“We seem to be making a habit of this,” Rowan observed with a coy smile, but sincere gratitude. Looking into his bright emerald eyes, her smile grew into a capricious grin. He hadn’t change at all in the years since she last saw him; still the same handsome rogue who had provided a delightful distraction from the tedium of life amongst the small religious order of warriors she had pledged herself to. Then she turned an appraising eye toward his companion, and found herself admiring the half-drow’s exotic beauty, as she inquired; “Who’s your new friend?” “Rowan Windrivvin met Ilamyst... formerly of Maerimydra,” Mykal replied in a somewhat formal introduction that seemed more than a bit out of place in the midst of a battlefield, then added with an arrogant smirk; “And coming to your rescue is a habit I’m in no hurry to break.” “Coming to my rescue?” she quipped with mock offence and a dismissive pout. “We had things well in hand. The habit I was referring to was you popping up and horning in on my fun.” “You call that fun?” Myst challenged; she knew all too well what orcs do with female captives and involuntarily cringed at the thought. It was clear that the dark haired beauty had some history with Mykal, and she could easily guess what it entailed. She had accepted the fact that he had quite a harem of gorgeous women in his past... the problem was they didn’t seem content to stay in his past! “Of course I do,” Rowan taunted with mischievous smirk, noticing half-drow’s cringed in revolution with a sense of amusement, even though she understood her reaction and the implications of being taken alive by the brutal beasts. “What else is a girl to do for entertainment around here!?!” “We should return to the Throne before night falls,” one of the Knights warned as he approached them from behind Rowan, clearly concerned with what might be attracted to the scene of the battle as twilight began to settle upon the ruined city. He and his fellows had piled the orcs’ bodies together, after searching them for anything useful, and set them ablaze. It was a reasonable precaution to prevent them from being reanimated as undead, especially in light of the she-orc cleric that seemed to be their leader, but the stench that they gave off in life was nothing compared to the putrid smelled that rose from their bodies as they burned! “What throne?” Myst inquired, glancing back and forth between Mykal and Rowan. She knew that Myth Drannor had once been a powerful city shared by elves and humans, but it had laid in ruins for centuries. “Shaundakul’s Throne... a fortified temple to the Rider of the Winds,” Rowan explained as she turned to lead the party off into the surrounding ruins, then gesturing to the men around them adding; “and home of the Knights of the Shadow Sword. We can offer you shelter... at least for the night.” “Are you sure about that?” Mykal questioned, his tone implying that they may not be all that welcome. “He will not deny shelter to a faithful of Mielikki... she’s an ally to Shaundakul... and you did provide some aid in the skirmish,” Rowan replied with a knowing smirk. “He may not be happy about it... but he wouldn’t put, even you, out in the dark.” ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** Additional Credits: * Victoria 4.2 by DAZ3D * Amarseda Hair by Daz Originals & AprilYSH from DAZ3D * Brigida by Daz Originals from DAZ3D * Courageous for V4 & Courageous Unimesh Fits by Daz Originals & Ravenhair from DAZ3D * Fatale by Daz Originals & Moyra from DAZ3D * Mystic Hallow by LaurieS from DAZ3D * The Woodgoddess by Anna Benjamin & ElorOnceDark from DAZ3D * V4 Hooded Cloak by Daz Originals from DAZ3D