Their supper that night was as fine as the tavern's décor suggested. A parade of roast meats graced the table, with fish, and soups, some kind of spicy meat-filled pasties as well. As he lit into the fourth course Finn began to wonder how they were ever going to make it down the road tomorrow. They'd have to roll themselves along like wagon wheels.
When the grand meal was finally done the ladies headed off to meet with Aerie's friends. The gentlemen though managed a variety of excuses to get out of the trip. In Minsc's case, Finn made an excuse for him. The ranger seemed quite happy to sample the halflings' ale, but he reckoned they'd be getting more than they bargained for if the ranger came to call. He'd had about a whole barrel full already, and was more than a little tipsy.
Xan predictably went back upstairs as soon as he could to tend to his spells. He never resisted a chance to give Finn a glaring look throughout the meal, and he knew well enough what it was about. Though maybe Aerie would come to her senses by morning and there would be nothing more to do about it.
Finn sighed at the table, finishing off the last of that good ale. He was feeling numb from an excess of food and drink.
"Now that we are on our own, shall we see what delights this tavern holds?" Yoshimo said, stretching out his long arms.
"Delights! What sort of delights?" Minsc wondered. "Boo says even he has had his fill of cake for one evening."
He'd let the little creature run loose on the table to pick up the crumbs, which was more than certain to set off a ruckus at any moment. The big man clicked his fingers though and Boo returned to his master's pouch like a trained dog.
"This is a festhall, my friend," Yoshimo told him. "And quite a good one by all appearances. Any and every sort of amusement may be waiting for you."
Minsc looked at his mug, the addled wheels in his head turning hard.
"Axe throwing!" he announced. "Minsc loves a good axe-throwing contest."
Finn snorted into his tankard, and Yoshimo fought off his laughter.
"That is not quite what I had in mind, but who can say? These places can be quite varied in their entertainments! Although you must promise not to start your own game without permission."
"They've got gambling and sorts, Minsc," Finn explained. "Ladies, I'd imagine too."
"Ladies can enjoy axe throwing," Minsc continued, still taken with the idea. "There was a woman in my village...Birta was her name...she could fling two axes over her back and strike an apple nailed to a post! Ah, a pity she was married. What a fine bride she would be!"
"It is certain her husband would never be home late!" Yoshimo remarked.
"Your apples would be in danger, all right!" Finn said.
Yoshimo chuckled into his whiskey.
"What do you say, Finn? Are your tastes quite as exotic as our friend here?"
"Mine can throw fireballs. That's good enough," he replied. "If she takes to flinging axes around I might be in some serious trouble!"
"Not from across town, I think. They are likely to be gone for some hours," Yoshimo said, low. "Shall we see what is in the back room?"
"Naw, mate, you go on," Finn replied. "I feel like a good sleep."
"On what may be our last night in civilisation for who knows how long? Come now. There is no harm in it," Yoshimo cajoled.
Finn though just firmly shook his head. Yoshimo looked oddly annoyed, but the expression vanished from his face in a blink.
"Minsc does not frolic with the women tonight!" the ranger said, raising his own objection. "Minsc thinks only of his fair Poppy. Ah, my maiden fair, think of your lover so far away! Raise your cup to me, and weep! Ah, my beloved!"
The big man raised his own mug, whether in tribute to Poppy or himself, it was hard to say. He suddenly burst into song. His ballad was powerful enough to shake the table and Finn felt the need to cover his ears. As it was he hardly noticed a group of men approaching them.
"Silence, peasant!" their leader snapped. Minsc wasn't much use at silence, though, and he carried on singing. Seeing as he wasn't getting a response, the man slammed his fist onto the table.
"This section is reserved for the Alibakkar family," the man told them. "Commoners such as yourselves are not permitted."
Finn looked at him. He was a young fellow, and his fashionable clothes didn't hide that he had some muscles under that silk. The men behind him were quite obviously private guards. They stood at grim attention, waiting for their orders.
"Sorry," Finn said, trying to make himself heard. "Nobody told us."
Minsc finally seemed to take note of their company.
"This fellow has what?" he exclaimed. "All bacon? Minsc could eat bacon! Yes, we grow hungry again. Boo's appetite is fierce as his nature!"
He released the creature once more, and Boo scampered around the table to the horrified stare of the nobleman.
"You would insult an Alibakkar?" he demanded. "And let loose this...filth? I will have you at once!"
Minsc still didn't seem to relate what was going on, and returned to his deafening song. The man though called on his guards. Finn leaped to his feet.
"Hey there! None of that needed. Your table, you can have it. Come on, Minsc... Let's go sit over there, aye?"
Yoshimo was also on his feet, giving the men an evil look. But fortunately it seemed the nobleman was more bluster than anything, for his guards held off long enough for them to drag the still-singing ranger away from the table.
"Yes... Sit with the Lurraxols, you swine!" the man exclaimed. "It suits you."
Finn spat a curse in his direction, though by that time they were too far away to hear it. It was a damn good thing Minsc was too drunk to realise he'd been insulted, or that bastard really would have looked like bacon by the time he was done.
