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48. Bandits


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#1 Guest_Kulyok_*

Posted 01 March 2009 - 07:32 PM

The sun was high over Larswood. Ala took off her cloak with a sigh.
"I am all sweaty," she muttered with disgust. "I'd give up my heritage for a bath."
"You tossed and turned last night," Edwin said. He was marching next to her, Jaheira's spare quarterstaff in his hand. "Bad dreams?"
"Sort of. Edwin... can you keep secrets? Not just from Jaheira and others--from everyone in Thay?"
"Do you expect a Red Wizard to betray his own?" Edwin sneered. "And here I thought you made a few steps up the evolutionary ladder. Obviously I was mistaken."
"No," Ala shrugged. "I thought that now that you gave me your word, I was safe with you, so I wanted to tell you something personal. Forget it."
"No, no," Edwin stopped. "Continue. What is it?"
Ala looked into his eyes.
"I see Cyric in my dreams. The reigning god of murder."
Edwin whistled.
"Why should I believe you?"
"Why would I lie? My father is Bhaal," Ala smiled mirthlessly. "Cyric's interest is obvious."
"What does he want, then? (Do not tell me he is here to aid your ascension, because he is not. I know.)"
"First he kept asking me questions, until he decided I was no threat to him," Ala began. "And he is right. I have no interest in Bhaal's heritage, and my gift--reading the minds of others--is unruly and sporadic."
"And then?"
Ala sighed. "And yesterday he asked if I wanted to abandon Bhaal's heritage altogether. He says there is a way."
"Hmph. But you are not going to follow his advice, are you?"
"Why shouldn't I, Edwin?" Ala raised an eyebrow. "Am I a bad rogue on my own, without my heritage? Or maybe you think it's a good life, being hunted?"
Edwin did not have time to answer. Next to him Imoen screamed. Jaheira turned, a ready staff in her hands--and stopped dead.
The forest was thick with bandits. Badly dressed, armed, stenchy, they were coming out from behind every tree, and Ala felt a trickle of cold sweat on her neck.
A huge ogre stopped in a few steps from them. "Tazok", read crude letters on his plate mail. Ala whistled quietly. Was that blood?
"These," he growled. "To my tent. Sarevok will pay for her," he pointed at Ala, "handsomely."
"Sarevok? For her?" Edwin stepped forward. "What about me? I am a Red Wizard of Thay!"
"There are too many of them," Jaheira said quietly.
"That m-much is obvious, dear," Khalid sighed.
"What do we do?" Imoen whispered. "Run?"
"Surrender," Ala and Jaheira said together and looked at each other in surprise.
"Down with your weapons," the ogre grunted. "And go. Quickly. The slowest'll get his leg chopped off."
"Damn," Ala whispered. "And we were so close..."
The tent was a large brown dome covered with cloth and fur. To Ala's surprise, the smell inside was barely noticeable, and the tent itself was clean. She understood the reason when they were brought behind the improvised bars. A very pretty and very pale girl sat there, rocking a pale black-haired man on her knees. Another man--no, an elf, Ala corrected herself, quietly lay in the corner. At first Ala thought he was asleep, but then she noticed he was covered with blood.
What will happen to us? Ala sighed.
"Hey, sis, why did we let Minsc and Dynaheir go?" Imoen smiled ruefully. "Boo would know what to do."
"Indeed," Ala sat down next to the new girl. "My name is Ala. This is my sister, Imoen. This is Edwin, and these are our friends, Khalid and Jaheira."
"You're married?" the girl asked suddenly.
"Yes," Jaheira answered, surprised. "Why?"
"We wanted to get married, too," the girl said quietly. "Me and Eldoth. But my father is a Duke, so we ran away to Amn in the caravan... and ended up here. Eldoth? Can you hear me?"
The man in her arms groaned.
"He is wounded," the girl continued. "I am Skie Silvershield."
"That Skie?" Ala asked. "A dwarf Kagain in Beregost asked us to find you."
"And now we did," Edwin muttered. "Told you, rescue missions are no good."
"Who is that man in the corner?" Jaheira interrupted.
"Kivan," Skie whispered. "They killed his wife and tortured him. I'm afraid we are next."
"They will never torture you as long as they hope for a ransom," Jaheira said tiredly. She sat next to the wounded elf. "Kivan? Can you hear me?"
"No, he can't," said a new voice.
Ala turned. A tall hooded man entered the tent. He was unarmed, but judging by how Edwin tensed, a newcomer was a mage of no small ability.
"My name is Winski," he continued. "I want to talk to you."
"Talk," Ala said. Her voice trembled, and she hastily shut her mouth.
"Not here," Winski shook his head. "Once you escaped my teleport spell, Ala. But not today."
"What about us?" Skie Silvershield asked. "There are five of them and three of us."
Winski looked at the wounded elf. Then his eyes rested on Edwin and Imoen, Khalid and Jaheira. Finally he turned to look at Skie.
"You will come with me, young lady," he said impassively. "And so will the others. Sarevok will be happy to see you."
"Sarevok?" Skie asked, her voice rising incredulously. "Sarevok Anchev? The stepson of Reiltar Anchev, head of the Iron Throne? Is he in league with these bandits?"
"Yes and yes and yes." Winski paused. "And now that you know that, young lady, you have two ways out of here. Dead or a prisoner--or his future wife. A daughter of a Duke will be very beneficial for his career. As for you lot," he raised his arms, "you will follow me, as well."
Skie cried something, but Ala could no longer hear what. The wizard started chanting, and the familiar white mist filled the room. Ala reached for her sword, for Edwin's hand... but everything was becoming immaterial, she was falling into darkness...
She fainted.




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