After reaching his quarters with Kern, Blake indifferently wiped his face with a fading green towel. Pulling off his gloves he sat by the mirror to remove the largest couple of earrings. To his side he quickly hid a small picture from view on the desk.
      Once he made it a point to ignore Kern for a few minutes, he reclined comfortably in the chair, "What is it you wanted to tell me?"
      "About me being twenty three... well, I sort of lied to Lirit about my age." Kern brushed his hands through his hair. His bandanna slipped into his fingers and slithered out of his black strands.
      "I know." Blake leaned back.
      "You know?" Kern blinked.
      "It's obvious. You're much more mature then a twenty three year old elf, and you live among humans. Even if they believed you when you said your true age, then they'd treat you like a freak." Blake explained, "I'm not the second smartest elf for no reason..."
      "You aren't shy about it either." Kern slouched.
      "Why should I be?" Blake shrugged.
      Muttering something quietly, Kern glanced up at the awaiting drow, "Anyway, I'm one hundred and twenty three... And I wanted to know if you could help me find my father."
      "I can tell you it's not me. You're the only half drow I've ever seen, you'll have to find a drow elf who fell in love with a human. I suppose your mothers dead." Blake replied.
      "She died when I was seven." Kern nodded.
      "Well, that's not the normal human lifespan... Still, it's not my business. You should talk to some of my men, they were the last elves to leave." Blake faced the mirror and began removing large earrings from his other ear. Confused, Kern wondered if this meant the conversation had ended.
      Quietly he sneaked out of the room.
      As soon as Kern left he set his picture back up by the mirror and daydreamed about his past. Carefree, uncontrollable, feared and even famous.
      He jumped out of his chair and marched himself to the door. There was no use in daydreaming, he had everything right now. His door clicked open as he went out. Before he could reach the group he noticed a tail twitching behind some barrels.
      "Bentora... she's going to ambush me..." he thought, before remembering Bentora was gone.
      "Valda, what's she doing?" he wondered. Stealthily he crept around the back of the barrels. The young catgirl squatted beside Leiko as they stared intently towards the fire. Leiko kneeled by the other barrel as she peered out.
      Curiously Blake peeked out of one of the cracks. He saw Kern rejoining the group of pirates, and Emeryl looking uncomfortable in the middle. Remus was showing everyone how many ways he could drop-kick a package.
      "What are we looking at?" Blake asked.
      "Sh! Em... Hey, wait a minute!" Leiko glowered over her shoulder.
      "What?" Blake shrugged.
      "This is a private party!" Leiko shoved him away with her foot.
      "Great, you're gawking at somebody." Blake peered at his daughter, "You too?"
      "Daddy! Not right now!" Valda whined.
      "Fine, gawk all you want. Valda, go steer the ship!" Blake answered.
      "Daddy!" she whimpered.
      "Now!" he retorted.
      Mumbling she scampered away.
      "I'm going to make space for them to sleep. Maybe you can make yourself useful," Blake suggested to Leiko.
      "Hmm?" Leiko sighed dreamily, "Alright, I'll help. Where is Emeryl sleeping tonight?"
      "Oh, by the gods Leiko... It's been six centuries, don't tell me you still have a crush on him! I don't think he's ever even had a relationship, he's probably gay." Blake groaned.
      "He is not! He's just sensitive." Leiko spat.
      Moaning, Blake glared in the direction Valda had left, "Don't tell me you got her liking him too."
      "I didn't get her to like anyone." Leiko insisted.
      "I think he is gay you know. Being alone, in the forest, with only that white boy accompanying him..." Blake continued.
      "Shut up! You're just jealous." Leiko retorted.
      "Jealous?" Blake blinked, "Why would I be jealous of a lonely, bitter priest?"
      "You are! You're jealous!" Leiko snapped, "I'm going to set up the guest rooms..."
      She flung her cape over her shoulder and stomped off. Peering out the crack he studied the elf sitting by the fire. Emeryl still looked depressed to him, why didn't Leiko see it?