Heritage of Evil:Allies
Part Two
"Weapons, armour, clothes, supplies," Imoen muttered as she dug through the contents of the chest she had found. "There's everything but an actual adventurer in here."
"That looks familiar," Yeslick said from behind her.
Imoen looked around and smiled when she saw a healthy, if somewhat haggard-looking, elf had come over with Jaheira and Yeslick. "Nice to see Yeslick was wrong, and you won't be dying today."
"The day's not over," he said in flat tones.
"Yes, this is our equipment," Yeslick said happily as he inspected the items. "Right glad I am to see it, too. I was not looking forwards to fighting with naught but thin clothes and me fists."
"How ... convenient," Jaheira said with a frown that deepened as Khalid whispered something to her.
"I don't suppose there's any sign of a sword in there?" the newcomer asked. "Of course not, I am never that fortunate."
"Th' elf's name is Xan, he says he was sent to investigate the iron shortage and got caught spying," Yeslick said waving at the elf in question. "Seems Mulahey stole some fancy sword from him; so he'll be joining us to get it back."
"It is not a fancy sword," Xan said, wincing. "A Moonblade is more than an enchanted trinket."
"A Moonblade! Truly?" Tiswash said eagerly, looking more like a young boy than a warrior. "I never thought I'd get a chance to see one of the legendary wielders of a Moonblade."
"I doubt you have," Edwin said. "I see no fabled blade, and the claim of theft is no doubt a ruse. The elf must think us fools."
"I fear Mulahey shall certainly kill me if I must face him with this pitiable band," Xan sighed.
"We haven't lost anyone yet," Tiswash said cheerfully.
"Who's the archer?" Imoen asked as she pulled a well-crafted bow out of the chest.
"Do you like it?" Shann asked, Imoen nodded appreciatively as she passed the weapon over.
"You can keep it," Shann said, handing it back. "I'd rather not fight foes from a distance. It's more satisfying to kill an enemy with a blade."
"I ... I wouldn't know," Imoen said, edging away from Shann and glancing at Tiswash.
"Is there anything you can tell us about this Mulahey before we go find him?" Tiswash asked Shann.
"Not much," Shann answered. "He's a priest of Cyric, but no one seems to know just how strong he is. We shouldn't give him a chance to call on Cyric's aid. I had a map of these mines, along with a list of people connected to Mulahey and the Bandit Tazok. I put them in my spellbook, it should be around here, somewhere ..."
"You call this thing a spellbook?" Edwin said haughtily as he leafed through a plain brown book. "If, by some miracle, you are capable of casting rudimentary spells, the ones you have to choose from are pathetic: Armour, shield, invisibility, blur, not a single offensive spell."
"That's mine," Shann hissed as she snatched the book from his hands.
"And I don't need magic to kill when I have this," she added, brandishing a dagger at Edwin and snarling.
"He is not your enemy," Tiswash said, laying his hand on Shann's arm to make her lower the weapon.
"The slaver is no innocent. No one who calls themselves a Red Wizard can be," she responded.
"You, who have just expressed a fondness for murder, have no right to cast accusations on another," Jaheira growled.
"What!" Shann sputtered, whirling away from Edwin and Tiswash to stare at the druid.
"It's more satisfying to kill an enemy with a blade," Jaheira said slowly. "Those were your own words."
"Do not twist my words," Shann said angrily. "I do not murder. Those I fight are wicked and depraved. Bandits, rapists, and slavers."
"And evil Red Wizards should be squashed flat too," Minsc roared before a look of sadness crossed his face. "But Dynaheir says not to smite this one, not yet."
"Not ever, you buffoon," Edwin snarled.
"Slavers," Shann repeated, glaring at Edwin. "Are evil."
"Actually," Tiswash said. "You have more darkness on your soul than Edwin."
"And Ti can tell, he can sense evil in others," Imoen added.
"What are you, a Paladin?" Shann scoffed.
"Er ... yes, I seem to be," Tiswash said nervously. "I'm not calling you evil, you understand. It's just that you have done some, well, evil things, as has everyone here, though not as dark as the deeds you have committed."
