The cave led to another, larger, and including cells closed by heavy wooden doors. Arwen, moved towards the first one and looked through the small window located on the door. The room was filled with men and women in ragged clothes. Arwen made a circular glance at the cavern, searching a place where she could find some keys.
« What are you looking for, little elf? » asked K'arla.
Astonished and aggravated a bit, Arwen answered. « I will release them. »
« No! You must not! Follow me! »
Arwen's surprise transformed into anger. She exclaimed « What! I should have guessed! You are like Inther, like Maugrim! You are pirates and slavers! »
K'arla came to her, her index barring her mouth telling her to remain quiet. « Sshh! ... You will alert the guards! »
« I don't care about the guards. You try to mislead me. I will release these people. And I defy you to prevent me to do so. I will not stop with the first blood this time. » Arwen finished her sentence by unsheathing her swords.
The drow crossed her arms as a sign of peace. « Calm down, little elf. If you release them now they will be re-taken or slaughtered in the streets of Luskan. The only result will be to attract the attention of Inther and Maugrim on us. It is too early, we are not yet ready. »
Her assurance and calm made Arwen's anger fall. Overcome by many mixed emotions she lowered her weapons. « But... » Tears filled her green eyes.
« I understand your feelings and your doubts Arwen, » answered the drow with tightened jaws. « I do not try to deceive you. Believe me ... and if all goes well, we will come to release them soon. »
She had hardly finished the sentence when the door opened violently. Four bandits entered the room, weapons in hands. K'arla was quick to react. With her left hand saber she parried the attack of the first attacker. At the same time she sent her foot in his low belly. Unbalanced, and carried by his momentum, the guard struck the wall, head first.
Arwen recovered her
senses. By a series of feints and parades she found an opening in the
defense of the guard nearest to her, and delivered him a lethal blow.
That
left only two guards. One versus one. They did not have any chance,
and the fight was quickly finished.
While Arwen, and K'arla cut through a path in the search of an antidote, Aribeth endured another combat against a malefic creature. The effects of the spells thrown by Tina and Rose began to fade. Aribeth still partially asleep was agitated more and more. Heinous words came from her mouth.
« The effects of the protection spells start to dissipate » Noticed Rose.
« Yes, I wonder which kind of creature has such a mental energy to be able to overcome our spells so quickly? » Tina worried, before adding, « Rose, made her swallow the potion that we prepared! »
« I cannot, Captain, she struggles too much! »
With a gesture from her hand Tina called the barbarian who stood behind her. « Phil immobilise her! »
Obeying the orders of his captain, the barbarian approached. He plated an elbow under Aribeth's throat while with his hand he held her two hands. Although she knew that it was for a good cause, the sight of her friend struggling under the iron fist of the barbarian awoke bad memories in Tina. She asked, «Gently, Phil! Please do not harm her.»
The barbarian pledged, « I try Captain, but she is strong and I must employ all my strength. I have rarely seen such a strong elf.»
When Aribeth was immobilized, Rose made her swallow the potion and Tina cast the most powerful anti-charm spell she had in mind.
The effect was practically immediate and the elf slackened. A little time after she opened her eyes « What happened? Where am I? »
Tina indicated for Phil and Rose to leave and reassured Aribeth. « Calm down. It is I Tina! We have just made you drink a calming and protective potion. You had another mental attack. »
Even if Tina had succeeded in loosening the vice, which crushed Aribeth's mind, the venom distilled by Morag was always present. As each time when she awoke after one of its so-called nightmares, the soul of Aribeth revolted against the horrors, which it had just faced. Usually the elf was alone and cried in despair. But this night, like the day before, she was not alone. Another friend was by her side. She seized Tina's arm. « Tina please, kill me ..., in the name of our friendship, kill me. Kill me before the monster which is in me controls me completely, before the horrors which I see in dream become real »
Tina sat down on the edge of the bed and answered in a voice full with compassion « Ari, you do not have a monster in you. There is just a malefic creature, who plays with your fears and your doubts. She is able to do so because your mental defenses are completely destroyed. » She paused, and gently touched with the tip of her fine fingers the arm of her friend to reassure her, and at the same time to reassure herself. Then she asked, trying to keep her voice sweet and in a non-accusative tone. « Ari, why did you drink as much of this potion? You did not notice the effects on your spirit... and even on your body? »
Feeling guilty Aribeth stammered, « Indeed, I had doubt ... but it is Fentick who gave me this potion, a few days before his disappearance. I started to have painful headaches and to have nightmares ... I could not imagine that he would make an error, he was an expert in potions ... then I thought that it was because my mind was disturbed ... because the tragic events awoke painful memories ... and moreover, as soon as I stopped taking the potion, headaches became stronger ... I should have spoken about it ... but with whom? ... Fentick was dead and the only person who could have listened to me, Arwen, was constantly on mission for us ... when she returned she needed rest and I did not wish to annoy her with my problems »
« I see! » Tina was moved. Aribeth's confession allowed her to understand that Morag had probably corrupted Fentick. It should have been an easy task, he was so weak. She had never liked Fentick and had always thought that he was not made for her friend. She found him a coward and too malleable. She did not like his relations, Ophala and Celdur in particular. She had said it several times to Aribeth, but she, usually so wise and clear-sighted, seemed plugged when she spoke about Fentick. Even now, facing the obvious, she preferred to pretend in an error from him ...
