#oakflower

Halsin barreled past the mingling inhabitants of Last Light, still clutching Thaniel tight against him. The small groans and labored breaths coming from the small boy in his arms brought tears to his eyes. From what he could tell, Thaniel was suffering from a similar malady to Art Cullagh, but the hold on his mind was far stronger. In his weakened state, it must have been easier to take over his mind, allowing the shadows to take deeper roots. Without returning his missing piece, Halsin was certain Thaniel would remain under Shar’s spell.

Their brief sprint across through the woods led him stumbling past the edge of their camp, Gale and Astarion gasping for breath behind him. To his surprise, Shadowheart had returned from Last Light. She sat in front of her tent, lost in prayer or meditation.

Halsin laid Thaniel down next to the campfire to try and warm him up. Despite being huddled in Halsin’s arms, his skin was still cool to the touch.

“Who’s this?” Arabella had come skipping over to the fire.

“He’s a friend of mine, his name is Thaniel,” Halsin responded as he tried to catch his breath.

When he looked over his shoulder, Gale and Astarion had averted their eyes away from Arabella. They shuffled in place, kicking the dirt around their feet into little piles.

“He looks like the other boy I saw before Tav found me.” Arabella cocked her head to the side as she studied Thaniel’s face.

Of course. How did you not make that connection you old fool?

“I think you may have met his counterpart, Arabella. The part of him who has been trapped here since Thaniel was taken away to the Shadowfell.”

“Huh, he just asked me to play with him. I couldn’t find him though, so he must be good at hiding.”

“Do you remember where you saw him?” Halsin asked.

“Not exactly, it was too dark to see much. I remember being close to a graveyard,” she said.

“That’s alright, chances are he doesn’t stay in one spot for long.” He sat down next to Thaniel.

Astarion and Gale had wandered over as well, still decidedly avoiding Arabella.

What is that all about?

Having interrupted her meditations, Shadowheart also joined them.

“He…he’s just a child…” Shadowheart whispered next to him. “I thought you were exaggerating, or…or lying.”

“He’s much more than a child,” Halsin corrected her, “but he doesn’t truly know that.”

When he spared a glance up at Shadowheart, he saw confusion and anger oscillating over her features. He could see her pointed ears twitching behind the black fringe of her hair. Her hand was balled into a fist at her side.

“I don’t understand…” He heard her mutter under her breath before composing herself once more.

“Where are the others?” she asked, raising her voice so they could all hear.

“Tav was injured rather badly,” Gale explained, sparing a sympathetic look at Halsin. “Everyone else stayed behind so she could heal.”

“This must be important indeed if you came back without her,” Shadowheart aimed a bewildered scoff at Halsin.

“More important than you realize, Shadowheart. Her injuries were not life-threatening, I’m confident she’s capable of tending to them on her own.” He tried to project confidence with his words despite the fact that each one felt like a knife in his gut. When he looked back up at her, there was an unfamiliar softness in her expression.

“I…I need to meditate. To see if I can find any clues in his mind.” Halsin stood up, once again taking Thaniel in his arms. “Would you tell me when…”

“We’ll let you know when she’s back, Halsin,” Astarion said with a wink.

He gave him a grateful nod before taking Thaniel to rest in his tent.

***

Tav rolled her wrist and shoulder around, testing her range of motion. She had taken care of her wounds with ease – the injuries had been painful, but not life-threatening in the least. Wyll, Lae’zel, and Karlach had stayed behind with her after the fight so she could get healed up a bit. They also managed to salvage plenty of useful materials, so she was counting the battle as a win.

Gale came running up to them as soon as the camp was in sight.

“It’s good to see you up, my friend.” He patted her on the back. “Halsin’s waiting for you, he wanted to know the second you returned.”

“Thanks, Gale. I’ll head over right away.” She nodded to the others as she jogged over to Halsin’s tent, Lunari close at her heels. He was sitting on the ground outside of it, concentrating over Thaniel’s body.

“Halsin?” she called out softly. His head snapped up to her.

“Tav…you’re back.” He let out a relieved sigh as he stood up. “Forgive me, are you alright? I wanted to stay but–”

“I’m fine, Halsin. My wounds are healed, and Thaniel is safe here at camp. There’s nothing to forgive.” She held up a hand to cut him off. Even as she spoke, he was inspecting her wrist and shoulder.

“You…you dove in front of an arrow for Thaniel. For…” A single tear ran down his face as he looked into her eyes.

“Not just for Thaniel, for us. For you. And I’d do it again,” she assured him. Before she could continue, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her into a hug.

When she pulled away, she noticed marks up and down his arms in the shape of handprints.

“What happened?” she asked as she gingerly ran her fingers over one of them.

“There were wraiths and shadows that pursued us through the Shadowfell. Their grip was cold enough to leave burns,” he shuddered as he recalled the creatures.

“Here, let me.” Tav murmured her simple healing spell. She wasn’t nearly as skilled as Halsin, but it was more than sufficient to mend a few burns.

“Thank you, I suppose I forgot about my own injuries while tending to Thaniel.”

She smirked back at him. Of course he had neglected his own pain to concentrate on others’.

“Now…what have you found out? You said there was a part of Thaniel missing.” Tav reached up to wipe away his tears.

“Yes, his counterpart. It seems they were ripped apart when Thaniel was dragged to the Shadowfell. If we can find his other half, he should be able to recover. Once he is whole again, he can banish these shadows once and for all.” Halsin’s voice had taken on a new tone, full of hope and courage. Having found Thaniel, his confidence in finding an end to the shadow curse seemed to be born anew.

“Okay, where do we start though? What are we looking for?” she prompted.

“Even while subdued, this curse cannot fully suppress Thaniel’s power. We must look for signs of life in the darkness. Leaves, flowers, anything that doesn’t seem warped by the shadows.” Tav could see his mind racing, trying to think of any clues they could have seen during their travels. A sudden look of realization spread over his face.

“In fact, I saw something like that on our way here. Fool that I am, I didn’t recognize its significance.” His eyes widened as he spoke.

“Show me!” Tav fumbled with her bag to pull out the small map Jaheira gave them.

“There…just outside of Last Light,” he said breathlessly. They made a small mark on the map to save their destination.

“Okay then, I’ll see what I can do. I’ll head there right away.” She smiled and turned to walk back to the others, but Halsin caught her hand and spun her back toward him.

“Wait…” He pulled her a little closer. “This doesn’t have to be your burden alone. I’ve asked enough of you without being at your side. From now on, if you require my aid, you shall have it. Against the curse, against the Absolute…” He brought his other hand up to rest on the one he was already holding.

“…anything. Just say the word.” He tensed as he looked at her, almost as if he expected to be sent away.

“Then let’s get moving,” she responded with a smile. His shoulders relaxed as he squeezed her hand.

She whistled for Lunari to follow, but the wolf had curled up next to Thaniel with her head on his chest.

“I must admit I would feel better knowing he’s being looked after,” Halsin mused.

“Very well, we’ll leave her with Thaniel.”

Tav led him back towards the others, ready to brief them on their next mission.

She let him take the lead. The others listened with intense stares as he told them of his meditations with Thaniel. Halsin eagerly explained what would need to be done to make him whole again.

“Come now, surely this group of adventurers can handle a child.” Astarion’s eye roll was audible in his words.

“He is no mere child. Oliver is part of the spirit of the land. He has the power of this land as well. There is a good chance he will not come willingly after being isolated amongst the shadows for so long,” Halsin warned.

“We have a possible location, but this will be dangerous. I’ve asked too much of all of you to expect you to join another personal tangent.” Tav looked between her companions, hoping they would come with her anyway.

“We’re in this together soldier. Your tangents are my tangents.” Karlach came and put her arm around Tav’s shoulder.

“I couldn’t agree more.”  Wyll stood up from his seat next to the fire.

“I’ll always look for an excuse to put a bratty little child in their place.” Astarion was nonchalantly twirling his daggers between his fingers.

“I’ll be by your side, whenever you need me,” Halsin said as he took one of her hands.

“Hang on, are you coming with us bear man?” Karlach jumped in front of them to yell.

“If you’ll have me.” Halsin’s voice was anxious again.

“Fuck yes!” Karlach grabbed his free arm and hugged him. He seemed startled by the motion, but quickly recovered and hugged her back, his lips turned up in a soft smile.

“Here, this might help.”

Tav turned to see Shadowheart standing at the other side of the fire, holding out the Lathander mace they had found in the Creche.

“What happened to going against Shar?” Tav spat the words with a little more venom than she intended.

“This second spirit isn’t being held by Lady Shar. And…” She took a deep breath. “I need to see it for myself.”

“Then why not come with us?” Karlach asked, head cocked to the side.

Tav tensed at Karlach’s offer, but another bout of guilt gripped her chest when Shadowheart’s eyes darted to her. The obvious distrust she saw there was enough to make her want to hide in shame.

“Just because this spirit isn’t being held by her doesn’t mean I want to incur any further displeasure by participating in its release.”

“Fair enough,” Karlach admitted.

“Besides,” Shadowheart continued, “I heard you were injured rather badly before. This can at least help with the shadows.”

The look of shock and suspicion on Tav’s face must have been painfully obvious. Shadowheart just rolled her eyes.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped back. “Regardless of our differences I’d prefer you all come back alive. I can’t exactly dispel this Absolute cult on my own, can I?”

“Thank you,” Halsin said, walking over to accept the weapon.

Shadowheart gave a curt nod before stalking back over to her tent.

Tav wanted to call out to her, but no words would form. She could feel the others’ eyes on her, wary of her erratic behavior throughout the day.

No matter. One more step, maybe one more fight, and this duty can be done.

***

Halsin’s heartbeat pounded in his chest, the rhythm resonating deep in his ears as they made their way up the hill. At the top was a small, decrepit house. Just like the rest of the cursed land, it had fallen to ruin. The walls barely stood, parts of the roof had collapsed, and the wood looked to be rotten all the way through.

Despite its concerning appearance, Halsin felt his breath catch at the sight of the small pathway leading to the door.

All around the perimeter of the house were patches of grass, in each patch a small group of flowers bloomed even in the darkness. Tall, sweet-smelling flowers with rounded, purple petals stacked upon one another in little clusters at the top of the stem.

Lavender.

“This is it,” Halsin whispered to the others.

He walked over and held one of the delicate blooms between his fingers. They were fragile, struggling to grow in such a harsh environment, but when he closed his eyes and focused, he could hear the smallest hint of a laugh through them. He stilled his mind to all other thoughts and just listened for a moment. A hopeful smile spread over his face as he plucked one from the ground and took a deep inhale, absorbing what little life he could in the darkness.

As everyone else caught up to him, he pulled out the small notebook he kept in his backpack, pressing the small flower between the pages. He wanted to preserve this one little piece of hope he found among the shadows.

A small voice cut through his reveries, one that was familiar, but felt twisted…tortured.

“She wasn’t very fun,” the voice sneered. “All I wanted was to play.”

Halsin took note of the few bodies around the house. The freshest one was a githyanki.

“But someone else is coming.” He heard the childish whisper but couldn’t seem to find its source.

“Creepy,” Karlach said. He could see the small shiver that ran over her body.

“It definitely sounds like a child,” Tav remarked. She had the glowing mace strapped to her back to chase away the shadows.

Their group peered around the decaying doorway into the house. It was small, only one room. Broken furniture lined what was left of the walls. The air around them made the hair on Halsin’s arm stand on end.

Something, or someone, was watching them.

“Boo! I scared you!”

“Fuck!” Tav, Astarion, and Karlach all shouted together. Each of them clutched their chest in shock as they stared down at the small child that had appeared out of thin air.

“I win! No one beats me in hide and seek.” He rocked back and forth on his feet, heel to toe, like he was waiting for praise for a job well done. The eager, playful look in his eyes caused the recognition to click immediately in Halsin’s mind.

He walked up behind Tav, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“That’s him,” Halsin whispered, “he’s like an echo of Thaniel.”

Tav nodded her understanding, never taking her eyes off Oliver.

“So, will you play with me?” he asked, eyes still sparkling with mischievous energy as he looked at Tav expectantly.

“Oliver, right?” she asked gently.

“You know me?” His eyes brightened further, feet tapping in place with excitement.

“Yes, I know who you really are,” she continued, reaching a hand out. “I’m here to help bring you back to Thaniel.”

Oliver’s expression darkened.

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I have everything I need here. I just want to play,” Oliver pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Will you play with me or not?”

“Easy,” Halsin urged Tav, “remember, he doesn’t think of himself as any more than a child.”

“I’m not really one to play, Oliver. But I’m sure Thaniel is. If you come with us, maybe you could play with him.”

Halsin gave her an appreciative smile but noticed Oliver’s face twist into a frown.

“Spoilsport,” he muttered. “I don’t want to go back…I like it here. I get to play all the time.”

Oliver looked pensive for a moment before waving their group away.

“I don’t want to play with you anymore.”

With those words, he conjured a portal and disappeared beyond its edge.

“Any other ideas?” Tav turned to ask Halsin.

“The shadows have warped Oliver even further than I expected.” He couldn’t help the dejection seeping into his voice. “We must follow him. I think we should be expecting a fight on the other side of that portal.”

“Ah, that reminds me! Now that you’re coming with us bear man, you should know the safe word.” Karlach came up and clapped him on the shoulder.

“…safe word?” he asked, trying to hide his confusion. Either he was misunderstanding, or this group was much closer than he had originally thought.

“Yeah! The word is ‘whizbangs.’ Anybody says it, we get ready for a fight.” She smiled back at him.

“Right, understood,” he said, concealing a laugh with a small cough. Tav fought a smirk to his side.

“Onward?” she asked, looking to him for confirmation.

“Onward.” He tilted his head toward the portal and led them through.

The moment they stepped beyond its edge, Halsin felt a shift in the shadows.

“You should have just left me alone!” Oliver cried out.

A large, glimmering dome appeared over him just before he conjured several shadows that looked just like him.

Halsin dashed up to the barrier, avoiding swipes from the small shades as he ran.

“Oliver, please!” He pounded his fist against the dome but pulled it back with a hiss.

Burning pain had shot up his arm at the movement. He could feel the dark magic stinging his flesh.

“Don’t touch the dome!” Halsin turned just in time to see a large wraith making a clawed swipe at him, catching its hand with his staff.

“Maybe we can weaken it from afar,” Tav suggested as she drew her bow. She fired an arrow, careful to aim it past Oliver.

A beam of necrotic energy was reflected back at her, striking her in the gut.

“Fucking hells that smarts,” she wheezed, doubling over from the impact.

“You alright, sis?” Karlach yelled as she cleaved through two other shadows.

“I’ll manage. Keep those shadows under control until we can figure out a way to get rid of that barrier!” She stood up and shook off the brief attack.

Wyll started hurling spells at the wraith in front of Halsin. Eldritch Blasts soared through the air to strike the shadow, distracting it for a moment. Halsin took advantage of it, bringing down a tall beam of radiant light in front of him. With a blood-curdling screech, the wraith puffed out of existence.

Behind him, Halsin heard a noise that sounded like glass breaking. When he turned around, he noticed small cracks now lining the dome protecting Oliver.

The shadows are the key.

As the thought crossed his mind, he saw Tav take out another large wraith causing a large crack to appear across the top of the dome, solidifying his theory.

Oliver conjured shadow after shadow. A discordant symphony of childish cackles filled the air as each of his “friends” joined in. Whenever they dispelled a handful, another wave came to take their place. Everywhere they turned a small shadow hissed and swiped at them, desperately trying to deter them from Oliver.

“Hells below, these little brats are everywhere!” Astarion yelled as he took out another one.

“We’re close, every shadow vanquished weakens that shield around him,” Halsin called back to him. “Look at the cracks forming around it!”

The shimmering dome surrounding Oliver started to look like a glass bowl that had been dropped but hadn’t quite shattered yet.

We might make it through this yet.

Just as he finished the thought, Wyll took out the last little shadow with a spell, and Oliver let out another laugh.

“Now you want to play? Fine, let me show you my favorite toy.”

He conjured a shadow just outside of his shield in the shape of a massive owlbear. It let out an ear-piercing shriek before lunging at them.

