Disclaimer: I do not own 'Shadows of Amn', the 'Forgotten Realms' or any characters therein. Wizards of the Coast do, at my last check. Lucky them.
I do, however, own Fritha and certain other characters and plot points. Basically, if you don't recognise it from the game, it's probably mine.

– Blackcross & Taylor

The prison on the planes

Nalia walked along yet another stark white passage, making note of the way in preparation for their return journey, the bright open walkways making it difficult to remain inconspicuous as she followed the gnome whom they now knew as Tagget, Haer'Dalis just behind him and practically twitching in his eagerness to reach his friends. Nalia sent a frown to the actor's back.

If she was honest, she was having mounting reservations concerning Haer'Dalis; the discovery of his less than honest approach toward them so far putting the bard in a very different light, as someone far more opportunist than altruist.
She thought back to the way he had stared so adoringly up at Raelis in the theatre. It was clear to anyone with eyes he liked the actress and yet here he was happily encouraging Aerie's affection in the meantime. And the silly girl was just going along with it!

Nalia frowned, a strange jealousy warming her stomach as she considered the young woman whom she had been so ready to welcome into her confidence. Haer'Dalis or not, she was still holding Aerie accountable for her own actions; after all, he had owed Nalia no allegiance.

'Along here, it's just up ahead,' came Tagget quietly, disappearing down a passage to the left, the bard on his heels.

Nalia nodded to herself and followed the pair, careful not to touch the fleshy portals that were pulsating like great boils along one side of the walkway, the girl revolted by the mere sight.
That she wanted to spend her life helping others was true enough, but she wasn't really sure whether travelling to other planes was for her, especially when it was to rescue people who had done nothing so far but lie and trick them.

'There are those who are deserving of charity and those who are not,' came the squire's voice behind her eyes and Nalia felt herself smile wryly, recalling her outrage when Anomen had expressed this similar sentiment after they had left her old home.
She sighed to herself, her heart suddenly heavy.
It all felt so long ago now. Everything had changed so dramatically in such a short space of time and though she was happy to be aiding those less fortunate, this new life she had entered was not unfolding in any way she could have ever imagined.

'Hold and identify yourselves, strangers,' came a gruff voice ahead of them and Nalia started to see two guards appear suddenly from the portal before them, the pair giving Haer'Dalis a suspicious look as he stepped forward to speak with them, his swords held menacingly behind the gnome and Nalia surreptitiously nocked an arrow.

'We are hunters, newly in the employ of your cambion,' came Haer'Dalis with an almost arrogant smile. 'We caught this,' he gave the gnome a vicious poke with one of his blades and Tagget gave a convincing whimper, 'trying to escape. It seems to have slipped its collar, so we are taking it to be refitted.'

One guard glanced to the other with an unpleasant laugh, both drawing their swords.
'Nice story, berk, but I haven't heard of any new hands being taken on and as anyone who works here knows, the collars are fitted in the west of the complex. Guar-!'

Nalia loosed an arrow before he had even finished the word, his armour useless at such close range, and Haer'Dalis was on the other but a second later, feigning an attack to his head with one sword, the other moving so quickly the man could not catch the blow in time, the bard slashing him neatly across the stomach.

'Well, that was, well…' mumbled Tagget, seemingly left speechless by the sudden ferocity of their attack. Nalia stared blankly down at the bodies, wondering when killing had become such a normal part of her life.

'We can't leave them here,' she heard herself say and the gnome nodded.

'Over there,' he said, pointing to the base of the nearest pillar,' we can put them behind that.'

Nalia shrugged absently. It was not the best of hiding places and nothing could be done about the blood smeared across the floor, but they had very little choice.

'What on Toril was this blasted play about anyway?' she huffed crossly as she bent to take the nearest body under the arms and drag it across the walkway.

