"Hold on, something isn't right," Bishop said cautiously, seeing the all too empty village of Ember.

"I agree, the village seems abandoned, no villagers... and no livestock," Marcus said. Despite his misgivings about the ranger, the harbourman had to admit that Bishop knew what he was doing. They'd made very good time considering the distance they'd had to cover. They were about twenty miles past Port Llast and that was half way between Neverwinter and Luskan. However, Marcus still felt uneasy for some reason.

"Good eyes! I noticed the villagers, but you're right about the livestock," Bishop said with approval as he studied the ground. "We're on the trail of our friends, though. They're moving fast, but it looks like we've closed in a bit," he said, standing up.

"You know, following their trail has been almost too easy," Marcus observed with a frown. Daeghun had taught him some about tracking, and it was enough to make the harbourman suspicious.

Elanee nodded. "I agree. Some signs have been... obvious," she said.

"Just what I was thinking. Seems you know your way around the wilderness, Marcus… I wonder how you and Duncan could possibly be related…" Bishop observed. "It's almost as if they want us to keep up. I don't like it."

"Neither do I," Marcus agreed. "I think we should hang back and see what happens."

Bishop shot the harbourman a look. "You're being a little cautious, don't normally care for that, but here, I think you're right," he said grimly. "Keep your eyes open and your weapon handy. I smell an ambush."


Brother Merring, at last, had some communications from the Lathander Temple in Neverwinter, from his friend and superior, Dawnbringer Natrisse. The letters were very informative and explained why he hadn't heard from her in so long. They also mentioned some news about one of West Harbour's own, Marcus Cole, Daeghun's ward. It seemed that the young man was making quite the name for himself.

Merring stood from his desk, gathered the letters and smiled. This would be welcomed by Georg, Tarmas and Daeghun, even if the elf would not show it. Then his smile faded. A pity Bevil wouldn't get to hear the news. "Return soon, Marcus, your friend needs you." Merring offered a prayer to Lathander to speed the harbourman home.


Bishop scanned the village, wiping his sword. They'd just finished fighting a platoon's worth of githyanki, maybe more, and it hadn't been easy. Even now, Elanee was tending to the wounds they'd received. "I was right. The gith left a large force in this village... which means it'll be easier on us when we catch up to the others. As long as we catch them before they go to ground," he said.

Marcus nodded. "If the gith have their forces divided, that's good, but that also means the remainder will travel faster, and therefore the trail will be harder to follow."

"Eh? Well, now, aren't you a bright ray of hope," Bishop said with sarcasm.

"He was just pointing out the realities of the situation, Bishop," Elanee interjected calmly.

"Well, now, druidess, aren't you quick to jump to his defence... like a she-wolf in mating season, eh?" the ranger said snidely.

"Gods, Bishop, you're disgusting," Elanee muttered.

"Maybe you could say that again, but a little more convincing this time." Bishop said suggestively. "What I was going to say is our leader's right... and what's more, our friends won't be leaving an obvious trail this time, since they don't have the men to bait any more ambushes."

Marcus let out a sigh. "That's good; I don't want too many more fights like this, unless we can help it."

Bishop nodded. "A little difficult, but we handled it... more than could be said for the villagers here, giving up their homes to the enemy. I'm surprised the giths left any of them alive... It'd be more mercy than I'd show them." The ranger's contempt for the villagers was obvious to see.

"The githyanki are not common soldiers, and the villagers are not veterans of battle, like we are," Casavir pointed out. "This is not the first time the githyanki have appeared at a village unawares. Surprise and ambushes favour them. I think the behaviour of the villagers can be forgiven."

Marcus nodded in agreement with the paladin. "We were the reason the githyanki were here. It's not the fault of the villagers. Not everyone looks forward to killing as much as you seem to, Bishop." The ranger's starting to get on my nerves, he thought. It's a shame we actually need him.

The ranger turned on the harbourman. "No, the villagers were the reason the gith were here," Bishop said, in a correcting manner. "Tell me, you're not as blind as you seem, you're from West Harbour, right?" he asked.

"And that has to do with Ember how, exactly?" Marcus asked, puzzled.

