Certain major characters are not mine, though Elondra is mine, among many others. Language and other stuff warning, just to be safe...
--- x x ---
Neverwinter, preparing to depart the city ---
--- Elondra
We didn't sleep very long that night. I caught myself clinging more to Casavir, while Bishop was very still at the edge of the bed, pretending to sleep. When Pameran woke us well after dawn, we were all close together again. That made me feel a little better, as illogical as that was.
Cas was alarmed that he missed the dawn, but scrambled to begin some prayers.
Bishop just looked at me, from so close and didn't move. I sighed, and reached to touch his cheek, not knowing what to say.
Slipping his arms around me in a jerk to pull me close, he tucked his head next to mine, but didn't do anything else.
Another cough from Pameran came before he reminded us, "The group should be leaving from Castle Never very soon. You need to wash and finish your departure preparations. The squire and I are ready to assist if you require it."
I sat up as did my erring husband, and we began the necessary chores for another quick departure. I could hear the rain trickling down outside and I looked over the pile of stuff Pameran prepared for me. It was a much larger pile than I'd needed for the trip to Vallis' hunt. I added some equipment I'd had with me while I was away.
By the time I'd strapped the larger packs onto my horse again, Cas had joined the rest of us, damp from his own washing. The rain had stopped, at least for a while. We were all quiet, Bishop most of all. I didn't know how much Pameran or Eldride knew, but I really didn't want to talk about it with them right now.
We got to Castle Never a little late, as the larger group had already left. Catching up should not be a problem, as Lord and Lady Nasher would be moving a little slower in their carriage. Once we were out of the city, the cool air became a damp mist. By the time we caught up with the trailing Greycloak riders, the mist had become a clammy rain.
It got colder, the further we went from the city, and there were brief periods of an early snow as we traveled. I was cold enough that my teeth chattered at points, but that fit my mood. Cas cast a couple of spells, and I felt warmer after the first. It looked like he'd cast the other on Pameran.
Being warmer, even in the rain, made me feel better, and I could think easier about something other than just traveling. Looking at Cas and Bishop, they were both just enduring the rain, even if neither of them were looking at the other. That was getting to be too obvious as the hours passed.
I spoke to Pameran briefly and set my shadow to follow them. We'd entered Neverwinter Wood and there was plenty of shadow for it to keep up with them. When I saw a fairly thick stand of trees, I turned off as if it was a necessary rest stop.
As I'd expected, both Cas and Bishop turned off as well, though Bishop lagged behind. Karnwyr hadn't even been ranging that far today, but I hadn't overheard any of his comments all day.
Even that made me sadder.
I wanted to stay separate on my horse, but that was part of the problem. So I dismounted and after my break, while we were all still off our horses, I made myself speak, "We need to talk more, as I doubt anyone who knows us wouldn't be able to catch that something is wrong."
"I believe we can expect support from the Nine," Cas said, "but we do not know how large this event is, nor how many who are enemies may be present."
That I'd picked up some from Bell while I was gone and I could say, "I think from what Bell said, it'll be only about seventy-five people, most linked to the Nine. This is partly a break in the schedule, and not just a hunt."
The realization that an event of that many people wasn't that bad anymore, I'd have to think about another time.
"That doesn't mean we're safe," Bishop said in a flat voice.
"No," I admitted. "It only limits the number who might mean us harm. Lord Nasher should be completely safe, unless someone attacks the place militarily."
Now I didn't know how to bring up the things that were really bothering me. I just held out my arms and we were in a tight embrace in what seemed to be an instant. I was feeling warmer than just the magic Cas'd cast.
"I don't know what to say now," I said into the hollow space in the center.
Cas said with some regret, "We have many things to discuss, but I think the most important is about fidelity."
Silence met that statement. Not that I disagreed, but I finally said, "I never considered anything else. I felt lucky enough, not to want to push it."
"I felt blessed," Cas said with a smile in his voice and a light kiss to my temple.
With a deep breath, Bishop said, "Dunno what I felt. Dunno why..."
