Dearest Readers, my thanks as always. May your skies everyday be as blue and clear as the one outside my window. ^_^
THE HIDDEN SWORD: A TALE OF BALDUR'S GATE
Book One : From the Earth | Chapter 6 : Pebbles at the Gate
"S'cuse me! Comin' through!"
It was the only warning she got before something barreled right into her. Wind and the bag of meteorites were knocked out of her lungs and hands, and the sky suddenly filled her field of vision as she sailed backwards before landing on the ground. At least the backpack cushioned her spine from the impact but it left her awkwardly prone upon the pavement.
Like the bugs she used to tip over with a stick, back at home, wriggling and helpless. The elf sighed and resolved to be a bit more compassionate towards little critters.
"Sorry, sir! I mean- miss! Sorry!"
At her side, a little girl on her knees, tousled pink hair a stark contrast with the brownish rags she wore. It took a moment of collecting her wits before she noted the chiseled heart-shaped face smeared with mud and somewhat elongated though rounded ears. A halfling.
"Watch where you're going," Irse huffed as she pulled herself up and struggled to stand. Irritated, the elf patted at her trousers and checked her sleeves, frowning at the patches on her elbows. As if it weren't enough to be showered with the dust of the road, now she was mopping the filthy cobbles of the city.
"I didn't mean to, I was in a hurry," the girl piped meekly. Small hands apologetically dusted at Irse's behind, her back, even her knees.
"No, no. That's enough, really. I'm all right. Just be careful," she said crossly.
"If you say so, ma'am," the halfling chirped before dashing off without another glance.
Well, the kid really seemed to be in a hurry. At least she herself wasn't, given the likely generous hour or more before the third bell. Irse watched the girl scurry away, then put her hands on her hips and stomped one foot to shake off the dust at the side of her shoe. She bent down to pick up the sack of meteorites.
Gone.
The halfling! Irse growled and turned around. Not wasting another moment, she launched herself in the direction where she last saw the kid, pushing roughly through the passersby and ignoring the angry grunts and protests. As she raced through the crowds, Irse jogged and skipped to peer over the moving wall of shoulders. Someone once mentioned she was quite tall for a female elf, even a head above some human women. Yet in this sea of people, zeroing in on something small particularly and the height of a human child, proved desperately difficult.
She finally spotted the halfling, strolling briskly, perhaps seeking new pickings, oblivious that her victim was already in pursuit. Then the little girl suddenly picked up pace, widening the distance between them.
She's getting away. Do something. Perhaps if she called everyone's attention, someone would help her.
"Thief! Stop her! The halfling!"
As expected, the pink-haired girl paused, turned around, mouth gaping in surprise at seeing the elf pointing at her. But as not expected, only a few heads turned, shrugged, then went on with their business. The rest didn't even seem to notice at all!
The halfling's eyes darted around, then seeing the inattention of the crowd, shrugged her shoulders apologetically at Irse, then turned tail and ran.
"Awww! C'mon, folks!" Irse wailed, arms flailing for a moment before she gave chase once more. Unfortunately, the thief was now alert to her, moving faster, nimbly weaving her way through passing pedestrians. The elf did her best to catch up, lungs starting to burn with desperation.
They reached the end of the street, blocked by a parked uncovered wagon clearly intended to close off incoming traffic. The girl dived beneath it, disappearing from the elf's view. Irse finally reached the carriage, checked the underside, circled the perimeter, looked up and around.
An intersection, crowds coming and going in all directions. She whirled around, but saw no sign of the halfling. Panic gnawed at her heart for she knew by the time she had thoroughly checked all possible routes, the thief would surely be gone by then.
Irse glanced at the sky, clear and endless, a flock of gulls sailing overhead. How peaceful their lives must be, the elf mused with envy. Free and far above the mess she found herself in now, to their eyes the world below would have been laid out like a map – everything smaller and seen in a single glance.
Wait.
She snapped out of it and quickly considered something as her gaze swept around her. Why not? The buildings here aren't as tall as the tower back at home – but it should be possible!
