Disclaimer: All characters belong to Obsidian except my own.

Chaper 9 Back in Mulsantir

Nica was sitting on the hill again in Mulsantir. This time she had brought Okku along so the others wouldn't worry about her.

Upon their return to Ashenwood, after defeating the Spirit of Fire and returning to the garrison, they had discovered that Nadaj was not all she seemed to be. Apparently, she had become possessed by something called a genius loci, the dark spirit of the forest that was rebelling against the Woodman and was at the heart of the bizarre things that were happening in the Ashenwood. Luckily Dalenka had believed Nica when she told her that Nadaj had fomented a rebellion against Dalenka and had ordered the berserkers to attack her. They had tracked Nadaj back to the golden tree and eventually defeated her and destroyed the genius loci. The Woodman, a huge tree-like creature had appeared.

Nica hung her head in disappointment. After all the long days of travel and the exertions they had gone through to save the forest, The Woodman had not been able to tell her much at all. After relating that the curse had been carried by numerous other spirit-eaters and that her nature had now been changed and could not be changed back, the only thing he had said that had intrigued both her and Kaelyn was that the curse had been initiated by a god – a dead god.

Gann had had a field day with that one. "Oh, I see, your curse is a "blessing" from a dead god... of the dead? If nothing will show you the weaknesses of such pompous creatures as those "gods" you worship the fact your former god of the dead now "lies" dead should be proof enough. May the spirits weep for the foolish beliefs of men."

Nica had turned on him and snapped, "May men weep for the spirits of Rashemen and their games as well. No one is innocent here."

Gann had turned to her in horror. "Filthy gods and their games," he had spat in disgust. "The spirits of Rashemen have no need of gods to guard the dead gates. Yet the humans..., the Rashemi," he sputtered. "You should have more respect for the spirits! They come at my beck and call and they are far more powerful than your "god of the dead", whichever version of him dances in his graveyard now!"

Nica had erupted in anger. She had walked up to Gann and poked him several times in the chest and screamed, "We'll see who has the narrow view when you die and have to answer to my gods. I don't attack your religion so I would appreciate you not attacking mine!"

Gann had clenched his fists and glared at her. "Attack!" he yelled. "I think you mistake "attack" for "fact"! But," he said snidely, "If it will make you less defensive, I shall refrain."

Both Safiya and Kaelyn had hurried over trying to pull Nica back from Gann before real trouble broke out. Okku circled around, his eyes never leaving Gann for a moment. Gann had looked up at them, spat again in the snow with disgust and had then stomped back to the garrison.

Nica had called out, shaking with rage. "Yes, go, get out, you..you... Hagspawn!!"

"How dare he?" she had turned to her companions for support. "Just who made him the authority on gods and religion?"

Kaelyn, trying to pacify her, had laid her hand on Nica's arm shyly, and said, "I should have realized it before. This curse smells of a dead god of which there are few."

Nica had continued to watch Gann's fading back with narrowed eyes and she barely heard what Kaelyn had said. "Wha-What did you say? Oh," she shook her head and tried to remove the images that were going through her head of beating Gann to a bloody pulp! "Well, why would a dead god want to curse me? "

"I could not venture to say. The gods are petty and their curses live on after them. Perhaps you suffer from such a punishment somehow gone awry. If that is the case this curse was not originally meant for you but for another."

Upon their return to the fort, Gann had been waiting but he did not look at or say a word to Nica. Dalenka had offered them a magical boat for their return trip and within the day they were back in Mulsantir.

Nica glanced over to Okku who was lying beside her snoozing. She prodded him. "Okku, tell me again what you know of this curse."

He sat on his haunches and looked up at her. "I do not know much, little one. Whatever this curse is it runs deep and strong and nothing known to me can cure it. When it has extinguished the soul of its host it finds a new form to inhabit. Do not be fooled by the countless bodies left in its wake – only one spirit-eater has ever walked the land though it has worn many faces. But I cannot say why its shadow fell upon you and not another."

Nica sighed, feeling defeated. "So, there is nothing I can do, then?"

Okku lay down again. "I would do anything to rid you and all Rashemen of the spirit-eater but I have no answers."

"I just can't understand how a dead god could curse me."

Okku looked up at her pointedly. "A dead god tried to kill you when you tried to escape his barrow. Not all that is dead lies still. However, I've seen that your will is as powerful as this hunger. When you first bested me I gained an appreciation of your strength. Though I did not think you were so mighty as to defeat me with an army of spirits at my side, you proved me wrong. When I started traveling with you I did not question your might but I had doubts about your character. I have been watching you...observing your words and actions. And I am confident that you genuinely want to end this curse."

