Adrift...not Lost

[Missyb1]

The ship grated against the sullen wooden dock with a shriek of wood before the slow moving waves pulled them apart again. The long dark haired woman shook her head trying to deny the churning in her belly from the constant rocking of the ship as it approached the port. It took a few minutes and most of the other passengers had moved further towards land when the contents of her stomach came up in a rush of fluid. She managed to make it to the side and heaved at least three times expelling everything. Her blue eyes watered and she sniffed back the smell of bile and her own tears, wiping her mouth repeatedly with the sleeve of her brown leather clothing. The chortling laughter of the many sailors not to mention the catcalls as her curvaceous and plump frame strutted down the docks followed her all the way to solid land.

Her name was Mialee Westrin. She was from Waterdeep and while the port she landed in was nothing compared to that most wonderful city there was something foreign and dangerous about this land. 'Sundren.' Her mind repeated. A place of adventure. A place of danger where a person could make their own name, their own reputation. A place where someone might also escape to especially if it would never be expected. Holding her arms close, long slender fingers curling around her small elbows as if feeling a chill she made her way to the dock master and presented her traveling papers. 'The best lie is one wrapped in truth.' Was a saying she had her many times in her young life and she heard it echo in her mind as the gruff looking sailor scanned the papers and nodded paying it no more mind. The contacts had not lied. They never even wrote her name in the giant ledger. She had effectively disappeared.

Mialee felt better as she moved deeper into the land areas. Aromas, sounds and other tangible and intangible feelings assaulted her senses. Passing bars, smithies, tailors and the like became a blur very much like her own giagantic city on the coast. Slowly she approached the gates that would lead away from the port and deeper into this land aptly called Sundren if all the stories she had her were true as it was sundered directly from the mountains themselves. She noticed a darker alley off to the side and she blinked several times trying to pierce the gloom. "Oh to be an elf." Mialee whispered before taking a deep breath and with a quick, subtle shift flowed into the alley. The large woman leaned deeper in the dark and found a narrow alcove that shielded her from anyone looking into the alley and she smiled.

A few moments later a shoulder length blonde haired woman stepped back into the light of the main town road. The woman, slender at the shoulders and hips, had a small bosom and her gait was flowing and smooth like a running stream. She appeared almost deer-like so slender and quick her form appeared. Her blue eyes twinkled and several young men smiled at her as she passed. She smiled softly and avoided their eyes moving towards one of the last caravans leaving the port. As it pulled away from the port she smiled again. "Safe." Mialee whispered out the narrow window allowing it to fade away on the crisp breeze coming off the water. The disguise safely buried in the middle of barrel full of trash from the nearby inn.

[Missyb1]

Mialee watched as the countryside rolled into flashes of greens, browns, reds and golds. Soon the uneasiness from the ship returned and she closed her eyes trying to steady her stomach. 'Do not throw up in here.' She thought to herself as the caravan moved towards a place called Sundren City. She had no idea what might lie in wait for her there but it could be no worse than what she was leaving behind. A faint smile creased her lips as the breeze of their journey coupled with the warm rays of the sun to provide the perfect opportunity to doze. Her breathing deepened as her mind drifted.

The meager table was set by her own sixteen year old hand. One that was slender and dexterous. The candle that flickered had been hand crafted and while it angled away from the base the light it provided was bright. Young Mialee had helped her mother, a beautiful blond woman named Mia with crystal clear blue eyes, a statuesque figure and an even sharper mind. Mialee would never be as tall or as developed as her mother and the family knew it. She had been struck by the cough as a child and had since been a willow like girl. As the small portions of stew were set out at each table Mialee smiled in anticipation of her father arriving. Samlee Westrin was a giant of a man, broad in chest with a huge bristly beard. He was a stern and disciplined figure in the Guard of they northern docks, an unlawful place to be sure. Yet he acted justly and his opinion was greatly desired and feared by the population that called it home. The Westrin's managed to scrape enough to live just on the outskirts of the docks and while rich beyond measure to the people he policed they barely made it over the cities poverty line. Mialee had no understanding of this until recently as she became aware of the wonderful dresses and items than came into the harbor and past their home on a regular basis.

The door banged open and in walked Samlee and they all smiled at each other. There was love there, in that house and after hugs and kisses (some a little deeper than others) the family sat down to eat the small meal basking in the warmth of family. "I almost had him today..." Her father muttered and the arched eyebrow Mia gave her husband spoke volumes of just who that -him- was. "A street rat named Caret gave me the address and everything. I scouted it out and I know he's going to be there." He beamed at the two most important girls in his life. "We won't be eating this," holding up a spoonful of the stew made with onions, carrots and a few pieces of meat "anymore. It will be fine china, crystal glasses and even the Lords will want to shake my hand!" He proclaimed boisterously. Mia nodded her head with a gentle smile, "I'm sure you will and we are looking forward to the day." The secret smile that passed from mother to daughter was one of understanding. They had heard this before.

The -him- was the head an especially complex group operating in the northern docks area for well over 10 years. What he looked like was unknown for the mask he wore, black velvet fringed with crimson, covered even the hair from identification. He was simply a ghost, a shadow and many even doubted he was real except for people ended up missing, goods were stolen, strong adventurers robbed and all guardsmen by Samlee had been attacked or killed. Recently things had gotten rougher in there area and yet Samlee had managed to fight or convince his way out of every situation or trap. Mialee had heard that it was the Masked god himself but she believed none of that nonsense. Gods didn't walk around Waterdeep, especially not in the slums like north docks.

The meal ended and the family talked about their days. Soon Mialee was asked to clean up the table and take care of the remaining food while husband and wife moved deeper into the tiny home. Mialee had learned awhile ago that the sounds that soon came after were part of their happy family and she had shed her discomfort or embarrassment of such things. Soon enough they were all sitting quietly talking about the next few days and what would come. The last thing she remembered of that night was the goodbye kisses, the hugs and the sight of her beautiful mother and father's embrace as he went off again with the clank of steel and chain and heavy footsteps. Her life changed that day and she didn't even recognize it until much later and definitely too late to have possibly course corrected what came after.

[Missyb1]

Samlee's breath raised little drops of condensation against the inside of the steel helmet that adorned his brown locks. While the wind off of the docks promised heavy rain the warehouses that dotted the shoreline formed mazes of wood, dirt and trash effectively barring the breeze from entry. He and six of this trusted guard huddled behind crates barrels and boxes of clearly smuggled items into Waterdeep but his eye was "on the prize". Caret was going to lead him to the one Samlee truly wanted, was obsessed to capture above all other things. It was as simple as Samlee believed in the laws of Waterdeep and -HE- did not. It would have been simple if it had ended there, rivals serving different purposes. Yet time and time again and by the narrowish of margins had their chase ended always with Samlee on the losing side. Cornered at seven markets, nailed in the upstairs halls of the Raven Landing Bar and countless other skirmishes, thwarted plots and near misses gave Samlee a fever that only the capture and trial of -him- would cure it.

