General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.
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Koveras
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As she travelled back through the gardens she noticed a stranger looking at her carefully, someone whose face she didn't recognise. She picked up her pace slightly, but the man was approaching her.
"Ah, I thought I might find you somewhere around here," the man said in a deep voice. He was robed in a simple blue cloth, appearing to be a plain monk. His head was bald, and his eyes were a piercing shade of blue, but on occasion they seemed to glow with a faint golden light. Maiyn found his gaze uncomfortable. "Allow me to introduce myself."
"Please do," she snapped, unwilling to be held up by strange visitors to the library, and annoyed by Dreppin's reaction to her.
The stranger cocked his head slightly, and a faint, amused smile crept across his lips. "I am Koveras. I used to work for your father, running messages to his Harper friends in Waterdeep. Before he passed on, he entrusted me with this ring, and asked that I pass it on to you should evil ever befall him." The monk held out a ring to Maiyn, and she just stared at it. In all the time she'd stayed with Gorion, she'd never once seen this man either taking messages away, or delivering them. Indeed, she knew Gorion possessed many magical artefacts that allowed him direct communication with other Harper mages when the need was great. She felt a suspicion rising within her.
"Do tell me, what evil befell him Koveras?" she asked, raising her gaze from the ring to meet the man's eyes. He looked at her curiously.
"You were there," he said simply. "You saw it well. A woman, an armoured figure and two ogres wielding clubs. Gorion's petty magic was of little use against them, was it not? And you... you fled with your tail between your legs, hiding amongst the trees until dawn broke."
Maiyn trembled with rage, but she kept herself calm and composed. "You're right," she said quietly. "I was there that night. Myself, my father, and four others who tried to kill us. Where - or should I say which - were you, if you know so much?"
Koveras stepped back slightly, surprise crossing his face briefly. "If you be so void of trust," he said coldly, putting the ring back into his pocket, "then I am surprised you made it this far. It is of little matter - I will wash my hands of it, and wish you a good afternoon."
Maiyn held his gaze for several moments, then left, swiftly heading to the inn. Something about the monk didn't add up, but she didn't have time to wonder about it. They had other issues that needed to be dealt with.
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"My dear fellows, you must realise that it is manners which make the man, so would you kindly prove that you are gentlemen by leaving?"
Maiyn had found her companions gathered together in the inn, Coran having done a splendid job at tracking everyone down quickly. The ranger told them of her run-in with the monk, then led them off into the library before anyone could comment. Xan had gasped slightly when they entered the building, the rows of books seeming to please him immensely. Maiyn headed straight upstairs to the meeting room on the second floor.
It was devoid of any other people, and the companions had wandered over to the hall without meeting anyone else. The men using the room had looked up when they saw the companions looking at them from the entrance, and it was then that a green robed man had spoken.
"A thief does not set rules for another thief," stated Coran. "Gentleman or not. We will do what pleases us, and if you do not like it... well. Here is your chance to make yet another attempt on Maiyn's life. All previous assailants fell to her hands."
A couple of the strange men gasped slightly, and regarded the two others with wary eyes. The robed man snorted. "It would be a sad day indeed if I took some pointy-eared rogue's threats seriously."
"Manners, is it?" said Yeslick suddenly, pushing through to the front of the group. "Like the manners that ye're not s'posed to enter a dwarf's home if he doesna invite ye in? Or the good nature ta no trample over the graves o' his kin? How about the common courtesy ta not lock him away and torture him for weeks Rieltar? Are those the manners that make ye? Are they, ye filth?"
Rieltar looked taken aback by the dwarf's appearance. "Yeslick? Then Cloakwood has fallen... Damn you dwarf! There may be safety for you in this library, but I assure you, outside of here there will be nowhere to hide for you!"
"Me safety's not what I'm thinkin' of scum!" roared Yeslick. "I say ye draw steel right now, and by Clangeddin's Axe I'll cut ye down like the dog that ye are!"
