Author's Note: And here we have chaotic neutral vs. lawful neutral. (Heh, heh. My odd couple amuses me.) So, Dear Reader, in games, do you play your natural, personal alignment? I rarely play mine, because it's so boring, but I must admit if I stray too far, I get really uncomfortable…
An update: right now looking like thirty chapters and five of them are pretty sketchy...and November is coming, which in my little world means Nanowrimo. So, there's a slowdown on the way. (Assuming I can even come up with an idea for Nano. Right now, my mind is a great big wide open totally blank space. Totally. Blank.)
22...Assassination
The return from Zorvak'Mur was practically uneventful and the patrol's mood was jubilant after the victories over the beholders and at the illithid colony. As the party rapidly crossed the huge open cavern before Lith My'athar, Solaufein again wondered if there was time to build defenses to improve the city's security. There were archers and mages on the walls at all times, of course, but if (when) a vast army came rolling in, did Lith My'athar have the forces to cover the city's rambling perimeter? They expected a massed attack on the gates-it was an obvious weakness- but what would keep enemy troops from scaling the walls at other places? Or breaching them in other ways? For that matter, he wasn't convinced the river on the east side of the city core was an impregnable defense. No one else seemed worried. The docks were barely patrolled.
They really were bottled up here. It made him most uneasy. He had studied the Seer's maps but the closest known entrances to the surface were all in areas the Valsharess controlled. Should the worst happen, perhaps the Seer could be evacuated in Cavallas' boat, but she needed some place to escape to. Perhaps Haer'Dalis and Valen had found a way to the surface on their travels. A portal out would be a gift from the goddess.
A band of pain tightened around his forehead, a friendly reminder from Halaster's geas that escape was not an option for him. He grimaced and tried to clear his mind, as the Seer had taught him. In her gentle yet steely way, she had made it clear that his own resentment of his curse amplified the effects of the geas. There are injustices we must accept, she had told him, until the time is right to overcome them.
I've accepted injustice all my life. Will there never come a time when I can escape it?
His head throbbed.
At least it was clear that the guards on the walls were keeping a decent lookout for they had been spotted. (Not that the group was moving with any particular stealth.) Solaufein watched the guards on the wall signal down to someone inside as the party approached the city gates.
"I have a great and desperate need for a hot bath," he told Nathyrra, who had matched her steps to his. Her spider familiar clung to her shoulder. He found that amusing. "Truly desperate."
Her mouth quirked. "I believe I know what you mean. Dealing with the illithid makes me feel dirty in places I didn't know I had places."
"When I've been in this armor too long, I start to smell like a dragon," Solaufein said.
"And what does a dragon smell like?" Nathyrra asked. "I hesitate to move closer and sniff. It wouldn't be very dignified."
"Certainly we must protect your dignity." Solaufein gave her a slight smile, which she returned. "If you start with a riding lizard and add in the stench of an alchemy lab after an explosion, that will get you close enough."
"I quite like riding lizards," she said. "I wish I still had one. They don't smell so bad."
"Maybe not but I'd still rather smell like myself."
The small inner gate opened. Nathyrra frowned. "I wonder what brings Sergeant Osyyr out. And who he's signalling to."
"You've got good eyes." He squinted and thought she was right. He felt a stab of concern. "I wonder if he brings news." What he could see of the sergeant's posture didn't exactly look like good news. The sergeant looked back through the open doorway and made another urgent hand sign.
Could this be more ominous? Oh, yes. It could. Here comes the Seer's commander.
When the out-of-breath Commander Imloth met Solaufein at the gate, grasped him by the arm, pulled him aside and personally told him the not good news, Solaufein thought his head would explode.
"Where is he?" Solaufein asked through gritted teeth.
"Haer'Dalis not being here," Deekin squeaked. Solaufein scowled. Why is the kobold so nervous? Was he in on this? Could Haer'Dalis have actually been mad enough to involve this creature in his plots?
"I can see he's not under the bed. Where is he?"
"Uh. Deekin go look."
"Do so. Now."
Deekin skittered away and Solaufein returned to his empty room. His pack still lay where he'd flung it. Damn it! Matron Mother Myrune dead, and by the tiefling's hand. Damn him, what was he thinking? No time for a bath, no time to eat or even change clothes. Or put two thoughts together.
According to Imloth, Haer'Dalis had strode into House Maeviir, called for the matron mother, and slew her and the weapon master while the house guards looked on. Twiddling their thumbs and staring up at the ceiling, apparently. Open assassination! Why would he do such a thing, and why now, of all the cursed timing? Just when they had struck several blows against the Valsharess, just as they'd begun the task of whittling away her allies. And now this?
Imloth had been very worried when he gave his report at the gates. "House Maeviir has been quiet since this morning and Zes...Matron Mother Zesyyr appears to have the house under control," Imloth had reported. "But tension is high within the town, as you can imagine."
Solaufein had frowned. He could imagine all too well. Every matron mother would be wondering if she was next. And plotting how she was going to respond.
