Adam's ears twitched as he listened to the nearby conversation. The poor girl was obviously terrified by the scary robed man. The sound from the pouch ruled out silver gil or even the small gold zorkon of the country. It had to be in pure gold coin, which made sense because it was good anywhere. At least 50 in the bag from the sound of the clink.

Adam grinned. Maybe releaving the girl of her money would give her a good out from the job she obviously didn't want.

Getting up, he made his way to the bar, brushing past the now singly occupied table on his way to nimbly pluck the bag from the girl's pocket. Decent heft, not too heavy, and he could get it to his belt pouch without it making noise. He doubted she even felt it leave her pocket.

He stepped up to the bar.

"My Lady of the Taps, I'd like another of that wonderful watered down ale you have!"

Katilina glared at the man, "We do not have watered down ale, I assure you." But instead of argueing she took out a mug and filled it up to the brim then placed it on the counter top in front of him. "If that will be all, two coins should be enough to pay." Of course the normal was only one coin but Katilina didn't like the smirk on the mans face.

Adam's smirk widened. If she expected him not to pick up on that one, she was sadly mistaken. It took a thief to recognise a thief, and he was a thief of the highest calibre - even if he did say so himself!

He dropped three coins on the bar. "Keep yourself a tip, darlin'," he said, winking at the glaring girl. "I'm sure I'd love to help you keep yourself pretty."

He picked up the mug, draining off the top and sauntered back to his table.

Tora grumbled as she walked down the street. Curse Erik a thousand times for banishing her to this miserable place, sourounded by these stupid humans... Where was she going to find any sort of compantant help in overthrowing that arrogant human-spawned excuse for a demon king down in this hole?

She gave a small smirk as the crowd of humans kept parting to make way for her mass. At least these pathetic creatures were smart enough to realize not to mess with her....

Katilina stood there, awestruck, slowly she turned around and started filling up another mug. If their hadn't been a loud bang a moment later she probably wouldn't have realized she was overfilling the mug. Ail poured down the side of her hand, quickly she turned around and grabbed a clothe whipping the side of the cup and her hand.

She glanced over nerviously at the door to the inn's pub. A dark figure stood in the doorway letting rain pelt in. The figure lumbered over to a table and sat down. Katilina scurried over to him to ask his order and saw something curious.

The stranger had laid out some sort of map across the table. "10 miles east, 5 north, 16 south..." He muttered to himself in a gruff voice until he noticed Katilina leaning over his shoulder reading the map. Quickly he rolled it up and shoved it inside his cloak.

Startled Katilina asked, "What would like?"

"What would I like? Oh! A nice cold brandy please."

Shaking her head she turned to head back to the counter when the man spotted her flute in her pocket. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. Startled Katilina let out a scream and pulled her wrist away.

"Sorry, ma'am. I was just wondering, ya any good with that?" He asked pointing to her flute.

Katilina straightend herself proudly, "Of course, all fairy-folk are good musicians."

"Ya don' look like a fairy tah me." He replied.

"Of course I don't, I'm half fairy!" She exclaimed.

"Ah, well be off wit ya I'd be liking my drink." He rubbed his chin with his hand as if pondering something, then turned around to the man sitting behind him (that's Adam).

"'Ello sir. An' who might you be?" He asked.

Driggy made his way through the crowd stumbling as he went, he accidently pushed a
girl (tora) over and muttered "Sorry" as he hurridly continued his walk.

Adam smirked, raising his mug in salute to the newcomer. "Just a simple country man, wondering where you got that very interesting map." He rose. "Yourself?"

Tora swore under her breath as she was knocked into. "Imbiceil..." she seathed.

Still scowling, she watched the man walk into a building. A taveren. She paused. Well, maybe there would be someone of value in there she could recrute.  'Uuuh...' she thought with disgust, entering the place. Crawling with humans. Mostly half breeds at
that. Wonderful.

"Ah, my name is Drigonan, but ye can call me Driggy." He tapped his heart pocket in his cloak where he had placed the map. "Top secret buisness ya know." He winked at Adam then leaned forward and whispered, "If you help me their will be a heafty amount of gold in it for you." Leaning back Driggy slipped his hand inside his cloak again and took out a pouch of gold. "Now, don' ya go swipin this from me, I've 'eard about cha. Famous thief you are."

Tora entered the bar, eyebrow twitching slightly at the occupants. Quickly she scanned the area. There was a pair near the fire that looked to be conspiring about something. She went to order a pint and nearly recoiled.

The barmaid was a half faery. Wonderful.

Muttering something about black paint, she leaned on the bar and ordered.

Adam laughed. "Famous thief, I am?" he parroted. "Aye, I must be, for they say that the more famous you are the less you hear of it. And I never heard my name spoken past my home, let alone be told by a stranger I never told my name that I'm famous."

He eyes the bag, estimating how much would fit in it. Coming up with a favorable answer he sat. Draining his mug, he called to the barmaids for another.  "Now... Driggy... what is this top secret quest of yours?"

Kendra pushed the door open to go in to the bar and smiled when she was in, the bar was alive the fire was burning and the barmaid was trying to get to every one all at once(ooc:i hope that doesn't count for useing other people's chars!!!)she pushed back her hood and sat by the fire and smiled when she saw the two man sittig there.she
looked at the fire and saw that it was low,looking around to make sure not no one was looking her way she put her hand out and then slowly rised it higher, the fire magicly rised up much biger and stayed that way.Kendra Smiled at her work and tryed to get the barmaid's Attention.

