There seemed no end to the water as it gushed from the entry, throwing the stone door open and drowning the forest as it cascaded down the slope. Finn had managed to pull them clear of the worst but Anna's robe still swam in the currents. She could see Khalid, Jaheira and Imoen clinging to rocks on the opposite side of the door but she couldn't see anyone else. Anna could only pray for their safety as she lay in Finn's grasp, watching the surge pass by.
After a time the volume of water began to lessen. The noise died away and the river became a stream before ending in a light trickle. Anna and Finn slowly dragged their battered bodies up from the ground, clinging to each other for balance. Anna stumbled in her wet clothes as her feet caught in some drowned and muddy bush. Finn cried over to the trio across from them.
"All right?" he managed, still breathless from their mad run.
A hoarse affirmative came back as the three picked their way down the cliff side. The two groups met outside the door and stood looking at each other with dazed expressions. Khalid finally turned and called out into the trees.
"Hallo!"
Anna stared at the destruction the flood left behind; rocks were loosened and rolled down the hill, smashing and breaking the smaller trees that showed their pale insides where they had snapped. The trees that managed to survive the missiles leaned drunkenly from the shock of the force. The trunks of the taller trees stood wrapped in grass and other debris several feet off the ground, showing the height of the flood. The branches on one shook as an elf dropped down to the mud.
"Shevarash! I do not wish to ever see that again," Kivan exclaimed. "Where are the others?"
In answer Anna saw a flash of metal appear as Ajantis stepped from the trees, somehow still in possession of his large shield.
"Helm have mercy," he said wearily. "The water struck like a giant's fist. It threw me into a tree and I clung with all my strength, but Xan was swept away. I know not where he is."
The knight collapsed onto the ground and pulled out some grasses that had wedged themselves into his armour. Kivan looked alarmed and called out but before any of them could set off in search a pair of sturdy bushes parted and the enchanter stumbled into view.
.....
In another situation Anna might've been tempted to laugh; Xan had all the appearance and expression of a cat that had slipped from his proud march along a bridge into a pond. He was soaked from head to toe, his once-fine robes covered in muck and debris. He pushed his muddy hair from his eyes and glared at no one in particular.
"A fine looking group, are we not?" he muttered. "Have we all survived, then?"
"Not all," Ajantis replied quietly. "We should say prayers for our fallen comrades."
"I don't understand. Why did Yeslick do that?" Imoen asked. "He hated the Iron Throne enough to kill himself to get them?"
The girl's face was pale and she looked at the others with wide eyes.
"From what we saw he had cause for hatred," Jaheira replied, leaning against a tree and caressing its mucky bark. "I only wish he had not turned it towards himself."
"But he didn't need to do what he did. I can't imagine..." Imoen broke off.
"Behind hatred and revenge often lies guilt," Kivan said slowly. "He blamed himself as much as his tormentors."
Imoen said nothing and looked away from the elf, down at the forest floor.
"Regardless, the t-time to mourn is not now. We must f-find the s-slaves," Khalid said.
"Yes," Jaheira said, rousing herself with a shake. "We must...move on. Kivan, can you find their trail? The sun is turning to the west, and we must recover our gear."
"Uma," the ranger said.
......
He squared his jaw and set off into the woods, his black eyes avoiding all but the trees. Anna glanced at Finn and he squeezed her hand; though his face was sombre and exhausted she saw a kind of brightness in his heavy-lidded eyes. They said nothing to each other though as they followed along behind the others.
Somehow Kivan managed to find their packs where they lay still undisturbed under the ferns. Anna felt uniquely glad to feel the plain brown canvas under her fingertips and she plunged her hands in to draw out a feast of bread and dried fruits, choking them down without regard to her appearance. She followed by drinking heartily enough from a wineskin that Jaheira muttered to her to remember to keep her head. Anna coughed from the sharpness of the alcohol and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand, starting at the red smear before she could assure her foggy mind that it was not blood.
