40. Whispers in the Dark

"Is s-she asleep?"
"Yes, she is breathing evenly. What troubles you, Khalid of my heart? You look far too apprehensive to watch the stars peacefully."
"The stars are... amazing. But what I have in mind is much more s-serious, darling. I do not think we c-can follow our instructions any longer. The girl has become a friend."
Ala held her breath in her bedroll. The warmth and serenity of the night evaporated in a moment, and her heartbeat, sleepy and slow only moments before, was suddenly threatening to betray her presence in the waking world, so loud in her own ears it was. She slowly released the air through her teeth, calming it down, and cocked her ear.
The light drone of a lone cicada was muffling the words, but the voices were still recognizable. Highly recognizable, in fact. That light stutter, and the earnest sincerity of the tone, as if he was pouring his soul into the words--it had 'Khalid' written over each and every of them. Defending me from Jaheira, obviously, but why? Oh dear. I gather that this is not a matter of unwashed dishes, not at all...
"She is considering a Red Wizard our permanent companion. And she was ready to kill the Rashemi," Jaheira commented dryly.
"Yet her actions are kind and honorable, my d-dear. Besides, it would look suspicious, if we dragged her to Baldur's Gate right now, whatever Dermin said. I'd rather fight the bandits and then introduce Ala t-to the Harpers, with naught but good deeds to her name."
"You are so unusually talkative tonight, Khalid. Does the subject worry you so? It is our brethren we are talking about. Do you not trust your own kin?"
"I... d-do not always see truth in Dermin's actions, Jaheira. He tends to be c-carried away in his search for Balance, and may p-possibly overestimate the girl's role in the events to come."
A faint sigh reached Ala's ears. "Perhaps. You are wise, my husband. Let us wait."
The sleep came unwillingly, though her body was aching for rest. Ala lay on her back for over an hour, watching the starry sky, both anxious and afraid to meet her companions' gaze, as they returned to the camp, and terrified to close her eyes and find herself among the void, lifeless lands of her late nightmare.

