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[Thrax]

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They stood before the entrance to the cave which he, Dharzhal T'Ar and his human companion, a former slave named Velkyn, had exited the Underdark from together so many years ago---the cave that he and Streea, who now stood close by him, had re-entered to find their people and rebuild their city, Targrancimon. It seemed like a thousand lifetimes ago. The visions of those times, that perilous journey, his failure to convert his people to the ways of Lady Concordia, the conspiracy of the matron mothers against them, their treacheries, his capture by the lich lords, all came flooding back into his mind's eye, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. Streea started forward, taking a few steps, then she stopped, noting he was not following and turned around to face him. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Dharzhal sighed and lowered his head. "You must make this journey without me. I cannot go with you this time," he said, sadness evident in his voice.

She frowned, "But we agreed... we have no choice! If we stay here, Thrax's henchmen and who knows else will hunt us down! We cannot turn back now my love... we cannot," she argued.

"I will not leave Nizzre to face them alone. Until I can convince her to come with us, one of us must remain to keep a watch over her... to keep talking to her to make her change her mind. If we both go, she will die."

Streea placed a hand on her cheek, letting her fingers slide off it slowly. "Then I am staying too," she said.

Dharzhal walked toward her to place both hands on her arms. "No! You go on. Prepare the way for us to follow. I cannot stand the thought of losing both of you. Besides, if Thrax catches us all together, all the better for him. One of us must go and find a safe home for us all. You must do this for us... for me."

Streea gazed into his eyes momentarily and then embraced him. They kissed one long, last time. Tears formed in their eyes, but they would not let them fall. She pulled away and raced toward the cave entrance, hoping her fleetness of foot would quell the dissension in her heart. Before entering she turned to look at him one last time. "Aluve' Ussta xukuth zhah dosst. Quar'valsharess kyorl dos!"* she proclaimed loudly before disappearing into the shadows of the cave.

Dharzhal watched her go. He swallowed hard, resisting a sudden impulse to run after her, follow her into a place he knew was their only hope for safety from his nemesis, Thrax. "The goddess guard you," he whispered as he turned slowly away, not knowing that unfriendly eyes watched him from a distance.

*"I leave you. My heart is yours. Lloth guard you."
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"She is gone. He remains, as does their daughter, obviously," Skurj reported to his father. "What would you have me do now?"

Thrax thought for a moment. He stroked the fine red hairs of his newly grown and recently groomed goatee, just like he used to do. "I need him again. I have another task for him. Bring him to me," he ordered.

"Is that wise, milord? Think of the trouble he has already cost us! Besides, I am certain he will not agree to anything you offer."

Thrax chuckled. "Oh yes, I think he will. I have one last card to play against him... for the sake of his beloved goddess Concordia, he will listen and he will definitely do what I ask him. You will see."