Session 14: Being Fucking Interrogated, Hot Women Toying With My Affections, Hot Women Threatening to Eat Me, Mysterious Revelations, Last Minute Changes in Plans, Mushroom Farms, Pointed Looks, and Low Level Thugs Who Don’t Know Jackshit

General Summary

Attention assholes: If you are not liking people talking, talking, talking so much, then perhaps you must skip to end of journal entry. At end there is more normal things like torture and killing.

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Pain. So much fucking pain. Tiniest movement makes back scream. I am filled with the nausea and head is pounding. And all I can think about from moment eyes open is Aleorman and his fucking syringe.
Grandfather and Truffle are sitting at little table talking quietly in Elven. They are talking about me. What is to be done about poor little Alyona? Oh, little Alyona has been through so much. How can we protect her? Can we get her out of line of fire? Can we get her someplace where she can be safe to recover? They talk about me like I am useless fucking civilian, like I am pampered daughter of rich merchant who has never suffered so much as skinned knee. It is fucking insult. Time to protect me was years ago; it is far too late now, assholes.
“He knew how to hit me. I’ll give the bastard that,” says Grandfather. “That asshole had her doped to the gills from the minute he got his hands on her. Now she’s fucking hooked on the shit that…” He stops, then gives frustrated sigh. “I have neither the facilities nor the raw materials to help her, Scrim, and she is suffering…”
There is beautiful glass vase sitting on table next to bed. With angry growl, I grab and throw at Grandfather’s head. It is too bad that he hears me and ducks out of way, but, to be honest, aim was not so good anyway. It shatters against wall, and pieces fall to floor.
Grandfather does not look at me right away. He stares at broken pieces of vase, and drums fingers on table as he considers wreckage.
Finally he breaks silence. “I am sorry if we disturbed you, Granddaughter.” He still will not look at me. “We can leave if you would like. You should get more rest; we will come back when the boat is docked.” He looks at Truffle and jerks head toward door. Truffle looks at him like Grandfather is fucking coward, because he is.
“Sir, I don’t think…” he starts to say, but I interrupt him.
“For fuck’s sake, we have to talk, all three of us.” I take deep breath and sit up rest of way. Shit shit shit shit shit. Goddammit! I want… I need…
Grandfather nods head reluctantly and sits back down. Truffle is looking back and forth between two of us — stuck in middle, like always. He sinks deeper into seat, popping his jaw like he’s getting ready to take punch to face.
[The next several pages of journal are written in Elven.]

**********

Grandfather returns few minutes later with rest of group. All of them are doing fake cheerful thing you do when someone you know has been kidnapped by psychopath and brutally tortured. It is always being so awkward.
But worse is that everyone seems to be thinking that, after daring rescue of me, they now have entitlement to ask as many questions as they want from us. And maybe they are right. They did not have to come to boat. I do not like to think what situation would now be for Belovs if they did not. And, more importantly, I am tired. So fucking tired. I do not have energy to play stupid games with them. If they are wanting to know all about Belov drama, then fine, we will tell them all about Belov drama. Truth is small enough indignity to suffer after last few days.
Baermek is one with most questions. This is big fucking surprise.
"My dear,” he says, “I have no desire to police anyone's actions; nor do I pretend to stand on any moral authority, but secrecy can become a habit of its own.” He crosses room to sit on bed next to me. “All I ask is that you consider that when deciding which cards to keep close to your chest."
Secrecy becomes fucking habit when not being secret means you die, dumbass. But fine. Fine!
I look at them all, crowded into stateroom. Grandfather and Truffle are still sitting at small table. Grandfather pulls out weapon and begins cleaning. Again. Ingoria has jumped up, and is now sitting cross-legged on top of dresser. Her eyes are closed and it is hard to tell if she is even listening to us or not. Skreek is crammed into corner, wings tucked in tight to body, but they are still making crowded space awkward for him. I watch him ruffle feathers briefly, always sign of agitation. Of course, he is always being agitated now. At least pants are up.
Grandfather shows no sign of speaking, so I turn head slightly to look at Baermek. “What exactly are secrets you are wanting me to tell you, Hobgoblin?”
His voice is gentle. “Why don’t you begin with your abduction? Why were you in Bloodwater so early in the morning? What happened?”
Sure, let us start with talking about how very stupid I was. After you go through fucking hell, that is just thing you are wanting to talk about with bunch of assholes. “It was not early in morning for me, Hobgoblin. I finished with meditation many hours before. You should know this by now. This is why you all get to sleep like babies while Grandfather and I keep watch every night!” He does not take bait, just looks at me patiently. I give angry sigh and answer stupid question. “I was going to meet with contact I have, person who is Unseen. We needed to find out more about what was going on inside of Unseen, and about search for us. When first I was finished with meditation, I made signal to them that I wanted to meet.”
