Squeezing through the last opening out in what passed for a street in these ruins, ignoring the way the stone scraped over his prized armour, Casavir could feel his heart beating frantically in his chest. Normally he would have winced at the grating sound that promised dents and scrapes on his beloved piece of metal, but this time, he barely registered it.
What would the news be? Where was Neeshka? Did they save her? Had they been too late? Would he still lose her, now, after her rescue had seemed so near? Could fate play a jest as cruel as this on him, letting his hope rise, only to utterly crush it again? In the back of his head, the possibility that they might walk into a trap still tried to get his attention, but he could not care. If this was a trap, then Neeshka would be lost. And if Neeshka was lost, he did not care if he lived or died.
You still care if Chantal lives or dies.
That was true. He did. And he had tried to prevent the worst when they started on this reckless mission. But after they had come this far… he could see nothing else he could do but hope that, miraculously, the ranger would choose not to stab their backs this time. And he had to admit that now, when the goal seemed so near, he started to believe in that possibility.
Wanted to believe. So much.
As they came round the bend, the two men standing in front of the hideout turned their heads. A few steps more, and the second one in the Luskan uniform gave a high pitched little squeal, propelled himself forward, past Bishop and Chantal, who marched front, and practically threw himself into Casavir's arms. His arms went around Casavir's neck, and his mouth pressed against his.
Neeshka!
He would recognise that voice, that scent anywhere. His arms caught him… her, crushed her against his body and kissed her back, his eyes closed, relief and joy making his knees weak.
Eventually, he opened his eyes and looked down into a very male face. With beard. He drew back a bit, a small, happy smile appearing on his face. "This is very disturbing", he said.
She giggled, shook herself a bit, and the illusion fell away. He stared into her pretty face, the face he had been nearly sure he'd never see again, and a tremor went through him. He had been so close, so close to losing her forever.
"Never, never do that to me again", he whispered, his voice shaking, tears welling up in his eyes.
Her smile vanished. She took her hand from his neck and tenderly stroked his face. "I promise", she said softly. "I'm so sorry."
He gave a shaking sigh, pulling her closer, his mouth searching for hers again.
I've got her back. Merciful gods, I thank you all.
xxx
Chantal stood, watching the scene unfold before her eyes with a happy smile on her face. The sight of Casavir kissing a Luskan guard was priceless indeed, but she was too touched by their joy to be able to really appreciate it. Then Neeshka let the illusion go, and there she was, horns and all.
Chantal was more glad than she could ever tell. Neeshka was back. Casavir would be fine. Everything would be well again. The sight of her two friends, rejoicing in their reunion, made her happy, too. But mixed into her joy was also a small pang of regret.
Involuntarily, her eyes sought Bishop, who was staring at Neeshka and Casavir with a thunderstruck expression on his face. The sight was so funny Chantal nearly laughed. Then, as if feeling her gaze, he turned his face to her, disbelieve still obvious in his eyes. He stared at her, as if waiting for an explanation. She gave him a crooked little smile, turned back to her friends and started walking over to them.
They were so completely lost to the world, they did not register her steps when she approached, so she demonstratively cleared her throat, smiling a bit. Casavir lifted his head, looking abashed, colour rising in his cheeks, but Neeshka grinned like a Cheshire cat. Chantal took the last step that separated her from them, and hugged them both.
"I swear, Neeshka, if you ever play us such a trick again, I will kill you personally", she growled, the smile on her face belying her words.
"I won't, I promise", Neeshka squeaked, including Chantal in the embrace. "I'm so sorry, I really am. I did not want to do it, I did not, but they said they were going to send assassins after Casavir if I did not, and I could not let something happen to him, so I went anyway, even though I knew it was a bad idea, but what could I have done? These people are bad, they really are, and I was so afraid, so I…"
Casavir stopped her tirade with a finger on her mouth. "You did it because they threatened to kill me? I can't believe my ears. I'm not that easy to kill! You should never have risked your life for that. If you had come to me, we could have done something about those people." His face hardened into resolve. "As we will do now. I will make sure they get what they deserve. They will not threaten anyone ever again, I swear."
"Yes, very commendable", Chantal interrupted, "but first, we should see that we get out of this beautiful city. We should be far away when they start searching for Neeshka. Let's get going."
Neeshka giggled again. "Oh, it will be a long time before they start looking for me! It was brilliant, it really was! There was this guy coming into my cell with the jailor, and I could see he really was important, because the jailor guy was fawning all over him, and then the important guy clobbered him over the head and he fell unconscious, and then he – the important guy, not the jailor – took out some scrolls and read one on the jailor, and he turned into me, which was just so weird, and after that he gave me a scroll and told me to use it on me to make me look like the jailor, and then we just walked out, bold as brass, and it was so much fun I nearly could not stop myself from laughing… anyway, we left the jailor polymorphed into me in the cell, and he will have a hard time explaining he's not me, so…"
Chantal broke into laughter. "I should have known not even a Luskan prison would be able to quench your spirit", she said.
xxx
Bishop watched in disbelieve as the Luskan guard ran at the paladin and started kissing him.
What the heck?
He stared, not believing his eyes, until the guard turned into Neeshka.
The demon girl!
Why is she all over the paladin?
And he over her?
