„A Path through the Darkness"
Nalia was hit with a branch of a dead tree, released by Yoshimo. She was beginning to hate the whole adventuring thing. All they were doing few hours already was tearing through a murky forest, covered with the same unnatural darkness as the road to Imnesvale. Shadows were darkening with every step toward the abandoned and supposedly desecrated temple, which was the aim of their journey, the surrounding woods deadly quiet, and Nalia could almost hear an echo each time she stepped on a dry twig. Not a single bird sang among the trees, breaking the silence. No one seemed to be in the mood to talk either, and they progressed silently in the haunted wilderness. Nalia got another hit from a branch, but she restrained herself from complaining. They were trying to help people in need, rescue the poor villagers of Imnesvale - it was a cause worth of making sacrifices. And she did vote for it, when they were deciding whether to go for Valygar Corthala first, or try to unravel the source of the murders in the Umar Hills.
She secretly missed her life as a part of amnian nobility. She had spent a lot of time in Slums of Athkatla, but she could always go back to her comfortable keep and servants ready to fulfill her every wish. She often declared that people should be their own masters, but she couldn't stop thinking about hot baths Chanelle used to prepare for her. She never had to sleep under the stars or on the inn's floor when one of her servants was around.
Daria stopped for a moment and cast another Light – a small orb of gentle silver glow joined the two other above their heads. The next moment one of the older spells began to fade. Nalia watched the elven woman with amazement. The leader of their small band seemed both very strong and strangely… inappropriate to her. She had most spectacular abilities and used them in heat of a battle effortlessly. She could stand up to an enemy even without a weapon and almost died, still remaining undefeated, knowing she would eventually triumph. Nalia was feeling something akin to admiration when she was watching the small elf.
But there were also other things that made young noblewoman wonder. She saw Daria casting many spells, but all of them were just simple charms or illusions, and more than once her incantation went wrong, nothing an experienced battle-mage would ever allow. Was it because she was focusing on the divinations? The other elf, the enchanter, seemed to be her teacher previously. He was trying to talk to his former student all morning in no avail. Was it about the obvious flaws in Daria's magic?
But she was a strong and independent woman. Nalia heard a story of Daria stopping the war in the north, rescuing the city of Baldur's Gate. She could imagine a great heroine swearing to rescue her kidnapped sister, no matter of the costs. Nalia wondered if she would ever be like that.
A second illuminating spell blinked and came to nonexistence. It was the sixth in a row, Nalia counted silently in her head. I would mean they were walking six hours already. Was this forest ever going to end? She didn't know such giant wooded areas even existed!
"I've lost the way" the always stern half-elven woman stated. Most of the group gave her a look as if she grew a pair of horns.
"If you can't find the way Jaheira, then the best course of action would be probably lying down on the ground to die." Daria answered with a smirk. She got a loud 'humph' as an answer.
Nalia felt a shiver down her spine. They were lost? Are they going to walk in circles never leaving this horrible place? Daria moved at the front of the group, before Nalia was able to voice her concerns. She turned around, glancing idly at the tree-tops, and unhurriedly closed her eyes. When she opened them again they were bright as little stars, shining under her hood. Even the darkness around them seemed to fade a little. Nalia heard Anomen's gasp.
"I'll lead the way now" the diviner said. She stepped further into the haunted forest.
***
The dark and bloodcurdling woods looked completely different when watched through her inner sight. Daria could see the paths hidden intentionally under layers of shadow to cover the road to the temple, black patches covering the once living green forest. Something was struggling to suppress her precognition, but the strange presence soon retreated, before she could try to probe it with a spell. Nothing could hide from her eyes now and she was certain that if she raised her head to the sky, she would see the sun through the unholy shroud. A part of restlessness she felt since entering the dark land left her. Nevertheless she was certain she would have to pay for it with another one of her headaches later on.
She had a hard time avoiding Xan all morning and then walking far enough not to be engaged in any conversation. She pretended to be interested in Anomen's boasting as he bragged about killing countless orcs and giants, and gods knew what else. She couldn't avoid the enchanter forever, but she could buy herself enough time to think of some decent excuse of her outburst. She didn't know why she broke down like that, and in front of him, to her shame. Why was he awake anyway? And she thought she came to terms with her…'condition'. It's been some time since they met and it all began. It's been some time since the last time she cried because of it. He left for Evereska and she was beginning to regain some of her inner balance. After all she decided to wait for it to pass and she was doing good job at it. Or so she thought.
Minutes stretched into hours as she led the others deeper into the woods. Daria was already starting to feel the familiar pounding in her head signaling a coming headache. It didn't distract her from her reminiscing however.
I was a busy day so far. The group has already negotiated a pact with an ogre mage Madulf, who wasn't as evil as the villagers seemed to think, and checked a small cabin, previously occupied by Merella the ranger, for any signs of her. All trails led to the once glorious temple dedicated to some forgotten deity. Daria wanted to reach it before the sunset – not that it could be any darker, but she didn't relish the thought of spending a night it this place without a bit of wall to cover them. At least they had some study tents and better camping equipment, which Yoshimo bought for money taken from de'Arnise Keep coffers.