"Bloody hells, what was that about?" Finn muttered. "I didn't see a name on the table."
"The names of Alibakkar and Lurraxol are known to me," Yoshimo answered. "Two noble families perpetually at war with one another in this region. We are wise not to get involved. Noble feuds are...not pretty. You did show a remarkable degree of restraint, if I may say so."
His voice had a surprisingly sombre tone.
"Not by choice," Finn said darkly. "This were the Coronet, that fellow would be on his arse. But we don't need any trouble here."
"Yes...sometimes it is prudent to realise when one is far from home," Yoshimo nodded, still looking unusually grim.
"Ale...where is my ale?" Minsc demanded. "Boo, did you drink it all? No matter! Minsc will fetch drinks for us. See! See his pockets laden with gold!"
The big man reached into another pouch on his belt, and Finn gasped as coins sprayed out over the tavern floor. Quite a few eyes were on them at that point.
"Gods...Minsc, I think you've had enough!" Finn blurted. "Easy mate, we got to march in the morning!"
"March, yes!" he exclaimed, warming to the idea. "We march back to Athkatla. I will make Poppy my bride, I will! Yes, you will all come to our wedding..."
...
With that, though, the ale suddenly seemed to catch up to him. Minsc's eyes rolled in the back of his head, he tottered, and fell heavy as a pile of bricks onto the floor.
"He's out!" Finn said, with more than a little relief. "Lucky for us the ale kicked in."
"Yes... But I do not think it was luck, my friend," Yoshimo replied.
He nodded over Finn's shoulder. He turned to see Xan sweeping towards them.
"Did you?" Finn asked him.
"I did," the elf said harshly. "You seemed rather on the verge of violence, and such a distraction is not something I need this evening."
"You saw that?" Finn muttered. "Hells, wish you'd taken out that other bastard as well. He'd have deserved it."
With an effort he rolled the snoring ranger onto his back. Xan clasped his fingers together hard.
"If I gave every spoiled noble in this country their due, I would have time for nothing else," he remarked. "It is not worth the effort. But at least this oaf will be safely in bed for one evening. Yoshimo, can you manage to get him up the stairs on your own? I would like to have a word with Finn."
Neither Finn nor Yoshimo seemed pleased with that prospect. Minsc woke a little, though he looked bright as an ox that had been knocked over the head. Yoshimo helped the man up, and with a few false steps and muttered curses the pair of them headed for the stairs.
"Pretty keen, that," Finn remarked. "I'd have never guessed you'd done a thing. Makes me wonder what else you get up to."
Xan gave him a sour look.
"Less than you might imagine, but far more than I would like," he said. "Come and sit with me."
There was an alcove table empty on the other side of the room. Xan led them past the Lordly Alibakkar, who by now had been joined by a pair of rather scandalously-dressed ladies. Finn tensed, but neither the nobleman nor his guards seemed to notice them. More of Xan's tricks? By the way the man was admiring the ladies' cleavage, though, maybe it wasn't necessary.
Finn sat down with a sigh.
"Look," he began. "I know what you're going to say. But I've already made my mind up. If Aerie wants to come with us, she can. She may not be any kind of a fighter, but I don't think she's as sheltered as we all seem to think. We could use another priest out there. And she's been told enough of the danger..."
"Then that is unfortunate," Xan said, interrupting in a quiet voice. "And I shall speak to her myself before we leave. Perhaps she may yet hear sense. But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Then what is it?" Finn asked, not sure if he should be relieved or not.
"It is this."
He reached into his robe, and set something on the table. It looked like a small piece of quartz.
"What is it?" Finn asked.
"I was hoping you could tell me. It fell out of your pack."
"Mine?" Finn said, surprised. "I think you're mistaken."
"There is no mistake," Xan continued. "It fell out of your bag. I was looking through my pack when I accidentally knocked yours over. You didn't bother to do up the clasps, and amongst other things, this crystal fell out. Who gave it to you?"
Xan gave him an accusing glance. Finn was dumbfounded.
"I don't know what to tell you... I've never seen that before in my life. Why would I have a crystal in my bag? Maybe Anna put it in there. What is it, anyway?"
It just looked like an ordinary crystal to him, and he couldn't figure out why Xan would leave off his precious books in order to interrogate him on the subject.
"I shall certainly ask her, but I doubt it is hers. You honestly claim to know nothing about it?"
"No!" Finn exclaimed. "For the hundredth time, no. What is it?"
"It is a stone of teleportation."
Finn could only stare at him.
"Teleportation? But...how?"
"I was rather hoping you could tell me," Xan said. "This crystal is charged... It can be set to a certain place. If a spell of teleportation is cast, this stone would take you straight there."
"How can you know that, anyway?" he asked.
"I could sense the energy radiating from it," the elf told him. "It was a simple matter to discern its purpose. Knowing where it is set, however, is another thing. I wanted to know who gave it to you."
Finn leaned back in his chair, his mind whirring.
"Well... I don't know. It must be Anna's. It must."
"Then would she not put it in her own pack?" Xan asked.
