Beloved Child 20

Well, here is more Beloved Child. A bit earlier then normal since I may be unavailable tomorrow.

This is one of those “I really hope this works out” chapters.

Beloved Child 20


The little girl stared at him with the petulance only small children can muster.

“Why did you come here with that man?” She asked, half hidden behind the sofas arm.

“Your father?” Groder asked and couldn’t stop from smiling at the little girl’s question.

“He is not my daddy. My daddy is younger and shouts less.” The girl crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

Groder laughed.

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

Vesper didn’t understand what the boy meant but the nasty tone could not be mistaken.

“You are being mean to mommy.” The child said uncertainly.

“Oh, yes I am.” Groder kept on smiling and nodded.

“Hey! Leave Vesper alone!” Keldorn`s other daughter called, coming in from an other room and walking up to the two.

“He is being mean to mommy, Leona” The little girl said.

“What?” the older girl asked

“Oh, I was just attempting to explain that your mother is nothing but a common whore.” Groder spread his arms wide in a nonchalant and innocent gesture.

Darkness entred the older girl’s eyes and her fists clenched.

“Why would you say such things?” She spat. “You would not speak of your own mother that way.” She hissed and took a step forward.

“My mother was a whore, she is a dead one.” The boy said calmly. “I would not be far from me to say that she may have been the foremost bitch that ever lived. This is of course conjecture because I never met her but I have learned enough about her to despise her for two lifetimes.” He spat and crouched low in the sofa.

**

The anger Maria had felt when she began overhearing the conversation melted into sadness at the boy’s words. She entered the room and addressed Vesper and Leona.

“Girls, go upstairs, please.”

Leona nodded, shot Groder a venomous look and went off with her baby sister. Maria sat down on the sofa. An amused smile played on Groders lips.

“Well, aren’t you going to pour some righteous anger at me?” He asked. “Despite that I am right about you?”

“No, you are wrong and I heard what you said.” Maria sighed. “I do not think me getting angry at you would do you any good, no, I would pity you.”

Groder abandoned his half slouched posture and sat straight up.

“What!?” He narrowed his eyes. “What the hell did you say?”

“I pity you; you espoused so much hate for a woman, your own mother that you have never even met. How could I do naught but pity you?” The woman looked sad.

“You don’t know anything about…” Groder spat.

“And neither do you.” Maria quickly retorted.

Groder was on his feet, face twisted with rage.

“Don’t presume…” He choked out through gritted teeth.

“Maybe I am somewhat deserving of your scorn but surely a dead woman whom you have never laid eyes upon cannot be? How much hate must you carry in heart? What twisted logic makes such a thing possible?”

“Shut up, shut the hell up.”

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

Before Groder knew it, he was on his feet and drove a fist into the woman’s face. Maria gave a small cry and fell off the sofa.

“Oh… you stupid, stupid bitch, look what you made me do.” Groder cried.

Maria looked back at Groder, no anger or hate filled her eyes only sadness and pity.
The boy stormed out of the house.

**

Jaheira shoved the door open to the room Groder occupied. The boy was staring at a dagger going round and round as he slowly twirled it in his hand.

“We have to talk.” She said using a tone which would brook no argument and slammed the door behind her.

“No, we don’t.” The boy replied not looking at her. “Go away, Jaheria.”

He stood and put down the dagger on the bedside table. Jaheira grabbed his wrist.

“We need to talk.” She repeated fixing him with a glare.

Groder swung his free fist at her but Jaheira caught it.

“I talked with Lady Maria whom assured me that she was fine but I want to know what the problem is.” She said.

“I already told you not to treat me like a child.” He hissed.

“The problem is that it is exactly what you are!” She replied.

“Don’t make me do this.” He said in a low voice.

“What?” Jaheria asked

She felt his arms slacken in her grip. Groder was staring at the floor, his face obscured by long blonde hair. Jaheria couldn’t hide her surprise when the boy’s shoulders began to shake.

“Please, don’t make me do this, Jaheira.”

Groder`s body shook with sobs. The druid let go of his arms and to her mounting surprise the boy hugged her tight and buried his face in her shoulder.

“I didn`t mean to hit her… I don`t want to be like this…”

Jaheria began awkwardly holding the crying boy`s shoulders. His face being pressed against her shoulder, she could not see the smile forming on his lips after awhile. Groder slid from the druids grasp and sat down on the bed. He turned red rimmed eyes towards her.

“Please… Don`t tell the others, I don`t want them to see me this way…”

Jaheira sighed.