Samlee was not a stupid man and had risen in the ranks and been offered countless times to move inward, away from the docks and towards a safer role in the guard but that would mean granting -him- victory over him and that was a lump Samlee's pride could not swallow. He often wondered why his wife kept them there, promising to stay for as long as it took for Samlee to finally apprehend him but deep down they both knew that the obsession would never fade until Samlee won.

Then...there. a noise. A croak...like breath rattling out of lungs that tried to hold it back. Samlee's hand flashed in the thin strip of moonlight that shone through the damaged roof. He was right next to a deeper shadow just like his warriors. The signal was clear to the six 'Be Alert'. The men were well trained, used to such fighting. Barely a whisper of sound was all that reached Samlee's ears matching the odd sound that continued rhythmically. The minutes ticked by and the inside of his helmet rose in temperature and his heart started to beat loudly knowing that capture was emanate. He smiled in anticipation and silently moved to the right of the barrel between a natural pathway between two larger crates to get a better look.

While it was dark the moonlight made it visible enough to make out the form of Caret standing in the middle of a cleared space with a table and two chairs. While he was leaning in an odd angle he was very much alive, moving his hands animately. But it wasn't that that caused Samlee's breath to suck in and be held there, deep in his lungs. It was him... the shadow... the man he had been chasing for years. Seated at the table and apparently in deep discussion with Caret was Samlee's obsession. The mask covered his head completely, black tinged with a faint hint of crimson. It was a long covering, trailing almost to the man's waist and almost appeared to move on its own accord at times as if made out of something still living. The figure was tall and had a strong yet toned look to the body, hidden completely in black from cloak to boots. Samlee could barely speak. His trap had been setup perfectly. His men were in the perfect position to seal off all avenues of escape and the warehouse had been searched for hidden or secret doors hours eariler during daylight. They had -him- and Samlee's grin beamed under the helmet and he couldn't resist shouting out as he moved between the two crates "I have you now, get 'em!" and the prepared rush of his trained guards sprang up like a maelstrom of activity and grating metal.

The sudden stopping of Samlee's charge as he neared the two thieves confused him. There was no sound, no indication of anything amiss but Samlee came to a complete halt as strands of vines burst between the two crates. His charging scream turned into a cry of rage as he became impossibly stuck by the clever trap that had been concealed against the crates. His sword arm still leading the charge he could not even find an angle to cut himself free and watched in horror as unforeseen events unfolded before him. While the trap he passed immobilized him, Samlee's guards, his trusted friends met much more gruesome fates. Explosions of fire, lighting and acid burned, scorched and melted his men. Several were struck by two or three of the wicked devices and a fury of hell itself and he screamed out as if feeling their pain as their charred bodies fell to the floor. The worse was Thomas, who Samlee knew had been secretly courting Mialee behind their parent's back. He stood rigid, his muscles taunt as if stretched on a rack as a nimbus of black and red energy circled his body. Each rotation seemed to suck his very life force from his body and he literally withered away before Samlee's eyes. While the others died quickly Samlee and Thomas locked stares and the last look Thomas gave him was one of such horror and understanding that Samlee knew he could never forget it. Thomas' body crumpled to the floor as his life essence was sucked from his body. "NOOOOOOOO!" was all Samlee could scream and he did that very thing, a yell so profoundly filled with rage and loss it echoed throughout the docks causing many to stop and wonder what just had happened. Yet this warehouse had been chosen well and it would be a day before anyone of authority would come and uncover what had happened.

The trap of a trap had been executed almost simultaneously and the silence that reigned over the area immediately after Samlee's yell dragged on forever. He finally looked up from his tangled body, tears flowing down the large face at the loss of his trusted friends, so completely and utterly. Caret surprisingly hadn't moved and neither had the figure seated at the table besides both turned to look at Samlee. The moonlight then revealed what he hadn't seen prior to his attack hidden by the angle at which he had seen his nemesis. Caret was stuck to the floor sealed by some gooey mixture. As Samlee looked on at Caret the ghastly wound in his neck glistened dark with his lifeblood. It was soaked into his clothing and even pooled at his feet but even to a trained eye Caret had not been killed recently or in the warehouse. The gurgling whisper of breath came again from the animated corpse as it tried to move towards Samlee, still stuck fast to the floor. The figure in the chair laughed then. It was a soulless and evil sound and it mocked Samlee for everything in his life, everything he held dear. The figure stood and slinked away. It was always the same, the laughter, no words and never anything else but the mocking laughter and the howl of fury Samlee released was even more heartfelt.

Then, the shadows around Samlee and where his men lay sprang to life as at least seven figures moved away from the shadow, passing Samlee and following the departing leader without a sound. They were disciplined and knew their place but their passage revealed just how wrong Samlee had been. The final figure, a large, strong man grinned at him. The blond beard was evident through the breathing hole of the mask. As he passed the zombie he stooped and poured the contents of a bottle over the gooey mixture at the undead creature's feet. As the substance encasing the zombie's legs became brittle and broke away the blond bearded man gave him a most impolite salute with his finger and followed the leader. The only noise was Samlee's breathing and the fast cracking of this only thing standing between him and the undead monstrosity.

[Missyb1]

Samlee fought valiantly against the restricting ropes and vines that combined to make up the traps that held him fast. Any bystander would have been impressed as the man's back, hips and thighs flexed and twisted in effort to find some slack. His sword and arm was still running almost perfectly perpendicular to his large frame wrapped tight enough that his hand was starting to turn white. Meanwhile the zombie continued to fight against the cracking material. The human's breathing was ragged with twinges of panic starting to creep into each grunt as the undead creature broke away additional chunks of the material. A scream came unbidden to Samlee's lips as the final piece broke away and the creature lunged forward a death rattle in its rasping lungs.

The step/drag combination of its approach drove Samlee to new levels of panic and strength and yet the tangling trap did not yield fast enough. As his non-sword arm finally found its way to his belt strap the monster reached him and promptly impaled itself on his sword. It's eyes rolled up milky white and the copper smell of sticky blood starting to turn rancid assaulted Samlee's senses immediately and bring water to his eyes further driving tunnel vision. Cold fingers hooked into claws and scrabbled across ropes, vines and his flexed forearm. With another scream of real terror the zombie drove its nails into his skin and literally pulled its way further onto the sword. Inches faded and while his free hand struggled to reach the heavy pommel of a dagger near his back the creature stopped moving forward. The large hilt of the sword got hung up on the sternum bone of Caret impeding it's forward lunge and it stood there for a moment almost as confused as the human. The monster thrashed against the unyielding steel and they stood there, face to face. One moaning in horrible hunger and the other in a shriek of mortal terror.

