Xaut

It was still early as far as Kanai could tell but that did not help her impatient nature. Shifting from side to side she tried to stand still. It wasn't about to happen. What if this male never showed? What if all the dirty little things she had to do to get this one male was for nothing? Growling to herself she had to recall all exactly what those things were. The first being sleeping with the Army's weapon master. It didn't take much to have him spilling all the facts she needed.

She needed a male because they would be easily turned against the Spider Queen without the offering of extensive gifts or powers. The male would have to be skilled but not missed, if he couldn't be turned...she would simply kill him. The foolish weapons master had told her of a male that was the only survivor of a suicide mission. He had accomplished the mission as well as surviving. The information went on to explain that he was the second son of the next matron to the fourth house in Xuat. Perfect.

Next she worked on his mother, she would need to give the permission needed for him to go. Kanai simply set up a meeting with the would be matron and whispered sweet little promises to her. Not only had Kanai promised to help assassinate the Matron Mother but she made the deal by saying that she would aid in bringing down the third house. The deal was set now she just had to wait for the male.

She growled suddenly and began to pace. "Damn it where the fucking hell his this warrior!" She shouted to herself with her hands thrown up into the air....

Wearing his dark green scouting robes with exception of the cloak Huascar strolled towards his meeting with this female. He had done his research on her. Kanai. First daughter of the second house. His mind already thinking about how he could use her to his advantage and how exactly she would be wanting to use him. All his thoughts reflected on the way he walked himself up the stairs to the the designated meeting place in the Glowstone tavern.

He turned the bend into the hall and noticed that the tavern was empty. The absence of patrons was due to the early day, but the absence of bartenders and hands was something else. Empty except for the female sitting on a table at the far side of the room. She was conveniently seated in a place she could dominate all angles and next to the double doors leading to the balcony for a quick escape. Without pause or hesitation he moved towards her his peripheral vision trying to register everything in the room while he kept eyes on her.

He was expecting anything and everything. Someone to spring out from under the bar to kill him, someone blocking the path behind him, anything. That is why he had his curved sword and a dagger on his belt.

He offered himself a seat on the table, sitting directly across to her. He took a moment to take in her features, she was as pretty as everyone said she was, probably just as dangerous too.

"Kanai... Good day to you... How can I help you?" He stated, in a very business like tone, which is the overall demeanor he wanted to keep.

Kanai eyed the male across from her, analyzing him. She had to know how to guess what he wanted the most, what she could bring to the deal to make his heart turn over to her side. "Vendui' Huascar." She whispered and gave him almost a sweet smile, if there was such a thing as a sweet drow. "You may help me by accompanying me on scouting mission. Has not your mother thought to fill in her son on his mission?" Her tone was bitter and if it were physical it would be dripping with poison. She rubbed at her temples, but not to ease her head, no it was to show she had no weapons in her hands. "Have my words not value?"

She waited and watched his reaction but without making it to known that she was studying him. "This mission is dangerous...we both may not make it back alive. There is a Basilisk that blocks my path. I can not take it on with only my will alone. I have heard of your talents in the face of certain death." One of her hands dropped from her temple to play with the trinket around her neck. "I have paid your mother but it seems that I shall have to compensate for you as well." Her free hand dropped to her waist before quickly tossing a small pouch at him. That pouch would contain ten large rubies and a few sapphires. "Lolth knows that you males are underpaid as it is." She moved to stand.

"What say you?" She reached out for his hand watching every move. She was wishing now that she had a talent for reading minds but then she always did fair without that certain ability.

So these where the details of this errand, he realized. It sounded simple enough and most likely that was all there was to it. Again, here was someone that wanted to use his "skills" in the face of danger, as she interpreted it. He suppressed a sigh of frustration. The money was good though he deduced from the heavy thud it made against the table he had no reason to object.

"Besides this Basilisk in your way, where do you need to be escorted to?" He asked thinking about what he should prepare for, the more he knew the better.

