The trip to get to the sphere's door seemed to take an eternity to complete, and it certainly hadn't helped that everyone sported at least one injury. Andaire's own healing powers were still too weak to heal more than cuts and bruises, still she had drained them by the time they gratefully stepped past the entrance. She had another reserve of healing left, but that one wasn't goddess granted and she was too wary to use it, tempting as it was. Valygar, wiser than the rest, made sure the door was closed although he grunted in discomfort when he did so.
"Valygar, I'll get Viconia to heal you once we get all the way to where your ancestor is," Andaire told him wearily as the group walked through the entrance tunnel and into the main room.
The noble nodded in agreement. Andaire decided that she liked the man for he was practical and though he disagreed with her on some things, he was still willing to follow her. She called for a rest in the main room and motioned for everyone to listen to her. There was a tearing sound in the air and she automatically checked her clothing to see if she accidentally ripped it. Her things were fine and she idly wondered what that sound had been.
"Listen up," she began. "Minsc is going to take the heart downstairs and fed it to that weird machine some of you saw and that Lavok told us about. Nalia, Yoshimo, go with him in case it's difficult to figure out how to do it."
"No worries Andaire!" Minsc told her. "Boo knows what to do and I shall do it for him since his paws are too tiny for all those knobs and buttons."
She managed a grin and said, "Good, then go. When we get back home, we're going to take a couple of days to rest up."
"Young lady," Keldorn told her in a stern voice. "There's a matter that I must bring to your attention before we go any further."
Andaire sighed inwardly. The last thing she needed was to have an in depth discussion on how dark elves were inherently evil, which she suspected the 'talk' was going to be about. "What is it?"
The paladin ignored the ire in her tone and said, "There is a ragged hole near the top of your pack. Your ill-mannered crow is even now tearing out more threads by the beak full. I'm afraid you'll have to have the pack replaced."
Someone behind her laughed. She let out a curse word in Undercommon for she had forgotten that she had put the bird there. Of all the things for Blackie to do, now she'll have to go buy a new pack! She asked someone to let the crow out for her and Anomen came to her aid. "Steady my lady, I'll have the bird free in a minute."
"My thanks," Andaire replied, steadfastly ignoring the sidelong glance Jaheira gave her. She had other things on her mind as for some reason, she found herself wishing that Anomen would rub the kinks out of her shoulders. The image was a pleasant one indeed, and Andaire was enjoying it until the silence was broken by cursing.
"Blasted bird!" Anomen swore. "He bit me. Had I not been wearing my gauntlets, doubtless blood would be flowing from the wound on my fingers. There, the foul creature is free."
"Thanks," Andaire said. She was disappointed to see the squire leave her presence. She glared at the bird as he scrambled to take his place on her shoulder, but as usual he was unrepentant in his behavior. With nothing more to be done she led her companions back to the room where the necromancer awaited them.
She mused as they made the torturously long trip back to the 'control room' that the demon fight would seem like a pleasant distraction in comparison to what Jaheira would say to her. She grumbled to herself for Jaheira was acting more… she didn't want to say overbearing but no other word would fit for now. Why she couldn't figure out yet, but it was beginning to irk her. Jaheira was right about one thing though in that she should have used magic and should not have gone charging in. It was just that when she heard or sensed here sire's presence she felt like doing nothing more than hacking at an enemy with her sword. Gorion was right as always when he taught her that to deal with magic required a cool head.
"At last," a bored Viconia said once Andaire entered the room. "I've been watching this jaluk for ages. This is beneath my dignity."
"Nothing would be beneath your dignity, if you had any," Keldorn snapped.
"Be quiet or else," Andaire said. "No bickering, got it? Haer'Dalis, go help Lavok with the controls and don't even think about taking any side trips. At this point in time the last thing I want to do is to go plane hopping any more than necessary. Viconia, go heal Valygar as best you can, I think he broke a rib or two."
"Did you get the heart?" Lavok wondered as the Tiefling approached his position. He was sitting on the ground and leaning against the base of the control panel, and a series of violent coughs wracked his frame.
