Baldur's Gate Philip Athans

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air.
The grand duke stepped out of his chambers holding a huge battle-axe the likes of which Julius had never seen or
even dreamed of. The man was dressed in a long nightgown that was soaked with blood. His eyes and hands were
steady. His broad, serious face was also smeared with blood, and some of it dripped from the tip of his long handlebar
mustache. His crystal-blue eyes blazed under bushy gray eyebrows that matched the short-cropped hair still
disheveled from bed.
Maerik fell to one knee, and Julius followed suit, unable to take his eyes off the gold-and-mithral axe.
"M'lord," Maerik said, "I "
"Captain Scar has been murdered," the grand duke said simply. Maerik stood, and Eltan reached back to push the tall
door open. On the richly-carpeted floor inside lay the gray body of some inhuman thing, still leaking blood on the
expensive wool.
"Aye, m'lord," Maerik breathed. "He was found in his chamber."
Julius gagged at the sight of the dead thing's eyes.
Eltan's strong, aging features were grave. "Have the captain's body taken to the High House of Wonders," he said,
his voice low and full of import. "I will dress and meet you there."
Chapter Twenty-One
"Sounds like your friends are here," Jhasso said, trying to peer through the little window in his cell.
"Or yours," Jaheira offered.
The sound of battle was unmistakable, though far off and muffled by at least one floor. Abdel could hear the ring of
steel on steel, the stomp and scuffle of feet, a body falling, then another. His arms tensed, and he tried again to pull the
bars out of the window. They shifted this time but only a little. He felt like a rat in an innkeeper's trap, and he wanted
out.
"No," Jhasso answered Jaheira. "I don't have any friends."
"Not if there's been a doppelganger you making enemies all over the city for as long as you say you've been in
there." Jaheira agreed.
"Damn them," Jhasso said, "I thought they were all in Waterdeep."
The three of them, all cold, exhausted, and teetering on the edge of claustrophobic insanity, just stood there listening
to the sound of battle.
A door burst in suddenly, and the sound was close. Abdel turned his head and pressed his cheek into the bars
trying to see anything. There was a warm orange light at the end of the hallway, and Abdel could see twisted,
flickering shadows on the stonework, shadows that danced to the tune of ringing steel, stomping feet, and desperate
grunts. A body fell, and the steps rushed toward the cells. A young man wearing a blood- and sweat-stained tabard
bearing the sign of the Flaming Fist stopped in front of Abdel's cell. Blood dripped from a halberd that was easily
heavier than the young soldier.
"Are you Jha-Jhasso?" the soldier asked breathlessly.
"He's in the cell behind you, troop," Abdel answered at the same time Jhasso called out, "Let me outta here, kid!"
The young soldier looked confused and frightened, "I have to get somebody," he said.
"You're not leaving us here!" Jaheira called, and the young man stopped at the sound of a woman's voice.
"Fear not, madam," the soldier said. "I'll be back for you!"
With that and followed closely by some rude remarks from all three captives the young soldier hared off up the
corridor. They could hear voices and more footsteps going up the stairs and away into the diminishing sounds of
battle.
"He's coming back for us, right?" Jhasso asked.
"He better damn well," Abdel said. "If not, I'm going to stick my fist so far up his "
"Listen!" Jaheira said, and Abdel and Jhasso held very still. The fight was obviously over. Abdel could hear the
muffled sounds of male voices and heavy footsteps approaching. A door opened and there was the unmistakable
sound of a man in heavy metal armor rapidly descending the stairs.
"Here, Gondsman," a steady, commanding voice said. Abdel could see a sturdy older man in shining,
blood-spattered plate mail. His face was unfamiliar, but his accoutrements were unmistakable. This man was a grand
duke, and his crest bore the sigil of the Flaming Fist. Could this be ? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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