Light Wrapped in Darkness
Magicman: Okay, I'm detecting some varying opinions about that last chapter. I know it was mostly unexpected, but keep in mind that I don't like unhappy endings. I think there's enough unhappiness in the world without making some up too. It's a shame that Suicide Minion is leaving us, but under the circumstances that's probably a good thing. If he didn't like the ending to Taurus, Aerie, and Viconia's love triangle then he's going to HATE my plans for Jaheira. I'm not about to leave her alone and loveless; she's suffered enough. But, as you may have guessed, I like to take things in different directions. So guess what's going to happen. All will be made clear in the end.
Daevan: ...Demons?
Magicman: *sigh* Yes Daevan. Demons.
***
"Welcome" greeted the tall, thin, armoured man candidly. "You have come as I wanted. I am, as you know, Aran Linvail."
This was it. The party had worked hard to get to this point, but they had finally reached Gaelan Bayle's boss. That boss turned out to be the Shadow Master of the entire Shadow Thieves guild. The guild stretched all the way down the Sword Coast and had its hand in nearly every shady deal that went down. Rumours had it that some members even sat on the Council, the leading authority in Amn. This Aran Linvail was the man behind that immense power.
Somehow, Taurus thought he'd be taller.
"And I am Taurus" the crintri responded. "Also as you know. You also know what we need. What would you have of us?"
Since the Umar Hills the party had been jumping across Amn. Jaheira had defeated the leader of a cult of Shadow druids near Trademeet and they had met up with Mazzy again. Afterward they returned to Athkatla and solved some of the local ills. They'd solved a murder case, destroyed a powerful band of evil based in the Bridge district, rescued a kidnap victim, and mashed a religious cult in the temple district. It was during this little outing that Taurus found a replacement for his katana he left in the Shadow Dragon's eye. The new katana was named Celestial Fury, and it was Taurus' most beloved possession to date.
All of their travelling had given the party a name for good. These days, most people did not quiver in fear when Taurus' dark visage passed by. Viconia found it distasteful that the rivvin would forget the dark nature of the drow, but she did not complain when a farmer at the keep dropped to his knees and thanked her for healing his wife of a disease. She had later told Taurus that it felt gratifying to be treated with the respect she deserved.
It had taken longer than expected for the party to gather the 20,000 gold, mostly because of the different situations which came up. As the lord of Nalia's keep, he took care of the people in the area, even if it meant bankrupting himself. Of course it hadn't helped that Nalia's old groom-to-be Isaea Roenall had had her kidnapped. The party was forced to find evidence of Roenall's deceit to free her. She had traveled with them again, for a while, before returning to her sphere.
When they had finally gathered enough money to fill Gaelan Bayle's quota, a mysterious woman calling herself Valen had approached them. She indicated that her mistress would make a better offer than the Shadow Thieves. No sooner had she left however, than Brus, Bayle's nephew had shown up. The young boy had indicated that Bayle had a special offer for them. After a brief discussion, the party decided to stay with the original offer and talked to Gaelan. It turned out that the shady character wanted to reduce the price, making the party more than eligible for help by Linvail and his companions.
"Right to the point eh? That's fine with me" Linvail continued. "You are a capable person and I would propose an exchange of services."
Taurus remained relaxed. "We paid a lot of gold for your help."
"And I assure you, you will receive that help. It takes time to allocate the funds however, so there's no point in being idle, is there?" Linvail spread his hands placatingly. "First and foremost, you will be compensated for the gold you have paid, with several magical items you will undoubtedly need for what I have planned."
This statement was met with growls from the party. Jaheira was incensed. "You placate us with trinkets and platitudes?!" she nearly screamed. "We have a lost friend to rescue and revenge to be had!"
Linvail raised his hands in defence, but he showed no signs of anger. The bodyguards stationed around his spacious and well decorated bedroom tensed however. "Now I know you are weary and are eager to get on with your quest, but it really can't be helped just yet."
"And why is that?" Viconia challenged. "I have seen that you are a powerful organization, among surfacers."
"You may have noticed that we are in a war. This new guild is not the type that would be easily defeated."
The drow raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Surely an organisation as deep-rooted as your own could not be defeated by some upstarts unless they had a powerful magic."
