AN- I suggest you also read my songfic Silhouette…it helps you understand Amberlee's past.
Firilya- I was tempted to kill Nasher but I think I'm not as infuriated with him…it's not his fault he's a weak, pathetic old man. :-). Songs mine, yes, I'm glad you like it. Meris…now he'll never be able to get rid of the bard…poor fellow. And my grammar is now being corrected by (or is that buy, joking) someone more suited than me (or I…whatever). I hope you like this chapter… and the songfic.
Guan- Nasher MIGHT be alive… you should be happy that he's suffering. So smile and know that he's getting his spoils.
WitchWolf- I know I hate when the site will let me do everything but review…it's my favorite thing to do. Now, I'm going to have irate boyfriends coming after me. –Looks over shoulder- the purple thing wasn't really supposed to make sense… Punkin's not suppose to make sense when she gets philosophical. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Fomy- Tomi was funny in my draft…maybe I'll post everything I wanted him to do. (Stealing watches and bracelets…staring at Sharwyn's chest… kissing the Maid of Honor. Tomi, Tomi.) Sooner or later I'll explain how they ended up together… I keep walking around it, but it'll come out soon… the Nasher/ Sharwyn thing.
Tasharene- Okay, I'll except being a terrible beta…but I write a lot so it balances out…kinda…anyway, Punkin has top five and ten lists for everything, sex is number three for the record. And the mother thing…well, you should have pick your mother out better…it's your fault…mine too, I guess. Crap…I gotta go stab a q-tip in my ear…Laterz and Hugz.
CHAPTER 11The three of us, Amberlee - half in tears, Meris - deep in thought and myself - truly enthusiastic as ever, entered my vacant house to prepare ourselves for the road that laid ahead of us.
"What's that?" asked Meris as I grabbed a vial with a sea colored liquid and put it in my pack.
"It's a powerful antidote," I said and grabbed a few potions from my cabinet, along with a few knick-knacks.
"And what's all those substances designed for?" Meris inquired as he finished preparing his spells.
"Healing potions, a few scrolls and some items I'll need if one of you decides to get hurt."
"You should just leave us where we are," Meris said, his voice emotionless.
I shot him a death glare… a quick pummeling wouldn't be far behind.
"Do you think I could take a quick rest? I used a lot of energy making those bracelets," Meris tried to change the subject.
Amberlee looked up from the chair she had sulked in, "You made those? They look so nice."
"Yep, he's my beau now, right Merry-poo?" I said as he unwounded across my couch.
"Don't call me Merry… or anything else with poo on it," Meris said, closing his eyes.
"Ten minutes is all you get…Rizzy-coo," I said with a syrupy sweetness in my voice.
Meris pretended to be asleep.
"I think…" Amberlee began to say something but stopped.
"What?" I asked as I sat down by her.
"I think I knew what is going on."
"Okay…would you like to give me some light into what I'm getting into?" I asked.
"My mom…well, she and Uncle Nasher had a… thing…"
"A relationship?"
"Yeah… my mom's very malicious at times… I think she's… no she'd wouldn't… or would she?"
"You think your mother is trying to kill Nasher out of jealousy… have you seen him? I think that Sharwyn took a few shots in the head too many from those dragons we had faced… that or Morag stole her mind."
"No… Nasher has more than looks, he has prestige, power…"
"And not to mention he's got Neverwinter… his bride would get that also… especially if something happened… I bet that what Sharwyn's after. She'd only have to be with him a few years tops… he's no spring chicken, she told me once. But why would your mother kill him?"
"Who would get control of the city if something happened?" she asked.
"…His family…" I said as I looked into her soft blue eyes.
"Exactly. My parents have been talking about settling down for years now… maybe this is what they consider settling," she explained playing with a long strand of her black hair.
Meris rolled over and I said, "Stop faking it… you're not as good at it as I am."
Amberlee blushed.
"We have to get going anyway, if what Amberlee says is even half right… Nasher may be in serious danger."
