[Attalus]

*Smacks Kaltia* Show a little respect, daughter. Some more:

When the battle was over, Viconia closely examined the corpse of Shal'drissa, ignoring the horror of her head. Veldren was repused but fascinated by the ruin that his father's sword had wrought on the once beautiful woman. Through some freak of destruction, the skin on the right side of her face had fallen away from the shattered bone and resembled a mask that some reveller might wear to a party. He shuddered, a bit. His mother, intent on her task, looked up as Attalus came over to see what she was up to.
"Look here, abbil, she said excitedly, then looked confused, correcting herself to say, "husband, I mean."
Attalus, sensing her mood, put his hand, still a bit bloodstained, on the back of her neck beneath her helmet. He lightly ruffled the short white hair and massaged the muscles underneath. "What's the matter, love," he asked gently, "am I not your abbil, any more? I liked that name."
Viconia gave him a quick smile of gratitude. "I am glad that you liked it, husband, but you are more than an abbil, any more. There is no word in Drow for what you are to me." Then, her smile turned sardonic. "But, we shall not discuss this here amongst the dead. I was about to say, this one wears the badge of House Despana, which should be familiar to you."
Frowning, Attalus replied, "Despana? That was the House that Phaere and that Matron Mother, what was her name? belonged to, that we were the death of in Ust'Natha."
Viconia nodded in sober agreement, "Ardulance was her name. Yes, and it seems that the grudge is remembered. I would not have thought that a House could survive the loss of its Matron and a Priestess like Phaere, curse her name, but it seems that it did. I feel that this is no coincidence, husband. This was meant as a deliberate slap at you."
"Us..." Attalus started to say, but was interrupted by the rearrival of Novenna, who had ridden a little farther in search of her party. She was accompanied by a large, wounded elf, the same that had told her to fly.
"Lord Attalus, Lady Viconia," the princess broke in excitedly. "One of my escort survived! I found him bound just a ways up the road. This is Corund, my bodyguard these many years." She turned to the battered elf, "Corund, these humans have saved us all. Tell them what happened."
Viconia broke in concernedly, "A moment, Princess. This elf is wounded. Allow me." She cast a quick spell and the wounds disappeared.
Corund looked immediately better. "Humans?" he commented humorously, "A drow you seem to be, my lady, but a deuced grateful sight to a poor elf who has suffered at the hands of your race. My thanks. You must be the Lady Viconia of whom so much is sung. It is a great pleasure to meet you."
"I am glad to have been of service, Corund," Viconia responded warmly. "I have renounced Lloth but not my race, so must remind you that it is Lloth and these here who tried to harm you, not all drow. But, I forgive you, as you seem to have suffered much."