A/N: With all of my love for the Hordes of the Underdark.


Lith My'athar, the day of the Savior's arrival

Nathyrra stood in the doorframe of the small dark room Valen has claimed as his quarters.

"I hear that our esteemed savior has asked you to accompany her to those strange isles tomorrow," she said.

"What of it?" he replied, packing weapon maintenance supplies into a travel pack. "She's asked you too, has she not?"

"She has. But I wasn't the one declaring my vehement distrust of her mere minutes before. Don't you find it curious?"

"Not at all. She has need of my skills, and I did offer my help."

"But you still distrust her."

Valen's head shot up, cold blue eyes boring into hers. "Why don't you?!" he demanded. "What do we know of this woman?"

Nathyrra shrugged, holding his gaze. "Daedre is an adventurer of relative fame on the surface. A capable fighter and divine caster, and the god she worships seems to be a good-natured one."

"I shall refrain from stating my opinion on the natures of gods, I'm sure you won't find it to your taste."

Nathyrra ignored the quip. "From what I've seen of her in the Undermountain, she seems to be an honest and good-natured person herself," she went on. "The Seer believes-"

"I know well what the Seer believes!" Valen cut off, voice tight with barely controlled fury. "Do you believe that a person forced to help us under a geas deserves our complete trust? A half-elf who, for all we know, might hold a grudge against all your kind, and think the death of any Drow as a good thing?"

Nathyrra suppressed a sigh. There was no point in continuing the conversation. Valen was completely unreachable when he got like this; pressing on would only succeed in agitating him further.

"Just… spend some time with her tomorrow, and see for yourself," she said, one foot out the door. "If you're so set on distrusting the Seer."

"I do not-" he frowned, then clenched his teeth and let out a long, heavy breath through his nose. "Very well. I shall keep a very close eye on her, you can count on that."


"He has need of my skills, and I did offer my help."

"But you still distrust him."

Valen's head shot up, cold blue eyes boring into hers. "Why don't you?!" he demanded. "What do we know of this man?"

Nathyrra shrugged, holding his gaze. "Kade is an adventurer of relative fame on the surface. A warrior of utmost skill, maybe even enough to rival yours. He's not inclined to worship any deity, which I'm sure you will find most sensible."

"I shall refrain from stating my opinion on the nature of worship, I'm sure you won't find it to your taste."

Nathyrra ignored the quip. "From what I've seen of him in the Undermountain, he seems to be a straightforward and determined person, if a bit bloodthirsty," she went on. "Not unlike yourself."

"Yet unlike myself, he's not here out of his own free will, is he? He's all but strong-armed into helping us, do you truly believe a man as willful as he seems to be will simply take it in stride?"

"The geas will-"

"The geas is but a spell, and all spells can be broken. If it is broken tomorrow, would you stake your life on him finishing the job? What about the Seer's life?"

"The Seer believes-"

"I know well what the Seer believes!" Valen cut her off again, voice tight with barely controlled fury. "I have seen many a life ruined because of misplaced beliefs, and I shan't see the Seer's be amongst them!"

Nathyrra's gaze turned to ice. "Neither would I, and you know it," she replied. "And don't you dare interrupt me again, male."

Not a muscle moved on Valen's face. "I am no Drow," he said, "and I shall interrupt whomever I please. And I shall keep an eye on this… savior of ours. If he truly is what the Seer believes him to be, he would have to prove it with his actions."

Nathyrra turned to leave. "He will, have no doubt about that."