Chapter 35
Farrahd's narrowed eyes widened to saucers as they focused on the axe spiralling towards him. He threw himself sideways and the blade slashed his left cheek, tore into his ear and embedded itself in the shoulder of the man behind him.
The other mercenaries gazed at their two fallen comrades for a split-second before looking up to see Kagain speeding bare-handed towards them, an empty vial falling behind him.
He closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Without reaching for a weapon, Kagain raised an arm to block the foremost mercenary's strike at his head. The blade tore into his chain-mail and cut deep. He ignored it and swung his heavy steel-shod boot. There was a crack and the man howled, his sword clattering on the stone floor as he fell clutching at his knee.
"Hold him-!" one of them yelled.
Kagain looked up and snarled, his beard parting to expose his teeth as the next mercenary in front of him readied a Hold Person spell. He had nearly finished casting when Maija smashed headlong into him, her axe nearly jarring the hastily-raised small shield out of his right hand.
Kagain wasted no time. Turning back to the fallen merc at his feet, he reached down and grabbed a handful of blonde hair. The mercenary screamed, still clutching at his broken leg, as Kagain pulled the man in front of him and pressed a throwing axe to his throat.
"Benjy!" he bellowed.
Farrahd, his hand clamped over his ear, had retreated behind three of his men. The other two had dragged their wounded comrade to the rear and were now attempting amidst his cries of protest to remove the throwing axe buried deep in his shoulder. The Flaming Fist captain reacted instantly upon seeing Kagain and his hostage.
"Stand down!"
The five remaining mercenaries froze, their eyes darting to their leader.
"I said stand down! That's an order!"
Swords were lowered and half-cast spells halted. The standing Flaming Fist mercs all retreated a few steps, their eyes fixed on Kagain.
"That's right," the dwarf growled. "Get back an' stay back."
"Kagain," Bentley's strained voice called from behind the Flaming Fist. "Think about what y-"
"Shut up! Shut ya sodding mouth!"
Silence struck the cell block. Kagain's hostage gasped for breath as the dwarf tightened the grip around his neck.
"Everybody out," Farrahd said calmly.
"Sir..."
"You heard me, Private." Without taking his eyes off of Kagain, Farrahd pointed behind him at the axe-wounded mercenary who now appeared to be on the verge of losing consciousness. "Take him to the temple. And tell everyone to stay back."
Kagain's eyes darted to each of the six mercenaries in turn, watching them leave and listening to their receding footsteps. He spotted Bentley through the open doorway to the cell block. The innkeeper's eyes lingered on the bodies of Raiken and the gnome jailer, and he returned Kagain's baleful glare with a blank, half-lidded look before silently following the mercenaries.
Bentley's soft footsteps slowly faded away, leaving Farrahd alone in the cell block with the Dented Shields and their hostage.
"C-Captain..."
"It's going to be alright, Dilos," Farrahd said, his voice stern and calm. His hand remained clamped over what was left of his ear; dark red blood flowed past his fingers, staining his collar.
"Back up," Kagain growled. Farrahd grimly obeyed, stepping backwards through the doorway to the cell block.
Kagain heard a pained cough to his left. His beard twitched, but he did not take his eyes off of Farrahd.
"Get up, Maija."
More coughing and hacking answered.
"Get ya ugly ass up before I leave ya here."
There was silence for several seconds, then more agonized breathing. He heard Maija moving behind him and felt her left hand on his shoulder as she leaned against him for support. He ignored her and kept his eyes on Farrahd.
"We're walkin' outta here," the dwarf snarled. "One spell, one arrow, one soddin' pebble gets tossed our way, an' ya will be seein' a lot more'a ya boy. Ya have my word on that."
Farrahd said nothing. He returned Kagain's menacing glare with his own, his jaw set in a hard grimace.
Kagain shoved Dilos forward, and the latter cried out in agony as he was forced into a one-legged crabwalk. Farrahd walked backward, one hand at his side and the other kept over his torn ear as the dwarf and his hostage slowly moved through the guardhouse, Maija grunting and snarling behind them. She gave a loud cough, and Kagain felt the spatter of blood on the back of his helmet. He continued to ignore her, focusing on the Flaming Fist captain.
