“Get dressed quickly and be gone,” she commanded.

He glared back momentarily before doing as he was told. She made a mental note to punish him for that look. She rose and crossed the room, taking up her dressing gown. She looked to see that he was almost dressed and was about to leave. He now looked back at her from the half-opened side door, trying to reawaken her need for him. She raised the dagger and sneered, and he was gone into the hallway, the sound of his footsteps fading.

“You may enter,” she said.

The Darthiir slave came quickly through the door and closed it tightly behind her. She kept her eyes to the floor as she moved with small precise steps across the chamber where she stopped with her head bowed, waiting to be recognized.

“What is it that brings you to disturb my rest?”

“They are gathering!” She whispered. “The Matron Mother, your sister, and another Priestess have taken to the House Temple. They have been discussing you in reference to the glade of the surface elves. I thought you should know. It seems that they have plans for you.”

Saeba Ril hissed, “By the Goddess, the bitches are busy.”

She reached out and gripped the girl’s chin, pulling her face close and forcing her to make eye contact. “A favor from an inferior is always costly.” You now present me with a problem. She contemplated killing the girl and thought better of it.

“There is one other thing I heard.” The girl blurted out. “They speak of bringing her back.”

“Bringing who back?” Saeba hissed through clenched teeth still holding the young elf tightly.

The girl tried to pull away “The one you went to see.”

Saeba released her. “What else have you heard?”

The girl wrung her hands nervously and shook her head indicating that she knew nothing more. She began to back slowly away until her back was against the door. She fumbled with the latch.

“Do not get ambitious on me my little one. Nevertheless, I acknowledge your loyalty.” She dismissed her with an absent-minded wave of the hand. The girl opened the door and ran quickly from the room.

Saeba Ril dressed without delay. She stuffed a few things into a shoulder bag and checked the magical reagents in the pouches on her belt. Just then another knock came upon the door. She uttered the words of power that carried her away from prying questions, the answers to which she could not hide and did not wish to reveal.