Chapter 9

Author's Notes: Greetings. I deeply apologize for letting people (or just one person) wait for two weeks before I got myself to updating. I tried asking someone I really cared about out and she told me she wasn't interested. Never really expected her to say yes, but it still hurt as hell. Basically I have just tried to come to terms with the fact that she isn't interested resulting in no updates. I think I've accepted it now and I will try to write more the next couple of days since I have just gotten vacation (woop woop). Nonetheless I hope I survive one more year in the same classroom as that girl. Wish me luck. Love you all 3.

"Khal, Imoen, with me" A small whisper escaped Jaheiras lips. My eyes narrowed as I spotted the group of creatures down the hill. Jaheira had been correct about the half-ogres. Huge men with ogre like features were sitting around a fire, sharing something that looked like meat. Twilight was slowly fading into night, giving us decent cover while observing them.

"There is six just down by the fire, and I believe one has just gone to relieve himself. Can't spot any of those ogre mages you mentioned before. You two, with me. Thantalas and Neera, you sneak around the other side of the camp. When you get my signal make as much noise as possible. Then we will strike from behind, taking advantage of the surprise momentum"

A feeling of worry fleetly travelled through me as I heard that I was going with Neera. She hadn't spoken a word to me since our talk about Imoen and I was hoping she wouldn't hold a grudge against me. I liked her company and she was certainly more entertaining to keep a conversation with, than a stuttering fighter or an overly stern druid. And my normal partner for conversations I tried not to keep tabs on, leading to less interaction with Imoen.

I nodded shortly as I showed Jaheira that I had understood the plan, but I had one question before we moved out.

"About the sign you were going to give us. What exactly should we be expecting" I asked, wondering what she could have in mind.

"I was thinking about making these creatures shit their pants, so I think I'm going with the roar of an owlbear. Nothing such a menacing sound can't handle"

Before I could move on to the question of what an owlbear even sounded like, the three of them were gone in the dark, leaving me and Neera alone, in a rather awkward silence.

"Okay, let's go give Jaheira that distraction" Neera whispered quickly, relieving me of the feeling she probably felt herself as well.

Bringing my hand up to my brow to swat off the sweat that had gathered there from the short amount of time we had been alone together, I nodded. "Yeah, I think that is a decent idea"

Silence enveloped us for a while, as we silently trotted our way through the brushes and small trees. Unanswered questions were ravaging my mind as I tried pushing them away. We had a battle ahead of us, and not an easy one, if Jaheira was correct. Feelings of concern and worry flooded me, but as they normally would be projected towards Imoen, these were weirdly enough concerning the white haired girl in front of me. Swatting them away before they grew bigger I shook my head. I had already agreed to loosen my grip on Imoen. I can't have my damned focus split between these girls as well. It would lead to nothing but the potential death of my sister and she was, and would be, my first priority until the end of my days.

Forcing all thoughts concerning Neera and Imoen away, I focused on the creatures we were sneaking around. Scanning them, looking for potential threats Jaheira might have had missed earlier. Scars snaked up the bodies of the half-ogres and noses too big for their own head, looked like they had been broken countless times.

I bumped into Neera and mumbled a silent apology as I looked down, flushing. She shot me an annoyed look and put a hand on my shoulder, rustling me lightly. "Geez big boy. Keep it together. We've reached the spot and we need to wait for Jaheiras signal. So stay focused and let's give these beasts a night to remember. Well, actually, they aren't going to remember any nights after this one" She smiled grimly, satisfied with her dull joke.

A grin grazed my lips as I indulged myself to enjoy her morbid comment. Normally I would correct people, if they would ramble about something as grim as that, but the last couple of weeks had taken its toll on the amount of happiness I allowed myself to feel, so any chances for a small laugh was accepted with joy.

"Oh, they will remember this night all the way throughout their journey to hell and after that. I'll make sure they see what a real swordsman with an actual weapon can do". I had noticed their primitive clubs and bulky swords, and I wasn't impressed by a bit. I had seen villager blacksmiths create better blades than what the creatures were wielding.