“Fuck that’s a big guy,” Karlach hissed as she narrowly avoided one of its swipes.

Halsin responded in kind, shifting into an owlbear to counter it. Not a moment too soon either, for its next swipe caught him in the shoulder. A blow that would have been near deadly in his elven form. The creature followed with a hard stomp onto the ground beneath it, causing a small quake strong enough to knock his other companions into the dirt.

He tried to keep the owlbear busy, lashing out with his own paws to give the others a chance to recover.

Karlach was the first back on her feet, charging at the shadow from Halsin’s flank. She aimed a powerful cleave through the owlbear. The blade stuttered through the apparition like it caught on something, but then passed through the rest of the way in a smooth arc.

The others seemed to be having trouble getting up. Astarion was cradling his arm on the ground, Wyll was gasping for breath as he rolled to his side, and Tav had only made it up to her knees.

Karlach came in for another attack, but the shadow knocked her away with one mighty swipe of its paw. She was thrown into a nearby tree, slamming her back against its trunk.

While Halsin was distracted checking on the others, the owlbear leaped at him, pinning him beneath a heap of shadowy muscles and feathers. Just as it reared its beaked head, ready to attack, it cried out with a pained, unnatural shriek.

He spared a glance to his side where he saw Tav on one knee, bow still held out in front of her from firing an arrow.

With that final shot, the owlbear puffed away to be reabsorbed into the shadows, and the dome protecting Oliver crumbled to the ground around him.

***

Tav let out her held breath as the owlbear disappeared into thin air, still kneeling on the ground. When she looked back up at Oliver, the barrier protecting him had vanished as well.

Halsin dismissed his wild shape and was now taking slow steps toward the boy. Tav followed close behind, not wanting to startle him.

“Why can’t I just stay here, playing? I had everything I’ve ever wanted, right here, and now you’ve ruined it!” Oliver paced and pouted at the top of the stairs. “I’m not leaving – you can’t make me!”

Tav looked to Halsin for help, unsure how to soothe this powerful force of nature with the soul of a child.

“Be gentle,” he urged her, “like I said, he’s much more than a child, but he doesn’t truly know that.”

“You should talk to him, Halsin. You know what he needs to hear better than anyone.” She reached over to take one of his hands. He nodded back to her with a sad smile before kneeling in front of Oliver.

“No one is going to make you leave, Oliver. This is your home. But…” Tav choked back tears hearing the cracks in Halsin’s voice. “But it’s lonely and empty. I don’t want you to be here alone, I want you to be with Thaniel.”

“Why would I go back to him? He abandoned me!”

“No, you were taken from each other. Neither of you are to blame. I know your pain, truly I do. Thaniel was my friend too. I used to play with him, I grew up with him even though he stayed the same. I am who I am today because of him, and then he was ripped away from me, same as he was for you.”

“But would he even want me back?” Oliver kicked a small rock on the ground, not meeting Halsin’s eyes.

“Of course he will,” Halsin sniffled and took one of the boy’s hands, “you need not invent friends, you don’t have to be alone. Thaniel is back. And he’s waiting for you.”

“But I was alone. Even when it was scary.”

Tav rested a hand on Halsin’s shoulder and knelt next to him. “You’ve been so brave, Oliver. Spending so much time among the shadows? All on your own? Think of how much you’ll be able to help Thaniel.”

“I suppose he’s a bit scared too,” Oliver looked back up at them, a small smile threatening to spread across his face, “I bet he’d like to have someone to help him.”

He took a moment to think before speaking again. The brief pause felt like an eternity as her heart pounded against her ribs.

“Okay, I’ll do it. It might be nice to have someone to play with again.”

Halsin let out a relieved, breathy laugh.

“Well done.” He leaned into Tav as the tears in his eyes started rolling down his cheeks, causing hers to do the same.

“Are you crying? You’re both a bit big to be crying.” Oliver cocked his head to the side. “I guess that’s okay though.”

They both chuckled as they leaned against one another.

“I guess this is goodbye for now,” Oliver smiled, “but thanks for playing with me!”

Right before their eyes, they saw a swathe of golden light envelop Oliver’s body. The dark magic that had been lining his features was burned away, causing him to look even more like Thaniel. His face looked peaceful as he slowly faded away with the light.

Halsin and Tav stood back up, staring at the spot where Oliver had just been a moment earlier.

“It’s done…” Halsin turned to her, astonishment obvious in his handsome features.

Before she could say anything in response, his arms shot out to draw her into a crushing embrace. She threw her arms around his neck to pull herself closer. Their joyful, relieved cries mingled in the still air as they held each other.

He did it. Halsin actually did it.

Shar’s cursed darkness would choke the land no more.

“You did it.” Tav’s sobs were muffled by his shoulder as he picked her up off the ground, keeping his arms tight around her waist.

“We did it.” He sat her down again and took her face in both of his hands. “I could not have done this without you. Thank you, Tav. Thank you.”

He wiped her tears away; she reached up to do the same for him as he left a soft kiss in her hair.

“I couldn’t have done this without all of you.” Halsin let go of her to turn and address their companions. “You have helped me at a great risk to your own lives, and I will be eternally grateful.”

Karlach wore a mushy expression as she watched Tav lean against Halsin, hugging herself close to his side. The happy tears gathering in her eyes as she gave Tav a quick wink caused her smirk to turn to a toothy grin.

“Not to be the depressive voice of reason,” Astarion spoke up first, “but I see the shadows are still here and dark as ever.”

“It will take time for them to disperse. Thaniel is still recovering his strength, but with Oliver returning to his side I am confident that we will see them banished soon.” Halsin looked back to Tav, still wearing a soft smile.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys but I’m fucking beat,” Karlach yawned as she stretched her arms out in front of her. “I wonder what Gale’s got on the menu tonight?”

“Well, courtesy of our friends at Last Light, we were able to get some more fresh meat,” Wyll chimed in. “I’ve no doubt he found something incredible to make out of it.”

Wyll and Karlach turned away from Tav to start the walk back to camp. Astarion followed close behind as the other two started to salivate in anticipation of their evening meal.

Tav started to follow, but Halsin caught her hand.

“Wait…” he whispered.

She hung back a few steps behind everyone else with him.

“I don’t know what to say. There are no words to express my gratitude.” He brought his other hand up to envelop the one he was already holding.

“I…” Tav trailed off as she looked up into his gentle eyes, still shining with tears even in the darkness. “I’m so very happy for you, Halsin.”

One of his hands came up to cup her cheek.

“This victory is yours as well, Tav. I want you to share that joy with me. I know Tev’s death weighs heavily on your mind, but I hope you can allow yourself just a brief reprieve from your grief.”

She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. For just a moment, Tav let her pain float away. She gave herself permission to have a fleeting feeling of happiness and accomplishment.

“Banishing these shadows was such a distant dream for so long. Seeing it become a reality…I must admit, I’m not sure what to do next.”

She smiled back at him as she opened her eyes. “I guess you’ll just have to find a new dream to chase.”

“Perhaps once there’s less talk of curses and mind flayers, I can do just that,” he chuckled.

Tav saw the rest of their group turning around a nearby corner.

“We should catch up with the others, otherwise Karlach might claim all the food before we get back,” she teased.

“Lead the way,” Halsin said as he placed a soft kiss on her knuckles.

At least one problem had been solved. Soon enough, the shadows would no longer choke the land.

Tav braced herself for the spear’s impact.

Instead, she saw Shadowheart spin around and hurl the weapon away into the Shadowfell. Tav stared back at her in disbelief. She looked at her other companions who shared in her shock.

Gale, Wyll, and Halsin had spells queued up on their fingertips while Karlach, Lae’zel, and Astarion had their hands on the hilts of their weapons, prepared to fight back if Shadowheart had followed through.

I wonder if that’s how they looked when I aimed by bow at her.

“I…I can’t believe I just did that. Lady Shar will disown me.” Tears welled in her eyes as she stared back at Tav.

“And you are better for it.” Aylin walked up to the edge of her soul cage. “Lay a hand on me in friendship, not-quite-Sharran, and you shall have an ally in this fight and many fights to come.” She dropped to one knee before them.

“That…that’s it?” Tav asked, skeptical.

“Yes. So sure was Balthazar that I could not have a friend in this wretched place that he made it the very key to my prison.”

Shadowheart hesitated, looking back to Tav. With a deep breath, she walked up next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Shadowheart mirrored the gesture onto Aylin, who pounded her fist into the floor beneath her.

Thump.

“Our Lady of Silver. Hear me!”

Thump. Thump.

“She Who Guides, The Moonmaiden Selûne.”

Thump.

“Mother of the so-called Nightsong.” Aylin stood up. “The Nightsong is no more!”

A warm feeling surrounded them, pushing away the dark chill of the Shadowfell. With the soul cage broken, a familiar magical light drifted down to surround the aasimar. Selûne’s radiant moonlight lifted Aylin in the air, allowing her to conjure a brilliant set of armor over her rags. A massive greatsword floated down into her waiting hand, teeming with celestial energy.

They all gasped as a pair of resplendent wings appeared on her back, allowing her to hover in the air above them.

Everyone stood staring at her, speechless.

“You have done what we feared was impossible. You have released me from a century of sorrow, little warrior.”

Shadowheart looked like she could collapse at any moment as she battled with her years of faith and the choice she just made.

“Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?” Shadowheart’s voice was small.

“To kill Ketheric Thorm.”

With those final words, Aylin took off in flight, high up into the vast expanse of the Shadowfell. A portal appeared on the platform where she had been imprisoned.

“We…we need to leave. Now.” The panic in Shadowheart’s voice told Tav this was not up for discussion. “Lady Shar will not stand for me to be here for long. Not after what I did.”

“Very well.” Tav nodded toward the portal.

She jumped through to find herself outside the mausoleum entrance once more. One by one, her companions stumbled out behind her.

All except for one.

“Where’s Shadowheart?” She spun around in circles, searching for her frantically.

Everyone joined the panicked search, yelling out her name, their cries getting more desperate with each unanswered call.

“She was right behind me, where in the hells could she have gone?!” Tav’s voice was rising.

A sharp gasp behind her startled Tav out of her spiral. Shadowheart was kneeling in the dirt.

“Fucking hells, soldier,” Karlach ran to her side. “Where were you? You gave us a bit of a scare just then.”

“I tried to leave, but Shar blocked me,” she responded softly. “Punished me for failing her. Worse than failing her, defying her. I thought I knew the limit of pain that this wound could inflict, but I was sorely mistaken.”

“I’m so sorry…” Tav didn’t know what else to say.

“But then she released me,” Shadowheart sniffled as she stood up. “Banished me more like. She’s labeled me an outcast. Said that all of her children would know me and revile me.”

Sobs started to shake her body; she coiled in on herself as she spoke.

“I’m alone.”

Karlach glanced at Tav, a pained look on her face. Everyone else simply stood in awkward silence, no one seemed to have the words to comfort such a grief.

“Shadowheart, look at me.” Tav gripped her by both shoulders. “You’re not alone. We’re not going to leave you to face this decision on your own, I swear it. But right now, we have to get to Moonrise. We have to stop this cult before it can spread.”

She continued sobbing but had at least looked up at Tav.

“We’ll get you the answers you need, you have my word. I…” She found tears welling in her eyes as she started back into Shadowheart’s. “For what it’s worth, I think you did the right thing.”

“You’re lucky to have such confidence. I…I’m a target for Lady Shar’s followers now. I’ve just added who knows how many enemies to our ever-growing list.”

“Then they’ll have to get in line behind the rest. I’m not going to abandon you to the consequences of a choice I pushed you toward, okay?”

She nodded in response as she wiped her eyes.

“Are you going to be okay to come with us, or do we need to get you back to Last Light?” Tav asked in a gentler tone.

Shadowheart looked around at their companions, distraught and lost, looking to anyone for help.

“We need you, Shadowheart.” Karlach spoke up, coming over to place a hand over Tav’s on her shoulder.

“You made a wise, but terribly difficult decision today.” Halsin came up and placed his hand on the other shoulder. “I know it was not made lightly nor without consequence, but I think it was the correct one all the same. We cannot get you the answers you seek unless we help Dame Aylin bring down Ketheric Thorm.”

Shadowheart took a few deep breaths, slowly calming her cries.

“I can fight,” she finally said. “I want to fight.”

Tav nodded, smiling back at her.

“Then let’s chase after that aasimar.”

***

Halsin raced after Tav as they ran through the ruined town, chasing the trail of light left by Aylin in the sky. They may as well have been chasing a shooting star considering the speed at which she took off.

“I hope that recon you did paid off,” Tav huffed as she ran ahead of them. “What can we expect?”

“Six to eight cultists and a handful of ghouls guarding the bridge,” Karlach yelled back. “We could probably take them all if Aylin hasn’t already blown them up with all this holy fire.”

They were constantly dodging patches of light blue and gray flames as they continued their run across Reithwin. The towers were coming into view, the little bubbles of light from the moonlanterns lining the bridge acting as their guiding beacon.

“Even if we can get rid of the guards, we’ll never make it through all the True Souls and Ketheric on our own. We should try and gather forces with–”

Tav skidded to a stop just shy of Moonrise Towers when a pack of other people came running at them from their flank.

The sound of weapons being drawn filled his ears as they prepared to fight off the unexpected attackers.

But Tav put her arms out to stop them all.

“Jaheira?”

Through the light of the holy fire scattered along the ground, he could now see that Jaheira was indeed charging toward them. She had an entire squad of Harpers and Flaming Fists in tow.

“Why didn’t you wait for us to report back to Last Light?” Tav asked, sounding irritated. Halsin was taken aback by her sharp scolding – usually she stiffened into a soldier’s stance and tone of voice when she addressed the High Harper.

“Ah, so you’re giving me orders now, little ranger?” Jaheira shot back, but Halsin caught the smirk pulling at her lips.

Tav gave her an amused scoff before stashing her bow again.

“An aasimar streaking across the sky like a holy comet seemed as good a sign as any that you succeeded. These eyes may be old, but they are keen as ever. We simply saved you some extra walking.”

Karlach and the others gave Jaheira a quick briefing of the outside defenses. Tav recalled what she could about the inside of the fortress from their first visit days ago. Halsin remembered precious little about the layout of the towers, so he was trusting the others to lead him through.

“On your command, Tav,” Jaheira said with an approving nod.

Tav froze, staring out over the small army now looking to her for instruction. She looked back to Halsin and the others, panic spreading across her features.

“We’re with you too, sis.” Karlach punched her lightly in the arm.

Halsin reached over and took one of her hands, giving it a reassuring squeeze. She took a deep breath before speaking again.

“Harpers, form the rear line. Lay down cover fire for the Fists at the front. Wyll and Gale, I want you on opposite sides of the company ready to deter foes with spells. Try to stick with cantrips and other simple spells until we know where to find Ketheric…”

He watched as she started doling out assignments, fondly recalling the day they met. The way she commanded their attention with effortless grace, how her brow furrowed as she thought through the scenario ahead of them.

Today, he smiled at the way she squeezed his hand in hers so tight, looking for that support and comfort from him. And he was more than happy to provide it.

“…Karlach and Lae’zel will lead the charge, everyone else fall in behind them.”

When she stopped speaking, everyone was still looking at her, waiting. Tav seemed confused for a moment.

“They’re hoping for words of encouragement, something to strengthen their spirits,” Halsin whispered to her.

He felt her hand start to shake in his as she looked over the group of expectant soldiers. The racing of her mind was evident on her face with her twitching brow and darting eyes. She looked to the ground, like she hoped to find a speech written and ready for her to read aloud. Her grip on his hand tightened.

Then, she smiled.

“All beings should walk free of fear, with the right to live their lives as they wish.” Tav swallowed hard. “That’s one of the first lines of the Harper Code I learned over one hundred years ago. Moonrise has been seized by fear and darkness for far too long. Unable to grow, unable to sustain life of any kind.”

She turned her gaze to Halsin, giving him another soft smile.

“No more. Today we rid this world of Ketheric Thorm and his blight on this land.”

He saw tears gather in her eyes as she held her chin up a little higher. Her free hand brushed against the small tattoo on her neck.

