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

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City Life

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Nalia awoke to a sunny morning in Athkatla. The sun fought its way through the broken shutters of the bedroom window, and she rose slowly, stretching and yawning, before lazily wandering over and throwing them open. Blue skies met bid her good morning, with only a few wispy clouds in sight. She leaned on the windowsill, gazing out to the already busy streets below, and let out a little sigh.

It seemed as if the past few weeks had passed in a daze; overnight she'd gone from the rebellious girl who had a safe and secure home under the lordship of her father, to a travelling adventurer who followed the man she'd gifted stewardship of her lands to -- despite only having known him for a few days.

No wonder her Aunt had left.

She didn't regret any of it though. He'd proven trustworthy and loyal, and had shown he wouldn't be intimidated by Isaea, which had originally been her main concern. Her home was in the safe hands of the De Arnise guard, who respected Coran and served him willingly, and so she had a home to return to if she wanted it. She was aware it could have ended very differently.

She was worried about him though. He had built his hopes up, and seemed to have convinced himself that they would find his old companions. Discovering they'd missed them by the narrowest of margins had affected him more than she'd ever have thought possible, and he almost seemed like a stranger the previous night. She'd made sure he got into his room all right, and he'd been aware of her presence, thanking her for her concern. After that, she'd retreated to her own room, unwilling to have company, and listening for any sound of him moving. When she was sure he was either asleep or in his reverie, she'd drifted off herself, only to waken again early.

She was so tired.

Slowly she got dressed, and knocked gently on Coran's door. There was no answer, so she went down to the common room and looked around. There was no sign of either of her companions; Aerie would probably still be sleeping -- the avariel seemed to need much more rest than anyone else, and Coran was either avoiding company, or in an exhausted slumber.

With a sigh, she sat herself down and ordered some breakfast, smiling to Valygar when he appeared. He greeted her warmly, taking a seat at the table and looking around.

"The others are still asleep?" he asked.

Nalia nodded. "I am assuming so. Did you manage to get your home...?"

The ranger winced slightly. "The guard were informed, but housebreaking and murder isn't exactly uncommon. His funeral is tomorrow, and since he had no family it'll be a quiet affair. My old housekeeper helped me to clean the place up, and if you wanted to, you'd be welcome to stay with me there while in the city."

Nalia shifted uncomfortably. "It would probably be for the best," she said doubtfully. "I'm... a bit squeamish about there having been a dead man there, though."

"Your father died in your keep," stated Valygar simply. "Do you avoid it?"

"Well, no," she admitted, looking down at her fruit sheepishly.

"Then it is settled. I'll go and awaken them."

Nalia nodded and told him which rooms they had, then finished her breakfast as he stalked upstairs. She was sure she'd be fine in the Corthala home, and the ranger did have a point. She sighed and stood up, preparing to go and get her belongings when he reappeared.

"Their rooms are empty."

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Coran wandered aimlessly along the quay, lost in his own world. He'd spent the night lying restlessly on his bed; his mind wouldn't settle, floundering between worries about their destination, to thoughts of what she was doing at that point, to memories of what they'd once shared. Just as she'd been within his grasp, he'd missed her, in the cruellest possible way.

The reassurances that she'd return did little to comfort him. He knew where they were heading, and he'd picked up enough to know it wasn't some stroll in the park. It was dangerous -- more so since her former captor was also there, imprisoned alongside Imoen. Coran had a dark, foreboding thought about it all, but he was helpless to do anything about it.

He stopped and sighed, sitting down on one of the benches that faced out to the sea. He glared at the horizon, as if it would make her ship reappear and head back to the city. He could follow her -- Renal had said it would be impossible, but nothing was impossible, was it? He could find someone who would be willing to provide passage. There had to be someone.

But what if there wasn't? What then? Another sigh. He'd have to wait -- wait in the city, and stay close to the Shadow Thieves. They had him where they wanted him -- though why they'd want him, he didn't know. His desperation to be reunited with Maiyn, and their distinct advantage regarding knowledge of her location and return, meant he had little choice. Whether he wanted to or not, he'd have to return to the Guildmaster and accept his task.