Bishop shook his head. "Duncan told me what happened there... what do you think would have happened to your little swamp village if all of you had decided to surrender…"

Bishop all of a sudden found himself slammed up against the wall of one of the houses, a pair of blue eyes blazing at him. "West Harbour has a militia, which I was a part of, a cleric and a mage. We also got very lucky that night," Marcus said, in a deadly low voice. "Do not compare the attack on my home village to what happened here, Bishop," he said, releasing the ranger, before turning away. "That doesn't mean West Harbour got out of it lightly," he said over his shoulder. "We didn't. I lost a good friend that night… I still wonder at times if I could have saved her… the headstrong, impulsive…" The harbourman shook his head to clear his thoughts. He needed his head clear.

Neeshka placed a hand on Marcus' arm to let him know she was there. The harbourman threw her hand off, took a pace, and then looked over his shoulder at her; the harbourman's shoulders slumped on seeing the hurt expression on the tiefling's face.

"What in the hells was that for, Cole?" Neeshka asked, her face the picture of sadness.

"I... I'm sorry, Neesh, sweetheart," Marcus said, taking her hand. "Didn't mean to go off at you like that. Forgive me?" he asked sincerely.

"I think I can do that, harbour boy. Guess someone brings out the worst in you, huh?" Neeshka replied, a coy smile on her lips.

"Yeah, something like that, Neesh," Marcus admitted, giving her a kiss on the forehead, happy they'd smoothed over that bump without too much fuss.

Bishop pretended to throw up at the open display of affection, even making gagging noises. Khelgar and Elanee exchanged worried looks, wondering if they were going to have another Duncan on their hands. While they were both glad to see the young people had made up, they didn't want the added pressure of more disapproval from the ranger to wear on them. They would wait and see, and act if they needed to.

Casavir smiled. It is good to see that they can be themselves even with the threats we face, he thought. The paladin focused on the ranger. "We don't deal in what might have been, Bishop... and these were untrained villagers. This is not West Harbour, and it is not the same," Casavir said sternly.

"Forgive me... you... are you hunting a woman, Shandra Jerro?" They all turned at the voice: a woman approached the party of adventures, looking plaintively from one to another.

"Have you seen her?" Marcus asked, as he turned to face her.

The woman nodded. "Those creatures…. We heard her screaming as they were carrying her off. I tried to call out to her, but... I didn't realize they had her at first. She makes a merchant run through Ember and Port Llast during harvest season. We hadn't seen her yet this year, though, and…" The woman caught herself, looking a little embarrassed. "Sorry, where are my manners! I am Alaine. Please, I saw the beasts taking her to the mountains to the northeast. They barely have an hour on you, but they were moving fast. And thank you for saving us from those creatures…"

Marcus smiled gently. "It's no trouble, Alaine, and thank you. We'll try and rescue Shandra."

Casavir nodded approvingly. "You have our word, Alaine. We shall do what we can to return Shandra safely."

"We promise no such thing," Bishop said dismissively. "In fact, she could be dead. But we'll follow this trail as long as we feel like it. Now run back home with the rest of your scared kinsfolk!" he sneered with contempt.

"Bishop!" Marcus hissed angrily, then turned to Alaine. "Forgive him, Alaine, it would seem it takes a dog to hunt dogs, unfortunately."

Bishop just laughed. "Isn't that the truth… ah, I think I'll like this journey. Now, can we go without more mewling dogs getting in our way? Every moment we wait, the trail gets colder."

Marcus sighed. The ranger had a point. "Fine. Let's get going."


Sand had been at his task for several days now. He acquired a severe headache for his efforts, but at last he thought he'd found out all he could.

He didn't like it, though. He had, in some ways, more questions than he had answers.

The wizard let the last tome shut with a thud, then he drummed his long, elegant fingers on the cover. "This isn't good." he muttered. "But… neither is it a total disaster. That is… if I can train her before her abilities become too apparent."

Sand stood and, ever the tidy individual, placed all the tomes back where he'd gotten them from. He put his notes in order, and left the Neverwinter Archives as if he'd never been there.


As they were leaving Ember, Marcus' party was approached by a young boy about eight or ten years of age. He seemed slightly afraid but, despite this, he was watching Marcus intently. "It's you... you're the one who will destroy Ember," the boy spoke up with a hint of wonder.

