General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Dreams and Carnivals
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Xan felt relieved to see the sky. He had resigned himself to a life in the dark cavern, with only the kobolds for company as his strength slowly sapped away with the absence of his Moonblade, until he died, alone and having failed his mission. He stood slightly away from the others, letting the breeze caress his face as he raised his head to the sky, and closed his eyes. He sighed, almost with contentment, having forgotten how good it was to feel the world around him; the soft breeze, the scent of the forest nearby. When he opened his eyes again, he saw that the elven girl had walked over and she was smiling warmly.
"I have to thank you again for releasing me," he said dourly. "My appreciation for my liberty binds me to offer my services to your cause - if you would allow us to face the impossible together, that is. I am a skilled mage if you were unsure as to my profession." He was unsure as to how she would respond, but it would seal his doom one way or another.
The ranger laughed slightly, a lilting sound that reminded him of his home, and for a second he felt his heart wrench with sadness. "I would be pleased to have another mage join us, if it is what you wish," she said.
"I thank you," he said formally. "However ineffective our actions may be, I shall not rest until I have made payment to you."
"There is nothing to pay me for," she said gently.
Xan looked straight into her eyes, and smiled slightly. "Nevertheless, I have made my oath, and I shall endeavour to fulfil it. But it is a hopeless task, and we are doomed to failure." He sighed and turned his face upwards once more, still barely believing he was free. "The sky! Ah, it is a relief to gaze upon this unbounded infinity once more. This is much better than the frowning walls of my filthy cave."
"I am glad you're feeling better after everything you have gone through," said Maiyn, sincerely.
"I am afraid I shall never be able put this experience away for good." he said morosely. "Any sort of torture would pale before those bleak, empty weeks I had to endure. Not a single scrap of daylight, not a breath of a living wind; such an existence was worse than death."
Maiyn frowned with concern. "I am sorry, Xan. I hope you will recover."
"I might, but what is the point? Our pitiful band will likely be captured again, and all too soon. Regardless, Mulahey is dead, and I am fortunate to see the sky and walk the woods. Thank you… Maiyn. I almost want to believe it will last."
She seemed to notice his pause at using her name, and he readied himself for her question. She opened her mouth to speak, but voices rose behind them, and she was disturbed by an argument taking place between the druid and the halfling. With a resigned sigh she turned to sort it out. Xan watched her go, trying to decide what he thought of his rescuer.
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Imoen reeled from the reward they had been given by the mayor as they sat in the common room of the Nashkel Inn.
"I dunno Maiyn; I think there's about 1000 gold pieces in here!"
"You can count it, if it'll make you happier," said replied the ranger, suddenly feeling tired. She leant forward and took the key to the room she was to share with Xan; the Inn only had four rooms, and so Maiyn and Xan had agreed they would be happy enough to share since the others paired off quite naturally.
"I'm tired," she said simply, and left the others without another word, heading up to her room swiftly.
When she got there, she shut the door, but left it unlocked so Xan would be able to get in, and she lay atop one of the beds, closing her eyes. She felt herself drift off, and didn't fight the feeling of sleep as it enveloped her.
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Maiyn was back at Candlekeep, standing outside the immense palisade. The gate was closed and barred, preventing her access to within. She looked above the walls and saw the window to her old room in the library building; a candle was shining behind the glass, but suddenly it went out. As the light was extinguished, the bricks surrounding the windows closed too, the walls conspiring to keep her at bay.
"You cannot go back this way child." The voice was calm and caring - Gorion's form materialised beside her, but instead of being comforting it was just a shade of his former self. He was as dead to her here as he was in reality. "You must go on."
The ghost gestured to the woods that lay behind her as if it should be inviting, and she turned to look, wondering how hard it would be to get through. A path formed for her as she thought; clear and easily passable, and it seemed like it was meant for her. Maiyn felt a pulling sensation trying to draw her to it. It promised to lead her from the life she was leading, but something felt wrong - she found it too convenient and something about it made her uneasy. She didn't want to dwell on her loss, but she was determined that it should not be forgotten. Gorion would live in her memory for a long time in peaceful reverence.
