Chapter 17: Special
It was a dull grey morning, as the party travelled towards Thunderhammer's smithy. They were passing the local manor when a young woman poked her head out from behind a wooden crate.
The first thing Charmane registered about the girl, was the brightness of her short, pink hair, and the elf-like ears protruding out of them. Charmane had spent countless hours scouring the books in Candlekeep for a way to achieve such a vibrant hue for Imoen, but had only managed a modest auburn shade. The elf's pink defied norms, as did the plumpness of her face that stood in sharp contrast to her otherwise malnourished body. The rogue couldn't put a finger on it, but something about the girl seemed unusual.
"You! HEY, YOU! Yes, you. I don't see anybody else around here. A little help, please?" Charmane's eyebrows shot up in surprise as the girl's sudden demand reached her ears. The brashness in her tone and the foreignness of her accent, left her momentarily speechless.
She snapped herself out of it as the girl made her way towards her. "Keep your distance, girl!" Charmane exclaimed. "Who are you, and help with what?"
"Listen, I'd love to give you a really long and detailed explanation of what's going on but—" the girl began, impatiently. "Oh, look!" she exclaimed, pointing behind Charmane, her tone laced with irritation. "We're out of time."
Two wizards, flanked by two fighters, came around a bend. The robes worn by the mages, bore a striking resemblance to the red and gold that Edwin so proudly adorned.
Charmane quickly leaned towards Edwin, her voice barely a whisper. "Do you know these people?" she asked, her eyes darting between him and the approaching figure.
Edwin rolled his eyes, annoyance evident in his voice. "Oh, of course, Charmane," he hissed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Because I have nothing better to do than memorise the names and faces of every Red Wizard in Thay."
The mage at the forefront was now speaking, his voice tinged with haughtiness and a noticeable nasal quality, "So, you would try to hide from us behind this unfortunate fool?" he asked. "Your cowardice proves as deadly as your reckless magic."
"You there!" he called out, his gaze fixed on Charmane. "Step aside and surrender the elf."
"Half-elf!" the girl interjected indignantly.
Despite the tense situation, the rogue couldn't help but wryly recall the princess plays Imoen used to rope her into enacting when she was little. She and the other girls would fantasise about being exotic half-elven beauties, each with some unique quality that set them apart from the rest. The urchin before her, with her bright pink hair, was almost the embodiment of Imoen's childhood fantasies. She wondered what Imoen thought of the girl.
"Surely you wouldn't dare jeopardize your life for a mere stranger?" the mage asked, the threat clear in his tone.
Pulling herself out of her reverie, Charmane responded, nonchalantly "Looks like she's with me now. What can you offer to change that?"
"What can I offer you?" the man repeated, his tone dripping with condescension, "Why, only the most precious reward imaginable: your continued existence."
Charmane let out a weary sigh. "Ah, I truly did not want to entangle myself with this presumptuous half-elf who assumes I would bend over backwards to assist her. However," Charmane's voice took on a playful lilt, "to belittle and threaten me in such a manner, now that's a worse offence."
"If you wish to die for this wild mageling, so be it." The mage replied, haughtily.
"Now hold on a mo-" Edwin began. At the same time a faint whisper escaped the lips of the pink-haired girl. In an instant, the enemy Red Wizard was engulfed in a surge of vibrant colours and vanished.
"Ekandor?" the remaining mage exclaimed, panic creeping into his voice. "Where did they go? We can't let her escape! Slaughter them all, and we'll sort this out once we find him!"
Edwin stepped forward, his stance filled with confidence. "You would dare attack a fellow Wizard of Thay?" he asserted, his words carrying a weight of authority. "Stand down before I smite you and deliver your charred remains to your superiors. In Ekandor's, er, absence, I outrank you all!"
The mage hesitated, his conviction momentarily shaken. "But we're under strict orders to capture that mageling, and... it... I'll get back to you on that! Wait here. We have to find Ekandor!" With a mixture of confusion and urgency, he hastily motioned for his companions to join him in the frantic search for their vanished comrade.
"I am really, really, really, really, really sorry about what just happened," the half-elf apologised, with the fifth 'really' driving home the lack of remorse in her words. "I didn't want to involve you," the girl continued. "But if I hadn't run into you when I did, they'd be elbow deep in my brains right now."
"That's all well and good," Charmane replied, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm, "but custom dictates that you dump a load of gold into my hands."
The girl's expression shifted, a mixture of faux-guilt and uncertainty. "Yeah, about that... I only had a little bit of gold that I borrowed from a friend a few weeks back, and I've spent most of it. But, I can offer you something much more useful!"
Charmane arched an unimpressed eyebrow, silently prompting her to continue.
"My talents! I'm an accomplished mage. I managed to send Ekandor... uh, somewhere. You saw!" The girl's voice trembled with a hint of excitement, as if trying to convince herself of her own abilities.
"Right. With your wild surge," Charmane remarked dryly. She folded her arms across her chest, studying the girl intently. "And what is your wizarding proficiency?"
The girl's confidence faltered for a moment, replaced by a hint of hesitation. "Uh, what does that matter? I learn fast! What do you say? I could really use some new friends."
Charmane's gaze narrowed, her scepticism lingering. "New, you say? What happened to your old ones?" There was a touch of suspicion in her voice.
"I've been running from Red Wizards for months and months, I had to leave them behind!" the girl exclaimed, her words laced with a mixture of fear and determination.
