Alone. That was the best way to describe her, now. Absolutely, intolerably, alone. It was funny though, because that's exactly what she had never wanted to be. What she had tried her best to avoid, throughout all the turmoil and strife that had plagued her life for the past weeks and months. Mirnelle Santele, Countess of Saradush, tried with all her might to still her trembling hands as she stood before the fireplace mantle, holding a small picture of her family.
The Count Santele, her husband. Gone. Exiled from their city when that fiend Gromnir had arrived, declaring himself ruler of Saradush. He had tried to put up a fight, tried to resist, but Gromnir was too powerful, had too many powerful friends. He was gone, and she would probably never see his face, his charming features ever again. Still, she had been allowed to remain- Mellissan had pleaded her case and Gromnir had finally relented- everyone knew that he was in charge now, after all. What could she do to oppose him? Nothing... and she knew it.
Still, she also had her son. Her son Ardic and his best friend Mateo. The two were inseparable, and she had been more a mother to Mateo than his own kin. They were like brothers, and she cared for both of them as dearly as she could muster. Without her husband to comfort her, she threw herself into their lives, watching out for them, ensuring that they received the best of everything in life, the best training, the best weaponry, even the best mentors when they applied to be part of the city militia. And they had been good- both of them. Inseparable, and unbeatable when fighting side by side. The pain of losing her husband had almost been covered over completely by the pride she felt in these two young men.
Then the siege came. The armies of Yaga-Shura, surrounding their city and bringing them to the brink of destruction. Even in these dark times, she still found strength in her sons.
And then Ardic... Ardic, her son, her blood child had vanished. Vanished and neither she nor the rest of the militia knew where to find him. He had simply... vanished. Not slain in battle, not marching to his death, knowing what he faced... he was simply gone. And now Mateo... she felt tears begin to well up at her eyes, and there would be no stopping the sobs that were sure to come-
A rap at the door of her tower startled her, shaking the despair and grief from her momentarily. Her blue gown trailed behind her slightly as she made her way to the door- once upon a time her guards would have answered the call, but she had long since lost their services to the growing desperation surrounding the defense of Saradush. Besides, what need had she for guards when all her valuables had been taken by that mongrel Gromnir? Not that it had stopped opportunistic scum from trying to rob her home, taking advantage of the chaos that the siege had caused. As if accruing a few measly gold coins would extend the last days of their lives.
Still, even if it were nothing more than money-hungry vermin, any interruption would do to take her mind off the tragedy of the past days. She collected herself, and then walked to the door, trying to show a glimmer of the proud, regal woman she had been once. Opening the door, she found herself face to face with four men and women, either heavily armored or dressed in the garb of a wizard; their very presence was not to be disregarded. More mercenaries, perhaps, come to steal what little she had left for Gromnir's profit?
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice holding steady, showing no trace of the weakness she felt deep inside.
"I can assure you that we're not here to harm you, Countess." Greywulf smiled warmly; though her voice was rock-solid, her body language screamed nervousness and barely suppressed terror. Perhaps finding out the truth from her would be easier than he had hoped. "We were part of the battle to repel the invaders that came through when the traitor opened the gates. Whoever that traitor was."
The Countess' eyes widened at the mention of the traitor, and the effect was immediate and striking. It was not, however, the reaction that the four adventurers had expected. "Get... get out! I have nothing to say to you! Any of you-"
"Wait a moment, please..." Aerie reached out a hand, her big blue eyes catching the Countess terrified gaze. "We're not here to accuse you of anything, or to try and harm you- we just want to ask you a few questions, that's all."
"Yes indeed." Minsc nodded. "Boo would not harm a lady such as yourself. It would not be proper etiquette. Did Minsc pronounce that correctly? Ah... Boo says yes."
"We just want you to tell us what you told Captain Samand about Mateo and Kiser- we overheard some of the conversation when we were coming to see the Captain, but not all of it."
"Your testimony is keeping Mateo in the city jail, when he could be defending the walls from the army waiting to slaughter everyone." Sarevok remarked, his arms folded as he leaned against the wall, his armor shifting loudly. "Are you quite positive that you remembered the events correctly? Mateo betraying the gates, Kiser fleeing to warn the city?"
"I... yes. That's what I saw." Countess Santele said, her voice a bare whisper as she tried to look at them with reddened eyes. "Please... just leave me alone. I have told you what I told them- there is nothing more for me to say."
It was distinctly obvious that the woman was lying to them- but there was no hint that she was willing to change her mind or tell them what had really taken place. The answer was also obvious- but without any sort of proof, they couldn't simply walk into Kiser's house and kill the man. Well, they probably could have, but that was far too much like the Slayer's solution to everything- kill first and ask questions later.
"Please... if you're afraid of someone hurting you for telling us the truth, you don't have to worry." Aerie shook her head with a gentle smile. "Minsc and Greywulf have saved my life more t-times than I can count. You can trust us."
"I said I don't know anything!" Mirnelle shrieked, erupting with grief and anger without warning. She pulled away from Aerie, determined to fight off these intruders- she pulled a dagger from her robes, stepping away from them and leveling it at them, nearly hyperventilating. "Get out of my house! Get out or I will kill you myself!!"
