Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 4
The promising start
The next day dawned bright and clear, with barely a cloud in the sky.
At breakfast, Jaheira and Khalid went through possible lessons he could impart to Elene for the coming days. After Jaheira left to get additional rooms the night before, Khalid had asked questions of the training the girls had underwent in Candlekeep. They had to get a gauge of how much training both needed.
Imoen had decent training and practice with the bow due to her regular 'friendly competition' with several of the Keep guards. However, Elene admitted that she had only basic proficiency with the sword. Her focus had mostly been on intellectual pursuit – while she was well-read on a great number of subjects, she had little practical ability to follow through. She could, however, cast some basic spells and minor cantrips.
"Martial knowledge and woodcraft, we can teach," Jaheira mulled it over as she put down her fork. "Magic is a bit beyond us. It would be a shame to let that ability wither from disuse."
"Perhaps if we encounter a spellcaster along the way, she can find a teacher in them," said Khalid.
"For certain they will need practice with woodcraft. The ranger can help teach a few things as well, if he continues with us for a good length of time. Bow craft for Imoen, certainly." She paused, mulling it over. "I still don't quite know what to make of him. We only have Bentley and Elene's words to rely on."
"He seems a decent sort." Her husband smiled. "The girls are quite taken with him."
She hummed. "Yet another problem we may face if we don't nip that in the bud soon. Frankly, I just want to get started on our journey."
"There, there, dear. The children were exhausted last night. Let them rest a bit more."
"If they're not down by seventh bell, I am knocking their door down."
The children, as it was, were wide awake. Imoen was bustling about the room repacking things, including the floral-scented soap she pinched from the maid the night before. She was chattering excitedly about the things they would see, the places they would go, all accompanied by three "real life" adventurers.
Elene, however, was still on the bed – she laid there with her hands behind her head, staring up at the gaudy bed canopy. She was fully dressed and equipped to start the day, any wear and tear from her apparel mended with a cantrip the night before. And yet, she showed little sign of moving anywhere anytime soon.
Noticing this, Imoen paused her fussing and threw a nearby cushion at her friend. "Hey Lene, ya better get your butt out of there. Jaheira's gonna come up here and rain hellfire on us soon. We're pretty late."
The cushion thwacked Elene on the thigh. She did not so much as twitch.
Imoen walked to Elene's side and hovered there uncertainly. "Hey. Are you ok?"
The elf breathed deeply before speaking. "This morning when I woke up…for a few seconds, I thought that the past two days was just a bad dream." She turned her head to look at Imoen. "This really is our life now, isn't it?"
Imoen sighed at the melodrama. "Oh, you bufflehead. Scoot."
Elene shifted to make space for Imoen to lay next to her, shoulder to shoulder.
"I know you don't really feel like it right now but let's try to think about all the plus sides. Alright? One, we're still alive," Imoen began ticking things off on her fingers, "Two, Gorion's friends will take good care of us. Three, we're gonna go out and do good things for a lot of people. Four, we're gonna see and learn lotsa new and amazing things. Five, Kivan is really good looking…."
Elene laughed in spite of herself. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Those chiselled looks and smoulder-y eyes? Trust me, it's relevant," Imoen said sagely. "Shush, don't interrupt me. And six, which is the most important thing." She bumped her friend's shoulder playfully. "We still have each other, ya big goof. I ain't leaving you for anything in this Realm, you hear."
Chuckling, Elene put an arm around her. "Ah Immy, what would I do without you?"
"Definitely not go far in life. Now get up you, I wanna see what's for breakfast."
After some sheepish smiles offered to Jaheira when they joined the table, the girls sat down and ordered their breakfast. Imoen did not bother with restraint, asking for everything she thought was interesting on the menu while Elene settled with safe breakfast-type food in sensible portions. Smiling slightly to himself, Khalid observed that the two friends were like heaven and earth in temperament.
"Since both of you have finally deigned to get out of bed," Jaheira glared at both girls, earning twin chastised looks, "We can begin our trek as soon as you are done eating. First, we will head to Beregost to get supplies, then we continue south to Nashkel."
Khalid cleared away the plates and cups to make space for the map Jaheira laid on the table. They were just over a day's journey away from Beregost and three days' journey to Nashkel from there. She went through the route in detail, explaining which path they should take and why. In the event the party became separated, they were to regroup at Nashkel Inn. Once that was agreed, Jaheira rolled up the map and handed it to Elene. The girl promised herself that she would learn those maps inside out to avoid getting lost again.
"Is Beregost a big town?" Imoen asked through a mouthful of food.
"It is the biggest settlement between Baldur's Gate and Amn. Of main interest to us is their smithy – Taerom Fuiruim is a reputable blacksmith in the region. He may have weapons not affected by this iron rot."