Linvail smiled. "Indeed. Let's just say that these guild members are not ordinary assassins. Thus the need for you."
Taurus growled slightly then sighed. "I suppose we have no choice. What do you need?"
"That's the spirit!" Linvail was happy, now that he had what he wanted. "Your first task will be to bolster the guard. Tonight go down to the dock and talk to Mook. My people are receiving a very important shipment, and we can't afford to lose it. Your presence should discourage any action on part of my, or should I say our, enemies."
Taurus frowned. "And exactly what is the nature of this shipment?"
Linvail shrugged. "I won't lie to you. If the authorities found out, they would likely intervene. But consider this. We are your only chance at reaching your friend Imoen. If we go down, then you are lost, and the other guild will not help you. They likely know that you are here already. So you really have no choice but to follow through on your original plan."
Taurus continued to frown. "I suppose you're right. But the sooner this is all over, the better."
"Agreed. So on that note, you should probably be off. My men will give you your artifacts as you go." And with that, the infamous Aran Linvail turned from the companions, clearly signifying that the interview was over. A henchman stepped forward and presented two pieces of jewellery. One was a silver amulet, the other was a ring with two inset pearls, but both of them radiated a magical aura to Taurus and Aerie, the mages.
With no ceremony whatsoever, the party departed from Linvail's headquarters in Athkatla. As soon as they were out of sight of Linvail's Shadow Thieves, Taurus let out a long hiss of repressed anger.
"He's keeping us from Imoen deliberately!" he growled. "Does he think we have so much time on our side that we can afford to waste it?"
Jaheira nodded grimly. "Unfortunately he makes sense. This new guild is not one to be trifled with, or the Shadow Thieves would have crushed it already. I don't think we have any choice."
Taurus only growled again. Aerie sidled up to him and gave a little sideways hug, and he relaxed a bit. "Okay" he said, "We've got a couple of hours until sunset. We may as well take a break. Maybe we can get Jahs her tea?"
Jaheira snorted with her nose in the air and stalked off. Minsc followed and so did Viconia, with an amused smirk on her face. Aerie trailed after her, but Yoshimo stopped Taurus for a moment. The crintri watched, curiously.
"I would suggest caution, Taurus" Yoshimo said slowly. He looked as though he had something big on his mind. "We don't want to become embroiled too deep in this. I do not think it would be healthy."
Taurus nodded. "Caution is a good idea. Do you have any thoughts on what's going on?"
Yoshimo looked startled for a second. "Er, no. I did not mean to suggest anything contrary to what Mr. Linvail has said. I just... Never mind. I'm just a bit muddled."
Taurus watched the thief walk off. Then he shrugged and followed.
***
Nighttime in Athkatla's docks was not safe or pleasant. Thieves and cutpurses, muggers and prostitutes roamed the district, plying their trade. However, all but the last group would avoid a heavily armed party of adventurers. The prostitutes did approach the group, seductive smiles on their faces but they were turned away in disappointment.
On occasion though, information could be got out of them. The party learned the location of the docks in the district. They also learned that, according to one prostitute they met, Aerie would do very well for herself in that profession.
"You've got the most perfect legs for it dear" the woman said, drawing out the word 'perfect' as she checked out the elf maid's figure.
Aerie blushed wildly as Viconia, Yoshimo, and Jaheira snickered behind her. "Sorry, but I don't think that's the life for me."
The woman shrugged. "Your loss. The work pays better than you'd think."
After this little incident, Aerie stayed at the rear of the party so that any wandering prostitutes wouldn't notice her.
As they stepped into Athkatla's harbour, a badly lit, dismal place dotted with crates, fishing nets, and refuse, a middle-aged woman with mousy coloured hair and a drunken disposition stumbled into Jaheira. "Greeting deary" she smiled benignly at the druid. "What brings you to this hell-hole?"
"We're merely looking for an acquaintance" Jaheira assured her.
"An acquaintance?" The strange woman clucked her tongue. "Oh my, what a vague word. Do you know her personally?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Ah. Then it's a shady sort of deal you're planning. You may want to be careful. Mr. Linvail controls the shady deals around here."
Jaheira nodded. "I'll remember that."