It didn't overly bother him to associate with the group -- there had been a guild of thieves in Baldur's Gate who he'd managed to skilfully avoid for several years. Regardless of the Shadow Thieves reputation, Coran was confident enough in his own abilities to know that if he wanted to, he'd be able to ward them off for as long as he needed if the situation arose.

Though, admittedly, not in his current state.

He rubbed his eye tiredly with his hand, and slowly stood up. He needed to return to the inn before anyone noticed his absence and began worrying -- he knew Nalia would be concerned over his state of mind, since she'd attempted to fuss over him the night before. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, but at the time he'd just not been in the mood.

When he thought about it, he still wasn't in much of a mood for company.

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Nalia didn't bother asking how Valygar had got the doors open; instead she followed him quickly as he strode out of the tavern, and headed down to the docks. He seemed to be sure that they'd at least find Coran there, although Aerie's own location was mystery.

"Perhaps she's visiting the circus?" suggested the mage as she ran to keep up.

"Perhaps," he nodded, his eyes scouring the street as he searched for his target. "There." He pointed at a figure slowly wandering towards them, and Nalia sighed with relief, running towards the elf.

"Are you okay?" she asked when she was close, her eyes filled with worry as she looked over him for any sign of injury. His urge to shun company faded as he saw her smile genuinely to him, and he accepted her hand, walking beside her as they returned towards the tavern. Valygar explained Aerie's absence to him, and he frowned slightly.

"She was eager for us all to return to the circus," he noted. "We should go and check to see if she's there."

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They checked the avariel's room one last time, and Valygar admitted that he'd done no more than try the doors to see if they were unlocked when he'd looked in previously. Nalia flushed slightly; she'd wanted to do the same, but had felt too shy in case she disturbed Coran and caused him annoyance. The men didn't notice her embarrassment, however, as they set off from the inn; Valygar searching around to see if he could find any tracks. Eventually he thought he'd picked up a lead, and he led them towards the slums, following fairly main routes all the way until they'd almost reached the Copper Coronet.

"This isn't the way to the Promenade," said Nalia with a frown.

Coran looked at his surroundings. "Not a direct way, no," he agreed. "But we've spent more time over at this side of the town -- my guess is that she felt more comfortable coming here first, and using the routes she was certain of."

Valygar signalled for them to follow again after some careful examination of some footprints. The trail wound its way down familiar routes before the ranger paused abruptly again. His eye roved over the ground, but he seemed unable to find anything. Coran waited patiently for him to search around, and glanced down the lane to his right. He knew it led out to another road that would eventually enter the Promenade's southern exit, but it was more likely Aerie had continued along the thoroughfare they were on, as it bent around a cluster of homes and businesses before opening up to the western entrance.

He stopped when he saw the guards standing there; several of them, an unusual sight for the area. Curiosity compelled him to wander towards them -- another death it seemed, in the night. He suspected it was another vagrant falling foul of drunken locals, or a victim who'd had the misfortune to fall foul of one of the larger organisations of the town. This only served to remind him of his impending trip to visit Renal, and he grit his teeth slightly.

It was when he noticed that the body was wearing robes that looked terribly familiar to him that his heart started beating faster. His legs carried him closer and closer, until he could see the greyed body, the blood-soaked clothing... the golden hair, which had messily fallen around the torn neck. Only a few feet away was the ornately carved staff that Aerie had carried with her everywhere, somehow knocked from her possession before violence had befallen her.

"Stand back, citizen," said one of the guardsmen strongly. "There is nothing here for you to be concerned over."

"Actually, there is," replied Coran quietly. "This was one of my companions."

