Xenograg moves closer to Murelle to make the conversation easier. She makes a gesture to Toby to refill her glass. "I can't."

"I had not considered that. I should have, I suppose. My apologies."

"I want to go as soon as we can to clean that place out." Murelle growls.

"The Queen has been planning such an expedition. Your return is serendipitous. The plan is not yet ready, though."

"What kind of plan do they need?" She asks almost angrily.

"There is dark magic there. This is not simply marshal some companies of infantry and go."

Murelle waves at Toby. "Another please." The alcohol was loosening her tightly knotted anger. She wanted to lash out. The glass was refilled and Xenograg does not comment. She nods to Toby, "Thank you." For a little while they sipped their drinks in silence.

Xenograg breaks the silence. "Some of that long preparation was me."

"What do you mean' Why the delay' It's been over 10 years."

Xenograg pauses. "No not all that. The Queen led a...scouting party out there last year. I was included. The plan to return started then."

"And what was decided" To just let things be?" Mure asks with some surprise.

"Then something caused a delay with the Queen. Then something caused a delay with me." He answers.

"You! Why?" She feels herself stiffen in anger again.

"I volunteered to participate, but I also must juggle other...commitments. The Queen decided to wait until I was available."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Uh-huh, is that right?"

She notices his back straightening. She takes a healthy swig of the brandy, wondering where else this conversation is going.

"You do realize that, even properly prepared, this will be a battle. More people will die."

"Of course I have thought of that. Don't think I haven't." She answers.

"I trust you agree with me that we should try to minimize how many do die in this effort. If I may be so bold, my absence from such a battle due to a rushed effort would be costly."

"Ok, I'll buy that, but what exactly do you plan to do' Do you have anything planned?" Mure now is being pushy.

"Be decisive. We must not waste this first effort, even if we do not know enough going in."

"Be decisive. Well, that's in our favor." She answers dryly. "Let me tell you something. Since I've come back I've had nothing but nightmares about that forest. I can't sleep, I can't eat, I see this...creature...lurking in that horrible place. And I'll bet it won't stay in there long, you will find that it will spread to other parts of Eldicor."

Xenograg looks at her, "Have you spoke to the Queen of this?"

"No." She answers with another swig of the brandy.

"I believe in intuition. I believe you, Lady." Mure looks at Xenograg with a little surprise. "I am not in command, of course. If you convince Her Majesty to begin sooner, it will be done."

"Xenograg, I will speak to the queen. But if you have her ear as you seem to, will she listen?" She gives him a sideways glance.

"I will discuss our conversation with her. I would not presume to influence her decision."

"Toby one more if you will." Her suppressed anger was now rising in her voice. "You will not presume. I'd like to see that." She was now picking a fight. She needed an outlet of her already on pent up emotions.

"The Queen honors me with her trust. I work to be worth of it. I have power, lady. Yes, and influence. I also have some idea of when not to employ them."

Almost as suddenly as her anger rose, it deflated as she shows her fear. "The creature is hideous Xenograg."

He answers softly; "I have only seen its minions; they were bad enough. My Lady, let me say this." Tears were now brimming in her eyes as she listens. "I am a Warrior Born. I am other things, but that is my first and primary vocation. I am a killer. I am a destroyer. When we go into the Dark Forest, I go to do that which I am best at."

"What is that?"

"Destroy that which needs to be destroyed. We shall not fail." Xenograg says with conviction. Murelle sips her brandy her head now swimming. She knew that the pain that was drowned that night will only be back with a nasty hangover.

"Well, Xenograg, I can only hope you can come through. I've heard a lot of your exploits and how you've helped the queen."

"Tales grow in the telling, but I can honestly claim that I can do what I say I can."

Murelle replies "She trusts you fully, that means something."

"I am greatly honored to be so. Shall we go to her, together" Tell her your dreams. You know her compassion."

This surprised her after all her nasty remarks. "You'd do that?"

Murelle asks for the bill and pays for herself and Xenograg with a generous tip. She got off the bar stool and swayed a little.

"It will make her revisit the plan. She will surely have questions for me about it. I cannot say how much will change."

Mure patted the stool. "This was Llew's you know."

"What was?"

"This stool, I met him here in this bar. This stool was the one he sat on." She answers with a crooked grin.

"Indeed" I did not know he came here." Mure swayed a little, Xenograg offers his arm. " If I may, Lady' Where are you...parked?"

"I used the portal stone."

"Ah, excellent. My way is uncomfortable for a passenger."

He replies then gives his good night to Toby and those in the bar. Together they head back to Eldicor.