Casavir was starting to get worried. Chantal was taking her time. Maybe he should go and check on her? He'd never felt quite easy letting her out of his sight since he discovered Bishop at the inn, but he could not let her notice. Admittedly, he had not seen hair nor hide of the ranger since that memorable conversation at the Boar's Head. But that was not saying much. Bishop would not be seen if he did not want to.
Maybe you should really go and see if she is alright.
Battling with indecision, he started chewing on his nails. If he followed Chantal, it might create an... awkward situation. And she would be mad. She did not like to be treated like a damsel. And he would have to explain why he had been worried...
On the other hand, if the ranger was somewhere around, she could be in great danger. Casavir did not believe her capable of dealing with Bishop as necessary. She always had had a soft spot for the scoundrel, and she would probably hesitate. And maybe she was simply too shocked to react quick enough...
The last thought settled it. He would go and check. He could always say he was worried about Luskan scouts.
Ve-ry elastic.
It's not a lie. I am worried about Luskan scouts.
Oh yes, Neeshka would be so proud. Thinking of her sent a pang through his heart, but he shoved it to the side. First things first.
He got up, collected his weapons and started in the direction Chantal had walked. Just as he reached the edge of their camp, he heard footsteps ahead. He stopped, thinking with relief that she was coming back at last. He could not believe his eyes when he saw that cursed ranger coming round the bend. Of all the nerve! Casavir tightened his grip around his hammer. That did it. He was going to bash that bastard's skull in and hide the cadaver in the woods!
He strode forward, anger burning in him. "You son of a bitch, I told you what would happen if you showed your face again! What did you do to her? This time, I really am going to bash your brains out! Get your weapons and defend yourself!"
The ranger just lifted his head and shot him an ironic look. Then something was thrown from behind him, and two scimitars clattered to the ground. "You mean these?", Chantal's voice rang out.
Oh. And there also was the strange way Bishop kept his hands behind his back... like they were bound. And there was a nasty gash along his left cheek, and blood on his face... Casavir swallowed and looked up to Chantal, meeting her cold, steely stare. "And I have to say, you seem not altogether surprised to see him", she added, a chill in her voice.
"Well, I..." Casavir stuttered, trying to explain something that up to now had seemed perfectly logical to him.
The ranger smirked. "Well now, there something your sweetheart did not tell you, songbird? Maybe he was afraid..."
He broke off with a surprised yell as a vicious kick to the back of his knees threw him off his feet. Not being able to use his hands to break his fall, he landed heavily on the ground, face down. Ouch. Casavir involuntarily winced in sympathy.
"You can stop spreading your venom now, Bishop, because I'm done listening to you.", she hissed. "There might have been a time I was receptive for it, but now I know you for the nasty viper you are. So spare your breath, and spare my ears. Otherwise I might be tempted to remove your tongue."
The cold menace in her voice sent a shiver down Casavir's spine. He'd never seen her like this.
So maybe I was wrong about her not being able to handle him.
Bishop lifted his head and spat out some dirt. Sand, grass, leaves and little stones clung to his face, sticking in the blood left by the gash. He shot her a look of pure fury, clenching his jaw so much that the muscles on his cheeks stood out, but did not utter any word.
"I..." Casavir started, but she stopped him with a motion of her hand, throwing him her sword instead. "Keep him in check", she ordered. "And you – don't move a muscle, understood?"
Casavir saw fire ignite in the eyes of the ranger, but Bishop just shrugged and looked down again. Chantal started rummaging in her backpack until she had found the length of rope she carried. She knelt down behind her captive and started to open the bounds on his wrists. Casavir saw a muscle twitching in Bishop's face. It probably hurt like hell as the blood started flowing again, but the ranger made no sound.
"Lie down on your side", came her commanding voice. Bishop growled, but did as he was told, and she swiftly and efficiently laid a noose around his neck, then tied his hands and feet together behind his back with the same rope. If he tried to wriggle out of the bonds, the ranger would risk strangling himself.
