The next morning the group were once again on the road to the lighthouse. Anna walked a bit slower than normal and found that she wobbled from side to side as though she'd been a bit too liberal in a tavern. She felt self-conscious that everyone seemed to turn and glance at her from time to time. Xan walked nearer to her than usual, she thought to catch her should she suddenly keel over. Sighing she held her cloak wrapped tight against the sea breeze and trudged onwards.
She was surprised that Safana stayed with the group. Anna learned that the pirate's treasure, though not quite the mother lode Safana played it up to be had been weighty enough to increase the party's fortunes. Anna was certain the thief would take her portion and head back to civilisation, especially as everyone bar Finn's reception of her stayed chilly. But she was still there, conversing easily with Finn.
Eventually they reached a spot where Kivan decided to scout on ahead. Anna was glad for the rest; her head grew a foggy with walking. She worried about Kivan going on alone though and was relieved when he returned some time later.
"I discovered i'kalmindon," he reported. "Some thirty orcs and hobgoblins stay there. They fight and drink and eat. A surprise attack would do much damage, I believe. There are a few patrols, we should kill them before they can call the alarm."
"Good," said Finn. "We're not quite your match with a bow, but I think we should do some hunting. Get these patrols out of the way. Then we'll see about the ones in the lighthouse."
...
The group stowed their packs carefully and prepared to fight. They split into two groups and set off in different directions, hoping to find the patrols before they were discovered themselves.
Anna followed as her group made their way through the forest. It wasn't long before Khalid signalled to get down. A patrol of four hobgoblins pushed through the bushes but fortunately they hadn't noticed the hiding group. From under cover Anna cast her spell as silently as possible and smiled with delight when all four immediately collapsed to the ground, fast asleep. She turned away as Jaheira and Khalid dispatched the sleeping creatures. One patrol out of the way.
The next patrol surprised them and for a few minutes blades crashed and bowstrings sang. Anna cried out involuntarily when an arrow struck a tree inches from her head. She blinded her attacker with an orb and Jaheira finished the job.
One orc fled the melee, heading back towards the lighthouse. Swiftly Khalid followed suit. The half-elf's feet were lighter than the orc's and Khalid caught him in battle again. The three women ran in Khalid's direction but there was no need to provide assistance for the orc lay bleeding at his feet. Anna leaned onto a tree to catch her breath and Jaheira looked at her sharply, but the mage assured her that she was fine. It wasn't true. She had a dull throbbing in her head but there was nothing to be done about it; she must carry on.
Seeing no other signs of patrols the group made their way to a tall fir tree that marked the rendezvous point. Khalid let out a low bird-whistle and it was echoed from the undergrowth.
"They'll miss those patrols before long," Finn said, the jerkin covering his new mail shirt spattered with dark blood. "We should think of the best way to attack that place."
A watch stood in the tower and several ruined outbuildings gave shelter for defenders. The trees which grew up around the lighthouse were an advantage to the party, however.
"We will not stand a chance if we directly assault the place," Jaheira said. "We need to draw them out, fight them one-on-one. And we need to act quickly. They will pick up our scent."
"Y-yes. And do not f-forget, we need their information," Khalid replied.
...
Nervously Anna walked towards the lighthouse. Beside her walked Finn and Jaheira. She could not see them, nor even herself. They were invisible. It was a surreal feeling, like being a ghost. She could see the indentations her feet made in the grass and that was all.
She reached a certain point and held still. Her palms sweat and she counted slowly to ten. Mere paces ahead the hobgoblins and orcs wandered around, carrying on in their way.
Ten. She raised her hands. As soon as she began casting her spell she could see her arms again. An orc noticed her and cried out to his comrades. Too late. A second later Anna's fireball exploded in their midst, knocking them off their feet. She heard their screams but didn't stay to watch. Quickly she ducked behind a tree and cast another spell, her hands vanishing once again.
Before she could turn around she heard a thunderclap. Moving from her hiding place she saw a blinding flash of electric light strike from the thickening sky above; Jaheira had cast her spell. An orc collapsed to the ground, burned and twitching.
Orcs and hobgoblins poured out of the buildings. Bracing herself Anna cast her next spell and in a flash a group of wild dogs appeared from the ether. Mentally she commanded them to attack the creatures, and they rushed in biting and tearing. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a group of gnolls appear where none had been before and just as swiftly they joined the fray. Xan, thought Anna.
Confusion overtook their enemies but their commander swiftly barked orders and a number of the creatures fled the dogs and gnolls and lightning strikes seeking their true attackers. Anna was in danger. She didn't have time to cast a spell that would stop them and if she ran her back would be an easy target for their arrows.
