Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 1.6.

Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 1.6.

There is not much time to think out a proper plan as the Beshaban has finished his angry speech and one of the guards hands him a lit up torch. I skulk in the shadows of the trees and ready my bow. I have spotted only three armed guards - the rest of the crowd is made up from entertainment seeking nobles, so the opposition is not as tough as I thought. The Beshaban idiot is moving towards the stake, the torch held high in his hand as I release the arrow.

I have always considered myself amongst the top marksman in all the Faerun and I have another reason to think so as I see the arrow piercing his ear and crushing his peanut size brain, killing him instantly. The idiot falls and entangles himself in his robes; the torch falls out of his limp hand and falls on him as his clothes flare up…

For a second there is absolute silence and then it is broken… the nobles are screaming in panic, jostling and hustling each other. The guards become involved in this havoc as well and soon they have forgotten the woman tied at the stake… I use all my stealth to sneak up to Viconia and cut her free from the ropes. “Be quiet,” I whisper to her, quite unnecessary, as I grab her by the arm and drag her away from the scene.

We run for a couple of minutes, until Viconia is out of breath and orders me to halt.

“I thank you for the daring rescue, abbil,” she gasps for air “but did you do it only to torture me like this afterwards?” There is a great deal of gratitude in her words, even if they are spoken a bit harshly.

“Ah, the famous gratefulness of the Drow,” I chuckle “how do you manage to get yourself in such predicaments?”

“That is not important,” she snorts “I’m more interested in knowing what are you doing here in Athkatla… alone?”

“Phew… so much has happened since we split up, Vic…” I wince slightly “I’m not sure I want to talk about it at all…”

“Well, we did not have to split up then, but it was your decision, iblith” she sounds a bit edgy “but I don’t see that… that treehugger with you, so I suppose that’s why the sour face, right? I guess that whining coward, that poor excuse of a husband of hers, had enough common sense to drag her away before it all gets out of hand, yes?”

“Err… well, no… not really,” I suddenly stutter just like Khalid… “Actually he’s quite dead…”

“Abbil ,” I hear praise in Viconia’s voice “you surprise me! I didn’t think you had it in you! Well, it turns out you are a real man after all…”

“Wh… what are you talking about, Vic? We… we got ambushed… by… by bandits…”

“Sure, abbil, sure!” Viconia nods knowingly, “but why are you not together then? Why are you not comforting that mongrel in her mourning? No, abbil, you cannot trick Viconia so cheaply… I see through you!”

“What do you want, Vic?” I am growing angry from her torture. She must be still mad at me at the choice I made back then… “Why are you pestering me with these questions?”

“Sheer curiosity, abbil, nothing more,” she grins “and where is that annoying little pink-haired brat of yours? Imoen was her name, am I right?”

“She… she was taken away from me… and I have no idea where she could be,” my face turns grim “Cowled Wizards took her away… I need to gather a lot of gold to even get an information on where to look for her…”

“Well, abbil, it sounds like you got yourself a problem… though it puzzles my mind as to why even bother rescuing such an annoying person as this Imoen of yours. Maybe…” she looks into my eyes and bites at her lower lip, “maybe you want Viconia to travel with you? And let her heal your wounds and share your troubles? And maybe we can share more than that…”

“Viconia… you make it sound very tempting, but… no. I must decline. There are circumstances you are not aware of…”

She does not take it very well…

“Then enlighten me, moronic jaluk!” she hisses, “are you still hoping for your druid elg’caress to come around? I could offer you much more than she will ever be able to...”

“Goodbye, Viconia,” I turn around and walk away before I lose my temper…

“Next time you will address me, iblith, you will be doing so on your knees! You will be crawling back to me, do you hear!” I can still hear Viconia screaming as I head out of the government district.

 

How… how dare she talk like that! I have been walking for some time, but still unable to get rid of the anger piling inside me, how dare she talk like that about my…

Again, a familiar flash of pain and desperation impales my body… lately, on some occasions, I have been thinking about her… about Jaheira as mine… about us… why? Why do I still hope? What reasons do I have to believe in? Nothing has changed since we left Irenicus dungeon, I have not done anything to make her feel otherwise…

Why does Viconia’s words hurt me so much… her insults never seemed to bother Jaheira herself… Perhaps because she reminded me of what I fear the most?

“Kind sir, could you please spare a few coins? My children are starving and my wife is…” I see an old beggar approaching me with an outstretched hand. The next second he is lying on the ground as I feel my anger abandoning me the very same moment as my fist connects with his nose… The feeling of anger is quickly replaced by that of shame and disgust at myself, as I murmur a few apologetic words and squeeze a few gold coins in his flagging hand. He’s probably suffered beatings far worse… but that is not a very consoling thought.

 

I feel relieved at the sight of the familiar tavern - Mithrest has proven to be a safe and quiet spot, perhaps a touch too expensive for us, but nonetheless, I ponder as I am squeezing my way through to the table occupied by my future companions. I see both Nalia and Aerie listening to Jan’s stories, mouths wide open… and there is Yoshimo, sipping his ale with slightly disinterested expression on his face.

I am about to join them at the table when Pugney’s loud voice stops me in my tracks “Hey, lad,” he bellows “come over here, I’ve got to tell ya somethin’”

“Something wrong, Pugney?” I ask him with concerned expression on my face.

“No, lad, everything’s fine,” even as I stand right before him, his voice is still loud enough for everyone around to hear “that woman of yours graced us with a visit”

My throat runs dry as I motion to him to speak quietly “What? When? What… did she do? Did she say anything? Where… where is she now?” I am too nervous to control myself.

“Relax, laddie,” he smacks me on the shoulder “she’s fine, she just sat at the table for an hour or two, then went back to her room. Was all quiet, didn’t say a word. So we didn’t bother her as well.”

“Thanks, Pugney” I shake his hand “I’ll go check on her.”

“You do that lad,” he grins at me…

 

Back at the table, Aerie is leaning closer to Nalia and whispers to her “Nalia, is she his… I mean… y-you know… are they a c-couple?”

“I don’t think so,” Nalia blushes slightly, feeling slightly uncomfortable “no, they cannot be. She lost her husband recently, so…”

“Ah, I… I see… That’s good… what? I meant - that’s awful, terrible,” Aerie’s face goes red and before anyone can react to her slip-up, she tries to correct her mistake “How could such awful thing happen to anyone?” she asks in as sweet voice as possible.

“You are not used to the danger and cruelty surrounding us, aren’t you, young one?” Yoshimo suddenly interjects “Yes, I’ve seen many horrible things in my life, but the sight of her dead husband was… well, it was not pretty. You know, his body was…” Yoshimo leans closer to Aerie and whispers the gruesome details in her ear… The blonde Avariel’s face turns pale and then goes slightly green…

“Why, lass,” Jan senses his chance “your face has the colour of an unripe turnip! As aunt Petunia would say…” and suddenly Aerie can no longer contain the consumed ale within herself…

“Smooth move,” Nalia whispers to Yoshimo as they watch the elf retreating to her room…

 

Meanwhile, upstairs, a young man is pacing around the hallway, gathering all the courage he can, before facing what he thinks will be the crucial moment of his entire life…