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

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Convergence at the Temple

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"For the love of all that is good in this world, will you please shut up!"

Coran flinched slightly at Nalia's raised voice, despite it being aimed at Edwina rather than himself. The young girl had not been in the best of moods since they left Athkatla, and any attempts for them to talk openly and honestly to each other seemed to end up in a mess of misunderstandings and veiled resentment. Her objections to what she saw as his concealment over their marriage had faded when she'd also failed to inform the men at her Keep -- and Coran pointing out her own double standards had earned him just another black mark; he was beginning to tire of the game.

And anyway -- he'd told Jaheira. Well, he'd almost told Jaheira. He'd not really told the druid; rather she had, somehow, asked him several pointed questions, each narrowing the field of options for her accusation until she was sure she could get it right. And she had, even if he had tried to avoid answering her clearly. She wasn't stupid, though -- he'd been slightly surprised, but relieved, that she'd not inflicted some horrible pain upon him; and even more shocked to discover that she'd not told any of the others about her suspicions and discoveries. But then... they all had a lot on their minds, didn't they? And none of it related to him. He wasn't anything, much, to them any more.

Coran wasn't averse to sulking, and he wallowed in the emotion as they rode towards the Umar Hills in the distance. Nothing had worked out as it should have. Things weren't meant to have happened like this -- he was never meant to have been split from his companions! He could feel it in his bones -- his fate lay with them, whether or not they wanted him to go with them. Although Maiyn's distant manner had been hurtful, he could, if he searched deep enough, understand it he supposed. But Xan... he'd been friends with Xan, hadn't he? And yet the enchanter had been almost... almost cold when he'd declined company for his journey south.

He hadn't declined Jaheira though, had he? Coran snorted and felt a small degree of sympathy for his kinsman. If he really felt he had some kind of chance with Jaheira, then... well. Could he really be holding a light for their druidess? Was that why he hadn't been able to say 'no' to her? Not that she'd have taken no for an answer... He wrinkled his brow in thought. He supposed that was more likely -- her accompanying him was, in all likelihood, down to no more then her own sheer stubbornness. He had to admit this was a very good possibility, though not nearly as amusing a suspicion.

But then, Xan wasn't the only one in the party possibly harbouring feelings for a companion, was he? Coran's hands gripped the reins tighter as he idly wondered, once again, who Maiyn had allowed into her bed. He knew he shouldn't torture himself any more over it; it was the past, and Hanali knew, he'd not been the most loyal of lovers himself. His sigh was enough to gather an inquisitive look from Edwina and a perfunctory look from Nalia before she spurred her horse into the lead, encouraging the other two to pick up the pace slightly. This gave the Red Wizardess a perfect opportunity to draw close to the elf's horse, and Coran groaned as the now effeminate -- and quite husky -- voiced mage began to converse with him.

"So tell me: these companions of yours who we go to meet-"

"They won't all be in Imnesvale," sighed Coran.

"But the girl shall be, yes? The one who led you?"

Coran glanced over to the mage, trying not to blink with surprise at her feminine features. He wondered if he'd ever really get used to seeing Edwin as a girl, and an attractive one at that... Oh Hanali... "Maiyn?" he croaked, then cleared his throat noisily, averting his gaze from the rather ample chest of the Red Wizardess. "Yes."

"Excellent," Edwina purred, a magnificent smile taking over her face. "Now tell me all about her. I did ask you earlier, but you were too busy trying to tie your pack to your saddle. (And ignoring me in the process! Hmph!)"

"Why are you so interested?" Coran still kept his gaze carefully away.

"We are to be companions, no? It is only natural that I would wish to know about the ruffians you are determined to begin cavorting with."

The elf sighed and gave a weak shrug. "You know her name. She's skilled with a bow, was showing promise with a blade when I last saw her. She prays to her God, is loyal to her companions, warm to her friends, and..."

Edwina's eyebrow rose as she gave the fighter a piercing gaze. "And?"

