Vonnaver's fifth entry.

Eighteenth entry

I woke early the next day and changed from my night gown to my morning one for I was in no rush to leave that morning.  I ate in the library and read more about vampires.  Liff brought me a single nicely made egg and a small glass of tart wine.  He knows me, if I hadn’t seen some of the things I have since coming to Waterdeep I think I would find him disturbing.  But I feel he is a part of the family, maybe because he never argues.  I think it’s one of his charms and for the customers who know of him they might find him the best listener around.  When I had finished I put the books back in alphabetical order and went downstairs to the bar to get a little more wine.  This is where the day started to go wrong.  I noticed a man at the bar and he wasn’t a current resident of my inn and the tavern wasn’t quite open or at least no one ever came that early.  I was ever so slightly embarrassed to meet someone in my morning dress, but I never showed it.  Here follows the dialogue to the best of my memory, I wish to put all the details down should I ever need to reference them.  I feel I should start doing it for many of the conversations I have.

I had leaned against the wall facing him once I poured myself a glass of wine, “What brings you here?”

He looked at me, “Business with the lady of the house.”

I took a sip of wine, “What kind of business?”  

“That is between me and the lady.”  He knew how to speak in a pleasant tone, which most women I’ve noticed do anything for.

“Then proceed.”  I motion with my wine hand for him to go on.

His eyes brightened and looked at me differently, an intensity I hate. “Indeed...You have a fine establishment.  And many people like you put their heart and soul into their Inns and taverns.  And I can see that you have put your heart into this place.  And when you put your heart into something you never want it to be lost.  It has become a part of you and to lose something so valued is a tragedy.”

I set my glass down and put my hands on the bar to look at him fully, “Good sir, there is something you should know about me.  I don’t like it when people dance around the point, now tell me what your business is.”

“I offer insurance to make sure what you put your heart into won’t be taken from you.”

I went back to leaning on the wall, “I can take care of myself just fine.”

“I'm sure you can.  But this is no Castle Ward and the streets aren’t safe, I could for a fee of course protect you fine establishment-”

I pulled my warfan out and quickly put it under his chin, “Sir I take care of my own.  I do not need you or your men.”

“Beautiful and well armed.  You don’t know me.  I can see that, perhaps we can change that.”

I removed my warfan from his neck, “I do not trust easily, and flattery will get you nowhere with me.”

“I am president, I’ll be back in a few days in case you change your mind.”

“I may not be here, I am a busy woman.  You are welcome as long as you have the coin.”

He left then, he knew how to use his voice and words and might even ensnare another woman, he intrigued me in one way.  What is the reason he has for doing whatever he does.  Whatever charm he has fell on deaf ears with me.  I quickly went up and dressed for the rest of the day, I never want to meet that man again.  Though a small part of me wants him to show up again and cause trouble so I have reason to show him how well I defend myself and my tavern.  It felt like a silent challenge.  I went to talk with Corvin about what just happened.  I walked in on him, he was talking about the ring he had found with Collette.  Apparently Collette knows about magical items too.  We discussed our plans for the day, it was decided that when the shops opened in an hour that we will go shop for the various items Collette says we will need to delve into the crypt in the City of the Dead.  For that is where we are headed to kill the vampire the pages of the journal we got, mentioned.   I pulled Corven aside and told him about the visitor.  We left and Corven went to talk to his contacts about the visitor and the information we got on the owner of the Bent Nails, Tally.  We know the Zhentarim have changed their name and are using Flying Serpents to cover the truth of who they truly are.  To what extinct they will go now I do not know, only that they cannot be allowed to go on.  I must go the hour has passed already.

