Lisa nodded once, her face somewhat grim as she listened to Zerxel's words.  When she spoke it was with a cold tone that hadn't been present in the young woman's voice before,<strong>"That's fine, I understand, thank you for telling me about Ruta.  No need to escort me back there, I've survived on my own thus far and wouldn't want to trouble you."</strong><br/><br/>She turned and began walking down the path to the lower level, and it was then that Zerxel saw a knife scabbard on her belt, tucked into the small of the woman's back.  She wasn't completely unarmed at least, but also didn't make a show of force.  The trio watched her go and leave earshot before Bo spoke up first,<strong>"Aye an there was somethin a bit off about her, that's for sure.  But I still feel guilty in a way.  She's so young."</strong><br/><br/>Shugar shook her head,<strong>"Not that young.  I can tell you she's no virgin any longer.  In my clan a bugbear woman her age would already have at least two children, likely more.  I know that humans like her have a longer view of things then bugbears, and shorter than elves or dwarves.  But I wouldn't give that one much sympathy."</strong>Shugar sighed and shook her head,<strong>"When we were at the temple, I tried very hard to make friends as best I could, tried to overcome any prejeduce others might have for my race.  Lisa was one of the first to seem friendly to me, and I thought we would be good friends.  But she had no trouble making friends, being pretty, young, human, all of that.  She tended to trade and discard favors and friendships for position.  Her.... relationship with Ruta seemed almost as if she'd found the strongest person in the bunk who she could manipulate, and that always bothered me."</strong><br/><br/>Bo clucked her tongue,<strong>"Ach yer just bein paranoid, all the women at the temple could be catty at times..."</strong><br/><br/>Zerxel stopped listening for a moment as her stomach lurched slightly.  She wondered if it was the soul fruit, but her mind was thinking about what Shugar had said.  Bo was her friend, of that there was no doubt.  But in this regard she found that Shugar's viewpoint was much closer aligned to her own than to the dwarf.  Zerxel had felt the sting of prejudice for being a drow, even from Bo originally.  She'd also seen the way Xara had been manipulative, and was glad that she wouldn't have to face that fellow drow inside the dungeon anymore.  While Bo wasn't wrong in the argument the two were having, a friendly disagreement more than an argument really, Zerxel had to admit that she agreed with Shugar.<br/><br/>Bo shook her had and crossed her arms under her breasts,<strong>"ach, no need to worry about all o' this then.  I'm just sayin I feel a little guilty is all.  Poor girl mighta needed our help, an... whatever, it donnae matter."</strong><br/><br/>Shugar placed one hand on Bo's shoulder,<strong>"I'm not trying to argue, and im sorry Bo, lets continue on shall we?"</strong><br/><br/>Zerxel made to agree, but then felt a sudden twinging cramp in her stomach, that caused her to place a hand over her abdomen.  It was still smooth and unbulged, but she could feel it, feel the magic of the soul fruit working.  The other two saw it and Bo asked,<strong>"Should we head back already?"</strong><br/><br/>Zerxel shook her head,<em>"No there's still plenty of time, but the soul fruit is working, the magic has started."</em><br/><br/>The trio gathered themselves and began moving through the street again.  They hadn't gone very far when all of a sudden one of the buildings began to fade into existence, much the same way the tavern and the naga's shop had.  The decripit building slowly transforming in a misty magical fashion into a more and more substatntial and repaired state.  The sign drew all three of their attentions, as it held an overflowing treasure chest as well as words written in the common trade language that proudly declared the building<strong>"Skie's Treasury."</strong><br/><br/>Shugar was the first to state the obvious as they gazed at the closed front door,<strong> "It's never that easy."</strong>