“I will not tell them but we have talk about this in the future.” She said and began leaving. “I will call you for dinner.” The druid finished as she closed the door

Groder rolled over in the bed.

“Tough luck… I don`t want to talk about it.” He mumbled into the covers.

**

The dinner the party had at the Five Flagons began as a subdued affair, their visitation to the Firecam estate having come to a rather abrupt halt. Jaheria reported that Keldorn and his wife had reconciled and Viconia quipped that the entire thing had been dreadfully boring. Haer`Dalis had joined them so he could drag Viconia and Groder into the playhouse afterwards.

“Their maid was a very pleasant girl.” He said and winked at Groder. The boy chuckled.

“I am sure she was.” He replied.

“I take it she believes she will see you again?” Jaheira said and gave the bard a disapproving look.

“In love and war, all is fair my dear druid.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his attention to Nalia and Yoshimo. “What I want to know is what these doves did when no eyes were upon them.”

“We looked at the gardens and talked.” Nalia said and crossed her arms.

“Is that all young lovely?” The bard asked using Yoshimo`s pet name for Nalia. The Kara-Turan narrowed his eyes dangerously. Haer`Dalis flashed him a smile that showed too many of his shark like teeth.

“I have the feeling I am missing something here.” Groder said to Viconia. “Remember that we have to work together here?” He addressed the entire group.

The druid was silent and deep in thought so she simply nodded.

“See, we get along fine now.” Groder said and snapped his fingers. “Like that!”

“Of course my Raven, I am simply teasing the young lovers.” Haer`Dalis didn’t take his eyes of Yoshimo.

A young man in brigthly coloured clothes came up to the table and scrutinized the party. Then his eyes rested on Nalia.

“Are you Miss Nalia De`Arnise?”
“Yes, I am.” She answered.
The man handed her a letter.

“You are hereby invited to the funeral of your late father, Lord Ambrose De`Arnise. It takes place tomorrow at noon. The gathering place will be the memorial in the graveyard district.”

“Oh…” Nalia`s face fell. She had avoided thinking about such things as her father’s funeral.

“Who is paying for it all?” She ventured.

“Lady Delcia Caan. Your invitation is on the behest of the Roenall family.”

The man bowed and left. Nalia opened the letter and quickly scanned it. She folded it and wiped tears away from her eyes.

“It is an invitation for me and those I would choose to accompany me. If you do not mind I would like to attend.”

“Of course you should go, girl.” Jaheria said.

**

A few sweaty hours later found Groder and Viconia on the stage of the Five Flagons playhouse. The short man with the goatee and the prominent veins played the father of Viconia`s character Idrena.

“Idrena, why do you persist in chasing Athledies? The suitors line from the guildhalls and back again.”

“And none of them are the like of Athledies!” Viconia responded and left the stage. The man remained on stage and turned towards the imaginary audience.

“Alas, I cannot convince her to see the qualities of other men. The dukes has influence and gold aplenty and so would make perfect husbands for Idrena. I must make myself rid of this Athledies the dustman.”

An hour later Groder and Viconia stood on one side of the stage half cowering. On the other stood two men clad in brown armour welding large axes.

“Athledies the Dustman, justice has come for you.” One of them bellowed.

“Leave me Idrena.” Groder said to Viconia. “The Mercykillers will never cease to seek me.”

**

“You know.” Groder told Viconia as they made their way back to their suite. “I am glad we decided to do this play. The more I learn of Sigil the more fascinated I become.”

“Interested in some plane walking?” She asked.

Groder shrugged.

“Who knows…?”

When they entered the suites common room they found Jaheira pinning a redheaded half-elf to the floor. The druid’s knee was placed firmly on the lying woman’s lower back. Nalia and Yoshimo had their blades ready.

“What is the big idea?” The woman on the floor shrieked. “I coming with a message from the shadow master, don’t you remember meeting me at the docks? I’m Mook!”

“Don’t sneak in like that!” Jaheira growled. “This place has a perfect main entrance.”

The druid let the thief of the floor. The redheaded half-elf stood and stretched. Nalia and Yoshimo eased off and sat down at the table.

“That really hurt you know.” She said surly and rubbed her butt. “I won’t be able to sit for a week.”

“What about the message?” Jaheira said.

“Err… well… Since you have been in contact with our fanged problems, the shadow master felt that he needed to extend a hand of friendship and so has generously lowered the amount of gold we originally required to 15000.” Mook spoke rapidly.

“Curious sum that. It is the same sum Bodhi offered us.” Groder said. “It is almost like we have been followed. Imagine that.”

“Well, of course. We weren’t just going to let you run around willy-nilly.” Mook replied.

