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47. Iron Throne


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#1 Guest_Kulyok_*

Posted 01 March 2009 - 07:31 PM

Xan stopped in the darkness, clutching Stai's hand. The stairs to Sarevok's chambers were narrow, and the mages were walking with their backs to the wall, barely daring to breathe. Invisibility covered them, and they joined hands, afraid to lose each other to the darkness.
"There," Stai whispered. "Stop."
They heard voices.
Sarevok was pacing across the room. Xan heard a woman's voice(Tamoko, he understood), then an older man joined the conversation.
"This is irresponsible, Sarevok," the old man was saying. "Your sister is on the loose--this is not something you can forget about!"
"I will deal with her in my own time, Winski," Sarevok's booming voice was cool, but it was the coolness of a hungry tiger, ready to strike. "I am more concerned about the Chill's actions. They let two Amnish caravans reach the city. We lost months of careful preparation, Winski! The war of sacrifice may never begin!"
"I could never understand why you want this war, Sarevok," Tamoko said quietly. "Taint the iron, stop the caravans and the messengers, make the Dukes and the Council of Six angry... but what of people of the Sword Coast? Of Amn? Why must they die?"
"Because I tell them to. Godhood matters more than mortal lives, Tamoko. You are a mortal, and you are denied understanding. When I ascend, I will open your eyes."
"No, Sarevok. You will shut them."
The door opened, and Tamoko exited, looking unhappy. She passed the mages; Xan felt her breath but was too afraid to speak, to catch Sarevok's attention.
"In two days I will go to the Undercity," Sarevok said thoughtfully. "We must continue the rituals. If we do not find Gorion's ward by then, we may sacrifice another of the Children."
"Viekang?" Winski asked. "He is a frightened idiot."
"No matter. Sacrifices must continue. And so must your scrying, Winski. Use the blade to get to Gorion's ward, or next time I will sacrifice YOU."
A Child of Bhaal is behind this, Xan realized. Sarevok is Ala's brother--and a villain of no small caliber. A war of sacrifice! A grand way to ascension, indeed.
Xan heard Sarevok's footsteps, and the door opened again. The man was huge: his helmet almost touched the ceiling, and the stairs could barely contain his frame. Stai clutched his hand painfully. Don't let him notice us, Xan prayed. But he will go past us and feel us in the darkness, and even invisibility will not help... he will destroy Stai and me... Seldarine...
Sarevok stepped on Xan's stair in the darkness, and Xan became one with the wall. Slim and slender, Xan felt he was too big, huge, and Sarevok would notice, would strike him down...
Sarevok went past, and Xan felt Stai's hand relaxing in his.
"I love you," she whispered.
"We are alive," he whispered back. "Come, upstairs."
An old man stood at the window with his back to them. Winski, Xan understood.
Stai snapped her fingers, and the invisibility around her dissolved. Winski never heard anything: Stai's second spell released a small cloud of white dust in the air, and Winski collapsed at the floor.
"Sweet dreams," Stai waved to the old man. "Now, Xan, your moonblade!"
Xan looked around. A small table near the wall caught his attention, and for a moment he felt as if somebody was calling him from there. Xan made a step, another...
"There you are!" a high-pitched voice screeched, and Xan felt the invisibility spell lifting. "The elven wizard! Got a lady friend, did you? And how is little Imoen?"
Xan sharply turned around.
Three newcomers were in a room. Two of them he knew: Xzar and Montaron, both looking as healthy as ever. The third one, a tall blonde in plate mail, was new.
Stai was looking at them all with very round eyes. Apparently, Xzar's manner of speech was exotic to her. Xan grinned inwardly and realized he was feeling better. The blade was near.
"We killed Tranzig," Xzar continued excitedly, "But there are so many bandits, we decided not to kill them all. Monty was so smart to suggest it!"
"And you decided to head to Baldur's Gate?" Stai smiled. Xan never liked that smile.
"We did! And guess whom we saw down the stairs? Big Sarevok, entering the cellar!"
"Is Sarevok the leader of the Iron Throne?" Stai asked.
"What? No! His stepfather, Reiltar, does the big business. But Sarevok, oh, he is song!" Xzar giggled. "Imagine, he's a Bhaalspawn, like Ala! And he wants to rule the world, like Rabbits! Now, Rabbits ordered us to kill Ala, first, but now Rabbits know about Imoen, so we got new orders!"
"Orders?" Stai raised an eyebrow.
"Imoen?" Xan stepped forward.
"Why, yes! Monty made me describe everything to my master, and master knows about the pink-head Imoen, so Imoen and Ala are both Children of Bhaal." Xzar sighed. "It's so confusing, isn't it? Aaaanyway, the seers said that Sarevok will meet Ala in two days, under dirt and stone."
"He said nothing about the Undercity, did he?" Xan asked.
"Underpants? Overcity? Ah, Undercity..." Xzar scratched his head. "You know, he just might. Anyway, we were here for company, but now we are gone! Oh, and we need to kill you. Sorry."
"This is how it was meant to be," the blonde nodded solemnly. "You abandoned your companions, left them to die a horrible death, and their revenge is just."
Xan sighed. The blonde woman will never know she was just a puppet in Zhents' hands. Or will she?
"Where's your halfling companion?" Stai asked sharply. "Where is he?"
Something pushed Stai from the back. A sudden hit brought her on her knees. Stai screamed, and Montaron appeared out of nowhere behind her back, a blade in his hands.
"Har!" he shouted. "To the grave with ye!"
Xan felt his heart stopping. But there was no blood on the blade...
"Protection from magical weapons," Stai whispered, rising from the floor. "From little runts like you. And now you will know what the power really is!"
Two lightning bolts left her hands. Another moment, and a fireball followed them.
Xan stepped back, raising his hands to help his lover, but there was no need. Montaron's armor was in tatters, the blonde was clutching her chest, and Xzar was nowhere in sight. A scream went from the stairs: "Montyyyyy!" Then everything was quiet.
Xan blinked: the blonde and Montaron were gone, too. Only Winski still slept on the floor, apparently comfortable. Stai raised her arm, preparing another fireball, but Xan stopped her with a gesture.
"You frightened them," he said. "They ran. That's enough."
"They are going to meet in the Undercity," Stai said, rubbing her forehead. "In two days. And Ala's friend is a Bhaalspawn, too?"
"Apparently," Xan approached the small table. He opened it and nearly went to his knees: the blade was there. Dim, barely blue, but it was his again. He sheathed it and approached his lover.
"Come. We have done all we could. Now we must find the girls."

