The Knight-Captain of Crossroad Keep and her Cloaktower-Lieutenant were surrounded by lizardmen. From this group's pod-leader, they learned that the siege of Highcliff was the lizard shaman-chief's call to meet with the Shard-Bearer.
"He comes," a voice called from the distance; Repeated up the line of sentries; "Batha comes."
Two heavily armed lizardmen entered the clearing, causing the warriors present to form a loose semi-circular rank around Tie and Neeshka. "Silence," the larger of the two Batha-Guards called them to attention. "Batha must deal with Shard-Bearer."
There was no mistaking the lizard's chief; Aside from his impressive size, he was the only one wearing leather armor. He entered and stopped just short of his guards, sweeping the assembled troops with a critical eye. The Shard-Bearer-I have seen you in my waking dreams. I have known your face for some time. It is the face of the one who will decide the future of my tribe, he said in a voice no ear could hear-A voice so unlike his brothers', Neeshka was put on her guard.
"You have a rare talent," Tiernah said aloud. "How did you learn to speak using your mind?" Not sure of the lizard's talent, she guarded her thoughts.
I have been given many gifts, so that I might meet you this day. His well modulated voice held little emotion. It reminded the moon elf of the serene intonations of a priest leading a worship service. "You getting his speech?" she whispered to Neeshka, her eyes on Batha.
"Yeah... spooky," the rogue murmured, not moving. Not sure that this lizard could read her mind, she inventoried her gem-bag in her mind; canary diamond, ruby, emerald, blood stone...
"Why have you trapped the villagers here?" Tie asked. "We had a treaty with Slaan's tribe."
Because it brought you here. The ghosts of my forefathers told me this would come to pass, and now, I stand before the Shard-Bearer.
"So, you are now the leader of the lizardmen here?" Tie pointed to the group in this clearing.
I lead all lizardman tribes. They join me because I have been given power from our ancestral spirits. Our ancestors saw the destruction of our land and came to me deep in the swamp. They filled my sight with that which is to come. I saw the end of my people, so I became a vessel for their rage. In me, you see the will of all the lizardmen.
"You called me the Shard-Bearer-Why?" she asked.
My visions tell me many things. I see the shard, your shard, your wound. It is the wound of our land, always is it in my visions. And now my land is in shadow, the waters poisoned. The sun is cloaked by night, and cannot warm us. I know that you are responsible, and so I have waited for you.
"Now I am here. What do you want of me?" Tie asked, not quite sure what to expect. She missed Elanee's wisdom.
I wanted to see the Shard-Bearer with my own eyes. I have come to tell you that we will not accept death as our fate. I will rip the blade from your chest first before drowning in the blackened swamp. His eyes were locked on the Knight-Captain's face.
Tie took a step forward and said, "This shard isn't responsible for your troubles. It may be tied to what's happening in the swamp, but it did not cause the destruction there. If those spirits are truly your ancestors, they would know this. They are slaves to the King of Shadows. They are lying to you."
Batha bristled. If the spirits are false, why would they grant me power and guide me here?
Tie could see his doubt growing, so she pressed her point; "Because they want you to kill me-then they'll kill all of you."
The lizard chief was considering this. Impossible, or so I had thought. I do not trust you, but I cannot deny my doubt either. But... I have experienced the visions and felt the presence of my ancestors. I have only heard your words. Let us see what truth lies in your actions, then if I am but a misguided servant of a great evil, then surely you can defeat me.
"As you wish, Lord Batha," Tie said, taking a step back. She felt a hand on her shoulder, the tiefling had her back.
Batha spread his arms in a sweeping gesture. "Stay back! I will show this one the strength of our people." His luminous emerald eyes were on the Knight-Captain. "Prepare yourself, Shard-Bearer."
The staff that the lizard's chief carried was little more than a walking stick, a symbol of his power; His attacks would be magical. Tie's glance at the tiefling behind her gave her confidence a boost. The rogue was kneeling over the shoulder bag that went everywhere with her, digging around with little concern for what was going on. She pulled out a scroll and unrolled it, nodding that she was ready.
The Knight-Captain laid her battle pack and bow aside, they were a hindrance to her. She looked up to see an earth elemental standing at the edge of the clearing that had become an arena. Advancing on the construct, she heard Neeshka say, "Hold it back until I read this scroll-One dispel coming up." Her next words sounded vaguely druidic.
There was a gasp and quite a few hisses from the lizards as the harvester's lightning-enhanced blade sheared the elemental's striking arm off at the shoulder. The effort almost wrenched the pole-arm from Tie's grasp. She side-stepped the hulk's next blind rush and raked its back as it went by. Before it could turn back for another charge it just seemed to walk itself into the ground, leaving a smear of rocky soil on the gravel path.
"Gotcha', shadow bastard," the rogue taunted. She pulled open her bag and pulled out another scroll. Tucking it into a shoulder strap, she readied her bow for the next round.