"Jaheira" Aerie called from across the docks. "Hurry up."
Jaheira waved to the elf. "Well" she said to the woman who was rocking back and forth on her heels, "I must be going. It was pleasant talking with you."
"Indeed. Then goodbye Miss Jaheira. Say hello to Aran for me, the next time you see him."
Jaheira stopped dead in her tracks. Then she sighed. "Aerie would you bring Taurus over here? I believe that we've found who we're looking for."
The old woman was indeed Mook, and she had heard of their coming within ten minutes of their meeting with Linvail. Now she was seated on a crate and informing the party of its purpose in coming here. There was no hint of drunkenness or uncertainty in her tone now. She was businesslike with a no nonsense sort of attitude. Taurus couldn't help but like her.
"The guy we're waiting for has passed by a couple times now, and should be coming by again soon. He's looked different each time though." The thief woman explained the situation. "With you here to watch the goods, I should be able to get some information off of him."
"How did you know it was the same person?" Viconia asked. Mook gave a look that called her a fool.
"I've been trained to notice these things."
Taurus repressed a smile. He would have to soothe Vicky's ruffled feathers later. "Well it sounds like a good plan. You can never tell though. Be careful, will you?"
Mook nodded. "I didn't get this old by not being careful. Thanks though."
That concluded the briefing and the party settled down to wait for the arrival of the mysterious man.
It did not take long.
Aerie was sitting next to Viconia, studying a scroll she had picked up in the Druids' grove when a chill ran down her spine. She heard the other woman suck in a breath and she glanced up quickly. Viconia stared into the shadows at the far end of the dock, her eyes frozen with dread. Aerie looked too and her scroll nearly dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers.
A man had appeared from the shadows, but such a man! His flash was pale and waxy in complexion. His lips were an unhealthy red. And his eyes burned with an unholy light. Aerie made a sign to ward off evil.
"There he is. He looks different after dark. Kind of creepy, isn't he?" Mook had appeared at Aerie's elbow and was watching the man with an expression that showed no expression. "You girls stay here with the loot. Taurus and the rest will be along presently. I'll go see if I can find anything out about this guy."
The thief assumed a drunk and foolish expression and stumbled from the shadows out into the open. Weaving, she lurched toward the strange man. "Hello deary!" she grinned. "What brings you out here on a night like this?"
The man did not show surprise at the woman's sudden entrance. He spoke in a voice as dead as the grave. "Mook. The night blinds some, but to others it is a blessing."
"And who is it who speaks to me as though he were an old acquaintance?"
"I am one who knows many things. For you, guarding another man's belongings is not a life."
The man's voice took on the slightest hint of passion. Mook's voice took on the slightest hint of steel. "I live as I decide friend. You do not choose for me."
Now the man smiled, displaying a mouth full of sharp teeth. "You have not the strength to choose for yourself, weak one. You can only follow. Expect no help from these dredges. Their deaths are written in the stars."
Mook looked up into the man's eyes and they burned with a fierce hunger. For the first time, she felt afraid. "Taurus!" she yelled, "To my side! We are-"
With inhuman speed the man thrust an arm out and lashed it sideways. His nails tore through her throat, sending a well of blood bubbling up through her airways. The man caught her body up like a rag doll and snapped her spine over his knee. He let loose a howl of vicious laughter and tossed Mook's body aside. His burning eyes fastened onto Aerie and he flashed forward, his deadly nails extended.
Aerie had no time to even breath as the man- no, the monster rushed at her.
Taurus hurled in from nowhere, checking it in the side and into the wall. He closed, grabbing its hands and forcing them above its head. Face to face he stared into its vile nature.
With the strength of Death, it sent Taurus sprawling onto the stone ground, but then it had to contend with Minsc. The ranger wielded Lilracor with a mad fury. "Demon!" he screamed with rage. "Justice will strike you down!"
The monster ducked Minsc's first wild swing and slid aside, away from the rest of the party. Jaheira and Viconia were chanting and Yoshimo had an arrow knocked. It hissed and stared directly at Taurus with those eyes. "This is not over fleshling! You will not live out the night!" The crintri surged to his feet, blades bare but the thing had leapt back into the shadows and...dissolved into a mist, which drifted away in the slight breeze.