Normally a female would have whipped him for the further question, but Kanai knew that would not be the way to get what she needed. No many males were tired of the force that pressed on them daily. "That is a conversation best suited in the tunnels." She whispered leaning down and brushing his lips against his ear to whisper. "And I promise that you will not be disappointed." Rising she was already heading from the door. "I will be heading out the Underdark gate if you wish to escort me and perhaps gain a heavier purse...which will not be told to any other being and set only to your standards. Then you can follow." As soon as she was out the door she pulled the hood of her spider web robe over her head. The moment she was outside of this damned city she would shed the vile thing.

Something wasn't right here. Too much... Generosity. It rang alarms in his head. He froze as she whispered in his ear, the gesture made him uncomfortable. He looked back as she walked away for the sole purpose of checking for weapons. He could not see any under her robe.

He was left there where he sat and took a moment to think. She obviously needed him badly however she might want to get her investment back after he had proved himself useful. Her reputation was a dangerous one and even if he did take her if anyone where to know the repercussions would be... Significant. But he sensed the opportunity for a more beneficial outcome. It was a risk but it could lead somewhere and anywhere was better than the current state of things.

Standing up he padded his way downstairs and into the street. He really wanted to get more info before jumping into this, he could have brought a few men. He also geared himself mentally for battle, either with her or this beast in their path. He caught up with her shortly after, he tried not to be to sneaky trying not to startle her and by her demeanor he knew that she was aware of his presence.

Once he was walking next to her he adjusted his pace to hers letting her know he had agreed to her terms.

As he caught up with her she turned and smiled. "I am glad you have joined me." It was a whisper as she was trying to keep from being seen as they sneak from the city. Yellow turned to red as her eyes adjusted to the dark and scanned the area. "We go to a temple." She answered his earlier question. "Two days walk from here, I wish that the army does not need their finest warrior until then." They had reached the gate and it would seem they had a block in there path as it was so early that the gate keeper was not there. Instead Kanai smiled at her companion. "Shall we start having some fun then?"

Without hesitation she slipped her battle claws onto her hands and in only a few moments she was scaling the wall with easy. The space between the wall and ceiling of the cavern was small and they would have to lay on their bellies before lowering themselves to the other side. When she had reached said space Kanai rolled onto her back and unraveled a length of rope from around her waist and tossed one end over the side. There was nothing to tie the other end so she gritted her teeth, put her legs over the outside ledge so she would not slide, and held on tight.

He was aware of the secretive nature of this task so he made sure to stick to the walls and move swiftly but silently. Reaching the gate he watched her scale it up with such ease that it looked almost natural. Once at the top she tossed him a rope which he grabbed onto and climbed after her. He reached to top and was surprised to see her legs over the ledge and the rope in her hands, she had held his wight on her pure strength. He climbed into the space and had to climb over her before rolling to the side.

"A temple..." He mumbled more to himself than to her as he crawled towards the other side of the wall. He climbed down the same way he came up, Kanai on the other side used the same set of skills to climb back down. The quickly put some distance between them and the gate leaving Xuat behind. As they walked deeper into the underdark he let Kanai take the lead and he just followed.

As far as this basilisk, he knew that it did make its lair in the branches around the temple of Vhaerun and it was possible that they would run into it. Xuat was busier dealing with enemies on the surface than with these “domestic problems”.

Now he could see the weird artifacts she used to scale the gate walls where actually very sharp claws that could easily be used as weapons. Despite their odd nature he was not about to under estimate them.

As they walked further into the underdark he realized that given their direction the only temple they could be headed was that of Vhaerun. It seemed very odd though. What business did she have there? It could be anything. He could speculate all he wanted but it would be better to wait and see for himself.

Distracted with these thought they both turned a bend that lead to another branch of the cavernous system dimly lit by glowing stalactites hanging high above them they where well into the cavern when he finally noticed it, a tad to late to hide.

The basilisk. The long enormous reptile was as big as a house from head to tail and the as thick as a carriage. His head looked like it could fit Huascar whole into his mouth and by the looks of it its hide would not be easily pierced by a blade.

It was too late to run and not even a rock to hide behind. He threw an arm to reach for Kanai, his hand touched her bosom and gave her a light push backwards backpedaling slowly away to safety. The last thing he wanted was an open fight with this beast, they needed surprise on their side.

