General disclaimer: I own nothing, even Maiyn generally decides her own path.

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Beginnings

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Maiyn opened her eyes slowly, almost instantly reeling from the sunlight. Her mind was in turmoil and she had to fight to control it, to gather her thoughts and think through what had just happened. She could see Jaheira and Minsc standing off to one side. Minsc was roaring in fury about something; about Dynaheir having been killed, and Imoen... they'd taken Imoen! And Jaheira... she was staring into the distance; she looked sad.

Maiyn closed her eyes again, sitting amongst the rubble of the fallen walls. There was still a crowd gathered around watching them, but she ignored it. Think! She told herself sternly. She remembered the pain, the magic; she was in her cage; then it went black. She'd awoken to find herself in Minsc's arms. He was with Imoen and Jaheira, they were swiftly moving through an underground tunnel. When they noticed she'd come around Minsc had put her down, Jaheira promising to have words with her when they escaped.

Then it was all confused... they met a man who was also imprisoned. He'd said his name was... Yoshami? Yashomi? She couldn't remember. She opened her eyes fleetingly and caught a glimpse of him; he was still in their company. Then there had been the dryads... she'd promised to return their acorns to their home, to free them from the binding they had to their prison. In return they'd given her a flask. She'd managed to return this flask to a genie, and he'd gifted her a sword. He'd said it was hers rightfully.

It was the Sword of Chaos. Sarevok's sword - the sword that cut down Yeslick, the sword that brought down Coran... Coran... The ranger fiercely clenched her eyes closed, preventing the tears from coming. They'd managed to scavenge some weapons and armour; they'd battled dark dwarves and goblins and mephits. The mephits... that was where they'd found Khalid's body, torn and mutilated. Imoen had gone strange then, insisting she witnessed the death, babbling about how their captor had made her watch Khalid die. Maiyn had been in a daze, she couldn't recall the details.

Then they'd found the way out, racing down a crumbling passage as strange hooded figures fought behind them, as aggressive to the prisoners as they were to the prison's inhabitants. They'd managed to get outside, finding themselves standing amongst the debris of a collapsed wall, brought down by the force of the battles around them. Their mage captor was there; he finished fighting the assorted thieves easily, then he'd conversed with Imoen as Maiyn had swayed erratically, eventually sinking to a sitting position. Spells were cast, voices were raised - then the cowled figures appeared, taking him away. Taking Imoen away.

They've taken Imoen... Maiyn opened her eyes fully, rising to her feet, feeling her legs shaking beneath her. The others were watching her carefully; Minsc looked worried, Jaheira looked... almost suspicious. The new man's gaze was keen, and it made her uncomfortable. Maiyn turned to the few people left from the crowd, who had lingered a bit longer to see if the strangers were going to move.

"You! Where are we?"

The man gave her a funny look. "We're in the Promenade District, miss," he said slowly.

"Promenade?" Maiyn looked at him helplessly.

The man nodded, and pointed around him. She noticed the walls encircling them, giving the impression of an amphitheatre, or an arena. "S'the best shopping district in all of Athkatla," said the man proudly.

"Athkatla?" Maiyn recognised none of these words.

"Athkatla, the City of Coin," repeated the man noticing her bewildered look. "In Amn?"

"Amn..." Maiyn slumped back down to her seat, and the stranger took his chance to escape from the inquisition. They were in a city in Amn, miles away from... well anything familiar to the ranger. A shadow fell over her, distinctly Jaheira-shaped.

"Up!" Maiyn was heaved to her feet, and the druid led her down from the ruined platforms as she spoke.

"We need to sort ourselves out before we can do any more. We are all a mess; we will do little to help Imoen unless we work together. You need to find your strength, child."

"I'm... I'm sorry about Khalid," managed Maiyn faintly.

"Enough!" said Jaheira sharply. "This is not the time. Yoshimo - you know this city?" The dark-skinned man nodded, his eyes still on Maiyn. "Then you can lead us to an inn," continued the druid. "Somewhere where we can sell what little valuables we still have to afford a room."

