Return to Rilynt'tar

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Opening the scroll, she quickly scanned the contents, and the pain seemed to melt from her face as she smiled.  "We return to Rilynt'tar this day Theido.  Prepare my things for departure."

As the two traveled, Mavralyn instructed the human male on the ways of the drow.  Preparing him for his inevitable meeting with the Ilharess, they made their way deep underground.  Many miles of dark and winding passages lay between them and their destination, but the trip was swift and uneventful.

Finally arriving at the gates of Rilynt'tar, two Sargtlin tried to bar Mav's way.  As she lowered her hood to reveal who she was, a shout came from above.  Looking up, Mav saw the Yathrin Arielana disappear from the window.  The two guards moved back and allowed the travelers to enter.  As Mav and the knight entered the courtyard, Arielana met them at the opened doors.

After greeting each other warmly, the young females went together to Mav's room.  At the door she commanded the dark knight to stand guard.  With a curt nod he complied.

Arielana watched with interest as Mav opened her bag, retrieving three rune-carved jars containing the beating hearts of her victims. Setting them on a shelf she told Ari of her adventures. Then it was Ari's turn to speak of what occurred.  She told Mav of her encounter with Devon and the rose that he gave her for safe keeping.  Mav sensed something about the Yathrin when she spoke of Devon.

Forgetting for a moment with whom she spoke, Mav finally told Ari about her intimate encounter with Ryltarl.  Fully confident of the assassin's trust, Mavralyn spoke with passion and something else in her eyes.  Seeing this, Arielana turned her gaze away from the young mistress.

"Khaless nau uss mzild taga dosstan, Mavralyn."^*1 she spoke softly.

"I do not understand, Ari.  Why do you tell me this?  Mavralyn asked.  Her eyes narrowed, searching Ari's face.  "There is more to your story than you have told," she said with a question in her eyes.  Mav waited and finally the Yathrin related her meeting with the Velgla Jabbuk.

Arielana told Mav of the assassin's seeming pursuit of her and his warning for her to be less trustful even of Mavralyn.  Sensing the feeling Arielana harbored for the assassin, she whispered, "I didn't know, Ari. You know I would never do anything..."

Arielana cut Mav off with a wave of her hand.  "I will not interfere if you wish to continue whatever it is that you have begun with this male, at least for now.   What he does is no concern to me."

After further discussion of the assassin's motives, Mavralyn declared firmly, "I am not ready to give him up."

Arielana then spoke plainly, "Know this Mavralyn, there is a part of me that needs the Velgla Jabbuk for now.  I too am not yet ready to set it aside."  Coming to an understanding, the two spoke for a while longer deciding to confront and perhaps trap him into revealing what game he played.

Their decision made they laughed with wicked humor as they made their way to an inn later that day.  Sending a summons to Ryltarl to meet them, the two awaited his arrival to spring the trap.

When he arrived at the inn, Ryltarl knew something was up.  His quick glance took in the smug expressions of the two drow females as he bowed to Arielana and greeted both.  Sensing a light tension between the two, Tarl inquired, "Is there something you wished to discuss with me, Yathrin?" 

Without threat, he moved behind Ari and began massaging her shoulders.  Shooting a look of triumph at Mav, she replied, "What would we possibly want to discuss with you?"  Mavralyn's eyes flashed momentarily with jealousy.  Schooling her expression, she told the assassin, "I believe that Arielana and I would appreciate some wine."  Casting a knowing look at Ari, they both smiled at Ryltarl knowing his aversion to this small task.  "Do not add any herbs this time Tarl," laughed Arielana mockingly.  Ignoring the Velgla Jabbuk, the two continued chatting. 

Ryltarl called the servant to bring two goblets and a bottle of wine.  Once the wine arrived, he poured the yathrin's wine first.  As he passed the wine to her, their hands touched lightly and he leaned over and kissed Ari's cheek tenderly.  As Mavralyn watched, her eyes softened accepting the bond between these two.

Next he poured Mavralyn's wine but this time when he tasted it, he leaned over and tilted her head back.  Kissing her passionately, Mav tasted the wine as it passed from his mouth to hers. 

Arielana's eyes darkened in memory, recalling another time with Tarl and a kiss of wine.  Ryltarl stepped back, breaking the kiss.  He looked at Ari and spoke softly, "Yes Lana, remember."  With a triumphant look, Mavralyn laughed softly, "It seems he chooses me."

His fists clenched in anger as Tarl's eyes darted between them and he spoke accusingly, "What is it you two are doing? You have me choose between you?  I am comfortable with the bond I have with both of you."  Ari's eyes flashed in anger as she replied sharply, "What makes you think the choice is yours?"

"Would you have both of us?  I think the decision is ours." Mavralyn said at the same time.

"Arielana, you already made your choice." Tarl spoke quietly. 

Rising from her chair, Arielana moved towards the drow assassin.  As she placed her hands on his shoulders, Ryltarl turned to her.  Looking from her sister to the qu'el velguk^*2 Arielana's eyes dimmed as she stated "It is not I who makes this choice, Tarl.  There is still much I need to learn before I find the path Lloth will choose for me."  Kissing him lightly on the lips, she stepped away from Ryltarl.  Sweeping across the room to the door, Arielana winked at both of them and left the inn.

