2. The Lion's Way
The dawn was especially cruel this morning. Laisha awoke with the realization that she had not been living some horrible dream. Ambushed, she saw Gorion cut down before her eyes. Even his powerful magics could not stop the onslaught. It had been his wish that she flee, but that did not remove the feeling of helplessness that now overwhelmed her.
"Hand over your ward," the armored fiend had said.
He was after her, and her alone, but why? If only Gorion had given some clue. But now, she was alone, and lost. Candlekeep was near, but she would find no quarter there. The Readers paid for their serenity with rather draconian entry rules. Without Gorion's influence, the doors would remain closed. She would not last long on her own with her meagre equipment. Perhaps she could get some help from the friends Gorion had mentioned, the ones at the Friendly Arm Inn.
Exhausted and sore, she slowly, fearfully uncurled herself from out of the hole she had cowered in for the remainder of the night. She winced as she stretched, her slender limbs cracking and protesting as they settled back into place. Hearing footsteps approaching her, she huddled into a crouch, a fearful animal ready to flee, and screamed out when a figure rushed suddenly at her, trapping her in a tight embrace as she fought uselessly to get free.
"Stop it! Stop It! Laisha, it's me! It's Imoen!I won't hurt you, I promise! I won't let anyone ever hurt you again!"
Laisha lifted her tear-streaked face, bleary eyes meeting the concerned face of her only friend.
"Imoen, I..."
The young thief cut her off, continuing to hold her tightly.
"I know, Laisha, I know. I saw...I saw Gorion, and I am SO sorry. I'm sorry about everything. I'm sorry I followed ya, but I never get out of Candlekeep, and you know how those monks are such a bore, with never a thing in their pockets, let alone some decent coin."
Laisha somehow managed a smile at how, even now, in the darkest of times, Imoen's thoughts could bounce around all over the place, dominated by her love of mischief, coin and her "pretties".
"I thought it would be FUN!" the girl wailed, squeezing Laisha so tight she started coughing for breath.
"I mean, I kinda figured something bad might happen to you out her, but I thought Mr. G could handle it, I thought he could handle anything!"
Finally wriggling free of Imoen's grip, Laisha peered at the young thief.
"How could you have known? Gorion did not even tell me."
Imoen flushed, and glanced away shiftily.
"I...accidentally... read a letter on his desk the other day. Can't remember exactly what it said, but he might have...it might be on his...his body. . Anyway i'm not gonna let you wander around out here all alone. Never let a friend down, no sir! Stick with you until you say otherwise, I will!"
Laisha snuffled away the last of her tears and gave Imoen a wan smile.
"Well, we should get moving, I suppose. No sense hanging around the woods, Not much adventure in that, right? And besides, Pan will get fat from all the birds and squirrels!"
Imoen giggled as she heard a muffled hiss from where the content cat was curled up in Laisha's pack, digesting his morning meal.
"Where should we head?" she asked her half-elven friend. "Should we go back to Candlekeep? It's all we know, after all.
Laisha shook her head somewhat sadly.
"We can't, Immy. Didn't you ever listen to Gorion or Tethtoril? They'll only let someone in who can contribute to their library with a valuable book they haven't already got. And no, your journal about your filthy exploits doesn't count!" she smirked as Imoen laughed and hurled a dirt clod at her.
"I suppose we should try and find the place where we were attacked, and Gorion...fell." Laisha suggested, more soberly. "I want to have a look at that letter you mentioned. And we should...put him to rest. If not for him I would have been killed. I owe him a proper burial."
Imoen nodded her assent, and the two girls gathered themselves together and set off eastwards along the path, Pan trotting at their heels. It was not long before a lone figure approached them on the path, heading west.
The two girls stiffened, Laisha's hands gripping her quarterstaff tighter, Imoen casually reaching for an arrow to notch into her bow as the portly man ambled casually towards them, his hands open and outstretched in a placating manner.
"Well, a busy day for me today indeed!" the man greeted them cheerfully. "Strange noises throughout the night, and now a plethora of people strolling about the wood. You do look a touch more hospitable than the last two I met though. Well met, strangers. I am called Kolssed."
Laisha glanced at Imoen, taken aback by the man's open and friendly manner. She had been told that the world outside Candlekeep was harsh and suspicious, not warm and welcoming such as she was being faced with now!
