They began again their search of a refuge for the night. Opposite the temple of Tyr they stopped to examine a large abandoned warehouse, but the proximity of the temple and the possibility of meeting agents of Neverwinter made Aribeth too nervous. A little later they crossed the bridge which gave access to the island where the brothel was located . Indicating with her hand the establishment, Aribeth said "I do not like this kind of place, but can be that they might be able to rent us a room? What do you think, Arwen?"
The idea did not enchant Arwen. But she did not want to return to the Cutlass Inn. "Well let us go there, it will be better than sleeping outside."
They resumed their walk, arriving at the front of the building. A woman emerged from the shade and placed herself in front of them. Although they were both alarmed, they did not intended for her to get any closer. Immediately they seized their weapons.
"Calm down, I do not mean to hurt you." The woman approached, arms drawn aside to show that she did not have weapons in hand. She was dressed in black from head to toes. Her silver hair and her fine dark face, half hidden by a leather mask indicated her origin.
"A drow!" Aribeth exclaimed, raising her sword. "What do you want? Why do you follow us?"
Without losing her calm, the woman retorted: "You are Lady Aribeth I suppose?"
Aribeth was surprised. Nobody knew she was in Luskan and her meeting with Maugrim was not arranged until a few days from then. "I am not Aribeth, and I asked you what you wanted, drow?"
The drow ignored the not very pleasant tone and answered while looking with intensity at Arwen, "My Captain, Tina, would like to speak to Lady Aribeth and to her friend, the woman who saved Neverwinter of the wailing death, but I have perhaps made an error. Excuse me!"
"Wait one minute!" Aribeth ordered the drow who had made a pretence of going away.
She stopped and answered with a sarcastic smile, "Yes ... You saw these two women perhaps?"
"Your Captain ... Tina... "
"Yes, my Lady..." answered the drow, whose name was K' arla, in a mocking tone.
"Is she an elf? An elf with red hair?"
"Yes, my Lady ... Do you remember your name now?"
"Yes, I am Aribeth! And stop making fun of me, drow!" Aribeth's fist was clenched on her sword.
Arwen felt that her friend's anger, combined with her innate hatred of the drow, was going to escalate. She had the secret hope that this drow came from the same boat as the barbarian who had helped her the day before. And finally this drow seemed to know a bit of the current bad state of affairs, so she could be of help to help them understand what had happened to her friend. For all these reasons, she decided to intervene and grabbed her friend's arm , "Wait, Ari, all the drow are not evil, can it be that it is the case of this one?"
Surprised, the drow woman frowned at her. "What do you know of the drow, young elf?"
Arwen met her glance and answered calmly, "Perhaps more than you think, my dark cousin!" Then she added, smiling "But if you told us your name and where you come from, it might help."
The drow put her right hand on her heart and bowed, "You are right, little elf ... I am K'arla. I work for Tina, Captain of the Star from the North Sea. If my proposal interests you, follow me, that will prevent you having to spend the night in this ill-reputed place!" She accompanied her words with a gesture indicating the establishment they were on the point of entering.
Arwen's heart was pounding because she hoped to see Phil, again. But at the same time her self-preservation instinct was in full cry. This drow came from the same ship as the barbarian who had helped her the day before. It was undoubtedly a disconcerting coincidence. And then this Tina Captain, who was she? She turned to Aribeth "What you think of this? You know this Tina?"
Aribeth sheathed her sword "If she is the one of whom I think, she is a very good friend of mine. An elf whom I met when I drove out the orcs in the North. If you agree, I think that we could go to see what is up." Arwen having nodded her head, Aribeth turned again to the drow "We will follow you, but beware, if it is a trap!"
The three women moved towards the dock. While passing again the front of the warehouse, K'arla stopped and motioned for them to hide. A group of soldiers, carrying the colours of Kurth passed in front of them without noticing them. When they had left the corner of the building, K'arla said to them in a low voice "It is the hour when the rats leave their den ... I will lead, as a scout. If you see me raising my right arm, hide yourselves immediately." This said, the drow disappeared into the shadows and went ahead.
Fifteen minutes later they arrived without further encounters on the dock while having avoided two other patrols. K'arla awaited them. "This part of the city is more or less under our control." She indicated with a gesture from her chin two pirates who hid under a porch. "Remain on your guard, but in theory we are safe, now." Turning around, she showed them with a sweep of her hand a splendid boat moored to the quays. It exceeded all the others in beauty and in majesty. "She is the fastest boat I know."
"It is really beautiful!" Arwen exclaimed. "What do these colours represent?" She pointed to the principal mast on which a flag was hung, representing a red panther on a black background.
"They are the colours of Tina, our Captain. You will see little elf, the interior is even more beautiful!" She added with a wink "Our boat is a 'she' ... don't forget that when you talk of her to the crew."
Arwen retorted gently, "Like I am called Arwen ... not little elf."