He had the distinct feeling that he had taken leave of his senses and started hallucinating. As if drawn by strings, his head turned to look at the ice queen, to see how she was taking this.
She was looking back at him, and a wry smile appeared on her face. One eyebrow went up, mocking him, before she turned again and walked over to her friends for a group hug.
"You look like someone punched you in the face", Vincent's voice came from beside him. "Something wrong?"
Bishop just shook his head, still to bewildered to speak.
"You're not going to join them?", Vince asked, laconically.
Bishop snorted, shaking off the stupor at last. "Not likely." He faced Vincent, whose lips were curled in an amused smile. "So – we're even then."
Vincent shrugged. "This was never about debt, and you know that."
Bishop nodded. "Thanks."
"So…", Vincent's eyes went to the group some yards away, "what's up with you and her?"
Bishop's eyes narrowed a bit. "Don't know what you are talking about", he said, very calm.
Vincent grinned. "Fine, I know that tone. I won't probe. But I remember her hair being a lot darker when I last saw her." The amusement vanished out of his eyes. "You brought the – supposedly dead – Knight Captain of Crossroad Keep to my house. If anyone would have recognised her, I would be very dead by now. I really don't appreciate that."
Bishop held his gaze coldly. "I already said I would not have done it if I had seen any other way. You going to threaten me?"
The grin reappeared on Vincent's face. "Me? No, I like living too much. But that is also the reason I have to tell you I don't like what you did."
Bishop relaxed a bit. "Agreed. Won't happen again."
"Good." Vincent glanced back at the other three. "Still – word is, you betrayed her. Some say you even killed her with your own hands. So, what are you doing here, risking your life for her and her friends?"
"None of your business." Bishop's voice was cold.
Vincent smiled, sadly. "So, that the case, is it?"
"What? What do you mean?"
Vincent shook his had, sighing slighty. "And I thought I would never live to see the day."
"What the nine hells are you talking about?" Bishop's voice rose, the calm gone.
"What, me? Nothing, just rambling idly", Vincent replied, now a sly grin on his face.
Bishop drew a deep breath, ready to give the bastard a piece of his mind, and, if he did not stop his cryptic remarks that second, punch him in the nose, when out of the corner of his eyes he saw the ice queen disentangle herself from her friends and walk over to Vincent and him. He forced himself to relax. No need to let her see something was amiss.
She came over, all smiles, warm glow in her blue eyes, and held out her hand to Vincent.
"Thanks. We owe you so much. Know that if you ever need it, you will have friends in Neverwinter."
You owe him? I can't believe I'm hearing this!
Vincent took her hand, smiling also. "Good to know, Knight Captain. There might be a time I will take you up on that offer."
Brown-noser!
"Don't call me that", she replied. "The Knight Captain of Crossroad Keep is dead, and she will stay that way. But as for Chantal Addams, you have made a friend today."
Vincent nodded and let go of her hand. "Bishop," he said. "You could learn some manners from her."
Ugh.
"If you are done licking her boot, can we be off?", he snapped.
xxx
Chantal watched Bishop from under her lashes as they walked over to Neeshka and Casavir.
What has happened now to put him into a foul mood again?
Honestly, these constant mood swings could not be healthy. She shrugged inwardly. No matter. Neeshka was restored to them, safe and sound, and she was so happy, not even Bishop's angry face could put a damper on that.
Vincent had left with a last nod to her and a knowing smile in Bishop's direction. Somehow, that smile had seemed to infuriate the ranger even more. He had just growled and turned away, walking in the direction of the hidden staircase – and the other two.
Neeshka and Casavir were still hugging each other tightly, engrossed in some quiet conversation. As Chantal and Bishop approached, they looked up. Neeshka's eyes focused on Bishop, getting very round. Then they started to blaze a deep red.
"What is he doing here?", she piped up, freeing herself from Casavir's embrace and putting her hands on her hips challengingly. "Is nobody going to punch his face?"
"Shut your mouth, demon, or I'll do it for you", Bishop snarled.
"Try it", Casavir growled.
"Can we please save that for later and get out of here first?", Chantal interrupted the display of male posturing impatiently.
"I don't understand", Neeshka said, helplessly looking at Chantal. "He killed you! Why is nobody attacking him?"
"Because he is helping us."
"What? Why?" Neeshka looked completely taken aback.
"Believe me, goat girl, I'm starting to wonder that myself!"
Chantal rolled her eyes. "Do we really want to waste time here, bickering like children, while they might already have started looking for us?"
"No, we don't", Casavir spoke up.
Ah, at last. The voice of reason.
"Thank you", she said, heartfelt. And turning to Bishop: "Would you please lead the way?"
He glowered at Neeshka one last time, then wordlessly marched in the direction of the secret door. Chantal followed him. Behind her, she could hear Casavir and Neeshka falling into step.
"I really don't understand", she heard Neeshka whispering to Casavir. "Why are we not killing him?"
"Long story", he rumbled. "I'll explain it to you later. After we are safely away from this place. I'm not going to risk losing you now."
"'All right", she said. "But that better be one hell of an explanation!"
Before her, Bishop had reached the seemingly smooth wall that held the secret door. Confidently, he pressed a stone and again, the rumbling sounded, a portion of the wall moved aside, and darkness loomed ahead.
Well, Chantal thought, here we go again.