Chapter 36

Natheran sighed as she looked around the common room watching her friends passing the time in various pursuits. It had been tense around here the past week and a half becuase she was being called up to the castle alot to attend Lord Nasher. If it hadn't been for that little excursion into the Bryce tomb a couple of days ago then things might have been worse. Both Neeshka and Khelgar had been grumbling about being excluded even though they knew there wasn't anything she could do about it. Elanee had been spending alot of her time outside the city with Shandra, and Grobnar had hundreds of things to occupy his time, so they all were okay with the current situation. Bishop had been keeping his distance, sitting at his table and ignoring her. Looks like he was on his best behavior, for now at least. Sand had his shop to run so he always had something to do and wasn't troubled by the lack of adventure. The only one who didn't complain was Casavir, but then again, he understood these things like no else could. Looking at him sitting across from her she had to smile at how it had been between them since Highcliff.

"My lady, you look like the cat who ate the canary. What is going through your mischievious little mind?" he said softly.

"Just thinking how lucky I am to have found you. You're the only one who doesn't complain about being left behind. Honestly, if we didn't have the little adventure with Arval, I think the others might actually be taking out their frustrations in some unhealthy ways." She frowned as she thought about the dark rituals that were being practiced right here in the city.

"I don't complain because I understand how it is, I used to be in your shoes," he chuckled softly and then turned serious. "Now that whole business with Arval, it was disturbing to say the least. What we discovered there had much the same feeling as what we found in Logram's lair, and while traveling to West Harbor."

"I know, I felt it too. Whatever shadow is growing in the land is reaching its fingers out to the city. Of the others, only Elanee seems to have made the connection and I could tell it disturbed her as well. Whatever the evil is, it is somehow tied to these shards I carry. I don't know how I know that, but I do. It scares me sometimes."

"Whatever the darkness is you will not face it alone. Anyone or anything that tries to come after you will face us both." He reached over and held her hands. "When we stand together even death cannot seperate us."

She smiled thinking that he always seemed to know just what to say to cheer her up. Their lovemaking since their chat had been both tender and fierce, leaving her breathless every time. She almost felt a little guilty at how passionately she loved him, but he had assured her that the gods did not frown upon such feelings. Since that first time they were together he had not mentioned anything about the rites of union, even though they seemed to have the time now, which just reinforced her belief that he had been using them as just another excuse to hide his feelings. However, she knew how important they were and she wanted to have them.

"Casavir I wanted to talk to you about something you mentioned that first time we were together," she said softly as she looked at him and saw a puzzled expression cross his face. Despite the verbal oaths they had sworn to each other, she wasn't sure how he was going to respond to what she was about to propose. "You had mentioned, uhm...you said something about, about..certain rites, and I was thinking that...I mean we seem to have the time now, and.." her voice stammered to silence. She watched as understanding came to his face and with it, a look of love and happiness that made his eyes sparkle.

"You are asking about the Rites of Union," he said softly, a pleased smile on his face. "I consider it the highest honor to have you ask me to formally bind our lives. If that is what you wish then you shall have it." Lifting her hands to his lips, he kissed them. Neither of them realized that Neeshka had come over and had every word.

"You're planning on getting married?" the tiefling's startled voice rang across the room getting everyone's attention. There was a stunned silence and then everyone started talking at once about this latest development and coming over to congratulate them.

"What's this? He asked you to marry him?" Duncan came running over from behind the bar, a happy smile on his face. "That's wonderful news, wonderful news," he exclaimed shaking Casavir's hand up and down congratulating him. Then he came over and grabbed her in a huge hug. "Well then, when's the big event gonna take place?"

"Please, we haven't made any plans yet. The only thing decided is that it's something we want to do." She looked at Neeshka, prepared to scold her, but the girl looked so happy for her that she couldn't. Sighing she looked at the expectant faces around her. "When we have decided on a date you will all be the first to know, I promise." Everyone grumbled a bit but finally went back to their own tables. Suddenly the door banged open and Wolf came running in.

"There you are, I couldn't find you this morning. Aldanon came looking for you real early, saying he had found out something important about some shards. He told me to tell you he needed to see you right away," the boy blurted out in between gulps of air.

