Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After going back inside the Keep, the companions returned to the kitchen and told Daleson that it was safe for him to leave. Then they sat down to rest for a few moments, before continuing their search for Lord De'Arnise.

Jover looked at his newest companions as they rested, trying to judge how the courtyard battle had affected them. "You did well in getting that drawbridge down Anomen." Jover said.

"Ah yes, a simple task really." Anomen said. "You fight quite well yourself Jover.. for someone not trained by the Order."

'Well that was almost a compliment.' Jover thought, before turning to look at Aerie. Instead of sitting down with everyone else, Aerie had gone to an empty corner of the room to pray. She was kneeling with her eyes closed and hands clasped in front of her. 'I shouldn't have let Quayle talk me into bringing her.' Jover thought, 'My first time in combat was against one clumsy assassin and I bring Aerie into the middle of a full scale battle.'

The person Jover was most worried about however was Nalia. The young mage had only sat down for a moment before she stood and began pacing about the kitchen 'I hope her father is still alive when we find him.' Jover thought, 'Nalia might not be able to handle such a loss.'

"Nalia, how do we get to the dungeon?" Jover asked.

"We have to go upstairs to my Aunty Delcia's bedroom." Nalia said. "There is a secret door that leads down to the.. cellars."

"Then let's get moving again." Jover said, As the others stood and gathered up their weapons, Jover went to the stove and picked up the pot of stew Daleson had been preparing.

"Why are you taking that disgusting concoction?" Anomen asked.

"Daleson said the monsters in the dungeon eat this stuff.” Jover said. "We might be able to use it as a distraction."

***

"What I don't understand." Nalia said, as the group moved upstairs to the second floor. "Is that aside from a few servants, we have seen very few dead. Where are the other guards? They would have fought to the last."

"Perhaps, they were not as effective as you thought they might be." Anomen said.

"They were very capable, I assure you." Nalia said. "Father has an eye for such things, and they also came from a well recommended source."

"How strong was their loyalty to you?" Jover asked.

"The guards were well paid." Nalia said. "If that is what you mean."

"You cannot buy true loyalty." Jaheira said. "Everything we have seen about this 'invasion' of your home is suspicious. Trolls wouldn't care to hold your home, they would attack for food and then leave. That the Yuan-Ti and some other creatures are also involved means someone orchestrated this whole attack. Most likely someone with inside information."

"No, I don't believe that." Nalia said. "Everyone loves my father, no one would want to see him hurt."

"Nalia, you should listen to Jaheira's advice." Jover said, looking at the druid with a hint of a smile. "She's very good with conspiracies."

As the companions moved through the halls, Jover carefully crept up and looked around a corner. Just in time to see the tail of a Yuan-Ti slither into a room at the end of a short hallway

"Nalia, what is that room at the end of the next hallway?" Jover asked. "And how big is it?"

"That is my father's library." Nalia said. "It's not very big, maybe five long strides across."

"Good." Jover said. "Anomen do you know the 'silence' spell?"

Seeing Anomen nod, Jover motioned for Minsc and Anomen to follow him around the corner. As Jaheira and the others stayed back to keep watch in case of trouble.

"That's your target Anomen." Jover said, pointing at the room the Yuan-Ti had entered.

Anomen cast his spell into the room and there was a flash of light as it hit, but unlike most spells there was no sound at all. Jover and Minsc charged into the room followed closely by Anomen. The three men found four of the Yuan-Ti in the room. The creatures were trying desperately to cast their own spells, but were unable to do so with their voices silenced by Anomen's spell. The Yuan-Ti had no chance at all and were easily defeated.

Continuing on past the library, Nalia led the companions to her Aunt's bedroom door, only to find it locked.

"This is a job for Minsc and Boo" the big man said, as he moved to stand in front of the door. "Stand back friends, allow Minsc's boot to remove this door from the path of justice."

Minsc's kick knocked the door from its hinges and it crashed to the floor. Startling the two people who were inside the previously locked room. A rather heavyset noblewoman and a guard holding a sword.

"Hold." said the guardsman, raising his sword.

"It's me Hendron, we're here to save father." Nalia said to the guard, as she entered the room Nalia was able to see the other woman. "Aunty! You're alive!"

