Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [41]
There were many questions Abdel wanted to ask of this woman, many answers he needed. But when he opened his mouth, only a single word came out. "Jaheira!"
He turned and ran back toward the dungeon.
Chapter Nine
"I just didn't want you to get hurt," Abdel explained, hoping Jaheira would forgive him for leaving her and Imoen trapped in the dungeon.
He wasn't being completely honest with them-he still couldn't bring himself to recount his experience in the clearing with Illasera. He couldn't admit he had been mere seconds away from transforming into an uncontrollable monster that would have ripped his lover and his sister apart with its four taloned hands. But he had to tell the half-elf something.
The locksmith working to free the end of the key jammed into the lock of the half-elf's cell nodded in agreement. "It was pretty messy up there, Miss," he said, offering Abdel some unsolicited support. "No place for a couple of ladies."
Jaheira gave Abdel an angry look and snorted contemptuously, making no effort to hide her disbelief. "You didn't seem to mind Melissan being up there."
Imoen, already released from her cell by a spare key, chimed in on Jaheira's side of the argument. "And we can handle ourselves in a fight, Abdel. You know that."
Abdel sighed, staring down at the floor. "I know," he admitted, groping for some explanation and finding nothing.
"You're free, Miss," the locksmith announced, standing up and opening the door to Jaheira's cell.
"I will go tell Melissan," Sarevok announced from his position at the top of the stairs.
Abdel's half brother had not attempted to descend the steep steps down to the dungeon. Although the only blood on his armor was that of his victims, the dark warrior claimed to have been injured during the recent skirmish. Obviously, Sarevok did not share his half brother's remarkable powers of regeneration.
Imoen watched him limp slowly away, a strange look on her face.
"I get it!" she whispered excitedly as soon as the armored man had hobbled out of sight. "It was Sarevok, wasn't it?"
Uncertain exactly what she was getting at, but desperate for any possible explanation other than the truth, Abdel nodded in agreement.
"Sarevok?" Jaheira asked, then answered her own question. "Of course… you still do not trust him."
Abdel's wasn't the quickest mind in the Sword Coast-he liked to keep things simple and to the point-but he was sharp enough to seize the opportunity that had just dropped into his lap.
"That's right. I was afraid Sarevok would use the confusion of the battle and try to harm you two. I couldn't take that chance."
Jaheira wrapped her long arms around her lover's massive back, squeezing him with surprising strength. "Oh, Abdel, I am so sorry. I thought Melissan…" She didn't finish, just buried her face against his chest and hugged him even tighter.
Imoen gave him a friendly punch in the shoulder before heading up the stairs. "You're always looking out for us."
The locksmith followed the young woman out, but not before giving Abdel an admiring smile and a knowing wink.
* * * * *
"I want some answers, Melissan," Abdel demanded, "and I want them now!"
"Of course," she replied. "What do you wish to know?"
Abdel hesitated, uncertain what to even ask now that the time had come. Luckily Jaheira stepped in to help him out.
"Everything," she said confidently, glaring at the taller woman with a look of obvious mistrust. "Why don't you just tell us everything?"
The picture Melissan painted was not a pretty one. The persecution of the Bhaalspawn was far more widespread than any of them had imagined, extending the entire stretch of the Sword Coast and well into the southern lands of Amn, Tethyr and even Calimshan. The Children of Bhaal were being driven from their homes or thrown into prisons by pursuing armies, and in many cases they were simply executed by vigilante mobs.
Many of the unfortunate victims were not even aware of their own tainted heritage. They were as