"And, I don't know!" the elf exclaimed in exasperation. "What is it you want to know?"

There was a pause, and for one blissful second, Coran believed that the mage had given up prying.

"Tell me about the tall, painted man who travels with her."

The fighter frowned. "You mean Minsc, I assume? How do you know about him?"

Edwina seemed to fidget slightly in her saddle and busied herself with adjusting her robes. "The girl mentioned him in passing earlier," she muttered. "I am merely curious! (Monkey! Why does he not just answer the question?!)"

Coran peered at the mage, but she carefully avoided his gaze, and so he ended up shrugging. "Well, Minsc is... unique. A true individual, in every sense of the word."

"His mental faculties are not what they could be?"

"Er, that is, I suppose, one way of putting it..." replied Coran slowly.

"(Excellent.) Then, of course, anything he says can be put down to the ranting of a deluded madman?"

"Well, I wouldn't quite go that far," said Coran with a frown. "He can be quite observant and there's always Boo, on hand to help him-"

"Boo? Who is this Boo?" Edwina asked sharply.

"It's his hamster," Coran replied, with some embarrassment. To his relief, the mage didn't give him an incredulous look; instead, she looked quite thoughtful.

"Ah, I see. (Yes... yes, that may need to be dealt with. But how hard could it be?)"

"How hard could what be?"

The Red Wizardess batted her eyelashes innocently at him. "Hmm, what? I have no idea what you are talking about. But look at the sun -- we do not make good time! Why are we dawdling so?!"

And with that, she nudged her horse ahead, bouncing around almost comically in the saddle as she tried to stay on her mount while Coran watched on. Disappointed and dismayed as he was with the reunion he'd shared with his former companions, it was heartening for him to realise that despite everything; none of them were quite as strange as Edwina.

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The inn at Imnesvale was cosy and warm. The locals were friendly enough, regarding the newcomers with unconcealed curiosity, but lacking the wide-eyed amazement that others had demonstrated when witnessing the weaponry and clothing on experienced and accomplished adventurers. Coran stood patiently at the bar, waiting for the barkeep to return from the stables, where he'd gone to supervise the tending of their horses, much to the stableboy's chagrin. Nalia and Edwina were sitting at a table, stoically ignoring each other as they both delicately sipped their drinks. To the noblewoman's disgust, the Red Wizardess had been the one to capture the eyes of most of the young men present.

Eventually the barkeep returned, introducing himself as Vicenzo. Coran nodded politely and offered a weary smile. They had only reached the village as night began to fall, and all of them were tired from the ride. He'd refused to stop except when the horses needed a break, and this, in turn, had caused Edwina to complain bitterly for the latter half of the journey, which had only served to increase Nalia's irritability. The elf had never been as happy to arrive at a destination as he had been when they eventually trundled over the crest of the final hill, seeing the tiny settlement spread out in the valley before them.

"We'd like rooms for the evening, if at all possible," Coran explained.

The portly human nodded. He was a jolly looking fellow and appeared quite eager to please. "Got just what ye might be lookin' for!" he exclaimed happily. "Though we're a small establishment, ye realise -- can offer ye two fine sized rooms, however -- one with a large washbasin fer yer lovely ladies, and I'll even throw breakfast in fer free!"

Coran grinned. "That would be perfect. Could I also have a large mug of your finest mead?"

"Certainly, young sir! You're lucky ye came today," Vicenzo continued amiably, grabbing a nearby cup larger than Coran had wagered on, and beginning to fill it with a thick orange-coloured liquid. "Had ye arrived last night I'd have only been able to offer ye a night on the stables beside yer horses!"

Coran's eyebrow rose. "Other travellers? Perhaps they're the ones we're seeking..."

"Ah, after yer friends are ye?" The barman pushed the large glass over to the elf, and Coran gratefully accepted it, taking a deep drink as Vicenzo continued. "Three o' them there were, two strange, inked men, and a quiet lass. Looked a fairly odd group to me, but it's best not to ask too many questions."

