Part 19
Since their feral coupling, Sarevok found himself haunted with things he'd thought long buried and forgotten. No matter how he tried to force such thoughts from his mind his efforts were denied. Oh, he had accepted that he'd fixated on her long ago. Why not when she had been the cause of his greatest misfortunes? Many a time he'd soothed his temper with visions of triumph as she breathed her last breath at his hands.
Now Sarevok found his fixation overrun by desire. He began to wonder if this had always been a possibility between them? His thoughts roamed over their past confrontations. How he had reveled in taunting her, going out of his way to see that telltale flinch of pain darken her features. Knowing how much their shared parentage disgusted her he'd called her 'sister' although no such affection lay between them. Even recently he'd mocked her with that ludicrous term.
Yes, he had gone out of his way to gain a reaction from her. Having ruthlessly stripped away his vain justifications, his actions seemed unbearably juvenile. He had always thought himself above pulling girls pigtails for their attention.
Fury accompanied that revelation. Why was it that he was continually thrown into chaos courtesy of that small elven female? Sarevok had been immeasurably pleased that she had returned him to life. The bargain they had struck in the pocket plane had been to his great advantage. During his time in the Abyss, he had had birthed many half-formed plans of revenge or perhaps completing the reign of terror he'd begun in the city of Baldur's Gate. Seeing Avress realize the depth of her folly would have made it sublime. Yet, she continually thwarted and confused him. He found himself thinking of conquest and revenge less and less. Damn her and her second chances, Sarevok thought with venom.
While he found himself swamped by the rising tide of conflicted emotions, something else had happened that was perhaps more important. He'd felt the taint rush through him for the first time since he'd died. It had been as intoxicating as he remembered and yet it had been different. There was a depth and a feel to it that he found irresistible. For a few moments it had tormented him to not understand why this was so. Then he realized it was her. The taint was mixed with the very essence of her power. He'd never felt so alive. Sarevok shivered with the need to feel her rush through him again.
He barely cut off the snarl that wanted to tear from his throat. Doubt mixed with rage rose up. Had she done this to him? Had she somehow used her taint to make him desire her? He had been seeing to his pack when he'd felt it. First it was simple restlessness. Then it strengthened to a demand. He had charged into the undergrowth, to find Avress shaking and panting as much as he was. Helpless to resist the impulse, he had reached out to touch her. With that touch he'd been lost. Sarevok had never felt such lust.
The urge to find her continued to flare up erratically but each time he shoved it away ruthlessly. He even took great pleasure in refusing her call. As if woken by his thoughts, the call bled through him. Anger rode in its wake spilling over him like a healing balm. She was calling him and he doubted she even realized it. Slowly, he felt the summons recede and steadied himself with a deep breath. Sarevok sullenly admitted that while the call was strong he could resist. When she had called before, he had answered of his own will. He couldn't help but be reassured by that small measure of control, although he didn't doubt that the connection would contain surprises yet.
A bark of laughter erupted from his throat. It seemed he had the worse of the bargain they'd made in the pocket plane, after all.
Suspicious eyes glinted from between the oasis' obscuring foliage. Those soldiers that weren't on duty had arrayed themselves to glare at the party as they left the oasis. There had been no trouble during the night but it had not been as restful a night as the party might have wished. As she walked, Avress felt their gazes judging and weighing her slightest move. She felt the perverse ache to do something to actually give their onlookers something to disapprove of. Thankfully she was able to control the urge. Had she not, Avress didn't doubt that whatever spectacle she might have created would be used as an excuse to attack them.
What she couldn't and didn't even try to control was the sigh that escaped as they left the shade of the oasis. The time they had spent free from the sun's glare only made it harder to once again resume their journey. Avress lifted her eyes to the horizon ahead. Dunes of shifting sand went on as far as she could see. Without Jaheira and Keldorn, they would be hopelessly lost.
Without conscious consideration, the party fell into the same formation as before. No one spoke, conserving both energy and water. Jaheira took the lead, using her druidic abilities to lead them safely through the desert. As they walked, Avress watched her fall behind several times. During those times, Jaheira gave her speculative looks. It was not surprising that her mentor had noticed something had changed. Viconia had given Avress several smug looks when she had returned to the camp last night. Nor was her own behavior devoid of clues as she found her gaze wandering to Sarevok on more than one occasion. Avress could tell, however, that the druid didn't know the specifics. Eventually Avress knew that she would have to speak to Jaheira. The druid would not be pleased. Within, the taint growled defiance and Avress found it difficult not to echo it with her own.
Absorbed by her own musings, Avress had less than a second of warning before sand and wind rose around them in a great wave. Wicked as a scourge upon her skin, sand pummeled and pressed from every direction. Avress found herself helpless as she was knocked from her feet. Buffeted by the wind she was tumbled and tossed about. Her whole body jolted with pain as she collided with the side of a dune. She scrabbled to find a handhold but sand ran through her fingers. Each breath made her gag as she sucked in sand as well as precious air.
