<div class="floatright">(http://i.imgur.com/ljYAgW2.jpg)</div><br/>The request to head outside, away from Ayeir, was received with a grateful if solemn nod from the drow rogue before she and Shugar left Skie's Treasury to talk freely between themselves.  They weren't going far, so she didn't see the harm in stepping outside, and felt safe in leaving the building with the bugbear woman.  Not that she was worried for her safety, she trusted Shugar, even though she trusted Bo much more, but it was still a thought worth noting as she collected her gear that she and the dwarf had been guarding for her before following the woman outside.  She listened intently as Shugar began to speak once they were safely outside and found that more time passed than she had originally believed.  Skie had positively talked her ear off, but as an information broker it made sense she supposed, information was nearly as valuable as gold was to most everyone else, and someone in Skie's position likely got a fair bit more customers than most, especially around during a Dungeon run as it was now, from both regular people and contestants alike with rare and exotic treasures or information to trade.  But Zerxel herself was far more focused on the bugbear next to her even as she began to pull on her armored lingerie and the assorted accessories she had accumulated since the start of this year's run through the Dungeon.  Granted, at least three of them were piercings that would always be a part of her unless she had them removed, but the belt pouches, the bracer of throwing knives that went around her upper right arm, those she had to put back on since taking them off earlier just to be allowed a chance to enter Skie's metaphorical office.<br/><br/>Which answered a question when Shugar told her why Ayeir had taken such a dislike to her when she told the rogue that the guard was some kind of holy entity of some sort.<strong>"Huh, that would give her a reason I suppose.  Not an excuse perhaps, but I can see why that would be bothersome for the likes of her."</strong>Zerxel mused, but let a small chuckle escape her when Shugar mentioned that spending the time in such a cramped space with herself and the guard wouldn't have been particularly pleasant.<strong>"I have to agree, but I'll try not to be offended by your desire to avoid such unpleasantness by coming out here."</strong>The rogue replied, her voice light with her amusement still, but she quickly followed that with a nod of her head in gratitude for her having asked to come out here at all even if that hadn't been the reason why Shugar had wanted some privacy, away from potentially unfriendly ears.  When Shugar hesitated though after saying she wanted to ask Skie something as well, which was fine by Zerxel by all means, she had to gently prod the girl to continue before Shugar eventually began to speak once more.  What she had to say as the rogue sat down and tried to get comfortable once she had gotten the rest of her clothes in order, saving the g-string that was once more nestled between her hairless, damp, dark skinned pussy lips, for last, had Zerxel's rapt, undivided attention.<br/><br/>Her desire to escape the Dungeon was met with no reaction whatsoever from Zerxel.  She didn't want to distract Shugar from getting her feelings and concerns out into the open, so she said and did nothing to give any indication as to what she thought.  It was just as well because as she listened to Shugar's well founded concerns and thoughts, Zerxel had a feeling she knew what the bugbear was going to ask long before she actually go to the question.  As much as it pained her to see Shugar upset, she deserved the truth since, as she herself said, she had been a good friend and a great help thus far, but what Zerxel needed to say wouldn't be completely bad for her hopes as she looked into the girl's big, scared eyes and gently put a dark skinned hand on her shoulder.<strong>"I'm....sorry, but yes, that I think was to be the plan although Bo and I hadn't really talked about it at length.  But while the third level isn't known to us, I had intended to try and find you because we are indeed friends, Shugar.  I might not feel as connected as I am with Bo when it comes to you, but you are still worth the effort to find if at all possible, and you aren't really alone.  One of the soul fruits we found you still possess, but I can understand why you'd be afraid, but the fact you acknowledge and admit as much makes you stronger than you might realize.  Too often there have been other contestants like us that thought they were better prepared and suited than they actually were, and they always ended up paying for their arrogance.  But....while I wish we didn't have to separate at all, that we could all go through that door together, we can only do the best we can and work around the Dungeon's limitations while we're here to the best of our abilities.  But if it's your desire to leave once we reach the Reaping level, then that is your choice, but it doesn't make you a bad contestant Shugar, don't ever think that.  It just means you recognize your limitations, your strengths and weaknesses, and are wise enough to know you'd be better off heading back to the world outside this cursed place where at least you could live in relative comfort until the end of your natural life.  That path is simply not mine, but it might be if things don't work out and I deem a quick exit the better course.  If that does indeed become the case, then I would happily seek you out again Shugar, that much I can promise you."</strong>