"One man was incredibly tall?" Coran asked. "The other wore a robe of green, cruel look in his eyes?"

Vicenzo nodded thoughtfully. "That fits 'em."

"The girl; her eyes... they were... they shone?"

The barman swallowed. "They did have a most... unholy looking light to them," he admitted nervously. "But she was pleasant enough, and I thought it was a trick o' the sun, or an effect o' some magic."

"And they left... today?"

"Aye, my lord. Not long after dawn they asked fer their horses to be readied and rode to the north. But they did say that there'd be a good chance I'd see 'em again in a day or two on their return trip. According to the big man, they had some acquaintance to see to, then a long journey towards Tethyr."

Coran nodded. "Thank you... you've been most helpful. There is one other thing, though... I was wondering -- do you know if Valygar Corthala is in his cabin? We are friends of his; we only parted ways a short while ago."

"Lord Corthala? Why, yes, I saw him in the village only a day or so ago," beamed the innkeeper. "Willet could show you the way to his home in the morn, if you wish?"

"Ah, that won't be necessary," Coran smiled. "We've been there before and can remember the way. Since we were in the area, we thought we might pop over to see him, but were unsure if he was still here, or if he'd possibly returned to Athkatla."

Vicenzo rubbed his chin. "He did mention some plans he had that involved him going afield, I think," he said, his face creased in thought. "But he didn't mention Athkatla, and I got the impression that it wouldn't be fer a while before he left."

Coran nodded, pushing some coins across the counter to pay for the services. "That is good to hear; we will try to catch up with him tomorrow. Thank you again for your help."

"Not at all, my good sir," the barkeeper replied, raising his fingers to the side of his head as Coran wandered back to the table where the two women were still quite clearly snubbing each other. With a sigh, Coran dropped one of the keys onto the surface and offered their inquisitive looks a wide smile.

"Your room is ready whenever you are. Good night, ladies." The protests began as he turned, and it was only reluctantly that he turned back to face them, noticing both had leapt to their feet.

"You cannot expect me to share with... with that?" Nalia hissed, her face as black as thunder.

"You are both women-" he began.

"Imbecile!" Edwina shrieked. "Your insolence knows no bounds! To suggest I share a room with that inept apprentice you somehow allow to continue following you?!" The Red Wizardess snatched the key from the table and hitched up her robes slightly as she stalked past the elf. "Never! No one shall share a room with Edwin Odesseiron while he suffers from this indignity and affliction!"

Coran rubbed his temples with his hand as the mage flounced off in her temper, and then realised that he was still benefiting from the full effect of one of Nalia's more poisonous glares.

"Well, you shall have to share with me," he said quietly.

"You?" she asked, throwing herself back into her chair. "I'd rather stay out here all night. In fact, I'd almost rather share a room with that uppity... uppity..."

"Wench?" Coran suggested, taking a seat beside the girl. She continued to glare at him for several minutes, then snorted loudly and let herself break into a fit of giggles. He smiled and slowly reached out, placing his hand on hers.

"It pains me when we bicker," he said softly. "I know that things are complicated right now, and I know that nothing will be easy for... for a long time, perhaps. But I value our friendship highly, and I do not wish to see it continuing to suffer." He removed his hand, pushing the other key he held forward instead. "You have the other room," he continued, smiling at her puzzled expression. "A night beneath the stars may do me good."

"Oh, Coran, no..."

He had already stood, shaking his head to her as he drained his glass. "Take it, Nalia. It's been... well, longer than I can remember since I last spent a night as a proper adventurer. I must be getting soft in my old age!" With a wink, he picked his cloak up from where he'd draped it over a chair when they first arrived, and left the inn.