He lifts eyebrow, “So you made two outings?”
“Yes, yes, this is what I am saying. I go out. I find statue on corner of street. I move it little bit in this direction. Four hours later, contact will meet me at arranged location to tell me things I need to know, right? This is how you make meeting with nobody else knowing about it.”
“But someone did know,” he says with soft voice.
“Yes, someone knew,” Thank you for reminder, asshole. “I was nearly to meeting place when I was jumped. There were some guys in stupid Nightshade clothes, but mostly it was looking like local assholes. I probably could have gotten out of trap, if poison did not fuck me up so bad.” I glare at everyone, daring them to make criticism or laugh, but they are quiet.
Baermek’s face is neutral. “So, how do you think they knew where to find you? Were you followed, or do you think they were lying in wait ahead of you?”
“Believe me, this I have been asking myself since minute I was jumped.” I rub forehead — brain is so fuzzy right now, it is hard to fucking think clearly. “They were waiting for me, I am pretty sure, so maybe it was contact who gave me up. It does not seem possible to me that Nightshades have been watching Lightkeepers for whole time. That is very hard, many resources, to keep place watched for so long. And, even if they were watching, I am not so easy to see when I do not want to be seen.”
“There’s a third possibility,” Truffle says in gravelly voice, startling everyone. “There could be someone at the Lightkeeper’s who was paid to inform them of your whereabouts.”
Shit! This I had not thought of. “Yes,” I say. “Yes, that could be possibility.”
“If that is the case,” Skreek suggests, “it will be exceedingly difficult to identify the informant. There are surely hundreds of people who live and work there.”
“What about little gnome who is always keeping tabs on us with sending stone?” asks Grandfather.
“GG?” I ask with disbelief. “No, it was not GG, Grandfather. Do not be stupid.”
“Why not? Why is he always so interested in what it is we are doing?”
“GG has personally benefited from our relationship,” Baermek is reminding him. “Not to say that that makes betrayal wholly impossible; but it would likely raise the cost and incur the risk of tipping us off. “ He thinks for moment. “If it’s comings and goings they wish to be informed of, I would suspect a more menial figure in the Lightbringers would be targeted.”
“And you didn’t see him, as I did,” Skreek adds. “When I came here to find the location of the office where we might book passage, he was truly distraught. He immediately contributed all the money he had toward the cost of the rooms on the boat. I do not believe he’s such a fine actor that he could have feigned his concern.”
Awwwww… Little man. World is too cruel of place for our love. But there is no time for thinking of tender thoughts. I am just wanting to finish here so they will all fuck off and I can vomit guts out in private. “I will be having… conversation… with contact when we return to Freehold,” I say. “But I do not know what we do about maybe there is being spy at Lightkeepers. That is big complication.” I spin ring on finger as I think. “But, you know, I am also wondering if anyone from Nightshades even still is looking for us, now that Aleorman is so busy rotting in Grandfather’s bag.”
“Yes, it bears considering,” says Baermek. “But let us, for now, return to the story of your abduction. You were jumped on your way to meet your Unseen contact. And then what happened?” His voice is calm, and words are not judging, but he will not let this go. I am starting to sweat like I am back in jungle.
“And then I wake up chained to fucking bed with red fucking sheets like stupid asshole! All right?!” I snap. “Aleorman is there and he is cutting my back, and shooting me up with the svetit’sya…” Grandfather flinches. “...and talking bunch of complete shit, which I cannot even understand because I am so fucking wasted. Then they dress me up and carry me upstairs and it is, I think, not so long before you assholes show up to rescue helpless fucking princess, and save day.”
Fuck, voice is not so steady as I finish saying words, and goddamn tears are trying to come back in eyes again. I dig nails into leg as hard as I can, but it is not enough distraction. Baermek glances down and sees hand. I stop. He does not. Still he is asking more questions.
“Is there anything he said to you that you remember well enough to recite? There may be information or subtext that you missed while under duress.”
I look over at Grandfather and Truffle. Grandfather is still looking down, cleaning gun, movements sharp and controlled. Truffle looks angry, like maybe he wants to punch hobgoblin, but he says nothing.
“Of course I am remembering some things!” I say with anger. “It is hard not to remember at least some of things said by piece of shit who is cutting you all up.” I suck in deep breath, but still it is not enough air. Say it Belov, I think. Just say it and get this over with. “Fucker… he says to me… he says, ‘Ha ha! I was there night your mother was murdered.’ And, no,” I growl when I see Baermek opening mouth to ask another stupid question, “I do not remember seeing him there. Probably he was wearing disguise, since he was always wearing disguise.”
