Olly felt the sunlight striking through the glass window against her skin, the snoring of Ed beside her not terribly annoying as she kept her eyes closed, enjoying the warmth and calm breathing of him beside her. It reminded her of when she used to sleep with Brienne and Atticus as a child, hearing her older siblings slumber and dream beside her while she remained half-awake at night.

"So, when you said you left Peren you really meant it huh?" she heard the twirl of Qila's voice in the room.

Olly shot up, her face red as she whipped her head around the room, her gray curls flying in the air wildly as she saw the bird figure sitting quietly in a armchair in the corner of the room. Olly looked down at her naked body wrapped in a short piece of towel cloth, and over at a shirtless Ed snoring deeply beside her.

"This is not what it looks like" Olly hissed determinedly. She could not handle the teasing look she was getting from her friend across the room and a smile broke out on the edges of Qila's beak.

"I'm sure it isn't" Qila giggled which sounded like the chirping of a tiny bird "But what could the situation be where you are-"Qila started when Olly shot up and grabbed her, pulling her by her wing into the washroom that was thankfully dry.

"Last night" Olly said turning to make sure the door was shut.

"You had unbelievable sex with the human I get-" Qila squawked when suddenly Olly pulled down on the Aarakocra's tunic to quiet her from waking Ed in the next room.

"No!" Olly almost yelled before shushing the both of them,taking a moment before hearing the confirmation of Ed's snoring that he was indeed still asleep.

"It was nothing like that, nor will it ever be!" Olly whispered.

"Why not it's not like you are married to the Elf, only spellbonded which isn't like permanent right?You deserve to be happy after all!" Qila tweeted in her best whisper "Besides he's not bad looking for a human."

"That isn't the point!"Olly's voice grew louder as Qila shushed her before Olly grunted in frustration that she couldn't get her friend to stop talking.

"The point is" she breathed out calmly "is that last night I had a vision. Not of me and Ed or anything, but a real vision. It was Nole, he was in danger Qila, some serious danger. I couldn't get to him because wherever he is it's too dark."

"Okay, a vision" Qila said getting serious "Not like your usual half-dreams that come true. A real in the moment vision. That means something big is happening to you Olly. Your power maybe growing, but Nole being in danger, is what I came here to tell you. There is news of what he's been up to, but I don't think you are going to like it. I was waiting on you to wake up and when you didn't like usual after dawnbreak I came in here to find you and-" she said wriggling her feathered eyebrows.

Olly rolled her eyes "Okay bad news. I'll wake up Ed and we will hear it, I just need to get dressed."

"What I said is true though" Qila said resting herself on the wall as Olly collected her clothes and darted back into the washroom with her friend "You deserve to be happy. Even if something did happen with the human, it wouldn't be the worst thing."

"Please Qila don't start. It's not that easy of a situation" Olly groaned as she pulled on her trousers and fastened her belt.

"Spellbonded isn't marriage" Qila twirled.

"But it is a contract" Olly corrected her putting on her tunic and her breastplate armor, touching the cord of ribbon tied around her neck "Peren has a power over me. When he wants to use it, which he will, there isn't anything I can do about it."

"Have you thought about breaking it?" Qila questioned.

"Of course" Olly said "But..."

"But what?" Qila said standing and turning her friend to her.

"He wasn't wrong about me" Olly said looking down "I can't control my power, and what if I hurt someone again? What if I break it and then I fail? What if I turn out like..."

"That is up to you" Qila tweeted out "You are the one in control, you have to be the one to decide when you want to take back your life and not half live with someone who makes you miserable."

"I guess I will have to decide when that is" Olly said nodding her head without looking up at her friend, still not confident she could harness her divine light on her own. For so long, when she had used it, so many things burnt up around her. With Peren, he had been able to direct that light and power of hers to vanquish enemies, and save people. It wasn't until later when she was in too deep, did she realize he had been using that power for his own path and plans. She had been nothing but a tool, and now it was too late it seemed to be free of him.

"Better wake up the Cleric" Qila said giving Olly her shoulder armor as she strapped on her boots "You both are going to want to hear this story."

Olly took the armor and walked into the bedroom, going over to Ed and kneeling beside him. While Qila went to go sit again in the chair, Olly gently shook Ed's shoulder and called to him. watching those big green eyes open and look at her, a light shining behind them as he gave her a small grin made her heart melt a bit. But back to business...

