"Something smells good, lad," Khelgar said as he emerged from his tent and looked round their small camp in the courtyard of Crossroad Keep. He could see Marcus seated near the cooking fire, which was glowing and looked very inviting on this cool morning. The harbourman was slowly stirring the contents of the large pot that sat over the fire. Every now and then, he'd lean down and drop a handful of what to Khelgar looked like dried fruit, or some other ingredient into the pot.
"What you making, Marcus?" the dwarf asked as he ambled over. "Nothing too healthy, I hope?"
Marcus just chuckled. "Well, sorry to disappoint you, Khelgar, but I'm making Retta's famous, in West Harbour at least, fruit porridge. Guaranteed to stick to your insides and keep you warm for the rest of the day," he said, smiling. "Looks to be almost done; a little more spice and we're good. Never made so much before, so let's hope it works out."
"Well, lad, I'd better go rouse everyone. Don't want them to miss out on your cooking now, do we?" Khelgar asked with a grin, which grew slightly as he saw Neeshka leave the harbourman's tent. "Almost everyone," he said, correcting himself.
"Morning, you," Neeshka whispered as she sat next to Marcus, placing a kiss on his cheek. "Wow, a man that can cook! I'm such a lucky girl," she said with a giggle.
"Morning, sweetheart," the harbourman replied as he kissed the tiefling. "And I'll have you know, I take pride in the fact that I can cook," Marcus said half heartedly, puffing out his chest, which just made Neeshka giggle even more.
On the rise that led to the Keep's inner courtyard, Kana watched as her captain and his companions assembled for breakfast, one that her Captain had spent the past hour preparing. Kana did something she hadn't done since she was a small child: she bit her bottom lip. Kana was torn between the fact that she had a mountain of paperwork to go over with the captain, and intruding on what was obviously a tight-knit group. At last, Kana squared her shoulders and walked down towards the camp, which was near the ruined guard tower.
"I do hope we won't have to spend too long in these tents," Sand said as he ate a spoonful of the harbourman's porridge. "That's extremely good, Marcus. You're a man of many talents: swordsman, wizard and chef, it would seem," the moon elf said with a grin.
"Heh, glad you approve, Sand," Marcus said. "With any luck, Veedle should have the main Keep at least useable soon. You have to admit, the place got pretty trashed when we kicked the Luskans out," he said, passing a bowl to Zhjaeve.
The githzerai looked down at the steaming bowl of porridge uncertainly. "Kalach-Cha, know that I am uncertain if I can eat what you have given me. I am still unused to this plane."
The harbourman cursed, loudly. "Sorry, Zhjaeve, I keep forgetting that you're not exactly from around here," he said, as he looked towards the wood elf for help. "Elanee, any ideas? Will it be safe for Zhjaeve to eat?"
The druid thought for a moment before she nodded. "I would think so. Githzerai are humanoid after all. Also, myself, Sand and Khelgar, even Neeshka can eat most, if not all, food that humans would." Elanee tilted her head sideways. "If you like, I will keep an eye on Zhjaeve to make certain she has no adverse reactions to anything we give her. We don't want to poison her, after all."
Marcus looked relieved. "Thanks El, as always, you're a life saver. Not sure what I'd do if you weren't around." The wood elf merely inclined her head, colouring slightly. She wasn't that used to being openly praised.
Kana cleared her throat. "Forgive the intrusion, Captain, but there are some things we need to go through this morning."
"The joys of being a Captain, paperwork and meetings," Shandra said sarcastically.
"No need to rub the harbour boy's nose in it, farm girl," Neeshka hissed, more than a little miffed.
Marcus just buried his head in his hands. "Why, in Torm's name, why me?" he muttered, then he let out a sigh. "Alright, Kana, let's get on with it. What do you have to ask me?" he asked as he made a space for her to sit down.
Kana nodded her thanks, taking a seat next to Marcus. "Very well, as you know, the Greycloaks are primarily a peasant militia, so any man able to carry a spear is let in…. well, perhaps not any man, criminals or those who have that air about them are not accepted," Kana said, her stomach growling at the pleasant food smells. "But you don't have to be so lax, Captain. We can make our standards higher. If we have higher standards, we will find fewer recruits… but they will be more capable," Kana explained. "You can always lower the bar, if you need more men. But be careful, because once we lower our standards, we can never really raise them again."
Marcus just nodded as he thought it over. He dished up another bowl of porridge before passing it to the lieutenant.
Kana couldn't conceal her surprise. "Are you certain, Captain?' she asked. "As I said, I didn't want to intrude," she said, taking the offered bowl.
