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[Thrax]

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The drow lay on his left side on the bed and tried desperately not to move a muscle. The pain in his back was now bearable, thanks initially to an application of an ointment by a stranger, but more so to the tireless efforts of Maggy Malone. She had hardly left his bedside, checking in on him hourly even when she did have to leave to perform necessary chores at the Hunter's Lodge. With her own soft and delicate hands she had cleansed the bleeding lacerations and welts with facecloths dipped in what he knew, by the aroma and consistency, was aloe, hibiscus and chamomile. She spoke only to encourage him that the wounds would heal with time and that he should sleep as best he could. That all helped him immensely but he knew, even if he did not let her know, that he had fractured ribs and at least one, possibly two, fractured vertebrae. Those would take months to heal properly, and while it annoyed him to lose full mobility, he knew the worst of it was that he would be vulnerable... while being hunted. He knew his nemesis, Thrax, would not be satisfied until he was dead and his shade banished to the netherworld. A beating, even such as he had taken at the hands of Judge Tai's henchmen with their staves and whips, would never do.

The sound of the door of his room opening slowly dismissed all thoughts. He figured it was Maggy, come to see about him or redress his wounds.

He was mistaken.

A sniffing sound made his blood run cold. "I wondered how long it would take you to get here," he said, not even turning his head to look at who it was... the wretched lycanthrope, Skurj.

"She has been here but is away now. Where is she?" he asked.

"She is downstairs I imagine..."

"I speak not of that one, fool, but your daughter... Nizzre. I expected her to be here guarding you. Her reek lingers here, but it is faint," came the reply. "She was foolish to leave you alone like this... you, with so many... enemies now."

"Why are you here... to finish the job or just gloat?"

He heard a soft chuckle. "That is not my job anymore. I am an envoy."

"A messenger-boy. Verywell, have your say and be gone... and damned as well."

"My Lord wishes me to tell you that he is not satisfied with the punishment..."

"Now that's a surprise."

"...He asks that you surrender willingly to him and he vows to leave your family out of this. He pledges to compensate them as well."

"What? Generosity in Thrax? Almost as asinine an assertion as asking anyone to trust him. Any other amusing stories to tell me?" He laughed and the muscle contractions sent waves of pain through his body. He winced, groaning slightly.

"Take it or leave it. He gives you one month from today to come to the Citadel... thirty days to spend with your family free of care and worry... thirty days of peace and safety or else a lifetime of fleeing for your life from enemies both real and imagined, old and new. And when we do catch you three... and we will... ALL of you will suffer the same fate," he stated coldly, then paused to let it sink in. "Well, what say you?"

Dharzhal hesitated but only for a moment. "I want it in writing, in his own script, sealed, in my hands. I will give it to Itannar Darkanor and if your father reneges on the deal, he will turn it over to the authorities that justice will be done upon him for his treachery."

His words were met with a brief silence.

"I will tell him. If he agrees, I know it will be carefully worded, lest you try to use it against him prematurely."

"I will not do such a thing. Itannar will do as I ask him. He is a man of honor. Tell him I want it written plainly so that there can be no mistaking its meaning."

He waited for a reply but there was none. Moments later Maggy entered the room with a bowl of water and clean cloths. When she came around to the bedside where he could see her face without turning his head, he noticed an odd expression on her face.

"What is it my lady?" he asked.

"There's an odor in here," she said. "Aged cheese, I think."

Dharzhal smiled. "An old friend dropped by. He has a penchant for it."

"Where is he? I didn't see anyone come in. Oh my... one of those ninja types, was it?"

"It is of no concern. He is gone now."

"I will lock the door from now on, if you like?"

Dharzhal shook his head. "No, it's fine."

She nodded and prepared to dress his wounds.