_{by jaymamma.}

Looking out across the still water was peaceful, despite knowing what beasts lied beneath the surface. Beasts I could very well face alone. I had already scouted ahead a small distance. I know I could have gone much further. 

So why not?

Fear? Uncertainty? A bit of both. I felt drawn to making the attempt even though the others were weary to do so. Weary enough to let me go it alone. I could take that personally, but I did not. Maybe they saw the foolishness of it. Maybe they also knew I would not be dissuaded. I was hells bent on seeing this particular venture to its end. I made promise, to both Lillian and our new whisperer friend. 

I did not particularly care for seafaring or swimming in the least. I felt drawn. I felt drawn because the idea of the swim through the long underwater tunnel brought the slight glimmer of a memory to the surface of my thoughts. I feared, I was uncertain because I wasn’t sure it was a memory that was favorable or one that I wanted to remember. 

Recent dealings with my patrons and my fellow hexblades had made it painfully obvious my memory loss was maybe far more a blessing than a curse. I wanted to remember the good and not the bad. Selfish. Like only filing in the holes that I wanted to. Rydolph would disapprove. His stance on  hole filling made that clear. That also made what I must do just as clear.

After the rest, I would make the attempt at the tunnel again. If Droop came up with something to make the treck better wonderful. If not the action I would take would remain the same.

If the memory was triggered by the sim and was a good one, I would be grateful. If it was not it would fuel me with the rage and power I needed to see the rescue of the whisperer’s and the recovery of Fickle’s lords ashes come to fruition. 

I looked over at droop who was still tinkering. I could tell he trying his best. The look on his face said he didn’t think his best would be enough.

“Droop, its ok get some sleep I can make the swim.”

A look of concern crossed his face.

I smiled at him.

“Its ok I will be fine, I can always teleport back if i get too far in to make it back. I appreciate your efforts.”

He smiled back weakly, but quietly complied.

When I turned back a ripple hit the bank closest to us. I gripped Cursebringer as the surface of the water broke. 

It was not a fish monster.

The raven queen waved from the water. “The waters nice at least”

I then realized I was not in the cave but on the rock…again.

The small pool of water filled the depression that was made by the beast when he fell. She gracefully exited the pool. No water dripped from her form as if it dried the instant she left the water or the water wasn’t truly there at all. 

“Yes, its illusory I would hate to have to fix my hair and my makeup and all that, oh yea sorry.”

I knew how a mess I currently was from my jaunt in the waters. My hair was tangled, makeup smeared and running. She didn’t need to remind me. Still, as much a mess I was, I was still far more beautiful than most.

“Ahhh, she said. that last thought was more my intent.”

“Queen I am on watch-“

“It is fine, someone watches in your place.”

“Who?”

My sneaky little vampire of course”

“She been trailing us this whole time?”

She smirked. 

“If you must know, I am not limited in the moving of my “Blades” to just here I have a way to put any of you anywhere, ANYTIME”

Really now. 

“Yes before you ask. I can arrange for him to visit as long as you perform favorably. As you always have by the way, its not a knock.

Splendid. I think a little more um social interaction on a more frequent basis might maybe ease my tenseness.

“So, I see you have new little friend over there. He’s quite pretty for a dragon. I do have a bone to pick with his assuming master though, pun intended.”

“What does that mean?” 

“Never the mind he’s not that important. Like I said “For a dragon””

“Personally, I don’t particularly favor him. There’s usefulness there sure. Introducing yourself as your Parent’s murderer not exactly endearing. Unless you are the others. You killed your parents well that’s splendid. Your brothers are hunting you to murder you? Well that sounds like just what we need. We have a spare room, and if you need them the knives are in the kitchen. 

She laughed Raucously. “Well you can trust a murderer, and a thief such as the other one Ultron unicorn whatever his name is.

“How so?” I asked.

“Make them your thief your murderer. As much as you try to reform and its commendable don’t get me wrong There are those that still need to die.” It’s simple endear them, and make them yours. Just like the others.

Always the manipulator. Manipulating me to manipulate them. It was true they would probably com to less harm under my direction.

“Yes there you justify it however you want” She beamed proudly.

 I have someone I want you to meet that ay be able to help you in the long term. Her teachings may not be of much use now, but in the future. Just so you know though she does not care for you too much.

