Twin Swords Author: Lledrith RavenWolf

Prologue

There is always much speculation about the place of death. In truth, it consists of many planes: from the lowest, known as the Abyss, cursed home of Lloth and her yochlols; to the plane of the common crimes, where twisted, groaning souls are punished for their murders or thefts; to that of the plane of joy, that of those innocent, good beings of the Material plane. It is a presence all around the Material Plane, an invisible place whose vastness equals that of the heavens. Merged together, the Realms would consist of a thousand thousand planes of existence, a large world in its own right, but just one world out of many scattered in the dark balance of the universe, that perfect scale. In the heart of the balance of worlds is a shifting, neutral world known as Sanctuary, home of the six most powerful beings in the universe. These are the World - Makers, each with their own signature powers, personality, and amusements, creating or battling for worlds. All of them have an endless thirst for knowledge, which is fueled through experiments. Such experiments range from the small; that of creating a new species and watching its development, to that of the massive; that of creating a whole world with a singular purpose, enchantment or structure, then leaving that world to its own devices and just watching. Sometimes the World - Makers reach out to souls in their worlds, nudging them along destinies that give them gains. Good World - Makers would help the souls, giving them their heart's desire, for a price that would benefit the soul in a good way. The evil ones would not, twisting the souls for their amusements. Fights often break out amongst the World - Makers, mostly over worlds, but sometimes, rarely, over the seat of Kano, the Head of the World - Makers.

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The Realms were such an experiment, created by Morikanblancmyran, the Dragon World - Maker, Kano of the spirits since the beginning of time. Kano was a title earned by accident, but his unparalleled wisdom and willpower proved a good asset in stifling resentments. The World - Makers spend most of their days in silent contemplation. On one such incident the First Dragon perceived a distant occurrence in the Realms. A being he had marked for watching that he had plans for, was plummeting back to the spirit plane for the second time, from the material plane.

Book of Souls Soul, the living essence of a being. It may be twisted or healed, broken but never destroyed. In its tenure as a life of a being, it develops itself. Born neutral, it would be turned down the path of good or evil, striving always for an inner peace, away from the base emotions, then to be pushed at death to planes which its actions have chosen. Only two occurrences may break this inexorable path, that of interference of a being possessing clerical powers, or restlessness caused by an uncompleted deed of the soul's life before death. I pity souls that have been turned from their path by such occurrences, especially the latter. For those who have been 'resurrected` may be released unto death, that of a uncompleted deed would send the soul wailing forever on the material plane, until its undoubtedly difficult deed has been accomplished by another. Few have escaped both curses. So it was with myself. At rest and at peace in the Plane of Joy, I was pulled out to the Material Plane, at a cleric's unholy bidding, to become the ultimate servant in my evil god's army, that of Zin-Carla. My soul finally broke the cleric's control when commanded to kill my only son, in a fight over a lake of acid. Outraged and horrified at the thought of killing the only person I had loved in my entire life, my soul had wrenched back control at the last moment, to plunge off into the acid, ending the enchantment. Back in the Plane, I have watched my son's movements through the Material Plane, and have often found myself wishing for the chance to leap out of my Plane's confinement, and help him with my blades. I have cried out in fear and rage at times when it seemed apparent that he was to join me here, at such a young age, with so much of Life's road yet to see. My soul at peace, my heart in turmoil. But watching Drizzt, seeing his deeds, I smile, and feel satisfaction that I have done well in giving up my life twice, so long ago, so that he may live his in the name of good. May his scimitars dance always to that name. --Zaknafein Do'Urden

Chapter 1: Summons

Amorphous shapes drifted around in this plane, sometimes forming into the likeness they had taken in life. The plane seemed oddly mixed, a potpourri of rooms without walls, here a room of bookshelves, there a room of turf with azure skies overhead, the clouds overhead forming unbelievable shapes. There was a room with a circle of couches, where men and women discussed abstracted topics, incomprehensible to a mortal. A room with a great blue slide into sparkling clear water, where spirits raced down at high speeds to splash, laughingly, into, then leap out to queue for another ride. Yet all these rooms merged with harmony, all imbued with an essence of joy. For this was the Plane of Saints, for all the souls who have held firmly to the path of good in their mortal lives. Unlike the Abyss, the opposite of this plane, only a being possessing great power could wrench out a single soul. In one room of a meadow of springy turf and bright flowers, there is a strange sight to see, an adult, white haired elf with ebon skin, with the lithe confident steps of a warrior, playing with children of assorted races. His handsome features have the look of joy that is evident on all inhabitants of this Plane, and his playmates seem to disregard his looks, although the dark elves are some of their races' most hated enemies. Another strange fact was that though the meadow was bathed in warm sunshine, the drow did not seem to mind, nor did the other races of children that belonged to the Underdark, the lightless cavernous place below the surface of the Material Plane. The game is simple yet enjoyable: one of the group is blindfolded, and the rest run around in the boundaries of that room, avoiding the blindfolded player, known as the Catcher. The Catcher tries to 'tag' another player by touching that person and guessing his or her name. If 'tagged' correctly, the 'tagged' player would become the Catcher. Spirits retain their material properties when they change into their original likeness. The dark elf seemed to have an uncanny knowledge of where his youthful friends were, and when it was his turn as Catcher, deftly 'tagged' them, even through the blindfold. This fact the group accepted, with much laughter. The drow spirit's genuine smile was another unusual feature for his race. Drow were, of late, rarely seen on such a Plane, for their evil Goddess Lloth usually twisted their lives down the path of evil at a tender age. This game had endured for several years of the Material Plane, for what was time in the face of eternity? The drow stepped out of the current Catcher's reach, a svirfneblin child, not making a sound, yet patting the child's head with one hand in a swift move. The svirfneblin cried out in triumph, and made a wild swipe at the air in front of it, nearly overbalancing in its excitement. Grinning impishly, the dark elf leapt agilely to the side, allowing the Catcher to charge ahead out of his vicinity. A sudden tug at his soul stole the smile on his face, and he blinked in surprise, a sense of dread creeping into his heart. Could it be that he was to be summoned again back to the Material Plane, to further the evil designs of his race? Unconsciously, he took a step back, accidentally bumping into the ancient oak behind him. This movement alerted the deep gnome Catcher, and he turned in the sound's general direction, charging and running into the soft form at the oak, to crumple into a laughing, tangled heap of arms and feet. With a speed that did not match with his short, stubby hands, the svirfneblin felt the features of his 'tagged' player. "Zaknafein Do'Urden!" The svirfneblin yelled with a note of triumph, "You're It!" The child removed his blindfold, a satisfied grin on its small, wrinkled face as it looked at the dark elf. The language was a curious mix of all the spoken languages of all the worlds, musical and lilting. All the souls of the Plane seemed to understand it perfectly. Zaknafein accepted his 'tagging' graciously, and took the proffered blindfold. As if it had only been waiting for this moment, the tugging came again, more demanding. Probing tentatively, Zak discerned that the perpetrator was not mortal. Not a god, nor a demon. His curiosity aroused, he excuses himself reluctantly from the game. The children's responses were more or less similar to the svirfneblin Catcher, "Come back soon you will, Zak?" Solemnly, the dark elf promised them, foretelling dire consequences that would befall him if he broke his word, inciting a few giggles from the group, then said his farewells. Allowing the caller to pull his soul along to his destination, Zaknafein Do'Urden smiled to himself, an expression that came easily to him now. It is said that all souls made their own heavens or hells. This, was his heaven. If an observer were to look down far above the flat balance of worlds, Sanctuary would stand out like a faceted diamond in black sand. Multihued, it is as large as the largest star, and it is safe to say that the rest of the universe revolves around it. It was the first world created, a joint effort from the six World - Makers that had existed since the beginning of time and and will live beyond time itself. Thus it is a neutral place. Neither good nor evil holds sway on this special world, for it is a world dedicated to solely to learning. One thing stands out on this marvelous place, a building of such immense proportions that it can be seen far above the planet. Every bit of the building is a work of art, a piece raised to the harmony that rules all the planes. Even more curious, the building seemed to have been built by one being alone. The intricate designs on the building are in recognizable patterns, repeated and criss-crossed, now and again overlapping at their edges. Like the planet itself, the building blazes with multihued fire, hewn of a single immense block of mother of pearl. The building, with no real name but fancifully called Library of Wisdom, had been created along with Sanctuary, at the beginning of time, with the combined efforts of all six World - Makers. It deserves its nickname, for it contains all the tomes and reading materials with importance or great scientific, historical or literary impact, from all the worlds of Creation. More importantly, it houses the Great tomes, books 'written' by the World - Makers, willed into existence at the same time as a planet is willed into existence. The Great tomes wrote the history of the created planet, from the beginning to its end. Most of the planet is undisturbed nature, of mountains and plains and seas, containing all the natural features of all the known worlds. All the worlds too have at least one animal representative in Sanctuary, be it a proud and noble unicorn, or a small robin. There is only one city in Sanctuary, its wide paved streets often home to entertainers, who are mostly students of the many Schools performing for the public in their spare time. Now and again, one would spot a large, plain ring of a table in a large square. These were the communal eating tables, enough for all the inhabitants of the city. The tables all looked ancient, but the wood unblemished by the weather. Each of the chairs is numbered, and every person would receive a new number each day. This is to allow the people to know each other citizen of the city well, giving them the chance to mingle with other people that they would not normally see in their daily routines. Rounding a corner, a visitor may see a curious glass tube, covered at the top with carved adamantite. Handles of silver are fastened onto both sides of the glass, and pulling on the handle, a door would open, its outline barely noticeable before. Stepping inside, one would see a swirling gas. You just have to will yourself to another location in the city, and in a space of two heartbeats; you will be in another glass tube, in that location in the city. Teleporters, as they are called, took beings around the city with minimal amounts of fuss. Enchanted, even giants would be able to fit inside, for it altered its size accordingly to its guest. The city smells of a pleasant mixture of wildflowers, this delicate scent now and again replaced by the smell of fresh bread in a bakery, or the spicy, tangible scent of hot food in a roadside stall. This unique scent is due to a seemingly random scattering of gardens throughout the city, with carved benches and tall trees, their shady boughs often attracting climbers, that recline on the wide boughs or plucked the tree's sweet fruit. Like the Library of Knowledge, the city is entirely made of gleaming mother of pearl, an impressive sight to behold. However, the city is dedicated to knowledge, and many large Schools were housed in its boundaries. These Schools were sometimes divided into many sections, but remained basically the same. Each World - Maker founded at least one School at the beginning of time, and although all the schools grew in size over time, none is dominant, and there is no competition between them, except on those rare occasions in which a World - Maker goes to war with another one. Even then open confrontations are rare. Masters of each School are personally selected by the World - Makers, through their prowness, experience and personality. Sometimes the selected Master would have had no knowledge of Sanctuary's very existence in before being told of his being selected, having come from another world. The city seemed unnaturally quiet this day, and a solemn procession moved through its wide main street, heading for a peaceful grove on the city's outskirts. The focus of this procession was a single long wooden box, sporting runic carvings and other symbols of life. The box was supported by six creatures on either side, moving with measured steps down the streets. The creatures were a strange mix of griffin, elf, human, dwarf, a half man, half horse, and some reptilian species. All shared the same sorrowful look of loss and regret. The box was open, showing its inhabitant in peaceful repose. A human in full armor, hands crossed on his chest. His armor was intricately forged, and the patterns on his cloak bespoke him a Master of a School. The powerful set of his shoulders, the strong jaw, and massive chest gave a clue to the person he would have been in life, one of strength and character. His face wore a faint smile, and was a mask of serenity. His hair was white with age, and wrinkles snaked across his broad forehead, proclaiming that this man had passed due to age. The crowd behind wore clothes of dark hue, and in respect to the