Author's note: This chapter is a little shorter to counter for the lengthy previous one (she says). Thing is, I'm going away for a while, and won't be back until August 21st, so this should be my last update for a while, unless I get something out tomorrow. Which is unlikely. The good news is that I'll be plotting throughout my absence, and a bit of a break from writing often gives me inspiration. So enjoy this last chapter of Tide of Destiny for a while, people…
Chapter 50: …Are Never Truly Alone
With a loud yell, Minsc threw himself forward, the Sword of Chaos flashing dangerously in the candlelight, and sparks flew from it as it clashed with Galvarey's sword, which was clearly also of a magical nature.
It was seven against five, but the Harpers were no fools. As Harrian locked blades with a second fighter, pulling his dagger out of his boot so as to have a second weapon to force his opponent to contend with, he was vaguely aware of magic missiles flying over his head, and over towards someone far by his left.
Yoshimo, Imoen, and Haer'Dalis were hanging back, raining down a mixture of magic and arrows upon the enemies, the dangerous tiefling quick with Chaos and Entropy to deal with any Harpers foolish enough to challenge the back lines.
Anomen was engaging the Harper cleric, quite effective at using the other priest's flail against him, his mace swinging wildly and dangerously, ready to break steel or body with every blow.
Jaheira, meanwhile, was contending with a little halfling thief who took delight in his small size and the erratic shadows of the room to disappear and then emerge dangerously when she was least expecting it. But he worked in a pattern, and fought with a style that was common for a Harper, so the advantage he would usually have was gone in the face of the experience druid.
Again, the Harpers were competent but heavily outnumbered, and the fight was fast, if furious. Harrian got his dagger stuck in his opponent's side, then ran the other man through with his longsword quickly; Minsc dispatched Galvarey with a quick swing that almost split the man in half; Anomen brought his mace down on the other priest's head with such a force that neither helmet nor magical protection could save him; Jaheira caught the small thief in combat long enough for Yoshimo to get him with a poisoned arrow; and the combined forces of Imoen and Haer'Dalis brought the Harper mage's defences down, dispatching him easily thereon.
The fight had been short and furious, but it was over, and they were all in mostly good condition. Harrian wiped his brow wearily, and fished around for the scrap of cloth he used to clean his sword and dagger. "Well," he mused, frowning. "That was…" His voice trailed off. There was nothing to say.
Yoshimo fished the bodies of valuables whilst Jaheira and Anomen tended to some of Minsc's wounds. They did not give the Harper Hold a backwards glance as they headed out the door and into the bright sunlight of the Docks District.
Wordlessly, they all started for the Five Flagons, and were almost halfway there before Imoen tentatively broke the silence. "What now?" she asked lightly, leaning on her quarterstaff a little too heavily with fatigue.
Harrian frowned, and gave Jaheira a quiet look. The druid's eyes were downcast, and she didn't meet his gaze as they walked. "I think we need to get out of this city," he mused, his brow still furrowed, then he glanced over at Yoshimo. "See… see if there are any jobs people want doing that can get us out of Athkatla. Preferably nothing too hefty, and it doesn't have to pay very much."
The bounty nodded silently, and they spoke no more on the way home.
* *
Harrian poked his head tentatively around the door to Jaheira's room. "Irritating," he commented by way of greeting. "Imoen seems to have just coaxed Anomen out of his depression and encouraged him to join the world of the living, and you slip in to take his place worrying." He slipped fully inside her room. "How are you feeling?"
The druid was seated at a chair by the open window. It was late evening by now, and a cool dusk breeze made the slightly stuffy room more bearable. She looked at him inquisitively. "I have just taken part in a… slaughter of my own kind. I shall let you divine my emotions on the matter yourself."
Harrian grimaced, stepping forwards and perching on the table in her room. "I… I don't know what to say," he confessed quietly, looking at her cautiously. "Do… do you regret your actions?"
"No!" she exclaimed, leaping to her feet and giving him an incredulous look. "What they, what Galvarey was doing was little more than an injustice in a search for power. I couldn't…" Her voice trailed off, and she looked away. "I couldn't let them do that to you. It is… wrong…"
His expression softened, and he walked up to her. "It was wrong. Make sure you don't forget that. Your decision was the right one. I am sorry that your association with me places you in conflict with your own kind, but…"
Jaheira shook her head. "No, you are right. I could not have lived with myself if I had let them do what they meant to. You are no monster – you may be a Bhaalspawn, but your blood holds no sway over your actions."
He smiled nervously. "I do my best to make sure that's true," he agreed, nodding.
There was a long silence, and Harrian considered for a moment leaving Jaheira to her own thoughts here, until she spoke again. "What do you think of Amn so far? It is certainly not without its charms – or its hardships – lately."
Harrian shrugged. "It seems pleasant enough. A little suffocating right now – there doesn't seem to be a particularly healthy balance between the two, as it is. That's why I'm eager to get out of Athkatla." And because you look as if another day of city life will kill you.
Jaheira nodded slowly. "I see your point. It has always been so, but there are many things of merit here." She frowned, then tilted her head a little. "Perhaps not in the cities, but the forests are a great treasure."
Corias grinned at her. "Much as I'm a city man, even I can only take urbanisation in moderation. I would agree with you, though a more relaxed tour of the wilderness through would help my outlook right now."
Jaheira gave him one of her rare, broad smiles, and it was only later that he realised she had flashed him one of her 'Khalid-smiles' – the smile he had been so enraged at her giving Duchinov. He later realised the hypocrisy of his anger as he felt his own, slightly stupid smile rise to his face. "Then I will show you when we have the time," the druid murmured. "I will take you through the deepest lands, and you will see the beauty that I know is there."
There was a long silence as the two of them stared at each other, then Jaheira glanced away. "That is, if you have not tired of my company yet," she muttered hurriedly, staring at the table and blushing a little.
Harrian grinned tentatively. "Tire? I grow quite fond of your company. I would miss it were it gone," he assured her lightly.
The druid stared at him for a moment, uncharacteristically dumbstruck. "W… well. I would… I would miss your company too, Harrian," she stammered, the blush increasing, even more uncharacteristically.
There was yet another silence, as they both rapidly considered what to say next. "Enough of this idle musing," Jaheira said hurriedly, then glanced around. "Are they serving dinner? Food may… help."
Harrian shrugged. "Thunderburp's serving The Special today," he warned her. "Not even Minsc would eat it. I don't think you can class that as 'food'." His expression was a little mournful at this.
Jaheira rolled her eyes. "Then there are other places to eat. Even Delosar's would be an improvement." She grabbed him by the arm, and propelled him towards the door. "Come. It would be nice to have dinner without the presence and incessant prattling of the others…"