Art by Uzlo: https://www.deviantart.com/uzlo

The old man returned a short time later and the two kobolds joined him on the walk back to the house, where they found Sigmundurr and Eilistraee sitting on the porch bench, swinging and talking quietly.

“Aye, all packed and ready to go so soon?” Sir Bart said as they approached, noticing the packs laid out beside the pair.

“I’m afraid we must,” Eilistraee said, rising from the bench. “These three still have a good way to travel before they reach the nearest village tavern.

“Well, it’s been a pleasure having you stay with me. Here, don’t leave just yet. I have a little something for you,” he said and scurried in the house to get something.

“I don’t think it’s been an hour, Sig,” Kreet said, unable to keep from giving him a little ribbing.

The big man leaned back on the bench, a smile coming over his face and closing his eyes as if in remembrance. “Turns out I’ve not got quite the stamina I thought I did.”

“Enough of that. What’s done is done. Water under the bridge,” Eilistraee said, and Kreet could swear she saw the goddess blush. “Now that’s unexpected!” she thought.

“Here you go,” the old man said as he bustled back out with three little packets. “One for each of you. My best leaves.”

“Oh, we can’t take from you!” Kreet said. “We should be paying you!”

“Nonsense. This isn’t payment. It’s advertisement!”

“What’s that?” Kallid asked, but still admiring Sigmundurr.

“I want you to share this tea with anyone else you meet. If you look inside, you’ll see I’ve put them inside little bags, and I wrote my name on each and every one of them! Then if somebody likes it enough, he’ll come find me and buy more!”

“Oh! I see!” Kallid said sincerely. “Do you sell a lot of tea?”

“Not a lot. Not yet,” said Sir Bart, and patted the kobold’s head. “But I hope to, with your help! I’m growing my biggest crop out back now, but I need customers. So you just share that tea with anyone who might want it, and who knows?”

“So,” Eilistraee interrupted as the others donned their packs, “The old knight becomes a merchant?”

He just shrugged. “About time I do something with this stuff. Besides, my daughter in law deserves something for all the help she does me, and I’ve not got much to give her when I’m gone. She’s a real pain in the ass sometimes, but she cares…”

Suddenly the old man drifted off for a moment, his eyes growing shiny. “She does care,” he concluded.

“Well, we’re ready to go,” Sigmundurr said. “Good luck old man, and thanks for the hospitality.”

“The pleasure was all mine. A good trip to you all!”

And with that, they all began back towards the road.

“Nice man,” Kallid said as he once again struggled to keep pace.

“Very nice,” Kreet agreed.

They turned back onto the road and started the last leg of their trip to the village. An hour later, Sigmundurr stopped unexpectedly.

“What is it, Sig?” Kreet asked.

“She’s gone.” he said, a clearly sad note in his voice.

“Who?” Kalled asked, catching up.

“Eilistraee,” Sigmundurr said, looking back at the way they’d come.

Suddenly Kreet’s eyes went wide. Eilistraee! How had she forgotten the goddess so soon? By the look on Kallid’s face, he was going through the same thoughts.

“Don’t feel bad, Kreet. I’d forgotten her too for a moment. But only for a moment. I think she did that on purpose, so she could leave without a long goodbye.”

“Probably,” Kreet agreed.

Sigmundurr looked up at the moon and smiled. Had he seen something there? But instantly he turned back to Kallid.

“Look, little man, I’ve not gotten any real exercise for days and I’m getting flabby. My legs are great but I need to carry more than this little pack. Would you mind riding on my shoulders for a while?”

Kallid’s look brightened considerably and in a moment he was happily riding astride Sigmundurr’s shoulders. Kreet couldn’t deny that they were making better time too.

“So… what was it like?” Kallid was asking Sigmundurr. “I mean, an actual goddess!”

“Oh, it was like nothing you could imagine, little man. She was as light as a feather and as solid as a rock when you wanted her to be! But… it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“No? I would have thought…” Kallid started, but Kreet shot him a look.

“What?” Kallid asked her.

“I’m married to you for one day… Pregnant with your damn babies no less, and you’re already asking about other girls!?!”

“But, Kreet… A goddess.”

“Hmpf. Seems to me you should be more interested in scales than in dark skin and hair anyway.”

“Kreet, don’t be like that! Aren’t you even curious?”

“Not in the least,” she lied, and convincingly so.

“Five minutes at best,” Sigmundurr said, interrupting the two.

“What?”

“Kallid, it lasted 5 minutes and I was done. Kaput. Finished.”

“Is… Is that supposed to be short?”

“Yes Kallid. I used to be able to go for hours on end! Why? Is that not…”

Kreet saw her chance and she took it. “5 minutes would be like a love marathon.”

Kalled looked hurt, but didn’t argue. “Yeah…” he admitted. “I don’t last very long. Still, that must have been some 5 minutes?”

“Best 5 minutes of my life,” Sigmundurr said wistfully and his gaze strayed to the moon yet again. “Miss you already Eil!”

“Sorry Kallid,” Kreet said. “I’m sorry. I was being hurtful. I shouldn’t do that.”

“Hurtful? How?”

“About the whole… you know. Lovemaking thing. You’re fine. Best I ever had, I can honestly say. And I expect that’s probably about normal for us anyway.”

“You say that because I’m the only one you’ve ever had.”

“Doesn’t make it less true!”

Kallid considered this as he bounced down the road atop Sigmundurr’s shoulders. “I guess you’re right!” he decided.

“Say,” Sigmundurr said. “Aren’t there any kobold gods or goddesses? I never thought about it before, but all the major races have their own.

“There’s Kurtulmak,” Kreet said, now on familiar ground. She’s studied a lot about gods and goddesses at the monastery. It wasn’t just a class or two, it was a whole school of study!

“Kurtlemak?” Kallid asked.

“There, see? Exactly. We don’t really go in for god worship much. Now I could talk about dragon worship. That’s a thing. But gods… we tend to just try to stay out of their way mostly.”

“I see,” Sigmundurr said. “Too bad. You should get yourself a nice female kobold goddess.”

“Got one!” Kallid replied and Kreet eyed him, trying her best not to smile.

“Flattery. You’re going to have to do better than that, Kallid,” she said, not letting go of the meager scrap of jealousy she still retained.

They continued down the trail until the lights of a small town were seen in the distance. Kreet estimated it should be around midnight, so the tavern should be just getting boisterous about now.

“That must be the place,” Kallid said.

Sigmundurr replied, looking up at his rider, “Yup. The old man says it’s ‘Tula’.”

“‘Tula’? Never heard of it,” Kreet said, looking up at the man beside her. “You?”

He shook his head. “Never. But we should be able to get our bearings once there. Somebody’s got to have been to a bigger city I’ve heard of!” “Which reminds me… Kallid, how’s your vision doing? It’s not going to be dark inside there in the morning.”

“Oh, I think I’m ready for it. I went out this morning in full daylight to pee and it was okay in the shade. Well, with my sunglasses on at least.”

Kreet nodded. “I’m getting used to it again too. I think we’ll do okay Sig. I don’t really even need my sunglasses anymore except in full daylight, and I’ve always needed it for that.”