If fortune would have been with them, but this was not the case. The red eye of the beast zeroed in on them and his whole head turned to face them. It had noticed them. It's first few strides where sluggish but the next was quicker until it leaped towards them closing the distance very fast,

“You did say it was a dangerous assignment.” He said out loud. More as an explanation to himself for why it had not gone smoothly. He drew his curved blade from, letting the sound of metal against metal resound in the cavern and striking a pose ready to entangle himself with this monster.

Kanai moved in front of the male and cast their race's given ability to create a ball of darkness. She let it grow to an abnormal size before hurling it at the beast. The trick would work to slow the monster down for minor seconds. With quick work of her hands she untied the belt that held her robe and wrapped it over Huascar's eyes. "Do not remove it...one look into its eyes and you are as useless to me as the stone around us." She whispered. The tactic would work in her favor in more then one way. One it would keep the companion from turning to stone, two it would keep him from seeing her abilities. "I will go to its back and make turn. When that happens jump and make an attempt to slice off the head." That was the only command she would whisper before she turned quickly the shadows coming around her as if she were part of them herself.

The shadows concealed her from the beast she moved quickly around its back

It was moments such as these that Huascar cursed himself for never mastering the dark shroud. He could never cast a shroud of that size and hurl it more than a few feet. His employer threw something over his head blocking his vision, he almost, almost gutted her in that instant but he then saw the logic behind it and she reminded him of it before he could strike her down.

He heard her footsteps as she bolted towards the beast and with a dissatisfied grunt he removed the cloth from his vision and closed his eyes instead. It was hard to try to kill something that wanted to kill you without seeing it, he doubted he could dodge its attacks relying only on the sounds of it but he had no choice . He heard the heavy thuds of the beast moving about and faintly Kanai's lighter footsteps in the same general direction.

He gripped his sword with both hands and planted his feet firmly on the ground preparing for anything that might come his way. That is when he heard the beast's heavy footsteps move somewhere in front of him in quick succession.

He gambled it was facing away and when he opened his eyes that was the case. In between the quickly dissipating shroud he could see the tail of it pointing at him, not losing any of the valuable seconds he had he charged at it at full speed. He was closing the distance between them fast convinced the beast was distracted facing elsewhere. Then the shroud cleared enough for him to realize that the beast had merely coiled unto itself, judging by its stance he would come eye to eye with it and that would be the last he would see.

Too late to stop himself all he could do was close his eyes and keep charging with his sword ready to strike, relying only on memory, he lashed out at the Basilisk and somehow connected with something. He felt the blade sink into something before the thick flesh of the beast stopped the blade from cutting any deeper. He jumped to a side pulling the blade out of the beast when he felt something big and heavy crash into his left side sending him tumbling to the ground. The fall was more painful than the impact, the hard sharp rocks in the cave bruising and battering him.

If he had somehow wounded the beast he was not sure of its gravity since it did not make any sound indicating if it was hurt or not. He couldn't hear anything at the moment and was still shaken from the impact, he had lost his bearing and his main weapon, he dared not to open his eyes to see for fear of becoming petrified.

He heard the beasts heavy footsteps charging in his direction and instinctively threw himself to the side, he felt a gust of air moving overhead signaling how close the blow was. Only then did he open his eyes to crawl further away from the Basilisk. Something told him to roll and so he did just before one of the large clawed legs of the monster crashed where he had just been. He scanned the floor briefly for his sword but didn't see it, this small lapse of his divided attention was enough for the monster to knock him off his feet with a second blow.

He landed on his back and for a second saw the beast turning away to focus on Kanai. To his bad luck he could see his sword dangling from the mouth of the giant lizard. The blade was encrusted in its head almost severing the lower half of its jaw.

Despite the gravity of the situation he stood up and charged at the beast again, a lesser man would have sat there lamenting his bad luck or praying to one of the Aethernian gods for strength. He dashed up to the beast reaching for the sword but his footsteps where too close and too loud to not be noticed, it had not forgotten him. The last thing he saw before closing his eyes was something red moving his way quickly, he rolled forward and he knew the monster's head had just passed very close overhead.

He raised his left arm blindly reaching for the handle of the blade, his forearm caught one of the sharp edges giving him a very deep cut. The beast was shaking his head and in the next swinging motion he caught the sharp edge again but this time with his palm. His right knew at that moment where the grip was and was not disappointing when he felt it in his grasp.

