Chapter 8

Authors Note: I know I said that I was going to upload on a more regular basis, but I have had a rough week. A lot of emotional stuff that I had to deal with and so on, but I believe it is for the better. Well, I am trying to put more emotion into the characters since I think that I am lacking in that field. Also first chapter where I will try to progress Thans and Neeras relationship. Any and all constructive criticism is welcome. And also if there is any questions or anything just PM me.

Jaheira had returned as quickly as she had disappeared and with her arrival, her explanation also came. Apparently she had been meditating in the woods. Listening to whatever irregularities she could somehow find. She told us that doing this was a major part of being a druid. That was the way they would normally keep the woods intact and free from harm. She dropped a quick answer about dryads and such creatures being the messengers of the woods as Imoen had asked how she could talk to trees.

"But I found something, and it isn't able to wait. We have to do this before continuing our journey. There has been rumours of something. Men, taller than two meters and twice as broad as any normal men. My meditation reassured me in my suspicion. I believe that what we are dealing with here are, or probably are to be more precise, either a normal group of half-ogres, or in the worst case a group of half-ogres with an ogre mage leading them. Nonetheless they have been mutilating trees and animals and it cannot be ignored by the druids anymore. They will either stop or pay for this crime with their lives"

Passion surged through Jaheiras voice as she was explaining. Passion mixed with a hint of anger. I had heard of ogres before, for sure, huge pale humans with a refined taste for human flesh. Gorion had told me of one of his encounters with one of these. Three meters tall had it stood, towering over him and someone else whose name he was unwilling to share with me. It had grinned at Gorion before realizing its mistake. No more than a couple of seconds had it taken for it to find out that Gorion was no mere traveller. Nothing but a burnt crisp had been left. I had loved that adventure. It had been about Gorion and his friends on a hunt for a legendary beast. A red dragon. I didn't really remember the name, although I recalled the beginning of it. Something beginning with fear or fir or something. I was doubting that a dragon would use a human word for his own name so I had always stuck with the second option.

"Wait, Jaheira what? I thought I heard you say ogre mage? That doesn't really make much sense. Ogres are nothing but brutes with the brain capacity of a self-centred two meter tall squid. I've never heard of wizards in their ranks"

I had spotted the small hole in her story and it confused me as I asked the question.

Jaheira smiled understandingly.

"Most people don't know about them and there is a good reason for that. They aren't actually ogres as we know them. I believe the first reports of them came in for a couple of hundred years ago. They are from Thay, the country to the east of our continent. I guess you could say that they are almost cousins in a way. Well, when they came here some ogres bowed knee to them, believing them to be some kind of gods almost. But trust me they aren't. You can kill them all right. Might take some time taking the damned beast down but it goes down eventually. But they are dangerous. Very dangerous. Ogre mages are born with innate magical abilities and these just grow as the ogre grows older as well. We should expect some heavy resistance from it, but we can do it"

My brow furrowed in worry as I looked at Jaheira. Feelings was clashing inside of me. One part of me wanted to go to this place and kick this creature to the other end of oblivion but I knew that Imoen would be put in danger by that choice. As I stood and looked into the forest I heard Imoen say with a serious voice.

"Well what in the nine hells are we waiting for then? Let's go and kill this thing. Slay the beast and save the virgin isn't that how the children stories goes? And besides, I can't wait to test what Neera showed me"

Glee filled Imoens eyes but she kept her composure as she looked around.

"Come on, we need to be heroes, let's go"

My brows would furrow further if it was possible at this point. What had Neera showed my sister? Neera, who couldn't even control her own magic, had shown my little sister something and my guess was magic. Imoen had always wanted to learn from Gorion but her temper and her impatience had been an obstacle too hard to cross.

As my eyes caught them of Neera I nodded towards the treeline. She lifted an eyebrow and I just repeated the motion. She sighed and nodded, looking at me with something in her eyes.

"What the hell Neera? Imoen, really? Of all people you could show your fancy little spells to, you chose my damned sister, who is known not to have control over anything at all! Did it ever cross your mind to tell me what you had in mind" I blurted out as anger clouded my vision.

Neera looked at me in defiance.

"Oh well, listen to me big boy. First of all my spells are nothing but little! They are the manifestation of magnificent and awesome. Most of the time. And second of all, and this one is important, who do you think you are to tell me who and what to teach? You told me yourself, you were worried for her safety. She had told that she had always been intrigued by magic but her impatience was making it impossible. I told her that I could at least try and show her the basics so I did. You can't choose what Imoen wants or what she needs, she is the one to decide that! I understand that you are worried but she isn't your own god damned property. Can you get that into your thick skull of yours? Because it sure needs to get in there" Neera almost yelled.

Silence filled the space between them, the words sinking in to me slowly. She was kind of right. I had been very, very protective, saying no to her when she asked to go hunting with me and else. But she needed it though, she was just seventeen summers, officially an adult but I knew she was a child to the core. Or was she? Remembering our journey so far I visualized when she had, without hesitation, shot the female actress Silke who had gotten me to the ground in an instant. Her usual glee and jokes were left behind when discussing serious matters. Maybe Neera made some sense, maybe she didn't. But I knew that Imoen wasn't a child anymore and I couldn't treat her as one.

Neeras voice caught my attention once again and I noticed that she was looking me straight in the eyes with a mix of anger and sorrow.

"Yeah you let that sink in. Don't think no one besides you have lost people close to them. Don't think no one else in this groups cares for others. Just don't. Have you even seen the way Khalid watches over Jaheira when she is sleeping? How she is looking at him when he is looking the other way? I have seen it and they aren't acting as childish as you do. Imoen belongs to no one but herself and you have to come to terms with that at some point! You aren't the only one who cares about someone"

Neeras breath was ragged, her eyes desperately searching for some sign of approval in my eyes. I saw her shake and she turned around. Her silver hair was almost static with energy as she erratically began her return to camp.

"No please, Neera, I'm sorry"

She stopped, looking as if all the muscles in her body froze in an instant.

"What"

"I said I am sorry" I sighed in defeat. "You are right"

"I know I am but it isn't me you should apologize to. I believe that one is your sister"

Neera loosened up and turned her head so that I could see the side of her head. Her expression was one of sadness before looking ahead and returning.

"You aren't the only one who lost someone and neither are you the only one who cares for someone deeply"