General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.

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Tamoko

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Dawn was breaking when Alora and Coran crept into their room, wearily throwing themselves down on their beds. The halfling was only talking to the elf when necessary, having giving him a severe earbashing when he'd returned to her the previous evening.

"I saw you!"

"She kissed me! I have no interest in some airhead human!"

"I saw ya lookin' all dreamy at her, and I saw ya kiss her hand and I saw ya kiss her... more!"

Coran sighed. "You think I'd risk what I have with Maiyn for some fling the minute I spend some time away from her?"

"Well, from what I've heard..." muttered Alora darkly, causing Coran to raise an eyebrow. "Well, do ya want me to answer that honestly?"

"No, don't bother," snapped Coran, leading them out on the way to the other inns they had decided to visit in order to pick up what information they could.

Alora had said little after the exchange, only passing on what snippets she managed to pick up which affirmed the monetary offer for the death of Maiyn and her companions. She had also managed to discover that Scar had been assassinated, but was unable to obtain any details on the assailants or the circumstances. It was enough to cause Coran some worry though. He looked over to the young thief. She lay atop her bed, her eyes closed. "I wish you would believe me about the woman," he said firmly. The halfling just shrugged, causing him to sigh in frustration.

"By Hanali's heart, does no one on Toril, bar Maiyn, ever trust a word I say?" he cried out. Alora gave him a quizzical look. "I am telling you, I had no intention of kissing the woman, and it was only surprise and shock that allowed her to catch me out as she did."

"Ya didn't put up much of a fight," remarked Alora.

"What did you expect me to do?" asked Coran. "Was I meant to say something, to perform some action? What if we need more information, and she's the only means to gain it?"

"An' ye'll go to any lengths to obtain the information, eh?"

The elf rolled his eyes.

"Are you goin' to tell Maiyn what happened?"

Coran thought about this. "I wasn't going to, no," he admitted. "It would cause her upset over nothing, when she already has more than enough on her mind."

Alora raised an accusing eyebrow but said nothing. Coran glared at her.

"Maybe when you've lived a bit more of life, and grown up a bit-"

"Don't ya be callin' me a child!" exclaimed the halfling indignantly.

Coran grit his teeth. "I'm not saying you are a child," he continued, patiently. "I am just asking you to think of the consequences of what you intend to do - don't give me that look, I can tell by your accusing tone that you plan to tell Maiyn what you saw and I will not try to stop you. But give some thought to whether or not she needs the additional stress of it, when there is really nothing for her to worry about when it was the woman who kissed me."

Alora shrugged and turned her back to the elf. He threw his hands up in frustration. He did not want to think about Maiyn's reaction to what had happened, and he knew what her companions would say about it all. We shall be back to the beginning, he sighed. They will all start with their distrust and accusations, and with the weight of her father's letter on her mind, she won't be able to fight the ideas they put into her head. Coran forced himself to stop thinking about it, and tried to enter his reverie.

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That night the two thieves finished their tour of the inns and taverns finding out little more in the way of information than they had already gathered. Coran had carefully guided them away from the Elfsong fairly early in the evening, avoiding the woman known as Pearl who was sitting alone at the bar once more. Alora had accepted this move in a positive way, conversing more normally with him after it.

It was when they entered the Blade and Stars that the woman approached them. She grabbed Coran's arm, guiding him over to a quiet booth as Alora rolled her eyes in disbelief, but followed her companion. Coran could read her expression quite well - another woman! "Sit down," hissed the woman to the halfling, causing the young thief to obey immediately, drawing herself close to Coran in the sudden realisation of the danger they could be in.

Coran regarded the addressing woman. Her skin was a deep tone, brown and clear, adorned only with the smallest of black emblems tattooed onto her cheeks, emphasizing her high cheekbones. He recognised them as kensai symbols, but was unfamiliar with their meaning. Her brown eyes regarded them sceptically, her black hair shone in the flickering light; two braided mounds on either side of her head, the tail of each extending down to her waist in neat plaits.

