Fire and Water

by MorwennaTheWicked

NWN2 & MotB. You know the story. Dee is a ranger sent by her foster father on a quick errand to Neverwinter. She learns the difference between a bad man and a good man then meets someone who isn't a man at all as she tries to save her life and her soul.

45. A Desperate Man is Even Harder to Find

Chapter 45 A Desperate Man is even Harder to Find

Dee meets new friends and old enemies in Mulsantir.

Usual disclaimers: The characters in this story are owned by Bioware, Atari, Hasbro, and a whole lot of other people other than me other than a bear and paladin-lovin' ranger and an occasional NPC. More dialog than I like is paraphrased from MotB in this chapter, but sometimes it can't be helped. As always, reviews, concrit and pm discussions are always welcome.

Mulsantir:

Three women, faces concealed by colorful masks, blocked their way as they exited the theater. A crowd had gathered outside the entrance, those in the back straining to see over the heads of those in front. Dee could hear them murmuring though they seemed reluctant to raise their voices in the presence of the witches. She let Safiya do the talking, having learned that particular lesson from Sand during the trial. She was a stranger here and knew nothing of the local customs and laws, and there were a number of dead Red Wizards behind them to explain, besides Lienna's death.

Cillian growled at the women as Safiya stepped in front of her and eyed the witches defiantly, yet Dee could hear the nervous strain in her voice as she spoke. "Keep your distance, witches! I've studied your laws, and I know we've broken none!"

The leader of the three and the eldest judging from the silver braid that flowed out behind her mask replied as if scolding a petulant child, shaking her finger at Safiya. "You know our laws, but I know you, child, even if these others do not. You will best be served by being quiet."

Dee looked into the witches' eyes trying to gain some perspective on nature of the women behind the masks. The other two witches were young. In the eyes of the first she saw fear; of the second she saw hate, and not a heartbeat later that witch hissed, "Sheva, the girl's companion—it's that one, who draws the bear god's army to our gate!" Being on the receiving end of such hate made Dee shiver involuntarily; this witch wouldn't hesitate to kill her because of it.

Dee met the eyes of their leader, pools of gray serenity, and she met Dee's eyes in return. "You may address us as the Wychleran, foreigner. What is your name and your business here?"

Dee bowed to her. She might not know local customs, but she had learned quite a bit about diplomacy during her time in Neverwinter. Azim had told her that the witches were not only the guardians of the shrine of the triune goddesses, but also the lawful authority here. So she used her rank, sending them a subtle message that she was a person who would be missed, even if her liege lord was on the other side of the world.

"I am Lady Dierdre Farlong, ranger of Meilikki and knight in service to His Excellency Lord Nasher Alagondar of Neverwinter. I mean no harm here. I was abducted from my homeland by shadow creatures and brought to Rashemen, and I don't know what I did to anger the bear god other than to wake up in his barrow. My bonded here doesn't know anything either, nor does this woman who found me. We came here to seek Lienna at the Veil Theater, who was supposed to have answers for me, but we were too late—she has been murdered by Red Wizards. I swear this is true by Meilikki whom I serve, and by Tyr, patron of Neverwinter." She watched them for their reaction to try to read from their faces whether they believed her.

The taller witch whispered shrilly, "Then it is true what Magda said! Thayans materialized from the very shadows..."

The older woman chastised her. "Katya, you are no longer a farm girl, you are a witch now." 'So act like it' was implied.

Katya bowed her head and said softly, "Yes, Sheva."

The short, plump one hissed, "But can you not sense the wrongness about her, Sheva."

The leader turned her attention to her. "Peace, Kazimika." To Dee and Safiya she added calmly, "You fought our enemies the Red Wizards, and for that much may be forgiven."

Dee gasped, "Forgiven? I've done nothing wro..." Safiya nudged her with her elbow.

"Yes, child, forgiven, for..."

The one called Katya interrupted her leader again. "Kazimika is right. If you are a ranger you know the wild. Surely you must sense the fury in the land and the trembling in the earth..." Her voice became shrill again and Dee noted that she trembled with fear though she tried to hide it. But Dee had a sickening feeling she was right. She reached down and put her hand on Cillian to ground herself, because her head was starting to spin.