She stumbled. Ironically, she could see exactly the root and saw in detail how her foot got tangled in it, but couldn't stop the fall anyway. It seemed foreseeing didn't exactly mean preventing. She felt she needed to get used to kissing the ground, because it wasn't going to end any time soon. Her arms couldn't support her when she tried to pick herself up, she noticed startled, falling back on the ground unable to get up. She didn't realize how drained she was after miles of walking, divining all the way, too focused on her search for the right road. Someone's strong arms lifted her from the forest floor and she felt a cold metal pressed to the side of her face. She raised her eyes to see Minsc smiling broadly at her.
"Boo thought you may need a lift!" he said. Daria looked at many scars at his head. The one near his ear he got from the gnolls in the fortress, rescuing Dynaheir, the big cut he got from a werewolf, the one from the hit in the head he received two weeks before they met in Nashkel… She realized she's beginning to lose attention of surroundings and time. And that Minsc needs a new helmet.
'Just a little further…' she sent her senses as far as she could without leaving her body and found a ruined paved road leading north. She pointed the direction to the huge ranger. He gave her another grin and carried her forward.
"Maybe we should stop for a rest, my lady?" she heard somebody behind Minsc ask. She ignored the question completely.
"Look out at the tree root to your left… A paved road begins in five steps… the middle part is missing…" Daria was giving instructions just in case. The ranger could move in the forest with skill by far exceeding hers, but she did know that if he tipped, she would end under a formidable mass of Rashemi berserker in full armor.
Something jumped from one of Minsc pockets and she saw Boo climbing her robe to nestle himself on her belly. 'Just don't make yourself too comfortable mister…' she threatened the nosy hamster in her mind.
She finally saw the ancient site of worship only few steps through the darkness from them, infested with shadowy creatures of all shapes. She expected just as much. She felt her perception fading.
"We reached the temple" she said. "There's a pack of shadow wolves… in the courtyard there's a giant hole in the ground… a crystal in the middle…" she could barely speak. The presence she felt before returned, as if sensing her weakness. "It knows we're here" she only managed to whisper before the darkness took her.
***
When she came round she was lying on a blanket, wet cloth smelling with herbs placed on her forehead. She could feel a small stream of cold water making its way through her brow, disappearing in her hair. She heard some noises in the background – rattle of armor, someone – Nalia? – uttering words of a spell. She made an attempt of recognizing the incantation, but her head felt like it was about to burst. She tried to be as motionless as possible hoping the pain would go away.
The environs were surprisingly bright for a source of a darkness surrounding the whole area. The light was coming from some place to her left, but she couldn't see it without turning her head and that would ruin her perfect plan of remaining still. Instead she shut her eyes to separate herself from the world around her. Pity she couldn't close her ears.
She heard more clinking, something that sounded like a howling, but somehow more thrilling, and a sound of something made of metal hitting wood. And more clinking. Three pairs of heavy steps coming closer, until the noise was surrounding her. If she opened eyes she could see the noise-makers, she really didn't want to though. She was grateful that at least Xan, Yoshimo and Nalia could walk relatively silently. Someone sat down by her side, Jaheira most likely, waiting for her to wake up to make her a lecture about over-using divination. Daria tried to faint again.
She almost jumped, when someone's hand touched her face, stroking the unscarred skin. Her eyes immediately fluttered open and she saw Xan hastily taking away his hand. For a moment she saw some strange warmth in the look he gave her, but it was replaced by embarrassment too fast for her to be certain that it wasn't her imagination. Knowing how her head worked during migraines it might as well have been Jaheira, looking at her heavily enough for it to be felt. The druidess could do that.
"You're awake?" most-likely-Xan asked. Daria wasn't sure if she was. With horror she realized that she couldn't feel the tingling on her face, which meant the illusion-mask she wore was gone and nothing was covering bags under her eyes. She silently said her farewells to the last shreds of vanity she might had.
"I'm fine" she said. Honestly, she could only feel better if someone cut her head off.
"You're far from 'fine', Daria" Jaheira sat next to Xan. She had a serious look on her face, but deprived of its usual harshness. 'It seems I look pitiable enough to be spared the speech' Daria thought. Even so, she'd rather have her mask on.
"You shouldn't have used your magic for that long. You should have called for rest when you began to feel worn-out. Tiring yourself to death won't help anyone and remember we still have to find our way back." Jaheira stopped when she noticed that it fails to get across to the mage. The druid's lips were just a thin line now. "There's something wrong with your head."
"Is it the only thing I'm going to get for getting us through this ill-fated forest? A transfer to an asylum? Not even 'thank you'?" Daria groaned, feeling her headache getting even worse. She couldn't believe it was possible.
"Jaheira meant it literally I'm afraid." Xan's voice was more pleasant to hear without acknowledging what exactly he said. "Something happens when you abuse your abilities and healing magic can't cure it." He removed the cloth from Daria's forehead, not pleasantly chilly anymore, and placed his hand in its place. His fingers were cold and Daria closed her eyes in relief. "We will prepare you a healing potion, but you have to be more careful." She gave a careful nod under his hand. "Don't use precognition more than absolutely necessary. We can manage without it." Xan took away his palm and she smiled at him.
