...something is tickling my nose. I slowly open my eyes, feeling my long braid lying across my face, and Scratch's whiskers brushing over me as he sniffs around my pillow.
I'm laughing before I'm fully awake, and Scratch begins to lick my face. "Alright, alright, Scratch! Enough!" I sit up and yawn, blinking and gathering my senses.
He wags his tail, but a whistle cuts across the fog, and Scratch dashes off. A wonderful way to rise, and just in time for my morning prayers. My altar to Shar feels meager, but it's been an adequate conduit.
I close my eyes and empty my mind. Everything grows still. I can feel her with me, held within her abyss.
I am far from my body.
Far from Faerûn.
Far from my troubles.
I am adrift in a sea of darkness.
See my actions, Lady Shar.
Hear my words of faith.
Blessed Nightsinger, witness my adoration.
I have emptied my heart of falsehoods.
I have vanquished your foes.
Lady Shar's will shall be done. As sure as night will fall.
Lady Shar's will shall be done. As sure a-
"Shadsy?" Karlach's voice cuts through my prayer. The cold embrace of my goddess slips haplessly through my fingers.
I sigh, deflated. "Shadowheart." I say flatly. This is the third time I've told her.
"Oh... sorry. I promise I'll get it right." She kneels next to my tent. "What are you doing?"
That's right. She doesn't know. "Oh... uh..." Everyone else in camp knows. I suppose it's better she hears it from my mouth rather than someone else's.
I climb out of my tent, so I can face her properly. "I was praying."
She stands with a laugh. "Oh right. Of course! I didn't mean to interrupt a cleric's prayers. I'll come back later."
"No. No, I-" Funny, to find myself revealing secrets. But this is important. "There's something I need to tell you."
"I'm all ears, Shadowheart!" She smiles wide, having remembered to call me by my proper name.
I close my eyes for the briefest moment. "I-" Karlach is watching me intently. I square my shoulders and lift my chin. "I worship Shar. Mistress of the Night."
"You what?" Her face falls. "Shar?"
My heart sinks. "Yes, I... Well. Does that bother you?" We're both anxious. Warranted, given the gravity of such revelations. One would think.
"I mean..." She scratches the back of her neck before folding her arms, shoulders tense. "I g-guess not." She glances down at me, and then a small smile flickers across her face. "You're not going to put a curse on me, are you? I've got enough going on as it is."
She manages to elicit a little laugh from me. She always does. "No! Of course not. My faith is my own, I'd never take it out on you." My cheeks crease with a fleeting smile.
I think I'm in the clear.
"Well then, are you saying you want me to worship Shar with you?" She continues to probe, though she seems to be relaxing.
"Not unless you wanted to. It's not something I'm going to ask of you."
She grins wide. "So, I don't have a problem! Finish your spooky prayers. We're sending off the Flaming First!"
I can't help but giggle. "I'll be right there."
Counsellor Florrick stands, looking far more composed than she likely feels. Her face brightens when she sees me. "Shadowheart. Good morning. I wanted to thank you again for hosting us for the night. It was a delightful evening, given everything we've been through."
"Please." I gently wave her off. "We're more than happy to help. Your people have been agreeable company."
The wound on my hand blinks with its dark power. It's like white-hot blades ripping through every nerve in my body. "ngh..." I subtly grip my wrist, trying not to allude to my pain, but failing miserably at it. Per usual.
Florrick reaches out. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. It's nothing. Just an old battle wound acting up."
She gives a curt nod. "I know the kind." She turns to one of her Fists. "Logan. Bring the parcel."
He climbs to his feet and retrieves a modestly wrapped package. He hands it to me carefully, as if it were sacred. "Salvaged from the raid. I pulled it off one of the drow I took down."
I untie it and see the silver silken sheen of drow armor. My shoulders tense, but I smile coolly. "You don't have to do this, really."
Florrick waves her hand. "I know it's meager, but drow armor is invaluable. Use it to help you with your mission to find Duke Ravengard. I want to support you as much as possible. Being half-elf, it would fit you best."
Astarion scoffs from across the campfire and yells. "I'm full elf, and a man! How dare you!"
Florrick glances at him and shakes her head, a faint smirk peeking out from behind her commanding presence.
My hand drifts across the soft linked plates that make up the chest piece. "Does it have magical properties?"
"No. Unfortunately. I personally don't feel it. Perhaps Gale could look at it, to know for sure."
I will absolutely not be doing that. With the leash Vash has him on, he might be desperate enough to absorb it, or whatever the hells he does.
"Thank you. Truly. It's beautiful." I give her a polite nod.
Vash will want to inventory this. He may very well give it to Astarion. That makes better sense. I'm not going to be tainted by anything that might be touched by the cult of Lolth. Maybe if I wash it, I can scrub some of her stink off it.