K' arla bowed to her "I know ... There are enough people who pronounce your name with fear now, so it is better not used so often ... Anyway, I find that 'small elf' suits you better ... I do not say that to upset you …"
The evocation of her inevitable fame disturbed Arwen, so that she shook her head before laughing. "Good, then little elf if that pleases you."
They passed in front of two guards equipped with red who greeted K'arla and stood aside to let them pass. Aribeth whispered in Arwen's ear "There are practically only women on this boat, and this red colour ... This Tina must be the one I know ... Stay on your guard, in case of need ..."
The drow stopped at the entry. Arwen would have sworn that she had heard their aside, but if it were true, she did not let anything of it appear. She tightened one hand on Arwen's. "Can you please give me your swords, little elf?"
Arwen was astonished "It is a fad in this town of claim of me my weapons!" She shot Aribeth a glance and the elf challenged the drow "Why do you want her sword?"
"It is our orders that people that Tina does not know must present themselves without weapons before her …" then Looking at Aribeth "You, she knows you, therefore you can enter like that."
To her regret Arwen gave her swords to K'arla, before following her towards the forecastle. Crossing the threshold of the door she had a shock. The room was superb, and decorated with taste by many tapestries which represented wooded landscapes. Arwen recognized on two of them the environs of Silverymoon. The parquet floor in oak, perfectly jointed was freshly waxed.
At the end of the room Arwen
identified the barbarian who had helped her at the Inn; He waited, arms
crossed, behind an elf with red hair with a delicate cap. At the foot
of the elf drowsed a red panther.
By her side, Aribeth had studied
and recognized the red headed elf with astonishment. Little by little a
smile formed on her face. And finally the elf opened her arms and ran
to Aribeth's embrace. "Ari! Ari, I am so happy to see you again!" She
moved back to examine Aribeth and added sadly "You do not appear to me
to be in good shape! ... Is it too late?"
"Too late for what?" Answered the paladin, defensively.
Tina threw a glance at Arwen who shrugged her shoulders, accustomed to Aribeth's sudden changes of mood. Resting her hand on Aribeth's forearm, Tina continued, "You know perfectly what I am trying to say, Ari. My spies have followed you since you left Port Llast, they also tracked Maugrim ..."
Aribeth's smile faded still more and she gritted her teeth. Tina took her hands in hers, "Ari my friend, please do not fear me ... You remember when you saved me? How you taught me to fight, and to survive in a hostile environment? How you gave me the will to live, again? Now it is my turn to help you ... I am here to prevent you from doing a stupid thing!"
Aribeth gripped Tina's hand with one of hers and put the other in front of her eyes. She appeared very tired "How did you know?"
Tina smiled to her and indicated K'arla "She is the best spy of whole of Faerun. I was in Luskan when I learned of Fenthick's fate, and I guessed that you would react poorly. I knew that would awaken in you very bad memories ... Then I required K'arla to keep an eye on you. She succeeded in drawing away from you the agents of Maugrim, but they were obstinate! It seems that they are ordered to stick tight to you."
Arwen wondered what action to take. Admittedly Tina seemed to have great affection for Aribeth, whose attitude showed clearly that the feeling was mutual, but she did not tell everything. How had she known about Maugrim? Why was she in Luskan?
Aribeth seemed subdued. She was no more the proud Aribeth who led the army of Neverwinter. She was only one lost woman, with a tortured heart and a wounded body. She wanted to give her an answer, "Tina, I must ..."
Tina put her finger on her mouth "Sshhh Ari, I will cure you ... because what you need is care. Come with me, I can offer you a good meal and a safe place to rest. We will discuss the situation later." She took Aribeth's arm and turned towards Arwen and K'arla, "K'arla you can return her weapons to Miss ..."
"Arwen; I am Arwen Moondream," she answered proudly
Tina placed her left hand on her heart and her right one on Arwen's shoulder. "Pleased to meet you, Arwen ... I intended to speak with you about your exploits! I am the captain of this boat. My enemies call me the Red Panther, and my friends call me Tina."
Flattered that Tina greeted her according to the elven tradition, Arwen bowed "Then I will call you Tina, if that is not too presumptuous, since you are a friend of my friend Aribeth."
Phil who had stood aloof, approached "Captain, it must be an error. She cannot be the one who saved Neverwinter. She cannot be the one you wanted".
The sky falling on her head will not have hurt Arwen more. Why this remark? He who seemed so protective the day before.
Tina turned to him, "Why, my good Phil? You know her?"
Looking at Arwen dismissively, he sneered, "Sure, she is only a child. I met her at the Cutlass Inn. She cannot defend herself."
'Oh what a boor! I will show him what I am worth' Arwen's blood boiled. She stood in front of the man, hands on her hips "I will show you an example of what I can do, you ... you of barbarian!" She extended her hand towards K'arla, still glaring at the barbarian, and ordered "My swords!"
