When Barroca woke up, it was the night. She hadn't wanted to sleep so much, but this rest was the most welcome. She had slept deeply, thinking about the party they had made with Wyll, Gale and Shadowheart. The night's air was cool, and the wind delicately rustled the leaves from the trees around. The birds were chirping, and other rustlings showed that the treetops were possibly inhabited by squirrels, or others arboreal animals. She got to the fire, to enjoy some warmness. Gale was there, a bowl in its hand. A delicious smell of stew was floating through the air, and also of grilled fish. He gestured Barroca to sit next to him, while filling another bowl.
« You're on time, the others had already eaten. Well, at least the ones who wanted » he said laughing.
The bard took the bowl with both of her hands and she smelled the preparation : after their light meal from the day before, it was a regal dinner. She tasted a spoonful : it was a fish stew, with onion and carrot. She swallowed the whole bowl, while the wizard was looking at the fire.
« So, what do you think of it ? » he asked.
« It was marvellous. Did you make it ? »
« Yes, a true Waterdhavian stew, did you recognize it ? Well, some ingredients are missing but... »
They both laughed heartily. For a moment, during their laughter, Barroca forgot all. Her lightness vanished when she noticed the worried gaze of Gale, who was still looking at the fire, playing with his fingers. She took a look at him, waiting for him to open his mouth, as if she waited for a judgment. The wizard cleared his throat.
« I saw you, talking to this druid, convincing the healer to stop from poisoning us, and charming this snake » he began, a smile on the corner of his lips at the snake's mention. « Moreover, we both came from the same city, we both studied there. Such a coincidence is not one. »
Barroca smiled before this show of compliments, but she felt that it wasn't all, that there was a snag. He turned his intense stare on her.
« In a word, I trust you. I know that I can count on you, and of course you can count on me too. »
« It touches me deeply Gale. I'm reassured to have such a mighty wizard at my side. »
« Well, concerning that... » he continued, tensing, looking in front of him again.
The fire was stirring, as if it was feeling the wizard's tension. The wood was crackling, sparkling like a little firework. Barroca was looking at Gale with worry, but he seemed totally absorbed in his thoughts. She gently put her hand on his arm, making him lightly jump. She jumped too when he put his hand on hers.
« I'm not the wizard I was, I have a problem, and I need your help. And your understanding. »
The flames were dancing in his dark eyes. His face was clearly showing despair. Yet he didn't seem ill, and his powers seemed perfectly good. She frowned.
« At regular intervals, I need magical goods, that I have to... consume. »
« How's that, consume ? Do you swallow them ? » the bard asked with suspicion.
« No » Gale laughed. « I absorb their magic. It is really important, vital even so. And not only for me. »
« I don't understand, why are you absorbing their magic ? »
« Listen, I can't say more for the moment. I need your understanding on this matter » he continued sighing. « And also I need your help. »
Barroca searched in all of her mind a similar story that she could have heard, but she didn't find any. After all, even if it was out of the ordinary, a wizard like Gale was also. He had to have his reasons.
« And how can I help ? »
« So you agree ? During our adventures, we we will surely find loads of magical objects. It is what I'm in need of. »
« Yes, I'll help you with pleasure. »
« From the bottom of my heart, thank you, my lady. You're the most honourable. »
He took her hand in his, and he approached his lips, without even touching. Barroca removed her hand and got up, uncomfortable. Gale did the same.
« Now I'm going to my bed. As the adage say, a wizard well rested count as two. Good night, and again, thank you. »
She watched him going away, then she looked around her. They were all settled in their corners, far from the others, and she didn't see anyone. Still she decided to check on them. She went into the woods, where she had seen the tents. She stopped when she noticed Lae'zel, a leg straight against a tree, an arm on each side of it.
« Lae'zel ? » Barroca shyly said.
The githyanki quickly got back on her two legs, and she caught her sword. A trunk next to her seemingly had been used as a training dummy. She brandished her sword over her head.
« How did you see me ? » she questionned.
« Well, I can see quite good in the dark, and I was wondering what... »
« I see. So you are an elf. »
Her remark took the bard by surprise, but she prefered not to insist on the subject. Yes, she have always had a good sight in the dark, particularly for a half-elf. Lae'zel didn't seem to be used to the elf or half-elf's features, and on a side that was all the better.
