Today we take a break from our FFFF to indicate that time has passed! Well, also, because we don't want to entangle the past with the present in this particular chapter...


There was, as it turned out, plenty of work to do in Beregost. People's boots, swords, cloaks, and all sorts of other amusing possessions were missing owed to bandits; a house was overwhelmed with spiders; and people in the Friendly Arm Inn were requesting deliveries.

Unfortunately, however, there was no sign of the bandit contact, Tranzig. He was due in Beregost at Feldepost's Inn that very day, but there was every possibility he'd managed to run into the stories of the Heroes of Nashkel before arriving, and decided to lay low rather than make the rendezvous. Aegis, Xan, Branwen, and Ajantis scoped out all four of the city's inn's to no avail. As Branwen was the only one who knew what he looked like, she decided to stake out the inn in case he was using an assumed name. She promised Aegis not to act alone, and Ajantis volunteered to stay with her so quickly that Xan didn't get a word in.

The enchanter watched them head into the inn with irritation, and then turned a tolerant gaze up to Aegis. The ranger shrugged and gestured that they should walk back to the inn. "So, that look you just gave Ajantis," Aegis said slowly, "that's more like how Imoen feels about Xzar than actual jealousy, right?"

The elf looked at her in surprise and then looked back at their path to think about the question. "I don't have a high opinion of white knights," Xan admitted. "But she is free to do what she wishes, and I admit they share similar interests. Far be it from me to say anything."

The ranger grinned. "Admit it, you sort of miss the attention," she teased.

The enchanter smiled softly. "Perhaps a bit. She is a good friend." [You are fluent in elvish?]

[Imoen and I both,] she agreed. [It was the only language we were both interested in learning. Aside from Thorasta, of course.]

[Indulge an enchanter his native tongue. Tell me how you came to be interested in the language of the fair folk.]


Two sets of hoods, one purple and one red, had finally made their way out of their bedroom and into the inn common space when Aegis and Xan arrived. The ranger looked down at the both of them with a raised brow and crossed arms. They were each nearly dead on their feet. Then she noticed the infernal bat as it climbed out form Imoen's hood and stretched out its wings.

"Did the bat accompany you on your late-night shenanigans?" she asked acidly.

Imoen laughed. "No! Familiars are telepathic. Do you think the Red Wizard wants to hear his familiar chattering about the sexual prowess of any man other than himself?" the thief whispered back with a grin. "I think it might give him indigestion." She gave a big stretch and a sleepy yawn. "Ohhhhh. What time is it?"

"If the food being served is any indication... noon?" the Thayvian muttered, exhausted and scratching at a now improperly maintained goatee.

"Well, it is becoming abundantly clear why the two of you have picked each other as roommates," Aegis decided. "You're clearly both idiots, and you belong grouped together. Maybe it'll minimize the collateral damage."

"I resent any slight on my intelligence," Edwin told her without any of his usual fire. "However, I am open to considering any adjustment to our bet that will ensure we sleep at night."

"Speaking of which I need some coffee or I am going to pass out..." Imoen giggled, heading towards the bar.

"Pah. You call that bitter, smokey, bean juice proper coffee?" her companion sneered.

"What? Ha! Hey, ain't my fault if somebody doesn't like good coffee, ya knows. Don't worry! We'll put lots of milk and sugar in yours. Bartender! The Thayvian wants milky, weak coffee!"

He grumbled but didn't have the strength to decide what precise form of offended he was. He glanced at Aegis and blinked sleepily. "Did you two switch lovers?" he asked at last.

"Branwen's staking out the inn Tranzig's supposed to show at. Xzar's with Dynaheir, Viconia, and Minsc, shopping," she answered. "Xan and I are going to meet up with them at the Thunderhammer Smithy. You can join us when you're done with breakfast if you want."

"Waste of my time," he muttered. "What need have I for armor and swords?"