Adam noticed the girl with his race's blood enter the bar and put the thought out of his mind until she played with the fire. What was someone with Wood Elf blood doing playing with fire? Wood Elves were earth sprites, not fire ones.

Taking the bag of gold Driggy had left on the table, he called over to her. "My lady, part-elven. Allow me to buy you something?" He smiled. "In a place of this repute it does you no good to be alone and lovely."

Kendra looked at the man who had just spoken to her "Sir do you take advantage of me?"she asked feeling her temper rise and then thinking 'he does look like an elf so maybe i can trust him' "but if you would like you may buy me a pint " 'at least he wasn't
rude about it!'

Adam rose, pulling out his chair. "Sit, my dear." He waved to the barmaid, calling out, "My Lady of the Taps! A pint for my lovely friend!"

Thank you but i'm just fine were i'm sitting" at that she gave the barmaid one of the nices smiles she had.turning back to the elfen man she said"i don't think you told me your name?"

"Neither did you," Adam replied with a smirk, sitting again. "And I'm a firm believer in what my mother always told me. Ladies first."

He winked at Driggy, inviting him to join the conversation.

Kendra sighed"Kendra and yours???

Adam smiled. "I'm Adam, my dear."

He paused as a man with wings joined them near the fire. He was about to continue when the fire changed height again.

"What's everyone's problem with the fire!" he exclaimed. "What did the blessed thing do to you?"

The man explained his half elf heritage.

"My clan doesn't call itself anything. We're just part of the wood."

The barmaid came over from the doorway.

"It's a blessed highway in here," he muttered, listening to her talk. "And if I have you right, I was still talking with your dear quester when he left." He snorted. "Give me a good reason I should join a man who leaves before a conversation's done."

Tora watched the gathering of half breeds with increasing disgust. She nearly had a violent reaction at the half elf half demon. 'Abomination....' she nearly growled. 'Prancing around the human world in his demonic form as if it's his only.' She gave a snort of disgust and sipped the ale.

She almost instantly spat it back out again, makeing a sound of disguest. "What is this piss?!" she exclaimed, hurling the mug into the fire.

Kendra jumped as the mug was thorwn into the fire she felt her anger rise and jumped out of her chair and almost yelled"THAT Was Very RuDE NOT ONLY did you put out the FIRE But you Ruined A PERFECTLY GOOD MUG" glaring at the taller woman She tryed to calm down!

Adam looked at the pair, bemused, while poking at the dead fire. "It was such a friendly fire," he mourned. "Why did you have to go and kill it?" He stood. "And I don't want to guess who'll have to pay for that mug. I must come to defend the honour of my Lady of
the Taps."

Tora looked amused at the two half breeds. She crossed her arms over her chest. "And what are you going to do about it?" she asked, voice a challange. "I pick my
teeth with your kind, fey..." She said the word as if it were a curse. She decided to go for drama and unfurrled her wings, shifting to her demon form.

with a hand movement Kendra Had the fire up again "are you trying to intimidate me???? couse it's not working i do have magic you know"Kendra said

Adam smiled down at the merrily crackling fire. "Ah, my old friend has returned." He looked up at Tora, losing his grin. "Demon," he said with a grimace.  "Wonderful. I'll be recleaning the land for weeks."

For a reply Tora lifted a hand and blasted the table into nothingness. "Well, what do you know, I do to," she said with a slightly feral snarrl.

Adam hugged the bag of money. "Glad I saved the gold..."

Kendra Concentrated and had her wings Come out flying away to asafe (ooc:safe??? THATS A DEMON!)spot "you know i don't want to get killed so i think i'll go"she said angerly and flew out of the bar

Erik sighed almost happily, strolling lazily down a random street, Nikita on his leash, mostly covered by a large cloak. "I had almost forgotten that it smells better down here," Erik mused.

Nikita peered out of the hood, looking at everything around him in awe. "Humans are inferior," he said softly. "How do they have all this?"

Erik shrugged. "It's there world... they... do something for all this, I never did much research on the human worlds. I think it has to do something with them raping their planet for materials or something."  He made a dismissive gesture. "It's a barbaric thing they do."

Kendra was mentally kicking her self she felt like she was a coward sighing she thought'well a least i'm not dead!' she was so deep in thought that she didn't knowtice
the 2 figures infront of her till she bumped in to one "pardon me" she mumbled

Nikita stiffened as someone knocked into him, knocking his hood back. He hissed softly, drawing closer to Erik.

The demon put a protective arm around the boy, pulling him even closer. "Do watch where you are walking!" he exclaimed, voice holding a tone of offical repremand and authority. He paused, looking at the woman who had been so carelessly rude. "One of the flighty folk? Here?" He squinted slightly. "No... half? I was not aware that the flighty folk mingeled...."

Kendra glaring at the two men 'if you can call that one a man'she thought "Don't you call me that"she said

Erik looked offended at her. "I'll call you what I wish to! You are at least part from the realm of the Faery folk, are you not?"

"that i am but don't call them The'flighty folk'" Kendra was not in a good mood she didn't want to talk to this man all she wanted was to go some were not home but some were.....then all of a sudden she remembered what the barmaid had said 'i need to go back to the bar to talk to her again but...'the thought of getting away made her feel so good that it calmed her down turning to the man she said"i am sorry for bumping in to you two but i must go good bye"and with that she turned around and was on her way back to the bar

Erik blinked. "Protesting a name which she lives up to! Very flighty, she most very much is! Humph! Don't you think so, Nikita?"

Nikita nodded. "Master is right. Aren't fairy's smaller, Master?"

