Jump to content


Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 2.12.


  • Please log in to reply
No replies to this topic

#1 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 25 June 2003 - 05:51 PM

Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 2.12.

“It can’t go on for much longer,” Jaheira whispers in my ear whilst her hand is brushing away a lock of hair from my sweaty forehead.

“Wh-what?” I find it very hard to concentrate, when my heart is still beating at a tremendously high rate and my hands are still shaking as my body is slowly recovering from her onslaught… “You… didn’t like it?”

“Oh, I liked that a great lot,” she smiles, “but I was not speaking about your prowess in that matter… trust me – your skills are… adequate…”

“I’m glad to hear that…” I gasp with relief, “but what were you talking about then? Whatever you wanted to ask, this would be a very unfair moment… after such, err… experience, I would promise you absolutely anything…”

“You are just impossible,” she laughs weakly, “no, I wanted to talk about a more serious matter… I know that it may not be the best moment, but I have to bring this up. Especially, regarding our recent discoveries of the situation.“

“Very well, speak what’s on your mind,” I am slightly discontent that she has broken the blissful silence that always surrounds us after lovemaking, but then again I am unable to be angry at her.

“Thank you. I am becoming concerned about one of the members of our group,” seeing me grinning, she adds “and before you make any childish comment about me being jealous, know this – if I knew that I had a reason to be jealous, I would skin you and the other person alive.”

“I’m sure you would…” I mutter.

“You must agree that Aerie has proven to be quite a liability so far. We cannot rely on her… we need a more competent cleric if we are to face vampires. Aerie will undoubtedly wet her pants only from hearing the name “vampire”…” she sighs.

“You are not saying something that I didn’t knew before. The problem is that good clerics don’t grow on trees and acquiring one is not going to be easy… what do you propose – do we send her away right now or let her stay until we find someone else?”

“I am not forcing you to make this decision. Just know – if she keeps up these moves on you, it will end in violence…” Jaheira makes an exaggerated scowl.

“I don’t understand how she has not figured out about us? How can she be so blind?” I sigh in despair.

“I have a suspicion that she may be receiving misinformation. I smell a rat… no, probably not a rat, but one certain noble weasel…”

“Ah, enough of that talking…” I whisper, fighting back a yawn, “let’s get at least some hours of rest, won’t you agree?” and I wrap my hand around her shoulders to pull her closer and a few minutes later we are involved in a snoring contest…

 

A cool and refreshing breeze of wind greets me and clears my lungs from the stuffy air of the Adventurer’s Mart as we make our way towards the promenade’s gates. The little visit to Ribald’s shop resulted in a slightly lighter money pouch, but it was worth it, though, I think as I look at Jaheira, who is still adjusting her new and very powerfully enchanted girdle so that it does not hinder her movement. She had objected strongly, especially when finding out the price of it, but after the last night I had an unusual feeling of lavishness… though it ended quickly when Aerie and Nalia started their bickering about who should get a new mage robe. I ended their argument by refusing to buy a new robe for anyone, instead I just handed some gold to Nalia and ushered her over to Lady Yuth to look over her collection of magical spell scrolls. Luckily, Jan and Yoshimo seemed to be more interested in their pickpocketing contest and since neither of them mentioned a need for a specific peace of equipment, I understood that they have managed to help to it themselves. All I needed was a couple of stacks of arrows and after getting those and waiting while Nalia finishes her bargaining with Lady Yuth, we were ready to continue on our travels.

“So, where to now?” Jaheira asks as we stand beside the large fountain at the promenade’s gates.

“Bah, I don’t really know,” I sigh, “I’m taking suggestions. I understand that Nalia had been talking with some wee one about problems in… where was it?”

“Imnesvale. That’s in Umar Hills,” Nalia explains, “there has been a string of many mysterious occurrences – people have been disappearing…”

“Err… I’m sure that it will be worth investigating. Later. We should find something to do here in Athkatla…” I am not going to tell them my reasons though.

