Neeshka turned around and sat down after bolting the ready room door. Donel was on his way, his purpose was now clear. After delivering Lord Nasher's Hero's Proclamation to Lady Kana at Crossroad Keep, he was to look for Neeshka's lost pet. In this search, he was to avoid the tattooed one at all costs- his life depended on it.
Donel also carried a detailed note from the Knight-Captain to her friends at Crossroad Keep. Though it was addressed to Khelgar Ironfist, it contained a passage in the Elven language that tasked them to find The Book of Lul'een, an artifact that the group found in Riverguard Keep, located in the ruins of Arvahn. The book was now in the library at Crossroad Keep, under the watchful eye of Aldanon, a sage of some repute.
The stable boy did not know it yet, but he was to collect both the book and Neeshka's pet and deliver them to the moon elves in Highcliff. Lord Nasher had cleared the Knight-Captain for travel now, and she would join them in Highcliff within a few days. She felt some urgency; The moon would be full within a tenday.
The most difficult decision Tiernah had to make was to leave Neeshka behind at Castle Never. The combination of her demon-heritage with elven high-magic could be deadly and explosive. Tie refused to take the chance. Neeshka had reluctantly agreed to stay behind and keep watch here.
Hearing a firm knock on the door, the rogue donned her cape and carefully adjusted the hood. Tucking her tail in, she sighed wearily and pulled back the bolt on the door. I'll be glad when this is all over...
It was Aelicia, being her usual sunny self, "My lady, may I present Mistress Ophala Cheldarstorn, Matron of the Moonstone Mask?" the serving girl could not keep the adoration from her voice.
The woman who entered was a true courtesan, her dress and manner spoke of a sophistication that was rare even in Neverwinter. "Neeshka, my dear," she admonished, pulling the rogue's hood back and kissing her cheek. "You should know better than to try and hide from me. I would know one of my girls anywhere. Let me get a good look at you."
The rogue stepped back, frowning. "I believe the word is former... and certainly not girl." Her voice was edged with ice. I'm not ready to deal with this. Hells...damn it... hells. Her face betrayed her emotions.
"My dear, we need to clear the air here. We have much to discuss, you and I," Ophala's tone was soothing. "What have I done to make you so angry with me?" she asked with genuine concern.
"I won't discuss it, it's over now," Neeshka folded her arms and turned her back.
Her former madame stepped up and gently removed the rogue's black cloak, folded it, and carefully laid it on the bed. She placed her hands on Neeshka's shoulders and gently turned her around. "If you do not talk to me, how will I know what is bothering you?"
The tiefling did not resist. She was listening. "You know what I did. It was your business." She was looking sadly at the floor.
"What you did, young lady, was survive," Ophala said, pulling the tiefling's chin up to look directly into her eyes. "Look at it from my point-of-view, I took a starving, frightened young girl off the streets and showed her a world whose doors would have been not just closed, but locked to her as well." She winked and said, "You have learned about the true power in the realms. It is nothing to be ashamed of."
Neeshka blinked away the tears. She couldn't think of a thing to say. A thought occurred to her though; For a society who hated her kind so much, why did they line up with gold in their pockets to be with her? She sadly shook her head.
"No one forced you, my dear." Ophala's sympathy showed in her eyes. "You left when you were ready."
"Still, it's not something I'm proud of," the rogue stated.
"Think about it for a minute, Little One," the courtesan posed. "What is shameful, working for me at the Mask, or being associated with Leldon and his thugs?"
"I did what needed to be done," the rogue was defensive. She could see Ophala's point; She had never killed any one at the Mask... on purpose, she amended with a chuckle.
"Don't you see Neeshka?" Ophala's voice held no reproach. "You had a choice to ally with the thieves... but that's a meaningless point now, is it not, Defender of Neverwinter?"
Khelgar Ironfist sat alone at a table in the common room at the Phoenix Tail Inn waiting to be served his mid-day meal. He stared restlessly out the window at the falling leaves being blown by a playful wind. There was still no word of the Knight-Captain, or even Neverwinter for that matter-Crossroad Keep was not that far away. Surely, they'd be the first to know.
The dwarf hadn't seen Neeshka for almost a ten-day. The devil-girl had disappeared within a day of the moon elf's departure. He was reluctant to admit that he missed the horns-and-tail with all that foolishness between, but in his own way, he did.
"It's pot-luck today," Sal apologized, setting the scorched pan on the table with a thump. "I don't know what's gotten into Qara. This is the second day that I haven't heard or seen her."
"Heh, you know the young folks," the dwarf commiserated. "They'll lay out 'til hunger sets them back to work, then you'll be trippin' over her. What am I goin' to eat with here, my fingers?" he asked, pretending to be cross.
Sal shook his head, his exasperation was real. "You know where it all is, help yourself. Maybe you could wash some of those dishes while you're at it." Seeing the dwarf's reaction, he shook his head and started clearing cluttered tables, grumbling to himself all the way.
The dwarf looked up and a smile spread across his face. "Well, hello twigs," he greeted Elanee heartily, standing up and grabbing a clean plate from the stack he'd set on the end of the table. "Ya must be hungry, eh?" he handed her the plate and stirred the stew with the ladle in the pot. "No meat just vegetables, right?" the dwarf asked with a wink.
