“You go no further armed,” the gruff man-at-arms demanded as they stood before Winter Edge’s high hall. Their march from the lichdom took them most of the day, during which Tana’s façade of being anything more than the herder’s daughter she had started to crack. It crumbled completely when they reach her home, as she rushed into her parents arms, but the guards insisted she go before their lord-protector. “It’s not an uncommon request,” Galen advise the others, then he turned and addressed the lead guardsmen. “Of course we expect our property to be returned when we take our leave.” “Of course it will be.” The feminine voice was strong and commanding, drawing everyone’s attention to the now open entry, where a lovely, young woman stood. Immediately, everyone bowed their heads in respect, leaving the companions a bit bewildered… who was she? Kara turned her eyes to Tana, whose parents now stood by her side, and smiled; “It’s good to have you home. After a week missing we’d all but given up hope… and these people brought you back to us.” “Yes, my lady,” Tana confessed meekly, huddled in her parent’s arms. “I was taken by a band of orcs who gave me to a vile lich, and he…,” her voice trailed off into a shutter, then she motioned to the companions; “But these heroes slew the lich and destroyed his lichdom.” “If the orcs were in league with this lich, perhaps now that it’s gone they’ll leave us in peace,” Kara postulated, then she looked to the odd quintet; a young wizard, a stoic ranger, a dwarven warrior and an elven archer where all not such a unique sight, but a drow amongst what seemed to be good natured heroes… that was beyond unexpected. However, they’d saved the herder’s daughter and slayed the lich, so she praised them; “You’ve done us a great service… not just in slaying the lich, but in bringing our sister home to us. So I welcome you into my uncle’s hall as honored guests… but you will have to surrender your arms. You have my word that they will be returned to you when you take your leave.” While Galen readily surrendered his longsword and staff, the others where more reluctantly, but started to turn their weapons over to the guardsmen. Tarl grumbled under his breath, but gave up his great axe and throwing axes, while Faeryl respectfully handed over her dagger and bastard sword. Aeron turned over his bow, quiver, and dagger without reservation, hesitating to part with Albion, his enchanted longsword, but did, with just a little additional prompting. However, while she ceded her dagger and quiver, Nykira held firm to her magical bow, Syl, warning the guardsmen; “My bow is a sentient weapon… and Syl does not like to be handled by strangers. It’s not safe for anyone but me to touch her.” “I’ve heard of enchanted weapons that possess their own intelligence,” Kara admitted admiring the bow as she waved off the guardsmen. “You say that only you can touch it safely… then we’ll show you to the armory where you can leave it yourself.” Nykira strategically laid Syl across the other confiscated weapons so that anyone attempting to disturb them risked touching her and invoking her wraith, a small act of defiance that didn’t escape Kara’s attention.