I wasn't quite ready to completely forgive him, but his voice sounded so very bad that I leaned my head against his and rubbed his back.
Pulling back enough to be able to look at me, Cas coughed. I also pulled back though I still was holding them, and not because it was a chilly, rainy day.
They looked as troubled as I felt.
I managed to say, "I think what pisses me off the most is that I don't know how long it'll be until I stop worrying that your absence doesn't mean you're off at some place like the Mug and..."
I couldn't finish it, and felt Cas trying to reassure me.
"Fidelity is being true to our pledges, that we won't... indulge in encounters like that," Cas said carefully. "If it is a prison, those pledges have no meaning. We cannot chain you because of our worry. Think carefully if those pledges mean something or if you'd rather have your freedom from them..."
Cas was sad when he said this, and I had trouble holding back a sob. Bishop's frown was bleak, though I could feel his hand tighten on me. I held my breath, waiting for Bishop's answer.
All he did was shake his head, and pull himself closer again. We were wet and dripping water from the rain, but I felt better than I had all day.
--- x x ---
--- Bishop
To feel a little like it'd been a few days ago, I breathed the scents of my pack. I wanted to go away into the woods for real. Too bad I couldn't drag Lon away like that, away from all the bitches and bastards in Neverwinter. I wouldn't have to drag Cas, as he'd follow Lon, all ticked if he didn't know about it ahead of time.
I couldn't, and they didn't want to. And we would be leaving too many enemies behind us, with Lather's boss coming after us both at the keep and in the city. And I still owed that bastard bard and Tarlon. And Cas would fret if he left his student behind. Pameran could keep the pretty clothing.
They still held me, even if they were mad at me. I would have to settle for that for a while.
After a few minutes Cas said, "We need to move on soon, if we are to catch up. Do we have any idea how widespread this will be?"
Lon sighed and said, "If it had just been through Ophala, it might not be spread that much on its own. But if that bitch has it, it will spread, even if she's not the mole. She truly enjoyed badmouthing Cas when I ended up kicking her legs out that night."
Heh, I wished I'd seen it, as Lon didn't get belligerent very often. Cas even smiled slightly for a second, though I doubted he realized it.
With one more embrace, with me sneaking a quick kiss of her neck, and we mounted our horses again.
-- Karnwyr, let me know if the rest stray off the road. I'd like to catch up soon.
A chase! Can we eat one if we're fast?
-- No, we'll hunt something tonight.
We rode quickly, and didn't take all that long to catch up. We reached Bell's mansion in the woods not long before sunset. There was a wall around the building complex, enough for minor threatening creatures. There weren't quite enough bedrooms though, it looked like our room had been converted from some other use, and the bed seemed both large and smelled freshly made.
Pameran pushed us into washing and wearing fresh clothing for the dinner, but I refused any. Muttering that I told Karnwyr we'd go out if he didn't try to eat the horses, I couldn't look to see their reaction and left to go out in the forest.
There I changed form and we hunted both for hunger and the thrill of the chase. Even so, I soon turned back.
In our room, I wasn't sure where to go and decided that I would doze. I didn't want to have to deal with the people from Blacklake tonight.
After a while, they returned, looking tired. I helped Lon, breathing her scent as I did. Soon I fell asleep, much easier than last night.
The next day, I had to wear much finer clothing than I really wanted to when hunting, but it was sturdy enough. It was a fairly leisurely hunt, if we were hunting deer, as we left late enough after dawn that most wouldn't be moving much. I didn't feel like making Nevalle's idea of hunting any easier, and wasn't going to help them find anything.
Even without my help, Bell had some guides who knew where to go, and the hunters were successful enough.
Lon and I had bows, but shot only rarely. Cas didn't even get one from the extras that Bell had available, and I was reminded of my plan to at least get him more familiar with the rudiments. This did not seem to be a good time to bring it up, maybe over the winter.
Spending most of the day out in the Wood, with relative privacy, I could pretend everything was still fine. But we were too quiet, too careful in what we said, and an occasional brief embrace between them hurt.
