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.

A cowled dance

There was a tense excitement building that morning, everyone moving between each other's rooms in an informal flurry of last preparations as the group readied themselves for their descent into the crypts. Fritha's door was still open, (Minsc had not long left after she had helped him with his vanbraces), the girl currently bent double as she struggled into her chainmail, listening to the sounds of the others gathering in the hall outside.

'Minsc, do you have the spare lantern?'

'Oh, I think I've forgotten my- Oh no, there it is,'

'My raven?'

'Just a moment…' Fritha rolled her shoulders one last time, her head finally emerging as the shirt slipped on, 'There, now what-' She stopped as she noticed Haer'Dalis stood in her open doorway, his hand resting casually on the shoulder of the skinny young boy before him. 'Oh, Meck, no,' she sighed, 'not now; I was only just there yesterday!'

The boy shook his head, looking remarkably sympathetic.

'I ain't 'ere about the theatre, m'lady. I've come with a message. Some bloke's just pitched up at the play'ouse asking fer you.' Meck sent her a dark look, 'Says 'e's from the Cowled Wizards.'

xxx

They were marching briskly along the wide stone corridor, their footsteps echoing on the marble floor as they followed the loping gait of the gangly young man. Fritha spared a glance to the woman next to her, Jaheira sending her a wary frown in reply. They had left the others in the Coronet not long ago with plans to start their search of the crypts without them, they themselves returning quickly to the theatre with Meck to meet their Cowled Wizard. Fritha was not sure what she had been expecting, but it had not been the rather pimply youth who had greeted their arrival, the boy no older than sixteen winters with the pale weedy look of one who did not see enough sunlight. He was an amiable lad though, instantly introducing himself as Madeen, the apprentice to a mage of some power and influence who requested their presence, though he could give no details as to why.

Fritha let her attention shift back to the cool stone hallway. They had never been upstairs in the Council Buildings before, for access was restricted for common citizens and it surprised her at how much quieter it was than the ground floor, with its chaos of clerks and city guards dashing back and forth. Here, the corridors were empty save for the occasional person in robes who drifted silently past them. Fritha looked again to Jaheira, her hushed voice coming out as a hiss.

'What do you think this summons could mean then? Perhaps they've realised Imoen's innocent. Perhaps they're going to release her!'

Jaheira sent her a stern, almost pained look.

'Now, it is not wise to get your hopes up, Fritha.'

'No, no, I know,' she conceded, trying and failing to quell said feeling in her heart, 'but what else could it be?'

'Here, ladies,' came the youth ahead of them, the apprentice opening the door they had come to and bowing them inside.

It was not a large room and seemed even smaller due to the huge desk that had been placed in its centre, two chairs before it while behind sat a tall rake-thin man of middling years, his brown hair slicked back to best show off his strong forehead, his neat beard not quite hiding the lack of chin. He was just as pasty as his apprentice but colder with it, thin wire-framed glasses perched upon his long nose as he read from the parchment before him as though oblivious to their entrance. Bookshelves lined the walls around them with the exception of the one behind him, in which was set instead with a large window that looked out over the formal gardens, the light from which falling, either by design or coincidence, over the man, giving him a glowing aura of light that could not help but look impressive.

'Sir?' ventured the youth.

'Hmm?' The man glanced up, absently adjusting his spectacles to finally recognise them, 'Ah, yes, do have a seat, ladies. That will be all, Madeen.'

The youth shut the door without a word.

Fritha sat as she was bade, but just barely and the girl could feel herself twitching, just desperate for news of her friend.

'Now then,' the mage smiled, coolly dropping his attention to them, 'My name is Tolgerias. I have heard much of your reputation about the city, especially your apprehension of the Bridge murderer and I have been wondering if you would like to hunt a similar fellow who has been evading capture by the Cowled Wizards for almost a tenday now. You know of the prevailing attitude towards magic here in Amn, I assume?'

Fritha considered that it was an attitude hardly helped by the actions of those supposedly administrating it, though she merely nodded once for him to continue.

'Indeed. Well, for some it is even more than that, manifesting in a palpable hatred. One particular man has murdered two of our number in cold blood. He is currently in hiding and I wish for you to find him.'

Fritha nodded again, waving all this away with a hand.

'As you say, but first things first, where's Imoen? Firstly, I want to know she's well, then-'

Tolgerias looked genuinely confused.

'I beg your pardon, but Imoen? I am sure I have no idea about whom you are speaking, miss.'

'What? Are you joking? You summon me here and don't even know about her?' Fritha did not recall standing up but she was certainly on her feet now, leaning over his desk as she continued her tirade. 'Imoen is the girl who was arrested in the Promenade over two months ago for doing nothing more than trying to protect herself against the man who for the last tenday had been her torturer!'

For all his previous coolness, Tolgerias looked a touch ruffled now.

'Oh, yes, I do recall something, though I fear I have nothing to do with Magical Enforcement,' he soothed mechanically, before steering them neatly back to his own concerns, 'But, I suppose I could make some enquiries, perhaps even put forward for a pardon… that is, of course, if you agree to help me.'

