Laska allowed her horse Honor to rear and kick out with his two forelegs threateningly. By now, several unknown assailants had jumped out of the bushes, and had dropped their magical stealth-protection. It was amazing to her that Viconia had actually managed to find out they were being followed, since Laska had not noticed at all.

The party rounded up the horses together in a circle before dismounting and grasping for their weapons. Korgan jumped off the cart with a vicious grin, just as the horses headed for the nearest exit of the grove they were currently occupying. These were warhorses, trained to get themselves out of a battle-situation, while staying near enough to their riders that they could be fetched quickly.

This left Laska and her friends faced with nine opponents, the most distinctive feature of their attire being a bawdy pin on their lapels. But an elven wizard, a gray-skinned moon elf wearing a purple robe stepped forward, while giving Laska a piercing stare.

"Oy, we be breakin' skulls soon!" Korgan chuckled while the group took up defensive positions. Keldorn clutched Carsomyr like a pride-filled hen, while Viconia and Dynaheir were preparing defensive spells. Jan was looking very jovial as he loaded his newly adapted crossbow. Minsc gently put Boo in a protective part of his armor and then clasped Lilarcor... ready to administer the very boot of justice!

Laska was grinning like a shark while she twirled her blades in a threatening fashion. Even though she was not even able to cast the simplest of spells, she was a master in the other elven art : Swordplay. It came naturally to her. What took an elven bladesinger centuries to learn, she performed without trouble the first time she picked up the maneuver. Her dual blades twirled in perfect harmony.

"Impressive," the enemy moon elf spoke in a gruff, accusing voice. "But if you were a real elf, the forest would hold no secret for you... and you would have known we were following you... You have only confirmed what I already suspect."

"Who the bloody hell are you?" Laska snarled. "And what do you want with me?!"

"And, more importantly," Korgan added, "which bodypart would ye like to 'ave chopped off first? HAR!"

"If you seek to rob us," Keldorn spoke, "I suggest you move on. The losses would outweigh the gain."

"MINSC WILL SHOVE A PINE CONE UP THE BUTTS OF EVIL!" Minsc shouted. "Oh, Boo, that was such a nasty thing to say!" he said while his hamster seemed to giggle.

"We are not brigands," the moon elf spoke softly. "And we are merely interested in Laska... Leafwalker," he spat out the name. "How appalling... That one of the most noble family lines in elven history would produce a creature such as you... I know what you are, Laska... And you are no elf..."

"I AM an elf, fool," Laska snarled, but knew exactly what her opponent was talking about.

"You are not an elf... You are a copy of one... A failed copy at that," the male mage sneered. "I am sickened by your presence. Your very existence defiles everything you touch, even the very forests. Your taint marks you..."

"I am an elf," Laska repeated softly this time. "And I'm damn proud to be an elf..."

The mage merely shook his head and sighed. "You are no elf... You are an animal with the face of an elf... You can never be a true elf... But that was not the point of our discussion. I am merely to detain you until our Master Harper arrives."

Laska never let it show, but the words of her elven kinsman had left gaping wounds in her elven spirit. She knew her elven spirit was incomplete because of the taint, and that there were aspects of elven life that she would never experience. But that certainly would not mean she was not an elf, did it?

"Now, I wouldn't go and provoke her like that," Jan chuckled. "You know, when I was little, and we still lived in our old house in the forest, we lived next to a rather eccentric moon elven family. You see, whenever an elf from this family got angry, he actually EXPLODED! Of course, we didn't know we were living next to kamikaze moon-elves, but it soon became painfully clear when my uncle Robby went over to the neighbor's house to borrow an axe. Why, our next door neighbor literally exploded with rage, taking uncle Robby with him! Unbelievable... the only thing uncle Robby wanted was to chop down the forest to put an 18-hole golf-course in the backyard, can you believe that overreaction? Same thing happened when my aunty Gradia wanted went over to bring some mud cakes... which were made out of actual 100%-pure mud from our very own pig-pen, those ungrateful elves... But the real blast came at the family reunion of 1298. It's a family-tradition that we all sing together before we dash off to the snack-table. Unfortunately, the song Ma picked that day was 'Elves are a bunch of pointy eared orc-shaggers'. The neighbor's house exploded right off the forest-floor and shot straight up into the sky... And that, my friends, is the story of the first moon elves on the moon."