"Certainly," replied Yoshimo, moving to the front of the group and leading them past a large colourful tent, surrounded with cages filled with animals. Maiyn heard Minsc's outraged proclamations about such captivity but she was feeling faint, leaning heavily on Jaheira. The druid was giving minimal help, obviously displeased with her weak state and Maiyn forced herself to pull away from Jaheira's arm, stumbling at first; her footing becoming surer as she progressed. She nodded to herself in approval at her strength coming back, and set her jaw determinedly. Jaheira was right - she had to be strong.

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Xan sighed as he waited in line to see one of the government officials. He could see Kivan at the entrance of the building, being accosted by some lowly officer; the ranger's impassive expression slowly changing to one of frustration and annoyance. Eventually the ranger materialised at the enchanter's side. Xan raised an eyebrow at him and Kivan snorted.

"He accused me of looking like an elf who owed a large tariff on some goods," muttered Kivan darkly. Xan merely rolled his eyes. "I asked on what basis I 'looked like' him, and he said that my clothing was similar, and my ears were the same shape. He left me alone when I pointed out that your ears were also the same, and that it would be simple enough to change ones clothing, especially after three years."

Xan sighed again. There were still two people ahead of them before they would get the chance to talk to anyone, and they'd already been waiting for the better part of an hour. At least the building was quite grand; the ornately decorated walls had statues of men carved into them, large windows allowing light to flood in from the leafy exterior. The floor was a mixture of grand tiles running down the centre where several cowled figures were posted, and plain, gleaming marble around it, occasionally covered with a fine rug.

They'd travelled for weeks to get here; Kivan had arrived at Evereska seeking out Xan with the news that Maiyn had vanished, and the others following her had also disappeared. The enchanter's Greycloak Elders saw fit to assign him a mission here in Athkatla, to seek out a coven of vampires and ascertain the danger they posed. Kivan had agreed to travel along with him as they tried to find out what they could about their missing friends on the way. Rumour and supposition pointed to Amn, and so Kivan had accompanied Xan all the way to the city. Now they intended to ask the city leaders about the rumours regarding the location of their friends, but they were in a queue held up by bureaucracy.

Xan fidgeted impatiently, a contrast to Kivan's stillness. Neither of them spoke any more, resigned to waiting out the petty matters of cheating spouses, material theft and apparent slander. It was only when the central section burst into activity that they both drew themselves up straight, watching the spectacle before them with amazed eyes.

Several figures had appeared in the vicinity through dimension doors. More cowled figures, some looking injured; but also two humans plainly not affiliated with them. They were surrounded in shimmering blue globes, magical cages to prevent them from using any spellcasting.

"These are the prisoners from the disturbance at Waukeen's Promenade," proclaimed one of the newly arrived mages.

"What is known?" The man who spoke had been sitting at his desk when Xan and Kivan arrived. Now he was standing tall, glaring at the two captives, his robe a slightly different colour to the enforcers.

"Naught but their names," replied one of the enforcers. "The mage is Jon Irenicus. The girl is Imoen."

"I didn't do anything! He did it all, I had-" Imoen began.

"Silence, child," interrupted the imprisoned man referred to as Irenicus. "Allow the fool to make his judgement."

Xan and Kivan gasped in unison and immediately began making their way over to the scene. Xan tried to call out to Imoen, but his voice was hoarse and he could only watch helplessly as the enforcers quickly proceeded with their information.

"Why was this man not gagged?" demanded the head mage. "Did he not slay four of you?"

"We dared not approach," said one enforcer quietly.

"Regardless, in the end he came willingly," stated another. "What should be done with them sir?"

"They are deviants," sneered the cowled leader as he regarded them. "Let them rot in Spellhold."

