Chapter 51
When Natheran awoke the next morning she saw Casavir had already left and the sun was high in the sky. Getting up and quickly dressing she went downstairs to get some breakfast. She saw Neeshka and Shandra sitting together and went to join them. As she sat down, she saw that both were looking as tired as she felt.
"How are you two this morning?" Natheran looked at them and saw a small smile creep over Neeshka's face. "What's the smile for?"
"You know that Ailric guy?" Neeshka's smile grew wider. "Well, let's just say he's going back to Helm's Hold with some new memories."
Natheran just stared at her, not even aware her mouth was open until Shandra reached over and closed it. "I see," was all she could think to say. "The dinner party seemed to be a big hit Shandra, you put a great deal of effort into, and I think everyone had a good time."
"Thank you. I think everyone had been a little stressed by recent events and the party seemed to have helped somewhat." Shandra was twirling her fork in front of her. "I have to say though that I was a little worried there for a while about Casavir."
"Worried about him? Why?" Natheran looked at her in confusion.
"Oh come on Natheran, didn't you notice how Ailric's attention towards you was making him jealous?" Neeshka snapped in irritation. "Yet you did nothing to discourage Ailric in the slightest. You just sat there, like you always do, and ignored the situation."
"She has a point. You've chosen to be with Casavir, so at least you should be telling other men off, not encouraging them," Shandra pointed out.
"I was merely flirting with the guy all evening, and I certainly didn't expect him to go to bed with me. I mean he's a paladin and they just don't do things like that. But after that last dance with you, he was like putty in my hands." Neeshka saw that her friend didn't seem to get it. "You really have no idea what I'm talking about do you?"
"No, I don't know what you're getting at. Why should his dancing with me have had an effect on how he behaved with you?" Natheran was getting exasperated as they seemed to be talking in riddles and making no sense whatsoever.
"Natheran, I know you can't be that naive," Shandra leaned forward and lowered her voice. "Whether it's because of your aura or because you're an Aasimar, I don't know. What I do know his how your presence affects the men around you and you haven't even noticed. It gets a little annoying after a while to be second choice all the time."
"Yeah, you have Casavir and Bishop on your line, you don't need to add more," Neeshka had lowered her voice too. "You must know that Bishop wants you and yet you have not told him to bugger off. You can't play that game with a guy like him, you'll only get hurt."
"I'm not playing any kind of game. The only reason Bishop is still around is that he has skills no one else in the party has, and of course his debt to my uncle." Natheran was starting to get angry with them. She could see that neither of them believed her and decided it was time to change the subject.
"We need to make lists today of the furnishings we'll need for the living quarters. We'll have to travel to Neverwinter to get them and that trip will take a while so I want to set out tomorrow," she said in a tone that clearly indicated the previous discussion was now closed.
"You can't leave the keep Natheran," Casavir had come in and heard her as he walked over to their table to sit down. "Not for something like this. Not only would the paperwork pile up but you also have Meron here now and you need to get started on your studies." He leaned over to give her a quick kiss.
The other two just looked at her and let the subject of her affect on men drop. She felt they were being silly and she really wasn't in the mood for it today. She saw that both of them were pulling pieces of paper out of their pockets and putting them on the table. "What are these?"
"These are lists that some of us have made up of the things we'll need and things we'd like," Shandra slid them across the table for her.
Picking them up and reading them Natheran could see that while most of the lists were simple there were a couple that were just ridiculous. "I can't believe that Qara actually thinks she's going to get half the things on her list. Does she think we're made of money?" The spoiled brat had all kinds of luxury items listed. "She'll be lucky to get a mattress on the floor. And Grobnar can't possibly need all these things, what would he do with them?" She suddenly remembered one of the gnome's previous dubious experiments and shuddered. "Never mind, I don't think I'd want to know the answer."
"Yeah when I read Qara's list I had to laugh," Neeshka smiled. "Even I know we can't afford things like this, at least not yet anyway. I shuddered at the thought of the trouble Grobnar could cause if he got his hands on some of the things on his list too." Reaching into another pocket she pulled out some more paper. "Here are a couple of blank sheets, so lets start combining the rest of these into one okay?"
Together they began sorting the lists and making notes of the necessary items and the nonessential ones. Seeing as how the only one of the men to make a list was Grobnar, she asked Casavir for his input regarding this. It took a couple of hours but they finally had a decent list put together. Natheran mentally calculated the cost of the items and put marks next to those items that should be bought only if there was money left over.
"Well, that leaves just the Captain's suite. We figured you and Casavir would go to Neverwinter to pick the stuff out together," Shandra smiled playfully.