Kendra turned when she heard what the man had said starting to get her a little of her bad mood back she said"Sri's would you like to come and have a pint with me?then we could Discuss the matter further. and No not ALL fairy's are Small like people ThinK!!!"

Erik looked at the half feary in a slight curious mannor. "Pint?" he repeated. "Oh! Liqour!" he said, voice slightly more pleased. "I am not sure what you wish to discuss but I am all for the taste of this realms ale... providing it's still of the quality that I remember..."

Nikita drew back, eyeing the girl warily.

"Ah, but in a whole view, they are smaller then most species," Erik corrected, comforting the boy with one arm. "And do not be rude to my Nikita," he said, voice slightly hard with the tone of an order best not to be disobeyed.

Kendra sighed "look i didn't mean to be rude so come on then if your coming to the bar" she started to slowly walk and said "so what are your names?"

Erik gave a light laugh. "Aaah, you have no idea how good that feels to be asked!" He unconciously hugged Nikita to his side a moment. "I am called Erik. Kar Erik Devraj of the..." he paused. "No, I don;t believe I will compleate that," he said with another smile.
"Titles are so cumbersome, don't you think?" He asked in a light converstional tone. "And this is my Nikita."

[OC: Chibi Erik: Mine. Not yours. Mine. ^^;]

"well now that thats over with come on then lets go."

"We need to save some sort of King if you come out back we can talk to the man who is proposing this task." Katilina said.

Tora gave a snort. "Kings are destined to be overthrown," she said with destaine. "Tripple cursed Erik..." she muttered, turning and leaving the bar. She aimed a kick at a barstool, sending it into a cascade of splinters.

"Come, Nikita," Erik said, leading the boy. He paused, noticing the hood that was obscuring Nikita's face had fallen. "Take care..." he said, raising it again.

Nikita looked at Erik worshipfully. "Yes, Master."

Erik smiled, patting the boy on the head. He paused and sighed, picking up the leash again. "Infernal thing, so unnessasary, but these imbicils..." He gave a long suffering sigh, which was interupted as a very large bulky demon stormed past, muttering.

Erik blinked a moment, then his face cracked into a grin before covering his mouth and laighing softly.

Adam watched the demon woman leave, shaking his head. He was about to say something to the barmaid when Kendra reentered with a new pair behind her. "Kendra, my love," he said heartily, putting an arm around her shoulder to draw her back to the group near the fire, "We were just wondering where you were." He lowered his voice. "Who are your friends and why is one of them on a leash?"

Kendra looked around when there got in to the bar and smiled she could she the elfven man she had been talking to,the barmaid and the half elf person and NO sign of the tall woman who had almost killed her as she walked in with Nikita and Erik she looked at the barmaid and said"hi can we have 3 pints over here?" and sat down by the fire

Kendra took Adams arm off her and said in a lowered voice "look i just had a feeling that they are supposed to be here with us ok? and i decided not to be rude and ask about the leash but the one on the leash calls the other one Master so i don't
know......?"

Adam shrugged and grabbed one of the pints as the rtay came by. "Slavery. Well, that's someting you don't see around here... oh, every day," he said sarcastically. "I'm going to find my dear friend with the map and have a chat about fees."

Erik tsked. "What is WITH these people protesting that they aren't the sterotype and then playing along side it?" He made a slight dissmissive gestrure and the energy dissapated. "Do calm yourself. There will be no distuction until I've had my alcohol." He pulled out a pouch of coins and peered into it. "Hmmm... what is the going rate of exchange for this currancy anyway. Oh well." He tossed a small handful of gold coins on the bar. "As much as you've got of your best, if you'd please." He ordered.

Maeve Sandrine paused just outside of the pub, cocking her head.  Hmm... It looked promising. After visiting her family for the past three months, she'd become bored. Nothing to do, nowere to go, no mischief to cause... what was she to do? Everyone in her village knew what she was capable of and therefore what was the point?

She looked down at herself and felt a mishchevious smile curve her lips. She looked like a young elvin girl(57 years is young in terms of elves)dressed in well made travel clothes. Tight fitting light brown breeches, a white full sleeved tie up shirt, knee high dark brown leather boots, and a black cloak with her hood currently up. The hood hid her delicate unmistakable elvin features and her braided, curly white/blonde hair.

She entered the bar noislessy and lookeked about her. Interesting... verry interesting. The place was crawling with halfbreed, elves, and demons of some type. She nudged her hood off and grinned appreciatively at her surroundings. She wondered it she'ld have to find her adventure or if it would find her.

Mil said,"Long rest, and i have calmed down. i get cranky when i see other demon kind, i haven't found a cure for it yet though. I am sorry for all the trouble i caused. Who turned the fire up??? Are you guys/girls Fire Elementals or something?" Mil then slowly closes his fist and the fire goes down.

Mil then said,"Does anyone know where i can find adventure, cause i am kinda board sitting doing nothing in an inn. By the way any other demon spawn here, if there is can they meet me out side? I want to find out the news from the others side. And demon news is kinda secret."

Erik stared at the half demon a long moment before bursting into a tenor laught. "Long rest?!" he repeated, in disbleif. "You were away for barely a bloody moment! Are you daft?" he laughed into his hand a moment. "Demon spawn, good lord... leave it to a
half breed... what the hell caste is your blood from anyway? The Trundars?!" He laughed again. "Demon news being secret, good bloody lord... Unless you half
breeds have some sort of underground what not..." He giggled. "And what's with you people and playing with that bloody fire? You're going to piss the fire elementals off one rightly..." He gave a long happy exhale. "Ahh... being away is so liberating!" he
exclaimed. "Oh barmaid! I have money I wish to spend! Do come and exhange these coins for liquid I may imbibe!"

