Gale felt a pang in his heart as the glow of moonlight wrapped around Eirina. She was in the grace of her goddess. Something he still felt deeply in his core. He couldn't resist the
urge to rub the outline of the orb branded under his shirt. He knew he had fallen from the grace of his own goddess, but there was something about watching Eirina receive a blessing
from her own goddess that made it hurt all that much more. She was serene in the moonlight and now he wondered what she would look like under the light of a full moon. Her pale
skin probably glowed like it did in this moment.
Watching Eirina stand, he schooled his features into a casual smile, dropping his hand to his side. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Astarion's back stiffen. There was something
about the white-haired elf that made him uneasy, but he couldn't exactly identify what. At that moment, he felt the tadpole in his head flare with pain. He could see Astarion wincing
at that exact moment, their thoughts colliding.
Eirina stood in casual clothes on the edge of the pool they camped at, standing up and staring with reverence at a full moon. Her red hair was loose and hung down, like a dark
waterfall at night that his fingers itched to touch. Looking at her, he watched as the elf turned, a seductive smile on her face, her hand shifting to beacon him forward.
Something abruptly pulled him out of the moment, causing a painful jolt. The tadpoles in his and Astarion's heads had felt that the pair of them were thinking along the same
wavelength. This was a good thing, something that would allow him to determine the threat that was Astarion towards whatever feelings he seemed to develop, or a bad thing
because now the red-eyed flirt could see that his own emotions were slightly less than plutonic.
Gale had been bereft since falling out of favour with Mystra and he urged to be close to the grace of his deity once again. Watching Eirina receive the blessing of the goddess she
loved so filled him with awe and with envy. Just being close to someone in divine favour was enough for him at this moment. But whatever they had just witnessed had been
emotional for Astarion, too. And whatever his designs on Eirina were, they were certainly not noble. Or polite. Or anything he would see in the seediest of brothels in Waterdeep.
Something about that elf just screamed inappropriate behind closed doors.
Astarion had never been religious. It wasn't for him, especially with the hell he had lived for the last two hundred years. But in this moment, he felt the pull of a goddess he had
never given two thoughts about. As the pale moonlight had shone down in the broad light of day, Eirina had been more in her element now than she had been in the last couple of
days they had been travelling together. It made him feel a pang of guilt for the plans he was planning for the influential cleric that was swiftly becoming the leader of their little band.
Sparing a wary glance towards Gale, he had felt the splitting headache from the tadpole drawing out a secret little fantasy from his mind and sharing it with the wizard. But he had
also seen inside the wizard's mind the hidden brief fantasy of laying naked with Eirina in front of a roaring fire with grapes and several large musty volumes. Astarion mentally
snorted and made a note to torment Gale with that image the next time they were alone. Eirina was going to be his. Because with the backing of her family and the influence of her
goddess, he would take down the Szarr family.
Giving Eirina a brilliant smile as she stood and looked back at him and Gale, Astarion could see the slightly dazed, almost drunk look in her eyes. She had received a blessing,
perhaps the first for her. Even as the glow faded from her skin, her expression remained.
"Are you okay?" Shadowheart's voice was the first thing that Eirina registered when the fog in her mind cleared. She had felt the presence of her goddess before, but never with such
potent force. Even after the moonlight had faded, Eirina could feel the cool kiss of her goddess on her soul. It was wondrous and a high she knew she would chase for years to come.
The same thing, she'd heard, was experienced by Dark Justiciars when they completed the rite of passage that brought them into the embrace of their dark goddess. She understood
their zealous need to relive such a moment repeatedly. She smiled at Shadowheart and Lae'zel, who had approached with a curious expression on her face.
"I'm fine," she held up the ancient book she had picked up at the base of Selune's statue, "I got some reading material. I think the three of us will find interesting." She held the book
out to Lae'zel. "why don't you read it first? We probably know most of the contents of it." The title of the book read "The War between Shar and Selûne" so it would likely duplicate
much of the knowledge she and Shadowheart already possessed, albeit from a Selûnite perspective. She grinned at Shadowheart. "promise not to burn it while you're reading it,
okay?" Shar just gave her a withering stare.
