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<blockquote data-quote="Drusilia Nailo" data-source="post: 758336" data-attributes="member: 2062">Dru stretched out, catlike, on the bed, and then curled up beside Andaryn.&nbsp; &quot;I'm glad that the entire coming of age celebration is over,&quot; she mused, tiredly.&nbsp; &quot;As much as I loved all of the gifts that people brought me last night.&quot;&nbsp; She was referring to the final night of the party, when everybody who was invited brought her a gift.&nbsp;&nbsp; Since everyone knew whose daughter she was, she had a huge collection of daggers now, many of them exquisitely made.&nbsp; She also had jewelry,&nbsp; hair combs, clothing, even more practical things that she would probably never use, such as cookware and sewing supplies.&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn smiled, and draped an arm lazily over her bare shoulder.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;I hate to say it, but I'm glad too.&nbsp; My voice is going hoarse from performing.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I can see where you'd want a break.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I feel very guilty,&quot; said Andaryn, clearing his throat, &quot;That I cannot afford to get you a gift for your party.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru waved him away.&nbsp; &quot;Nonsense,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;You don't have to give me any presents.&nbsp; Gods know, I got enough of them already.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He&nbsp; sighed.&nbsp; &quot;I still feel bad, though.&nbsp; Your father paid me generously, but most of that is going to go for living expenses, and possibly reprovisioning myself.&nbsp; I don't have much left over for luxuries.&quot;&nbsp; He grinned, then.&nbsp; &quot;I know where there's a litter of kittens... I could fetch you one of those.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;No!&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; The violence of Dru's reply seemed to startle him, and he said, &quot;Oh,&quot; in a small voice.&nbsp; &nbsp; Fearing that she'd wounded the bard, Dru leaned in, kissing him on the tip of his ear.&nbsp; &quot;I appreciate the thought, but I don't want a pet.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He smiled, mollifed.&nbsp; &quot;Do you just not like cats?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru shuddered.&nbsp; &quot;I don't want any pets at all.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn raised an eyebrow, and then put his hands up defensively.&nbsp; &quot;Alright, alright, you don't have to have a pet.&nbsp; Far be it from me to force a kitten on someone.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru laughed, but felt embarrassed.&nbsp; &quot;There's a reason,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &quot;Do you want to hear a story?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I'm a bard, of course I want to hear a story,&quot; he said, propping his head up under two pillows.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded.&nbsp; &quot;When I was very young, not more than fifty years of age, my bodyguard, Kennic, took me down to the beach to play.&nbsp; It had been a long, hot summer, and I had been shut up in the house for most of it, since Papa was afraid that I would become a war casualty.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn frowned.&nbsp; &quot;How terrible,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;But, I interrupted your story.&nbsp; Go on.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;We had been playing in the water for quite awhile, when I saw something moving, far up the beach.&nbsp; It was an animal of some kind, I knew that much.&nbsp; So, I ran up the beach to see what it was.&nbsp; It was a cat.&nbsp; It was the ugliest, most beaten up and scroungey tomcat I had ever seen.&nbsp; He only had one eye...&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; And Dru could remember that day clearly.&nbsp; The cat had rubbed up against her legs, and she had instantly fallen in love with him.&nbsp; &quot;I want to name him Fluffy,&quot; she told Kennic, with a hopeful smile.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Fluffy,&quot; he said, grimacing down at the cat.&nbsp; &quot;I have no idea of what your father- oh, what the h*ll.&nbsp; Let's take him.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru grinned, and picked up the cat awkwardly.&nbsp; He was heavy.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kennic chuckled.&nbsp; &quot;Perhaps you'd better let me carry him,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;He's almost as big as you are.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru scowled, and refused to cooperate.&nbsp; With a sigh, Kennic lifted Dru up, and carried her while she carried Fluffy.&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Papa agreed more readily to it than I thought he would,&quot; she told Andaryn.&nbsp; &quot;He said that I had to take extremely good care of him, which meant giving him a bite of every food that I ate, before I ate it.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn's eyes narrowed, but he shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;Why would he say that?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru gave a crooked, rueful smile.&nbsp; &quot;I found out, about six months later.&nbsp; Fluffy was always willing to eat anything that I gave him, as long as it was food.&nbsp; He wasn't very discriminating, and was always eating as if he thought it was going to be his last meal.