You Came, Beloved
A woman Peri and Imoen did not recognize opened the door, suspicion on her tight, narrow face.
- "I would ask you for the password," she said, "but the word travels quickly. I know why you are here, and that you know what this place is. I guess there is not much alternative but to let you go to the maze and Undercity. Know though, that the old temple of Bhaal has been purified by a joint effort of several churches. Thoroughly washed with holy water, uncursed, cleansed, if you catch my drift."
- "Our business is not with the temple," Peri said stiffly. "If you have to know, I personally ordered the Bhaal essence destroyed from the Realms."
The woman nodded.
- "Our interest is in maintaining the status quo, the truce between us and the official authorities. That is why no-one is happy to have you here. You haven't exactly made friends here."
- "Oh and so my efforts were all futile," Peri said grimly.
- "You also have brought him back to life," the woman said, glancing fearfully at Sarevok.
- "So I have. He is a different man now."
Sarevok just nodded. He didn't feel there was anything to gain by explaining about his new outlook.
The woman led them to the entrance of the maze.
- "The traps have been removed and most of the undead killed... by the clerics," she said. "Not that you wouldn't be able to deal with them."
- "Thank you for cooperating," Peri said. "We will finish our business and leave the city, not disturbing you."
The walk through the maze was a quiet one, as everyone had some heavy memories haunting them. Only Jelena had not been there before. She watched her family, feeling the forgotten evil still seeping from the walls of the dungeon. As they approached the entrance of the Undercity, both of the men winced.
Winski walked to a small marker next to a place where the earth had been dug. He felt dizzy.
- "Winski Perorate, a conspirator and wizard," he read. "Now you don't stand on your own grave every day."
He tried to smile, but the smile was ghostly and pale.
# It only matters what you are now, Winski. You live, albeit a second time. There really is no death as long as there is consciousness and identity. And conspiring is only called that if it fails. #
Winski put his hand in his pocket and petted Twiggy who was resting in a coil in the bottom of the pocket.
Sarevok was pale also. He knelt at the tombstone, and was silent for a moment.
- "Forgive me for my sins," he whispered.
- "Sarevok, I thought we already had this talk," Winski said.
- "Yes. This was different. I want to... honor your death and shoulder the responsibility. Tamoko would understand," Sarevok answered in an even, strangely airy tone.
They entered the Undercity. It was still a hopeless and forlorn place, but the undead didn't seem to roam the place any more. The temple of Bhaal didn't emanate its evil energy.
- "The purifying rites have been successful," Jelena said. "I don't sense evil here."
Sarevok, looking like a man with a very heavy heart, led the way.
- "How do you know where to go?" Imoen asked, puzzled.
- "I saw it in the dream," he replied.
- "There." Peri pointed without fault. She remembered the burial like it was yesterday.
Sarevok dug. He didn't have to do that for long, when the masterfully crafted weapons and the jewel box shone through the soil. He picked them up, cleaning them of dirt.
Then they saw as a beautiful, translucent ghost of a warrior woman appeared next to them. Her eyes shone lovely and dark like they had in life.
- "You came, beloved. Like you promised. And you were there for Peri," she smiled.
- "Yes. I was. And I would die and still crawl my way back here to fulfill my promise," Sarevok said in a thick voice. "Guide our journey, the true love of mine."
- "Travel to Kozakura. Find an honorable shukenja loyal to the Crane clan, and contact me by him so I'll give you more advice. And please, take good care of my daisho."
- "Daisho?" asked Peri.
- "The swords, both the katana and the wakizashi. It means the soul of the samurai. They must be returned to my family. And always remember - Kara-Tur is not like your world. Do not expect it to be. There are spirits everywhere, and no organized religion, for example... and people care not if you can call yourself good, but about your honor. Still, there are different honors - Yoshimo had a code of honor too, even though he was a rogue."
- "Tamoko! Lord Ilmater said that he is in... Meido," Peri said.
- "Ah." Tamoko smiled. "A kiss, Sarevok. We will talk later."
She kissed Sarevok, who was crying silently and hungrily trying to kiss her back. But he felt only a feather-light touch, like a gust of wind, and she was gone.
