Chapter 32

With what felt like his hundredth frustrated growl that day, Kagain stomped over to the peasants setting up the barricade, his steel boots splashing mud and dirt.

"No, not like that!" He hollered, waving his arms. "Diagonally! Ya want 'em jumpin' over the spikes?!"

The weary peasants all turned to look at him. Kagain stared back for a moment before snarling and running a hand across his face and beard, smearing grime and blood on both.

"Stupid sods don't know what 'diagonal' means..." he muttered loud enough for everyone around him to hear. "Up. Lift 'em up! No, not that hi-"

There was a crash followed by a billowing cloud of dust that swept over the dwarf. Kagain stood still for a moment, staring at the collapsed barricade, wood chippings and splinters now added to the collection of blood and dirt on his beard, before growling inarticulately and moving towards the peasants with mailed fists clenched.

A hand came down hard on his shoulder and he spun around.

"I told you to leave them alone," Jessa Vai ordered. Kagain's blue eyes narrowed to slits.

"Ya have three soddin' seconds ta take ya hand off me an' what do ya lot want now?!" he snapped past her. Vai turned to see the party led by Jaheira standing behind them.

"The Amnians are in the medical tent," Jaheira informed Vai, ignoring Kagain's outburst.

"What happened?"

"Severe fever," Jaheira answered curtly. "Unless he receives proper treatment, I doubt he will last the night."

Vai drew back, her expression suddenly unsettled. Then it hardened as she refocused on the party.

"We will receive the brunt of the blame if he passes," Jaheira said, her voice dripping contempt as she gazed with half-lidded eyes at the two mercenary leaders.

"You don't need to remind us of it again," Khalid added coldly. He was standing between Xzar and the Candlekeep duo, all three of whom looked at him with varying expressions of surprise and trepidation at the stone-faced glare he was directing at Vai.

The Flaming Fist officer's eyes moved from Khalid to Jaheira and back again. After a moment, she stiffly turned and marched away without a word.

"Nice goin'," Kagain growled. "Ya've made her even more mad at us."

"You're welcome," Imoen said dryly. Kagain glared balefully at her, the slap from the day before still fresh in his mind. Next to Imoen, Dorean slowly rested his left hand on a throwing dagger hidden in his belt.

"Oh, these defences are pitiful," Xzar admonished, distracting and gaining everyone's attention. Kagain glanced briefly at the severed dogs' heads in his right hand, grimacing at their lolling tongues. "With this kind of planning, the caravan will be overrun and slaughtered in..." he lifted his eyes to the night sky and silently calculated. "Fourteen minutes and nine seconds."

There was a collective pause.

"Ya got any better ideas?" said Kagain. "Wait, don't bother. I don't wanna hear 'em."

"He's r-right, though," said Khalid, keeping himself between Xzar and Dorean and Imoen. "We can't just w-wait to be attacked."

Kagain's eyes narrowed as he regarded the party, and his right hand fell to his side, index finger tapping the haft of his axe. "What are ya sayin'?"

"We are saying," Jaheira replied, lowering her voice. "That we need to speak to you in private."

Kagain looked up at her. Behind him, the exhausted peasants prayed to and cursed their gods as they strained to erect the collapsed barricade.

"Ten minutes. My tent," he said shortly.

With another unfriendly look at the rest of the party, Kagain turned and moved away, scolding and barking orders to several of his nearby mercenaries to help the peasants.

..

After spending a few minutes yelling at his men, Kagain, true to his word, left the camp perimeter and headed for his tent, picking splinters out of his beard and swearing under his breath.

He began to snarl when the area around the tent appeared to be empty, then blinked upon seeing Dorean standing just inside the entrance; the smaller dwarf was hidden well enough behind the tent flap that Kagain had nearly failed to spot him.

Nettled at himself, Kagain stomped over, roughly pulled the flap aside and glowered down at him.

"What the hell are ya doin' in here?"

"Sorry," Dorean answered. "The Talons' announcement. I've been attacked once already."

Kagain glared at him. Dorean stared back impassively.

After a moment, Kagain shoved past him and began to scan the interior of the tent.

"I see one thing outta place, I'm breakin' ya soddin' nose," he threatened.

"Will we be overheard in here?" Dorean asked. Kagain turned and frowned at the annoyingly calm and collected gold dwarf, then resumed checking his belongings.