“Well good. But a word of warning. These people aren’t going to be used to kobolds strolling in out of the dark. Stay close to me until we can see what we’re dealing with, okay?”

Both the kobolds agreed as they passed into the village proper.

Art by licarto: https://www.deviantart.com/licarto

Kreet nodded, and she did feel reassured. Scared, still, but better. Yet this was what she wanted, wasn’t it? What she’d wanted for years in fact. But now that she was staring her future full in the face, it scared her. Still, she supposed, it would probably scare any first-time mother. From what she knew, at least she took some comfort in the simple fact that birthing for kobolds was likely a lot easier than that of humans. The hips that had flared out under her waist and caused her such embarrassment when she had crossed puberty now gave her some assurance that, indeed, she was designed for this.

And two of them – that wasn’t so bad. Kobolds were known to give birth to a lot more than two on occasion. She had been born without any twins, herself, but all three of her older brothers had been born at once.

In her native kobold language, ‘hatched’ was a perfectly acceptable term, but she had been speaking in the human tongue for so long now it just didn’t feel right. She didn’t like to think of her children as being ‘hatched’. At least she didn’t have to pass gangly elbows and knobby knees, not to mention the umbilical cord and placenta that humans had to endure. Eggs might seem animalistic to humans, but frankly she was quite happy that her babies would be born in nice, compact and best-of-all, smooth format!

But still… how on earth could she ever… so big. She closed her eyes and felt the rocking of the bench. Somehow, she would manage. The goddess had said so.

And then she felt the hand of the goddess on her again.

“Kreet? You’re sleeping. Why don’t you go in to Kallid?”

Groggily she nodded and stepped off the bench.

“I think I’ll head in too,” Sigmundurr said, yawning widely.  “Good day Eilistraee. And Sir Bart.”

The old man waved his pipe in acknowledgement. “Well, Eilistraee,” he smiled to the goddess. “Want to take a stroll with me around the place?”

“That sounds like a fine idea, Sir Bart. Sig, Kreet, I’ll join you a little later.”

And with that, Sigmundurr held the door for Kreet into the dark interior of the house. She looked at the incongruous sight of an old man and a beautiful naked drow goddess strolling through the sun-dappled grass, hand in hand.

Kreet smiled at her snoring husband when she entered the little bedroom. It was a cute sound, more of a rumble than Sigmundurr’s loud cacophony. She snuggled under the blanket beside him and he stirred, and pulled her hand around himself.

She heard Sigmundurr climb into the small bed and wondered for a moment where Eilistraee was going to sleep, but realized the goddess probably wouldn’t sleep at all anyway. Instead she felt the vibrations of her husband’s breathing and she laid her snout on top of his shoulder. Pregnant she may be, but this was nice. She realized she was falling in love, if a little belatedly, with her children’s father. He might be smaller than her, but he had a good heart. That meant a lot. And then all was darkness and warmth and she didn’t dream.

Hours later she felt Kallid stir behind her and get up out of bed. Vaguely she heard him emit a little squeak and she turned to look at him, but he shook his head, indicating it was nothing and he went out of the room, carrying his sunglasses with him.

He returned a few minutes later, and she went back to sleep. She awoke to her husband waking her in a very intimate way.

“Kallid,” she whispered. “Not here!”

Her husband giggled and turned himself back around from his rather unusual position.

“Okay,” he whispered. “But come look!”

Kreet rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stood up, looking at where Kallid was pointing with a ridiculous grin on his face.

In the small bed, Sigmundurr continued to snore loudly, but underneath the blanket with him, the goddess lay with her head across his chest, apparently sleeping too.

Kreet’s eyes went wide. “Do you think?”

Kallid shrugged, but took her by the hand and led her out into the main room. The old man was nowhere to be seen.

“I don’t get it. Eilistraee didn’t even like him! Now she’s sleeping with him?” Kreet said quietly to Kallid in the kobold language.

“You think goddesses even… do that?”

“No idea. I guess they can, if they want, right? I mean, she eats and drinks with us.”

Kallid shrugged.

“Wait. They couldn’t have. I mean, I don’t know for sure, but something tells me Sigmundurr would be… loud.”

Kallid nodded. “True. I doubt we would sleep through anything like that.”

Kreet considered further though, “Then again, Eilistraee could… make us not hear if she wanted to. But no, I don’t think so. She sure is being awfully chummy with him though, isn’t she? Why?”

“I’m working on him, Kreet,” Eilistraee said, walking into the room and speaking in perfect kobold.

Kallid giggled and Kreet gave him a look before turning back to the goddess who sat beside them.

“You, might want to clarify that a little,” Kreet said.

“You know his nature, Kreet. While not evil, Sigmundurr is a violent man. And very headstrong. Not unlike some drow in many ways.”

“You’re changing his nature?” Kreet asked. “I don’t know if… It doesn’t sound right.”

“Not through any means you might think. That would prove nothing if I just changed him like that. I have to work through experience on him. I am trying to show him that gentleness has its merits too. And I think it’s working.”

“But, I thought you didn’t like him.”

“I didn’t say that, Kreet. I said you’d regret bringing him with you. And you will. But you said it yourself. Chaos, rage, anger. They have their place too. They just need to be moderated. I’m trying to provide that. And I think he’s beginning to see it too.”

Kallid had to ask the question that both the kobolds were wondering. “Did you… you know… “

The dark woman smiled and raised an eyebrow.

“That, little kobold, is not for you to be concerned about. But you are a curious race. No. Not that I haven’t considered it, but that would be too much, I think. Mortals are tricky in that regard. It’s far from unheard of, you know. Some gods play with mortals all the time – almost always to the mortal’s regret. But there is something in you mortals that make so much more of it than just a fling, especially when it’s with one of us. Then we get a simpering worshiper that often has lost all the qualities that we liked in the first place. In the case of Sigmundurr, that would be like castrating a dog. I don’t want that. I am attracted to him – yes, even we gods can fall in love. And lust. But I don’t want to change him that much. I just want to… gentle him a little.”

“I think it’s working,” Kreet nodded. “He’s different.”

“I know. But I have little time left, I’m afraid. Tonight you’ll reach the village, and I can no longer travel with you.”

“Aww,” Kallid said, his eyes turning mournfully dark. Kreet felt hers do the same. “You’re leaving us?”

Eilistraee held his head in her hands. “Yes, Kallid. It’s one thing for me to be seen strolling around in the countryside. But quite another to be seen in a village. It could be done, but it would alter things too much. No, my time with you is nearly over – at least for now. But I’ll see you again, I promise.”

Turning to Kreet, she laid a hand on her belly and smiled genuinely. “I’ll see you before these arrive, Kreet. Oh they’re going to be something, Kreet. These two are going to be… something.”

Kreet looked at Kallid.

“Your babies, Kallid.”

Suddenly he realized what they were talking about.

“Not the quickest kobold, is he?” Eilistraee laughed.

“No,” Kreet agreed as she took her husband’s and and put it on her belly with Eilistraee’s. “Not the quickest. Just the best.”

“We’ll miss you,” Kallid said when he managed to move his deep-red eyes away from Kreet.

