Lazaruss :" Remember that reviews are always welcome. "

Chapter 2.b ; The Journey South

The stable was in fact a cave which led off to the mountain slopes close to a seldom used road. An illusion of an unbroken rocky wall curtained the entrance and a pair of guards stood at the sides. No need to take chances. The cave entrance was not very large – just enough to drive a medium sized wagon through, but the inside of the cave was huge in comparison. Long rows of stabled horses stood to either side, absently chewing hay within their feeding bags. They all came to attention when new people walked in. Cleaver beasts. Imoen liked horses. She always felt they were smarter than most people.

Moving along the lines, she picked out a dark-gray dun that would not stand out too much in a crowd, and Chloe chose a black mare with pale to white nose and ankles. Sue watched the pair of them as they strapped their travel bags to the saddles while grooms and stable boys bridled their mounts. Imoen was petting her dun and whispering to it soothingly, when Sue walked up to her :

" At least take some more people with you. " the other woman spoke softly, yet urgently. " You cannot hope to accomplish much on your own. Two of you against all of them ? It's suicide. "

" I know what I'm doing Sue. " Imoen spoke. " And I don't intend to rush at them head on. Do not worry. "

" This is an unnecessary risk, if I've ever seen one. By the Gods, think about the rest of us. What will we do if something happens to you ?"

Imoen took a deep soothing breath. Sue's heart was in the right place, but Imoen couldn't have her authority second guessed by anyone. It was bad way to run things. Even worse, Sue had sort of a point.

But that was irrelevant. Sue's words were aimed to inspire doubt and hesitation in her to make her reconsider. Well, Imoen had decided to go through with this and no amount of reconsidering would change her mind. But doubt and hesitation were still dangerous. They were her enemies, and enemies of anyone else who had a dangerous task ahead. If she'd allow herself to hesitate even for a moment, if she'd fail to act in the critical split-second, she had no illusions about how bad the outcome would be. Deviating from the plans, hesitating, doubting herself… she could afford none of it. Those were the enemies she had to deal with more delicately than even the Cowls. And Sue was not helping.

She gave the older woman a hard look and held her eyes until Sue averted them. " I have too much to do to explain every step of it, Sue. I have considered things carefully and waged the risks. Do as I've told you and it will be easier on all of us. "

Sue frowned defiantly, but nodded. Imoen took another deep breath. Now that she had made her point, it was time to smooth the scars. " For the past three years, you've watched me. You know who I am, used to be, and what I've done. Though I do not hold the essence of a dead god in my veins now, you've seen me handle matters few are capable of. "

She mounted her horse. " Besides, " she smiled. " I do not worry for my people with you around. I trust you Sue. Like a sister. " She tilted her head at her and spoke in a dry tone. " An insufferable big sister who gained a few pounds lately, with greasy hair and a twitchy eye. "

Sue gave her a flat look and crossed her arms. " And if you'd eat your greens more regularly, " she said equally dry " your behind wouldn't look like it's flapping over the edge of that saddle of yours. "

Imoen barked a laugh. " The point is, you should worry more about the Cowls then me. When I'm done with them, there won't be enough hankies in Feirun to dry all the tears they will weep. " And that alone would make this trip worthwhile. But… why did she feel like looking over her shoulder at the lower part of her back all of a sudden ? Surely it had nothing to do with Sue's remark. How odd.

Chloe lead her horse close by. " Sorry to interrupt your very mature conversation, " She said. " but time's a wasting. If this is an important discussion, we could bring Sue with us so the two of you can exchange some more wisdom along the way. I know I'd love to hear that. "

Immoen gave her a sidelong glance and without another word snapped her horse into a gallop, rushing past Chloe's mount, spooking the animal, making it rear a bit and having Chloe mutter a stunned curse word. She followed soon after Imoen and the two of them dashed off along the mountain path south.

For the most part, the journey was uneventful. Two women alone on the road tended to draw out brigands, so Imoen and Chloe had joined up with a caravan heading south for the better part of the trip. The graying old merchant Bill Gasel was ferrying mountain-goats' flees and carvings made from bones of knuckleheaded trout southward towards profitable markets. He was dressed in dull gray wool vest over a white shirt, heavy black trousers and an even heavier brown woolen hat. His hair was gray, he had a neat mustache, and was the driver of the leading wagon at the head of the caravan.