Everyone in the glade, the two moon elves included, stared at the gnome with open mouths.

"Is... he always like that?" the male elven mage asked.

"Pretty much continuously," Laska replied.

Another figure stepped forward, an half-elven female wearing a splendid white leather armor. More importantly, Laska recognized the figure as the strange assassin that had appeared when she had returned a little bird to Xzar...

"Err, hi," Laska grinned uneasily as she recognized the female assassin. "How's the heart?" she added sheepishly.

"Fine," the assassin replied sharply, aided by a hateful glare. "Considering you shoved a moonblade through it..."

Before Laska could formulate a reply, a bright light formed in the middle of the grove. A dimension door opened, and through it stepped three people. One was a tall and haughty human man dressed in plain leathers. Next to him stood two half-elves. One of them was a rather nervous-looking male. The other...

"Well," the female half-elf spoke in a thick Tethyrian accent, "if it isn't the self-destructive child..."

"Well," Laska retorted, "if it isn't the dog-faced woman..."

"Well, it is about time you got here," Jaheira told Laska as she and her party had just entered the Friendly Arm Inn.

"We went on a slight detour," Laska replied, taking an immediate dislike to the bossy woman standing in front of her.

"Yes, I can see that," Jaheira said, casting a suspicious glance at the hooded Drow who was glaring through the room like a very suspicious hawk. Imoen, the girl Laska considered to be a sister, was constantly trying to soothe the mysterious Drow woman, not paying attention to the fact that Viconia had been viciously slaughtering her over and over again with her eyes alone.

"I do not think it is wise to travel with one such as her," Jaheira whispered. "Your own heritage not withstanding, I fear that she will betray us the first chance she shall get."

"I choose my own friends and companions," Laska all but snarled in return. "We found her shivering in the cold and being chased by a Flaming Fist guard who tried to kill her for being Drow... Well, we returned the favor..." Laska grinned.

"You didn't," Jaheira sighed. "So, you antagonize the entire Flaming Fist to rescue a stranger... possibly a criminal stranger who just happens to be a Drow... And now you intend to allow her to travel with you? One of the most recognizable evil races of Toril? You certainly know how to attract attentiontion to yourself, especially when its definitely not desirable."

"Now, now, dear. P-p-please. Laska does have a p-point, w-when she..."

"Be silent, Khalid," Jaheira turned her head sharply.

In the background, Imoen was showing a very irritated Viconia all manner of surface utensils. "And this," Imoen cheerfully continued, "is a little instrument we call a fork. It's like a shovel to dig food in your mouth..."

Viconia was simply staring blankly. "I know... we wore shoes in the Underdark too," she spoke in a slow, ridiculing tone.

"I know that, of course," Imoen chuckled. "Just looking if you were still paying attention..."

"Insipidly cheerful child," Viconia shook her head.

"Hey," Imoen suddenly turned her head towards Jaheira. "Did you know how much trouble Las and I had to go through just to convince Vic here to accept the gift of an extra blanket for her ratty old bedroll? It's almost as if she doesn't trust us!"

"I don't," Viconia muttered bluntly, her eyes darting from patron to patron, assessing possible threats.

"Though I protest," Jaheira sighed. "Your companions are your own choice... But I must insist we leave for Nashkel immediately."

"WHAT?!" Laska chuckled. "Not a chance. I go where I bloody like! And I don't WANT to go to Nashkel just yet. I'd like to find the sod who killed Gorion," her eyes glazed a little, the terrible pain still being quite fresh. "Besides... I still need to get some serious drinking done."

"Yeah!" Imoen confirmed. "Errr, not about the drinking... about Gorion!"

"I go where they go," Viconia stated bluntly. "I really don't have a choice..."

"Oh, this is intolerable!" Jaheira said. "People are counting on us, and you want to sit here to wet your whistle?!"

"That's basically it, yes," Laska said. "And why are people counting on you in the first place? I can't be because you're a great hero, because you really don't look like one."

"I cannot discuss this with you," Jaheira crossed her arms and gazed the elf in the eyes. "But it's very urgent..."

"Ah," Laska grinned, "so you want me to take off for places unknown, for reasons unknown, with people I don't know, FOR people I don't know and to fight enemies I have never heard of... Oh, yeah, you're really convincing me here."

"Look!" the seething half-elf snarled. "Are you going to escort us to Nashkel or not?!"