"Okay, but... Why is it so important? The wizards teleported us here, and they'll teleport us back again, should we be so lucky. Maybe it's to do with that?"
"You don't understand," he continued. "Under normal circumstances, the mage casting the spell decides where it will lead. But stones such as this can disrupt the casting, and take the target somewhere else entirely. It effectively...hijacks the wave of energy, steering it as one might a ship. And as they are so small, it is quite easy to plant one on someone unawares. Knowing who gave it to you is absolutely vital."
"Then...you mean that stone could transport us anywhere?" Finn asked, alarmed.
He didn't much fancy the idea that they could suddenly be whisked off to who knows where. But Xan shook his head.
"Not on its own. It would need a spell of teleportation to be cast, first. It lacks the essential energy of a rogue stone. And Anna has no ability to perform such magic, so the wizards appear to be the most likely suspects. Although even that is unlikely, unless..."
He regarded the crystal thoughtfully, but didn't say what was on his mind.
"Get rid of it. Dump it," Finn said.
"That may be wise. Although as long as we do not attempt to teleport again we should be safe enough. I shall speak with Anna about this, though I doubt she can tell me any more than you can."
Xan scowled and put the crystal back in his robe pocket. Finn still didn't know what to make of any of it.
"I packed my bag the night before we left, it wasn't there... Someone was in the room last night. They had to have been!"
He and Anna could have been murdered as they slept. His heart beat hard and a chill washed over him. Finn suddenly rose to his feet, grasping at the table to steady himself.
"Do not panic," Xan said quickly. "The danger is over. Now we need to know who did this."
But Finn didn't hear him. He had the strangest vision; a dream really, a pale woman dancing in the night, down the darkened Promenade. It was too strange to be real. Finn rubbed his eyes hard and groaned.
"Are you well?" Xan asked.
The elf was looking at him keenly. Finn drew a sharp breath and sat down.
"I think so," he muttered. "I just... You keep that thing. Keep it hidden. Keep it safe. I... It's better with you."
Finn rose up from the table again, nearly knocking it over in the process. Xan stared, his mouth open in surprise as Finn stumbled away up the steps to their room.
...
"Oh, you're here, you're here!" the halfling woman said excitedly. "Pa! Pala! They're here! Come in, come in!"
There seemed to be no end to her exclamations. Anna returned Mrs Fentan's kind smile, pausing to wipe her feet on the doormat.
Thankfully the dwelling was human-sized, and she didn't need to duck under the doorway. The citizens of Trademeet had little interest in making halfling accommodation, and most of them lived in rooms in old houses. It reminded Anna a bit of the place where she and Finn lived in Baldur's Gate, however long ago that seemed.
But the room was bright and cheerful as it could be. Everything was painted in gay colours, and even the water bucket boasted a floral design. Most of the furniture was tiny, not surprisingly, but it had been pushed out of the way to make room for a number of human-sized chairs and a tea table.
"We've got the big people table out," Mrs Fentan said. "Had to borrow a few chairs from the neighbours, and all. Sit down, sit down! Where are your menfolk? Have they lost themselves in the street?"
"Actually, it's just us tonight," Aerie made excuse. "The others had things they needed to see to."
"I told you that you didn't need to go through such a fuss, Vara," an elderly halfling man announced.
He sat near the fire, tapping a cane against the hearth impatiently. A cloud of curly white hair surrounded his head, contrasting sharply with the fire-bright curls of the two halfling women.
"Oh, pish!" Mrs Fentan replied. "Don't be sour, Pa. We've got company. Pala, get that kettle on the boil. We'll want tea! Here now, do sit down. I'll just get some of these chairs out of the way.
Briskly she began shoving a number of mismatched dining chairs towards the corner of the room. Anna thought to help, but decided against it. She sat down with a little glance at Jaheira. The druid smiled one of her tight-lipped smiles and said nothing.
"Yes, Ma," said a young halfling woman. She set down the embroidery she was working on and went to the fire.
"At the very least we won't run out of food," Mrs Fentan said brightly. "I was a bit worried we wouldn't have enough to go round! Here, now. I've got peach pie, and apple pie, a jam sponge, and a berry tart...made some fruit cake too, all good and fresh. Where would you like to start?"
"I..." Anna began, but she didn't have time to answer as the woman began filling a large plate with everything she could get her hands on. She set it on the table and it wobbled perilously. Anna grasped it to steady it.
"Don't forget me, Vara," the old man whined.
"I'd never forget you, Pa," the woman assured him. "Look, I've got your lemon cake right here. Pa likes lemon. Suits his nature!"
True to her word she cut him a large slice from a frosted cake that stood nearby. She served it to the man who began unceremoniously putting it away.
"These look wonderful," Jaheira said, reaching for some sort of conversation. "Thank you for having us."
"Oh, it's no bother at all!" Mrs Fentan exclaimed. "We do love company. Seems like we don't get as much of it now as we used to."
"Mph," the old man agreed.
"Pala is my only daughter at home now," the woman said. "My oldest two, Melli and Mala, are married. They farm. My son's married too. He's named Paro. He farms. Then there's my third daughter, Mazzy."
