Chapter 127: Separate Paths

"Are you sure you were acting?" Keldorn asked for the fiftieth time as Anomen's group entered the Delryn estate, returning from the day's activities. "Your behaviour was convincing. Do not be blinded by their lies, Anomen… Whilst I am sure that they truly believe what they are saying is true, there is much of the story you do not understand."

"I think I understand well enough, Keldorn," Anomen retorted, though it was unclear whether his sharpness was out of conflicting views or a mere defensiveness. "I have seen the hypocrisy of the Order that they speak of. You have seen it too – are you entirely sure that these men have committed true wrongs?"

"Think of it, Anomen," Keldorn replied, sighing. "Reynald, Anarg, all of them… they have been forsaken by their Gods. You still have Helm's favour. Surely that explains a difference in circumstances between you?" He paused as Anomen hesitated in the antechamber, slowly settling his flail down on the lounge chair. "Anarg is a murderer, Anomen. Reynald too, though his story is distinctly more complicated. These Fallen Paladins are not exiles by the Order's decree – they are exiles by the decree of their Gods. That is what makes a difference."

Imoen nodded slowly. "He's right. You noticed there was no denial of the accusations of slavery."

Anomen fixed her with a look. "That in itself is not an acknowledgement of guilt," he replied tersely, rolling his eyes.

"No, but they do have their crimes to their name," Keldorn sighed, shaking his head as he creakily sat down in an overstuffed armchair. "I could detect it, feel it. There is a hint of evil surrounding them that was not there when they were still paladins, when Torm, Tyr, Helm, Ilmater… whoever their God is still gave them powers."

"I did not notice you casting a Detect Evil," Anomen answered, a little sulkily.

"Torm know that there are times for discretion," Keldorn explained simply. "It is not always loud chanting, flashing lights and dramatic waving of arms. A quiet request for his wisdom can do as much good also."

Anomen glanced over at him. "What did you get?" he asked at last, quietly, reluctantly.

"Just images, as always. Memories, flashes of emotion, pictures in the mind. They do have slaves. In the Thunder's hold." There was a pause as Keldorn took the helmet off his head and began to unbuckle the Doomplate. "There was more, as well… less tangible things. Do not heed my divining as the word of Helm, my lad, but do not ignore it either. Not all of these men are gone forever. Some, like Anarg, hold no remorse, as far as I can tell. And if he is indeed taking part in slaving, redemption would be a long way off. But I do not believe Reynald is a lost cause; and there are others, like the oarsman sitting next to you, Minsc, or the man doing… whatever it is they do to the sails… men who are not beyond the reach of others, beyond the reaches of their Gods."

Anomen nodded at last, stepping over to the window, arms folded over his chest. "What does the Order want us to do with them? They said to avoid bloodshed, but if they are taking part in these crimes, and if they cannot be redeemed, we can hardly leave them to their own devices. Perhaps this is a matter best left to the courts."

"Anarg's a rich noble, Fallen or not. This is Amn," Imoen stated simply, pacing in the doorway.

"Would the Order take them back? If they wanted redemption? Would Wessalen –"

"Prelate Wessalen, Anomen…"

"Prelate Wessalen accept them back? And Sir Donalus, and the other high knights? Anarg was an important member of the Order. Reynald was one of the finest leader of knights in the Order's history – in the campaigns in Tethyr his groups were unrivalled in their efficiency. These are men who were valuable to the Order's well-being!" Anomen exclaimed, sighing.

"Were," Imoen commented. It seemed evident that she knew she could have little input in the precise politics of the situation, but she clearly had half a clue of what was going on. "I don't think past loyalties alone will get them back, if they've committed the crimes Keldorn thinks they have. And what are they doing all together on that boat fighting street gangs if it's not something shady? What are they doing lurking in the Bridge District if it's not something that would annoy the Shadow Thieves? They may have been knights, but some of them are probably no better than the most common thugs."

