Certain major characters are not mine, though Lon is mine, among many others. Language and other stuff warning, just to be safe...
--- x x ---
Neverwinter, the Hall of Justice ---
--- Elondra
Once we'd finished our sparring for the day and Bishop avoided the trip further into the Hall of Justice, I began to feel like I was in some cross of a nightmare where I was moving way too slowly and sluggishly, and the nightmare where everything was moving far too fast for even a Haste spell. It might have sounded like a paradox, or the same effect, but I felt the difference. We entered into the working area, and both Cas and Eldride were subtly happier as everyone just moved around me for mysterious reasons.
And then we found out that Judge Oleff had returned to the city. I had never really warmed to Oleff after he sent us into that tomb with so little warning. Cas was plainly a little edgy about pleasing Oleff. I supposed he had to, but I wasn't used to Cas being nervous like this. More annoying was that the gossip about the scene at the Mask had already reached them, enough to make the old stick disapprove.
Both Casavir and Eldride had straightened, without even seeming to think about it, so they didn't just know him, but respected him. That meant I had to be more polite than I was feeling right now. Eventually he seemed more convinced that we weren't abusing the son of their faith, but I was sure this was only probational, yet again.
Once we left, it was time for more dance practice and then back to the Flagon for more drilling by Sand in manners and expected poise. We'd gotten a very few invitations before the last few days, more easily set aside and ignored. Today more than a dozen new ones arrived, including for the Harvest Ball. The day after tomorrow.
I didn't need a message from Nevalle to confirm that I wasn't going to be guarding Nasher that evening, though I did find a brief note confirming the change. Sand went over the invitations, with explanations and testing related to those invitations until Neeshka and Grobnar joined us.
Arriving as Sand was detailing the typical activities at the ball, Neeshka smirked, "Sounds like you're not guarding his baldness now."
"Would have been more fun," I admitted, "And I could have gotten a taste for this while only watching."
"They have been studying, moderately intensively for over a month now," Sand declared. "They do not need perfection in this, but enough competence and more style. I cannot teach style, that will be an expression of themselves. Competence can be taught."
"Even a bear can be taught to dance to music," Grobnar insisted. "The only problem is having enough fish that it doesn't want to eat the other dancers."
"Are we the bears or the fish?" Bishop asked with a small smile.
"Not literally, but a few of Blacklake are verifiably stupid or foolish, and they manage over time," Sand allowed. "There is enough of variance in custom, you will do satisfactorily, once you have the basics. As I have mentioned time and time again. It is well that the... Shadowjerk did not challenge them in the social arena, or the Sword Coast would have been doomed from their collective reluctance."
I had to smile briefly at hearing Sand say my insult, even if the rest of what he said was more annoying.
"And you, Casavir? What were you doing, that you could not work on your preparations?" Sand next inquired.
"I wished to discover more about our adversary, as he has been missing," Cas told them, "perhaps too long now. So I did a vigil and gained a vision at the end of it."
That got a moment of dead silence as the others absorbed this.
"Well, what did you see?" Neeshka demanded.
"This may take a while, shall we sit?" Cas said, waving at the seats.
I sat close by him, and Bishop sat on the floor, leaning back against my legs with a smile and a mug. The others settled as well, though Grobnar seemed to have settled to polishing one of his instruments. I was planning to stay quiet, as I'd heard about it already when he told Ivarr, and we hoped for fresh insights.
"My vision began," Cas said, after taking my hand, "where I was standing beside a stream bed, seeing the keep not very far away. It was an autumn day, with a fitful breeze. One of the gusts loosened the silks from milkweeds drying along the stream, and they swirled around each other across the dirt. Some of them darkened as they spun through a shadow making me uneasy. Corpse flies came out of the stream bed, passing through the silks."
Bishop put his head back onto my lap and licked his lips, his attention obviously elsewhere. I plinked his ear, and he settled as Cas continued.
