All I can say is that some encounters are more welcome than others.

Chapter 25

Encounters

When Anomen had left Ayla at the entrance to the Five Flagons the night before and made his way through the quiet streets to his lodgings at the Radiant Heart, the bag of gold had weighed heavy at his belt and had mirrored the heavy feeling he had in his chest. He should have said something to her or made some arrangement to see her again rather than let her think he had only followed her for the money. But of course he hadn't he told himself ruefully, he was too much of a coward to do that.

The following day he was summoned by his superior Sir Ryan Trawl for a meeting and as he made his way to his quarters he worried what he had done wrong now to be so unexpectedly called. Although he admired the man, he was under no illusion that the feeling was reciprocated. He had been placed under Sir Trawl's supervision, much to Sir Trawl's irritation, as a precaution after his disgrace. At their first meeting he had made it abundantly clear that if it had been up to him, Anomen would have been dismissed from the Order. Since then their relationship had been one of strained formality and they avoided each other whenever possible.

Still racking his brains wondering what he had done he entered the office,

"Ah, Delryn, there you are," Sir Trawl didn't stand to greet him, much as expected he rarely missed the chance to treat him with contempt. He picked up a paper and appeared to read it while leaving Anomen standing awkwardly in front of the desk.

"I have a report here from the City Guard, it appears you were involved in some trouble last night, "...three dead bodies and two summoned skeletons found in the vicinity..." he read aloud and shot Anomen a look over the paper.

"Sir, I can explain if you will allow me..."

Sir Trawl waved him to be quiet and Anomen fell silent, what had the guards reported, surely there was something about the kidnapping ring as well?

"It then goes on to explain that you were instrumental in saving a man, Tirdir, from certain death in the graveyard and followed that with rescuing a young woman from the clutches of kidnappers."

Anomen felt a wave of relief, at last, something Sir Trawl couldn't upbraid him for. Not that the bastard wouldn't try, a wicked thought fleetingly crossed his mind before he silenced it.

"So, Delryn, it seems you are capable of being useful occasionally. Keep it up and I may have to change my opinion of you. Just one thing, dismiss the skeletons next time before the guards show up. We don't want any panic on the streets. You are dismissed."

"Yes Sir, thankyou Sir".

Anomen left the office feeling slightly stunned, he hadn't expected the City Guard to report to the Radiant Heart his involvement. Since he'd woken up the only thing he had on his mind was his missed opportunity to talk to Ayla. Buoyed with Sir Trawl's encouragement which, although grudging was more than he would have expected, he resolved to return to the Copper Coronet that evening. If something like this could happen once then why not again? And if Ayla should happen to want to contact him, where else would she look. He would need to replace his armour first though and so he headed to Waukeen's Promenade after finishing his duties at the headquarters.

Aerie watched as Ayla made her way out of the tent and sighed deeply before turning her attention to what her Uncle Quale was saying.

"...a wand like this can't just be purchased in a shop, no, no something like this would be part of a bargain...,"he paused noticing her lack of interest, "You're not really listening are you? What's wrong Aerie my dear, you seem distracted."

"Oh it's nothing, really it isn't...it's just...well...this, the circus, it's all I've known since well...you know...I haven't seen anything of the outside world. Somebody like Maude, for instance, they get to see things, do things..."

"Ah, I see," Quale tucked the wand away in his pocket and removed his glasses to see her face better. "You know Aerie, since I helped you I've become very fond of you, you're like a daughter to me. And I've watched you grow and been proud of the way you recovered and learnt what I taught you. But I could see how limiting this life has been for you... now don't argue, you know it's true...all those books you read about adventurers and heroes and how you wander around in a daze for days after and dream about a different sort of life. Maybe something like this happening is a sign that it's time to move on? You showed yourself to be capable...and brave, Maude would have...well lets just say not so many of us would have made it without you."

"But Uncle Quale, that wasn't really her fault and she felt terrible about the clowns, honestly she did. It's the first thing she said to me, to say how sorry she was."

"Yes, of course my dear, I wasn't implying she didn't. But that young woman could do with some help I think, somebody to point out when she goes too far. There's something about her..." he trailed off following his thoughts.

"But there's nothing I can do, I don't know her, who she is or anything about her. Of course if she needed help I would but she didn't ask or anything, she just left. I doubt I'll ever see her again."

"Well then, why don't you go after her? Talk to her, offer your help. Come on Aerie, you want things to change for yourself, perhaps it's time to take a chance? I'll always be here for you whatever you do, and the circus and the friends you have here."