"I-" Greywulf hesitated, raising his hands in as placating a manner as possible. They couldn't very well force the issue- whatever had really happened, it was affecting the Countess deeper than he could have guessed. Something was wrong... very wrong. But unless she cooperated in some way, they wouldn't know where to start with the exception of investigating Kiser, and Imoen and Jaheira were already on that, or at least as much as they could without further evidence. Trying to push her any further could result in her actually attacking one of them-
Sarevok stepped forward, his blade, surprisingly, still in its sheath. Greywulf opened his mouth to ask what he thought he was doing, but instead of blustering a threat or booming an insult, he lowered his posture to look into her eyes directly. "I know why you fear us, Countess. You fear what will happen to you, and to the ones you love if you tell us anything. You are afraid of those who would hurt you. I tell you without doubt, that should anyone try and threaten you, or us, for speaking to you? They will die. They will suffer beyond anything they have ever imagined. And for whatever they have done to you... there shall be a reckoning."
Mirnelle swallowed, unable to take her eyes off of Sarevok's face, his glowing yellow eyes- she glanced down, removing a small bag from her robes, opening it and dumping the contents on the floor- Aerie gasped as Greywulf winced, a severed finger rolling to a halt with a ring on the thick end of it. "It... it belonged to my son." the Countess whispered through growing tears, meeting Sarevok's gaze again. "I saw Mateo chasing Kiser from the drain before it opened, but I did not see who opened it. Kiser came to my house soon after, telling me that I would be questioned by Captain Samand soon, and that I should tell him Mateo was the traitor. He... gave me that, and told me if I didn't, I would never see Ardic again. I just want my son back..."
"Countess..." Greywulf stepped in and took her by the shoulders, drawing her tear-stained face to his. "You did the right thing here. We are going to find your son, and we are-"
"Going to take revenge for every misdeed that this worthless mongrel has lain upon you and your family." Sarevok cut Greywulf off, nodding to the countess grimly. "I will make him pay with his blood for what he has done. Do you understand?"
Mirnelle clutched her robes, nodding quietly as the slightest hint of an upward curl appeared at the edges of his mouth, before he left, the others reluctantly following him, nothing left to say, apparently. As they departed her house, watching the sky carefully for any sign of incoming catapult fire breaching the weakened magic barrier, Greywulf arched an eyebrow at Sarevok. "So... the big man has a softer side. So to speak. Didn't think you had that kind of diplomacy in you... such as it was."
"Then you fall into the same trap that so many of my foes fell into." Sarevok replied evenly. "Do you think that I nearly conquered Baldur's Gate through strength of arms alone? I had to play the cards of deception more often than you could know. Politics, diplomacy, bargaining... I had to master all of it to reach the station of Duke."
"I still find it strange that she responded to your efforts and not ours." Aerie remarked, frowning at the bark of laughter coming from the dark warrior.
"How naive. You and your own know only one way, the way of peace, of gentle, quiet coercion, appealing to the lighter side of these fools- it is as I have always said. Men rise to the occasion when faced with the prospect of a blade, far more than they will in the face off your pretty words. And if not a threat to them personally... then a threat to those they hate most. Fear can stifle the noblest of heroes, but revenge... revenge can quell any cowardice. I should know... revenge has been a fuel for my strength in many a battle."
Sarevok grinned darkly as though to punctuate his final words, then stalked ahead, leaving the other three behind to consider what he had said... and what it meant for them and the rest of the group. Greywulf watched him for a moment, as though reconsidering something. Minsc's face was inscrutable as always, and Aerie... Aerie shivered a bit further, wondering just when they would be rid of this evil man.
X X X X X X
Imoen closed her eyes, letting her nimble fingers take over all of her senses in this delicate task. This Kiser Jhaeri was certainly wealthy enough to afford some of the best locks she'd ever had the pleasure of trying to pick, and he was definitely getting his money's worth. It had taken her and Jaheira nearly an hour to find a window where they wouldn't be seen breaking and entering, and another hour to get the schedule of the guards' that patrolled Mr. Jhaeri's dwelling on a regular basis. They had only two minutes before the next patrol came by the study adjacent to the library- the room they were looking to enter certainly had enough bookshelves to be considered one unto itself- and with the amount of time it was taking to get her lock picks through the first three tumblers, she wasn't certain she could make the fourth and fifth before the guards(who looked unusually well armed and alert) came through again. If they did, she'd have to abandon her attempt and start the whole process over again. That was something she was definitely looking to avoid- of course, there was always the direct option, should it come down to it.
"Imoen, we are running out of time..."
Imoen grit her teeth as she tried to block out Jaheira's insistent words, instead concentrating fully on the task at hand. She could feel the minute tumbler inside shift as she pushed up with her pick, holding her breath as she tried to get it to latch just right- there. Only one left now... and without warning, she yelped as Jaheira slammed into her, pushing the thief-mage out of sight and holding her pressed beneath her own body as the druid glanced upward at the window, barely spotting the form of Kiser Jhaeri himself enter the room, settle into a chair on the far side of the library, and begin reading a book.
"Jaheira... you can get off me now-" Imoen wheezed as the druid slowly slid off, keeping low so there would be no chance of the merchant spotting them through the window they had been trying to break into.
