Chapter 43
The rays of the setting sun glinted like rubies on the breastplates of three dozen Flaming Fist mercenaries as they rushed from tents and campfires, assembling in front of a watchtower, guardhouse and what appeared to be the beginnings of a palisade. Two dozen peasant workers and a handful of Baldurian soldiers looked on in trepidation as the mercenaries fanned out to block the road, expressions grim behind their helmets as they faced the party and the Dented Shield mercenaries about forty paces away.
Ajantis felt a bead of sweat pour down his brow. Having so many here…it could be due to the threat of war. He looked over his shoulder at Dorean whom Khalid and Imoen had both pushed behind them. Please let it be that.
He glanced at Xzar, noticed that Montaron was gone, then returned his gaze to the Flaming Fist.
Silence fell on the outpost.
It was abruptly broken by the clank of Kagain's boots on the gravel road as their owner strode forward. One of the Flaming Fist, a woman in heavy plate who appeared to be in her thirties, moved forward as well. All eyes watched her and the dwarf as they met in the middle, stopping a few paces away from each other.
"If this goes bad…" Dorean muttered.
"We stay together," Khalid answered, his voice soft yet tinged with a hard edge as his eyes scanned the half-finished palisade.
"Can you hear what they're saying?" Imoen asked. Khalid shook his head. Dorean fidgeted, clearly uncomfortable with leaving his crossbow on his back instead of drawing it. Ajantis placed a hand on one of his small shoulders. Without looking up, Dorean reached up and grasped it.
If I must, I will defend this one against those who wrongfully accuse him, the squire solemnly vowed.
He returned his attention to the two mercenary leaders and could not prevent the ugly sensation arising in his gut when he saw them shake hands. The memory of High Hedge and the Upperdark tunnels came to him, and the words left his mouth before he could stop them. "Kagain is a smuggler, isn't he?"
"Quiet," Jaheira snapped. Ajantis glared at her. She ignored him, her eyes fixed on Kagain and the Flaming Fist leader. Before he could retort, the clank of Kagain's boots filled the air again. The dwarf marched back to them, eyes flashing and white beard twitching in apparent anger as he stopped about ten paces away and waved to them to follow.
The party followed behind the Dented Shields as Kagain led them to the outpost. At a signal from their leader, the Flaming Fist parted to let them through. Several pointed fingers and whispers followed in Dorean's wake, and it was only after the outpost had disappeared behind them over the horizon that Ajantis realized he had been holding his breath.
He faced forward again, and his jaw clenched as he spotted the winged helmet at the front of the Dented Shield mercenaries.
"Paladin," Jaheira said sternly. "Their corruption is beneficial to us. We would have had to fight through them otherwise."
Ajantis turned a half-lidded glare onto her. "Are the Harpers not meant to oppose corruption within the law? Or do they only do so when it is convenient for them?"
Jaheira's eyes narrowed to slits. She opened her mouth to reply when a loud snicker behind them made her and Ajantis jump.
"Oh, this is delightful!" Xzar cooed. "I am so happy you decided to join us! You are just so adorable!"
He reached over and ruffled Ajantis' hair. Everyone stared except Montaron whom Ajantis' mind dimly registered had reappeared in the party's midst.
Wrinkling her nose in disgust, Jaheira turned, placed her hands on Dorean and Imoen's shoulders, and marched them forward away from the necromancer. Khalid gave Xzar a cold glare and Ajantis an apologetic look before jogging forward to join them.
"It is particular," a voice said, right next to Ajantis' other side. The squire barely stopped himself from jumping as he turned to find the woman accompanying both Eldoth and the young noblewoman walking beside him.
"W-what is?" he demanded. Why am I stuttering?
The woman smiled. "That a knight of the fabled Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart would be accompanying us."
Ajantis realized that he had been staring at her lips while she spoke. He hurriedly looked away. "I am not a knight. Only a squire."
"A squire? Hmm." She paused, and Ajantis forced himself not to glance at her. "You have my curiosity now. Would you like some?"
"What?" he turned to find an offered pita-bread roll. "Oh." He took it, realized he wasn't hungry, and bit into it anyway. "Thank you," he said, realized he had spoken with his mouth full, tried to swallow too quickly and coughed.
She smiled before abruptly moving ahead of him, and Ajantis immediately felt relieved. He watched her introduce herself to Dorean and Imoen (and ignore Jaheira), and it was a moment before he realized that he had not properly introduced himself to her nor asked for her name.
Helm, what is wrong with me? She is not even that pretty. I have met women who are more beautiful.