'A Comedy of Terrors,' sighed Haer'Dalis, stooping to collect the other body. 'Who could have anticipated that a sordid tale of lust between two certain planar beings might hold a mirror to the truth. Within hours the theatre was left in ruins and a price was placed on our fleeing heads.'

Nalia rather thought it served them right for performing a play that even the writer did not wish to be associated with. If in the same situation, she would have at least assumed the play would be just plain rubbish, even if not inflammatory.

'And now Duke Darkwood pursues us with a thirst for revenge that will not be quenched,' he said, shaking his head as they continued on their journey after the gnome. 'A High Factol of the Fated, a faction that believes to take something is to own it.'

'So he did not likely come by his lofty position through hard work and diplomacy then,' she commented dryly and the bard gave a humourless laugh.

'No indeed, he will have fought to take it from those strong enough to have secured it before him. He is a creature of power almost unimaginable. If he arrives here before we leave, I cannot believe we will escape alive.'

'Here,' came Tagget, and Nalia glanced up to see a small chamber opening at the end of the passage, another walkway leading off to the north where she could just see the figures of more guards milling about. 'The cells are just along that passage. We can wait behind those,' he finished pointing to a couple of the thicker pillars.

Nalia frowned slightly.
'It's rather exposed.'

Tagget nodded, but crossed to one all the same.
'Yes, but the best we have, I'm afraid.' The gnome grinned. 'Let us hope your friends work quickly, eh?'

xxx

Fritha winced, rubbing her abdomen as her stomach gave another fierce growl of hunger, the girl turning to glance back along the passage they had just walked down. The gnome had made the path to the Thrall Master sound a lot less complicated than they had found it, the fifth turning north actually leading them to a dead end and the group had been divided since then.

Anomen and Jaheira had both believed the gnome had merely been mistaken in his count, while Aerie maintained he had probably meant them to count only the main passages north, not the minor walkways. Whether it was again the influence of the plane or merely their situation, but this had soon descended into crossed words until Minsc, or rather Boo, had wisely pointed out it did not matter either way; the fifth passage was clearly not the one they needed and Fritha led them eastwards once more, the group taking the next passage they came to north.

Fritha sighed, passing another junction and skirting the edge of one of the fleshy portals that peppered the walkways, taking another long draft of water from her flask in an effort to trick her stomach into think it was full. They had been travelling north for a while now, Fritha wondering when she would finally admit defeat and turn them all around to try a different passage, when up ahead another junction swung into view, a pair of huge doors set just within the eastern walkway, hanging there like the fossilised ribcage of some great planar beast.

Fritha stopped, pointing them out to the others behind her and holding a finger to her lips as they continued on, the girl reaching the doors and pausing only to draw her sword before pushing one open. Inside, a huge stark arena was laid out before them, and Fritha was left in no doubt that they had reached their goal. White tiered walls rose up around them, the highest crowned by a row of the twisted bone pillars, giving it the feeling of some great cage, the chamber above open to the silvery sky, while at the opposite end, upon a huge throne of the same gnarled bone, sat the Master of the Thralls.

The creature was huge; a black skinned and muscular man who would have dwarfed even Minsc, broad shoulders supporting two leathery wings while from his head a pair of thick black horns curved in a wide arc back from his forehead. He was not armed as far as she could see, in fact he wasn't even what she would considered as dressed, the demon proudly displaying well-muscled arms and chest, wearing only a pair of heavy golden bracers and some kind of plated metal loin cloth, though whether it was for modesty or decoration, Fritha did not like to ponder.

He did not appear to have noticed them, occupied as he was by the fight that was currently taking place, a dark elf battling a minotaur, the elf badly wounded, one arm torn off at the elbow and Fritha had the feeling that if he had not been controlled he would have given up the fight long ago. The others thralls were sat in rows on the lower few steps of the arena, all armed and watching the on-going fight with blank eyes.