The night sky greeted them as they exited, along with the stares of numerous onlookers, Friendly Arm guards and over two dozen Flaming Fist long-bows. They all followed Kagain and Maija to the front gates.
As they reached the drawbridge, Kagain spotted Vai standing near a wall-mounted torch. Like Bentley, her expression was cold and grim. Kagain glowered at her and growled inarticulately, and Dilos closed his eyes as the throwing axe pressed further against his throat.
They were halfway across the drawbridge when Farrahd called to them from beneath the raised portcullis.
"That's far enough! Release him!"
Kagain halted, his eyes darting to the numerous bows still trained on him. "So ya can shoot us down like dogs?!" He yelled back. "We're takin' him!"
Farrahd's eyes blazed as he stepped forward, and his fellow mercenaries flinched back from him as he suddenly roared. "I promise you, Shield, if you do not release him right now, I will make it my life's mission to make yours a living hell! Then I will do the same to every single one of your pathetic band!"
Both mercenary leaders stood on the wooden drawbridge, blue eyes glaring fiercely at each other.
"Release him!" Farrahd barked. "Now!"
For a long moment, the entire Friendly Arm was quiet, all eyes on the dwarf and his hostage.
Then, his beard lifting in a sneer, Kagain slowly moved his throwing axe from Dilos' throat.
"Screw all'a ya," the dwarf whispered.
He grabbed the back of Dilos' collar, hurled him off the drawbridge into the moat, then whirled around, scooped Maija up in his arms bridal-style and ran.
"After them!" Farrahd shouted. "I want both their heads!"
Arrows fell around Kagain. One slammed into his back. He ignored it and kept running.
..
Kagain turned down a bend in the road and plunged straight into the woods, aiming for dense vegetation. Branches sliced across his helmet and tore at his face, beard and chainmail. He held Maija close against his broad chest, shielding her head with his arm. Behind him, the thundering of hoof-beats partially stopped with a chorus of neighs, while a remainder of them continued. He grinded his teeth as he heard the horses galloping past him far off to his left.
He felt the blood trickling from Maija's side onto his chest, heard her ragged breathing against his chest, and knew that her lung had been punctured.
Sodding Fist and their sodding enchanted blades.
He heard the twang of a longbow behind him and veered to the right. The arrow tore through his chainmail into his left shoulder. He gritted his teeth and kept running, plunging into the thickest vegetation and zig-zagging around trees.
A second twang, and another arrow joined the one already in his back. He neither slowed nor faltered.
"Think I don't know what ya doin'?" He growled, leaping clear over a boulder. "Think I'm an idiot, I'm stupid, I'm gonna run into ya ambush?"
Twenty-six minutes; the amount of time that had passed since he drank the Potion of Agility.
He had less than five minutes before it wore off, and they knew it as well. His bushy eyebrows came together in a frown, and he snarled through his gritted teeth.
He plunged into more thick shrubbery, stopped and dropped Maija, then turned around, ignoring the branches cutting his face.
Five enforcers, one battle wizard and one Helmite cleric. None of them wielding bows, which meant the archer or archers were out of sight.
Cricking his neck, Kagain drew his heavy crossbow, thumbed off its safety and brought it to his shoulder. He waited until the nearest enforcer was barely ten paces away and fired. The bolt sped past the man and struck the battle wizard in the shoulder, spinning him around in a circle before sending him to the ground.
Kagain burst out of the thick bushes. Seeing the empty crossbow in his arms, the two nearest enforcers leapt forward to attack. Their eyes widened in surprise as the crossbow's bayonet clicked into place and Kagain lunged forward, stabbing the first man through his plate-mail into the stomach, wrenching the blade free and then slashing the second man across both thighs.
As the two mercenaries fell, Kagain hurled the crossbow like a javelin at the next enforcer's head. Instead of raising his shield, the man quickly ducked down to one knee, realized that he had given Kagain a clear line-of-sight to their cleric, and looked up as the crossbow flew overhead in time to see Kagain's throwing axe strike the cleric just as she raised her hands to launch a spell. Fingers fell as she screamed and clutched her hands to her chest.
