A.N: I didn't write the crowd dialogue. That is directly from the game itself. Also, note to reviewer Bookwyne, the story is not finished as such, I just have a few more chapters written than I had posted. Just catching my account up with reality.

Chapter Six

The party re-entered Athkalta 10,000 pieces of gold richer than when they had left. The stench of the city assaulted Nyrendra almost the second she stepped through the gates, and she wrinkled her nose and muttered to herself,

"How was it again that I lived here for so many years and never noticed the smell?"

"The first thing we need to do," Belgar interrupted "Is get you a license," he addressed Nyrendra. "That way you can sling a magic missile at whatever sort of thugs we are bond to encounter without having to worry about the Cowles interrupting."

As the party made their way to the Government District, Nyrendra shot a sideways glance at Anomen. He had been pretty much avoiding her since the night in the bathing room. Nyrendra sighed and rolled her eyes. He would come back around. Even as a kid he had been like that, alternating between angry and happy, talkative and quiet, open and closed. He has more mood swings then I ever did when I was coming of age, Nyrendra thought to herself, suppressing a small smile.

Belgar, Nyrendra, Anomen, Yoshimo and Minsc quickly came to the main government building. Nyrendra winced as the sour-faced Cowled wizard informed Belgar that it cost exactly 5,000 gold for the privilege to use magic within the city walls. "Are you sure it's worth that much?" she asked Belgar. "I could just, you know, sling rocks at those random thugs as long as we're in the city."

"I'd rather have the license," Belgar said firmly. "Somehow I think that you'd scare the thugs a lot more by throwing flames at them then by flinging rocks." He gave the wizard the 5,000 gold, and after Nyrendra filled out a bit of paperwork they were back on the street.

Directly across the square, they party could see a large mob gathering. They were shouting angrily and many carried small torches. Through the shouts, Nyrendra made out a voice that seemed familiar. She froze, and looked at Belgar. He seemed to recognize the voice as well, because a strange look crossed his face. He motioned for the others to follow him, and they dashed across the courtyard, Belgar shoving his way to the front of the crowd.

"Look ye all upon this foul drow that we have bound before ye! A creature of evil and darkness, my brethren! A creature of foulness and deceit, bent only on our destruction!" cried one of the men, brandishing his torch angrily. The apparent ringleader gestured to a dark figure tied to the pyre that was the center of everyone's attention.

Nyrendra, who had been trying to join Belgar at the front, was shoved back by some larger men and almost fell over. Luckily, Minsc was behind her, and snagged her by the arm. Using his free arm, he angrily shoved the men who had touched his witch.

"Oi, why don't ye sod off ye…" one of the men started angrily, turning around. When he saw Minsc, he immediately paled and swallowed the rest of what he would have said had he not valued his head being attached to his shoulders. He elbowed his buddy, and the two of them got out of the way…fast. Yoshimo, Minsc, Anomen and Nyrendra quickly moved forward, joining Belgar in the front.

Meanwhile, the ringleader continued, "This creature has foolishly come amongst us, my brethren, thinking that we would be lax in our senses! Tell me what should be done with it!"

"BURN IT!" Shouted someone near Nyrendra, spraying her with spittle. This sentiment seemed to excite the crowd even more, and others soon took up the call.

"It seems a dark elf has been caught and is about to be put to the torch. Good. Such a fate is no less than the fiend deserves," Anomen stated, turning to look at Nyrendra. He was startled to find that she had frozen, a look of complete shock on her face.

"Nyrendra? What is it?" Anomen asked uncertainly.

"Vi-Viconia," was all that Nyrendra could manage.

"You rivvin are mad! I have done nothing to any of you! I seek only to make my way without molestation! Why have you done this! Why!" Viconia cried out, struggling against the ropes that held her.

This only seemed to excite the crowd more. They began to shout curses at Viconia and all of her kind. The ringleader stepped forward and slapped her hard in the face, and bent to light the pile of wood.

"No! Nau! Oloth plynn d'jal!" Viconia shouted.

The ringleader stopped what he was doing and grinned maliciously. "Spout your evil speech if ye must, drow, but prepare yourself for your journey into the next world! Beg for forgiveness, beg for salvation! And hope that the cleansing fire will save ye!"

"They... they will not burn the pretty elf? There must be no burning if she has committed no crime! This is not justice! Belgar, we must stop this travesty!" Minsc roared, tensing his muscles and waiting for Belgar to give the order.