Taurus was silent, marking the monster for death in his mind. Then he walked over to Mook's corpse. The poor woman had been too grievously wounded for any chance of resurrection. Her throat had been torn open right to the back of her neck and her back was shattered. Her eyes stared up at the night sky, horror etched in place by death.
Viconia stepped up behind Taurus as he whispered a prayer to Mystra and put her arms around him. "She is dead seriso", she murmured soothingly. "All we can do now is avenge her death."
Taurus nodded. "We shall."
***
"What have you to report?"
Taurus nearly punched Linvail in the face. Undoubtedly he knew about all this. "It went as expected, though Mook was killed."
The look on Linvail's face suggested that he had NOT known about this. "This is...regrettable. Mook was a friend."
Taurus nodded. "They seemed to know her, though she knew them not."
Linvail sighed. "I thought so. This rival guild has been receiving information about our members and movements from runaways who switch sides. Which brings me to your next job. Two of our members, Caehan and Jaylos by name, have decided to leave us. Greener pastures and all, no doubt."
Linvail shrugged, apparently in command of his grief. "They cannot be allowed to escape to our enemies with the knowledge they possess. We have word that they will be meeting a contact from the enemy guild tonight in the top floor of 'The Friendly Arms Inn' in the Bridge district. You know the place? Good. Try and find out some information about their base if you can, but the priority is killing Caehan and Jaylos."
After the party left the room Yoshimo sighed. "Now we are certain to be stepping on some toes. I fear that this will lead to no good. I certainly hope that you know what you are doing Taurus."
Taurus nodded. "So do I. And believe me, it isn't very reassuring."
***
Magicman: I'm almost positive that I got the name of the inn wrong. Anyone know its real name?
Daevan: I've been thinking.
Magicman: What's that?
Daevan: Is Smokegirl really a demon? She seems more like a human's evil side, torn from his body and given her own.
Magicman: She is.
Daevan: I see. Then I was incorrect in calling her a demon last time.
Magicman: Yes you were. Anyways, see you next time folks.
Magicman: Okay, I'm detecting some varying opinions about that last chapter. I know it was mostly unexpected, but keep in mind that I don't like unhappy endings. I think there's enough unhappiness in the world without making some up too. It's a shame that Suicide Minion is leaving us, but under the circumstances that's probably a good thing. If he didn't like the ending to Taurus, Aerie, and Viconia's love triangle then he's going to HATE my plans for Jaheira. I'm not about to leave her alone and loveless; she's suffered enough. But, as you may have guessed, I like to take things in different directions. So guess what's going to happen. All will be made clear in the end.
Daevan: ...Demons?
Magicman: *sigh* Yes Daevan. Demons.
***
"Welcome" greeted the tall, thin, armoured man candidly. "You have come as I wanted. I am, as you know, Aran Linvail."
This was it. The party had worked hard to get to this point, but they had finally reached Gaelan Bayle's boss. That boss turned out to be the Shadow Master of the entire Shadow Thieves guild. The guild stretched all the way down the Sword Coast and had its hand in nearly every shady deal that went down. Rumours had it that some members even sat on the Council, the leading authority in Amn. This Aran Linvail was the man behind that immense power.
Somehow, Taurus thought he'd be taller.
"And I am Taurus" the crintri responded. "Also as you know. You also know what we need. What would you have of us?"
Since the Umar Hills the party had been jumping across Amn. Jaheira had defeated the leader of a cult of Shadow druids near Trademeet and they had met up with Mazzy again. Afterward they returned to Athkatla and solved some of the local ills. They'd solved a murder case, destroyed a powerful band of evil based in the Bridge district, rescued a kidnap victim, and mashed a religious cult in the temple district. It was during this little outing that Taurus found a replacement for his katana he left in the Shadow Dragon's eye. The new katana was named Celestial Fury, and it was Taurus' most beloved possession to date.
All of their travelling had given the party a name for good. These days, most people did not quiver in fear when Taurus' dark visage passed by. Viconia found it distasteful that the rivvin would forget the dark nature of the drow, but she did not complain when a farmer at the keep dropped to his knees and thanked her for healing his wife of a disease. She had later told Taurus that it felt gratifying to be treated with the respect she deserved.