Kagain's beard suddenly jerked up as a dagger stabbed into the back of his thick neck. With a bestial snarl, the dwarf's left hand reached behind him, grabbing the Flaming Fist scout's wrist as it attempted to pull back for another stab, and his right hand drew and swung his flail. There was a crunch and the scout cried out, dropping his bloody dagger and clutching his crushed right bicep.
A sword pierced Kagain's chest. The dwarf roared in fury as he released the scout and grabbed the blade with his bare hand. The enforcer, the one who had ducked his crossbow, leaped back as Kagain pulled it free and hurled it into the man's raised shield.
The dwarf pressed his attack, charging and swinging the flail in a circle over his head. The man leapt back, keeping his shield raised as the flail whirled closer and closer towards him.
An arrow struck Kagain in the small of his back, once again tearing straight through his chain-mail. The dwarf gritted his teeth and ignored it, focusing on the enforcer.
As he reached for a third throwing axe, the 'floating' sensation in his limbs suddenly began to fade.
The potion was wearing off.
Grinding his teeth behind his torn and bloodied beard, Kagain drew the throwing axe, spun around and hurled it. The second Flaming Fist scout nimbly leapt to one side to avoid it while simultaneously nocking another arrow.
A half-dozen Magic Missiles slammed into his helmet and left shoulder, denting the former and causing tiny fountains of blood to erupt from the latter. With a deafening roar, Kagain turned and hurled a fourth throwing axe at the battle wizard who was now sitting up against a tree. One of the enforcers leapt sideways and caught it on his shield before hitting the ground.
Kagain started towards him and then stumbled as yet another arrow joined the three already in his back. He bellowed as he turned to face the three mercenaries behind him, all of whom were keeping their distance; both scouts had moved behind the enforcer's raised shield, one hurriedly pouring a healing potion over his arm while the other grimly reloaded his longbow.
The dwarf's eyes moved to the cleric who had fallen to her knees in the dirt; she was only a handful of paces away. The trio darted to intercept him as he started towards her.
"Enough!"
The Flaming Fist all froze. Kagain did not.
Reaching the cleric, he grabbed and pulled her up by her hauberk, wrapped his flail-wielding hand around her neck and pressed his last throwing axe to her chin. He then whirled around, forcibly pulling her with him, to see the enforcer, the one whose legs he had slashed with his bayonet, crouching behind a kneeling Maija with a knife at her throat.
Kagain froze for a few seconds, his blue eyes wide. He then bared his teeth and pressed the blade of his throwing axe further into the cleric's chin, drawing blood. The enforcer grimly mimicked him. Maija made no sound as blood trickled from her throat.
Nobody spoke. Everyone including the wounded mercs stared at Kagain, their eyes burning holes in him. He became acutely aware of his heavy breathing and his blood pooling on the ground beneath him.
Maija's eyes met his, and he paused upon seeing the quiet contempt in them, directed at no one but him. He stared at her, and for a brief moment, his throwing axe lowered very slightly from the cleric's chin.
The enforcer holding Maija suddenly went rigid, frozen in place. The other mercenaries' heads snapped to him as the wizard yelled "Scatter and t-"
Kagain's eye-lids suddenly became unbearably heavy. He released his hold on the cleric, his flail and throwing axe both bouncing off the ground as he (thankfully) fell onto his right side, the wing of his helmet stabbing into the dirt. His eyes slammed shut and his body began to relax in forced sleep.
No no no no no get up get up you have to get up...
Something hit his face. His eye-lids twitched, but remained closed. It hit him again, harder, and his eyes flew open, His hand shot up at his assailant who swiftly pulled back.
"Can you walk?"
Kagain blinked a few times, his arm still out-stretched, before his vision cleared and he looked up at his rescuer with a sneer.
"I'll take that as a 'yes,'" a thoroughly filthy and bloodied Dorean replied emotionlessly, turning away to search the unconscious cleric. Kagain stared at him for a moment before looking around.
All nine Flaming Fist mercenaries now lay unmoving yet breathing on the forest floor, with the exception of the enforcer who had taken Maija hostage; he was now frozen in place, only his eyes moving, with his knife-wielding arm still held to a throat that was no longer there. Maija was sitting with her back against a tree, leaning forward and breathing raggedly. Her right hand clutched the hastily-bandaged wound in her side while the other gingerly touched the cut at her throat. Her eyes met Kagain's briefly, still filled with quiet contempt, before focusing on Dorean who removed a healing potion from the cleric's belt and tossed it to her.
