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A body lies on the ground beneath Talisstra’s hands, still warm, still bleeding. The sky is steadily lightening, and for the first time in a very long time, Mairi can hear the whisper of the wind through the branches, and feel the beginnings of dawn’s light on his skin. He knew she was there before, through all the misfortunes of the Underdark. She is wherever her followers carry her. But now he can feel her there.
Mielikki, he prays, I don’t know what I’m doing.
He hunted us down. He’s only shown us the slightest courtesy in not stabbing Hit when he could have. He would have killed us all had he the chance. I don’t know what I’m doing.
But…. I never saw Laufein smile, not once in 13 years. He wouldn’t say so but I don’t think he’s happy. He escaped Lolth’s grasp just to be so afraid of her that he lives his life with a blindfold on. Over a century spent on the surface, and he barely knows anything about the people who live in it. He won’t see them as any more than Lolth-ridden wretches. He truly believes the only people worth anything are the people like him because if they’re like him they aren't like Lolth. And that all happened because the people who took him in viewed the world that way too.
The scarlet pool of blood that becomes more and more striking against the ground as the light increases starts to recede as Talisstra chants her spell.
Jorlan has a second chance. I don’t know what he’s going to do with it, but I don’t want what happened to Laufein to happen to him. I don’t want him to be miserable. I don’t want him to miss the world out of fear. I can’t tell you why, after all he’s done to us, but doing this feels right.
I won’t ask you to change him or put him on the right path or anything, that’s not something you can do. That’s up to him. I don’t think I’m asking you for anything, actually. I just want to tell you.
The silvery glow that radiates from Talisstra’s hands snakes around the body, closing wounds, drawing blood back in, and expelling any dirt.
I hope he doesn’t go back. I hope he doesn’t fall into the same people Laufein did. I hope he gets the chance to see the world. I hope someone is kind to him. I hope he changes. I hope he’s happy. I hope my friends will forgive me if I’m wrong.
Mielikki, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know if this is a mistake, but for some reason, I think he’s worth the chance.
The sun rises, and Jorlan gasps.