After a brief rest Jaheira reluctantly called them to their feet. The large group of slaves left a trail easy for even Anna to spot but they had a considerable head start on the group, and as the sun crept lower behind the trees she began to wonder if they would find them that night. In truth she'd almost ceased to care—as the rush of flight and escape faded her utter exhaustion returned to the point she almost fell to the ground more than once. She leaned on Finn as they rambled through the forest but he didn't seem much more stable than her and his legs wobbled from the added weight.
.....
Near sunset they finally found them. The slaves sat huddled in little groups, their eyes still blinking at the alien light of the forest. A few made frightened noises as the party stepped from the trees and Anna heard the sound of drawing swords.
"You made it after all. I'll be damned," a man said.
He sheathed his weapon and Anna recognised him as one of the guards that offered to help the slaves escape.
"We have," Jaheira replied shortly. "Are they all here?"
"Every last one left standing," the guard said. "We told you we'd do it, didn't we?"
As he spoke Anna glanced around the group, noticing several armed men she hadn't seen before. They stood slightly apart from the slaves who looked at them with fear or anger where they drew near.
"Yes, but you can understand why we had trouble accepting your word," the druid remarked.
"Our word's as good as any man's," the guard answered. Jaheira didn't look convinced.
"Still, you got them out. We ought to thank you for that," Finn said. "How'd you manage it?"
"Well...we just told the guards on the door that we were taking this lot out for a little walk."
The man spoke levelly and trained a gob of spit on a rock at his feet.
"A walk?" Imoen piped up. "They really must have been thick to believe that."
The guard's lip curled grimly.
"There's walks and there's walks. I don't reckon they thought we'd all be coming back, did they?"
"Oh," Imoen said. She hugged her arms to her shoulders and said nothing else.
"Are there other guards still alive?" Ajantis asked.
"Probably. Once we cleared the stockade we made tracks fast as we could up this way. We could feel the earth shaking from here, didn't take much to work out what that meant. There could still be patrols out in the forest but I don't think they'd hang around with their wages underwater."
"Likely not, but we must still be on the alert," Jaheira said. "We should set up a watch rota for the night—"
"Where's Jerrin?"
.....
Jaheira paused as a quiet voice interrupted her thoughts. Kiri floated up to them without a sound, her hands folded tightly in front of her. In the reddening light she looked even more gaunt than she had in the mines. The druid's mouth opened but no words came out. Ajantis stepped forward and touched the woman's arm.
"We found no trace of him. I am sorry."
The woman looked down and spoke, her voice oddly level.
"The cooks here, they said they'd never seen him. I said that couldn't be right—Rill said he was in the kitchens. Rill's a priest, he wouldn't lie. He wouldn't lie, I know it."
Ajantis cleared his throat.
"He likely wished to give you strength. He seemed determined to provide that, for all of you."
"And he's not here, either?"
"No."
Kiri kept her gaze on the ground but her body began to shake slightly.
"I know the pain of loss. To feel as though someone has cut out your own heart...but we must continue." The knight's deep voice lost some of its steadiness. "You must trust in the gods that your son is now free from pain, that he is now safe—what god did you revere, my good woman?"
Kiri slowly shook her head.
"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" she asked.
"It matters now most of all," Ajantis replied.
"No."
"Rill's not here?" A nearby slave suddenly spoke, forcing the words out as if saying them might make it true.
"He has fallen," Ajantis said. He drew a breath and regained some of his tone. "Rill sacrificed himself that we might all escape. As did Yeslick...they were noble and brave, and we should do honour to their memories."
The revelation seemed to take the slaves and a collective moan went up towards the sky. Amidst the cries and chatter Anna saw Kiri slipping silently away, drifting into the trees like a ghost. She thought perhaps to follow her, but decided to leave the woman alone with her loss. She turned instead to help the others set up something resembling a camp for the night.
......
A nearby stream provided water but the slaves had no food, and what little the party had left would scarcely feed themselves. Kivan took his bow and went into the forest in search of a quarry, trusting on his elvish eyesight to find game in the darkness.
