Chapter 58: Misconception

Cernd, emissary of the Grand Druids of Tethyr, was starting to become exceedingly tired of this cell. It was dark, it was wet, it was cold, and it was entirely unnatural. Though a thin ray of sunlight managed to creep through the tiny barred window at the top of the wall, near the ceiling, the only view that was offered was of a stone wall. Though he had conversed briefly with a bluebird a few days ago, he was sorely regretting having been so very unsubtle in his approach of Trademeet.

He had believed that his arrival would offer them hope and that they would aid him in his investigation of the local grove. As it was, he knew he was lucky to be alive, for had Coprith not intervened he would surely have been hanged by the mob.

It pained him to be forced to just sit here and wait for the situation with the Shadow Druids to simply blow over. Then he might be lucky enough to be freed, but he would have failed in his duty. He had been chosen by the Grand Druids for a reason, and he did not want to disappoint them.

Once again, the druid stood and shook the window bars hopefully, but they were as sturdy as they had been the day he'd been imprisoned, over a week ago. He would have to free himself. Maybe he could plead with Coprith… but no. The High Merchant had to think of his people first. So if he escaped of his own accord… charged the guard who brought him food, then shifted into wolf form to escape. Few people would stop what would look like a large dog looking like it meant business.

It was a plan. All he had to do was to wait the two or so hours until he would be served lunch.

Oddly enough, the sound of footsteps on the stone stairs outside came much sooner than expected. Cernd paused, crouching down and setting his ear to the ground to listen better. This was not normal. Several people… four or five, maybe.

Despite himself, a wave of fear ran through him. Maybe the mob had convinced Coprith to have him hanged. Or maybe they were convinced he held the secret to the attacks, and would interrogate him until he gave them answers. As he had no answers, torture under questioning would be very long…

There was the usual sound of the rusty key turning in the even rustier lock, then the heavy metal door swung open with a loud creak. Cernd readied himself. He had a duty to perform, and it seemed he would have to hurt these people to save them and the balance.

A cloaked figure was the first one in, his body stance suggesting tentativeness, but the druid didn't hesitate. He threw himself forward at the man, slamming him into the wall, before pushing off and darting out the door, slamming it shut behind him to trap the figure inside.

His staff, his beloved staff, still stood against the opposite wall next to the stairs, and he grabbed it before the four others could react. Without thinking, he whirled it around, catching an armoured woman on the chin and knocking her off her feet.

Arcane words reached his ears, and he knew they had a mage. He didn't have time to offer his own protection, and his connection with nature was currently very weak. The druid turned swiftly, staff upraised to bring down on the young girl chanting under her breath. He knew the blow was quite capable of breaking her skull, but so be it. If he had to sacrifice one life to fulfil his duty, which would save hundreds of lives, it was acceptable.

But the staff never reached its target, for the final member of the group grabbed it and yanked out of his hands, casting it aside within seconds. This armoured man raised a mace and swung it, catching Cernd in the stomach.

He knew the blow was not as hard as it could have been, for he was left without any broken ribs, but it knocked the wind out of him. He realised these people didn't want to hurt him as he felt the handle of the mace whack him over the head and knock him to the floor.

Anomen turned to Imoen, who was looking at him quizzically. "Thanks," she said at length, a small frown on her face. "I would have immobilised him before he'd struck, but I appreciate the move."

The cleric shrugged briefly as Jaheira clambered to her feet beside him, rubbing her chin ruefully. "Not only did I not know that," Delryn replied at length, "but a powerful druid like him might be resistant to your magics. Much safer to rely on the physical when the arcane is uncertain."

"Agreed," Jaheira interjected, leaning over Cernd. He wasn't unconscious, merely stunned, but they'd let him gather himself for a few minutes. "The ease with which he managed to almost beat us speaks to his power and skill."

There was an insistent hammering from the door, and an irate voice filtered through the stone walls. "I know that discussing the guy's skills is fascinating, but could you all stop jabbering on and get me the hell out of here?"

Imoen laughed at Harrian's distress before stepping over to let him out of the cell as Jaheira finally helped Cernd to sit upright. "Maybe that should teach you to not underestimate a desperate man."

Corias straightened his clothes haughtily as he walked out and glared at her. "We're here to help him," the swashbuckler pointed out. "I didn't think that he'd attack someone here to get him out of this hell-hole."

Cernd looked up at him, his expression a little dazed. "My apologies," the druid murmured at last, blinking. "I feared that the mob had beaten Lord Logan and that I would be hanged. I have a duty to fulfil and I cannot fail." His expression grew concerned as he looked at Harrian and Jaheira. "I hope I did not hurt you too much."

The thief shook his head, rubbing his forehead ruefully. "No more than I'm sure Anomen here hurt you," he pointed out, shrugging briefly. "You're alright, aren't you? I'm reckoning he held back, otherwise your skull would be a smear on the floor, but…"

Cernd shook his head. "I am unhurt," he assured him, standing up and retrieving his quarterstaff. "Now, may I ask who you are, why you are here, and how you intend to help me?" he continued lightly.

They ran through introductions briefly, the group explaining why they were there and Cernd in turn describing the duty he had been charged with and his worries that Shadow Druids were involved in the crisis.

Harrian nodded thoughtfully once they were through. He didn't like the brief, 'druidic' looks Jaheira was throwing Cernd. "Lord Logan has asked if we could escort you to the grove and help you deal with whatever passes there. But we must be careful. The people of Trademeet shall not be happy to see us lead you out of the town."

The druid shrugged. "You appear to be suitably competent adventurers," he commented lightly, though how he decided they were competent after he'd come close to single-handedly beating them was anyone's guess. "I do not think the people here are violent, either. They will pressure Lord Logan, not take the law into their own hands."

"The law does not currently affect us, anyway," Harrian pointed out, as Jaheira hunted through her pack for a spare cloak to hand the bedraggled druid. Corias clenched his jaw but said nothing.

"This depends on what law you speak of," Cernd pointed out, wrapping the cloth around himself and nodding gratefully to the other druid. "The law of nature is ruling this situation, and the mother's laws are not ones we can break." He glanced around shiftily. "However, we are wasting time."

"Agreed," Anomen interjected. "We should leave the town, and quietly, for I think that the people of Trademeet will not be particularly pleased to see us leaving with a man they want to see tied to a stake."

"He is right," the human druid responded, nodding. "We should creep as quietly as the vine instead of blustering like the wind. That was how I managed to get myself captured in the first place."

Harrian turned to Cernd, frowning a little. "Is there not anyway we can disguise you so that the townspeople will not know that their hated druid is escaping from the mob's wrath?" he asked.

Cernd and Jaheira exchanged looks, and laughed simultaneously. "There is indeed," the former assured Corias, nodding firmly. "I believe this shall be suitable. As the trees shed their leaves and change their appearances, I shall also change my skin."

As he spoke, his face seemed to shift, becoming longer and more pointed. He also seemed to be decreasing in stature, his limbs changing their shape, and hair creeping even longer all over his body. Harrian stared in horror until he realised that the man was lycanthropic, and had provided them with a perfect cover.

He grinned as the wolf shook itself vigorously, then shifted onto its haunches. "Well done, Cernd. This should make our job easier."