No ladder close by, but the wagon to her left already stood against the building, brake lock engaged. Quickly, Irse scrambled for its side, one foot slipping into the hub of the wheel closest to the wall, the other finding purchase on the sideboard allowing her to climb into the wagon bed. She mounted the piled crates, high enough to let her grasp at the eaves. The elf pulled herself over, a silent prayer to whichever god ruled all roofs and shingles in the realms that the carpenters in the Gate were a quarter as good as the ones who built the Keep.
Once fully standing on the rooftop which thankfully didn't slant as sharply as the houses in the village back at home, Irse cast a quick sweeping glance at the entire street in all directions then crossed over the mid ridge to do the same for the one on her right. The halfling and her pink hair was still nowhere in sight.
Now to get to the rooftops across the street, to her left. She scooted over to where the wagon was parked only to find it being pushed away by several men.
The elf gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, hurled an imaginary stone at the wagon, then sighed. Of course, it shouldn't be impossible to climb down even without a ladder, but she just wished the world could smile on her today and the things in her path either not be in the way, or at least be a way.
The roof stood two stories high. She could try lowering herself by the edge to get closer to the ground, then jump down, hopefully without breaking a leg. Irse had crouched down when a familiar furry little form scurried along the eaves and towards her. Remembering the last encounter, the elf politely got up to give it room to pass. Her eyes followed the rat as it scampered away in the direction from where she came.
Several feet away, the rat then turned to its right and casually crossed a stone buttress which spanned the street below, connecting with one of the buildings directly across her.
Just like a small bridge.
Without wasting another moment, Irse dashed over to the buttress, stopping at its edge. Too narrow for human passage for which it was not built, but wide enough for two feet to stand on. Well then, if it could hold a well-fed rat several times in a day, then it should hold a starving elf once.
She placed one foot upon it. Slowly? No, not enough time. One deep breath and she began the crossing, arms raised to the sides to steady herself.
A quarter of the way, someone yelled, "Get down from there!" followed by, "Crazy kid!"
"Sorry!" Irse replied, out of reflex. The next step wobbled and she immediately crouched down to grasp at the sides. Don't stop! The tower at home was much higher than this! You can't let her get away!
Brows furrowed with determination, the elf got up, quickened her pace and emptied her mind with everything except for the end of the pathway. As she did, a sense of knowing came upon her, each footfall assured by a natural rhythm. Swift yet steady, the body instinctively balancing itself, the narrow buttress becoming a sure path beneath her feet. Before she knew it, she was already on the roof of the other building.
No time to celebrate, though. Irse crossed over the mid ridge and scanned the other street. Again, no sign of the halfling. Wherever she has gone, the little scamp would certainly be hiding now in some hole, gloating over the stolen prize. A sack of rocks. Her sack of rocks.
The double sting of losing something so rare and valuable, and losing to a street urchin goaded her to keep looking. But she was so tired. And hungry. In an hour they will be leaving anyway; the thought of food and Okami waiting for her brought a measure of comfort. And a trip through the river! She had never been on a riverboat – certainly not as grand as the seafaring galleons she had read about, but still it was something and at least not as dangerous. And a boat would be equivalent to a roof over the head at night. And getting fed.
Irse settled herself by the edge, retying her hair and tightening the string. From her perch, she could now see all the way to the Docks, confirming the directions from the stall owner. She could at least sit down for a moment, enjoy the view and catch her breath.
As she waited, her eyes idly watched the people below go about their business. Several minutes went by, and then from behind a pile of barrels not too far, pink hair and brown rags emerged, furtively looking sideways.
The elf saw and tensed, edging away slightly to keep from being seen. The halfling appeared relieved, finally venturing out and squatting at the dirty pavement. Her little head perked up at apparent interest at the sight of a small group walking by. Not richly dressed yet clean, likely servants or artisans with at least a coin pouch on their person. The halfling slowly stood up, eyes locked onto her new targets. The elf did the same. Quietly and quickly, Irse walked briskly ahead of the group's direction. Right away, the roof sloped down to a storey's height as the adjoining building was much lower. Low enough now for the elf to climb down without a ladder.