Florrick smiles, taking on an air of diplomacy. "It's a shame we missed Vash. Give him our sincerest thanks when you see him. Let him know we're headed west. We'll be crossing into the Shadow Cursed Lands, so communication may be difficult until we break through to the other side."
My mind lights up at the name. "The Shadow Cursed Land?"
"Yes. It was a city known as Reithwin Town. It fell to Shar years ago. She unleashed an oppressive, deadly shadow that consumes everything it touches. Those who survived the fallout turned into shadow fiends."
She pauses, looking off into the distance, muttering. "It would have been a better fate to die."
Her lips straighten and she turns to me once more. "We can move through it as long as we keep our torches high, but even still, it is a very dangerous road to travel."
She looks across the people she has left. "Helm knows who might be lost... I don't think I can stomach any more tragedy, but we have no choice. It is the only path to Baldur's Gate from here."
I'm clinging my fist to my chest, thoughts of Shar racing through my mind. "Shadow curse..." I mutter.
Florrick puts her hand on my arm. "It's nothing you need to worry about. If you do need to cross, just remember: torches high. Don't let the light go out. Don't step into the shadows."
I stare at her, nodding, acting reassured. "Thank you. Truly."
Florrick nod with grace before turning to her group. "Fists! Move out!"
Everyone gathers their things, and with a few more farewells, the camp is at rest once more.
I grab my stool and sit neatly near the fire. Gale hands me a plate of food. Toasted bread with cheese, a boiled egg, and a freshly sliced tomato. This is certainly better than barrel food, if only marginally.
"Gale."
He turns to me. "Hmm?"
"Why do you insist on cooking every meal?"
He hands Lae'zel her plate and laughs placidly. "I always enjoyed cooking for myself, and I know I can do it well. I don't mean to be arrogant, but I prefer my cooking. If you have any recipes you'd like to try, I won't hog the cook pot!"
I mull the idea over. I only know how to prepare basic provisions. Simple things that can be cooked quickly and give optimal nutrition. I look over at our cache of food; it's starting to run thin. "I don't know if we'll have what I usually make..."
Astarion sets his stool down next to mine. "Maybe tomorrow. That will be our first grand delivery from the Grove."
Gale shakes his head. "I'd still like to know what kind of deal Vash made with the druids that would warrant such a bounty."
Karlach takes a bite from her egg. "Spooks saved them from the shadow druids, right?"
He smiles vaguely and murmurs. "Yes. Saved them."
Karlach furrows her brow, slowly taking a bite from her egg. She finally shrugs, choosing to move past the moment. She quickly finishes her egg. "I don't mean to be a bother," her mouth is still half full, "but could I have a few more eggs?"
"Of course, Karlach. No bother at all." He happily starts another pot of boiling water. "Might as well finish what we have left."
"Thank you, Sparky."
He gives her a curious glance before going back to tending the water with a smile. "So, Vash is Spooks. I'm Sparky. What about everyone else? Has everyone got a nickname yet?"
Karlach considers it a moment. "Well... Shadowheart is Shadowheart. No need to change perfection." She gives me a big grin. "And Bex is Blonde, that one was easy. Lae'zel is..." Her eyes drift over to the battle-hardened existential crisis sitting next to Gale. "Hmm. Blades. Blaze? Because of her flaming sword and dancing battle tactics. Either Blades or Blaze. Doesn't matter which one, they sound the same if you say them fast enough."
I chuckle lightly; her logic is perfectly sound.
"And of course Astarion is-" She stammers, seeing his sour expression. She straightens her lips. "Fangs?" She taps her finger to her lips. "I may need to workshop some of these." Her eyes go wide. "Oh! Little Star!"
He lifts his brow. "That's literally just my name, and just as much of a mouthful."
Karlach shakes her head. "It's one syllable shorter. Much more efficient."
He pinches the bridge of his nose. "At least it's not Fangs."
Danis shuffles over to the fire, followed by Scratch who is glued to his side. He sits on the fallen log near Gale, who hands him a cup of hot water. He takes it graciously. "Do I have a nickname?" He says with a waking voice, before plopping a tea bag in.
She glances at Danis. "Of course! You are..."
Danis looks vaguely hopeful for a fun name. I turn to Karlach. "Maybe something tea related?"
Karlach looks excited, then her face scrunches. "Ssss... Steeps? Is that too many people with S names?" She pauses. "Or maybe it's not enough! Spooks, Scout, Sparky, Steeps, Soldier, Star, and Shadowheart." She's beaming with pride.
My chuckle warbles through my words. "Sample those S's sparingly! You might start speaking with a subtle stammer."
Karlach's jaw drops. "Shadowheart! I didn't know you had it in you."
Gale hands her three additional boiled eggs, and holds up one to me, Lae'zel, and Danis. We each take ours and finish our breakfast.
