MEMOIRS OF AN OUTSIDER
The OC and NPC's belong to Obsidian. A few mistakes in grammar were left to enhance the story and dialogue. Reviews are welcome.
Chapter: 11 "Accused"
Neeshka ransacked the githyanki stronghold, taking everything she could find and then filling everyone's packs until they overflowed. Khy walked over to
Shandra and asked her if she was okay. She would be fine, she said, as soon as they left this evil place. Khy glanced at the tall paladin, who stood off to
the side of the room with his head lowered. She had tried to show the man how she felt, but to her disgrace, he rebuked her advances. She could not
face him, could not act as though nothing had happened between them. Her attention was drawn to the crude remarks Bishop made to her newest friend,
Shandra. The girl was disgusted by his behavior, and Khy stepped in to stop the barrage. "Shut up or I'll cut out your tongue"! Khy told him. He
laughed as he made another contemptuous remark concerning "not forgetting about her". She told everyone to pack up and get ready to return to the
Flagon.
-----
Khy had a lot to think about on their long journey home. The shard in her chest, Casavir, Bishop and the new terror hovering over Neverwinter, were
among the topics that had her concerned. As they left the room, Bishop whispered in her ear. "You seemed to enjoy my tongue, are you sure you
want to cut it out"? Khy was in no mood for his quips, he had disregarded her during the entire journey and she would now return the scorn. They
headed down the mountain and began the strenuous march back to the Sunken Flagon.
-----
Khy sat by the campfire, waiting for Neeshka to relieve her for the next watch. They were a few days from Neverwinter, and the expedition back had been
demanding. The weather had been cold and rainy, which caused even more irritability among her cohorts. Tempers were short, and many arguments had
erupted between the members of the party. "We'll be home soon", she thought, "Then everyone would return to normal after a long rest". She
contemplated her rejection by Casavir, wondering why he had pushed her away. She could sense his feelings, and knew that he was drawn to her. She
had kissed him, and for a few moments, he responded with the excitement she knew they both felt. Khy could not understand what she had done wrong.
Then there was Bishop. He had completely ignored her throughout the duration of their mission. These men were an enigma that she could not decipher.
She was only beginning to comprehend the feelings she had around them both. That night with Bishop had opened a portal to the desires she yearned to
know and experience fully. She slowly raised her fingertips to her lips, and traced the memory of Bishop's kiss. "What would have happened if the
githyanki had not attacked"? She wondered.
-----
Bishop had been studying the girl as she sat by the warm fire. The glow of the flames lit her face in such a way as to enhance the delicate beauty of her
features. He had been struggling with the decision of ravishing her exquisite body, or to take it slow and drink in every delicious part of her untouched
form. The thought of ripping through her virginal barrier began to quicken the beat of his heart. He closed his eyes trying to remove her image from his
agonizing mind. He could kick himself for letting a mere woman get under his skin. He had always been a loner, never tying himself down to anyone.
"Maybe I should just clear out while I can". He thought. "Things could get very sticky in these circumstances". He recalled a particular instance
with a female ranger with whom he had traveled. Malin had almost gotten him killed in Luskan territory, because he had let his guard down with her.
"Never again", he thought, "Never again would he let himself care for a woman"!
-----
The next day, Khy approached Elanee and Neeshka and asked if she could talk to them about a matter of some importance. Shandra overheard the
conversation and Khy motioned for her to follow as well. She led the girls to a small, out of the way clearing, near the perimeter of the camp. They all sat,
speculating the subject of such a clandestine meeting, when Khy began the conversation with, "I need some advice on love and sex". Neeshka and
Shandra burst out laughing as Elanee tried to calm them by saying, "She's serious". Khy related the information that Duncan had told her and pleaded
for some sort of clarification. She told her friends about what she had been feeling, and about the brief encounters with Bishop and Casavir. "Please", she
begged, "I'm so stupid about these things and I don't know how to react". "You are not stupid"! Elanee shouted. "You are naïve and innocent
and that is quite a difference".
-----
They spent the remainder of the day talking about their personal experiences with the men they had known. Khy was beginning to understand the many
nuances it took to form a caring relationship with someone. "You need to know", Elanee told her, "That some men want only the conquest of a
woman, and once you surrender your precious gift, they are finished with you". "The same can be said for a woman too"! Neeshka said smiling.
