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<blockquote data-quote="Drusilia Nailo" data-source="post: 697545" data-attributes="member: 2062">By the time the Freeport City Watch found all of the former gang leader Pontinillo's limbs and body parts, most of them had been at least partially consumed by rats, and what was left was starting to rot in the tropical sun.&nbsp;&nbsp; The gang dissolved, and its fearful members did its very best to avoid the wrath of the Naïlo organization.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dru knew this, because she read it in the Shipping News the next morning.&nbsp; She eyed Jalin over the paper as they ate breakfast.&nbsp; He looked smug.&nbsp; &quot;You were telling the truth when you said that Pontinillo would bother me no longer,&quot; she said wryly, grinning shyly at him.&nbsp; &nbsp; Jalin laughed, and shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;It was nothing, kid,&quot; he said gruffly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Let me see that,&quot; said Alust, sounding angry, as he snatched the paper from Dru's hands.&nbsp; His eyes scanned the headlines, and he frowned.&nbsp;&nbsp; He might have commented further, but one look at his father's face quelled any sarcastic or mean-spirited remark.&nbsp; &nbsp; Jalin ignored his son, turning his attention to Dru instead.&nbsp; &quot;I imagine that you're going to get bored, sitting around the house,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru shrugged, but nodded.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Well, I can't do it all of the time, of course, but how about a sparring match?&nbsp; With swords of course,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dru grinned.&nbsp; &quot;I'd like that!&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Alright.&nbsp; After breakfast then... in the main room.&nbsp; We'll have to move some furniture, but it should work.&quot;&nbsp; He grinned back at her.&nbsp; &quot;It's been a long time since I've had a good sparring match, even if&nbsp; I'm going to be able to kick your a**.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Alust sighed.&nbsp; &nbsp; When Dru tried to give him a sympathetic look, he just frowned at her, and got up and left the table.&nbsp; &quot;I have spells to study,&quot; he said,&nbsp; drawing his thin body up into a rigid posture.&nbsp; &nbsp; Two hours later...&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru had just lept up onto a chair, brandishing her sword at Jalin to keep him back, when there was a knock at the door.&nbsp; Both elves, who had been laughing, fell silent.&nbsp; Jalin made a quick gesture at her, motioning her to retreat to the kitchen.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded, having long practice at this, and crept back out of sight.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I am here to collect Drusilia,&quot; she heard Kennic's voice in the foyer.&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru ran out of the kitchen. &quot;Kennic!&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; His eyes lit, and he shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;Child, are people ever going to leave you in peace?&quot;&nbsp; He walked up to her, and pulled her into a fierce hug.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Do you know what happened?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He nodded, tightly.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, we were able to learn of what transpired.&nbsp; You were very lucky.&quot;&nbsp; Turning his gaze to Jalin, Kennic smiled.&nbsp; &quot;You have my thanks, and Tensin's, for your role in this, Jalin.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jalin grimaced, and shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;Anyone in the organization should have done the same thing.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yes,&quot; said Kennic sadly.&nbsp; &quot;But would they have?&nbsp; I believe that Meris proved differently.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Kennic said, &quot;Come, Drusilia, we have a new safehouse to hide you away in.&nbsp; I'll be your guard again.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Jalin squeezed her on the shoulder.&nbsp; &quot;Any time you want to drop by and see me, you're welcome to it.&nbsp; Or if you want to visit my son,&quot; he said with a good natured leer and a wink.&nbsp; &nbsp; As they left, Dru said, &quot;So where are we going?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Kennic only smiled.&nbsp; &quot;It's a surprise.&nbsp; Besides, we wouldn't want to have someone overhear.&nbsp; We're going to spend the day at one of our apartments, and then travel to our final destination under the cover of darkness.&nbsp; Have you ever worn an elven cloak before?&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Drusilia Nailo, post: 697545, member: 2062"] By the time the Freeport City Watch found all of the former gang leader Pontinillo's limbs and body parts, most of them had been at least partially consumed by rats, and what was left was starting to rot in the tropical sun. The gang dissolved, and its fearful members did its very best to avoid the wrath of the Naïlo organization. Dru knew this, because she read it in the Shipping News the next morning. She eyed Jalin over the paper as they ate breakfast. He looked smug. "You were telling the truth when you said that Pontinillo would bother me no longer," she said wryly, grinning shyly at him. Jalin laughed, and shook his head. "It was nothing, kid," he said gruffly. "Let me see that," said Alust, sounding angry, as he snatched the paper from Dru's hands. His eyes scanned the headlines, and he frowned. He might have commented further, but one look at his father's face quelled any sarcastic or mean-spirited remark. Jalin ignored his son, turning his attention to Dru instead. "I imagine that you're going to get bored, sitting around the house," he said. Dru shrugged, but nodded. "Well, I can't do it all of the time, of course, but how about a sparring match? With swords of course," he said. Dru grinned. "I'd like that!" He nodded. "Alright. After breakfast then... in the main room. We'll have to move some furniture, but it should work." He grinned back at her. "It's been a long time since I've had a good sparring match, even if I'm going to be able to kick your a**." Alust sighed. When Dru tried to give him a sympathetic look, he just frowned at her, and got up and left the table. "I have spells to study," he said, drawing his thin body up into a rigid posture. [i]Two hours later...[/i] Dru had just lept up onto a chair, brandishing her sword at Jalin to keep him back, when there was a knock at the door. Both elves, who had been laughing, fell silent. Jalin made a quick gesture at her, motioning her to retreat to the kitchen. Dru nodded, having long practice at this, and crept back out of sight. "I am here to collect Drusilia," she heard Kennic's voice in the foyer. Dru ran out of the kitchen. "Kennic!" His eyes lit, and he shook his head. "Child, are people ever going to leave you in peace?" He walked up to her, and pulled her into a fierce hug. "Do you know what happened?" He nodded, tightly. "Yes, we were able to learn of what transpired. You were very lucky." Turning his gaze to Jalin, Kennic smiled. "You have my thanks, and Tensin's, for your role in this, Jalin." Jalin grimaced, and shook his head. "Anyone in the organization should have done the same thing." "Yes," said Kennic sadly. "But would they have? I believe that Meris proved differently." There was an uncomfortable silence, and then Kennic said, "Come, Drusilia, we have a new safehouse to hide you away in. I'll be your guard again." Jalin squeezed her on the shoulder. "Any time you want to drop by and see me, you're welcome to it. Or if you want to visit my son," he said with a good natured leer and a wink. As they left, Dru said, "So where are we going?" Kennic only smiled. "It's a surprise. Besides, we wouldn't want to have someone overhear. We're going to spend the day at one of our apartments, and then travel to our final destination under the cover of darkness. Have you ever worn an elven cloak before?" [/QUOTE]

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