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. Nor do I own 'Leisure' by W D Davies, 'To Autumn' by J Keats, 'Macbeth' by W Shakespeare or 'Matchmaker, Matchmaker,' by S Harnick.
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

Shadows of Imnesvale

The day had dawned bright and fine, a strong breeze blowing in from the sea and carrying a dampness that could mean rain, though with any luck they would be well away from the city when it struck. Fritha stood at the windows of the common room, ignoring the bustle of breakfast behind her to watch the clouds race by on a field of pale blue. Though it had been late by the time she had found her bed the night before, she had actually slept quite well for once and her heart was filled with the pleasant excitement she always felt just before she set out for somewhere new.

Behind her, Nalia and Aerie were sat at the table, both ready to leave and passing the time with talk of Aerie's evening as they waited for the others to rejoin them. At least Nalia was trying to, the elf seeming unusually reticent to speak of her visit to the circus, though she assured them both it had gone well, flushing such a shade of pink when she did so that Fritha could not help but wonder whether their love potion wasn't more potent than she had first thought.

Fritha let her attention return to the table at her back as Nalia sighed audibly.
'If it all went well, then why won't you speak of it? I cannot help but find it worrying that you have nothing to say when you are normally so vocal.'

'That's right, laugh at me!' Aerie snapped, bristling, though Fritha wondered whether it wasn't more to distract Nalia from her questions than from any real indignation. 'You only ask to poke fun. You don't really care how it went.'

'That is a cheek considering I spent three hours playing ladies' maid helping you prepare yourself for it.'

'Well, I am so sorry, it was such a- a burden for you.'

Fritha sighed and crossed to the door, moving outside to wait for their squabbling to finish. The slums were a hive of activity, those with trades rushing off to them or just setting up stalls there in the dusty streets, some of them little more than a blanket on the ground. She moved away from the inn's entrance, walking along the street to sit on some rotting wooden steps and watch the world go by, when high voices caught her attention and from her perch above the bustle, Fritha watched three dark-haired children play a skipping game on the flat roof of the building behind her.

What looked to be the eldest and youngest girls were the rope turners, the elder crouching to keep the rope level while the last girl skipped away, her apron flapping as she sang her rhyme.

'My love's a sailor, he'll go to sea,
And I shall miss him terribly,
He'll sail away for a year and a day,
But how many letters will he send to me? One, two, three, four-'

Suddenly, the girl tripped as a loud female voice bellowed from the house beneath them.

'Nera? Nera, I've need of you.'

The eldest girl dropped the rope as though it burned, hurrying through the open doorway and out of sight, a chorus of protests following her.

'Neri, you promised…'

'Neri, it was nearly my go…'

Fritha watched them, stood looking forlornly at the now limp rope before the youngest sighed and began to coil it resignedly about her hand. Fritha smiled, standing to move on to the roof proper, the two girls glancing up warily at her approach.

'Hey there, looks like you're short a player,' she began, crouching down as she reached them, 'it's been a few years since I did any skipping, but I'll give rope turning ago.'

'Wh-Who are you?' ventured the youngest, edging from behind her sister as she spoke.

'I'm Fritha.'

'Are you a mercenary?'

Fritha smiled wryly.

'I prefer to think of myself more as an explorer.'

Both girls glanced to each other to share a soft 'wow'.

'Have you killed any dragons?' asked the elder eagerly, her shyness quite forgotten.

'Killed a dragon? Oh, no… and wouldn't either, unless it gave me cause.'

The youngest girl laughed, brown eyes shining.
'You're funny. I'm Luss and this is my sister, Flyk.'

'Felyka,' the elder corrected, giving her sister an imperious glare.

Fritha smiled.
'And your other sister is Nera?' she confirmed and Luss nodded.

'Uh-huh, Neri's the eldest, but she doesn't play with us so much.'

'Yeah, mama needs her to help with the chores,' agreed Felyka, before continuing, 'so where have you explored?'

'Well, I've been to Baldur's Gate.'

'That's not very far away,' said Luss, frowning slightly, 'some of the merchants come from there.'

Fritha smiled gently. 'No, that's true. But, I've been to the island where Balduran, its founder, ended his final voyage. And this morning I'm heading to the Umar Hills, have you heard of there?'

Both girls nodded solemnly.

'Well, there's a village there that has been having some problems. Some say it's ogres, some that it's wolves, and some say that the Umar Witch herself has returned to the village.'

'That's scary,' breathed Luss, her eyes wide, 'won't you be scared?'

'Well, maybe. I-' Fritha began, but another cut her off.

'My lady?'

She glanced behind to see Anomen, halfway up the steps watching her with a clear interest.

'Ooo, who's that?' asked Felyka, peering shyly over her shoulder.

'That's Anomen. He's a priest of Helm.'

'Is he your boyfriend?'

Fritha snorted a 'no' and the two girls giggled appreciatively.

'Ah, looks like someone's here for you, as well,' she continued, straightening as a stout matronly woman appeared in the doorway behind them, glossy dark hair tidied back under a pale yellow scarf. 'Good morning, madam.'

'Good morning there, m'lady,' she greeted amiably, glancing sternly to her children as she added, 'my girls aren't bothering you, are they?'

Fritha smiled and shook her head.

'No, no, quite the contrary actually.'

'Fritha's an explorer,' Felyka piped up.

'But she doesn't kill dragons,' added Luss wisely.