“Sav-estel ne-emir peth.”

Have faith in my words. Halsin smiled hearing the phrase. Beautifully simple, perfect for their–

A strange glow coming from Tav’s throat startled him. Her tattoo had changed to a luminous, blue-white color, glowing bright among the shadows. He watched in awe as it started to shift from a broken sword into the symbol of the Harpers.

Gasps of surprise carried across the small crowd, followed by murmured words of their own. Halsin saw glowing tattoos of a harp inside of a crescent moon appear all across the skin of the Harpers that had joined them from Last Light.

He had heard rumors that the Harpers magically altered their ordinary tattoos to be a source of identification. Their symbol only showed once the Harper’s chosen code phrase was spoken.

Jaheira watched the scene unfold with a proud grin.

As quickly as it came, the glow subsided, once again leaving them under the cover of darkness.

Line by line, the Harpers and Flaming fist started to fall into position.

“Welcome home, little ranger,” Halsin heard Jaheira whisper to Tav as she took her place toward the front of the company.

Before taking her position on the front line to lead them into battle, Tav turned to face him.

“Thank you, Halsin.” She looked down at their hands one more time before slowly taking hers back.

“Tav, wait.”

Halsin grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her back toward him. He brought his hand up to rest on the side of her neck before placing a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. Her hands came up to clutch at the leather straps on his armor, tugging him closer.

“Just in case,” he whispered after pulling away.

“Well now we have to win.” Tav smiled up at him.

They shared a quiet laugh as Halsin rested his forehead against hers. When they turned around to join their companions they were met with poorly concealed grins and giggles.

“Come on, time to finish what we started a century ago.” She tucked a piece of hair behind his ear.

Halsin nodded and took the chance to shift into his bear form, just as he did their first fight together. He nuzzled his face into her palm when she reached forward to scratch his ears.

Tav and Jaheira were at the front of the company with Lae’zel and Karlach. Halsin, Astarion, and Shadowheart followed closely behind them. Gale and Wyll took their assigned positions on the sides. The Harpers and Fists followed in orderly lines, sticking to the designated marching orders Tav had given them.

She led them all to the bridge with moonlanterns lining its length, the way forward into the fortress. Halsin could see the cultists peering across the way, trying to determine what horde could have snuck up on them so easily.

He watched as Tav drew her bow and fired an arrow between one of the cultist’s eyes. The action seemed to stun the others around them, letting Lae’zel and Karlach charge forward with a loud battle cry.

The air in the Thorm mausoleum was strangely acrid. It didn’t carry the typical musty odor found in most crypts, it was much more pungent and rotten, as if the stone itself was diseased.

Just like the landscape around Reithwin, the inside of the mausoleum was fractured and broken. Cracks in the floor allowed a strange gas to float up and fill the air around them creating an unnatural, green haze. Tav barely dared to breathe, unsure of what she was inhaling into her lungs.

One room in the mausoleum had been dedicated to dark, necromantic rituals of some kind. Bones were laid out in different patterns, surrounded by all manner of spellcasting components. Even Gale looked uncomfortable as he tried to decipher their purpose.

“This is dark magic, indeed,” he mumbled as he used the end of his staff to push pieces aside. “This is no common wizard or sorcerer that we’re dealing with. Best exercise caution as we proceed.”

The next room they entered felt more sinister still. Strange symbols were painted all over the room, and another pile of bones was arranged in the center of the floor to match them.

Where have I seen that mark before?

As Tav racked her brain, a sharp gasp from Wyll startled her.

“By Balduran’s helm,” he whispered. “That’s the symbol of Myrkul.”

“Myrkul?” Halsin echoed.

Tav realized she had seen the same symbol adorning Ketheric Thorm’s armor. “Perhaps this is how he survived the fighting.”

“Then he would have had to pledge himself to Myrkul while still serving Shar, would he not?” Halsin replied in a low whisper.

“I suppose…” Tav didn’t like what he was implying.

“How was he able to unleash the shadow curse if he no longer had Shar’s favor?”

Before she could respond, Shadowheart called out to them from another room further in the crypt.

“Found something!”

They walked past a mess of inactive traps surrounding an open tomb.

Odd. Although if there is a necromancer around, perhaps not totally out of the ordinary.

As the others joined Shadowheart to study the paintings adorning the wall, Tav stepped up to the open sarcophagus. She knelt to get a better look at the name plate on the floor.

The plaque was old and faded, but she could easily make out the name.

Isobel Thorm.

That couldn’t be the same Isobel protecting Last Light…could it? Halsin had joined her and shared the same suspicious look as he studied the tomb.

A short click and the sound of grinding stone startled them out of their thoughts. Apparently, the others had found a hidden passage.

“Let’s find out what this Ketheric Thorm was hiding under his family’s final resting place, shall we?” Shadowheart strode confidently forward through the revealed doorway.

Astarion was uncharacteristically quiet as they made their way further into the crypt.

“Hey,” Tav nudged his arm, “why the long face?”

“I can’t help but think of Raphael’s deal. It can’t be that simple, can it?”

“Only one way to find out, I suppose.” She shrugged. At least this deal didn’t require bargaining with their souls. “We’ll stay on our guard, find this orthon, and see what we can do. If Raphael doesn’t keep his word, or finds some other way to swindle us, then we’ll find another way to read those scars.”

“How heroic of you.” Astarion rolled his eyes at her, but she saw a small smile tug at the corner of his mouth.

Their conversation was cut short as they arrived at a circular platform.

“This…this temple is Sharran in design.” Shadowheart looked awestruck.

“A Sharran fortress, hidden beneath the Thorm Mausoleum?” Halsin scoffed. “How long had this been here?”

“Quite some time judging by the state of things.” Gale pointed toward a stack of rusted weapons covered in thick cobwebs.

Gods, how long had this plan been in place before Ketheric Thorm? How long had Shar been building a temple in her name just beneath the land of those who worshipped her sister?

“Down we go, then,” Karlach hopped onto the platform.

“Is that really the best idea?” Wyll sounded skeptical as he peered over the edge. “We have no way of knowing what we’ll find here. This isn’t exactly what we were expecting.”

“We don’t have a choice, I’m afraid,” Tav sighed, dreading another long ride hovering gods only know how high above the floor. Honestly, how many long elevator rides would she have to endure on this journey?

“The source of Thorm’s invulnerability is hidden here somewhere, and if we don’t find it, we are all well and truly fucked.”

Everyone climbed onto the strange disc. Tav tried to position herself closer to the center so she couldn’t see over the edge as easily. Once again, Halsin appeared at her side, offering his arm as her anchor. She dug her fingers into his hand as the disc lurched forward, slowly bringing them down into the fortress. Shadowheart seemed to know how to use it to navigate.

Their descent gave them plenty of time to take in their new surroundings. This temple was huge. It would have taken decades to carve out and build something this size. It was decorated in a similar manner to Grymforge. The walls were still made up of dark purple and blue hues with gold accents cutting through many of the designs.

And in the center of it all stood an enormous statue of Shar. It was large enough that Tav could almost believe it would come to life as the goddess herself.

“Shar does have style, I’ll give her that,” Astarion mused as the disc slowed to a stop.

Shadowheart continued leading them forward until they reached a circular, stone door. Tav couldn’t see any levers or buttons to open it, but as they approached, the door simply slid open on its own, welcoming them into a dark chamber.

In the center was another statue of Shar. Much smaller than the one outside, but still impressive all the same.

For fuck’s sake, how many shrines in her likeness does she need in one place?

There were doors and hidden alcoves all around them. Another circular door on the other side of the room seemed to be their way forward, but she doubted it would be as simple as the one behind them.

In front of the statue sat a pedestal with a gem in its center.

“Allow me,” Astarion flashed a grin at them before strolling up to it.

He was promptly launched back toward them, repelled by an invisible barrier of some kind.

“Did you get it out of your system, Astarion?” Shadowheart stood over him, arms crossed over her chest.

“Yes, I think I’ve had enough of that,” he wheezed back.

“You’ll want to step carefully while we’re here,” Shadowheart warned. “I’m quite certain there will be no shortage of traps.”

Tav looked around the room, trying to discern any pressure plates or trip wires. Multiple vents were scattered around the floor, but she couldn’t see any plates to trigger them from where she stood.

“Any thoughts?” she turned to Shadowheart to ask.

“A few…” she was also scanning the room around them. “There.” She pointed to a series of lanterns hanging above them.

“The lanterns?” Tav asked.

“In darkness, we see your truth,” Shadowheart whispered, no longer paying attention to Tav.

She started to carefully move around the invisible barrier in the middle of the room while Tav kept a wary eye on the vents around them. Shadowheart disappeared around a corner. A moment later, two of the lanterns hanging above them were lowered.

The rest of their party remained at the entrance, letting Shadowheart work through the puzzle. She made her way between the four corners of the room, each time lowering another pair of lanterns closer to the floor.

“Cloak us in your shadow,” she continued to mutter as she moved around the room, snuffing out lanterns as she passed them.

“Guide us to your victory,” her reverent whisper echoed off the walls as the chamber was slowly bathed in darkness.

“Shar’s will shall be done.”

Her words caused Tav to tense up as the purpose of this temple dawned on her. She shared an uneasy look with Halsin, who seemed to be of the same mind.

This was a proving ground for Sharrans, a birthplace for Dark Justiciars.

“As sure as night shall fall.”

As Shadowheart finished the prayer, the last lantern was extinguished, leaving the room in total darkness. But only for a moment.

A glowing barrier appeared around the statue of Shar. A path to the gem could be seen between the magical walls. Shadowheart strode through them, a look of pure admiration on her face.

When she pressed the gem embedded in the ornate pedestal, the barrier disappeared, and the large, round door slid open behind her.

Shadowheart beamed with pride and started walking toward the revealed path.

Tav took a deep breath and followed her into the temple. She felt Halsin’s fingers brush against hers as they walked.

“How do we keep ending up in Sharran sanctuaries? Shouldn’t the likes of us go up in flames the moment we cross one of her thresholds?” Tav whispered to him, switching to Elvish so she could speak even quieter.

He snorted. “Careful, my friend. Best not to tempt fate while strolling her hallowed halls.”

The very air in the temple frazzled her nerves. Every little shadow caused her to flinch and reach for her bow.

“I think this one is special, Halsin.” She kept her eyes on Shadowheart as they walked. “The layout is already so different from Grymforge, and we’ve barely made it inside.”

“We are of the same mind.”

A deep rumbling sound from ahead of them caused the group to pick up their pace. She could hear an argument of sorts, but the voices didn’t sound like those of the living.

“Stay close to me,” Tav whispered just as they reached another set of stairs.

“Always,” Halsin took her hand in his briefly before they charged forward.

***

Halsin dismissed his wild shape once the last Dark Justiciar had fallen.

The reanimated fighters had appeared as soon as they entered the room. Strangely enough, the other undead creatures had fought with them against the Sharrans. They also fled the room the moment the battle was finished.

“Why were they attacking me?” The subtle panic in Shadowheart’s voice was alarming to him.

“Talk to us, Shadowheart, what could be causing this?” Tav called out as she scavenged a few arrows from the fallen bodies.

“I…I don’t know. Perhaps Lady Shar is testing me?”

Halsin could still hear the uncertainty in her voice. This was not a test she expected to face here.

All around them were fallen bodies of Dark Justiciars, long dead. But they had not been slain in the fighting with Ketheric Thorm – Halsin was certain the Harpers and Emerald Enclave were unaware of this fortress.

As everyone recovered from the short fight, Shadowheart continued to explore. She made her way down a set of stairs that led to another moving disc where she fell to her knees in prayer.

“Shadowheart? You okay there, soldier?” Karlach walked up beside her.

“I’m right where I’m meant to be.” Shadowheart smiled as tears gathered in her eyes. “We all are.”

Tav tensed at his side but relaxed again before Shadowheart turned to address them all.

“Lady Shar wishes for Ketheric Thorm to be punished. He is an oathbreaker and a traitor in her eyes.”

Halsin and Tav were both visibly taken aback by her statement.

“I suppose our fates have aligned even more than we thought,” Shadowheart said with a small smile.

“I never thought I’d see the day where Shar and I would share a common goal,” Tav let out a bewildered snort. “What do you need to do to make that happen?”

“There will likely be trials throughout this sanctuary. I should take them and claim my mantle of Dark Justiciar, proving myself in her eyes.”

“Dark Justiciar?” Halsin asked, unable to hide his concern. “And that is the path you want to walk, Shadowheart?”

She scoffed, “this has been my life’s purpose, everything I’ve trained for, everything I’ve suffered for!”

Halsin backed off, not wanting to agitate her further.

“As is your choice to make,” he conceded.

“Besides, if we need to get into the inner sanctum, I doubt we can do so without passing those trials. So, unless someone else here is willing to take those risks…”

Shadowheart made a point of making eye contact with everyone around her. Halsin took a deep breath before speaking.

“Perhaps this an unprecedented stroke of fortune for all of us. Shadowheart can pursue her own ambitions, and the rest of us are spared the peril of these trials in Shar’s name.”

Shadowheart gave him an approving nod.

“Can we help at all? You know, make sure you don’t get fucked up too bad?” Karlach asked.

“I’m not sure yet,” Shadowheart admitted. “We’ll know more once we can find information on the trials themselves.”

“First, we should probably take care of this Balthazar fellow. If he’s here on behalf of Ketheric Thorm, he could be a hindrance to us while we explore,” Gale said as he downed a healing potion.

“We need to confirm whether or not the source of Thorm’s invulnerability is here before we start any fights,” Tav reminded them. “Those skeletons were able to talk to us through the tadpoles. I’d bet my left tit that they’ll lead us to Balthazar.”

“Aw, Tav, that’s the good tit!” Karlach laughed. “At least bet the right one, it’s the worse of the two.”

“I…I have a bad one?” Tav asked with feigned offense, but a subtle twitch in her ears told him she was a tad self-conscious about it.

They both look perfect to me.

Halsin made a point not to stare as they continued making jokes about each other’s chests.

“If you ladies can stay on topic,” Astarion interrupted, “there’s also the orthon we need to take care of.”

“Let’s stick on the path to find Balthazar first,” Tav suggested. “Once we’re sure there’s no more Absolute forces hiding around here to get in our way, we can look for the orthon.”

“I’m inclined to agree with Tav,” Halsin said. “Best to scout out the fortress as much as possible before getting into any more fights.”

“Of course, you agree with her,” Astarion grumbled under his breath, barely audible.

“Sorry, Fangs, I agree with them too. Orthons are huge, nasty fuckers. We don’t want to go running into a fight with them if we have to be watching our back for other enemies.” Karlach shuddered at the thought.

“Don’t worry, love,” Tav had walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “We’re not going to leave this place without getting you some answers.”

Astarion at least seemed to relax at that.

“Come on, let’s go find us a necromancer.” She smiled and pulled Astarion forward alongside her.

Halsin stayed toward the back of the group as he took in the dark temple around him. Not only had they braved the infamous Grymforge, but they had now found a training ground for Shar’s forces. This was likely the last place they had gathered before marching on Moonrise Towers.

And it had been right under their nose the entire time.

“You okay, mate?” Wyll was walking next to him.

“Of course,” Halsin responded, his voice distant. “It’s just difficult to see such a sight even after all this time. How many of Shar’s destructive forces arose from within these halls, I wonder?”

“Those who do not listen to the reason of Lady Shar’s words must instead feel the keenness of her blade.” Shadowheart had snuck up on his other side.

Once again, she recited the words perfectly, and just like the last time she spouted scripture at him he didn’t hear a shred of passion behind it.

Halsin couldn’t bite back the remark clawing its way out of his throat, “you sound like a student – reciting words for a test without ever considering their meaning.”

She pursed her lips in response and thought for a moment.

“I’ve considered them plenty. Lady Shar favors action over words,” she shot back and let her gaze wander to Tav ahead of them.

“You should try it out sometime.”

He pressed his lips into a tight line as she sauntered away from him, a proud grin spread across her face. Poor Wyll walked in time with Halsin, pointedly avoiding his eye line after the awkward encounter.

Lucky for him, his time for sulking didn’t last.

