Chapter 1

I counted out the gold we needed to spend the night and handed it to the innkeeper. After being locked up in a cage for gods know how long, I sprang for the comfiest beds I could afford. I spotted Yoshimo sitting at the gambling tables playing cards with a few other men. I admired his effort to get us some extra money but reminded myself that gambling usually ends in a net loss. Even so, I let him have his fun. I've only really cared about money when I start to run out.

Minsc sat in a chair playing with Boo, his hamster, on his lap. I had often wondered several things about Boo: where did he go while Minsc was fighting and how does such a big man like Minsc not squash a little creature like Boo even by accident? They were an odd pair to say the least.

Jaheira sat silently at the bar enjoying a mug of Evermead. I became curious, as it was the first time I think I'd ever seen her drink, and Evermead is some strong stuff. 30 gold for one mug! That's more expensive than a room! Still, if anyone deserved one, it was her. We found Khalid dead in the dungeon, his body eviscerated and torn apart, and Jaheira broke down and cried. After that, she went silent, and I suppose I need to figure out what to do about that.

I wished I had Imoen at times like this. She knows people better than I do and has a much easier time talking. Still, I'm not sure even Imoen could lift Jaheira's spirits. Imoen's gone, I thought to myself. I have no idea where the Cowled Wizards took her or that bastard Irenicus. I touched the sword strapped to my back. Sarevok's Sword of Chaos reminded me that I have power too, and I will use that power to get Imoen back!

"Jeffix?"

I turned around and saw her. Aerie walked up to me, a concerned look in her eyes. "Are you all right?"

In an instant, my rage cooled off and dissipated and I took my hand off the sword. "Yes...fine."

Aerie had only been with us a short time. We had just rescued her from the circus of illusions and her guardian (or uncle as she called him), Quayle, gave me permission to take her traveling with us. When I first saw her, she looked just like an ogre. Once the illusion was dispelled, however, she looked positively beautiful. Her skin was pale and fair and her hair golden and shining with small braids here and there. Here eyes were a bright blue that pierced me whenever I looked at them. I saw her soul in those eyes.

"Were you thinking about Imoen?" she asked.

"Yeah," I sighed.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"No, it's fine. Sit down with me please," I beckoned. "You'll be rooming with me by the way."

"What?" she exclaimed, her mouth agape.

"Is that a problem?" I asked. "I got three. One for Minsc and Yoshimo, one for Jaheira because I think it's best we give her as much space as possible right now, which leaves one for you and me."

"Oh," she began. "I'm sorry, Jeffix. I shouldn't have reacted so."

"Forget about it," I told her. "You should get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow."

"What happens tomorrow?" she asked.

"Well, we're going to have to spend a while in Athkatla and do some digging on the Cowled Wizards. If we can figure out where they keep their prisoners, we can work on retrieving Imoen," I said honestly.

"Then I'll get some rest now. I want to help as much as possible tomorrow," she said smiling. I smiled as well.

"I may just take my own advice as well," I said as we both walked up to our room. As we entered, I had a bit of a shock. There was only one bed. "What is this?" I said angrily. "I specifically asked for two double beds and one single bed! Oh well. Can't be helped now I suppose. You take the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." Aerie's eyes widened.

"Jeffix! I..I can't do that! I can't, in good conscience, take the bed and let you sleep on a hard floor!"

"I just spent gods know how long locked in a steel cage! I'm perfectly content with sleeping on a floor!" I snapped at her. "Now get in that bed and get some rest!" I turned around and turned back. "I'm sorry, Aerie," I said softly. "That was terrible of me. Gorion would berate me for forgetting my manners in front of a lady. I just have a lot on my mind right now. That's all."

"I understand," she said. Then she did something I did not expect at all. She put her arms around my neck and hugged me, her head falling on my armor's chestpad. Being an human, I stood a good five inches taller than her. I then placed my arms around her back, and it was in that moment that I felt her scars for the first time, and through them, I could feel her pain.

"My wings have been clipped," she whispered. "Oh, I wish you could understand how it feels to be bound and chained to the ground, like a miserable prisoner of earth."

"What was it like to fly, Aerie?" I said quietly, still hugging her.

"Oh…it-it's so hard to describe." She paused, took her head off my chest, thought for a moment, then continued. "It's the ultimate freedom, to soar above the clouds and become part of the wind, itself. I remember I used to be so happy. The clouds are a special place up there, Jeffix… It's like a land of billowing white beauty that you can almost walk upon."

"Sounds magical. Flying's one thing I've only ever done once," I told her with a smile.

"You've flown before?" she asked bewildered.

"Sort of," I said. "I was wrangling a wyvern and it took off into the air for a few seconds before I brought it down." She giggled. "What?" I asked.

"You say that as if it was a hobby, that's all." I smiled. "I know I only joined you a day ago but I think you really are amazing," she said.

"Well, thanks but I'm just lucky, that's all," I replied hoping maybe she might get that I was referring to two things at once. Whether she did, I couldn't tell. "You should get some sleep now," I said.

"Oh...okay," she said with a bit of disappointment in her voice. She let go of my neck and lay down on the bed. I sat in the armchair next to the bed and winked at Aerie as she pulled the blanket up to her neck. She smiled and closed her eyes. I placed my sword, my bow, and my dagger on the floor, blew out the candles and closed my eyes.