&nbsp; We were all gathered together at the table in the compound, me, my father, Kennic, and some of the enforcers.&nbsp; The cook brought out the dinner, and we all started to get ready to eat.&nbsp; I cut off a piece of the shark steak, and gave it to Fluffy.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dru sighed, then.&nbsp; &quot;Fluffy immediately started choking, and then fell over, dead.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn stared at her.&nbsp; &quot;Poison?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Papa took one look at the dead cat, and launched a throwing dagger into the cook's throat.&nbsp; At the same time, Kennic tackled me to the ground, and the enforcers went in and started killing the kitchen staff.&nbsp; And then it was all over.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; There was an uncomfortable silence, and Andaryn said, &quot;I can see where you might not want a kitten.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru grinned.&nbsp; &quot;Poor Fluffy.&nbsp;&nbsp; I remember him fondly, but I've decided that I am not the type of person to have a pet.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He nodded, stroking her hair.&nbsp; &quot;I'm not either.&nbsp; I'm gone too often, off adventuring.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Maybe I should go with you,&quot; said Dru.&nbsp; &quot;It could be fun.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn smiled, but then shook his head.&nbsp; &quot;I could not take you away from your father. &quot;It's clear that he loves you so.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Does that mean that you're going to leave me?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; There was another silence, and Andaryn sighed.&nbsp; &quot;I don't want to.&nbsp; Maybe I should set myself up in Freeport... I could play at the local taverns, and make some money for myself, I'm sure.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru sat up, nodding eagerly.&nbsp; &quot;I'm sure you could.&nbsp; There are lots of taverns here.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn looked thoughtful, and said, &quot;Only- no, no.&nbsp; I don't want to bother you with the details.&nbsp; I'll work it all out myself.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;No,&quot; said Dru.&nbsp; &quot;I want to help you.&nbsp; Tell me.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Well,&quot; he said, &quot;The reason that I came to Freeport is that I'd heard that there was a magical harp for sale here.&nbsp; It makes your music special,&quot; he said, sounding wistful.&nbsp;&nbsp; &quot;It makes it speak to people, even more than it would have without the enchantment.&nbsp; You can see why that would appeal to a bard.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, I can.&nbsp; So what's the problem?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; He looked at her, and then laughed.&nbsp; &quot;So asks the woman whose father could probably buy most of the city.&nbsp; I can't afford it, Dru.&nbsp; It's going to be about 3000 gold, and that's money that I just don't have.&nbsp; I was going to go out adventuring for it, but,&quot; he bit his lower lip, and then smiled.&nbsp; &quot;Now I have a reason to stay in Freeport.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru stared at him.&nbsp; &quot;You'd give all that up for me?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn nodded.&nbsp; &quot;Yes, I would, my love.&nbsp; All that and then some.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Dru thought for a moment.&nbsp; &quot;There might be a way for you to get the harp,&quot; she said.&nbsp; &nbsp; He looked at her eagerly.&nbsp; &quot;Oh?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yes... my father could loan you the money.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn's face fell.&nbsp; &quot;I doubt that he would loan it to me.&nbsp; He doesn't trust adventurers.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;I could talk him into it.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Would you do that for me?&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Yes.&quot;&nbsp; &nbsp; Andaryn gathered her into his arms.&nbsp; &quot;I would pay him back, every copper of it,&quot; he said.&nbsp; &quot;And that harp will make me enough money that he'll be willing to consider me a son-in-law.&nbsp; I promise.&quot;</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Drusilia Nailo, post: 758336, member: 2062"] Dru stretched out, catlike, on the bed, and then curled up beside Andaryn. "I'm glad that the entire coming of age celebration is over," she mused, tiredly. "As much as I loved all of the gifts that people brought me last night." She was referring to the final night of the party, when everybody who was invited brought her a gift. Since everyone knew whose daughter she was, she had a huge collection of daggers now, many of them exquisitely made. She also had jewelry, hair combs, clothing, even more practical things that she would probably never use, such as cookware and sewing supplies. Andaryn smiled, and draped an arm lazily over her bare shoulder. "I hate to say it, but I'm glad too. My voice is going hoarse from performing." "I can see where you'd want a break." "I feel very guilty," said Andaryn, clearing his throat, "That I cannot afford to get you a gift for your party." Dru waved him away. "Nonsense," she said. "You don't have to give me any presents. Gods know, I got enough of them already." He sighed. "I still feel bad, though. Your father