Aribeth guessed Tina's thought. She had had them many times and, fearing the horror of the truth, had carefully avoided to clear … For example the true role played by Fentick, his disturbing friendship with Desther, his flirt with Ophala ... Estimating herself not ready for such introspection she preferred to change the subject for conversation « Rather, would you explain to me by which chance you found me in Luskan. »
Tina had understood perfectly the significance of this evasion. In friendship, she did not point it out and answered in a joyful voice. « Oh, it is a long story! You allow that I better settle myself to tell you? »
Aribeth smiled and pushing herself against the wall she tapped the place beside her.
Seeing this sign of consent of her friend, Tina sat more comfortably on the bed and spoke again « In fact, my Harpers friends have perceived a few months ago the awakening of the creature which you call Morag. At the beginning we were deluded and we went on a false track in the North. As I had a fast boat, I was entrusted the mission of inquiring around ruins of an old race discovered close to the Spine of the World. Alas, we found nothing, so we returned to Luskan, just at the beginning of the epidemic within Neverwinter. In Luskan we discovered the war within the Arcane tower, the rise to power of Maugrim and hints that a Neverwintan personality was going to be the target of attacks for unknown reasons. I then used my feats and spells to try to know more of it and I perceived that you were the target. I then sent K'arla to Neverwinter to protect you and inquire. Unfortunately her drow statute prevented her from meeting you, but, you know she eliminated many agents of Maugrim who tried to approach you. And then one day you disappeared, so she returned to prevent me ... you know the rest. »
« Yes, I refused to see her. But do you believe that it would have changed something? »The elf lowered her gaze. It was not the fault of her friend that she had twice refused to receive the mysterious drow. She sighed again, then looked up at her friend, who replied with a comprehensive smile encouraging her to continue. « Forgive me Tina. It is not your fault, you did what you could. But now if I understand well, my mind is under the influence of this Morag! If she is so powerful, there is no more hope. This is why it is necessary that you kill me. »
Tina shouted « NO! »
One of the guards passed by the door to make sure that all was well. Tina reassured her with a gesture from her hand.
« Ari, I do not want that you say that. Never will I harm you. Never, you hear me ... The spells that I used are powerful and will slowly restore your mental shield. It will be necessary to remain vigilant because the creature succeeded in creating a bond between it and you, and this bond can be reactivated with having a violent emotion. Thus, it is necessary that you remain quiet. But nevertheless, soon you will regain your free will. It is only a matter of hours. The antidote, is necessary to restore your physical health ... but, in this case too, it is only one question of hours. I have confidence in the capacities of K'arla and Arwen, they will return with it soon. »
She paused a bit and continued by asking something that bothered her since she had met Aribeth and her young friend. «In connection with Arwen, I wonder why Morag has not tried to attack her. I know that it already tried to corrupt some members of my crew, why not this young woman who has annoyed it for many days? »
It was Aribeth's turn to reassure her friend « It has probably tried, but Arwen is protected by her amulet. Morag would need to be more powerful than Eilistraee herself in order to reach Arwen's mind.» Aribeth closed her eyes, sadness overcame her 'I cannot say the same thing from Tyr. What has he done to help me in this ordeal?'
Tina could perceive her friend's sadness. « What is bothering you Ari ? »
Aribeth opened her eyes and wiped the tears that were coming. « Tina, if you do not want to kill me, at least leave me alone. You and your Harpers friends must fight this creature. To help me would be likely to ruin your mission. »
Tina smiled, then took Aribeth's hand in hers; « Ari, it is my friendship for you which asks me to help you. And even if the Harpers were against it, which is not the case, I would help you ... the day you released me from slavery and from my tormentor, you became my friend for life. » She punctuated her sentence while carrying Aribeth's hand to her lips with a great respect. « My friend and my model ... You know, nothing will stop me ... Nobody will prevent me from assisting you. Now, please, please me and rest! »
Little time after Aribeth fell asleep again ... Tina remained awake and started to pray for her friend and for the two women whom she had sent to the research of the invaluable antidote, hoping that they would quickly return healthy and safe. The enemy was stronger and nastier than it was initially thought.