XOXOXOThe path to the Ruins of Helm was well traveled. I had actually made my way there a number of times before, so I lead the way. We traveled quicker than I thought, forgetting that I was in the company of a pair of half-elves. We closed in on the abandoned tower as the night began to fall, but our minds were at an all-time high. The fastest way in, other than a portal, which we hadn't come across, was a seldom-used bridge that stretched over a dark gorge named Elghinn Vale, the Valley of Darkness.
"Oh no…" Amberlee said as we stopped a few feet in front of it, "I don't do bridges."
"Okay," I said, "Just wait here." And I started walking across it.
Meris didn't move. "Punkin, we can't leave her here… I knew from the very beginning it was a bad idea to bring her, she's just a..."
"I'm NOT a kid," Aberlee said.
"I know, I know you're 13, but it's just a bridge…" Meris said.
"I hate bridges… that's when everything changed… my parents, I mean."
"Oh," I said and walked back to her. "So you're not afraid of heights… just of bridges?"
"No…I'm not afraid of either," she said looking into the abyss below the bridge, "I hate remembering my family's expeditions… I remember the way my mother treated me when I was younger… she keeps saying I wasn't fit to be her child… I would never be as good a shaman as she. I nearly fell off…" Amberlee's crystal blue eyes filled with frustration, "She didn't turn around to help me… she left me to die."
"Oh… I'm sorry," I said. I really need to stop jumping to conclusions.
"Finally my dad came after me… I hate her… I know she did this. I know it, now."
"It's okay, we'll take care of it," Meris said, "I could create an illusion that would help ease your thoughts."
"O…kay," she said with her eyes closed.
We slowly and quietly made our way across the bridge. I broke the silence as soon as we had left the bridge, "If your mother is so bad to you why don't you just leave?"
"She's my mom… I still love her and she loves me. She does what she feels will help me. I guess I was never in any danger in that ditch…" she said as she kicked a rock into the hole.
"I doubt that," Meris said, "I sensed something from her… and not just the normal mystique that Moon Elves tend to give off."
"I think she doesn't like me," I said trying to get back in the conversation.
"I don't think my father has ever met any of her family… I haven't."
"Do you think she could actually kill the Lord of Neverwinter… she'd be branded a heretic, murderer, predator and probably a whore if the story got out," Meris said still trying to get his mind around it all.
"Don't talk about her like that," she said as she held back more tears.
"Why don't you wait for us somewhere?" Meris asked her.
"I have to see it with my own eyes… I have to."
XOXOXOWe stopped and made a camp about a thousand strides away from the entrance to the tower as the sun went to sleep and the moon's beams were the only light in the sky. We had a fire started and we cooked some of Amberlee's leftover Mooncakes.They had anoodle-like doughy surface, andwere filled with lotus seed paste, nuts, and duck egg yolks baked in the shape of a cresent moon.
"So, did you make this?" Meris asked me.
"Do you think I did?"
"Not really, it's not over-seasoned," he said.
You have no sense of self-preservation.
"I made it," Amberlee said. "It's a recipe I picked up in… I think it was Waterdeep, when I got to meet my god-father Kel."
"Kel," I said. "As in Khelben Blackstaff."
"Yeah… you've heard of him," she said taking another bite.
Meris' eyes flashed in the light from the campfire, "Everybody knows who he is… all great wizards are as popular as kings."
"Really? I didn't know that… anyway, he's an odd, old gentleman. He's still not married, did you know that?"
If all wizards were like Meris, I can easily understand why… most likely Blackstaff lacks the attractiveness of my daemonfey, so he would most probably have to look for a mute, deaf and dumb woman to make her his wife… I don't think there are many of those
"You've really voyaged a lot… I would think someone as traveled as you would have an expertise in a weapon," Meris said as he swallowed a huge piece of whatever we were eating.
"I do," she said, then she held her hand out, said some words I failed understand and a longsword materialized, "It's cooler than using a hilt."
