I'm back! Early. And ready to do some serious writing. This is just a gentle, rather fluffy chapter to ease me back into matters, but… Ooh, I've missed this bloody fanfiction! Back to work we go!
Chapter 51: Hasty Departure
Harrian moved quietly through the musty shelves of the Adventurer's Mart, taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and wares. He'd already purchased himself a most delectable sword on their last trip there, and was hoping to find another as fine. He worked better with two blades, and had been called by Haer'Dalis 'a veritable whirling frenzy of pointed death', which he thought would make a nice reference.
Over to his left, two aisles down and by the counter, Anomen was irritably haggling over the price of the tents they needed to purchase. Four two-man tents would do them on their trip to… wherever it was. Yoshimo had not yet returned with news of a job for them, and Harrian knew it was a little assuming to go shopping for a journey when they didn't even know if there would be such a voyage, but he still knew that his party needed to escape from the suffocating city. Jaheira in particular, and right then… what she needed was what happened.
The thief was more than slightly worried about her and the situation she had inadvertently landed them all in. The Harpers were not to be taken lightly, and he knew that retribution would come soon. When it came, they would have to be ready. Harrian did not fear the battle, for he knew that he and his friends were more than capable – he feared the consequences for Jaheira. She had already taken up steel against her allies and friends for his sake, and he hoped very much that she would not have to go through that again. Not for him. She had already lost so much because of him.
A light tap on the shoulder jerked him out of his inspection of some rather fine throwing knives, and he whirled around to see Minsc standing there. "Boo needs to know – does the group have money to spare?" he asked hopefully.
Harrian grinned. Minsc had so far asked for nothing, knowing his armour and weaponry was perfectly fine to offer mindless destruction. Whatever the large ranger had found would have to be something of almighty importance or strength.
As Corias was letting himself be badgered into buying Minsc the Warblade he had set his sights on, Imoen was studying with intense interest the magical wares Ribald Barterman had to offer. Her eyes lingered on a particularly fine mage robe which would do much better for her than the ragged clothes she had been wearing since being let out of Spellhold. Granted, she didn't want to advertise her status as a wizard in mage-fearing Athkatla, but was a very nice robe…
"Hmm… t'would suit you most certainly, my wildflower," a silky voice by her ear drawled as Haer'Dalis stepped up coolly behind her and felt the delicate material of the robe. "For someone like you deserves a little bit better than the garments you are currently attired in."
Imoen was flattered. Maybe. But that didn't mean she'd let him get away with that. "What's wrong with what I'm currently wearing?" she asked haughtily, not turning around so that the tiefling couldn't see the smile tugging at her lips.
Haer'Dalis seemed to hesitate for a moment before carrying on as confidently as ever. "It is most practical and most certainly favours the curves of your body –" Imoen's astonished raised eyebrow went unnoticed by him at this, "-but you, my wildflower, deserve a dress so magnificent in its beauty that I think there is not a tailor in all the planes that would be up to the task."
Finally getting a straight face, Imoen turned to look at him. "So you're saying that it takes a dress that is beyond design to make me look beautiful?" she asked. She was perfectly deadpan, but the tiefling blade knew acting where he saw it, and truly revelled in the new banter Imoen provided.
"Of course not, my wildflower!" Haer'Dalis affected an offended air. "I am quite bruised that you would think me discourteous and unintelligent enough to suggest such an idea! Imoen, your beauty is one that surpasses the ability of this humble bard to put down in word or rhyme… though I would be quite honoured of you would let me attempt this privilege of a task."
Imoen considered this for a moment. She was no fool, and knew full well that this was, at best, light, innocent flirting without consequence. It was more likely just the honing of bantering skills between an actor and one who enjoyed such encounters. She still needed to come up with a fitting comeback. "If you believe you have wit and skill enough for such a task, then you must be arrogant indeed, good sir Haer'Dalis," she sniffed haughtily, before turning on her heel and walking off… though not before throwing him a teasing wink as she departed.
Haer'Dalis chuckled. This woman was most intriguing. She had a passion for life and living which, whilst contrary to his Doomguard philosophy, appealed to his fondness for drama. What appeased the Doomguard side of him was the almost unbridled darkness that ran just beneath the surface of her everyday life. It was so obvious to him, yet so subtle to all others that he believed nobody else – not even her – had seen the chaos and evil within her. It was so like that of their leader… yet different in many ways, because Imoen was such a bright and innocent individual that the corruption of her soul had a poetic ring to it which appealed almost painfully to him.