"I see you have met Safana," Eldoth's voice drawled. Ajantis looked up to find the bard now beside him, the noblewoman on the latter's other side; both were grinning at him.
"Yes…" he replied with a frown, glancing again at Safana who was now speaking to Imoen; for some reason, the pink-clad girl was scowling at her. He blinked, shook his head slightly and looked back to the lady beside Eldoth. "My apologies, my lady. My manners seem to have eluded me today. I am Ajantis, squire to the Most Noble Order of the Radiant Heart."
The lady smiled and bowed her head. "Pleased to meet you. I am Skie of Baldur's Gate. Please forgive me for not revealing my family name."
As though he had been waiting for this, Garrick (who had been lingering nearby, apparently) practically pounced on Ajantis to share his and Eldoth's adventure in Beregost.
"You are Lord Piergeiron's daughter?" Ajantis exclaimed. Skie nodded quietly. The Waterdhavian's face fell as he contemplated what Garrick had just told him of his first meeting with Skie and Safana in Feldepost's Inn. "I am sorry, my lady, I…I have trouble believing this."
"The assassins sent after Skie were believable enough," Eldoth said grimly. "We barely got out of Baldur's Gate with our lives."
"I never would have thought that Lady Aleena would want to murder anyone," Ajantis said solemnly. "Much less her own sister."
"Neither would I," said Garrick, flexing his mended arm. "You think you know someone well, and then it turns out you didn't know them at all."
Ajantis looked at Garrick. The latter gave him a sympathetic smile before resuming his tale.
"He burnt down the inn…?" the squire whispered, his face paling in the evening light.
"To be fair, I started the riot," said Eldoth. Ajantis' eyes widened.
"A riot?"
Eldoth told him.
"Good gods…" Ajantis breathed. "They just…cut them down?"
"Some of them were lynched by the crowd," Garrick replied. "Whoever ordered it may have wanted to prevent further riots in the future. Harsh, but..."
All those people… Ajantis closed his eyes. Helm watch over them, and bring justice to their killers.
"Could we not talk about this?" Skie said, her voice small. Ajantis felt a pang of concern for her as he noted her downcast face and blood-spattered clothes. Eldoth took and gave Skie's hand a gentle squeeze, and she looked up and smiled at him.
Ah, thought Ajantis. They are lovers. He frowned as his eyes went from Eldoth to Safana. Before he could ask any questions, however, shouts and the whoosh of arrows suddenly pierced the air.
"Hobgoblins!" Khalid yelled.
From the corner of his eye, Ajantis saw Xzar and Montaron running off the road into the undergrowth. He heard Kagain scream, "No prisoners! Gut the bastards!" and the answering roars of his mercenaries as they surged forward.
He felt his own body move, vambraces clattering on the road-tiles as he sped past the rest of the party, shield and sword sliding into his mailed hands.
On the road ahead, nearly twenty hobgoblins rushed to form a defensive line.
Ajantis thundered past the mercenaries, ignoring Kagain's yells. As the hobgoblins raised their shields, Ajantis lifted his sword up high.
"For the glory of Helm!"
He brought the weapon down in an overhead chop, nearly dashing a shield from the nearest enemy's hand.
Blades stabbed and hacked at him, smashing painfully against his armour. He ran one of the hobgoblins through the belly just before Kagain's men charged into the rest.
..
The flies scattered at Ajantis' approach, buzzing off into the twilight. He looked down at where they were gathered, and his eyes clouded as they found the corpses of a man, woman and boy. There was barely enough remaining sunlight to see that blood still flowed from their wounds, and that decay had yet to set in.
This happened recently.
His eyes rested on the boy, and he clenched his fists as his arms and shoulders trembled.
"This was where you were ambushed?" a voice from behind him asked. Ajantis slowly looked over his shoulder at Khalid.
"It's where I would have done it," the half-elf added, no gentleness or hesitance in his voice. "The trees hiding you from the road. The cliff-face protecting your flank."
They looked at each other for a moment. Ajantis then returned his gaze to the bodies. "A perfect place to camp," he said quietly. "Too perfect. They were already there, hidden. Waiting for us to make camp."
"How did you and Witton make it out?" Khalid asked, his voice still calm with zero tenderness.
"My superior, a…senior knight…told me to take him and run while he and his men held them off," Ajantis replied, still staring at the three corpses. The boy could not be older than ten. "He knew that I would have been of little help."
"Or he knew that you could get Witton to the city on your own," Khalid countered.