"No words," she said before either could say anything. "I know who you are, and with one word I can have the authorities here to arrest you. You listen to what I say, and then I leave. If you have any sense, you will leave too, and only return with your leader. My name is Tamoko, and I wish to speak to Maiyn - it is important, and it is about the one she seeks. I have information about Sarevok's plans, but I require something from her in exchange. I will be in the Elfsong Tavern four nights from now - that will be enough time for you to return to wherever she hides to inform her?"

Coran nodded, staying carefully silent.

"Then tell her what I have said." The woman rose, and swiftly left the inn without a backwards glance. Coran regarded Alora with bemusement and stood up.

"Time to return to our companions then," he said.

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"Coran!"

Maiyn flew into his arms when she saw it was him, and Minsc's sword immediately dropped at the sight of his comrades.

"Alora - you look exhausted! Go and get some rest," instructed Maiyn. "Coran, tell us what you found out, if anything, then you must do likewise."

Coran glanced over to Alora and smiled. The smile was returned warmly and Coran's heart sighed with relief. The journey back had been as swift as they could manage, but it had not been silent. Eventually Coran had managed to persuade the young halfling that he had no interest in anyone but Maiyn, having described his past and his reputation to the bemused thief. He'd gone on to describe the changes he'd felt since encountering the ranger and discovering his daughter, changes he admitted came as a surprise to him. Alora listened as he poured out his heart, being honest for the first time about his feelings to anyone except himself. He realised he hadn't even been as honest to Maiyn about it all, and promised himself that he would remedy it. But first he had to share their discoveries.

When everyone was gathered around, except the snoring Alora, Coran quickly went over the information they'd come across. The Harpers asked if he'd seen any of the notices people had been speaking about, and he nodded affirmatively.

"There were some guards sticking one up outside a disused house as we left," he said, rummaging in his pocket. "Ah, here it is!"

Maiyn grinned at his mischievous look, but asked him more about Tamoko. He told her what little he'd been able to ascertain, and she nodded.

"One last thing," he said, almost as an afterthought. "This is purely speculation though; her olive skin suggests she is of Kara-Toan descent, and the markings on her face would make sense then as kensai sigils. If she is one, then she will be a formidable fighter, skilful and dedicated to her cause. I would recommend caution."

Maiyn nodded, and ushered the elf to his bedroll, where she chided him for requesting her joining him. She returned to the others and regarded their grim expressions.

"When the others are rested, we head back to the city. Does anyone object?"

No one spoke, but a few looked hesitant.

"I know it will be dangerous, and I know many of you are still confused about my heritage," said Maiyn honestly. "Which is why I will give you all the option now of leaving the party with no ill feelings. We can accompany anyone wishing to leave to any destination on our way, but we cannot deviate from our route I am afraid. If anyone wishes to go, I would urge them to speak now."

A heavy silence hung over the group. It was eventually broken by Imoen.

"Well, I'm not goin' anywhere except with you."

"Khalid and I swore to stay with you for as long as you wished our company," said Jaheira quietly. "This is still true of us." Khalid nodded his agreement.

"Thou hast proved to be a faithful and loyal companion," Dynaheir stated quietly. "I would be honoured to share thy company until Sarevok falls to us, and beyond."

"And Minsc and Boo have much righteous butt-kicking to do with Dynaheir and little Maiyn!"

Maiyn felt herself welling up, and she sniffled slightly.

"I told ye last night how I feel, lass," said Yeslick softly. "I'll be with ye 'til the end."

Maiyn looked over to the remaining elves. Both were standing silently; Kivan his usual stoic self, Xan looking gloomily at the ground. "Kivan? Xan?"

"We have sworn pledges to each other, mellonamin. I am by your side until the end." Kivan moved forward and placed his hand firmly on Maiyn's shoulder before disappearing off into the trees to perform more scouting around the camp. All eyes fell to Xan.

