[Galadria]

Ladtblue! That's so sweet. (hugs) I've missed you, though Attalus keeps me updated. He says that you are always surrounded by an admiring circle of teenaged boys, so that's great. Sure, print it out, and any comments welcome. Here is some more.

Sefa had been startled by her intensity. Her imagination could't take in the image of dainty Cythera, with her peaches and cream complexion, in that kind of bloody fight. "Who was Bryno?" she asked after a few seconds.
A broad smile replaced the look of intensity. " A very big man who used to go about with us. He was from the north, but he's gone back home. But Sefa, you don't see the point. I saw you supporting Gal as she was getting woozy. You remember how the boat was jumping around. She might have gone overboard. She might have drowned."
Sefa muttered something about little else she could do. "No," Noemi retorted, "that's just the point. You could have been lollygagging at the bow, like me. I could have seen my sister drown because I wasn't watching, but for you. I'll always remember.
But don't rest on your laurels. It's going to be a long trip. Maybe I can save your life, and then we'll be even." She had clapped her on the shoulder again, then was up and gone.
You already have ,Sefa had wanted to say. If you hadn't got me in to see Lady Galadria, I'd still be on the streets, and that would be as good as dead. But Lady Noemi was not to be seen.
XI

They went ashore at Tarashia, a raw lumber town of red mud streets. Morgul led them to the inn at which he had stayed, and they dumped their gear Leaving Attalus and Odo to guard it, the others went into town to do what Galadria said was necessary last-minute preparations, but those two insisted was "shopping." Maybe it was,at that, as Sefa was soon looking through piles of clothing with the women mages, with Morgul, smiling sardonically as the token male, held up cloth and carried parcels. Warm cloaks to keep out the cold, and heavy boots for snow and ice were what they needed, but somehow little items of adornment kept sneaking into the bags. Cythera refused to even look at the boots the little stores offered, preferring her custom-made troll hide boots from Baldur's Gate. They were guaranteed to resist cold, she said. Sefa didn't even want to hear about them. They also purchased shovels and ore screens.
The next day, they set out on a sparkling blue morning with a keen wind in their faces. After only a few miles, the road began to wind and steepen, and their horses began to have a harder time. They dismounted, leaving the beasts to carry just their supplies, while they walked along side. Sefa shivered a little to see the wild countryside. For a moment, she felt a little homesick, but as she looked around at her companions, cheerful faces rosy with the cold, and she felt the feeling vanish to be replaced by a warm sense of belonging.
Morgul, walking beside her, saw her smile and guessed its meaning. "Yes, it's a fine day to be on the road with friends, isn't it? I would be with no other group, no matter how grand." Sefa was surprised, being used to condescencion on his part. Reading her look, he went on,"Aye, we may as well be friends if we are to be companions. Up here, these around us are likely the only friends we'll have." Then Galadria called him to the head of the column, to discuss some disputed point with the guide Attalus had engaged, and Sefa trotted on alone.
She patted her horse, a little brown beast called Dab. "I'll guess I'll talk to you, then," she started, but was interrupted by laughter from behind. Cythera and Noemi fell in with her, leading their horses.
"We'll talk to you, sweetie," carolled the blonde mage. Her fine complexion was even brighter than before.
"Yes," said Noemi,"let's discuss men and other beasts."
Cythera shot her an arch look. ""What's the matter, Em? Trouble in paradise?"
The redheaded girl shook her head. "Just a little disagreement."