Chapter 8 -:o Friends of the family o:-
The crossroads was marked with a huge stone, engraved with the names of the locations both north and south that the road lead to.
As the weary group arrived to it, they noticed an old man, clad in red robes and a fur-trimmed cloak. The stranger also had a wide brimmed, pointy hat and a long white beard. In short, he looked like the quintessential wise old wizard. He was calmly smoking a clay pipe, seemingly without a care in the world while sitting on a fallen tree, but Ged noticed he was observing them intently as they approached. At the sight of Gorion's body, the old man sprung to his feet and quickly came forward to meet them.
Ged was feeling quite weary and silently pleaded for Tymora to make the old man a friend instead of a foe.
"Ho there, wanderer. Stay thy course a moment to indulge an old man." the stranger said to him, looking at his companions only in passing and observing Gorion's body for a few moments longer.
"It's been nigh unto a tenday since I've seen a soul walking this road, and I've been without decent conversation since. Traveling nowadays appears to be the domain of either the desperate or the deranged. If thou wouldst pardon my intrusion, might I inquire which pertains to thee?" he inquired, looking at Ged cunningly but not unkindly from under his bushy eyebrows.
"Of the choices you give, I would say desperate. Could you offer me any help, kind sir?" Ged inquired. "We were attacked and my father was killed."
The old man glanced at Gorion and suddenly looked very tired and if possible, older still.
"I am sorry for thine loss. I regret not having any real advice to give thee except some advice." the stranger replied, leaning at his staff.
"The Friendly Arm Inn is but a short distance to the north, and its doors are open to all." he continued, looking over his companions once again. When his gaze passed over Ged and Imoen's new traveling companions, his countenance grew grim and his eyes flashed.
Turning back to Ged, he continued in his previous tone: "You shall find the protection to the north of shelter, friendship and another kind, if thine eyes be well enough open and thy mind alert, but more than this I cannot say. My sympathies for any hardships the road may have inflicted upon thee, though I am certain everything shall turn out for the best."
"Thank you, kind sir. Beware of gibberlings and wolves, we have fought the former and fled from the latter." Ged said, bowing to the old man respectfully.
"Thank ye for the warning, young man. May the gods watch over ye. I shall take my leave and wish thee all the best." the old man replied, smiling kindly at Ged and Imoen. Then he simply walked past them and disappeared along the southern road that led towards Beregost.
"What a strange old fellow!" Ged wondered, looking at his companions. Imoen smiled back at him, but Xzar and Montaron seemed unusually silent and pale, the wizard especially so. Ged wondered what had affected them.
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"Quiet you fools!"
Ged turned to snap back at Montaron, but held back his retort at the sight of the halfing's alert look and drawn sword. He had been furiosly arguing with Xzar and thought that Montaron had decided to join in, but Imoen too had her weapon ready. Then he heard them, the shrill cries of gibberlings.
"Prepare fer some nice, desperate bladework! They are almost on us, the bleedin' grassmonkeys!" the halfling snarled, murderous delight in his voice.
Ged tried to find the inner calm that had guided him so efficiently in his previous fights, but it eluded him. He felt his knees wobble unsteadily and a peculiar lightness in his stomach. Fumbling to untie the knot of the pouch that held his components for the Armor spell, he instead clumsily dropped his staff.
"What are ye doing, eedjit! Pick up yer bleedin' weapon!" Montaron shouted at him, enraged and disgusted at the sight of the young wizard's fear. Xzar had drawn a curved dagger from his belt, and was howling like the wolves they had evaded previously, his head thrown back.
The first three gibberlings charged at them from the bushes. Ged could feel bile rising in his throat. For a brief moment he panicked, freezing between the decision whether to complete his protective spell or pick up his weapon.
The first gibberling stumbled and fell down in mid leap, Imoen's arrow sticking from it like some strange feather.
The two others both charged at Montaron, who expertly hit one of them in the eye with a thrown dagger. The other closed the distance before he could repeat the feat, and he had to meet it with his short sword.
Five new 'grassmonkey's' ran towards the companions, howling in anger and hunger. Imoen fired another two arrows in rapid succession, missing with the first and wounding a gibberling with the second. Xzar had worked himself into a frenzy and lunged at an approaching gibberling. The mad wizard's blade bit deep, but the equally berserk creature refused to die and the two went down, both screaming, clawing, biting and tearing at one another.