Imoen wrinkled her nose. "Can we shop for other things?"
"Like what?"
"What about a nice cloak? Or a raincoat? What'll happen when it rains?"
Jaheira smiled thinly. "Water falls from the sky and you get wet."
Imoen goggled at her in genuine surprise. "You have a sense of humour!"
Elene snorted into her porridge. Jaheira was glaring again, they were off to a good start this morning.
"Of course we can go find other things you need," Khalid was quick to step in and smooth things over. "As we rest along the way, you and I can practice sparring." Khalid smiled at Elene. "Simple sword drills to start with."
Elene wiped her mouth with a napkin and nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Where is Kivan?"
"Outside. He will find us when it is time to leave," said Jaheira.
"I am ready," said Elene, putting her napkin down.
"Then let us move," Jaheira was already getting up.
Imoen shoved the last remnant of food into her mouth and hurriedly hauled her pack over her shoulder to follow the rest of her party. She squinted as she stepped out the door. The sun was still low in the sky, but it was almost blinding compared to the dimness of the tavern's interior. She waved as she walked down the stairs at the entrance of the inn - Kivan was already waiting for them at the bottom of the steps. The ranger fell into step behind Jaheira and Khalid as the party proceeded to leave the Friendly arm, with Elene and Imoen bringing the rear.
The trek south was uneventful in the first day. The girls struggled to keep at the pace being set by the rest of the group, but they soldiered on in the hopes that they would eventually get used to the walking. Imoen idly wondered why none of the adventures they read about in Candlekeep ever mentioned the amount of walking involved.
"Because it would seriously put people off it, clearly," Elene chuckled in response.
"You think one day you could become an archmage and just…poof us to where we need to go?"
"Not sure if that's how these things work, Im. And I'd be happy to just master my blisters at this point, never mind mastering magic."
Imoen giggled. "Blister maestro. Ready to walk one thousand miles, rain or shine."
"Good sales pitch for a pair of boots, actually."
The two friends dissolved into tittering, earning them dark looks from Kivan and Jaheira who were further ahead. Kivan put a finger up to his lips before returning his gaze to the front. They quickly sobered up and tried to advance in silence.
By nightfall, the party chose a clearing shielded from the main road to set up camp. Kivan volunteered to hunt for game while Jaheira set off to collect herbs to season the meat with. Khalid taught the girls the rudiments of securing rest in the wilderness and got them to work preparing the camp. Once Kivan returned with two rabbits, the girls helped Jaheira with dinner. While the girls have no experience adventuring, they have had ample experience doing chores in the kitchen.
Once dinner was cleared up, Khalid took Elene aside to practice the moves he taught her as they walked in the day. She found Khalid to be a patient teacher, willing to go through the same form several times until she could execute it well. By the time she was done practicing, though, her arms felt like jelly.
"You are a quick study, my dear," he patted her on the arm. "All you need is time to build strength."
He neglected to mention that ultimately, experience would be the best teacher.
The following day rolled in with the clouds, the morning air cool against the skin. The five of them broke camp and proceeded on their way to Beregost. Along the route, about an hour away from the town, they discovered the remnants of what appeared to be a civilian caravan. The caravan wagon lay on its side, utterly wrecked. Even from a few dozen paces away, the cloying odour of decaying flesh was unmistakable, leaving little doubt as to what happened to the passengers.
As they drew closer, it was evident that the caravan had been attacked based on the arrows peppering the side of the wagon and the butchered corpse on the ground nearby the wreckage. Jaheira signalled for them to give the scene a wide berth. There was no telling if the perpetrators were still in the vicinity.
Kivan's eyes narrowed as his keen eyes took in the sight, noting the arrow shafts embedded at the back of the wagon. He recognised the black fletching of the arrow – trademark handiwork of the Black Talons. Dread settled deep in his heart as he wondered if the group he had been tracking was responsible for this attack. Would he have been able to stop these meaningless deaths had he just persevered in his pursuit?
And yet…
He stole a glance at the girls walking a few paces behind him. If he had continued tracking those men, Elene and Imoen may well have perished, either to beasts in the wild or to the bounty hunter who lay in wait at the steps of the Friendly Arm Inn.
Life is about those small, minute decisions that change everything.
Deheriana had said that, long ago, on what she felt life meant. He wondered at the divergent what-ifs had he decided differently at each fork in his life's path, if he hadn't decided to take them away from Shilmista after they'd wed. And here he was now, after a supposedly harmless decision to help two girls resulted in a pragmatic alliance which could deliver him vengeance. Life was indeed about those minute decisions.
"Hey, Kivan?"