"You're young Khy", Neeshka said, "This is a brand new world that is just opening for you". "You don't have to saddle yourself with just one
man". "When you find the one that you truly love, you will know and then it all will make sense". "You should, in the very least, care for the
man before you lay with him". Shandra said. "If you just bed anyone, you'll end up like those whores at Ophala's". "Ophala's"? Khy asked. It was
then that it dawned on Khy, the meaning of Ophala's plans for her. Khy looked at Neeshka, as the little tiefling confirmed her suspicions. Khy fell over
laughing at the idea of becoming one of Ophala's "special girls", and said "Maybe I'll like it so much, that I'll pay Ophala a visit". "Be careful", Elanee
warned her, "You can wound your soul deeply in these matters". "Some can never recover from a broken heart"!
-----
Khy walked through the door of the inn and immediately confronted Duncan with the revelation of the shard lying buried in her chest. Duncan sat her
down and tried to explain the complete distressing story. Her mother, Esmerelle, had not died giving her life as she had been told. She and Daeghun's
wife, Shayla had died saving her. Duncan took a deep breath and told her the tragic story.
-----
Esmerelle had been preparing to leave West Harbor with you, her babe. She asked Shayla to take care of you if anything were to happen to her and Shayla agreed.
When the village fell under attack, the two women ran back to rescue you. Splinters of metal flew through the air and one killed Shayla instantly. One of the other
shards had penetrated through Esmerelle and embedded in your chest. When the battle was over, Daeghun found the bodies of your mother and his beloved
Shayla. You were critically wounded and no one thought that you would survive the horrendous injury. After a few days, you seemed to magically recover and the
wound healed. Daeghun wanted to honor the promise made to Esmerelle, and therefore took you into his home. That is how you became Daeghun's foster-
daughter.
-----
The room was silent as everyone gazed at their leader staring off into space. Khy looked up at Duncan and said, "They died because of me"! "I
understand now why Daeghun dislikes me, I remind him of Shayla's death". "No lass"! Duncan shouted, "I will never believe that"! "He doesn't
blame you", He said, "He just never got over losing the love of his life". "After Shayla died, I thought having you around would snap him out of
his decline". Duncan said with tears in his eyes. "I see now that I was wrong to leave you with him". "I'm truly sorry lass". "Duncan", she said
softly, "I may not have had the best childhood, but Daeghun cared enough to teach me the skills I would need to survive on my own". "For
that", she said, "I will always be forever grateful to him". "He is amin atar, my father". She said as she embraced her uncle. Duncan picked her up
and spun her around saying, "You've got me lass, and I will always be here for you"! "Everyone sit"! Duncan yelled. "Let's celebrate your return
with food and drink"!
-----
"Va'anta", Elanee said, "What are we doing here"? Khy looked over at the druid and said, "We're teaching Shandra a few defensive moves". "She's
going to be traveling with us and I want her to be able to defend herself". "I understand that", Elanee replied, "What am I doing here"? "To help
with healing if anyone gets too rough". Khy said. Khelgar and Shandra were sparing, while Casavir and Neeshka waited their turn. "I think I'm
actually getting the hang of this". Shandra shouted. "You're doing great". Khy replied. They had spent the last few days instructing Shandra on the
finer points of combat. Khy had promised her that she would not leave her behind as they ventured on their quests. As they continued sparing, Khy
walked over and stood beside the gallant paladin. She watched Shandra parry and dive, noticing Neeshka's influence in the maneuvers she performed.
The lessons persisted late into the day when Khy finally stopped the sessions. "That's enough for today". She said smiling, as all but Casavir headed
back to the Flagon.
-----
Neeshka and Elanee had been discussing Khy's recent erratic behavior. She had been flying off into fits of rage one minute, and then she would sit and
brood for hours. This conduct was becoming more frequent, and now they had noticed her tactics in battle were more frenzied. "Maybe she's sick, or
someone has cursed her". Neeshka said. "I've cast a gambit of curative spells on her", Elanee replied, "With no results". "We will just keep an
eye on her for now". Elanee told her. "Shandra is with her, and will notify us if anything out of the ordinary were to occur". "Okay". Neeshka
said. "We wait and see".
-----
Casavir walked into the Flagon and saw Khy sitting at the back of the room with Shandra. He had been struggling with his feelings for the girl since the
first day they had met. He had known her only a few months, but in his heart, he knew he loved her. He prayed to Tyr every day to resist the all-
consuming affection he felt for her. In discovering her background, he knew he could never have her and remain a paladin to his God, Tyr. He remembered
the passionate kiss they had shared that day on the mountain and the look in her eyes when he pushed her away. Today he had found a solution to his
conundrum.
