Beloved Child 23
Looking back at the crowd, Groder could see Keldorn, Maria and Jaheira standing with the priest. The boy reacted fast and jumped over the terrace stone railing surprising Lady Delica and Lady Roenall. He landed by the bushes beneath the terrace. The boy took off disappearing between the monuments over the dead. He reduced speed when the terrace disappeared out of sight. Suddenly Sime was next to him, he almost jumped.
“So do you usually flee funerals?” She asked sardonically.
“Only funerals with people I don’t want to meet.” He responded.
“The paladin and the half-elf? “She chuckled. “I will be around.” Sime said and managed to disappear again.
“How does she do that?” Groder wondered aloud and looked around.
As he walked back to the Five Flagons he contemplated if bolting had been a good idea. He realized that he couldn’t keep running away whenever the paladin was near. But he was not particularly interested to meet the man after having punched the man’s wife even if she had deserved it. The way back to the Inn, Groder spent trying to push that woman and the memories she had managed the dredge up out of his mind.
He half-heartedly hailed Samuel that as always seemed to be trapped behind his bar disk. The suites common room was empty save for Viconia whom was sitting in one of the plush chairs.
He flopped down in the plush velvety chair that sat next to Viconia`s. The Drow was reading a book.
“Am I behaving like an ass?” He asked the Drow suddenly.
Viconia lowered her book and raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?” She asked.
“I keep dodging Jaheira and Keldorn.” He explained.
“You won’t really be able to escape them forever. Maybe it is best to hear him out” Viconia chuckled. “Though I do not understand why you seem so adamant to avoid him since you did not decline the invitation he gave us.”
“I know.” The boy rested his head against the chair’s plush back. “I… kind of… punched his wife.”
Viconia was silent for a moment and then she howled with laughter.
“So that was what they were talking about this morning.” She said after she had finished laughing. “Look, if you meet with the paladin you may have a chance to end his life should things not go your way.”
Groder nodded slightly. Any further conversation was interrupted by Haer`Dalis when he entered the room. The actor was wearing a crimson suit and his hair seemed more on the blue side then purple this day.
“How fortuitous, I thought everyone had left for that funeral.” He said.
“I have no reason to go.” Viconia said and began reading the book again.
“I left.” Groder said and sank deeper into the chair.
“Last nights rehearsals were excellent My Raven, but I must ask how you fare?” Haer`Dalis asked and the actor crossed the room and sat down on the floor by the chair that Groder occupied. Haer`Dalis leaned against the armrest.
“I’d say I am fine over all. It has been a few hectic days.” Groder tapped the armrest.
“I heard you punched the wayward Lady Firecam. Their maid was scandalized at such behaviour.” The bard said and smiled.
Groder raised an eyebrow.
“Has everyone heard of that? I was only a bit put out.”
“She must have roused your anger something fiercely.” The bard moved a bit to the side and leaned his head against Groders leg.
“When the stalk shivers so hard the flower is even more beautiful.” The actor said.
Viconia lowered her book.
“Shall I leave before I begin laughing at you?” She asked
“Worried Oh, Crow?” The bard retorted.
The Drow closed her book and put it down on the small table that stood between the chairs.
“Hardly.” She retorted.
Haer`Dalis twisted quickly and put his hands on Groders thighs then hoisted himself up against the boy. Groder sank back further into the chair, eyebrows raised in shock. Viconia adjusted the belt the Githyanki had given them and Groder had given her in return. She stuck a foot under the chair that was now practically occupied by both the boy and the actor. Heaving her foot upwards she flipped the chair tossing both Groder and Haer`Dalis to the floor.
“Well this is undignified.” Groder commented while getting up. Haer`Dalis laughed still on the floor. Noise from the hallway alerted them to the arrival of the rest of the party from the funeral and most likely Keldorn.
“Well, better get it over with.” Groder mumbled.
**
Groder was reasonably sure that he could be over the table and have a dagger in the paladin without too much trouble should it prove necessary. They were seated across from each other in Groder`s room. The boy had a hard time reading the aged mans face.
“I am assuming you know why I wanted to talk with you?” The paladin said eventually.
The boy had waited for this and nodded. Groder began tapping a nail at the armrest.
“This is about me being a Bhaalspawn right?” He said immediately.
Keldorn nodded.
“Yes, I sensed the essence in you pretty quickly and when I heard your name I realized. A young squire named Atjantis mentioned you.”
“Did he mention how he tried to kill Viconia and made a general nuisance of himself before Shar-Teel hampered his child rearing capabilities?” Groder asked smiling openly at the memory.
Keldorn kept his face neutral.
