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The Worlds Within Choose a chapter: Chapter 6 Several days later Hypatia found herself once again
on her chosen perch near the bow of Cavallas’ boat.
The inky black waters of the Dark River flowed past.
To her limited vision the darkness was disconcerting.
She could see a few great stalactites but they rapidly faded away
into the gloom. Occasionally
she thought she might have seen something menacing moving underneath the
surface of the water, but she couldn’t be sure. Valen shifted into a more comfortable position
amongst the crates piled on the deck and Hypatia was instantly aware of
him. Stop it this instant!
She scolded herself. Ever
since he had started her weapons lessons she had become quite aware of
things that were normally outside of her realm of concern.
The way his voice sounded when he spoke, rough and almost smoky,
his scent, and especially the way his strong arms felt when he was guiding
her through the dance of battle. Certainly she had not missed these things about him
before, she had just not given them any thought.
So she scolded herself. Really,
Hypatia he is only trying to help you better wield your weapons as any
warrior as skilled as he is would. You
are starting to behave like some flighty woman-child. Even if there were a chance that he might consider you, this
is most certainly neither the time nor the place for such frivolity. Still, it was easy to feel sheltered when he was
near, to feel that she might just once be able to let her guard down.
Far too easy to allow the old daydream to resurface.
The one where she was not always required to be the strong one, the
one where there was someone special to explore the wonders and yes even
dangers of life with. Hypatia shook her head, thoroughly disgusted with
herself. Here she was on a
boat in the middle of a poisonous river in the Underdark.
She was trying to help a group of rebel Drow against this
Valsharess and her mighty army.
She could ill afford to let her mind wander in such a fashion. Emerald eyes sought out Valen’s form once again
amongst the crates of supplies for Lith My’athar and a half smile found
its way to Hypatia’s face. Undoubtedly
he’d be scandalized, but it would be so easy for her to think of him as
her champion. He always
seemed to know when she needed him beside her in battle.
Time and again he would spot a threat and go charging ahead into
the thick of battle, leaving her behind to cast her spells.
She would cast for as long as she could before she was forced to
draw her weapons and fight. When
it seemed that she was beset on all sides and strike after strike found
it’s way through the gaps in her defenses, he would suddenly be there
laying low those who threatened her. They had fought the Drow woman, Sabal, twice more.
They had learned her name from Euclid the fool before they’d
begun their search for the shards of the mirror.
They had encountered Sabal and a group of her underlings outside
the cave where Queen Shaori had made her home after leaving the castle.
Sabal had gotten the mirror shard that the Queen had.
But Valen and she had gotten the other four shards.
She had hoped to bargain with Sabal for the fifth shard but the
proud Drow woman insisted on a death match to see who should give up their
shards. It had proven to be
her last fight. The mirror had been repaired and the Avariel returned
to their rightful place among the Lost Peaks.
Even now Hypatia had the mirror in her pack. With a thoughtful frown her gaze dropped to her pack
sitting at her feet. The
mirror would make a fine offering to her goddess.
It was a powerful magical artifact and she’d already lost or
destroyed too many of those. She
remembered ruefully the need to destroy the Mythallar and losing the
artifact that gated to the Plane of Shadow.
There was the Relic of the Reaper, of course, but there was
something decidedly unwholesome about that. Hypatia scowled at her pack then turned her thoughts
back to the events of the past few days. Though weary after their success with the Avariel she
had decided to travel next to a place called The Isle of the Maker, the
one Valen had told her about that was supposed to be home to a dungeon
full of golems. These
were no normal constructs though. It
so happened that the Maker was experimenting with creating sentient
golems, and he was a master of his craft. Hypatia had not been familiar with golems before
their entrance into the dungeon of the Maker.
She had been utterly astounded by how tough, how tenacious the
things were. They were for
all practical purposes immune to magic too so most of the fighting had
fallen to Valen while she tried to stay out of harm’s way and heal him
when he needed it. Her weapons had proven to be all but useless against
the things until she found a magical hammer that seemed to be made for
just such foes. She had
offered it to Valen at first, but he’d just gripped his flail more
tightly and told her to use it herself.
She needed to be able to defend herself. They had found a remarkable suit of golden armor
there, though she’d almost gotten them killed trying to get to it.