"Damn." Imoen swore unhappily, gathering her scattered tools and slipping them back into her belt purse. "This might be a little more difficult than we thought."
"We'll need some kind of distraction." Jaheira agreed, leading Imoen past the window frame and back into the main streets where they would meet the others once they had spoken with the Countess. "Though perhaps with the insanity that you and Greywulf come up with for these kinds of plans, it might be better if *I* make the choice of distraction in this instance."
"Sure, take all the fun out of it." Imoen pouted, glancing back around the side of the house to make sure they hadn't been noticed. "Why dont'cha just ask me to stop behaving like a child while yer at it."
"Because that would be pointless." Jaheira stated, before leaning over and stating matter-of-factly, "Since you still are one, child."
Imoen snorted, and for a moment the two simply stood in silence together- the druid and the thief-mage, companions for so very long, yet so very different. Out of all of them, Jaheira and Imoen were the only two who had yet to find that... happy medium, so to speak. Almost every other conflict between the party had been resolved long ago- with the exception of Sarevok's new influence, of course. But between the old guard, they had fought their share of inter-party conflicts, but each one had eventually passed and been resolved after some time. Aerie and Jaheira, to name one of the foremost conflicts. But Imoen and the half-elf druid... it just never seemed to go anywhere. There was always that hint of tension between the two. Never any sort of outright hostility, just... tension.
Maybe it was the way Jaheira seemed to refuse to see Imoen as more than that frightened, naive girl she had met in the Friendly Arm Inn so long ago. She never had stopped calling her 'child', after all. Greywulf had eventually earned her respect- granted, their relationship was quite different, especially in recent months, but still... Imoen sighed and tried to put the thoughts behind her. They would pass soon enough, as they always did. Normally it didn't bother her at all, but recently... with the taint of Bhaal growing ever stronger within her, little things got her temper so much easier. Got her to feel that tightness in the throat, that blood rushing to her head. She should probably tell someone about it, Greywulf at the very least- no. She'd said it before, back when Greywulf and she had been trying to cope with the loss of their souls. Everyone had a role to play- Greywulf's was the unshakeable leader, hers was the impish trickster. Even if she didn't feel it inside, she was damn good at playing it anyway.
A tingling feeling made Imoen frown, realizing she was being stared at. She glanced up to see that it was Jaheira, an expectant look on the druid's face. "Did you hear anything I just said, Imoen?"
"Ah... nah. But that's kind of normal for me when yer talkin, so..." Imoen said with a wink and a grin- if she could've she would've patted herself on the back. Classic Imoen quip. Immature, funny, and a complete deflection of any inquiry into her mental state. Unfortunately, she was talking to the only person on the group who would've picked up on it.
"Is there something wrong, Imoen? If you wish to speak, you have but to ask..." Jaheira frowned, stepping closer as a trace hint of concern filled her tone. Imoen could have cursed- she needed a new plan to deflect Jaheira's inquiries. She was too good to fall for an out and out lie- but what was it Jaheira had said about Yoshimo's betrayal, how he had been able to trick them? A hint of truth amidst all the lies...
"I... it's nothing, Jaheira. I just-" Imoen paused a moment, biting her bottom lip, the little twitch she'd developed when dropping her mask of unbending cheer and letting those around her in. "I know I've been a little distant lately. It's because... well..." Imoen let her gaze drift to the Harper Pin that dangled from Jaheira's neck, and Jaheira traced her gaze in an instant.
"Because of my association with the Harpers?" Jaheira smiled knowingly, and Imoen knew that the druidess had bought it wholeheartedly. "I thought so. Greywulf has suffered at the hands of many groups because of his lineage and now that you find you share it..."
"I don't mean to be a stranger, or to put you off with stupid jokes and stuff - I just… people will see me differently now, I just know." Imoen sighed. "I know everything between you and the Harpers is fixed… but what if they start to see Greywulf and me like-"
"Let them see you however they wish." Jaheira replied firmly, taking Imoen by the shoulder. "What can you do but just be yourself? I know these are only words but… you will be fine."
"I know." Imoen smiled, her eyes lighting up as she spotted the others approaching from the opposite side of the street running past Kiser's home. "Thanks, but I think the others are here. Wouldn't want to keep tall, dark, and gruesome waiting, right?"
She tried to hide it, but Imoen caught the slight twitch of amusement upon Jaheira's mouth at her description of Sarevok. True enough, he towered over all of them save Minsc, and his face bore the usual hard stare as the six of them reunited, Greywulf embracing Imoen and Jaheira in turn as they stepped away from the merchant's house, avoiding any accidental eavesdropping of their plans by the man they sought.
"Any luck getting inside the house?" Aerie asked, glancing at the fortress like home, eliciting only a frustrated sigh from Imoen. "Nope. And this guy's got the wealth to afford some of the best locks I've ever tried to pick. Some runes to make magic fizzle on 'em..."
"Can you get in or not?" Sarevok asked pointedly, Imoen glaring in reply at the challenge.
"Yes. Yes, I can get in, but it won't be easy. And I'll need a distraction. The guard comes by every five minutes or so... not a lot of room for error."
