Merchants of Death

Chapter 12



Lady Alustriel had never suspected what was going on in the Hart Brothers jewelry shop. The High Mage had been preoccupied by the Kingdom of Many-Arrows and the growing instability in the Silver Marches region as a whole. As a result Alustriel had been giving less and less of her precious time and attention to local matters in Silverymoon.



The Chosen of Mystra regretted the oversight, but now that she knew something sinister was going on in the local shop, nothing was going to prevent her from discovering the truth.



The powerful sorceress had focused her magic on the Hart Brothers jewelry shop, trying to detect what lay within. The cloaking spells that surrounded the Wolfram & Hart facility (and made it appear normal and benign to magic users) could not withstand the concentrated power of Lady Alustriel, and soon the ruler of Silverymoon could glimpse within.



She sensed necromancy, black magic of all kinds, and stranger things that gave the Lady of Silverymoon pause.



~What have these creatures been doing in my city?~ the Lady of Silverymoon thought indignantly.



Lady Alustriel almost always appeared good tempered and serene, so the surrounding Knights in Silver and Spellguard were surprised to see her briefly scowl at the Hart Brothers shop. The watching Spellguard wizards and sorcerers were particularly unnerved, for they understood better than anyone how dangerous the anger of the Chosen of Mystra could be.



But it took a great deal to make the experienced and strong willed Alustriel truly lose control, and the High Mage mastered and suppressed her own negative emotions almost instantly, sending the watching soldiers and magic users a reassuring smile. Though she was actually feeling more and more uneasy as she used her magic to study the things within the Hart Brothers shop.



~What are these strange forces at work within that place?...and why does it remind me of the enigmatic males that serve the one called Sage?~ Alustriel thought as she stared at the universal travelers, paying particularly close attention to the ones she had heard referred to as Terminators. Wondering why the power that animated them was so closed off to her, despite the influence that her goddess had given her over magic.



“Technology” Lady Alustriel murmured to herself, uttering a word that she had taken from the minds of the universal travelers.



The Chosen of Mystra felt an unexpected and unfamiliar wave of fear course through her, making her wonder why she suddenly felt afraid. Then Alustriel realized to her shock that it was not her own fear she was experiencing, the feeling came from the goddess of magic herself.



*****



The universal travelers were too preoccupied by their own concerns to notice Lady Austriel staring at the Terminators fearfully, though the sight amazed all the soldiers, sorcerers, and other residents of Silverymoon who could see Austriel’s face.



Scott Summers was in a trance like state as he began to telepathically commune with his wife, what was left of the married couple’s psychic bond grabbing The Phoenix’s full attention in a way that nothing else had since she had escaped the Containment Cube. His lover Ororo Munroe was doing her best to get his attention, unnerved by the way that he seemed dead to the world.



The rest of the universal travelers did their best to ignore the black and white couple, knowing that the moment they had all been awaiting and dreading for so long was finally at hand, yet still uncertain how to proceed.



They used the power of The Five-in-One to communicate telepathically, not wanting Alustriel and her people, or for that matter Storm and Cyclops to overhear them until they came to a decision.



~If we could be certain of the outcome I would say that we should just kill the bitch as soon as she appears~ Emma Frost stated ruthlessly, her anger at The Phoenix’s violation of her mind and body undiminished despite the passage of time.



~Unfortunately victory would be anything but certain…unless her abilities have been severely diminished since she left Earth The Phoenix remains more powerful than all of us combined…and in a battle against Jean Grey Storm and Cyclops might very well side with their wife and lover against us…moreover Lady Alustriel and her forces represent a large x factor that could make our task far more difficult~ Sage coldly replied.



~Besides shouldn’t we avoid fighting if we can?...we need to ask her about my sister and Wolverine before anything else~ Sophie added, everyone in the group ‘hearing’ her telepathic voice perfectly thanks to the psychic link that they all currently shared.



~I am not fond of Jean Grey Summers myself but Sophie has a point…wasn’t the whole point of this mission to rescue Wolverine, The Phoenix, and Esme Cuckoo?~ Mystique asked.



~No…the purpose of this mission was to locate and rescue Esme and Logan if possible and at least learn their ultimate fates if not~ Sage icily answered.



~What about Jean Grey?~ the She-Hulk asked hesitantly, for she was the only one in the group without a grudge against or history with the fiery redhead.



