Baldur's gate II_ throne of Bhaal - Drew Karpyshyn [96]
The monk walked purposefully forward to deliver the killing blow to Abdel's twitching, brain-dead corpse. He pulled up short when a tall, ethereal form materialized in his path.
"Balthazar, I am here to warn you of Melissan's plans." The creature's voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, as if an invisible chorus spoke in unison with its voice.
Wary of further treachery from Melissan, Balthazar took a step backward. "I will thwart Bhaal's Anointed," he assured the entity, not certain if it was friend or foe. "Once Abdel is slain I shall end my own life and forever remove the threat of Bhaal's return."
Much to Balthazar's surprise, the glorious being suddenly appeared nervous. "I should not tell you this… I should not even be here. The Hidden One disapproves of this____________________But Melissan has gone far beyond the bounds of what was foreseen. She has made it necessary for me to break my oath of noninterference."
The monk shook his head. "I do not understand you, creature."
"Melissan does not seek to restore Bhaal-she seeks to supplant him. Even now she walks Bhaal's Abyssal plane. If she learns how to become one with Bhaal's immortal essence she will ascend to godhood."
There was silence as Balthazar mulled over the implications of the messenger's words. He had sworn himself to preventing the return of Bhaal, but to allow Melissan to become the Lord of Murder herself was an equally reprehensible solution.
"I will stop her," Balthazar declared. "Take me to her."
"I can open the path to Bhaal's realm," the magnificent being explained, "but once there you must follow Melissan through the final door yourself."
Balthazar nodded in understanding, then waited for the way to become clear. After nearly a minute the angelic being spoke again.
"Why do you hesitate, Balthazar? Time is of the essence."
"I am ready," Balthazar replied, slightly confused. "Show me the path and I shall begin the journey."
"The gate is open." There was deep concern in the entity's infinite voice. "Simply pass through to enter Bhaal's Abyssal plane. Once there, you must follow Melissan through the final door."
Balthazar turned his head from side to side. "Where? I see no gate. I see no door. I see nothing."
The shadowy being was beginning to dissolve.
"Melissan is within Bhaal's realm. She has passed through the final door. Enter the realm and follow her through the door. I will keep the gate open as long as I am able." And the creature was gone.
Knowing time was short, Balthazar rushed back and forth around the obviously empty room, trying to find the gate that was supposedly there. The inner peace Balthazar had cultivated with a lifetime of study and contemplation was rapidly disintegrating, lost in the frantic, futile search for a gate he could not see. He could feel the purpose of his very existence slipping from his grasp. Melissan was about to become the Lord of Murder, and his life's work to prevent Bhaal's return would be meaningless if he did not stop her, but he still could not see the way to his father's Abyssal realm.
Understanding dawned slowly on the monk. His mind resisted the truth, and tried to bury it in an inescapable fortress of mental will and discipline. Just as it had resisted and buried the essence of Bhaal for so many years. Balthazar could no longer deny the truth, not if he wanted to stop Melissan. Forced to accept his own impotence, he turned his attention back to the comatose Bhaalspawn on the floor.
* * * * *
The empty, gray existence of unconsciousness slipped away as Abdel's awareness returned. He felt the warmth of magical healing spreading throughout his body, bolstering his own