Chapter 107: So Deadly, My Dear

They had left the city very shortly after awakening, meeting up with Solaufein and the Handmaiden at the gates and being bid to embark on something of a rescue mission southwards, near the illithid city. All they had been told of who they were rescuing was 'someone important, connected to someone even more important' by Solaufein, who had spat the words and looked as if there was a name here which was relevant but which he didn't wish to see uttered, or at least didn't wish to taint his tongue. The expression of the drow warrior had left them all on edge, nervous in anticipation of just what it was they were supposed to intercept, but he had gone on ahead with the intention of meeting them at the designated spot.

And so, the party was faced with the challenge of attempting to navigate the Underdark once more – or, at least, Harrian was faced with that challenge, as everyone else had to cope with the problem of maintaining enough faith to follow him. But their leader seemed a little more sound of mind that day, and although he had grumbled much as they'd departed the city, once out of hearing range of Solaufein and the Handmaiden, his mood seemed a little brighter. For some reason this made Jaheira watch him like a hawk, as if this was an unusual state of affairs for the swashbuckler and made it necessary for him to have an eye kept on him.

A constant southerly route wasn't particularly hard for even the navigationally challenged Harrian, so it was not too long before they approached a massive entrance to some impressive-looking caverns, which seemed to run deep and were so dark not even Jaheira could see in them… but this was not much of a problem, as Solaufein was already waiting there, pacing a little, until he spotted them and came to a halt.

"Good, you are here. I was beginning to wonder how long I would have to remain waiting amongst these forsaken rocks before you showed up," the drow warrior sighed, straightening up and adjusting his sword belt. "Your timing could not be better. I sense that the illithids will be approaching, be in range, soon, and so I shall attempt to pull them from the astral plane so we may commence our rescue." He paused as Harrian looked a little inquisitive and hesitant for a moment, fixing the party leader with a piercing look. "You have a question, Veldrin? Make it quick; we have little time to waste."

Harrian nodded curtly. "Might I know who it is, exactly, we are here to rescue? Just so that we do not target them by mistake, of course," he replied quietly returning the hard look from the drow warrior that he had received.

"Her name is Phaere of House Despana, eldest of the Matron Mother Ardulace. Be sure that you do not harm her, even by accident," Solaufein seemed to spit the name, making little effort to hide his distaste, then shook his head dolefully. "Especially by accident, perhaps," he sighed. "Do not expect to be rewarded by Phaere if we are successful – she will think that the actions of we lesser drow will be our duty, and should be a reward in themselves. We have no choice in the matter."

The drow warrior paused for a long moment, raising a hand to forestall any further comments. "But enough talk. I sense the illithids' approach. Wait and I shall bring them out of the astral plane when they come close," he murmured.

"Get ready!" Harrian barked to the party, drawing the Daystar – which, under Adalon's illusion, was disguised as a normal drow blade. The group backed off a little, forming a semicircle before the entrance to the cavern, all drawing their weapons and preparing for battle. They had faced a wide variety of foes in their time, but illithids were not an enemy they had yet experienced. There was some vague mumbling coming from the back as the spellcasters prepared protection spells, and a slight fizzing of the air as energy, both arcane and divine, crackled around them.

A dozen or so monsters then appeared before them, and although Harrian was moving, sword upraised, before he was even thinking clearly, a speedy glance gave all the evaluating he needed. A single drow woman, bound and looking fairly outraged. Three strange, mesmerising, confusing creatures, extremely tall and looking like Mind Flayers from books – it was no stretch of the imagination to consider these to be illithids. And finally, eight large, hulking beasts in shells – Umber Hulks.

The yell of Minsc and a battlecry of Anomen – cut short as the cleric realised that his usual bellowing in the field of battle could be a bad idea with Solaufein and Phaere possibly listening – spurred Harrian into action as he launched himself forward, swinging his sword in a vicious blow at the nearest umber hulk. The group of monsters was evidently disoriented, having plainly not anticipated being pulled so suddenly from the astral plane as they had been by Solaufein, and so a single illithid fell to the spells of Edwin and Aerie, and a well-aimed arrow from Imoen, within seconds, as did the first umber hulk to the weapons of Harrian and Anomen.

Focusing on a single beast at a time, Harrian's mind blanked out a little other distractions, keeping open to threats and remaining vaguely aware of what was going on with the others, but not with enough freedom of movement or attention to focus fully on anything other than the fight at hand.

A clean swipe at shoulder-level cut through the second umber hulk neatly, bringing it down with a loud, defiant roar, but even as Harrian took the Daystar in a two-handed grip to move on to the next enemy, he felt the wind knocked out of him as he was hit in the stomach with something incredibly hard, if blunt, and swung with incredible force.

Feeling one of his ribs break as he fell to the floor heavily, Harrian looked up with surprise to see Anomen standing over him, raising his hand, ready to bring it down on the swashbuckler's skull within moments – but for some reason, the flail was giving him a little difficulty, and he was not handling it with his usual skill.

"Anomen?"

Harrian had just enough time to roll to one side as the flail sank into the ground where his head had been, a move the cleric should have anticipated and not allowed if he had been in his proper frame of mind… but it was clear that he wasn't. The Bhaalspawn had had only a single moment to look and think, but from the glint in the cleric's eyes, it was evident that Anomen was not entirely there – if at all.

