Chapter 75: Honing Abilities
Sylvaron had just come back to the throne room from checking on his two apprentices and found it empty. Curious as to where everyone was, he asked a guard and was told they had all gone up to the wall to watch the captain doing drills. He had only been there a couple of days but had already noticed that Nimbrethil was practicing her skills every day. She also had those men that were not on patrol or guard duty drilling as well. There were no idle hands in Crossroad Keep, something he had been pleasantly surprised to find. Nimbrethil was still a child in years, but she seemed to have the maturity of someone decades older. Perhaps it was the trials and tribulations she had undergone that made the difference. At any rate, he hoped that her maturity would extend to her feelings so that she would react rationally once he told her who he really was.
Sighing, he headed outside to join the others, his thoughts once again turning to what he had learned from Sand and Casavir, as well as from her other companions. They all seemed to be willing to follow her anywhere, especially the other ranger Bishop. That kind of loyalty was not easily earned, but where Bishop followed her because of his feelings, some of the others seemed to follow her because they were afraid to do otherwise. The one thing the others believed strongly in was that Nimbrethil was the only hope they had of defeating the King of Shadows. He noticed though that the girl and her boyfriend did not seem to be so sure, and that troubled him. She had fought Lord Nasher, Nevalle, and her other companions every step of the way, and if the stories were true then it was only the interference of her god, Solonor, that had her complying so far. He had never known any god or goddess to have such interaction with one of their followers, going so far as to make an appearance. This to him suggested that the situation facing Neverwinter and the lands around was more serious than most believed. He wondered if it was really true, that she was so favored, or if it was merely wishful thinking on the part of her companions.
Upon reaching the wall outside the doors, he was surprised to see so many gathered there, including Bishop and Sand. "Why is everyone standing here?" he asked as he joined them.
"We're watching Nim do the impossible," Khelgar answered, his voice bemused. Seeing the puzzled look, he directed Sylvaron's attention to the training grounds below.
Sylvaron saw the girl sitting upon the back of the black horse he had ridden on his journey to the keep. "She is riding my horse," he stated.
"It's not yours, it never was mage," Bishop snorted. "She bonded with it on our first trip to the keep and I doubt it'll let you ride it now that it is back with her."
Nimbrethil was aware of the crowd gathered to watch, but was unruffled by the attention. Patting the neck of the sleek animal beneath her she readied her bow and quiver of arrows. She was practicing hitting the targets from the back of a horse moving at full gallop. She had made two passes already and not missed. With an elvish command, Nightwind, as she called him, leapt forward and quickly was at full gallop. As she neared the targets, she turned to her left, aimed and fired without hesitation and heard the solid thunk of the arrow hitting. The horse turned upon her mental command and she came back, switching her bow to her other, weaker hand. Again, without hesitation, she aimed and fired as she passed and once again heard the solid thunk indicating she had hit her target again. Smiling slightly, she decided to make one more pass before calling it a success.
"I do not believe it!" Sylvaron exclaimed. He had never seen anyone with her accuracy or with her ability to use both arms on the bow. "I mean, I see it and..."
"Believe it, she's that good," Bishop smirked, not hiding his pride in the elf's abilities. "My girl is certainly full of surprises." He was about to say more when he noticed several men at arms carrying some targets coming up the hill to the lower wall. He watched as they spaced them out along the base of the wall he was standing on and wondered just what Nim was up to now.
"What are they doing?" Lt. Kana asked, confusion in her voice.
"Setting up targets for Nim obviously," Bishop snickered and rolled his eyes, clearing implying that even an idiot would know that.
"I can see that, but I wanted to know why," Kana snapped back.
"You mean Nim didn't tell you?" Bishop pretended to be surprised and then chuckled at the dark look that crossed the lieutenant's face. "Oh that's right, Nim doesn't tell you anything."
"Bishop, that was uncalled for," Casavir growled.
"Don't get your underwear in a twist paladin," Bishop sneered back.
"Would you two knock it off already?" Khelgar grumbled. "Nim looks to be getting ready to do something and I want to watch it. In peace if you don't mind, thanks."
Everyone turned to watch as Nim slung her bow on her back and checked the multiple daggers she had strapped on her. Then with a silent command, she sent Nightwind galloping towards the large oak tree near the lower wall. What she was going to do was something she never tried before in front of others. But, she knew she had Solonor's favor and he would give her the skill needed to pull this off. As they neared the tree, she stood on the back of the horse and then leapt up and grabbed a branch and swung herself up. The horse continued running and would keep going, circling around the keep. With a quick leap, she landed as sure footed as a cat on the wall and began to run along it. As she passed each target, she drew and let fly a dagger, not once pausing her step. She completed the run and just as she reached the end Nightwind appeared and slowed below her. Without hesitation, she jumped from the wall and landed on the horse's back. Together they galloped back to the starting point before stopping. She felt an exhilaration fill her at how successful this first attempt was. Now all that remained was to have her men at arms actually firing at her when she did it the next time. If she used such a tactic in battle she would need to be able to dodge enemy fire and still hit her targets.
"I'll be a troll's uncle," Khelgar whispered in shock.
"It would seem that she does indeed have Solonor's favor," Elanee said quietly. "I have never seen someone do something like that as quickly and successfullly, and I have seen much of rangers and elves in my time."
"Just imagine how our enemy will feel when she shows him what she can do," Sand said in satisfaction. The girl was definately developing some scary and lethal talents.
