As warned before Choices 2, this is a continuation of the same characters used in the other two stories. This story assumes the reader has read both of the previous two books now, so go read them first. That story ended with the disruption of some festivities and a tournament by multiple attacks at Crossroad Keep. Not all of the attackers are accounted for, and there will be some repercussions. So what happens next?

Characters from the OC are not mine, I'll return them at the end of the tale. Elondra is mine, among others, many more others than the other two stories. Language and other stuff warning, just to be safe...

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Crossroad Keep - - -

--Elondra

I woke the morning after the official end of our first festival, still tired, even though Casavir was already out of bed for his prayers. His spot was still warm, so he hadn't been awake for long. Bishop was still dozing, though he mumbled something and pulled me a trifle closer before his breathing evened out again. I didn't quite sleep again, as once awake, all I could think about was the gith attack and that stupid ass hearing.

Even after a good night's sleep, I was getting pissed again. Rulers were often unfathomable in tales, but I still didn't know why Nasher had done this. I didn't know Lather, or why someone who'd been delighted in doing that that to others, was one of the Nine. It made me want to stuff my official cloak somewhere impolite.

Another strange thing about this was the absence of Nevalle. I now couldn't understand why he hadn't been here, he took being Nasher's right hand very seriously. He never liked me, too common I guess. And now? Why hadn't he been here? As leader of the Nine, he should have been here and involved if I was tried. He might have even enjoyed it.

There had been no other members of the court, none of the noble hangers-on, just Lord and Lady Nasher, Lather, and those Greycloaks. They weren't even senior ones, all unfamiliar to me. Why? These thoughts worried me, even as Cas was still praying.

Whatever happened down there was certainly out of my hands. After it, Cas had been subtly joyful, Bishop wary, and I worried. We seemed uninjured from it, but... Casavir interrupted my brooding with a kiss, and shook Bishop's shoulder to wake him.

We had more than enough to do after yesterday's events. Dressed and ready for the day, we left our frilly, colorful, and downright embarrassing bridal suite in the corner of the dusty attics. I was looking forward to getting back to our room where we had a door to lock. Better to keep out casual interruptions, and hopefully there wasn't going to be any more pranks for a while.

But first we had to say our farewells to Nasher, and figure out what was next. We were still glowing a little in the dim light of the attic, and I could see both Cas and Bishop had slight circles under their eyes as we dressed. It was much too soon to really relax, maybe in a day or so. I almost had to laugh, instead of a huge list of things to get ready for the wedding, I now had a list of new problems.

Some things never seemed to change.

No... we had problems. We'd already been together for months, but it did feel different now. I think I'd been so worried for the last three days, everything was only just starting to sink in. I didn't think I was the only one, as we were all quiet this morning. Halfway down to the Great Hall, the silence was finally broken.

Cas asked quietly, "Did you have a prank planned, Bishop?"

That was not a question I expected.

Bishop managed a chuckle, "I had only a couple ideas, one of them needing Karnwyr's help, but had already decided to skip it before the ceremony. It was so lame. Just as well, as I wouldn't have wanted to do it while we were being watched. Some things were more important than a laugh. I do think Cas and I owe the gnome something special for his, despite the whiskey."

Cas only smiled at that, but did not object. This should be interesting, I think this was their first joint project that I knew of, unrelated to me.

The Great Hall was louder this morning, as rarely was there any but Greycloaks here. Our friends tended to eat less formally in the armory. But the room was full today. All our guests were still here but for Nasher's group, and I decided I needed to speak to Cormick.

I got some food from the serving table, and moved to get a seat by Cormick and his quieter lady, Partha. I greeted them before a jaw popping yawn.

"Lady Commander," he said with an odd bow.

"Not you, too. I'm still the ill-tempered lieutenant and Harborman!" I wanted more of that, like a pox.

He grinned, "Well, I do have an advantage, remembering the brat and the stables. I wish I had seen it."

"No," I sighed, "You wouldn't. It was... oh gods, it was cruel. I was so mad, and I don't even remember all of it. I would just like to see things get back to normal."

"Normal?" Patha asked with disbelief in her voice.

"You. It's all your fault!" I was shaking my finger at Cormick as he was snickering at me. I was having trouble repressing my smile.

After I stopped sputtering, I smiled anyway and said, "Honestly, I'm glad you weren't there. The ass wasted no chance to twist the knife, and enjoyed this work far too much. You just would have been another target, for no good reason. There was no defense in this hearing."

Unexpectedly, Cas said from standing behind me, "His Neverwinter Nine cloak was burnt and destroyed when the visitation ended, suspicious in its own right. I believe Father Ivarr may be looking at that as part of his charge."

