Nalia stepped through the thick bush, cursing quietly as she heard her
cloak tear on a thorn, before pulling back a bush branch to partially
reveal a secret passageway in the rocky face below the south side of
the keep.
"This is it. Are you sure you don't want me to come?"
"No. You may get killed. And if anything's happened to your father..." Loké trailed off.
"I agree, this is too dangerous for you M'lady. Forgive me bluntness, but I doubt you have enough experience to be of true aid to us," Keldorn said in a kindly voice to Nalia. She looked a bit sullen, but nodded in defeat.
"Less talk more fight!" Minsc cried out, "We go and kick these stinky trolls' butts in the name of righteousness!"
----------------------
"So... now what?" Loké asked Nalia without looking up from the gold he was counting.
"I... I don't know...." She replied in a choked voice as she stared blankly through unshed tears at the ground, sitting on the Lord's chair in the dining area. The others were all sitting around her in respectful silence, while Loké quietly counted the gold. They'd just found her father's body.
What was left of it anyway...
They sat there in silence, the clinking of the gold as it entered the small pouch being the only noise in the room. With the seventh hundred piece transferred from the table to the pouch Loké pulled the string shut and stood up.
"I'm sorry we couldn't save you father. I'm sure he was a good man and..." he trailed off and swore in his mind. He'd never been good at this sort of thing.
"...I guess we'll be leaving now." He finished abruptly, drawing a disapproving look from Jaheira.
Nalia silently nodded her head as she fought to control her grief. Suddenly her eyes widened with an idea.
"Oh no... ah, I don't suppose I could convince you to remain here for a while?" She asked with hope brimming in her voice. "I really need... "she trailed off as her face slowly sank back into depression. She shook her head sadly. "No, no, it is my own problem. I'll deal with it as best I can."
"What is it Miss De'Arnise?" Loké prompted.
"It... it's not important."
"Look, please tell me. Whatever it is, asking wouldn't hurt."
"It's just..." She sighed at her hesitance and promptly launched into her piece: "It's a very awkward situation, and I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to deal with it. I don't have much choice though, now that Father is gone. I am betrothed, you see." Loké raised an eyebrow. "Yes, some powerful associates of my Father roped me into that tired custom. I am to wed a brat of a man named Isaea Roenal."
"I have heard of him," Keldorn interjected, "His father is a fairly decent man, his son is widely viewed as an impatient, childlike person by fellow members of my order."
Nalia nodded her head. "That sounds correct. I think Father regretted it, but that is the way wealthy families gain status in business. He seemed quite willing to stall the inevitable, but now he is gone..."
"Canna ya just tell 'im tah piss off and leave yeh alone?" Annah asked.
Nalia, looking faintly shocked by Annah's swearing, shook her head. "I can't do that. They might take the keep by force if I try to do that. The Roenalls, mainly Isaea, have been pressuring. They knew I was the only heir, and traditionally titles fall to a male. I fear Isaea will take control and abuse our wealth. I need a way to get out of the betrothal, and I need to do it soon. They respect the old traditions, and I think I know a way to use one to our mutual advantage."
Loké looked slightly alarmed. "Are you suggesting a marriage of convenience?" the worry evident in his voice. "Because if you are then I'm afraid the answer's 'No."
Despite her situation Nalia broke into a fit of giggling. "Oh, no, no, no, nothing quite so distasteful..." She looked abashed at Lok's raised eyebrow of mild offence for a moment, "er... scandalous as that. That would be laughable. No one would believe that for a second."
Loké found himself chuckling at the idea also. "So what is your idea?"
She smiled. "What I really wish is to take advantage of an old tradition, where someone of a fighting sort would become the lord of a manor once the current lord had passed on. You are versed in combat; you would be an impressive obstacle to Isaea. I ask that you assume title to the keep. You will be a figurehead, and I will be a ward of sorts." Loké opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off: "It is my right as heir to choose who shall lead. I do not know if I could stand before the Roenalls, but you, with your...erh...talents, would prove a daunting figure."
"Lord Loké," he muttered to no one in particular. He let the words hang in the air for several seconds before he looked at Nalia, gave her an easy smile and chirped, "It's gonna weird being called that" The easy going Loké vanished instantly though as a thought occurred to him. "I doubt the Roenalls would accept it...judging from what you and Keldorn say about them, especially the guy you're 'engaged to."
"They will complain, but there is no real cause why you could not do this. Often a fighting soul will take possession of a keep when the lord is..." He hopeful voice and smile faded as she was reminded why she was in this situation. "...Is dead."
