Not Just Mercenaries

- "Do I really have to come?" Sarevok looked very anxious.

- "Sarevok, dear. You are the hero now, and if you come with us the regent is very likely to do as we request," Jelena patiently explained.

- "I will then," Sarevok sighed resignantly. "But I feel unable to face any sort of comments... could you make everybody to be quiet? Or say that I am ill and can't talk?"

- "Now there is an area where you have a little bit of learning to do," Jelena said in a carefully crafted neutral, friendly tone. "Dealing with conflicting and painful emotions, namely. Think of it as if it was a fight. Instead of the Sword of Chaos, use your ability to step out of the turmoil of your emotions and analyze them calmly."

- "What ability..." Peri muttered, squeezing Sarevok's arm in order to show him that it was not meant as a cruel comment.

Sarevok shrugged.

- "Very well, then. But at least make me invisible for the continuation of the walk," he said.

He was quiet for a while, then sighed.

- "I wish we could go kill something... that used to calm me down. Though as yesterday's events attest, too much of a good thing is no longer a good thing," he muttered petulantly.

As the group walked the streets of Suzail, they passed pale people walking carefully and holding their heads, and still intoxicated lovers staggering holding each other, giggling, kissing and fumbling. Peri remembered Baldur's Gate and the festive spirit there had been once she had defeated Sarevok. She was struck by the irony as she remembered Sarevok's pain over the bloodthirsty and unrepentant orcs he had slaughtered. Fortunately her brother had been in much better spirits this morning... Winski's and Jelena's marriage and being officially adopted by them seemed to have reinforced him. As far as Peri was concerned Sarevok had paid thousandfold for everything evil he ever had done. Now there only remained convincing him of that.

They arrived at the gates of the castle where the court was held. Winski dispelled Sarevok's invisibility, and they approached the guardsmen. They looked up the large warrior, registering the glowing eyes, and had only eyes for him.

- "Sarevok Anchev..." the other guard started.

- "It is Perorate," Sarevok replied stiffly, a flame of displeasure flickering in the golden eyes. The guard swallowed in fear.

- "My apologies. Sarevok... Perorate. The savior of our city..."

- "Good day," Jelena intervened, aware of Sarevok's discomfort. "We wish to request an audience with the regent princess."

- "I am certain she will admit you," the guard replied, and sent for a messenger.

After not too long while the messenger returned.

- "Please follow me. Princess Alusair is honored to meet you," he said.

The princess was a tall blonde with regal bearings and a gait of a warrior. She wore plate mail and the Purple Dragon Knight crest, a longsword at her waist, and no adornments of any kind. She welcomed the group smiling, but her smile was trained and cold. Her eyes were intelligent and inquisitive.

- "Welcome. And Sarevok... while I must admit that I am puzzled as to why you have saved our city, the fact remains that you did so, and I would like to offer you the most heartfelt thanks of the whole Suzail."

- "I did it because innocent people helpless to defend themselves in the absence of the knights were about to get killed," Sarevok said, staring at the floor.

- "This is not the Sarevok Anchev I have heard of," the princess said.

- "Call him Perorate. And yes, he has undergone a change you can not begin to comprehend," Peri replied before Sarevok could, an edge of steel in her voice.

- "Peri of Candlekeep. Interesting to meet you in person," Alusair said, unintimidated. "There are a lot of stories about you all around. If deeds are anything to go by, the version of Sarevok the Redeemed seems to be a true one. But while the army is defeated, the situation remains. There is a traitor. Someone wants to destroy Suzail, perhaps all the Cormyr. I would want to hire you to find out the truth of this. I can see that you are very capable."

- "I think we will respectfully decline. We are on the move for our own reasons, and we have already been hindered," Peri said.

- "So are you just mercenaries after all? Nothing beside your own worries means anything to you?" the princess asked, displeasure shortly flickering in her gaze.

- "Young woman," Winski said. "We wouldn't be here in the first place, if we were 'just mercenaries', as you will find out in a short while, if you only will be patient enough to listen to us. However, as hard as it may be for you to comprehend, Cormyr is nothing personal for us. We are not Cormyrians, and the borders of the states around the Sea of Fallen Stars are of no interest to us. Our reasons to travel are none of your concern."

- "Too right," Peri said. "So you think you are morally superior to others because you are devoted to Cormyr and its people? Well, I am devoted to these people you see standing around me, and I would do anything at all for them."

- "I apologize," Alusair said. "The worry I feel for my country has biased my judgement. Please explain to me what it is you wanted to see me about."

So they did. The princess' face darkened in anger.

- "Rest assured, I will not let this kind of rot fester in Cormyr," she said. "My honor as a leader of the state of Justice would be hollow if I allowed this kind of thing to go on."

- "What is the punishment under your laws for a thing like this?" Peri asked.

- "Imprisonment for life, or even execution for actually owning a pleasure slave," the princess answered. Peri nodded, satisfied.

They gave the name list to Alusair, whose eyes widened at some of the names.

- "I think she is okay," Peri said as they walked towards the temple of Tymora. "But she will get disappointed yet once she gets older. She seems to actually think that it is possible to create a state of goodness if you rule wisely enough."

Jelena nodded sadly.

- "I hope you are wrong, but I don't believe you are," she acknowledged.