Sheva ignored Katya and continued calmly. "The bear god has marched an army of spirits to our gate, and he roars for your blood. He says you have defiled his sacred den and loosed a great evil upon the world."

The one called Kazimika interrupted again and said smugly, "And the bear god does not lie, foreigner. I can smell the wrongness that hangs on you like a corpse-shroud."

Sheva scolded her companion more harshly this time. Peace, Kazimika! Let me deal with this." Kazimika apparently had too much hubris to hang her head in shame as Katya had done. She glared at Dee and Safiya as Sheva continued.

"As I was saying, for the debt we owe you for your defeat of our mortal enemies the Thayans who attacked the theater, I give you permission to go to our prison to seek what aid you can. Any prisoner who will assist you will be granted a full pardon. You may ask if any others here will aid you, but you will find that the Rashemi people will not stand against the spirits of the land."

Dee sighed in resignation. "That seems fair, but I must speak with Magda. Lienna may have told her something about why I was brought here."

Sheva shook her head emphatically. "Magda is under our protection and will be kept safe from Okku's army, and from you. We will watch the battle from our high place. Should you survive, come to us and we will receive you there. Make your peace with the bear god by whatever means you deem best."

Kazimika couldn't resist getting the last word in. "The bear god will make peace with you once you are in his belly, foreigner!" Sheva shot her a look that promised a lecture later when they returned to their shrine before they disappeared in a flash of light.

Dee and Safiya looked at each other. Dee mumbled, "Sorry to drag you into this."

Safiya said dismissively. "If anything, my mother was the one to drag me into this. I suppose this is as good a time as any to seek allies. And then I suggest resting before we take on the bear god. I'm tired, and you have dark circles under your eyes. You may be coming down with something."

Dee turned to the crowd, which to a man had decided to rapidly disperse towards the safety of their homes before she had the time to ask any of them. A few paused long enough to make gestures of warding off evil at Dee before they ran home and slammed their doors. But two remained and approached them, a man and woman the likes of which Dee had never seen. They were tall, graceful, and beautiful, and what was more remarkable was that they both had wings! In addition, the male was wearing an outlandish helm adorned with deer antlers. Dee's first thought was to wonder how he got through doorways.

The man smiled and bowed gracefully despite the helm. "Excuse me. We could not help but overhear about your troubles. I am Efrem the Stag, and this is my sister Susah the Crow." He offered Dee his hand in greeting. "You seek warriors to help you fight the bear god's army. We have a proposition for you..."

A few minutes later Efrem and Susah walked away talking softly together. Dee had been dying to ask them if they could fly the whole time she talked with them, but she didn't want to insult new allies. She watched them go. "Well that's two, and six of us counting Kaji and Cill."

"Yes, and don't forget about that Orglash creature. Not a bad start if their sister joins us too. Now we only need to find her in Shadow Mulsantir."

Dee ran her hand through her hair nervously. "I would just as soon wait to head back into Shadow Mulsantir to look for her until we have more certain allies. But I am anxious to find their sister. I about jumped out of my skin when Efrem said she was there seeking the death god's vault that was mentioned in that book I found in the barrow. This can't be a coincidence."

"Why not go now tonight then? The portals will only be visible in darkness." Safiya paused and pointed. "Why look! There's one now!" She pointed at an unmistakable dark oval, the edges of which pulsed with colors. It hung in the air between two houses, visible only to those who had touched a shadow stone who had the will to see what was hidden.

Dee had already had enough of the shadow plane to last her three lifetimes and said wearily, "I've seen the kind of creatures that dwell in shadow, Safiya. I don't doubt but that we'll have to fight our way to the temple to find her only to have to fight Okku when we return."

Safiya cast a warning glare at a berserker who muttered something as they passed and leaned close to Dee, "Would you rather go straight to the prison then?"

Dee shook her head. "I don't want to go to the prison just yet. I know I'm being difficult, but can we really trust condemned prisoners who are as likely to bolt as not once we're outside the gate? Let's go ask some of the city guards instead and save the prison as a last resort. I've heard that these berserkers live to fight."