And now, brain is full of memories of night Mama was killed. Of door bursting in and Mama spinning toward me, of shrinking, running, hiding, like she told me to do. Coming back. Finding… no… NO! Just answer fucking questions, Belov. Just answer… “He… he also is asking why we left Unseen. And he asks does Grandfather think this is all just about revenge, but I do not know what else it could be about. What else is there except profit and revenge?” I slump down, exhausted. I can taste acid.
Baermek studies me for moment, then leans in and gives my leg gentle pat, before he turns to Grandfather. “That certainly raises a few questions. Why did you decide to leave the Unseen?”
After long pause, Grandfather responds, voice full of contempt. “We left because idiots who run Unseen decided about year ago that it was great fucking idea to make alliance with Nightshades to sell Glow topside. Without me, there is no Glow. So we leave, and now there will be no alliance.”
Baermek leans forward. “Do you know if that is true? Could we be facing the Nightshades and Unseen working in concert?”
Grandfather shrugs, closing up jar of oil. “Day before yesterday I would say impossible, but it is clear not everything is as we believed it was. Do I think they are maybe working together?” He takes moment to wipe off hands, then looks across room at Baermek, and smirks. “Anything is possible when money and influence are on table.”
While Baermek is focused on Grandfather, I slide further down bed away from him. I wish I could lie down. Back is screaming and head is pounding. Just go away, all of you. Just go away.
“Why were you so determined to end the alliance?” Baermek asks Grandfather.
This is bad. It is one thing to ask me questions that are uncomfortable, but Grandfather is not so friendly as I am. He is not man who likes to be questioned, especially about matters that are being so private.
Grandfather studies him for moment then says in cool voice, “Because, Hobgoblin, fucking Nightshades killed my daughter.” He returns gaze to his work. There is loud click as part snaps back into place.
“She was specifically targeted? To get to you?”
Baermek may not recognize look Grandfather gives him when he asks this, but Truffle and I do. I would not want to receive look like that from Grandfather. I glance around and see staff leaning in corner and try to be not so obvious as I read room. Truffle catches my eye and gives nod so small it is not really nod. I can hardly stand by myself, much less fight room full of experienced fighters, but, if Grandfather makes move, we will back him up. Family is family.
Skreek first, I think. Without space to shoot or fly, he will go down fast.
“So many questions you have, Hobgoblin,” Grandfather’s voice is deceptively calm as he loads bullets into gun. “Five years before they killed her, I blew up warehouse to stop deal Nightshades were making with Unseen to distribute. It was not possible to meet higher demand without risking my operation.” He holds weapon up, inspecting firing mechanism. “It was just business. He should not have survived. He should not have known who I was. And he should not have gone after my family.” He turns back to look at Baermek, and snaps barrels closed. I think to myself, This is it. Here we go. But he does not leap up and shoot hobgoblin in face. He just gives him cool smile and places gun gently on table. I relax and notice hands are shaking. I clutch them together tightly.
Skreek, still in corner, clicks beak together twice, quick, like he does when he is wanting to interrupt. “Alyona,” he chirps softly and I look at him with much surprise. Less than a minute ago I was thinking... “Alyona, the Sylvan who did this to you is dead, my arrows broken off in his heart. If he was there the night your mother was killed, then perhaps she flies a little freer now.” He looks down sadly for moment, before continuing, “But he was part of a larger flock. We still need to know everything you know about both him and the Nightshades. What can you tell us about him? It’s obvious you two didn’t know he was Sylvan.”
Grandfather looks at Skreek with bitter expression, “Yes, you killed him. Well done, Bird. No one fucking asked you to…”
I cut him off before he decides to pick gun back up. “Enough, Grandfather. It is already done. We both are knowing there are people out there who can make death not so permanent if we are willing to pay. Why else did you shove asshole in bag? Unless you are just collector of corpses now?”
“Well it is better idea than just shitting on him,” Grandfather sneers. “You want to know all about Aleorman, Bird?” He does not even wait for Skreek to answer. “Well, there is not much more to know. He was only contact I had with Nightshades. I do not know where he was in hierarchy. I do not know extent of organization. I do not have any idea of where they are based, other than topside. They were mostly killers for hire, distribution was new direction for them. My first contact with him was over ten years ago, and I assume he has been hiding ugly Sylvan face whole time. I do not know if there are more Sylvans in Nightshades or what he might have wanted with Glow other than obvious fucking reason. I did not even know for certain that he was still alive, until he started talking to you.”
His words come to abrupt stop, and there is quiet for moment.
“What’s the deal with the ring?” Ingoria says brightly.
I clench fist tightly around ring, fighting stupid urge to hide hand behind back. Calmness comes over me.
“That,” I say, and voice is stronger now than it has been, “is none of your fucking business, Cat.”
