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The Rest of the Story	By : Anesor Category: +M through R > Neverwinter Nights Views: 2561 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Neverwinter Nights nor the characters from the game, and I make no money from this.

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Many of these characters aren't mine, I hope you enjoy them all.

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Crossroads Keep - - -

- - - Nevalle

It should have been a bright spring afternoon, but I looked out over the battlements, peering through a day that was was much too dark. Crossroad Keep had held through the attack, barely, despite the damage to the gate. There was more to that, but the Commander Whyntll had left, with her remaining people, to pursue an attack on this would-be king. The sorceress, the tiefling, and the ranger had been noticeable in their absence. All troubling, this late in a war.

They had left in their pursuit when the battle was barely over, and the full death toll still not counted. But the smells and sounds of the casualties could not be escaped. We'd lost at least three of the Nine already, and this could be only the first major offensive. My prayers went out to Tyr and Lathander, that their strike force was successful.

Enough introspection, I had duties to address, and so I looked for the nearest Greycloak. There was a squad near me on the wall, some were wounded but they were still here.

I pitched my voice to carry, and demanded, “Who is your squad leader?”

They looked at each other in momentary confusion, and I was suddenly more disappointed in their training.

One young man stepped forward, and saluted, saying, “Sorry Sir, we were assembled from three squads earlier today, I'm senior.”

Returning the salute I said, “Very well. Send one of your men to your senior officer, Kana, I believe. Have her report to me here, as well as the mage apprentice master followed by the senior priest from Tyr's temple when they have a moment.”

I was going to have to commandeer the tower to house the remaining Nine and maybe Lord Nasher, the injured would be moved under cover to any rooms not crucial in defense. Well, some rooms would be exempted, I'd order the Commander's and her team's locked, unless we really ran out of room. In a little bit, Kana was the first to report to me, followed by the human mage Arripah, who seemed to have learned some snootiness from the elves. Kana was pragmatic, and only listened, though Arripah was more of a problem. He made it clear he did not consider himself to be under my orders.

Exasperated, I was about to order him forcibly removed, possibly from the Keep, when I felt through my feet and then heard a rumbling of an earthquake. But it was clear that it was no earthquake, as the shadow over the land and the oppressive weight in the very air disappeared. Taking the first clear and clean breath I'd taken since before we left the city, I hoped the pretender had been stopped. Looking south from this height, I could almost see the shadow retreating towards the Mere.

Thanking all the gods, I turned back to my immediate responsibility.

“You will shut your face, mage,” I snarled at Arripah. “I don't have time to deal with your territoriality. You will clear half of the tower for quarters, and quite probably wards for the injured. Just because its gotten brighter, doesn't mean all of the undead have vanished. As soon as you have given those orders, you will start doing divinations. Use a crystal ball, a pool of quicksilver, or, for all I care, kiss your lucky rabbit's foot, but you will find out if that darkness is really gone!”

He finally must have realized I was serious, whitened, and fluttered away like an old maiden auntie in lace and powder. I supposed it was to be expected, with ambitious and skilled in the Many-starred, away or doing other work like the unexpectedly competent Sand. With a gesture, I sent Kana off to get better counts of the injured and able bodied, before arranging for proper collection of my brothers, to hopefully be sent on to Neverwinter for proper burial.

Later I sent Bell and Eth out with a full company, for intelligence and hopefully clean-up, as the shadow had faded completely from anyone's sight. They both were old comrades, as well as distant relatives, and would have no problem with the soldiers under them. I was having still some problems with Arripah dawdling, but I sent Desmon with license to do whatever he wanted, as long as rooms were cleared in an hour. I rarely turned him loose like that, remembering some embarrassing drunken incidents when I was first promoted, but the crazy bastard really didn't care what people thought. Remmons was the only other one of us left, strong and tough enough alone to guard Lord Nasher while inside the Keep itself.

There was only six of the Nine left. I hoped there was six, I still wouldn't know if Commander Whyntll still lived for some days due to travel time.