The enchanter sighed morosely. "I stand by what I told you earlier," he eventually stated. "I will stand with you, Seldarine help me, until the iron crisis has been finished. After that, you know my path."

Maiyn nodded, and blinked fiercely to prevent herself from showing emotion. "Then we pack up and prepare to move on when Coran and Alora awaken. Anyone who needs rest best get some now."

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The camp was buzzing as the companions packed their belongings, quiet murmuring signalling the discussions being held quietly as people discussed what lay ahead. Alora was excitedly telling Imoen about the trip she'd had with Coran, and the young human was asking question after question.

"Who was she though?" asked a confused Imoen, about the woman called Pearl.

"I'm not sure, ya know," admitted Alora. "I think she's probably a contact for the thieves guild - the man she was speakin' to first looked like he'd be a member of them, and what she said to Coran sounded like she had some friends in either the Flaming Fist or the Iron Throne."

Imoen nodded. "That'd make sense," she said. "Good old Coran just goin' up to her like that though!"

Alora grinned. "Yeah, though when they kissed I was really angry... uh oh."

Imoen's mouth had dropped open and she stared at the halfling. "They what?"

"Im, no, I shouldn't have said anythin'!" exclaimed the panicking thief.

"Why not? Did he tell you not to say anythin'? We'll see about that!" Imoen marched off, ignoring Alora's pleas to stop. The human caught Coran by the arm, and dragged him off away from the others, much to the surprise of Dynaheir and Minsc.

"What are you playing at?" she hissed quietly, when she was sure they were far enough away from Maiyn.

"I was about to ask you the same," said Coran, clearly confused. "I'm wondering if females' dragging me around by the arm is going to become a regular occurence..."

"Don't make jokes with me!" snapped Imoen, causing Coran to draw back in surprise. "Alora told me what happened!"

"I..." Coran's puzzled look slowly faded to be replaced with a resigned one. He sighed. "Are you going-"

"Why did you do it?"

"Well if you'd-"

"You know how Maiyn feels towards you!"

"Imoen, stop!" Coran cursed himself for having raised his voice quite so loud; some of the others were regarding them curiously. "Did Alora tell you the whole story? Did she tell you what happened, that she believes what happened because it's the truth? Or have you jumped upon some comment she's made and come here to accuse me of something without listening to the full tale?"

Imoen scowled at the elf.

"Imoen, I would not and could not hurt Maiyn," continued Coran gently.

"Then why did you kiss another woman?" asked the human hotly.

"Coran kissed a woman in the city?" asked Minsc from behind them. Coran turned around slowly, relieved to see that only the berserker had approached them.

"No, Minsc," he said quietly. "The woman kissed me, but I am sure no one will believe me."

Minsc frowned slightly, and held Boo up to his ear. "No, Boo says Coran speaks the truth, so Minsc is content with that." The Rashemani wandered back to the camp, and Coran looked back to Imoen. The human looked annoyed and confused.

"Please believe me," he said genuinely. "If I was going to break my vow to Maiyn, I would not do it in full view of another of her companions, would I?"

"I guess not..." admitted Imoen. "Wait - what vow?"

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"Ah Minsc," said Dynaheir with relief. "I hadst wondered where thee had gone. Has thee finished packing?"

"Yes my witch, Minsc and Boo are ready to depart," boomed Minsc. "We think little Imoen may need some more time though, as Coran is telling her all about the kiss he received in the city."

A deadly silence fell over the companions as they froze collectively, then slowly turned to look at the beguiled warrior as one. Alora tried desperately to hide behind a tree.

"Sorry?" asked Maiyn at length, barely believing what she'd heard. She looked over to Coran and Imoen who had winced at Minsc's proclamation to the group, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Imoen and Coran were discussing his kiss," said Minsc patiently to the ranger. "Minsc asked Boo if it was true that the woman had kissed Coran, and Boo said yes."

