He's pensive. After the party, he's gone quiet.

Something is wrong.

It's morning and he's been sitting on my cot, watching his feet for some time.

I've already gotten ready, and I sit next to him. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

He glances at me but keeps his head low. "Vash." His voice is quiet. It unnerves me.

I take his hand in mine.

He looks at our threaded fingers before looking up at me. Brow tight. He opens his mouth but hesitates. "I…" He finally straightens. "I wanted to talk about the creche. The way you grabbed me." He meets my eye. "I asked you not to turn it on me again..."

"I didn't intend to frighten you. It just happened."

"That's worse than you deciding to snatch my arm."

I press my lips thin. "I... don't know what to say."

He reaches up and gently places his fingers on my cheek. "Promise me you'll... you'll keep trying."

"I promise. I am. I have been."

He kisses me gently.

I sit back and tap my thumbs, thoughtfully. "To my credit I didn't headbutt you. I feel like that's progress."

He scoffs. "An iota. But only just. Do better."

I nod softly.

"Having gotten that out of the way." He begins fidgeting with his hands. "I know Shadowheart is telling the truth. I don't think anyone else knows, though."

I slowly stand, and Astarion watches me carefully. "We can't have anyone else finding out. You've done well keeping it from getting out."

"A bold accusation. Is the entire camp hell bent on turning against me? Am I to be the scapegoat for her disappearance?"

"Darling. I smelled the blood all over the camp. You keep thinking you can hide corpses from me, but I assure you, I always know."

I shift back.

"Besides." He crosses his legs and leans back on his hands. "You did a sloppy job cleaning up. I stepped in her gore the morning after."

"Sloppy." My voice is firm.

"Hah!" He points at me with a smirk. "That one got under your skin, didn't it? I've kept your secret this long because I recognize the value in keeping the camp in line with your leadership. I'm not stupid. If they find out you've killed someone on campgrounds-"

"I know."

"We need to find out why Shadowheart thinks she knows that you did it."

"Danis," I murmur. "She started acting strange in the hollow. I touched her mind and saw Danis's face. I don't know how, but he's involved."

He gawks. "You little liar! You said you weren't interested in creeping into people's minds."

"This is different."

"Remind me not to act suspicious."

A smile tugs the corner of my mouth. "I don't think that's possible."

His face falls. "This is a problem. Bex and Danis have returned to the hollow. If Danis knows something, who knows what he might be telling the tieflings. And yet you let them go."

"Yes. I let them go."

Astarion's nose curls. "Because you love her," he sneers.

"I care for her. She is... was my lieutenant, and a damned good one. Perhaps I confused fondness for desire." My voice grows soft. "I apologize for my callousness."

He blinks and his brow lifts.

I crouch down in front of him and take his hand. "When grandfather returned you to me, you asked me to mean it. This is what this means to me."

"…Vash."

His milky hand rests lightly in mine, and I press a kiss into his knuckles.

"Better," he says. "As much as I want to climb you right now, this doesn't solve the Danis problem."

"There is no Danis problem."

"What do you mean? Gods, don't tell me he's been dead this whole time and you've been toying with me."

"No, no, I haven't killed him yet. You would have smelled it on me if I had." I wave him off. "Or whatever it is you do."

He wiggles his shoulders with a coy smile. "I'm capable of anything."

"I bet." I chuckle lightly and stand. "No. Shadowheart mentioned a mysterious 'he' that said something to her. Right after describing exactly how I killed Alfira. If Danis saw me kill her, he knows what I'm capable of." I fold my arms and shift my footing. "He kept quiet until something made him feel safe enough to speak."

I search my mind for what I know of Danis. A timid man. Soft spoken. Every time I've spoken with him...

"By the gods."

"What is it?" Astarion asks.

The panic in his voice, the look in his eyes. Then there was the foggy morning. He and Shadowheart were standing on the riverbank, gawking at me like I were a wraith emerging from the mist. Right after the prism...

"Wait."

I walk over to my cloak and dig into my pocket, pulling out the prism. It pulses a soft red.

My eyes go flat. My gaze drifts back to Astarion, and I drop my arm. "...they were going to run."

Astarion goes stiff.

"Did you know about this?"

"I..." He stands and moves behind my desk. "I did, yes." He laughs lightly. "But what does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal." My voice rises. "You speak of working with me when it comes to keeping order, and conveniently avoid telling me they were planning to mutiny!"

I throw the prism. Astarion ducks and it whizzes past his head, striking the tent wall behind him. He slowly rises, gripping the back of my chair tightly.

"Were you helping them plan? Is that why you didn't tell me? Do you..." Something wrenches in my chest. "...Do you want to leave me, too?"

He lifts his chin, staring down his nose at me. His face is pinched. Bracing. He doesn't speak.

My body goes numb. I look around the tent. I need to get out of here. I need to...

