Chapter 12 - A Home of Our Own

“Can we kill something now, *pleeese*?!?”

“Would someone shut that damn sword up?” growled Yoshimo. “It is most distracting when one is plying one’s trade.”

Theodoric rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “Minsc, I know Lilacor is your new friend, but perhaps you should put him away for now.”

Minsc nodded and spoke to the enchanted sword they’d recovered from the brief, but altogether strange, encounter they’d had en route to the slaver compound. “Theodoric says it is time for you to take a nap. I will wake you if there is any evil to be smashed.”

“Aw, I never get to have any –mmmph!” The sword mumbled for several moments after being sheathed.

“Sarevok’s blade never did that” Theodoric said sourly. Jaheira poked him in the ribs.

“Come now” she teased. “We rescued a bewitched old man from the sewers and gained a *valuable* magical weapon. And we haven’t even reached the slaver compound yet.”

Theodoric chuckled lightly. It’s good to see Jaheira’s sense of humor returning. Perhaps she is coming to terms with Khalid’s death.

Yoshimo exhaled a long breath. “There” he said. “I believe that was the last of the traps in this tunnel.”


*


The tunnel ended in a short flight of stairs, leading to a large wooden door. The door creaked on rusty hinges, making stealth a dim hope.

Beyond the door lay a large storage room, bustling with activity. A half-dozen slaves carried crates and barrels of supplies while an equal number of thugs barked orders and a fat, balding man harped at the thugs about deadlines.

Theodoric kicked the door open and strode in. The thugs went for their weapons, but the fat man made an annoyed gesture for them to put them away.


“What do you think you are doing, barging in here with weapons drawn? Are you here to see Captain Haegan? Explain yourself!”

“I am here to end your slaving ways here, this day!” Theodoric shouted in his most righteous tone.

“Are you kidding me?” the fat man said.

Well, *that’s* not the reception I expected , the paladin said to himself.

The fat man continued his rant. “As if I don’t pay you in the guard enough… wait, you’re not with the guard!”

He squealed at the assembled thugs. “Don’t just stand there! Kill them, you idiots!”


The slaves scrambled for cover while the thugs and adventurers battled it out. The fat man dived behind some crates at the start of the fight and was soon lost in the fray. A particularly brutal looking slaver smashed at Jaheira with a spiked club. She parried the blow and brought the end of her staff in forceful contact with his chin. Minsc and Theodoric fought alongside her, while Aerie laid in from a distance with her spells.


The fat rogue crept along the wall towards the blonde spell caster, dagger in hand. He eyed the tunnel entrance and the battle. His hirelings were losing, but they were easily replaced. However, he would take his vengeance before fleeing through the tunnel. He raised the knife, inches away from Aerie’s back.

Here, pretty pretty…

A swift hand grasped his wrist and bent it back at an angle nature never intended. “Ah, I have caught a little mouse” Yoshimo grinned wolfishly. Aerie startled and cried out when she saw the knife in the rogue’s hand. He struggled to get free but Yoshimo twisted the joint cruelly, making the man squeal and drop his dagger.

The warriors in the party had finished off the thugs by this time and came running over. “What happened?” yelled Theodoric. “Aerie, are you okay?”

“I wouldn’t be, if it weren’t for Yoshimo” she said. “I was so busy with my spellcasting, I wasn’t paying attention to anything else. He-he would have killed me.”

Yoshimo kicked the dagger over to Theodoric. A sticky substance had been smeared on the tip of the weapon. “A poisoned blade, Theodoric” Yoshimo said, twisting the fat man’s wrist a bit father.

“Agggh!” he cried. “Stop it, please!”

Theodoric grabbed him by the chin. “What is your name?”

“Pellem – agh – it’s Pellem!”

“And what is your role in this place?

“Please, don’t kill me!”

“Your role! What did you do here?!?”

“I am Captain Haegan’s assistant” he blubbered. “I keep the finances in order and handle the supplies, that’s all. Agh! – that’s all!”

“Where is Haegan and where are the slaves kept?” demanded Theodoric.

“Haegan is in his quarters, the next floor up. The only adult slaves are the ones you saw when you came in. The children are kept in the cells on this floor.”

“Children!” cried Aerie. “You enslave *children*?!?”