He kissed me, even as Karnwyr sat on my foot. Then I shot a look over to where Bishop was sitting by Neeshka and looking smug. He didn't quite wink at me, but it was close. She was looking uncomfortable, and her hand was twitching as she tried to watch him out of the corner of her eye while eating quickly.

I asked Cas, "Do you know when they will be leaving?"

"No, but his lady is not a seasoned traveler, so they should be leaving later than a purely fighting group. It should be fairly soon."

"Cormick, are you done with your official inspection yet?" I asked carefully.

He was still smiling, and saying, "Yes, it was more extensive than I was expecting. But nothing in my final report that wasn't already in the preliminary. The new additions were mostly checking your records, that midnight drill, and the gith attack." Not smiling anymore, he added, "There's been no official reports about yesterday's events filed here. Someone, probably Lather, has ordered their silence. I'd suggest you order your deputy to collect some reports once they're all officially gone, if I thought it would be wise to impede a member of the Nine like Lather."

A quick smile confirmed his true meaning, and Cormick continued. "Since there is nothing I can add to my own report, I'll have it written, and a copy for you by the end of the day." He exchanged a glance with Patha, "We'll have to leave in the morning, our wedding is less than a tenday away. If you get the chance, would you like to come?"

"All of you," Patha added earnestly.

Cas said, "Thank you."

Then I added, "If we can, like I said last winter."

They left, hand in hand, leaving us to finish breakfast in the emptying hall. I had to smile, when meeting Cas's eyes. Bishop joined us, still looking smug, though Karnwyr was gone now.

I yawned, even as I thought about gathering my plate up. My eyes must have drifted shut as I found they'd moved closer, and one arm had snuck around me. Braced, I wasn't going to sway even if I fell asleep.

This was a real improvement over the public neutrality we'd had a tenday ago, even if there was a quiet whistle from someone else in the room. I think we all twitched, but I couldn't tell who'd whistled when I looked.

Next we hurried out through the various guard posts, and then to the outer bailey to see how the rest of clean-up was going. The salutes were much snappier and the humor non-existent today. We attracted a lot of hushed attention, even doing nothing.

Bishop growled, "How long until we can get out of here?"

I sighed and said, "I'd appreciate it if you would stay until Nasher leaves, but I think I should stay for a few days."

"Then we should visit Cormick, and we should take care of some other things in the city. I would like to speak with some at the temple about several things," added Casavir with a bemused and serene look again.

Bishop muttered, "I'll stay." It wasn't quite a pout... by much.

"Don't sound so tragic, you can be out in the woods by mid-day, I think," I said, looking out the gate, before looking back at him with a smirk. "Go now, if you'll feel better. Don't want to hear you sound like a twelve year old over something like this. This is little stuff."

Cas was keeping his face carefully blank, though Bishop looked annoyed. I put an arm around him, rubbing his back for a moment as he was tense. I enjoyed it too.

Approaching us echoed the sounds of horses, and then they came into view. They were being led to the cart by the temple, as well as another nicer traveling carriage that was being brought out from the stable. It looked like Ivarr was traveling with the larger party. I thought he was probably a good priest, even if he was having problems with us. I wondered what was next with him.

Another thought skittered by, and I said, "Cas? Do you still hold any pledges from Father Ivarr?"

"Yes? ...Oh, yes. I'll go see him now," and he strode off, looking serious enough as he turned. Watching him walk away, made me smile.

We stood outside the main gate, watching the gathering of debris from the festival, as the sun got higher. I would have rather helped, but I needed to wait to say my official farewells. Bishop seemed more interested in staying very close.

"A bit warm, here in the sun. A quiet, lazy summer day would be a nice change. Shade perhaps?" I said, nodding towards the wall.

"No one's tried to kill me yet," he said wryly, watching around us as we moved out of the sun.

Damn, and him walking around completely armed and armored would be asking for trouble. We quietly watched the bustle.

Finally, I decided, "I'll have to move showing you at least some of my caches up to today... maybe I have a ring of invisibility somewhere, as that would the quickest way for you to get out of an ambush."

"And," Bishop asked, looking only curious, "how long is your list?"

I sighed, "Before I can leave: village hall plans, assistants, the cache list, a bonfire, our visions, helping Troi settle in, seeing to our remaining guests, and maybe do something clumsy to cut down on this annoying attention."

"That doesn't sound too bad. Why stay here so long, then?" he wondered, pleasantly working his fingers from my back up into my hair.