The ghost of Gorion smiled at her, and faded away as she turned to find her own course. She moved away, seeking out a new direction - one that was not so clear, but interesting nonetheless. The pull from the original path became a push, but Maiyn held steadfast to her decision. A whisper followed her as she strode determinedly, its sinister tone echoing in her head and sounding familiar, though she had never heard it before.
"You will learn..." Maiyn didn't look back, but she felt a chill run across the length of her being, as if someone had walked across her grave. The ground beneath her opened up, and suddenly she was dragged down into the earth.
When the light returned, she found herself in the empty mines of Nashkel. She was still moving down into the earth, through walls and floors, descending deeper until she came to a gentle halt. She saw the bloated figure of Mulahey, in no better shape than she had left him, standing motionless before her.
The apparition seemed to be waiting, and a dagger of bone floated out from the shadows and hovered before her. It was waiting for her to take it, to strike him down for the final kill; a death beyond death. Maiyn turned from it, and heard it clatter to the ground. The ghost was surprised, but its expression thankful as it floated off, on to face whatever fate was in store for it. A spark of hope was left in Maiyn, which seemed to fill a hole she didn't know was empty - a dagger shaped hole. She was disturbed by a voice from the earth below, and as it began to speak the dagger rose into the air and launched itself towards her heart.
Maiyn awoke, sweating and trembling from the nightmare, but the voice lingered in her conscious head. "You will learn!" She didn't feel right - something about her had changed but she had no idea what. A strange burning sensation rippled through her very being, but faded almost instantly, and she feared she was feverish.
"Are you alright?" Xan's voice was concerned, and his eyes were troubled as he looked over to her.
She nodded, trying to catch her breath as her heart pounded in her chest. "It was just a nightmare." The mage didn't look convinced, but said nothing. "How long have I been asleep?"
Xan shrugged. "An hour, perhaps two. I came up not long ago to recommend that you ate before retiring fully for the evening, but I didn't wish to waken you from your slumber."
Maiyn nodded, and sat up properly. "Have you eaten?" The mage shook his head. "Will you accompany me then?"
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They sat mostly in silence as they waited for the food to arrive. Their other companions had retired, so they had the table by the fire to themselves, and Maiyn found herself in almost a daze while she stared at the flames until Xan decided to start a conversation.
"What caused you to leave your home?" he asked carefully. "You look too young to lead a life on the road and I cannot help but wonder about your reasons."
"I have no home, Xan," she replied honestly, her heart wrenching as she faced up to the truth. She saw the look of intrigue on his face, and elaborated slightly. "I grew up at Candlekeep, but its doors are closed to me now."
"Candlekeep? Are you sure?" he asked incredulously. "Ah, but of course you are. I do not doubt your words, but the library fortress is strictly regulated and carefully guarded. Unless there've been special circumstances I am unaware of, I do not see how the monks could allow you to spend childhood there."
The ranger grinned despite herself. "I must have been a charming child."
"Oh, I do not doubt that. You are still... charming." Xan lowered his head for a few seconds, and Maiyn thought he looked slightly flushed. "There must have been a deeper cause, was there not?"
"My father persuaded the Keeper of the Tomes to let me stay." Maiyn's voice broke slightly and she fought to keep it steady. "Gorion was a well-known sage, and had some influence on the monks. But it is not important now - he is dead, and they would not accept me back. There is nowhere else for me to go."
"I... I see." Xan paused for a few moments. "My condolences. I have heard the name: he was a powerful human mage, and a friend of Harpers who are always welcome in Evereska. I know how hollow the words may sound; alas, I can do no more. You have saved my life, and I shall do my best to protect yours if the occasion arises. And I foresee it will be soon, for the number of our enemies does not decrease." He sighed dramatically.
Maiyn reached across the table for his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," she said quietly, then decided to change the subject. "I have noticed the blade you carry." Xan raised an eyebrow curiously. "It's a Moonblade, isn't it?" she asked.
