Disarray

I'm lost in this disarray,

I can't leave this place.

I'm lost in this disarray,

there is no escape.

I'm lost in this disarray,

I must not be afraid.

I'm lost in this disarray,

and it's already too late.

I'm lost in this disarray,

but I must accept my fate.

I'm lost in this disarray,

and everything is at stake.

I'm lost in this disarray,

just flee… For my sake.

Chapter 1: Flight

Flashback-Somewhere in the desolate wilderness bordering Amn and Tethyr

Imoen's POV:

"You know…  We've been trudging here for hours and we're still in the middle of nowhere!  When're we ever going to reach Amn...!"  Imoen was agitated.  Not that anyone could blame her.  She didn't like traversing such dirty, twisting roads and muddy countryside.  She would have been far less grumpy had they found an inn already.

"I'm trying to find an inn! Geez will you be patient?"  Devin said in an irritated manner.

It seemed, even now, Devin could occasionally read her mind.  Not that she would readily admit that out loud to him.  They'd been through so much after the whole ordeal with Irenicus.  Much to their dismay, the whole Bhaalspawn issue was not put to rest as they hoped.  Rather, their reputation had expanded throughout the Sword Coast. 

For the first time, countless Bhaalspawn were discovered in Tethyr.  Devin, who's infamous name brought apprehension throughout Amn, had once again sown chaos in his wake.  When the elite Bhaalspawn were finally slain and Melissan's coup repelled, Devin had chosen to remain a mortal.  And that frightened Imoen.  Her deepest secret lay furtive and dormant inside her heart.  She had an underlying feeling of affection for her "former" brother.  Something that was, undeniable but yet ambiguous.  For she herself could not fully fathom such emotions. 

"Umm Immy?  Hello?"  Devin stared quizzically at Imoen, startling her out of deep contemplation.

"Hmm?  Oh sorry… I was just pondering" Imoen said sheepishly, still not fully attentive.

"About what?" Devin asked, his tone suggested curiosity.

"Uhh nothing really.  Where are we?" Imoen replied, purposefully changing the subject.

"Like you said, we've been walking for hours now.  But I think there's an inn a few more miles down the road." Judging from Devin's voice, he was quite tired as well.

"Good.  I need a bath right about now and some comfortable clean clothes." Imoen sniffed the air.  "And you as well, apparently" She giggled.

"Blah.  Don't remind me,"  Devin rolled his eyes. "let's keep moving before night falls"

Devin's POV:

Devin had never felt more relieved in his entire life.  His taint was now relinquished, along with the lineage that his dead father associated him with Imoen.  He no longer believed they were related.  Now, what they truly represented were two orphans, motherless and without an existent father.  But perhaps finally he wouldn't be ashamed of loving her… The girl that he secretly adored might finally consent to him.  Not that he had actually asked for her acquiescence.  Aside from the awkward display of intimacy within the Forest of Tethir, which by now seemed a distant memory, he had never actually tried to press the issue again.  Not even after he renounced his taint and the possible choice of immortality. 

The temptation to choose Godhood was there, but he had resisted it.  What could possibly be more enjoyable than spending time with Imoen?  Had he chose to become a God, he would lose the one person he cherished the most.   The Solar had reiterated that the ascension to Godhood was predestined for Devin and no one else.  It was a decision that he had to make and those were the conditions.  But it sure would have been fulfilling to experience that divinity with Imoen. 

As the two companions strode on, the sky had gradually darkened.  A storm was brewing as thunder resounded in the distance. 

Droplets of rain slowly but steadily started to pour down, eventually coming in cascades.

"Oh great!  Just what we needed.  More misery…!"  Imoen grumbled.

"Tell me about it."  Devin sighed.  Do I have the courage to express my feelings now?  No, perhaps right now isn't the best mood for such talks…

"We better find shelter soon, before both of us drown."  Imoen was walking ahead of Devin now. 

