„Trademeet, beware!"

Trademeet had its own problems to 'beware', much more serious than a group of adventurers with an uncanny talent in entering an element of discord in even the calmest population of over ten people. It definitely wasn't a lively little town Daria expected to be a welcoming bay after three long days in the wilderness, with goblins trying to raid their camp at night and steady bandit population near every trade route. She already got tired of pretending to be cheerful and decided that mild and more composed gladness was in order, but even that amount of joy had to yield to seriousness when upon reaching the town's gate the party faced one of the most unusual attacks so far.

The gates weren't besieged by bandits or neighboring country's soldiers. Even an army of skeletons or other kind of undead would be less astounding than wild wolves jumping at the gate guards, accompanied by a large brown bear trying to break through the wooden barricade and a spider, climbing the town walls. The whole party stood in a moment completely stunned, watching a bizarre battle raging before them.

"Jaheira…?" Daria finally managed to recover from stun.

"Normal animals don't act that way. We should help the militiamen." Animals were Jaheira's jurisdiction as a druid. Nobody needed to be told twice.

"What are you doing here civilians?" The captain of the town guard, a wide-shouldered woman with her face hidden under helmet, approached them after they chased of the last wolf, sweated and panting after a battle. So much for 'thank you'.

"We came to visit a friend, but now we're more interested in the reason why these animals attacked the town." Daria moved at the head of her party, facing a woman over a foot taller than her without losing her ground.

"It's none of your business civilian, but for your own safety it would be better if you hadn't come here at all. Stay behind the city walls." That, along with a scowl, was all they received as an explanation.

"I hope that Mazzy Fentan will be able to shed some light on what is happening here" Jaheira wiped a bloody stain from her quarterstaff. A glint in her eyes was saying that someone was going to pay for what happened today.

***

"The animal attacks began shortly before my return to Trademeet" the halfling paladin explained after all her guests have received tea and a cookie. She smiled at a private joke. "It seems every time we meet I'm in serious trouble."

"What caused the attacks?" Jaheira bit into her cookie with all the nature's wrath. And it wasn't uncalled for, since the cookies were stone-hard.

"We don't exactly know. At first we thought it was just a coincidence. Stray wolves weren't a serious threat. But then they began to come in packs, accompanied by larger animals like bears and giant spiders, which they usually shun from. The trade routes were being blocked by falling trees and the caravans started to disappear. If that wasn't bad enough alone, a clan of djinis came shortly after, putting a monopoly over all goods left. People are beginning to starve…"

"Djinis? What djinis are doing in Trademeet?" Daria asked, throwing a doubtful look at her cookie. If the town's people were beginning to starve then that was probably her dinner.

"They don't hide the reason of their presence. They're after a creature called Ihtafeer, a rakshasa. Their leader claims it's hiding somewhere near the town, but instead of hunting it, or rather her, they monopolized what was left of town's trade, keeping all the merchandise in their coffers, and threaten that they won't leave until the head of the creature is delivered to them".

"Foul creatures" Anomen muttered, halfway through his small meal.

"I was trying to form a group of adventurers to put an end to animal attacks and find the rakshasa, but with my former comrades gone…" a lone tear made its way on the halfling's face. Daria immediately moved from her seat on the ground to hug the small warrioress.

"That… wasn't necessary." Mazzy hesitated after being released from the embrace. She wiped the tear furtively.

"We can help you! This whole thing is somehow connected with Imoen's imprisonment." Now something was happening. Daria hoped it wasn't a coincidence. She tried to forge hope into something more certain.

"We could start with persuading Lord Coprith, the mayor of Trademeet, to let us see the druid jailed in the Hall" Mazzy proposed.

"Jailed?!" Jaheira stood up from her seat at once.

"Well… Some of the townspeople are blaming the druids from the local grove for the attacks. But it doesn't make any sense. Trademeet was always keeping friendly relations with the local grove. I see no reasons why would it change all of sudden. The druid was detained mostly for his safety. Hungry people tend to be desperate…"

"Daria, we're going to free this druid now" Jaheira stated firmly. It was one of this moments when it wasn't exactly clear who us the leader of the party.

"Maybe it could wait till the morning?" Daria threw a doubtful glance through the window. The sun hadn't set yet, but after a full day of marching a night of running away from the town guards wasn't a welcoming perspective.

"And leave the poor man in a cell for the night?!"