They approached him with the story of being a pair of mercenaries heading south after a job they did in Neverwinter and asking to travel along for the sake of greater numbers. He was skeptical up until the point where Chloe challenged one of his guards to a duel and quite literarily whipped the ground with him. For a while, the fellow was glaring at her and Chloe, but after Chloe started drinking with him and the rest of the company, hostilities died down.

On the first night, after they had settled by a small stream of fresh water, Master Gasel joined Imoen by her solitary fire. Chloe was off drinking with the mercenaries, and Imoen had been alone, staring at the flames and thinking. He offered her a mug of hot beer of all things, but she welcomed it all the same. " So if the two of you are guard for hire, how come you haven't tried to sell me your skills ?" He asked. By his voice, she knew he was a man who had seen his share of the world, more than most even.

Imoen smiled sweetly at him. He was suspecting they were spies planted by a band of brigands waiting for his caravan further down the road, and that she and Chloe were sent to sabotage his defenses from within. Clever of him to think of that. She could put his fears to rest easily enough, but a lifetime of mischief had branded her with some very bad habits. And besides, in her opinion, people never believed in the truth when given. It was much easier to tell them what they expected to hear. Or in this case, to let them stumble upon it.

" Lord Nasher's coffers had compensated our expenses for this trip. " she said, taking a sip of her mug. The thing was awful. It clearly demanded an acquired taste, but at least it was hot. " We have a steady working relationship with one of his vassals. But if word would reach Neverwinter that we had taken coin on the side, it could cancel our future employments there. Besides, " she spoke with another sip. " you couldn't afford us anyway. "

Master Gasel snorted drinking his own keg of warm mud. Err, beer. " I see. " He spoke, not convinced. " I've thought you've said that you had completed your duties for this person ?"

" Kind of. " she said, trying to sound clumsily, like after a major slip. " But don't ask who or where. Professional secrecy. "

" Surely, you can tell me something ?" He asked. The more information he could get out of her, the more easily would he be able to guess her true purpose. Or so he thought. " Consider it a favor returned for my hospitality. "

She eyed him, giving him her best suspicious look. " I can tell you one thing. " she said. " When me and Chloe reach our destination, the roads will become much safer for people in your profession. "

" How so ?"

" Well… " she glanced left and right as if to make sure no one is listening, then whispered : " … you know about the thieves' guild that's been causing problems in these parts for the past year or so ?" He nodded with a sour frown. Did one of her people 'do business' with him at some point ? Gods, now she felt bad for pouching that ring of his this morning. " It won't do so for much longer. "

His eyes sparkled slightly. " How ?"

She gestured with her hand to quiet him and then cleared her throat. " I've told you too much already. " she spoke annoyed and took another sip of the not-beer. " You just mind your tongue and help us do our job. And maybe we can all help each other. And don't mention any of this to Chloe. She'll lock me up and throw away the key if she'd even suspect. "

He eyed her with such a thoughtful look she found it hard to keep a straight face. Finally, he nodded and went to his wagons.

Imoen chuckled softly to herself. If you wanted to lie to a man who was suspicious of you, first you needed to tell him a dumb lie to make him even more suspicious. And then to guide him into figuring out on his own, the thing you wanted him to believe. By tomorrow morning, Master Gasel would at least suspect that the two of them were a part of a covert police operation for routing out the infamous Candle's Guild in a joined operation of Amn and Neverwinter. And once they leave him in good health, he will be convinced of that. Merchants were the best soil for planting roomers, and in a month, she expected the entire Amn to buzz with news of the demise of her guild, which would in turn increase the flow of merchants through her domain. People were precious like that.

She took another sip of her mug, frowned, than decided it was better used for putting out the fire. Chloe returned while the embers still glowed, a bit unsteady in her step. That alone meant she was drunk as a cork. After settling her in her blankets and cradling her head on her lap until she succumbed to drunken sleep, Imoen cuddled up beside her and fell asleep too.