"Nalia my dear." Lady Delcia said, giving the young mage a polite hug. Before turning to look at the other companions as they entered the small bedroom. "Nalia, what have you brought into our home this time? I have told you about consorting with such creatures."

"Aunty please." Nalia said. "These people have come to help save our home."

"Don't be so naive Nalia." Lady Delcia said. "They are undoubtedly filthy peasants come to ingratiate themselves by rescuing their betters."

"Do not speak to us as if we are all peasants." Anomen said, "I am a squire of the Order of the Most Radiant Heart."

"Nevertheless, your choice of companions shows dubious breeding." Lady Delcia said, looking at Anomen. "Truthfully I do not care what you are, I've languished here quite long enough and will not linger in such distasteful company. Now stand aside and let me pass."

"If this is how you speak to people who are trying to help you." Jover said, as he moved to block the doorway. "I hardly think that we are the distasteful ones here."

"How dare you speak to me." Lady Delcia said. "Stand aside peasant!"

"Say please." Jover said. "And then I'll let you pass."

"Never!" Lady Delcia said, turning to look at her guardsman. "Hendron remove this man."

"Minsc, keep that guard right where he is please." Jover said. "Gently."

Jover saw the relief in the Hendron's eyes as Minsc moved to stand in front of him. After being locked in a room for two days with Lady Delcia the guard would probably enjoy seeing what happened next.

"Are you too good to touch me yourself, your Ladyship?" Jover asked.

"Of course." Lady Delcia said. "I would never touch a peasant like you."

"Perhaps you would like the touch of a troll better." Jover said. "I could take you downstairs with us, you might be a good distraction… for the trolls."

"You're insane.." Lady Delcia said, sounding less certain of herself. "You would not dare."

"Are you willing to bet your life?" Jover asked, using his best fake evil grin. "On what a insane peasant like myself might do."

"I.. " Lady Delcia began to speak.

"Jover, let my Aunt go." Nalia said, interrupting. "She doesn't mean any harm."

"Be quiet girl." Jaheira said, knowing that Jover would never hurt the noblewoman. "This is between Jover and that arrogant woman, no one shall interfere."

"It's a simple word your Ladyship, p l e a s e " Jover said, spelling out the word. "I'm sure you can say it, and you had better do so NOW." Jover took a step closer to Lady Delcia as he spoke.

"Please." Lady Delcia hissed the word, like it was a curse.

"That's a good noble." Jover said, smiling as he stepped away from the doorway. "You can go now."

"I shall not forget this insult, peasant " Lady Delcia said, as she started to walk past Jover.

"Neither shall I your Ladyship." Jover said, as he quickly grabbed the older woman by the chin. Tilted her head and gave her a loud kiss on the cheek. Lady Delcia stood frozen for a second, her mind trying to comprehend what had happened. Then her eyes rolled back as she fainted and fell to the floor.

Everyone in the room looked at the woman lying there on the floor, then most of them erupted in laughter.

"Hendron, I think her Ladyship is ready to leave now." Jover said.

"Yes sir." The guard said, still laughing as he bent down to grab Lady Delcia by the arms. "And thank ye sir, you just made the two days I spent in here with her worthwhile."

As Hendron dragged the Lady Delcia out of the room, Nalia turned to confront Jover. "That wasn't necessary Jover, my Aunty might not be the nicest person, but you had no right to treat her like that."

"I don't think simple politeness is to much to ask for." Jover said. "Considering we may have saved her life."

"What if she hadn't given in?" Nalia asked. "Would you really have taken her down to the dungeon."

"Don't be foolish girl." Jaheira said. "Jover was merely giving that woman a well deserved lesson. She should consider herself fortunate that she didn't speak to me in that tone."

***

After reaching the dungeon the companions began a search for the monsters Daleson had warned them about. Carefully opening every door just enough to see inside, until finally Jover saw what they would have to face.

"Umber Hulks, four of them." Jover said, closing the door he had just looked through. "Simple creatures, but very dangerous."

"Ah, then you have fought these creatures before." Anomen said. "How do we defeat them?"

