Chapter 5: The Paladin
Nimbrethil was annoyed to say the least. After traipsing through the Bonegnasher caves, killing Yaisog, then finding that fake emissary she had just about had enough of orcs and their caves to last a lifetime. Yet here they were once again looking at a sizeable group of them and wondering what rock they had all crawled out from under. At least the others had enough sense now to be quiet when she told them to. She had smelled the orcs before seeing them and then had scouted out the location they were in, and now she was back with the others preparing to attack them.
"The orcs don't seem to be waiting for us but for something else and that will give us the advantage of surprise," Nimbrethil told the others in a low voice. "There are two groups of them and they number well over fifty."
"Well lass, you're deadly with that bow of yours and I love nothing better than chopping orcs down to size," Khelgar said hefting his axe. "We'll slaughter the lot of them."
Sighing at the dwarfs excessive eagerness for battle, she motioned to the others to move out and they carefully approached the first group. Getting into position, she notched an arrow and signaled the attack. Khelgar and Elanee, in wolf form, charged the group first with Neeshka moving to the outside edge, while Grobnar began singing his buffing songs. She let her arrows fly and the orcs began to fall one by one under their onslaught. She saw the second group start to come in and realized that they would soon be overwhelmed if the orcs reached Khelgar and the others. Shifting her attention to the lead orc of the second group she took him down quickly and soon their charge faltered. Then she heard what sounded like the strike of blade on blade and focusing saw a group of well armed humans attack the rear of the second group of orcs. She saw an orc sneaking up on one man and killed it with an arrow to the throat. Daeghun would be proud of me if he knew how good I was getting at that. Soon both groups of orcs lay dead and she started to move from her position to join the others as they stood assessing the newcomers.
Casavir looked at the dead orcs around him and saw Katriona inspecting the one right behind him. The orc had been killed by a single arrow to the throat, an impossible shot or so he would have thought, and he had to wonder which in the group had that skill. He saw the dwarf and the tiefling glaring at him, but wasn't sure if either one was the leader.
"Casavir, sir," Katriona whispered. "There are several orcs in this group that were killed by one or two arrows, and I don't see any one of them as being responsible," she nodded toward the group in front of them.
Just as he was about to go to the dwarf, he saw a figure move silently to the front carrying a longbow and picking arrows out of the corpses as she went. The others were looking to her and he knew that she was the leader of the band. A wood elf leader who was also a ranger? Now he knew who was responsible for the deadly arrows, but it seemed odd that one such as her would be here. He waited until she was close enough that he wouldn't have to raise his voice before speaking.
"The Sword Mountains are a dangerous place, even more so now with the tribes gathered under Logram's banner," Casavir said, watching as her eyes narrowed a little.
"I had things under control," Nimbrethil eyed the tall human, a paladin of Tyr from what she could see.
"Indeed, I thank you for allowing my men and I to participate," he got the impression that she was wary of him and wondered at the reason. "I am curious as to why you are here, surely you knew the dangers." Casavir saw that her emotionless gaze never wavered from his.
"You're the one who has been harrassing the orcs here?" Nimbrethil changed the subject. "The greycloaks have been trying to make contact with you."
He realized then that he had yet to introduce himself. "I am aware of that. My name is Casavir and my men and I hunt the orcs for our own reasons. However, when Neverwinter moved to retake the Well we stepped up our attacks in order to keep the orcs from massing to strike at the Neverwinter forces."
"My name is Nimbrethil, and I am under orders to find a missing Waterdeep Emissary," she saw how is eyes widened a little in surprise.
"Missing? The orcs have grown bold indeed if they now interfere directly," Casavir sighed. "Now recent orc movements make more sense to me."
"You think that they have captured the emissary?" Nimbrethil decided to get as much info from the man as possible before parting ways.
"My men and I stumbled upon the remains of an orc raid on a heavily armed troop. I was stunned at the savageness of the attack and that the orcs would dare to move against such a heavily armed group." Casavir couldn't keep the concern out of his voice.
"That must have been the escort for the emissary," Nimbrethil mused aloud, then felt a little stupid stating the obvious like that.
"I believe you are correct considering what we encountered next," Casavir took a deep breath. "We caught up with a large force of orcs and normally we would have routed them. However, while their rearguard delayed us, the rest moved quickly all clustered around a single point."
"Do you know where the retreating orcs went?" Nimbrethil saw a brief anger flare in the man's eyes.
"We could not afford more losses," Casavir said more sharply than he intended. "I led a small group into the mountains, following as best we could. At first I thought we lost them, then one of the scouts found the hidden path to their lair."
"Tell me where the path is and I'll take care of the orcs," Nimbrethil stated firmly, wanting to end this conversation quickly and resume her mission.
"Even our scouts would have a hard time finding it if they didn't know where it was," Casavir found himself amused by the little elf's determination. "If you intend to enter the stronghold of Logram I can lead the way."