"Well I guess you'd better tell me what to do then."
Her face lit up. "Wonderful! Now they can't force me out. You are master of this place," hastily adding, "Well-within reason. I remain the sole heir, and can take away what has been given."
As soon as they crossed the drawbridge Annah immediately asked Loké, "wha' was all tha' about, those others ruling the lands?"
"Many people believe those descended from a 'noble' bloodline should rule those who aren't. I think it's stupid myself but-"
"It is bloody stupid..." Annah interrupted. Then a thought occurred to her. "What are yeh gonnae do with tha' keep?"
Loké replied "Not a bloody clue," offhandedly; "It seemed like a good idea at the time. And you heard Domo. Taxes. Money. Hopefully that'll take a lot of time off raising cash."
"...she means allah to yeh, dannae she laddie?"
He nodded his head.
Seven and a half hours later...
Annah gave a groan of deep satisfaction as she sank further into the hot water in her private bath, in her room in the Five Flagons. As she felt the heat sooth her muscles she gave the empty room a broad grin.
This.
Felt.
Good.
And best of all, no sharing with primes, especially not a crybaby prime. She had some gold, her share in the cleaning out the keep of loot along with the trolls. The smile faded as she stroked along an invisible line on her side-the same place a slash in her jerkin was, courtesy of a troll. Loké had been right-they were bastards to kill. If they hadn't found those flail heads their job would have been nearly impossible.
She continued luxuriating in the feeling of warm water against her skin until the heat was lost, when she (with slight reluctance) removed herself from it and dried herself on the towel the porter had left. She proceeded to walk over to her bed and sit nude and cross-legged on it, with jerkin in one hand and small sewing kit in the other.
Ten minutes later she was wearing it again, along with her cloak, walking downstairs with some coins in a hidden pocket and a space in her stomach she intended to fill.
-
-
She hit the floor with a thud while the magical energy dissipated around her. Any traces of sleep she'd had vanished instantly as she sprang to her feet, daggers drawn, taking in her surroundings as quickly as possible as she scanned for threats. She'd just come up to her room after her meal and then she'd been... teleported... here.
'Here' was in some sort of stone cell, a wooden bench on the west side, and that was it apart from the portcullis on the east.
She walked over to the lock and swore in her head. It was too complex for her. Anyway, it seemed to be some kind of magical lock anyway if the runes on it were anything to go by.
"Interesting. You name was not an exaggeration Cassandia," a voice spoke.
Annah looked up from the lock to a thin, rat-like man dressed in wizard robes. He was a weedy man; his nose was long and slim, his hair short and greasy, eyes showing that malicious glint bullies have in their eyes as well as rat-like teeth.
"Who tha' hell are yeh?" She demanded.
"I am Edgar," the mage responded. His very voice dripped contempt and... something else.
"Whadd'ya want 'Ratteh'?" She snarled as she folded her arms under her breasts.
"I require your... services...." He hissed. A thought occurred to him and his face took on a cruel smile. "In fact, I may require several, Cassandia the Beautiful."
Her eyes widened as she just suddenly knew... "Meh true name..." she whispered as she looked at him with, horror, for lack of a better word.
"Indeed," he chuckled "Indeed, indeed. I require you to steal an item from another mage. You will find his residence in the Government district. His is the large building next to the prison and the Firecam estate. The item is a magical gem, blood red. It is a very valuable item. I will summon you again in four days time. You had better have the gem on you, or I will..." his smile became a cruel one, myself. Understand?"
Every part of her screamed to wipe that grin off his face. She found it was very difficult to just nod silently and didn't trust herself to speak.
"Good. See you in four days."
With that he muttered some words and made gestures with his hands, and Annah dropped onto the floor in the middle of her room.
-
-
The next two days were quite straightforward for Annah. She asked Loké if he'd let her explore the city on her own for a few days. He'd been reluctant, as Keldorn had offered to show her around and she was needed, but eventually conceded. He and the others were to look into murders in the bridge district and several other things that were highly unlikely to require traps.
She'd spent the morning of the first day finding her way to the Government District, and then proceeded to examine the building 'Ratty' had described to her. There was nothing unusual about the building. Annah found the architecture and the general snobbery the 'noblemen' and women she'd encountered slightly unnerving-and the primes in this area most definitely very annoying.
She spent the afternoon watching the house for any sign of patrols. There was nothing, which meant the mage didn't want to advertise his presence; or he was very confident in his security arrangements.