Once standing again on the street, she strolled up to the approaching troop, then stopped as they streamed past her. Sure enough, the little thief had followed them in another attempt. The halfling bumped into her again, but this time, the elf remained standing.
"Hey," Irse greeted, though unfriendly.
The little girl squeaked and turned around to flee but was quickly caught by the elf's much longer and determined reach. The halfling struggled and hugged the sack to her body as Irse worked to pry it off.
"Lemme' go you stupid pointy-ears or I swears I'll cut you!" the halfling girl threatened.
Irse smirked. "Want me to put you down so you can say that to my knee?"
The elf tightened her embrace despite the desperate squirming. "Look, kiddo! I don't have time for this! Give me back my stuff now!" she said.
"I didn't steal it! You tossed it anyway; I just picked it up! Finder's keepers!"
"Because you pushed me on purpose, you thieving little - !"
"Did someone say thief?"
Both girls paused, the halfling's legs suddenly limp and dangling. Two human Flaming Fist mercenaries, a man and a woman, approached them, steel greaves clanking on the cobblestones.
At the sight of the armored humans, the halfling began to tremble. "Oh no! The Fist!" she whispered, frightened.
Irse loosened her hold and let the girl stand on her own, keeping one hand firmly gripped on her collar. However, small fingers grasped at the elf's waist, tiny desperate anchors. A quick glance at the halfling's face and Irse saw terror in the childlike eyes.
The elf sighed and made a decision.
"What's going on here with you two?" the female guard snapped.
"Nothing… nothing, ma'am. We're just… playing a game."
"Aww yeah? What kind o' game?" the male guard drawled.
Irse blinked. "Uh… Fists and Thieves?"
The two guards exchanged looks. "I'll wager a guess," the woman said as she pointed at the elf. "You're the Fist and the halfling's the thief?"
"Oh? Oh, yes. Yes! That's right. See here, I even got my own pretend sword," Irse answered brightly, pulling the bokken out of her pack. The halfling's eyes widened at the sight of the carved weapon.
"Just like what you folks get – what do you call it? Standard issue," the elf added, a little too eagerly, recalling the Watchers talking about their gear. The two Fist guards cast an appraising eye at the toy blade.
"Not bad. But don't be showing that to the Grand Dukes or they might be getting ideas for what's standard issue," the woman remarked dryly, eyes rolling.
"Yeah. Always tellin' us they be pinchin' pennies now. How 'bout the Lady Duke herself go pinch my arse an' call it a pay," the man said. Both guards guffawed while elf and halfling each contributed a forced chuckle.
"Say… aren't you too old to be playing games, elf?" the female mercenary suddenly asked, eyes narrowing.
Irse stiffened. "What do you mean, ma'am?"
Instead, the second guard answered, "Naaww, you know, you elves always be lookin' like fresh sprouts in our eyes; but you - ehh, we can tell you're really a three-hundred year-old gran'ma."
"Me? A G- Grandma?!" the elf stammered incredulously. Beside her, the halfling sniggered.
The first guard waved a dismissive hand. "Well, well, whatever makes your kind feel young again. Just play quietly and stay out of trouble."
The second guard gave her a mock salute and the two resumed their patrols. The elf glared with narrowed eyes at the back of the helmed heads.
"Hey."
Irse turned around and caught the sack thrown at her. Hurriedly, she untied the string and checked the contents – all four still intact. She exhaled with relief.
The halfling rubbed her nose as she stepped up closer. "I didn't look in yet. What you got there anyways you'd want it back so badly?"
The elf let her peek into the sack to see the meteorites.
"Sheesh! Just a bunch of dumb ugly rocks?"
Irse opened her mouth to correct the little girl but decided otherwise.
"Yes, rocks."