"Ged! Look out!"
Imoen's voice shook the young wizard from his panic and he saw his help was needed. Imoen had been forced to drop her bow and engage two of the creatures in melee with only a dagger. Montaron had killed one of the beasts, but was beset with two others. And from the distance, Ged could see yet another four of the hairy creatures, running and leaping towards them.
Ged felt burning shame, Imoen was fighting for her life and yet found time to look after him, while he was fumbling around like a child.
Forgetting momentarily about his weapon, Ged started the familiar chant of the Armor spell, holding the blessed piece of cured leather to his chest. All four of the monsters had chosen him as their target, and were rapidly approaching.
Just moments before the first beast leapt at him, the spell took effect and Ged felt it's protective force all around him. In a sudden move that surprised the lead creature, he dropped down to grab his fallen staff. The leaping gibberling sailed over him, falling down in a confused leap and making furious snarls.
Wielding his staff like a two-handed sword, Ged swung in a wide arc to keep the remaining three gibberlings away. He hit one, and knocked the over-eager beast out cold. Two other two ducked under his swing and leaped at his feet.
Ged yelled out in surprise and anticipated pain, but the fangs of his foes skidded away without penetrating skin or even clothing. All three of them fell down, limbs tangling, but the gibberlings were momentarily taken aback and whimpering in puzzlement.
Ged's staff had fallen from his hands again, so he grabbed Gorion's old dagger and furiously stabbed at the shaggy bodies of his assailants. He hit both of the gibberling's, throwing them off momentarily. As he struggled to his feet, he saw that the other had been mortally wounded by a jab through it's neck. The other had only been grazed, and it was already growling in renewed fury and was preparing to leap.
Ged dropped his dagger and bent to grab his staff. The move was a grievous error, since he hadn't counted on the gibberling behind him. The beast jumped on his back and this time Armor didn't shield him. Ged felt the gibberlings jagged teeth sink into his shoulder and screamed in pain. He was lying on the top of his staff and couldn't use it, instead trying to reach for his dagger.
The gibberling tried to bite at his jugular, but his protective magic saved his life. It was only a matter of time, however. If only he could reach his blade...
He felt great weight on top of him and hot, flowing blood down his neck and face. Was it the end? Ged screamed in rage and with a sudden and unexpected, desperate strength he turned his foe over so that it lay beneath him. Terror and hatred clouding his sight, he pounded at the suddenly limp and motionless body of his foe with his bare hands.
"Ged! Stop it!"
Imoen's voice reached him at last and he felt some of his anger seep away. The gibberling he had been beating was decapitated. With a swordblow.
"Imoen! Quickly, it bit me in the neck! Give me a potion from my backpack, before I bleed to de-" Ged yelled, suddenly realizing his 'plight'.
A harsh, mocking laugh from Montaron cut him short. "Ye're only bit in the shoulder, ye whiny lil' excuse fer a spellflinger!"
His hand still at his wet and sticky neck, Ged glanced at Imoen. She nodded and bit at her lip, shooting an angry glance at the scornful halfling.
Ged suddenly became aware of the utter stillness, not even birds were singing.
"I do wonder, wizard, if these two are worth takin' to Nashkel, I does." the halfling snorted derisively, and began cleaning his bloodied sword on a rag he took from his belt. Ged noticed that the rag was already covered with dried blood stains.
"Nonsense Monty! So what if Violet Eye's a coward, the girl fought like a she-wolf in heat!" Xzar called, limping towards the assembled companions. As Imoen helped him to stand, Ged could see Xzar's face and mouth covered in blood. The mad wizard licked his lips and threw away his shredded and bloodstained cloak.
The halfing glanced at Xzar.
"Ye still have hair betwixt yer teeth, ye bleedin' badger!" Montaron grunted, walking over to one of the dead creatures and collecting his dagger.
With a jolt, Ged realized that Xzar had killed his gibberling by tearing out it's throat with his teeth. He felt sickened by the sight, and as a sudden wave of nausea struck him, Ged fell down on his knees and threw up, Xzar's mocking laughter ringing in his ears.