"Some of the silks danced back towards the stream, and more of the flies came out. Moving over to the stream and looking down, I saw a bleached and dry skull. One that I knew was Lather's, dead and no longer a threat. But the cloud of flies were moving in an organized manner, almost a formation of some kind for a moment, many of them changing forms later as the vision began to fade. Some of the silks were destroyed by the insects, and some became insects," Cas paused before adding, "The one fly seemed to be directing the others, but there was no further clue to that director."
Cas stopped, and I squeezed his hand tight.
Sand said thoughtfully, "Are you positive that this Lather's skull? How literally can we take the vision in that?"
I shifted to lean against Cas with an arm around him, putting my other fingers in Bishop's hair.
Looking down at Bishop, Cas admitted with a slight smile, "As sure as I was, that we would need Bishop last year."
"I will admit that learning of his death is somewhat gratifying, though I must wonder why he is disposed of as this," the elf mused.
"Maybe, his value was expended," Neeshka said carefully. "A pawn whose absence would divert you from other gambits."
"That may be true," Sand agreed. "You have spent this divination to ascertain this. And while parts of it obviously hint at problems and opposition during the impending social whirl, there are little specifics about this prime mover."
"I wonder if Lather's remains really are close to the keep," Grobnar said, looking up from his polishing. "Necromantic magic, even if divine, usually requires the body be relatively close to the time of death. Some badly phrased divinations might indicate he was close to and menacing the keep, diverting even more resources."
Casavir admitted, "I did report my vision to Father Ivarr and the Reverend Oleff earlier." At Sand's nod, my husband continued, "They are also of the opinion that the milkweed and flies relate to the social domain in the near future."
"We might consider if there was any significance to the transformations of these flies, and they began as flies associated with death?" Sand added.
I think we all shrugged at that, and Cas said, "I do not know, beyond the implied dark symbolism. This vision seems to me to be more warning, than directive. I was very sure of the directive before, that we needed to hurry. Directives are rare."
His arm was around me as well, by now, and he added, "The only other thing I was sure of, was that I am needed here."
"So, in summary," Sand orated, "Lather is deceased, and no longer a direct threat. His ally or allies are still present, and will be some kind of baneful influence during the Blacklake festivities this autumn."
Cas nodded, "This means our major remaining known suspicious area is the Silent Goose."
"What about the jerk at the Moonstone Mask?" Neeshka asked excitedly.
I ran my fingers through Bishop's hair again, as this was his tale.
"He's going to be incarcerated in the Mask until all this is over," he finally said. "He'd been enchanted to arrange for the scandals, his boss had no knowledge of it and was quite pissed. He doesn't remember how it happened, but thinks it happened very close to the Goose."
"Then that scandal should die in its time," Sand considered, "especially if you are careful not to add weight to it."
I know I flushed. I never used to flush like this, like Cas does, before. Cas was pinker as well, and I saw Bishop was grinning.
"No, your newlywed happiness will certainly not add any weight to scurrilous rumor about you," Sand said with a slight smile. "Quite the opposite, I believe. Some will be amused, and others offended, but that won't be truly scandalous."
Bishop laughed at that and I felt my face get warmer, even as Grobnar began to play something. With a chuckle, Bishop began to turn, but then froze and glared at an amused Grobnar. Cas had only put his cheek against my hair.
"Enough of that," Sand said. "We have other skills to verify yet this evening. Please, move the furniture around in this way..."
So we practiced dancing more, with Grobnar supplying the music. Neeshka was the other female dancer and we kept switching around, checking so many things as my mind gradually got numb and slow from counting and measuring my steps. Neeshka and Grobnar were released later. Bishop was slowly getting more pissed with Sand's prodding; I didn't speak that much for the rest of the evening, even as Cas's squire was excused early too.
It seemed much later than it really was when we finally got back to our room, and when I took off my finer clothing, I tossed the damn dress into the corner with a snarl.
"My love?" Casavir said, putting a hand on my shoulder, and rubbing a moment.