Astarion watches us with disgust. "Uch... Masticaters."
Gale's lips straighten. "Do we know if Spooks and Scout will be back anytime soon?" He gives Karlach a knowing smile, and she looks giddy with egg in hand.
Astarion crosses his legs, trimming his nails carefully. "They're on very important Grove business. The Peace Bringer is having some issues with his assets."
I roll my eyes. "It's Rath, isn't it?"
"It's Rath!" he says excitedly. "I wish I could be there to see it." His playfulness quickly turns sour. "But I'm not the favorite."
"I knew Rath would be trouble. Someone willing to sit by and watch a group of refugees get slaughtered isn't exactly going to be a proactive leader."
Astarion nods devilishly. "Vash organized a meeting with Rath this morning to," he gestures air quotes, "smooth everything out. I'm sure they'll be back before long."
I fold my arms. "For someone who isn't the favorite, he's certainly confided a lot in you."
His laughter is edged with cruel mockery. "He didn't say a word to me!" He looks at his nails and glances at me. "No, he had his tongue halfway down my throat while writing his little letter back to Apikusis. It was easy to catch a glance at the exchange."
Danis is staring at him. "Is Vash... gay?" He stammers, then grunts, shaking his head. He waves off the question, as if regretting having asked. His focus returns to his tea, dunking the teabag a few times before taking a careful sip.
"Of course not! I'm just irresistible." Astarion elegantly crosses his hands over his lap. "It's not the first time I've turned a man."
His cockiness is going to get him killed. Still, I can't help but admire his craft. "You play the game well. You've positioned yourself nicely with him."
He smirks. "My dear, it's a game I've been playing for over 200 years."
My head shakes, foreboding. "Don't let him find out. Gods forbid..."
" Well..." He chirps, nonchalant, "At least I'll have a decent view as he crushes my head under his boot."
Of course, that night would stick with him. It stuck with me, and I was only a witness. I was not going to get involved in that. "You cheated death that night you tried to bite him. It was a reckless decision to sneak up on someone while they were sleeping. Especially him. The man barely sleeps enough as it is. He's always restless. You guys hear it too, right? His terrors. There's no screaming, but the thrashing... I'm shocked he hasn't broken his cot yet."
Lae'zel glances up. "He did not thrash the night we spent together."
Karlach gestures to her. "Maybe you just wore him out, aye? That's all Spooks needs. A good romp before sleep." She mutters. "I certainly could..."
Astarion leans into me and murmurs. "Do me a favor, Shadowheart, if I do end up stumbling around camp, his little ruptured husk, please just stake me in the heart?"
"Gladly." I say before stopping myself. "I mean… not that I’m looking forward to it. I genuinely couldn't sit in camp with a stumbling corpse."
Gale gestures toward the two of us. "This isn't supposed to be normal. How are any of you okay with this?"
I wave my hand at him. "Please, this little convoy of ours is just to get us to Baldur's Gate. Vash is, thankfully, prioritizing the cure. We can get ourselves cleansed of this blight, and when we reach the city, we can go our separate ways."
"And what if it gets worse before then?" Gales presents his points, like a debate that's derailed. "Are we going to sit around and just accept it? Make excuses? Brush it off? Shadowheart, you have the prism, we can just leave."
Danis watches the flames silently, lips glued to the brim of his teacup. His eyes look like he's a million miles away.
My focus returns to Gale. "No. I'm not willing to leave when we have supplies guaranteed, and a clear path forward."
Gale stares at me, quiet and unmoored.
My shoulders drop. I'm too tired to argue right now. "Look. I know the position you're in and I'm truly sorry. But right now, I think we're better off staying. If it truly becomes unconscionable, we can take a vote."
He speaks firmly, "It's unconscionable."
Karlach laces her fingers, turning her lips inward.
The campfire snaps and a log shifts and falls.
I collect the drow armor from my tent, inspecting it. Aside from the obvious unholy possession, the jerkin is a bit dirty from the skirmish at the Inn. It still smells like smoke. I pull the spider-silk plating off and take the rest of it down to the river to wash.
Washing it feels meditative. Especially with the heavy white mist blanking out the world around me. I have a mild lye soap, and watching the jerkin brighten after rinsing feels remarkably satisfying. The stains of blood and ash lift neatly, and the smell begins to mellow.
The crunching of a gentle cadence comes up behind me, and I glance back to see Danis approach. His feet disturbing the pebbles of the riverbank.
He waves politely. "Shadowheart. I wanted to speak with you for a moment." His posture is low, and he clasps his hands as he speaks.
"Of course! What is it you need?"
He shakes his head. "I… Well, it's not something I need, as much as something I have to tell you. But I don't know how to say it."
My curiosity is piqued. "Please, what is it?"