Imoen simply shrugged, so, half suspecting another ambush like the one last night, but hoping that perhaps these were the friends of Gorion he had told her of come searching, Laisha questioned the traveller.
"What are you doing out here in the woods? We've heard nothing but how dangerous they are!"
"Me?" Kolssed replied mildy. "Oh, I'm a hermit. Well I'm rather new at it actually, and I haven't quite got the isolation bit down yet. Too much of a people person I suppose." he chuckled self-deprecatingly.
"Used to be a merchant in Nashkel, I did, but lost everything due to the iron shortage. Been wandering the woods for a while now, and it's rather relaxing, I must say. Aside from eluding the occasional bandit that is!" he grinned. "I'm generally left alone because I have nothing of value."
"What of the two people you saw?" Laisha quizzed him. "I was told to meet some friends at...the Friendly Arm Inn, I think? Perhaps they and the ones you met are one and the same?"
Kolssed pulled a skeptical face.
"Oh I doubt these are the ones you seek, young Miss. They do not seem the friendly type, and are far afield of the Inn."
Laisha's face fell. She had hoped that the Inn, with its promises of shelter and safety was nearby. The woods were unfamiliar to her and already the short amount of travelling along the road was making her legs ache.
"I left the pair not a moment ago just up the road," Kolssed continued. "You will have to pass them anyway if you wish to go to the Friendly Arm. There is a crossroads a ways to the east, and the Inn is north of that."
"Thank you," Laisha said gratefully as Imoen hastily scribbled down the given directions on a sheet of parchment. "My foster father and I were attacked last eve, and all I know is that I was to try for the Inn, but was not sure where to go. Your directions will be invaluable."
Kolssed shrugged with a disarming smile.
"Oh, I have little to give besides advice and good will, so I will provide you with both before you are on your way. Make friends where you can, as traveling alone is almost certain death along the Sword Coast. You will want to surround yourselves with like-minded companions," he smiled, nodding at Imoen. "lest you risk making enemies in your own party. Aside from these little tidbits of wisdom, I'd say you're on your own. Tymora be with you."
"And with you!" the girls chorused, feeling somewhat lighter after the conversation and blessing, and they watched Kolssed amble off down the path before continuing east.
As they walked, Laisha scoured the surrounding bushes, hoping to recognize the place where Gorion had veered from the path last night. She felt strongly that she should find the spot where he had fallen and set him properly to rest. Imoen, too was distracted, chattering away happily to Pan and pointing out every new flower, scurrying animal or chirping bird that they came across. So it was that when it was that then they rounded a corner and stumbled into the pair that Kolssed had advised them about they were quite unprepared.
A strange, dirty little man, about half the size of a full grown human eyed the girls up and down with a strange glint in his eye as he scraped a stone down the length of his short sword, sharpening the already deadly looking blade.
"Hold it there, kiddies. Rather strange place to be wandering, ain't it?" He spat off into the woods. Now listen, my companion has something to say to ye."
"Montaron! You are so aggravating! 'Tis disturbing to my demeanour!" The girls jumped as the green robed human shrieked at his diminuitive counterpart, then turned to them with a hideous grin, his bony hands caressing a bound spellbook as he spoke.
The halfling snarled back at the wizard who appeared to be his companion.
"Disturbing? Ha! Ye already be disturbed, now leave me be! Yer company be toil enough as is!"
"Hold, Montaron, these young wayfarers are in need." the wizard stated, dismissing the argument between them as he gazed first at Imoen, then settling on Laisha, as the halfling merely grunted and resumed sharpening his sword.
"Someone has set about thee, strangers, and you have barely escaped with your life."
"Aye, Xzar," Montaron chipped in. "looks to have been roughed up quite well."
Laisha stared at the strange mage. Could he have been involved somehow in the attack on her and Gorion? But no, she considered. There had been ogres and archers, and a cleric, along with the demonic man. Xzar looked in surprisingly good physical shape for a magic user, and certainly seemed a little less than stable, particularly with the demonic seeming tattoos he had inked all over his face, but he did not have the overwhelming presence she had sensed last night in Gorion's killer.
"Indeed!" Xzar grinned toothily, and Laisha reeled, wondering if the mage had been reading her mind, but no, he was still stuck on his own freewheeling thoughts.
