Sunken Dreams

Bishop throttled his mug of ale, how much longer was he going to be kept a prisoner of this decrepit inn? He fingered his dagger, wondering for the hundredth time if he had the courage to free himself from his bondage to the wily, old innkeeper.

'If I'm not willing to kill for it, then surely I don't deserve freedom.' Bishop chided, uncertain why he found it so hard to just kill Duncan and be done with it. 'Not like I haven't killed before and with less justification.'

His predicament wouldn't have been so bad, free food, free booze and the occasional trip to the local brothel. Except that nothing ever happened at the Flagon. Bishop was a man of action; violent, brutal action preferably. Having to sit and listen to Duncan and Sal whining back and forth at each other all day long would drive even the most patient of men to the brink. On a really bad day that two-bit magician Sand would drop in too. More than once Bishop had thought of turning his blade against his own ears rather than listen to the three of them arguing like a gaggle of old women.

These daily tortures were nothing however, compared to the feeling that Duncan held sway over him. Like a wild animal, Bishop couldn't bear to be caged and kept. He swore that he would never again bow to another master. To be little more than a chained dog awaiting commands.

'This dog bites.' He grimaced, bearing his teeth before taking another swig of his ale. 'Who'd want to pay for this swill anyway?'

A gust of wind sent the fireplace into a sudden frenzy, disturbing the shadows in Bishop's snug corner. It heralded the entrance of customers, but even without the fiery warning Bishop heard them long before they stepped into view.

"…xt time I catch your hand in my pack goat-girl."

"Relax Khelgar, I didn't take anything."

"Blast it! For the last time; don't go tugging on my beard!" The red-faced dwarf, Khelgar, backed into the common room, fists at the ready. He was chased by a tiefling, her tail twitching with amusement as she made a game of trying to grasp his full beard. "I'm warning you girl. A dwarf's beard is a sacred thing." Khelgar growled as he tried to dodge the tiefling's quick hands.

"Sacred?!" The girl shrieked. "Oh please, all you use it for is catching bits of food to save for later." She wrinkled her nose in disgust. This infuriated Khelgar to such a degree that Bishop feared the runt's eyes would pop right out of his head. Before Khelgar could even voice a retort two more travelers stepped into the commons behind them.

Once of them Bishop guessed to be a wood elf from her colouring and wild appearance. The other he could not really tell for the collar of her robes was cut high, brushing against her cheek. The way she wore her slouch hat low, obscuring her face with shadow, suggested she did not want to be recognized.

'Skinny,' he thought dismissively, though it was hard to gauge truly beneath the bulk of her robes, 'gotta be another elf. What I wouldn't give to have a full figured blonde walk through that door.' At any other place and time he would have quickly lost interest in this troupe but this was the first "event" to occur in the Sunken Flagon since he had taken up residence. They all looked disheveled from travel and he could smell the sea spray upon them. He wondered what port they had sailed from.

"Enough." A weary voice commanded and the arguing duo froze, casting their eyes to the floor like a pair of berated children. "Fenmarel help me, the next one who opens their mouth." The softly spoken threat was left to linger in the air, the speaker's voice taut with barely restrained anger. Bishop quirked an eyebrow as he regarded the silent plateau. The wood elf stepped in front of the tiefling, holding her hands up in supplication to the robed woman that was clearly in charge of little band.

"I will speak with them, Kaede. Please seek out Duncan." The wood elf sounded as haughty as her leader. Kaede gifted the woman with a slight nod before gliding away from them. Bishop knew for certain she was an elf then, for she moved with the weightless, otherworldly grace that seemed innate to all of her race.

"I'll speak to them, Kaede." The tiefling mimicked the wood elf, pouting at her and making kissing noises.

"Neeshka!" The elf hissed, glaring at the taller girl. "Go sit over there." She pushed Neeshka roughly toward the fireplace and Bishop bristled at the thought of that shrill harpy being anywhere near him. "As for you Khelgar…" The elf rounded on the dwarf.

"Don't worry about me lass; I'm more interested in getting to the bottom of a barrel of ale." So saying he sauntered toward the bar to demand a drink from Sal. The wood elf shook her head in dismay and settled herself near the doorway. Bishop could see she was on edge from the way her eyes darted furtively, her hands fidgeting with her clothes. He wondered if this one had ever even left the wilds before.

