Dragon's Egg - Act III

[Ireth]

Líadan

I sigh in relief when Baldhart and the others arrive at the docks. Baldhart greets me, and I incline my head to her. "I have some important matters to discuss with you, Baldhart, while we still have the time to do so."

I pause, wondering if she is willing to listen even that far.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"I'm listening."

I hope this is quick. I need to find Ankari. If he was watching the docks, I can guess where he's spying from… assuming he's alive, that is.

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron moves to scan the woods, glancing at Baldhart and the fallen knight. Looking for spies, enemy and party members.
[Aliron will attempt to hear the conversation with his elven ears.]

Bressel looks around,
"any chance of getting a drink?"

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I nod and take a breath. How to phrase this...

"What I have to say concerns Cadell. Oercus knows he has endured a great deal in the past day or so, between his exile and the loss of his knighthood, as well as the death of his friend Darin. He has had no time to come to grips with any of those things before being thrust into new problems one after the other, and it is having adverse effects on him. He is part of a larger body, that being the company who swore to protect Catli. A body cannot function as it should if even one part is in pain -- and you cannot deny that Cadell is.

"I think that, once this business with the gnolls is over, it may be prudent to allow Cadell some time to himself, away from the company, to sort through his troubles and begin to work through them. He still has every intention of fighting the gnolls, as he told you repeatedly. As far as his parley with them is concerned, I believe he had only the best of intentions, though you may think it a lapse in judgment. If you believe it so, then I hope you will heed my advice. Give Cadell room to breathe and time to grieve, as much as circumstances can allow. You have already called him an obstacle, so let him remove himself from your path as he needs to. But I ask that you forgive him, and do not hesitate to welcome him back when your paths cross again."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"First of all, yes, of course I forgive him.

"Well… maybe that wasn't obvious to him. But it's true. I passed on the message of my forgiveness to Keit as soon as he rode away from me, in case I was unable to say it myself.

"But you ask I consider his pain. His loss. Losing knighthood must be the best thing that can happen to a knight. Those silly rules confused him. He called my deception dishonorable while deceiving me—whereas I only deceive enemies. He wishes to fight the gnolls, but why give them an advantage by telling them we are capable and willing to set traps? Even in a parley a knight surely doesn't give enemies information that helps them—"

Baldy? You were about to make a valid point, weren't you?

"Right… sorry… Nissa tells me 'get to the point.'

"My point is that others here have suffered more than Cadell has. Darin was a friend to all of us. But what of those Grim and Burnbright must mourn? A whole village wiped out by the gnolls! And who sent Burnbright to the village? Me! Grim doesn't blame me, but it doesn't change that my decision—made with the best of intentions—got good people killed. Children died slow, painful deaths. The gnolls should not have been spared from sharing their fate.

"If Cadell's bad decision gets good people killed, he will know the pain I felt since I first laid eyes on the ruined homes."



She is the strong one. Keit was right. 'It's up to us girls to keep our men in line.'

What do you know of that?

I don't want to know.



"Liadan, Cadell has no need to wallow in self-pity. He has no excuse. He has you.

"Take time off? He doesn't need my permission, but… what will he do? Mope in a safer place? Burnbright is twelve, and she's dealing with multiple deaths and blaming herself for all of them. She can't take time off from being pursued. And I can't understand why he thinks it's okay if he gets me killed because I want my wings, or it's okay if the men of Arendal die if we hide the children, or it's okay that I just rowed for six or seven hours for no reason."



Admit it. You enjoyed the workout.

Nissa!



"Liadan, when Cadell lost his knighthood, he found you. No one else in this… company, if that's what we are… has this. Just you and him, and it's beautiful. But why coddle him? Why not make him feel like a man and man up? Stop feeling sorry for himself and start thinking of others. Not enemies! 'Others' that matter.

"I can forgive him easily. But I can't stand him being like this, and I can't understand how he got here when he found you. You're more to him than a silly title given by an uppity queen. Take his drum, hit him over the head with it, dub him 'drummer' and tell him to play you a tune. Enjoy each other."

I look for the place where I expect Ankari or Mauve to lurk. But rather than take off—which I should before Mauve can no longer prevent Ankari from rushing into town—I add,

"In my weakest moment, Cadell helped cheer me up. Whatever's eating away at his soul, he can't sort it out alone. He needs you to give him strength."