"I can offer you healing potions, if you wish, as a token of good will."
Laisha blinked in surprise. Imoen, strangely tonguetied, simply shrugged and Laisha gratefully accepted the unexpected offer. First Kolssed, and now a helpful alchemist. Stangers seemed to be positively encouraged in these woods outside Candlekeep!
"My thanks, kind ...Xzar, is it? I'd be grateful for any assistance."
"Nothing to fear from these simple potions" Xzar leered as he dug his bony hands deep into the pockets of his robe and tossed stoppered vials at Laisha and Imoen, "and I'll not even hold you in debt, though your conscience knows otherwise."
"Just like all good people." snorted the halfling, and spat again.
Laisha stashed her potion into her own robe as she puzzled out this strange pair. For all his uncouthness, the halfling looked to be deadly and skilled with his treasured blade. The mage was obviously a smooth talker when he wanted to be, and was trying to talk her into agreeing to assist him, that much was obvious. As proof of her deductions, Xzar cleared his throat.
"Perhaps as payment for our assistance, you would go with us to Nashkel?" Xzar asked pleasantly as Imoen raised her brows and mouthed "where the blazes is Nashkel?" Laisha simply shrugged as the mage pressed on.
"It is a troubled area, and we mean to investigate some disturbing rumours surrounding the local mine. Some acquaintances of Monty and I are very concerned about the iron shortage. Specifically, where to lay blame in the matter. You would be useful," Xzar smiled superciliously, recognizing a fellow magic user in the half-elf and seeing Imoen carrying her bow, "though of course I shall not hold you to it. We are to meet the mayor of the town, a man named Berrun Ghastkill, I believe."
"Your conscience be your guide," Montaron added, and Laisha gave the little man a sharp look, as he was obviously goading them, daring the girls to turn the request down after they had been given the potions for free.
"Give me a moment," Laisha asked the mage, and he frowned. "I have to talk with my friend, first." She grabbed Imoen and the two stepped aside out of hearing into the woods a little.
"What do you think, Immy? "
"Well..." the young thief spoke hesitantly..."it sounds excitin' an' all...I've never even heard of this Nashkel place. And everyone seems all upset about this iron crisis thing, even back at Candlekeep. I bet we could be heroes if we could sort it all out! That mage speaks like he's layin' honey on bread, but I dunno, I don't like his eyes a single bit! And shouldn't we try and meet those friends of Mr. G he kept talking about first? At least let 'em know you're okay and all. They'll know what to do, I bet!"
Agreed on a course of action, the two returned to the path where the expectant mage and surly halfling were waiting.
"We would join with you, "Laisha said firmly, "but we must meet someone first. Perhaps you will go with us?"
"We've precious little time," Xzar sighed, "but it's best to travel accompanied."
"Aye, we'll go wit ye," Montaron scowled, "Ye owe us fer our time though!"
Laisha sighed. She could see that Montaron would be presenting her with a bill full of imagined services at some future point, and hoped Xzar would keep his baser instincts under control.
They set off along the path, making what seemed to Laisha to be an unseemly amount of noise. They had better get more accomplished at travellign through the wilderness, and fast, or they were more like than not to be found by some of the bandit gangs that were rumoured to rule the area.
A rustling in the bushes brought Laisha out of her revelry, the movement accompanied by a sudden shrill screaming and jabbering that put even Xzar's to shame. Out of the woods burst a swarm of half a dozen hunchbacked blue-furred humanoids, all fang and fur and sharp claws, their toothed maws drooling insanely.
"Gibberlings!" Montaron cried, brandishing his sword and charging in. "Back me up or feel me wrath!"
Imoen immediately began firing arrows into the horde, as Laisha and Xzar flailed away with their slings, flinging hard round stones at the beasts, unwilling to waste their precious magicks on fiends such as these.
Imoen struck true, a fletched arrow sticking out of one gibberling's chest, cuasing it to reel back in pain. Laisha's stone struck the wounded beast in the chest and it collapsed with a groan to the ground. Momtaron hacked and slashed at three others as they surrounded him, poking one in the belly and twisting the sword viciously, disembowelling the hapless gibberling. Delighted with their first attack, the girls combined again, arrow and stone felling a third and fourth beast as Xzar's flung stone took a chunk out of another's arm. It howled in pain and rage, lashing out at Montaron, scratching him down the face, causing the enraged halfling to turn and slash at it's neck, a torrent of blood spewing out as it flew back , lifeless. The girls combined again to bring down the sole remaining gibberling, and the four companions stood amidst the carnage, struggling for their breath as they surveyed the damage done.