deceased, preserved silence as they walked. The procession soon moved to the city's great, ornamental gates. Ornamental, for there were no other cities on Sanctuary to defend against, nor any hostile force on this realm of neutrality.The gates were wide open, and the beings stepped out into a quiet grove. The first sound the city heard that day was a soft harmony composed of many inflections and tunes, sung by the creatures in the procession, weaving itself into a song of death. The song was sacred beyond words, and accompanied the coffin as it was slowly lowered into the pit at the heart of the grove. The song reached its peak as the coffin touched the bottom, and then took a note of yearning as the lid was lowered to fit perfectly on top. Two students, flanking the grave, then lowered the Master's sword onto the top of the coffin, where it fastened magically with a click. The harmony started on its last stage, that of regret, as earth was pushed back into the grave, and a structure of clear blue obsidian, the height of a full-grown man, was erected on the grave. Words were inscribed on the structure, a tribute to the deceased Master. As the ceremony ended, the crowd bowed to the structure, then set their own tributes on the grave, soon burying the mound over a heap of brightly colored flowers. The silver dragon floated in a warm, indoor pool, its body submerged but for its head, which rested against the cold stone of the floor, eyes closed in ecstasy. To all appearance, it seemed fast asleep, in a dragon's meditative trance that could span centuries in its contemplation. It had been aware of the funeral at the city, and was saddened at the death as any of Sanctuary's citizens. It was also reminded painfully of the School's more material loss, and had spent most of its time since the Master had weakened looking for a solution. The dragon felt rather guilty at thinking in such a possessive, unfeeling matter, but it reconciled itself to reality, pragmatism being a part of its complicated character. It would not be fair to resurrect the dead Master, it knew. He deserved his peace after a long servitude, but the temptation had been great. Looking for an appropriate successor took time and effort, of which the silver dragon could not spare at this particular time. However, the dragon had a code of honor, which it adhered to at all times, whether convenient to itself, or not. Quite by chance it seemed, the dragon had come across its answer. Reaching out across the planes, it called and coaxed its target to come. Zaknafein floated upwards, ever upwards, rapidly rising through the planes of existence until he surfaced from the Realms altogether. As he beheld the balance of planets, Zak could not help but feel a sense of awe and insignificance. So immense were the distances, so dark was the balance! The tugging stopped, as if reorienting itself, then pulled his soul faster and faster, past worlds and brightly burning suns, whose heat he could not feel, past large rocks floating aimlessly around, stranded without purpose, sometimes to be caught up in a planet's pull and smash into it forcefully. To a single multihued planet, at the heart of the balance. The trip had taken approximately two minutes of the Material Plane. Zaknafein eyed it with growing amazement, and his suspicions about the nature of the summons grew. Insubstantial as the wind, Zak's soul plunged down, to fly swiftly over golden deserts and through ancient forests, to a city of shifting, multihued fire, where the pulling paused, as if allowing him to enjoy the sight. Zak had spent all four centuries of his life in Menzoberranzan; a dark elf city of incredible beauty, but this city took his breath away. Graceful spires reached for the sky; perfect domes and arches were apparent within the great walls. The summons came again with more urgency, and he was led quickly into the city gates, over straight streets and under arcs of lush, living plants. Into a semicircle of perfectly spaced buildings of different hues, each with its distinct shape and structure. Zaknafein's suspicions were confirmed as he read a metal plate at the center of the semicircle, with a simple message that had a depth of implications: WORLD - MAKERS The silver dragon's eyes snapped open as it sensed the soul's imminent arrival. Usually, it would have rushed a summoned soul to its side in seconds, but it had seen no harm in letting this one do a bit of sightseeing. And it had a lot of time on its hands now, that the crisis on one of his more important worlds having resolved itself in a matter of seconds, in a correct course. Well maybe with a little bit of help. The soul drifted in cautiously, and the dragon allowed itself a secret smile. Although souls were invisible to most mortals, a World - Maker could see one quite clearly, as a mist that formed now and again into the features of its life before, with other facts about the soul clearly written on it. The silver dragon glanced once at the soul, and it solidified into a slender figure with a mane of white hair and ebon-skin, unarmed and unarmored, wearing simple robes. It smiled again. All was going according to plan. Zaknafein was startled when he solidified into his material shape, and more so when he saw the size of the dragon. He had expected a World-Maker to be immense, fitting his overall impression of Sanctuary. Instead, the dragon was small; its head would have been easily cradled in an adult elf's arms. It had been engaged in what seemed to be a bath when Zak had arrived, for it was floating in gently steaming water, tail twitching slightly, wings folded across its back. For a moment he thought that the dragon was not the World - Maker that the colour of the building proclaimed it to be, but one of that World - Maker's many servants. Until it raised its head, and met Zaknafein's eyes with its own. In those beautiful orbs Zak seemed to see a multitude of starry skies, glowing, speaking the truth of existence and that of Time. The dark elf did not even see the three stones embedded in the dragon's chest, before knowing the dragon's name. "Morikanblancmyran."Zaknafein whispered in awe, held by the dragon's wise gaze. "Morikan would do," the silver dragon replied, in the mixed language of the soul, eyes dancing with amusement, a wide, smug smile on its exquisite face. For a long silence, neither spoke, then Zak stated, "Why?" The profound shock had jarred his mind, even though he had suspected the perpetrator of the summons. Meeting a being with enough power to create an entire world was never comfortable, let alone the leader of those beings. "Have I summoned you?" Morikan finished for him. "Well, Zaknafein Do'Urden," the dark elf flinched visibly at his name, "do you know what Sanctuary is?" Irritation was beginning to overshadow awe, and Zak replied a little sharply, "You would know if I do." If what Zak knew of World - Makers was correct, Morikan would know of all his thoughts, desires, and even his life story, in a single glance, so he thought the silver dragon was toying with him asking such a question. Morikan stretched his front claws onto the cold stone, then rested his head on them. Tilting his head up slightly at Zak, he replied, "I suppose I would know if I wished, but I prefer not to probe into another's privacy. Unless, of course, you would like me to." He added dryly. Zaknafein blinked, then shook his head emphatically. "Sanctuary is a place of learning, and contains the largest library in the known universe. It also contains many schools..." he said in the voice he had used in his past life, the droning voice in which he had explained theories during his tenure as a Master of Melee-Magthere. The dragon held up a silver-scaled claw, cutting off his sentence. "Enough for now. Do you know of this person?" he gestured, and a perfect image of a human formed beside Zak. The dark elf slowly circled the image, then reported with a tone of smugness, "Janran LongSword, Sword Master of your School of Warriors." Zaknafein's soul had a spirit's thirst for knowledge, and he had spent much of his time acquiring information about the Realms and the rest of the universe. Patiently, as if speaking to a dense child, Morikan asked, "And do you know what has happened to him?" "No. Nor do I wish to. May you tell me the point of this soon so I may return to my game?" Zak was getting more and more impatient with the banter. "You need to know what happened." Morikan retorted inexorably. "Janran has passed away due to old age, peacefully." "What does that have to do with myself?" the dark elf asked. Then his eyes widened as a realization hit him. "You cannot be suggesting..." "Ah, but I am. Will you, Zaknafein Do'Urden, take over his position as Sword Master of the School of Warriors?" Morikan asked, whirling, glowing eyes boring into the elf. "No... I mean, why me? Why not someone who is alive? I am content; you have nothing to offer me for that position. Nothing." Zak stammered in shock, lamely trailing off, belatedly reminding himself not to offend the World - Maker. "Because," Morikan drawled, "You are possibly among the best swordsmen in my worlds. Most of the others are humans, who," a look of pain twisted the dragon's surprisingly expressive features, "do not live long. The other choices all are preoccupied at the moment, especially your son, Drizzt." Morikan eyed Zak covertly after mentioning Drizzt's name. Zaknafein started at the name, then remembered to cover his look of interest. "What do you mean?" he asked cautiously. "He is living a dangerous life, and is uncommonly reckless even for one so young. Sooner or later..." Morikan let the sentence trail off. Zak's eyes narrowed. "So what are you offering for this position?" he asked grudgingly. "The chance for you to teach youths to adhere to your code of honor. For," Morikan caught Zak's incredulous look, "it is almost the same as the School's. Mine has but one more rule, obeying me." The dragon remarked rather smugly. "Chosen youths that have impact on my purpose are brought here, to learn, and you will find that each of them is a challenge to your abilities. There are however, many Masters of the various weapons, therefore you will not be overtaxed. A class of six or so is the maximum for each Master." "They are not all human, and the first few years of your tenure will mostly be spent in the Library studying the various types of students that may turn up under you." "I will give you the ability to switch from this solid form to your insubstantial form. This is not charity, as you will have to teach your students how to fight against such spirits. You will learn how to fight against such spirits yourself." "Also, you will be given the ability to transverse the planes. This will tax your willpower, and you'll find you won't be able to use it too often, a good point actually. One would not like one's Sword Master running off at every opportunity," Morikan added dryly, inciting a chuckle from Zaknafein. "Well?" the silver dragon looked at Zak expectantly. Zaknafein considered the offer. Transversing the planes would allow him to return to the Realms, for his promise to the children. It would also give him the chance to help his son during times of dire trouble. The idea of teaching students like Drizzt, melding them to his ideals, was also as attractive, if not more than that ability. However he wished to know more of this deal. The elf crossed his hands around his chest. "I too, have passed to the Plane of Saints. Why do you not just resurrect Janran?" Morikan looked at him calmly, a knowing look in his orbs as he discerned the purpose of the question. "It would not be fair. Janran has served me faithfully for forty of his years. Also, one's school needs a change," the dragon put in, quickly cutting across Zak's protests at it not being 'fair'. "Why do you not just divide yourself and teach them yourself?" "I do not have the patience, or the time. Doing that for the Sword Master position would require, out of fairness, for me to assume all the other positions in the rest of the schools I control. As I will not die, as time passes the tactics and movements of the schools would become stereotyped. Can you imagine having the same teacher for all the weaponry? How boring." Morikan replied with a snort. "Why do you not just uproot my son? He is as good, if not better, than I am, and still has many centuries of life to go, while in my material self I have but three more." Saying this pained Zaknafein, but he looked squarely at Morikan. Silently the dragon applauded his courage and stubbornness. Normally a fair offer like this would be accepted without question, for fear of it being withdrawn by the unpredictable World - Makers. Too many questions often irritated Morikan, but he admitted to himself that he rather liked Zak. "Your son has not fulfilled his destiny. You have. As for the centuries, I am not resurrecting you. Technically, you are a soul, which incidentally has the ability to solidify. You will not age." "When will I stop this tenure then?" Morikan thought for a moment. "When your son joins you in the Plane of Saints." Zaknafein considered that, then, still looking into Morikan's starry orbs, nodded firmly. "I accept this position, willingly." The silver dragon smiled, satisfaction and relief evident on its face. Unlike some of his brothers and sisters, Morikan did not believe in coercion. "Very well. Welcome then, Zaknafein Do'Urden, Sword Master of the School of Warriors." Morikan boomed, and a deep toned bell rang somewhere deep in the chamber, along with a telepathic message to the School of Warriors that a replacement had been found. In a smooth, graceful movement, the silver dragon plucked a gleaming scale from its side, and blew gently on it, transforming it into a bright ball, too bright for Zak to look at. The ball hesitated, floating above the dragon's open palm, then drifted over to Zaknafein. Hovering over his head, Zaknafein was suddenly ringed in the same colour as the ball. Then he blazed in a burst of searing, white light. When the light diminished, Zaknafein saw he was wearing a suit of ordinary chain mail. Twin swords hung at his belt, rather plain, in contrast to his intricately patterned cloak that proclaimed him a Sword Master. His boots were comfortable, and inscribed with runes. The bracers on his wrists had similar inscriptions, and fitted him perfectly. With a wide, boyish smile on his face, Zaknafein looked back up at Morikan. "Welcome again, Sword Master. You'll find a guide at the School, where I will transport you next. Your weapons will stay plain, as the first task, or quest, you will have after your studies would be to find and acquire new ones. You will probably have to do a bit a research in the Library." Morikan smiled. "Now, your guide is waiting. My blessings on you, farewell." The dragon made a gesture, and a white mist surrounded Zaknafein. When it cleared, the dark elf was gone. "Good luck." Morikan whispered, then settled back into the pool, closing his eyes, a smug smile on his face.

