Drow-lady."

"I AM mature. I AM, I AM, I AM MATURE!" Ardulace shrieked, being locked in a state of tantrum.

"'Am mature' or 'Amateur'?" Dynaheir chuckled.

Viconia nodded at her friend. "Good one."

Out of the blue, a huge, huge cloven hoof slammed on top of the little demon, seemingly coming out of nowhere. Two huge clawed hands clasped around the edges of the tear, enabling the demon to pull itself through the portal. There stood a powerful, huge Balor, red skinned and muscular with a flaming skull for a hear and flaming wings. The huge cloven hooves finished the image. The demon roared, shattering two pillars in the process while shooting fire from his skull.

"I told you to stay away from my summoners, FiFi!" the demon said. "Now, GET LOST!" he said and kicked the little demon back into his own plane.

Laska was more than a little impressed by this gigantic demon. This Balor was easily three times as large as the one she fought at the gnome village so long ago. Phaere's mouth moved like a fish caught on dry land and Ardulace was pleased beyond her wildest imagination.

"Och, 'e nay be lookin' so tough," Korgan snorted.

"Naraphim," Keldorn nodded. "A fallen angel turned Balor King, often connected with Demogorgon. Very powerful. He could wipe out the elves with ease. Possibly, he could spell doom for all of Amn as well."

"Now," Naraphim roared. "Who the bloody, bloody, bloody, bloody hell DARED to summon me at such an inopportune moment to such a backward plane where all the stupid people live?"

All remained silent for a moment. His visage suddenly made him seem like a cheeky rogue.

"I warn you, I am NOT in a good mood! I had finally found a way I could get rid of that 'X' in the scrabble-game I have going with Gra'azt and Orcus."

Ardulace slowly stepped towards the demon, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Great lord Naraphim. I, Ardulace, First Matron of Ust Natha, am the one who passed the trials and summoned you, lord, servant of Lolth."

"I do not serve Lolth, fool," the demon snarled. "But, I'll give you the standard rap. Hmm, how did it go again? Oh, yes... Ahum, I HAVE COME... YOU HAVE WRESTED ME FROM MY PLANE, DARKLING... HAVE GOOD REASON, OR I SHALL TAKE MY PRICE IN DARKLING BLOOD," Naraphim said. "Hm, how was that? Did you like the darkling addennum?

"I have good reason, lord of the nether pits! I beseech you to aid the drow cause in the war against our hated surface cousins, to carve their pale flesh!"

"First of all, don't use the word 'nether pit'," Naraphim sighed. "Everybody does that. It has a real negative connotation, you know? Oh, um, back to my role. AND WHAT MANNER OF TITHE WOULD YOU OFFER ME FOR SUCH A DEED, DARKLING? WHAT MANNER OF PAYMENT WARRANTS MY AID?"

"A year's supply of coughing syrup?" Jan said, but Imoen jabbed him in his side before he could continue.

"I offer you these, King of Balors," said Ardulace, taking out three eggs. "Eggs of a silver dragon, a self-righteous creature of light. Yours to do with as you please, in return for your aid."

Naraphim looked at the eggs for a moment, but then, in one foul swoop, scooped up Ardulace with a massive claw and raise her to his face, squeezing her in his powerful hand. "What kind of fool do you think you are taking me for?!" he roared. "Did you really think I wouldn't know?!"

"Wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-wh-whaaaa?" Ardulace stammered.

Phaere giggled like a school-girl and sing-songed : "Problem, mother?"

"Ph-Ph-Phe-Phe-Phe-Phea... Phaer... Phaere..."

"The eggs you gave to Naraphim are fakes," Phaere grinned. "The real ones are stashed in a safe place."

"You... you evil child!" Ardulace snarled. "You serpent, you viper, you liar, you.... I wish you had NEVER BEEN BORN!"

"I am treacherous?" Phaere said. "You're not the one who exposed your own daughter to the most horrible and wicked of tortures. Suffer, Ardulace. You deserve to suffer."

"I AM STILL IN THE ROOM HERE!" Naraphim snarled.

"Hmm," Laska broke in. "I wonder how many times I'd have to hack at that to make it fall."