"Monty? Are you okay?" Imoen asked, reaching out to the little man.
"Oh sure" the halfling responded sarcastically. "I always bleed like this at this time of the day. And my name is Montaron, not Monty or anything else your addled little brain might dream up, girlie. Best you remember that before you end up as dead as these buggers." He kicked out angrily at the corpse of the one that had scratched him.
Laisha leaned over, studying the strange creatures.
"What were these things?"
"I told ye! Gibberlings.! Ye'd do well to listen to me when I talk, I ain't just a pretty face!" he leered.
"Yer lucky there was only a handful of 'em, usually they swarm at ye by the dozens. Hungry little blighters they are too, all they want is food." He grinned toothily. "Strip ya to the bone., they do, slurp the marrow right out of ye!" he chortled as Xzar broke from his reverie.
"Bone? Marrow? You make my hungers drool! Pray do tell, what delicacies are for dinner, Monty old chum?"
Montaron shot him a disgusted look, matched by the girls.
"Pah! Best we move along before the mad wizard blows us all the gods-knows-where" Montaron grunted, and the group set off once more.
Imoen soon discovered a patch of trampled grass veering off to the north of the path, heading into the woods.
"Laisha, look! She said excitedly. "This must be where Gorion led you last night. It shouldn't be too far!"
The thief's words proved prophetic. All too soon, the party of four came to a clearing where charred trees still smoked away from the force of magical fire. Laisha stopped and gulped, knowing what was to come. Imoen's hand on her shoulder steadied her and she pressed on as the wizard and halfling gazed around.
"Ha! So this is what nearly killed ye, huh elfling?" Montaron whistled as he surveyed the carnage. Xzar pranced around the site, giddy and wide eyed.
"Ohh such power, such magical forces at play. Sulfur and guano and death, oh my!"
The two girls ignored the capering wizard, their eyes fixed on the bodies of the fallen.
Two large ogres lay side by side, slain by fearsome magiks. At the edge of the clearing lay another body, this one smaller, human, a dropped bow by its side...and in the middle, a grey cloaked man whom Laisha had looked up to all of her life, somehow seeming small, even frail in death. The body of Gorion.
She choked back a sob, Imoen's hug reassuring her that her friend was nearby.
"Is...is that Gorion?" Imoen asked softly.
"Yes. He died saving me from some...thing."
The mage and halfling stood by impassively as the two girls tentatively approached the body.
"Ah pick up the pace, girlies. 'E's too far gone to be bitin' ya." Montaron snorted, then shot a sidelong glance at Xzar. "Isn't he?"
"Hmmm?" the wizard jolted back into the present from some twisted fantasy. "Oh well, one never can tell, all kinds of delightful things can happen to corpses, hee hee!"
"Doncha even know what attacked you? Whatever it was, looks like it was vicious." Imoen observed, looking around at the scorched clearing.
"It was too dark to see much, but it was humanoid, although I couldn't see a face," Laisha began hesitantly. "His eyes glowed though...like hell's fire. And he would have gone straight for me if Gorion, gods rest his soul, had not barred his way."
"I see..." Imoen said thoughtfully. "Hmmm...so he wasn't after Gorion, but you. I don't like this, Lai, don't like it at all!
"I don't either, but I have to find out what's going on, and why I was attacked. I don't want to drag you into this, though, Im."
"Leave?" Imoen scoffed "And if I did, who would keep ya entertained? Who would keep your spirits lifted in the darkest hour? And who would keep up the practical jokes?"
Touched beyond words, Laisha picked up the dagger lying at Gorion's side, handing it on to Imoen.
"Here, You should have this, he'd want you to." Imoen smiled softly and accepted the dagger, slotting it into the sheath on her belt, before kneeling in turn and unbuckling the belt around Gorion's waist.
"Here, this is for you. I know he'd want you to take it. Oh! I almost forgot!" she gasped, before filching a sheet of parchment from the pocket of Gorion's robe.
"Here, Lai. This is the letter he received, the one I told you about."
