There still was a long road ahead, but after a vivid discussion, the group had agreed to head for the right area of the village, to walk around the goblins' defenses. This was rather convenient for Lae'zel, because this way leaded to the mountain pass. Glad to have had what she wanted, she had taken back the group's lead. She often muttered that the others were to slow, that they were holding her back, and she periodically tossed a threatening « hurry up ! », about which the others answered by rolling their eyes.
« Are you a leader of some sort, in... The place you're coming from ? » Gale asked.
« You have to respect me, and to obey me, istik. I come from creche K'liir. »
The others didn't ask anymore questions. They arrived in front of a gate broken in its center. The gap was only a little more that one wide step for a human, so it would be easy to pass over with a jump. Barroca was beginning to gather momentum, when a smoke's cloud blinded her. She coughed, sulfur's scent burning her nose, and she felt backwards, stunned. A man was there. He took some steps towards her, and he held out his hand. It was a medium stature man, with dark but reddish skin, as were his eyes. His black hair were a bit slicked back, waves surrounding his angular face. He was wearing a black outfit with red sleeves, decorated with gold details, the collar going up on his neck was ornated with white gathered edges, giving him a noble air. Barroca took his hand mechanically, and as he nodded, he showed a satisfied smile.
« Who are you ? » she asked.
« A friend ? Potentially. An adversary ? Conceivably. But a savior, that's for certain. »
She watched him cautiously, trying to guess his intentions, but the man's eyes were completely expressionless. She remembered the mummy that had appeared as much suddenly into the camp, the same morning, but on the opposite the man didn't give off a divine aura, it was more a... maleficient.
« What would you say about a lullaby, bard, to celebrate our meeting properly ? » he said. « The mouse smiled brightly, it outfoxed the cat ! »
His words were powerful, the way he was saying them was mesmerizing. He raised his right hand, mimicking a clawed paw.
« Then down came the claw, and that, love, was that » he ended letting his hand fall.
Barroca stayed silent, her stare on the hand. She heard the man laugh.
« They know how to do it into Cormyr, don't they ? »
« It is beautiful poetry, indeed, but I still don't know who you are. »
« I am Raphael, pleased to meet you » the man said, slightly bowing. « At your humble service. »
« Where are the others ? »
She had just realized that she was alone with him. The others had surely gone ahead without her, who had to habit to stay back, but it was still odd. She searched with her eyes on the distance, but she didn't see anyone, only the trees that were moving in the wind.
« What I have to say is requiring privacy and a certain... refinement. Come. »
A brilliant light surrounded them. When it disappeared in a smoke of sparks, they weren't on the bridge anymore. They were into a building, in front of a lit fire. Paintings were ornating the walls of this dark room, adorned with black marble, gilts and red leather. In the center was an eight-sides table surrounded by the same amount of seats, filled with various meals, a real feast.
« Where... Where did you bring me ? » Barroca tossed, panic-stricken.
« In the middle of somewhere » the man said taking place between Barroca and the fire. « The House of Hope, where the tired come to rest, and the starving come to feast, lavishly. »
« I asked you nothing. »
« No, but it is my pleasure to invite you. Go on, enjoy you supper, after all, it may be your last » he said in a sinister tone.
Barroca was tempted to accept, the last days had been trying, but she didn't trust it. Was it the tadpole which was deceiving her ? Certainly. It couldn't be another way. She sat on the floor, waiting for the illusion to go away. Raphael chuckled, and he held out his hand again. But this time, Barroca decided that she won't take it. He laughed even more, while she was burying her face in her elevated legs. She felt a crushing heat. The ambient temperature was already hot but it was nothing like that, it was as is flames had bursted out before her. Raising her eyes, she saw that Raphael wasn't a man anymore, but had he ever been one ? It was a devil, with huge curved black horns, each of them separated by a little branch on the side and a bigger in the middle. His skin was dark red, and he had wings on his back. He also had a forked tail slowly wagging behind him. His orange eyes, inhabited by infernal fire, topped his smile, which was showing sharp teeth. He put his clawed index on his crimson lips, laying his other hand on his hip. A tear ran on Barroca's cheek, dumbfounded.
« Why would you tempt the devil when you can see the tip of its tail ? »
« Wh... What do you want ? »
« I can help you to get rid of your intrusive inhabitant, the one lying behind your eye. Just like that. »
He snapped his fingers in a burst of flame. Barroca felt a relief. It was like the parasite had disappeared, like she can control her thoughts again. She rubbed her temple while getting up.
« You can do that, just like this ? »
« Yes, and even more. »
« I have to ask my companions, but where are they ? »
The question's repetition seemed to upset the devil, who let out a groan.