Maeve took a seat near the bunch af half breeds and watched in interest. It didn't seem as if they were discussing anything terrible important. Like demons for instance. She grinned impishly. She personaly had nothing against demons.

Her delicately pointed ear gave a small twitch when she heard one of the demons mentioned the other playing with the fire and how that might displease the fire elementals. Her grins of mishchief widened. She gazed into the flames and spoke to the spirit of the fire. She knew no one would be able to hear her, but the flame.
**greeting oh mighty flame. would you like it that I take that annoying restraint off you and let go at your own will?**

The flames flickered.

**very well** She took off the barrier that kept the flam low. It lept up with a great shower of sparks until finally settling on it's own.It was slightly larger than it began with. Maeve held back a smirk and attempted to look innocent of any wrong doing. She made a gesture to the serving girl for an ale and began humming under her breath in a husky note.

OOC: CMaeve with a crooked halo held up by cute 'lil horns and taped on angel wings with wide pleading eyes: I didna' do nothing wrong!

Nikita watched the magic fly around, feeling the girl who looked like an elf but felt wrong change the magic on the fire. The presence of elves made him tense and
nervous and he drew closer to Erik for comfort, raising a hand to touch his collar.

Kendra watch the fire go up and smiled 'the way it should be!' she thought and turned to Erik"so Erik do tell me why you are here i'v naver seen you around here before and well i live here and know alot of people and none of the inns have said anything about you and trust me if they meet someone so......interesting talk they would and wouldn't Stop!"she said

Erik hugged Nikita to his side a moment, mentaly projecting soothing and comforting thoughts.

He listened to Kendra and gave a chuckle. "I have come to get away from the pathetic individuals that plauge my place of residence, and to enjoy achololic bevreages that do not takes like the excreations of a dying Yanarow beast." He looked around for the barmaid again, expresion mildly puzzled. "I wonder where she's gone," he mused. "So, do tell me to keep up a reciprical conversation, why do you ask?"

Kendra smiled (a thing she did a lot) and said"just Curious"

"Mm..." Erik replied, voice almost dissapointed. "So... because I am bored and vaugely curious myself.... Who and what are you?"

"me? oh um MY name is Kendra and What am i?? well um if you mean my race i'm 1/2 Fairy 1/4 Human and 1/4 elf"

Erik raised an eyebrow. "Half... fairy... part human and part..." he trailed off. "Did this world become one of half breeds in the past 200 years or have I just found an onclave? How on this Earth do the flighty folk keep breeding with all these humans?! Aren't they the wrong size? And their plumbing is TOTALY diffent that that of most
other species! And what half kind of elf? I hope it's not--" He paused, realizing Nikita was huddled agaist him. "Do be calm, it's all right," Erik said in a soothing voice. He noticed Nikita's leash was dangling and quickly picked it up, holding it close. 'Don't
worry, I'll protect you from anything because you are mine, understood?' he said mentaly to the boy.

Nikita gazed up at Erik worshipfully, nodding slightly. He continued to cuddle to Erik's side.

Adam reentered. "Couldn't find our friend Driggy anywhere," he announced to the room. "Hey, what happened to the fire this time?"

Maeve gave the half elf her full attention. She gave him an intense up and down look, giving him a sparkling grin when she was finished. He had pretty reddish hair and appealing brown/green eyes and he had to be a at least 5'4". He was shorter than her. He blended into the background. She found him completely compelling.

"I gave the spirit of the flame some options, and gave it what it wanted." She said, teasingly.

Nafamii had been trveling for days to get away from that... thing that was following her. She looked at the pub and decided to stop. It sounded like there was a lot of people inside. "Strength in numbers" she thought, transformed from demon to High Elf shape, and headed through the door. Inside, she found that there were many people, looking like they were having an argument. She took a seat near the fire, hoping that maybe there she'd be able to get some information.

"Excuse me," Nafamii said to a man with a leash going from his hand to a cloak covered shape, "but can you tell me what has been happening around here in the past five years? I hate it when I don't know the news."

"Great," Adam said in an exasperated voice. "So you took away all the restraints on the fire sprite, one of the stronger creatures of chaos. As an Earth creature, I feel obliged to take issue with that."

He leaned over the fire, letting his earth magic surround it gently, like a child, and lull it to a heat that wouldn't use up all its fuel within an hour.

He smiled down at the fire. "Don't worry. I'll take care of you."

His face heated, both from the fire that blew a little warmer in his face for a moment and from the realization that the girl was still watching him and he had said that out loud.

Kendra heard what the girl (ooc:how old IS she again??)had said "this is he's 1st time here at least i think...... but i have lived here my whole life what would you like to know??"

Erik nearly jumped, pulling away from the girl. "The... bloody..." He scooped Nikita into his arms protectivly. "What is WITH all these... these... things!" He waved his hand in a very twitchy 'get away' gesture. "Don't ask ~me~ for news! I don't ~LIVE~ here!" He cuddled Nikita protectivly. "And what the hell are you anyway? No respectable High Elf would ever be sluming in this realm, never the less this place!" He stoked Nikita's back some, trying to calm the boy. He looked around the room. "Crawling... with half breeds... and other... things..." he said, as if talking about disgusting bugs. "And where is my alcohol!" he exclaimed, voice mildly distressed.