"Perhaps. I did not, however." Ajantis closed his eyes for a moment, thenopened them and looked around.
There is no sign of them anywhere. As though they never existed.
He heard Khalid walk over, and felt the man take him by the arm.
"You are wounded."
"I can heal it myself."
"Come on."
Ajantis gave no further protest, allowing himself to be led away.
At least fifteen of the defeated hobgoblins had died shoulder-to-shoulder, and a handful chased down or shot while attempting to flee. Kagain's men were busy looting the bodies, and Ajantis felt bile in his throat as one of them severed a hobgoblin's arm to extricate a bracelet from the wrist.
Montaron was nearby, standing over and searching the only three hobgoblins clad in chainmail instead of leather. Despite them clearly having the most valuable loot, every one of the mercenaries gave them a wide berth, leaving the halfling to his grisly task.
As Ajantis and Khalid drew closer, Montaron's dull, coal-black eyes met the squire's.
He got behind, surprised and killed the leader and his bodyguards just as we hit them from the front. Threw the enemy into disarray. We only sustained wounded. Not one fatality.
The faces of his dead comrades and the murdered trio in the copse behind him flashed before his eyes, and as he continued to stare at Montaron, another thought rose unbidden in his mind. That speed and timing…he is a better fighter than I could ever hope to be.
He felt Khalid's grip on his arm tighten, even through the gauntlet. Khalid did not so much as glance at Montaron, marching straight past him across the road to a spring where Jaheira, Imoen, Garrick and Xzar were resting and filling their water-skins.
"Jaheira," said Khalid, gently pushing Ajantis towards her. "C-could you…"
"Absolutely not!" a green-robed wizard shrilled as he jumped between Jaheira and Ajantis. "I will see to him!" He made shooing motions at Khalid whose eyes dropped to half-lids.
"Alright," said Ajantis. Everyone stared at him.
Beaming, Xzar placed his hands on Ajantis' arms. The squire allowed himself to be guided toward a nearby boulder. The half-elves looked on, Khalid with worry and Jaheira with frowning suspicion. Ignoring them, Xzar patted the top of the boulder and Ajantis obediently sat down. It was only then that he felt the stabbing pain radiating from his side.
"Under the arm," Xzar commented. "A common weakness of plate armour. Hm, heavy bruising and a cut, not very deep." He pressed his hand to the area, and Ajantis winced as he felt flesh mend and nerves re-align. "This is very good armour," Xzar added. "Dwarven made? Curious."
Ajantis stared. Xzar stared back, then frowned and huffed. "Well!" he proclaimed, his voice becoming shrill again. "Making assumptions about me just because I am a wizard! How dare you! And after I so kindly tended to your wound as well!" He suddenly leaned forward, coming nose-to-nose with Ajantis. "You rushed forward so eagerly," he purred. "Were it not for this," he tapped the breastplate. "You could have died."
He grinned. Ajantis stared at him. After a moment, the paladin slowly slid around Xzar and stood up off the boulder.
"Thank you for treating me," he said, voice and expression completely formal. Xzar blinked, then frowned and placed his hands on his hips. It suddenly occurred to Ajantis that despite being taller than the wizard, he did not feel it.
After a moment, Xzar sighed and shook his head. "Paladins." He then pointed off to the side without looking. "The girl is troubled. You should speak to her."
Ajantis followed the wizard's finger and saw Skie standing at the same spot where he and Khalid had been. She was looking down at the three human corpses. He stared at her for a moment before looking back to find that Xzar was now approaching one of the nearby dead hobgoblins; the mercenary who was searching it looked up, saw the approaching wizard, and hurriedly moved away.
Ajantis watched Xzar feeling over the hobgoblin's head for several seconds before returning his gaze to Skie. Eldoth was conversing quietly with Safana a short distance away. They were watching Skie, though neither seemed to want to approach her.
With another glance at Xzar, Ajantis made his way over to Skie, trying to ignore the tightening feeling in his chest as he approached the three bodies again. "My lady?"
Skie jumped but did not turn around. "I…I'm alright. I mean, I'm not hurt," she stammered. Ajantis' brow furrowed. After a moment, Skie slowly turned to face him, revealing in her open palm a large round topaz set in a silver ring.
"I recognize this," she said, her voice low and small. "Mister Corquetle in Beregost has a similar one. Safana took me to his shop the d-day before yesterday. She thought I could surprise Eldoth with some new jewellery." She paused. "But he had nothing to sell. He…told us he was robbed three nights ago. The same night that the Travenhursts were…"
Her voice trailed off. Ajantis hesitated, wandering whether to step forward to comfort her or to remain where he was.