"I hate this. I wanna go back to the keep, where I'm doing something useful, and I can lock most asses away..." I said, biting my lip, before turning back towards them.
Compressing his own lips, he only said, "My mission here is clear enough. I cannot leave." A pause and he said roughly, "If you wish to leave, I understand."
Sighing, I said, "I can't... I won't leave you."
"You both need watching, as you take on too many of the asses," Bishop said with an edged smile. After another long pause he added, "I went to talk to this Brionathre earlier today, without notice. He doesn't actually remember how he got convinced that that exchange cover was a good idea. Now he admits it was stupid, and Ophala found fading traces of some powerful enchantment magics on him. She'd had previously suggested that nominal lessons in shadows continue. The only thing he was fairly sure about, was that it occurred to him when he was in a warehouse very near the Goose."
I suspected I really didn't want to know the details of their discussion, but the fact that they'd met with Ophala said it wasn't too bad. That this wasn't Tarlon's own idea nor approved by Ophala, said that it wasn't a direct issue anymore. I didn't have to even consider going against everyone's advice now. That I could thank the gods for.
The real worry was that someone set this up. I asked, "So he has no idea how or who might have enchanted him?"
"No," Bishop growled. "His amusement at the prospect was enough to prevent him from realizing that he didn't know where such an asinine idea came from or why he wanted to do it so much. He doesn't anymore, and is a little pissed."
"So, Ophala was not aware of it?" Cas rumbled, angry as well.
Shaking his head and looking pleased, Bishop admitted, "No, she was angry when told about it, that the instigation of the rumor came from one of her employees, something much against her policies. He is still somewhat in deep shit, even with the enchantment."
Only a little mollified, Cas asked, "Will she do anything about it?"
"Not directly," Bishop admitted, looking pissed again. "No one would believe it, as denials are already part and parcel of their service for the elite. She is going to put additional defensive magics on him, and he is not going to be allowed to leave the Mask until this is over."
Then he smiled darkly, and I had to smile as well. Being confined would really annoy Tarlon, even if he had all the things he really liked handy.
In the morning, Sand was expecting us back at the Flagon as soon as we were done sparring at the temple. Today he was focusing on the physical aspects of our deportment, almost to the exclusion of all else, especially how we moved in the various bits of formal costuming... like the dresses for me. The only good thing is that I had his approval to avoid the dresses outside social events.
Grobnar and Neeshka arrived around dinner time, and helped with practicing meetings, movements while dancing, and food manners again. They left after a while, for their own activities, while Sand continued drilling us on movement, manners, and dance.
His chiding reminded me at one point, of similar and gentler requests from Rhetta. Her, I could duck out on for militia training. Sand, however, had made sure I'd had no other excuses. Cas was excused early, much earlier than I was. He stayed to lend support, but as it got later and later, he was getting visibly sleepy. Even Bishop was excused after a bit longer, while Sand had me repeat things over and over until I wanted to scream.
But I didn't.
I didn't even call in my shadow to give him a cold foot. But that was about the only thing throughout the evening and night that satisfied me about this training, this time. By the end, very, very late at night, Cas was sleeping lightly in one chair. Bishop was still awake, with a mug beside him, watching. Of course Sand was still awake and alert, an annoying trait I remembered well from my foster-father.
Finally, Sand let me go, with an irritated wave, "Fine, fine. Be back tomorrow at noon, all of you, hopefully more alert." He looked at my sleeping Cas with an ironic gleam. Bishop looked pissed, but remained sitting silently with only a slight snarl.
"We might be a bit late, Sand," I said, trying to keep my tone sweet, through my exhaustion. "We need more sleep than you do."
--- x x ---
--- Bishop
Lon was drooping by the time the elf finally let her stop for the night. Cas had fallen asleep completely well after midnight, though he had tried to watch for hours after Sand said he was 'sufficiently prepared.' Me, he announced I was 'well enough,' as long as I stayed quiet during events. He was evidently more concerned that Lon be perfectly prepared. I wasn't that sure she was very coherent after all the repetitions of greetings, curtseys, snubs and the other motions of the 'upper class.'
