Chapter 60: Allegiance

The first group was making better headway through the thick undergrowth of the forest around Trademeet than had been expected, although Anomen was starting to wish he had forsaken his armour. Not only was he finding it excessively hard to travel through the woodlands with it on, it was getting very, very dirty. And he'd run out of armour polish.

Jaheira and Cernd, as druids, were practically bubbling out in the wild, especially as one had been stuck in a cell for several weeks and the other confined to a city, with the only exposure to nature being a highly cobbled, civilized road. They moved so smoothly and confidently that even Jaheira's usual calm and assured pace seemed jerky and erratic.

They were at the front, a little bit further ahead of the others. Harrian, behind them, kept on glancing up at their backs, frowning, then muttering under his breath and staring at the floor. He'd say it was to keep his footing. He presumably just didn't want to look at them.

As Anomen couldn't move as smoothly as the others, he was also lagging a little way behind. Imoen kept pace with him, slashing some of the thicker branches away with her short sword, and they talked easily about her past in Candlekeep, which included a few amusing anecdotes about Harrian's history. He kept the focus on her, skilfully evading questions about his own childhood, and trying not to show how embarrassed he was that she needed to help him as they travelled.

Because of how they hung back and the druids were way up front, Harrian lingered alone in the middle, lost in his own thoughts, throwing the occasional glare at Cernd. As an emissary of the Grand Druids – whoever the hell they were – he was, technically, Jaheira's superior, but Harrian had no idea how you got ranks and such in nature. Still, she seemed to be almost fawning over him in a most disconcerting manner which Corias hadn't noticed her ever using for anyone else who was technically her superior.

His gaze was still on the floor, mulling over this latest realisation, which is why he didn't notice that they'd stopped. He stumbled on a tree root and almost slammed into Cernd's back. The two men staggered for a moment, until Jaheira reached out and steadied them, not even looking at either of them. Her gaze was fixed at a distant point somewhere out in the trees to their left. "There's…"

Just as she started speaking, a tall, cadaverous man emerged from the trees where Jaheira had been staring and started towards them. Harrian had the Daystar in his hand in a second, but the grey-haired human ignored the show of hostility and stepped up to Jaheira, a not unpleasant smile on his face.

Her face paled, and an expression which was mixed between pleasant surprise and tense trepidation crossed it. "Der… Dermin? Is that you?" she gasped, delight winning over trepidation. "It has been some time!"

Dermin Courtierdale nodded sternly. "Indeed," he said, his blue eyes unblinking as he looked her over. "It has been a very long time." Although lanky, he towered over even Anomen, and would probably give Minsc a run for his money. He seemed possessive of the sort of calming, cool air that made him seem unflappable and reassured those with him… but scared the bejeesus out of anyone facing him.

The delight faded on Jaheira's face. "What is the matter, Dermin?" she asked at last, worry creeping into her voice. "You would not have let me walk on by, would you? I know we did not always see eye to eye, but I assure you the respect…"

Courtierdale's expression became even colder. "I may well have let you pass, for there is no joy in my visit today," he intoned gravely, shaking his head. "Jaheira, do you remember the lessons I taught you?"

Jaheira was looking increasingly uncomfortable, and she nodded gloomily. "Of… of course, you were the one that introduced me to the Harpers," she recollected, staring off into the distance. Although confusion reigned on her face, there already seemed to be a deep acceptance of what was to come.

Dermin's eyes narrowed, showing a hint of emotion. "Yes, yes, but the lessons?" he prompted, a trace of the faintest irritation creeping into his voice.

Jaheira's gaze snapped back to face him, and she straightened up. "What are you getting at, Dermin?" There was a little more control back in there, and when Anomen and Imoen caught up with the group they saw none of the agitation she had displayed moments ago – they only saw Jaheira.

Dermin also stood tall, imposing. The Daystar had fallen in Harrian's hand to face the ground, but he had never seen the thief's blade as a threat – or, at least, one he had acknowledged. "I am not here to rehash our friendship," he stated gravely. "Jaheira…" His voice trailed off, and it was his turn to look uncomfortable. Courtierdale stared at the floor for a moment before looking back up. "I have been sent to kill you, or otherwise seek your downfall, and I do not relish the duty." His voice was stern again, impassive, his eyes cold and hard. He was dedicated in this duty.

Jaheira smiled, an odd and scary humourless grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I see.  And what power has decided that I should be killed? I serve nature and protect the good of the land through my work as a Harper. Who have I offended?" Her words were mocking, but there was only a cool harshness in her tone.

Dermin failed completely to hide his amazement at her words. "Who…? Jaheira, you travel with a killer of Harpers. I do not wish to think you had any complicity in those acts, but here he is and he is still alive!" he exclaimed, the sub-zero exterior fading as he waved a hand at Harrian, who looked mildly offended but said nothing, not wanting to interfere.

Jaheira shrugged indifferently. "I have washed my hands of the incident in the Harper Hold. Galvarey was in the wrong and brought his fate upon himself," she declared, as if that was all to the matter and she would hear no other foolish nonsense.