"With even a bit of warning, we could have prepared..." Imloth cut off his words at Solaufein's expression. Did he think I staged this debacle? Planned it to happen while I was out of the city? Solaufein had seethed all the way to the temple. I'm going to wring that tiefling's neck.
First he had seen the Seer. Then he had seen the council. That meeting had been mercifully short since Matron Mother Zesyyr had not been present and the other noble houses had prudently sent proxies. Finally he had made it to the House of the Moon. He wasn't sure how long he'd been kept waiting before he heard Haer'Dalis' distinctive footsteps in the hall.
"You wanted to see me?" the tiefling asked. He loomed in the open doorway. He looked like he'd been up all night. He looked and smelled like he'd been drinking and whoring all night. And fighting. There was a new scar, freshly healed, on the tiefling's forehead. There was blood on his shirt and his boots. Solaufein felt his head pound. And he wore a new cloak. A piwafwi cloak, which bore the insignia for House Maeviir.
He has walked through the busiest part of the city looking like that! Displaying what he's done as if he's proud. Not giving a damn what anyone thinks.
As if he ever did.
"Come in and shut the door," Solaufein said in Common.
Haer'Dalis raised one brow and did so. He leaned back against the door. "You're back," Haer'Dalis said. "And from what I hear, you've been busy. Congratulations."
"From what I hear, you have been busy as well."
Haer'Dalis had the effrontery to grin. "You could say that."
"Where have you been?" Solaufein asked.
"Zesyyr needs me by her side until everything is settled. If you don't mind, I wish to get back to her."
"If I don't mind? Tell me, are you the new Maeviir weapon master now?" He gestured at the cloak.
"Am I...no, of course not. This cloak allows me to pass the wards of the compound. It is useful, for now." Haer'Dalis shrugged. Solaufein, lips tightly compressed, just stared. The moment stretched uncomfortably long. "Zesyyr asked me..."
"Asked or ordered?"
"Asked...Solaufein. From whence comes this hostility?"
"You need to ask?" Solaufein growled.
"Apparently so, since I asked, did I not?"
"Damn you, don't play games with me."
Haer'Dalis lowered his brows. "You know, abbil, I am beginning to take exception to your tone."
Solaufein snapped. "What in the Nine Hells do you think you're doing? Is our doom not coming quickly enough to suit you? Did you think to take those blades of yours, Chaos and Entropy-good names, for the way you use them-and cut away any remote chance we have for survival?"
"You are angry."
Solaufein glared. "I was angry when I was informed at the gate that Matron Mother Myrune had been assassinated. I've just had Valen Shadowbreath hand me my ass for allowing this to happen and you know, I can't exactly blame him. What I feel now is closer to baffled fury."
"Perhaps what you should feel now is relief that I have removed one from power who planned to betray us at the first opportunity."
Solaufein slammed his hand against the wall.
"You fool. They all plan to betray us at the first opportunity, every matron mother in this city, be her house large or small. It is the Seer's job to postpone that opportunity for as long as possible and it is my job to aid her."
"And I thought I was a cynic," Haer'Dalis said.
"I am not cynical at all. I am realistic. You are not drow. You can't understand."
"I may belong to one of the lesser races, abbil, but I've worked most of my life in theater. You need not tutor me in treachery, my raven." And again, that grin.
Solaufein scowled. "Do not jest. There is much you do not understand."
"I understand condescension and it is undeserved," Haer'Dalis said, with an edge to his voice. "Do you think I went into this blindly? I saw Myrune causing serious trouble in the city from the day we arrived here. No one seemed willing to address the problem."
"And you think Zesyyr will be any better? Do you think you, alone of all people, can pick a safe way through the darkness here? Yes, I think you are blind and more than that, I think you are being led around by your codpiece."
"There comes a moment when one must take action," Haer'Dalis said. "A cusp, if you like, when events are ripe to be pushed to fruition. I saw this moment and I acted. I did not stop to brood over lost chances or to overthink all the possible choices and outcomes. I acted."
"You imply that I do not act? I act when I must and I refrain from action when my deeds cause more harm than good."
"Do you? You say I am being led by my codpiece but what leads you? Oft as not, 'tis not your orderly intellect that drives you, my dear Solaufein, but your rage."
Solaufein burned. His hand dropped to the hilt of his sword. Haer'Dalis followed this movement with his eyes. He tilted his head in a sardonic look.
"Did you call me here for some reason other than to chastise me?" The tiefling's voice was silky and cool.
"I can see my warnings are wasted."
"Aye. If you cannot see the benefit in my actions..." He shrugged. "I will not spend my life in regret for what I did not do. Myrune would have betrayed us. Not some day by and by, but someday very soon. She had already moved to take the mirror from the Seer. My independent sources confirm this. Once she had the mirror...well. I think we know what she would do with it. I did what had to be done and I did not think it wise to involve the Seer. There was no time to wait and consult you. Especially when I had no idea when you would return."
Solaufein pressed his hand to his aching brow. Myrune with the Mirror of All-Seeing...it would have been a disaster. "It is not your judgement I question but your methods. This is not how things are done."