Nica looked down at him gratefully. "I appreciate that, Okku."

The bear continued on. "You have not become the spirit-eater – you have not embraced the twisted power within you. My confidence is strengthened. In return I offer you a gift."

Nica laid a hand on his pelt. "You don't owe me anything Okku. I still feel bad for killing the spirit wolf, Nakata."

Okku grunted. "That was in self-defense so do not blame yourself. Your actions make you deserving of this gift, little friend, and it cost me no effort or pain to give it. My confidence in you, in the value of my oath strengthens my spirit. I give to you a measure of that resolve. I cannot relieve you of the hunger's burden but I can lend you my will in resisting it."

Nica hung her head, overcome by Okku's faith in her. "Thank-you, Okku."

"Lesser mortals would abuse the power of your curse. This is my way of thanking you for your strength."

Gann was sitting at the bar of The Sloop, drinking ale, and watching the clumsy actors of the Sloop Troupe rehearsing their play. "What clods!" he thought. "I could perform in that disgusting play three times better than those oafs."

His resentment towards Nica's outbursts in Ashenwood had not abated and, upon their return to Mulsantir, he had decided to go off and get royally drunk. Gann was not usually a heavy drinker – it interfered with his ability to speak to the spirits – but at this point, after having about five ales in quick succession, he was at the point where he didn't give a damn about anything or anybody and was spoiling for a fight.

Zorah, of course, had her eagle eye on him. She had made her usual comments upon his arrival and Gann, acting totally out of character, had flipped her an obscene gesture, muttered a curse, and had stalked off and plunked himself down at the bar.

It seemed, however, no matter how much he drank, he could not get thoughts of Nica out of his mind. "Who in the hells does that wench think she is?" he thought angrily. "Does she think we're all supposed to be her good little servants and are not allowed to express our opinions on anything?" He drained his mug. "And, she believes in all that absurd "gods' tripe. I thought she was much more intelligent than that!" He gritted his teeth as he nursed his resentments. "And then that bitch tried to throw the blame on the spirits!!"

That was the limit. To blame the things that were most important to him was a kind of blasphemy. "And after all I've done for her!!" he fumed. "I've saved her life I don't know how many times, and, does she care? No!! Treats me like a piece of pig dung, poking her finger at me and screaming like a fishwife."

Gann, of course, had conveniently forgotten how much he had wanted to go on this journey. His liking and admiration for Nica had been swallowed up by resentment and ale. His opinion of himself was such that he had no inkling that his derogatory remarks about the "gods" might have hurt Nica. He was so adamant in his beliefs that he could not see any other side except his own. What had the 'gods' ever done for him?

All his past resentments about being abandoned also came to the surface. He had allowed Nica to make a large crack in his armor and what had happened? She had turned on him. "So much for love," he muttered drunkenly. "I should have known better than to start caring about her. What a fool I've been."

He slammed his empty mug down on the bar, in anger at her and himself, and signaled to Vladek for another.

Zorah, meanwhile, had moved up closer to the bar so she could keep a better eye on him. No telling what this hagspawn might do in his condition and she didn't want any of her furniture broken. She signaled to Vladek to cut him off but Vladek didn't see her motion as he was busy refilling Gann's mug.

A group of three heavily armed men, dressed in outlandish hats, wide baggy pants and thigh-high boots looked over at the bar when Gann slammed down the mug. Gann heard the muttered words of "hagspawn" and "half-breed" and his rage broke. He picked up the foaming mug of ale and threw it at the men. Their startled faces were all Gann saw as got off the barstool and slowly made his way towards them. The men drew their swords and in a rage stormed over to Gann, the ale dripping from their clothes and faces, the glass from the broken mug crackling underfoot. He met them halfway with his katana swinging.

Zorah screeched as the lead man went down and broke a table. Vladek had come around the bar and was bravely trying to grab the sword arm of one of the other men but he got knocked to the floor and crawled under a table. The Sloop Troupe rushed over to see the action with their mouths all hanging open. Clive was thinking, "I knew that Mr. Stag was going to be trouble."

Zorah herself got in the thick of it, screeching over and over, "You'll pay! You'll pay!" and trying to beat Gann over the head with a wooden platter which put him at a bit of a disadvantage with the two men that were left standing.

