Woot!! I'm back with the Next chapter of "Yes, That's My Excuse...".
And thanks to Caerl who gave me such a wonderful review! Yes, I know that Belade does act a more human then elf, but while she was raised physicaly by Daehgun (Who also influenced her morals a little) she was raised socially by the people of WestHarbor and the two people who had the biggest influences on her where Amie and Bevil. An elf's sense of refinement and aloofness never really rubbed off on Belade, who spent her days among humans. But really, thanks for the review! (Which gave me a good push to start this chapter! XD )
Chapter 2- The road to Neverwinter.
Belade's Point of View*
I had spent the first little while walking down the road in tears. I had left everything I knew behind, and one of my best friends was dead. But the tears stopped as I remembered the shard in my pack. It was hard, but I needed to make sure WestHarbor didn't get in trouble again.
And as I approached the Weeping Willow Inn, trouble, ironically enough, found me.
"Now..." Growled a dwarf with his arms folded across his chest, "Perhaps, you would like ta repeat what ya said inside. Slowly this time, so ya can think about what yer saying."
One of the three men to whom the dwarf was talking to gave a cross between a sneer and a scowl. "I said dwarf, give us any coin you have on you and we'll let you walk away in one piece..."
I frowned, tightening my grip of the shield that Georg had given me, and took a step forward. "What's going on?" I asked, resisting the urge to put my hands on my hips.
"Nothing that you need to know, elf." The man spat. I raised an eyebrow.
"Whether or not in concerns me isn't the problem. The problem is-" I started, but I was cut off.
"Aye, dun worry lass." The dwarf grinned. "Jus' a friendly brawl, tis all!"
I blinked. "Friendly?!" This looked anything but friendly... One of the men was reaching for a dagger...
"Just go away elf before you get dragged into something that doesn't concern you!"
The dwarf rolled his eyes and sighed. "Come on, someone try ta hit me already. Even the newcomer can see yer all to scared to actually do anything."
As one man drew a dagger I took another step forward. "I won't let you kill him in cold blood."
The talker snorted. "That's it, we're taking the dwarf AND his new friend too!"
The fight that ensued wasn't all that difficult. The three men weren't as sober as they had looked. Once I had tripped the guy attack me, I smacked his head with the hilt of my sword, knocking him out cold. I wasn't going to kill someone who can't think straight.
I turned just in time to see the dwarf take out the third man (he had already knocked his first opponent senseless) by smashing his thick head into the attacker. The dwarf gave a content sigh.
"Tis a shame they had ta resort ta weapons. But, I guess if they wanted to keep the odds even!" With a grunt, he turned to look at me. "Though I weren't expecting a elf to chip in... A dark elf at that."
I flinched, but he didn't act hostile. He just seamed to be a little surprised. Taking advantage of the fact he DIDN'T try to hit me in the face, I gave a cough and said, "Yes... Well... My foster father is a wood elf and I was raised in WestHarbor." I paused, before extending my hand and stating my name. "I'm Belade Tam Farlong." 'It's worth a shot...' I thought, hoping the dwarf would except me...
I nearly felt like cheering when a strong, stubby hand clasped my own. "M'names Khelgar, of the clan Ironfist. Ya may have heard o' me; I've been making me way along ta cost fer aboot a year now." As he released my hand Khelgar asked me "So, lass, what are ya doing on this road? They haven't been safe as o' late."
"I'm on my way to Neverwinter." I said. I unconsciously shifted the pack on my back.
Through his beard I saw Khelgar grin. "Really? Well, so am I! But come, why dun we head in, and share tales over a few of the innkeepers best?"
I smiled and nodded, but thought to myself, 'I think I'll avoid beer...' I didn't mine having wine now and again on a special occasion, I didn't like the taste of beer, or other drinks like that (Though I did try a sip of Amie's mead last Harvest Fair. ... Never again.).
**
"...And so, I punched 'im for asking, and while he was on the ground picking up his teeth, his friend decided to add a few choice words aboot my heritage... So I punched 'im to." Khelgar finished, and I tried desperately not to burst out laughing. I did giggle though.
"So anyway, I take pride in what I do. Fighting... And when I heard o' the monks, I decided that that's what I was goin' ta do!" He puffed up his chest, looking determined.
"A monk?" I asked, blinked. "Isn't that an odd choice for a dw-" I shut my mouth. I had been about to judge Khelgar based on his race. "Ah," I felt my face go hot and I was glad for my black skin; no one could tell that I was blushing. "I-I mean, why a monk?"