"Just say what ya here ta say, nugget," he said, moving around and past the table in the middle of the tent. "Case ya haven't noticed, I'm soddin' busy."

"Witton was poisoned."

Kagain froze with his hand on the lid of a heavy (and dwarf-sized) wooden chest. He did not turn around.

"We found him trying to flee on a horse. He was hit by a dart just before he could leave."

Kagain's eyes slowly narrowed, glaring at the wall of the tent.

"Ya catch the guy who did it?"

"No. We didn't realize it until we had brought him to the med-tent."

Kagain lowered his head, closed his eyes, then brought his fist down upon the lid of the chest. He did it seven more times, each blow harder than the last. The wood cracked and splintered beneath his mailed fist.

Afterwards, there was silence save for Kagain's deep, drawn-out breathing. He then opened his eyes and turned around, his face now oddly calm.

"What else?"

Dorean hesitated. "Jaheira's taking us out of the camp. We're going to attack the Blacktalons."

Kagain blinked slowly at him, his eyelids falling and rising once.

Then he slowly crossed the tent and rounded the table. Dorean neither flinched nor backed away, moving only his eyes as Kagain stopped right in front of him.

"Plannin' on runnin' away, are ya?" Kagain said softly, gazing down at the considerably smaller dwarf. The stench of his breath struck Dorean's face, and the latter's eyes suddenly flashed, his teeth grinding loudly behind his bloodied beard as he glared up at Kagain.

"You think I want this?" he growled. "If I were in charge of that damn group, none of us would be going out there."

"Ya lyin' ta me, nugget?" Kagain said, his voice dangerously soft. "I don't like it when I'm lied to."

"If I was going to run, do you think I'd come here and tell you? Alone?" Dorean snarled.

They glared at each other through thinly-narrowed eyes, Dorean's fierce and Kagain's ice-cold. Dorean's small shoulders trembling above his clenched fists.

Kagain's gaze then lingered briefly on Dorean's thoroughly-stained right sleeve before returning to his face, which along with his hair and beard was still coated in blood and gore.

Neither of the two bloodied and filthy dwarves spoke or moved for a long moment.

"There'll be a lot of 'em," Kagain said, breaking the silence. "An' they'll likely be expectin' ya."

"I know," Dorean replied. "Jaheira knows too. Not that it's stopping her," he added bitterly. Kagain slowly angled his head to the side.

"So she sent ya ta tell me."

"Didn't want you thinking we had run off. Also, if we had all shown up, it would have looked suspicious."

Kagain blinked slowly, his eyes boring into Dorean's. After a moment, he slowly turned and walked back to the chest.

Lifting and tossing aside the battered and cracked lid, Kagain spent a few seconds rummaging before removing a large leather pouch and tossing it across the tent.

Dorean caught it in both arms, an audible hiss the only reaction to the impact on his wounded arm. He hesitated, then opened the clasp of the pouch and blinked at the vials of healing potions and antidotes crammed within.

"My private stash," said Kagain. "Any that ya don't use, ya better return ta me when ya done."

Dorean looked up at him and nodded.

"Thank you," he said solemnly.

"Can ya soddin', stinkin' gratitude," Kagain snapped. "Now if there's nothin' else, ya can get outta here. An' don't damage the bag. It's worth ten times more'n you are."

Dorean blinked and then nodded again, still infuriatingly calm. He turned away and then stopped with one foot towards the exit.

"You should be careful, Kagain."

Kagain's hairy brow furrowed.

"Tellin' me ta watch myself when ya the one goin' out there?"

"The saboteur. He might still be in the camp." Dorean paused. "If we make it through this, I'm buying you an ale."

Kagain blinked, then frowned and snorted at the gold dwarf. "Get the hell outta here before I throw ya out. Wasted enough'a my time."

With another nod, Dorean disappeared through the tent exit. Kagain glared after him, then turned and began checking his belongings again.

..

Pretending to look at a group of peasants skinning and roasting a few war hounds, Dorean once more glanced behind him before approaching an alcove between two wagons. He rounded the corner and was immediately smothered by a pink-clad bosom.

"About time!" Imoen exclaimed, pulling back to look at him with her hands on his shoulders. "What took you so long? you had us all worried! Are you okay? Did anyone attack you?"

Dorean blinked slowly up at her before tilting his head to look past her at Jaheira, Khalid and Xzar.