Suddenly the sand settled and the wind vanished. Limp and bruised, Avress lay still for a moment catching her breath, before struggling to her feet. Around her the forms of her companions struggled from breath and shook sand from their flesh. Just as they managed to stand another wave of wind and sand tossed them back to the sands. Instead of being flung into the air a second time, Avress was pushed harder against the dune she'd collided with. Choking as grit scratched her throat, Avress frantically tried to work out what was causing the surges of air and sand. It was no sandstorm as they had had witnessed several already.
"Jaheira!" Avress choked out.
If the druid replied, it was lost in the howling surge of sand. Doubting that it was a natural phenomenon, Avress felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. If it wasn't natural, then something had to be causing it and that something didn't seem to be friendly. When the sand settled once more, Avress jumped up still coughing to clear her lungs. With tear blurred eyes, she searched out what had attacked them. A wave of fear washed over her in chilling waves. Instincts screamed to flee and her knees wanted to turn into water. The sound of giant bellows snapped her out of her fear induced daze. That particular sound was all too familiar.
"Duck!"
This time her collision with the dune was voluntary. About her crackling archs of electricity roared into being in a great exhalation. Agony bloomed across her back and along her arms where she had folded them about her face. Avress bit at her lip to still the desire to twitch and writhe. Helplessly, Avress hoped that her companions had not taken the brunt of the dragon's wrath. She had only felt the very edge of the electric burst. Once the punishing arcs of blue-white energy ended, Avress played dead. She would not have a chance to launch an attack of her own before the dragon was upon her and she suspected that she was the primary target of this attack. Meeting such a foe could not be simple chance. Her only chance would be surprise. The sound of heavy footsteps told her that the wyrm was moving closer. A gloating laugh that sent foul breath wafting across her flesh, told her that her ruse was successful.
"Foolish mortal, how could you have even thought to have stood against the might of my father?" the dragon sneered.
Vanquishing her fear, anger pumped through her blood at the dragon's words. How Avress longed to strike at the creature that gloated with such arrogant assurance. She had slain dragons before! Indeed, this dragon would be nothing more than a weathered carcass if she could just buy enough time for the others to attack! From deep inside of her she summoned the rage and mindless violence of the Slayer. How dare a mewling adolescent dragon insult her! Flesh rippled and power coursed through her limbs. In a blur she pushed herself from the ground, whirling to confront the dragon.
Astonishment was clear on the reptilian face. With a roar of satisfaction, Avress launched herself at the slit yellow eyes that were widened with surprise. Avress collided with the dragon's snout ands he sunk her claws into soft moist eye-flesh. The great eyes collapsed under her divine strength with a sickly wet sound. The dragon howled with pain, and shook his head trying to dislodge her. All the dragon succeeded in doing was widening the wounds on his face. Using her legs, Avress clawed deeply at the dragon's jaw line and neck. Blood surged over her and she used her great jaws to worry a thick piece of flesh from the dragon's head. Finally the dragon whipped its head back and with a buffet of his wings the dragon tore her off. The thick hide of her Slayer form saved Avress from injury but she quickly scuttled further back in the dunes.
Without the heat of battle to distract her, the difficulty of keeping Slayer shape caught up with her. With a muffled cry, Avress reverted to her natural form. Weakley she drank down two healing potions and was finally able to stand. As she did, she heard the clash of steel against scale. Avress realized her risk had paid off. At least some of her party had survived the heat of dragon's breath and had rallied. The rhythmic sound of Keldorn's prayers was clear to her ears. Avress recognized that he was asking for all to be revealed to his gaze. The dragon must have cast some kind of invisibility spell. With a hoarse voice and gore dipped hands, Avress began to cast her own series of spells. Stone skins wrapped around her and she invoked her own true sight.
Climbing to the crest of the dune, Avress had a good view to the battle field. Below Jaheira was tossed to the ground by the bulk of the dragon's tail. Keldorn had finished his prayer and was attacking the dragon from the right. Sarevok was reluctantly being healed by Viconia who also looked worse for wear. Despite being blind, the dragon seemed horribly effective in battle. His attacks were frightening in speed and Keldorn was barely keeping up with them with Jaheira's assistance. In addition, the dragon had used magic to protect himself from damage. Snarling, Avress began to cast with deliberate precision. As her spell hit the dragon, his battle protections collapsed and Carsomyr dug deeply into his side. The sound of the dragon's surprised cry was sweet to her ears. The reptile was truly young not to have used more comprehensive protections. Just as she thought that, Avress heard the sounds of the dragon casting again. As Jaheira moved to attack, the dragon spread its wings. Wind lifted sand and flung them back like ragdolls.
Even standing away on the sand dune, Avress could feel the power of the wing buffet. As exhausted as she was, Avress could see that her friends needed her assistance. Again she called upon her sorcery. This time a fireball rushed from her finger tips. The dragon howled having lost his spell but wasn't as affected as she would have hoped. Again she began to cast, this time summoning a cloud of wilting. This time the dragon was more severely wounded. It jerked around towards her, breathing deeply for her scent. It exploded forward and Avress felt her heart about to burst as she prepared to flee.
The long blade of Sarevok's sword drove through the dragon's hind leg. It had found a vulnerable spot in the dragon's natural protections to cripple the wyrm's knee. With its leg suddenly unable to support it, the dragon stumbled in the sand. At that moment, Keldorn launched his own attack. In the hands of the great paladin, Carsomyr expertly dove towards the dragon's belly. Thick scales absorbed most of the attack but the dragon flinched back. Viconia's voice rose to a crescendo and fire rained down upon the dragon from the sky.
