Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Above, Balors, Calimport

"So that rather obvious symbol was to tell me the two of you were in the area?"

Winter continued to sketch pictograms and odd circles into the ground. Carefully she touched the tip of her finger to a circle – immediately the ground it surrounded tinted a deep maroon.

"Of course," Veldrin said. The two twins peered constantly over Winter's shoulders, chattering to each other, to Winter, and to themselves, supremely carefree. "Is that really necessary?"

"I may owe Raelmaztigar," Winter touched the tracings, and they blurred to a white, chalky hue. "But I do not want a balor rampaging around in the Prime Material Plane. Zaknafein will never forgive me. Even if he can't really be bothered about this place any longer."

"Zaknafein Do'Urden?" Ssussun asked excitedly, hopping around the circle. "Look! I'm rampaging..." Her face flashed once into a demonic visage that was dog-like with large blazing red eyes and an unseemly amount of sharp pointed teeth, then back to her 'normal' pretty face.

"Yes." Winter said shortly, ignoring Ssussun's rather childish display. Several spirals turned a rich turquoise at the edges.

"He's so...ssin'urn." Veldrin gushed, sighed deeply and theatrically, giggled, and then stuck her tongue out at her sniggering sister. "Well, you think so too."

"He may appreciate that," Winter said dryly.

"He went offworld before we managed to get permission from Mother to come to the Prime Material Plane," Ssussun pouted. "Or we could have snatched him from that sacrificial altar. Or taken control of Zin-carla. Whatever. But we could have done something."

"I do not think he'd like servitude to demonesses," Winter pointed out placidly. She traced a small network of triangles in the center of the symbol, and slowly leached them to a dull creamy color in the bluish light that Irr'liancrea was radiating.

"Why not?" Veldrin collapsed into a sprawling kneel next to Ssussun. "We'd be more fun than that stuffy Morikan he calls master now."

"Morikan? Stuffy?" Winter glanced up, then burst into laughter. "Oh dear. Oh dear. You have not met him then."

"'Course we have," Ssussun said airily, "He was 'interested' in our 'welfare' and he came wandering into the bit of the Abyss where we were playing a elaborate prank on Mother. He quite spoiled the prank too." She sniffed.

"Belnarath?"

"They say he's even worse." Veldrin said dramatically in a stage whisper that carried to the ceiling, like a stereotypical conspirator, just the perfect tones of horror, morbid fascination and mild disbelief. "They say he always is well mannered and polite and perfect...those sort of people who match all their socks and wear underwear of the same color."

Winter looked shocked at this, and then she dissolved back into mirth that you did not understand.

"So whom do you prefer?"

"We haven't met GrayWolf."

"You might like him, yes." Winter admitted, returning to the symbols, studying her handiwork with a critical eye, then righting a few possible errors with careful delicacy, rubbing away the color and outline then replacing them with something else. "The Joker."

"Can you introduce us?" Ssussun asked innocently. Her robes pooled around her, dark shadows in the light.

"What, to GrayWolf?"

"No, to Zaknafein." Veldrin pointed at a spiral thoughtfully. "That one's out of place."

Winter peered at it. "Why, thank you." She corrected her mistake – rubbing it out and replacing it somewhere else. "Zaknafein? Whatever for? He's already Morikan's, and I doubt you can pry that dragon's claws off one of his precious Masters. Besides, there is a rule about sneaking people into Sanctuary."

"Oh..." Ssussun and Veldrin pouted in concert.

"Stop doing that, unless you wish your mouth to be permanently distended," Winter said, without looking up. "There we go." She stood up before the symbols and began to speak a rolling series of rhymes and (to you) inconsequential verses. Veldrin and Ssussun watched with happy curiosity, you watched rather warily. Summoning a balor would be truly difficult, especially without 'proper' equipment, as Winter had casually mentioned earlier.

She 'tied off' the incantation and waited expectantly...then a dramatic swirl of red light burst into existence, along with smoke, a blast of heat, and such a strong scent of sulphur and brimstone that it made your head swim.

"Cut that out, Rael." Winter said irritably, with a strong overtone of command in her expressive voice.

The smoke, smell and light dissipated immediately, revealing a huge lion with a deep ruby-red mane and dull crimson fur. Scarlet cat eyes glanced arrogantly at Winter. "Mortal," he...or it thundered with a booming voice. "How dare ye summon Raelmaztigar, Devourer of Souls, Eater of the Damned, Wielder of the..."

Winter began to laugh.

The lion stopped, gave her an injured look, then frowned at his...its progeny. The twins were snickering as well.

"Venorsh! *" it roared.

The three of them laughed harder.

"Waelinar nin *," it added sadly in the drow tongue, in a more normal, softer voice that seemed an odd mix of male and female.