All thoughts about the weapons of the beasts were quickly cut off as I heard a roar bellow through the night. My eyes caught the chaotic glimpse in those of Neeras and before I could react she brought her hands up. Words leaving her mouth, the sound as enchanting as the charm spells Neera could possibly cast. I spotted the familiar warmth and love in her eyes as she embraced her powers. A shudder went through her tiny frame, and lights in all colours spewed into the air, as a loud bang filled the silence. Yells were heard from the beasts and I quickly turned around and drew my sword as if it was one motion.

"Come forth beasts! And meet your maker, oh well, of course you'll have to face me first" My voice pierced the guttural ones of the half-ogres, and they only needed a couple of seconds to fix their glances at me. Words of unknown origin mixed with some common left one of the beast's mouth, and even though I couldn't understand everything he said, I knew that a kill order had just been issued. I drew circles in the air with my blade as I eyed the six humanoids spreading out. The others must have had taken care of the seventh one, I figured.

A roar escaped one of the half-ogres and it charged forward, a crude mace in hand. Stepping sideways I swung my blade around me, so that it reached behind my attacker, landing in the valley on the backside of his legs. A dark red covered the steel and my arm swiftly guided my sword upwards cutting the creatures back wide open, blood beginning to flow from the gash. A feeling of disappointment overtook me and I gazed at the lifeless carcass with an annoyed look. I had actually hoped for something a bit more exciting than mere brutes swinging wildly in anger. Well, at least that meant that I shouldn't need to worry about Imoen.

As another two of the brutes charged at me I heard a short sequence of words in an unknown language, and I saw a couple of red bolts of energy fly forward and fly directly into one of my upcoming enemies. As the, obviously arcane, energy made contact with its target, it sent him flying backwards, face down in the mud. This might be a bit more entertaining if I would get to see that any more throughout this fight. Spotting Jaheira and the others charging in from the back, I raised my voice in a battlecry as I gained speed and force while sprinting towards the half-ogres. I had a feeling none of these ogres would live to see the dawn and it startled me a bit at the realization that I couldn't care less.

As I pulled my sword from the corpse, I moved my hand up to swipe the blood away from my face. The fight had gone well, and besides a small wound from a dagger, inflicted on the inner part of my arm with a small knife, none were wounded. I really had expected a somewhat more challenging fight and as I looked to Khalid for understanding, I caught the glimpse of relief in his eyes. Of course, I though as my lips formed into a slight smile. Khalid didn't like violence in any form, way or shape, but he would do anything to keep Jaheira safe. Khalid was a downright housewife, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

"Here, let me take care of that wound" I heard Neeras voice filled with concern as she approached me. Slightly surprised by her awareness I answered. "It's nothing really. Hurts a bit, sure, but nothing I can't handle". I smiled.

"Yeah, we'll see about that" She said with a doubtful look in her eyes, as she searched her pack for something. Eyes lighting up, she withdrew her hand, having retrieved a basic first aid kit, containing some cloth, a needle, some thread and a small container, probably filled with wine for cleaning wounds.

I rolled my eyes as I faked a sigh. No matter how little I actually needed to being patched up, I couldn't deny the thought of Neeras gentle hands sewing my flesh together. My face contorted into something else as I flinched on the awkward line of thought I was having.

"Fine, but don't overdo it, ok" I told her.

Neera smiled contently and began to screw the cork off of the container. Regretting my choice as I remembered what alcohol could do wounds of any size, I squeezed my teeth together and clenched my hands, desperately hoping for Neera to be too busy with the task at hand to notice.

"Hey, big boy. Take it easy, I haven't even begun yet and you are acting like someone just cut your damned arm off or something" She teased in a light voice. Her voice loosened up to something a bit more nervous, but still a bit teasing. Although there was a bit of something reminding me of intimacy in it.

"You can squeeze my shoulder instead of tearing your own hands to shreds. You need them"

I smiled reassuringly to Neera as I calmly placed my hand on her shoulder. I just hoped she didn't notice the volcano of emotions I was sure was erupting in my eyes.