Torio hated dust. The Library at Crossroad Keep, it seemed, was a library for nothing but dust. Her quill scratched over the surface of her report. She was sifting her brain for the most recent trade routes from Luskan to Waterdeep that she could remember, while wondering if claiming she "forgot" would go over at all. She fingered the magical band around her wrist, looking for all the world like a delicate silver bracelet. It kept her here, at the Keep, unless Nasher allowed one of the Cloaktower mages to change the spell; and even then, she was only allowed to travel where they wanted her to go.

It also was supposed to inflict quite a bit of pain, a level of sadism she hadn't thought the Lord of Neverwinter was capable of. It had impressed her, when she learned of it. They hadn't used it on her. Yet.

She sat back, running a hand through her hair, a look of distaste on her face as she stared at the eloquent report sitting before her, fighting back a sneeze once more.

* * *

Sand walked purposefully into the Library. He knew there was a book here about Lantan portal construction that might be useful...

He stopped short when he spotted the woman (Ah, you're being far too generous here... ) sitting back in her chair, her normally neat hair a mess on her head as she ran her hand through it. He caught the silver around her wrist and smiled. He knew what that was. He had helped enchant it.

"Ah..." he spoke up silkily. "I see Lord Nasher has provided the bitch with a pretty leash with which to tether her to her kennel..."

Wha...?! Torio glanced up at the moon elf through the fringe of her hair; blast, she hadn't heard him come in. "Ah, rewarding yourself with a little break from your trinket enchanting, are you? It must be hard work, casting cantrips." She stretched languidly, her shoulders popping audibly; gods, how I hate these stiff chairs, what I wouldn't give for a cushioned seat...She merely arched a brow at his comment about the flash of silver on her wrist, but inside she seethed a little; the pleased note in his voice told her all she needed to know. He had had a hand in making the gods-be-damned thing, of that she was certain.

"Hmm." Sand purposefully turned his back to her and began scanning the shelves. "Ah Torio. What would you know of cantrips and magic hmm? Oh...but that's right. Nothing." He turned back to her. "Not an ounce of magical potential in you, is there? Had to resort to other means to get Garius to notice you. Though by the way you dress...really... I'm sure it wasn't difficult."

Torio's voice was merely amused. The comment on her form fitting (and rather worn looking, by now) clothing sailed over her shoulder like so much water on a duck's back. She'd heard all that before. "Yes, well, I see when they tethered you to Neverwinter, they didn't even bother with a leash. Not too impressed with your potion mixing, are they?" She absently examined the nails on her hand. Even in captivity, she kept them well manicured; a last stand against her accursed servitude. "If you're jealous, maybe they can make you an ornamental collar; fitting, for a boot-licking lapdog."

Sand was irritated but kept his face cool. He had been hoping to get some peace and quiet tonight and get some reading done. The rest of the Keep was so chaotic; the Library had become his refuge.

And now that Luskan harlot was here...He was regretting having anything to do with having her here, as advantageous and strategic as it was.

He pulled a thick tome from the shelf. "Must have been frustrating, living in Luskan, all that magic and you, with no ability, no power." He snapped his fingers, calling up a Light spell and held it up to her face.

Torio squinted slightly against the light spell; the Library was dim at the best of times, and she hated having to flinch back slightly from Sand's spell. Blast, and double blast. You won't get me that easily...

Sand was pleased to see her twitch at his sudden, harmless spell. He quickly examined her face. She looked tired and drawn and had she not always that cold, calculating stare he might have even said she was pretty, in a frigid sort of way.

But after a moment, Torio merely snorted. "Yes, well, it's funny that with no magical ability...which, apparently, you style yourself with having a copious enough amount of to flaunt....I still managed to wield more influence in Luskan's Towers than you did in all your long, long years there."

The elf felt his insides roll over a little at her mention of his years in Luskan. He had tried so hard to push those memories down, to distance himself from the Hosttower... "My dear Torio," he said in a voice which clearly showed there was nothing dear about her. "For all your reputed power, where has that left you? Chained to a Keep because of the mercy of your enemies, writing..." His eyes flicked over to the parchment "...a report on trade routes."