Fritha glanced back to Jaheira, the woman nodding imperceptibly, and the girl felt something inside her break as all her hopes were sudden crushed. She slumped back into chair with a sigh to ask dully, 'What's his name then?'

xxx

'Lord Valygar Corthala.'

'Anything?' came Fritha eagerly and Jaheira shook her head, throwing the small card onto the growing pile of documents before them.

'No, just another invitation to some ball or other; it seems the Corthala family is quite well respected, at least, it was once.'

After their very brief meeting with Tolgerias had concluded, Madeen had shown them straight to a small estate in the northwest of the city where they had commenced to search the Corthala home room by room, finally finding themselves in the small wood-panelled study on the second floor. Jaheira looked about the room from where she was knelt with Fritha on the floor before a large bookcase, the pair searching through the books and documents that were stacked neatly upon it. Something, in fact, that had been disturbing Jaheira ever since they had arrived at the house. She watched as the clouds shifted outside and shaft of sunlight poured through the small window next to them, the usual constellation of dust it should have revealed, reduced to a mere few specks of gold, swirling in the light. The study was too tidy, too clean. There were barely enough books to fill half the bookcase, and Jaheira suspected that they were not the first ones to have searched the place, the Cowled Wizards likely taking anything they deemed of value as soon as Valygar had abandoned his home. But why? What could have so interested them? Tolgerias was not telling them something, of that Jaheira was sure. But what?

Fritha tossed the parchment she had been reading onto the pile as well and sat back on her haunches with a sigh.

'This is useless, we've been here all day and we still know nothing more than what Tolgerias told us. That Valygar Corthala, the last son of a local noble house suddenly decided to up and start a one-man campaign against the Cowled Wizards and murdered two of their number.'

'If they were anything like Tolgerias I have every sympathy for him.'

'Indeed. And now he's given them the laugh and we're supposed to find him.'

'And bring him in alive…' added Jaheira, sending the girl next to her an stern look. Fritha dropped her attention back to the papers before them looking uncomfortable.

'Tolgerias said he needed to face justice. We can kill him if he forces us to.'

'Yes, though in that instance we have to bring back his whole body as proof of it,' pressed Jaheira, 'Why not just the head, that is usually sufficient after all? There's something very odd about this whole thing and I do not trust Tolgerias.'

Fritha shook her head, smiling wryly.

'No, well, I agree with you there, but if this Valygar has murdered two people then he needs to face justice, one way or another, and if a certain way will lead us to Imoen then that is the path I intend to take.' The girl glanced to her with an unusually open look, 'I can't let any doubts ruin this chance, Jaheira, she has been gone too long now as it is.'

Jaheira nodded and the pair of them turned back to the pile before them, the druid rising stiffly after a moment to start searching through the desk, her fingers moving over the differing textures of the papers within the drawers. Bill, letter, letter, bill. Her fingers brushed against something cool and hard in the back of the drawer and Jaheira withdrew an old iron key.

'You've found something?' came Fritha at her shoulder.

'I do not know, perhaps.'

'A key,' the girl confirmed, 'and quite a thick one, for a strongbox or a door perhaps?'

'Or it could just be an old key to something not even this Valygar remembers.' Jaheira brought it closer to her face, trying to decipher the letters that were raised along one side. 'Something and Wellings? Does that mean anything to you?'

Fritha shook her head, casting her eyes about the rest of the room. 'Are we done do you think?'

Jaheira sighed and nodded, handing her the key as she tidied the documents back into the desk and shut the drawer.

'Yes, this place has been picked clean.'

xxx

Jaheira drew a deep breath of cold afternoon air, glad to be out of that house as the pair of them set off, heading back towards the river and the south of the city.

'So what do you think our next step should be?' asked Fritha and Jaheira sighed.

'Well, it is unlikely we will get anymore information than we have already from the Cowled Wizards and the fugitive's house had yielded no clues, so I suppose next we should visit the scene of the murder and after that we will have to merely rely on our own sources of investigation,' Jaheira glanced to her, smiling slightly, 'perhaps you can ask your Renal if he knows anything.'

Fritha laughed.

'Oh, he's my Renal now, is he? Well, I'll certainly ask him. I can go after our meeting with the magistrate tomorrow. Does Cernd know we have arranged to meet with Magistrate Ianulin?'

Jaheira shrugged. They had taken the time to collar the Magistrate's secretary before leaving the Council Buildings that morning, using the considerable reputation Fritha and their group had about the city to manage to get an appointment to meet with the woman on the morrow, for all the good it would do.

'I told Cernd I would try to arrange something and I have.'

Jaheira sighed, recalling her conversation with the druid before they had left the Coronet. It was the first of the three days of full moon tonight and Cernd had looked more than wan that morning, though with all that had transpired it was hard to tell whether the moon alone had been source of his restlessness. Fritha frowned slightly, looking unconvinced.

'Do you even think Bylanna will be able to do anything?'

'Honestly? No, I do not, and a part of me even wonders if she should. It is as you said, the child does not even know Cernd; to take the boy away from all that he has known without any reason would be cruel and quite unnecessary.'