Up ahead, they spotted more of the reanimated skeletons and heard the same deep rumbling that had called forth a force of Sharran soldiers in the first room.

***

“You sure Shar’s alright with us being here, Shadowheart?” Karlach asked as she ripped her sword out of the fallen Dark Justiciar’s armor. “This is the second bout of these Sharran baddies that we’ve faced.”

Tav could hear Shadowheart’s annoyed sigh from across the chamber. Most of the reanimated skeletons that had been helping them fight were now nothing more than piles of bone dust.

As they all reconvened outside of another large, circular door, the stone pulled apart to grant them entry into another room.

“I think I’m more than welcome here,” Shadowheart hissed, “but he certainly isn’t.”

She had her eyes locked on an undead man that had appeared in the doorway. Behind him was a small squad of ghouls as well as some humongous monstrosity that she didn’t dare to name.

“Ah, the interloper.” The strange man had runes carved into his face and chest which was also adorned with the symbol of Myrkul. “And a True Soul at that. Not just anyone could have succeeded in following me through this place. You should be pleased with yourself.”

Tav rolled her head side to side, cracking her neck. “Balthazar, I presume? I was sent by Z’rell. She lost contact with you and believes you’re in danger of failing your master.”

“Z’rell pours poison in your ears. Everything is at hand here; she merely envies the General’s faith in me. I am in the midst of a grand strategy.” Balthazar rolled his eyes as he waved for them to follow him into the room.

Tav fought the urge to roll hers as well.

Great. Now we’re caught in a squabble between Z’rell and Balthazar each vying for Daddy Ketheric’s favor.

“Since you’re here, I may as well put those limbs to work. You all know what’s at stake here, I take it?” Balthazar pulled her from her musings.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Enlighten me.”

Tav felt a slight tingle in the back of her mind.

“He does not belong here, this is why Lady Shar’s forces are attacking.” Shadowheart reached out with the tadpole.

“At least we can agree on that,” Tav responded silently, hoping that this Balthazar didn’t have a tadpole to intercept their thoughts.

“I cannot allow him to remain here in her temple.” Shadowheart’s voice was dripping with disdain.

“I understand Shadowheart,” Tav sent back her reply while trying to keep her focus on Balthazar’s words as well. “First we need to confirm that he can give us the information we came for.”

“…Ignorant though you may be, you’ve at least shown some prowess in combat by making it this far.”

Come on, loosen that tongue.

“I find that these sorts of operations go much smoother when I know exactly what I’m looking for.” She had to stifle a surprised gasp when she felt Shadowheart’s hand brush her arm, muttering a spell under her breath to strengthen Tav’s words and resolve.

“Fine,” Balthazar let out an exasperated sigh, “if it’ll spare me your bleating. I seek a relic, one that General Thorm requires to keep himself safe. To remain immortal. He has reasons to believe that his enemies will move to try and exploit it. We must act first and move it to a safe location.”

“Is that confirmation enough for you?” Shadowheart’s voice once again drifted into her thoughts.

“Let him finish. Don’t worry, we can’t leave him alive to run tattling back to Ketheric anyway.” Tav fought another eye roll tugging at her muscles.

Balthazar blathered on about what he had discovered about the Shar temple, apparently named Shar’s Gauntlet. Outside of supplying the location of the trials, he couldn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know.

“Thank you, Disciple Balthazar.” Tav gave a low, taunting bow. “This information has proven most helpful, indeed.”

A single word glided into her mind from Shadowheart as Tav finished speaking.

“Whizbangs.”

***

The fight had started without warning, Halsin barely had time to take on a wild shape.

So much for that code word Karlach was adamant I learned.

Balthazar was ruthless. Immediately he had tried to choke them all out with a suffocating cloud of poison, while also casting spell after spell to incapacitate those not caught in the fog. A few powerful attacks from Karlach and Lae’zel had removed that threat from the battle, at least.

Still, his powerful spells were child’s play compared to the brutish flesh golem that accompanied him. If it hadn’t been for Gale holding the monster in place with a spell until the other enemies could be defeated, the battlefield could have been a much grimmer sight.

Tav was currently camped out on a nearby stone ledge, her eyes scanning the room from behind a drawn and held arrow for any further threats.

“That’s all of them, it would seem.” Shadowheart strapped her glowing mace back to her belt. Her voice was hoarse from the thick, poisonous vapor she had inhaled. Tav lowered herself down from her perch to join them.

“I believe I was informed of a ‘safe word’ we’re supposed to use if a fight was to break out,” Halsin scolded lightly.

“Sorry...tadpoles.” Tav pointed to the side of her head with a sheepish look. “We’ll try to remember to say things out loud in the future.”

He smiled back at her, wincing at the cut running down his cheek. One of the ghouls had caught him with a claw.

“Come here, love.” Tav held her hands up, waiting for him to rest his face between her palms.

“Oh, you don’t have to–”

The stern look on Tav’s face cut him off and he let her take a moment to heal him.

Halsin always thought it was interesting how everyone’s magic felt just a touch different when healing. His own was warm and robust, seeking out pain and injuries with the ardency of a rescue hound digging through an avalanche searching for survivors.

Tav’s was a bit more timid. Since she was limited to simpler healing spells, it took a little longer for the magic to take hold. Not that he minded of course, especially when it meant feeling her gentle hands stroke his cheeks. It felt cold on his skin, but still comforting – like the feel of wading through a cool creek on a sweltering summer day.

As she started to take her hands back, he caught one of them and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Thank you.”

“Of course,” she smiled back at him. “Besides we really should save your magic for more severe injuries, don’t you think?”

Halsin caught a grin on Karlach’s face out of the corner of his eye, but another bout of hacking coughs from Shadowheart quickly caused it to fade away.

“You okay, Shadowheart?” Karlach ran over to pat her on the back.

“Fine…” she wheezed, “need to…heal…voice…can’t cast.”

“Here,” Halsin dug out a small vial from his bag. “It’ll be much more effective for your throat if you drink a potion rather than use a spell anyway.”

She gave him a grateful nod and snatched the vial out of his hands before downing it in one gulp.

“Lady of Sorrows save me, that was a nasty poison he used,” she said after a moment. Her voice was still a bit raspy, but she had at least stopped coughing so she could cast a spell.

“Yes, that particular spell is a wicked one,” Halsin said as he held out his hand. Shadowheart returned the empty vial to him for reuse.

“On the bright side,” Karlach yelled from across the room, “this guy was fucking loaded! Look at all these jewels and potions and what have you.”

“Thank the gods, we’re running a bit low on healing potions at the moment. Someone was supposed to bring the rest from camp.” Tav shot a pointed look at Astarion.

“You should really know better than to ask me to do things, Tav. You know I have a very terrible memory,” he said with a sweet smile.

“Very selective memory is more like it,” she grumbled under her breath. Halsin smirked hearing the affectionate undertone of her voice.

Karlach came back over and dropped a hefty, ornate chest in front of Gale. “Here Gale, there’s lots of scrolls and books in this one if you want to take a look.”

“Oh! Delightful.” Gale wiggled his fingers in front of him before rifling through the chest’s contents.

“What’s our next step?” Wyll had rejoined the group in the center of the room.

“We need to find that orthon,” Astarion snapped at him, slapping the back of his hand into his other palm with each word. “I won’t risk that devil getting away and taking my one chance of deciphering these runes on my back.”

“I know, Astarion,” Tav spoke up in a soft voice, “but we did just take a pretty bad beating. Give us a moment to catch our breath and make a plan. We’re not leaving here without helping you, I promise.”

“Fine, fine.” He waved his hand in the air, trying to appear nonchalant. “Let’s just have our resident cleric and druid get us all back into tip top shape and we can be on our way.”

Halsin caught the nervous tapping of his foot and the way he fiddled with his daggers’ hilts at his side. It was obvious how important this was to him, but he could also feel the apprehension from the others.

“Okay, first things first,” Tav let out a deep sigh and took a seat on the edge of a nearby table.

“Karlach, tell us everything you know about orthons.”

***

Karlach hadn’t been exaggerating – the orthon was massive.

At least now they knew who was responsible for the slaughter of the Sharrans in this temple. Not that Tav felt the need to mourn for them.

Still, Shadowheart bristled beside her at the realization.

Tav was begging her pounding heart to keep quiet as she tried to talk their way out of a fight with this very angry orthon. So far, she had convinced him that Raphael’s song was a trick, that the ears left to hear it included his merregon minions and the displacer beast that had been prowling the room when they arrived.

With each deception she rattled off, she felt Halsin’s guiding hand on her back and heard his muttered incantations, bolstering her words and calming her nerves.

Now, to convince the fiend that his own ears betrayed him.

“I still hear it! Seems like you aren’t as clever as you think.” The orthon pointed his crossbow at them once more.

“Exactly, it’s Raphael’s final trick,” Tav said with a slight waver in her voice. "Kill yourself, complete the contract, and you’ll be reborn in Avernus. You’ll be free.”

He pondered her words for a moment, still keeping his crossbow aimed directly at her.

She could feel her companions’ held breath as they awaited his answer.

“Nicely played, little rabbit. You almost had me. Give Raphael my regards when I send you sniveling back to him in the hells.”

Well, it was worth a try.

Their group scattered just as he pulled the trigger, causing the arrow to shatter on the stone floor. After a few more frustrated roars and missed shots, he turned invisible.

“Ah, fuck me!” Karlach yelled. “Forgot they could do that.”

Despite his invisibility, Tav could hear the heavy steps of the orthon above them.

“I’ll get up high, try to get some better angles!” she called back. She cast a quick Misty Step to get to the balcony where they had last seen him.

“Tav, wait!” Astarion screamed at her just as she finished casting the spell.

She spun around once her feet hit solid ground again, ready to attack.

But instead of seeing the orthon, Tav saw an odd explosive.

“Tev?” Tav called out to him again.

She fell back onto the damp soil, staring in horror at the twisted version of her brother before her. Time seemed to slow down, her ears were ringing and the tears in her eyes blurred her vision. All of the air had been knocked from her lungs, making her chest heavy with grief as she gasped to catch her breath. The sight of Tev’aron consumed her, causing her trap of vines to disappear and allow the other enemies to approach unimpeded.

“Tav? TAV! What is she doing?!” She could hear Karlach trying to get her attention but couldn’t bring herself to take her eyes off Tev.

“I’ve got it,” Gale yelled back as he unleashed a massive line of lightning through most of the shadows.

She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping it was all an illusion. A trick of the light, a cruel amalgam of her tired mind and the shadows stirring around her. Anything but this.

But when she opened them again, Tev’s twisted, snarling corpse had stood up once more and was stalking his way toward her. She looked up with pleading eyes, hoping that somehow she could still reason with this cursed shell of a man, that her brother was still in there somewhere.

Before she knew it, a flurry of jabs caused Tev’s body to fall to the ground, completely lifeless. With it, the small beacon of hope she had sheltered and kept lit for a hundred years – through winds and storms and gloom – was snuffed out in an instant.

“What in the hells was that Tav?!” Astarion yelled, standing above her. He was breathing heavily as he sheathed his daggers. Their other companions focused on taking down the last few enemies.

Tav didn’t respond, she just crawled over to Tev’s body and began to sob, laying her head on his chest. Every ounce of grief and sorrow she had locked away over the last century came crashing down on her. With a growling scream, she grabbed a nearby rock and hurled it into the darkness in front of them, desperate to relieve the despair she felt welling up inside of her.

“Fuck! Fuck this fucking curse! Fuck these shadows!” She sobbed and gagged in between the screams. “FUCK!”

She stood up and continued to grab anything she could find to throw – rocks, bones, clumps of dirt – screaming and cursing until her voice was hoarse and her lungs couldn’t take in enough air to make a sound.

Her companions moved out of the way to give her space, concern and confusion apparent on all their faces. Exhausted, she collapsed back down on the ground and lifted Tev up to hold his head against her chest. It had been a hundred years since she had seen his face. To see him like this now…

“Tev…I’m so sorry…” She whispered her sobbing apology over and over as her tears soaked into his matted curls. Her hands gently stroked his hair, pushing stray pieces from his face.

“Tav?” Astarion’s voice was much softer now.

She still couldn’t respond; she kept sobbing into his hair until her entire torso ached from the guttural cries. Her body rocked back and forth, knuckles turning white from gripping his body so tight. A warm, golden light shone behind her, and a moment later a pair of large arms wrapped around her shoulders. Halsin pulled her close to him as she clutched Tev against her chest.

“He deserved better than this,” she choked out with gasping breaths.

“I know, Tav. They all did,” he whispered against her temple.

“Who is he?” Gale asked quietly.

“Tev’aron…my brother.” She could barely get the words out before another wave of sobs took over her. “To think he’s been here all this time…”

“His suffering has ended now. He can be at peace.” Halsin tried to assure her.

“Peace? There’s no peace here. Look around you!” She was yelling again, unable to control her rising temper. “All hope and light have abandoned this place. What chance do we have against it?”

He recoiled slightly at her harsh words, adding a layer of guilt to her grief.

“We still have a chance, Tav. I have to believe that, and I think you do too.” She buried her head further into his chest. He placed one of his hands over hers, helping her hold Tev’s body up.

“I can’t leave him here,” she whispered as she stroked Tev’s cheek.

“Here, soldier. Let me.” Karlach had come over to kneel next to her, tear lines staining her cheeks. She held out her arms and helped lift his body off the ground. “We can at least give him a proper burial, yeah?”

Tav nodded, still sniffling, tears continuing to fall down her face. She allowed Karlach to take her brother’s body into her arms. Halsin helped her stand up, one arm around her shoulders to steady her. Gale appeared on her other side, offering an arm for her to take.

They made the short walk back to their camp where Karlach carefully set Tev’s body on the ground at the edge of the small clearing. Tav sat down next to him and reached out to hold one of his hands. She ran her other hand over his hollow, sunken cheeks. The feel of his cold skin brought more tears to her eyes, he was always so warm. His tattoo was just barely visible beneath the dirt and grime coating his entire body, the tattoo that they had gotten together after she joined the Harpers. At some point, Lunari had made her way over to her, resting her head in Tav’s lap with a low whine.

She could hear the others quietly explaining what happened to the rest of the party. Their words were soft enough that she couldn’t make out the details, but she didn’t care. 

Karlach came to sit with her after a while, putting a warm arm around her shoulders.

“I’m really sorry, soldier. I wish I could have met him.” Karlach sniffled with her words.

“You would have liked each other, I think. He always did have a weakness for the tough ones. You would have had him wrapped around your finger the moment he saw you throw a goblin across the room.” Tav smiled weakly as she leaned into Karlach.

“I like the sound of that. That means we could have been sisters, you and me.” Karlach gave a light laugh.

“We don’t need Tev for that. I’m happy to call you my sister anyway.” The tears in Tav’s eyes spilled over again. “I think I could use a sister right about now.”

She hugged Karlach tighter, grateful for the extra warmth. They sat there together for a while, Tav telling stories from their childhood. How Tev always snuck her extra fruit tarts, and how he was the one who first taught her how to use a bow. She told Karlach about the day the curse was released, how she and Tev had been separated for weeks due to the fighting.

Eventually, Halsin joined them. He knelt on the other side of Tav and took one of her hands.

“We’re ready when you are, my friend. Let us help you give him peace.” He helped her stand as Karlach picked Tev up again.

They joined the rest of their companions just outside of the camp, a small grave had been dug into the dirt in front of them. Tav took a deep, shaky breath and followed Karlach over to them. She took a moment to whisper one final goodbye in Tev’s ear, giving him a soft kiss on the top of his head.

As Karlach moved to set him down, a small piece of parchment in his jacket pocket caught her eye. She quickly snatched the envelope. It was a letter with a name scribbled on the front.

Ria M.

She took the letter and held it against her chest before stashing it in her pocket. She didn’t have the strength to read it here and now.

Slowly, Karlach lowered Tev into the narrow grave. The others had a light sheet to place over his body. As the thin fabric fell over his head, the tears came back with a vengeance as she realized that it was truly the last time she would see his face. Gale appeared at her side, presenting her with a shovel. With shaking hands, she took the tool from him and scooped up a small pile of dirt.