Lord Firecam would have known what to do.
Skie spoke again, the words seeming to tumble out before she could stop them. "The burglar took everything. All his jewellery and money. Even the coin pouch on his bedside table. He cried, he just cried right there in the shop in front of everyone, and…I think this is…was…his son." She looked down at the dead man, sprawled out on the grass beside his wife and child.
"He shouldn't have travelled without an armed escort," said a voice behind them. Ajantis turned to see Dorean approaching. "Not with the bandits plaguing the roads, and especially not with his family." The dwarf's voice was soft and his expression gentle.
"He must have been desperate," the squire replied sadly. "Hiring a competent and trustworthy escort," he glared briefly at a few mercenaries hooting over the discovery of what appeared to be a full bottle of alcohol. "Takes time and money. Neither of which he could spare if he wished to save his father's business."
"The burglar took everything," said Skie. "I've stolen things before, but I've never…"
"These are harsh and troubled times, Lady Skie," Dorean replied. "You've been in Beregost. You've seen the beggars on its streets."
"Are you actually defending him?" Skie replied, her voice rising. Dorean blinked, but otherwise remained calm.
"Have you ever been destitute, my lady?" he asked, his voice still soft.
"Have you?" Skie retorted.
Dorean's face dropped, all tenderness and sympathy gone, and a hardness formed in his grey eyes that suddenly made him look not unlike Montaron. The noblewoman flinched under his gaze. Her eyes darted to Ajantis who suddenly regretted following Xzar's advice to approach her.
"You don't agree with him, do you?"
Dorean turned a stony gaze onto him. Ajantis' eyes darted to his, to Skie and then to the bodies. "I…"
"Little brother?"
Everyone blinked and looked up to see Imoen standing behind Dorean. "Here," she said, holding out a full water-skin. The dwarf hesitated before taking it.
"Thanks," he said softly. Ajantis blinked, then looked over at the spring where Imoen had apparently filled the water-skin.
Why didn't he fill it himself?
The pink-clad girl smiled, patted Dorean's hair as the latter drank, and then looked up at Skie. "We don't have any food. Does Safana have any more?"
"No," Skie answered harshly. She hesitated under Imoen's innocent gaze and then lowered her head. "I am sorry. We should have thought to buy some in Beregost."
"We need to be better prepared next time," said Dorean, securing the water-skin to his belt. "We can't rely on Kagain for every-"
He stopped, looking past Imoen. Ajantis followed his gaze to see Kagain approaching them.
"Hey!" the mercenary yelled, drawing looks from everyone nearby (including Montaron) as he pointed a fat finger at Skie. "Gimme that!"
"Wh-what?" Skie exclaimed, looking down at the amulet in her hand. Gritting his teeth, Ajantis moved to block Kagain's way.
"Ajantis," Dorean said loudly. The squire stopped, and the dwarf gave a single shake of his head. Ajantis' jaw clenched as Kagain stomped past him, snatched the amulet from Skie's hand, then turned and stomped back without another word. Ajantis' fists clenched at his sides as the mercenary started to harangue his men.
"Hey! What the hell are ya doin'?! Put that bottle down before I brain ya with it!"
"Mutton-mongering riff-raff," Imoen muttered.
"You should get back to the others," said Dorean. Skie glared at him, and he calmly returned her gaze. After a long moment, she turned on her heel towards the spring. Dorean and Imoen watched her go before looking at Ajantis. The paladin paused for a moment, then slowly stepped up to the bodies, lowered his head and closed his eyes.
He heard their footsteps and felt their presence as the duo joined him in prayer.
Vigilant One, guide these innocent souls to the afterlife they have earned.
And…give me the strength to protect the two souls next to me.
..
Kagain gave the order to resume travel after only an hour'srest, despite the past eight hours' travel with no food and the added risk of an ambush at night.
Jaheira did not protest, instead voicing the need to reach Nashkel as soon as possible, and Ajantis bit down on the urge to argue with her again. Instead, he glared daggers at the back of Kagain's helmet as the mercenary leader again took the lead.
The Dented Shields muttered and grumbled under their breaths, though none of them dared voice their grievances aloud. More than a few complaints were directed the party's way. A grim atmosphere settled over the party, and even Imoen was quiet as she walked beside Dorean.