She smiles. “But I thought we weren’t keeping secrets anymore.”
And there is last fucking straw.
“If we are keeping no secrets then why don’t you tell us fucking anything about yourself, Ingoria?!” My voice is getting louder. “Why aren’t you sharing with us all your many darkest secrets? Or maybe just start with what it is you are doing here with us in first place. We are all of us listening. Tell us everything, Cat, or shut... the... fuck... up!”
Weakness is gone. Pain is gone. Body is lit up with anger. I will fight them all. I want to fight them all. Why won’t they just leave me fucking alone?! If they had just left me alone…
There is gentle hand on my shoulder. “Do not fucking touch me!” I yell, twisting to grab attacker.
Almost I am breaking Baermek’s elbow when feeling of warmth, of peace, enters my body. It is being difficult to describe. Terrible sickness, ache that is wanting — I feel it retreat back into corner of my mind where shadows are. Need becomes something small and quiet. It is… ok now. Thoughts feel like they are mine again. Anger fades into background noise.
Room is silent, except for my breath, which is so loud in my ears. Everybody is staring at me, and Ingoria has, I think, hurt expression on face. Baermek gives me look which is kind, but also little bit disappointed. His hand is still on my shoulder. I look around at all of them, tears in eyes, then reach up and place my hand over his. He looks like he is about to say something more, but happily, that is when I become unconscious.

**********

Restaurant is empty – just couple of employees setting tables and restocking bar. Passengers must all be busy packing up to exit boat at Graslov. I do not blame them – they came here to lose money and get freak on, not be trapped on boat where major battle is happening. Bad for business. Very bad. Grandfather has told me of deal they made with Sassafrass, and I am guessing it will be very large favor she will want, to cover cost of this little happening.
Workers do not look at me as I make my way slowly to stairs leading up to casino. As I pass bar I see row of bottles lined up against wall, and stop. “Whiskey,” I mutter to bartender. He reaches for bottle and places it on bar, then ducks down to grab glass. By time he comes back up, I have bottle in hand. I swish it around, watching golden liquid swirl behind label that is written in language I do not know. It is not from Underdark, this I am sure. Bottle is half full and none of it is mushroom. That is enough for me. I take long swig, and then again. I do not say anything, just turn and continue painful way toward stairs, taking bottle with me. Bartender does not try to stop me, which is good because, even bad as I feel, I will kill him, and I will enjoy it.
Takes me maybe year to reach top of stairs, and I stop there, looking at scene, taking another long hit from bottle. Furniture is overturned and broken. There are scorch marks, and bullet holes. Two shuriken are stuck in wall next to entrance and I shudder slightly at sight of poison staining their points. One of Skreek’s arrows sticks out back of chair covered in dark blue fabric. Another is in floor few feet away. Stained glass windows that were probably very beautiful, are blown out along length of room. Blood is everywhere, but there are no corpses — just long, red drag marks.
Toward back of room, past many other workers who are slowly cleaning up wreckage, I see beautiful woman with red skin and horns. She is dressed in plain tunic and breeches, with chains wrapped up either arm and several looped around her torso. She is picking up big shards of colored glass and placing them in empty barrel. Next to her, dressed also in simple clothes, with apron around waist, is gnome woman. Hair is in two braids, sleeves are rolled up, and she is on hands and knees, mopping up blood. I make my way over to them, and woman with horns looks up intently as I approach. Chain around her right arm slithers down into her hand like snake, and she flicks it lightly, extending it another couple feet until it drags on floor. Gnome looks up at sound of chain, and smiles.
“Girl’s fine,” she says in voice so rich and sweet I want to drink it like chocolate. She plunks dripping rag into bucket full of bloody water and gets up from floor. It is strangely seductive movement for someone dressed like person who cleans privies. Many inappropriate thoughts pass through my head, despite pain in back, and nausea, and blood that is everywhere. I guess this is body’s way of telling me I am not going to die in next hour, but it is maybe good thing for my health that I could never afford to do more than look.
“Lady Sassafrass…” I start, but she interrupts me.
“Sass is fine, darlin’,” she looks me up and down with concern. Her eyes are warm and brown and there are delicate lines around them that say she spends more time smiling than not. She makes beckoning gesture to horned woman with two fingers. “Lili, do ya mind?” Horned woman drops more glass into barrel, then grabs chair off floor and sets it next to table with large gash in felt. Using chair as stool, Sass climbs on to table and settles there, cross-legged and easy. She invites me to sit in chair with nod of her head. “How you feelin, Honey?”
I make small laugh and take another swig from bottle. “I am not feeling so wonderful right now, but I guess that is being obvious.” I sit down slowly, gingerly, back very straight.
