Chapter 68: Troubles In Arvahn
Nimbrethil heard a big explosion and turned her head just in time to see Sand and Elanee thrown backwards as a fireball smashed into their enemies. She quickly noted that Qara was not where she had been ordered to be and cursed aloud at the little twit. Pushing the thoughts aside, she refocused her attention on the battle raging below her position. Things had been going well and she had been thrilled that her plan of attack was working against an enemy that outnumbered them three to one. Now however, a key part of their company was out of the fight and she hoped that the numbers of opponents had been reduced sufficiently that her remaining companions could handle them. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the sounds of battle quieted and then ceased altogether. Cautiously, she raised her head and looked around and then breathed a silent prayer that the battle was over and they had won. Now all that remained was assessing what damage had been done to the group by Qara's careless actions. Getting to her feet, she hurried quickly down to the plain below.
"What in the hells did you think you were doing you stupid bitch?" Bishop snarled. "You damn near took me out with that last spell you tossed out. You weren't even supposed to be there!"
"Oh please, you wouldn't have survived that last skirmish if it weren't for me," Qara sneered back. "You should be thanking me!"
"With help like that who needs enemies?" Shandra yelled at the sorceress. "Sand and Elanee are both hurt because of you. What were you thinking?"
Before Qara could respond she felt someone grab her hair and yank her head back while at the same time twisting her arm behind her back. She felt herself dragged over to where the druid and wizard lay and forced to her knees in front of them. She stopped her struggles as soon as she felt the blade of a dagger pressed to her throat.
"Look at what you did?" Nimbrethil hissed in the girl's ears. "Because of you, they have been hurt and were not able to help finish the battle. You disobeyed a direct order and just did what you pleased. I am within my rights to charge you with treason and execute you right here, right now. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't?"
Everyone froze at those words and looked nervously at the elf as she leaned over Qara. They knew that this was not an empty threat and yet no one seemed able to come up with a way to stop Nim from doing what she threatened. Sand saw Qara's face filled with fear and gained some satisfaction from it. However, killing the brat wasn't really justified in this instance and he opened his mouth to say so when Casavir beat him to it.
"As Captain and the commander on this field of battle you are certainly within your rights to execute Qara," the paladin said in a calm voice as he stepped forward, ignoring the gasps of suprise from the others and the look of complete disbelief that crossed Bishop's face. "However, there are mitigating circumstances in this particular case. None of us were killed as a result of her actions and they also didn't affect the outcome for we have emerged victorious. Death is a rather extreme punishment in this instance."
Nimbrethil stared hard at him for a few moments before nodding. Grabbing a cloth from one of her pouches, she wadded it up and then pulled Qara's head even further back, causing the girl's mouth to open in a scream allowing the elf to push the cloth into it. Then pushing the girl flat on her stomach, Nim held her down while grabbing and tying the girl's hands behind her back. Once finished, she hauled Qara to her feet and then marched her to a tree near Elanee and shoved her down next to it. "I would strongly suggest that you not attempt to move from this spot or you will die by my hand before you get even two feet away," she snarled at the sorceress before turning away and stalking off into the woods away from everyone.
After she was out of hearing, Shandra got up and went to stand in front of Casavir. "I can't believe you agreed with Nim about killing Qara!" she shouted at him.
"I know the rules that govern all war time activities and so does Nim," Casavir stated calmly. "Lord Nasher has officially stated that we are fighting a war and has given Nimbrethil a command rank so that she can plan and carry out ways to attack our enemies. On the field of battle, disobeying a direct order is sufficient cause for a charge of treason and that charge usually carries a sentence of death if proven. Proof we have, for we all witnessed Qara's actions."
"So you would have let Nim kill Qara?" Khelgar sputtered out in shock. "You're a paladin of Tyr, the God of Justice, that goes against your beliefs."