Chapter 2: City of Learning

The world lurched once more, and Zaknafein found himself in a hall quite like that of the Do'Urden training gym, only much larger. Looking around, he saw that there were no doors to the hall, that simple curtains served instead, framing the arches that lead out of the place. The arches were built on four sides of the room, perfectly spaced, representing the four compass directions. Tubes, suspended from the domed ceiling, gave off a light not unlike that of sunlight in the Material Plane, but Zak found that he did not feel any discomfort. There were several evenly spaced, white circles on the rough floor of gray stone, each with a radius of approximately three meters. At the side of each circle stood neatly stacked piles of planks, boxes, and other materials that the dark elf presumed were to build obstacles on the circles. At the very center of the hall was a raised platform, steps leading up at the corner. Plain, brown benches ringed the platform, for students to watch the mock fights or demonstrations on the platform. On the exit labeled NORTH, there were two corkboards flanking the arch, with papers randomly fastened on. Brass plates sat on top of the boards that read: MESSAGES At the western exit, neat racks stood on its side, filled with many types of swords and shields. The rack on the left side held wooden practice poles and boards as practice shields, each roughly similar to its counterpart on the right rack, which held real weapons of metal. Mosaic depicting swordsmen at war formed the eastern walls, along with a curious gray pane of glass with a seat in front. The pictures were surprisingly lifelike and beautiful, gemstones making up the eyes of the creatures, and the hooves of horses. The battle was surrounded in turn by pictures that showed smithies hard at work and warriors training fiercely. Words were written at the top of the mosaic, apparently the code of the school: FOR HONOR, FOR GOOD, AND NOT FOR SELF The southern side of the hall held padded suits and many types of armor, including some that Zak had neither seen nor heard of. "What is this place?" Zak asked of the seemingly empty walls. "Sword hall." Came a calm answer behind him. Zak whirled towards the source of the voice, and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw the speaker. A drow female, her long white mane cascading down her delicate face, to teasingly brush at her hips. Her slender arms crossed over her chest, as she leant against the platform. Moving with fluid grace, she stepped out of the shadows, facing Zaknafein, ice blue eyes sparkling and radiant. Her flowing robes were plain, and a single sword with an ornate, adamantite hilt hung by her side. "Greetings, Zaknafein Do'Urden. My name is Lin'Fayaenre Ra'Kest, your guide for today. You may call me Winter." She said in the Drow tongue, her voice musical and lilting. Pausing, she looked at him curiously, as though trying to gauge his reaction to her appearance. Zak was stunned, even more so when he saw the ranking marks on her cloak, that proclaimed her a graduating student of Morikan's Loremaster School. "How did a cleric of Lloth end up in Sanctuary?" he asked at last. "I was called, as were you," Winter replied evenly, the ghost of a smile on her face. That expression confused Zaknafein, for she was the first priestess of Lloth he had ever seen to smile a genuine smile. "You are not dead." He stated bluntly, as he could sense the enamations from another soul, that she did not possess. "There are many ways to summon someone." Winter replied with a tone of finality. "It is safe to say that I am no longer a follower of the Spider Queen, for I have forsaken her ways." Seeing the incredulous look in Zak's eyes, she added, "You are not the only one who can see through her lies." The serious look on her face lending truth to her words. "Now, I have been instructed to tell you a little more about this city, and also about what you are supposed to do as a Master of this School. It is quite different from the life of a drow Master." "Students on the last level of the various Schools often are relegated to a Master of another School for use in combat training. I have been sent here, and will help you when you are required to teach you students how to fight with and against mages." "Students currently wishing to learn how to use swords have been given out to the other weapon Masters at the moment, until you finish your 'orientation' period." Winter finished in a businesslike voice. "Any questions?" she asked. "How long will my 'orientation' period be?" Zaknafein asked, clearly hoping that he could get it over with quickly and start teaching. "It depends on how long you will take to absorb what information you need about Sanctuary and the school. Most of the information can be found there," she waved a hand at the eastern wall, "but you would probably require some time in the Library." A smile of mischief appeared on her face. "Good luck in the Library." She added, as if it was an afterthought. "The time would also include your quest, of which you would find out yourself," Winter said quickly, seeing Zak's mouth open to ask another question. "Any other questions I will answer on the way. The day wears on, shall we go?" Winter indicated that he follow her, and walked swiftly out through the west exit without waiting for an answer. Zaknafein shook his head in disbelief, and quickly caught up with his long strides. Lin'Fayaenre led Zak around the large complex of the School of Warriors, beginning with personal visits to the rest of the weapon Masters, who greeted the new Sword Master with warmth. All also demanded that he should sit down and have a drink with them someday. Students they met on the corridors bowed respectfully, and Zak felt uncomfortable with all the acknowledgement that seemed to come with his title. There were few artworks in the complex, mostly having to do with Morikan, or war. Zaknafein, seeing a tapestry on a man dressed in full plate mail and on a large charger, laughed. "How do they manage to move?" he asked. Winter snickered. "They don't really. The horse does. One would suggest you keep your comments about this type of armor down. It is the favorite of quite a few weapon Masters, including the Sword Master before you." Zaknafein blinked, then narrowed as he saw the bait. With a final look of disdain at the tapestry, he moved on without a word. Winter smiled to herself. This one would prove interesting. They spent the rest of the morning inspecting the various structures in the academy. Zak stopped before a long, rectangular pool in another room that reminded him of Morikan. "What is this for?" he had realized that all the structures, fantastical and ludicrous as some were, all had to do with learning the weapons trade. "Balance." Winter walked over to a metallic device at one end of the pool. "Logs are put in the water, and a student would balance on them. When the Master is satisfied, he would turn on this machine. Waves are generated of varying strength, and the student has to stay one the log, at all times." "One got rather wet that day," she admitted wryly, then glared at him, as if daring him to comment. Zak just laughed. When he recovered, he remembered something. "Are you not from the Loremaster School? What were you doing with that device then?" "Morikan has complained that his Loremasters are 'pathetic' at defending themselves without spells, so he has decreed that both his other schools must get at three levels in this School first, before they enter the schools of their choice." Winter explained. Zaknafein privately nursed the same feelings about wizards, but kept them to himself. "Now, we are coming to possibly the most interesting room in the area." Winter remarked, and led the way to a wooden door at the end of the chamber. Knocking thrice on the door, she stopped, while Zak waited curiously. "Who?" came a high voice inside in the Common tongue that Zak found he understood. The glass pane at the top of the door slid away partially, to reveal two bright, inquisitive eyes. "Oh. Well I suppose you could come in." The door opened, revealing yet another large room, surprisingly plain. To the left stood a wooden table and a chair, piled high with papers. The rest of the room did not contain a single piece of furniture, starkly white. Zaknafein looked around with a slight feeling of disappointment. What was so interesting about this room? "The new Sword Master I presume? An honor to meet you, sir. My name is Pyrikkan, Loremaster. Winter has told you how wonderful this room is eh? A disappointment you think?" The words seemed to stumble over one another, as if this creature was overflowing with ideas to quick to mouth them all at once. Looking at Pyrikkan, Zaknafein's hands moved reflexively to his sword hilts. Standing before him was a savage looking creature that looked like a bipedal lizard. Its powerful head was filled with sharp teeth, and its hands were obviously dexterous, ending with three claws. Its legs made the biggest impression, however. Powerfully muscled, they ended birdlike, but for the huge, sharp claw that grew out of the center of the foot, tipped like a sickle. Pyrikkan saw the reaction. "Why is that the first thing they do when they see me? Is there some exception you people take to my appearance?" he complained, but his eyes twinkled with amusement. He turned to look at Winter, who was silently shaking with laughter. "Not a word, young lady. I remember you tried to strike me down with a lightning bolt. Scorched the walls, you did, I had to request for reparations that took such a long time...What are you laughing at?" he asked Zaknafein irritatably. "A lightning bolt?" Zaknafein managed to gasp out, then burst into fresh bouts of laughter. Winter made a rude noise, which caused Pyrikkan twist his face slightly in what would translate as raising an eyebrow. "Well. Let us continue." Pyrikkan started, stressing the last word. Zak calmed down quickly, and looked at the Loremaster. "Good. This is the Room of Illusions. It is always manned by a master specializing in the subject. I create an environment and illusionary opponents, for the warriors to fight against. This is further enhanced by my amulet, a gift from Morikan, to give the illusions more substance." With its three fingers, Pyrikkan lifted up the stone pendant on his amulet. "This room, obviously, saves the School time by trying to acquire real monsters. However the station must be manned at all times by two masters, for it is very dangerous. Imagine basilisks roaming loose through the School." Pyrikkan rambled on in his quick voice. Zak shuddered. Once as a student Menzoberranzan's Melee-Magthere he had led a patrol, which had come across one such beast. Fully half of the students in the patrol had been felled, turned into stone or by the monster's poisonous breath. Pyrikkan became more and more animated as he described the room, and even gave them a demonstration by creating an ogre, then banishing it offhandedly when the ogre made as to bash in his head with a cruel looking club. When the lecture ended, Pyrikkan bowed gracefully, then returned to his stack of papers on the table. "Now for your rooms," Winter informed Zak as they exited. "This," Winter took in the room with a sweep of her hand, "is probably only aesthetic for you. I rather envy you," she remarked wryly. "You don't tire, nor go hungry, nor need rest. However, if that sly Morikan neglected to tell you, you can get hurt in your material form, after which you will need to become insubstantial to heal." Zaknafein nodded absently as he studied the room. The neat bed in the corner looked comfortable, and there was a desk with reading lights next to it. Empty shelves stood at the other end of the small room. There were cupboards and a device for hanging armor. Another of the curious gray glass panes was fixed in the wall next to the hanging device, with a comfortable, padded chair in front of it. Zaknafein walked over to the gray pane and inspected it, all the while sensing that Winter was feeling amused at his action. Not understanding why, he touched the glass. "Greetings, Zaknafein Do'Urden. What do you require?" a disembodied voice came from the suddenly pulsating screen. Zaknafein leapt backwards in his astonishment, almost overturning the padded chair. Behind him was the clear sound of Winter snickering. "An information device from one of the worlds. You speak to it, ask it questions, and it will answer the best it is able." Winter explained. "Curious." Zak replied, going back to look at the screen. "Where is the voice coming from?" "The screen itself. More devices have been built into it. This machine is akin to the pane you must have seen in the Sword Hall. Most of the information you would need, however, is available in the Library." Winter replied. A few bells rang in the City, and Winter visibly brightened. "Time for my afternoon meal. Enjoy the device for the time being, for I will come back after the meal to show you the Library. Now, if you'll excuse me," With a smile and a bow, Lin'Fayaenre swept out of the room, leaving Zak alone. It had proved an interesting day so far. With a look of anticipation, Zaknafein settled in the padded chair and started to ask the screen questions. Winter came back for him after her meal, and they walked through the School's corridors to a room containing spaced glass tubes, the teleporters. Pulling open a glass door, the two drow elves walked inside, where Winter then shut the door tightly. "Library." She commanded, and the world lurched. When the mist cleared, they seemed to be in the same room as before. Zaknafein raised an eyebrow, but Winter confidently opened the door, and walked out of the room. They were in a different corridor now, that had steps leading upwards from it, and pathways in the other two directions. Confidently, Winter walked up the steps, followed by Zak, who paused now and again to look around. The ceiling was high, and covered in magnificent pictures. Below them was a massive structure, magically suspended in the air, that showed Sanctuary and the rest of the universe revolving around it. Many curious creatures wandered around, looking at the many exhibits or simply sitting down on one of the benches and enjoying the air. They reached the top of the stairs, to a carved archway with another brass plate: LIBRARY Beyond the arch waited a magnificent sight. Row after row of bookshelves, stretching even further than the eye could see. A spiral stair in front of them, carved of a single, massive block of rough stone, began its ponderous ascent to the next floor of the immense library. "How many floors are there?" Zaknafein asked in awe. "History, Science, Weaponry, Magic, Maps, Languages." Winter answered promptly. "Of these, you will spend most of your time in the Weaponry floor, and later at that of History." There was a sound of someone clearing his throat behind them, Zaknafein turned to see a half man, half horse, known as a centaur. The centaur towered a full head above them, deep blue eyes filled with profound wisdom, his moon shaped face sporting an imposing, rust colored beard. His large horse body was bay colored, and long, combed tail the same colour as his beard. "Tauron Thunderhoof, Head Librarian," Winter introduced. "A sly old fox, that one. Rather boring at times, but he is possibly one of the most important people in all of Sanctuary." Her fingers signaled in the drow code. Tauron stretched out a huge paw to Zaknafein over the counter, which the dark elf shook warmly. Zak's eyes widened slightly in pain, and secretly nursed a bruised hand, at the centaur's strength. "An honor it is too meet you, Sword Master," Tauron boomed in a hearty voice, "I may be as boring as Winter says, but the Library is most assuredly not. If you wish to take books out to study, check them out at any one counter like this." He tapped the wooden, crescent shaped counter. "Do return them in good shape though." Zak smirked at Winter's crestfallen look. "The only rule in the Library is not to disturb others. Enjoy your visit. There have been a few new additions to the Weaponry floor, which is probably the one you are visiting. Perhaps you should read our history first though..." Tauron paused as he saw Winter rolling her eyes heavenward. He winked at Zak, then went back to sorting books on a rack. "Why, that sly old fox," Winter muttered when they were out of earshot, then glared at Zak's wide smile. "Anyway, there is one librarian per level, with many assistants. All of them report to Tauron." She told him. "How do we get around this place?" Zaknafein asked, eyeing the distances, "Not by walking I hope." "By these." Winter walked over to a box at the counter, taking out two button like devices, and handing one to Zaknafein. "They will prove useful even to you. Another fact Morikan has probably 'forgotten' to mention is that although you may drift in your spirit form, you cannot travel faster than in your material form." "Morikan is Kano of the spirits. Why does he keep forgetting such important things?" Zak wondered aloud, secretly knowing the answer. Winter smiled. "If you have noticed, he enjoys the sound of his own voice, and loves answering questions. He probably likes withholding information just for the sake of knowing something that you do not." I heard that The voice of Morikan resounded in their minds. Of course you did. Winter replied smugly. Zaknafein's shoulders started shaking in laughter, for the hundredth time that day. Then his presence was gone, leaving an offended silence. "There is a map of the Library over there." Winter continued, gesturing to a part of the wall behind them. "Press the button, then will yourself to a labeled section of the Library." Zak examined the map with interest, eyes seeking out immediately the Realms section of the History floor. "You will have to start there." Lin'Fayaenre pointed to a section labeled: MASTER'S REFERENCE in the weaponry floor. Out of curiosity, she asked, "How much have you learned from the pane in your room?" Zaknafein, still examining the map, replied absently, "I have but three more of its chapters to read." "You are probably the fastest reader one has met then," Winter's eyes widened, "However you will not be so fast with the information here!" "After you finish the Master's section, you will be required to research a weapon of choice. The names are listed in a large book in the center of the weaponry floor, and you may ask your pane." "Choose carefully, then start your quest. After its completion, you will take up your full duties as Sword Master." "The Library is open for all the hours of the day and night, as the librarians rotate shifts." "One will leave you here. Farewell." With a smile, Winter pressed her button, and disappeared abruptly.