He pulled out the chair across from her and sat, observing her over his steepled fingers. "Where are the Luskan mages now? They are certainly taking their time in coming to your aid, your rescue. For all the influence you obtained, you are currently very much alone." He paused. "And you are sadly mistaken about my purpose. I am here, unlike you, because I choose to be here; because I have the foresight to see beyond and know the dangers of the King of Shadows. More than I can say for you, or any Luskan. And who knows Torio, one day you might need one of my healing potions and maybe you'll be grateful I'm here. Wouldn't that be the day."

Torio leaned back against the table she'd been working at, partly to look up into his face, but mostly to get away from that blindingly bright spell. "If I ever need anything of yours, I doubt I'd be grateful." She practically spat the last word, her pale grey eyes narrowing into almost slits. "In fact, I doubt I'd even swallow it."

Where was this coming from? Normally she kept a cooler head than this. Must be all the damn writing...

Sand was surprised at her for her sudden outburst. Touched a sore spot, have we? "Torio,Torio. There's no need to play the martyr here. I would gladly give you a potion if ever you needed it. But..." he added. "If you won't take it, I won't waste them on you."

"Spare me," she said evenly. "Trying to convince me you're capable of pity?" She thumped the bracelet around her wrist with her fingernail, making it tiiiiing!

"Pity? Dear me no. Just...fairness." He gently picked up her wrist and squinted at the bracelet - it thrummed with a powerful magic that Sand could detect but wondered if others could as well. Her hands are as cold as her face - and likely her heart. "But really - what do Luskans know about fairness?"

Torio merely watched him as he inspected the bracelet on her wrist. "You should know plenty," she said quietly. "You were one, once." She inhaled sharply, her lips twisting in a wry smirk. "And left with your tail firmly between your legs, if I rightly recall."

Sand raised an eyebrow. “You would be an idiot if you did not fear the Hosttower when you left them. What I did was very smart and I'm alive now for it." He let go of her wrist. "As for your...rise and...fall - I will give you this. It was impressive while it lasted. A shame you picked the wrong master."

She rubbed her wrist when he released it to her, a tired, scornful, half-laugh shaking her shoulders. "I didn't pick him so much as I was picked. Bah, why am I even bothering talking to you? You'll most likely wander off and cackle over my predicament with Sir Nevalle over tea like a couple of clucking hens." She stood, pacing up and down the bookshelf, her legs aching from sitting on the hard chair for so long.

Sand watched her pacing. "Why you are talking to me? Maybe, dear Torio, because I am the only who understands where you are coming from. As you so rightly pointed out, I was a Luskan once." He closed his eyes briefly. "Once." Sand sniffed the air disdainfully. "As for Sir Nevalle, Nasher's Right Hand - hardly. Our associations are strictly business. This - " He waved vaguely at her. " - is not business."

Torio leaned back against a bookshelf, eyeing Sand in wry amusement. "Not business? Then what is it, exactly? Are you bored, maybe?" Vaguely, she registered that the Library's cold flagstones were pressed against her bare feet, and she glanced at the table, where her heeled slippers were resting underneath her chair. Blast that. She'd taken them off to keep her pinched toes from going numb. She was shorter than most human women, and Garius had gotten her in the habit of wearing the heels; it made her taller, more imposing, intimidating. "No one is going to take a woman seriously when she has to crane her neck to speak to them."

Thankfully, due to her sudden lack of inches, her skirt bunched against the floor and covered her naked toes, but she suddenly felt like she'd left for a battle without her shield.

Sand made a show of absentmindedly flipping through the tome, causing a thin puff of dust to rise from the yellowed pages every time they fell together. This book was only volume one of four. "Come now Torio. Surely we can talk as... well not friends perhaps, but comrades on the same side?" He smiled. "And besides - it takes two to carry on a conversation. You haven't exactly left the Library yet either, and I know the enchantment on the bracelet does not prevent you from doing that. You don't have to keep talking to me, you know."

Torio's mouth twisted into a wry smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Well, congratulations. You've managed to be more entertaining than paperwork. Nicely done."

