EPISODE 15
"You're holding it upside down." Ka commented lightly, sitting down beside Rose. She grinned at the scathing look the priestess shot her and pointedly reached over to turn the map right side up. Rose rolled her eyes.
"I was zoned out…didn't notice." She explained dully, though her eyes darted about in search of possible witnesses. The group had stopped for a short break alongside an extensive canal they had been following for the last two days. A few feet off from where Rose and Ka were, Zoe sat placidly with his legs crossed and his eyes closed; he appeared to be meditating. By the waterside, Mezzen roamed around like a lost crab looking for its shell; Slayer paced along with him, wary of the distance the boy kept between himself and the shoreline. Finally, a good twenty feet away from the group, Dil'andau sat tending to his weaponry.
The two females inspected the map together for a moment. With the proper guidance, the group had successfully found its way out of the confusing intersecting tunnels and had branched out into larger, singular traffic caves. The illithid city was now further behind then ever; nevertheless, Ka was still unable to look at the illithid city markings on Dil's map without shaking her head and wondering how many other members of her House had at one point been given false maps. According to Dil's map (which may or may not be accurate, Ka decided, considering the male's reputation), the Ice Caves weren't particularly close to their current position – which was disheartening in one way and heartening in another. They were still a long ways away from their target, but the way there was fortunately a straightforward one.
Rose's finger tapped a spot on the map between the tangled mess of tunnels just beyond the Caverns of Thought and what appeared to be a large, dark spot. "So…we're about here, yes?" She asked, turning her head this way and that to gauge her accuracy.
"Yeah, sure." Ka agreed, figuring that it looked about right. At this point, had Rose pointed at the marked Ice Caves and asked if that was where they were, Ka would have agreed. Rose nodded slowly and frowned, sliding her finger over towards the dark spot to the side.
"So…what's this?" She grumbled, running her finger over the stain, which spread out over their path a couple inches. Beneath the brownish blotch, which was thicker in some places, she could almost make out a few words scrawled by hand. Ka shrugged.
"Twenty five gold says it's food." She answered idly, casting a furtive glance over at Dil, who was furiously wiping something off the blade of his halberd with the sleeve of his shirt. She blinked. "Yeah, it's probably food. I'm guessing it's whatever's always stuck in his teeth…" She trailed off and Rose cut in with a heavy sigh.
"No," The priestess growled, "not the stain. The writing beneath it." She tried scratching at the stain with her fingernail. "Can you see it at all?" She asked. Ka bent down to approximately two inches from the map and squinted.
"Nope." She said and squinted harder. "Wait…unless…I'm seeing… 'illithid'…here…" She drew back as Rose tore the map out from under her nose.
"That was insensitive." Rose snapped, narrowing her eyes and pursing her lips. She rolled up the map and stared towards the canal, where Mezzen was wandering about.
"Yes, it was." Ka agreed, nodding and following her gaze. "But it was funny."
"I'm not laughing." Rose quipped.
"Funny for me." Ka explained and grinned. Before her, Mezzen seemed to have found something of interest amidst the small rocks by the shore. He was crouched down and bent over it, his large feline guardian anxiously flicking its tail at his side, and he was slowly reaching out to touch it with a finger.
"What's he looking at?" Rose asked immediately, alert and suspicious now. She was setting the rolled up map down beside her and getting ready to get to her feet. Beside her, Ka reached out with her mind and took a peek through Mezzen's eyes.
"Well whatever it is, at least it's not mind-blowing enough to get him worked up over it–" She paused as she examined the creature through the boy's eyes, "–it's a little crab-thing." She declared off-handedly, releasing her hold on the boy. By the water, Mezzen's head whipped to the side as the mental intrusion ceased; he frowned at Ka.
"Crab thing?" Rose echoed. Not two seconds later, the boy let out a piercing shriek that startled the entire group and sent the boy running towards Rose. From the far corner, Dil's voice rang out, sharp and vile.
"I told you!" He cried triumphantly.
Mezzen brought his crocodile tears over to Rose and held up his index finger. "It bit me!" he wailed, showing off the bit of bloody flesh on the tip of his finger. He looked over at Ka. "I-I w-was looking a-at it…a-a-and I wanted t-to touch it…a-and it…" He took a series of quick, hiccupped breaths, his small features contorting. "…and it…a-and I…and s-she went–" He motioned to his head with his other hand. "–I-in there and then…a-and then I looked…a-and it bit me!" He returned his attention to Rose, mouth open and lower lip trembling. Ka raised an eyebrow.
