In The Cards

I admit I feel some reluctance towards getting my fortune told. Fortune tellers seem inordinately fond of promising ‘journeys across water’ among other things, and I really prefer to make my travel arrangements myself. All sorts of complications can arise from trusting somebody else with that.

Excerpt from ‘Interview With An Assassin’

The floor was moving in a very unsettling manner. An empty cup was rolling back and forth across it in time with the motion, and what little furniture there was had been secured to the floor. Not that there was much, just a bunk, a small table with a lamp dangling above it and a pair of chairs. Dekaras watched them carefully, trying to make sense of what was going on. He had just awakened lying on the bunk in question, feeling as if he had just been dragged through a field of brambles and sharp rocks, and with no idea of where he was, something that was bothering him very much. There seemed to be a number of holes in his memory, with disjointed and puzzling images popping up between them.

Steadying himself against the wall, the assassin slowly sat up, straining to remember the events of the past few days. Let me think…there was something I needed to do…something important. I think I must have got wounded somehow.

The image of crackling lightning, the memory of sharp and paralyzing pain caused him to wince slightly. Oh yes. The wizard…Winski. He had a wand, didn’t he? I’m lucky to be alive.

There was a blank after that, and then fleeting memories of being on the run, hiding and now and then being confronted with the people the Iron Throne wizard had sent after him. I did something to him as well though, or he would surely have come after me himself. Something…can’t remember what exactly. He had been extremely exhausted, he could remember that much, and it had been dark all around, dark and filthy, and there had been precious little time to recuperate what with all those bounty hunters.

Dekaras took a deep breath. He figured it would probably be a good idea to get dressed, but in his current weakened state and factoring in the rocking floor he knew he ran a very real risk of falling flat on his face. And we can’t have that, can we? That would be extremely humiliating, not to mention painful. Slowly and meticulously he eventually managed to pull his clothes on without any great mishaps. Afterwards he felt at least a little better, though he was as thirsty as if he’d been walking around in a desert for days.

Better. Much better. Still not good, but a definite improvement. I suppose those sewers weren’t exactly the healthiest place to spend time in while wounded. I must have got ill.

The assassin started taking inventory of his body, pleased to notice that there didn’t seem to be any major lasting damage. Whatever wounds he had sustained had been healed, and though he was weaker than usual he could tell that the fever had run its course, once again allowing him to think clearly.

What did I do while I was affected by the fever though? Nothing too damaging I hope. Wait…Edwin. There was something about Edwin. Making a grimace, Dekaras shook his head, and then immediately wished that he hadn’t done so. It felt as if his brain was about to come out of his ears. He could vaguely remember having a conversation with Edwin about something. The details escaped him at the moment, blotted out by the wizard’s frantic face and pleading voice. The poor boy must have thought I was about to drop dead at his feet. I hope I didn’t frighten him too badly.

Smiling faintly, the assassin slowly got to his feet, taking care to hold on to the bunk. It was past time to find out where he was. He must have found himself a new hiding place. The Low Lantern, perhaps. Now that his mind was starting to function again it was able to make the connection between moving floors and boats. There were plenty of river barges anchored in the Baldur’s Gate harbor as well; he could be on any one of them.

Carefully he made his way up a steep ladder and out on the deck. The first impression was one of warm sun and a cool wind against his face and the smell of salty air, all of them pleasant sensations. Then his brain registered what information his eyes were trying to send it and he took a few hasty steps towards the railing, staring at the terrible sight that met him with a mixture of disbelief and dismay.

He was indeed onboard a ship, but nowhere near the city of Baldur’s Gate, or any city at all for that matter. Far in the distance the dancing and cavorting waves merged into the horizon, and the sky was clear overhead. The…ocean. I’m on a ship in the middle of the ocean. How…how did I ever get here? And how do I get back? For get back he had to, one way or another. There were things he had to do, and most importantly, Edwin was still back in the city, getting himself into who knew what trouble.

Briefly contemplating how far out at sea he might be, and discarding the option of trying to swim back, the assassin turned his head to see a sailor coming towards him. The man was fairly short, had a beard the color of rust, and was walking barefoot with the peculiar rolling gait common to those who spend much of their time at sea. “Morning!” the man said. “Feeling better?”

Dekaras narrowed his eyes slightly. The sailor didn’t seem to be a threat, but you could never know. And admitting weakness was never a good thing, that might encourage an attack. “I’m quite well,” he said, hoping that he could keep things peaceful. Even if he could probably defend himself against the sailors should worst come to worst, he had no idea how to navigate a ship. “Any news on when we might reach our destination?”

The sailor chuckled. “Will be some time yet for certain. Icewind Dale is a long way off.”