"Knowing my sister," Imoen chuckled. "Not..."

"Jaheira," Khalid tried once more. "P-p-perhaps you should..."

"Quit, dear," Jaheira said and directed her ire at the elf once more, while Laska downed her first cup of ale and asked Bentley for a second one. "Alright, Gorion told us you were headstrong, but this is intolerable," Jaheira said, tugging at Laska's arm. "Come on, child. We are leaving now," she continued tugging. "I said : COM..."

Jaheira never knew what hit her... A balled fist struck against the right side of her jaw from point-blank range. Aside from an audible crack, the relatively light half-elf was given momentum by the force of the blow and was actually sent flying through the air, moving to the left of the moon-elf and landing on top of a table, rolling from it and ending up faced down on the floor, quite unconscious.

"Jaheira! S-Speak to me!" Khalid emitted a horrified shout as he ran towards his fallen wife and supported her back.

"KA-POWWWWW!" Imoen giggled as she imitated the uppercut which her elven sister had just delivered. Over and over again, the little rogue was shadowboxing against an unknown opponent, while even Viconia seemed to chuckle under her hood. In the meantime, Laska downed her second ale and tossed a few coins on the counter.

"Come on," Laska told her friends. "Let's get out of here..."

"You broke my jaw," Jaheira snarled as she narrowed her eyes at the tattooed elf. "In three separate places... It really hurt..."

"Good," Laska returned in a slow voice and with a half-grin.

Then, the starting contest resumed.

"I hope you lost a couple of teeth too," Laska grinned.

"I did," Jaheira growled back. "Perhaps I should return the favor."

"Wooo!" Jan whooped. "Cat-fight!!!"

"Now, now, ladies," the rat-faced Master Harper said, moving between the two glaring women. "We have no time for this. As Master Harper, I have decisions to make..."

"Master Harper," Jaheira spat. "You are not Master Harper yet, Galvarey..."

"I soon will be," Galvarey smirked, and looked as if he had just had a bag filled with gold dropped in his lap. Then, he directed his attention at Laska and her party. Scraping his throat, the rat-faced man continued. "Laska Leafwalker and friends, I would have words with you..."

"I would have fists with you, if you don't start making sense!" Laska snarled.

"See, Galvarey?" Jaheira snarled. "Is she not all that I told you she was?"

"Harpers!" Keldorn suddenly spoke. "Yes, it makes sense, now. These are Harpers, Laska. And organization that does good work, despite of what you might have heard. Perhaps we should hear them out."

Laska noticed, however, that Keldorn's grip on Carsomyr had not lessened in intensity. So, even he did not trust these Harpers completely. The situation was growing increasingly tense. Minsc and Korgan were twitching for battle, and it would only be a matter of time before they would simply storm into the group of Harpers to wave their weapons about.

"Very astute, paladin," Galvarey smiled. "Miss Leafwalker, do you know why we are here, then?"

"Because you're a complete bastard, and you get off on hassling hapless travellers from the bushes?" the elf tried. A sudden snicker sounded from Khalid, and even a small tug at the corners of Jaheira's mouth could be seen.

"No," Galvarey said with barely contained anger. "I am certain you do indeed know why we are concerned about you."

"Any reason why I should care?" Laska chuckled.

"Any reason why we be just standin' 'ere instead o' choppin'?" Korgan asked.

"You are blunt, as is your life," Galvarey spoke, as if preaching to a choir. "An existence pushing through everything in its path."

"Careful, Laska," Viconia whispered lowly, so that only elven ears could pick up the sound. The Drow still made sure she was out of earshot of the elven Harper by whispering into a breeze blowing away from his sharp elven hearing. "This one seeks to convince his own partymembers more that he seeks to convince us. There is something not quite right about this Galvarey, and I know a deceptive speaker when I see one."

"Let me ask you a few things straight away," he directed at Laska. "Nothing too intrusive, I assure you. What are your earliest memories? Are they happy ones?"

"Hmmm," Laska said, pretending to think. "Well, I gotta really drunk on day and forgot everything," she joked. "And even if I could remember, I wouldn't tell you anything..."

Another tense moment followed as Galvarey remained silent. "Confrontational, I see... Not good. Tell me, do you have... violent thoughts?"

