"Did you find Doni?" I throw my cloak over my shoulders.

Shadowheart is stiff. She's looking everywhere except at me.

"Shadowheart?"

"I found him." Her tone is curt. "What did you want with him, again?" Her fingers flex as she gives me fleeting glances.

I pause. "Is Doni okay?"

"Yes." The word lands like a stone. "He's perfectly fine." She looks at me more directly this time. "What did you want with him?"

"I wanted to see if the pen and paper would help him." I lift a brow. "Though I'm not sure if he's literate."

She shifts her footing. "Well, he's got the pen and paper now. I'm heading back to camp." She says it almost breathlessly before walking away.

Karlach is standing next to me. I take a heavy breath and close my eyes. As my mind touches hers I get a vague flash of Danis' face before it fades into nothing. I open my eyes and she's gone. "Interesting." I mutter. "Did something happen to Shadowheart?"

Karlach shakes her head. "No. We were totally fine up until now. I don't know what's come over her."

I look down at the bell in my fingers, rolling it gently. "I see." I tuck it back in my pocket and look over at her with a smile. "So, what did Dammon do, exactly?"

"Oh! It slowed it down a bit. I'll still be able to ride high octane when it's time to smash some bad guys, but when I'm still I can be... still. It's wonderful." She takes a deep breath. "It turns out my engine was never meant to leave Avernus, and it's struggling to run at such a high temperature. Maybe I need some oil with the correct viscosity or whatever. I'm not really sure."

Her shoulders slump as she looks down at her chest. "Damn thing..."

"If Dammon says he needs more infernal iron, I'll send Shovel out to find some. That should be easy for her."

Karlach suddenly shifts her footing and she looks around. She sees the communal tables and grabs my arm, dragging me over to them. She pulls out a seat, spinning it, and sitting on it backwards. I sit across from her.

She leans her elbows on the table and gestures toward me. "Look, Spooks. I'm gunna be straight with you. Shovel is a problem."

I lift a brow. "How so?"

"Quasits are from the Abyss, yeah? Demons. They're not cambions or anything, but still they're little menaces. There's no avoiding it with creatures out of the hells."

I lean back in my seat. "You're starting to sound dangerously like everyone else. Don't forget what we are."

"No, no, I know. Hmmm... I guess what I'm trying to say is-" She glances at Dammon. The sound of his hammer echoes through the hollow. "A quasit only bonds with a certain kind of person." She gives me a crooked smile. "Please don't be that person."

I slide my hand into my sleeve and take Karlach's hand, giving it a soft squeeze.

"Vash!" I hear that familiar grizzled voice. Asharak is carrying a crate to a storage shed just up the path.

"Excuse me, Karlach." I get up and jog over to him. "Asharak, I was looking for you."

"Were you, now? What do you need?"

"Have you gotten in touch with Derrok?" I push the door to the shed open for him.

"Yes. The man runs a tight fishery. There's nothing I could have offered him other than my labor, which I was not inclined to do, as you know." He pries open the crate and brushes away wood shavings to reveal a shipment of tin dishes.

The door closes behind me. "I do." I lean against a stack of crates. "And how have you been, now that things have changed?"

He pulls a small stack of plates from the sawdust, placing them on a crate next to him. "Things have changed, haven't they? This has become a proper outpost. I've heard that some from the caravan plan on staying. A few even want to join the circle."

"Do they? Has Emila said anything about that?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't really met Emila properly."

"When we get a chance I can introduce you."

He lifts another stack of plates. "I won't be staying." He stacks them with the others. "I'm going to continue to Baldur's Gate with the rest."

"More opportunities there."

"Yes. I want to be in a city again. Get lost in the streets." He chuckles lightly. "Find a decent tavern."

"I think there may be a tavern by the city's docks."

He glances at me. "Are you from Baldur's Gate?"

"Yes, though I haven't been back in some time."

"Will you be traveling with the caravan, then?" A faint smile creeps across his face.

"Do you want me to?" I match his smile and track his motions. "I plan, at the very least, to make sure a path is clear for you. You have yet to pass through the shadow cursed lands."

He looks up at me, speaking slowly. "Yes. I heard about that. ‘Lanterns high', as they say. I'm not looking forward to it."

"You don't need to worry." I shift closer.

His eyes don't break from me.

My fingers drag down his sleeve, claws catching on the fabric as they go.

"And yet, I worry," he murmurs.

I still, then pull my hand back.

He grabs my wrist. "Wait."

There is a breath.

He grips my horns and pulls me in. I lift him. His back hits the crates. Tin dishes clatter to the ground.

The campfire snaps and sizzles. The soft chatter of my companions drifts through the air, the whispers of their minds adding texture to their words. It's beginning to make my skin crawl.

I sit and scratch at my thighs, trying to push everyone's thoughts out of my head. The sound of the Thayan shades hiss, while Bhaal rattles beneath it all. The dream guardian is mercifully quiet.

I breathe. "It's time to address the goblin camp."

Bex watches Astarion as he crosses his legs, perched comfortably on his stool. "It's about time," he says. "Once they're cleared out, we'll have a path to Moonrise."

