After an hour, the party awoke and began again their trek north to Baldur's Gate and from there, to Waterdeep. Near Highsun, they could just barely see the tops of the buildings over the trees, when a cry erupted from the woods.

"Spare no one!"

At once, Aerie perked up. She, along with everyone else besides Jasper, had heard the cry thousands of times. Hobgoblins. The creatures always seemed to follow them wherever they went.

Aerie focused her thoughts on the situation, and readied a magic missile spell. The first Hobgoblin crashed through the underbrush, it's sword drawn and ready to hack at anything that looked as though it had money. In another instant, it was a pile of ash and smoke as multiple red spheres of energy smashed into it. More Hobgoblins poured out of the trees, and the group quickly found themselves overrun.

Minsc was swinging Lilarcor about in a windmill motion, cutting through the Hobgoblins and tossing them aside as though they were dolls. Anomen quickly summoned a small legion of undead and quickly commanded them to join the fray. Jaheira drew her scimitar and began fighting back to back with Jasper, who was casting flaming bolts of fire that seemed to carry the Hobgoblins at high speeds instead of burn them. [1]

But for every Hobgoblin that fell, another three took it's place. Minsc quickly became exhausted from swinging his heavy sword around. He instinctively began to lean forward on the hilt of his sword. He realized his mistake too late as a rusty long sword bit into his leg. The Rasheman warrior cried out in a mixture of pain and rage and swung his sword around, decapitating the hobgoblin. His arms and legs began to vibrate, and he no longer felt the pain of the wound in his leg. Minsc had gone berserk.

Nearby, Anomen drew his mace and began to beat into the oncoming horde as his undead legion crumpled into dust. He swung his mace at anything that had tusks, bludgeoning the hobgoblins and smashing their bones. Alas, Anomen was only one man, and the hobgoblins were a great many. Soon he began to feel slight stings and cuts as blades began to find weaknesses in his armor.

Aerie was faring far worse. Her supply of spells and components was nearly exhausted. She silently prayed to Baervon to aid her in the battle and to calm her distraught mind. Summoning the rest of her will and energy, she began to weave her hands in a desperate attempt create a fireball spell. The flaming energy ball appeared in her hands, and with all her remaining strength she hurled it into the bulk of the horde. She watched with grim satisfaction as over a dozen hobgoblins fell beneath the searing flame. She was still smiling when a hobgoblin crept up behind her and smashed the hilt of his sword on the back of her neck. The once-Avariel dropped to the ground like a boulder hurled off a cliff.

Jaheira seemed to be faring better then the others. Though she was exhausted, she willed herself to keep fighting. On wrong move could mean her death. It seemed odd, she thought as her blade stabbed creature after creature, that they should have this much difficulty with hobgoblins. Also, there seemed to be an infinite number of them. Her thoughts were cut short as she felt an extreme pain in her midsection. She fell over clutching her abdomen and crying out.

Jasper was the only one who did not falter in combat. The agile Gold Elf appeared to be doing an intricate dance of death. He parried every blow that came at him and returned it with a stab and went for the next opponent. His actions were lightning fast, and the hobgoblins seemed to move as golems compared to the adroit elf.

Suddenly, two of the giant creatures burst into flame. A few more fell down as arrows protruded through their chests. The remaining Hobgoblins dropped their weapons and began to flee.

Anomen rushed to Jaheira and extended his hand in an offer to help her up. Jaheira ignored him and stood up with some difficulty.

"What's going on?" she asked Jasper. The Gold Elf looked at her with a bored expression on his face.

"I haven't the foggiest idea," he said. Minsc began to jump up and down excitedly.

"Boo knows what's going on," he said excitedly, "Look!" He pointed up a ways, and there they saw over a dozen armed warriors in plate mail with the symbol of a clenched fist and fire outlining it.

