Why hello my adoring fans! What can I say? I'm sixteen (so close to driving!) so I'm in a good mood. Hell yes! By the way, for all you people that live in places that let you at a permit/license early (Florida, Pennsylvania, etc.) I hate you. Stupid New Jersey and its stupid laws! You can't even buy a turtle! A turtle dammit!
I apologize once again for delaying so long with this chapter, but I get sidetracked really, really easily. It sucks, but I try. Seriously, though, spring is the busiest time for me academic wise. I stay at school till like five then when I get home I'm too mentally exhausted to do anything. Add to that a concert to prepare for and a ton of new fanfics and webcomics I want to read and you've lost me. So I apologize.
Locke Watcher: Wow, you're always the first to review. You're my new best friend. As for "you know who" (I'm keeping his identity secret for the next, erm, few paragraphs still) I'll try to keep him from getting long-winded. He just seemed like a good choice to help out in this situation. Plus, I like the way he talks. And I need someone to flirt with Raziel to make Sarevok jealous! As for your story, I looked it over (I haven't really been keeping up on the BG stories lately) and thought it was really good.
Elrien11: Indeed. Mmmm….. tiefling cookie. He he he
BloodyKitsune: Nice to hear from you again. And yeah, I thought that was a good clue. I try to be subtle. In some odd, convoluted way.
ArchYou2: Thanks. I had to find some way to fit somebody new in. I was getting tired of writing for the same old characters, and there's nothing I like more than someone who speaks in prose! And you're right, they probably have concussions, I just don't know if they call them concussions.
Starx: Thanks, it always good to hear from someone new. And I know it's farfetched, but it was the only way I could think of to get myself out of the proverbial plot-hole I had dug myself into.
coughstupidmecough: He he…. Nice name. Yeah, they are evilish, but as for death….. who knows?
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Never have never will.
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"Wow, no mass armies preparing for my arrival. I'm disappointed in Anomen."
As much as Sarevok was (somewhat) relieved that Raziel could keep her sense of humor in times such as this, her amused comments were doing nothing to help the situation. Under cover of night, the two had made it into Athkatla. With a cloak, the guards didn't even notice the identity of their latest visitors, so used they were to random, cloaked adventurers entering their city. For once, Sarevok praised the idiocy of most men, for it certainly gave him less to worry about.
Now all he had to do was make sure him companion didn't give them away.
"So, where are we going to find that damned bard, assuming he is still in Athkatla?" growled the warrior.
"It would be wisest to check the Five Flagons first, maybe some other taverns if that doesn't work out," the elf answered.
"How do you know he's even still in this city, or even this plane?" said Sarevok. He was not looking forward to an encounter with the bard, or this whole ill-advised journey.
Raziel grinned at him. "Stop being so pessimistic, Sare. I doubt Elysia would have led us in this direction if he wasn't still around. She knew what I planned, and her Sight is never off."
Sarevok rolled his eyes as they entered the docks district, placing one hand on his sword. With all the common cutthroats around, it was better to fight first and ask questions latter.
He looked over at his still smiling companion, who had pulled down her hood after they had passed the guard. It was a foolish move; there weren't that many white-haired elves in Athkatla, and questions might be asked. But he found himself distracted by the way the half-lit moon shimmered over her hair, its beams mingling and…
Raziel looked at him, a half-smile still gracing her lips. "What's up, Sarevok?"
He shook himself out of his odd reverie, not even wanting to think about what all those thoughts had meant. "Why are you so happy, anyway?" he asked, steering the subject away from himself. "A normal person would be worried to death."
She sighed, but smiled still. "This is one of those moments that will lead me to an end, no matter what decision I make. If Anomen catches me or something goes wrong, I will probably die. If I go through with this, I might just get forgiveness. See? An end either way. Something I've been looking forward to since the whole Bhaal business started."
He raised an eyebrow at that, and she laughed. "Don't look so surprised. You all got closure after Quinn ascended, but I held on to my old grudges, increasing them every time something bad happened. Always blaming him. I was childish."
She looked up at the moon. "Maybe this whole mess," she said quietly, "Is a sign that I should finally just get on with things. I have to let go. After all, I have several more centuries of life left, if I'm lucky. I shouldn't spend them bitter about events Ihad very little control over."
Sarevok smiled slightly; her mood was infectious, it seemed. "And if none of your options work out?"