"What was that?" Naraphim suddenly spoke, the sniffed the air. A broad grin appeared on his mostly featureless face. "My, my, not one but two children of Bhaal here. And," he turned to Laska, "a very famous one to boot. Do you know you are the subject of some important betting-pools in the Abyss?"

"Bhaal?" Ardulace stammered.

"Ah, you do not know," the demon grinned. "Allow me to show you."

The cavern bathed in gorgeous light, but as soon as the light faded, Laska knew something had gone wrong. "ME BEARDDDDDD! I BE 'AVIN' ME BEEEEEAAARRRDDDDDDDD!" she heard from behind. Several similar comments about noses, legs, muscles and hair followed. Phaere, Solafein and Ardulace looked upon the party with utter shock, horror and even revulsion in one case.

Laska looked at her fingers, and instead of the ebony hue she had had for almost four months, she once again had her grey skin. She was an elf again.

"You... you.... you..." Ardulace stammered. "I... I..."

"NOW!" Naraphim snarled. "You have summoned me and you have no tithe. I shall have my tithe one way or another. And I shall take it from you."

Ardulace's face contorted in horrible pains. She screamed and screamed in utter pain and terror. Her body shook and flailed, then fell limp. Her eyes suddenly burst open... blood-vessels on the surface of her skin blasted open, spreading parts of Ardulace's flesh. Her blood started to boil, causing terrible, terrible pains. Finally, Naraphim had had enough and simply squeezed, crushing Ardulace without any form of effort. He dropped the bloody corpse and above her now dead husk, a light-blue hue formed... which eventually ended up shaped like a very frightened looking Ardulace.

"Ah, yes," Naraphim grinned. "You will be my plaything for all eternity. I shall mold you, let you experience pain like you've never imagined. Let you suffer without any hope for release in death."

Ardulace screamed as her spirit was impaled by Naraphim's claw.

"And now I shall go," Naraphim grinned. "A pity there was no real tithe... but it was fun nonetheless... and I got a new ornament for my bone-tree."

Naraphim retreated through the portal, but Ardulace... Ardulace screamed as the demon took her with him. She desperately tried to get away and back to her body, anything but Naraphim... but it was to no avail. Ardulace's tear-filled, terrible screams sounded and continued... until the tear closed and there was no longer a connection between the planes.

"I think this means the war is over?" Solafein said. Phaere nodded briefly.

"Good," Solafein said. "I gather we must find a way for our foreign friends to leave the city before they are discovered."

"I... I..." Phaere said.

Laska moved forward. "Can you smuggle my friends and Phaere's sisters back to my house?" she asked. "I... I'd like to talk to Phaere for a moment."

"Consider it done... elf," Solafein nodded.

A few moments later, the ante-chamber was empty save for Laska and Phaere.

Phaere said nothing. Instead, she stared at Laska... hard. An expression of disbelief mixture with anger boiling beneath the surface.

"Phaere, I..."

Laska's soft-spoken apology died in her mouth and was replaced by the sound of a flat hand striking against skin. An angry red hand-shaped welt was still apparent, but fast fading on Laska's left cheek. Laska supposed she deserved it... but it still stung.

"You're an ELF!" Phaere snarled, as if fire spat out of her mouth. "You're a gods-be-damned ELF!"

"Phaere, I wanted to..."

"SILENCE!" Phaere screamed, her voice echoing through the now devastated ante-chamber of the temple. "I... I knew elves could be treasonous dogs, but this... A spy? They sent a spy to slink into my bed to try to steal the secrets of the city? Is that was you were up to, elf?!"

Phaere's spiteful eyes softened, as if she could no longer contain the turmoil raging inside of her. Her eyes became moist and started to glisten in the light of the many candles reflecting in them.

"NO!" Laska said, trying to dissuade Phaere from assuming this one untruth. "I never spied for..."

"LIAR!" Phaere snarled. "You USED ME! YOU made me lo..." Phaere swallowed her words before continuing is a most muted tone of voice, "and then you used me..."

"Phaere, you have to believe me! I am no sp..."

