They all sat around the dining room table, all looking grave. More interruptions on their return to Trademeet sprung up at every turn.

Jaheira and Khalid seemed trustworthy enough, but their presence was small compensation for the problems at hand.

"Sir Keldorn is having…family problems at the moment," Anomen said. "Until he clears them up, I fear he will not be able to aid us in battle."

"I have discovered much the same," Cernd said sadly. "I have a son I must rescue, but I fear I cannot do so alone. As the wolf looks after its cubs, as the deer shelters the fawn-"

"We will help," Jaheira said, holding Khalid's hand. "Servants of Nature must remain together and protect their own."

"And I will help Anomen deal with Sir Keldorn," Aerie said, taking cue from this show of solidarity. She smiled at the knight, who grasped her hand.

"I still need another day in the forge to complete the weapons," Branwen said. "I can be of little help until then."

"Then that leaves me," Valygar said sourly, "to deal with Haer'Dalis. A messenger came by recently saying that the tiefling is in jail for murder and theft. I thought about leaving him there, but I suppose we should at least hear what he has to say."

"Haer'Dalis may be many things," Aerie said, "but he's no murderer! Of course you must help him!"

The ranger passed a hand over his weary face. "Then I will turn in now. I will leave for the prison at first light."

Valygar entered the dark prison hesitantly, remembering his own recent brush with the law. He had been innocent to all but the Cowled Wizards; could Haer'Dalis too be innocent but for his tainted lineage? Ruefully, Valygar had to admit that their situations were similar: both were somewhat feared for their family name more than any actions they had actually performed.

Haer'Dalis was alone in a long hallway of cells, which a guard unceremoniously shoved Valygar into after an exchange of gold. The bard stood and walked to the bars as the free man approached.

"Somehow I knew 'twould be you who rescues this poor sparrow."

Valygar grit his teeth. "Why, why do you insist on making this difficult? I am here because everyone else is busy, and your freedom is not as vital as defeating Bhodi. I am here by necessity; why else would I come?"

The tiefling smirked, undaunted by this tirade. "My dark hawk, is it not obvious? You are in love with me."

Pain came to surface in Valygar's body, quickly but dully. It was an old pain, one he had pressed down countless times but which always resurfaced. It filled him, consumed him, overtook everything else on the surface. Panic followed immediately, and for five seconds he was ready to walk back out the door and forget about all of this business; tieflings and Bhaalspawns and friends and life. But instead of running, this time, he embraced the pain, accepted its constant ache and saw it for what it was instead of hiding it again.

In a quiet, controlled voice, he said, "You should not say such things in jest. You should realize that words can cut far deeper than any sword."

All mirth drained from Haer'Dalis' face, but a twinkle remained in his eye. "My dark hawk, 'twas not my intention of causing pain to such a noble creature. The duty of any bard worth his salt is to dig deep and uncover the truth. Yet rarely does truth come without some measure of discomfort."

Valygar stood on one side of the bars, Haer'Dalis on the other. "How long have you known that I…about me?"

Haer'Dalis offered a sympathetic smile. "Since I first laid eyes on you. It is nothing to be ashamed of, noble Valygar, and you are not alone in this world as you would like to make out." He put forward a hand, placed it gently on the other man's shoulder. "You can enjoy a moment of happiness without loathing yourself afterward."

Valygar flinched upon contact but corrected himself and stood his ground. He stared at the floor, his silence weighing more on him now than normal. He cleared his throat. "I suppose I've known all along, it's just taken some time to realize it, accept it. You won't tell the others?"

"Secrets oft cause more trouble than they're worth," was the reply, "as I should know. You will not truly come to terms with yourself if you cannot allow others into your world. Do not fear others' opinions; it is your true friends who will see your true self and love it unconditionally."

Valygar laid his head on the bars, gripping them as if he were on the other side. "You have no idea what it's like to bear this silently, day after day, wondering what others would think about you."