One of the barmaids quickly plunked down a mug infront of him before skittering off to deal with the influx of customers.

Erik shifted Nikita to rest on his hip and took the flask, reflexivly casting the de-tox spell on it before sipping. He sighed dissapointedly. "Of everything that is intelegent and cleanly!" he swore, expasperated. "What is this water?!" he cried out dramaticly. "Come, Nikita, we're leaving this place...." Hugging the boy close to him protectivly, he headed for the exit.

"Hmmph! HE sure sounded annoyed. How was I supposed to know he doesn't live here? I've been away for 5 blasted years!!" Nafamii said exaperatedly. "And I'm not mostly High Elf!! Anyway, I'd like to know the major news from the past five years from around this area and also, who was talking to the fire."

Aiia, on the other hand, was looking on with interest at the girl with the faerie by her shoulder. "Well, do you mean here, in the bar, or in this general area? If you want to know about this general area, you should probably listen to this conversation over near the fire. Someone over there just asked, although I'd be kind of careful. She has a firey temper, it looks." Aiia smiled.

Maeve looked at his handi work with admiration. "Nicely done, Earth creature." She gave him a teasing grin, but the look in her eyes was measuring and liking what she found. "You did that without supressing the spirit of the flame. My name is Maeve. What would yours be... unless you go by the title of Earth Creature?" she enquired, quirking an eyebrow.

She liked him and didn't hide it. She wasn't just talking about sexually, though she did find him attractive. She just well, liked him. He spoke his mind and he had a prescence about him that she found alluring. Maybe that was just her, though.

She absently watched the Demon get into a tamtrum and started heading out the door. He acted as if her were some kind of... High Lord or something and the occupants of the tavern were just low life halfbreeds unworthy of his precense. She was mildly dissapointed. It would have been great fun to cause some mishchief on him, and there he was, getting ready to leave. She cocked her head, eyes sparkling, contemplating on what mischief she could do to him before he left. She sent a slight wind to twirl gently about the demon, and only him, that smelt of garlic.

She did this without even looking in the demons general direction.

Erik paused, mid step, nose twitching. What on bloody EARTH was that SMELL? His nose twitched a few more times before recognizing it as a type of garlic. He scowled slightly, then looked to Nikita to see if the smell was affecting him.

"Master?" Nikita asked, leaning close. He paused as the strong smell of garlic assaulted his sensitive nose. He whimpered slightly and buried his face against Erik's shoulder.

"I am Adam, gallant lady," Adam said, bowing to hide the blush on his cheeks. "And you honour me with more praise than I deserve."

Erik's eyes narrowed and he quickly cast a purification spell on the air around them, removing the smell. He held Nikita closer, casting a small barrier spell to protect them from any other sensorial assaults, and quickly scanned the room for the attacker, eyes dark.

He quickly narrowed the list to a few, judging by the types of magic they were allined with. It was probally someone who could work with air as an element, and most of those in the inn seemed of the fire variety. It was most likely one of the flightly or elven half breeds, which unfortunaly didn't narrow his list much.

He quickly and subtaly cast a few detection spells, and soon had located his attacker.

The elven woman who had released the fire and that was now flirting with another elven half breed.

Erik sighed slightly and scowled. What on the bloody earth did the elven want with him to pull such a prank? Or was she just oblivious to the fact that he was in the company of a half vampire?

He felt his ire rise again, but it was quickly interupted by another barmaid.

"Many appologies, sir. Do try this varriety in replacement for your last pint..." she said in a humble and polite voice.

Erik paused a moment, then accepted, detoxing it before taking a small sip. His scowl slowly melted. "Much better," he declaired. Maybe he would stay a bit longer and figure out why he had been assulted....

"Well," Aiia said, "not much has been happening. The only thing I know of is that Yakneh is back." She shuddered.

Nafamii looked over to where the girl with purple eye's was. "Wha- what did you say?" she looked scared. "I-its name is Y-y-yakneh? It's been following me for days. I c-came here because I thought that there was safety in n-numbers, b-but if it really is..." She fainted.

Maeve was charmed. He was blushing. She gave him a direct look. "I don't think so. There's more to you than meets the eye. I find you absolutely intrigueing." she was giving him an enigmatic smile.

At the corner of her eye she noticed the demon lord casting out his senses. Ah... the games have began, so it seems. He didn't seem pleased. The worse the garlic would have done was make them smell bad and irritate their noses. The little fellow on the leash seemed more aggitated. Then the demons gaze rested on her.

Hmm... he was good. Real good. Not many would have been able to trace it too her. She kept her gaze on Adam in front of her. She also noted that the barmaid went over and gave him some tasty looking drink and saw that he seemed pleased with it. She flagged down the waitress. "We'll both have one of what he's having." She gave a
general wave toward the demon and his leashed friend. "Give him another one on me also, when he's finished with the on he has." She put down a big gold coin, seemingly out of nowhere. "Keep the change." Maeve gave her a charmingly, cute smile.

"Soo..." she readressed Adam, "What's a guy like you doing in a place like this?" She gave him a mishchevious smile.

Adam was taken aback. "I'm just a half-elf, dear one. You find us in many places."

He accepted the drink, swirling it in its mug and speaking to it softly before drinking it. It was tasty.

"And I'm here because I was thirsty and tired. Probably the same reason you are, darling."

Maeve shrugged in reply. She knew something special when she saw it, and it generally didn't have crap to do with genetics. She didn't feel like debating it however. "Yes, I'm sure we are" she agreed amiably. "That and my natural penent for mischief and this place is emenating with possibilities." She grinned. She sipped her own mug, sighing. "Hmmm..." she murmmered huskily, "Good stuff."