"I know.  I'd rather be stuck in a rat hole than out here".  Devin panted as he stepped up the pace.

"You know I-" 

Imoen's words were sharply cut off by an alarmed Devin.

"Shhh… Quiet!" 

"Huh!?  What?"

"Can't you feel it?  I think we are being ambushed…!" 

"That can't be.  Out here?  Are you su-"

"GET DOWN!!" Devin roughly pushed Imoen aside as an arrow swiftly passed within a hairsbreadth of her. 

"Arrrgh!"

"Devin you're hit!"

Grimacing, Devin stared down at his shoulder, which had been impaled by an arrow.  He used his left hand to pull it out, cursing and clenching his teeth all the while.   

"Show yourselves cowards!"  Devin snarled menacingly.

The thicketed wilderness slowly revealed its malicious denizens.  As many as twelve score  armed men stepped out from their concealment.  Devin squinted at some of the individuals.  They were not to be trifled with.  Most of them looked like seasoned warriors.  Others seemed quite adept at the art of magic.  But amongst all of them, he saw one person distinguishable from the cohorts.  A man clad in an intricate blue armor stood solemnly within the centre of the ranks.   He held an enchanted warhammer etched with a sigil which Devin could not decipher from afar. But the shield he carried at his side revealed his allegiance instantly. 

"Talos…" Devin murmured

The leader did not approach them…  Instead, with a gesture of his right hand, his army advanced.

"Imoen, are you ready?"

"What kinda question is that?  I'm always ready!"

"Alright, I'm going to rush at them.  Cast your offensive spells while I divert them.  Don't hit me on accident though!" 

"Yea, yea.  I'll keep an eye out for ya."  She winked.

Without a second's delay, Devin charged.  His swords, Celestial Fury and Daystar gleaming in the battlefield's dim light.

The first foe recklessly met Devin head on, only to have his head depart from his body due to a devastating backhand slash to his neck.  Several other men surrounded Devin in an impregnable circle.  Confidently, Devin changed his stance into a defensive position.  "Come get some, lads!" He taunted.

The soldiers rushed at him, but he managed to parry each of their incessant thrusts and slashes with relative easy.  He attempted his counter attacks.   With the speed and temerity of a swooping peregrine, Devin slashed towards the closest adversary.  The poor fellow failed to parry.  Daystar landed a powerful strike that collapsed the soldier's ribcage and bursted through the diaphragm in a messy splatter of bloody, pink froth.  The next unfortunate foe took the opportunity to lunge at Devin, failing miserably.  Devin retaliated, landing a very heavy hit with Celestial Fury that cleanly cleaved through his hamstring and broke the right femur. The other soldiers hesitated, now fully aware of Devin's proficiency with the swords.  They were not given any time to reorganize, however.  The bleak sky suddenly brightened as an intense, fiery comet struck the earth.  The impact caused a huge explosion and resonating shockwaves rippled across the wounded land, threatening to tear it asunder. 

The aftermath of the destruction caused widespread panic among the brunt of the army.  The ones closest to Devin were blasted into blackened splinters.  Perhaps their families will be able to identify them by their teeth.  As for the remaining soldiers, most had sustained an extreme degree of burns.  Hapless victims, they now whimpered and moaned in the mud.  Devin walked past his remaining foes, not even pausing to give the nearest wounded the  gift of mercy.  What few warriors left standing now backed away, petrified.  Devin was amused.

"Well it's about time!  What took you so long?"  He teased.

"Oh shut up! Don'cha know spell casting takes time and effort? I'm coming!"  With that, Imoen ran up towards the carnage they had wrought.  "Are you hurt?" Imoen said, with genuine concern.

"I think I'm alright.  It's just my shoulder.  For some reason it hurts like hell."

"Don't worry, we'll be leaving here and finding a healer in no time"

"But we aren't finished.  They are approaching again."  He cocked his head towards the direction of the persistent assault. 