"I... see," said Maiyn carefully. "You... did not mention this before," she said to Coran, who had come back to the group with Imoen in tow.

"I did not think it would be important," said Coran honestly.

"You did not think I would be concerned about your... liaisons with other women?"

"She kissed me, I did not kiss her," pointed out Coran. "And she only managed because she caught me off guard and she'd had a bit much to drink."

"And how many of those drinks were bought by you?" asked Jaheira coldly. Coran sighed.

"Enough," said Maiyn quietly. Her eyes had never left Coran. "He says he did not kiss her, and I believe him. More importantly, Boo believes him and Boo was right about the creatures beneath Candlekeep."

Jaheira regarded the ranger with an incredulous look. "It is one thing for Minsc to accept counsel from his rodent," she said, "but another for you to do likewise. You know Coran's reputation-"

"Yes," said Maiyn sharply. "I do, and I know what he said to me in private since then. I have no reason to believe it was a lie, and so I have no reason not to believe him now."

"Maiyn-" began Khalid. The ranger turned to him before he could continue.

"Coran made a vow to me," she said softly. "He would not break it." A collective gasp went around the camp, and the Harpers looked at Coran in surprise.

"You never mentioned this before," said Jaheira with confusion.

"It was nobody's business but ours," murmured the ranger. "I still would not have mentioned it had this not happened. I can only now hope that you will give him your trust as I have done."

Muffled muttering suggested that it was not likely, but the others swiftly returned to their preparations for leaving. Kivan patted the two elves on the back as he passed, and left them looking at each other. Maiyn spoke first.

"I am sorry I told everyone of your promise," she said. "I did not mean to, it just seemed like the easiest way to prevent their attacks on you."

"You have no need to apologise for that," replied Coran, with some surprise. "I am honoured you felt it important enough to share with others, I guess. I meant every word of it."

"I know," said the ranger softly. "But you know I will not hold you to such restrictive measures, when it is not in your nature."

"It is my nature now," insisted Coran. "I am sorry I didn't mention the other woman before now. I truly believed you to have enough on your mind, and I didn't want to add further stress by causing a scene like this."

Maiyn nodded. "Whether or not it did happen, it is behind us," she said casually.

"You do not believe me?"

Maiyn shrugged, and turned to go. Coran grabbed her shoulders gently, and turned her back to face him.

"No, a'maelamin, this is important. Do you believe me?"

Maiyn stood for a few minutes looking into Coran's eyes. Finally she nodded confidently, and allowed herself a slight smile. "I believe you."

Coran sighed with relief, and brought her into a tight embrace. "I know what they say about me, and about the wise smirks behind my back," he murmured as he let her go. "I don't care as long as you trust in me. Let them say that we'll part before the rising of the new moon. I'm not going to let you slip away, not now that I have you."

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The companions sat in the darkest corner of the Elfsong tavern, having arrived there only a few hours before. Maiyn had managed to bribe a merchant's envoy with gold to allow them to hide in their caravans until they were safely within the city walls, which was risky, but less so than attempting to get past the toll guard without being recognised. Coran and Alora were keeping keen eyes out for the exotic woman's appearance, the rest of the taverns's customers paid no heed to them; a collection of people wrapped in cloaks, trying to shrink into the shadows, was hardly a strange sight in the chosen inn of the town's less honourable members.

Coran eventually nudged Maiyn slightly, and the ranger looked up to see a tall woman quickly approach their table. She sat down opposite the elf wordlessly, her eyes scouring the bar to ensure that no undue attention was upon them. Satisfied with what she saw, she spoke.

"I apologise for not being more open but these are troubled times," she said quietly, her eyes unblinking as she held Maiyn's stare. "I have something you want to hear, and you can do something for me in return. Perhaps we can help each other out."

