"I know that we cannot trust each other but I ask for an exchange of information..." The drow female came forward. Her clothing wasn't quite what Myra'd expected. A mix of tight leather and flowing cloth gave the woman an exotic, alluring look. No weapons were visible.

"That... seems fair enough..." Myra waited, still unsure as to how this drowess knew her.

"I am Saeba Ril, 14th daughter of the House of Maerdyn..."

Myra remembered that much from the letter.

"...but I come on my own. As we say in the Underdark, Ambition leads to ascension."

A small smirk quirked Myra's lips and she took advantage of Saeba's pause. "Yes I remember that, but... For what purpose? And how is it you know who I am?"

"We know that Baal'morda, Lord of the Dead, had 24 disciples." the drowess began, and Myra visibly cringed. This was not a topic she was prepared for. "One of those disciples is the powerful Sorcerer and Scion, Mord'sythe."

Myra coughed, almost as if choking on the air she breathed. This was most definately -not- something she was prepared with which to deal.

Saeba looked on intently. "Do you know of his where abouts?"

Myra took a steadying breath, "I wish I did." She didn't think she should or needed to say more than that. Her reasons were her own.

"Somehow I believe you. We also suspect that Mord'sythe has began exploring the boundary regions between various types of magics, and that perhaps the exact nature of his magic is unique. Just how powerful is Sythe?"

The question struck Myra as odd, having no real talent with the magical arts herself; more from a lack of trying than a lack of abilty. Absently she rubbed at her arms, where she could still almost feel the marks Trenton had placed upon her... what seemed like ages ago.

The drowess watched closely.

Myra searched for the words, her mind flitting here and there. "He is..." She was having trouble concentrating and isolating singular thoughts about Trenton. She always did. "He... uh..." She frowned at herself for stuttering and stumbling so much over such a simplistic topic. "He's no longer a Scion. Ambition leads to ascension. It holds true with Sythe."

Almost as an aside comment, Saeba said, "I was wondering about his power over you..."

Myra just stared at her and pursed her lips together in thought. What had she meant by that...

"You say he is not a Scion... Is Sythe undead?"

Myra almost laughed. If only it were that simple! Then she remembered the riddle-like statement that had been one of the last things Trenton had said to anyone before his disappearance. "Who becomes Master, when the Master is gone?" She couldn't keep the hint of amusement out of her voice.

Saebe smiled viciously. "How can he be stopped?"

Lowering her eyes thoughtfully to the ground, Myra said quietly, "I suppose the same way he destroyed Baal'morda." She decided it was best to keep her eyes on the drowess and looked at her once more.

You seem to have difficulty talking about Sythe. We also know that Mord'sythe, formerly Trenton Sythe, was extensively involved in working dark blood magic on you, Myra Sunveil," Saebe paused long enough to peer at Myra before continuing, "that he cut designs imbued with magical power into your arms, and that he dripped his own blood into these wounds and thereby transformed you into a living filter of abyssal energies.

Myra set her jaw stubbornly. Where had this woman gotten all of this information!? "He did."

"He has also corrupted some of my dark brothers. Can you tell me of the exact nature of their corruption?"

Myra lifted one brow in questioning for just a moment, and then her expression went blank. Quietly, "It... is willing corruption. He can't have those who don't want it." At least, this is what she believed now.

"I see." Saeba seemed to be waiting on more.

So, Myra continued. "I went to him, seeking knowledge. In exchange, he placed the marks on me." There was so much more to it than that... but the shock registered on the drowess' face. Myra didn't wait. "I did not know what they were when he did them. But even after I learned they were not what he told me, I continued to return."

"I may wish to presume innocents with me it is of no matter. In all of this, Myra Sunveil, Mord'sythe working his dark blood magics on you in order to use you as a Scion, the question of your willful complicity remains a mystery. You gave yourself willingly, but can you resist him?"

Again Myra was caught off guard. "He..." She couldn't seem to catch her breath. She felt like she'd been running for miles, and her heart seemed to be what was blocking her air. "He will want nothing more to do with me, I believe."

The drowess looked at Myra's arms. "Hmm."

"I received correspondance from him... Stating when next we met... "all ties would be sundered"" Myra answered the unspoken question of why.

"And you believe him." It wasn't a question, so much as a statement.

"While he may be deceitful... He, in a twisted way, is a man of his word. It is up to the listener to determine what he is really saying." As that explanation was made, Myra realized that she did the same thing.

"He sounds like he would make a good drow." Saeba smirked. "Something has bothered me a great deal about the defeat Baal'morda. Mord'sythe did not come to his lord's assistance? Perhaps the answer lies in his own ambitions."

"He sought freedom from Baal'morda." Myra said simply.

"So he created and used you as a tool only to eliminate Baal'morda. And in effect, Sythe filtered Baal'morda's demonic power and life force through you and into himself, and he grew in power."

Myra nodded slightly. "Yes."

"So when several of the elves in the glade finally joined with you to fight and to defeat Baal'morda, who was obviously a scourge upon your community, it seems suspect that much of Baal'morda's defeat was a result of a plan executed by Sythe where he used you and the others much like a pawns in a game of chess. Do you deny this?"

"No." Her strong point had never been conspiracies, and in truth Myra thought she might be growing confused. But she understood the question.

"I ask you again, can you resist Sythe? Would you willingly destroy him if you could?"

"If I could." Myra knew this was a time when she was using the skill that she had earlier attributed to Trenton. She was leaving it up to the drowess to interprete her words however she would.

"Let us leave the issue of Sythe for a moment. Regarding Khellanduras, we believe him to be an Archlich, formerly Caramon Majere. Is this true?"

