“Are you quite certain you’ll be okay?”

“Yes, I’ll be fine, I promise. Besides –”

“Can’t you just skip work today? Just in case?”

“I can’t, they –”

“You most certainly can. Your sick days are for you to use, and you’re a Lord besides. I doubt a soul would say anything.”

“Sure, but –”

“I wouldn’t mind staying here with you, keep you company. I don’t think they’ll need me at the guardhouse.”

“But –”

“That would most certainly help. You could keep Miss Torohar from going –”

“Enough!” Werond shouted.

Serena leapt a foot into the air and slapped a hand to her chest. Graham, however, kept his composure. He crossed his robed arms, looking somewhat annoyed, but said nothing further.

Werond sighed and ran a hand across her face, her recently fixed nose aching. She turned and pulled her travel cloak from one of the racks beside the front door, wrapping it about herself to starve off the early morning chill.

“I appreciate both of your concerns, I really do.” Werond lowered her voice, painfully aware of everyone upstairs still sleeping. “But unfortunately, life moves on, with or without getting abused. The city doesn’t just stop because Jarlaxle decided to take his frustrations out on me. I’ve still got a lot to do.”

“I know but…” Serena sighed; it was still dark outside, and the foyer light did her no favors as it highlighted the bags under her eyes. Werond was sure they matched hers. “You didn’t really get any sleep last night. Are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’ve pulled all-nighters before, darling, I’ll be fine. Nothing a bit of coffee can’t fix.” Werond glanced towards the stairs. “Honestly, I’m more worried about you. You didn’t have to come down here to see me off. I love that you did, but you really should still be in bed. I know you didn’t sleep either.”

“I’m…fine.” Werond fought back a smirk as Serena fought back a yawn. “I’m just not used to holding you. It’s always the other way around.” She grinned lazily. “So really, it’s your fault I’m so tired.”

“I know.” Werond said. “And I’m sorry. But…it really helped me out last night. I think the only reason I slept at all was because of that. So, thank you. I do appreciate it, darling.”

Serena blinked, a bit of red creeping into her cheeks; she moved her hands to sign, only to drop them, her grin returning wider than before. Werond couldn’t help but smile back, amused at just how satisfied Serena looked with herself.

Graham cleared his throat. The hints of red in Serena’s face blossomed to a deep crimson; she looked away as Werond chuckled.

“Well, and I say this respectfully, if there’s nothing else we can say to keep you here, you may as well head out.” Graham said. “Wait any longer and you’ll get stuck in the foot traffic.”

“Right, right, good point.” Werond gave herself the usual pat down, nodding as she found her keys. “Think I’ve got everything…Oh, darling,” She touched the base of her neck. “I forgot that necklace, could you run up and grab it for me?”

Needing no second urging, Serena bounded up the stairs, her face still a bright red. Werond smirked; how easy it was to get Serena to do anything when she was embarrassed.

“I’m glad you told her.” Graham whispered, glancing up as Serena disappeared around the corner towards their room. “She deserved to know.”

“I…” Werond deflated a bit. “Yeah. She did.”

Graham had taken the news well when he found out that Werond had told Serena about Jarlaxle. He even fixed himself a cup of tea to drink with them, surprising both Serena and Werond. She hadn’t know him to stay up that late in the first place.

“It’s plain to see just how much she loves you, Miss Torohar.” Graham continued. “I know your reservations, but you did right by pulling her in.”

Werond blinked as the corners of her eyes began to sting. She nodded as she scratched at them.

“I’d like to believe that I know how your mind works, so please, accept her assistance.” Graham turned towards Werond. “You’ve been under his thumb for far too long, and Miss Lash seems more than capable of getting you out. She’s strong, there’s no doubt about that, but that strength means nothing if you don’t allow her to help you.”

“Since when did you get so adamant about this?” Werond asked. “You’ve always told me to just keep my head down, haven’t you?”

“I have. But only because an opportunity never presented itself like this.” He raised a brow. “Don’t mistake me; my wish is not to use Miss Lash. But she is just the right person to help you out of this mess. Had I pushed for you to get out alone, I’m sure I would have buried you long ago.”

Werond grimaced; though his words stung, she couldn’t argue with them. She was sure that Jarlaxle would have disposed of her already had she any semblance of a spine. Perhaps Graham was right then. Perhaps Serena truly was the best person to help Werond.

How much that pained her to realize.

Serena came bounding back down the stairs, diamond necklace in hand, face only a light shade of red now. Graham backed up as she stepped in front of Werond and strung the necklace around her neck, clasping it with ease.

“Look fine?” Werond asked as Serena adjusted it.

“Yup!” Serena signed. “Honestly, it almost goes with everything. It looks really good on you all the time, I just love it.”