"Get down!" Finn called as he burst out of hiding and locked swords with the two hobgoblins nearest Anna. A heavy black arrow struck his chest but thankfully it fell from his good mail. Behind her tree she heard him grunting as he grappled with them.
Anna turned and spoke words. The hobgoblins froze with swords poised and twisted, angry expressions on their hairy faces. Finn ran his blade through them both. He glanced at Anna before running to engage more of the creatures.
She drew a deep breath and faced the melee again. She could see Finn, Khalid and Jaheira in the thick of the battle, still outnumbered though many enemies had fallen. Her head felt like bursting but she cast another spell and this time a gang of gibberlings appeared. They were not fierce compared to the orcs and hobgoblins but would provide a distraction.
Anna heard heavy footfalls behind her and turned to see a hobgoblin charging. She dodged out of his way somehow but fell onto her back. With a cry she cast a spell but it fizzled in her hands. The hobgoblin raised his sword over her and she rolled blindly away from his blade. Before she could stagger to her feet a fine white arrow pierced the goblin's neck and he let out a weak cry, falling to the ground. She looked around but Kivan was already pursuing another target.
...
Jaheira's admonition to stay out of battle seemed a distant memory. While she still had spells to cast she was needed. She focused against the pain in her head; she couldn't afford to have any more spells fail. Not far from her Imoen and Safana ducked in and out behind trees, stinging the orcs with their arrows. Neither was an excellent shot but they served to create more confusion.
Anna struck at stray beasts with her spells and her store grew lower. She noticed Xan some ways off, his arms raised in spellcasting. A number of hobgoblins made him a target for their arrows. She caught her breath but the next moment he disappeared in a flash of light. Instantly another flash appeared nearby and Xan stepped through. He said nothing to her but spoke an incantation, summoning another group of gnolls into the battle. Fortunately the mages were out of range of the tricked hobgoblins' arrows.
"Do you have much left?" he panted.
"Most of my attack spells are gone."
"As are mine. That was my last summoning spell," he said, wiping his brow. "It appears most of the enemy have fallen. Stay back, now."
"I can still help—" she began.
"You will help no one if you collapse on the field and require rescue," Xan said. Anna felt her face grow hotter.
An orc noticed them and moved in to strike. Xan gritted his teeth and drew his sword against the creature, moving quickly despite his obvious exhaustion. Blue-white flames licked off the blade as he parried the heavy orc's attack, throwing the creature off-balance. Anna struck it with her last orb and it blindly slashed around in confusion. The elf managed to circle around and struck a killing blow.
With a small grunt he pulled his Moonblade from the orc. Blood oozed from the wound but the blood on the blade seemed to evaporate in front of Anna's eyes.
"It will bear no stain," Xan said, seeing her look.
He told her again to stay out of the battle, then disappeared in another flash of light.
...
Anna rested near the burnt shell of the lighthouse. The other party members gathered around the two hobgoblins and an orc that remained alive, their hands and feet bound in strong rope. They cursed and swore at the party in the common tongue.
The party's faces showed the strain of battle. Finn, normally enthusiastic after their victories, leaned heavily against a rough table. Anna felt that she could sleep for a hundred years. She felt utterly drained. Xan was paler than normal and the bluish tinge of his skin more pronounced. Kivan, Imoen and Safana avoided direct combat for the most part but the rips and tears in their clothing showed they'd been busy on their feet.
"I wish these ugly things were dead," Safana said, tossing her head in the direction of the prisoners. "Find what you need quickly and finish them. They are horrible."
The orc sneered at her. "Don't like us, girlie? I had girlie like you once. She not like me either. Cut her throat and she like me better then."
The prisoners laughed. Kivan strode forward and struck the orc so violently that Anna jumped. He growled something at the creature and the orc stopped laughing.
"Whoa!" Finn said, surprised. "We need them, Kivan. Easy."
He moved to pull the elf off but Kivan released the creature.
"We will not waste words with you," Jaheira said to the prisoners. "We are looking for Tazok."
"Tazok not here," the orc said. "We not know Tazok."
"It is pointless to lie to us," Jaheira continued.
"Garank not lie. No Tazok here."
"Then tell us what you were doing here."
The orc just sneered again, showing his ugly yellow teeth.
"Tell us or we let the elf finish you off," Finn said.
"Go ahead, pale man. We not care. You kill us anyway. You cowards."
"You would call another coward, beast?" Kivan glared.
Xan sighed. "I take it this is my cue?"
"Knock yourself out," Finn said.