He was right, they were still moving toward them.  Hundreds of them remained and none too happy to see their comrades fallen.  The man adorned with the blue armor still stood there, undaunted, perhaps even amused at the aftermath of the skirmish.

Imoen removed the Gesen bow from her shoulder.  She loaded one of her Arrows of Piercing and then moved to Devin's side.  "I'm with you 'till the end."

Devin nodded, his eyes intent and focused.  He won't take us that easily.

The fully-fledged army charged, their weapons glistening ominously in the empty air.

Devin altered his voice as he began to sing in a dishearten melody.

A score of the soldiers stopped abruptly in their tracks.  They placed their hands on their ears as the dirge coursed through them.  Looks of horror plainly written on their faces, many simply dropped their weapons and fled. 

At the same time, Imoen had been preparing her own arsenal of weaponries.  She dispensed several of her arrows at targets from afar, striking several men on horsebacks as they charged toward them.  All the while, she was preparing to cast a new spell.  Her fingers gestured toward the nearest enemy and a swathe of flame arrows burst out from her fingertips, striking the individual.  The arrows smashed the unfortunate's skull wide open, boiling his brain.  Imoen directed her spell at another target and the arrows pierced his forehead, causing his hair to burst into flames.  Then she sent her remaining arrows toward other nearby targets who all shared a similar demise.

All the while, Devin couldn't help but wince at such brutal display of sorcery.  Flame Arrow was one of her favorite spells.  "You know, sometimes I'm REALLY glad you're on my side."  He glanced at Imoen.

That "compliment" prompted her to giggle.  "Yea sure, or maybe yer just scared to make me mad.  Don'tcha like my toys?" She winked.

"ENOUGH!"  The lone figure from the distance, whom the two had seemingly forgotten, howled. "Fools.  Do not presume.  For you have already lost."  With those words, he nodded his head.

A torrent of arrows was released at that command, so swiftly that neither of the two companions could anticipate them.  One arrow struck squarely onto Imoen's abdomen.  At the very instant, a flash of lightning coursed across the sky, followed by a resounding boom of thunder.  The rain was still pouring down relentlessly.

"Ahh!" 

"Imoen!"

"I… I'm alright."

"No, you're not." Devin disagreed.  All his pain, he disregarded now.  Imoen's safety was his only concern at the moment.

"I'm fine… Just don't leave my side."

"Never." Devin said as he bent down to aid Imoen, taking out the arrow while she groaned from the process.  Luckily for Imoen, she had been wearing a robe that offered significant protection against physical damage.  Who knows what could have happened had it been otherwise.

"I assume the sentimental chit chat is now over?"

Devin raised his head, realizing the leader had walked within talking distance between them.  The man had ashen gray hair, a hooked nose and numerous battles scars upon his face.  He was well armored indeed.  Upon closer examination, the plate mail he wore was none other than the rare Blue Dragon armor.  This man was very powerful.

"Go…  Go to hell!"  Devin shouted, despite precautions.

"Oh, I would love to.  As soon as the matter of killing you is over."

"No!" Imoen responded to that immediately.

"No one's going to be killed, except you."  Devin replied.

"Oh really?  But on the contrary, you're in no position to judge such matters.  You see Devin, you were doomed from the beginning.  The arrow that struck you was meant only for you, not Imoen.  It was poisoned of course, a toxic brew imported from Calimshan.  It will not kill you instantly.  Nevertheless, you will suffer a very slow and painful death."

Imoen's eyes widened as she gasped in shock.

Devin's face turned white.  All the pain had just recoiled back into his body.  He felt extremely weak and vulnerable at that point.

"Fortunately for your companion Imoen, her arrow was not poisonous.  But her fate, as well as yours, is at the mercy of my whim."

"How did you know our names?" Devin quickly responded.

"Oh, I know much more about you than you might think.  Besides, you two are not exactly commoners."


"Plea- Please don't kill us."  Imoen pleaded.