"As much as I would like that, like I told you, Natheran can't leave the keep." Casavir looked at her and saw her pout at his words. He smiled a little at that. "I'm sure that you won't be disappointed in what I pick out." He reached over to twine a lock of her hair in his fingers.
Sighing she looked at the lists again. "We're going to need at least three wagons to cart all this stuff back. You're also going to need a heavy escort for protection." Natheran knew that the wagons would be no problem, but they didn't have all that many spare men.
"I was thinking that all of us should go with the exception of Qara," Neeshka looked at Casavir to see what he thought. "The little brat will waste more time sulking than doing anything useful once she finds out she isn't getting what she wants. The rest of us are more than a match for any troublemakers without her dubious help."
"That would probably be best. The keep doesn't have that many men to spare and we are certainly capable of fending off any potential thieves." Seeing Natheran's look of dismay he knew she was about to object. "Shandra, Khelgar, and myself can handle the wagons so we would only need three more drivers. That way we will be able to take turns driving and only have to stop to rest and water the horses. That will cut down on the time it takes but we will still be gone for at least nine days."
"Well I'm sure Bishop knows how to handle a team so you really only need two more drivers," Shandra pointed out and watched as Casavir tensed at the man's name.
"Yeah well, that's a good idea but Bishop is still out hunting, and no one knows when he'll be back," Neeshka reminded them. "I suppose we could wait for him."
Casavir studied the table thinking. If they waited for the ranger to return then who knew when they'd be able to get the furnishings, and something else might come up in the meantime. However, the thought of leaving Natheran alone at the keep, so to speak, with the ranger on the prowl bothered him more than he could admit. If he stayed that would mean less protection for the others, but if he went with them, then he wouldn't be able to protect Natheran.
"Casavir if you want to stay here, I won't complain," Natheran gave him a mischievious smile. She didn't really want to be without him for that long and she could see that he didn't like the idea of leaving her here by herself. Not that she would be alone, but she knew how he felt about Bishop.
"No, if I don't go then you would have to send another Greycloak in my place and I can't justify doing that. Hopefully he'll return before we leave," Casavir sighed, hoping he was making the right decision. He knew that Natheran couldn't see the ranger for what he was and that was what worried the knight the most.
"Well, don't we all look somber this morning? Too much wine last night?" Sand had walked in and was now standing at their table. "What plots are you cooking up now ladies, more dinner parties now that our friendly knights have left?" his voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"Oh no, I hope they weren't offended that I wasn't there to see them off," Natheran groaned at the breach in protocol.
"No my dear, Casavir was there and no mention was made of your absence," Sand smiled slightly. "Now what are we discussing here?"
"These are lists of the furnishings needed for the living quarters. All of us except Natheran, will be going to Neverwinter tomorrow to get them," Neeshka answered.
"Well, I hope you weren't intending that I should go. I have had precious little opportunity to get my work done and now I am way behind schedule," Sand sniffed. "Besides I doubt you will want to take Qara with you and someone has to make sure the little pyro doesn't burn the keep down in your absence."
"Actually Natheran is staying behind as well because of her duties and her lessons with Meron, and Bishop may not return before we leave," Casavir gave a pointed look at the wizard.
"Oh good, that means I will actually have someone with at least a modicum of wit to talk to," Sand gave the knight a look that said he understood the message.
Natheran brightened at the thought that not all of her companions would be gone. "Well that's a relief. The thought of having only Qara here was enought to make me cringe in horror. I mean I just can't deal with the stuck up little brat, she still has no thought for anyone but herself."
"Well, now that we have that settled, I can get to my reason for coming here." Sand looked at Natheran, "Meron has asked to meet with you to set up study times and uh I hate to say it but you now have twice as many reports on your desk as yesterday." The grin he gave her plainly showed that he knew how much she hated reports.
Natheran dropped her head to her arms and groaned, "That woman is going to be the death of me." Sighing she stood up. "I guess I better get up there before she comes looking for me." Leaning over, she gave Casavir a quick kiss and left for the keep.
"You know, Bishop may or may not be back by tomorrow. Do you intend to wait for him?" Sand stared at Casavir.
"No we will not wait for him. If he returns before we leave we'll take him with us." Casavir felt his stomach clench at the thought of the potential trouble the ranger could cause in their absence.
"Don't worry my good knight, I'll keep an eye on things." Nodding to the others, Sand turned and headed out, thinking that at least if Natheran wasn't going to use caution, then he at least could make sure the ranger didn't cause too much trouble.