“Beneath the sun. Beneath the moon,” she began in Elvish as she dumped the shovel full of dirt into the grave.

“My spirit like leaves, blown far to sea. I sail away to night eternal.” More dirt covering his body as Tav’s hands began to work furiously to shovel the soft soil over him.

“Do not mourn.” Her voice caught on the words, the tears running down her cheeks to mix with the dirt stuck there. Her breathing became more and more ragged each time she drove the shovel into the ground.

“I shall be reborn...”

Tav’s hands slipped along the handle of the shovel, causing her to fall to the ground. She stayed kneeling there, clutching the shovel against her as she sobbed.

“Yet my heart shall always be with you.” Halsin finished the prayer as he took the shovel from her and moved in another batch of dirt. The others took turns moving the rest of it. They all helped her place rocks along the top to protect the fresh grave.

Tav knelt at the edge of her brother’s final resting place. The heartbreak she felt was unlike any she had experienced before, paralyzing her, making her numb to the cool evening air. Halsin placed a comforting hand on her shoulder causing her to lean into his touch.

“I’m sorry my friend, but I must make haste to Last Light. If I can speak with the Flaming Fist there, I may be able to find a way for us to be rid of these shadows forever.” His voice was so hopeful, she hated how bitter it made her feel.

“Of course. I’m sure a couple of the others would be happy to help get you back there.” She tried to smile at him even as her lips trembled. He gave her a puzzled look in response, like he had hoped she would still accompany him.

“I just need some time alone. Don’t worry, I won’t go far.” She grabbed a nearby torch and turned to walk away.

“I understand.” His voice was low and reserved.

Tav had selfishly hoped that he would offer to stay with her. But she understood. The sooner he could find out a way to be rid of these shadows for good, the better. She hoped the disappointment wasn’t too obvious in her expression. Lunari followed her, but Tav stopped and held out her hand.

“No, girl. Stay here.” The wolf whined in protest, but dropped her haunches into the dirt.

As she made her way towards the trees, dragging her feet in the dirt, she somehow managed to keep the rest of her tears in her eyes until she was out of view of the camp.

***

Halsin watched Tav shuffle away into the dark, her shoulders slumped and head hung low. He vividly remembered the feeling of seeing someone you love warped by this vicious curse. Despite his numerous friends and allies that fell here, he had been lucky to avoid such an ordeal since they had returned.

“You should go talk to her.” Karlach walked up beside him. “She’ll listen to you.”

“I have no words that can comfort this kind of grief, Karlach. She just needs time.” Even as he said the words, he didn’t truly believe them. “My focus must return to banishing these shadows, once and for all. For Tav and her brother…for everyone.” His chest tightened with each syllable.

“Hmph. I guess I was wrong then.” She sounded disappointed, maybe even angry.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused. Karlach let out a long sigh.

“I thought that you liked her, that you cared about her, y’know? The way you two pair up around camp cuddling in front of the fire, the way you flirt even though you’re both terrible at it. Don’t think we haven’t all noticed how she’s the first person you check for injuries whenever we return to camp.” Karlach gave him a small smile.

“I do care for her, but you don’t know what you’re asking of me, Karlach. I’ve waited over a hundred years for this chance. I…I can’t risk losing it.” That familiar pull in his chest was irresistible, yearning to drag him after Tav. The invisible tether binding their hearts together was pulled even tighter with every step she took away from him.

“You wouldn’t even have that chance if it wasn’t for her!” Karlach yelled before releasing a heavy sigh to calm herself.

“If you’ve really waited that long, Halsin…what’s a couple more hours?” Her voice was softer now as she placed a warm hand on his shoulder.

Halsin considered her words for a moment. The last century worth of meditations and prayers had been filled with desperate pleas for answers, for knowledge. Knowledge that he could finally put to use. He thought back to his growing despair every time he reached out to try and find Thaniel, only to be met with silence. He thought back to the defeat he felt at his capture, truly believing he would die at the hands of the goblins, believing he had lost the chance to banish these shadows.

Then, he thought of Tav.

Alone, grieving, and full of guilt…just as he had been all those years ago. Just as he still was now. No one had come to comfort him. He had just been named Archdruid, he was given no time to mourn. Tav was the one who came to his rescue, she was the beacon of hope he had prayed for over the last century, his guiding light in a world of darkness. Thinking of her alone, surrounded by shadow was enough to nearly knock him to his knees.

Oak Father, forgive me.

Halsin took a deep breath and patted Karlach’s hand on his shoulder.

“You are a good friend, Karlach.” She grinned back at him. He started to move forward but turned back to her.

“Am I really that bad at flirting?” he asked.

“Yes,” Astarion’s voice called out from somewhere behind Karlach, she let out a loud laugh.

“Not as bad as Tav though. Go on, go get your girl, bear man.” She was still smiling at him.

He grabbed a torch and ran after Tav.

***

Tav didn’t know where she was going, just that she couldn’t sit around the campfire with everyone tonight. In her heart, she always knew that Tev had died, but some deep, dark part of her held on to the smallest sliver of hope. She hoped in her worst nights that he had escaped somewhere, that he was scouring the lands of Faerûn so they could be together once more. That hope kept her going through countless lows, the hope that maybe, just maybe, she could find her brother again.

Now, what did she have? A group of battered, exhausted adventurers, plagued with mind flayer tadpoles and a host of other problems. Hopeless pining after a druid who seemed so afraid of his past that he wasn’t willing to look for a future. Hundreds of years of life ahead of her, with no family and no one to share it with.

She stopped at a large tree with huge roots sticking out of the ground. There was a little divot between the roots big enough for her to sit in. She drove the end of her torch into the cold dirt, sitting next to it and leaning against the rough trunk. The ever-present chill in the air reminded her of her creeping loneliness. Pulling her legs close to her chest, she allowed her grief to consume her. The headache forming behind her eyes protested at her sobs. Her eyelids fluttered closed, desperate for rest she knew wouldn’t come.

Suddenly, she was sprinting through the streets of the Lower City, the cool stone scraping her bare feet. Tav’ahria was desperately trying to keep up with Tev’aron who was attempting to lead her to a safe house. They hadn’t said a word since they fled the party, they only ran. 

What remained of the train of her gown kept snagging on various objects as she dashed through alleys and around corners after Tev. And each time she would slice a shred of the soft fabric free with the dagger he had given her, frantically trying to keep herself from slowing down. She wasn’t sure if they were even being followed anymore, but she didn’t dare spare a glance behind her.

Eventually, Tev stopped and grabbed her arm to pull her into an inn. She took a moment to catch her breath, wiping away the sweat dripping from her brow. Many of the tiny braids weaved into her hair had come loose and were sticking out from her head in a wild pattern. The skirt of her dress hung around her knees in tattered shreds from cutting away the snagged pieces.

“Wait here, Ria. Don’t talk to anyone until I return.” He squeezed her shoulders lightly and disappeared into the small crowd.

She leaned her head back against the wall as she scanned the room before her. Patrons of all shapes, sizes, and colors talked and laughed among the tables. Pretty, young barmaids navigated their way around the room with expertise, spinning around drunken customers while delivering drinks and cleaning tables. 

The room had a liveliness that was unfamiliar to her. She had attended her fair share of parties and balls, but none felt as alive as this gathering in front of her. She was used to polite, idle chatter and elegant, stuffy music echoing off grand walls. But here…everyone was loud and crude, the only music came from a bard off in the corner who was being drowned out by those singing along to his songs.

The singing was terrible, the bard’s lute was in need of a good tuning, and the smell of ale mixed with something unidentifiable made her stomach churn a bit. Yet somehow, it was the most beautiful sight she had ever seen in her long life. It took her a moment to identify the feeling.

Freedom.

The laughs and chatter around her brought tears to her eyes. She ached to meld into the crowd. To laugh and drink and play cards until the sun started to rise. Without thinking, she took a step forward, longing to feel as carefree as everyone around her.

“Ria!” Tev reappeared beside her. “This way.” He tilted his head towards a door to the side of the building. He had grabbed a cloak and threw it around her shoulders, pulling the hood up over her head to obscure her appearance. 

She gave one last wistful look to the room behind her as he pulled her into another alley. Tears flowed down her cheeks, cooling her face with the evening breeze.

“Hey, hey…” Tev turned to face her once they were outside. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” She smiled up at him as she wiped the tears away using the cloak he had given her. Unable to help herself, she started to laugh uncontrollably. He gave her a worried look.

“I’m free…I can do what I want. I can laugh and drink and curse and dance and…” The smile on her face kept getting wider and wider. “I can do whatever it is normal people do. Why did I wait this long? Why did I stay there?”

Tev gave her a hug that threatened to crush her spine. She hugged him back and cried into his shoulder.

“Come on, our ride should be here any minute. The Harpers have enclaves everywhere, we can lay low for a while to make sure we’re safe.” Tev pulled away and smiled down at her.

He led her to the edge of the alley where it met the road, peering around the corner. A small horse-drawn cart was making its way towards them. It slowed as it approached the alley, and Tev quickly tugged her toward the back of it. He pulled her up to sit among the crates and barrels as it resumed its traveling speed. The person up front turned to give a nod to Tev, which he returned. The cart bounced along the cobblestone roadways as it made its way toward the outskirts of the Lower City, causing their shoulders to bump together periodically.

A welcome fog started to settle over the city, giving them even more cover to make their escape. The lights dimmed in the mist as it swirled around her face to form a light layer of cold moisture on her skin.

Tav’ahria wrapped the cloak she was wearing tight around her body, trying to fight off the evening chill. Tev put one arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. She sighed as she leaned on his shoulder, her eyelids starting to feel heavy.

“You came back,” she whispered.

“Of course I did.” He leaned his head down to rest on hers. “I’ll always come back for you, Ria.”

Tav blinked and returned to the shadows, still as heavy and dark as they were one hundred years ago. She had searched for Tev for months after the curse was unleashed. Desperately seeking anyone who had witnessed the battle to inquire about his whereabouts. For years after, she kept tabs on Harper safe houses and enclaves, hoping that he would make his way through their underground network. No one knew his fate, whether he fell to a sword or succumbed to the curse, or if he was hiding out somewhere, still alive and awaiting a rescue that would never come.

But she knew now. He had been trapped here all this time, being warped by this wicked, unnatural darkness. The guilt she felt was crushing her, she felt unable to move under its weight.

“I should have come back for you, Tev…” she whispered the words, knowing they would disappear into the shadows.

Who would come back for her now? Who would drag her from these nightmares and run with her to safety?

You’re just a lonely little flower again, wilting away in the dark.

***

Tav’s footprints led Halsin to a small, nearby clearing. There was a large tree at its edge, and he found her curled up against the trunk, nestled among bulky roots. He called out to her in a gentle voice.

“Tav?” No response, only stifled sniffles. He took a few more steps toward her.

“May I come sit?” he asked, waiting for any invitation to do so. She nodded, the movement barely visible with her shoulders heaving.

He sat close to her, the rough bark of the tree scratching against his clothing. Tentatively, he reached out to place a hand on her back. Her shoulders were tense, and it felt like her entire body was shaking.

“I thought you were going back to Last Light.” Her voice was raspy and strained.

“It can wait just a bit longer. I think I belong here with you right now.” Karlach’s words echoed in his mind.

“I’m so sorry you had to see him like this, Tav…” he trailed off, slowly stroking her back.

“I can’t stand the thought of him being here, Halsin. Buried away in a strange land, without even the sun to shine on his grave.”

A sadness most familiar to him as well. His entire family had passed, but at least they rested in their home of High Forest. There was little he wouldn’t do to ensure they didn’t have to spend eternity in a place like this.

“It doesn’t have to be this way forever.” His own voice was beginning to crack. “We can bring the light back to Moonrise.”

She turned to look at him, her face lined with the trails from her tears. Not a trace of hope could be seen in her reddened eyes. He held his other arm out, inviting her to come lean against him. Her bottom lip started quivering, and she dove into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. She had both arms wrapped tight around his waist, clinging to him as if he was her only anchor to the ground. The sudden movement startled him, but he quickly relaxed into her warm embrace.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you,” she mumbled into his shirt between sobs.

“You have nothing to apologize for. I know all too well the pain of being back in this accursed forest.” He leaned his head down to rest on hers.

They sat huddled against the tree together. The only sounds were Tav’s cries, slowly calming as she relaxed in his arms. He felt a surprising amount of relief sitting here, holding her.

I have given you all that you need. Find your balance. You know the way.

The Oak Father’s words drifted to the front of his mind.

Perhaps you don’t have to do this alone.

Halsin was the one to finally break the silence.

“For decades I have begged Silvanus’s favor, desperate for answers. I have been so consumed by grief and despair, so convinced that I had to banish this ancient evil on my own, that I could not see the gift he finally sent me.” He paused to take a deep breath before continuing.

“Even when she dragged me from the maws of the goblin camp.”

Tav tilted her head to look up at him, wiping a line of tears and snot from her face. A few of the stray hairs from her braid were now stuck to her cheeks.

“Now that I have you here with me, I’ve come to realize that I cannot do this alone.” Admitting this to her was a weight being lifted from his shoulders. He peeled the stray strands from her face and tucked them behind her ears.

“Do you really have a way to lift the curse?” she asked.

“Perhaps. I won’t know for sure until I can talk with the Flaming Fist. If Thaniel is alive, I need more information to guide me. I can’t just charge in blind, or I’ll likely end up lost myself.” He could hear the frustration creeping into his voice.

Tav studied him for a while. With each passing moment, the look in her eyes became more and more intense.

“Then…we’ll find a way to wake him up. We won’t leave this place until the shadows are banished. Forever.” There was a sudden strength in her words that made his heartbeat quicken.

“I’ve already asked so much of you.” The strength in his own words faltered as hers grew.

“You aren’t asking. I’m offering.” Her eyes had cleared and the hopelessness he had seen before was now replaced with determination. “If you think it can be done, we’ll make it happen.”

Halsin’s breathing became unsteady, looking into her eyes brought all the desire of the past weeks to the front of his mind. Finally, he had someone to share this burden with, someone who understood his pain. For so long, he had pushed away any possible distraction, and now he found himself so close to achieving his goals…but that selfish ache returned to his chest.

He leaned forward to rest his forehead on hers before giving her the softest of kisses. Their lips just barely brushed against each other. It was all he could afford right now. The light touch was still enough to send his heart aflutter.

She blinked at him a few times after he pulled away. A surprised smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. He took one of her hands in his and held it against his chest.

“I care about you, Tav,” he whispered, struggling to contain the urge to take her into his arms for the night, to feel every inch of her skin pressed against his own. “I know that you wish for us to be more than this but…” He closed his eyes and sighed.

“My guilt and my duty to this land have weighed on me for some time. One day I hope my heart will be free to roam again but until then…I’m afraid that this is all I have to offer for now.” He looked down at the ground, almost ashamed to admit it.

Tav’s other hand came up to rest on his cheek, her thumb tracing the lines on his face. She moved her hand up to the hair falling around his ears, allowing her fingers to gently run through the strands. He squeezed his eyes shut and leaned into her touch.

“I’ll take it.”  She put her head back down on his shoulder and hugged him closer to her. He wrapped his arms back around her to hold her in place, a relieved sigh escaping from his lips.

I’ll take it.

He never knew those three words could sound so sweet.

“Okay, enough wallowing.” Tav sniffled after a few minutes and stood up, wiping the tears from her face. “We need to get you to Last Light.”

“Are you sure? If you’re not feeling up for it yet, I’m sure the others can get me there.”

“I’m sure. Let’s send this curse back up Shar’s fucking ass where it belongs.” She held her hand out to help him up. A proud grin came over his face.

There’s that righteous rage.

“I need no further encouragement.” Halsin let her pull him to his feet. She threw her arms around his neck once more in a hug.

“Thank you, Halsin,” she whispered against his shoulder.

The Soft-Step Trial

They had arrived at Shar’s temple once more. Three trials awaited them according to Balthazar. Tav walked down the stairs to the first door. A small plaque was embedded in the floor beneath her.

Her Most Vaunted Treasure.