While they waited Anna sat blankly by the fire. Finn sat next to her but they spoke only short, necessary words. She paid no thought to her spells and she noted the normally studious enchanter doing the same. Xan had barely spoken a word to any of them since their escape and she watched him sitting across from her in the circle of light, regarding the flames as if they were an oracle. For one who'd been so convinced of his impending death he seemed strangely restrained. He was hardly the giddy sort, but even so she might expect some sign of joy or relief. A recollection of the despair of the cave came back to her though and she shuddered.
"I can't believe it's over," Finn finally said.
He was looking into the fire, that brightness still in his eyes.
"Yes," Anna said slowly. "You're free now, aren't you?"
"Free," he repeated, saying the word like it made no sense to his ears.
He reached into a bag on his belt and pulled out a crumpled, stained piece of paper. He opened it, smoothing out the wrinkles almost delicately. Anna recognised it without reading the words.
"It's all done now. You did justice for Gorion. You can move on."
"I'm not sure how," Finn said. "It...just doesn't seem real."
"It's a lot to deal with, I can imagine. That madman...and it was all for revenge," Anna sighed.
"Yeah. But...it just doesn't feel over. I thought when I found who did this I'd be able to relax, that I wouldn't have to look over my shoulder every other second, but I don't feel it. Why?"
"I suppose it will take awhile to sink in," she said, running a hand over his hair.
Finn murmured something in response, still staring at the mangled bounty notice.
"You are wise to be wary," Jaheira said. The druid sat with her husband near at hand. "The one who issued your bounty may be dead but news can be slow to travel. There may still be those who will come looking for you for some time, I am sorry to say."
Finn nodded but didn't respond.
.....
"Davaeorn," Khalid spoke. "I still c-cannot believe he was the r-root of this trouble."
"Indeed," Jaheira sighed.
"Did your allies give no hint he might be responsible?" Anna asked.
"None," Jaheira replied. "We had thought him dead. The last confirmed report said he had travelled to the east. That was nearly ten years ago now."
"Who is he?" Finn asked. "He talked about his daughter, but I don't understand. What happened? Did you know him?"
"Only by name," Jaheira said. "He was a great asset to the Harpers in his day, one of our finest mages. But his daughter was sent into a situation too dangerous for her lack of experience, with tragic results. Those involved were reprimanded and relinquished their duties but to him it was not enough. He tracked down her superiors and slaughtered them like dogs."
"It sounds like he had a reason," Finn commented.
"It was a mistake," Jaheira said, her eyes narrowing. "Harpers are not infallible. If we took blind revenge for every loss we would be in chaos."
"Did you not try to find him?" Anna said.
"Of course," Khalid replied. "We sought j-justice but he evaded his k-kin. But...considering the circumstances, the H-harpers did not seek him as hard as they might."
"And another grave mistake that turned out to be. How many innocent lives have been lost on account of that poor girl's?" Jaheira said.
"It still makes l-little sense," Khalid said thoughtfully. "If there were a mass m-murder of Harpers' children, w-would we not know? Yet we have h-heard no reports of such things."
"Yes, that thought has been hanging in my mind as well," Jaheira said. "But I believe Davaeorn spoke the truth. Still, there is little point in pondering this now. We shall bring what we know to the others in the city."
.....
Khalid said something in response but Anna faded from the conversation. Sleep kept pushing harder and harder into her brain, driving out even thoughts of food. She watched Finn toying idly with a small stick of wood. He too sat silently, lost in his thoughts. She watched him until she happened to glance up, surprised to see that the hunter had returned.
Kivan held a number of rabbits by their ears and he dropped their soft grey bodies onto the grass. He sat down and drew his knife, raising it in offering to the night sky. After he prayed Anna watched as the elf skilfully slid the blade into a rabbit's fur and peeled away hide from flesh as if it were skin from a fruit.
She watched as he gutted the creature, cutting away its yolk-like kidneys and other organs. His hands moved quickly and mechanically, driven by countless years of experience. Despite being a country girl Anna could never help flinching slightly when forced to clean animals but that night she watched the procedure with little more than detached interest. Even the smell of the dressed rabbits crackling on a spit did little to engage her. Next to her Finn finally spoke.