They had arrived at the inn. Raziel smirked and opened the door for him. "Then I run away to IceWind Dale and become a simple merchant."
He chuckled slowly and entered the inn.
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He was there alright, playing a pretty little tune on his harp for the patrons. Raziel had always imagined the bard to be above laying songs in a tavern, but there he was, and she couldn't complain.
She had fond her quarry, the tiefling Haer'Dalis.
She pulled her hood back up at Sarevok's irritated glance. However, her silver eyes flashed up and met those of the bards for a minute. The connection was made, and though Haer'Dalis pulled his attention back to his adoring fans, she knew he would speak to them after he was done.
She nodded to her companion, who sat down. She ordered a glass of wine fro herself, and some ale for Sarevok. He raised an eyebrow at that, pondering the sensibility of drinking in a situation such as this, but took his drink without a word. Raziel sipped at her wine as she watched the bard with intensity.
An hour or so latter, the bard was finished with his playing, and walked away from the patrons, who turned their conversation to other matters. Quietly, he pulled up a seat next to Raziel and sat down, an amused smile on his face.
"To what do I owe this delightful visit, my raven?" he asked, eyes twinkling as he looked at the elf. She smiled back at him.
"A raven, am I? I thought that was Quinn's pet name," returned Raziel.
Haer'Dalis had been the only party member picked up in Athkatla to stay with the group for a long time. He had been picked up after they had dropped Anomen, and had stayed with them until they had defeated Irenicus. She and he had had a good relationship, always engaged in playful banter bordering on the flirtatious. Indeed, they were so akin in spirit that Quinn had often teased Raziel about cheating on him with the bard. He had continued with them for a while during the fighting for the Throne of Bhaal, before leaving them when Jaheira returned from her short hiatus to her grove, recovering from the death of her husband. Sarevok had disliked the bard while he had been in the party, for reasons unknown to the rest of the companions. Indeed, the reasons were unknown even to Sarevok himself.
"Indeed, he was a raven once, but as he is now a godling, I thought the name fitted you better. Your current dark manner certainly brings to mind the dark bird," replied the bard. "Now then, I ask again, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? With the circumstances you find yourself in now, I would think you would avoid the City of Coin."
Raziel sighed. "Always straight to business, you rogue. Alright then. Sarevok," she motioned to her frowning companion, "and I are in need of a little inter-planar travel. I thought you would be the best one to ask for help."
Haer'Dalis leaned back in his chair. "Indeed! And why would you need to plane-hop, my dear raven? It is a dangerous occupation, even for an elf such as yourself."
"To get myself out of the situation I find myself in now, I need to travel to the Throne of Bhaal. A friend of mine with the abilities of a Seer tells me that the only way to gain forgiveness is to speak with me estranged ex-fiancée, and to do so I have to go to the Throne," explained Raziel quickly.
Haer'Dalis raised an eyebrow. "Hmm… This is certainly an interesting predicament."
He sat silently in contemplation for awhile, while Raziel sipped her wine, almost a nervous habit. Sarevok glared at him impatiently, before growling, "So?"
Haer'Dalis turned to the warrior, a smile still o his face. "Patience, my burly friend. I am merely pondering the ins and outs of such an arrangement." He turned back to Raziel. "I believe I can do this, and it shall be easier than the last time we attempted inter-planar travel," he said, referring to the Planar Prison incident.
Raziel nodded. "That's good, but how can you find the Throne easily?"
Haer'Dalis motioned to Sarevok. "Your friend here, though stripped of his father's legacy of power, still retains a trace of the energy that is now concentrated within his brother, energy that flows through the Throne. I should be able to key onto this remnant and find the Throne."
Raziel smiled. "Wonderful. We don't have to retrieve any stones from a crazy wizard this time, do we?"
Haer'Dalis laughed. "Lucky for you Raelis left the last stone in my keeping, my raven. I shall, however, have to demand a small price for this transaction."
Raziel raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what might that be?"
The bard's grin widened. "Oh, nothing very much, my dear raven, nothing that shall coast you valuable funds. But a token of affection……… a kiss, perhaps?"
Raziel's eye twitched at the odd request for the bard. Sarevok's eyes narrowed in anger. He had no idea why he would be asking Raziel for that, but there was no way in hell….
