Her satin skin was soft in the dim light. Quietly, she pulled the hood of her cape up to cover her long ́silver white hair. Stealthily, she was ducking through the shadows, hurrying towards the tavern. Not a place she would normally frequent, thus perfect for tonight.
Stopping long enough to hide her belt pouch, she stepped in and quickly found a table at the rear against the wall. Careful to keep her identity hidden, Jhaelindra Vrinn scanned the busy ́common room, looking for her contact. Being a noble-born daughter of a drow house meant never being sure where the next deadly attack would come from. Yet such things were of little concern. As the top assassin for the temple of Lloth, Jhaelindra understood death. For her, who had never failed a contract, death was the most intimate of lovers. Dealt with as efficiently as needed for an assassin of her caliber.  
  Today, however, her mind was occupied with other matters. Her contact claimed to know the whereabouts of a man who has eluded Lloth’s justice for the last four centuries. Her brother, Nym. Though few knew it, Jhaelindra was the first daughter in a forgotten house, House Pharn, fostered before the assassins came to cleanse the house. House Pharn had owed an alliance to House Vrinn. That saved her. Still in her heart, family loyalty ran deep. Matron Vrinn taught her of both houses, although discreetly. She knew at least one of her siblings yet lived. She also knew the temple wanted his death. Although she did not yet know why, it’s something she desperately needed to learn.  
   She had been searching for fifty years, unable to find the reason for the order to purify House Pharn. All she had found is that the head priestess had claimed the house destruction was a directive from Lloth herself. She knew both of her brothers had left for the surface, something the temple was unaware of. Knowing her divided loyalties could cost her life, or worse, she was very careful. She was uncertain of her sister’s fate. When Jhaelindra had fostered, she went into temple assassin training. This meant no contact with anyone outside the temple or her Matron. So much of the details were beyond her ken.
   The tavern was filled with trash of all varieties. Very few drow among the many patrons. The service was horrible, and the food was worse. Jhaelindra had no intention of eating or drinking here. To do so was to ask for food poisoning, or worse. ́This was merely a convenient place to deal with her informant. One she was unlikely to be noticed in. Hopefully, he would have useful information.
    She showed none of the rampant fear and impatience that was filling her heart. Seeing her contact working his way through the dark common room did nothing to lessen it. He was a cloaked figure among many. However, she recognized the way he moved. ‘He moves like a weasel,’ she thought. A grimace of distaste briefly flashed across her strong features. Her lavender eyes flashed as he sat in the chair across from her.
                   “Well, weasel?” Jhaelindra purred softly with deep malice. “What have you for me?” Knowing this woman and her infamous quick ́temper, he quickly passed on his information, gathered payment, and escaped again into the maelstrom of the common room. Jhaelindra quickly left before she could be discovered. The weasel brought turmoil with his information. She was going to have to leave the Underdark, and soon. After hearing that both of her brothers, Nym & Kyr, and her younger sister Valaedra, yet lived, she could not remain with the temple. She could not be the one who betrayed them. Jhaelindra only hoped they would have the answers she sought. She quickly and almost absently made her way to the house she had claimed for most of her life. Deep in thought, she almost bumped into a half-orc slave. Inwardly cursing the absentmindedness, she swept quickly by her. She was known for a foul temper, but for a control that was not matched. Preparations had been underway since the cleansing for an escape. Jhaelindra knew the temple would have her killed, or worse, should her true house affiliation ever be discovered, it would bring House Vrinn down as well. Matron Vrinn was the only one left alive ́who ́knew that Jhaelindra was not born to her house. Matron Vrinn would understand and expect her to follow the family. The Matron of Vrinn had been good to her. Jhaelindra had no intention of putting her or her house in danger.
    She made her way through the house, quietly gathering what supplies she knew she would need. Packing as if for a temple mission. Then she made her way to the matron’s sitting hall. She excused herself, telling her matron that she had a contract to fulfill. Requesting formal leave to go. It was a lie, but only a little white one. Yet it was an acceptable reason for her to be gone. One the temple would not look too closely into. The temple must not look into her absence. She had to disappear, quickly.
    Her destination was on the surface and to the south. A coastal town with little population and an island temple floating south of it. The informant spoke of undead wandering the island. Jhaelindra wondered if her siblings would remember her. She figured it didn’t matter and started the long journey. She left Menzoberanzon as stealthily as possible, avoiding the patrols.
           Questions were too sticky. She needed to avoid detection. The trip out of the Underdark was quick and uneventful, thankfully. Because of her training, Jhaelindra could sleep lightly and for no more than two hours at a time. However, such a state of alertness causes deep fatigue. The exit from the Underdark she chose should bring her out near a surface city. There would be an inn and, hopefully, anonymity ́to be found there. Jhaelindra knew she would have to be cautious even then, but perhaps a decent rest could be had there. Unsure of what lay on the road she had ahead, Jhaelindra had enough supplies to live on the road for a month. Hunting and fishing, when possible, could stretch that well into longer.
     She could easily blend into the crowd in any city. Reprovision, and then move on. The target was to reach her siblings before another temple assassin could. Having the advantage of being the only one with knowledge would end soon. Jhaelindra knew the weasel would only hold the info back until his money ran short. Which considering his tastes and ́predilections would not belong. She figured she had a month at the most. Then he would contact the temple and sell it discreetly to another. When he did, she knew she might become the next contract. Killing him, although a satisfying thought, would only bring the attention of the temple sooner. After all, such creatures were always more valuable alive. No, Jhaelindra knew how the game was played.
           She herself played it too well not to. She only hoped Nym, Kyr, and Valaedra remembered the rules. After all, it could mean all their lives.