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"At last!"
The four travelers were standing before the imposing fortress that was known as the Friendly Arm Inn.
Imoen had previously told Ged how it had once been a stronghold of evil, an adobe of a priest of Bhaal. Bhaal had been the evil god of murder and death, who had perished twelve years ago during the Time of Troubles, a tumultous period when the gods had been forced to take mortal form and walk the earth by Ao, the over power.
Some gods had died during this cataclysm, Bhaal among them. The Lord of Murder had been a part of the triad of evil including Bane and Myrkul whose collective portfolio's of death, the rulership over the dead and tyranny among other things had passed to a mortal known as Cyric. Some said the so-called 'Dead Three' were to blame for the catasthrophe happening in the first place, the repercussions of which still affected the Realms.
Some years before the Time of Troubles however, an adventuring group had cleared out this keep of it's evil occupants. Two gnomish members of that very group, a husband and wife, had chosen to start an inn there. It was now a favored stopping place between Beregost and Baldur's Gate, governed by tough frontier law that forbade armed quarrels upon the pain of death.
"We made it!" Imoen sighed in exhausted relief, pausing with Ged for a moment as their two traveling companions went inside, ignoring the greetings of the guards at the drawbridge.
"Don't care about what that little creep said, ye fought bravely!" Imoen whispered to him as they wearily carried Gorion towards the fort. The guards rushed to aid them, upon seeing their burden. Ged gave a small and sad smile in answer to her, and fell to the ground, momentarily overcome from the day's horrors and the pain of his wounds, of both body and soul.
He awoke shortly after, his head on Imoen's lap. They were inside the fortress' walls, but still in the outside air. Sounds of music and merriment could be heard from inside the keep. Imoen was stroking his hair and humming some ancient wordless lullaby.
"Ya passed out. Feelin' better?" she asked merrily, seeing Ged's eyes open.
Ged smiled at his friend, struggling to rise up. Imoen helped him to stand and held his hand until he felt slightly steadier.
"We should go inside, I think. Find these Jaheira and Khalid Gorion's letter spoke of." he said.
Imoen nodded, having read the letter already twice, once back at Candlekeep while nosing around (though she hadn't told Ged this) and again when her friend had passed it to her in secret several hours ago.
"Where are-?"
Imoen cut him off, guessing who Ged was asking about. "Those two creeps! They went inside and haven't been back! Do ya really think we should follow 'em to Nashkel? Those two can't be up to anything nice, I'd lay good odds to that!"
Ged sighed, avoiding her gaze. "I don't know, Immie. I gave them my word. What's more, I swore in Gorion's name..." realizing his father's body was missing, he grasped Imoen's arm frantically. "Where is he! I need to see the-"
"Relax!" She replied. "The priestess of Garl-..." Imoen stumbled over the name. "Uh... The gnomish god. Anyway, the priestess Gellana Mirrorshade took him to the temple. We can go see him, but shouldn't we first go and look for-"
"Me."
The voice startled both Imoen and Ged, neither of whom had heard the stranger approach. The speaker was a man of about thirty, dressed in well tailored black and green traveling clothes and wearing high boots. His black hair was thinning from his temples and he had a small, pointy beard.
"Who are you?" Imoen demanded, her hand flying to her dagger. Ged too, felt alarmed. There was something almost reptilian in the way this dark-haired stranger looked at him.
"I believe you were here to meet some friends? Your name is Gedragon, foster child of Gorion...?" the man inquired in an oily manner, his eyes glinting.
"No. No, I don't believe that you're the man I was supposed to meet here." Ged answered, trying to sound sure of himself.
"You fool!" the man snarled, jumping back as Imoen yelled out and drew her dagger.
"You are the one I seek, or rather the price on your head. Don't move, young Gedragon, I have something here for you!"
To Ged's horror, the man's next words came in the spidery language of magic.
Imoen threw her dagger, but it was too late. The wizard's spell split his form into five and they shimmered back and forth from each other so it was impossible to tell which was the original. Imoen's dagger impacted one and it blinked out of existence, leaving behind four.
Ged recognized the spell as Mirror Image, one of an advanced level currently beyond his ability. But he also knew how to fight it from Gorion's stories. Yelling for the guards, he picked up a stone and flung it towards one figure.
