The Sorceress of Moonlight: A New Dawn in Baldur's Gate

Chapter 13: Divination, What?

Day after day, they scoured the city for any scrap of information about Astarion's family. They asked around, anyone who might shed some light, but their inquiries were met only with shrugs and blank stares. Hours were spent within the library's halls pouring over old tomes, to no avail. Inquiries made in the City Hall, yielded no result. There was no Ancunín family currently residing in Baldur's Gate, no records, nothing. Desperation gnawed at them. The records could have been destroyed, or they didn't even exist in the first place.

"Agh, this is leading us nowhere," Astarion snapped with an evident frustration in his voice. "We've been searching endlessly, and found nothing."

Talin looked at him, her expression soft and understanding. She hesitated to respond. There was something she wanted to suggest for quite some time, but she desperately hoped that they would find the answers they sought within the library. The thought of voicing this request filled her with dread, but they had run out of options.

"Astarion," she began. "I know this is difficult for you, but," she paused, gathering her courage, "we could search Cazador's place for any records." As soon as she spoke the words, she braced herself for his fury. She never liked seeing him angry, especially at her, but she also never backed down from a challenge if it meant gaining advantage or aiding their cause.

Exactly as she had expected, his eyes blazed with anger. "There is nothing to be found there!" he fumed, "Only pain and misery. It's a nightmare, Talin. I don't want to set foot in that place ever again."

Talin stood her ground, her resolve unwavering. "I could go," she offered, her voice calm. "I won't ask you to do anything you don't want to."

"Alone? Absolutely not!" he countered.

"We're running out of options, Astarion," she explained. "Besides, the place is empty anyway."

"We never asked within your social circle. You know the upper class." Astarion remarked.

"And we won't do it unless it is our only hope. It's too risky, asking questions among the nobility that might expose you in the process. If my father knew Cazador's secret, it's likely others did too and chose to remain silent for a reason."

Another wave of frustration washed over Astarion. How could Valyndor, a lord renowned for his honor and justice, father of a paladin, allow such evil to exist? But then he looked at Talin and realization dawned on him. Valyndor, for all his noble ideals, is still a father. And what father wouldn't do anything to protect his child? A child so young... so innocent and naive to the darkness that lurks in the world. Perhaps, I would have done the same. Then another realization dawned on him. He would do the same. He would never let any harm happen to Talin.

"Astarion?" Talin's voice broke the silence. "Are you alright? You seem leagues away."

Astarion blinked, snapping back to the present. "Yes, yes... I was just contemplating your words."

"And?" she pressed, gently.

With a heavy sigh he finally relented. "Fine, let's go."

And so they went to Cazador's palace, as a last resort to search for anything that might shed some light on Astarion's origins, but the place had been thoroughly ransacked by the Gur and opportunistic looters. At least they didn't care for books and records.

They searched and searched, left no page unturned, but again, they found nothing, save a small ornate box amongst the debris of fallen bookshelves. Talin took the box and carefully lifted the lid. Inside she found a beautiful pin–a shield adorned with silver stars and a downward-pointing sword. The craftsmanship was exquisite.