Ivan wasted no time in telling me the meaning of his name- "gracious is the god."
Two things struck me as strange- although he had just gotten done nodding and smiling to the creature who believed in this ridiculous Unified, he did not pluralize the god of his name. And he did not at all mention whether he knew the meaning of my name or not. I assumed he did, and I kept my mouth shut.
Ivan's tent was more generous than most of the others I had seen. He lived practically on the banks of the stream we crossed to encounter the guards, which meant that he would be the first to be attacked should anyone come down with a martial mindset. The bone stakes that held the animal hides in their positions were practically splinters that had to be reinforced with sticks bound together with crude leather bands. I noticed with grit teeth that the most of the living area was dominated by the female that was supposed to be helping him. His own bottles, pans and small plates of gods-knew-what were crammed as neatly as possible into the space on the northern side of the tent, closer to the river and thus victim to chilly, almost-damp ground. Once we entered the tent, the female attended to her own side of the tent, leaving Ivan to bustle around the northern side by himself. I moved with him, careful to follow the small path between the piles and neat clusters, wondering what spell or potion he was using to keep his side so much more organized than his supposed caretaker.
"You spoke of a change?" I began as he settled himself down on the pile of furs that was supposed to be his resting place.
"Yes, my change included the shearing of my horns and the considerable shortening of my tail. It's not completely gone, but it may as well be," Ivan responded. "The esteemed master continues to wait for my hooves to become feet."
"He'll be waiting an awfully long time," I snorted, taking a good look at a pinkish powdery substance that was in a dish next to me.
"Respect the master, you," called the female from the other side, "or I'll force you out."
"No harm, no harm," Ivan called back with a sigh not far from his voice. "The servants of the Unified are easily offended, unfortunately."
"And you're not a servant of the Unified?" I asked quietly, shifting slightly so that I could keep an eye on the female across the room. "You seem slow enough to take offense."
"Bahamut and Tiamat are as unified as are- let's see if I remember- Dispater and Baalzebul." Ivan meaningfully turned his golden eyes toward me, and I wasn't sure how much of my shock he could perceive via whatever spell he was using. "They are working in the same magnificent harmony, toward different ends." He reached out for my hand with a smile, perhaps inviting me to sit next to him- I wasn't sure. "Once I served Dispater, and I learned many things as I did so. When I was brought to this place, I believed he would save me, and he did not. But Bahamut did speak, as now he has to the one who shares Petrovich with you."
"And now?" I asked, placing my hand in his own tentatively.
In that moment, an image of Ivan appeared next to me, and laid his hand on my shoulder. Somehow, we were transported to someplace very dark and very warm- uncomfortably warm, even for me.
"Listen quickly, for soon you will not see me," Ivan said calmly. "Bahamut has spoken neither to me nor to the poor female caught next to Mikhail. The moment I sensed her life energy, I knew that she needed help. I sent word to Mikhail that you had poisoned her and that if I were allowed access, I could heal her as you would not."
"But I did no such thing- why would you say that?" I demanded.
"Because it was the only thing he could have possibly believed that would have gotten me to her in time. Mikhail's fanatical devotion to the Bloodtalons and Tiamat blind him to almost everything else around him. And her condition is grave enough to require more time. I hoped you would deny any accusations of poisoning or control, which would lend me credit."
"What gave you the bright idea to tell me this now?"
And in the darkness, Ivan's golden eyes glowed.
"For one thing, the Drow seems to have had a very strong concern for her and for Petrovich. Usually those things are the least loyal of any traveling band of treasure hunters, which is what you all were mistaken for. For another thing, Mikhail believes, apparently incorrectly, that Petrovich is his own bastard son. The projection of his guilt on the poor creature is truly lamentable. But when I say that you are my cousin, the daughter of my mother's sister Seya'ani, who choked to death, bloated like a toad because of a poisoned stew, I am of clear conscience, and make no mistake."
And I found myself back in the tent, staring in complete surprise at an empty space.
"Oh, did he disappear again?" the female Dragonborn called without concern from the other side of the tent. "Don't worry, I know that's not totally your fault. He does that periodically, after expending himself a great deal, he says. Between that weird blue skinned girl and you, I imagine he's practically at his limit. Just sit there and wait for him to come back."
"About how long does it normally take?" I asked, looking around me carefully as I moved to sit on the fur palette.
"Maybe ten minutes, maybe a few hours. Depends on what he was doing just before he- I don't know- left here. Considering the fact that you were just talking, I'd say it won't be more than five to ten minutes. Just sit there and wait. I'm watching you, so don't spit in anything."
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