Queen of the Demonweb Pits

'Here we are at last! Greyhawk, son! Adventure capital of the whole of the Flanaess!'

'Polk, it isn't Greyhawk. Greyhawk is three hundred miles that-a-way.' The Justicar had long since stopped letting Polk plan their routes. 'If those refugees we met two days ago were right, then that's the Att River, and Verbobonc is still at least a hundred miles south.'

'Verbo-what?'

'I don't name them, Polk. I just find them.'

'Well, then, what's this place?'

'I don't know.' The Justicar shrugged. 'Someplace in the west of Furyondy, I'm guessing.' The Justicar felt Cinders avidly wagging his tail. 'Cinders?'

Stinky!

'I thought you were tired.'

Stick tired! Not sniff tired! Go city-have fun!

The Justicar cocked a suspicious eye up at the hell hound and warned, 'No burning. None! I mean it this time!'

Cinders good dog! Never burns one little bit!

'Remember Trigol City? Remember that tent city on the plains?'

Was accident!

'All right.' The Justicar lay one hand upon the skull pommel of his sword. 'Now-to get supplies.'

The sword Benelux gave a lofty little sniff. I believe we should file a complaint against our welcome in this country! We are superior quality travelers. At the very least, we deserve to be met at the border by a committee of nobles. Possibly even a king!

'Good point, spiky.' Escalla patted the sword's sheath. 'All right, people! The sword here is going to file a complaint in writing right after she evolves herself a functional pair of hands. The rest of us-Jus, you and Henry go file the files and do the legal stuff. Enid and I will do the supplying. That gets us out of this cesspit in the fastest time.'

Henry blinked. 'Are you sure you'll be all right walking the streets without a man?'

'We'll take Polk. He's kind of a man.' The faerie chucked Henry under the chin. 'Hey, don't worry! This is our element!'

'Really?'

'Sure! Trust me. I'm a faerie!'

They decided to take a break before marching the last few miles down to the city. Polk trundled into his box of scrolls, looking for the deed to Hommlet and its surroundings-a purchase Escalla had made in the far distant past. Enid licked her paw and wiped travel stains from her freckled face. Seeing the Justicar move over to a log beside the road, Escalla drifted over, sat down beside him, and folded up her wings.

They sat together in silence for a while, the huge warrior in his black armor and the sleek little faerie with sly, laughing eyes. The two of them looked out across the hills, not entirely sure where to put their hands. Suddenly their friends seemed far away.

Long moments passed. Jus looked down at the reeking city-crammed with people and overflowing with trash, and he heaved a weary sigh.

'I'm sorry. I know you'd hoped this all might be more exciting.'

'It is exciting! We have a wilderness to explore, there's evil ruins nearby…'

'So you really want to split up in the city?'

'Ooh, I think this smells like someplace we want to get out of in a real hurry.' Escalla sat on her hands to keep them still and leaned forward, her long blonde hair cascading down across the log. 'But Enid and I have… you know, stuff to buy.'

'What stuff?'

'Um, girl stuff?' Escalla blushed. 'You know… stuff.'

'Oh. I see.' The Justicar ascribed it all to the female mysteries. 'Well, we have a ton of gold left over from the drow caves.'

'Yeah, I guess we can manage to spend it.' Escalla gave a sudden smile. 'I'm going to get some jewelry for Enid, though-and a brush! I mean, how are we going to snare her a nice androsphinx if she stays stuck inside with her books all day every day? The girl needs a little romance to brighten up her life!'

The Justicar laughed at the thought. 'Romance?'

Both Jus and Escalla froze their smiles and looked guiltily away from each other. The huge shaven-headed ranger turned pink, and Escalla felt her own cheeks blazing red. She covered herself by pretending enormous interest in the city far below.

'So… ready?'

'Yes.' The Justicar heaved yet another sigh. 'I'd hoped it would be more pleasant.'

'Pleasant?'

'I wanted to stay somewhere halfway decent tonight.' The big man was sitting on his own hands. 'Maybe… maybe leave the other three and just go off somewhere with you for a little while.' The Justicar coughed, blushing pink and staring at his hands. 'Well, just talk to you about something.'

Escalla swallowed. 'Something?'

'Something really… important.'

Behind Jus, the log gave off a hollow, rhythmic drumming sound. Both Jus and Escalla blinked, then looked up at Cinders where he hung in his usual place, cloaking Jus's helm and back. The hell hound's teeth gleamed, his eyes glowed, and he wagged his tail in glee. His tail thumped heavily on the hollow log.

Funny!

Escalla glared at the creature from one eye, and then turned her full attention back to Jus.

'You, ah… you wanted to be alone?' The girl faltered. 'Together, I mean.'

Jus had his hands out again, and was rubbing at his knuckles. He caught himself doing it and looked down at the ground, clearing his throat. 'I… Yes. I mean… I just wanted to check something with you.'

'Yes?'

'Something I've wanted to… to talk to you about.'

Escalla's heart was in her throat, and she felt numb from head to toe. 'T-talk?' She felt her voice quaver. 'Um… fine!'

The Justicar tried to ease into the subject. 'Well, it's just that I've been wanting…'

'Yes?'

'Look-I've been thinking.'

'Uh-huh!'

Jus coughed and cleared his throat. 'That is… I've wanted to ask…'

Funny-funny!

The hell hound thumped his tail even harder. Exasperated, Escalla leaped to her feet.

'Pooch!'

Pretty faerie!

'Look, Cinders. Do you mind if we just put you over here for a little while?' Escalla dragged Cinders over a stump. She crammed a large lump of coal into the creature's mouth. 'Here. Eat!'

Funny!

Returning to Jus's side, Escalla sat, smoothed her leather leggings, and tried to get the conversation back on track.

'Talking? To me.'

'In private, yes.'

The Justicar had faced lich lords and tanar'ri in mortal combat. He had stormed breeches in fortress walls and had hunted demons in the dark, dead forests of Iuz, but at the moment, he found himself consumed with an idiotic terror. He slapped his hands on his thighs, heaved a breath, and determined to do what had to be done. He girded himself, took a deep breath, and decided to face the moment with a warrior's courage.

A prissy voice suddenly chimed in from his sword belt.

Well, I do wish you'd ask her and just get on with it! Some of us have work to do!