"This morning? I had to leave early for the castle. Did he say where he'd be?" It was now late afternoon and she figured it best to go see him immediately.

"I guess he's up at his home in Blacklake cause he didn't say anything else," Wolf shrugged.

She flipped a coin to the boy and he ran off. "I guess we better go see what he wants," she sighed. Suddenly she felt a shiver run down her back, and felt a strange foreboding about what was to come. How she knew this, she wasn't sure, but it gave her pause.

Casavir, seeing her shiver, looked at her in concern, "What's wrong?"

"It may be nothing, but I think it best if we prepared for potential trouble before we head over." Looking around at her companions she stated simply, "All of us." With that her friends all went to get their weapons and armor. She and Casavir were the only ones who regularly wore their armor these days. When everyone was ready they headed for Blacklake.

As she headed for the castle she couldn't stop the feeling of impending doom from descending upon her. She had gotten to Aldanon's only to find Cormick hurt and thugs inside the house holding the servants hostage. After killing the thugs, Aldanon's assistant Harcourt had given her the bad news that the old man had been kidnapped. As if that wasn't enough, he had told them that there was another shard in the city. This shard had been passed around to different lords who just happened to be the ones whose deaths had caused Blacklake's closure in the first place. Now the last of these nobles had the shard and if she didn't get to him fast he would be the next victim. It wasn't githyanki who were responsible, of that she was certain, but who was responsible was anybody's guess. Pausing at the doors she turned to tell her companions to wait outside. That's when she saw that they were all running to catch up.

"Damn it lass, how many times do I have to tell you to have a heart for those of us with short legs," Khelgar panted when he reached her.

"We can't all go rushing in there, it would cause a panic. Casavir and Sand come with me. The rest wait here." Turning she saw the guards had already opened the doors, and she hurried in followed by the other two. As she hurried down the hall to the throne room, she heard the whisper of the nobles as she passed, but she was so used to it by now that she ignored it. The guards in front of the throne room started to bar her way but took one look at her face and moved aside. Striding up to stand before the throne she bowed and waited.

"Squire Natheran, I heard rumors that Aldanon has been kidnapped. Is that why you have come?" Lord Nasher asked. When he saw her expression turn grim, he frowned in worry.

"Yes, my lord. He has been kidnapped by persons unknown. We were able to rescue his servants from the thugs in the house, but no one could give us any information on why he had been taken. But, that is not the only reason I am here. I have news of the murdered nobles as well," she reported and saw a look of surprise cross his face briefly.

"Explain," Lord Nasher demanded. For months they had investigated the murders and had come up empty handed. He had begun to think they would never solve the mystery.

"A shard was being passed among a group of nobels, and each one that held it has been killed. Lord Tavorick now has the shard, and I fear he is next," Natheran said grimly.

"I will not allow him to suffer the same fate as the others," Nasher growled angrily. Tavorick was an old friend, one of the few he had left, and he would not let him die, not if it could be prevented. "Squire, I want you to report to Tavorick's estate and do all in your power to protect him. I will have Captain Ballard and his squad meet you there. The estate is the one next to the cemetary at the northeast end of the district. Prepare yourself well for I don't want you to fail in this task."

"You are sending us Black Ballard, my lord?" Casavir asked. Ballard had been a good friend to him and was a formidable fighter as well as a brilliant strategist.

"The same, I think he will prove an asset," Nasher nodded. "Now hurry squire, protect Lord Tavorick, and when the person responsible for the other murders comes for him, do your best to capture him to stand trial."

Bowing to Nasher she turned and strode out, her long strides quickly taking her to the door and outside. Everyone looked at her expectantly. "Lord Nasher has ordered me to Lord Tavoricks estate to protect him. Since I have no idea what we will be facing I think we better be prepared for the worst. So let's go see some of the vendors and get what we need before we head over there. Let's go," she finished and strode off to her father's friend who would surely have everything they needed. Hearing a muttered curse from Khelgar she bit back a sigh of frustration and slowed her pace so the others could keep up. She could only hope they would succeed in their mission and catch the murderer.