"Even the knowledge of those that tell history from a perspective I don't agree with has value," Shadowheart's head raise a little higher, "it lets me hide within their ranks should it be
necessary that I do so." Eirina just smiled again and turned to where Wyll, Astarion, and Gale now stood, on a ledge overlooking the long forgotten sacred pool.
"Shall we hunt a devil?"
Eirina had seen trackers work before, but chasing a devil with the footsteps of those that could be allies was a whole other experience. When they scaled a cliff scarred with soot and
flame, Wyll pointed out that only hellfire could mark the landscape like that.
"Karlach not only wields an axe against her enemies, but burns them until there is nothing left," Wyll educated them as they walked. When they happened upon the corpse of a
messenger, his faithful dog standing over him, they thought that maybe there was evidence of her rage. Only the goblin arrows and hyena tracks betrayed the true nature of the
man's death. It broke Eirina's heart to leave the dog behind, but she left a few rations out for the dog and gathered up the letters from the courier's satchel. The dog was clearly
distraught, but maybe the food would allow him to follow their scents when he was ready. Eirina knew that courier dogs were always smarter than people gave them credit for.
"Hopefully she has damaged little of the countryside or hurt too many people," guilt raged in Eirina, and she sent out a prayer than Karlach had hurt no one too badly. The foot steps
and the scorch marks led the party over a swift moving river. A thought intruded in Eirina's mind, but she refrained from taking action. Her tadpole, however, decided everyone in the
party needed to be aware of her thoughts. Everyone stopped walking for a moment and pain ripped through their minds.
Eirina could see her hands coming up and pushing Shadowheart into the protected eddy on the edge of the river. She imagined the look of shock and then rage on Shadowheart's face
before she held a hand out, apologizing, even in her fantasy. She was playful, not cruel.
"Amusing as that was," Astarion's voice was the first to clear the tadpole intrusion, "perhaps your playful antics can wait until after we have dealt with the devil." Everyone except
Shadowheart started laughing after the pain behind their eyes subsided. Shadowheart just arched an eyebrow at Eirina and gave her a look that clearly said, "this isn't over." Eirina
gave her a guilty expression.
"It was just a thought," Eirina started, "I didn't mean for everyone to see it. I apologize, Shadowheart," she held her hand out to the other woman, offering a handshake. After a
moment, Shadowheart took her hand and the two women shared a look.
"Tchk," Lae'zel tsked, "if you were part of a gith party, both of you would have been flayed or killed for such actions." Lae'zel hadn't laughed, but more out of disapproval for the
immaginary actions of the party members. "We need to deal with this devil and then find the creche." Lae'zel then marched ahead, leaving everyone else in her wake as she followed
the deeper set foot prints along the river's edge. Wyll was the first to resume walking, taking after Lae'zel. Dropping their hands, Eirina let go of Shadowheart and then jogged to
catch up to Lae'zel. As fearless as the gith was, facing a devil of Karlach's power would be too much for Lae'zel and Wyll alone. She could hear the groans from Astarion and Gale as
they too jogged to catch up to them.
On the other side of the river from where they stood, Eirina and her companions could see the violent red skin, the single curved horn, and the height of the large teifling bathed in
flames. She had tucked herself into a patch of rocks, crouching down as she rode out the flames consuming her. Eirina and her party stopped, all save Wyll, and watched as this
woman screamed in pain, letting loose a roar as she stood. Wyll stepped forward, drawing his blade.
"One horn," he crossed the down log between them and their quarry, "the stink of Avernus. Advocatus diaboli." His face was twisted in a look of pure loathing and hatred. Eirina had
so far taken him to be a caring, attentive man, but standing before the flaming Karlach, she saw the absolute loathing on his face. As the rest of the party crowded onto the small
patch of earth between Wyll and the river, Karlach, the devil Wyll had been set to hunt, turned to face them. Raising an arm, she wiped the spit from her lips, here eyes glowing with
a fiery yellow.