Sand laughed a genuine chuckle at her cutting comment. "Well - if it means anything, I'm glad to say the paperwork hasn't dulled you either."

She quickly blew a strand of hair out of her eyes with a disdainful twitch of her head. "As for Luskan...you might actually have a point, for once, but the Hosttower is merely one of the few monsters under the bed. Luskan's home to more than just magic; although you probably wouldn't know, having scraped at the Tower's door without regard to anything else your entire time there." She chuckled coldly. "And since you know absolutely nothing about those other little monsters, I'd suggest you watch your tongue before insinuating my intelligence is somehow lacking because I chose to side with whom I did." Her voice had been easy, even, at the beginning of her short tirade, but she bit the last words off scathingly, her eyes narrowing.

Sand stood and stepped in front of her pacing, his hand reaching for the second and third volumes, glancing over his shoulder at her. "Before you put words into my mouth, I never said anything about your intelligence. You had to be intelligent to get as far as you did. But look

where it's gotten you. So... either it was a comment on your wisdom or your taste in men." Looking at her he realized that she was about his height. Hmm - short for a human. She always did seem taller. He pulled the books from the shelves. "And please do tell me about the other little monsters. Nothing I love more than a good bed time story."

Torio eyed him as he reached for a book and glanced back at her, his sculpted Elven face intent, brows furrowed. There was an elegance, an intelligence to his face that clashed with her memories of Garius' cruel features. She didn't realize she had been watching him steadily until he spoke again.

She looked away from him, resuming her pacing. "Believe me, if I could have afforded a taste in men, as you put it, my sights would have not been set on Garius. He offered an...escape. A chance to become greater than what I was, to use my talents for something other than..." she bit off her sentence. Trying to give them more leverage to use against you, Torio? "Other than survival." She fingered the neckline of her bodice absently, a frown pulling at the

corners of her mouth.

Her eyes flitted to his face again. "As for bedtime stories, I wouldn't dream of sharing such things with you. I'd never forgive myself if I gave that sharp mind of yours terrible nightmares.” Her voice carried a hint of amusement; her face was as blank as a stone wall.

Sand's lips twisted up in a slight smile. "Well then perhaps I owe you a diola lle for your compliment and your thoughtfulness towards my peace of mind." He gave her a mock bow.

"Hmph," she said, eyeing him cautiously. "Llie naa creos, Amin inty." You are welcome, I suppose.

Sand raised his eyebrows at her, impressed. "Llie rangw amin?" You understand me? "Well..." he drawled out in a lazy voice. "You continue to surprise me, dear Torio. Tell me – what did Garius teach you? He couldn't have been a kind master." He sat back down and turned to her again, leaning back in his chair and stretching his legs before him. "Really - I thought Garius would have been perfect for you. Ambitious, powerful, ruthless... Imagine the swarm of undead children you could have left in your wake.”

“Undead children..." Torio tried to picture it herself, and burst out laughing, her voice sharp and clear. "Garius and I didn't have that...kind of arrangement. I was a....pupil, of sorts.” She arched a brow at his sudden interest. "He taught me letters, writing, politics, history; I know nearly twelve different languages. U'thet nindol? Xor mayoe naut?" Recognize this? Or maybe not? She loved the Drow words; even their language simmered with suppressed rage and heat, and she curled the words around her tongue like a sweet wine. "Or maybe you prefer Durpari? Rashemi? Netherese and Loross?" The last two were particular points of pride for her; Garius had rammed ancient draconic alphabets down her throat, had seared them into her skin and into her mind, until she practically had his collection of Netherese documents memorized by heart. "He was a harsh master and therefore, I learned much." Pride, yes...and a bitter taste at the back of her mouth.

Sand clucked his tongue. "Drow. Very impressive. I can't say I know much of that language other than basic recognition; I have no dealings them." He found himself being envious at her knowledge. "Languages aren't my specialty." He looked wistful for a moment. "So many books...Things sometimes get lost in the translation. You understand; the complexities and subtleties of the Elvish language don't translate well into Common."

Llie ras utune he nae nowihn llie...