"Drink it, quickly," Dorean ordered. "The second team will be here soon." He glanced at Kagain while moving to the unconscious battle wizard. "Where are the others?"
Kagain glared up at him for a moment before slowly pushing himself off the ground. His nose wrinkled at the foul stench emanating from Dorean; the younger dwarf was covered from head-to-toe in mud. "Rendezvous' near the crossroads," he answered, grunting and clutching his chest wound. "About six hours away."
Dorean nodded without looking at him, taking a scroll case from the wizard and tucking it into his shirt. He turned to address Maija and Kagain saw the knife-hilt sticking out of his left shoulder.
"We have to move now. Stay close."
The two mercenaries exchanged looks. Then, keeping one hand over her bandaged wound, Maija slowly lifted herself up off the ground. Kagain picked up and belted his flail, then looked up in time to catch his tossed crossbow. He stared after the gold dwarf who had already turned away and was lifting his hood over his head, then moved to support Maija. She shoved his hand away without looking at him, grimly stumbling after Dorean. Kagain scowled at her, then shouldered his crossbow and stomped after them, leaving the unconscious Flaming Fist mercenaries and puddles of his own blood behind.
..
The next several hours passed in silence. Dorean led the way, his hooded head on a slow and constant swivel while Kagain took up the rear with his heavy crossbow. The latter side-stepped a bush that Dorean had brushed by, grimacing at the foul-smelling mud smeared on its leaves. He then looked up at Maija who had stubbornly refused any offer of support throughout the entire journey. A few hours earlier, however, she had conceded to an offered water-skin from Dorean, only to choke after a few seconds of drinking and falling to her knees. Now she stumbled through the woods, her breathing slower and fainter. Dorean glanced back at her pale, perspiring face as she narrowly avoided tripping over a rock.
"How much further?" he asked, breaking the long silence.
"Nearly there," Kagain replied, his voice hoarse.
There was a faint rustling from up ahead. All three of them looked up, Dorean spinning around and raising a dagger.
Ten seconds passed with no movement or sound. Then Lene appeared from the shadows, followed by Ajantis and Eldoth.
"Thank Helm," the paladin breathed.
"They're hurt worse than me," said Dorean, lowering his dagger and gesturing to Kagain and Maija, who chose that moment to stumble forward into Lene's arms.
"What happened?" the half-orc exclaimed, grimacing at Maija's face against her shoulder. "She's burning up!"
Ajantis went over and placed a mailed hand to her forehead. "Fever," he said shortly, turning back to Dorean and Kagain. "The rest of us are nearby. Can you walk on your own?"
Dorean blinked up at him and then nodded. Ajantis nodded back and returned his gaze to Lene. "I will help carry her. Eldoth, could you lead these two to the clea-"
"I know where it is," Kagain said gruffly, stomping past them. Ajantis flinched and Eldoth's eyebrows rose at the five arrows in Kagain's back and shoulder.
With Dorean and Eldoth now taking up the rear, Kagain led the way as Ajantis and Lene painstakingly carried the unconscious Maija between them. Eventually, they emerged into a large clearing in the woods, where seven tents had been erected in a ring around a large campfire.
Garrick, Khalid and Jaheira were seated with several mercenaries at the campfire. Imoen was pacing around them; from the small, circular trail, she had doing so for at least a few hours.
All of them looked up and immediately stood upon seeing Kagain's group. Imoen flew past the mercenary leader, fell to her knees in front of Dorean and embraced him around his thin chest, narrowly avoiding his dagger and ignoring his stench as well as the mud on his body.
The dwarf blinked and then said, "Imoen, I have a knife in my shoulder."
She pulled back immediately, her arms, clothing and right cheek now all smeared in mud as her alarmed eyes focused on the weapon.
"I'm alright," Dorean said, raising a hand as Jaheira started towards him. "She needs help right now," he added, jerking a thumb at Maija.
"Get her into a tent," Jaheira ordered. The mercenaries hesitated, looking to Lene and Kagain.
"Whatta ya standin' there for?!" said Kagain. "Get on it!"