Just as the necromancer recovered, some stands that were previously dark lit up. Something hummed to life in the back of the room and Lavok nodded in relief. "Good, the engine has power. I'm not long to live, so press the main switch and we'll be back in Athkatla. I've already had the route to Athkatla set up, thanks to the insistence of the dark elf."
Viconia frowned at the mention of the word elf, but otherwise she got a perverse sense of amusement out of standing near Keldorn and making him uncomfortable by her very presence.
"Wait," Valygar interjected. "What of those knights that you stole from their home?"
"He's right," Andaire agreed. "They need to go home too, I promised them. I think they came from, what was it again? Abalone, Anseer and no, Ansalon. They came from Ansalon."
"Does the raven truly wish to fly to a land unknown?" Haer'Dalis asked, getting confirmation when the half elf nodded in assent.
"Then listen to my instructions planar one," Lavok said to Haer'Dalis. "And do what I tell you to do."
Soon the machine hummed louder, though it didn't feel like they were really moving anywhere. They did hear that strange disembodied voice that had first announced the sphere had moved when they had opened the main door, and no one in the party knew form where it came. Lavok probably knew, but at the moment he was in no condition to say anything. Being one of the least injured, Andaire herself led the grateful knights to the door once the sphere came to a stop. She passed by Minsc, Nalia and Yoshimo on her way to the entrance, and since they were curious they followed her despite her instructions to the contrary. The Solamnic Knights had nothing to give Andaire except for their profuse thanks and an odd warning not to let the Kendar riding on her shoulder try on any more strange rings. She did get a glimpse of their world before the door shut and the sphere took off. It was a lovely place that reminded her of the nicer parts of the forests along the Sword Coast. She waved farewell to the knights and hoped that they noticed her gesture.
She didn't move too far from the entrance for she figured that the others would soon join her after the sphere reached Athkatla. A few minutes later the remainder of the party arrived. Keldorn was carrying Lavok for the necromancer was too weak to walk the distance. Haer'Dalis looked fascinated by the proceedings and Valygar looked glum. Andaire nodded and led the group outside. Without discussing it they formed a single line and remained rather subdued. The half elf couldn't shake the impression that they were in the midst of a funeral procession.
The main door opened and sunlight crept through the entrance to the sphere. Andaire stared down from her lofty perch into the depths of the city. Even from this height she imagined she could hear the constant din of the slums. People bustled about their daily lives, unaware and uncaring of the drama taking place above the level of their rooftops. She turned away from her contemplation of the city and silently watched the paladin place the dying ancestor of Valygar on the walkway of the sphere. Not everyone could fit on the platform, so at least half the group remained indoors.
Valygar bent low until he was practically kneeling beside his relative. Lavok looked even paler than before and there were flecks of blood on his chin. However, he didn't appear to mind his imminent death for he was smiling at the sky. A lone hawk passed overhead, adding his mournful cry to the bustle of a large city.
"At last," Lavok wheezed. "I'm home. Not only do I get to die under my own sun with my mind my own once again, but I saw the last of my family. Valygar, I'm so sorry that you and the family had to go through this, my blind obsession with power and my pride doomed me."
"I, I don't know what to say," Valygar admitted.
"Say nothing, but know that the Corthala curse is gone because I am gone," Lavok told him. "You, the half elf, I have something for you."
"What is it?" Andaire said warily.
Lavok coughed and said once he was done, "I sense that you have the same spark of the Weave that I do. Yes, I can sense that you're a mage as I, but a more responsible one I hope. Here, take the sphere, it is my gift to you. Guard it from those who are as foolish as my younger self was. And Valygar, I'm so glad I saw you…"
Lavok twitched and then he let out a deep breath. He died with an expressionless face although later some would swear he had been smiling. Andaire didn't feel different though she knew something had happened. She solemnly watched the wizard perish, and then he seemed to age incredibly rapidly. It was as if all the years had caught up to him at once. Eventually he turned into a pile of gray dust and then the wind whisked him away.
"It's over," Valygar said at last. "It's finally over."
