[dragon wench]

Pale and still somewhat exhilarated by the fight, Kilyannamaia leaned against the banister, surveying the carnage they had just wrought. It unsettled the elf that she had taken so much pleasure in her frenzy of offensive casting. However, a hand on her shoulder returned Kilyannamaia to her surroundings. “We ought to gather up any gear that may be useful child, anything we can find will help.” Stifling a grimace at the thought of having to touch the bodies twisted awkwardly upon the floor, the mage nodded her assent. Jaheira gave her a worried look, and then motioned to Minsc and Yoshimo, since they would be most likely to carry any heavy armour or weaponry without buckling. Or, perhaps more to the point, she did not want Kilyannamaia handling the bloodied corpses just then, the druid had not missed the fervour with which her charge had engaged in battle.

Once they had stripped the now lifeless band of their equipment, the group descended to the lower level and approached Patricia. Tired, Kilyannamaia addressed the publican. “The group upstairs... we have rendered them indisposed.”

Patricia studied the exhausted elf, concern reflected in a kindly face. “Aye lass... I know ye have, we all heard yer fighting down here. I wish ye could have resolved this peacefully, but I knew, I did, that it would end in swords.” Again she gazed at the slender figure in front of her, “I’m right grateful to ye, I am, I’ll give ye the best rooms I have fer half rate fer as long as ye wish.” Kilyannamaia’s jaw dropped slightly, “It’s okay, we’ve taken their equipment as pay.” At this point Jaheira strode forward and smiled at the large woman, “Thank you, we appreciate your kindness.”

Smiling a little at the exchange, Patricia nodded, “Aye, it is set then, Alatelo will show you to yer rooms, and I’ll draw yer baths. Ye look like ye all need a hot bath, some dinner, and then some sleepin'. I’ll prepare fer ye some food anon.”

“Boo will like that! His fur gets all fluffy after a bath,” announced Minsc loudly, oblivious to the stares that resulted at this statement. Patricia looked as if to speak, but then thought the better of it. Minsc, however, took this as encouragement and held the hamster up, close enough so that she actually felt as though a set of beady, black eyes were scrutinizing her. Behind her, Kilyannamaia heard Jaheira let out a quiet groan. Fortunately, Patricia did not seem unduly alarmed, and even ventured to stroke the hamster’s silky coat. Minsc positively beamed, and resembled, for all the world, a young father out for that first walk with his newly born babe. Trying very hard to repress a giggle, Kilyannamaia looked about for Alatelo and reiterated Patricia’s promise that he show them their rooms.

The next several hours passed as something of a blur. Patricia had been good to her word and supplied the group with baths, luxuriously soft robes, and bowls of extremely tasty stew. She had even sent for their clothing and armour to be cleaned, though Kilyannamaia suspected, given the grimy state of their gear, this was as much in the publican’s interest as it was in their own.

Flopped back on her bed and luxuriating at the sensation of clean, soft covers, Kilyannamaia looked over to Jaheira. The druid had been silent for some time; when their eyes met, however, words were not necessary.

Deciding to give her friend as much privacy as shared accommodation could allow, the mage gathered together the equipment they had liberated from the gang of thugs recently dispatched, and padded out to the common room down the hallway. The mage’s lengthy nap had allowed her to memorise a number of identification spells, and these she used to divine the exact purpose and nature of the items in front of her. First she eyed an elegant white cloak; it would apparently shield an invisible wearer from scrying or any form of true sight. This, she mused, would be helpful when worn in conjunction with the ring of invisibility cupped in her palm. A few minutes later and Kilyannamaia had identified a lightly enchanted war hammer, a powerful, but cursed, sword, and a wand of lightening. The only remaining item was the set of glowing platemail. Unthinking, she once more began to weave the motions and words to the simple spell. A sudden brilliant, purple flash shook her absent-minded work, and it was with some shock that she stared down at the now bright, lavender armour. Kilyannamaia groaned and cursed Jaheira for her earlier comment. Closer examination of the piece, however, revealed that the armour had acquired some powerful protections. In addition to an enchantment that afforded greater resilience to damage, it also appeared to make its wearer resistant to charm, domination and similar magics. Grinning, the mage decided it would be the perfect gift for Minsc, and she was certain he would not object to its startling colour. “Now, if only Jaheira doesn’t remember its original appearance," she muttered distractedly to herself.

A snort from the shadows jerked Kilyannamaia from her examination of the armour. She looked up to see Yoshimo walking lightly towards her. “That was quite the display of magic, does it happen often?”
“Er... sometimes, though it is unpredictable, and not always as beneficial as this was.” Yoshimo grinned broadly, it was apparent he found the image of Minsc wearing lavender armour as amusing as she did.