Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [66]
Again and again Abdel slammed his own head against the metal faceplate, his nose breaking in a burst of blood then healing just in time to be broken once more as Abdel banged his head against Sarevok's armor over and over.
The taste of his own blood did little to cool Abdel's wrath, but Sarevok would not be shaken free. For nearly an hour the two combatants struggled against each other, locked in the unbreakable embrace. Pushing their bodies to the point of exhaustion, each warrior strained against one of the only other beings on Faerun able to match their own immense strength. Finally, Abdel's remarkable regenerative powers came into play.
Sarevok's cramping fingers lost their hold, the locking grip of his bear hug slipped. Bringing his arms up, Abdel was able to push himself away from Sarevok and spring to his feet. His armored foe, muscles heavy and weary from the prolonged struggle, lay motionless on the rocky ground. Had Sarevok been human and not some specter given corporal form, Abdel imagined, he would have been panting and gasping for breath. Sarevok might as well have been a dead thing. He looked no more than an inanimate suit of plate mail on the ground.
Abdel slowly raised his sword, intending to take back the existence he had granted his hated half brother. The savage rage was gone, it had slipped away during the protracted, exhausting battle to free himself from Sarevok's grip. Now Abdel moved with the measured actions of a man bent on finishing a long, hard task.
"I cannot defeat you, Abdel," Sarevok admitted in a cold monotone. "We have both seen that the injuries my armor accidentally inflicted upon you during our struggle were inconsequential. I am at your mercy, brother."
Almost against his own will, Abdel's hand had stayed at the sound of Sarevok's voice. Realizing he was hesitating, he tensed his muscles to deliver the killing blow.
"At least grant me the satisfaction of knowing why you slay me now," Sarevok asked, his voice completely devoid of emotion.
Despite himself, Abdel answered. "You dare ask such a question? After betraying us at Saradush?"
The armored helm, splattered and stained with the blood from Abdel's repeatedly broken nose, moved slightly from side to side. "I am no traitor, Abdel. If you do not believe me, strike now and end my return to this physical plane. But if you want to learn the truth, set aside your sword."
Abdel raised the blade up above his head but did not thrust it home. His mind churned and spun, too tired to deal with another dilemma of who to trust. Unable to decide if his suspicions about Sarevok were justified, Abdel could not bring himself to strike. In disgust he let the sword slip from his grasp to clatter on the stones at his feet.
The sheen of sweat on his muscles caused him to shiver as a chill gust of wind blew across his body. Abdel collapsed in frustration beside his brother.
Slowly, Sarevok lifted himself to a sitting position. "So you believe I am innocent of treachery?" he asked.
"I no longer know what to believe," Abdel replied, forcing himself to his feet. He retrieved his sword, turned his back on Sarevok, and returned to the shelter of his cave. A second later, he heard the grinding of metal on metal as Sarevok stood up and followed him.
"I am here to offer my aid," Sarevok assured Abdel as he took a seat beside his half brother inside the small cavern. "When you restored my life I vowed to stay by your side, brother. I shall not break that vow. That is why I followed your trail from the battlefield outside Saradush."
"Is that the reason?" Abdel asked sarcastically, "Or are you here to finish the job Abazigal's dragon could not?"
Sarevok shook his head. "Abazigal? I am not familiar with that name."
Abdel sighed, still uncertain if Sarevok was telling him the truth. "He is one of the Five. A half-dragon, if Melissan's reports are accurate. His pet sacked Saradush-right after the ambush that decimated Gromnir's army."
The armored man tilted his helm to one side. "And you naturally blamed me for the ambush?"