Flesh and Blood and Bone!

- " I...live! Flesh and blood and bone! I am alive! I swore I would scratch and crawl my way back into the world of the living...and I have done it!"

Peri watched the joy and triumph on her brother's angular face, trying to figure out what she was feeling. Did she still resent Sarevok for Gorion? When her brother had taunted her with that beloved name, she had lost all control and embraced the murder in her... but now she didn't feel the anger. She had seen somewhat through Sarevok's strained manner - he must have suffered a lot in the land of the dead even though he would not admit that if asked about it.

- "I am pleased. I thank you, sister," said Sarevok, his golden eyes sincere.

- "Don't thank me. Thank Imoen," Peri answered.

- "Certainly. Thank you, little sister. I shall treasure the spark of your sweet soul within me," he said, but his voice wasn't mean.

- "You'd better," answered Imoen. "Hm... I don't feel any different. I thought I would."

- "It is just a tiny spark, next to nothing..." Sarevok said. "I... suspected it would work, but wasn't entirely sure. It is good to see I was right."

- "You... you weren't SURE? I knew it! You were bluffing all the time!" Imoen gasped.

- "I was not bluffing," answered Sarevok angrily. "I knew enough to find it extremely likely."

Peri loosened her grip of her sword, when the well-groomed young priest spoke.

- "This... thing, this vile beast! It is not even undead... it is an abomination! Peri, I fear this was a bad mistake." The nasal voice made Sarevok's hackles rise.

- "Do not call me 'thing', cleric." Sarevok stared down the young man, making sure that he knew just exactly how much taller Sarevok was than he.

- "But 'vile beast' will be just fine, will it, brother?" asked Peri, a hint of smile in her eyes. Sarevok's tension eased a little, and he almost felt like smiling. "All right. Tell us what you know."

- "The first thing I shall tell you is how to leave this pocket plane that you have created. It is an extension of your will - it exists because you need it to exist. But it will not take you where you wish to go, but where you need to go. Or perhaps, where you believe you need to go."

- "And, as I have no clue, it is a good thing that you will tell me," said Peri, nodding.

- "In my youth, I spent much of my time looking into the old lore of the dead Bhaal priesthood. The Sword Coast will run red with blood, yes...but the battles will culminate in a great struggle within a city to the south, the Tethyrian city of Saradush. It is there that you must go, where the first step of the prophecy will unfold."

- "So where..."

- "Not so fast. You recall from our last unfortunate meeting that you had to search your own soul through visiting these caves your subconscious had created. This place contains many barred passages for similar purposes, and one of them you have to face before you can leave for Saradush. Watch..."

He extended his hand, and pointed at the opening the solar had shown to him. It shifted and shimmered a little.

- "It contains a challenge. After you have faced it, you will be able to return to this plane at will, if you can cast the spell uninterrupted. And then you can also leave for Saradush. There is also a spirit, resident in that stalagmite," Sarevok pointed again, "that can summon you companions, people who you have met and who can have a role in your future."

Peri seemed to think of something with a mixture of sadness, hope and dread. She walked next to the stalagmite and called:

- "Spirit? Can you summon people here?"

- "I can," answered the voice, trapped in the stone but not in anguish.

- "Can you... can you call the thief Yoshimo?"

- "That one has passed from the land of the living."

As Peri, disappointed, turned around, Sarevok was staring at her intently.

- "Did you say Yoshimo? Did you try to call someone named Yoshimo?" he asked.

- "Yes. What do you know about Yoshimo?" asked Peri, perplexed.

- "Do you remember Tamoko?" answered the large warrior, his face hardened.

- "I will never forget Tamoko," Peri said quietly.

- "Yoshimo was Tamoko's brother. I never met him, but...it is no matter." Sarevok brushed the issue away, apparently not wanting to dwell on it.

- "He... never told me. If it is the same Yoshimo. Oh well. It is off to the challenge then. So, Sarevok, if there is nothing else..."

- "Wait." Sarevok braced himself, for this was the most difficult part so far. "I have something more to ask you."

- "So tell me," said Peri, just looking at him.

- "Take me with you." Careful, careful, not sneering, not pleading, just like a businessman making a casual offer.

- "So that you could stab us in the back? Even I am not that 'sugary sweet'," Imoen answered darkly. The cleric and the old warrior looked incredulous and indignant, the large ranger was just looking at Peri, and the dwarf was grinning openly.

- "You want me to take you... to travel with me?" asked Peri. "Forgive me for saying so, but... why ever would I do that?"

- "As I said, I know more of the old Bhaal lore than probably anyone. I don't think you want to waste time stumbling about when divine powers are playing dice with your fate. I could help you. And I am a warrior of no small ability. I have only grown stronger by my stay in the Abyss. You are stronger than me, I do not contest that," now Sarevok had to grit his teeth a little - for now, sister - before continuing, "but you would know. You have fought me and defeated me, thus earning my respect."

The cleric was about to open his mouth and protest, but Peri shot him a warning look. The old man just looked grim and Imoen extremely suspicious.

Peri pretended to be thinking, but actually she knew already. Whatever danger this represented, whatever animosity there was between her and Sarevok - and would be between her companions and Sarevok, heaven forbid - she would take her brother with her. She must get to know him better, to share the company of the one person who could share some of her eternal loneliness, the strong pull of the blood of murder and all that came with it.

- "I might consider it... but you must do exactly as I say." Peri avoided grinning just in time. Bet brother dear didn't like the prospect, but he also didn't have much choice in the matter.

- "If you like, I can swear an oath. An oath sworn here, where your blood holds sway, binds just like a geas. Then I could not betray you even if I wanted to."

- "No." Peri was adamant. "I would never enslave another to my will, magically or otherwise. I believe everyone must be free to make his own choices. To make anyone, even you, a slave like that, would be spitting on what I hold in greatest importance. Freedom."

- "An... odd choice. I would definitely have made you swear the oath, if I had even let you live." Sarevok looked genuinely puzzled. "But... are you taking me with you then?"

Peri nodded, even grinned a little.

- "You are a good warrior, and you have everything to gain by being at my side."

The old man spoke for the first time.

- "You... you bring such an animal amongst us, without any sort of restraint? I am... uncomfortable with such an arrangement. How can you trust this man?" His voice was deep and cultured, but now brimming with concern.

- "I don't trust him. But the alternative would be against everything I hold important. Not only paladins of Torm have principles, Keldorn," Peri reproached. "Give him a chance... we are six and he is alone. What harm can he do to us?"

- "I have no wish to harm any of you," said Sarevok wearily. "I will follow Peri and help her, on the contrary."

- "Oh, by the way... here's a little joining present, Sarevok. Catch!"