Doni. I have to take care of Doni. Ox. Shovel. The grove. The goblins. The githyanki.

We need to head to the Underdark. I need to meet with the First Druids at the Sussar Concord.

I have obligations. Things I need to manage. Things I need to protect.

Astarion watches me, jaw tight.

"...Get out."

His eyes narrow and he leaves without another word.

I'm lying in my cot with my arm draped over my eyes. I feel something gently tap my shoulder.

I peek out and see Doni. He waves with a polite nod.

"Doni." I croak, then clear my throat. "Good morning."

"M-mhm," he says in a sing-song tone.

I rise and run a hand over my face. "Did you get breakfast?"

He shakes his head no.

"Why not?"

He folds his arms, shoulders high. He kicks the dirt floor with his new boots.

"Come on. Let's get you some food."

We walk to the campfire together. Astarion sees me and grabs his stool, ducking into his tent.

Gale is the only one seated by the fire. His feet are kicked up and his nose is in a book. He glances at me briefly as I approach, then returns to his book.

I turn to Doni. "What do you want to eat?"

He walks over to the rations barrel and pulls out an apple.

"One for me, too," I say with a faint smile.

We sit side by side and eat silently. The fire warms my face. I close my eyes. The apple is sweet and crisp. The grove's orchards truly are singular.

I toss the core into the flames. "We should start packing. We'll need to travel light. We won't be able to take the ox cart with us."

Ox is grazing nearby. He turns his head to me and lifts his ears.

After scanning the surrounding area, I notice Doni's tent is missing. "Where are your things?"

"Ngh!" He holds up his pack. The tent is strapped to the bottom.

"Smart boy. Seems you're good to go."

He nods vigorously as he finishes his apple. He tosses the core into the flames and dashes over to the river to rinse his hands.

We pack what we need and stack everything else into the ox cart. I hitch Ox and step around the cart. Gale, Shadowheart, and Astarion are propped inside the bed of the cart.

Karlach is leaning against the cart, peeling a boiled egg, before taking a bite. Lae'zel is standing near the cart, next to Gale.

Doni, Scratch, and Shovel are off playing, waiting to head out.

"It seems the question regarding Alfira's disappearance has come to the surface once again. Accusations have been made."

Astarion scoffs and looks away.

I stare at him for a moment before addressing the others. "I feel the hole she's left in our camp as much as the rest of you. She was a lovely girl. Bright and kind. But we cannot be accusing one another of unspeakable acts if we wish to survive the road to Baldur's Gate. If we cannot be friends, then we need to remain cordial in the very least."

Gale rolls his eyes. "Vash, none of us are the problem here."

"Gale, I don't understand why what I've done for everyone has gotten me placed in such a precarious situation as a leader."

Gale points at me. "That's the problem! You just act, you don't stop to question if your decisions are actually in everyone's best interest!"

"Of course they are. Look at how far we've come."

His shoulders fall and he breathes slowly. "Yes, Vash, yes. We're not arguing about whether you're effective. We're concerned about whether all of this is worth the cost."

I open my mouth before glancing at Lae'zel. Her piercing green eyes watch me, as Gale puts a hand on her shoulder. She glances up at him and places her hand over his.

"...There will always be a cost."

"Fine, but I ask again. Can we decide together going forward instead of you making unilateral decisions for everyone?"

My lip twitches and Gale sighs, looking at Astarion. "He's doing the thing again."

I mutter. "What thing?"

"The thing with your face when you feel like you're losing an inch of control."

I flex my fingers and try to settle myself.

"Come on, Spooks," Karlach says, with a mouth full of egg. "There's no harm in talking to us about the plans instead of telling us." She swallows. "You're a great commander, buuuuut..." she gives me a cheeky grin. "This isn't the Blood War, remember."

I blink and my shoulders fall before I begin to laugh. "Gods..." I drag my fingers through my hair. Everyone is watching me. I hold up my hands. "A truce. Let's work on a paradigm that agrees with everyone, yes?"

Gale sits back, mouth hanging open. "That's it?"

"Is there more?"

"Uh... no! No, that's... that's all I've been asking for."

Shadowheart fidgets with her braid, and nods quietly.

I take a breath and look around camp, finding Doni trying to pull a ball out of Scratch's mouth. "Boys! Time to go."

Doni drops the ball, and him and Scratch hop into the cart as we begin to walk. Shovel scrambles up my coat and sits on my shoulder.

We leave the ox cart in the Emerald Grove.

I begin unhitching Ox. "They've offered a stable for you. You should be fine while we're away. Once we've found a path to Moonrise, I'll come back for you."

"Is that so? No, that won't do. I'll be coming with you." Ox mutters. "You may still need an ox in the Underdark."

"Ox, we're going to be entering through a cavern that heads straight down. I'm not sure how we can manage getting you down that way."