"Excuse me?" asked a woman, striding up to them in Flaming Fist colors. Xan steeled himself to throw a quick charm, but it appeared this woman was not there to arrest them for sheltering a drow. "Greetings. I hear you are the Heroes of Nashkel? My name is Officer Vai. I am paying adventurers for bandit scalps, and your name was passed to me by the Nashkel Mayor."

"Ghastkill?" Aegis asked a little awkwardly, because the sight of the commander of all Beregost's Fist mercenaries had also put her heart to racing.

"He also has message for you," Vai told them. "He asks you make time to deliver a sample of the iron poison you carry to the wizard Thalantyr dwelling at High Hedge, which from here is a short distance east. He says the mage has agreed to look into it for him, and suggests that you might be able to convince him to sell you some magical items. If you have need of me, I will be staying here at the Juggler."

"Yeah, ah, we were just going to pick up some gear and coin and head to the Smithy..." Aegis said a little too loudly. "So... we're just going to do that..."

"Of course," the woman murmured gravely, and then went to get herself a meal. Xan, Edwin, and Aegis exchanged slightly nervous looks. The elf cleared his throat.

"I shall work doubly hard on my illusions each morning," he assured them. "But we may want to move to the Burning Wizard..."

"I second this plan," Aegis agreed. "Also, we might not want to spend all of our money at the smithy. Magical gear is usually expensive..."

Edwin thought about this for a moment. "Excuse me, I need to go manipulate a thief concerning the robbery and subsequent pawning of an entire carnival..." he muttered, and then went over to enjoy his milky, weak coffee. He did not, however, put any sugar in it. Sugar was for purple children, and not for wizards of Thay.

"Well, it's good to see he's definitely getting along with someone. No matter how stupid they are being. Let me grab some stuff. I want you to have the group purse. And my purse, actually," Aegis explained, gesturing for Xan to follow her back to their rooms for a moment. "Well, the known quantity of the group purse which hasn't somehow ended up belonging to Imoen..."

"Why is that?" Xan asked, following her.

"Because when we go into that smithy, it is your job to play devil's advocate," Aegis explained. "I will want to buy every last shiny object in there. I shall instantaneously dissolve to Minsc's intelligence level."

"I see," he realized. "I shall try to be worthy of my post as your surrogate Jaheira."


Aegis was staring like a little girl at a toy shop window. Taerom Fuiruim, the proprietor, was watching her with a craftsman's eye and smirking at her enthusiasm. "Ye like it, lass, admit it," he laughed. "And ye have the coin for it, I can see it in your eyes!"

Aegis looked back at her group bashfully. Minsc gave her a look of complete sympathy which told her if he'd been in her position he would have bought the item in a heartbeat. Dynaheir was restraining a smile while Xzar was giggling openly. Xan sighed.

"Remind me, Taerom," the morose elf asked, "how much is a breastplate?"

"Six hundred gold. Discounted for the heroes of Nashkel? Four fifty." Edwin and Imoen had finally caught up with the group, both still looking slightly disheveled. The Thayan was irritably combing his hair with his fingers.

"And the cost of the suit of full plate mail that our valiant leader is drooling over?" Xan asked.

"That'll be nine thousand. Discounted to seventy two hundred for ye good folk."

"It's so beautiful," Aegis pleaded with Xan, who sighed.

"It does look very good!" Garrick piped up. "And incredibly, heroically shiny!" Minsc grinned at the bard in agreement. "Will it hold up against the iron crisis?"

"Sure will," Taerom told them. "Mastwork quality and a minor enchantment against rust does the trick just right."

"You already need a real battleaxe instead of the hatchet you are using," Xan told her with surprising sternness. "And you came in here to buy an enchanted axe. Adding full plate puts you incredibly outside of your budget."

"She can have my cut of the loot," Xzar giggled.

"And mine!" Imoen volunteered, because she already had an utterly independent loot to draw coin from.

"Buy it," Edwin agreed, earning a surprised glance from most of the group. "What? Is the idea that we need a well-padded meat shield too much for your tiny brains to comprehend?" he asked, smoothing his hair back and then lifting the hood back into place. "Besides, she tends to throw herself stupidly into battle, shrieking about allergies, drawing all this attention... Was she not the one I used for my brilliant water cave plan? Exactly. In fact, can we get her a tower shield to go with it? Something ridiculously and incredibly big. Like a door. Blacksmith, do you have any door-sized shields?"

