DISCLAIMER: This is from a fan to fans. Of course, my bad, I don't own Dungeons and dragons cartoon, don't own D&D tabletop rpg, don't own Forgotten Realms or even some pc game based in that like Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter nights. I would like it but isn't the case, this is for no profit, only a little story based with D&DC characters and based in Forgotten Realms with the base of the rpg. If you miss something about the cartoon or the FR, don't ask me to include it. If you want something changed (the guys younger, from the 80's again, the Big Spooky One as Venger's master…), don't ask me to include them. Remember, is my story…
Notes: The songs are songs I relate to Venger quite easy. There aren't meant to be resumes from the chapters, they aren't previews, but songs that make me think in Venger every time I hear them.
Note 2: Also, this is my very first attempt to create a story in English only. My mother's tongue is Spanish, so patient with mistakes and gramma.
NOT ONLY HUMANS NATURE
Unholy powers are taking control
When the spell of the night's setting in
Unholy powers, we're all cast aside
Cause the night of the witch never ends
Nocturnal Rites – Unholy Powers
Chapter 1
The scars, the damn scars all over the back, between the wings… Always that ache every morning to remind himself that he was in hurt and in pain, but alive and angry too. Sitting in the bed Venger tried to pull away the thoughts beginning to massage his temples with the fingers, closing his eyes, casting away the pain.
When he was ready, he tried to open the wings. Was unpleasant, like always, like every morning since he get those scars than split apart the muscles that controlled the movement of the appendices. Now he must to use a move of the shoulders to open the wings, only open… He remembered that for years he can't fly by himself.
'I have no time for this mood' he said forcing himself to move to the bathroom where, like every day, he has a very hot bath waiting.
The bath, together with the magic he casted before, ended to take everything away from him, just for a moment, for the right time to think about that day and make plots and plans. That day was special, he will be in the move again, taking another part of the map and writing his name all over it.
With the eyes closed and relaxed he still could feel something cold near to him.
'Speak, Shadow Demon' Venger said with his authoritarian deep voice. 'What news do you bring from the Saiyaddar?'
The shadow, still trembling and astonished for the ability of his master to note him even when he seems distracted, approached to the bath, lowering the head in respect.
'As you command, my master, the troops are moving from the Saiyaddar to the mountains of Evereska in the border of the Anauroch' but that wasn't all the information his master wanted, so he continued 'They started at dawn and will be there before noon'.
'Excellent. They will be fresh enough to mounting a camp in the mountains and wait for the reinforcements' he opened a little his red eyes and look not to the Shadow Demon, but to the ceiling 'But you're not here for that, isn't it? There is a problem with the drows…'
And he left the phrase in the air and closed the eyes once more. The demon of the shades started to feel really uncomfortable in the presence of Venger. Always, when there was a problem in his plans, he was that uncomfortable with him.
'Yes, th… there is a problem, my lord' he walked a step backwards. 'The matron mother of the House of Xorlarrin is here, your highness. She wanted to… ehem… renegotiate the treaty'.
He heard it. That little growl emanating from his master's throat.
He's like an animal, thought the shadow, like a big bad red dragon in the cave, upset for the adventurers trying to steal the treasure but treating them like flies in the soup.
Venger smiled after a few seconds.
'Ok, let us see what she wants… But I do not know what she wants to… renegotiate. Is a good treaty' for the way he was smiling, it wasn't.
'I don't know, my master. She didn't say me' thing that upset the shadow, that stupid elf woman treated him like he was a slave, and he wasn't. For his concept, he was far more important in the Realm than her.
'No matter… we will see and if we are not agree…well, I can think in something' unpleasant for that drow, for sure, and that thought made the Shadow Demon really happy.
'And… there is another thing, my master…' Venger sighed, he already knew what the demon was about to say. 'The young pupils of Dungeon Master, they are in the Anauroch too, heading the Black Road in the desert but I don't know where they're going. They can be a problem…'
'They are always a problem' said the mage while leaving the bath, feeling nothing of shame for his naked body. 'I want you to have an eye over them, if they arrive to the High Forest, I want to know it'.
Shadow Demon nodded with respect, moving aside to let his master walk to the bedroom.