"So this is all my fault?" She asked and Rose shot her a dull look, "I see. I'll guess I'll just take it, then." She decided placidly and leaned back on her hands as Rose raised her own hands to heal the boy. "I'll just bend right over and take it." She smiled stupidly at the canal up ahead. On the rocks, she could see the little crab thing scurrying about.
Stop that, you look like him. Rain's watery voice chimed in her mind; it was quickly becoming worse than a guilty conscience.
You can see me too? Ka retorted, sighing internally. Uncool, Rain. Supremely uncool. Rain made a hacking sound.
Your words baffle, but I am certain some insult has taken place. An insult that probably isn't even worth countering. So I'll spare you the embarrassment and give you the bit of news I have for you. The illithid paused. Annoyed at the surely intended wait, Ka made a face.
And?
The boy's master wants his pet back. Rain seemed at once amused and sly. Ka looked over at Rose, who had just finished with the boy and was getting up to go join Zoe with him.
Dang. He noticed him missing then?
Quit stalling. Rain snapped. That's inherent in the news I bring you and you know it. So…what are you going to do about it? Ka moistened her lips and watched as a now completely-healed and over-animated Mezzen jumped onto her brother and assaulted him with a barrage of what sounded like crab questions.
Well the kid's not going back – that's just too damn bad. Rose'd rip my face off and Zoe would likely lose what bit of manhood he's acquired in the past week or so. I couldn't care less if the kid took off, to be honest with you, and Dil would go into euphoria. Rain sounded excited now.
Ooh! Well isn't this a pickle! Ilsensine knows I wouldn't want to make you or your overgrown troll happy, but your brother seemed like a nice fellow and the cheap potion woman wasn't a bad specimen. So I suppose we'll have to find a way to compensate my comrade for his loss, hmm? If Rain would have been standing before her then, Ka would have hit him.
You're the biggest champ in the whole goddess damned world, you know that, Rain? The King. But I agree with you nonetheless.
Naturally, Rain purred good-naturedly. Ka took a breath and thought it out a moment, watching her brother and Rose chat with their adoptive son.
Tell you what, Rain my man. How would your buddy like Rose and Zoe's first born kid? Rain didn't answer at once, and Ka took this as an invitation to sweeten the deal. Come on, champ…he'll be cute! You know it. He'll be – or she'll be – kinda smart like Zojikoe and alright-looking like Rose. Sounds like a good deal, doesn't it? I'm sure the kid would make a great foot stool or maid or meal or whatever your friend needs him for. Rain chuckled.
I'll discuss it with him and get back to you on that. On the meantime, Ka, maybe you should consider a career in livestock dealership…
Ka let that one go and Rain left. She stared at Rose, Mezzen and Zoe for a moment longer, wondering just how badly she'll get wounded when she breaks it to them that she just sold their first born child. Assuming they'd ever have children. Which was another problem altogether.
"Feeling lonely 'cause the kid's not begging you for attention, Ka?" Dil's voice chimed, snapping Ka from her thoughts with a start. The warrior was seated on Ka's other side, grinning like a cat.
"No, actually." Ka replied, turning a frown up at Dil. "I was just taking to Rain." She stopped, registering the utter lack of understanding on Dil's face. "The illithid that was my master, Dil. The illithid." She corrected herself at once. "Anyway…Mezzen's master noticed him missing and wants him back." Dil's features brightened and his smile went from malicious to ecstatic.
"Really?!" He breathed. "And? When do we bring him back? Tonight? If you want me to make it quick, I can knock him out, sling him over my shoulder and run right back to the squids." He offered, nodding. Ka smiled at the image but shook her head.
"No, Dil. That won't be necessary." She swallowed and watched the warrior's features darken right back up.
"Why?" Dil's reply was venomous. Ka's eyes strayed to the side.
"Well…the thing is…you see…" She took a breath and met Dil'andau's gaze once again, "…we're keeping the kid." She closed her eyes and curled into a ball instantly, covering her head with her hands protectively. This was going to hurt…
…and then it didn't.
Ka slowly inched her head back up and peered over her arms at Dil. The warrior was staring right at her, his eyes distant and resigned somewhat. He looked utterly heartbroken.