"If I were you, I would try not to move too much", she told him coldly. Then she looked at Casavir, pointing her head to the other edge of the camp. "Talk", she said, her voice equally cold.
Casavir followed her, nervous and confused. He did not know this cold, cruel woman she had turned into. He did not think he liked her.
She probably is furious.
Well, that seemed to be a slight understatement. She stopped and turned to him, her eyes blazing with ice-cold fury, her face grim.
"Explain!", was all she said.
He swallowed. "I saw him at the inn. I did not want him to see you."
I did not want you to see him.
"I was afraid he would try to hurt you again. So I chased him off. Or thought I did. As long as he thought you were dead, he was no danger to you."
"That worked well", she said acidly.
Casavir inhaled deeply, looking her in the eyes. "I am sorry for angering you, my lady. But I did what I thought best. I was trying to protect you, like I could not do last time. I did not want to fail you again. I might have erred in my way of handling things, but my intention was only to spare you pain."
She held his gaze defiantly for a moment, then her expression softened, and she sighed, her hand running through her tousled hair tiredly. "No, I am sorry for snapping at you like this. But you should have told me. To see him walking up to me, brazenly...", her voice broke, and he took a step and hugged her close.
"I'm sorry", he whispered. "It was exactly what I was trying to spare you."
Chantal leaned her head on his shoulder for a moment, seeking solace. He had taken off his armour, and she could feel the warmth of his body through his shirt, felt the rippling of his strong muscles. She sighed inwardly. If only she could have loved him, things would have been so much easier.
But her heart had never stopped at the sight of Casavir the way it had stopped when she saw Bishop stepping out of the trees. The last light of the sun had glinted on his mahogany hair and reflected in his hazel eyes, and for a second, it was as if the last year had just been wiped away, and she only wanted to throw herself at him and breathe his scent again. Then it all came rushing back, and she felt fury rise, murderous fury, made worse by being partly directed at herself for her weakness.
And that fury had given her exactly the edge she needed for dealing with the traitor.
And it kept the pain away.
Angry again with herself, she stepped back a bit and looked Casavir squarely in the eyes. "He's coming with us", she stated, matter-of-factly.
"What?", he exploded, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "No way!"
"Yes, he is", she replied sharply. "He might be our only chance to rescue Neeshka. He might get us into Luskan unnoticed. He knows the city, we do not. And he has contacts, contrary to us. So we need his help. I won't risk Neeshka because of my pride. And neither would you. I know that. So get over it and don't argue."
He still stared, unbelieving, raising his voice in anger. "He might be able to do that, but what the hells does make you think he will? He'll just betray us again and hand us over to Luskan. There's probably a more than tempting reward on our heads! I'll not have it!"
Chantal flinched a bit at the unfamiliar sound of the paladin swearing. He must be very upset. Well, no wonder.
She took a step towards him and took both his hands in hers, squeezing softly. "Please, think it through", she said, trying to sound reasonable. "He came to me, offering his help. He obviously eavesdropped on us, he knew everything. I did not want to listen to him, but I have to admit, his help might be our only chance."
"You might remember the way he helped us last time?", Casavir asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
She met his gaze openly. "I remember very well, that's why he is trussed up nice and tight. But he's right, you know. We'll never make it even through the city gates. And he can get us in. I don't know why he offered, I'm sure he has a perfectly selfish reason. But we can't rescue Neeshka on our own. So I'll take the risk. I have to." She paused. "I would understand if you won't come with. But then I'll go with him alone. I owe it to Neeshka to do everything I can."
Casavir sighed in defeat. "Very well", he said, gloomily. "But have you considered that he might be the reason she is in trouble?"
She wrinkled her nose, thinking. "It might be", she admitted. "But then he still would be our best chance of finding her. Moreover, I don't really believe it. Neeshka's letter did not sound like something concerning Bishop. It sounded concerning Luskan guards. And Luskan guards is something Bishop has to be wary of, too. So no, I don't think he is responsible. That does not mean I trust him. But I have to go with him."
"As my lady commands", the paladin said, voice heavy with sorrow.