He nodded, and couldn't quite keep the look of surprise off his face. Maiyn laughed at his expression.
"I may have grown up away from our kin, Xan, but I do know some of our customs." Then she inclined her head, and addressed him in elvish: "I hail you, the defender of Elvendom, and wielder of the Moonblade."
Xan now looked completely incredulous by the enigma that sat before him. "It is..." he responded, also in elvish, "it is almost reassuring to be recognised, my... sister."
Maiyn smiled brightly at him, and continued in their native tongue. "You seem to be surprised I can speak our language."
"I expected you to know only common," he admitted, "but it is a pleasant surprise to realise that your mentor made some effort to teach you of your heritage."
"Gorion made a great effort," she said softly, her gaze returning to the fire as she reminisced. "He taught me about our language, our customs, our Gods..."
"The Seldarine?" Xan asked.
Maiyn nodded and smiled. "He introduced me to Fenmarel Mestarine. I think he thought I would find... an affinity."
Xan nodded, and seemed to be deep in thought. "He certainly seems to have given your roots some consideration. Did he ever speak to you of your parents?"
Maiyn nodded. "He spoke a little, but he didn't have much to tell. He knew my mother, but had no knowledge as to who my father was, or even if he still lived. He seemed fairly sure he had died though, and he himself witnessed my mother's death."
Xan's eyebrow raised in curiosity. "He witnessed it?"
"She..." Maiyn's voice croaked slightly. She'd never shared the details with anyone else, not even Imoen. "She died in childbirth he said. He took me to live with him so I would not grow up alone."
Xan looked puzzled by this. "There would have been other relatives surely? You would have been born in an elven settlement? Why wouldn't he leave you to grow with your kin?"
"I don't know Xan," she said, looking straight into his eyes. "But it matters not. I got the best life I could have had, with a loving father and Imoen as a sister."
Xan nodded. "But it must have been difficult to be close to Imoen, for she is young, and you would have been quite mature when she was just a baby."
Maiyn shook her head, and explained the aging curse that had lingered over her until recently. Once again, his eyes widened in amazement and he seemed to have difficulty understanding until they had gone over it for the second time.
"You are quite a remarkable person, it seems," he said thoughtfully, his dark eyes studying her intently.
"Oh I am," she said, smiling weakly. "So much so, that I have a price on my head." Again she explained the story behind the bounty notice they had found, and how they believed it to be connected to the man who had killed Gorion.
"I wished to ask you something," she said suddenly, while Xan sat deep in thought. "When you heard my name for the first time, you flinched, and when you came to say it yourself, you paused - why?"
Xan smiled dryly to her. "Gorion may have taught you a lot about your heritage, but he has neglected to tell you the meaning of your name? Whether or not it was intended, the forepart of your name, 'Mai', means 'the slayer', or death. The end is commonly used to mean 'bringer'. Your name crudely translates as 'the bringer of death'."
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"Gorion never said where your name came from?"
Maiyn shook her head to Imoen. The sunlight was shining down on them as they sat on the grassy bank by the Nashkel Temple of Helm. Small flowers covered the slope that the two girls were perched on, the ground rolling down to be met by the dozens of headstones that marked the final resting places of the town's fallen. It was peaceful there, away from the slightly busier road that ran through the town.
She'd explained the conversation she'd had with Xan the previous evening to her friend while they'd managed to slip away from the others for a while, both of them making daisy chains without thinking, their nimble hands working the flowers together. Subconsciously they were racing each other; as children they'd had competitions to see who could make the longest chain within certain time limits.
"I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have chosen that name for you with that translation," said Imoen thoughtfully, as she played with some strands of her hair. "It does sound rather sinister, but Xan's hardly Mr. Cheerful, is he?"
Maiyn grinned. "That's true," she replied, watching the townsfolk pass in the distance. "I don't see why he'd lie about it, though I suppose he could just be misinterpreting it, or reading more into it that there is."
"Well he is all gloomy," noted Imoen. "Bet he wouldn't have mentioned it if he'd been able to make your name mean 'Happy Forever'!"