A flurry of activity ensued as his men busied themselves, some aiding Jaheira, Lene and Maija while others went to rouse the ones who were asleep.
Kagain stood still in the midst of it all, watching as Maija was borne into the largest tent by Ajantis and Lene. He then looked at Dorean being led over to another tent by Khalid, Garrick and Imoen, the last of whom walked beside him with a hand on his unwounded shoulder in spite of the mud covering his clothes and body.
"Need one?" a voice asked. Kagain turned to see Eldoth standing next to him and holding out a healing potion. The dwarf looked at the vial, down at his blood now staining the ground of the campsite, then roughly slapped Eldoth's hand away.
"Just get someone ta get these damn things outta me," he growled, stomping over to sit at the campfire.
..
A half-hour passed until Jaheira, Ajantis and Lene finally emerged from the tent and announced that Maija's wound had been healed and her fever broken. By then, Dorean had been freed of his knife-wound, healed, and changed into clothing that apparently belonged to one of the mercenaries' nephews. He now sat quietly at the campfire in between Imoen and Khalid with the party, chewing on his third orange and listening to Kagain's account of the ill-fated rescue attempt at the Friendly Arm; the dwarven mercenary's tale was often interrupted with winces and complaints as each of the five broad-head arrows was carefully extracted from his back.
The sky had turned from black to dark blue by the time Kagain finished, and a glum silence settled over the campfire.
"So Bentley betrayed us," Lene said grimly.
"Yeah," Kagain replied. "Don't worry. We'll make that bastard pay."
Khalid stiffened and Jaheira, who was sitting on his other side from Dorean, placed a hand on his knee without looking at him.
"He seemed like such a nice person," Imoen said softly, gazing at her feet.
"He could have been coerced," said Jaheira. "Have you not considered that?"
"I don't give a warg's ass if he was," Kagain replied. "I nearly lost one'a my guys 'cos'a him."
"Do you intend to lay siege to the Friendly Arm, then?" Jaheira asked coolly.
Everyone looked at Kagain. He returned their gazes, his eyes lingering on the apprehensive expressions of his own men, before glowering at Jaheira and snatching up another beef sausage.
"Bentley Mirrorshade is...a friend of mine," Jaheira said, emphasizing the last three words. Kagain looked up at her with narrowed eyes. "We could speak to him and learn the truth, if the future would allow us to."
Kagain silently considered this, then promptly ignored Jaheira and turned to Dorean.
"You. You owe me an explanation."
Lowering his half-eaten orange, Dorean slowly looked up at the numerous gazes now focused on him. Imoen scooted closer to him, hugging him with one arm to her side. He frowned at her before closing his eyes and taking a deep, drawn-out breath.
"The jailer was bringing us our food. Raiken - the Blacktalon - grabbed him through the bars. The gnome, he...got out his knife. They struggled and Raiken stabbed him." Dorean slowly opened his eyes, his expression morose. "He took the keys, unlocked the cell and his shackles. Then he came at me."
"Why didn't you cry for help?" asked Ajantis. Dorean looked into the campfire.
"I was afraid. Froze up."
For a moment, there was little sound save for the mercenaries in the background eating, resting or checking their weapons and equipment.
"What happened then?" asked Jaheira.
"I tackled him as soon as he unlocked the door to my cell. We fell out into the corridor, he got me with the knife, and...I hit him with the porridge bowl." Dorean paused. "He kept holding onto the knife the whole time."
Kagain's mind recalled the two bodies in the cell block, covered in bread crumbs, gruel and ceramic fragments. Raiken's face had been smashed to an unrecognizable pulp.
"How'd ya get out?" he asked.
"I unlocked my shackles and snuck out of the cell block. Grabbed what I could and then..." Dorean closed his eyes and grimaced, baring his teeth. "Found and crawled through a latrine drain." He paused. "There's advantages to being small," he added with a mirthless smile. "The drain led out to the moat. I got out and ran. Heard the horsemen coming down the road and hid, followed them and found you." He looked at Kagain. "That's it."
His tale finished, Dorean leaned back, resting his temple against Imoen's shoulder. Kagain frowned at him.
"Never told me ya could cast spells."