It was quiet outside, but there was only a slight chill to the air. If he'd told the truth, he would have admitted to Nalia that despite his exhaustion, he did not feel tired enough to sleep, and he feared the memories that he would face in his reverie. So, instead, he made his way to the forest at the edge of the village, meandering through the trees until he saw the moonlight reflecting from the surface of a small lake. There he sat, surrounded by the whispers of the reeds as they gently rustled in the faint breeze.

He thought back to the night at the Friendly Arms, a night which had been like this in so many ways; the air was warm, the sky clear, the stars and moon shining down. That night, he'd been brooding amongst the branches of one of the trees set into the inn grounds, when Maiyn had appeared, as lovely as a vision from a dream. He'd watched as she settled almost directly beneath his perch, oblivious to the fact he was there, and entered her praying state. And so determined had he become to not disturb her, that he'd developed a terrible cramp in one of his legs from sitting on it too long. It was only when she, herself, stirred, that he dared to move -- and as if it had been conspiring against him, the tree cracked loudly and drew her attention to his presence.

He smiled wistfully as he remembered the rest of the evening; the demand of the moon, the use of the bucket of water for its reflection... and then Maiyn, gentle and inexperienced, leading him to her room where she let him teach her the first of many lessons he had to offer. From there, they'd become almost inseparable. There hadn't been more than a handful of nights that they'd spent apart between then and the day they faced Sarevok, but now... now it was as if there had been nothing.

He leaned back against the trunk of a tree and closed his eyes. What did he have to do to make things right? What would it take from him to get through to her; to make her give him a chance to at least talk to her without ignoring him or walking off! Why had he changed so much, only to find someone who made a settled life seem appealing...

Someone who had chaos sown into her footsteps.

He shivered as the words flowed into him and swirled around his head. He had not been familiar with Alaundo's prophecies at all before he met Maiyn, though he had a passing knowledge of the talk of Bhaal's children. When she had discovered what she was, she'd taken a note that contained some of the divinations from the old seer on it. He'd taken it when she was in her deepest sleeps, reading them over and over until he thought his heart would burst.

The woman he'd fallen in love with was destined for death. His only consolation had been to think that it might not necessarily have meant her own; though bringing bloodshed to the Sword Coast in the name of her heritage had been a prospect he was somewhat reluctant to entertain. Now, though... now she seemed much more like a Bhaalspawn. Her eyes, while unnatural, were nothing compared to the cold indifference that radiated from her. Gone was her concern, her kindness... She was hollow, soulless -- a vessel for the taint that was slowly consuming her. And yet her companions resolutely stuck by her.

While he had been ready to leave; just as he would have in the old days when things got tough. But she needed him -- she might not know it yet, or even show it -- but when she got her soul back, when she was able to fight this infestation again, he'd be there by her side and she would realise it and appreciate it. And she would be more like her old self. She would be.

And then, they'd support her to the end -- there would be a way, somehow, of freeing her from the curse. Faerun was so diverse, filled with people who manipulated and mastered the arts. Someone, somewhere, would be able to enact some kind of ritual to remove the binding, to free her from the tie, to cleanse her blood. There had to be someone.

A noise nearby caused him to scramble to his feet, his eyes searching out the cause. Only a few moments passed before he noticed it; a fairly large cat, watching him with big, round eyes, its tufted ears twitching slightly. He let out a deep breath, relieved by the discovery, and watched as it bounded away, tail swishing behind it.

"Coran?"

He jumped at the voice, spinning around to face Nalia. Her expression betrayed her concern as she slowly made her way over to him, her hands reaching out to gently take his arm.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

"So am I," he sighed, making no resistance as she gently began to guide him back towards the village and the inn. There, he followed her into the room that Vicenzo had prepared, and he smiled as he noticed the rudimentary camp bed she'd managed to make from various blankets, quilts and cushions. She shrugged slightly to him and clambered into the bed, fully dressed, while he settled himself down on the floor.

"Goodnight Coran," she whispered, leaning over to blow out the solitary candle that had been burning on the table by the window.