'Yes, that is so…' the girl agreed absently, seemingly lost in her own thoughts for a moment before she turned back to her once more. 'Still I suppose we should look into it, just on the outside chance. After all, Cernd should at least get to meet his son and Fennecia did say this Deril fellow was an odd one; Galia's death sounded a touch suspicious to me.'

'Yes, well, that is one thing that would perhaps bear investigation, though in being a bad husband it does not necessarily follow that your are a bad person, as Cernd himself proves.' The druid smiled faintly and for a moment she was a whole world away as she added, 'It makes me realise sometimes, how blessed I was to have Khalid.'

Fritha smiled as well, though she said nothing. They had reached one of the smaller wooden footbridges that spanned the river by now, the pair halting before it and ignoring the people bustling past them, some pushing handcarts probably taking deliveries to the northern estates, while others looked to be servants out on errands for the noble households they served, their manners brisk and purposeful behind the neat uniforms. The sun was already on its descent, the people on the bridge little more than hunched silhouettes against the dark yellow sky and Jaheira fancied they all held the same weary look that she had seen before in such places, as though the city life had a way of eroding people's spirits.

'Are you coming back to the inn for dinner?' Jaheira asked, though she suspected she already knew the girl's answer, Fritha shaking her head.

'No, I'll get something at the Five Flagons, Higgold collared me when we arrived to meet Madeen; he wants my opinion on some scene or other.'

'They work you too hard at that theatre.'

Fritha sent her a tired grin.

'Yes, well, as Higgold would say, "Art is suffering". Give my regards to the others if you see them.'

Jaheira smiled slightly, watching her disappear along the street before she turned to take her first step on to the bridge.

xxx

Aerie moved slowly along the tunnel, her eyes searching every shadow, ears pricked for any unfamiliar sounds over their echoing footsteps and the creak of armour. She sighed tiredly and instantly wished she hadn't, the air dry and stale, heavy with the scent of embalming fluid and general decay. They had been down in the crypts since mid-morning, walking the labyrinth of tunnels, the open alcoves that lined the walls and the desiccated corpses they held so disturbing at first, now barely worthy of note; even the most frightening of places dull after so long.

Minsc was leading the way, his bald head gleaming slightly in the light of the lantern carried by the silver-haired Lathandite priest next to him. Father Lytham as he had introduced himself, was the head of exequies at the temple and an expert on the sprawling mass of crypts that spanned under the southwest of the city, from the temple district all the way to the cemetery. He had joined them at Dawnmaster Kreel's insistence, the man unwilling to lose any more people to the twisting maze of catacombs and the old priest had proved an invaluable guide, leading them unerringly as they searched the southern quarter of the crypts where the child and then the priests had first disappeared.

Aerie watched as the pair halted a moment, Minsc kindly taking the lantern while Lytham consulted his map before they continued their path and the group set off once more. Behind them, Cernd was walking alone, his weathered face looking even older in the marshy glow of his werelight and holding a melancholy she had not seen in him before. She had tried to speak to him earlier and though polite as he had been, it had been clear he had not wanted company and she had dropped back to walk with Anomen and Haer'Dalis at their rear soon afterwards. Aerie sighed slightly to herself. She could not help but feel for the druid. That he knowingly left his child seemed impossible to the elf, the man more a victim of cruel circumstance in her mind, than an uncaring philanderer, though she did realise that many things had come to light yesterday that he had not told her of, even with the apparent openness she thought she had enjoyed with him. Aerie found Haer'Dalis's hand in the gloom and squeezed it slightly, suddenly very glad to have him as her own; for all their differences and his reluctance to deal with anything outside the present, be it past or future, she never once had any fear he would desert her.

He sent her smile in the darkness, his voice hushed.

'Is something wrong, my dove?'

'No, nothing… I- I was just thinking about poor Cernd.'

'Oh yes,' the bard agreed quietly and with much more enthusiasm that Aerie thought was appropriate, 'it is quite the bother he has found himself in, hasn't he?'

'Have you no sympathy for him?' she reproached, though the tiefling merely shrugged.

'No, why should I? He brought all his troubles upon himself, after all.'

'He did not know he had a child.'

'No, but he knew well enough he had a wife and he should not have married her to start with had he any doubts.'

Aerie blinked, both surprised and impressed by his vehemence.

'And I suppose you have never broken such a vow?' came Anomen from behind them, his tone almost conversational.

'Most assuredly not, my hound!' Haer'Dalis exclaimed, looking as offended as Aerie had ever seen him, though he did relent to dropping his voice once more when Minsc glanced back to them with a frown, the bard continuing in a hiss, 'I never make promises I cannot keep.'

Anomen raised an eyebrow, coolly appraising the man. 'But does that show a devotion to keep your word… or merely never to give it?'

Haer'Dalis shrugged.

'In some instances, yes, I would refuse to make any vow, but I find that preferable to breaking one's word. Nevertheless, do not mistake me, knight, I never deal in falsehoods when it comes to matters of the heart. Only misery comes from such deceits however one may think they are sparing another's feelings.'

Anomen nodded once.

'An honourable sentiment.'

'Indeed,' the tiefling continued and Aerie could not fail to notice the mischievous glint to his dark eyes, 'and I wonder then, when you intend to apply such honesty to your own relations; it is unkind to keep the lady in suspense, Anomen.'