Chapter 3: Questing

A dark elf reclined on a chair, surrounded by tall bookshelves, balancing a heavy tome on his lap. His head was bent in concentration, stark white hair slightly unkempt. What could be seen of his cloak bespoke him a Master of a School. Years had passed since Zaknafein first set foot in Sanctuary, but it could be said that he had completed the reading part of his 'orientation' period in a remarkably short time. Yet he had learned as much, nay, even more than required, as Morikan, the silver World - Maker, had discovered. The dragon often called Zak to his chambers for little tests, and for conversations updating him on what Zak was doing at the moment. Although Zaknafein suspected that the wily World - Maker already knew about his movements, he still enjoyed these sessions, which almost always turned into debates. The depth of the dragon's wisdom constantly surprised Zaknafein. Now he was concentrating on his quest. All the listed weapons in the tome had strong magical properties, and a long history (made up or otherwise) that gave them immense value. However their precise locations were difficult to find. A researcher would be lucky even to find a 'modern' mention in the inevitable jumble of their conflicting tales. Zak's form blurred slightly at the edges as he forced himself to read through the book he was holding without hurling it through a nearby window. He preferred the true ring of sword meeting sword the a scholar's life. Which reminded him that the training session of the day was about to begin. After he had settled into a normal routine, Zaknafein allowed most of the morning for training his students, which the other Masters had gladly (and with much relief) handed over. He also deftly allotted a lot of time for visiting his young friends on the Plane of Saints, and they had begun a new game, called 'hide and seek'. Morikan had then bluntly reminded him of what he was supposed to do, but grudgingly allowed the practice, on condition that he could only teach in the mornings. The silver dragon did not wish Zak to get sidetracked. So innocent they were, so filled with joy! The students were an assorted group, but all fairly gifted, some having taught Zak himself a few tricks of the trade. The sessions always reminded himself of the time he had spent teaching Drizzt, his beloved son, so long ago. Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he returned to his task. On the platform at the Sword Hall, two drow elves fought, the line between practice and combat blurred. Lin'Fayaenre parried a blow with her crystal sword, sending Zaknafein's sword wide, then reversed direction to block a cruel thrust by the other. The two battled back and forth, while students sat in a ring around the platform. Others passing by the hall filed in quietly to watch the dazzling display of swordsmanship. Zaknafein launched his favourite move, the torque vise. One sword came down with impossible speed, forcing Winter to swing her sword up, while the other came up and swept forward for her throat. The students gasped, for they thought that the contest was at an end. Winter quickly transferred her blade to her left hand, and used her wrist to block the winning thrust. Her adamantite bracer rang loudly against Zaknafein's sword, a clear, familiar note. Her crystal sword then freed itself and went into a flickering routine, poking at Zaknafein's defenses, too fast for the eye to see. Cursing, Zak parried blindly, before recognising the pattern of the strikes, one sword slipping through her defenses. With alarcity, the crystal blade twisted, smashing the sword away, then continuing its flurry of hits. Zaknafein settled into a defensive route, trying to wear his opponent down, as he would not tire. Winter's eyes narrowed, then her sword feinted towards his thigh. Easily, he blocked it, his remaining sword again darting to her side. With an extra sword, Zak held an advantage. Or so he thought. With only one sword, Winter's strokes had more strenght, and she put that strenght into use now. Lunging sideways, she allowed her momentum into her swing, and the flat of the blade smashed painfully into Zak's fingers, causing the sword to go flying out of the platform. Drow females, as a whole, were stronger than the male ones. Undaunted, Zak's remaining sword flew in. Winter twisted to the side, the sword scratching her leg but causing no serious damage. Winter smirked suddenly, causing Zak to narrow his eyes and watch her blades more closely. The crystal sword started another flickering routine, a seemingly haphazard array of stabs and slaps at Zak's defenses. More alert, Zak saw each blow come and parried accordingly. The movements continued to force his sword down, then reversed and thrust forward just as Zaknafein saw an opening in Lin'Fayaenre's apparently perfect defense. The crystal sword touched Zak's chest at the same time his sword nicked her throat. There was a stunned silence, then the hall resounded with applause and cheers. The two opponents stared at their positions, and burst into belly-shaking laughter. Sheathing their weapons, they shook hands, then turned to the crowd, surprised at its size, and at the familiar faces of several weapon Masters, clapping along with the students. The fight had been incited when Zaknafein, with his contempt for magic, had asked Winter to fight him with her powers at close range, obviously trying to prove that the sword was better than a few uttered dweomers. Winter, knowing this, had drawn her weapon on the platform instead, and fought him fairly. Both were skilled at the sword, and the fight had endured for many bouts, neither giving way. Zaknafein promised himself that he would not make hasty assumptions in the future, and gingerly fingered a bruise on the side. Winter, on the other hand, was not as surprised at the turn of events, for she had witnessed his prowness on the platform many times before. She unconsciously fingered the edge of her newest scratch out of many, wincing at the thought of bathing later. Drifting in his insubstantial form, Zaknafein floated back into the library. The few bruises were healing fast, and he materialized in front of the same bookshelf, taking another tome down. He was looking for twin swords, known fancifully in lore as Scorcher and Frostbite, forged by the combined efforts of a red dragon, an ice dragon, and surface dwarves, working in harmony. Apparently the red dragon, Ralkaroajirac, had become greedy, and, working with the ice dragon, Irakragfaran, stole both the swords and much of the dwarven treasures, killing many of the dwarves in the ensuing war. Leaving Irakragfaran crippled and surronded, he fled, but dropped Frostbite in his haste. The dwarves had then hung a sword on a structure made of Irakragfaran's horns and scaly hide, in memory of their fallen comrades. Transporting it magically to a glacial place, they ensured that Ralkaroajirac would never get its claws on the sword. The tales implied that the swords had great magical power, but that may have been exaggerated. Zaknafein doubted that swords could 'cut a strand of hair in half and smash stone with a single blow'. More importantly, they were spoken of as worthy quests. To get one would be honor enough to give Zaknafein his full duties as Sword Master, but the dark elf meant to get both. Now, if he could but discern the locations... His eyes brightened at the next line. "Seek ye closely then the Twin Swords of the Realms, brave adventurers, for which..." the story degenerated again back into gibberish. There were a thousand thousand places that could be called 'the Realms', and a hundred more where dragons had such complicated names, but Zaknafein's heart told him that it was his home the tale spoke about. He read through the verse again, to make sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him. Satisfied, he snapped the volume shut, and replaced it on the shelf. Gathering his notes, Zak allowed Himself a satisfied grin. The time of deeds was at hand. Travelling the planes was never unpleasant, Zaknafein thought as he looked around him. This was the fastest, though most unpredictable, way of getting to the Material Plane. Morikan had graciously transported him to the outskirts of Zak's home world, and he flew ever downwards now, in his soul form. Downwards, ever downwards. Ahead of him now he saw the familiar hard edges of the Material Plane, and he eagerly dived in... He was floating above a desert, harsh and arid. Visualising his map, which he had memorized, he tried to get his bearings. Zaknafein had landed more or less where he had calculated, a flat, uninhabited place west of the Eyrie Mountains. Prudently, he wore chain mail and his swords, and carried a pack containing several more practical things. With a determined set to his jaw, he drifted to the west. His route would take him through the Eyrie Mountains, through to Moonwood, then to Silverymoon. He hoped that he would be allowed in to speak to the sages about his quest. For the Library contained only written books, and not unspoken knowledge, handed down by word of mouth generation after generation. It was the best course he could think of in the time being. It felt interesting to walk the Material Plane, although it was different this time. The bright sunlight did not stab his sensitive eyes, and he drifted on, tireless. The preparations had taken the remainder of that day, a large portion of farewells and good wishes. Winter had volunteered to make the arrangements for the students, though Zaknafein thought privately that she could serve as a good replacement. Rules of Sanctuary dictated otherwise. Winter would have to stay in Sanctuary until she graduated, then she would leave to fulfil her 'purpose', Morikan had informed Zaknafein. Thus she could not serve as a Master, in any School. The weapon Masters had taken him aside and given him many useful suggestions, which he had listened to raptly. Zak's thoughts wandered back to the last meeting with Morikan. The dragon's well wishes seemed a trifle detached, somehow. The thought that Morikan, who Zak treated almost like his father, was not interested enough on this important first quest hurt Zak, but he had stubbornly told himself that Morikan was probably concentrating on more momentous events, farther away. Perhaps he was creating a new experiment. Morikan sat on his padded seat, watching Zaknafein. He was rather sorry that he could not have given a fonder sending off for the drow, but allowing the drow to think that he had been blessed, and becoming arrogant, was not a good thing. Zaknafein was interesting in that fact. He was not filled with pride at his skills, nor did he assert his authority willingly. Zak had established early with his students that he did not want them to bow to him, nor did he want them to call him 'Sir'. The dark elf enjoyed his mornings almost as much as he enjoyed his games on the Plane of Saints, Morikan could see. He had heard of the contest between Zak and Winter, and had been watching it actually. The silver dragon was glad that it had served to tear down another one of Zaknafein's assumptions. "Good luck." Morikan said, then reluctantly switched his attention to his latest experiment. He had reached the edges of the plains now, and was rather glad to see that there was a change to the unending yellow of his surroundings. The sky was clear and blue, but still no clouds shielded the earth from the sweltering heat. Not being truly alive, Zaknafein did not feel thirst, or heat. Tireless, he did not stop even at night, but walked on. It did not make any difference being solid or insubstantial, and he alternated this every day. Striding across the short grass, he saw a small forest of stunted trees. The trees were not close together, but in this desert plain, such a collection of trees would count as a forest. An unearthly chittering could be heard, insect-like, but he did not see any such swarms of insects around him. Only a swarm of insects could make such a loud noise. Or so he believed. Large, multifaceted eyes peered out from the cover of the trees, and immediately focused on the warm, moving source fast approaching. Long stalks on top of its alien head waved about in excitement, and its fierce crushing jaws snapped together reflexively. Another of its giant kin approached, and they conferred, stalks touching, then the newcomer rushed on all its jointed six legs to a large hole in the ground. The sentry settled to watch. One lone figure was easy prey, it thought. The new location of their nest was most profitable. They had met many such creatures already, mostly in large groups. Food that kept the colony growing. If an observer were to watch high up in the sky, the creatures would have resembled giant ants. Zaknafein moved on obliviously, towards the inviting trees ahead. As he closed on the nearest plant, trunks bulging with stored water, the chittering sound came. Much louder this time. With a sigh, Zaknafein became insubstantial, and drifted on through the trees. A sudden rush of movement at the corner of his eye made him whirl around, and he came face to face with... A giant ant, cruel jaws snapping as it lunged at him. Zaknafein waited calmly, and the surprised ant found itself rushing through its prey. Undeterred, it turned with surprising speed considering its bulk, and tried to close its vise like jaws on Zak, jaws that could easily snip an elf in two. The jaws met on thin air and the ant stopped in amazement, chittering and waving its antennae wildly. Zaknafein, tiring of the game, drifted on. He did not wish to harm the ants, as he thought that few others would pass this way in the desert. Until he saw the neat pile beyond the dark hole. Of whitened bones, with a group of vultures squawking over the remnants of something the size of a child, thankfully obscured by the black birds. Zaknafein felt anger building inside him, his eyes suddenly burning with rage. His swords leaping into his hands, he turned on the confused ant, which had followed him, still trying to snap at him. Suddenly materializing, he ducked under another clumsy attempt, then ran under the ant's body. The ant's chittering grew louder in outrage, and it tried to see the slender figure that was banging its armor furiously. The ant's carapace was too tough to break, Zaknafein realized, and he slipped out, seeing the vulnerable joints. Snarling, he jumped onto the ant's back, causing the creature to thrash around in absolute rage. Smoothly, a sword bit into the ant's flesh, between the head and the body. In horror, he saw that the ant turned further, ignoring the pain as it tried to kill its enemy. With a sudden snap, the head fell off, and Zak felt bile rising in his throat as the body continued to thrash around. Sickened, he turned to face the horde of ants that fast approached, attracted by the fallen ant's signals. The monsters had killed, and would kill again. They had to be stopped. Zaknafein leapt up onto another ant, whirling blades deflecting another ant's bite, then plunging the blades into the ant's abdomen. The ant turned around, jaws snapping, and Zaknafein, anticipating the move, dove under the head, pushing his swords upwards in an X. Another ant's severed body lay thrashing on the ground. From what he did know of normal ants, he knew that a central ant queen controlled the nest, and he needed to destroy her to eliminate the nest. The nest, realizing the danger of this small opponent, kept sending out giant ants, then finally sent its elite strike force. Reddish brown in color, they towered over the green ones that Zaknafein had battled. Their jaws were much larger and sported teeth. Together, they rushed at the dark elf, perhaps hoping to bury them in their numbers and bulk. Giant ant nests had much less subjects than normal ants, and this proved rather fortunate. However, the numbers were still formidable. Zaknafein, untiring, continued his deadly assault with his blades, the danger spurring him on to greater feats, a wolfish grin on his face. He worked ever closer to the hole. The ant queen sent messages of full alert down the colony. This lone attacker had already decimated more than half of her force, and she called some of her subjects down to guard her chamber. The intruder had to be stopped. Green ants picked up her eggs, long and sickly white, and deposited them in her well defended chamber. Then they skittered off mindlessly down the corridors, their only thought defending their Queen. Zaknafein was inside the tunnels now, singlehandedly mowing down any ant that was unfortunate enough to get into his way. His swords fell back into an easy rhythm, and he used the same method on each ant, marvelling that they could be so stupid as to fall for such ploys over and over again. Ant bodies littered his path, and he ignored his injuries from the mandibles of a red ant that had come too close. He headed to the barricade of ants at the end of the tunnel, that perfectly disiplined troupe simply watching their comrades in front of them die in Zak's path. The wall of ants snapped at Zaknafein, and he fell back slightly, considering his options. He had discovered early on that neither globes of darkness, nor faerie fire bothered the ants, and he was at a loss of what to do. The many alien heads chittered and tried to bite at Zaknafein, but none moved from their place as an inpenetrable layer to their Queen. Zaknafein reached inside his pack, and threw several grey spheres in front of the ants. Billowing clouds of smoke burst out, choking the ants and breaking the wall. The chittering reached shrieking point as the ants rushed around madly, sensitive eyes seared with pain. Zaknafein had slipped a mask on early, and he calmly strode on, dodging the berserk ants, and entered the Queen chamber. The Queen ant sensed the confusion of her subjects, and ponderously tried to retreat into an escape tunnel at the end of the chamber. Zak ran forward, faster than the bloated monster, to leap onto her back, a squishy white mess that bulged with eggs. Running along, he plunged the swords on either side, and the queen ant thrashed in agony. In an effortless bound, he was on her middle section, and with a smooth movement, lopped her head off. Zaknafein emerged into the bright sunlight, feeling rather proud of himself. Around him, the filthy vultures had begun their macabre job on the fallen ants, and he simply avoided them. Of the various white eggs in the nest, he had taken care of them by sticking in his swords at different angles. There was still a full scale ant riot inside the tunnels, but that had not bothered his insubstantial form. Without the Queen or any replacements, the nest would not survive. He wiped his blades on the grass, and continued westwards to the mountains. Zak moved easily ahead of the merchant troupe, a silent protector. The merchants had warily but eagerly accepted his offer to accompany them to the mountains, for the exchange of a few tales. Suspicions of the drow elves had died down somewhat with the exploits of Zak's son, but they still remained. Zaknafein spent most of his time with the caravans far ahead, clearing the way. An old man, apparently the storyteller of the group, admitted his ignorance of the twin swords, but approved of his plans. Every night, the old man wove stories, his voice often dropping to a conspiring whisper, or rising in a thunderous shout. The others would listen, breathless, hanging on to his words, as did the dark elf, always sitting unobtrusively at the very edge of the camp. Zaknafein was an attentive listener to the old man's tales of long ago, as to his stories of dragon lore. If he was correct, Ralkaroajirac, the red dragon, still lived.

