In The Cards

Remember, some people are able to sense when a Reading focuses on them. This is especially true if the person in question is attuned to magic, is already on his guard or is a short physical distance away from the Reader. The Reader would do well to remember that if you watch for long enough, somebody might look back at you.

Excerpt from 'The Chaltar Deck Of Cards - An Introduction'

Zaerini stared at the four mercenaries facing her. Not again! She felt almost ready to scream with frustration. We were almost in Gullykin too. Two of the men in front of her were human. The warrior who had addressed her was wearing dark platemail, an ebony black that almost melted into the darkness. He drew a wicked-looking sword and smiled slightly as if in anticipation. Next to him stood a man who wielded a glowing hammer, a weapon that seemed formed from pure energy. Probably some sort of priest. Yes, there it was. The Dark Sun emblem of Cyric stood out on the front of his platemail.

Next to the dark warrior stood a dwarf, a grim warrior who wielded an axe almost taller than himself. It should have made him look it ridiculous. It did not, possibly because of the collection of human scalps dangling from his waist. The final bounty hunter was a gnome, a skinny fellow whose beautiful chainmail was far too long for him and reached below his knees. It gave off faint green and purple sparks whenever he moved, obviously it was magical.

I guess they weren't lying, Rini reluctantly admitted to herself. These people do seem to be more skilled than the assassins we've faced so far. Looks like dear brother Sarevok has upped the stakes again. Well, I'm not ready to leave the table just yet.

"Time to die, you say?" she said, filling her voice with cold contempt. "You certainly talk big. I'm sure you'll be about as much trouble as the rest of the rabble we've killed. They were pretty talkative as well, up until the point where they bit the dust. Tell me something. Doesn't Sarevok have a single assassin in his employ who's able to kill somebody before introducing himself and making a long and tedious speech about it first?"

The black-armored man looked a little taken aback at the mention of Sarevok. Clearly he hadn't expected her to know that name. He soon recovered, however. "You'll be a feisty kill, little one. When you die, know that it was Molkar who killed you."

Oh good. I always like to be on a first name basis with my would-be killers. Then there was no more time to think, only to react. Zaerini rapidly cast a spell and was pleased to see sticky strands of spider web wrap themselves around the legs and lower bodies of the gnome and the cleric, keeping them immobile. Jaheira had apparently had a similar idea as roots and vines shot up out of the rocky ground and further entangled the two bounty hunters. A pair of Fireballs cast in rapid succession by Edwin blasted them full in the face and the sharp smell of burning flesh filled the air along with the screams of the dying men.

Molkar and his dwarven companion had escaped the ensnaring spells, and now they charged, further enraged by the fate of their companions. Zaerini ducked a terrible blow from Molkar's sword and tried to get away. Her strength was no match for this one, that she knew. Vaguely she was aware of Khalid rushing up to face the human bounty hunter while Jaheira tackled the dwarf. Imoen was shooting arrows from a safe distance, but most of them simply bounced against that black armor. Edwin's Magic Missiles and Acid Arrows were more successful, but they wouldn't be enough to finish off the bounty hunter in time. Khalid was hard pressed, already bleeding from several wounds.

And then Molkar screamed, screamed with sudden pain and fury. The scream turned into a strangled groan and he stumbled, clutching at his leg as a small purple shape rapidly darted away into the lengthening shadows. The distraction proved enough. Khalid was exhausted, but with the power of sheer willpower he managed to drive his blade into a chink in the other man's armor. Molkar screamed again, and this time it was more of a cry of desperation. Then he was finally still.

Jaheira was being hard pressed by the dwarf, but she had managed to avoid serious injury, and once her friends were able to come to her assistance it wasn't long before the fourth and final bounty hunter joined his comrades in death.

The adventurers were silent for a few moments, grateful simply to be alive. Then Zaerini remembered something. "Alora?" she asked. "What exactly was it you did back there?"

The halfling grinned widely and flourished a small dagger. "Wyvern poison," she said. "Very deadly, enough to take care of that nasty old meanie. Doesn't matter how big and bad you are once you get a little poison in you, Auntie Poppy always says so in her letters. You wouldn't believe the kind of interesting things she always writes about!"