"You don't know that!" Anomen exclaimed at last reluctantly. "They might be… they might…" He paused, then shook his head and sighed deeply again. "Very well. We shall see; see with our own eyes what crimes they commit, what slaving they do. Then I will decide what is to be done with them."

"Done with who?"

The four of them whirled around to see a triumphant-looking Harrian swagger into the estate, a tired Jaheira, a flamboyant Haer'Dalis and cheerful Aerie behind him. It seemed as if the other half of the party was enjoying a certain success.

"The Fallen Paladins," Anomen replied vaguely, hardly paying too much attention to their arrival. He glanced over, then explained briefly what had happened – including their success at soliciting the Order's help – whilst missing out their little debates and arguments in between. "It's all in hand," he finished quietly.

"Why are you helping the Order?" a confused Harrian asked, frowning.

"Because they requested our assistance; because they are lending swords to our cause and all they have asked us to do is to try and stop a group of potentially very dangerous men from running around and creating more havoc in the city," Anomen elaborated slowly, his voice worn down with fatigue.

Keldorn nodded. "He's right. Fallen Paladins, if left to their own devices – especially in a large group such as this one – can turn to some exceedingly iniquitous activities which would make the Shadow Thieves look like minor thugs in the street. Whilst the threat presented by Bodhi is more important, as it will take time for the Order to gather their troops anyway, I see no problems with devoting effort to them." There was a pause, and the retired paladin glanced down. "Though it is your party, of course."

Harrian sighed, glancing over at Anomen. The cleric had started to pace a little, and had that tortured expression on his face which adorned it so often. "Alright. Ships, you say? I hate boats. Let's take a look at them."

Anomen and Imoen exchanged glances, then looked at him. "You don't need to necessarily get involved yourself," Anomen started falteringly, shifting uncomfortably. "It's something I… ah, we, can handle very easily on our own."

Jaheira raised an eyebrow. "But should not, for something requiring the party's efforts, the party leader be involved in the endeavour?" she pointed out dryly, a hint of suspicion lurking at the edge of her words.

"Well, you don't need to either!" Imoen interjected with certainty. "In fact, you two… deserve time off. Yes. The six of us can handle it," she continued, practically dragging Keldorn to his feet and ushering the others out of the lounge.

"You can?" Harrian asked as they hurried out of the room, closing the door behind them and leaving he and Jaheira behind, alone and very bewildered. He turned to her, confused. "They can?" There was a pause as he looked increasingly suspicious with the entire situation that had presented itself to them in a manner of mere seconds. "Do you get the impression that they're trying to get rid of us?"

"I get the impression that they either want to do something without our meddling, or think they know what's best for us," Jaheira replied dryly, glancing at the still-closed door. "But I think they are capable of handling a few insane paladins by themselves." She paused, glancing at him with a hint of amusement. "Do you feel superfluous now?"

Harrian smirked a little, nodding. "I can live with that. Time off's never a bad thing."

Outside, a similarly confused Aerie glanced at the four who had been on the little expedition to the Fallen Paladins. "So… what exactly are we trying to do? Help the Order by doing what?"

"Redeeming some Fallen Paladins," Anomen declared, just as the same time as Keldorn said, "Bringing some Fallen Paladins to justice."

There was a pause as the two men looked at each other, and Haer'Dalis began to chuckle here. "Methinks that yon hound is a little torn in his loyalties here," he observed dryly. "To aid those he feels linked to, or to condemn them for the favour of those he has already walked away from?"

"It's a bit more complicated than that, Haer'Dalis," Imoen replied tautly.

"So what did you do?" Aerie asked at last. "Did you tell them that you'd be joining them and then infiltrate them, or…? What exactly is our plan?"

"I'm… ah, we're getting to that," Anomen confessed uncomfortably, throwing Haer'Dalis an evil glance. "But no matter what, I feel it is quite evident that there is something that is more than it initially seems. I doubt the situation can be labelled and judged in a manner of seconds."