“I know,” Eilistraee said, and stood up from the couch where they had been sitting. “And I’ll miss you too. Even you, little father. But it’s time for your lives to get back to normal. You’ll think back to these days like you were under an enchantment. Maybe you were. But you need to go back to getting scratches, and bug bites, and hunger and thirst. I’ll be watching though. I won’t be your protector, but I will be watching. Sorry, no, I won’t come when you call for me. It doesn’t work like that. You need to live your lives, and all won’t be rosy. That’s life.”

Kreet inhaled deeply, knowing the truth behind her words. “Back to life,” she said exhaling.

“Yes. back to life. Speaking of which…” said the drow goddess, turning towards the doorway to the bedroom.

Sigmundurr was stirring, and in a minute he stood in the doorway, blanket wrapped around himself. He was looking confused. The two kobolds got off the couch as Eilistraee motioned for him to sit beside her.

“Sorry Sigmundurr,” she said. “That was probably too bold of me. Please, don’t read too much into it.”

“Oh, of course not!” he laughed, and slapped her leg which startled even the goddess. “Why, I sleep with goddesses all the time. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you always wake up with the worst breath!”

“What?” Eilistraee said, shocked. “What do you mean? My breath is…”

“It’s beautiful, of course”, said the big man, and kissed her full on the mouth.

It may have been the first time Kreet realized that the goddess could be surprised, and by the look on Kallid’s face when Kreet turned to him, she saw the same look there.

“Sigmundurr!” Eilistraee shouted, bolting from the couch. “Really! This is too much. I’m sorry I even…”

“You’re leaving us tonight, aren’t you,” he stated, not really a question.

“Well, yes. I have to.”

“Where’s the old man?”

“He’s just out down the road visiting a neighbor a few miles away. He’s fine. But really, about your…”

Sigmundurr held up a finger, which oddly worked to shush the goddess.

“And what time is it outside? Is it dark yet?”

“Almost, but what on earth do you think gives you the right to…”

“Kreet, would you mind if you and Kallid go out and check on the cats for a while?”

“The cats? What’s…” Kallid began, but Kreet took his hand and filled it with his sunglasses.

“About an hour’s worth of checking should be fine,” Sigmundurr said as he took Eilistraee’s hand. She didn’t pull it away.

Kreet and Kallid stepped through the door into dusk. Fireflies were just coming to life and they saw no cats.

The house was a small one, and not well insulated. Kallid and Kreet had to stroll quite a way down the path that led to it before they were sufficiently out of earshot of the other two. And Sigmundurr wasn’t the only voice they heard, though the mortal and the goddess weren’t talking.

“Think he’ll be alright?” Kallid asked as the two stopped to skip some stones across a small pond beside the path.

“Who knows? But I don’t picture that man ever becoming some sort of lapdog either, goddess or no.”

The path joined with another, larger and more worn that could truly be called a road, though by the time they reached it, it was deserted. They passed their first remote farmstead, the house far from the road and invisible behind the woods, but they could hear the occasional bark of a large dog.

“I grew up on a farmstead like that,” Sigmundurr said, breaking the silence that had come over them. “Rough life. You’ve gotta be tough way out here. Need a real pioneer spirit to live at the end of the line.”

Kreet smiled at that. “Or you really don’t like other people a lot!”

“That too,” Sigmundurr agreed, not realizing it was intended as a joke.

“You were a farmer? I don’t picture that,” Eilistrae picked up the conversation.

“Not really. Dad was. He kicked me out. Deserved it though. I sucked as a farmer. My brothers were a lot better than me. Hell, my sister was better than me. Plus I kept running off to the tavern and coming back drunk. And… not alone.”

“Oh! Were you popular with women when you were young?” Kallid asked.

“Whaddaya mean when I was young?! I’m still young!”

“I… mean, when you were living with your dad.” Kallid countered quickly.

“Oh. Well, no. Not really. I had to pay em.”

“Whores? Your mom and dad didn’t mind?”

“Mom ran off after I was born. Never knew her. Just Dad. I don’t think he minded that so much. Heck, he brought some home sometimes himself. But he didn’t care for me straying out of my race. I liked the exotics. One morning he caught me with a cat girl and booted me out.”

“What, is he racist or something?” asked Kreet.

“Oh, probably. But it was the best thing for me. I hooked up with some adventuring fellas and never looked back. Turns out I made a pretty good figher.”

The trees became sparser as the road continued, and farmsteads became more numerous. They met their first fellow traveler, though he was drunk and sleeping it off by the side of the road. He woke at the sound of their approach, but just gaped at them the four walked by.

“Good evening,” Kreet said, bowing to him as they passed.

“E…evening,” he managed.

Otherwise the evening was theirs to traverse in peace. They had covered many miles, with not too many stops, when Kreet asked the question Kallid had whispered to her a short time before.

“Hey, Eilistrae. Do you have any ideas on where we should stop before morning yet? Kallid’s not really ready for full daylight yet.”

She looked at the kobold, valiantly managing to stay up with the others, though the stress was beginning to show. Kreet had been travelling with ‘big folk’ for most of her life and her legs had become accustomed to a quicker gait, plus she was at least somewhat larger than Kallid which also helped in that regard.

“I do, in fact,” Eilistrae assured them. “There’s an old widower, lives not far from the road just a bit farther ahead. I think he would be happy for the company. His caretaker has left him for a day so he’s all alone. In fact, I think I’ll join you this time.”

“Oh! Even in the day?”

“I’ll help keep the house dark. Kallid won’t have any problem. Sound good?”

Sigmundurr laughed, “Sounds good Eilistrae. Do we have a choice?”

True to her word, they turned off the road and down a winding cart-path until they came to a small, poor but well-kept house. A light was on inside. A single candle could be seen moving around inside. As the approached, they could hear humming.

Sigmundurr knocked at the door. The man within was wearing an old frayed robe and was apparently going about his morning breakfast ritual.

Eilistrae whispered, “He’s a little hard-of-hearing Sig. Bang harder.”

He did so, and the old man finally took notice.

“Who’s here at this hour?” he asked, approaching with his candle held high.

“Just some travelers, seeking some shelter for the day.”

“Travelers eh? I’m just an old man. I’ve got nothing worth stealing.”

“Hey,” Sigmundurr pointed out, “We did knock! Thieves wouldn’t do that.”

“No… no they wouldn’t.  Well come on in. Let’s see what we’ve got here…”

“Oh my!!!” he cried when Eilistraee made her entrance behind Sigmundurr, “Well aren’t you a Beauty!”

“Thank you, Sir Bart.”

“Well sit your pretty self down over there on the couch. My, this is turning into quite a morning! And a couple of little kobolds too? What are you two doing out of your caves?”

“Thank you for your hospitality,” Kreet said, and he nodded back to her, then poked his head looking around outside for more.

“And polite ones at that! That all of you?”

“That’s all,” Sigmundurr said. “Sorry for the imposition, but the kobolds like to travel at night and there’s really no where else to stay before morning.”

“Oh, hell. No problem. But lady, how do you know my name? I don’t even go by that anymore. You one of those mages? Never liked em.”

