Chapter 118: On the March
The sun was high in the sky by the time they'd reached the main road leading back to Athkatla, and the sight of familiar lands – for they had travelled this road on the trip to Trademeet and the Windspear Hills – brought up a slight cheer from the party. There were still many worries on their minds, some of more concerning than others, some party members more worried than others, but, for the moment, they were in the sunlight, travelling in a beautiful Amnish early summer, and they could enjoy the trip and their surroundings.
Haer'Dalis was cavorting a little, regaling Imoen and Minsc with poems, limericks and jokes as if there were no cares in the world – and indeed, for him, there didn't seem to be. His audience laughed on occasion, though Minsc did have to sometimes pause to get Boo to explain the more complicated puns, and Imoen seemed a little distracted at times. Edwin wandered to the side, mumbling to himself a bit, probably running through arcane experiments in his head. Harrian and Jaheira were in the lead, chatting lightly, laughing occasionally, probably not even themselves realising how much the lack of tension between them seemed to lighten the mood for everyone.
Well, almost everyone. Anomen, who'd been taking up the rear but was starting to realise that vigilance wasn't too necessary here and now, hurried forwards a few paces to fall into step with Aerie, who had been silent for most of the trip, not even joining in with Haer'Dalis's slightly captive audience.
"My lady Aerie," he started slowly, a little uncomfortably. "You seem fairly lost in thought. Is there much on this beautiful day which can concern you overly? We are free from that dark place, and it is a time for laughter." It had been a long time, Anomen realised quietly, that he'd seen anyone in the party laugh, least of all Harrian or Jaheira.
"Oh! Anomen!" Aerie started a little at his sudden appearance, jerked out of whatever reverie she'd been in, but a slightly shy smile crossed her face and she glanced sideways at him. "I… I suppose you're right. It is nice to be out in the sun. It is just… oh, nothing." She shook her head, still a little shy.
The cleric raised an eyebrow at her, grinning a little. "Come now, Aerie. We are all friends in this party. As you've seen, we do our best to help one another. What ails you? I shall do my utmost to help."
"I'm sure you would, Anomen, but I do not think you can," Aerie replied, a little more forcefully as her eyes flickered to the front of the party. Her worries weren't something Anomen could change or assuage, and it would be completely out of place to bring them up anyway.
She wasn't going to deny – well, to herself, anyway – that she had been attracted to Harrian. He had been kind to her, had listened to her problems, and had, above all, been able to understand. Once the truth about him and Jaheira had reached her ears, she'd realised that it would all be for nothing, but seeing them together did set off a slight, mild pang. Still, with hindsight, looking back on her feelings, it wouldn't be too hard to place them as nothing more than those of someone lost and confused getting attached to the only person who had even given her a second glance.
Well, not the only person, Aerie thought wryly, glancing over at Haer'Dalis, but decided not to speak that thought. "What do you think of this party, Anomen?" she asked the cleric at last, thoughtfully.
"What do I think?" Anomen asked, a little taken aback. He hadn't really thought about that for a while. The party simply… was. "I… an odd bunch, to tell the truth, my lady. I have travelled with most of them for several months now, and must confess that I have never encountered such a mismatched group of adventurers in my life."
Aerie smiled again despite herself, nodding. "I have noticed that there are certain… oddities," she confessed.
"A Bhaalspawn leader, a widowed druid, an addled Rashemani ranger, a pink-haired mage, a tiefling bard, a Thayvian Red Wizard, a fallen knight, and a wingless Avariel," Anomen commented, perhaps a little too bluntly in regards to the 'wingless Avariel' but not really noticing it. "Though I suppose I am not a fallen knight, strictly speaking," he conceded.
"I like… most of you," Aerie admitted. "Minsc is nice… he's kept me company on the long marches, and I do feel a little sorry for him, as he clearly has his troubles…but he seems happy about them." She shrugged. "And he's very quick to leap to my defence whenever Edwin goes on the offensive."
"Ah, yes… the Thayvian," Anomen commented, his expression darkening a little. "I do not anticipate his remaining in our company for very long. He did his best to trick us in the Underdark, I am sure of it. He joined us for a purpose, and has served that purpose. When we reach Athkatla, Harrian would do well to hand him whatever riches he wants and then send the Red Wizard on his way. We no longer need him."
"I hope Harrian sees that," Aerie replied quietly.