“If that was the case.” Groder began and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the tattoos. “The maybe you could have made sure I wasn’t abducted or given us some kind of warning.” He bent low and drew out a dagger from his boot.

“Look, the shadow master apologizes for that but we are stretched pretty thin right now.” Mook said.

“Shut up, this news is making me feel quite put out.” He drew another dagger. “It makes me want to break your legs and cut your tits off.”

Mooks hands flew up to cover her chest and took a step back from the enraged boy.

“It makes me want to drag you bleeding and screaming to the graveyards and offer you to Bodhi as compensation for being less then cordial towards her.” Groder smiled.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

Vesper didn’t understand what the boy meant but the nasty tone could not be mistaken.

“You are being mean to mommy.” The child said uncertainly.

“Oh, yes I am.” Groder kept on smiling and nodded.

He's such a brat, I'm conflicted over if it's charming or not.

“Maybe I am somewhat deserving of your scorn but surely a dead woman whom you have never laid eyes upon cannot be? How much hate must you carry in heart? What twisted logic makes such a thing possible?”

“Shut up, shut the hell up.”

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

Nice turn of events with Maria, and bit of insight into Groder, poor guy. Interested to see Jaheira and Groder talking about it in the future...or Jaheira asking and Groder refusing again.

“I take it she believes she will see you again?” Jaheira said and gave the bard a disapproving look.

“In love and war, all is fair my dear druid.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his attention to Nalia and Yoshimo. “What I want to know is what these doves did when no eyes were upon them.”

“We looked at the gardens and talked.” Nalia said and crossed her arms.

“Is that all young lovely?” The bard asked using Yoshimo`s pet name for Nalia. The Kara-Turan narrowed his eyes dangerously. Haer`Dalis flashed him a smile that showed too many of his shark like teeth.

Said it before, but I like your NPC interactions.

“It makes me want to drag you bleeding and screaming to the graveyards and offer you to Bodhi as compensation for being less then cordial towards her.” Groder smiled.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

Good and exciting place to leave us at, and I don't think I've seen much siding with Bodhi fics if any at all. Thanks for another chapter!

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

Yup. Haer’Dalis?

“Oh, I was just attempting to explain that your mother is nothing but a common whore.” Groder spread his arms wide in a nonchalant and innocent gesture.

Groder is out collecting sympathy points again.

“I pity you; you espoused so much hate for a woman, your own mother that you have never even met. How could I do naught but pity you?” The woman looked sad.

Bah, don’t think he cares much – save your sympathies for someone deserving of them.

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

So not exactly a warm relationship with Gorion either?

Before Groder knew it, he was on his feet and drove a fist into the woman’s face. Maria gave a small cry and fell off the sofa.

“Oh… you stupid, stupid bitch, look what you made me do.” Groder cried.

Yeah! It’s all her fault!

“We need to talk.” She repeated fixing him with a glare.

Groder swung his free fist at her but Jaheira caught it.

He likes to go around hitting women, doesn’t he? Hmm, wonder if he and Kurt entered a popularity contest, who’d win?

Jaheria began awkwardly holding the crying boy`s shoulders. His face being pressed against her shoulder, she could not see the smile forming on his lips after awhile. Groder slid from the druids grasp and sat down on the bed. He turned red rimmed eyes towards her.

“Please… Don`t tell the others, I don`t want them to see me this way…”

It may work in this case, but I will not believe it if Jaheira falls for such a trick after Groder has done something more serious.

“I take it she believes she will see you again?” Jaheira said and gave the bard a disapproving look.

Men like Haer deserve to have their genitalia removed with a dull, rusty and poison-coated knife.

“In love and war, all is fair my dear druid.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his attention to Nalia and Yoshimo. “What I want to know is what these doves did when no eyes were upon them.”

Yeah, but you’re not interested in love, you just want to get laid. You wouldn’t know what love is if it came and bit you on your stupid ass.

“Alas, I cannot convince her to see the qualities of other men. The dukes has influence and gold aplenty and so would make perfect husbands for Idrena. I must make myself rid of this Athledies the dustman.”

Dustman? Like those boring guys on Sigil? Meh, Idrena really must be dumb then.

“You know.” Groder told Viconia as they made their way back to their suite. “I am glad we decided to do this play. The more I learn of Sigil the more fascinated I become.”

Meh, it’s not a place where I would go for sightseeing…

“What is the big idea?” The woman on the floor shrieked. “I coming with a message from the shadow master, don’t you remember meeting me at the docks? I’m Mook!”