"Believe you?" Phaere whispered. "BELIEVE YOU?! Look at you!!! You're a Lolthdamn treefucker!" Phaere snarled and advanced at Laska in a fit of rage. She punched and kicked at Laska, but her current state of anger crudely affected her combat-disciples. Her blows were uncoordinated and did not connect, though it was obvious that Phaere wanted to break Laska's neck with her bare hands. Laska, not wanting to hurt Phaere anymore than she already had been, side-stepped Phaere and slipped behind her. Her strong arms clasped around Phaere, one around her waist, the other right above her chest. She held on to the struggling Phaere and pressed her cheek against hers, in an attempt to calm her down.

"Sssh," Laska whispered gently. "Ssssssh..."

It seemed to work. Phaere whimpered somewhat and let out a sob ever so often.

"I'm not a spy," Laska whispered. "We didn't even know about the war between Ust Natha and Suldenesselar before we got here. Hell, we didn't even know about this city existed before we got into the Underdark."

"Why, then?" Phaere whispered. "Why did you come here to ruin my life?"

"Never, never... Look, we were chasing Irenicus," Laska said. "He... took something from us. He passed through here, but had gone before we got to the city. Then we met this dragon and we came here to find her eggs. When we got them, Ardulace closed the city. You have to believe me! I only met you that day when we rescued you from the mindflayers. I never wanted to hurt you..."

"Let me go," Phaere whispered and, after deciding she had calmed down, Laska let her out of her grasp. Phaere faced away from Laska for a while, but then turned around, slowly. Her eyes were still moist, but her expression had softened, and Laska could see that Phaere believed her.

"Irenicus gave us the eggs, which gave Ardulace free reign to wage war on the elves. He has a lot to answer for," Phaere said.

"I know."

Phaere fell silent for a while. She laid her hand across Laska's cheek. The tattooed elf replied by keeping that hand firmly in place with her own. "Is your name even Laska?" Phaere asked after a while.

"It is," Laska nodded. "Laska Leafwalker."

"You look so different," Phaere said. "So odd... Your tattoos are different. Your skin... It's so light. And your hair is... so... so dark."

"This is who I am," Laska said. "Really who I am. What you see is what you get. Well, at least, now you do."

"You... were so brutal in the arena. I should have guessed back then," Phaere said.

"Elves aren't brutal... I wasn't exactly myself back then," Laska said.

Phaere let her hands slide over Laska's sides, pressing against her exposed skin, taking in Laska's warmth. "Funny," Phaere said as she flew into Laska's tight embrace and pressed into her lover, "you look different but you feel the same."

Laska said nothing but let her hand slide through Phaere's hair.

"You're somewhat taller," Phaere looked up. "So strange... But, why did the Demon Lord call you by such a strange title? 'Child of Bhaal'?"

"Long story," Laska sighed, but cracked a smile in spite of herself. "But, basically, it means I'm one screwed up kid."

"You really aren't a spy," Phaere stated. "What we have... is real," it seemed a great relief to her. But the ugly truth remained.

"You're First Matron of Ust Natha now," Laska said, coming to the truly hard part of this terrible conversation. She held on to Phaere even tighter. "Your mother and sister are dead. Only you and the twins are left. Ust Natha is yours. You can shape it the way you like it. End the war... rebuild. Proper."

"But without you, is that what you want to say?" Phaere asked.

"I thought I belonged here... Perhaps I once did," Laska felt tears sting in her eyes. "I... know different now. I... I have to go back to the surface."

"No, no... no," Phaere whispered. "You can stay here with me. You and me together... We will make Ust Natha great again. We... we'll be great together. You and me... You and me..."

"I... I can't, Phaere," Laska said.

"But I want you to stay!" Phaere sobbed. "I... I can pay you whatever you want. Give you a position of power, slaves, wealth! Just... Just stay here with me."

"It's impossible," Laska braced herself.

"Is it... because we are forbidden? An elf and a Drow?" Phaere said. "I am First Matron now! I can do whatever I want and the people just have to accept it or suffer the consequences, dammit!" she snarled.

"If I'd say yes now, I'd let you make the same mistakes Ardulace did," Laska spoke sincerely, and could tell from Phaere's eyes she agreed. "Your people would never accept it, especially not after right this war. I've heard them talking in the streets, heard what they say about elves. You wouldn't be safe if you'd suddenly bring in an elven consort..."

"And... Irenicus," Laska said. "He had stolen my spirit, most of that which makes me me. And Imoen... she suffers too. We have to find him and take back what is ours."

