Chapter 39 All Hells Break Loose

Usual disclaimer: The characters in this story are owned by a whole lot of people and not by me, except for an occasional NPC and a bear and paladin-lovin' ranger. Some of the dialog in this chapter is also loosely paraphrased from the NWN2 OC.

As always, reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.

Khelgar sat cross-legged on the floor chanting with his eyes closed, though to the casual observer, the ancient guttural sounds he intoned might have been mistaken for snoring if not for the alertness in his posture. Sand dragged himself into the room looking utterly exhausted. His robe was askew because it was buttoned wrong, and his usually neat hair hung loose in his face. He pulled the stopper of a bottle holding a potion that neutralized poisons, or in this case, overindulgence in spirits, and drained it then handed another one to Neeshka, who moaned softly in acknowledgment, her head laying on the table and her eyes tightly closed while her tail lashed in agitation.

Dee walked away from Kana and one of the scouts and addressed Sand quietly, putting her arm around his shoulder to lead him aside. "My first inclination was to have you with us, but now that I've gotten Kana's report...I think you should take the time to be sure of your spells and help Aldanon work on decoding that damned tome, my friend. From what Kana just told me, they're coming with siege towers, and the best bet is to blast them to the hells from the curtain wall and try to hold out for dawn."

Sand kissed her cheek then drew back and smirked at her. "I must say this is a surprise. Usually your singular attention comes with such deadly consequences, my dear Captain. Yet I find I can't honestly say whether I'm relieved or disappointed. Perhaps I've discovered some new emotion? Very well, but I shall remain nearby in case you need me." He sat down with less than his usual elven grace and waited for the potion to take effect.

Casavir and Nevalle arrived fully armored, Casavir in his new dragon scale armor and Nevalle in gleaming adamantine full plate. Hiram the cook followed them bringing a huge urn of coffee, which he set on the table next to a tray of cups and another of sweet and savory rolls brought in by one of his assistants. Casavir set Dee's armor bag next to her chair then took a seat beside hers. Dee took her cook's hand and shook it warmly. "Thanks for all you've done for us, Hiram. And now you and your lad better get below and wait for Wolf and his crew in case you have to evacuate. Sir Darmon is returning with more 'Cloaks from Neverwinter to get Lord Nasher to safety, and the lad knows the way to where they'll be. They won't likely arrive until highsun at the earliest though. I'm charging you to make sure everyone below is armed and armored, leather at the very least, in case you have to fight your way to them."

He ran a hand through his thick graying sandy hair and smiled sadly. "I will, Captain, and we'll be praying for you all." There was nothing left to say. He wanted to say, "And watch out for my boy," but he thought it wouldn't be right. Besides, he reminded himself, his 'boy' was a man and a soldier by choice, so it was time to let him go. He and his assistant left through a door hidden behind a tapestry that led to the kitchen and servant quarters.

"Is everyone here?" Dee glanced around. They were except Bishop, but that wasn't a surprise to anyone, not even to Dee anymore, though the ache of her disappointment only added to the sickness in her gut (which brother Ivarr had suggested was caused by an ulcer). "Kana, you may begin." She poured herself a cup of coffee with cream and another for Casavir, adding a spoon of sugar to both then let Casavir help her into her chainmail armor as Kana repeated what she had told Dee a few minutes before. Kana finished and turned the meeting over to Dee, who was gobbling down a cinnamon roll hoping it would staunch the rising bile. Casavir sat close with his arm around her shoulder, calling down his ability to calm granted by Tyr.

She took a big swallow of her coffee and wiped her fingers before she stood and looked around the room at her companions, smiling tightly at them. "The offer still stands for anyone who wants to get out." No one moved, nor did she expect them to at this point, though in her heart she still hoped Neeshka would listen. It was all she could do not to beg her to go.

"So be it. My lord Casavir will lead the first squad of Greycloak fighters on the curtain wall. Khelgar, I would like your Ironfists ready in the courtyard in case the enemy breaches the outer gate before dawn. Neesh, do what you do best if you can get behind any shadow priests. Ammon, Zhjaeve, I want you in reserve, ready to read the True Names scrolls if Black Garius or another reaver shows up. Elanee, I want you on the stairs near us to help get the wounded to safety and help the spellcasters. Grobby, I want you somewhere where the 'Cloaks can hear your songs and reap the benefit of your magic, and I'll also need you to have the construct close by in case they get past us and invade the Keep. But there's no room for it on the wall."

