From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue May 30 08:57:56 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8458 Path: netcom.com!csus.edu!news.ucdavis.edu!agate!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!demon!doc.news.pipex.net!pipex!warwick!news.coventry.ac.uk!rowan!ajf5 From: The Harvesrter of Souls Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: Grey wanderer:pt 2 Date: Thu, 25 May 1995 16:48:47 +0100 Organization: Coventry University Lines: 66 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: ajf5@rowan-fddi.coventry.ac.uk Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII X-Sender: ajf5@rowan The food arrived promptly and Connain smiled at the serving maid. She set down the platter and laid a number of silver coins beside the plate. "You've change sir." she said. "You keep it , you children need it , especially , Asphria." The woman eyed the stranger cautiously , her daughter Asphria was ill with a comsumptive illness which baffled the doctors in the area , but how did this man know that? She took the coins though. "Here , take these too." Connain fished another gold coin from his pounch and dug into the large pack by his side , extracting a clay phial stoppered with cork , a blue rune painted upon it. He placed both on the table. "What is this?" the woman indicated the phial. "A bit of earth majik , " Connain smiled. "It will cure your daughter Merril." Now Merril was highly suspicious,how could he know her name? She eyed the phial. "Oh,this is safe." he looked into her eyes and saw fear there. "Ah,but I am a stranger,and these are sad times." he unstoppered the phial and drank some of the liquid , and to prove he had swallowed it , he broke off a piece of cheese and chewed slowly , swallowing clearly so she could see his larynx rise and fall. "It will not harm her." he said. Merril relaxed now and smiled , I will try it sir , thank you." she scooped up the coin too. "Buy her eggs and pork." Connain said , as the woman left. He smiled as he helped himself to the victuals before him. He took a slim knife from his pouch and cut off a piece of beef,popping it into his mouth. The meat was good and well-cooked,he ate more and tried the loaf of bread. The food was good here , he decided finishing his plate. Moments later , he called Merril over and asked for fresh mead. She returned and gave him an iron key. "Your room is the third past the stairs." she said. Then she looke behind her , "There is a warrior , a woman who wishes to speak to you." Connain sighed. "Tell her she can come." The woman proved to be as Connain had expected , a warrior-mage of sorts , and an elf. "Hello Listener , " Connain said as the woman approached. "Been following me for long?" The elfen woman shrugged , "Long enough." she smiled "You sure put the wind up Merril." "I helped her daughter." Connain said simply. "You never change Connain." Listener laughted. "Earth majik is to be shared among the needy , Gulumenn taught me that much." Connain said. "As an elf,I know that." Listener said. "But the fact that a human does still puzzles me. "Ah." "Do you still hate us Connain?" pain etched in her face. "I don't really know , " the tall warrior shifted uneasily. "It has been a long time. I can almost forget your disguise." "We of the surface are not like those who still live below ground,we have forsaken our heritage." "I know that,but I find it hard to accept." Connain's voice was barely a whisper. "Not after what one of you did to me." "Do not blame all drow for the crimes of our people." Listener whispered. "I am sorry." Connain's mind drifted back,through the mists of time,Lorrukand had helped him to his feet the silk of her robes swishing as she moved. "You had quite a scare there." she said,distress in her voice. "I will be fine." Connain said with more bluster than he felt. "Let me help you." her voice had echoed through his skull,hypnotic and the strength had fled from his limbs as the spell penetrated. Slowly,blissfully,he slipped back into darkness.