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The group found themselves at the Council of Six building once more, finishing their recount of the previous evening. They had been quite vague with their activities that day, saying they'd recently returned to the city and had spent some time at the Seas' Bounty -- Coran saw no reason to mention their meeting with the Shadow Thieves, nor did he want to go into detail about Maiyn's departure with some complete strangers.

Eventually they were allowed to leave, and they decided to visit the circus to pay their respects to Quayle. A guardsman had already been sent to inform him of the news, and he was as upset as they expected him to be when they arrived there. The group were unable to give him any more details, except to agree that it was unlike her to go wandering off on her own, especially with little in the way of protection.

They left soon after, heading back to the docks to see Renal after Quayle promised he'd send a messenger to give them the date and time of the funeral. Coran noted that this was the third funeral he'd have to attend since his arrival in Amn; he didn't count Hervo's service, as only Valygar was to attend to it, and he could only hope the old adage of 'things come in threes' was going to prove true in this case.

Nalia lingered behind the men as they walked, looking rather lost. She'd become close to Aerie; the girls had similar personalities, and had kept each other company since they'd joined together. Of the three, the young girl seemed to be finding it hardest; Coran and Valygar were shocked by the whole incident, but their sadness was eclipsed by Nalia's grief. Coran slowed his pace to walk beside her, allowing the ranger to wander ahead on his own, caught up in his own thoughts.

"I can't believe it," said Nalia in a small voice. Coran reached out and took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"Neither can I."

"What possessed her to go out on her own? And who... who would have done such a thing?"

Coran shrugged. "Bandits, perhaps?"

Nalia's eyes flashed. "The only bandits that can operate in the city and get away with it are the Shadow Thieves," she pointed out.

Coran paused in his stride, and nodded thoughtfully. "Perhaps, then, we have more than one thing to discuss with Mr Bloodscalp..."

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"You have my condolences," offered the Guildmaster as the group stood before him, having informed him of Aerie's untimely death. "She looked like a charming young girl."

"We want to know what you know about it," said Coran firmly.

Renal smiled slightly. "Most people know better than to come here and demand things of me," he said calmly. "But this is now two days in a row you've done exactly that. However, as yesterday, I will answer you -- though this is not a habit you should get used to. Your friend's death was nothing to do with us. My thieves know of you, and know better than to act against you unless they have my express permission. I can therefore assure you; whoever killed your companion was not a member of my guild."

Coran nodded slightly. "Then that is at least something."

Renal stood up, frowning slightly. "As it happens, if you remember the task I mentioned during our previous meeting… I can offer a further incentive for you to accept it. While you do the work I require, I shall have some of my spies look into this death, and I will inform you of anything they discover. I can't promise that they'll discover anything, but an attempt wouldn't hurt. So... do you have an answer for me?"

Coran quickly glimpsed to the two humans; neither made a move, and he took that as their acceptance. "We'll do your task," he relented. "But we expect you to keep to your side of the bargain."

Renal laughed slightly. "You have my word that I shall. And when you see Maiyn, you may wish to thank her for having made such a strong impact on us and having gathered our good favour."

Coran raised an eyebrow.

"If she had not," Renal continued, his tone serious, "you would be dead for trying to talk to me in that tone."

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Valygar's home was comfortable and spacious, though it did have a disturbing undercurrent of having recently having a dead body decomposing in its hallway. Coran and Nalia tried to ignore this, and found themselves pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of their host as they huddled around the roaring fire that evening.

Coran flicked through the papers he'd been given by Renal. They were Orders of Transfer that were issued to Shadow Thieves seeking to switch Guildhall, and with them, the companions would ingrain themselves into a smaller branch of the organisation at the other side of the district. There they would spy on the Guildmaster, a man who had been named as Mae'var; who Renal suspected of having traitorous intentions.

The whole endeavour didn't bother Coran much, and Nalia seemed indifferent to it -- her grief was still catching up with her, however, making her apathetic about most things. Valygar was a different story.

"I am not happy with this," he repeated for the third time. "I can understand your eagerness to stay close to the point of information regarding your former companions, but he has asked too much."