The two young friends giggled as they got up and slowly walked back to the inn arm in arm. Jaheira had been rather displeased with the thought of them going out alone, but had relented when they had assured her they would be armoured and armed. Who'd bother us here, wondered Maiyn as they'd left. It's not like it's a bustling, huge city!
"My d-dear, please sit down," said Khalid for the third time in the space of an hour. "I am sure that the g-girls are more than capable of looking after themselves and staying out of t-trouble."
The druid paced around the almost empty common room, her body language showing her agitation. The other members of the group were sitting at the table with Khalid, watching the domestic disagreement with some amusement.
"But what if trouble decides to seek them out?" Jaheira snapped, not bothering to cease her stride. "People pass through this town all the time as they travel between the north and Amn. Anyone could find them out there."
"Noone knows they a-are here," said Khalid quietly, still trying to soothe his wife. "They are y-young, and they have had no f-freedom to any degree. Let them-"
The half-elf's words were cut short as the sound of Imoen shrieking drifted in from the open window. Jaheira immediately began sprinting to the door, the others following her closely. Oh d-dear, thought Khalid, as he wrenched his swords from their scabbard.
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Maiyn saw that Jaheira was the first of the others to emerge from the inn, just as she expected. She tried to shuffle away from the body lying at her feet, suddenly feeling like she'd just been caught stealing cookies from Winthrop's store again. The rest of her companions were behind the druid, watching with expressions ranging from curiosity to shock.
She could see Imoen standing beside her, looking almost as sheepish. Jaheira's gaze had fallen to Maiyn's sword, and the elf looked down to see it rather bloody and wet. She coughed slightly, and looked for something to wipe it on, finally resorting to just using the hem of her cloak. Imoen was doing likewise with her own blade.
"And tell me," said Jaheira, marching towards them. "What happened here?"
"Well..." began Imoen, faltering immediately when the druid's stony expression hit her.
"We were just coming back, "said Maiyn meekly, "and, well..."
"Yes?" Jaheira had folded her arms, and was waiting expectantly. Maiyn wondered if she often found herself having to ask young women why they were standing next to a corpse with bloodied weapons; she was acting like it was a regular occurrence, or like she was just preparing to chide some naughty children for yelling too loudly in the street.
"We were almost at the door," said Imoen, rediscovering her courage, "and this man came rushin' towards us. He said somethin' like 'Nimbus has come!' and threw somethin' at Maiyn!"
"I think it was 'Nimbul'", the ranger corrected, her face creased as she tried to remember.
"Well, whatever!" exclaimed Imoen, now warmed up to the task. "Anyway, he threw somethin' at Maiyn, we think it was a dagger! But she ducked, and it flew right over her head - oh look, it was a dagger! It's stuck in the doorframe!" They all looked over to where Imoen was pointing, and sure enough, an ornate dagger had lodged itself up to the hilt in the wooden frame.
"Then he closed his eyes and started mumblin'," continued Imoen, without pausing for breath, "and we just looked at each other. I think we knew we didn't have time ta get our bows ready, ya know? And so we got out our swords and we just leapt for him, but I stumbled and fell against him, and knocked inta him, and he fell right onta Maiyn's sword!"
Maiyn nodded, and felt abashed by the stares from her companions. Jaheira was oddly silent, but the ranger knew it was only temporary until she found the words she was seeking. Montaron interrupted with a thunderous laugh before she got a chance.
"Ye've got th' luck o' some God wi' ye, ye have!" he exclaimed, shaking his head and heading back into the inn with Xzar following him closely. The necromancer seemed to be completely oblivious to all that had had happened.
Garrick ran over to Imoen, and made sure she was okay. The young thief pretended to be annoyed by his concern, but allowed him to lead her inside with the promise of a stiff drink to help her nerves.
Jaheira's gaze stayed firmly fixed to Maiyn, who was beginning to wish the ground would just open up and swallow her. "You were lucky today," she said finally. "Don't think every encounter you have shall work out like this."
