"Ruddy high born, idn'ee?"
"Aye, look at 'is arrogant face. Blimey."
"An his smug look. Right bastard, this one. What ya go an' bring 'im 'ere for, Iree? Shoulda let 'im get skewered."
"Shut up, idiots. He's still got juice left to burn."
"Oy, plannin' on usin 'im up?"
"I plan on bringing him into the fold and maybe getting the hell out of here finally. Longer he stays, though, the less he'll know."
"What makes you think 'e's gonna know anyfin?"
"He's a high born bastard."
----
Velentham's eyes opened slowly, the blazing white of Celestial vision less intense now, though still the figures surrounding him revealed as gray... not quite as bad as the Mezzoloths, but still...
"Where..."
"Easy," said the raspy voice. "You've had quite the tussle. Gurk patched your leg, Fdelph is working the healing, you'll excuse him, he's a novice."
"Like hell, asshole," Fdelph returned in his gruff, aged voice. The raspy voice laughed and looked back. Velentham could see from under the hood the violet eyes that stared back at him. "An Eladrin?"
"Eh, once," came the rasp. "Fallen down the rungs, like you."
"Right Shiere, this 'un."
"Aye, til he took a shinin' to 'is bosses lass and boinked 'er wi' 'is wee stick."
"That's not why I'm here, Gurk."
Gurk let out a snickering laugh. "Oh, aye. It's what started it, though, too right?"
"Where am I?" Velentham asked, feeling a bit stronger. He sat up, still woozy, and looked into the purple eyes. The man pulled back his cowl to reveal slender elf-like features with an unmistakable Celestial twist.
"Underground cave of the Fallen Fallen."
"Is what we call ournselves," Fdelph said, finishing the knot on the rag binding Velentham's leg.
"Fallen Fallen," Velentham repeated.
"Yes. I am Ieridenth Kelearith, Eladrin Shiere, Knight of Norfalt Peren, resident of Arborea. Once resident, anyway."
"And now?"
"Anger got the better of me when Norfalt insulted me for sleeping with his little girl. Though to my credit, she wasn't so little, and she sure wasn't built like a girl."
The laughter of the other castaways filled the cavern and echoed off the rocks, and for the first time, Velentham looked around. He was in a massive rocky room where torches burned against the walls at the sides of magic orbs. Cobbled together furniture lay strewn about, filled with all manner of once higher natured beings in various states of repose. "So, what did you do?" Velentham asked.
"To Norfalt?"
"Yes."
"Gutted him. It wasn't my finest moment." Ieridenth shrugged.
"And who are you?"
"Velentham Arenfeld, Avoral Guardinal, son of Telfenham Arenfeld
of Elysium."
"Ah, the planes traveler's son."
"You've heard of my father?"
"Of course. Let's hope you have some of what he had, eh?"
Ieridenth held out his hand and Velentham took it, shaking it with cautious reserve. "What brings you here?" Ieridenth asked. "Love." And the cavern was once again filled with male laughter.