“Who?”

I heard a horse neigh behind me and spun. A brilliant white stallion stood a few yards away. Beautiful. Pure white through and through. Its rider was however of far more interest. 

She was covered in gleaming silver armor. Full plate to be exact. I say she because long brown hair spilled from beneath her helmet and facemask. That and her breast piece was shaped for a female. It bore the emblem of the Neverwinter guard. Her massive full tower shield was composed of a gray grained white wood I had never before seen the like. On it was an emblem in silver metal. I recognized the symbol as being religious in nature, but was unfamiliar to which god or deity it belonged too.

A god of Purity, not of this plane you wouldn’t know him. the raven queen swooned.

Wait. I looked at her. She had a noticeable increase of blush in her cheeks. 

I felt my nose wrinkle in maybe disgust or curiosity. I don’t know I could not imagine one so vain to swoon over anyone. 

Actually I wanted to laugh out loud at the ridiculousness. A god of purity no less.

She looked at me and put a hand to her chest. “I have needs too Lilvari and smiled from ear to ear.

A sound of disgust came from the silver rider, I had almost forgotten she was there.

So she didn’t like me very much.

“Why is that I asked the rider.”

She lifted the visor of her helmet. Her eyes sparkled like twin stars. Her irises were literally a blinding white. Not unlike two small light spells each held in by her eyelids.

She was stone-faced, no emotion not seeming malice. Her words sliced out and showed otherwise.

“Why? Are you serious? You butchered a town, men women children. That is enough for me to dislike even hate you. The fact that I am charged with keeping the knights off you takes it far beyond hate.”

“Keeping the knights from me?”

She put her visor back down. Apparently she was done talking.

“oh yea the raven queen whispered.” The knights would love to bring you in. Being in their command structure,” She motioned towards the white eyed rider. “She has been keeping them from crashing down upon you, not to mention good ole Nailo’s efforts to track you.” A little misdirection here, a slow but slight modification to your description and image to get them off course.”

“Reaaly?” I asked.

The visor whipped back up.

“You thought you just making chaos wherever you go, flaunting your beauty and not to mention your breasts–“

At least she thought I was beautiful that was something.

My patron snickered.

“That you would be unnoticed, or did you think you were just so sneaky and stealthy or too beautiful to be suspected as being who you are?”

I think I did think exactly that. 

The raven queen laughed so hard she snorted.

The rider stopped and snorted “You two are much same incorrigible”

My patron brought up a hand and she silenced.

I know you serve me under duress.  With restrictions from being used for more of my, what word should I use Unpure assignments. Still you serve me at your gods direction.

She frowned. “Yes, and I would love to know how you brokered such a deal.

My queen smirked and tugged her dress till it just still barely concealed her breast.

“Oh, I think you know exactly. and she smiled.

“Appalling, then out with it. A silvery lance appeared in her hand. A hex weapon but also imbued with a potent amount of her deities magic. I could sense its difference from my own weapon. An impossible mix of hex and purity.

Just then I felt a gentle nudge at the back of my neck. I turned and my heart inflated. Shadowsilk, or at least a perfect enough reproduction to elicit the same response. I mounted. Feeling her warmth beneath me made me believe in some way she was truly here with me.

I summoned a lance. My hex power along with my my more shadowous inclinations. I looked to my opponent.

“I think mine is a little bigger than yours.”

Her eyes narrowd and her visor fell again, she did not wait for our patron to begin the duel. She immediately goaded her horse into a full gallop. I obliged. My shield had barely formed before her lance crashed into it and mine into hers. I channeled an eldritch blast up its shaft for good measure. It provided enough force to send a long crack along the upper portion of her shield. 

“aww not so pretty now is it I yelled across the field. She said nothing and entered into her second charge.

Was I trying to get under her skin? Did not need too, I knew I was there before we had even started.

I wheeled around after this clash the shields were gone cracked to the point of worthlessness. The next pass would decide victor. 

We lowered our bodies closer to our horses and charged. She was definitely intent on skewering me. I could tell by the angle she held the lance. She would get here chance. Or would she?

When she was about to make contact rolled to my right dodging the strike and brought my lance around and swatted her on the back of the neck. She fell to the ground in an armored heap. 