"What in the hells?" Marcus asked, confused. "But I don't mean this place any harm."

As the boy came closer, Neeshka had to fight the urge to shield her eyes. "That boy's got a lot of power streaming off of him. I almost can't see him, he's burning so bright... it's blurring the air around him," she said, more than a little awed, and wondered how come she could see such things.

"There is something about the child... he is in touch, not with the land, but with something else, perhaps greater," Elanee confirmed quietly.

As the boy got closer, he shook his head. "Wait... no... I was mistaken. Strange... the killer looks like you, but isn't," he said. "Ember cannot be saved. All within the village when the time comes will perish except one… me."

Marcus was struck speechless for a few moments. "Only you?" he asked at last. "What about the other villagers?"

"Ember's fate is set in stone, but mine is not. However, I will share Ember's fate unless you help me," the boy said sadly. His gaze swept across the little group. "I think you are carrying something which will allow me to survive. You cannot help me in any other way."

"Alright lad, have a look and see if I have anything you can use," Marcus said, baffled by the strange boy.

"Thank you." The boy looked over the harbourman's gear, then shook his head, disappointed. "You have nothing I can use." Then he suddenly pointed at Bishop. "What about him?"

"What about me?" the ranger growled.

"Bishop, just let the lad have a look, will you?" Marcus asked with a sigh.

"Fine," Bishop hissed. "Try to take anything, and I'll take both your hands as trophies. Got it?" he told the boy.

The boy looked up at the ranger. "Your knife. It is... different. I believe it can save me."

Bishop frowned. "My skinning knife?" he asked. "I've had this thing forever, there's nothing special about it."

"Then you won't mind letting the lad have it, will you, Bishop?" Marcus said. "And don't even think of arguing with me. Just do it, because, as you so willingly pointed out, the longer we dally, the more chance of losing the trail of the gith there is."

"You're pretty quick to give me orders sometimes. I'd be careful about that," Bishop said coldly, then he turned to the boy. "As for you... here, take the knife," he said.

Marcus grinned a little. "Well, last time I checked, I was the party leader, so stop your whining, ranger. You're here, Bishop, because we need you, not because we want you." If it had been up to the harbourman, he'd have happily left the ranger back at the Flagon. However, although Marcus's tracking abilities were adequate, he knew they weren't up to the task at hand.

"Thank you," the boy said as he put the knife on his belt. He was about to turn away when he stopped and did a double take as he got a good look at Neeshka. "It's you…" he said in wonder.

The tiefling scratched her head with the tip of her tail. "Of course it's me. Who else would I be?" Neeshka asked, confused.

"No… you don't understand. Not yet. It's you, The Guardian," the boy said.

"Uh… Guardian of what?" Neeshka asked.

"You are the guardian of the light in the darkness and shadow. The guardian of hope when all seems lost," he said. "When I look at you... I see a dark place, full of shadows... and you standing between that which you love and that which threatens it. I see the searing light of love burning doubt out of your heart." The boy paused for a moment, frowning. "I also see a distant place, a place filled with spirits. Some inner darkness threatens them…they are angry. This time you help keep that darkness contained, until a great wrong can be righted." The boy smiled. "We shall meet again soon, I think." Then the boy vanished into the night.

Marcus looked at Neeshka, puzzled. "What in the hells was that about, sweetheart?"

"I don't know, harbour boy," Neeshka said, her eyes big with surprise. "I don't know what he meant, but I'll tell you one thing. It scared me." The tiefling shivered, and Marcus hurried over to put his arm around her.

"We'll figure it out, Neesh," the harbourman told her. "Just trust me, sweetheart. I won't let you down."

"It almost seemed like he was seeing into the future," Elanee said, uneasy. "I can't explain him, or his power."

"Well, whatever this darkness is, it better be ready to face my axe," Khelgar said, patting his weapon.

Casavir looked at Neeshka, pondering. He wished Serena was there to talk to. The idea of Neeshka being a guardian of light was intriguing. The paladin knew he would be thinking about this for awhile.


"Sand, what's with the late hour?" Kari asked after she'd opened her front door to the moon elf.

"I do apologise for the lateness, dear girl, but this could not wait," the wizard said, holding up his raft of notes.