'Indeed?' confirmed the woman, a smirk pulling at her lips, 'well, that's unlucky for you, for there'll be a dragon appearing in your very midst if you both don't get in now and do your chores.'

Fritha laughed gently at the chorus of groans.

'I bet Fritha doesn't have to do chores.'

'Where do you think I'm going now?' she laughed, crouching down before them again to pretend to pull a silver piece from each of their ears.

'And one for your sister, too,' she added, dropping another coin into Felyka's hand before she straightened to bid them farewell and made her way over to the waiting squire.

'You have quite a way with children, my lady,' said Anomen as she reached him, the man smiling warmly and Fritha was glad for it. It had been hard to see him so melancholy.

She threw a glance back to the girls behind her, talking excitedly with their mother.

'They remind me of myself, when I was- actually, not that long ago,' she admitted with a grin, clattering down the steps to join the others who had gathered in the street below.

'You are more responsible than you give yourself credit for. Why, I am sure you would make a fine mother.'

Fritha just smiled though, turning to the rest of them.

'Right, are we all here?' she began, casting her eyes over the group to find two missing. She sighed, bringing her fingers to her mouth and seconds later a shrill whistle split the air.

'Oi, you two!' she shouted, grinning as Aerie and the bard started from their conversation, still lingering in the doorway, 'stop flirting and fall in.'

Aerie flushed a stunning shade of magenta and Haer'Dalis sent her a smile and overly elaborate bow before they both wandered across to join them.

'Really, my raven, what is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare.'

'Our life, bard, so get a move on.'

Haer'Dalis laughed merrily and the group set off, the bard reciting the rest of the poem to Aerie as they brought up the rear together.

xxx

Autumn was well upon them now and the forests east of the city had taken on their bronzed livery, a crisp carpet of fallen leaves crunching pleasantly underfoot as they made their way to Umar.

Anomen shrugged his pack into a more comfortable position, no break to his steady gait as he followed the ranger through the trees, glad to be away from the city and feeling more at peace than he had in days. It was the afternoon of their second day travelling, the way steadily becoming more hilly as they went and according to Minsc and the rough map bought before they'd left the city, they should arrive at Imnesvale some time after noon on the morrow.

It seemed the village was quite well known, being one of the main caravan stops between Tethyr and the Heartlands. Something which was fortunate since the girls failed to get directions when they accepted the quest. Not that Fritha had let it bother her.

In fact, not a lot seemed to bother Fritha at the moment, the girl spending their days of travel walking side-by-side with Nalia and on occasion Aerie as well, the girls kicking through the amber leaves, their chatter so quick and fluid it was almost as though they were speaking a different language, the sound broken only by their warm laughter.

Anomen wiped a hand across his forehead, feeling unpleasantly grimy. Apart from the fact he had not been able to wash for days, they had been caught in an ambush by a nest of giant spiders that morning and though no one had been injured everyone was quite a bit dirtier for it. He was no stranger to the discomforts of the road, but the smell the spiders had left was disagreeable to say the least and he was looking forward to the time when they would stop and he could remove his armour for a thorough clean.

Another round of laughter from behind caused him to turn, glancing back to where Haer'Dalis and Aerie were walking together and joined for once by Nalia and Fritha, the pair flushed and beaming.

Fritha was different lately. She smiled a lot more; well, she had always smiled quite a bit, but now he would catch her just smiling at nothing. Anomen let his gaze travel along the line to where Haer'Dalis was entertaining the three, singing in a high falsetto the song of the merry maid, loudly bemoaning his virginity and making the girls laugh.

Though Anomen did not know when he had first noticed it, the change in Fritha was unmistakable and he could not guess as to what would have caused it. He watched as Haer'Dalis reached out behind her as though to playfully steal a hairpin, Fritha batting his hand away as she laughed.
Anomen frowned. At least he hoped he could not guess.

'By Silvanus, bard, be silent!' Jaheira finally snapped, turning back from where she was leading the way with Minsc to give the tiefling a glare. 'This day has been long enough already without you adding hours to it.'

'Oh, as you will, my ptarmigan,' Haer'Dalis sighed deeply. 'As a poet, this sparrow is more than accustomed to suffering the artistic ignorance of the masses.'

'Well, as long as you are suffering in silence,' the women replied with a smile and everyone laughed, the man in question joining them, albeit grudgingly.

The way was becoming steeper again now, the trees thinning about them as they climbed and a silence fell over the group, broken only by their deepened breathing until, at last, they left the cover of the trees and Aerie stopped, her breath catching in her throat.

They were stood on a rocky outcrop, the rolling hills and valleys of Umar stretching off to the horizon, patches of amber forests stippling the verdant hills, the whole landscape a hazy gold under the setting sun.

Her heart was already trembling from the climb and Aerie felt almost light-headed as she stared out across the golden hills, a river like a ribbon of silver snaking along the gorge beneath them. She had seen much of Amn on her travels with the circus, but always from one town to another, journeys by roads though civilised lands, and the wild beauty of this place was stirring.

'It's beautiful,' she breathed and Jaheira smiled, sending her an almost fond look.

'Ah, season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,' came Fritha next to her and Aerie smiled.

'When I was younger, playing with my sisters, we would dare each other to get as high as we could. You would look down, the city and the mountains laid out beneath you and the sun sinking behind it, setting the whole world ablaze.'

'Back in Candlekeep I would sometimes wake before the dawn so I could sit on the roofs and watch the eastern sky ripen with the sunrise.'

'Ripen?' repeated Aerie, wondering if she'd heard her right.