"Oh. All right. Er…remind me never to make your Auntie mad."

"Sure! But you needn't worry, she's ever so nice! And besides, she lives far away, all the way over in…"

"Would you look at the sun!" Edwin hurriedly exclaimed. "We'd better finish up here if we want to get back to Gullykin before it gets too dark to see properly. (There, hope that does the trick. And I really hope those letters weren't too detailed…)"

Rini frowned a little at the Red Wizard's sudden rush, but she was really too tired to ponder it further. While Jaheira tended to Khalid's and her own wounds the bard went to search the dead bodies. All of them carried expensive magical weapons and armor. The black armor in particular was beautiful, and seemed heavily enchanted. Zaerini figured it would probably fit Khalid, and it was even more powerful than the one she'd 'borrowed' off of Drizzt. But the real treasure was the armor the gnome was wearing. Chainmail armor that glittered as she picked it up, glittered with the power of spells deeply interwoven with the very metal. She knew it for what it was at once. Elven mail, armor that would allow the wielder to cast spells while wearing it. It had been far too large for the gnome, but it should fit herself perfectly.

Go on, Softpaws urged from her vantage point on top of the dead cleric's chest. Try it on.

Zaerini eagerly pulled the armor on. The green and purple sparks had died with the gnome, but as her fingers touched the metal it glowed faintly, red and gold like dancing flames. As she put it on she willed the light to dim, so as not to be so conspicuous, and it obeyed her wish. Within seconds the armor looked like normal chainmail, but it was so light that she could barely feel that she was wearing it.

Very nice, kitten, Softpaws said.

Yes. I…guess my elven blood is strong enough for me to wear it properly after all. That gnome could put it on, but I doubt he could make it work as it should.

Elf, human…what does it matter?

It's just…with the way so many humans treat me I've always been curious about full elves. That's why I was able to put up with Xan for so long. Half of me is elven, but I've hardly met any. I just want to know what they're like, you know. To see if they accept me any better than humans tend to do.

I see, the cat said, and thoughtfully licked her paw. But you have to remember something.

What?

No matter where you came from, and what blood flows in your veins, you are first of all yourself. And nobody can take that away from you. A cat doesn't need acceptance. She just is, and she will allow nobody to try to change her or deny her own self. Remember that.

All right. I promise.

Good. Now let's go. Your friends are waiting for you, and I want to find a warm place to sleep soon.

The sight of Gullykin was an extremely welcome one. The light streaming out of the windows of the round burrows, the ever-present smell of cooking food, the soft clucking of chickens and mooing of cows all made Rini nearly cry with relief. Finally, finally a good night's sleep without anybody showing up to kill her. Before that, some dinner. And before that, a nice hot bath.

Alora led the way to her Mother's house and cheerfully barged inside. "My baby!" Rosie cried out and embraced her daughter. "My Alora! You're alive!" Then she held the younger halfling at arm's length. "And what's your excuse for failing to write me those letters you promised?"

"I was turned to stone, Mother. There were these nasty big old basilisks, with huge eyes that made everything go gray. But these people saved me. Wasn't that nice of them? I think so."

Rosie gave the adventurers a considering look. "I suppose it was," she said. "Yes, thank you very much, all of you. I'm truly grateful. Alora dear, you will be staying a while, won't you?"

"Just a little while, Mother, before I go to Baldur's Gate." The young halfling waved at Zaerini and her friends as they prepared to leave. "I'll see you guys later!" Then she ran over to give the surprised Edwin a fierce hug. "Don't forget," she said, "you're my new Best Friend now. You'll have to stop by to see me before you leave. Promise!"

"But I…"

"Promisepromisepromisepromise…"

"All right! I promise. Now will you please let go? (This is bad. Must…resist…powerful sweetness…)"

"Oh goodie! I'll make you some cookies then, and you can lick the bowl if you want!"

"Wonderful," the Red Wizard muttered. "I can barely contain myself." Zaerini thought his grouchiness was at least partly a facade though. She could swear she saw him smile when he thought nobody was watching.