"The lass has done great good as well," Yeslick interrupted.
"May I suggest we debate the nature of our companions later, and find this Mulahey before he finds us?" Khalid said.
"Aye, the lad speaks sense," Yeslick said. "Half a moment, and I'll be done with me armour."
"Fine with me, I'd like to talk to Xan a bit," Tiswash said. "I'm sure he's got some interesting tales to tell."
"Come on, Eddie," Imoen said. "I want to hear this, too."
"The name is Edwin," the mage grumbled as Imoen to dragged him over to Tiswash and Xan.
Dynaheir sat down carefully on a rock, mouth pursed in what could be disapproval, and studied her spellbook, sometimes pausing to say something to Minsc, who sat on the floor beside her. Jaheira and Khalid stood to the side, speaking in hushed tones and watching first Shann, and then Tiswash.
While waiting for Yeslick, Shann stared dubiously at Tiswash. How can he be a Paladin? He is too young to have joined a Paladin order. Called directly by his deity? What god would take one tainted by Bhaal's evil to be a champion?
"Psst, lass," Yeslick said, breaking into Shann's thoughts.
"What?" she whispered back.
"You might want to stop fighting with Tiswash's friends, seeing as you went to so much trouble to get into his group."
"What do you mean?"
Yeslick sighed heavily. "I may not be much for book-learning, but I do notice things. I know very well that you keep a lockpick hidden in your boot, and there was no reason for us to stay so long in that cell."
"Speak a little louder," Shann said as she spotted Jaheira and Khalid watching them with narrowed eyes. "I don't think anyone but the Harper couple heard you."
"The what?"
"Nevermind," Shann said, smirking when Jaheira's startled look at the mention of Harpers proved she had been listening to them. "I'm not the only one with secrets I'd rather not have revealed to others."
"Secrets are more trouble than they're worth," Yeslick grumbled. "Beginning an alliance with lies is not wise."
Imoen and Tiswash chattered merrily to Xan as the group made their way through the tunnels to the rooms marked as Mulahey's private quarters. The rest of the group, however, travelled in sullen silence. More than once, Shann tried to get close to Tiswash, but found her way blocked by either Khalid or Jaheira.
"I wonder what happened to all the Kobolds." Imoen said when they reached the entrance to Mulahey's rooms without meeting any guards. "The upper levels were crawling with them."
"They ran away, no doubt frightened by my prowess," Edwin said. "Perhaps this Mulahey has done the same."
"We are practically a small army," Tiswash said. "If Mulahey is here, he may surrender without a fight."
"The optimism of youth," Jaheira said with a scowl as she led the way into the warmly lit chambers of Mulahey.
"I knew you were sent by Tazok to destroy me," Mulahey said calmly as he got up from his desk, and turned to glare at the intruders. His eyes swept past Jaheira and Tiswash to stare at Shann. "I should have strangled you and that dwarf days ago. No matter, you will die now."
A rumble sounded and a score of kobolds and skeletons surrounded the group. Shann drew her sword, and then froze when from behind her an arm grasped her waist while another held a sword to her throat. "Make n..no move, traitor," Khalid hissed in her ear.
"Are you mad?" Shann said, watching the battle around them. "Your fool actions are keeping us both from aiding your mate and the others."
"They do not need me," Khalid said.
Furious, Shann stood and watched as Mulahey's guards were defeated. Soon, the only one left was Mulahey, and he begged for mercy. "Let me go," she pleaded to Khalid when Tiswash lowered his sword and gestured for the others to follow suit.
"No tricks," Khalid said, relaxing his grip. "And make no move towards your weapons."
Shann glowered, and cleared her throat, but before she could say anything, Mulahey scuttled to the far end of the room and called forth more guards to menace them. This time, I will fight, Shann thought, as she elbowed Khalid in his solar plexus, ducked out of his grip, and turned invisible. She began edging past the skeletons and towards Mulahey.
"Ware the spawn!" Khalid shouted when he got his breath back. "She's gone invisible!"
