One month later... Cassandra swung her sword at Juan, only to feel it strike hard against his own weapon as he blocked her attack.
"Try harder, dark one, "he sneered at her, "At least give me some kind of challenge. "
Again Cassandra slashed towards the swordsman, and again he deflected her blade. She drew up closer to him, she was growing angry and it showed. "Aye, I'll give ye a challenge alright, "she growled at him and spun her blade around and brought it soaring down with every bit of force she could muster.
CRACK! The sound of wood on wood echoed through the camp. Juan had caught Cassandra's practice blade with his own. The two fighters had been going at it for well over an hour, and Cassandra was wearing down. Sweat ran like rivlets down her face, while Juan simply grinned at her.
"Not bad, "he admitted, "But... " he poked her in the side with his wooden dagger, "You left yourself open to a counter-attack. "
"Funny ye should mention that, "Cassandra panted, and Juan felt something poking him a bit lower, more specificly, in his nether region.
Both fighters pulled back and saluted each other with their practice swords. The small crowd around them gave a little cheer and applauded the pair. Cassandra gave a florished bow, while Juan just shoke his head and put the weapons away.
Stanish came up to Cassandra with a waterskin, which she gladly accepted. "Thank ye, Stanish, "she gulped down a quick drink, "I needed that. "
"You almost had him that time, Cass, "Stanish said, "You get better each time. "
Cass shook her head, "I've been training with a blade since I was a wee babe. My mother's weapons master would run me through sword drill for hours at a time. Juan's going easy on me, but... " She was cut off by Juan returning.
"But nothing, Cass, "Juan said, "I am going easy on you. That doesn't mean you haven't improved. You're good with a blade, you just need some seasoning. "
"Seasoning, eh? "she laughed, "What am I, a piece of meat, Juan? "
"Without the proper training, you'd be dead meat, "he said.
Stanish laughed, "Lucky for you, Cass, I like dark meat. "
Cass and Juan both groaned at the gnome's bad joke. Cass playfully swatted the back of his head, "Stanish Brightwater, have ye no shame? "
"No, thank the gods, "he laughed, " I'd never get anything done, just go around feeling shameful all day. "
Behind the three came a 'whomp' noise, followed by the smell of burning wood. The party's wizard, Zifnab, had started the evenings campfire. The trio headed over to the fire, where Ellia had started preparing the evenings meal.
Zifnab nodded to the group. He was a dragonborn with scales of silver that were so fine they looked like solid metal. He pulled out his spellbook and began his evening reading of his precious tome.
The remaining two members of the party settled around the campfire. The elven bardess, Karlie Moonshadow, pulled out her mandolin and began playing a quiet soft ballad. Beside her, her twin brother, Mavin, was feeding his pet owl, Talli.
The twins were like night and day in appearance. Karlie had the fair hair and skin that was usually associated with high elves, while Mavin was dark haired and tanned like a wood elf. But while their looks were different, their attitudes were similar to one another.
Juan sat down and began to sharpen his actual dagger and sword. His party haven't had any luck finding any work for the last three weeks, the boredom was enough to drive an adventurer insane. Suddenly he heard something that he had never heard before.
Cassandra was singing along to Karlie's playing.
Everyone else stopped what they were doing and listened to the pair. The song was elvish and flowed like a stream from the drowess. She had sat near Karlie, and had her eyes closed as she sang. As the bard plucked the final notes, Cass opened her eyes and was greeted with all eyes on her.
"Holy Gods, "came Stanish's stunned voice, "You never told us you could sing. " The rest of the party, even Juan, applauded the young drow's preformance.
Cass's dusky skin paled on her checks, a drow's version of blushing. "Karlie taught me the words, and we've been practicing. We dunna have singing in the Underdark. "
Karlie stopped playing, "None? " her voice was like smoked honey, rich and smooth with just a hint of husk to it. "That's scary. "
"Well, we had chants, "Cass shrugged, "But usually only the dark clerics sang those. "
Ellia tapped the side of the cooking kettle, "Dinner's ready. "
Later that evening after the group had their meal, Cass was taking her turn at watch with Ellia. Juan liked to pair up those with the ability of dark vision with someone who didn't. Even so, Juan would began the watch, and also end it in the early morning. Cass enjoyed it, because she got to talk to Ellia about her Goddess, Maloria. She also asked about her old friend, Marcus's Goddess, Pelor.