He held it tightly like if his life depended on it and yanked forward and up, removing the top part of the Basilisks jaw along with his head. The beasts body made a satisfying thud that shook the ground and sent a few rocks rolling further downhill into the cave, leaving a breathless but relieved Huascar smiling at his good fortune despite the injury on his left arm.

He opened his eyes and finally gave his adversary a good look, its eyes now a darker shade of brown, lifeless and harmless.

He looked up at Kanai and his next comment was more the excitement of the moment than his own words. "You're Basilisk is dead." He said panting.

Kanai gave him that sickly almost sweet smile of her's and nodded. "Though the Basilisk was not of my creation...it is dead." She kicked the head so it rolled away from her feet. "Vile thing." Slowly she shrugged out of the spider webbed robe that she hated so much and revealed that she had on a set of heavy leather armor. It felt better to have that damn heavy robe off and it caused her to stretch before looking back at him, a hand dropping to toy with the whistle around her neck. "Tell me...with all the danger that you are put into aren't you wondering why it is the spider queen wants you dead?" A perfect white brow rose. "And your mother? Who would want such a warrior...worth so much value..to perish.." She shook her head. "These females and there selfish thoughts...Well shall we?"

Her arm swept to the side before she continued on the path to the temple while playing with the toy around her neck. Her pace was not that of a speedy pace as she waited for her hired arm to catch up to her. Red eyes would glance at him ever so often to gauge his response to her questioning. She hadn't lied to him. He was a warrior of great skill in which his mother would send him out without a second thought. The spider queen bit had been a lie or not, she hadn't opened herself to the vile goddess in some time. Ever since she turned sides..at any moment she could hear what the Masked God ordered of her but the goddess was silent. No more to be heard.

Still panting he watched her disrobe to reveal the full set of armor she had under those robes, it must be a very light material judging by the ease she could move in it, it was still tougher than the scouting gear he whore, it didn't even protect him from a nether ant sting. Catching his breath he realized finally felt the full extent of his injuries. He felt like if he was just trampled by a mob and the cut in his forearm wasn't going to heal itself. He would have to wait until he got to where they where going to and according to him it wouldn't be any longer.

He saw her smiling at him and sheathed his sword, her words made him pause for a second, it would have otherwise been an uninterrupted motion. There was something more to this, or was it just an opportunity she was capitalizing on?

He said nothing and followed her, stepping over his dead adversary. He felt that if there was something, it would be a good time to try and pry it out of her since she had started the topic. "Why would my life hold any value to you then?" He said bluntly trying to get answers out of her.

That was a question she hadn't expected but she had to answer him or she just might have to kill him. "You have in away saved my life by killing the reptile." She waved her hand back at the way they had come. "So I would think you value would be equal or more then my own." She said pointing to herself. "Or is there something wrong with a male actually surpassing a female?" Her eyes drifted to him again and she hid a smile. "My value before you ask is higher then you think." Again this was not a lie, as the only female under Vhaeraun she had gained a high rank. Few males could actually command her and those males where not of the ones she had turned in Xaut.

She had to remind herself to not make him promises. If he turned and they made it to the temple then the god would more then likely gift him as he did with all his followers. Her own gift was that of the whistle around her neck. By playing a tune she could change her shape or the shape of those around her. A handy gift when she need information from a troublesome source. Even drow often had someone that they would confide in and thus why she marched her way back to the temple to tell the males there that Xaut would not march against them. The city was to absorbed in itself, the trade that went through it, and the black mail that could be done. She stopped a sigh that was about to rise up at her thoughts of the foolish city.

He listened to her speak and had to admit that she was as talented with words as she was know to be. There was no flattery, it was a neutral comment. He made a note to himself not to let her get close to him.

They wandered further into the passage, Huascar holding his forearm until it stopped bleeding. The further they got he was convinced know of where they where going however he could not see a reason why they would go there.

The basilisk had nested in that branch of the underdark a while ago but it was not amongst the list of priorities of Xuat, actually since it led to the temple of Vhaerun it was actually convenient for the Spider Queen and all the harlots that followed her.

