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Chapter 8


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#1 Guest_Jover_*

Posted 01 December 2002 - 10:17 PM

Chapter 8

"I'm coming!" Captain Arat said, as he tried to keep his balance. "You need not rip my arm off."

"If Jaheira says you must come inside quickly." Minsc said, pulling the heavily armored guard along like a small child. "Then that is how Minsc shall bring you there."

Anomen was waiting for Minsc and the Captain at the door of the Keep.

"Captain Arat, do you have a priest or cleric among your guards?" Anomen asked. "We have need of a powerful healer."

"No, our cleric was killed in the attack." Captain Arat said. "Why? Has the worst come to pass, is Lord De'Arnise dead?"

"I am afraid it is far worse than that." Anomen said, as he led the way into the main hall.

Captain Arat was not prepared from the scene the greeted him in the main hall. There lying on two of the long tables was not only the body of Lord De'Arnise, but also that of Nalia, who he had watched grow up during his service at the Keep.

"By all the Gods, not Miss Nalia." Captain Arat said, remembering the young girl who used to run about the Keep, red hair flying behind her like flames.

"She died defeating the troll's leader after it had killed her father." Anomen said, as he walked to stand beside the table that held Nalia. "We are preparing to resurrect her, but I fear there is no help for Lord De'Arnise."

"But three of your group are already healers." Captain Arat said, as he looked Lord De'Arnise's body. "Surely you can bring them both back."

"Sadly no." Anomen said. "Aerie and myself are not yet that powerful. Jaheira does possess the ability to resurrect someone, but is only strong enough to do so for one person."

"Then it must be Miss Nalia who is restored." Captain Arat said, as he removed his cloak and placed it over Lord De'Arnise's face and body. "My Lord De'Arnise would not wish to survive if his daughter could not live."

"Captain Arat, I did not give you permission to leave!" came a voice from the doorway as Lady Delcia Caan entered the hall, followed by four of the least injured Keep guards. She stopped when she saw the bodies lying on the table, her expression quickly changing from one of anger, to surprise and then back to anger as she saw Jover standing beside Nalia’s body.

"You! This is your fault!" Lady Delcia said as she came towards Jover. "I was far too generous in calling you a peasant. You are worse than any barbarian, allowing my niece to be killed in your pathetic dreams of glory!"

Jover did not react at all to the words Lady Delcia hurled at him, he had not spoken since carrying Nalia from the dungeon. Refusing to have his wounds healed, Jover simply stood between the tables staring down at the young woman he could not save.

Aerie having used all of her healing spells to treat Minsc's injuries was resting on a bench near the tables, but stood as Lady Delcia approached. "L.. Leave him alone." Aerie said, stepping in front of Jover. "You.. You weren't there."

"Be silent elf!" Lady Delcia said, yelling at Aerie. "I will hear no words from one of your race."

"Boo says that you are a mean person." Minsc said, as he moved to stand beside Aerie, staring down at Lady Delcia "Boo does not like mean people and neither does Minsc."

"Beg pardon, Lady Delcia." Captain Arat said, interrupting the confrontation. "But this woman is going to try to resurrect Miss Nalia."

"What? Oh.. of course." Lady Delcia said, as she seemed to remember something. "With Nalia's father dead this family will need its.. Heir. Raise my niece.. if you can and be quick about it."

Jaheira had been sitting quietly, gathering her strength before attempting the powerful spell. "Be silent woman!" Jaheira said, glaring at Lady Delcia. "And do not even think about ordering me to do anything."

"Jaheira, please let us begin." Anomen said, while removing his gauntlets. "The time to save Lady Nalia grows short."

"Very well." Jaheira said, as she stood and gave Lady Delcia a final glare, before walking towards Nalia's body. "Anomen, this spell will weaken me greatly you must be prepared to heal Nalia's injuries as soon as I restore her soul, or she will die again."

"I stand ready." Anomen said, placing his hands near Nalia but not quite touching her lest it disrupt Jaheira spell.

Jaheira's mouth moved in a silent prayer as she called upon the gift that nature's power had granted her. A bright glow like sunshine began to appear where her hands touched Nalia's lifeless form, this glow quickly spread to cover Nalia's entire body. After a few moments that seemed like an eternity, Jaheira lifted her hands and as the glow started to fade Anomen quickly began his part of the resurrection.

Jaheira took only one step before the weakness caused by casting the spell over came her. She swayed and began to fall, but before anyone could react Jover was at her side. Catching her and gently helping the druid to a bench where she could sit and rest from her efforts.

"Thank Helm." Anomen said, as he finished his healing spells. Nalia now looked like nothing more than a young woman sleeping. The only signs she had been hurt were the tears and bloodstains on her robes. She drew in a breath and stretched as if waking from a long sleep.

"What?" Nalia said, while trying to sit up. "W.. Where am I?"

"Go slowly, Lady Nalia." Anomen said. "You have been.. injured."