Khelgar laughed and grinned. "Monks spend their whole lives devoted ta brawling; training for it! Ya see, it happened when-"
"The Kalach-cha! Find it!" A raspy voice broke over the common room of the inn. Looking around, I saw a couple bladelings and dark dwarves. People started screaming as they stormed forward, weapons drawn.
"Well, ya seam to attract trouble don't ye?" Khelgar yelled over the noise, as I stood up with my long sword drawn.
Most of the patrons were trying to hide as Khelgar and I rushed over to defend them. As I engaged with a bladeling I noticed that it was slightly easier to fight them then last time. 'I'm getting better...' I thought, as I disarmed the creature. Not hesitating, and stuck my blade through it's chest. I winced as blood gushed when I removed my sword... But Bevil's word rang in my head. Sometime you have to kill...
Once Khelgar and I had finished with the attackers, a woman from up stairs can screaming. She had a couple of nicks, but nothing to serious.
"What is it?" I asked her.
"My husband!! He's up stairs with more of those monsters!!" She sobbed.
Without checking if Khelgar was following, I bounded up the stair case.
**
After Khelgar and I and saved Zachan we left the inn. I didn't want to put more people in danger again...
Khelgar gave a huge laugh, shaking his head. "Well, I haven't had so much fun since, well, that time I used a table as a battering ram!" He looked over at me, eyes warm. "Well, lass, seeing as ye and I are heading in the same direction, and because trouble has a way of finding ye, why dun we travel together? Tis would be safer to!"
I hesitated, before grinning. 'It would be nice to have someone to talk to...' "Sure! Thanks Khelgar!"
"Dun mention it lass."
**
As we approached Fort Locke, I could once again hear trouble.
"Leave me ALONE! I've done nothing to you!" I heard a woman yell. Jogging forward with Khelgar close behind, I spotted three men harassing a woman... with a tail. And horns.
'A... Teif...ling? Is that what they are called?' I thought as one of the men in uniform turned to look at me.
"Wait a minute, looks like she's got friends she does. A runty dwarf and a dark elf by the looks of it." He sneered. I frowned. 'AND we're back to the judging of my heritage.' I sigh.
"Runty?!" Khelgar crossed his arms. "Now, I know yer not talking ta me, or you'll be talking to my fists next!" He growled.
"What are you doing to that woman?" I asked, ignoring Khelgar for the time being.
"Nothing." Said another man. "Just caught this bandit trying to raid our Fort, and decided to deal with her."
"I'm NOT a bandit!" The teifling said hotly. "Or are you deaf and stupid?" She huffed.
"Stupid?" The blond growled. "And here we were, thinking about letting you live and now you've gone and changed our minds." He took a step forward, his sword drawn.
In a flash, my own long sword was out. "I won't let you kill her in cold blood!" I said, taking a step forward. Khelgar had his Dwarven War Axe ready.
The first man turned to look at Khelgar and me, a nasty grin on his face. "Hey... The commander might pay for three bandit bounties... He's not one for asking questions..."
The blond nodded. "Epically for teifling, a runty dwarf, and dirty harbormen who doesn't know enough to keep walking!" And for the second time in twenty four hours I was in a battle.
These men proved to be tougher then the drunken men outside the Weeping Willow Inn, I realized as a blade nicked my side, drawing blood. I bit my lip and gave a small grunt of pain, but kept attacking... As I saw Khelgar's attacker fall down in a pool of his own blood, I repeated in my head a couple times 'Sometimes you have to kill...'. I stuck my blade through the belly of the blond man, and the teifling finished him off with a swift kick to the head.
As he dropped the teifling looked over at me, ruby eyes slightly wide, tail swishing. "Those men should have know better then to take on a dark elf. Not many people usually make that mistake twice." She said, shaking her head.
"Are you alright?" I asked, panting from the fight.
She blinked. "Hey, you're nice! ... Sorry, I don't mean to so sound so surprised... Well, I am, considering that, uh, you know, your kind aren't really known for it... Not that you couldn't be if you wanted to!" She said quickly, shaking her hands.
'Well, at least she isn't hostile...' I thought. "But just being a teifling shouldn't make them want to kill you. What happened?" I ask.
The woman rolled her eyes. "Well, the commander up at Fort Locke as put on a bounty on bandits. The problem is that some of the men at the Fort have started attack normal travelers, looking for easy bounties." She snorted. "Really, it's just a different form of a bandit; the soldiers rob the travelers AND the get a bounty."
She sighed. "I wouldn't have even been in this pickle if that invisibility potion I bought hadn't been watered down! I swear, if I ever see that merchant again..." She growled.