This was as everyone expected; her next choice was not. She turned to face the sorceress. "Qara, this is your chance to show us all what you've got. There will be other mages from Neverwinter helping us, but I would like you on the wall to concentrate on blasting the hells out of those siege towers. Sand is going to remain behind to light a fire under Aldanon."

Qara blinked in surprise then grinned smugly. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you realized how much more powerful I am than the hedge wizard." Sand ignored the gibe (though ten devastatingly sarcastic responses sprang immediately to his nimble mind) and poured himself a cup of coffee, knowing the truth was that this phase of the siege wouldn't require any particular finesse. Besides, if they survived this, which he wasn't altogether sure they would do, there was still the matter of taking the fight to the King of Shadows before he crossed over to this plane.

Dee added coolly, "Just blast the doors on the towers before they get close enough to dock, Qara. The scouts say that the towers are being pulled along by skeletons, so it's likely the intelligent undead are inside waiting to breach the walls once the doors are lowered. I'm having some of Grobby's blastglobes brought up there too. I'm going to the far end of the east curtain wall and target the towers there. Once we've stopped the towers, or once they've docked, use the rest of your spells targeting any shadow priests and vampires first. And be careful. Most of the vampires we've encountered are mages or monks, and the clerics will probably attack with death magic."

Qara replied ominously,"You don't have to tell me how to fry undead. Just stay out of my way and you won't get hurt."

They climbed the stairs to the curtain wall after stopping at a privy to get rid of the three cups of coffee Dee drank (grumbling to Casavir that now she had a nervous bladder in addition to her nervous stomach), passing Greycloaks and Lizardmen warriors along the way who stood aside against the parapet to let them pass. Casavir directed the fighters to hold back waiting for the enemy to reach the wall, while the best archers lined up to fire at the towers and the skeletons below with arrows dipped in pitch and set alight. She nodded at Daeghun as she passed him, who nodded curtly in response. Wolf was with the archers below, ready to shoot flaming arrows from the murder holes. Brother Ivarr, looking magnificent in full dwarven mithril plate etched across the chest with Tyr's symbol, brought up a basket full of vials of holy water and passed them out to the fighters to hurl at the undead and to pour over their weapons.

Qara wasted no time in hurling a fireball at the nearest tower and followed by casting a delayed blast fireball at it so she could run along the wall to attack another. Dee ran to the far end, nearly dropping a blast globe as she picked it up because her hands were shaking. She cursed and took a deep calming breath then threw it for all she was worth and quickly followed up with another. Her first one fell short, but she knew it must have exploded among the skeletons pulling the tower by the way it lurched to a stop for a minute. But as Ammon told her, skeletons don't feel pain and will follow their masters' orders even when engulfed in flames, until they become too damaged to continue. Thus the tower lurched again and made halting progress towards the wall.

The second blast globe exploded right inside the forward edge of the bay door of the tower, which was being lowered in anticipation of docking, and in moments the front of the tower erupted in flames. She threw another inside it, though she told herself there wasn't time with another tower approaching twenty yards down the wall. But there was a satisfying explosion a heartbeat later and the entire tower became engulfed in flames. An archer, Daeghun she guessed judging from the accuracy of his shot, sent a flaming arrow into the heart of a vampire who had jumped out, trying to flee the flames. Dee smiled as she heard Casavir's deep rumbling baritone beginning a song, The Battle Hymn of the Evenhanded. There was power in the song, and several 'Cloaks joined their voices to his in the chorus, drowning out the chaos on the wall for a few minutes.

They managed to prevent four of the towers from docking, but two in the middle were able to disgorge their reeking cargo of vampires, shadows, ghasts, and wraiths. Casavir ordered his fighters forward and he fought alongside them, trusting Cillian to guard his wife. His father-in-law traded his long bow for a matched pair of slender silver swords and stepped into formation beside him. It was difficult to fight in such close quarters though, especially when they faced wraiths, who could simply fly around them with dizzying speed. At Casavir's suggestion Dee had traded her short sword in her left hand for a light hammer, which was more effective against skeletons. The Sword of Gith responded as if it was an extension of her right arm almost without conscious thought on her part. But she found she was unable to use its shard barrier attack without risking having the fighters hit by the shrapnel as well as the undead.

