3. Now? Now you listen to me?
Characters: Bhaalspawn, Anomen, Jaheira, Minsc, Viconia
fictober entries // fictober information
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Alhana blew some hair out of her face. Well. She touched some bark, shuffled her feet, took a step forwards and searched for an opening in the dense treetops. Night had come earlier and she thanked Lathander for granting her a light source. Minsc’s torches also helped, not to mention Jaheira’s small lamp, but she felt a bit lost without the stars.
And they were lost. Probably had been for the last four to five hours. Running around in circles, not being able to find a way out of this forest. Alhana had thought the way to Trademeet to be far easier on them.
“Anomen? You said that you know these lands?” Alhana put her hands on her hips and hung her head in defeat.
He huffed. “Now? Now you listen to me? I’ve told you that my family used to travel to Trademeet once or twice during my childhood. My father lost some gold there and I can surely remember following the trade routes.” Alhana heard his anger and saw the sadness, but neither time nor place allowed to asked about this.
“So, how do we get out of here?”
“I don’t know! You should’ve asked about six hours before. We’ve never left the official roads.” Anomed crossed his arms, stubborn defiance etched all over them. Alhana suddenly noticed how wide his shoulders looked and how much she enjoyed watching them.
Anomen’s face lost some of its ire, but his eyes never left her face. “What now, my lady?”
“I … I…” Alhana sighed. “Never mind.”
Surprisingly ungraceful, Viconia used that exact moment to trip over roots and to grab Jaheira’s arm. Both women stumbled around awkwardly, before finding their balance again.
“Vith'os!” The drow snatched leaves out of her white hair.
Jaheira’s eyebrows rose. “I thought darkness suited you?”
“I can surely introduce you to more of it.”
“I decline, dark creature.”
Thankfully, Minsc got between them. “Some wine? We all could use some wine! Isn't that right, Boo?” His battle-hardened hamster squeaked in agreement and Alhana put a hand on the ranger’s shoulder to thank him. Without him, she would’ve lost her way and mind a long time ago. His presence always put her mind at ease and Minsc had a knack for reading the group’s emotions, which had come as a wonderful surprise.
She left some space between her and the group. Why did they even follow her? Most of her life, had been spent in a temple of Lathander, helping those in need and spreading his words, while reading through stacks of books, sometimes accompanied by her adopted sister. It’d started when Gorion died. Thinking of him still left her heavy and sore and she pushed happier memories aside. They’d rescue Imoen and bring back some of her childhood and serenity.
Alhana closed her eyes and gently touched her holy symbol.
“Lathander, please, help us. We’re lost in this darkness and your warmth and light will help us find the way.”
A sliver of warm light appeared in front of her. Nothing more than a whisp and Alhana felt sure that her god had answered her prayers. Her holy symbol shone, gently laying against her chest, and mirroring the light in her eyes.
Alhana grabbed her staff and looked over her shoulder. “Follow me! Lathander sent me a guiding light.”
Anomen was the first to follow her command. “As always, my lady.”