« What are you doing ? »
« I'm staring at the Tears, while I'm training my body » Lae'zel answered pensively.
« The Tears ? Are you speaking of the stars ? »
« Tsk, enough talking, she'lak » the githyanki said very hardly. « Go rest, you'll need it. We have a long road to the creche. »
She disappeared into her tent. Barroca went to the opposite direction, and she directly found Shadowheart, next to a yellow flowerbed. The cleric was sitting down, her hands on her tighs, her eyes closed. She was muttering words that seemed like nonsense, aside for a devout maybe. The bard observed her a moment, then she walked on a branch to indicate her presence. Shadowheart suddenly got up, dumbfounded.
« I thought that you were sleeping » she said, bothered.
« I was just passing by. Can I talk to you for a minute ? »
« Yes, come. »
She showed a stool next to her, and Barroca sat on it, her legs crossed. Some candles were lit around them, and an incense smell was floating around.
« So, what do you want to talk about ? »
« I just wanted to know how do you feel. »
« As good as I can, if we forget our undesirable guest. »
« Obviously » Barroca smiled.
« I suppose that you want to discuss about earlier in the day, my pain. It is nothing, I swear. And it has nothing to do with the tadpole. »
The cleric smiled too. Her lips had moved, but her eyes had stayed unmoved. Barroca believed her about her wound. Shadowheart didn't seem like someone who could lie on such an important subject. She even seemed nice, next to the other woman of the was a silence in which the bard search for something to talk about, not tadpole related if it was even possible. Then she thought about the prayer she had interrupted.
« Which deity are your praying ? » she asked right away.
« I'd like not to talk about that » Shadowheart replied dryly.
Barroca raised her eyebrows from surprise. She avoided to ask some other questions she had on her mind when she saw Shadowheart frowning and her smile melting in an annoyed face.
« I let you, I didn't want to bother you » she said, raising from the stool.
The cleric nodded, she seemed relieved to not have to continue the conversation. Barroca decided to return to her bed, to rest. She hadn't seen Wyll and Astarion, but the last surely didn't want to talk with her. What was her surprise when she saw the elf behind a thorn bush, laying on his bed, looking at her. First she hesitated to go to him, thinking that he was looking at the wrong person. Her doubts vanished when he gestured her with his head to come closer, a charming smile on his lips.
« Darling, I didn't see much of you, today. »
« It is true that we were very busy, each of us on our own side » she answered, with a half-smile.
« I see that I managed to cheer up the melancholic bard. »
He got on his feet, next to Barroca. She fought back her want to move back, and she kept her fists behind her back. Astarion's attitude had changed : he used to be so discreet, so closed, and here he seemed... open. She believed she understood the reason of this change when she noticed an empty bottle of wine next to his bed.
« You're really beautiful when you smile, even gorgeous. »
His voice was nothing but a whisper. He came even closer, at such a distance where Barroca could feel his breath on her cheek. It was cold, as the wind from the Sea of Swords on a winter's night. She shivered a little at the sensation, a shudder running through her back, and she felt her heart stirring. Her body was screaming to flee, but she resisted, once again. Astarion's smile widened, and he leaned, their forehead touching. She didn't understand why he liked so much to torment her, even frighten her. He stared at her eyes. His red gaze stood out more under the weak light of the fire arriving to them, and his eyes sweetened when she put her arms on her sides.
« I see that you like me, as I like you. Stay with me » he whispered in her ear.
He put his hand on Barroca's cheek. She removed it, before moving back. The elf blinked, his eyes still on her, and he approached again. This continued until the woman's back touched a tree.
« I don't share your feelings » she said firmly.
« Who spoke about feelings ? » he chuckled.
« I don't like you, that's all. »
« Come on, darling, you're lying to youself. The hero and the wizard are no match for me... »
« I have other priorities » she cut raising her voice.
She went away as fast as she could, without watching behind her. She sat next to the campfire, and she snuggled up in her own arms. She would have so much like to be in her thick sheets, there, in Waterdeep. Her only company would be her longstanding friend, who was sharing her home. She stayed like that the rest of the night, the fire dying out little by little, as for her wake, ending by giving up to the turmoils of the day.