"Alright, alright…" Maybe Daria wasn't assertive. Or she really, truly hated the thought of anyone forced to sleep on the cold stone floor, surrounded by bars. "We have all equipment we need, so Mazzy if you would be so kind…? Somehow I doubt we will be allowed in the city again after freeing a prisoner from the jail."

"I'll be ready in ten minutes" Arvoreen's paladin stated firmly.

***

They were surrounded the exact moment they left the Fentans' house. Someone must have put a gossip that newcomers arrived in the city otherwise they wouldn't find them that quickly. A group of gypsies immediately poured all sort of offers of fortune telling, bringing luck and supporting with cheap own-made potions on them, making it impossible to move without an extensive use of elbows. Luckily Yoshimo was the one trusted with the party funds and as a paradox, being a thief, he wouldn't let a pickpocket use the crowd as a cover to get his hands on party's money.

Someone from the crowd seized Daria's hand turning it with palm up. The sun elf tried to free it, but an old woman who got hold over her had an amazing strength hidden in her wrinkled and stained hands. The sun elf had to stop if she didn't want to have her wrist twisted.

"You're in love!" the old gypsy exclaimed triumphal, loud enough for a deaf zombie to hear her. "Old gypsy can show you a way to his heart. With a love potion or a spell…"

"How…" Daria only managed to stammer, caught completely by surprise. The scene was quickly emptied and the trade offers quieted slowly when everybody's attention was centered on the old gypsy and her newest 'victim'.

"How do I know? Old gypsy has a way to read the fate from…"

"How dare you?!" The diviner fought the shock. Wild flush of either shame or anger lit on her face and she wrestled her hand free from the gypsy's grasp.

"I only speak the truth, dear child. Or are you claiming that you're not in love? That your heart doesn't beat faster, that heat doesn't swathe your skin, at the thought of him?" The old woman laughter sounded more like if she was choking.

"It… It does not." Daria needlessly hesitated. Now everybody was probably thinking she was lying. "It does not!" she shouted with all determination she could muster. Unfortunately it was the most efficient way of confirming the gypsy's words.

"You cannot change the truth with your foolish words only, child". The gypsy's self-satisfied smirk was like a red rag to a bull.

"Truth?! You want truth?! I'll show you the truth!!!" The diviner's eyes lit like silver torches. "Ha! You're not even a real gypsy. You ran away from home in a village when you were thirteen to become a famous singer, though you could barely sing at all. You lied that your father was a gypsy so you could be accepted in the tabor when you ran out of money you stole from your family! You want more truth?!"

It took both Minsc and Jaheira to drag the infuriated elf away from the now silent group of gypsies.

"And even if I am in love, that's none of your business, you hear me?!" Daria continued to shout until the group disappeared behind the corner.

"Go ahead to the Hall. We'll catch up with you shortly." Jaheira put a hand on her panting and flushed ward's shoulder, pinning her to the ground.

"As you wish." Mazzy threw a sympathetic look at the diviner and turned to lead the rest of the team to the Hall. Daria felt the eyes of her companions on her back before each of them turned to follow the halfling paladin.

"I… I'm not…" The elf fell silent receiving Jaheira's finest 'I-know-better' look.

"I'm not going to comment. You are of age and I hope Gorion told you all you need to know".

Daria remembered her father's 'bees and flowers' talk she received few years ago as a birthday present, leaving her blushed and embarrassed. She didn't blush anymore at least.

"I'm only concerned if Anomen is a right partner for you".

The sun elf bit her tongue quickly before a surprised 'what?' found its way out.

"You shouldn't be surprised I noticed." Jaheira internally sighed with relief, relieved that she guessed correctly, misinterpreting her ward's stunned expression. "You aren't leaving his side for more than a minute since he joined our party and I believe he enjoys your company as well. But he's a human and you are an elf. It may not seem so now, but it is a huge difference."

'And so says a half-elf' the diviner thought, but stayed silent not to hurt Jaheira's feelings. After all she barely knew a thing about the druidess' parents and the fact that Jaheira wasn't keen on elaborating made it potentially a touchy subject.

"Maybe you could spend more time with Xan…" The druidess certainly wouldn't make her living as a match-maker. It was heartbreakingly funny to see her clumsily trying to match her ward. It wasn't the graceful Jaheira Daria knew.

"You didn't think about asking him about it first, did you?" The sun elf laughed bitterly. "Besides, what kind of idea is that? A defender of Elvenkind, a Moonblade wielder, a Graycloak of Evereska - paired with a Bhaalspawn? I'm not even a full-blood elf Jaheira. Just some sort of… demielf."