The assembled mages nodded, and a flurry of spellcasting signalled the disappearance of all of them, including the sentencing mage. Kivan swore loudly as he looked around for any other of the robed men, spying one sitting to the side, paying little attention to the events around him. Kivan and Xan marched up to him, glaring down at him until he looked up to meet their gaze.

"Can I help you?" he asked coldly.

"Those two prisoners - where were they taken?" asked Xan quickly.

"The deviants?" The man arched an eyebrow. "Spellhold."

"Where is this place?" asked Kivan, his tone threatening.

"It is nowhere of your concern, I am sure. Now either leave me be, or I shall call the guard over."

Xan pulled Kivan away from the mage, dragging him out of the building and into the sunny, gardened area of the Government District. "We'll get no information from them," said the enchanter logically. "They said the disturbance was at the Promenade - if Imoen was there..."

"Then there is a good chance the others were too," concluded Kivan grimly. "I can look for signs and tracks if we head there now."

Xan nodded, following the ranger's swift stride as he rushed across the city. Oh Seldarine, what has happened…?

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Coran nodded slowly. "I... I see," he said quietly, his face creased in a frown as the words sank into his mind. Brielbara sighed with relief, relaxing from the stress of recounting Maiyn's departure over and over again. Coran sat down on the small bench by the window; it was a sunny day outside, and the light streamed into the large room. You could see the flowers outside, growing in the neat garden; sheltered from the busy routes through the city by the tall, stone wall. He was silent for several minutes, and Brielbara watched him intently for any sign of reaction.

"You have taken care of me since she left?" he asked eventually.

"I have," she replied softly. "I promised her I would."

Coran looked around to her, meeting her gaze. "Why did she leave?" His voice was small, almost child-like.

"She had to," replied the mage simply. "Or rather, she believed she had to."

"No!" exclaimed Coran, a slight rise in his voice. "She's lauded as a hero here, she didn't have to leave at all!"

"She didn't leave for herself," explained Brielbara. "She left to protect you; to protect her friends."

Coran sighed. "She was stupid," he said bluntly, returning to silence. Brielbara kept watching him with worried eyes. The healers had examined him, finding no obvious cause for the pain and distress he felt the night he awoke. Since then he'd been in perfectly good health, only troubled by the discovery of Maiyn's departure. Suddenly he stood up, and began pacing the room.

"She left because of what she was," he said softly, to himself. "She left because she thinks Branwen and Alora and Yeslick died because of her. She left in the hope no one else would die."

"Exactly," said Brielbara, causing him to halt in his stride and regard her.

"You think I should find her." It wasn't a question.

"I know better than to hope you would stay here to play at happy families," remarked Brielbara dryly. "She is... special. I don't know what there is between you, but her last thoughts as she left this city were about you." Coran arched a brow as he listened. "She stopped here to drop off coin and ask if I would nurse you, just before she rode to the gates," explained the mage. "She was troubled; almost haunted. She didn't stay long, but her voice struggled with the words as she spoke of you. It was the hardest decision she's ever made, I'd wager."

Coran sat down heavily on a chair. He looked tired; his strength was returning, but slowly, and he was only a shade of the former fighter he had once been. He was aware of this, as was Brielbara - but she knew what he was about to say.

"I need to find her Briel. If only to say goodbye properly."

Brielbara nodded. "I... I expected you would. I have asked around trying to find information about her. Only the faintest rumour seems to be available." The mage chose her words carefully.

Coran watched her. "What is it Briel? You sound almost hesitant to tell me."

"There is word that she disappeared - some people believe she was captured for what... for what she is. No one seems to know where she was caught, or where she would be; but two other of your companions have been spotted travelling south towards Amn, also seeking information on her location."

"Which companions?"

"Two elves; Xan and Kivan I think were their names."

Coran paled. "Is there no news of her sister, Imoen? Or her guardians, Jaheira and Khalid?"

