Okay…next chapter. Bit shorter than some of my other ones, but I did not want to both of Aran Linvail's tasks into one chapter. Doing this way gives me more time to do other stuff I have planned. ;) Well enjoy and review!
Working with Thieves
"No, you are going to stay here and rest. That is final. You may be feeling better but you still do not have all your strength back. What you need is a full nights rest," the young ranger ordered.
"Fine. Be safe though," replied the defeated Jaheira. Menelanna gave her a smile and bid her a goodnight before leaving the druid's room and quietly shut the door. Xan was waiting for her at the end of the hall. As the two elves walked to meet the others together a wry smirk spread across his lips.
"What?" Menelanna asked with raised brow.
"Nothing. Just never though I would see that happen," he said softly.
"Oh, me actually being the one nagging Jaheira instead of the other way around? Had to happen sometime," she said with a small smile. "Now lets go find our friends and meet up with this Mook person."
Everyone joined up in the Sea's Bounty's common room. Once they were all accounted for they ventured out in the brisk evening of the Athkatla docks. They made their way down to their meeting point and were promptly greeted by a dark hair young woman.
"You must be Menelanna. The one Aran was gonnna send."
The ranger nodded, "That I am. And you must be Mook."
"I am. Now all I need you to do is keep watch while a few of us unload the cargo." She glanced around at the group and let out a small smile at seeing the number of elves in the group, "Glad to see a few elven folk with you. Your kind can see much better than us humans this time of night. And we will be needing those eyes. For the past few days I have been seeing a man appear around here…he looks kind of odd if I say so myself. Anyways just keep a sharp watch while we get the cargo unloaded."
Menelanna nodded and followed Mook down the plank to where a small boat was tied. Several men were milling about and carrying boxes and loading them into a wagon a short distance away. The ranger sighed and stretched, she hope this would be an uneventful night.
For a long time silence hung over the group. Anomen decided to break the silence by softly speaking to Menelanna. He moved next to her and she looked up at him a gave him a warm smile.
"Want something?" she asked softly.
"I just wanted to speak with you My Lady. I have been pondering upon this matter of your…peculiar heritage of yours," he replied, speaking softly enough for only those gathered closest could hear his words. Xan glance up and watched the priest closely as he spoke on. "I find myself filled with admiration and wonder for you, truly. The blood of a former god of murder flow though your veins…and yet you are an honorable woman. You have done great things and have earned respect."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "But you do not need to flatter me."
"I do not seek to flatter My Lady, I only speak what I see as the truth. I wonder…How is that you are able to do these things? Is there no internal struggle against urges you cannot control? Do you not feel awash in a sea of vile impulses?"
"Of course Anomen," she answered honestly. "I struggle daily against the taint. There will always be a struggle, but I will do what I must to keep control over it. And not let it control me."
"Yes…always a struggle," he echoed her words. He let out a long sigh before going on, "And, yet, you always manage to come out on top, do you not? It must be easy for you My Lady…you are a force of good and this blood seems to have no powerful influence over you." Suddenly something seemed to snap inside of Anomen and his eye flashed with anger, "'Always a struggle?' Bah! If I had such evil blood in me, I would be withering on the ground! I…I could not do what you do! Why must I endure this?! Just…just stand away from me, woman! I stand on the precipice of a test that will decide whether my dream dies, and you are not helping! Away from me, so that I might think!"
Before he could turn away from her she glared darkly at him. A second later she stuck him soundly in the face. The force of her blow and he surprise at being stuck sent him staggering back wards and toppling of the edge of the pier into the cold harbor water. Everyone looked up at the sound of the suddenly splash. Shortly after the priest's head emerged from the water as he struggled to stay a float with his heavy armor on.
"Don't ever vent your frustration and anger on me when I do not deserve it again!" Menelanna shouted at him before turning her back and stalking to the other end of the pier.
Kivan and Ajantis quickly moved forward and helped the floundering priest out of the water. Despite himself Xan could not keep and amused smirk off his face, "Anomen, you should know by now that it is not wise to anger our leader. It is not healthy." A sudden harsh glare from Menelanna wiped the smirk of his face and Xan turned his face away from the angry ranger.
"You know you did deserve that," Yoshimo said quietly to Anomen. Kivan and Ajantis nodded in agreement.
Mook suddenly came up and gave the group an annoyed look, "I though we were suppose to be quite. Anyways everything is unloaded, we will be done in just a few more minutes." Menelanna suddenly spotted a pale looking man heading in their direction. She silently moved up next to Mook and pointed him out. The thief nodded and went up to address the stranger. The ranger could see that the two were exchanging words but could not hear what was spoken. Suddenly the young thief turn towards them shouting, "Menelanna, to me! Treachery is a foot!" These were the last words she spoke before the man tore out her throat with clawed hands.
"This is what you get for siding with Mistress Bohdi's enemies," the vampire said wickedly before rushing towards them.
Immediately Kivan, Menelanna, and Yoshimo began to pelt the creature with arrows, while Ajantis and the soaked Anomen engaged it in melee. With their combined strength it was not long before the vampire leapt back with a snarl. "You should have let yourselves die tonight. You are sure to suffer greatly when you face my Mistress," he hissed before shifting into the form of a bat and disappearing into the night.
Menelanna sighed. So much for the uneventful night she had hoped. She was not looking forward to facing the Shadowmaster the next day to bring him this grim news.
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"Anomen? What happened to your eye?" Jaheira asked when she rejoined the group in the morning.
"He angered our dear your leader," Yoshimo said with a grin.
Anomen grunted and turned away not wanting to make eye contact with anyone, let alone Menelanna. Jaheira raised a brow, "Is that so? Perhaps someone should tell me how this occurred."
"Glad to see you are feeling better, Jaheira," Menelanna interrupted. "We best get going. We need to report to Aran Linvail and I would like to get it over with as soon as possible."
With that she lead the way back to the Shadow Thief guild house. They were once again led down to the Shadowmaster's room and ushered inside. Aran Linvail looked up and gave them a welcoming smile.
"What have you to report?" he inquired.
Menelanna brief gave him an account of what had occurred involving the vampire. Linvail nodded grimly, "She was a friend. I had hoped your support would have prevented deaths. Too many of my people have been killed or gone missing recently. This proves what I have feared: this rival guild knows out actions well." He stood up from his desk and let out a long sigh, "Likely due to traitors that have joined them. We must stop anymore from leaving us. Two of our men, Jaylos and Caehan, are planning on leaving us and joining the other guild. They are to meet their contact in the Five Flagon's Tavern in the Bridge District. Go there and pose as one of our enemy's new recruits. The contact could arrive at anytime, so go there now and bring back any information you gather."
Menelanna nodded, "Very well."
The company made there way towards the Bridge District. Menelanna sighed to herself. She had been hoping she was getting closer to finding Imoen, but now it seemed she was just running errands for a thief. She prayed to Soloron that this would not last for much longer, for Imoen's sake.