In The Cards

It is always easy to be wise in hindsight. In retrospect it is easy to point out the things we ought to have noticed, the signs that were there all along and that could have spared us a great deal of pain if only we'd paid attention to them. Things always look so much more obvious when you're looking back at them than when they're all around you.

Excerpt from 'Ruminations Of A Master Bard'

Ender Sai shrieked as he found his way out of the command tent blocked. A female Drow patted a heavy mace thoughtfully against the palm of her hand and gave him a measuring look as if she were trying to decide just how much of a bother it would be killing him. Next to her a bandit dressed all in black watched him with a sort of detached but focused interest and aimed a nasty-looking crossbow at him. That one definitely wouldn't think it would be a bother killing him. Finally, there was the girl. An innocent-looking girl with bright pink hair, but judging from the company she kept she had to be extremely dangerous. Probably the most dangerous of them all. A tiefling, maybe, with that hair. She'd probably enjoy killing him in some horrible, extra-planar way.

"Going somewhere, jaluk?" the Drow asked, a small frown on her beautiful dark face.

"I think not," the man with the crossbow calmly stated. Ender Sai had always prided himself on his ruthlessness, but there was something about the way the stranger smiled at him that made his blood run cold and reminded him uncomfortably about fangs. "After all, he hasn't finished telling our companions what he knows, now has he? I'm sure he wouldn't want to disappoint them - or us - by leaving too soon."

"Yeah!" the pink-haired girl cheerfully said. "I wanna hear it all!" She poked Ender Sai in the chest and the thief shied back with a small whimper, half expecting some terrible spell or weapon to rip him asunder. "Come on! You can tell us. That won't hurt, will it?"

"A-a-all right!" Ender Sai stammered. "Please don't hurt me! I'll talk! Tazok commands the bandits, but there's another one. I heard them speaking of him. His name is Sarevok, and he commands Tazok. He's high with the Iron Throne, that's all I know, except that they're all scared of him." He paused to draw breath. "You probably want to take a look at the Cloakwood mines first though. If you can disturb that operation you'll really have managed to hurt the Throne, if that's what you want. Now please let me go!" As the newcomers stepped aside he hurried past them, half expecting to die at any second. He didn't stop running until he reached Beregost, some hours later.

Zaerini was pleased to learn that the chest in the corner of the tent contained a few potions and spell scrolls, as well as a couple of highly interesting letters.

Tazok,

I hope that everything moves along smoothly. I have written to give you instructions from our superiors. I have been told that a small band of mercenaries might cause the Iron Throne some trouble in the future. You are to insure that they don't live to upset our operations. Obtain the services of the assassin Nimbul, he should serve you well, provided he doesn't let his penchant for bad poetry get the better of him.

DAVAEORN

Tazok,

I have noticed that your shipments of iron have slowed as of late. It is imperative that we receive another ton of ore. Step up your raids, and get a shipment to our base in Cloakwood within the next week. We need to stockpile as much ore as possible before our ultimatum is given. Also, Sarevok wants to know what has happened with the band of mercenaries. Have they been killed? You had better insure that they have been, as Sarevok will not take kindly to any other news.

DAVAEORN

"An ultimatum?" Rini said. "I wonder what it all means."

"It makes some sense," Jaheira pondered. "They choked off the iron coming out of the Nashkel Mine using Mulahey, and these bandits have been raiding every caravan in the vicinity. With these rumors of impending war with Amn it would undoubtedly serve the Iron Throne well to have a monopoly on the trade."

But that can't be all there is to it, Zaerini thought to herself. I've seen my brother. Whatever his plans are, they go far beyond acquiring wealth.

"Nimbul…" Imoen mused. "Which assassin do you guys think that was? There have been so many, I'm starting to get them all mixed up."

"I think," Edwin said, "that would have been the one in Nashkel. The one with that ridiculous 'I am Death come for thee' line. (The one that I personally disposed of, I might add, in a thoroughly professional and impressive manner.)"

Adahn smirked slightly. "Truly?" he asked. "Well, I am certain he deserved whatever you did to him for behaving like an opera character. You should probably consider yourselves lucky he didn't decide to grace you all with an aria. That actually might have proved fatal." He gave Zaerini a courtly bow. "And now I believe it is past time for me to bid you farewell, my lady. Our common goal has been accomplished, and I have things to attend to elsewhere. It has been most interesting making your acquaintance."

"Where are you going?" Imoen asked, sounding rather dismayed. "Will I see…er…you will be back soon, won't you?"

The bandit gave a minute shrug. "I suppose there is no harm in telling you," he said. "There are some things I've been meaning to look into in Baldur's Gate. I only delayed this long because I wished the bandits out of the way first. If you come that way you may see me - or not, depending on many things."