"It is." Myra was thankful for the change of topic, even if this one wasn't much better.

"What can you tell me of his power and relationship to Sythe?"

"They are rivals. Each seeks some... godhood."

"How powerful is Khellanduras?"

"He is powerful. But not so much as I believe Sythe to have become."

Saeba Ril nodded. "We believe that Khellanduras has managed to steal or trade enough information about Sythe's magic to drain the life energy from the drow, Euol, and the half-elven child, Rayne Thorne, and to restore his form and some of his power. That which is more, he has managed this without a Scion. Can you tell me of how this is done?"

Myra bit the inside of her lower lip and took a deep breath. "Shortly after Baal'morda's death... Khellenduras came to me in my home. And demanded that I share with him how I drained energies and passed them on to Trenton. He did not threaten my life, but instead, the lives of those closest to me."

Saeba raised an eyebrow in interest.

"So I began studying. A tome came to me. From Trenton. It was delivered to a human woman, Ivy... Who later left to guide Trenton into the Underdark.... But the tome had instructions on the use of normal necromantic magics to drain and transfer life energies. Khellenduras came... and he gained the book from me."

The drow nodded. "You refer to Sythe as Trenton." She looked closely at Myra. "Do you love Sythe?"

All color drained from Myra's cheeks for a moment, as the question slapped her in the face. She stared blankly at the drow female. But she could feel the heat of a blush flushing her cheeks regardless. She was silent while her mind cast about for some repsonse. "That is a ridiculous question." She stated flatly.

"Why so?"

"You ask; do I love the man who separated me from all that I had? Who used me and threw me away?" Myra began to sound defensive.

"We are both women, Myra. Perhaps different women, but still women. I wonder at your reference to Sythe, also I wonder at your true feelings for him, even though you deny any." The drow smiled. "Khellanduras has used you too, has he not? Like Sythe, has he not threatened the lives of those you love?"

Myra did not like what this woman may have been trying to imply. "He has." She decided to keep her answers short and simple.

"What do you plan to do? Will you cooperate and feed him as well, giving him more information, more of Sythe's knowledge?"

Myra was almost offended. "He is done with me. He set a trap of a trick for me, and while I knew it was a trick, I took it. And he cast me away. I am done with that lich, until I see his corpse crumble to dust."

"I see. Perhaps we have more in common than I first thought. You have been helpful and as open with me as you dare. I can, of course, sense and understand your reservations."

Myra smiled slightly. "The worst you can do is kill me, or take me home. And I don't think you are here to do either."

"Do you have any questions of me... I said this was to be an exchange."

"Why did you ask if I could or would destroy Trenton, if given the chance?" Myra was curious.

"Because we plan to destroy him if we can. Tell me. Do you know why we drow are here in your beloved glade?"

"I had my suspicions."

"Do you remember when Sythe disappeared for a time?"

"He travelled to the Underdark."

"Yes he did... so you know of his work there? That he begun to feed upon the drow?"

"I know the woman who led him there. And I suspected he would go where he could find.... a ready supply of power-lusting people to use."

A look of shock registered on Saeba's face. "Who was this woman?"

"She used to be my cousin's housekeeper. Ivy." Myra had been glad to be rid of that vile woman. "She speaks our... er your tongue actually."

"What has become of her"

"She is about... at least she was."

"Did you know that..." the drow hesitated. "We drove him out of the Underdark, along with a group of drow followers I shall refer to as the Outcasts?"

"I suspected he would either come to rule the Underdark, or be driven away, as he was from the Glade. More or less." Myra said plainly. Somehow deep inside, none of this suprised her.

"The elves seem oblivious to the fact that not all as simple as it seems."

"But then... everyone in the Glade was and may still be convinced he's dead." Myra seemed to echo the drow's meaning.

Saeba nodded. "They worry with the drow presence in their glade. But they do not see."

Myra smiled slightly.

Saeba mirrored that smile. "You are amused." Again, it was more a statement than a question.

"Yes." Myra left it at that.

"There is yet depth to your darkness. You seem to know like I do... That darkness is both friend and enemy. The elves have been fighting the Outcasts."

Myra's mind dwelt upon her statement about the darkness. "Lately, more often it is friend."

Saeba nodded. "I long to go back to it but I have things to do. The elves have been fighting the Outcasts. Little do they realize that there are two groups of drow present in the glade."

"And most don't stop to ask, do they?" Myra had once tried to track one drow to speak with it, but it was very good at eluding her.

"This I will tell you...in secret. And as drow say 'Two may keep a secret if one is dead.' Members of my House managed to discover the corruption within their society, and we have driven Mord'sythe and his followers from the Underdark. We believe the Outcasts, who have rejected Lloth, are now followers of Mord'sythe. The Maerdyn drow have come to the surface to kill Mord'sythe and the Outcasts. But you must also understand that in this meeting with you, I am outside the bounds of my House. I am a Jabbress; a mistress with ambition..."

Myra quietly interjected, "And I am not entirely Darthiir." As if that might justify the two of them talking at this moment. Saeba continued on.

"...beyond the choking confines of the Priestess. But I do thank you for you information."

Myra tried to cover the shiver that ran up her spine at the mention of the Priestess, with a slight nod.

"I will leave you with this information to do with as you will." Saeba stepped up to Myra and handed her a ring. "Take this. When you wear it, I will know that you wish to speak with me."

Myra was unsure how to respond and so she simply nodded.

"Be well Myra Sunveil. Aluve." Saeba Ril turned from Myra and began walking away.

Just before she was out of Myra's sight, Myra found her voice again. "You as well Saeba Ril. ...Aluve." What interesting developments these were, Myra thought as she pocketed the ring.