All That Glitters...42

Chapter Forty-Two

"Perhaps...perhaps we can wait a little before going to the Coronet," Keldorn suggested after the Harpers had left.

"No, no...let's go. Let's keep going. It's not as if I've anything else to do."

"Are you sure you do not need a little time to...?" Yoshimo started to ask.

"To what?" Kal said back, a little sharply. "It's not as if...it's not like she's dead." A pause. "Let's go, I said. All right?" Another pause, Kal looking around to see everyone looking at him. "Would everyone stop acting strange?"

No one else started to talk, so Kal walked out the gaping hole that had been the door. The others followed.

---

"You...you worry about her...don't you?"

Kal looked up, only then realizing that he'd been looking down. Viconia was looking at him, unsure if he'd actually heard her question. After all, they were walking through the Centre District to reach the Coronet, and the clatter of Waukeen's Promenade always filled the entire District.

"Honestly...yes, I do," he said.

"Why?" Viconia asked. "She...after all, she is shielded by the magic of the ring she wears."

Kal shrugged. "I...I guess I just don't trust the Harpers."

Viconia blinked. "Yet Jaheira and Khalid were your companions for a significant amount of time."

"Yes," Kal said. "I didn't say that I distrusted all Harpers, just the Harpers in general, and especially the ones who blasted their way into the Flagons. Aside from Reviane, they didn't seem all too interested in finding out what happened so much as finding someone to punish for Galvarey's death. And I'm afraid that's going to be Jaheira."

"There is no particular sense in worrying...you cannot affect the outcome now," Viconia said.

Kal sighed. "Yes, I know. I just...." His hands fluttered in the air for a second, in a helpless kind of gesture.

"I think I may...understand. Yet I do not understand, exactly, what she said to me before she left..."

Cel answered her. "She...she loves Kal. Has for a long time...as a friend. As a child, even, especially when Kal was starting out. And after Khalid died, she...began to think of him differently. She was...reluctant, but, eventually, hopeful that their relationship might become something...more."

Viconia started to speak, then stopped herself. After a few seconds of thought, she started again. "Did...do you...love her?"

"Yes," Kal replied. "Yes, I do. But...not the way she may have wanted me to." He shrugged. "I don't think you need me to tell you that it's a complicated relationship. To me, Jaheira is unshakably linked to the idea of ‘Khalid's wife'...and I think she still thought of herself that way. Perhaps, by now, she managed to get over it. I didn't - and maybe I'm not as good of a person because of it, but I couldn't forget Khalid."

"The...her husband," Viconia said. "The half-elf warrior."

Kal sighed. "Yes...that was him. Khalid...where do I start? For me, well...I had much the same kind of a relationship with him as I had with Jaheira. Between the two of them, they pretty much taught me everything I needed to know as I started out. I loved them both, as mentors, and then, after they'd taught me everything they could, as companions and friends. Khalid was like an older brother to me."

Viconia nodded slowly.

"And taking the next step with Jaheira, well, it just felt...wrong. Disrespectful to Khalid. I wish I could be more specific, but that's...that's really all I can put into words."

"And what she said to you was...well, she was...conceding," Cel said.

"...conceding?"

"I think you know what the word means," Cel said, "and I'm pretty sure you don't need me to fill in the blanks. She recognized, at the least, that she wasn't the only one who cared about him. Perhaps even loved him."

"Love...." Viconia said, as if testing the word. "A...concept strange to me, I think."

"You just didn't know the word for it before," Kal disagreed.

"How would one define ‘love'...?"

Kal laughed. "People have been trying to do that for centuries. I don't think they ever get it quite right. As much as I like and use logic, it has its limits, and this is absolutely one of them."

"Why is that?"

Kal shrugged. "In defining it, it always seems as if they miss something crucial about it. Every definition seems to successfully identify some of what results because of love, but they never get close to what it really is. Some things are just emotional. Some things just don't go into words."

"Still, without words, I do not believe I will be able to understand."

Kal shook his head again. "I don't think so. I think you understand, you just need to match the word with the feeling. You're a keen observer, Viconia. I think you can do it. For one thing...I think you loved your brother very much."