Fritha glanced back, beckoning for the others to follow her as she took a step onto the first tier, climbing to the same level as the demon's throne and marching along the step towards him, the girl noticing as she drew closer, a dark gold chain about his neck, a plain blue sphere hanging from it and glowing faintly; the Orb of Mastery.

A scream from the arena, the demon laughing deeply as the drow was finally cut down, and Fritha could not feel anything but happy that his suffering was over even as the demon turned to order in the next pair of thralls and finally noticed their group.
'What? Who are you?'

Fritha quickened her pace, determined to reach him before his suspicions were raised, saluting with her sword as she walked, her tone clipped and respectful.

'My lord, we bare a vital news. Some primes have infiltrated the prison, bent on rescuing a troupe of Cagers the hunters recently brought in.'

The demon was on his feet in a moment, huge wings unfurling at his back and Fritha felt suddenly very small as she halted before him.
'By the Abyss!' he roared, clearly alarmed, 'does the Warden know?'

She grinned darkly.

'I hope not; we're the primes.'

He lunged at her instantly, his fury evident, the girl dodging the blow neatly, Jaheira slamming her staff into his exposed flank while Aerie sent a blast of energy down into the thralls who were racing up the steps to defend their master, Minsc and Anomen taking up positions on a lower step, ready to hold them back.

Fritha ducked another swipe at her, dancing past the demon's claws to slash along his wing, the creature roaring angrily as Aerie released another spell and the troll Anomen had been struggling with was suddenly frozen, the squire turning immediately to knock back a pair of elves who where trying to break through.

Minsc was having trouble with the thralls as well, currently trading blows with the minotaur, the creature's axe swinging in wide arcs and Jaheira turned quickly to defend the ranger against the orc who had come to join the fight. Fritha stepped in, placing herself between the druid's now unprotected back and the demon, bringing her sword up into a hanging guard, the creature anticipating the move and throwing a clawed hand out to grab her.

She leapt back, swinging up to slice the creature neatly across the chest, though he ignored the blow, catching her awkwardly by her chainmail, the demon lifting her easily, her feet thrashing as she struggled in his grip. Minsc roared, knocking back the minotaur to whirl on them, sword held high and a moment later Fritha felt herself falling, a spray of hot blood splattering her face. She looked up from where she had landed to see Minsc trying to pull his blade from the demon's forearm, the minotaur back on his feet and advancing on the ranger.

'Minsc!' she shrieked, and he freed his sword just in time, whirling to cut the minotaur down in one smooth swing, the demon lunging at his exposed back. Fritha leapt into a crouch, thrusting her sword up into his thigh, the ta'anari throwing back its horned head with a roar and Jaheira saw her chance, slipping in her staff to hook the chain it wore and snap the necklace from its neck, tossing the orb immediately to the elf.

'Aerie!'

The girl caught it clumsily, instantly starting to chant over it, the orb glowing brighter and brighter when she raised it above her head and threw it to the ground with all her might.
A crack that Fritha felt as much as heard echoed through the chamber, and for an instant everything seemed to stop, a stillness hanging over the room as the thralls glanced about looking bewildered, when the ta'anari's guttural roar split the silence and chaos erupted.

xxx

Nalia flattened herself against the barbed pillar, shouts and explosions echoing eerily back along the passage as the last of guards ran past them, the cells now left unattended. The others had clearly managed to kill the ta'anari and she felt a twist of worry shudder through her. A demon, even a lesser one, was a formidable foe; she only hoped they had all survived the battle unharmed.

'Well,' came the gnome, stepping from behind the pillar opposite with a sigh. 'I think my work here is done now. Thank you again and good luck.'

Nalia nodded and he bowed quickly to them both before hurrying off down the passage after the guards.

'Come, it's time,' said Haer'Dalis, edging out from behind the pillar next to her and they ran across the chamber to the cells, the bard flying along the passage only to stop suddenly with a cry of 'Raelis!'

