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All That Glitters...31


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#1 Guest_Tenebrous_*

Posted 20 July 2003 - 07:52 PM

Chapter Thirty-One

After the extremely discouraging incident with Galvarey, Kal called a halt to the rest of the day. Jaheira wasn't in much condition to do anything else, and one day either way wouldn't change anything.

So it was that they found themselves back in the Five Flagons. Haer'Dalis and Aerie had excused themselves to the playhouse, dragging Minsc along as an audience. Yoshimo was assigned to carry a note to Chief Inspector Brega, explaining exactly what happened should it come to his attention. Jaheira went straight to her room. That left Viconia, who insisted on tending to Kal's shallow burn from the single lightning bolt that had struck him.

With the room arrangements, Kal's party more or less owned the second floor, and so Kal was comfortable with going up to the conference room and removing his armour so his injury could be tended to. In fact, Kal was giving serious consideration to making it a more permanent arrangement; the Flagons was a clean and well-run establishment, roomy enough to give them all individual rooms, and not too expensive. And the Thunderburps were much better hosts than Missus Patricia...to say the least.

"An interesting example, isn't it?" Kal said conversationally as Viconia began chanting. "Galvarey, I mean. Someone who lusted only for power. I almost feel sorry for him - what he became."

Viconia finished her spell and stood up again, then pulled a chair out and sat in it. "Do not confuse his desire for power with the cause of his wretched, pathetic state. Since you explained the errors in Galvarey's arguments perfectly, I am sure you are familiar with the fact that another common logical error is to assume that when one event occurs before another, the first event is the cause of the second."

"Oh, certainly," Kal said. "I'm aware. But that's only an error when it is assumed without evidence. History is replete with examples. More personally, I've seen both Sarevok and Galvarey become consumed by their quests for power. I'm beginning to suspect a causal link...wouldn't you?"

"Kal...have I ever told you what happened to me after I made it out of the Underdark? It might have some bearing on this discussion."

"Do go ahead."

Viconia's eyes dropped to Cel's hilt meaningfully. Cel sighed. "Still don't trust me? All right, all right."

A minute later, after Kal had popped back into his room to leave Cel propped up against a wall, Viconia began. "I crawled out of the Underdark at night, though I did not know that term when I first emerged. Perhaps you can imagine my state of mind when I first saw the sky, after having spent all my life used to having a solid stone roof above my head. At the same time, it had also been a long time since I had not had the power of Lolth to aid me. I was afraid, Kal, powerless and alone. It was not a pleasant feeling."

"I haven't known anyone to call fear a pleasant feeling. What happened next?"

"Days of barest survival, killing small animals and scrounging scraps of food that kept me moving, and running from threats to my life - peasants, surface elves, adventurers...and the many native predators of the land that I was completely unfamiliar with. And the sky...always the sky. There is nothing to compare with the fear of falling - not down, Kal, but up - as the sky seemed to me nothing but the greatest pit, largest chasm, in all the multiverse.

"In those first few days I did not know what to do. Only after a time did it occur to me that I had to find myself a source of power if I was ever to last more than a few weeks on the surface. I recalled that surfacers had gods, as well, but I had not been taught of any power but Lolth's. My opportunity came while I was fighting off a group of goblins; a caravan came by, and the caravan's leader ordered his guards to disperse the goblins. As it was, the caravan's leader had mistaken me for a surface elf - one elf under a hood looks much like any other."

"And when he discovered you weren't...?"

"He was even more interested. As you might have guessed, he did not rescue me out of the goodness of his heart, if there was such a thing in that one's heart. He saw an elf woman in tattered clothing, battling goblins armed with nothing more than a sharp stick, and correctly concluded that I had no one to help me and that I was alone. To that Calishite, one Nasr al-Amman by name, I was opportunity. What sort of business was he in, you might ask? Any kind of business, as long as it made money...and he had lost one of his ‘dancing girls' to an over-amorous customer the week before."

Kal nodded grimly. "I see."

"I did not understand common, but he made himself clear enough, and with the force of his guards behind him, I knew I had no choice. Instead, I resolved to use him as much as he used me, and through him find my own opportunities for power. If I had not thought only of power, I would not have been able to do what I then proceeded to do."

"And what was it that needed such fortitude to accomplish?"

"I...I agreed to his demands. I acted willing...even eager. And he insisted on...on ‘trying' me himself." Viconia's lip curled in disgust. "As it was, my act was good enough to earn as much of a permanent place as there could be in the caravan. For the next three months I remained there, learning to speak, read, and write Common, paying my way through sweat and exertion.

