Chapter 2: Friendly arms

On the road leading to the Friendly Arm, two exhausted travelers stumbled in the cold night. The first one was a male, a black-haired half-elf of average height and weight, while his female companion, a young aasimar with pink hair was slightly smaller and slimmer.
The two of them were tired and dirty, both bleeding from several wounds.

" Jay, I'm hungry. " moaned Imoen plaintively.
" Yeah, me too, Im. The Friendly Arm shouldn't be far, you'll eat all you want soon enough. " answered Jagen tiredly.
" Aww, but I'm hungry now! "
" Perhaps, but we don't have food now, so you'll have to wait. "
" If you hadn't thrown our rations to this pack of wolves, we'd still have food. "
" If I hadn't thrown the rations, the wolves would have eaten us and our food. "

The rogue just stuck her tongue out at her friend.
It's been several hours since Imoen and Jagen left Gorion's cairn. They had followed the Lion's way, alternately fighting or fleeing the gibberlings and wolves who for some reason seemed to find them appetizing. A wolf had viciously bitten the aasimar's leg, while Jagen now bore the marks of several gibberling's claws. Jagen had pointed that if they had accepted that the mage and the halfling they had encountered sooner came with us, they would have ad less trouble, but Imoen hadn't like the looks of them. The human mage was obviously insane, and the halfling had looked as if he couldn't decide wether kill them on the spot or wait until they slept.
They continued to walk in silence for almost thirty second before Imoen spoke again:

"Jay, my feet hurt. "
" Mine too, Im. " sighed the half-elf.
" Are we there yet? "
" No. "
" And now? "
" No. "
" Now? "
" Still no. "
" Jay, I'm tired. Carry me. "
" No. "
" Why? "
" Because I'm tired too. "
" But I'm hurt! "
" Me too. "
" But I'm a just a frail little girl! "
" If I had been the one saying that you'd have kicked my ass. " said Jagen with a smile.
" Of course! "
" That doesn't make any sense, y'know? "
" Yes it does. When ya tell it, it's to keep me from doing something fun. When I say it it's to obtain something. "
" You don't even deny it? "
" Why? You already know that I' not frail, but ya'll still act as if I was, It's your 'big brother' instinct. "
" Uh. I think we spend too much time together"
" Aww, ya tell that now, but ya'd miss me if we didn't. "
" Are you sure about that? " joked the half-elf.
" Yep, pretty sure. " replied Imoen with a big grin.

They walked in silence for a few seconds again when Jagen suddenly exclaimed:

" I think I can see some sort of keep. It must be the Friendly Arm. " " I see it too. It's not far. " answered the rogue.

She grinned to Jagen.

" Race ya! " she yelled, darting toward the Friendly Arm.

A few minutes later, they were climbing the large stairs leading to the Inn, in better spirits that they had been, for what seemed an eternity. Of, course, Imoen had won the race. Who cared that she started running before Jagen did? Seriously, this guy always tried to argue about such details to explain why he lost. Some people just don't have any fair play.
Now, the young rogue walked just behind her friend, trying to ignore the pain stabbing through her wounded leg, knowing that Jagen would worry for her if she showed how much it hurt. Perhaps the race hadn't been such a good idea after all. She'd done her best during their trip to keep the half-elf from thinking too much about their current situation, babbling about anything she could think of, or singing silly songs and trying to make him laugh. It had been harder than usual, but it was hardly a surprise. Absorbed by her musings she didn't notice that Jagen had stopped until she walked into him.
What, now? She thought, looking for what had caused the half-elf to stop walking.
A few stairs higher, stood a man in mage's robes, an engaging smile on the lips and a cold gleam in the eyes.
Troubles, thought Imoen, instantly. It was dark and Jagen and her hadn't bee talking, so the man probably couldn't know she traveled with the half-elf. So, she walked around her friend, with a " Sorry sir! " and continued to climb the stairs.
The mage looked briefly at her, seemed to dismiss her and reported his attention on Jagen, confirming Imoen's suspicions. At this point, she knew that her friend was now aware that there was something amiss. She more or less knew how he would react and how he would need her if things went bad.
So, instead of entering the inn, the young rogue hid in the shadow, drew her bow and watched.