"I suppose I can pay that much," replied the elf, smiling slightly. "Though I have no clue as to why you ask me that, when you have a dozen simpering young lasses just begging to lie with you," she said, gesturing to the tavern crowd, of few of which were young ladies still staring adoringly in the bard's direction.
"Ah, but not a single lass can match your personality, your beauty, your intelligence…." Sarevok snorted, and Haer'Dalis laughed.
"Besides, perhaps it will discourage some of the more… er, shall we say, persistent, ladies." Haer'Dalis whispered. "Though certainly the attentions of any young lass such as the ones here is always welcome, some of them seem to see love and devotion where there is none."
Raziel laughed. "You were never one for monogamy, Haer. Fine. If it will help you with your lady problems, I will gladly oblige."
The elf leaned in and kissed the bard. It was innocent, nothing but a closed-mouth, few second long kiss, but to Sarevok it seemed to last forever. Jealousy reared its ugly head, burning with a fire more intense than any he had felt before. He felt the overwhelming need to tear the bard's pointed ears off and feed them to some sort of ill-tempered dragon, giving it a taste for the tiefling bard's flesh. But then the kiss was over, and Raziel pulled back, smirking slightly, and Sarevok was left once again to ponder over the intensity of his feelings.
Haer'Dalis grabbed Raziel's hand and kissed it. "Ah, I thank you for blessing me with this boon, my lady. Your kisses are sweeter than any mere tavern-lass could provide, and leave me aching for more….."
Sarevok growled.
"…but perhaps I shall merely admired form afar, my raven." He stood. "Take your rest, my friends. Tomorrow night, I shall open a portal for you in the theater below. We should have nor interruptions; I shall ask the players to postpone any shows."
Raziel smiled. "Thanks a lot, Haer. I really appreciate it." She turned to Sarevok. "Be best if you get us some rooms. You were right, my appearances are probably too noticeable."
Sarevok nodded and left the elf in the company of the flirtatious bard as he walked up to the innkeeper to get rooms. He looked back once as the innkeeper fumbled for a key.
Raziel was laughing at something the bard had said, and for a moment Sarevok regretted that he could not make her as carefree as the bard could. These infrequent moments of emotion the damn elf seemed to bring out in him were getting to be annoying and were worrying him. Still, he could not help but wish the best for the elf, an outsider whose life had been destined for ruin the moment she had met his Bhaalspawn brother.
"I'm afraid I only have one room available, sir," said the innkeeper.
Sarevok glared at him, once again shaken out of his thoughts. "Are you sure?"
"Very sure, sir. Two beds, but only one room."
Sarevok sighed in defeat. This could only make things worse. "Very well, I'll take it."
He returned to the elf and tiefling. "One room, two beds. I'm going to head up now."
Raziel nodded at him as he handed her a key. "Thanks, Sare, but I think I'm going to speak with Haer for a while. I'll be up later, okay?"
Sarevok turned away and shrugged, inwardly seething. "What you do is your own business, elf." With that, he headed upstairs for his room.
Raziel looked at Haer'Dalis, puzzled. "I wonder what his problem was?"
Haer'Dalis smiled slightly at the elf. He had no intentions on his old friend, but her obliviousness did surprise him.
"Oh, I'm sure it was nothing, my Raven. Perhaps he was merely bitten by a green-eyed monster."
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On the other side of the tavern, a cloaked man watched the tiefling bard and his companion conversing merrily. He saw a flash of white hair and a pointed ear, and then left, walking off into the night.
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"You're quite sure it was her," Anomen asked.
"Yes, Prelate. There are few enough elves in Athkatla, and she is rather noticeable," said the cloaked figure. A hand pulled back the hood, and Atherin looked at his superior.
"What did they speak of?"
"I am not sure exactly, sir, but I hear one of them mention tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night, eh?" Anomen smiled slightly. "Then tomorrow night we surprise them, and give the elf a choice. I wonder how much she values her friend's freedom?"
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DUM DUM DUM DUM! THREE MORE CHAPTERS EVERYONE!
I've got em all outlined, so hopefully I'll et to them in the near future. It's been a year since I started this fic, and intend to finish it, dammit!
Next Chapter: Haer'Dalis prepares the journey, the portal opens, and Anomen appears! What will happen! Who knows? Oh, wait, I do know. But I'm not telling you! Nyah!
BTW I apologize in advance for any brain explosions caused by my horrific writing of Haer'Dalis. I tried my best.