Chapter 76: Moment of Truth
Nimbrethil was sitting under a large oak tree, shafts, feathers, and metal points spread out around her. Making arrows was something she was religious about doing, holding to the belief that an arrow was only good for a few shots before becoming faulty. Also, it wasn't always possible to retrieve her arrows, so it was imperative that she have a reserve stock of all types available. Of course, with her recent adventures taking her farther from her base of operations, it made having the right arrows with her much trickier than in times past. She had to rely on scouting reports much more than in the past because she herself couldn't just up and leave the keep whenever she felt like it. Even though Casavir could be trusted to keep things running smoothly in her absence, she knew that it was her presence that kept the men on their toes. She had a strict code of conduct that all were required to follow and infractions were punished swiftly and decisively. Those who failed to adhere to the rules and showed no inclination to change were firmly shown the gates and told not to return. She would only have the best at her keep.
Bishop was sitting to her left working on honing and cleaning their other weapons. He was the only one Nim trusted with her bow, daggers, and armor. Grobnar was sitting just to his left watching everything that was done and taking lots of notes. The little gnome had recently developed a fascination with the maintenance of armor and weapons. It was Grobnar's opinion that many adventurers met bad ends because of faulty equipment or failure to be prepared.
"I say, this is interesting enough that a book written about it might just be popular," Grobnar piped up. "I mean, if you and Nim didn't have such good weapons and armor you probably wouldn't be alive today, what with all the nasty things we've come across. I could even throw in a few stories of what could go wrong if one wasn't prepared, make it pack even more of a punch."
"As I've said more than once, failure to prepare properly has led to the death of many a traveller through the Mere," Nim told him. "It is no different when one is going into battle. Lack of preparation and planning is as good as a death warrant unless one is extremely lucky."
"Luck will only get you so far and then it'll get you killed," Bishop growled. "I don't believe in luck. If you're stupid enough to get into a situation over your head, then you deserve whatever happens to you."
"Well I do believe in luck," Grobnar argued. "I mean it was pure luck that Nim's and my paths crossed. I think we are also lucky that Garius was in a hurry to complete that dark ritual of his."
"That is what happens when one is too eager to pursue something," Bishop snorted. "I've heard your stories of how your curiosity overcame your common sense. You must be luckier than most, for you're still alive despite the stupid things you've done."
Nim looked up at the sound of footsteps approaching to see Neeshka and Khelgar coming over. She sighed inwardly as she realized that her quiet time with Bishop was about to get a lot less quiet. But, she couldn't very well tell them to go and do something else. The keep really didn't have much in the way of recreational pursuits. Hmm, something to consider, she thought.
"Hey, guess who was just out on the wall watching you?" Neeshka said as she plopped to the ground in front of them.
"Sylvaron right?" Nim retorted, an amused grin coming to her face at the look of disappointment on the tiefling's.
"Don't miss much do you?" Neeshka chuckled. "Must be a special talent of elves. Anyway, what's his deal here? Wasn't he just supposed to drop off his charges and then leave?"
"I think he's fascinated by our little elf here," Khelgar said as he sat down next to Neeshka. "Not sure what he's thinking, but he's always watching what Nim is doing. If he wasn't in the employ of the Cloaktower, I would suspect him of having an ulterior motive."
"He's a sun elf, they always have an ulterior motive," Nim said sarcastically, her distrust and dislike of sun elves quite apparent still. "He probably just can't figure out how a wood elf, especially one who is still considered a child amongst the elves, came to be in charge of all this," she waived her hand around at the keep.
"Well, what he thinks doesn't matter," Bishop said. "If he don't like it tough, he can leave. Maybe he's a spy for Nasher."
"Heh, wouldn't put something like that past the bloke," Khelgar grumbled. "My people don't trust Neverwinter or Nasher, but with good reason. They turned their backs on the dwarves when we needed them most. They also have a history of being less than favorable in their dealings with elves and other races."
"Yeah, look at how they are using Nim here," Neeshka pointed out. "I'd bet my last coin that if we live through whatever's gonna happen, then Nasher will send Nim and us packing without so much as a thank you. It's how he treated the last hero of Neverwinter, or so I heard."