He managed to get a thrust in at one of them, saw blood spurt and then realized it was his own. Briefly he looked down and saw a large splotch of blood on his jacket. That seemed to enrage him even more and dodging as much as could to get out of the reaches of Zorah, he attacked the men with briefly renewed vigor. He could not call on his magic because his concentration was nil due to the alcohol.

The men continued to wear him down and although he parried their blades as best he could several more sword cuts appeared on his arms. Stumbling, drunk, exhausted, he finally fell, his katana still swinging.

At that moment a huge roar was heard and Okku appeared out of nowhere. The two men turned their heads and saw the huge, colorful bear barreling towards them. Okku crashed into them and they went flying to land in a heap by the bar. Okku then stood over Gann baring his teeth at one and all, seeming to dare them to come any closer. Everyone backed off, however, Zorah was still screeching about her broken furniture. Okku growled at her, "Check the hagspawn's pockets and take what you need."

Zorah gingerly went over to Gann and rifled his pockets. She took every bit of coin he had on him. Gann was moaning in pain, but Okku grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and dragged him out of the bar leaving a nice trail of blood for Zorah to clean up. He dragged Gann around the side of the building and, with a mighty heave, dropped him in a trough of water.

Gann spluttered and woke up briefly but then passed out again. Propping him up as best as he could, Okku then loped off to the Veil and told Kaelyn, who was standing just inside the door, what had happened. She rushed out the door. Magda and her group came over and Okku directed the men to The Sloop to help carry Gann back. When Nica heard the commotion, she came down from the back to see what was happening but when she heard that Gann had been in a drunken brawl, she said, "Serves him right!" and turned on her heel and went back to the common room.

When Kaelyn reached Gann his head was almost under the water. She quickly pulled him up and chanted a healing spell over him, although she was not sure where he was wounded. He groaned and tried to look up but his head wobbled over and fell on his shoulder. The actors from the Veil arrived shortly afterwards and they each took an arm and a leg and carried Gann back to the Veil.

Nica was sitting a table in the back reading a scroll when the men thumped up the stage carrying Gann and laid him on one of the beds. He was covered in blood and Nica's eyes widened. "Ohmigods," she blurted out and jumped up and ran over to him. As soon as she neared his bed, the smell was unmistakable. "UGGH," she thought. "He's stinking drunk."

Kaelyn and Safiya gathered around and slowly started to undress him, removing the bloodstained jacket carefully. He had a large stab wound in his side and several smaller cuts up and down both of his arms. Nica ran for warm water and a cloth and upon her return gingerly started dabbing at the encrusted blood around his wounds. Kaelyn repeated several more healing spells and the flow of blood stopped. Gann kept trying to brush away Nica's hands; suddenly he struggled to a sitting position, leaned over and threw up all over the floor. Groggily, he flopped back down on his back and passed out again.

Nica yelled out, "Oh Gods, Yuk! Magda? We need a mop and bucket."

Gann slowly opened one eye. Kaji saw it and squeaked, "Heelllooo, Gann!" Gann put his hand to his head and groaned heavily. Wincing with pain, he slowly opened both eyes and tried to focus. He turned his head carefully and saw Safiya sitting beside his bed. She smiled and said, "Good morning. How are you feeling?"

Gann sighed and said feebly, "I feel, excuse my language, like shit." Safiya laughed. "Well, I'm sure you do. But that will eventually wear off. Be assured, that your other wounds are healing and you will survive."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better? " he moaned. "At this point, I really don't care if I survive or not."

Safiya gave him a stern look, but realized his words were coming more from the pain is his head, not from a desire to really die.

"That's not like you, Gann. Would you like to tell me what happened?"

He glanced at her warily. She was Nica's friend and would probably run back to Nica and tell her.

"I promise I won't tell Nica, if that's what you're worried about, " she said knowingly. "However, it seems to me, that you two will have to resolve this quarrel if we are to continue to travel together."

He looked at her in amazement. "Are you saying she still wants me to accompany her? I would have thought that after that scene in Ashenwood, and my behavior of last night, that that possibility had been brought to a conclusion."

"Well, she hasn't really said anything, one way or the other, but I don't think she wants you to leave. Of course, that is just my opinion."

He sighed and closed his eyes feeling the throbbing in his head. "Where is she?" he questioned.

"She and Kaelyn went to get more supplies. I was hoping there would be a more expedient solution to this curse – a disease that could be cured or some curse-throwing witch I could disintegrate. But if the Woodman is correct a dead god is to blame. I was afraid after Ashenwood that she would give up this hunt for a cure but she's decided to continue on. I offered to sit with you until you were awake."