"I.. I was dead, wasn't I?" Nalia said, her voice shaking. "I can remember the troll striking me and.. My Father! Where is he? "

"I'm very sorry." Anomen said, “But there is nothing we can do." Nalia turned, and saw her father's body lying on the next table covered only by Captain Arat's cloak.

"No! Bring him back!" Nalia cried, grabbing Anomen's arm. "You brought me back! Do the same for him! PLEASE!"

"We cannot.." Anomen began.

"Don't worry Nalia, I am here." Lady Delcia said, as she came to stand near her niece. "I shall take care of you and our home."

"A temple! Take him to a temple!" Nalia continued, ignoring her Aunt's words. "Jover please! Get your horses and wagon you can save him!"

"That would not help your father Lady Nalia." Anomen said. "The resurrection spell must be cast very soon after death. The trip to Athkatla would take to long, your father’s soul would be beyond the power of any holy man."

Beyond the reach of any man. THE VOICE whispered in Jover's mind. But not beyond the power of Bhaal.

'To the Abyss with your power Bhaal.' Jover thought back at the voice, as he and Anomen helped Nalia to stand and walk over to the table where her father lay. 'Having your blood has cost me dearly.'

Power is your birthright. THE VOICE continued. The cost.. or reward is in how you wield that power. Jover felt a new energy surge within him, similar to the first healing gift he had received from his Bhaal heritage, but far more powerful. Any soul taken by murder may be restored. A gift to you.. My son.

As Jover stood beside Nalia watching her cry over her father's body, his mind returned to the day that he had wept over Gorion's body. The feelings of sorrow and emptiness caused by the death of his foster father were as painful now as they were that day. Perhaps even stronger, because he knew now that he could spare Nalia from that terrible pain. Jover started to reach his hand out to touch Lord De'Arnise but then withdrew it.

'What will it cost me to use Bhaal's gift?' Jover thought. 'What will it cost Nalia if I don't? What should I do?'

"Have faith in yourself, my child." Gorion's calming voice appeared in Jover's mind. "I believe in you."

Taking a deep breath Jover reached out again to touch the body of Lord De'Arnise and called upon the new ability that was within him. No words of magic were needed to use this gift, only the choice to do so. A darkness appeared around Jover's hand as the gift began to draw power from the Bhaal essence. 'No!' Jover thought, as he felt the essence growing stronger. 'If that is the price of this gift, I refuse!' The darkness around Jover's hand faded to gray, as the gift was denied - by Jover's will - the power of Bhaal. Then the color flared to become almost white as the gift took what it needed to restore Lord De'Arnise's soul from Jover himself.

Though all of this had only taken mere moments, it did not go unnoticed. Everyone in the hall became suddenly silent, staring at what had happened. Jover let go of Lord De'Arnise and grabbed Anomen by the shoulder.

"By Helm, what have you done?" Anomen asked, a look of shock on his face.

"Later..." Jover said, as he let go of Anomen. "Heal the man.... "

Anomen after a suspicious look at Jover quickly set about the business of healing Lord De’Arnise’s injuries.

Struggling to stay conscious Jover reached for the table, but missed and fell to the floor. Without the strength to move, speak, or even open his eyes, all he could do was listen as chaos erupted around him.

"What did you do..."

"Minsc has never seen..."

"What was that..."

"Lord De’Arnise..."

"Is.. is Jover..."

"How could..."

"Father..."

"Did you see..."

"No!" Lady Delcia cried. "Guards attack that man!"

"Stand away if you value your lives!" Jaheira said, as she forced herself to stand. "Minsc make them all move back, Aerie come here and help me."

Jover heard the scrape of steel as Minsc drew his sword, followed by the sound of booted feet hurrying away. Then he felt as Jaheira and Aerie's hands carefully turned him so that he was lying on his back.

"Guards! Stand your ground you fools!" Lady Delcia said. "Some sort of foul sorcery has been used on Lord De’Arnise, I order you do your duty and kill that man."

"Aunty stop!" Nalia said. "Jover has saved my father, it doesn't matter how he did it."

"Yes it does Lady Nalia." Anomen said, as he finished healing Lord D'Arnise. "It matters a great deal."

"Not to me it doesn’t." said a voice that Jover did not recognize.

Everyone standing turned to see Lord De'Arnise struggling to sit up.

"Father!" Nalia said, hugging the man. "Oh.. Thank the gods!"

"I shall do that in due time my daughter." Lord De’Arnise said, smiling. "Captain Arat, by my order, I want these people treated well. They are not to be harmed by anyone, that includes you Delcia."

"You my brother in law, have fallen to some evil enchantment." Lady Delcia said. "I will not stay here with vermin such as this and you shall rue the day you accepted help from this filth!"

The sound of the Keep's door slamming was the last thing Jover heard, before he stopped trying to stay awake and let the blackness take him.

***




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