Disclaimer:  I own nothing related to Bioware, Interplay, or the Baldur's Gate series other than copies of the games themselves and an overactive imagination.  Thank you.  :)


Journey to the North
Chapter IV


Kaelis closed her eyes with a sigh, rolling her shoulders. She stretched her neck first to one side, then the other, then let it fall back as she took a deep breath and let it out slowly into the night. She relaxed into the stretch, leaving her eyes closed as she listened to the sounds in the darkness, pulling each one in turn from the quiet symphony to fully appreciate its beauty.

A wolf called from far away, a mournful song that echoed on the wind, then faded away slowly into nothingness. A moment later, it was answered by another, fainter and further away, and then another, close enough to cause the hair on the back of Kaelis' neck to stand on end.

 She let herself sink down, leaning more fully into the fallen log against her back.  She let her head rest against its rough surface, listening as other cries rose suddenly in the night, a strange conversation that she felt she could understand, if only she had the time to listen.

There were conversations all around her. The night birds called to each other from shadowy perches high in the tall mountain pines, and crickets seemed to hide in every shadow, their shrill fiddling a constant counterpoint in the natural symphony. She could hear soldiers speaking to each other low voices all around her, standing out sharply among the more natural sounds that reached her ears, but after a time, they too fell into harmony with the birds, the crickets, and the wolves.  Finally she let them all run together completely in her mind in an elegant, complex concert.

After a moment the sounds of footsteps intruded on her thoughts.   Kaelis opened her eyes and sat up as she saw Sir Ryan approaching her tentatively, a steaming cup held in either hand.  He smiled as she did so and wordlessly offered one of the cups to her. Kaelis accepted it gratefully, cradling the warmth of the cup in her hands as Sir Ryan sat down beside her.  Neither spoke a word, and she did not drink the offered refreshment right away, but looked into it for several moments, struggling to keep her thoughts from drifting elsewhere.

At last she looked up at Sir Ryan, who was watching her with an expression that was at once questioning and apologetic.  Kaelis smiled and looked back down at the cup in her hands, then took a tentative sip.  The wine was sweet, and wonderfully warm, flavored with spices that she could not immediately identify.  She took another sip, then sighed with a smile and sat back against the fallen tree.

"Thank you."

Sir Ryan took a short sip from his own cup, and then nodded lightly. "You're quite welcome, my Lady. I noticed that you ate little at supper, and thought you might be in need of something to sustain you. It was a long ride today, the first of many."

Kaelis nodded and looked into the steaming cup again.  "Too many, Sir Ryan."

***

Sir Ryan watched Kaelis for a moment longer.  He could see the shadowy circles under her eyes, even in this dim light.  She was tired.  He had hoped that the wine would help, but she had taken only a few sips, preferring instead to look into the steaming shadows of the cup, like a fortune teller searching for answers in the mist.

At last the paladin looked toward the far-off glimmer of the campfire, turning his own cup in his hands.

"We set a good pace, my Lady. If this continues, we should easily reach the Friendly Arm Inn before the end of the week. A day to Nashkel, two then, perhaps, to Beregost, and then…." He let his voice trail off into the wind, his clear gray eyes drifting upward to the stars that peered here and there through the tops of the trees. It was idle chat, he knew, but the silence begged to be broken, and he knew that Kaelis would not be the one to break it.

As she had so many times before, however, she surprised him. She looked up briefly, then away into the shadows at the edge of the clearing.  The faraway look had not disappeared from her eyes. She said simply, "Trolls."

Sir Ryan looked at her, raising his eyebrows. If her speaking surprised him, her words left him absolutely bewildered. "My Lady?"

She turned her eyes back to his, and her gaze was piercing. He suddenly felt uncomfortable, as though her brilliant emerald eyes were seeing right through his, searching his soul for the answer she knew he would be reluctant to give.

"Trolls. Ice Trolls, specifically." Kaelis shifted slightly, turning to face him, and set her cup down on the ground beside her. "Tell me why the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart is suddenly so interested in the hunting habits of the average Ice Troll."

