Makings of a Monster

Tamoko and Sarevok were just leaving the Iron Throne tower, when Cythandria run after them.
- "Hello, Sarevok! I heard you will be gone for a few weeks," she breathed.
- "Indeed." Sarevok nodded politely and turned to face her. The woman was sure to give him a lot of attention, to the extent that he found it a little uncomfortable at times. There were those who would be jealous, he guessed, but he felt as if his personal space was invaded.
Tamoko loathed her, but that was the one reason Sarevok found some amount of satisfaction in Cythandria's attentions. When Tamoko tried to question his grandiose plans, he felt a powerful resentment further reinforced by the connection he felt to his divine blood. Cythandria never criticized him, and that gave him a sullen pleasure. If Tamoko didn't appreciate him, there at least was someone who did.

- "Where are you going, if I may ask?" enquired Cythandria.
- "I'm sorry, but you may not. This is private business trusted only to Sarevok's closest associates," said Tamoko levelly, and Cythandria continued to stare Sarevok, never turning her head.
- "It is as she says," said Sarevok. "So if there is nothing else..."
- "Oh!" A silvery laugh. "Good and safe travel then! We will meet later then and work on that operation!" She smiled and walked away.
- "And what operation is that?" asked Tamoko.
- "I don't even know what she's talking about. I guess she means one of those meant to establish the bandit raid scheme," said Sarevok.
- "I don't know why I don't backhand that bitch or just strangle her," muttered Tamoko.
- "Hey, she's a good mage. Useful. And she is loyal to my plans, very loyal."
- "Oh I just bet she is!"

They rode a while in a tense silence. Tamoko didn't know how worried she should be about Cythandria. Her displeasure with Sarevok's plans had caused friction between them, and she was worried that would make him more vulnerable to the bitch's approaches. But she wouldn't, couldn't, pretend she found nothing wrong with the situation. She'd die by Sarevok's side if need be, but she wouldn't want to lose him to this folly.
Another thing she felt unease with was their mission. Sarevok wanted to kill Gorion and his ward, Peri. When he talked about it with the Bhaal-gleam in his eyes he kept mentioning that Gorion was a Harper, and Peri was a sibling, a budding competition it would be best to eliminate before she could make any serious trouble. But truer than this was Sarevok's reaction when he went to the emotional mode. He felt such a bitterness, such a hurt. Had Gorion taken him instead...

The more Sarevok denied all memories and feelings of being small, helpless and frightened, the stronger they haunted him. He had always been so very proud. Perhaps, if Sarevok killed Gorion, avenged his abandonment and misery of life on both the old sage and his hated sibling, he would get peace. Perhaps then he would listen to Tamoko and embrace the joy life held without mad schemes and grandiose plans of immortality. This was Tamoko's wish as she rode towards Candlekeep. She had actually quite liked the impression of Gorion, and killing him felt unjust. But her loyalties were for Sarevok, and if this was what he needed to do, then she would not waver.

As the library fortress finally loomed ahead of them, Tamoko regarded Sarevok by her side. He wore that hideous suit of armor he had designed, and only his eyes gleamed from inside the visor. At the moment there was not much human in the eyes. They missed nothing, they reveled in the killing the beast anticipated. The pair unmounted their horses and left them by the clearing, and approached Candlekeep from the forest area. Such a bucolic scene - squirrels hopping, birds singing merrily, the peaceful wind lazily humming in the trees - and yet the menace was palpable. They joined the hired help, two ogres, and continued to advance.

Gorion and the girl were outside the gates, and as the old man saw them approaching, he knew at once.
- "Run, my child, run!" he urged and approached them, ready to fight. No fear, no uncontrollable resentment on his face, usually so gentle. Just the resolve to protect the one he loved, and the courage to do so if it meant losing his own life. This was a man of honor, and yet... a man of kindness and gentleness. Tamoko felt a flash of resentment herself. If only he had been the one who raised Sarevok. He would never be so full of hatred and chase such mad and destructive dreams.

The men went through the motions, Sarevok making his false promises if Gorion only gave up his ward, Gorion having none of it. Sarevok's voice had this chilling sneer, this pleasure of what would come. That was another way he had changed lately Tamoko didn't much care for. He had always loved battle and had a strong bloodlust, but he had never been a sadist, never drawn pleasure from the suffering of others. Nowadays there was no mistake of it. Of course, Gorion was no helpless victim, but apparently Sarevok thought he was.

Sarevok welcomed the wrath and approached Gorion. In the back of his mind he was small and left dying again, the robe out of his reach as he tried to clutch it and failed. Not quite so out of my reach now, are you Gorion? Should have finished me, you know... the years I lived without your protection and guidance have made me strong, if nothing else. You will die, old man, as will your ward. So sayeth Reiltar's ward... Sarevok felt like laughing gloomily and crying at the same time. Charging for a kill he saw Gorion unleash a spell trigger, and suddenly he felt different. Vulnerable, and to his horror, unable to move! No matter how hard he tried to, he couldn't move an inch, as vulnerable to attacks as a statue. He had never felt such a helplessness in battle, and it filled him with rage and dread.

Tamoko, seeing what had happened, charged to protect him. Gorion's spells had already took the ogres down, and now he was aiming them at Sarevok! Tamoko disturbed him, managed to take some of his magical protections down, fighting for the life of her lover. From the corner of her eye she could see the spells hitting Sarevok, him shaking by the force of them, the anxiety burning her throat. He was big and strong, but how much could he take?

Finally! Finally the hold spell wore off, and the shaken and wounded Sarevok continued the attack, wide-eyed, enraged. The brave Gorion had run out of his spells, and again he knew. Still, no fear, no hate. Just resolve and courage. He drew his dagger in a brave gesture, his last second in this life before the force of Sarevok's sword literally split him, his blood spurting, his body collapsing and his spirit here no more. It was done. But where was Peri? Nowhere to be seen, and Sarevok needed rest and healing.

- "I should have listened to Winski... I never knew that magic..." Sarevok's voice was small now, his eyes human once again. "For a moment I thought he'd kill me."
- "Magic is potent, as Winski has many times told you," agreed Tamoko, embracing the shaken Sarevok. "Do you... do you feel any better now that he's dead?"
Sarevok turned to face her, the child he had been for once on the surface and the rare tears welling in his eyes.
- "No. I don't feel better at all."