Sage looked straight at the taller green woman, and She-Hulk thought that the cyberpath had never seemed more cold or ruthless as she replied ~we will do whatever is necessary to neutralize the threat she poses.~



They had been discussing this with the gamma powered woman for a long time, but always in very general terms. She found the reality of them wanting her to basically help them assassinate someone hitting her very hard.



The telepaths could tell that the green skinned woman had serious doubts about the whole enterprise, and despite their hatred of Jean Grey Sage and Emma Frost had to admit that Sophie had made some valid points. So even though both women felt that their best chance (by far) to take down The Phoenix was with a surprise attack they agreed to take a wait and see approach for now.



Besides the women were realistic and experienced enough to know that even their best chance against The Phoenix was still not a very good one.



*****



Safi did not want to meet with Lady Alustriel Silverhand. In fact the former lich had never wanted to meet with a woman less.



But the administrator of the Wolfram & Hart facility saw no viable alternatives.



Safi was not only a powerful wizard but he also had some skill at the mental discipline of psionics. Making the former lich far more qualified than any of his subordinates to negotiate with the powerful and all too perceptive Chosen of Mystra without giving too much away.



Besides Safi would not have trusted any of his people to negotiate with Alustriel, knowing just how difficult the Lady of Silverymoon’s charms were too resist.



But there was a problem.



Over a century ago (before he became a lich) Safi had served in Silverymoon’s Spellguard. He had never been part of the High Mage’s inner circle, but he had spoken with Lady Alustriel briefly a few times, and there was a possibility that Alustriel would recognize him, which could lead to all sorts of uncomfortable questions that Safi could not answer for his own sake and the sake of his masters.



~I just hope that all the stories about her never forgetting a face are just rumors~ Safi thought as he stood in the elevator as it took him to the part of the research facility that was above ground.



The administrator barely glanced at the fancy but essentially normal looking jewelry shop as he walked through it. Ignoring the workers exclamations of surprise and shouted questions.



Safi was still trying to compose himself as the Knights in Silver quickly escorted him to their mistress. Figuring out what he could and couldn’t say, as well as what he could and couldn’t offer to Lady Alustriel.



When Safi finally stood before Alustriel he found her just as youthful looking, beautiful, and otherworldly as he remembered; her charm hitting him like a blast to the face.



“Greetings Safi Greenway…it has been too long since we last spoke” Alustriel said graciously, clear recognition on her face.



~Gods damn it~ Safi thought in frustration, unable to keep a scowl off his own features.



*****



Marian Casta sometimes felt guilty about how Chrissy Lera had turned out.



When she had met Chrissy the elf girl had been almost completely innocent; knowing virtually nothing about violence, sensuality, corruption, self indulgence, or the joys of dominance. Under Marian’s encouragement and guidance Chrissy had explored sex, drinking, decadence of all sorts, and the pleasures of dominating and controlling others.



Never suspecting the profound effect her influence would have on the young elf, because Chrissy Lera had no strong principles or values of her own to mitigate Marian’s influence, leading Chrissy to become far more decadent, perverse, and domineering than Marian herself.



Of course Marian knew that Chrissy’s mother Gennifer Lera borne at least as much responsibility for the way that her friend had turned out, and focusing on that usually made Marian feel better whenever she had cause to regret how much Chrissy had changed from the innocent elf woman-child she had once known.



But every once in a great while Marian Casta could not avoid feeling guilty over her part in the sort of person Chrissy had grown up to be. This usually happened when Marian saw the necromancer doing something extremely ruthless or twisted even by the vampire’s own standards.





An act so strange or vile that it bothered even the selfish and hedonistic Marian.



This was not one of those times, despite what an outside observer might assume if they could see what Chrissy Lera and her vampires were doing to their captive Adara the Halfling.



Adara was currently lying on her hands and knees as a much larger male penetrated her from behind. Grunting each time the aroused vampire pushed his thick cock into her body, her naked form glistening with sweat and blood from numerous bite wounds.



An equally naked Chrissy sat beside the rutting couple, caressing Adara’s body with her gentle hands and licking the blood and sweat off Adara’s skin with her soft tongue. Reveling in the lustful glances she could feel directed at her shapely black body.





All the remaining members of the Crimson Legion were lost in sensual pleasures, for they had all tasted Adara’s blood at least once that night and they were all currently engaged in lovemaking.

Their touches ranging from gentle caresses to savage embraces; kissing, fondling, and penetrating each other with wild abandon.



But one vampire was not participating.