"Make no mistake, Kal - I despised every second of what I had to do. I had originally planned only to stay with the caravan until a moment where I could escape, but I knew that would simply set me adrift and powerless once more. Only my focus on power led me to where I am today."

"A bit early to be making conclusions, isn't it?" Kal commented.

"I have not yet finished, that is true," Viconia said. "In time I came to have some influence over the master of the caravan, and I was able to obtain a volume that contained information about the pantheon of this land. In that book, I discovered the grace of Shar. That night, and for many nights afterwards, I prayed to Shar for acceptance. One morning I awoke, for the first time in many months, with gestures and words already in my mind. Despite the unfamiliar words, I knew them for what they were - prayers of power. Shar had answered my requests, and I had power once more.

"Armed now with knowledge of the language and customs of the surface and the power of Shar, I made my escape the next day. The Calishite ‘merchant' I left dead in his wagon, skull crushed."

"I doubt that the world will be any lessened with the passing of that one," Kal said.

Viconia shrugged. "It was not my concern. I wanted only vengeance for what he had done to me, and I had it."

Kal inclined his head. "That you did."

"Life after the caravan was not easy, but with the power of Shar in my aid, the night became friendlier, and I was able to move about in relative confidence in my own ability. And I lived. It has been more than five years since I left that caravan, and I have made it thus far. I could have let myself be sold, resisted in the name of personal dignity - but I did not. I did what I did, only desire for power impelling me, and I found the power I sought. If not for that, I would have been killed long ago. Am I as delusional and pathetic as Galvarey was?" she challenged.

"Certainly not. Indeed, you lived where others might not have. But I'd hesitate to attribute that solely to a desire for power. While that may have had something to do with it, do you not agree that it was the most practical thing to do at the time?"

He held up a hand to forestall an imminent outburst. "I'm not saying it was a good thing, exactly. I realize it was degrading and a terrible experience, but as you yourself pointed out, you are here, and alive, after five years, after all. You can't say that the possibility of picking up the common tongue and learning about the deities of the surface did not occur to you, that only your desire for power made it happen. Simple practicality would have led you to the same conclusion, I would think."

"I do not see how this is an argument claiming that desire for power is a negative concept," Viconia pointed out.

"It's not. I'm claiming that at this stage in the experiences you've related to me, desire for power seems to have been immaterial. So far, actions consistent with a desire for power have coincided with actions supporting other goals, like survival. There hasn't been a point yet where desire for power has prescribed actions that strike out a path separate from other interests or desires."

Viconia nodded slowly. "So you are claiming that my example is, as of yet, invalid."

"Correct. Galvarey was willing to throw everything away, including his own Harper code, for power and domination, and I don't believe for a minute he was doing it for some ‘greater good'. Sarevok engaged in numerous low-probability, complicated plots to try and gain power, not to mention sacrificing the people who raised him. You haven't had that choice yet."

"Hmph. Well, rest assured that when the choice does occur, I will make the right decision - the path of power - and I will show you that it can be very successful indeed. I may be on the surface, but I see no problem with the drow philosophy - power is the most important goal."

"Really? Do you think Valas would agree?" Kal shot back.

"I...I...you..." Viconia stammered. Suddenly, she leaned forward, and slapped Kal across the face, fingernails leaving bloody streaks behind. She stood and stormed out of the room.

A few minutes later Kal walked back into his room, to pick up Cel again.

"Being tactful, were we?" Cel asked pointedly upon seeing the scratches on Kal's cheek, though they were already regenerating..

"Please, Cel, not now."

"Well whatever you're doing, Kal, it evidently isn't working."

"Speak for yourself, Cel," Kal replied crossly.

"Don't tell me that getting slapped - yes, I heard it from here - is part of your master plan."

Kal managed a smile. "It just might be."

"Liar."

"I'm insulted by your totally unsupported leap of logic, Cel," Kal told her primly.

"Yeah, yeah. Of course you are. Anyway, let's go see Jaheira."

"Uh...see...Jaheira?" Kal said, caught off guard.

"Yes," Cel answered in a long-suffering tone. "Go. See. Jaheira. Exactly which words did you not understand? You know, she blames herself for what happened this morning."

"It wasn't her fault," Kal replied almost automatically.

"Exactly. Which is why you go to her room and tell her, you understand?"