Charmane deliberated for a moment, weighing her options. She finally spoke, her voice laced with caution. "There is space in my party, but it is not a wizard I seek." She paused, her eyes studying the girl's face. "However-"
"I cannot abide this foolishness!" Edwin interjected. "It was one thing to fend off my fellow Red Wizards, but I will not aid this woman when she is the target of my own brethren! If you give shelter to this urchin, I will take my leave of you."
Charmane motioned for Edwin to follow her. Her eyes meeting his with a mixture of concern and determination. She spoke in a low, urgent tone, ensuring their conversation remained private.
"Edwin, I understand your reservations about the girl joining us," Charmane began, "But think about it. She's clearly of value to your people. If they come back for her, you could use that to your advantage."
Edwin's brow furrowed, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity. "What are you suggesting?"
Charmane's eyes glinted slyly as she responded to Edwin's question. "What I'm suggesting, dear Edwin, is a delicate dance of manipulation and opportunity. If you're interested in building rapport with your superiors, you could claim to have captured the girl and kept her in your custody. It would show your loyalty and resourcefulness to the Red Wizards. And who knows, it might even earn you some favours."
She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a sly whisper. "On the other hand, if these Thayan's happen to carry a valuable item of power, one that you'd rather keep for yourself, we could discreetly eliminate them and make it appear as if they never crossed your path at all. It would be a fortuitous turn of events, would it not? With your formidable skills, it will be effortless.
"You, the champion of dirt-smeared serfs, would stoop to such deceitful tactics?" Edwin asked, his eyes flickering with a mix of doubt and begrudging admiration.
"I owe this stranger no loyalty," Charmane stated dismissively, her tone dripping with indifference.
Edwin's lips curled into a sly smile, his skepticism momentarily giving way to a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Ah, Charmane, your wickedness continues to captivate me," he remarked, his voice laced with a mixture of admiration and intrigue. "There is an undeniable allure in your ruthless nature. It is a shame you were not blessed with Thayvian blood." He paused, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "Hmm... an intriguing thought, not entirely far-fetched."
Charmane's playful smirk widened as she met Edwin's gaze. "Oh, Edwin, that's high praise indeed coming from your acerbic tongue," she quipped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "To be compared to the illustrious Thayvians, the epitome of cunning and power, I am truly honoured." She gave him a mock bow, her eyes glinting mischievously. "But fear not, dear Edwin, for even as a lowly barbarian, I shall continue to astound you with my wickedness."
"Touché, my dear," Edwin replied, his tone laced with amusement. "Consider me thoroughly entertained by your barbaric charm." As the realization of the potential benefits settled in, Edwin's voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper. "Very well, my dear. I shall join you in this little charade, and together, revel in the art of manipulation."
Charmane now stood before the half-elf, who introduced herself as Neera. She was wearing sleeveless wine-red robes that hung loosely over her form. The once vibrant hue of the fabric had faded, a testament to its long exposure to the elements. The robes bore signs of wear and tear, their edges frayed and tattered, as if they had weathered countless nights on the streets. Underneath the worn garment, a plain white blouse could be seen, its fabric stained and marked by the hardships of her nomadic existence.
"As I was saying," Charmane stated firmly, her voice brimming with determination. "For your service, I can provide the essentials: food, protection, and basic provisions to sustain you on our journey. However," she continued, preempting Neera's potential objection, "I must make it clear that if your wild magic poses a risk, your involvement in combat will be restricted. Additionally, I cannot guarantee access to magical artifacts or gold."
Neera's brows furrowed, her mouth poised to interject, but Charmane continued without giving her a chance. "Take it or leave it." Charmane declared, her words carrying an air of finality. She locked eyes with the girl, who stood before her with a glum expression, seemingly resigned to the outcome.
As they trailed behind Charmane through the bustling streets of Beregost, Imoen could not help but be captivated by Neera's vibrant and unconventional appearance. Neera's bright pink hair stood out like a wild flame against the backdrop of the mundane world. Imoen's gaze lingered on those bold locks, her own simple auburn seeming dull in comparison. A tinge of envy welled up within her, but she was determined to strike up a conversation with the intriguing newcomer.
Imoen mustered up the courage to approach Neera. "Heya," she called out. "Ye've got quite the fancy hair colour, don't ya? Must be somethin' special to pull off such a unique shade. Wish I could have hair like that."
Neera glanced at Imoen, "Oh, this little thing?" she replied, nonchalantly. "It was just a bit of wild magic. Can't help it if I stand out from the crowd. But I suppose auburn suits you just fine, in its own way."
Imoen's excitement waned slightly, her envy now tinged with a trace of discomfort that left her feeling just a touch smaller. Unwilling to let the conversation sour, Imoen chuckled lightly and continued, "Well, I reckon there's beauty in every shade, ain't there? Guess I'll stick to bein' my own kind of special."
Neera's lips curled into a smile, "Of course, embrace your own special charm. We can't all be wild mages, haha."
Imoen's cheeks flushed, but she refused to let Neera's remark dampen her spirits. "Well, it's a good thing we've got you around, bringin' all that colour into our lives. Keeps things interestin'."
Neera's smile widened, "Oh, I'm happy to be of service. Life would be so dull without a little flair, right?"
Imoen's smiled politely in response as she moved back into formation, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Charmane, walking a few paces ahead, had been silently listening to the conversation. A protective instinct surged within her, her grip tightening on her weapon as a subtle tension settled in. Imoen's innocent admiration had drawn her closer to Neera, but their conversation left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had been duplicitous with Edwin, but if this kept up, she would truly consider opening up both the options she had suggested to the Red Wizard.