Bell and Eth made it back intact, though not all of their troops did. There were mobs of undead still in the general area, but they were beginning to wander without the pretender to direct them. That meant we had to hit them before they spread more. Aimless, we could afford to pull more from the Keep, so I sent Kana and Light of Heaven each out with a company under the command of either Desmon or Remmons, while I rejoined Lord Nasher.

x x

A few days later, and the immediate area around Crossroads Keep was clear, as were the roads in either direction. Kana, the most senior remaining here had been killed, and Light of Heaven was speaking of leaving in its odd way. But we'd gotten reports that there were other problems in the city, and Lord Nasher wanted to return to put them down. It was supposed to have been evacuated, but some may have hidden, or snuck back in early. Politically, he had to be back before a majority of the nobility.

So, in less than a tenday, we should be back in the city we'd left, to pick up the pieces. I was to remain here another couple of days, to see if the sergeants could handle the Keep, and follow on to the city. I anticipated no problem, none of the sorties had found any undead in the last day and a half, but I was beginning to fear we'd lost the Commander. I had great respect for her ability to survive impossible missions. She did well enough alone, as under Castle Never, but now she had the help of those others, all likewise competent.

After another two days, there still was no news. Not hearing of a message or messenger in nearly a tenday was becoming disturbing. Leilon was only two or three days away, and they'd been clear of the shadow that same day, according to Arripah's scrying..

I could not tarry here when there was no news, I had duty in the city. I left Katriona in command here and left for the Neverwinter.

Riding out the gate, with its emergency repairs with my squad, I regretted there'd been no one more senior to leave in charge. Unfortunately, a more recent courier had also reported that some of the looting and other property damage had been suspiciously focused on the holdings of certain noble lines. Every officer experienced in city politics was needed there now.

I thought much of the way back, as I needed to recruit at least two more members of the Nine immediately, that meant we'd officially have eight. The ninth was often left empty for politics and reward, but five was far too few.

I mulled over any candidates I knew of, and could only think of four for the two positions I wanted filled at once. Only two of them were from the nobility, which would cause its own problems with dealing the nobles, but we didn't have the luxury right now of waiting. There also wasn't enough competent members of the nobility willing to be neutral when they were sworn to duty.

That thought reminded me of my own family, and their demands, but I pushed it aside. This wasn't the time for personal concerns.

x x

Perhaps because of the increased patrols or evacuations, but we had no difficulties getting back to the city. I sent my escorts to the barracks, and reported immediately to Lord Nasher in his study. Desmon was still with him, and he was reviewing the looting problems and how the hangings were stopping them.

There would be hell to pay once some of the noble lines were settled back in the city, as a few of those hung were connected. That would be a strength and a weakness of members of the Nine not being in the nobility, like Remmons and Whyntll, as they didn't have any of the connections. I just hoped my aunts and cousins didn't get any bright ideas, as I didn't have time to appease their wishes.

But Whyntll and Remmons, a third of us now, were relatively ignorant of Blacklake politics. That was not a good thing.

I was only half listening to Desmon's report when one name mentioned caught my attention.

Desmon's voice was getting flat with exhaustion, as he said, “... and after the Lieutenant's body was recovered when that mob moved on, I sent a couple people with it back to the barracks to arrange for notification of Ormane's relations, and appropriate burial. We caught up with the mob near the docks, many of them still bloody from their deed. The rest will still need to be questioned to sort out any ringleaders for trial, but several died resisting, and a couple were summarily executed under martial law.”

Damn! Ormane was one of my four candidates, now three.

Nasher raised a hand, and asked me, “What seems to be the problem, Nevalle?”

“I am sorry to have interrupted his report, my Lord. I have been considering our needs to recruit more to serve in the Nine, after our recent losses,” I said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, Ormane was one of that small pool.”

“I see,” Lord Nasher allowed, and waved Desmon to continue.

Forcing myself to pay more attention, I learned that most of the problems were in the merchant and docks districts, as the nobles had left fair contingents of guards in their mansions. Blacklake was then quiet, as they were all pretending to be gone. The good thing is that they would be defending the places they were hiding in.

I said, “We should lighten the Greycloak presence in Blacklake a bit, and move them to the more affected areas.”

“Do whatever you want, Captain,” Desmon said with a tired grin, “Hells, order them to use green paint as bootblack if you want. The command's yours again as soon as I finish my report.”

Lord Nasher's only response to that disrespect was a faint smile.

Desmon stumbled off after that, most likely to grab some sleep in the Nine's watch room, near the throne room. I reported my lack of news about Lady Commander Whyntll's absence, and that the undead roaming south of the Keep seemed destroyed now. Next, I listed the remaining candidates for the two positions I wanted to fill immediately, to learn if he had any opinions or objections to them. He had none, and after only a small bit of discussion about political repercussions of this war, he retired to be with his Lady wife Emina.

