SULDANESSELAR

This is my very first translation to english and by God I am proud : D
Let me know what you think! Enjoy.
We can never get bored with Forgotten Realms can't we?

Fan fiction contains spoilers form Baldur's Gate 2.

SULDANESSELAR

-This way!

Moon elf has suddenly changed his direction and ran down the street, if plane, wide branches can be called that way,  several Harpers were following his footsteps. Suldanesselar was definitely an unusual city accessible for only a few. Hidden in trees of Wealdath was a meeting place for two wild elves’ tribes. The city could be reached only by those, who knew about masked entrances in massive stocks. Exit, on the other hand, didn’t require a lot of extra information.  All you needed  to know is how to fall down or, if you were not much of a fan of bruises you could always ask where the stairs down were. When you are hunted, time is at least slightly important. This situation was no different. Elf couldn’t afford complicated routes. He had to lose them now. There was only one way to do that. Down. Wild elves’ city was divided into levels. Highest of them, and closest to the sun, belonged to queen Elissime and her palace. A little lower lived courtiers and most important people of the tribes, then, the rest of wealthy (in their meaning of the word) elves, and so on to the lowest branches, through ordinary elves to the poorest. The more meager the property the lower,  darker and confined the level. So, he ran down the city and houses around him changed on his way down. They were becoming more primitive and neglected because lower levels weren’t inhabited all year. With the end of the winter big part of not-so-wealthy elves left the city for their annual travel into the wild, just to come back to Suldanesselar once again when winter has passed (in Wealdath cold meant 12^oC and winter meant just lower activity of some animals). Harpers didn’t want to let him go just like that. They will follow him to death. Unless… he’d manage to skip at least two levels at once. Elf turned once again and got out of Harpers’ sight for a moment but he couldn’t stay on this level. They’d find him quickly enough. He dispersed himself and jumped down from the branch fulfilling the role of a bridge between the trees. Elf landed at the edge of the big branch-sidewalk just next to a little house with blue flags on the roof which he knew very well. ‘Yes!’ That’s what he intended to do. ‘Now, all that remains-‘. Ops, his leg has slipped.

            ‘Ugh’ the world around the elf seemed to be underwater for a moment. All sounds were distorted. He opened his eyes, feeling like the world around him was spinning, got on his feet, staggered up and leaned against the closest wall. ‘Just breathe…’ some deep breathing erased most of afflictions besides, of course, the headache. ‘Alright, time for some notifications’. It was night-time and he apparently fell of somewhere. But… what was he doing? He couldn’t recall. Just some leaves going red. And darkness. Nothing more. He didn’t really know, or remember, what an elf should do in such situations. Most reasonable was finding some place to sleep. He had some money. If he had been lucky somebody would have recognized him. ‘Sounds good enough. Which way to… somewhere then?’ If you go straight ahead, sooner or later, you bump into something. He brushed off the dust like it would help, and set out. After some random wandering he managed to find a place that obstinately didn’t want to fit in the evening silence. The doors opened rapidly and some hands threw battered wood elf outdoors.

-My friend! They’ve thrown you out too?

-Yeah, from heavens. You know me? Can’t even remember my name.

-Really? I do know you of course, but just by sight. Ehmm… Sand? –he said after a second –Yes.

-Hm, -‘You can’t argue with your name I guess’. –And you? Who are you?

-Me? Vanir, of course –wood elf put his arm around Sand. –You know what? YOU are lucky. I was about to leave this place anyway and join Bodhi outside the city. Come with me. I’m sure she’ll know best what to do in this… situation.

-Bodhi… -this name caused unpleasant shivers. Sand felt, that he shouldn’t listen to his new “friend”, even more he shouldn’t go and meet that Bodhi. Moon elf sighed and followed Vanir. He didn’t have any Plan B. Pain was still ringing in his head.

            The Sun was rising. Wisps in wooden lanterns faded on upper levels, on lower ones they never stop shining. Both elves headed to the transition to lower level.

-I hope there are going to be stairs there –said Sand. –I don’t feel like falling anymore.

-Maybe the second fall would help you with your memory –Vanir tried to make a joke. His new friend was just standing there and judging. Didn’t laugh at all. Maybe he forgot how to  do it? –Anyway, We’re not going to wade through all the levels. There is a portal nearby that sends lazy people like us out of the city –They’ve turned into the main street. Outsiders were rarely surprised with the width of main branches. That’s because very few outsiders had any occasion to see them. Vanir grabbed Sand suddenly and dragged him back behind the corner.