Dorean hesitated, then reached into his shirt with one hand and held up two wands. Kagain's frown deepened.
"You had them with ya the whole time?"
"Couldn't reach for them with my shackles," Dorean replied tiredly. Kagain bristled.
"Where'd ya hide 'em then, up ya ass?"
"That's enough," said Khalid. Kagain's nostrils flared as he glared at the half-elf. Lene and the other nearby mercenaries tensed. Kagain then snorted, looked away and took another bite of sausage.
"Well..." Eldoth said with a smile at Dorean. "I am glad you are with us again."
"Indeed," said Xzar.
There was silence for a moment.
Then everyone jumped and turned to look at Xzar and Montaron sitting on either side of Eldoth who had suddenly gone very still but otherwise displayed no reaction, his smile at Dorean still in place.
"Where the hell have ya been?!" Kagain shouted.
"How did you get past our lookouts?!" Lene demanded.
"Are you alright?" Imoen exclaimed.
"Been dodgin' Flamin' Fist for the last twenty hours," Montaron said to Kagain. "Stupid question," he said to Lene. "An' yeah, we're fine," he said to Imoen.
"You're both hurt!" Imoen protested, her eyes roaming over the Zhents' blood-stained clothes.
"No," said Jaheira. "It is not their blood."
Silence fell around the campfire for several seconds before Kagain turned to Lene.
"Get the boys outta here. An' set up more lookouts; I don't want the Fist or anythin' else creepin' up on us."
None of the mercenaries seemed to resent this order; they followed Lene away from the campfire, shooting furtive glances at the two Zhents.
"How long have the two of you been here?" Eldoth asked calmly.
"Long enough," Montaron replied. "Nice story," he added to Dorean. Khalid scowled at him.
Xzar leaned forward, drew a scroll from his robes and held it out to Dorean, who with the entire party (except Montaron) stared at Xzar's outstretched hand; it was completely covered in dried blood all the way to the wrist.
Xzar blinked. "Hm? Oh. Sorry." He gave a toothy, embarrassed smile and switched the scroll to his left hand.
Dorean and Imoen exchanged looks. The latter then slowly reached out, took the offered scroll, and unrolled it. The party watched the duo's faces fall as their eyes moved down the page.
"What is it?" asked Kagain in between a mouthful of roast chicken. Dorean and Imoen looked at each other again, their expressions solemn, before the gold dwarf slowly lowered the scroll.
"Another bounty notice," he answered. "For me and them," he pointed at Xzar and Montaron.
Kagain's eyes widened. Dropping his half-eaten chicken leg, he reached over and snatched the scroll out of Dorean's hand, earning a reproachful glare from Khalid.
"By decree of the Flamin' Fist and the Dukes of blah, blah, blah,'" Kagain read aloud. "The dwarf known as yadda yadda yadda...reward of three soddin' thousand if alive?" he looked up at Dorean and then back at the page. "An' for his as-yet-unidentified accomplices, a reward of five hundred each." He stared at the uncannily accurate facial sketches of Xzar and Montaron. "These two men are highly dangerous and are to be killed on sight." He paused, and a low, guttural growl escaped his beard. "Furthermore, it has come to light that the Dented Shield mercenary company has been assisting these criminals. Henceforth, this company is to be barred from receiving any and all contracts and is now under investigation by the Flaming Fist." His beard twitched and his fingers tightened on the parchment. "Signed an' sealed by all four Grand Dukes."
Silence fell. Kagain then ripped the scroll in half, hurled it into the fire and spat on it. He then snatched up his fallen chicken leg from the ground and viciously bit into it, ignoring the bits of leaf now attached to the meat.
"Someone in Baldur's Gate is very intent on killing you," Jaheira said to Dorean.
"But why?" asked Ajantis. "Why would anyone want you dead? Surely they do not believe you were involved in Lord Silvershield's disappearance? That was seven years ago!"
Dorean said nothing, his gaze moving to the burning notice in the fire. Imoen wrapped an arm around his back and Khalid gently patted his shoulder.
"Why us?" said Montaron. Jaheira looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"Why us an' not you?"
Khalid and Jaheira both stiffened, glaring at the halfling.