"Wasn't the last guy human and a paladin?" Bishop snorted. "He should have fit right in with all the other uptight nobles in Neverwinter."
"Yeah, but I heard he fell in love with Aribeth and chewed out Nasher and his whole council for their treatment not only of the lady in the end, but of her lover Fenthick," Khelgar said. "Given that, I ain't surprised that they showed him the gates right quick as soon as the threat was over."
"Kinda makes you wonder to what lengths they'll go to protect their asses don't it," Bishop sneered.
"They can do or think whatever they like, so long as they don't try to tell me how to run things," Nim shrugged. "I have no plans to hang around any longer than I have to, so if they want to get all uptight and righteous after all is said and done, then let them."
"Yeah just watch yourself Nim," Neeshka warned. "They're very good at concealing their true motives, as some friends of mine found out. They like to pretend that they are above using tactics such as lying and cheating, but trust me, if it puts gold in their pocket or helps them sleep better at night, they have no problem doing so."
"Typical human behavior," Nim snorted disdainfully. "Present company excluded of course," she smiled at Bishop. "I prefer your blunt honesty and open hostility to the couched lies and soft entreaties employed by those in Neverwinter."
"What about the saint?" Bishop asked. "You value his opinion and last time I looked he was human too."
"Casavir is honest to a fault and loyal to the extreme," Nim replied. "He has defended me and my actions to others, even though he doesn't always agree with them or me. I don't know if that's just him, or if it's because of his training, but it does make it easier for me knowing he is on my side and understands the humans I have to deal with." She was about to say more when she saw Lt. Kana approaching.
"Excuse me Captain," Kana saluted. "Sand sent me to request that you meet him in the library. He has something he wishes to discuss with you in private."
"I suppose he means right now?" Nim sighed, wondering what was so urgent and hoping it wasn't something she had done wrong. Sand was constantly reminding her of her position and responsibilites, probably because Nasher and Nevalle were holding him responsible for her behavior still. Getting to her feet, she looked down at her friends, "I'll be back soon."
Bishop watched her walk off and debated whether or not to follow. He didn't like secret meetings, even those between friends. However, he knew that whatever Sand wanted to talk about Nim would relay to him, so he shrugged and went back to work on their weapons.
Lt. Kana led Nim to Sand's room and then left after knocking once. When she heard Sand say enter, Nim opened the door and stepped inside, immediately sensing that someone else was in the room. Her hand automatically went to one of the daggers at her hip.
"Relax my dear and close the door," Sand admonished.
Closing the door, but not relaxing, Nim turned back around and only then saw that Sylvaron was also present. "What is going on here Sand?" she asked in a voice heavy with suspicion, her eyes glaring at the sun elf.
"Sylvaron wished to speak privately with you but did not know if you would agree to it," Sand said, unruffled by the hostility in the wood elf's voice. "He of course is aware of your altercations with Vale and has surmised, rightly so, that you might not want to speak with him and would probably have let the matter be. However, given the nature of it, I felt it was imperative that you hear what he has to say and that is why I asked you here."
"You have ten seconds to get my interest before I walk out the door," Nim growled at Sylvaron.
"Decades ago in Neverwinter, when I was just beginning my work for the Cloaktower, I met a lovely young bard and fell in love," Sylvaron began, watching the girl's face closely for any kind of reaction. "Though we loved each other, neither of us was ready to give up our careers, and so it happened that one day my love left and I never saw her again. I found out after she left that she was pregnant with my child and attemtped to find her, but with no luck. Her name was Esmerelle," he finished quietly.
Nim blinked once and then shook her head. Surely she heard him wrong? "What exactly is this supposed to mean to me?" she asked coldly.
"I know that my Esmerelle was your mother," Sylvaron said firmly. "I am your birth father Nimbrethil." He watched as several emotions flicked through her eyes even though her face remained impassive.
"I have a father, I don't need another one," Nimbrethil snarled. "What did you hope to gain by telling me this?"
"I hoped to have the opportunity to get to know you and perhaps learn of Esmerelle and her life after she left me, nothing more," Sylvaron said softly.