And as Dee feared, Qara was being none too careful with her spells either. She and half a dozen Greycloaks and Lizardmen threw themselves to the ground and narrowly missed being hit by the ricochet of a lightning bolt that Qara cast at a vampire too close to the sentry tower, but three others weren't so lucky. Dee cursed because she knew the range of that spell. That was a careless, novice mistake, and what was worse, she knew Qara knew better. She just didn't care. Then another careless fireburst spell caused the remaining blastglobes to explode, throwing several Greycloaks to the floor. If there had been time she would have sent for Sand and sent the sorceress packing. "So much for giving her a chance to prove herself," Dee muttered angrily as she willed the shards of her sword to swarm a wraith.

Then as soon as the battle started, it was over. Casavir landed a hideous blow with his hammer to the back of a vampire's head, though that wasn't enough to destroy the creature until a Greycloak beside him stabbed it through its heart. They both spun looking for another target. Cillian finished disarming then beheading a ghast and reared up on his hind legs sniffing for more of the foul smelling creatures to maul. Seeing none, he began licking his wounds. Daeghun switched back from his swords to his long bow with fluid ease. Dee also circled looking for more undead through the hazy smoke of the ruined siege towers, and seeing none, set her sights on Qara instead, who was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She ripped off the blackened tatters of her tabard and stormed over to her. "What the hells were you thinking? In case you haven't figured it out yet, you're not supposed to murder your allies!"

Qara replied with a yawn and a dismissive wave of her hand. "So what? I warned you all to stay out of my way, didn't I? You should have turned everything over to me. But now I'm spent, so I'm going below to rest. The hedge wizards can clean up from here." Dee could have struck her. She replied with a vile curse that for once Casavir agreed with as he gingerly picked up a badly burned Lizardman and hustled him to the healers.

The horizon was showing the first promises of Lathander's rosy dawn as they met Kana and Sir Nevalle in the bailey. Dee sent Cillian back to Meilikki's care to heal his wounds then took a few minutes to focus on reforming her sword. The healers were tending the wounded and getting them to safety inside the temple. Dee quaffed deeply from a pitcher of water Casavir handed her as Kana finished her report. She listened to the casualty report and thanked the gods that few of her 'Cloaks or their allies had been killed, but the number with severe, potentially crippling injuries was sobering.

Something, many somethings from the sound of it, began pounding at the outer gate, and Kana sprinted over to find out what it was. Her lieutenant's brow furrowed worriedly as she spoke to a tower guard, no longer as dismissive of the threat of giant skeletons as she had been the night before. She shouted back, "Captain! Giant skeletons are trying to break the gate down with a felled tree, and I fear they might succeed before the Morninglord sends His holy light."

Nevalle scowled at the sky. "Yet it will be dawn very soon. Have courage, lieutenant."

Dee replied loud enough for her 'Cloaks to hear, "Then let us all pray to our gods that they urge the Morninglord on. These creatures fear the light. That's why Black Garius drives them on so furiously, but it won't be much longer until they roast in the sun."

Though her ring had healed most of her injuries slowly but surely, she was fighting exhaustion, and her limbs aching from two days of heavy fighting felt like they were encased in lead. But she was the Captain, so she shook it off and willed herself to go on, telling herself it was just a bit longer. Then they could rest. She drank a potion that Sand brought out to them, not even asking what it was. Some kind of analgesic she guessed, and after a few minutes she started feeling the stiffness leave her limbs. Casavir looked askance at her as she muttered that it might be a good idea for them to summon their own skeletal army to help stand guard so her 'Cloaks could get some much needed rest too. Luckily the Ironfists had been out of the wall battle, and like their king, they were spoiling for a fight, and Grobnar was standing by with the construct too.

Down below in the lower levels, in the parts of the Keep that had been part of an ancient Ilefarn structure, Lord Nasher and a few carefully chosen guards were waiting with Hiram the cook, his assistant, the remainders of Wolf's crew who hadn't evacuated, and the remaining household staff members. They looked at one another nervously, more than one fighting tears, but studiously avoided making direct eye contact with Lord Nasher. It was hard to tell what was worse to them—the waiting to escape, the fear of being drawn into the battle, or the forced confinement with one of 'the Quality.'

Hiram peered down a long corridor in search of the boy Wolf, who had gone scouting outside. One of the girls, who was officially one of the Keep's pages but spent quite a bit of time in the company and tutelage of the Chief of Security, watched beside him. She stiffened, reminding him of a cat who has spotted a bird, and Hiram asked gruffly, "Do you see somethin,' girl?"