"Actually." Jover said. "This is the first time I have ever seen one in person."

"Then how d.. do you know what they are?" Aerie asked

"I spent a great deal of my youth reading." Jover said. "I know a little bit about a great number of things. Including the fact that we should not try to fight them unless absolutely necessary."

"We have the stew they feed on." Nalia said. "We could lure them into a different room and trap them."

"Aerie, do have another of one of those 'wizard eye' spells?" Jover asked.

"No, I only memorized the one." Aerie said. "I.. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Jover said, turning to look at Nalia. "Nalia, do you know the layout of the rooms past this door?"

"No." Nalia said. "I've never been down here before."

"We can't try luring those monsters anywhere then." Jover said. "It might get one us trapped with those creatures."

"Then what are we to do?" Nalia asked. "We have to reach my father!"

"In nature when there is not enough food." Jaheira said. "Animals will often turn on one another to get what is available."

"But we have the creatures food right here." Anomen said.

"But if we only give them part of it." Jover said, understanding Jaheira's idea. "Those beasts will fight each other to get it, Jaheira you’re brilliant!"

"I will not take credit for nature's wisdom." Jaheira said. "Minsc, hand me that barrel lid."

Jaheira held the lid as Jover poured some of the stew on to it. Then Jover opened the door just long enough for Jaheira to send the 'plate' sliding across the floor into the next room and then he slammed the door shut again.

The companions could hear the scrape of the umber hulks claws against the stone floor as they moved towards the stew. Then a great roar and sounds of the huge creatures attacking each other. The companions moved away from the door in case the fighting beasts broke through it, finally the other room grew quiet again.

"Let's see how many there are now." Jover said, as he opened the door a little to look inside. "There's only one standing and it's hurt. Give me the rest of the stew and we'll find out if it's still hungry."

Jover threw the pot of stew into the room. Just past the remaining umber hulk, so that the creature had to turn away from to the companion’s room to eat.

"Now we can finish it off." Jover said. "Nalia get that last wand I gave you, and use it on that monster."

Nalia got the blue and white colored rod from her pack and aimed it at the umber hulk's back. A bolt of lighting flew from the wand striking the wounded creature and killing it instantly.

After entering the room the companions found themselves facing two large wooden doors that led to the last room in the dungeon. Before the group opened those doors Jover turned to speak to his companions. "I know we've been fighting all day and we're are all getting tired." Jover said. "But I want everyone use your strongest spells and your best attacks, don't hold anything back. The troll's leader is probably in the next room and it has to have heard this noise, they are going to be ready for us this time." After the groups defensive spells had been cast, Jover pushed open the doors revealing a room that was very dark.

"Me smell you weak grrthunks." said a voice from out of the darkness. "Torgal kill you all, make you food for Rocksmash Pack."

Jover told Aerie and Nalia to do something about the dark. The two mages each cast a spell that sent several balls of light floating into the room, dispelling the darkness and casting an eerie glow over the large room. Revealed by the lights were five trolls standing in the center of the room. One of them was much larger than the others and on the floor in front of the large troll was Lord De'Arnise, horribly beaten but still alive.

"Now you all die." the large troll said. "Torgal kill all."

"Wait! I wish to make a deal for the life of your captive." Jover said. "Let that man go and you may leave this place unharmed."

"Stupid g'thunks, you should left with gold like other small-fist guards." Torgal said, as he lifted the helpless Lord De'Arnise over his head. "Life of Rocksmash Pack good! Not break deal with Stronger!"

"Please don't hurt my father!" Nalia pleaded, walking forward until Jover had to grab her by the shoulder to make her stop. "Please, Please, Please..."

"Torgal done talk! You all die, like this!" Torgal roared, as he threw the Lord De'Arnise's body hard to the stone floor in front of him. "Now we fight!"

"FATHER!" Nalia screamed, breaking free of Jover's grip she ran forward blind to the danger. Jover ran after Nalia, but the young woman's speed, born from desperation, kept her a step ahead of the fighter.

As Torgal stood over the fallen Lord's body waiting for his next victim to come to him, the other four trolls ran towards the other companions.