“Something like that, Sir Bart.”

“You want some clothes or something? I’m making some tea. I can add more.”

“Thanks,” Eilistraee replied sweetly. “But I’m more comfortable like this.”

“What’s ‘tea’?” Kallid asked, brightening up now that he could rest a little.

“‘What’s tea?’ Why, young feller, it’s only the best drink in the world. Well, without alcohol in it. Can’t drink the good stuff anymore. Wynda – she’s my boy’s wife. Comes by to take care of me. Anyway, she says I’ll die if I drink the good stuff again.  Probably right.”

The old man left the room into another, presumably a kitchen, but the open space between the rooms in the little house allowed for the conversation to continue.

“So you live here alone?” Kreet asked.

“My, but you talk well for a kobold! Oh no. Got my cats. Not much for conversation, but I like ‘em. Don’t worry, I don’t let em in. Knew a girl once. Real cat lover. Lived for em. House smelled like cat piss. Oh it was awful.”

“I hope we’re not too much of an imposition anyway,” Kreet continued.

The old man, Sir Bart, returned and sat in an old overstuffed and worn chair slowly. “Got more water on the boil. Oh, you’re no imposition at all. Not much happens in my life anymore, you know. Basically just sit around and wait for Old Bones to arrive. Glad to have the company. So what brings you here? I assume by the kobolds you’re coming up from the Drow caves?”

Sigmundurr nodded. “Yup. This is Kreet. She was raised by humans up top. We’re looking for her home. She sorta got lost. That other kobold she’s all touchy-feely with is her husband, Kallid. And he is just out of the caves but wanted to come along. I’m Sigmundurr. Just kinda along for the ride. And this here…”

As he turned to the goddess, she rose and crossed over to the old man.

“This is the goddess Eilistraee.”

“A goddess? In my house?”

“Pleased to meet you, Sir Bart. We met once before. Long ago. You killed quite a few of my drow as I recall. Well, perhaps ‘met’ is too strong. I became aware of you.”

The old man’s eyes grew wide.

“Relax, Sir Bart. You were justified. I’m not here to take your soul.”

“Eilistraee. Can’t say I remember the name, honestly. But I’m honored you would come to my door! A goddess. Wynda will never believe this!”

Eilistraee took his hand. “No, she won’t. Maybe we could just keep it a secret? She’ll think you’re going senile.”

“I am you know.” he said, looking forlorn into the goddess’ eyes.

“You are what?” Kallid asked, interested.

“Senile. I can’t remember things. Little things now, but it’s getting worse. And I forget where I am. Sometimes I think I’m back… I’m going senile.”

“You are,” Eilistraee said, sitting beside him and stroking his head. “It is a sad thing, but it is the way of life, you know. You must make room for the new ones coming up. But you’ll not be senile while I am in your house, Sir Bart.”

“No. I’m not right now, am I? I can tell.”

“If you’d like, Sir Bart… I can call him. I can call Old Bones to come and fetch you after we leave. Would you prefer that?”

The old man’s eyes began to tear up. “It’s a temptation, to be sure.” he said, and he ran his own hand down the goddess’ flank as if oblivious to just who it was he was groping. “But even when senile, I can still appreciate beauty. I don’t want to leave yet. Not quite yet. I might just have a use still in this world.”

Kreet was a little surprised the goddess allowed such familiarity, but she hugged him to her instead and kissed his forehead before rising. He ran his fingers across her back and bottom as she walked back to sit beside Sigmundurr.

“Yes, you might at that, Sir Bart. I am sorry for your affliction”

“Could you cure it?” Kreet asked.

A scream came then from the other room causing Kallid to jump up, alarmed.

“What’s that?!” he shouted, worried.

“Oh, relax little kobold. It’s just the water for the tea. I’ll be right back.”

“I could, Kreet.” Eilistraee admitted to Kreet. “But then a worse affliction would follow. Senility is a terrible disease, it’s true. His daughter-in-law sees it and it breaks her heart as he is slowly lost. But the alternatives are worse. You all must die, Kreet. There is no good death, despite what the novelists would have you believe. No one dies peacefully in their sleep. They die choking or gasping for breath or worse. Life doesn’t like giving up. Nature and Fate have decreed this is to be his end. It’s not such a bad end, as such things go.”

Sir Bart returned with two cups of tea, and Eilistraee rose to help him, taking them and distributing them to the kobolds.

“No, it’s not so bad,” he said, returning to the kitchen where Eilistraee followed to help. They returned with three more cups, Eilistraee handing one to Sigmundurr and taking the other for herself as she sat back down while the old man eased himself back into his old chair.

“It’s not like I haven’t thought about it,” he said, then a thought came to him. “Oh! I’m sorry, Eilistraee. I guess you don’t really drink!”

“I can. Or not. But as long as I’m here among you mortals, I’m happy to.”

“Well, then I hope you like it! My own special blend.”

They stopped talking for a moment while they sipped at their tea.

“Very hot,” Kreet whispered to Kallid. “Let it cool down first. Will burn your mouth.” So the two kobolds just blew on the top of their cups to cool it.

“Wow!” Sigmundurr said, after having taken a sip. “That’s actually pretty good. And I don’t like tea!”

“Why thank you. Since I retired here, I’ve been growing and refining tea in a little garden out back. You’re drinking years of refining and blending of different varieties.”

“Sir Bart’s Best!” Sigmundurr named it.

“Indeed, it is. I’m glad you like it. But, hey, I’m keeping you. The sun should be coming up soon. Wait… it should already be up! Strange.”

“Oh, sorry. I should have warned you. I’m doing that, Sir Bart,” Eilistraee confessed. “If you step outside it will be morning as you know it. But the light is still tough on little Kallid here.”

“A goddess. Strange. Should I be, I don’t know, kneeling or something?”

“Probably. But don’t. I’m suppressing that anyway. No, just treat me like a mortal.”

“If I were to treat you like a mortal, you might not like it!” the old man leered.

“You get used to it… somewhat,” Sigmunder laughed, understanding completely.

After their tea, the old man suggested they go out and sit on the porch. Kallid admitted to being tired anyway, so he went back to the bedroom. It was a small room with only the one bed. After some quiet discussion, the kobolds decided to make a bed on the floor at the foot of the bed instead, leaving the bed to Sigmundurr.

“Or Eilistraee. If she’s really going to stay with us all day.”

“Let’s let them figure that out,” Kreet replied. “Are you sure Kallid? I can just sleep here beside you. I’m tired too.”

“No, you go on with them. I’ll be fine. Just wake me when you get back.”

“I will,” Kreet said and nuzzled her mate before stepping back to the common room, donning her ‘sunglasses’, and opening the door to the porch.

She shielded her eyes reflexively as the light from the sun could be seen peeking through the trees to the east. But she recovered quickly. The old man was rocking slowly on a chair with a curved bottom, while Sigmundurr and Eilistraee sat on a bench tied to the roof with rope, slowly swaying back and forth while watching a cat fumble with a moth some ways off.

Eilistraee patted the bench on the other side of her, inviting Kreet to sit there, so she did so. Her legs couldn’t reach the porch, but Sigmundurr started the bench to swinging again.