Nalia caught him but a moment later, the pair still holding hands through the gnarled and twisting bars of the gate while others of the troupe all crowded forward, laughing and talking, the cell behind them just a small circular chamber open to the void beyond.
Raelis was chattering breathlessly, her eyes wide as though she expected them to disappear at any moment.

'Haer'Dalis, my sparrow, I cannot believe you have come! Oh, and who is this, not one of your friends from before?'

Nalia was tempted to ask her who else she considered it could have been, but she held her temper, saying only, 'you will all have to move back if I am to unlock to door.'

The troupe obliged her instantly, and she dropped to her knees before the gate, drawing a long metal pick from the wallet on her belt and moving to work the lock. The gate was made from the same material as the strange bone-like pillars there, the surface smooth and warm and she bit back a sigh of frustration as the mechanism within seemed to almost twist and alter to foil her efforts.

'Have you got it yet?' hissed the bard urgently and Nalia shot him a look.

'I am trying! This lock is like nothing I've ever encountered before, it keeps changing, almost as though it's- ah!' she cried, the pick jolting in her hand and she drew it from the lock to find half of it just gone, snapped clean away.

'That does it!' she shrieked, throwing the broken pick along the passage in her temper and fumbling in her bag to draw out a heavy glass bottle. If this didn't work…

'Right, this would normally take too long on a metal lock, but on this… stand back,' she commanded, carefully removing the glass stopper and everyone shuffled to the back of the cell. 'You too, Haer'Dalis.'

And without waiting to see if he had complied, she emptied the entire bottle over it, the lock groaning shrilly as the acid ate through, one of the actors giving it a sound kick for good measure and at last the gate swung open.

'You have done it!'

'Come, my birds,' laughed Haer'Dalis, ushering them through the gate, 'the other primes await us even now and together we will make good our escape!'

Raelis nodded once, sweeping over to Nalia to take both her hands.

'And I must thank you, my dear. I am so sorry you have been dragged into all this; it is all my fault!'

Haer'Dalis shook his head, moving to lay a soothing hand upon the woman's arm.

'Sweet Raelis, we all performed the play, you never could have known it was not fiction.'

'Oh Haer'Dalis,' she cried dramatically, dropping Nalia's hands to whirl on him. 'There was no mystery writer! The play is mine, down to the last word!'

The bard looked rather taken aback, staring round at them all, some of the troupe looking disgruntled while others seemed unconcerned, though none looked particularly surprised by this revelation. Haer'Dalis's mouth was slightly open, as though he did not know quite how to reply, though it was not his voice that at last broke the silence, Nalia stood before them almost shaking with outrage that after everything, the actors had brought all this on themselves.

'What is wrong with you all?' she shrieked, unable to believe how she and her friends were risking their lives to rescue such dishonest and foolish people. 'First the gem and now this! You speak lies as readily as the truth!'

'Now really,' came Raelis almost reproachfully, the theatrics suddenly gone from her manner. 'None of this was intentional, my dear! We merely acted as our new role as outlaws dictated. Any mistake would have meant our deaths.'

Nalia glared back, her manner hard.

'That may well as be, but I sincerely suggest you do not mention any of this to the others, or it could well do!'

xxx

The group hurried along passage after passage, Jaheira leading the way with Minsc while shouts and explosions split the air, the aisles around them a chaos of people and magic. The ta'anari had not lasted long after the thralls had been freed, everyone just rushing in at once to overwhelm the creature and Fritha had led them from the fight before the creature had even fallen, her main priority now to get the group out alive.

Outside the arena, a squad of guards had arrived, trying and failing to subdue the riot that was already in place, the soldiers slowly being overwhelmed by the now free thralls, who were only too willing to cut down their former oppressors. But their battle was blocking the way they had come and the group's only choice had been to fight their way through to the eastern passage and take the next southern one they came to, Fritha's fears that after everything, they would just end up losing themselves in that maze of walkways mounting with every step.