Fortunately Valen had spotted the trap before she’d tripped it.
Then in searching the room she’d seen the lever that disarmed the
thing. The armor was glorious
and she could hardly wait to get back to Lith My’athar and have Rizolvir
fit it to her. Once again she
had offered it to Valen first, but he had declined stating that his
dragonfly green breastplate had been given to him by the Drow and he would
not part with it. On the lower level they had encountered the sentient
golems and after several more battles managed to find some who were
willing to parley. It was
there that they’d been able to fulfill another of the Seer’s requests. In exchange for obtaining the power source that would give
them their freedom, some of the golems had agreed to help the rebel Drow
of Lith My’athar. Since nothing can be easy they had had to fight
another faction of the golems to obtain the power source, but in the end
they had been successful. They had continued on into the lowest depths of the
dungeon, more for completeness sake than anything.
It was there that they had walked into a frightening trap indeed.
Four huge obelisks began to charge as soon as they stepped onto the
platform over the endless crevasse. An
energy barrier reflected around the platform by four sinister mirrors kept
them from leaving. It was she
who had spotted the sling in the skeletal remains of an unfortunate
halfling, judging by the size of the person and used the bullets to knock
the four mirrors out of alignment with each other.
Not a moment too soon either. Then there had been the battle with the two
adamantine golem guardians. That
had almost been the death of both of them.
Then they had entered the sanctum of the Maker himself.
He was not dead as even his creations had suspected, but had become
a demi-lich. Once again
Hypatia had found herself unable to do much more than stay out of harm’s
way and heal Valen. Though
she did manage to damage the foul demi-lich with a few of her spells. Each time they stopped no matter how weary they were
Valen continued her lessons. She
liked to think that she was showing some small improvement too. So here they were, back on Cavallas’ boat utterly
exhausted and on their way back to Lith My’athar. But they had an
artifact and news of allies to present to the Seer. Thinking back on the events of the past few weeks,
Hypatia felt that she had somehow managed to cram a lifetime of adventure
in to the short span. First
answering the call from Waterdeep, then taking on the Undermountain,
rescuing the ungrateful Halaster, being teleported to the rebel outpost of
Lith My’athar and the battles since then.
She’d managed to help the Seer’s forces, perhaps now they might
treat her a little less warily. She
was ever so weary of being always kept at arms length.
Surely putting her life at risk to help them would earn her a
little trust, maybe even a chance at a friendship or two. “Might we speak?”
Valen’s quietly spoken question startled her out of her musings. “Certainly Valen.
What would you like?” His expression betrayed the uncertainty behind his
fierce eyes. “I wish to
talk about the Seer.” Hypatia was a bit confused, but since he seemed so
determined. “Very well.
I find that I am curious about her myself.” He thought about her statement for a moment then
shook his head. “It is not
my place to discuss the Seer’s business beyond how it relates to me,
personally. But perhaps that
will shed some light on what you wish to know.” “I am unsure of how much knowledge you have of the
planes, Hypatia.” He began. “I
suspect little, in which case the Blood Wars mean nothing to you. Is that so?” Unable to resist, Hypatia gave in to a wicked
impulse. “Is this a gender
thing? Like how all men are
pigs?” She was rewarded when Valen laughed heartily,
obviously surprised. “No,
no,” he chuckled, “and surely not all men are pigs?
Or do I not want to ask that question?” Oh, my. When
he smiles like that it lights up his whole being. Hypatia shook her head, still smiling herself and indicated
that he should continue. “The Blood Wars are the ages-old conflict between
the demons of the Abyss and the devils of Baatezu.
We have battled so long and so ferociously that the war is now part
of our blood. There is no true hope of winning, just one battle
after the next is fought wherever demons and devils encounter each other.
An endless cycle of rage and bloodshed. I was…recruited into those battles.”
He looked away from her, his eyes taking on a haunted cast.
“For years I fought in the Outer Planes as something less than a
soldier…I was a beast.” Hypatia sat transfixed by Valen’s tale, her eyes
wide and mirroring her emotions. It
must have been horrible. “I
am so very sorry. That sounds
awful.” He nodded and attempted a wan smile of appreciation.
“Thank you, my lady. It is…something I try not to think about
any longer.” Probably wise. “At the time; however, it was all I knew.” “How long did this go on?”