.....
"I need to go to bed."
He pulled off his gloves and rubbed his heavy eyes. He still wore his armour and the chainmail chinked slightly as he moved.
"Can I come with you?" Anna asked without thinking.
"What?"
The question seemed to rouse him and he looked at her, surprised. Anna suddenly felt her cheeks growing hot.
"I didn't mean..."
"I know," he said, rubbing his face and looking back down at the grass.
Anna hugged her knees and felt a strangeness quivering in her stomach. She only meant that she didn't care to sleep there, near the fire with the haunted-looking slaves and the fidgeting guards. It came to her as well how he and Safana used to make their bed some ways from the others and she cringed. Finn rose up and took his bedroll from his pack.
"Come on," he said quietly.
Anna looked at him but if there was intent in his eyes she didn't see it. She took his hand and followed him into the trees, far enough for privacy but near enough for safety. Finn unrolled the blankets onto the forest floor and laid down. Anna stood, hesitating, and almost as an afterthought he sat up and pulled himself out of his chain shirt and padded jacket.
"Here," he said, gesturing to her with an arm.
Anna couldn't read his expression in the darkness but she felt too tired for thought. She crawled over the prickly wool and lay down next to him. Finn pulled her close though and she rested her head on his chest, glad for his warmth in the cool night.
She lay still for some time, too tired for sleep. Instead she let her fingers trace lightly over the X-shaped pattern of his jerkin's laces. Lying close to him she drew in the deepness of his scent; it smelled of sweat and too many days on the road but it wasn't unpleasant. She listened to Finn's breath deepening and she felt his grip loosen. One had slid down past her waist and rested on her backside. She shifted slightly but it didn't move. Anna let out a little sigh and forced herself to shut her eyes.
......
She awoke with a start, barely aware that she'd been asleep. The waning moon was up and the trees had a faint light. Before she could wonder her heart flopped hearing Finn speak in a strange voice.
"You will die."
"What?" Anna said, sitting up quickly.
"It isn't me. You will die."
"Finn—" Anna began, but she had a queer feeling he wasn't talking to her.
She hitched herself away from him, listening as more strange words came from his mouth. He seemed to be in conversation but it made no sense, like he was talking to a madman. Or...he was mad. His arms flailed and she drew back in fear but he suddenly sat up quickly as she had.
"No," he said to the trees.
"Finn?" she repeated hesitantly.
He stared at her with a moon-washed face.
"Anna?"
"You don't know?" she replied, the words squeaking out.
"Yeah, I—what—"
"You had a nightmare," she said, finishing his thought.
"I did."
Finn drew his knees up and ran his hands though his hair. Even in the dim light she could see his body shaking.
"What...what was it?"
She wanted to go to him but stayed still. Finn raised his eyes but avoided her gaze.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" she repeated, her voice getting higher. "You were talking about death. You said, 'you will die, you will die.'"
"I know," he said. "Just...it was nothing. Don't worry, alright?"
"Don't worry...? Has anything...happened?"
She spoke the last words in a whisper and Finn shuddered.
"I'm fine, don't worry. It's alright." He seemed to ramble over the words. "Get me some wine, won't you, pet?"
"Wine," Anna said flatly.
"Yeah. Please."
She sat looking at him. Finn ran his hands through his hair again but didn't look up. Still jumping with nerves Anna rose and went quickly back to the sleeping camp, fishing out a wineskin from her pack. When she handed it to him he fumbled with the fastening before swallowing the contents like water.
"Maybe you should go back to camp," Finn said. "I need to—think."
Anna's stomach quivered. She turned without another word and went back to the others, where she laid down near the fire's dead ashes and waited for the morning light.
......
"Hey, wake up. What's with you? You're almost in the fire."
Anna started again at another voice, this time Imoen's. The girl leaned over her in the faint light of dawn, poking at her shoulder.
"Nothing," Anna replied. Her mouth felt like she'd been eating sawdust. "Is it morning?"
"Pretty much. Where's Finn? I can't find him."