The zombie's fingers withdrew from his skin leaving drips of blood exiting several deeper holes and it started to swing at the human. The sword held it fast but several hits thumped against his face and bicep. The vines and ropes protected Samlee from much worse damage and just as his fingers curl around the hilt of the dagger and pulled it free he heard a crack. Samlee's eyes went wide thinking the sword had given in or the bones of the undead's chest. The surge of hope as the upper body of the zombie folded over the sword, face down towards his forearm. "Dead?" He said in the stillness of the warehouse full of his dead companions.

Then he felt the lips of the monster against his flesh and he knew. The sword had severed the spine of Caret and it had folded at the cut, still very much alive. The tongue of the undead was dry and scaly as it licked against his arm and he screamed like a child before it turned into a more manly sound of pain and agony. The teeth of Caret dug for purchase for several frantic moments as he twisted away from it before they literally bit and torn away a a hunk of his flesh with a horrible ripping sound followed by the welling of hot blood. The creature continued to bite into the skin and Samlee almost swooned as the pain found its way into his brain before his toughness kicked in. His free hand drove forward blindly and this time luck was with him. The blade found the top of the head and it's heavy tip thrust into Caret'a brain. The creature flopped immediately and fell to the side, still impaled on the sword. Samlee sobbed in agony as he a used the dagger to saw away at the bindings around his sword arm leaving the others that were acting now like a tourniquet. Dropping the sword caused the monster to fall backwards, it's body twisting at a horrible angle around the weapon stuck in its chest. Several minutes later he was able to wrap his damaged arm in his shirt. The glimpse of white bone deep within the bite area made him nauseous but he did not throw up. Even with the vines still around his bicep and elbow the makeshift bandage turned red immediately. But he knew he could make it to either the temple or his home. He looked at the charred forms of his guard and he cried silently removing his sword from the monster with another sob of pain. He felt woozy but managed to lean against the crate and catch his breath before leaving the death trap of the warehouse.

The voices were whispering as the deep night of slumber was replaced by a thin stretch of light under the curtain that separated Mialee's room from the large common room of their tiny house. She blinked and sat up slowly trying to figure out what was a dream and what was real. A soft noise made her turn around but her room was empty and dark. It sounded like a bird and her face scrunched up in confusion before attributing it to a residue memory from her unknown dream. Her lean bare legs slid away from the warm sheets and slowly she made her way to the curtain. Suddenly the front door slammed and she jumped as her mother screamed out "No!". Lunging through the curtain Mialee stopped as a large, broad shouldered man held Mia at a arm's length by the neck. Her scream was cut off as he shook her and his other hand held a dagger pointed at her chest. The man was covered by a mask and his eyes glittered with an evil light that changed as they left Mia and found Mialee's form. The nightshirt clung to her developing body and the pinpoints of her nipples were visible as his eyes traveled up and down her figure. Mia's voice struggled to find words of denial and she beat on his arm without effect. Mialee opened her mouth to scream which would certainly alert the people around them when something heavy stuck her from behind. The last thought was ... 'My room was empty...' Before the swirl of unending blackness swallowed her whole.

[Missyb1]

Harsh voices... Softer ones... The grating glare of those green eyes as they stared through her form... Her mothers gurgled cries.. Cries...

Mailee for the second time struggled upward from a cloying blackness. The tendrils of the dark embrace glided about her mind as slowly the room faded into being. She could feel the sunlight streaming in past her eyelids and slowly she opened them hating to do so but needing to understand. Her blue eyes looked up to find her mother and father standing over her. She smiled and blinked finding herself in her room. "just a dream..." She murmured aloud and smiled basking in the warming light.

"Wha.. What?" Her father stammered as both Mia's and Samlee's faces darkened. "It was a nasty hit." Mia acknowledged holding one hand very close to her throat and the reddish hued cloth scarf that was wound around several times. Samlee leaned closer to Mialee and muttered "How dare they! To attack you both!" He stalked the tiny bedroom several paces like a lion. "They took almost everything!" He said, louder and with more force.

"Dear, Mialee has been through a lot..." Mia responded to her husband trying to reach out to him to calm the beast but he shrugged off the hand. "SHE...She has been through a lot!?" He exclaimed and his face screwed up in rage now starting to boil over. "Look at my arm! A monster chewed on it. Look at my men.. They are all killed including Thomas!" Samlee shouted at his wife and they both ignored the girl starting to cower in the bed. "They robbed us and could have killed you! Oh this will not stand. Do you here me!" Sampler stopped and trembled with anger his large frame growing even larger. "I know where he is. The blond bearded one. I've seen him before. I will find him." The muttering started and he passed through the curtain, Mia in two trying to calm him.

Mia pieced enough together and reached back and fingered the nasty bump at the base of her skull. It was angry as well and she winced as her nails brushed the welt. Mia tried to get out of bed but could not. Several times she almost made it out but inevitably fell back to her pillow with a sob of soreness. 'Thomas..' She thought and shook she head. 'He can't be dead. He... Just brought me flowers... Just kissed my cheek...' Her mind wandered down pathways of young love now apparently lost and her eyes filled with more than just tears of pain but of growing loss. The shouting continued.

"Get off of me!" Samlee muttered

"No you have to stay, you cannot go now. They will kill you." Mia reasoned and sounded honestly concerned for her husband's safety but he was having none of it.

"I cannot even slam my own door!" He screamed and accented his anger by hammering a large fist against the doorframe. "Stop...STOP," her mother's voiced raised. " Stop what you are thinking and sit. You cannot go out. They left you alive. See it for what it is." She reasoned but he was beyond it all.

"The Raging Lion. That is where they will be. I know it. Spending my money, gloating over my defeat. I will kill them all. Right now." He promised and his heavy footfalls exited and faded from the house.

"You are the guard. You cannot risk!" Mia's voice carried back into the house and to Mia's ears. The response - chilled her to the bone. "Not anymore." Samlee's tone was so flat, so emotionless and yet so full or rage and despair that it was with no surprise to the girl that when Mia returned it was without her husband.

Mia approached Mialee and hugged her daughter. "I must follow him. Daniel Ruttis is home. I don't expect anything to happen here regardless after what just happened." Her mother paused and hugged her again. " I must go after him. You understand that? I will return." There was something colder, distant in Mia's voice and Mialee would be haunted by the tone more than the words more than once in her coming years. The house grew silent and all she could do was wait.

[Missyb1]

Mialee would never know what exactly transpired that morning due to the webs so spun around the poor girl's family. This is for those that might be so inclined to understand how this chapter came to a close.