Avress felt eerily calm. Her panic had vanished into a sea of stillness. Everything was silent except for the crooning song of murder surging through her veins as she surveyed the combat below. Avress could taste every blow and could feel the specter of death. Instinct guided her as she sneered and pointed her finger at the dragon. Like a raging waterfall her will smashed upon that of the dragon. The beast flinched back as if dealt a physical blow. Blood poured from its snout and it flailed uselessly. Avress stabbed her finger again. With cruel precision, she stifled the dragon's life with the coils of her will. So absorbed with her task, Avress was shocked as its lifeforce suddenly winked out of existence. Blinking numbly, she took in the spreading stain of red upon the sand. She realized her companions had taken advantage of the dragon's weakness. A flare of possessive rage at being denied her kill burnt from within. The shock of it brought Avress back to her full senses.
Exhaustion folded about her in an eye-blurring haze. Everything wavered for a moment as mingled realization and fatigue hit her fully. The only thing that kept Avress on her feet was the wild denial of what happened. Shaking her head, she tried to jog loose what had to be some kind of delusion. As numb as she was, she could still feel the taint filling her beyond capacity. The shocked looks of her friends sent her stomach roiling. Jaheira moved towards her slowly. Avress realized that Jaheira was saying something but the buzzing in her ears blocked out all other sounds. Suddenly her stomach cramped and Avress doubled up, emptying its contents.
Mouth bitter and stung from bile, Avress whimpered as familiar hands guided her away and sat her down. The concerned face of her mentor swam into view as Avress looked up. A canteen was pressed to her lips and Avress obligingly rinsed her mouth and drank down a swig of lukewarm water. When Jaheira began to speak again Avress finally did hear her.
"Drink slowly and in small sips."
Avress was ridiculously relieved to hear such a mundane statement. She wasn't sure she could take a scolding for the moment. Mechanically she sipped at the water. Once her throat felt less raw, Avress handed the canteen back to the druid. Her hands were trembling so badly she almost dropped it. Avress felt strangely light as if she would blow away at the slightest breath of wind and yet immensely heavy with the taint pounding at her temples. What she had done should have released some of it and yet she seemed to have more taint than she could handle. Avress could feel her control of it weakening and she knew she had to do something.
Before she even consciously formulate what it was she had to do, a large hand threaded with her. Relief from the taint she was drowning in was immediate. In heady waves it flowed between them like an intangible but intensely intimate cord. The scent of him so close was maddening. Avress wanted to wallow in the heat of his skin and catch the hitch in his breath in her mouth as she touched. His hand tightened about hers almost painfully drawing her focus. Avress found herself struggling to regain clarity thought. Her heavy eyelids reluctantly opened and the sight of Jaheira goggling jolted her from her daze.
Carefully Avress slowly drew the taint back within herself. It went without struggle and the horrible fragile feeling she experienced a moment ago was gone. Somehow she had found her equilibrium. Sarevok stiffened slightly as he remembered himself. Avress found herself pleased that he did not push her away. Reluctantly she stood, accepting Sarevok's assistance, even knowing that Jaheira watched them with suspicion. When Avress looked up she could see Jaheira's jaw was clenched with the effort to restrain a scathing lecture.
"You bedded him," Jaheira stated.
"Yes."
The druid nodded and turned away to stiffly tend to Keldorn's wounds. Avress grimaced knowing her mentor would not let it go at that. Still, she refused to be ashamed of her choices or allow Jaheira to dictate how she lived her life. Viconia moved forward and began to pray. The soothing feeling of healing magic filled her and Avress felt the pain she had almost forgotten about ease. The exhaustion from becoming the Slayer was there but it was strangely muted. She suspected it was her growing command of the taint. Sarevok allowed the drow cleric to heal him and for once Viconia did not tease him. Avress' thoughts wandered over the conversation they had shared in the bathhouse.
"That harridan will strip your hide with her tongue later but it is best it is known," Viconia said with a certainty Avress wished she felt.
"Perhaps," Avress offered, uncomfortably aware of Sarevok's close presence.
"It's clear you have broken your chosen male to your hand, so she has little to complain about," Viconia replied with a smirk.
Pleased with the strife she had created, Viconia turned and left before either one of them could reply. Sarevok's rage radiated from him almost as hotly as the sun above them. With her own indignation almost as riled, Avress wasn't sure she would intervene should Sarevok explode. She knew that Viconia's words were not meant harshly. Indeed, they were meant as both a strange compliment and friendly teasing. They had, however, intruded upon something unresolved between them.
"Is that what I am to her? To the rest of them? Some trained dog that-"
"You? A dog? No, more like a raging warg," Avress retorted, startling Sarevok. Taking a deep breath she looked up at him with as much honesty as she could. "If there is anything between us that has suggested that, then tell me now. That is not what I intended or want."
"My whole life has been entwined about you, Avress. Even in death I did not escape you! Did you ever wonder why it was I did not simply cease to be after death? It was you. Perhaps at first it was thoughts of revenge but after the second time you defeated me, I knew it had never been so simple."