I laughed quietly. "I'm Belade Tam Farlong... And this is Khelgar Ironfist." I said, pointing at Khelgar. Khelgar gave grunt, not looking at the woman. I sighed. "Anyway, we need to make our way to the Fort..."
"Um..." The woman's tail swished. "Can... Can I go with you? Please? I won't be a burden, I promise!" She clasped her hands together. "I'm Neeshka, by the way."
Before I could answer Khelgar grunted. "No way. Teifling's will stab ya in the back and steal from you faster then ye can sneeze!" He said, crossing his arms.
Neeshka glared. "Oh yeah? Well, dwarves are smelly drunks who'll chop someone in half just so show they're tough!"
"Why don't you come down here and say that again!" Khelgar near road, balling his hands into fists.
I narrowed my eyes and stepped in between the two. "That's enough, both of you!" I yelled. I suddenly felt like a mother of two, misbehaving children... Glaring at Khelgar, I thought 'So NOW he's judging people based on race?! ... I wonder what he really thinks of me then...' I bit my lip. Maybe he was lying about being comfortable around me...?
"He started it!" Neeshka whined. Khelgar grunted again, looking away. I sighed.
"Anyway, I want Neeshka along. You said it yourself Khelgar, these roads are dangerous." I said.
So, the three of us walked to fort... Well, Neeshka was practically skipping she was so happy, and Khelgar was trudging behind.
I gave a quick glance over my shoulder, looking at the dwarf.
'How does he really feel...?' I wondered.
**
"I hate the undead, I hate the undead, I hate the undead!" I repeated over and over as we fought our way through the crept. Zombies and walking skeletons were everywhere! I smashed my shield into the head of the skeleton I was fight, and it broke into bits. I gave a sigh of relief as the body of the last undead in the room fell to the ground. We had been fighting almost none stop and explored a large portion of the crept. 'I hope we find Tann soon...' I thought.
"Are ye alright lass?" Khelgar asked. He had blood running down his face from a sword cut. As I healed him I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine... Wait, where is Neeshka?" Before Khelgar could respond I heard a weak voice call "Over here..."
I rushed over to where Neeshka lay on the ground, who was nursing a large, ragged wound to her side. If had been just a wound, I could have healed it fine. But it was sickly green.
She looked up, a half hearted sheepish grin on her face. "A zombie got me, heh heh...." She winced, pressing her hands to her side.
I fished through my pack and pulled out a bottle with a lime green liquid in it and some bandages.
"Here." I said, handing her the potion. "That'll help with the infection." The teifling took it and, with a grimace, downed it. She coughed and spluttered.
"Khelgar, can you turn away for a moment?" I asked, looking over my shoulder. Khelgar had been watching a few feet way from where I was on my knees next to Neeshka. The dwarf nodded and not only turned away but walked away as well. I smiled.
After I had stripped Neeshka of her top (And for you perverts, I'm doing this so I can dress the wound properly!) I started cleaning the wound.
"Can't you just heal me?" Neeshka asked, wincing as I cleaned the wound out. I shook my head.
"That would seal the infection in when I heal the skin over. That could kill you in the long run. This will take longer for you to heal, but that's infections take a while to go away." I explained as I started wrapping the wound now.
"Where did you learn all this... I thought you were a bard!" Neeshka asked, shaking her head.
I laughed. "My father taught me. He's a ranger, and he's had to this to me a couple times. I used to be very clumsy." I grinned, remembering one harvest brawl. "Once Brother Merring, a healer in my village, and made small mistake in sealing over a wound that had been infected. A couple days later, the skin around the wound was all swollen and bulging from the pus that had gathered underneath my skin. " Neeshka made a face as I continued. "Father had to break open my skin again and clean in all out. It smelt horrible and hurt like the nine Hells!" Neeshka started squirming, saying 'ew' over and over. I laughed and finished up with the bandages. "There! All done!" I looked back over my shoulder. "You can come back now Khelgar. We're going to have to wait until morning anyway."
As Khelgar came back he asked "Why do we have ta wait lass?"
I pointed at Neeshka. "I can't heal her properly until I'm sure the infection is cleared. It should be in a couple hours."
Khelgar snorted. "Pah! Had she been a dwarf, we could be on a way already!"
I shook my head and Neeshka said with a blank face, "Not everyone has the fortitude of a stubby dwarf Khelgar."
"What was that ya back-stabbing teifling!"
"Stop fighting, you'll draw more undead on us!!"