"She don't farm," Pa broke in.
"And smart she is," Pala suddenly said. "Who should ever want to get married and live on a farm?"
She spoke with a surprising vehemence as she poured hot water into a waiting teapot. Her mother clucked.
"Oh, hush, child! It's as good a life as any. But I think it's not the farming you object to now, is it?"
"I don't want to talk about it, Ma!" the young woman exclaimed.
Anna nibbled at her berry tart in polite silence. Mrs Fentan shook her head.
"Don't mind her, now. She's just had a falling out with her young man. It'll be right as rain in a tenday, mark my words."
"No it won't!" Pala cried out. "Not after what he's said and done!"
"All right, dear. Not in front of our company."
"She's right to give him her heel," Pa spoke. "That Danno is nothing but a fool."
"He's not..." Pala began, but silenced her objection. Her mother nodded sagely.
"You say that about everyone, Daddy. But Aerie, please do tell us about poor Quayle. Why, I'm ever so surprised to hear about his passing. I thought he'd outlive us all!"
Aerie suddenly hunched her shoulders, pushing aside her plate of pie.
"Well, he... We had some trouble at the circus. Kalah, he... He hurt Quayle."
Missus Fentan paused then, her bright porcelain teacup suspended in the air.
"Kalah? Oh, dear, no. That nice young gnome? I don't believe it. And what became of him?"
"He died, too," Aerie whispered.
There was silence around the table. Pala stared off into space, and the old man stopped tapping his cane. Mrs Fentan drew a short breath and set her teacup down.
"Well. Hard to account for what goes on in the world today. May Yondalla watch over them all. But how is it you find yourself here, my dear? With these folks? Don't tell me the other circus people..."
"Oh, no... They're fine," Aerie said quickly. "I just...thought it was time for a change."
"I understand," Mrs Fentan said, patting her hand. "It's just what Mazzy said after her dear father died."
"Told that fool to stay away from them Bormton ruins," Pa said. "No telling what kind of sperrits was haunting that place. Why, you've got a wife and children at home, I said. But nothing would persuade him. And he got himself killed for it."
"Pa! Now really!" Mrs Fentan said, for once sounding cross. "And it weren't spirits what killed him. It were bandits, on the way home. He got them apple cuttings he wanted. And don't they grow so fine in the orchard? No sweeter apples anywhere, they do say. Now stop with all this talk, at once."
...
A heavy silence settled around the table again. Anna thought of Finn, and began to wish she'd made her excuses as well.
"So...where is Mazzy now?" Aerie finally said.
"Not far," Missus Fentan replied. "Not by her standards, at least. Mazzy is an adventurer, don't you know? She and her friends go wherever they're needed. Solves all kinds of problems."
She spoke proudly, but the old man had other ideas.
"Fools!" he spat. "Bunch of adventurers, bah! No one takes them seriously."
"Pa, you're shaming us all!" the woman continued. "Some folk was saying they were having trouble out in Imnesvale. Mazzy went to help."
"Imnesvale?" Jaheira spoke. "We are heading towards the Umar Hills ourselves. What sort of trouble has occurred?"
The druid had been doing her best to ignore the conversation, but suddenly she seemed keen. Mrs Fentan helped herself to another slice of pie.
"Wolves, I think. Yes, it was wolves. Scary things, they are. Never could stand to hear them howling. I'm much happier here in town!"
Jaheira leaned back in her chair, her interest fading once more.
Pala sat down with her embroidery again. Her chubby little fingers made surprisingly fine work on the linen. She began to sing to herself.
"Tell him to make me a cambric shirt, without no seam nor needlework...then he'll be a true love of mine."
Anna smiled a little, recognising the tune.
"Tell him to find me an acre of land, between the salt water and the sea strand...then he'll be a true love of mine."
She sang her own verse and Pala looked up in surprise. Her face flushed red enough to match her hair, but she smiled at Anna. She was pretty in her halfling way, and looked barely out of girlhood.
"Isn't she a fine singer, our Pala? All my girls used to sing together. People used to throw coppers for them down in the market. Still, it's sad the wolves are bothering Imnesvale," Mrs Fentan continued. "It's one of the few places left on the Tethir Road. The big merchant houses used to see it guarded pretty well. But it's not so profitable a route nowadays. Too dangerous."
"Nope. All trade runs north of the Small Teeth now," Pa said, agreeing for once.
"Does the Council not own the land there?" Anna asked.
"Nay," Mrs Fentan replied. "Council don't have no interest down here. It's all the merchant companies, and whichever nobles that think they can make any money off of it. But everyone's been selling up, selling land for no more than a copper. Must be some turbans spinning up Athkatla way!"
"Aye," Pa said. "There was that one fella, years back. Bought half the land north of Imnesvale, they say, even as the whole world was selling up. No bigger fool than him."
"They do say there's mithril there..." Mrs Fentan began, helping herself to a round of cake.
"Stuff and nonsense! Not been any mined for over two hundred years. But what was that fellow's name? Cat, something. Catala? No, Cathala."
He scratched his white hair with his off hand, trying to think.