On the second day she tagged along with the others as they found out about the bridge murders. Annah had been rather unfazed by the modus operand the murderer had employed-there were worse things she'd encountered on Sigil-but even she had been taken aback, and had to suppress the urge to vomit, when they had found where he'd kept the bodies. Aerie had not been so lucky. After they'd reported their findings to the captain, whom Loké had decided not to inform about his suspicions until he knew for sure, and had been given three hundred gold for their efforts, bringing the kitty up to around three-and-a-half-thousand gold.
Late at night though, she'd slipped out, climbing across the structure of the Copper Cornet where they had elected to stay for the night.(it was cheaper than The Five Flagons)
Several minutes of climbing and walking later, she was at the building. She flexed her fingers under her cloak, making them crack loudly in the stillness of the dark night.
'A'reeght,' she thought to herself as she dropped her cloak in a shadowy corner, 'It's show time.'
-
-
About fifteen minutes later she exited with a small glowing ruby-red gem, half the size of her fist, in a pocket in her jerkin... and a few other miscellaneous gems and pieces of gold. After all, Ratty hadn't mentioned anything about helping herself to things along the way.
-
-
On the third day nothing happened all day. It was only when night had fallen and she was alone in her miserable excuse for a room in the Cornet that she suddenly found herself in chateau Ratty again. She seemed to be in the same cell, and turned to the bars to see him looking eagerly at her.
"Do you have the gem?" He asked.
Annah nodded, and pulled it out to show him.
"Give it to me!" he squealed in delight as he say the glowing transparent gem. Annah held her arm out through the bars and dropped it into his hands and he proceeded to hold it to his bosom as his eyes shone with triumphal delight. He murmured quickly and excitedly to himself for several minutes under his breath, things Annah couldn't hear, before he seemed to remember that he had company. He looked at her with cruel pleasure.
"Yes, yes, I think I'll be summoning you again 'Beautiful'... you are a very useful thief,' his gaze dropped from her face to her round breasts, making the hairs on the back of Annah's neck stand on end. "Though I'm wondering about other uses for you..." he trailed off. After a pause for several seconds he murmured the incantations again and Annah was back in her room.
She lay on her straw mattress of a bed and swore.
"Wha' tha feck am ah gannae do?" She whispered to the ceiling as she unconciuosly clenched her fist in frustration.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-there we are. One full version of chapter three. Now I'm not sure how to start chapter one. Ah well. I got over C3's problems so C4's shouldn't be too much. And I have the basic plot in my head already too.
"This is it. Are you sure you don't want me to come?"
"No. You may get killed. And if anything's happened to your father..." Loké trailed off.
"I agree, this is too dangerous for you M'lady. Forgive me bluntness, but I doubt you have enough experience to be of true aid to us," Keldorn said in a kindly voice to Nalia. She looked a bit sullen, but nodded in defeat.
"Less talk more fight!" Minsc cried out, "We go and kick these stinky trolls' butts in the name of righteousness!"
----------------------
"So... now what?" Loké asked Nalia without looking up from the gold he was counting.
"I... I don't know...." She replied in a choked voice as she stared blankly through unshed tears at the ground, sitting on the Lord's chair in the dining area. The others were all sitting around her in respectful silence, while Loké quietly counted the gold. They'd just found her father's body.
What was left of it anyway...
They sat there in silence, the clinking of the gold as it entered the small pouch being the only noise in the room. With the seventh hundred piece transferred from the table to the pouch Loké pulled the string shut and stood up.
"I'm sorry we couldn't save you father. I'm sure he was a good man and..." he trailed off and swore in his mind. He'd never been good at this sort of thing.
"...I guess we'll be leaving now." He finished abruptly, drawing a disapproving look from Jaheira.
Nalia silently nodded her head as she fought to control her grief. Suddenly her eyes widened with an idea.
"Oh no... ah, I don't suppose I could convince you to remain here for a while?" She asked with hope brimming in her voice. "I really need... "she trailed off as her face slowly sank back into depression. She shook her head sadly. "No, no, it is my own problem. I'll deal with it as best I can."
"What is it Miss De'Arnise?" Loké prompted.
"It... it's not important."
"Look, please tell me. Whatever it is, asking wouldn't hurt."
"It's just..." She sighed at her hesitance and promptly launched into her piece: "It's a very awkward situation, and I'm not quite sure if I'm ready to deal with it. I don't have much choice though, now that Father is gone. I am betrothed, you see." Loké raised an eyebrow. "Yes, some powerful associates of my Father roped me into that tired custom. I am to wed a brat of a man named Isaea Roenal."
"I have heard of him," Keldorn interjected, "His father is a fairly decent man, his son is widely viewed as an impatient, childlike person by fellow members of my order."