It had taken longer than expected for the party to gather the 20,000 gold, mostly because of the different situations which came up. As the lord of Nalia's keep, he took care of the people in the area, even if it meant bankrupting himself. Of course it hadn't helped that Nalia's old groom-to-be Isaea Roenall had had her kidnapped. The party was forced to find evidence of Roenall's deceit to free her. She had traveled with them again, for a while, before returning to her sphere.
When they had finally gathered enough money to fill Gaelan Bayle's quota, a mysterious woman calling herself Valen had approached them. She indicated that her mistress would make a better offer than the Shadow Thieves. No sooner had she left however, than Brus, Bayle's nephew had shown up. The young boy had indicated that Bayle had a special offer for them. After a brief discussion, the party decided to stay with the original offer and talked to Gaelan. It turned out that the shady character wanted to reduce the price, making the party more than eligible for help by Linvail and his companions.
"Right to the point eh? That's fine with me" Linvail continued. "You are a capable person and I would propose an exchange of services."
Taurus remained relaxed. "We paid a lot of gold for your help."
"And I assure you, you will receive that help. It takes time to allocate the funds however, so there's no point in being idle, is there?" Linvail spread his hands placatingly. "First and foremost, you will be compensated for the gold you have paid, with several magical items you will undoubtedly need for what I have planned."
This statement was met with growls from the party. Jaheira was incensed. "You placate us with trinkets and platitudes?!" she nearly screamed. "We have a lost friend to rescue and revenge to be had!"
Linvail raised his hands in defence, but he showed no signs of anger. The bodyguards stationed around his spacious and well decorated bedroom tensed however. "Now I know you are weary and are eager to get on with your quest, but it really can't be helped just yet."
"And why is that?" Viconia challenged. "I have seen that you are a powerful organization, among surfacers."
"You may have noticed that we are in a war. This new guild is not the type that would be easily defeated."
The drow raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Surely an organisation as deep-rooted as your own could not be defeated by some upstarts unless they had a powerful magic."
Linvail smiled. "Indeed. Let's just say that these guild members are not ordinary assassins. Thus the need for you."
Taurus growled slightly then sighed. "I suppose we have no choice. What do you need?"
"That's the spirit!" Linvail was happy, now that he had what he wanted. "Your first task will be to bolster the guard. Tonight go down to the dock and talk to Mook. My people are receiving a very important shipment, and we can't afford to lose it. Your presence should discourage any action on part of my, or should I say our, enemies."
Taurus frowned. "And exactly what is the nature of this shipment?"
Linvail shrugged. "I won't lie to you. If the authorities found out, they would likely intervene. But consider this. We are your only chance at reaching your friend Imoen. If we go down, then you are lost, and the other guild will not help you. They likely know that you are here already. So you really have no choice but to follow through on your original plan."
Taurus continued to frown. "I suppose you're right. But the sooner this is all over, the better."
"Agreed. So on that note, you should probably be off. My men will give you your artifacts as you go." And with that, the infamous Aran Linvail turned from the companions, clearly signifying that the interview was over. A henchman stepped forward and presented two pieces of jewellery. One was a silver amulet, the other was a ring with two inset pearls, but both of them radiated a magical aura to Taurus and Aerie, the mages.
With no ceremony whatsoever, the party departed from Linvail's headquarters in Athkatla. As soon as they were out of sight of Linvail's Shadow Thieves, Taurus let out a long hiss of repressed anger.
"He's keeping us from Imoen deliberately!" he growled. "Does he think we have so much time on our side that we can afford to waste it?"
Jaheira nodded grimly. "Unfortunately he makes sense. This new guild is not one to be trifled with, or the Shadow Thieves would have crushed it already. I don't think we have any choice."
Taurus only growled again. Aerie sidled up to him and gave a little sideways hug, and he relaxed a bit. "Okay" he said, "We've got a couple of hours until sunset. We may as well take a break. Maybe we can get Jahs her tea?"
Jaheira snorted with her nose in the air and stalked off. Minsc followed and so did Viconia, with an amused smirk on her face. Aerie trailed after her, but Yoshimo stopped Taurus for a moment. The crintri watched, curiously.