Laisha moved away from the greedy prying eyes of Xzar, and unfurled the parchment, her eyes quickly scanning over the words.
"Gorion,
Please forgive the abruptness with which I now write, but time is short and there is much to be done. What we have long feared may soon come to pass, though not in the manner foretold, and certainly not in the proper time frame. As we both know, forecasting these events has proved increasingly difficult, leaving little option other than a leap of faith. We have done what we can for those in thy care, but the time nears when we must step back and let matters take what course they will. We have, perhaps, been a touch too sheltering to this point.
Despite my desire to remain neutral in this matter, I could not, in good conscience, let events proceed without some measure of warning. The other side will move very soon, and I urge thee to leave Candlekeep this very night, if possible. The darkness may seem equally threatening, but a moving target is much harder to hit, regardless of how sparse the cover. A fighting chance is all that can be asked for at this point
Should anything go awry, do not hesitate to seek aid from travelers along the way. I do not need to remind thee that it is a dangerous land, even without our current concerns, and a party is stronger than an individual in all respects. Should additional assistance be required, I understand that Jaheira and Khalid are currently at the Friendly Arm Inn. They know little of what has passed, but they are ever thy friends and will no doubt help however they can.
Luck be with us all.
I'm getting too old for this.
E."
She rolled up the letter after reading it twice, stashing it into her pack. Gazing down at Gorion determinedly, she spoke quietly to Imoen.
"I need to bury him. Will you help me?"
The other girl nodded, tears welling in her eyes.
"Maybe one day we can return and add a small gravestone or something." Imoen offered.
Together, they dug a hole and buried the man both had looked at as a mentor for the whole of their young lives. Having scavenged a shabby set of leather armour and a rusty long sword off the dead, Montaron and Xzar waited impatiently, after refusing to help in the task.
"Never understood ye fancy dancy rituals," Montaron sneered. "The dead be gone, and ain't nothin' left in 'em corpses worth a lickin' for any but em wizards to use."
"Looks like the old man gets his final rest now," Xzar chimed in. "But why would not they let me take a finger or toe for a...memento?"
Ignoring the ghoulish pair, the girls dug steadily. After they were done, they stood back., their heads bowed in silent prayers to Mystra and Kelemvor, that Gorion's soul may finally rest easy. Near to the west, Laisha heard the sound of rushing water, a mighty waterfall that sent torrents of water cascading down over rocks into the river far below. Gesturing to Imoen to follow, she set off towards it, a fistful of dirt along with Gorion's prized amulet in her hands. Standing on the edge, she tossed the amulet over, into the rushing rapids below. Imoen followed suit with a clod of dirt and they stood there, bidding Gorion a fond farewell in their hearts.
When they were done, Laisha raised her eyes to find a foppish young man staring at them from the lip of the falls, not twenty yards away.
He started, blushing when he saw that the girls had noticed him staring.
"Hello...well...I was about to tell you not to come any closer, but that never seems to work, does it? Well regardless, I should remain true to the genre. Don't come any closer or I'll JUMP! Yeah, you heard me, and I'll do it, too! So...don't come any closer...again. And don't try to stop me!"
"Hey!" Imoen shouted. " Ya know what? Laisha over 'ere was just locked out of her home-town without a penny, and some monsters killed her father. If anyone here should be jumping cliffs, it's her! And d'ya see her jumpin'? So what's yer problem?
Laisha shrugged, irrritated by this overly dramatic young man who had interrupted her goodbye to her foster father.
"Okay. Jump then" she said simply, and turned to walk away.
"Okay?" the fop repeated incredulously, "...You aren't going to do a thing? Wow. You...you must have incredible faith in my will to live. No one has ever shown such trust in me, not ever! Not even Mumsey. Thank you so much for your quiet faith. I choose to live! I CHOOSE TO LIVE! Oh no! I have to get home before mumsey find the note! She has no stomach for such things. I'll have Jeeves double her usual cocktails and tell her of my new resolve! Thank you so much! Tra La! Life is grand once again!"
He rushed off, leaving Laisha cursing his stupidity in his wake. Now at her side, Montaron shook his head and snarled.
"Ye should've let me boot the fool over the edge, do his dirty work for him. More air for the rest of us" the bloodthirsty halfling said, and Laisha found herself laughing in agreement, the peals of laughter astonishing the little man, who peered up at her.