"Well," the teifling's expression not quite mirroring Wyll's, but was close enough, "I'll be gods damned again - the Blade of Frontiers," she smiled broadly, tilting her head in Wyll's
direction, "Thought I'd shaken you for good. That'll teach me to underestimate you." She widened her feet, taking a slightly broader stance, as if she was waiting for Wyll to attack.
There was something about how she stood back from them, the lilt of her words, that seemed to be less than hostile. Eirina stepped forward to stand next to Wyll, weapons still
tucked away.
"Karlach, I presume?" Eirina spoke, the tightening of Wyll's hand around his weapon catching the corner of her eye. "We've been hunting you." Karlach gave a dry, humourless laugh.
"You've found her," her tone turned serious, "While it's been an honour to be chased by the blade of frontiers, I - agh!" A familiar biting sensation caused Eirina and Wyll to double
over in pain, interrupting Karlach mid-sentence. Half a second later, Eirina registered a new sensation. A violent heat washing over her. Her skin felt like it was melting off, her heart
racing loudly in her chest. Only this was Karlach's heat. The teifling doubled over in pain as well. The inferno that had encased Karlach came from Karlach, the fire of Avernus. Eirina
let the visions, the memories, flow through as she fought from vomiting. Visions of demonic armies before her, a landscape of fire and blood, axe raised high above her head.
The Blood War. Eirina had seen pieces of it from the nautiloid as it had passed through Avernus. This woman, this Karlach, had been on the front line. As the pain passed, Karlach was
the first to recover, looking around in panic.
"What was that?!" She spun in a circle so fast that the flames licking at her body had to chase her to catch up.
"Evidence." Wyll's tone was harsh and final as his foot slid forward into a fighting stance, "Proof that you are a devil, that wield's your weapons for Zariel's purpose." Karlach tossed
her head back in a frustrated expression.
"It's not what you think!" She exclaimed, the flames growing an inch as she gestured her arms in a defensive motion. "It's a whole ordeal. If you would just give me a moment to
explain, you'll understand." At that moment, the tadpoles connected and there was another vision. Eirina could feel the strain in her eyes as they darted around, taking in the waves
of devils descending upon her. Karlach's desperation bleeding through in the vision, axe raised and slicing through devil after devil. The desire to find an escape a bitter had taste in
her mouth. The rage and desperation seeping through her. She could hear Gale gasp and his knees hit the dirt behind her. Karlach wasn't an agent of the war, she was a victim of it.
Looking at Karlach, Eirina could see the small mote of steam from a tear waft away. The poor woman couldn't even cry from the heat radiating off of her body.
"She's trying to trick us," Wyll stepped between Karlach and Eirina, using part of his body to shield Eirina from Karlach. "Don't believe her lies."
"You saw the truth," Karlach took a half step back, brows furrowing in frustration, "I never wanted to serve Zariel. I was enlisted against my will, forced to fight as a slave in her
army. It was fight or die. So I fought. I fought to live." The tinge of desperation in her voice was no longer subtle. This woman would die before being forced to go back. But she
wouldn't go down without a fight. "When I saw an opportunity to get away, I took it. That ship was my salvation. Now I'm finally home - or near enough to it." Karlach lowered her
arms in defeat. Eirina could see the will to fight was swiftly leaving her.
"You served her!" Wyll roared in response. "That is enough to damn you!" Eirina saw his sword raised and stepped between him and Karlach, facing Wyll. She could feel the heat
radiating off Karlach, making her wonder how much of the hells she brought back with her.
"Stand down Wyll," Eirina raised her hands in front of him, giving him a firm look. "You saw what you saw." Wyll focused his one good eye on Eirina. The stone of his false eye
shimmered slightly and Eirina saw the runes carved into it. She had never seen a sending stone used in such a manner before, but whoever was on the other end what watching this
whole ordeal unfold. Eirina could count the number of breaths before Wyll lowered his weapon, his lips straightening, his breath catching. Eirina could see the sheer dread in his eye
and upon his face.
