"This is just like old times," Imoen pointed out, then paused to revise her statement.  "At least…without all the torture and stuff."

Valygar's head came up.  "I never heard that story before, David.  I thought you were rescuing Imoen from the Cowled Wizards, not escaping from torture!"

Keldorn smiled slightly.  "There's always a new story from our friend here…it seems like wherever he walks, a story just pops up just for him."

David's eyes widened in surprise, not at his companions, but at himself.  I never told them…  "All right then, troupe, I'll take this lame excuse for a break from walking to tell you a story about my distant past.  Ahh, those were the days…I grew up in a city called Candlekeep, you know.  Huge town, mostly focused on learning and wisdom—partly where my desire to become a monk first came into play.  Anyway, my old foster father, Gorion…" David swallowed hard.  He tried desperately not to look at Sarevok.  Sarevok sighed and closed his eyes.  "…well, anyway, I was about 18 years old when he started getting anxious.  I tried to ask him why, but he…wasn't very forthcoming in information.  I can see why now.  He had just learned that there were plenty who wanted Bhaalspawn dead, and he needed to get me moving and safe.  We left Candlekeep shortly after, but…but we were ambushed by a hostile force.  Despite all of Gorion's power, he couldn't protect both of us.  He told me to run, and was cut down before my very eyes.  Some of the last words he said to me were to go to the Friendly Arm in, a place north of Beregost—he said that he had some friends there that could help.  At about that time, Imoen, my childhood friend and accomplice in many a deed, came to me."

Valygar nodded.  "I thought that you two were good friends when we met."

David continued.  "We went to the FAA and met up with Jaheira and Khalid."

Keldorn broke in.  "The Jaheira that was in our group until after we killed Irenicus?"

Valygar nodded, and put in his two cents worth.  "Khalid…that was the one she was talking about…husband, right?  Never told us how he died, though."

David shook his head.  "That comes later.  We journeyed far and wide, to Beregost, Nashkell, even to Baldur's Gate…and once there the path to my foster father's killer became clear.  I went to him and slew him after a fierce battle.  Justice being served."  He said that last line with bitterness.

Keldorn looked at Sarevok.  "You've been awfully quiet, Sarevok…you not interested in the tale?"

Sarevok looked away.  "I know more about the tale than I am comfortable with."  The enigmatic response cut off a comment from Valygar.

David went on.  "All that said…that lead us—Imoen, Jaheira, Khalid, and myself, of course—to Irenicus.  Khalid was brutally murdered by Irenicus as a display of his power.  Why he kept Jaheira alive I have yet to discern…it was Imoen and I he was after.  After our power."

Valygar looked thoughtful.  "So Imoen is a Bhaalspawn too…"

"There are many Bhaalspawn, Valygar…or at least there were…I know of only 3 left on the planet.  Anyway, Irenicus wanted our souls so that he could extract our powers.  There came the torture."  David stood up.  "Now that I've emptied my entire past into your brains, lets get moving.  There's an inn not far from here that we could stay in—"

Keldorn stood up as well.  "I get the feeling you aren't telling us something, David.  You seem to know so much about your past, yet you do not know who this mysterious killer of your father was, having confronted him?"

Valygar nodded.  "And what about that 3rd Bhaalspawn?  I'll bet my family blade against the fact that the killer is the Bhaalspawn."

David looked amused.  Very astute, gentlemen.  There's one fact that you've completely missed, but I'll leave you to your ponderings."

Sarevok stood up.  "I, however, won't.  I am the Bhaalspawn and the killer of Gorion."  With that said, he stalked off into the woods.

Keldorn and Valygar looked after him.  "I don't believe it!  That would mean…after all these times of you and him referring to yourselves as 'brother'…I guess that wasn't some sort of warrior-to-warrior thing after all.  It took some courage for you to take him into your group." Valygar said, his respect for David increasing.

Imoen mistook his statement.  "Lay off of him, will you?  Can't you see he's hurting?  And you wonder why David never told you about it before—" She quieted down when David's hand came to rest on her shoulder.

David presently sighed.  "Look, we can't let this issue get the best of us.  My last words and the last words about this is that Sarevok is probably the strongest willed individual in this entire group.  A story that I definitely will not go into right now explains where Sarevok got his grudge against Gorion and humanity himself.  In response to your statement, Valygar, it took much more courage to completely leave behind a way of life and take up a new one."  With that, David walked off in the woods to find Sarevok.

Once the group was assembled, they made their way to a small inn only a couple of miles ahead.