The Vagabond glided to the port of Suzail, the capital and largest city of Cormyr. Cormyr, whom some called the kingdom of Justice. Sarevok snorted bitterly at the presumptuous epithet - not for the first time either, though before his reaction had very different reasons. In a way it had a modicum of truth to it - as far as Sarevok recalled the monarchs of Cormyr and the knightly order under them meant well and were far less corrupt than many of their counterparts in other countries. The king and his daughter were skilled and fearless military leaders, charismatic and the first ones to risk their own safety, which caused him to respect them. Still, no kingdom could ever be a kingdom of justice. Kingdoms were organisations of people, and where people gathered, cowardice, greed, short-sightedness and malice also crept in. Justice was on the tip of the blade of those with the strongest army and upper hand - they got to define what it meant.
Sarevok would not let anyone tell him that it was justice to let sleeping dogs lie, to hush the crimes of the powerful ones away as holding them accountable would cause disillusionment and unrest, hurting everyone as a result. He held his head high, still so proud and determined. He felt his heart beating, so alive, so strong like he never truly had been dead. He lived again for a purpose, and he would fight all the kingdoms of justice, the demons of Abyss or the devas of Celestia if they tried to stop him. He would save the children and put stop to the prominent Reiltars using their facade as a shield and creating broken souls and monsters behind them.
- "Little ones, you will still have to be under the deck for just a while," Jelena explained to the children. "But we will find you a place to stay, and then we will arrange some nice people to take you home to your mothers and fathers."
- "They are both dead," said a little girl in a matter-of-fact tone, and Jelena bit her lip.
- "We will... find you a place to stay at least. With good people who take care of you," she said in a pained voice. She could not lie to the child and promise to find a home for her.
- "Hey, you know what? I will make you some more of those colored balls!" Imoen promised.
- "Cespenar too! Makes all yellow red blue green silver gold balls all flow flow flow in the air, oh yes!"
The others quietly left, as Imoen and Cespenar stayed and entertained the giggling children with their illusions and conjurations.
- "There is a large temple of Tymora in the city, officially protected by the king and his court," Jelena said.
- "Yeah? Tymora seems pretty all right as gods go," Peri said, lightening up. "Perhaps she would care about this mission - she says that one should always be bold, and this is bold."
- "Ilmater approves of her, though their methods are very different," Jelena nodded. "Let us go to the temple."
The temple was the largest temple of Tymora Peri had ever seen. It had a large courtyard where many games of fortune were played, and the priests and warriors laughed and joked. There was a group of bards performing. One of them was dressed in a too small suit of the most prominent boarding school of Suzail, waving his hair and walking like a duck as he glided his fingers on the neck of his lute. The group stared at him, mesmerized.
The man lifted his head and smiled, calling the song to a halt.
He extended his hand.
- "Well met, travelers. My name is brother Angus. I... have this little side hobby as a bard - the Lady of Luck approves of fun and beauty and music. And I tell you, with my style of performing, it sometimes takes being bold indeed... but I'm digressing. What is it that you wanted to talk about?"
- "Well met, brother Angus. I am Lady Jelena, an agent of the Crying God. We have a... situation and I would require help from a good faith and a resourceful temple."
- "Just tell me what it is. Please, sit down." They sat at the marble benches arranged around the stage the band had been performing on.
Jelena related the whole business about the child slave ring. Angus' smile and easy manner disappeared to be replaced with dark anger in his eyes. When Jelena mentioned the list of names and that the men were in important and respected positions in Suzail and all over, he grew even more grim.
- "And... you have the kids right there in the ship?"
Solemn nods from the group.
- "Of course. Of course we will take them in. That is the most immediate of the problems. But... ye gods, this is so... calculated and organized. They really have it all figured out, don't they?" Angus snarled.
- "Except that they tried to sell their goods to the wrong man," Sarevok said. "I will not stop until this revolting business is at end."
- "That's the spirit. We would probably have to take the children in without attracting too much attention, one at the time?"
- "Just come to 'buy' them from the ship, one at the time," Winski said. "There is just... this is very awkward..."
Brother Angus looked at him, expecting, neutral.
- "Look. The guy who is one of the worst offenders on the list, is practically a saint or so everyone thinks. So please don't be offended if they fear to trust even your temple and its people with the kids," Peri said.
The priest looked hurt for a moment, but the expression passed.
- "Very well."
He gathered all the priests, warriors and bards in front of the strangers and explained to them that they would have very mistreated children as refugees, and that now he and Jelena would pray for insight.
- "Lady Tymora..."
- "My Lord Ilmater..."
- "...please reveal to us if this is the wise course of action."
- "Please reveal to us that the heart of these people is pure so that they will take care of these mistreated children without adding to their burden."
This is the place where I wish the children trusted, said a male voice simply.
This is a worthy thing to do. Care for the little ones with gentleness, answered a female one.
The priests ceased their prayer.
- "I apologize for this," Jelena said, her face red.
- "You did what you had to do," Angus said, his manner nevertheless a bit stiff still. They agreed on the details of bringing the children to safety.
As the group then left, Winski sighed heavily.
- "That was one of the most embarrassing situations I have ever been in," he said.
- "This is now about more than embarrassment," Peri said. "Besides, it looked like a great place for the kids."