'But now, to the present… I'm hungry' he smiled mischievously amused. 'I think Matron Mother Talaya don't mind if I take my breakfast first'.
The shadow laughed at low voice, feeling complicit with his master, and flied through the wall heading his way for the great hall of the throne. He loved bringing bad news… to others, not to his master.
Almost an hour and a half later, Venger, full dressed with his heavy robe, entered in the Throne Room with that strong walk that gave him a certain aura of power and strength. With no even see once to the drow or the shadow demon near to him, the mage took his sit in the throne, regio, as was his habit.
'Good morning, Matron Mother Talaya' he said that smiling broadly.
The choice of words was complete on purpose, point the fact of seeing a drow not only in the daylight, but even so early for them wasn't the usual.
'Good morning, Master Venger' she seemed not to have noticed the choice of words made by Venger and, if she had done, she disguised very well. 'Sorry if I interrupt something important but I had to come, to address an important problem about our… collaboration'.
Collaboration… The Shadow Demon repeated the word in his mind. Ha!, good new word for 'serving trembling and full of fear'… The demon didn't know from where was that female taking the valor to face his master and ask demands at all.
Venger, in the other hand, was observing carefully the matron mother. She was really beautiful, that was far beyond any discussion, but like all the old matron mothers of the drow, she had something… not in the surface that provokes instinctive rejection. Wasn't, he knew that, the natural evil inside every member of the dark elves race, no… Was more, maybe the strange and mystic connection to Lolth. Who knows?
But, anyway, she was really beautiful. She had a silver long hair, shining with the pale light of the room and she hadn't ornaments in the hair, like if she was sure about the splendor of her tufts and she would not want to blow it with something unnecessary. Only a tinny spider was in her forehead, made in obsidian, pointing her like a matron mother.
The rest of the clothes were made in spider's silk dyed in black and was so few and bound that was a difficult task to distinguish the skin from the clothes. But, even with that, the attire was provocative and sexy. Venger couldn't help himself about thinking in the kings and queens among the humans and the majority of the races that he knew. The difference was clear and he liked the freedom, as he called it, of the drow.
For a moment, thinking in that and seeing her, the mage assessed the possibility of having something with that creature… But far as the idea come to his mind, he casted it away. It wouldn't be the first time he tried having something with a drow female, driving himself with the beauty of those creatures, but he must to remember that was… not unpleasant but not funny either. Drow women, specially matron mothers, was raised to rule, to have all in the palm of their hands. They wanted and don't give in the same fashion, so something like sex with them wasn't that good.
Venger was silent for a couple of minutes but both Shadow Demon and Talaya were quiet and patient until the moment he started to speak again. Wasn't a good idea to rush him, especially when both knew he used that to test people, to test their patience, maybe searching a motive to punish with no mercy, only for his enjoyment.
'Well, my dear. I thought our agreement was quite satisfactory for both of us' especially for him, he thought. 'I do not know what must be… undone or must be fix'.
The arch-mage was seeing her carefully, with all his attention. He knew that act could tear apart lesser minds, break them like thin glass only with the ethereal possibility of them making him angry. But, she wasn't that kind, she was strong, raised in the House of Xorlarrin, educated in Arach-Tinilith, brutal clerical academy, like a cleric and servant of Lolth, the demoness queen of spiders, and she was the master of her House now… with four ambitious daughters, she must to add… No, her mind was not only ok, but plenty well defended to fall into that mind trick.
She smiled beautifully and seductive, seeing into the eyes of Venger too.
'My master, nothing must to be change or fix. I have simple a request that can be good for both of us' the voice was quite soft, like velvet, Venger could imagine himself caress that voice. 'In the Far Forest, near to The High Forest, there is a little elf settlement they made recently. If you are so kind to eradicate them, I could move my scouts faster from the Underdark, without the need of being so careful'.
'Are you delaying your reinforcements only for a little elf settlement?' asked the mage, curious for the answer.
'Master Venger, like yourself told me in this war campaign you're starting, element of surprise isn't an option but a need. If they discover our movements, or only guess about them, nothing will stop them to warn not only the other elves in High Forest, but the rest of Sword Coast too' she crossed her arms but without losing the fresh smile. 'That lack of touch only could have one result, the only thing that diplomacy never succeeded: Bring together the realms of Amn, Baldur's Gate, Waterdeep and others in this region'.