Someone in Xuat would take notice of this and since Kanai's little excursion was to be kept secret he could claim to have defeated it single handedly and his new scars could prove it. There must be something to be gained from this.

A trial appeared lined by glowstones and further up was the temple of Vhaerun. It was carved into the dead end of the passage a large entrance that led deeper into the earth. If this was their destination he wondered what he could expect. Kanai would not be getting a warm reception, unless she had been here before which was unlikely because the basilisk was in the way. His allegiance was to her at the moment so he would try to reason with the templars. If that didn't work, he gripped his sword and smiled, he thought he would be ready for them. If he had killed that basilisk he could handle this.

In the distance he could see a figure dashing towards the entrance and shortly from what he thought was a smile crack in the side of the passage four figures emerged with swords drawn. They had been spotted and these where to investigate them or hold them off while the runner alerted whoever was in there of their presence.

Huascar placed a hand on his sword and motioned for Kanai to stop. The templars approached them cautiously but ready for a confrontation. They whore some kind of armor under their dark robes, he could hear the metallic clink of something underneath. “Who are you and why do you bring this woman here?” The drow in charged asked closing the distance closely with long strides.

He stopped when Huascar drew his sword. “Huascar, Captain In the Guard of Xuat. I killed that lizard blocking the way I think I have earned the right to bring anyone here.”

It made the leader of the pose pause to think but it only lasted a second. Huascar saw two of the templars try and circle around him and towards Kanai until his attention was diverted back to his speaker. “You will be rewarded accordingly but I don't think you can decide what your reward will be.” At the same time a group of eight emerged from the temple itself jogging towards them.

“I won't accept anything less than this.” He side stepped to put himself in the path of the two circling around him. “So tell me if we have come to an agreement or do you want to meet the same fate as that lizard?” He tried intimidating them.

It was a ruse, he doubted he could kill them all, he was still hurt from the clash with the basilisk. But he was certain that with some help from Kanai he could dispatch this group easily but questioned if that would be in time to prepare for the next wave.

Kanai growled deeply. "Leave the escort alone." She commanded in a loud voice and got between the leader and Huascar. It wasn't for his protection but for her own good. She would still need a escort back to the city...or almost back to the city. "I am Kanai. What house I am from does not matter here...what matters is I was summoned to report of the progress of the conversion of Xaut from the Spider Queen to our own Masked Lord." With her words she started to unhook her armor and turned to show her back. There in the middle that would be covered by most clothing was a detailed white tattoo of a half mask. Vhearun's personal symbol. "Males of the city are easily turned." She went on with her report as she pulled her armor back into place. "However this is not a conversation between you and I. I will only speak to the highest of this temple." Before she would turn a face the males' leader she would look right into Huascar's eyes. She wanted to savor his reaction, good or bad she was sure to get some enjoyment out of it. Ignoring anything that the leader might says she spoke to her escort.

That was when Vhearun's voice entered her mind. It was a smooth caress as if she would ever be lucky enough to have him as a lover. 'Kanai, dearest female, please do not kill my followers, try not to piss them off so much that they kill you either.' Her eyes almost rolled the caress was almost pure ecstasy. Perhaps this is why she stayed on his path and followed even though her receptions were always those of violence. With the effects fading of her little mental thrill she sighed deeply and turned back towards the male. Once again a sickly almost sweet smile crossed her face. "It seems as if I have errored." She put an arm across her chest and bowed deeply to the male that she could only guess was actually the one in charge. "Forgive me if you will" She it was almost a whisper as she had to force it from her lips. "I shall give my report if that is truly what you wish, Patron." Oh and how bowing to and bending herself to please this male made her want to slit him from one side to the other. She had to pretend she had to steel her expression and bite her tongue on this one. She had to please these males and she could only hope that she could make it out of this without having to crawl on the floor for them. "The city goes well...soon perhaps you can leave the temple and join me as are the wishes of Vhearun our lord."

Kanai interceded between Huascar and his speaker, he could see front he corner of his eye because his attention was focused elsewhere. Huascar heard what she said but was focused on the men trying to surround them and at the posse approaching quickly, he had no time to think of what it all meant. At the mention of Vhaerun's name the drow in charge gave her an incredulous snarl. "Vhaerun will never!" At that very same moment the two dancing around him took a bold step forward, the captain side stepped to meet them, they stepped back not yet wanting a confrontation.