Garrick alone seemed to retain his spirits, despite Kagain again forbidding any music, and more than a few people jumped when he suddenly proclaimed, "We are now in Amn. Nashkel is not far now."
Dorean frowned and looked around. "Shouldn't there be an Amnian outpost, then?"
"There isn't," Ajantis answered. "Not yet, at least. But there may be lookouts in the area."
"There are," Khalid replied. "And they've seen us."
Ajantis' brow furrowed, and he looked back to the front to see a rising cloud of dust in the distance.
"Horses," said Khalid. "A lot of them."
"Alright, halt!" Kagain's voice shouted from the front of the column. "Boys, ya know the drill! You!" He pointed back at the party. "Stay where ya are an' do not move!"
Ajantis looked around at the party and groaned when he saw that the halfling Montaron had disappeared again.
"Could you not control your partner?" he asked Xzar. The wizard lowered his head, obscuring his face in shadow. Ajantis stared at him for a moment before turning back.
The first thing he saw before the horsemen came into view was the standard of Athkatla, barely visible in the moonlit sky. He then counted five rows of ten cavalry, the first three armed with wooden lances and the remaining two carrying bows.
The rear-most two rows of lance-wielders broke off from the leading one, riding forward to either side of the party and mercenaries.
When the sounds of their hoofs had stopped, one of the soldiers from the leading row rode forward, stopping several paces in front of Kagain. His eyes narrowed at Xzar's obvious green robes for a moment before he spoke.
"I know of you, mercenary, but not of them! What business do they have in Amn?"
"Who the hell are you?" Kagain retorted. The officer stiffened, and Ajantis held his breath.
"I am Captain Bardolan of the Amnian army, and I say again, who are these people with you?"
"We are to meet with Nashkel's mayor, Berrun Ghastkill," Jaheira answered. "Commander Brage can vouch for us."
Bardolan's face went blank, along with the faces of all his men. Kagain's eyes narrowed, and he stepped forward towards Bardolan's horse. "Where the hell is Brage?"
Bardolan did not answer. Kagain growled and moved closer. Lances and bows were levelled.
"Captain Bardolan!" Ajantis shouted. Kagain stopped and turned around to glare at him. "I am Ajantis Ilvarstarr, squire paladin to the Radiant Heart! I passed through Nashkel last Eleint with eleven others. I give you my word that my companions mean no harm to you or the people of Nashkel."
The Amnian officer gazed quietly at Ajantis, his expression still devoid of emotion. Ajantis maintained eye contact, his own expression calm and resolute.
After a moment, Bardolan turned around and rode back to his men. Several long seconds passed, during which Ajantis saw Dorean glancing at the horsemen on either side of the party and mercs.
Bardolan then rode back to them. "Keep your weapons at your sides, and do not stray," he ordered sternly.
As Kagain and his mercenaries began to follow the Amnian soldiers, Ajantis noted with relief that Bardolan seemed to have failed to notice Dorean.
Hopefully, the bounty has not been extended to Amn.
..
They passed through an army encampment composed of dozens of tents and wagons, during which Khalid and Imoen stayed so close to Dorean that they were shoulder-to-hip, then down a wide path with large fields of wheat and barley on either side. Peasants toiled in the fields with wooden tools, one of them cursing loudly when his hoe broke at the head. Ajantis noted that of the cavalry unit escorting them, barely one in three of them had a sword.
People stopped to look at the strangers who clearly were not refugees, and more than a few glares and sneers were directed at the Dented Shields. Kagain glowered but said nothing, his gaze fixed firmly ahead.
Two fields, four animal farms and a small village an hour later, the road climbed up a hill. When the party had followed the soldiers and mercenaries to the top, Garrick ran up in front of Jaheira who was leading the way and swept his arm dramatically.
"Here we are at last! The town of Nashkel!"
Eldoth moved forward with Skie in tow, eliciting a scowl from Jaheira and glare from Khalid as he passed by them. He looked down at the buildings situated along the river, almost all of which were only a single story tall save for what appeared to be a temple in a cemetery in the centre of town and a large manor to the far east.
He then looked at Garrick and raised an eyebrow.
"...alright," Garrick said slowly, lowering his arm. "So it's not as impressive as Beregost. But there's still-"
"We are not here to be impressed," said Jaheira.
"J-Jaheira…" said Khalid. Jaheira ignored him, turning to Dorean and Imoen.
"Stay close to us."
"Yes, Jaheira," Dorean replied.
"Yes, Mom," said Imoen. Dorean growled and elbowed her. Jaheira frowned down at them.