"Had to make sure I wasn't followed. And keep your voice down," he added to Imoen, shrugging off her hands from his shoulders. The dwarf then walked over to and held the pouch out to Jaheira. She frowned before taking and examining it.

"How did you get this?" she asked without looking up.

"Kagain gave it to me," Dorean answered. "He said we have to return any that we don't use," he added.

Imoen walked over to look in the satchel, blinking at the number of vials stored within.

"Maybe he's not so bad after all," she said slowly.

There was a sound not unlike a cat growling. Everyone looked at Xzar. The wizard's arms were now folded across his thin chest, his head turned to the side away from Imoen. The dogs' heads now hung from his belt, the blood from the neck stumps lightly staining his green robes. Imoen blinked and tilted her head.

"Are you sulking?"

Xzar growled again, turned his body to face the same direction as his head, and tightened his folded arms around his chest. Khalid and Jaheira briefly glanced at each other before the latter wordlessly handed him the satchel and turned to Dorean.

"I would like to reiterate that this is an exceedingly foolish idea," she said sternly. "And again insist that we remain in the camp where we have defences and numbers, and wait for the Black Talons to come to us."

Dorean coolly met her gaze despite the half-elf practically towering over him. "If the rest of the group agrees with you, so will I," he replied cordially. "However, I still believe that in this case, the best defence is offence. Especially since we now cannot trust anyone in here with us."

Jaheira frowned down at him. Imoen looked at Dorean before sliding up beside him, taking his hand and joining him in looking up at Jaheira in quiet opposition.

Jaheira leaned back and placed one hand on her hip while the other held her quarterstaff. After a moment, she looked to her husband for support.

Khalid looked from her to the Candlekeep duo, clearly debating with himself on who to side with. Eventually, he deflated and stepped back, silently stating his decision to abstain from the impromptu vote. Jaheira frowned at him and huffed softly through her nose before silently returning to her attempt to stare down Dorean and Imoen.

"Xzar," said Imoen, keeping her eyes on Jaheira. "Help us out here."

Jaheira's glare intensified. Xzar was still standing and facing off to the side. He neither spoke nor moved a muscle.

"Xzar," Imoen implored again, louder this time. "What do you think?"

"We're being watched."

The party all glanced at him for a second before simultaneously turning to look around the alcove.

"Come out right now," Jaheira ordered, cyan eyes focusing on the boxes and barrels stacked between the two wagons.

A moment passed. Then a familiar face rose from behind a crate.

"Ah, hello," said Garrick, standing up and clambering over the crate. "I'm sorry to intrude-"

Jaheira's quarterstaff shot up, the tip stopping inches from his neck. The bard froze.

"I don't mean you any harm..." he implored, keeping still as Khalid went over and relieved him of his sword and crossbow.

"Yet two of us here and three bystanders were struck by bolts of lightning," Jaheira replied coldly.

"Yes, and that is precisely why I volunteered for this caravan escort!" said Garrick, looking to Khalid who now stood behind him with his sword pointed at the bard's back. "I want to repay the debt I owe to you all."

"By spying on us?" Xzar said without turning around.

"By joining you," Garrick answered. Jaheira glanced briefly at Dorean and Imoen before narrowing her eyes at the bard. "I...overheard you earlier," he confessed. "You're all planning to attack the Black Talons before they could attack the people here. A bold and noble move, sir," he added to Dorean, then flinching as Jaheira's quarterstaff jerked threateningly at his throat. "And highly dangerous! I know of the Black Talons..."

"Do you," said Jaheira.

"Yes, my lady, I do," said Garrick, now sounding slightly miffed. "Mercenaries from the City of a Thousand Spires. Tough and disciplined, a step up from your regular sellsword." He paused, looking over the quarterstaff at its owner. "You suspect me of being their spy."

"I didn't say that," Jaheira said softly.

"I can tell," Garrick replied. "It's...a little obvious." He grinned sheepishly at her.

"Jaheira?" said Khalid. Her eyes moved to his, and he shook his head. She hesitated, then slowly lowered her quarterstaff.

"Thank you," said Garrick, lowering his arms.

"Do you really want to come with us?" asked Imoen. "It...might get a little hairy out there." She paused. "Actually, it pretty much will."

"I understand. And I do," the bard replied, looking around at the party. "Let me make up for my earlier mistake. I can do more with you than I could by staying here."

There was a collective pause as the party contemplated their potential new ally.

"Xzar?" said Imoen. "What do you think?"