Jaheira covered Daria tightly with a blanked and they both left her to her rest. Before heading off to prepare the medicine Jaheira stopped the enchanter for a moment.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?" Xan had a distracted look on his face.
"She listens to you. You're not using any charms on her, are you?" Jaheira asked with suspicion in her voice. She didn't think he did, but Daria was strangely polite when he was around.
"Of course not." Xan looked at the druid with his usual 'doomed' expression. "She values your advice Jaheira, but she's still young and inexperienced, despite what she came through. Give her some time to see wisdom in your words."
Jaheira nodded, but somehow she doubted that Daria would ever be old enough to heed her advice.
***
She tried to take a nap, she really did, but every time her eyes closed, somebody from the camp dropped a pot nosily, or decided to strip from his or her armor as loudly as possible. They already made a fire and set the tents. Daria didn't mind being set for a watch – she couldn't sleep anyway. Finally she gave up and tried to rise to sit.
It wasn't a good idea. Actually it was a very bad one. Her stomach almost decided to give up her food rations for this day when the world began to whirl around her like some sort o sick kaleidoscope. She wanted to lie down, but that would mean moving again. She fought back the tears when another burst of pain exploded in her head.
"My lady, are you all right?" she heard Anomen's voice. She faced one of the most difficult choices in her life. She could send him off and stay the way she was, or she could accept his help. She felt her stomach twisting and realized she doesn't have a choice at all… 'Damsel in distress' it was.
"Help me lie down please" she asked weakly. Now she was never going to make him believe she can survive without help. Somehow the thought of being dependant to anyone made her feel even sicker.
Anomen carefully made her lean against his arms and placed her back on a bedroll. He was a priest after all, he could be careful when he wanted. Daria closed her eyes and took few deep breaths to calm her unsettled stomach. She felt Anomen placing his big hand on her forehead. She felt nauseous again.
"Stop it Anomen." He quickly removed his hand, the smirk of proud knight quickly disappearing. She gave him a hawk-like look she learned from Jaheira.
"I'm sorry my lady, I didn't mean to offend you" he clumsily tried to excuse himself. "I saw that the elf, enchanter…"
"Xan" she assisted with a sigh. He only became more nervous.
"Yes, him doing it and I thought it might help. I'm sorry" he gave her a 'homeless puppy' look.
Daria sighed again. "He has cold palms Anomen. Yours are too warm." How could she tell him that she hates people crying over her and treating her like a porcelain doll? How could she tell him that Xan was a close friend of hers, whom she trusted and knew his good intentions, and he was not? Without hurting his feelings, that is.
"I see…" The priest seemed to consider something for a moment and then uttered something under his breath. He touched Daria's brow again.
"What…?" she mumbled, but suddenly a wave of pleasant warmth spread through her head removing the headache without a trace. Daria felt herself melting like a marshmallow placed near fire. 'Ah hells… Being strong can wait' a thought came instantly.
"It's a pain-soothing spell, my lady. I believe lady Jaheira doesn't know that one." He answered her unfinished question. Daria decided Jaheira must be forewarned of losing her top place on Daria's Favorite Healers Ranking.
"Why do you do it Anomen?" Daria asked, but didn't really want to know. She was only wondering if he would flush and give her the 'camaraderie' excuse, or begin to recite poetry for her.
"I… You remind me of my sister, my lady" Anomen looked away. "I left her with my father when I joined the Order as a squire. My father… My father isn't as good as your Gorion. He's a drunk. I'm worried about Moira." Daria felt guilt nestling in her gut. Since when did she become such a cynical heartless witch? She selfishly took it that it was all about her. And to think she was once like Nalia – a naive idealistic girl, eager to explore the world and help people in need. She wasn't sure if it was a change for better anymore.
"I'm sorry" she squeezed his free hand gently.
"She's a strong one, my sister, and a stubborn one. She doesn't want to leave my father, even at his worse days. I receive letters from her sometimes and I visit her every time I'm near Athkatla." He spoke as if he thought those were only empty excuses he was using to ease his guilt.
"I know you miss her" Daria thought of Imoen, imprisoned somewhere in Cowled Wizards prison, left to her fate, when her friends were struggling to make a deal with her captors.
"My lady…" Anomen began, but was interrupted by Xan appearing with a glass flask in his hands. The enchanter glanced quickly at the priest's hand of Daria's forehead and his other hand covered with hers, before he handled the flask to Anomen.
"She has to drink it all" Xan said and went off to one of the tents.
Daria looked suspiciously at the potion. It had a dirty yellow color and fizzed. And it was made by Jaheira, a devoted supporter of the idea that medications shouldn't be tasty, because it would discourage people from recovering. She was a bit hesitant with drinking it, but then she recalled months in Irenicus' prison, and drained the flask without as much as wincing. And she was happy that she could do it, that there was someone to heal her.
Anomen gently took the empty bottle from her grasp. She realized she was sitting and she didn't feel any dizziness anymore. 'So it's a crystal' she thought, finally noticing the source of the brightness. She looked at Anomen and smiled.
A smile that answered her was neither arrogant, nor proud.