Aerie heard herself gasp.

'You- You have a lady, Anomen?'

'Of course not!' he snapped, the gloom not quite hiding the sudden flush to his face as Haer'Dalis continued, nudging him slyly.

'Not yet anyway, eh? I imagine there will be quite a few accomplished young ladies flocking about now you've been knighted.'

'If that is the only reason the lady favours me I fear I may find it difficult to return her regard,' said Anomen matter-of-factly, '-be she accomplished or not.'

Haer'Dalis gasped dramatically, pretending to swoon.

'Such nobility of heart, I cannot compete. Go, Sweet Aerie, go and marry him before another lucky maid secures his hand.'

'Haer'Dalis, don't be silly, I wouldn't marry a knight,' she giggled, suddenly whirling to Anomen, worried she had offended him. 'W-Well, what I mean is, if I were to get married, I would want to be with my husband all the time. I should not want him to go away on dangerous campaigns for months on end; I would worry and miss him. But I understand not everyone like that.'

Anomen frowned, looking as uncomfortable as he did interested. 'And you imagine my wife would be a woman such as that?'

Aerie nodded sincerely.

'Well, yes. I- I suppose I always imagined your wife would be a noblewomen who would be happy in her duties of the home, waiting for your return.'

'Indeed,' agreed Haer'Dalis with a broad smile, 'Fritha and I were talking on this just the other night.'

'You were?' choked Anomen.

'Oh, yes, and the raven quite agrees with your choice: a nice dutiful noblewoman to bear your children and bake your bread. Why, no home should be without one!'

'And what makes you all think I should want such- such obligated relations?' Anomen demanded hotly and Aerie glanced to Haer'Dalis, genuinely puzzled by the knight's displeasure.

'Well, I suppose that was rather short-sighted of us,' she conceded, 'I mean, there are a few ladies within the Order like Irlana, who would want nothing more than to travel and fight as you do. Sorry, have I offended you, Anomen?' she continued quickly as the man's face took on a stony look, 'I- I didn't mean to…'

'No, no, my lady, I should be grateful that the three of you have given the matter such careful thought.'

'A-Anomen?'

'Ugh, why are we even speaking of this nonsense?' Anomen cut himself off with a shake of his head, drawing a deep breath and slowly releasing it before continuing, his voice calmer, albeit in a strained sort of way. 'I am sorry, Aerie, but we should remain alert; there are many dangers down here for the unwary.'

And with that, he quickened his pace slightly to move ahead of them and walk alone. Aerie glanced to Haer'Dalis, the man shrugging once at her questioning look, seemingly no wiser than she as to what could have annoyed the knight so.

'Hold everyone,' came the ranger's voice, echoing slightly in the tunnel ahead of them, 'Boo has found something.'

The pair had come to a halt just before a fork in the tunnel, one side continuing on into the darkness while the other opened out into a small chamber, their lights falling on a large stone sarcophagus, its lid half removed, an assortment of pots and chests set about it, both they and the tomb looking as though they had been recently looted. But it was not this that had brought the two men to a stop and Aerie moved forward with the others to see a pile of corpses just dumped in the middle of the tunnel. They were little more than bones and burial shrouds now after being down there so long, the bodies clearly taken from the nearby crypts to allow whoever have done so to search the alcoves for whatever small treasures they had been buried with.

'Tomb robbers,' confirmed Lytham with a sigh. 'We do not usually get them down here, not when there are richer picking in the cemetery above but…' He trailed off, crouching down to heave the first body back into its alcove, Minsc and Anomen moving quickly to help him as Aerie hurried forward to gather up the mess of random bones that littered the dusty ground.

'Ah, and here is our culprit, my birds,' came Haer'Dalis cheerily from just inside the chamber. Cernd moved to join him, lowering his staff and the werelight that clung to it, and crouching to examine the body of a man, greying skin hanging slack on his pale face.

'From the state of decay he cannot have been down here more than a tenday at most.' Cernd directed the light lower to revel a neat slash across his stomach, the dried blood staining his tunic black. 'But what could have killed him?'

Haer'Dalis shrugged.

'Perhaps those he came with turned stag and left his body down here with the rest of the corpses. Look,' he continued, moving over to another crumpled heap towards the back of the chamber, 'there is an- Ah!'

Haer'Dalis shrieked as a fleshy grey hand shot from the pile to grab his wrist. The tiefling freed himself with a sweep of his blade, springing back and shaking off the severed hand that still clung to his arm and Aerie could not help a scream as a ghostly figure swept up from the sarcophagus to shriek, 'Defilers! Thieves! Leave this place!'

Suddenly, the crumpled forms of the two bodies they had found and third still hidden in the darkness at the back of the chamber rose haltingly to begin shambling towards them with stilted movements. Their group seemed to back away as one, Lytham and Anomen instantly fumbling at their necks and Aerie followed suit, her hand closing about the cord there and drawing up a small gold pendant in the shape of a raccoon's face, the symbol of her god. The others were already holding their own holy symbols out before them, chanting prayers under their breath and Aerie joined them, the prayersong of the Wildplaces coming instantly to her lips as she warded the creatures. The bodies of the three tomb robbers, pale and slack limbed, suddenly began to shudder and finally stopped their slow advance, halting for a moment and swaying as they groped listlessly at some invisible barrier before one by one they crumpled to the floor, dead again and truly so this time.