"Jaheira sees that, so it will be done," he said, smirking wryly. They both laughed briefly, and in the distraction, Anomen let his gaze wander over the party, instantly drawn to where Haer'Dalis was still telling jokes. Imoen had been watching him, and their eyes met for a split second before she looked away quickly, focusing intently on the bard's antics. Anomen held the gaze for longer, knowing she would know that he was still looking at her and not particularly caring.
"And then there's Haer'Dalis," Aerie was musing, not entirely aware she didn't have his full attention. "Who has been trying very hard to ensure that I know that he's making me feel welcome. Tell me, does he quote poetry at every girl he meets?"
"Only the ones he's courting," Anomen murmured, then his head snapped round to look at her incredulously as her words sank in. An odd feeling, a mixture of fury and jubilation settled in his stomach, and he glowered at the bard. Tiefling… tiefling, I will kill you, I swear, if you have been courting Imoen, earning her trust, only to…
"Oh." Aerie didn't seem to know what to make of this. "Well, that's… that's nice. I mean, it is nice poetry, and he does seem to be a nice man…" She stopped, either not knowing what to say next, or searching for a valid word other than 'nice'.
An inkling of an idea entered Anomen's head, and firmly attached itself there before he could dismiss it. "He can be," the cleric said brightly, then mentally kicked himself. No, this girl didn't deserve someone like Haer'Dalis… but then, she was clearly smart, was clearly quite capable of handling herself…
"And then there's you," Aerie continued, and the train of conversation they'd been having caused quite a big lack of understanding in Anomen's face as he looked completely shocked. Not noticing this, she glanced over at where Haer'Dalis, Minsc, and Imoen were still standing. "Your… fondness for her is quite clear. I don't know why you hold back."
Anomen shifted uncomfortably as comprehension set in. "I… ah… it is complicated, my lady," he stammered, shaking his head, but was saved from saying anything more by a shout up ahead from Harrian.
"Anomen! Come here a moment, would you? There are a few things I want to run by you," the swashbuckler called out, twisting around and walking backwards for a few strides as he gestured to the cleric.
Anomen nodded slowly, then smiled slightly at Aerie. "Duty calls, my lady. I would suggest you do your best to join in with the revelry over there, see if he has any more poetry for you," the Helmite said wryly before practically hopping off towards the front.
Anomen Delryn, you are truly acting like a complete and utter cad, the thought entered his mind. But not to worry too much… everyone in this mad theatre of things is acting a cad. Besides, as I'm sure Haer'Dalis once said, 'All's fair in love and war', he remembered.
Harrian grinned at him as he fell into step with him and Jaheira. "Just the man," the Bhaalspawn said cheerily, clapping him on the back. "We were just going over our plans for what to do once we reach Athkatla, and it really did strike us that this party alone cannot really challenge Bodhi, especially if our numbers change very soon." There was a slight tone to his voice which suggested that he intended to bring about such a change.
"We do not have very many allies in Athkatla at all. We managed to alienate anyone who could have possibly helped us," Jaheira said dryly, giving Harrian a sideways glance which clearly blamed him for some of them.
Harrian smiled sheepishly. "We may have to mend some bridges. I'm going to test the water with the Shadow Thieves," he confessed, the idea making him grimace distinctly. "Some of the churches might help – I'd like you to look into that – but there's one other powerful group in Athkatla which would be predisposed to get rid of a group of vampires."
There was a long silence as realisation struck Anomen, and he grimaced slightly, but nodded slowly. "The Order," the cleric murmured. "They may not be inclined to trust us, but I doubt they will have much love for a vampiric cult."
"No, but I can't assume that they'll leap to our assistance, or won't even stab us in the back if we're down there," Harrian continued, nodding. "Leave the serious work for when we get back, as we don't know what's changed in our absence, but we don't have time for the whole party to run around currying favour with two big groups. If Jaheira, Haer'Dalis, Aerie and I deal with the Shadow Thieves whilst you, Imoen and Minsc handle the Order – talk to Keldorn, as well – would you have a problem with it? You'd be effectively in charge."
Anomen shook his head. "Whatever is needed. I do not think… that I can ignore the Order forever. For all they have done…" His voice trailed off, and he shrugged. "It can be done, have no fear," the cleric assured the party leader. It was only until a few minutes later that Anomen realised Harrian hadn't been counting Edwin in the group divide.