He stood in the doorway for a moment, looking around curiously then noticed Casavir, "Casavir! Good to see you back in Neverwinter."

"Nevalle. Come have a drink with me." There was no sense in wasting the rest of the day away. He might as well reconnect with an old friend and introduce him to Avera when she got back.

"I'm not here on a social call. This is business. I have to find someone named Avera." He walked to the table and took the seat across from Casavir, looking towards the door.

Casavir sat back down and offered the tea pot over to Nevalle, and waved Sal over for another mug, "She is out with a friend. What would this be about?"

The knight gave him a concerned look, "You know her?"

"Yes. We have traveled together for the last few months." He tried not to show how concerned he was but Nevalle knew him better than that.

"She is being accused by the Luskan ambassador of killing everyone in the town of Ember."

"Ember!" Casavir shook his head, "There is no way she could have done that. We went through that town to save a friend then we all traveled back here. Even if we were not traveling there together, she couldn't even do a thing like that! It isn't in her nature."

"How do you know that?"

"As I said, we traveled together through the town and back. On the way back she got appendicitis and I had to operate." He shook at the memory of almost loosing her, "And believe me, I know her … well."

The door to the Flagon opened and there stood Khelgar and Avera.

"Looks like we have a high ranking one here." Khelgar announced to Avera as both Casavir and Nevalle stood.

Avera walked forward a step, then her mace dropped into her hand as she saw the look on Casavir's face, "A good day to you, Sir Knight." She watched the man carefully as she slowly stepped forward, "And what business would you have with my paladin?"

The man assessed her quickly and a smile crept onto his face. This little woman would actually defend Casavir from anything, "I am Nevalle, and I can assure you that this has nothing to do with Casavir."

She stopped and looked between the two men, "Really?" Her voice became curious, untrusting, "Then why does he look like someone just killed his best friend?"

Casavir choked, "The Luskan ambassador has accused you of destroying Ember."

"Ember? The town the gith held captive?" The shock was too much, "What in the world happened? They were fine when we left there. I thought we got all the gith."

"There was none left. What was done would have been done by Luskan." Bishop announced from across the room.

"She accuses you of having killed everyone in the town in cold blood." Nevalle motioned for her to sit.

She carefully walked to Casavir's side. He looked down at her, worry crossing his features, and watched as she got onto her chair. He put a hand on her knee for a moment, then turned back to Nevalle. Avera clasped her hands in front of her face, thumbs under her chin, knuckles at her nose.

"Ye've got to be kidding!" Khelgar was incensed, "Avera could never do that sort of thing!"

"I've scraped things from my boot that I respect more than Luskan … but unless we find some means of clearing you of these charges, we will have to surrender you to them." Nevalle looked directly at her, "We've signed a treaty with Luskan - they have the right to dispense low justice for any crimes committed on their soil. But I'm not turning over a loyal member of the Watch to some Luskan dog on this day or any other."

"That is reassuring." She tried to sound calm but all she could think of was all the people of Ember, dead. A whole town not unlike her own. The boy who they had met in the town had been right, "So how do I prove my innocence?"

"Your guilt is preordained in a Luskan court." He looked to Casavir, hoping his old friend would help with this, "If you were a lord, knight, or even a squire, however, then matters would be different. You would be subject to high justice, and your trial would take place here in Neverwinter before Lord Nasher."

Avera's left eye squinted as her right eyebrow raised, "You mean to say that a person is screwed unless they are in a high social status?"

Nevalle sat back, scrutinizing her face, "Yes."

She sneered, "That's just special." She did not care for that concept at all, "So if you are innocent it does not matter if you do not have status. Neverwinter gives the person over to Luskan because of a treaty. But if you have status, you get a fair trial." She glanced over at Casavir, "I knew you had good reason, but now I can directly see at least one of the reasons you lost faith in this system."

"I need you to go see Sir Grayson, one of Lord Nasher's most trusted knights, and become his squire." Nevalle tried to bring her back to her own problem, "I may also send a ... friend of mine ... to assist you. He has proven invaluable in such cases in the past."