"Well..."

"She is a very big girl," Edwin assured. "Too big. More like a man, really. An orc man. She can handle it. But really, you should consider going down to sixty-five hundred. Considering the trouble with bandits is keeping you from getting any clean ore from Baldur's Gate, and we are planning a raid."

The blacksmith just grinned, because it was no use trying to haggle a figure when a sale was already as good as made. "I'll consider it after ye've dealt with the bandits," he laughed.

"I see why I was needed earlier," the Thayvian muttered. "Deprivation of my presence for fifteen minutes is clearly too much for you fools to handle if it managed to lose you a thousand gold in the otherwise safe walls of a backwater village..."

"Alright," the enchanter sighed dramatically. "We shall let her buy it. If this is the will of the group?" Nods all around. Edwin was right. Aegis was their central hub, their most-oft injured member, and the group's primary means of drawing attention away from its wizards. Even with Minsc and two clerics on the team, armoring Aegis to the nines was going to have a significant impact on group performance.

"Squee!" Aegis shrieked in delight. "I want it! I want it, I will buy it! Xan! Give the man his money!"

"Yes yes yes," the elf muttered, coming up with the fund she'd entrusted him with.


They spent an hour browsing the smithy's wares as the blacksmith and his helpers armored Aegis up in the set of shining full plate and then took careful measurements for how to refit it for maximum comfort and utility. The armor would be ready to pick up in two days, he assured them, after they had time to deal with a number of other orders. He apologized for the delay. Edwin quipped something about breasts and half-ogres. Xzar murmured to Aegis that the actual problem was likely that her exact torso measurements were a little off for a human figure.

As they pooled together their resources, they came to tabulate a finalized figure for upgrading the party's armor and arms to a more heroic level. Minsc's gear was of primary concern after Aegis' and he required a proper magical weapon the same as she did. Branwen's innate ability to call on a hammer of Tempus whenever she wished made an upgrade on her end unnecessary, but they wanted to buy Viconia a better mace. Both Branwen and Minsc had expressed interest in at least a normal breastplate. Given that he was heading north alone and the roads were no better now than they ever had been, the group also made sure to fit Garrick with enchanted leathers and buy him a better crossbow.

Although the trip to the smithy was ultimately successful, one thing was for certain: if they planned on getting their hands on the absolute best gear they could for the bandit camp, they were going to need to need to run a few odd jobs. Such was the lot of adventurers.

Edwin supervised Imoen as the girl worked with one of Taerom's assistants. She had an incredible quantity of gear to pawn, and he was quite the haggler. Besides, he wanted to know just exactly what kind of figure she was counting up, as well as where the split rested between party assets and Imoen's assets.

They had finished the majority of their shopping and were waiting on the assistants to finish fitting Minsc for plate when Edwin spied the dark black leathers resting comfortably in the corner of the shop. He nudged Imoen, who regarded the garment curiously and then questioned the assistants on it. It was called Shadow Armor, she learned. It was also the most expensive item in the shop, and one of Taerom's finest creations. At its discounted price, it was twelve thousand and six hundred gold.

Imoen had never heard of such a high sum for one item. She came over to have a look at this fabled armor, and then quickly realized she was looking at a treasure. Running her fingers over the black leather, she looked quietly down at the outfit as if taunted by it. Edwin leaned close to her. {Do you need an invisibility spell tonight, little waif?} he asked her.

{But...} Imoen protested.

Edwin scowled. {You who just offloaded that little treasure hoard of yours on these merchants... you are going to tell me that you think stealing this overpriced jerkin is wrong?}

{Well, not exactly. But I'd never be able to wear it in the city, and I usually try not to steal things people really value unless they're jerks...} Imoen told him, looking down at the currency she'd carefully earned.

