Chapter 2: Campfire Talk

"What is it now? You idiotic bard.(If he sings one more song, I'll ram a fireball down his throat)." Edwin yelled as Haer Dalis' approached him.

"Ah, my cardinal, do you suffer out here? If you get any closer to the fire you might as well sit in it." Haer Dalis' laughed as he sat down a good distance away from the wizard.

"In the middle of nowhere, freezing our arses off, helping people again. I will not suffer this much longer!"

"Then go back to Thay, wizard. There is more than enough people here to help with the Lady's quest." Edwin's eyes narrowed as Anomen joined him by the fire.

"Her name is Anni, not lady. She is far from being a lady." Speaking of which Edwin did not see her anywhere in the camp. Where did that girl go this time?

Minsc was asleep with that infernal rat sleeping on top of him. Jaheira also was asleep, twitching in her sleep, no doubt dreaming of that pathetic fool Khalid.
Edwin stood wanting to get away from these annoying simians, he was not going to look for Anni(No he could care less about her). He walked into the woods away from the warmth of the fire. For the life of him he couldn't understand why he was out here.

He stopped as he heard muted crying. Sitting on a rock in front of a stream was Anni. Her small frame was shaking, her very long almost black hair hung down in the water. He could tell her robe now had mud stains on it. She were a red robe which wasn't unlike his own Thayvian colors. When he had first met her so long ago he at first though she was a Red Wizard, but latter found out that she only wore red because she liked it. He walked behind her and stared down at her.

"What are you sniveling about now girl?" Anni tilted her head back and looked at him.

"Ah it's my hero, Edwin. Come to take me from this place O knight of my heart?" She replied in a tone that was almost equal to his.

"Yes, yes I have nothing better to do than to watch over a child."

"You know I'm not a child. You're just jealous I look better." She turned back to the water. Edwin shook his head in disgust for seeking her out. As he walked away her voice called out to him. "Edwin? Can I ask you something?"

"What?" She must want my advice, knowing me very wise.

"Do you ever get tired of it?"

"Of what?"

"I know that you're a Thay wizard and the reputation they have, but do you ever get tired of having to live up to it?"

Edwin's eyebrow arched, this wasn't what he had be expecting.
"Of course not. I am proud of my heritage and proud to be a Red wizard."

"Oh." He started back again. "Don't you want to know why I ask?"

"It seems you will not let this go until I heard you out. Then speak girl.(Hurry up, I want to get back to the blasted fire.)"

"I'm sorry Edwin. I thought you might understand. I can't talk to anyone else about it. I haven't been able to look Jaheira in the eyes since we found Khalid and well Minsc is Minsc, he's really nice but he wouldn't understand. And I don't know the others that well. I thought you might understand since you were there when I killed Sarevok."

"You could try the patience of a Lich, what is the point?"

"You know what I am. I don't want end up as fuel or heir to Bhaal's throne, I have to be good but I grow tired of it all Edwin. I grow so tired of being good. Some days I want to... to... Oh never mind" When she went to stand she found that his hands where on her shoulders. He knelt behind her, he was still taller than her but his mouth was by her ear.

"No this is getting interesting. You will finish." His breath ticked her ear but she didn't move away, this was the closest she had ever been to Edwin, well not counting the times one of them were knocked out.

"I'm tired of having to prove I'm not like Sarevok. I want to give up some days."

"You have power in you, use it to make people respect you."

"No, the last time I used the power, I... I wanted to destroy everything."

"What comes of always being good? Do you realize heros only have an expected lifespan of two years or less? Is that what you want? To die for people who won't remember you or your good deeds?" He sneered.

"Gorion always taught me-"

"Gorion is dead. Forget his teachings for they will only result in your own death."

"Gorion died protecting me. All I bring is death, to everyone."

"Why fight it then? You are the child of Bhaal after all." Anni tried to turn on him to yell at him or maybe to cast a fireball at him, but he held her with his hands on her shoulders. When she turned her head it only put his lips closer to hers.

"You want to know? Fine. When I fought Sarevok, I felt the rage, I embraced it. I killed him with my own hands, not with my magic. I'm a mage for crying out loud not a warrior. After I killed him I could feel Bhaal's power and I wanted to kill everyone. Imoen, Khalid, Jaheira even Minsc. I won't turn on the people I care for."

"I notice you left me out. Is that because you didn't want to kill me or because killing me won't bother you?"

"Edwin could you back up a little?"

"No." If anything he seemed to get closer to her. She could feel his warmth warming her now. She looked him in the eyes noticing for the first time how black they were. She studied his face, with his nose ring with the chain that attached to his earing, the ring in his eye brow and how he had three rings on either side of his moustache. She noticed for the first time traveling with him that he was handsome.

"I didn't think you would care one way or the other if someone cared about killing you. You certainly don't care if people know you want to kill them." She looked at him with wide eyes, hoping he didn't notice she was actually looking at him instead of just looking.

"How every true. But that is what people expect. Now answer my question girl."

"I wanted to kill everyone in that room. Including you. Some days I want to kill you even without the power's influence on me." Anni stared at him and noticed his lips twitching. "Edwin are you about to smile? I think I might faint from sheer shock."

He didn't answer her only narrowed his eyes and walked away. She swore she hear him muttering.

"One day... one day" She didn't catch the rest.