Hypatia was unable to curb her curiosity. He thought for a moment.
“I cannot be sure. Much
of my time in the Abyss was spent in an incoherent rage…Perhaps twenty
years? More? Time has little
meaning there.” Good heavens, that long?
“Why,” Hypatia asked a bit hesitantly, “did you fight if
you didn’t like it?” “I had little choice. I was a slave, you see, the property of my demonic master.” No! Her
eyes reflected her denial of this revelation. “He threw me into each battle and I fought to
survive.” Merciful heavens.
“How were you recruited?” “I was captured.”
Valen stopped momentarily scowling at the memory.
“I spent my entire youth fleeing from the Blood War, but I was
scooped up by the demons and made a battle slave anyway. The Blood Wars made me the warrior I am,” he nodded
to his armor and weapons. “Though
it meant nothing to me. I was
a mindless soldier, no more. My infernal masters encouraged the demonic blood that
was within me. I was beholden
to it…I reveled in it and was desperate to please my masters with each
opponent I slaughtered. There was nothing in me that was human, and that
meant less than nothing to me. Until
the Seer found me.” It took Hypatia a moment to find her voice, her
unquenchable curiosity driving her on.
“The Seer came to the Abyss?” Valen shook his head.
“No. The first time
I saw her I was summoned along with my master to your world by a
spell…to fight against the Seer in fact.” Hypatia couldn’t keep the look of astonishment off
her face. “A Drow priestess,” Valen continued, “had
called us and we were beholden to do battle.
During the attack I came face to face with the Seer…and
she…looked into my soul. I
have no other way to describe it.” It was obvious to Hypatia that this had been a
traumatic experience for Valen. No
wonder he was a bit irritated when I explained my gift to him. “We were banished back to the planes, but the
memory of the Seer stayed with me. It
haunted my dreams.” Valen
closed his eyes and shuddered. “For
the first time in decades, I began to remember the life I once had.” Hypatia’s heart ached for him. “That can not have been easy for you.” In a flat voice he stated, “it wasn’t.” Pausing for a long moment Valen closed his eyes. “My master sensed my…difficulty. I was tortured, for months or years…I really could not tell. I only remember that it was agony beyond measure. Demons know how to torture.” Hypatia’s eyes reflected a deep empathic pain.
She thought to stop his telling of this tale, if only so that he
wouldn’t have to relive it, but her curiosity got the better of her
compassion and she sat mutely and listened. “Eventually I was able to escape Grimash’t.”
For a moment Valen’s eyes took on a haunted look.
“I made my way to your world, an alien place for a planar such as
myself, and searched until I found the Seer. She healed my wounds and…spoke to me.
She offered to help me. If
I wanted it.” His voice was thick with emotion. “She saved me in every way that one can be saved.” “Your master didn’t try to get you back?”
The words were spoken before Hypatia even knew she’d thought
them. You just can’t
leave well enough alone can you? Valen smirked. “Yes,
he did. He was unsuccessful.
It seem that all my skill at killing devils also applies just as well to
demons. Imagine that. I thought it necessary to tell you all this simply so
you would know how truly important the Seer is to me. I would never betray her…or allow her to be betrayed.” Hypatia sat back, caught by surprise by his words.
Of course, he worries about those he cares about.
It is truly a wonder that he still has the capacity to care.
“I’m not going to betray anyone, Valen.” Her words caused him to grimace. “I’m sorry, I do not mean to make accusations.
I simply thought you should know that.” Hypatia nodded her understanding and, when it
appeared that he had nothing further to add, turned back to watching the
Dark River. It was still early in the day when Cavallas docked at
the port of Lith My’athar. Disembarking
Hypatia guided them first to the merchant, Rizolvir so that she could have
him fit the golden armor to her and sell some of the extra equipment
they’d found. She was not
surprised when she had to leave the armor with the extraordinary smith so
that he could make the alterations. But
he promised to have it ready by the end of the next day. Hypatia was careful to keep the best weapons to give
to Imloth for the Seer’s troops. She
only hoped that they could be put to good use. Finished up with her bargaining they turned and made
their way to the temple of Lolth where The Seer awaited. “Valen?” “I am yours to command.” Ha! This
time I was ready. Pleased
that she seemed to have her wayward imagination under control Hypatia made
a suggestion. “We should
spend a day or two in Lith My’athar to recuperate before heading out
into the Underdark proper.” Valen frowned, “we do not have much time before the
forces of the Valsharess move on Lith My’athar.