Kanai removed some of her armor out of the way enough to show him and the rest of the templars that had just arrived the mark of Vhaerun and only then did Huascar realize that she had meant everything she said. His eyes met her briefly almost as dumbfounded as everyone else there.

Amongst those newly arrived there was one that carried no sword and his stance was that of those used to holding authority, he was the one that defused the situation by pointing at the men poised to attack them. A sickly sweet smile painted his face at the sight before him. It faded from his face when she told that he could join her.

"I am the All High here and you will come with me now, I will give you a chance to entertain me. If you fail. It is your life on the line." The leader of them all said

Kanai threw back her head and let the laughter bubble out of her. "I wouldn't doubt that the god would intervene if my life were on the line. I can give him something that no male can give." She said and narrowed her eyes slightly. "However I shall follow you." She raised her shoulders in a shrug. Her mind could not come up with a single time that she hadn't entertained a male though she had never been as entertained as they were. The prospect did not thrill her but she looked over her shoulder at Huascar. "That male is untouchable when I am not with him and that you can take up with the lord himself!" She almost growled. "Now fine male companions shall we retire to the temple." She swept her arm out in the direction of the stalagmite that had been transformed into the temple. "Let us get this convincing out of the way I have a city to turn over." She stepped between the males and started towards the temple her hands balled in fists so tight that her nails were drawing blood from her palms.

The drow that first received them snarled at Kanai and raised a hand as to hit her. Huascar stepped into the way swiftly and showed him the business end of his blade making him step away from her. Immediately all of the blades around where pointed at him and it was his turn to take a step back.

"Don't do anything foolish to end your lives prematurely." Their host threathened and then turned to Kanai. "That includes talking more than your share female." On that note he turned and started towards the temple. "Walk with me." He ordered.

Huascar and Kanai where encircled by the armed templars and led into the temple. The inside was a roughly carved structure with pillars holding the roof of a tall hallway that led to a plaza of sorts. There was a sculpture of the lord Vhaerun himself dominating the courtyard. All around where males wearing similar robes to their armed escort but obviously not armored. That is where they met the high priest who by his looks was no different than the rest of the worshipers.

"Vaskum." He adressed the leader of the armed contingent. "Who do you bring here?"

"Something very amusing Artuk." And when he mentioned that a small crowd formed itself around them. "This is the messenger of Vhaerun our lord." He said motioning to Kanai.

The general reaction included laughter, grunts of disaproval and someone yelled out loud: Blasphemy! This Vaksum however raised an eyebrow. "And can she prove it?" He asked Kanai indirectly but looking at his associate.

Kanai rolled her eyes and frowned. If male's could follow Lolth then why was it so hard for a female to follow Vhaerun. "And how is it you would like me to prove to you that I follow the lord?" She asked shifting her weight in effort to keep her temper from flaring which would get her killed. Her hands went to work on the clasps of her arm once more as she pulled the back down. "I bare his mark. Touch if you like Patron it will not smear or remove in any way." She was trying to lay on that sweet little tone that made most males do whatever she wanted. "If that is not enough, name what you would have me do in proof that my alliances of changed. I only wish to do my duty here and return to the city of Xaut which is well underway of becoming His city."

Her yellow eyes drifted to Huascar with her hands holding up her armor so that she wasn't completely exposed to the male's that she was sure hadn't had female contact in a long time. She had to watch someone's reactions to the events and it might as well be his. Of everyone here he was more an ally than the priest at her back and his eyes could tell her if her hands were better needed with a weapon than trivial clothing. "Well?" She asked almost impatient to get this whole mess over with. Xaut's shadows were very much more welcoming than this place that was supposed to be a safe heaven for her.

Huascar was in no better position than Kanai, he held on to his sword tightly to the point that the wound in his forearm reopened and started to bleed slightly. The situation looked dire, more for Kanai than for him, he always had the choice to use the killing of the basilisk and his status as a male to deny any involvement and leave but he truly wanted to stick by and see exactly what this all was about.