I kept watch at his door for several hours with a senior 'Cloak, after checking his room. I didn't really expect anything, the Luskan delegation along with several others had fled the city well before the evacuation. At midnight, Desmon spelled me so I could sleep.

x x

Within a few more days, lawlessness had ended, and people were steadily coming back into the city. On one patrol through the Docks, I saw that the Flagon, owned by Whyntll's uncle, was officially open, although I'd seen wisps of smoke before that. Entering, the air in there was much cleaner than was the norm for the near dive, but the half-elf was industriously pretending to wipe an almost clean counter with that dirty rag.

“You wouldn't happen to have heard anything about your niece, innkeeper?” I asked, trying discreetly to avoid touching anything.

Duncan's face falling was enough of a warning, that his worried, “That, I haven't Captain,” was not a surprise.

“If you hear anything of her, or the rest of her companions who may have survived,” I demanded, “Send it on to me, at the Castle, immediately.”

Narrowing his eyes, he said with an insolent edge, “Of course, Sir, would there be anything else yer Lordship would like me to do?”

After glancing at the half-elf's trophy collection on the wall, I added, “That is sufficient. I would know what happened, as soon as possible.”

“Very well, I will send news as soon as I hear about her,” he said more neutrally.

I rejoined my squad outside, and finished my patrol. The ship from Waterdeep was expected any day now, and I wanted to be in court. Dismissing my squad once I reached the family mansion, I was dismayed to hear a couple of my aunts' voices calling for their maids. I had hoped they would stay longer with my cousins in Waterdeep, but duty ever drove my family, and they were determined, too.

Sighing, I climbed the steps to visit the elder, Beri. Faney was more of the follower, and I might be able to talk her around, if Beri wasn't here. The problem was, that Beri would be quite willing to call in more assistance, including my mother, if she wanted. This game had already gone on for several years, about half of the time since I'd been promoted, and Beri became convinced I would not marry and provide the family with an heir before getting myself killed.

I never could convince her that I was rarely at risk.

Straightening my tunic by habit, as if I were still a teen, instead of Captain of the Nine, I had to smile at myself. Then, I knocked.

“Come,” came in her strong voice. Belying her voice, she looked more frail, with her hair mostly silver and thinning now, looking nice with the mauve of her gown. But her hazel eyes were still as sharp as I remembered from my boyhood, when she said, “Ah, there you are, young man. What happened to that groundskeeper I hired? The lawn looks terrible.”

Kissing her offered cheek, before turning closer to the window, I admitted, “He is with the rest of the staff, still at the hunting lodge, until the city is secure.”

“When will the city be secure, young man? You've been using variants of that excuse for years now,” she glared at me briefly, before adding, “an excuse to avoid your duties to your family.”

The kid gloves were off already. “Aunt, the city is verifiably not secure, if it is still under martial law. You should not have come back this soon. My duty to the city and Lord Nasher, does not allow me to indulge in frivolous activities or partisan politics.”

“What about your duty to the succession?” she asked ringingly. “Or will you put it off until it is too late, as it begins to seem Lord Nasher has, as well?”

Stepping closer, I warned her, “Do not even speak it. His health is good, and wife young enough.”

Shaking her head, she remained on her cushioned seat, but said, “I would not speak it in public. But I remember the chaos of the city before he came to power, and would not want the same again. Nor even in a lesser degree for our family if you fail to sire an heir.”

“My two cousins are quite competent, and already handle most of the family interests between them,” I objected.

“That is quite probably most of the problem, boy. They both want it, and are both able. As long as you coast along, they will not turn to other ambitions.” Her voice was harsh when she added, “While we all were safe enough in the late war, I'd wager you weren't. If you had died, there would have been a war over who would be head of the family, hurting all of us. At least marry, so they realize they must tend their own futures. Marry, and then choose an heir, before ignoring the problem gives us a disaster.”

I could hear a crack of doom in her words, but so help me Tyr, there was a truth in them.

Sighing, I said, “Very well. I will consider it, but I will not be derelict in my sworn duty, even if I agree.”

Nodding, as she hadn't gotten even this much cooperation before, she waved her arm, so her maid could come in with a basin of warm water. I said my farewell, and went back to my room, trying not to seethe.