'What is the meaning of this, spirit?' demanded Anomen angrily, though the spectre seemed not to have heard him, the creature not sparing him a glance as it continued to moan pitifully.

'No, no, arise my servants. Destroy them!'

'We have not come to rob you,' ventured Aerie, taking a step towards it, the spirit seeming to calm slightly at her approach, milky eyes regarding her passively, 'please, we are looking for some others, people from the temple like us and- and a small boy. Please, have you seen them?'

The spirit just shook its head though, twisting in the air.

'No, no, leave, you must leave here. Servants, arise, come to my aid.'

'It is no good,' sighed Lytham, sending her a kind smile, 'this spirit is but a manifestation of a lingering resentment, likely fed by more than one of the poor defiled dead down here. The true consciousness of this body you see in the sarcophagus is long departed; we will get nothing useful from this spectre.' He raised his hand, the golden sunburst of his holy pendant glinting in the collective glow of their werelights. 'Spirit, by the Eternal Light of Lathander, I lay thee to rest.'

The wraith seemed stirred by a wind that only it could feel and Aerie watched as it flicked and finally faded with a long rasping sigh. Lytham shook his head, returning the holy symbol to beneath his robes and moving forward to heave closed the lid of the sarcophagus.

'I shall have to send some people down for these poor unfortunates once it is safe to do so,' he continued half to himself, gesturing to the three bodies before turning back to them, 'Well, shall we continue on then?'

A nod travelled them, the group falling back into formation and they set off once more into the darkness.

xxx

Anomen set his cup back onto the table before him, letting his eyes drift without really seeing over the fine furniture and colourful tapestries of a tavern a far cry from the one he currently called home. He had agreed to join Simon and Erick for a drink that evening, the three meeting in the Mithrest inn at sundown, all making the most of the fact that, for the time being at least, they were all in the city together.

'So, I hear you are aiding us Lathandites at the moment.'

Anomen glanced distractedly back to the table, to see Simon looking at him expectantly.

'Hmm? Oh, yes, a child from the temple school went missing a few days ago now, in the crypts beneath the city; something to do with a game of dares the children were playing,' he explained for Erick's benefit, trying to at least temper the disapproval in his tone. Though they were only young, he could not have imagined anyone at his own seminary ever dreaming of doing anything so foolhardy, though he had to admit, it soundedjust like the sort of thing Simon would have been more than happy to join in with when he was younger, the squire nodding earnestly, oblivious to his thoughts.

'Yes, I spoke to the priest about that. I was even released from my duties at the Order to offer my own services in the search, though Dawnmaster Kreel said they had things in hand at the time.'

'He no doubt thought they did. He sent two of the temple guards and a cleric looking for the boy. That they should go missing as well: I could barely have believed it. We searched the whole southern quarter of the crypts today and there is still no sign of them.'

Simon shook his head, looking for a moment serious, before the smile was back once more.

'Well, I am glad, at least, that you and your companions are looking into it. Does Fritha have any idea what could have happened to them? I would, of course, ask her myself, but I again notice the distinct absence of your red-haired friend. I thought you were going to ask her to join us, Anomen.'

Anomen flushed, Erick hiding his smile in his cup.

'She had things to attend to tonight at the theatre.'

Simon frowned.

'Anomen, you did invite her, didn't you?'

'As I said, Simon, she already had plans.'

'But-' A look from Erick stopped the squire and Simon leaned back in his chair with a defeated sigh. 'Fine, fine.'

A silence descended upon the table, each man returning his attention to his drink, the moments creeping slowly by until-

'But I think you're making a grave mistake,' came Simon firmly, the man ignoring their protests to barrel on regardless, 'Fritha is never going to see you as anything more than a companion in arms unless you give her some sign.'

Anomen shifted uncomfortably in seat, his face burning. 'Simon, I appreciate your concern, but this… matter is not one I care to discuss. Now can we please just have a quiet drink as we planned?'

'Yes, all right,' conceded Simon with a sigh, still looking a touch mutinous, 'only let's move on, eh? The company in here is fast going downhill.'

Anomen turned to follow his friend's gaze, watching as Cadril stepped through the tavern doors behind them and the knight needed no further excuse. The three left the Mithrest and moved along to the Goose and Grain, where the lively music made for pleasant atmosphere even if the thoughts it recalled to him were less so; Anomen unable to watch the couples dancing without seeing Fritha and the tiefling, knowing that somewhere else in the city they had been so engaged. All their foolish talk of marriage had annoyed him today, the way they all seemed to have agreed on who he would end up with without even consulting him; the fact they had even considered it! And Aerie's words about how she would she would miss and worry for her husband had rather brought home to him something he had only seen from his own perspective before. Him going away on glorious campaigns with his brothers from the Order, battling injustice and tyranny; now it was tinged with a sadness as he imagined the wife he had left behind and he considered that when Fritha had teased him about marrying a baker, perhaps her fondness for bread was not the only appeal of such a husband.