"Hopefully it won't come to that," Xan answered.
...
He interrogated the prisoners for a long while. They told the truth about being ordinary mercenaries and proved no window onto the location of the mysterious Tazok or what his ultimate plans might be. He learned that the orcs and hobgoblins had been lured to the lighthouse meeting point by the promise of great riches and battles by an organisation known as the Chill, a mercenary group of demi-human races. Their representatives were dead at the party's feet. Xan had to dig into the captives' memories, trying to pick out any overheard clue that might lead them to Tazok. Anna worried about the elf. His face looked pained and his brow was in knots. Finally his hands dropped in exhaustion.
"Sit down, Xan," Jaheira said. "Did you learn anything else of use?"
The elf sat down hard onto the earth. "Corellon, an orc's mind is a foul place to be." He drew a breath and rubbed his eyes. "One of the hobgoblins heard of another bandit camp to the north. In the forest, somewhere near the Friendly Arm Inn. It wasn't very specific."
"Well, that's more than we knew before you started," Finn said. "Good work."
"Thank you. There is more. This camp is unusual in that many races gather there. Human, orc, hobgoblin, gnoll, and others. All criminals and mercenaries. Someone is hiring bandits from all around to ply their trade along the Sword Coast."
"So someone arranged to have the iron ore in this region contaminated, then hired bandits to kill and rob for what was left?" Jaheira said. "That makes little sense. The ringmasters in this affair must be more interested in destabilising the region than in gold. Truly, there must be intrigue at work."
"I think you're right. And we've got no short list of suspects there," Finn remarked.
"It's a lot for little old us to go after," Imoen said. "What are we supposed to do?"
"We must be the thorn in the lion's paw," Jaheira said.
"Why would you want to do so?" Safana asked. "I enjoy a good opportunity but that seems like madness. The bandits are making life difficult enough without deliberately seeking them. I considered going back south until I came across the pirate's map. Less danger for a woman there."
"They came after me, after us," Finn replied. "They killed my father, and I won't stop until I repay them for that." His face looked like fire.
"But why?"
"I don't know," he shook his head. "I don't know."
"Well," Jaheira sighed. "We should search this place thoroughly and leave soon. There may be more enemies headed here and we would not want to encounter them in the dark."
"What about—" Anna gestured towards the prisoners who were beginning to come around from Xan's enchantment.
Kivan reached for the dagger of bone he wore at his waist.
"We can't kill them!" Anna said.
"Arwen en amin, these are not innocent people. They are beasts, monsters. Do you know what they would do to you if they were free?" Kivan fixed her with a stare.
"But they are prisoners."
"Then set them loose and I will hunt them. The end will be the same."
"We can't have them following us," Finn said. "Or telling others where we're going."
Anna looked down. She knew what they said was true. But killing prisoners in cold blood seemed, well, wicked. Their captives were cruel murderers. Did that give the party the right to execute them? There was no authority to hand them over to, that was true. She wondered if Finn and Kivan would be so quick to slit their throats if they were men, or elves.
Slowly Xan spoke. "I could take their memories. They would not remember our faces, or why we came here. I could make them sleep for days. They would not threaten us."
"But they would be free to harm others. I could not rest, Heruamin, knowing I had let them free to kill innocents again," Kivan said.
"That is the choice before us."
"I do not understand why you are concerned about them," Safana said to Anna. "They are not little puppy-dogs. The painted elf is right. Kill them, and let us be away from here."
"Do as you wish then," Anna said, her throat thick. "Forget I said anything."
She rose up and wandered away from the group. The bodies of orcs and hobgoblins littered the area, their wounds already attracting flies. In the grasses around their remains tiny purple and yellow flowers bobbed in the sea breeze. Birds were calling in the trees and the cries of sea birds came to her from over the cliffs.
Suddenly she felt something grab her. Her heart jumped as she saw a hobgoblin reaching out with a bloody hand, grasping the hem of her robe in his big fist. She cried out and struck at him with her staff. The hobgoblin released her and she jumped away. It was his last movement. She saw the light fade from his eyes. Her heart pounded and her head felt light, not so much from fear, but rather the cumulative stress of the past few days. What was she doing here? She was weak, she wasn't a warrior, either in body or spirit. She was a fool to have left her home.
Kivan heard her short cry and came hurrying over. Following her eyes he understood why she called out. Two hot tears rolled down her cheeks. She was embarrassed to cry in front of the elf, but she did not care.
He looked at her a moment. "Come, mellonamin." He placed a hand gently on her shoulder and guided her back to the others. She wiped away her tears and no more came, but she still felt ill.