She nodded slowly. "You have given me much to think about. Again, it seems."

---

The Copper Coronet was a large place, one of the biggest inns in the entire city. However, that was the best thing one could say about it. A haze from the torches hung in the air, and even during the day the place seemed dark. A number of adventuring parties were present, but they kept to themselves, as did the scattered groups of labourers and commoners. The Coronet was, for better or for worse, also a convenient place for the poor to get a roof over their heads, and there were a number of beggars huddled near the doorways, though most were outside.

Kal drew his cloak over his armour as they entered, knowing that an entry in gleaming plate armour wouldn't exactly be a prudent course. It draped over Cel's hilt as he did so.

"Hey!" Cel said, though at a moderate volume. "I can't see!"

"Be quiet. There's nothing to see, anyway," Kal told her. Beside him, Keldorn was following suit, pulling a nondescript brown cloak around him. While the beggars probably wouldn't mind a representative of the Order coming to the Coronet, many of the others would. Announcing their presence would only bring trouble - as Anarg had accurately noted long ago, sentiment among the common people regarding paladins was undeservedly negative.

A somewhat nasal voice cut above the tavern chatter. "Strangers! Perhaps you have more courage than the worms that frequent this pit of corruption. I am Anomen, warrior priest of Helm. What is your name?" A young man in shining, meticulously polished armour stood in front of the newest group of adventurers to enter the inn from the far side door.

"Dear Torm, no," Keldorn groaned, half in embarrassment at Anomen's demeanor, and half in shock that he would do such a stupid thing.

The armoured fighter Anomen had been talking to glared at him. "Get out of our way."

"I am a squire of the Order! You cannot command me so!" Anomen protested.

A companion of the fighter, a mage by observation of his robes, leaned forward, smiling an unpleasant smile. "We can command you to do whatever we wish to command you to do, squire-boy. And right now, that is to get out of our way."

Anomen bristled. "I shall not be intimidated by-" Two of the Coronet's many guards seized an arm each and dragged him away from the doorway.

"Delryn, what have I told you about causing disturbances?" one said in a reasonable tone.

"I caused nothing! Scum like them cause..."

The same guard sighed. "We've done this dance before, Delryn. Just stay away from the damned door." Then Anomen was shoved away back into the middle of the tavern, as the guards returned to their posts. Anomen retreated to a corner evidently familiar to him, eyes still on the door. As it opened and another group started walking through, he rose and approached it.

Viconia took a long look at Anomen. "He approaches another group. This will not end well," she predicted.

Keldorn nodded. "I...am forced to agree."

"Strangers! Tell me true, is your heart filled with courage or be it steeped in cowardice?"

Viconia began laughing, both at Anomen and at Keldorn's utterly mortified expression. Yoshimo chuckled as well, and Kal let a smile cross his face. "This one...will need quite a bit of work," Kal noted. Keldorn was cringing and shaking his head.

The half-orc Anomen had accosted looked at him with a slightly amused expression. "Is your mouth full of teeth?" he asked in a surprisingly calm manner.

"Why, yes. But I fail to see how it MBGH!" Anomen said, that last part coming from the rather violent punch the half-orc delivered to Anomen's jaw. He fell to the floor with a clatter of plate.

"Not if you stay in our way," the half-orc said, and Anomen had the good sense to scramble out of the way immediately. The half-orc grinned an unfriendly, toothy grin, and led his party past the downed squire.

Anomen got to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. He looked as if he was going to set a course to intercept another group, but then he noticed some muck on his armour, and headed off to his corner once more.

"We should talk to him before he has a chance to do anything else," Keldorn suggested, a little nervously.

Kal concealed a smile, and nodded. "Of course, Keldorn."

They approached Anomen as he took his pack down and began searching inside it. Keldorn discreetly tapped him on the shoulder, but Anomen did not look up. Keldorn tapped again.

"I have no time at this moment," Anomen said, still looking in his backpack. "I have to..." Then he looked up. "Sir Keldorn!" he gasped, loud enough for the whole Coronet to hear.

"Shhh. Keep your voice down, lad. No need to let the whole tavern know."

"Ah...yes, Sir Keldorn," Anomen said, far more quietly.

