Wrapping the cloak snugly around herself, Kirriam forced a cheerful grin. "Oh, I'm just fine," she said, glancing in the direction the Drow had run in a mad rush to be the first in the pay line. "It was either fight him to show that I could handle a sword, or submit like a frightened mouse and let myself be tied to a tree," she explained, relenquishing the blade she still carried to the Lieutenant. "He wasn't really going to hurt me," she added, almost as if she were still trying to convince herself of that fact. "I'm fine. I..."
Looking back at Sterling, she saw the true concern in his eyes, and felt a rush of gratitude for the traveling cloak that she held tightly around herself. For some reason she felt safe in this Dark Elf's presence, felt that she did not have to keep her defences as high as she had in an attempt to outwit the others. "I..." Her lower lip began to tremble as the reality of the events crammed into the last few minutes finally began to sink in. "I've never been so scared in my life!" she finally blurted, hiding her face in her hands and fighting back a sob.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she sniffled. "I never meant to cause trouble. I was trying to catch up with my brother when your men jumped out at me and decided I was their prisoner of war. Things got out of hand rather quickly from there. Then next thing I knew, I was wearing this," she gestured with disdain at the revealing clothing hidden beneath the Elven cloak, "and facing that horrid Skull in a swordfight."
Wiping her eyes quickly, Kirriam straightened a bit and glared after Skull, who was by now hidden from sight, lost among the press of bodies around Doc and the coffer of coin. Like she had said, win or lose, she still had a special surprise for him.
Lord Tolan chose that particular moment to interject a deeply profound statement: "Uhhhhhhhh..."
"Oh, my poor brother!" Kirriam exclaimed, finally seeming back to herself enough to express concern for the unconscious Tolan. "He's never going to forgive me for this. I think I shocked him badly, didn't I?" Kneeling next to her brother, she gently slapped his face in an effort to rouse him. After a second, she looked up at Sterling. "Oh, and I thank you for not letting on that it was the sight of me that caused him to pass out. Now, can one or both of you help me get him back on his feet?"