Her face is flat. She adjusts her seat, turning to me. "We need to make preparations to travel through the Underdark. I've spoken to Hembry and he's agreed to come with us as a guide."

"That's good news. I was considering consulting the dream guardian to extend its protection to Minthara for that very reason."

"She's a liability."

"She's an asset and you know it." I stand and begin pacing. "A daughter of House Baenre. Imagine the pull she could have if we could bring her in."

The camp falls quiet, watching me.

"She's too dangerous."

"What does that mean? We're all dangerous, that's why we were chosen."

"You're the only one who can hear me."

I stop.

The silence becomes unbearable.

Bex approaches me and gently puts a hand on my arm. "Vash. Are you okay?"

Karlach breathes in sharply through her teeth but gives me an encouraging nod.

My gaze shifts from Karlach to Bex. "...I'm..."

I shift my footing, before pivoting back to them. "Reports say that Minthara and Ragzlin's control over half the camp is breaking. We need to move while the division holds. I'll deal with Minthara myself. Once we get them cleared out, we can proceed. Gustav reports that there is a path to the Underdark located somewhere in the temple. I'll send Shovel ahead to look."

"So." Astarion claps. "How are we going to do it? Fire? Explosives? Poison? Something that will cause a lot of death, quickly."

"No, we need survivors."

Gale stands abruptly. "We do not need survivors!"

We all turn to Gale. His shoulders tense.

"I mean… that's not what I meant! I mean there are real people at that camp! People under the influence of the Absolute. We can't just kill them when they're just as much victims as we are!"

I glance at Karlach and purse my lips.

She catches my eye and then turns to Gale with a furrowed brow. "Come on, Sparky. None of us wants to kill anybody who doesn't deserve it. But clearing out that camp will save a lot of people." She leans back, gripping her knees. "I hate to say it but... we can't save everyone. No matter how good our best is."

Gale's arms hang by his side. "I see." He sits back down. Tara climbs into his lap and begins to purr.

I clear my throat. "Bex, Lae'zel, and Karlach. You'll be joining me. Gale, Shadowheart, Astarion, you three can remain on reserve."

Astarion wiggles his wrists. "Oh nooo. I have to sit back and do nothing? How terrible."

"Yesssss." Karlach pumps her fist. "This is going to be so good! I can't wait."

Lae'zel's hand drifts across her sword's blade, glancing at me. "What weapon will you wield since you foolishly lost your sword?"

My eyes snap to her and there is a wrenching in my chest. I walk over to Astarion. He uncrosses his legs, and I place a hand on his shoulder. "I would shatter every greatsword..." I pause and look over at the ox cart.

I jog over and pull free a long object wrapped in several layers of thick canvas. I untie it, unfolding the canvas to reveal Sorrow nestled within.

Do I know anything about fighting with a glaive? I feel my body aching to wield it. My memories are there... I can feel them. But something is holding them back.

My mind is protecting me from something.

...something terrible.

I test the weight of it in hand, before approaching a practice dummy. The glaive pivots and strikes the head off. Then the pole spins and splits the dummy in half.

It's built into the core of who I am, with no way to know why.

I've gotten used to it, though being blind to myself is not ideal. At least my body's kept the score.

As the moons rise, the walk back to the redoubt is a welcome moment of peace. The thoughts of my companions left far behind.

Bex walks arm in arm with me. Her mind blessedly silent, not having a tadpole. She finally breaks the silence. "I know it's not my place to ask, but..."

I glance down at her.

"You and Astarion. I suppose I'm a touch confused."

I watch the path. "I feel something for him. Though, I'm not sure I understand it."

"What's there to not understand?"

"A great deal. Most of it I genuinely don't want to know..." My voice grows quiet. "...I know all the same."

"I think I understand."

"Do you? Bex, you and Danis have something that's survived the hells and back."

A soft breeze drifts past us as the coo of an owl warbles from the boughs of a tree.

The ivy gate rises for us, and we pass through. Torches light the path, giving the redoubt life it didn't have before.

The light shifts across her face, the infernal glow in her eyes breaking through the shadows.

"Surviving does not mean things don't change."

I see a small figure darting up the path, and as it draws near, I recognize Doni.

He's holding a folded slip of paper.

I take it and open it.

Thank you.

The words are written just above a picture of myself, fighting a bear. Drawn with skill, and in ink, no less.

"Doni, this is remarkable, but you didn't have to use a page on me."

He grimaces. "Nnngh!" He waves his hands at me.

I hold it to my chest. "This is my new favorite thing."

He smiles and bounces before darting off again.

Bex glances at the paper and laughs softly. "It looks like you left quite an impression on the children."

"Did I?" I smile, carefully tucking the picture into my cloak pocket.

The small council is gathered in the druid's chamber. Hembry's voice can be heard over everything.

"Clearing them out will be no issue now, with the loan we've gotten from the Emerald Enclave, we're finally armed properly. Thank Silvanus."