Xzar remained still for a long moment before slowly pivoting on his feet while keeping his arms folded to face the minstrel. He then stared at Garrick for twenty seconds straight, during which the latter shifted uncomfortably and glanced at the rest of the group.

"I think," Xzar said at last. "That it is very impolite to eavesdrop on other people."

There was a moment's silence before Garrick spoke up.

"But...you do that all the time."

Xzar's eyes went wide.

"You're a Zhentarim agent," Garrick explained. "It's rather obvious," he added, gesturing politely to the wizard. "If so, then you also spy on people. So that would make you impolite too."

Xzar stared bug-eyed at Garrick. He then opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, closed it a second time, then bristled and snarled in a manner again uncannily resembling a cat before whirling around and putting his back to the entire party.

A moment passed. Xzar lowered his head. He sniffed once, as though he was holding back a sob. Everyone stared.

"So...could I join up with you?" Garrick asked.

Khalid and Jaheira looked at each other. The latter then turned her gaze onto Dorean, who blinked and looked up at her.

"Your plan," she said sternly. "Should he be involved in it?"

Dorean seemed to contemplate this. He then stepped up beside her, looking up at the boyish-looking minstrel.

"It will be very dangerous," he said softly. "We cannot guarantee you'll make it through this."

Garrick nodded sombrely. "I understand completely." He smiled at Khalid. "I have already pledged my sword to this caravan. It would be wrong of me to go back on it."

"You could get killed out there," Dorean said, his voice now terse.

"I know," Garrick replied, now smiling kindly at the dwarf.

Dorean looked at Imoen and then at Jaheira before returning his gaze to the bard.

"...alright, Garrick," said the dwarf. "We will welcome your aid."

Garrick beamed and gave a low bow. "It will be my pleasure to grant it." He turned to Khalid. "Urm, may I have those back?"

Khalid blinked before returning the bard's sword and crossbow to a reproachful look from Jaheira.

"Thank you," said Garrick, returning his sword to its scabbard. "I promise I will not let you down."

Jaheira stared at him, her demeanour now cool and aloof. She held his gaze for a moment before turning away and facing Dorean and Imoen.

"So be it, then."

Dorean nodded to her. He felt Imoen squeeze his hand, and lightly squeezed hers back.

"What about Montaron?" he asked, looking at Xzar. The wizard neither answered nor turned around.

"We should go look for him," said Imoen.

"There is no need," Xzar answered.

"We could use his help," said Dorean, pointedly ignoring Khalid and Jaheira. "Could we really afford to leave him behind?"

It was a moment before Xzar turned around, noticeably averting his gaze from Garrick.

"We won't leave him behind, little dwarf," he said softly. "He will find us."

..

The forest was dead-quiet, save for the distant sounds of the camped caravan; the winds that usually blow in from the coast were now absent, and even the nocturnal animals seemed to have collectively decided not to venture out that evening.

The near-silence was broken by the shuffling of a half-dozen pairs of feet, punctuated by the occasional whispered argument.

Six figures suddenly appeared out of thin air, the smallest one elbowing the second-smallest away.

"That hurt!" Imoen exclaimed, clutching her hip.

"I told you to let go of me, didn't I?" Dorean hissed. "And keep your voice down!"

"Excuse me for not wanting you to get separated from us again," Imoen grumbled.

"How am I supposed to walk when you're right next to me and I can't see-"

"Enough, both of you!" Jaheira said, her harsh whisper cutting the air like a knife. "We did not just expend a valuable scroll for you to immediately give away our location!"

Dorean and Imoen fell silent, looking up at the now-visible half-elf.

"From now on, Khalid and I are in charge," said Jaheira, her voice brooking no argument as she looked from Dorean to Imoen to Garrick. "Keep close and keep quiet. Move only when we tell you to." Her eyes rested on Xzar, who was ignoring her and staring at the Candlekeep duo. "Understood?"

"Yes, Jaheira," Dorean and Imoen chorused while Garrick nodded.

"Ye oughta teach 'em sign language," a voice said.

Garrick jumped. This time, however, Khalid and Jaheira neither whirled nor reached for their weapons, instead calmly turning to face Montaron approaching from behind a tree.

"How did you track-" Jaheira's demanding inquiry died on her lips as Eldoth Kron stepped around the tree as well.

"Eldoth?" said Garrick, his brow furrowing.