"Al thalrus, ilhar...*" Veldrin managed, bit her lip, then laughed again.

"Rael, Rael." Winter shook her head theatrically. "When would you ever learn that a nice, neat entrance and exit is so much more unusual for a balor?"

"When you learn that a nice, neat holding symbol is most annoying to a balor," the lion patted a spiral with a large paw. "Al thalrus, Winter dear."

"My pleasure," Winter smiled. "It has been a long time, Rael. Too long, I would think. What is this I hear about angels?"

"What is this I hear about mercenary leaders?" Raelmaztigar retorted, sitting down on its haunches comfortably.

"Jarlaxle?" Ssussun asked, perking up.

"Really?" Veldrin sat up straight. "He's a nice one..."

"Oh be quiet, the two of you," Winter said, flushing slightly. "I regretted that. Well, most of it." She did not seem the least perturbed to find that the balor appeared to know everything. You however, began to feel like a rather embarrassed actor in a public play.

"I don't regret anything. I find it is a particularly useless sentiment," Raelmaztigar said graciously.

"Live every day of your life, eh?" Winter raised an eyebrow. "But really, how could you..."

"The same I would of you," Raelmaztigar said comfortably.

"Demons and angels are natural enemies."

"The wielders of the opposing shards are natural enemies."

"If I ever feel I need more tutoring in the art of verbal fencing, at least I now know whom to look for," Winter said wryly. "You truly want me to babysit your prodigals?"

"Certainly the lot of you together may prove too large a challenge for Reima to undertake," Raelmaztigar waved a paw in the air. "And since I cannot persuade them to stay in the Abyss, and since this plane is actually the safest dimension for them to be in..."

"He wouldn't allow us into parallel ones," Veldrin explained.

"In some of them Zaknafein is still...there," Ssussun pointed out. "And a few others we'd like to have. Like that Drizzt. He'd be fun too."

"You think Morikan is stuffy, you may not like Drizzt all too much," Winter said carefully.

"He can change," Veldrin said with surety. Her eyes brightened. "I think he's still unattached now."

"He is," Winter grinned. "Human woman."

"Catti-Brie? Oh, she'd die while Drizzt's still amusingly young," Ssussun said airily. "And he thinks he's only friends with that Alustriel person, but she's human too. And the only other involvement is you, and since you won't share Jarlaxle can't you..."

"I didn't say anything about Jarlaxle," Winter snapped. "And Drizzt is none of my concern."

Raelmaztigar had been watching with heavy amusement, but finally cut in, "Ah?"

Winter glared at the balor with freezing blue eyes, then decided, prudently, to change the subject. "Do you know what Reima is here for?"

"Veldrin and Ssussun, Irr'liancrea and Crenshinibon, possibly," the lion shrugged, an amazing feat for a big cat, casually bored, as if Reima was some insignificant insect instead of the dangerous, mysterious creature that even Jarlaxle was wary of. "Who cares what the minions of Order do. Defeat Reima if you can...you'd never be able to kill it. Angels can't die."

"Do you know where Q'Xarrae is?" Winter continued.

"Somewhere under the protection of another demon," Raelmaztigar shook its impossibly silky mane. "The Wandering one, I think. The one that sponsors most of the Wandering Tribes."

"Ah," Winter said, with dawning comprehension. "No wonder we kept walking in circles. But it can move so fast?"

"If it pleases the demon," Raelmaztigar said, dismissive. "Who cares what the minions of Chaos do, either, when it does not involve me or when I do not stand to gain."

"What can they do?" Winter jerked her head at Veldrin and Ssussun.

"Nearly everything that an angel can do, and nearly everything that a demon can do," the lion said cheerily. "Enjoy."

"Oh dear." Winter said mildly.

"What, you don't like us anymore?" Veldrin said, her eyes suddenly becoming teary, with an air of endearingly innocent sorrow.

"Stop that, you." Winter said without looking. "Hmm. I suppose they would be of some use."

"Use?" Ssussun clutched at the word mischievously. 'Sure! We can make clothing, make food, make war...and that other one of course which you're not interested in." she added wisely when Winter raised an eyebrow.

Winter snorted in mock contempt. "I see the two of you inherited your brains from your mother."

"A great compliment to them both," the demon said graciously.

"Mother!" both the twins protested.

"Is it advisable to go to Q'Xarrae then?" Winter inquired.

"Considering that the Wandering one is one of those whom do not truly approve of either Veldrin or Ssussun, no," Raelmaztigar said, then brightened. "However, if you truly wish to visit the city I have no objections, since I would like to see if my two beloved dalharilar can best him. If they do, I can take over the Wandering Tribes. And Q'Xarrae, of course."

"Morikan forbid," Winter shuddered. "That's a no, then."

"Aww..." Veldrin pouted.

"Aww..." Ssussun sulked.

