Cards Reshuffled

All in all, there are worse fates than having a personality that aggravates certain people. Having no personality at all, for example.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’

Zaerini blinked, trying to concentrate on the face of the druid sitting cross-legged on the floor of the small cell that Lord Logan’s guard had escorted her to. He looked to be in his forties or so…with long, graying hair that framed a curiously unlined face. It was a fairly pleasant face, but there was something odd about it…as if it had been painted on. It was far too smooth, far too unconcerned, almost as if it belonged to a wooden puppet rather than a real person. The druid had braided some feathers and beads into his hair, and at the moment he seemed to be chatting with a small mouse, that had a glazed look in its tiny eyes. As Rini and her friends approached, the man looked up, and the mouse squeaked with relief and darted away.

“Hello and well met to you,” he said, in a pleasantly bland voice that suited his pleasantly bland face perfectly. “I am Cernd, though my identity is surely no secret after the fuss I have caused here.”

“Ah…hello,” the half-elf responded, frantically trying to recall the man’s name. He mentioned it only a few seconds ago…how come I can’t remember it?

“You look pleasant enough; are you friends of that charming Lord Logan?” asked Whatever-his-name-was. “I've made very few friends among the merchants.”

“Lord Logan asked us to escort you to the Druid Grove,” Jaheira said, focusing intently on…on…the anonymous druid. “I am Jaheira, a druid like yourself, and intent on finding out the truth behind these animal attacks. Tell me…er…brother in Nature…what have you learnt?”

The man nodded. The man? Didn’t he mention his name? I could have sworn…who is he anyway? “I am Cernd, as I said, sent from the north to investigate why the druid order of this region has severed its ties with the traditional hierarchy.” Cernd! Yes! That was it…Cernd…um…what was that again? “It is not unheard of,” the druid went on, “but the attacks have me worried. It can only lead to greater evils; these people will eventually strike out as an animal cornered.”

He’s incredibly boring, isn’t he? Softpaws yawned, jumping into Zaerini’s arms. The cat twisted about until she found a comfortable position, and then closed her eyes. When who’s stopped…oh…him…what was his name again?

Jaheira shook her head, as if trying to clear it. “I know many druids in this region and they would not support such actions without due cause. I suspect that there has been a change in leadership here.”

The…man…nodded, and his voice took on a throbbing note. “It is the duty of any druid to find this new leader and ascertain if this is for the best of nature. The attacks on the merchants only serve to alarm me. I might succeed alone, but I would much rather have the backing of a group, one that will also benefit from my service. After all, together a flock of ravens may drive the fiercest of eagles off. Are you up for the task?”

Rini blinked, suddenly realizing that the odd fellow seemed to be addressing her, for whatever reason, and she shook herself out of the trance-like state into which his voice had sent her. Minsc had drooped onto the floor and was snoring loudly. Jaheira was watching her expectantly. She’s actually letting me handle this without telling me what I should do? Wow…Jan was staring at the…druid, wasn’t it…with something approaching fascination on his face. Anomen was slumped against the wall, his eyes closed, and Edwina was resting her head against his shoulder, deeply asleep. But right now she was supposed to answer something…something about druids.

“We’re going to the druid grove anyway,” she slowly said. “I suppose you might as well come with us.” Perhaps he can put the wild animals to sleep.

“Excellent!” the man said, getting to his feet. “Let us make haste then. We must be like the rolling stone that gathers no moss…and hurry to the Druid Grove lest the nuts fall before we shake the tree. I am certain you shall be good traveling companions, as close to me as the great oak is to the mistletoe.”

He’s a parasite? Doesn’t sound too promising. “Right,” Zaerini said, rubbing at her eyes. “To the Druid Grove it is then…um…Mistletoe.”

“Cernd.”

“Yeah…of course. Cernd.” As she headed up the stairs from the dungeon, Rini noticed an odd-looking gray-haired fellow in a bright blue tunic trailing after her with an ingratiating smile on his non-descript face. What a strange person…I have a feeling I ought to remember him though. I wonder who he is?

The journey to the Druid Grove was mostly uneventful, except for the continual frustration that Rini experienced in trying to remember the name of…whatever it was that bland druid was called. Eventually she tied a piece of string around her finger, so that she would at least remember that she was supposed to remember him. What’s-his-name didn’t seem to be a bad fellow exactly, only severely lacking in personality, for which he tried to compensate with annoying nature parables, but nevertheless Zaerini kept hoping that this business with the druids would be over soon so that he would leave.

They camped in a small glade on the night before their estimated arrival to the Grove. It was a beautiful night, and the air was warm and soothing. Rini didn’t feel quite ready to sleep yet, so she strolled about the camp, watching the trees. She normally didn’t take much of an interest in trees or growing things, but of late she had found her eyes turning towards them more and more frequently. Towards the leaves, to be exact. The half-elf touched the leaf that lay hidden in her pocket, feeling the shape of it. She knew the shape by heart now. A leaf out of a dream…still green and fresh. I wish I could remember more about how I got it. But it was important, she knew that much, and that she needed to find the tree where those leaves grew. If not here, then in some other forest. And when I find it…then…what?

Leaves… Softpaws snorted. What’s so interesting about those? Come join me instead…there are rabbit tracks here.

Not right now, Softy. I need to think about this.

You need to think about other things as well. Your two males, for example. Well, one male, one female.