“I suppose it needs to be a permeant piece for me then, hmm?”

Serena rolled her eyes but didn’t shoot down the idea. Werond grinned and wrapped her hands around Serena’s waist.

“Make sure you get some rest.” Werond said. “I know you need to head back to that guardhouse, but you’ll do no one any favors if you fall asleep on the way over there.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Serena grumbled. “I don’t think they really need me though. It’s Jo and Pavel that want to talk to the guy. They know what to ask, not me.”

“Well, you can be there for support then. If the guy doesn’t want to talk, light some fires, you know?”

“I guess…”

Werond sighed as Serena frowned and broke her gaze; without thinking, Werond leaned forward and pressed her head against Serena’s, catching her off guard.

“I know you want to start figuring things out,” Werond whispered. “but that can wait. I’ve been under his thumb for years. A few extra days isn’t going to change anything. As soon as I get back, we can sit down and talk about everything. We won’t leave until we figure something out, I promise.” She leaned back and met Serena’s gaze. “Sounds good?”

The grimace on Serena’s face gave Werond her answer, but before she could respond, Serena signed and nodded.

“That’s fine. You’re right. I just –”

“Worry. I know. It’s one of the many reasons why I love you.” Werond kissed Serena on the cheek. “Please don’t do anything stupid today. I’ll see you later tonight.”

“I don’t do stupid things.”

“On the contrary,” Graham said. “running out and attacking Harshnag alone could be considered rather…stupid.”

Serena pulled away from Werond and threw her hands up at Graham, who simply smiled back at her. Werond rolled her eyes, waved to them both, and slipped out the door before Serena could begin her tirade.

…

Cruck'aa could count on one hand the amount of people he currently trusted, though that number threatened to shrink after each passing day. It wasn’t as though he was looking for reasons to prove that his trust was misplaced, more so that many around him seemed willing to show just how untrustworthy they truly were.

The City Guards, of course, were not exempt from this.

Cruck’aa beat his wings, soring high above the city. As much as he hated the form’s restrictions, he flew not as his normal self, but as Waterdeep’s most common bird: a pigeon. Given that the Griffon Riders patrolled well before the sun was up, Cruck’aa was forced to be cautious. Getting detained again would only serve to complicate matters.

The city looked small from so high up, the buildings and roofs all blending together in the early morning darkness, the still burning streetlamps a sea of stars. The height did provide him with an unparallel view of the Swordcoast expanding out from Waterdeep, its emerald fields stretching as far as his eyes could see – which wasn’t far in the darkness.

The irony of his trip was not lost on him; despite his mistrust in others, Cruck’aa held no qualms with actions that would cast suspicion on himself. He, however, had a good reason for slipping out so early. Someone had to check that the guards they’d talked to just hours before had kept their word. It would do them no favors if they arrived late and found their prisoner dead. Or worse.

He had thought about telling someone what he was doing, though that never came to fruition. Serena had been the only one up when Cruck’aa left his and Pavel’s bedroom, though she had quickly disappeared back into that woman’s room. Cruck’aa was sure that she would have tried to stop him though, so he left without saying anything. It was for the best.

Finally spotting the guardhouse, Cruck’aa folded his wings and plunged into a nosedive. At the last moment, right before smashing into the roofs below, he shot his wings back out, tilted up, and glided the rest of the way towards the building’s entrance.

Though the sun had yet to rise, much of the city was already awake and busy. Wagons and carts had filled the streets, trudging along at frustratingly slow paces, while the sidewalks were packed with the still sleepy masses, dragging their feet to Gods knew where.

None of them paid any heed to Cruck’aa as he swooped low over Cliffwatch street, landing on the overhang above the guardhouse door. He pulled his wings in and flipped around to watch the crowds, cocking his head as he did.

In truth, Cruck’aa had no plan of action. A part of him wanted to simply walk in and demand to see their prisoner, but who knew what kind of reaction that would get him. Perhaps subtlety would be better…

After a minute of thought, Cruck’aa focused on himself, willing his form to change; in seconds, his plain pigeon body shrunk, twisted, and changed to that of a common fly. Though he despised the form, it would serve him well enough for now.

Cruck’aa buzzed into the air and zipped his way towards the front of the guardhouse; it took no effort to slip under the door and into the building proper. Whoever had set the door hadn’t done a decent job at it.

The same guard as before sat behind the front desk near the back of the main waiting room. He leaned against one of his hands and stared blanky ahead at the legion of empty chairs in front of him, looking as though he hated himself. Without a second glance, Cruck’aa buzzed towards the door on the left side of the room and slipped under it.

He flew down the hallway and turned left at the stairs, remembering where the guard had taken all of them just hours before. Rows of iron-barred cells lined the wall to his right, each one empty.