She closed her eyes, "Sir Grayson. Right."

"Mind you, the matter must still go to trial, and if you cannot prove your innocence, then you will face execution. For now, let us deal with what we can - see Sir Grayson at once at Captain Brelaina's office. Pledging yourself to Neverwinter's service will give us time to counter these Luskan lies."

"Yeh."

"And until you answer for these charges, the gates of the city will be barred to you - seek out Grayson, but do not leave the city." He did not like having to say this but he had to. She needed to stay in the city or she would be dead.

"Sure."

Nevalle stood and walked over to Casavir. He put a hand on his shoulder as if to say he was sorry, and left.

As the knight had been speaking, Duncan decided to put up the Sunken Flagon's closed sign. Once Nevalle left he over to Avera's table. Casavir was watching her carefully as she had hardly moved. Her eyes were still closed, and her hands still clasped in front of her face. Her index fingers were now on the bridge of her nose, rubbing the base between her eyes, "There is no way in the nine hells that I'm letting the Luskans get their hands on you!"

Shandra took a step forward, "But there is something we can do. Nevalle said as much. All you have to do is pledge yourself to one of the knights, and Luskan cannot touch you."

Neeshka piped in from her spot by the fire, "And besides, we're innocent! I mean, destroying an entire village? That's going too far, even by Luskan standards."

"Is it?" Bishop snarled in distaste, "If you have something they want they'd kill an entire city for it. They don't care." He looked over at the hobbit, wondering how the little woman was taking this. She wasn't moving or reacting to anyone, and this was the first time he had heard her speak in one-worded sentences. Karnwyr was lying beside his chair making very low whimpering sounds, "They attacked Neverwinter once, and even now they're sending fleets to attack Ruathym. Give them an excuse, and you will soon see Luskan swords at your gates."

"Uhm, Duncan, looks like we have a guest." Sal announced.

"Oh what now?" Duncan cursed, "We have enough problems without you here, Sand."

Sand stood a short distance from the door, "I'm here to help you, and your kin actually."

"Oh really? So what is the price? If it is more than a half-copper you can see yourself out."

"No Duncan. I seem to have been given … an ultimatum. I heard of your Luskan problems."

Sal shook his head and took up washing more mugs, "Word travels fast."

Sand ignored both Duncan and Sal and walked over to the table where Avera and Casavir sat. He walked around it and looked at the little woman for a moment before sitting down and pouring himself some tea, "You should know that if you are sent to Luskan, they will kill you."

Avera didn't even move a muscle, "No kidding, Master Mage."

He chuckled, "I realize that you find my sincerity difficult to believe, but allow me to act in your behalf."

"I have nothing against you, Sand. I just don't know why you care."

"Because there are laws and there is right an wrong. Even though I believe you are quick to take liberties with the law, I do not believe you are guilty of this … and if they get hold of you, they will kill you. I believe people must answer for their crimes but it must be just."

An eye opened and peeked at the mage, "What exactly would happen if I went to Luskan?"

Sand noticed a hesitation, and realized she didn't really want to be someone's squire, "Well, at best they will put you on trial – or what seems to be one, then execute you. At worst, they will dispense with the courtroom mockery and execute you as soon as you get through the gate." He watched as her other eye opened and an eyebrow raised, "And when I say 'execute,' I do not believe it would be one clean chop of a headman's axe … Luskan's have all sorts of inventive ways for executing prisoners that is best not to go into on a full stomach."

"Sounds cheerful." Her eyes shut again.

Casavir touched her fingers, then held her hand, "I think we should give him a chance. This is not a battle that can be won with swords, and I for one am ill equipped for such a fight."

Qara stepped forward and snorted at Sand, "Sure, after all, a hedge wizard couldn't make things worse. Maybe all that digging through books could be useful."