Chapter 4: Travels

Zaknafein took his leave of the merchants as soon as they reached the Eyrie Mountains. The tall, imposing mountains reached higher than the tallest trees, blocking out most of the sky. Closely packed yet boasting a river and forests, Zaknafein wondered what kind of birds the Eyries were home to. He supposed he would find out. Drifting along, he descended a steep gorge without incident. The river had eroded through the rocks over time, forming the gorge and the irregular, stepped cliffs. Hardy shrubs grew now and again on the rare patches of soil, and a thin veil of water cascaded down to Zaknafein's left, to trickle slowly into the river. The water was a muddy brown, bulging from recent rains, and it roared downwards, veering around bends, rushing over jagged, angular rocks, spitting white foam at every obstacle. For a while, Zak merely stood and enjoyed the natural beauty of the place. One may find little pockets of heaven like these, if one just looked hard enough. He had been following the river for many days and nights, but still had not come to the end of the range. According to his map, this was the shortest way out to Moonwood. The days had passed without incident... well almost without. A foolish goblin tribe had thought a lone elf easy prey, even if he was obviously drow. Zak had simply tossed the lot of them into the river. Zak was approaching a cave at the side of the river, which sported two structures in front. As he neared, he saw that they were twin spiders, each carved from a block of quartz crystal. The tunnel wound inwards into darkness that soon became impenetrable to normal sight. From his infravision, Zak saw that the tunnel had not been used for some time. Curious, he stopped outside, and examined the spiders. Carvings on their pedestal showed that they had been raised in honor of Lloth, the evil goddess of his race. But what drow had come all the way to the perilous surface to erect these statues? Shrugging, he turned to continue on his way. A scratching, grinding sound behind him alerted him, and he whirled, blades leaping into his hands. The spiders had magically animated, and they attacked. Zak was confused, he was not only drow, but he had not attempted to enter the temple. Nor had he attacked any other drow nearby. This confusion kept his blades on defensive. The spiders, taking advantage of the situation, pressed on, trying to kill him or force him into the rough river. A leg swiped at him, narrowly missing, and took a chunk out of the stone wall. Zaknafein's confusion was replaced by anger. A familiar light sprang into his eyes, and his blades became an extension of his hands, each taking care of one spider, working independently, as a growl escaped his lips. The spiders had been placed there to offer sacrifices of the surface people to Lloth, and they mindlessly continued their attack, the elf's blades simply bouncing off their quartz bodies. One of Zak's blades feinted, then drove at the spider's mouth. The spider lurched to the side, clamping on the blade like a vise, but then it lost its balance and feel into the river, suddenly hissing and changing into a rough block of quartz. Hope bubbled in Zak's heart, over the dismay he felt at losing one of his swords. The remaining sword launched a flurry of strikes, gradually poking the spider backwards, and with a final scrabbling of soil, it too fell to share its companion's fate. Zak sheathed his remaining sword, satisfied, and continued on his way. Morikan jerked back from the vision, and snarled. What was Lloth trying to do on the surface, where she had been precisely told not to interfere? Perhaps he had ignored the Realms for too long. Reaching out, he did not like what he found. A silver dragon woke suddenly in the Realms, the essence of Morikan's spirit in that world, and spoke an arcane word of summoning. A brazier appeared in its lair, and the flames flared to life. A creature that looked like melted wax formed, its drooping mouth and eyes taking in the chamber. "Who dares..." the yochlol began, then saw the dragon's starry orbs, and abruptly changed its manner. "What would you wish to know, Lord Morikanblancmyran?" the creature asked respectfully. "Call your mistress." Morikan replied curtly. The creature stiffened in outrage, but gave a grotesque bow and disappeared. The flames died down then flared back into life. Jerking to the sides, they then formed a flat, lifeless plane. A beautiful drow female stepped out cautiously. "Lloth. What are you doing on the surface?" Morikan snapped. "If one recalls, that was in the agreement when the other gods and I decided not to intercede when you stole the drow elves." Lloth opened her mouth to answer, her scheming mind concocting various tales, but Morikan cut her off. "Firstly, you were supposed to stay in the Underdark. This world is too important to waste it on the gods' squabbles over surface wars. The last time it happened, which you started by taking the elves, the conflict had escalated until I had to intercede." "You are the representative of Chaos on this world, but you are not supposed to overdo it. Technically I like my worlds balanced, but I may make an exception," Morikan's orbs narrowed dangerously. Lloth paled. Morikan was neutral, unlike some of his extreme brothers and sisters, but he had occasionally leant towards the Good alignment. It went against his principles, but he might just decide, in a fit of ire, to get rid of her. She would require more sacrifices tonight from her 'children', to get over this meeting. Lloth was aware that Morikan had taken yet another drow away from her, her vindictive nature outraged at that fact. Though the drow was male, and already dead, she still felt that he was still her possession. The attacking spiders had been spurred on partially by her, and she knew that she would not get away so easily now that Morikan knew that fact. He would force many damaging promises on her now. As Zak followed the river's muddy path, he was not aware of eyes watching him. Unobtrusive, a skinny, rat faced human crouched on the top of the cliff, above Zaknafein. Recently, this area had been claimed by bandits, led by their brilliant leader, Altarev One-eye, had in a few sweeps allied with a troop of gnolls and a smaller, but more deadly group of ogres. All to the promise of wealth. The river was fast becoming a favorite merchant route, for merchants found to their surprise that the path was wide enough for caravans. Unknown to them, that had been the work of captured bandit slaves, along with a bit of magical assistance from their evil mage. The tactical wisdom of Altarev dictated that they allow the first few merchants to pass, allowing them to set up a firm routine that would pass this mountain route on their way to Silverymoon. Then they attacked, cutting off the feeble resistance, and claiming the caravans as their rightful booty. The merchants, preferring the shorter (and safer) Eyrie Mountains to the Trollmoors, had stubbornly continued on the route, precisely as Altarev had predicted. Merchants would go on routes twice as dangerous as the Eyrie Mountains if there was even a promise of profit. Several times attempts had been made to capture and get rid of the bandits, clearing the routes, but the wily Altarev had always known through his extensive spy network of such campaigns long beforehand. There are many places to hide in the Eyrie Range. The bandit sentry was surprised at Zak's appearance. Not only did the lone figure sport white hair and ebon skin, he walked alone. He noticed the elf's richly patterned cloak and boots. Perhaps with magical value, they would add well to the bandit camp's already considerable collection. Getting up slowly and noiselessly, he glided back to the camp to report. Morikan reclined back on his seat, as Lloth bowed and exited through the door of flame. She would not raid the surface again for a long time. The last time she had attacked Mithril Hall, the dwarven god had been outraged, and it had almost turned into another interspecies war, dragging the rest of the gods into either side. It had took a long series of threats and coaxing to calm things down back to their original state. The gods had not liked the idea of being thrown back out of heaven much. The whole ugly affair had interfered with his experiment, and Morikan was not amused. The river took a sharp bend out of sight. Unconcerned, Zak followed, enchanted boots striking the reddish brown, smooth surface of the cliff side. If he had looked more closely at the path, he would have grown more suspicious. Normally such platforms, formed naturally, would actually have been cut by the river while the river had been higher up. Potholes would have formed, as they were an inevitable part of erosion. The platform was absolutely smooth. Rounding the blind bend, he came face to face with a well-organized group of mercenaries, their unshaven faces leering at him. His remaining blade flashed into his hands, and he waited, unhurried. The speaker of the group, a huge human missing one ear, stepped forward. "Why are you passing through Lord Altarev's mountains without a pass?" He boomed. Zaknafein did not want a fight, until he knew what this situation more clearly. "I did not know the mountains had acquired a new owner." He calmly replied. The human glared at Zak as he tried to see if the reply was an insult. Grudgingly deciding otherwise, he carried on with his mission. "Lord Altarev wishes to see you about this. Come willingly with us, and we will not harm you." The leader said in his harsh, guttural voice. Altarev, at once discerning the visitor through the sentry's description, knew of the fighting skills of drow through legend. He did not wish to get any of his camp killed. Always a realist, he knew that the single drow might wish to join a larger group. Legend too wrote that drow enjoyed wealth. He wished to verify this fact. Zaknafein sighed inwardly, regretting not taking his soul state for this entire day. He considered 'disappearing' now. He did not wish to get involved in further bouts of heroics, for the group was rather obviously a bandit group and used to preying on travelers in this pass. Then a robed human stepped out from behind the group, watery eyes staring at Zak. A wizard. The dark elf set his shoulders determinedly, knowing that becoming insubstantial was out of the question now. "Well?" The large human leader asked impatiently, wondering if hesitation would serve as insult enough to attack out of orders. "I will follow." Zak replied curtly. The bandit camp was surprisingly well organized. The living quarters of the bandits, circular constructions of wood, tented over with the waterproof cattle hide, sat in neat rows, while a raised tent on heavy logs, larger than the rest, was placed in the very center of the camp. It was lined with many ornamental weapons, fixed onto the walls. The skull of some horned carnivore overlooked the entrance to the large tent, empty sockets seemed to follow Zak's every move. Wooden chests lay on the outside of each tent, probably containing the bandit's personal weapons, and crudely constructed racks hung drying skins, cleaned from the prey of the bandits for trade. Surrounded by flies, with dark brown stains below, the skins were not a pleasant sight. Their smell permeated the camp. Another large tent stood further away, and Zak noticed the tall, grayish, dog-faced humanoids that moved around aimlessly there. Gnolls. Whenever any of the humanoids encountered an unfortunate human in their path, they would drive him away with kicks and snarls. Their alliance would be tenuous at best. Zak stored that bit of information away, for future use if required. The group of humans, spears at the ready, poked Zak towards the main tent, guarded by two large ogres. The creatures were also scattered around the camp, looking at the newcomer watchfully. Activity stopped as the other bandits too stopped to stare at the dark elf, unconsciously fingering their weapons. Dark elves had a hefty reputation in the realms. Altarev sat calmly on his throne of animal hide, waiting patiently for his visitor, while his compatriot, Gyark, the gnoll chieftain, paced agitatedly. Tall even for a gnoll, the black haired creature was the veteran of many battles, but the dark elves were a mystery. Gyark did not like mysteries. The tent flap slipped open, and Gyark started backwards in surprise. The watery-eyed wizard walked in. "The elf." He said succinctly. "Well done, Selk." The light baritone of Altarev replied. "Show him in." Selk nodded, and walked out of the flap to report to the group leader. Selk was never one to waste words. Gyark spun on Altarev. "Are you sure ... this wise?" he stuttered in his shaky grasp of the Common tongue. Without replying, Altarev gestured to the entrance. Zaknafein came striding in, still unruffled. His eyes darted around, taking in the tent. Then he sauntered over in front of the bandit leader. And waited. "Kneel." Growled the huge human leader behind him. Zak continued to stand, arms crossed over his chest in defiance. With a roar of rage the human swung his mace at the slender elf, only to be blocked by a sword, whistling through the air. In a flash, Zaknafein sidestepped another swing, his sword flying forward, and exiting through the human's back. The mace fell from nerveless hands as the human looked at Zaknafein in astonishment. With a sigh, he toppled backwards. There was a loud metallic rustle as all the other bandits that had witnessed the incident drew their weapons, then an astonished silence as a clapping sound was heard. All turned to stare at Altarev, applauding the dark elf's action, sensitive mouth in a slight smile. "Well done, dark elf." With a dispassionate wave at the fallen corpse, he ordered to the others, "Clear that mess." Gyark looked at Altarev in absolute amazement, still holding on to his halberd. "I did not come to provide entertainment for a bandit leader. Let me pass on my way, and no one shall be hurt." Zaknafein remarked coolly, with a threat in his voice. Altarev merely chuckled, a mirthless laugh. "You fight well, dark elf. Instead of this business of yours, would you like to join me in this little camp?" he waved a hand deprecatingly. Zak tried subterfuge. "My masters would not allow that." Again, he chuckled. "You are obviously no ordinary dark elf, my friend. Dark elves, to my knowledge, do not walk in full daylight, nor wear such cloaks. Your movements were unhurried, so I presume your business is not of utmost importance." Unable to help himself, Zak nodded slowly, listening to the soothing voice of the bandit leader. "Thus I ask you again. Join us, and we will let you go on with escorts. When you finish your business, return to a lifetime of wealth." Zak snapped out of the hypnotic words at the last line, and stared at Altarev with narrowed eyes, fingers gesturing slightly in a simple spell that he had learnt in Sanctuary. To his eyes, Altarev, and himself, were lined in blue. Someone had cast a spell. Altarev saw immediately that the spell was broken, and he tapped the side of his chair, a signal. "I am sorry that you think that way, dark elf. Farewell then." A lightning bolt hit Zaknafein's back, blasting him to the foot of Altarev's throne. Cursing himself for his complacency, Zaknafein took his soul form. The burns slowly healed, and he drifted up. Altarev had anticipated such a move, and he swung his sword at where he believed Zak was at the moment. Instinctively, Zaknafein lurched backwards, but the sword grazed his side. His eyes widened in amazement. Altarev not only should not have seen him, he would not have been able to hurt him in this state! The angry light leapt back into his eyes. Ignoring the pain, he shifted back into his material form and parried the sword's next vicious swing. Altarev leapt from his throne, and countered Zak's every move with an even parry. Obviously no mean swordsman, Zak wondered absently who Altarev had been before he had turned to such a life. Quickly Zak adjusted his rhythm to accommodate one sword. Altarev was good, but not good enough. Weaving and darting, Zak's sword poked relentlessly at Altarev's defenses, driving him between the wizard. Altarev, snarling in rage, recognized the ploy, but was unable to turn his opponent back. He drove harder at Zak, and Zak relaxed into a defensive routine, allowing Altarev to tire. The bandit leader thought that the elf would tire first, for sentries had reported that Zaknafein traveled even through the night. He did not know the truth of his opponent well enough. Untiring, Zaknafein waited, the other bandits numbly watching the display. The opportunity presented itself, and the dark elf feinted to the side. Altarev had no choice but to parry the crippling stroke, and could only watch as Zak reversed directions and cut a neat line on Altarev's neck. Gyark watched in horror as his superior fell, then ran, roaring, at Zaknafein. Zak became insubstantial, then as the gnoll chieftain, caught in his own momentum, charged through, he materialized and stabbed the monster through the back. He heard a familiar muttered chant, and quickly grabbed a mirror off the crude walls, raising it in time to deflect the bolt back. The unfortunate wizard was hurled through the air to land as a smoking heap at the far end of the camp. Zak, not bothering himself with the rest of the camp, simply drifted off on his way. Traveling almost continuously in his soul state now, Zak entered a gentle valley in the mountains. The valley seemed out of place, its green turf holding herds of deer and tall, shady trees. The valley stretched in a circular depression many miles wide, to give way to the Eyrie Mountains again. Zak drifted on, reveling in the pleasant change of surroundings. A movement tugged at his consciousness, and he drifted over to take a closer look. It was the broken, twitching body of a magnificent beast, splattered with blood. Its eagle head tossed and turned, talons weakly grasping at the air, tawny lion body jerking spasmodically. Its long tasseled tail lay limp in the grass. Zak felt compassion for the noble beast, but sadly began to turn away, instinctively searching for the cause of its pathetic state. Some giant perhaps, or a battle in the air? His vision impaired, the griffin only saw vague shapes. It had crawled on determinedly for a long time, the sole survivor of a meeting of a goblin raid. Unknown to the select griffin group, the bandits had given the goblins magical weapons, also wishing to cause harm to their common enemies. Thus a barrage of poisoned weapons shot by magical bows had decimated the flying creatures. He had stumbled back, trying to reach to eyrie. A presence approached, but he could not see it, even through the jumble of images through its tired eyes. "Help... me," it managed to croak, then slumped back into unconsciousness. Zaknafein stared at the beast. Had his ears been playing tricks on him? However, if the griffin was a sentient being, like those at Sanctuary, he would never forgive himself for letting it die. With a sigh, he materialized and rummaged through his backpack, and took out an arrangement of vials, randomly pouring each one into the griffin's beak, then rubbing its throat to make it swallow. The wounds healed over magically, till not even a scar marred its beautiful hide. Slowly the fierce eyes opened, and saw its rescuer. In a flash it had its powerful hindquarters below it and its claws were half extended in defense, eyeing the dark elf warily. Zak sighed. "I did not go to all the trouble of healing you to hurt you." He snorted, not bothering to draw his sword. Sheepishly, the griffin dropped its claws to its side. "One is sorry. Thank you for your aid." It said simply. Zak was surprised at its clipped, precise voice. The speech of the griffins he had known was stuttered and rasping. Intrigued, he looked closer at the creature. "You are welcome." An awkward silence ensued as both sides examined each other. The griffin started back with a squawk of surprise. "You are not - alive." It accused. Zak crossed his hands on his chest. "Did you think I chose that fact?" he said, sarcasm dripping from his tone. The griffin recovered. "Sorry. Griffin can tell whether you alive or not - alive." It struggled with the language, "Come back to Eyrie. Give you..." its face contorted slightly as it groped for the correct word. "Reward? There is nothing you can give me... unless you have another griffin who knows dragon lore. And about the Twin Swords." Zaknafein replied. The griffin considered that, then bobbed its head. "Rhianarr Longtalons knows many dragon things. Come?" It asked hopefully. Zak smiled. "I will be honored." The griffin made a happy sound that would be the human equivalent of an answering smile. "Griffin's name is Niranvarr Windsoarer." It introduced itself, placing a talon on its chest proudly. "My name is Zaknafein Do'Urden. Is this Eyrie far away?" he asked politely, not wishing to get too sidetracked. "Not - far. Five wing-hours." Niranyarr replied. Zak winced. Five wing-hours were a long time, but he allowed the sacrifice for a taste of company. Niranyarr launched himself suddenly into the air, feeling the wind on his wings, then flared them and landed back beside Zak. "Could not resist." He explained cockily. Zak grinned. He could get to like his new friend.

