Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [43]
It all made sense. Abdel had not always had his remarkable healing powers. The more he thought about it, the more Abdel realized they had manifested themselves only after Sarevok's death by his hands. He couldn't help but wonder if he had unknowingly taken some of Imoen's immortal essence. When she had been transformed into the avatar of Bhaal by the wizard Jon Irenicus, Abdel had fought and defeated Imoen's hideous demon form. In doing so he might have absorbed much of the young woman's tainted essence. That would explain why he had become so powerful, while Imoen still seemed… normal.
While Abdel was wrestling with the implications of what he had been told, Jaheira continued to question Melissan.
"You seem to know an awful lot about this," she said, her voice more than slightly accusatory in tone. "How are you involved, Melissan?"
"I, too, have heard the prophecies," the tall woman in black explained, "Like the Five, I know Alaundo's words and what they foretell. I have dedicated my life to preventing Bhaal's return to this world-as any sane person would.
"For many years I fought an invisible enemy. I suspected a group of Bhaal's offspring would unite their powers to bring about his rebirth, but I could find no evidence such a cult existed. Only in the past few years have I been able to confirm the rumors and my suspicions. And now I will do everything in my power to thwart them in their mad quest."
Jaheira said nothing. It appeared to Abdel she was mulling over Melissan's words, trying to find some fault or lie in them. Eventually the half-elf gave up and turned her attention to Sarevok.
"You don't seem surprised to hear all this."
How his half-elf lover was able to judge anything about the reactions of the stoic Sarevok was a mystery to Abdel, though his half brother's response did seem to indicate Jaheira's instincts had been correct.
"I have heard this tale before, druid. Several years ago, from Melissan herself."
"It is true," Melissan admitted, cutting off Jaheira before she could comment. "When I first learned the Five were more than just a dark shadow in my own imagination, I sought out allies to my cause-those who had a vested interest in stopping the Bhaalspawn before they became powerful enough to orchestrate this campaign of murder that has now swept the land."
"You went looking for other Bhaalspawn to fight against the Five," Imoen interjected.
"Precisely, my child. Who better to aid me against the Lord of Murder's children than one of Bhaal's own progeny? At the time, of course, you and Abdel were still unknown to me. The scribes of Candlekeep had done well in burying your history and wiping your very existence from all records.
"But I knew of another who was quickly gaining power and fame, whose name was whispered with fear and awe by the darkest, most vile criminals of the Sword Coast. A young man named Sarevok."
"Melissan approached me," Sarevok said, picking up the story in his deep monotone. "She told me of my heritage, and all its implications. She hoped to persuade me to work with her for my own self-preservation, if for no other reason. But I was already consumed by the dark taint within my own soul. Instead of joining her against the Five, I vowed I would be the one to bring Bhaal back to the mortal realm myself.
"And so I plotted a war between Nashkel and Baldur's Gate, and when I learned of Abdel's existence, I was determined to kill my half brother and take his essence to augment my own power."
There was a long pause once Sarevok finished. Melissan resumed speaking to fill the almost accusatory silence. "That is the danger of having allies who are born of evil itself. They will often betray you. I have had to relearn this lesson many, many times."
Jaheira spoke up in an angry voice. "So you knew all this!" she declared, pointing a finger at Sarevok. "You could have just told us this, without bringing us into this besieged