"So, what now?" Dil droned flatly. "Let me guess. You decided to sacrifice yourself instead?" He raised an eyebrow at Ka. Ka grinned slyly and resisted the urge to let out a cackle.
"Not quite." She answered. Dil's mouth dropped.
"You sacrificed me?" He swallowed. "Oh for Lloth's sake…" His chest heaved and he looked nervously back over his shoulder at the way they came.
"No." Ka cut in immediately and Dil's head whipped back around. "I don't have the heart to do that." She grinned evilly. "I don't like to suffer." She thumbed at Rose, Zoe and Mezzen a dozen feet away. "I sold Zoe and Rose's firstborn kid." She watched Dil's expression go from confused, to curious, to annoyed, and finally to amused. She should have known better by this point, and only later did it occur to her that it may have been better to smash the warrior over the head with something at that exact moment instead of letting him go with his new knowledge.
"Are you serious?" Dil'andau asked, his voice hushed but ill-contained. His eyes kept darting back and forth between Ka and Zoe. Ka, the fool she was, nodded solemnly.
"Hell yes." Came the final push. She knew it would happen, on some level at least, but had not been wise enough to prevent it. In approximately one microsecond, Dil leaned to the side, past her, and cleared his voice.
"Hey Zoe!" He called almost kindly and the mage looked over at him dubiously; the grin on Dil's face split wide. "Your sister here just sold you and your girlfriend's firstborn kid to the illithids!" He waited a moment for the news to settle in before letting out a loud laugh. "Ha!" He cried. "See what your stupid kid is costing you?!" He preened.
Beside him, Ka prayed for Lloth to tear the ground asunder and pull her down to the nine hells. She looked over at Dil and mouthed the words 'I hate you'; Dil winked at her. From the side, Rose's voice rose like the tide and footsteps pounded towards her. Somewhere near, Slayer growled and Mezzen gasped.
It looked then as though the group wouldn't be covering any more ground that day.
***
"Why didn't you sell your own kid?" Rose asked, shaking her head and scooping more water into Zojikoe's hair. The blood from Dil's re-opened lip had gotten into the mage's hair when he'd wrestled Dil off of Rose, who had leapt at Ka, and had ended up tripping over Slayer, who had been in the way due to the fact that it was chasing Mezzen, who had panicked again and taken off towards the shoreline.
"Because she doesn't have one!" Dil snapped moodily. He sat with his arms protectively around Ka, who ,oddly enough, was the only one who hadn't gotten hurt in the scrape.
"Ask doctor stupid…" Zoe grumbled, barely audibly, his head bent over the water edge where he knelt. He was outraged and appalled at what his sister had done, and had no clue whether he could ever forgive her for it. All in all, despite the atrocious circumstances surrounding the deal, the idea of it wasn't all that bad when he thought about it. What if he couldn't have children? What if Mezzen was the only kid he'd ever get? Then at least he'd get to keep the boy and the illithid could just go to hell… But then, what if he could have children? It's not like he had ever tried to. And what if he got attached to it before it came time to give it away? What if Rose didn't want to give it away (and he had a nagging feeling that she wouldn't)? What if Rose was infertile? What if Rose didn't care to have children with him?
There were simply too many what ifs.
"Yours would likely make a…better subject." Ka answered at last, twiddling her thumbs and watching Mezzen flip through a book he found in Zoe's bedroll. Zojikoe raised his head suddenly.
"That's bullshit!" He cried and meant to say more, but Rose's hands doused him with more water, shutting him up. There was a long silence, marred only by the splash of water and the crinkle of pages turning, and Mezzen spoke up brightly.
"I wanna learn to levitek!" The boy declared, somehow immune to the heavy atmosphere around him. Dil laughed harshly.
"It's levitate, moron." He corrected the kid and rolled his eyes. He didn't see it, but Mezzen stuck his tongue out at him before bounding over to Rose and Zoe by the shore.
"Show me to levitate, Zoe!" The boy urged, stressing the last syllable bitterly. "Come on!" He bent down and looked at the mage upside down so that he could see his face. Zoe sighed and sat back, his hair wetting the tops of his robed shoulders.