Jagen eyed the mage in front of him warily. He had obviously been waiting for him, and his dismissal of Imoen's presence indicated that he was interested in Jagen, no one else. He briefly wondered how Imoen had known, but he could always ask her later, if he was still alive, of course. Now, of course, the situation, was pretty clear. The man seemed to recognize him, but hadn't searched for someone else, so he wasn't one of Gorion's friends. It left only one option: the mage had to be an assassin like the two who tried to kill him back in Candelkeep. He could feel strangely calm, the cold feeling born in him when he awoke this morning and which Imoen's company almost made disapear crept back inside of him, gripping his heart as strongly as before, and bringing with it a passionless readiness.
Jagen watched Imoen melting in the shadows higher on the stairs, and smiled; she was ready too. She probably knew what he was going to do. He knew that Gorion, Winthrop and some of the tutors were amazed of how they knew what the other thought without any word exchanged and sometimes even before the thought formed in the other's mind.
Oblivious of the rogue behind him, the man began address Jagen, but the half-elf quickly interrupted him.

" I'm sorry my good man, but I don't have any money to spare. You will perhaps be luckier with someone else. " he said.

The mage stared at him disbelievingly, and blinked.

" I think you are mistaken my friend, I- "

" There's nothing to be ashamed of, you know? I could well be in your situation in a few days, believe me. Well, I'd search for work before I'd try to beg, but sometimes, work is hard to find... "

" I'm no beggar! " yelled the offended mage. " How dare you talk to me like that, little..."

" Did I make a mistake? I'm sorry, really! I'm not used to strangers accosting me in the night, and you don't look like a merchant or a courtesan..." smirked Jagen.

The half-elf noticed some guards, approaching, drawn by the shouting. Perfect. If the mage was an assassin, he would act now, before the guards arrived or he would wait until he was asleep, knowing that he had attracted attention on himself.
The mage chose to attack.
He began to chant, waving his hands in mystic patterns. The guards began to shout and to run toward the scene.
Jagen felt the familiar rush of magic inside him as the eldritch energies began to accumulate. Before either of the two men could unleash his magic, an arrow fired from the shadows higher on the stairs, pierced the mage's shoulder, breaking his concentration, and making him howl in pain and surprise.

" Hey! Beggar! " called Jagen.

The mage tore his shocked gaze from his wound to look at Jagen. Horrified his found himself gazing at a hand engulfed in crackling magical energy.

" Goodbye. " whispered Jagen in a cold, cold voice that only him and the assassin heard.

The eldritch blast hit the mage square in the face, almost disintegrating his head. The corpse collapsed on its knees then fell on what was left of its face.
It's been so easy, thought Jagen. In less than thirty seconds, he had killed a man. It wasn't the first man he killed, there' had been the two assassins back at Candelkeep, just one day before. But this was different. When he had killed the two men, he had felt afraid, angry and shocked. He had even felt guilty for killing them, even knowing that they would have killed him if they had been able to. This time he felt...nothing. He had just taken a life and he felt nothing. Only the same cold, alien feeling born when Gorion died. What was wrong with him?
He didn't react when the guard arrived to know what just happened, letting Imoen answering their questions. The guards searched the corpse, found some sort of notice, read it, then shaking sadly their heads, gave it to Imoen.
Jagen vaguely wondered why they looked at him with such pity, but absorbed in his thought, he didn't bother to ask them. Besides, he didn't want to be pitied. So, he stayed there, staring at nothing, until Imoen took his hand and drew him in the inn.

" Jay, what's wrong? " asked the aasimar, concern obvious in her voice.

" Uh? Oh! nothing! nothing, really. I was just...thinking " he answered, with what he hoped looked like a reassuring smile.

" Yeah? Then stop doing that, you'll hurt your brain. I'm so much better at it anyway! " she joked.

