On the Crumbling Road

A Baldur's Gate II Fan Fic Novel

Written by: The Blue Sorceress

***

Chapter 1: Walking the Path Alone

***

With the sort of calmness that comes from determination Brynn Trueblade dressed and tucked her things into her satchel. She pulled her tunic on, then her trousers, tucking the cuffs into her boots and lacing them tight. Around her waist she cinched her scabbard belt, and then knelt down and from beneath her bed pulled her two most prized possessions: a pair of finely crafted katanas. One had been a gift from the Kensai, Touga Kurai, her sword master, and the other she had found on one of her early exploration into the many dusty storage rooms of Candlekeep. She sheathed both of the swords and hefted her satchel. It was funny how at twenty four years of age all her worldly belongings could fit into one small bag.

She tiptoed to her bedroom door and opened it slowly. After checking the hall to make sure no one was coming she stepped out, her boots making quite scuffing sounds on the uncovered stone. Down the hallway she went, careful as a forest deer and just as quiet. The wooden stairs creaked as she went down them, and she paused, the sound of her blood pounding in her ears making it hard for her to hear if anyone was coming. She shook of her fears and continued down the stairs. She crossed the small room at the bottom of the stairs and pushed open another door. Quickening her step, she moved to the last door, unbarred it, and pushed it open too. Fresh summer air filled her nose and she allowed herself a moment to breath it deep before she darted through shadows, crossed the muddy courtyard and passed across the drawbridge to freedom.

Only a day ago she had crept into this keep, and now she had crept back out, though not by the same path. Only a day ago she had fought trolls, umber hulks and yuan ti at the request of Nalia De'Arnise, and only a day ago Nalia had given her the keep to hold in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of Nalia's suitor. Brynn had accepted the responsibility of governing the keep without qualms, in fact she had been delighted with the whole idea. But that had been a day ago, and things had changed.

Shivering Brynn ran across the green grass that surrounded the keep and into the trees beyond. She had had another dream. Irenicus came to her in her dream and told her to accept her power, to use it...

If only to protect the weak who would fall because of you...

No, she would never do what that monster suggested, never, but she would rather be sent to the Abyss than let those she cared about be hurt or killed. Her heart ached, throbbing dully in her chest, and tears came to her eyes as she remember those who had already fallen. Her legs gave out and Brynn sat down hard, her satchel sliding off her back and onto the soft moss of the forest floor. She leaned against a tree and stared up at the sky through the reaching arms of the trees.

"Oh Khalid, Dynheir, I'm sorry," she sobbed. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to save you."

It didn't bring them back though, saying she was sorry. It didn't ease the ache she felt in her own heart, nor the pain that she saw in the eyes of Jaheira and Minsc, nothing could now or ever. Still, she could prevent what had happened to Khalid and Dynheir from happening to any of her other friends. She could leave them, she could go rescue Imoen on her own and cut out the heart of the mage Irenicus with her own blade. That would protect them, all her old friends and all of her new ones too.

Behind her, Brynn heard someone clear their throat. She stood up, her hands going to her katanas. "Who's there?" she demanded.

A man stepped out from behind the trees. Because of her elven blood the man appeared to Brynn to be glowing softly in the heavy darkness. "Just me," said the man.

Brynn frowned, knowing that her expression could not be seen. It was Yoshimo, the bounty hunter she and the others had discovered during their mad flight from Irenicus' lair. What was he doing out here? Had he been following her? "What do you want?" she asked.

"I was merely curious as to why you would try to sneak out of your own home," Yoshimo replied.

"That's none of your business," Brynn said firmly. "How did you find me?"

Yoshimo chuckled. "I could hear you. You might think you were being sneaky, but you have a thing or two to learn I think."

"Why did you follow me?"

In the darkness Brynn could see Yoshimo shrug. "I was curious," he said. "I noticed that you were leaving while I was wandering the halls..."

"Looking for something to steal," Brynn accused.

