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Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 2.14.


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#1 Guest_Theodur_*

Posted 25 June 2003 - 06:23 PM

Rush Of Blood To The Head, part 2.14.

“I despise that person,” Jaheira still cannot calm down, even long after we have left the Mae’Var’s guild, “the world would surely be a much better place without him…”

“I agree,” I try to soothe her, “but maybe Edwin presents exactly the necessary amount of evilness to balance out the forces of good and evil in the world…”

The look that this statement earns me is full of curiosity and disbelief… “I have absolutely no idea whether you are serious or joking… sometimes you say the most peculiar things,” Jaheira sighs.

“Well, I am sure that we could stand here all day and philosophize, but we have a job to do,” and I point to the large gray building looming in front of us. “A Cowled fool,” I speak imitating Edwin’s expression of speech, “to dispose of…”

Jaheira looks at me oddly and leans closer to ask me in a quiet voice, but not quiet enough for others not to hear it, “Remember, you are speaking about killing someone… has this become so simple to you or…” and seeing the pained look in my eyes, the expression on her face becomes apologetical and she reaches out her hand and slightly squeezes mine.

“You are shielding yourself that way, are you not? This peculiar sense of humor is a trait of your character that I have trouble understanding…”

I only nod my head, looking her in the eyes. “Yes, but it does not seem to be helping anymore… early on it was the only way I could cope… telling myself that death was not real, that it was just a game, an illusion. But I kept seeing Gorion’s dead body in my dreams… and I tried to harden my heart. Probably, the fact that I was distant from the heat of our battles helped… when I was looking at the enemy I saw only a target to pierce my arrow with. Just like those targets I used to practice on, back at Candlekeep… it was like a simple archery practice.”

She doesn’t allow me to finish my speech and surprises me by a quick, warm hug… the others around are smiling at my perplexed look.

“Enough idle talk,” I mutter quietly so she does not hear me and shake my head as she releases me and we walk over to the door of the mansion. Slowly I open the door a bit to take a peek inside and I don’t like what I am seeing… the expression on my face tells it to my friends.

“What?” Nalia asks concerned.

“Seems like a mephit house-warming party…” I mutter, “but I suppose we do not have a choice, do we?”

“There is always a choice,” Jaheira mutters, “how much are you going to put at risk and for what purposes, that is the question…”

While I am pondering about what should I answer to her, my eyes wander off to focus on a small object that Jan is holding in his hands and is carefully examining.

“What do you have there, Jan?” I ask, “something important?”

“It is the most unusual key, my Worship,” Jan explains, “I am wondering what is it designed for… I’d wager that Mae’Var has secret turnip cellars…”

“Where did you find this key, gnome?” Jaheira asks impatiently.

“Well, I did not exactly find the key, oh-my-vision-of-loveliness,” Jan chuckles at Jaheira’s astonishment, “our red-painted friend, back at the guild, had it on his adorable person… I just… borrowed it for a while…”

“You… pickpocketed Eddie? Well done, Jan! Yoshimo, you’re losing the edge here…” and I burst into uncontrollable laughter… “Wait! I have an idea… perhaps, we should go back to the guildhouse and see what this key can open.”

“That’s silly,” Jaheira snarls, “why do you think that it is supposed to open something that is inside the guildhouse?”

“Well, it’s either that or a bunch of angry looking mephits to face… and we can always come back for a fight here. It doesn’t look to me like those imps are going somewhere soon…”

 

“Well, that’s the last of these cabinets, there’s nothing here that this key could open,” I admit with a sense of discontentment as we have gone through the first and second floor of the guildhouse, without much success.

“I told you so,” Jaheira feels obliged to add her customary comment.

“What about that little closet?” Nalia asks pointing at a very ordinary looking object.

“It doesn’t look promising, but let’s check it just in case,” I motion to Yoshimo to look at it. He swiftly opens it and I hear him whistling quietly in surprise.

“Well, now… that’s no less than a strongbox, wouldn’t you know it… either someone is overconfident or just counting on that it would be too obvious to look here. Come over here, my gnomish friend,” Yoshimo commands.

Jan begins to work on opening the safe and after a brief moment we hear a small scrap, indicating that the door has been opened.

“Hmm,” Jan ponders, “it didn’t match perfectly, seems to me as it is a crude duplicate… now what’s this? Mae’Var’s slippers?” Jan retrieves a pair of boots from the lower shelf, but I am more interested in the scrolled parchment that lies on the upper shelf.

“Let me see those papers, Jan,” I ask him and he hands them over to me. I sink in to study them and Jaheira leans over my shoulder to take a peek as well… her warm breath on my neck does not help my concentration.

“Looks like Mae’Var’s correspondence,” she observes.

“Who are these Night Knives?” I ask pointing my finger at a word in the parchment.

“Night Knives?” Yoshimo sounds surprised, “Mae’Var is having contacts with Night Knives? This fact alone is proof enough for treachery. Night Knives are a quite determined brigand guild that is operating in Westgate. Likely they would wish to expand their influence further, I presume.”

“Then let’s not stand about here and risk getting caught, but head back to Renal and present him with these papers,” Jaheira adds her voice of reason, “is it safe, Nalia?” Nalia, who has been standing guard, just nods her head in sign of approval.

“Hmph,” I think aloud as we exit Mae’Var’s guild, hopefully to never come back, “I wonder how comes Edwin had the key? Was he spying on Mae'Var as well? Perhaps our thievery now throws his life in jeopardy?”

“Bah! Knowing that Thaywian, he always manages to get out of any situation…” Jaheira snorts, “I doubt that is the last we have seen of him. All though I certainly would wish the opposite…”

 

Back at the Shadow Thieves guildhall, a very content Renal Bloodscalp is overflowing us with praises on a job well done. Just as I open my mouth to remind him about the reward, he speaks, “And now for the last part of the deal. Go and eliminate Mae’Var with my full authority.”

“What? Renal, we are no assassins… why don’t you send your men to do the dirty work?” I am incensed and from the looks of my friend’s faces they do not relish the opportunity as well.

“Look here,” Renal speaks calmly, “if I send my men over there it will be a bloodshed. If you go there now, before Mae’Var has spotted the thievery and your cover has not been discovered yet, there is a chance to do it relatively more peaceful… Mae’Var is not particularly liked amongst his own guild members. If you dispose of him and his more trusted lackeys, the rest of the thieves may sway your way.”

“Still… you’re asking us to perform an assassination…” I still do not like the looks of this.

“Well, and what if I double the reward?” Renal grins, “ten thousands in gold coins, what do you say? I am practically sponsoring the rescue of your lass here. And you are not doing injustice with Mae’Var’s elimination, I’m sure you know by now how despicable he is.”

I look over to Jaheira and she only responds with a solemn nod. “Very well, Renal. We’ll do as you ask. But don’t let me hear you speaking again about how despicable someone else is… such talk doesn’t fit you well,” I snarl with angry expression on my face. I hate being a tool, what else can be more humiliating than that…




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