They stumbled and fell, breathless with exhaustion and pain into the small woodland clearing. Torio held her arm where a jagged knife wound bled mercilessly into the surrounding fabric, soaking it. Blood mixed with tears ran down her face and her auburn hair was matted with it. She lay in a pile of leaves, fighting the sobs that rose up in her chest.

Khelgar collapsed near her, cursing a dwarven blue streak as he broke off and pushed free an arrow that had pierced the flesh of his leg.

Moments later, Neeshka crept in, limping, where she had barely dodged a vicious blow from a mace which would have shattered her leg and doomed her. She wiped sweat and tears from her crimson eyes and looked around at her friends.

A displacement of air signalled the arrival of the wizard, and he very nearly fell over as he materialized. He was panting, trying to suck in as much air as possible, a head wound bleeding down the side of his face. His hair was in disarray, and he swiped at it as his vision cleared. He saw his beloved lying on the ground and stumbled over to her side. The blood he saw all over her frightened him and he ran his hands across her body, looking for the wounds.

"Torio...oh gods, Torio..."

He remembered that she had shoved him out of the way as a Luskan slashed out with a weapon of some sort...knife? sword? and taken the worst of it. He had been able to make short work of that fool but not quick enough to save Torio from injury. She had fought like a cornered wild animal, and in the short time they had been fighting to free themselves from Luskan, he saw shades of what she had once been, saw the extent to which she had had to learn to survive life in the slums of that cursed place. It wrenched at his heart to think she had been willing to return in order to help her friend. How wrong he had been about her, how grateful to get a chance to make it up to her.

He saw her try and lift her head up to look at him, and forced a smile.

"There you are my love. We will have all this fixed up in no time."

She was beyond relieved to see him, and with a deep painful sigh fell back into the leaves, eyes closed.

They had sat or lain, not speaking, catching their breath, working through the shock of the attack. Torio eventually sat up, allowing Sand to tear strips off her skirt to bind her wound.

They had not been able to retrieve their mounts, and had had to run, injured as they were, as fast and as far as they could. They had been pursued for awhile, and Khelgar had taken the arrow to his leg, but eventually the Luskans gave up on them. Chasing a bunch of dissenters didnt interest them.

A grey wolf bounded into the midst of them, and right behind him, limped the ranger Bishop. He knew he had promised Kyrie to leave if she commanded him to, but his heart wouldnt let him. He had stayed, watching her, loving her silently. He stood in the shadows and saw her lonliness, her grief, her despair. He heard the news that Casavir was alive and imprisoned, heard the bits and pieces of their plan to free him from Luskan. In no way would his conscience allow him to stand by and let them go it alone, so he had helped, unbeknownst to them, and followed them to Luskan. He was glad he did, for their mess of a plan had not gone very well.

His eyes were glittering, cold and hard as he surveyed the would-be rescuers. Disgust marred his features and he shook his head slowly.

"What. In the nine hells. WAS THAT?" he shouted the last, fury erupting in his voice.

Four shocked faces stared at him in disbelief. A thousand questions raced through their collective minds, but the adrenaline from the battle dropping off them and the severity of some of their wounds taxed what was left of their energy and senses.

"Am I seein' the walkin' dead? What are ye on about, traitor?" Khelgar stood up, facing him. Injured or not he wasnt about to take any guff from him of all people after what they had just been through. They might not have the strength to fight but the dwarf would be damned to allow him to walk all over them.

"That travesty you dared to call a rescue!" yelled the ranger.

"Travesty? I didnt see you in there helping us. Oh wait, that wouldnt happen would it, Bishop? You were in there probably trying to get us killed for the THIRD time! I was happier when I thought you were dead!" Neeshka stood beside Khelgar, favoring her leg, her tail swishing angrily from side to side. Bishop gristled at her.