But as Sheva Whitefeather had warned, few would exchange more than a word with them, and none would help them. They found one berserker on guard duty who wasn't afraid to speak with them. Though he heartily laughed and declined to help, he suggested they have a few stiff drinks of the local rotgut before they took on Okku so their deaths would be less painful and directed them to the Ice Troll Lodge, though he wasn't optimistic any there would help either.

The berserkers of the Ice Troll Lodge were friendlier, but none were willing to go against the spirits of the land, who they warned had long memories. She thought it was a pity as they would have been welcome allies. Most of the berserkers were very strong and tall, and several of the women were even taller than Dee. More than one gave her a friendly slap on the back and called her 'little woman' as they passed her a mug of strong, black ale. That was definitely a new experience for her.

Safiya suggested in a whisper that she try to join their lodge. Dee asked Yulia the herbalist about it and was told she had to pass several initiation rites, but if she could, they would welcome her as a sister. She arm-wrestled a giant of a man. He handily slammed her arm on the table but was careful not to hurt anything but her pride. Another challenge involved taking on the lodge members in a fight, but she knew she was in no shape to beat anyone but the youngest members, so she didn't even ask about the other challenges. There was nothing else to do but try elsewhere. Several of the denizens walked them to the door and promised to watch the glorious fight from the wall and have drinks waiting for them if somehow they avoided being slaughtered.

They could hear bolts being thrown on doors as they walked down the road and sensed eyes watching their passage from behind shutters. "Let's try the docks. I'm thinkin' that many of the sailors down there aren't native Rashemi and might be more willing to help. It'll probably cost us though."

"Good thinking, and we could get a room at that place, The Sloop, wasn't it? I might be able to buy some aid with a few enchantments on weapons."

They found The Sloop, a dockside tavern which also contained a theater. The air was heavy with smoke from a variety of pipe weed, and Dee caught a trace of black lotus. Apparently the docks district was the same everywhere. They felt all the eyes in the room turn on them as they entered then turn away to study their drinks once they were recognized. Apparently word had traveled fast. Dee made the offer to the patrons anyway, sweetening the deal by demonstrating the enchantments on her swords, though most seemed even more interested in the contents of their mugs, and a few left. A loud bunch at a table across the tavern—pirates from the look of them—laughed and responded with catcalls.

There was one familiar face—the merchant who they had encountered outside the city. He was more talkative than he had been on the other side of the gate having gotten safely inside and having drunk several drinks, and he cheerily informed them that one of his men had set up a pool to wager on how long they would last against the bear god's army.

Dee and Safiya read through the grid crudely scrawled in chalk on a slate. The man had arranged it by number of blows, and those with less than ten were gone. No one wagered they would last more than twenty, and there were a few special squares on the last row in case someone wanted to wager on whether they would try to sneak out of town or swim across Lake Mulsantir. Or commit suicide. There was even one labeled, "Run to Shadows." Those options had also been taken. At the top on the far right were the options that they would defeat Okku in five, ten, and twenty blows. No one had taken those bets. Dee smiled sweetly at them and lay down ten gold on herself to win in ten blows.

The innkeeper was a slight, balding man wearing a dirty, beer-soaked apron which made her remember Uncle Duncan wistfully. He wouldn't meet their eyes as he apologized and mumbled that his rooms were all let. He shrugged helplessly and cast a nervous glance at his wife, a powerfully-built half-orc who glared at them while she wiped out mugs with a none too clean rag. He explained, "There's been two ships come in this day. Try again tomorrow."

They turned to leave and heard a lewd offer to share the bed of a sailor whose crude explanation of what he wanted to do to their asses in return for his hospitality gave an ugly cast to his fine features. Those at his table reeked from two tables away of unwashed bodies and stale beer. Dee clenched her fists and ignored him as he and his friends laughed loudly then tried to outdo one another in crudeness, but Safiya cast him a withering glare and pointed her staff at them. "Take care, or I'll see to it you don't have anything left to offer a woman."

Dee said loudly enough for them to hear, "Ignore them, Safiya. They've never had a woman they didn't pay for, and I don't doubt but that the local farmers have to hide their sheep when that lot is in town."