Erik's eyebrow twiched slightly after hearing the woman's orders to the barmaid. What was the elven doing? What was she trying to do by this monitary gesture? He fully intended to refuse the offer. He would not fall into whatever trap she was laying.

"That and my natural penent for mischief and this place is emenating with possibilities." He heard the elvish woman say.

'Wonderful...' he thought sarcasticly. So she thought to play with him... Just what he did NOT need...

Nafamii opened an eye and looked around. No one seemed to notice her fainting. good. she sat up and pretended nothing had happened. She ordered a strong drink from the barmaid. "That's better" she exclaimed after taking a long drink. "Anyway, someone was going to tell me what has been happening around here. And I wanted to know who was talking to the fire."

Erik rolled his eyes, nearly snearing at the girl who had fainted. "She may look like a high elf, but there is no way that she has much of that blood at all," he said, mostly to himself. "Halfbreeds..." He said the word like an insult. "This is why I do not view you as
one, Nikita. There is nothing partial about you," he said, smiling slightly to the boy. "You are my very unique demon."

Kendra walked over to were Adam was sitting and said"mind if i join you?"and smiled

Adam smiled at her. "Sure, Kendra m'love. I was just being told that I'm more than I seem. Isn't that spooky and mysterious?"

Nikita smiled adoringly up at Erik. "Master is always kind," he said softly. "I will live up to your expectations always."

Kendra smiled and sat down looking at the woman next to her and said"i don't think we meet i'm Kendra....."

Maeve rolled her eyes at what the demon said. "Yes, and drown them at birth." she muttered with heavy sarcasm. She rolled her eyes again. Riiiiiight. Note the heavy sarcasm. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the demon.

Then someone sat next to her. Had to be at least partially fairy... or just one hellova small human. She highly doubted that. She was about four feet and fragile looking with braided long dark hair and pretty blue eyes. Maeve absently wondered how her temperment was. The petite fairy introduced herself as Kendra.

"Yes, yes I do." she stated to Adam before turning to Kendra. "I'm Maeve and I'm also more than I appear to be." She grinned impishly.

"Would you like to have a drink? I recomend the brew we're having. It's what our prejidiced demon Lord is having over there, and I do say he has great taste. After all, he chose this bar as well, hmm?" She said pleasantly, a quirking smile and a strange glint in her eye.

She sighed dramatically. "I went off in a tangent. My appologies. As I was saying... Spledid brew, and of course, my treat." She gave Kendra an enquiring eyebrow.

"thank you......!i would like that "Kendra said

Nafamii looked around. Hmm. Maybe people HAD noticed her fainting. Oh well. "It's true about what you said before I stood up." she said to Erik. "I'm not mostly High Elf."

"Well that was bloody obvious. You act more like one of the flightly folk then a high elven," Erik replied in a flippant tone.

She took a deep breath and then a drink out of her mug. "May I ask your name?"

Erik pondered a moment. "No," he answered simply, a hint of a smile on his lips.

Kendra Smiled from the other side of the room 'Erik! from what i know of him he's AlWays like That'she thought as she got up and said"perdon me i'll be right back" Walking over to Eirk she said"now that isn't nice Why don't you tell her your name you told ME your Name JUST Fine....." she winked at the girl he was talking to and smiled at her "names Kendra and your if you don't mind......."

Erik sniffed self richiously. "That's because you are only of the flightly and not a deceptive little nit-flit who faints at the refrance of the infamous '~them~'" He made a gesture of mocking fright. "I mean, look at her! Not only is she of half blood but she's trying to make it like she's a high elf! People get exectuted for that in the elven realms! And why are you harassing me for anyway? I only came down here for the alcohol and to get away from those idiots who I'm supose to be leading into a bloody golden age if they'd only stop being bloody STUPID!" He gave an exasperated sigh. "Barmaid! Another of this! The quicker the better!" he ordered. "I bloody swear, if it wasn't for the fact that this alcohol is an uncountable times better then the pig swill they try and poison me with, I'd have no qualms about blowing this entire place to bloody PEICES!" he snapped.

The barmaid quickly served him a fresh mug and he quickly emptied it. He gave a long exhale, shoulders relaxing slightly. "It's bloody claustraphobic in here," he muttered. He closed his eyes breifly and reverted to demonic form, his wings knocking over a few drunkards next to him at the bar. He sighed in releif. "Much better," he smiled pushing the long white hair from his face. "Barmaid, another!"

Maeve wasn't the slightest bit surprised. The way he acted and whatnot, of course he was a King. If he wasn't Demon, she'ld almost swear he was drunk. And would ever stop complaing! Wah wah wah... it was almost giving her a headache, and he was complaing about the girl being flighty... Hhmmmf! She was almost tempted to spell his
stupid lips shut. She snickered. And he didn't even look demonic in his demon form... wasn't that calling the kettle black. Well... she couldn't complain, though. This was turning out to be highly entertaining.

She moved her chair in the general direction to see what was happening. "For a Demon King, he surely whines and complains alot." she murmmered under her breath sounding highly amused.

"I will have you know," Nafamii said, "that I have not even a drop af so called "flighty foke" blood in me. I am MOSTLY Fire Sprite, although I am part Demon, also. Watch." She morphed first into Fire Sprite, then into Demon form, then back into High Elf. "I fainted because something has been following me. I don't know why, and I don't know where it is now. It is VERY powerful, and I almost died three times when it attacked me." She paused. "My name is Nafamii," she told Kendra.