"No, merely getting accustomed to the keep," Yoshimo corrected. "Besides which, we cleaned all the valuable items out on our way in if I remember correctly."

"Fine, I don't care," Brynn told him, "just go back to the keep and don't tell anyone else I'm gone until morning. Better yet let them find out themselves."

"Why?" Yoshimo inquired.
"Because I asked you to!" Brynn snapped. "Just pretend you never heard me leave."

The moon came out from behind the clouds and in its light Brynn saw a frown make its way across Yoshimo's usual cheerful face. "You are acting very strangely," he said softly. "Obviously you are trying to leave us all behind, but why?"

"Because," Brynn said, her chest growing tight, "because I don't want all of you to get killed."

"Pardon?"

Brynn scrubbed her fingers through her hair. "I attract pain and death," she said, her voice cracking, "Khalid, Dynheir, Imoen... everything that happened to them all is because they followed me. I won't let it happen anymore. I'm going to rescue Imoen on my own. So please, go back to the keep and... and just forget that you ever met me. Tell Jaheira and the others not to look for me. Tell them it's for their own good."

"I cannot do that," Yoshimo said gravely.

"Then I'll knock you unconscious and leave you here," Brynn threatened. "Please, I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me. I'm a jinx, Yoshimo, it's better for you and everyone else to just stay away."

Yoshimo shook his head. "I would never have escaped from Irenicus without your help and so I am indebted to you. I must pay my debt to you, or loose my honor. Your quest to save your friend is my quest now, and you cannot drop me so easily and say forget I ever met you."

"Your debt to me is paid," Brynn said. "Now please, let me go on alone. I don't want you getting dying for no reason."

"My debt is not paid," Yoshimo replied sternly, raising his voice for the first time.

"You don't understand..."

"No, you don't understand. I pledge my services to you, and I will not break that pledge."

"Then go serve me back at the keep," Brynn pleaded. "I have to go on alone."

Yoshimo took a step forward. "Do you honestly believe that you can rescue your friend alone? Do you honestly believe you can defeat the mage Irenicus without any help?"

"I can't let anyone help me!" Brynn exclaimed. "If you died it would be my responsibility, my fault. I won't, I can't, let anyone else die because of me."

"My life and death are my own responsibility," Yoshimo argued heatedly. "Don't be so vain to think that you alone can inadvertently cause your companions to die." In a gentler voice he said, "Let me help you. If I die, then my debt is paid and I will die with honor. That would be better than living without honor until I was old and toothless. Let me help you, if not for your own sake, then for mine."

Brynn swallowed hard. Yoshimo didn't understand what he was saying. He didn't know what she was, he didn't know anything. But he was right, she couldn't rescue Imoen on her own.

"Listen to what I have to say, and then if you still want to come with me, then I'll let you," she said.

"I am listening," Yoshimo replied. He folded his hands behind his back and focused his dark eyes on her intently.

Brynn hesitated. "I'm not a normal woman, that's why Irenicus wants me. I have a power buried in me, he said, and I have that power because of who my father was." She paused, her heart thumping wildly. "I... I'm the daughter of Bhaal. One of the mortal children spoken of in Alaundo's prophecy. That's why you can't come with me. My heritage draws death. I'm the daughter of Murder."

Yoshimo was silent for a long time and Brynn was sure he would turn away. Finally he spoke. "You are the daughter of Murder," he repeated softly. "I understand what you are saying now, but it makes no difference. If I had promised my services to Bhaal himself I still could not take back that promise, no matter the consequences. I will still follow you, Brynn Trueblade, and I will not leave your side until my debt is paid in full."

Brynn inhaled sharply. How could he say that knowing what she was? How could he follow her now that he knew why death dogged her every footstep? Did the value he placed on his honor outweigh even the terrible truth she had given him? "All right," she said. "I promised to let you come with me if you wanted to, but please, we must leave now. I can't let Aerie, or Nalia get caught up in this any more than they already are. And... I've hurt Minsc and Jaheira more than enough as it is. From now on it has to be you and me and no one else."