Batha pointed at two of his personal guards and then at the Shard-Bearer. "For the honor of your ancestors-Kill her." As the lizard warriors drew their blades and joined the battle, a shimmering ball of fire closed around the shaman-chief; His magic was his armor.
Tiernah was outnumbered, but not outmatched. The butt of her scythe applied to one lizard's chest put him down for the moment, while an accurate sweep of the blade ended the other's life; His head flew one way, his body, the other. A volley of hisses assailed her when she stepped back to allow the winded warrior to get back to his feet.
She handed her harvester to a perplexed Neeshka. "Got a sword I can borrow?" she asked the rogue with a sly wink. "Time for a sparring lesson."
"Uhh.. sure," Neeshka replied, unsheathing her dwarf-elven hammersword, a gift from Rolan when they'd parted ways after the first lizard treaty four short summers ago. "Are you sure about playing games with these guys?" she asked, handing the blade over.
"From here on, it's just a show," Tie assured her. "Look in Batha's eyes; He knows he can't win."
"Does the word overconfident mean anything? Gods, Tie, it's been too easy so far." the rogue's gaze was steady, her eyes widened at the lizard chief's transformation. "Watch him-There's a stone hulk now standing where Batha was watching the show," she said laying the scythe down carefully and drawing an arrow.
The Batha Guard was well trained; His attacks were savage and accurate. The moon elf made him work for every hand-breadth of ground he gained, then she beat him back to their starting point with some savagery of her own. The lizard was slowing-He hadn't been trained for a drawn out battle. Tie ended it after her second parry with a blinding fast riposte that disarmed her opponent. She stepped back and rested her hands on the sword's pommel, the point was resting on the ground.
The defeated guard was unsure of what to do. After looking around at the hissing, growling onlookers, he bent over to retrieve his blade. Before he could straighten up, he was trampled to a bloody pulp by a stone golem that had been Batha just moments before. He paid for his loss with his life.
Batha paused to pull Neeshka's lightning arrow from a joint in his rock encased neck, dropping it like a burning brand. Then he turned to face the Shard-Bearer, who'd taken a large chunk out of his left side with the hammer side of the rogue's lightning blade. Since he was focused on trampling the moon elf to death, he didn't hear Neeshka's vaguely druidic recitation.
The moon elf managed to evade the rock-beast's grasp. He was surprisingly quick and time was now on his side; Repeated attempts to stab him with her sword only threatened to break it as the blade bent alarmingly-Even its cold-iron would not penetrate. Her mind raced, clutching at solutions. She was beginning to tire, as Batha doggedly chased her in circles. When he caught up with her, it would be over. Sehanine, watch over me, give me strength. She whispered, offering herself to the will of Moonlight's Mystery.
As if in answer, a narrow beam of blue light descended from the dark sky, engulfing the stone hulk. "He's all yours, moonie," Neeshka exulted. "Dis...spelled...give 'im the hells... every damned one of 'em." Her Roguebow was again ready.
In his native saurian form, Batha was in no shape to fight. He stood clutching the wound to his left side, trying to catch his breath. You... have... beaten me and have destroyed the hope of my tribe... Do... what you will. He yielded with unspoken words.
Tiernah stood her ground with a sinking feeling in her heart. There were six lizard warriors to fight before this battle ended. She felt a puff of air on her left ear. Neeshka was there. She whispered a prayer of thanks to her Lunar Lady for her friend's loyalty, raised her blade... and waited.
Sword blades flashed around the clearing that had yet to become a killing field. "Protect Batha; Protect our chieftain," the pod-leader of the remaining warriors cried. Their circle around the two tightened.
Batha's powerful voice arrested their movement; "Do not bother. If I cannot defeat them, none of you will be able to either--Attend me. We are at their mercy." At his command, the pod formed up behind their leader. A shaman tended to his leader's injury.
The Knight-Captain took a step back, passing the rogue's blade back, hilt first. "We are not here to kill you, Lord Batha, that is not our way," she said, not breaking eye contact with the lizard chief.
His eyes narrowed. Was this human playing some kind of trick on a defeated enemy? "Then what do you want?" he challenged.
Tie's answer was a simple invitation; "Join with us against the King of Shadows."
The chief stood taller; His chin was up. "Batha is no one's slave. I will not stand for your mockery." He looked down at his shaman's restraining hand with contempt.
She held her hands out in a placating gesture. "If we don't work together, we may all die."
Batha was not convinced; "You have no proof except your words, and the words of men are often lies," he spat. He turned his head to look over his shoulder at the pod-leader's approach.
"Oh great Batha, Shard-Bearer not lie, has good heart," he said. Though muted, his words could be clearly heard. "Shard-Bearer help my tribe before. Ask to touch mind and see," Slaan advised. He was as anxious as the Knight-Captain to resolve this impasse.
The lizard-chief considered. Turning toward the moon elf, he asked, "Will you open your mind to Batha?"