"Qila's here" she said nodding at him "She has news of Nole."

"Okay" he yawned and sat up, brushing that snow white hair back, his eyes groggily awake and looking at the bird person sitting in the room across the way. Qila smiled again at the Cleric and he became aware of his bare chest, shirt that he had tossed in the middle of the night rumbled on the side of the bed. Sheepishly he pulled himself into it as Olly sat beside him on the bed, ready to hear from Qila.

"So" the Ranger started, her wings folding in as she looked at the two "Things are a little complicated. Nole was spotted two months ago in the company of a gnome by the name of Drax Dragmung. A shopkeeper on Sparrow Street accused Drax of stealing a pendant and his arm was almost broken when the gnome's bodyguard intervened. The bodyguard took off his mask, and the shopkeeper described him down to his freckles. It was Nole."

"He took off his mask?" Olly said stunned "That's so risky why would he do that in public!"

"What's wrong with that?" Ed asked confused.

"Nole's a Scourge Aasimar, when he does his thing" she said motioning to herself and her eyes "instead of wings it blasts out of him through his eyes and mouth. It's really dangerous if you don't know how to control it so most Aasimar's wear a mask to keep their light hidden."

"For Nole to reveal himself, he must have been either incredibly angry, or incredibly desperate. He was obviously in charge of protecting the gnome" Qila chirped from the corner "Dressed in all black, he had four other guards dressed the same, but Nole was in charge. The shopkeep said they were the Empty Eyes clan."

"So who's this gnome then?" Ed asked "is he the clan leader?"

"No" Qila twirled in a laugh "Hardly. He's a alchemist that works for them. The Empty Eyes are just a gang controlled by the Guild."

"The Guild?" Ed's brow furrowed but with the grave look Olly had on her face, he knew it was a lot more serious.

"I knew he was in some serious danger, I just didn't know it was this serious" Olly's voice broke a bit "Qila, are you telling me that my baby brother is in trouble with Xanathar's Guild?"

"Yes" the Aarakocra nodded "I am. I'm so sorry Olly."

"Xanathar" Olly said turning to Ed "is a Beholder. One of the ugliest, meanest, and smartest creatures in this land. He's imprisoned thousands, has run the underground for centuries it seems. The Eye runs everything beneath Waterdeep, and even my father had a hard time going against the thing every once in a while when the Lords Alliance had a problem with him."

"Shit" Ed grimaced.

"Shit indeed" Olly shook her head "Where do we even start with this?"

"I saw we check out the gnome" Ed said "Maybe he could tell us more about Nole, since he was the last person seen with him. That might be a good start."

"I don't see any other options, other than going to the Underground and finding Xanathar to ask him instead" Olly said standing up "And I don't feel like taking on a Beholder just now, do you?"

"Not particularly" Ed smiled trying to lighten up the mood.

"Qila did you get anything else on the gnome besides his name?" Olly turned to her.

"He used to work as the alchemist for House Margaster" Qila chirped "They live in North Ward last I heard."

"Then that's where we will start" Olly nodded.

"Well if you don't mind" Qila said stretching "I think I will head back to the forests, I've had enough of the city and need to stretch my wings. Call though, if you need help."

"I will Qila, thank you for everything" Olly said grabbing her friend at the wrist, a solid goodbye as the other Ranger darted out the door to the rooftops, no doubt about to spread those wings to fly far off from the city of Waterdeep.

"To Margaster house?" Ed motioned with his arm towards the door.

"I hate nobles" Olly groaned.

The two of them trudged down the stairs and out the inn's door to the busy sidewalk, Olly's sense of direction taking them uphill through the busy streets until the shops and taverns became more greenery and rolling hills of flowers, big villas and mansions plotting the land as they walked through. Two adventurer's such as them stuck out among the nobility as they rode by in carriages, eyes wide and mouth agape at Ed and Olly's armor and weapons freely strung about. Olly's hair was left loose, too busy so far to put back, but Ed was enjoying it's curled tassels waving in the wind. He would watch as a two or three noblemen would pass, and then look back again at Olly, their eyes wide at such a pretty thing in so much armor. Ed felt almost proud to be walking beside such a creature, and knew if he was in their shoes, he probably would do the same...