'Yes, the way it warms from the palest quince to the deep blushing orange of a heavy autumn peach… Oh, I am so hungry!' Fritha added with a mix of groan and laugh, a hand clutching her stomach.

Aerie smiled, both at the girl's joke and her description, her words bringing the scene to life behind her eyes.

'Fritha,' she began and the girl glanced to her questioningly.

'Yes?'

'I- It's nothing just… the way you say things sometimes; it's very pretty.'

'Yes, Aerie, I have noticed it too,' agreed Jaheira with a broad smile, 'almost worthy of a bard…'

A look that Aerie could not read passed between the two before Fritha suddenly smiled, continuing airily.

'Oh, I'm sure a bard would have been able to come up with something much wittier, something that would have us all laughing politely behind our hands. Well… except for Anomen, he would just scowl.'

'What?' interjected the squire, starting at the mention of his name and turning back to them with a frown. The three laughed, Jaheira shaking her head.

'Nothing, Anomen,' Fritha smiled, stepping forward to stand next to him, 'Aerie was just commenting on the sunset. So where is Imnesvale?'

Minsc glanced to the map and pointed north-eastwards.
'Do you see the fourth hill, young Fritha? In the valley behind it. This river leads to the village, though Boo says the way will be quicker over the hills.'

'We won't make it tonight,' sighed Nalia. Fritha smiled, tugging her sleeve.

'No, but we didn't expect to. Come on.'

xxx

They arrived at Imnesvale early in the afternoon of the next day, just as Minsc had predicted, the last few miles walked on the north-south trade road that the village had grown around. The group secured rooms at the local inn, taking only time enough to lighten their bags before setting out for the Mayor's home. Fritha crossed the large open square, passing the village's stone dais, the wind whipping the fallen leaves about their ankles as they went.

There was only a handful of buildings in the village though, just one wide packed earth street before it opened to a rough green plain, rising up to hills in the east while the forest continued to the north and west.

The place was quite small really, the majority of people living on the surrounding farms and relying on the township for trade and supplies; Imnesvale the vital hub of a very widespread rural community. And it seemed everyone in that small village had an opinion on who or what was behind the recent killings, the mayor's stout and stern wife declaring it was a tribe of ogres who had recently taken up residence in the northern forests, while the innkeep was just as vehement in his belief that the Umar Witch had returned to take vengeance on them all.

The mayor himself, a corpulent balding man of late middle age by the name of Lloyd, seemed reasonable enough though, merely telling them what he knew of the situation so far.

'Well, my lady, some time ago a few of the outlying farms began reporting that strange beasts were roaming the hills and forests to the north, with flocks on the more remote holdings being attacked. At first we attributed it to the wolf pack that has roamed the area for decades, though such behaviour was unusual for so early in season; it is not yet cold enough for them to be coming down from the mountains in search of food.

'Then over a fortnight ago now, a shepherd from one of the more isolated holdings went missing, he turned up three days later, his body skinned and torn in a way that I could not imagine any animal was the cause. Since then, more deaths have occurred, rumours about the Umar witch and the ogres growing daily. People are frightened; some farmers have moved within the village boundaries for fear of being next and now our local ranger Merella has gone missing, we are at a loss as to who to turn.'

'Well,' sighed Fritha once they were all back outside, blinking in the glare of a bright afternoon sun, 'what do we think? Angry ogres, hungry wolves, or the Umar witch?'

Jaheira frowned.

'It is as the minister said; the state of the bodies would discount the involvement of any normal animals and these reports of the witch seem to be little more than hearsay. The tribe of ogres certainly bears investigation though.'

Fritha nodded.

'Okay, and at least we've an idea of where they'll be. Lloyd said someone saw one near the edge of the forest just days ago, so there may still be some tracks.'

The group set off once more, crossing the plain and heading north towards the forest. The nearby hillside to the east was dotted with colour, the village children taking advantage of the day's blustery weather, running up and down trying to get kites airborne and Fritha gave them a longing look as she passed.

Jaheira and Minsc moved off into the forest, looking for any trace of a trail and Fritha let her gaze linger there a moment before turning with half an idea of watching the kites when she noticed a girl of about seven summers sat upon the low wall outside her house at the edge of the village, her sandy hair drawn back into one long braid. The girl glanced to her, holding up a hand in greeting and Fritha walked across to join her.

'Hello,' the girl greeted at her approach, 'you're from the city aren't you?'

'Most recently, yes. I'm Fritha.'

She offered her a hand, the girl taking it to shake solemnly.

'My name's Kaatje.'

'Well, it's very nice to meet you, Kaatje,' Fritha smiled, a noise behind causing her to turn and she leaned forward, peering around the house at their back to see three boys in their mid-teens hiding behind the woodpile, all laughing and snorting as they shared the contents of large jug between them.

'The blond one is my brother, Valsben,' said the girl in answer to her unspoken question, her voice taking on an air of slight disdain. 'He stole Father's ale from the pantry earlier today and now him and his stupid friends are drinking it -Mother's going to be so cross when she finds out,' she added with a gleeful smile and Fritha laughed, sitting down beside her and gesturing to the other younger children that scattered the nearby hillside.

'You don't want to play kites with your own friends then?'

Kaatje shook her head, sad but resigned. 'I can't.'

'You've no kite?'

'No, I have one,' the girl sighed, sounding suddenly old and Fritha felt herself smile as she continued, 'but Mother took it from me and said I wasn't getting it back until I stopped telling lies, only… only I wasn't! I saw what I saw and I won't say otherwise, not for all the kites in Wa!'