"That's exactly the point! You didnt SEE me! Oh I was there, demon. I was in there emptying my quiver into the Luskan dogs that were about to slice your throat, which wouldnt have been happening if they hadnt SEEN you either!" he was yelling, waving his arms. He turned to Torio, his eyes narrowed.

"And YOU, ambassador. Luskan's most famous person. You THOUGHT you could WALK into that city, much less attract attention to your bloody self and no one would recognize you? WHAT in the hells kind of moronic thought process spawned that? GAH!" He raised his bow and nocked an arrow, pointing it straight at her.

"Your stupidity almost cost every one of us our lives! I should kill you right here and save us ALL from suffering you anymore!"

The invisible blast knocked Bishop straight off his feet. With an involuntary yelp he slammed into a tree and slid down. Sand teleported straight in front of him, despite the fact he could barely even keep himself upright. Bishop had never seen the wizard enraged before, and seeing the look in his eyes he hoped he never would again.

"Dont. You. Ever. EVER. threaten Torio, or any of us, AGAIN, or by Mystra I swear to you, you shall wish for the Wall and oblivion and not be indulged."

He teleported back to the others, taking the battered Torio in his arms. After a moment, Bishop struggled to his feet, and walked back to where his bow lay on the ground and picked it up. His anger sated, he scratched at Karnwyr's ears as the wolf sat beside him, leaning against his leg.

"He wasnt there, was he," Bishop said matter-of-factly. The assembled group all looked at one another. In their haste to retreat from the city, no one had yet stopped to realize that part of their plan hadnt quite worked out. They looked at the wizard, and sadly Sand shook his head.

"I teleported into the raknah during all that chaos. With the wizards busy with Torio their magic field was weak. There were four empty cells. Cloaked, I saw two guards inside one of them." He looked at his friends each in turn, sadness in his blue eyes.

"And...?" prompted Bishop, not liking what he was hearing.

"They were grumbling about their being ordered to clean out the cell."

The smell was horrendous. Sand did his best not to breathe too deeply or too quick. He doubted the dull minded guards would sense him, but just the same he stood motionless in the shadows, the magical cloak around him hiding him from prying eyes. His own vision was hampered by the cloak; it was as though he were looking through a monochromatic reflecting pool, everything ebbing and flowing around him, devoid of all color. He ventured a few steps forward, and hearing nothing continued on down the darkened corridor, the few torches remaining casting a very poor light.

"Why in the 'ells do we have to clean this damn cell?" the coarse voice of a guard assaulted his ears.

"Cuz that cursed paladin got himself killed is why. Idiot drowned in a puddle." came the reply.

"Some 'ero 'e turned out to be...ne'er lasted 'alf a year. If that's the best Neverwinter 'as for 'eroes I say we go in and take that city."

"Yeah."

The icy vice grip that squeezed Sand's heart almost made him break his concentration and drop his cloak. He suddenly needed to be as far away as possible from this place. Chanting softly he teleported himself out...

There was a heavy, oppressive silence.

"C...Casavir is really dead?" Neeshka's eyes were large and her voice trembled.

Sand nodded, resting his cheek against Torio's matted hair where she had buried her face in his neck.

"Where is Kyrie?" asked the little tiefling softly.

Bishop backed away into the shadows, and they heard his barely perceptible footfalls as he ran off into the darkness. They all breathed a collective sigh of relief and hoped that was the last they would see of that monster.

"She was at the back of the battle durin' the fightin'" said Khelgar. "Mayhap she didnt want to get seen, what bein' all famous and all, and I yelled at her to get out. Gave her the code I did. She woulda got away faster then us I imagine."

"Im sure not looking forward to telling Kyrie about Casavir." said the tiefling softly, wiping her eyes and streaking blood and tears across her face. "I guess...lets go home. Im too wired to sleep here and I dont feel safe."

"No worries, tiefling." said the dwarf. "They canna be bothered with us. They saw Torio there, they wouldna suspect her of havin' anythin' to do with the paladin. We didna start fightin' til everyone else did, and street fights in Luskan are always goin' on. Leastwise the fool that saw her got me axe in his head and wont be gettin' up te tell the tale."