"If Sand or Elanee had been killed then I would not have stopped Nim from doing it," Casavir said quietly. "As much as it would have pained me, I would have to follow battle protocols and procedures and allowed it."
"I must say paladin that I thought you couldn't surprise me anymore," Bishop chuckled darkly. "Of all of us, I would have thought you would try to stop Nim."
"I always follow the rules Bishop," Casavir snapped, not liking that the ranger found the situation amusing. "Out here, Nimbrethil is the law and we have to abide by her decisions regardless of our own personal feelings or viewpoints."
Bishop said nothing to that, but he couldn't help the little kernel of respect that rose up in him for the paladin's actions. Even though it made him sick to his stomach to acknowledge it, he realized now why Nim held him in such high regard. The saint did indeed respect Nim's views and position in the group and supported her fully despite obvious discomfort with some of her words or actions. "I'm going to go find a nice spot away from here to set up camp," he said finally. Turning away, he set off, knowing that Nim might be gone for a while. He knew the elf was thinking over what to do about the bratty sorceress and probably wouldn't be back for some time.
"I don't know anything about rules of battle and stuff, but Qara's been asking for it since she joined us," Neeshka said softly as she came to join the others. "I don't like the idea of being killed for not following orders and such though. I don't hold with the rules and things, Nim doesn't either, come to think of it. Despite all that happened I don't want to see Qara dead."
"Nim doesn't hold with other people's rules and ideas about what's right or wrong," Shandra spoke up. "She has her own code that she follows and does what she thinks is justified because of it. I have to wonder sometimes just what she thinks is justified or not."
"As it appears that all of you are having problems with what happened just now, I would like to try to clarify it for you if I can," Casavir sighed. "I believe most of what you're feeling has to do with the fact that none of you have ever served with an army or participated in a war before. During our training as paladins, we have very lengthy and detailed lessons about battle rules, regulations and procedures. That is because we will most likely be called upon to serve in a war. We also recieve extensive training in matters of politics and government as it relates to our beliefs and our faith. This is important, for sometimes our beliefs conflict with what we might be ordered to do. We have to be able to find a balance in order to do our jobs effectively. That being said, you should know that those rules that govern behavior during peace time are more relaxed and flexible than during a war. We are at war, we are on a field of battle, and harsher rules apply to our actions. Disobeying orders during war time are considered traitorous actions for they can cause the death of many good men. Nimbrethil will at the very least have to hold a hearing to decide Qara's fate. That fate will be largely dependant on the fact that we all survived and that we won. While my personal beliefs tell me to seek clemency, my duty is to support my leader's decision, regardless of what it is."
"Know that it is the same for priests and clerics," Zhjaeve had been silently observing to this point. "I have lived long and have seen and learned much. Know that battle is often brutul and uncaring and can cause even the best of us to question if what we are doing is right. I have witnessed many things that made me question, but I have never allowed those questions to make me doubt those who lead. Know that where I come from doubt such as what we feel now would be disastrous. Regardless of your personal feelings, you must never doubt or question the Kalach-Cha's leadership or decisions. Know that to do so would play into our enemy's hands."
"It's awfully hard not to when she threatens someone with death for making a mistake," Khelgar snorted.
"What Qara did was more than just a mistake," Sand finally spoke up, having recovered enough to join the group where they stood far removed from the sorceress. "The girl is far too wrapped up in herself to even care if what she does hurts others. The only thing she is interested in is feeding her self delusions of grandeur. She disobeyed orders and went off and did her own thing. Nimbrethil came up with a brilliant plan of attack, but it depended heavily on everyone performing their assigned tasks. The only reason we were victorious is because the battle was nearing the end. If not, then most likely one or more of us would have been killed and perhaps our enemy would have won the day. Qara is lucky that those we faced today lacked the intelligence to take advantage of what she did. Against a smart opponent, we would not have fared so well."
