"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Lady Kirriam 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.""Skull, huh?" inquired Sterling somewhat sarcastically, "Why am I not surprised? Whenever we come to a city or town, my men sometimes 'indulge' themselves with the local ladies of the night! The games they play with their bedmates are usually 'Strip Swordfighting' or 'Canasta for Clothing'! Unfortunately, when dawn comes, the ladies that visit them usually leave wearing little more than a blanket!"
Nodding over to the Drow Warrior in question the Swordsman added, "Skull is the ringleader of this little game! He had no intention of hurting you, my lady, just humiliating you a little!"
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?"
"Sure," replied Sterling evenly, "Lieutenant?" Together the two Dark Elves helped Lord Tolan back to his feet, moving him into the Captain's tent where they laid him down on a cot.
Nightrunner hung close to Lady Kirriam, while Sterling took Lord Tolan's tankard of Cannard and began to pour it down the High Councilor's throat. Looking over to Tolan's sister, the Drow Captain said, "If one swig of this stuff doesn't get your brother to his feet, nothing will!"
A Point To Ponder