"I deeply appreciate that, although it was not necessary." He tried to sit up but couldn't quite make it. His head hurt horribly and his side ached.

"You know, Gann, if makes you feel any better, I've never been one for the "gods", either. But, unfortunately, we are in the minority. You can't expect people not to get upset when you make your sweeping statements about what fools they are to believe in them. Not everyone thinks like you and I do."

Gann made a wry face. "Yes, you are probably right. I seem to have let my prejudice override my usual good sense. Indeed, I am the first one to know how different I am in many aspects, from the reception I usually receive among the peasants of Rashemen."

Safiya wasn't about to let him start feeling sorry for himself. "You're not that different, you know. Do you think I get any better reception from people when they find out I'm a Red Wizard? You're not the only one who's had a hard life. What about Nica? Her past life doesn't sound that wonderful? An orphan, a cold-hearted foster father, not to mention all the things she's been through because of the shard in her chest. Thankfully, I had a mother who cared about me, but many people don't. And although being a hagspawn seems to be a stigma in Rashemen, from my readings, I know there are all sorts of different races in the world. Where Nica hails from on the Sword Coast, there are dwarves, elves, half-elves, tieflings, gnomes and many other types of creatures. From what I could gather from her tales, her best friends were a dwarf and a tiefling." She smiled at Gann, "Maybe you should move there instead of staying here? You might feel better about yourself."

He grinned, "Are you trying to get rid of me, now?"

Safiya shook her head and smiled. "No, I'm not. You are an important part of this expedition. And – I really shouldn't tell you this – but I think Nica really needs you."

"What!?" he said pessimistically. "As a bodyguard?"

"Gann! That's not what I meant, and I'm not going to say any more about it. I've come to care a lot about Nica since I've met her and I want to help her as much as I can. She needs friends!! As you once said before, we all have a stake in trying to find a cure for this curse. If your stake is only trying to protect your spirits, that seems kind of selfish to me. I think we all need each other in this quest. I know Nica likes you and, I suspect, you care about her. That being said, I think you owe her an apology."

She rose and stood looking down at him. "If you're feeling better, I'll go and get you some breakfast."

Gann hung his head and said shamefacedly. "No, no breakfast, please! Not yet, anyway. And Safiya," he looked up at her almost choking on his words. "You are correct. I thank-you!"

Nica had gone up to Sheva Whitefeather's enclave to let her know what had happened in Ashenwood. Sheva seemed much friendlier now and thanked Nica profusely for solving the problems in the forest. On a whim, Nica decided to ask her what she knew about The Slumbering Coven.

"Only that they exist, " Sheva responded. "In our country not even dreams are safe and these hags peer into the minds of many sleepers. It is said they walk where they please, take what they please - memories, hopes, secret loves – none are safe from their grasping fingers if they choose to pillage your dreams. Why do you ask?"

"From some information we've received it seems that Lienna and another woman visited these hags and got some kind of plan from them. Soon after that I was taken from my homeland and ended up in Okku's barrow. Somehow these witches tie in with my curse. But what, exactly, are these hags?"

"Night hags. The eldest and most perfect of their kind. The Wychlaren do not know exactly where they dwell. They are hard to reach and too powerful to confront. We would lose many of our number and our magic is of little use in dreams."

"Well, thank you for the information."

"Good luck on your journey, Nica. May the gods have mercy on you."

Nica turned and started down the hill. She was startled to see Gann in the distance, painfully making his way through the Ice Troll compound at the bottom of the slope, the berserker's pet telthor badger snapping at his heels. He was wearing his old shaman clothing and she could hear the tinkling of the beads and trinkets tied to his leathers.

She stopped. Maybe he hadn't seen her and she could still escape. She was really not in the mood to talk to him right now. Her feelings about him still confused her. She had made up her mind last night that it would be best if Gann went on his merry way. He had had no right to speak to her like he did. However, when she had seen him covered in blood, something had changed in her.

She had seen numerous drunken men before and that didn't really bother her; hells, she had been drunk herself many times at Uncle Duncan's tavern. But, seeing his wounds and the sudden thought of him dying really bothered her. She knew she would miss his sarcastic banter; even his huge ego was amusing. But there was something else...she hated to admit that he was starting to become very important to her and not just as another fighter in the group. The way he had held her that night before they left for Ashenwood had played in her mind. His arms had felt so good around her. He had kissed her forehead. Although she had been enraged at seeing him watching her after her dream, the thoughts of that dream and Gann making love to her surfaced time and time again.