"No!" cried Maiyn, putting her arm out to stop the dwarf from charging the men. "Yeslick, this isn't the way to avenge anything."
"Ye... nay... but...I..." Yeslick sighed. "Ye speak the truth, ye do... much though it grieves me ta say so. Rieltar, ye'll see me again, and then yer time'll come." Yeslick stalked off away from the group, heading back to the stairway.
"My time is coming dwarf, but not in the way you might think!" called Rieltar after him. "Now, scurry off, all of you, while you still have legs!"
Maiyn signalled for everyone to leave, and they gathered at the staircase. "We cannot attack him in here, these are hallowed walls," she said quietly, mainly to Yeslick. The dwarf nodded unhappily.
"We should find a way o' gettin' 'em thrown out," he muttered.
"We can try," said Maiyn thoughtfully. "We need to keep an eye out for that monk, too." The ranger paused as footsteps were heard from the stairs - someone was coming down towards them. To Maiyn's relief, it was Piato, one of her old tutors. The sage recognised the girls immediately, and rushed over.
"Maiyn! Imoen! It's good to see you both! I trust you are well?"
"As well as can be expected Piato," said Maiyn cautiously. She remembered Karan and Parda's words about people behaving unexpectedly, and although it broke her heart to do so, she was trying to keep herself distanced from the keep's inhabitants. "How have you been?"
"Oh, I pine for the days when Gorion and you both called Candlekeep home," sighed the monk. "You brought a bit of energy to these walls." The girls smiled and thanked him.
"You should go to Gorion's old room," he said as he went back to the stairway. "I believe there was a note left there for you in his chest. Tethtoril asked us to ensure you received it, and said that when you do, you must go and seek him out."
Maiyn looked to Imoen with some confusion, and the group headed up to the next floor. Maiyn navigated the way down the twisty corridors to Gorion's old room, encountering another old sage outside.
"Hi!" exclaimed Maiyn brightly, recognising the figure. He turned and scowled at her.
"Leave me be stranger! I've... work to do."
Maiyn blinked slightly, and glanced to Imoen. "Do you not recognise me Shistal? It is Maiyn, your old pupil."
The man peered at her, and frowned more. "Um, oh yes. Certainly. I did not recognise your face - my apologies. I trust that your journeys have been comfortable? The Cloakwood can be cold this time of year."
"How did you know I'd been in Cloakwood?" asked Maiyn quietly. She sensed her companions tensing.
"Eh, I have relatives in the region," replied Shistal, nodding slightly. "Yes. They must have seen you and sent a note on your progress."
"But... how would they know who I was?" enquired Maiyn, stepping back slightly. Something was very wrong.
"You would do well to leave me alone!" snapped the man, his eyes glowing a strange red colour. "I tire of this game!"
"Shistal would never act like this! Who are you really?" asked Imoen.
The man suddenly changed form, the robes falling off his frame as he mutated into a lanky being; a doppelganger. "I am your deaththth, foolissssh meat!"
The fighters had been ready, and the shapeshifter was brought down quickly. Maiyn opened Gorion's door quickly, rushing in to his chest, and retrieving the letter inside that was addressed to her.
"I have the note," she said, returning to her companions.
"You should read it," said Jaheira firmly.
"We don't have time-"
"Read it, child!"
Maiyn stared at Jaheira for a few moments, then obeyed. She unrolled the parchment, and let her eyes follow the words, written in her father's familiar elaborate handwriting.
Hello Maiyn,
If you are reading this, it means I have met an untimely death. I would tell you not to grieve for me, but I feel much better thinking that you would.
There are things I must tell you in this letter that I might have already told you before - however, if my death came too soon, I would not have had the chance.
Firstly - I am not your true father, as you know. that distinction lies with an entity known as Bhaal. The Bhaal that I speak of is the one you know of as a Divinity. In the crisis known as the Time of Troubles, when the Gods walked Faerun, Bhaal was also forced into a mortal shell. He was somehow forewarned of the death that awaited him during the time and for reasons unknown to myself, he sought out women of every race, and forced himself upon them.