« They're safe, but do you really think that they're searching you right now ? »
The question took Barroca by surprise. Why weren't they with her, why did they go so far without her ? She wasn't any use for them, after all. Even concerning Gale, he could easily get along without her. She abandoned to her fate, despaired. Then she thought about her quest, about the purpose that drove her to travel. Those years in Waterdeep, and in Baldur's Gate, all this wasn't of no use, it couldn't. Nobody until now had weakened her willpower, and this devil, as much imposing and majestic as he was, wouldn't do. She clenched her fist. For the first time since the accident, she felt a feeling of indignation, of anger. The world could be against her, she would stand up for herself.
« Bring me back » she said, determined.
« So the little mouse decided to show her teeth ? » the devil answered, in a satisfied smile. « Good, very good. »
« Tell me what you want, and bring me back. »
« Oh, so demanding ! » he chuckled. « Go, join your little friends. Search together for a solution. And when the tiny revolt awakening in you will fade, you'll come back and beg me to help you. »
All became white again, and Barroca was back at the place she had left, just before the bridge's break.
« I am your only hope. I'm waiting for your knock on my door. »
She looked around her, but he wasn't there anymore. Her companions weren't too. She sighed and turned back. Her revolt had actually been short-lived, she felt empty, far from herself. She went through the village again and she heard laughter, from the goblins. They were gathering bags and boxes in the middle of the camp, while drinking wine from the bottle. They were swarming about like insects around a biscuit's crumb. When one of them saw Barroca, he stiffened.
« Guys, guys ! »
« What's happening ? » the booyagh yelled.
One of the underlings whispered a word in her ear, and after she had thought, a hand under her chin, her foot stamping the ground, she nodded. They gathered, more or less in a row. Barroca raised an eyebrow before the scene. The goblins weren't organized and it showed, they struggled to stay in place. The booyagh showed her best smile to Barroca, a yellow smile, almost toothless, and above all very honeyed.
« True soul ! » she began. « My boys were getting ready to take the booty we busted so hardly to the camp. »
Barroca didn't reply. The goblin was still smiling while staring at her, seemingly waiting for an answer. The bard simply nodded.
« Thank you, true soul ! My men will be fast, much faster than a rabbit running after its rabbit mate ! »
She winced at the reference, but the booyagh didn't seem to notice it. She suddenly had an idea : those goblins, they were heading for their camp, probably where the first druid was captured. It was the opportunity to infiltrate their camp, and why not finding him.
« You'll be even better if I go with you » she said confidently, a little smile on the corner of her lips.
« Oh yes ! Indeed, honorable true soul ! »
The goblins finished their preparations, putting their bounty on wood planks that they were going to pull. When they were done, they looked at Barroca, who measured them.
« We're ready, boss. We wait for your signal » one of them said, showing the same honeyed smile as the booyagh.
« Oh yes. Well, let's go » she answered.
They waited for her to take the lead. Not accustomed to this position, she began to walk unassured, but she took confidence when she saw that they were following her without flinching. Three goblins had departed with her, two archers and one another equipped with a scimitar. They went through an oupost with another goblins and worgs without inconvenience, and they saw another group around a table that seemed to be much too drunk. They arrived after in front of a bridge leading to a ruined fortress. Barroca was still going on, however she was asking herself how long would last this little game. Suddenly she had an headache and she began to hear a ghostly voice, tolding her that she would have to follow chosen ones. Closing her eyes in pain, she even saw their figures : there was an elf, a man and a woman, but she could't see more.
« You okay, boss ? » one of the goblins asked.
« Yes, yes. Keep walking. »
When they went through the remparts, she took fright. There were dozens of goblins, and another monsters like ogres and bugbears, who were having fun and were romping around in the courtyard. If they happened to turn against her, it would be the end. But what idea had she in the beginning to go alone with goblins, it was madness. But now that she was there, she had to go it alone. She took her most serious air and she cleared her voice.
« Now you'll lead me to your master. »
« Hum well... It is that... »
« You see, we're not authorized to enter ma'am. »
« Bring me to the person in charge then, but don't dawdle ! »
The authoritarian tone seemed to work, because they obeyed without a word. They accompanied her to a huge wooden door guarded by two ogres, while one of them was bringing back a bugbear with brown fur, wearing a loincloth and holding a bloody hatchet. His stature was impressive, the bard was barely reaching his shoulders. He looked at her with his dark orange eyes, breathing on the two fangs coming out of his lower lip.
« One more ? » he groaned.
« Yes, she must see our boss ! »
« And which must she see ? »
The question surprised Barroca. Those goblins visibly weren't working in the way she had learned, that is having one and only one master, usually physically stronger than them. Nevertheless she didn't had time to shilly-shally, she had to keep her confident look if she wanted to go out of there alive.
« The drow » she tossed, remembering the corpse at the druid's grove.
« Ah yeah ? She's bringing us quite characters, these times » the bugbear said. « Follow me. »
As he was opening the door before them, Barroca didn't dare to glance inside. What was awaiting her, it was unknown.