Kendra Smiled "lovely name" and sat down a to talk and then remembered that she had said she would be right back to Adam and Maeve getting up again she said"i'm sorry i told the people i was sitting with i'd be back would you like join
us???"she give Erik a challenging look "you too IF you want"she said to him

"What in bloody hell do you think sprites are, dwarves?!" Erik replied, indignant.

He watched, nose wrinked in disgust as she shifted. "Shifter..." he said, voice distainful. "You have no rights to those forms! And what kind of Sprite would faint! It's not dignafied! Fire Sprits are supose to be feirce! They burn things! They burn people! They do NOT FAINT!" he exclaimed loudly, placing empasis on the last words. "No matter HOW bloody powerful the idoit thing is that attacks! Hell, I've seen a sprite
give a hot foot to a dragon so it could flit away!  And what if this ... ~thing~ that's stalking you happens to show up when you're all unconcious on the floor? You die! So if you have any value at all placed on your life you will train yourself NOT to act like a
pathetic damsel in destress and pull yourself together instead of fainting!"

He took a deep breath and calmed himself.

Erik wrinked his nose again. "I'll stay here, thank you very much. I do not mingle...."

Adam rolled his eyes as Kendra rejoined them. "Demon lords," he said in disgust. "Thinks he's better than the rest of us because his race stink the most."

Nikita sank down to sit at Erik's feet, watching the man in concern. "Master," he said softly, nuzzling against Erik's leg and letting his hood fall back. Something was wrong with his Master and he didn't know what it was. Master never acted this way when he
drank in the palace. Of course, Master never drank like this in the palace. Nikita whimpered lightly, nuzzling against the man's leg again.

Erik whirled. "Listen you... ~I~ do NOT ~STINK!~ I am cleanly and do not wallow in the filth that others would!" He yelled. "Do you know, how bloody hard it is to keep clean in that realm, do you?!" he exclaimed, fist clentched. "Do you know how bloody hard I have to work to just keep my palace, my LIVING area, clean enough?!" He emptied his mug and sharply ordered another one. "And I'm better because I'm smarter!"

Erik looked down and his posture relaxed slightly. "Nikita, I fear I am well on the way to become drunk, yet have not hit the pleasent stage of it." He smiled, putting a hand on the boy's head.

Adam snorted in disgust. "And his 'pet.'" He looked at the girls seated with him. "What do you ladies think of slavery?"

Erik's anger again rose. "How... DARE you call Nikita something as lowly as a pet! He's better then the entire lot of you put together!" He resisted the urge to blast the half-elven. "And he is not a slave! He is my personal servant and you will not disrespect him!"

Kendra could feel her anger rise she was about to say some thing VERY rude but then remembered Tora and tryed to calm Down as she said to Adam"i think that evey thing has a right to he's or her life and if they Chose to be a servent then they chose to be a servent! altho WHAT i Think is not right is when the 'Master'DOES NOT let them go if
they want to!" as she said this she looked at Eirk she then said to Nikita "did you chose to be with Eirk??? or did he (and the many before him)make you his servent???"

Adam shrugged, still looking to the others for a reply and watching Erik disdainfully.

Nikita turned gold eyes to the trio [quartet?] by the fire. "Master is Master," he said simply, leaning on Erik's knees. He watched the group cautiously.

Hmm... this was highly entertaining. Maeve was greatly pleased to choose this tavern.

She chose to keep silent to see what the others do and how they would react. "I hate to break this to you, Your majesty, but I think you passed that lovely little stage of 'on your way to becoming drunk' a while ago. Although I must applaud your amazing ability of tact. Parden my language, but to be blunt, are you tring to piss everyone off in this place?" she asked, amused.

She waved her hand, "Yeah, I'm sure you could defend yourself, after all your a mighty Demon King. The Goddess only knows how many attempts on you life you've thwarted. But there's a difference between annoying assassins and a pissed off mob. So do everone one a favor, and chill the hell out." She paused a moment to smile at her pun, one that no one else would note or respond to, anyhow.

"To anyone who doesn't know or who actually gives a damn, my name is Maeve. I came in to have some good liquer and a few good laughs. Not to hear individuals threaten to blow the place up or insult their species. If you know how volitile these species can be, don't provoke it." She said exasperedly. "It's called umpridictable
behavior, people. It happens, so let's avoid causing that if possible."

"Now." she said calmly cracking her knuckles absently. "I will treat all to one warm glass of cider, in the name of peace." She rolled her eyes, "Well at least for tonight anyhow. So, what say you?" she asked in general.

"Well EXCUUUSE ME!" Nafamii yelled. "I will have you know that there's this thing called PRETENDING!!! And maybe-" she switched to demon form and barred her
fangs "-I was PRETENDING to FAINT!!!! Maybe you would like to know that I am not a damsel in distress, and maybe you would like to know that I HAVE attacked it and done MANY things to taunt it, and that if I wanted to, I could almost definately kill it, but I don't want to because then there would be absolutely NO point in anything!!!" She threw her mug down to the floor, where it cracked and broke into three pieces. Then she pointed at Erik, and his hair burst into flame.

"Now I think she's gone a little too far," Aiia said to Sayna. She concentrated, and the fire on Erik's head went out. She concentrated some more, and the scorched hair was replaced by new hair.

"And by "flighty foke", I was thinking you meant faeries, NOT sprites!!! And It's not MY fault I'm part High Elf!!! I only change to that form when I'm going back to civilization because then I actually get information about what's been happening since I was
last there!!" She took a deep breath.