Her hip twitched slightly as she cocked her head to regard him coolly. But he was alright. She knew he left cookies out on purpose for her to nick when she finished her rounds for Neeshka. "Name's Zeta, pops. Yeah, I think that's him beside that spider." She pointed down the hallway.

Hiram peered down the corridor again. He saw nothing, neither boy nor spider, but it was dark and he had the weakening vision of a man in his late forties, while she was in her late teens, he guessed, though she had a sweet, heart-shaped face that made her look younger. Otherwise the Captain surely would have sent her away with the others. He also observed one small pointed ear holding back her chin length dishwater-blond hair. "One of your parents must've had elvish blood. You must see in the dark because of it."

She smirked and muttered, "Yeah, umm sure," as Wolf got close enough that even he could make him out. He would never have guessed the truth, and she wasn't about to tell him. "Wolf, is it safe?"

Lord Nasher heard and came up behind them flanked by two of his guards and his new pet from the festhall. "What have you seen out there, my boy?"

Wolf bowed his head to the Lord of Neverwinter and tried to remember the correct form of address, which had been covered in one of the classes the Captain had insisted they take. "Lots of bad. A whole lot of skeletons, umm, your excellency, heading towards the main gate. I think I can get us around them if we're quiet, but 'tis near dawn anyway so it might be safer to wait a bit longer. They haven't found the entrance to the tunnel, but then again it's pretty well hid."

Nasher replied with an exasperated sigh. "You are right, young man, so we will wait. But this waiting chafes at me when so many of my people are fighting and dying for Neverwinter. I should be out there in the fray, not skulking about like a common house-breaker. Let us move up closer to the end of the tunnel though so that when the time is right we can leave."

Up above them, one of the sentries on the wall-walk was peering down at the progress of the skeletons as the sky lightened, the clouds of smoke from the burning towers turning lavender and cerise. The guard looked at the sky then at the undead, murmuring "any minute now..." But nothing happened. He shouted nervously after the gloomy clouds were tinged with rose and orange, "Captain, the Morninglord's light has come, but they're not fleeing. None of them are! Not even the shadows and vampires!" A few heartbeats later he shouted, "And now some vampires look like they're getting ready to cast spells at the gate!" A series of fireballs exploding against the gate rocked the ground.

Casavir shouted as the smoke cleared, "They've breached the gate! Quickly, let us make our stand in the courtyard."

Dee ordered, "Yes! Everyone into the courtyard. We'll cover you! Cas, have them bring out all the wagons, crates, barrels, and anything that we can use to form a barricade and further reinforce this gate." She saw his breath catch as he heard her order, but he nodded and rushed off to comply. The 'Cloaks and their allies hurried inside as Dee, Khelgar, and Grobnar and the construct covered their retreat. The skeletons were holding back as if awaiting someone, and Dee hoped the power of the Morninglord was finally prevailing. They retreated slowly, not turning their backs on the undead.

A cluster of Greycloaks were gathered around the ropes and pulleys controlling the gate as Dee passed under it, looking up with concern and pulling in vain. She stuck her hammer in her belt and was about go over to ask what was wrong when she spotted Bishop, partly concealed in the shadows, motioning to her from just outside the gate.

Despite her fatigue her heart felt light and refreshed when she saw him. She grinned at him as she jogged over. "Oh Bish, you came back. You scoundrel you, I knew you wouldn't abandon us. But hurry, we're retreating inside."

He walked closer, meeting her eyes and speaking mechanically as if he had memorized his words, recoiling from the hug he sensed she wanted to give him as if from fire. "For what it's worth, you almost made me want to stick around. But that's not why I have to do this. Get back up on the wall...you just might live through this." He was alone, and it occurred to Dee then that she hadn't seen Karnwyr with him earlier in the War Room either.

"What? Bish, what are you talking about? What do you have to do? There isn't time, let's get inside!" She had to struggle to make sense of his words, but it was more than simply tiredness. It was as if her brain was refusing to acknowledge the words he spoke.

He looked away clutching his chest and grimaced as if in terrible pain then spoke as if he had to fight for each word. "Get your...skinny ass...back up on the wall! That gate isn't going to come down. Don't waste time trying to repair the mechanism. It was easier to destroy than I thought."

