"Wow," Neeshka breathed as she and Marcus made their way through Neverneath. "It's hard to believe that this entire system of passages and tests are just under the main floor of the castle."
"I know what you mean, sweetheart," Marcus replied, spotting another statue of the founder of Neverwinter, the sun elf Halueth Never, just ahead of them. "And speaking of tests."
Sure enough, as they approached the statue they heard the voice of Halueth Never. "You have both been proven to know Neverwinter. But for Neverwinter to know you, you must declare your loyalty to her."
Marcus nodded. "I declare my loyalty to Neverwinter," he said.
"As do I," Neeshka added proudly.
"So be it. The stone of this castle bears witness to your fealty. Protectors of Neverwinter, take your place among us." As the voice faded they could hear another door opening, allowing them to continue on.
No sooner had the harbourman and the tiefling passed through the door than they both let out a gasp of surprise, for they were in a large square room and in its centre was the final resting place of Halueth Never, the first Lord of Neverwinter.
The voice of the long dead sun elf echoed across the room. "The Nine will protect my resting place from any who approach, but one of the Nine is missing. One of you must take his place to join my side."
Marcus walked around the room as he could see a circle of eight longswords floating in mid air, but there was a gap where the ninth would have been. The harbourman used this gap to approach the remains of the sun elf. Lying near him was an ornately carved rod as well as an enchanted longsword. For some reason that Marcus could not explain, he knew he was meant to pick up both items. Once he'd done so and backed away a little, there was a flash and the ninth floating longsword took its place to complete the circle of the nine.
"The Nine are assembled and one duty remains for me. I bequeath the Rod of Never, to the new Lord of Castle Never," the voice of Halueth echoed through the chamber again. "Deliver it to him that he may use it to protect Neverwinter from its savage enemies."
The harbourman looked awed at what had just taken place, as did Neeshka. "I don't think I'll forget this as long as I live," the tiefling said.
"I know what you mean, Neesh," Marcus replied as he looked to the staircase that would hopefully lead to Castle Never's throne room and Lord Nasher. "Shall we, my dear?" he asked.
The tiefling grinned. "Yeah, I think we'd better."
They made their way up the steps and through a short passage that led them to the throne room. Both Marcus and Neeshka could see that many bodies littered the floor of the throne room, but it was the sight of a Shadow Reaver battling members of the Nine and Lord Nasher who were trying to protect the few people that were still alive that made their blood run cold.
"This Shadow Reaver may seem a difficult foe, but hold your ground!" bellowed Nasher. "And reinforcements shall be here soon," he added, almost hopefully.
Marcus drew the longsword he'd taken from Neverneath, and as soon as it was clear of the scabbard the blade glowed with an enchanted fire. The harbourman wasted no time in striking the Shadow Reaver, which howled in pain when struck by the blade. Marcus was relentless and kept striking at the Reaver mercilessly. The harbourman knew he couldn't kill it, but he could drive it away.
Neeshka, not to be outdone by her lover, added her rapier to the fray as it too glowed with enchanted fire. The tiefling's blade bit deep into the Reaver's shadowy hide, far deeper than even Neeshka expected, causing the Reaver to howl pitifully.
The Shadow Reaver now found itself on the defensive and it was losing. It realised that the weapons wielded by the one feared by its master and his tiefling lover were enchanted to affect those of evil intent more so than others, and they also could only be wielded by those with good intent, making them even more potent weapons. The Shadow Reaver knew it had no choice but to flee.
"Assassins. They sent assassins here," Nasher said, breathing hard. "So this is how this enemy fights, with shadows instead of cold steel."
"If that's all they were, they'd be easy to kill," Neeshka muttered.
"Are you alright, Lord Nasher?" Marcus asked.
"I am unharmed, though I should see to the men stationed on the walls and in the keep," Nasher replied. "This King of Shadows... his forces are powerful. What do you have there, Marcus... Is that the Rod of Never you carry?" Nasher asked on seeing the rod hanging from the harbourman's belt. "Let me see it." Marcus handed over the rod. "I had heard the Rod rested below, but none have been able to enter Lord Halueth's tomb. It seems the ancient alarms of the Keep opened the way," Nasher mused, inspecting the rod. "With this Rod, I should be able to open some of Castle Never's oldest secrets. It seems some good has come from this surprise attack." Nasher's eyes swept the throne room before they settled on Marcus. "I think this enemy fears to face us on the field of battle, he fears to face Neverwinter and all its knights. And that now includes you, Marcus Cole. You have earned this through your deeds, the title of knight, in service to Neverwinter."
