Cards Reshuffled

Ironically enough, it is often when we think ourselves more perceptive than the people around us that we will turn out to be completely blind to the truth. But even more dangerous are the people who think themselves morally superior and try to force you down a path of their choosing, ‘in your own best interest’.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’

Anomen Delryn was feeling confused. This wasn’t an entirely unusual occurrence these days. It wasn’t that he was stupid by any means, despite what his father would frequently tell him when drunk. Right now events were progressing a bit too swiftly for his tastes though. It was as if he had entered a playhouse halfway through the first act and had to try to figure out what was going on up on the stage, while the actors traded lines with lightning speed.

For one thing, there was the matter of the Red Wizard. Zaerini clearly knew him, though the relationship seemed less than cordial. Which is just as well. She was most likely in dire straits at some point, and he took advantage of the fact. I can see no other reason for her to wish to associate with that kind of filth, unless he put her under some sort of sinister spell. Such a lady deserves better, and I will do my utmost to ensure that he does not impose his dark influence on her.

Anomen smiled slightly as he pondered his employer. The half-elf was more than a breath of fresh air in his life, she was a raging storm. That should have bothered him, as should her blatant disregard for authority, custom and proper conduct. On some level it still did, but not as much as it ought to have done. And I am certain I can instruct her in proper behavior, once I get the opportunity to share with her the true vision of the Order. Besides, she is very comely. Eyes like hot flames, the face of a wild woodland spirit and hair like a…like a…like a crimson rhodelia. Yes, that’s it. A fair lady for all her wild ways, and for all her secrets. I must speak further with her as soon as possible, seek to know her better. Aye, ‘tis my sacred duty even, to foster duty and virtue in the hearts of those I deem might benefit from it! She has a good heart, I know it, and with the proper guidance she could be truly magnificent! Of course, I must be gentle and not too harsh in my instruction, or she might well balk despite the benevolent purpose. She has a temper that could even match dear Moira’s I think.

The cleric frowned. He loved his sister very much, and the thought of her practically alone in the crumbling family home sat heavy on his heart. Practically alone – except for Father. That was small comfort. Cor Delryn was a harsh man, even when not in his cups, and these days he was drunk more often than not. Had he been allowed to choose, Anomen would never have left Moira where she was, but his sister had never been one to let him tell her what to do. She had insisted that she remain behind while he sought his lifelong dream of a knighthood with the Order, to take care of their father as best she could. One day, sweet sister. One day, I will show you that it was not in vain, that the Order deemed me worthy even if our drunken oaf of a sire never did. One day I will take you away from there and give you all the happiness you deserve.

“Do not dawdle!” Jaheira said, giving Anomen a sharp nudge in the side. “Or did you intend to stand about here gawking like a newborn fawn until every wolf in the neighborhood scents easy prey? We can do without a mugging attempt.” It wasn’t as if he felt more than a fraction of the nudge through his armor, but he still gave her a haughty look. The druid had already moved on however, and did not even notice his annoyance. She had spoken her reprimand, and expected him to comply. Refusal was probably an impossibility as far as she was concerned. That is one of the most arrogant women…no, one of the most arrogant people I have ever had the misfortune to meet! She seems to be utterly incapable of even considering being wrong about anything! It would do her well to learn some humility methinks. Well, perhaps that may yet be accomplished. What is a frail woman with a stick and some rudimentary healing skills compared to a trained warrior, an almost ordained Knight of the Order, and one graced by the favor of Lord Helm himself? I will be gracious about it however, ‘tis not seemly for a knight to boast of his prowess, no matter how great.

Aerie now, she was behaving in a much more satisfying manner. The elf was timid and shy, perhaps a little too much so, but she was a very pleasant audience, always eager to listen to him and benefit from his advice. Right now she was leaning on his arm again, her legs tired once more. Perhaps there is such a thing as too frail. The girl is sweet and demure, but…

Anomen was unable to even finish the sentence internally, not sure exactly what he was feeling. Unconsciously, his eyes once again drifted towards his party leader. Zaerini was walking in the lead, speaking quietly with the giant lack-wit Minsc, patting his arm as if she was trying to soothe him. From the snatches of conversation Anomen could pick up on, he gathered that it concerned the Red Wizard, and that Minsc was no happier about that one than Anomen himself was. Fool he may be, but he knows evil when he sees it, just as I do. I pray that my lady will soon see the same, before that serpent mage bites her trusting hand. For if he does, I swear that there will be a steel boot ready to squash his ugly head.

“Anomen!” Aerie said, sounding rather petulant. “Aren’t you…aren’t you l-listening to me? I…I know I am v-very ignorant and not very interesting and if you want me to…to be quiet you only have to s-say so. I…I am used to it.” Her voice took on a deep note of sorrow as she said this last, and Anomen felt a sharp pang of guilt. I must be more courteous; it does not do to be inattentive towards a lady, particularly not one in distress. And she does mean well, she deserves some sympathy. Though I do wish her voice was a little less…annoying.

“My apologies, my lady,” Anomen said, smiling at the Avariel. “I fear I was deep in thought. Might I ask you to repeat yourself?”

Aerie smiled shyly up at him in return, blushing a little. “Well…I…I was just s-saying how lucky Zaerini is to…to have you here, and…and me as well. She…she is far too…too trusting about that evil wizard, I fear she m-might get us hurt. But with you here to keep us all safe I am s-sure that you will stop him if…if he tries anything. That is what knights do, isn’t it? Smite evil?”

“Aye, my lady! That is indeed my sacred duty!”

“Do you…do you think…no, it is perhaps a foolish idea…”

“Please, my lady! You need not fear me, mine ears are always ready to attend the words of the virtuous!”