Mia hurried after her husband but he had a commanding lead at this point. She certainly couldn't have gone out in her current state of dress in a night dress, especially into the den Samlee was now barreling towards. She dressed as quickly as possible, her toned form not showing an inch of her thirty eight winters on the earth. She was a lovely creature and while she knew it vanity was not a driving force in her life. A simple gray dress of wool covered a blue tunic. Both were tightened to further obscure her curves of bosom and hip. She managed to pull her long gray shawl down from the hanging peg and rushed out the door.

'Our lives weren't supposed to end like this.' she thought trailing the hurried path of her angered husband. He was a good man and she knew that living so near the docks that was a precious commodity. He was a just and honest man. Those two traits attracted her more to the gruff man than she had power to deny and although plenty of offers to leave him and live a life of luxury and power there was never a second thought or an once of regret when she refused each and every one. But this time... There was blood in the air. Mia knew that there was always this exact risk. She had tried to plan for it, prepare her family for it but even as the events unfolded she knew the outcome that would happen. 'Well, we will meet it together!' she promised slowing down to start into the Raging Lion.

The tavern was unremarkable on an unremarkable street. Its hanging sign was faded and worn as was the doorway. Both notches from sword and axe and damage from fires were etched into its frame as if testament of the resiliency of the structure and the people within. There was a darkness about the place warding the naive or uneducated but for those that lived in the docks and possibly most of Waterdeep knew the type of people that inhabited it. As she entered the sensation of cold made her shiver and clutch the shawl tighter against her face and shoulders. Also the bright sunlight of a beautiful morning in the city made not a single dent in the gloom right inside the doorway. It was as if even the sun was prevented from entering. The darkness would have been absolute if not for the glowing magical lights, tinged with yellow and orange flickering in strategic places. Leaving Mia's eyes to from between islands of light and oceans of darkness. A center bar dominated the main room and she could make out both a man standing behind it but his eyes were locked to the left. As she moved to follow his gaze she noticed a large doorway set directly opposite her obviously leading to a kitchen and a stairway leading upwards. But it was Samlee, sword drawn and threatening several men lounging against two tables of wood that drew her attention as well as the barkeep and she rushed over to him no thought to her own life.

"Stand UP!" Samlee threatened the broad shouldered man who was clearly the leader of the group of four. He was attractive and his eyes glittered dangerously dark. There was no hood and Mia knew this was the man that had attacked them immediately. The goatee of blond hair was trimmed and matched the hair on his head. He was muscular in the chest and arms but his skin was covered by either gloves or dark clothing. The leader just oozed arrogance from his pores; he was clearly goading Samlee and winning. It hurt Mia to see her husband being herded like cattle by this man especially with his lackey's grinning and nodded, feinting to be frightened of the giant man with drawn sword. Her heart almost made her leap to his defense but something else held her back as if fate was not in control of the event and was not going to let go.

"Stand? no I would rather sit my giant fellow. You are armed and I am not. It wouldn't be a fair fight." the blond grinned slowly. "Why would a member of the guard ever come and threaten a simple merchant enjoying his morning after a very successful evening?" The words started from the man's mouth dirty and cruel and yet as they reached Mia they were silvered and gentle. She blinked in amazement at the skill clearly practiced but Samlee's rage forced his mind through the simple auditory trick and he took a step closer.

"You know damn well WHY! Stand up you bastard, i'm going to feed you to the fishes for everyone to see. I'll..." Samlee trailed off and stared at the man as he stood up. But it wasn't the action that stuck his tongue to the roof of his mouth. It was the silver pendant, one that his daughter wore and was on her night table but was robbed from them. Both men knew where it had come from and they both knew only one would be standing with the simple gesture. "Why...you..." Samlee shook the sword backwards to strike at the man who stood calmly, a smirk on his lips and no weapon in sight.

The stroke never came, Samlee would have thought he was paralyzed so rigid was his form by the sight of his wife, his true love on her tip toes with a gleaming dagger against her throat. The look of terror was so pronounced, so real that he could see the bob of her throat bend into the knife's blade.

"Perhaps we should take this elsewhere." the blond leader said. It wasn't a question.

[Missyb1]

'One step, then another...' Mia repeated like a mantra of safety as she was led further into the tavern. The worn wooden floor boards creaked most unpleasantly almost like a cackle from a fiend from hell as her attacker moved her forward with just a press of the knife blade. Samlee had been stripped of his sword rather easily and he moved in front of her the blond leader no where to be seen. The hallway turned into a door made of metal and for a moment she thought they would walk right through it so quick was their pace. The thief in front of them both stopped and waved a symbol, once again a masked face with white painted eyes, in front of the door and it opened without a sound. 'Outside?' she wondered as they stepped into an alley that could not have possibly been actually behind the Roaring Lion. Her face scrunched up in confusion mirroring the similar look from Samlee. The small procession moved deeper into the gloomy alley. The hint of sunlight could be seen but it was coming from the wrong angle. There was something so off about what had just happened that Mia almost fainted and suddenly Samlee was holding her having pushed through the two knives that tried to hold him back from her.

"Why did you follow? Why??" Samlee implored her as she shook her head in denial of his words and the threatening looming darkness of unconsciousness.

"... had too...see..you." Mia whispered and finally found her husband's face and focused on it her green eyes softening. Slowly her hand rose to his cheek and she patted it affectionately feeling the course hairs of his beard. The moment was cut short by the cold laughter that came from back towards the metal door. As Samlee stood and supported his wife as she got her feet underneath her finally the blond goatee leader laughed again. It was a cold, mocking thing and even more unnerving was the fact that the other four men that surrounded them did nothing. Their masks shifted as if living but surely that was impossible. The long trailing ends curled lazily around their necks like serpents. As Samlee opened his mouth the blond leader held out his hand, halting the man's voice.

"Enough of your words, Samlee. Oh... surprised I know your name? Why? You've actually come close to finding us several times." He tsked several times and even moved his index finger back and forth as if talking to a child. "I am sorry about your friends but they had outlived their usefulness." The blond leader barely got his guard up as the heavy swing from Samlee's fist drove the air with a whoosh. Mia stumbled and almost fell supporting herself by leaning against the wall as Samlee screamed with rage and tried to at least take the blond leader's life before losing his own. But there was no chance for the man to find this sole purpose as a heavy pommel struck him on the side of the head. As he reeled from the blow the blond man stepped forward and punched him hard in the gut and follow it with a kick to the knee and then the groin. Samlee toppled to his knees, the one screeching in agony as the tendon's snapped from the hit. But to his credit he did not make a sound of pain only of unbearable anger.

"Come now. Can't we finish this like civilized people? You could just leave us alone. Go about your life with your pretty wife and...even prettier daughter." The blond's eyes glittered coolly and while his words sounded nice the tone was like a snake slithering over sandpaper.