The party made its way down the hill, then crossed a large stone bridge, the two ten-men rows of lance-wielding cavalry falling behind due to the lack of space. Ajantis looked up at the first building on their left. Despite the lateness of the hour, light shone from within, illuminating the area all around it.
The Northern Light. Reis Kensiddar still lives in fear of the dark. Not that I can blame him.
Soldiers patrolled up and down the town's only street in groups of ten. As before, Kagain and his men received less-than-welcoming looks that they returned in kind, while the party received a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, though Ajantis noticed more than a few looks of a different kind being directed at both Safana and Eldoth. He frowned at them walking on either side of and holding hands with Skie.
I know I should be focused on protecting Dorean, but…
His thoughts were derailed at the sight of the temple of Helm overlooking the cemetery, the symbol of the eye and gauntlet engraved on its doors and windows.
"Mayor Ghastkill!" Bardolan called. Ajantis followed the officer's gaze to a lean, grey-haired figure dressed in simple garments of brown and light-green. It was standing in front of a large tombstone, and turned around at Bardolan's voice.
"That's the mayor?" Skie whispered, blinking in surprise as the elf – who was barely taller than Imoen – walked up to the Amnian captain.
"Hush, my love," said Eldoth. Skie pouted at him but obeyed, falling silent.
"These people claim to have business with you," said Bardolan. "That one there," he pointed at Ajantis. "Says he's of the Radiant Heart -"
"I know them," Ghastkill said curtly. "Leave us."
Bardolan blinked, opened his mouth to reply, then closed it and nodded. "Yes, sir." He looked at the Dented Shields and then at the party before riding past them.
As Bardolan led his men back the way they had come, Ajantis heard him mutter, "Stinkin' elf," over the sound of the horses' hoofs.
Unescorted at last, the party and mercenaries looked upon Nashkel's mayor. Ghastkill's brown eyes moved from person to person, lingering on Jaheira, Khalid, Kagain, Ajantis, Xzar and…Montaron.
Ajantis blinked repeatedly as his mind registered that the halfling had again reappeared, right after Bardolan's unit had left them.
"Come," said Ghastkill. He turned and headed down the street. Jaheira began to lead the party, then stopped abruptly when she saw that none of the Dented Shields had moved due to their leader; Kagain was staring straight at the tombstone Ghastkill was earlier standing in front of.
"Captain?" said Lene.
Without a word, the dwarf turned and marched after Ghastkill. Khalid looked at him, then at the tombstone, and his face fell. Ajantis looked at it as well, and his heart froze as he read the words inscribed on it.
Aletha, Hilda, Magreth and Svein.
Commander Brage's family.
..
"This is his home?" Skie said, looking from the manor across the river in the distance to the cabin in front of them. "I thought…"
"He is a ranger, Skie," replied Eldoth. "He has little use for luxury."
"Well, well," said Safana. "Berrun Ghastkill grows more interesting by the minute."
Dismissing the soldiers standing outside the cabin's front door, Ghastkill turned around to face the party and mercenaries. "You, and you," he pointed with two fingers at the half-elves and Zhents. "Inside." His eyes fell on Ajantis, and after a few seconds' hesitation, he pointed at him as well. "You too."
"And me," Kagain growled, stepping forward and meeting Ghastkill's narrowed eyes with a fierce glare.
"He's fine," said Montaron. Ghastkill looked at the halfling, then at Kagain who continued to glare at him. A moment passed before the mayor nodded once and began to turn back toward the door.
"Them too," Xzar said non-chalantly, pointing at Dorean and Imoen.
The elven mayor glared at him, took one look at the dwarf and girl, and shook his head.
"WHAT?!" the wizard screeched, puffing up and his every hair seeming to stand on end. "Madam Harpy, back me on this!"
Jaheira narrowed her eyes at Xzar before turning to Ghastkill. "They are under our protection, and-"
"My answer is no," the mayor interrupted, his lips drawing into a thin line.
"Please, mayor," said Safana, stepping forward. "What harm would it do to hear them out?"
Ghastkill glared at her. So did Jaheira, for some reason. After a moment, however, the mayor turned back to the half-elf and folded his arms.
"The dwarf is Gorion's foster child," Jaheira said quickly. Ghastkill's eyes widened as he looked back at Dorean. "The girl is his sister. They are both under our direct protection." She hesitated. "And the Zhents'."
Ghastkill stared at the Candlekeep siblings, both of whom stood quietly with Imoen's arm around Dorean's shoulders (and crossbow). A long moment passed, during which the ranger's eyes darted from them to the Zhents and Harpers.