He grunts. "I could turn into an apple."

"No! No, you might get eaten by Doni." I purse my lips. "A bat? Perhaps?"

"Hmph. My arms will get tired." His head dips and he blinks. "A snake? I could hide in your coat, and you can do all the walking," he says with a snort, pawing the ground. "A fine idea!"

He melts into a small snake and begins climbing my boot.

"I'll need a hand up, chap." His head bobs as his belly slips against the leather.

I reach down and he climbs into my sleeve. I bite my lip as he reaches my underarm and begins to dip into my breast pocket. Damned worm… A snort escapes me, but he slips past. I clear my throat and peek into my pocket as he nestles.

"Comfortable?"

"Quite! Please proceed, Mr. Neel."

"Thank you, Ox."

Doni and I walk ahead of the group, following Shovel who is muttering to herself.

We find Hembry standing at the bridge, his bloated pack settled next to him as he prays before a crumbled statue of Selûne.

"Hembry!" I say.

He doesn't stir until after his prayers are done. "Peace Bringer!" He says with a boisterous laugh, patting me heartily on the back. "And who's this? I didn't know you had a son!" Hembry holds out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you, lad!"

Doni takes his hand and shakes it with a polite nod.

"He is my ward. An orphan from the hollow."

"Ser Neel. You're telling me you took this child under your wing?"

"I did."

He places a hand over his heart. "Silvanus bless such a generous soul. Your kindness knows no bounds."

Shadowheart snorts, and I glance at her.

Hembry hoists his pack over his shoulders. "This will be quite an adventure for the lad! Let's not waste another moment."

Doni takes the edge of my coat as we step into the smoking ruin.

Shovel leads us through Priestess Gut's room, and we weave our way through crumbling hallways burrowed deep into the earth. The further back we go the more rudimentary the tunnels get.

Stone masonry dwindles into earthen walls twisted by thick roots.

Doni snaps a flame into his fingers and smiles wide.

I give him a pat on the head.

"Here! Here!" Shovel hops. "The big hole!"

The tunnel opens into a wide chamber. Cracks in the ceiling send soft beams of light down, illuminating limestone bricks, and a statue of Selûne. The patina on the statue brings out the intricate detail in her face. A shame something so beautiful has been buried for so long. The dust we disturb as we move through the chamber glitters in the light as it drifts.

Shovel dashes over the stone door. It's cracked in two, just wide enough for us to climb through.

Beyond that is a wooden platform that steps down into a... very big hole... with a ladder that appears to reach down into oblivion.

I carefully step forward and look down. The walls are lined with glowing shelf mushrooms. Humidity rises from the air below. I glance up and look around the chamber. My shoulders begin to stiffen and I close my eyes. "Gods... not now." My heart rate rises and I breathe.

Astarion throws his head back. "Gods! Do we have to climb down?"

Shadowheart peeks over the edge and clings to her elbows. "The climb down is going to be utterly exhausting. I can't even see the bottom."

I lean down to Doni. "Watch this." The tips of my fingers glow blue and I begin to pull from the Weave.

Gale runs his hand over his beard. "Not necessarily. We could always-"

A flash of blue light and falling feathers coat the party.

Doni climbs into my arms and Shovel clings to my horns as I snap a sharp salute to the team before dropping off the edge into the hole.

Shadowheart shouts. "No!" She and Karlach scramble to the edge and watch us fall.

"Spooks! You asshole!" Karlach's voice echoes followed by Hembry's unmistakable laughter.

Feathers stream upward as we descend. Doni points as we pass larger and larger mushrooms.

I let go of him, and he gasps, clinging to my coat.

"It's okay," I say.

His face is tight, but he lets go with one hand before gently letting go with the other. His arms stretch out but after a while he begins to smile, then laugh as he tumbles through the air.

"Shovel wants to die!" She launches herself towards Doni and grabs his hands. He swings her around and she begins screaming, the sound ricocheting off the cavern walls.

I look past them and see the others not too far behind.

After a while I touch down and catch Doni, then Shovel, carefully setting them down. "How was that?"

Doni laughs and jumps, flapping his hands.

"Good. Now stay close, and let's keep our voices down. The Underdark is a dangerous place. Hembry will show us the way. Let's stick close to him."

Doni nods and looks at Shovel, holding a finger to his mouth.

"Right, right," she says waving a claw. "Shovel doesn't want to get eaten again."

I offer a hand to anyone who will take it. Hembry takes it and lands firmly on his feet.

Lae'zel takes it, while clutching her sword. Her feet touch ground and she sheaths it, giving me a curt nod.

I shake my sleeve over my hand and Karlach grips it with her fingertips. She gives me a curtsy when she lands. "M'lord."

Gale and Shadowheart do not take the hand offered.