Neeshka unceremoniously dropped her gear on a table near Bishop, settling in a chair with a great sigh. She gave Khelgar a sly glance to be sure he wasn't watching before she gingerly pulled something from beneath her leathers. The object glinted in the firelight but Bishop could not clearly see what it was. From the devious look on Neeshka's face it was apparent that she had indeed taken something from Khelgar's pack.

'How interesting.' Bishop contemplated how this information might benefit him in future.

"That old drunk. Is this about money?" Duncan kept a wary eye on the new arrivals and Bishop enjoyed watching the inn keep squirm.

"I don't have time for games." There was no mistaking the dangerous intent in Kaede's soft voice and Bishop prayed Duncan would be fool enough to ignore it. "Daeghun sent me to find his half-brother."

"Daeghun?" Duncan paled at the mention of his brother. Bishop wondered what dark secrets lurked in Duncan's past. "So the time's come has it and far too soon. I didn't recognize you Kaede, child." Duncan threw his arms wide for a hug. "I'm your dear old uncle Duncan." Bishop sniggered quietly as Duncan stood there like a fool, a smile frozen uncomfortably on his face as Kaede declined to enter his embrace. "Well, I guess you must be tired from your journey." Duncan recovered quickly. "Why don't we sit and talk, I'm sure you have many questions." He guided Kaede to the nearest table and she eased onto the bench with visible relief. "Sal! Bring us a drink." Duncan barked as he settled close to Kaede.

Their words no longer reached Bishop's ears as the two elves closed in for a private conference. As Duncan spoke Kaede slipped her backpack off and placed it gently on the table. Bishop watched intently, wondering what she had brought for Duncan. She reached into her pack and carefully removed a small, hairy ball. The creature stretched out as it awoke from slumber, chittering in protest as Kaede settled it on her lap. She stroked the weasel and cooed to it, soothing it's ruffled fur. Her hand returned to her pack and emerged this time with a small silver lump which she passed to Duncan.

Duncan sat the object on the table and disappeared into the back of the inn. Bishop had never seen the inn keep so serious and there was something else in his demeanor.

'He seems tense, afraid even.' Bishop had had many hours to observe Duncan, to learn his moods and expressions and there was definitely a hint of fear in Duncan's eyes. 'What does he fear?' Bishop was determined to uncover the truth. His eyes turned back to Kaede who was whispering to her familiar. She let the weasel down onto the floor and it scurried away, sniffing and exploring the common room. Bishop eyed the creature warily, he had only encountered a few familiars in his life and he disliked the creatures immensely. As a ranger he had greater empathy for animals than most people but there was something unnatural about familiars that set his hair on end.

Duncan returned to the common room, a cloth bundle in his hands. He unwrapped it and set a second silver shard on the table. Kaede touched the new one gingerly as though expecting it might burn her. When nothing happened she picked it up in her gloved hand and Bishop wondered what was passing through her mind. He did not yet understand the significance of these shards.

"Didn't Sand say there was a trace of magic on them shards, Duncan?" Sal called from the bar. Duncan glared at the barman for interrupting their private conversation. "Seemed important." Sal added defensively.

"That's why you clean tables Sal and I own this Inn. Sand couldn't get a useful reading off the shard." Duncan waved his hand dismissively.

"Who is Sand?" Kaede asked Sal. "Maybe with two shards he could discern something more."

"Maybe, but I wouldn't pay him anything in advance." Interjected Duncan before Sal could reply. "Why the little viper ought to…"

"Seems I have arrived just in time to deflect the usual barrage of slander against me." Kaede turned in her seat to regard Sand as he strode toward Duncan.

"Sand." Duncan grumbled in greeting.

"Good to see you're still sober enough to recognize me Duncan." The wizard looked pityingly down his nose at Duncan. Bishop groaned inwardly as Sand began to spout his usual tirade of criticisms at Duncan. The inn keep normally took the insults with gruff good humor but today he seemed uncomfortable as he glanced at his niece. His embarrassment was clear and for once Bishop found himself enjoying the sound of Sand's gratingly arrogant voice.