Safiya giggled and Cillian chuffed a warning at the sailors while Dee made a quick inventory of their weapons and armor—boiled leather and cutlasses and daggers for the most part. One laughed loudly until what she had implied sunk in through the alcoholic haze, and then he cursed and threatened to make a cloak out of Cillian. The man who had made the initial 'offer' nudged his neighbor and said loudly enough to get the attention of the whole room, "Yonder wench has a Thayan look to her, don't you think? I've fought too damned many Thayans to let that pass. What do you want to bet that if I strip that head rag off her, she's bald underneath? Let's find out if she's bald all over then turn her over to the witches for a reward."

He jumped to his feet and stalked menacingly towards Safiya, but Dee jumped in front of her and intercepted him with a right hook that sent him sprawling into a flimsy table which collapsed under his weight. His companions were on their feet in a heartbeat with cutlasses drawn.

Dee drew her own swords in response in the time it took to take a breath as Cillian charged them. She hoped as she slashed left and punched right with her pommel that Safiya had enough spells left not to be a liability, but a sickening crack as her staff connected with a skull answered that question. The next few minutes were a haze of fists and swords and flying magical energy. It was over as quickly as it began. Three of the sailors lay dead; one lay on the floor holding his hand over a deep cut to his thigh. Dee spit out a mouthful of blood and a tooth then knelt beside him. He trembled from shock and fear and begged for his life, but she lay a hand on his thigh and called on Meilikki to grant her a healing spell. It wasn't very powerful, but it was enough to staunch the bleeding.

Dee shook the ice pellets of blood off her short sword and looked around the room. "Anyone else here not know how to treat a lady?" She glared around the tavern. No one met her eyes. "Good. Safiya, let's get out of here. Come on, my love." Cillian growled a final warning and followed.

The owner's wife was blocking the door with her arms folded over her chest. She grumbled, "You owe us for damages. That's two smashed tables and a chair, and more for cleanin' up this mess! That'll be five hundred gold!"

"What? We didn't start this!," Safiya spat indignantly.

Her husband shouted anxiously, having come out of his hiding place behind the bar, "Let it go, Zorah. You've seen what they can do."

"I used to help out servin' food and drinks at my uncle's tavern. These tables aren't worth even fifty gold, but I'll give you that much for your trouble," Dee said evenly as she counted out the coins.

The half-orc held out her hand, gave her a tusky grin, and accepted the coins. "Fifty it is. We might even have a room for you tomorrow if you survive." As Dee and Safiya strode out, Dee heard the woman shout, "Oi! Give me five gold on them to defeat the bear god too."

They walked along the docks, cognizant that they were being shadowed by people curious to see if they would try to steal a boat and escape. The few sailors and dock workers they found there answered their inquiry rudely, and one who had seen the fight shrieked and ran away. No one was desperate enough to throw their lives away for any amount of money, not that they had all that much left to offer anyway. Dee looked crestfallen, but she told Safiya she could understand. She admitted wasn't sure she would take up such an offer either if the situation was reversed, and Safiya had to agree with her.

"To the prison then?" Dee nodded at Safiya in defeat.

The prison was on the opposite side of the town. They paused at the wall which surrounded Mulsantir and peered into the darkness, where they could just make out the colorful bear god below. The guard at the gate opened the door and let them pass, and Safiya jumped as the gates slammed shut behind them. Dee knocked firmly on the inner door.

A moment later, an bent elderly woman wearing a mask pulled it open and said crossly. "Sheva Whitefeather told me to expect you. It took you long enough. Come along. The cells are this way." She pointed a bony finger down the hallway after she unlocked the door to the gaol. "You might find some here who would prefer an honorable death in battle over a disgraceful death by hanging, but I doubt it. Oh, and take care when you reach the prisoner in the cell at the end of the hall. He's a spirit shaman, who travels with the spirits of the land. Tricky that one is. Guard your thoughts." She shuffled back to her desk , shutting them in the gaol.