Kari raised an eyebrow. "You have been busy, Sand," she said, as she made way for the moon elf to enter her home.

"Only doing what you asked of me, dear girl," Sand replied as he walked along the hall to the living room, with Kari following after she'd shut the door.


"We're going awfully deep into Luskan territory, hope this girl is worth it," Bishop muttered. "Seems to me the druidess is thinking the same thing," he said, noticing the wood elf's occupied expression.

"No, I am not, Bishop. As with many things regarding women, you are wrong," Elanee said calmly.

"Of course I am," the ranger said smugly. "That's why you get that expression on your face, with every step north of the Mere we take, eh?" Bishop asked. "All for some peasant girl who keeps putting us all in danger."

"Are you all right, Elanee?" Marcus asked, concerned.

"I'm fine, Marcus, really," Elanee said. "However, this journey is proving longer than I thought, and I worry what we will find at the end," she admitted. "And Shandra is not some peasant girl, Bishop. She needs our help, as our leader has said."

"What, do our leader and her have some history I'm not aware of?" Bishop asked, taunting the wood elf. "Because if it's love, then I can understand why we're on this fool's errand."

"I seriously doubt that," Elanee replied, trying to hide a smile as she could see the murderous glare that Neeshka was giving the ranger.

"Rescuing her is the right thing to do, ranger, she needs our help. We did place Shandra in danger, knowingly or not," Marcus snapped.

"Is that good enough for you, Bishop?" Elanee asked challengingly. "Maybe now you can keep your attention where it belongs… on the trail," she said, indicating the track.

"Of course," Bishop said, a little smug. "But that answer is all I needed. A fool's errand it is," he said, then came to a stop and beckoned Marcus to his side.

"Looks like we have quite a climb ahead of us," the ranger remarked as the harbourman came to stand alongside. "The main trail up the mountain is bound to be watched." Bishop scanned the area ahead, then pointed. "Look, up ahead. A gith watch station. They'll see us if we continue up the main path. We should find another way around. They're only watching the pass below, so we can probably silence them quickly if we approach from the sides or rear."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "It seems you're good for something other than making snide comments, Bishop. I'm impressed." Almost, he thought.


"Ah, Merring!" Georg greeted the priest warmly. "What news from Neverwinter?" he asked as he led the cleric to his living room where Tarmas and Daeghun awaited them.

"Some good, some bad," Merring replied as he sat down. "The reason I hadn't heard from the temple for so long was that there had been some strange deaths in Blacklake where the temple of Lathander is located. The district had been locked down and communications in or out were strictly controlled," he explained. "But the lockdown has been lifted, so things are getting back to normal." Merring smiled. "The reason I asked you all here is that I also have some news of our wayward harbourman, Marcus."

Tarmas leaned forward a little. "News, you say? I hope it's good. Don't want to think all my time and money spent on the lad was in vain. Though since he didn't become a mage, it may as well be a waste," he added with a sniff.

Georg chuckled. "You don't ever stop, do you, Tarmas?"

"And why should I?" the wizard replied. "After all, my new apprentice is hardly instilling confidence in me."

"I believe we are here to hear the news Merring has of my foster son, not the two of you bickering," Daeghun said quietly.


"Guards, wolves, ambushes, now a dark cave filled with gith..." Neeshka grumbled. The ranger's plan had worked well enough, but they'd still had a hard fight up to the top of the mountain, and it wasn't going to get any easier. "Why are we wasting time over this farm girl again?" she asked.

"Apart from the fact Shandra is the only link to Jerro's Haven?" Marcus asked rhetorically. "What if I had that attitude when you were in trouble, Neesh?"

The tiefling nodded. "Okay, okay, I get the message. But I've stuck with you this long without needing more than one rescue, and now we've had to save her... what, three times now? This seems like an awful lot of effort over some peasant girl. I mean, that is all she is to you, right?" Neeshka asked, pouting a little.

Marcus had to chuckle. "Yes, that is all she is, Neesh," he said with a smile. "And Shandra just might know where her granddaddy's Haven is."

"Well, then, that's that." Neeshka said, sounding much happier. "Let's go in and get this over with... if they haven't already settled it for us.