You could ask her to teach you...

She was making him think in Elvish - something he hadn't done in ages since he rarely found another who spoke the language in a way that excited him....

Torio was fingering the spine of a book on the shelf behind her, absently glancing at the title. Of Borags and Baalors; A Confession, by Lucidia the Demonlover. "My gods, what do those twin fools keep in this Library? No wonder you spend so much time in here." Her shoulders gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of Aldanon in here, as well. Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it.

Sand waved a hand dismissively. "Lucidia provides a surprising amount of information on hidden, archaic laws surrounding the mating habits of baalors. I don't want to know how she came about it but - too much information is always better than not enough. We seem to be running into enough demons and undead these days, with our lovely warlock in the basement and the King of Shadows on the horizon."

She listened for a moment as he explained the book (if it could be deigned to be called that) and glanced back at it. "Hmm. I have to admit, I never paid too much attention to demons or their ilk. Garius seemed loathe to depend on them." I wonder why? She'd never questioned many of Garius' motives for doing anything, but now that her subsequent survival no longer depended on his whim of keeping her alive...

Sand narrowed his eyes at her, mulling over her previous words. “So if Garius isn't your type, who is? I can't imagine you'd go for the roses-and-candlelights and the poetry readings."

She snorted. "My 'type'...someone who can put coherent words together in a sentence without losing their elbow in their arse-end? You wouldn't believe some of the idiots Calimshan has in charge of their political affairs." She paused thoughtfully for a moment, pursing her lips as she examined the palm of her hand. "I haven't thought about it. 'Roses and Candlelights,' as you so eloquently put, have not been in my agenda."

Sand wasn't going to even try to read these books tonight. Torio was proving to be much more informative.

And entertaining. Admit it Sand, you like talking to her.

He folded his hands gracefully. "Then from your words I suspect you haven't met many men whose verbal skills are up to par with your own." He smiled at her suddenly, emboldened by her sudden openness. "If not roses and candlelights, m'dear, then what? Whips and chains?"

Torio laughed. "Your mind is just begging for permanent scarring tonight, isn't it?" She wasn't quite sure what to say. Momentarily thrown off balance, she ran a hand through her hair, trying to keep her expression calm. "I've had my taste of chains, dear wizard, and they do not suit me at all." Her eyes flicked to the bracelet around her wrist. "I suppose...I was trained for battles with words, with knowledge; I would most certainly not find any company who lacked in either aspect very...stimulating." She glanced at him archly, her eyes hooded by her long lashes.

Sand gave an inward cringe when she frankly brought up the silver bracelet. Not your smoothest moment. But what do you care? You helped make it.

He met her glance and he swallowed. She was giving him a different look than the usual scathing glare. He cleared his throat and asked simply, "And ah - and do you find this company stimulating?"

Why do you care Sand? She's the enemy, remember?

She sucked in a breath, her nostrils flaring imperceptibly as Sand met her eyes. The lack of his usual mockery intrigued her; she had expected a barb, a taunt, but an honest to gods question?

Hmmm.

"Dos kyorl, pholor lil uss rah, faern," she said, her voice smoother than silk, "Amin utu ta nauca n' nae rusv llie yat' arta noresh." You see, on the one hand, wizard, I find it hard not to wring your neck on a daily basis. She watched him for a moment, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Leha arta i' n'at bell amin utu llie n'ataya." But on the other, I find you strangely intriguing.

"Hmm." Sand studied her face, keeping his passive.

What more did you expect from her? She was honest. That's saying a lot for Torio. She did say you were strangely intriguing. At least she didn't say she would have preferred the company of an intellect devourer.

"Amin sal llie thys llie cylaeria. Amin vaerase llie volalia." I thank you for your honesty. I respect your privacy.

It was strange. When he spoke in Elvish to her, he found himself reverting to old customs he hadn't used in ... decades? Centuries? Goodness, she made him feel...

...young?

Sand quickly changed the topic. "So how exactly did you meet Garius? You had said he plucked you from the street. Literally? Figuratively?"