Once he'd dismissed Lon for the night, he even laughed slightly at her first real comment in a while, before leaving us.
Lon came over, and a long kiss woke me up and made me smile again.
"Hmm," I murmured against her ear, "I think we should make sure we have some fun before all this crap really starts up."
Stiffening for an instant, Lon admitted, "It is a lot of crap, isn't it?"
"Then we need a lot of fun. We'll have to wake Cas, as this isn't a good place to sleep." I added, with a challenge in my voice, "You could wake him and make him flush..." I didn't think she would but she flushed then too, which was also as good.
Once upstairs, we fell into sleep quickly and I didn't wake until late morning. Lon and Cas were still sleeping, but that was fine so I slept again.
Only to wake with the prissy words, "How charming. Now if you would perhaps bother to bestir yourselves and begin your preparations for the evening's entertainments."
I threw a pillow at him even as Karnwyr shared his amusement with me from wherever he was.
Lon grumbled, "I know I locked that door. Wasn't that enough of a message, Sand?"
"No, not when it's already moving to mid-afternoon. You have only hours left to make sure you are prepared physically and mentally for the mob," he scolded us. "I wish to be certain that you are clean, pressed, calm, collected, and as physically inoffensive as can be managed."
"I'm not very calm right now," I told him with an edge. "Go 'way for a couple hours," I followed this with a nibble by Lon's ear.
Still sharply, he said, "There is not sufficient time for you to amuse yourselves like that."
Cas was not quite awake, or Lon was distracting him. I was concentrating on exactly what I wanted.
Then I was drenched by cold water and I sat up, planning to kill the elf. Lon and Cas were making annoyed noises as well. But before I'd finished my roll off the bed, Lon was holding onto me, stopping that move.
Looking at her, she was dripping wet too and shaking her head, looking both pissed and amused.
Beyond her, Cas was looking embarrassed.
"Now that I have your undivided attention, you, ranger, may go visit your companion and go about. Then wash and stay away from him after that for the remains of today. You must not smell like a predator for this event," Sand said, spacing out his words with an extra bite for emphasis.
Lon rubbed my arm again, with a little wistful smile. Sending a glare at the elf, I turned back to her for a long kiss, continuing my glare. Cas coughed. Once I made my point, I rolled off the bed and left our room after scooping up some old clothing. Karnwyr met me in the hall.
-- I'm sorry pup, either this or he'll want you bathed and perfumed too.
Perfumes make me sneeze... He sounded amused. I will not be far. There is a park nearby.
Dressed we went out onto the afternoon streets. Sniffing the afternoon breeze, I decided I would need one more thing for tonight. Finding a new flask and getting it filled with something subtly strong didn't take me that long.
The pup and I also explored the park near the Chauntean temple. It was a bit too manicured, but there were a few wilder corners, so the pup would be fine. He'd enjoy the evening more than I, I thought.
After only a few minutes of quiet with the pup, we returned to the Flagon. Cas and Lon had stripped our bed, and were elsewhere. I'd like to think they might be having some fun, but I wouldn't place much money on it. He'd been embarrassed by the time I'd left, so he'd be formal for a while.
That made me grin, until Pameran came in with our costumes for the evening. Then, only he and the pup were still amused.
I checked the washrooms and considered joining Lon, but decided it was not a good idea. Returning to our room, I settled to wait. At least she wouldn't be protecting Nasher tonight, making the later evening much more fun.
After a while, Cas, freshly scrubbed, returned to the room, and began to dress. Pameran came in with a fair-sized tray of food, and pointedly placed it on the table.
"Eat from this before you finish dressing," he ordered Cas, before bustling about again. "You must go, and wash thoroughly," the half-elf told me, pushing me towards the door.
I almost thought I heard a snicker, but Casavir's face was neutral when I looked.