Fritha felt an unease stir in her stomach.

'Kaatje, what did you see?'

'Well, I'll tell you,' the girl answered after an appraising pause, 'only don't tell my mother, she said it'd be my life if she caught me telling the story again. About a tenday ago now, I remember because Mother and Vals were arguing again, so I had snuck away to see Merella. She's the ranger here and she's really nice. She tells me about the plants and the animals and everything. Anyway, as I got closer to her cabin I heard a strange noise, so I hid in the bushes and I saw this- this dark shape leaving her cabin. It was like a wolf except all made of shadows. I wanted to go inside and see that Merella was all right, but I was too afraid. I ran home and told my mother straight away, but she didn't believe me.'

Kaatje shook her head miserably. 'Everyone says I'm lying, that wolves haven't been seen so close to the village since the deep winter of 1360, but I'm not and now, now Merella is missing.'

'Fritha, are you coming?' called a voice and she glanced up to see Nalia beckoning to her, the others stood watching expectantly.

'Yes,' she called back, sending the girl next to her a reassuring smile as she rose. 'Don't worry, Kaatje, we'll find Merella for you.'

xxx

They followed the trail they had found northwards for just under an hour before they came upon the ogres' camp, the creatures quickly presenting them to their leader Madulf, who explained in halting common that they were deserters from the Sythsill army who had journeyed north to escape the violence, and were not responsible for the killings in Imnesvale; indeed, they had lost people themselves.

Jaheira found no reason to doubt the creature, especially when Madulf asked Fritha to take a request to Minister Lloyd for trading between his tribe and the village, and the group set off soon after, heading south westwards through the darkening forests. Fritha had already explained to them what Kaatje had told her, and now it seemed the ogres were no longer under suspicion, what the little girl had seen at the ranger's cabin was the only promising lead they had left.

Jaheira was always happiest out amid the nature she grew up in, but the forest did not feel the same there in the western reaches. Though she had always held a careful respect for predators and other more dangerous aspects of the natural world, the druid had never felt fear when out in the wilds. But now…

She felt uneasy, like she was being watched by things she could not see and as though to be of some comfort, her mind drifted back to her last visit to the Harper hold, and the warmth that she had carried with her since came rushing back.

Jaheira had expected more questions from Galvarey, more awkward discussion on the subject of Fritha, perhaps a firmer request to meet the girl. But after a quick talk about what she had been doing and her next tenday's plans, he led her into the hold's common room and it was as though she had seen a ghost. Sat there, in amongst Harper's both old and familiar was Dermin: her mentor, the man who had brought her to the Harper's and one whom she had not seen in almost ten years.

She felt a smile pulling at her mouth as she watched the meeting play again behind her eyes. The warm feeling of belonging as the pair laughed, reminiscing on journeys of old, both good and ill; even his condolences on Khalid had held some comfort, for they were not the shallow words of any acquaintance, but sincere regrets from a man who had been there from the beginning, who knew how much he had meant to her.

Jaheira had not felt so part of something since Khalid had died and ashamed though she was to admit it, she was almost looking forward to her return to the city that she could meet them all again.

'Is that-?'

Aerie's voice snapped her from her thoughts and Jaheira glanced up at, to notice a clearing up ahead, the grey of stone visible through thinning the trees. The cabin.

It was a squat plain building, probably only large enough for two rooms, with a roof of greying thatch. Most of the shutters were closed, no smoke rising from the chimney despite the chill to the wind, and Jaheira fancied the house held a dead look. Her skin bristled as they drew closer and in a way that had nothing to do with the breeze. There was no bird song, no sound at all save the hiss of the wind as it stirred the branches above them.

'I think we're here,' Fritha confirmed unnecessarily as she finally stepped into the clearing with Minsc, the others hanging back slightly as the girl moved up to the house.

'Has no one thought to visit her cabin before now?' asked Anomen, a hand absently fingering the eye of Helm that hung at his neck and Jaheira wondered if he sensed something too.

Fritha merely shrugged though, standing on her toes to peer through a darkened window.

'According to Minister Lloyd, they only realised Merella was missing because she was supposed to meet him about a recent killing and she never arrived. After that, no one dared brave the forests to check her cabin.'

Fritha moved back from the window, none the wiser it seemed, the girl drawing her sword and Jaheira noticed those who had yet to ready their weapons followed suit as the girl stepped onto the raised wood of the porch and pushed the door ajar.

'Hello? Merella?'

Silence followed, one moment stretching into two when another gust of wind howled through the clearing and a loose shutter crashed closed causing everyone to jump, something that was followed by much nervous laughter as Fritha pushed the door open and stepped inside.

It was hard to see anything at first, the room dark about them and something felt sticky underfoot as Jaheira followed the girl inside, her eyes adjusting to the gloom to find it covered in blood, the floor stained red where it had soaked into the wood. The air was heavy with the stale reek of rotting flesh, its source soon found in a tangle of flesh and blood that had once been a man, the skin missing and body half eaten.

Just one body could not account for all the blood though, and it seemed to have gotten everywhere; splattered across the walls and covering the floorboards, long smears across the floor leading to the doorway they had just entered through, as though a body had been dragged outside.

'By Baervar,' breathed Aerie as she came in behind them, staring around the place as though it was the ninth layer of Hell.

Fritha snorted and Jaheira felt herself wince as she heard the girl declare brightly, 'This place has nothing on Rejiek's.'