Jagen chuckled and followed her in the main room. The sight before him impressed him; he had never seen so many people at once! There were humans, halflings, gnomes, half-elves talking, drinking, singing... It was a little overwhelming.
Jagen's eyes widened in sudden realization. Imoen had never seen so many people either. And to her, it meant that she had never had so many pockets to pick.
When he shook himself from his thoughts, Imoen was already approaching a richly clothed human, her fingers twitching, an insanely happy look on her face. She probably thought that she was in a waking dream.
Acting quickly, Jagen caught Imoen's wrist before she could reach her target and pulled her away.

" Imoen! Get a hold on yourself! If you're caught, we'll be kicked out before we can even find Gorion's friends! And I don't think we'll survive another night outdoors. "

Imoen looked at him as if he just took away the most marvelous gift that she had ever be given. Which was in a way exactly was he did. Jagen sighed. It was as if he just kicked a thousand hopeful kleptomaniac puppies at once.

" Sorry, Im. However it's really too dangerous. Perhaps another day, okay? "

The aasimar didn't answer, pouting, she crossed her arms and turned her back on him.

" Fine, you can sulk all you wish, I don't care! I thought you were supposed to be the smart one, but obviously, I've been mistaken! "

The rogue ignored him.

" And don't think you'll frustrate me until I'll leave and let you unsupervised. You come with me. " smirked Jagen.

" Aww! "

" Still don't think we spend too much time together? " asked the half-elf with a lopsided grin.

" I think I begin to see your point. " answered his friend with mock-bitterness.
Chatting and laughing, they chose a table in a corner and observed the room. A waitress pointed to a couple of half-elves sitting a few tables from them, when they asked about Khalid and Jaheira.
The woman was looking straight at them.
When the two young people stood and made their way toward the half-elves, the woman attracted the attention of her companion to the approaching youths.
" Good evening, " began Jagen, " I'm Jagen and this is Imoen. May I have a word with you? "

" G-good to know you " the man greeted them warmly, " Something about you is f-familiar child." he said, a look of recognition on his face. " Your manner reminds me of a sage I know, b-by the name of Gorion. "

" It is almost a slight on him, but I see it too. " commented the woman.

" Hey! " protested Imoen.

" Jaheira! M-mind your m-m-manners! This must be the child that Gorion wrote of so often. " reprimanded Khalid with a reproachful look to his female companion.

" Yeah! What he said! " nodded Imoen.

Jaheira completely ignored the aasimar.

" We are old friends of your adopted father. He is not with you? I must assume the worst; he would not permit his only child to wander without his accompaniment. " she said, a note of concern in her voice.

" His only child? What am I? A pet? " mumbled Imoen.

" If...If he has passed, we share your loss. " added Khalid.

Jagen wanted to answer, but he felt as if something was caught in his throat so he just nodded. Imoen took his hand and briefly pressed his fingers.

Khalid and Jaheira exchanged a quick look at the scene.

" Gorion often said that he worried for your safety, even at the expense of his own. He also wished that Khalid and I would become your guardians, if he should ever meet an untimely end. However, you are much older now, and the choice of your companions should be your own. "

" We could t-travel with you until you get settled; help you find your l-lot in life. "

" It would be a fitting last service to Gorion, though we could go first to Nashkel. Khalid and I... look into local concerns, and there are rumors of strange things happening at the mine. No doubt you have heard of the iron shortage? You would do well to help us. It affects everyone, including you. We are to meet the mayor of the town, Berrun Ghastkill. "

" Your company would be welcome, but I don't think that my friend or me would be a great asset to you. Your are both obviously seasoned adventurers, while we were still running errands in Candelkeep two days ago. " answered Jagen. They'd done it! They were at the Friendly Arm and they had found Gorion's friends! As relief, washed over him, he began to feel all the pain of his wounds, all the weariness of his trip from Candelkeep to the inn. It was as if someone had dropped a ton of rocks on his head.

" Well, we'll have time tomorrow to assess your skills, now, you should get some food and some rest. Khalid and I rented an extra room. "

" It's... perfect. Per...fect. " whispered Jagen with a tired smile.

He took a step forward, then with a relieved smile on his face he lost consciousness and collapsed.