Cruck’aa’s tiny heart skipped a beat as he flew past; they must have moved their prisoner somewhere else. Perhaps the interrogation room they’d been brought into?

Cruck’aa grimaced as best he could as he buzzed towards the end of the hallway. That room sat at the end of the hallway, tucked out of the way. He landed in front of the door and squeezed under with a bit of difficulty; the gap on this one was much smaller than the ones before.

Once through, Cruck’aa buzzed up and landed on the top of the door frame, turning around to see the rest of the room.

His tiny heart leapt into his throat.

The prisoner had indeed been moved in here; he sat with his back towards Cruck’aa, seated at the small wooden table in the middle of the otherwise empty room. Many of the chairs from before had been removed, save two. One sat to the left of the prisoner, occupied by a dark-skinned elf – a Drow? – that Cruck’aa had never seen before, while the second stood at the other end of the table, occupied by the very man they were expecting to meet today.

“…everything else seems fine.” Simon said. “None of the crates had been opened, nothing was taken, but the entrance was uncovered.” Cruck’aa’s heart skipped a beat. “I haven’t a clue what they were doing. I mean, Nine Hells, I found their footsteps leading through the whole tunnel! They explored the whole damn thing but did nothing else!”

The Drow remained silent, face furrowed in thought, bald head shining with the magical light above. Cruck’aa couldn’t help but scoff at his outfit; how did he go about wearing something as hideous as striped leathers? Then again, who even was this Drow, and why was he here? And why was Simon, of all people, talking to him?

Simon sighed and crossed his arms.

“With all due respect sir,” he said. “we both know how damaging this is going to be. If they go anywhere with this, even back to us, it’s going to hurt. And how did they even find the inn in the first place? They couldn’t have gotten this lucky, they had to have been tipped off by someone. I wouldn’t have a clue who that would be though, with how many –”

“I will deal with that.” Cruck’aa couldn’t help but shiver at the Drow’s voice; something about it demanded his attention. “While I do, remove the lot of them before they can go about fucking things up any further. You said they were planning on come back here?”

“Yeah.” Simon nodded. “Now, I’d arrest them here and get it done with, but sir…with all due respect, that would be impossible.” Cruck’aa’s chest grew tight. “I’ve fought two of them, and I’ve heard what the others can do. I’d need an entire deployment of men…who would then question why we’re arresting the Champion of Waterdeep and his friends. I need solid reasoning, else I’d end up make things worse.”

The Drow stared at Simon, who fell into silence as he waited for a suggestion. When that never came, he cleared his throat and continued.

“Uhm…I thought about going to our Masked Lord and having her draft up an arrest warrant –”

“No.” The Drow said instantly. “She wouldn’t do that. Don’t approach her with this.”

“Why not? The tunnel benefits Werond just as much as us, I know she’d want this thing figured out.”

A bolt of shock jolted Cruck’aa, his heart almost stopping completely. The room began to spin as the Drow shook his head.

“Are you aware of just how little I enjoy repeating myself?” He asked. “You will not go to her, and that’s final.” He leaned forward. “Give me time today; once they leave to make their way over here, I will provide the perfect opportunity for you to arrest them. All you need to do is follow up. Am I understood?”

“Of course. What did you have in mind?”

The Drow grinned and launched into an explanation. His words were slowly drowned out, however, by the ringing that now filled Cruck’aa’s ears, a cold frustration filling his body soon after.

That woman was a Masked Lord?

He didn’t want to believe it, but the more Cruck’aa thought about it, the more sense it made. How else would she have afforded such a house? Why else would she have kept her profession such a secret from all of them? Why else would she want in on their assignment, especially when it directly affected the city that she ruled in?

And perhaps most damning of all, she not only knew about the tunnel, but benefitted from it as well. She had known about it all along, and never once filled them in.

All this, coming from the head of the City Guard, who, just moments before, showed his willingness to arrest all of them to keep that tunnel a secret. Certainty, it was the Thief’s Guild that pushed him to this, it had to be. And considering that Simon was talking to the Drow with respect, that meant that the Drow had to be in on it as well. Perhaps he was even the one in charge of Simon, a horrifying thought.

None of that really mattered to him, however, considering the truth that was now laid bare before Cruck’aa.

That woman was lying to them. She was using them, leading all of them along until she had no further use for them. There was no doubt in his mind, Cruck’aa had been right to mistrust that woman from the very start. He was right.

They had to know. They needed to know now.

Shaking himself, Cruck’aa launched himself off the top of the door frame and buzzed under the door, anxiety fueling the fire within him.

He needed to get back as soon as possible; Griffon Riders be damned. He wouldn’t let that woman hurt his family any longer.

He’d remove her himself, consequences be damned.