"Garrick," Eldoth drawled, inclining his head before smiling at Khalid and Jaheira. "Hello again, Khalid. And you must be Jaheira. A pleasure."He paused, awaiting their inquiries. When none came, he continued unperturbed. "I suppose you are curious as to why I am in his company," he gestured to Montaron. "You see-"

"He's a Zhent," Montaron interrupted. "Former partner'a mine."

Silence struck the party. Eldoth blinked, and for a half-second his smile seemed to falter. He slowly turned his head to look at Montaron, his smile widening as he gazed down at the halfling.

Jaheira's eyes narrowed to slits. Her quarterstaff was already in her hand. Khalid, however, now appeared even more menacing than her; he glared coldly at Eldoth with open hostility, hands hanging loose at his sides.

"He's comin' with us," said Montaron, casually walking past the half-elves and tilting his head sideways to regard Garrick.

"He isn't," said Jaheira, slowly turning to face him and keeping Eldoth in her peripheral vision.

"Ain't askin'," Montaron replied, still studying the increasingly-uncomfortable-looking Garrick.

Jaheira took a step towards him.

"Do you trust him, Montaron?" said Dorean. Jaheira stopped. Khalid blinked and glanced behind him. Eldoth's eyebrow rose and he cocked his head. All three levelled their gazes at the dwarf.

"Not in the slightest," Montaron replied. He reached up and removed one of the small pouches on Garrick's belt. The minstrel did not resist, blinking rapidly as he looked from Montaron to the rest of the party.

"If I may speak for myself -" Eldoth began.

"He's a two-faced swindler an' an all-round scumbag," Montaron went on, placing Garrick's pouch in his belt. "But he's useful in a fight."

Eldoth fell silent again, his smile now gone. Dorean hesitated, glancing at Khalid and Jaheira. He blinked twice, lowered his head, then looked up at Imoen. She returned his gaze, studied Eldoth, then walked past Montaron and Garrick to Xzar in the rear of the party. The wizard blinked at the pink-clad girl as she stopped in front of him.

"Do you know Eldoth, Xzar?"

Xzar stared at her for a moment before looking up at Eldoth.

"No."

Imoen considered this. She then turned around and raised a hand to her chin. After a few rubs, she lowered her hand and looked at Dorean.

"I don't think so, Monty."

Montaron blinked and then glared.

"Don't call me -"

"I'm alright with Garrick; he seems okay," Imoen interrupted, moving next to and patting Garrick on the arm. "But Eldoth...I'm sorry, but everything about you just screams 'I will double-cross you.'"

Eldoth's brow furrowed for a few seconds before he frowned and placed his hands on his hips. "That is quite unusual of you to say, my lady, considering your current choice in halfling and wizard."

"Eldoth," Imoen said slowly. "You have a moustache. A moustache." She waved her arms in the air before folding them across her chest. "You helped my little brother, and I am grateful. But I cannot support you joining us."

Everyone stared at her. A cricket chirped.

Then Montaron marched up to Imoen.

"I weren't askin' fer ye permission, kid," he said softly.

A click emanated from off to the side; Dorean's loaded crossbow was now pointed at Montaron's head. The halfling went very still, his black eyes remaining focused on Imoen. Next to the latter, Xzar's green eyes slowly settled on the dwarf. A small smile appeared on his lips.

"Maybe we should all just take a breath," Garrick suggested. "We still have bandits to find, and the night won't last forever. We should save our blades for them. Not each other."

Dorean did not lower the crossbow. Montaron remained where he stood, eyes fixed straight ahead.

"If I may get a word in," said Eldoth, strolling between Khalid and Jaheira to stand next to Montaron on the side not facing Dorean's crossbow, which coincidentally placed him in front of Xzar. "Montaron here has assured me that if I were to exhibit even the tiniest sign of treachery towards anyone here, even the two of you," he gestured lazily at Khalid and Jaheira. "He will kill me slowly and painfully." He placed a hand on the halfling's shoulder. "He also shared with me the methods by which he would administer such a demise. Quite unnecessarily, I might add."

"Remove ye hand before I do."

"If nobody has any objections," said Eldoth, moving away from Montaron and spreading his arms wide. "I propose this; have your wizard place a geas on me, prohibiting me from any disobedience or acts of betrayal."

For a long moment, silence returned to the forest. Eldoth looked from one party member to the other, lifting his eyebrows at each of them in wordless appeal.