They walked along the row of cells. The first prisoner, a huge, ugly, blue-skinned brute, who Safiya whispered was a hagspawn, had been arrested for murder, but he seemed resigned to his fate and unwilling to stand against the spirits of the land. The other prisoners had heard Dee's request to him. Most turned on their bunks with their faces to the wall as they approached and made it clear they were ignoring them. One man simply shook his head 'no' sadly as they stopped before his cell. They reached the end of the row, where they found not bars but a very solid door. Dee peered inside the cell through the small barred window in the door and could just make out a figure lying on a pallet in the middle of the floor. "What the hells? Door's not even locked," she muttered to Cillian.

Safiya slipped up beside her to see and spoke the word to activate the light on her staff then raised a thin eyebrow as she directed the light inside the cell. She whispered, "That's because this prisoner is being held by a binding spell. See those runes on the floor?"

A young man's drawl, dripping with annoyance, broke the silence. "What's this, more jailers to rattle my cage?" They heard him yawn and watched him stretch lazily. "Here I was just settling into a dream and now you've gone and spoiled it."

Dee opened the door and blinked in surprise. The man had long, wild hair that fell across half his handsome face, but the half she could see had a distinct bluish tinge. "Who are you? What is the crime you have committed that they've locked you up like this?" The warnings of the crone in charge of the prison came back to her.

He stood gracefully and stretched again. "Me? I am known as Gannyev-of-dreams, though most simply call me Gann. And I've committed no crime other than being too handsome to look upon. You best take care, tall one, lest you succumb to my charms as well."

Dee managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes, but her reply was heavy with sarcasm. "Thanks for the warning. I will restrain myself—somehow. No, I'm not your jailer, but I might be your benefactor."

She winced at the hollow promise of her words as the man chuckled lightly then replied, "Ah, honeyed words promising...what exactly is it you're promising? My benefactor, are you? Go on then, amuse me."

Safiya had been peering at the circle marked in chalk on the floor. "Dee...Those runes..."

He chucked with contempt. "These? Some child must have come by and scribbled them while I slept."

Safiya put a hand on Dee's arm. "No, they were scribed with some skill. But I can tell that they've been altered. From the inside."

The man gasped and looked around his cell in mock alarm, putting his face in his hands. "From the inside? Are you certain, fair mage? It seems we have a mystery. Who could have done it? Certainly not me, for I have an alibi."

Dee raised an eyebrow as she looked from Safiya to the man. "That would render them ineffective, wouldn't it? And if the witch didn't even notice, whoever could alter her binding with her unawares would have to be very good." She had wanted to recruit him as soon as the old witch told her he could speak with the animal spirits, and she was more eager now, if he had that level of skill.

Safiya nodded. "Quite so." She looked impressed too.

The man looked impressed with them as well. "Ah, the sweet arrows of flattery have found their target. You may actually be worth my time. Go on then, what is this generous offer?" He glided a few steps closer. "Go on, before I grow bored."

Dee adjusted her spectacles and peered at him. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She relayed this to Cillian, but the bear had never encountered his scent, though he reported this male smelled like the hagspawn they has spoken with before, which would explain the blueish hue to his skin. "I'm looking for recruits to take on the bear god's army which threatens the town."

He cut her off, and the contempt had returned to his voice. "I dreamed about that. I was wondering when that would happen in this world. But I am neither a fool, nor am I that desperate. If you are seeking soldiers, go scatter a few coins at the poorhouse."

Dee snapped, "Yeah, that's always the solution. Let the poor risk their lives fighting other's wars." She shook her head. "But I've been promised by Sheva Whitefeather you will have a full pardon if you stand with us. Don't you want your freedom?"

He laughed disdainfully. "My freedom? We both know I'm much safer inside this cell than are the good people of Mulsantir huddling in their hovels. And we both know I could have left any time I wanted to."

Dee countered, "Yes, but if you help us defeat Okku, the spirits will speak of it for years. You will be a very powerful shaman indeed."

He snorted. "I'm not altogether sure that's the kind of fame I seek." He stepped closer still and looked her over, noting the two swords and the bear companion. "And you, ranger, what did you or your friend do to stir up old king bear to come for you in all his garishly-colored rage, hmm?" He clicked his tongue at her and wagged his finger. "Grave robbers, are you? Now you know the consequences."

Dee said defensively, "It's a long story I'll share if you'll join us. We didn't rob his grave. At least not much. Besides, I think he's the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. And I feel like...I know him. I just wish I knew how to make peace with him." She reached down to ruffle Cillian's neck. "Cill thought mayhap if we drained the lake of fish, but he's not so sure now."