"Sand is right," Casavir nodded. "Qara's actions were the kind that a smart adversary would have been able to turn against us. Nimbrethil is well aware that we follow her because we want to and not because we are obligated. This weighs heavily in every decision she makes, for she is determined to see that all of us live through this war. She does not take lightly anything that puts our lives in more danger than they already are. For that alone, she would feel justified in killing the sorceress, for doing so would eliminate a potential threat. Before she travelled with us she might very well have done so, but not anymore. Now she knows that there are other ways of dealing with threats and I believe that is what she has gone off to think about."
"A hearing huh?" Neeshka asked. "I mean, this doesn't seem the place for such a thing, it would be better at the keep. But, it took us so long to get out here that I don't think we should bother going back just because Qara is a stupid twit."
"Know that there are more important things for us to deal with than one little girl's actions," Zhjaeve spoke up again. "Our enemy will certainly not be sitting idly by and there are other matters that require the Kalach-Cha's presence."
"Yeah, we know, that whole ritual deal you've been on about since you joined us," Khelgar snapped. The gith cleric certainly had a one track mind.
"That is the reason we are here, it was just bad luck that all those beasts decided to make their home here," Shandra shook her head. "Now that we've come this far and gone through that battle, I don't want to return to the keep without finishing what we came here to do. I mean, this isn't my idea of a good time, thank you very much."
"Ultimately that decision is Nim's," Casavir spoke up. "Zhjaeve is correct in that we have to support her in everything. If she wishes to return to the keep and then come back, that is what we will have to do."
"Oh my, I'm sure that it is not necessary for all of us to stay here," Grobnar had been flitting about the area, looking at odd plants and things, and only now had joined them. "From what Nim discovered earlier, I know that this group we faced was the largest one here. I imagine that anything else we face can be handled by a fewer number of us."
"I don't care what Nim decides to do, just so long as I don't have to worry about the pryo bitch screwing us all over," Bishop snorted as he came towards them. "Personally, I think we should kill Qara for that would ensure that the only enemies we face are in front of us. She certainly has been nothing but a pain in the ass and we'd be better of without her."
Casavir barely managed to not say something derogatory that would only end up causing a fight between himself and the ranger. "Like I said before, it is Nim's decision and I will stand by her no matter what she decides to do. I assume you've found a good spot for camp?" he asked.
"Yeah, a half a click that way," Bishop pointed back towards the tree line to the east of them. "This stream here runs down into a little glade there with plenty of room to set up our tents. I'm going hunting for dinner. Make sure you tie the sorceress to a tree until Nim gets back. She'd be pretty pissed if the bitch got away from us and I don't want to think of what she would do then." Turning on his heel, he headed off, not objecting when Grobnar fell into step with him.
"He is right, we had better keep an eye on Qara," Sand said as he moved to head out. "The girl has to know that she is in trouble and there is no telling what she will do."
Elanee had remained beside Qara, silently watching the group as they talked about what happened. Watching the girl and seeing the fear she tried to hide, Elanee felt only pity that it had come to this. Qara was still very much a child and like any child she didn't think about the consequences of her actions. However, unlike Nim, the girl had never even attempted to listen to others or heed their warnings, so she had pretty much brought this on herself. In that regard, Elanee realized just how much Nim had matured in the past months. Hopefully, she was now wise enough and strong enough to deal with what Qara had done in a fair manner. She knew that no one in the group, with the exception of Bishop, wanted to see Qara dead, and if Nim decided to execute her it would certainly put a strain on everyone. However, there was truth in Zhjaeve's words and she promised herself that she would stand by Nim's decision regardless of what it was.
"Come Qara," Elanee got to her feet and gently helped the girl to stand. "I know that you are feeling alone and scared, but I believe that Nim will not deal too harshly with you. The aftermath of battle is not the time to make such decisions. When Nim has had time to think, I know she will handle your case fairly." She saw the look of doubt on the other girl's face and sighed. Maybe it was just wishful thinking, but one could only hope for the best.