Anomen frowned, pulling his mind away from this and back to his own friends as they talked and drank the sweet spiced mead the tavern was famed for. He had never been much of drinker. He could get away with more because of his size, but certainly didn't test the limits of it like Fritha and Haer'Dalis seemed happy to. Simon was being very generous in his rounds and whether it was just this or these thoughts to spur him on, Anomen drank a little more than he would have usually and the taverns all seemed to blend into one after they left the Goose.

It was well on into the evening now, the gloaming sky already speckled with young stars as he followed his friends through the darkening streets to the next tavern. Anomen knew they were on the bridge, of course, but his mind seemed to be a few steps behind him on things and it wasn't until he was inside that he recognised just where he was, Samuel glancing up at the sound of the door. Anomen stood frozen on the threshold as he stared out over the lively bustle of the Five Flagons.

'Well, come in, come in, good sirs, let me find you a table. Don't just stand there letting all the heat out, sir,' the halfling laughed genially, moving forward to usher Anomen out of the doorway and leading the three to a table by the hearth, 'come warm yourself by the fire. Now, what'll it be?'

Simon had given the landlord their order and Samuel had left before Anomen finally gathered himself enough to speak, turning a furious glare on his friend.

'Simon,' he breathed, his outrage at this underhanded act making it hard for him to even form the words, 'Simon, I cannot believe- we are not staying here!'

'What is wrong?' the squire cried, feigning ignorance and quickly changing to a more reasoning tack when that didn't work. 'Ah, come on, Anomen, we've ordered now. Let's just have one in here, at least.'

Anomen paused a moment, trying to reign in his temper as Cernd had taught him. They could not understand. A fragile balance seemed to exist between he and Fritha at the moment; how she looked at him sometimes, almost as though she was on the edge of realising how he felt and he was filled with the fear that the slightest error on his part could ruin things forever. And then there was Simon, who clearly thought he was acting for the best, his friend so eager to help him in this matter that Anomen would much rather everyone just forgot about, especially when he himself was so unsure of how or even if he would proceed. He looked to Erick, who shrugged mildly as though he could see nothing so unreasonable in this request and Anomen sighed deeply, feeling drunk and foolish, as though even his own thoughts were no longer under his control.

'Fine, just one. But then we-'

But what they would have been was lost as a familiar laugh rang clear over the general clamour of their surroundings. Anomen glanced up to see Fritha slowly ascending the stairs in the corner, though she did not notice them, the girl caught in conversation with the two women either side of her who he assumed were actresses from the theatre below. Simon beamed as more laughter broke out from the three.

'Ah, and there is the Lady Fritha with that smile she wears so well! Tell me is she ever without it?'

'Yes, too often lately,' Anomen muttered darkly, though only Erick seemed to hear him, Simon already on his feet and, to Anomen's horror, calling across to them.

'Ho, my Lady Fritha!'

'Simon, sit down!'

But it was too late and Anomen watched her start at the address, Fritha easily finding Simon in the crowd. Her smile broadened, the two women next to her whispering to each other slyly as she returned his wave and began to move over to them.

'Simon!' Fritha cried, no less than glowing as she greeted the squire, 'Oh, and Sir Erick and Anomen too; what are you three doing here?'

Simon shrugged carelessly, giving Anomen the briefest of glances. 'Oh, you know, just out for a quiet drink.'

Fritha laughed, sending the three an incredulous look.

'And you came here? Oh, where are my manners?' she continued, stepping back to present her companions and Erick and Anomen immediately stood as well, 'Please allow me to introduce Jenna, who well deserves her title of Leading Lady and Wynn, the best costumier this side of Waterdeep. Friends, this is Sir Erick, Sir Anomen and Squire Simon, the Order's finest.'

The two groups came together at this, with much smiling and polite refuting and Fritha laughed, drawing out the chair next to Anomen.

'Fine, fine, make a liar of me then. So, enjoying your evening, Anomen?'

Anomen swallowed dryly, feeling very on show as he answered.

'It has been pleasant enough so far.'

'What Anomen means to say,' interrupted Simon smoothly, 'is that it is an evening much improved now you charming ladies have joined our company.' He smiled to the girls next to her and Fritha glanced to Anomen to send him a grin as she rolled her eyes and the knight felt a pleasant warmth creeping up from his stomach that had nothing to do with the ale.

'So is there a reason for this unexpected pleasure?' continued Simon, nodding his thanks as a server arrived with their drinks.

'Oh, Iltheia just had a tantrum because Zeran was apparently blocking her light during the rehearsal,' dismissed Jenna with a sigh, clearly displeased with the interruption, Wynn nodding sympathetically.

'Higgold called a break while he and the Lady Patron went off to appease her.'

Fritha smiled wryly. 'It soon became apparent though that I hadn't the required… delicacy for such a task, so I left him down there still trying to sooth her sensibilities.'

Erick smiled. 'Oh dear, is she usually like this?'

'Yes!' the three chorused ardently, the girls all looking to each other in their surprise and laughing lightly.

'You could say she suffers from a more artistic temperament than most,' said Fritha diplomatically.

