The Winter Fire (Taking place during the two months The Longshots were missing)
It had been two weeks since Colt had sent a note to Star saying that The Longshots were entering a portal to "Save The World." Sitting in a Black Hooks bar in Neverwinter, Star went over reports from other Black Hook outposts. There was no sign of Colt returning to the Sword Coast. This was not the first time Colt had vanished; however, this was the longest she had not heard from him. Star was there when Colt was born and had been, for the most part, there for him his entire life. Although she did not reveal this to other Black Hooks, she was wracked with worry more and more each passing day that she did not hear from him. She was irked that Colt had not taken her with him, but he probably would have told her to stay. The only thing keeping her from showing this sadness was that she assumed he was somewhere that time was slower. She would wait for him and Velhalla until they returned.
"Commander," the bartender, Diego, said, filling her drink, "Someone is here to see you," he said, motioning to the door. Star glanced back to see a hooded figure being searched at the bar's front door. Star gave a signal and allowed the figure to pass. The figure moved to sit next to Star. The white hair elf was very much aware of who else was at the bar, so she could take a risk. If this figure could, somehow, KO her in 6 seconds, others in her hat would come to her aid.
"How can I help you?" Star said, sipping her drink. "I was just hoping to talk to you to get some information," the figure said. She lowered her hood. Star knew who this was. It was Rayna Neverember, the daughter of the ruler of Neverwinter. Star glanced around, and it appeared she had arrived without any formal royal guard. "My name is..." "I know who you are," Star said with a small smile. The white-haired elf with emerald eyes pulled a stool out for her to sit and signaled to have two Black Hooks flank them to give them some privacy and protection. "A drink?" .
"Commander," the bartender, Diego, said, filling her drink, "Someone is here to see you," he said, motioning to the door. Star glanced back to see a hooded figure being searched at the bar's front door. Star gave a signal and allowed the figure to pass. The figure moved to sit next to Star. The white hair elf was very much aware of who else was at the bar, so she could take a risk. If this figure could, somehow, KO her in 6 seconds, others in her hat would come to her aid.
"How can I help you?" Star said, sipping her drink. "I was just hoping to talk to you to get some information," the figure said. She lowered her hood. Star knew who this was. It was Rayna Neverember, the daughter of the ruler of Neverwinter. Star glanced around, and it appeared she had arrived without any formal royal guard. "My name is..." "I know who you are," Star said with a small smile. The white-haired elf with emerald eyes pulled a stool out for her to sit and signaled to have two Black Hooks flank them to give them some privacy and protection. "A drink?" .
"Please," she said, sitting on the stool. She looked at the selection of unlabeled liquor bottles behind the bartender. This Black Hook Bar, The Nippy Nipper, was not the nicest establishment, as were most typical Black Hook Bars. Rayan hesitated, not sure what she should get. "Diego," the Star said, looking at the bartender. "The... 45 Winter Red, please." "Really?" he replied but then nodded. Reaching under the bar, he pulled up a labeled red wine bottle and uncorked it. He put two clean glasses in front of them and poured two health glasses. "There you go, Commander." "Thank you, Diego," Star said, pushing a glass before Rayna. "I think this will be to your liking." Rayna took the glass, sipped it, and sighed contently, "Mmmm." She closed her eyes and smiled, "You know your wine," she said with a smile.
"I've spent some time in royal circles," Star smiled. "Always had a taste for it," she smiled, and the two clinked their glasses. "So, what does the Princess of Neverwinter want with a humble publisher?" "I'm here about Colt Sebastian Taylor," Rayna said softly. She would see Star's pleasant face fade slightly to worry and sadness. She quickly collected herself, took a big gulp of wine, and finished. Star poured herself another glass, "Selise is... worried about him. He made quite the impression on her when they left Mintarn." Star smiled, "He can do that from time to time." Rayna smiled, "She speaks very highly of him. I've only spoken to him a few times, but he seems very interesting and fun to know." "He's something," Star chuckled.
"She also speaks very highly of you. I don't think I realized how much you played a role in helping her get off that island. Colt seems to publicly take most of the credit for that," Rayna said, sipping her wine. "You like to be in the background?" "Something like that," Star said. She did not want to get too much into her history with this person. "Colt has always been the face of this duo." .
"I've spent some time in royal circles," Star smiled. "Always had a taste for it," she smiled, and the two clinked their glasses. "So, what does the Princess of Neverwinter want with a humble publisher?" "I'm here about Colt Sebastian Taylor," Rayna said softly. She would see Star's pleasant face fade slightly to worry and sadness. She quickly collected herself, took a big gulp of wine, and finished. Star poured herself another glass, "Selise is... worried about him. He made quite the impression on her when they left Mintarn." Star smiled, "He can do that from time to time." Rayna smiled, "She speaks very highly of him. I've only spoken to him a few times, but he seems very interesting and fun to know." "He's something," Star chuckled.