"Even then?"
"Do you really doubt it?" Sarevok asked. "Do you remember when we met in the library of Candlekeep? When I introduced myself as Koveras?"
"I remember," Avress replied softly. "We both knew I guessed who you were."
"Hating you even as I did, there was part of me that wanted more. Maybe if I hadn't been so eaten with my own ambition it might have been different."
"Maybe but you still haven't answered-"
"Damn it to the hells, Avress! Have you not heard me? Fate has tied me to you and I have accepted that but you have bound me to your will, your being, in a way that is far more complete than if you had made me take the oath."
"You know that I had not intended it that way!" Avress defended feeling her heart clench painfully.
"If you had, then perhaps I actually could hate you. Instead, I feel you like a second heart in my chest!" Sarevok growled his temper flashing.
"That works both ways, or haven't you realized that, you thick headed fool!"
"Then we are equally damned but I will not be your plaything or minion! I will happily fade into oblivion before I allow that."
Avress was left holding whatever response she might have made on her tongue. Hurt and anger were so intense she could taste it. Confusion pressed at her diaphragm making her feel the need to take gulping breaths of air but she forced her breathing to remain even. His accusations hurt more than she wanted them to. The stinging marks on her heart fired her pride. This was a distraction she could ill afford. She was twice the fool.
Their past had been rife with arguments and battles. Avress was not so foolish to think this would change having taken him to her bed. What took her by surprise was how easily he had inflicted hurt upon her. Oh, he had always been adept at finding what hurt her the most but usually he had to try harder. Her involvement with Sarevok was becoming far more complicated than she had intended.
A torrent of emotions boiled up, escaping her control. How could he think she saw him as her puppet! Even the thought of it sickened her. Avress had seen how such things ended and would not force her will on another like that. And yet... there was enough truth in his words to wound her with. As fascinated as she was by what tied them together, it frightened her too. Was he wrong to distrust something so unknown? What she knew of Sarevok suggested little in his life had been fair. Should she be surprised that he expected to exploit the bond in her favor? Avress hated that he distrusted her so.
Unhappy with her thoughts, Avress looked to the corpse of the dragon for distraction. As she had guessed before, it was not fully grown. It has been almost embarrassing how easily the creature had nearly destroyed them. Perhaps there was a lesson in that. Avress sneered at her own pride. Reaching out she prodded the beast. To her surprise, the thickly scaled skin sloughed off. Her startled exclamation brought the attention of the rest of the group.
"Avress, what is it?" Keldorn asked.
"I- I don't know. I touched the dragon's corpse and it... melted under my hand!"
The paladin reached out and touched the corpse with the same result. Keldorn quickly pulled his hand back to avoid being covered in gore and looked at Jaheira who was frowning in puzzlement. They had killed dragons before and they had never dissolved after the fact. Avress felt a chill. Was it because of what she had done?
"It is as if the processes of decay have been accelerated!" Jaheria finally spoke up. "Such a strange reaction cannot be natural."
"Is it because of what I did?" Avress asked uncomfortably.
"Child, I do not even know what you did. I have seen much magic in my travels but nothing quite like that."
"It was death magic of some sort," Viconia began. "I could feel that but it was very focused. I am no mage but I doubt that it would have caused this too. Avress, you cast the spell, if that is what it was. What does you knowledge of arcane magic suggest?"
"It was taint driven and not fueled by my sorcery. Imoen knows a spell that is similar but it probably wouldn't have killed a dragon! It was as if I was smothering out the dragon's life."
"There are clerical spells that take life in a similar manner but it was my understanding they were touch based," Keldorn said and glanced at Viconia for confirmation who nodded.
"You waste your time," Sarevok scorned. "If it was the taint then it defies your petty system of classification. Look at what we have seen from the Children of Bhaal! Most have abilities that go beyond what has been seen from mortals."
"How each Bhaalspawn uses their taint seems to be shaped by their abilities so it would make sense that Avress' taint manifests itself in as mixture of divine and arcane magic," Keldorn agreed amiably.
"The question is whether you can repeat it," Viconia said with a wolfish smile.
"I don't know," Avress admitted.
"Perhaps you should find out exactly what you can do, abbil," Viconia prompted.
There was a great deal that had been changing with her magic and abilities. Avress had begun to wonder what she was capable of. Killing the dragon had drawn upon a level of power she had never thought possible. It was daunting but she couldn't deny she was curious. Gorion had fed her cultivated her thirst for knowledge. This was a mystery that near begged for her to explore it. Avress was tempted to delay in order to test herself a little.
"The drow has a point but we don't have time," Jaheira interrupted firmly. "Our battle will have been visible from quite a distance. The smell of the decomposing corpse will also bring predators. We need to leave as quickly as possible."
"The dragon mentioned his father. I think he is one of the Bhaalspawn we were told about," Avress said with reluctance.
"A dragon!" Keldorn blurted.
"Surely that is impossible! For a dragon to reach adulthood takes at least a century!" Jaheira argued.
"Normally that would be true but by that logic I should still be a child, Jaheira. Somehow I doubt Gorion was that casual with his use of haste spells," Avress replied with a smile.