Underneath the pleased, pinkish haze that had settled on her mind, she realized he had asked her about Garius. Ice seemed to trickle up her spine. "And don't worry your pretty head about Garius, elf. He found me and I went with him, and that's all that you need to know, as of now." She broke his gaze momentarily, leaning back against the bookcase behind her and changing the topic back. "You seem to have more...developed conversational abilities than your comrades, at the very least."

He shook his head of the thought and laughed at her comment about his friends. "Yes well - they do seem to like bashing things and killing people. Conversations never seem to go as planned. For once I would have liked for us to meet an enemy, have a reasonable discussion and everybody go home without being covered in blood and gore. Just once. Really - is that too much to be asking for?"

She snorted down a laugh at the image of one of the adventurers...maybe Grobnar? trying to talk themselves out of a violent situation. "Yes, well, I don't envy you your little adventures; bathing in blood was never one of my strong points."

I always had someone else to do that for me.

Sand smiled, not in an unfriendly manner. "No - a woman like you would probably bathe in milk and honey and rosewater."

Torio chuckled dryly. "Jealous of the rosewater baths, Sand?"

Sand sniffed. "A hot rosewater bath would be highly preferable to bathing in a cold stream surrounded by an irritated ranger, a tormented paladin, an incoherent gnome, an alestinking dwarf and a womanizing bard." He glanced over at the books again. Maybe a glass of wine would help him relax and focus. He looked at her. "Perhaps I should leave you to your work and I could do some reading. Tanya naa manka nehel nauva n'shol amin." That is, if you won't strangle me. Then he added as almost an afterthought, "Amin cael n'nir fion manka nehel naaya ve' nae har amin?" I have some wine if you would like to join me.

She stared at the report on her table. How long had it been since she'd tasted wine? The cook hated her; she heard "...that smarmy posh betch..." muttered every time she went down to get her meals, which were, ironically enough, devoid of most of the delicacies she knew the others dined on. Not that she blamed the woman; but water was so damn boring... With an imperceptible shrug of her shoulders, she said, "Amin shy's tik ei kar." I wouldn't mind a glass. She walked towards her chair, scooping up her work and sliding the papers into a sheaf in the middle of the table.

Her shoes.

Damn. There was no way she could slip her aching feet back into them without having to sit down and struggle with them for near five minutes. She frowned as she sat down, trying to curl her feet up as much as possible as her skirt hitched up against the seat. She arched a brow at Sand, as if to say Well? "I'm assuming you have some sort of private 'stash’? It would explain Aldanon's concentration lapses whenever he comes in here."

Sand stood and walked to a nondescript bookshelf, pulling out a large thick volume. Behind it was a recently opened bottle of Elderwine and a single glass. He sat back down across from Torio and pulled the cork. "Aldanon would probably think straighter with the drink than without." He poured the wine into the glass. "Amin hiraetha." I am sorry. "But I only have the one glass. I am not accustomed to company." He passed the glass to her and raised the bottle in a toast. "As they say in Luskan, Aa' i'sul nora lanne'lle." May the wind fill your sails. He took a healthy pull from the bottle directly. Very classy Sand.

She took the glass, eyeing it critically. "Hmm...Elderwine?" She swirled the liquid, holding the glass under her nose, and then took a cautionary sip, rolling the liquid around in her mouth before swallowing. She licked her lips thoughtfully. "Not a terrible vintage...I think I prefer Evereska's blend, though." She took a long drink from the glass. Oh gods, it's wine. Wine! It was barely an inch back in the direction from which she had fallen, but it was something; a step,

at least.

Now, how to move farther than a step...

Her eyes filled with amusement as she watched him swig from the bottle, leaning an elbow on the table as she held her glass up. "I think your adventuring friends are rubbing off on you, Sand; that hearty swig bears the mark of the dwarf." She took another drink, her eyes gleaming at him over the rim of the glass.

Sand took another swallow of the wine. Nice. Smooth. Dry. Nutty, with a hint of elderberry.

The books could wait a bit longer.

You miss having a good conversation, don't you?

Suddenly it seemed as though the pressure was on to make small talk and Sand was at a loss for words. Hmm - ironic. Normally wine does the opposite.