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

"Cadell has suffered far more than you realize. The loss of his knighthood, his exile, is but the culmination of a long and bitter struggle we had long thought finished. If we all survive this, let him tell you of the one we call the Lady, and the havoc she wreaked upon our former home barely a year ago. I fully believe Cadell meant only to spare Arendal the same fate as Aelwyd Eirian, or that of Srilkind, by asking the gnolls to retreat. Remember, his claim of peace was not absolute. If the gnolls attack, he will fight. Why would you not heed him and evacuate the village? Yes, men would die, but at least the children, the future, would survive.

I drum my fingers irritably on my thigh. "Cadell did not find me when he was cast out of Aelwyd Eirian. We have been lovers for five hundred years. Now I and Llucheden are all he has left, the only living remnants of nearly three thousand years of life. All else he has are memories. I am not trying to coddle him; I ask only that you accept him in weakness as well as in strength, as I have done all along, and allow him to pull himself together so he may better serve the company. It is for their sake, for your sake, that he must do this. And I certainly will not leave him entirely alone. I did not come north and give up my whole life just to leave him behind. I will be there for him even if no one else is. Because he is all I have left."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

She supports his weakness. He will only grow weaker because of this.

"Why couldn't he evacuate the village while I was off seeing if my trap would still work? I already had a plan which may have actually worked if not for Cadell forcing his way upon the rest of us.

"I can accept his weakness if he just sits and looks sad. Aiding the enemy I cannot accept. And if you're going to ignore my advice and continue to tell me why it's better for men to die than dogs to burn, then I fear I overestimated you. I thought you could lend him strength, but it seems your idea of support differs from mine.

"Well… it's not my place to tell you how to love him. It is my place to protect Arendal, so I must not hesitate any longer. There is something Nissa wished me to do upon my return."

If she lets me, I give her a hug.

I whisper, "Rest. We count on your arrows and your healing when they come… and Cadell's sword. I trust he'll be strong as it matters in battle."

I grab my sword and head to the woods. Ankari and Mauve must be in this direction, if they wished to sneak around town and spy the docks. I'll start closest to shore, then work my way north…

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

Annoyance crosses my face. "He did not evacuate because you told him to leave, Baldhart. Clearly he trusts you still enough to obey you in that. As for his meeting with the gnolls, I will say that he was clearly overtired, and that may have impacted his judgment. His heart was and is in the right place. He would tell you the same -- everything he has done is to keep Catli safe. He refused to give her up to them, and even when he seemed to want to surrender her, it was only to get close to Aslaug so that we could finish her off. That is your ultimate goal, is it not?"

She tries to hug me; I stand bewildered, unaccepting. This woman grows more and more confusing every moment I spend with her. When she moves off, I sigh and turn back to the Spear. That could have gone worse... but it could have gone far better.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I try to figure out Mauve and Ankari could be…

 

[Steerpike]

You are able to determine the most likely places easily enough. They're likely to be in the woods, either to the east or west, and not far from the edge of the cliffs where they can look out over the sea. You determine it is even more likely that they're do the west of the village.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I really should've asked Keit to have Batos sniff their trail. If I go the wrong way, it'll be another wasted eff—

Oh… there they are. Ha, ha! Sleeping! What a cute couple they make!

What? Five gold says not a chance.

What do you mean five gold? I have to donate the money just so you can bet against me. What would you do with your winnings anyway?

You could buy outfits for me.

The baby dress cost one silver. Do you want a hundred outfits?

Jealous?



I look down at my rags. I should have changed clothes before coming here. Oh well. Who to wake up?

I sit in the snowy ground, feeling its warmth against my exposed skin. I love this! I want to sleep outside!

I lay my sword down and make a snowball. I throw it at a tree near Ankari.

Paf! It soars just left of the tree and hits the ground ten feet away.

I poke Ankari whispering, "It's just me."



Just the lady who tried to kill you sitting half naked in the snow, covered in nightmarish face-paint.

 

[Ireth]

Líadan

I tiptoe into the room I share with Cadell, careful not to disturb him if he is asleep. Stepping out of my boots, I slide into bed beside him.

He stirs and turns to me, murmuring, "Well?"

I sigh. "She says she forgives you, and you're free to do what you like, though she still does not appreciate your efforts to make peace with the gnolls. She spoke of the pain and loss suffered by the people of Srilkind, and that which Arendal stands to face if the gnolls attack. She said that evacuating the village is a bad idea, because men will still die even if the children are saved, but she said if you were so set on it, you should have done that while she was checking on her trap."

Cadell snorts. "She told me to go to bed. I thought I would show her some trust and listen to her. Why the militia wouldn't do such a thing in the first place, I don't know."

I can only shrug. "Baldhart detests the way you are now. She essentially told me to tell you to grow up and start thinking about others."