"Shar! My deliverance is in your hands! ...wait...I recognize you! Belgar! It is I! Viconia DeVir! You must remember! My life depends on it!" Viconia called to Belgar.

"Please, Belgar, I beg of you! Save me from these madmen!" she pleaded, desperate for a way out of her current situation.

All eyes were now on the tall, muscular man that the drow had been addressing. The crowd held it's collective breath, and waited to see what this strange man would do. Belgar studied Viconia for a moment, then without a word he drew his sword and strode forward. With one downward stroke he severed the ropes that held Viconia, and helped her down off the pyre.

The ringleader screamed in rage, and drew his weapon. The crowd took that as their cue to leave, and scattered off as quickly as their legs could carry them. Only a few of the more fanatical remained, drawing their weapons to attack the ally of the evil drow.

Minsc charged the nearest man, and easily dispatched him with a few well-placed blows. Belgar was fending off the ringleader with Viconia by his side. She quickly summoned a flaming sword, and was soon gleefully hacking at her former captor. Yoshimo drew his bow, and with lighting speed began to pelt the fanatics with a barrage of arrows.

One of the fanatic's arrows whizzed past Nyrendra's head, just clipping her left ear. She stifled a yell of surprise, and quickly dodged to one side while manipulating the weave around her to create a hard coating of stone over her skin. She then turned her attention to one of the guards who was sneaking up on Belgar, and shot an acid arrow directly into his heart.

Anomen roared in anger, and charged the man that had been shooting at Nyrendra. The man quickly dropped his bow, switching to a long sword as the Helmite fell upon him. The unfortunate man was able to get a couple of blows in, but he was fighting a losing battle. Anomen ended the contest with a stunning blow to the side of the man's head. A loud cracking sound echoed across the courtyard, then all was quiet.

Yoshimo set about to collecting items, money and other valuables from the fallen men, while the rest of the party regrouped in the center. With a wave of her hand Nyrendra dispelled the stone skin, thus enabling her to move about easier. With the stone coating gone, her ear began to bleed freely. Anomen was quickly at her side, and healed the small wound before Nyrendra had a chance to tend to it herself.

None of the other party members had been hurt much more than a scratch. Viconia was the first to speak. Addressing Belagar, she said, "I owe you my life, abbil...you have saved me once again. I did nothing to provoke their attack, I tell you! I was passing through the city when the man guessed my identity under my hood. I was surprised and he called out to others, revealing me. I suppose they assumed I was here to spy on them...fools! They are so quick to fear, these rivvin!" she snarled the last word with disdain, an ugly grimace crossing her face.

Viconia quickly collected herself, and shot her most winning and charming smile towards Belgar. "But, come...we must be on our way soon if we are to avoid drawing another crowd. I distrust these barbaric people too much to hang about. It would be both a privilege and an honor to join you, Belgar. What say you to my proposal?"

Anomen stared at Viconia with a mixture of distrust and wonder. "I had not thought the drow could be so... striking. A beautiful creature, this…" he trailed off. Nyrendra growled angrily, and glared at Anomen. Flinching under Nyrendra's gaze, Anomen quickly added, "But devoid of compassion, as I hear. Bring her or send her away, it matters not to me."

Minsc quickly piped up. "We have saved her and she is our responsibility. What if she was captured again? Neither Boo nor I could live with ourselves. No, she must come." Boo squeaked, as if in agreement.

"I can survive, addled one," Viconia scoffed. "I was taken by surprise today, but I have been among rivven secretly for quite some time. But neither do I object to traveling with you."

"I, however, have some misgivings about traveling with YOU," Nyrendra interjected icily.

"Nyrendra? You yet live? What a surprise," Viconia said sweetly. Nyrendra lunged towards the other woman, stopping short of mauling her only due to Belgar's quick reflexes. He shot Nyrendra a look that plainly said, No, before he let her go. Nyrendra stayed where she was, but continued to glare at Viconia.

"Oh, a pleasant surprise of course," Viconia added, winking at Nyrendra. "And despite your less than enthusiastic greeting, I think the two of us will get along famously. The decision, ultimately, is Belgar's."

Viconia turned her attention to Belgar. "Have a backbone, Belgar... take me with you and I will fight by your side! Together we shall vanquish all!" she stated, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

Belgar looked at Nyrendra briefly, questioning her with her eyes. Nyrendra sighed in defeat, and nodded her head slightly.

"Welcome, Viconia. I trust you'll be a worthy addition to our cause," Belgar said simply.