She was watching him.

"The dwarf drives one to drink." He picked up the bottle and then refilled Torio's glass, before taking another gulp. "I haven't had a bottle of Evereska's since before the siege of 1371." Sand leaned on the table, mirroring Torio's pose. He could feel the warmth of the wine coursing through his veins and he knew his cheeks were probably getting red.

She cocked an eyebrow. "That's quite a bit of time; you're missing out. Running back and forth between Luskan and Neverwinter taking up too much of your time, is it?" She took another drink, then ran a finger around the edge of her glass. "Or maybe it's chasing after pretty, raven-haired Knight Captains that's eating up your time now?" The corner of her mouth curled up into a slightly wicked smile. "No...there was only one glass in the Library, wasn't there?"

Sand laughed - his laughter sounding bitter even in his ears. "Only one glass." He rolled the thought over in his mind. "Like you, I need certain requirements met before I find any person interesting. Additionally - Meaghan - well, I'm old enough to be her great, great, great..." Normally Sand's mind could calculate the number of greats in his head with rapid fire accuracy since he had made a habit of mentally calculating his age compared to humans but now the alcohol was slowing him down. He took another drink. "Many greats in any case - grandfather. So. No, thank you."

Torio leaned forward slightly, placing her chin on her free hand. "Mai saer amin, shojas; saesi'm bai talali eisyl lle shor. Shia eisi o mor caesi, shysol shor Neverwinter?" So tell me, wizard; there's no manacle around your wrist. Why is it then, that you're working for Neverwinter?

He leaned forward even further, the words now sliding more easily from his tongue. "Neverwinter. Amin cael amin vaeryl." I have my reasons. "Nehel nyar amin eirdy Garius nil. San amin nauva nyar nehel." You tell me about Garius first. Then I will tell you.

Torio's fingers imperceptibly clenched around her glass, but she merely looked into it, her hand falling to the table. "Why the sudden interest in Garius?" Her fingers tapped against the table as she considered for the briefest moments. It's not as if the knowledge of her past could cause her any real harm, not anymore; and she might need to know something that the elf could tell her. This had better be worth it.

She took a long drink from the glass and gingerly set it back down on the table. "Garius found me on the street; literally. You know Luskan, it's not exactly a pauper's paradise, and I had no magic or money to speak of." Her mouth twisted wryly. "He found me, in the middle of the road, screaming at the top of my lungs. One of my customers had struck me, and the guards where I worked...Nephila Decantina's place...had thrown him out; I was so enraged I followed, and threw every possible crass and callous word I could think of into his face while the good people of Luskan walked by. He was quite an honored man; a justicar, I think."

Her face was hard as she stared at her glass. "I wanted to wound him; strip him bare. Everyone on the street was watching us, and they knew who he was...and what I was. He was discredited within the hour, and stripped of his position for consorting with...me." She couldn't even say the actual word. Damn these old memories. "Garius was impressed. He offered his protection that day; my servitude in exchange for more knowledge, more power, more influence than I ever could have had on my own."

Here she sat back, and sniffed disdainfully, taking another drink from her glass. "I think even you would have taken the chance, wizard, given the odds."

Sand refilled her glass again, mulling over her story. He took another drink, letting the wine settle on his tongue before swallowing. "I am interested in Garius, my dear girl, because he is one of the many enemies we will have to face in the coming weeks. Knowledge is power as you have so astutely pointed out in your little tale. And you - you were his most trusted servant for years, weren't you? So if I can figure out why he selected you, what he saw in you, then perhaps I can understand him better."

And you as well...

She pursed her lips, frowning at him thoughtfully. "While you make a good point, my dear Sand, I doubt understanding Garius is going to help you stop him. From what I've seen of their preparations, it'll take a bit more than mere knowledge." She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "And while I am...obligated, to help you and the rest, I'd rather not display every skeleton in my closet in the process." Her head felt light and rather warm, like she'd drank too much...oh. Her glass had spontaneously refilled again...but it wasn't as if she had access to fine things like this on a daily basis, and she wasn't prepared to stop.