Dinner was livelier than I expected, and I recognized most of the people here as those who were friendly to us. A few bards had been hired to provide music for the dinner and more lively music afterwards.
Turning to Lon, I took her hand and drifted one step towards the area cleared for dancing. The music was lively, not the more restrained dancing, but I was afraid to disturb the fragile balance we had now.
She smiled a little, and soon we were out on the dance floor, sweating. Lon danced with Cas, too, and I wanted to smile at how much better they were now, but I couldn't.
I noticed some couples didn't bother dancing with anyone else, so the damn rules must be different here. Or maybe no one cared that much. Nasher was there, but he only had one guard and watched his wife while not dancing himself. I was just glad no one pestered me to dance with others when I just wanted my mate.
We were getting more careful glances, and I was getting some disapproving glares, which were reduced if Lon and Cas were with me. So the news may have made it to these people, even if they were more allies. I didn't think I had any allies other than Lon and Cas in the room, right now.
Later, Bell came over, a host I thought was better than most we'd met so far, looking warm from the dancing as well. That didn't surprise me, as I'd seen him dancing with a number of different women.
Without any preamble, he said in a quiet voice, "I heard a disturbing rumor about you, Bishop..."
I blinked at the confirmation, as I'd really hoped it was something else. Keeping my voice even, I said only, "There's always been a lot of rumors about us and me."
"This rumor had you catting around recently, while your wife was away, on duty," he said with an angry edge.
He'd already been a decent sort, better than I felt right now, so I sighed and said to him, "I really wish my screwups weren't so exciting to little minds."
A flash of rage, and he visibly controlled himself and said only, "You admit it? I'd considered the three of you friends, even despite your past. How could you do it? This will really suck how much out of them, while Lather's backer is still out there?"
Looking back at Lon and Cas, still dancing, I told Bell, "They already know."
A silence, and he commented, "That explains why they were quiet last night, I'd thought it was the journeys so close together."
That made me smile, enough to add, "Nah, those were easy rides, without combat or marching in gear for days. We could have practically slept, if not for the rain."
"You going to straighten up?" Bell asked with some disbelief.
"I'd give just about anything, to go back to the way it was a few days ago," I admitted, still watching Lon and Cas smiling at each other, more than I'd seen them do for too long already.
An odd note was in his voice when he said, "You truly mean that, don't you?"
When I looked at him, he looked more fey than his usual, and I really saw his elven blood that was usually less visible in how he dressed and acted. For a second it was like another Sand was looking down his nose at me.
That was another meeting I hoped to postpone as long as possible.
"Yeah, I hate this. I hate what I did," I said, before realizing it'd only been a whisper. Raising my voice a little, I added with a tiny smile, "And I don't have any Luskans to kill to feel any better."
That surprised a laugh out of him, and he said, "Well, that is a useful thing to do." He thought a moment and asked, "Has Casavir told you about any of the dueling codes?"
I had to laugh at even the idea, "I know enough like calling me a peasant, that wasn't gonna happen, even before this. Someone wants to kill me, they can try, I don't need any rules to finish them."
"You may want to rethink that, Lord Bishop," Bell said quickly, "As your spouses become more accepted in Blacklake, that makes a public screwup by provoking unacceptable behavior in a duel a viable way to attack you. Those kinds of asses won't try to provoke Whyntll, either because she's a woman or her being one of the Nine and can refuse duels. Lord Casavir knows the rules, and can be counted on to follow them."
Cas's bending of those rules was long ago now.
Bell said as the music began building to the end, "You are a now a target, to make you look worse, in a ploy to wedge in between you, something that would have seemed a tenday ago to be impossible."
I couldn't ask Cas, and said, "Can you tell me these rules quickly?"
Saying something that I didn't quite understand, Bell answered, "Yes, I can give you the basics during the hunt tomorrow. The most important thing is to have a better control of yourself than your opponent does, even verbally."
That wasn't as much a stretch then. So I said, "Thanks," even as Lon and Cas began to make their way back to me.