"Let's see," the elf muttered. "Would you consider me shoving a branch up your butt violent? Would you consider me squeezing your cretinous head open like a pimple, violent? Would you consider me slowly removing your ribcage with a blunt butter knife particularly violent? Or would you simply start crying when I poke you in the chest?"

Again the situation was increasingly tense. Weapons were raised on both sides, and it seemed a fight would be inevitable. Still, Khalid was snickering, and this time, he was silenced by a harsh glare from Jaheira.

"Well, no surprises there," Galvarey said, looking a little paler. "Ingrained response, I would assume. Now then, what is your favorite color?"

"Hmmm, red," Laska nodded.

"Red! The color of Blood! I should have guessed!" Galvarey cried like a priest of Cyric.

"But I'm also partial to black," the elf grinned.

"Black like the void! Or shadows! Or death!"

"I like green too," Laska nodded.

"Green! Jealousy, or the gangrenous limb!"

"But my favorite color has to be," Laska chuckled, "Turnip lime-Cyan." When she gazed in Jan's direction, the gnome gave her a smile and a thumbs-up sign.

"Ah, I... see... Errrm, well that is the color of... of... turnips? Err..." Galvarey sighed, burning off a million brain cells in the process. "Well, I'll just go for your first answer..."

"How professional," Viconia smirked.

"But let me present more evidence!" Galvarey snarled. "Let us take a look at those you travel with! Here we have a Drow! A creature born of the very fires of the Abyss... Evil to the core!"

"If I was, you'd be dead right now, fool," Viconia retorted. "Do not speak of things you have no sense off..."

"And here we have Keldorn, a noble paladin. How many have you killed in the name of righteousness? How many lives have you destroyed in the name of goodness?" Galvarey raved.

"I could ask you the same question, of course," Keldorn spoke angrily.

"And here we have Minsc... A fine, young promising lad you have seduced to your wicked violent way, elf!" Galvarey added, pointing a finger at the hulking ranger.

"Boo says it's not polite to point! And Minsc says it's not polite to insult Minsc's friends either!" the hulking ranger retorted.

"Jan Jansen, immoral adventurer and creator of highly illegal inventions!"

"I'll have you know my robot scorpion was perfectly legal! How was I supposed to know it would explode right in the middle of the farmer's mart? How was I supposed to know the Amnian peasants would find bits of metal in their fruit all week? But, you'll be happy to know I'm working on a newer version which is explosion-proof! I still haven't figured out how I can make it go without an engine, though."

"Korgan Bloodaxe... Enough said."

"OY!" Korgan shook his axe angrily. "Donnae I even be gettin' an 'onorable mention, fool long-limb?"

"And Dynaheir... how many people has she killed during her recent... condition?" Galvarey said, making the Rashemi Deviner shake with rage. "The blood of dozens has been, quite literally, on your hands, Dynaheir..."

"No!" Viconia shouted and clasped Dynaheir's wrist just before she could hurl a spell in Galvarey's direction. Jan, who had seen this coming, took the liberty of diverting Minsc's attention by making a grab for Boo.

"And what about the one that you love, one Rose Greenhill?" Galvarey sneered, while Laska stiffened. "Oh, yes, we know about her. And ex-prostitute often catering to..."

"LEAVE ROSE OUT OF THIS!" Laska snarled and shot forward, only to realize she had fallen for Galvarey's trap.

"Did you see her eyes?" Galvarey told her comrades, who nodded in response. "Like those of a rabid beast!" he said, leaving Laska to grimace in anger.

"Despite your good deeds, Laska Leafwalker, I consider you a threat to the balance," Galvarey finally said. "I have ruled that you are to be imprisoned... Now, I see what you are thinking, but it's nothing so barbaric. Imprisonment to contain the chaos you might sow, either intentionally or unwittingly. It is a humane solution. I mean the spell 'Imprisonment'. You will find yourself in a small container a few leagues under the earth. Quite peaceful."

"You cannot do that to an elf!" Keldorn spoke up. "She'll go completely mad!"

"The decision has already been made... by me... You may offer a few words in your defence, though it does not matter much."

"Are you finished?" Laska finally spoke softly, after having followed the conversation with interest. "My answer is no, Galvarey... No. I'm not going to give you a defense. No exposition of good or evil... I'm simply going to do what a Bhaalspawn does best... and what you expect me to do..." she concluded, and, like a bolt of lightning, shot forward and delivered a sharp high-kick to the elven mage's jaw, sending him reeling backwards.