Dekaras took some pride in being able to cope with most surprising and shocking situations, and trying to keep Edwin out of trouble since early childhood had certainly prepared him well enough. This time though, he was forced to grab a firm hold of the railing as he felt his vision momentarily blurring. ICEWIND DALE?

“You sure you’re all right, sir?” the sailor asked, looking concerned. “You went a mite green there…”

Dekaras raised his hand. “I’m fine,” he curtly said. Icewind Dale? “Tell me…do you remember anything in particular about my boarding this ship?”

“No. Except you didn’t look too good, and you were very insistent that we had to leave in a hurry. Even paid the Captain extra to do so. Then you’ve spent the past days in your cabin, we almost thought you’d died in there.” The sailor shrugged. “Sorry, but I need to get back to my duties.”

Dekaras watched as the man walked off, trying to make sense of what was going on. Why in the world would he book passage on a ship to Icewind Dale of all places? He had duties to attend to back in Baldur’s Gate, and even if he had decided to leave town he certainly wouldn’t have set sail for that frozen hellhole. Deep in thought, he stuck his hand in his pocket, and was surprised to feel his fingers meet crackling paper.

It was a letter. Crumpled, smudged here and there, and with Edwin’s grandiose and extravagant signature at the bottom. Reading it through, the assassin got the feeling that he had read it already, during his illness. Certainly some words and phrases seemed familiar, as well as extremely worrying. It was more or less a desperate plea for help.

After a few initial phrases of greeting Edwin launched into a hurried and tense explanation, describing that Zaerini had had a sudden change of heart. Apparently she had encountered Sarevok once again, and this time she had decided that at the moment she couldn’t possibly hope to defeat him. She has decided to travel to Icewind Dale, Edwin wrote. She says that there is plenty of adventure and fame to be had there, and that the Sword Coast will simply have to manage without her. I have not brought up our proposal that she serve our interests, it is not a good time to do so. However, once she is safely away from Sarevok I feel certain that she will listen to reason. I have sent a message to Danak as well, explaining this. We will leave at once.

Dekaras glared darkly at the letter. Explain? To Danak? Has the boy gone out of his mind? He should know better than that. He went on reading, as Edwin asked his mentor to meet up with him at a certain date in the town of Lonelywood. Town? That is barely a speck on the map. Probably swarming with those ridiculous ‘Barbarian Hero’ types wearing nothing but leather posing pouches and speaking in grunts.

Still, for all its silliness, Edwin’s letter sounded desperately pleading, and there could be no doubt that he had been in genuine distress as he wrote it. Please, the wizard finished. I know this is asking a lot of you, but I really need you to do this. Once you receive this note I will already be on my way, but there is a ship in the harbor at this moment that will serve you. Know that I would not ask this favor of you if I could see any other alternative, and that I regret the inconvenience it will cause. You have always been there for me when I needed your aid – I pray that you be so one final time and that you will forgive me for asking this.

Dekaras thoughtfully folded the letter and put it away. Edwin had certainly sounded desperate. But why? Surely he must know by now that I will do anything within my power to aid him and that there is no need to apologize for asking that.

The assassin stared into the frothing water for some time, thinking. Something was wrong, he was certain of it. He could vaguely remember reading this letter before, and immediately rushing off to get himself onto this ship, though the details were still fuzzy and unclear. In his previous feverish state he obviously hadn’t wondered about the contents of the letter, but now he did. It all sounded like Edwin, with its entire ridiculous and overly elaborate plan, but all the same he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was…off. But he sounded really distressed; I know I am right about that part. And he trusts me to come to his help; he’s counting on it. Of course I don’t have much choice about it now, but I still would go. True, I would have liked to ask him some questions first, but that cannot be helped. If he needs me, I must be there.

Satisfied that he’d made up his mind, Dekaras looked at the vast expanse of the sea. He’d never been much for sea travel, but he had to admit that it was beautiful, and the fresh wind had done an excellent job of clearing his head. He felt almost like his old self again, and with a few more days rest he didn’t doubt that he would soon be fully recuperated. And a good thing too. Knowing Edwin, he’ll almost certainly manage to get involved in some disastrous scheme before I next see him. What was he thinking, deliberately ignoring my warning about the Red Wizards like this? The boy is far too headstrong, always thinking he can handle everything on his own. Well, at least we’ll have Sarevok off our backs while I try to think of some way to salvage the situation. I’ll think of something I’m sure. Having Edwin safely away from Sarevok ought to help my concentration some. Hopefully he’ll also manage to keep from insulting any dangerous berserker warriors.

Reason aside, the assassin decided that he might as well make the most of this journey, now that he was on it. It wasn’t as if he could turn back, but he wouldn’t have done so even if it had been possible. After all, Edwin needed him. Edwin trusted him. That was the one important thing. And I would never dream of betraying that trust.