"I miss him, "Cass said, "If not for him, for the lesson 's he gave me, I'd still be... " She had trouble talking about her former home. The flood of memories would rush back to her, sometimes more then she could bare. Her voice caught in her throat and her eyes began to water.
"Shhhh, "Ellia held the drow in her arms, gently rocking her back and forth. "I know, child. I've seen what they did to you. "
Cass stopped and dried her eyes and looked questioningly at Ellia, "How? "
"When you first came to us, battered, beaten, and bloody. I healed you, and I saw what they had done to you. The scars on your body, and in your mind. "Ellia looked at Cass with her motherly smile, "That was why I asked Maloria for her guidance. "
"Do the others know? "Cass asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ellia shook her head, "It's not my place to tell them. "
"Thank ye for not saying anything, "Cass said, "Villia's lasting gift. " The party had all heard what had happened to Cassandra in her former home, but only Ellia knew the true extent of her torture. "I'm gratef.... "
A flash of light in the dark sky cut Cass off, she jumped back. "What the what? "
KRAK-THOOM! Thunder rolled through the air, and Cass's eyes grew wide. "Ellia? Are we under attack? "She was confused by the cleric's calm demeanor.
Ellia laughed and took her spare cloak out of her pack. She tossed it to Cass while she put her own cloak on. "No, young one, it's just thunder and lightening. It just means we're going to get rain soon. "
"Rain? What is rain? "Cass asked, still confused.
"You've never seen rain? Well I suppose someone who has lived underground all their life, it's to be expected. "Ellia chuckled lightly. "Rain is water that falls from the sky, from clouds. "
"Wait, what? "Cass was really begining to question this, "Water's heavy, how in the world... "
Before she could finish her question, she felt a cool splash of water hit her head. Stunned she looked up, and was greeted with more rain falling to the earth, and onto her.
-------------------------------
Inside of his tent, Juan Ramerz, was woken by the thunder. But he was kept awake by another noise. This one, while not unfamiliar, seemed out of place. Cassandra was singing and laughing, along with Ellia's laughter.
He looked out of his tent to see the drow dancing around in the rain, a smile stretched across her face. The others had heard her as well and were all watching.
"She's never seen rain before, "Ellia answered their questioning looks.
"Aye, it's like magic, water falling from the sky, "Cass laughed, "How does this not amaze ye? "
Zifnab rolled his sapphire-colored eyes, and chanted a quick incantation. A shimmering bubble flickered around the campfire and kept the rain away from the flames. "I suppose, Onyx, when one can tap the primal forces of the universe, weather is not as impressive. "
Zifnab had a habit of calling people by gemstone names, a habit he had inherited from his silver dragon father. He tossed his cloak on, it was his turn at watch with Stanish. "Come along, little Citrine, it's our turn to stand post. "
Ellia took the still laughing Cassandra and lead her to the tent they shared, "And it's time for us to get out of the rain. "
The night passed uneventfully. The twins releaved Stanish and Zifnab, and they were in turn releaved by Juan. He also began preparing the morning meal for the group. He didn't have the cooking skills Ellia had, thankfully he was only making oatmeal with some berries that Mavin had gathered.
The party all gathered around the dying embers of the cooking fire. The sun was just begining to rise over the distant mountains. Ellia said a small prayer in thanks for the morning meal as the others dug into their meal.
"So, " Mavin's deep tembered voice broke the silence, "What's this day bringing us? " He looked to Juan. Of all the party, Mavin was the one most comfortable with their current situation. The ranger could live off the land indefinetly, without ever having to step foot back into civilazation. "For the sake of my dear sister's sanity, I hope it's something involving a town. " He ducked quickly on saying this, narrowly missing the backside of his sister's hand.
"I'm not that bad,
dear brother, "Karlie said. "Just because I would like a warm bath and soft bed every once in awhile. "
Juan shook his head, this was almost a daily ritual, listening to the twins bicker back and forth between each other. Luckily it was mostly just the playful banter of siblings. Mostly. "Well, you're in luck, because we should arrive at Ironforge before dusk. "
"Ironforge, "Stanish grinned, ear to ear, "Oh, I remember Ironforge. They had that cozy little inn called...., "he snapped his fingers a couple times, trying to jog his memory, "Something, something, something. With the bar maid that had those great big.... " he stopped when he saw the others looking at him.
"Something, something, somethings. "Mavin laughed, elbowing Stanish in the ribs.