The group had just reached another dead end, the passage they had been following opening out to a small chamber, the group of githyanki within already knelt in a circle preparing to plane shift. Jaheira sent Fritha a dark look and the girl dropped her eyes, unable to meet her gaze. Yes, they had all known it would be so, but still it was an unpleasant truth to bear, the knowledge that not all they had freed were as innocuous as the actors.

They turned back, returning to the next junction and moving south once more through the chaos. Most thralls were working furiously to summon portals and gates, though some seemed more focused on fighting each other, Fritha glancing down one of the walkways they passed to see a group of imps battling a succubus and two quasits; the Blood War as alive there as anywhere, it seemed.

'Here,' came Jaheira ahead of her, the group stopping at another crossroads, the druid indicating the western passage with her staff.

'We should turn here.'

'Are you sure,' came Aerie tentatively, I don't think we're south enough yet. We should carry on this way, until the next junction.'

Jaheira snorted crossly and everyone seemed to turn instinctively to Fritha, the girl's stomach sinking; they had doubled back so many times now she really wasn't sure either way.

'Er…'

Everyone ducked as another explosion roared overhead, a group of drow charging down the walkway and barely sparing their group a glance as they pushed roughly past them, shouting angrily to each other as they disappeared off along the southern passage. Fritha took a step onto the western walkway.

'Definitely this way.'

They hurried on, past more thralls and portals, the way slowly growing quieter as they went and Fritha was just beginning to worry that her faith in the druid had been misplaced, when they rounded a bend in the passage and she could finally see the chamber they had arrived in up ahead, Nalia, Haer'Dalis and the other actors already there and waiting.

So this was it. Though it was a touch belated and not exactly as she had envisioned, bard and troupe were reunited and the time for farewells was at hand.

'Ah, my raven, you return triumphant, I see,' Haer'Dalis called out as she approached, his eyes shining with a dark glee. 'The thralls are free and chaos consumes this cage!'

'Well, I'm glad someone's having fun,' she commented dryly, sending a smile to Nalia but the girl just turned away, her arms folded and Fritha was given no chance to question further as Raelis swept in to throw her arms about her, Fritha stood stiffly within, unused to being embraced by people she knew well, let alone strangers.

'My dear, you have known us for but a short time and yet you bought our freedom with your blood.'

The only reply she managed to this was a strangled noise of assent, the girl finding it difficult to think past her discomfort, but Raelis seemed satisfied enough, finally releasing her to step back and include them all with a sweep of her arm.

'My friends, it is a debt I can never repay, but I shall try. Here Fritha, the deeds to the playhouse in Athkatla, yours to do with as you wish. I have left instructions with Nalia on how to use the portal stone and may the Prime treat you well.'

'But how will you escape here?' came Aerie quietly from behind her. Raelis smiled generously, nodding to a pale and frowning woman stood amongst the actors in dark tattered robes.

'We met a mage on the way here who is opening a portal to Sigil and she has agreed to let us join her. We will return to the City of Doors and travel on from there. Come, my birds! Ready Haer'Dalis?'

Fritha smiled as warmly as she was able and gave his back a hearty clap.
'Safe journey then, sparrow.'

The man glanced to her then back to the actress looking torn, when his expression changed to one of resolve and he turned back to Raelis, suddenly grave.

'I cannot come with you, Raelis, not this time.'

'What?' chorused Nalia and Jaheira, but Raelis did not seem as surprised, a melancholy resignation to her face.

'No? No more plays, Haer'Dalis?'

The bard shook his head.

'I wish I could, but I am just another moth come too close to your flame, and it is a torture I can no longer bear. The Prime beckons this sparrow and I must heed its call.'

The woman nodded once, turning back to Fritha with a sad smile

'Then go, Fritha, and take yon lovely moth with you.'