Looking out on the lawn, it showed more than a mere tenday's worth of neglect, with only minimal plantings. My valet, who'd served briefly during the Luskan war, returned to the estate after he'd lost most of his hand. Tane's understanding of my necessities had been very soothing over the years, and now he only softly inquired if I planned to refresh myself before returning to Castle Never. I agreed, and stood by the window thinking, while he brought the bath in and soon containers of hot water.

I considered my cousins, Nalad and Maust. Between the two of them they oversaw the family's properties and business interests. Nalad, she was a trifle better at trade, and already had a young son, Rhodar, now past toddler. Maust was only engaged, and the ceremony would most likely be delayed by the recent war, but he was a better steward to the various properties and had more connections with the other families. Either had more skills than I, now. Both may be assuming they would be heir.

At minimum, I would have to make a serious appearance of looking for a courtship, before selecting one of my cousins. I was reluctant enough. I'd briefly caught the attention of the other matchmakers when I'd been promoted, especially after my father had already died from the wailing death as well as so many others had. But the chaos then, prevented their full attention. But worse than their full attention, was my mother's almost glee that she was free to leave Neverwinter. I had somehow missed it before then, but she had little affection nor care for my father.

Only then, did I realize that the only time I'd seen them together for a long time, was for events related to myself. I had seen enough of arranged marriages getting nasty among my friends and classmates. But it had not seemed to affect me. My mother had taken less than a month to move to visit other relatives in Waterdeep. In public, she grieved. In her quarters, she sang.

I wanted a partner, at minimum for duty, if I had to marry at all.

Sinking into the warm bath with a sigh, I thought about how much my aunts would love to find me a wife. All of the young women my aunts had managed to sneak introductions to me over the years, were presentable enough. Dressed well, spoke agreeably, and hunted through the eligible men like prize livestock. Predators, the lot of them. I wasn't sure just how I would find someone else, more acceptable.

Cleaner, and in a fresh uniform, I returned to the Castle. Soon the my many duties absorbed me again, to my relief.

x x

After a few more days the city was getting back to normal, martial law would end tomorrow, unless there was some emergency. I'd sent out some inquiries and discovered that the priest Kimada had joined the gods when the caravan she'd been with had been attacked by undead. They'd been turned back, mostly by the power of her faith in Ilmater, but she had not destroyed all of them before she died. That left me no choices left, the other two candidates had survived the war. My inquiries had shown both were competent, loyal, and not caught up in politics.

Once I'd met Ekkar and Lalton, I was fairly certain they'd be good choices, and started them working with, and shadowing Desmon and Bell. In a couple tendays, if the others agreed with me, they'd be sworn in

But then I'd gotten a note delivered on atrocious paper, that Sand and the little gnome had returned to the city, but no one else. Hurrying to the elf's potion shop, I found him in what smelled to be a freshly scrubbed shop.

“Sand,” I asked carefully, at first, “What happened? What news do you have of the Commander? How many survived?”

Looking tired, the elf told me, unusually tersely, “Amidst great feats of weapons work and magic, the King of Shadows and his minions were defeated and destroyed. Being well underground, we escaped the collapse through a gate to very different locations from the first three examples. I do not know where the others came out of the gate, only that the tiefling, the gnome, and myself have made it back to this area, thus far. Divinations say that the Commander, Casavir, Elanee, Khelgar, and Zhjaeve are alive. The other two are at the Keep waiting further word, while I will wait here. End of report.”

I asked a few more questions, but he did not seem to know that much more, and did not want to speak of other speculations. Usually he went on and on, no matter what the topic, so it must have been bad. I could not force answers, if he didn't know. I would not force answers, if even the snide elf was silent on the battle. There was no need to force news about the battle, if the pretender and his forces were destroyed. Sand's judgment could be trusted. I'm sure I could learn more from the bard, at least, he was always a cheerful and guileless soul.

x x

Dissatisfied to know more, and yet not enough, I returned to the castle to report to Lord Nasher. He was again polishing his old campaign sword and shield in his study.

Lord Nasher was not pleased at such minimal news either, at least I had more pleasant news to report on about Ekkar and Lalton, and their progress in training.

After I was done, he asked, “Was there something else bothering you these days, Nevalle?”

