Sir Nevalle was sure that Castle Never was cleared of invaders, because the gates that were designed to protect the royalty had dropped back into the floor, opening the way to his Lord Nasher's side.
The grisly task of cleaning up the carnage of battle still lay ahead. The knight's heart was heavy; Many of his comrades-in-arms, some of them best friends lay dead here.
The Captain of the Neverwinter Nine approached the throne room on the run, stopping short upon entering. He could not help but stare at the scene before him. A tall figure, wearing a midnight black hooded cloak, was kneeling before his Lord Nasher.
"My Lord, I bring you a missive from Lord Halueth Never." The hooded figure's voice was high pitched; It was that of a woman, but its timbre, its formality spoke of much experience in battle.
Nasher unrolled the scroll and quickly read the message written there. He handed it to an aide and took the proffered scepter. This was the Rod of Never; Aside from being a symbol of power, it unlocked secrets that would aid the Nine in their defense of Neverwinter.
"My Lord Nasher, complements of Lord Halueth Never," the rogue intoned with solemnity, as she presented Never's greatsword to her new liege lord.
"The Rod of Never... and now... Blessing of the Daystar." Nasher's voice was filled with awe. "Come with me warrior. We have much to discuss." With that, Neverwinter's ruler opened the door to his ready-room and gestured for Neeshka to precede him.
Nevalle was aghast. "My Lord... You need an escort...This... messenger cannot be trusted." Many hands went to sheathed swords. Had Nasher been fooled?
The King turned and fixed his retainer with a stern look. "Nevalle, your concern is touching, but unwarranted in this case. If this was an assassin, I would not be living at this moment. See to the wounded and begin interment of our fallen. I want a list for a heroes proclamation. Speak with Prior Hlam about opening the Tomb of the Betrayers. I will be with you shortly."
"Yes, my Lord. Thank you, my Lord." was all the flustered knight could think of. He could not hide his resentment to being given such menial duties, so he turned away to begin his tasks.
Neverwinter's most recent ruler turned from the door and faced the apparition in black. He had no cause to fear this messenger. Passing the trials of Neverneath placed her in very august company; There was no one more loyal to king and country.
"Now, lady spirit, may I know the face of Neverwinter's chosen?" Lord Nasher asked as he crossed the room and opened a cabinet on the far wall. He drew out a large bottle of wine and two crystal goblets chased with delicate engravings showing knights battling fierce dragons.
"My Lord," she began. "I am not sure you will like what you see." She made it sound almost like a challenge.
"Well, at least allow me to make that determination for myself," was his teasing rejoinder. With swift, efficient motions, Nasher uncorked the vintage and poured for them both. The King's years at court stood him in good stead; When Neeshka removed her cloak and turned, his reaction was a broad smile. "And what is it that I will not like?" he asked passing the wine to her.
"My lord," she began, her mind was racing to keep up. "Tieflings are not well received in your realm."
"Yes, most... ...tieflings? Are possessed of evil intent." the king agreed. "But you would not be here if you intended harm to Neverwinter. The Spirits of the Nine would have eliminated you."
She looked at the wine glass, not quite sure what to do with it. "My Lord, I'm not even sure it was me who was supposed to take the test," it came out in a rush.
Nasher seemed to be pleased with her candor. "Young woman, tiefling or not, you have done what a generation of knights has failed to do. The test is not passed with skill. It is passed with heart and soul. You cannot fool the spirits. They have spoken and you have been chosen."
"My Lord, Tie... the Knight Captain of Crossroad Keep, I need to find her." Neeshka's mind was jumbled; She couldn't think. "Tiernah was at the guard-room door last I saw her." Her concern was real. Gods, I hope they found that note. How else could I justify assaulting a knight of the realm? Well, If they don't find it, it's the goat-girl in gaol for sure.
Impressed by the tiefling's concern, the king thought for a moment and then said, "Please excuse me for a moment. We'll soon find out where the Knight Captain is hiding." He crossed the room after setting his wine glass down and opened the door. "Nevalle... the Knight Captain..." the closing door cut off the rest of Nasher's orders.
The rogue sat in one of the richly upholstered chairs, sniffed the glass of wine, tasted it, and finding it to her liking, drained it. She then refilled both glasses from the bottle. The excellent vintage relaxed her. Before she knew it, the rogue had fallen fast asleep in the comfortable chair.
Luskan pirates caught up with her as she was refilling her waterskins at a stream just north of their camp near the village of Highcliff. The danger of being alone in the near-wilderness never crossed her mind. Neeshka was easy prey for the sea-born marauders. After beating her senseless, they bound her tightly and dragged her to the nearest tree.
She was being handled roughly. Punches and kicks rained down on her unprotected body. A ringing sound in her ears competed with shouted curses that were hurled at her. At this point, she would have welcomed oblivion, but consciousness remained, denying her any peace.
The real pain started as they hoisted her bruised body into the air. Her breath was blocked by the rough cordage looped around her neck. She was disciplined enough to remain still, there was always a chance that the rope would break...
Neeshka returned to the waking world with a start. She was lying face down on the cold stone floor. There was someone in the room with her. Along with the legs of the chairs placed around the table, she could see a pair of heavily shod, armor encased legs. Lord Nasher is back, reality invaded her sleep-fogged mind. Get up you fool. He's watching you.
Lord Nasher sat at the head of his Knight's conference table, fingering a ragged bit of parchment. His stern gaze and serious countenance put the tiefling on her guard.
"My Lord... your pardon," she said, kneeling where she stood, near the closed door.