"No blood!" Laska shouted to her friends as they responded in kind, telling them to leave the Harpers alive.

"Och, ye gots ta be kiddin' me!" Korgan shot while he slammed the butt of his axe in the groin of one of the rangers, sending him moaning to the floor.

Dynaheir's spellcraft took out two more Harper footmen, the blue wave of magic knocking them backwards into the waiting armors of Minsc, who gladly took the two Harpers in a massive bear hug. Though the Harpers struggled, they could no longer breathe and eventually, Minsc dropped the unconscious Harpers to the floor. Viconia, in the meantime, knocked out the white-clad Harper assassin by slamming her shield against her jaw.

Laska shot forward once more, and before Galvarey could even grab for his sword, the elf slammed the hilt of Ipsiya against his temple, sending him reeling into Khalid. As the two men collapsed in a tumble, Laska was left facing Jaheira. The two women glared at each other, pointing their weapons at each other's throats. Suddenly, Jaheira twirled her scimitar, and set it tip-down in the dirt. The elf nodded as she understood her meaning, twirled her own blades, and set them tip-down in the dirt as well, suffering loud protests from Ipsiya. The two women raised their fists and started circling each other, both focusing on the pure hate in each other's eyes...

Finally, Jaheira sped forward, intending to storm the elf... only to find herself sidestepped by the speedy elf, who grabbed the neck of her armor and the back of her belt as she sped past. A small tug sent the half-elf sprawled on the ground. But Jaheira quickly recovered and jumped to her feet. A flurry of punches followed, which both combatants quickly blocked, as if the two were testing each other's strength. Suddenly, Jaheira broke the pattern, twirled around her axis and slammed her elbow directly at Laska's ribs. An audible crack could be heard, and the sharp pain in Laska's chest alerted the elf to the fact that one of her ribs had just been broken.

In the background, Galvarey knew that the battle was lost. Instead, he stood there, fumbling with a small enchanted stone which was meant to be Laska's prison.

"W-what are you doing?!" Khalid yelled horrified. "You c-can't! J-j-jaheira is still..."

"I don't care!" Galvarey snarled and pushed Khalid away. "With Laska's imprisonment, I can be sponsored for Master Harper!"

"P-political?" Khalid said calmly. "This whole charade w-was for your own p-p-personal reasons? Are the Harpers here just as corrupt as the rest of this rotten nation?"

"Don't be a fool, Khalid, these lower Harpers are just fodder, but what I can do as Master Harper makes their sacrifice worth the..." Galvarey snarled, but Khalid would not budge. Instead, the half-elf stormed the surprised would-be Master Harper, grasping the stone with both hands. The two men struggled for a while, but Khalid turned out to be the stronger, and was left with the magical stone in his hand.

"K-khalid!" Galvarey stammered as he tried to run. "Don't... don't do anything stupid!"

But Khalid merely smiled and activated the magic of the stone. Galvarey screamed as his body dissolved and his soul was forced into the stoney prison forever. Grinning, Khalid tossed the stone into the deep forest, not seeing where it landed. He turned to glance at his wife and the violent elf, the only two still left fighting.

Jaheira shot the elf a triumphant smile as Laska was still trying to find a stable and painless breathing-pattern. Jaheira's victory was short-lived, since she suddenly found herself being thrown painfully against a tree. Another flurry of kicks and punches followed, but Jaheira was losing. Jaheira's face was bloodied as a deep gash below her right eye wetted her cheek, while several bruises started to form on exposed parts of her body. So far, Laska's only injuries were a broken rib and a black eye. Still Jaheira would not give up.

Still having fun, Laska decided it was time to end this battle. Ignoring the throbbing pain in her chest, she squatted and kicked out against Jaheira's lower leg, sending the druid down in a crumpled heap. Quick as a flash, Laska was behind the fallen druid, locking her strong arm tightly around Jaheira's neck. "All I have to do," Laska said while Jaheira was clawing at Laska's arm, "is to jerk sharply to the left and it'll be all over." But instead, Laska let go and pushed the druid to the floor.

The tattooed elf stood up, rubbing her painful chest. "I... win," she smiled.

But Jaheira did not relent. She started to stand up again.

"I win," Laska stressed and readied herself for combat again. "Don't you see? I'm letting you GO!"