Marian Casta was the only one in the building wearing clothes, her body shrouded in thick robes. Her lust and hunger for blood were stimulated by the sights and smells before her, and Marian wanted to join in.



However, shame held the vampire back. Marian was afraid that if she exposed her disfigured body and tried to join in she would see revulsion or (worse) pity in the eyes of her companions.



Chrissy looked up from Adara and the Halfling’s vampire lover to see that Marian still stood apart, gazing at the literal orgy of sex and blood lust longingly.



It hurt the necromancer to see her usually proud and vain friend so full of self-doubt, an awful violation of the way that things were supposed to be.



“You will have to have fun without me for a bit Adara” Chrissy said distantly as she stood up.



But Adara wasn’t capable of responding verbally at this point.



The vampires had fed off her so many times over the last several hours that she had lost count, only the numerous healing spells that Chrissy had cast on Adara had kept the little thief from dying of blood loss. Over that same period the Halfling been fucked by male and female vampires, using the small female for their pleasure. Throughout the whole experience Adara had been under the effects of an enchantment that enhanced and improved every physical sensation (cast by a necromancer who felt that Adara had still not suffered enough for her crimes).



Adara the thief had moved far beyond normal pain and pleasure at this point, she just knew that if this experience didn’t stop soon she thought that she would go insane.



But as Chrissy moved to stand beside Marian, another female took her place, caressing Adara’s small breasts and stiff nipples with cold fingers.



~Why did I ever think that this was a good idea?~ Adara mentally moaned as the undead woman pressed her needy and throbbing sex against the Halfling’s mouth, trying not to gag on the semen already there.



Chrissy Lera didn’t notice Adara’s reaction, all her attention was focused on Marian Casta, a vampire who was still too self doubting and hesitant for Chrissy’s peace of mind.



Chrissy wore a reassuring smile as she grasped Marian’s robe and slowly pulled it off, her crimson gaze locked on the vampire’s blue eyes, using her sorcerous powers to send the taller woman feelings of comfort and love all the while.



“No” Marian protested as she grasped Chrissy’s wrist, a look of panic on her face. But Marian could not resist the power of a necromancer like Chrissy, even when that strength was so gently applied. “You have nothing to be ashamed of Mary” Chrissy said lovingly, her magic filled words like a gentle caress to the vampire who was afraid that she had become ugly.



Marian made no attempt to resist as Chrissy finished removing her garment, all of her self doubts and fears briefly brushed aside by the necromancer’s minor exercise of power.



Marian was in much better shape than she had been only a day ago, her wounds healing rapidly thanks to Chrissy’s magic and a steady infusion of Halfling blood.



Most of the horrible scars that had once covered virtually her entire body now looked like little more than ordinary sun burn, with the skin highly discolored but intact and smooth. Only the vampire’s legs still showed significant scarring, for the brutal Angelus had inflicted more damage on them than any other part of Marian’s body.



“Beautiful” Chrissy moaned as she ran her hands lovingly over Marian’s voluptuous form, though in truth the sight of her lover’s wounds still angered the spell caster.



“But my hair” Marian whispered.



The vampire was essentially bald at this point, most of the hair on her head having been burned away by the destructive inferno of her cyborg attacker’s weapons. Only a few small clumps of blonde hair near the back of Marian’s head remained, and Chrissy honestly thought that the vampire would look better totally bald than she did with the hair she had now.



But there was also no way that she would ever tell Marian that.



“It WILL grow back” the dark elf said firmly.



“But I think that things like that are harder when you are undead” Marian said doubtfully.



Eager to change the subject, Chrissy cupped Marian’s large breasts in her hands, lightly stroking the big pink nipples with her thumbs, smirking at her friend’s gasp of pleasure.



“I have always loved your breasts…I wish mine were as big” Chrissy said in a breathy voice.



Though that wasn’t quite true, Chrissy already had large breasts for such a slender woman, and Marian knew that if the dark elf really wanted larger breasts the sorceress would just use her magic to increase her bust size. Nevertheless, the vampire was enjoying the sexy banter and compliments.



“No…a skinny little girl like you would look ridiculous with such a glorious bosom” Marian said naughtily, then squeaked when Chrissy pinched her nipples in response.



“Careful…remember I am technically your elder” Chrissy stated with mock severity as she put her hands on the vampire’s shapely ass and squeezed each cheek.



“Ohhh…and that’s only a technicality…you were mentally....what five when we first met?” Marian replied as her own hands began to fondle the necromancer’s body.