Brielbara nodded. "They are missing also, along with two Rashemi." Coran swallowed hard as he thought. "I have sent for two horses," continued the mage. "They will be arriving within the next few days, giving you a chance to recover a bit more. I will ride with you as far as the Friendly Arms - Alice and Iana will look after Namara in my absence. Perhaps there will be more news with the travellers there, and perhaps you will find companions willing to travel further with you. I will have to return for our daughter."

Coran gave Brielbara an incredulous look. "You would ride with me?"

Brielbara gave a small laugh. "Coran, if it wasn't for Maiyn, you'd have ignored your daughter, and we wouldn't even be on speaking terms - let alone me tending you when you were ill. Just promise me that when you find her, you will come back to see your daughter."

Coran stood up and approached the human. He knelt before her, taking her hands in his as he looked into her eyes. "I promise I will," he said sincerely. "And thank you - for everything."

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"Coo! You'd be the one I be lookin' for, if I not be mistaken. Maiyn be yer name, aye?"

Maiyn stopped, startled from her meandering wander, trying to follow Yoshimo as he slunk between the people crowding the streets. She turned to see a man of average height looking at her with a pleasant smile. His clothes were plain; a simple leather tunic over brown trousers, a dirty hood covering his hair. Her keen eyes spotted the dagger nestling in his belt, and she immediately tensed. "I am afraid you are mistaken," she said quietly, pushing her way past a few peasants who'd noticed her pausing, and taken the opportunity to try and beg some coin from her.

"That so?" called the man after her. "I was thinkin' me sources of infallible! Well I suppose ye won't be wantin' any information on the young woman arrested by the Cowled Wizards when ye first came to Athkatla, huh?"

Maiyn stopped, and was next to the man within a few seconds. "What do you know of Imoen?" she hissed, her hand hovering around the sword Minsc had given her from the dungeon. The man noticed her suspicion and simply widened his smile.

"Aha! So I does have ye correctly! Coo! An' here I was, thinkin' I was talkin' to a complete stranger! Wipin' me brow I am, heh." The man leant closer to the ranger, lowering his voice. "Imoen... aye, that be her name. Young lass made the misfortune o' castin' a spell or two in a city that frowns upon such business. Bad timin' it was. Ye be thinkin' ye wants to find her then?"

"Of course I want to find her," muttered Maiyn, her frustration growing. "What do you know?"

"Coo! Well let me introduce mesel' first. I be Gaelan Bayle; it's only fair since I know yer own name. Of Imoen, I knows very little mesel', my lady." Maiyn's scowl deepened, and she muttered darkly as she turned to wander off, away from this man who was intent on wasting her time. "I can, however, be linkin' ye up with a group that knows. Or can be findin' out."

Maiyn turned around, desperately wishing to wipe the man's smug grin from his face. She grit her teeth as she nodded to him, clenching her fists slightly as he rambled on. So tired... she thought to herself - but that was unimportant compared to finding her sister.

"This not be the best place to hold such a discussion," said Gaelan, suddenly seeming serious. "I be havin' a place that would suit much better. It be just a short walk from here an' I could take ye there right now."

Maiyn cocked her head, with an arched eyebrow. "How do I know this isn't some sort of trap?" she asked suspiciously.

"Hah! I have no interest in settin' a trap . 'Tis more profitable to serve. I will speak no more - come with me an' ye can decide whether to enter me house." Gaelan turned, swiftly disappearing into the crowd and slipping past the waiting Yoshimo. Minsc and Jaheira had also stopped, watching Maiyn intently.

"We follow him," she said confidently, striding off in the direction Gaelan had left, desperately trying to keep an eye on him. Yoshimo and Minsc obeyed without a word, but Jaheira made her way to the ranger's side, her face full of concern.

"This place is not a friendly one," Jaheira said quietly. "Be wary of who you deal with."

Maiyn shrugged. "He says he can get us in contact with people who can help us find Imoen. I can deal with simple cutthroats and hooligans; there is no danger here."

"Not just them," continued Jaheira warningly. "Others may try to take advantage. Few know of the children of Bhaal, but that could just make you all the more valuable."