"Goodnight," he replied softly, closing his eyes and relaxing. It wasn't long before the lull of reverie pulled him firmly into its embrace.

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Dark clouds hung in the air the following morning, threatening to spill their contents on the group as they slowly rode up the narrow path that led to Valygar's cabin. They all appeared to be relieved to be under the cover of the trees once more as they approached the more level land, and Coran and Nalia cheered up when their destination came into sight, dismounting at the door and knocking loudly.

They were answered by a tall human woman, fairly advanced in years, who stared at them suspiciously from the narrow opening. Coran and Nalia exchanged a single glance before the elf turned back, smiling charmingly.

"Good day, my dear lady," he said. "Is Lord Corthala at home?"

"An' who are you?"

"My apologies! I am Coran Sullussaer, and this is my... my friend, the Lady Nalia De Arnise, and our companions, Edwin... er, Edwina Odesseiron."

"Pleased to meet you," smiled Nalia, effecting a small bobbing curtsey. The woman cooed shyly and a look of slight relief passed across her face as the door was opened slightly further to reveal her worn blue dress and dirty white apron. Her hair was tied back into a neat bun, and her hands were calloused and wrinkled, covered in tiny scratches and marks; but despite all this, she gave them a homely smile.

"I thought I'd seen ye before! The people who beat the dragon in the temple, aren't ye? I remember yer faces from the village!" She flushed slightly. "Lord Valygar ain't here," she said hastily. "Left just this mornin', he did, and didn't say nothin' about any guests being due!"

"Ah, he wasn't expecting us," Coran admitted. "We just happened to be in the area looking for some other friends, and decided to pay him a visit."

"I'm afraid I don't know when he's likely to be back," the woman sighed. "Oh, excuse me manners -- I'm Margie, and I'm ever so pleased to meet you all!"

Coran took one of her hands in his own, and raised it gently to his lips. To his amusement, Margie blushed furiously. "Well, perhaps you could let him know we passed by?" he asked.

"Oh, I'd be glad to," she smiled, "but it might be a while until I see him! I didn't know he was goin' off until I got here, this morn, and he said to me: 'Margie, I have some business I need to deal with, I might be gone for a few days -- will you look after Colette for me?'"

Nalia blinked. "Colette?"

"Oh, there's me manners again," Margie sighed, pulling back from the door and inviting them in properly, seemingly oblivious to Edwina's mutterings and mumblings. Coran accepted the offer graciously, and immediately noticed the young girl lying, seemingly unconscious, on the bed through the open door of the bedroom.

"It's a terrible shame what happened to her," Margie said as she closed the door behind them, her voice low. "She was found after her father disappeared, murdered by all accounts, by some other mage and his servant, he was. They kept poor Colette prisoner an' then vanished one day, leavin' her bound in the house alone! It's a miracle she survived, an' when Lord Valygar returned here, he chose to nurse her back to health himself with my help. I've been comin' every mornin' to make sure she has enough remedies to get through another day."

"That's terrible!" exclaimed Nalia, her hands rising to her mouth in horror. "Have the men been found?"

Margie shook her head sadly. "They've not been seen for weeks now -- they disappeared around the time you were last here, by all accounts. We'd hoped that you'd run into them and sorted them for us, but Lord Valygar said it wasn't so."

Coran looked over to Nalia, and the girl nodded subtly to him. Xzar and Montaron. "Then you must help us," Coran said urgently. "We are currently seeking one of those men; he passed through the village recently, leaving yesterday morning with two companions who don't understand his true nature. We have to get to them."

Margie paled at his words and sat down, shakily, on a nearby chair. "Oh, my lord! If only I could be of more use!" she exclaimed. "Lord Valygar had heard rumour of the mage bein' seen nearby, an' that's why he left this mornin'! He didn't tell me where he was goin', though, only that Willet'd told him they'd been stayin' at the inn, and that he'd be sorting out a horse for him if he could."

