Cards Reshuffled

When arriving in a new city, there are a few things you should do as soon as possible. Learn which parts of the city are lawless, and which are heavily patrolled by guards. Learn which streets require you to be heavily armed before walking down them and which laws you are most likely to break by doing so. But first of all, try to find a place to stay that is clean enough not to give you unwanted many-legged company in bed, and that serves food which doesn’t require you to spend an entire night contemplating the contents of a bucket. Also, try to find out about any current plagues, civil wars or rampaging undead. That sort of thing is very convenient to know.

Excerpt from ‘Interview With An Assassin’

The sun had already sunk below the horizon as Dekaras walked through Athkatla’s city gates, and though there were still traces of blood-led light across the sky they were fading rapidly. Down here on the streets, the shadows already lay heavy between the houses. The assassin made good use of them, slipping through the narrow streets as quietly as a ghost. Standing still in one place and gawking was never a good idea in any city, that sort of thing tended to attract muggers and pickpockets, and he’d really not rather have to kill anybody before he had at least had some supper.

He had never visited Athkatla before, since he and Edwin had come via a different route on their journey west, and only had a vague idea about the general outline of the city. From what he had been able to gather, the more aristocratic quarters lay to the north of the river, and the seedier ones to the south. South it is then. Not only should I be able to blend in more easily, but that is where I will be most likely to come across good sources of information. The Shadow Thieves are well known for knowing everything that goes on in this city, if anybody knows the whereabouts of Imoen and the others, they will be the ones.

As he made his way south, he mused on what strategy would be best to adopt. Simply strolling into the Shadow Thief headquarters to introduce himself would be out of the question. Possibly some of the more cosmopolitan assassins there might be familiar with his name, but that certainly didn’t mean they’d be willing to offer assistance. They’d be just as likely to try to pull off some foolish dominance challenge. No, I will take things one step at a time. Let’s see what the word on the street is first of all, and then there will be time enough to check in with the Shadow Thieves. Some work on their behalf could prove useful. He must also make certain to regularly check for messages from Poppy. Hopefully the halfling would soon be able to learn where the dwarven mercenary Kagain had escorted Edwin to.

And then perhaps I’ll feel a little calmer, Dekaras told himself as he passed into a deserted alley where a couple of emaciated wild dogs were fighting over a bone. For the past day or so his constant latent worry about Edwin’s well being had increased steadily until by now it was like a persistent and painful itch that wouldn’t go away. Something is wrong with him. I have no logical way of knowing it, but I know it all the same. I know. Something has happened to him, and I should be there to help him. If only I had some idea of where to find him… Feeling immensely frustrated, the assassin walked on, and by now he did wish for a group of muggers to ambush him, if only so he could take his frustration out on somebody. Edwin is in trouble. I know it. And he will want my help. I have always been there for him; I should be there now. Whatever the matter is.

Dekaras briefly rubbed his temples and then went on. He could feel the beginnings of a headache, not something unusual where Edwin was concerned. If he concentrated hard enough he could almost hear the wizard’s voice, calling out for him in pain and confusion, pleading for him to come, asking why he wasn’t there yet. Logic told him that the answer to that question was ‘because he tricked you into visiting Icewind Dale’, but that didn’t help much. Nor did it help that even if he had known where Edwin was, he couldn’t just teleport himself there. He still felt just as guilty. Anything could have happened to him. Anything. He could be in jail, or doing drugs, or dead. He could be tortured, or the victim of one of those necromancers who don’t bother with buying human kidneys. Or he could have been duped into joining some strange cult, or enslaved by a demonic force, or… The list went on and on, each item on it more gruesome than the one before. Dekaras usually was pleased enough with having an active imagination, but there were downsides to it, and at times like this they were very much apparent. His mind refused to stop thinking up terrible scenarios, much as he wanted it to.

Distracted as he was by his worries over Edwin, Dekaras had almost reached the intersecting street before he noticed that something was wrong. The street that the alley led to was a little bit broader, though still dark. Most of the magical lanterns hanging between the houses were cracked and broken, probably by such folk as preferred their activities to go unseen by the local constabulary. And a group of just such people was standing close to the alley mouth, conversing in quiet voices. The assassin had time to pull back into the shadows though, and his presence remained unnoticed.

There were two young men, dressed in dark and nondescript clothes, and the way they moved classified them as rogues beyond a doubt. They were looking very nervous, and they kept peering along the street, clearly afraid of being seen. The person they were with was a woman, and her voice sounded young, but as she was standing with her back towards the alley Dekaras couldn’t get a good look at her face. Still, there was something about her that made all his instincts scream out loud warnings. What he could see of her skin was very pale, and almost glittered in the faint light, catching it the way snow would, and her movements were all wrong. Sometimes they were too fast for a human being, sometimes to slow, as if she had to make a conscious effort to appear human. Because she is not human, Dekaras thought, icy certainty filling his mind. Another vampire. Hopefully one that can lead me closer to this ‘Bodhi’ person.

“So,” the vampire said in a smooth voice that was nevertheless filled with hints of unspeakable pain for all who dared oppose her. “Have you considered the Mistress’ proposal yet? I warn you, she will not wait forever.”

The two young men gave each other a brief look. “We have thought about it, Hareishan,” one of them said. “But you’re asking us to take a very great risk, you know. Going against the Guild like that…it would be worth our heads if we were found out.”

“Perhaps,” the vampire said, chuckling a little. “But do not think of it like that. Think of what it would be…worth…to accept the offer. Or to refuse it.”

The second young rogue swallowed nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. “I’ll do it,” he said, then looked surprised at his own daring. “There are risks no matter what…and the Shadow Thieves are weak right now. Not just with the Guild War going on, but with that recent mess in Waukeen’s Promenade.”