"You're not intruding, Kana," Marcus said with a slight smile. He was too much the gentleman to say he'd heard Kana's stomach growl. He leaned in to take a look at the pot that was still keeping warm over the fire. "And anyway, I've made more than enough." The harbourman grinned. "Unless Khelgar really gets stuck in. Then there won't be enough."
"Hey, I'm not that bad, lad!" the dwarf said round a mouthful of porridge. He was on his third bowl.
"You sure about that, barrel house?" Neeshka purred, as everyone laughed.
Katriona had to smile; this reminded her of Old Owl Well, though there wasn't the desperation that had seemed to plague the fighters of the Well. This group had a genuine camaraderie.
"If I might be so bold, Marcus, Kana has a valid point," Katriona said. "If you only accept the most capable of men and women as Greycloak recruits, you will have less, but they will be better to train, and in the end your forces will be of higher quality. Not to sound presumptuous, but my time in Old Owl Well, with Casavir, showed me what a much smaller, better trained and disciplined force can do against more numerous opponents."
Marcus cast a glance at the paladin and winked. "Well, Katriona, that sounded an awful lot like you offering to be my training sergeant. That's if you want to be," he said with a grin.
Katriona just stared at the harbourman, her mouth open slightly. She was also blinking rapidly. Finally she came to her senses. "Of course, Captain, I accept the offer!" Katriona said with a big smile.
Casavir chuckled lightly. "Marcus, I do believe that's the first time I've ever seen Katriona truly surprised by something." The paladin's pride in both the harbourman and his former sergeant were obvious.
"I'm glad you approve, Casavir. Means a lot to know I'm doing something right," Marcus said a little bashfully. As far as he was concerned, he was muddling along as best as he was able. Marcus was truly surprised he hadn't gotten any of his friends killed yet.
"Hey, you, come on, no long faces. It's unbecoming the Captain of Crossroad Keep, you know," Neeshka said with a slight smile, putting her arms round the harbourman. "You've always done the right thing by us all so far, even if I didn't always understand. We're in this together," she said, kissing him on the cheek. The rest of Marcus's companions nodded their silent support of their leader.
Marcus blushed a little as he kissed the tiefling on the forehead. "Thanks, sweetheart, needed to hear that," he mumbled before turning to face Kana. "Well, lieutenant, looks like you've got yourself a training sergeant, and we'll only accept the best we can."
Kana stood, looking a little awkward. Lord Nasher had warned her about the relationship between her new Captain and his tiefling consort. She also had, like most people of Neverwinter, heard the outlandish stories. However, it was going to take Kana a while to get used to the idea of her Captain having a personal life.
"Very well, we will only accept the best and brightest, Captain. We may get fewer recruits, but each one will able to be trained into formidable warriors," Kana said with approval. "And with your permission Captain, I'd like to assemble the Cloaks we do have for your inspection?" she asked. "Also, come and see me in the Keep, as there is something from Sir Grayson, for you."
The harbourman nodded. "That's a good idea, Kana, may as well see what Nevalle has saddled us with." He looked over to where Katriona was sitting. "And sergeant, you may as well go with the lieutenant to see what you can do," Marcus said with a grin.
Katriona grinned in return as she stood. "I look forward to the challenge, Captain," she said before walking off with Kana.
Commander Tann of Fort Locke wasn't too surprised to see the letter that was requesting the transfer of his weaponsmith, Jacoby, to Crossroad Keep. The only thing that did surprise him was that it had taken so long for anyone to realise just how good Jacoby was.
"You wanted to see us, Commander?" Sergeant Dobbson asked, as he and Jacoby entered the commander's office.
Tann looked up from the letter. "Yes, I did. I have a letter here requesting the transfer of our weaponsmith, Jacoby, to Crossroad Keep, by its new captain, Marcus Cole." Jacoby's eyes had lit up at the news. "That's also why I'm sending you and your men, Dobbson. You're acting as escort for Jacoby as the roads around the keep are infested with bandits and worse. And with the Mere getting worse of late, I don't want all my eggs in one basket. I'm assigning you and your men permanently to Crossroad Keep, Dobbson. Captain Cole could use your men's experience."
"Marcus Cole? Isn't he the harbourman that passed though here a while ago, with his tiefling lady friend?" Dobbson asked, scratching the back of his head.
"The same," Tann said with a nod. "Nasher has not only made the man a squire, but given him Crossroad Keep to run. I'm not sure whether to feel envious or not."