"That's… well… a nice sword," Meris said. "I guess I'm the only one that's not good with a weapon."
"Naw," Amberlee said. "I'm not very good at fighting… I don't like it much."
Meris stood up quickly, "Did you hear that?" I heard nothing.
"Nope… you're just imagining…" I said and I took another bite.
"Shhh… I still can hear it… footsteps," Meris said.
Meris cast a few quick spells on us that gave us some kind of protection. Amberlee stood still with her eyes closed trying to hear. I still didn't hear anything, however.
Elves are so weird.
"Amberlee, can you hear it as well?" Meris asked.
"Yeah… a figure… from the north… moving quickly… in this direction… I'd say it's humanoid by the pattern of the steps," Amberlee said as she continued to stand motionless.
I grabbed my blade and ran forward to the north, "I'll take care of it."
"Punkin!" I heard Meris scream but I was already gone… deep into the night, ready for a fight. I only hoped it wouldn't be my last.
XOXOXOI couldn't hear the footsteps like my companions could but I could smell something… someone. I knew they were a threat, and I had enough confidence to handle it. I sniffed at the scent… perfume… it smelled strong yet faint at the same time… it was powerful.
I had spent my younger years playing with perfumes, I wasn't a girly girl but I had a love for nice smells and this one was one of the best. I realized at that moment that my target was a female… and a strong, worldly female.
I ran quickly cutting through the branches and bushes in front of me, fighting to meet up with this mysterious objective face to face. I stopped. I could still smell it… that perfume over me… very close.
With the quickness that made me a legend in my personal circles, I put my rapier away, rolled forward, spun around and took a knee looking at my attacker.
She was lanky with the body like a willow tree. Her brown hair waved in the smooth night air as she held a katana blade at her side statically. Her eyes were mostly gold with a ring of lavender around the pupils, and they pierced into me instantly.
"Who the hell are you?" she said with a harsh voice that seemed to be seldom used.
"I could ask the same of you…" I said getting slowly to my feet.
"You're Punkin Capernum…" she said and put her blade away.
I took a step back, "Yeah…" I decided I would pay this to my favor, "I see my fame is faster than my feet."
"Where's Sensbane?" she asked.
"Why?"
"He's the only one I'm interested in… he's the reason why all this is happening. You might say… we have a lot in common."
"So," I said and stepped forward, "If you want him… you have to go through me."
"You really think that someone like him, one with some much potential and talent would be interested in a measly little human girl like yourself?" she spat as she said these words. She was lucky not to get any on me.
"How do you know that?"
"I know a lot about you… more than you'd like for me to know. It's a mark of my trade to know my enemies inside and out," she said.
"Your enemies… what did I do to you… I don't even know who you are."
"My service's been bought by a wealthy woman visiting your hometown… I'm what most people would call an assassin..."
"So you've been paid to kill me?" I asked.
"Only if you get in the way. She said you would… I'm just glad to see they were right about your impetuousness for combat… couldn't wait on your love, could you?"
I had to keep my head and wait for Meris and Amberlee to catch up with me; this wasn't the type of fight I wanted to go at alone. "What's the perfume?" I asked, changing the subject.
"It's… Alexandria… it… cost me a fortune and forever and a day to find," she said, sidetracked. I knew her type - conceited, self-concerned, shallow old woman…
"It smells great… you have great sense of fashion," I said motioning to her knee-length black leather armor that wrapped across her torso into a single sleeve on her left arm. It was the color of assassins. Black.
"It was specially formed to my figure… I had it done in Kurst by one of the most popular blacksmiths in all of Faerun."
"Oh," I said than I noticed her flinch… she knew they were coming.
"I gotta go…" she said, leaping into the shadows. She was gone just like that… I guess that she wasn't as bad an assassin as I thought.
XOXOXO
This girl must have transformed into a shadow because the next thing I remember was racing back to Meris and Amberlee; hearing nothing, seeing nothing but still smelling. She was still very close.