Maiyn started to nod, but the druid swiftly turned and darkly stalked off towards the woods on the edge of the town. The ranger watched her go with slight relief; she hadn't been sure what she should expect, but she'd seemed to get off lightly.
Khalid patted her arm. "She only acts like that b-because she is concerned," he said gently, smiling to Maiyn's nod of agreement. "Give her a while t-to herself, and she'll come to realise you are n-not a child any more."
Maiyn sighed, and allowed herself to be guided back inside by Khalid and Xan. She'd not been adventuring long, but already she felt in need of a break.
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"That's a g-good idea," Khalid had said, much to Maiyn's relief. She'd heard about the carnival from the innkeeper, and after the incidents of that morning she'd immediately wanted to go. Jaheira hadn't been gone long, and when she returned Khalid had managed to talk her around to into agreement; so here they were, wandering amongst the performers and visitors.
Despite the earlier occurence, Jaheira had relaxed enough to agree to them wandering around on their own, admitting that it would be difficult to be overly far from the others if anyone got into trouble. Maiyn had immediately slipped away into the crowd, enjoying the peace and quiet of her own company for a change. Her companions were mainly agreeable, but she'd begun to miss the quiet time she'd occasionally found in the gardens at Candlekeep when she could be alone with her thoughts.
Now she'd stumbled across 'The Great Gazib'. She wasn't the only one who had though; she saw Xan had also become a part of the amassing crowd, watching the flamboyant wizard use his silver-tongued charm to create an air of excitement amongst commoners and nobles alike.
"Allow me now to introduce the Amazing Oopah, the world's only exploding ogre!" exclaimed Gazib as Maiyn quietly wandered over to stand beside the enchanter. He nodded his acknowledgement to her, but didn't return her smile.
The crowd ooh'd in excitement as the mage cast a spell of summoning, and a tall, mean-looking ogre appeared before them. Gazib waved his arms around and the ogre exploded before he could even let out a grunt. Entrails showered down around the slightly disgusted crowd, and the ranger was glad she'd moved back from her original location. One little boy had enjoyed it greatly.
"Again, again!" he screamed, jumping up and down and clapping his hands, blood splattered across his face.
Xan sighed. "The child is doomed," he said glumly. "He is fascinated by the thought of death and gore, and he will end up leaving home to become an adventurer, dying during his first expedition in excruciating pain, having achieved nothing at all."
Maiyn couldn't help but giggle at her doom saying friend, her eyes twinkling with amusement. This time he almost smiled in return as their eyes met, and they both looked back to the scene before them sheepishly. Oopah had reappeared looking completely fine.
"Oopah not want..." the ogre began, but the mage ignored him, waved his hands again and another shower of ogre innards flew through the air.
"MORE!" screeched the boy, bouncing madly.
"Ah, er, the Amazing Oopah-" started the mage.
"AGAIN! AGAIN!" yelled the little boy.
"Well, er, one more time I guess won't hurt!" The Great Gazib smiled captivatingly, and summoned forth the ogre once again.
"OOPAH NOT WANT!" roared the ogre, waving his morning star menacingly and successfully knocking the mage to the ground.
The crowd immediately dispersed, screaming in terror as the ogre closed in on his oppressive master, ending his life with one crushing blow to the head. He turned and regarded Maiyn and Xan suspiciously. Neither had made any movement to defend the wizard, and both just stared at the ogre calmly.
"Oopah leave now," he grunted, and the ranger just nodded, watching the figure amble off into the surrounding forest. No one looked to be concerned at all about the mage's sudden death, so Maiyn and Xan just looked at each other, shrugged, wandering off further into the fair together.
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"Look!" said Imoen, poking Garrick in the side and making the young bard flinch. He looked over to where the thief was pointing, and saw the young ranger who led their group walking along beside the gloomy elf they'd rescued from the mine.
"It's Maiyn and Xan," he said, looking at Imoen for further details on what was exciting her so much.