"You just will yourself to do it. Simple. Just close your eyes and will it really, really hard. There's nothing to it." He said with a light shrug, looking over at Mezzen. He plucked at his robes a moment and made a face. "I'm filthy, Mezzen. I really need a bath. Maybe we could do this later, alright?" He suggested. Mezzen looked crushed.
"Just show the kid how to do it!" Dil argued from back near the cave wall. "It won't take long if it's as easy as you make it out to be." He took a breath. "Stop being a priss and be a man. It's important for the kid to learn these things, you know." Zoe looked over at Rose, who was critically observing the waters of the canal and appeared to be deep in thought, and then looked over his shoulder at Dil.
"You show him." He countered. "I'm tired and I want a bath. It's been days, for Lloth's sake…not everyone can stand themselves smelling like rothe." He made a face. Dil shifted uncomfortably.
"He's your kid." He pressed. "You teach him." Against him, Ka could feel his grip on her shift, his muscles tightening. Something was wrong, here… Zoe growled.
"I said no!" He cried, unable to understand why Dil wasn't letting this go (or anything else, for that matter). "You're obviously not doing anything except heating the ground with your ass, why don't you get useful for once?" Dil hesitated.
"That has nothing to do with anything." He countered, the vehemence leaving his tone. Ka was suddenly keenly aware of the warrior's rapid heartbeat. Nervousness? Fear? Anger?
Across the way, Zoe frowned and raised an eyebrow at Dil'andau. His eyes fell upon the familiar spectacle of his sister zoning out on her companion as she played in his mind. It quickly became a successful mining trip as his sister's eyes widened in surprise.
"You can't levitate." Ka stated flatly, half speaking to Dil and half reciting her findings. She blinked once and turned around to face the male. "You really can't levitate?" She asked him curiously. Dil scowled and looked from her to Zoe and Rose, who was now listening as well.
"I could…" He replied, letting the subject hang. He watched as Ka went in for another round of mental snooping and immediately got to his feet.
Ka stayed on the ground and kept rummaging around just long enough to find a final, single piece of information. She looked up at Dil when she found it and the warrior returned her stare; he knew she knew. It was the perfect way to get back at him for not keeping quiet about the illithid deal. She grinned.
"Dil levitated once, as a kid." She declared. "Then he dropped. Probably on his head, which explains a lot of things." She added and winked at Dil as he had done earlier.
Across the way, Zojikoe errupted into sobs of laughter. Rose stayed quite still and hid a smile. Mezzen grinned. Slayer licked his paws.
Ka looked to her brother and back again, just in time to see Dil'andau storm off around the bend. There was something in his manner that lead her to believe that perhaps she had gone a tad too far this time, and it's for that reason that she got to her feet and hurried after him.
Back by the shore, Mezzen tugged on Rose's sleeve as Zoe sobbed with laughter beside him. "Rose?" The boy asked. "Is Dil broken?" He looked up at the priestess and she smiled down at him.
"No dear, he isn't." She replied kindly. "Let's just leave them be for a while, shall we?" She roughly shoved Zoe, who couldn't control himself in his hysterics, and added "I think we could all stand to have a bath, I think." She got up and pulled Mezzen with her. "And maybe we can show you the difference between males and females." She threw in slyly.
At this, Zoe's hysterics stopped abruptly.
***
"Dil!" Ka cried, panting as she tore around a final corner and found the warrior sitting sulkily near the shoreline. He did not look over at her, nor did he respond. She sighed and rolled her eyes. Why oh why…
When her breath returned to her, she padded over to where Dil sat and plopped down astride his lap; he didn't move or meet her gaze. For a moment, she considered getting up again and walking away, leaving the conundrum-of-a-drow to his own devices and washing her hands clean of him. But she couldn't. He was a freak, and she was a freak. And if they were going to be freaks, then at least they would be freaks together.
"I'm sorry." She said at length, taking his face into her hands and searching out his gaze. He didn't answer her and she frowned, hardening her tone. "You are an immature, mean-spirited, foolish man and you fully deserve everything I've dealt you thus far." She scolded sternly. He looked at her then, frowning, and opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off before he could. "And I'm a wonderful, pleasant, glorious individual who deserves nothing below reverence." She added with a wicked grin. His frown lifted and he raised an eyebrow.
"Truce?" He offered, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her close. Ka smirked and melted into the embrace.
"Truce." She agreed and kissed him, pressing him down to the cavern floor.