"Torm give me strength," Marcus muttered as he walked along the ranks of the men and women that made up his detachment of Greycloaks. They were all in good physical condition, as most were farmers and the like. Their weapons, however, if they could be called that … most were farming implements, though a few had what the harbourman considered to be a proper weapon, such as a short sword. And the armour situation wasn't that much better.
Marcus sighed as he turned and walked back to where Katriona and Kana waited. The harbourman's new mithral full plate armour shone in the early morning light. Kana had pulled him aside that morning and told him about the gift that Sir Grayson had left for him; as Captain of the Keep he had needed armour that reflected his position. The harbourman's mouth had fallen open when he'd seen it, as well as the accompanying mithral shield and a very fine-looking longsword.
"Well, Katriona, it looks to me as though you've really got your work cut out for you," Marcus said as he turned back to face the assembled Greycloaks.
"Don't worry, Captain, I'll get them ready," Katriona replied. "Though a lack of proper weapons and armour is going to hamper what I can do."
"Ballard told me that they'd salvaged some gear that the Luskans had stored here. I'm not sure there's enough to equip everyone, but it'd be a start," Marcus said. "It's in one of the storage buildings."
"Very well, Captain. I'll see what I can organise," Katriona said, as she made ready to march the Greycloaks to the storage huts and see what she could give them.
"Hey, you," Neeshka said as she came to stand by the harbourman. "So those are your Greycloaks? Not much to look at, at the moment," she said as Katriona led them away.
"Hey, yourself," Marcus replied, taking the tiefling's hand. "Yes, those are our Greycloaks, Neesh, and you're right, not much to look at just now." He turned his head. "Come on, I want to take a good look round this place, and I need to ask you about something too."
"Okay…" Neeshka said uncertainly. Her head still spun from last night's revelation.
Marcus just smiled. "It's alright, nothing like last night, sweetheart," he said, leading her around the back of the keep.
Kana stood alone for a few moments, a small smile showing before her professional mask fell into place. Kana gave a small nod before she entered the Keep. Perhaps Crossroad Keep would see better days once again.
Calindra couldn't keep the smile off her face as she read through the letter she'd just received from Neverwinter again. The young man who had helped her learn of what had happened to her old business partner, Bradbury, had now been made Captain of the derelict Crossroad Keep, and he required the services of someone with her talents. This was a far better opportunity than the long trek back to Amn. She would get her men together, and set out as soon as they had everything in order.
"What can you tell me about a man named Uncus Riverdweller?" Marcus asked as he and Neeshka inspected the rear of the Keep.
The tiefling's eyes grew slightly. "Now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time," she said. "Uncus is a fence for Axle. I should know. I used to use him if I had stuff I needed to get rid of quickly," she admitted.
Marcus smiled a little. "Somehow that doesn't surprise me. So what's he doing here?" the harbourman asked.
"Well, Uncus is more than just a fence, he's... I don't what you'd call him, an agent maybe?" Neeshka said, unsure. "He often passes on instructions from Axle and other higher ups, gathers information and passes it along to whoever needs it," she explained. "Uncus is pretty harmless for the most part, but given his connection to Axle, I'm not so sure I want him around here," Neeshka said.
"Heh, I'd have thought you'd have liked the idea of a fence handy, sweetheart," Marcus said with a wicked grin. "But why would Axle send him if he knew you'd know who Uncus was?"
Neeshka giggled. "At one time, yeah, I'd have jumped at the chance," she said. "But not now. I've… well, learned stuff, you know." The tiefling looked Marcus in the eyes. "If you want to make this Keep our home, a safe place for us to raise a family, then there should be no place for Uncus or anyone like him," Neeshka said shyly as she looked away.
Marcus just smiled. "I'm proud of you, sweetheart. The Neeshka I first met wouldn't have said that to me, I don't think." She never stops surprising me, he thought.
"No, she'd have tried to convince you to let Uncus stay," Neeshka admitted. "Though, as you say, why would Axle send Uncus here? I'm spymaster now, so maybe having Uncus around might be a good idea. I guess we need to talk to him and see what he's up to," the tiefling said, as she looked round the rear part of the keep where they now found themselves. "Huh, I wonder what this was for." The area was badly overgrown.
The harbourman studied the area. In front of him was the main portion of the keep and off to the sides were the east and west wings, forming an enclosed square. The square was overgrown with plants and weeds, after so many years of not being tended to.
"I think, Neesh," Marcus said as he drew his longsword and started hacking at the mass of greenery to reveal an old rusted gate and stone wall, "…that this may have been the private formal garden of the keep's lord. When it had a lord, that is."