"If I may hazard a guess," said Eldoth, lifting his finger slowly to avoid brushing against Montaron's blood-stained clothes. "It might be due to the Harpers having enough control in this region to protect their agents. After all, this is not Moonsea."
The half-elves' glares intensified. Eldoth lowered his hand. "It is only a guess," he said mildly.
"You told him?" Jaheira said, her cyan eyes boring into Montaron's.
"Already told 'im," Montarn replied, jerking a thumb at Kagain. "Might as well."
Khalid straightened as though to rise. Dorean placed a hand on his knee. The Calishite blinked, looked at him and then deflated, reluctantly glowering at the bored halfling and smiling wizard before taking another helping of roast chicken from the fire and offering it to Dorean.
"What now?" Dorean asked, gently waving a hand to refuse the offer. After a moment's silence, Kagain answered without looking up.
"Got people inna city. They'll be lookin' inta this."
"Could they help to withdraw the bounty?" asked Imoen.
"No," Kagain replied flatly. "My people have clout here, but this is from the top. The Dukes themselves." He paused. "Gonna take a lotta greased palms to make it happen, an' I doubt ya have the coin ta do it." He looked up and glared at Xzar and Montaron. "This was just supposed ta be a soddin' job in Nashkel."
"It still is," Montaron replied, his voice and expression suddenly turning cold.
"Not anymore," Kagain replied, standing up. "The two'a ya are wanted men now. That is not part'a the deal."
"In case ye haven't noticed, we don't need ye to protect us."
"I don't give a shit if ya need protection. So long as ya here, ya a risk to all'a us, to me an' my guys. An' if the risk goes up, the price goes up."
Montaron's black eyes narrowed to slits. He slowly leaned back in his seat and placed his hands on his thighs. Xzar however appeared to be ignoring the entire conversation and was staring at the side of Eldoth's head. Despite his calm demeanour, the bard was clearly leaning very slightly away from him.
"We helped ye with the caravan," Montaron growled.
"In case ya haven't noticed, I ain't gettin' soddin' paid fer the thing," Kagain retorted.
"Ye blamin' us for that?" Montaron accused, his eyes flashing. Garrick stood up and stepped back from the group. Khalid and Jaheira both tensed with their hands on their weapons.
"Could we please not fight amongst ourselves?" Ajantis asked, his voice weary yet loud and firm. "We have enough to be concerned about as it is."
Kagain's eyes flicked to the Helmite and back to Montaron before he slowly sat down. "Ya want my help in Nashkel, the price is goin' up."
Montaron sneered at him before reaching over and taking a stick of roast chicken. "Fine. Whatever."
"What now?" Dorean asked quietly, keeping his hand on Khalid's knee as the man continued to watch the Zhents like a hawk.
"It is dangerous for us to return to Beregost," said Jaheira. "The Flaming Fist would have sent messengers ahead of us. We should skirt the town and continue south to Nashkel."
"Through the wilderness?" said Ajantis. "It is overrun with bandits and monsters. We will need to resupply first."
"And," said Eldoth, holding up his finger again. "There is someone waiting for me in Beregost. I need to meet with her."
"Who?" Montaron asked sharply. Eldoth did not miss a beat.
"A noblewoman from Baldur's Gate whom I have agreed to escort to Amn."
There was a moment's pause.
"Ditch her," said Montaron.
"Absolutely not," replied Eldoth. "I had given her my word that I would return to her after I had finished aiding the caravan. Which, it seems, the Flaming Fist will not be paying me for." He smirked at Garrick and the other freelancer shrugged in return. Eldoth then turned his gaze to the rest of the party. "If you must avoid Beregost, I am afraid this is where we must part company. What do you think?" He suddenly added to Dorean.
"What do I think?"
"You are the one who is at greatest risk, so your opinion deserves to be heard, does it not?" Eldoth asked, turning his smile onto Jaheira who sneered at him.
Everyone looked at Dorean. Imoen rubbed his back. He looked up at her for a few seconds before turning to Jaheira. "How is Maija?"
Kagain frowned at the realization that Dorean had deigned to remember her name.
"She is stable, but still in poor condition," Jaheira replied, her eyes half-lidded as she awaited Dorean's next words.