"He's...around," she said.
The memory of last night came to her like a bad dream of her own. She'd hoped Finn's nightmares were a thing of the past—a foolish hope but one she'd clung to. But she sensed concern and exhaustion in Imoen's eyes and didn't want to trouble her with the experience.
"Finn will be back, I'll look for him," Anna said, dragging herself to a sitting position.
She looked around the camp. Most of the slaves still slept huddled together as they were the night before. A few sat up though, glancing around furtively with hollow eyes. Imoen spoke again but Anna didn't hear what she said; Kivan stepped from the trees and she focused hard on his face. The elf normally wore an expression that was almost mask-like in its stillness but now Anna saw something there that frightened her. She jumped up and went to him.
.....
"What's the matter?" she said, sharp and quiet.
Kivan looked surprised at her earnestness.
"I have been patrolling the forest. There were tracks leading out of the camp, walking far from here. I was concerned so I followed..."
"And?"
"The woman has joined her son," he said quietly.
Anna let out a breath and rubbed her hand over her mouth, feeling ashamed at her relief.
"Oh, gods," Imoen said. "That poor woman. It's so sad...should we—do something?"
"She has left this life, her body is now only a shell. I did what I could for her, but perhaps it is best to let her lay where she chose to fall," Kivan replied.
"Yes," Anna said.
Emotion suddenly welled up and tears began falling down her cheeks before she could try to stop them. Kivan noticed and placed a hesitant hand on her shoulder.
"She died when her son left her, but now with hope she can live again. Do not cry for her."
"No," Anna said, wiping her eyes. "Have you seen Finn?"
"He was washing by the stream when I passed," he said.
"Good. I think I'll...go find him."
Anna left the pair and hurried away into the woods. She tried to dry her eyes and wondered how many times tears had fallen since she met Finn. She was never a woman to cry at every little thing, but then she had never been afraid of the dark, never looked upon the dead face of a human being that had fallen to her hand...she forced herself to turn away from her thoughts before they overtook her again.
......
She found Finn pale and tired-looking as he crouched by the stream's edge. He stood up at her approach. His eyes were red and Anna didn't need to see the flaccid wineskin to know he'd finished it off.
"Hey," he said. "I don't suppose you've got any of those nice herbs in your bag, do you?"
Finn tried a smile but it fell flat. Anna looked at him and sighed.
"No. Just this."
She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her head against his chest. Finn seemed surprised but pulled her tight against his body, placing little kisses down her hair and her cheek before burying his face in her neck.
"That's even better," he said.
They held each other for a silent moment but Anna felt like bursting.
"Won't you just—tell me?" she said, running her hands through his hair. "Whatever you're going through, please—I want to help you. I want to be there. But you keep driving me back, saying nothing's wrong when there obviously is...and now I can see this whole cycle starting up again...it scares me, Finn, and I don't..."
"I'm sorry," he breathed.
"Don't be," she replied.
He drew back from her and she held his face in her hands.
"Don't be sorry," she said. "Just..try and make it better."
"Okay," he said, wiping away a new tear with a thumb. "I promise."
.....
He pulled her into a deep kiss and Anna responded. She felt her legs fading and together they lay down on the forest floor. Anna felt dazed from emotion and exhaustion and she let Finn's hands explore her body, not stopping them as they slipped apart laces and slid up under her robes.
She clutched at his back and felt the heat of her own breath where her lips brushed against his neck, aware of the warmth of his hands on her skin. Her other hand slid down his waist but Finn slowly pulled back from her.
"Anna," he whispered. "Do you want this?"
"I—"
In her rush she hadn't thought about what she wanted. She only felt his touch. Looking into his eyes though the import of the question hit her and she faltered.
"I need to know. I can't carry on, it's too much. I need to know," he said.
"I don't..." she hesitated. "What do you want?"
"You need to ask?"
His eyes sparked. She ran a finger over his flushed, full lips and swallowed hard.
"No."
"Anna," Finn groaned.