"From what I have seen, this is exactly how things are done. Myrune fully expected Zesyyr to move against her."
"Yes, but not like this. To openly assassinate her...and by your hand, when you are known to be my companion...you imply this was done with my consent. You imply this was done with the Seer's knowledge and approval."
"You prefer poison, perhaps? A silent knife in the back?"
"Yes, damn you," Solaufein said. "For this, I do. For Zesyyr to bring in some thug from the outside..."
"Thanks."
"This is how your act will be seen. Don't you see that this weakens Zesyyr's position instead of strengthening it? Now all her energy must be spent building up the prestige she has lost with the other noble houses instead of fighting our true enemies."
"'Tis strange indeed to hear you advocate the old ways you were so eager to escape."
"Hells take you."
"I hope not. I'll be much more at ease in the Abyss."
"She is using you."
"Of course she is using me," Haer'Dalis said. Solaufein longed to strike that smirk from his face. "Ah, my raven, Zesyyr is unlike any woman I have known before."
"You always say that. Just before you plunge into some fresh disaster."
"But…"
"And don't say it is different this time, for you always say that as well."
"That...is not completely untrue."
"I suspect Zesyyr is very much like other women I have known before," Solaufein said.
"Solaufein." Haer'Dalis took a breath as if to summon his patience. "I am not you, she is not Phaere and this is not the disaster you seem to think it is."
Solaufein took a breath himself.
"Get out."
With a stiff bow, Haer'Dalis left.
Solaufein sank into the deep tub but his muscles remained tense. Why did I ever tell him of Phaere? Damn that Haer'Dalis, he is like the succubus that surely bore him. An incubus of words, he pulls them out of you so you end telling him more than you wanted, more than you ever meant to say. And then he hears more than the words themselves. Damn him.
And what would have happened if I had done what Phaere asked me, as Haer'Dalis did what Zesyyr asked? What if I had let her lead me by my codpiece? It's not like I wasn't willing to be led. Phaere said she would make me her patron if I killed her mother for her. She said we would be together. I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe she wouldn't discard me as soon as another more useful male came along. I wanted to believe she would never use my secret heresy against me. And maybe I wasn't wrong. Maybe.
But I couldn't believe the timing was right. I couldn't believe she had enough support in her house. I couldn't believe we could pull it off.
Was I prudent or fearful?
In the end, I was proven right. Matron Mother Ardulace knew of the plot or suspected enough to act. She separated us with all the ruthlessness a matron must show. I was fortunate Ardulace was unwilling to offend my own house but Phaere was within her power and she paid for her indiscretion. Ardulace gave Phaere to the driders and let them have their way with her. And when next I saw Phaere...
Damn him for making me think of this. Did I truly brood too much and miss the opportunity? What if I had acted as Phaere urged me? What if I hadn't held back? Would we have won?
No, a thousand times no. I knew it then. I know it now. Had I acted, I would have died. The situation was different and most of us do not have the tiefling's uncanny luck. No. Had I done as Phaere had asked, there would have been two of us thrown to the driders.
Damn him. Even if he is right...even if Zesyyr turns out to be a stronger matron than her mother...damn him for making me think of those times. I will never escape the Underdark. No matter where I go, I carry darkness on my skin but it is nothing to the darkness in my heart.
He was drying his hair when one of the scouts came into his room. Solaufein waved off his apologetic look.
"I'm glad you returned safely. You backtracked the bone golems? What have you learned?" he asked.
"The necromancers live in a village southwest of here, near Drearing's Deep."
"A village?"
"Yes, a village of slaves. Ex-slaves, or so they say. Runaways, perhaps. Most of them are surfacers."
"That is strange."
"And here is a stranger thing. The village seems to be weak and undefended. It ought to draw constant attack. Yet in the time I watched, I saw no sign of any attack. The villagers themselves seem unconcerned. They don't even set a watch. They say their god will protect them."
"Did you see any of the necromancers?"
"No. It does not seem they come to the village, or if so, rarely. There is a large temple built into one of the deeper caverns and I could not enter it. The villagers avoid the area. They will not even speak of it."
"What god do they worship?"
"The name they use is Vix'thra."
"Vix'thra? I have never heard of this god." I should ask Haer'Dalis, he thought and then banished that idea. Perhaps later. "Some obscure surfacer god, perhaps."
"Drow parties come regularly, the villagers say. Sometimes they bring slaves. Always they leave with undead, usually bone golems like the ones we saw earlier."
"Drow from the Valsharess?"
"Apparently so."
"They bring slaves? They are selling them to the necromancers?"
"So I assume. The villagers did not know. They knew nothing of the Valsharess. They seemed to think these were slaves released from their owners, to be given to the village. As a gift."
"That makes no sense."
"No sense at all. These slaves are mad and I think their madness is contagious. During the time I watched them, I felt a strange unease, as if something was watching me as well." He shivered. "I am glad to be away from that place."
"Get some rest," Solaufein said. "I hope to have a group assembled next cycle and I would like you to join us."