“The first trial…” Shadowheart took an uneasy breath as she gazed on the doors.

“You’re sure this is the path forward?” Tav asked. She could feel her nerves standing on end.

“Certain.”

“Very well. I’ll trust your judgement for these trials, Shadowheart.” Tav let out a deep sigh.

“I…appreciate that, Tav.” Shadowheart gave her a small nod of her head.

Through the massive doors, they entered a chamber that almost looked like a prison. Tav could have sworn it had grown colder. The very air inside seemed to reject her; the deep chill of the shadow curse she hadn’t felt since receiving the pixie blessing returned to seep into her bones.

She shared a look with Halsin, feeling a small stab of guilt for wishing he had a tadpole she could use to communicate with him in silence. Luckily, the look on his face was more than enough confirmation that he felt the same way.

“But it…it’s probably best if Halsin and I don’t participate,” Tav suggested as she looked up at the statue carved in Shar’s likeness. The ritual bowl in front of her was stained with the blood of all those that came before them. Their life’s essence spilled in honor of their demanding goddess.

“Come on, Tav,” Karlach whined, “I thought we were past this.”

“It’s not that, Karlach.” She turned to Shadowheart. “It’s like you said, we need to get into that inner sanctum. Having two people who actively fought against Shar and her forces a century ago fumbling through her trials may not be the best way to curry additional favor with her.”

Tav tried not to show how relieved the thought made her feel.

“Damn it,” Shadowheart hissed. “she’s right. I’ve come too far to take any chances with this.”

“We’ll be right outside though, ready to heal and help where we can. At least without risking your success.”

“I understand,” Shadowheart said softly. “Besides, it seems like this trial may be best done with only one person.”

The small maze before them was crawling with shadows and wraiths. It looked like there was something in the back of the room, but Tav couldn’t quite make it out.

“Oh!” Gale exclaimed, rummaging through his bag. “Here, Shadowheart, this may help.”

He held out a small vial on a chain. The shimmery silver liquid sloshed around as it swung like a pendulum in his hand.

“Invisibility potion,” he said with a wink, “should make sneaking past those wraiths look like child’s play.”

“Thank you, Gale.” Shadowheart snatched the potion with a grateful smile.

“Here,” Tav also pulled a scroll out of her own bag. “In case that potion wears off too quickly.” She handed her an Invisibility scroll.

“Oh,” Shadowheart hesitated briefly as she reached out to take it, “thank you.”

“We’ll be out here when you’re done.” Tav tilted her head toward the entrance. “Uh, good luck, Shadowheart.”

As the large doors closed behind them, concealing their companions, Tav and Halsin opted to lean on the short wall overlooking the fortress while they waited.

They stood in comfortable silence for a while, staring at the absurdly large statue of Shar in the middle of the temple. How did they manage to even make one that large?

“Did she have to put her tits right at eye level from this balcony?” Tav asked out of nowhere.

Halsin barked out a loud laugh, deep and happy, no doubt caught off guard by her unusual contemplations.

“What?!” he yelled, still cackling. “Why is that the first thing that comes to your mind?”

“Look at them!” She gestured to the statue with both hands. “They’re right there in my face, how can I not have them on my mind?”

“You know, it really is a good thing I like you,” Halsin laughed. “Otherwise, there’s no way I would put up with that mouth of yours.”

A mischievous smirk pulled at one side of her lips. “Oh, I’m sure you could find something to do with this mouth of mine.”

“I could think of a thing or two,” he teased back, lowering his voice.

Tav bit down on her lower lip as a ridiculous grin tried to break out. When she spared a glance at Halsin out of the corner of her eye, she could see him doing the same.

Before she could make any other lewd comments, their companions emerged from the first trial.

“That was quick,” Tav remarked.

“Turns out the invisibility spell did indeed make it child’s play.” Shadowheart grinned back at her. She held out a glowing purple orb.

“Here, another umbral gem.”

Tav held out her bag for Shadowheart to stash the gem. The soft purple glow looked identical to the gem they had picked up after dealing with the orthon.

One trial down, two to go.

The Self-Same Trial

Another plaque outside the second trial.

Her Most Hallowed Mercy.

Shadowheart studied the inscription, her ears twitched like she was listening to something in the distance.

“Lady Shar teaches us that we are our own worst enemy, much of the time,” she said, pinching her lips as she pondered the words. “Her embrace will elude us until we shed that which holds us back.”

“So, we’ll be facing ourselves?” Wyll asked. “Or at least a mirror image of sorts?”

“That is likely, yes,” Shadowheart responded, her voice reserved.

After a moment, she clapped her hands together. “Okay everyone! Take off your armor.”

“On it, soldier.” Karlach immediately started stripping.

“Why in the hells would we take off our armor?!” Gale shot back, blushing at Karlach’s now half-naked body.

“Because, Gale, if this trial is going to conjure identical copies of us to fight, I’d rather not fight us fully armed and armored. With the items we’ve collected, we’re quite formidable wouldn’t you say?”

“Shadowheart, you flirt!” Karlach cooed back before throwing her top over to Tav. “Hold onto that, would you sis?”

“It’s not the worst idea,” Tav admitted. “Here, once you’re inside use these.”

Tav pulled a few elixirs and scrolls from her bag.

“Ah, Stoneskin!” Gale grabbed one of the scrolls eagerly.

“The elixirs should help protect you as well.”

“Thank you.” Shadowheart reached out to take one of the vials from her.

Her companions removed their armor, leaving only their thin linens and undergarments before entering the trial. Tav and Halsin helped gather everything in a neat pile near one of the stone benches outside.

“We’ll be here waiting when you’re done,” Halsin assured them.

Tav let out a sultry whistle as they walked away, half of them in naught but their underwear. Karlach turned around to wink at her as her tail curled up in a seductive pose.

Once again, the doors closed, cutting them off from their companions.

***

Halsin sat with Tav outside of the chamber of the next trial on a nearby bench. She leaned over with her elbow resting on her knee so she could prop her head up and stare at the door. The other hand tapped idly on the stone next to her.

“I must admit,” Halsin started, “I’m rather relieved you talked us out of these trials.”

She smirked back at him. “You’re welcome. Although if I’m being honest, it truly was the practical choice. We can’t take unnecessary risks, not now. We’re too close.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you. Still, this place sets my nerves on edge. Even if we’re not actively participating.”

“You and me both, love,” Tav whispered back.

“While we wait, I was hoping to ask you about something.” Halsin started to fiddle with his hands in his lap.

“By all means.” Tav smiled and leaned back in her seat.

“You’ve all talked about this ‘dream guardian’ that protects you from the Absolute. No one seems to know who they are or what they want. I was hoping to hear your thoughts on the matter.”

She took a deep breath and kept her eyes fixed on the door.

“I still think it’s an illusion of sorts, but I’m not sure what kind. They’ve been helpful so far, but I’m not sure why they’re hiding.”

“Why do you believe it to be an illusion?”

“Because he shows himself as someone I knew in the past, someone that wouldn’t have become a golden paladin trapsing around in a peculiar, githyanki artefact.”

“Who is he? If I may ask.” Halsin scooted a little closer to her.

“Quinlan.” The name brought a fond smile to her face. “He was an elf who worked at the Counting House in the Lower City of Baldur’s Gate, about the same age as me.”

“What part of him gave away the illusion?” he asked softly.

“His eyes,” she answered without hesitation. “Quin had deep, dark brown eyes. Dark enough that you could barely tell where his pupil separated from his iris. But they were warm and gentle. This dream visitor has golden eyes and they’re lacking the comfort I always saw in Quin’s.”

“Tell me about him.” Halsin reached over and placed a hand on her knee.

She gave him a skeptical look in response. “You really want to hear stories about my former lover?”

“Only if you’re willing to share. If they’re painful memories–”

“No,” she interrupted, looking surprised, “they’re actually quite pleasant. I just…I don’t know, I worried it might make you jealous or upset.”

“Not at all. I’d love to hear about him if you’d like to tell me,” he assured her with a smile.

“Well…my father had taken a personal interest in him. Quin was kind, a hard worker, and sharp as a whip. ‘Filled to the brim with potential’ as my father liked to say.

“This was some time before he was warped into the hateful man he became in our last years together. He had introduced Quin and I at a small get-together for Counting House employees and its beneficiaries.”

The bashful grin on her face was almost as endearing as the pink blush he had become so familiar with over the past tenday or so.

“We talked all night. My parents had to practically drag us apart when it was time to leave. I used to find any excuse I could to go to the Counting House with my father, just looking for a reason to see him. Gods the eye rolls I received while I shamelessly flirted with him across the counter.”

He smiled along with her as she laughed at the memory. There was a youthfulness in her voice that he hadn’t heard yet in their time together.

“As luck would have it, we ended up running into one another at a party a few months later. I refused to dance with anyone but him. We ended up sneaking away and spending most of the evening in a secluded parlor. It was the same story at any event we both attended. He was…my first.”

She glanced down at her hands, suddenly looking shy.

“I still remember how nervous we both were. How we fumbled with the strings on our clothes and laughed at every awkward movement and touch. I still remember the way he smiled at me afterwards…how he told me he wanted to stay that way forever.”

“What happened?”

“Long story short, my father found out. He was livid. He truly thought the only reason that Quin liked me was to get closer to him. After all, who could only care about me and not simply want to climb the social ladder of Baldur’s Gate?” Her derisive snort didn’t quite cover the small crack in her voice.

Halsin’s heart broke a little hearing her speak of herself in such a way.

“I was forbidden from ever seeing him again and my father stopped supporting Quin at the Counting House.”

Tav looked away from him.

“He told me that Quin was just using me to leverage a better position. That he didn’t care for me, and I was a foolish little girl for thinking otherwise.” She pursed her lips and then scoffed.

“Ironic considering the shift in his behavior a few decades later.”

“I’m so sorry, Tav,” Halsin whispered. “I must admit, I’m unfamiliar with the reasoning behind forbidding someone from taking a lover. Especially if he was kind to you.”

“Welcome to Upper City life in the Gate, my friend.” Tav let out a cold and unfeeling laugh.

“Quin begged me to run away with him,” she continued, her voice softening again. “He said we’d start a new life in Waterdeep or Amn. I considered it, I would have maybe even left if…if it weren’t for Tev.”

Halsin watched as her face shifted to a more melancholy look.

“He’s the one that got away, I suppose,” she mused with a sad smile, tears shining in her eyes. “One of them, at least.”

“One of them?”

“I mean, come on, Halsin,” she chuckled. “You’ve lived even longer than I have, and you’ve told me about your needs in a relationship. Surely there’s been more than one lover who’s gotten away from you. More than one you regret letting slip through your grasp.”

And how many did you even try to hold onto?

“Given that I have such a loose grasp to begin with, yes I suppose there have been a few that I’ve let slip away all too easily,” he admitted. “Though I do wish some of them would have been more willing to hold on as well rather than relying on me to do so.”

Tav reached over to hold his hand still resting on her leg.

“Do you have someone out there waiting for you? A lover you had to leave behind to come with us?”

He hummed back at her, but it was a sad, discouraged sound. “I’m afraid I’ve been bedding down alone for a while. Mostly by choice. As I found myself closer and closer to a solution for the shadows here, I let myself be consumed. I convinced myself that I was maintaining my focus for the task ahead, but in reality…”

He let out a long sigh.

“In reality I was just placing unreasonable boundaries on myself. I was so afraid that I was unworthy of the power, unworthy of Silvanus’s favor. I thought if I deprived myself of those…distractions that I could become worthy.

“I do not regret my decisions. I’ve just simply forgotten what it was like to have peers again, to be able to talk to another as a friend rather than an authority figure. What it’s like to be looked to for jokes and conversations rather than decisions and mediating.”

Tav snorted. “Yes, it would seem those tasks fall to me now.”

“Perhaps,” he took his hand back to wrap around her shoulders. “The others may look to you for leadership, but it is obvious that they still see you as an equal, as a friend. Should that change for any reason, know that I will still be by your side to help share that responsibility.”

“I appreciate that, Halsin.”

He smiled as she laid her head against him, nestling herself more comfortably into his side.

Voices sounding on the other side of the doors caused her to perk up shortly after, though.

“Everything go okay?” Tav asked when she saw their companions emerging from the room.

“Yes, it was nice to confirm that I am as worthy of an adversary as I assumed,” Lae’zel greeted them first. “My visage was by far the most challenging.”

“You can say that again, Lae.” Karlach shook her head. “Took three of us to take you down, soldier.” She slapped Lae’zel on the back, earning a rare smile from the githyanki.

“Found another one,” Shadowheart held up another umbral gem. She stashed it in Tav’s pack for safe keeping with the other two.

“Well done,” Tav said before tilting her head to the side. “There’s a set of stairs over there, shall we?”

“Lead the way, Shadowheart!” Karlach called out to her as they all got dressed once more.

Halsin had to admit, Shadowheart looked quite pleased with herself. Not in the arrogant, self-righteous way he had seen before, but with the quiet pride of accomplishment.

One trial left.

The Faith-Leap Trial

Yet another plaque sat embedded in the stone beneath them.

Her Most Sacred Path.

This room was far darker than the rest. Before them was a large opening in the floor with risen platforms among the darkness. At the other side, Tav could just make out the soft, purple glow of an umbral gem.

Shadowheart studied the floor beneath them. It looked to be a map of the chamber, the lighter tiles showing the invisible path to take across the chasm.

“Everyone out,” Shadowheart ordered. Her eyes were fixated on the platform across the small room.

“Are you sure?” Halsin asked, concerned. “If you fall, we may not be able to come to your aid.”

“This is a test of faith, of my trust in Lady Shar. I have to believe that she will show me the way. I can’t have you all here calling out instructions and guiding me. This must be my trial, and mine alone.”

Tav took a step toward her. “Shadowheart–”

“You said you would defer to my judgement for these trials, Tav,” she snapped, cutting Tav off.

She had said that hadn’t she?

“Fine. If you say this is the way, then I’ll trust you. If you’re hurt beyond your own abilities, reach out with the tadpole and we’ll come back.”

She responded with a curt nod before turning back to the offering bowl, waiting for them to leave before beginning the trial.

The doors closed behind them, leaving Shadowheart to her test of faith.

“I’m not so sure about this…” Karlach bounced in place as they settled in just outside the room.

“There’s not much else we can do, love.” Tav leaned against the wall, close to the door.

Everyone idled around the corridor, pacing or fiddling with their weapons as they anxiously awaited Shadowheart’s return.

In reality, she was only gone for mere minutes, but it felt as if at least an hour had passed by the time she emerged – confident and holding the last umbral gem they needed to pass into the sanctum.

“Woo!” Karlach threw her arms in the air to yell, earning a softer smile from Shadowheart.

“That’s…that’s it,” Shadowheart said, eyes shining with tears. “I’ve done it.”

“Alright then,” Tav held out her bag to store the last gem, “let’s see what’s hiding at the heart of this place.”

Shadowheart spun on her heels, chin held high, to go back toward the entrance to the Gauntlet.

The Silent Library

“Wait.” Shadowheart stopped abruptly before they reached the top of the stairs. “There’s something else I need to do…something Lady Shar needs me to do.”

Everyone else shrugged as they exchanged glances with one another but followed her to the end of the hall. There was another room with a shimmering barrier at its entrance.

“Is this another trial?” Halsin asked, sounding uneasy.

“I don’t think it is.” Tav peered around the doorway into the library. “We already have the gems we need.”

She glanced at the ground, not finding an inscription plate like they had seen in front of the other rooms.

“Regardless, there is something here she wants me to find,” Shadowheart said adamantly.

Tav scanned the room. A huge portal sat in its center, just like the others they faced upon entering the fortress for the first time. Six Dark Justiciars patrolled the room.

“Does that mean we should join you?” Tav whispered, keeping a wary eye on the potential adversaries ahead of them. “At least if these guards prove to be hostile as well?”

“I don’t see why not.” Shadowheart shrugged.

They all moved into the room, taking cautious steps. Tav tried to whisper to the others, but no sound came out. A heavy, dampening feeling settled over them as they made their way further in, like a wet blanket. Gale’s eyes widened in panic as the realization hit.

Shit.