{... It is your money, fool. You can waste it however you wish. Though I will respect you more if you utilize your talents and gold both to maximize your net benefit.}

{Maybe...} she hesitated. {Let's see what cool enchanted things this wizard at High Hedge has first so I know where's best to put my coin} she decided. {And then if I do need to... borrow some armor...I can always do so just before we leave for the bandit camp.}

The Thayvian smiled.

{Oh do not look so smug, I was evil long before you came along,} Imoen giggled. {And do not worry, I will be your sugar mamma at High Hedge and spot you a few scrolls, pauper boy.}

An alarmed look came over his face and he stood up straight, hissing at her at her in disgust. He made to smack her upside the head, but she ducked under the off-handed swipe. {Witch!} That got Dynaheir's attention, but he wasn't referencing her. {Witch!}

{I'm sorry!} Imoen laughed, ducking out of the smithy. {I recant! I recant!}


The party planned to split up up as they left the Thunderhammer Smithy, but before they could get more than a few yards from the door a familiar old man in soft red clothing approached them. "Ho there, wanderers!" he called. "Stay thy course and indulge an old man!"

"Oh," Aegis uttered in surprised recognition, because she had not seen this unusual character since very early on in her journey and to be honest she had entirely forgotten about him.

"Hey, it's that traveler we met coming off the Lion's Way," Imoen noted.

Xzar looked up and then went stiff. A hiss escaped his mouth and he stepped quickly beside Aegis, clutching at her back and shoulders. She looked at him in surprise, vaguely recalling he might have done something similar the last time they'd met this old man. Only, back then, Aegis hadn't paid much thought to it.

"I see you have come a long way since we last parted," the old man chuckled, looking around at the sizable group as he reached them. Another man was with him ths time, dressed in heavy robes of Illmater with the hood pulled down low. He had a band around his arm marked with a seal and, upon seeing it, Edwin immediately backed away.

"What's up?" Imoen asked.

"It's a mark of a leper," the Thayvian answered. "A flesh-eating sickness. Only contagious to a chosen few, but nearly impossible to cure if ever contracted." Imoen grimaced and backed up a respectful step.

The old man laughed. "Ah, do not mind my dear friend here. We are heading north to Baldur's Gate where we expect he will be able to find treatment. You will forgive him that he can no longer speak. But, I have heard you are the party they are calling the Heroes of Nashkel! Imagine my surprise to see the two young ladies I met on the road to Candlekeep. How fare you, then?"

{He looks familiar,} Imoen whispered suddenly. {The man in red.}

{Apparently you have met him before,} Edwin muttered as if she were stupid.

{No, I mean, like from somewhere else, even, other than that. That is odd of me to say, is it not? I do not remember ever meeting him at Candlekeep before, so he could not have been a regular. I cannot put my thumb on it. Maybe I have never met him. His face is not quite familiar, but something...}

"We are... well enough," Aegis observed, surprised by the old man's innocent attention and a little wary of his intentions. She glanced at the leper and furrowed her brow for a moment, but then looked back at the wizard. For the life of her, she could not even remember much about their last conversation except that he had been strangely curious and cryptic. She had been as polite as possible given her slightly dazed circumstances; Her father had died fairly recently at that point. "We're hunting down the bandit camp."

"Ah, then thou would do well to be careful," the man remarked sagely. "It is good you have a large party. There may be more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye, though surely you know this already. Thy new reputation may draw allies, but you have no doubt attracted all sorts of unsavory attention from the men you are hunting." He paused and sized her up, stroking his beard. "You seem the type of girl who warms to challenge, however. I foresee you may indeed be quite capable of the tasks set before thee."

"We're currently trying to find a bandit contact named Tranzig," Aegis offered, surprising the group with her forwardness. "But not having much luck."

"Tranzig? Hmm. Ha! I do not know a mage using that name, but I suspect the unsavory fellow you are looking for may be hiding at the Read Sheaf. Yes, there was something not quite right about him... Be careful; he's been asking around about you."