Jaheira nodded in agreement, then turned to the others with expectation. "And what of your efforts? Did the Countess provide any useful information?"
"The Countess is trapped like a hamster in a maze, and that is something to be saddened for, yes indeed." Minsc stated gravely. "Her son is missing, and the sneaky merchant has taken him! There must be vengeance for her son's life!"
"He is dead then?" Jaheira asked, but was met with a shrug of uncertainty from Greywulf. "We don't know. He's missing a finger, that much is certain... something of a grisly ultimatum from Kiser. 'Tell the Captain that Mateo is the traitor or Ardic loses more than a finger."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Imoen asked, letting a set of bluish-white sparks jump from her fingertips in anticipation. "We go in, kick this guy's ass, get her son out and problem's solved."
"For once we agree on something." Sarevok growled, though he turned his yellow-eyed glare on Greywulf in moments. "But your 'leader' seems disinclined to follow suit. Patience, is it?"
"Yes." Greywulf defended, finding himself on the defensive in an awkward turn of events. "We still don't *know* if Kiser is the traitor. There could be a reason for kidnapping Ardic... or maybe the Countess is somehow involved. We don't know all the facts just yet..."
"But surely we can't just sit here and do nothing while Ardic suffers?" Aerie asked with hesitant surprise, unsure of Greywulf's intention. "We know he's imprisoned- we should at least try to get him out."
"Also true." Greywulf nodded, exhaling quietly as he considered his plans, making one slight adjustment. "We'll need to confront Kiser no matter what and see what he's got to say for himself in all this. Odds are, we'll end up fighting, but on the off-chance he actually has a reasonable reason for what he's done, we won't necessarily leave the Countess' son there. Jaheira, Imoen- the two of you will get inside, but this time, you'll have a distraction. Us, that is. Find Ardic, make sure he's safe, and if you can get him out, so much the better. If not, we'll be there, so you'll have backup."
"Er... what if Ardic isn't in the house? I mean, what if Kiser's holding him somewhere else?" Aerie asked with uncertainty, but Greywulf only paused a moment before shaking his head.
"No. He'll want him close where he can keep an eye on him, or if worse comes to worse, use him as a shield."
There were only a few nods of acknowledgment, but for the most part it was somewhat dumbfounded silence... Greywulf had come up with a lot of ridiculous sounding plots in the past, trying unconventional tactics to get them out of tight spots, but usually they were reserved for life-or-death situations, times where they either thought outside the box or got buried in one. This... this was just plain sloppy. Too many loose ends, too many what if's. Protesting Kiser's possible innocence to the very ends of plausibility, yet assuming Ardic's presence in case whatever he may or not have been up to was found out? Still, they trusted him, and it wasn't as though he was asking them to defend a Keep against an army of invading orcs. Imoen and Jaheira slunk back to the side of the house, peeking through the window, waiting until the guard passed through again before signaling the others to knock-
"A... interesting plan, you've conceived, brother." Sarevok smirked quietly, Greywulf glaring back with irritation.
"Hold your tongue, *brother.*"
"I did not mean to offend. Only... it seems strange that you would give so much credit to this already suspicious merchant, refusing to act on him with the force he has undoubtedly earned." Sarevok smiled, letting his white teeth show even further. "Even our unfathomably cheerful sister agrees with the approach of giving this villain a direct approach. I simply wonder why you would show such restraint now, with so much at stake..."
"Because I don't kill unless I absolutely have to, that's why." Greywulf bit back, harsher than he had intended, drawing glances from the others with them, slowly taking notice of their conversation.
"Is that so?" Sarevok chuckled, his voice still even and quiet. "Imoen seems to disagree... no. I don't think so. You are so determined to show me up, to prove that 'your way' works better than mine that you ignore the evidence right before your eyes, going to any lengths to distance yourself different than me, even when we might normally agree. I had no idea that my presence would cause such idiocy within you. How... amusing."
Before anyone could say another word, the sound of a bird echoed from the druid-warrior as Imoen began her work, already pushing through the tumblers she'd bested previously- Minsc grabbed the door handle and twisted, pushing the door open without bothering to knock. Sarevok followed Greywulf inside, smiling thinly. Greywulf was reacting to his goads, his presence, even better than he had anticipated. The sorcerer saw himself in Sarevok... and just like Sarevok knew he would, he pushed himself to any lengths to distance themselves. Even if it meant putting Saradush in danger. Of course, he couldn't let Greywulf's attempts at fleeing their kinship endanger the overall mission. He'd have to back off a bit, let the sorcerer stew on what he'd seen, on what he knew in his heart to be true, while still leading with a clear head. That didn't mean, of course, that he couldn't play one last card. And he knew exactly what that next card would be. And then... oh, how he looked forward to seeing what Greywulf would do.
X X X X X X
The sound of dock workers shouting back and forth and waves crashing against the boats moored all along the District provided a constant background din to encase the pair of warriors in ambient noise as they made their way back from visiting the dwarven smith Cromwell. Anomen tried not to show the disappointment he was struggling with as he exhaled lightly. "Once more we find ourselves alone on this mission. T'was quite the hope, I suppose, to think that Cromwell might know of other warriors worthy of our attention in this city."
