Thank you for the reviews, Shara Kortarr and Finduilas.
To Finduilas: thanks for your comment. You know, I kinda decided a while ago that I didn't care if it could be guessed that English wasn't my mother tongue, because if I am to write fanfiction in French, no one is ever going to read it so… I'm not really feeling like I'm being picked on, since I know I'm not a native English speaker. As for the matter of a beta reader, well… I don't personally know anyone who speaks English, so unless you're offering your personal services (winks), I guess I have to survive without one. I haven't corrected the obvious things you pointed yet since I find it incredibly tedious to edit chapters here, but I promise I'll get to it eventually… (mainly as soon as my current character obsession of a Lone Wolf fanfiction in French leaves me two consecutive seconds to breathe). And, by the way, thank you for pointing the things you pointed out to me. I couldn't find it alone, and since I don't have a beta, I have to rely on reviews :) I had no review at all on the other site so I decided to try it here.
I consider my duty done if anyone appreciated to read something else than a run-through-the-game and liked my personal take on characters. As for style, I'm always trying to improve, but I accept my failings without much complex ;)
Chapter III. Nighttime discussion
Imoen finally came down from her room for the dinner, looking sleepy. She explained that she wasn't a heartless warrior, her, and needed a little sleep once in a while. Sarevok smiled but did not answer, and pulled her chair for her. She almost held the chair herself, worried he would pull it away the second she decided to sit, but he very gentlemanly pushed the chair so she could sit. He did the same for Amousca and Samir, feeling silly, did so for Coreen. She smiled and told him to keep it for another young lady, but he feigned a very convincing insulted look and she almost apologized.
The dinner was happy, with the two very rare guests; the two adventurers were not in Athkatla more than about twice a year, since most of their adventures for the moment were taking place in Calimshan. Mazzy, Minsc and Nalia were with them, currently resting in the Five Flagons, but no one else. They said they never found a priest willing to accompany them, though they almost convinced Cernd, who finally decided to stay in the service of his Grove.
"Well," Imoen rectified, "Viconia would have come with us, but I don't think it would have been a very harmonious party."
"I certainly don't think she would make a good friend out of Mazzy," Amousca added.
Amousca saw Matteo's eyes shine at the speech about Sarevok's party needing a priest and she smiled; he never admitted he dreamed of the adventuring life. He probably thought he would worry his mother if he said so, but she knew very well what awaited him in the Order. She just hoped there would be very numerous goblin-killing campaigns before a war with giants or anything like that.
The teenagers were allowed to stay up a little longer than usual, to speak with their uncle and aunt, but were finally put to bed. Imoen followed them, saying she needed a full night of sleep to get back her spells, if Sarevok truly wanted to hit the road the next morning. Sarevok and Amousca stayed alone in the music room, the room where everyone spent most of the time.
"Sis," Sarevok started.
"Oh no, Sar, not again?", she begged.
Sarevok would have laughed to see such a supplicating look on her face in other circumstances. That night, though, it depressed him.
"I will repeat myself as many times as necessary," Sarevok went on obstinately. "Something needs to be done about Delryn."
"I would like to know, my dear brother, what you consider needs to be done about my husband?", she said glaring at him.
There was threat in her tone, and Sarevok became very careful. It was the first time he really tried to directly intervene in their matrimonial affairs, and he wasn't sure it was a good idea.
"I only say, sis, that he shouldn't be away for once that his children are home. Moreover, he should not go to Baldur's Gate without his wife, his wife who just so happens to be the Hero of Baldur's Gate, among other places. I don't know why he is doing this, I honestly don't understand, but someone must make him understand that it is wrong."
"I'm not really used to the big brotherly Sarevok. Since when do you consider yourself so good that you have the right to meddle in my life?", Amousca answered indignantly.
It hurt him, to hear her, among everyone, remind him of his now past evil intentions. He realized then that she really was insulted that he put is nose in her business.
"You don't have to insult me, you know," he answered angrily. "You just have to tell me to get out, and I shall leave you to your silent and hidden suffering!"
He was up and striding for the door before she even moved, apparently startled by the sudden loudness of his voice. Then he felt her tiny elven hand on his forearm and he stopped, slowly, dragging her a few steps without even noticing. Then he turned and looked at her. She looked sorry and apologized. He sighed and they went back to their chairs.
"I know you mean well, Sar, but this is not really of your business. Besides, if I don't know what to do, how can you help me?"
"Well, right now I can offer to be your confident. I certainly can't guess everything that worries you when I only come here once or twice a year. Why isn't Delryn here?"
She took a breath and seemed to become even smaller than she was. Timidly at first, then more and more vividly, she explained how Anomen was fleeing his own house, how he seemed afraid of any contact with Samir and with his other children too, probably afraid to make Samir jealous. Sarevok listened silently, cursing Delryn in his mind. Then he remembered what Amousca had told him about Cor Delryn, and Sarevok thought about his own father and what he would have made him if not for Amousca, and he stopped cursing. He tried to encourage his sister afterwards, trying to see with her if they could figure a way for her to talk about that to Delryn. Amousca was more calm after that, even if no real solution had surfaced.
They both went to their chambers to sleep then. I may be a heartless warrior, Sarevok thought, removing his boots, but I still need a night of sleep once in a while. He removed his clothes, not bothering to put on a night robe, and fell asleep immediately.