"And who are you, old windbag, to know so much of the going-ons behind the scenes of bandit camps?" Edwin drawled. "And if you are so informed, why do you do nothing about it yourself and instead run about the streets pestering children?"

Xzar whirled about and gave Edwin a positively scandalized look as Imoen elbowed The Red Wizard in the ribs with a, "Be nice."

"What?" Edwin asked irritably. "Is it so strange to question the prophetic sooths of random vagabonds we pass on the streets? Shall we council bums for their tactical advice next and learn spellwork from drunken stable hands? It is a valid question: Who are you, old man, that we should stand around here listening to this prattle a moment longer?"

The traveler had leaned heavily on his staff mid-rant and was now watching the Red Wizard with a knowing twinkle in his eye that suggested he was so far beyond amused and chagrined that he knew not whether to laugh or cry.

Xzar cocked his head to the side in disbelief. "He... is... Elminster Aumar..." the necromancer said slowly and with great emphasis on each word, lest Edwin somehow miss them. The Red Wizard laughed derisively at what he perceived to be a raving. Aegis looked at the Zhent, noticed the defensive way he was hidden behind her, and then turned and looked in surprise at the red-robed mage.

Imoen's jaw dropped. "Oh sweet Oghma," she breathed. "You are. You are! I knew I recognized you! You are Elminster!" she gushed. Aegis nodded in amazed agreement.

"It is a delight to be informed at last of who I am," the old man sighed. "Though now I think I am in terrible need of a good, choice wine. Two children from Candlekeep, a Greycloak, and the only one to recognize me has a strong Moonsea accent. Alas, soon I shall only be recognizable as a Bogey instead of a Man... Woe that day..."

Imoen squealed, and then the party was treated to the sight of her scrambling forward and pouncing the surprised wizard, hugging the flustered man as if he were a favorite uncle. "You are my hero!" she exclaimed, while Edwin stared on dumbfounded.

The archmagi lifted a brow. "Your unrecognizable hero?" he chortled.

"I'm so sorry!" Imoen wailed. "It was the context! It was a highly unexpected context! And every picture I've ever seen of you, you were younger! Forgive meee!"

Aegis slapped a hand over her face. Xzar gaped. Edwin looked horrified, disgusted, incredulous, and most definitely not intimidated, awed, or humiliated! He sneered almost as much at Imoen as at Elminster. Viconia was puzzled as to who this was and why she ought to care, but most of the other party members came closer in surprise to greet the archmagi.

Aegis was just about to step forward and say hello again herself when she felt Xzar rummaging through her pack. Glancing back at him, she held still until he drew forth a crumpled scroll and handed it to her. Aegis frowned, unraveling it only to find it was the letter she and Imoen had found on Gorion's body.

Xzar unfolded himself hesitantly out to her side and then reached up between her arms to pull the scroll open further, and Aegis' memory was jarred by the sight of the illustrious red 'E' signed at the end of the missive. Her eyes widened. She glanced at Xzar, who was watching the Master Herper warily. Then she looked back to the gaggle of party members gathered close in admiration. Imoen was talking the wizard's ear off.

"You knew my father!" Aegis realized, stepping forward. "That's why you were on the road that day! you were either going to meet up with us, or you'd realized something had happened to him!"

Elminster's face sobered immediately, and he nodded. He pat Imoen on the shoulder, and she released him and backed up a few respectful steps in surprise. "Old Mr. G. knew you?" she asked him.

"Indeed, he was an old friend of myself, and of many others who Harp. His passing was mourned by more voices than you may realize."

"I..." Aegis stammered. "I never knew he... he had friends like you..."

"Well, no, you would not have," the red mage agreed. "After adopting you, he chose to retire and live a quieter life, and he wanted that same peace for you. He had many friends, but few could get through that fortress' doors. Those who could, he politely asked not to make courtesy calls. Though I think a few of us ignored that from time to time when we had a good excuse..."

"You wrote to warn him about something," Aegis said slowly, a little awed.