"You..." Jaheira snarled, "are a threat to the balance... I cannot."

"Jaheira, no!" Khalid shouted and was at his wife's side. "Please, don't do this..."

"Khalid," Jaheira sighed. "Please be quiet..."

"I will not!" Khalid said forcefully. "Please, I love you! For once in your life, would you please swallow your own pride before it destroys you?!"

"Khalid?" Jaheira suddenly smiled. "You... you didn't stutter."

"I didn't?" Khalid said, then smiled. "Yeah, I didn't..."

Smiling, the exhausted druid let herself slip to the ground, in the caring embrace of her husband.

"Let's get out of here," Laska said, leaving the two lovers behind. "I need some healing..." she grimaced.

"Wait," came the rasping sound from the elven mage as he lay wounded on the ground. "Wait..."

Laska's head whipped around to look at the fallen mage just before her party left the grove and the battle behind. Her angry eyes told the mage to make it quick and tasteful.

"I overheard Galvarey's motives just now... He was wrong... I was wrong. You... are an elf. Your taint does not rule you. I shall tell this... to the other Master Harpers..."

"You are a Master Harper?" Laska asked.

"Of course," the elven Master Harper grinned. "Galvarey was completely fooled. You... you shall no longer be bothered by the Harpers, this I promise... I wish you luck on your journey, Laska Leafwalker, daughter of Leilani..."

Laska smiled warmly in return and nodded. "Take good care of your friends," she said before leaving the grove.

Meanwhile, back in Athkatla, a knock sounded at the front door of Laska's estate.

Just as before, Rose opened the door... only to come face to face with Sir Boring Old Gitface, as Risa had come to call the clueless paladin. He was standing there, with the usual shining armor and stupid grin plastered across his face.

"My lady," Oberon smiled. "I have quested far and wide, long and arduous, followed the paths of righteousness to prove my worth to you, my precious flower. I prithee, that I might be worthy of your virginal appraise."

"Didn't I made myself quite clear yesterday?" Rose sighed.

"Yesterday, I did not come bearing a gift, my Lady," Oberon smiled. "Now, with this gift," he said, handing Rose a cloth bag, "I hope that I might have a piece of your beautiful dress to tie to my lance for the next joust, so that I might defend your honor."

"When the elf who usually defends my honor returns from her adventure, you're going to wish you were never born," Rose said dryly when she opened the bag and looked inside.

A shriek of terror sounded, and the bag was dropped to the floor immediately. The half-elf looked white as a sheet as she looked upon the bag's contents, now staring at her from the ground with dead, accusing eyes.

"There... there's a SEVERED HEAD in that bag!!!!" Rose shouted in the paladin's face.

"Of course, my Lady," Oberon smiled as if it was nothing special. "This is my way of showing my affection for you."

"Whatever happened to flowers and a box of chocolate?!" Rose shrieked. "You just shoved a severed head in my hands! What are you, some kind of lunatic?!"

"My Lady," the paladin smiled. "You misunderstand. This, my flower, is the head of Grocus Yellowtooth, the principal Orcish brigand-leader in this region. To prove my worth to you, my virginal beauty, I have slain him and present you with his head!"

"So it's heads you want, eh?" Rose said, rubbing her chin. "Wait here," she said, slamming the door shut. Immediately, Rose ran to the second floor, to Sion's old office, which was now used as a storage area for magical weapons and items which were not currently used by Laska's party, but might be needed for the future. Tossing some weapons aside, Rose found the object she was looking for. The Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Donning the gloves, she walked downstairs...

Meanwhile, Oberon was pacing about, waiting for his vision of loveliness to return to the door. When he finally heard the door open behind him, he turned around and smiled... Only to draw his weapon as he was faced with the gigantic head of a Red Dragon, a monster of myth.

"Oh, calm yourself," Rose said as it was revealed she was, in fact, holding the stuffed head of dragon. "See this," she pointed at the large teeth. "This is the 'token of affection' which my lover has brought me," she told a little white lie. "See if you can do better than this!" Rose smiled and slammed the door shut.

"Worry not, my Lady," Oberon said to the closed door. "I shall quest, strive and suffer for your love..."

"You'll suffer, alright," Rose muttered to herself, "if you're still here when Laska comes back... Now," she said, looking at the head, "how do I get this big thing back above the mantle?"