“No, I’m not supposin’ you are.” Her eyes narrow slightly at sight of bottle in my hand. “No offense, but you don’t look like someone in the habit of cleaning up after herself, Honey, so I’m guessing you’re not here to lend a hand. And it looks like you’ve already taken to self medicatin’ with some exceptionally fine whiskey, so I can’t help you there either. That being the case, what is it I can do for you?”
My job is to make the messes, not clean them up. This is true. Gnome is both beautiful and wise. I apply myself to self medicating again.
“First,” I say after long pull from bottle, “I am wanting to thank you. For not, you know, standing in way of Grandfather and others.”
She dismisses words with wave of her hand. “I am sure your friends have already told you my price.”
“Yes, yes,” I nod. “That is fine. It is right that we owe you that. I am not here for the arguing. But this is personal matter, and it is important, to me, that I am thanking you myself.” There is maybe little bit of slurring, but I feel like talking skills are almost up to usual level of… goodness.
She nods. “Well, in that case, you’re welcome, sweet thing.” She leans forward to pat my cheek, and, as she does, her scent surrounds me. It is not like any perfume I have ever smelled. It is sweet and warm, like her, and I want to get it all over me. She smiles at me like she knows what I am thinking, which, I am pretty sure, she probably does.
I have said my thank yous, and probably made fool of self, what with drooling and all, but I do not get up to leave. I climbed two million stairs for reason. She smiles warmly at me, waiting, waiting. I almost forget what is reason, but then it comes to me, all of sudden.
“Information, Sass,” I say. She raises eyebrow slightly and nods, unsurprised. “I need to know everything you can tell me about Aleorman, his plans, what your arrangement was. You know… ummmm… everything.”
She chuckles. “Well now, Sugar, the whiskey I’ll give ya, but the rest ain’t free.” I shrug. I did not expect it would be. “It’s a real shame what that bastard did to your back and I surely do appreciate you getting him off mine, but business is business.” She gives me look that is, all of sudden, very serious. “I can tell you what I know, but you’ll owe me…” She leans in to whisper in my ear.
She pulls back and smiles but it is not seductive smile and it does not touch her eyes. “The debt will be yours, and yours alone.”
And that, right there, is power. Everything else is window dressing. For moment I am stone cold sober, and scared in way Aleorman never scared me.
I try to drown fear with whiskey, and when that fucker finally stops kicking, I wipe mouth with back of hand and tell her, “Debt is mine, I take it freely,” It is surprisingly easy promise to make, but seems like everyone owns piece of me these days, so what is one more? “Tell me who you are wanting me to make dead, and I will make them dead.”
She laughs and it is low and delicious, just like I knew it had to be. It worms into my mind, and fear is gone, like that. All I can think about is how beautiful she is, how perfect in every way. “Oh dear girl, who said anything about killing? Perhaps I am looking for another kind of service entirely.”
“I suggest you use me for the killing,” I manage to say, but murder is last thing on dumb brain right now. “It is what I am being best at.”
“Now honey,” she says, leaning in close to me, closer and closer, until I am forgetting pain, and fear, and own damn name. “I don’t believe that for a second.”
I am about to do something very, very stupid, when thin chain wraps around her waist just so, and she is pulled back several feet along table. Her scent lets go of me little bit and I suck in huge breath, as brain tries to swim up from whatever deep place it was drowning in.
“You leave that girl alone now, Sassy,” says Lili in her deep, rumbling voice. “She’s had a bad couple of days here, and she doesn’t need any of your damn fool nonsense.”
Sass looks at me and winks. “Now be fair Lill, it ain’t really nonsense, is it? I mean, just look at the girl, won’t you? She’s cute as a button and sweet as pie. Couldn’t you just eat her up?”
Lili turns with sigh, and looks me up and down. Slowly, big smile appears and spreads across her face, showing teeth – lots and lots of teeth. “Yessssss,” she hisses. “You’re right. I could. I could eat her… right…up.” Her eyes go solid black.
I scramble back out of chair, and I think maybe I pee myself little bit. I was safer chained to bed downstairs with madman. Both women look at each other for moment, then burst into laughter. Like that, spell, or whatever it was, is broken, and they are nothing more than beautiful women laughing at stupid, stupid girl.
“Sass,” I am trying to have forceful voice, but it comes out weak and sad. “I have agreed to terms. Tell me what you know about Aleorman.”
She looks little bit ashamed, but I do not believe that for one second. “Sorry, Honey. It wasn’t right of me to play with you like that, after what you been through. Normally I’m all about mixing business with pleasure, but, honestly, it’s like kicking a puppy.”
Ok, now she really is beginning to piss me off.