Maiyn looked to the druid, and nodded. "I have no intention of revealing what I am to anyone here. You can trust in that."

Jaheira nodded in response. "I do not wish to alarm, but always remember what you are and the danger it may bring."

"I can hardly forget it," muttered Maiyn, her eyes fixed back on Gaelan as he wove through the streets.

"Perhaps," said Jaheira simply, "but I feel it is my duty to remind you."

Maiyn groaned as Gaelan disappeared from sight, but sighed with relief as Yoshimo signalled them over, pointing to a fairly large house sitting amongst several ill-repaired buildings. They'd obviously entered a poorer area of the city; the citizens passing them generally wore torn and fading clothing, the faces of the children playing around were smudged with dirt as they ran freely along the street. The road underfoot had turned from stone into mud, baked dry in the heat of the warm day, but threatening to become sludgy and muddy should it rain.

Maiyn stared at the house for some time as she weighed up her options. On one hand she could be walking straight into another trap, ensuring her captivity once again. On the other, it may be the only chance she had to find out any information about Imoen's whereabouts. And Imoen's safety outweighed her own at that point.

"I'm going in," she proclaimed. "Wait here."

"I don't think so," said Jaheira calmly as she followed the ranger up to the door.

"Boo says that little Maiyn needs Boo and Minsc to go with her," said Minsc with a small frown, also following. Maiyn just sighed. Yoshimo was also following, but he didn't say anything; Maiyn caught him studying her again as she pushed open the wooden door, but she had no time to ask him what was wrong.

The inside of the home was neat and tidy. A table sat in the centre of the large room, a small bowl of fresh fruit adorning it. A simple wooden staircase led to an upper floor, and under it was a simple iron oven, built into one of several chimneys stretching up to the roof. Several polished cabinets appeared to be securely locked, situated behind a few chairs that made up a comely sitting area around a wide, stone fireplace.

"Coo!" exclaimed Gaelan, turning from one of the cabinets to look at them. "I see that ye were able to keep up with me all right? I was afraid I'd lost ye there, heh."

"We kept up just fine," muttered Maiyn. "Now just tell me what this is about."

"Aye, I'll be doin' that as quick as ye blink," said Gaelan merrily, signalling to the seats, and settling himself on one of the more cushioned chairs. The others sat around him, and Maiyn's glare fixed itself onto him. "I'll tell yer straight," he said seriously, "that I know a powerful group that can be helpin' ye. They can be findin' the wizard and the young woman both, they can, should ye want it."

"Of course I would," snapped Maiyn impatiently.

"Ah good," he replied simply. "But ye should know that it requires my friends to cross the Cowled Wizards. Not somethin' ye would be able to do on yer own."

Maiyn's eyes narrowed. "Who is this group, exactly?"

"This I cannot tell ye. Rest ye fine that they be willin' to help... an' havin' enough power to challenge the Cowled Wizards. That's all ye be needin' to know."

Maiyn nodded, her face thoughtful. "I am assuming this help will have a price?"

"Well, it may seem costly," coughed Gaelan, "but think o' the dangers o' crossin' such an organisation. A fair price, if ye think about it."

"Yes, yes," interrupted Maiyn agitatedly. "But what is it?"

"Ah, aye. It be 20,000 gold pieces for their help."

Maiyn's jaw dropped open slightly. "I... I don't have that. How am I expected to raise such a fee?"

"Ach, I am sure ye can earn it," said Gaelan easily. "Me nephew, Brus - he'll take ye to the Copper Coronet. Surely there be work there or thereabouts for ye."

Maiyn sighed and stood up. "Very well. We shall return when we have managed to collect the money." The ranger didn't miss Jaheira's piercing gaze, but she simply shrugged in response. They needed the help to get Imoen, and it was a small price to pay to get her sister back to safety.

"Fare ye well then," said Gaelan, his smile returning as he stood. "An'... give my greetings to Lehtinan if ye happens by him... heh."