"I'm sorry," she said quickly, pulling away from him and readjusting her clothing. "I can't. It's—not right. How could we, here, now? I'm sorry, Finn...I just..."
"Okay, it's okay," he replied, though there was a dryness in his tone. "Don't worry about it."
He sat up and sighed raggedly. Neither of them said anything. Anna looked at the forest at first but shifted her gaze to him. Finn's jaw was set and his eyes were still burning but they had a different light.
.....
"I'm not trying to tease," she said quietly. "I don't know what gets into me with you.." she broke off and laughed quietly, but Finn's expression didn't change. "I just don't think that—"
"Have you ever been with a man?"
His question was abrupt and Anna started.
"No."
She felt her cheeks growing brighter and Finn pursed his lips.
"I thought you knew that," she said softly.
"How would I know? I thought maybe, but I don't know, do I? I've not spent my life hiding under your bed."
"Does it matter?" she asked after another silent minute.
"No," he said. "I never cared about maidenhood one way or another. But what does it mean?"
"What?"
"Well, you and me, we get pretty friendly. But then it always ends up like this—nothing. Is this the way it's going to be? It's doing my head in. It's all right, you know," he said to the grass. "I'm not going to leave you or run off and brag to everyone what a whore you are."
Anna flinched at his words.
"And I don't understand. Is this what you expect? We aren't...married. I don't know why you think I should just give myself to you. And I'm sorry if you think I've been leading you around—"
"Ah, right, I get it now," Finn interrupted. "You'll let me touch your goodies as long as I pretend to be a gentleman about it, eh?"
Anna glared at him and his lip curled.
"Sorry. Maybe you don't mean it. I don't think you're the kind that plays around with a man's head, not really. But I just don't want to be chasing after something I'm never going to get, you know? I feel like a proper tit, and to be honest I'm getting fed up."
"What do you mean by that?" she said, her heart pounding.
"I just—tell me. Right here and now." Finn looked at her. "What is this to you, Anna? I've never had anything like this, I don't know...you're supposed to be the clever one. What am I supposed to feel? Should I get down on bended knee and sing like a twat all night for a wave of your hankie? Is that what you want? Tell me."
"Finn—" she sighed.
"No, I'm asking. I want to know," he said.
.....
Anna stared at him, unsure of what answer he was expecting. It was for him to speak first, not her, and she fumbled for words. He gazed at her for a moment then looked back at the forest.
"Well, I'm here, aren't I? You aren't the first man to kiss me, but you seem to get away with a lot more than they have. Doesn't that say anything?"
She tried to make the words sound bright and gently touched his hand. Finn scoffed in his throat.
"Yeah. We're all here, aren't we?" He bit his lip and his eyes narrowed. "Me and my big mouth. It's all my fault, you know. I hadn't said anything, we'd be making it right now."
"Finn!" Anna exclaimed. "Be serious."
His mouth still frowned but a little spark crept back into his eyes.
"You're right. Who am I kidding? Hells, I'd be long finished."
Anna's mouth fell open, but she had to cover it to contain her laughter at the sidelong glance he gave her.
"Finn—is it really alright?" she asked when they stopped laughing.
"Guess it'll have to be, won't it?" he said. "I reckon I could learn a few chansons. My limericks won't really stand up in court."
Anna laughed quietly at his pun. He reached out and drew her close to him, squeezing her neck rather tightly with his arm. She glanced up at him and saw that his expression had fallen again. She buried her face in his chest and he caressed her hair but she still felt the weight of that look. She'd seen it before. And whatever Finn said, she knew what it meant.
.....
They rejoined the group before being called. Walking back into the clearing Anna saw a number of the slaves in tears. She heard Kiri's name mentioned and sighed.
"I'll do it," a slave spoke. "I'll go and tell them."
"Why you?" another commented. "You hated her."
"I didn't," the man said defensively, and Anna slowly recognised him as the angry slave who'd insulted Kiri, what seemed like a thousand years earlier in the mine.
"You never said ought but horrible things to her," the slave replied. "You called her a filthy whore. Who the hells are you? You're just a sailor, you ain't no saint yourself."