"Fine," Yoshimo agreed. "I will abide by your laws if you wish it so desperately. I am ready to leave whenever you are, just point the way."

Brynn nodded and lifted her satchel off the ground. "We're going back to Athkatla. I'm sure I'll find the money to pay for the Shadow Thieves' help, or the way to obtain it, somewhere within that city."

Yoshimo moved to her side. "Speaking of the Shadow Thieves," he said, "I need to speak with one Renal Bloodscalp sometime soon. The Shadow Thieves don't like... independents operating within their territory and I ought to clear a few things up with them."

Brynn turned her head and looked at him. "Anything that could be dangerous?" She asked.

"No, I don't think they would kill me," Yoshimo clarified. "But perhaps things might go more smoothly for you if I were to stay on their good side."

"I'm glad you told me. Thank you, Yoshimo," she told him.

"You are welcome," he replied. "Come, if you want to be well away before your friends awake we should start walking now."

"I know," Brynn agreed. She started off at a good pace, Yoshimo treading with silent footsteps at her side. "I wish we had horses, but it can't be helped I guess."

They passed the silent trees, talking quietly and walking even more quietly, and hours later, after dawn had wrapped her pearly light all around the forest and the moon had slipped below the horizon to be replaced by the sweet shining sun, they were still walking. It wasn't until night had fallen heavy over the land again that they caught sight of the lights of Athkatla, twinkling dimly like the stars.

To Be Continued

***

______________________________________________________________________________

Authors notes

A spot light illuminates an otherwise dark stage and a short woman whose most notable features are her knee-length blonde hair and the cerulean blue tattoo that winds all up the right side of her body walks onto the stage. She steps into the light and shuffles the papers she has in her hands.

"Okay," she says uncertainly, "seems like the author wants me to read these for her... so I guess I will." She smiles and scratches the back of her head before she begins. "The author, The Blue Sorceress, writes,

'Thank you all for reading. If you've gotten this far I'm sure you've noticed some differences between the plot of my story and the plot of the BGII game. Although BGII has a great story line behind it I decided I could make it greater.'

The blonde woman lowers the papers. "Boy does she have an ego! Anyway, she continues,

'First off, I was disappointed by the lack of choices of romances if you played a female character, which of course I did. I've got nothing against Anomen, anymore, but I really don't like him either. Anyway as I played through the game the author parts of my brain were screaming, "but this would be so much better!" After a while my ideas coalesced into this story, and I decided to post it at FF.N. I hope you enjoy it, and please don't forget to let me know what you think by leaving a review on your way out.'

"Oh gods!" exclaims the blonde woman, "We've got a blood review monger!" She sighs loudly and continues,

"'Reading my authors notes for me while I slave over my history homework is one of my original characters from my Dragon Ball Z fan fics, Chryseis de Curion. The relevance this has to the story that you've just begun to read is that "Chryseis" was originally the name I was planning on using for this story, but I posted my DBZ fic first, and not wanting to cause confusion to those of you who might be crossing fandoms, I changed the name of my BGII character to Brynn. Unfortunately I'd forgotten that one of the places in BGII is Brynn Law... When I remembered I was already too far in writing this story to change the name of the main character, so I left things as they were. I guess this just goes to show that funny things happen when you get attached to one name.

Thanks,

The Blue Sorceress'

Chryseis wads up the papers and tosses them into the dark. "Crap, she dragged me away from sparring for that? Ten says she's going to do it again to. Damn it all! Oh well, it can't be helped." She looks out into the darkened theater. "Well, readers, wherever you are, I guess you're probably going to be seeing more of me, Blue tends to get hooked on gimmicks. Oh gods! I'm a gimmick!"

The spotlight goes out and Chryseis says into the darkness, "Blue, I'm going to get you for this!"