Still undefeated in a joust. She stood and threw down the lance. A rip appeared in the very air. She reached and in and withdrew what seemed to be pure white light. No, she drew it form the purest of light. The rip closed and took the light with it, A sword one I had seen before. In the memory fragment. Before I slew the wolf lord. In my reflection, I wielded a similar weapon. 

She was angry very angry. She charged sparks flew as her greatsword crashed into mine. This went on for what seemed an eternity.. Parry, slash, thrust. She was very good with the sword. So be it. I waited for her next overhand slash, a move she seemed to favor. When it came I stepped in towards her and caught her wrist and spun driving the point of my elbow into her unprotected neck.

When she staggered back, I unleashed Cursebringer. The runes leapt from its blade. They circled and slashed cutting at the weak and unprotected spaces between armor plates. Blood seeped from the joints of her amrour as the runes continued to cut. Light appeared to her left. She rammed her arm into the hole. When it came it out it was again adorned by shield. It exuded the same magical profile of the sword. The runes began to clang harmlessly off of it. One least ruin slammed into her visor knocking it free of the helmet. She smiled. 

No one could pull off a great word and tower shield combo. I was oh so wrong. 

The first indication of this was her shield smashing me in the face. She with one hand swung her greatsword in her overhand slash I barely got cursebringer up. I deflected the blow, but being out of position the blow also deflected curse bringer. The shield again slammed into me. I rolled backwards trying to soften the landing. It didn’t help. I hit the ground taking most of the impact on my right shoulder and apparently both lungs as the air forced out of me. Her boot was on my chest before I could suck more air in. She smirked now. She raised her sword. 

“Yield!”

I would have laughed had I the air to do so. I just smirked back. The sword came down and embedded in the stone next to my head. To my credit I did not flinch. I had however been bested.

“Does this appease you my patron?” She challenged.

My patron looked as if she was checking under her nails for dirt. That is exactly what she was doing. She was doing it more out of being annoyed than trying to annoy.

“you know Ophelia…”

So that was her name.

My patron continued. “I don’t think you would speak to your deity that way, and you wont speak that way to me either” 

Ophelia smirked defiantly. Not for long though her face twisted rather quickly into one of extreme pain. Her body tensed as if every nerve seized, clearly she could not breathe. She then just as suddenly fell to her hands and knees panting trying to catch her breath.

“That’s better. yes, I am appeased for the moment.” Ophelia disappeared in a flash. She then looked to me have you been humbled yet dear?”

I stood. “No I have been bested but humbled never”

She smiled. “Good, was never my intent. You have to admire Ophelia she is a potent combination of magics, physical prowess and combat acumen. 

I honestly was impressed. The ability to wield a great sword one handed, and a tower shield in the other, I had never seen any capable.

That she was looking out for me was also of great interest.

“Oh,  that well yes there are many that would take vengeance on you for Eli. There are very few however that actually know what you look like. Mostly thanks to Ophelia. That is not her sole purpose however. Mainly she serves me with information, she is quite the warrior but also quite the stateswoman. Her deity requires that I don’t  get her dirty. 

I laughed. “I can’t get over the fact that you are bedding a god of purity of all things.

She feigned insult. “Have you looked at me?” I could bed whomever I please.”

I smiled. “Yes, it is not that surprising I suppose.”

“What would be the fun in lying with an evil god no challenge in that.

I again agreed. 

“Anyways, I wanted you to meet other hexblades, each for a specific reason, I know you have learned the lessons well, even if you do not yet know what those lessons were.

Ophelia I would have you meet with further, for one because I know it aggravates her to no end. I would have her get to know you, as she teaches you both in physical combat prowess and statecraft. I am also curious to see if you can win her over, she has a very bad opinion of you , and well hell me for that matter. I would like to see her opinions changed a bit.

“Are you trying to convert her, and get her dirty my queen?” 

She smiled. “You read my mind, its training for you, a test of your manipulative abilities, and at the very least you will annoy the hell out of her, which is also an acceptable outcome.” 

I was actually a little excited for this arrangement. Statecraft and manipulation, and combat three of my favorite things. She winked. I was again sitting on the sand looking out at the water. Soon it would time to swim, or drown. Probably a bit of both.