He turned the evasion into a roll to his feet, twirling around and punching Anomen in the face with a fist already curled around the sword hilt. He had to be suffering the effects of a Domination spell, which made him more dangerous than the umber hulks – ready to kill them when their returning blows would not be lethal. He needed to be taken out in a painless way.

Harrian knew he'd have little chance of knocking the larger cleric out when he had his helmet on, even as he staggered under the thief's blow, which had cause the cracking sound of a broken nose. Harrian hesitated for only a split second before leaping forwards, glad of how his drow body made him almost Anomen's equal in build as he tackled the cleric, wrestling him to the ground on sheer surprise, sword abandoned beside him as he clutched his friend's head, trying to yank the helmet off.

Anomen was flailing in a way which suggested he wasn't even that used to using his arms, and so it was little trouble for Harrian to pull the helmet off his head, even though he won a split lip for his troubles – and from there, the helmet could be used as a club, a blackjack, to beat Anomen into submission. Harrian was sure that he had not done any damage a healing spell from Jaheira could not undo, and indeed, was a little more worried that the cleric would get up again once he left him.

Harrian stood, looking up in time to see Minsc and Jaheira cleave through the last umber hulk as the spellcasters wound down a little, everyone looking bone weary. Solaufein was wiping blood from his blade, Imoen returning an arrow to her quiver, Haer'Dalis sheathing his two short swords, and beside him…

Harrian nearly jumped as Phaere, daughter of the Matron Mother, stepped up beside him silkily. "You should have killed him rather than attempted to spare him – he was an unnecessary risk."

The swashbuckler paused as he turned to face her, taking a moment to evaluate her discreetly – though it didn't seem to be too discreet, as he could see her eyes light up in a slightly knowing and not too kind smile, and he wondered briefly if the drow could blush – before answering. "He is a strong warrior, and there are not many who can rival him. It is little extra effort to avoid killing him." Each word hurt as his broken rib protested, but he managed to affect a slightly debonair grin at Phaere.

Solaufein stepped up, his expression a glower until he held the drow woman's attention, and then it became emotionless. "Greetings Phaere, daughter of Ardulace. I trust you are not hurt?" he asked, with as little concern as was possible.

"Solaufein?" Phaere turned, a slower and slightly more gleeful – in a malicious way – smile crossing her face. "The matron mother bade you to rescue me? How that must gall you, placing your life in danger to save mine… there is a wonderful irony here."

"I did my duty, as I was commanded," the drow male growled, just short of sounding insubordinate.

"Yes, you did, as any male should," Phaere replied dismissively. "You performed adequately, I suppose, even if it was with… assistance. Who is this male who fights at your side?" she asked, turning back to Harrian and giving him an inquisitive look.

Solaufein glowered again. "This is –"

"I am sure he can speak for himself," Phaere insisted, cutting Solaufein off curtly with another wave of the hand, still looking at Harrian. "Is this correct?" she asked at last under his sudden silence. "You have a tongue, yes? What is your name?"

Harrian gave a brief bow which was just short of being obsequious. "I am Veldrin, of Ched Nasad," he declared quietly, respectfully to her.

Phaere looked surprised. "Indeed? A foreigner? How very odd. We shall have to speak more, you and I, once we are back in Ust Natha," she said, and her words instilled a slight sense of – excited – foreboding in Harrian before she turned back to Solaufein. "I shall head back to the city on my own and inform the Matron Mother of your… successful service, male. You have proven useful. You should be grateful."

Solaufein looked shocked and angry at once. "You are going to return on your own? I will not allow that! What if you encounter danger once again? I shall not be responsible for –"

Again, Phaere interrupted him quickly. "I appreciate your touching 'concern', but I can handle myself, Solaufein," she replied, a little snidely. "And it is my command, so you have no choice. Farewell," the drow female declared, setting off into the darkness as a speedy pace, leaving a stunned group of warriors behind her.

Solaufein kicked a rock angrily, the bitterness and fury barely hidden in his words as he hissed. "Blasted, arrogant wench! May the Spider Queen bite at her black heart!" he spat venomously, glaring after Phaere. "I shall follow her, to ensure her over-confidence does not endanger us all. Return to the city on your own, Veldrin. I shall meet you when I hear of your return… feel no need to hurry," the drow warrior muttered angrily, striding off at a similar pace to Phaere, in the same direction as the drow they had just rescued.

Harrian paused, waiting until both dark elves had disappeared into the gloom, then turned to the party. A groggy and shame-faced Anomen was getting to his feet, with Imoen's help; Edwin was looking as if he was excessively interested in venturing into the caves ahead; Jaheira was casting a healing spell on a slightly injured Minsc; and Haer'Dalis was already by Aerie's side, ready to offer a joke – an act which made Harrian roll his eyes, irked.

"I suggest we move on a little, find some shelter, then camp for the rest of the day. Staying out of the city would be… wise, I believe," the party leader declared quietly, feeling the fatigue seep into him, along with the dull ache of his injured rib. A bit of time away from the drow might do the company good, allow them to behave a little more normally… well, he hoped this would be good, anyway.