He stared into the rapidly emptying wine bottle. So this must be what Khelgar felt at last call.

"You were... well... lucky I suppose, that you were in the right place at the right time. Do you ever wonder where you'd be now if he hadn't been walking on the street?" Sand got a funny, faraway look in his eyes. "Pai lle aelaes shylaes cyrn eir sor shyr cali shael poraesael?" Do you ever wonder how all this would have been different?

"No," she said quietly, her voice even as steel. "I know what 'all this' would have been if things had been different. As unappealing as my predicament is now, Sand, if anything had been different from the way it was,I would have most certainly been dead. And not merely weeks ago, hanging from the gallows, but years ago." She took another long drink, and cursed eloquently. "I thought I only had to tell you about Garius?" Her eyebrow cocked inquisitively, a slight smile playing on her lips. "I believe we had a bargain, and it's your turn to speak, wizard."

Sand polished off the bottle of wine and pushed it aside. He would have to remember to ask Sal to order another bottle. Or maybe another case at this rate. He leaned forward, resting his head (which was suddenly feeling heavier and lighter all at the same time) on his hands. "Deeeeeeear girl." He paused, trying to regain control of his speech. "You need not concern yourself with how the knowledge will be used to stop Garius. We will make sure it is all put to good use and you can rest easy knowing you've helped Neverwinter save the world. Under the penalty of death. " The cynicism was thick in his voice.

She laughed at that. "Yes, well, pardon me if I don't pat myself on the back."

"And additionally, anything you tell me that isn't helpful? Well - we can just keep that between two former Luskans." Sand had closed his eyes briefly. "Well. To make a short story even shorter... I was... asked to leave the Academy in Neverwinter. Under not so pleasant terms. I was fairly disgusted with it all so that's when I left for Luskan." He met her gaze full on, leaning forward. "You are aware of how it works there, my dear. To gain knowledge, you have to pay. And after a while - I wasn't prepared to pay anymore. But the smallest refusal, and you are marked for death. So I came to Neverwinter and sought protection."

He gave her another slight smile. "I suppose you could say I owed Neverwinter a favor. And favors returned to Neverwinter and Nasher are never small. And that, my dear Torio, is my story. But - regardless - the King of Shadows must be stopped. I think you realize this as much as I do. Undeath would not be very becoming of you."

She listened to his story with poorly disguised interest; truth to tell, she'd heard rumors about Sand when she'd learned he'd be representing Meaghan and Cairan at the trial for Ember, and she'd pulled as many strings as she could to get whatever dirt there might have been on the moon elf; only to find that the wizard had covered his tracks impeccably well. Someone who could disappear that thoroughly was more than a little interesting, in her book.

Sand shook his head to clear it and gave Torio a wry smile. "But please...at the very least, dear, do tell me what you called your poor justicar. I would hate to be a man on the other side of your tongue's lashing."

Torio noticed he was using the word 'dear' rather fast and loose, the more the wine seemed to disappear. Her mouth curled suggestively. "Ais lle aelaes paerosi sai shi ol si ael os oli os amin sylia jharol, vaeri...ria eir tael, jhaer ti cyrn." If you ever desire to be on the end of one of my tongue lashings, please...by all means, let me know.

She opened her mouth to respond to his solemn statement on the King of Shadows, something cutting just waiting on the edge of her lips, when Sand leaned in further... "Air shyr shi ei vololaedi sai shi ol si vaelaelol ael os ei sylia eir molaer eir lle." It would be a privilege to be on the receiving end of a tongue as skilled as yours.

Her eyebrows practically shot up to her hairline as she leaned forward, as well. "My, my, Sand," she said, her voice low and purring. "Desperate for a good tongue lashing, are we?"

Sand felt a small trill in his stomach at her reply. Or rather, her voice. She was watching him with those sharp eyes of hers, the pupils large in the dimness of the Library. He smiled coolly, never taking his eyes off her. The wine was definitely making him bold.

