I Just Wanted to Kill Them All

Peri was nonplussed, the wind of rage in her sails somewhat gone.

- "Peri, sister," Sarevok came to her, taking her in his arms so that he could face her eyes with his own. "Remember when I talked about becoming a god, and you yourself told me how a power like that corrupts the wielder? How you told us that being a god, as you put it, 'sucks'? How you made me think about Tamoko and how I destroyed what was between her and me because I wanted power greater than that of mortals? And... I loved her too. I wanted nothing but to protect her and to see that no harm comes to her and that she can go wherever she wants. Do not do this for love. We would just lose you, me and Imoen."

A single tear rolled on Peri's cheek, her face softening.

- "Do not become the Lady of Murder, sister..." Sarevok ventured on, the two of them in the magic world of their own no-one else could ever share. "You know that besides all our differences we share a link... perhaps we are two pieces of the same soul. You know how I was when I wanted to become Murder. You will be like that, as well. There is too much passion and anger in you for it to end otherwise. I plead you. I want you here, with us."

- "You speak the truth..." Peri's voice was quiet, her eyes downcast. "I don't know what came over me. I just wanted to kill... them all."

Sarevok nodded, knowing that 'they' were all petty, cruel, despicable people out to hurt the ones helpless to prevent them, people like Reiltar, and even Melissan for all her delusions of grandeur.

- "Well, Peri. You turned into the Ravager and went on rampage, shared my painful memories, saw Imoen tortured... I guess you are allowed a bit of instability under the circumstances," he said.

Peri squeezed his hand, then lifted her head and faced the solar.

- "No," she said. "I don't want it. I want the Bhaal essence destroyed. But there is something else I want to suggest. I would want to become immortal, so that old age would not kill me, and continue my journeys on this plane."

- "I see," the solar answered, her face enigmatic as usual. "And why do you want that?"

- "I like this plane. I like adventuring," Peri simply said. "I want to spend time here."

- "I will consider your offer," the solar said, "but first there are some people or other entities we are going to meet around this matter. I am glad of your choice, Peri of Candlekeep. I trust it was the right one."

- "Sarevok? What now?" Peri saw his brother gasping, conflicting emotions alternating on his angular face.

- "It is mother and Winski..." he said, looking at the people gathered next to the solar. "The third one, I don't know who he is."

The people could not see them yet. The solar was talking with the nondescript monk, while the two others, the lean, feline, black-clad mage and the blond, round-shouldered woman looked overwhelmed and held each other's hands.

- "I have considered your offer," the solar suddenly spoke and looked at Peri. "Is it correct that you plan to travel to Kara-Tur with your brother, to bury his one true love, the warrior Tamoko?"

Sarevok swallowed a sob at that.

- "It is," Peri said.

- "Then I shall grant your request. I have talked with Lord Ilmater here," the solar almost smiled as Peri and Sarevok widened their eyes in surprise, "and it seems that in the far east there is a prophecy we have a reason to believe is centered around Sarevok. It talks about a godschild warrior returned from the land of the dead, who will ride from the west and have a crucial role when a great evil unfolds, threatening not only Kara-Tur, but whole the Toril as we know it. It also mentions burying a... ronin lady love of his, returning her to her ancestors' soil. And that the warrior once evil as a demon is now a force of good. As the ritual you performed in the pocket plane has already made Sarevok immortal, I shall make you too, for the two of you need each other. You shall never wither and get old, though illness or injury may still kill you."

- "It seems that I get to save the world yet again," Peri sighed. "Oh well, if I get to ride to Kara-Tur with Sarevok I guess it doesn't matter too much."

- "You will not have to travel alone," Ilmater smiled. "I will send my divine agent to act as your priestess and healer, and she is accompanied by a very loyal and accomplished magician."

At that moment Winski and Jelena could see Sarevok. Well, the others too, but they only had eyes for their son.

Sarevok ran to his mother, almost crushing her with his fierce embrace, the hot tears running on his cheeks.

- "Mother... you heard me, didn't you?"

- "I did."

- "You know everything? And still you loved me all the way through?"

- "I said that I would, when you were a little child, didn't I? I meant it, believe it already!"

Sarevok lifted his head and let his mother go. He looked at Winski, and both of them looked afraid, shy and awkward, scared to face each other's gaze.

Sarevok took the first tentative steps, but when the men were face to face, their faces crumbled, and they were weeping like children. They threw their arms around each other, just squeezing.

- "Forgive me..." they both whispered at almost the same time, then looked each other in the eye, laughing and crying at the same time.