Nalia nodded her head. "That sounds correct. I think Father regretted it, but that is the way wealthy families gain status in business. He seemed quite willing to stall the inevitable, but now he is gone..."
"Canna ya just tell 'im tah piss off and leave yeh alone?" Annah asked.
Nalia, looking faintly shocked by Annah's swearing, shook her head. "I can't do that. They might take the keep by force if I try to do that. The Roenalls, mainly Isaea, have been pressuring. They knew I was the only heir, and traditionally titles fall to a male. I fear Isaea will take control and abuse our wealth. I need a way to get out of the betrothal, and I need to do it soon. They respect the old traditions, and I think I know a way to use one to our mutual advantage."
Loké looked slightly alarmed. "Are you suggesting a marriage of convenience?" the worry evident in his voice. "Because if you are then I'm afraid the answer's 'No."
Despite her situation Nalia broke into a fit of giggling. "Oh, no, no, no, nothing quite so distasteful..." She looked abashed at Lok's raised eyebrow of mild offence for a moment, "er... scandalous as that. That would be laughable. No one would believe that for a second."
Loké found himself chuckling at the idea also. "So what is your idea?"
She smiled. "What I really wish is to take advantage of an old tradition, where someone of a fighting sort would become the lord of a manor once the current lord had passed on. You are versed in combat; you would be an impressive obstacle to Isaea. I ask that you assume title to the keep. You will be a figurehead, and I will be a ward of sorts." Loké opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off: "It is my right as heir to choose who shall lead. I do not know if I could stand before the Roenalls, but you, with your...erh...talents, would prove a daunting figure."
"Lord Loké," he muttered to no one in particular. He let the words hang in the air for several seconds before he looked at Nalia, gave her an easy smile and chirped, "It's gonna weird being called that" The easy going Loké vanished instantly though as a thought occurred to him. "I doubt the Roenalls would accept it...judging from what you and Keldorn say about them, especially the guy you're 'engaged to."
"They will complain, but there is no real cause why you could not do this. Often a fighting soul will take possession of a keep when the lord is..." He hopeful voice and smile faded as she was reminded why she was in this situation. "...Is dead."
"Well I guess you'd better tell me what to do then."
Her face lit up. "Wonderful! Now they can't force me out. You are master of this place," hastily adding, "Well-within reason. I remain the sole heir, and can take away what has been given."
As soon as they crossed the drawbridge Annah immediately asked Loké, "wha' was all tha' about, those others ruling the lands?"
"Many people believe those descended from a 'noble' bloodline should rule those who aren't. I think it's stupid myself but-"
"It is bloody stupid..." Annah interrupted. Then a thought occurred to her. "What are yeh gonnae do with tha' keep?"
Loké replied "Not a bloody clue," offhandedly; "It seemed like a good idea at the time. And you heard Domo. Taxes. Money. Hopefully that'll take a lot of time off raising cash."
"...she means allah to yeh, dannae she laddie?"
He nodded his head.
Seven and a half hours later...
Annah gave a groan of deep satisfaction as she sank further into the hot water in her private bath, in her room in the Five Flagons. As she felt the heat sooth her muscles she gave the empty room a broad grin.
This.
Felt.
Good.
And best of all, no sharing with primes, especially not a crybaby prime. She had some gold, her share in the cleaning out the keep of loot along with the trolls. The smile faded as she stroked along an invisible line on her side-the same place a slash in her jerkin was, courtesy of a troll. Loké had been right-they were bastards to kill. If they hadn't found those flail heads their job would have been nearly impossible.
She continued luxuriating in the feeling of warm water against her skin until the heat was lost, when she (with slight reluctance) removed herself from it and dried herself on the towel the porter had left. She proceeded to walk over to her bed and sit nude and cross-legged on it, with jerkin in one hand and small sewing kit in the other.
Ten minutes later she was wearing it again, along with her cloak, walking downstairs with some coins in a hidden pocket and a space in her stomach she intended to fill.
-
-
She hit the floor with a thud while the magical energy dissipated around her. Any traces of sleep she'd had vanished instantly as she sprang to her feet, daggers drawn, taking in her surroundings as quickly as possible as she scanned for threats. She'd just come up to her room after her meal and then she'd been... teleported... here.
'Here' was in some sort of stone cell, a wooden bench on the west side, and that was it apart from the portcullis on the east.
She walked over to the lock and swore in her head. It was too complex for her. Anyway, it seemed to be some kind of magical lock anyway if the runes on it were anything to go by.