"But she should know that...."

"Fine, you don't have to understand. Just do it."




Kal knocked on Jaheira's door. A muffled question sounded itself from inside the room. "Who is it?"

"Jaheira, it's me," Kal said as gently as he could.

On the other side of the door, Kal could hear her hand drop off the doorknob. "Why do you wish to talk with me?"

"Because he's your friend, Jaheira. Now let us in," Cel said.

"Is he?" Jaheira asked.

"Don't be silly. Open the door."

The door clicked and swung open slowly, Jaheira peeking warily around it.

"Jaheira, I just want you to know that it's not your faul- " Kal began.

The words came out of Jaheira in a rush, interrupting him. "Not my fault? Not my fault? Of course it's my fault! I should have seen Galvarey for the pathetic, meddling little snake that he was! I should never have blindly accepted the command to take you to the hold, not when there were so many other things wrong with its presence already! And especially when they told me to take you with me! I was so stupid, how could I have not seen this coming? How is this not my fault?"

"You couldn't have known..."

"Wrong!" she snapped back. "Could have. Should have."

"Why are you so convinced, Jaheira?" Cel wondered. "What are you so worried about?"

"I...I am not worried about anything. That is a...ludicrous...assertion."

Kal shook his head. "No, Cel's right. You're worried about something."

"I am...somewhat...concerned that you...that you might gather the...wrong impressions about the Harpers from this experience. Mildly concerned."

"I'm not inclined to think that Galvarey represents the average Harper, don't you worry."

"Yes, but...It has occurred to me that I never told you much about the Harpers..."

"Then why don't you? I've got time to listen. And I'm willing to listen for as long as you're willing to explain."

Jaheira smiled slowly. "Very well. There is quite a bit to understand, but let me outline the basics. Come in, sit down," she said, seeming to just then notice that they had been standing in the doorway.

Once they were comfortably seated, she began. "Understand, Kal, that the Code of the Harpers is not something written. It is expressed, instead, in a series of principles that all Harpers hold to. The first of these, simply stated, is, ‘All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.'"

Kal nodded. "An admirable principle. One with which any good person would not find fault, I should think."

"Yes. Harpers value freedom above all. The second principle, which I repeated to Galvarey, was ‘The rule of law aids peace and fosters freedom...'"

"‘...so long as the laws are just and those who enforce them lenient and understanding,'" Kal finished, remembering Jaheira's words. "Nothing I would have any trouble with, nor would Tyr. Law is only beneficial when applied with understanding and mercy."

"The next is, perhaps...less simple. ‘No extreme is good. For freedom to flourish, all must be in balance: the powers of realms, the reaches of the cities and wilderlands into each other, and the influence of one being over another.'"

"You're right, this one is less simple. I can't say I agree, but I can understand what lies behind a principle like this. Basically, the claim is - correct me if I'm wrong - that if there's too much nature, people who wish to live their lives in safety live in fear, and conversely, if there's too much civilization, animals and woodland creatures end up living in fear. And the argument against influence hinges on the proposition that government inevitably grows more tyrannical as it grows larger."

Jaheira nodded. "Essentially, yes."

Kal shrugged. "Fine. I can't say that I agree, but I understand the argument. I don't think less of the Harpers for it. Galvarey, I can see, obviously contradicted this with his dreams of empire. You also mentioned one more...?"

"Yes. In full, it is, ‘Harpers police their own. A Harper who hears the call of personal power can no longer hear the sweet song of the harp. Harper who seizes power, and holds it above all else, is a traitor to the harp. Traitors must die, for freedom to live.' It was my responsibility to kill Galvarey, but I shall not lose sleep over the fact that you did instead."

"So the Harper Code and I agree - Galvarey was wrong. How could I get the wrong impression of the Harpers from that?"

"I was just...."

"Being way too nervous," Cel said dryly. "Panicking. Afraid you'd ruined your chan-"

"Cel!" Jaheira snapped, holding a hand up to silence her. Then, as if just noticing that Kal was in the room, Jaheira looked in his direction and blushed redder than Kal could ever remember her doing in the past.

I'd better pretend I didn't see that. Kal was, fortunately, already half-turned away from Jaheira, and so it did not seem too strange for him to complete the turn and stand facing the door. "Well, I should probably go check on the others. See if Yoshimo's back yet."

