Exton

Raina parks the bike around back as I pull up for a landing. Off to one side, near the woods, I can hear blades clashing, but so tentatively it's almost like sparring, or - I move in that direction - like two masters feeling each other out, looking for a weakness. I motion for Raina to follow me as I move toward the source of the sound.

Just past the screen afforded by the trees, I find Keon taking on not one, but two dark elves. Their skin is a nasty-grayish blue wherever I can see it, and their expressions betray impatience, exasperation, and not a little anxiety. Both are bleeding from several cuts.

Keon on the other hand… if he was any more nonchalant about this, he could be reading a book at the same time. Despite the cuts I see, he looks like he'll yawn any minute.

Raina and I step out into the open. "Hi, Ke," I say casually, Johhny Corkscrew popping into my hand. "Need a hand?"

"No, I'm fine," he says theatrically - and then, by God, he does yawn! - and casually scores a slash to an adversary's wrist.

"Oh, come on, Ke," Raina wheedles. "Do you want to have all the fun?"

"Well… if you're very very good," Ke says hesitantly.

Raina grins. "Oh, believe me… I'm really, really good." She jerks a thumb at me. "Ask him if you don't believe me."

I nod. "She is… and she's pretty handy with those swords, too."

Ke lunges and pierces one Drow's shoulder - in one side and out the other - and now he begins to show what he can do. His blade becomes an impenetrable web of steel as he forces the remaining elf back, farther and farther… his nerve breaks and he runs for it, with our laughter echoing in his ears.

"Dammit, Ke," Raina pouts fetchingly, "couldn't you have left me one to play with?"