"Yes. As I am now warning you! Please take it upon yourselves to go easy on an old man's heart, and do not stumble off to the same fate! The mines, the bandits, and your foster father's murder most likely have shared origins-"

"Father," Xzar interrupted just before Aegis said something. Elminster blinked in surprise. The necromancer tilted his head to the side and, though he did not look directly at the other man, he noticed the leper jumped in response to the interruption. "It is her preference that you should refer to the dead Harper as her 'father.' She has a tendency to become cranky on that point, don't you Byatskhan Moaratuk?" He looked over at his lover, who was a little impressed with him. He grinned.

The old man's brow furrowed. "Her father had a similar aversion to the words 'foster child,' the archmagi noted, scrutinizing Xzar for a moment before looking back to Aegis. "If you are anything at all like he was as a young man, I assume my warnings with only embolden thee to even more ridiculous acts of bravery. So be it. But then, for his sake, act with prudence. No doubt there is much to uncover before you find your answers, and I am sure the adversaries you face have incredible resources."

"Well, thank you for the earth-shattering advice," Edwin observed snidely. "I suppose this is what Harpers consider to be 'helpful'?"

The archmagi chuckled. "Such company you have assembled! Let us see. I see two Rashemi, a Greycloak wielding a Moonblade, a Thayvian, a talented bard, a Mooneye, a daughter of Lolth, and I believe you are even missing a few? Tell me child, how on Faerun have you managed to put together an elf and a drow, a Red Wizard and a Wychlaran, and presumably until recently two Zhents and two Harpers?"

Aegis hesitated, suddenly feeling very protective over her entire party. She was looking at one of the most powerful persons in the whole realm, who was known not to be on good terms with numerous of the factions represented in her group. "... Carefully," she answered after a moment. "And with good alcohol."

"I can appreciate the powerful diplomatic properties of good alcohol. Well, do introduce them," the archmagi encouraged.

"Ehm... Xan, from Everska, Dynaheir and Minsc are the Rashemi, Garrick is our bard... you just met Imoen, and I can tell you this is normal for her... Um..."

"Oh don't worry Ae," Xzar tittered. "This one is half god himself and it seems today he prefers to watch. The worst fate any of us currently face is spending the rest of the day as squirrels. Well, unless Edwin throws down a gauntlet in rage back there. Edwin? Edwin do introduce yourself."

"Edwin Odesseiron," the Thayvian seethed proudly. "Why are you so gleeful, necromancer?"

"I have just discovered my lover's father was secretly on speaking terms with Elminster Aumar, and you don't find that funny? I find that funny. In fact I feel a bout of hysteria coming on. Please excuse this untimely display of affection Eegee, as I attempt to anchor myself back in reality," he snorted, leaning comfortably into the ranger's side. The leper's body language was muffled by his heavy robes, but Xzar was paying close attention and could read indignant hostility immediately following use of the word 'lover.'

Elminster furrowed a curious brow at the necromancer, observing that he was most clearly wearing a Candlekeep cloak at the moment that matched Imoen's except that it sported a red lining. "Why don't you introduce yourself, Mooneye?"

"Oh? Of course," the madman purred, standing up and then giving a large and ridiculously flourished bow. "I am Xzar, a humble wizard in Aegis' service."

"You were with her the last time we met," the archmagi pried. "Investigating the iron crisis to clear Zhentil Keep's name, are you?"

"Tch! These accusations!" he gasped, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest and gesturing with his hands. "First Auntie Jaheira, now you! Must I adopt a new face, new skin, and a new accent? Have you never seen a cross-cultural couple before? I knew the Thayvian was a bigot, but this is starting to get ridiculous! And to think we were just talking about inviting you to the wedding. Ae, my feelings are very hurt."

"Ah. Xzar. You ehm... you are a Zhent," Aegis reminded him slowly. "And an openly practicing necromancer, poisons specialist, and alchemist. And crazy."

"Details!" the necromancer announced with a flick of the wrist and a toss of his head. "No need to confuse the issue with facts! Technically speaking, I am also a 'Hero of Nashkel!' How many of your assassins do I have to kill before people stop fussing about an organ here or a skeleton there?"