There was no avoiding her gaze.  "Innocent lives were being lost, my Lady," he managed hesitantly, tearing his eyes from hers and taking another long drink from the steaming mug.

Her voice was equal parts sable and steel. "Innocent lives are lost every day in the slums of Athkatla, Sir Ryan. On the Promenade, in the streets.  The sewers. Lives much closer to home. Lives that are yours to protect."

He could not answer, and she said nothing more for some time.  Instead she resumed her previous position and picked up her cup from among the fallen leaves, then took another drink, longer this time.  She sighed softly as she lowered the wine from her lips. 

"What is in Duruth'Usk, Sir Ryan?"

Sir Ryan looked at her, but said nothing.   In the moonlight, her eyes shone.  More than that, they glittered.  Perhaps with tears, he could not say.  She was still not looking at him. 

Her voice lowered to a whisper. "What is he hiding from me?"

The note of betrayal in her voice clutched at his heart, and Sir Ryan leaned forward, speaking quickly and in a low voice.

"Kaelis, believe me when I tell you that he would never have done so, had he the choice. As it was, he nearly left the Order for what we asked him to do. But there were no other options. We were completely unprepared for what we found in Duruth'Usk. Only one man among our number had ever seen anything like it."

"Anomen."

Sir Ryan nodded. "Anomen."

Kaelis closed her eyes with an exhausted sigh, shaking her head. A long moment of silence followed. Sir Ryan watched her for several minutes, then dropped his gaze back to the drink in his hands, now gone cold.

At last she sat up, put down her drink once more, then pushed an auburn curl behind her ear and looked up at Sir Ryan.  "I need to know."

He gave a barely perceptible nod.  "I know."

The barest hint of a smile tugged at Kaelis' lips.  "Then let's start at the beginning, shall we?"

Another nod, and Sir Ryan slowly set down his cup between his feet.  He shifted his weight and placed his elbows on his knees, interlacing his fingers. It took him a long time to raise his eyes, but finally he looked at Kaelis.  He had to tell her the truth.  She deserved no less.

He began simply, "There was a knight. His name was Melanath…."

***

Imoen stared at Kaelis in disbelief. Even Minsc was quiet, and Jaheira sat staring at the ground, her pale blue eyes clearly troubled. It was a heavy, uncomfortable silence, too heavy and uncomfortable to break easily, and no one had tried. The only sound was the soft crunch of hardened earth under Kaelis' feet as she paced beside the fire, her arms crossed over her chest in an attitude of deep thought.

Imoen finally shook her head and laughed, a forced laugh that held no mirth. "He's crazy. You're crazy. And Anomen… Well, I always thought he was a little nuts, but…."

A withering glance from Jaheira cut off Imoen's thoughts abruptly, and the young thief slouched down against the stump with a delicate snort, folding her arms and frowning. Imoen stuck her tongue out at Jaheira, then looked at Kaelis, who had not stopped her rhythmic pacing.  Instead, the young fighter had turned once again to retrace her steps.  It seemed as though she was not even aware of what she was doing, of where she was going.  Her thoughts were obviously far away, and Imoen had little trouble guessing where.

Jaheira shook her head, then followed Imoen's gaze.  "Sit down, Kaelis. You'll wear a track in the earth deep enough to catch the rain."

Kaelis said nothing, but slowed and stopped, then turned to face the others.  The flames of the small campfire reflected brilliantly in her eyes, giving them an almost unearthly glow. It was a little frightening, but as Imoen glanced up into Kaelis' face, she could still see the worry and pain hidden in their depths.  Imoen's own delicate features lost some of their petulance, and her voice was just a little gentler as she spoke again.

"What was he thinking, going off like that?  Without telling you where he was going?  I mean, if I were you…."

Kaelis looked sharply at her sister.  "You're not.  And he didn't have a choice.  The Order forbade him to tell anyone about his journey to the north, and I expect that by 'anyone,' they specifically meant me."

"Well, that's just… that's… that's just stupid!  After everything you've done for them…."

Another sigh from Jaheira. "Imoen…."

"Well, she has!"

"Hush, child!  You're not helping!"