After I was done and had returned, my pack-mates were sitting on chairs, looking uncomfortable, while Sand was ordering replacement accessories and his minion was scurrying off to get them. Even as I dressed, I came under his attentions as well. So I traded rude comments with Karnwyr, until Sand finally left, claiming one more detail.
Lon and Cas looked very noble, sitting there carefully still. I was pacing, and estimating when to act. It was too soon.
Looking smug, Sand returned, rubbing his hand together, "Your transportation has arrived..."
I know I was surprised, and my mates' jaws were slack.
With a wave towards the street, Sand told us, "Surely, you didn't think you would be allowed to get street dirt on those carefully crafted ensembles? Arranging it for this far outside Blacklake was only a trifling difficulty."
"We stay together for this show," I insisted.
"Yes, yes, Lord Bishop," he returned testily. "Arriving separately would only add to the rumors, so this is one of the few things capable of making an elegant appearance. Quarters will be a bit close," he said with a slight smile, "but I am sure that will be no hardship."
I smiled, wondering how crowded it would be.
"Now, children, stand and turn about slowly so I can be sure everything is in place," Sand said.
With a few more comments and tiny adjustments, we were bustled outside. There, awaiting us, was a sedan chair sitting on props, with six hulking seeming half-orcs standing nearby.
--- x x ---
--- Casavir
A bit embarrassed that we... no, I, was so easily distracted. I was relieved when Sand left us so we could go to wash after we removed the wet bedding. Alone again, I noticed my lady's shadow appear briefly; it also appeared agitated in its movements.
She was folding and refolding the towels and picking at the recent bottles of soaps that had appeared with our supplies for the washroom.
"My lady," I said.
With a slight smile to me, she was still fidgeting.
Reaching over to hold her hands still, I continued, "My love, please. What's wrong? How can I help?"
"I don't know," my lady said, turning and embracing me. "I'm so damn tired of being judged."
Returning her embrace, I ran my fingers over her head, where she was leaning against my chest. My throat got tight, and I asked, "Who, my lady?"
"Does it matter? Will it ever stop? Why do all the bad rumors stay like a rotten fish smell, but the explanations have to be repeated? Over and over and over again. I thought it bad enough that Ember was going to be a mill-stone for the rest of my life. But this is worse, and we didn't do anything illegal for our wedding," her voice was muffled, but I could feel it clearly.
I held her tighter for a moment, realizing where this had come from. Quietly, I explained, "The Reverend Oleff does have the right and responsibility to judge me and my actions, as one senior to me in our faith. It is an important check, especially to the young and impetuous. Too many of them can fall into grave error without intent. It is a necessary part of my calling, and not a problem if I am virtuous."
She looked up with her eyes glistening, and my heart lurched.
Her lips flattened before my lady said, "I don't think he really doubted that. He plainly thought I wasn't, and we weren't, good enough for you."
My error returning again, in another guise of fear. Shaking my head, I told her, "My lady, he is wrong if he thinks that. No mortals are perfection, but I will always love you." After a moment I forced a smile, and added, "And Bishop may have been a prodigal, but we are family too, even if others do not understand."
"He didn't even wait to talk to you or us, before judging. He was already disapproving when we arrived; is that fair for a judge?" Elondra asked quietly again.
"Asking questions is part of our tenets, how else can we find the truth and render a fair decision?" I asked, pulling her down with me to sit on the bench. "Assumptions lead to far more error than honest questions. Some of his concerns would have arisen for the wedding of any notable member of the faith. I have become that, in the time I have known you." I cupped my hand around her cheek and said, "Solely because of your influence, my lady."
My wife sighed, and I took some heart from that and added, "They will learn, my lady, this only requires patience for those of the temple. Those beyond it will learn as well, though it will take longer as they have not their faith to guide them."
Smiling slightly, she said, "Give me patience, right now..."
I gave her a hug, and we sat so for a few minutes. Then I escorted her to the one small washroom and I went to use the other after one kiss. When I was finished there, Bishop had returned and was waiting, if not patiently.