“Older than that…I hit puberty when I met you” the elf woman said playfully as she gently pushed Marian to her knees.



The vampire laughed as she remembered seducing the dark elf so long ago. Never imaging back then that their relationship would develop into what it had.



Marian fondled a dark breast in her hands, enjoying the familiar softness of her oldest lover. Then taking a big black nipple into her mouth only to hear Chrissy cry out “Adara?”



The vampire pulled away from her lover’s black body and said irritably “I touch you and you cry out the goddamn Halfling’s name?” as she felt some of her briefly banished insecurity return.



“That’s not it…look” Chrissy said as she pointed at the thief.



Marian turned her head and saw that the Halfling had collapsed on the floor, too utterly exhausted physically and mentally to even move let alone actively fuck anymore. The other vampires were gathered around their little playmate, looking down at the worn out female in concern.



It was hard to tell if Adara was even conscious, but as a male vampire helped her into a sitting position she began to throw up. Vomiting up wine, semen, blood, and other things that she had consumed over the night.



“Do you think we have been too hard on her?” Chrissy said in concern as she watched the poor Halfling. Hoping that she had not seriously hurt the young female.



“Maybe…a little” Marian replied, surprised to find herself feeling a bit of genuine pity for the upstart who had thought to usurp her position.



*****



Safi was finding it difficult to talk to Lady Alustriel Silverhand without discussing anything that could potentially damage him or Wolfram & Hart as a whole.



To his surprise rumors of his transformation into a lich had reached even the court of the High Mage, and of course Alustriel wanted to talk about that. Fortunately Safi could easily prove that he was not undead, though adequately explaining why he looked no older than he had when Alustriel had last seen him (which was over a century ago) was proving more difficult.



Even discussing seemingly mundane topics with the Lady of Silverymoon was turning out to be a conversational minefield for the increasingly worried Safi.



“Why have you stopped using your family name Safi?…I would think that a wizard would be proud of such a legacy of potent masters of the Art” Alustriel said with a charming smile, though her gaze rested on Safi with almost physical weight.



The truth was that Safi had dropped the Greenway part of his name because the original Greenway had been a powerful druid and relentless foe of the undead, and having an ancestor like that was a liability in the circles Safi now traveled in. But there was no good way to tell Alustriel such a thing.



“I wanted to get by on my own merits…trading on the Greenway name always felt like cheating” Safi replied after pausing for thought, glad that he could think of a somewhat honest answer.



Alustriel studied the administrator intently, and as Safi felt the strength of her presence he had a sudden urge to confide in the Chosen of Mystra. Struck by a mad hope that she would be understanding.



But as Safi recalled everything he knew about Alustriel Silverhand he knew that such hopes were foolishness at best. Alustriel would be outraged if she knew exactly what the administrator and his subordinates had been doing in her city.



When Safi didn’t say anything for a long moment, Alustriel decided to take back the initiative in their conversation. Saying commandingly “enough evasions Safi…I know that you and yours have been doing something evil in my city…you shall tell me exactly what and give me whatever justifications you can for your malevolent behavior.”



The wizard did not want to give his former mistress a real answer but Safi felt like he had no choice. Knowing the power of Alustriel’s magic Safi also decided not to bother lying.



“I work for a group known as Wolfram & Hart…we use this facility for storing and testing magical weapons and artifacts of all sorts.”



Alustriel used her potent magic to detect any trace of lies or falsehoods in Safi’s statement. Finding none she replied “but why would you use Silverymoon for such a purpose?”



“Faerun is far from Wolfram & Hart’s main enemies and rivals and Silverymoon is big and sophisticated enough to supply most of this project’s needs…the firm bears your city and the Silver Marches as a whole no ill will” Safi calmly explained.



“And do you think that such self serving rationalizations are enough to save those who consort with the forces of darkness and threaten this city?”



Alustriel’s words were delivered calmly, without the slightest trace of anger. But as she spoke the wizard could feel magical power building up around her like a gathering storm. Safi knew that he had to change the direction that this conversation was heading in fast.



“No…I simply assumed that two reasonable people such as you and me could come to a decent compromise” the wizard replied, almost completely suppressing his reaction to Alustriel’s potential wrath.



The High Mage studied Safi, looking him over with her eyes and the power of her magic. Coming to the obvious conclusion and saying “you wish to bargain with me?”