Dee gaped at him stupidly and repeated his words. "Destroy the mechanism? What the hells? Bish, what are you talking about? That's not funny!" But in her heart she knew he wasn't joking. There was something else in his words that nagged at her, as if there were hidden words between the words, but she was too tired to reason it out.

He gazed into his former lover's eyes again and discovered he felt almost nothing, just a slight twinge of guilt. He dabbed a speck of grit from one eye, and then it was gone. "You should know why, but don't flatter yourself that it's because you chose his holiness over me. I admit you were a good lay, but that's all you ever were. I'd have to do this even if I was still screwing you. It's simple. The road's always open to the winning side, sweetheart." With a last sickly grin he turned and sprinted away from her. Karnwyr came running out of where he had been hiding to join him.

She recovered her wits as, augmented by the final insult he cast at her, the enormity of what he had done finally sank in; he had not only betrayed her, but also sentenced everyone here to die, and for what? To save his own ass. She growled and reached into her boot as her anger flared to a murderous blue white and withdrew his skinning knife, the one she kept when she got it back from Marcus. She threw it hard at his retreating form. "Yeah? Well here's your knife back!" He was barely still within range of her throw, having slowed to throw his arms around Karnwyr, and he grunted in surprise and pain as the enchanted blade pierced his leather armor under his left shoulder blade, biting greedily as if thirsting for his blood. He met her eyes a final time knowing that if they met again, one of them was going to die. He twisted a ring on his index finger and vanished.

Casavir had spotted her talking to Bishop as they were setting a last few barrels in a wagon and had come up beside her without her being aware as she stood glaring at empty air in the spot where Bishop had vanished. It was as if she wasn't aware of anything at that moment, not him nor the advancing undead. She looked stunned. He advanced with Nevalle covering him, and they had heard just enough to know what Bishop had done. Casavir could guess what she was feeling. "Come, my love. We must make do with the barricade we've erected." She nodded sullenly and backed inside with them.

Greycloak archers loosed flights of flaming arrows at the two remaining vampires when everyone was out of their line of fire. But as soon as that threat was eliminated, the air shimmered as a dark portal opened and Black Garius appeared in the very spot where Bishop had vanished a few minutes before. Casavir whispered, "Garius must have used his creature to gain access to the Keep."

As if reading his mind, Garius said calmly, "And now Captain, my ally has done his work, so I will reclaim this Keep."

Dee was still seething from Bishop's betrayal, but her anger gave her energy, and right now she hated Black Garius more than she had thought herself capable of anyone. She snarled, "You don't listen very well, Garius. It's not your Keep, and you'll soon be joinin' your master in the hells."

He chortled with his hands on his hips then replied condescendingly as if speaking to a mentally deficient child, "My ally, I should say your former ally, has told us all we need to know about this Keep's defenses." If it was possible for a skull to gloat, then he was gloating. "You don't know what you're up against, but then you never have. You don't understand how powerful my King is. He grants me tremendous power even from his prison." He gestured at a group of skeletons and ghasts, who also grew to three times their size. "As you can see, my creatures do not need fear the feeble light of dawn. Soon all Ilefarn will be in shadow, and you will serve my master after your death. As a footrest, I think."

As Zhjaeve and Ammon Jerro began reading the arcane names on their scrolls, Garius uttered a spell that caused the portal to flare to life again, and a towering monstrosity stepped out. It looked like a creature made of the void. It was living darkness, and it seemed to absorb all light and warmth and hope near it. He gestured towards it proudly as everyone stared in shock and awe at the monstrosity. "Behold my master's avatar. This is but a small taste of what you will face when he crosses over. But I am feeling merciful, Captain. Surrender now, and your death will be painless."

Dee and Casavir led the charge against the creature as Khelgar ordered the Ironfists to form a shield wall with the Greycloaks and take care of the undead trying to breach the barricade. They had left an opening right in front of the gate, which as they guessed, the nearly mindless undead used to achieve their goal of destroying anyone living, and were effectively funneled into a gauntlet. But others threw themselves up and over the barricade. Khelgar sprang to the top and ran nimbly around it smashing them with the Hammer of Ironfist. It seemed to anyone who saw him as if he found footing on the very air. Grobnar directed the construct to attack alongside the Captain then whistled a few notes and converted the sounds into a spell which helped the fighters hit their marks.