'Yes, and she seems resolved to make all us suffer for it too,' sighed Jenna and the group laughed.

'Now, what is this?' came a stern and rather nasal voice above them and the two girls started, Anomen looking up to see the figure of Higgold looming over them. 'Really, ladies, the break ended a quarter hour ago!'

'It was my fault, Higgold, I pressed them to stay,' Fritha lied unashamedly, dipping her face in false regret. The director gave the three women a rather fatherly look.

'Well, I shall say no more then. Now come along, Jenna, we are ready to rehearse the parlour scene. And you too, Wynn.'

The two women rose, the men standing too as they made their goodbyes before Higgold ushered them downstairs. Fritha watched them go, smiling fondly as Higgold muttered admonishments to the pair as they went.

'So, my Lady Fritha,' continued Erick rather formerly as they took their seats once more, 'how went your search of the crypts today?'

Fritha glanced to the man next to her, faintly surprised Anomen had not already regaled them with this tale.

'Anomen has not told you? I will admit I would be intrigued to hear about it myself. Jaheira and I could not accompany them, you see, we had a conflicting engagement to attend elsewhere in the city.'

'We have found nothing in the crypts as yet, my lady,' Anomen answered quickly, seemingly concerned he had yet to ask her the same, 'But how went your meeting with the Cowled Wizards? I spoke briefly to Jaheira before I left the Coronet; she said it was not entirely as you had hoped.'

'No,' Fritha replied promptly, her voice bright and airy as she continued, 'but there is still hope. All we need do is find this murderer for them and there is still a chance Imoen could be returned.'

'Imoen?' came Simon and the pair turned as one, both seemingly having forgotten they were not alone. Fritha smiled apologetically.

'Oh, I'm sorry, how rude of us. Imoen is my friend; she was arrested and imprisoned by the Cowled Wizards, about two months ago now, in a misunderstanding concerning a minor breach of the city's anti-magic laws. I have been working towards her release ever since.'

'Ah, yes, Anomen did mention something…' offered Simon quietly before trailing off altogether and a palpable feeling of gloom seemed to descend over the table.

'So,' continued Erick stalwartly, 'Anomen told us you ran the playhouse here, Fritha?'

Fritha smiled slightly. 'Well, I fear run is a bit of an exaggeration; as you can see Higgold does most of the work-'

'You selected the cast, my lady. And you wrote the score,' Anomen cut in sharply. 'Everyday you are here to help with some problem or another; I do not believe there would even be a play without you.'

Fritha swallowed as she flushed pink, Anomen suddenly rigid in his chair, looking as uncomfortable as she felt.

'I help where I can,' she managed after a moment, rather wishing that said theatre would throw some other crisis her way so she could graciously quit the table. It was not that she did not like the men's company, but Anomen was acting strangely, as though he was worried she would somehow embarrass him, and it was making her feel ill at ease.

So,' Fritha continued in the manner of one casting awkwardly about for conversation, 'where have you been already tonight?'

'We started at the Mithrest and then headed to the Goose and Grain,' offered Simon promptly.

'Oh yes? I've not been in the Mithrest before, but I remember the Goose for the music.'

'You like to dance my lady?' inquired Erick.

'Yes, when I can.'

'Why, that is good news!' exclaimed Simon with real enthusiasm, 'Many of our friends are of the same mind and we are always in need of partners. We shall have to arrange a gathering. Anomen here claims he does not like to dance, but I am sure for you, Fritha, he would make an exception.'

But Fritha merely laughed, sending the knight next to her a fond smile. 'Well, he certainly didn't the last time I asked him.'

It was something she was to instantly regret. Anomen looked as though he wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole, Simon and Erick clearly trying not to laugh.

'Oh, I was only teasing,' she continued hurriedly, trying to rectify her mistake, 'I didn't mind or anything, I-'

'We could return to the Goose now if you wished to dance, my lady,' Anomen interrupted quietly, ignoring the pair opposite, 'the evening is yet young.'

Fritha smiled, feeling both grateful and relieved.

'It's kind of you to offer, Anomen, against your inclination though I know it to be, but it is fine. Besides, dancing is best on a light heart –not a light head.'

She raised her cup in toast to him and they laughed, the previous awkwardness finally gone from the air. And there the group stayed and spent the rest of their evening, and after a while Anomen too seemed to relax, whatever had been troubling him clearly passing, the man laughing along with the rest of them as Simon and sometimes Erick related stories of when they were all but young squires of the Order, callow and foolish.

It was late now, the moon already on its descent as they left the tavern, Fritha walking abreast with Erick and continuing their talk from before, while Simon and Anomen, the pair somewhat deeper in their cups than they, held an earnest albeit whispered exchange as they followed them through the dark streets. Fritha smiled at the man next to her. Erick was easily the most handsome of the three friends, his face pale and sculpted, the black waves of hair that swept carelessly down to curl about his collar giving him a noble look. His manner was different too, grave and quiet, though without the austerity that seemed to accompany such characteristics in others.

'So tell me, was it true that Simon managed to trick you into believing he had already been knighted when you first arrived here in Athkatla?'

Erick smiled slightly, dipping his head in confirmation.