"If you are so desperate to find other warriors, you would have little trouble finding those who would join your cause for the right price." Solaufein remarked quietly. "The City of Coin, yes?"
Apparently Solaufein's words triggered disdain within the squire- his features knit in what could only be interpreted as annoyance as he shook his head vigorously, "Nay, this is no job for simple mercenaries of fickle loyalty and money-driven morals. This mission must be performed with the utmost of care and reverence- Helm demands no less."
Anomen's intermittent bouts of overly pious attitude were slightly confusing, especially when combined with the purposeful humility he demonstrated the rest of the time. Solaufein found it an odd dichotomy, remaining quiet as he traveled beside his newfound companion- it was obvious that the man felt a great need to prove himself, but rather than boast of his accomplishments and present himself as the hero he wished himself to be, Anomen had chosen a quieter, humbler path... most of the time. He still showed glimmers of the old self that had alienated so many, nearly destroyed him and any chance he had held for joining the Order.
"Ah... excuse my words." Anomen sighed, having taken Solaufein's silence not as simple reflection but a judgment on the tone of his last words. "I should not be so eager to tout my own piousness- these are the times I wish Keldorn were still here. I could use his wisdom now."
"For yourself or for this quest that I have yet to hear the direction of?" Solaufein noted, lowering his head and tugging his hood down further as a group of drunken sailors staggered by. The last thing they needed now was a riot because some of some foolish, frightened humans.
The squire smirked lightly, nodding in acquiescence. "There is wisdom in what you say... and to tell you the truth, I do not know either. Perhaps both. As for keeping you in the dark, I assure you it was completely unintentional. Perhaps I should explain-"
"You there! Halt!"
Solaufein whirled with a curse at his lips, sure he had been made by some over-eager fool looking to make some sort of name off of his hide, but he paused when he spotted a lithe man in hood and cloak fleeing with what was apparently stolen merchandise tucked under one arm, followed closely by an armored guard of the city, sword and shield in hand as he tried to keep up with the faster thief.
"A guard in the Docks? Strange... I had not thought the city foolish enough to attempt placing their own men in a district so heavily controlled by the Shadow Thieves." the drow murmured.
"They don't." Anomen nodded, his brow furrowing as he watched with sudden realization. "But I recognize that voice-"
Anomen suddenly bolted ahead, moving to intercept the fleeing man with Solaufein right on his heels. The thief spotted Anomen's oncoming bullrush and sidestepped at the last moment, narrowly avoiding the Helmite's tackle, sending Anomen hurtling into a pile of garbage head first. The guard who had been chasing him was moving too fast to avoid the sudden barrier in his way, and could not help but tumble into Anomen as well, throwing his sword to the side at the last moment before he accidentally severed one of their limbs. Solaufein was the only one left on his feet- and for all the speed that the thief possessed, he was no drow. Solaufein had a dagger in one hand and had hurled it, the blade plunging into the running man's left calf, eliciting a howl of pain as he slid to the ground, leaving a trail of blood behind him.
He cursed in pain and anger as Solaufein walked slowly to stand before him, spitting at the drow's feet before ending his futile attempts at pulling the dagger out and instead drawing a small, one-handed crossbow from his robes and pointing it at Solaufein with a feral grin. "Yer gonna regret gettin involved, ye miserable pile of kobold dung!"
The drow narrowed his eyes and lowered his hood, the strands of his white hair blowing gently behind him as his red eyes fixed on the thief's, never moving. "Try it. Please."
The sudden revealing of what Solaufein really was made the downed thief pause for a brief moment- enough time for Anomen to slide to the criminal's side and grab the wrist with the crossbow, swinging into a harmless direction, the bolt shattering off a stone building as the man's finger spasmed on the trigger. Anomen's usually meticulously cleaned armor was covered in dirt and filth, his hair and beard had bits of garbage strewn through them, and if to complete the ensemble, a rotting banana peel was draped over his right shoulder pauldron. "Nicely done, Solaufein. Though I would hate for you to lose your dagger..."
Anomen yanked the blade out of his prisoner's calf, signaling a renewed flow of blood, that the squire staunched with a strip of cloth torn from the thief's cloak. The man glared daggers of hatred at both of them, then shouted viciously. "He's a drow!! We got a drow here in the cit-"
A gauntleted hand clamped down upon the thief's throat, cutting off his howls of attempted revenge, Anomen visibly restraining his temper. "You would do well to remain silent, thief. Yes, he is a drow. And if you know anything of the legends of that race, you will know that they are not known for their tolerance of fools. You, sir, have proven yourself one. Now be silent or I shall silence you myself. Permanently."
"Ach... I thank you for your aid. Even if it did not go quite as planned. You've done me a great service, citizens." the guard's voice, a bit sheepish yet trying to remain dignified was a stark contrast to the same dirtied complexion and features that Anomen had found himself subjected to. He was a broad man, well used to the arts of war, but obviously not meant for long distance running and chases like the one which the sullenly quiet thief had been subjecting him to.
"It was no trouble at all. Anything to help a member of the city guard... Sir Reynald." Anomen let the last part slip lightly, causing the guard to frown in wary caution, then blink as if opening his eyes for the first time since they had literally bumped into each other.