"Your friend has the smell of a harborman about them, faint but there." Sand mused. "I thought Duncan was keeping company too good for him." Sand scrutinized Kaede and Bishop waited for the self-important wizard to throw a few deriding barbs her way. But it seemed that Sand sensed an equal beneath the tattered robes and swamp airs. "Now I see I was right."

"This here's kin." Duncan warned Sand. Sand's eyes slid from Duncan to Kaede.

"I don't really see the family resemblance." Sand drawled. "Though it's always a pleasure to meet a fellow practitioner of the higher arts, Miss..?"

"Kaede Larkspur." She held out her hand which Sand smoothly captured in his own.

"Welcome to Neverwinter, Kaede." Sand bowed low, bringing her hand to his lips. Duncan looked as stunned as Bishop felt. Neither of them had ever seen Sand behave so polite and charming.

"Now I thought I heard my name being mentioned and in a tone that suggested I could even be helpful." Sand favored Kaede with a playful wink.

'I think I prefer him arguing than flirting.' Bishop felt bile rising in his throat.

"I thought perhaps with a second shard for comparison, you might learn more from these." Kaede indicated the two silver shards on the table and Sand's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"Yes I recall I examined one many years ago, didn't I Duncan? You said your cousin or brother made off with the other one." Sand picked up Kaede's shard and turned it over in his hands.

"It found it's way back, so to speak. You want to examine them or not?" Duncan snapped impatiently.

"Very well." Sand set the shards together on the table. Holding his hand above them both he began to intone a spell.

Bishop felt a change in the common room as though the air were becoming electrically charged. He could feel the reactive energy of Sand's spell tingling against the bare skin of his face and neck.

'This feels wrong.' The thought had barely registered when there was a tremendous bang. Bishop was knocked from his perch by a rebounding blast that originated from the shards. He rolled with the blow, using the momentum to spring back to his feet. Neeshka had regained her footing as well but the others lay strewn about the floor of the commons. The air burned with the acrid tang of ozone yet Bishop still drew in calm, deep breaths, trying to slow the rapid beating of his heart.

"Well it has some… resentment to being scryed." Sand announced as he clutched the edge of the table to pull himself off the floor. "Very different to last time." He added as he grasped his head in pain, looking very unsteady on his legs. Duncan reappeared from behind the table, giving Sand a withering glare.

"Kaede!" Duncan cried in alarm when he realised his niece still lay on the floor. Her party started in surprise at his cry as he scrambled to her side. Kaede groaned as she propped herself up on her elbows. "Are you alright?"

Bishop thought it strange that Duncan was so alarmed considering that everyone seemed unharmed. The fear had returned to the inn keep's eyes and Bishop examined Kaede with renewed interest. Her hat had fallen off in the blast and Bishop was able to view her features for the first time. What caught his eye was her short shock of blue hair, flashing silver in the candlelight.

"I'm alright, I just felt…" She clutched at her chest, her fine eyebrows drawn together in discomfort. "I'm not sure." Duncan helped her to back to her seat.

"Are you sure these are the same shards?" Sand demanded of Duncan. "They are definitely more powerful than before.

"Oh, so now they're magical?" Growled Duncan. "I'm not paying you for two failed divinations you charlatan!"

"Please." Kaede interrupted and Duncan snapped his mouth closed. He placed a protective hand on her shoulder, giving it an apologetic squeeze. "How could you not sense the magic in these shards?" She demanded of Sand. "I can feel it just holding them."

"Because he's incompetent." Duncan grumbled and Kaede fixed her ice blue eyes on him in disapproval.

"Duncan it's evident where all the sense in the family went." Sand snarled back and sat across the table from Kaede. "To be honest, I don't know. There could be something about you that causes the shards to resonate." Sand cast an accusing look at Duncan as he spoke. "But I have no idea why that would be." Duncan pointedly looked away from Sand, swallowing nervously. Kaede missed the exchange between the two men as she studied the shards.

"So what now then? Who can give me the answers I seek?"

"I would have suggested you seek out Aldanon the sage." Sand held up a hand to silence Kaede before she could ask Aldanon's location. "Except that he lives in Blacklake and that district has been locked down by the City Watch." Kaede let out a small moan of dismay.