Ala tossed and turned in her bedroll, unable to find sleep. The party passed Beregost last night; another night, and they will enter the city of Baldur's Gate.
Cyric, she thought. Cyric and my sister. Did Imoen see his in her dreams, too?
"She did not."
Ala opened her eyes. The starless sky stretched above her again, and endless fields of snow lay underneath. Black and white.
"I am afraid I must part with you soon, my dear," Cyric smiled, and Ala felt goose bumps on her back. "You are indeed one of the Chosen, and you may influence the Bhaalspawn wars greatly. But recently, another path started to form. And I fear--though, of course, I fear nothing--that you may take this path."
"What path? Is this about Imoen?"
"Yes--and no. It is about you and those who travel with you. You see, dear Ala, there was a mage long ago. Joneleth."
"Joneleth," Ala whispered--and remembered.
Queen Ellesime. Terrible pain--and terrible punishment.
"Indeed," Cyric inclined his head. "This Joneleth had friends and followers; few, but still. His most devoted student, Stai, searched for him. Him and his sister, Bodhi. She never found him, but she found someone else. You. Her friend's daughter."
"What?"
"Yes, Alianna, your mother, was an elf. Surprised? So, Stai decided to aid you--in exchange for your Bhaalspawn essence. You see, if Joneleth Irenicus received it, he would restore himself. He would become an evil demigod, but he would be alive--and so, perhaps, would his sister, Bodhi."
"But he will kill, maim and destroy, right?" Ala asked.
Cyric laughed.
"Ala, dear, you are impeccable. Yes, he will--and so will you, if your essences remain. Cities will burn, armies will hunt you and be slaughtered--all because you do not want to die. Whether you are good or evil does not matter. Chaos shall be sown in your footsteps."
"I don't want this. I never wanted this."
"And Stai knows it. She sent her lover, Xan, to watch over you. Now they are in Baldur's Gate together. If you head there, there is a chance you will meet. You want to go there regardless, don't you?"
"What's your interest in this?" Ala looked into Cyric's eyes. It frightened her, but she kept looking.
"Simplest. I want Joneleth Irenicus as my ally among the gods," Cyric answered. "He will never take my place--he will be an elven god of revenge, destruction or whatever it is elves are afraid of. But he will be on my side. With your essence. Yes, he will kill here, on Toril, but it will end as soon as he ascends. And when he ascends, who cares if another evil entity joins the pantheon? Anyone could be in his place. I need allies here, Ala, need very badly. You are a fascinating girl... but only a mortal girl."
"You are saying that I will be able to live a normal life? After I submit to this... Irenicus?"
"Correct."
"And Imoen? And we will be unharmed?"
"And again correct. I am a Prince of Lies, but, alas, you read from the Tome of Truth," Cyric gave her a charming smile. "I cannot lie to you. Then again, I can be lying right now. You decide."
"One more question," Ala began. "Why did you send mercenaries after me?"
"Because I could not decide whether to let you live or not, silly girl."
"What awaits me in Baldur's Gate? Will you tell me?"
"Gorion's killer. A man who wants to start a war over the iron crisis. Your brother," Cyric smiled enigmatically. "That's three enemies already, Ala, but I am sure you will do wonderfully."
"These men... who are they?"
"No, no. This, my dear girl, you will discover on your own." Cyric smiled the last time. "Go, Ala. Fight for your heritage--or lead a normal life. You decide."




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