"But..." Phaere sobbed. "I don't want you to go!"

"I have to go," Laska felt tears well up. "For both our sakes."

"But..." Phaere started to say, but Laska tilted her head towards Phaere, pressing her lips on Phaere's. It became a hungry kiss, the two women closing their eyes and actively probing each other's mouth. The kiss deepened and deepened, and took on an edge of desperation. Both women knew it was to be their last. They continued their exploration for what seemed to be an eternity. Laska felt Phaere's hands slide into her hair, guiding the movements of her head while she herself pulled Phaere to her with her arms around her. The kiss went on and on, but finally, both women had to reluctantly pull away.

There was nothing left to be said. Laska touched Phaere's cheek for one more time, and then turned away, walking towards the door. Her footsteps and pebbles grinding over obsidian were the only sounds in the great ante-chamber.

"Please don't leave," Phaere sobbed. "I'll give you anything you want! Please stay! Magic, power, status... PLEASE!"

Laska said nothing, kept her back turned to Phaere and kept walking.

Phaere collapsed to her knees in wild sobs, cradling herself. "I love you."

Laska stopped dead in her tracks. Finally, one realization finally hit her mind. What had started as a pure raw sexual attraction while under the influence of the taint of Bhaal had evolved. Over the last few months she had gotten to know Phaere intimately and learned who she was, rather than who she presented herself to be. Laska and Phaere had grown towards each over, had shared thoughts and secrets, had been with each other more or less constant.

Laska turned halfway around, her gaze locking with Phaere's to finally give word to something which had been growing since they had met. "I... love you too, Phaere," Laska spoke. "And that's why I have to go."

She didn't want to use Phaere for her own personal gain. She didn't want to endanger Phaere by angering her new subjects by choosing an elf for a consort, something literally unheard of in Drow society... Not to mention, she feared what would happen if the taint would take control of her again, or if the remainder of her spirit would athrophy so far that Laska would be reduced to pure murderous instinct. She wanted to stay with Phaere, but she knew that she could not do that without risking Phaere's life in numerous ways. So, there was only one option. But there was one thing left to say.

"Phaere?" Laska asked. "You asked me a question last night, remember?"

Phaere nodded.

"The answer would have been 'yes'," Laska smiled

Through the tears and sobs, Phaere managed to return a smile that would melt the polar ice-caps. Her eyes sparkled with new hope. "One day, Laska," Phaere said. "You must come back to Ust Natha. And I will show you a tolerant, open and prosperous free-state where all are welcome to trade and visit! Come back in a few decades, Laska. You'll never recognize the place."

Laska managed one last smile and turned towards the door, turning her back towards Phaere. But every step closer to the door added another tear on her face. When she finally reached the door she was crying, weeping for a love found and lost again. She opened the door and heard Phaere's sobs increase... but she did not look back, for she knew that if she did, she would return to Phaere and stay with her. It took all her willpower to press on... and to close the door behind her.

A rather down Laska was teleported by Solafein into her house. Inside the house, there was a frantic pace. Everybody was running around putting all their collected crap into one Bag of Holding.

"These artworks too!" Viconia shouted from her room. Later, Minsc walked out dragging a very heavy obsidian-stone carving out of the room. "And that one! And that one too!"

Laska wasn't in the mood. She tried to dry her tears but failed.

"You look like you could use a sisterly hug," Imoen said and provided Laska with one.

Immediately, Laska started to cry again. "Love sucks, Imoen," Laska sobbed. "I now lost two people I loved in so short a time.... I... It's just not worth it, Imoen. It's not worth the pain..."

"Are you almost ready to go?" Solafein said. "I have ways to get you out of the city, through Phaere's network, but we still have to hurry."

He was answered with many 'just a minutes'.

"Laska, are you alright?" he asked.

"Gee, do I LOOK alright?"

"Guess not. But Phaere wanted me to give you this," he said and handed her a scroll. "A message from my people to yours. A Peace-offering, including all demands and concessions. Apparently, she'd been working on one for some time now. It's a pretty good deal. Ust Natha will even be paying the elves some restitution."

Laska nodded. But didn't really care anymore. She wanted no more eggs, no more Adalon, no more Underdark and no more Ust Natha... and a LOT more Phaere.