"Oh! So magical elf rocks. Do they go boom? Maybe glow like a lamp? Or how 'bout they take you places – whaddya call it? Terpol-? Terpolltashun—"
"Teleportation. No, they don't do any of those things."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. They're just ordinary rocks." Well, not entirely untrue. Perhaps among the whole bunch of meteorites in space up there, these one's were the most ordinary, got bored from floating around the spheres and decided to sneak out of the quiet and vast grandness of the stars and into the loud, cramped, and grimy world that is Toril. Story of her life.
"You mean you went through all that trouble just to get back a bunch of rocks?"
Irse shot her a smug look. "No, you went through all that trouble just to steal a bunch of rocks."
Never mind the desperate chase, the unhelpful people, the wagon climb, the roof walking, and the fly crossing that could've been a fall and a broken neck.
Annoyed, the halfling girl pouted, crossed her arms and looked away. Curiosity, however, eventually overrode all offenses taken for no more than a second had passed when the girl sidled up to her.
"Soooo… what you gonna do with 'em anyways?"
"I don't know." Truth. Irse picked out one and gazed at it solemnly. "It's a met-, I mean, a nice ordinary rock. Maybe give it for a present to someone important to me?"
"Like who? Your boooyfriend? Who's the lucky grandpa? Trade it for a kissy-kissy mwah-mwah from 'im?" The halfling needled and made smooching noises.
The elf nearly dropped the meteorite. "What? Ew, no, gross! How could you even think that? You're only what -eight years old? Ten?"
The pink-haired girl stuck out her tongue in triumph. "Ha ha! Wrongsies! I just turned eighteen this spring. That how you elf grannies see all the not-old folks? Like big walking babies?"
Irse jokingly aimed the meteorite at the girl who flinched but giggled. The elf ranted, "I am not a grandma. I'm even younger than you. I'm only fift- "
A loud gurgling noise suddenly cut the air between them. The halfling jumped and exclaimed, "Tymora's toes! What is that? Sounds like a giant king toad ate a hive of gassy swamp bees then fell right into our sink plumbin'!"
Irse grinned sheepishly and rubbed her tummy. "Thaaat would be my stomach. I'd buy myself something but I got robbed earlier too."
"Aaaww! That's terrible," the little girl exclaimed in genuine sympathy. She grabbed the elf by the hand. "Well, come on now! Let's get you somethin' to eat. Mama wouldn't let anyone go a day without a bite, and I shouldn't too. I knows a place cheap but tasty here in the Lower City."
Before Irse could object, she found herself being pulled headlong through the crowds.
"What's your name, elfie?" the halfling yelled over her shoulders.
"Me? Irse. You?"
"Keep up, Irse! Unless your rocks can do the teleportie thingie," the girl answered back, her eager little legs scampering excitedly. Meanwhile the elf half-ran, half-stumbled, unable to pry herself from the tiny iron grip on her hand.
"But I got to get to the East Docks! Someone's waiting for me there!"
"Don't worry. Just a quick bite and I'm takin' you there myself."
Soon they arrived at a street that had more food stands than the others. Her mouth and eyes watered at the savory smoke from different roasting meats mingling with the garlicky aroma of those frying on pans. They passed by one kiosk, close enough for her keen nose to catch the crisp scent of freshly sliced fruits on clotted cream while the next one embraced her with the buttery sweetness of freshly baked rolls. The elf briefly closed her eyes. The smell of the kitchens at the Keep. Home.
"This is the place I was tellin' you."
It was a stall selling meat buns, so it said on a painted wooden sign. Bartha's Meat Buns. Customers picked their choice of greasy deep-fried buns from the pile on the counter and handed their coins to the hawker, a middle-aged woman with a squashed nose and jowly cheeks.
"Heya, Missus B."
"Alora! Ya li'l punk. Where'd ya get yer grubby paws into now?" Bartha hollered.
"Nowhere, Missus B.! See, my paws're clean today! You're not tellin' Mama anything this time!" the halfling girl chirped as she proudly held up both hands. "Could me an' my pal have a couple?"
"So you can run off like a thievin' li'l mouse without payin' again? Hah."