The ranger jerked out of his melancholy to see Imoen walking next to him. Kivan flicked a glance over his shoulder and saw that Elene was still trailing them, even as she stole nervous looks at the grisly remains of the caravan.
"Is this what bandits do?" Imoen asked pensively.
"Yes," he replied.
"Why?"
He smothered the twitch of anger kindling in his chest. "Some men are no better than beasts."
Imoen was silent for a while. When she spoke, her voice was quiet. "Me and Lene, we hear about it, ya know. Even in Candlekeep. Hull and Fuller talking about bandits going crazy. Visitors coming in worried about attacks on the road. Then you told us you lost someone to bandits. But…" she wrapped her arms around herself. "I guess they're just stories until you actually see it."
Kivan hummed in assent. He had no comfort to give, only practical advice. "When we face them in battle, aim for what counts."
"I…I'll try."
The group arrived in Beregost on that grim note. The town itself was bustling, the sound of trade and talk buzzing in the air even as ominous rainclouds continued to gather high above. Rows of houses were arranged in an orderly manner, with stores and inns nestled in between homes. The main streets intersected at the centre of the town, circling a large stone pillar which seemed to have some significance. Men and women, all human, went about their business, exchanging friendly greetings with one another as they crossed paths.
Elene stared with wide eyes as she took in the first proper town she had ever set foot in. The bustle would need some getting used to. Imoen, however, nudged her in the shoulder, the other girl already in high spirits at the sights and sounds before them.
"Would you look at that, Lene?"
The elf smiled and nodded. As she took a step forward, however, a hand pulled her back. She turned to see Jaheira handing her a plain-looking brown cloth.
"Put this on, child."
Taking it hesitantly and spreading it out, Elene saw that it was in fact, a hood. Swallowing, she fastened the hood around her shoulders and pulled it up and forward, concealing her tawny hair and most of her face without obscuring vision. In the excitement of seeing a new place, she had completely forgotten about the danger she faced simply by walking through town in broad daylight.
"Thank you, Jaheira," she said quietly.
"Remember to keep your head down," Jaheira squeezed her shoulder as she brushed past. "Let us head to the smithy, get business out of the way first."
The party headed to the east of town, moving past several inns and stalls along the way. Imoen was already taking note of the places she wished to visit, chattering to her friend about the things she would need to feel like a proper adventurer. Kivan trailed behind a few paces, listening but not commenting. Certainly, he wanted no part of the debate on the likelihood of there being pink raincoats being sold in the market square.
At the Thunderhammer smithy, the smell of coals and metal hung thick in the warm air surrounding the main forge. Taerom Fuiruim himself was busy hammering at a piece of hot metal, giving shape to what looked to be a fine sword. The man was practically a giant, broad and swarthy, almost every inch of him smudged with ash or soot of some form. Yet when he turned to greet his potential customers, he spoke with a soft, kindly voice more reminiscent of a Candlekeep tutor than a hardened blacksmith.
"Aye, Thunderhammer at your service," said Taerom with a friendly smile. "What do ye wish done? We have a weapon of every kind here, 'cept maybe them funny Eastern swords those Kara-Turans are fond of."
Taerom indeed had an excellent selection of weapons and armour, including some of the magical variety, but his prices were steeper than the average smithy given the quality of his craft. That was the other thing the story books of Candlekeep did not prepare Elene and Imoen for - the tedium of selecting, then haggling for appropriate adventuring equipment. In the end, Elene settled with gauntlets and greaves of leather for better protection, Kivan replenished his stock of arrows while Imoen procured a set of light leather armour.
The rest of the day was spent exploring the town in search of adequate travel supplies, having quick lunch off light bites bought from food stalls in the market area. New and interesting as all this was, Elene hung back for most of it, letting Jaheira and Imoen do all the fronting. Her eyes took in every detail, noting the items on display and how they were displayed and how the vendors and patrons interacted with one another. All the while, keeping her head low and face out of sight. She was developing a healthy sense of paranoia thanks to the bounty on her head.
Sensing her discomfort, Khalid pulled her aside before they headed to the town's trading post. "Perhaps it's better if some of us waited at an inn while all this is getting sorted. What do you think?"
Relief flashed through Elene's expression. "Yes…please. All these people… makes me nervous."
Kivan appeared by her side, looking very done with shopping at that moment. "I will go with you."
"Very well," agreed Jaheira. "Imoen and I will conclude what we need. We can arrange for pick up tomorrow before we set out." She nodded to Khalid. "Which inn should we meet at?"
"The Red Sheaf is around the corner. Passable if we keep a low profile."
With that consensus, the party split in two, with Elene branching off with Khalid and Kivan to head toward the Red Sheaf.