"Stand easy, warrior," Neverwinter's ruler replied. He sat still for a moment, carefully choosing his words. "It would seem that intrigue follows in your footsteps. Tell me, young woman, how did you come to be at my guardroom door during a battle for the very survival of Castle Never?"
He's found the note. Tymora help me, this is the moment of truth. The rogue took a deep breath and started to tell her tale.
During her recounting of the trial in Neverneath, Lord Nasher listened carefully. He only interrupted her once; That was to ask why she had covered the Knight Captain after binding her. Satisfied with the answer, he bade Neeshka to continue.
"It appears there is more to this test of loyalty than meets the eye. Nevalle tells me that the Knight Captain was assaulted, tied up, and left in the Great Hall," Nasher said when the rogue had finished her story. "So, the Knight Captain gave you good reason to doubt her loyalty?"
"Yes, My Lord," she answered. "We've traveled together for some time, I know her. After she faced that shadow priest, she was not herself."
Lord Nasher held up the scrap of parchment. "Think carefully, your life may depend on your answer. What can you tell me about this?" he asked, watching Neeshka intently.
"My Lord, that's the note that I wrote," the rogue answered. "I was concerned about Tie's safety, so I bound her up, covered her up,wrote that note, and went on to continue our mission."
"And your assumption, stated in this," he tapped the parchment with a finger, "was that the Knight Captain was allied with the enemy?" Nasher didn't sound convinced.
"Yes, My Lord, I believed that Tiernah was charmed by the shadow priest." After stating this, the rogue realized how thin it sounded. Now the axe falls, she shivered at the thought.
" And the ink..." Nasher let this question hang, watching her closely.
Her stomach plummeted. "My lord, it was written in my blood... I had no... I had nothing... Get a hold of yourself, her mind screamed at her. Do you want to die? "That was all I could find to write with... My Lord," she lamely finished.
Lord Nasher sat immersed in thought, a small smile on his face, as he considered the questions before him; The Knight Captain, when Nevalle found her, had certainly behaved strangely. They had to subdue her and call in healers and clerics to deal with her strange malady. Had she really been charmed? The foremost question; Was this courageous tiefling woman justified in what she did? And finally; What am I to do with this warrior of unfortunate heritage? Standing still, she awaited her fate. It all hinged on the decision of this one man.
Neverwinter's ruler got to his feet, leaving the parchment that had meant so much to Neeshka on the table. He had not reached a decision, but he had a plan. "Until this is sorted out, you will be quartered in this room," he pronounced. "No one is to see you but my serving girl, and then she will only see a hooded, cloaked figure. And make sure this door is bolted from the inside at all times." With that Nasher strode from the room and firmly closed the door.
A sharp knock made her look up. She would have to unbolt the door; It was locked from the inside. Neeshka called, "just a second, I'm coming," and donned her hooded cape.
The cloak, serving as more than protection from the cold, concealed her head, while a loop of leather sewn inside the back of the cape was used to secret a small blade. She could tuck her tail snugly into this loop, comfortably out of sight. Chairs presented a problem with this arrangement, but she'd always had problems with chairs. She'd just learned to sit down carefully.
When the rogue opened the door, she was greeted with a cheery, "'Mornin' My Lady." A stocky young woman loaded down with a tray and two shoulder bags entered and set about tidying the room. The food she brought smelled heavenly. Neeshka sighed; She would have to wait to eat. Her stomach rumbled in protest.
The door crashing open against the wall made them both look up. Gods... I forgot to bolt the damn door, the rogue thought, too late.
"Sir Nevalle... No one is allowed..." the frightened serving girl's voice was strident.
"Silence." To the young girl, the Captain of the Nine's word was law. "You are finished here, leave... now."
The flustered servant picked up the chamber pot, fumbled with it, and fled the room. She dared not look back.
Sir Nevalle turned from bolting the closed door and faced the cloaked shadow that he believed was a threat to his Lord and Land. "I am not here to harm you. You are under Lord Nasher's protection. He has stayed my hand... for now. But I will have my say." He seemed to grow more angry as he spoke.
Neeshka was unwilling to provoke Nevalle; She was unarmed on his battlefield, and wisely chose to keep silent.
"You walk the path of shadows, like a thief. Who are you?" He stepped closer, the red eyes under the black hood never left his. Their intensity stopped him just a few paces short of where she stood. A brief flash of fear lit his face as he said, "You have assaulted the Knight-Captain of Crossroad Keep, a member of the Neverwinter nobility. It was her loyalty that was to be proved, not yours. For your insult, you will answer to me personally."
The silence spun out; Neither of them would turn away. Neeshka wanted desperately to advance on Nevalle, force him to retreat, but thinking the better of it, she just held her ground.
"You've sworn loyalty to Neverwinter. My Lord believes you, but you haven't fooled me. Your kind does not belong here. Beware the Nine, we are watching you." Nevalle's voice was tight with anger.
And what is my kind? Her mind cried out. Your beloved ruler would be dead now without my kind. The rogue held her tongue. She knew the most insulting thing she could do, and she did it; After pulling her chair out, she carefully pulled her cape back and sat down, dismissing Nevalle's presence.
She heard him swear under his breath and the sounds of his footsteps retreating. He'd left without closing the door.
After looking out into the Throne Room and finding it deserted, she shot the bolt, locking the door from the inside. She massaged her stiff tail, threw the cloak onto the bed, and sat down to eat.
A/N I can't thank my beta-reader Wyl enough. You are the man!