“Of course…I understand that this city deserves compensation for unknowingly sheltering me and mine for so long…and payment for facilitating this project’s relocation to a more…suitable area” Safi carefully replied.



“What could you offer us that would be worth forgiving you’re crimes for?” Alustriel asked, finding herself genuinely curious, because due to his experiences in Silverymoon he should know better than to try bribing her.



“I do not ask for forgiveness…we are not that arrogant…I merely ask for you to seek the most fair and peaceful resolution to a problem…as you have done many times in the past…a conflict between the groups that we represent would cost many lives and serve no one” the wizard replied slowly, trying to ignore the effect of Alustriel’s potent charisma and his own awareness and fear of the power behind it.



“Are you threatening myself and Silverymoon?”



The former lich now had a far more responsive body, and Safi did not realize he had started sweating in reaction to the High Mage’s ominous words. Quickly replying “No…no of course not…I would not be stupid enough to threaten you Lady Alustriel…but me and mine would fight to defend ourselves…though we would prefer to avoid conflict if at all possible.”



Lady Alustriel was normally not so confrontational with someone who was clearly trying to avoid a fight, and the surrounding Knights in Silver and Spellguard gazed at their Lady in surprise. What no one else knew though, was how much the feelings the High Mage had received from her goddess and what she had seen beneath the Hart Brothers jewelry shop disturbed her.



Nevertheless, the sorceress was still intelligent and self aware enough to realize that she was being undiplomatic and perhaps even counterproductive. So Alustriel reined in her temper and power, stating calmly “what do you and yours have to offer us?”



“Information…such as who has been supplying weapons to the raiders that have recently been terrorizing this region…as well as data concerning The Phoenix’s companions” Safi replied, glad that he had been reading all the data Wolfram & Hart had on the

X-Men, Selene, Imperious Industries, and the incident where The Phoenix had been captured; ever since the Containment Cube was transferred to his facility.



The universal travelers, who had been preoccupied with their own discussions for the last few minutes, heard the reference to The Phoenix and turned toward the wizard. The Five-in-One was just about to ask a question when something else caught their attention.



An all too familiar surge of power, felt by everyone present with the least bit of psychic or magical ability, a power that would not be denied.



*****



Jean Grey Summers’s full memories had not returned yet, the trauma from her imprisonment inside the Containment Cube had been too severe to allow for such a quick recovery. But she had already recovered much of her past thanks to her telepathic bond with her husband Scott Summers.



Jean Grey had delved deeply into Cyclops memory, reliving all his memories of her and all his memories related to her from Scott’s perspective. As well as sampling his thoughts and feelings about herself.



The host of the Phoenix Force now knew who she was (or at least thought she did). She was the person that her loving spouse imagined her to be.



Her mind made up, The Phoenix paid no attention to the nervous Wolfram & Hart personnel that surrounded her. Not noticing their surprised expressions as she disappeared in a flash of Phoenix fire.



*****



The Phoenix set foot on the surface of Toril with effortless ease, the spells, enchantments, and devices that would normally prevent someone from teleporting in or out of the facility beneath the Hart Brothers jewelry shop all but useless against the Phoenix Force’s awesome power.



Once she was out of the research facility and beyond its spells of concealment and disguise there was nothing to obscure or hide the presence of The Phoenix. Beings all over the world felt its vast power and overwhelming aura.



No one could hide it or deny it now, The Phoenix had arrived.



*****



Chrissy Lera, Marian Casta, and their vampire followers were lost in sensual pleasures. Chrissy had taken pity on her Halfling companion and was allowing Adara to rest, now only the undead and their necromancer mistress were involved in the fun, their stamina far exceeding any ordinary mortal’s.



The dark elf and the undead were literally piled together, laying next to and even on top of each other as they caressed, stroked, penetrated, and kissed one another; an orgy in the basest and most obvious sense. All the vampires tried to touch their mistress’s dark body as much as they could, getting a surge of pleasure from simple contact with the powerful necromancer’s flesh.



In the heat of the moment virtually all inhibitions and prejudices were cast aside. Marian forgot her scars and her lovers barely noticed them, while Chrissy allowed the male vampires to freely touch and fondle her, something the lesbian would normally not permit. All that existed for the group was their lust and the intoxicating power of the necromancer.



Then Chrissy felt a power unlike any she had experienced before, a monstrous strength foreign to the necromancer. But that the arrogant sorceress KNEW could give her an edge over her all too dominant enemies.