"Shut up. Well then, the surface world suddenly seems more attractive."

What?

"Oh Kel," Winter said affectionately. "You'd find that most of Faerun...or Aber-Toril for that matter – is rather harmless."

Harmless?

"I have to agree with the child," Raelmaztigar said. "What if you were to go to Evermeet? Or..."

"We don't have to go there," Winter said triumphantly, riding a wave of a new, pivotal and stunning revelation. "We just have to wander around the more deserted bits of it. Or the less noticeable bits of it. Besides, what is so dangerous to us that can possibly prove a threat?"

"Oh, what fun! Can we meet Drizzt?" Ssussun beamed.

"After giving him fair warning, perhaps," Winter smirked. "Why not try that assassin?"

"Artemis Entreri? Another good idea," Veldrin approved, then paused. "Except that he's human and not dark elf, but we can make exceptions...he's Bregan D'aerthe, isn't he?"

"So? But I did see his name on the roll," Winter admitted, the corners of her eyes crinkling with wicked laughter. "He's one of those whom have unknowingly 'joined' the band...or rather, those they manipulate for their profit. Drizzt's name is there too. I was hard put not to laugh when they explained to me what that section meant."

"Very wickedly smart, this mortal band...but most drow-run organizations are." The balor approved, then appeared to lose interest, yawning to show a frightening array of dagger-sharp ivory teeth and a large rough tongue. "Now, do you have anything else to ask me? I was busy torturing someone."

"Accept my heartfelt apologies for tearing you away from your entertainment," Winter said dryly. The demon chuckled, bowed its head and shook its mane again as she clicked her fingers, and Raelmaztigar disappeared in another theatrical puff of crimson smoke. After some coughing and fanning, the smoke disappeared, allowing you to contemplate the flushed and eager faces of your comrades clearly.

But you did not expect a balor to behave that way...

"Rael's a different sort of balor," Winter explained, "And you must not judge the actions of an entire species by that of a few examples. Though it did help in this case that Rael is my...ah, I could call him...it friend, I believe...and wanted to come over."

"Oh yes, Mother's so much nicer than the Others," Ssussun agreed. "Are you going to the surface dressed like that?"

"Can't go to the surface a dark elf," Winter complained as she scuffed out the symbols.

"Nothing a little magic can't change," Veldrin smiled. "You can be blue! Or something. I mean, we've got a red-black and a silver-gold already. And you already have the robes. And the sword. And the eyes."

"I will think of something. So we settle for being freaks?" Winter seemed to be enjoying herself. "I may have to make myself resemble the two of you so we can all pass as sisters. That should be easier...and less likely that I will be recognized."

"Oh, sisters!" Ssussun clapped her hands with childish abandon. "More and more fun."

You let out a little heartfelt groan.

**

"The hiatus is getting more and more out of hand," Winter mused, blinking in the sunlight, the spell she had cast speeding up the adaptation of her – and your – eyes to the harsh brightness of the surface.

The first thing you were impressed with was the abundance of new scent and life. You were in what Winter had termed a forest – surrounded by green, earthy scents, strange calls, with some like birds and some like tiny insects...and the air was moving. Everything was splashed with a riotous array of colors and texture, so unlike that of the Underdark...

Veldrin and Ssussun pranced around happily in the...

"Grass," Winter murmured, taking a deep, wistful breath. "Oh Morikan. So much sound, life, wind...I had no idea I missed being Above so much."

You looked up, and your gaze seemed to stretch into eternity. The endless 'sky' soared above you, and for a moment you felt crushingly small and insignificant. White colored, fluffy substances scudded over the brilliant blue, soft against hard, two different kinds of beauty merged together in one magnificent, living tapestry.

"Where are we anyway?" Winter asked Veldrin. The two of them had created the dimension door over to the Surface.

"Oh, somewhere near Calimport. We can walk a bit." Ssussun said happily. "Or we can ride! Yes, ride...but normal horses don't like us, silly fuzzy things."

"I should think so," Winter said dryly. "Since in your...other form you can tear out their throats with a snap of your jaws."

"But first you have to change color," Veldrin said firmly. "Like a chameleon! Have you seen a chameleon, Kel? If you want to see one I can turn into one now..."

No you hadn't, but you did not really want to.

"Aww..."

Winter chuckled. "If blue you say, then blue it will be." Her skin color began to change as she spoke, from a deep black lighter up into a color that seemed to waver between a dark tan and a dark blue. She ran a hand through her hair – then as she shook it out in the light the light seemed to reflect off a soft, very light baby blue before white again.

"That's a neat trick," Veldrin said admiringly.

"Now for the other part..."

You knew Winter would take quite some time, so you sat down on the sweet-scented grass and put your head on your paws. Veldrin and Ssussun soon lost interest and wandered around the meadow picking flowers, occasionally squealing to each other over some new find, and you wondered how young they actually were. However, youth was often not measured by age...