She sees scowl, and gives me cheeky smile. “Oh don’t look at me like that, Cutie Pie.” She scoots back along table until she is sitting next to me again, but her scent does not have same… uh… effect. She pats me on cheek again, and this time it is almost like mother would do. “About a year ago, that asshole showed up and offered me an impressive amount of gold for limited use of my facilities here. I knew there had to be more to it than he was saying, but the money was good and I’m not without influence in this neck of the woods. If I happened to change my mind later on, there wasn’t boo he could have said about it, so, sure, I made the deal.”
“Yeah, that was a great read of the situation,” Lili mutters under her breath as she goes back to picking up shards of glass.
“Hush, you,” Sass laughs, but I am thinking Lili’s comment maybe stung her little bit. “Anyhow, things continue like that for some time. Lots of gold on his part, very few questions on mine.”
“And then?”
“And then the arrangement started to become less… advantageous.” She frowns. “When I decided to cut ties, he was uninterested in ending our business relationship, and I struggled to find a way to extract myself. His bargaining position had become quite… unassailable… at this point, and his presence on the boat was beginning to affect my business, which was, of course, completely unacceptable.”
“So, what did you do?”
“Nothing. He came to me about a month ago and said he needed one last accommodation from me, then he’d never set foot on the boat again.”
“You did not trust lying asshole, I hope.”
She gives me look. “Of course not, darlin’. But what else could I do at this point? I didn’t know what the hell he was planning, but I had to take the chance that it would, in fact, be the last I saw of him.” She bites her lip, and I feel spell grab me again, deep and low, just for second, before letting go.
“And then he brought you on board – drugged, bound, and clearly not enjoying it at all. I did not care for this. There’s nothing wrong with a little drugs and bondage…”
“Or a lot!” Lili adds.
“Or a lot,” says Sass with small smile. “But if word gets out that I’m allowing that kind of bullshit on board, it’ll ruin the reputation of the Palace, and endanger my employees.”
I have memory, all of a sudden. Blurry from drugs, but I remember her coming to door of room now. I remember argument. Her voice is angry little buzzing thing, like bee, and Aleorman just laughs at her and turns back to his work. I remember being sure when door closed behind her that I would not live to see it open again.
Did she rescue me from terrible fate? No. If Grandfather and assholes hadn’t shown up, I do not know what he would have done to me. But she tried. I have definite sense that she tried. And even if it was only to protect her business, that is more than I have any reason to expect, so I will forgive her for stupid party trick. It does make me think though.
“So we did you as much of favor, as you have done us?” I ask, hoping I am not about to feel chain wrap around neck. “Perhaps... perhaps you are owing us, as well.”
“Aw, Sweetie,” she laughs with delight. “I don’t owe y’all jackshit, but you sure are cute for trying.”
I sigh. At least she is thinking I’m cute. “Well, is there anything else you can tell me about his operation? Anything at all?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know much, honestly. He had his usual lieutenants, most of whom we pitched over the side of the boat about a half mile back. And he’d bring in some hired muscle as well – local, none too bright, rarely the same ones. I did get the feeling he was based out of Freehold though. We never seemed to pick him up anywhere else.”
“Freehold? Huh.” I say. “Anything else?”
“Not really, only…”
I give her small smile. There is only maybe inch left in bottle and buzz is very much drowning out pain and frustration. “What is it, Sass?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t usually indulge my curiosity about folks. Bad for business, y’know? But, it’s just…” another bite of her lip, and it grabs me again. “...well, why’d he come after you like that, Sugar? What he did to your back…”
My back. Pain seems to flare up for moment at her words, making me wince slightly. “He and Grandfather had business together many years ago.” I shrug, “Business went bad.”
“Grandfather?” She is surprised. “But he told me you were the daughter of an old friend of his.”
I turn to stare at her. “Daughter?! I do not… Are you sure he said daughter? My parents… my parents, they have been dead for years.” I should not tell woman who trades in secrets anything more about my family, but I am too upset, and fuck it, she probably is knowing this anyway.
“Yeah, Honey. Believe me, I paid close attention whenever I was forced to speak with that bastard. He said daughter.”

**********

When boat arrives at Graslov, we make with disguises and invisibility and these things. We need to stay hidden until we can get boat back to Freehold. But moment we are on gangplank leaving boat, we spot carriage with guard detail around it. Seems like good guess that this is waiting for Aleorman and his prisoners. A very quick (and not even little bit suspicious) discussion is held on gangplank, then we hurry back inside to make new plan. Grandfather uses the woo-woo to make himself look like Aleorman. I am his prisoner. Ingoria is disguised as drow guard (this is, of course, big improvement) and Baermek looks like himself, but is also acting as guard. Bird will be invisible and will follow us in air or hitch ride on top of carriage, if possible. Plan is to bluff way on to carriage and find out what is at other end. That is it. That is plan. It is definitely well thought out, and will absolutely lead 100% to success.
