Zakiyah tried to tune the girl out as they walked away from the rapidly-disappearing tower, rolling her eyes frequently and imitating War Scribe's words in a quietly sarcastic voice. She certainly was a nemesis, that much was certain....Zak got a small amount of satisfaction in thinking that SHE annoyed War Scribe even more than War Scribe annoyed her, for there was no getting around the fact that the Drow had only been born yesterday...Being spirits, War Scribe's manhandling didn't really affect her much. "A has-been? Wasted my time?" She couldn't help but laugh at that. If anything, she really could only have been accused of the opposite- of having NO life beyond that of her work, and of working too hard at it at the expense of everything else. "Do you think I could share this Realm with Venger for six centuries and not have covered the dark events? I've witnessed the fall of countless cities and several civilizations. There are thousands of accounts for you to read in the library. These pitiful weddings and coronations celebrate the few remaining strongholds of hope and life in the Realm, and it is vital that THEY whould not be forgotten!"
She found her voice trembling with feeling. But of course the girl wouldn't understand- she had no love of hope and life. They were, indeed, well-matched. "If anyone has shown up too late," she said, suddenly feeling a hint of...well, it wasn't affection, but it was something- acceptance?...for the Drow woman, "it's you. You've missed some of the best moments in history...including the recent "incident" between Sterling and Venger's manhood--you would have enjoyed seeing that far more than I..."
(She was suddenly especially glad War Scribe knew nothing of her past...)
"As for my Father "trading up".... I hate to disappoint you, Dear Sister, but I intend to find other Lorekeepers to help us out. You and I will not be alone for long- Validor has charged ME- not YOU- with rebuilding His Order. YOU'RE simply helping me with my main job because I have extra responsibilities now," she said loftily. Implicit in her tone were the unspoken words, "SO THERE!"
"And you'd better not kill any of them" she added as an afterthought. "Validor meant what he said- and he'll take away your Gift if you piss him off..."
"Do I have to separate you two....?" Death was watching them a short distance away. "Geez. Well, you wouldn't be nemeses if you GOT ALONG, now, would you? I've just never heard of a god making two of them work together. Val's a great deity, don't get me wrong, but I sometimes wonder if he's a little TOO neutral...you know what they say about folks who live in ivory towers, after all. Ah, well, come along..."
They didn't see how she managed it, but somehow she was with both of them, and they were walking separate paths, and, dreamlike, it all seemed to make sense.
"See you soon, Dear Sister," Zakiyah waved sweetly, determined that she would gross out the girl with saccharine lovingkindness every time they met.