I went with Collette and Flint, who had joined us just before we left, to do some shopping.  Not because I wanted to, but because I had the money and connections among my neighbors.  One of the stops we made was Steam and Steel where Embric had finished the armor I requested a few days ago.  It was wonderfully made, he does fine work.  I paid the man when Avi wasn’t looking for we both knew she would try to rob the man of his just due.  One of our last stops was the herbalist, Fala.  She seemed worried when she first stepped out but her face quickly brightened.  When I asked if anything was the matter she waved the subject off.  Before I could ask further the ring Corvin had given me before we split, suddenly came to life and I felt a wave of nausea.  There is no doubt in my mind that thing has magic, I just wish it didn’t show me.  I recovered myself, Collette asked if everything was fine.  After answering her that it was, I went back to asking Fala what was the matter.  It took a little time but she finally shared with me her concern.  She wasn’t sure who she could trust, I assured her I was safe.  A friend of hers is being sought after by the City Watch, she is not sure what to do.  All she shared was that he saved her life at some point.  I told her to meet me at my home in an hour.  We left and went back to Trollskull manor and inn.  There I saw Corvin carving wood, the shavings everywhere on the floor.  Before I could get it into his head that he should clean his messes.  Liff came over and started cleaning it up.  If there was a way I could properly thank the ghost I would, he does so much.  We exchanged information and I told Corvin next time he wanted to give a woman jewelry to make sure it wouldn’t make her nauseous.  I then repeated what Rishaal told me, for the librarian had been our last stop before we returned and the reason Corvin lent me the ring.  Though I do believe I forgot to tell him that Rishaal was willing to buy it off him if he should choose to sell it.  Rishaal also had the books I wanted on vampires and a book on phoenixes.  I paid him half price if he let me keep them at my place for a day or two then I would return them to him.  After telling Corvin all that Rishaal told me, he seemed surprised the ring had made me nauseous, I told him that it must like him better.  I turned to head to my library to read my new books, when suddenly the back door opened and I saw Fala with a clocked man.  She hastily told me the City Watch was at her shop looking for him, leaving her no choice but to come here.  I looked at the man, his armor betrayed him.  He was Zhentarim.  I looked at the others with me and told them to keep an eye out for the City Watch.  I then took the two upstairs with me, but gave Corvin a warning glace that something wasn’t right.  I do hope he understood.

I took them to the attic storage room; I was prepared to fight.  What I got instead surprised me.  Fala said he had saved her life of his own free will and that he was a good man.  I couldn’t trust anything he said, but perhaps a motive.  I asked him to promise me that for the rest of his life he would guard Fala, without resorting to crime.  I believe that if you give a man a purpose and one he enjoys or loves, that he will fulfill it no matter what stands in his way.  I couldn’t tell if it was love for each other that was speaking or a friendship, either way he promised me but only if Fala came with him.  I felt it was unfair to her, but she agreed.  Unfortunately at some point in the course of our dialogue I said something that made the made question who I really was.  I made him promise to forget whatever he thought of me.  The conversation took longer than I thought for Corvin came in and told me Renear was here.  I always thought the Neverember family, especially him, had great timing.  Until today.  I quickly left the two in the attic and followed Corvin down.

Renear, with his usual charm, invited me as his plus one to a gala for that evening.  I told him he really should give a girl more notice, apparently it’s Remi’s idea to give last minute invites.  Renear says it’s a game of hers.  After giving him a hard time I told him I would gladly come.  He was in a wonderful mood that day as he proceeded to invite Corvin, Collette and Flint.  I was beginning to fear he would invite everyone in the manor.  I’m glad he did it because it gave the perfect chance to insert something that made him think.  He told Collette that she should come because she would be someone of interest at the party.  I added “What he means to say is all nobles are boring.”  The look on his face, though short, was worth it.  He knew I was making fun of him, a habit I don’t ever plan on breaking.  I wish I got more time like that…  Plans were made, he is to pick me up that evening.  The others have yet to decide if they would come, I offered to help and pay for whatever they would need.  Renear’s good mood was rubbing off on me.  As soon as he left we quickly turned back to the matter at hand.  I asked Corvin to see his contacts again and ask if they knew anyways out of the city.  I asked Collette to talk with the Second Chance, she brought up that it was a bad idea.  I agreed once I realized what I asked, so she is off to talk with her contact, someone who owes her a favor.  I am to tell the two in my attic the plan.  I write in the few spare minutes I have before going in.  We are delaying our plans to go to the crypt for a day, too much is happening for us to even think about adding another thing.  I hope our plans go well to get these two out of town and that I’ll have enough time to get ready, so many things and so little time.  I do wish for the day I knew what was coming and not having to take the plows one by one.