There was more blood in the second room, the floor around the bed a jumble of what looked to be the paw prints, though Minsc confirmed her suspicion that there had probably only been one of the creatures.

'Hey, I think I've found something.'

Jaheira moved back through to the main room to find Fritha, whom she had left rifling through various books and parchments on the table, now stood with a book open in her hand.

'Diary,' she said by way of explanation before flicking to the back and quickly scanning the last few entries, the others stopping their searching to gather round and listen.

'It's seems Merella noticed the local wolves were acting strangely too. Listen. I can't describe the feeling I have now when out on patrols, as though something, some awareness separate from the forest follows me wherever I am. More worrying still is the behaviour of the local wolf pack. To see them so far south this early is unheard of. I see them in the woods just north of here when I patrol, following my movements as though stalking me, but any attempts to engage them are ignored… they act as though possessed…'

So Merella had sensed it too, the forest watching her and Jaheira felt the skin of her neck prickle as Fritha continued.

'In my continuing efforts to discover the source of the wolf pack's strange behaviour I took my patrol further north than usual, taking a journey of a few days to travel almost to the forest's edge and back. All seemed normal apart from the unnatural quietness of the place and some troubling dreams each night I camped out. However, I found the old temple ruins up there show sign of recent inhabitants. Could they somehow have affected the wolf pack? I have made plans to go and investigate the area further tomorrow, after my meeting with Lloyd… And that was written almost a tenday ago,' Fritha continued, turning back a page to check the date and finally closing the book. 'What do we think?'

Jaheira frowned. 'This temple could be unrelated to the wolves or it could be the root of this mystery. Either way, we should look into it.'

It was agreed, and after one last check of the cabin, the group left, everyone suddenly very keen to get back to the village before the sunset. Anomen brought up the rear watching the group before him. Their formation was more close than usual, a wary silence hanging over them; all bar the tiefling, of course, who seemed more exhilarated than anxious, excitedly whispering to Aerie as they went.

They walked and walked, and they must have only been a mile or so from the village when Minsc suddenly brought them to a halt, the ranger saying nothing but his reason was instantly clear. Almost lost in the hiss of the wind, the sound of something crashing through the forest and it was getting louder…

Everyone fell back instinctively, weapons drawn with only the slightest noise, the belted strap on his shield creaking as Anomen swung it down from his shoulder, Nalia taking a step behind him to ready an arrow. The noise was louder now, the rumble of footfalls just audible over the crash of bracken. A flash of brown through the trees and in his peripherals Anomen saw Nalia draw back the bowstring, waiting for the next clear shot.

Another flash and suddenly Aerie cried 'No!' just as Fritha jumped forward to shout, 'Stop, stand down, it's just children!'

Nalia pulled away just in time, releasing the arrow high into the canopy as three boys crashed in to view screaming, 'Dragon! Dragon!'

'What?' Fritha cried, whirling back to see a gibberling chasing through the undergrowth after them. She sighed deeply. 'Nalia.'

The melodic hum of the released string, the whisper as another arrow split the air and the creature fell dead instantly, Fritha turning to the boys now collapsed at their feet and laughing breathlessly.

'Who are they?' questioned Aerie, still looking a touch alarmed.

'Well, the blond one's Valsben, Kaatje's brother,' Fritha provided with a shrug. 'I don't know the names of the other two, but they're his friends.'

'You recognise them?' came Jaheira and Anomen was sure he heard a certain tautness to her tone. Fritha merely nodded though.

'Yes, they were all hiding behind her house, drinking some ale they'd stolen when I was talking to Kaatje earlier.'

Jaheira looked suddenly and severely displeased.

'You saw it happening? And you did nothing to stop them?'

'By the pricking of my thumbs…' he heard Haer'Dalis mutter behind him, his amusement apparent, Aerie hushing him as the women continued.

'How could you be so irresponsible, Fritha?'

'I'm sorry, I didn't think,' the girl apologised blandly, although Anomen was given the distinct impression that the only thing Fritha was sorry about was having to listen to the druid's reprimand.
Anomen frowned. He would have thought someone who had been mere inches away from being shot would be taking the situation much more seriously.

'Well, we'd best get this lot back to the village. Come on, boy,' Fritha continued with a sigh, hoisting Valsben to his feet, Jaheira following suit with the brown-haired lad who leant against her heavily and told her he loved her, much to the amusement of the rest of them.

The wind had picked up now, indigo clouds boiling overhead and bringing with them an early dusk. Some of the trees close to the village were baring the remnants of lost kites and the children had wisely abandoned the pursuit in favour of a game of marbles on the packed earth before the town dais.

'Hey Fritha,' called a high voice and Fritha glanced up to see Kaatje running across the street to meet them, the girl stopping in her tracks as she noticed her brother walking between Minsc and Jaheira and swaying threateningly. 'Vals!'

The girl instantly turned to run back to her house, disappearing inside only to reappear moments later with her mother in tow, a tall narrow women with a careworn face who at that moment looked as though all the furies of the lower plains were flowing through her.

'Valsben Brenith Herdson! I have never been more ashamed of you! Your father has been out for the last hour, braving those beasts to search for your ungrateful hide! Just you wait till he gets home!'

'Ah, ma please, my head's killing…' the lad groaned as he staggered forward, the other boys snickering behind him.

'Your head?' the woman shrieked, cuffing the side of it for good measure, 'Inside now! And you two as well!' she ordered, rounding on his friends who promptly stopped laughing. 'Go on; I know for a fact your mother is worried sick, Neler.'