"Do… do you think, we can replant this garden?" Neeshka asked quietly, her eyes moist.
"I don't see why not, Neesh. It would be a bit of work… but then, what doesn't need work here?" Marcus said, and then stopped abruptly. "Hey… what's brought on the tears, sweetheart?" he asked, noticing that the tiefling did have tears sliding down her cheeks.
"I told you that not all my memories of Helm's Hold were bad, harbour boy. The formal garden that Dumal had was one of them. I used to go there when the other kids had been really mean to the 'freaky horned kid,' or I'd just had a crappy day," Neeshka said with a sniff. "It was totally walled off, and in theory the only way to get to it was through Dumal's house. Heh, that didn't stop me."
"No, I'm sure it didn't," the harbourman said with amusement. "Was he ever mad at you?" Marcus asked.
Neeshka shook her head. "No, don't really think so. He was surprised the first time he found me in there. They'd been tearing the rest of the Hold apart looking for me. I'd heard them most of the afternoon. Dumal came out to take a break from the stress, I guess, and he muttered, 'Where are you, Neeshka' and I said 'I'm up here'. I was seated up in one of the fruit trees, an apple tree, I think it was. It became our little secret after that. It was my refuge from the world," Neeshka said with a smile.
Marcus gave the tiefling a hug. "Do you want the job of overseeing the restoration of the garden then? Turn this into your new refuge?" he asked.
Neeshka's mouth fell open. "Do… do you mean that, harbour boy?" she said, stunned.
"Yes I do mean it, sweetheart, this keep is as much yours as it is mine. At least that's what I think. You'll be able to put you own stamp on some of it," Marcus said. "And perhaps soon, you can go see Dumal at Helm's Hold and see if you can get some seedlings of the plants in his garden, for here." Neeshka didn't know what to say so she just settled for kissing the harbourman on the lips.
Vengaul Bloodsail casually placed his legs on the desk of Watch Marshal Cormick, making the other man roll his eyes. "If Brelaina walked in right now…" Cormick said with a smile.
"Ha, let her, lad, and see if I care!" Vengaul replied. "It's good to see you've recovered from that nasty business at the sage's home."
"Thanks, I'm glad to be back, but it seems you've been busy in my absence. I'd hardly know the docks now, they're so quiet," the marshal said.
"Yes the Bloodsailors have been busy taking out the trash," Vengaul said with a grin. "I have to say Moire was rather quite the let down once she finally showed herself. A lot like Callik, no sense of style," he mused stroking his mustache.
Cormick raised an eyebrow. "You faced off against Moire? Last I heard she was still smarting after the drubbing Neeshka gave her. Moire didn't take kindly to being bested by our tiefling friend."
Vengaul laughed. "No, that much was obvious from Moire's rantings. I'm sure she was trying to be intimidating, but she came across as having lost her mind. Almost felt sorry for her. The least I could do was give her a quick death," he said. "Moire looked quite surprised when I ran her through. I might be getting on in years, but I still know how to take the young ones down a peg or two."
Cormick nodded. "It's a pity it had to come to that. Still, with Moire, I don't think it could have ended any other way. So now what?"
Vengaul beamed from ear to ear. "With Moire gone the place has a sense of pride now, something the Docks hasn't had in years. The Bloodsailors control the waterfront and the Watch controls the streets. That's how it used to be, before the plague and that damned war with Luskan."
Cormick just smiled; it was good to have Vengaul back. "And speaking of Luskan, what do you think of our friend Marcus becoming Captain of Crossroad Keep? Neeshka won't know what to do with herself."
Vengaul twirled the end of his moustache. "Those two are in over their heads, but both are far too stubborn just to roll over and give up. They'll get that wreck knocked into shape, and I suspect Nasher knows it."
Cormick nodded. "You're probably right. And Marcus is a fellow harbourman, too. If there ever was a definition of stubborn, then 'harbourman' would be it," he said with a grin. "And only a harbourman would be crazy enough to fall for a tiefling and then make it work!" Cormick said, smiling.
Vengaul chuckled. "Aye, lad, perhaps. But when I saw them at Nasher's little shindig a month or so back, they had eyes for only each other," the old sailor said with a smile. "As long as I've known Neeshka, all she ever wanted was to fit in somewhere. A common desire, I suppose, but it was never easy for her, even in the Bloodsailors. Now she's found her place in the world, in the arms of a harbourman who accepts her for who she is."
Cormick nodded his understanding. "So, tell me, is Marcus your son?" the marshal asked.