I said, regretfully, "All our invited guests: Cormick, Zinnea, and the bards. We should say farewell to them at least. I don't know Duncan's plans, but he knows he's welcome to stay as long as he wishes. Troi may wish to go back to the city and pack up, or retrieve some things, I'll have to check with him." I was enjoying his sneaky head massage, too much to interrupt it.

With a grin he asked, "Do you want me to keep Casavir busy for that?"

"Yeah, if you can. I do know what I'd like to do tonight," I started, stretching my head higher to see if either group was moving yet.

"Oh?" he leered, wagging his eyebrows, and moving his arm lower again.

"That too, but later," I said, hoping I managed to keep a straight face.

Casavir was coming back with a neutral expression. I couldn't tell if it had gone well or not, with Ivarr.

I reached out with my other hand, but he slowly kissed my palm before standing pleasantly close as well.

"I'd like to burn some junk tonight," I admitted after a minute of blissful quiet, and just lightly holding each other, while side by side. But it was so much more than we'd had even the evening before.

Ivarr's driver was helping him up into the cart. I could see Lord and Lady Nasher leaving the Keep as a good sized squad of Greycloaks were leading the rest of the horses out. I dropped my arms regretfully; there was no reason to be provoking right now. Bishop was a little slower, not that that was any surprise.

By this time, a pale and tired looking Ivarr had moved over to us with his escort. The farewells were civil, but had no real warmth. I felt for Cas; his expression was still neutral. Saying my farewells to the priest, I was sure I was warmer to his escort.

When Ivarr had moved away, Lord Nasher and his party had moved towards us. "Commander," he said solemnly.

"My lord. I regret your visit could not have been more pleasant." I said very carefully to him. How could I balance manners and responsibility, with how much I was still pissed at him. I took a deep breath.

His response, was also measured, but the smile actually reached his eyes for an instant. "Most of the visit was agreeable. And I believe I brought my own disruption with me."

"Believe me, my lord, I did not intend anything like that." I wanted him to understand this.

He sighed, "No one plans that. Nevertheless, we thank you for your hospitality, and expect to see you in the city. There are still things that need to be discussed."

I wasn't quite happy at that, but Nasher waved his escort to move on. They left not long before mid-day.

Once both groups had joined and moved beyond sight, we turned and saw that people were still industriously cleaning and doing repairs. Other than giving us more space than usual and watching us more, everything looked normal.

Bishop murmured, "If we're leaving that soon, I don't think we'll have the time to come up with a rebuttal for Grobnar for while here. Neeshka should give in by tomorrow night."

"Is that why the pup is missing?" Cas asked dryly.

"Oh, yes. He is now her bestest buddy. And I've given him permission to be... rude. I'm only going to spell him occasionally, and she was already uneasy at breakfast. I won't be as rude, not that I'll tell her that." The glint in his eyes, said he was enjoying himself.

I wondered, "Do you want any help?"

"Nah, she's pretty nervous and twitchy already. It won't take long now," he gloated.

Cas's face froze, and he gave a brief laugh. I wasn't sure why, as he didn't usually approve when Bishop played with people, even if this was harmless. He laughed again, and didn't stop right away, and I got worried.

He came to a stop, finally, and asked, "Where is she now?"

"At the Phoenix, but she keeps tripping over Karnwyr, who's got a bone to play with," Bishop said, still smugly, though he looked at Cas through narrowed eyes.

Casavir said, "M'Lady, we really should help her clean up after her event. She's gotten no assistance from us and should have, like the others who helped us with the events."

"What was so funny, paladin?" Bishop asked pointedly.

"I suspect that I am not the only one to make her itch right now. I may be wrong. Regardless of that, she does deserve support from us for cleanup at least," Cas said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Bishop began to grin as well, and said, "If she itches, perhaps it will be easier for her to... confess the details of her prank. Sounds like fun."

"I do want to help her, and talk about games for future events in the new hall. Veedle will be ecstatic." I knew I was grinning, as this was small enough repayment for disrupting what little private time we'd had for the last three days, at minimum. "We should probably not arrive all at once. Cas, if you could bring me my event lists in a little bit. When will Brother Troi move down?"

"I believe after lunch, to ensure there is no overlap. Do you want me to bring the Veedle or Shain?" Cas asked carefully.

"Veedle would be better, just let Shain know I think I'll be in at mid-afternoon to see him,"

Bishop asked me with a good bit of irony, "What was it that you wanted to burn?"

I could feel my grin grow strained, and said, "Not that much. Just our old bedding, I'd rather hear those damn choirs. And that stupid throne would be much nicer, as ash, after dinner tonight."