It was very painful to see how Ykril was treated because of me. He had been brainwashed, his wings cut off, kidnapped and tortured. The city where he was at home was devastated because of me. His house smeared with slogans like ›banish the Drow slut‹, damaged and plundered and Sanise and I were insulted and spat on as we dragged him through the town to his house.
After 4 days of being completely unconscious, he finally opened his eyes occasionally and smiled at me. For days, I knelt beside the bed crying, praying to Eilistraee that he would regain consciousness and heal while I nursed his wounds, washed and fed him. He had healed me so many times, consciously or unconsciously, but he seemed to be unable to heal himself. To make matters worse, Sunih, who had been notified by Sanise, was making my life difficult with her growing hatred on Drow.
When I was sure he would be all right, I dressed during the night and stroked his cheek gently
»F'sarn taudl qu'ess¹. I love you too much to keep seeing you suffer from all this!« I whispered before giving him a kiss. Even in sleep, he always started smiling after a kiss from me. As if there was nothing more delightful for him.
›And if I have to meet him in secret!‹ I thought determinedly.
On the way out, I briefly looked into the room of Sanise and Nimri.
»You'll be fine staying with him.« I sighed softly before wistfully left the city a few days ago.

There I stood now in front of the gates of Menzoberranzan. Wrapped in my cloak and hood and mask pulled far in my face. In order that neither the watch spiders nor the guards at the gate recognized me, I also changed the soap and shampoo on the way. A disgusting smell. I stank like a troll. ›I have to do it.‹ I decided and headed straight for the academy.

The guards at the gate of the academy looked half-grown and incapable. Apparently without any experience and not particularly disciplined. When I approached them, they interrupted their dialogue, looked at me and promptly threatened me with their spears.
»No outsiders allowed in the academy« one of the guards demanded stiffly.
I didn't answer, but grabbed a spear, used the effect of surprise to snatch it from her hands and smash the blunt end through the other guard's face. While the one held her nose to stop the bleeding, the other furiously sprinted towards me, not paying the slightest attention to her guard. I dodged her fists effortlessly and immediately seared my fist into her stomach.
I gave them some time to breathe before I voluntarily let them tie me up and lead me through the academy into a huge hall, whose shiny white carpet was rolled out to a magnificent throne. As if I were being presented to Lolth herself. On the throne sat a still quite young Drow, maybe around 200 years old, who let herself be fed and massaged by her slaves.
»Mistress Zarethi. We caught her when she tried to enter the academy« the guard said as she kicked my legs and forced me to kneel.
She sent her slaves away, straightened up, came at me with her scanty clothing and ripped the hood off my head and mask off my face.
»Finally, the last Teleyal. You pesky thing have cost us a lot of nerves.«
›The last Teleyal? Miara…‹ I thought shocked, trying my best to hide my feelings.
»It's very mindless to just walk in here like this.« she explained while taking the old rusty dagger from the guard, which they took away from me at the entrance.
»What's wrong with your weapons? No staff, no mithral dagger? How pitiful.«
I continued to be silent, watching her feet, which came to stop directly in front of me, and she suddenly jerked me upward by my chin.
»You fucking bitch executed my best breeder!« she immediately growled and jammed the dagger into my ribs.
The guard let go of me and scanty clothed Drow kicked the dagger even deeper into my ribs. Coughing blood, I fell onto my back.
»Why are you here?« she finally asked as the guard lifted me back to my knees. »Because of the bounty!« I began quietly, continuing to spit blood »I will stay voluntarily if the full bounty placed on me, as well as absolute immunity is guaranteed for Ykril Rëihlar in Ramshorn!«
She laughed out loudly and pulled the dagger out of my ribs
»You Teleyal are all so naive! You give your life for love. – And how did you think you could escape from here if I wouldn't agree?« it came mockingly »You have no weapons, you are wounded and your best mate is also still standing by my side.«
I straightened my head as much as I could and was only able to see in a blur that another person was coming towards me. Just when she was standing almost next to the Drow I could recognize her.
»Crane« I began quietly »you should be dead.«
She chuckled »I'm no ordinary ghoul darling. A simple dagger strike isn't enough for me.«
»I have to admit, you've gotten remarkably strong. The training with your mother seems to have been rewarding.« the Drow continued, pulling my hair so she could inspect my face.
»Even now, in the face of death, you are still unbearably confident.«
She jerked my head back and forth a few more times before letting up.
»Alright« she agreed surprisingly and addressed a slave »Make sure that 500 platinum …«
»1000, I'm still alive!« I interrupted her coughing blood.
She didn't turn to me for long, but corrected herself »1000 platinums to be delivered to Ykril Rëihlar in Ramshorn! Claudia, you follow. The treasurer will pay you immediately.«
»What shall we do with her mistress?« the guard asked as the Drow turned back to her throne.
»I should actually be grateful to her. Without her action, I would not have been able to take over the house this quickly.« she flaunted »Burn her clothes and chain her to the pillar in the slave district. Let them enjoy the sight of her. If she's still alive after ten days, send her to the men at Thay.«

Dressed only in my underwear, I was led in a gauntlet to the marketplace in the slave district. A noblewoman running in front of me repeated loudly all the way to the pillar that I was a traitor to the folk and the murderer of the head of a noble house. After they chained me up to the small pillar, in the middle of the dirt, they threw my clothes on the ground a few feet in front of me and lit them on fire with simple fire magic. I could only watch as Mother's former battle suit slowly burned down.
Weakened by the wound I sat chained in the dirt while they cut my tattoo on my back with a dagger
»You are not worthy to wear this tattoo« came contemptuously from the henchwoman with the dagger.
»This creature is neither a Drow, nor a human. It is a perversion from a betrayal of our people and society.« the noble one exclaimed loudly »It and her sister had done considerable damage to the academy and our people by cowardly stabbing Mistress Zarethi parents in their sleep.«
She paused briefly. Let the words take effect. The first slaves were already throwing dirt and stones at me and those who were close enough spat at me.
»Look at it. It almost has a skin like a pig, misborn pitch black eyes and an almost human face. That's not a Drow! That's a freak.«
It seemed like the whole neighborhood had already gathered to listen to the propaganda, watch the blood run down my body, and throw something at me.