Do you think that is wise?” Hypatia looked over his left shoulder for a moment,
her eyes becoming unfocused as she looked briefly. “We have some time still.
Two days would be the longest I would want to tarry, but I think it
would be best. We are both
exhausted by the battles we have already fought.
Better to rest now than to push ourselves to our limit only to find
that we have used up our reserves too soon.” “Very well,” Valen agreed, albeit reluctantly.
“I will find some practice weapons and we can spar.
You still have much to learn, my lady.” Hypatia smiled, she was enjoying her new found skill
in battle and looked forward to improving even more. Greatly daring she handed him a pouch containing most of the
gold she’d gotten. “You
should take this and have Rizolvir boost the enchantments upon your
weapon.” Valen froze as she pressed the pouch into his hand, a
look of stunned amazement on his face. Before he could protest Hypatia reasoned, “You told
me that I would be hard pressed to find another warrior as skilled with
the blade as you are. I have
witnessed the truth of those words. I
need you. I can not think of
another who could assist me the way you have.” A hint of a smile briefly touched Valen’s features.
“Thank you, my lady.” Hypatia smiled brightly at him. “Let us speak to the Seer first.
Then we can take care of these other preparations.” They entered the ornate temple of Lolth and went
directly to where the Seer stood near the raised dais where an altar had
obviously stood at one time. At Hypatia’s indication Valen reported their
success to the Seer. It was
when he mentioned the recovery of the artifact known as the Shattered
Mirror that the Seer turned to Hypatia. “I should warn you, Hypatia…I know something of
this mirror.” The Seer
spoke in a worried yet somehow calm voice.
“It is a very powerful—but very dangerous—item.
What do you intend to do with it?” Well I could take it to a temple of my goddess and
give it as an offering. It
would certainly put me in good standing with her and with the temple. Hypatia rapidly considered.
But your need is great, and you would most likely use it whereas
it would likely only gather dust if I were to tithe it.
“I don’t know. Can you make use of it?” The Seer watched her carefully. “I might be able to, though I would have to be extremely
careful with such an item. But
I could never ask you to turn such a valuable artifact over to me.” It was the thought of others, like Valen, that the
Seer might help that swayed her decision.
“If you can use it, then take it.
Maybe it will help.” The Seer’s eyes flew wide in shock.
“I…that is very…generous of you Hypatia.
Thank you. I…will
try to put it to good advantage. I dare not use it before the coming battle, for I
fear to fall victim to its power. But
in the days that are to come it may one day help us to find our way to a
better life than this. You
have done much for our cause, Hypatia.
You have my gratitude.” With a slight bow, Hypatia turned and left the
temple. She had supplies to
purchase and Valen had promised a sparring lesson. Much later that day she returned to the temple
wishing for nothing more than a hot bath and some food.
She was bruised and her pride was smarting from her lesson, but she
was beginning to see what Valen had meant.
She left herself open far too often in battle. She liked to think that she was starting to put some of the
things he was teaching her to use though. She entered the temple and was surprised to see that
the Seer seemed to be waiting for her. The Seer turned a somewhat stern gaze upon Hypatia.
“I understand that you are responsible for Zesyyr’s rise to
power. Is it true?
Did you murder Matron Myrune?” “Yes.” Hypatia stood straight, making no excuses. She had done what had to be done for the good of all, she believed and she would not shrink from the responsibility of her actions. “Zesyyr paid you for this?”
The Seer continued with her questions. “Yes.” The Seer seemed to flinch at Hypatia’s admission.
“And after you’d completed the murder, you demanded further
payment from her?” “Yes.” Valen swung to face her, surprise and disappointment
flickering across his face before he could mask his emotions.
His tail started to flick from side to side in agitation.
“You did this before we left for the islands?” Hypatia looked him in the eye, “yes.” Valen scowled deeply at her. “Were you corrupted so quickly by the Underdark, or are you
just some kind of mercenary?” Stunned Hypatia could only watch as he turned and
strode from the room. Swallowing
back her emotions she turned again to face the Seer. “You did not tell him?”