"Meris…" I was interrupted with the quick, enigmatic shade reappearing from the canopy of the forest, with her arched blade shining in the moonlight, freefalling downward toward the wizard. He reacted with no room for error as he leaped backwards and called a quick, inaccurate fireball that blasted into a tree missing its target. The impact of the detonation caused the compact ball of flames to fly into a wrath of tiny infernos, slowly burning and providing a little more light.
She stood still… that damn assassin, in the light of the fire revealing more of her form. She seemed even thinner and I noticed that she wasn't gifted with much of a chest, unlike me.
"So you want a fight, I'll give you a fight," I said and pulled out my rapier.
"You're just a little girl, I doubt you're as good as your rep claims you to be," she said, swinging her katana from her right side across her body in an effort to disrupt my charge. I ducked under the taller fighter's attack and stabbed my blade into her torso.
"No one tries to kill my boyfriend except me," I said as I released the rapier.
The assassin smiled as she touched her wound, "You think that scratch will hurt me?"
Meris jumped between us and pushed me backwards, "Punkin, she's not human."
"What do you mean… do you know her?" I asked remembering some of the vulgarisms that she made about Meris.
"No… but I sense something about her… something abnormal."
"If being half-demonic is abnormal than I'm guilty as charged," she said as she rushed on Meris with her blade over her right shoulder. Meris called a stray bolt of lightning to disturb her route to him. She just took the electrical pain and continued on to him. With one quick slice she sent him to a knee.
"Meris!" Amberlee screamed as she called her longsword. "He didn't even do anything to you."
"You must be the pious princess," the assassin said and changed her course to Amberlee. I ran as fast as I could to intercept the encounter but I wasn't able to stop the initial strike that caused sparks to fly. They released their metallic clasp on one another with a simultaneous step back, and paused quickly, enough for me to get an attempt at killing the assassin. With one hand I tried to plunge my rapier into the back of the half-demon but she flipped right over me. It was very impressive… I would have given her a compliment if we weren't trying to kill one another.
"So you don't fight with honor," she said as she landed on her feet.
"I fight to win," I said as I rushed to her again with the same attack but this time as she jumped I changed directions and swiftly kick her in her ribcage.
"Urgh… you little…" she started to say as she fell on her back.
"Careful. Temper, temper… you wouldn't want to say something you might regret," I swung my blade quickly, forgetting my defensive mentality and forced the assassin into a tree.
"You should never underestimated the power of emotion…" she said as she parried my death blow and kick me square between my breasts. "Those aren't as glorious in a fight as they are in bed, are they?"
I tried to tell her to screw herself but no word came out of my mouth. I pulled my blade back and motioned for her to go on.
"You want more," she said as she teased her hair and tossed her blade into the air. "Just let me know when you've gotten your air back," as she finished she grabbed the twirling blade from the air.
"Quiet!" Meris screamed as he released a storm of magical energy, so powerful that it had knocked me down. "This game ends now."
The assassin stood there like a statue. Meris' magic had finally come in handy.
"What the hell did you do?" she asked.
"You've been rendered immobile… I'll think about letting you go if you tell me what I want to know."
"And that would be…" she sneered.
"Okay, let's go girls," Meris said as he slowly stood up.
"All right… don't get your panties in a frill. An elven lady, I don't know her name, she paid me handsomely to keep you two and the prissy one out of her hair."
"…Mom…" Amberlee said quietly.
"Now, that you mentioned it, you do look a lot like her. I've been stalking you two for the last few days until the wedding… too bad I hadn't got to see you fight before today or you would have both been dead by now."
"Of course we would, that's why you're immobile," I said.
"What's your name?" Meris asked her.
"Why, do you like my style?" she asked back.
"If you flirt with him again I'll…"
"What? Kill me, so what?" she snorted.
"No, I'll shave you bald."
"You wouldn't."
I looked into her eyes, "Try me. Name."
"Telaya Daner… I'm a tiefling… Meris and I have the same father."