"Where are the watchmen that were assigned to guard the entrance?" Marcus wondered as he and his friends approached Fihelis' house.
"How do you know there should be guards?" Elanee asked.
"When we passed here on the way to the warehouse, I remember seeing some watchmen out front on guard duty, and now, no sign of them." The harbourman replied with a frown.
"I hate to say this, but I think that Moire might one step ahead of us." Neeshka said concerned. "If that's the case the bitch is mine, it's time I showed her what the 'goat girl' is capable of." She said with snarl.
"Why do I get the feeling you don't like her very much, Neesh?" Marcus asked worried.
"It's a bit obvious huh." The tiefling said, trying to make light of her past. "Moire is a control freak; she's been trying to control the docks for as long as I've had the misfortune to know her, why I'm not certain." Neeshka said. "Anyway, you know how well I take orders at times, as punishment I got all the 'special' jobs, that's to say I got the ones that were lousy, or just boring." She made a face. "That's how Leldon noticed me, at the time I thought he was a godsend, but that didn't last long, the pig."
"We better get a move on then, lass." Khelgar said. "Let's go teach this Moire a lesson she won't soon forget!"
Duncan didn't know whether to weep with despair or cry with joy as the Sunken Flagon was the fullest it had been in months, so full in fact he was having trouble finding room for all of the off duty castle guards. He was at a loss to explain the sudden influx, not that he was going to complain as his bottom line was going to look pretty good for once.
As the innkeeper made his way around the common room, serving drinks and taking orders and telling the more drunk patrons not to harass his tavern maids, the chatter he kept hearing about a raid that had ended with the watch having already carried it out, made him wonder if his nephew had anything to do with the current state of his inn.
"Looks like we know what happened to the missing guards." Marcus said as he knelt to inspect one of the bodies.
"It appears as if Neeshka was right, Moire has beaten us here. Let's hope our rabbit was clever enough to hide himself from the wolves." Elanee observed.
"We'd better hurry then, before they find Fihelis." Marcus said as he stood up.
Neeshka sniffed the air and spun around in time to see a thug trying to sneak up behind them, the tiefling smiled as she easily blocked the attack with her shield. "I thought I smelled something foul." Neeshka said as she drove her dagger into her attacker's heart.
"It would also appear that this home is infested with rats." Elanee remarked dryly, eyeing the dead thug.
"Huh, looks like we'll be getting to this Fihelis the hard way." Khelgar said "Through a lot of bodies."
"Probably." Marcus said. "Elanee, you better conserve your spells as best you can, I have a feeling we'll need them when we come to deal with Moire, if she's here."
Elanee nodded. "I have several sleep and entanglement spells prepared that will be of use, if the need arises."
"Oh Moire's here, you can be sure of that harbour boy." Neeshka said sounding eager to face her past. "She never could do 'subtle' and this is something she'd like to do herself."
"Neesh, try and not do anything rash, please?" Marcus asked, trying not to beg. "Moire, alive would, I'm sure please the captain greatly. That said, Fihelis is the priority."
Neeshka pouted. "I'd rather just kill the bitch and be done with it, but as long as I give her a bloody nose, I'll be happy."
Serena was grateful that she was able to leave her temple escort at the quayside in Waterdeep as having them all the way to the Neverwinter temple would have been too much, as her escort just screamed 'high ranking priestess here' something she hated at the best of times. I can look after myself, Serena thought darkly. When I get back to Waterdeep I'm going to find whoever had the bright idea to give me a full escort and give them a telling off they won't soon forget.
Serena's arrival in Neverwinter was low key; she simply walked off the ship that had brought her. She was dressed in an understated outfit, all her gear was stored in her pack, apart from her longsword, Daystar which was at her hip, after so many years of carrying a weapon, she never felt fully dressed without one.
As Serena walked through the streets of the docks she wondered yet again why she had been drawn here. I suppose I'll find out soon enough, she mused as she idly fingered Torm's holy symbol that hung around her neck. Her eyes looked skywards. Don't suppose you have anything to do with me being here now do you? She asked somewhat sarcastically, not expecting an answer of any sort from her deity.