"Nim, everyone has the right to know of their heritage, even if they feel no need for the knowledge," Sand told her, moving to stand in front of her. "I know that you have often wondered who fathered you, and I also know that you have always wanted to know more about your mother. Daeghun, for whatever reason, is incapable of talking about her or the past. Sylvaron has the knowledge you seek and he is willing to share it with you, no strings attached. He knows how important your foster father is to you and he does not seek to replace Daeghun in your life. He merely wants an opportunity to get to know you. Family ties are important Nim, especially amongst the elves. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain by talking with Sylvaron."
Nim merely stared at the moon elf for a while, emotions clamoring at her to get out, making it almost impossible to think. Without a word, she turned and left the room, slamming the door behind her. She walked swiftly throught the keep to the rear entrance and headed down to the small pond Veedle had engineered in the lavish gardens behind the keep. She had wanted some place for both herself and Elanee to come to relax and talk together. Veedle had made a perfect place for them. Sinking down onto the grass by the pond, she stared at it's surface, trying to make sense of everything she was feeling.
After all this time, after all that had happened to her, she didn't know if she was able to deal with this sudden revelation. So what if Daeghun wasn't as open and loving as other kids father's were? He still took the time to teach her what he knew, to help her to learn to survive on her own. She knew he cared for her even if he couldn't come right out and say it. Hells, she wasn't much better at it than him. She knew how painful memories could be, especially for elves whose memories didn't fade with time. She'd hoped that one day Daeghun would tell her about his past, his wife, and her mother. She wanted him to be the one to tell her. What would he think of Sylvaron suddenly coming into the picture? If it hurt him, he would never let it show. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Casavir approaching.
"Nim, are you okay?" Casavir asked quietly as he came to a stop at the side of the pond. When she didn't answer he continued, "If I had known what Sylvaron and Sand were planning I would have tried to stop them."
"Did they tell you who Sylvaron was?" Nim asked quietly.
"Sylvaron spoke to both Sand and myself the first day he was here," he nodded. "I told Sylvaron that it was not wise to speak to you about it. Apparently Sand thought otherwise."
"Sand always thinks he knows what's best," Nim snorted, but there was amusement in her tone.
"It is typical of wizard's in general that they hold that opinion," Casavir smiled in agreement. "I will not tell you to speak with Sylvaron about this, that is for you to decide. However, I will say this about the subject. Daeghun may or may not be able to talk about your mother someday. The pain caused by the loss of loved ones can run deeper than even the most severe physical pain. Sylvaron has knowledge of your mother and he is willing to talk about her. I know that most of a child's behavior is formed by that of the ones who raise them. But, some of the child's nature is inherited from their birth parents. As an example, Sand has always hinted that you are smarter than the average wood elf. Since your father is a sun elf, that would explain it. Intelligence is a survival trait and one that is passed to children."
"What are you getting at?" Nim looked at him in confusion.
"By talking with Sylvaron and learning of your mother, you may come to understand yourself better," Casavir answered. "I was orphaned at a young age and have no memory of my parents. I have often wondered what they might have been like and what my life would have been like if they had lived. You have a chance to find out, something that many orphans never get. If it were me, I would want to hear everything Sylvaron knows."
"Daeghun was good to me and he cares for me in his own way," Nim told him. "I never felt that I lacked for anything by not having my real parents around."
"I do not think that Daeghun would begrudge you this," Casavir told her.
"I have managed to accept the fact that I would never know who my real father is, or what my mother was like," Nim looked back at the pond. "I don't know if I want to hear what Sylvaron has to say. I have to think about it some more."
"Then I shall leave you to your thoughts," Casavir said as he stood. "If you want to talk some more, you know where to find me."
Nim watched him walk away and sighed. He had made a valid point about Daeghun being unable to share what he knew with her. She just didn't know if it was a good idea to hear about the past, not when so much in the present required her attention. She decided to see what Bishop thought about the situation before proceeding. Getting to her feet, she headed back into the keep and then out the front to rejoin Bishop and the others. Bishop looked questioningly at her, but she just shook her head slightly. She didn't want to talk about it in front of the others. Retaking her seat, she resumed her task of making arrows, for it would give her more time to think about what she learned.