Imoen pressed her lips together and slipped back down into her slouch, but her peevishness was gone. She watched Kaelis with large brown eyes, waited for her to say something, anything.

"I should have gone with him."

Anything but that.

"Kae…."

Kaelis looked at Imoen, flames still dancing in her eyes. "I should have gone with him."

Imoen frowned.  "He wouldn't have let you."

Kaelis laughed softly, rubbing her arms and glancing down at the ground.  "Since when has that stopped me?"

Imoen grinned.  "Well, it sure isn't now!"

At that, Jaheira let out a noise somewhere between a sigh and a groan, then rose and walked around the fire to where Kaelis stood. The druid's steely eyes watched her thoughtfully for some time. Then her voice held its customary note of sharpness as she began, "Why didn't you go with him, child?"

Kaelis looked up, then sighed softly and closed her eyes. "You know why, Jaheira."

Jaheira shook her head sharply and repeated. "Why didn't you, Kaelis?"

Kaelis opened her eyes and met Jaheira's gaze. After a moment, she spoke, her voice equally sharp.  "I had a responsibility to the people of Suldanesselar, Jaheira. You know that.  Whether or not I chose my part in Irenicus' sick little play, my role was… unique. Without my soul, or whatever it was that he thought he took from me, he could never have had the power to do what he did. To destroy what he did. Whether I like it or not, I was partly responsible for the devastation in Suldanesselar. What little I could do to make amends for that… monster's… rape of the Tree of Life…."

Kaelis rubbed her arms again, her voice suddenly tired.  "It had to be done, Jaheira. I had to try to… to repair the damage. I had to bring back the light. If I could…. Whatever I could…. I had to go back.  It was my… duty." Kaelis smiled sadly and looked back at the fire. "Anomen understood that."

"Did he?"

Kaelis looked up sharply, the smile fading.  "Yes, he did."

"Are you so certain?"

Kaelis dropped her arms and took an sharp step toward the druid.  "Yes, I am!  Of all of us, Anomen probably understands the idea of duty more clearly than anyone!  Helm's Beard, Jaheira!  It's been the driving force in his life for the past ten years!  He knew I had to stay in Suldenessalar, to make things right!  If I hadn't, if I had left those people to rebuild their lives alone after everything that had happened….  I couldn't do that.  He taught me better than that.  Gorion taught me better than that.  You taught me better than that."

Jaheira stepped forward and put her hands on Kaelis' shoulders.  "Yes, child.  We did.  But I truly believe the spark of integrity already existed within you.  Gorion and I simply helped you to fan it into a flame.  Anomen helped you to see the fire for what it was, however irritating his efforts may have been in the beginning.  And believe me child, they were irritating."

Kaelis laughed in spite of herself, but said nothing.  Jaheira smiled.  "He knew you had to stay, Kaelis.  He would not ask you to abandon your duty any more than you have asked him to abandon his."  

Kaelis shook her head, but said nothing.

Jaheira tightened her hands on Kaelis'  shoulders.  "He loves you, child.  Even a blind man would be able to see that, for it is in every word that he speaks.  Believe in that, Kaelis, and all will be well."

Imoen made a face.  "Speaking of words that he speaks…  'Helm's Beard,' Kae?  I think you've been spending a little too much time with 'Mr. Honor and Glory.'"  She shuddered lightly.  "Next thing you know, you'll be telling stories about the Hillgnasher Giants and how you killed twenty of them with a wooden spoon…."

Kaelis smiled in spite of herself, shaking her head.  "He never claimed to have killed them with a spoon, Im.  And he did kill two.  With some help…."

Imoen rolled her eyes.  "Yeah, okay."

Jaheira gave Kaelis' shoulders a final squeeze and smiled.  "Now, child, there is much to be discussed."

Imoen nodded enthusiastically.  "Yeah, so this knight person… Melanath? What are we going to do about him?"

Kaelis smiled and stepped away from Jaheira with a grateful glance, then resumed pacing, but it was different. She was thinking, planning.

"Okay…."

Kaelis' voice held an edge of determination, and Imoen grinned at the sound. This was when her sister meant business, and then… Ooooh boy! 

