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"Whoever said anything about serving and obeying?" 
	Argent, the High Speaker of Delleb, rolled his eyes at the 
words of Adaz, now six months pregnant.  Those few in attendance as 
witnesses had similar thoughts, but Sutekh only smiled and leaned 
closer to Adaz.  
	"You're forgetting that knowledge of my true name allows you 
to command my will," he whispered so that only Adaz could hear.  
"Should you so desire," he added.  
	"Oh," replied Adaz after a moment's thought.  Then she turned 
to Argent.  "I do."  
	After the ceremony, Adaz's left ring-finger was adorned by a 
plain, ebony band; Sutekh's silver ring was equally as plain.  

The lands of Sanctuary were beautiful; a largely unpopulated region of 
open fields and river valleys.  At the center of it all stood a great, 
white, granite pyramid.  
	"Unfortunately, Sanctuary is having to live up to its name," 
Argent explained as he showed Adaz and Sutekh the grounds immediately 
around the couple's new home.  Argent was somewhat of a surprise to 
Sutekh.  No older than Adaz, the responsibility for Delleb's sect in 
Furyondy was his to bear.  
	"The king is wise and good.  He, along with such nobles as the 
Honorable Mage Cygnus, the Majestic Lady Galadriel, his Noble 
Lordliness Abor of Greenham, and others, instituted an enlightened 
policy of human-rights unique among the realms of the Flaness.  There 
is no slavery, the sick are cared for by the state, and many lesser 
offices are held by locally-elected officials.  
	"Unfortunately the evil of Iuz is greater than that which is 
wrought by slaughter on the field of battle.  The destructive war on 
the northern and eastern frontiers has resulted in the weakening of
the king's power and the strengthening of the various lords of the 
kingdom.  Many of these lords are against the idea of giving rights to 
commoners and they view the king's policies as dangerous for the realm 
as a whole.  Under the guise of maintaining the law and security of 
the land, many of the progressive programs have been suspended.  Hard 
times are looming ahead for the commoners as the economy falters, but 
the lord's have found a way to direct away from themselves the 
discontent that has arisen.  They have taken to holding up the worship 
of Heironeous as the solution to everyone's problems.  It is said that 
if the entire kingdom forsakes other religions, Heironeous himself 
will come down to deliver Furyondy from its woes.  The results have 
been staggering and, of course, the clergy of Heironeous very much 
enjoy the increase in popularity in what was already the state 
religion."  
	"And what of the other religions?" Adaz inquired.  
	"Gone.  We are the last to openly operate within the bounds of 
Furyondy.  Not that I blame them, but for us it is different.  Our 
beliefs directly oppose what is happening in this land and for that 
reason we cannot leave.  Naturally, the leaders of the purity movement 
claim we are all that bars the arrival of Heironeous.  Though there 
has yet to be any violence, the pressure is incredible.  Hardly a day 
passes that another family or two does not arrive here seeking 
refuge."  
	"Heironeous is The Holy Knight, is he not?" Sutekh asked.  
	"Yes."  
	"So tell me, Argent, you say that you were a knight once; 
would not Heironeous be more likely to help those that face their 
enemies as opposed to helping those who harass their allies?" 
	"Fear not, Sutekh," Argent replied.  "It is not a god we face, 
only his over-zealous followers.  I have dealt with zealots before, 
but I do not know how to deal with the lords who drive them."  
	Sutekh noticed Adaz's look of concentration.  Winking at 
Argent, Sutekh leaned on her shoulder and stared at her head.  "You
can almost hear her think, can't you Argent?" 
	Argent smiled in response.  
	"I think we may be able to help you out, sir," Sutekh 
continued.  "Adaz has had some experience with, shall we say, 
political underhandedness?  And, with all modesty, my skills are the 
perfect extension of her cunning."  
	Slowly a smile spread across Adaz's features as she turned to 
Sutekh.  "I am in need of some information."  
	"Certainly," Sutekh replied.  "Which of the opposition would 
you like me to visit first?" 
	"I am going to enjoy this," Adaz said, giving her husband a 
kiss.  "And as soon as I don't look like a prize watermelon I am going 
to personally enjoy this."  
	"I thought you might, my dear," Sutekh laughed.  "I thought 
you might.  Sir," he said turning to Argent.  "We might want to give 
the purists a chance to surrender before we loose Adaz on them.  It 
would only be sporting."  
	"My friend, we are dealing with a way of life, not sport," 
Argent said with a smile.  "Let your wife do her worst.  I might even 
allow myself to enjoy the, ah, discomfort, I foresee in the future of 
the nobles."  
	Adaz's eyes narrowed and her smile turned villainous.  "They 
are going to positively squirm."  

Sutekh was sitting in the large, padded chair and staring into space 
when Adaz entered their apartment.  
	"Why the long face?" she asked.  Not receiving a reply she 
helped herself to his lap, leaned her head against his, and stuck out 
her lower lip in a mock pout.  Sutekh could not restrain his laugh.  
	"Very well," he sighed.  "I was just thinking about all my old 
companions and their current stations in life."  
	"Why should that depress you?" 
	"Well, it's just that they are all spoken of in tales 
throughout the Flaness while I am known of in Celene and Greyhawk; and 
I'm about as popular in that city as you are."  
	"Sutekh, that's silly.  You're a spy, you're not supposed to 
be well known."  
	"And they all have such grand titles, noble status and such.  
I'm called ElfFriend in a country were a considerable percentage of 
the population would still like to see me dead."  
	"Awww."  
	"Then there is their wealth, the likes of which would impress 
any king."  
	"But we agreed that it was unnecessary and gave most of ours 
to Argent."  
	"Yeah, but still."  
	"Well," Adaz said as she began to caress his cheek.  "Maybe if 
you think real hard you could come up with a few things you have that 
make your life more enjoyable."  
	"Well, my sword is rather fun at times."  
	Adaz tipped back his head and kissed him.  "What else?" she 
asked in a husky voice.  
	"Hmmm, oh, of course, my spells," he said, doing his best to 
restrain a smile.  
	"Spells are good," she breathed in his ear.  "Anything else?" 
	"Let's see, let's see.  Ahhh, Chirrrlup?" 
	"Certainly," she whispered, kissing him again.  "But perhaps," 
kiss, "you can think of one more thing?"  Kiss.  
	"Think, think, think.  Hmmm.  No, I... I guess that's about 
it."  
	"Well," kiss, "There is one thing you definitely don't have."  
Kiss.  
	"What's that?" 
	"A place to sleep tonight," she said harshly.  
	Adaz stood, but Sutekh would not let go of her hand.  "And
just what makes you think I was planning on sleeping tonight?" 
	"All night?  Come on, this I gotta' see," she said as she 
pulled him to his feet.  


						Jeff Stehman