"Now, have you had any success yet?" Keldorn asked, diplomatically implying that he hadn't seen Anomen's last two experiences.

"Not...not as of yet. But I am confident that I will find a worthy group soon!"

"I was hoping I could assist you in that, lad," Keldorn began. "You see, I'm currently working with a group which needs some additional assistance, and I thought you might be a good choice. Would you be interested?"

"Yes!" Anomen said with enthusiasm. "Er, I mean...absolutely, Sir Keldorn. It seems to be an excellent, uh, opportunity."

"Good. Anomen, this is Kalvorin Sunblaze, leader of the group."

Kal stepped forward. "Greetings, Anomen. It is good to meet you," he said. He even managed to say that free of incriminating facial expressions.

"And...and you, as well." They shook hands.

"Kalvorin is recently arrived to Athkatla," Keldorn said. "He is a paladin of Tyr. He travelled with Sir Ajantis for some time in the north, near Baldur's Gate about a year ago."

"I am glad to make your acquaintance, then. And the other members of this group are...?"

"Well, this is Ja-" Kal started, then stopped himself. "I'm sorry." He turned in a different direction. "This is Yoshimo." The Kozakuran bowed in Anomen's direction.

"And what is he?"

"I am something of an expert in economic state alteration," Yoshimo said with a grin. "With the associated specialized skills regarding...personal security devices."

Keldorn smiled, but Anomen did not look amused. "This...this man is a scoundrel! A thief! Why is he in this group? The knights of the Order would...."

"...be missing most of their legs, if people like Yoshimo weren't around to help," Kal interrupted dryly. "Is Sir Keldorn correct in saying that you are relatively new to adventuring?"

Anomen flushed. "Well...yes," he admitted. "But I have fought valiantly in many campaigns to date. Against the Hillgnasher giants, and the orcs in the Ommlur Hills, and...."

"It sounds very impressive, Anomen, but campaigns in open country are very different from adventuring."

"I...I suppose so. You are a little more experienced in such matters, I shall defer to your judgement for now."

"And this is Viconia," Kal said, and braced for the outburst he knew was coming.

"Sir Keldorn!" Anomen began.

"So, squire, shall you too condemn me for crimes uncommitted?" Viconia asked with a raised eyebrow.

Anomen looked at Keldorn pleadingly, but Keldorn only shrugged uncomfortably. "I have not yet sensed foul intent, nor has she committed any crime so far as I have seen."

"Very well," Anomen said uneasily. "But I will be watching."

"I would expect no less," Viconia murmured.

"Finally, this is Cel," Kal said, drawing her out and presenting her hilt-first.

"Cel?" Anomen asked in puzzlement.

"Short for Celestis?" Cel said. "You've read the stories, haven't you?"

"Oh!" Anomen exclaimed. "I certainly have!" Then, to Kal: "You must be quite a knight to have earned the right to carry her."

"Actually," Kal said, "I'm not a knight."

"Truly? I have not met any paladin before who had not yet attained that goal. But this is idle talk. To what noble end do we strive towards?"

"At the moment, we need to raise money so I can get to the Cowled Wizards' stronghold and rescue my sister. That's the overarching goal - hopefully we can get some other things done as well."

"Ah...to rescue a sister. A deed of great heroism," Anomen said.

"Unfortunately, it means going through the Shadow Thieves, but...." Kal said, letting his voice trail off.

Anomen nodded seriously, devoid of the outrage of his previous statements. "I understand. I have a sister myself, and I would do anything to rescue her if she was in peril." Kal filed away the lack of outrage as something important to think about later.

"Perhaps you can tell me about her sometime. But - back to business. Have you heard of any particular openings for adventuring parties?"

"Uh, not quite, er, no," Anomen said.

"I'm sure something will turn up," Kal said. "Something always does. Now, if I may ask - have you been staying here at night?"

Anomen nodded stiffly. "It was better to stay here, so I would have the best chance of meeting a group to venture with."

"Right. But you're working with us now, and we're lodged at the Five Flagons for the moment. Let's get you set up in a room of your own, there."