Zhjaeve and Elanee concentrated their offensive spells on the monstrosity, leaving Ammon Jerro free to complete reading the scroll. Sand hoped Qara was taking notice of what a real mage could do as he alternately used his spells to bolster his companions then attack the monstrosity. The sword of Gith seemed more alive than ever in Dee's hand. She could feel the shards in harmony with one another and with the one buried in her chest, singing with the desire to destroy their ancient enemy, and her heart joined their alien song. Their enemy soon weakened under their combined efforts and fell to one knee before it threw itself back into the portal to return to the King of Shadows.

If it was possible for a skull to express utter shock and incredulity, then that was the expression on Black Garius's face at that moment as he stared at the portal. He sputtered, "But...but...but how is it possible!" A heartbeat later he learned how as Ammon Jerro read the right name on the scroll and stripped away his defenses, Sand removed his protective spells, and a hail of sliver shards tore into him.

Dee chuckled darkly, and he saw the mad gleam of fanaticism in her eyes. "How is it possible? It's easy. You don't know what you're up against. You see, I'm also a servant, of Fate, and ending the twisted existence of your master is my life's sole purpose. One that I've willingly given my life for."

Still muttering, "It's not possible," he jumped into his portal, which collapsed on itself. Once he was gone, the magic enhancing the undead dissipated, and first they returned to their normal size, and then one by one they burst into flames or crumpled to the ground. The rest of the undead army turned and ran for the cover of the trees trying to get out of the light, followed by a horde of angry Ironfists who looked and sounded not unlike a horde of angry hornets.

"Is that it?" Dee looked at Casavir in disbelief.

"It is, for now my love. Come, send a squad to harry them, and then you must get some rest."

A squad of Greycloaks led by Katriona and Ironfists led by Khalia the Red pursued them while another squad of Greycloaks led by Light-of-Heavens, the only one of the Keep's sergeants who looked serene rather than exhausted, began the clean-up, hauling the fetid corpses outside the wall to burn them along with the remains of the towers.

Down below, Lord Nasher peered out of the entrance to the escape tunnel as the girl watched beside him. She screwed up her pretty face in concentration then pointed with her chin to where Wolf scrambled down a boulder, nearly losing his balance. "My Lord! I think it's over! There's undead things running away from the Keep and 'Cloaks are chasin' them!"

Nasher slapped him on the back. "Good lad! And now that the enemy has been routed, I think it is best if we return to the Keep and await Lord Darmon there. However, that gives me one more task for you. I would like you to go to the rendezvous point and let him know that has transpired when he arrives, if he's not there already. Yet you should not go alone with the enemy still about. Guards, accompany him."

Wolf scratched his head. "No offense, my Lord, but I think they might make too much noise and give us away. I'll be faster alone. I'll go overland through the trees." He looked thoughtful as he peered through the group clustered behind Lord Nasher." Unless...Zeta?" The girl looked up and nodded.

Hiram frowned and stepped forward. "You kids need someone with meat on his bones in case you run into more of those things. That little dagger of hers isn't going to do much good against skeletons, and neither is your bow, lad." He hefted his cudgel and patted it lovingly. "Bertie, go back and throw on the stew pot. We'll have hungry 'Cloaks to feed. I just want to get back in time for me to make the Captain a birthday cake for tomorrow...as long as we're not evacuating."

Leather gave Lord Nasher an imploring look. "Please, my lord. I want to go with them too."

Nasher stroked his smooth cheek. "Can you use that flail? Very well, but be careful, beautiful boy. Nevalle will never forgive me if anything happened to you."

Their journey was short though marred by two encounters. The first was with a pack of skeletons who were wandering aimlessly through the trees, but which attacked as soon as one of them sensed living flesh. Wolf lost his sword when it got stuck in the ribs of a skeleton, but Hiram came to his rescue, blocking the creature's sword as it prepared to strike the boy and following up with a blow that sent its skull flying. Afterwards Wolf scouted ahead while they took a few minutes to rest and for Leather to bind their wounds. He had been gone only a short while when he came running back and whispered frantically, "I saw some people camped in the rocks over that ridge. They weren't wearing Neverwinter's colors and they're not 'Cloaks. I got a funny feeling about them."

Zeta looked around. "If we climb up that hill we should be able to watch them from the other side of the ridge. You think you can climb up there, pops? We'll go ahead. You two be quiet, alright?" She cursed herself for not nicking a couple of her mistress's invisibility potions and not being more diligent about learning to read magical scrolls as Neeshka had urged her to do.