“Perhaps,” Yoshimo speaks up, sounding quite tentative, “perhaps, you can help your friend here with his problem… I was told to report to Renal Bloodscalp, he is high in the ranks of Shadow Thieves. Apparently, my… ahem… debt to Shadow Thieves has not been paid yet… seeing that we have some spare time, I thought perhaps my friends would be interested to learn more about their would-be business partners…”

I look at the faces of my companions and seeing that their facial expressions are either indifferent as in cases of Jaheira and Aerie or interested as in cases of Jan and Nalia, tell Yoshimo “Very well, let’s go see this Renal of yours… mayhaps we can pick up some pieces of information…”

 

It is already high noon as we are standing outside of the Shadow Thief guildhouse, Jaheira holds a scroll of parchment in her hand - our key to the entrance of the Mae’Var’s thieves guild. Renal Bloodscalp had asked us to gather evidence on this Mae’Var’s treachery, and even though I feel that it is not my duty to perform such mundane tasks, the reward sounded somewhat promising.

“Now let me get this straight,” I look at Yoshimo, a deep scowl in my face, “you mean that I must run errands for a thieves guild, simply because you managed to get yourself in such mess? What did you do anyway, pickpocketed the wrong people? Muscled in on their territory? All though something tells me that it would be too simple for an explanation…”

“I understand your reluctance, friend,” Yoshimo seems sincerely apologetic. “But, know that there may be a great profit to be had – for example they may lower the sum they ask for your friends rescue… it won’t hurt helping them, if you intend to use their services later…”

“I don’t even know what I will receive for that amount of gold they are asking… then again, I suppose we have nothing to do, do we? Let’s go see this Mae’Var then…”

“Thank you,” Nalia whispers as I pass by her and we head to the eastern side of the docks. Docks - a place of which I have only bad memories… the first visit resulted in stumbling upon a secret Harper base, completely insane wizard, an equally insane ex-slaver, and a mercenary trio of mages attempting to curse Jaheira… I cannot stop wondering, what surprises will this visit bring.

 

After talking and presenting our papers to a fatty man called Gorch – a barkeep, receptionist and seller of stolen merchandise in one person, we make our way to the basement. The air in the basement is very damp and warm, the whole room is designed like a torture chamber with cells alongside the walls, various appropriate tools for torturing and a band of thieves, leaning over a victim that is lying on the table, screaming in horrendous pain. I am watching the faces of Nalia and Aerie becoming slightly green, I just hope their reaction will not blow our cover. One of the thieves stands out in the crowd, he is a man of quite small stature, but seems very shifty and cunning as he spots as advancing and addresses us in hostile tone.

“I hope you have a good reason for interrupting me in such pleasurable moment… ah, but looks like poor, old Lin has passed out,” he sighs with regret, “so, tell me why should I not kill you?”

After a short explanation of our cover story, Mae’Var, for he is the small and shifty man, seems quite content and gives us a pretty laughable task to prove ourselves to him… to sneak in the Temple of Talos and steal the amulet of Weathermistress Ada, priestess of Talos. Quite why he wants us to do it is beyond my grasp, but I am not going to protest. After all, we are here to get the job done and that’s what we are going to do…

After leaving the guildhouse to head over to the Temple, an idea comes over me… “Actually, it might not be wise if we all go and storm the temple… we are more likely to attract attention… I think that Jan and Yoshimo should handle this on their own. After all, it is courtesy of your mischief, Yoshimo, that we have to bother with such stupidities,” I sigh and see the bounty hunter’s face flinching.

“Theodur?” Nalia asks. “May I go with them? I may have a chance to practice my… thieving skills…”

“Err…” that would mean that Jaheira and I will have to coddle Aerie, but I don’t want to forbid Nalia what little fun she can find, “yes, why not…” and I see Yoshimo smiling lightly… I’m not doing this for you, fool, I think slightly annoyed as I see the three of them slowly disappearing from our sight.

Oh, dear… I tense up seeing Aerie approaching me with that sickeningly happily grin on her face, clearly indicating what’s on her mind… this will surely end in violence…




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

Skin Designed By Evanescence at IBSkin.com