No Act, Cleric

Amkethran. Dusty, hot, paranoid. Hollow-eyed peasants, bragging and staggering mercenaries. The monks, their eyes cold and aloof, patrolling the streets once in a while but caring little of what was happening. At the monastery gates Peri asked for Balthazar, and the guards went to fetch him.

Balthazar was a small, bald man dressed in the sand-colored traditional garb of a monk. Still he looked powerful. It was the way he carried himself, the determination in his eyes. And the dark force of Bhaal both Sarevok and Peri could feel emanating from him. This Bhaalspawn had much essence, perhaps more than even Yaga-Shura.

- "Peri of Candlekeep. You will be allowed to move unpestered in Amkethran, to recuperate and buy supplies. As long as you keep out of the monastery the city is yours to take advantage of," he said, unsmiling.

- "Whoa. While I appreciate the no small-talk approach, I was expecting someone a bit more friendly. The fellow Bhaalspawn bonding sort of thing, you know," Peri said, half-amused and arching her eyebrow.

Balthazar didn't share anything of her humor.

- "With the butchering of Saradush and the Amn and Tethyrian army troops you should be grateful to be let in at all," he said.

- "It was not exactly like we had a choice," Sarevok cut in, annoyed. "You should know how it is, being another one sired by him." He took another look at the eyes, and the fanatic resolve reminded him of both the murderous priestesses of Bhaal and the einheriar he had encountered in the Abyss. He shrugged, thinking it was not worth his effort to try to convince a fanatic.

- "I can't afford to examine the truth of your claim now," Balthazar said. "But I recognize you, Sarevok. And the fact that your sister has resurrected you and hails you as a comrade speaks volumes to me. However, we do have common interests. There are two powerful Bhaalspawn seeking to destroy all the other ones, and whole the Amkethran as well. Another one is Abazigal, a half-dragon, and another one is a drow priestess Sendai. I have some vague knowledge of their whereabouts. Let me draw to your map. They know that you are on the move, and seek to destroy you. Don't underestimate them."

That said, he walked back inside the temple.

- "An irritating fanatic," Sarevok spat.

- "Perhaps... but he is no coward," Peri said, her eyes pensive.

- "He hardly has a reason to be if he is a powerful Bhaalspawn," Anomen snorted.

- "Yes... but being a coward, or not, is not about rational calculation of one's relative strength. It is a basic state of mind," Peri said.

- "Me, me be with Sarevok. Irritating prig for sure," Korgan snorted. "NOW do we go drinkin'?"

- "You've got it," Peri grinned. "We deserve it before we go to say hi to those other Bhaalspawn."

It didn't take long for them to find the tavern, and everyone welcomed their beverages of choice with a satisfied sigh.

- "Another city with starving children and suffering, poor people no-one cares about," Keldorn sighed. "Why this man is not taking efforts to act as a protector of the people as he should be I don't know. That is the function of the monastery."

- "Perhaps he's more interested in keeping his own head attached to his lower body as... Sendai and Abazigal, was it... come after him, "Peri suggested with a wry smirk.

- "That would make sense," Sarevok nodded, "but something is off. He felt like a fanatic to me. Not a pragmatic who is just out to protect his own neck for practical reasons. I wish I could figure out what is going on. I don't like this. I have a feeling that we are playing into someone else's lap neatly by eliminating these other Bhaalspawn."

- "Yeah. The problem is, there is not much alternative. I fully believe they are out to kill me. I guess we'll just have to play along until we figure out who the famous traitor is," Peri sighed.

- "Minsc is so happy that Sarevok is not evil anymore!" Minsc exclaimed. The previous discussion had been just a buzz in his ears. He just let it go by like wind in his ears like he always did when he didn't understand something. Now he, however, felt a powerful jolt of emotion as he saw Sarevok's sincere eyes upon his sister, talking of devotion and affection. "Sarevok's talent in butt-kicking is a definite advantage to the righteous party, not to mention it being just and right for brother and sister being friends and kicking butt for each other!" he beamed.

- "Oh do be quiet, you roaring idiot!" Anomen said, his temper flaring after being kept under lid for days. "Yes Sarevok, everyone can see that your outlook has changed. Only I wonder if this is not some sort of act to cater to the hopes of Peri."

- "It is no act, cleric. It is also none of your business." Sarevok's stare was cold and hard, and he spoke through gritted teeth.

- "On the contrary!" Anomen exclaimed. "Peri's safety is my sworn duty, and I wonder about your fiendish motives."

- "My motives may not be as blindingly apparent as your own, fool, but they are also not as superficial," Sarevok said, straining not to get truly mean. He knew that Anomen was in pain, and felt left out, but his dislike of the man was so instinctive, and he was enraged at the fool commenting on something he knew nothing about.

- "Well, do astound me with your sheer depth, then, Sarevok. What is it you hope to gain by traveling with Peri?" Anomen's voice was contemptuous, his eyes full of hatred.

- "Redemption." Sarevok stated it evenly.

- "Redemption? You must be joking," Anomen snorted and laughed sarcastically.

Sarevok snapped. He hauled the priest up from his collar.

- "Redemption. Among other things," he snarled, then shoved Anomen back. Anomen was red with rage, his hand reaching the flail at his waist.

- "Stop it, this instant! Both of you!" Peri leapt up and shouted. "Anomen, you had no right to say that."

- "You are being manipulated by him! By H... Tempus, if it wasn't so filthy and unnatural I would suspect you two of being in love!"

Peri was quiet for a moment, then spoke in a calm voice.

- "Anomen, come with me."

They went outside. Peri didn't look mad anymore, only sorrowful.

- "You must leave. The group is not working anymore. You two will come to blows. You are unhappy and it is only getting worse."

- "Why is it I, then, who must leave?" Anomen asked quietly.

- "Because Sarevok is the one I need more. It is not only I who feels that, it is also what Gorion said. Frankly, I don't appreciate you trying to think for me and being so overprotective."

- "I will leave, then," Anomen said bitterly. "I suppose you want this flail back, and my other equipment."

Peri shook her head.

- "Keep it as a thank you for being a faithful companion for so long. And Anomen... I hope you will find it in your heart one day to believe that I wish you well."

They shook hands, and Anomen left. Peri wept as she walked back inside, but gained her control back before showing her face.