"Still, I dont feel safe. Im going home, alone if need be. We need to find Kyrie and I bet shes going to ride hell bent for leather back to the Keep and thats where Im going to be."

Sand smoothed the hair back from Torio's face. She looked very pale, her eyes unnaturally bright. He didnt have the strength to teleport himself and her anywhere, and she didnt look able to walk a single step let alone the great distance to the Keep.

"Im sorry, Neeshka, but Torio is badly injured and she cant travel." Sand lowered his beloved gently to the ground, and sat down himself, his back against a large rock. She lay her head on his lap and he stroked her matted hair.

Khelgar moved over near the elf and sat down himself, his back against the same rock, his blood stained axe on his lap. Neeshka sighed resignedly, her tail twitching in agitation, and not wanting to be out in the open, curled up in front of Sand and Khelgar.

In sorrow and pain, the friends fell into a fitful sleep.

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Kyrie rode to the outer edge of the Keep as though pursued by the nine hells. The stallion was covered in foam, his nostrils flaring, the other horse she ponied behind her in the same condition. Having been separated from her friends during the unexpected battle in Luskan, Kyrie knew Sand had gone into the prison with the intent of retrieving her beloved. When all of the hells broke loose, she had gotten shoved to the fringes of the battle. She had heard Khelgar yell at her to go to ground, their code for "get out". Under no circumstances did she wish to engage in combat in her delicate condition, but when the fighting started her blood boiled. She had backed out of the city by way of the chaos and the shadows and headed for the horses.

She had waited for the others to show up, but since their original plan had gone awry the backup was that she get out of there and they would meet up at the Keep. Sand was confident that he had enough potions to stabilize Casavir if need be and give himself enough boosts to make it back. He would be a terribly sick mess when he arrived, but he would arrive. Elixirs and potions were not something to take in abundance if one valued their stomach contents.

Riding wasnt exactly a comfortable endeavor, but Razelique's remarkably smooth gaits made it much easier on her body. She knew once Casavir was safely ensconced in the Keep she would not need to ride until after their child was born. Kyrie hoped that the clerics she had on standby would be able to patch him up, the truth was she had no idea how badly hurt he would be. I beg you good Tyr, protect him so I may look upon his face once more, she had prayed over and over on the ride back.

As Kyrie rode up to the gates her eyes fell on her friends. The fact that they had arrived before her was a testimony to Sand's vast power. He looked pale, shaky and exhausted. She thanked the gods none of them had been killed or worse, left behind in Luskan. They stood awkwardly, dirt and blood still on their faces and their armor, no doubt watching for her. Neeshka and Khelgar each favored a leg, Sand had dried blood and cuts on his face, and Torio was bruised, cut and held a bandaged arm.

As she drew nearer, Kyrie saw the look in their eyes. Sand and Torio exchanged glances and stood just that much closer. Neeshka put an arm around the dwarf's shoulders. Kyrie's eyes scanned the area for signs of a wolf, or even Bishop, but there was none. You did tell him to leave you to your life, she reminded herself. For once, he probably did exactly as you told him to.

She slowed the horses to a walk, and they hung their heads, stretching their necks and backs. Kyrie's eyes never left Sand's as she halted before him. Her voice was soft and shaky.

"Is...is he ok? Are the clerics working on him? Althraion?"

Sand looked up at her, his sky blue eyes telling her a story she didnt want to hear. She shook her head.

"N...no. Not dead."

"Kyrie...we were wrong. He wasnt there."

"He was there! The intel cant have been wrong...where is he now?"

Intel! People can be wrong, but not my heart! My heart wouldnt lie to me! I saw the visions, I SAW my Cassi in that prison! I know he was there! Her heart screamed at her.

No one responded, they just looked sorrowfully at her, letting her mind fill in the gaps their words could not. Finally Torio stepped closer.