Alora quickly pushed Irse in front of her. "Of course not. I'm with an elf here. An' you know elves are honest an' honorable, right? And rich from havin' so many magical thingies."
"I don't have any money, remember?" Irse hissed through half-open lips.
"Sssh. Just play along."
"Ah, yes, Madam Bartha." Gods, this isn't going to work. "By my honor as the Lady, eh, Flower... Flowermoon. Yes! My name is Lady Flowermoon, none other and true and surely not made-up?"
Irse heard a tiny smack, Alora facepalming behind her for sure.
"As I said, no, swear," the elf continued, a haughty finger raised to go with the feigned, high-pitched pompousness. "By my honor as the honest and honorable, and wealthy Lady Flowermoon, we shall surely compensate you handsomely in exchange for these delicacies. For you see, I, uh, travelled far from my very elven homeland in search of the most delicious meat bun in all of the realms. And now our kind little friend here..." Irse said with gritted teeth while roughly mousing Alora's hair. The halfling yelped and glowered up at her.
"... has boasted that yours is the finest in this city. Perhaps you would permit us a sample to test her claims?"
Irse looked down at the halfling and grinned, eyebrows raised expectantly for approval. It does pay to bury one's nose in epic tales instead of boring philosophy treatises. Alora shot her an unimpressed look.
Bartha rubbed one jowl as she eyed the elf from head to toe. "Hmmm... ne'er had an elf talk to me before. Just as foppish as I thought yer kind would be," the woman said. "Fine. Ye can have one each."
Alora gleefully swiped six buns from the counter and handed three of them to the elf.
"Oi! I said two. Now that'll be thirty coppers total."
Alora wagged a finger. "Wait, Missus B. If the Lady Floppieboon -"
"Flowermoon, I think," Irse corrected in a whisper.
"... Flummerwoon likes it, then she'll give you, er, thirty gold pieces instead of coppers."
The hawker's eyes gleamed at the mention of gold. Her jowls shook, mouth about to say something when she was interrupted by knocking at the other end of the counter. A handful of impatient and hungry customers had already gathered. The woman grunted and waved at them before turning again to the two girls.
"Ye two an' yer gold stay right there," she barked at them before hauling herself off the stool to waddle over to the waiting buyers.
"Don't worry 'bout it, Mama keeps a tab for me with Missus B. What're you waiting for? Dig in. Oh, you already did?" Alora's eyes widened at seeing two of the buns gone and the third one already halfway into the elf's mouth. As soon as the last piece was fully devoured, she quickly offered one of hers to Irse who took the bun with thanks and wasted no time tearing through it as well.
"Golly, you're really hungry aren't you?"
"You have no idea. I had fish stew that some man was selling at the docks; whole thing tasted more like water in a mop bucket than fish."
"Oh, that? Yeah, they say he gets his broth water from under the piers. The fish from all the bits the other fishers cut off from their catch and toss in the river; that's why it's so cheap."
Irse suddenly paled, wanting to hurl, but still she took the last bite and swallowed just the same. Wouldn't do to waste food especially when it's free. Something scratched at her inner cheek and she picked it out with a finger.
"They were really nice but… ugh. Pig bristle." Though it was suspiciously long for pig bristle. "Please tell me this isn't what I think it is," she begged, wagging the whisker-like piece.
"Relax, it ain't rat. Well, this time."
Good to hear. Wait, what did she meant by "this time"?
"Rabbit?" Please, be rabbit. Please, be rabbit.
"We sure ain't in a cabbage patch are we? Naw, it's just cat."
"Oh." Cat. Cat!
"This is cat meat?" Irse screamed.
Bartha and the customers whirled around and stared at them. One of the men eating suddenly looked ill.
"Whaddya yappin' on there elf? Ya really one o' those damned health inspectors, aren't ya? I paid yer boss good coin fer this year's permit," Bartha yelled as she waddled back to their side of the counter, wielding a smoking rusty frying pan still dripping with recently used days-old grease.