"Uhh... right, thank you Khelgar," the wood elf replied, breaking off bread from a loaf on the table. Picking up a cup, she walked to the stove and poured tea from the kettle that sat on its top. She returned to the table to a chair the dwarf held for her. "Thank you, Khelgar," she was smiling, he was like this when lonely or restless. She didn't mind being an outlet for his attention.
"Ironfist, Khelgar Ironfist," there was a grey-cloak watchman standing just inside the front door, accompanied by a sturdy half-elf lad who smelled strongly of horse.
"Who wants to know?" the dwarf wasn't being mean, it was just his way.
"This lad here, his name is Donel," the watchman gestured to his companion, "has a message from the Knight-Captain to one Khelgar..."
"That's me," the dwarf interrupted. News from the Knight-Captain was what he was waiting for. He walked quickly across the common room. "What's the news of the battle? Who would dare to attack the throne itself?" They had only heard rumors from Castle Never.
"Shadow Priests, undead, and a shadow reaver, sound familiar?" Elanee spoke up from behind the dwarf.
Khelgar was perplexed. "How do you know, were you there?" He scratched his bald pate and turned back to the watchman.
"Donel here, rode in from Neverwinter with a proclamation written in Lord Nasher's very own hand. Lady Kana posted it in the square for everyone to read," the 'cloak replied. "Those that can read, I meant to say," he corrected, looking at Elanee.
"Well, I can read you know," the wood elf huffed, a cross look shaping her features.
"Your pardon, I didn't..." the watchman's face was turning red.
"The message," the dwarf interrupted, holding out a battle hardened hand. Dwarves were not known for their patience and Khelgar's was shorter than most.
The young lad dug around in a shoulder bag that looked and smelled vaguely familiar and came up with a sealed note. He recoiled when the dwarf all but snatched it from his hand.
"Khelgar, mind your manners," Elanee was shocked. Was this the same man who'd greeted her a short while ago?
"My apologies," the dwarf mumbled. "You know..." He left the statement unfinished.
"That's alright," the lad sympathized." You're worried about your friends. I would be too." His simple way of speaking was straight from the heart.
The dwarf quickly scanned the note, his face a study in concentration. When he looked at the wood elf, she raised an eyebrow. He handed over the message and waited while she carefully read it.
"Huh, did I read that right?" the dwarf grunted. "We wait here and just let things happen? Shouldn't we be doing something?"
"Calm down, Khelgar," the druid's voice was firmer than her usual tone. "We are here to keep an eye on Tiernah's flank. The note says it will take some time for her to heal, but there's something else going on."
"So we wait," the dwarf couldn't hide his disappointment."Keeping an eye on that tattooed warlock just isn't my style."
"You failed to read all of the note, my dwarven friend," the wood elf reproved. She lowered her voice to a whisper for the dwarf's ear alone, "we are also tasked to help master Donel find Neeshka's pet. The one she named Moonbow for an obvious reason. After we eat, we need to see Aldanon about a book."
"Alright lass, an army marches on its stomach," the dwarf returned to his meal.
Elanee dug into her belt pouch and produced a gold coin. "Sal," she raised her voice. "you have a paying customer up front." She smiled brilliantly at Donel and continued, "He'd like a bath and a bed for the night."
The innkeeper was all smiles now at the sight of the coin, "There's a bed in room three with Khelgar that he can have for free, but the bath and the food will cost. If that's all right with the dwarf."
"That's alright with me," Khelgar was cordial. "Uhh... you don't snore do you, lad?"
The youngster, who had been listening intently to the whole exchange, shyly shook his head and mouthed, no.
In the Crossroad Keep library Elanee sneezed twice in quick succession, "Ugh, dust and mold, let's finish and get out of here." Her eyes were watering.
Aldanon was standing on a short ladder shelving books from a large pile on the table in the corner. "My assistant has lost his way home again, I say, would you be so kind as to hand me those Divination Repository Indices. There's a good girl. Thank you... Oh, bless you," he passed the druid a clean handkerchief for her sneezes.
"We're looking for a book," Elanee managed to say before another fusillade of sneezes overtook her.
"Oh dear, this won't do," the old sage sympathized, leading her from the stacks into a small, well lit study. Khelgar followed closely behind, not saying a word.
After her reaction had abated somewhat, she repeated her request, "Master Aldanon, the Knight-Captain sent me to find a book that she brought back from Arvahn. Do you remember it?"
"Well... if you want a book, a library is a good place to find one, I always say," he answered, looking at Elanee thoughtfully. "An adventure, maybe? Or a romance? It's all here. This is the biggest collection..."
"Master Aldanon, please," she interrupted, rolling her eyes at Khelgar, who just stood there and grinned broadly. "We're looking for a book titled; The Book of Lul'een. It was written by an elf named Balaur. The Knight-Captain gave it to you for safekeeping."
The old sage tapped his chin with a forefinger, a thoughtful look replaced the confused one. "I don't seem to recall... how would I have filed it? Can you tell me a little more about this book?"