"Make yourself at home, my dear."
Ala blinked. She was lying in the same position, but instead of the warm blanket, there was snow underneath her bare neck, and the stars disappeared from the sky. With a single fluid movement, she sprang on her feet, reaching for her weapon, but put it back with a wry smile. A dagger? I will need an army of rogues to even try to harm this one.
Her opponent was nowhere to be seen. Could Cyric kill me in my sleep? No, he haven't so far, meaning he probably can't. Besides, he was talking about him being forbidden to interfere.
Ala sighed, gloomily regarding her surroundings. I take it the dreams were not included.
"Oh, they are, they are. But luckily, you are following the path of restraint, and never use your divine essence, except unintentionally. In other words, you are a little more than a mortal, and all the ever-seeing and well-meaning hypocrites have not started to watch you, yet."
The voice was flowing in the air, lingering with a slight echo, caressing her ears. Ala barely suppressed the desire to cover them with her palms; the sensation was highly uncomfortable.
"And I shall stay a mortal," the girl folded her arms. "Taint, essence or whatever it is, I have no need of it. I would have surrendered it willingly, if I could."
Next moment, she heard a shrill, girlish giggle that uncomfortably reminded her of Xzar. "Dear me, you have been fed these childish tales of your sire's essence devouring your acute mind and undulating body!"
"Actually, yes," Ala said, pointedly picking up a strand of her gray hair.
"No, my dear, no. One of your brothers constantly uses his essence to straighten his battle prowess, another protects himself from magic, and your sister has conquered a Drow enclave with her powers of persuasion. All three are alive and well. Flourishing, I would say. Of course, they, too, felt sick, when they used it at first. But later they became accustomed to the power, and the side effects stopped."
Who is lying? Xan or Cyric? Would I wither and die or become a truly divine being, if I use my 'gifts'? The idea of Prince of Lies speaking the truth is preposterous, but--I actually have other siblings, don't I? Cyric would not make up such a primitive lie, because I would eventually meet them and see it for myself. So, can I use my essence, after all? Can I trust anyone at all?
"No, you cannot," Cyric said coldly. "Your little sister, or however you call her, had been stealing Gorion's love all these years. You've learned to like her, but will you trust her?"
"I will," Ala said forcefully.
"Hardly, my dear, hardly. And, I say, you'll be a fool if you do. These Harpers--have you heard their conversations? Do you trust them? No, no need to answer. Even you will not be that... trusting."
Stupid, Ala thought bitterly.
"Now, we come to a very important point." The voice dropped to an insinuating whisper. "There is not trust, but there are alliances. I see that you are set in your ways as to not to let the taint triumph over you. Declining it, rescuing the Rashemi Witch, letting the Zhentarim live, not listening to "Bhaal"--all of it led me to believe you would not seek my realm of influence. Or would you?"
"No, I wouldn't." Talking to disembodied voice of Cyric was easier than looking him in the eye, but Ala still could not bring herself to speak freely. The idea that a god, or the avatar, will speak to her, will know the names of her companions... Strange. Preposterous. Impossible.
Alluring.
She looked around uncertainly, flushing under his invisible gaze. What does he want?
"Whatever you decide, eventually you would have to confront your other siblings. Our interests agree closely on this point, don't they? I would give you beneficial advice and support, Ala. I need to protect my portfolio, and my interests require an ally among your siblings--an ally who would not wish to take my place. You. You have the most interesting power, one that would allow you enter the minds of others whenever you want, if developed fully. Now that you are aware you may use it, my dear, you will make a very useful agent of influence."
"A spy, in other words," Ala lowered herself to the ground again, searching the empty sky for any traces of her opponent's presence. There were none. "I... am interested, yes. Who wouldn't be? But you, yourself, are a Prince of Lies! How do I know that you will not betray me? You may be making the proposal to other Bhaalspawn as we speak, for all I know! Or you may just get rid of me, fetching me 'beneficial' advice that will quickly lead me to the grave!"
"Why would I do that?" Cyric sounded sincerely shocked. "Ah, you are probably not aware of the simple fact that Alaundo's prophecy is talking about you taking your sire's power. And why would you?" The voice was very smug. "It was my own discovery, after all."
"Me?!"
"Well... perhaps not. But you see, as I was the one who killed your dear Father, I had to study his biography extensively: the weaker spots, you understand; and a certain fact caught my attention. A fact that points to you as his chosen heir."
"Wha-"
"No, no, not now. But you have not rebuked my advances. Does that mean you agree?"
Say 'no'. Say 'NO'! Are you out of your mind? Say 'NO'!!!
And then what? More senseless nightmares? If I say 'yes', I'll at least receive some useful information! If not, I'll gain a dangerous enemy. No, make it two dangerous enemies, because Cyric will surely address another of my siblings then, won't he? Feel the difference. And if I cannot trust anyone, there's no difference at all.
All right. But do not say you have not warned you.
There was a long pause. "Ah, the girl is speechless. I'll take it as a 'yes'."

Ala blinked, and the stars appeared on the sky once again.
"Did you have a nightmare, child?" Jaheira leaned over her, wiping a trickle of sweat from the girl's face. "Khalid and I were watching the stars, and we heard you talking in your sleep."
"Talking?" Ala sharply sat up. "What did I say?"
"Nothing I could comprehend, and neither could he. I caught a phrase about a man and his advances, but that is all. Did you dream of someone you left in Candlekeep?"
"I wish I had," the girl muttered. "Hard to leave him behind."
"Is it something you'd like to talk about, child? I know the hurt that unrequited love can bring to one so young," the druid sat next to her, taking the girl's hands in her lap. "Imoen's foolish infatuation seems to have passed, but for all I know such things may last for months and years." There was a sad tone to her words, a longing Ala couldn't miss. Is she talking about herself?
"Um, thanks, Jae," she said, lightly squeezing older woman's hands. Thankfully, her blush wasn't visible in the dark. "But I am not really in love. Thanks."
I wonder if I have made a very serious mistake.