Cadell sits up, with an odd sound of indignance. "Grow up? Start thinking of others? Líadan, everything I've done was to keep the company safe, especially Catli."

"Asking the gnolls to retreat is one thing. Warning them of the trap is another. That is what Baldhart objects to the most."

Cadell's eyes narrow, and his jaw tightens. "What was I supposed to do? They were the ones who asked me to parley in the first place. I shudder to think what might have happened if anyone else had met Ghendra in the Spear."

Quietly, I say, "We can't know. But it can't be helped now, the damage is done."

"Then what in the world does Baldhart expect me to do?"

"Push aside your pain and fight the gnolls," I sigh. "I told her there was only so far back you could push it, but she would not listen. She thinks I asked her to give you time to wallow in self-pity, not make yourself stronger by working through pain."

"Working through my pain necessitates walking up to my neck in it. Is that not wallowing as well, while it lasts?"

"Not if you have a solid foundation for your feet," I say. "And I intend to be that for you. As I always have."

After a pause, I add, "Baldhart said that in her weakest moment, you helped her to be strong. What was she referring to?"

Cadell is silent, looking at the ceiling. He answers in a monotone, though anger soon breaks through. I can't tell who it is directed at.

"Branwen's parents. Baldhart considered giving them the mercy of healing for the sake of their child... Mauve and I talked her out of it. I said they didn't deserve to live, because they had attacked first and tried to kill us -- they nearly did kill Darin. I'd almost forgotten..."

"Rather like the gnolls, then," I murmur. "They did massacre Srilkind before their parley here."

Cadell is silent again, realization and revulsion spreading over his face. Finally he whispers, "I've made a huge mistake, I see that now. But how can I make amends for this? Even fighting the gnolls goes hand in hand with my oath to them."

"We can worry about that when and if they come. For now, try to sleep. We'll both need our strength for the fight. And for what it's worth... Baldhart doesn't doubt you'll fight the gnolls with all your strength and courage. So take heart from that. She still has some faith in you."

Cadell sighs and settles down again, and I press close against him, closing my eyes. Maybe sleep will be kinder to me now.

 

[Ankari]

I wake up to an insistent prodding in my ribs. It can't be someone intending to kill me, unless the prodding was a dagger and my numbed body failed to understand the difference.

I turn over, fumbling for my axe handle, when I see Baldhart dressed in her paint. The scraps of cloth over her body would best serve as a washrag. Especially the way she crouches over me. "I would feign ignorance to your attire, but I am too tired to play modest. Is this some odd ritual where you bed the man you intend to kill, or have you fallen upon hard times? Mauve may have a cloak or dress she can spare."

I climb to my fight, forcing clumsy limbs to comply. They hold, but only because I don't need to move. I consider offering Baldhart a hand, standing would cover some of her exposed body parts, but I'm too tired. "I tried to warn you before you sailed off. Cadell has placed my life in danger. The fool told the gnolls that a trap was set and ready for them, and that a messenger would come baring an invitation to talks. I met him on my way to the gnolls. He didn't find it necessary to tell me this fact.

"The subject of the fallen knight and his fallen morals can wait. We need to talk about the gnolls."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Yes. Even knowing he went behind my back to make peace, I never suspected he'd actually aid the enemy with useful, dangerous information.

"He warned me of the trap… at least when he saw I insisted on being at the meeting place, and I still went in case the gnolls meant to come and kill me. I was more afraid of them not showing than of what would happen if they did. Oh! Yes, I did forget that I was dressed for swimming until I was already in the woods. I didn't want to be slowed in case I needed to jump ship in a hurry.

"So, wait… did the gnolls tell you Cadell told them of the trap? Well… let's hear all about it." I look at Mauve. "Should we wake her, or did you tell her already?"

 

[Nihal]

Voices stirs me from my sleep. Again. I groan and raise my head, only to see Baldhart in an attire worse than my tunic-run in the tunnels under the temple and Ankari talking. He's singing his story like a bird now.

I let my head fall on the backpack again. "Jerk."

 

[SeverinR]

Aliron
Looks around, if no sign of scouts, spies or enemy, Aliron will return to the tavern. (Aliron will go to sleep, if no one stops him)

Bressel
Bressel will look around for someone to sell him some ale.

If not able to drink he will watch the tree line for a while, then find someone else to take watch.

 

[Ankari]

"No, I didn't tell her yet. But she's exhausted, and we'll need her talents soon enough. Let her rest." I breath in the cool air, hoping its bite will disperse the fog of sleep.

