“What in the name of the All-Father?” Tarl exclaimed in shock, recognizing the beautiful moon elven rogue from the previous night’s encounter as she strolled into the common room on Aeron’s arm. “Easy my friend,” Aeron calm him, his arm wrapped affectionately about Nykira’s waist as he guided to the table where the other’s already sat at breakfast. “She did you no real harm.” “I guess not,” the dwarf confessed, eyeing her slender, yet wonderfully shapely figure with a lecherous stare while a broad smile grew on his bearded face. “And it looks like you got “compensated” for your generosity after all, lad!” Nykira glared at the dwarf with a spiteful scowl, while Galen and Faeryl shared a look of surprised recognition as they realized she was the thief Tarl and Aeron had told them about last night; the one Aeron had caught stealing Tarl’s purse, and then gave his own to. But how had she ended up here with him? “His generosity earned him more “compensation” than you’ll ever know!” Nykira spat at the dwarf in a harsh, cold tone. But then turned to Aeron and smiled warmly, adding with true affection; “We are bond. Where ever he wanders… I follow!” Aeron smiled lovingly at her, and bent his head to kiss her deeply, while Faeryl, Galen and Tarl could only wonder about what had happened between them last night to forge this bond; though they all conjured similar images in their heads. Nykira found it hard to believe herself. Just weeks ago she had fled her home in Everlund and a life of luxury and privilege to avoid a marriage arranged by her father against her will to seal a business partnership with the House of Faerondarl, her family’s long-time rivals. Now she willfully bound herself to this young human; something her father would never accept! A wicked grin turned her lips as she pictured her father’s reaction; his cold, terrible rage that had until so very recently froze her will and left her cowering and compliant. Now she saw it as comical. He would never have even raised a hand to her, so what had she feared… disappointing him? She had done that her entire life. She had never been enough of a lady for her role. Preferring archer and sword play to dance and music. “We are all bond by destiny it seems,” Faeryl voiced the thoughts they all had struggled with at one point or another since meeting; “a ‘Table of Five’!” They each looked to one another and nodded in acceptance; confirming their own realization that some higher power, fate or destiny had brought them together… But to what end?