“Pity,” the old man was saying. “Sunrise is the most beautiful time of day.”

“You okay with being out in the daylight, Eilistraee?” Sigmundurr asked the goddess.

“Fine. It’s not my domain, and we gods try to keep out of each other’s way. But Pelor is happy with me for helping Kreet out, so I’m good. Sorry, Kreet, I was just telling Sir Bart that I don’t get to see the sun rise very much. It really is gorgeous.”

The old man was smoking a long pipe he had presumably lit from the kitchen stove. Kreet watched in fascination as he blew smoke rings while they watched.

“This reminds me of a my adopted father, long ago,” she said after a time of silence. “My first human. We used to sit on his porch too. Watching his cat. Evenings though. We slept in the mornings.”

“Sunset’s are fine too,” Sir Bart said between puffs. “But they always reminded me of the end of things. Sunrise is the beginning. Beginnings are nicer.”

“Speaking of which,” Eilistraee said, and Kreet felt the godess’ cool hand on her shoulder. It felt very nice. It’s good to have a friend who’s a goddess, she thought.

Then suddenly she connected what Eilistraee was implying. She looked up at the dark face in alarm.

“I’m….?”

“Two in fact. Yes, Kreet.”

“Two! Are they…”

“Tsk tsk tsk, impatient kobold. You’ll have to wait and see.”

The old man looked at them, confused.

“She’s pregnant,” Eilistraee explained. “Got two little buns in her oven.”

“Oh! That’s wonderful! Congratulations Kreet!”

“Thank you! I guess! But that means… Oh my god. The sand begins to run through the hourglass!”

Eilistraee’s face turned a bit more serious, but the smile was still there. “Yes Kreet. You have about 6 months to find your home – or make a new one for yourself.”

“Eilistraee! I have no idea how to… do this! I read some books, but they were by humans. They didn’t talk about birth! Or how to raise babies!”

She felt the cool hand stroke her and her initial panic passed as the goddess’s words of comfort calmed her. “Relax, Kreet. Your body knows how to do what it needs to do. I’m afraid as a goddess, I can’t provide much advice. And these men are even worse, so don’t look to them. Kallid will help for support, but he won’t know anything either. You’re best off to find another female friend. A mother. These men only know how to plant it. Nurturing and harvesting isn’t their forte. Just do your best. You will do fine.”

Kreet looked into the eyes of the goddess, fear apparent. Deep down, she knew she wanted this, but now that it was confirmed, she was right back with the fear she’d had at first.

“Kreet, Take comfort in that. This is coming from a goddess who knows. You WILL do fine.”

Sunglasses-bold from https://www.weasyl.com/~bludragoon/submissions/180869/have-you-seen-this-kobold

Kreet awoke to the moaning of Kallid.

He was turned away from her, sitting facing the wall with his hands on his head.

“Kallid! What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I have a headache. Kreet, it hurts!”

“Did you hurt yourself or something? Did you eat something maybe?”

“No. It’s the light. I was alright for awhile but… it never stops. Oh Kreet, I don’t think I can do this!”

Kreet fumbled through her inventory and took out one of the pair of sunglasses she’d made.

“Here. Put these on.”

Kallid took them and fitted them to his head, pulling the dark cloth at the sides down to cover light leaching in from there and wrapping the woven stretchy loops around his horns. Then he went back to moaning and rocking on his haunches.

In the meantime, Kreet wove a light healing spell around him, hoping it would help ease the sensory overload his eyes were delivering.  While it was comparatively dark here, it was probably lighter than the kobold had ever experienced for a long period.

“I’m sorry Kreet,” he said, turning to her and she stifled a giggle at the rather ridiculous looking face in front of her. But he was sincere and suffering.

“Don’t worry too much, Kallid. We’ll just stay here till until nightfall, okay? Is that any better?”

“I think so.”

“Maybe Eilistraee can do something later. Just lay back down for a little bit. I’ll get some food.”

“Food would be good,” he smiled wanly.

Kreet rose and walked around to where Sigmundurr was still snoring. She touched him lightly but there was no change. She shook him more firmly. “Sigmundurr. Wake up.”

Sigmundurr said, “HNNNNGGG.”

“SIG!” she shouted and shook him with all her force.

“Hmm? Oh! Kreet. It’s you. Is it time to get up already?”

“Yes. I think so. We’re hungry. You got any food in your inventory?”

The big man sat up, rubbing his eyes. He looked outside. Though full daylight, the shadows did indicate it was approaching night again already.

“Food? Oh, sure! Do you want me to cook or something quick?”

“Oh good! I didn’t remember to ask you to take food with us, but I was hoping…”

“Kreet, I’m an adventurer. You don’t need to remind me to bring food. You might want to think about such things yourself more.”

“Can we get both then? Kallid’s not feeling well. The light, you know. I’m pretty used to it, but it will take him a while to adjust. I thought maybe something to distract him.”

Sigmundur brought out some dried fruit and nuts, then went out to get wood for a small fire while Kreet brought the food back to Kallid.

“Got any mushrooms?” he asked, greedily scarfing down the offering.

“Let me look around you pig,” she laughed and set about searching the cave. She found a few, but it should be enough.  Before going back to Kallid, Sigmundurr returned and started a small fire near the entry.

“Thanks Kreet,” Kallid said when she got back.  “I’m feeling a little better. Sorry for eating everything. I didn’t save anything for you. I’m… not used to being married I guess.”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Sig’s going to be cooking something, and knowing him there’ll be plenty for all of us.”

Suddenly Kallid looked up. She couldn’t see his eyes, but he seemed suddenly worried about something.

“What is it?”

“I… um. I have to go.”

“Go where?”

“No. I have to GO.”

“Oh!” Kreet said, understanding at last. “Well, I guess you could just… go over there.”

“Kreet! What kind of kobold do you think I am? Besides, this is the first place we ever slept after we got married. It’s like our honeymoon cave! I don’t want to piss in it!”

“Well, it’s either that or brave the full daylight outside. You think you’re up for it?”

“I’ll have to be! But I think this is working pretty good.”

Kreet put on her own glasses and went outside with Kallid. He didn’t complain at the light, though they stuck to the shade of the nearby trees as much as they could, and the sun was just about to set.

“Still okay?” Kreet asked.

“Yeah! I’m fine! But… would you mind turning around?”

“Why? We’re married now.”

“I’m shy. Please?”

“Well, okay.”

When they returned, Sig was cooking some eggs and some sort of meat over the fire he’d built.

“Wow! Sig, that smells awesome!”

“Best cook in the wild. Got some eggs and pork belly. Should be done in just a few minutes. You okay Kallid?”

“Yes! These glasses work great!”

“I hope so. You look ridiculous. What were you to doing out there?”

“Pissing,” Kallid answered, then apologized for the vulgarity.

“Kallid, you don’t need to apologize,” Kreet said.

“Why?” Sigmundurr asked, flipping some eggs over. “I just went over in that corner.”

Kallid looked at Kreet. “Oh well,” she said. “So much for our honeymoon suite.”

However, when the breakfast was served, all was forgiven.