"Have you not been listenin'?" she asked with a scowl. "I was just telling you how they'd been up talkin' last night, and then they went and shared a room! Maybe they're gonna end up together!"
Garrick smiled, and regarded the pretty face of his companion as she stared pointedly at her friend. "Perhaps they may," he said, "but I am glad to say that I have snagged the fairest of the ladies for my own."
Imoen's attention immediately returned to her young lover, and she blushed slightly, giggling as she buried her face into his chest.
Garrick sighed and stroked her hair gently. If only it were to last, he thought.
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Jaheira tried hard to relax. She had ensured that Xan would stay close to Maiyn during the time they were at the fair, and she knew Imoen would refuse to be parted from Garrick, so there was little chance of either of them being caught completely alone. This was a slight comfort, but comfort enough to allow her to spend the precious little time she had alone with Khalid. They strolled among the crowds, looking at each other adoringly as they discussed the sights around them. The druid knew it would do them all good to have a while to relax after the adventure in the mine, and she knew Khalid was right when he pointed out they were still very young girls.
"They've n-never been far from Candlekeep, let alone loose in the r-real world," he said as Maiyn ran off to tell Imoen they were going to the fair. "In many respects they're still l-like children, even though they are adults."
Jaheira nodded. "But only a few minutes ago they were set upon by a known bounty hunter, and it was only luck that saved them."
"P-perhaps," acknowledged Khalid, "but we won't be able to l-look out for them forever. Is it not better to let them have t-time with their guard lessened while we are still around, rather than having them d-drop their guard entirely d-due to exhaustion when we leave?"
The druid sighed. She could see her husband's points, as she knew he could see hers; but on this matter he was determined to be firm. She trusted him to have thought it through thoroughly.
"Then we shall go and enjoy the fair."
"C-come dear, let us see what is in here," said Khalid as they approached a magnificently tall tent, made of the deepest purple material. Jaheira just smiled and nodded, following him as he opened the flap and ducked inside.
"You there! Stay back! If any of you come closer I'll kill her, I'm serious! Don't make me do it - all I have to do is say the last word of my spell, and she'll die!"
Jaheira's hand went instinctively towards her club, but she refrained from touching it. "What's this all about?" she asked, looking back towards the terrified woman.
"She's a witch!" shouted the seemingly insane man. "She'll use her magic to... to poison the children of this town! She'll butcher the livestock, and... seduce the young men, yes! She'll make them her puppets! She must be killed!"
"She must be k-killed because she's a witch?" Khalid asked.
"Yes!"
"Because a witch uses magic?" asked Jaheira.
"Yes!" The man looked slightly calmer when it seemed the strangers understood him.
"But," said Jaheira cynically, "why are you prejudicing against a magic user when you yourself are one? You yourself said you'd kill her with your 'magic word'."
"I..." the man faltered.
"I think you need to get a hold of yourself," continued Jaheira firmly.
"Are you mocking me?" he shrieked angrily. "Noone mocks the great Zordral! You'll pay for your insolence!" He raised his arms and opened his mouth to utter something - either a new conjuration aimed at the couple, or the final word to finish off his prisoner. The word never left his lips though, as Khalid darted forward with both swords drawn and ensured the man's swift death.
"Are you alright?" asked Jaheira, freeing the woman from her bonds.
"I am now," said the woman breathlessly. "Thank you for rescuing me. I am Bentha, and yes, you could call me a witch, for I do use magic. However I have no intentions of doing any of the things he described."
"We don't doubt that for a second," said Jaheira warmly.
Bentha smiled, but it faded as she looked at the man's body. "He was an old enemy of mine, one who has caused my family and I a great deal of pain over the years."
"We w-would not stand idly by and let an innocent b-be hurt by someone clearly d-deranged," Khalid assured her.
"If you had not walked in at that moment, I do not doubt I would have been killed," said Bentha quietly. "I must thank you again, but I have little to offer as payment for your actions."
Jaheira shook her head. "We do not seek payment - we were happy we could assist."
