Exton

Star is showering and Tannr and I are kicked back comfortably after dinner and too much beer. We can do this because Mera is sleeping the sleep of a baby who's been passed back and forth like a jumbo bag of M&Ms, and she's happily exhausted. I'm looking forward to getting to bed (mindful of Star, naked in the shower) but I'm in that state of mind and body where I'm sooo comfortable I keep postponing the business of standing up and moving my legs in one particular direction.

In short: I'm buzzed.

Eventually, desire overcomes inertia and I lurch from my seat and take a wobbly step toward the bedroom. I wave vaguely at nothing. "G'night, brother. Go to bed when you feel like it, get up when you're ready; we're not formal here." Especially not with a snootful…. "See you in the morning… tomorrow… whatever."

"We need to talk, brother." Tannr's voice is serious - too damn serious for this horny old man - but he should know me well enough to know that if he keeps me away from Star for some bullshit reason, I'll kick his ass for him. I turn back to my chair and sit - or maybe my knees collapse, I'm not sure.

"I'm listening."

He looks as close to worried as I've ever seen Tannr look, minus some seven hundred years. "Do you know about the ones that are looking for Star? Her and the babe that she carries... There are many that don't want to see this child born."

"I know that, and so does she," I say, a trifle impatiently. "There's really not much we can do about that, Tannr. We just have to be ready for whatever comes. I mean, if we knew who might strike at her, we could maybe do something to prevent it - but there are too many potential enemies out there.

I trust in the prophecy. If the child doesn't survive, he can't become the great warrior that saves two realms - so then what's the point of the prophecy?"

"I hear what you're saying, Erik, and it makes sense - to me. But there are still those that think that the future can be forestalled, postponed - maybe even stopped dead. Those are the ones that will stop at nothing to kill Star and your child."

I want to scream, I know all that!, but I appreciate what he's saying. His intentions are good, but how can you fight an enemy without a face? How can you stop a foe you don't know until he moves against you?

"Tannr, it comes down to knowing your enemy. We can't kill everyone and everything that comes near Star. We need a name, a face… something."

"I have heard a name bandied about the Unformed Plane. I don't know how much to believe, but… there's a group, a sect maybe, of the Drow… Their leader is called Nathlyn. I believe he will not stop until he finds Star - and kills her, and the child she carries."