Then Dorean lowered his crossbow and removed the bolt.

"No geas."

Jaheira's head snapped in his direction.

"I'll trust you, Montaron," the dwarf added, walking up to Eldoth. "And Eldoth Kron, I think I am willing to take a chance with you."

He raised his right hand. The bard paused, then smiled down at the friendly dwarf and accepted the handshake.

"Dorean," said Khalid. "I d-don't think this is a w-wise choice."

"You may be right," Dorean replied, releasing Eldoth's hand and walking up to the half-elves. "But the fact is, we need all the help we can get. And if Montaron says he's good in a fight, I believe him."

"You are taking him at his word?" said Jaheira.

"Yes," Dorean replied. "I am. Until he gives me a reason not to." He paused. "If you cannot accept this, Jaheira, you may return to the camp. None of us will hold it against you."

Jaheira was still for a moment. Her gaze shifted slowly to Eldoth, then to Khalid and finally back to Dorean. Her head rose slowly, and she gazed past her nose at the little dwarf. Dorean blinked, but otherwise his expression did not falter.

Jaheira returned her gaze to Eldoth, her eyes hard.

"You will not stray from our sight nor do anything without our express permission. You make one wrong move and I will assume you intend us ill and respond accordingly."

Eldoth neither flinched nor hesitated. He faced Jaheira and bowed his head low.

"I would give you my word, my lady, but -"

"That includes speaking," Jaheira snapped. Eldoth blinked, opened his mouth and then quickly closed it. With another baleful glare, Jaheira looked around at the rest of the party.

"Follow me and stay close."

The party quietly fell in line and followed her through the undergrowth.

As Imoen passed by him to reach Dorean's side, Eldoth turned to her.

"It is a goatee," he muttered to her. "Not a moustache."

"It is a moustache," Imoen whispered haughtily, lifting her chin.

"No talking!" Jaheira's voice commanded from the front.

In the rear, Xzar stepped over plants and tree roots, head lowered and brow furrowed in concentration as he examined his own facial hair.

..

Kagain rubbed the bridge of his large nose, ignoring the grime and dirt that he was smearing onto it.

"So inna nutshell, the soddin' noble's gonna die an' there's nothin' we can do about it."

"...I am afraid so," Ajantis replied, standing up and moving to stand beside him.

Lowering his hand, Kagain allowed his eyes to remain closed for several more seconds before opening them to gaze down at the pale-faced Bartholomew Witton lying on the bedroll.

"Are you certain you don't have any more medicine?" Ajantis implored.

"For the third soddin' time, no, we don't soddin' have any more soddin' medicine," Kagain growled. He then turned to Maija who was standing nearby. "Go help the others with the barricades."

"What are you doing?" Ajantis asked, turning to watch the female mercenary heading for the medical tent's exit.

"Said it yaself," Kagain replied, gesturing to the supine diplomat. "He's gonna die. No sense givin' him a bodyguard detail now."

"You're rather quick to dismiss his life," a voice said to his right. Kagain blinked three times, clenched his right fist so tight it hurt, then slowly turned to face Jessa Vai.

"What the hell does that mean?" he said, his voice dropping with every syllable.

"What do you think it means?" she answered. Blood was still flowing from the claw marks on her temple. Her hand rested on the mace at her hip.

Kagain stared at her for five seconds. He then unhooked his axe from his belt. Vai began to draw her mace.

"ENOUGH!"

Ajantis' voice boomed across the tent, rousing unconscious patients from their slumber. The two mercenary leaders froze, their heads turned towards the squire.

"Right now, there is only one group of people that I trust, and neither of you are among them." He glared at both of them before turning back to Witton. "If you intend to kill each other, then do it outside."

Kagain and Vai stared at him. After a moment, Vai returned her mace to her belt, gave Kagain another accusing, contemptuous glare, and stalked out of the tent.

Kagain watched her leave, then returned his gaze to the slowly-dying diplomat.

"If there is nothing else, Master Kagain, I must ask you to leave," Ajantis said, his voice stern and cold. He did not turn around, keeping his gaze on Witton.

Kagain stared stonily at Ajantis' back before stomping out of the med-tent.

He made his way through the camp, looking neither to the left nor right, his expression gravel and his mood black.

His mind was elsewhere as he approached his tent, and when he stepped inside, it took him a full second to spot the human skull on the table.

A curse died midway on his lips as it exploded, enveloping him in blinding green light.