"She also speaks very highly of you. I don't think I realized how much you played a role in helping her get off that island. Colt seems to publicly take most of the credit for that," Rayna said, sipping her wine. "You like to be in the background?" "Something like that," Star said. She did not want to get too much into her history with this person. "Colt has always been the face of this duo." .
"Colt must meet a lot of people," Rayna said slowly. "You two, I suppose." She sipped her wine again, "What made Selise.... different?"
"Colt and I... appreciated the situation she was in. Someone of royal background forced into a situation with no other choice," Star said, looking at the young Princess who was engaged to Selise. "We chose for her." Rayna smiled, "I'm glad you two did." She sighed gently, "Selise is very worried about him. I can tell every day that passes, she worries more, but she has said she is glad you are in the city. I hope you don't plan on leaving anytime soon." "Not until they get back," Star said very firmly, looking at Diego, who gave her a nod.
"Are you worried about him?" she asked the white hair elf. "Always, even when I'm looking at him," she laughed. "But Velhalla is with him, so I'm not as worried." "Velhalla... the tiefling?" Rayna said, remembering seeing her in passing. "Are they....?" "No," She laughed. "But when she is with him, he is much less reckless. He'll come back with her. If not, I know an Earth Gensasi who will be looking for him, and I'll go with her to find him." Rayna sighed and nodded gently, "Well, I'll pass along your sentiment. I wish I could send someone or anyone out there to get some information.... but... my resources are limited." Star looked at her, a bit confused, "Limited? You are the daughter of the Lord of Neverwinter, and you have plenty of resources." .
"Colt and I... appreciated the situation she was in. Someone of royal background forced into a situation with no other choice," Star said, looking at the young Princess who was engaged to Selise. "We chose for her." Rayna smiled, "I'm glad you two did." She sighed gently, "Selise is very worried about him. I can tell every day that passes, she worries more, but she has said she is glad you are in the city. I hope you don't plan on leaving anytime soon." "Not until they get back," Star said very firmly, looking at Diego, who gave her a nod.
"Are you worried about him?" she asked the white hair elf. "Always, even when I'm looking at him," she laughed. "But Velhalla is with him, so I'm not as worried." "Velhalla... the tiefling?" Rayna said, remembering seeing her in passing. "Are they....?" "No," She laughed. "But when she is with him, he is much less reckless. He'll come back with her. If not, I know an Earth Gensasi who will be looking for him, and I'll go with her to find him." Rayna sighed and nodded gently, "Well, I'll pass along your sentiment. I wish I could send someone or anyone out there to get some information.... but... my resources are limited." Star looked at her, a bit confused, "Limited? You are the daughter of the Lord of Neverwinter, and you have plenty of resources." .
"All of them must run through my father," Rayna sighed. "I don't even have my own guards, they all answer to him first. Which, is fine, but I can't do as much as I would like. I want to protect Selise, but I feel like there is little I can do." Star took a big drink of wine with Rayna and filled their glasses again. Star tapped her chin and leaned in a bit toward the Princess. "What if... I put together a crew for you?" "What do you mean?" Rayna asked, confused.
"You know who I work for, right?" "The Black Hooks," Rayna replied, looking around. "I understood this is a Black Hook bar, and some people here are Black Hooks?" "My dear, the only person who isn't a Black Hook in this bar is you," she said with a smile. "You are the safest person in Neverwinter right now." She clinked glasses with her. "I can put together a small five-person team to work for you, with me leading them. They'll be Black Hooks, but they will be loyal to me, and I'll work for you." "I can't pay you," Rayna said, shaking her head. "You don't have to," Star said. "But I'm willing to bet you can use your influence with your father to have the authorities be a bit more.... pliable with the Black Hooks and let us operate in the city with interference. And in exchange, we'll supply your city guard commanders with information of any threats we pick up, and this team will be available to you to eliminate any threats to you or Selise." Rayna took a deep breath to take this all in and took a big drink of her red wine. She looked around the bar at the people hanging out, "Will this team be these people?" .
"You know who I work for, right?" "The Black Hooks," Rayna replied, looking around. "I understood this is a Black Hook bar, and some people here are Black Hooks?" "My dear, the only person who isn't a Black Hook in this bar is you," she said with a smile. "You are the safest person in Neverwinter right now." She clinked glasses with her. "I can put together a small five-person team to work for you, with me leading them. They'll be Black Hooks, but they will be loyal to me, and I'll work for you." "I can't pay you," Rayna said, shaking her head. "You don't have to," Star said. "But I'm willing to bet you can use your influence with your father to have the authorities be a bit more.... pliable with the Black Hooks and let us operate in the city with interference. And in exchange, we'll supply your city guard commanders with information of any threats we pick up, and this team will be available to you to eliminate any threats to you or Selise." Rayna took a deep breath to take this all in and took a big drink of her red wine. She looked around the bar at the people hanging out, "Will this team be these people?" .
