As the night went on, Claudia resumed to play.  A medley of songs ranging from tender ballads to whimsical dancing melodies to heroic epics filled the tavern with such an atmosphere like no other.  People danced, laughed, cried and sang along to the Bard's lovely music, but still the Drow did not budge....not yet.  His eyes, red as blood, they seemed affixed upon the other Drow Elkko with a purpose, but whom the mysterious figure had his eyes on was not the scraggly half-blood, but instead...the man sitting next to him.

He was of a refined sort, the gentleman dressed in expensive attire, happily singing along and gulping his ale.  One could only assume he was nobility, but to be drinking and merrymaking among the commoners was absurd.  Even so, there was no denying the look of a nobleman.

While Claudia continued to work up the crowd, the Drow downed his last swallow of mead and rose from his chair, skulking towards the nobleman.  As he approached, his black cloak billowed behind him as if a living shadow.  The nobleman turned to look at him, a drunken, stupid smile upon his face.

"Uhhh...hullo there!" He said in a slurred voice.  The Drow narrowed his eyes and whispered, "Lord Varen sends his regards.". Suddenly, there was the sound of steel being unsheathed, and then... terror.

The man fell to his knees choking and gasping for air, blood spilling from a grisly gash in his slender neck.  The Drow then kicked him aside and darted towards the stage as the crowd exploded into grim hysteria.

"YE GODS!  MURDER!"
"HE'S DEAD!  THE PRINCE HAS BEEN SLAIN!
"HELP!  SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!  CALL THE GUARDS!"

Claudia froze, nearly dropping her lute from her hands.  She reached for her rapier, but the Drow swept behind her too soon, grabbing her and drawing another dagger to her neck.  He then snarled backing toward the window, "Any of you move and she dies!"