"I... Anomen? Sir Anomen Delryn, by Torm it is you!!" Reynald de Chatillon laughed aloud, removing his helmet and shaking Anomen's hand before his enthusiasm suddenly quieted, looking at Anomen with a hint of penitence in his face, suddenly unwilling to meet the squire's gaze. "Er... it is, ah, good to see you again. And as you know, it is no longer 'Sir' Reynald. You need not stand on such ceremony."
The sudden change of tone between the two was confusing for the drow onlooker- Solaufein broke up the awkward silence that had suddenly inhabited the formerly bright reunion of sorts, offering his hand, a gesture he rarely initiated to other surfacers, but something he felt appropriate given the circumstance. "Solaufein of Ust Natha."
"Er... a pleasure to meet you." Reynald stammered, somewhat unsure of how to greet the dark-skinned fighter. "I heard the zeal with which Sir Anomen defended you- I can only assume you are as valiant a warrior for justice as he- I cannot imagine he would tolerate any less at his side, drow or not."
Anomen squirmed uncomfortably- whether it was Reynald's humble statements or something else, he was obviously uncomfortable. He took the guardsman by the arm and smiled firmly. "Reynald- it has been a long time. I think we should speak again... speak of what has happened in recent days. Do you have time to indulge an old friend for a few moments?"
Apparently his words were a surprise to hear- de Chatillon considered what Anomen was saying with a frown, finally nodding slowly, gesturing at the thief with one thumb. "I... of course. Anything for a Knight of the Order. My shift ends soon enough- I will take this criminal back to the guard tower and then join you- where would you like to meet?"
"Perhaps the Sea's Bounty?" Anomen gestured to the west, pointing at the inn nestled between warehouses on the path leading out of the Docks. "My friend and I shall wait your arrival there."
"As you wish. I shall see you soon." Reynald nodded, hauling the thief to his feet, supporting him as he brought the criminal back to the guardhouse.
Solaufein watched the two of them vanish into the bustle of the District, then turned to Anomen, also watching them disappear, though with a look of regret crossing his bearded features. He waited until Anomen turned away, taken slightly by surprise at the intent study Solaufein was making of him. "I sense history between the two of you, squire."
"You sense correctly." Anomen smiled weakly as they walked back towards the Sea's Bounty together. "Reynald was once a member of the Radiant Heart, a paladin plain and true. For the love of a woman that was not his, Celestine, a temptation to great for him to bear, he was made unworthy of the vows he took to the Order. He was a good man, but cast out for a lack of self control."
"A harsh punishment, it would seem, for a crime so small." Solaufein remarked, and the implications of the Order's rule-heavy regulations was not lost on Anomen.
"Only those with the internal fortitude of the legends who have passed before us can hope to remain a member of the Order." he defended lightly, his normal zeal when speaking of his life-long dream not quite there. "But there are many good, decent men who have not the will to be counted among their number. Reynald was- is- a valiant man, and his indiscretions did not change that. He still sought to do good, and the companionship of warriors that he had found in the ranks of the Order."
"What happened?"
"He joined a group of men who, like him, had fallen from their position in the Radiant Heart, forming what was known as the Fallen Paladins. Led by the ex-knight Anarg, they used the name of the Order to further their own gains, doing 'good' deeds, but the motivation of self-service lurked behind every battle they fought. Many of them had embraced this new role so freely that they were no longer any trace of the men they had once been."
"But Reynald was different." Solaufein said, not bothering to phrase it as a question.
"Yes. He was different." Anomen replied quietly, stepping forward to open the Sea's Bounty door before shouldering a path through the patrons to an unoccupied table at the back. "When I traveled with Greywulf and his party, we were tasked to hunt down and destroy this group, ending their disgrace of the Order's name. We bluffed our way into their ranks, meeting Reynald. He was Anarg's second in command. At the time, I thought of him as little more than gutter trash, scum who should have been killed for breaking his vows. When we finally fought Anarg, Reynald refused to fight us, but refused to fight with us. He fled, only to emerge when the battle was done, completely directionless and uncertain of what path to take with his life. He... he made a point to ask me, as a member of the Order, for absolution. I told him what I thought of him, and what I would have done to him were the others not there to restrain my wrath."
Solaufein thought of what Anomen had told him so far, and the arrogant, self-righteous man that the squire had been for so long. He grimaced, and Anomen simply nodded gravely.
"Exactly. Greywulf and the others were kinder souls than I, and directed him to the city guard, recommending him to the Chief Inspector of the city, Brega." Anomen shook his head as a pretty young waitress came to the table, offering her services. "Not at the moment, miss. Ah- as you can see, he has remained a good man, perhaps a better man than I, in the end. Even in the face of such persecution."
"Persecution?" Solaufein frowned.
"You mentioned that no guard gets posted in the Docks." Anomen laughed humorlessly. "Only those to whom the rest of the guards feel... animosity, towards. His past as a Fallen Paladin is undoubtedly known to them, and he pays for it, rather than becoming a mercenary or finding work in some other discipline where such a flaw would draw significantly less scorn."