"Thank you," he said politely. "Her and Kagain were hurt because of me. If it were up to me, I would prioritize getting her further treatment."
"We c-cannot bring her to the S-Song of the Morning," said Khalid. "The Flaming Fist knows she is badly wounded. They will be w-watching the place."
"Kagain," said Dorean. "You know this area better than any of us. Is there anywhere close aside from Beregost where we could find healing and supplies?"
Kagain lowered his chicken leg as he returned Dorean's gaze. He then nodded slowly. "Yeah. A place west'a the town called High Hedge. Wizard by the name of Thalantyr owns it."
"I have heard of him," Xzar said idly.
"So have I," said Jaheira, though she gave the wizard an unfriendly glance. "It is said that he is not very welcoming to strangers."
"Would he help us?" asked Imoen.
"Yeah, but not for free," Kagain replied. "He owes me a favour, though."
"And," Dorean spoke up. "If necessary, a few of us could go into Beregost with Eldoth."
"We're not doin' that," Montaron said firmly. Eldoth raised an eyebrow at him.
"He saved my life, Montaron," Dorean said softly. "He stopped a Blacktalon from killing me. I owe him that."
"I don't care," Montaron retorted. "Me an' the wizard are goin' ta Nashkel, an' ye comin' wit' us. We're not stoppin' to meet with his latest con-job. We've wasted enough time with the bleedin' caravan."
"I agree with the little dwarf," said Xzar. He was still staring straight at Eldoth who was valiantly attempting to ignore him. "I say we meet with this man's noblewoman and hear what she has to say."
Montaron looked past Eldoth at him and sneered. "Oh. Sure. The madman's in favour of goin' into town." He stood up and brushed his clothing, sweeping dust and dried blood onto Eldoth's clean clothes. "Do what ye want, but I ain't comin' with ye ta Beregost." He turned to leave.
"Monty?" said Imoen. The halfling whirled on her with a pointed finger.
"I said don't call me-"
He stopped upon seeing the paper-wrapped bacon strips in Imoen's hand, looked up at her and then at the collective gazes of the rest of the party.
After a moment, Montaron huffed, snatched the food out of Imoen's hand and walked away.
"Do you have any water?" Imoen called after him. He ignored her.
"Were you not partners?" Ajantis asked Eldoth. "Why is he against helping you?"
Eldoth blinked before giving a small sigh. "At the time our partnership concluded, we tried to kill each other."
Silence filled the air. Eldoth raised his hands.
"It was over a misunderstanding, but he still holds a grudge for it. A rather unreasonable one, considering we were both at fault.' The Ruathym looked up. "It is getting close to dawn," he quipped, looking to Kagain. "Should we rest further, Captain, or return to the road?"
Kagain returned his gaze for a moment before standing up again.
"Finish ya food an' get ya stuff. We'll be movin' in ten minutes."
He stomped nosily away, barking orders to his men.
"Xzar?" said Imoen. The wizard blinked in alarm and flinched back from her. "Aren't you hungry? Montaron said you've been dodging the Fist all night and day."
Xzar's green eyes blinked rapidly at her before he slowly straightened in his seat. "Do not worry, young lady," he replied with a wide smile. "I have already eaten."
"Oh," said Imoen. Her eyes went to his bloodied hand and back to his face. "Okay," she said calmly.
Xzar blinked and then furrowed his brow at her. Imoen turned back to Dorean and pressed a fourth orange into his hand. He pouted but otherwise accepted it.
As the party stood to gather their belongings and help dismantle the camp, Garrick, who had been silent the entire time, approached Dorean.
"How is your hand?"
The dwarf looked up at him. "What?"
"I noticed it was swollen."
Dorean looked down at where Garrick was pointing; the base of the thumb of his gloved right hand.
"...it's fine. I had it healed already." He paused. "Thank you."
Garrick hesitated, then nodded and smiled before turning away to help Khalid put out the fire.
As he followed Imoen towards the tent where she had left his pack and weapons, Dorean noticed Montaron standing nearby with his hands resting on his belt.
Their eyes met, and the dwarf recalled the halfling assassin's words.
Nice story.
He slowly turned away, maintaining a calm, relaxed demeanour, and tugged the sleeve of his shirt over the thumb which he had earlier deliberately dislocated.