**
"Ah... Fresh bodies to experiment with..." Despite the warmth of the room, the breath of a person dressed in priest robes was forming a mist in the air. I gulped and tightened the grip on my sword and shield. Neeshka shifted from foot to foot, nervous I guessed, and Khelgar gave a growl and heaved his axe up in front on him.
The priest waved his hand over several bodies on the ground in front of him.
"Awaken my children..." He breathed as a couple skeletons and zombies stood up. With a battle cry, Khelgar charged forward and lodged his battle axe into the decaying flesh of a zombie, with Neeshka and myself right behind him.
The undead themselves were easy enough to fight; not one of use got badly injured. Neeshka however, got locked in combat with the priest. More hardy then his undead minions, the priest shrugged off a attack from Neeshka and took his war mace and slammed it into Neeshka's side; the same side that had been injured earlier. I hadn't been able to heal it fully, so it was sill raw.
Neeshka screamed and dropped to her knees, dagger clattering to the floor. The priest gave a dark chuckle, raising the war mace above his head. "You shall make a fine addition to my army..."
"Neeshka!!" I yelled. I tried to get to her, but a zombie and two skeletons blocked my path. "Neeshka!!"
Just as I thought I was going to lose my friend, I heard a wild roar and Khelgar came charging, heap butting the priest in the stomach.
"Ooof!" The priest grunted, dropping the mace behind him. Not missing a beat, Khelgar swung his axe, cutting deep into the priest's side. With a disgusting noise the axe was pulled free and Khelgar swung it hard and fast at his new target: the priest's head.
I flinched and ignored the blood as I finished off the undead before me.
Once they had been dealt with I ran over to Neeshka, fearing the worse. "Neeshka?" I asked, rolling her onto her back.
"I'm in pain!" She cried, clutching her side. I checked it over, sighing with relief.
"You probably have some broken ribs, but I can deal with that now." I said, healing her with my strongest healing spell. Khelgar came over, the blood of the priest mixing with his own as it ran down his face.
"Is the teifling alright?" He asked. I nodded.
"Yes, thanks to you Khelgar." I smiled.
Neeshka lifted her head up. "Yeah, if it weren't for you, you smelly dwarf, I would have been mince meat." She sat up slowly as Khelgar fumed at the insult.
"Ya little-" Khelgar started but was cut off by Neeshka.
"Thanks Khelgar..." She smiled at the disgruntled dwarf.
Khelgar blinked, pink in the face. "Yer welcome teif- Neeshka.."
"Don't mean to break this up, " I started "but commander Tann is over there!"
**
"... I think the men know who there commander is. Don't you?" I asked, looking at the men. Lt. Vallis, once we had gotten back with commander Tann, had come out of the fort with a few of his men. He had said that he was relieving Tann of his post, and that the men wanted him as leader, not Tann.
My attempt to get the men to side with us back-fired, however, as Vallis smiled and said "Yes, they do. They see their former commander allying himself with demon filth and drow!"
Neeshka and I flinched. 'Damn, he HAD to use that didn't he...' I felt like screaming as the men and Vallis charged us.
Despite having just fought our way through hordes of undead, we were able to dispatch these usurpers, and walked back to the fort relatively in one piece.
"... Well, where are you heading now?" Marshal Cormick asked as Khelgar, Neeshka and myself got ready to leave the fort.
"Neverwinter." I said, smiling.
"Head to the Watch Headquarters in the Docks district then!" Cormick smiled, patting me on the back. "I'll have something for you there as thanks for you're help here."
I was smiling as we left the fort, despite the strong feeling of being watched...
**
I suppressed a groan as we rounded a corner... For standing in the way was a bladeling and several dark dwarves.
The bladeling spoke. "No place to run this time Kalach-cha! Hand over the shard... And we shall let you live..."
Next to me, Khelgar sighed. "Lass... Is what yer carrying so important that we need to be chased all over Faerun for it!?" He growled. I shook my head.
"I really wish I knew the bloody answer..." I sighed.
"Meh." Khelgar grunted, pulling his axe out. "At least the fight come ta us."
The bladeling narrowed it's eyes. "We can always take it from your corpse..." It threatened.
I shifted my pack. "You want it?" I taunted, "Come and get it!"
"Thralls attack!!" Just as the bladeling shouted it's commands, vines sprung from the ground, entangling around the feet and ankles of our attackers, making it impossible for them to move. The bladeling shouted at it's thralls as a badger and a elf jumped from the hill above and started attacking. Not wanting to question where the sudden ally came from, I charged into the fray with Neeshka and Khelgar close behind me.