Coran nodded grimly and strode back towards the door. "Thank you, Margie," he said, throwing it open. "We must leave now, and hope that we are not too late. We shall head back to the village and ask Willet if he knows where Valygar was intending to go so that we can join with him. I don't think he knows the danger he might be in."

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Xzar led the way as they left the village, rested after a night at the inn. Verya had not appeared, and Minsc was uncharacteristically quiet, seeming lost in his own thoughts as he frowned, his gaze fixed somewhere in the distance. Maiyn wondered what was on his mind, but she had her own issues to deal with. Her father was not happy.

You waste time. I cannot understand why you are pursuing these fruitless ventures when matters of far greater importance are happening elsewhere.

Now you're beginning to sound like Jaheira.

There was a long pause. She smiled softly to herself; was this what it felt like to be a rebellious child?

There are others, you know. Do not believe that you are the only one who can serve me.

I am not serving you! If there are so many, why don't you go off and pester them?

They are not as accommodating as you. They still have their souls, child.

She winced, recoiling at the reminder. There was a faint laugh in her mind; the voice was pleased with her response, it seemed, and so it went quiet. She was in no hurry to awaken its attention any time soon.

"I wonder where Verya is," she mused, mostly to herself, but loud enough for the Rashemeni to overhear. He started from his daydreams, turning his head from side to side as he looked around.

"Eh. Minsc must admit that he did not notice the absence of our feline friend," he admitted abashedly. Maiyn grinned.

"That's all right. Something on your mind?"

The berserker shrugged slightly. "Minsc was just thinking, and when Minsc thinks, he becomes very sad. There are a lot of memories which cause him to feel pain and anger."

Maiyn nodded understandingly. "I know what you mean," she sighed. "But... we do have some good memories, too! Like the time in Baldur's Gate when Dynaheir slipped in the sewers..."

"Glorious Dynaheir screamed so loudly that Minsc thought evil was near!" he agreed.

"And the tunnel was barely wide enough for us all to fit through, so you waving your sword about made Jaheira slightly irate..."

Minsc nodded solemnly. "Colourful Coran tried to cheer her up, but she did not seem pleased with his intentions."

"No... she just hinted, quite heavily, that he could also do with a bath..."

"She was very wise!" Boo squeaked his agreement and Maiyn giggled gently before lapsing back into a more comfortable silence. She could remember enough of their previous treks in these lands to know Xzar was heading in the right direction; he'd claimed to have some incantation running that would direct him, unavoidably, to the correct place, which he'd already concluded was deep in the abandoned temple to Amaunator. It wasn't somewhere Maiyn had thought she'd be returning to, especially not at this stage of her travels -- and even she was sometimes wondering just what exactly she was doing here.

But then she'd think back; to the day outside the Friendly Arms... the assassin mage who had paralysed her, as well as Imoen and Kivan, with a fear cantrip, allowing his heavily armed guards to slowly advance. She could still remember fighting her panic, resisting the urge to flee -- so busy fighting her instinct that she was left vulnerable and alone.

And then the guard had closed in... and purple missiles had flown through the air. Her heart had sank, and she'd watched them, waiting for them to hit her. But they never did -- instead, they sank into the mage and she'd noticed Xzar, laughing deliriously a little way off. That hadn't stopped her attacker though; but Montaron's well placed slice with his sword had, stabbing him wildly to get his attention before he cleaved the human's head off, leaving him lying, very much dead at her feet.

It was what been playing constantly in her mind the past few days. There had been other incidents; without Xzar, she wasn't sure they'd have managed to cross one of the bridges in the Nashkel Mines, and his magic and Montaron's eagerness to fight... well, anything, really, had made them valuable allies for the two young girls who had barely ever been outside the library fortress of Candlekeep. Then, of course, there'd been the Undercity...

But their paths had split, their personalities too different from the Harpers that Maiyn could not, and would not, leave. And she'd been thankful, to a degree... while not quite as righteous as some she'd met, she did have some moral standards, and she'd always wondered how long it would have taken before she found out they weren't going to work in conjunction with the Zhents.