Yet he did still look interested as he replied. "So tell me why one as beautiful as I should risk my life to follow you into such a hopeless battle? You do know it's hopeless, don't you?"

Dee smiled her most brilliant smile at him as something occurred to her. "Well you haven't told me to leave, so there must be a reason. Is that a yes?"

He looked away and shrugged dismissively. "Take care lest the witches throw you in here for being charming as well—even if you two are not as beautiful as I." He smirked at the eye-roll this provoked from both of the women. "I only speak the truth. Don't hate me for it. I admit that your presence and your request do intrigue me—slightly. My dreams showed me the army coming to the gate, but they did not reveal you, and that is very odd indeed. I honestly don't know what to make of that. Very well, you've found a willing soldier. Lead the way. However, I must collect my bow and my pack from the dear old witch and thank her for her hospitality."

Safiya, Kaji, and Cillian walked back to let the witch know they were ready to leave and to make arrangements to sign Gann out while Dee waited for him. Dee frowned deep in thought as he gathered his armor, which he had removed for the night. She muttered, "Dreams. That's it!"

He paused while fastening the straps on his brigandine. "You said something about dreams, fair leader?"

She blushed and stood aside for him. "This is very strange, and I don't expect you to believe me. You say you did not dream me, but I'm sure I dreamed you. I just can't remember all of it, but I'm sure." She shrugged sheepishly. "I had a blow to the head recently and my memory's still foggy."

He scoffed at her. "I assure you I don't have the ability to cross the world to play inside your dreams, though I sense they're very...lusty ones, in every sense of the word."

He caught another blush as she turned away. "Only the ones about my husband. Nevertheless, 'tis true. I'm certain I dreamed you, but I can't remember all the details. But...I remember now my friend Neeshka was there too. I'll tell you about it after we make peace with Okku."

Dee gladly turned over most of the enchanted arrows they had taken from the gnolls to Gann as well as a crossbow and bolts, happy to have someone who could use them and give her cover. They debated finding a place to stay for the night and setting out before dawn to find Kaelyn the Dove or pressing on then resting first before leaving the city.

Safiya noted the absence of other inns. "We can take shelter in one of the barns if need be. I was hoping to have a quiet place to enhance the enchantments on our weapons though."

Dee shrugged. "I wouldn't mind sharin' a barn, but I was thinking we should go back to the theater to Lienna's room. We still have to search it, and there's no one there now to stop us. Besides, she must have been your mother's twin if that vision I had was true, so you can claim right of kin. You can add as many enchantments as you can to our weapons and armor before we meet Okku without interruption."

Gann looked over the arrows as he placed them in his quiver. "I would prefer meeting Old King Bear rested. And you should be warned that the creatures who dwell in shadow will sense the presence of the living and attack us as soon as we set foot through the portal, so that's another reason to prepare ourselves."

Safiya agreed, "I suppose you're right, and I can use Lienna's workbench too. Let's return at dawn then. But what if the theater is locked?"

Dee chuckled darkly. "My friend Neesh taught me to look around; there's always a back door or unguarded window or kitchen midden. We'll get in, and Kaji can deal with any locks we find."

Neeshka's advice proved true; there was indeed a back door with a lock that proved difficult but not impossible for Kaji's long, slender fingers to open. It led them to a hallway under the stage, and they found a spiral staircase that led to the storage rooms behind the stage. They searched Lienna's room thoroughly but found nothing which yielded any new information for Dee, but Safiya found a number of scrolls, wands, rods, and a fine mage's robe while Gann found a mask that he asked to keep. Dee removed her new boots as Cillian made himself comfortable on the rug. As she removed her armor she said, "I think we should all sleep in here."

Gann waggled his eyebrows at her. "You are very bold, but I am not so easily won."

Dee grinned back at him. "Don't get any ideas, Gann-of-Dreams. Safiya can take her aunt's bed and I'll sleep on the floor with Cill. And you can take the other side of the bear."