Thanks to vines, it was quiet easy to dispatch the bladeling and dwarves. A few discovered that they still had proper use of their hands and attacked while rooted. Khelgar got a deep cut into his shoulder, but his enemy was taken care of swiftly with the help of his trusty axe.
As we cleaned up from the battle, the elf walked over, feet barely making a mark in the grass. As she approached she spoke.
"I had hoped to approach you under more... Peaceful circumstances... I know of the Drow and I did not wish to meet you in a place where you would think of me as an enemy." She said slowly and carefully. She was walking towards me in the way one might walk towards a sleeping bear. I sighed, biting my lip.
'I'm never going to get away from this am I...?' I shook my head.
"Who are you, and why did you help us?" I asked, trying to sound friendly.
The elf gave a smile. "I am Elanee. Forgive me... But I saw these... Things about to attack you and... I found I could not simply stand by while you were ambushed... again..." She gave an apologetic smile.
"But I'd like to help!" She continued. "If the sun and path are true, you are heading to Neverwinter, correct? ... I would have preferred to follow without interfering... But I fear you'll be unable to reach it without someone to guide you."
I was about to explain to Elanee that I was very able to find our way as my father was a ranger and had taught me well, but any help would be appreciated when Khelgar spoke up.
"We dun need a slip of an elf and Tree-worshiper on top of that to help us!" He growled, glaring at Elanee and her badger.
Elanee looked hurt at the comment. "I think you'll find 'tree-worshipers' a rare thing these days... Do not use that term lightly."
Neeshka rolled her eyes. "Trust me..." She whispered to me in a low voice. "With a gut like his, Khelgar doesn't do anything lightly." It took quiet a bit of will-power to not burst out laughing.
"We-were you following us?" I asked, stumbling over my words as I still trying not to laugh.
Elanee gave a cryptic smile. "It is a strange circle of who follows who! I had been following your attackers... Who were following you. I had though that perhaps my enemy's enemies might want some company on the road to Highcliff... And I can show you a quicker path."
Neeshka's eyes lit up; she hadn't been enjoying our couple day trek through the woods. "Really! How?" She asked.
"Through a place called the Maiden's Glade." Elanee said. "I can lead you there, with no further attacks from your pursuers. ... Surely you must grow tired of them."
I thought for a second, then nodded. "That would be appreciated, thanks..." I looked over at Khelgar, who looked baffled.
After he and Elanee had a tiny argument (which I settled. I really started to feel like a mother...) we started on our way again; this time the druid lead the way.
**
"That is it!" Neeshka cried, fed up. "We've been walking for hours; I can't even see the road anymore!" From what she has told me, Neeshka was used to cities and she really wasn't used to hiking like this.
Khelgar groaned and for once agreed with Neeshka. "How much father is it?" He asked.
"We have strayed very far from the road..." I said, blinked. Father had told me to stick to the road, but...
Elanee. "Not much father... We are already here."
I blinked, and looked around. Neeshka voice what I was thinking. "Here?! All I see are trees! I sure as hell couldn't make my way back to the road now..." She grumbled.
"Tis not much better at my height, I can tell you..." Sighed Khelgar.
Elanee continued. "The Maiden's Glade can only be found by druids and the beasts of the land. You would not be able to find this place without a druid to guide you. It is a place for rest and the animals shall ward off your attackers."
Neeshka gulped and spotted something behind Elanee. "Uh.... You mean those animals?" Elanee looked over she shoulder and I drew my long sword. At least five wolves came running from the woods, snarling and snapping their jaws. They were upon us in the moment.
The wolves, compared to everything else we've fought, weren't all that hard to fight, but there was something off about them. Looking around, I ever caught sight of Elanee fight them off. 'There has to be something wrong with them then!' I thought, slaying the wolf in front of me. 'Druids typically don't kill the animals they are supposed to protect...'
Once all the wolves were dead, Elanee looked around, distraught.
"This isn't right, there should be at least one druid in the glade, and they should be aware of the beasts and us!"
"We could take a look around." I afford. I was nervous and worried as well. Wolves, from what I know of them, don't typically attack humans. They tend to prey on the weak, and the don't normally attack so many with so few.
Elanee nodded her thanks.
Neeshka looked around. "Well, what ever we do, can we do it while avoiding more animals?"
Khelgar grunted. "I say let's kill em! They tried to kill us, now we kill em right back! Sides'" He chuckled. "I could use new boots." Neeshka cuffed him for that.
"I would rather we AVOID blood shed." I said, and we started through the woods again.