They sullenly did as they were told, following Valsben into the house, and Kaatje's mother spent the next few moments apologising profusely to them for the behaviour of her wayward son, Kaatje stood behind her all the while, hiding her giggles in her apron as she enjoyed the trouble her brother was in, before her mother ushered her inside too and, with one final apology, bade them farewell.

Only a few more paces along the street and they finally returned to the inn, the group taking a table to eat together, though Fritha did not join them, staying only long enough to collect a piece of bread and a square of cheese before leaving to watch a marble tournament just starting outside.

Anomen watched her go before turning back to his own meal. The scene at the cabin had been unpleasant enough to curb his appetite, and he ate slowly, wondering how much of Fritha's nonchalance had been genuine as he recalled her comparison to the tanner's house.

And yet, things could transpire to be much worse than any of them had experienced if Merella's theories were found to be true. What could have caused the wolves to begin acting so strangely? And though Anomen could not say why, he felt certain that this temple was somehow the cause of the problem.
Perhaps it had originally been to the glory of some dark god, forgotten over the ages, but if people had started worship there again…

He started as an unexpected peal of thunder rattled the windows, rain suddenly patting heavily against the glass and he rose as others did, throwing wide the door in time to see the heavens open, the square descending into a chaos of children, all whooping and shrieking as they danced about in the downpour, Jaheira providing an amusing mirror of the village mothers, stood under the eaves demanding Fritha come inside that instant.

'Never!' the girl laughed, the thunder almost drowning her out, stood on the town dais with her head thrown back to catch raindrops on her tongue. 'Come on, Nalia!'

Anomen watched the young woman next to him, wringing her sleeves with indecision before she screamed shrilly and gathered up her skirts to go charging out to join her and Jaheira finally seemed to give them up as a lost cause, turning back into the inn.

'Idiots, the pair of them. Haven't the sense they were born with.'

Anomen glanced back to the girls, dancing along the dais laughing wildly, before he shook his head, following the druid inside.

Nalia returned a quarter of an hour later, soaked through and flushed, explaining that Fritha was still watching the storm, before promptly leaving to change out of her wet clothes. Jaheira snorted crossly, throwing the closed door a dark look as though it was somehow its fault Fritha had not returned yet.

'The girl is mad.'

'Isn't she though,' beamed Haer'Dalis as though the druid had just bestowed upon her the highest of compliments.

'Yes, and she needs no encouragements from you, bard!'

Haer'Dalis did not look happy at this and neither did Aerie, though Anomen wondered if it did not stem more from the druid insinuating her sweetheart would somehow have an influence on the girl's behaviour. But either way, he had no desire to hear the imminent quarrel. He quickly drained the last of his ale.

'Please excuse me a moment,' and with that, Anomen left for the bar.

So, it seemed Jaheira had perhaps noticed it as well, this spark of regard between Fritha and the bard…
Anomen shook his head; it was a shame if it were so, for it was clear where Haer'Dalis's true affections lay, his attentions never far from Aerie. The squire sincerely doubted Fritha had failed to notice this though, observant as she was, but hearts were rarely known to be bound by reason and Anomen resolved to keep an eye on the tiefling from then on, lest he take advantage.

There was a window next to him as he stood awaiting his drink and he could see her through the rain-streaked glass, Fritha now just stood before the dais, her gaze fixed southward. The rain was starting to ease off, the storm rolling on down the valley, ceasing as suddenly at it had begun, and he watched as a break in the clouds engulfed the square in a warm yellow light, the water that drenched every surface sparkling like a thousand stars and it was in that moment she turned and saw him through the window. She waved.

'Yer ale, milord.'

Anomen started, turning back to the bar to find the innkeep waiting patiently for coin. He paid him, returning to the table and he had just sat as Fritha appeared in the doorway.

She was shivering uncontrollably, water dripping from her hair to run across her face, though she seemed to be disregarding both, her eyes bright and black as polished jet as she spoke.

'Finally come to your senses have you?' said Jaheira curtly, though the girl did not seem to notice her tone, her voice quiet and breathy.

'Oh, it was beautiful. I've never seen anything like it! The way clouds hung black overhead, boiling and twisting like the sky was alive… and then lightning would suddenly slice over the hills, thunder roaring through the air as though the world were at an end!' she cried, throwing an arm wide and splattering half the table with water. 'Oh, sorry.'

Jaheira rolled her eyes and Anomen could tell she was trying not to smile.

'Come on, upstairs now, before you catch your death.'

And the women rose to usher her swiftly up the stairs, Fritha still chattering breathlessly as they went.

xxx

Fritha sniffed, the sudden change from the cold of the square to the warmth of the inn making her nose run, Jaheira ahead of her as they climbed and keeping up a constant tirade as they went.

'Gods, Fritha, how are old are you? Twelve? No, you are not, and I think it high time you began to act like it! Standing out in the rain getting soaked through.'

'I was enjoying the glory of nature,' Fritha supplied with a grin, Jaheira ignoring her to point along the landing.

'Here, go into Nalia and Aerie's room, the fire is already lit in there. Get out of those wet clothes and I will fetch your bag.'

And with that she turned and stalked off to the room that they were sharing, Fritha moving to the door the woman had indicated to find Nalia, already changed with her wet clothes hung over a chair before the fire, her hair hanging in dark red tendrils as it dried.

'You're back,' she smiled, coming forward to welcome her in, 'how was it? I wish I could have stayed out, but it was so cold.'