She heard Neeshka's fervent, whispered no in her left ear and understood. After undergoing an ordeal at Castle Never where Tie was charmed by a shadow priest, they were both wary of any mind-spells. "Of course, Lord Batha, I will," she replied. There was no other choice. She heard the distinctive sound of a three-stone shortbow being drawn back fully, along with the sharp crackle of a lightning-charged adamantine arrow near her left ear-Good ol' Neeshka.
Batha, seeing where the missile was aimed, didn't blink an eye. "Then let us be done with it. My life is at your mercy anyway." He stepped up and placed the fingers of his right hand on the moon elf's forehead.
Her world went gray. She felt like she'd been pushed into a dark corner. The wind in the trees, an occasional rattle of a blade, and the hiss of the rogue's arrow anchored Tie in this here and now. The shaman's invasion of her mind was not painful, neither was it pleasant; It was somewhere in between; Something like a hunger-induced headache that seemed to go on forever...
...Consciousness returned, a reluctant surfacing from deep murky water. The Knight-Captain felt a firm hand squeezing her shoulder. The light was like the first lungful of cool air.
When her eyes opened, Batha stepped back and nodded to his troops gathered in the clearing, putting them all at ease. "I see no deceit in your mind, and I have seen the gaps in my visions," he said, pitching his voice for all to hear. "I nearly destroyed my people at the behest of our true enemy; King of Shadows." He raised his arms to quiet their protests. "The forces of darkness misled us. But no more. The shadows infested our homes, poisoned our hearts. They will leave our lands or they will be destroyed." A roar of approval greeted his exhortation.
"I can't believe it worked out like it did," Neeshka murmured, she'd stowed her bow and was collecting their gear that was scattered about the clearing. "You're not a lizard-thrall now are you?" she asked suspiciously, jabbing the moon elf with the butt of her own weapon.
Tie made a half-hearted effort to disarm the rogue and was surprised when it worked. "No... I'm alright--Don't want to go through that again." She took her bag and bow, turning to speak to the lizard chief.
"Lord Batha, your wisdom and power make the lizardfolk a most fearsome ally in our war against the shadows-that-hunger. Lord Nasher and Neverwinter welcome you all."
In spite of his wounds, the lizard chief stood a little taller, turning to face his subjects. "An evil one has given my people a great power to do his bidding. We will turn that power against its master-Show the King of Shadows his mistake." He paused to think, then continued, "Turn upon the deceiver of my people with his own devices... my tribe will grow strong yet again." He turned to face the Knight-Captain. "Then let it be so. We shall stand together until the shadows are swept from our lands. Where shall we go?" he asked in conclusion.
"Prepare your troops for war," Tie answered. "The Elder in Highcliff will send a runner when My Lord calls, and you will march to Crossroad Keep then. Do you have a representative who would meet with the Elder?"
"Lasshiva and two of her sisters will meet with your Elder," his answer was prompt. "They are our..." he searched for the word, "matrons who possess great wisdom."
Tie was pleased. The lizardfolk would never send a female into danger; This was a great honor. She sketched a bow and said, "Thank you for your tolerance and wisdom, Lord Batha. With your leave, we will return to Highcliff with news of our alliance."
"Very well, Shard-Bearer," he said, extending a beautiful lance that was carved from blade to butt with celestial figures. "Accept this as a symbol of our unity."
She was momentarily taken aback. She had nothing to give in return until she felt something pressed into the palm of her right hand from behind. The rogue had come through-Once again.
Taking the lance with her left hand, Tie offered a long dagger in a jewel encrusted scabbard with her right hand.
Batha nodded his head in a lizardfolk version of a bow and said, "May we set many things right again... together." After taking the offered blade and examining the settings, he turned and swept through his troops, leading them back to their camp.
Neeshka was holding Tie's harvester, her gaze was firm, her tail was still for once. She smiled knowingly when Tie said, "I believe a healthy donation to Tymora is in order."
They found Elder Mayne standing on the court-house steps. He was on his way home for the evening meal. "We saw a fight in the distance. What happened?" He seemed surprised the two had returned.
"It took a little work, and a lot of luck," Tie answered, favoring her tiefling friend with a smile. "But our enemies are now our allies."
"Thank the Gods," the Elder was relieved. "They were so quiet, we didn't even know they were there. Then, all of a sudden, we're besieged... We'd no idea what was happening."
"The King of Shadow's influence is spreading. The lizards were just one of a long line of races to be fooled and then destroyed," Tie said, not sure if she should say much about evacuating the village. "When you get Lord Nasher's Proclamation, the lizardfolk will march with you to Crossroad Keep. Batha is their new chief; He will send an emissary, her name is Lasshiva, to meet with you. That should save time and confusion. There's no room here for misunderstanding."
"I see." The Elder was thoughtful. "These are indeed strange times. We will begin our preparations immediately. And again you've earned our eternal gratitude." His meal forgotten, he turned to his new task.
A/N My thanks to Wyl for keeping things OC. C.