“He metioned a half-orcish brute of a woman and a Bhaal spawn who travelled with her and a Drow.” He sighed. “The young paladins have a tendency to be rash in judgement and action. You are less… hrmm… objectionable in your manners then he described.”
“I eh… imagine you have talked with your wife.” Groder said and clasped his hands in his knees.
Keldorn`s face remained neutral.
“Yes but she said little except that should I should not judge you by that incident. She said nothing else save she felt sorry for you and I do trust my wife in these matters.”
Groder fought to repress a nasty quip.
“What is your assessment then, inquisitor?” The boy asked and looked past the aged warrior through the window out into the blue skies.
“I doubt I can change your personality or your choice of companions but as far as I can see you have done some good since coming here. I have witnessed some of it for myself too even if it was a mercenary deal.”
“There will be no heavenly punishment then?” Groder asked and coked his head to the side. He tried to look cute and innocent; it had worked in the past.
Keldorn shook his head wearily and smiled slightly.
“No, no heavenly punishment. All you can do is to strive against your nature and if you fail it is your damnation and someone will put you down.”
“That is a cheery thought, good thing I have already done some of that fighting.” Now the boy smiled. “I will not be ruled by some dead thing inquisitor. Never.”
Keldron said seriously.
“I do hope so.”
**
Jaheira felt uncomfortable. She had never seen Groder so open or vulnerable as he had been yesterday. Maria had not been very willing to speak of the events that had led up to Groder`s attack on her but all the while she spoke she had been filled with a sadness. She had said that she felt it was a private matter for the boy and that he would have to deal with it sooner or later.
Now he had reverted back to his usual self but Jaheira couldn’t help to wonder now, how much was mere acting and shielding. Groder and Keldorn were still talking and she hoped nothing would happen or at least that Groder wouldn’t do or say anything stupid.
She massaged the bridge of her nose; she shouldn’t have become so unsettled. The druid sighed, leaned into the chairs satin clad back and chalked it up to a week of near constant chaos.
“I’ll see about that commission for the church.” Keldorn stepped out of Groder`s room followed by the boy.
“Do so but I think it will have to wait.” Groder responded.
“Did everything go well?” Jaheira asked.
“We came to an agreement of sorts. Age has rendered one more diplomatic as well it seems.” The aged warrior said. “I shall go the Order to leave my report and then return to my home at present. Good day.”
As the paladin left, Groder sat down in the other plush chair next to Jaheira. He stretched and yawned. They were alone in the suites common room
“You seem unconcerned; I assume it went well then?” The druid asked. “You are lucky to have stumbled on such understanding people. Many would have had you in irons or worse by now.”
“I know though it worked out in the end.” He answered. “Bless Tymora.”
“Groder… What happened with Lady Maria?” She turned her head to look at the boy. His profile seemed to drop a bit.
“Nothing, it was nothing. I just got angry.” He waved a hand dismissively and glanced at her.
“Nonsense, I have seen you angry as you may recall.” Jaheira responded and crossed her arms.
“Just… leave it. Please Jaheira.” His voice was quieter now. “I don’t remember including analyzing me in our little deal.”
“It is merely important that we do not let things like that hinder our progress.” Again she was unsure of how to handle the softer side of the boy.
“Look, it won’t happen again.” Groder responded. “There should be time for dinner soon no? I haven’t eaten anything yet.”
He left the chair and drifted towards the exit. Jaheira watched him leave. When he had left she found herself wishing for Khalid, some harbour for comfort. Groder had always done a good job at dehumanizing himself but now it felt like she had scratched the surface of the boy and found some unknown depths.
**
“He is such an oooh… such a… bastard! Calling him that insults bastards everywhere!”
The fork Nalia held trembled in her hand. The young woman was so angry she shook.
“You wouldn’t believe the things he has told people. At least his father did seem to believe most of it.”
She told the party that was sitting around one of the Flagons larger tables with plates of steaming food in front of them.
“You may want to watch yourself, Nalia. He did not strike me as someone whom would take no for an answer.” Jaheira said and snatched a sliver of pork from a plate before Viconia could get it. The Drow retaliated by stealing the last pieces of salad.
“Such men are rather ugly.” Haer`Dalis said.
“At least they will not talk about shivering flowers.” Viconia said and shot a glance at the actor.
“Nor will they be so childish to kick chairs over.” He retorted and smiled. “This one is a friendly competition however.”
“The shivering flower may not enjoy being described as such or enjoying being kicked out of chairs.” Groder smiled a little and looked at both the Drow and actor.
“You wound us my Raven, we fight only for your affection after all.” Haer`Dalis said and turned his face into a mask of despair.
“Could we not talk about this while we are eating, I am getting bad, bad images in my head.” Yoshimo smiled.
Groder began laughing and the rest of the party soon followed suit.
