Inside, almost invisible under the shroud of shadow, a pair of crimson eyes watched her. She might never have noticed ? her sobs, though quieter now, still echoed loudly in the marble room. But a soft ring of metal alerted her. Startled for just a moment, she turned to see the eyes of the drow watching her. Nimble fingers placed the sharpening stone onto the bench beside him, and his grip strengthened around his warfork.

Myra?s sobbing had ceased, and now a tangible silence hung between her and the ebon-skinned drow. Her breathing shallowed and her pulse quickened. Yet she held herself resolute ? in a defiant pose only she could have mustered ? as Khalin stood up and began walking slowly toward her, his warfork positioned in between them...