In My Blood

Chapter 8: The Druid, the Bard, and the Three Ring Leaders

The kiss exchanged between the two elves of the group remains unspoken for the next week. Actually, a lot remains unspoken between them for the next week as Astarion's been avoiding Delphie for anything other than mission-related objectives. He can see the toll it's taking on her. The constant look of sadness in her eyes every time they meet. The way she's slacking in spellcasting practice with Gale and Wyll. Any time he sees her, his unbeating heart shatters a little more and it makes him mad beyond all hells. Of course, he pushes away the only person who cares for him. Why wouldn't he?

The walls he's built around himself for centuries have been slowly crumbling in her light. He feels things for her he hasn't felt for anyone before and it scares the hells out of him. What once began as a simple protection plan for him turns into a twisted web of unspoken feelings and the fear they evoke in him. That kiss they shared made him realize what he was getting himself into and as soon as he woke the following morning, he built his walls back up just as fast as they fell.

And now they're here...on the support beams of the Shattered Sanctum...scouting...just him, Gale, and Delphie, while the rest of the party gathers information outside. How lucky for him...

"Remind me again, why we're doing this? I mean, I'll never turn down a chance to kill some goblins, but..." The pale elf whispers, giving all his attention to Gale.

"We have to rescue Halsin." Gale raises an eyebrow in confusion.

"Who?"

The rogue's words cause Delphie to slap her hand against her scales.

"The druid! Were you even listening at the grove?" She doesn't take her eyes off the ant-sized goblins under them.

Astarion rolls his eyes, fiddling with one of his daggers. "Why would I listen to a group of cowards?"

Delphie doesn't even know she's holding her breath. These are the most words he's said to her in the past week. She blinks her eyes before putting on her most sincere face and turning towards the man behind her. "Astarion, we've been over this. They're survivors, not soldiers. Not to mention Halsin might have the answers we've been searching for."

If Astarion's heart was beating, it would've skipped a beat at the mention of his name. Gods he misses their nightly conversations. "Well...if he can give us answers...I suppose we can rescue him."

Delphie gives him a dirty look before turning back toward the goblins they're spying on. She bends to the beam they're standing on and allows Vesper to slither off her wrist and down the long columns.

"Vesper, lend me your senses. Yth xkhat ir."

As Vesper slithers around the camp, Delphie's eyes glow white and she sits stiller than a lion readying to pounce on its prey.

"Well, what do you see?" The pale elf's impatience gets the best of him. He honestly wants to bathe in these goblins' blood and then return to camp where he can attempt and fail to drink away his problems.

"It seems the control she has over the snakes gives her the abilities of a find familiar spell. Right now, she can hear and see everything Vesper can, but she'll remain blind and deaf in her surroundings until she commands her to stop."

Vesper travels throughout each of the rooms in the sanctum. In the main room, a goblin priestess preaches that by serving the Absolute, you may be chosen. The snake travels up some stairs, past a man getting tortured, and a priest of Loviatar. One more room down is the bard, Volo, trapped in a wooden cage. Farther down, three goblins guard a door leading to the worg pens. The snake slithers up and over a wall, catching parts of a drow's conversation with one of the goblins, regarding a recent failed mission. Circling back towards the main chamber, Vesper catches a glimpse of a hobgoblin preaching to the Absolute with a handful of goblins. Delphie relays the information back to Gale and Astarion.