He turned around to investigate the amulet he had been coveting before the banter with Imoen, and his eyes met with Anomen's for an instant as the cleric gave a glance in his direction. The tiefling gave him an innocent smile then moved on.
Delryn frowned before looking back at Barterman and glaring at the four tents – all in their rolls – that lay on the counter. "A hundred gold pieces for each of them. That is a perfectly suitable offer; they are hardly the most developed tents on offer. They will keep us sheltered and that is about it."
Ribald nodded, arms folded across his chest. "That they will, Squire Delryn, and that makes their worth easily at two hundred each. Go anywhere else and buy a tent for a hundred and you'll wake up with the rain on your face."
Anomen sighed and scratched at his beard, idly wondering why he of all people had been expected to do the shopping. He was hardly the most experienced or gifted of people in this sort of situation, despite his father's profession.
Behind him the door swung open to let Yoshimo into the Mart. As Anomen watched surreptitiously, he stepped towards Jaheira, who was nearest, and exchanged a few words with her. Although Delryn was no expert in reading body language, her reaction was more than slightly obviously extreme.
The druid seemed to almost hop with anger and surprise before she whirled on her heel and strode towards the counter. Anomen felt himself cringe involuntarily as Jaheira stepped up beside him with 'business and hell' written all over her face.
The half-elf leant threatening across the counter and glared at Ribald. Barterman met her gaze evenly for about a half second before stepping back unhappily. "Jaheira, ma'am," he mumbled under his breath. "What can I do you f –"
Jaheira then proceeded to dictate, very calmly and quietly, a list of everything they would need for a journey. Ribald, his survival instincts kicking in, moved faster than he would have done even if Anomen had charged in screaming at the top of his voice and bringing all of Helm's fury down upon him. A pile of tents, cooking equipment, torches and even some most special and useful supplies formed on top of the counter within a few minutes.
The druid smiled sweetly at him. Ribald drew back tentatively. This was rather like having had a wild boar gore you almost to death and then offer you a bunch of flowers. "Thank you very much, Mr Barterman." She glanced at Minsc, who picked up the pile easily, leaning down to show off the new two-handed sword slung over his back.
The owner of the Mart nodded curtly and unhappily. There was a long silence during which he seemed to be considering something, then he eventually spoke. "All that'll be a thousand gold pieces, Jaheira, ma'am," he said at last, raising his chin defiantly and giving her a small smile as the party turned and headed for the door.
The druid came to a halt and gave him an imperious look. "Why, Mr Barterman… I thought you were just doing this out of the goodness of your heart. After all that happened last time I came to Athkatla, I must say that I thought you had learnt the meaning of charity. For we are a most impoverished group of adventurers."
Anomen's armour was gleaming, Harrian was carrying a most beautiful sword, Minsc had his new Warblade, Haer'Dalis sported his Melodic chain, Yoshimo's cloak sparkled most fantastically, and Imoen's bow was of a most gorgeous and magical wood. Jaheira, despite her own rugged cloak, muddy chain mail and beaten quarterstaff was not, to tell the truth, a particularly good liar.
But she did fix Ribald Barterman with a look that had him quivering with almost fear, and he said no more as they turned to leave the Mart with their most generous gift.
Once they were outside, Harrian turned to Yoshimo. He passed no comment on what had taken place in the store, for Jaheira throwing her weight around like that was not a particularly bizarre experience. "You found us a job?"
The bounty hunter nodded curtly, drawing his magical cloak further around him. "I spoke to a man by the city gates. He is from the town of Trademeet, to the east and the south." He gave Jaheira a quick glance before continuing. "Trademeet has, for the past few weeks, been under constant attack from the local wildlife. Rumour has it that a Shadow Druid has taken over the nearby grove and means to drive them out, but that is unconfirmed."
Jaheira turned to Harrian, her eyes blazing. "This is something we must get to the bottom of. Druids or not, the whole situation speaks of an unnatural threat to the balance and must be dealt with accordingly."
Corias raised his hands submissively. "I wasn't going to say no. Don't worry." He took a deep breath, and glanced at Minsc. "We have all we need, thanks to Mister Barterman's generosity. May I propose that we set off right now, so as not to waste time later?" he asked lightly, a small smile on his lips.