The moment she picked up on the silencing effect on the room, the Dark Justiciars attacked.

Tav reached out using the tadpoles, praying that a Silence spell wouldn’t affect their telepathic abilities.

“Where is it coming from?” she called out in her mind, holding her breath as she awaited an answer.

“I believe the source is that dark portal in the center.” Gale’s voice drifted into her thoughts, letting her breathe a sigh of relief. “I can feel a strange pull from it.”

Tav took aim and fired at the portal, hearing a wailing hiss at the attack. Karlach charged forward to try and finish it off, but one of the Dark Justiciars caught her in the leg with an arrow. She stumbled to the ground, clutching at the wound.

Luckily, Lae’zel wasn’t far behind her. She leaped forward, driving her massive sword into the center of the portal and shattering the magic keeping it held there.

“Finally,” Gale gasped, fingers already alight with flame. He hurled a ball of fire toward a clustered group of enemies. “Gods how I hate being silenced.”

“So we’ve noticed,” Astarion snapped back.

Tav continued with her onslaught of arrows, trying to pull attention from her companions where possible.

Halsin had made it down to Karlach, who was ripping the arrow from her thigh. As he started a quick healing spell, Tav heard the familiar raging scream from her friend, and she went barreling toward another Dark Justiciar. It at least appeared that Halsin had gotten the spell off before she ran away.

She and Lae’zel tore through the library’s guardians with ease. Astarion would sporadically appear from the shadows to get a well-placed dagger in the spaces between the armor plates, weakening it for Karlach and Lae’zel’s brutal swings.

When Shadowheart struck a killing blow on the final Dark Justiciar with her glowing mace, Tav noticed her recoiling with her attack. Her face was bruised, and she was breathing heavily.

“Shadowheart!” Tav gasped. “What happened? I didn’t even see you get hit!”

“I…I’m not sure.” She winced and brought a hand up to her cheek. “Every time I’d hit them, it was like an invisible punch of some kind came at me.”

Tav watched as she tried, and failed, to conjure up a healing spell. The magic fizzling out at her fingertips with an exasperated groan.

“They must have had some defense against radiant magic,” Gale mused. “Quite clever, really.”

“Yes, so clever, thank you, Gale,” Shadowheart snapped back, losing her balance.

Karlach was nearby and helped keep her from falling to the ground.

Tav came over to inspect her bruises with Halsin trailing close behind.

Shadowheart flinched as Tav’s hands came up to her face.

“Sorry,” Tav retreated, “may I?”

She held her hands out. Shadowheart eyed them for a moment before giving a tentative nod. Tav gingerly held her cheeks between her palms, turning her head side to side so she could see the extent of the injuries.

As she finished the healing spell for the bruises, Tav saw Karlach give her an approving smile, but Shadowheart cried out in pain as she tried to stand up. She clutched her side, doubling over.

Halsin caught her this time, lowering her back onto the ground.

“Don’t move for a moment.” He looked over her body, scanning for any other signs of injury. “We’ll need to take the top of your armor off so I can see.” He glanced at Karlach and Tav.

Shadowheart nodded and went to reach for the clasps herself but let out another cry.

“Easy, Shadowheart,” Halsin said gently, “I’m worried you might have a broken rib, let us help you.”

She pursed her lips before giving a resigned sigh. Karlach and Tav removed the intricate Sharran mail as carefully as they could, revealing her blackened torso.

They all sucked in sharp gasps at the sight.

“Tav, I’ll need your help.” Halsin’s voice was soft and soothing, but firm. The voice she recognized from the times he’d healed her more grim wounds. She nodded and knelt at his side.

“Place your hands here.” He took one of her hands and moved it to the top of Shadowheart’s ribcage, just below her breast. “When I tell you to, start a healing spell. A simple one should do. If we do this at the same time, it will help keep the bones from becoming misshapen. It’s always a danger when healing ribs.”

Tav let her hand gently rest where he placed it and awaited his command. Halsin started his spell first; she could feel the warmth of it even through Shadowheart’s skin.

Karlach knelt on the other side of her, holding Shadowheart’s hand as she gripped it so hard Tav was sure they’d be healing a broken hand next. Her small hisses of pain caused Tav to grimace.

“Okay, now Tav.”

She started her spell alongside him, the cool touch of her magic mingling with his beneath Shadowheart’s skin to guide the pieces of bone back into place. Tav watched in awe of how the spells worked together. Broken bones were not an injury she had healed often, maybe once or twice in her life. She could feel the bone coming back into place under their touch.

“One more time.” Halsin took a slow, controlled breath before casting another spell in time with Tav.

This time, she saw the bruise start to slowly fade away. Shadowheart’s ragged breathing calmed until instead she let out a small groan of relief.

“There we are.” Halsin fell back on his knees.

“Th-Thank you,” Shadowheart gasped.

“That’s what we hung back for, right?” Tav cracked a smile.

While they were working to heal her injuries, Gale and Astarion had opened the large iron gate in front of them.

They helped Shadowheart to her feet, letting her secure her armor back over her upper body again.

Past the gate were even larger bookshelves than in the main part of the library. Another massive carving of Shar was etched into the wall in front of them. In the center of the smaller room stood a round pedestal with an opening for something. By the shape of the slot, she guessed a book could fit inside.

The top of the pedestal was engraved with a question, a riddle of sorts.

What can silence the Nightsong?

Tav blinked a couple of times, trying to be sure she read it right. Halsin was leaning over her shoulder to read as well.                                                                                                                       

Nightsong…

“The Nightsong was the relic Aradin went looking for,” Halsin recalled.

“And it’s apparently important to Shar.” Tav studied the area around the altar, looking for any clues about what this Nightsong might look like. “But why would it need to be silenced?”

Halsin had a troubled look in his eyes as he contemplated the question. “The wizard that commissioned the bounty did say it was an incredibly powerful relic. Perhaps the magic itself needs to be silenced?”

Tav nodded along, only half listening.

Shadowheart had already left the small area, scouring the rest of the library for the missing piece of the puzzle. She returned a few minutes later with a book.

“I believe this is the answer it’s looking for,” she said, holding it in the air.

Teachings of Loss.

Tav stepped to the side and gestured for Shadowheart to place it in the slot.

The sound of grinding stone startled them as the wall carved in Shar’s likeness fell away to reveal yet another room.

She bit back a groan when she saw another little shrine to Shar inside. Rather than seeing an offering bowl however, the plate had a spear resting atop it.

It radiated with magic. The dark symbol embedded into its head was the color of the void itself.

On the floor was a set of Sharran chainmail. Unlike the old armor they found in Grymforge, this set was well maintained. Kept hidden away in pristine condition until one of Shar’s initiates came to claim it.

Shadowheart had tears glinting in her eyes as she walked up to claim the items. She held the spear delicately, as if she worried too rough a touch would cause it to disintegrate in her hands. A satisfied look took over her face as she tucked the weapon under her arm.

“We have all we need. We should go to the inner sanctum now.”

Everyone exchanged concerned glances.

“You were hurt pretty badly, soldier,” Karlach started. “Maybe we don’t press our luck today?”

Shadowheart pressed her lips into a tight line.

“We’ve been here for a long time,” Tav added. “And you don’t know that you won’t find more trials once we reach the center of this fortress.”

Halsin spoke next, “you have no magic left to heal or defend yourself. I recommend caution.”

“This has been my entire life’s purpose,” Shadowheart snapped. “Excuse me for being eager to make my way toward it’s fulfillment.”

“I understand that feeling well,” Halsin continued. "But do not risk your success by making a foolhardy decision. Take tonight, rest and heal. We can make our way back here first thing tomorrow morning.”

She crossed her arms and chewed on her lip as she thought about it.

“Fine,” she sighed. “But we come back very first thing tomorrow.”

“Very first thing.” Tav held up her hand in a display of sincerity.

Shadowheart folded up the new armor into her backpack before leading them out of the room.

Their long walk back to camp turned uneasy as they realized this could be their last night at Moonrise.

Astarion kept his eyes fixed on Tav as she turned away.

My name is Ria…

He recalled a story, one that graced a handful of editions in the Baldur’s Mouth Gazette and other lesser tabloids in the city. A silver-haired beauty, fleeing from a lavish engagement party, shooting many attendees and even family members in the process. Hers was a name he remembered well; a name that had given him hope. A name that had allowed him to live vicariously through her daring escape.

Tav’ahria Mendelre.

He had only met Lady Mendelre once and “met” was perhaps a strong word for the encounter.

It was a particularly terrible evening with Cazador. Not that there were any good evenings with him, but this one stuck out among many of the events where he was dragged along as his personal escort.

There was an event at Wyrm’s Rock, some celebration of sorts that he couldn’t be bothered to remember the details of. He remembered a young elf, no older than forty, dancing and laughing with another young man. Her long, white hair twirled to the same rhythm as her dress. The red and orange fabric looked like flames swirling out around her ankles each time she was spun under the man’s arms.

Cazador’s eyes had been drawn to her immediately. Astarion had recognized that predatory stare that haunted most of his dreams. His nightmares.

Now, his master wasn’t so stupid as to make her a target. There was a reason he sent his spawn to the grimy, desolate flophouses and taverns of Baldur’s Gate. Few would miss a lonely beggar or drunkard, even if they did, they didn’t have the power to do anything about it once they were gone.

But if someone like Tav’ahria Mendelre went missing? Well, that would cause quite a stir, wouldn’t it? So that night, Cazador was likely just trying to lay on the charm, to find yet another person to help cover his tracks and line his pockets.

He had glided up to her with such confidence, the same way he approached any of his spawn or servants. But when he took her hand and gave her a low bow, she simply looked down her nose at him. A spurious smile twisted her lips as she indulged him for a moment – a picture of noble civility.

Astarion watched from a distance as Lord Mendelre came to his daughter’s side, not even bothering with a polite look as he sneered back at Cazador.

For the first time since he had been turned, he had the pleasure of watching someone have power and influence over his cruel master. And it was delightful. Everyone in the city knew hers was not a family you crossed. Not unless you wanted to have an unfortunate "accident" conveniently cleaned up by the City Watch the next day.

As he was lost in the sensation of seeing Cazador’s embarrassment, he had let a small laugh slip out at the sight. He paid dearly for that little lapse in judgement.

Cazador had pulled him close, keeping a bruising grip on his arm for the rest of the night, the harsh movement but a drop in the sea of pain that would follow. But what Astarion really remembered was how Lady Mendelre had smiled at him. The first in decades to look at him like a person instead of an object. The smile she aimed at him wasn’t the fake, polite smile she had flashed at Cazador, but one that was bright and warm.

A smile not unlike the one he had just seen from Tav.

Honestly, Tav. If you truly wanted to hide your identity you shouldn’t have just shortened your name again. You could have at least dyed your hair, you idiot.

He fought an eye roll at the thought. Though he supposed there were few people left who would have known about that night, especially among their group of adventurers. Of course, all of this could be just another bizarre coincidence, but he felt that they were running short on those.

Astarion bit back the quips and teases he felt on the tip of his tongue. Every part of him itched to poke and prod her, try to get her to admit something, anything. He still felt that instinct tugging at his mind to find any information that he could hold and use against her. After all, ties to the Mendelre family were not the most innocent of connections to have.

But those thoughts melted away when she turned back around and smiled at him.

Yes. Yes, I remember that smile now.

Strangely enough, he believed Tav when she said he owed her nothing. But he would do this favor for her regardless.

Your secret is safe with me, my friend.

***

The first thing Halsin saw when he arrived back at camp was Tav sitting with Astarion by the fire. She looked much better than when he left her there this morning. Karlach and Shadowheart were close behind him. Each of them had one of Gale’s arms slung around their necks helping him walk back to camp.

Both Astarion and Tav shot concerned looks their way as their companion was practically dragged between the two women over to the fire.

“I must say, you are looking rather healthy compared to when I saw you last, Tav.” Gale’s words were slurred as he tried to point a finger at her. Shadowheart let his arm drop as they approached.

“Good gods, Gale.” Tav held her arm up over her nose as his breath puffed out in a stiff, alcoholic cloud. “Are you…are you drunk?”

“Ah, yes. ‘Twas a creature in the old distillery, redolent of a liquor stronger than I could imagine,” he said with great effort. “He asked for stories in exchange for drink, and I was most inclined to acquiesce his requests. Even before I met you lot, I had plenty a tale to titillate the bystanders among even the most minacious of Waterdeep taverns. I have been known in my time to deescalate brawls in such establishments, talking its participants down with no scarcity of aplomb.”

“You sure they didn’t just get bored by your yapping and leave?” Karlach still had one arm around his waist to steady him.

“Gosh,” Gale threw his hand over his chest, offended, “I know my ears must be deceiving me. Surely you wouldn’t question those abilities after you bore witness to my talents in such circumstances?”

“Where do you store all these fancy words when you’ve been drinking, wizard?” she cackled as she helped him to a seat by the fire.

“Well, let me ponder that rumination for a moment, my friend.” Gale held a finger to his lips, lost in fake thought. “After careful deliberation I do believe that I have arrived at the supposition that I store them up your ass.”

Another bout of roaring laughter rang from Karlach. “Fuck me, that was some strong stuff he was serving you.”

“Yes, well, needless to say I shall be sticking to my carefully curated selection of fine wines from here on out.”

“Care to translate that for us?” Tav turned to smile at Halsin.

“We met two more cursed beings in town. One in the distillery and one in the old tollhouse.” Tav scooted closer to Astarion on the log they were sharing so Halsin could sit next to her. “They were much like you described the doctor from the House of Healing.”

“How so?” She rested a hand on his back, rubbing slow, small circles between his shoulders.

A welcome relief after their exhausting day. Halsin still hadn’t quite adjusted to the adventuring life, especially now that he was spending each day in battles and fighting through any other perils they found in between. It had been some time since he had gone in and out of his wild shape so many times in a day, not to mention the enervation of his constant spellcasting – whether it be for healing or used against their foes.

“These beings still maintained more of their sentience. Both of them spoke to us, talking about guarding the Thorm family’s secrets.” Halsin recalled their fights with both large monstrosities with Tav and Astarion. One filled to burst with a strange brew, the other coated head to toe in gold and demanding more.

“WHAT DO YOU BRING?!” Karlach shouted in a mocking voice, startling a yelp out of them. She and Wyll just laughed. Halsin felt Tav’s hand drop from his back, and he hoped the disappointment wasn’t too plain on his face.

“Well,” Tav responded once she caught her breath again, “I’m glad to see you all made it back safely at least. Did you–”

She stopped mid-sentence and sat up a little straighter.

“Please tell me my head injury isn’t fully healed and that’s why I smell sulfur,” Tav groaned.

“Do you know what happens when a devil is struck down on this charming plane of existence?”

The sound of Raphael’s voice caused everyone to throw their heads back in exasperation.

“It returns to the hells – to the very point where it last stood before venturing to whichever devilforsaken plane it died on. In the case of our mutual friend Yurgir, he manifested in my House of Hope.” Raphael held his hands out to inspect his nails, projecting nonchalance.

“A deal’s a deal, devil,” Astarion snapped, standing up to glare at him. “We killed your orthon, now tell me what you know about these scars.”

“Tut, tut,” Raphael’s smooth, crooning voice made Halsin’s skin crawl. “I find that the foreplay is almost better than the deed itself. The anticipation, the buildup, the–”

“We’ve had more than enough buildup, Raphael,” Tav interrupted. “You’ve kept him waiting long enough. Why didn’t you come yesterday once you knew the orthon was dead?”

“Oh, little flower, I heard you had gotten hurt. Surely you do not think I would let you miss something as delicious as this.” Raphael winked at her before turning his attention back to Astarion.

Little flower.

Once again, Halsin saw Tav flinch away from his words. The first time he saw the devil in Last Light, he thought he had imagined it.

“Brace yourself vampling and listen close as I reveal your destiny.”

***

Tav watched Astarion pace in front of them once Raphael had left. He was muttering to himself and making erratic hand gestures.

The Rite of Profane Ascension.

Raphael’s reveal of his scars’ purpose left Tav with her skin feeling prickly and gross. He said Cazador would have to sacrifice a “number” of souls…but how many?