That was a strong argument and he knew, even before she started to speak, he knew that would be that kind of argument. She needed something to convince him, so she said it. Not a surprise, but he acted following her.
'Ok, then. I'll take care of that elf population for you but you must start to move your troops right now. I want them in Evereska by night. Did I make myself clear enough?' His voice was soft as hers, not high, not furious or even little upset… He was kind, delicate in the way of speaking but… wasn't clear why, that voice made her feel an unpleasant sensation in her spine, like a cold hand under the skin.
'Clear enough, my master' said the drow. 'I'll move my troops when I'll arrive to my home' she lowered her head in respect.
'Is that all, my dear?' asked the arch-mage.
'Yes, that was all that I need, my master'.
'You can go now, then' the woman bow and leave, moving her hips while walking like the dance of a snake.
'I guess we'll move to that forest…' said the Shadow Demon, waking up Venger from the spell of that movement from minutes ago. 'I'll go to make sure Argö is ready to…'
'No' said the mage, stopping the shadow when he was right now in the middle of the hall. 'This is a trick'.
Now Venger had all the attention of Shadow Demon.
'There is a trick in that request' he repeated. 'There is something in the shades and I hate can't see far from the smoke screen'.
'I can't see anything strange in that, Venger' he was still thinking while speaking. 'Drows hates all other elven races and I remember they use to attack them quite often'.
'Precisely' responded the mage. 'They use to attack them, as an act of cruelty, or strength… Even that is a part of their maturity rites. They, normally in this situation, go to that village, slay them, even the children, with the mayor brutality and go to their task very happy and confident. Asking me to do their fun isn't right, not normal. Here is more that we can see and I want to know. I'm not the kind of man that is accustomed to be used. Go to that forest, Shadow Demon. Bring me information about that settlement and don't stop in the surface…'
Venger raised from the throne and started to walk. He hadn't a defined direction but he needed to think.
'You look… worry, my lord' said the shadow. 'Do you think she's planning against you?'
'Drows are always plotting and planning, Shadow Demon. That isn't a surprise, but I want to know what she's preparing and what part she thinks I'll play' the mage smiled. 'I don't care about playing with loaded dice but I want to know in what number they will stop'.
'I see, master. I'll go now, if you excuse me…' and the shadow flied from Venger as fast as he could.
Not was only the wish to serve Venger the matter that moved him, but the idea of that stupid drow female making such a mistake like plotting against his master pleased him specially… oh, that mistake, stupid naïve mistake could be such a pain for that woman…
'That black spot is always very worry about serving you' said a happy, young voice near to him.
That dark corridor was, apparently, empty, but he knew that voice.
'I created him, for that is the hurry' said the mage, turning around.
'Is that a reason for being a pet?' said a young woman, coming out of the shadows.
Venger laughed at that comment, only beginning to walk again.
'He's invulnerable to physical damage, almost invulnerable to magic. He can't be touched and he can touch only concentrating very hard. The only thing that can really hurt him is me. Even If I get mad with him, I can destroy him even without notice, only wishing him to disappear. For that he's the perfect servant: one that only lives to makes me pleased'.
The woman smiled broadly.
'Oh, I'm feeling jealous…' she said with sarcasm. 'So the perfect servant to you is someone scare to death of being erased like a bad painting, isn't it?'
He denied, smiling too.
'I think is more complex than that' he stopped. 'It's like you… You are loyal, skilled… But someday I'll turn you into stone in a reflex act if you continue to show up from nowhere, Sharrine'.
'Oh, I don't think that… You're so cold-blood, powerful and all that can't make that terrible, horrible mistake, isn't that right, cabin boy?' she punched him softly in the huge chest of the mage and started to laughing hard.
'Someday you will call me that in public and I'll be forced to give you a lesson' Venger warned her but was smiling with sincerity.
'Dunno… Nobody can force Powerful Venger to do something against his will, not even the appearances' she winked at him. 'Okey, okey… Back to work…. I have news from Aran'.
'And what said the Master of the Shades?' asked Venger, curious.
'He's agree, satisfied, I must to say… I knew he would be in that way, looking at the policy of the guild' the redhead started to play unconsciously with her curls. 'But it's really complex… Are you sure you can do it?'