But she had tried to force those thoughts out of her mind. She couldn't afford to fall in love again. Her curse would prevent that, at any rate. What kind of life could she ever have if she could find no cure for this curse? But she knew now that a small part of her wanted him and wanted him badly.

After Gann had thrown up and passed out again, Nica had helped Safiya and Kaelyn remove the rest of his bloody clothing. The thought of that made her blush. His body was just as gorgeous as his face. His broad shoulders; strongly, muscled chest and stomach; his long, firm thighs and calves, the silky hair running down from his belly to his groin, his... She had tried not to look too closely and had hurriedly pulled up the covers. Bucket and mop in hand she had raced back to Magda so Safiya and Kaelyn couldn't see her face.

"I just can't let myself think about him like that!" she had firmly told herself later that evening when she was lying in bed. "It would be better if he left now, before it gets worse."

She had been hoping that she could get Okku to tell him he would have to leave and now, here he was, walking up the hill towards her. She started to turn and go back up the hill, but he saw her and called out. "Nica, wait!"

She had to stop. "Damn," she thought.

He slowly came up to her. She could see he was still stiff from the wound in his side and he looked like the hells. His hair was hanging around his face, he had dark circles under his eyes and his skin looked paler than usual.

He came up and stood in front of her and gently took her hand and led her back up the hill to her favorite perch. He indicated she should sit and he slowly sat down beside her.

She hung her head and wouldn't look at him. "What do you want?" she muttered. He reached over and took her hand again. "Nica, look at me." She grudgingly looked up. Gods, he had the most beautiful deep, green eyes. She looked back down again quickly. He reached out his finger and tipped her chin up to face him. "Please, " he said softly.

Unwillingly she held his gaze. "I only wanted to tell you that I realize I acted like a complete ass. I was wrong to

say what I did about your gods. I am not asking for your forgiveness nor do I expect that you would want me to continue to accompany you on your journeys, however, before I leave, I wanted to apologize to you."

She didn't know what to say. She had not been expecting this. Some sarcastic remarks, possibly, but not this sincere apology. She hung her head again, and the tears started to fall. She felt his arm go around her shoulders and he pulled her to him letting her cry on his shoulder. His hand lightly stroked her hair.

'Oh, Gann, I don't want you to leave," she sobbed. "I'm sorry, too; I'm so sorry. I just..." she paused a moment to catch her breath and wipe away her tears. "I'm a mess, aren't I?" She tried to laugh. "This curse has got me so screwed up. I was so upset when the Woodman couldn't tell me of a cure and then I just snapped again when you started talking about the gods."

"I know, I know,' he murmured still stroking her hair. "And, the selfish being that I am did not realize how much that had disappointed you."

She raised her head and looked into his eyes, trying to wipe her face with her hands. No, no, I can't say it, she thought. "Can we be friends again?" was all she managed to get out.

Although it was not exactly what he was hoping to hear, he nodded. "Yes, Nica, we can be friends again."

"And your wounds, how are they feeling?"

"They are much better. Kaelyn has great skill with healing spells. Although, I must admit, they do not work for hangovers!"

Nica giggled. "You really tied one on, didn't you?"

He looked at her wryly, "Yes, I did, and it will be a tremendously long time before I ever do that again. Although, I do have to say I held my own admirably and the other gentlemen involved came off much worse than I."

"Uh, didn't Okku have something to do with that?" she teased.

"Old Father Bear? Well, yes, he helped a bit," he smiled slyly.

Nica poked him in the ribs and he grimaced dramatically with pain. "Oh, gods, I forgot," she said in horror.

"Do not be alarmed. My wound is on the other side. Now, shall we return to the Veil?"

"Oh, you!" she said in disgust, but she was smiling widely. He grinned wickedly.

"By the way, I've been thinking about trying to find that Slumbering Coven. Actually, I was planning on leaving tomorrow. Are you still interested in going there?"

His face grew serious and with a hint of trepidation in voice he said, "Yes, I do want to go. I've seen it so many times in my dreams that, I think, it is probably time to go there in person."

"Well, " she stood up. "We better go back and get our gear together. Hopefully, Magda's laundress has been able to get all the bloodstains out of your armor."

"Indeed. I would not want to give the impression that I had somehow been defeated in a battle. That would not be conducive to intimidating future enemies." He winked and held out his elbow. Nica crooked her arm in his and they slowly walked back to the Veil.