Vengual Bloodsail stroked his mustache as he looked out over the docks. He found it rather amusing that he, of all people had be contacted to convey such an important and high ranking priestess of Torm from Waterdeep to Neverwinter. He wasn't sure what he'd excepted when Serena and her escort had arrived, but any reservations were soon put aside.
"Captain, you can cast off when you're ready, as my escort won't be coming with me, thank Torm." Serena said as she stepped onto the deck of the ship. "Even if they wanted to, they'd have to bloody swim all the way to Neverwinter." The priestess smiled. "And in full plate, that would be difficult."
Vengual found himself smiling at the memory, for Serena may have been a holy woman but she behaved like no other holy woman he'd ever met. It was a refreshing change.
There's some irony here, somewhere. I've been away from Neverwinter for far too long, perhaps it's time I rectified that. Vengual mused as his thoughts turned to a time when he and his company of Bloodsailors had pretty much ruled the Neverwinter waterfront. Ah those were the days, annoying Nasher at every opportunity, but then things went to hell didn't they? He thought bitterly. What became of Neeshka I wonder? I hope the girl survived, I lost track of her after Callik's betrayal. She'd be a young woman by now. Vengual had always had a soft spot for the tiefling runaway. In many ways she'd been like the child he'd never had. The gods willing, I may find some trace of her, I hope she's well, whatever she's doing.
The old sailor nodded to himself his mind made up, he was going to stay in Neverwinter, find a place for him and Dara'nei, see if he could locate any sign of Neeshka and maybe, just maybe re-establish the Bloodsailors.
"There is a price for betraying your own, traitor... always. And the one you shall pay is quite high, indeed." Moire said coldly. "Bring him with us. I need some answers from him before I cut out his tongue."
"Fihelis is coming with me." Marcus said "And so are you, Moire." He added
The crime boss spun on her heel to face the harbourman. "Ah, so you're the one that's been causing me so much trouble. I had thought that the tales of a competent member of the Watch were just stories to scare my men." Moire said "It's been a long time since I've killed someone in a fight... I've missed it, and here you are, to make up for lost time." She smiled coldly.
"Not so fast, you bitch." Neeshka growled as she stepped between Marcus and Moire "I've waited too many years for the chance to take you out, you want to harm the harbour boy, then you'll have to get past me." The tiefling said, her eyes flashing.
Moire chuckled evilly. "So it's true, the watch hound does have the goat girl for a pet, after all. Don't see what's so great about him, not that it matters. I'm going to enjoy cutting off your horns and tail for trophies while you still breathe Neeshka."
"Come and try it, if you've got the balls, Moire." Neeshka taunted. "Oh, sorry I forgot you're a girl so you don't have any, pity I'd have enjoyed cutting them off!"
Enraged by the tiefling's taunting words Moire charged, Neeshka was more than ready as she blocked Moire's strike then she made a thrust to the other woman's exposed side but Moire parried Neeshka's attack.
As the two women were locked in a deadly duel, Marcus and Khelgar easily dealt with Moire's two thugs, Elanee saw to Fihelis who had nothing more than a few scrapes and bruises.
Marcus turned his attention back to Neeshka. You tell her not to be reckless but does she listen? Nooo. He thought bitterly. Still, you knew something like this was going to happen. The harbourman was about to go help his lady but he never got the chance.
Neeshka smiled to herself as her tail shot out and wrapped itself around one of Moire's legs pulling them from under the crime boss, with a yelp of surprise Moire lost her balance and fell backwards, hitting her head on the side of a table with a resounding thud, knocking her out cold.
"Gets them, every time." Neeshka said with glee. "The classics never get old. You'd think when fighting a tiefling, they'd keep an eye out for the tail, sheesh." She said as she took Moire's rapier and dagger for herself. "And you don't deserve that you bitch." Neeshka added angrily as she relieved the unconscious woman of the helm-like mask she'd been wearing. The tiefling stroked the mask affectionately, a smile curving her lips before she put it away in her pack.