"Only two something, somethings, "Stanish replied. "And I was going to say 'Mugs of ale', I'll have you know. "
"Oh, is that what you call 'em now-a-days, "Ellia said in a motherly tone. She held a stern face for a few more moments, making the brash gnome start to squirm in his seat. When his face started to turn red, Ellia began chuckling, "Why, Stanish, I thought you said you had no shame. "
"All right people, enough mug talk, let's break camp and get moving on. And hopefully we'll find some work, "Juan said.
------------------------------
When the group reached the outskirts of the town, Juan called Cassandra to him. He handed her a pair of long gloves. "Wear these while we're in town, and keep your cloak on, "he told her in his best no-nonsense voice, "Most of these folk have never came across a drow and only know what they have heard in stories and rumor. So they're going to assume the worst. "
"Like ye did when ye first found me, "Cassandra said in a low voice, as she slipped the gloves on.
"Yeah, "he said, "Like I did, but instead of just tying you down, they'll more likely burn you at the stake. Sorry, Cass, but drow don't have the best reputation. "
Cassandra nodded her head, "I know, I know. But I wanna change that. I wanna show people that drow can be like all other races, evil and good. " She focused her gaze on Juan, "And I won't be able ta do that by hiding meself. "
Juan had known that Cass was going to buck against hiding herself. In the last month he had learned that the young drowess didn't carry the darkness of her race inside her. But, on the other hand, she was just as stubborn and prideful as almost every elf he had ever meet. He was just thankful that she also had enough understanding to listen to him.
Karlie came up to the pair as Cass finished pulling the cloak on and adjusting the hood over her head. "Small steps, little cousin, "she said, putting her arm around Cass's shoulders, "We can't change the world at once. Every song starts with a single note. "
"Little cousin? "Mavin chuckled, "Kar, you didn't tell me our family had grown. "
"Well, you know how it goes, darling brother of mine, "Karlie laughed as the two walked on ahead, "Realitives come out of the woodworks. Or in Cass's case, the caveworks. "
The entire party continued along the dusty path towards town. A few farms were scattered along the path. Cassandra noticed the children running around, laughing and playing. She shook her cloaked head, it was a sight she was definetly was not used to seeing.
"I take it play wasn't looked kindly on in the land down under? "Stanish asked Cassandra.
"We didn't have games or play of any sort, "Cassandra sighed, "It was mostly training for fighting, ta torture, ta serve the goddess Lloth. Most males were trained ta be soldiers, a few as wizards. And the females were ta be priestess of the church. "
"And what about you? "the gnome asked.
"As the daughter ta the duchess, I would have been expected ta join the clergy. But I showed no apptitude in the clerical arts. I showed more promise in the arcane and martial arts instead. "
"Uhm the what and what? " Stanish was lost.
"She means swords and sorcery, little Citrine, "Zifnab said from behind them. He and Ellia were bringing up the rear of the party.
"Ohhh, "Stanish laughed, "I'm glad you cleared that up. I thought she said the Marital arts. I was getting ready to sign myself as a student. "
"Marital Arts? "Cass cocked an eyebrow, "I'm not sure I understand. Is this above-grounder slang? "
"Oh dear Maloria, help me, "Ellia sighed. "Cass, how old are you? "
After taking a moment to figure, "In human years. If I've figured the calander ye use here, I would be... seventeen by elvish standards. "
"So almost out of your teens, "Ellia looked at Stanish with what he called her 'Mom Gaze'.
"So what is Marital Arts? And what does have to do with my age? "Cass pressed on, "Is it tied ta the Birthing Day celebration Ellia has told me about? Does it mean I get the present? "
Stanish realized his joke had taken him down a slippery slope that he wasn't prepared to deal with or answer. Even his ears were turning a bright shade of red. "Errr.... that is to say.... uhhh.... uhmmm. "
"Do ye not know how ta explain it, Stanish? Should I ask Juan if he can show me what Marital Arts are? He is teaching me martial arts, maybe he can teach me both? " Cassandra proposed.
Stanish's eyes grew so wide, it looked like he had been kicked in his nethers. "Oh gods, what have I done? " he muttered.
Cass started to march faster to catch up to Juan at the head of the group. But she felt the gnome's small hand grab her hand, "Cass, No! "
Cass began to giggle softly and it grew into a full belly laugh, "Oh me dear Stanish, "she was laughing so hard her eyes were watering, "I am not some wee virginal thing. Drow are very open about sexuality. "
"Oh thank the gods, "Stanish said, he looked back at Ellia, who just shook her head. "I think I've learned my lesson for the day. "
"Well Maloria be praised, "Ellia said, "Miracles do happen. "