Samlee tried to say something but he was tired and finally the pain from his wounds, previously and recent, were taking their toll on his mental and physical limits. He watched numbly as Mia slowly moved away from the wall and towards the blond. 'This is how it ends.' he thought with a pain of regret. Then Mia stepped forward and slapped the blond man's face and all time stopped for everyone in the dim alley.

Mia strode forward and slapped the blond again and for one moment he seemed like he was going to strike her back. Her eyes flared in anger and the strike did come but it was again from Mia and was a closed fist right to his nose. The crunch of bone was audible and the blond man's gasp of surprise mingled with the spray of blood from the ruined nose. He fell backwards into the metal door and stared at her a shocked and begging look on his face? Samlee's face for the second time today scrunched up in confusion s his wife stood panting among the killers. Slowly they moved forward and raised their knives. Samlee reached out crying her name but the blows never came.

The thieves lowered their weapons and bowed as once. "Demarchesess." They repeated as one and moved to gather their fallen compatriot. He shook his head in disbelief as she slowly turned to Samlee, a gentle smile etched on her face. Mia looked down at her husband of over seventeen years and shook her head. It was a motion of pity and of sadness. "It was not supposed to happen like this, Samlee. Yet here we are. It was always the risk but... I had hoped we would have escaped." Her voice, soft and sinewy held his gaze while his mind struggled to cope with the had just happened.

"I could explain this to you. I could but in the end it would matter not. Neither of us would change and yet there is one of us that can still. I'll not risk her for you. There is greatness that our lord needs there and you will not get in the way."

Mia slowly moved closer and sighed. "I would tell you I loved you but I would be lying." Her hand moved up and down the plain dagger gripped in her slender hand driving into his chest and heart killing him instantly. The look of disbelief, dawning awareness and horror would give an undertaker a moment of pause in the very near future. Samlee's body hadn't even fallen to the floor before the group, their true leader taking the lead, entered back through the magical door.

Samlee's body would not be found for four days uncovered in a remote section of a warehouse district in Luskan.

[Missyb1]

The first week passed like a blue for the growing teenager. She knew something was wrong by the way her mother had slipped into the house, rested her back against the shattered doorframe from the attack the night before and simply sobbed. Mialee moved slowly towards Mia her blue eyes seeking her mother's for answers but finding none. She whispered softly as if even speaking aloud could do more damage "What... What is wrong, did something happen to dad? Where is he?" Mialee's voice reflected her fear of something bad had happened.

In response her mother reached out her hands, imploring the young girl to slip into her embrace. They hugged there, each one hoping for so much more than what they would get eventually. "They made him go," Mia's voice faltered exactly how she had planned for these many years the gears of carefully planning starting to turn. "the guard. They made him take a new position in Luskan." Mialee's mothers voice grew stronger as she tried to explain. "Apparently the Guard ... Saw his efforts as a success and offered him a job in Luskan, starting today!"

Mialee's stiffening of her body and her quizzical expression gave proof to her lack of comprehension and her doubt. "Then where is he? This isn't something to be sad about...right?" She asked her mother.

"Oh but when I caught up him they were already moving towards a ship. They were sailing this very morning. He told me he loved you very much and that he would send for us once he was settled in." Mia's voice lowered conspiratorially. "They made him a captain. That was a two rank promotion, the first ever or so he whispered to me." Mia's proud smile of her husband was clear to the young woman and she slowly smiled as well.

"That is wonderful news! Was he happy? Excited even?" Mia asked and ever hugged her mother again. Captain's lived far away from the North Docks. They had houses and servants even. Could this really be happening? So many times he talked about getting them away from this place. From the leering sailors and the dangerous night life.

"When will we move?" She asked never asking the questions that should be floating around in her mind so caught up was she with the explanation and excitement.

"It will take some time for his journey. He promised to write often. The guard said that they would take care of us since he will be away. They are going to put us up at a safe inn since this..." Mia trailed off and motioned to the wreckage around them. "They said it would be temporary until we moved to Luskan!" Her mother's own excitement evident on her face, the sorrow of having her husband taken away so abruptly lending further proof to her daughter and soon they were laughing and dancing as they packed talking about all of the rich clothing and fancy houses they would see. Only one of them noticed the crooked knowing smile or the lingering stares of the blond goateed guardsman as he gathered up their meager belongings and helped them leave the only house Mialee ever knew.

[Missyb1]

Mialee's daydream of the past was rudely tossed aside as the carriage came to an abrupt halt. "End of the line." came the call from the driver but certainly that was known as the passengers were already in the process of debarking. She blinked and sat still as the other people exited the carriage, took possession of their luggage and moved away their murmurs being drown out by the clear sounds of a market and something deeper, like white noise. Mialee exited the cabin and nodded her thanks to the driver who seemed more interested in getting the horses' water than one single female's opinion of his trip.

Noticing the flow of people down a natural earth ramp made the herd mentality in her subconscious curious and she followed the flow of people and animals down. Children, women, soldiers and peasants mingled only due to the narrowness of the path cut into the mountain itself and suddenly the rumblings of the people on the ship about how this land was cut from the Spine itself didn't seem so unbelievable. As she reached the bottom the deep sound became more apparent although it's sound was escaping her eyes. She passed a few more guards, a gallows (which made her shiver slightly) and an inn made of heavy timbers. The flow of people turned towards and even narrower bridge of stone. 'That goes up?' She thought and then her eyes finally understood.

Sundren City was floating above her head. It was a simple concept yet unfathomable in its reality. She stopped in the road and thankfully was off to the side of the foot traffic and horses or certainly would have been trampled. 'Its.. Floating!' Her mind tried to convince the rest of her body but it took several moment to sink in and even then it was hard to get how that was possible. Mialee realized that the source of the sound was the city itself and she blinked at the sheer mass of stone, wood and other materials that connected the city to the ground and that existed in the city above her. "How is that possible..." She whispered to herself and slowly smiled at the thought was actually going into a floating city.

Mialee spent the next few minutes watching both the city and the traffic trying to understand what people did to get in and out of the place. She quickly realized that people going into the building connected to the bridge in front of her weren't coming back out. 'This must be the way.' She thought and shrugged as if no time like the present to find out. Finally and with one last grin she walked up the bridge and into the gatehouse wearing her amazement on her sleeve.

[Missyb1]

Mialee's smile and bubbly attitude was mediately squashed by the tiny room she found herself thrust into after moving though the huge re-enforced wooden gates. The smell was the first thing that assaulted her senses making her eyes water. Soldiers, peasants, traders and nobles moved in the tiny room although the former and the latter were treated almost equally leaving her and the rest of the poorer people to wait in crowded lines. It was a pungent aroma of unwashed bodies, unwashed armor and animals and she almost doubled over to continue her expulsion of her breakfast but she would have been trampled by the crowd had she done that. Instead she found her lithe form carried by the mass until she was standing face to face with a seated soldier and two stony faced guardsmen.