Your mother was one of these women, and as you know, she died in childbirth. I had been her friend, and once her lover. I felt obligated to raise you as my own, and I always thought of both you and Imoen as my own children. I hope you both felt the same in return.
You, however, are a special child. The blood of the Gods runs through your veins, Alaundo's prophecies speak of your kind in detail. There are many who want to use you for their own purposes. One is a man who calls himself Sarevok. He is the worst danger. He has studied here at Candlekeep, and knows a great deal about your history and who you are.
If you are reading this because I have fallen before I could protect you, then I am sorry I fell before I could tell you this to your face. It was always my intention to let you know who - and what - you are, but I must have died before the time was right. I was always proud of you, and I am sure you have the strength and ability to face what your destiny has in store for you. I only hope that you had a happy and carefree childhood to enjoy before these pressures and strains were laid upon your shoulders.
Your father,
Gorion.
Maiyn was shaking, rather violently. Her companions were looking at her with worry; well, most of them. The ranger noticed that Khalid, Dynaheir and Jaheira were looking oddly calm.
"You knew?" she whispered. The druid nodded and Maiyn felt her legs becoming weak. She returned to Gorion's room, and sat down, looking blankly at the letter. The others were looking confused, obviously wanting to know what it said, but she was unable to tell them.
She stared at the letter, her eyes hovering over the name 'Sarevok'. Suddenly she stood up, and darted back to the others.
"Koveras!" she exclaimed. "K-o-v-e-r-a-s! Say it backwards." Her companions frowned, then Xan spoke.
"Sarevok," he said quietly.
Maiyn nodded. "We must go and find Tethtoril," she said, striding back to the staircase. She sprinted up to the fifth floor, looking for the First Reader, but his room was empty. She sighed, and suggested they return to the ground floor to enquire with some of the other readers, but before she could start her descent several Watchers came running up from the lower floors. They stopped when they spotted the group.
"You there!" The Gatewarden strode forward, looking at Maiyn suspiciously. "Stop and surrender yourself! You are accused of murdering the men Brunos Costak, Rieltar Anchev, Tuth and Kestor! If you give yourself up now, you will be assured a fair trial."
Maiyn could barely believe what she was hearing. "We haven't killed anyone!" she cried. The Gatewarden looked pointedly at Minsc and Coran's swords, still wet with the blood of the doppelganger. Maiyn shook her head.
"That's not what you think, we can explain!"
"You will come with us," stated the Gatewarden. Maiyn sighed and nodded, signalling for her companions to drop their weapons. "I am glad you still have some of the sense Gorion taught you," he remarked. "Follow me."
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The companions sat where there was space, crowded together into the cell that had been designed for no more than three or four inhabitants. Maiyn was sitting, still reeling from the revelations of the letter and the events that happened shortly after. The Harpers were watching her keenly, but remained silent.
"What does the letter say?" asked Imoen eventually. The chatter about their wrongful imprisonment had not lasted long when they realised that the guards were deadly serious with their accusations. Maiyn shrugged, and handed the envelope over to Imoen. Imoen withdrew the parchment, and nudged her friend.
"You know there's two other bits of paper in here?" she asked, handing them to the ranger. Maiyn gave them a cursory look, shrugged again, and handed them back, drifting back into her melancholy thoughts.
Imoen sighed, and read the letter, her mouth dropping open the further she got into it. She gasped when she finished, and stared at Maiyn. Their companions regarded her quizzically.
"What is it?" asked Coran, concerned. Imoen handed the papers to him, allowing him to read it himself. Soon his expression changed too, a mixture of shock and disbelief and he paled. Wordlessly he held out the parchment to Jaheira, but the Harpers only glanced at it quickly before passing it to Kivan. Maiyn looked up to them.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked quietly.