Coran sighed. "If it will better please you, I can perform this task on my own. Keep Nalia safe here while I do it, that's all I ask."

The ranger thought for a while, his eyes staring at the fire. When he spoke, it was quiet, but firm. "No. I will aid you -- it is the least I can do after Lavok."

"You don't owe me-"

"I've decided." Valygar stood up and wished them both a good night, quietly leaving the room. The two thieves were left to sit together in silence, as Nalia's faraway expression betrayed her daydreaming.

"Nalia," said Coran gently, after a few minutes. He was concerned for her; she'd seen so much in such a short space of time. It was beginning to catch up with, but he had no idea how to deal with it. He decided it was time to make the effort to learn. "Nalia, look at me."

She slowly turned to look at him, having eventually heard his words. Her lips curled up into a pleasant smile, but her eyes remained full of sorrow. He looked at her pityingly, and placed an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close. Her head fell to his shoulder and she began crying. He held her as she wept, then as she fell asleep; and stayed there with her for the night, unwilling to rouse her from her slumber, unable to leave her alone.

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Across the city, Montaron stalked through the city streets silently. Xzar was back at the inn, completely unconscious after a particularly heavy dose of black lotus. It was expensive stuff, but the halfling didn't mind splashing out for it when it had the desired effect.

The avariel was dead, and he was happy. The ranger could wait -- he'd take more effort, as well, being slightly less useless than the wingless elf had been. For now, Montaron was determined to get back to their original investigation, and intent to discover what power they were meant to be seeking.

The group he'd originally suspected of being their target were rumoured to have suffered from a significant attack on their base, by mercenaries serving at the behest of the Shadow Thieves. This was disconcerting to him -- he had no wish at all to get involved with the thieves, but even less desire to neglect his mission and return to Zhentarim to explain their failure.

So he'd invested heavily in the illegal drug that Xzar favoured so much, and allowed the necromancer to indulge in the evenings. As well as killing Aerie, he'd discovered that the assault had taken place somewhere amongst the dead of the city, and so this was his destination; the coldness and eeriness of the graveyard meaning little to him.

Quietly he stalked through the tombstones, glaring around as the mist curled in the air. There was no one else around at this hour; people preferring to honour their dead when it was light, seeing the day as safe from the threat of undead. Montaron sniggered quietly to himself. Fools.

He jumped, startled, when a figure stepped out before him. Clad all in black, the woman peered curiously at him, her eyes gazing hypnotically into his own. They had a reddish hue, but this didn't seem very strange to him. Montaron had seen a lot of women in Zhentarim with red eyes, and was immune to judging people by their eye colour.

"Why are you here?" she asked seductively.

"I... er..." he stammered, suddenly losing all control of his thoughts. He was conscious, for a fleeting second, of a voice that wasn't his own, telling him what he thought. But then it passed, and he could only nod dumbly to the beautiful woman, his eyes fixed to her tantalising figure.

"You will be a good pet," she purred. "You have no allegiance to any here, and we have need of such... but I will not take you over so completely. No, my lovely, you will go about your business as you intend to, do you understand? Good... but when I call you here, you will come, and you will tell me what I want to know. You will not know why you must come, and you will forget about our meetings when they are done, but you will come. Serve us well, and my Mistress will reward you with a gift you cannot refuse."

Montaron nodded. "I... I be doin' wha' ye ask..."

"Good," she smirked. "Go now -- go back to your inn, for the streets are dangerous after dark. My brothers and sisters shall know not to hunt you, but the thieves grow braver each day. Go now, and only return here when I summon you."

Montaron turned and ran. He didn't stop running until he reached the door of the Crooked Crane, and then he paused, breathless, and wondering what had just happened. He could remember setting out, having a destination in mind; but now he found himself back at the inn, with a very strong urge to go inside and sleep.

He scowled at himself, but didn't fight the feeling. He was getting soft in his old age, was all it was. A good night of sleep, and he'd be fine again.