Pulling her laces tight, Hope tied her boots as she casually glanced around the camp. She couldn't help but wonder—had the others heard what transpired last night? From terrible nightmares to slit throats and covering up a scene to being fucked into the next dimension, even Hope's head spun. Thus far, no one had mentioned anything. No one acted strangely or stared at her for too long with weariness or judgment.
It needed to stay that way.
Hope stood to her feet and picked up her pack before slinging it over her shoulders with a thud. Today, they'd be traveling back to the goblins' camp, the Temple of Selune. Underneath, they'd find the passage to the Underdark, she assumed? It was all beginning to sound a little like National Treasures. Perhaps that wasn't a bad thing.
They set out, hauling what little belongings they carried, and started down the dirt road. Hopefully, they didn't encounter any more surprises on the way. She wasn't sure how much longer she could keep Raphael's suspicions at bay. Still, there was a part of her that wanted to meet with him—alone. To find out what he knew about her, if he truly knew anything at all. There were many who claimed to know her, who believed they could use her.
Those people weren't around anymore.
Again, she walked close to Astarion, but couldn't seem to keep her eyes off Halsin. She'd been told he was able to turn into a bear, and she believed them…she could smell it on him. The thick musk of an animal called to her inner wolf. It had been so long since she'd uncaged it, let herself run free in her other form. She didn't intend to partake now, or really ever again, but there was a part of her that missed it.
Not the blinding pain of her joints and muscles being ripped apart and sewn back together, but the part that embraced the energy of the moon. Where she felt powerful and connected to the earth. She almost craved it…
Could Halsin sense that about her? Could he smell it on her the way she did him?
If he could, he didn't show it.
"So, Hope," Shadowheart started as they walked, "What did you do in Baldur's Gate before all of this happened?"
A shock of cold surged up Hope's spine as she grappled for a suitable answer. It couldn't be something they'd know her for. Not a figurehead or even a whisper on the street.
"A freelance artist," she answered, "I traveled a lot. A drawing here, a painting there."
"Oh?" Shadowheart asked. "Sounds rather…exciting. Where is here and there? You must have seen a great deal of the world."
She swallowed and nodded, "Uh, yup."
"Well, if your commission pieces were anything like…" Astarion trailed off and met her sideways gaze, clearly not wanting to mention what she'd drawn the other night. He continued, "Then I imagine you had rather heavy pockets."
Hope grinned, "Did you just compliment me?"
"Don't get used to it…" Yet his sly smirk told her differently.
They entered the temple, passing the bodies that lay in waste. Destroyed by arrows, blades, and the elements, they weren't a pretty sight. The sky above finally let loose as they entered the main hall. A strike of luck, Hope thought, as distant thunder rumbled.
Astarion placed his hands on his hips and turned in a slow circle, "So…where are we meant to look?"
Frowning, Halsin shook his head, "All it said was beneath. I imagine we move down. The furthest down I've been is the cell I was kept in. Perhaps it's somewhere there."
"Actually," all eyes turned to Hope, "I've been down further. There are stairs that descend past Gut's lair." Was that the right word? "Anyway, I snuck out when the guard wasn't looking, but I caught a glimpse of a place beyond. I didn't get a good look, though."
Halsin nodded with a smile, "I'd say it's worth a look then. Lead on then, Hope."
Swallowing, she nodded slowly, "Right..uh, this way." She said, starting up the stairs to the left and heading into the place she'd fallen under Gut's influence. She continued past to the door that would lead them into her chambers.
Hope braced herself as they descended the stairs and into the short walkway that, from where she stood, had a perfect view of the troll she'd killed while escaping. At a brisk pace, she stepped around, trying to get to the door as quickly as she could, but the question she didn't want to hear was asked.
"Bloodless?" Shadowheart asked.
Freezing at the door, Hope glanced over her shoulder, but to her relief, everyone stared at Astarion.
"Well, I certainly didn't indulge in…" He waved a hand over the body. "Whatever did, clearly lacks taste."
Hope rolled her eyes.
"It very well could have been the spiders," Halsin suggested.
"Spiders?" Hope asked.
Nodding, he frowned, "I saw them as I entered the temple. They were locked behind a gate, but as I left, the gate was opened. I didn't see them."
"You think…spiders…could have taken her down?" Hope asked, raising a brow.
"I imagine so," he affirmed with a nod, "They were big enough, at least."
Hope's eyes widened slightly. Truthfully, she didn't want to know how big. So she just nodded, swallowed the unease in her throat, and turned toward the door again, "Right, let's keep going."
"We don't have any other bloodsuckers following us, do we, Astarion?" Shadowheart asked as they finally left the corpse behind to follow Hope.
"Of course not," he huffed, then paused and said, "At least, I don't think so. I don't know…I suppose Cazador could have sent someone."
Tightening her jaw, Hope envisioned the hunter she'd torn into outside of Ethel's. Was it possible that there were others nearby in search of Astarion?
To what? Bring him back to his master?
The hallway opened to a new room, and Hope took the right set of stairs, which converged to the same floor pattern. With searching eyes, she stared at the circular panels adorned with full and eclipsed moons.
"Is it supposed to be phases of the moon?" Hope asked, tapping her toe against one of the moons.
Gale frowned as he approached, "If it is, it's missing a few."
As Halsin stepped forward, the sound of stone against stone echoed across the space. As if the circles beneath them had moved, scraping against each other.
"Do these move?" She asked, moving to her knees and placing her hand against the nearest one.
Shadowheart nodded, "I think they do. Look above: the light falls on a single plate. There must be a pattern… the full moon emits the most light. Let's move them so the full moons are lit."
"But there are a lot of them and only four slots," Hope frowned, "Maybe it's the opposite, to complete it, I mean. To bring light to the shadows."
"And what makes you all-knowing?" Shadowheart bit back
Hope raised a brow and glanced up at the sound of irritation in her voice, "I didn't say I was," she slowly stood to her feet, "Just…offering a suggestion."
The smallest flicker of regret was present behind Shadowheart's gaze, but she didn't voice it as she began rotating the circles to bring the full moons to the light. Honestly, Hope had no idea why she was being so clipped with her. It wasn't like she'd done anything to undermine her. Really, with how she's been behaving, her prowess has been superior to hers.
Shadowheart flinched, glanced down at her hand with gritted teeth, and returned to the puzzle.
Interesting.
Well, if she didn't want her help, that was fine by her. She toed her way toward a stone bench and collapsed onto it like melting ice cream, sighing as she lay back and let her arm dangle over the edge. She stared up at the ceiling and listened to the quiet curses of Shadowheart along with the grind of stone with each push and pull.
"You should try what Hope suggested."
Hope glanced over, surprised to hear Lae'zel's voice. It wasn't exactly a defense for her, but she could take it as one.
"Fine," Shadowheart muttered. Without looking in her direction, she rotated the circles so that eclipsed moons basked under the light. The moment the empty circles were filled, another sound of moving stone sounded, but this time from ahead.
Hope raised her head from the bench and watched rock crumble away to reveal a passageway, hopefully, to the Underdark.
Holding her arms up, she held her hands out toward the passage and sang, "Ta-daaa!" Then collapsed back onto the bench.