A cry from ahead brought her from her thoughts and she looked up to see the ruined temple in the distance. Xzar was smiling, which was unsettling in itself, and he nudged his pony onwards, grasping tightly at the book he'd been carrying with him for the whole journey. Maiyn looked over to Minsc; the berserker was focussing on the route, the sack tied to the saddle behind him as innocent-appearing as it had been the day they set off. Her preservation spell was working, and there had been no sign of any decay to the body. It wouldn't last forever, of course, and so the ranger was glad they'd made it to their destination in good time. The sun suggested it still had a few hours left in the sky, and there was a good chance they'd be able to leave before too long.

And that meant they could part ways with the Zhents and head south; to where they were really needed.

And so she drifted back into her thoughts, only vaguely aware of the happenings around herself as she trotted on towards the entrance to the ruins, close behind Xzar and Minsc. She remained unaware of the man who had been tracking them for the last leg of their journey, who had pursued them from the village and caught up with them before they rode over the final hill crest. And Verya was missing; Maiyn assumed she was resting after the long and fairly demanding journey to the hills, or hunting in the early morning light. The cat would have noticed the stalker and warned her mistress about the extra company, but Maiyn wasn't worried by her absence. Verya would catch up with them when it suited her, free of spirit as she was. And she's probably still sulking for us being so long in the Underdark...

-----------------------

Patch snorted heavily as Coran nudged him into a gallop. Nalia called out, worried about such speeds on the treacherous terrain around the crags, but her warning fell on deaf ears and she ended up being left behind with Edwina; the Red Wizardess sneering contemptuously at the elf's impetuousness.

Once or twice Patch's footing slipped, but the horse was capable enough and Coran had quickly adapted to becoming an able horseman. Together they navigated down the rocks and past the scree that sloped back down to the edge of the forest. Willet had only had a vague suspicion of Valygar's intended route, after seeing him leaving the village, but it had been enough to convince Coran on where to begin their search. His tracking skills were woefully sparse, and only his intuition, and Nalia's agreement on his hunch, had led them this far and along a route much different to the one they'd taken many weeks before.

But they'd seen it from the top of the cliff; the temple ruins in the distance that they'd travelled through as a group, searching for the dragon that Mazzy had wished to slay. A pang of loss stabbed at his heart as he fought the melancholy associated with the death-place of a former companion of sorts, and he grit his teeth firmly, urging Patch to maintain the steady gait as they disappeared into the forest.

Nalia sighed and let her own horse begin its own careful and slow descent, ignoring the mumbling Edwina, who only seemed to follow because she didn't want to be left on her own. She had a good enough idea on how to get to the temple from here, though she would have felt much more comfortable if Coran had waited for them. As it was, the idea of being stranded in the wild with only the increasingly irritable mage for company was enough to make her encourage her mount to pick up speed slightly.

When both had made it safely down, she cantered into the forest, not bothering to see if Edwina was keeping up. There was no sign at all of Coran and she silently cursed him, a frown spreading across her face as she contemplated his rashness and the extreme thoughtlessness he'd displayed. She wondered if he was even capable of giving her a second thought, so obsessed as he was with reaching Valygar before he could hurt Maiyn.

But Valygar wouldn't hurt Maiyn, would he? He was a fair man, and his issue was with Xzar and Montaron, not anyone else. Coran knew this... so why was he so worried about what might happen, and the danger that may be ahead?

And then she remembered; the discussions in the crypt, then later in the Order. The talk of the 'monster' that Maiyn had become, physically. An 'Avatar of Bhaal', they'd said, though Nalia wasn't really sure what they meant. She'd understood the rest perfectly, though; the loss of control, the bloodthirstiness that had been displayed.

Coran wasn't worried about Maiyn at all -- or at least, not in the way Nalia had initially suspected. He was worried about what she might do.