Her unnatural aging had surprised her foster father. When she had begun to go through puberty, Gorion had taken her to the temple of Oghma to have the high priest examine her. Nothing strange had been found. As various sages had passed through Candlekeep, Gorion had them examine her with similar results. She had lived twenty three years and according to elven growth rates she should be in swaddling clothes. The accelerated aging she had experienced had halted once she had reached adulthood. She now looked like any other elf in his or her hundreds.
"Your aging is peculiar but I had assumed you were the exception and not the rule. You think the taint is interfering with the growth of all the Children?" Jaheira asked.
"I assume so. Sarevok, did you experience accelerated aging?" Avress asked a little uncomfortable at addressing him after their argument.
"No. I was stronger, quicker and more intelligent than those of my age but I grew no faster than others."
"Then it must only be the Children from more long-lived species," Jaheria said to herself.
"It makes sense," Viconia replied. "The taint seems to develop with age and if Bhaal intended to harvest that power it would make sense for his 'crop' to mature at the same rate."
"That is repulsive!" Jaheria cried.
"Perhaps but you can't deny my logic."
It was an ugly thought but Avress knew it made sense. Bhaal was ruthless and evil. He wouldn't care if he disrupted the lives of his Children as they had been intended as sacrifices from the first. The fanatical visage of her mother crossed Avress' mind and she shivered. She then frowned.
"Wait, if the Children of Bhaal were intended to mature, why were the clerics sacrificing them?" Avress asked.
"They had just lost their god, abbil. For a priest it is crippling. When I fled the Underdark I abandoned Lloth's service. That was a voluntary loss but that was painful enough. It does not surprise me that they would put their god's plan into motion early," Viconia replied.
"The Harpers were also very close to eliminating the remaining followers of Bhaal. With no one to implement the ritual, it was thought that it would prevent Bhaal's return," Jaheira replied.
"How utterly foolish," Sarevok sneered. "Did they truly think that the knowledge would die with them? Our father's followers were a cunning lot. In my rise to power I came across many documents containing much of the knowledge of which you speak. That is not even considering the number of priests of Bhaal that turned to the worship of Cyric and other gods."
"I did not say I agreed with the Harper's decisions," Jaheira retorted hotly. "The choices made about the Bhaalspawn and the prophecy surrounding them, were hasty and sometimes unwise."
"It matters little, now," Keldorn intervened. "We still need to leave before we find ourselves in another battle. As it is, we have lost a great deal of time."
"I certainly don't want to wait around for the father to show up," Viconia agreed.
With unvoiced agreement, the group quickly began checking packs, cleaning weapons and readying itself. The smell of purification from the dragon only increased. Avress could not help but watch as the young blue dragon seemed to slowly melt into the sands. Within her the taint stirred and she realized it was in response to the faint feel of the taint in the dragon. Tentatively she reached out with the taint to feel the traces on the corpse. She could feel the taint on the corpse but it wasn't her own. Avress wasn't sure how she knew that but she did. Strangely, it didn't belong to the young dragon. His father? Had the dragon Bhaalspawn tried to hasten his offspring's growth? Not that she was so sure the young dragon had been the Bhaalspawn's natural progeny. Taint driven instinct suggested the adolescent dragon was not a blood relation to the dragon Bhaalspawn but she couldn't explain it. Either way, hastened growth might explain hastened decomposition. Avress shook her head. Conjecture was pointless. Shouldering her pack, she followed the others as they resumed their journey.
From a distance the town was almost invisible. Built of natural rock into the cliffs and hills themselves, Amkethran might have been easily overlooked if it hadn't been for the haze of cook fires winding above it. The sight of the town after nearly a week of hard travel might have been welcome if not for what she had begun to sense. As they had drawn closer, Avress had become more and more uneasy. She could feel tension in the city. It was the tension of murder done and murder yet to occur. That was unnerving in itself but there was something else. Not quite a mile away from the city she became aware that somewhere in Amkethran was a powerful Child of Bhaal. The taint's presence loomed over the city and Avress knew that whoever it belonged to would certainly feel her presence moving closer.
"Everyone, wait," Avress spoke up and the group looked at her puzzled. "There is something going on in the town. It's some kind of unrest- I feel murder clinging to the very walls of that place."
"You can feel that?" Jaheria asked with surprise.
"Yes. You already knew that I was sensitive to murder going on around me but after Yaga-Shura I have begun to feel where murder has already taken place and where it is likely to do so."
"Bhaal governed murder, it is logical that you would be aware of such things," Viconia stated.
"There is something else I feel, too. It's the presence of another Child of Murder. I can feel another's taint but I can't be more specific than that," Avress finished.
"Then we will have to be careful," Keldorn spoke with concern. "Perhaps it is simply a Bhaalspawn wanting refuge but we cannot ignore a possible threat."
"When it was Melissan who directed us here, I suspect it isn't a refugee," Avress replied, watching the other's faces as they digested the implications.
"I would suggest that we try to hide which one of us has the taint but you are too well known," Jaheira sighed.
"You're right but we can at least hide how much we know," Avress replied. "We should put on our armor and make ourselves ready."