"You don't know what you're saying Eirina," his knuckles were changing colour as he gripped the handle of his blade harder still, "you're asking me to trust a devil." Eirina quirked an
eyebrow at him, not saying the thought in her head that he had already trusted one based on his abilities.
"You saw her thoughts." she glanced behind Wyll to see the other standing and watching her handle the situation. Astarion looked amused, Gale couldn't hide his impressed
expression, and Lae'zel looked proud. Only Shadowheart wasn't watching Eirina and Wyll. Shadowheart stared at Karlach, her face filled with sadness. "She poses no threat to the
sword coast." Eirina crossed her arms as she finished the statement. She may have started this hunt for Karlach, but it had resulted in finding an innocent woman who was a victim of
a devil's machinations.
"You should listen to her," Karlach's voice was quiet, but carried over Eirina's shoulder, "I don't want this to end badly for either of us," Karlach stepped around Eirina to stand directly
before Wyll, "You know monsters, right? Better than anyone. You're the Blade of Frontiers. Demons and devils flee at the sound of you coming. Look into my eyes and tell me,
truthfully, if I am a monster." She looked at Wyll, her eyes willing him to see the truth. "Can't you see I'm not what you think?" Wyll looked at her a moment longer before turning
away abruptly.
"Shit." It wasn't a violent response, but a resigned admission that whatever resolve Wyll had had was gone. He sheathed his rapier and looked at Karlach. "You really are no devil, are
you?" Eirina let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. "I've…" Wyll's voice broke. "I've been deceived." He squared his shoulders and held his hand out, but
stopped. He sighed and gave Karlach a wry smile. "You're a little hot to shake hands with." Karlach let out her own held breath.
"Thank the gods," she smile at Wyll, "Thought I was going to have to take your head." The cockiness of her voice showed she held no ill feelings towards Wyll. He just laughed.
"You would have died in the attempt," Wyll's own voice was jovial and friendly, "but there have been enough threats today."
"Truce then, hey?" Karlach looked at the others, standing watching the exchange. Everyone nodded. Lae'zel actually smiled.
"A fierce warrior is a worthy ally," the gith stated, earning her murmurs of agreement from everyone else. Wyll nodded and gave her a smile.
"Aye," he said, "Truce."
"I'm Karlach," the teifling stated, looking at everyone, "but you already knew that since you all came with my pursuer. And you all are…?" her voice trailed off as she looked at Eirina
for introductions.
"Why don't we head to camp for a brief respite and do the introductions there?" Erina replied, "I'm Eirina and my companions are Astarion, Gale, Lae'zel, Shadowheart, and of course
you are aware of Wyll's identity." Eirina pointed to each person as she said their name, each waving or nodding their head in acknowledgement. "You're welcome to join us, especially
since you're afflicted much as we are." She pointed to her left eye, that had received the tadpole a few days prior.
"Would love to, soldier," Karlach responded, reaching down to pick up her axe and weigh it in her hands, "but you weren't the only ones pursuing me. I don't suppose you have met
some paladins of Tyr on the road, have you?" Eirina shook her head, causing Karlach to grin. "Zariel sent a bunch of her cronies disguised as followers of Tyr to hunt me down and
bring me back," she thumped on her chest, "she doesn't want to lose her favourite toy without a fight." Wyll frowned, looking over at Eirina. He didn't need to say anything. She
already knew that he wanted to stand up for Karlach, the guilt he felt at hunting her still lingered.
"I guess that means we still have something to accomplish before we go looking for the creche that Lae'zel mentioned holds a cure," Eirina hefted her shield and looked at everyone
else. Astarion and Shadowheart were already across the river. Gale was brushing the mud from his knees, but he was nodding. Lae'zel's sword was already drawn and she was
looking at Karlach.
"Lead on."