We come back out of boat in new faces and head to carriage, where we are allowed to get in, no questions asked. Easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy, as Mama would say when she had drunk too much of elderberry wine. I am sure everything else will go just as easy-peasy. Of course it will.
As carriage leaves dock area, Skreek points out that many of people who were sitting around doing nothing now, suddenly, seem to have places to go and things to do. I guess they were expecting trouble. Too bad they are stupid and did not notice when trouble walked right past them.
Carriage makes its way through town and out into farm area where they are growing many mushrooms. At first, nobody is talking. We all just stare out windows at mushrooms and consider how stupid plan is and how likely it is we are all about to die. When I look away from mushrooms, I see that Grandfather is studying me.
“What?!” I demand.
“How are you feeling, Granddaughter?” he asks in Elven.
“That’s a stupid fucking question,” I snap, also in Elven, because Cat is staring at us in very interested way and we are not providing free show here. “Baermek’s spell, or whatever that was, helped, but I still feel like utter crap. And it's not going to get better – you know that. So don’t fucking ask me again unless you’re going to help me do something about it.”
“I will not make more for you, Granddaughter,” he says softly. “That is out of the question. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t, not without a lab and the raw materials. We’re just going to have to figure something else out.”
“What? What do you suggest? You’ve seen the assholes that get hooked on your shit – once they’re cut off, they fall off a cliff,” I hiss.
“I had no incentive to help those assholes,” He says like it is a simple matter.
“Well, that makes me feel loads better, Grandfather. Maybe you can just whip a little something up tonight and that will be that.”
“Your sarcasm isn’t helping,” he scolds with his I-am-so-reasonable voice. “I do actually have a few ideas already.”
I fucking hate that voice. “Well, by all means, I’m happy to be your guinea pig.”
“You will be, when the shakes come back, when your skin starts to itch, and you’re puking up everything you eat.” So calm while he recites symptoms, so impersonal. I am just another junkie now, just another problem to solve.
“Fuck you, old man!” I swear I can already feel my skin start to itch. “Nice little drug you cooked up.”
“A drug that has made us…”
“What are you guys talking about?” Ingoria bursts in. “It sounds interesting!”
“Don’t bother asking, Ingoria,” Baermek says. “If they wanted us to know what they were saying they would be speaking in Common.” I turn to glare at him but he just looks at me with annoying smile. “...and they wouldn’t be Belovs.”
I am getting ready to make cutting insult when I remember the hurt look on Ingoria’s face from earlier, and sigh. “It is nothing, kitty cat. Just Grandfather, who is pretending to care.”
“Your Grandfather cares about you immensely, Alyona. When he got the message that you were…” Look that Grandfather gives Baermek would have killed lesser Hobgoblin. He stops talking, but then he gives me pointed look. Oh god, so many looks. Everyone needs to stop fucking looking at each other!
“Where did you go?” Grandfather leans back casually in seat and asks, still in Elven. “When we were on the boat, where did you go, Granddaughter?”
“I told you. I went to get some air.”
“Do not fucking lie to me, child!” and now I can hear hint of anger in his voice. Ha! It is always victory when I make him lose his cool, even little bit. Grandfather says don’t lie, like I am full of lies every day. Yes, I admit, there have been few little ones, here and there. But mostly I tell him what I am thinking, because what fun would it be to keep thoughts to myself?
He hides anger quickly though, and just stares at me, waiting. After long minute, I give up and answer, “If you really must know, I went to talk to Sassafrass.”
“The Madam?” he asks, surprised. “Why?”
“To see what she could tell me about Aleorman.”
“And did she actually tell you anything?” He gives me look like I am dumb, which is pretty normal look he gives everyone. “People in her position are rarely forthcoming.”
“Yeah, she told me a few things. I think she felt bad about what happened. Also, to be honest, she seemed kinda in to me.” He makes unbelieving kind of snort, which is just fucking rude. “For one,” I continue. “She told me that she and Aleorman had an arrangement for the last year or so. At first it was good money, but it sounds like maybe he had something on her. She wanted out by the end, and he was making it impossible.”
“Interesting. And?”
“And, she thought he was probably based out of Freehold, since that was the only place he ever got on or off the boat.”
“Finding his base of operations in a city that size would be nearly impossible, but at least it gives us a place to start.” He drums his fingers on the windowsill. “It could be a real goldmine of information though, if we could find it. Perhaps, if we…”
“...And he told her that I was the daughter of an old friend.” I interrupt his train of thought. “Daughter, he said. Not granddaughter.” I meant to wait and tell him this part when we were alone, but I can not keep it to myself any more.
It is not often that I am seeing him without words, but he is totally speechless, for short moment at least. “Bullshit!” he finally sputters.