"You won't consider staying?" Rini asked. "You're obviously good at what you do. We could use your help." Besides, she wanted to help her friend. Immy was looking really heartbroken.

"My apologies," Adahn said. "I'm not looking for a new employer at this particular time. And I've always found it of crucial importance to keep focused on my current objective, and not let myself get sidetracked. That way lies disaster. I'm sure you all agree." His voice was perfectly neutral, and yet Zaerini couldn't quite shake the feeling that the words held some hidden meaning. Before she could ask another question the man was already out the door however, having given the adventurers a final brief nod. When she looked outside she could see no trace of him.

"That," the bard remarked, "is an extremely annoying habit."

"Yes," Edwin agreed. The wizard had silently come up behind her and was staring into the encroaching shadows just as she was. "Yes…it certainly is." He sounded troubled, but he said no more on the subject.

The adventurers set out southwest for Beregost. Zaerini was silent for most of the journey, pondering the recent events. She'd already known about the Iron Throne's involvement, but this whole Cloakwood business put a new spin on things. Whatever Sarevok's ultimate plan was it was bound to cause him problems if she interfered with his mining operation. She never doubted for a second that it was his operation either. From what she had seen of her brother so far he wasn't one to meekly take orders from others. Officially or not, he would be at the center of things. It probably would be a good idea to look further into this mining thing. If she could somehow weaken Sarevok's position with the Throne it would hopefully be a little easier dealing with him later.

First she'd need a good night's rest though. She was weary to the bone, and she could hardly keep her eyes open. And she'd need to have a little chat with Jaheira as well. That business with the scalps was still bothering her a great deal. She had thought that she had struck up a friendship with the druid, albeit a somewhat uneasy one. But if Jaheira still wouldn't trust her, then where did that leave them? In deep trouble, that's where. They needed to be able to function as a team, they couldn't afford not to be able to trust each other.

Finally, the bard considered her recent ally. There was still something about Adahn that made her wonder. She couldn't help liking the man, dangerous as he undoubtedly was, but she also couldn't quite shake the feeling that she ought to recognize him from somewhere. It was pure nonsense of course, she knew she'd never met him before, but there was something so very familiar about him… He'd told her precious little about himself or his own plans. Just about nothing at all, she realized with a wry twist of her mouth. He couldn't very well be affiliated with the Iron Throne or he wouldn't have been crossing them, but apart from that she couldn't even begin to guess his motives. She'd just have to wait and see if they ever met up again. I just hope we won't find ourselves on opposing sides, she thought. I really do like him, I'd hate having to kill him. She grinned. Besides, Immy would probably never forgive me.

Meanwhile, further north on the Coast Way, the subject of the bard's musings was also going over the events of the last few days. Dekaras was rather pleased with the way things had worked out at the bandit camp. It was good to be on the road and not to have to spend any more time with Taugosz Tenhammer and his like. They could hardly be called stimulating company. Still, they had acted just as he'd hoped they would, and now Sarevok and his mage, Winski, would find themselves one bandit camp short. It would be fascinating to see how they would react to those news. He strongly suspected that it would be a good idea for Winski to remove any fragile objects from Sarevok's immediate presence before letting him know. Such as the city of Baldur's Gate, for example.

Smiling slightly to himself the assassin considered his next plan. As long as Edwin was still entangled with the bard it would be necessary to keep thwarting the efforts of her enemies, in order to keep the boy safe. It was probable that Zaerini would head for the Cloakwood now, and he could see the logic in that course of action. Personally he intended to go directly to the top, though. Sarevok was the key, and the sooner he was neutralized, the better. But first it would be necessary to investigate the warrior a little further. And to find out his weaknesses. There will be something. There always is. Elminster himself will have a vulnerable spot or two if you look hard enough.

His black eyes serious once more Dekaras turned his thoughts to the subject of Edwin. While in the presence of Zaerini and her companions he obviously hadn't been able to pay much attention to the boy, but still there was something worrying about him. He seemed…nervous. More so than he ought to have been. And there was something disturbingly familiar about the way he behaved, something that Dekaras felt he really ought to recognize but couldn't quite put his finger on. It was extremely annoying. He decided to have a good long talk with Edwin as soon as the opportunity presented itself. By now he really ought to know that he can trust me to handle being undercover without making a mess of things. There's no reason for him to be such a bundle of nerves.

Finally the assassin pondered the subject of Zaerini. The girl was dangerous, both because of her heritage and because of her quickness of thought. He had no intention of underestimating her. He also couldn't help liking her. She was certainly both intelligent and brave, and she seemed to have a sense of humor as well. It would be most interesting to witness her further development. As long as Edwin manages to do what he's supposed to, of course. That girl is a rare one. I hope we won't find ourselves on opposing sides. I really do like her, it would be such a shame to have to kill her. He smiled again. Besides, little Imoen would likely be very upset with me.