Alone once more with Tarl, Mav felt the familiar surge of desire he aroused in her.  Sensing the heat rising within her, the drow male's own passions flared.  The flames of lust danced in her eyes as Mav turned towards the assassin and murmured a spell.  Instantly her gown disappeared and only the silver river of her hair veiled her from his view. 

His eyes traveled hungrily downward, enjoying the lovely curves of the sight before him. His hands clenched with the building desire he felt for this new member of Rilynt'tar.

Her eyes glowed like twin sapphires with promise as she stepped closer to the assassin and let her body brush against his.   "I've missed you my gentle assassin," Mavralyn purred with sultry intent.

Ryltarl knew he must question the drowess on her recent activities and reigned in the lust that threatened to distract him.  In a calm voice he replied, "And I you my dark sweet."

Mav stepped towards the bed, her hips swaying gently in further invitation. Settling upon it, she reclined back in a seductive maneuver she knew would excite the assassin further.  A knowing smile curved her lips as she spoke in a low, husky voice, "Come join me Tarl."

Moving with the silent grace of a cat, Ryltarl kept his thoughts hidden from the dangerous beauty before him.  What he planned to do next could mean his death if he lost control of the situation.  The assassin muttered a simple incantation to activate ropes he knew hid beneath the bed.  The ropes came to life and twined about Mav's wrists and ankles, securing her firmly to the posts before she knew what happened.  Surprised, Mavralyn quickly schooled her features but Tarl had seen the momentary flash of alarm in the sapphire depths.

Struggling only a bit to test the strength of the bindings, Mavralyn uttered a soft laugh to cover her lapse of control.  "What game do you play now my gentle assassin?"  When he didn't answer immediately, her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.  As he moved towards a pitcher and bowl, she struggled a bit more and watched his progress warily.

Pouring water into the shallow basin, Tarl reached into a small pouch and added a few herbs.  Casting burning hands upon it, the water heated, immediately sending a fragrant odor through the room.  Returning to the immobilized drowess, he began to wash her with the scented liquid.

As the burning hot water touched her sensitive skin, Mav realized this might not be a game.  With a gasp of pain she scolded Tarl, "That is too hot, it scalds!"

With calm detachment, he replied, "I merely wash you my dark sweet, am I not being gentle enough?"  Quickly Mav decided this was enough.  Murmuring the beginnings of a spell that would release her, her eyes flashed in anger at his audacity.  Realizing what she tried, the Velgla Jabbuk made a simple gesture that caused the ropes to pull sharply and broke the spell she chanted.

"Do not try that again Mavralyn."  Ryltarl said in a low deadly tone. Pulling twin blades out, he showed them to the startled mistress.  "I will use these if you do not answer truthfully to a few questions I have for you." Tarl placed the daggers close by and completed the task of washing.  The hot water caused the dark flesh before him to flinch in minor pain.

"Now I have finished washing the stink of rivvil paladins from your body, I want to know who.  I want their names."  Was that a jealous spark in his eyes?

With subtle skill, the assassin interrogated the drowess.  Using pain to disrupt her thoughts followed by sensations of pleasure when she revealed truths, he methodically drew out the answers he sought. 

Mavralyn told him of the three paladins, Theido being one of them.  Ryltarl questioned her further.  "Why do you demean yourself with these rivvil knights of good?"

"It is Lloth’s wish that I use them, turn them to her path.  Take their hearts in service to her!"  She gasped out.

It seemed an endless barrage of questions followed, and though she answered truthfully, there was always pain, followed by pleasure.  Finally satisfied with the answers he had gotten, Ryltarl released the ropes and healed the pain.  Mav, vulnerable at that moment, only stared upward with unseeing eyes. Still very new to the ways of the drow, she did not know he had no right.

Through the bond they shared, he knew exactly what she felt the whole time. Then with a tenderness not quite understood, he showed her only passion's delight.

Ryltarl slowly rose from the bed and reached for his things.  Quickly dressing in his well-worn armor given to him by his sister, and placing his matching blades across his shoulders in their normal carrying position, he turned to sit beside the resting  Mavralyn.  Speaking only her name brought her to instant awareness.  Frowning slightly at the sight of him dressed she inquired,  "You are leaving now?"

"I must, for there are duties I must attend to, my dark sweet," he replied with a chuckle.  "Are you not sated yet?"

"Xas, for the moment I am," she answered with a lithe stretch of long limbs.  "You may go then, but I do hope you return quickly," Mav continued with a hint of amusement.

Reaching into his bag, Ryltarl withdrew a heart-shaped pendant that hung at the end of an exquisitely made necklace.  The necklace, fashioned into an interweaving pattern of tiny strands of silver and mithral, seemed to shimmer and move. An endlessly revolving pattern of spiders created an illusion of constantly crawling along the thin strands.  Placing it around her neck he said in a low tone, "A gift for you Mavralyn."

Once more he reached into the bag and revealed a beautiful carved box.  The box had slightly rounded edges, with an ornately designed lid resting on top.  The whole thing rested on what appeared to be eight spider-shaped legs.  A portrait on the lid showed a drow priestess worshipping the image of Lloth.  Upon closer inspection of the magnificent depiction on the lid Mav realized the image was of her.

Accepting these gifts, she looked at the Velgla Jabbuk with curiosity burning in her eyes.

Before she could ask him, he slipped away into the shadows with a quiet, "Aluve'^*3 Mistress Mavralyn."

*1.  "Trust no one more than yourself."
*2.  Loosely translated meaning: House Security Officer 
*3.  "I leave you."