"There are a couple here," Star said, motioning to two half-orcs in the corner playing cards. "A few I will bring in. I know an ex-knight in Balder's Gate who would be great at this. They'll be presentable. You simply tell your father that you've recruited personal guard. When he asks how you will pay for it, you will tell him he negotiated with me to exchange information in exchange for guards for protection. He may not like it, but it will not take long for us to prove our worth." Rayna again nodded and tapped her fingers on the bar, "I'm not sure." "That's fine," Star said with a smile. "Like Selise's situation, this is your choice. But I can help protect you two without asking anyone else." Rayna nodded slowly, "I want to protect her, Star." She deeply breathed, "But Selise can't know about this. Not yet." Star paused and then nodded, "Alright." She smiled gently. "I'll start making arrangements. You'll need to name this group." "I have no idea; I feel like one of those renegades in the stories Colt writes," She said with a laugh. "Rayna's Renegades does have a nice ring," Star laughed. "But you probably shouldn't use our own name in a group you direct." Star paused for a moment, "The Winter Fire." .
"The Winter.... Fire" she said slowly. She smiled slowly and nodded, "Alright. Yeah, let's go with that. I'll get you the badges and access to the castle so the guards won't stop you." "Excellent," Star said. They clinked their glasses and toasted each other. They sighed gently and looked at each other in the mirror at the back of the bar. "When Colt gets back, this might be tough to explain." "When Colt returns, you'll be so happy you probably forget plenty to tell him," Rayna smiled. "Why do you say that?" Star laughed.
"When Colt brought Selise here... it was a shock... I almost passed out. I knew she had escaped the island, but I had no idea where she was. They did a great job of keeping that from me. I was angry that I didn't know, but as soon as I saw her, with that red hair, I was so happy. I proposed to her that day," she said, blushing. Rayna looked at Star and tilted her head slightly. There was a recognition in her eyes. Rayna could see that Star was of royal descent in some way. Now it made a bit more sense. She smiled gently, "Colt will come back. So will Velhalla. I know it." .
"When Colt brought Selise here... it was a shock... I almost passed out. I knew she had escaped the island, but I had no idea where she was. They did a great job of keeping that from me. I was angry that I didn't know, but as soon as I saw her, with that red hair, I was so happy. I proposed to her that day," she said, blushing. Rayna looked at Star and tilted her head slightly. There was a recognition in her eyes. Rayna could see that Star was of royal descent in some way. Now it made a bit more sense. She smiled gently, "Colt will come back. So will Velhalla. I know it." .
"Me too," Star said, pouring the last of the red wine between them. There was a few moments of silence between them. Rayna looked at Star carefully before speaking, "Why are you doing this? Offering to help me like you are? I could understand if Selise came to you, but why offer me anything? Not to offend you, but you do not seem like the person who would do something like this for someone they did not know." "No offense taken," Star said with a smile. "If you were not a Princess of Neverwinter, I wouldn't." She sipped her wine, "But you also would not be in the position you are in." She paused momentarily and looked at her wine, "Colt and I came to these lands a very long time ago, and when we were first here, we were convinced we did not need anyone but ourselves. That was more of a struggle than we were willing to go on with, so...The Black Hooks. But again, we had our own business and worked in the framework of The Black Hooks. We still did not need anyone except ourselves. Colt took this to the extreme, making friends with no one. I was a bit more friendly but kept only Colt close." She snapped her finger, and Diego brought over another bottle for them. "But, I've had a change of opinion." "Oh," Rayna said, uncorking it for her and pouring them wine. "What happened?" .
"Colt finally listened to me," she said with a smile. "He was sent to Candlekeep on a mission and... well.. that is where he met Velhalla and Ametrine." She smiled gently, thinking of the sleeping Earth Gensasi. "I warned him not to get too close to them, but he ignored that part. I saw him... be a better person because of them. And then he connected with the Longshots, and I saw what they did, and I've been thinking about that for a while now." She smiled at Rayna, "A powerful benefactor like yourself makes this the ideal situation." Rayna smiled, "Makes sense." She watched Star sip her drink and sigh contently. Rayna quickly looked at how she sat and held her glass. "But there's.... more... isn't there?" Star looked at her carefully. "You have... royal background?" Star leaned in and spoke firmly, "My background is of no interest." Rayna nodded and backed off. Star smirked, "But I am aware of your environment and... well.. You and I will soon be good friends no one will know about." "What about the Black Hooks?" Rayna said softly. "Will they be okay with this?" "Increase access to the city will be more than enough to keep them happy," She said, looking around. "Besides, this is my thing. Not theirs. Not Colt's." "When he comes back, will you tell him? Rayna asked curiously. There was a long pause as Star thought about it. "No." "Don't you trust him?" Rayna asked, confused. "With my life," Star answered quickly. "Until the end. I have tremendous love and trust for that redhead, as he does for me. But that doesn't mean we don't keep things from each other, just like you are keeping this from Selise."
Rayna nodded, understanding what the elf was saying. She clinked glasses with her, "To this new partnership." "Indeed, Princess," Star said with a smile.
Rayna nodded, understanding what the elf was saying. She clinked glasses with her, "To this new partnership." "Indeed, Princess," Star said with a smile.