"It's your decision… child" The last word was spoken differently, with warmth and some different meaning, but the rest was just a plain misunderstanding. And Daria couldn't clear it up. What could she say? That she's not in love? Jaheira wouldn't believe her, at least not in this lifetime. That she's not in love with Anomen? Then who was she in love with? The elf sighed and let it go. At least she could count on Jaheira that she wouldn't try to 'initiate romantic sceneries'. It was Imoen's favorite way of teasing her sister after Ajantis joined the party. Or at least one of top ten.

"I… Would you marry Khalid if he wasn't a half-elf as you?" Daria asked carefully.

Jaheira only hugged her, as if she expected the question.

"Of course I would".

"I'm sorry… It's my…"

"Child, stop indulging in self-pity, we have work to do." A moment of sentiments passed and the hawkish look on the druidess' face was back on its place.

Daria smiled.

***

"Once again we are in the middle of trouble. Why is it that everywhere we go, there is a town to rescue or a helpless villagers to save? Couldn't we pass at least one town without having to resort to higher magic to save a cat from a tree?" Xan went silent only after they finally reached the perimeter of the forests in which the grove was located, but not for long. After a while in which no rabid animal attacked he continued his usual way of conversing.

"I'm sorry that my mission is such a burden to you." The new addition to their team, a druid they rescued, going by the name of Cernd, was the only person yet unused with Xan's method of starting a conversation. It was beginning to become some sort of primary test of character in their group every new member had to face.

"If it was only this mission… One mission" Xan snorted. "I would be truly surprised if it hadn't grown to a whole expedition by the end of the night. If we survive it, what is rather a faint and foolish hope, given the circumstances. Most likely the packs of wild animals circling in this forest won't let us see this dawn. Or any other at that."

Stating that the party rescued Cernd was a bit of an exaggeration since all they had to do was to talk with Lord Coprith, the mayor, for the prisoner to be released without delay, and placed under their care. Either Mazzy was truly held in the highest esteem in Trademeet, or the mayor wanted to get rid of his prisoner pretty badly.

From there it was only worse, because though no one openly attacked them, stones 'accidently' falling from the windows in their direction began to cut through the air more often with every step they made towards the gates. A small crowd was gathering behind every corner and though running towards the town's gates would serve them better in avoiding the falling stones, Daria kept the marching pace steady. Something was telling her that the only reason why they weren't chased yet was the fact that they didn't run.

"The Grove is located deep in the forest. It will take us few hours to reach it and it's already getting dark…" Cernd was either too timid to propose setting a camp or he didn't feel exactly comfortable in the group yet. Most likely both.

"You know a safe spot for a camp?" Daria asked. Cernd was also the only person who wasn't throwing her a knowing, curious, or any other sort of look, since he didn't have the doubtful luck of witnessing her encounter with the gypsies. Anomen was in the 'knowing' group unfortunately. Daria wasn't looking forward to clearing the mess up.

"I do. But I would advise against keeping a big campfire at night. It may… attract unwanted attention."

As if she hadn't enough of it…

***

Xan closed his spellbook, rubbing his eyes, tired from studying the complex arcane runes written in his careful handwriting, during the last watch set for this night. He took a look around the camp they set near the grove, forest as thick as a jungle surrounding a fireplace, Jaheira guarding the fire both from spreading and extinguishing. The light of the dawn was barely penetrating through the green cover of the leaves. His eyes slowly adjusted to enfold every party member busy preparing for the march or resting, wrapped in a sleeping bag, clutching to the last moments that could be spent sleeping. Xan would never admit to himself that he was searching for someone in particular instead of merely glancing at his surroundings, but he instantly realized that a familiar robed silhouette was missing and her bedroll was empty. He didn't want to ask anybody about the reason of their leader's absence either, but once again his uneasiness took the better of him when the thought that no one else noticed Daria's absence began to itch inside his head.

"Where is Daria?" the enchanter asked the nearest person.

"Our dearest leader went to the forest about half an hour ago" Yoshimo smirked at the elf's worried expression, but Xan failed to notice the bemused look on his face. "Jaheira already sent one of her bird-scouts to find her, but maybe you should go and check if everything is fine, my friend?"

"Yes, I... shall do so." The enchanter didn't as much as spared a glance at his talker, otherwise he would be able to state with all certainty that he would be followed. No one would pass such an opportunity for entertainment before long boring hours of walking in the woods. Unfortunately for the elf, other's personal life seemed to be one of the best sources of entertainments and gossips in an adventuring group.