"Margaster House should be the next villa on the right around this hill" Olly pointed against the gates and hedges that lined the paved street. Ed somehow missed the cobbled roads of the lesser Wards, feeling less at ease here where prying eyes seem to spy out of the beautiful glass windows. As they approached the gates, Olly could make out a house crest decorating the front of the iron bars, a talon of a bird jutting out across the shield in gold and red, it's claws extended out in a wild grasp.

"Neat crest" Ed said beside her looking up "So this is Thornhold?"

"Makes me feel a bit on edge" Olly said "But don't ask me why."

"I'm sure it will be fine" Ed said "After all, we would sense danger here right?"

"Right?" Olly said taking a deep breath before ringing the gates bell.

Two guards came around the bend then, dressed in the same colors of gold and red.

"What business do you have here?" one of the guards ordered from the other side.

"We've come here to speak to the head of the Margaster House about a gnome named Drax" Olly said confidently back, trying to assert that she was no one to take lightly. She wished in moments like these that she had the demeanor of someone much larger than herself, like a Orc or Goliath instead of her five foot nothing body.

"And who has come here to speak?" the guard barked back at them two.

"Edric Alphonse, a Cleric" Ed spoke up "And this is Allana Duer, daughter of the Kingmaker and North Wind Weylyn Duer. Surely you've heard of her?"

Both guards looked as if a pole had been shoved up their spines as both stood straight up and looked at one another.

"The Monster Hunter Duer? Oh of-of course! Lord Margaster will be most pleased" the guard said stomping on the ground two times before the gates opened with a hint of magic in the air. The other guard ran up the walkway towards the villa as the first one escorted Ed and Olly through the gates.

"We have been on high alert these last few days for the approaching ball Lord Margaster is having for Lady Juliette, so you'll excuse our brashness Lady Duer" the guard said bowing to Olly and Ed as they approached the large villa of brick and stone.

"A ball sounds fun, but why such security?" Olly said looking around as she could see multiple guards posted up around the property.

"There has been some concern with the safety of Lady Juliette. Lord Margaster ordered triple the amount of guards to make sure the ball is a success, but he will feel most pleased now that you are here also" the guard said bowing once more before walking away back to the gate entrance.

"So much concern over a party" Ed mumbled "Must be a important one."

"Or he's afraid of someone that's coming to the party" Olly said turning as the big wooden doors opened to a tall man with dark skin and bright eyes that sounded louder than the creak of the doors themselves.

"Welcome!" he bellowed, the ashen beard of his spreading wide with his smile as he took both Ed and Olly's hand shaking them proudly "I can't tell you how happy I am that a Duer has answered my call. We were beginning to think nobody from the Lord's Alliance had taken my plea seriously when all of this transpired, but now that you are her I feel so at rest!"

"I'm sorry sir there must be some mistake" Olly said shaking her head "The Lord's Alliance didn't send me."

"Oh is that right?" the man said stepping back.

"Forgive us Lord" Ed said "We've come here of our own accord, but we would gladly help you if you are in need of assistance."

"Well then that makes it even better, something for me to hold over the Lord's Alliance's heads. They won't help me, oh no! So now a Duer has come to help me instead. Take that Laurel Silverhand!" the man said swatting at his glistening robes.

"Please Lord" Olly said looking over at Ed with a amused smirk "I am Allana Duer, this is my companion Edric Alphonse. We've come here to ask you about a Gnome you had in your service, a alchemist by the name of Drax Dragmung?"

Lord Margaster suddenly sneered at the name "That thieving little runt. He's part of the reason I'm in such a mess right now! He used to work for me, but I found out he hand plans to run away and steal my Juliette away from me. Can you imagine that?! Lord Margaster's daughter run away with a common Alchemist! A Gnome Alchemist at that! I couldn't bear the thought" he said huffing as they were escorted into another grand room that was being cleared away and decorated in gold and red flowers. Olly saw a grand staircase they passed, it's golden steps leading up to a second floor where she spied a figure listening in on Lord Margaster's rant.

"So what did you do my Lord?" Ed said watching Olly take in everything, ready to discuss things with her after they had made the introductions.

