Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [57]
"Your brother has lost someone he loved," she said softly, her abused throat making her voice rough and rasping. "He has a right to be upset."
"Not like this," Imoen protested, a protective arm around the taller woman's shoulders as her eyes shot daggers at Abdel's back. "After everything you've done for us, he has no right to treat you this way."
The big man spun on his heel to face the two women. The ring of cowled priests slipped silently away, leaving the trio of interlopers alone to solve their disputes.
"She set us up, Imoen," Abdel declared. "She led us right into a trap."
Imoen started to protest, but Melissan raised her hand to hush the young girl.
"I will not deny Gromnir's army was ambushed," the tall woman said softly, her voice now closer to its normal tone. "But I assure you, I had nothing at all to do with the betrayal."
"Who then?" Abdel demanded.
Melissan shook her head. "Regrettably I cannot say. There were many Bhaalspawn gathered in Saradush seeking shelter from Yaga Shura's army. Perhaps one of them sought to trade his own life for the lives of all his kin."
Despite his best efforts, Abdel felt his anger fading. He had accused Melissan based on his own assumptions. They were assumptions based on the dying accusations of the mad General Gromnir. Forced to look at the facts, he couldn't find any evidence Melissan was the one responsible for the ambush. In fact, Melissan had saved Abdel's life-at least according to Imoen.
Looking into his half sister's eyes, Abdel realized she was infatuated with the powerful, beautiful woman. Abdel had seen that look in her eyes before, but in the past it had always been when she looked at him. Melissan was Imoen's savior, and apparently she had supplanted Abdel in his role as the young woman's hero.
Abdel himself wasn't so awestruck.
"You haven't been completely honest with me," he said, remembering the parting words of the mysterious being in the Abyssal plane. "You know more about the Five than you have told me."
Before Imoen could leap to her new idol's defense, Melissan spoke. "It is true, Abdel. I have not been completely honest with you. But you must understand I could not trust you until you had proved yourself by defeating Yaga Shura."
"Yet you expect me to trust you."
Melissan sighed. "Abdel, my work is difficult. I seek to save the offspring of an evil, treacherous deity from their own kin. I must constantly be on guard against betrayal from my own allies. You know many of your kin are not to be trusted."
Reluctantly, Abdel nodded. He could not deny the truth of her words, just as he could not deny his own tainted heritage.
"Many years ago I approached Sarevok and told him everything I knew about the Five and their purpose," Melissan continued. "He used that information for himself and nearly started a war in his mad efforts to supplant the Five as the one who would resurrect your dark father. I have learned from such mistakes to guard my secrets well, Abdel Adrian."
"And look at what happened with Gromnir," Imoen chimed in. "The people here in Saradush offered him sanctuary, and he took over their town. No wonder Melissan was reluctant to tell us everything. You can't blame her."
"Where is Sarevok now?" Abdel asked, suddenly aware of his half brother's absence.
With a shrug, Melissan replied, "He rode by my side when we charged from the gate, but we were separated during the chaos of battle. He has not returned. Perhaps he is one of the thousands who lie dead on the battlefield. Perhaps he was slain by the army that ravaged Saradush and only fled when they saw the dragon take to the sky"
"I doubt these soldiers would have been capable of ending my half brother's existence," Abdel muttered.
"Maybe he was the traitor," Imoen offered. "It wouldn't be the first time he's tried to destroy a city."
"Perhaps," Melissan admitted, though she did not seem convinced. "Sarevok was aware of our battle plan. He could