Anomen's face shone with relief. "The Five Flagons...an excellent establishment. I would be most pleased to leave this vile cesspool. I just need to gather my belongings."

Later that night, four members of the party sat around a table in the Flagons. Keldorn had left once more for the High Hall, and Kal thought he could detect just the slightest bit of relaxation from Anomen at Keldorn's absence.

"So," Anomen said. "Perhaps, I should know something about you other than what Sir Keldorn has told me, and that is little indeed."

"Not a bad idea," Kal said. "Though I won't burden you with my entire life story. Hmm...did you hear Ajantis' report? I gathered from what Keldorn said that Ajantis recounted much of it before the Order, and he travelled with me for quite some time."

"Hmmm...yes, I do recall much of what Ajantis said. But I do not recall him recounting a tale of anyone using such an unconventional weapon style," Anomen said.

"Oh, this? It's a relatively recent development. While I was travelling with Ajantis, I used a sword and shield, just like him. We actually developed a number of cooperative techniques, but...well, I'm getting off-topic."

"So you were responsible for the solution to the iron crisis in the north?"

"Yes."

"And you cleared Durlag's Tower?"

"That, too."

"And you prevented a war between Amn and the Lords' Alliance."

"And that, too."

Anomen nodded slowly. "You have accomplished some great things. Why is it that you are not a knight?"

"Because...I don't want to be one?"

Anomen acted as if a large blunt object had just struck him on the forehead. "Wh...what? You what?"

"I don't want to be a knight," Kal said. "All in all it doesn't really matter to the promotion of justice whether I'm a knight or not. And being a knight tends to carry obligations of noble society which really would get in my way."

"I...see," Anomen said, though he clearly didn't agree. "A most...different...viewpoint."

"Anyway, there's more to know about me than what Ajantis told you, for certain." Kal then went on to quickly sketch in the events from the moment he awoke under the Promenade until the current time.

---

Anomen listened to Kal's tale with some skepticism, and with some doubt. Kal's journeys had been interesting, true, but since he had come to Athkatla, Anomen heard nothing glorious or worthwhile about what Kal had accomplished. Mentally, he compared his own achievements - such as taking the head of that orc chieftain back in the Ommlur Hills - to Kal's, and his mouth turned up in a slight smirk as he judged himself superior. So what if Kal solved the murder of a few commoners in the Bridge District? This was not a glorious deed, worthy of a knight - it was beneath him, the task of some nameless city guardsman.

By refusing to be a knight, Anomen knew, was sheer stupidity. Knighthood was the paramount goal in all of existence. Still, he reflected, Ajantis had spent much time adventuring with him and done great things in his company. And if he could impress him he would be sure to pass that opinion on to Keldorn. Ajantis had succeeded - and if working with this obviously uneducated and hickish paladin could help Ajantis, it could only be positive at Anomen's own Test.

When Kal finished, Anomen nodded as if he'd listened closely to every word. "Thank you. It was most...enlightening," he said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I do believe the time has come to take to rest. It is always the right thing to sleep early and have adequate rest."

---

My, wasn't that relevant? Kal thought. Listening? Not him. "Of course, Anomen. Rest well," Kal said, out loud, and Anomen went to his room.

"I wish sincerely for ones like him to challenge me at games of cards," Yoshimo said as soon as he was sure that Anomen was out of auditory range.

Viconia laughed. "Indeed. His thoughts were painted so very clearly all over his face."

"Do you think you'll have a problem with him?" Kal asked Viconia.

"I? Not in the least. I pity you and your task, however."

Kal sighed. "I know, I saw his face, too. At least he thinks I'm below him as opposed to above him. If he thought I was like Sir Keldorn he'd ignore everything I said, thinking he'd know better. But now he'll feel compelled to demonstrate the superiority of his viewpoint to me. At least this way I have a chance to get something through."

"Still not an easy task," Yoshimo pointed out.

"And does he have to use ‘vile cesspool' so much? I doubt he's ever seen a cesspool in his life. Cities in Faerun don't even use cesspools any more," Cel said.

"Beginning knights always ‘vile' this and ‘evil' that. Remember Ajantis? Things can change."

"That isn't the same as saying that things will change."

"Believe me...I know."