Could she do that? Go after this virtual stranger and offer her help and what help could she offer? Of course she had her clerical skills and her magic but what use were they if she was too scared to use them when she needed to? But then she had managed to use them when she had been scared. Perhaps Uncle Quale was right, even if it came to nothing at least if she made the offer and Maude would know she was willing.

"OK, I'll do it, she couldn't have gone far and I should be able to catch her. And Uncle Quale,...thankyou for being so understanding."

She bobbed down and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Yes, yes, now get on with you, you need to catch her up."

Quale watched her move quickly through the throng of people leaving the circus and wondered if he had done the right thing. He had meant what he said to her about her being like a daughter. When he had first found her dying in her cage at the Freak Show five years before, he had just hoped to ease her suffering for the last few days of her life. He never dreamt that she would survive let alone have the strength to recover to how she was now. Of course she still bore the scars of that trauma and even now he would sometimes hear her sudden cries at night when she was woken by some nightmare. But that was the point he told himself, she had already proved to him she was worth more than being a general dogsbody in the circus. She just needed a chance to prove it to herself. And that woman Maude, rarely had he had such a strong impression that destiny had so much in store for somebody. Ah well, he'd done what he could and they would just have to wait and see the outcome.

Ayla filed out of the tent along with the other spectators and took a deep breath of the cool night air. It felt good to be outside, it felt "real" which helped banish the overhanging thoughts that made her want to go down on all fours and possibly find a tree to climb. She was dogtired or should that be "monkeytired", that caused her to grin to herself in spite of the headache she had. All around her people were reuniting with those they had lost track of in the mayhem with a mixture of tears and relief. Some of them were being helped by a contingent of guards that had been dispatched to the area when word had got out that something had gone wrong at the circus.

A woman pushed past her and she heard her shriek in delight and then watched as she pounced on a small boy and enveloped him in a hug. There was something familiar about the voice and she suddenly realised who it was. So Mrs Spider had found her son well and unharmed, that was good, perhaps she hadn't made such a mess of things after all. She turned away from the tearful reunion and started heading past the now empty booths towards home.

"Maude, Maude, wait a minute, I need to speak to you."

Ayla heard Aerie call out, her voice was piercingly high above the low hub of noise coming from the people milling around her. She stopped and waited for her to catch up wondering what she could want.

"Maude, thank goodness I've caught you before you left. Just a minute let me get my breath back," and work out how to say this Aerie thought to herself.

"Look, I know this may sound strange but...but I didn't want you to just leave before I said something. I wanted to offer to help you, you know, with any adventuring quests you take on."

"Adventuring quests?" what was she on about?

"Yes, I mean I know I'm not very experienced but I'm a fast learner and I have my magic and I'm willing to help with anything when it comes to rescuing or helping people. An adventurer like you must get asked to do things like that all the time and I'm sure that sometimes you need people to help."

"Hang on a minute, you think I'm an adventurer? That I go looking for trouble. Where on earth did you get that idea from?"

"You're not? But you rescued the circus from Kalah and you carry a sword and Uncle Quale said you looked like you needed help."

Ah, so that was it, bloody Uncle Quale, she'd recognised he was a crafty one. But Aerie was looking at her so earnestly and she wanted to let her down gently as she'd been pretty amazing in Kalah's domain.

"Oh Aerie, I'm sorry, but I think you have the wrong idea. I just happened to be at the circus when everything went wrong and then well, I just did what I could to get out. And anyway, without you, who knows what would have happened so really you're the one who rescued everybody."

"No, no, that's not right. I was chained up, I couldn't do anything..."

"And then you stopped me massacring everybody so? Look, I appreciate the offer, really I do, but I'm not what you think I am. I'm just trying to get by until...well, just trying to get by."

Aerie saw a look of sadness cross Ayla's face but before she could say anything encouraging or sympathic, a male voice cut across and a handsom plate clad knight hurridly approached them.

"Maude, Maude is that you? Are you alright?"

"Anomen? you're here? Were you at the circus? I didn't see you."

"No not inside, the guards wouldn't let anybody in. Said we had to wait for the Cowled Wizards, damn fools when people could have been being hurt." he scowled. "I was in the armourers when I heard news of the trouble."

"Ah right, the armourers, and you have your new plate, see I told you it would look smart."

More than smart Ayla thought, the mail was contoured and followed the broad lines of his chest down to his narrow hips.

"And you've been shopping yourself I see," Anomen took in the sight of the fitted leggings and remembered her pale thighs that he had tried so hard not to look at when ripping her dress.

An awkward silence descended and Aerie, who had been quietly watching the two of them, decided she should intervene.

"Ahem, Maude..."

"Oh, Aerie, yes sorry. This is Anomen a ...friend of mine and Anomen, this is Aerie who helped me in the circus."