"Truthfully, old friend? I'm inclined to say yes, after what Kari told me. Given that Esmerelle left Marcus her old Bloodsailor gear and the spyglass I gave her. It's pretty damning, wouldn't you say?" Vengaul said thoughtfully. "Ah, if I'd only known… but that won't change the past. I really need to go see the lad at his new digs."
"I can see it now, Vengaul. Lieutenant Kana will have a fit when you show up at the keep in all your flamboyance," Cormick said, grinning.
Marcus turned to Uncus as he entered the Keep with Neeshka at his side. "You, me, and Neeshka, library, now," he said, striding past the fence, heading for the library. "We want answers, and they'd better be good."
Geez, Axle, Uncus thought as he followed. Give me the easy tasks, why don't you?
Kana looked bewildered, as she wasn't certain what had just happened. What she was certain of was that Uncus Riverdweller had some fast talking to do if he wanted to stay.
"So why has Axle sent you here?" Marcus asked once he, Neeshka and Uncus were in the library, as it offered some privacy for this conversation.
"There's no way of talking my way out of this, is there?" Uncus replied, stalling a little.
"No, not really, as thanks to Neeshka I know who you are and whom you work for," Marcus said, folding his arms. "Needless to say, I'm not thrilled with you being here and I have half a mind to throw you out. However, I'll hear what you have to say first."
Uncus nodded slowly. Now he understood Axle's instructions. "You can probably guess that one of my jobs is to be Axle's eyes and ears. Also, I have some... equipment that you and your companions may find of use, and I can move on anything you might find in your travels," Uncus said. "Information is power as they say, so I can help there too, if needed."
Marcus rubbed his beard in thought. It might be worth the risk having Uncus where I can see him, the harbourman mused as he looked over at Neeshka, who was also deep in thought. The tiefling gave a slight nod of assent. She was willing to let Uncus stay.
"You're lucky, Uncus. You can stay, but make too much mischief and Neeshka and I will have something to say about it," Marcus warned. "I'm sure there's a discreet building within the Keeps grounds you can use."
"Forgive me, Captain, but I've been lax," Kana said when Marcus and Neeshka returned to the main hall. "Lord Nasher has informed me that Garius's consort, Torio Claven, is in protective custody in Castle Never's dungeon. As Torio lost the trial by combat to you, it is you who decides her fate," Kana said. "Torio has offered her full cooperation and access to everything that she knows in exchange for her life. If you decide to let her live, she will be transferred to Crossroad Keep to serve as an informant. What do you wish to do, Captain?"
Sand looked over the top of the tome he was reading, a book on golem craft. He was endeavouring to get the blade golem they had stored in the basement functional. "Marcus, do not forget the conversation we had concerning our dear friend Torio. She may be many things, but stupid isn't one of them."
Marcus smiled at the wizard. "No, I hadn't forgotten, Sand." He turned to Kana. "Lieutenant, have Torio brought here as soon as can be arranged, and under heavy guard. She might be an unpleasant woman but she was used by Garius, of that I have no doubt. She deserves a second chance."
Kana snapped off a salute. "It will be as you say, Captain!" she said before walking away to see to Marcus's orders.
"Are you sure you want that witch here, harbour boy?" Neeshka asked. "After all, she tried to get you killed!"
"Neesh, Torio is undoubtedly a mean and cruel woman, but she was being used by Garius, that much was obvious at the trial," Marcus said. "Don't you think she deserves a second chance? Now, I'm not expecting miracles where she's concerned, but still…"
Neeshka pouted. "I guess she does. Doesn't mean I have to like her, you know."
"I don't expect you to like her. Just be, well, yourself I guess, and we'll do okay," Marcus said with a smile.
"Are you sure this is wise, Serena?" Valen asked as they readied their horses for the journey to Crossroad Keep.
"Maybe not the wisest thing we've ever done but I feel a necessary one, Valen, dear," Serena replied. "The bandits will be a minor inconvenience on the way. It's what's happening in the Mere of Dead Men that bothers me. There is something very dark beginning to stir and, like it or not, our friend Marcus Cole is right in the middle of it all. He will need all the help he can get. And I want to make myself useful."
The weapon master nodded. There was no changing Serena's mind when she'd set it on something, they were much alike in that regard. "What about him?" Valen asked, looking towards Deekin.
Serena just smiled. "Oh come on, Valen, you miss the doom song, admit it." The weapon master just snorted. "Anyway, can you really see me leaving Deekin here in Neverwinter?"
"No, I can't. And that's what I find worrying," Valen said, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.