Chapter 25: Calm Before the Storm
The party had given up on all attempts to develop a regular sleeping pattern. Or, at least, a regular sleeping pattern that revolved around the day, for all of their activities had been nocturnal. They were turning into veritable creatures of the night.
Which is why Harrian, who was himself cursed with a need of a solid eight or nine hours of sleep each rest, found only Haer'Dalis sitting himself down for lunch at the main counter with Samuel Thunderburp, the halfling bartender. The tiefling seemed to need no sleep at all, and was clearly quite comfortable in operating at half strength as it was.
It was early in the afternoon, and Corias had awoken much the same time as the day before. Yoshimo and Anomen were taking some much deserved rest after the prior night's endeavours and Jaheira was, no doubt, brooding in her own room. Minsc's whereabouts revealed themselves to be 'out shopping for biscuits for Boo' when Haer'Dalis was asked.
"I don't suppose you do a full breakfast?" Harrian asked Thunderburp hopefully. "Although I feel like I need it, now is not quite the hour to be partaking in your vast collection of international alcohol."
"Well, it's lunchtime, so the cook might not take too well to being asked for a breakfast," the halfling replied helpfully, polishing a glass. "But how about we cook you up the day's special, as a bit of a pick-me-up?"
"What is the day's special?" Harrian asked suspiciously. He had never consumed Thunderburp's secret cuisine himself, and the reports he had heard of the specials were very mixed.
"Oh, I can't be telling you that," Samuel declared cheerfully. "Not knowing and finding out for yourself is all part of the special being special!" He grinned at Corias' evil expression. "Fear not, friend, I do not serve you rubbish."
"You'd better not," Harrian muttered as the halfling scurried off. He turned to Haer'Dalis. "So, my melodious friend, what thoughts do you have to brighten up my day?" he asked him gloomily.
"Would the fact that Minsc has left with all of the money on his quest brighten your day?" the blade asked cheerfully, then his expression brightened even more at Harrian's evil yet surprised look. "Fear not, my raven, I am jesting with thee. Minsc has been gone a little longer than expected, considering he is on a quest for biscuits, yet I have no worries of our hound being incapable of defending himself in perilous times."
"Aye," Harrian murmured, clearly unconcerned about Minsc. Anyone who brought trouble to the ranger would get what they deserved. "Have Anomen and Yoshimo told you of our plan to get the scroll back?"
The tiefling nodded. "They have, and it brightened my day to hear of such a ploy. Using our lady Jaheira as bait for this Duchinov should prove fruitful. But be aware, Harrian, that there will be many ladies at this ball with their sights set for the Count. There may be competition for his favours which our druid will have to fend off," he warned him in his slightly sing-song voice, all the while his cheerful expression not leaving his face.
"Bah, with little trouble, I'm sure," Harrian retorted confidently as Thunderburp, now returned from issuing the cooking orders, set a pitcher of weak grog on the counter. It would not do to get drunk this early in the afternoon. He took a large gulp from it to hide the slight heat rushing to his face as memories of his indiscretions the other night surfaced.
But Haer'Dalis was an actor, and as such knew one when he saw one, especially when they were as furtive as Corias. "My raven, your appreciation for the lady has not gone unnoticed, neither by myself or her."
"Oh, I know she has a vague idea," Harrian muttered grimly to himself. "And I do believe, dear Haer'Dalis, that this appreciation is more of a problem than you are aware of," he continued, throwing him a warning glance.
This was the expression the damnable bard ignored. "For her favours are still with her departed husband, aye," he murmured. "I see that advising you to take care is most pointless, for either you know so and are doing so, or will disregard any advice I offer."
"A little of both," the swashbuckler assured him. "Khalid was my friend – he was a good friend, damn it. I won't soil his memory by courting his wife, even if she would return the affections. Which she won't."
"Do not be so sure, my raven," Haer'Dalis mused. "I have oft seen the way she looks at you. It is the look of one who feels something they are unsure of, but do not wish to explore it further due to believing it sinful, or at the very least, dangerous. Know that 'tis not as disrespectful or unexpected as you may think for two friends to find solace in each other in the midst of sorrow."