Sand slowly turned his head to look at the young woman, "If we need to burn down Luskan then perhaps we shall seek you out, Qara, but your ignorance would cause more damage here than you know." A sneer played across his lips, "Luskan is not ruled by men, it is ruled by magic, by the masters of the towers. If they have decided that you are to be delivered to them, then …"

"So? Let them try!" Qara snapped.

"Whatever magic you think you have, you idiot girl, they will bleed from you by demon, spell, and curse until even your father won't be able to save you." He turned back to Avera who's eyes were shut once again, but now one hand was being held by the paladin, "And I suspect that what they seek will have consequences beyond you, beyond me – for much of the realms."

"Just what we need." Avera sighed, "So what is your plan?"

"Fortunately, becoming a squire is enough for our needs. And I believe you have already been told about someone who could help. Sir Grayson, yes?"

"Yes."

"Let me join with you. I have considerable experience with these matters – and foiling Luskan plots is something I relish."

She finally put her hand down from her face, gently removed her other one from Casavir's grip, sighed and stood, "I suppose that is good for me then. Welcome to the group, Sand. Just let me get some supplies and we can go visit this Grayson gentleman." With that she turned and walked to her room.

nnn

Avera unhooked the trap which was set up to her window, and leaned against it. It was high enough that she didn't have to stretch down at all. She watched the birds, squirrels and horses in the back doing all their little animal duties and wondered how it would be to be able to be like them. No regulations, no plots of intrigue … just survival.

She heard her door open, close and lock. The smell of him rushed over her and she couldn't help a little moan from escaping her lips. Casavir didn't have to even touch her to make her shiver in excitement. This wasn't the time for that, even though his arms circled her, and she was able to lie her head on his shoulder. She certainly wanted to feel more of him. No, they had to leave soon so there was no time for that.

He'd had to drop to the floor to give her this comfort but it didn't seem to bother him to take that little extra step. He kissed her forehead then leaned his head to the side, watching her face.

Casavir wondered how he was going to get through his own problems and help her with clearing her name at the same time. He knew there was a big chance that Pierval would try to kill him, even though the courts had acquitted him of Harcus's death. That kind of thing mattered little to a parent. But he could not allow Avera to know he was going to this meeting the next night. She had enough to deal with. He would just have to do as much as possible to help his lady before facing his own ghosts.

She felt him tense and looked up at his eyes, "Hey, my paladin."

"Hey, my lady." His smile was bitter sweet, "How are you holding up?" She plastered herself tighter against his body. He could feel himself starting to loose control while wondering how she was able to bring his urges to the surface so easily, without trying.

"Better than I thought I would. I suppose. But I have a wonderful shoulder to cuddle up to, and that helps." She could feel his muscles rippling under his shirt, and noticed that his armor sat on it's stands in their room, waiting. Their room. It made her feel better truly knowing that he wished to share the room with her, "I'm just not sure about this squire thing."

"All you have to do is pledge yourself to the service of Neverwinter, and you already have silently done that." He kissed her neck, reveling at her reaction. He found that he could not help himself, and allowed himself the luxury of continuing. Her scent consumed him, and sweetened with each advance he made.

Her voice came out in a low sigh of reaction from his advancements,"Yes but what if this Sir Grayson wishes me to pledge more of myself than that?" She shuddered from another nip.

"I hope we never have to fight vampires. You are truly sensitive to this, you know?" He nibbled a bit more, then stopped to breath into her ear, "You will not be asked to do anything which is against your beliefs. He will likely wish for you to stand a vigil, though."

"A vigil? That means overnight."

"Yes."

He breathed into the cup of her neck, "Then that means we have the rest of the afternoon." It was only around three, "I suppose that my paladin has made plans and told everyone else to just wait until we are ready?"

"Of course, my lady." His hands started to roam, "I figured you would want to be … consoled."

"You are insatiable."

He stopped, and looked at her face, "Is this …"

"Just an observation, my paladin." She giggled as he pulled her back onto the floor with him. There was no reason to waste perfectly good time together, no matter what dangers loomed ahead.