Interlude: 1

"Yoshimo?"

"Eh, meian? Why are you awake so early?"

"Can't sleep. Doesn't matter, it's my turn for watch in a bit anyway. Can I join you?"

"Certainly. You know, if you cannot sleep, I suggest you ask the priest of Helm to tell you more of his god and his order. That certainly is enough to send anyone to slumber."

"Hush, he might hear you. And he's not that bad. We once had a cleric of Tempus traveling with us who was a real bore. Remind me to tell you about her sometime."

"Such generosity surprises me. He has not always been so kind to you."

"Ah, go on. He's not so bad. Sometimes when we talk, he's actually nice to me. When he's an ass, I don't think he means to be. It's like something's making him."

"I had not perceived it in such a way. Quite an ability, to see so clearly what lies below the surface."

"Not really. I've seen it before is all. He's just like ... he reminds me of Imoen."

"Do not look so sad, meian. She will be returned to you by and by. There is no need to so quickly replace her under your wing."

"I'm not replacing her. It's not that ... well, it's not just that. It's that my father told me that because I can, that I should protect anyone who can't protect themselves. At the time, he was talking about Imoen specifically, but I think he really meant the world in general."

"Your father, then, he was a follower of Ilmater?"

"In Candlekeep, it was Oghma or nothing, really, but I think maybe because of what I ? because of what I could be he wanted to engrave that ideal into my heart. He always told me I had to be a force for good because too many are already working for evil."

"What you 'could be,' not what you are. You speak of your heritage so uncertainly."

"So how about you? Are you a follower of Ilmater?"

"You did not answer my question."

"I don't want to answer your question. It doesn't mean a thing."

"It does. If you are the child of a god, even the god of murder ?"

"It doesn't mean a thing. I want to believe that my blood is the blood of my father, not the essence of a dead god. Every day, something happens that stretches that belief thinner. Let me keep it as long as I can, all right?"

"It is not healthy to deny reality."

"I'm not. I know what I know. What does it matter anyway? No one stays what they are. Who's to say I won't be something else tomorrow?"

"That is true. At times the road between a journey's beginning and ending have so many twists and turns it is impossible to know. This, I believe."

"We always talk about me. Tell me something about you."

"If I can, meian, I will. What do you wish to know?"

"I wondered ... What would you be doing if you weren't doing this?"

"Working in Athkatla. There are some obligations I must settle with the Shadow Thieves. And there are many other clients who often use my talents. I do not lack for work."

"No, I mean, what would you be doing if you weren't a bounty hunter living a life of adventure? Did you ever think you'd do anything else? Anything safer?"

"Why do you ask me this?"

"I'm curious. And, I've been thinking about what I might do later."

"I see. You seek perspective. Then allow me to assist: Before I came to Faerun, I was a poet."

"What? Go on, you?"
"You have difficulty believing such a notion?"

"Of course. Well, let me take that back: You have a fine way with words, but you're a man of action. At least, that's what I thought."

"As we have established, we do not stay the same. My father was generous and allowed me to pursue my studies instead of requiring me to enter the family's business. We both knew I had no ability to run a fish market or to manage fishing boats."

"Poetry. I never would have guessed. Tell me one."

"I would not. It has been many years since I turned my mind to that task, and anything I tried to produce for you would be substandard."

"So what made you come to Faerun?"

"A family matter. My sister, Shichan - that is, Shizuko. My parents arranged a marriage for her with a wealthy man, Hideo. Everyone believed the match would be successful, and for a time it seemed so. But once she got with child, he tired of her and took a mistress. This is not such a terrible thing, but Hideo decided he preferred the mistress to his wife. He mistreated Shichan until she despaired so greatly that she took her own life, and that of their child."

"That's ... that's terrible, Yoshimo. I'm so sorry."

"My father attempted to raise her from death, but she would not return to her body. It was from her spirit that we learned of what happened. And so I put aside my brush and vowed to avenge my sister. Hideo learned of my plans and fled. I followed him here."

"And you took your revenge."

"Not immediately. You see, meian, the world is very large. Even with magical assistance, locating Hideo was difficult indeed. And I found I needed to learn a skill to survive. Just as in my homeland, poetry pays more in intellectual respect than it does in gold. Bounty hunting, however, can be very lucrative. And ... time passes."

"But you found him, right? How long did it take?"

"The new year had just passed when Shichan took her life. That would have been the start of my seventeenth year. I found Hideo in Tethyr last year. I was not seeking him. I almost did not remember him, but he had not forgotten me. The spirit of my sister and her child rest now. ... She named the child for me, you know. Did I tell you that?"

"No. I'm so ... it doesn't do any good for me to keep saying I'm sorry, does it?"

"Your sentiment is appreciated, meian. But to answer your earlier question, it was through Ilmater's grace that I learned of my sister's peace, so yes, I consider him to be my patron while I walk this part of the world. And it is good to meet someone who does as well."

"Me? I appreciate Ilmater's message, but I don't bow to any god."

"Whether you believe in Ilmater is irrelevant. I am sure that he believes in you."

"Now you're starting to sound like Anomen. "

"I shall leave the watch to you if you continue to insult me so."

"Yoshimo? About last night, at the keep ... I know you were trying to help. I didn't mean to ... "

"There is nothing that needs to be said of that. You were upset. In such a matter, I would not pry into your heart unless you wished it."

"Just ... I'm sorry if I ..."

"No explanations are needed, meian. All is well."

"Good."

"Onna kara/saki e kasumu zo/shiohogata."

"What?"

"A poem. I remember it now, one I wrote many years ago. 'The woman/leads into the mist/low tide beach.' You asked for one, and now I have given you one."

"That's a poem? How's that a poem? It doesn't rhyme."

"Heh. I see I must endeavor to widen your horizons."

"Trust me, they're pretty wide already."