The path in the direction the bounty hunter pointed was wild and full of spiky shrubs Xan's robes had a tendency to get tangled in. Were he be looking for anybody else there he'd have some serious qualms about why would anyone choose such a unwelcoming part of the forest to have a walk, but Daria's visions often led her into the paths hidden and to other's sight, so the enchanter pressed on, hoping that his friend was not far away from the camp and hadn't strayed from the path. He wasn't much of a ranger when it came to finding a trail regrettably.

He saw a speck of light on the forest floor ahead of him, signaling that he's coming close to a clearing of some sort. He slowed his pace suspecting that it was the aim of Daria's trip. He didn't expect to catch her off-guard, she was a diviner after all, but he tried to be quiet when advancing through the bushes nonetheless, not to interrupt whatever she was doing.

He guessed correctly - she was there on the glade, sitting on the grass among thousands of blow-balls, the clearing full of white dandelions. She was raising a single flower in her both hands without the gloves. He watched silently as she raised it close to her face, a graceful and somewhat solemn movement. He felt as if looking at something he shouldn't see, a private ceremony, like a most distant memory from the childhood treasured in one's mind. Daria stopped for a second with her both palms holding the flexible stem, and he almost saw the silver under her half-closed eyelids, revealing his presence to her, despite that he stood too far to see the faint glow on the sunny glade.

And then she exhaled, sending a veil of white fluff dancing in the air. Xan's gaze followed the light seeds until they completely disappeared either taken with the wind or hidden among the grass blades. When he turned his eyes towards the sun elf again she was looking back at him, smiling. His knees felt strangely unstable at the sight of this smile.

"Jaheira's little spy already found me." Daria looked at a blackbird sitting on her shoulder. "Or did she send you to cheer me up?" she giggled, addressing the bird. "Go to my friend there, then. He is in need of cheering much more than me".

Her lips moved and she must have said something, but he missed it too absorbed by looking at her slightly flushed face, the way the sunlight was glittering in her hair making her face lit with almost unearthly glow. Only when she patted the grass next to her he realized it was an invitation. He came to her and sat down slowly, unable to avert his gaze from her. Knowing how impolite and possibly distracting it was didn't help even a little bit. Knowing that she probably was in love and definitely not with him was even worse.

"Do I have something on my nose?" she asked, her teasing grin only becoming wider.

"I only came to check if everything is alright." Years of training concentration in Academy of Evereska were helpful in finally lowering his eyes to the ground. If only he had lessons from slowing down the beat of his heart... It was thumping so loudly in his chest that he thought it impossible that she didn't hear it yet. He focused his attention on a white blow-ball moving back and forth with the gentle gusts of wind.

"I only took a small walk" Daria purposefully picked the flower he was watching so intensely. He once again found himself looking at her when his eyes involuntarily followed it up. "I needed to refresh myself." She handed him the blow-ball.

He took it in his hand. If only he could be the one she fell in love with…

He sighed, a bit too deeply, because he sent the fluff flying once again, this time straight in her face and hair, tickling and making her laugh out loudly, the sound his he was longing to hear for so long, making something strange happen with his chest, like if his heart was going to explode in what he would call true happiness, if he believed something like that could ever exist.

He loved her. It was as simple and as complicated as that. She might not return his feelings, he might watch her die tomorrow, or even today, they may go their separate ways and never meet again, but he loved her. He never thought such a warm feeling could be that uncaring for the future. He could call it friendship and pretend all he wanted till the end of his life, but it didn't change the fact that now, this moment, this second, he loved her, he desired her with all his heart. He was lost in this feeling, doomed by its warmth in the pointless yearning that made him feel more alive than he truly was. He had nothing left to do but give up, despite every ounce of common sense he had screaming at him not to do so. As if he had any other choice left.

"Not this time! I won't be alone to laugh!" she caught him with all his defenses down, snaking her way to his unprotected sides paying him back tenfold tickling and laughing at the same time. He couldn't stop his own laugher joining hers as her fingers began to dance on his skin diving into folds of his robes.

"N-no! Stop! I give up! I give up!" he tried to call laughing, but that made her only redouble her efforts as they fell among the grass sending a cloud of white blow-balls up the sky.

Neither laughing nor smirking anymore, Yoshimo stood nearby, hidden in a shadow of a tree, watching the antics of both elves unseen. The usual nonchalant grin was replaced by an unusual look of anxiety. It was never easy to realize that the people one was sent to betray could fall in love just as any other.