Cards Reshuffled

It is always a good idea to get to know your party members better, so I try to take the time to talk to everybody in private now and then. Of course, problems may arise when certain people make a lot of fuss about me talking to certain other people, and the other people make equally much fuss about me talking to the first people. Men.

Excerpt from ‘Ruminations Of A Master Bard’

Zaerini awoke screaming, the nightmare still clinging to her like sticky cobwebs. At first she didn’t know where she was. Somebody was holding her tightly, and she fought to get away, trying to scratch out the eyes of her captor. Then she slowly became aware of the familiar voice speaking to her, repeating reassuring words over and over again. With a long shudder she finally relaxed into the arms of her friend. “Jaheira?” she asked. “I’m sorry…I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“Nonsense, child,” the druid said in her normal brisk voice, soothingly rubbing her back. “I am perfectly well. And no wonder you are having bad dreams, after everything that has happened.”

“Yes…I suppose so.” Rini paused before she went on, trying to gather her thoughts. The small bedroom she shared with Jaheira was still dark, but through the window she could see the sky, and there was a faint light in the east. The sun would rise soon. “This was no ordinary nightmare,” she said, twisting her bedclothes between her fingers to keep herself occupied. “It was one of those dreams, the ones that come from my…sire.”

“I see,” Jaheira said. “Do you wish to tell me about it? It might help.”

“Yes. I think that would be a good idea.” She started speaking, at first slowly and hesitantly, but faster and faster as she progressed, eager to get it over with. “It was terrible!” she finished. “Immy was so…she wasn’t herself. Something really bad is going to happen to her, if it hasn’t already, and she said I would come too late to stop it. Jaheira, we won’t come too late, will we?”

Jaheira didn’t answer immediately, and when she did her voice was very serious. “Child, I cannot make such a promise,” she said.

“I know. I know that really, but what do you think?”

“I think that we are already doing everything we can to find Imoen as soon as possible. We can do no more, as much as we would like to. And if Imoen were here, she would certainly understand that.”

Rini sighed. “I guess so. I just wish I could teleport right to where she is and take her away from there, right now. Jaheira, Irenicus was in my dream. He was doing something to her, something bad.”

“Child, it was a dream that was meant to frighten you. It may have shown you the past, the present, the future, or it may be a plain lie. I know it is difficult, but try not to dwell on it too much. You should go to sleep again, if you can.”

The bard shook her head, red hair flying about her face. “I don’t think I can, not now. I’ll just go downstairs for a while, stretch my legs. Maybe get some breakfast in a little while.”

Jaheira looked very disapproving at this plan. “Downstairs? Alone? In the Copper Coronet? I think I had better come with you.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it. I can take care of myself. Anyway, I won’t be alone.” Zaerini picked her familiar up, displaying the black cat to the skeptical druid. “Softpaws will be going with me, won’t you Softy?”

Of course, the cat replied. Provided there’s some breakfast in it for me as well.

Some time later Rini was sitting at a table downstairs, meticulously studying the scratches in the tabletop. There was a plate in front of her with some surprisingly decent bread and cheese, and some cold meat. Most importantly, there was a large mug of very hot tea. She cupped her fingers around it, enjoying the delicious warmth that spread through her. At this time of day the Copper Coronet was unusually quiet. The drunks and the troublemakers had long since gone home, or lurched, staggered or been carried home in some cases. Those who couldn’t walk and had nobody to carry them had been forcibly ejected into the street, where they’d no doubt become easy pickings for thieves. Rini looked about the semi-dark common room, feeling rather relieved that Lethinan wasn’t present. There was something very unpleasant about the owner of the inn, something that made her skin crawl. Bernard the bartender seemed like a nice fellow however, and what was even nicer right now was that he tried to force her into polite conversation. Right now, with the nightmare still hanging over her, she wasn’t really in the mood.

Maybe you need to be distracted, Softpaws said. The cat was sitting on the table, greedily lapping up a bowl of cream. I could help you. Want me to go and wake your wizard up?

No. You know how cranky he gets when he gets woken up too early. Leave him alone.

Have it your way. Want to go on a nice rat hunt? I’ve seen plenty of nice and juicy ones outside, I’ve been meaning to get to know them better. The cat innocently licked her nose. Or maybe that fat and furry little thing that the big human carries about.

I’ve told you before, you can’t eat Boo. Minsc would go crazy, and I’d be one familiar short.

Spoilsport. You really need something to cheer you up, you know. Anything.

The door suddenly slammed open, there was some eager and energetic puffing and huffing, and Anomen came jogging over towards the table where the bard was sitting, looking annoyingly perky and apple-cheeked. He wasn’t wearing his armor, only shirt, vest and pants, and the shirt was partially unbuttoned, showing an impressive amount of muscular chest.

Don’t stare, kitten, Softpaws said. You’ve already made your choice, remember?

I wasn’t staring! I was just…admiring the view. And anyway, it’s not as if Edwin ever said anything about his feelings for me, so he couldn’t really blame me if I took a look. Well, maybe he could, but that’s not really the point. Anyway, I don’t feel that way about Anomen.

“My lady!” Anomen exclaimed. His brown hair was rather tousled by the wind, and Rini couldn’t help but notice that it was an improvement over the normal orderly way he groomed it. “Whatever are you doing up so early? And why are you down here alone, with no proper escort?”