We avoided the other animals, and came upon a clearing. A massive grizzly bear was in it and as we tried to sneak past, but Khelgar tripped over a tree root and "CLANG"! The sound of his armour hitting the ground rang loudly around the clearing... And the bear spotted us.
"RAAARRRRGGGG!!!" It road, charging. Neeshka cursed as she ducked and rolled way and Khelgar, getting up quickly, and I charged the bear, weapons drawn.
The bear was a lot more dangerous then the wolves. It's massive paw swept aside Elanee's badger and it's jaws grabbed my sword and tossed it into the bushes. Weapon less I tried to jump away but it's paw clipped my side and I went spinning to the right. Dazed, I looked up to see Khelgar slam his axe into it's side but that only angered the bear. It was about to swipe at Khelgar when Elanee charged it, sickle in hand as she sliced away at the bear. Again, this only furthered to anger the bear. With a road it swotted the two of them to the ground and rose up and up on it's hind legs, getting ready to slam back down on the stunned dwarf and elf...
Something whistled through the air Shunk! A dagger was buried into the head of the beast, up to it's hilt.
Shunk! Shunk! Shunk! Three more daggers buried themselves into the head of the bear, the last one going through the eye of the bear. The bear gave a might roar and fell to it's side as Neeshka walked out of the bushes, a fifth dagger in hand.
"Is it dead?" Khelgar asked shaken. We got our answer a second later, not through a weakened roar, but a weakened voice.
"Elanee..." Groaned the bear.
"Kaleil?!" Cried Elanee, dropping her sickle, looking horrified.
**
"Finally!" I shouted. "We've reached Highcliff!" I sighed happily and Khelgar gave me a clap on the back.
"Now we just have to find this…. Captain Flinn guy right?" Neeshka asked, coming up behind me.
"Yup. And then we are on a boat to Neverwinter!"
Khelgar moaned. "I dun think I'm going to agree with the boat trip… I really dun want ta take the boat…"
Elanee poked my shoulder. "I think Khelgar may get his wish…"
"HURRY MEN!" The harbour-master yelled. "Let's help those men, and hopefully the Lizard folk will let them swim to shore!"
With a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach I walked forward.
"Excuse me, is something wrong?" I asked, frowning.
The harbour-master shook his head. "That fool just destroyed a ship worth ten times the cargo he was carrying. With the Lizard folk sinking every ship that comes out of Highcliff, it is far to dangerous to sail. Go find the Elder, I have my hands full."
**
"What's this?" A blond woman came out of her house, hands on her hips. 'She must be Shandra…' I thought.
"A dark elf? Did Mayne send you?" She shook her head, glaring. "Because if you're here to rob me, there's nothing of value here. So you might as well head back down to the Underdark, or wherever it is you came from!"
'This is getting really old… At least comments like that don't sting aa much…' I thought as Neeshka piped up.
"Can we check?" She looked excited.
"Neeshka!" Elanee hissed.
"What?! She's asked."
Shandra rolled her eyes and blew a strand of hair out of her face. "Tell me what you want. I have no patience for visitors." She crossed her arms over her chest.
"We can see that…" I heard Neeshka mumbled under her breath.
"The Elder asked us to track the Lizardfolk in the area." I said.
"Good!" Shandra quipped. "Glad the Elder finally cares about the grain shipments." She gave a sigh, rubbing her temple with her hands. "I've been alone here ever since the other farmers abandoned their farms… I don't think I can hold out much longer…"
I smiled softly. "It's brave you to stay and protect your home." I said. Shandra's laugh caught me off guard.
"Brave? Foolish is more like it."
We spent the next few minutes talking with Shandra, asking her general questions about what has been going on.
"Do you know where the Lizardfolk are attacking from?" Elanee questioned.
Shandra thought for a second. "Well… At first, I thought they were attacking from their main lair, which would be the water… But now, now I'm not so sure…"
"Whys that lass?" Khelgar asked.
"Well, I've seen lights up by the Highcliff Castle ruins… But that makes no sense, as those have only started showing up in the past couple nights, and the Lizardfolk have been attacking for longer then that…" Shandra thought at loud, shaking her head. I pulled out our map from my pack.
"Well, could you mark it own our map?" I asked, holding it out. "Then we can be on our way."
"Sure." As she took the map our hands brushed and she flinched away. I bit my lip and looked down.
"… Here." She handed it back to me. I looked up and there was a tiny smile on her face.
"Just be careful ok?" She continued talking, but my eyes went wide I was noticed two Lizardfolk with torches in their hands running towards Shandra's barn…
"What is it?" Asked the blond, confused.