"But Maude, only a little, you managed to kill Kalah and reverse the spell by yourself and change everything back." Aerie hurridly added wanting to help Maude impress the knight.

Anomen dragged his eyes away from Maude and found himself being introduced to a slender, exceptionally pretty elf with eyes the colour of a clear blue sky. He doubted she could help with anything, she looked as if she could be blown away by a stiff breeze. The guards outside hadn't let anybody enter telling everybody it was too dangerous, no matter how much he argued with them. And yet Maude once again had been involved and seemingly rescued everybody and said this woman had helped. While he had been standing uselessly outside. He directed his irritation at the situation towards the elf,

"You helped? What did you do, perform some tricks to keep everybody entertained?"

And then instantly regretted his words when he saw her blush and Maude turned on him.

"No actually, she stopped me killing everybody and Kalah blasting me with his wand. I doubt anybody else could have helped more." she stated, challenging him to argue.

"I'm sure that's not true...," Aerie tried to interrupt. She didn't want them falling out over her as she could see they liked each other.

"My apologies My Lady," he nodded at Aerie. "But Maude, you say you were trying to kill everybody, that I find hard to believe."

Now it was Ayla's turn to look embarrassed,

"I was a bit confused...being turned into a giant monkey does that to you."

"You were transformed into a monkey?" Anomen wasn't sure if she was telling the truth or whether this was some elaborate joke directed at him.

"Gorilla actually, she was a giant gorilla."

"Yeah that, thankyou Aerie," she rolled her eyes, "so you see I wasn't thinking straight."

"How big? I mean, not that that's important or anything..."

"Huge, she was taller than you...and you're very tall," Aerie tried desperately to rescue Anomen's dignity.

"Gods yes, I was enormous, and so strong. I thought Aerie was my dolly, you know, like a child's dolly, she looked so tiny in comparison." Ayla started laughing unaware of Anomen's growingunease, "Not when she was an ogre though."

Aerie started giggling, "Oh no, don't remind me. When I first saw you I thought you were going to attack me. But then you started washing your hands so carefully, that wasn't very gorilla like at all."

Anomen was trying to follow the conversation but was finding it hard. And more than a little disconcerting. Aerie had been an "ogre"? Maude a "gorilla"? He didn't understand but was very relieved that they weren't poking fun at him. Which he probably deserved after his rude outburst at Aerie and, embarrassed as he was about it, this time he wouldn't just walk away. He needed to make amends and find out more about what had happened,

"It sounds like you were heroes and deserve a toast. Will you join me, both of you of course, I'd like to hear more about this Kalah and what he did."

"Oh sorry Anomen, not now, I've got a splitting headache and really just want to get home. Aerie can tell you all that happened, she probably knows more about it anyway."

"Ahh, yes of course, I wouldn't want to detain you if you are feeling unwell. So Aerie, will you join me?"

Aerie saw the fleeting look of disappointment cross Anomen's face before he rallied and addressed her. Was Maude so oblivious she didn't realise that Anomen wasn't nearly as interested in hearing about Kalah as spending time with her? Perhaps this, if nothing else, was something she could help Maude with.

"I'm afraid I can't. I have too much work to do, and it's very late. But why...why don't both of you come here tomorrow...as my guests of course? Then you can see the circus Anomen and you'll understand things better. And Maude, you didn't see the whole show, it's the least I can do."

"They will open again tomorrow?" Maude asked surprised, she thought the circus would be closed and the people anxious to get away from here.

"Of course, you know what they say, the show must go on..."

"They do? Well I was enjoying it and I still haven't seen the vicious and dangerous beasts of the Jungles of Chult..."

As she said it she didn't think they would seem quite so dangerous now. But as long as there weren't any magic displays, she couldn't face that again. At least, not before had got over this one and lost the urge for a banana and a good scratch. And she had been enjoying herself,

"So Anomen, would you like to join me and see the circus?"

Anomen once again found himself taken aback by Maude's directness. Of course he'd like to see her tomorrow, at the circus or anywhere else, but it didn't sound as if she was at all aware of that. And now she was asking him to join her, it wasn't at all what he expected. And after she had turned down his offer to toast her victory so abruptly. Automatically he answered her dismissively, just in case she was teasing him,

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt though it sounds a frivolous waste of time when there are so many more important things to be doing."

"Indeed there are. But look at this way, if the dangerous beasts of Chult escape, what could be better than having a brave knight in the audience to protect us?"

Now she was definitely teasing him. But when he saw the mischevious grin that she directed at him, Anomen found himself not caring and answered in the same spirit.