Maiyn was carefully expressionless. "You are Tamoko?"

"I am. I do not pretend to be your friend, or even someone you should trust," she said, much to Maiyn's surprise. "Fate demands that I put myself at your disposal however. I have details worth listening to, and again I must say that I require something of you in exchange."

"Say what you must, and I will listen." Maiyn was unsure how to treat the woman.

"I shall explain myself in further detail when I have time," replied Tamoko. "Until then, know this; Duke Eltan is ill - the one who claims to heal his illness is the one who breeds it. No doubt you have the wherewithal to follow through on this; your very nature gives you above average competence, and Gorion's tutelage could only have enhanced this."

"Don't speak that name," hissed Maiyn, her eyes suddenly flashing with anger. "I will not have you sully the name of the only family I have known."

"But that was not the family that knew you, and knows you now," smirked Tamoko. "I think you feel the pull, and you strain against it still. Ah, you see I know much of you - perhaps more than you know yourself. There are three things that are strength incarnate: there is love, there is fear of death, and there is family. A family that loves death would have a strong pull indeed." Tamoko's eyes narrowed, and she regarded Maiyn curiously. Her voice became softer. "Do you... feel it? Can you feel him? He hates you, you know."

Maiyn raised an eyebrow. "Who hates me? What have I done to deserve such hatred?"

Tamoko laughed bitterly. "What have you done? You exist, and chaos shall be sown. That is the way it was intended, though I hope to change it." The woman stood, and gave a cursory glance at Maiyn's companions before her gaze fell back to the ranger. "We shall speak again. I can promise that."

Maiyn watched as she silently left their company, and then regarded her companions. "We need to get to Duke Eltan," she said.

"Are you mad?" asked Xan, though his tone suggested he'd expected nothing less. "Not only does he head the very authority hunting us, but we only have the word of someone somehow associated with the madman who had us wrongfully framed in the first place."

"It's pretty easy to find out if Duke Eltan is ill," said Maiyn.

"Oh really?" ventured Xan.

Maiyn nudged Coran, and pointed to a couple of older men sitting at a nearby table. He nodded, and the others watched as he casually sauntered over to them, nodding amiably as they looked up. A small conversation ensued, and within minutes Coran had returned. Maiyn looked at him with amusement.

"I asked the two gentlemen if they'd heard any more news on Duke Eltan's failing health, and they were most forthcoming with their information," he smiled. "Apparently the Duke has come down with a fever of sorts, and is being tended by his usual healer, a man known as Rashad. He's helped Duke Eltan through various injuries and poxes, but seems to be at a loss with his current condition. The stress of it all has apparently affected him; rumour has it that he's not been quite himself recently."

"Or he's quite literally not himself," remarked Maiyn. Jaheira voiced her agreement.

"Or he could just be distracted by the ailing health of his senior," interjected Xan dryly, "and we're being sent in the hope we end his life, this time saving Sarevok the bother." There was a pause as the companions thought this over.

"You could be right," sighed Maiyn. "Either way, we won't know until we get to the Duke." Xan gaped at her.

"You're still planning to get to him?"

"Well, we have to, really. We have no other option."

"We could hand ourselves in and let them determine our innocence."

Maiyn grinned at the enchanter, but her smile slowly faded at his serious expression. "You're not joking, are you?"

"No," he sighed.

"Xan," said the ranger patiently, "if we hand ourselves in, there will be no trial. We are wanted for murder; not for some petty crime or treacherous thoughts. I understand that the way you view things-"

"You mean, by me not being a criminal?" he interrupted.

"None of us are criminals!" exclaimed Maiyn. Xan shot a look over to Coran and Alora, and the thieves looked darkly back at him. "Look, you're not winning any friends here."

Xan shrugged. "Do as you please. The sooner this is all over with, the better," he muttered.

The ranger merely rolled her eyes, and began discussing her plans with the others. Time was of the essence, and they had to work quickly.