"Gorion meant to," the druid said gently. "When we met you we thought it was best for you to find yourself first, before you were subjected to such shocking news. We did not keep it from you maliciously."
Maiyn nodded. "I know. And despite knowing what I was, you stayed with me." The letter was passed from Kivan to Yeslick, Alora and Xan peering over to read it too.
"You knew too?" asked Maiyn, looking to Dynaheir. The witch nodded.
"Jaheira and Khalid told me of thy heritage when I explained my mission to them," she said. "I knew I could trust them because of their Harper status, and I knew that if they spoke of thy kindness and goodness then it wouldst be true."
Maiyn nodded a bit more, but said nothing. Jaheira sat down beside her, patting her arm gently.
"This changes less than you might have thought, Maiyn," she said in an assuring tone. "You have shown yourself as a decent and caring person, despite... this heritage. Khalid and I will continue to stand by your side and help you come to terms with this newfound knowledge. If you would accept our aid, of course."
Maiyn nodded, and managed a weak smile. "That means a lot to me."
Dynaheir explained in a hushed tone to Minsc what was happening, but the berserker was puzzled. "Little Maiyn is the child of a God?" he asked, his witch nodding affirmatively. "It makes no difference to Minsc and Boo! The butts of evil shall just be even more righteously kicked!"
Xan had been studying the papers that came with the letter, snippets of the prophecies Alaundo had written. He began laughing, almost hysterically, and the group regarded him with worry.
"A Bhaalspawn... I am travelling with a Bhaalspawn, and they tell me I'm wrong to speak of our doom," he cried, waving the papers around. "Listen to what it says... listen! 'During the Days of the Avatars, the Lord of Murder will spawn a score of mortal progeny. 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. One of these children must rise above the rest and claim their father's legacy. This inheritor will shape the history of the Sword Coast for centuries to come.'" The enchanter broke off into more maniacal laughing.
"Enough!" Jaheira snapped. "Maiyn does not need-"
"It gets better!" laughed Xan. "Look - 'The spawn of the Lord of Murder are fated to come into their inheritance through bloodshed and misery. It is the hope of their father that only one shall remain alive to inherit his legacy. I foresee the children of Bhaal shall kill each other in a bloody massacre.' We are doomed!"
"ENOUGH!" shouted Coran, standing up suddenly and turning to the enchanter. "This is not the time for your neurotic outbursts!"
Xan's manic laughter faded, and he slowly composed himself. He nodded his head respectfully. "I apologise, the shock was... slightly overwhelming," he admitted. "I assure you, now I have come to terms with the... news, I would just like to take the time to point out; if you were not already certain that our mission was fruitless, and only certain to achieve our deaths, then you certainly should be now."
"What do ya mean by that?" Imoen's eyes flashed as she looked to Xan. "Are ya sayin' that Maiyn is a threat ta us?"
"I am saying that Maiyn's destiny has been written for her," replied Xan stonily.
Imoen stood up beside Coran, and joined in on the glaring at the enchanter. "I think ya should apologise!" she yelled. "Maiyn has done nothin' but what's right and proper, and she's never once hurt anyone that's travelled with us, so what gives you the right to suddenly accuse her-"
"Imoen, Coran, sit down. Petty arguing will help no one," said Jaheira, pulling the antagonised thieves back. "Xan, please take some time to think over what you have just said; if you still feel strongly about it when we are free, I suggest you leave our company," she continued stonily.
Maiyn remained silent throughout this, Khalid taking her hand and squeezing it supportively. She tried to smile to him, but instead she felt tears prickling at her eyes, and she fiercely blinked them away.
"Maybe it's wrong," said Yeslick quietly. "Ah mean, maybe there's some kind o' mistake? That Sarevok fellow, he mighta planted the letter, ta make us think..."
Jaheira shook her head at the dwarf. "No, we have known of Maiyn's heritage since she was a child," she said. "Her parentage was the reason Gorion settled in Candlekeep and the reason, I suspect, they had to leave so abruptly."