“Well…I…I was only th-thinking? Is it safe? To…to wait until he tries anything, I mean? He is evil after all, all the Red Wizards are. Shouldn’t we…well…do something b-before he can hurt any innocent people?”

Anomen paused, thinking. It did sound logical. Wasn’t he duty-bound to serve justice after all? And yet he couldn’t quite shake the feeling that there was something important he was missing. “I…think I should look to my Lord Helm for guidance in this,” he finally said. “And there is also the matter of Lady Zaerini. Her wishes must be taken into consideration, as long as I am sworn to her service I have a duty towards her.”

“But…but what if she doesn’t know what’s best for her? What does your duty t-tell you then?”

Anomen never had the time to answer this, for they had reached their destination at last. The narrow streets and dark alleys opened up into a small plaza here, with a few old stone buildings leaning against each other like tired old men, too stubborn to simply lie down and die. Once they might have been impressive, even beautiful. Once important business meetings might have been conducted here, once there had probably been grand parties, even balls. Ladies in dresses spun from equal parts silk and dreams had walked here, jewels sparkling from their necks and arms, shining in all the colors of the rainbow. Business was probably still done here, but of the kind that vastly preferred concealing shadows to brightly lit offices, and where the exchange of coin depended on what weapon the other negotiator was carrying. There were still ladies as well, and their dresses were still bright enough for any butterfly, but these days the fabric was coarser, the women’s faces harder and more wary, and the gentlemen they met were of the paying kind.

In the dark, the noises of the streets seemed even louder than in the daytime. Laughter. Drunken singing. And sometimes, sometimes there would be a scream. We should have waited until the morning, Anomen thought. It was folly to brave these streets at this time of night. And going to confront a Cowled Wizard will not be an easy task under any circumstances, much less when our leader is emotionally distraught.

Determined to be of service Anomen pushed ahead with a mumbled brief excuse for Aerie, oblivious of the acid look the Avariel shot his way. Zaerini stood watching an old gray stone building surrounded by an overgrown and dark garden, and she was conferring with Jan in a low voice. Probably discussing some sort of…of burglary technique or something similarly dishonorable. May Helm forgive me for associating with that larcenous gnome. Now, I must put this politely. “My lady!” he said. “I must ask you to reconsider this…this mission. This sort of dark deed will only serve to sink your soul deep into corruption.”

Zaerini turned her head around to give him an annoyed look, and Anomen was a little taken aback at the way her eyes suddenly seemed to glow in the darkness, like those of a great predator. A large cat, perhaps. “Anomen, this is not a good time!” she hissed. “My soul is…none of your affair.” For an instant a shadow seemed to drift across her face, and the cleric got the impression that she had been about to say something else. “Anyway,” she continued in a more normal voice, “you’re overreacting.”

“Overreacting? We are talking assassination!”

“Nah,” Jan cheerfully inserted. “That’s only if we get paid. Until then, it’s plain killing. Perfectly decent.”

Zaerini sighed. “Look,” she said, meeting Anomen’s eyes straight on. “I need to do this. I…need Edwin to work with me. For Imoen’s sake. And for…other reasons. And if this Cowled Wizard is a threat to his life, then I’m going to deal with that threat. I might not have to kill anybody, but I’m making no promises.” She crossed her arms across her chest and stuck her chin in the air a little, looking up at him. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it, you’re free to go if that’s how you want it.”

“I…no. I will come. But I ask that you be careful.”

The half-elf’s grin was mercurial and made his stomach make a strange little fluttering movement. For some reason his ears suddenly felt very hot. “Of course,” she said. “I’m always careful.”

Behind him, Anomen could hear Jaheira snort loudly. “In that case,” the druid said in a very dry voice, “I do not doubt that a few prayers will be in order.”

As the adventurers passed silently through the dark garden, Aerie was concentrating on her breathing patterns. In…pause. Out…pause. Focus. Over and over again, it helped her calm and concentrate on what was ahead. Things were moving more rapidly than she had wished for, and that disturbed her. I wanted to find the Odesseiron brat, but not quite like this. Not to be taken by surprise. At least I managed to get out of him spotting me, for now. That could have made things very awkward. Where is that accursed assassin though, I wonder? My Mistress said I would get a chance at him as well, and I doubt he’d let the brat run about on his own. He cannot be far off, but if he had seen me he would have done something already, wouldn’t he?

It would be necessary to adjust her plans a little, it seemed. Her progress with Anomen wasn’t quite as swift as she had wished for, but she was progressing. It was a bit delicate, but she didn’t doubt that things would go as she wished. I’ll keep the ‘love’ angle open, but if he should prove truly infatuated with the redhead I could use his misguided chivalry as well. He certainly seems keen to ‘protect’ her against the Evil Wizard. With a bit more nudging I could make that work. And there is Minsc as well, he wouldn’t take much persuading. If only I could be certain that I have enough time! But I have to work with what I have. And right now there is another matter to deal with. That preposterous gnome. He must be removed. Zaerini must not be tempted to decide that one wizard is enough, so I must make certain that there is only one mage available to her. Me.

“Aerie?” Minsc asked, giving the Avariel a concerned look. “Are you all right? You look worried, but Minsc promises that he will let nobody hurt you, and he will squeeze the evil out of anybody who tries, until they’re as dried up and wrinkly as a nasty old vampire at midday. Minsc is very good at squeezing out Evil.”

“I’m sure you are, Minsc,” Aerie said with a radiant smile and patted the ranger’s giant hand. “And I’ll…I’ll make sure to tell you whenever I need some help with that. There…there is ever so m-much Evil about everywhere…”