"I was here, after the battle with the King of Shadows, when the shadows receded and we knew...we knew you had prevailed. I was here for the...the funeral cortege, it was beautiful, Ky. Yours...and Casavir's."

Torio looked out past the Keep to a hillside, and raised her good arm and pointed.

"The people wanted you both buried where they could all come and pay their respects, not just the nobility. Lord Nasher refused to allow your burial there but he...but he allowed Casavir's. Its...its a beautiful stone, Kyrie, Casavir would have loved it on that hillside overlooking this Keep that he loved so much, and being visited by all these people he swore to protect."

Kyrie was staring at her friend, her eyes hollow, as if hearing a story about a man and his goat cart. Her head turned to that hillside, and the devastation in her eyes when she turned momentarily back to them caught the breath in all their throats.

Sand lay a hand on her calf, and made a decision to spare his beloved friend any more pain.

"Kyrie...we dont think he was ever there, in that prison. We were wrong, the rumors were wrong, thats the whole of it. Lord Nasher had him buried with much ceremony up on that hill after the battle. It...if it has to be this way, at least we know he died saving us all. That is a legacy Casavir would have been honored to leave us with."

Kyrie knew her friend was lying to her. Lying to her to spare her any more pain, as if that were even possible.

Kyrie side stepped the stallion away from them and turned towards the hill.

She saw the stone from the bottom of the hillside, up there on the rock wall. She saw the scatterings of flowers, gifts of love from the people Casavir had died saving. Her breath came in short gasps, and she slid from Razelique's back, trembling. It was only a short distance up the hillside but to Kyrie it looked like 100 miles. Torio came along behind her, slowly, gingerly holding her injured arm. Sand put his arms around Torio from behind, holding her close, stopping her from moving towards Kyrie.

"Beloved, this is something she needs to do on her own. This is Kyrie's journey." he whispered to her.

"I know, Althraion...but this is horrible. Gods, this is a nightmare."

Neeshka limped up slowly behind them, Khelgar beside her. His wound bled fiercely, leaving a trail of blood, but he paid it no mind despite the pain. It must never be said that an Ironfist was a wimp, he thought to himself. He stood sorrowfully beside the tiefling, who had her hand affectionately on his shoulder again. He looked up at the little demon who had won his respect and his friendship and was glad that she was there.

The warhorse Razelique, the strange stallion she had somehow aquired, who would normally follow Kyrie, didnt move as the Knight Captain walked slowly up the hill, one hand on the hilt of her sword, her eyes on the terrible grave marker above her. This isnt Cassi, she told herself. You know he is not dead. You feel it in your heart, your soul. Hes not gone. This is a mistake. Step by slow, tortured step Kyrie de Chantraine climbed that hill. She reached the rock wall and saw the beautiful crest of Tyr on the stone, the blood red roses, the seal of Neverwinter, and there on the lower part of the marker she saw his name: Casavir de Chantraine.

She fell to her knees, stabbing her sword into the earth between the rocks, a gesture of supplication to her beloved Tyr. Her other hand slammed across her midsection, feeling the hard metal of her armor.

"Caaasavir!" her friends below heard the almost unearthly screaming wail tear from her lips.

"NO! No! Cassi!" the screaming made Torio turn with a sob and bury her face in Sand's shoulder as he held her tight, tears threatening to fall from his own eyes. Khelgar turned his head into Neeshka's side, and the tiefling closed her eyes as her own tears flowed free.

Kyrie fell onto the rocks, then crawled up on the stone, touching it, stroking it, as if doing so would connect her to her soul mate, her paladin, her love. She was alternately hysterical with grief, clawing and tearing at the stone, crying out his name, and that of her god, Tyr, or sobbing in a heap on the foot of the stone. Breathless, her face wet with tears and dirt she screamed his name once more and collapsed in a sobbing mess.

The friends moved towards her when a grey and brown figure suddenly ran past them.

