Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [39]
"Abdel!" she cried out, more shocked than hurt.
The big man didn't respond, but he grabbed the key in his massive fist. The muscles of his forearm flexed and he snapped the metal key off in the lock, trapping Jaheira in the cage.
The druid scrambled to her feet and rushed toward him, reaching out with a free hand through the bars as Abdel hopped back just out of her range.
"Abdel, what are you doing?" she demanded, even as Imoen screamed the same question from the adjacent cage.
He turned away before she could read the expression in his eyes. "I'm sorry," was all he said before he vanished up the stairs, leaving both Jaheira and Imoen trapped in their respective cells.
* * * * *
The horror and betrayal he had seen in Jaheira's eyes twisted like a blade in Abdel's heart. If there had been time he would have explained his actions to her and Imoen. Abdel had been involved in many sieges in his days as a mercenary. He knew all too well the bloody battle that was even now raging atop the battlements of Saradush as the defenders strove to hurl the invaders from their foothold. Abdel knew the only way Jaheira and Imoen would be safe should he lose control of his own murderous fury was if they were nowhere near the violence.
It took less than a minute for Abdel to find his way from the top of the dungeon stairs to the main gates of the castle. Sarevok and Melissan had already disappeared down the streets of Saradush, rushing to aid the soldiers on the wall. Abdel had no trouble following the shouts and cries of those rushing to join the battle.
He came around a corner and found himself directly beneath the melee. Glancing up, he saw that dozens of invaders had managed to scale the wall, overwhelming the Saradush and Calimshan troops positioned atop the battlements. With each passing second, more invaders climbed up the ladders to join their fellows and drive the desperate defenders even farther back. Abdel knew reinforcements for his side would be unlikely, as the men along the other walls would be desperately defending their own positions against a similar rush of ladder carrying attackers.
There had been no more alarms raised, so it seemed as if the only breach was on the south wall. If the Saradush forces could reclaim the battlement, the advance could be halted-for now.
Abdel rushed along the base of the wall, heading for the open door at the foot of the nearest tower, one of many lining the fortifications of the town. He raced up the circular staircase and burst onto the battlement.
Melissan and Sarevok were already there, joining the half dozen defenders still standing against the score of enemy soldiers. The tall woman swung her mace from side to side with both hands, smashing aside the sword of her foe with one swipe, then quickly reversing the direction of her weapon to bring its spiked head crashing down on her opponent's skull, piercing the iron helm. By the time the dying man had collapsed into the pool of blood gushing from his mangled temple, Melissan had already moved on.
It was then Abdel realized he was charging headlong into the battle unarmed. He had let Gromnir's soldiers take his sword away when they escorted him to the prison. Without breaking stride Abdel dropped to the ground, letting his momentum carry him into a tumbling summersault. He scooped up a sword from one of the many fallen Saradush defenders as he rolled by and popped up to his feet just in time to block the incoming blade of a heavy battle axe.
Abdel never slowed, but let his charge carry him crashing into the much smaller soldier attacking him. The man was driven back by Abdel's massive body, dropping his axe and pinwheeling his arms to keep his balance as he stumbled toward the edge of the wall. Abdel took a step back and brought a boot up into his foe's chest, then thrust with his leg. The screaming man tumbled backward over the parapet to the ground below.
Beside him Abdel saw