Makings of a Monster

The Iron Throne headquarters were still in a mild chaos. Sarevok had apparently slammed an assortment of guards against wall with half-handed smacks, barged in the rooms of council members, broken a few heavy oaken tables by slamming his fist on them, and proceeded to strangle Reiltar's closest colleagues until he had been satisfied that they really thought that the man was in Cormyr, and no idea exactly where.

Winski just stared ahead, not really caring, while Tamoko was trying to appease the stunned and indignant men.
- "Yes, I understand it was quite audacious. But you understand, Mrs. Anchev was found murdered and he is upset. Surely you understand that. A man can crush under such pressure, and he has a great anxiety to tell the news to his poor father so that they can properly bury her and start mourning."
- "Is Allonia here?" asked Winski, hoping so. But she wasn't. She had traveled to Impiltur, and wouldn't be back until next month.
- "We will have to think on it," decided the men, who still seemed to be shaken with fear. "We may be able to overlook his... outburst because of his grief."

Satisfied, Tamoko prodded Winski along and they went away.
- "He didn't actually kill anyone so it's no big deal. The worst consequences could be a little jail time - he is still part of the mercenary forces. But I don't think they'll go even for that," she said. "Not that he would give a damn, but there is future. There will be..." she allowed some of her own shock and horror to shine through. "I will help him... this is not the end. Not for you either, Winski."
- "He probably just rides to Cormyr through the main roads and tries to find him," Winski said. "The same routine in other Iron Throne quarters..."
- "We'd better find him soon. He's out of control," Tamoko said, and the two began the journey without further delay.
I wonder, thought Winski, if he is ever completely in control.

In the first inn they stopped to rest Tamoko approached a group of travelers. After finding out that they were coming from west, she enquired: "Have you seen a large wailing madman anywhere?"
- "How did you... damn, it must be the same fellow!" exclaimed a man who had a honest, round face and soft movements. No warriors, these. "We faced this really grim-looking and large man and were attacked by a big group of bandits. He just... took them all down like it was nothing. Just cutting them to pieces, reaping them like grass."
- "He was definitely more scary than the bandits," added another man.
- "You know what the creepiest part was?" piped in a woman. "After the bandits were all dead, he kept hacking the bodies! To smaller and smaller pieces. And he kept roaring, and wailing, and crying. He's crazy."
- "Yes, he is," nodded Tamoko. "When was this?"
- "Why, three hours ago..."
- "Let's go, Winski."

They were tired, and it was getting dark, but neither would stop. With the havoc Sarevok seemed to spread around him, he should be rather easy to find before he'd reach any of the cities. After two hours' ride they saw a logfire, and a familiar silhouette of a large warrior. Grateful, they slowed down their horses and approached. Sarevok was quiet now, staring at the fire. The field was still a mayhem of bloody body parts slowly cooling down, starting to collect flies. Tamoko and Winski sat beside him, quietly. He said nothing, and for a long moment it was very silent, only the buzz of the flies heard in the darkening night.

Then Sarevok turned to face Tamoko. He was startlingly different, somehow. The warmth and passion always in his eyes was replaced by something... cold. Something not quite mortal, which could wait what it wants. A long, long time.
- "I know what you are going to say. That I shouldn't just kill him in front of witnesses."
- "It wouldn't accomplish you anything, Sarevok," said Winski.
- "Yes, I agree," said Sarevok, surprising them both. "You see, I killed those bandits and Bhaal entered me in my pain for mother, in my anxiety to kill Reiltar. But he wouldn't leave me after the battle, when I sat and gathered my breath. Mother will be avenged, and Reiltar will suffer. Oh, how he will," he said, his voice lowered to a hiss. "But he is an useful tool. We will drain the fool for what he is good for, let him live his delusions. My blood demands that I make use of him, not only seek senseless revenge. I see all that clearly now. I was deluded by weakness before."

Tamoko took his hand, and he did embrace her back. She tried to wordlessly reach to that innocent, vulnerable and passionate man-boy who had given his love to her with so brave and frank a heart. He was still there, somewhere, suffering. But at the moment the less mortal side of Sarevok was holding sway of his heart. Tamoko shuddered, even though the night was warm.

Winski tried to regain his old thinking patterns. Believing in trying to do the good thing, live a good, dedicated life... where had it got Jelena, and him? If gods so mercilessly played with them, shouldn't they try to play back? Take what power there is to have so they wouldn't be playthings anymore? But still the only thing he could feel was ache, and the memory of Jelena's round shoulders embracing him.