She dreamed that night that she was searching for Casavir again in the gray emptiness. She finally found him lying prone, but his hand was so cold. He looked up at her and whispered her name, and she kissed him before he faded from view. Then instead of Casavir she saw Bishop in the gray. He reached out to her as well, but then withdrew his hand with a curse as she almost reached him. She woke up in a cold sweat and got up to peer out the small window concealed behind a heavy curtain then awakened Safiya, who had been up late putting another enchantment on Dee's swords. Gann was already up sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed on the floor next to Cillian, and Dee had a feeling from a small smile that played on the edges of his lips he had seen what she dreamed.

They decided it was prudent to go back to the portal they had spotted that was closest to where Myrkul's temple should be rather than use the one in Lienna's room, which would leave them half way across the city from their goal. Gann's prediction proved correct. They were attacked by wraiths and shadow spiders as soon as they entered Shadow Mulsantir. They fought their way to the temple, where they had to fight nightwalkers. Dee had thought that if she survived the King of Shadows she would never have to face their kind again.

Unlike the other structures in the shadow realm, this temple bore little resemblance to the temple of Kelemvor it should have reflected. Dee whispered a prayer of thanks to Tymora that they had Kaji to disarm a particularly nasty trap on the door that was beyond her meager skill. They entered cautiously, expecting more undead. There was a fountain in the main foyer and dark thick pools of liquid bubbling from it. "Gods, it's blood!" Dee exclaimed, feeling sickened. What kind of horrors had occurred here?

They crossed the chamber looking around warily for defenders and entered another chamber before they saw her. But her pearl gray wings and white feathery hair made her hard to miss, for she was radiant in the gloom. Gann whispered the obvious. "That must be our dove now." She was standing with her back to them before a large black door which only made her more luminescent, and seemed unaware of their presence.

Dee hailed her. "Well met! You must be Kaelyn the Dove. We've been looking for you."

The woman startled and turned to them, but her face was a mask of sweet serenity. "Yes I am Kaelyn, called the Dove, priestess of Ilmater, and I can guess that if you are seeking me my siblings Susah and Efrem sent you to find me."

Dee motioned her companions on and took the lead, introducing herself and them to her as they crossed the chamber. "Indeed they did. They're very worried about you and want you to return to your grandfather's home. But I also came because they said you were seeking the death god's vault, and I seek it as well. Have you had any luck finding it?"

Kaelyn turned back to the black door. "No, and I would welcome the help. It has been difficult to avoid the denizens of this temple while I search alone. I have a feeling it's beyond this portal, but I have been unable to find any way to open it. There must be some sort of key that fits here in this slot."

There was a small, flat slot in the center of the door. Dee looked closely at it. "Yes, but it's unlike a traditional key. It's more like...a blade fits in it." She stepped back to let Kaji have a go and noticed murals of a battle on either side of the door. At first glance they were identical. "There must be some reason—some thing's bein' emphasized. Mayhap there's a clue in the scene?" She examined the one on the left. Men, fiends, and even dragons fought one another beside a gray wall. She muttered a curse and stared at it open mouthed for a minute then strode to the one on the other side of the door and peered at the central figure, reaching out to touch the sword he raised above his head. "What the hells!"

Safiya was examining the runes on the black door that the woman had been studying, while Kaji looked for a way to open it. She looked up. "What is it, Dee?"

Gann, who was on guard lest they be surprised by more undead creatures, was instantly on alert and readied two lightning arrows, and Cillian raised up on his hind legs and sniffed the air.

Kaelyn walked to Dee's side. "What is it you see? These murals depict the betrayer, Akachi and his army's attack on Myrkul's city to free his lost love from the Wall of the Faithless. You seem startled by something."

Dee ran her fingers over the figure in the center again. "This is Akachi? That's my sword he's holding! That's the Sword of Gith that was stolen from me!" She leaned back against the wall, suddenly unsure of her legs as she became aware of one possibility for 'why' she had been brought here. "Then this means Akachi was a sword bearer too." She tried to remember what Ammon Jerro had told her about the sword bearers. "Could it be I am bound to him through the sword, or is someone trying to force me to repeat his crusade?"