"Corthala?" Jaheira said, her eyes firmly on the old man.
"That's it!" he replied, tapping his fork on the plate. "Corthala. Then he went and died. Reckon the shock of it must've killed him."
Anna and Jaheira stared at one another, and Aerie perked up her shoulders.
"You are saying the Corthala family owns land in Imnesvale?" Jaheira exclaimed.
"That's what I said!" the man repeated. "Not that I pay much attention to big folks, you understand. More'n that... They say there's a temple on that land. An ancient temple, hidden deep in the hills. Ask me, they was thinking there was some ancient treasure hidden there too."
"Oh, Pa! Now who's talking nonsense?" Mrs Fentan asked. "How would you know, anyway? You've not been to Imnesvale in over thirty years."
"A shepherd told me," Pa said, importantly. "Former shepherd. He'd had enough of sheep. Fancied being a sailor. More fool him."
He tapped impatiently on his plate for more cake. Mrs Fentan clucked but rose up again to fetch him another slice. Jaheira set down her own plate, with her pie barely touched.
"Yes... I thank you very much for your hospitality, but I am afraid we must be going. We set off quite early tomorrow."
"Oh, no, you can't!" Mrs Fentan exclaimed. "You've only just arrived. I was hoping we could have a game of cards. Pala don't play much, and Pa here only cheats."
"I do not!" the old man objected. "Can't see the cards, is all. Not my fault if I keep dropping them!"
Jaheira laughed rather nervously.
"Oh, yes... But perhaps another time. Thank you again for the wonderful pie. Shall we...?"
Anna and Aerie took the cue to leave, but not before Mrs Fentan insisted on wrapping up the whole of the baby-sized fruit cake for them to take on their journey. Anna began to feel they would never escape from the halfling woman's embrace, but at last they were on the street again.
...
"How very interesting," Jaheira said to herself.
"The Corthalas own land in Imnesvale?" Anna repeated. "The wizards said nothing about that."
From the maps, Imnesvale was a settlement on the southern edge of the Umar Hills, where they rolled down to meet the Forest of Tethir. Tolgerias had told them that Corthala was hiding out in the region, but made no mention of any ties to the area.
"Indeed," Jaheira replied. "Of course, I would would not put too much stock in second-hand gossip repeated by an old halfling, but even so..."
"What does it mean?" Aerie asked.
"I do not know, child," the druid replied. "But this may well be significant."
"Why?" Aerie persisted.
"It's odd this Corthala would be hiding out in a place known to the authorities, whether or not he still has the deed," Anna said. "He could take refuge anywhere in the Small Teeth, why there?"
"Quite. And this mention of a temple... Of course, it may all be hearsay," Jaheira said. "But it is worth investigating further. Perhaps someone there will know more."
Anna sighed. This new revelation settled heavily as the massive cake she was burdened with, and she didn't know what to make of any of it.
Remarkably, Finn and Minsc both seemed to be tucked up into bed by the time they arrived back at the inn. Yoshimo was nowhere to be seen, more than likely enjoying the entertainments the inn had to offer. Jaheira had implied he had a taste for that sort of thing. Anna frowned, thinking that he wasn't the best companion Finn could have.
Oddly, Xan sat in the common room by himself, no spell book to be seen. He held out a crystal to Anna as she passed, asking rather casually if she knew anything of it. She didn't, and felt far too tired that night to engage the elf further on the subject. Bunked up with Aerie or not, she was more than ready to get some sleep.
...
The next day dawned all too early. Jaheira had seen to all the provisions they would need yesterday, and had even bought for them a sturdy pack mule that now waited in the tavern's stables. There was not much else to do but be on their way.
Aerie moved rather hesitantly, stowing her few belongings slowly in that tow sack she carried.
"Are you going back to stay with the Fentans?" Anna asked her.
She fixed her blankets to her pack, and folded her cloak carefully into an easy-to-reach place. Next to the heat of Athkatla this region felt like it was in the grip of winter, though it was likely no cooler than Beregost would be.
"No. I'm coming with you," Aerie said.
She drew in a sharp breath, forcing out the words. Anna glanced at Jaheira. The druid raised a sharp gaze over her own pack, but she only sighed.
"As you would have it. Do you have a weapon?"
"Well, no, I don't ever..."
"Then, here."
Aerie jumped as Jaheira tossed a dagger onto her bed. It was securely sheathed, but Aerie looked at it like it was a snake.
"You'll want that," Anna told her.
Thankfully she had her staff this time. Aerie stared at the dagger, wide eyed, but slowly she picked it up, and attached it to the sash of her dress.
They met Finn and Yoshimo downstairs. Minsc had gone out to see to their mule.
"Is Xan not down yet?" Jaheira asked.
"He went out early this morning," Yoshimo told her. "He said he would return by the time we left."
Proving the truth of his words, the enchanter stepped over the threshold. He looked more sombre than usual.
"I hope I have not kept you waiting," he said.
"No," Jaheira replied. "If we are all ready?"
They headed for the door. Finn noticed the dagger hanging low at Aerie's waist.
"You coming with us, then?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, managing a quick glance at him.