Over the next week, nothing much changed. Gasel was still looking at them suspiciously, but he became more relaxed after no bandits turned up to jump him. Occasionally, his men would complain about lost trinkets, but everything would be found eventually, and in the oddest of places. Like the ring that Master Gasel had misplaced, that turned out in his left boot the next morning. Imoen and Chloe would spend their time chatting with the guards, playing cards and telling jokes. Now back on the road, Chloe's mood had surely improved, and Imoen could see why. She too shared that joy of freedom of the opened road and good company. After living under ground and hiding in shadows for so long, she had almost forgotten how it felt to step into the great outdoors.

The only bad thing about it was that Chloe was getting too carried away. She would get drunk every night and then she was not good for anything else, much less their private time together. Worse still, the guard Chloe had beaten up on their first day somehow got it into his head that he was in love with her, and had started courting his 'Warrior-Goddess'. Imoen slowly simmered for three whole days before finally cornering the idiot and giving him a peace of her mind. Chloe was probably going along with it on purpose, encouraging him to make her jealous, so she did not want to be too hard on him. Their talk started out fine, but it ended up with him being turned into a decidedly ugly squirrel for an hour or so. That had been enough to cool him off. A person could only take so much.

That night, while she was putting out the fire, tired of waiting for Chloe to pass out drunk in her arms again, Chloe appeared quite sober, freshly bathed and smelling like strawberries. Before Imoen could say anything, Chloe gave her a deep fruity kiss, bringing her down by the dying fire, and for the better part of the night, and the two of them got lost in sweet slow passion, falling asleep in each other's arms. After that, things got considerably better.

No bandits attacked the caravan though, and Imoen was somewhat disappointed. She was rather looking forward to her and Chloe saving Gasel's hide and adding more fuel to the roomers she would have him spread for her, but she supposed she'd have to settle for this. About a week after crossing the border into Amn, the two of them were ready to separate from Gasel and his group and continued west towards Athkatla. And a few days away from the city, they made one more nightly stop. Imoen took care of the horses and came to sit by an oak log with Chloe, who gently embraced her, holding her close. Together they sat like that, watching their small camp fire.

" You're afraid, aren't you ?" Chloe asked her softly. Imoen hesitated, then nodded. " I have never asked you. " Chloe resumed. " I've never wanted to know what they did to you. "

" I hate them. " Imoen whispered. " I… could not stop them. I was not strong enough. "

" Shush. " Chloe hugged her tighter. " You are strong now. We'll make them pay. "

" That's what I'm afraid of. " Imoen said. " I worry for the success of this… quest, yes. But I worry more for myself. " She looked at Chloe's deep blue eyes. " A part of me wants me to kill them. To torture them as they did me back at Spellhold. And I'm terrified of what it might do to me. What it might turn me into. "

" It won't. " Chloe said. " Not while I'm here. " She kissed her pink hair. " Tell me. "

Imoen sighed. " It was never about the corruption of magic. " she spoke slowly. " Magic on its own does not corrupt. The Cowls only use it as an excuse. They capture other mages for study and experimentation. To steal their secrets and make themselves stronger. "

" That's what they did to you ?" Chloe asked.

" Some. " Imoen shivered. The night seemed colder now. " Before they got captured, those people… the inmates… were sane. Some of them might have been a bit unbalanced, but they were healthy. And the Wardens at Spellhold used charms, potions and enchantments to drive them insane, to break their minds, make them easier to control. "

" So that was it. " Chloe spoke slowly. " That is what they did to you. "

Imoen nodded. " They tried. You have no idea how terrifying it was… the prospect of losing my very sanity… to feel it slipping further and further away each day… And with the experiments and the tests… I don't know how I've managed to hold on until… " She stopped, abruptly.

" … until Irenicus got free. " Chloe concluded for her. She hugged her and kissed her softly. " Vengeance won't change you Imoen. " she said. " because that is not the reason you are doing this. " Imoen looked up at her. " What the Cowl Wizards do is an abomination. This quest isn't about you. It's about righting this very great wrong. Keep that in mind and you won't have to worry. "

Imoen curdled up to her more closely. " Thank you. " she whispered.

" Don't mention it. " Chloe said. She was so warm and comforting. " But I do hope you have a good plan in that pink head of yours. I don't intend to start an all-out war against those dogs. "

Imoen did not respond, but for a brief moment she smiled wickedly, and pulled the blanket over them, tucking them in together.

Lazaruss :" So much for now. "