Kaelyn smiled sweetly and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I cannot tell you, but perhaps we might both find answers to our questions if we explore this temple together. I was reluctant to go too far alone, for there are many powerful undead here that even Ilmater's power cannot turn. But with the aid of you, and your companions..."

"I can't speak for Safiya and Gann, but I swear by Meilikki and Tyr I will return with you to explore this temple. But first, I must beg a favor of you." She shook her head. "No, that's not true; 'tis not a mere favor. I've somehow angered a powerful bear spirit, and he threatens this town unless I face him. It may be a fight to the death..."

Kaelyn offered her hand. "This cannot be a coincidence, I agree. Very well, I shall go with you. Perhaps this bear spirit can be reasoned with, and then we may return and find the way to the lower level."

Gann chuckled. "Perhaps, but he has a reputation for being as surly as he is garish...sorry, dear leader, I mean colorful and beautiful. I suggest we return to the theater and make sure of our spells and weapons before we face him."

They saw few people but the berserkers on guard duty as they reentered Mulsantir, but they were aware their activities were being noted and reported. Kaelyn begged Dee to release her siblings from their vow in exchange for her service, so she had to agree. She scrawled a hasty letter to Casavir in care of the High Justicar Oleff letting him know what had happened to her and left it with Azim along with the gold he still owed her to find someone to carry it to Neverwinter if she didn't survive.

One of the guards, who belonged to the Ice Troll Lodge, offered her his flask and wished her well just before they stepped outside Mulsantir and he closed the gates behind them. A few brave, or foolish, citizens had already come outside of the gates to get a close-up view of the fight, and many more lined the walls. It brought to mind her trial by combat against Lorne. The sun was directly overhead as they paused to examine what they were up against and cast their protective and summoning spells. Gann advised attacking Okku's minions first before turning their attacks on the bear god.

The bear stood a quarter mile in the distance, seemingly content to wait for her to come to him despite his legendary anger. Safiya and Gann stayed back just within range of their spells and arrows while Kaelyn followed Dee but held back while she approached Okku. She knelt beside Cillian and put her arm around him. "This is it, my love. I don't want you to have to fight him for my sake. I'll send you back to Meilikki now and mayhap join you there shortly."

Cillian snorted. "I stay. Father Bear will understand our bond and why I fight beside you."

She buried her face in his fur. "Very well, my love. And thanks."

Okku was even more brilliantly colored in the strong highsun light than she remembered, and again, she had to fight the urge to bow before him. She spoke reverently. "I don't know what I've done to anger you, Great One. Is there no way I can make amends and spare my companions and your subjects?"

He chuffed angrily, and she could see the fire in his golden eyes. "You can yield your neck to me. It will fit snugly between my teeth, and I will take you with me back to my barrow where you will stay."

She blinked in the face of his anger, but that only strengthened her sense of outrage at the injustice of his reaction. "I think not. No, not when I don't know my crime. That's not how I see myself dying."

Okku growled loudly in response to Cillian's growl at him. "This cub who follows you would not, if he knew what you were. But he is too young to sense the evil inside you, and neither do you. If you understood, I think you would willingly submit yourself to me."

Dee replied grimly, "There's nothing for it then. But you're wrong about me, and I'll take no joy in destroying you, Father Bear." She gave him a short bow and stepped back.

He lowered his head in a slight bow of mutual respect in return. "And I will take no joy in ending your life either, little one. But believe me, it must be done. It is better you die here today and never learn what thing you are becoming."

The witches watched the battle from above on the wall along with as many berserkers and other citizens as could fit. The younger two witches were astonished that such a small force could prevail against Okku's much larger force. Katya shouted, "Look, the bear god has bitten her neck, and her blood flows! But wait, he has laid bare his heart to her sword! And he has fallen! Surely this is a sign that the foreigner is innocent and the goddess is with her."

Kazimika countered, not taking her eyes off the scene below, "This only proves how very wrong this foreigner is. Look, she speaks to him. Why has she not finished him? Why does she hesitate?"

Sheva made no comment as she watched, not taking her eyes off the woman as if she was waiting for something. And then something happened that made even Sheva gasp in alarm as Katya shrieked in terror, and her scream was echoed by other observers on the wall.

Kazimika stared at the scene below them and shouted, "By the triple goddess, what is that?"