The room, where K'arla and Arwen were, opened onto a corridor slightly brighter and apparently empty.
Just before entering the corridor, K'arla had the feeling of a mental contact. 'Tina?'. The contact became a bit more precise and she perceived anguish and hope. She tried to concentrate on reassuring thought, without being certain that these would be perceived. 'Do not worry yourself Tina, we approach our goal'
Arwen had noted the moment of hesitation of the drow. She put that on the account of irritation due to her own behavior « Forgive me K'arla, I ruined our mission, alarm must have been given. »
K'arla shook her head. Time had made her a fatalist. « What is done is done! We may have enough time to search this level if we act quickly. »
The two women moved into the corridor. On the left was a small square room, empty and only furnished with a straw mattress. Probably a guard's room, thought Arwen.
A little further the corridor divided into three others. On the left, a linear corridor led to an opened room. In front of them, the corridor finished after approximately ten meters in a climbing staircase. And finally, on the right, the corridor was more irregular and a curve masked its end.
K'arla indicated the room located on left. « The guards came from there apparently. Check if the room is clear, then check the staircase that must emerge on the higher floor. I will look on the right-hand corridor. » K'arla threaded in the corridor and disappeared quickly behind the turning.
Arwen moved towards the supposed guards' room. It was empty. Glasses of coffee, still hot, put down on the table indicated that the room had been occupied a few moments ago. A door, locked from the interior, emerged downwards of the docks. 'It must be a secret entry, and the room was occupied by the guards.' Thought Arwen while retracing her steps to the tunnel junction.
Sounds of footsteps and shouts resounded in the staircases. Arwen sheathed her swords and took her bow. She had just arrived at the crossing and had barely enough time to hide at the corner of the corridor from where she came.
Men descended the staircase.
She shot two arrows « Slash ... slash …» A man collapsed, dead. The others ebbed hastily into the staircase. « Beware she has a bow! »
Shortly after two men hidden behind large tower shields descended the staircase cautiously. Arwen understood that she would have to fight hand to hand. She replaced her bow with her two swords.
Arriving near her, the two men released their shields and attacked. One of them, an immense half-orc armed with an axe, exceeded Arwen by more than one head. Behind them two other men followed: a magician and Inther.
The later taunted her. « We meet again cow ... but where is your friend K'arla? She abandoned you here ? » Without awaiting the answer he hailed his men. « Kill her! 100 gold pieces for the one who kills her. »
They had not awaited the order and struck with all their strength. Arwen parried their powerful but imprecise blows while moving back slowly. The presence of the magician worried her. She could not reach him and it gave a serious advantage to her adversaries. She considered running away by the exit door she had located sooner, but succeeded in not yielding to panic, 'I cannot abandon K'arla. I must hold. I hope she will hear the noise and will arrive at their backs. It is my only chance.'
The first spell cast by the magician did not have any effect. Furious Inther reprimanded his magician « Idiot ! I told you that she was protected against charm spells!» Then he taunted Arwen again. « It is a pity, I will have liked to play with you a bit before killing you! But, powerful people want your head. »
Luckily for Arwen the
narrow corridor hampered the two front attackers, who could not
attack at the same time, nor coordinate their blows.
Inther
continued his taunting words. « One weakling against four men,
you do not have any chance Arwen, pathetic hero of Neverwinter! I
will give your corpse to carrions. »
She ignored the sarcastic remarks, but saw with concern that the magician was ready to cast another spell. He had begun a series of movements of his arms. Then he began chanting … He opened wide his mouth and eyes … and fell face to the ground, a dagger stuck in his back, at heart's level. A familiar voice answered Inther « Error, yellow livered snake, two against three ! » and K'arla appeared just beside him.
The combat had just changed heart ...
« Two against two! » Arwen claimed proudly. She had benefited from the confusion to strike a mortal blow to one of her two opponents.
She now faced only the immense half-orc ... not an easy fight.
With more space to manoeuver, he redoubled the intensity of his blows. Arwen parried, and dodged. His adversary tired slowly. She had succeeded in leading him to offset his blows more and more. Suddenly she saw the opening and thrusted her right-hand sword at the joint of the armor of the giant half-orc, at shoulder level. Surprised, he lowered his guard. Arwen did not let the occasion pass and transpierced his throat with her second sword. The man fell heavily.