The Seer’s question was really more of a statement. With a shrug that belied her inner turmoil Hypatia
answered, “it didn’t come up.” The Seer released a drawn out sigh.
“I too had thought better of you.” Hypatia’s emerald eyes glittered as anger suffused
her. “There is still much
to do and I would like to get an early start tomorrow.” After a slight hesitation the Seer nodded her
dismissal. Hypatia spun on
her heels and with long angry strides found her way to the room she’d
been given on her first night in the Underdark. Wrenching off her armor she began to pace angrily
while tugging on her tunic and leggings.
She had already been through so much and still more was demanded of
her. Was it so much to ask
that the people she was risking her life for might just once give her the
benefit of the doubt? Unable to vent her frustrations properly in the small
room, Hypatia stormed out and went in search of something more
satisfactory. Before too long
she found herself in the kitchen and her eyes lit up with unholy glee as
she noticed the neat stacks of plates. Though she’d been given to understand that most
dishes found in the Underdark were of fine metal these were of common clay
that had been fired in an oven. These
will do quite nicely. There was a serving girl busy putting the dishes away
and Hypatia strode over to her purposefully. “Yes my lady?”
The girl looked up timidly. “Take this gold and go buy new dishes.”
Hypatia handed her a pouch with some gold in it and looked around
determinedly. “But, my lady,” the girl looked around with a
confused expression on her face. “There
is nothing wrong with these dishes.” “Not yet.” Hypatia answered as she deliberately
picked up a plate from the top of the stack and hurled it across the room. With a startled gasp the girl fled leaving Hypatia to
give full vent to her rage. Each
dish that shattered seemed to feed her fury, she began to throw them
faster and with more force. “How could you?!”
She screamed as a dish shattered against the far wall. “Have you learned nothing of me?!” Another dish flew through the air. “Do you truly think I am nothing more than some
heartless mercenary?” A serving platter sailed across the room. So great was her anger that she did not notice the
small cluster of people who ran into the room. The Seer looked on with more than a little
astonishment as dishes flew across the room to shatter against the far
wall. Hypatia was throwing them as fast as she could pick them up.
The Seer raised a delicate hand to cover her mouth as she watched.
It was a spectacular display of temper. Valen, not content to watch, pushed his way past
Imloth and Nathyrra into the room. Hypatia had just released another dish when a strong
hand gripped her arm and swung her about. “If you would like, my lady.” Valen growled at her. “I
can show you how to throw a proper temper tantrum.” With a cry of pure rage Hypatia wrenched herself out
of his grasp and stumbled back a few steps before gathering herself.
With another cry she launched herself at him. She was moderately pleased that she’d managed to
catch him by surprise and he staggered back under her before tripping over
a pail that had been left out and falling on his tail.
Hypatia scrambled up and circled, waiting for him to regain his
feet. “My lady,” he said unable to disguise his shock.
“You will hurt yourself. You
are not wearing your armor and I…”
He broke off what he was about to say as she charged him again. He was ready for her this time though and easily
caught her when she leapt at him, swinging her around and pinning her
against the wall. Hypatia snarled at him and raised her hand to strike
him. The air left her lungs
when, to stop her he pushed his full length against her and in doing so
freed one hand so that he could catch hers before it connected with his
face. With an enraged hiss she leaned forward and clamped
her teeth on one of his pointed ears. “Hypatia!” Valen growled the command through
clenched teeth, his tail lashing. “I
will say this once and only once. Let
go.” With a growl of her own she released his ear, turning
to glare at him. She was
surprised to see that his eyes were glowing a dull red, though not too
surprised by the fierce expression on his face.
She was close enough to notice a muscle ticking along his jaw. “Now,” he said, his teeth still clenched, “if
you are through with these childish antics…” He got no farther, for upon those words Hypatia
wrenched her arm free from his grasp and with both hands took a hold of
the horns that adorned his head. With
a rapid motion she yanked on his horns delivering a head butt that
surprised him into taking several steps back. Hypatia was unable to enjoy her newfound freedom
though as she was quite unable to stand, a fact that was not helped by her
suddenly blurry and doubled vision. She
staggered before sliding to the floor holding her head in both hands. Probably not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.