Courtierdale met her gaze harshly. "We know nothing of this. There is only the fact that you… you and your friend were the cause of many deaths. This cannot be ignored," he stated firmly.

Jaheira's eyes flared, and the anger was back on her face as she gave Dermin the traditional glare. "He was in the wrong! Of that I am certain! Galvarey sought to imprison Harrian for his own gain and I took the side of right. I could do no other!" Though her voice was level, if insistent, Harrian had a nagging feeling she was trying to convince herself as well.

Dermin shook his head, and there was a trace of sadness about his expression, a sort of bitter regret. "It is not seen that way, Jaheira. Exact the necessary justice. That is the only route to redemption for you. The others… will not accept you otherwise." He seemed almost pleading, were it not for the implacable look in his eyes.

The druid shook her head firmly. The others seemed forgotten in the moment of confrontation. "This is wrong, Dermin. This is not the right solution," she said, taking a step back, grimacing.

Courtierdale shrugged, seeming truly sorry for placing her in this position. "I cannot see this ending otherwise, Jaheira. Your own have died. What do you intend to do about it?" Although his voice was gentle, it was clear that he would not be kind to her decision.

Harrian stepped up and placed a hand on her shoulder. He felt her jerk inadvertently, though didn't see the movement with his eyes. "I have been far too much of a burden already, Jaheira. Do what you think is right. You can get yourself out of this mess right now," he said, knowing it was the right thing to say. Though he could not claim complete nobility, for a large part of his mind already knew what she would do.

Jaheira stared at him for a long moment, and he thought he would lose himself in her dark-eyed gaze. He wanted to banish all of her fears, just take her into his arms, damn Courtierdale and all the others to the hells, and have this world, this moment for them both, free from everything.

Then she looked away and he snapped back into reality. Dermin raised an eyebrow at her, awaiting her decision. As she considered, Courtierdale gave Harrian a brief sideways look, tinged with a bit of disgust, but there was a trace of respect in the nod he gave him.

"Dermin, I…" Jaheira's voice trailed off. It was quavering so much Harrian feared it would break, and that thought scared him. Then she shook her head firmly. "Dermin, I cannot do as you ask. You are in the wrong, as was Galvarey. I was right to choose Harrian's side, and it is your loss if you cannot see this," she said, in a hurried rush but with absolute certainty.

Courtierdale grimaced, his brow furrowing. "Consider carefully what you are saying, child. You have a duty to justice." In any other situation, Harrian and Imoen would have been highly amused at Jaheira being called 'child'.

"This is not justice!" Jaheira snapped, shaking her head firmly, a glare in her eye. "This is revenge for a lie, a falsehood that none seem bothered to find the truth behind. If this is Harper justice then I…" Her voice trailed off, and she stared at Dermin in a long silence.

The other Harper took a deep breath, and swallowed. "What are you saying, Jaheira?" he asked at length, the tension all around them reaching an unbearable level. Anomen shifted uncomfortably and his armour squeaked. They all turned to glare at him, only getting a sheepish shrug in return.

Jaheira spoke at long last, staring at the tree to her left. Her voice was hoarse, distant, as if coming from another plane of existence. "If this is the justice you represent then I… I renounce you. I renounce… I renounce my life as a Harper." The glint in her eyes returned, and she looked at Courtierdale defiantly.

Dermin's confident exterior was gone in the face of her actions. "Jaheira, you cannot mean… Think this through!" he almost begged, shaking his head, absolute shock registering on his features.

"It would seem I am the only one that has thought any of this through!" Jaheira snapped, now livid in the declaration of her decision. "You do not, Galvarey did not, and now the Harpers out for blood do not! I mourn many fellows of the Harp, but they died fighting for balance and truth. Galvarey did not, and this matter cheapens their loss." Her expression soured deeply. "I will not be party to it."

Dermin stared at her for a long moment, the mask slipping back over his face within seconds. "So be it then. I will take your words to those that will listen. Do not expect your life to be peaceful with this choice," he warned, shaking his head and turning to go. Even as he walked off, his own confidence in his surroundings surpassed even Cernd, and he had disappeared in the trees before they even knew he'd left.

Jaheira stared after him for a long moment, her brow furrowed. "It shall not be peaceful, but it is clearer than the course you are on. Goodbye Dermin," she whispered, before turning away and taking a deep breath.

Harrian stepped back up beside her. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice low. "I know I'm making all of this bad for you, wrong for you… is there anything I can do? Are you sure about doing this?"

Jaheira raised a hand to stop his worrying. "I am fine." She straightened up, and looked around. All of the others were staring at her, Cernd showing absolute confusion and mild trepidation. "We should go. The grove needs seeing to."

Then she set off at her previous pace, Cernd falling into step beside her. Harrian stared at them for a long moment, glanced at Imoen and Anomen – who shrugged simultaneously – then set off the way he had been before, head low. Delryn lurched into a branch, Imoen hacked it off the tree, and they were back on their way. The only difference was the weight of their hearts.