"… You might want to look behind you…" I said, flinching.
"Why?" She asked, turning with a laugh. "what's behind…. Me…?" Shandra slowly turned back to face us as smoke curled through the air.
"My barn… And the harvest…" She groaned, putting her face in her hands. "They were waiting. Waiting for me to get distracted."
"I'm sorry, we didn't mean!" Shandra waved away my apology.
"Just help me put it out…"
After the fires had been put out we started leaving.
"Wait." I heard Shandra say. Turning around I saw that she had grabbed Khelgar by his shoulder.
"What is it lass? We're sorry aboot yer barn, but-" Shandra shook her head.
"Just please, get something done. I am so tired of everyone giving us all these promises and nothing EVER getting done. Help for these farmers is long over due."
I blinked, and nodded. "We'll try our best."
Neeshka sighed. "It's not like we have any choice, we need a ship to get to- oof!" I elbowed her, giving her a look.
"Ok, ok… Sorry…" She mumbled and I chuckled.
**
"Please don't tell Da… he'll yell at us for sure…" Andrew pleaded. Alex bobbed his head in agreement.
I place a hand on each of their hands. "They don't need to know how close you came to being eaten. Now hurry home." I gave them each a pat on the head and the boys went running off.
Elanee gave me a light applaud. "You can handle children well; do you have any of your own?" She asked.
I felt my face heat up and I gave a nervous chuckle.
"No… But sometimes it feels like it with these two!" I pointed at Khelgar and Neeshka.
"Hey!" Neeshka cried, pouting.
"…But I hope to one day!" I giggled, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment.
Khelgar gave a hearty laugh. "Aye, that's the life ain't it? A whole clan of grandkids on yer knee while you fill their empty heads with stories of your adventures!"
With a laugh, flicked my braid behind me and flourished my cloak. "Yes, and make sure you tell them of the famous bard Belade! They'll worship me!"
Khelgar laughed. "Aye, aye! One o' these days, I'm gunna find me self a comely dwarf wench and we going to have a whole clan of Ironfist children!"
"Urk, I don't wanna think about that." Neeshka curled her tail. "Especially of it involves a dwarf wench."
Khelgar snorted. "Says the girl with the tail and horns. Trust me, what Dwarven women lack in stature they make up in sprite."
Elanee looked over at me. "What about you Belade?"
I chuckled again, face heating up. "Well, if the right man comes along…" I shook my head. "Gods, I sound like a little school girl!"
Khelgar chuckled. "Remember, if ye want to raise yer children like a pack of wolves, talk ta Elanee."
Neeshka snickered. "And if you want to raise your kids like idiots, talk to Khelgar."
Before Khelgar could retort Elanee said "Come now, this place isn't the safest to be talking." I nodded, face still hot.
'The right man…' I thought. It was only five years ago I was worried that no one would ever truly love me… And now… 'Ha ha…' I thought, giving a weak laugh. 'These people have made hope again… And…' I looked over at Neeshka and Khelgar who were fighting as we walked with Elanee trying to quiet them down. "They are a really good family to me…" I said quietly.
**
My breath came out short and shallow. The five of us, that is, Khelgar, Neeshka, Elanee, myself and Slann the Lizardfolk warrior we have saved from outside the castle, sat in the shadows outside this one room. Inside the room where three or four zombies, some sort of projection thing and a priest. The priest looked like the one we had killed near Fort Locke!
The projection spoke. "Think what you will… As long as you carry out my or-" He paused and I held my breath.
"Ah… It seams others have come to pay the respects…" I heard Khelgar mumble a cruse under his breath and Neeshka's tail started twitching. "Perhaps the very people who slew the priest at For Locke…"
The projection started fading. "I suggest you deal with them before you share the same fate!"
Our cover blown, Khelgar charged into the room with the rest of use close behind.
This fight could have been worse, but it could have been better. Elanee used her powers over nature to cause vines to spring from the floor, and I summoned a wolf using a spell to fight by my side. This priest, I found, wasn't as strong as the priest before hand, but his zombies where much stronger. I took a nasty cut to my side and Slann nearly had his tail chopped off. Khelgar took care of priest and Together Elanee and I took care a zombie. Slann to care of another before turning to help Neeshka who was struggling with the zombie attack her. She was shouting "I'm a ROUGE gods damn it!! I don't do close combat!(1)"
The fight won, we took time to heal our wounds. Elanee and I were exhausted afterwards, but we were all relatively healthy again.
**
"What do you want, Warmblood?" Hissed the chief of the Lizardmen tribe.