I hold out my arms and Astarion folds his arms around my neck as he settles in my grasp. He doesn't even give me a glance, but clings to my neck all the same.

"Astarion. I'm sorry. For earlier."

He turns his chin up. "I hear you." He says curtly.

I set him down. He straightens his blouse, fixes his hair, then gives me a soft kiss on the cheek and walks away.

That's four out of six. Decent odds.

The Underdark is vast, to my delight. My poor heart settles, and I try not to think about the cavern ceiling far above. We stand in a crumbling Selûnite gate house. The statue guarding it has long since fallen. Doni follows close as I walk over to a window that looks out over the vast landscape.

Glowing mushrooms speckle the land below, shining softly against large crystal shards growing from rocky outcroppings. A river cuts through the stone, leaving a soft hush of water in the air. The humidity is oddly cool, and welcome. Though... I'll have to watch for trench foot. I glance down at Doni.

"If you feel your feet start to wrinkle, take off your boots. It's not worth it."

Doni looks at me and shakes his head, brow pinched.

Hembry scans the path and grunts. "Unfortunate."

"What? What do you see?" I search the terrain.

He points. "Umber Hulk."

I narrow my eyes and see something shifting across the path. It looks like a boulder, slow and lumbering. "I take it that's a problem."

"Huh... more than a problem, Peace Bringer. We won't be able to pass while it holds the path."

"I see." I turn toward the group. "Gale, Karlach, L-" I stop, then clear my throat. I approach them, hands clutched. "There appears to be a large creature blocking the path to the village. I was thinking that perhaps Gale, Karlach, and Lae'zel can accompany me to take care of it. Thoughts?"

Karlach rolls her eyes with a snort.

"Yes, that sounds fine," Gale says. "Was that so hard?"

"We've wasted approximately thirty seconds waiting on you to agree with my plan."

Gale sighs. "Good enough."

I turn back to Hembry. "Look after Doni while we take care of the Umber Hulk."

"Gladly. We'll have a good view of the show, won't we Doni?"

Doni nods, but begins chewing on his thumbnail.

"Let's go, Spooks!" Karlach jogs ahead, greatsword in hand.

"Your enthusiasm for battle intrigues me!" Lae'zel follows after her.

Gale and I glance at each other and begin to walk.

"So..." I say, trying to fill the silence. "You're a wizard and I'm a sorcerer."

"You're a sorcerer?"

"Yes. You didn't know that?"

"No. I knew you had command of the weave, but I just assumed it was some sort of paladin nonsense."

"Paladins can't cast arcane lock."

"Don'tspeaktomeaboutyourwretchedarcanelock!"

The words come out too fast for me to catch half of them.

"You are an alarming man," he says.

"How so?"

"You sow enough chaos already. Knowing that you have latent powers that you're undoubtedly discovering the more you recover your memory is not a comfort to me."

I blink and shift my gaze to the path ahead. We walk quietly for some time. "I heard you were once the chosen of Mystra."

"How in the hells did you learn so much about me?" He snaps.

I recoil, tail swaying to keep my balance. "No need to shout. You'll attract vermin."

He frowns but pulls back. "Sorry."

We pass a pockmarked stone wall decorated with a few luminescent shelf mushrooms. A creature scurries into a hole in the stone.

"It's called the Necromancy of Thay."

"The... WHAT?!"

"The Necromancy of-"

"I heard you the first time! You cannot tell me you've been sitting in camp playing with Thayan Necromancy. Are you mad?"

"Possibly," I murmur.

He pinches the bridge of his nose. "You know what? I can't even find it within myself to be angry anymore. Each new thing I learn about you is worse than the last and frankly, I'm no longer interested in understanding how deep it goes."

I fold my arms behind my back. Karlach and Lae'zel are deep in conversation, their swords in hand. I can't hear the words, but Lae'zel runs her palm across the flat part of her blade, then demonstrates a swing.

"How's the..." I gesture toward the orb in his chest.

"Do you actually care?"

"For the safety of the camp, I do, yes."

He presses his fingers to his chest and rolls his shoulder. "It’s under control. Thank you."

I glance around. "Where's Tara?"

"Scouting. Possibly searching for magical artifacts. She should be around."

My thumb taps against my knuckle and my tail twitches. "Gale... May I, in the very least, inventory the items Tara brings you?"

He goes quiet, staring at me. "See? That right there. That’s all you had to do. That's a perfectly reasonable request."

"If she brings back something genuinely useful I would like to coordinate compensation for the item. It would be Weave for Weave, obviously, and you have the final say."

"I can't guarantee I'll always want to trade, but I will accept offers if you're interested."

"Thank you."

Karlach and Lae'zel have stopped along the path and ducked behind a mushroom. Gale and I get low, and I approach, peeking around the bend of the path. As the beast comes into view, it meets my eye—