“Don’t sneak in like that!” Jaheira growled. “This place has a perfect main entrance.”

Poor Mook… she’s just being a perfectly normal rogue.

“That really hurt you know.” She said surly and rubbed her butt. “I won’t be able to sit for a week.”

Jaheira is not very good at being gentle.

“If that was the case.” Groder began and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the tattoos. “The maybe you could have made sure I wasn’t abducted or given us some kind of warning.” He bent low and drew out a dagger from his boot.

Do you admit not being able to take care of yourself?

“Shut up, this news is making me feel quite put out.” He drew another dagger. “It makes me want to break your legs and cut your tits off.”

Hmm, I can easily imagine several party members opening their mouths to protest about now.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

Like I said, Jaheira and Nalia at least should be displeased with this little exchange…

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

Vesper didn’t understand what the boy meant but the nasty tone could not be mistaken.

“You are being mean to mommy.” The child said uncertainly.

“Oh, yes I am.” Groder kept on smiling and nodded.

He's such a brat, I'm conflicted over if it's charming or not.

Depends on ones dispostion I suppose. He can be charming if he wants to.

“Maybe I am somewhat deserving of your scorn but surely a dead woman whom you have never laid eyes upon cannot be? How much hate must you carry in heart? What twisted logic makes such a thing possible?”

“Shut up, shut the hell up.”

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

Nice turn of events with Maria, and bit of insight into Groder, poor guy. Interested to see Jaheira and Groder talking about it in the future...or Jaheira asking and Groder refusing again.

Thank you.

Jaheira will try no doubt but Groder may not be compliant.

“I take it she believes she will see you again?” Jaheira said and gave the bard a disapproving look.

“In love and war, all is fair my dear druid.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his attention to Nalia and Yoshimo. “What I want to know is what these doves did when no eyes were upon them.”

“We looked at the gardens and talked.” Nalia said and crossed her arms.

“Is that all young lovely?” The bard asked using Yoshimo`s pet name for Nalia. The Kara-Turan narrowed his eyes dangerously. Haer`Dalis flashed him a smile that showed too many of his shark like teeth.

Said it before, but I like your NPC interactions.

Thank you.

“It makes me want to drag you bleeding and screaming to the graveyards and offer you to Bodhi as compensation for being less then cordial towards her.” Groder smiled.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

Good and exciting place to leave us at, and I don't think I've seen much siding with Bodhi fics if any at all. Thanks for another chapter!

Thanks for reading. We will see how things play out.

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

Yup. Haer’Dalis?

I wonder if he would be flattered?

“Oh, I was just attempting to explain that your mother is nothing but a common whore.” Groder spread his arms wide in a nonchalant and innocent gesture.

Groder is out collecting sympathy points again.

Oh yeah... He has such a large amount of them.

“I pity you; you espoused so much hate for a woman, your own mother that you have never even met. How could I do naught but pity you?” The woman looked sad.

Bah, don’t think he cares much – save your sympathies for someone deserving of them.

Maria doesn`t know him well yet.

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

So not exactly a warm relationship with Gorion either?

No and the tragedy of that is that Gorion never found out why Groder suddenly started despising him.

Before Groder knew it, he was on his feet and drove a fist into the woman’s face. Maria gave a small cry and fell off the sofa.

“Oh… you stupid, stupid bitch, look what you made me do.” Groder cried.

Yeah! It’s all her fault!

Of course it is! You can`t be implying that Groder is at fault here.

“We need to talk.” She repeated fixing him with a glare.

Groder swung his free fist at her but Jaheira caught it.

He likes to go around hitting women, doesn’t he? Hmm, wonder if he and Kurt entered a popularity contest, who’d win?

Depends on who was voting in it. They may be sharing the bastard throne after Groder and co have been in the Underdark.

Jaheria began awkwardly holding the crying boy`s shoulders. His face being pressed against her shoulder, she could not see the smile forming on his lips after awhile. Groder slid from the druids grasp and sat down on the bed. He turned red rimmed eyes towards her.

“Please… Don`t tell the others, I don`t want them to see me this way…”

It may work in this case, but I will not believe it if Jaheira falls for such a trick after Groder has done something more serious.

No, It is the first and last time that trick will ever work with our druid.

“I take it she believes she will see you again?” Jaheira said and gave the bard a disapproving look.

Men like Haer deserve to have their genitalia removed with a dull, rusty and poison-coated knife.

Heh, wouldn`t acid be better?

“In love and war, all is fair my dear druid.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his attention to Nalia and Yoshimo. “What I want to know is what these doves did when no eyes were upon them.”