"Of course, My Lady, you will have nothing to fear from the vicious beasts," he grinned back. "You know, I haven't been to the circus since I was a child, perhaps it will be fun. So until tomorrow then Ladies, allow me to bid you goodnight."

With a small bow Anomen made his way back to the guards to continue assisting with the people who were still making their way out of the circus.

Aerie watched him go and excitedly turned to Maude,

"Ooo Maude, I think he likes you,"

"Likes me?"

"You know, "likes you," Aerie emphasised the words and followed it with what Ayla was beginning to recognise as her familiar giggle.

"Oh right, likes me."

And that was the problem Ayla thought, I don't know. She said goodnight to Aerie and started making her way back to the Five Flagons puzzling over the meaning behind the words.

Not really noticing her surroundings and still pondering the what Aerie had said, she exited the Promenade and skirted the edge of the slums on her way to the Bridge. The route was familiar to her and the dark moonless night didn't bother her as the few scattered lights from windows and lamps were enough to guide the way. She caught the smell of the river on the breeze and was grateful to be nearly home as her headache had got worse and she was looking forward to climbing into her bed. She passed through the large archway and called a goodnight to the solitary guard on duty and made her way slowly past the houses lining the Bridge.

She wasn't sure what made her look up suddenly from watching where she was treading carefully over the cobblestones. Some prickle of apprehension at the back of her neck alerted her and she stopped and peered around. It was dark here, darker than it should be, and then she heard a low cry but she couldn't see where it had come from. It caused her to duck quickly behind the corner of the nearest building and she stood there as quietly as possible hiding in the shadows, listening intently and trying to work out what she had heard.

Another cry of alarm reached her but it was cut off suddenly as if somebody's mouth had been smothered. Inching silently forward, she peeked around the edge of the building. Across the street at the entrance of a dark alleyway she could see the figure of a woman who had firm hold of a flailing man. He was trying to get away but the woman held him as if his struggling amused her. Next to her was a man, slightly taller, who seemed to be bored by the show and by his feet there lay a body. And then, as she watched, the woman suddenly dragged the struggling man towards her and forced his head back exposing his neck. Ayla quickly ducked back again behind the wall before she was seen. There was something unerving about the way the woman had so casually held onto the man, so unhurried and confident. It reminded her of how she had held the werewolves in the circus, that immense strength that made the victim's struggles useless. She wouldn't be able to fight somebody with that strength and the man watching as well, she had to stay hidden.

Breathing as quietly as she could, she moved along the side of the house keeping to the shadow. She could head down onto the docks and make her way back to the Five Flagons that way and keep well away from the two she had seen. She had gone no further than half the length of the building when she heard a woman's voice behind her,

"My, my, and what do we have here? A little mouse creeping around trying to hide. Lassal, be a dear and catch the rodent for me will you?"

Ayla spun round drawing her sword as she did so, she wouldn't go down without a fight, and advanced towards the woman who was standing in clear view. She heard no sound of approach but then a wave of cold suddenly swept over her and she felt an icy hand grip her her neck from behind. The fingers were strong, impossibly strong, and dug into her throat forcing her to choke and she found herself pushed unrelenting forwards towards the woman. She fought the urge to resist, it hadn't done the man she had watched any good, and told herself to wait for her chance.

The woman let out a cold, imperious laugh as Ayla was propelled towards her,

"Did you really think you could hide from us? When we can hear the frantic beating of your heart and smell the warm blood coursing through your veins. Come now, submit to your betters and give yourself to a higher purpose than your pathetic life deserves."

The man holding Ayla let out an exhasperated sigh and shoved her forward roughly.

"Tanova, do you always have to be so overdramatic? You are fast becoming a caricature from some cheap novella. Kill her quickly and have done, I grow bored of this posturing."

The force of the push almost caused her to fall and she stumbled and almost landed at the woman's feet. But he had let her go and Ayla wasn't going to waste the chance. Without straightening, she slashed at Tanova's legs and felt her sword cut deep into the thigh which was now at eye height. She heard the woman let out a hiss but before she could twist away and try and get behind her, a hand snaked out with supernatural speed and caught her wrist in a vice like grip.

"Well, well, we have caught ourselves a feisty one."

Another hand gripped her under her chin forcing her upright and for the first time she came face to face with the woman. Large bloodshot eyes leaking tears of blood stared back at her and then widened in shock,

"You...you're alive...how can this be? You were killed...we were told."

The grip on her wrist and chin slackened and Ayla wrenched herself backwards and turned to run. The man closed the distance between them so fast she didn't have a chance to get away, but then the woman called to him,

"Stop Lassal...we must tell our Mistress...the Bhaalspawn lives."