Imoen suppressed a giggle as Kaelis continued. "According to Sir Ryan, Melanath was one of the Knights of the Order, years ago. One of your typical 'honor and glory' types."

"Hmm…  Sound like anyone we know?" Imoen opened her eyes wide in a look of mock-innocence.

Kaelis shot Imoen an exasperated look over her shoulder and continued without a pause.

"Or so it appeared."

Imoen could see where this was going.  "But… he wasn't really, was he?"

Kaelis shook her head.  "He seemed unusually interested in power. Truth be told, some of the others felt uncomfortable around Melanath. Said he had a darkness in his eyes that made them uneasy. But he did all the right things, knew all the right answers.  No one ever thought to question him."

Kaelis ran the back of her hand over her forehead thoughtfully.  "Unfortunately, along with his apparent love of honor and glory, he seemed to have a certain… affection for his commander's wife, Ariana. He would write her letters, send her gifts. Very carefully, of course."

"Of course."

Kaelis let her hand drop, letting out a sigh.  "Much to his… frustration, he never received a response."

"She loved her husband." Jaheira's voice was quiet, but held a definite edge.

Imoen was listening seriously now.

Kaelis nodded. "She loved her husband. So she never replied to any of his letters, returned all of his gifts, hoping he would get bored and lose interest."

Imoen shifted in her seat.  "And it didn't work."

Kaelis shook her head grimly. "It didn't work. He became obsessed. Started writing more letters, standing in front of the commander's estate for hours and looking up at her window, waiting for her. For weeks. She got scared."

"I would."

Jaheira looked over at Imoen, annoyed at the constant interruptions, but said nothing, as Kaelis didn't seem to mind.

Kaelis nodded again. "So would I. So she told her husband, who, understandably, was…" she chose her words carefully, "upset, and went to the headquarters to confront Melanath. Melanath knew of his intentions.  He watched him leave from the shadows, and…."

Kaelis frowned abruptly, and her voice gained a hard edge that made Imoen feel suddenly uneasy. "He got into the house. Broke the front door down, apparently, and went into a rage, killing the servants, the bodyguards, everyone until he got upstairs."

Imoen's voice was a whisper. "By the Gods, no…."

"Gareth… the commander… came back from the headquarters, obviously not having found Melanath there. It probably only took him a moment to realize what had happened, and when he got upstairs…" Kaelis shook her head and shrugged.

Imoen felt as if she were going to be sick.

"Sir Ryan had been at the headquarters when Gareth burst in looking for Melanath and heard the whole story, or what Gareth knew, anyway. When Gareth left the headquarters for his estate, Sir Ryan gathered several paladins and a few knights and they followed him as closely as they could. When they got there, the younger knights stayed downstairs to help the few servants and bodyguards that remained alive, and Sir Ryan and the other paladins rushed upstairs."

"When they got to Ariana's bedroom…" Kaelis paused to take a deep breath. "Ariana was dead, found naked on the floor. There were bruises around her neck, she was covered with blood, and Sir Ryan said that she appeared to have been… that Melanath had…." Her voice trailed off, her face pale.

Imoen was definitely going to be sick.

Kaelis finished quietly. "Gareth lay dead beside her, his sword in his hand. Melanath was gone."

Imoen stared open-mouthed at Kaelis for a long moment, then put her head in her hands.

"No…  No, no, no…."

Jaheira's words were soft in Imoen's ear.  "Strength, child.  Have strength…."

A note of apology had crept into Kaelis' voice.  "A few months later, a letter was brought into the Order Headquarters in Athkatla. Melanath admitted to killing both Ariana and Gareth. In fact, he seemed to be boasting about it. He described it all in nauseating detail."

Imoen let out a little hiccupping noise and shuddered. 

Kaelis paused, then said softly, "I had Sir Ryan skip that part."

A muffled "Thank you" came from behind Imoen's hands.

"Melanath mocked the order, blamed them for the deaths. He said they couldn't protect her, couldn't save her. That they followed an outdated code of chivalry, held to ideals that no longer existed. Only power mattered, and he had found it. Had used them to find it."