"I would suggest caution, Taurus" Yoshimo said slowly. He looked as though he had something big on his mind. "We don't want to become embroiled too deep in this. I do not think it would be healthy."
Taurus nodded. "Caution is a good idea. Do you have any thoughts on what's going on?"
Yoshimo looked startled for a second. "Er, no. I did not mean to suggest anything contrary to what Mr. Linvail has said. I just... Never mind. I'm just a bit muddled."
Taurus watched the thief walk off. Then he shrugged and followed.
***
Nighttime in Athkatla's docks was not safe or pleasant. Thieves and cutpurses, muggers and prostitutes roamed the district, plying their trade. However, all but the last group would avoid a heavily armed party of adventurers. The prostitutes did approach the group, seductive smiles on their faces but they were turned away in disappointment.
On occasion though, information could be got out of them. The party learned the location of the docks in the district. They also learned that, according to one prostitute they met, Aerie would do very well for herself in that profession.
"You've got the most perfect legs for it dear" the woman said, drawing out the word 'perfect' as she checked out the elf maid's figure.
Aerie blushed wildly as Viconia, Yoshimo, and Jaheira snickered behind her. "Sorry, but I don't think that's the life for me."
The woman shrugged. "Your loss. The work pays better than you'd think."
After this little incident, Aerie stayed at the rear of the party so that any wandering prostitutes wouldn't notice her.
As they stepped into Athkatla's harbour, a badly lit, dismal place dotted with crates, fishing nets, and refuse, a middle-aged woman with mousy coloured hair and a drunken disposition stumbled into Jaheira. "Greeting deary" she smiled benignly at the druid. "What brings you to this hell-hole?"
"We're merely looking for an acquaintance" Jaheira assured her.
"An acquaintance?" The strange woman clucked her tongue. "Oh my, what a vague word. Do you know her personally?"
"No, not that I know of."
"Ah. Then it's a shady sort of deal you're planning. You may want to be careful. Mr. Linvail controls the shady deals around here."
Jaheira nodded. "I'll remember that."
"Jaheira" Aerie called from across the docks. "Hurry up."
Jaheira waved to the elf. "Well" she said to the woman who was rocking back and forth on her heels, "I must be going. It was pleasant talking with you."
"Indeed. Then goodbye Miss Jaheira. Say hello to Aran for me, the next time you see him."
Jaheira stopped dead in her tracks. Then she sighed. "Aerie would you bring Taurus over here? I believe that we've found who we're looking for."
The old woman was indeed Mook, and she had heard of their coming within ten minutes of their meeting with Linvail. Now she was seated on a crate and informing the party of its purpose in coming here. There was no hint of drunkenness or uncertainty in her tone now. She was businesslike with a no nonsense sort of attitude. Taurus couldn't help but like her.
"The guy we're waiting for has passed by a couple times now, and should be coming by again soon. He's looked different each time though." The thief woman explained the situation. "With you here to watch the goods, I should be able to get some information off of him."
"How did you know it was the same person?" Viconia asked. Mook gave a look that called her a fool.
"I've been trained to notice these things."
Taurus repressed a smile. He would have to soothe Vicky's ruffled feathers later. "Well it sounds like a good plan. You can never tell though. Be careful, will you?"
Mook nodded. "I didn't get this old by not being careful. Thanks though."
That concluded the briefing and the party settled down to wait for the arrival of the mysterious man.
It did not take long.
Aerie was sitting next to Viconia, studying a scroll she had picked up in the Druids' grove when a chill ran down her spine. She heard the other woman suck in a breath and she glanced up quickly. Viconia stared into the shadows at the far end of the dock, her eyes frozen with dread. Aerie looked too and her scroll nearly dropped from suddenly nerveless fingers.
A man had appeared from the shadows, but such a man! His flash was pale and waxy in complexion. His lips were an unhealthy red. And his eyes burned with an unholy light. Aerie made a sign to ward off evil.
"There he is. He looks different after dark. Kind of creepy, isn't he?" Mook had appeared at Aerie's elbow and was watching the man with an expression that showed no expression. "You girls stay here with the loot. Taurus and the rest will be along presently. I'll go see if I can find anything out about this guy."