"Ah- there you are! I had wondered if you would be visible in the crowd- I am glad to have found you." Reynald's voice caught their attention, and Solaufein watched Anomen with curiosity as the former paladin pushed his way to their table, seating himself opposite the former knight. The more he traveled among the surfacers, the more he found himself simultaneously puzzled and intrigued. This, Solaufein leaned back, waiting for the first of them to speak, would be worth watching.
X X X X X X
"Interlopers in my abode? Perhaps you have mistaken this edifice for an establishment of commerce. I assure you, you are mistaken. If you vacate these premises forthwith I shall exonerate you for the transgression of your intrusion."
Kiser Jhaeri was glaring up at the four of them from a plush chair he was seated at within the wide spaces of what looked like his dining quarters. The house was well stocked and finely furnished for such a dark time, and it was clear this man was used to fine living. From the entry hall, the path had split two ways, one leading down a hall with a closed door, the other towards the dining quarters they found themselves in now. Another room was adjacent to this one, the door open enough to see what looked like living quarters or a library, and another closed door was seated behind Kiser himself, across the room, either way it would be impossible to check that particular door without alerting the man. Ending his quick study of the room in a half-second, Greywulf spoke up, if only to end the man's loquaciousness, "We have some questions for you, Kiser."
"I am at a distinct disadvantage." Kiser said, standing to his feet with narrowed eyes. He was a tall man, though his body was covered loosely by robes that kept his build from being determined too easily. It was also a handy way to hide any weapons he might have had on him. "You have the privilege of knowing my appellation, yet your own moniker remains something of an enigma."
Greywulf winced, listening to the man's over-use of language. "Is there a reason you use so many big words? Are you trying to impress us, or just make us feel stupid?"
"My utilization of complex locution is more a reflection of my own superincumbent mental acuity than an aspersion on your circumscribed lexicon." Kiser sniffed, obviously pleased that his verbal dexterity had been noticed.
Aerie rolled her eyes and shot back, "Or perhaps your use of complex linguistics is merely an attempt to cover for a deficiency in the size of certain areas of body parts in your own nether regions."
Greywulf suppressed a smile at Aerie's comeback… the time she had spent with Imoen had certainly sharpened her wit as well as drawn her further out of her shell. "Oh… and it also makes you sound like a pompous ass." Greywulf finished.
"Uh…ahem…well…what can I do for you?" Kiser stammered, not quite expecting the stinging rebuke, before folding his arms, hands hidden beneath his robes. Definitely a blade of some kind hidden there. Not that it would do him much good, with both Minsc and Sarevok flanking him from either side. A flicker of motion caught Greywulf's eyes from one of the hallways. Guards were definitely alerted to their presence, and if a fight broke out, they might be surrounded very quickly. The study behind Kiser was where Imoen and Jaheira were slated to come in through- suppressing the urge to watch for their entrance, he did his best to focus on Kiser, and in turn, hopefully, keep Kiser's attention on him.
"I want to ask you a few questions about Mateo."
"Sorrowing circumstance, to be sure." Kiser sat back down, shaking his head with a tsking sound. "Who could have conjectured that Mateo was a traitor? I for one was caught completely by surprise."
Greywulf was about to speak again, but the sound like a cat hitting the floor drew a glance to the room behind Kiser- Imoen and Jaheira were inside. They were creeping out the second door to the library, down towards the door they had seen on the other end of the hall. Now they were on their own- hopefully Imoen's skill at stealth would be enough to push them past the guards posted down there. Maybe pushing a little further at Kiser would get the guards to concentrate on them... "Save it, Kiser - Countess Santele told me you kidnapped Ardic."
"So the Countess has violated her covenant of discretion. Before you vault to spurious conclusions, however, I suggest you hear my exegesis of the extenuating circumstances, Child of Bhaal." Kiser shook one finger. "Ah, your visage registers surprise - did you presume I did not know both your identity and ancestry long before you stumbled into my dwelling? I present you with an offer, Bhaalspawn. I admit my culpability in Ardic's abduction, yet this does not implicate me in the betrayal of Saradush. Mateo did indeed see me near the gates, but I was not the guilty party, and as you might suspect, neither is he."
Greywulf suppressed the urge to laugh, both at Kiser and himself. This was exactly the story Greywulf had given the others as a reason to go about the whole business in a stealthy manner, rather than simply charging in swords drawn. And it sounded just as foolish coming from Kiser as it must have coming from him. Sarevok was right- he was going to any lengths to differentiate himself from his darker sibling. Something he'd have to think on... later. Regardless of his feelings now, they were already too deep to change plans now. And besides... Kiser's use of giant vocabulary definitely gave Jaheira and Imoen time to work. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Go on."
"The real traitor is a wizard named Errard. He poses as a stalwart defender of Saradush, yet in truth he is a seditious prevaricator. The mind of that mage is convoluted beyond comprehension." Kiser said firmly. "He appears to be the pre-eminent force in maintaining the bulwark of shields that fortify Saradush, but his purpose is actually sinister. With each passing second he siphons sorcery from the defenses, rather than bolstering them."
"So why didn't you just tell Captain Samand that?" he asked with a frown.