"What was that all about?" Marcus asked puzzled.
Neeshka grinned. "That was a Moonstone Mask, usually worn by girls that work for Ophala, so how she got hold of one I don't know. They have an enchantment on them that helps the senses of the wearer. Comes in handy let me tell you." The tiefling's smiled faded. "I had one, until that leech, Leldon took it, along with everything else, wouldn't surprise me if that's where the bitch got it from."
"Thank you for your intervention, but I fear the danger isn't over." Fihelis said still a little bewildered from the events that had unfolded in his home. "You must get me to safety."
"That's why we're here, to escort you to Captain Brelaina." Marcus said.
"Ah good, Moire may think she owns the Docks, but I doubt even her people would have the manpower to launch an attack on the Watch here in the Merchant Quarter." Fihelis replied feeling reassured that he was in safe hands.
As Khelgar was helping Neeshka secure Moira for the journey back to the main watch post the tiefling looked up at the elf merchant. "Huh, that'd be a sure way to get Nasher to act and his response wouldn't be pretty." She remarked. "So why did you inform on the bitch anyway?"
Fihelis studied the tiefling for a few moments before he replied. "Believe it or not, young lady, I did it out of guilt. I saw what she was trying to do, perhaps even before she realized it. Taking control of the Docks from the authorities would bring nothing but misery to the people here." He said. "And I feared a war between the Watch and Moire would be worse than the war with Luskan... and the consequences to Neverwinter even more disastrous." The elf suppressed a shudder. "So I began to pass information to the Watch, hoping to undermine Moire and her ambitions."
"Well you've seem to have done a good job until you were found out." Marcus said as he opened the door and ushered everyone one into the hall. "How did that happen do you know?"
"Oh dear, what a mess." Fihelis commented on seeing the state of his home. "It doesn't matter how it happened. Moire's men knew of it, and now I need the Watch's protection... if they can protect me at all." The elf looked Marcus in the eyes. "I fear it was a member of the Watch who betrayed me." he said.
"Figures, bloody turncoats." Khelgar muttered.
"I would have been uncovered long ago if it had been anyone in Moire's organization who suspected me so the Watch is the most logical source. But it's only a guess. My concern at this point is the safety of myself... and my family." Fihelis said. "Though perhaps with Moire now in custody, the turncoats within the Watch will have a change of heart and renew their vows to uphold the laws of the city."
"And I'm king of the Ironfists." Khelgar said with a snort. "It'd be like getting the fiendling here to change her spots."
"Hey, watch it stumpy, I like my spots the way they are, thank you very much!" Neeshka retorted as she half carried, half dragged the unconscious Moira with the help of Elanee.
Marcus chuckled. "And I like them the way they are too, Neesh. So what did you do for Moira exactly?" he asked Fihelis.
"I ran her network of warehouses for smuggling and distribution. I also ran the... legitimate side of the warehouse business as well." Fihelis smiled a little. "Ironically, that side of the business often outperformed our income from smuggling. In any case, my position allowed me access to most of the activities that Moire was involved with. I still had to be careful with the information that I supplied to the Watch so as not to bring any unwanted attention to myself." He explained as they left his house. "My, you did make quite the mess getting to me didn't you?" the elf said looking back over his shoulder.
"Heh. Sorry about that." Marcus said.
Fihelis dismissed the harbourman's apology with a wave of his hand. A house could be repaired, lives couldn't.
"I've got a present for you Captain." Marcus said as he walked into the watch post followed by Neeshka and Elanee who were escorting a woman who was securely bound and looking very annoyed at having been captured. "Well two actually. Fihelis is safe and well and I have Moire." he said indicating the woman.
Neeshka walked over to the cell Cormick had just opened and after undoing Moire's bonds thrust her inside with a gleeful shove, then Cormick swiftly shut and locked the cell door.