"Gorion left when he got a letter from someone," said Imoen. "We found it on his corpse when..."
"It was signed only with an 'E'," said Maiyn, almost inaudibly. "I think, now, that must have been Elminster."
Khalid nodded to her, and she lapsed back into silence. The half-elf looked at his wife hopelessly. There was nothing anyone could do or say to help her come to terms with the revelation. Khalid looked to Coran, and noticed the elf was watching Maiyn intently. Their eyes met, and Khalid made a slight movement: Would you like to come and sit by her? Coran nodded, and Khalid hugged Maiyn briefly, moving over to the other side of the cell.
Maiyn allowed Coran to pull her close to him, and he wrapped his arms around her, fiercely glaring into space, trying to protect her from everything. "I'm sorry," she whispered in elvish, letting her tears fall slowly, and he squeezed her tighter in response.
"You have nothing to be sorry for," he replied in their native tongue, wiping her tears away. "We shall talk more when we can be alone, but do not think this has changed my feelings towards you at all."
Maiyn smiled slightly and nodded, leaning into his embrace and letting herself relax slightly. The others were quiet; Dynaheir and the Harpers looked serious, Kivan was frowning slightly, but when his eyes met hers, he nodded slightly. I will stick by you, it said. Minsc was still looking puzzled by his friends behaviour. Maiyn knew he wasn't too bothered by the discovery, and it didn't surprise her much. She was rapidly seeing Minsc as a loyal friend, dependable and reliable to the extreme.
Imoen was holding Khalid's hands. She hadn't said anything directly to Maiyn since she found out, but she had been quick to defend her friend. She just needed some time to get used to it. The same could be said for Yeslick and Alora. The dwarf had thought it was a cruel joke at first - or wanted to believe it. Now he was deep in thought, wondering what his God's guidance would be, while Alora just watched the scene with scared eyes. She is so young, thought Maiyn. What have I got her into?
Xan had retreated as far away from Maiyn as he could get, and he was sitting with his head in his hands. Maiyn had no idea what he was thinking, and had been hurt by his outburst and reaction. She felt no urge to talk to him, and didn't know when she ever would.
The ranger pulled away from Coran, and moved herself over to a free space where she sat down to pray. She called out to Fenmarel, asking for his aid and guidance with the news, asking for his support despite her questionable heritage. She silently poured out her fears and distress to him over the course of an hour, beseeching him for his counsel. When she was done, she felt better; more serene, more peaceful. She knew her God was still accepting her, to her relief. Her optimism was quickly shattered.
"So, Maiyn, Imoen," came the voice of Ulraunt. They turned around to see the Keeper of Tomes sneering at them as he looked into their cell. The elf stood up, drawing herself up fully and standing proud to face him. She'd known he disliked her, and now she knew why. She couldn't really blame him; he possibly perceived her as a threat to the safety of the settlement. But she could fault him for his fear of a child - a blinding fear that led to his hostility to her without even trying to know her or understand her. She felt nothing for him but pure hatred at that point.
"You have sullied your father's name by defiling his home and bringing ruin to a peace that has lasted for centuries," he said to her, staring coldly. "I spit on you, and all of your friends; your transgression here will be punished in the most severe form. I formally accuse you of the murders of Brunos Costak, Rieltar Anchev, Tuth and Kestor."
"Why are you doing this?" asked Maiyn calmly.
Ulraunt snorted. "I know what you are," he said. "Murder is not beyond you. You were also seen fleeing the scene by the guest, Koveras. From everything I have heard it is not hard to figure out what your purpose was. It is said you have been trying to place all the blame for the iron shortage on the Sword Coast squarely on the shoulders of the Iron Throne. I therefore assume you and your friends have gained employment as assassins for Amn."
Coran snorted. "Surely not," he said sarcastically. "After all, how would we find the time to work for Amn when we are apparently under the employ of the Zhentarim?"