'I fear so, my lady. I was fresh from rather strict a seminary when I joined the Order at sixteen. Simon was quite tall for his age at the time and when I first met him, it was in the courtyard when he was taking his knight's horse out for its exercise. When on horseback he looked even more imposing and I could not help but salute as I passed and so the joke was born from there. He had me convinced he was the youngest knight in the history of the Order and he had even persuaded some other boys to pretend they were squired to him to further the trick.'

Fritha was giggling merrily by this point, Erick smiling as he continued the tale of his shame.

'I only discovered the deception a few days later when I saw him running an errand for his own knight. I was angry at first, but Simon apologised and offered to help me with my own chores for that tenday in recompense and I realised it was all in good humour.' He shook his head, glancing back to where Simon was still talking with Anomen, the blond man laughing quietly as Anomen glared at him. 'I swear, he has not changed a bit since -and I would not have it otherwise.'

Fritha smiled, about to reply when a smooth female voice cut her off.

'Good evening, friends.'

Erick had drawn his sword in an instant, the young paladin staring into the shadows of the alley next to them and behind her, Fritha heard the hiss of metal on metal as Anomen and Simon follow suit. Fritha lay a hand on her sword hilt though she made no move to draw it, following Erick's gaze into the alley to where the outline of a woman was stood, the shapes of her companions shifting silently at her back and Fritha felt cold as a wave of inexplicable dread washed over her. Erick was scowling, his fine face suddenly hard.

'I am no friend of yours, creature. What do you want? Speak!'

Fritha could hear from the woman's voice that she found his demands amusing.

'Stand down your weapons, knights, I bear only words and they are not for you. From my mistress's description, you do not usually keep such pious company, my Lady Fritha.'

She stepped forward from the shadows, the light from the streetlamps falling first on the hem of her skirts and creeping up the rich green gown to finally reveal a pale angular face framed on either side by heavy black ringlets and Fritha felt herself draw a sharp breath as she recognised the tall, gracile form of Parisa.

Parisa herself was no longer smiling either, the vampire staring back at her, seemingly just as surprised.

'You?' the woman exclaimed and suddenly she was laughing, something, Fritha considered, that would have made the woman look quite pretty had it not been for the eloquent point to her teeth. 'I was led to believe the last time we met, that you were just a trembling little girl from the Crown.'

Fritha shrugged, still a little taken aback by how the meeting was proceeding.

'Well, yes, I thought it was for the best at the time, with you likely to kill me and all.'

Parisa smiled generously.

'It was cleverly done and I do not bear a grudge; I can see now you are all my mistress expects and more. My mistress has bade me deliver a message to you. She wishes you to meet with her to discuss your captured companion. She knows already of your efforts to locate her and wishes to lend her assistance.'

Fritha felt her heart grow cold; if there was one thing in the world Parisa could have offered her that would make her even consider such a meeting, it would have been that. She stared back at the vampire coolly.

'Oh yes, and what will that cost me?'

Parisa inclined her head in slight apology.

'I can only say what I have been asked to; my mistress would meet with you tomorrow in the hour after sunset on the edge of the cemetery in the south west of the city. May I tell her you will attend her there?'

Fritha nodded once. 'You may.'

Parisa smiled broadly; it held a predatory look. 'Excellent. My mistress will be most pleased. A good evening to you, my lady.'

One step back into the shadows and she was gone.

'We just let them walk away?' cried Simon, looking outraged. Erick sent him a quelling glare.

'Be silent, Simon, you're in no state to pick a fight with anyone. Are you well, my lady?' he continued, his voice milder as he turned to her, 'That creature seemed to know you, she said you have met before?'

Fritha sighed and nodded. 'Yes, I stumbled upon them once just up from the docks. They are the rival guild that has the thieves here in such an uproar. We should get back to the inn. Are you all right to return to the Order with Simon?'

Erick frowned. 'Well, yes, but what of you and Anomen, I do not like the idea-'

'We'll be fine, won't we?' she cut in, turning her attention to the man behind her, Anomen confirming this with a curt nod. 'Besides, they're hardly likely to ask me to meet with their mistress and then attempt to kill me before I do.'

Erick looked little reassured by this, but he relented all the same and the group made their farewells, the men turning to head back to the Order while Anomen and Fritha continued on to the slums. Anomen felt suddenly very sober, the night's merriment but a memory now and the pair walked on in silence before he asked the inevitable question.

'So, you are going to meet with them?'

Fritha smiled grimly. 'Oh, yes.'

'Alone?'

'Goodness, I hope not!' she exclaimed with a bark of hollow laughter. Anomen swallowed dryly, not sure he wanted to even know the answer as he continued, 'And if they offer you a path to Imoen?'

Fritha stopped, turning to him, her face tired and almost sad in the moonlight.

'Let's just say, we'll wait and see, Anomen.'

She turned back to continue their path and he paused a moment before following her. The world that had seemed so warm and full of promise mere moments ago was now all cold uncertainty. He had made vows, firstly as a priest and more recently as a knight, vows to stand against such creatures. To have at last achieved all he had desired, only to instantly have such loyalties tested…

How cruel a Fate would make him choose between his honour and his heart?