"Uh...yes. Of course, that's right, Kal," Jaheira said, speaking quickly. "Do that. I'll be...fine." Kal walked out without looking back, giving Jaheira time to get her expression under control.




"That was it?" Cel asked in exasperation as Kal descended the stairs.

"What were you expecting?" Kal challenged.

"Something more involved than a shallow discussion of a few points of philosophy, for one," she sniped back.

Kal stopped on the landing between the first and second floors, and stared directly into Cel's pommel ruby. "If you recall properly, when you tried to, change the subject, let's say, she didn't respond to that very well at all!"

"By whose standards? I think a discussion of your relationship would be perfectly acceptable."

"What needs to be discussed so urgently? We're friends, she knows it, I know it...."

"Come off it!" Cel snapped. "You know how she feels about you."

"And I also know that she doesn't want to feel that way, Cel. I have eyes, you know. She thinks of herself as Khalid's wife, I think of her as Khalid's wife, and that...is...that!" Kal said, punctuating each of his last words by shaking Cel's hilt.

"No, that's not ‘that'. You know, you could work those little issues out."

"‘Little issues?' Do you have any idea of what you're talking about? Khalid is not a ‘little issue'. Things like that don't change just by talking about them."

"Hah. If you spent as much time with Jaheira as you did with, say, Viconia, you'd have it all worked out in no time," Cel said with a certain amount of sourness.

Kal had started to make his way down the stairs again, but stopped at that comment. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean? After all, you just noticed what astonishing success I've been having with Viconia."

"That's exactly it, Kal," Cel continued, trying to be as persuasive as possible. "Viconia's pretty stubborn, you know. But if you'd devoted that kind of attention to Jaheira, I'd bet you'd have a lot fewer hang-ups...and she'd be a lot less nervous and panicky."

"And Viconia would be just as she was the last time we met her - suspicious, and all torn up inside with internal pressures. Granted, it doesn't seem like she's changed much, but I know I can reach her. She's opening up, Cel...slowly, but it's happening. And I'm positive that once she does, her true character will shine through."

"‘True character', Kal?" Cel asked cynically. "She's a drow. Be reasonable, Kal. Be practical. Aren't you being just a little idealistic when you think there's some good there to be rescued? Yes, Viconia's a good party member, in the sense that she thinks quick on her feet and seems committed to the party - because we offer her safety, I guess. That doesn't mean that she can be totally transformed from what she was - and no doubt she did some terrible things in the Underdark."

"And it doesn't mean she can't. You haven't been there when she's been talking to me, Cel. Yes, she did do some terrible things in the Underdark, but she had no other choice. I have to help her out of it, show her a kinder, gentler way."

"While neglecting your true friends like Jaheira?"

"No! It's just that Jaheira's fine - that she's hardly in as tenuous a situation as Viconia is."

"Speak for yourself. Her situation - especially regarding you - is pretty shaky. I think you're wasting your time with Viconia, Kal. That probably won't go anywhere, and you could be developing a deeper relationship with Jaheira."


That little comment set Kal off like a bolt of lightning. "Damn it, Cel! What is it with you, and getting mixed up with me and Jaheira? Leave well enough alone, stay the hell out of it, okay?"

"No," Cel refused flatly. "I won't. Especially when you're too scared to develop your relationship with her to where it should be!"

"Should be? What in Tyr's name are you gabbling about? Who are you to decide what our relationship should or should not be like?"

"It's not just me - Jaheira, too, remember?"

"And how much of that is you pushing her in that direction? And how much of your discouragement regarding Viconia is due to the fact that you don't like her very much because she doesn't trust you? I'm not stupid enough to think you're immune to emotion, Cel. Or prejudice, or vindictiveness."

There was a brief silence after that.

"Maybe...maybe you're right," Cel said. "Maybe I'm being a little unfair to Viconia. But as for you and Jaheira, I'm just trying to...."

"...meddle with my life," Kal finished. "What goes on between me and Jaheira is our business, and certainly none of yours. The same goes for me and anybody else." In a softer voice, he continued. "If it's going to happen, it will. But at the rate you're pushing things, it's getting everyone mixed up and confused. Be patient, Cel."

"I just want you both to be happy..." Cel said in a small voice.

"I know, Cel. I appreciate the thought, but you don't need to get involved. You're our friend, but sometimes the best thing for friends to do is to stay out of the way."

Cel sighed. "All right. I don't like it, but I'll do it. Don't prove me right by going all miserable, deal?"

Kal smiled faintly. "Deal."




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