Bentha smiled at the two half-elves. "There are not many left like you in these lands," she said. "But take this, I insist - it is not much, but I am sure people such as yourselves will find a use for it sometime." She pushed a small potion bottle into Jaheira's hands and took her leave.
"You have spent so much t-time telling me how much you w-worry about Gorion's children," Khalid said to his wife, with twinkling eyes, "that you had caused me to f-forget how easily we can find t-trouble ourselves."
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The group came together shortly after, with the exception of Xzar who no one had seen since they arrived at the fair. They debated about where he could be when Maiyn's attention drifted to a small halfling wandering around, trying to incite people into buying some scroll from him. She wandered over with the others following behind, and listened to his announcement.
"Come one, come all," he yelled, "take a look at the stone warrior maiden. How long has she been trapped in this petrified form, noone knows! Be the first to learn for the mere price of 500 gold pieces! For that small amount of money I can give you a magic scroll, and with this scroll you can release the maiden from her stone prison! Think of the gratitude! You could be her saviour, perhaps of some princess from a faraway land! Or perhaps a powerful sorceress in search of a concubine! You can't afford not to know, so you know you should buy the scroll!"
Maiyn looked further ahead, and sure enough, she could make out the shape of a humanoid statuette.
"You mean you have the scroll that shall release this woman from her petrified prison?" Jaheira was glaring at the halfling.
"Why, yes!" he responded happily, sensing a potential buyer. "Yes, I do! As I said, for a mere 500 gold pi... Ow! You hit me!" Jaheira had indeed given the halfling a swift clip around the ear.
"Glad you noticed," she said dryly. She also looked over at the stone form that stood forlornly between two tents, the dull grey stone contrasting with the bright blue and green canvas. "I shall take the scroll," she continued, snatching it from his hands, "thank you very much. You will leave here quickly before I have the urge to hit you again. I have little patience for miscreants seeking profit in the misfortune of others."
The halfling slunk off miserably, and Jaheira held the scroll out to the ranger. Maiyn shook her head.
"You know what to do with it," said the elf.
"You wish me to?" checked the druid.
Maiyn nodded. "Of course."
Jaheira read from the scroll and placed her hands on the statue. As she stepped back Maiyn noticed colour drifting into the greyness of the form. Slowly the rock became more like flesh, and the figure returned to living, free from her stone captivity. She took a look around, seemingly puzzled and dazed by her surroundings, then noticed the companions watching her.
"You... freed me?"
Maiyn nodded. "Jaheira worked a scroll to rid you of the spell that was binding you in rock."
"Where am I?"
"We are at the fair, east of Nashkel," replied the ranger.
The maiden nodded, and stretched, relishing her freedom once more. "I am Branwen," she said slowly, allowing Maiyn to introduce companions in return.
"How did you come to be here?" asked the ranger curiously.
"I am a war-priestess from the Norheim Isles," said Branwen, frowning slightly as if she was trying to remember some long lost details. "I have been trapped in stone for what feels like an eternity, and you have saved me. For that, I owe you my life. I am indebted to you, and by Tempus I leave no debt unpaid! Let me join whatever cause you're fighting, for I should make a valuable ally and bring the favour of the Lord of Battles upon us!"
Maiyn smiled at the feisty priestess. "We would be honoured by your presence. We welcome you to our group."
"I am glad to be part of your war party," Branwen said strongly. "I will not make you regret your decision, though I shall share with you a word of caution. Beware the dog that trapped me here - Tranzig was his name, and I know not if he still lives or is in these lands, but I shall see him dead before I see the shores of my home again!"
"Tranzig?" asked Maiyn, taken slightly aback. "Are you absolutely sure that was his name?"
The priestess snorted. "I am completely sure! I spit on his name!"
The elf glanced at the others. "There is something you should know," she said slowly. "We recently stopped a group of people who were tainting the ore from the mine here. When we killed the ringleader, his personal letters showed his contact to be someone named Tranzig. We intend to seek him out in Beregost."
Branwen's eyes shone with fury. "Then I have even more reason to serve alongside you. Together we shall bring his life to an end!"