'I'm the mastermind, isn't it?' he joked but in that moment Venger put his face with a serious grim. 'I can manage it… I only have a little problem, maybe two, to deal with. Nothing important, I'll success'.
'I hope so… Is a good plan, I don't want it blow up' the woman saw serious for first time in the face of Venger. 'You're in pain, aren't you?'
The mage sighed, she knew him so well, like a sister more than a good friend.
'Yeah, the scars… that fuc… that fool scars are hurting real bad this morning… There will be a storm in an hour or maybe two. For that I want to run from here'
'You can't run every time your powers decide that the weather is too much calm and quiet, but I can understand about the pain. My knee is trying to force me to take the retirement…' she beat his thigh accentuating the joke, trying to make the mage smile but he was with that serious, almost sad grim. 'Oky, I know it. Magic wounds are far more painful than normal ones and you really hate that your aura creates storms and bad weather but, hey… We are who we are, you can't complain, you have a lot of things to compensate those little problems'.
The mage sighed again and he just shrugged, thinking that, in the end, Sharrine was only a child. She really looks like a child, with a light leather armor with lighter different colors from red to blue, with her curly red hair carefully uncombed and that pretty little face that Venger in his mind always compare to an apple. Even the little pointy ears were in some matter cute.
'I suppose you are right' he granted. 'But is annoying, anyway. And the sensation of pain is making my temperament bitter'.
She looked at him, fixedly.
'Bitterer, I mean…' clarified the mage.
She smiled and took Venger from his arm.
'Well, I have the hell of the mother of all remedies about that…'
'Sharrine…' he started to say, remember their last two conversations… well, more discussions than conversations.
'I don't meaning about that, you moron… I have something I bought in Thay. Good, expensive magic… really expensive magic, I felt if I was selling my soul'
'If was in Thay Realm, maybe you did it. What do you have?' Venger asked, curious.
'Ah, ah, ah. Everything has a price, cabin boy… you taught me that' she said cheerfully.
'And I regret it… Well, what do you want?' said the mage, raising an eyebrow. 'And I hope isn't something about the last time you yelled at me. The answer is still no'.
She made a funny expression in her face, curving her lips and wrinkled her nose in a very childish way. In the end, she showed him her tongue.
'You're such a pain, you know' she said. 'No, is nothing about that, for my bad… Not 'cause I don't want it, you know…'
'To the point, lady' he said, playing be serious.
'Ok, I want a new sword, magic one… you're useless making remedies but you're real good with magic blacksmithing…'
'How do you know that?' he asked curious.
'Terrance, I saw last week the sword and the armor you did for him. Quite good, why didn't you tell me you're such a good blacksmith?' she put her hands on her hips.
'You didn't ask…' in that moment was Venger who showed her his tongue.
'Your tongue must be extra funny, you know, with those two ends' she was pointing at him and the way she said the words could made him blush, if he was capable of blushing at all.
'Okey, young awful pervert thief… What kind of sword do you want?' he surrendered, for the moment.
'Nothing fancy… short sword, good blade, light for fast moves and I want it extra strong and extra damage… and maybe some elemental damage and a curse preventing from stealing…' she had her hand in the chin, thinking hard.
'Yeah, yeah… and do you want Tiamat like a pet? I could try to find her and put a collar around the five necks and…' he joked. 'You're asking too much for a simple sword… but, I'll try to please you in the majority of that demands. Happy?'
'Yeah… Tons of happy' she started to search in her clothes and finally she gave him a small silver box. 'When those start to hurt again, use this. Is an ointment, doesn't smell good, but is effective'.
The mage took the little box and saw it carefully, finally he opened the box and closed his eyes for the strong smell coming from the remedy.
'Agg… this smell like a troll' he said, closing the silver box again. 'Maybe they added troll to the mixture… Thank you, anyway. When the weather changes or I'm nervous these scars hurt a lot and my magic every time is less effective against it'.
'Well, not even when you were a paladin your healing ability was marvelous' she said, smiling.
'Who told you that? You didn't even born!' the mage said, playing offended 'And for your information, lady, I was quite good at healing. My Lay on Hands was famous and I still have the old touch… But that is for healing, isn't for pain'.