"Yes," Aelar sits with the axe strapped to his back, "but even with arms procured, what Vash gathered seems a bit much for a mere goblin camp."

"That's because it's not for the goblin camp." I step into the main chamber, making my way to the table.

"Peace Bringer!" Hembry laughs. "How did you enjoy the Mead?"

"With a harrowing fight against all the bad decisions it inspired."

He beams with pride. "I have several more batches fermenting. A few batches are a bit dryer than others. I'd be eager to hear what you think of them."

Emila pulls the pipe from her lips. "If it's not for the goblin camp, then what are we doing, exactly?"

I nod to Apikusis. She unfurls a map of the sword coast onto the table, placing a few lance board pieces next to me. I pick up the priest and place it on Cloakwood.

Apikusis places a letter on the table. A certificate of marriage with two names. Ossian and Maeris Adderfen. "Kagha's Parents. Officiated by Aelis before she became Arch Druid of Cloakwood."

Emila lifts her chin and slumps back, looking down at me. She taps her finger on the pipe, before sticking it back in her mouth.

I take a knight and place it on the Emerald Grove. "Kagha was a plant. Her parents never fought for the Emerald Enclave. They'd been preparing to subvert the Emerald Grove's leadership for years."

I place both priests at the edge of the Emerald Grove. "This failure is not the end of what they've worked so hard to accomplish. They will not relent until they are stopped." I push the priests back to Cloakwood. Then put both knights and both rooks at the edge of Cloakwood. "We must meet them at their door, to keep the people here safe."

Aelar presses his fingers to his temple. "She was... a plant." He slams his fist into the table. A few pieces on the map topple over. "Gods fucking damnit. Right under our nose. That's the way it always goes, isn't it?" He stands and leans against the table studying the map. "The Shadow Cursed Lands. We need to find a way to move our militia through. We also need to recruit more to our cause."

Bex walks over. "Which is why I've been reaching out to other circles on behalf of the Peace Bringer of the Emerald Grove. So far we've recruited three circles outside of the grove, but we will need more support. The cult of the Absolute is headquartered in the Shadow Cursed Lands, and they will be an obstacle in and of themselves. Vash is working on a way to clear them out with other interested parties."

"Yes. I've recruited a Githyanki patrol to review the situation. Our interests align in wanting them gone." My eyes turn down to the map and the corner of my lip twitches as my finger taps the table. "The sooner the better..."

Bex glances at Emila. "We wanted to request your services in recruiting."

"Of course."

Rath sits quietly in a chair next to her, fingers folded, staring blankly at the table.

She turns to a bird in the chamber, who lands on her shoulder. "I'll need to travel personally to a few circles to advocate on our behalf, but most should be more receptive via courier. I'll make preparations tonight."

"Good." Bex glances at Apikusis. "Please keep us up to date so we can plan our next move for when Vash clears a way. In the meantime, he and I, plus a few more of our team will be clearing out the goblin camp in the morning."

Hembry scoffs. "A few days on the road, and you're ready to clear out an entire goblin camp?"

I pull the wrapped glaive from my back and lay it on the table. As I unwrap it several people step back. Taking it in hand, I plant the butt of the glaive next to me.

Hembry slowly runs his hand through his beard. "By Silvanis..." He murmurs. His usual jovial rhetoric stifled as he eyes Sorrow in my hand. He mutters to himself, though I cannot hear his words.

"After my infiltration of the cult, I have built a reputation among the goblins." I raise the symbol of the Absolute. Warden Maylee sits across from me and I see her go stiff at the emblazoned symbol. "I now have command over half the camp. I will be sending them back to Moonrise, but they are yet another asset lined up to fight by our side. The goblins that refuse me will be dealt with. This will ensure the trade routes can open, and you'll no longer need escorts when traveling the roads."

"Goblins..." Maylee says sharply. "Fighting with goblins."

"Yes," Bex says. "I know it may seem unconventional, but we can't ignore a valuable resource when it presents itself. This particular goblin tribe consists of people who are fiercely loyal to a leader who can prove himself effective. They will be as reliable as one can expect of a pack of goblins." She says with a smirk.

Maylee presses her lips thin and she slumps back in her chair. "Interesting. Alright. Who will be the goblin leading the tribe under you?"

"Fezzerk and Sazza are my lashers right now."

Bex looks at me. "Fezzerk?"

I give her a soft nod. "I hear he's doing much better now that he has a new hand. Gustav hunted him down for me."

Bex presses her fingers to her forehead. "It makes sense, but it's..." She waves her hand. "Fine."

I turn to the others. "The last thing that needs to be handled is the gnoll warband at Waukeen's rest. Aelar, do you think you can send a militia to the Mountain pass to handle them?"

"Gladly," he says glancing at Maylee. "Organize the Wardens, let's start laying out a plan."

Bex turns to Hembree. "Have you got in contact with your circle in the Underdark?"

"I have yet to hear back from them, but that's not unusual for the Underdark. I expect a message back any moment now."

"Good," she says.

Hembry bows his head. "Silvanus bless our journey."

I give a soft smile. "May his name be the hymnal of balance that foments devotion."