Bishop's attention was drawn away from the conversation as he felt something brushing against his leg. Kaede's familiar had crept up to him, sniffing at his boots. Bishop froze as he watched it, not wanting to alert it. It slinked from his feet toward his belongings, its small black eyes gleaming with unnatural intelligence. It surveyed his bow and quiver and finally reached Bishop's backpack. When the weasel seemed inclined to snoop inside Bishop swept his foot toward the creature, knocking it sideways.

The weasel let out a surprised yelp as it tumbled across the floorboards. It scrambled quickly to it's feet but rather than scurry away in fear the familiar rounded on Bishop. It hissed and spat at him, snarling dangerously as it's body arched to attack. Bishop dreaded to imagine any inch of his flesh making contact with those vicious teeth. The weasel was making such a racket that all eyes in the inn turned toward Bishop. He looked across the room and his eye's met with Kaede's for the first time.

He sneered at her, daring her to accuse him of mistreating her pet. Unlike other women she did not glance away in fear or embarrassment. She regarded him calmly, her eyes slowly traveling down, taking her time to examine him in entirety. Eventually she returned to his face and Kaede looked at him as though she could see right through him. Bishop fumed silently, her gaze making him feel insignificant.

'As if I don't even exist.' He wanted to kick the familiar again but she intervened.

"Hόtule Dax." Kaede called in her lilting dialect and the weasel backed away from Bishop. It's glaring eyes never left the ranger as it slowly inched back to it's mistress, snarling all the way.

'I wonder if it reflects her own true nature.' Bishop had never encountered such a savage familiar before. Such creatures were normally aloof and refined, like Sand's cat. 'But there it is also akin to it's master.'

"Well then, I shall return to my lonely merchant existence." Sand announced, emphasizing lonely as he bowed once again to Kaede. "Should you need my expertise, feel free to drop by." Kaede gracefully bowed her head in thanks, gifting Sand with a dazzling smile.

"Alright, be off with you then." Duncan muttered as he nudged the paralyzed Sand toward the door. Duncan turned back to his niece shaking his head in disapproval. Kaede blinked at him innocently her lips twitching into a cheeky smile. Duncan sighed heavily in resignation.

'Gonna have you're hands full with this one.' Bishop thought gleefully, reveling in any event that caused Duncan stress.

"Worry about Blacklake in the morning lass, you look like you could use some rest." Duncan wrapped the two silver shards up in cloth and set them on Kaede's pack.

"I could use a bath." Kaede suggested meekly, keeping up her little-girl-lost act. She rubbed self-consciously at her pale blue skin. "The journey here was very strenuous."

"Well don't you worry; Uncle Duncan is here to take care of you." Kaede looked up at the inn keep with an expression of weary relief. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes and she suddenly jumped to her feet. She gave Duncan a quick peck on the cheek and wrapped her arms around him, squeezing herself against him. Duncan blushed, overwhelmed by the sudden affection.

"There, there." He returned her embrace, stroking her back in reassurance. "I'll go see to your bath." Duncan disentangled himself from Kaede and Bishop noted that Duncan seemed to hold himself up taller, like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The inn keep left the common room to prepare Kaede's bath and bed.

"So, we're settling here for the time being, Larkspur?" Slurred Khelgar from his seat at the bar. Kaede looked at the dwarf, her expression so cold that Bishop thought he must have imagined the affection she displayed toward Duncan. Her eyes were hard and calculating, no hint of the playful twinkle or tears that had so recently occupied them.

"Duncan has generously offered the hospitality of his inn to us." Kaede announced, the news welcomed by Khlegar and Neeshka. At her perch by the door only the wood elf seemed dismayed. The familiar, Dax, twittered at Kaede and she lowered her arm to the weasel. It scampered up into her embrace, nuzzling against her face. Kaede's eyes flicked in the direction Duncan had disappeared and her mouth twisted into a triumphant smirk, some private communication passing between Kaede and her familiar. She picked up her belongings and followed after Duncan. It was for the briefest of moments but Bishop was certain he saw a predatory gleam flash in her eyes.

'Quite a handful.'