"I sent that little dirt eater away is what I did! I had my men watch him and found him double dealing under the table with the Guild, so it gave me full grounds to dispatch of him. My men escorted him from the property and I warned him if I ever saw his grubby little eyes prying at my treasures or my daughter I would pluck them out myself. It's far better now that I'm going to marry off Juliette and be done with the whole business so I don't have to worry about him and his friends coming around here looking for her" Lord Margaster said with pride as he chugged a ale that was brought to him by a servant.

Olly could hear shuffling coming from the grand staircase just then, and a small whimper as steps echoed away. Lord Margaster seemed unaware as they walked outside to the gardens of the household, servants moving about quickly setting up furniture and tables while oil lamps were being set on wire above the hedges and flowers.

"My party for a betrothal for Juliette is tomorrow night" Lord Margaster said "It would do my a great service if you two were to attend. To make sure that no ruffians nor that Gnome shows their face at the party. I can't have my daughter being taken away by such foul unmentionables when I can marry her off to another wealthy House and make some connections. Rumor has it I'm in the next election for Castle Wards Advisory, and I'd like to keep my house free from scandal. "

Ed was quiet as he waited for Olly to respond who, after a moment of taking the place in, nodded "We will stay my Lord. Would you be opposed though of lending me and my companion some attire for the occasion? I would like us to blend in as much as possible."

"Absolutely, whatever you need" Lord Margaster nodded "Also feel free to take lodging in my house tonight until the party is over. It would be an honor to house a Duer."

"Thank you my lord" Ed nodded as a servant was ordered to show them their rooms.

"We will talk later, first I have to do something" Olly whispered to Ed as she drew close to him before darting off inside and down a hallway while the servant showed Ed his quarters before going back to party business.

Olly went back to the ballroom area where the grand staircase led to the second floor. It was here she had seen the figure, and where she figured the crying had come from as she carefully stepped up the stairs and onto the second level. This place reminded her of a castle almost, though she had definitely been in bigger. But it was always the same with these nobility, they all had to have a big staircase and grand gardens to show off their wealth. As she moved though down a hallway that was covered in oil scenery paintings, she could hear the faint crying coming from a room to her left.

Olly knew she shouldn't listen in, but it she needed to go outside her comfort zone if she was going to get closer to finding her brother. Carefully she pressed her ears and held out her hand, feeling the light of whoever was in the next room.

They were...sad. So sad, and felt trapped. A heavy heart was throbbing on the other side, clueless about about to do or how to feel...

Olly decided to knock then, a gentle one just to ring out against the quiet sobs.

"Who is it?" she could hear the voice trying to muffle the fact that it had been crying.

"A friend I think" Olly called out "My name is Olly, can I come in?"

"I suppose" the voice was faint on the other side, but none the less Olly opened it.

When she walked in, Olly saw a girl a little younger than her sitting by the window, a yellow dress with lace contrasted against beautiful ebony skin. Dark eyes that were a bit puffy from crying looked over at her embarrassed, and Olly felt sorry for the girl that must be Lady Juliette.

"You are hurting pretty bad" Olly said coming over to her "I could feel you all the way down in the gardens."

"Feel?" the girl said putting her dress a little closer to her. She looked like a wilted yellow flower against the windowsill, her hair tied back with a matching ribbon.

"Sorry" Olly said a little sheepishly "Part of the program. It doesn't matter with me though, what matters is what's making you so upset?"

Juliette looked out the window then, small tears pricking up against those amber eyes "You wouldn't understand."

"I can understand it hurts" Olly said "And I've seen that look before many times on my sister's face. You are hurting because you want something you can't have."

The girl turned shocked at Olly's words and quickly got up to close the door, fearful of someone else hearing them.

"Yes!" Juliette said softly "My father. I heard him talking to you. You were asking about Drax."

"Did you know him?" Olly asked getting excited.

"I did, but I can't tell you everything right now. Stay in my room tonight and we will wait until I'm sure nobody is listening to tell you what's actually going on" Juliette said keeping her voice as low as she could, the girl just as excited as Olly was "Maybe you can actually help me out of this mess my father's created!"

"I'll try my best" Olly said smiling weakly. She wanted one night of actual rest, but it seemed she would have to stay up late with the girl who was all too giddy to be having another female with her through the night.

"We can tell my father to bring your things in here and I'll have some food brought up and it will be just the thing I need right now!" Juliette said bustling about now the room, her hair bouncing behind her as she called for the servants before Olly could get anything out.

It looked like her and Ed were going to be separated for longer than she thought...