"Well enough then," was all he said.
Xan looked at the elven girl rather sharply but he had nothing to say to her either. Anna knew he'd been dead set against her coming with them, and she expected him to put up more arguments. But perhaps even he was resigned to her presence. Xan drew up his hood as they stepped out the door, and seemed to fade into the bright morning light.
...
Minsc himself was refreshingly quiet that day. His eyes were red as he led the mule away from the stable yard. The grey mule was a stout looking creature, and stood placidly while more and more weight was fixed to her back. Jaheira lashed Aerie's sack onto the bundles, muttering something under her breath. She was the only one among them without a proper pack, and Anna wondered if she even had a blanket. But there was no mention of further trips to the markets. They made their way out of the city gates, and set out to the east down the Tethir Road.
It would take them two days, at least, to hit the southern edge of the Umar Hills. It was a sparsely populated country in spite of the wide road that ran through it. The legacy of war, and the upheavals brought in its wake meant that few travelled that way except out of necessity. Most of the traders now followed the Imnescourse that ran north of the hills through Shepherdston.
But outside of Trademeet the way was still relatively safe. They saw numerous farms, and a clattering patrol rode past them on the road.
"Make way, make way!" one of the riders exclaimed.
"They make too much noise," Minsc said, ironically, as he guided their mule back onto the road.
"They wear the crest of the Alibakkar family," Jaheira remarked. "They are prominent landowners in this region."
"Yeah, we met some of them last night," Finn grimaced. "Nice blokes."
"I presume you do not mean that," she replied, frowning herself.
Finn came to walk next to Anna. They hadn't much of a chance to talk that morning. She smiled at him, and took his hand.
"How are you doing today?" he asked her.
"All right. I'm not sure if I think much more of this mission, but we're stuck in it now."
"No kidding," Finn replied. "Listen... Did Xan say anything to you about a crystal?"
"He did, actually. I didn't pay much mind, though. Why?"
Finn drew a breath.
"He says he found some kind of magic crystal in my bag. Something to do with teleportation. I don't know a thing about it though. Do you?"
Anna stopped cold on the road.
"Teleportation? A crystal? Are you sure?" she asked.
"That's what he told me."
"Well, no! It's not mine, certainly. But what does it..."
"I don't know. You'll have to ask him. It's got me worried, though. You can't cast a teleport spell, can you?"
"No," she said. "I can cast a spell of dimension door, but I don't have it memorised right now. But what crystal of teleportation could it be?"
"Search me, I'm not a mage," Finn answered. "Ask Xan."
Anna looked at the enchanter walking ahead of them. He was at the front of the column, conferring quietly with Jaheira on some matter.
"That sort of thing is rare, I know that much," she said. "It didn't just fall into your pack. Who put it there?"
"I don't know," Finn repeated. "I don't know."
He shook his head hard. Anna looked up at him. A strange expression was on his face, like he was of two minds about something. Anna wondered, but she didn't say anything more. She would let Xan worry about the crystal for the time being.
...
All that long day they followed the road. The trees became thicker, and the farms more few. By the time the sun was at their backs the last farm was miles behind them.
Anna stopped to pull out her cloak. The warmth of the sun and the light breeze had kept the chill away, but here in the shade of the trees, with the sun going down, she shivered.
"Yes," Jaheira said, noticing her. "I think we should camp soon."
"Minsc will find us a place!" the ranger offered.
He passed her the rope of the mule, which he had nicknamed Goat for some reason, and bounded off down the road ahead. Jaheira called out to him.
"Take a companion, Minsc!"
But the ranger paid her no heed as he hurried away.
"I'll follow him," Finn offered, leaping in long strides after him.
"One should not wander far in these woods alone," the druid said to herself.
"Is it...dangerous?" Aerie asked.
She sighed and hunched her shoulders. Her face was frightfully pale as always, and she looked tired. The light of the sinking sun caught on her golden hair, giving her an ethereal presence that seemed at odds with her dragging feet.
"The Wealdath is the deepest forest in all of Faerun," Jaheira replied. "Much lies hidden under these boughs."
"Hopefully not so close to the road," Anna remarked.
"Or perhaps because of the road," Yoshimo said, a slight frown on his lips.
His hand slipped to that razor-thin blade he wore as he surveyed the trees. He looked like he might stop to string the bow that was hanging from his pack, but he didn't.
"Indeed," Jaheira said. "Let us be on our guard tonight."
But they managed to find a campsite without any trouble. Ahead, and some ways off the road was the remains of a cottage. The vines had long reclaimed the place and most of its roof was a distant memory, but the well water was still fresh.
Jaheira dipped up a few bucketfuls of cold water while Minsc cleared away the dead leaves to make a pit for the fire. Finn took up the spade and went to dig a hole for the latrine. Aerie gave the mule a much-deserved supper of grain, scratching her soft nose and chatting to her like an old friend. Between them, Anna and Yoshimo managed to stretch out the oilskin canvas over a rope, making a tent.
"The weather looks fine tonight, but one never can be sure in the mountains," the bounty hunter said sagely.
