Kahlil shook and moaned as the aphrodisiac took hold of her sensibilities.  While it was not yet arousing her sensual nature, it created a cocoon of strangely-muted sensation that both perplexed her and gave her relief.  The water felt wonderful, bathing her smooth flesh, and the balm he applied was like heaven to wounds enflamed and bleeding.<br/><br/>As his voice flowed around her again, she strained to listen, to avoid drifting away on the haze of sensation that threatened to carry her away.  His breath was soft and smooth, like silk, across her cheek.  As understanding dawned, the elf began to weep silently... not from pain but because she could likely endure no more, because she was weak and unworthy of deserving any fate other than what he chose to deal her.  The gods had turned their faces from her.<br/><br/>"A score, perhaps more, of mages attend His Majesty.  The only discord has been brought by my father, for reasons only he might know.  I do not know the numbers of soldiers, only that they are many and well-trained."  All this spoken between silent tears that slid from gray eyes darkened with sorrow and shame.