"Aha, ye have a mean streak in ye after all, girl, we may just get along yet!"
The four of them set off again, with Pan safely nestled still in Laisha's pack. She could hear him purring contentedly in there, and saw no reason to force an introduction to Montaron and Xzar until he was ready, as she knew her mercurial familiar would do so in his own time. Her spirits unexpectedly lifted by her farewell ceremony to Gorion, she found herself enjoying the walk through the woods, until Imoen, scouting ahead, suddenly bid the rest of them stop with a sudden hand gesture. Concerned, the party froze, and Imoen crawled back to Laisha, whispering.
"Lai? You're better accustomed to magic, and even nature and all that. Why would a tree glisten with light?"
"Glisten?" Laisha questioned her friend. "What do you mean? Like sap?"
No, no, no! There's something weird about a tree up ahead, I swear! There's a knot in the tree trunk and something in the middle of it is shining when the sun hits it! I just don't know if it's the type of tree or whatever, or it's something we should investigate? I never paid any attention to all those nature studies!"
A sigh emanated from Laisha's pack, and a feline voice, tinged with just a hint of contempt, spoke up.
"Obviously trees do not naturally sparkle. Therefore, it would be a reasonable assumption that there is something wedged in this knot that may pay the young thief to investigate. Now can you PLEASE send the irritating one to do just that so I may return to my slumber?"
Laisha giggled as Imoen stuck her tongue out at Pan in the pack and Xzar stared boggle-eyed and delighted at Laisha's pack.
"The marvellous talking bag is correct, my young companions, pray go investigate forthwith!" His bony hands reached out greedily for the bag which Laisha swung neatly out of his grasp.
"Oh I wouldn't, Xzar" she warned merrily, "you might make it angry. You wouldn't like it when it's angry!"
A crestfallen look passed over the wizard's face, as Imoen started whooping in delight.
"Woo! The fat man's blessing worked! Tymora favors us, Lai, here's proof!"
She tossed over a small object that Laisha swiftly snatched out of the air before Xzar or Montaron could intervene.
"A diamond!" she gasped. "Why would a diamond be hidden in a tree?"
"Bandits." Montaron suggested. "The roads are full of' em. Some idiot probably thought if he had nothing worth stealing on him they'd let him live. They would have just shot him full of arrows and been on their way regardless." he grinned as Laisha returned the gem to Imoen.
"Here ya go Im, finders keepers. You're the best at looking after the pretties."
She stashed it away in a pouch, just before a man clad in the brightly garbed dress of a messenger hurried toward them on the path.
"Make way! Make way, I said! Binkos coming through, Sword Coast Messenger Service! Sorry chums, can't stop to chat. There's been another caravan raided northeast of Beregost and I must report of these dire straits to the Grand Dukes."
Seeing the bemused looks on the faces of the party he dashed past, departing with a cry of "A messenger's work is never done!"
"Another caravan raided?!" Imoen said excitedly. "Wow, that's no good! Remember those Flamin' Fists passin' by Candlekeep last week? They said there was at least two missing! I think we should keep our eyes peeled, or we'll be killed by bandits for nothin'! Excitin' though... Caravans, bandits, road... like an adventure from a book!"
As if on cue, a chilling howl came from the woods surrounding them and the party immediately weilded their weapons, fearing another gibberling horde. Instead, a pair of two wolves, obviosuly emaciated and starving for food padded out, baring their fangs and snarling. In her pack, Laisha felt Pantalaimon hiss violently and tremble as the lead wolf leapt for her throat. Luckily, Montaron was there before it could reach, sinking his sword into the poor animal's ribs, cutting short its desperate lunge. Imoen was busy firing off arrows into its partner, and the hapless wolves quickly fell under the onslaught of fury from the party.
Lowering her quarterstaff, Laisha pondered how quickly killing became a natural state out here in the wild, not only for animals and beasts, but for humanoids as well. Only a day ago, she was happy enough living a sheltered life in the citadel of Candlekeep. Now, she was travelling with dangerous companions and dealing killing blows with little more than a second thought.
Laisha mulled over the messenger's news. Would it be better to stay on the road with all these reported raidings and banditry, or take to the woods, off the beaten track? She would consider it, but for now, lead her party on towards the crossroads along the Lion's Way.