Once Zeta and Wolf were as sure as they could be that there weren't any scouts up on the ridge, and they had backtracked and brushed away the others' tracks with branches, they lay on their bellies and crept forward and watched as the men, and a few half-orcs, got ready to break camp. They were taking their time, as if they weren't in any particular hurry or were waiting for something. At least one looked like a mage, and a woman in a knee length black robe and breeches they guessed was a cleric. One of the men had taken his glove off and was flexing his fingers, and Zeta stiffened. "I think that's a tattoo from a Luskan assassins' guild on the back of his hand, and see the teardrops tattooed on his face? That's how many he's killed!"

Hiram scratched his head and whispered, "How do you know? How can you see that? And what would Luskans be doing here in Neverwinter's lands?"

She whispered, "Trust me, I was born there. My ma..." Her breath caught. "Ma was a pleasure slave sent with the Luskan soldiers during the invasion. She was killed when they retreated...they left me for dead too. I escaped and stayed in Neverwinter. She used to tell me all the time what some of the guild signs looked like and to stay away from anyone with those teardrops under their right eye."

Wolf nodded and whispered, "Maybe they're looking for another village like Ember to practice on. I think we should hide until they pass."

Leather whispered. "They could be scouting for survivors to draft into their army or slaves to sell or even be waiting for pickings if the Keep falls. From what I've heard, it's what they're apt to do."

After Zeta had followed in the shadows and was positive they were moving on, they continued on their way to the clearing. Lord Darmon and his forces had just arrived. Hiram acted as their spokesperson and quickly told them what they knew of the siege of the Keep and about the Luskans they had observed. Sir Darmon muttered about missing all the action and sent a few Greycloaks back to where Lord Nasher's coach was waiting on the road then followed them with the rest of his Greycloaks back to the escape tunnel. But there was no more sign of the presumed Luskans, and he refused to send any of his 'Cloaks to search for them.

By the time they arrived back at the Keep, Lord Nasher had taken over the audience chamber and had received a report of the battle from Nevalle, who had also been close enough to hear Bishop's admission of treachery and informed his lord. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Captain to do it herself. Rather, he was trying to spare her the pain of doing it. Lord Nasher summoned his scribe and waited until he had set up his paper and quill on a writing desk, saying nothing but sitting pensively with his chin in his hand.

Finally he stood and said as he paced in front of the dais, "Issue a proclamation, copies of which shall be sent throughout Neverwinter and her lands. On this eleventh day of Elesias, the ranger who is known as 'Bishop' is charged with high treason and declared outlaw. Therefore, by my decree, the bounty for his live capture shall be five hundred gold crowns payable by our treasury upon his capture and delivery to Neverwinter. The bounty is to be halved if said person is brought to Neverwinter dead rather than alive." Dee was silent, but Casavir noted the determined set of her jaw, as if she was clenching her teeth to stop herself from crying, and he took her gloved hand and squeezed it.

Nasher continued after he sat back down in the Captain's chair, "I would like to hear your account of the battle on the wall, Lady Farlong, but I can see that you are tired, and we need to return to Neverwinter to see to its defenses. But before I go, there is something I would like you to have." He glanced at Sir Darmon, who brought him a small cherrywood box and opened it, revealing a silver rod lying within. "Take this when you go to face the King of Shadows. It is a rod that will allow you to bring your companions back from the brink of death. I regret that it has only a few charges left, but it may turn the tide in your battle. Now, have you had any word from Aldanon?"

"Nothing yet, your excellency." She hoped he couldn't hear the tension that made her voice crack. "Sand says he has a couple of theories though, so hopefully by tomorrow..."

He nodded grimly at her. "Yes, otherwise the shadow army will be able to regroup and will attack anew. Now, I know you are about to argue that you want to inspect this Keep and your troops and visit the wounded." She grinned sheepishly as that is exactly what she was thinking as he continued. "That is to be expected, and I will allow two hours for that purpose. But after that I order you and your companions to get some rest, and that includes you, Sand. Aldanon might even be more clear-headed if he gets in a nap. And if Aldanon has a breakthrough, you must be refreshed so you're ready to leave at once. Go on, Kana and Nevalle can handle things for now."

Dee was about to argue that Kana and Nevalle especially looked more tired than she felt, but she bowed to her lord. "Yes, your excellency."