"Your business in the great city?" He asked never looking up. "Visiting..." She whispered suddenly frightened by the veiled tone of aggression in the man's voice. He was an ugly man and her amazing trip was coming to a crashing end. "Visiting? Who, when, why and for how long?" His voice rose and she wanted to shrink back but found herself being shoved aside by two farmers.

"Git out r' da way!" One burly man shouted and he grabbed her arms and suddenly Mialee found herself standing out of the line. The seated soldier frowned at her but soon his vision was blocked by the press of people clambering for papers and just like that she was forgotten. Mialee looked right and left watching the people move from place to place and those with richer clothing or well crafted weapons moving past the lines and to a staircase guarded my men with drawn weapons. 'Papers...' She thought and sighed knowing that they would be expensive.

"Can I help you, you look at bit lost." Came a gentle reply from her left. It was a smooth, deep baritone voice that made her heart skip a beat in its inflection, pitch and tone. Her blue eyes found the muscled, heavily armored figure first but it was her heart that once again reacted first by almost leaping from her chest. "Ahhhh." Mialee exhaled the sound it coming out reedy and soft. The man before her was nothing short of a tangible presence of a god. He was simply gorgeous and after a moment she managed to close her jaw and nod her head in response to his question. Not trusting her voice just yet she continued to stare soaking in his form.

The man was taller than her by several inches and his broad chest and arms filled out the beautifully maintained armor as if it was a second skin of steel and leather. His armored legs were thick and strong and she found herself blushing even though should could not help but scan him up and down admiring his body. Mialee felt the color on her cheeks grow even deeper as she found his face and the kind eyes set into it. His skin was smooth like chiseled stone and the thin beard was just perfect and that would be her thought after meeting him. He was just about perfect.

"I... Um.. He." She stammered for a bit and looked down brushing her hair back behind her right ear just to find a moment to collect herself. "I'm having a hard time with him." Her gloved hand slender fingers pointing towards the seated guardsman. The man followed the gesture with his eyes and nodded slowly.

"Yes, he can be a bit gruff but we have to keep things tight at this stage of entrance to the city." He replied and watched her curiously for a moment. "My name is Andelain," he added and then leaned forward. "If you just explain to him why you are visiting you should be able to receive guest papers." Mialee nodded feeling suddenly very child like in front of Andelain and she slowly smiled hiding her nervousness at him even while she felt suddenly more courageous than a moment ago. "Ok, I'll try that. Oh and I'm Mialee, Mialee Westin." She said quickly avoiding his eyes as she stepped back in line feeling much braver now.

As the line moved forward she found herself sneaking peeks at him when she thought he wasn't looking at her. 'He is so hot!' She thought to herself and shook the continued thoughts away feeling her body respond to him each and every time he looked over and nodded. Finally the line moved and she was standing in front of the soldier.

"You again? Still visiting?" He sneered but she felt less intimidated now and she knew it was because of Andelain's presence. It was just so apparent yet unknown to her having never been around someone like him.

"I am but I would like entrance to your wonderful city in order to buy goods and perhaps find employment." Mialee held her breath as the man studied her and reached out a hand as if to flick her away as one would do an annoying bug. "And I would be willing to part with these for the opportunity to do both." Mialee allowed 5 coins to fall from her grasp and into the raised hand. The soldier blinked and pulled the hand back the coins disappearing into another belt pouch at his waist instead of the one on the table.

Several minutes later Mialee waved the papers at Andelain, her guest papers allowing her into the city. Forgotten was the bribe she slipped the man as Andelain offered to show her around the city. But something whispered in her mind to avoid telling him about it. After all while his eyes were kind and soulful and she could swim in them all day long there was was a lion waiting just below the surface of those beautiful pools. How could there not be?

[Missyb1]

Mialee sighed as Andelain moved away from her, his stride long and purposeful. The tour had lasted all day but was in reality only a few hours. The city was sprawling for floating off the ground; a fact she soon forgot as they wandered from place to place. She saw the large shopping area with swords, armor, bows and adventuring gear for sale. He pointed out the library, crafting hall and potion brewer's home in a beautiful area of the city called Aspirations. The park in the center was peaceful with cut grass, trees and statues. But soon enough he had to go, called away on important business and she couldn't help but admire the way he walked away and she hoped she would run into him again.

Her blue eyes looked up at the sign to the most luxurious tavern in Sundren City and she shook her head. It was not her kind of place but she had a feeling she knew right where she wanted to go. Slowly she made her way to the place her tour did not take her even thought she didn't think he purposely avoided it. A secret smile came to her smooth, youthful face as the houses started to become less maintained, the people's clothes more threadbare. Mialee sniffed the air, the pungent odor of waste, body odor and hopelessness assaulted her senses. It was with no surprise that she was approached by children, hin disguised as such and adults begging for help. She stepped by them cautiously after all she didn't know the rules of this underground world and one did not tread lightly in these dark holes without being enlightened. But flanked by two men with drawn swords she knew she had found the place. Jimmy's Den. Avoiding the lingering gaze of the two thugs which unabashedly looked her up and down like a piece of meat she slipped inside.

The place was dark and yet surprisingly calm and clean. It was light with customers and she found a table that had not yet been cleared. A wet rag was left on the table top and as the bedraggled barmaid passed by carrying two mugs of ale she shook her head in the universal language of "I'm not getting to that anytime soon". Mialee put up a hand in acknowledgement and studied the bar curious to understand what went on there. Finally she observed the card game going on at the table near the front door. It seemed confusing and the house won more often than not but she enjoyed the flow and figured she would learn it someday. As she grabbed the rag and slowly cleaned the table it was like time stopped for her. So fast did the nostalgia hit her she slowly sat down perched on the tip of her chair and let her mind wander.

[Missyb1]

the wood was worn, pockmarked from blades, dented by blunt objects including faces and head and yet each time it wiped clean without complaint. Her hands gripped the edge of the table, her body folding quickly at the waist and the efficiently quick swipe of the rag was designed to keep her and more importantly her behind away from the patron's hands. The Raging Lion had gained more and more notoriety among the seafaring people as being the one place safe from the law and it showed day and night. When Mialee had left her small house she had thought of all of the amazing experiences she would learn. Being rich and famous can do that to a girl. 'Any day he will bring a carriage and mother and I will escape this place.' Mialee would promise herself each morning and for the first thirty days it worked. But each day slipped into the next. Each promise made grew a little duller as it didn't come to pass. It was around the ninety day mark where she stopped promising and switched to hoping. Then that turned to praying. Each day ate the day before and still no word from her father.