With reluctance the group began to prepare themselves for possible conflict. Avress calmed her thoughts and focused on her magic. She had used improved haste spells on the party earlier to allow them to arrive before dark but otherwise her magic was far from exhausted. With the others in their armor, she felt a little more confidant. This would not be like their encounter at the oasis or with the adolescent dragon who had tossed them about like ragdolls.
Taking up the lead, Avress allowed her thoughts to drift until they reached the gates. Four men in loose clothing stood as if waiting for them. Avress felt unease worm its way up her spine. Would they be attacked or denied entry to the town? Melissan had directed them to the town so she could not discount either possibility. Indeed, it seemed that Melissan might have delivered them into the hands of one of the Bhaalspawn she had bid them destroy. Unfortunately, it was too early to say whether Melissan's maneuvering would be beneficial or detrimental. As Jaheira had said, they were too well known to pretend to be simple traveling adventurers. For now, Avress could only play the cards Melissan had dealt them.
"State your name and business in Amkethran," the oldest man demanded.
"We were directed here by a woman called Melissan. She said we would find refuge here," Avress replied calmly.
"Then you are the ones the leader of the Order spoke of. We bid you welcome in the name of the most humble Balthazar. There is an inn where you might find lodging but the most humble Balthazar requests that you join him for dinner."
"I would be honored to meet him," Avress replied with what grace she could muster.
The monks nodded and allowed them to pass by. What was happening in the town itself quickly verified what Avress had felt. Dirty, ill-kept mercenaries lounged about bothering the few townsfolk that dared to leave their homes. Although there was some degree of similarity in their clothing and equipment, Avress could see the wary glances various groups gave each other. They clearly did not belong to any one mercenary group and lacked discipline. Indeed, Avress doubted they were much more than bandits. Turning she caught the eyes of the others. They moved between two houses to gain some privacy.
"We need to know what is going on here. Jaheira and I will go to the inn. I'm too well known and if I disobey the 'most humble' Balthazar there may be trouble. The rest of you see what you find around town. These mercenaries... they're disgusting. I want to know why they're here and why the townsfolk are so afraid of them."
"A sound plan but I fear what we might find here, Avress," Keldorn spoke up. "These mercenaries are nothing but brigands and scum. As a paladin I cannot turn away if someone requires my assistance."
"I don't expect you to. What has obviously been happening here is disgusting. The monks might be turning a blind eye, but I won't."
"Then you think they are behind this collection of rabble?" Keldorn asked.
"I begin to suspect," Avress growled.
"Given that they control entrance and exit to the town, I don't doubt it. Besides, they should have the force of arms to remove the mercenaries if they wished," Keldorn said with disgust.
Locating the inn was far easier than Avress had expected it to be. Brightly woven rugs decorated the outside, meant to catch the eye. Avress began to wonder if the inn itself was made of rugs, such was the profusion of the almost gaudy items. As she stepped in, eyes were momentarily dazzled by the change from the sun-drenched outside to the dim interior of the inn.
Avress blinked twice before her eyes adjusted. When her sight finally cleared, her breath caught. A haze of pipe smoke cut with more exotic things wafted across the ceiling. Torches and lamps flickered striving to cut the gloom and haggard patrons sipped beverages from comfortably worn benches. At a table not far from the door sat a figure out of place in the slightly rundown inn. The man was dressed in carefully maintained platemail that seemed almost too polished. It was a figure that Avress was all too familiar with.
"My Lady..."
Avress almost couldn't suppress the wince his words triggered. From behind her, Jaheira uttered a contemplative hum. Butterflies the size of full-grown dragons took flight in her stomach. Hesitantly, Avress met the gaze of the warrior-priest. The open surprise she read there told her that his presence wasn't a contrived coincidence. It was just old-fashioned bad luck. She really shouldn't have killed those clerics of Beshaba, Avress thought gloomily.
"Hello, Anomen. Or rather Sir Anomen," Avress spoke up.
"Please don't stand on formality. We know each other too well for that," Anomen smiled in a way that might have been considered charming as he stood. "Jaheira it is pleasant to see you once more."
"Greetings Anomen. If times were anything but they are, I would say I was surprised to see you," Jaheira replied evenly.
"May I inquire as to why you are here in Amkethran? Or need I ask?" Anomen asked turning to Avress once more.
"We might ask the same question..." Avress replied and then shook her head, pushing away her defensiveness. "I'm afraid I am here because of what is happening with the other Bhaalspawn."
"The Order requested my presence here. They heard that tensions were rising and that war was a likely possibility. I was sent to find out more. All I have seen indicates war is brewing but no one seems to know from where. When Sir Keldorn disappeared, I suspected it had something to do with you."
Bitter accusation and longing laced the priest's words. Avress didn't know quite how to respond. A host of uneasy recollections rolled through Avress' mind. He had placed her upon a pedestal and had been incredulous when she hadn't wanted to stay there. When they had parted company she had thought things done between them. Anomen clearly thought differently. The same proprietary disapproval radiated from him along with the familiar air of arrogant assumption. It made Avress feel as if the walls were closing in on her. It was as if she was already imprisoned in bonds of lace and tradition. It made her want to flee. This wasn't something she wanted to deal with.