The one named Vaksum touched the marking on her invitation but his touch lingered there for a second, his mind distracted by other thoughts. "Any tattooist can make such a mark." He said.

The one named Artuk spoke next. "Is this all you have to prove yourself?" He asked stepping around her. "Or maybe you came here for another reason?" He asked hinting to something else.

In his tone Huascar already knew what he meant and he thought Kanai to be smart enough to catch that as well. If she had any cards to play, this was the moment to play them. And depending on the outcome he would know if it was time to abandon this ship that seemed to be sinking pretty fast. He cleared his throat and choose his nect few words very carefully. "She has a legitimate reason to be here." He stepped between Kanai and the interogators. "Even I am at the point that I want to see if she is all she is." He turned back to her employer and gave her an expectant look.

What he said was simply the truth, it was the best option at the moment.

Kanai glared at Huascar gently as she got his meaning. She rolled her eyes and played with the simple necklace. "Very well..." She said gently. "Granted I wanted to keep my gift a secret but it seems that you males know nothing of those." She said and pulled the gold colored whistle to her lips. She would to play a lulling tone that had shadows creeping towards her lazily. The darkness creeping up her feet and calves in a slow caress, as if she were a lover to darkness. The blackness reached up to her thigh and she played slightly fast and in one time was completely engulfed in the blackness of the shadows. Not even the red dark visions of the drow could pierce it. After moment she would step out with her form changed completely.

The hair that was once stark white was now shinny blonde that reached down to her ankles. Eyes that were once yellow were now a clear light blue that sparkled, her skin was pale peach now instead of the purplish black of her race. She smiled brightly with her perfect pink lips and reached out to caress both the males closest to her. "What better gift from a god that he himself changes his looks?" She asked in a musical voice. "I could so cloak an army if I wished." She walked around the males in a circle. "What more would you like to prove myself?" Her fingers ran into her now golden hair even her manor of moving had changed to that of one of their surface cousins. "Am I still under trial here?" Her eyes went directly to Huascar with that question.

Many swords where drawn when Kanai pulled her little act and some put some distance between her and themselves. The end result was something he never expected. He had never seen such magic before and the fact that someone could do it was no small feat. However was this really the work of Vhaerun and not some sorcery?

He heard some of the templars saying out loud what he kept silent. "What for sorcery is this? This does not mean that you have any favor from our Lord."

But the one in charged silenced them all, he stepped around Kanai inspecting her and just like Huascar he could not see any flaws in this. Was this a gift from Vhaerun or not he did see the potential and that was enough for him. "If your allegiance is truly with our lord Vhaerun." He said pointing at her. "You will use this to push his agenda here on earth further. You will answer directly to me for in this part of the underdark I am his representative." He then whispered something to Vaksum who apparently was the master at arms there. "You will both give up all your weapons and we will discuss how the conversion of Xuat will be handled." He ordered obviously on recommendation from the other.

Huascar cringed, he would need to have a long talk with Kanai. He had still not agreed to anything yet but he was getting involved deeper and deeper every minute. He looked at the colossi of the masked lord, as a male he had always sided with him secretly but he had not much interest in the parthenon of gods.

He reluctantly handed over his curved sword and one of the daggers in his belt.

"You and I will speak in private female..." He said to Kanai but eyed her stature and musculature and reconsidered. "Along with a few men of our guard." And not forgetting Huascar he added. "You will be watched closely to..." He said looking at him.

Kanai frowned which was incredibly too cute in her surface elf form. "I would think not. If you have guards then so shall I." Her hand ran through her long blond hair that simmered even in the low light. "Besides to think of what all you big strong men could do to poor little female me." Her inner self growled and groaned it was way past time to change back to normal. Surface females were just way too annoying. She lifted her hand slowly and put the golden whistle to her mouth and blew a short tune and the shadows rushed out from around her like a tidal wave. She would sigh before giving a smile. "Ah much better."