"Ah." Veldrin and Ssussun were back to her side in seconds, and they took one look and burst into laughter.

"Is it that bad?" Winter chuckled, turning to look at you. Instead of her 'normal' face, there was one now, unnervingly, an exact copy of the twins', as were her robes changed to follow theirs in fashion.

"No, it's fantastic," Veldrin said enthusiastically. "We'd copy your weapons and bag. Now do we go in as the Terrible Trio?"

Hence christened, the Terrible Trio and one nigouar-drow advanced on the surface city.

**

"People are staring," Veldrin said in an excited whisper. "What fun!"

"After we wreck havoc here we can continue to overturn Baldur's Gate, then maybe invade Waterdeep and then start a riot in Silverymoon," Ssussun enthused.

Winter chuckled. People were indeed staring at the three elves of radical appearance and apparent, self-assured power, and yet feeling slightly uneasy – the 'aura' of those of the Abyssal Planes did that to Primes – those of the Prime Material Plane. Even you, used to Veldrin's and Ssussun's company, still felt slightly uncomfortable around them.

Calimport was hot and the air heavy with spices, reeks, and metaphorically – the scent of the rich and the stench of the poor. Beggars thronged the filthy street sides and corners, palsied hands stretched hopefully out towards passers-by, and rich merchants in their rich carriages arrogantly took the streets. All around you, shouting in the strange tongue of the surface realm – common, it was called – and unfamiliar smells and sights...you felt quite lost, and stuck closer to Winter.

"Can we pick a fight?" Ssussun nudged Winter hopefully in the ribs, eyeing a few disreputable looking guards around a merchant on a...horse, the beast was called.

"No," Winter said firmly, firmly taking both twins by the arms and herding them away from the more volatile-looking citizens of the streets who appeared to be taking an interest.

"Kidnap a pasha?" Veldrin asked, just as enthusiastically, jerking her head towards a particularly ornate carriage which was rattling its way apparently towards another equally ornate building ahead.

"No."

"Burn down a guild?" Ssussun pointed one dainty foot at a massive stone building that managed to seem like it was lurking even though it bordered the busy street.

"No."

"Aww, come on."

Winter chuckled. "We are here to play, but in such a way that we will not be too noticeable or too much trouble that Reima decides to come up here after us, yes Kel?"

You nodded absently, trying to keep your paws out of the worst of the unidentifiable muck on the streets, which appeared to be getting more and more crowded towards the heart of the city.

"Kill Entreri and work as assassins?" Veldrin asked again, brightly, as if struck by a new thought. "He should be around here somewhere...and Kel can find him!"

Was it you who noticed a few eyes suddenly glance at the four of you then glance away?

"Oh be quiet, Veldrin," Winter sighed, apparently noticing as well.

"You can't beat him?" Ssussun challenged.

"Yes, I mean you beat Tantras'nen...and fought Zaknafein Do'Urden to a standstill. Didn't you?"

"Of course I can," Winter said absently, patting the Name Blade. "But defeating him will probably draw Bregan D'aerthe's attention...then we have to move again before we can have some real fun. As to Zaknafein, I only managed that once – without magic. He gets clever even faster than his son. By the third time, he already knew most of my favorite moves and the counters, that bastard. With magic, now that is a different matter."

"He is, you know." Veldrin smiled innocently.

"Eh?" Winter peered at her.

"A...you know, illegitimate child. Though that doesn't matter really, etcetera. I mean, the two of us are illegitimate according to most laws."

"Zaknafein? Okay..." As Winter digested this apparently shocking fact, she pulled Veldrin and Ssussun down a quieter street and a less reputable one. Was it only you who noticed that the shadows seemed longer than necessary?

"Why do you think he left the Wandering Tribe?" Ssussun said just as innocently. "Swords and all, even if he's so good he can probably go for chieftain? And start anew in a place where females rule?"

"I was...wondering," Winter admitted. "They do not like...bastards, it is true. And in Menzoberranzan, they simply do not care about males to bother about lineage. He never told me...but I suppose him telling me this sort of matter is too much to expect of the closemouthed fellow."

You weren't listening, but instead concentrating your senses on the human leaning against one of the cleaner portions of the wall ahead, his only visible bit of clothing his cloak, and it was too rich for him to be a beggar...

You snarled a warning when you saw the flash of metal at his belt, and the three of them immediately focused their attention on the figure.

The twins smiled happily, a pair of identical smirks of satisfaction, but it was Veldrin who spoke and identified the figure. "Artemis Entreri."

--

Language:

Venorsh: Silence

Waelinar nin: Young(sters) now

Al thalrus, ilhar: Well met, mother.

Dalharilar: daughters