"Would you be willing to share what you know?" Anomen continued, breaking into her apprehensive thoughts.
She desperately wanted to refuse but Avress nodded. For all her awkwardness with Anomen, it would be foolish not to pool their knowledge. Personal discomfort was secondary and would have to be pushed aside. She and Jaheira found a place at the table and sat down. Sitting was a welcome relief. The desert was harsh and they had spent long hours walking. Avress' feet felt as if they had been broiled. When a barmaid moved towards them, they both ordered drinks. Once settled, Avress turned her gaze back to Anomen. There was still much they didn't know. Amkethran was breeding brigands and mercenaries but they didn't really know why. Hopefully Anomen knew more than they currently did.
"First, what do you want to know?" Avress sighed.
"Have you heard of Saradush?"
"Heard of it? I was there. A Child of Bhaal formed and army and burnt it to the ground. We killed him but weren't in time to save the city."
"What happened to the army?" Anomen asked with a frown.
"When Yaga-Shura was killed the army disintegrated," Avress replied and then looked towards her friend. "Jaheira would know more as she inspected the city's defenses and gathered information on the enemy's strengths with Keldorn."
"Their victory would have come at a high cost. To move so precipitously would have cost three quarters of the army," Jaheira supplied. "I do not expect Yaga-Shura's army will continue to be a threat."
"The remnants of Yaga-Shura's troops are not as great a threat as the last three Bhaalspawn. We have the names and locations of two but the third..." Avress began and then drifted off with a frown not wanting to share her suspicions.
"By then by all means, please, enlighten me," Anomen said with haste.
His self-assured smile made Avress sigh. Even now she suspected that he though she only needed persuading to 'come to her senses'. The anxiety churning in her gut increased. Avress finally removed the map that Melissan had given them and handed it to Anomen. She outlined what Melissan had said and told Anomen of their encounter with the adolescent dragon. With each word, the contemplative frown on Anomen's face grew deeper. That was something Avress could sympathize with. Dragons were never easy foes and she didn't particularly want to meet with a Bhaalspawn dragon. Then there was Sendai and the third unknown foe.
"These are not good odds but the Order should be able to assemble and transport a sizeable force within a month," Anomen spoke.
"I don't think we have a month, Anomen," Avress replied plainly.
For a moment Anomen struggled to keep his expression neutral. In the end he failed. Avress watched as shock and disbelief consumed the knight. In a way she didn't blame him. Through the taint she could feel events pushing towards conclusion but without that she would never know how close the end really was.
"Surely you are not considering meeting the enemy in their own territory, my lady! That is sheer folly!"
"At the present moment, I do not know what I shall do," Avress replied tersely. "We do not have a month- that I do know!"
"Oh and how is it that you know?" Anomen challenged.
"I can feel it, Anomen. Fate is tugging at me and it tells me that the final confrontation is close."
"And does this have to do with the taint? When you walked in I barely recognized you, Avress. I have not felt it as strongly in you, even when your soul had been taken. Allowing it such free rein will not end well! Please my lady, tell me what has happened?"
Anomen was regarding her with uncomfortable intensity. Again Avress felt the urge to wince. He meant well but he was pushing her to confide in him. She didn't want to bare her soul to him no matter how well meaning his concern was. Not that he would understand the necessity of and the reasons behind her choice. Avress was not going to justify her choices to someone who would never understand.
The taint swirled uneasily within her in response to her disquiet. Desperate for a distraction, Avress glanced over at Jaheira. Sipping her drink with a carefully averted gaze, Jaheira was doing a credible impression of not listening to their conversation. The dragon-sized butterflies that had suddenly spawned in her stomach made her feel ill. Avress was almost relieved when resentment at being left alone to deal with Anomen flared and began to replace them. What did he expect from her? To crumple and weep out her troubles on his shoulder, begging to be rescued?
Things hadn't ended badly between them. Anomen just hadn't been able to comprehend why she had refused his romantic overtures. Worse was that Anomen was infatuated with someone that didn't exist. The person he was in love with wasn't one of Murder's daughters. His dream version of her spent her life waiting in hopes of a knight that would sweep her off her feet. Or perhaps he had visions of her renouncing her taint and un-gentile ways to happily chain herself to home and hearth. Naturally they would marry and live happily ever after as paragons of noble virtue.
Avress couldn't help but feel insulted. Perhaps she would feel more sympathetic if he actually saw her for who she was. Still, she had forced herself not to run roughshod over his pride. His mule headed stubbornness had been infuriating to deal with and she'd bitten her tongue so much she had been surprised it wasn't permanently scarred. Now Avress wasn't so sure she would be able to save his pride. His sanctimonious declarations about the taint were nearly too much.
The sound of heavily armored feet upon the inn's floor saved her from having to reply. The noise was a welcome distraction from the cleric's question. Relief filled her eyes as Avress looked up to see Keldorn, Sarevok and Viconia. As if by their own will, her eyes drifted to Sarevok's. Immediately, she knew he could sense her unease. In meeting his dark eyes, she had felt a surge of awareness deepen their connection. Had she called him here, she wondered? There was a certain tension in his shoulders and his frown was deeper than usual. The taint hummed with approval. His eyes only left hers when a chair clattered to the ground.