Mia seemed to be suffering less although she constantly wrote letters to Samlee, including some from Mialee as well. At first it was a game to them both but eventually that wore off as well. The letters Mialee received from her father talked about the Luskan job, how noisy and unhelpful the people were and then... They just sort of stopped. Mialee begged and pleaded for them to go visit him but her mother refused. It wasn't out of spite or anger. It was because of the "Lion."

When they had left there house they had been put up in the Lion as temporary housing but soon the guardsmen stopped coming to visit or even bring money for her and her mother. Soon they had no where to go nor money to change that situation. It was a tense few weeks as Mia shouted and yelled constantly at the guards and the inn owner, Dran. Finally the bald headed, stout owner allowed them to work their for their room and meals. Mialee's heart went out to her mother who soon became one of the most popular bartenders in the northern docks. Eventually she moved away from the bar and into an office and turned out to be a shrewd business woman blessed with skills and beauty. That left Mialee to wait on tables and clean up after bar fights, vomiting guests and other sorts of unmentionables.

Mialee turned out to be a fairly effective bar maid. She was slender and quick both with her hands and feet. She could balance several trays of food and drink with a calculating mind around weight distribution and mass. After several near run ins with unsavory men that tried to make her perform other lewd acts either with words, coins or force, Martin was brought in to "handle" people. Martin was tall and thick and muscles corded his forearms and biceps. He face was covered with a blonde goatee and a mop of blonde hair. But his eyes usually ended a fight before they started. His eyes were cruel and black like a shark's eyes. They only showed emotion when he looked at Mialee or Mia. He was a killer, Mialee knew it without ever asking and soon enough she was usually left alone.

That was part of the problem though. Close to a year after her father left and without any correspondence in the last 5 months Mialee found herself more and more alone in the inn with only Martin around besides the occasional new employee. Sure there was a ton of people coming in and out of the place but she felt more lonely than ever before. As she turned seventeen and really noticed attractive sailors and even a few Royal Navy members that frequented the Lion she noticed they would just stop coming eventually.

Then one day Martin approached her as she was wiping down the last table for the night and motioned for her to follow him. He smirked at her expression of exhaustion and boredom before speaking to her. "Ok, your mother and Dran have come up with something else they want you to learn. Call it a promotion if you will. If you are interested I'll show you tonight?" He finished by folding his arms and flexing the muscles of his forearms. The grin that sprang to her face at the thought of doing something new mirrored the one on his face. Unfortunately her's and his' was for totally different reasons.

[Missyb1]

The moon rose high into the sky and still they waited in the Raging Lion. Patrons came and went, upstairs to the rooms and down again. Sometimes to leave and other times to find the next "adventure." Mialee wasn't naive even if her youthful skin and innocence revealing blue eyes reflected a girlish aire. No, she knew what happened behind those doors and while her curiosity hadn't won over the fear of the unknown yet it was only a matter of time. Surprisingly her mother nor Dran had made their appearance this night and she knew that to also be unusual. Martin hovered near her, never saying a word but his eyes always seemed on her. For the last year Martin had been her shadow and was the closest thing to a friend she knew. He was handsome in a rough and tough sort of way and their was something very dark and mysterious about him that made his attention both increase her heart beat and frighten her at the same time. He had never made an untowards move and she found herself growing more excited for what the night held.

"It's time to go. Come along but..." Martin trailed off and looked at her shoes with the hard soles. " Those will not do. Here, put these on." He pushed a cloth folded several times and black as night towards her as well as some cloth boots that flopped over so supple were the sides. Mialee grinned as she quickly slipped off her worn brown leather shoes and pulled the boots on. They were made of some type of cloth and fitted her calves as if built for her alone. She tapped on the wooden floor of the inn but no sound came back to her. The second article was a cloak of dyed linen, weighted at the bottom. Clasping it around her neck she could pull it tight against her body and literally fade into any shadow.

"Martin, these are amazing! Are you sure? I mean, I couldn't afford something like this." her blue eyes widen as he gestured dismissively. "Call it an advance. Come along, we must not be late." He said and ushered her down the hallway to a strange door near the back of the inn. She always thought the metal door was odd but try as she might she could neither open it or ever saw someone use it. It clearly went into the back alley but she could not get the wooden door set behind the Lion to open either. With an odd wave of his hand Martin opened the door and held it open for her and Mialee stepped through.

The sound of carriages passing caused her to blink and spin around. They were at the back of an alley but... they were not at the docks nor the Raging Lion. Mialee's questioning eyes sought Martin's but she found a dark hood staring back at her. A flash of memory whipped by her mind as she recalled the night her house was attacked but then she realized that Martin had just pulled a cloak and hood similar to hers low over his head. "Wh...Where are we?" she whispered aware of the noise of people moving past them at the mouth of the dark alley.

"Training." was the reply as Martin fell into the focus of his craft. 'Teach her.' was the command from Mia. When she meant business it was never flowery or polite. He hated and craved that from his Demarchesess and would even push her to command him instead of ask. But with Mialee it was different. Martin had desired her since he first met her as a young girl. There was something about her, an innocence that did not exist deep in the girl that drew him like a moth to a flame. 'Oh I'll teach her.' he thought at the time and while he had been able to control his more animalistic nature for this long he was losing the fight, especially as she had grown older. The death of her old man had been a wonderful treat for him and had satiated his base desires for the last year but soon he would make his move. But not tonight. Tonight it was time to learn if she could take the next step.

The mark was simple. A merchant with an abundance of gems was making his way from his shop to one cleric of Helm. One gem in particular , a blue diamond, would be handed over and used to power a wand. If the wand was crafted it would cause some small pain to their group as they had gotten two spies into the clergy's ranks. It was a detection wand but would hold its spell longer than the potions of non-detection could last. This merchant had one other weakness and that was where Mialee would come into play.

"Look" Martin hissed in her ear, the instructions simple. "There will be a fat sob of a man walking past this alley in 1 minute. You need to do two simple things. Bump into him as he passes as if you are running from someone. Look panicked and scared. He will hug you. When he does, slip your hand into his right pouch against his thigh and replace the stone there with this." He held up a small blue gem, clearly of great beauty.

"Wha...What? Why? What's going on Martin?!" Mialee stammered for time knowing full well what he was asking for her to do but finding it hard to believe. Her mother wanted her to do this? What was going on?

"No time - here he comes!" he hissed and shoved her towards the mouth of the alley.

[Missyb1]

Mialee's mind swirled just about as fast as her legs scrabbled on the odd cobblestone pathway leading out of the alley. Her barmaid shirt had remains of the night serving patrons and the supple leather breeches that covered her legs made no sound as she hurtled out the momentum of the shove aiding the ruse. The impact with the man would have been horrendous for her if the man hadn't been so overweight. As it was Mialee barely moved the mountainous man as she found herself deep within his embrace.