'If you say so… Well, the ointment is good, worked in my knee so give it a chance' she said, forcing the hands of Venger around the little box.
'I will do it. But now, I need you for another task' said the arch-mage, starting to walk again. 'Return to Aran Linvail and ask him in my name to wait in the Brotherhood of Shadows in Athkatla. I need him there to receive the message of Shadow Demon when I need him for his part'
She nodded while he was speaking, paying him all his attention, acting really professional.
'And then go to Baldur's Gate, speak with the master of that thieves brotherhood. This one doesn't need to know about the plan at all. We are hiring them, not collaborating with them. Tell him about the payment and nothing more'.
'You're aware that you're sending me to a travel of a lot of miles in the Sword Coast, aren't you?' she started to cares her forehead with a hand. 'Of course you are… And I hope the next step isn't the North Blades, 'cause I don't want anything with them'.
'Do not worry, Sharrine, I do want nothing with them too' he smiled. 'They are too much ambitious and bloody for my plan. I need finesse, not trolls with masks'.
She started to laugh hard, she knew some members of the North Blades that fit that description very well, even when they were full human.
'I'm happy to hear that, cabin boy' she said, stopping the speech when she heard a cough from the darkness of the corridor. 'Oh, boy… He's fast'
She wasn't happy to see again Shadow Demon, in fact was clear that she despised the creature. The mage, in the other hand, looked surprise at the shadow and his interruption, but he looked to the girl a second later with an apology grim.
'Yeah, better if I'm on my way… The competition is tough, I guess' she walked a few steps and climbed to one of the windows wide open. 'Don't forget my damn payment and maybe when I finish this we can talk about the way you look another chicks and that…'
'Oh, Sharrine, not again… You are for me…' he tried to be patient with her.
'Yeah, yeah, I know… Anyway, I want a chat about that… See you, cabin boy' she greeted with a hand and disappeared.
'Cabin boy… ' repeated the shadow seeing were she was standing seconds ago. 'With all due respect, master, you are so much permissive with the little half-elf'.
'Sharrine is just a child, I know that for age she is not a girl anymore but to my eyes she is still that little one that tried to steal my purse when she was four' he smiled softly. 'The problem is that she is seeing me with woman eyes and I can't follow her in that'
'Anyway, master, she must to be more respectful with you' the shadow knew that was a lose battle but he still could express his opinion. 'Try to imagine if she took such familiarity in public…'
'She is not a fool, Shadow Demon, she knows where and when does these things' said Venger, very sure about what he was talking. 'And every person is aware about where is their position and place, if they make a mistake, is their fault'
'I know that, master, but… Cabin boy…' he said in a tone that denotes he couldn't believe it. 'I don't even know what is that about…'
'Well, Shadow Demon, that is all that matter about a private joke: only those involved know the meaning of all' and he knew the demon was curious but he didn't want to speak about that, not in that moment. 'But now the matter is other. You were so fast, something happened?'
The shadow nodded and started to follow his master. He knew the direction this time: He was going to his laboratory.
'There is something strange about that settlement, my lord' he said, really worry. 'It's plenty of magic, powerful one… and, the strangest thing is… is full of protections. I only could see from the trees, nothing inside, I couldn't go close enough. I could distinguish powerful protections against divination, conjuration, enchantment and evocation. Too much for a simple elf village'.
'I knew it! She wants something from there… but "What?" is the question' the mage stopped. 'So you couldn't enter and you couldn't see, correct?'
He nodded, in silence, letting his master thinking.
'We need a subtle way to enter and see what they are guarding and for what purpose she wants it' he walked a few steps more and opened a heavy metal door, a soft light illuminated the room. 'Tell me, Shadow Demon, where did you say Dungeon Master's pupils were?'
'In the Anauroch, my master, heading the Black Road' Venger had, in the top of a table in that lab, a map of the Sword Coast and its provinces, kingdoms or realms. It was very detailed.
The mage observed the map carefully to finally pointing the Black Road, he moved his finger to encounter the Far Forest.
'It's almost directly… maybe, with the right direction and advice, they could arrive to the elf village' even when the Shadow Demon hadn't lips or even a visible mouth, he made the impression of being smiling.