"Desperate? No - I have been without a good woman's company for decades and I can wait another century if need be. I wouldn't expect you humans to understand." He leaned forward and now they were both inches away over the table, staring challengingly into one another's eyes. He could smell her skin from here, a mixture of human sweat (slightly sour with a sliver of desperate mortality), dust (how he loved the smell of dust especially from books) and candle wax (a strangely comforting smell for him). "Sher eilia tal shyr shi eil aidor sai ses pyrn lle mas sylia ais lle oraesaer air, Helkaer." But any man would be an idiot to turn down your sharp tongue if you offered it, Icy One.

She was, for once, momentarily speechless. Perhaps the wine is numbing your tongue, girl. She pursed her lips thoughtfully, tilting her head to look at him; normally the slightest innuendo from her would have most men coughing politely, pulling at tight collars, and changing the subject; it was a tactic many women used in political circles.

But it wasn't working. He was throwing it back as good as he got, and she was nonplussed. And...admit it. More than a little excited. "You know," she said silkily, "I'm not as cold as you might think, my dear wizard." Her bare foot slid across the floor under the table, and lightly ran up his trouser leg, tracing his calf underneath the fabric.

Sand nearly yelped when he felt her foot slide up his calf. When was the last time a woman touched you like this, Sand? He hadn't realized that she was shoeless. But it explains the height.

He schooled his face into calmness and arched an eyebrow at her, his lips giving her a slight smile. Inside though, his heart was hammering in his chest and he could feel his breathing increase.

Just the wine, just the wine, just the wine...

"Vyli air sai amin sael, ais lle eisi sholo sai ver lle tyli shaesi sar maer tyr os lle air, Helkaer." Prove it to me then, if you are willing to put your money where that sweet mouth of yours is, Icy One.

Torio's mouth twitched slightly. My gods. Well. This was an interesting development.

Her blood was rushing under her skin with prickling heat, due to the wine and the immediate closeness of Sand's face to hers. Part of her was whispering rather chillingly that this elf was her enemy. The thought, she noticed with amusement, did quite the opposite of deterring her.

She very slowly, deliberately, placed both hands palm down against the table, pushing herself forward until her cheek brushed against his; the faded smell of washing soap and the metallic, electric tang of dormant magic filled her nostrils as she brushed her lips against his sharply pointed ear. Her voice caught huskily in her throat as she murmured, "Eisi lle mesi lle ceri cyrn shar o'vi kaerol osaer ailai?" Are you quite sure you know what you're getting yourself into?

When her lips touched his ears, Sand nearly whimpered and he closed his eyes involuntarily. His hands tightened on the surface of the table in an attempt of self-control as he felt each breath of her words pressing against his ear. He didn't trust his voice to respond to her question.

Oh Sand. Is that all it takes? For a woman to whisper Elven innuendos in your ear? Without opening his eyes, he lifted a hand and quietly cast Alarm on the Library. In nearly the same breath he cast Arcane Lock. He pulled his face back from hers slightly, so that his nose was nearly touching hers and whispered, "Amin cali maelesaer os volalia thys eir jhaer 12 cys..." I have secured our privacy for at least 12 hours...

She had to laugh. The entire idea was ludicrous. It was Sand...she was nearly convinced that she hated the elf, she couldn't stand being in the same room with him without attempting to humiliate him, she...

...she was kissing him...

Somehow, her mouth had inched forward the last minute distance that spanned between them, and she was plying his own lips open with her tongue, tasting something decidedly unfamiliar and electrical, as well as the Elderwine all over again. Not a bad year at all.

"You do realize," she murmured against his mouth, even as she slid her knees up onto the table to crouch in front of him, "That I am almost positively sure I dislike you intensely?" The fingers of one hand traced a strand of silky, dark hair that fell around his ear, brushing its tip before curling the hair around her fingers.

When her fingers touched the tips of his ear, Sand moaned into Torio's mouth as he felt the maddening tingle sear from his ears, through his head and down his spine. Reaching up he cupped her face roughly, returning her kiss, feeling her tongue inside his mouth. She was crouched in front of him, now, her body bent at the waist in front of him. All thoughts of books, and reports were abandoned.

"My dear Torio," he whispered hoarsely, "Rest assured that the dislike is mutual and enthusiastically returned."