"I know," the man said. He looked something like a whipped hound, his strong shoulders hunched. "You wanna know the truth—I'd been to her brothel before. I'd get all sauced up and swagger in...I saw her with her boy, though. She loved the little lad, treated him like a prince. She sent him out for sweeties when she was on the job. It seemed so...I don't know. It got to me. I'm sorry for the things I said, I were only ashamed. Me mam didn't raise her boy to frequent whorehouses. I think Kiri knew that, why she never called me on it. I want to tell them she's gone though. Make up for it, like."
"If you really want to do right, you'll march straight up and put Throne's necks in a noose," another slave said loud. "The Fist sure as hells won't do it."
"The Flaming Fist do not tolerate slavery. I am certain justice will soon be done," Ajantis remarked.
"Don't they?" the slave said. "Then why is it we're all here, eh? Why'd they never do anything about it?"
"They must have—" the knight began.
"And I'm telling ye, they didn't. Look at us, we're a motley lot. Sailors, whores, chambermaids, all rounded up somehow and dragged here. Why you think nobody ever called foul? We're the sort nobody notices if they've gone missing, I give you that, but most of us have got family or mates somewhere and I'd like to think they might've realised we weren't around no more. The Fist haven't done jack, friend. They don't care."
Ajantis frowned looking for a response though Anna could see doubt in his eyes.
"It may appear to be so, but the Flaming Fist are known throughout the lands as an honourable organisation. There must be an answer, and by Helm I for one will help you find it. But for now we should be on our way."
.....
Jaheira seconded the command and Anna began the unenviable task of helping the battered slaves prepare for the long march out of the forest. She glanced up though, noticing the guards standing and talking in a little circle.
"I think we'll be on our way and all," one said to the druid.
"Where?" she replied.
"We were talking, me and the lads. And we don't reckon the Fist will be too kind to us, you know? You can take care of these folks for now, but it's best we were on our way."
"You are slavers," Kivan said. "Do you expect to live as free men?"
The guard glared back into the elf's hard stare.
"And what were you planning, to hand us in once we got to the city? No, ta. You can fight us if you want, but we're leaving."
The exchange continued as Anna watched. She hadn't considered what would become of the men, and although she had little fondness for them the idea of throwing them to the mercy of the city guards somehow didn't sit well.
"Stop the chatter," Finn said, interrupting them. "You don't need us to tell you that it's Cloakwood Forest out there. You boys look rough as a dog's arse, you're barely armed and you don't have any food. If you think you'd rather take your chances with the ettercaps and wyverns than face a trial, then I say go on. But you won't be following us out of here, I can tell you that."
"I shall make certain of it," Kivan said, fingering his bow meaningfully.
"And what assurance will we have that these men will not continue in their trade if they survive the forest?" Jaheira said.
"What bloody 'trade'?" the guard replied. "We're mercenaries, that's it. Who knows, we might get a job guarding a convent next."
"Or protecting more slavers," the druid hissed.
"We can either let them go or kill them now," Finn said, and the men noticeably flinched. "They'll do a runner when we get to the city anyway, and I don't feel up to keeping an eye on them. What do you want to do?"
Jaheira sighed in agitation.
"Very well. Let the bastards go, Finn, but know I shall lay the blame on you if I find they've done more harm."
"I wouldn't want that," he replied, a slight glint in his eyes. "You can hit the road. But I don't want to ever see you again, understand?"
"Yep. Take a good look at our backsides, it's the last view you'll get. Come on lads, we're leaving," the guard announced.
.....
Without any goodbyes the men followed after one another, disappearing into the green.
"I hope you have made the correct decision," Kivan remarked.
"If they make it out of the trees they'll be lucky. We'll tell the Fist about them all the same, likely they'll be holed up in Beregost drinking away their troubles before long. But let's move out, eh? I'm sick of this bloody place."
Finn began sorting his pack. Anna glanced at Jaheira and saw her eyes snapping, but she muttered something under her breath and left to attend to the slaves. With a slight sigh the mage did the same.