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Maiyn wandered into the inn, having glared at Brus when he demanded a gold coin for showing them the way. The ranger pointed out that he'd merely led them round the corner, but the young boy had been unswayed and pointed out in return that no matter how close the inn was; the ranger wouldn't have found it so quickly without him. In the end she'd pointed out that she didn't have much money, so was unable to give him a coin that she might end up needing, and he'd hopefully suggested that they could leave one for him later on, when they next saw his uncle. He'd run away before Maiyn's clip managed to connect to his ear.

The tavern was full of commoners, sitting around at tables - most of them worse for wear. Imoen would be in her element, thought Maiyn to herself, feeling a pang of emptiness at her sister's absence. Though she now concentrated more on her magical arts, Maiyn knew she still had a roguish heart, and sometimes she was unable to stop her light fingers from pilfering where it wouldn't be noticed.

A quick look showed Jaheira's contempt for the establishment. Minsc and Yoshimo looked indifferent, and Maiyn took a deep breath as she plunged into the crowd, noting that the bar was right at the other end of the lengthy room. No one paid much heed to her unkempt appearance, and for once she was thankful of her ability to blend into the surroundings without getting a second glance. A voice from her right soon ended that.

"Ah, my lady - what brings you to a cesspool of corruption such as this?"

Maiyn saw a tall human man approaching her. His armour was old and worn, but well kept and polished to a marvellous shine. A plain mace hung from his belt, a large shield adorning one of his arms and embossed with what Maiyn assumed to be a family or organisation crest. Her eyes rose to his face, framed with his neatly cropped dark hair, and tidily trimmed beard. Warm brown eyes offered a slight smile as he politely awaited her reply.

"Oh, uhm," she managed, slightly thrown by the eloquence of his words. "I have recently arrived in... Athkatla?" Maiyn threw a quick look to Yoshimo, who nodded slightly in confirmation. "Ah, yes, Athkatla, and it was suggested that I may find some employment here in this tavern."

"I see," the man replied, his gaze becoming curious. "I wonder, my lady; do you seek to partake in the debauchery and depravity of such an establishment, or is your path filled with honour and righteousness?"

Maiyn looked quite horrified at the suggestion she would be using any seedy services on offer, and she was quick to correct him. "I seek to take the righteous path," she said firmly. "I wish to raise enough coin to enlist the help I require to save my childhood friend."

"Ah, a worthy cause," he replied kindly. "My name is Anomen Delryn. Perhaps you would allow me to aid you on this mission, my lady? I am seeking to prove my honour and worth in the eyes of the Order of the Radiant Heart so that I might pass my test to become a knight within their ranks. I am a skilled fighter, and a dedicated Priest of Helm."

Maiyn noticed Yoshimo rolling his eyes slightly in the background, but ignored the mysterious thief. "I would be infinitely pleased to have you join us," she smiled. "And it is a pleasure to meet you Anomen. I am Maiyn, and these are my companions; Jaheira, Minsc and Yoshimo."

Anomen nodded politely to the others, and Maiyn excused herself to continue on her way to the bar. It only took seconds for Jaheira to catch up with her, the familiar presence of the druid at her side causing Maiyn to prepare herself.

"Is it wise to trust someone so quickly?"

"You trusted Yoshimo enough to allow him to come with us when I was... indisposed."

Jaheira snorted. "That is true," she relented. "Regardless, this Anomen is preparing to be a knight-"

"And surely I should be able to trust someone so holy?" interrupted Maiyn. Jaheira seemed shocked by her naivety.

"Need I remind you what you are?" asked the druid. "Do you think an order of paladin and cleric knights will look favourably on someone with your taint?"

Maiyn sighed. "You are right, of course," she admitted. "But he seems friendly enough, and we cannot turn away help until we are more comfortable with our surroundings. We shall just have to ensure he does not discover what and who I am."

Jaheira nodded, drifting away as they approached the counter. "Sell what we can and raise as much coin as possible. We shall need it."