Yenir Wayrac and the Feline Priestess (Episode 2)

Razorhawk soared over the clouds letting the wind ripple through his feathers. Yenir sat in a beautifully stained, deep burgundy leather saddle that was surprisingly comfortable and built for long-term flight. His red garments waving like a banner as they flew. Still, he was getting tired of flying and it was starting to get lighter out seeing that they had been flying for most of the night. In the distance Sizrit spotted something. In the twilight it looked like a small hamlet.
"Yenir, I think I see a village. Look there." Yenir looked to where Sizrit nodded.
"It seems you're correct. I wouldn't mind a good morning ale right about now. What say we stop in for a bite of breakfast, eh Twik?" Twik was fast asleep and Sizrit nodded agreement. Yenir patted Razorhawk on the side of the neck and directed him to fly down. They spiraled down to the ground gracefully and landed softly in the center of the little hamlet. Twik awoke with a start and drew his dagger when they landed.
"Woah there killer, watch the robe." Yenir looked back at the startled gnome.
" Sorry, Sir, Light sleeper." Twik apologized. Yenir cringed,
"Will you stop calling me 'Sir' " He said,
"Yes Sir" Twik responded. Yenir groaned. He glanced around at the dark buildings that, in the gray twilight, looked abandonded. There were no lights burning in any windows and the whole of the town just felt cold and unwelcoming. A gust of wind blew dust from the street in a whirlwind that did nothing but add to the dreadful feeling of emptiness.
" Master Yenir! I think I see someone." Sizrit gestured toward a man in tattered clothing walking out into the road from the alley between the buildings. Yenir squinted to try to make out the figure in the dust.
" Hail! Good sir. We are travellers looking for a place to rest." Yenir shouted a greeting to the man. " We look for warm meals and ale. Can you help us?" This seemed to startle the man who was now staring at the party. Then he bolted back the way he came.
" That was rude." Sizrit snorted. " Lets go see where he went." Yenir nodded in agreement. They ran to the alley after the mysterious man. He rounded  the corner of the building and went to climb over a low standing wall as the trio came around the corner. Yenir threw his hand forward and three golden metal tarot cards flew out of his sleeve. They thudded into the wall pinning the man's shirt sleeve to the wood. The man whirled on his attackers and snarled.
" I asked you a question." Yenir said in a powerfully authoritive voice. The man only smiled and it was a smile that told Yenir something was very wrong here. He stared at the man intently, while silently casting a powerful spell. The man's face began to melt and morph, his skin began to darken until it was the color of ebon wood. His ears pointed at the tips and his hair shimmered into a stark white. The man looked down at his rapidly changing form with surprise.
"You'll pay for that Half-Elf!" The Drow hissed. A wickedly curved dagger, that hadn't been there moments ago, flashed in the dark elf's hands. He lunged for Yenir with the intent of murder flashing in his red eyes, ripping his shirt sleeve from the metal cards. He took a step towards Yenir and surprisingly, fell face first into the ground. Twik stood directly under where the Drow's feet once stood now holding the Drow's dagger in his hand. It all happened so fast that Yenir had to do a double-take. In seconds the Gnome was on top of the Drow with the same dagger to his throat from behind. Twik grabbed his hair and lifted the Drow's head up to face Yenir.
"He asked you a question." Twik pressed the dagger closer. The Drow gasped in astonishment. Sizrit and Yenir looked at each other, thoroughly impressed.
" Yes, well, sorry chap. If you don't mind, I'd like to know what your doing here?" Yenir said as non-chalantly as if he were talking with a close friend. The Drow spat on his shoe.
"I won't tell you a word surface scum." Twik yanked at the Drow's hair sharply.
" I really dont think that wise, do you." Yenir's face transformed slightly revealing red dragon eyes and fangs. Yenir snarled bearing his teeth. "We Dragon-hearted don't care for petty insults, but if you insist on being silent I'm sure I could turn you into the Harpers. Or just turn you into something."
" Your threats are wasted on me sorcerer." The Drow rasped and coughed out dust.
"Sizrit? What do Hippogriff's eat?" Yenir asked
" Rats." Sizrit answered, refferring to the Drow. Razorhawk snapped his beak menacingly close to the Drow's face. Yenir smiled. He knew that Drow were used to threats and torture but the prospect of being eaten alive seemed to frighten the Drow. Yenir waved his hands and recited a spell. The Drow wailed in pain as a nub began to grow from his lower back, pressing against his clothes. A spindly rat's tail ripped through his clothes. Yenir waved his hands, pausing the transformation. He leaned in close.
"Well? Still want to be stubborn?" The Drow said nothing. He waved his hands and the Drow wailed again as black fur started to sprout all over his body. His nose began to lengthen and short whiskers sprouted from his face. Yenir paused the transformation again. " I'm not going to ask again."
" I'm here as a spy. This is an outpost. A ghost town we use as a waypoint."
" A spy for what? A waypoint for whom?" Yenir pressed on. The Drow shook his head.
"I can not speak it's name." The half-rat drow sounded petrified. " She will Ack...!" The Drow made a gurgling noise. Twik looked up at Yenir. He hadn't moved the knife and no blood spilled from his throat. The Drow sounded like he was being strangled and his body convulsed in agony. Twik quickly got off the Drow and moved to Yenir's side. The Drow rolled onto his back and was staring wildly at the sky. His mouth was wide as if trying to scream but no sound came out of his mouth. Instead, thousands of tiny black spiders started to pour out of his mouth and down his chin. In seconds they were covering his face and devouring his skin. The trio backed away. After a few minutes the Drow was stripped to bone and the spiders dispersed. All that was left was tattered remants of clothing and a necklace in the shape of a small platinum sheild. Yenir took up the necklace.
"Mystra's grace is that what I think it is?" Sizrit asked.
" It sure is. It's a slip sheild." Yenir gestured a spell and the sheild began to float in mid-air. " Khelben, I found this on the body of a Drow. Thought you might want to look it over. Examine it and tell me what you find." The necklace vanished from sight. Seconds later a female drow appeared out of thin air. Yenir drew his staff and Twik readied himself to leap.
" At ease gentlemen I am not here to harm you. I come with Laerel's blessing. I am Qilue of the Seven Sisters. I'm on your side."
" That was quick. Glad you're here. It seems this town is some sort of outpost for the vile Drow. No offense."
" None taken." Qilue nodded. It seemed she was wearing symbols of Elistraee the good Drow goddess of the moon.
" A priestess of Elistraee and a chosen of Mystra. A Drow as well as all that! It is truly a pleasure to meet one such as yourself. Seeing that I have other, more pressing matters to attend to in this conflict, I don't suppose you would take care of the little rat problem we have here?" Yenir said to the strikingly beautiful Drow. 'Mystra sure does know how to pick 'em' he thought.
" Certainly." Qilue let a sly smile creep onto her lips. " We will meet again I'm sure."
'Cunning as well as stunning'  He thought. He mounted Razorhawk and bid Qilue farewell as she slipped into the shadows. They took to the air and headed towards the desert.
"If they have Slip Shields we have a big problem." Sizrit said to Yenir " That magic is nearly untraceable."
" All the more reason to find this Selena as quick as possible. Qilue will take care of the Outpost there." They flew north as the sun rose at their flank.
To Be Continued...