The room seemed to be alive. Water could be heard, running down the inside of the wall, wet and full in its impatience to meet the ground. There were creaking boards as one drunk couple or another stumbled back to their room to consummate their relationship. Skandra paid it no mind. At least, he tried not to. Thinking of Uathis with them was nonsense. Thinking of putting Uathis back in charge of that organization which had nearly killed Skandra several times over, impossible. But he needed the Ether - secure in his pocket - and he needed the access to this Satharine. There was little he could do about the fat mage except bring him along. Even though he still had this thumb the fool complained enough for ten women, all of them nursing an aching tooth. He complained about the heat. About having to walk. About Skandra's smell. It was almost enough to make Skandra want to cut off his fucking thumb, but there was no reason for it now. That might lose them the fat mage's cooperation. It would be a net loss, but Skandra might sleep better if they did.

( Drip, drip. )