"No one would believe my account - not without substantial proof. Captain Samand is driven by a perverse desire to ruin me, and he was willing to convict me based on Mateo's speculative testimony. I was compelled to secure my own liberty so that I could pursue my investigations against the sorcerer, and uncover the evidence that will implicate the renegade mage."
"But why did you kidnap Ardic and frame Mateo?" Aerie questioned.
"I could not let Errard know anyone suspects his involvement, or the wizard would destroy the evidence I need to procure." Kiser explained with a hint of annoyance, as though his words were self-explanatory. "And the only other people in the vicinity were Ardic and Mateo. I had to kidnap Ardic, then use him to coerce his mother to point the finger of blame at Mateo. Only in this way could I keep myself from prison without alerting Errard of my intent to expose him."
"You must think we are fools." Sarevok growled. "Greywulf, can we not merely slaughter this man now?"
"No, Sarevok… not yet." Greywulf shot a harsh stare at the newly worried merchant. "But he's right, Kiser… this seems a farfetched tale. How do I know you are telling the truth?"
"Ah, the eternal curse of the successful merchant. People see my affluence, and are instantly predisposed to doubt me." Kiser sighed, shaking his head as he shrugged. "I have no proof to offer at this time. But I do hold one card yet. If any harm befalls me, I guarantee Ardic will never be found alive. If you desire to aid the Countess, you will help me exonerate myself."
"So you want us to find evidence implicating Errard instead?" Greywulf continued, trying to remind himself that it was his fault they were going through these hoops. Besides... on the off -extremely off- chance he was telling the truth, it wouldn't do to kill him now.
"Alas, such an elementary resolution is not possible." Kiser shook his head. "While Errard lives, he is able to obfuscate investigation into his own actions. Only his demise will allow me to clear my own name."
"Then you want us to kill the wizard." Minsc frowned. He may not have understood most of what Kiser was saying… but he knew he didn't like the man. "Boo does not trust you, little man. Why should we not tell the Captain of your nasty scheme?"
"Without some proof, no one would believe your tale. And it would be extremely detrimental to the health of Ardic." Kiser warned.
"I still say we kill him now." Sarevok snarled, resting his hand on the hilt of the Blade of Chaos.
"You might make the attempt," Kiser said, strangely confident for someone facing four extremely dangerous individual, two of them Bhaalspawn, "But my death will not bring gain to anyone involved. I suggest you save your violent impulses for other individuals. Errard comes readily to mind. Return only once your task is done. Until then, we have nothing further to discuss." he said, gesturing to the door.
Greywulf considered for a moment, then motioned and the others followed him out. As soon as they had left the building, Greywulf glanced back over at the house and reached out with his magic…
"Have they found Ardic yet?" Aerie asked.
"No… I don't sense that they have. But Jaheira was right- they do have some company inside. While I'm almost positive Kiser's lying, we should still ask this Errard some questions."
"Minsc and I can stay here to make sure Kiser doesn't leave if you and Sarevok want to go and find Errard." Aerie suggested.
"All right. If he leaves, follow him. It's possible he's got Ardic somewhere besides the house. We'll question Errard, and I suspect if we're up front about it, he won't have the slightest clue what we're talking about." Greywulf said, ignoring the pointed look from Sarevok saying, 'I told you so.'
Even while the four of them split up even further, Jaheira and Imoen were smashed inside a closet, trying to stay perfectly still as they listened for the guard inside the room to make his rounds and leave. They had found a bedroom and decided to check it out, only to hear footsteps approaching. The only place for them to hide was the closet, and it was barely big enough to fit them both inside. It was mostly filled with merchandise, clothes and the like that Kiser had apparently stored here since the siege.
"Jaheira… can you get your spear shaft out of my back?!" Imoen whispered harshly as she tried to shift a bit.
"Quiet! And no." Jaheira hissed back, peering through the small cracks in the hinges to see the man outside pacing back and forth.
He made one loop around the bed, then left, leaving the room empty once more. They waited for what seemed like an eternity before they were certain nobody was coming, then piled out, boxes of clothing spilling out alongside them. "Next time, I choose the hiding spot." Jaheira coughed, dust rising from the overturned boxes.
"It's not my fault if I'm small enough to fit places you can't." Imoen retorted. "Now, I think it's pretty clear he's not here… we'd better search the rest of the place."
"True… but Kiser might still be down there. You could try an invisibility spell-" Jaheira whispered.
"But there might be purges set up in case of such a spell." Imoen countered quietly.
"You are right. We cannot be caught, or Ardic might die. We have to draw his attention, somehow…" Jaheira murmured, glancing down at the piles of clothing that were scattered about. "A distraction for Kiser… something that would get rid of the guards as well."
"I don't think I like the tone you're getting, Jaheira." Imoen warned. "What're you planning? This isn't some crazy Greywulf-esque idea, is it?"
"Start sorting these clothes." Jaheira said smugly. "We need one pair of men's clothes… and a pair of *ahem* women's garb."
Imoen frowned as she and Jaheira began looking through, her eyes widening as she saw the two outfits Jaheira had finally sorted. "You have gotta be kidding me."
"Not at all." Jaheira replied calmly. "Now quickly, before the patrol comes back. Do you want to be the guard or the dancer?"