“Enough” the slender elf woman commanded as she untangled herself from the vampires. The undead men and women ceased their love play, many of them wondering if they had accidentally done something to anger their mistress.



Chrissy pulled Marian Casta aside, firmly telling her trusted companion “we need to go to Silverymoon.”



~Where is Silverymoon?~ Marian wondered as she stared into her elfin lover’s eyes, which burned with an all too familiar zeal.



*****



The Phoenix appeared next to Scott Summers and Ororo Munroe in a blinding burst of flame. Almost immediately engulfing her lovers in a passionate embrace, murmuring tender greetings into their ears as she held them close.



The surrounding magic users, universal travelers, and Knights in Silver all grasped their weapons if they had them or prepared for combat in other ways, all knowing or simply guessing how dangerous the fiery redhead could be.



Oddly enough the common citizens of Silverymoon in the street or the surrounding buildings that could see what was going on had the calmest reaction to the sudden appearance of The Phoenix. Magic was fairly common in the city-state and what appeared to be just another wizard or sorceress showing off was barely worth commenting on as far as the common people of Silverymoon were concerned.



Only those with the extraordinary perception or knowledge to have some idea of what The Phoenix really was knew that something very dangerous and unusual had just happened. Of all such people Safi Greenway, Emma Frost, and Alustriel Silverhand had the most negative reaction to The Phoenix’s arrival.



Safi was afraid that Jean Grey might have come after him seeking vengeance because of her imprisonment, and upset that he had just lost his best bargaining chip, in the face of such overwhelming emotion the wizard found it impossible to control his trembling. But Alustriel’s reaction was more severe.



This was the High Mage’s first real glimpse of The Phoenix and her power, and what the Chosen of Mystra was feeling from her goddess in reaction went far beyond the fear the goddess of magic felt regarding technology. It was hate.



The feeling so shocked Alustriel that she simply stared at The Phoenix. Looking serene and unconcerned in appearance, but in truth simply too shocked to react right away.



Unfortunately Emma Frost’s reaction was far less passive.



Though she was too proud to ever admit it, Emma Frost was terrified of the woman who had humiliated her, transformed her mind and body, and reached into Emma’s consciousness to pull into the light what the former White Queen found most shameful.

But Emma’s anger and pride were stronger than her fear, and as soon as The Phoenix appeared the blonde telepath began channeling the collective power of the Five-in-One into a psychic bolt of incredible killing force.



~No mother…it won’t work…and she will kill all of us~ Sophie telepathically stated, her words incredibly firm for such a seemingly helpless female.



~Yes it will…but we have to strike now~ Emma vehemently replied, just on the verge of unleashing the psychic bolt on the still preoccupied Jean Grey.



However, Mindee, Celeste, and Phoebe took their little sister’s side, not their mother’s. Emma Frost was the strongest of the Five-in-One but still significantly weaker than the other four’s collective power. The elder telepath could do little but howl in outrage as her daughter’s dissipated the bolt and then knocked her out. Only Phoebe, Celeste, and Mindee’s timely rush forward to grab the pregnant woman kept her from falling on her face.



“Get that woman to a healer immediately” Alustriel commanded the nearest Spellguard sorcerer. The sight of Emma falling and the almost battle she had sensed on the edge of her awareness enough to shake the High Mage out of her shock.



All the universal travelers except for Cyclops and Storm gathered around the fallen Frost. Staring at The Phoenix and her lovers apprehensively, even the normally imperturbable Sage seemed on edge. Cyclops himself looked uncomfortable; the former team leader of the X-Men wasn’t sure what to make of what he had seen in Jean’s mind when his wife telepathically reached out to him, Ororo was too overjoyed at finally seeing Jean again to be anything but happy, and The Phoenix herself was simply happy to know who she was.



The Chosen of Mystra looked from the trio still embracing to the other outsiders from Earth, reviewing everything she knew about all these people as she called to her goddess for guidance. Mystra was strangely silent, and in the end Alustriel was forced to conclude that she simply did not know enough to make an informed decision.



“Safi?”



The human wizard heard Alustriel speak his name and got his trembling under control. Having discovered that it was much harder to remain composed during stressful situations now that he had a normal nervous system again.



“Yes Lady Alustriel” Safi eventually replied.



“We shall have to negotiate the particulars…but I believe that in principal your offer is…acceptable” Alustriel said carefully. Her gaze securely locked on Safi, though in truth she barely saw him. For her attention was firmly on The Phoenix.