“Not to mention Mae’Var turning up dead,” the other man said. “Renal might have had his reasons for that…but I don’t like him bringing outsiders into our affairs. I’ll accept the offer too.”

“Excellent,” the vampire purred. “You will receive orders later on, as well as the rewards you earn for yourselves. I will call on you later.” She waved her hand, and an instant later she was gone, while a small black bat fluttered into the air and soon disappeared.

“So…” one of the thieves said, shivering. “Guess that’s it, huh?”

“Yeah…” his companion agreed, looking in the direction where the bat had disappeared. “Guess so. Well, better head on back to the Guild. We don’t want people to wonder where we’ve been.”

The two young rouges weren’t bad at stealth, but Dekaras was better, and he had no particular problem following them at a distance through the city. Finally they reached an area where the smell of salt and rotting seaweed was strong in the air, and he knew that they must be close to the harbor. He watched as the two men stopped outside a large stone building, knocking briefly on the door before they disappeared inside. He didn’t intend to follow them, not right now, but at least now he knew where he would be able to find some Shadow Thieves, should he want to. And perhaps they might lead him back to the vampire Hareishan as well…perhaps even to the mysterious Bodhi. And her associate…whoever he might be. That other vampire I interrogated certainly seemed terrified of him.

Satisfied with this, Dekaras decided to seek out a suitable place to stay the night. The Shadow Thieves would have to wait, before he did anything else he needed to explore the city a little, get a feel for its layout and important landmarks and possible spots of danger or safety. Preparation was key in all dangerous endeavors after all, and tangling with some sort of vampire Queen should prove a dangerous business indeed, perhaps as much so as opposing Sarevok and Winski. But if Imoen requires it, I will do it, as I would for Edwin. I hope she is still alive. He realized that he was almost as worried about the pink-haired young thief as he was about Edwin, though with one big difference. In Imoen’s case he knew that she and her friends were in serious trouble because of the information he had gathered. In Edwin’s case…he just knew, with every fiber of his being. Have to manage both. Somehow. I will not let them down. Not while I’m still alive. Briefly, he recalled his conversation with Winski. Or even if I’m not. Actually, I rather suspect that when I do eventually die I’ll follow his example and still keep watch over the children. As long as I don’t manage to get turned into a vampire of course. Impressive magical tricks, but I’d rather skip the ‘sleeping in a coffin’ bit. It seems extremely uncomfortable…

Feeling a little better now that he had made some progress, the assassin went on his way. After the inevitable group of muggers did approach him he felt even better. The same couldn’t be said about the muggers. Once they realized their mistake it was already too late, but they did increase his funds in a very satisfactory manner. I suppose I should do some shopping soon, dull as it is to run around looking for clothes. But it can’t be helped, not if I want to be able to show myself in daylight. The trip did cause quite a lot of wear and tear after all. At least Athkatla is a merchant city; I should be able to get what I need without too much difficulty. Perhaps a few other supplies as well, what with the vampires and all. Holy water would be good if I can get hold of some. Thinking of clothes made him think of Edwin again, this time with a fond smile. The boy had certainly inherited his mother’s fondness for such things, though Edwin was even more inclined to go for the outrageously flashy. It was all a bit of a mystery to Dekaras, who was satisfied as long as his clothes didn’t actually fall to pieces when he put them on, couldn’t care less about which color was currently fashionable since he only used one anyway, and grew extremely bored if forced to accompany one of his loved ones on a shopping spree. Ironically enough, Edwin always pleaded for him to come along, since the sight of the tall assassin glaring menacingly at his surroundings tended to make the shopkeepers especially eager to please. Thinking about that made him recall an incident that had happened not all that long ago, when they had been en route to the Sword Coast.

It hadn’t been all that long after they had left Thay, and Edwin was still very much unused to life on the road, if commendably eager to learn. Still, sleeping on the ground and living off dried rations was new to him, and though he tried not to show it, it wasn’t easy for him. So Dekaras hadn’t objected when they were passing through a city and the wizard requested that they stop so that he could get more supplies. Well, it had sounded reasonable enough, after all a mage needed to restock his spell components from time to time. Unfortunately, he had decided to trust Edwin to get what he needed himself, told him to get only the essentials, and then arranged to meet up with him afterwards.

The problem, of course, lay in what Edwin considered to be essential. When the time was up, Edwin had come staggering along, proudly showing off his ‘great finds’. Not only had he bought enough scrolls and spell components to supply a small army of wizards, including a small stuffed alligator that he claimed he needed ‘for ambience’ but he was carrying a pile of red cloth so tall that he couldn’t even see over it. All of the material was very fine, and there seemed to be a heavy emphasis on silk and velvet. Oh, and there was also a lot of gold thread. Dekaras had pointed out, as gently as he could, that gold thread perhaps wasn’t quite essential as such, but Edwin had been extremely reluctant to grasp this concept. He did eventually give in about returning the alligator and the pile of cloth though, once Dekaras explained to him that they didn’t have an army of servants along with them, somebody would have to carry the heavy bundle and the animal, and he didn’t intend to be that somebody. The gold thread Edwin kept however, and sewed so much of it onto his robe that the stiff fabric made it almost impossible for him to walk. Lucky he didn’t fall in the water, he would have sunk like a stone. Since that incident Dekaras had been very careful about not letting Edwin do unsupervised shopping, no matter how much the procedure bored him.

Except right now I’d cheerfully let him drag me through all of Athkatla’s merchant quarters, and carry whatever he bought without complaints. As long as I knew he was alive and well. He has to be. If not…

No. Edwin had to be well, anything other didn’t bear thinking about. But still I have that nagging feeling…hold on, Edwin. Whatever the trouble is, please just hold on. I’ll be there as soon as I can.