“Why would he lie to her?” I demand. “What purpose would that serve? He had no reason to think she would ever have the opportunity to speak to either of us. Why bother making something up? He could have just told her to mind her business and left it at that.”
He looks troubled. “I don’t know, Granddaughter. It makes no sense at all.”
“Enough bickering, you two,” Baermek breaks in. “I think we’re approaching our destination.”
Carriage is coming to stop outside house, no different than all others we have passed by in last half hour. It is just simple farmhouse, two stories, plain, no sign of people.
We open door of carriage and step out, trying not to be so obvious while looking around for the threats. Nothing.
We head to door of farmhouse, two Nightshades following behind. Grandfather knocks on door and it is opened by drow man, older, dressed in Nightshade pajamas. You know, it is not being necessary that they dress like this. I am also sneaky type who creeps around in shadows killing people, and you do not see me wearing black pajamas, not even at bed time. Fucking posers.
“I see everything went according to plan,” man says, but does not step aside to let us in.
Grandfather pauses moment too long then squeaks out, “Yes.” He sounds like Aleorman if Aleorman was excited little mouse. It is craziest thing. I have seen this man lie so many, many times to all sorts of people, no problem. I mean, I am not even sure his name is really Veszzyr, or that he is really my grandfather. (Ok, I am sure of second thing, unfortunately, because we are looking so very much alike). I do not understand what fucking problem is, but I am already fumbling over shoulder for quarterstaff, because I forget for moment it is still in bag. Guy screams, “Imposters!” and throws Nightshade stars at Grandfather’s dumb, squeaky head, which, honestly, he deserves.
And now here we are, at time for violence. There are five assholes altogether, including one who is mage type and makes ground explode in nasty tentacles. Tentacles do not last too long though when Ingoria shoots mage hard. Skreek shoots him even harder, then tries to take cover behind carriage, before carriage takes off. I do not know if driver escaping will be future problem, but there is too much to worry about without chasing after horses running away at full speed. Grandfather finally gets my stick out of his bag and I run over to beat on guy who just knocked out Ingoria, and Skreek flaps over to be giving her healing potion.
Blood, blood, blood. Death, death, death. Details are only interesting if it is your blood, your death.
We keep alive one pajama guy and one of other hired fighters to ask questions. Grandfather does usual trick with Boris using leg to poke them, and we make many scary threats. Guy gets frisky and demands to know where Aleorman is. “Bird killed him,” Grandfather says, but guy doesn’t believe him. Grandfather reaches into bag, grabs Aleorman by hair and drags head out of bag. But guy is all “Nuh-uh, that is not Aleorman” and we have to explain, “Aleorman was wearing human disguise, dumbass.” I grab Aleorman by jaw and make mouth move so it is like he asks them “What was my plan?” which is pretty funny, but they do not laugh. Also they do not seem to know much. These are lowest level goons. They were just here to wait for Aleorman to show up with captives and then go with him to Freehold, where is maybe his home. Finally we are forced to give up. Grandfather calls off Boris, then walks up to shoot one guy in head, while I smash in other guy’s skull. Knowing nothing was bad idea, guys. Important Belov safety tip: Tell us what we want to know.
Ingoria checks out house and finds that farmers who lived here have been killed and dumped in root cellar. This is sad because now there will be less mushrooms in world for us to eat. We find nothing interesting on bodies, either.
Farmers from neighboring farm come over to investigate loud noises. We tell them to fuck off, which they do, but they will be back soon and we have reached bag limit on Mushroom Farmers, so we set off back toward town and docks.
It is long walk and I am wondering when I will finally maybe get to rest for couple days after really bad weekend I have just had. Baermek’s spell seems still to be holding worst of symptoms off, but I can feel them nibbling away at wall, and soon they will crash through again.
More walking. We are walking forever. Honestly, who knew there were so many mushroom fields in all of Underdark?
But there, finally, is Graslov proper, and there is docks. We wait in dumpy little tavern called “Pick Your Poison” while Baermek is making negotiation for passage home. Fortunately, we have enough gold to get space on small fishing boat owned by Captain Vasily. We creep on board, and little boat slowly moves away from harbor.
Skin is starting to itch now, for real, and I am having worries about returning to Freehold. It is not maybe smartest thing we have done – seems like everyone knows we’ve been working out of there. Of course it is probably not stupidest idea either, but only because there is so much competition.
I remind myself of good reasons we should go there – money, contacts, information. And there is best reason of all – she will be there, away from Academy, away from him. I look down at my ring. Maybe there is way to get her alone for few minutes. That is all I need.
Sitting down on deck at stern of boat, I lean head against rail, and watch Graslov disappear behind us.

Report Date

28 Jul 2022