"I got her...just wait. I got her." said Bishop, stopping and holding an arm out at the group of them.

"What in the nine hells? Bishop!" Sand stared at him. He was sure they had seen the last of the ranger in the forest that night. The wizard raised his hands and prepared an incantation. Torio's face registered complete shock.

Bishop sprinted up the hill to Kyrie and fell at her side, Karnwyr beside him, trying to lick her face. Sand began chanting a fire spell, fierce anger now on his face, when Torio suddenly grabbed his hands and pointed.

Bishop had gathered Kyrie into his arms, his cheek against her forehead, her hair disheveled and sticking to her face. Her cries softened as he rocked her, saying something only she could hear. Kyrie raised one arm and put it around Bishop's neck and held onto him, occasionally kicking out a leg as she continued to cry piteously.

Sand glanced at Torio in puzzlement. Bishop? With Kyrie? What? How? Yes, he had said he assisted in the battle with the Luskans but it was a mystery why. The mystery deepend as they saw Bishop put out an arm towards them and beckon them over with his hand while he rocked and held Kyrie. They ran to her side, pushing the need to deal with him aside for the moment.

"Kyrie, Kyrie..." murmured Bishop softly to her. "Im here, I got you." He looked up at Torio and pointed at her then at Kyrie's armor. She gave him a hard look but he raised his eyebrows at her, and when she continued to stare at him mouthed the words 'take it off'. Torio put her feelings about the ranger aside and started one handedly digging for the straps that held the armor in place and piece by piece began stripping it off her friend.

"Kyrie, look you arent alone. Karnwyr is here. Sand, Torio, Neeshka and Khelgar." Bishop rocked her gently, holding her tightly against him, the cotton shirt she wore beneath the armor soaked with sweat. Kyrie keened and wailed, devoid of energy, clutching Bishop as though he were a lifeline.

Torio curled herself against Kyrie, her head on her upper arm. "Ky...Im here for you. Me and Sand. We're going to take care of you."

Sand gently stroked Kyrie's leg, the only part of her he could reach after shoving the wolf aside. He spoke soft words of comfort, trying to ignore the sharp rocks digging into his own painful body.

Neeshka and Khelgar crawled up.

"Hey lass, we're all here for ye. This is a family aye. A family that sticks together and takes care of one another." said the dwarf gently.

Bishop cleared the damp hair away from Kyrie's face and looked down at her in his arms. His amber eyes filled with love and compassion, and he thanked the gods again for her, for being able to see her, hold her, comfort this woman he had loved for so long. Torio saw the look in his eyes, and as much as she hated him, she recognized that look. It was the same way Sand gazed at her. Something had changed in Bishop. Something very major.

Kyrie lay limply, sobbing, moaning, staring up at him, the sunset eyes red and swollen. His amber eyes locked onto hers and he started softly singing to her, smiling softly, his gaze not wavering for a moment. Sand had never seen him smile before, and would have thought it not possible were he not witnessing it for himself. Like Torio, he had seen the change in the ranger's eyes when he looked at the little paladin. It was not a look he was accustomed to seeing on him, and he viewed it with suspicion.

Kyrie raised a hand and stroked the side of Bishop's face. Despite the pain in her eyes, there was something else too...if they didnt know better they all would have said it looked like love. Sand and Torio exchanged confused glances but didnt say anything. Answers would be forthcoming later on, of that Sand would make sure.

Bishop arranged Kyrie in his arms and stood up, holding her very close, still singing softly. She held onto him, burying her face in his neck as he walked slowly down the hill towards the horses. Karnwyr followed, whining very softly. Torio picked up the bits of armor and Khelgar retrieved the sword, attaching it all to Kyrie's horse, leading the beast behind the ranger. Torio took the reins of Casavir's warhorse, and walked beside Sand several paces behind Razelique and Khelgar, Neeshka bringing up the rear crying quietly as Bishop carried their Captain and friend back to the Keep.