Alora grabbed Irse by the hand and tugged. "Uh-oh! She's mad again. We gotta' bail. Now!"
The pair hightailed it out of the street, diving into the crowds, Irse following the halfling as she wiped at her mouth with her sleeve. Soon enough, they were within the familiar sight of unfurled sails and gulls soaring low. They stopped to catch their breath, laughing in between gasps for air.
"You know, I feel bad for Bartha. I don't want her to close shop, it's her living after all, but she ought to find something better to put in those buns."
"Naw, don't worry 'bout Missus B. Folks always say that of her buns, but we all come back for more anyways," Alora assured her. "An' besides, maybe it really ain't kitty meat. Maybe the alley cats just got into the pork and lost a whisker there."
"But… that's just as bad," Irse said, scowling as she remembered the strict rules on cleanliness that governed the Keep's kitchens. She looked at the river ships still docked at the pier. "I need to go now. Thanks for the bite and for bringing me here."
Alora beamed and rubbed her nose. "And thanks, 'cause you didn't me in. Sure wish I could take you to my place instead but with that stomach of yours, I doubt Mama would ever let you leave."
The two exchanged goodbyes and high-fives. Irse watched the halfling walk away, briefly seeing a vision of the girl she left behind at Candlekeep, younger but just as cheerful and sprightly. She smiled and turned around to look for Shar-Teel's boat.
Except, she couldn't remember the ship's name, which she couldn't even read in the first place. Ah well, she could just ask around.
The bell tolled, and the elf counted three peals and panicked. They're about to leave! But which of the many ships – and some already disengaging from the pier – was it? She hugged both pack and sack of meteorites and blazed down the walkway. One ship had its plank being pulled back. It must be them!
"Stop! Wait for me!"
The plank paused and the elf leaped at it, crossed the length in one bound, and she was in the boat. Her Teacher and the Captain stood at the deck, their backs turned to her while gazing at the horizon.
"Gods! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I got lost and robbed and everything. I promise I won't be late again," she pleaded while wheezing, genuinely contrite and ashamed.
The blacksmith and captain turned around.
"Wait, you're not -" Irse gasped.
The two men, one with slightly wavy raven hair like Okami's and another with broomlike sandy blonde as Shar-Teel's, merely shook their heads.
"Captain Shar-Teel?"
Their expressions changed from blank surprise to obvious dislike. "Third one to my right," one of the men said, pointing at the other boat. A quick and embarrassed thanks, and the elf quickly ran down the plank, heading straight for Shar-Teel's boat.
Fortunately, they were still docked and Nells had just alighted from the ship. The woman smiled good-naturedly. "Here you are. Your master's out there looking for you. Good thing too, Dotie's not here yet; we can wait a while."
Relief was immediately replaced with dread. Her Teacher out there - alone, among heartless thieves, a scourge of rats, and unsanitary cat meat
Without another thought, Irse blurted, "I'll go look for him. I'll bring him back. Sorry for the trouble but could you wait for us, please?"
Nells nodded, seemingly puzzled. Irse whirled around and Okami was already there, a parcel in one hand. Her heart nearly burst with relief at the sight of her Teacher.
Nonchalantly, Okami scratched at the scruff on his chin. "I enquired around in the Lower City as to your whereabouts. Fortunately, I have not come far when one of the sellers remembered seeing a flame-haired elf running towards the direction of the East Docks. Strangely though, this fox was following a pink-haired mouse," he said, a questioning brow raised at her.
Irse grinned cheekily. The parcel was handed to her and she looked at him curiously.
"Consider these as reparations for my poor choice of a meal for us, earlier today."
Gingerly, she unwrapped it. Please, don't be the Mystery Meat Bun... please, don't be the Mystery Meat Bun, Irse chanted silently though in all honesty, she knew she would still eat them anyway.
Butter rolls! With pure joy she closed her eyes and inhaled the aroma, practically shoving her nose into them. Okami walked past her without another word. The elf quickly re-wrapped the bread and put them in her pack.
Irse cast one last look at the Gate, then turned around to follow him into the ship.