"Skillfull, dangerous, and beautiful," Bishop murmured, his eyes gleaming with a strange light. "And all mine," he whispered so low that only Sand and Sylvaron heard him. Rousing himself, he left the wall and hurried down to the training grounds to congratulate his girl in person.
"You know, all those times Bishop told us how capable she was, I didn't really want to believe him," Neeshka said finally, breaking the awed silence that had descended upon the group. "I guess everything he told us is true."
"Yes, she is a force to be reckoned with," Shandra nodded. "I'm just glad she's on our side."
"As am I," Casavir agreed. "If I were the enemy, I would definitely not sleep well at night if I knew what she could do."
"Let us hope he remains in the dark then," Sand said. "Her newly developing talents definitely give us an edge in any future battles," he finished, not bothering to hide his satisfaction.
"This little demonstration also impressed the men at arms a great deal," Sylvaron pointed out, having seen similar looks of awe and disbelief on their faces. "It is important that a leader has the respect of those she commands, and it is apparent she does. I must say, for someone so young, that this is a pleasant surprise."
"She is only young in physical years," Zhjaeve said softly. "Know that events in her past, unknown to us, as well as those of the present have greatly influenced her character. There is nothing she will not do or try to achieve her goals. Life has hardened her in ways that none of us will ever understand."
"Bishop understands her," Shandra pointed out.
"Know that is because he too has things in his past, things similar to hers, that allow for his understanding," the cleric replied. "Perhaps, only one who has suffered in similar ways can ever fully understand the Kalach-Cha."
"What a load of nonsense," Khelgar snorted.
"Ignore her Khelgar," Neeshka soothed the dwarf. "She's just trying to build up her own importance by spouting useless drivel. Let's go down and ask Nim how she learned to do this stuff." With those words, the tiefling scampered off, Khelgar following after her, snickering at the cleric. He didn't trust any gith and was glad Nim and the others shared his opinion.
Sand sighed and looked at Casavir to see if the paladin would say something to try to blunt the words of the others but he remained mute. In fact, Casavir looked almost as if he agreed with the girl and the dwarf. "You will have to excuse the more hot-headed members of our party. They lack the social skills to offer their opinion in a less annoying fashion," he said to Zhjaeve.
"Know that their opinions do not change the truth of my words," the githzerai cleric responded calmly. "Know that I do not take offense at their words so apologies are not necessary."
"They have been with Nim the longest and are most loyal to her," Casavir finally spoke up. "They will take her side no matter the right or wrong, truth or lie."
"Are you not as loyal to Nimbrethil as the others then Casavir?" Sylvaron asked, truly puzzled by the paladin's words.
"I am devoted to Nim and her cause," Casavir said with utter conviction. "However, I do not blindly support her. If I feel that she is in the wrong then I tell her so. That is why she holds my opinions and person in high regard. I tell her what she needs to hear, not just what she wants to hear and for that I have her respect. She may find the others amusing and may even appreciate their unwavering support, but she does not turn to them for advice because she knows that they will agree with her on everything. She knows the value of differing opinions and even though she seems not to heed them sometimes, she does listen to and remember them."
"She is lucky to have both you and Sand to guide and advise her," Sylvaron nodded. "As Sand could tell you, amongst the elves children are raised to heed and respect their elders. No matter how closed off emotionally her foster father may have been, I have no doubt that those lessons were drilled into her from the day she could walk and talk. No mature elf, regardless of race, would allow disobedience or disrespect from a child. In this place and time, the two of you are essentially surrogate fathers, ones she can look to for guidance whether she needs it or not. She is not yet an adult with the privelages that come with such age and as such is still in need of authority figures. While the mother is revered and respected, it is the father to whom elven children are accountable for their actions."
"Maybe that is why she seems to listen to Shandra as well," Sand mused. "Shandra exudes a motherly mien that must appeal to the girl on some subconscious level."
"Are you forgetting how we first met Sand?" Shandra asked. "She wasn't exactly chummy, in fact she seemed to outright dislike me."
"You are of course referring to your behavior after the githyanki burned your home down," Casavir said. "You must realize that your behavior would have tried most people's patience and, as we all know, Nim had very strong prejudices about humans that your behavior only seemed to reinforce. Once you calmed down and understood where Nim was coming from, you started making amends with her. It was at this time that your mothering instincts took over was it not?"
"Well, I did feel bad for what she had to go through to help me," Shandra nodded. "But more so, I was feeling guilty about treating her the way I did, especially after I saw how lonely she seemed. I only wanted to help her see that she wasn't alone in the world. I also felt outraged about how Daeghun raised her."
"The sun is starting to go down, which means dinner will be served soon," Sand pointed at the sky. "We all have just enough time to freshen up before then, so if you will excuse me," the wizard nodded to them and headed towards the keep.
"Shandra, a moment if you please," Sylvaron stopped the farmer as she was about to head inside.
"What's up?" Shandra cocked her head curiously.
"I was wondering if perhaps after dinner we might talk for a while, about Nimbrethil," the sun elf said softly. "I wish to understand her better and it seems that perhaps you could offer some insights to her character that the others cannot."
"Well, sure, but if you don't mind my asking, why?" Shandra puzzled.
"That is something I would rather answer in private," Sylvaron responded.
"Okay, after dinner then," Shandra smiled and then hurried off.
Sylvaron looked back down to the training grounds and saw that all activity was stopped for the evening. He was learning much about his daughter, but there was over 80 years of her life to learn about and not much time to learn it. He hoped that what he learned from the farmer tonight would help his decision on whether or not to approach Nimbrethil with the fact that he was her father, not Daeghun.