She thought as she tried to clear up her vision by blinking
rapidly. The Seer, appalled at what she’d done, nevertheless
knelt by her side and taking Hypatia’s face in her hands turned it up
toward her so that she might determine if there was any lasting damage. Imloth, close behind the Seer rested his dire mace on
the floor and leaned against it, looking down on Hypatia and shaking his
head slowly. “Did you
manage to knock some sense into yourself?” Hypatia gaped up at him, then started laughing.
She had indeed ‘knocked some sense’ into herself and was not so
foolish as to fail to see how utterly ridiculous her behavior had been.
With her vision slowly clearing she sobered up and turned to where
Valen was standing, his tail still lashing rapidly from side to side and
his eyes still that dull red. She
favored him with a half-hearted glare and with the Seer’s help regained
her feet. “Now,” the Seer regarded her with a concerned
expression. “Would you like
to tell me why?” Hypatia was still angry enough to deliberately
misunderstand the question the Seer had asked.
“Because his words hurt me.”
She was rewarded by a startled look from Valen. The Seer frowned briefly before clarifying.
“That is not what I meant. I
mean why did you feel the need to help Zesyyr rise to power?” Hypatia scowled, favoring Valen in particular before
answering. “Had Matron
Myrune remained in power House Maeviir would have betrayed you, Seer. During the great battle with the Valsharess they would have
turned on you. Not one of us
in this room would have survived to protect you and you would have become
the captive of a vengeful Valsharess.” The Seer and Nathyrra gasped at this revelation while
Imloth and Valen listened closely, their concern evident. Noting their reactions Hypatia finished ruthlessly.
“I did not see so I can not be sure Seer, but I got the distinct
feeling that your death was neither quick in coming nor particularly
easy.” The Seer nodded slowly.
“I see. And
Zesyyr?” Hypatia shrugged, “I do not know what happens with
Zesyyr in power beyond the fact that House Maeviir stands beside you.
There are too many variables.” The Seer considered her words for a long moment.
“Hypatia, please forgive me for not asking you first why you did
what you did. I
was…surprised that you had seemingly involved yourself with the politics
of the Drow.” Hypatia released a slow breath before nodding.
“Perhaps I erred in not telling you of the matter.” With a gentle smile the Seer beckoned her.
“Come, you have much to do.
I will send someone in to clean up.” “No.” Hypatia looked around then back at the Seer
resolutely. “I made this
mess and I will clean it up.” If her statement surprised anyone, they chose not to
contest it. Rather they left
her to her task. It did not take quite so long to clean up the
aftermath of her rampage as she had feared it might.
She had just finished putting the broom away and dusted her hands
off when a voice from the doorway startled her.
She spun around to see Valen leaning against the doorframe his arms
crossed across his chest. “How is your head, my lady?” He asked his tail still lashing angrily behind him. Remembering her behavior caused a blush to stain her
cheeks. “Forgive me Valen.
I should never have let my temper rule me.” Valen nodded but Hypatia noticed that his jaw was
still clenched. “The Seer
had a vision. She saw you
fighting beside us at the gates of Lith My’athar.
She said she also saw you dancing in a very beautiful temple on the
surface with many other surfacers during the battle of Lith My’athar.
So tell me Hypatia.” He
demanded his voice harsh. “Which
do you choose?” Too hurt for anger this time Hypatia could only ask.
“Was there a holy symbol that the dancing woman was wearing?” Grimly Valen answered, “Yes, the symbol was of a
fair lady with long red hair, according to the Seer.
I told her that was not the holy symbol you carry.
What else are you hiding?” “I am hiding nothing Valen.
I am a priestess of Mystra.”
Hypatia pulled out her own holy symbol, a golden circle of stars
and waived it in his face. He
took an involuntary step back and she pushed past him.
“The woman your Seer saw was a high priestess of Sune.
Her name is Cimmera. She
is my twin sister.” “There are TWO of you?” Valen’s startled
exclamation echoed down the corridor as Hypatia fled, unwilling to let him
see her tears. Reaching her small room she slammed the door and
wedged a chair underneath the latch so that he couldn’t force his way
in. At least without totally
destroying the door she hoped. That
done she flung herself on the small cot and wept bitter tears. |
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