"Thank you, my lord," Marcus replied, still a little awed. "One hell of an engagement present, though."
Nasher smiled. "I need not ask to whom you proposed, as that would be obvious to a blind man. However, what was the lady's answer?"
Neeshka took a step forward. "I said yes." Then she grinned. "I don't think the harbour boy would have forgiven me if I'd said anything else."
Despite the situation Nasher laughed. "I see, then congratulations are in order for both of you," he said. "And don't thank me yet young man. I haven't given you your orders."
By this time Nevalle had arrived. "Milord, there are certain rites for inducting knights that must be..."
Nasher let out an irritated sigh. "Nevalle, I knighted you at Redfallow's Watch in the mud with orcs surrounding us. Ceremonies can wait," he said, turning to face the harbourman. "Now bow and be knighted, Marcus Cole."
Marcus knelt before Lord Nasher and in a few moments it was all done. Marcus was now Sir Marcus of Crossroad Keep and Neeshka would be Lady Neeshka, just as soon as he got that big rock she kept mentioning.
"A knight of Neverwinter is entitled to land, a keep and forces, milord," Nevalle spoke up.
"He already has them, Nevalle. I may have given him Crossroad Keep when he was but a squire, now he will return as its Knight Captain," Nasher said as he turned to the harbourman. "But you, Knight Captain, and your efforts here... you have served Neverwinter beyond the call of duty, risking your life not once, but several times, without hesitation," he said. "If there is anything that I think will be the light against this shadow that comes against us, it is you and the fortress I have granted you." Nasher paused, seeming to consider something. "I offer you an extra honour if you so wish it, to become one of the Neverwinter Nine, the protectors of Neverwinter, the surrounding lands, and most importantly, its people."
Marcus's mouth open and closed several times but no sound came out. The harbourman was lost for words and he had to think it over carefully.
"You should take it, harbour boy," Neeshka said in his mind.
"You think so?" Marcus replied.
"Yes, I don't think it's coincidence that what happened in Neverneath is happening again in this throne room. You are meant to be a knight of the Nine," the tiefling said with certainty.
"When did you get so smart?" the harbourman asked. All he got in reply was a giggle.
"I humbly accept, Lord Nasher," Marcus said at last.
Nasher nodded. "Very well. For your efforts at Crossroad Keep and your battles against these minions of Shadow... I convey upon you the mantle of one of the Neverwinter Nine."
"And a much-deserved title it is, Knight-Captain. We welcome you into our ranks..." Nevalle said quietly. Despite the knight's misgivings about Neeshka and her place at the harbourman's side, these had slowly been proven to be nothing more than the fears of a mind too reserved. Nevalle had also seen them fight the vampires and shades. He needed no more convincing.
"But onto the matters at hand..." Nasher said. "You have done more to halt this beast's advance than any of my knights, Marcus. When he strikes, you are there to counter it but that is no longer enough," he said, becoming angry. "I am tired of waiting for this enemy to strike." Nasher faced the harbourman. "I want you to find this King of Shadows, Marcus. I want this beast to answer for the blood of every guardsman slain here tonight." Nasher's voice became low. "If he crosses Neverwinter again, I want it to be the last time."
Shandra's eyes fluttered open and she tried to focus on the visage leaning over her. With great effort the blurry visage slowly morphed into a face the farm girl easily recognised. "Elanee?" Shandra croaked, sounding hoarse.
"Easy, Shandra," the wood elf said softly. "Here, take a sip of this, it will help," the druid said, assisting the blonde haired woman to sit up and drink from a mug.
Shandra sipped and her mouth and throat felt less dry. "Why am I not dead?" she asked.
"That's something I do not know," Elanee replied. "Perhaps you still have to do something, but you are in no physical condition to do much of anything at the moment. If I were to guess I'd say it's your own stubbornness keeping you here for some reason. What that reason may be, however, is something only you will know," the wood elf said.