-Shit, Harpers –he said watching them around the corner. –Don’t know what they’re doing here but it’s always a bad sign.

Harpers were looking around the area, hooking some random pedestrians and then decided to move on to the lower level.

-Let’s wait and let them go away –after a little while Sand and Vanir could leisurely make for the exit.

            Suldanesselar was far behind them and Sand begun losing his patience. It wasn’t like he had some other plans, but when you follow somebody for some time, and this somebody is going around in circles in the wilds, you can get angry at least a little.

-So, where is this Bodhi? –asked Sand.

-Just a little further –said Vanir clearly looking for something. –Somewhere here…

-Are we lost? –Sand’s voice betrayed hidden irritation. They stopped.

-No, I’m just… -he begun to going round in circles again. –Somewhere here…

-You can’t find a way in the forest, can you?!

-Look, not every one of –Vanir tried to defend himself. Didn’t succeed. He started going around some invisible point instead. He lost his temper quickly. –I am not lost!

-Ha, of course not… Who are you any- no, who am I?! If you know me, you could… Hey! –Sand grabbed other elf by the arm disrupting his search.

-Listen, I don’t know you! I just made! That! Up –screamed wood elf snatching the grip.

-Idiot! –three elves, origin unknown, came out of the trees. Two standing on sides were evenly high and had long black hair. The middle one was much shorter, well-shaped, with short, black hair. All of them were pale, wore black clothes and had red eyes. They evidently preferred to stay in shadows.

-Is this how you urge people to our cause? –asked one of tall ones. –If  you are lying how can you tell they’ll be loyal to us?

-I KNEW it was somewhere here! –Vanir looked at women and blenched. He just realised that they might not be pleased. –My lady, nobody was interested in my offer and then this one showed up saying he can’t remember shit, so I made use of it. Is that wrong?

Shortest woman understood that there was a really unique opportunity standing before her. Moon elf lost his memory. Well, they could “help” him get it back. Of course if it provided that he was exactly what they needed him to be, everybody would be happy. Vanir continued on stammering in the background and her companions continued to insult him. She raised her hand.

-Enough –everyone fell silent. –Go first. I’d like to speak to our new friend in private. I am sick of your whining.

-Whining, Bodhi?

-Yes. Whining. Grumbling, moaning, wailing.

-And… what about the other one? –one of her friends whispered to her ear.

-Let him revolve around us a little. He might appear useful.

Women looked at him contemptuously and left. Vanir followed. Bodhi waited for them do disappear.

-I know how it might look to you –she said stranding her hands. –Strangers luring poor man with amnesty to the woods –Sand has been watching this whole scene with muzzy eyes. They had advantage over him. The fact that he could still breathe and, if that wasn’t hard enough, he was about to talk with Bodhi about something, was giving him hope that he could eventually make it out okay. Anyway, couldn’t falter a word.

-You must have lots of questions. However despite of what Vanir has told you, I cannot answer them all. What I can do, is to introduce you to somebody who can help you recall your memory –she smiled. –Nothing’s free, of course –moon elf frowned. Something was telling him, he shouldn’t interrupt. –In return, you will somehow help our cause.

-How? Killing or stealing from anybody you point at? –he snorted. –Or maybe should I go to the nearest cave and bring you ten goblin eyeballs and three green leaves for some magical potion? –Sand bit his tongue to punish it for blatant ignoring the brain telling it to be quiet. Anyway it was too late.

-I can see that you’re are not a silent type. Not sure if I like it. –she noticed his terror and found it funny. –I don’t feel offended. But my brother, Irenicus… you better watch yourself. Well –she broke out of reverie. –I’d like to avoid any misunderstandings. We are neither killers nor thieves. As far as we know Bhaal is dead and his children are occupying Fearun. They need to be erased. We need as many allies as we can get, however many people still remember Bhaal’s terror. –Bodhi sharpened her tone. –They fear his spawn. And don’t even want to hear about fighting them –sighed. –So? How’s it going to be? Can we help each other?

-Sounds dangerous…

-Don’t worry. We will prepare you for that. My brother will teach you everything you need to know. He is powerful so he can help you get back your memory, that is probably hiding somewhere deep in your brain. So? Your memories are worth the effort aren’t they? –she reached out hand. Shadows became darker and forest became more silent. Sand stared on her hand hesitating for a second. No memories, identity. What did he has to lose? ‘Except for life…’. They’ve shook hands. ‘Well, I guess there was not enough time to think about Plan B’.

End of part I