Sorry to all that have been reading and bearing with me. I have somewhat lost the thread so let's see if we can't pick it up again!! Nothing gets the story going like some violence so…
-Chapter Thirty Four –
They rode into the keep, quickly dismounting to be greeted with cheering and smiles.
"Good news travels fast I see," Lana grinned. As she turned to head up to the keep, she caught sight of two new faces through the hustle and bustle of the townfolk and soldiers going about their various duties. Bevil stood looking scared and uncertain as he kept at a distance against a wall. Daeghun approached her quickly across the small clearing, Bishop at his side as they turned from their conversation together.
"Father, you're alive! We returned to West Harbor and found no sign of either you or Bevil."
"Deaghun has brought some interesting news for you I think," Bishop smirked, looking pleased to be in on a secret. His eyes gleamed amber and Casavir thought he had the look of the cat that ate the canary.
"Yes daughter, it was fortuitous we both decided to seek you out. I had decided to do some investigating on my own and young Bevil had left town several days ahead of me. He was not hard to catch up to."
Bevil had joined their side at Deaghun's approach. He blushed crimson at the older man's words.
"Anyhow, I come with news for your druidess, Elanee I believe. I have learned that her circle might yet survive in the Mere. There has been some most… peculiar activity but there is news the druids might yet remain. I thought the information might prove useful to you."
Lana nodded. "Elanee will be pleased to hear such news and you are correct. It could prove useful to us. Thank you father."
"I'll track them, search out the druids and return word to you with whatever I find," Bishop said, thrusting his shoulders back.
Lana smiled, "I know Bishop. You are the best tracker I know but I need you here to help with the archers. We'll discuss this later."
Bishop glared but held back a rebuttal.
Lana turned her attention to Bevil. "Bevil, I… What brings you here?" Lana looked uncertainly at her old friend.
Bevil ears pinked at the tips. "I, um… after you left mother was most distraught but I know she said things she didn't mean." He sighed heavily before continuing. "I know what you had with Lorne. I don't know what he did after he left but I intend to right the name Starling. If you will allow me, I wish to serve and help you in your cause Lana."
Her face was solemn as she stepped forward clasping his upper arm hard. "I would be honored to have you with us Bevil. We could use a good man to fight with us. Welcome and let this be called home to you if you will."
Bevil's lips tightened as he struggled with his emotions, bobbin his head in thanks. Lana continued, "I will speak with Kana immediately and have you instated as a sergeant. We could use a man with your skills to train our men. See the quartermaster and collect any gear you desire or need." She paused briefly then reached out catching the man unaware in a tight bear hug. "Welcome to my keep Bevil," she said grinning.
Casavir chuckled behind her, stepping forward with an outstretched hand. "Indeed, welcome Bevil. I have heard much about you. It is good to put a face to the man."
Bevil clasped Casavir's proffered hand, looking in askance at Lana. She beamed wrapping one hand through Casavir's other arm. "Bevil, I would like you to meet Casavir. He is my companion, the one I hold most dear above all others. It gives me great joy for you both to meet." The paladin looked down into her eyes with a warm smile before returning his attention to Bevil, giving the other man's hand a firm shake.
Lana pulled lightly on Casavir's arm. "We had best check in with Kana. I'm sure she has been made aware of the changes and we need to get back to work." She nodded to Daeghun and Bevil. "We can talk and catch up later at the pub if you desire."
Casavir and Lana headed to the keep to return to Lana's office, turning their backs to the three men. Bishop stalked off, a look of hated and loathing causing his amber wolf eyes to flicker menacingly.
Once returning to Lana's small but comfortable office, Casavir sat in a chair off to the side of Lana's desk. He sat with both elbows propped on his thighs, leaning over with fingers interlaced. The paladin and rogue gave their full attention to Kana. She stood rigidly before Lana's desk, her face set in her usual expression of hard determination.
Kana gave a full report along with the news a priest of Tyr, Ivarr the Blessed, asking permission to dedicate the church in the courtyard to Tyr. Lana smiled widely at Casavir after making the necessary arrangements to send word to Master Veedle to clean, refurbish and reopen the building as quickly as possible.
"This will be a boost to the keep's morale. A church will help center the people and unite them."
"And I'm sure you are most disappointed to have one dedicated to Tyr," Lana teased.
Casavir nodded, a slight smile crossing his lips.
"Indeed. You have seen through me my lady."
After several days at the keep, Nevalle arrived unexpectedly at their gates bringing word from Lord Nasher that Lana and her companions were to gather alliances for the inevitable battle ahead. After Nevalle exited the office, Ammon Jerro came in briefly to divulge information that could prove useful to finally reforge the silver shards. It meant a trek into the mountains to seek out an aged crystal dragon. Lana had raked Ammon over the proverbial coals for withholding such vital information but the warlock only shrugged off her verbal assault with a gruff grunt in reply before exiting her office.
Lana was called out of her office to the main doors of the keep by a courier who would not come into the keep proper. With a shrug, Casavir and Lana left her office, curious at such unusual summons. Once outside the doors, a scared pale messanger bore a request only Lana, Qara and Zhjaeve accompany him to meet his mistress, Syndey Natale. He stuttered and stammered but could not be swayed to allow anyone else to travel with them.
"Well this doesn't reek of 'trap' or anything does it?" Lana looked with a smirk to Casavir.
"Just promise you will be careful and come back quickly. I will be waiting for your return." He leaned over so only she could hear. "And if you hurry, I will be waiting in the bath for you."
Her eyes gleamed wickedly. "Well what am I standing here for?" She called for Qara and Zhjaeve then hastened to gather her gear. Once the three women were together, Lana ushered the courier, Khralver quickly to do his mistress' bidding.