"It is about the spirits of Arvahn... of Illefarn. The Knight-Captain is the reincarnation of a moon elf spirit who was the lady love of the man who became the guardian..." Elanee seemed to have run out of words, she sneezed again.
"Bless you... Now I have it." Aldanon's face lit with recognition. "There is a whole series of tomes, written by this Balaur fellow. I really like his tone and style, by the way. They'll be in the Illefarn section. It's woefully thin, but I guess it's better than none. What was the title again? Sorry."
The druid blew her nose rather noisily. "The Book of Lul'een," she repeated, glaring at Khelgar, who was busily examining his boots and doing a poor job of suppressing his mirth.
"Oh yes, that's right," the sage said brightly. "I'll be right back." He swept from the room, closing the door quietly.
"So, what does that old book have to do with us staying here and watchin' 'ol tattoo face?" the dwarf challenged. The part of Tie's note that mentioned this was written in a language Khelgar didn't understand.
"It's complicated," the wood elf mused. "but the idea is to find the book and send it and Moonbow to Highcliff with that young fellow, Donel. Tiernah doesn't want Ammon Jerro to know where the book or the familiar are going. She mentioned something about Shandra, but the ink was smudged... I don't know..." Elanee shook her head. "I hope we're not missing something."
"So it's about the farm girl, and the Knight-Captain doesn't trust the warlock," Khelgar concluded. "I don't trust him either, he killed his own kin." The dwarf crossed the room to look out the window. He then added, "I don't understand why we're not on our way to Highcliff, we'll do more good there, I'd be willin' to bet."
"That note was almost an order," the druid replied. "We are to stay here and watch Ammon Jerro. If he leaves, we follow him. If he is bound for Highcliff, We delay him at all costs and send a warning ahead to the Edgewater family. Tie's language was very strong on this..."
She was interrupted by the return of Aldanon. "Ahh, it was right where I left it," he said loftily. "This is one of the most beautifully bound tomes I've had the pleasure to catalog. The story it tells is tragic, and it helps fill in some history of Arvahn. Some conspiracy it was..."
"Thank you, Master Aldanon," Elanee was relieved to see the book. It was a leather-bound tome with a small blue faceted stone centered on the cover. The title; The Book of Lul'een was traced in fine silver script, called Espruar, above the stone. The name Balaur was lettered at the bottom of the cover. "Thank you again Master Aldanon," She said, turning to leave. "The Knight-Captain will return it when this is all over."
"Can you tell me why the Knight-Captain needs the book?" the sage was eager to get involved. "Maybe she needs me to do some research," he said hopefully.
"She hasn't said," Elanee stretched the truth a bit. "But I'm sure she will fill us all in when this is all over."
"Oh, well," Aldanon was disappointed. "I will be here if you need me," he said to the closed door.
The afternoon and a good part of the evening had passed while Khelgar and Elanee were at the Library. The half-moon was visible through an occasional gap in the gathering clouds. "Rain before morning," the druid pronounced. "I feel something that is more unsettled than the weather, though. Now all we need to do is find Moonbow, she's here somewhere."
"Can't help you there," the dwarf replied, as he opened the door to the Inn's common room, ushering her inside. "You know more about that than I do. What was that about the fiendling's pet? You mean that stoat with the funny eyes? I haven't seen it lately."
Elanee stepped into the hallway leading to the back bedrooms, quickly pulling at the dwarf's tunic. "Khelgar... he's here. Come on," she hissed, taking off down the hall at a fast trot.
"Here now, slow down, damn it," the dwarf protested. "What are you on about? Have you lost your wits?" He had to really work to keep up with the long-legged wood elf.
When they got to Khelgar's room, they entered and closed the door. The stable boy had fallen asleep on the dwarf's bed. Apparently he'd taken his bath; He no longer smelled like his mount.
"Ammon Jerro is in the common room," Elanee intoned. "He is drinking with Bishop in the far corner."
"Well that's a load off my mind," the dwarf said with mock seriousness. "It'll be easier to keep an eye on him if we know where he is. Huh, what is it now?" The dwarf had noticed Elanee standing next to his bed where Donel lay sleeping.
She pointed down at something that was on the bed beside the sleeping stable boy. "There she is, the search is over," Elanee said, sitting down on the bed. The druid made a strange sound much like that of the familiar and it answered her. Elanee smiled when Moonbow ran up her arm to her shoulder. "That's quite a trip, all the way to Neverwinter and back to Crossroad," the druid marveled.
Donel sat up and looked around the strange room. "I guess that's the pet I was supposed to find." his voice was fuzzy with sleep. "She.. must have crawled into that bag the spirit lady gave me to bring here. I left the bag on the bed to go take a bath, and when I came back and hung it up on the bed-post, she jumped out. It sounded like she was fussing at me, so I just left her alone."
"It's all here now, so after a good night's sleep, master Donel, you have one more stop to make at Highcliff," Elanee said as she tucked Tie's precious book, wrapped in a protective oilcloth into Neeshka's shoulder bag. "Moonbow doesn't mind riding in this bag, that's probably why it was sent here with you. Listen carefully now..."