"The rest will wait outside," he said at last.
As Jaheira and Khalid led Dorean and Imoen into the cabin with Montaron following behind, Ajantis caught Safana's eye as he passed her. She gave him a smile and nod.
He walked up to the door, then turned and waited for Xzar to enter. For some reason, the wizard glanced at Safana with half-lidded eyes before moving to and entering the cabin.
..
Ajantis had never been inside the mayor's home before. Its interior, lit by a chimneyed fireplace in the far wall, was little different from other hunting cabins he had visited; a spacious kitchen and dining area with a doorway leading to a bedroom.
Moving to a dining table big enough for eight people, Ghastkill ignored the chairs, instead turning around and sitting on the table's edge. Folding his arms across his chest again, he glowered across the room at the party bunched up in the entranceway.
"My summons was urgent. And you are nine days late."
"Berrun -" said Jaheira.
"You see the graves? Do you know how many were made in the past week alone?"
"Seventeen, at least," said Xzar. Everyone glared at him. "What? He asked!"
"I want an explanation," the elf snarled, his eyes flashing in the dim firelight. "Now."
Jaheira hesitated, exchanged a look with Khalid, then stepped forward. "We were delayed because-"
"'Cos of me," said Kagain, stomping forward to stand beside Jaheira. "They came ta me in Beregost, hired me ta be their guide in the mines. An' ta guard him." He jerked a thumb back at Dorean. "An' cos I've been havin' troubles of my own – thanks fer refusin' to help me back then, by the way - I got 'em to escort a caravan fer me as payment. From Beregost ta Baldur's Gate. That's why they were sodding delayed. Got a problem with that, elfy?"
Silence fell on the cabin like a sword. The look that Ghastkill gave Kagain could have cut glass, while Jaheira and Khalid both looked as though they were trying to set Kagain on fire by their collective gaze alone. Ajantis himself felt tempted to punch the dwarf, barely restraining himself as he spoke again.
"But it ain't all my fault we got here so late." He jerked his thumb at Dorean again. "Entar Silvershield's convinced this little shit's the one who whacked his son Gunnhallur. His sodding pal Eltan's got the Fist on him like dogs after a bone. They stole my contracts, my headquarters an' my money, an' have been houndin' us day an' sodding night fer the last four days. So please, mister mayor, sir, pardon us just a tiny little bit for being GODS DAMN SODDING DELAYED!"
The second silence felt like a hammer. Kagain stood still, breathing heavily through his beard. Ghastkill did not move a muscle.
"Was my idea to hire him," said Montaron. Ajantis looked down and blinked as the halfling strode forward, past the dining table where Ghastkill was seated, and into the kitchen. "He knows Nashkel an' the mines." Walking over to a string of sausages hanging from a hook on the wall, Montaron reached up and plucked the one on the end. "If he proves he ain't worth all the trouble, I'll kill him an' his men meself." He turned around and met Ghastkill's eyes, biting into the sausage. "Fair enough?"
Kagain went very still, left hand clenching into a fist and the fingers of his right hand twitching next to his axe. Ajantis slowly reached for his sword.
"Mayor," said Dorean, hurriedly stepping forward. "Jaheira and Xzar's missions are mine as well. I am prepared to do whatever I can to help. Please consider me at your disposal during our stay here."
"And me as well," Imoen said without hesitation, stepping behind and placing her hands on Dorean's shoulders. There was a moment's pause. "Even though we don't know what the mission is. What is it, anyway?"
Everyone looked at her, even Montaron. Slowly, Dorean raised his head to look at Imoen as well.
Jaheira then turned back to Ghastkill. "I presume it has to do with the tainted ore?"
The mayor was quiet for a long moment, the silence broken by Montaron loudly plucking another sausage. He then stood up off the table, turned around and leaned forward, placing his hands on it.
"It's gotten worse. People in the mines – the workers and guards…they have been killed."
"By who?" asked Khalid. Ghastkill lowered his head.
"I don't know. No one does."
"You don't know?" said Kagain.
"When did it start?" Jaheira asked, giving Kagain a scathing look.
"Last month, in early Marpenoth. At first, they disappeared completely, but two weeks ago, bodies started to turn up."
"Did you recover any of them?" asked Xzar. Ghastkill glared over his shoulder at him.
"They are in the cemetery. If you are thinking of…"
"You summoned us, Berrun," Xzar said softly. The mayor glared at him and then looked away.