“It does not concern Neverwinter or my sworn duty,” I said, hoping he would let it go, so I could get back to work.

“That was not the question,” he said sternly, “and well you know it.” Looking at me closely, he added, “The city seems secure enough for the moment, and your trainees progressing well. The only thing that might distract you at this time might be family duty...”

Something in my face must have admitted to this, as he continued after a long pause, “So it is. I cannot say I am surprised, as you are about the age I was, when I began to get polite pressure. However, I am loathe to relinquish your assistance, especially now, when we have been weakened again.”

Indignant, I said shortly, “No, My Lord, I would not desert my post.”

Lord Nasher was quiet as he finished with the rags, and returned his mementos to the wall. “All things pass, Captain. I believe you should not wait as long as I, before attending to it. I know that there is a storm coming, once the nobility has enough leisure to remember my years. I would prefer to have your full support then, without distraction.”

“I understand, Sire. I am considering it, but I do have competent heirs, and no dire need,” I assured him.

My situation is far different than his had been after the war with Luskan, and he needed to placate nobility and brace alliances. I only had irritated relatives. Though I wondered, finally, if my distaste for his wedding was also coloring my opinions. Then his comment about storms sank in.

“My Lord, has there been a problem I need to know about, and address?” I asked, worried.

“Not yet,” he admitted, with a grimace. “But there will be, and probably there will be demands I put Emina aside. I was lucky to find affection in one arranged match, and I will not throw it away, thank Sune and Tymora. But I, no, we, must prepare. I'd had hopes that Naerlan might have been the answer after things had quieted with the Luskans, as a contingency years ago, but we seem to be having a problem keeping our Heroes. But anyone brought in, without blood connection to the nobles, had better have a reputation to keep them in line. How does one discreetly shop for a ruler with fidelity?”

Lord Naerlan would have been an excellent alternative, but he had disappeared after the Luskan war. I don't even believe he'd ever toured the lands granted to him before he was gone. But he had been in the forefront of defending the city, and few of the nobility would have crossed the irritable Hero. Gone long enough, the lands and property had been officially returned to the city rolls.

That last came out of Lord Nasher in a sad whisper, but then he shook himself, and said, “But that is a problem for another day, another year, I pray. Your problem is much more easily addressed, especially once your trainees are sworn.”

Feeling bleak, I asked, “Is that an order, my Lord?”

Startled, Lord Nasher met my eyes, and said, “Hells, no! I would not wish that on anyone. It is just advice from a friend, not your Lord.”

“Even with the trainees, we are effectively only Seven. My only other prime candidates died, of late, so I know of no others unless we want to tap others without a proven history of loyalty,” I said flatly.

After a silence, he said, “Then we shall have to contrive for a time, and pray some other option reveals itself.” With that he turned to his desk to examine the notes his secretary left and waved me off.

x x

Within the next tenday, Lalton and Ekkar were sworn in, bringing us up to seven. The dwarf Khelgar had also returned by sea. He would have been a very good choice to replace Caleb, especially as he was known in Tyr's temple as well. Unfortunately, I'd heard a persistent rumor and confirmed it with Sand, that he was now clan chief or maybe even king, depending on how you perceived the Ironfists. Neither Sand nor Sir Casavir had clean enough reputations to satisfy the nobility, and the rest of that group was just out of the question. I would have to start studying more of the reports on young officers who had distinguished themselves of late.

Now and then, I sometimes had a few hours to myself, to think. One warm afternoon, I took a small bottle of wine up to the highest tower of Castle Never, and settled to think.

There wasn't anything I could do to help my Lord, his problem had almost surely reached intractable. Mine was at a much earlier stage, and I could still find some acceptable solution.

Closing my eyes to the glorious view over the city, I realized that I was too much a man of duty to continue to shirk this one. But damn, it felt like I was auctioning up what tiny bit of life I had beyond my duty to the city.

But I would. It was my duty, after all.

After a few minutes, thoughts again ticked through me, as I tried to reconcile this, to what I saw as my greater duty. I certainly didn't want to go the full social route, becoming prey to far too many of the noble and greater merchant families. But some would pick up on any change, which may convince my cousins to make other plans if my aunt was right. Small events, brief appearances, neutral stance, I could do this. I'd have to.

I went down to the Nine's watch room some time after I'd finished the bottle, and drafted a note, sealed it, and sent it to my aunt.
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