'Miss Raelis, the gate!' one of the actors cried, pointing to a warm yellow portal currently shimmering in the air behind them, the mage clearly growing impatient with this drawn-out farewell and starting her summoning. Realis nodded, giving Haer'Dalis one last smile and hurrying off towards it, the actors coming forward to embrace and say farewell to their comrade before following her.
Fritha turned back to the group with a tired smile.

'Right, let's get back to the Prime. Nalia?'

The girl took the portal stone from her robes, Haer'Dalis moving to her side before she had a chance to reply.

'Here, I shall summon it,' he said with a friendly smile, Nalia relinquishing the stone with barely a glance to him and coming to stand next to her, Fritha sending her a questioning look, but the girl just shook her head darkly.

Haer'Dalis dropped instantly to his knees as Raelis had, placing the stone on the ground before him and drawing a deep breath, opening his mouth to begin the summoning when a feral roar seemed to tremor through the chamber. The bard looked up sharply, and Fritha saw her own alarm reflected in his face.

'The Duke?' he cried, half making to stand again.

'The cambion!' cried Aerie, and Fritha whirled to see a huge armoured figure appear from the junction at the end of the eastern passage, fighting a group of drow, though it was hardly a battle at all. Fritha watched as spells and blows deflected uselessly off the creature's black armour, the demon unhurriedly cutting down each elf in turn, swinging its monstrous sword into them as a farmhand would reap wheat. Fritha felt herself grow cold.

'Open that portal, now!'

Haer'Dalis whirled back to the stone before him, chanting low and fast while the others took up positions behind. The last drow had fallen, the cambion turning slowly to take in the group stood with weapons drawn and Fritha could feel its anger as it began a deliberate advance towards them.

'Haer'Dalis…' Fritha pressed, glancing back to see an open portal shimmering blue behind them, the scene on the other side changing constantly; a gloomy cavern, a twisted street, a cluttered stage-

'I am trying- there, the playhouse! I have it!' he cried springing up to seize Aerie's arm, 'Quickly now!'

The elf leapt through, the others pressing round the portal and Fritha glanced back as an enraged growl echoed along the eastern passage. The cambion had noticed their escape, his pace quickening, the great hulking figure gathering speed by the second.

'My raven!'

She whirled back, Haer'Dalis stood alone before the portal and she finally sheathed her sword, scooping the stone from the floor as she leapt through after him, the portal swallowing shut behind her.

xxx

Haer'Dalis lay on his back, his eyes taking in the smooth white plaster of the playhouse ceiling.
They had done it!
He felt a laugh of triumph bubbling up within him, but he had not the breath for it, the trip through the portal leaving him winded. He sat stiffly, ignoring the ache in his hip where he had fallen awkwardly on one of his swords, and looked around.

The others were about him, all slowly making to rise, while Fritha was already stood brushing the dust from her tunic and looking as unfazed by her return to her home plane as she had by her departure. She reached down to help up the woman at her feet, the druid ignoring her hand most pointedly and rising unaided.

He watched a tired look flit across the girl's face and tried to send her a smile as he stood as well, a slight guilt tickling his spine as he considered what his company had cost the group so far. Still, they all chose their own paths; he could not be held responsible for the disagreements of others.

'So,' he sighed, feeling suddenly and most unreasonably melancholy, considering he had just rescued his friends and escaped unscathed against all odds, 'it seems this sparrow is back in the Prime again, only this time without a company or profession to my name.'

'What will you do now? I'm sure you can come with us… I mean…' came Aerie earnestly, slowly trailing off at the silence that followed her words, glancing to Fritha for confirmation, who for her part, glanced to the druid, the woman turning away with a frown. Fritha shook her head, sending him a smile but clearly unwilling to say either way without some discussion first, turning to drop lightly from the stage.

