The Glass Prison

"But," the Ravenwitch retorted, "I was going to make him my servant. He would have been granted great gifts-flight, physical power, virtual immortality…"

Realization of the importance of the ravens' blood washed over Mela

"Something like that," the Ravenwitch replied casually, "though I wouldn't choose to use quite those words. One thing is certain: Your brother would have stood a much better chance of surviving as my servant than he will otherwise, once Chare'en is loosed on the Thunder Peaks and into the Dalelands. Mere humans will fall before his might quickly and easily." "I won't let that happen," Vheod said quietly, but firmly.

"Did you not hear me, cambion? You will cause it. That is why you are here." The Ravenwitch offered a single open hand held flatly toward him as if to suggest that she offered a simple truth.

"No!" Vheod spat. "In fact, the truth is that you are the one, are you not? I was warned about your evil. You plan to free the balor Chare'en, don't you? You probably worship him, don't you? Foolish mortal woman-you'll bring about your own demise."

"No," the Ravenwitch replied. Her voice was still calm and flat.

Mela

"I don't worship demons," the Ravenwitch continued- "I don't look forward to a future where gnoll armies with fiendish commanders lay waste to the countryside." Only on speaking of gnoll armies did her voice falter, or betray any emotion at all. "I know the future though, and I don't fight against the inevitable. I am many things, perhaps, but I am not a fool.

"There is one, however, who does worship Chare'en, serving him and putting events in motion to help free the balor, and of course there are the gnolls." Her disdain for the gnolls became even more clear with the look of fire that flashed in her eyes when she said the word.

"What about the gnolls?" Vheod asked her. The Ravenwitch moved back to where she'd stood before, between Mela

"The gnolls," the Ravenwitch said finally, "or rather their ancestors, once worshiped and served Chare'en when he was free in Faerun. They were his army. Now, I suspect, they somehow hear his call once again. Don't be so foolish as to think Chare'en doesn't know you're coming to free him. I suspect he's quite eager to meet you."

Mela

To the surprise of the other three, Whitlock managed to speak as he regained his feet. "So then, everything Vheod said was true. Chare'en wasn't an ancient sorcerer, he was-is-a demon, and if we go looking for the remedy for our family's curse, well free him."

"Yes, Whitlock," Vheod answered. He frowned, and Mela

The Ravenwitch shook her head. "You won't free him," she said to Whitlock, and pointed at Vheod. "He will."

"I told you, woman, I wall not." His muscles tightened further, and his eyes smoldered with anger. "Particularly now-we won't even go there."

"And well never find the staff we were told might lift the curse," Mela

"Oh, I imagine that if you go to Chare'en's prison, you'll find the staff you seek," the Ravenwitch said. "What?" Mela

"Almost certainly. Many things of great and wondrous power lie in the balor's prison, but you'll never get there without your friend."

Vheod remained silent. Mela

"If we try to leave this place," Mela

“Of course not," the Ravenwitch said. "You both misjudge and misunderstand me." Mela

Still obviously faming with anger, Vheod remained silent. With Mela

Vheod stopped. Looking back to the Ravenwitch, he said, "You don't know me. The future is always uncertain. My destiny isn't preordained. I make my own way. Don't judge me by what you assume I am. I am more than that. I always have been, and I always will be."

As they walked away, the Ravenwitch said something that puzzled Mela

Vheod and Mela

They didn't have Whitlock's armor, Vheod's sword, or any food. Mela

"We need to get away from this place,'' Vheod told her, "then we can rest. I’ll try to find us some food then."

He loaded the supplies into two backpacks and handed one to Mela

Following the nearby river, the three travelers made their way south. They walked for a little over an hour, then stopped to rest for the remainder of the night. Vheod hoped the distance they put between themselves and the Ravenwitch would be enough to protect them from any treachery on her part. He didn't trust anything the witch did or said.

"We never asked about the green stones," Mela