'You'll trick them into do the dirty work' said the shadow.
'Oh, that's awful… no, I only will guide them to a safe place. The Anauroch is tough, difficult even from a native… try to imagine an alien, an outsider, a poor creature from a world that serve all in a silver plate' he smiled and that smile was predatory in some way. 'I will act only like a good Samaritan, you know, achieving for them a secure place to rest. And I will be with them to see what they will see about that strange and secret elven lair'.
'But master… What happen to the plan?'
'The plan can be delayed, can and must to wait. This kind of plot can't be hush or hurry… This need all in a perfect harmony for the end I want. And, of course, I could go, destroy the protections and massacre the elves in the process but I don't like to be the fool, not for that matron mother, not for anyone'.
'Master…' started the Shadow with a little bit of fear but the mage, with a look, urged him to continue talking. 'I felt that protections, maybe they have something against Transmutation too. You entering there and the disguise will be vanishing'.
Venger smiled and that only could mean one thing: He already thought about that.
'For that I'll go no wearing a disguise at all' The shadow opened his horrific white eyes, amazed by the words of his master.
'But master…' he didn't know how to say.
'Do not worry, Shadow Demon, I didn't lost my mind' the mage was observing the map. 'I have a plan, an idea, something really that simple that cannot fail at all. Something that I didn't try in the past… and is so easy…'
'Wh… What do you have in mind, master?' he was really curious.
'Well, you will see but for now, go and alert the troops to wait for the drows and, when they arrive, together they will wait for my command' Venger rolled parchment with the map. 'Maybe I'll need it. Go now, Shadow Demon, and when you return we will catch the young ones in the desert'
The shadow, still curious but obedient as ever, didn't ask anything or inquired more, instant he vanished in the shade of his master to take the faster way to Evereska, traveling through the Plane of Shadows, a dangerous dark reflex from the prime material plane. He, in certain way, was a native in that plane, because his master made him using a dark image of himself in that site, so he felt like he was in home. In fact, like a shadow himself, he could travel there in a terrible speed, so he only needed spend a couple of minutes to a travel of days.
When he arrived to the mountains, the orcs and the lizard men were already there, mounting the camp and preparing themselves for his master's orders. The Shadow Demon repeated the words of Venger to them and also warned them to should remain hidden from the curious eyes. When the shadow was sure about the commands and the understanding about them from the army, he left the camp and flied through the shadows again, going as fast as he could to reach out sooner to the castle.
And when he arrived and sought for his master, going at last to his private chamber, the scene he saw left him petrified.
Venger was standing in the middle of the room, finishing dressing adding a touch here and there.
The shadow gazed him fixedly, from the head to the toe, without believing what he was seeing.
The mage, for the start, had his long black hair loose, unlike usual, wearing his hair gathered into a braid, to make more easy hiding it into the helmet. Shadow Demon could notice that the hair was very neat and shining as if it was some dark metal. The way the hair was around Venger's face showed it less aggressive and sinister than when he was wearing that red helmet. The arch-mage had a pending in the right ear with the form of a sword. Normally the mage wore an obsidian ring in that ear, more to prevent the closing of the hole than other thing. That thing with the ear and the pendant was something about Venger's family but the Shadow Demon never dared to ask about, whether it was something uncomfortable for him.
Downing the eyes to see the rest, the Shadow saw Venger was wearing a grey leather armor, not closed at all but opened slightly in the chest. He could see the beginning of the red dragon head that had Venger in his skin like a birthmark. The leather of the armor was filled with little metal pieces, dyed black, and wasn't a problem to distinguish the white shirt behind the armor… In fact the mage was trying to tie the cords of the leather around his wrists to prevent the sleeves of the shirt from going out.
The pants were pretty similar to the armor but more loose and comfortable, making it easy to wear. At the waist he was wearing two belts: one for the pants, with an icon of a symbolic red dragon protecting a sun with its wings (the dragon only had one horn), another with the scabbard of the sword.