He managed to hit one of the shimmering forms, and yet another figure blinked out. Imoen had run for her bow, but before she could fire the enemy mage snapped a few words and made a gesture towards her. Imoen dropped her bow with a scream and tried to frantically wipe her eyes.
"Ged! Help me, I can't see! Oh Ilmater, help me!"
"'Blindness'?" Ged inquired from his foe, even as he threw a second stone. This time he missed.
The wizard didn't feel the need to gloat, instead casting a third spell. As Ged saw four guards rushing towards the wizard, the enemy mage finished his spell. The guards' angry calls to stand down were replaced by horrified screams as all four turned tail and ran away in terror.
Ged threw a third stone and a third image blinked out.
With a cruel smile twisting his mouth, Ged's foe opened his mouth for his fourth spell. He only got as far as the first syllable of casting Magic Missile.
A round stone struck him squarly on the face, making him lose his concentration and ruining his spell. Both of the remaining identical images of the wizard gaped in amazement and looked to where the stone had been flung.
Two figures approached, both of them slim of build but tall and strong. A red headed man, clad in chainmail and wielding a long sword along with a small, round shield charged past Ged, even as a second sling stone hit the mage's remaining Mirror Image. The illusionary figure blinked out and left the still stunned wizard without protection.
Just as the swordsman reached the wizard, the latter came to his senses, grabbing a potion from his belt and lifting it to his lips. He was just about to pour it down his throat when the chainmail clad warrior reached him and severed his arm with a savage swing. The flask fell and shattered on the ground. Screaming in pain, the wizard drew a dagger to defend himself, but the warrior's second strike nearly cut him in two from the waist, spilling his innards on the cobblestones in a gruesome display.
Seeing his attacker dead, Ged rushed to help Imoen, who was yelling and stumbling around, seemingly blind.
"You would be Gedragon? The foster son of Gorion the sage?"
Ged raised his head in apprehension. Though the tone was rather harsh, the voice had a melodious quality to it.
The speaker was the woman who had saved him with her sling. She was a half-elf, as tall as he was with her light brown hair tied in braids from the front and sides to keep it from her green eyes. Her facial features were quite beautiful, a mixture of human and moon elven traits. She was quite well built, athletic and slim.
"I-Is he a-alright, Jaheira?" a gentle voice asked from behind Ged. He turned around and was amazed to see that it belonged to the warrior who had just saved his life, in a savage display worth one of Gorion's adventure stories.
"Hmph! Looks like it. Speak up child, or did that sniveling mage make you as deaf as your friend here is blind?" Jaheira answered, her tone somewhat brisk.
"No! I mean, yes! I am Gedragon, son of Gorion!" Ged finally answered, glancing back and forth between his two saviours.
"Ged! What's happening, didya kill that mage? Who are these folks!" Imoen demanded, rising shakily and waving her hands around.
"Please! We must take her to the priestess!" Ged implored the warrior and his female companion.
"Wuh-worry not, 'Ged'! That illusion of blindness will expire in several muh-moments!" the red headed fighter said reassuringly, slightly stumbling over several words. Ged noticed that he too, was a half-elf, though in his case only the pointed ears spoke of his graceful moon elf ancestry. That red hair and especially the slightly hapless expression was all too human, and brought Ged memories of growing up with Imoen and Dreppin.
"Never mind that! Where is Gorion! Why didn't he help you fight off this two-bit prestidigator?" the woman demanded, shaking Ged to regain his attention.
"P-p-please! Juh-Jaheira!" the warrior cut in gently, sharing a private look between his companion.
"Oh alright! Let's go inside and get you both some mulled wine!" she snarled and, turning on her heels, grabbed Imoen and started leading her towards the stairs of the keep, not very gently but firmly and steering her clear of obstacles.
"I'm Khalid, she is Jaheira. We are friends of your adoptive father." the warrior told Ged as they followed after the fiery woman, confirming what Ged had already guessed.
Feeling a bit better, he allowed himself a small breath of relief at knowing he was among friends, for now.
Then the thought of explaining Gorion's death to the seemingly bad-tempered Jaheira came to him and his mood came crashing down once again. This terrible day wasn't finished yet.