She would glance about her again taking off various weapons that she had on before she let her eyes fall on Huascar. Making sure eye contact was made first she would then glance down at her feet before she would roll something under her foot and out to him. The thin needle would bounce off his shoe. It was fourteen inches long and sharp at each point and could be used as a weapon if one were to have enough knowledge to do so. With a smile she would reach down to her boots to pull out a few daggers before slipping a few needles into the material. When she straightened it was as if nothing happened and she would turn to lock eyes on Artuk. "However I do agree to report only to you. My gift from our lord is not to be used within the city. If one of the matron's were to see the ability they would take it up with the vile spider bitch and we would be found out." She would expect some trouble for her back talking but then again she never would roll over and just let a male have at it anyways. She stood her ground and waited for the blows knowing that after the first one she would strike back. "However if you do not agree with my terms then I shall go to another temple and offer them my services...which go way beyond just the seen." She chuckled. "Now shall we keep comparing sizes or are we going to actually get some business done?"

The drow templars quickly discussed the new terms amongst themselves. At first they smiled but the way the glared at Kanai now made it clear they did not appreciate her demands. They whispered as the armed men gripped their swords with their eyes fixed on the pair. One of them collected their weapons including Huascar's sword and the dagger on his belt. They failed to notice the stealthy transaction that went on between them.

Huascar looked at the colossi of Vhaerun and sighed deeply, part of him regretting having to go through all this put the better part of him was more curious about where this all could lead and all the possibilities this could lead to.

"Agreed." Artuk looked them over, trying to assess the danger they posed now unarmed. "Come with me." He then randomly pointed at four men and Vaksum. "You too."

The armed templars made a circle around the visitors cutting them off from the two leading them through a tunneled passage in between the legs of the statue of the masked god. A small door led to a much smaller chamber also carved into the rock, it had a small altar and crudely carved benches along with two more doors at each side. Vaksum closed the door behind them cutting them off from unwanted ears.

The high templar paced around lost in thought at the time that the guards took their places at arms length of their captives. Artuk seemed to be lost in tought when suddenly spoke. "We will convert the city of Xuat over to our lord Vhaerun." He said as if this was a fact. "You could be instrumental to this." He did not spare a glance but he was obviously referring to Kanai. He then turned to Huascar. "How would you assist with this?"

The question caught him by surprise, he expected to be a bystander but he was now holding center stage. He quickly formulated his answer trying to not involve himself to much. "I am captain in the guard of Xuat, a rank that not many males hold." He shrugged as he said that, it was the truth and at this point it was the best option.

Artuk kept pacing, processing the information, his expression changed. He had an idea but by the looks of it was not going to elaborate. "You..." He referred back to Kanai. "Are you... The messenger from our lord?" He asked, a hint of disbelief and mockery in his voice. It was no question though. "We are his messengers." He motioned towards the surrounding. "You... could be the tip of the spear I think that is an honor... For a female serving under our lord Vhaerun." He suggested.

Kanai made a show of looking at her finger nails as if what he male's were talking about did not interest her though she never missed a word that was said. "The captain of the guard has more then proved himself worthy to aid whatever happens in the city." She chuckled and glanced at Huascar. "He did after all defeat the Basilisk." She whispered before switching her weight from one foot to another. A thing she did often to see how aware those around her were. "I am only a messenger on this quest...and perhaps at a point in time I will be the spear in which will sink into our enemy." She paused and glanced at Artuk giving him a devilish smile. "Surely you can think of another reason The Masked One may have of a female...something that she can not do alone...and something that males can't do alone either." She suggested slowly strolling over to him and placing her palm in the middle of his chest.

"However the Great One has yet to pick the right breeding partner for me. He wants a strong warrior to create strong warrior like children. Can you imagine? The first generation born completely under the worship of Vhaerun! It will be glorious...just as glorious as when we take the gateway city completely in his name. Nothing will go without his watching." She smiled and tilted her head back. "And I believe you would make a glorious Patron ruler." She said and bowed her head gently. This was not her true intentions of course. No, the ruling patron would be someone of her choosing. Someone who she turned to her side, someone she could have an alliance with. Even if it was just a shaky alliance.

"Now if you would please give us a place in which to sleep for the night we are both exhausted from the traveling? Perhaps we shall feast and speak more of our glorious take over." She said and strode slowly back to Huascar. "What would you say? Are you tired from your fearless defeat of the cave lizard?" She asked gently with a huge sigh as if she were actually completely out of energy.