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[Thraxas]

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When Thraxas completed his most necessary and thorough bathing, and after a good hair washing, he went back upstairs to attend the last segment of the Maritime Union meeting. It had, however, adjourned and none of the attendees remained. There was no sign of Drayden, the drow who was his "host" for the past few days. Lord Tai Kwan, the Director of the Union, had sent him away with half a million gold as ransom for his release. It was not what the drow wanted; he wanted a cohort of his freed from Isk's prison in exchange, but that was not to be. He was fortunate to escape with his life, but the Union members kept their vow not to harm the drow while at Thraxas' castle.

He was free at last. He rang a bell to summon his Factor, Esric Tal, himself a drow, to catch up on what all he had missed over the many months he had been away. Esric appeared and they sat down to discuss things.

"It is so good to have you back, M'lord! I did what pitiful good I could in your stead, but I am afraid you will find some things changed and not for the better," Esric explained.

"Thank you. I shall make sure you are suitably rewarded. But what of Yew? I had assumed the King would have stepped in, but if things are not so good, apparently he did not."

"No, no, milord. He kept order and made sure all went well. It is not that. It is just... how should I say it... the elves of Heartwood pressed me for their rights and, well..."

"Well what?!"

"I was forced to acquiesce to some of their demands. My informants told me that they had kidnapped you, and threatened to kill you if we did not comply."

"What demands? What did you do, Esric?"

Esric rubbed his hands and sighed. "The only real thing that might annoy you is that I had to sign the release of Kayla Ariesus."

"You let her go?!"

"I had to, milord! That demand was at the top of the list. Some of the others I refused but they would not budge on that one."

Thraxas scowled. "Where is she now?"

"She went back home to her villa, in Yew."

"Leave that to me. I cannot say you did well... in fact, it annoys me greatly, but what's done is done. I will deal with her later. I will settle accounts with those damnable elves first. But before that, I must get up to speed on goings on with the Union. Bring me the ledgers and records. I will take all week if I must to catch up."

Esric rose and went to get the books.

I will deal with you as well, Thraxas mused. The only thing I want to see of elves from now on are their corpses!
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"If a criminal has what you want, you do business with him."