"Nay, my dark hawk, you have the wrong of it. I am a fool to many things, but to this I am intimately acquainted." Haer'Dalis lifted the ranger's face and brought it to his own, flesh meeting flesh between cold iron bars.

They stood together for a moment, frozen in time, as Valygar tried to capture the feeling in his mind forever. Then, far too soon, they broke, and he was left watching a prisoner pace his cell.

At a loss for what else to say, he asked what Haer'Dalis was doing in jail.

"Alas, I was unjustly captured for the crimes of another. The guards claim I have stolen from the man I murdered, but I confess I remember neither of these acts. 'Tis my destiny to be constantly bounded by chains, it appears."

Valygar's head raced and he had to lean against the wall for a moment before promising to investigate the crimes. He had to be alone, think things over, and this would give him a chance. Plus, he didn't know what would happen if he was alone with Haer'Dalis for much longer; his heart beat faster when he looked at his companion, making his head reel. "I will be back soon, with your freedom," he said, scarcely taking a look back as he fled the jail.

"It's amazing everything worked out so well!" Aerie chirped. She and the others stood outside of Athkatla's graveyard, preparing to enter into Bhodi's tombs. "I just know it means this mission will be a success."

Anomen smiled next to her then looked at Ajantis and Keldorn. "Aye, righteousness will win this day. I am glad we sorted out any potential problems."

Keldorn laid an arm on the younger knight's shoulder. "You have shown me that an old paladin still has things to learn, lad, and I'll be proud to fight beside you to rid Athkatla of such a menace."

"As will I," Ajantis added.

Cernd, standing with Jaheira and Khalid, nodded. "As soon as I have helped you with this and Trademeet is safe, I will take my son back to the grove and raise him. I cannot thank you all enough for helping me realize this future for my family."

Haer'Dalis stood next to Valygar, who looked uneasy but did not shirk from the bard's presence. "This sparrow is fortunate to have a brave hawk defend his name from false wrongs, and I would wager from future ones."

"It wasn't hard to find the true murderer," Valygar said, waving away the compliment with embarrassment. "I'm surprised the city guards fell for the false trail he led to you."

"Nevertheless, I would have made a visit to the headsman's block if it weren't for you. We can discuss this at some later time."

"Yes, later." The ranger's eyes lingered on Haer'Dalis then focused into the distance.

Aerie shifted slightly at the sight of her recent lover's new relationship but then saw Anomen from the corner of her eye and smiled at the couple.

Only Branwen stood alone, staring out into the unnatural mist shrouding the graves beyond. "We face a mighty foe this day. We cannot allow emotions to cloud our judgment or hinder our fighting arms. Bhodi will not show us mercy, so we cannot show her any."

This dampened the mood somewhat, but this was soon forgotten as a strange sight emerged from the mist, shrieking. Everyone's weapons were out in an instant, but there was no need for caution.

"My beautiful body!" the red-robed woman yelled, clutching at her clothing. "Mystra be damned, I won't accept this!" A strikingly beautiful woman staggered away from the graveyard, unaware of her audience.

Everyone stared as the woman continued her monologue. "How could this happen to me? I am the greatest wizard this side of the Sword Coast (Elminster has got nothing on me!). This must be a trick from one of my many jealous enemies."

"By Tempus' shield," Branwen breathed. "I would recognize that insane rambling anywhere. Except…"

The lady in red finally realized that she had an audience and returned the group stare with a mixture of defiance and mortification. "What are you monkeys staring at! There is nothing to gawk at, so shuffle along. (What a party of apes is doing in such a place I'll never know.)"

Anomen placed his hand back on his mace, but Branwen stepped forward. "I recall a Red Wizard further north on the coast by the name of Edwin," she said. "You wouldn't happen to have any relation to him, would you? Your manner is almost identical."

"Fool! I am Edwin. Anyone who had met me before could have no chance to forget someone as impressive as I."

"She certainly has some impressive features about her," Haer'Dalis murmured, earning a sideways glare from Valygar.