And he calls me a traitor, Shann thought sourly when Mulahey heard Khalid, and quickly chanted a spell. Sighing, Shann flashed a toothy grin at the priest when she felt her invisibility dissolve, and then dodged around a Kobold to advance on Mulahey. All I have to do is reach him before he casts another spell.
Before Shann reached Mulahey, he stiffened and fell backwards, an arrow lodged firmly in his throat. That was my kill, Shann thought, and turned to look at Imoen where she stood near the entranceway.
"I did it!" Imoen said excitedly. "Didja see that? That was a perfect shot! I..I did it, I killed ..." her voice faltered, and she bit her lip nervously.
Should have let me take him down, Shann thought, fighting back an irrational urge to start laughing. A Kobold stirred off to her side and she went to finish it off.
"Hold it," Tiswash called. "With Mulahey gone, the Kobolds won't be a threat anymore, let that one be."
Shann looked at him with a frown. "It's a Kobold."
"He," Tiswash said pointedly. "Is a sentient creature. Not some vermin to be destroyed."
"Just do as he says, and don't let him start preaching," Imoen said in a tired voice. "He takes the Ilmaterian philosophy of helping others, no matter who they are, rather seriously."
"You're a Paladin of Ilamater?" Shann said hesitantly, and laughed slightly when Tiswash nodded. It's strange, and yet makes sense. The god of suffering, and anyone with Bhaal blood is bound to suffer.
"The boy has a tendency to trust too much," Jaheira interrupted as she and Khalid moved to flank Tiswash and stared challengingly at Shann. "You will not harm him."
"I have no desire to ..." Shann said.
"Yes, what were you doing, attacking Shann during the fight?" Tiswash asked.
"We have reason to believe the woman means you harm," Jaheira stated.
"She attacked Mulahey, not me, once she got away from Khalid," Tiswash said angrily.
"I know what you are," Jaheira said to Shann as she ignored Tiswash. "The aura of your evil heritage surrounds you like a cloud."
"Would that be the same aura that's around Tiswash?" Yeslick asked. "I've been wondering what that is."
"Wait a minute," Shann said. "You can see the taint?"
"The power is evident to any priest who knows what to look for," Jaheira said.
"Taint? Power? What is this, Jaheira?" Tiswash said, looking with confusion at the trio who seemed to know something about him.
"That is not something we should discuss now, child," Jaheira said tightly. "There are too many listeners."
"I, for one am tired of people playing games and hiding things from me," Yeslick said, crossing his arms and looking challengingly at Shann.
"Fine," Shann said through gritted teeth, and opened her arms wide as she turned towards Tiswash. Jaheira moved to interrupt her, but Khalid placed a hand on her arm and shook his head.
"Hello, brother," Shann said in a lilting voice. "You're a Bhaalspawn, as am I. Since you grew up in Candlekeep, I trust you know what that means?"
"These offspring will be aligned good and evil, but chaos will flow through them all. When the Beast's bastard children come of age, they will bring havoc to the lands of the Sword Coast," murmured Xan after a short silence fell over the company. "It has begun, then."
"A Bhaalspawn, and you ... you knew," Tiswash said as he staggered back against the wall and stared accusingly at Jaheira and Khalid. "And Gorion, he must have known too. But, why did he not tell me? No one told me ... Ilmater did not let me know."
"It was for your protection," Jaheira said.
"Ah, I see. Thank you," Tiswash said, and laughed a bit hysterically. "I have to go," he blurted, and turned and ran down the tunnel. Imoen ran after him.
Jaheira moved to follow the two youths, but Khalid held her back again. "Leave him be, Jaheira. He will come back."
"As long as we're clearing the air," Yeslick said when a hush fell over the remaining allies. "Does anyone else have secrets they want to share with us?"
"Sarevok's a Bhaalspawn, too," Shann said, and was greeted with blank stares from all but Yeslick. She sighed and started to explain about Sarevok's mad campaign to destroy his siblings, and ferment turmoil in the lands around Baldur's Gate.
"A true child of darkness," Dynaheir declared. "I pledge my aid to end his evil."
"He isn't evil," Shann said. "Or, at least he wasn't, but he listened to Father and lost his reason."