I stood up straight, not wanting to look weak. "I want you to stop the attacks on Highcliff." I said.
"No." The chief said simply. "This our new home. Warmbloods will always hunt us if they live on our land." He looked around at his tribe.
"There's plenty of water." I reasoned. "Surely you can live elsewhere…"
"No." Repeated the chief. "Clan chooses here. We already left swamp, we not leave here!"
I sigh, trying to think. "Is there anything Highcliff can do to make the attacks stop?" I asked.
The chief shook his head. "They always cause trouble!! They must leave!"
"… So if the village leaves you alone, the attacks will stop?" I asked.
The chief thought for a moment. "We not trust humans… Maybe humans go away if we break boats."
"I can get the village to leave you alone." I said, confidant that I could.
"… If you promise this… Attacks will stop… But if village hurts clan…"
I crossed my arms over my chest. "You'll tell the Elder so he can stop it."
The chief looked around the room again, looking at his clan. He nodded. "Chief trusting you. Do not fail…"
I gave a huge sigh as we turned to leave. "That was the most nerve-racking talk of my life…" I sweat dropped.
Khelgar looked sceptical. "And what if the Elder DOESN'T agree with this lass?" He asked.
I closed my eyes. "He better listen!" I frowned. "If he doesn't, more people are going to get hurt…"
Elanee placed her hand on my shoulder. "The important thing is that we have come half way in this… Which is more then the villagers were willing to do."
Neeshka gave me a confidant smile. "Hey, if you got this tribe to listen to you. The Elder should be no problem!"
**
"Bye bye!!" A voice called over the waves.
"Thanks for everything!"
"Good luck!!"
I smiled as we waved good bye to the villages… Well, as Neeshka, Elanee and I waved good by.
Barely five minutes onto the waters and Khelgar was already leaning over the rail. I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"I kind of feel sorry for him!" I said to Neeshka who grinned.
"I'm rather enjoying it. Keeps him quiet." She laughed.
Elanee peered out over the railing, studying the waters. "… Those waters don't look natural…" She said, mystified.
Khelgar managed a groan. "How long are we gunna be on this ship?" He asked.
I walked over and patted his back. "About a week." I said.
"A week?!" Khelgar groaned, smacking his head against the railing.
Neeshka sighed. "This is going to be a long week…"
**
"Well…" Khelgar said, sniffing the air as we hopped off the boat. "I suppose it's passable… For a city built by humans…" He shook his head. "But if ye want a proper citer, ya build down, not up!"
Elanee also had her share of complaints about the city. "It feels wrong… The stone and wood… They are silent…" She gently touched the stone of a statue that was nearby.
Myself, well, I was in awe. This place was huge!! I mean… Eilistraee! It was beautiful. And… And big!! I remember thinking about how you could probably fit over one thousand Westharbor's in Neverwinter…
Neeshka covered her pointy ears. "I wish you'd BOTH be silent! This whole trip as been nothing but one long whine from the both of you!" She frowned. "And sure, it doesn't bring back the most pleasant memories, but it's home." Her eyes suddenly went wide.
"So uh… Where to first Belade?" She asked, suddenly sounding nervous.
I blinked. "My Uncle's inn. It's nearby… Why?" I asked.
"Oh… Well… You see, I think you and I, but mostly you sorry, have attracted…. Hostile attention…" She pointed to behind Khelgar, Elanee and myself.
Standing behind us was a group of drunken sots… Very angry looking sots… With make shift weapons.
"… I may not know the laws of a city…" Elanee said, "But it is against the laws to have a fight in the middle of the streets?"
I shrugged. "No idea, but it is in our best interests to take several steps back and away…"
"So…. Basically run away?" Neeshka asked.
I nodded at the teifling. "Yes Neeshka, I mean run away."
"What?" Cried Khelgar. "Why?"
"Not now!" Elanee yelled as one man took a step forward. She was pushing Khelgar, with surprising speed, towards my Uncle's inn and Neeshka and I ran for it.
"This is really get old!" I growled.
"Meh, you get used to it." Neeshka shrugged.
**
…. AND MY SECOND CHAPTER IS FINALLY DONE!! XDD _
This took me all day to write… But it was lots of fun!
(1) This here is my little tribute to table top D&D. Playing my rouge Nato I've shouted such a thing many times…
… Though sadly, my fighter had a harder time in melee combat… (I can't roll to save my life and my DM almost always rolls above a 15... -___-; )
Please tell me if I make anyone of the NPC OOC please! I've always found it hard to keep characters that aren't my own in character… Thank you!! Please Review!!!