Chapter 5: Friends

Metal rang against metal in a protesting note as a dark elf faced off against its opponent. Eagle head forward, the cruel, hooked beak darted to and fro like some weird snake, trying to find an opportunity to strike. The griffin's talons, wrapped in a dwarven crafted type of metal glove, were made doubly dangerous by the sharp knives that protruded when the claws flexed. Its powerful lion's hindquarters balanced its body perfectly, allowing it to recover to an even stance faster that its opponent. The griffin's tasseled tail lashed furiously at its flanks as it sidestepped yet another lunge, its wings outstretched for balance. Zaknafein handled the two swords with ease, gracefully parrying the nasty swipes of his opponent, which would cripple him if they connected. A sword feinted to the right, and Niranyarr complied, smashing at the sword with his metal claws. Slipping under the claw, the sword unerringly flew towards the griffin's belly, while the other sword chopped downwards at the proud head. Niranyarr saw the swords coming, and his claws moved impossibly fast to clash loudly on both swords, knocking them wide, then immediately launching an attack, right claw angling to Zak's face, while the left claw swiped at the dark elf's wrist. Zak twisted backwards, left sword parrying the blow to his face, while the other hit the other set of claws with the flat of the blade, then quickly angled downwards, as did the other sword. Ducking another swipe, Zaknafein came under the griffin's defenses. One sword sat, poised, at the griffin's chest, while the other touched the white feathers. Niranyarr trilled in surprise, then made the odd, coughing sound that Zak knew as laughter. "Good you are, dark elf." Niranyarr remarked in admiration. Zak accepted the compliment with a smile. "As are you, if you would learn how to use swords." He looked at the griffin's powerful, sleekly muscled bulk, which could move with surprising agility. Incredulously, Niranyarr slipped off his metal gloves, and showed Zak his talons. "Not - good for gripping sword." He said wryly in his clipped voice. Zaknafein pretended to examine the proffered claw. "They aren't?" he asked in mock surprise. Niranyarr narrowed his amber eyes, then grasped at the hilt of one on Zak's swords and attempted to lift it out of the sheath. He nearly lifted the drow along with it. "Do you see? Cannot even sheath." Niranyarr snorted. Zak pretended to look crestfallen, then his expression changed into laughter. The griffin rocked backwards in surprise, then snorted again. "Elves." He said despairingly. Zak only laughed harder. Drow were initially not welcome in the Skysong Eyrie, and many drawn crossbows had greeted the two when Zak had first reached the eyrie. The griffins had thought that Zak had put a spell of binding on Niranyarr, and had attempted to 'rescue' the griffin. Niranyarr had insisted that Zak was a guest, and the griffin elders, under their rules, had to grudgingly let the dark elf in. They found out about Zak's skills with his swords early on when a young griffin had attacked the 'stinking elf' when Zak was on his way to see Rhianarr Longtalons, the eyrie's sage. Zak, refusing Niranyarr's intervention, had single-handedly attacked the larger creature, and beat him soundly. No other griffins willingly attacked him now, and his passage was marked with respect. Griffins, a practical race, did not allow preconceptions to mar their judgement. After a few days had passed without incident, the dark elf was allowed to roam around the eyrie. After Niranyarr had described what had happened to his group, the meeting of the Elders erupted in outrage. Plans were being made, in the name of vengeance, for use on the goblins, and on the bandits. However Zak privately suspected that this was just an excuse for the bloodthirsty creatures to launch an all out offensive on the goblins, then innocently protest that they had been 'provoked'. Niranyarr had recognized the bandit's involvement through the inscribing of the many arrows that he had 'caught'. Zak was currently enduring a surge of celebrity after admitting to slaying the bandit leader. Reports showed that the camp was in disarray, and nasty fights had broken out between the ranks of the humans and the gnolls. Without the ironfisted leadership of Altarev and Gyark, the well-organized camp had simply fallen apart. Zak was uninterested in the plans, and did not join in the discussions. When invited to, he declined politely, saying he had nothing to contribute. Niranyarr respected the dark elf's choice, but always snorted derisively when Zak used his excuse. They stayed together in the griffin's cave, speaking to each other often, and now knew each other rather well. Niranyarr knew that Zak would have had much to contribute, if he bothered to. The dark elf however, did not wish to get involved in anything that would cause his quest to get sidetracked further. Niranyarr was one of several wingleaders, the highest military position below that of an Elder, and now one of the most decorated fighters. Unlike Zak, Niranyarr enjoyed the acknowledgement that came with the laurels. He looked at a new box of jewelry, taking out each individual crafting and inspecting it under the magically glowing globes in his cave. Behind him, Zak reclined on an embarrassment of cushions, watching. "Vanity, Windsoarer?" he asked. Niranyarr took out a necklace of black pearls. "One sees you finally decided to stop behaving like vegetable. All griffins are vain." He replied in the Common tongue. Zak had been surprised to find that Niranyarr was one of few griffins in his tribe with a grasp of the language. His speech was passable, though sometimes incomprehensible. Zak snorted, and settled deeper into his soft nest, taking a borrowed book from the Skysong library with him. The book on dragon lore was very precise, and Zak had formulated a plan on what to do. Rhianarr disliked dragons intensely; one having scorched her right leg so much it had become useless. She was very happy to aid him in his quest. Apparently the Skysong eyrie had received questers before. "This?" Niranyarr asked, turning his feathered head to show an array of teardrop like crystals, that seemed to be suspended in the air, so delicate were their chains. From the deep pile of cushions, a white haired head peered up briefly. Zak indicated his opinion by rolling his eyes, then disappeared back into the cushions. "Drow just cannot appreciate the finer things in life." Niranyarr observed under his breath. "Griffins cannot understand the finer things in life." Came the muffled retort. Zak, with his sharp ears, had overheard Niranyarr's remark. Griffin life was simple. Mornings were dedicated to lessons, afternoons to sleeping, and nights to making the Eyrie Mountain goblins' lives miserable. Zak remembered a ditty from his childhood that did not seem so senseless now. Two little goblins, Out in the sun, Down came a griffin, And then there was one. Griffins could see as well as owls in the dark, their eyes growing larger to adjust to the lack of light, their ears fine-tuning themselves to their surroundings. The raids were always led by a wingleader, with a specific tribe of goblin to attack. All 'fair' raids so far had been very successful. Zak often wondered why the goblins never abandoned the mountains altogether. There were different patrols, a group consisting of more than ten griffins. The patrols took turns each day to hunt in the morning, for a large afternoon meal that would last the creatures for the rest of the day. Each patrol had a designated spot to eat at, and the wingleaders another spot. The griffins enjoyed their meals, and Niranyarr was shocked to find that Zak did not need to eat. Zak still remembered the griffin's response, "No wonder you are so thin!" For Zak, he often took himself and a book to the recesses of his cushions when the bell rang at the start of the afternoon meals. Griffins were so messy! Respecting his friend's sensibilities, Niranyarr always washed before he returned from the meal. Time had passed, and Zak soon grew restless. He now had a more refined plan for his quest, and he often spent his time looking out over the range, sitting on the highest point of the Skysong eyrie. Niranyarr, seeing this, had persuaded him to stay until the 'grand raid' as the griffin had put it, so he could slip out of the range with the least amount of fuss, obscured by the war. Zak knew the eyrie was reluctant to let him leave, as he knew privately that he could leave any time by simply becoming insubstantial. He gave in eventually to Niranyarr's pleas however. Sitting now on his favorite perch, he fingered the plain sword the griffins had given him. It was rather old, probably filched from one of their nightly raids, and was actually on display until he had come along. It filled his empty sheath well. This day, the sunset would have a special significance. The war would begin this night. Goblins raised about in panic, erecting last minute defenses, paying no heed to the conflicting orders of their chieftain. Their shaman had just predicted that the griffins would arrive this night, in a single, sweeping hand of revenge. Already, many of the goblins had thoughts of deserting the area, but the prediction of their chief had stopped them short. "Griffin will come and catch you and eat you!" Still, a mumbling resentment was in the ranks. The goblins blamed their leader, Vark, for agreeing to the arrangement with the bandits. They had known that killing so many griffins in a raid would cause a war with the flying creatures. Vark had reminded them that the smaller raid they had decimated would have killed many of the goblins anyway, but the goblins lived in a world of now. Now, the griffins were coming, and the camp had degenerated into chaos, with a single, accusing finger pointing straight at Vark, the convenient scapegoat. Vark and his advisors attempted to think of a workable plan against the griffins, now that most of their enchanted weapons had been returned and no help forthcoming from the bandits. The best the stupid creatures could come up with was to scatter and run in all directions, but even Vark could see the obvious disadvantage of being scattered and undefended. Night descended rapidly on the camp. The patrols strapped on their metal claws, powerful paws digging grooves into the rock. They whole eyrie was divided into three parts, 'goblins', 'bandits', and 'home'. The 'goblins' and 'bandits' would leave after the sunset, to smash the goblins with the 'goblins' group in offensive. The 'bandits' would simply shoot their arrows into the fray; sharp eyes and equally sharp skills ensuring them targets. The roles would be reversed at the bandit camp. The 'home' group would stay to defend the eyrie, a precaution. The patrols had drawn lots to see which groups they would fall to, and the offensive and defensive teams could be seen clearly through the disappointment on the features of the defensive team. Niranyarr, oddly, was not with the offensive team, although he could have chosen to go with them. Zak kept shooting him sidelong, suspicious glances, which the griffin pretended not to see. The entire eyrie watched with breathless anticipation as the sun descended ponderously down the mountains, bathing the land with a dim orange glow. Night's blanket enfolded the earth abruptly, and the offensive team immediately launched into the air, in complete precision and silence, heading westwards over the valley. Zak said his good-byes to the eyrie and to Niranyarr, and set off through the darkness in the opposite direction. A goblin shrieked at his post, and Vark came over to look. Nothing. The goblins were nervous this night, and kept imagining things. Vark favored the hapless sentry with a clout that sent it falling into the ground. Turning his back to the darkness, Vark caught a crossbow bolt right in the middle of his back. Alarms were shouted through the camp, as a veritable rain of bolts ensued, each bolt precisely catching a goblin. Looking wildly in front of them, the goblins did not think to look upwards. Screeching, the flying griffins swooped down like furious, avenging angels, wrecking havoc on the feeble defenses. What left of the goblin's bravado broke, and they scattered into the night. Frantically, their shaman began a screaming chant that was cut off abruptly by a crossbow bolt between his starting eyes. Having decimated the camp to their satisfaction in a matter of minutes, the griffins contented themselves by tearing down the tents, then regrouped and flew, shrieking victoriously, towards the bandit camp. It was a long time before the goblins dared to creep back to salvage what remained of their possessions. The bandit camp contained fewer people now, and the humans, with the backing of ogre muscle, had wrested back control of the camp. The gnolls then abandoned the alliance, preferring their independence to a lifetime of servitude under the humans. The internal battles for supremacy in the camp continued, as did a few on the spot politics that seemed to favor daggers and murders. Thus the bandits were even less prepared than the goblins when the griffins arrived for their nightly fun. So embroiled in their struggles for power, it is hard to say if they would even have cared if they knew. Zaknafein walked out of the boundaries of the Skysong Eyrie, which were marked by a feathered pole. Stopping a while to look back with a wistful smile, he then continued on his way. Fires lit up the night in a spot far away, and he knew the griffins had finished their fun. He followed the river further onwards, until he could see the distant flat plains that were the edges of the Eyrie Mountains. His stride took up speed, as he hurried out of the tall, imposing mountains. At the end of the path was a familiar sight. A griffin was leaning under an outcrop, wings folded lightly back, lion legs relaxing one over the other, tasseled tail flicking lightly over the large paws. Zak moved closer, and an incredulous sound escaped him. "Niranyarr Windsoarer?" The large griffin moved with catlike grace out from the outcrop, rising to his full height, towering over Zak. "Yes?" he asked innocently. "What are you... I cannot allow you to come." Zak declared, recognizing the griffin's intent as he spied the pack slung over the powerful shoulders. "I not remember needing to ask permission." Niranyarr replied, then his eyes took on a mischievous twinkle. "Besides, life's been rather boring." "It will be dangerous," Zak warned, "I may pass unharmed and unseen in my soul form, but you will not." "As dangerous as raids." Niranyarr stated firmly. "Cloak." He said suddenly, and held out a long white cloak. "Causes invisibility." He explained smugly, then put it on his shoulders, fastening it awkwardly with a silver buckle. Zak gave up the argument. "Oh very well, if you must. Just do not get into any trouble." "Me?" Niranyarr eyes shone with enough innocence that would have caused a saint to blush. Zak gave the griffin a disgusted glance, choosing not to dignify that remark with an answer. Without a word, he walked ahead with the sound of the griffin's coughing laughter behind him. Niranyarr flew high up in the air, powerful beats of his wings keeping him aloft as he scanned the land with his sharp eyes. The river Subrin snaked its shimmering way below him, splitting into two forks. Far beyond, a misty forest could be seen. Satisfied, the griffin spiraled down to his drow friend, waiting impatiently below. "Well?" Zak asked. "The air nice and warm." Niranyarr reported with an absolutely straight face. "The land." Zak stated, growing more impatient. "Don't know about the land... feels warm too." Niranyarr said. Zak glared at him, and the griffin relented. "River fork coming, we're right position. Moonwood ahead." Zak sorted through the confusing sentence, then smiled. "Thank you, Niranyarr." The griffin bobbed its magnificent head, then flexed its gloved talons. "Go eat." It suggested. Zak looked at the griffin in surprise. Niranyarr knew that Zak did not require sustenance. Then he realized that Niranyarr was referring to himself. The dark elf nodded in acquiescence. Niranyarr made an affectionate sound and patted Zak's head, almost driving the drow to his knees, then launched off, wings kicking sand into the air as Zak shielded his eyes. Life was considerably more interesting with a friend along, someone to talk to in the long hours of the journey. Even though they had to stop for a few hours each afternoon for the griffin to rest, Zak believed that it was worth it. Choosing a posse of trees on the plain, Zaknafein dragged the backpacks over, then sat down to wait for Niranyarr's return.

Part 2: Quests

When I had first heard of this 'Weapon Quest' I had no idea it would have been so complicated. Taking for granted that the precise locations would be mentioned in the Great tome, I did not think about the Quest in the years of my 'orientation'. Till the last. The only way to advance in Sanctuary is not by a dagger stab to your superior, but by force of deed. Possible Quests are listed in the corridors of the schools, and the students, to advance a level, have to complete them. They either do a series of small quests or a difficult major one. Most of them choose the smaller quests. Why? Either they can see their own limits, or dare not strive for a harder goal. The students are often surprised at what they can actually achieve. Quests test their abilities and determination, they are classrooms outside the school. There, students may learn skills that will serve them well when they graduate from Sanctuary to fulfil their true course in life. Some of the would be masters spend years working on this first quest alone. It may seem rather useless to search for such weapons, one may say. Why not buy them from some magical shop? That defeats the purpose of having such a quest. Though it seems straightforward at first, all the 'Master' quests involve many twists and turns. Just ask any of the Masters, in any School. We all suspect that the World-Makers themselves set the obstacles, for in each quest they have faced, the Masters would face one of the situations they fear most, that would test their loyalties, their sincerity in the quest, that they would require great help in completing it. I know of this, and many a time I have idly asked myself what I would face, when Niranyarr sleeps in the bright afternoons of our journey. Looking back now, I still hear his voice when he wakes to see my face: "Dreaming again, elf? Why worry about inevitable?"