“Sigmundurr, this is great stuff!” Kreet said, wolfing down another egg. “What’s in it?”

“Oh, just some spices I keep around. It is good though, isn’t it?”

Kallid just nodded, his mouth full of potato.

When finally they were finished, they gathered up everything. Outside the sky was clear and the stars were beginning to show.

“I guess we’ll start without Eilistraee,” Sigmundurr said, and they walked back they way they’d come. They weren’t far from the path, and they started down it again.

Kreet removed her glasses and put them away, but suggested Kallid keep his on for a little longer. But he decided to take them off anyway.

“I need to get used to it eventually, Kreet. It’s not too bad now anyway.”

“That’s probably right. I was taken out of my home caverns when I was little, so I got used to it pretty quick.”

“STOP!” said a voice suddenly and unexpectedly from just ahead.  Three armed men stepped from behind trees on their right and left. Sigmundurr smiled and pulled out his sword.

Kreet heard something behind her and she turned around to see three more. They did not look friendly.

“What have we here?” said another of the men in front. “A fat man and a couple of kobolds? Slim pickings I say.”

“Lucky to get 2 gold off them. Not worth it I say,” said another.

Sigmundurr laughed at that.

“I’ve got over 700, if you gents would like to try and get it!” he said, and Kreet stared at him horrified.

“Bullshit,” said the first. “You look like you ate it all if ever you had any!”

That set the others laughing, but they didn’t approach any closer.

“Funny man,” Sigmundurr said, obviously itching for a fight.

“What, you think you can take us all on Big Man?” asked another behind them. “Just leave us what you got and nobody gets hurt, right?”

“Sorry gents,” Sigmundurr laughed. “You picked the wrong guy to rob. But I tell you what. You send your best up against me, and if he wins, you can have everything I own! Sound good?”

“Pfft,” the first responded. “If you’re dead we’ll take it anyway.”

“Well, there’s still my two friends you’ll have to contend with.”

“What, kobolds? Fuck man, you’ve taken leave of your senses. I could snap one of their scrawny necks with my left hand! Look, you look like you might be alright. But you can’t take us all on, and I’d hate to hurt one of your little scaly ‘friends’ in the scuffle.” said the man behind them, and Kreet noticed they were approaching.

“What, now you’re threatening to hurt my kobold slaves? You guys must be really stupid. I can buy two more back in the Underdark tomorrow,” Sigmundurr laughed, and kicked Kallid to the ground behind him. Kreet looked back to Sigmundurr angrily as her husband got back up.

Sigmundurr looked at Kreet. “Oh, now what, you guys going to rebel on me too?”

“No master!” she said, finally getting the ruse.

“Fuck this,” the guy in front said. “Come on guys. Let’s cut the fat guy down to size.”

Suddenly they all charged in. Kallid pulled Kreet to the side away from the impending melee, almost instinctively. The bandits paid them no attention, but she took aim at one of the men coming at Sigmundurr from behind. Not a Guiding Bolt this time though. She’d not had time to consider her options, and still hadn’t learned any new spells since rising to the third clerical level, but she knew the sleep spell and cast it at him.

He crumbled to the ground but the others were charging and didn’t notice, and then all five remaining bandits were on Sigmundurr.

Kreet readied another spell but couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t hit Sigmundurr.

Then Eilistraee arrived.

Sigmundurr grumbled, but did as she demanded.

“Thank you Sigmundurr,” Kreet said, lowering her hands.

“Fucking bitch deserved…” Sigmundurr began, but Kreet interrupted him.

Until this time, she had revealed little of her true powers to anyone since she had arrived in the Underdark. She had told only Kallid it’s source, but circumstances had required it.

“Sig, your Creator gave you a gift of manhood, but you have badly misused that gift. I cannot change your ways. Only you can do that. But I can guide you if you want me to.”

“You sound like some damned…” Sigmundurr began.

“I am a Cleric, Sig. I am a Cleric of Pelor, and not an insubstantial one at that. But we don’t coerce, we only offer guidance.”

“Figures. A fucking cleric.”

“Yes Sigmundurr. I’m a fucking cleric. If we’re going to continue traveling together, you’d best get used to it. I don’t like you Sig. You’re a force of chaos, but I don’t think you’re evil. Just… unrestrained. You could be a good person, if ever you could learn self-restraint.”

Sigmundurr looked down at the little kobold. “Restraint? I haven’t cut your damned scaly head off yet! That’s restraint!”

Kreet nodded. “Yes. It’s a start. But now I’m going to ask more of you. I want you to give Urmelena her sword back.

“The fuck you say! Not gonna happen little lizard.”

“Sig, how do you think we’re going to find our way out of the Underdark without her?”

The big man looked across the bridge.

“You think he’s going to help if you rape her or kill her? Really?”

Meanwhile, Urmelena had stopped talking, but was obviously listening intently. Kreet didn’t like the expression on her face, but this rift had to be mended somehow. She continued.

“Sig, you know the drow. You know how they are. Did you really expect her to help you? You are what you are, and they are what they are. That’s not going to change today. But we need their help.”

“She’ll stab us in the back, or have Houndril do it, at the first chance.”

“I don’t think so,” Kreet said, then looked to the dark elf. “Urmelena, what will you do if Sig gives you his sword back right now?” Kreet asked the still-prone drow.

The dark elf’s face turned contrite. “I’ll lead you on to the stairway of course.”

“That is a lie. I’ll ask you again, and you will tell the truth. Either that or we’ll try and find our way on our own and we’ll leave you both here, blind in the dark.”

Urmelena rolled over suddenly, disregarding the point of her own sword. Fortunately Sigmundurr allowed it.  The rage returned to her face and she spat the words out.

“I’ll kill this overgrown man and drop his body down the crevasse, and if you think you can stop me, you’ll soon meet your damned Pelor in the next life and ask him!”

“Pretty brave talk for a blind person, don’t you think? I’ve been blinded by that light-blast before. You’ll recover your sight in time, but not soon. And your mate over there isn’t going to be able to help if a spider or worse attacks you. At this point, you can still complete your mission and keep your lives, if you want to. You need to decide that. Right this moment.”

The drow was not stupid. She considered Kreet’s words.

“I’ll do nothing,” she said finally.

“That’s right. We’ll put this bridge behind us and continue to the stairway. You will accomplish your mission and live. You mentioned giving Sigmundurr a weapon before. Do you have another with you?”

“Houndril has another sword,” she replied.

“Good. Sig, you’ll have that. Against two blind drow. Think you can take them if you need to?”

Sigmundurr smiled again and nodded.

“Alright. Now. How are we going to get Houndril across this bridge?”

Kallid spoke up then. Kreet had almost forgotten about him, but his eyes were glowing bright blue as they looked at her.

“Oh great,” she thought. “I’ve got my first devotee.”

“I can help him over!” he said with reverence in his voice. “Kreet, I can help!”

“Kallid…” she began, but at the sound of her uttering his name the blue glowed even fiercer. She gave it up. She’d have to worry about him later.

“Go on Kallid. We’ll wait here. Be careful. That spider is still down there.”

He laughed but scampered back across the bridge. “But you blinded it!”