It wasn't a hug by design but as he raised his hands to scream for help the merchant, one Killian Spartol, found his arms encircling the most pleasant youthful woman he had laid eyes on. Her breathing was panicked and he could even feel her tremble like a fawn her head pressed into the side of his large stomach. He could not help but grip the girl tightly with one hand but and raise the other in a closed fist. Killian knew his goons would be approaching with murderous intentions towards whatever came flying out at their employer. "What do I have here?" He said in a watery voice that was neither jovial or pleasant and his arm held the girl firm.

Mialee found herself enveloped by his flabby but forceful arm and as she tried to escape it was like fighting through molasses. He was too large, too strong for her to break out. For whatever reason, and she would wonder in the days and nights to come why, her mind did not panic but focused on the hastily whispered instructions. Even as she felt the man's hands move down to her shoulders and his warm breath on her face reeking of fish she looked down at his right hip only to find, no pouch.

She did panic then but only with her eyes, frantically seeking the pouch. It wasn't on either hip. 'oh no...no,no,no!' Her mind repeated like a mantra and then she caught just the tip of a drawstring hanging out from behind and under his belt. 'I can't...I can't!' She wailed soundlessly as the man's thick fingers moved under her chin and raised her face to his eyes. "My dear child, what has you so spooked?"

Killian looked like an unwashed, lazy orc; his dark eyes set deep in his pudgy face inspecting her like a piece of meat that is his to enjoy. Mialee knew the look from waiting on tables and she was aware that she could be in a bad position very soon. "Men, chasing me. They had knives." She panted and then added in a moment of clarity "said waiting for a heavy man to kill!" She allowed the panic of what're would do to her if he took her home creep into her voice. His eyes immediately left her for the alley while he squeezed her tighter as if to not lose his prize nor his life. "There!" He pointed at the alley entrance and the hired thugs jumped to his defense, swords ringing from scabbards and voices rising turning the heads of several guardsmen nearby who moved to investigate the disturbance.

Mialee had seconds to do what she was tasked with but the pouch inside his pants. The trembling Killian experienced was very real but for very different reasons. She palmed the stone and grimaced, her slender fingers dipping into his pants finding a loose fold of flesh to slide along as she dove for the purse. Mialee allowed her other hand to flex against his chest in fear trying to distract the man.

Anyone but Killian would have been quiet aware of the fumbling at his privates and known what was going on but the man had quite desensitized skin due to the large amounts of stretching that had occurred over the years. He was suddenly aware of a pleasant feeling on his chest and he realized the girl was... Touching him, gripping one massive breast? His mind trying to process having something so exquisite initiating contact. The guardsmen approached shouting for the thugs to stand down as no violent encounters seemed to be occurring. Even as the questions started flowing the merchant knew he had just escaped death and had captured an angel to play with for days and days. He looked down only to find his arm empty.

Mialee made seven or eight random turns trying to put distance between herself and the commotion. Martin had been right about the cloak and boots. She had nearly disappeared right in from of the man and his goons. The next few minutes made her realize several things. One she was completely lost in a section of Waterdeep she had never seen before. Before she could think about the second a hand clamped down on her arm like a vice.

"You failed!" Martin whispered. "You need to finish the job, go back there now." He started to tug her back and Mialee shook her head negatively.

"I'm not going back Martin. Did you see what he .. Tried to do, wanted to do?" She appealed to him and was surprised by the reaction as he pulled her right against him. She felt his raw animalistic power and demand. His eyes hidden behind the mask glittered dangerously and she held up a hand with the blue stone, the real one.

"I have it. I did not fail." She whispered, not daring to look into his eyes suddenly very much aware of how close she was to him.

"Come." Martin said but kept a hand on her arm the entire time just to make sure she didn't run. He was quite impressed she had succeeded but was a little disappointed. A failure would have been easy to demand punishment at his hands. They entered a smaller door several minutes later and walked back into the main room of the Raging Lion moments after that.

[Missyb1]

Mialee tossed and turned the rest of the night. The small apartment off of the inn did nothing to ease her anxiety about the sleight of hand trick, the mannerisms of Martin, the gross attention of the fat merchant and even worse her own excitement after the fact. For one thing she found the attention of Martin something new, scary and delightful all at the same time. Also, she had done something of value to him and apparently her mother. She grumbled out in her sleep as the events played out in her mind and several times she awoke only to find her mother's bed empty. 'What is going on...' She thought during one insomniac moment before finally falling into a calm slumber.

Mialee awoke the next morning to her mother and a plate of eggs with tiny pieces of meat mixed in. The steam was visible to her eyes as she approached the table and the smell in the small room was delicious.

"Good morning, Mialee. Did you sleep well?" The question was surprisingly expected and she nodded slowly in reply to her mother's question. Mia was dressed in a layered dress of black, white and grey. It fit well and her black hair was braided and hanging over her right shoulder as she sipped on a cup of steaming liquid.

Mialee sat down in front of the eggs but did not eat. "What... Why.. Last night?" She stammered for a moment unnerved by the causal way Mia was sitting. "Stealing?!" She exclaimed at the raised eyebrow of her mother, the only response to her first question.

"What is there to say, Mialee. We are not in the best of places and we needed the money. It was something I knew you alone could do." Mia trailed off for a moment. "You said you wanted to do more to help out..." Mia offered.

"I didn't want to steal! Who was that? Why did we need that stone? He... Grabbed me!" Mialee whispered her voice trembling slightly.

"You were in no danger. Martin was there to protect you." Mia tried to explain but stopped noticing the look on her daughter's face. "It wasn't stealing. That gem belonged to a friend of ours. You remember Daniel Ruttis? That was hid wife's gem. The merchant, Killian Spartol, swindled her of it a few weeks ago. He was going to sell it that very night." Mia narrowed her eyes and gestured at the plate in front of Mia. "Now eat before it gets cold and remember, we don't forget our own."

Mialee ate in silence her mind reeling down paths she didn't consider until now. Finally she spoke. "So why me? There were guards? I could have been attacked?"

"You wouldn't have been caught. Martin was there's. Besides... Did you like it?" The gleam in her mother's eyes would have revealed the answer she wanted to hear. But Mialee did not look up, afraid of the response but she answered.

"I did. I was scared and nervous but when I slipped away I ... Loved it." She finished and looked up at her mother whose face was set firmly.

"Good, then I'll have Martin start your training now. Listen, it will be confusing for awhile. You will do things that don't seem quite... right. But there is a good reason we do what we do. You will have to trust my judgement and that of Martin's." Mia's voice trailed off as Mialee went back to eating. Trusting Martin was a double edge sword she knew but walking such a line was critical to her deity's desires. It brought out the best in his clergy and she was determined at all costs to succeed in Waterdeep. Even if that meant a little... sacrifice. Mialee didn't see the grin that appeared and faded against her mother's lips at that moment.