Chapter 6: Silverymoon

Niranyarr Windsoarer padded constantly by Zak's side now, for the tree boughs interlocked overhead to form a nearly impenetrable blanket. Uncomfortable, his wings flared and flapped powerfully, lifting his bulk from the floor for a short distance, then dropping him back down. The ensuing gusts of air buffeted Zak's stark white hair, and the dark elf turned to his companion. "Do tell me before you do that." He advised the griffin in good humor. The powerful beast dipped its eagle head gracefully to Zak. "Sorry. One prefers mountains to closed tree." He explained. Zaknafein raised his eyes to look at the canopy. "That much is obvious," he murmured, "Silverymoon is a day's walk from here." He reassured the griffin. "Forever, it seems," Niranyarr sighed, gazing longingly at the clear blue sky beyond the branches. "This was your idea." Zak heartlessly reminded him, then patted his tawny side and continued walking. For Niranyarr's sake, he was almost always in his material form now. Niranyarr sighed again, then bounded after the drow. This forest was much safer than his mountain home, and certainly almost as beautiful, but he preferred the Eyries to the dense Moonwood. Certainly the prey were more obvious there, and easier to catch. The over-alert deer here were too quick for a landbound griffin, and Zaknafein, seeing their dimly glowing forms, had decided that they were probably sacred to the wood, and refused to use his small crossbow. Niranyarr resigned himself to catching whatever small prey was unlucky enough to get in his way, but griffins could go for days without food, so Zak was not too worried about him The next day they reached the edges of the forest. Niranyarr bounded out first, leaping upward, great gold-brown wings pumping. Swooping and soaring, he cried out in sheer joy, then remembered what they were here for. He spiraled down, but Zak saw the joy was still evident on Niranyarr's fierce eyes. "Your display has probably alerted all the people around to our presence," he remarked dryly, smiling at the griffin's delight. Niranyarr clacked his beak together. "One is not sorry," he replied, then launched himself back into the crisp morning air. They covered the rest of the miles to the city, unconsciously retracing Drizzt's route of long ago, when he and his friends had been searching for Mithril Hall. Finally they came over the last climb, to look down at the many-spired, enchanted city down below, with the River Rauvin tracing the city's edge. The griffin squawked in surprise, as a horseman seemed to float over the river. Zak smiled. "That is the Moonbridge, Silverymoon's invisible path," he explained. Niranyarr looked down in fascination as the horseman stepped off the bridge, and continued on his way. They approached the guard post at the foot of the magical bridge. Zak didn't bother to wear the cowl on his patterned Master robe, but plunged forward instead. "Greetings," he started, "My friend and I would like to enter your fair city. May we be escorted to the Moonbridge?" It was hard to say which of the two friends surprised the guards more. To their credit, the guards recovered quickly. "May I ask what is your business in the city?" one of them asked politely. "The Vault of Sages." Zak replied succinctly. The guards could not see any harm in that, and finally moved aside. "Pass, but a word of advice. Do not cause any trouble in Silverymoon, or you'll find that your blades will not match against Lady Alustriel's magic." "I thank you for the advice." Zak said, then moved onto the bridge confidently, towards the city gates. Niranyarr put a paw cautiously on the invisible bridge, his wings stretched out for balance. When he did not fall, he continued after the drow, but his eyes continued to dart uneasily down at the river. Looking up once, he saw the drow's amused smile, but pretended not to notice. Lady Alustriel sat in one of her palace's many graceful towers, looking down with interest at the strange pair that had been admitted into her gates. Silverymoon had been founded on principles of fairness and individuality, and she found that her guilt at refusing Drizzt passage years ago was lessened by seeing one of his kindred moving in the city. Eyes had been placed on the dark elf visitor, but he had caused no trouble so far, even in Moonwood. The elf had, on arrival, gone unerringly to the Vault of Sages, with his griffin friend in tow. Perhaps she could take some time off her state matters to seek an audience with the two. Determinedly, the Lady Alustriel smoothed her silver mane and retreated back into the tower. The Vault of Sages was considerable, but having seen the Library at Sanctuary, Zaknafein was unimpressed, even more so as he knew each of the volumes had an exact copy in Sanctuary. What he needed was to talk to the renowned Sages of Silverymoon, wherever they were. He wandered around the library, aimlessly touching the spines of the books. Perhaps he had missed a volume in Sanctuary. Angling his head to the side, Zaknafein began the enormous task of sorting out all the titles. "Zak need help?" Niranyarr offered, also eyeing the thousand volumes that lined the walls. "Can you read, griffin?" Zak answered, scanning quickly through the first ten books. "No," Niranyarr admitted, then made coughing laugh as he realized the uselessness of his offer. "Precisely." Zaknafein remarked, then continued his search. "I wish I knew someone in this city to guide me," he finally burst out in frustration. Unknown to the elf, he had but to ask a citizen of the city for help, but he had grown up in hostile Menzoberranzan, and could be excused from that oversight. "Do you need help?" offered a musical voice from the doorway. The pair spun around to see a tall woman, hair of a silver hue, wise eyes shining with eternal youth. She wore a gown of fine silk, and a crown of jewels sat on her head. "Peace, dark elf. I am Alustriel, High Lady of Silverymoon." Zak looked at her more closely, but did not doubt her words. He bowed with fluid grace. "It is an honor to meet you, Lady." Niranyarr glanced at the human, then too dipped in a bow, his great wings curving forwards. "May I know your names?" Lady Alustriel asked. Zaknafein saw no harm in the question. "My name is Zaknafein Do'Urden. My friend here," affectionately patting Niranyarr's powerful shoulders, "is Niranyarr Windsoarer, a wingleader of the Skysong Eyrie." Hearing Alustriel's gasp, he looked at her curiously. "Zaknafein Do'Urden...of House Daermon N'a'shezbaernon of Menzoberranzan?" Alustriel finally managed to stammer out. "You know of me?" Zak asked "Drizzt spoke of you often," she replied, her sparkling eyes boring into Zak. "Now that I see it, you do resemble him, in features as in manner." Of course. Zak had often seen Drizzt journey to Silverymoon to speak to Alustriel in the Plane of Saints, and he had also wondered on the manner of their relationship. "What... why are you alive?" Alustriel asked bluntly. "I am technically not alive. I am a soul, which incidentally has the ability to materialize." Zak answered, mimicking Morikan's tone and words. Niranyarr, not fully understanding the conversation, stood behind Zak, silent and unmoving. "May I seek an audience with you?" The lady requested. Zak shrugged. This could help him greatly. He nodded, and the pair followed the High Lady of Silverymoon out of the strong doors of the Vault of Sages. "Why are you in the Realms?" Alustriel asked once they had entered the private conference chamber. Niranyarr ducked his head at the low door, then settled on his haunches at Alustriel's invitation to sit down. The room was consisted of a few padded chairs in a circle around a squat table. Maps hung on the walls, and a window opened out far above Silverymoon on the right of the entrance, allowing the sun's light to shine in. Spheres hung from the high ceiling, that could probably be turned on magically to produce light at the end of the day. The chamber was completely carpeted, the design plain except for the ornate border and the colourful centre, on which the table sat on. Zaknafein sat on the comfortable chair next to the griffin, then turned to Alustriel. "It is a long story. To summarize it, I am here on a quest, a search for the Twin swords." Alustriel nodded solemnly. "I have heard of these swords. Many dwarves have passed the gates of Silverymoon to look at the Vault of Sages, in an attempt to discern the locations of the swords. May I ask what is the reason behind this quest?" Zak nodded. "It is a long story," he warned, but Lady Alustriel had already settled down, a look of anticipation on her beautiful face. For the next few hours Zaknafein recounted his first encounter with Morikan, detailing the true structure of the universe, and also the Plane of Saints. Alustriel smiled when he described the many games he had played in that happy place, and sighed wistfully as he described Sanctuary. Such a place of knowledge would not be open to her, for she knew her purpose had been completed. Zak also spoke of Winter and her pranks, and then explained his cloak and what he had to do to become a full Master of Morikan's School. Niranyarr had listened to this tale before, but still marvelled along with Alustriel at the many wonders that Zak had seen. Zak then described the early stages of his quest, and the Eyries. At the end of the fantastic tale, Alustriel nodded in approval, then turned her attention to the griffin. "And what is your part in this, noble creature?" Niranyarr preened himself at her compliment. "One is companion to Zak. Pull him out of trouble, one will." He said, then ignored Zak's incredulous look. Alustriel's eyes sparkled with laughter, though she replied solemnly, "I am sure you will, Niranyarr." Her shoulders shook silently when Zak stared at her, openmouthed. "Well, I fear I cannot aid you much in your quest. However, the palace bard Trinity may be able to offer you something. Her grasp of Lore is unparalled in Silverymoon." With a smile, the Lady walked over to the door and whispered something to the guard outside. "She will be here soon." Alustriel assured Zak. "My thanks, Lady." Zak said with gratitude. "I am glad that I may be of aid in your quest. Now, do you require anything else?" "Food?" Niranyarr asked hopefully. Alustriel looked at Zak, who shook his head. "I do not need to eat, or rest," he explained. A respectful knock sounded on the heavy oak doors, and they swung open silently to reveal a dimunitive figure. "Lady Trinity." One of the guards announced, then closed the oak doors behind her. Lady Trinity sported luxurious auburn hair, and startling green eyes. She wore a short dress and high boots, her clothing oddly mismatched, yet blending together. A flute hung at her belt, made of purest silver, runes carved at the edges. "Greetings, Lady Alustriel," she curtsied, then looked at the other two, raising an eyebrow in astonishment. "Niranyarr Windsoarer," Alustriel introduced, inclining her head at the griffin, "and Zaknafein Do'Urden." Lady Trinity's eyes widened at the last mention, then curtsied again. "A pleasure it is to meet you both." She breathed, then looked again to Alustriel for an explanation. Alustriel waved Trinity to a chair, then nodded at Zak. "Do you know of the Twin Swords?" Zaknafein asked the strange looking bard. "Scorcher and Frostbite?" Trinity confirmed easily, then caught the drow's nod and intense look. "Yes, I suppose I do. What do you wish to know?" "Their locations," Zak replied. Trinity cocked her head to the side. "Well, the last seen of Scorcher was in Rakaroajirac's claws. Frostbite was taken to someplace of ice, and placed in a shrine. But I see you know that already," she interupted Zak as he was about to say something, "Very well. The last I heard of the Twin Swords was in a tavern in Waterdeep, but that does not concern the locations." Frowning in concentration, she continued, "Now that I think of it, I remember a dwarven sage telling me once that if I wanted to ask him questions, I had to go to the Fire plains to look for the Scorcher sword first. Perhaps that is the location," she said doubtfully. "Fire plains, the Everflame Mountains!" Alustrield cried in truimph. Zak half started from his chair in excitement. "Where are these mountains?" He asked. He had not heard of the mountains before, even when he had spent some time studying the Realms. "The Everflame is a new name given to a range of mountains far south from this place, after a recent eruption covered much of the place in bubbling lava, burning everything it touched." Alustriel explained. "Reasonable it is that a red dragon would live in Fire Plains. However lava might have buried its lair."Niranyarr offered. Zak shook his head. If the sword had truly been lost, its name would have magically erased from the large tome that listed the weapons. "Frostbite?" he asked hopefully. "That sword, nothing is known. It is most probably either near the Spine of the World or at the other end of the world, the Frozen Mountains, since it was placed in a glacial valley." Trinity replied. Zak nodded. Knowing Scorcher's approximate location was more than he had hoped for already. "How may I get to the Everflame Mountains?" Alustriel got up and went over to a shelf, that held many maps. Taking one out, she set it in front of Zak. "The best way would be to walk through the forest beside Hellgate Keep, then over the Nomad Plains..." As she spoke, she marked their best route on the map, then handed over the map to Zak. "I have many copies of that one," she explained with a smile. "Now, if Niranyarr is hungry, I have made arrangements. Would you join us?" Alustriel asked of Zak. He shook his head. "I have seen Niranyarr eat before. Look for me in the Vault of Sages," he told the griffin. "We leave tonight." Zak grinned in anticipation. They walked out of Silverymoon's eastern gates, to follow a merchant's the small line of mountains south of the enchanted city. It was the fastest route available to the Everflame Mountains. Niranyarr made a contented sound as he flew overhead on silent wings, The dark velvet of night was pierced with bright stars, a cool wind ruffling his feathers. The dark shapes looming around him held no fear for the griffin, had instead reminded him pleasantly of home. The meal had been highly satisfactory, and his hunger sated, his was a significantly more mellow mood as he met up with Zak in the Vault of Sages. Below him, Zak's pace had quickened noticeably, now that he knew where he was supposed to go. Tireless, he loped, wolflike, over the dusty road, his eyes glowing a telltale red in infravision. He looked up occasionally at Niranyarr, following the griffin's sure lead. They had studiously avoided all the merchant groups that they had seen, concentrating on the path. On the open road, Zak had the leisure to think over his meeting with the remarkable Lady Alustriel. She seemed rather fond of Drizzt, having spoken fondly about him in the short trip to the city gates in her chariot. Zak wondered how their relationship would have been like if the burdens of state did not rest so squarely on the woman's shoulders. Surely Drizzt knew of the lifespan of a human. If he did love her, he would have to reconcile himself to a life of grief. Half-drow did not seem to live as long as normal drow. "Sleep-walking, Zak?" Niranyarr's voice sounded close to his ear, and he jerked out of his thoughts. The griffin had landed noiselessly beside him, and was very amused. "Thinking," Zak corrected. Niranyarr cocked his head. "Of the sword-quest or of Alustriel?" he said slyly. Zak blinked at the griffin's sharp, though slightly incorrect, insight. "Alustriel," he admitted, then held up a slender hand as Niranyarr opened its great beak to comment. "You know she likes Drizzt?" "Your son? Oh yes." Niranyarr replied. "She asked me, after I ate. Whether Drizzt knew of us or-not." "And?" Zak asked. "Told her, Drizzt did-not. She asked if we would like her to tell Drizzt the next time he passed by city." "Your answer?" Zak felt a cold finger run up his spine. "Told her, we did-not mind." Niranyarr replied. Seeing the trepidation on Zak's face, he continued. "But asked her not to find Drizzt to tell. Is that all-right?" Zak's shoulders slumped in relief. His son was far away from Silverymoon, too far to find out about the information. Perhaps Drizzt would return here some day after he had seen more of the world, but Zak thought that when that day came, Alustriel, sad to say, would be long gone. Niranyarr poked Zak with his beak. "Why you worry? Drizzt would be glad to see you. Even if we ever meet him on our trip." "I do not wish to interfere with his life. My purpose lies with Sanctuary. Being the stubborn person that he is, Drizzt would not settle for simply visiting, he would insist on following me there, but Morikan would take exception, I'm afraid. That would hurt him. His life is complicated enough already." Zak replied, then continued on the road. The griffin shook its head at Zak's back. "One will never understand elves." He said aloud, not bothering to whisper. If Zaknafein had heard, he gave no indication. A long while passed in silence. Thinking that Zak had been offended by his prodding into his personal life, Niranyarr hurried up to the elf. "If one has said something that offended you, one is sorry." He told Zak sincerely. Zak turned his head, a resigned look in his eyes. "I am not. I do not blame you for asking." They continued in silence for several minutes, before Niranyarr spoke again. "Lucky you are that Trinity just happened to remember the only useful thing in her talk." The griffin said with a chuckle, griffin-style. Zak nodded in agreement, then he felt a bit suspicious. "Am I lucky, or is someone interfering?" Very good Zaknafein. I had despaired of your intelligence. Morikan's familiar voice resounded in the halls of his mind. From the startled look on Niranyarr's features, the griffin had heard him too. Why are you doing this? Zak demanded. A technical interpretation of the rules, due to another 'interference' from someone else. Morikan replied cryptically. And no, I am not going to tell you who that is. Enjoy the rest of your quest. You are doing well on your own so far, and I will not aid you further. Morikan promised, then his presence disappeared, leaving a mystified griffin and a rather irritated dark elf behind.