He shifts his footing, and his eyes fixate on a patch of reeds sprouting from shallow water. He can't look me in the eye. "There's something about Vash…"
Oh no, I've been waiting for this to come up. Though Danis's concerns are warranted, the way Vash hovers around Bex. With us, he's direct, authoritative, unyielding. When he's around her, though, he gets this tick in his hand. Sometimes even a twitch in his face. He treats her like a skittish fawn that might bolt if he makes the wrong move. It's his own fault, having frightened her once before.
"I know Bex is drifting away from me. I'm not a fool. She's changed since she started traveling with this company. She's walking down a path I cannot follow. She is walking toward something colder, more pragmatic." His voice dips. "I still have hope, though. I'm not going to give that up," he mutters, "it's all I have left."
The way the words flow out of him, it's like a soliloquy.
"But none of that matters," he finally meets my eye. "What I am about to tell you, I am telling you in confidence." His intensity catches me off guard. "Do you swear it? You must keep this between us."
"Of course, Danis. I swear it." I give him a subtle smirk. "I am nothing if not a master of secrets." He doesn't reciprocate my attempt to lighten the air.
He breathes and his tail flicks nervously, which only makes him grimace. "I…" His voice cracks. "I know what happened to Alfira."
I cross my arms. "Do you? What has she gotten herself into?"
He holds up his hand to stop me. "She's dead."
"What?" My voice is flat. My arms drop and my stomach hollows out.
"We knew Alfira was considering joining you. When I saw her finally leave, I got this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. So, I followed her. I was terrified of being in the wilds alone, but the fear was outweighed by this... I don't know. Intuition, I suppose."
He clasps his hands with a mild nervous wringing. He mutters under his breath. "I should have never told Bex to speak with him to begin with. Gods, this is all my fault."
His breath grows heavy as he recalls that night. "So, I waited at the edge of camp. I'm sorry for intruding. That wasn't appropriate, but... given what happened, it was the right thing to do." His mouth goes dry and he tries to swallow before continuing. "Then it happened. He rose. Like a creature. Body twitching, breath heavy. The silence was the worst part. He grabbed his dagger and slit her throat. Not to kill her. To silence her."
"The digging. She was still alive and he just kept stabbing." He whispers, "Digging." The words catch in his throat.
A sinking terror takes me, and I drag my fingers across my neck.
"He stopped and stood over her body for a long time." He has that far off stare again. "Then he collapsed to his knees, striking himself in the head like a madman."
A tremble courses through him as he struggles not to relive the panic.
"How he cleaned it up. It's like he had done it all before." He dips his head, speaking softly once again. "He laughed with her head in his lap."
My lips straighten. This doesn't add up. Vash is violent, there's no question, but his violence has a purpose. Killing Alfira is utterly senseless. It doesn't... it doesn't seem like him.
"Why haven't you told anyone?"
His eyes snap to me. "Speak against the Hero of the Hollow? The man who saved everyone from the Shadow Druids?" He shakes his head. "They know Vash and Bex are partners in leadership. They'd just call me jealous and carry on. Or worse, outcast me."
He gets a chill, and his shoulders tense. "Besides. If Vash knew I was speaking against him he would kill me. I have no doubt about that. But he might hurt Bex, too." His tone becomes hardened, and he leans into me. "This is why this must remain a secret."
"Why are you telling me this, Danis?"
His brow tightens. "Gale was right. You have the prism. If you choose to leave, maybe Bex will too. Maybe it will help her see the light." He's trying to have hope, the poor man. "I'd be devastated if she left me for him, but I could not live with myself if I remained silent, only to have him kill her."
I blink, startled by the revelation. Even so... "I'm sorry, but do you have any proof of what you say?"
"Yes! Yes of course. Alfira's bell. It was the only thing he kept of hers. I don't know where he keeps it, but he took the bead out so it doesn't ring anymore." He deflates. "An appropriately foreboding token, but I swear he has it!" A flash of guilt crosses his face. "He sank her body in the river. I used to know where, but the river swelled and changed the shoreline. I couldn't find the spot again, though I looked for three nights straight."
"If what you're saying is true, then we need to make a plan."
The darkness that had been shrouding him remains, but he dips his head graciously. "Thank you, Shadowheart. For hearing me out in the very least. It's... it's all I could hope for right now."
I feel my satchel stir and quickly look down, seeing the prism hum and shift.
It floats out of my bag and hangs in the air in front of me.
I try to grab it, but it dodges my hands. "No."
It pitches and spins before it jettisons into the fog.
"No!" Danis and I stumble after it, but slow to a stop.
The chase is futile.
Danis is still, not daring to breathe.
My fist tightens over my heart. Jaw clenched, teeth aching.
Everything falls silent.
Vash has returned.
Bex beside him.
Prism floating just above his open hand.