The half-elf sighed. I know. I’ve kept trying to talk to Edwina, but she’s hiding something from me, I can sense it. Something important. And it is more than that she feels bad about the curse on her. I just wish she’d tell me what it is. How am I supposed to help her if she won’t talk to me?

You’ll find a way. Your Cards told you so, didn’t they?

Yes…it seems so. The Three of Coins…referring to a master craftsman. It was coupled to the Lovers. But I don’t know what that means.

The black cat purred, rubbing herself against her mistress’ legs. Don’t worry, kitten. It will come to you, I’m sure. What about the other male though?

Anomen…I’ve tried talking to him too. But somehow, whenever I do, he seems to get the wrong idea, just because I try to be nice. And I can’t hurt his feelings simply in order to prove a point. I won’t do that.

You have to try again, though. Before those two kill each other.

I know. Zaerini sighed again, and squared her shoulders. Come on then…he’s on guard at the moment. And Edwina is asleep, so there should be no risk of her noticing and getting jealous. With that, she made her way over to where Anomen was sitting on a fallen log, tightening the straps on his armor. She couldn’t help but notice that he had nicely broad shoulders, or a warm smile, or the admiring look in his dark blue eyes as she sat down next to him. I can’t believe I never noticed that look before. But…he’s not the one I want. I guess…I simply wasn’t paying attention, not as I should have. “Hello, Anomen,” she said, forcing herself to smile. “Mind if I join you?”

“It would be my great pleasure if you would share my company for some time, my lady,” the cleric said. “Truly, I could not wish for better, though you startled me for a moment.”

”Startled you? How?”

“Why, merely because when I first saw you appear out of the woods, I thought that a wild nymph had come out of hiding, and feared that I might be struck blind by the sight.”

“Oh…er…thanks,” Rini said, fidgeting nervously with the sleeve of her tunic. What do you say in response to something like that? I know how to deal with Edwin…mostly…but this is the sort of thing storybook knights say to their ladies. And whatever else I am, I’m no lady. “You flatter me.”

“Not at all, my lady. As an aspiring Knight of the Order, it is my wont to speak naught but the truth.”

“Right,” Zaerini said, with the bright, desperate voice of somebody eager to change the subject. “So, Ano, we’ve been traveling together for some time now, right? And I’ve been thinking about some of the things you’ve said before and…”

“I know what you mean, my lady!” Anomen said, and then gave a melancholy sigh.

“You…you do?”

“Aye…I find myself opening up to you more and more, in a manner I could never have foreseen.”

“Right, well, that’s what I thought, and…”

“And in doing so, I also feel the urge to share even more with you, my fondest hopes and dreams, my sorrows even.”

“Um…about those hopes…do you mean to say…” Rini gave a startled jump as Anomen suddenly grasped her hand, planting a light kiss on it.

“You are as ever a crutch for me to lean upon in my moments of weakness, my lady,” Anomen eagerly said, still bent over her hand as her mind felt frozen in place. “You are my friend in need, and you listen to me as few others have done…except for my dear sister Moira.” His face darkened. “Certainly not my father. The mere thought of him makes it feel as if an ill wind has blown across my soul.”

Zaerini sighed inwardly. Not getting through here. And I think he does need somebody to listen to him. And I want to help him out. It’s just… “Perhaps you could tell be a bit about your father?” she asked, gently disentangling her hand.

Anomen nodded, and when next he spoke his eyes were pained. “I remember when I first achieved the rank of squire. It had been a difficult task...my father had refused to be my patron, so I was no better off than a commoner would be. Most knights would not take me in, since I had no coin to pay for my equipment. I had to prove myself. A knight by the name of Sir Blethyn took pity on me and had me squired. I was proud during the ceremony, and happy...but it was not to last. My father, Lord Cor, stumbled into the Order's headquarters...he was filthy drunk and full of rage.” By now Anomen was clenching his fists, almost spitting the words out. “He began shouting at the knights...at Sir Ryan Trawl, no less...that I had been stolen from him. That I was a worthless and weak son who should not be in the Order. Sir Ryan Trawl told him that I had proven myself...but the old bastard would hear none of it. They were finally forced to drag him out of the headquarters, kicking and screaming.” There was a brief pause, and then Anomen smiled, a self-mocking little half-smile that held no real joy. “Leave it to Lord Cor to stain the one moment of pure pleasure I was able to steal during my time in the Order, the one thing I had achieved despite all of his opposition. Bah!”

Oh gods…poor Anomen. What must it have been like, to grow up with a father like that? I always knew I was lucky to have Gorion…but not how lucky. “That’s really awful, Anomen!” she said, feeling almost as angry on his behalf as he was. “I’m so sorry that it happened like that.”

Anomen shrugged a little, sighing. “As am I. Since my mother's death, my father has been the force against which I have always struggled to prove myself...an invisible cancer which I cannot vanquish.” He shook his head. “Ah, but listen to me. What a pathetic knight I must seem, blubbering like a boy to you over such a thing as my father's disapproval. You must think me a fool, my lady.”

“No, Anomen,” Rini said with as much emphasis as she could. “I don’t think you’re a fool at all.”

The priest’s smile was warm, and his voice held none of the normal arrogance as he looked her straight in the eyes. “You are kind to say so, my lady. Thank you.”

Oh, that was smooth, Softpaws said as she jumped onto the log, sitting down between the cleric and the bard. Really smooth. Whatever happened to ‘beat it male, I’ve already picked out a mate and you’re not it’?

Zaerini didn’t answer. She simply watched Anomen’s adoring face, trying not to let her own dismay show, feeling utterly trapped.