NB: Thank you for those who still follow this story. I am touched. This is especially so when my original plan was updating it once a week.
Feel free to comment under each chapter. I live for those little snippets.
Lost in Realm
23
They looted the bodies, raven and all, and shared their findings before carrying on their journey. For a period of time, Nhilva thought about what she told the others, about her time at Menzoberranzan.
She had thought she hated the place - her original host hated that place. Everything there was filled with twisted ideals, cruelty, toxicities, violence and sadness. She had thought she would never want to even think about going there again. All of that was left behind when she emerged to the surface world. Yet here she was, talking about their melee weapon training with a hint of pride in her breast. Where did they come from? Were all of those things, what her house had done, really bad? Obviously not, there were things, precious memories, knowledge and skill she learned down there that were brilliant and beneficial to her now. And she wasn't talking about magic. Magic, the very thing she had taken pride in almost all her life, had been absolutely no use to her today. And it was all because she met someone wonderful and loved him with all her heart. She had to slowly claw her magic ability back, handful by handful, using the knowledge and skills her house had taught her. So the Underdark wasn't all that bad, after all. There was some wholesome goodness among the pitch dark masses that were once bringing her nothing but dread. Her origin wasn't all that twisted and evil. She felt somewhat more cheerful at the notion.
The rest of their travel on Northern Means was uneventful. They did not encounter any Black Raven Tribe members, or other kinds of robbers, after that. At the end of the first day, Viessa managed to find a decent size rock boulder and erected a hut with spell. All of them sought shelter there for the night. The interior was dimly lit and dry, so they were able to rest comfortably for the night. Once spreading out the bed roll, Nhilva let Bishop out of her side shoulder bag to stretch his legs a little. She also used this time to redo his bandages. They were drenched with blood once again. The poor thing still looked terrible. She also let him sip some of her healing potion to boost his strength.
"Yeh really should take him to somebody," Greg commented. He was nearby and took note of the state of the cub. "I heard there is a specialist, a Myconid, living in One-Eyed Jax who is-"
"Dimitri. Yes, I have visited him. It is the reason why I took this job," said the drow with a shrug. She was watching Bishop curl into a ball to sleep.
"Did he charge you an arm and a leg?! What the-"
"Mister Gregory Wylde, you are aware Dimitri is the top Apothecary in the Sword Coast. Do you expect him to let you visit him for free?" Viessa snorted, interrupting from the other side of the hut.
"The standard fee, according to words on the street, costs a few houses in Luskan," commented Bastian casually.
"Is that why you are skin broke?!" Greg snapped his head around, looking at Nhilva again.
"I was already broke when I came to Luskan and it had nothing to do with Dimitri," the drow female shrugged. She decided not to tell them the Myconid didn't charge her a copper for the consultation. It was the potion ingredients that cost heaps. To give them hints to drop the subject, she cleared her throat. "Best get some sleep. We are reaching Iceflow Gorge tomorrow."
It was a successful attempt. Immediately Boyle climbed into his bedroll and Greg grunted, "So not looking forward to that. There are all kinds of monsters there. Spiders, dragons, oh, and bloody Remorhaz."
"Among other things, yes." Nhilva closed her eyes. "Oh, and you know the fun part?"
"What?"
"Almost all of them are somewhat immune to magic."