“We’re doing them a favor” he wheedled. “They are orphan trash with nowhere to go. Most of them would die on the streets if we didn’t -”

“Shut up!” Theodoric shouted, resisting the urge to backhand the man. Stepping away, he looked at Yoshimo. The two men locked eyes.

“Yoshimo” he said quietly.

The thief nodded grimly. He forced Pellem to his knees as Theodoric drew his sword.

“Please, don’t!” Pellem cried, holding a shaking hand in front of him. “Please, whatever you’re being paid, I can pay more! Ple-.” With a single stroke, Theodoric silenced the rogue forever. Aerie gasped, covering her mouth. Theodoric motioned to Jaheira.

“Jaheira, speak with the adults and see if they know anything else of use. Then take the others and free the children from their cells. Bring them back here when you are done. I would speak with Aerie alone.”

Jaheira looked at him for a moment, but nodded and motioned the others to come with her.

“I am sorry you had to see that” Theodoric said to Aerie.

“It’s al-alright” she replied. “I was stupid not to have seen him coming.”

“Not stupid, just inexperienced. You will learn to develop a sense for these things, in time. You do understand why that had to be done?”

“I think so. We could not let him get away, to alert the others.”

Theodoric nodded. “Though his fate is just, would that I had had the option to bind the man and turn him over to the authorities for punishment. But we must rescue the children and deal with the remaining slavers.”

“I understand” she said quietly. “But how.. how to you get used to the killing?”

“That, Aerie, is something you hope never to do.”


*

There were about twenty children, ranging in ages from fourteen all the way down to six or seven. They were dirty, and most had been physically abused. The adults were in even worse shape.

“There is haven for you not far from here” Theodoric said to the assembled group. “Yon tunnel will take you to the Copper Coronet, owned by a friend of ours. He will give you food and shelter until we return. Now go, quickly.”

The adults and older children led the rest through the tunnel, following the directions Yoshimo had given them.

“Why would anyone enslave a child?” Aerie said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Surely they aren’t expected to fight?”

“There are many reasons, Aerie” Yoshimo said. “Fighting… would be the least despicable of them.” Aerie gave him a look of horror.

“All the more reason to finish our job here” Theodoric interrupted. “Come, let’s finish these slavers for good.”


*

Several hours later the party emerged from the secret entrance in the Copper Coronet. Battered and near exhaustion, they wandered into the common room thinking only of their beds.

A roar of cheers went up as they entered. Hendak and the other gladiators had laid out several long tables laden with food. The freed slaves were eating and drinking and laughing, and cheered the loudest when their liberators had returned.

“You have succeeded?” shouted Hendak, trying to be heard over the noise.

“We have” Theodoric nodded wearily. “It was a hard fought victory. Their leaders were rather formidable opponents.”

“But you have succeeded, the slavers have been broken in this city.” He smiled wryly. “At least for a while. I have no doubt they will try to return someday. But that is another day. Come, join us in celebration!”

Despite their exhaustion, it was nice to know one’s efforts were appreciated. They joined the party.


*

The next morning, Theodoric rose late. His lumpy cot had never felt quite so comfortable as it did the night before. Minsc and Yoshimo had already risen and headed out.

Heading downstairs, he saw the others breakfasting with Hendak. Theodoric smiled a bit at the big warrior. The pride and bearing of the man could be seen from across the room. Even in the filthy cell, there had been a dignity to the man, a defiant spirit that refused to forgo honor. Theodoric admired such spirit.


“Good morning” he said to the others, seating himself at the table. “Have I missed anything important?”

“Actually, Hendak was just discussing a proposition with us” Jaheira said.

“Another mission?”

“Nothing like that, my friend.” Hendak said. “I was proposing a change of quarters for you and your friends”

“Really? What did you have in mind?”

“I am having the fighting pits and slave cells walled off from the inn, along with the secret entrance to the slaver’s stockades. But that leaves the back rooms, where Lehtinan ran his other schemes.”

“Hendak has offered to give them to us to use as our own”, said Aerie.

“I have been told of your quest, and would offer this to you as payment for your efforts against the slavers. You would have a private area to rest and plan, secure and away from prying eyes.”

“It would also be a safe place to store excess gear and bulky treasure” added Jaheira.

“Hendak, you honor us with your gift” Theodoric said. “We accept, gladly.”

“We now have a home of our own, it seems” mused Yoshimo.