She called back as he got to Houndril and helped the drow to the edge of the bridge. “Maybe! Just be careful!”

It took the two a minute to get back across the bridge, but even blind the drow proved his elven grace and had only a moment or two of imbalance, even across the broken bridge.

Sigmundurr had still not returned Urmelena’s sword, but at Kreet’s ‘suggestion’ the drow commanded Houndril to give Sigmundurr his spare sword.

“Satisfied?” Kreet asked the human.

Sigmundurr drew blood from his thumb testing the edge. He smiled evilly. “Satisfied.”

“Okay. Now, here’s how we’ll do this. I know you know this path well, Urmelena. You and Houndril will lead. Kallid, you stay with them and describe the path ahead. I think you’ll be able to manage like that.  Sig and I will follow.”

“What about spiders?” Kallid asked.

“We’ll just have to do the best we can.”

“Little kobold… if we are attacked, you must stay away from Houndril and I. We have methods of attacking as a team, even blind. But we won’t know where you are.”

Kreet said nothing, but realized that was a good sign. At least they didn’t blame Kallid for the recent events. No doubt they hated Sigmundurr now only a little more than herself as a cleric of their enemy Pelor, but they didn’t want to kill Kallid anyway. If she could just keep the fuse unlit on this powder-keg, maybe they would still all survive after all.

There was another spider attack – three wolf-spiders this time. But now that Kreet had revealed her powers and could assist, they dealt with them quickly. Sigmundurr did receive a venomous bite, but Kreet took care of that.

Then they encountered a patrol of drow coming the other way. This was a situation she wasn’t sure how to handle. They were taking a break when a group of five drow approached from the other side, armed to the teeth and none too happy to see the human slave sporting a sword. Kreet shot a look at Urmelena as they approached.

“Urmalena,” Kreet whispered as they approached. “There is a patrol coming. You can reveal us, obviously.”

“Are you threatening me, kobold of Pelor?!”

“No. But if we come to any harm, I do promise that I will make sure that your mate Houndril is permanently blinded. I can do that.”

“He is not my mate.”

Kreet found an all-too human word suddenly very appropriate. “Bullshit.”

“I may be a cleric, but I am also female. His mistress, you are, but you also care about him. It is obvious in your every move around him. If you do not, I can’t stop you from turning us over to this patrol. But if I’m right, I think you can get them to pass on.”

Urmelena smiled as the patrol came close. Though Kreet was taking a gamble, it was the only thing she could think of. The leader stepping up to Urmelena while Kreet backed off and went to stand in front of Sigmundurr. She prayed a brief prayer while she held Sigmundurr’s sword down. The two drow spoke in hushed tones and Kreet couldn’t tell what was being said.

She had a moment of panic when the patrol leader looked back to Sigmundurr and she felt his sword shift as his grip on it firmed.

But then the patrol continued on. She didn’t relax her hold on the sword blade till the last of them had disappeared out of sight.

They reformed and began to continue on.

“What did you tell them?” Kreet asked.

“I told them we were blinded by a flash-pod and that the human killed some wolf-spiders after that. They’ll find the spiders soon enough if they didn’t believe me anyway. You’re safe. From them.”

Kreet realized something then. She lowered her tone so Sigmundurr couldn’t hear her.

“You’re not going to let us out, are you?”

Urmelena made a derisive noise then. “We will take you to the staircase. That was our command. What happens then… well, that’s up to the fates.”

“Is there anything I can do to change your mind? I don’t want to fight you, Urmelena.”

“Do you really think I would let a devotee of Pelor live, little kobold? No. You will not survive this trip. You chose your god poorly. But you will reach the staircase safely. That much I can promise. And your little mate will live. I too see much, Cleric. Find comfort in that. Until then, I suggest you pray to your god. You will meet him soon enough.”

“And Sigmundurr?”

The dark elf’s blind eyes wrinkled in anticipated joy. “He will live. But he will not remain a man.”

Kreet fell back as they continued up the path. But she was considering another path. She prayed, fervently and with a purpose. This trip was not going to end without bloodshed. Her fate and that of Sigmundurr, as well as their drow guides, were up to powers beyond her. But as she saw the little kobold’s bright blue eyes turn back towards her, she hoped he wouldn’t be hurt. She wasn’t sure she loved him – certainly not like he did her – but she did care for him. He would try to help, and probably end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Sorry for the delay. Vacation called. Back to the Kreet goodness. And here, have a cute weird Coal the Kobold from Rakkuguy too. From http://rakkuguy.tumblr.com/post/162560285891/shes-into-those-weird-things-like-handholding

Again, not Kreet and has nothing to do with the story, but I do like posting a Kobold image with these when I can.

They continued through the Underdark’s labyrinthine network of tunnels, hallways and crevices, and Kreet marveled not only at their guides’ apparently unerring path-finding, but also at the sheer size of the complex. Once she had thought the cave system she had been born in was huge – her whole world in fact – but compared to the Underdark it was but a flyspeck.

Both the drow and the two kobolds, of course, could see in the utter darkness they traveled through, but Sigmundurr required light. This irked Urmelena who had to carry a staff of light ahead of them.

“Well dammit, why don’t you just give it to me if it’s such a pain in the ass?” Sigmundurr asked her after yet another of her complaints about it, but she just grumbled and continued on.

“Seriously. It amounts to a stick to me. Just let me carry it. If we run into another one of those spiders, you’ll be free to dispatch it without it.”

Urmelena halted the group and turned back to look at Sigmundurr.

“What do you think, Houndril?”

For the first time, the male drow spoke. “I would have his head before he could swing it,” he assured Urmelena.

Kreet didn’t fail to miss the smile that came over Sigmundurr’s face at that. Nevertheless, Urmelena handed the staff of light to Sigmundurr who took it in good grace, even nodding to her as if in gratitude. Then they continued on, but he winked at Kreet, to which she shook her head ever so slightly as her eyes widened. But he just smiled and continued on following.

The spiders were an ever present menace in the Underdark. They came in all shapes and sizes as well as varying degrees of deadliness, but kobolds were naturally immune to most types’ venom. Humans and drow were not, but at least the drow had experience in how to fight them. Some time earlier they had encountered a couple of the more aggressive wolf-spiders, but Urmelena had killed both without so much as a scratch.

The really big spiders, however, they would best avoid and it was for this reason that their leader had enforced silence since the spiders tended to be attracted to noises in the normal silence of the Underdark.  Once she had spotted one of these, far away across an underground lake they had skirted. It’s size was difficult to be sure of, but it appeared to be at least fifty feet from leg to leg. They’d never grown anywhere near that large in her old caverns, but then, there was no where there to contain such monstrous beasts, let alone provide enough food for them to maintain that sort of size.

But here in the Underdark life was surprisingly abundant. Mushrooms seemed to grow at every chance, along with lichen – both glowing and dormant – and other similar plant-life. The giant spider she’d seen appeared to be lying in wait for something under the surface of the lake, so underwater fish and worse were obviously plentiful as well.  