“And good morning to you too, Anomen,” the redhead said with a wry smile. “Sit down, why don’t you? My neck will get all bent out of shape if I have to stare up at you like this. And I’m sorry if this comes as a shock to you, but I’m used to going where I please, with no ‘escort’ as you put it. I’m not about to change that, for you or for anybody else.”

Anomen flushed a little, and she didn’t think it was solely caused by physical exertion, but he did sit down opposite her. “My apologies,” he said. “I did not mean to offend. I was merely concerned, this is after all a rough place.”

“It’s all right. I know you meant well.” Rini lent her chin in her hand and gave the squire a curious look. “By the way, what are you doing up and about so early, not to mention out in the streets?”

“Ah!” Anomen’s eyes lit up with pride. “I was taking my daily morning exercise, my lady.”

“Your what?”

“It is not enough that my mind be focused on my Lord Helm, I also wish for my body to be the perfect temple, worthy of the powers he grants.” Anomen was really beaming at her by now, and he was fingering his moustache with a rather smug expression. “So, I take a healthy run every morning, followed by some other exercises. Pushups, weight lifting, that sort of thing. Anything I can think of to hone my body to perfection.”

“I…I see,” Zaerini said, trying not to laugh in her companion’s face. He’s not that dissimilar to Edwin, really. Battle of the Egos, here we come. “But is it really ‘healthy’ to run about alone in the Slums, do you think? Weren’t you afraid of getting mugged?”

“You are kind to worry for my safety, my lady,” Anomen said. “However, it is not necessary. Helm would never let His servant down, and I also have my good strength to support me against all villains who might dare confront me.” He frowned. “Strange, I would almost have expected one to do so, but there was none.”

Probably because they were all bent over with laughter, too weak to move, Softpaws said. Cats don’t run about making noise like that. That’s something dogs do. He’s even panting like one.

True. “Well,” Rini said, grinning, “I’m sure Helm is very grateful for your efforts.”

Yes, Softpaws said as she lifted her tail in Anomen’s direction, in what must be considered a rude gesture. I bet. He’s probably desperately asking the other gods to trade him a priest with some brains.

“I would like to think so, my lady,” Anomen said. “Truly, I have always done my best to serve him properly.” He hesitated a moment. “I prithee, my lady...it fills me with no small amount of wonder that you have not asked me of my journeys ere we met? We have traveled a short while, and yet we know next to nothing of each other.”

“That’s reasonable,” the bard said. “If we’re going to travel together, we should get to know each other better. Sure, tell me about your journeys, if you want.”

“Ah,” Anomen said, puffing himself up again. “There is precious little to tell, although my few adventures have been glorious, indeed. The path to knighthood is a long one, however...hence the need for my travels. But a few of my deeds have reached the ears of bards. Battle is commonplace enough throughout Amn, and the Order has fielded its army many times in recent years.” He gave her a hopeful look. “My lady, you are a singer of songs and a teller of tales. Perhaps you have heard about my campaign against the Hillgnasher Giants?”

“Um…sorry.”

“Oh.” Anomen’s face fell a little. “Well, you are from far away, so perhaps it is not so surprising. Most recently, however...let me think...I was with our men when the orcs came down into the Ommlur Hills once again. In great numbers, they are a force to fear...but individually, they are no match for a warrior. I, myself, was able to fight through many of them alone and take the head of one of their foul chieftains.”

“Hm, I haven’t much experience with fighting orcs,” Rini told him.

“Well, that is no surprise, a lady such as yourself should not…”

“However, me and my friends have fought some other interesting critters,” the half-elf said in an innocently charming voice that would have warned anybody who knew her better that they were treading on dangerous ground. “Let’s see…there were the doppelgangers of course. And the giant wyverns, those were really nasty. And that werewolf infested island was no picnic either. But the worst, that had to be the Death Knight. Well, either that or the demon. That one gave me a bruise or two.”

By now Anomen was gaping at her in a very satisfactory manner. “My lady…surely you are jesting?”

“Nope,” Rini said, staring straight into his eyes without blinking. “It’s all true. Ask Jaheira if you don’t believe me, she was there too. And if you want me to take you seriously, you had better do the same to me. I’m not helpless, I’m not fragile, and I don’t need to be treated as such, all right?” She waited a moment, and when it was clear that no reply was forthcoming, she patted the squire encouragingly on the hand. “You can close your mouth now if you want to.”

“I…what of the other rumors? Minsc said something about you stopping a great war, between Amn and Baldur’s Gate. I thought little of it at the time but…”

Zaerini shrugged. “I can’t be sure exactly what Minsc said, of course, but that much is true. I didn’t do it alone of course, I had my friends to help me. And it wasn’t really my primary concern, I had personal business to deal with, and the war thing was only a side effect.”

Anomen blinked. “I see,” he said. Then he seemed to come to a decision. “My lady, you have given me much food for thought. I hold you now in even greater esteem than before, and I hope that I may prove myself through valiant deeds, such as those you describe.” He reached across the table and reverently took her hand. “I will seek to prove myself not only to my Order, but to you as well, that I vow.”

“Um…sure,” Rini said. “You don’t really have to prove yourself to me, you know. But I’m happy we understand each other a little better. Want some breakfast? The others probably won’t be down for some time yet.”

As she waved Bernard over to place another order, Zaerini had no idea that one of her companions was awake already. Edwin was standing on the stairs, motionless and concealed in the shadows, and as he watched the Helmite below him his eyes burned with deep hatred.