'Ah, come on, lovely moth,' she sighed, her smile lingering as she headed towards the stairs, 'we'll shout you a drink.'

xxx

Fritha sighed, closing her eyes and breathing in the smell of dust and wax, the timbers groaning faintly beneath her feet as she walked slowly to the edge of the stage. She opened her eyes, looking out at the rows of benches, bright and ordered in the flickering lamplight before turning to see her theatre as the audience would have. White columns rising up at either side of the stage, painted with golden ivy coiling up them, the deep crimson curtain hanging heavy behind, the stage itself still littered with pieces of set, a backdrop of mountains and a boiling grey sky hanging behind it all.

Fritha felt a sudden thrill travel her spine, making the skin of her arms bristle. It was the same feeling she had in Candlekeep, the sheer potential of the place, and she imagined it hanging in sheets above her, pale and shimmering like the Northern Auroras.
Of all the things she had ever been gifted for helping people, this was by far the best.

Fritha smiled to herself, leaving the glare of the stage and pushing past the heavy curtain into the wings, slipping through the narrow passage to the cool gloom of the backstage, the peeling whitewashed walls and plain furniture a stark contrast to the gaudy stage front.
She wandered slowly from room to room exploring. First to the dressing room, a dozen amber-haired girls walking in with her, flickering reflections in the mirrors that hung before every dresser, the only bare wall stacked high with hampers of wigs and hats and the thick oily face-paints.

She took the only lit lamp from one of the tables there and continued on into the adjoining room. That seemed to be a huge wardrobe of sorts, and she drifted along the rails of costumes; gowns and robes and cloaks, all infused with the same smell of dust and mothballs.
The next few rooms were little more than large cupboards, storing the theatre's many props, from the more mundane furniture and other domestic items, through to fake swords and armour, and, most unusually of all, a couple of wired human skeletons and a papier-mâché dragon's head.

Her exploration of the backstage over, Fritha had been about to ascend the narrow staircase that led up to the flies, when she noticed a door set in the wall underneath. She pushed it open, expecting to find another storeroom crammed with props, and was surprised to find narrow but high room, the ceiling sloping where the stairs rose above. Its walls were the same peeling whitewash as the rest of the backstage, and the only thing of note about it seemed to be the fact it was almost completely empty, the only exception being an ostentatious gilt mirror that stood floor to ceiling on the wall opposite.

What was this place, that stood so empty when the rest of the backstage seemed to be bursting at the seams?
Fritha held the lamp up higher, taking a step into the room to consider the huge mirror, almost twice her height and wide enough for three of her.
An old dressing room? Perhaps somewhere for trying on costumes?

Something stirred within her and in her mind she saw a pallet on the floor, a heavy blue quilt crumpled upon it and half hidden behind a faded Kara-Turan screen, the wooden panels painted with peony and butterflies while the rickety chair in corner held her comb and hair oil, her sword and belts hung neatly over the back.
Fritha felt herself smiling faintly. Home could be found in the strangest of places.

'Er, miss?' came a hesitant voice behind her and she started, whirling round to meet a long lined face under a crop of brown hair and a rather elaborate hat. Grey eyes flicked nervously from her to the empty room behind her and Fritha realised she must have looked rather odd staring into it as she was; the fact she was armed, a blue black welt staining one eyebrow, probably doing little to reassure him.

'Can I help you?' she offered with a polite smile and the man seemed to recover himself slightly.

'Yes, indeed you can, miss, if you would but direct me to the Lady Raelis, I shall disturb your,' he glanced again to the empty room, 'ah, you no longer.'

Fritha ran an eye over the man, his thin frame clad in extravagant but slightly worn clothes; it seemed unlikely he was another bounty hunter. She shrugged.
'Raelis has left and the troupe with her, I own the playhouse now.'

'Oh,' he said shortly, opening his mouth once or twice again as though to continue, but each time shutting it without a sound.

'Well, my lady,' he began finally, and Fritha could not help but notice the elevation of her title, 'I am Higgold, a director of plays and theatrics all along the Coast of Swords. I had arranged a play for the Sigil Troupe to perform, but since they've gone…' he trailed off, clearly considering something as he glanced about him and when he turned back to her there was a sudden earnest look to his eyes.