The pile of clothing used by Mauve stirs. She lifts her head, squints at us, and tosses out a comment describing my sympathy for her welfare. "I am immune to words cloaking your intent, Mauve. Peel away those barbed words, use the sacrifices you made for me as a calibration, and I can judge your true meaning. I value you're company too, Mauve. If you would like to remain awake and hear what I have to say, you're more than welcome."

I allow her time to react, then continue. "The gnolls, more specifically, Ghendra who is their leader, told me of the exposed plan. He had me surrounded, my life forfeit. Instead of killing me, he permitted me to walk away as per the rules of parley. I was moved by his adherence to such an lofty ideal. Instead of returning back to the village, I wanted to find out who these gnolls were and why they chose to slay humans.

"Understand that I do not agree with the result of his actions, only the motive behind it. His people want recognition and the self worth that comes with acceptance. The northerners took their homes and refused to compromise. Instead of agreeing for peace, the northerners pursued the gnolls until they fled into the mountains and hills. I offered Ghendra what he desires, if he offers to adhere to the laws of civilization, and to help us in our fight against Aslaug. If after the gnolls meet their end of the agreement, and the northerners do not, I will join myself to them and slay any and all leaders who would stand in the path of peace.

"Do not explode into anger. Think with your mind, picture the north as it should be fifty years from now if the gnolls fulfill their end of the agreement. It will be a better place. I am to return to them when the sun rises. They have agreed not to attack the village until I've spoken with them."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"Recognition? Self worth? No wonder Cadell got along with these dog people!"

I pause for a moment. No, I don't need anger to say this.

"He killed for Aslaug. When Nissa spoke to him under the guise of being Aslaug's servant, he spoke of his plan to bring Catli through the Taint as ordered. He spoke of making peace with people after his mission was complete; his motive is that Aslaug offered land if he did her deeds. I do not believe for a moment the dogs will turn against her. Actions speak louder than words, Ankari, and there were children clinging to their mothers when the flames converged upon them.

"If they are interested in peace, why did they kill helpless innocents? They wanted land, not peace. Land by any means. If they want to fight Aslaug, why haven't they? We would only be a small addition to their army. And their proposal is 'join us or die.'

"Do you not hear that my voice is completely calm? These are not words of anger. I am thinking clearly. This is a trick to draw Cat—Burnbright to them. To Aslaug. They are the same.

"Even if I'm wrong, you may as well join the gnolls now if you intend to keep your word. The people of the north will never accept them after Srilkind. I cannot accept them either. The only way I would even consider marching with them against Aslaug would be if they were on the front lines. Then, when she is defeated and many of them are dead or weak, I would drive my sword into the back of the nearest surviving gnoll.

"These are monsters. Not because of their forms but because of their deeds."

 

[Nihal]

Blinking a couple of times, I try to keep track of Ankari's words. I sigh, sit and fumble with my backpack to retrieve the bottle of wine.

"If you spent less time judging and more time observing, the world would be a better place. That is the reason I could see you from the start but you could not see me." I wink at him and take a gulp. He continues, telling of his encounter while I drink more wine, feeling the warmth run through my body and make my joints a bit less stiff.

As soon he finishes, before I can talk the barbarian does. I roll my eyes. Apparently the drowsiness makes me less angry at her betrayal—or I just don't care about her anymore? However, it doesn't make me less annoyed by her presence, and it's hard to ignore her when she's sticks like a boulder in this woods and doesn't stop talking.

I clear my throat. "If we could make at the least the gnolls desert her army it would be a huge gain. Yet, how do you plan to convince these peasants? I do not believe they are inclined to hear you, even if they were they would not after hearing your proposal." I make a pause, stretching myself. "We can not dismiss the possibility of a trap either."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"A very likely possibility. I am certain they feed us lies!

"Listen… the sob story Gendra gave Cadell spoke of Aslaug needing Catli to stop a demon from controlling her. We were to join forces with them in order to save Aslaug from a demon.

"Then when Cadell went the second time, it was… well, let us consider retreating, but we must speak to Aslaug and see what she thinks. So suddenly getting Catli to free her mother from a demon might not be such a big deal. Oh, and by the way, when they spoke to Nissa, Aslaug was in Verstenn Hold which is two week's travel. So, bullshit.

"Now it's they suddenly offer to help us kill Aslaug, so more bullshit.

"You can't bullshit a bullshitter, and you both know I am one. And if you're gonna bullshit an enemy, the first rule is to keep your story straight. They can't even do that, so why believe anything they say? And… have I mentioned that they killed children yet? Am I the only one who has a problem with that?"