The barbarian was surprised. He beseeched his Captain, "Tina, ask her to calm herself before I give her a spanking ..."
"SMACK!" His sentence was interrupted by a masterly blow which Arwen landed on his jaw. Wonder was read on all their faces. Aribeth put herself precipitately by Arwen, the hand on the pommel of her longsword. The barbarian, red of shame and anger, hesitated over which attitude to adopt.
K'arla burst out laughing while coming to restrain Phil's arm, which was about to reply. "Phil, I had warned you that she was very fast ..." The barbarian shook himself free and left through one the windows, groaning.
Tina intervened "Calm yourself, Arwen, Phil will excuse himself, later, but we are not here to fight between ourselves ... And you, K'arla! what do you think of our young and impetuous guest?"
"I heard great praise of her ... And I can add that somebody who has such swords is certainly a very skilful fencer". She said that while returning her swords to Arwen and by showing the coloured ribbons which decorated the pommels. Turning to Arwen she added "If you want to show this large barbarian, Phil what you can do, I will be very honoured to cross swords with you in a friendly way!" K'arla had unsheathed her swords and had positioned herself en garde.
Smiling Arwen placed herself similarly, "I am all yours!"
It was an artistic sparring duel. The two women competed in addresses, feints, flourishes and routines. The drow was more experienced and skilful, but Arwen compensated with her greater speed. At a certain point, Arwen decided to try one of her artful thrusts. She feinted a blow on the left, whipped at waist height and ... felt a sharp pain on the front of her forearm.
K'arla lowered her weapons, smiling, "A very good thrust ... but I knew it ... You want to stop, for I see that you bleed?"
Arwen looked at her arm. It was not a serious wound. She wondered how the drow could have avoided her feint. She had never missed it before. Then she became aware of intense scrutiny. Aribeth appeared anxious about her health. She reassured her with a wink. Her glance was poised on Phil who looked at the scene with a smirk. 'He would be too happy to see me quit. I will not please him by doing that!' "No, it is not a serious wound ... I can continue."
"As you want!"
The combat began again. One moment later Arwen decided to try her preferred thrust once again 'I know where I missed speed the first time, she will not avoid another time.' She feinted a blow on the left, whipped at waist height and ... with a fast movement of the wrist touched K'arla on the front of her forearm.
"Hurray!" Aribeth's cry of joy punctuated this successful attack. K'arla lowered her weapons once more. "Well done little elf ... Is this enough for today?"
Arwen shot a fast glance at Phil; She could read the astonishment on his face. She smiled and bowed deeply in front of K'arla, "Can we say that it is a drawn match?"
"Certainly, little elf ... It was a pleasure of crossing iron with you!"
Tina intervened, "Good, now that Phil is reassured about the Arwen's competence, I will show you your room if you wish to change yourself before we have dinner." She took Aribeth's arm and went in the corridor.
Arwen started to follow, but K'arla restrained her by the arm, "I would like to speak to you, Arwen?"
"Of course! What is the matter?"
K'arla waited until the others disappeared, "Don't be worried, you will join them soon. It is about your manner of fighting …"
'What does she wants to say? A spite remark like her friend Phil?' Arwen expected the worst, but answered calmly "What is the problem with my manner of fighting? I touched you the second time, not true?"
"Yes but you made the same error as the first time!"
"What do you imply?"
"Don't be upset, it is not my objective ... Do you want that I show you your error?", K'arla had spoken in a tone soft and reconciling.
"Yes ...", Arwen answered disturbed and a little lost by the quiet assurance of the drow.
"Well, remake your stroke, slowly, and I will make the movements of parade." The two women brought out their weapons and went back in guard "Yes ... Next ... Hmm yes, continue ... Stop! Do not move any more! Look now as you open the possibility of a counterattack."
"But I touched you!"
"You touched me only because you compensated for your error by your exceptional speed ... Arwen, I never met somebody as fast as you ... If you want, I can help you to improve your technique, and you will become unbeatable."
"Why you would do that?" Asked Arwen, astonished.
"Why? Perhaps because I am happy to meet somebody who shares my style of combat, or perhaps simply because I have sympathy for you."
"Sympathy? You do not know me, I am an half-elf and you a drow!"
"Is it important for you? By seeing you this afternoon I had thought to understand that you did not share these racial hatreds? Is it what Eilistraee teaches you?" She supported these last words by pointing the amulet which hung on Arwen's neck.
Arwen took the amulet in her hand " ... You know what it is?"
"I am astonished to see such a thing on an half-elf, but I know what it is: A crowned symbol of the Goddess Eilistraee ."
Arwen realized that K'arla seemed sincere. Remorse ate at her; she said, "Excuse me K'arla, I am stupid, I accept your offer with joy ... but for the moment I am tired."
"Don't worry, come, I will show you your room !"