The party decided to spend a day in Gullykin to rest and regain their strength. Zaerini had been thinking about her latest foretelling. Obviously the Serpent card was a reference to the basilisks. The next card had been the Hermit, and she had an idea about that as well. The abandoned Mage School of Ulcaster lay close by, and rumor said that Ulcaster himself haunted its ruins. The cards had hinted that the Hermit might have valuable information for her, and she wanted to find out if that was true. Then she judged that it would be time to go after the bandits. She just needed to come up with a plan that was slightly more sneaky than simply charging into their hidden camp, assuming she could find it. Well, she still had some time to think about that. Beregost first, to sell what Jaheira called 'spoils of victory' and Rini called 'loot'. Then Ulcaster. Right now she was simply pleased to be back in Gullykin once more.

The halflings had insisted on arranging yet another party for their Heroes. Rini couldn't quite relax this evening though. She had retreated into the bedroom she had been assigned by Alora's mother. Try as she might, she couldn't quite forget about those other three cards of her foretelling. The Beast. That would be the mysterious Tazok she suspected, assuredly a dangerous enemy. The Knight of Swords. Sarevok. He had told her it wasn't time for their meeting yet. Had he been lying? Could those represented in the cards lie to her during a reading? She didn't know. Suppose Sarevok was waiting to ambush her in the bandit camp? And finally, the Rogue. That card was worrying her almost as much as Sarevok. At least she knew what Sarevok looked like, more or less. But this hidden danger, this invisible enemy watching her… how could she defend herself against that? Well, he had hinted that he wasn't exactly her enemy. Yet. She hoped that would last. She certainly didn't need another enemy, what with Sarevok and his army of hired killers after her already.

Should she do another reading? Zaerini took out her deck of cards and looked at it. No. Something told her it wasn't the right time. She was seriously tempted though. Maybe just a small one? Biting her lower lip in anticipation the half-elf hurriedly flipped up a card. A dark figure cloaked in black glared coldly back up at her out of swirling shadows. Well, at least she thought it glared. There was only the barest hint of a face visible, but she got the distinct impression of glaring. The Rogue. For some strange reason she was reminded of Gorion, when he'd caught her doing something she really shouldn't. "All right, all right," the bard muttered. "Sorry to bother you if you were busy. I'll be back later then." As she stuck the card back in the deck she could almost have sworn the dark figure nodded to her. Tempted as she was to draw the card back out of the deck again she didn't. Something told her it wouldn't be pleased.

A knock on the door startled Rini out of her thoughts. "Come in," she said. As the door swung open she could see a tall shape outlined in black against the doorway, a shadowy form watching her intently. Then her eyes adjusted themselves. "Oh, Edwin. For a moment I thought you were somebody else. Silly, really. What can I do for you?"

"I came to fetch you," the Red Wizard said. "You recall how I promised to show you some fireworks? I thought this would be a good time, seeing that we leave again tomorrow."

"Sounds great," the bard said, her golden eyes alight with anticipation. "I'll be right with you." She put the deck of cards back in her pocket and followed the wizard out the door. In her pocket, the cards stirred slightly before they settled down once more.

The annoying feeling of being watched had passed. Dekaras shook his head and frowned slightly. The room he had taken at the Red Sheaf was quite empty of intruders, of that he was certain. There was nobody outside either the window or the door, he had checked that at once. But he knew there had been someone spying, all his instincts screamed loud warnings. Some sort of scrying spell, perhaps. It had felt as if it came from close by and yet it had felt somehow…vague. Almost as if the watcher hadn't known whom to search for. Possibly it could have been a coincidence. Except I don't trust in coincidences, the assassin thought, his black eyes cold. Well, there was nothing to do about it at the moment other than being extra careful. He could only spend a limited amount of time away from the bandit camp and there were many things that needed to be done. The plan was coming nicely into shape but there were still some details to settle. And then, the assassin thought to himself with a faint smile, we will see what kind of game young Sarevok and his wizard friend play when they lose one of their more important game pieces.