Narlissa Quickhands, half-elf and master thief, approached the ornate chest in trepidation. It was not particularly large but that did not bother her. Even if it was only a quarter full of gold it would still make her richer than she could possibly have imagined.
It was wooden but with a gold overlay that traced its outsides and spoke of generous wealth. The warlock who had built these ruins must have been very rich indeed. Narlissa gingerly reached out to touch it, hoping that there wasn't one final enchantment placed upon the chest itself, and was relieved to find the demon's words had been true. The place was freed of all magic now that he was gone.
She clicked open the lock and tipped the top and her eyes opened wide. Gold lay within in great piles, the odd jewel and gem thrown in for good measure. It looked like the hoards that myths said dragons collected but Narlissa did not care. With a delighted giggle she raced over to her clothes, lying in a pile where the demon had discarded them, and fished out her leather pouches. Stuffing as many as she could full of gold, she stood back with a grin. The chest was still fairly full, for Narlissa simply did not have the storage required to take all of those coins back with her. She simply could not carry any more.
But she did not mind. She had never been greedy and the thought of leaving behind small piles of gold did not bother her when she had already taken everything she could ever need. She stepped away from the chest and quickly redressed, before once more casting her eye over it. It was then that she saw the pendant tucked away beneath a layer of gold coins. She picked it up and turned it over in her hands, casting her eyes over it.
It was gold yet light, and a golden chain suggested it should be worn around the neck. The decorative part was simply a large golden disc, with an image of an open eye carved in it. She placed the pendant over her head.
Nothing happened.
Shrugging, she pocketed her leather pouches then shut the chest and pushed it back behind the door. There was enough gold in there to make the next fortune hunter's trip worthwhile, too, and she did not want to deny someone their own chance at treasure.
With a slight clinking sound from all the coins stuffed into her pack and cloak, she left the room behind her. The large black doors opened easily this time when she pushed them and she grinned as she saw what lay beyond.
Eavu and Taicoss were struggling to stand up, but they were free. She moved towards them and clapped them on the back. Both yelped with shock.
"Narlissa!" Taicoss exclaimed as he saw her. "We feared the worse when the tendrils took you, but then we were freed and... well, we hoped that you were safe."
She grinned. "I am indeed safe. What's more, I have what I came here for. Let us leave."
The two men nodded furiously, grabbing their belongings and hurriedly following her out of the ruins. As they emerged, it was apparent that had clearly been in the ruins longer than she realised. It was already afternoon.
She stepped out of the base of the statue and smiled. Behind her the two men emerged into the air and breathed in happily. They came to stand beside her.
Eavu spoke then. "Thank you again, Narlissa. I am sorry for our betrayal. Truly, I am."
Narlissa smiled. The warrior seemed genuinely apologetic about his actions. "I accept your apology. Shall we make a move?"
The two men nodded, but then Taicoss' eyebrows furrowed in thought. He stepped towards her and reached out, gently taking hold of the pendant around her neck.
"Did you just find this?" he asked.
Nalissa nodded, slightly wary. She did not expect the druid to try and take it from her but these men had already betrayed her once and despite their apologies she was not ready to trust them completely yet.
"Do you know what it does?" the druid continued.
This time Narlissa shook her head. "I do not. I don't think it does anything."
"I think you'll be pleased to know that you're wrong there, Narlissa. It certainly does something. I have seen magical items of this type before."
She was intrigued now although she was also a little worried that she had put on a magical artifact without knowing what it did. She really thought it was harmless. "What does it do?"
"I believe it will make you invisible."
She gasped. "Invisible?"
"Indeed. Try and make it do so. Feel its presence around your neck, and tell it to hide you in plain sight. I have been told that such pendants are very easy to use."
She bit her lower lip, lifting the pendant in her hand and staring at the eye. With all her willpower she told the golden disc to make her invisible. She hoped that Taicoss wasn't mocking her.
Suddenly, the eye engraved on the disc closed. At the same moment she heard Eavu and Taicoss gasp. She looked over at them and realised that they seemed to be looking through, rather than at, her. She looked down at her body. She could see herself just fine. And she certainly didn't feel any different.
"You've vanished, Narlissa!" Eavu said, shocked.
Narlissa moved behind Eavu, and grinned as the two men started talking excitedly. Reaching out she tugged Eavu's ear then ducked away as the blonde warrior whirled around. She giggled.
Stepping in front of them she told the disc to make her visible again and suddenly the men were looking at her. She grinned.
"It seems to work," she said happily.
"Yes it does!" Eavu laughed, rubbing his ear. "It works very well. I'm sure you'll find it very useful."
A moment's silence passed between them before Narlissa turned to Faeht. Soon the group were on the main road and heading away from Hallowblossom. As neither Eavu nor Taicoss had mounts they did not travel quickly but Narlissa did not mind. She had her treasure and the slow ride was perfectly pleasant. Besides, being in the company of two attractive men hardly annoyed her. Indeed, the memories of the times she had already spent with them caused carnal thoughts to take root in her mind.
They did not talk much as afternoon stretched into evening. Soon dusk had started to blanket the land and Narlissa decided they should stop for the night. A tavern stood in the distance and she pointed towards it.
"We shall stop there, if you are so willing," she said. She would stop there no matter what but her magic cunt desperately hoped these two men would, too.
"Of course," Eavu nodded.
Soon they had reached the inn and Narlissa allowed the stablegirl to take Faeht. She gave her a small amount of money as she did and then entered the tavern itself. Approaching the innkeeper, she placed a few gold pieces on the table.
"Your best room, please," she smiled.
The woman looked at her, then to the two men, then back to her. "Just the one?"
"Just the one."
She saw a smirk creep across the innkeeper's face as she handed Narlissa the key. "Top floor."
Narlissa thanked the woman, taking the key and heading upstairs. Taicoss and Eavu were right behind her. Reaching the wooden door that marked the entrance to their room she opened the lock and stepped through.
It was well-furnished enough as far as taverns went but what drew her eye the most was the large plush bed that was sitting in the middle of the room. It was a bed she intended to use to the fullest, and not for sleeping.
The two men stepped in behind her and Narlissa turned to click shut the lock once more. Delicately laying her pack and cloak over a chair that stood in the corner, she turned back to Eavu and Taicoss.
"Since I saved your lives, I feel you owe me, no?" she said, lust burning through her at the thought of what was to come next.