"Witnesses?" asked Jaheira, not even glancing at the necromancer.
"I don't know," said Ghastkill. "Brage did." He lowered his head again. "He was supposed to meet with you, brief you on what's happened. But…"
"But what?" Kagain growled, stepping forward.
"He…" Ghastkill's voice began to shake. "He killed his family."
"What?!" Ajantis yelled. Dorean's head spun around to look at him.
"Them and seven others."
"No," Ajantis breathed. "No, it's not possible, why would he..."
"When?" said Khalid, his voice and face like granite. Ghastkill lifted his head to look into the fire.
"Nine days ago."
"The same day we were supposed to arrive," Xzar said in a loud whisper. Montaron's eyes narrowed.
"Ye think that…"
"It is possible," Xzar answered. "Berrun, it will not be wise to trust anyone in Nashkel. Save ourselves."
Everyone looked at him. The looks on the half-elves' faces could have melted steel. Ghastkill finally turned around, leaning back against the table.
"Madman's right," Kagain said, his voice low and grim. "I'm the one ruinin' the iron an' killin' the miners, I'd go after Brage first. Everyone knows he's the real reason this place has held together. Ya might know all about huntin' an' killin', mayor, but ya don't know nothin' 'bout runnin' a town."
"Enough!" Ajantis bellowed. "You will not insult a grieving man in his own home!"
Kagain's teeth grinded loudly behind his beard, but otherwise he fell silent.
"We have had a long journey, and we must rest," Jaheira said loudly. "We will begin our investigation in the morning."
Ghastkill looked at her for a long moment, then nodded.
"If you learn or remember anything, you can find or leave messages for us at the Northern Light." Jaheira turned to Dorean and Imoen. "Come."
"Wait."
The party stopped and turned back to Ghastkill. The elf slowly turned his head to look directly at Montaron.
"As long as you are here to help, you will be treated well. But I expect no treachery from you. Crisis or no crisis."
Montaron stared back at him, black eyes dead and emotionless in the dim light of the fire.
He then turned, plucked a third sausage, and strode past the party out the door.
..
"Are you sure he is here?" Kivan asked a third time.
"Yes, servant, yes! Stop questioning Tiax and keep searching!"
Glowering at the gnome and wincing from the pain in his leg, Kivan used his halberd to turn over the prone form of a gnoll, revealing the arrow he had shot into its throat. He pulled it out, grimaced upon seeing that the arrowhead had broken off, and made a quick search of the beast's belongings. When it yielded nothing, he gave a frustrated growl.
About fifteen paces away, a gnoll lay on its back, deep slash-marks from a ghast's claws bleeding from its chest into the mud. Its wheezing, ragged breathes intensified and its eyes widened in terror as two of the nightmarish creatures loomed over it, maws extended in eagerness for still-warm flesh.
An arrow pierced the gnoll's right eye, nearly passing all the way through the skull. The ghasts' heads snapped towards Kivan who swiftly nocked and aimed another arrow as they hissed and screeched in rage.
"STOP," Tiax shouted. Everyone froze, though Kivan kept his bow trained on the ghasts. The gnome pointed, and Kivan's eyes followed his finger to what appeared to be a small burlap sack on the ground.
It twitched.
Frowning, Kivan went over, favoring his bad leg, and picked it up, whereupon it started to thrash. Unperturbed, he undid the string, reached inside, and pulled out a very rumpled chicken. The bird gave a deafening squawk upon seeing him, legs kicking and wings flailing in the elf's one-handed grip. Kivan stared unblinking at it, then looked at Tiax who now appeared to be distracted with another of the gnoll corpses.
Its feathery chest rapidly puffing up and down, the chicken followed Kivan's gaze, took one look at the ghasts, and promptly fainted. The elf ignored it, limping over to Tiax.
"This is Melicamp?" he demanded, holding out the unconscious animal close to the gnome's face.
"Yes," Tiax replied without looking up. "A spell gone wrong."
Kivan looked at him, at the chicken, and then stuffed the latter back into the sack. "We go back to High Hedge."
"No," said Tiax, still not looking up. Kivan blinked and then glared down at him.
"No?"
"We go south," the gnome said softly. "We go south now."
"What? Why?" Kivan demanded.
Picking something from the dead gnoll, Tiax then held it up to Kivan. He hesitated, looking at the gnome's impassive, bearded face, before looking down at Tiax's open hand.
Strands of fur. He leaned closer and sniffed.
…hamster?
"We go south," said Tiax, his voice barely above a whisper. "Before it is too late."