Arriving with a light meal for us, Pameran actually herded Bishop towards the washroom with a few sharp words, even sounding like Sand. Bishop's face was a study in astonishment at this behavior and I had to laugh, even if I forced myself to stop.
Elondra returned, and in a little while we dressed and carefully sat holding hands.
"Ah, very good," Sand said when he returned. "Those items may not quite create exactly the image I intend for you to present. Pameran, not quite as conventional in accessory selections for them in the future. I do not think it wise for some things to be forgotten, so firstly we need the paladin to always have some visible reference to his calling. Likewise for the Lady Whyntll's membership in the Nine and the keep, though that will be more difficult to remain subtle. Stand up, both of you, and turn while I consider."
Pameran retrieved replacement items, even as Sand continued his monologue. Bishop returned for his share of the minute alterations.
"That will be sufficient, for tonight," Sand admitted. A bit more peevishly, he added, "Do not make such faces, Commander. Later, this will ease, once your expecting respect has become a habit for the mob. You must enforce their manners and respect, in a way akin to keeping your merry band from each others' throats. Do you have the messenger stick?"
Lon nodded, and Bishop smiled.
"I have one more detail to verify," Sand declared. "Stay here, and do not mar your appearances for the few minutes until I return."
We sat, very still, while Bishop paced a little.
I took a moment to really look at them, and myself. My lady was lovely in a dress of fine materials and a vivid golden yellow and edges in brown and bright orange. Bishop's was the soft browns with touches of her gold and the same shade of rust that was the main color of mine. I appreciated that my motion was free despite the long dagger I had hidden for emergencies.
We looked fine, as if this was normal for us. And for a moment, I felt a little of what I suspected was worrying my lady. But, after that moment, I returned to worrying only about our safety and remembering to dance properly.
Sand entered, looking pleased, and announced, "Your transportation for tonight as arrived."
This I hadn't expected, as hiring a carriage was dear and seemed an unneeded luxury. Soon enough, we were inspected briefly again, and dismissed to go outside. There was a sedan chair, elegant, waiting for us with six bearers, none baneful, though Sand probably checked them already. It was a little large for two, and would indeed be crowded for three.
As my lady's garb was most sensitive to crushing damage, I checked the interior, even as Bishop climbed in with a smile.
"We should get in first," he said with a smirk. "More room for her dress then."
Sand was standing there with a smile, as a few urchins had gathered to watch our progress in the late afternoon light. By this time, Bishop had taken the seat facing forward and gotten himself settled, leaving me to ride backwards. The gleam in his eyes said he was enjoying this detail.
I got in with a sigh, and realized the comfortable padding and protection from the weather came with a price. It was indeed going to be crowded as our knees were close together. Bishop patted his lap with a grin, and Sand made some final comment before leaving us.
With a half smile, Elondra sat sideways in the middle. Once she'd arranged her skirts, the bearer-leader shut the door, and the craft gave a slight lurch as we moved upward.
"Think you can manage to lean forward?" my lady whispered.
Once we had, she reached out, or we did, into an embrace. I could hold her like this forever.
After a time, Bishop whispered, "Drink this," holding out a flask.
"Is that a good idea?" I asked, though it didn't smell very strong.
"Yep," he said, taking a slug himself. "You'll need to relax a bit. Not enough to get in trouble, but enough to dance well."
Thinking about how our last private dance lesson had gone, even if Bishop hadn't been there, I couldn't completely disagree. So I took a good slug, as did my lady.
"Very good, now for..." Bishop said as he kissed her.
Soon my lady and I were carefully kissing as well. The journey to the temple passed without my notice, and I was surprised when the door opened again. Outside were a number of people, most watching our arrival. I could feel myself flushing, yet again.
--- x ---
A/N: Thanks to my beta reader, who's been kind enough to point out some things. Any typos that remain are not intentional...Reviews or even a PM to let me know what you think would be very appreciated.