'It was amazing,' Fritha grinned, letting the memories of it draw her back. 'There was this moment towards the end, when the wind seemed to drop and the rain just hung in the air, like time had been stopped. I-'

'What did I say?' snapped a voice behind her, Fritha turning to see Jaheira in the doorway. 'Get out those wet things now! Here's your bag. I trust I don't have to stay and dress you.'

'Stay?' asked Nalia, 'You are going out?'

'Just into the forests to pray awhile.'

Fritha frowned slightly, concerned.

'Should you be going alone?'

Jaheira sent her a look that clearly indicated she did not think much of this hypocrisy before answering, 'No and you are not the only one to think so. It seems Boo is insisting on accompanying me.' She thrust the bag into her arms. 'Now change!'

Fritha managed to hold in her laughter until the druid had stalked from the room, the girl still giggling as she moved behind the screen to peel off her wet clothes, Nalia wringing them out over the hearth while she changed, the girl hanging them on the chair to dry with her own.

Fritha sighed, straightening her tunic and finally stepping out from behind the screen to sink on to Nalia's bed, the girl herself sitting down next to her, pulling her bag onto her lap with a smile and drawing out a large bottle of dark red liquid and two cups.

'Is that- is that wine, Nalia? Where did you get it?'

Nalia sent her a roguish smile.

'I had it sent up by the maid. I had a feeling Jaheira would bring you in here once you came back inside. Besides, it's medicinal, here…' she grinned, passing her the cup she had just poured, 'cheers!'

Fritha laughed, receiving the cup from her and raising it in toast before draining the contents and the girls settled down to finish the rest between them, talking about where life had brought them and teaching each other the songs they had learnt when they were young and without the worries that just seemed to come with age.

Fritha glanced to the window, where a sky of inky clouds hid both stars and moon, before turning back to the girl next to her. Nalia was sat as she was, barefoot on the crumpled blankets of her bed, her dress hitched up to her knees and exposing her pale freckled legs. Her hair was wavy where it had been left to dry, softening the slight sharpness to her features and Fritha was pleased by the idea that only she could see the girl so, propriety keeping all others at a distance.

They had talked for hours, the subject becoming increasingly silly as the wine bottle emptied until it had finally descended to their current topic, the group's first and only couple.

'I wonder what Aerie and Haer'Dalis did do on that night they went to circus…' mused Nalia, leaning back against the headboard with a sigh.

'You mean she hasn't said anything more than what she told you back in Athkatla?' Fritha confirmed, rather impressed by the elf's resolve; Nalia could be very persuasive. The girl shook her head.

'Not a word. She says they just met with her uncle and friends and went for a walk afterwards. I keep asking her if they kissed but she just flushes pink and tells me to mind my own business.'

'Coyly?' questioned Fritha.

'No, crossly now you mention it…' Nalia answered with a contemplative frown, straightening slightly as she considered aloud, 'Hmm, do you suppose that maybe they haven't kissed? That would explain why she's cross. Maybe Aerie tried to kiss Haer'Dalis and he wouldn't let her.'

'What, you mean he was all, "No Aerie, we cannot give in to our base passions!",' Fritha sent her a sceptical look, 'I can't see it myself. Oh, can you imagine the horror of plucking up the courage to kiss someone and them not kissing you back?' She laughed, her stomach twisting as she lost herself to the feeling, 'That awful moment of realisation, when your lips are on his and you can feel the rigour in his jaw. Oh, I'd just die of embarrassment on the spot.'

'Or perhaps…' Nalia continued, though she did not get very far before her voice was lost to laughter.

'Yes?' pressed Fritha, eager to hear the joke, Nalia raising her pink face from her sleeve to choke, 'Or perhaps they kissed and it was really dreadful!'

'Nalia!' Fritha cried and promptly burst out laughing as well, 'Besides, I'm sure Aerie's silence is a result of things more than likely going well rather than badly.'

Nalia snorted. 'Yes, Aerie is still maintaining that, "we just talk and hold hands" rubbish. I'll wager they are down in the tavern kissing as we speak.'

'Really? Gods, poor Anomen,' said Fritha with sincerity and the pair were lost to laughter once more.

Fritha sighed, finally calming enough to lean back against the cool uneven plaster of the wall behind her, the mixture of laughter and wine leaving her warm and slightly sleepy.

'Have you ever been kissed, Fritha?'

Fritha opened her eyes to find Nalia leant back against the headboard, the girl watching her with a gentle look. Fritha shook her head.

'Not likely; I still thought boys smelt until a year or so ago. You?'

The girl shrugged

'Well, once. My father would sometimes have knights stay at the castle; some were old friends, others just men from campaigns in which he had served. Once when I was in my thirteenth year, a knight came to stay for a tenday and he brought with him his squire, Avron. He was about my age, perhaps a year older and we befriended each other for the time he was there. I remember we were in the orchard when it happened, one moment we were just laughing and he was trying to steal the book I had been reading, the next I was in his arms…'

Nalia trailed off looking suddenly uncomfortable and Fritha made a show of taking out her hairpins, as though she had not noticed the billowing silence.

'Afterwards, we just laughed it off really. We were both quite embarrassed and I don't think either of us had expected it to happen. It was more friendly than anything romantic to be honest…' Nalia sighed, continuing in a way that sounded both brisk and slightly sad. 'Then he left with his knight and I was sent to St Hilaria's but a few months later. I do not know what made me think of it after so long… Would you like me to comb your hair out?'