Xan's only contribution was to light the wood that Finn and Jaheira had gathered. In typical form he sat down with his book as soon as he was able. Jaheira brushed in to him as she walked past.
"Excuse me," she said, rather deliberately.
Xan only slipped further over on the log where he was sat, and said nothing.
...
A bubbling stew of dried meat and vegetables was soon simmering over the fire. Finn stretched his long frame out nearby, gazing up at the stars that were peering through the treetops. Anna came and sat next to him.
"I don't suppose you've got any spare feet in your bag, do you?" he asked. "Mine fell off about five miles back."
"No such luck," she replied. "And if I did, I'd be keeping them!"
Finn chuckled and ran a hand over her leg. His touch felt warm in the cool evening. Anna took his hand and laced her fingers in with his.
"I am so tired," Aerie exclaimed. "I wish we could have brought a wagon."
She removed her shoes and was rubbing her long feet vigorously.
"Have a hard time getting a wagon through the trees, flower. Be thankful we've got a mule! Never used to have one, when we were marching up the Sword Coast," Finn remarked.
"That's true, we didn't," Anna told him.
"Hooray!" he replied, looking up at her brightly. "I can remember something!"
"It would be nice to let a horse do the walking. But for now we have drink, we have food, and a roof of stars," Yoshimo said. "What more do we need?"
He came to sit near Aerie, offering her a swig from the wine skin he carried. She shook her head and slipped back into her shoes.
"I only wish our campsite was on the northern side of the road," Jaheira remarked.
She sat on the ground with her knees up, regarding the fire thoughtfully.
"Oh! We're in Tethyr now, aren't we?" Anna said.
That realisation only just dawned on her. This was the furthest south she'd ever been. Jaheira nodded slowly.
"Yes. The Tethir Road is the border between the two nations. So, yes...we are."
She held a dead oak leaf in her hands, playing with it idly. Aerie looked at her.
"Is it so bad to be in Tethyr? I know they had strife there, but isn't that all over now?"
"Tethyr is my home. Or it was, long ago. That past is behind me now."
She tossed the leaf into the fire. The flames seized it at once, burning bright for a moment before the leaf was consumed.
"I...see," Aerie said, quietly.
"Well, we'll camp on the northern side from now on," Finn said.
Jaheira just shook her head, brushing off her reverie.
"Ignore me. It is nonsense. We will camp wherever we need to. Excuse me."
She rose up and lit off into the trees, rubbing a hand over her face as she went.
"She all right?" Finn asked, watching her go.
Anna sighed. "From what she told me, her past here wasn't happy. Better to leave her to it."
...
The others carried on with their business, waiting as Minsc tended to the cooking. But when he declared the meal ready Jaheira still hadn't returned.
"I'll go and find her," Anna said, standing up and brushing the loose twigs off her dress.
"You want me to come with you?" Finn asked.
"No, it will be all right. But if I'm not back in a little while, come looking!"
Surely if there had been any trouble they'd have heard it, but Anna was mindful of Jaheira's warning about the forest.
"Don't wait too long! Boo is hungry tonight, he says!" Minsc warned her.
Away from the campsite the woods got dark very quickly. Anna thought of casting a spell, but she decided to wait. She didn't want to admit it, but she was still a little nervous about the Cowled Wizards. But they were technically in Tethyr now, so what authority did they have? She tried wryly to remind herself of this, when she almost stumbled over Jaheira.
"Watch out!" the woman exclaimed, as Anna kicked her leg.
"Jaheira!" Anna breathed. "We were getting a bit worried about you. Supper is ready."
"Yes, of course. I am sorry if you were worried. I just...wanted a moment to myself."
Anna's eyes had adjusted to the darkness by then. The soft moon sent a little silver light down through the treetops, catching in patches here and there. She sat down on the fallen log next to Jaheira.
"Is everything all right?" she asked.
Even in that thin light, she could see how strained she looked. Jaheira sighed and ran a hand over her braids.
"Yes. But suddenly finding myself in my homeland has shaken me more than I would have thought. It is foolishness."
"It's not," Anna insisted. "You told me before... Everything that happened to your parents, your family. It must be hard to confront that again."
Jaheira rarely spoke of her past, the days before she joined the Harpers. But Anna recalled quite vividly the story of her family's slaughter during the Ten Black Days of Eleint, when the people of Tethyr rose up as one against the nobility, killing men, women and children without mercy. Of all her family, only Jaheira survived.
But the woman shook her head.
"It is not that, truly. I...banished those ghosts long ago. And I have been through Tethyr many times since then. But...it struck me again that Khalid is not with me. When was the last time we were here? Not two years ago. Khalid and I travelled this road together. We knew nothing of the Spawn of Bhaal, Gorion was still safely with his books in Candlekeep..."
She sighed and broke off. Anna nodded.
"Happier times?" she asked quietly.
"Hardly," Jaheira snorted. "We were at war. But somehow it...felt less personal than it does now. We only thought of victory, of bringing much-needed stability to this land at last. And Khalid..."
She sighed again.
"You miss him."
"Yes. Very much."