“Astarion?” Tav called out gently.

He whipped around to face her, a manic look in his eyes.

“Talk to us. What are you thinking?” She kept her voice soft.

“I…I don’t know,” he stammered. “If what Raphael said was true, I would have expected Cazador to send more lackeys to hunt me down. So far, all we’ve seen is one Gur.”

“Well, we are in the midst of the shadow curse,” Halsin offered. “As you’ve seen, it is a difficult land to traverse. The Underdark is not much safer, either. Perhaps they were felled before they could make it to you.”

“Or perhaps the tadpole is preventing Cazador from being able to locate you?” Wyll chimed in next.

“Perhaps…” Astarion started pacing again.

“I don’t know that I would put so much stock in luck, my friends.” Gale’s words were still a bit slurred. “At least if our previous experiences are anything to go on.”

Small nods and grumbles of agreement sounded among them.

“Regardless, I knew he wouldn’t leave me alone even when I was just another one of his wretched toys. Now…” Astarion let out a frustrated grunt. “If I’m the key to this power he craves, he’ll hunt me to the ends of Faerûn and beyond.”

Tav nodded slowly, realizing before he even said his next words what he was going to ask.

“If I won’t be free while he’s alive, I suppose I’ll just have to kill the bastard.” He turned to face Tav again. “And I’m going to need some help.”

She froze, the panic likely obvious on her face. The fact of the matter was that Cazador Szarr lived in Baldur’s Gate. A city to which she had never planned on returning.

“Don’t worry Fangs,” Karlach came up and put a hand on his shoulder, “we’re not going to let Cazador touch you again. Right, sis?”

Tav remained still, thinking through her options as everyone looked at her expectantly. The guilt she felt gnawing at her for her hesitation was immediately doubled by the look of disappointment on Astarion’s face.

“Of course we aren’t, Astarion.”

He relaxed a little, but still looked skeptical.

“I’m sorry, this is just a lot to take in, is all.” Tav joined Karlach at his side. “You know I won’t let him hurt you again if I can help it.”

“You hesitated.” Astarion stared her down.

“I…I haven’t been back to Baldur’s Gate in a very long time. Honestly, I had never planned on returning.” Tav took a deep breath. “But I would go back to help you, love.”

Another flash of distant recognition crossed his features, less fleeting this time as he studied her face.

“I appreciate that, Tav.” He relaxed after a moment. “We need to find out about the ritual. If we can get to the city, perhaps we can learn more. And who knows…”

Astarion’s expression darkened, a look that sent a chill down her spine.

“Perhaps there could be an opportunity for me to take his place.”

Tav had no idea what his ritual would cost, she still didn’t quite understand its full purpose. But she had a feeling that letting Astarion complete it would be unwise.

“One thing at a time, love.” It was the only thing she could think to say.

“You’re right, of course. I’m getting ahead of myself.” Astarion waved a hand in the air. “Still…the thought of being able to walk in the sun again…without a mind flayer parasite…”

He stared off into the distance, wearing a soft smile. The look on his face was so hopeful…

Tav hated thinking that she might have to squash that hope.

Astarion started to walk toward his tent, still looking pensive. When he was about halfway there, he turned back around.

“Thank you, again.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t have any of this information without you. Without any of you.”

She smiled in response, feeling a small wave of relief hearing such sincerity from him. Seeming a bit embarrassed, he disappeared into his tent.

“Are you okay?” Halsin nudged her arm.

“Of course,” Tav sighed. “Just…just a little worried about him.”

He nodded, staring after Astarion alongside her.

“It’s just…no matter the outcome, completing such an intricate, ancient ritual given by a devil seems risky to say the least. And not just a devil, Mephistopheles himself.”

“I’m inclined to agree.”

Tav’s heart rate quickened, and her eyes welled up.

“And what if we find the Absolute here at Moonrise? What if we find a way to be rid of these tadpoles?”

Halsin arched an eyebrow at her.

“How will he be able to face Cazador without the tadpole? I’m worried that he’ll just be compelled back into slavery.” Tav choked back tears at the thought. She felt Halsin tug her close to his side.

“One problem at a time, my friend.” He let out a deep breath after speaking.

If only our ever-growing list of problems would follow that advice.

***

An air of trepidation hung over the camp after their most recent encounter with Raphael. The reveal of the purpose of Astarion’s scars had left them all feeling a touch more dejected than earlier in the day.

The shout Halsin heard across camp did nothing to help that mood.

Arabella was speaking to Withers; the conversation had turned rather heated.

He jogged behind Tav over to the pair. The young tiefling’s face was twisted with anger and grief.

“They’re dead…”

“Listen,” Withers spoke in his hushed, unhurried tone. “Thou must find the balance within.”

“No…I can’t…”

Halsin and Tav had reached her side. She reached out for Arabella as she sobbed.

“No!” Arabella screamed again as a wave of energy slammed into them, sending Tav stumbling backward.

“Listen! Dost thou not hear it?” Withers called out to her. “Where creation meets ruin, where morning meets midnight – the root of all being.”

Arabella continued to take heaving breaths. Halsin could just make out her hands trembling.

“Balance.” Withers had softened his tone once more.

“Balance,” Arabella sighed, tears still streaking her face.

Halsin could feel the raw, untamed power radiating from her. Her magic as wild as the source from which it came, and heavy with the grief she felt at her loss.

“The girl must learn to control her arcane abilities – but she shan’t remain here to do so.” Withers turned to address Tav.

“Excuse me?” Tav whipped around to glare at him. Halsin hung his head, already knowing what he was going to say.

“Arabella’s power is unbalanced, she holds abilities beyond reckoning. Her power was born of the decaying forest, and the seedling that bore it.”

Despite his best efforts, it seemed Arabella’s magic had indeed been touched by the Shadow Weave. As hard as it was to admit, it was a distant hope that he could have prevented it. Growing one’s powers in a cursed place such as this was bound to have lasting effects.

“Once thou dost leave these accursed lands, Arabella will depart from thee.”

The young tiefling ran over to Tav, wrapping her arms around one of her legs. Her soft sobs were muffled by her pants, her tail curling loosely around Tav’s ankle.

“I’m not sending her out alone.” Tav held her glare as Arabella continued to cling to her.

“THOU MUST!” Withers shouted back, startling both her and Halsin.

“Bone Man, you’re making me leave?” Arabella sniffled back at him.

“Thou hast nothing to fear, girl. The Weave knows thy purpose and shall provide. It will guide thee, if thou dost listen.” Withers had returned to his normal soft cadence of speaking. He held his hand out for a moment and closed his eyes.

Halsin felt Arabella’s anguish, once heavy and unyielding, start to float away. A light came down to cover the dark power within and cloak her in its warmth.

Tentatively, she let go of Tav before looking around in wonder.

“Is that my future?” she asked softly. “Is that why they died?”

“It is,” Withers replied with a nod of his head.

“It’s wonderful…” Arabella looked all around her, watching the pieces of her future invisible to the rest of them.

The warmth he felt began to fade as she absorbed the feeling into her own power.

Then, he heard a familiar giggle.

Thaniel and Oliver popped out of the nearby trees to stand beside Arabella.

“Don’t be scared, little tiefling,” Thaniel laughed.

“Yeah, you’ll be back here soon, and we can play again! We’ve seen it!” Oliver said with a smile.

“Remember,” Thaniel reached out to take one of her hands, “if you open your heart, nature will listen. Let the light guide your way.”

“The shadow will always be there,” Oliver warned, “but you can wield the light to keep it away.”

Halsin watched in awe, realizing Arabella’s new purpose had taken on a deeper meaning than he had originally thought. A piece of the shadows would live on in her forever, securing them away from the world. Should she learn how to control it, how to find balance with the light within her, she could prevent them from ever returning.

It would seem that the Oak Father had chosen an anchor of sorts. A heavy burden, but one he had no doubt Arabella would be well suited for.

“Arabella…” Tav knelt to her level.

“I’m sorry for yelling at you so much.” Arabella turned with a smile on her tear-stained face.

“Don’t apologize, love.” Tav held her arms open, and Arbella threw herself into them. “I’m sorry you won’t be able to stay with us.”

“That’s okay,” she sniffled into her shoulder. “As long as there are people like you around, maybe everything will be alright.”

Once she let go of Tav, she came over to Halsin.

“Thanks for trying to teach me. I guess I have to do some more learning before we can practice together again.”

“I look forward to it, little one.” He held out a hand to her, but she wrapped her arms around his waist instead.

Halsin heard the small sniffles from Tav as Arabella let go of him.

“And thank you, Bone Man. For being…nice.”

Withers gave her a small nod of his head. Tav pointedly avoided his gaze as she followed Arabella across camp.

Halsin knew that Tav would have trouble accepting Arabella’s new path. It was difficult enough for him and he had a more fundamental understanding of why she would have to walk it alone.

“You’ve helped her a great deal,” he said to Withers after Arabella had walked away.

“Where matters of balance are concerned, thou shall find me.” He spoke in his typical quiet, deliberate tone.

“Were my instincts correct? Is she to serve Silvanus? Preventing the shadows from returning by concealing them within her own power?” Halsin asked, trying to keep the desperation out of his voice.

Withers’ lips twitched into what he could only assume was a smirk.

“The girl shall be a light in darkness, and the weight to tip scales back to their proper balance. So I have spoken, so it shall be.”

A cryptic answer from our resident riddle master. What else did you expect?

Halsin took the finality in his tone to mean they were done speaking, so he made his way back to his tent so he could at last change out of his armor. His arms continued to ache from the previous day and his eyes already stung with the need for rest, but he still felt jittery.

Rather than turning in early, he grabbed his whittling tools and a chunk of wood he had been chipping away at. He went back to the center of camp to work by the light of the fire. The others were still milling around, chatting about the day.

Tav and Karlach stood with Arabella, Karlach sharing Tav’s sour expression as she likely filled her in on Withers’ orders. He watched as Tav pulled a small neckalce from her bag and held it out to Arabella. She took the trinket in her hands before staring back up at Tav, tears shining in her eyes once more. She threw her arms around her waist and held the locket up to her chest. Tav walked around to help secure it around her neck so she could run off to play.

Despite it all though, Arabella looked happy. Like she had already embraced her new purpose. Among the worry and sorrow he felt at the thought of her leaving, Halsin still had hope. He hoped that she would find the balance within. That she would find the peace she needed from her grief and hardship.

It wasn’t long before Thaniel and Oliver came to join her again, speaking soft enough that he couldn’t make out their words.

Arabella was giggling at something Thaniel said to her. A nostalgic ache seized his chest watching them play. Part of him wished she could remain here, learning from him and Oliver, but it would be some time before this land healed. Too long for her to remain here and risk warping her power further.

The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled his attention away.

“I wondered if I might hear your opinions on our little friend’s abilities.” Halsin looked up to see Gale standing in front of him. He seemed to have sobered up a bit. Shadowheart must have finally taken pity on him.

“I’m still not quite sure what to make of them, if I can be honest,” he sighed. “To have been blessed from the idol, she indeed would have needed to win Silvanus’s favor. But the way Withers spoke…”

He shook his head, still trying to make sense of Arabella’s place in all of this.

“He speaks as though she is an anchor of sorts. But those are typically chosen by Mystra, not the other gods. I do not know how or why the Oak Father would attempt to make her one in his stead.”

“Mystra will not take kindly to another god attempting to anchor the Weave.” Gale took a seat next to him on the ground.

“I don’t know that he is attempting to anchor the Weave itself within her. This curse was a horrible blight on this land, Gale. Locking Thaniel away for a century, shrouding what was once a sanctuary in darkness.” Halsin took a deep, steadying breath, not wanting to let his anger get the best of him. “It was a slight against Silvanus himself and something tells me he simply wants to prevent it from happening again. Even if it means causing Mystra some grief.”

“Bah,” Gale waved his hand dismissively. “Honestly, Mystra needs to get her magical knickers in a twist every now and then. It doesn’t take much, I’m afraid. I think she needs to be reminded from time to time that her followers aren’t the only ones who rely on the Weave.”

Halsin could hear his tone souring with every word. “Regardless, I am sure there was some level of negotiating that had to happen between them to make this a reality.”

“I hope for her sake that’s true.” Gale’s voice had quieted. “Mortals who have their souls fought over by the gods do not tend to be long for this world.”

Halsin spared another glance at Arabella, still playing with Oliver, Thaniel, and now their animal companions across camp. He hoped that she could at least enjoy the time she had left in her childhood before the crushing weight of responsibility fell on her shoulders.

“Perhaps Mystra favored this outcome as well. After all, she has no love of the Shadow Weave, or Shar, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Oh, you are very correct, my friend,” Gale chuckled. “She does not approve of wizards pulling from the Shadow Weave. After all, Shar did at one point seek to replace the Weave with her own distorted version of it. Even I must exercise caution in my spellcasting while we remain in these cursed lands, lest I draw from the wrong side.”

“Then I suppose that would be our best hope for our young friend.”

Gale contemplated his next words carefully.

“If that is the case, I would not be surprised to find her receiving an unexpected visit from Elminster.”

“Is that so?” Halsin set aside the chunk of wood he had been whittling. He had finally gotten the curve of it just right, but his hands were starting to cramp.

“Oh yes,” he smiled, but it was a sad and pensive look, “I was a year younger than her when he first came to me. I had just conjured a fireball of sorts, destroying a rose bush. I hid behind my mother’s skirts, sure I was to be taken away for my crime. Elminster simply smiled and assured me they would grow back.”

“I do not know much of Elminster aside from the legends told of him.” Halsin took a shaky breath. “Will he help her? Will he look after her?”

Gale considered the question for a moment. “He will help and guide her to the best of his abilities. Despite my own…shortcomings, Elminster was a good friend and an even better teacher. The rest will be up to her.”

“Then we shall have to trust in our gods’ judgement, and hope she is up to the task.”

“Something that’s easier said than done for me of late.” Gale’s eyes had grown distant as he stared into the flames.

Halsin reached up to rest a hand on his shoulder.

“Well, thank you for indulging me, Halsin,” Gale slapped his knees as he stood up. “I suppose we’ll just have to admire her efforts from afar for now.”

“Anytime, my friend.”

Gale’s company was quickly replaced by Tav and Karlach’s.

“Whatcha makin’ bear man?” Karlach had plopped on one side of him with Tav on the other.

He glanced at the tools and piece of wood sitting at his feet and fought the urge to glance at Tav.

“I’m not quite sure yet,” he lied. “Often times I don’t know what a piece will turn into until its well underway.”

“Oooh, mysterious,” Karlach cooed at him. He hoped his face didn’t look as warm as it felt.

“Are the two of you alright? I saw you speaking with Arabella.”

“I’m better,” Tav sighed. “I…I understand if she has to go. It doesn’t mean I’m happy about it.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna miss that little hellion.” Karlach was watching the children play.

“What was that necklace you gave her?” He turned to ask Tav.

Her eyes welled as she watched the game of chase continue before them.

“It was her mother’s. Komira gave it to me as a gift after convincing Kagha to let her go. I…I couldn’t bring myself to sell it. Something about it felt very sentimental.”

Thaniel said something indecipherable to Arabella as he pointed at the locket. He made some hand gestures that almost looked like he was casting a spell. She mimicked the movements and suddenly a few bright orbs of light burst into existence around them.

All three children shrieked with delight as they chased the lights around the camp. Scratch barked at each orb and tried to pounce at them, the light dissipating under his paws. Halsin’s chest tightened as he took one of Tav’s hands.

“Well, how wonderful it is that you were able to give Arabella something to remember her by.” He smiled watching them all play together, the lights shining around them not the only thing brightening their little camp. “And not to mention provide an endless source of entertainment it would seem.”

“That’s a good point, Hal!” Karlach stood up to chase after them as well, causing more excited screams from the kids.

“Hal?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

“She’s trying out new nicknames for everyone,” Tav snickered.

While they enjoyed the heartwarming scene of Thaniel, Oliver, and Arabella swarming a prone Karlach, Shadowheart came over to stand in front of them, her hands crossed in front of her, thumbs nervously warring with each other.

“Okay, I’ve made my decision.” She took a deep breath.