"You are Edwin?" Branwen asked. "The same man who was searching for a witch and her bodyguard? The man who promised a year of service to my group but mysteriously disappeared after we freed the witch?"

"(My superiors were not pleased with that move, short-sighted imbeciles that they are.) Yes, I am he. Er, she." She looked down at her form then blushed almost to match her robe and fidgeted with new understanding at Branwen's questions. "There has been a slight miscalculation," she said, "which has altered my…plans. A momentary setback, I assure you."

"What are you doing by yourself in the graveyard when such evil tidings are evident?" Keldorn asked, indicating the heavy fog lying amongst the graves.

"That is my affair, knight," Edwin snapped. "I could ask the same of a large armed party such as yourselves, but I know better than to interfere with others' plans. Eh, what are you doing here exactly?"

"We are to defeat a foul vampire and her brood," Ajantis said proudly. "'Tis a righteous task, and a dangerous one."

"No doubt profitable as well," Edwin mused. "(I've been running low on spell components recently, not to mention the dark artifacts a vampire is likely to hoard.) Hear me, I am prepared to offer my services on this mission in return for a share of the spoils. You cannot hope to prevail without a wizard such as I on your side."

"We are not doing this for a profit!" Anomen snapped. "A friend's life is at risk, as are the lives of all good folk in Athkatla who will become prey for the vampire without our assistance."

"Yes, yes, very noble. Now am I to report your untimely but not unexpected demise to the city guard, or shall I accompany you?"

Jaheira looked to Branwen. "The Red Wizards are treacherous, but powerful as well. We can use all the help we can get on this mission, and then we can part ways."

The priestess nodded. "I agree. Another spell slinger would be helpful. If no one has any objections?"

Anomen, Keldorn, and Ajantis all looked as if they would speak, but a sharp look from Aerie and Aenwyn's name froze them.

"(I didn't doubt it for a second.) Very well, let us be off. The crypt should be somewhere to the northwest."

"How do you know that, wizard?" Valygar demanded.

"I make it my job to have much useful information at my command," Edwin said loftily, falling into position behind the frontlines.

The enlarged group did not have long before they came across another individual, this time one with less beneficial interests in mind. "She knew you would come," the pale woman said, stepping from behind a crypt. "She knows everything, including the moment of your deaths. Make it easier on yourselves and give up now. She is impressed enough with your progress to allow you into her family."

"We will never succumb to darkness, wretch," Anomen announced, holding his Mace of Disruption aloft. Everyone had weapons at the ready.

"That's too bad. I would have enjoyed some of your company. Do you feel the same, Branwen? I used to know what you liked; I think you would be pleased with a chance of…lifestyle."

"The undead are abominations," Branwen stated calmly. "I would never-" The words fell from her lips as the vampire stepped to the edge of the fog and her features became clear. "Shar-Teel," the priestess whispered, her skin almost as white as the vampire's. "You're-"

"Dead? I know. I have been for some time. Since you abandoned me in Irenicus' lab, actually. But I'll forgive you for the sake of what we had. For what we could have again, forever." Shar-Teel was walking closer to Branwen now, and other forms were materializing in the mist behind her.

"I wouldn't have left if I thought you were still alive," Branwen sobbed, unable to tear her eyes from the dead woman. "You must believe me."

"I forgive you," Shar-Teel whispered, almost on Branwen. "But you must come with me now, so we can be together forever."

"Forever?" Branwen whispered.

Shar-Teel nodded and made to embrace the woman, but jerked back with a screech before turning to dust before Branwen's eyes. Anomen stood behind the vampire, his mace at the ready.

"I am sorry, my lady," he said gravely, "but that was not your friend. Your friend died some time ago, and that was but a cruel shadow that wanted to destroy you."

For a moment Branwen looked as if she were going to attack Anomen, but then she collapsed in on herself and nodded weakly. "We have lost valuable time," she murmured, readying her own weapon and ignoring the wetness on her face. "We must make these damned beasts pay."

She and Anomen entered the fight which was already underway around them, battling their way down to the darkness below.