Ulraunt looked at the fighter dismissively. "It matters little - you shall be sent to Baldur's Gate to face punishment." The Keeper stalked off without another word, and Maiyn watched him leave. She was shaking with rage, and she shook off Coran's hands when he tried to calm her down.
"How DARE he!" she snarled. "He has hated me from the beginning, and now he has the convenience of believing the lies of that fiend!"
"It was Sarevok that apparently saw us fleeing the scene," interjected Xan thoughtfully, suddenly stepping forward, back into the group. "He has also told Rieltar, his supposed father, that we were working for the Zhentarim, to perhaps gain his support in assassinating you. If we did not kill the leaders here, who else could have?"
Maiyn raised an eyebrow to him. "You think Sarevok killed his own father?"
Xan nodded. "Unless there are other foes present we have not come across, I don't see who else could have been responsible," he said logically. "We know that Sarevok has openly lied to let his father believe you were dead, and he also wrote to his father to apologise for not being able to attend this meeting. Yet he is here, in disguise, hiding the fact from both the Iron Throne, and us. For whatever reason, he has used us to get rid of the leaders of the Throne. I would imagine it is so he himself can take their position."
"And at the same time, he has managed to get Maiyn imprisoned for it," mused Coran, "thus getting her out of the way too."
Xan nodded.
"We need to get out of here," said Jaheira.
"That will be nothing short of impossible," said Maiyn dejectedly. "Even if we could get out of this cell, there will be Watchers all over the grounds, and the gate is always guarded heavily. Add to that, we are now all weaponless..."
"Perhaps an opportunity will arise when we are transported to the city?" queried Kivan.
"Unlikely," said Maiyn. "If we're really unlucky, we'll just be teleported straight to the jail."
"Not if I can help it," came a voice from the shadows. Maiyn turned to see the First Reader emerge into the light, a look of pity in his eyes as he regarded Maiyn's resigned expression. "Hello young one," he said fondly.
"Tethtoril!" she exclaimed, reaching out through the bars to accept his hands. "I'm so glad to see you! You have to believe me, we've done nothing wrong!"
"Oh, I know, child," he said, soothingly. "I am sorry to see thee in such terrible circumstances, especially when thy has just made such painful discoveries about thy heritage." The sage watched as Maiyn's gaze fell, and he squeezed her hands supportively. "I know thee has been wrongly accused, and I know Ulraunt plans to send thee and thy companions to Baldur's Gate tomorrow. It shall most likely be the death penalty, and I cannot allow that to happen."
"But what can we do?" asked Maiyn sadly. "Unless they allow us to explain and believe us, there is nothing we can do."
"Even if they did child, blood was on the blades of thy companions," explained Tethtoril patiently.
"That was from... it was from Shistal," choked Maiyn. "He... he was a shapeshifter, he changed into a doppelganger before our very eyes!"
Tethtoril's eyes widened slightly and he nodded. "Karan and Parda told me of thy tales from the city, and thy suspicions. We feared something like this may be happening, and I must take steps to act on it now I know it to be true. Before that though, I must see to thee. I can teleport thee to the catacombs beneath the library. There is a way to escape through them, but disturb the tombs not. I have already transported thy belongings there, both from thy rooms and the weapons thy had confiscated. There is no time to delay - I must transport thee immediately before anyone discovers them gone if thy wishes to escape."
"The catacombs?" whispered Maiyn. "I didn't know such things even existed."
Tethtoril smiled. "Some things are not for young girls to know," he said. "Beware the traps that litter the way, and when you exit, take care to not return to the city until the interest in thy capture has lessened slightly. Are you ready?"
Maiyn nodded. "Thank you Tethtoril," she said, pulling back to stand with her companions.
The First Reader just nodded. "I am sure Gorion would still be proud of you, as am I," he said, then cast the spell immediately. Maiyn felt as if she was being pulled through air, and her surroundings went black.