"There were two of you before," Elminster noted, eyes twinkling curiously instead of with hostility. "What happened to your compatriot, Zhent?"

"We had philosophical differences," Xzar explained casually. "Monty's vice was greed; This wizard's must be lust; and the bounty for wrath's Death has run up into the thousands. Let's just say, I knew my craft better than he did his." Elminster frowned. "Aha, look Ae, you aren't the only one who can detangle my homonyms. Forgive me, I am getting heady. I need to step aside. If you need me, Byatskhan Moaratuk, your Fool will be off in that field, pushing daisies..."

"Sounds reasonable," Aegis agreed, unflustered.

Xzar leaned forward, kissed her temple with a soft, emphatic "Muah!" took note of the leper's reaction, and then floated off to quite literally pushy daisies around.

Aegis peered at the necromancer a moment. Then she looked back to Elminster. "My life is dramatic," she decided was the best explanation.

That stirred the archmagi out of his pensive silence, and he laughed and waved a hand. "You need not justify yourself to me, child. Of course as Gorion's old friend, I must let you know that your father would most certainly have disapproved. Sternly. With ice, no doubt, always did have an affection for ice spells as I recall..." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he remembered.

Aegis laughed weakly, missing her father and reaching slowly into her cloak to pull out a lock of silver hair, bound together with twine. She rubbed her thumb over it. "Jaheira made sure to do it for him. Vociferously. Though less ice." She lifted her eyes back to Elminster.

"I am surprised Khalid and Jaheira would depart thy side, though with a party so large I cannot say they left you alone. Did something happen?"

"They plan to return shortly-" Aegis began.

"The druid and our valiant leader had a bit of a dominance spat," Edwin sneered, "which peeked with Aegis threatening to pulp her skull on a rock, is that not right?"

The ranger cringed slightly. Xan, who was closest to Edwin, shot the Red Wizard a dirty look for interrupting what was essentially a personal conversation, for all that it was being held in public. "Oh yes, and lets not forget the highly violent way in which the druid... smiled nostalgically with tears in her eyes as she left, comparing Aegis to her father and promising to return as soon as she was able..." the elf retorted. "And then the way Aegis incredibly pugnaciously... hugged them both and told them to hurry."

"Yes, well, focus on what you must," the Thayvian sniffed. "She defied authority."

"The druid defied-" Xan rubbed his face with a sigh, muttering something about idiots in elvish.

Elminster smiled knowingly. "Well, from the stories I have heard, Jaheira did have a tendency to... ah..."

"Mother?" Aegis offered. "Smother? Hit people over the head with her staff for being childish fools? Disapprove of reckless drinking?"

The wizard grinned. "Those. Exactly those."

"She's got a good heart," Aegis answered. "It was mostly Harper business that took them off. They invited me. But... Eh. I'm not sure that would be a wise move for me. I have a necromancer. And a Thayvian, and now a Drow. To look after."

"As sad as it makes me to say so, Gorion might even have supported that decision. He was known for making bizarre friends himself near the end of his career. Well, I must be on my way, and I have taken enough of your time... I bid good day to you and your party! Take care- all of you- and gods willing we may meet again some day soon. Ah! Before I forget, if you are ever in Waterdeep, girls, do make a point of visiting Blackstaff Tower. Khelben is how I met Gorion, and I think he would be delighted to see you now that you are grown. Gorion was one of his favorite apprentices."

Imoen's eyes rounded. "Mr. G. was...?"

"Yes, but absolutely do not mention you've seen me," the red-garbed wizard said with shifty eyes.

"Why... not...?"

"Because he should be incredibly jealous that I'd seen you first, that's why. I think he might not speak to me at all for years if he knew. Good day, Aegis, Imoen, and all. Good luck." He turned and headed off with the leper at his side.

Imoen hopped back and forward from foot to foot. "Oh... darn. Darn! I was hoping to talk with him more... Oh bother. Byyyyeeee!" She waved after them as they went.