paid me generously, but most of that is going to go for living expenses, and possibly reprovisioning myself. I don't have much left over for luxuries." He grinned, then. "I know where there's a litter of kittens... I could fetch you one of those." "No!" The violence of Dru's reply seemed to startle him, and he said, "Oh," in a small voice. Fearing that she'd wounded the bard, Dru leaned in, kissing him on the tip of his ear. "I appreciate the thought, but I don't want a pet." He smiled, mollifed. "Do you just not like cats?" Dru shuddered. "I don't want any pets at all." Andaryn raised an eyebrow, and then put his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright, you don't have to have a pet. Far be it from me to force a kitten on someone." Dru laughed, but felt embarrassed. "There's a reason," she said. "Do you want to hear a story?" "I'm a bard, of course I want to hear a story," he said, propping his head up under two pillows. Dru nodded. "When I was very young, not more than fifty years of age, my bodyguard, Kennic, took me down to the beach to play. It had been a long, hot summer, and I had been shut up in the house for most of it, since Papa was afraid that I would become a war casualty." Andaryn frowned. "How terrible," he said. "But, I interrupted your story. Go on." "We had been playing in the water for quite awhile, when I saw something moving, far up the beach. It was an animal of some kind, I knew that much. So, I ran up the beach to see what it was. It was a cat. It was the ugliest, most beaten up and scroungey tomcat I had ever seen. He only had one eye..." [i]And Dru could remember that day clearly. The cat had rubbed up against her legs, and she had instantly fallen in love with him. "I want to name him Fluffy," she told Kennic, with a hopeful smile. "Fluffy," he said, grimacing down at the cat. "I have no idea of what your father- oh, what the h*ll. Let's take him." Dru grinned, and picked up the cat awkwardly. He was heavy. Kennic chuckled. "Perhaps you'd better let me carry him," he said. "He's almost as big as you are." Dru scowled, and refused to cooperate. With a sigh, Kennic lifted Dru up, and carried her while she carried Fluffy.[/i] "Papa agreed more readily to it than I thought he would," she told Andaryn. "He said that I had to take extremely good care of him, which meant giving him a bite of every food that I ate, before I ate it." Andaryn's eyes narrowed, but he shook his head. "Why would he say that?" Dru gave a crooked, rueful smile. "I found out, about six months later. Fluffy was always willing to eat anything that I gave him, as long as it was food. He wasn't very discriminating, and was always eating as if he thought it was going to be his last meal. We were all gathered together at the table in the compound, me, my father, Kennic, and some of the enforcers. The cook brought out the dinner, and we all started to get ready to eat. I cut off a piece of the shark steak, and gave it to Fluffy." Dru sighed, then. "Fluffy immediately started choking, and then fell over, dead." Andaryn stared at her. "Poison?" Dru nodded. "Papa took one look at the dead cat, and launched a throwing dagger into the cook's throat. At the same time, Kennic tackled me to the ground, and the enforcers went in and started killing the kitchen staff. And then it was all over." There was an uncomfortable silence, and Andaryn said, "I can see where you might not want a kitten." Dru grinned. "Poor Fluffy. I remember him fondly, but I've decided that I am not the type of person to have a pet." He nodded, stroking her hair. "I'm not either. I'm gone too often, off adventuring." "Maybe I should go with you," said Dru. "It could be fun." Andaryn smiled, but then shook his head. "I could not take you away from your father. "It's clear that he loves you so." "Does that mean that you're going to leave me?" There was another silence, and Andaryn sighed. "I don't want to. Maybe I should set myself up in Freeport... I could play at the local taverns, and make some money for myself, I'm sure." Dru sat up, nodding eagerly. "I'm sure you could. There are lots of taverns here." Andaryn looked thoughtful, and said, "Only- no, no. I don't want to bother you with the details. I'll work it all out myself." "No," said Dru. "I want to help you. Tell me." "Well," he said, "The reason that I came to Freeport is that I'd heard that there was a magical harp for sale here. It makes your music special," he said, sounding wistful. "It makes it speak to people, even more than it would have without the enchantment. You can see why that would appeal to a bard." Dru nodded. "Yes, I can. So what's the problem?" He looked at her, and then laughed. "So asks the woman whose father could probably buy most of the city. I can't afford it, Dru. It's going to be about 3000 gold, and that's money that I just don't have. I was going to go out adventuring for it, but," he bit his lower lip, and then smiled. "Now I have a reason to stay in Freeport." Dru stared at him. "You'd give all that up for me?" Andaryn nodded. "Yes, I would, my love. All that and then some." Dru thought for a moment. "There might be a way for you to get the harp," she said. He looked at her eagerly. "Oh?" "Yes... my father could loan you the money." Andaryn's face fell. "I doubt that he would loan it to me. He doesn't trust adventurers." "I could talk him into it." "Would you do that for me?" "Yes." Andaryn gathered her into his arms. "I would pay him back, every copper of it," he said. "And that harp will make me enough money that he'll be willing to consider me a son-in-law. I promise." [/QUOTE]

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