"So you're not expecting me to recover much?" the farm girl asked, uncertain.
Elanee shook her head. "No. One day when you know it's time, you will leave us. Nothing I can do will change that. All I can do is make sure you have the strength to do whatever it is that's keeping you here." The druid looked over her shoulder. "There's someone here who wishes to speak with you. I'll be back later," the wood elf said as she moved away.
Shandra's eyes grew in size as she saw Ammon take the seat that Elanee had just vacated. "Grandfather?" she asked, unsure, as she looked at the man who had almost killed her. It was the sadness in his eyes that made her heart ache.
Marcus, Neeshka, Nevalle and Lord Nasher had gathered in Castle Never's war room, last used when Luskan was assaulting the city.
"...and so a strategy must be formed. These Reavers... whatever these things of shadow are, there is no way the Greycloaks can fight them. If our enemies cannot be killed..." Nevalle said grimly.
"True, Nevalle," Nasher noted. "But they are pawns only, powerful ones, yes, but not the true threat. The base that the enemy is striking from," he said, looking over a map of the region, "if we cannot reach it, then we cannot take the battle to him. He can send his soldiers out without fear of counterattack and there is nothing we can do but fall back." This was a bitter admission for Lord Nasher to make.
"But even if we knew where these ruins could be reached, we still need more men," Nevalle said. "Between the plague, and the war with Luskan..."
Nasher sighed. "I know, Nevalle, and it worries me. We will do our best to gather more men. However this enemy threatens not just us. We must make allies, and we must do so quickly." Nasher looked over at the harbourman. "There is much to be done, I think. But I have faith in your ability, Marcus. It is said that the Captain of Crossroad Keep is the lord of the manor in all but name. Now I've named it for you. But it will not be enough. I am in need of answers, information, and as many soldiers as you can gather. I need to know how these Shadow Reavers can be killed... and more importantly how I can reach their master."
"And we need allies wherever they can be found, from all the races, all the peoples. This is not our war, it is theirs, whether they know it or not." Nevalle spoke up grimly.
Marcus stared at the map for a few moments before he spoke. "I have a few ideas. I encountered some of the Ironfist clan in the Sword Mountains. They were looking for their old clanhold, which we helped liberate from a tribe of bugbears. They may help. Also there's the lizardfolk."
"Lizardfolk?" Nevalle asked, surprised. "Are you sure that's wise?"
"The lizardfolk have been fleeing the Mere for months because of the King of Shadows. Now I'm not saying it would be easy to get their help, but it's worth the effort, I think," Marcus replied.
"I see, very well if you think you can persuade the lizardfolk to help, Marcus, then by all means try," Nasher said. "As for the Ironfist clan, Neverwinter once had an alliance with them. It may prove difficult to reforge after all this time but we need all the friends we can get."
"That still leaves us with how to find the King of Shadows' lair," Marcus mused. "It's somewhere within the Mere of Dead Men, that much is certain, but where exactly is another matter."
"Maybe the old loon can help." Neeshka spoke up. "After all he did find Ammon's Haven, even if he did leave out the small detail of it being filled with a who's who of the Lower Planes," the tiefling said, making a face.
"There is also the Luskan ambassador, Sidney Natale. She may know something, or might know someone who will," Nevalle remarked with a frown.
"I wouldn't trust that balloon as far as I could throw her," Neeshka said. "It might be worth it, but being a Hosttower mage she'll pull some sort of trickery."
Nasher nodded at the tiefling's words, trying not to smile at the image that formed in his mind of the petite tiefling throwing the much larger human woman. "Very well, then, I shall leave you both to these preparations," he said. "I must attend to the troops and the war effort." He looked over at the harbourman. "Marcus, you are to attend to the King of Shadows. Of all our knights, no one has a greater chance of finding his weakness than you. I shall gather our forces, but you must show me where we must march. Return to Crossroad Keep. Nevalle will go to assist you, and he will remain there as long as needed. Now go."
With a nod of acknowledgement Marcus, Neeshka and Nevalle left Castle Never's war room to return to Crossroad Keep.