I danced with Lon a few more times, and watched the crowd. No one else really approached me, but I couldn't tell if it was the usual or any new rumors. I was glad to get back to our room, and announced I wanted to go out with the pup.
The silence that followed that almost hurt.
When I got back with my night vision spell still active, enough to see that they were already asleep. They were just sleeping, spooned together holding hands over the covers.
Stripping and getting into bed, Lon's left hand was open by her face. Stretching a little closer, I put my cheek on her palm and breathed her scent.
Lon stirred and opened her eyes briefly. She smiled a little and rubbed my stubble, just as she'd done dozens, if not hundreds of times before. Her eyes drifted shut again, and her smile went with me into my sleep.
--- x x ---
--- Casavir
My lady wife was looking so much better when we left the dancing, much better than either of us had looked while listening to the conversations last night. While she had paid her respects to Nasher, we hadn't participated then.
My squire was not far, but was participating in dancing a couple times with grace and several conversations during the evening. I was glad she was finding some enjoyment.
Bishop went out again with Karnwyr. Neither of us said anything when he announced it when we were alone in our room again and Pameran left us, I really didn't want to say anything. Bishop probably needed the time away from the city. And as much as I was still angry with him, it was obvious he was aware of how badly he'd acted.
When we sat on the bed, my lady leaned back against me and we sat quietly for a few minutes with my arms around her.
After those minutes, I asked her, "How are you feeling, my lady?"
"About as well as I expected this morning, I've had too much time to think while out hunting," Elondra said quietly.
"Do you want to stay back here tomorrow?" I asked. "Won't there be some kind of activity?"
Turning to look up at me, she smiled and said, "There was at the other hunt, but this one is much smaller. Since Bell isn't married, he has no wife to run that part of the hunt."
"I'm sure we could manage to stay out of trouble for the day, unless you've been backsliding with Neeshka lately," I said while restraining a smile.
That got me a light smack on the arm and a chuckle from my lady. Then she sighed and said, "I don't think that's a good idea. If there are any informants here, we can't split up for that long."
"And he needs the hunt, tame as it is, more than we need the quiet," I agreed. "Then let us be quiet as much as we can." I settled down in the bed further and pulled up the blanket so we could rest and sleep early.
The next day's hunting was a bit more exciting as boars had been left to roam the nearby wood for the summer. One even seemed to be an older, and wary boar that had survived the previous winter. Arrows from most of the hunters did not do that much damage. Bolts did better, as did shots from a smaller group like Bishop or even Elondra who had heavier pull weapons than most. I had taken only spears and my sword for any really close action, and my squire admitted to little training in spear or bow. We, however, were not in the vanguard, and only participated in the end of the hunt a couple of times over the day.
Bishop had been closer and was pleased that he'd gotten a good shot through the eye on one boar. Both he and the pup seemed to be in a good mood at the end of the day, so our trip was doing some good.
Dinner that evening was more like a feast, with many extra elaborate dishes and even small tokens in the one cake. Once I knew they were there, I was more careful with my chewing. That was good, as mine was a horseshoe. My lady had a horsewhip, which she flushed badly when called to display it. My squire had a small tome, which made her smile. Bishop claimed none were in his, which was met with some doubt from the others.
The dinner ran very late, as it ended with samples of many fine vintages, for those who cared to try them. Conversations were congenial, about everything from the hunt to harvest to coming winter. We were still quiet, though.
We retired after that for another quiet night of our recuperation, before leaving in the morning for Neverwinter. We were in the lead end of the train this time, though we had to slow several times so as to stay in contact with the group around Lord Nasher.
When were had no others very close, my lady asked Bishop, "Did you really get no token last night in your cake?"
He went a little paler, and whispered, "Don't ask..."
Worried, I stated, "We can deal with it, whatever it was."
Looking at Karnwyr, he sagged in the saddle, and dug something out of a pouch. First he showed it to Elondra, and then she showed it to me with a flat expression. All I could think of when I saw it, was to pray.
It was a small metal charm of a heart with a dagger through it.
--- 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.