Nimbrethil felt her temper start to flare at his apparent amusement. She was certainly a more capable scout than any of his men and was insulted by his presumption that she needed help. Closing her eyes for a minute she called to her companion and soon the falcon came screeching over their heads to land on her arm, causing many of the men before her to duck in surprise. She saw several of them staring at her, but what pleased her the most was that the amusement was wiped from Casavir's face.
"I am an experienced tracker and hunter, and I have decades of practice in seeking my prey." Nimbrethil's eyes narrowed at the man before her. "I'm sure that while your men are as good as can be expected for humans, I sincerely doubt they have the skill to match me. Especially since Thorondor here acts my eyes in the sky." She saw several of the ones before her mutter as she stroked the falcons feathers and knew that they thought she was arrogant.
Casavir sucked in his breath at the insult she just delivered and realized that she had been offended by his earlier amusement. Obviously she had a distrust of humans and he knew he had to smooth the waters before they could proceed. "I meant no disrespect to you. I spoke in error and only because of my desire to see Logram Eyegouger destroyed." He nodded his head and saw her relax a little at his words.
Nimbrethil was a little surprised at the apology from him, but quickly concluded that this was a personal matter to him, for whatever reason. She understood how he felt for she could be the same way when something was important enough to her. He had said what he did because he wanted to be the one to hunt down Logram and he was too proud or too suspicious to come right out and ask. Why did humans never just come out and say what they meant?
"Since this matter is important to you I won't keep you from accompanying us," Nimbrethil gave him a small smile. "I know that there are many dangers to face and an extra blade would be welcome."
"Sir, I can gather the men quickly and join you," Katriona spoke up, afraid that he was going to run off and get himself killed.
"No Katriona, I will need you to go with the men and warn the soldiers at Old Owl Well of what we intend. The trail is narrow and more swords will not help us. If we fail, they will go after the greycloaks in full force and I need you to help them prepare for that possiblity," Casavir ordered the woman. He knew her reasons for going were personal but he didn't acknowledge them, not feeling the same way as she did.
"Look Casavir, let me go with you," Katriona pleaded. "There's no need for you to do this alone anymore."
"He will not be alone, and the noise your group would make will only cause us more problems," Nimbrethil was annoyed at the woman's whining and her tone was sharp. She saw the woman blink in surprise and then step away as Casavir turned to her, eyebrows raised. She would not apologize for she merely spoke the truth. Looking at Thorondor she silently told him what she wanted and he flew away.
"I have sent him to scout the land nearby to make sure it is clear because I wish to set up camp here tonight. We will head for Logram's lair at first light as you will be hindered by the dark night ahead." Nimbrethil turned away and headed back toward her companions.
"Are you sure you want him traveling with us?" Neeshka whispered as they approaced. "He's a paladin and they always cause trouble. Besides, his aura makes my skin itch."
"Finding and killing Logram is a matter of personal honor for him, and though I don't know why it is, I will not leave him out of this." Nimbrethil eyed the tiefling and continued, "If it is going to be a problem for you then perhaps you could accompany his men back to the Well."
"What and let you have all the fun?" Neeshka snorted. "Not a chance, I'll play nice with the paladin."
Smiling a little she looked up as Thorondor approached and landed on a rock beside her just as Casavir walked up to their group. "He says that the area is clear for miles around so we should have no problems tonight, but we'll set up watches anyway just to be sure."
"I want to thank you my lady for allowing me to join you," Casavir bowed slightly to her and saw her lips twitch in amusement.
"My lady?" Nimbrethil couldn't keep a small smile from her face at the title. "Please, call me by my name. I am not of the nobility and my home is the woods and forests of the lands."
"But you are with the City Watch are you not?" Casavir asked in puzzlement.
"It was not by choice that I joined them, it was necessity," Nimbrethil said sharply for it still annoyed her how many hoops Brelaina was making her jump through. "It is a bit of story that is best explained over dinner."
"Speaking of which lass, what are we having for dinner tonight, old boots?" Khelgar grumbled at her.
"Worry not dwarf, Thorondor has spied plenty of game in the area. Get the camp set up and I shall return in a while with your dinner," Nimbrethil chuckled as Khelgar rubbed his hands together and licked his lips in anticipation. Nodding to Thorondor, she set off hunting, moving without a sound.
Casavir watched her go, more than a little concerned that no one accompanied her. "You are letting her go alone with all the potential dangers around?" he asked of the others and was surprised when they all started laughing.
"Lad, she's more dangerous than half the things in this area," Khelgar laughed harder at the paladin's confused expression. "She's been doing this on her own for decades and I'm sure you got a good look at her skill," he pointed at the dead orcs as a reminder. "Besides we'd only end up scaring away any potential game and that would piss that lady off but good. Quickest way I know of getting an arrow in the ass."
Casavir was taken aback by the statement but understood what the dwarf meant. She certainly had deadly skills with her bow and she was a ranger, but still she just looked so small that he couldn't help but feel protective. Sighing, he settled down and started trying to get to know this little group of adventurers, silently hoping she would come back safely.