And, of course, spiders were only the most common of the threats in the Underdark. Fortunately the path they followed was well traveled and was kept clear of the worst of these by regular patrols of drow, some of whom they’d passed by already. But there was always the chance of encountering the less expected Underdark dwellers. Despite the confidence and obvious skill of their guides, there were still only two of them.

They came at last to one of the rope bridges that took the path over a deep crevasse. The bridge took the form of 3 thick ropes, tied to each other occasionally by smaller guide-ropes with the largest of the three acting as the bottom of the bridge and the other two as handrails.

Urmelena indicate they would cross one-at-a-time, to minimize swaying of the rope and the weight of more than one.  While the rope bridge had obviously seen years of use which might indicate security after all this time, the fraying of the strands left Kreet with no doubt that the structure was not as solid as once it had been. And knowing the Drow, it would be left as-is until it broke, and an unlucky traveler at that point had better hope he held on tight.

Of  course, Urmelena went first, carrying the light staff since it was obvious that Sigmundurr was not going to be able to navigate the bridge easily with it. He gave it up without a fight, and Kreet thought she detected a bit of fear in his face. She couldn’t blame him. If the rope was going to break today, it was going to break under him most likely.

As she watched Urmelena step gracefully across, it occurred to her that the even in their arrogance, the drow were definitely elves. Their air of superiority wasn’t only due to their own inflated egos. In many ways, they indeed were superior. The rope barely swayed as she stepped off and waved for Sigmundurr to begin.

For the first time, Kreet looked over the edge. She did not see the bottom, but it wasn’t because it was too far away to see. It was because something massive blocked the view. It’s eight eyes glistened but it was still and silent as death. She drew in her breath.

“Long way down?” Sigmundurr chuckled as he stepped out.

Kreet’s eyes were wide but she put a finger to her mouth in the universal gesture.

Sigmunder tentatively stepped one foot in front of the other out over the bridge and it began to sway as the cords creaked under his weight. Kreet shot a look to Houndril. He obviously knew the monster was there too, but Sigmundurr had to rely on the light from the staff – now far away on the other side of the bridge. To him, the spider underneath him was effectively invisible, no matter how much he tried to see it.

He stopped, waiting for the bridge to stop swaying, then took another two steps. Naturally the bridge started swaying again.  Kreet could see the tendons on his arms bunch as he held tightly to the hand-ropes. And then he overbalanced.

Things happened in rapid succession then. One foot lost its grip on the base rope, and suddenly the base was no longer under his center of mass. He kept the other foot on the base rope for a moment, but now all his weight was on the right hand-line. It was too much for the old rope and it snapped at the near end beside Kreet.

It did not drop away however, due to the guide lines between the hand rope and the base. However, it shifted under Sigmundurr’s weight at least four feet and was now hanging under the base rope with Sigmundurr holding on for dear life onto the broken handrail. Amazingly, the guidelines held even under his weight. They formed a sort of ladder that Sig could still use to climb back onto the base rope – if the both the hand rope and the guide ropes held.

Kreet saw he was struggling. He was amazingly strong, but the break was too unexpected. Still, at least he had not actually fallen. She looked at Urmelena. She stood passively watching the man’s struggling. She looked to Houndril.

“Help him!” she cried.

The drow snorted contempt. “If he is worthy of life, he will help himself. If not…”

She looked back down the pit. The huge thing no longer remained motionless. It was approaching, and the distance had belied its size. It was tremendous. Larger than anything living had a right to be. It stopped short of actually coming into full view and attacking Sigmundurr, who was oblivious to what was happening underneath him. He had managed to get his legs wrapped around the broken end of the hand rope and was shimmying up the rope. It was obviously a lot of effort, but he was managing it. It looked like he would make it.

Till the long front leg of the spider tapped him gently on one leg.

“The FUCK?!” Sigmundurr screamed at both the shock of the touch and the weird, incredible leg that rose from the darkness below.

Though the spider’s leg did end in a wicked sharp claw, it wasn’t using it to try and spear him. It looked to be simply toying with him. It tapped his leg again, rather gently, but that set him to swinging. He could no longer do anything but hold on.

Then it tapped him again. Gently, but just as the arc of his swing had begun in that direction. It was intentionally swinging him. The centripetal force as the arc of his swing grew larger would certainly pry him loose of his grip soon. And the spider tapped him again. It knew exactly what it was doing.

Kreet couldn’t stand idle any longer.

“Kallid!”

Her mate was watching in horrified fascination, but he looked up at her.

“Kallid, look away and close your eyes. Close them as much as you can. I’m about to do something.”

“GODDAMMIT! HELP!” Sigmundurr was screaming at Urmelena, but she stood impassively watching.

No, Kreet realized as she looked closer.  Not impassive. She was smiling!

Kreet wasted no more time with warning. She held her hands in front of her and took aim at the eight eyes watching Sigmundurr who was swinging nearly perpendicularly now. She would not kill it, she knew, but she would blind it. And probably two others that she hadn’t warned. She closed her eyes tightly and cast Guiding Bolt at the thing.

The power that leaped from her outstretched hands had increased measurably with her level increase. Though even behind her lids her eyes ached with the light that still got through, the feeling of the power of Pelor flowing through her made her weep with joy. She was no powerless little kobold. She could still DO things.

Over the screaming from the two drow, Kreet heard the alien screech of the spider die away as something huge and heavy fell to a rumbling thump far below. She hoped Sigmundurr had managed to hold on. When she opened her eyes, she was – though not exactly blind – unable to see directly in front of her. But she heard Kallid moving.

The bright halo in her eyes quickly disappeared and she ignored the shouting and cursing of the drow. Kallid was out on the bridge now, pulling a guide rope up as best he could, his tail and legs wrapped around the base rope.

In a minute, Sigmundurr was back on the base rope and the two finished the crossing to the other side. Kreet scrambled across then, not having any particular fear of heights, but a fear of the thing below was certainly present.

When she got to the other side, Sigmundurr was sitting atop Urmelena, her sword in hand.

“Hi Kreet!” he said happily. “That was you, wasn’t it?”

Kreet looked at the drow, no longer screaming but uttering curse after curse at the man who sat on her back. Kreet nodded.

“Thought so. Thanks! I’d be spider-chow it if not for you. And Kallid. Appreciate it little guy, and I’ll not forget it. No thanks to these assholes though…”

He stood up but kept the point of the sword on the small of Urmelena’s back. She was still obviously blind, as was Houndril who was still on the far side of the bridge, unable to cross.

“So… thought you’d feed your little pet did you?” Sigmundurr said menacingly. Kreet didn’t like the tone of his voice.

“Sorry, afraid your ‘Little Furry Legs’ is going to have to go without Sigmundurr meat today,” he continued, and with horror Kreet realized he was loosening his belt.

“But you, on the other hand… I think you’re in dire need of some Sigmundurr meat!”

“Sig,” Kreet said quietly.

“Kreet! She was gonna fucking let that thing eat me!”

“Sig,” Kreet repeated and the big man turned back to her.

“Put your pants back on Sig,” Kreet commanded, her hands outstretched in preparation for another Guiding Bolt, and pointing at his head. He would not survive a direct Bolt from this distance and she was fully prepared to wield it.