"How did you mange that lieutenant?" Brelaina asked astounded. She had thought that Moire would fight to the death.
Marcus smiled. "It wasn't me, you have Neeshka to thank for bagging Moire." He said not at all disappointed with his captain's look of disbelief.
"Hey don't forget the part where we had to carve our way through Fihelis's house that was filled with Moire's goons." Neeshka said with glee. "That was fun, well sort of."
"So rat girl, what did the watch hounds offer you to betray your own?" Morie asked, still smarting from being bested by the tiefling. "I thought you were one of us." She said sounding slightly betrayed.
The tiefling turned to face the jailed crime boss her red eyes flashing dangerously. This day and been long in coming "One of you?" Neeshka snorted "Don't give me that crap Moire. I was never one of you." She snarled, her tail lashing about "I was taken advantage of, used and generally humiliated. Any wonder I went freelance when I had the chance?" Neeshka asked "Joining with Leldon was a mistake but one he's gonna regret soon enough." The tiefling said with determination. "So why try and take control of the docks huh? You know Lord Nasher would've never let you keep control for long."
"The docks needed to be controlled." Moire snapped. "Neverwinter's got enemies who are waiting for us to show weakness... and the Watch and Greycloaks aren't going to stop them, they already failed us before!" she said glaring at Brelaina and Cormick. "I lived through the time when disease and the Luskans tore apart this city. In the end, Neverwinter was saved by mercenaries... adventurers." Moire said disgusted. "No one survived those times without losing something... or someone." The crime boss sighed. "I wasn't going to pray for outsiders to save us this time when I could've done something about it." She said softly.
Neeshka shook her head, she couldn't quite believe what she'd just heard. "Hello, plague and Luskan war survivor here." She said pointing to herself. "What in the hells do you think Neverwinter's enemies are going to think when they see we're fighting each other?" the tiefling asked the crime boss. "Forget showing weakness, it's too late for that, we've already shown it thanks to you!" Neeshka cried, upset, as she took a few steps toward Moire's cell. "I don't think Axle will be coming to get you out of here anytime soon." She taunted "He's going to let you rot here after what you've done at the docks. You never did learn the meaning of the word subtle did you?"
All Moire could do was stare daggers at the tiefling.
"Axle?" asked Captain Brelaina "Who's he?"
"Axle Devrie? No one expects he's the real king pin of the Neverwinter underworld." Neeshka said facing the watch captain. "Stays out of sight most of the time. Doesn't like drawing attention to his operations. So Moire's not going to be in his good books anytime soon." Neeshka said with a shrug. "Not that surprising considering he's rumoured to be a member of the shadow thieves."
"And you know all this how exactly?" Marcus asked curious and a little concerned. Just how murky is your past, Neeshka? He thought.
Neeshka looked a little ashamed. "You forget I'm a thief. What do you think I've been doing since I was eight when I ran away from Helm's Hold?" she asked sadly.
Marcus didn't know what to say. He didn't think there was anything he could say so he just walked over to the tiefling and pulled her into a hug trying to reassure her as best he could. The harbourman had to suppress a grin as he watched the reactions of Brelaina who was shocked by the very open display of affection, Cormick who looked amused and Moire who looked totally disgusted.
"You have done well, lieutenant. Fihelis is safely back under our protection and we have Moire in our custody." Brelaina said with relief though she was still having a hard time getting used to the fact her best officer was comforting a tiefling, much less the fact that it was obvious he had feelings for her. She thought it was very unbecoming, and did not serve her political games. "You are now off duty but I expect you back here tomorrow, we have much still to do to restore order in the docks, although Moire's capture will go a long way in helping matters."
"Come on then let's go back to the Flagon." Marcus said as he put an arm around Neeshka's waist and escorted her out the door.
"I'm with that! Gotta see if the place has been drunk dry by those castle guards!" Khelgar laughed, following. "Wonder if your knight will be there, lass?" he asked Elanee with a wink.
The druid coloured slightly but made no reply, she just glared at the dwarf who laughed.