Arwen withdrew her swords from his body and examined the situation. Inther and K'arla were still fighting. « I come K'arla! »
« Leave him to me Arwen! I personally want to make him pay his sarcastic remarks and his disgusting activities. » K'arla pressed in a series of high attacks. Inther tried to avoid and turn over the blows, but the repeated attacks of the drow forced him to remain on the defensive. They also obliged him to counter a little higher each time. A parry, a bit slower than usual, allowed K'arla to pass under his guard. Immediately she plunged her saber into his heart. Incredulous, Inther released his weapons and took the saber with two hands. Then he fell to his knees, and finally collapsed face against ground « Faerun is free from a scum. » Was the funeral epitaph that K'arla gave him.
Relieved, Arwen came near the drow. « How are you ? You came at the right time. Did you find the antidote? »
K'arla handed her a bottle while kneeling beside the body of the slaver. « Take that! I found it in the reserve. »
« Are you are certain it is the antidote? »
K'arla answered in a neutral tone. « It is what the guard said to me when I gashed him with my dagger. »
Arwen had a retch and rebuked the drow. « You tortured him! »
The drow shrugged her shoulders. « Tina has said I had carte blanche. » Then she started to search the dead man's pockets. In his right one she found a folded letter that she opened and read:
«Dear Inther,
A young blonde
half-elf with green eyes has recently entered Luskan. She is usually
wearing a chestnut shirt and a red dress split and worn over a
leather armor. I offer 5 000 gold pieces to the person who will bring
me back her head.
Be
cautious she has a powerful artifact, which protects her from charm
spells.
Signed
M. »
K'arla whistled. « 5 000 gold pieces! » She handed the letter to Arwen. « It seems Maugrim put your head at price. I will even say a great price ! »
Arwen doubted « K'arla you will not ... »
K'arla protested, « Arwen, you still don't trust me! »
Arwen apologized, thinking that she became a bit too paranoiac. « Forgive me K'arla ... »
Without answering, the drow took the scraping-knife that she had earlier recovered on the body of a dead Kurth's soldier and planted it in Inther's chest. Then she put beside him the cape, also taken on a Kurth's soldier.
« Hey, what are you doing? We should leave. »
The drow stood up with a grin, « It will make them believe that it is Kurth who attacked here! » Seeing the stunned look of her young partner she added. « You see Arwen, the difference between a dead drow and an old drow, is much of experience, and a bit of intuition. For example the intuition which made me collect these things on the corpses a few hours ago, without knowing that I would need them later. »
Arwen agreed « You are almost as smart and cunning as Ari. Now, come, there is an exit! »
« I will take that for a compliment. Please, lead the way! »
With the precious antidote in their hands, they went out by the door leading to the docks.
Dawn began to break. Arwen noticed with frustration that the night must have been hard for the poor inhabitants; glimmers from sites of fire competed with the pale sun that was breaking the horizon. They left the neighborhood of Inther's lair and were quickly in the area under Tina's control.
Arwen held K'arla back by the arm. «Wait, I want to talk to you!»
The drow stopped. « What do you want little elf? »
With pursed lips Arwen replied « I… I almost ruined our mission because I had no confidence in you. »
K'arla responded. « Don't worry for that, I am accustomed to seeing people reacting like you did. Even if I don't worship Lloth, I am still a hated drow. »
K'arla had spoken in a neutral tone, but Arwen had felt a bit of bitterness in her voice. « I am sorry K'arla. It's not your fault. I am suspicious of all things actually. » After a short hesitation she added. « And I don't judge you from your race. »
K'arla denied with her head. « You don't need to justify yourself. I know that people don't trust me. It's life ! » She shrugged her shoulder and resumed her walking.
Arwen grabbed her shoulder. « K'arla I have some drow friends, if you agree to forgive my unjustified suspicions, I would be happy to count you among them. »
« What will your friend Aribeth think of that ? She hates drows. If it was not the case we would not be here. » Responded K'arla who remembered how Aribeth had refused twice to meet her in Neverwinter.
Although she did not understood the reason behind this last remark, Arwen replied. « You must forgive her. She is not in her normal condition. When she will be free from Morag's hold you will see that she is a nice woman. »
K'arla's face lightened a bit. « You seem sincere. Then I accept your apologies, and I beg you to accept mine. I should have warned you sooner and have explained you that we would encounter slaves without being able to free them. »
Arwen had a sad smile. « I understand now … thanks, K'arla. »
K'arla laughed, « Well, little elf. Now don't you think we have an antidote to deliver ? And that we need a bit of rest … More, I am thirsty … I offer you a tea at the boat's bar. »
Arwen returned the laugh. « No, it's my turn to pay … I offer you a pear brandy. »