Imoen raised her head.  "What did he mean?"

Kaelis sat down on Imoen's other side.  "Think about it.  The Order of the Radiant Heart is full of paladins… and clerics, and knights whose sole purpose in life is to stamp out evil wherever they find it.  You've seen the Order's library.  Hundreds and thousands of scrolls about hundreds and thousands of evils, and how to fight them.  And you've heard the stories.  There was a treasure trove of information there, and Melanath knew that.  What better way to protect yourself from your enemies than to find out how exactly they would go about destroying you?"

Imoen nodded and looked down at her hands.  "We've done that."

Kaelis nodded.  "And we're alive because of it."  She took at deep breath.  "Anyway, the letter….  Now that Melanath had no further use for the Order, he said, he would destroy them. Would wipe them utterly off the face of the earth, and everything that they stood for." She fell into silence.

Jaheira spoke calmly, but her lips were tight. "And now he's in the Silver Mountains."

Kaelis nodded. "Building an army, apparently. Initially, according to reports, he began by simply manipulating the creatures that he found in the mountains. Trolls, wolves, a few wyverns."

"So how did the Order know where he was?"

Kaelis smiled grimly. "It would appear that even the Order isn't above a little… persuasion when information is needed. They… convinced the messenger to tell them where he had traveled from."

Imoen grimaced.  "Yikes."

Jaheira repeated, "The Silver Mountains."

Kaelis nodded again. "So they sent a few scouts into the area.  There's a town…  Kanfael.  They snooped around a bit, asked a few questions."

"And found him."

Kaelis nodded again.  "He hasn't made many friends among the villagers, I'm afraid.  The Order scouts found Melanath just north of Kanfael, in the southern part of the Mountains. There is a deserted fortress there." Kaelis raised an eyebrow. "A Radiant Heart fortress abandoned two hundred years ago."

A smirk appeared on Jaheira's lips.  "How ironic."

"Isn't it? Anyway, only a few members of the initial scouting party escaped. They made it back to Athkatla, barely alive and completely terrified. They spoke of hordes of Ice Trolls, large packs of wolves, you know. Big groups, little organization, for the most part. But there were a few creatures that worried them, huge things that looked like men, but were made of stone."

Imoen ventured, "Golems…."

Jaheira shook her head. "Surely golems are familiar enough to the Radiant Heart."

Kaelis' eyes were troubled. "Yes, they are. But many of the golems that the survivors described were creatures that they had never seen nor heard of. They were smaller than the other golems, a shimmering blue, and not hurt by the Order's weapons." She looked at Jaheira meaningfully. "The Order uses magical weapons."

The druid frowned. "Magic golems. Like those we found in Watcher's Keep."

Imoen frowned at this latest revelation. "That's impossible. Clerics don't have the power to create any type of golem, and certainly not magic golems.  He must have…  gotten them from somewhere, or…."  Her eyes widened as she realized where the conversation was headed.

Kaelis shook her head, confirming Imoen's suspicions. "No, they don't. It would take a mage of tremendous power.  That's what makes the Order nervous.  As it is, only one man among them has ever even seen a magic golem, much less seen one fall in battle. So they sent him."

Imoen frowned. "Anomen."

Kaelis simply nodded.

The loud rasp of metal against earth came from behind them. All three women turned, startled, having nearly forgotten that Minsc was there listening to the conversation.  He had said nothing, instead choosing to settle in the shadows and look after the armor and weapons.

Now the look on the huge ranger's face left no doubt as to what he was feeling. He had thrust his giant two-handed sword a full foot into the earth, and his normally placid features were twisted with sheer rage, his eyes blazing with anger. It was frightening.  Imoen had never realized how truly enormous Minsc was.

Slowly and deliberately, Minsc stood to his full height, towering over the others as he began to speak, his voice low and hard, and unlike anything they had ever heard from their friend. Even little Boo, perched on his shoulder, could not dispel the strange and terrifying attitude.

"Evil... will… meet… my… boot…."

It was all he said.

Not even Imoen laughed.