Nikita tensed as Nafamii threw her tantrum. As she threw the fire at Erik, he gave a hissing snarl, fangs dropping, and jumped on her, burying his fangs in her shoulder.

"I hate to break this to you, Your majesty, but I think you Passed that lovely little stage of 'on your way to becoming drunk' a while ago."

Erik scowled at the woman as she spoke. "Do NOT call me that title unless you rever me as YOUR king! I'm bloody tired of mockeries! And I am not ~trying~ to 'piss off' everyone! I am mearly reacting to the effrontery aimed in my dirrection!

He turned to the deseptor-girl in Elven form as she began her rant.

"What the hell bloody good is PRETENDING to be helpless! It's a good way to get in more bloody trouble! ANd I said you were ACTING like a bloody distressed nit twit! And if you COULD kill it, why in the seven layers of bloody hell DON'T YOU instead of being all 'Oh no! It's going to get me!'" He put his hands on his cheeks in a mocking gesture.  "If there's no point in killing it, then you'd rather die or run your intire life? What kind of pathetic existatnce do you lead that you need this kind of thrill to get your jollies?"

He crossed his arms as his hair was ignighted, but other wise showed no signs of discomfort. He nodded in accknowlagement to the woman who corrected the situation, but kept his eyes on the tantrum thrower.

"And what in the seven hells do you THINK sprites ARE?! They are part of the faery realm! Cousins to the Fire Faeries!  And why in the hells do you have ~forms~ of the folk you share blood of instead of a shape of your own! Unless you're of the lower class of Shifter demons, which would certinly make sence, seeing your over all lack of class and respect for the forms you wear. Carelessly changing in front of the masses for no reason except petty intimadation!"

He paused as Nikita went into action and smiled largly. "Go Nikita! Kill!" He paused. "Erm... I mean... Injure!" he corrected. "Careful her blood doesn't make you sick! If it's too revolting I'll find you something better to wash out with."

Nafamii looked at Erik, her fangs barred. "I can bite, too," she hissed, "and if he doesn't get off in the next ten seconds, I will. HARD."

Erik's eyes grew cold and hard and he silently indicated that Nikita should retract from the girl. One he had Erik backhanded the woman with enough force to throw her hard across the room, slamming her into the wall a few feet from the fireplace.

"A word to the wise, changling," he said in an icy voice. "Never threaten the companion of the King of the High Demons." He put a protective arm around Nikita. "There is a reason I rose to and held that position. Now, I came here to enjoy myself, and I am
rather tired of pathetic little creatures such as yourself thinking that they are my better. I sugest you keep to yourself and cease to bother me, else I will inflict upon you the most severe kind of pain that you have ever felt. Is that understood?"

He turned his attention to Nikita a moment, offering him his wirst. "Do clean your mouth of that foul blood," he smiled.

Nikita took Erik's wrist gently in his hands, looking up at Erik with an awefilled, questioning look.

Erik nodded, smiling. "Just only a small amount. I don't want you getting tispy."

Gently, Nikita lowered his mouth to the wrist, inserting his fangs carefully. He closed his eyes, drinking his Master's blood.

After a short moment, he pulled out and Erik covered his wrist again with his sleave, turning attention back to the changling girl.

Nafamii rose from the floor, not wincing a bit. "I understand. And I was not saying that I am your better. I was merely arguing my point." with that said, she went to sit next to the winged female, calling Kyande to her shoulder.

Erik gave a small snort of distaine and went back to his alchoal, muttering to himself.

Maeve sighed. "I called you that not to mock you, but because I don't know your name." She said simply. She signaled the barmaid and ordered a hot cider, giving her two of the big gold coins and told her the change was for anyone else who wanted a glass of cider.

Looking back at Adam, "So, where do you plan on doing after here?" she asked, curiously.

"Master is Master," Nikita snarled, licking Erik's blood off his lips. He lowered himself back to the floor next to Erik.

"After here?" Adam asked with a grin. "Well, I thought I'd head back to m'forest and plant a few trees. We've had poachers through recently."

She gave the boy a amused look. "That's all and good for you, I suppose, but I don't believe I'll call him that." She gave him a gentle smile she reserved for children or reletives and turned back to Adam.

"Sounds peachy. Mind if I tag along? I just came from visiting my family and currently have no plans and I could be of some help." she asked.

Nikita snarled again, leaning on Erik's legs.

Adam smiled.  "Sure, you're welcome if you want to come, love.  We can always use some help frightening off poachers."

Maeve absently blinked at Nikita before turning back to Adam.  "Exellent.  I can have cause such wonderfull mischief with poachers." she purred, eyes glowing.

Adam laughed.  "Well, m'dear, if you've finished your drinks I've finished mine and our entertainment seems to be done."  He stood, offering her his hand.

Maeve took his hand.  "What great fun we'll have!"  she chuckled.  "At least it's better than nothing and that's all I hd planned." she added.

Adam tossed a few coins on the table.  "Give everyone the next round on our dearly departed villain.  May Katie dear find the strength to defy him!"  He drained his drink and left the building, pausing to let his eyes adjust to the darkness.

Maeve gave a small bow from the waist.  "It's been fun... truly.  Farewell nameless Demon King and young manservent.  Here's to never meeting again."  She flipped two more of her own gold coins besides Adams and went to leave.

Pausing at the door, she turned around.  "Now you can comence on killing yourselves and whatnot."  She joined Adam outside and paused a moment to get her eyes adjusted to the dark.