Unwilling to Acquiesce – Part 32

Jaheira leads Adamant to Garren Windspear’s cabin, though, as the structure emerges between the tall hardwoods, it is clear that ‘cabin’ does the building no justice. It is more of a size with a steading or festhall, easily thirty paces down its longer side, with a thatched roof of high pitch. The log walls are caulked with dark pitch. The door is cut from close hewn logs and a wide, gabled porch shades the entrance against sun, rain and snow. Over the porch is hung the antlers of some mighty deer, spanning further apart than the tips of Adamant’s outstretched arms. Impressive as the building is though, the pair have little time to admire it, for as they approach cries of battle can be heard from within. Even as Jahiera and Adamant look at each other with worried faces, a small, cloaked figure rushes from the doorway of the cabin into the forest. The two adventurers hesitate for a moment, unsure whether to give chase. The point is soon moot; before either can begin to run after the fleeing person, the figure begins to fade into thin air. In less than a dozen steps across the forest floor, the figure has vanished.

From out of the doorway, Anomen charges, the brightly glowing Flail of Ages in his hand. “Helm curse you,” he cries at the disappearing figure. He turns and sees Adamant and Jaheira approaching. “The girl,” he calls to them, clearly distressed. “The damnable villains have stolen the little girl.”

“Girl?” asks Adamant.

“Windspear’s daughter,” Jaheira explains. “We were to watch over her.”

With fearful hearts, the three charge into the cabin to find Yoshimo tending to a long cut on Nalia’s arm. Seeing the wound, Anomen pushes forward and begins to chant his healing prayers. Nalia happily places her arm into his care and Yoshimo steps back, a sour expression of disappointment flashing across his face. Adamant goes to him and asks what has happened.

“We were warned by a halfling scout of an possible assault. Anomen and I were debating whether to take the time to fetch you and Garren back when a cohort materialised right here in our midst. They were another motley bunch; orcs and hobgoblins mainly, though their leader was a mere goblin.”

“What happened then?”

“They muttered something about their Lord’s plans and how they wished you had been here to see them. Then they attacked us and took Garren’s daughter.”

“They seek to discredit you, Adamant,” says Anomen, his healing finished. “They claimed that they were sent by this Lord Firkraag and that he seeks your complete ruin.”

“Me?” asks Adamant, plainly confused. “What does he want with me?”

“Revenge, apparently,” says Yoshimo simply.

“Revenge for what?”

“I fear that his minions neglected to share that detail with us,” Yoshi apologises. “Frankly I thought they were being quite forthcoming as it was, seeing as how they were trying to kill us at the time.”

“Very droll,” says Jaheira sourly. Yoshimo smiles.

“We can’t let them take that poor little girl,” declares Nalia, her voice filled with compassion and resolve.

“Of course,” agrees Adamant. “We have to find where this Firkraag is.”

“They used travel magic,” observes Anomen. “Depending on how powerful the magic is, they could have come from another country. A search might quickly prove fruitless.”

“Perhaps, but I have a feeling that the villain is laired nearby. He wants to watch us as we squirm in his grasp,” says Adamant.

“I suspect so too,” Yoshi says. “There’s too much of the torturer about this. Did you ever hear of a torturer who didn’t want to see the blood first hand.” Nalia shivers at Yoshimo’s analogy.

“I have never met a torturer,” says Anomen stiffly, unhooking his shield and leaning it against a wooden table in the middle of the room. He rights one of the chairs upended in the recent combat and sits upon it. “I don’t know that it speaks well of you that you have.” Yoshimo bridles, but Jaheira intervenes before open conflict breaks out.

“I think we saw enough character assassination from Lady De’Arnise,” she chides. “Let us turn our efforts to finding the child.” The two men nod, shame-facedly, as the rest of the company joins Anomen, sitting about the table. Jaheira goes to a shelf past the nearby firepit and takes down an earthen jar full of dried fruit; apricots, dates and peaches. She places the jar on the table next to Adamant and then sits herself beside him.

“I have a feeling that this Firkraag wants us to find him,” says Adamant. “Nonetheless, I don’t like our chances in this wild land.”

“We need local knowledge,” Yoshi observes. “Without it we are hamstrung. A pity Garren is gone.”

“Nothing we can do about that,” says Jaheira. “What of you, Nalia. Do you have arts to find these kidnappers by magic.” Nalia sits quietly, considering her answer.

“I have some spells that might help a little, but they are limited,” is her answer, her head shaking gently. “It could take me months to accomplish what a foot search would do in a tenday.”

“Oh well,” says Anomen. “We cannot afford to await Garren’s return.”

“Agreed,” Adamant nods. “I say we do it this way: we will leave some here, to meet Garren upon his return; the rest of us will make a sweep of the woods around here. If we haven’t found her by the time Garren returns, we’ll have to hope he can help us make a better effort.” The company nods, aware that while the plan is far from perfect, it nonetheless gives them something to do, which is better than sitting in hopelessness.

“Who will go and who stay?” asks Yoshimo.

“You and Jaheira will come with me,” directs Adamant. “Anomen and Nalia will remain behind.” Around the table, three voices are immediately raised in protest.

“I must join the search,” insists Anomen. “I cannot sit by idly in this.”

“Neither can I,” adds Nalia. Yoshimo’s protest is wordless, but equally strident.

Adamant fixes each of his companions in turn with a calm stare. As they grow silent, he explains his reasoning. “Anomen,” he says, beginning with the young squire-priest. “I want a healer out on the search and another here, in case the little girl manages to escape and return; she may be injured.”

“Yes, but…” Anomen begins to object again, but Adamant cuts him off.

“Jaheira has the experience in the wild, she must be the one on the search. That means you must remain behind. I’m sorry, I know it will be frustrating. And Nalia, regardless of Anomen’s skill, I would not leave any of us here alone. That’s why I ask you to remain.”

“Why must it be she?” asks Yoshi, a somewhat churlish tone in his voice.

“You surely don’t expect me to forego a bounty hunter’s skills on a search like this?” asks Adamant, cocking one eyebrow.

“You make an eminently logical argument,” Yoshi answers, his lips pursed with frustrated displeasure. Jaheira chuckles quietly.

“I’m glad you can see it my way. Now, we should prepare; we’ll need supplies for two or three days, and should look to be back here by then, to meet Garren.” Everyone nods with a renewed sense of purpose.

“While you are gone, I will pray for the souls of the fallen,” says Anomen. “And for the safety of the child.”

The party swiftly prepares and the searchers march out before noonday.