-----
He approached the table where she was seated and sat next to her. "My lady", he said, "May we speak"? Khy nodded as Shandra excused herself and
left. "I….., I have feelings for you my lady". He said as he reached for her hand. Khy looked into his astonishing blue eyes with hope and great
anticipation. "I am Tyr's instrument in his crusade for justice", he said, "and as his vessel I must stay true to his teachings, lest I fall". Khy
listened intently to everything he was telling her, waiting patiently for him to finish. "My lady", he said softly, "I would offer you my courtly love". "In
this our hearts may beat as one". Khy did not understand courtly love, she only knew she heard him say love. She reached for him, wrapping her arms
around his neck and pressed her eager lips to his. "My lady"! He said as he removed her arms. "Please, my lady, do not tempt me with your fruit".
"Courtly love is what I extend to you, and only courtly love". He kissed the palm of each delicate hand and then told her good evening.
-----
"What the hells is courtly love"? She thought as she watched him walk to a table at the front of the inn. "Was this another of the many shades of
love"? She could not fathom the profound and endless fine distinctions of this inaccessible emotion. "Khelgar", she said to the dwarf as he walked by her
with a mug of ale, "May I ask you a question"? "Ah, lass", he said, "You can ask me whatever you like and if I have the answer, it's yours".
"What is courtly love"? She inquired. "Ah, now", he said, "Let me see if I can describe it properly". "I believe it's a gentleman's devotion to an
unattainable woman". He told her. "But, I'm attainable"! She said with tears in her eyes. "What brought this up lass"? Khelgar asked her. Khy
enlightened the little man on the events that had transpired with Casavir. "Could be he's following some sort of rule with that there paladin sect lass;
just let it be for now". Khelgar told her as he stroked her shoulder.
-----
A very distinguished man entered the Flagon and asked to speak with Khy. She approached him, noting he was extremely fair of face and form. He
introduced himself as Sir Nevalle, a night of Neverwinter, and like Callum, one of Lord Nasher's nine. Casavir stood, then nodded to the man in
acknowledgement, as Khy clasped his hand in greeting. Nevalle unraveled the vicious tale the ambassador of Luskan had charged Khy in facilitating. She
had been accused of murdering the entire village of Ember. Her companions voiced her innocence, as Khy stood flabbergasted by the news. She would be
handed over to the Luskans for low justice, unless she was a part of the Neverwinter nobility. As a noble, she would be allowed to remain in the city and
receive a trial governed by Lord Nasher. "Take heart, my lady", Nevalle told her, "There is a knight of great authority who is willing to take you as
his squire". Nevalle continued to say that Sir Grayson would be waiting for her at the City Watch's headquarters and that he was sending someone to
help her in her fight for justice.
-----
Sir Nevalle departed as Khy stumbled to the nearest chair and sat down heavily. The buzz of the room echoed in her head, as she fought to regain her
senses. The despicable crime in which she had been blamed reeled through her mind. She had met some of those people in their hurried search for
Shandra. Just then, a familiar face entered the room and announced that he was to aid in her defense. Sand, the dignified sage she had met on her arrival
to the city, would be with her in her search for the truth. Qara began belittling the elf with snide remarks on his abilities with the arcane arts. "That's
enough Qara", Khy said as the sorceress continued with her sarcastic jabs. "I said SHUT UP"! Khy screamed at the redheaded mage. Qara raise her
arms in preparation of casting a spell, when Khy marched over and grabbed her robe, throwing the girl off balance. The months of listening to Qara's
incessant remarks on her own greatness, and the disparaging statements about her friends had finally taken its toll on her. Khy snatched the dagger from
her boot and held it to the fleshy throat of the trembling sorceress. "NO MORE", Khy roared inches from her face, "If you do or say anything against
these people ever again, I will slit you from ear to ear"! "No matter how powerful you are, steel will always win out"! She rammed the blade back
into its sheath and then pushed Qara away, causing her to hit the wall. Khy turned and walked away as Qara quickly recovered and began to chant
silently. No one saw the blur of movement as Khy, with precision, threw her blade, hitting its mark a fraction from Qara's neck. She leisurely walked over to
regained her knife and place it in her boot. "I can guarantee my aim will not be so accurate next time, a slight slip, and no more spoiled witch". Khy
said with a strange sort of smile.
-----
Qara stomped off to her room while the rest of the group huddled around Sand. "Aredhel", Khy began, "I am not worthy of this honor". She knew this
man contained a great wealth of knowledge and experience, gathered throughout his years. She had always held the Elven people in very high esteem,
and wished this man to know of her admiration. "My dear girl", Sand replied, "If you were not worthy, the offer would not have been made". "And",
he continued, "I am not a noble elf, though your elvish is quite good". "I suggest that you go and see this Sir Grayson", he said, "Become his
squire, and then we will speak with Lord Nasher". Khy gathered her equipment and turned to go, telling her companions she would see them soon.