Yeah, but you’re not interested in love, you just want to get laid. You wouldn’t know what love is if it came and bit you on your stupid ass.

Haer`Dalis: Sune can come and bite my ass anytime.

“Alas, I cannot convince her to see the qualities of other men. The dukes has influence and gold aplenty and so would make perfect husbands for Idrena. I must make myself rid of this Athledies the dustman.”

Dustman? Like those boring guys on Sigil? Meh, Idrena really must be dumb then.

Yep, Dustmen. Love is blind you know and it is a part of the tragedy.

“You know.” Groder told Viconia as they made their way back to their suite. “I am glad we decided to do this play. The more I learn of Sigil the more fascinated I become.”

Meh, it’s not a place where I would go for sightseeing…

Well, it would be interesting.

“What is the big idea?” The woman on the floor shrieked. “I coming with a message from the shadow master, don’t you remember meeting me at the docks? I’m Mook!”

“Don’t sneak in like that!” Jaheira growled. “This place has a perfect main entrance.”

Poor Mook… she’s just being a perfectly normal rogue.

Yeah. But Jaheira doesn`t like being snuck up upon.

“That really hurt you know.” She said surly and rubbed her butt. “I won’t be able to sit for a week.”

Jaheira is not very good at being gentle.

At least not when she is angry.

“If that was the case.” Groder began and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the tattoos. “The maybe you could have made sure I wasn’t abducted or given us some kind of warning.” He bent low and drew out a dagger from his boot.

Do you admit not being able to take care of yourself?

Only by accident.

“Shut up, this news is making me feel quite put out.” He drew another dagger. “It makes me want to break your legs and cut your tits off.”

Hmm, I can easily imagine several party members opening their mouths to protest about now.

They will.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

Like I said, Jaheira and Nalia at least should be displeased with this little exchange…

He will get chewed out in the next chapter.

“He is not my daddy. My daddy is younger and shouts less.” The girl crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

Poor Keldorn, he's brought it upon himself

Groder laughed.

“That man is not your daddy but some stranger your mother chooses to spread her legs for.” Groder chuckled “We have names for people like that.”

“My mother was a whore, she is a dead one.” The boy said calmly. “I would not be far from me to say that she may have been the foremost bitch that ever lived. This is of course conjecture because I never met her but I have learned enough about her to despise her for two lifetimes.” He spat and crouched low in the sofa.

He really is almost unbelievably callous

The letters he had found at age nine passed before his eyes, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, he had been bred to die, his mother was deaths whore and that damn bastard of a man that had purported to be his father hadn’t told him anything.

Before Groder knew it, he was on his feet and drove a fist into the woman’s face. Maria gave a small cry and fell off the sofa.

“Oh… you stupid, stupid bitch, look what you made me do.” Groder cried.

Maria looked back at Groder, no anger or hate filled her eyes only sadness and pity.
The boy stormed out of the house.

Maria 1 - Groder 0

“Please, don’t make me do this, Jaheira.”

Groder`s body shook with sobs. The druid let go of his arms and to her mounting surprise the boy hugged her tight and buried his face in her shoulder.

“I didn`t mean to hit her… I don`t want to be like this…”

Hm...

Jaheria began awkwardly holding the crying boy`s shoulders. His face being pressed against her shoulder, she could not see the smile forming on his lips after awhile. Groder slid from the druids grasp and sat down on the bed. He turned red rimmed eyes towards her.

Bah, should have known he was just putting on a show to escape her wrath.

“Curious sum that. It is the same sum Bodhi offered us.” Groder said. “It is almost like we have been followed. Imagine that.”

“Well, of course. We weren’t just going to let you run around willy-nilly.” Mook replied.

“If that was the case.” Groder began and rolled up his sleeves, revealing the tattoos. “The maybe you could have made sure I wasn’t abducted or given us some kind of warning.” He bent low and drew out a dagger from his boot.

Uh-oh.

“Look, the shadow master apologizes for that but we are stretched pretty thin right now.” Mook said.

...I don't quite think that's going to cut it, Mook.

“Shut up, this news is making me feel quite put out.” He drew another dagger. “It makes me want to break your legs and cut your tits off.”

Mooks hands flew up to cover her chest and took a step back from the enraged boy.

Actually, Mook, if I were you I'd run now.

“It makes me want to drag you bleeding and screaming to the graveyards and offer you to Bodhi as compensation for being less then cordial towards her.” Groder smiled.

“You tell the shadow master how displeased I am and that I expect some form of compensation or I will bed down with Bodhi. No matter how little I trust her.”

That boy is creepy!