The thief assumed a drunk and foolish expression and stumbled from the shadows out into the open. Weaving, she lurched toward the strange man. "Hello deary!" she grinned. "What brings you out here on a night like this?"
The man did not show surprise at the woman's sudden entrance. He spoke in a voice as dead as the grave. "Mook. The night blinds some, but to others it is a blessing."
"And who is it who speaks to me as though he were an old acquaintance?"
"I am one who knows many things. For you, guarding another man's belongings is not a life."
The man's voice took on the slightest hint of passion. Mook's voice took on the slightest hint of steel. "I live as I decide friend. You do not choose for me."
Now the man smiled, displaying a mouth full of sharp teeth. "You have not the strength to choose for yourself, weak one. You can only follow. Expect no help from these dredges. Their deaths are written in the stars."
Mook looked up into the man's eyes and they burned with a fierce hunger. For the first time, she felt afraid. "Taurus!" she yelled, "To my side! We are-"
With inhuman speed the man thrust an arm out and lashed it sideways. His nails tore through her throat, sending a well of blood bubbling up through her airways. The man caught her body up like a rag doll and snapped her spine over his knee. He let loose a howl of vicious laughter and tossed Mook's body aside. His burning eyes fastened onto Aerie and he flashed forward, his deadly nails extended.
Aerie had no time to even breath as the man- no, the monster rushed at her.
Taurus hurled in from nowhere, checking it in the side and into the wall. He closed, grabbing its hands and forcing them above its head. Face to face he stared into its vile nature.
With the strength of Death, it sent Taurus sprawling onto the stone ground, but then it had to contend with Minsc. The ranger wielded Lilracor with a mad fury. "Demon!" he screamed with rage. "Justice will strike you down!"
The monster ducked Minsc's first wild swing and slid aside, away from the rest of the party. Jaheira and Viconia were chanting and Yoshimo had an arrow knocked. It hissed and stared directly at Taurus with those eyes. "This is not over fleshling! You will not live out the night!" The crintri surged to his feet, blades bare but the thing had leapt back into the shadows and...dissolved into a mist, which drifted away in the slight breeze.
Taurus was silent, marking the monster for death in his mind. Then he walked over to Mook's corpse. The poor woman had been too grievously wounded for any chance of resurrection. Her throat had been torn open right to the back of her neck and her back was shattered. Her eyes stared up at the night sky, horror etched in place by death.
Viconia stepped up behind Taurus as he whispered a prayer to Mystra and put her arms around him. "She is dead seriso", she murmured soothingly. "All we can do now is avenge her death."
Taurus nodded. "We shall."
***
"What have you to report?"
Taurus nearly punched Linvail in the face. Undoubtedly he knew about all this. "It went as expected, though Mook was killed."
The look on Linvail's face suggested that he had NOT known about this. "This is...regrettable. Mook was a friend."
Taurus nodded. "They seemed to know her, though she knew them not."
Linvail sighed. "I thought so. This rival guild has been receiving information about our members and movements from runaways who switch sides. Which brings me to your next job. Two of our members, Caehan and Jaylos by name, have decided to leave us. Greener pastures and all, no doubt."
Linvail shrugged, apparently in command of his grief. "They cannot be allowed to escape to our enemies with the knowledge they possess. We have word that they will be meeting a contact from the enemy guild tonight in the top floor of 'The Friendly Arms Inn' in the Bridge district. You know the place? Good. Try and find out some information about their base if you can, but the priority is killing Caehan and Jaylos."
After the party left the room Yoshimo sighed. "Now we are certain to be stepping on some toes. I fear that this will lead to no good. I certainly hope that you know what you are doing Taurus."
Taurus nodded. "So do I. And believe me, it isn't very reassuring."
***
Magicman: I'm almost positive that I got the name of the inn wrong. Anyone know its real name?
Daevan: I've been thinking.
Magicman: What's that?
Daevan: Is Smokegirl really a demon? She seems more like a human's evil side, torn from his body and given her own.
Magicman: She is.
Daevan: I see. Then I was incorrect in calling her a demon last time.
Magicman: Yes you were. Anyways, see you next time folks.