"Why… why are you doing this?  What's your intent?"  Devin asked, unable to suppress the pain as he spoke between grimaces.

"I seek revenge naturally, and you are my target"

"Wha.. Why?"

"Oh how absent-minded of me.  Perhaps you have forgotten it by now but you killed a certain someone by the name of Balthazar hm?  He happened to be my half-brother."  The unidentified man smiled cruelly, but his eyes were devoid of emotions.

Both Devin and Imoen were speechless.

"Who are you?"  Devin finally spoke.

"Not that it's any of your concern, but I am Rezeren, a fervent elite priest of Talos.  So… Will you accompany me?  If you obey I may even consider letting you survive a little awhile longer."

"I'll… Need to think about it."

"As you wish, Bhaalspawn.  But my patience is waning." Rezeren grinned knowingly,

"Or should I address you as Ex-Bhaalspawn?"

Ignoring Rezeren's derision, Devin slowly approached Imoen, his wounds hindering his movements.

When he reached within inches towards her face, he gently, albeit urgently whispered to her.  "Imoen.  I'm going to distract him while you have a chance to run.  I think there's a strayed horse over there…"

"What!?  Are you crazy??  I'll never leave you here!" She whispered harshly back at him.

"Immy.  Don't be stubborn…! There's no other alternative and you know it.  And I would definitely never forgive myself if you were the one to be captured again.  I can't live through that again, I swear…" 

"Dev…"  Tears now brimming freely from her eyes as she could no longer hold back her emotions.  "I can't lose you either Devin.  You mean so much to me." 

"Immy.. I feel the same way… I… I wanted to tell you this at a better time but now I may never get another chance…  Imoen, I love you." Devin blurted this out suddenly but he didn't care.  To further consummate his feelings he pressed his lips gently towards Imoen's, in one last attempt at farewell.

As tears flowed down Imoen's cheeks she steadied herself to regain some part of her composure.  She sighed despondently. 

Seemingly unperturbed, the rain had already slowed to an intermittent patter as both  companions, soaked in misery, found comfort in each others' arms in, perhaps, their final moment together.

"Imoen.  There's no time, I'm doing this." Without another word Devin reluctantly broke the embrace.  He turned to face the antagonist.  To his surprise, Rezeren's face was boiling with anger.  It was almost as if he was jealous…

"Are you two pathetic fools finally finished!?  You will come with me"

"I will, but she won't."  Moving impetuously, with the last ounce of energy still sustaining him, Devin rushed towards Rezeren.  Their weapons clashed in a clattering sound of steel against steel.  Devin found his swings to be slower, clumsier than usual.  He was in a tedious position, losing both his strength and balance.  He wouldn't last much longer.

The nearby soldiers looked on with awe as the two men battled, completely unaware of Imoen covertly sneaking away from the vicinity.

They danced with precision and accuracy, until Devin slowly and surely began to wobble.  Rezeren took that opportunity to swing at him.  His warhammer landed a solid hit, smashing deeply into Devin's right bicep, toppling him with a thud.

"Give up, spoiled sport?" Rezeren said between wicked snickers.

"Heh heh… Yea…"  Devin chuckled weakly.

"Eh?  What are you so pleased about?"

"My lord!  The girl just escaped!  And she took one of our horses with her!" A nearby soldier reported the discovery. 

"What!?  Cretins! Pursue her!  I want her captured but she is to be taken back alive.  If you harm her without absolute necessity I will sacrifice you to Talos in the most hideous fashion imaginable!  And if you swine are ever this careless again I will slay you myself!"

Frustrated, Rezeren planted a vicious kick on Devin's jaw, causing a profusion of blood to burst out of his mouth.

Devin lay, sprawled and bleeding, on the floor.  Though he couldn't help but smile at Rezeren's sudden change of mood.   He had breached his captor's impenetrable self confidence, at least…

He is actually panicking.  Hehe, I thwarted his plan… Devin thought, before he passed out from the pain.