Anna had nothing to say to that. She hugged her knees tight against the chill of the forest.
...
Surprisingly, Jaheira began to sing. She never sang, never hummed or even whistled. But now she sang a song in Elvish, soft and low like the whispering of tree branches in the night. A hunter's lament, seeking a love lost across the mountains. The sound filled Anna's ears and made her throat ache.
She shut her eyes and felt herself drifting away, imagining for a moment a chorus of elves singing amongst the trees, timeless, fair as a moonlight night. But Jaheira suddenly stopped, and Anna felt her stiffen.
She opened her eyes, and her mouth fell open. There, before her, was her dream come to life, though it was far from romantic. An elven woman stood a mere pace away, training an arrow straight between her eyes.
From a fluttering of the shadows there were more of them, but Anna couldn't take her eyes away from that glinting arrowhead. The elven woman didn't move, didn't twitch a muscle, still as a tree in the dark night.
"Dina, peredhil," a voice hissed like a cold wind.
Jaheira remained frozen, and Anna dared not to breathe.
"Quelre undome," the druid said levelly. "Lye nae mellonie."
But her protestations of friendship fell on deaf ears.
"Take yourself from this place at once," an elf told them in Common. "Your kind are not welcome here."
"Friends, we have only camped here for the night," Jaheira continued. "We will go no further into the forest. We have cut no living wood for our fire. I am a servant of Silvanus, and by the Oak Father's name I swear we mean you no harm."
Anna could only stare in frightened silence. Elves she had met many times, though none so hostile. There were three, that she could see at least; two men and a woman. Their leather armour blended so well in the shadows that it was hard to tell if they were really there or not. But this was no dream.
"We are here with your kin," Anna suddenly blurted. "Xan, find Xan...he will speak to them."
But it seemed the enchanter had found them. She could hear his agitated voice approaching through the trees. Quickly he stepped into the clearing, flanked on either side by two strange elves.
"Kinsmen!" he spoke in Elvish. "I did not know you were hunting in these woods, or I would have sought you out myself. Please, lower your weapons."
He spoke earnestly and the elves let their bowstrings slacken, but they didn't lower their arrows.
"They are trespassing here," an elf told him.
"Again, I ask your forgiveness," Xan continued. "But should we have so harsh a welcome? We are not your enemies."
"You and the kinswoman are welcome," said one of the elves who had brought him. "But not these humans. And the half-elf, least of all."
He threw a dark glance in Jaheira's direction. Jaheira rose to her feet, but Xan held out a hand.
"We mean no offence, kinsmen. And these people are goodly folk, not deserving of your animosity. Please, by the ties that bind us together... I ask that we be allowed to remain here tonight. We shall be gone by morning, and not trespass south of the road again."
"Very well, then," an elf agreed. "But keep to your guard. We shall not warn you again."
...
With that, the company of elves vanished like mist into the trees. Anna still sat frozen, too alarmed to move. Jaheira drew in a sharp, shaking breath.
"Jaheira... I am sorry," Xan said.
He turned around slowly, rubbing a weary hand over his eyes.
"Do not trouble yourself," she replied, her own voice rasping. "It is not the first time I have felt the wrath of those who might otherwise be my kin. But I am...surprised to see them here. The elves in this region usually dwell deeper in the forest."
Whatever she said, she seemed shaken by the encounter, speaking in a nervous tone that went against her usual manner.
"As was I," Xan replied. "I sensed their presence, and called out to them. With difficulty I managed to convince them we meant no harm. They are on alert here now, guarding their borders more closely. They have had a number of skirmishes with ogres here of late, and it is making them nervous."
"Ogres?" Anna said, finally managing to speak. "They would be nervous. But we hardly look like ogres, not even to elves! Why did they threaten us?"
"You were warned, not threatened," Xan said. "If they meant harm you would be dead. And the elves of this forest have cause not to welcome outsiders into their lands, I am sorry to say."
Anna had little to say to that. Another group was forcing their way through the trees, obviously not elves this time.
"Anna! Are you all right?" Finn's voice called.
He rushed forward, with Minsc in tow.
"Yes, fine," she said. "Are you?"
"Did I not tell you to stay in camp?" Xan demanded.
"Balls to that," Finn replied. "Not sitting there while... They gone now?"
"Yes, gone..." Jaheira said, still staring off into the trees.
"Elves, yes! Did you see?" Minsc bellowed. "Minsc offered them some of his good stew, but they said no."
The insult was implied. Finn looked around warily, sliding his hand away from his blade.
"Come, then, let us return," Xan told them. "I managed to obtain their indulgence, but no doubt they will be keeping watch. We should stay close to camp tonight, and depart early as we can tomorrow."
"Aye. Don't want any more friendly welcomes from the Fair Folk," Finn said grimly.
Xan chose to ignore the comment, and lit off towards the camp with a muttering sigh. Finn wrapped his arm around Anna's shoulders, leading her back. She couldn't help but turn though, and her eyes met Jaheira's. The druid glanced back in to the trees once more, then turned away with a look of anger.
...
"Be quiet, half-elf."
"Good evening. We are friends."