"Interesting. You name was not an exaggeration Cassandia," a voice spoke.
Annah looked up from the lock to a thin, rat-like man dressed in wizard robes. He was a weedy man; his nose was long and slim, his hair short and greasy, eyes showing that malicious glint bullies have in their eyes as well as rat-like teeth.
"Who tha' hell are yeh?" She demanded.
"I am Edgar," the mage responded. His very voice dripped contempt and... something else.
"Whadd'ya want 'Ratteh'?" She snarled as she folded her arms under her breasts.
"I require your... services...." He hissed. A thought occurred to him and his face took on a cruel smile. "In fact, I may require several, Cassandia the Beautiful."
Her eyes widened as she just suddenly knew... "Meh true name..." she whispered as she looked at him with, horror, for lack of a better word.
"Indeed," he chuckled "Indeed, indeed. I require you to steal an item from another mage. You will find his residence in the Government district. His is the large building next to the prison and the Firecam estate. The item is a magical gem, blood red. It is a very valuable item. I will summon you again in four days time. You had better have the gem on you, or I will..." his smile became a cruel one, myself. Understand?"
Every part of her screamed to wipe that grin off his face. She found it was very difficult to just nod silently and didn't trust herself to speak.
"Good. See you in four days."
With that he muttered some words and made gestures with his hands, and Annah dropped onto the floor in the middle of her room.
-
-
The next two days were quite straightforward for Annah. She asked Loké if he'd let her explore the city on her own for a few days. He'd been reluctant, as Keldorn had offered to show her around and she was needed, but eventually conceded. He and the others were to look into murders in the bridge district and several other things that were highly unlikely to require traps.
She'd spent the morning of the first day finding her way to the Government District, and then proceeded to examine the building 'Ratty' had described to her. There was nothing unusual about the building. Annah found the architecture and the general snobbery the 'noblemen' and women she'd encountered slightly unnerving-and the primes in this area most definitely very annoying.
She spent the afternoon watching the house for any sign of patrols. There was nothing, which meant the mage didn't want to advertise his presence; or he was very confident in his security arrangements.
On the second day she tagged along with the others as they found out about the bridge murders. Annah had been rather unfazed by the modus operand the murderer had employed-there were worse things she'd encountered on Sigil-but even she had been taken aback, and had to suppress the urge to vomit, when they had found where he'd kept the bodies. Aerie had not been so lucky. After they'd reported their findings to the captain, whom Loké had decided not to inform about his suspicions until he knew for sure, and had been given three hundred gold for their efforts, bringing the kitty up to around three-and-a-half-thousand gold.
Late at night though, she'd slipped out, climbing across the structure of the Copper Cornet where they had elected to stay for the night.(it was cheaper than The Five Flagons)
Several minutes of climbing and walking later, she was at the building. She flexed her fingers under her cloak, making them crack loudly in the stillness of the dark night.
'A'reeght,' she thought to herself as she dropped her cloak in a shadowy corner, 'It's show time.'
-
-
About fifteen minutes later she exited with a small glowing ruby-red gem, half the size of her fist, in a pocket in her jerkin... and a few other miscellaneous gems and pieces of gold. After all, Ratty hadn't mentioned anything about helping herself to things along the way.
-
-
On the third day nothing happened all day. It was only when night had fallen and she was alone in her miserable excuse for a room in the Cornet that she suddenly found herself in chateau Ratty again. She seemed to be in the same cell, and turned to the bars to see him looking eagerly at her.
"Do you have the gem?" He asked.
Annah nodded, and pulled it out to show him.
"Give it to me!" he squealed in delight as he say the glowing transparent gem. Annah held her arm out through the bars and dropped it into his hands and he proceeded to hold it to his bosom as his eyes shone with triumphal delight. He murmured quickly and excitedly to himself for several minutes under his breath, things Annah couldn't hear, before he seemed to remember that he had company. He looked at her with cruel pleasure.
"Yes, yes, I think I'll be summoning you again 'Beautiful'... you are a very useful thief,' his gaze dropped from her face to her round breasts, making the hairs on the back of Annah's neck stand on end. "Though I'm wondering about other uses for you..." he trailed off. After a pause for several seconds he murmured the incantations again and Annah was back in her room.
She lay on her straw mattress of a bed and swore.
"Wha' tha feck am ah gannae do?" She whispered to the ceiling as she unconciuosly clenched her fist in frustration.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-there we are. One full version of chapter three. Now I'm not sure how to start chapter one. Ah well. I got over C3's problems so C4's shouldn't be too much. And I have the basic plot in my head already too.