Minsc charged at the first two, so great was his anger that Minsc didn't bother to draw his sword. Instead he spread big arms as he ran into the monsters lifting the trolls from their feet. Then ramming them backwards into one of the many stone columns that supported the rooms ceiling. The column shattered dropping debris on all three of them and sending a cloud of dust into the room.

The last two trolls charged at the companions still by the door. Anomen raised his mace and moved forward to intercept the one of the monsters. Aerie magically summoned two ogres and sent them to attack the second troll. This gave Jaheira time to finish her more complicated spell to call forth a woodland being.

As Nalia threw herself on top of her father's body sobbing with grief, Torgal raised his clawed arm to end the young nobles life. Jover ran straight ahead through the dust cloud leaping over Nalia and her father's body to stop Torgal. Using all his weight Jover stabbed his sword into the troll’s chest. The force of the attack drove the monster back a few steps, but Torgal quickly recovered and struck at Jover knocking the long sword from his hands. Jover quickly drew his dagger and started to back away from the troll trying to draw it away from Nalia.

Minsc stood up coughing from the dust and bleeding from many cuts, looking for the trolls that he had attacked. Seeing the monsters rise and shoving aside the debris that had fallen on them. Minsc drew his sword and calling on his berserker's rage ran at the creatures again.

Aerie was now constantly healing Anomen as he fought the first of the trolls, preventing her from using her offensive spells. The ogres Aerie had summoned lasted long enough for Jaheira's woodland being to use several of it's own spells on the other troll, weakening it greatly, before being killed itself. Jaheira had used that time to call forth another flame blade and was slashing at the troll trying her best to kill it before it could recover.

Jover had been cut several times as he tried to dodge Torgal's claws while leading the monster deeper into the room. His only hope now was to give the others time to finish their opponents and help him with the troll leader. Jover saw a figure coming through the dust cloud behind Torgal. 'Please let it be Minsc!' he thought, his eyes grew wide when saw that it was Nalia.

Nalia's face was one of despair and anger, tears streaming down her cheeks as she raised her hands towards Torgal and began casting her spells. Two flame arrow spells had hit Torgal before he realized he was being attacked from behind. Turning to face this new threat Torgal moved towards Nalia.

"Run Nalia!" Jover yelled, as he jumped on Torgal's back stabbing at the troll's neck with his dagger. Nalia was beyond caring about her own safety though, she continued to cast magic missiles at Torgal as the monster came ever closer.

"No! Not Another Death!" Jover yelled, as he reached even higher and stabbed Torgal in the eye. Reeling in pain the troll reached back, hooked its claws into Jover's shoulder and threw the fighter forward over his head. Jover flew past Nalia and hit the floor hard, sliding until he hit something. Now with one arm hanging useless and bleeding, Jover forced himself to get up, calling upon the Bhaal tainted healing power he possessed to stop the flow of blood. As he started to stand his good hand touched something, looking down he saw a three headed flail that glowed with magical power.

Minsc's rage proved to be stronger than his opponents, but only barely. The two trolls were laying in pieces at the big mans feet. It would be impossible for even these creatures to regenerate from such wounds, the ranger himself was also badly hurt. "Now Boo we must help our friends." Minsc said, as he staggered back to the doorway before passing out from his injuries and the exhaustion caused by the rage.

Jaheira had finally managed to kill the troll she was fighting and then turned her flame blade against the one Anomen was facing. Aerie, seeing that they would soon kill that troll, gathered up her robes and hurried over to where Minsc had fallen, praying to Baervar that she would be able to help him.

Jover with the flail in his hand, moved back towards where Torgal and Nalia had been. The dust cleared just enough for him to see as Torgal struck Nalia, causing a fatal wound. Jover the pain of his own wounds now forgotten in anger charged at Torgal, catching the weakened troll by surprise. Jover's first swing crushed one of the monster's legs, the troll screamed in pain as it fell and it kept screaming. As Jover used the flail to crush it's other leg and then both arms, before moving to stand over Torgal's head. Jover raised the flail high and then swung down splitting the troll's skull, killing it. Then dropping the flail, Jover staggered over to Nalia. Tears began flowing through the blood on the fighter's face as he picked up Nalia's body, to carry her back towards the other companions.

***