Qara, Zhjaeve and Lana teleported to a clearing with Khralver slightly in front of them. The four stumbled slightly as the ground caught up to their feet.
"Okay, so where is your mistress and why all the secrecy? Let's get on with this," Lana shot.
"My humblest apologies. This is the place my mistress set for the…" Before he could finish, a black puff of smoke shot from the ground and a short, frumpy woman emerged with an angry looking, burly man slightly behind her.
"Impressive, but a bit of a let down at the ending," Lana commented dryly. "I'm guessing you are Sydney."
"And you are the great shard bearer and Knight Captain. I could say the same of you."
"Well now that the introductions have been made, what do you want? We have come as you so rudely requested."
Sydney ignored Lana and stepped toward Zhjaeve. She thrust out a parchment. "You, can you read this?"
Zhjaeve looked wide eyed from Lana to the short woman. Lana nodded encouragement and the githzeri cautiously took the paper. She had only read a few lines but her eyes widened even larger with surprise.
"Where did you get this?" The githzeri whispered.
Sydney shrugged. "It is of no consequence. I am assuming you can read what is contained there?" she said haughtily.
Zhjaeve nodded solemnly. "It is a list of the Shadow Reaver's true names. A powerful weapon if I understand correctly."
"You assume right. It is a list of the reaver's names. With it, they can be brought low. I have brought this to you to make an exchange." She looked to Lana again. "I wish to exchange this for something I need."
Lana cocked an eyebrow. "And that is?"
"Qara. I will give you this to aid you in your battle if you surrender the girl."
The rogue threw back her head laughing. "You want Qara? Why?"
"Hey, that's not funny!" the young sorceress snapped.
"Surrender her to me or I can make this hard. The choice is yours. Either way, I intend to take the girl."
"No sale. You can't possibly think I would barter with someone's life."
Sydney smirked, maneuvering her hands in a quick succession of casting movements. In another puff of black smoke, a dark figure emerged with glowing red eyes.
"Qara, it's you!" Zhjaeve gasped. Lana let out a low whistle of exclamation but quickly plunged forward with a flash of blue and red. Qara shot one well placed fireball into the shadowy figure as Lana cut it down. The fight was over in minutes.
Sydney stood looking in shock and horror. "My creation! You destroyed it!"
"You could say that," Lana smirked. The frumpy woman's eyes bugged out of her face.
"Get them, kill them!" Sydney squealed. Her voice was high pitched with anger and panic, sounding like a stuck pig. The man pounced with a leering grin. Lana snarled as she leapt forward. Her teeth were bared in a feral grin.
The body guard lay in a crumpled heap at Lana's feet moments later. The rogue stood, chest heaving from exertion, lips still curled in a snarl of a smile with blood dripping from her gleaming blades. Her eyes flashed darkly, the grey turned almost black. Sydney jumped as if goosed and she pivoted to flee. She ran, looking back long enough to hurtle quick spells at Lana. Qara summoned several large explosions, one landing immediately behind Sydney knocking her face down. Sydney sprawled spread eagle, face hitting the dirt with a small cloud of dust around her. A loud whomph of air was forced from her lungs as she hit the packed ground unable to catch herself as she fell. She managed to scramble quickly to her feet disappearing at the same instant Lana swung one her swords. The rogue drove her blade deeply into the dirt where the woman had lain.
Lana tore the sword free, turning hastily with a curse. Lana's expression was murderous and full of rage. Sydney was on the far side of the field, her mouth turned up with hateful mirth on her round face.
"Okay, so that's how you want to play this thing huh? You asked for it bitch," Lana growled. The rogue quickly sheathed her blades and drew her bow and arrow almost faster than the eye could register. She nocked an arrow, releasing it with a thwap of the bowstring against her leather bracer.
Sydney was faster than her round frame implied. She dissipated in the same instance the arrow whizzed by the space where her head would have been.
Muttering, Lana again drew an arrow back as she cautiously surveyed the grassy area.
"Behind you!" Qara screamed. Sydney appeared a few steps behind Lana, a dagger held high to slam into the rogue's back. Lana spun, releasing the arrow. With a dull thunk like meat under a cleaver, the fletching wavered after the arrow pierced Sydney's gaping mouth, the head emerging through the back of her neck. Blood gurgled as her hands clenched at the offending shaft. Lana swiped Bishop's hunting knife from her bandolier stepping forward and plunging the blade deep into the other woman's chest. She pushed Sydney backward, using the hilt as leverage. The rogue pulled back with a grunt of effort, releasing the blade with a sucking noise as the spellcaster fell onto her haunches, eyes still wide in surprise.
She pushed Sydney onto her side with the toe of her boot. Lana looked at the spellcaster with an expression of disgust. "Friends of yours Qara?"
Qara shook her head, her face a sickening shade of green.
Lana sighed in exasperation. She bent to snatch the parchment tucked into the dead woman's belt. "I think this is what we came for. Qara, can you get us home from here?"
The sorceress' face was still tinged green, her lips pursed tightly together into an angry white line. "Of course I can. That's child's play."
"Then do it and let's finish this," Lana snapped.
Qara was able to teleport them back to the exact spot they had left. The three women stumbled slightly as they landed in front of the large keep doors.
"I assume you will need to show that immediately to Ammon and Aldanon. Kana has reported the findings of a Shadow Reaver so we will need to make haste. I advise you to make copies so each of you may use them and for safe keeping," Lana shot brusquely. Zhjaeve nodded hurrying to the library.
Bolting to their quarters, Lana quickly unloaded her gear and hastened to the bathhouse in hopes of finding Casavir.