'My lady,' he breathed dramatically.

Fritha remained unmoved.
'Yes.'

'I know of a new troupe, just formed. Most of them are pretty green, but lots of enthusiasm. If I could secure them for this endeavour would you still be willing to stage the production- for a cut of the profits, of course,' he added hastily. 'And,' he continued, clearly assuming that someone who owned a theatre would be tempted by (or even had a clue about) such things, 'we would defer to your decisions on casting and such. After all, it would be the reputation of your playhouse at stake and you would be providing all costumes and properties as well as the,' he coughed, and looked a touch reluctant to finish, 'the wages.'

Fritha frowned slightly. Samuel, the halfling owner of the Five Flagons, had mentioned that Raelis had left some funds in the company coffers for their intended production. She had been planning to send the money straight over to Gaelen, but…
If the playhouse was up and running it would be earning money for her, meaning that even if she was injured or killed, funds to rescue Imoen would still be being raised.
Fritha glanced back to Higgold, who seemed to be trying and failing to hide his enthusiasm.

'Yes. If you could speak with them.'

'Certainly, my Lady Patron!' he agreed, earnestly shaking her hand. 'Until the morrow.'

He gave a flamboyant bow and swept off, back to the light of the stage, Fritha watching him go with a wry smile.
Lady Patron. Well, it was certainly better than Bhaalspawn.

She sighed gently, knowing she should probably go and tell the others of her plans and discuss how they were to find more work, but she just couldn't quite bring herself to leave the peace of her theatre yet. Besides, she reasoned, a certain melancholy creeping back into her mood, it would likely be full of people again tomorrow; she may as well enjoy the place while she could.
She closed her eyes, imagining the others all sat about the table upstairs as she she'd left them.

Haer'Dalis would be telling some outrageous story, Aerie at his elbow, giggling and gasping at all the correct intervals.
Nalia would be laughing too, though still pointedly ignoring the elf, while Anomen would probably be disapproving, hiding any amusement in his cup lest he encourage the man. Minsc would likely be enjoying the story as well and probably interrupting the actor with questions in the most amusing way, always with half an eye kept on Boo, and Jaheira…

Fritha felt a familiar worry rise within her. Jaheira had been annoyed since the prison, and Fritha's request that Haer'Dalis be allowed to stay in their company was clearly the last in a long line of imprudent decisions that day.

She frowned, unable to shake the feeling that she may well be agreeing with the druid before the tenday was out. Letting the actor stay would likely cause problems and she hoped again it had been her desire to act fairly by him, and not more selfish reasons that had prompted her decision. He had already been the cause of a falling out between the girls; perhaps she should have told him the group had no room for him, but it had seemed so unfair when he hadn't actually done anything.

Fritha sighed. Well, the choice was made now; they would just have to deal with trouble as it arose, and even with such concerns hanging over her, she could not regret her decision, not when it would allow her the chance to become better acquainted with the man.

That he had liked Raelis had been clear from the moment Fritha had seen them together, but in the end, he had left the actress's company of his own volition to join with theirs, so perhaps he was ready to move on from the woman as well.
Yes, perhaps you can heal his heart sighed her mind in a rather dreamy voice and Fritha snorted. Perhaps not, but she could get to know him better, discover the depth of her own feelings and see if they were suited, and whether her regard was returned.

And what of Aerie?
What of her? Fritha replied stalwartly, ignoring the slight twinge in her stomach when she thought of the rare and radiant elf.

Yes, Aerie clearly held an affection for him, and one intense enough for her to risk her friendship with Nalia over, but, that hardly meant anything at this early stage. The man had only just met them a day ago; the girl may find, on reflection, that she did not like him after all.
And, Fritha continued when that failed to quell her nagging doubts, whatever Aerie's feelings were, it did not necessarily mean Haer'Dalis returned them. Besides,

'All's fair…'