Fritha frowned slightly, wondering what had prompted her offer when she realised the mess of her curls now at her shoulders and she shook her head, hurriedly pinning it back up.

'No, no, I can't be bothered at the moment. I'll battle with it in the morning.' She yawned, straightening to stretch out her back, 'I really should drink something other than wine before I sleep.'

Nalia smiled, the soft look still to her eyes as she stood, stooping to pulling on her stockings and boots

'Come, we can take tea downstairs before we retire –and see what Aerie and Haer'Dalis are up to.'

Fritha laughed, slipping on her sandals to follow her out.

xxx

Anomen took another drink, the tavern quiet about him though the moon was barely risen. Jaheira and Minsc had left just as the rains had stopped, going out to experience nature, or some such nonsense, Aerie and Haer'Dalis leaving soon after, and he had been alone for the last couple of hours.

Not that he minded really. He had found it difficult to be in company of late, and though he was slowly improving, the tension that existed between Jaheira and the tiefling that evening was not making things any easier.

Anomen sighed, listening as the forest outside groaned and creaked in the wind, the way it whistled down the chimney shrill and almost melodious. He paused, his cup halfway to his mouth as he suddenly realised it was not the wind at all, but singing and Anomen glanced up to see Fritha appear on the stairs with Nalia, the pair clattering down into the tavern.

'Oh matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a catch!'

Fritha had an empty bottle of wine in one hand, the girl tripping lightly over to his table and grinning as she threw herself into the chair next to him.

'Hello Anomen. Oh, I feel positively squiffy,' she sighed in quite a good likeness of Nalia, the girl herself laughing gently as she stepped up behind the chair, Fritha dropping her head back to look up at her as the young woman spoke.

'Right, I'm going to fetch some tea, dearest; would you like anything, Anomen?'

He shook his head and Nalia nodded once, stooping briefly to kiss the top of her head before sweeping off to the bar, the girl she left straightening with a sigh.

'So,' began Anomen, trying to sound stern as he eyed the empty bottle Fritha had set on the table, 'what have you two been doing?'

'Oh, nothing much. Drinking, singing, gossiping about boys,' Fritha finished with a wicked laugh before she sighed again, resting her flushed face upon her hand, her grin lessening to the half-smile she sometimes wore which always made her look both contented and sad at the same time.

'So where is everyone?' asked Nalia as she arrived back at the table, setting down the teapot and cups and taking a seat, 'I thought Aerie and Haer'Dalis were down here with you.'

Anomen shook his head.

'No, they left to walk out a short time after you did, and when they returned went straight upstairs.'

'I wished we'd known,' sighed Fritha, sending him an apologetic look as she took her first sip of tea, 'we'd have come down earlier if we'd known you were on your own.'

'It is fine, my lady. I was enjoying the peace.'

'Ah, well, best we weren't about then,' the girl smirked into her cup, Nalia sending her glance before asking with a deliberate nonchalance, 'So, how did Aerie and Haer'Dalis seem before they left?'

Fritha rolled her eyes. 'Oh, Nalia, not this again.'

'There's no harm in getting another's perspective,' the girl dismissed before turning to him once more, 'So, how did they seem?'

Anomen frowned. 'Well, as they usually do, my lady. Why? Is something wrong?'

'No, no nothing's wrong, Anomen,' Fritha smiled, shaking her head. 'Aerie has just become very reticent to speak of their relations lately and Nalia is worried for them, the course of true love never running smooth, and all that.'

Anomen gave the pair a stern look.

'Really, is it any of your business?' he reproached but Fritha merely laughed.

'Goodness Anomen, if everyone kept their interest only in their own affairs the world would be very dull indeed.'

Anomen sighed and shook his head, trying not to smile as he turned the conversation to more relevant matters.
'So, have you given any thought as to what could be behind the corruption of this local wolf pack? I believe the temple is the most likely source, perhaps it is dedicated to some ancient dark power.'

Fritha shrugged. 'Perhaps, or it could have been taken over by another sect. Malar, or the like. I suppose we will find out once we get there.'

Anomen nodded. 'Indeed. According to the innkeep, the temple is over a day's journey north; we should be prepared to camp out with the knowledge these beasts are abroad.'

Nalia sighed, looking downhearted; something Fritha did not fail to notice.

'Dearest?'

'Oh, it is nothing, foolish really. I- I am just finding it difficult to accustom myself with sleeping out of doors, especially now it is getting colder.'

'Well, that's nothing to be ashamed about,' said Fritha with an understanding smile, 'I've been doing it for almost a year now and I'm still not much keen on it either. It's not so much the cold, but I hate that feeling you get sometimes when you are lying there, the fire at your back and making the darkness you are facing seem all the darker, and you can't seem to help but imagine all the twisting creatures it could be hiding. I never sleep properly.'

Anomen swallowed; he doubted he would from now on and by the look of Nalia she was right there with him. He had never been very comfortable out in the wild, and he wasn't sure whether the idea the two girls were just as uneasy made him feel better or worse.
Fritha sighed, glancing up from her cup and she must have noticed their expressions for she laughed embarrassedly.

'Oh, I'm sorry, I'm not helping, am I. Well,' she continued, draining her cup and tugging affectionately on Nalia's sleeve as she rose, 'we had better sleep well tonight if we are not going to get much tomorrow. And don't you be staying up too late either, Anomen,' she scolded playfully.

He smiled wryly and dipped his head in acquiescence.

'No, my lady. Goodnight.'