Whirling to meet the threat, Avress was astonished to see it was Anomen. The priest had jumped to his feet, tipping back his chair. One hand was reaching for his hammer and the other for the holy symbol around his throat. Without having to look over her shoulder, Avress knew Sarevok was moving forward drawing his sword in response.
"Enough! Stop!" Avress shouted, halting both glaring males. "There is no need for violence."
"You cannot mean this, my lady. That is not a man. I know not what it is but it is not natural!"
"I know his origins, Anomen, as I returned Sarevok to life in return for his knowledge and sword. He is my... companion and I shall not let you harm him."
"My lady! You allow this undead abomination!" Anomen voiced his horror.
"I see your eyes upon me, cleric!" Sarevok growled. "Quit your glares or I'll pluck your eyes out with my sword, I swear."
"You could try, abomination. I doubt you would succeed. I merely wonder at how, exactly, such as you managed to worm your way into the ranks of this group. Blackmail perhaps?" Anomen returned with disgust.
"I remain by her side by being useful. Something you would know nothing about."
"Useful! I know you, spectre! Your past deeds are known to me and you would find it useful to plant your sword in her back," Anomen spat out. "My lady, I must protest!"
The cleric whirled with urgency towards Avress. Her back stiffened in preparation for his inevitable argument. When he had threatened Sarevok a roaring wave of fierceness rose up with the taint. She had no desire to have a very public disagreement with the knight but Avress would do it if she had to. It was something that had perhaps been brewing for too long. With the last shreds of cool logic she possessed, Avress threw an expression of pleading towards Keldorn. The wave of emotion she was riding was not at all reasonable and she'd say or do something she'd regret. The paladin met her gaze and nodded.
"Sir Anomen, I assume the Order sent you?" Keldorn asked bringing the cleric's argument to a halt before he could even begin it.
"What? Ah- yes. As I was telling Avress, the Order sent me to find out the truth of the rumours of war. After you left your wife called upon the Order asking if you had been called out on a mission," Anomen sputtered, suddenly reminded of his duty.
"Poor Maria, I suppose my absence was rather unexpected. I suddenly had the feeling I needed to be somewhere. I barely had time to arm myself before I was summoned to Avress' side," Keldorn sighed. "Is my lady wife well?"
"She is in good health as are your daughters," Anomen replied somewhat frustrated by the turn of conversation.
"Do you know if Minsc and Imoen arrived in Atkathla?" Avress asked, hope piercing through her turmoil.
"Imoen and that ranger? No, I have no news of them. I had wondered why they were not with you?" Anomen answered with a question in his voice.
Disappointment flared, adding to her emotional overload. Avress had missed her sister a great deal, even if she had said nothing to the others. It made sense that Anomen would have left Atkathla long before Imoen arrived but she had hoped... Frustration sent the taint rising again. Avress clenched her fists against it. Shaking her head, Avress once more focused on the conversation between Anomen and Keldorn. She had to admit that Keldorn was doing a very good job of distracting the cleric as well as gaining the information they greatly needed.
"Tell me, what does the Order plan in response to recent events?" Keldorn asked, heading off the cleric once again.
"I was to send my recommendation with my findings. I had intended to recommend the Order to go to war... but Avress seems to think that it would be too late."
"I fear I must agree. The best the Order can do is to try to keep things from moving further North."
"Surely things cannot be so dire?" Anomen blustered.
"Unless Avress can do something I fear great turmoil is on the horizon," Keldorn responded with utter certainty.
"I have great faith in Avress' abilities but how can you place such responsibility on one person's shoulders? The Order is far better prepared to deal with such things!"
"Then you have no idea what she is capable of," Sarevok interrupted with a sneer. "She has already stopped one war. I have no whining petulance to draw on, as you do. The gods themselves has decreed this must happen, so quit your mewling and begone."
"How dare you speak of will of the gods! You are nothing but the echo of something that once was!"
Gazes clashed and silence descended in the inn. The taint lapped up the rising tension. Avress took a shuddering breath. No matter how annoying and frustration Anomen was, it wouldn't be right to let Sarevok skewer him. As calmly as she could, Avress lay a hand on the heavily armoured forearm that rose beside her. Although she had not intended it, the taint rushed through her and into Sarevok. It left her calmer but Sarevok less so. Sighing with relief, Avress wondered when Sarevok had moved to her side. As soon as her hand rested on his forearm, both men looked down at her. In Anomen's expression she read surprise and... a flash of jealousy. Sarevok's face was stormy with withheld anger and disgust towards the cleric but it softened as he looked down at her.
"You would have me stand down?" Sarevok growled.
"It's not worth it," Avress relied simply.
"For now," Sarevok bit off.
Avress was able to hide the burst of trepidation she felt at Sarevok's words. Somehow Anomen had truly roused the warrior's ire. That would make things all the more difficult. Sarevok was proud but usually he had a thicker skin than this. The memory of Anomen's flash of jealousy played across her mind. It had been very similar to something she'd just seen in Sarevok's expression. Perhaps that brief expression held more answers than she would have expected.
TBC