The weapon itself was laying in the bed, waiting to be saved in its scabbard. The sword was huge, for a human, but for Venger and his size, were mere a long sword. The blade shining as if it was silver but a careful eye could see a red glow, invisible to the human eye, but with some light someone could possible swear have seen it. The hilt of the sword was done in some red metal, impossible to confirm what metal at all, but had a simple design to make easy to hold it, showing with that the weapon was for use, not for view. The pommel had the form of a symbolic flame and the cross-guard were two dragon wings wide open but in a smooth fashion, with no edges to make awkward to use it. The final touch in the sword was the rain guard, with the head of a dragon. In some way the eyes of the dragon were glowing strangely, like if that beast was intelligent at all.
'Holy Eater… ' said finally the shadow while his master was tying the laces of his boots. 'I thought you'll never use your sword again, master'.
'Why not?' responded the mage. His voice was more cheerful, like when he was speaking with the half-elf thief. 'The Holy Eater is a good sword, it comes handy'
'I haven't doubts about that, master' responded the Shadow respectfully. 'But I thought you were… avoiding things of your past, about your history like Tyr's champion…'
The Shadow Demon was afraid about committing a mistake with his master, but the mage smiled and denied with a move of his head.
'No, Shadow Demon… Don't speak about it and hide it, are two different things' the arch-mage went to the bed and took the sword, seeing carefully his reflex in the blade. 'You see: secrets… They are not a defense, they are not useful. You keep a secret and keeping one is being afraid all time, afraid of the truth itself. No… I'm not a fool merchant, selling weapons to my enemies. I'm always trying to minimize my weaknesses and I'm not the kind of man that is embarrassing about his past and what he is'.
He couldn't avoid looking at his master with admiration. Of course, the arch-mage surely had secrets, was impossible knowing all about his past, but he thought being a former paladin was a pain in the ass of Venger… But he wasn't concern at all about being wearing his old clothes and his sword. And, when the shadow looked to the bedside table, his admiration grew. There was the symbol of Tyr, the blue shield with the scales of Justice on the top of the hammer of Righteousness. The mage, with no second thoughts, placed it around his neck.
'I am ready' he said. 'What do you thing?'
He asked opening his arms and smiling.
'Quite good, master, but… Are… are you sure about this?' the shadow wasn't sure about how to ask the question. 'I mean… You look different enough but they are your more close enemies. Those children see you quite often, fight you, battle you very close. Sure maybe they have even nightmares with you… They can recognize you, aren't they?'
'No, my friend' said Venger. 'They are used to the tunic, to the robe… They expect me wearing the red and grey tunic, the red one-horned helmet. In certain way, their enemy is my robe, not me. They even can't recognize my voice without the appropriate clothes. Remember when I capture the young illusionist, Varla? When I disguised myself like the knight in the white horse? I was so hurry that I didn't change my voice… And they were unable to identify me. I'm Venger, anyway, wearing whatever I want… but not for the rest of the Realm and not for them'.
'I see, master' said the Shadow more confident than before. 'It's all about appearances'
The mage nodded and then he closed his eyes.
'Well, let's find them' he said.
For his concern, he wasn't good using divination magic, but for the standards of other mages and wizards in the Realms, he was quite good enough, not in the level of his transmutation, his primary magic school, but was good as a master. And specially when he had to seek them… The weapons they were carrying were an amazing beacon for his seeker magic.
His mind flied fast, going over the trees, touching the water of the lakes in his way… The animals and magic creatures that could sense power, fled to the contact of the mind of the sorcerer. In the end, when passed only a few seconds, his mind went to the children, above the desert sands.
Sheila trembled suddenly, like she was feeling a cold wind. They all looked at her… That was really strange, in the middle of the desert the temperature did not favor those chills.
'What happened, Sheila?' asked the acrobat putting her hand on her shoulder and staring at her with dismay.
'Nothing… Was… nothing… nothing at all' she looked over her shoulder, as if she expects to have something behind.
'We're more than alone, sis' said the barbarian, who was really tired about the desert. 'If at least someone came out… ya know… a couple of droids, stormtroopers, jawas or even sand people… This is the more bored stupid desert of all of them… There isn't even a monster…'
'Beware of what you desire…' singing Presto.
'Indeed' said Venger returning his mind to his body and smiling predatory. 'I must to say, Shadow Demon, that the young thief is good… really good. Is a pity that they are with the wrong person to grow up in power and strength'.
'Are they still in the Anauroch, master?' asked the shadow.
'Yes… And that is good for me'.