"I'm not looking for solace," Harrian spat back a little venomously. Then he stopped, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Indeed, I am looking for nothing. I overstepped my mark last night, and I do not intend to do so. Jaheira is my friend, she is in the middle of grief, and my promise to her husband was to protect her, not to woo her. My word is my bond, tiefling."
Haer'Dalis smiled. "I never meant to insinuate it was not," he replied to the slightly bitter retort. "But it is quite clear to me that it is not impossible to woo someone at the same time as protecting her. Indeed, they may come hand in hand."
"Who's hand in hand?" Yoshimo asked lightly as he slid into the chair next to them, with all the subtlety that being a thief required. Harrian threw him a mortified look, and Haer'Dalis merely grinned toothily. The bounty hunter raised an eyebrow. "Or is this a conversation I should leave you two ladies to conduct by yourselves?"
"We… were discussing the plan for tomorrow night," Harrian declared in a rush, and Yoshimo gave him a suspicious glance. "Duchinov and Jaheira. Haer'Dalis believes it will take some effort for it to work, but I disagree."
The Kara-Turan gave his own broad smile. "Of course," he chuckled, and Corias rolled his eyes. "I agree with you," he continued, making Harrian's expression turn first to relief, then to surprise, then threatening.
"You do?" Haer'Dalis asked, positively delighted with this situation. "You agree with our raven's belief that Jaheira is a lady of such beauty that none of the others at this ball will be able to hold a candle to her?"
Yoshimo looked a little taken aback. "Of sorts," he said slowly. "The party season in Athkatla is over. Any ladies left behind without a husband at this time of year shall not be, ah, 'prime pickings'. Jaheira should have no trouble seeing them off, especially after receiving the treatment these young noblewomen get before such a social occasion."
Harrian looked at Haer'Dalis happily. "I knew that," he declared firmly, then sagged at the tiefling's expression of disbelief.
Yoshimo kept his face neutral. "So Jaheira's job is to seduce Duchinov. What are the rest of us to do during this potentially lengthy period?"
"Seduce Duchinov?" Corias repeated, looking horrified. "No, no, no. There shall be no seducing of Duchinov. Attracting, flirting with, manipulating until he gets us where we want him, but not actual, full-scale seduction." The others looked blankly at him, and he sighed once more. "As for the rest of us… we'll be there. Mingle. Make nuisances of ourselves. Be close at hand if needed." Ensure Duchinov doesn't get out of hand with Jaheira, and be quick to offer a sound beating if he does, he added grimly.
"So we would do well today to do a spot of shopping?" Haer'Dalis asked lightly. "A little camouflage before we turn up at a civilised ball with our dashingly handsome yet dishevelled and unsophisticated leader." Harrian looked indignant, then made a spirited attempt to straighten his hair. The blade smiled at him before continuing. "Not to mention a giant, bald, mentally impaired ranger who is more suited to a plate of armour than a fine suit; a Kara-Turan bounty hunter who would be more willing to pick pockets than pick dance partners; and an arrogant and over-pious cleric who will mostly bore all around him to their deaths with tales of his exploits."
"Not to mention a tiefling blade of harmful wit and a tendency to draw attention to himself," Anomen interjected coolly as he approached, clearly far too fatigued to place too much venom into his insult. "And I should only be so lucky if my tales are as dire as you say, for then I would be able to recount them and fell you with no fear of retribution."
"Fair play, my squire," Haer'Dalis accepted good-naturedly. "But I believe the point is made. It shall take a considerable amount of work and skill for us to remain inconspicuous with this entourage of ours."
Harrian pulled his purse from out of his inside pocket and shook it experimentally. The clinking from within was despairingly faint. "It seems to me as if we are without the money to back up such a requirement. It sounds like we need the finest of tailors in Athkatla; with the few silvers we have, I would be astounded if we could buy even a dirty vest. Our funds are low."