"The Flaming Fist!" Jaheira cried out. Anomen helped a very disgruntled Aerie to her feet, then looked at Jaheira quizzically. "Who?" he asked. Minsc cleared his throat.

"The Flaming Fist are the enforcement in Baldur's Gate. Minsc and Boo remembers this from being in prison with Quilik!" he said smugly. Anomen raised an eyebrow and Aerie's eyes widened.

"Prison?" they asked in unison.

Jaheira heaved out a sigh. "It's a long story," she said. Jasper looked around nervously.

"I hate to interrupt, but they want to talk to us," he said. The nearest Flaming Fist officer stepped forward and took off his helmet. Jaheira gasped in recognition and then smiled.

"Elton!" she exclaimed. The man in front of her smiled.

He was a tall human, with brown hair and a never ceasing smile, and his entire body was covered with large muscles. He face was somewhat nondescript, the only thing mentionable were the scars and lines covering it.

"Jaheira," he said, "It's been a long time. And Minsc! How is Boo my good friend?" he asked. Before Minsc could answer, Elton began to talk again. "Ah, but I waste your time. Where is Quilik?" Jaheira's smile faded and an eerie silence settled for a few moments.

"Quilik has gone missing. We think that he might've perished somewhere in the Wilds," she said, her eyes glued to the ground. Elton sighed.

"I'm sorry Jaheira. I know you two were close," he said, reaching out to comfort her. Jaheira pulled herself away and adjusted herself. "Well, what can we do for you?" she asked. Elton forced a smile.

"Come with me to the Duchal Palace, and I will explain."

***

Kakrin stared into the scrying bowl, his face emotionless. Things were going as he'd planned, but he was beggining to think that he might've been wrong about Jaheira. It had been more than a month now, and she'd showed few of the many symptoms from the condition he thought she had.

"Jasper," he hissed into the scrying bowl.

Yes? the elf's voice said into his mind.

"I need to speak to you again."

There was a moment's silence, and then, Kakrin my friend, you are too demanding. Magical travel is very disorienting and gives me much fatigue. If you wish me to accomplish your next task I would advise being a little more patient and most of all letting me rest!

Kakrin didn't speak for a moment, and then smiled.

"Jasper, do you remember the terms of our deal?"

Yes, and they're the only thing keeping me from selling you out.

Kakrin's smile widened. "Selling me out? I'm very disappointed in you Jasper."

So...

"It would appear that you are not taking me seriously."

There is a point to this when?

"I suppose I'll just...remind you of the consequences for disobedience," Kakrin said. He shut his eyes and began to concentrate.

***

Aerie clutched to Jasper as they walked through the dark and forboding streets of Baldur's Gate. The shadows were beggining to play tricks on her mind, and it was very discomforting to her.

"Jasper, I'm scared," she said, trembling a little. Jaheira threw her a disgusted "When are you not child?" she said, more than annoyed. Jasper ignored this and comforted the once-Avariel.

"Boo will protect you," Minsc said, turning. Aerie took little comfort in this, but more in the fact that Jasper's arms were wrapped around her.

Suddenly, Jasper stopped walking. He began to tremble a bit. Aerie looked at him quizzically.

"Jasper, what's wrong?" she asked. Jasper's skin began to glow red. He fell to the ground and a scream of pure agony and pain erupted from his lips.

Jaheira whirled around and in a lightning fast move her scimitar was in her hand. Jasper was clutching his head, which was bleeding in multiple places. His skin began to bulge in and out and a small popping noise could be heard. Suddenly, streams of electrical currents began to run down through the rogue, delivering even more pain than the tormented elf was already feeling. Elton rushed to the side of the agonized Gold Elf and began to cast a cure spell, when an explosion rang throughout the streets and Duke Elton was hurled by an unseen force into the wall of a nearby building.

Jasper screamed throughout the night, and there was nothing the anyone could do to help him. He heard Kakrin's voice invade his head once more.

Don't disobey me again, it said sweetly, mockingly.