Chapter 7: Marshes

Dense forest gave way; almost abruptly it seemed, into a marshy swamp. A log had collapsed on their left, and was covered in sickly green lichens, and dank mushrooms. Dark shapes swam in the murky water; their nature revealed when an unfortunate bug broke the glassy surface. Silver-sided fish burst out over the stagnant surface, fighting for the prize. Niranyarr looked at them appreciatively. "Eat well today." He told Zak. Zak made a face. He had not enjoyed eating the slippery creatures even in the Underdark. The blind fishes there once had gone on a major multiplying spree, and had formed most of the drow diet for a few months. It had rained recently, and the swamp had swelled its borders. Trees stuck out of the water, and at the banks, grass continued to grow, half submerged, their tips peeking out like so many little darts. "We cross?" Niranyarr asked Zak, looking at him curiously. Zak could not fly, and the griffin was not strong enough to carry a passenger. "You fly across. I'll float." Zak replied, then smiled at the griffin's disgusted look. Niranyarr did not like it when Zak became insubstantial, for griffins were superstitious creatures. "Not natural," Niranyarr muttered, but he spread his wings and launched into the air, then hovered over Zak. Zak began the curious sensations of turning his material body inside, and then looked at his filmy hands in satisfaction. Nodding, the griffin flew higher up, leading the way as Zak drifted quickly over the stagnant waters. Dew had gathered on the leaves of the trees that reached out of the waters, and the beads of clear crystal reflected light off the emerald leaves. Zak marveled at such beauty could be found in so gloomy a place. Niranyarr glided on the rising currents of air generated due to the hot sun, looking out at the vast expanse. This swamp could easily contain the Eyrie Mountains, and a measure of Silverymoon. A few crude fishermen huts, held up by tall stilts, sat in the distance, their boats even farther away, reaping the swamp's bounty. The water had generally spread outwards and not upwards, so their huts were still inhabited. He swooped downwards to Zak, looking for a place to land. A patch of grass, seemingly on solid ground, grew close by, and he headed for it. "Not there!" Zak shouted suddenly as he noticed something about the clump. Startled, Niranyarr angled upwards sharply, nearly crashing into a tree, then grasping a branch with his talons and scrambled up to a perch of several boughs. His eagle head turns to Zak for an explanation. The dark elf merely took a floating branch with a materialized hand and poked at the clump. It moved to the side gently. "Floating grass," he said in satisfaction. "Magic?" the griffin asked, watching the 'solid ground' in fascination. "Not magic. Probably some debris from more fallen branches, and the plants simply grew on them." Zak replied, "I think it will be safer for you to stop on trees." "No trees later there." The griffin pointed with a talon to the distance. "Human houses, four, five, with small boats." "Boats? They are probably fishermen then. We will avoid them." Zak decided. Niranyarr made his coughing laugh. "Open sky. Griffin easily seen." Zak shrugged. "What can they do, or want with an oversized chicken?" Niranyarr snorted then flew back up into the air, taking another route now. Zak laughed, then followed, going around the tree in front of him. A gray-brown bird sat on the nest, eyes half closed. She cheeped an alarm as she saw Zak pass, his drifting form close to the nest, and her mate dived down from his perch. Squawking, he flew around the drow's head, trying to pull at the white hair, then squeaked in surprise as his tiny claws passed through. Zaknafein chuckled at the bird, and drifted quickly on, so as not to further disturb the nest. With a final victorious squawk, the attacking bird winged back to the nest. "Defeated by a little bird?" Niranyarr called from above, where he had watched the scene. "By its courage." Zak replied, still smiling, looking back over his shoulder where the bird still glared at him, safe on its perch. "Even the little ones may love, dark elf." The griffin replied, eyes still watching the distant boats in front of them. "They all have souls." Zak remarked. Sturdy poles held up the village, and planks that looked rather unsafe linked each hut to another. Flat sheets that gleamed in the sun held fish and other marine creatures out to dry. The huts were dark and small. The women sat on chairs outside, talking to each other or weaving, their tattered clothes giving voice to the hardships. They gave the floating village a wide berth, but Zak could see children stopping their play on the creaking planks, the run sure-footedly to the end of the platforms, watching and pointing at Niranyarr. Zak had undergone the full transformation to his invisible soul form, to Niranyarr's discomfort. The griffin thought he went to too much trouble to ensure a silent passage. One boy took a curious Y-shaped contraption in his hand, with a stretchable band fixed to the ends of the thing. Picking up some object from the platform, he leveled the thing at Niranyarr, placing the object on the middle of the band, stretching and letting go. The object arched out like a small projectile, to drop into the swamps under the griffin. Niranyarr gave a derisive snort, but flew on without retaliating. Some more of the adults came out of the huts to stare at the griffin. Zak, seeing they held crude bows in their hands, called an alarm to the griffin, but Niranyarr had already seen them, and was fast winging out of range. "Won't notice, would they?" he called down to Zak when they were safely out of the place. "So I miscalculated a little," Zak said, then grinned. "Maybe they wished a new change to their diet." Niranyarr blinked. "They find this chicken hard to catch." He retorted, and laughed. The pair stopped on a small island of solid ground in the late afternoon, Niranyarr giving his wings a well-deserved rest, then proceeding to the idea of lunch. Zak watched with amusement as Niranyarr crouched by the water's edge, intently watching the waters. "Fishing?" he asked of the griffin. Niranyarr bobbed his eagle head, wings half raised. Zak looked at the spectacle, then continued, "Without a net or a pole?" "Griffins do not need silly human things," Niranyarr replied, emphasizing his point by flicking his right claw in, and pulling out a large, silver-sided fish, the murky surface barely disturbed. Zak had to concede that fact, and watched in silent amazement as the griffin snatched up fish after fish in ease, then downed them quickly. "Like to try? Test reflexes." Niranyarr offered when he was sated. Zaknafein looked at the water, then at the griffin. Shrugging, he materialized and walked over to the edge. Bending down, he studied the shapes below the unbroken surface. Picking a likely one, he flashed his hand in, impossibly fast, but the fish escaped, swimming away in a panic to settle again out of Zak's reach. Niranyarr made a laughing sound then crouched next to Zak. "You aim under them," he explained. Zak tried again, this time catching one, its frantic splashing sending ripples out over the surface. Too slippery to hold, it wriggled out of Zak's hand. Zak promptly caught it by its tail, the fist jerking from side to side in panic, mouth gasping for air. "You good," Niranyarr said in a surprised tone, "Took one many, many tries to do that." Zak smiled, and flipped the fish back into the murky waters. Niranyarr flipped his wings backwards, then curled up on the small island, his beak resting near his flank, talons stretched to the side. One wing shaded his head; the other was wrapped tightly to his back. His tail lay on the ground, tip slightly upraised, the only indication that the griffin would leap back into wakefulness in a split second if alerted. Zak patted its flank, then sat down to watch the looming trees around them, eyes trying to pierce the filmy, obscuring mist that floated above the water in this denser area. Far from silent, the marsh rang with insect's calls and birdsong. Now and again, there was the steady drip dripping of water splashing drop by drop into the surface, somewhere to the west. A blue kingfisher flashed into view, alighting on a bough whose leaves dipped in the water. Its beady eyes looked into Zak's suddenly, then flickered over the sleeping Niranyarr. Zak kept perfectly still, and the bird apparently thought them no threat, for it settled to watch the waters. Without any warning, it dived, cleaving the surface neatly, then flapped out of the water, spraying water in every direction. In its beak it held a squirming fish, which it then proceeded to gulp down, while Zak watched in fascination. Shaking itself dry, its feathers fluffed out into a blue ball, then settled back to their pristine shape. Peering back at Zak one more time, it took flight, winging away as noiselessly as it had arrived. Zaknafein shook his head at the marsh's continued surprises. Sharp ears picking up every sound, he went back to watching the boggy surface. The same kingfisher flew into a window of a cottage, on a gentle rise. Alighting on the back of a chair, it chirped at an old man, who looked up, pleased. He held out a gnarled hand that shook slightly from age, and the bird flew over obligingly to peck at the tidbits held in it. "They are here, precious?" He asked of the bird in a soft, melodious voice. The kingfisher looked up from its treats, and bobbed its head. "Watch them, precious," he commanded when the bird had finished, and the kingfisher immediately flew back out of the window. The old man barked with sudden, insane laughter. How long had it been since worthy prey had arrived? Centuries, perhaps. His skin was wrinkled now; ugly folds that interrupted the outlines of his hands, wisps of white hair on his head all that remained of a mane of black hair that others had admired. Too long, it seemed. The old man had come to the marsh a long time ago, when the forests had stretched, unbroken, where Silverymoon stood now. Without any effort, he had dominated the lesser creatures of the marsh, claiming the place for his own. Waiting for others to come. Getting up in sudden effort, he snarled as his legs almost collapsed under him. Grabbing his walking stick, he stumbled across the room, cackling to himself. There were many preparations he had to make, and too little time. Niranyarr stretched luxuriously, beak gaping open in a yawn. "Better now, griffin?"Zaknafein asked of his companion. Niranyarr nodded, then bounded over the calm surface of the waters, wings flaring outwards, laboriously flapping, lifting up his bulk. Zak watched until the griffin was at a safe height, then changed to his soul form, floating off the small island. Continuing southwards, they picked up their pace, eager to be out of the marsh. The edges of the Nomad Plains were but a day or so from their place. The beady eyes of the kingfisher, out of sight in the dense crown of a tree, followed their every move. It was early next morning when they came into a curious sight. A cottage rose out of the water, sitting in the middle of a serene lawn. Several flowers were scattered around the lawn, and ivy grew on one side of the house, stretching its coils up even over the roof. The cottage was made of stone, its windows broken at the edges, and moss grew in some of the cracks of the stone blocks. A paved path led up to the wooden door of the cottage, wide open to reveal a cozy interior. Smoke drifted upwards from the squat chimney, evidence that someone was living inside. Niranyarr looked down at Zak curiously, but the dark elf shook his head. Nodding, the griffin flew higher up, and Zak became invisible, drifting over the lawn, trying to pass the house. Just then, an old man tottered out of the house. Hints of white hair grew on his balding head, wrinkled and drooping with age. His yellowish eyes retained a strange glint, and they darted continuously around the area. He wore a simple white robe and slippers, withered, shaking hands firmly clasped on his walking stick. He peered unerringly at Zak, as if noting his appearance. Zak was surprised for a moment, then thought the old man had been looking at something behind him. Shrugging, he continued over the lawn. "Not so fast, spirit," the old man said, his calm, steady voice not matching his withered exterior. He put one hand out before Zak. "Appear before me. I need to tell you something of importance." Zak, curious now, stopped in front of the old man and materialized. Niranyarr high above, circled once, wondering why his friend had done so, then swooped down to stand behind Zak. The old man looked unsurprised by the sudden appearance of a griffin dropping from the sky, and motioned for them to follow him into his house. "What is this matter of importance?" Zak asked when they were seated around a table in the house. The old man's hands curled and uncurled under the table, impatient, but he decided to play out the game a bit longer. "About your quest," he replied, pleased to see the surprised look on the dark elf's face. Zak was considerably mystified. The old man not only could see him in his spirit form, he was not afraid of his obviously drow features. Now it appeared the old man knew why he was here. The old man had asked some acquaintances in another plane, and he knew much about Zak. He forced his face to smile, an expression that was foreign to him. "What do you need to tell me?" Zak continued, his voice cautious now. "Would you like to know Scorcher's location?" The old man decided to give Zak the information he desperately wanted, then starting his plans. "Yes," Zak breathed, leaning slightly forward. This could take years off his quest. "Go to Town Rimar on the river, then follow the river downwards. Ignore the shorter left fork, but follow the longer fork until the first divide you see. That fork stops in a pool. The cave there," the old man paused dramatically, "Is Ralkaroajirac's cave." Zak blinked, excitement rising. Then his eyes narrowed. "How did you know of this?" The old man gave a toothy grin. "I asked a few friends... from the Nether plane!" the last of the sentence came out as a roar, and the old man leapt forward with surprising speed, hands clawing out to Zak's throat. With an outraged shriek, the griffin lunged forwards, talons at the ready, but the old man easily batted the griffin, for him to smash on the other side of the house, stunned. Zak's swords leaped into his hands and he too, attacked, side stepping the old man's lunges. "Too long... too long," the old man rasped as he continued, undaunted by the elf's swordplay. "What are you?" Zak yelled at him in desperation, sickened as he saw that his swords drew no blood. The old man replied with a swing of his hand at Zak's face. Ducking, Zak's sword flickered out, cutting off the hand. The old man did not look pained, instead stepping back with a vile smile. The stump swelled, then formed back into another hand. The remaining hand twitched on the floor, palm outstretched to reveal circular mouths, resembling that of a leech. It flipped itself over, then crawled towards Zak, scuttling like some monstrous insect. Sickened, Zak lowered his blades to point their tips at the floor. "Suck the soul from you, I will. Then your friend." The old man promised. Eyes burning, Zak attacked, his swords whirling masterfully, cutting the old man in a dozen places. The old man laughed again, evilly, and attacked, his leech like hands trying to cup Zak's throat. Zaknafein twirled his blades, knocking the hands away with the flat of his swords. He found many holes in the old man's careless swings, and his sword slipped through to emerge from the back of the old man's chest. The old man looked down, then burst into a new bout of laughter. Jerking back, he freed himself from the sword. "Do you not understand? I cannot die!" he cried. Horrified, Zak felt something clawing on his boot, and he did not need to look to know that it was the severed hand. Lashing out, he kicked the monstrous thing into the waters outside the house. Then he shrieked as he burst into flame. Hands upraised as if appealing to some god above, his form blackened, then collapsed into itself with a sigh. Niranyarr stood across the table, talons firmly holding a vial. "Firebreath potion," he explained calmly. "Burns once out of vial. Threw one at human. Useful it is, no?" Zak stared at the griffin, then leant against the wall in sheer relief. They burnt down the rest of the cottage, so as to ensure that the old man, whatever he was, was truly destroyed. "You think what he said true?" Niranyarr called down, flying in the lead once again. "He had no reason to lie to us," Zak replied, drifting onwards. Niranyarr considered this then bobbed his head. "Perhaps," he replied grudgingly. "You think he dead?" Niranyarr spoke up again after a few miles of the gloomy landscape. "I do not know." Zak admitted. He had been thinking about that same question. "I pity anyone who had come his way before. May they rest now, in peace." Whatever the answer to the question, the two friends felt a strong sense of relief as they left the marshy place, to look on the unbroken grasslands of the Nomad Plain.

Chapter 8: Nomads

The Nomad plains were a great expanse of unbroken grasslands, a sea of grass home to the fierce nomads and their herds of cattle. The sun beat down relentlessly, and the nomads jealously defended waterholes in this place. Niranyarr preferred the cooling wind to the hot ground. Warm currents rose from the heated surface, and he did not need to flap his wings to get along, merely gliding from one current to another. They had not bothered to avoid the many herds that they passed, for Zaknafein was more interested in picking up their pace, now that they knew where to go. Cutting a straight course over the wide grasslands, Zak merely became invisible when nearing a herd. "The grass seems forever," grumbled the griffin one hot day, loping easily at Zak's side. "It had better not be," Zak smiled, "Or I will never complete my quest." "Boring." Niranyarr declared, then loped on to the accompaniment of Zak's laughter. They watched warily as a group of horsemen came galloping up to stop at a safe distance from them, bows trained in their direction. Tall and dark-skinned, the horsemen wore leather jerkins, faces painted, hair shaved away into patterns. Their angular looking faces looked down at Zak and Niranyarr, impassive. The horses were sturdy and tall, long legs built for speed and distance. Spirited, they shifted impatiently, hooves stamping, heads arching gracefully. The apparent leader of the band, silver bracers adorning his wrists, moved his horse out to meet them. "Why do you move through the lands belonging to the Clan of the Fox, drow?" he demanded in a harsh voice. "I am but passing through." Zak replied calmly. "None of your tricks, dark elf! You may not pass this place." The leader snarled. Lady Alustriel had warned Zak of this, and he knew how to respond. "I will buy passage through the Clan of the Fox," he said confidently. Taking one of his swords, he planted it in front of the leader. "The Ritual of Challenge." He declared, looking the horseman in the eye. Excited whispers rippled through the small group, and the leader considered this new development. "I accept, but none of your dark magic, drow. A fair fight," he finally decided, and drew his sabers. "Dismount, and we begin." Zak replied, swords leaping into his hands. Niranyarr, understanding, stepped back and sat on his haunches, keeping an eye on the rest of the horsemen as the leader handed the reins of his horse to a comrade. The opponents bowed formally to each other, then circled. With a sudden flash, Zak lunged forward, swords moving in their deadly dance as he poked at the leader's defenses, gauging his skills. Sabers met swords in a metallic ring, again and again as the horseman desperately tried to parry all the cunning blows and feints, only managing to stay on the defensive as Zak came on in a relentless flurry of strokes, batting away the feeble thrusts of his opponent. The flat of a blade sent a saber spinning across the field. Behind him, the horsemen watched, silent, at the breathtaking display. Not wishing to humiliate his opponent by continuing the one-sided contest, Zak's swords forced the remaining saber down, then came over his defense. The point of one sword nicked at the leader's throat. The leader blinked, and lowered his saber. Likewise, to the obvious surprise of the other horsemen, Zak sheathed his swords. "You have earned passage into the Clan of the Fox," the leader began grudgingly, "Follow us to our tents. Our Clan-chief will meet you." Zak inwardly sighed at the waste of time, but they followed as the other horsemen moved into a circle around them. The tents of the nomads, made of animal skins, sat haphazardly in the fenced area. The women tended to the affairs of the encampment, while the men hunted and kept the cattle. The larger, more elaborate tent of the Clan-chief stood out clearly in the tented place, guarded by tall warriors, their weapons always in hand. Charred circles surrounded by a ring of rock marked the firepits, and the nomad children played with wooden weapons, sparring almost continuously. The two were escorted into a sturdy looking hut of wood, with two guards at the entrance. "Wait here," the leader said brusquely, and then stalked out. The door creaked shut in front of them, and they could hear a bolt being fastened at the other side. Niranyarr slowly padded around the hut, then snorted. "We are well caged," was his impression. "This wise?" "It would have been the same wherever we went. If we were to gain passage through one Clan, the rest would allow us through without a fuss." Zak assured the griffin, but his tone was slightly doubtful. He wondered why they had been led to the encampment. Normally, after the Ritual of Challenge, a winner would be allowed to pass where they pleased. The bolt on the door unfastened with a scrape of wood against wood, and the same leader walked in, and gestured curtly. The two walked back out into the light, surrounded by spears, and were marched to the large tent. The guards seemed a little frightened by Zak, and their spears kept prodding them when they slowed their pace. Pulling back the flap of the large tent, the leader pointed to the interior, and Zak immediately walked in confidently. Niranyarr, with a backward glance at the guards, followed. A man sat on a carved chair at the end of the tent, flanked by two more guards. He watched their entrance nervously, eyes looking first at the griffin, then focusing on the dark elf. Silence passed as they studied each other. Finally the Clan-chief spoke up. "Patrol leader Narar informs me that you won the Ritual well." Zak nodded slowly. "Then I am granted passage?" The Clan-chief cleared his throat uncomfortably. "Yes. However we have a problem with a sorcerer south of this place, and from what Narar tells me, your skills will be of well use in there." Zak looked at the Clan-chief steadily. "The sorcerer is of no concern of mine." "His home is in the ruins on the outskirts of the plains. If you agree to help, some of my warriors will escort you there, through the other territories of the Clans." The Clan-chief offered. Zak considered the offer. It would definitely save him many more confrontations, and if what the human said was correct, the place was on his route anyway. "Very well," he agreed, and the Clan-chief relaxed visibly. "You will go now. The ruins are many days away from the Clan of the Fox. Be wary of the sorcerer, for his magic has taken many of our people and our cattle." Just what he needed, Zak groaned inwardly. He was beginning to regret his decision. "May the gods be with you," the Clan-chief continued, then waved them out of the tent. Zak looked at the paddock of tall, wild looking horses, that watched the newcomers with curiousity, hooves upraised. Some of the horses wore saddles, but no bridles. The nomads with them, as tall and wild as the horses they bred, opened the rough wood gate, and motioned for Zak to go in. Niranyarr stood on the outside of the paddock, watching silently. As one, the nomads whistled shrilly, and a few horses detached themselves from the herd, to come and nuzzle at the nomad's hands. A horse and a nomad were matched from youth. The other horses watched, wild eyed, as the nomads mounted their chosen steeds. Zak watched all this without understanding, wondering what was going on now. The leader of this group trotted his horse over, bareback. "You are to catch your own. The saddled ones are the unchosen horses, and you may choose from them." He said in a soft voice, uncharacteristic of the nomads. Zak looked at him, then at the horses, unbelieving. The horses covered the ground with smooth, easy strides, and he could not hope to touch, let alone catch, one of them. The horsemen cantered their horses out of the paddock, then closed the gate and waited. "What are the rules?" Zak asked. The leader looked at him curiously, his long hair tied behind him in a tail. "Catch one," he said simply. Zak looked again at the horses, which stared back, intelligence flickering in their brown eyes. Immediately, he saw a possible way out. Turning to Niranyarr, he asked the griffin, "Would you help?" Niranyarr bobbed his head, and flew into the sky, great wings pumping furiously. Heading towards the herd. Zak climbed up carefully onto the rough fence, sitting on the top rung. Waiting. The griffin dived down, shrieking, at the herd, which predictably stampeded. A saddled lone stallion, midnight black except for a streak on his forehead that teased at his muzzle, stood his ground, baring his teeth. Incredulously, Niranyarr landed on the ground. For a moment both stood, staring. Then the griffin advanced, his tail swishing from side to side, claws upraised, and hissed like a twenty-pound python. The horse grudgingly gave way, to join the herd that milled around in the center of the paddock. Niranyarr bounded at them, scattering them in his wake, pushing them towards the other end of the paddock where Zak sat, poised. The herd, terrified, flowed past in a staccato of hooves. Zak stayed where he was, choosing his target. The black thundered past, nostrils flared, tail arched magnificently. Zak sprang, leaping onto the enraged horse's back. Surprised, the horse reared and bucked, but Zak clung on stubbornly to the saddle, legs clamped around its back. The horse took off, running close to the fence in an attempt to scrape off its rider. Zaknafein endured the bumps, reaching out slowly to pat the horse's neck, trying to soothe it, but snatched back his hand when the horse turned around to bite at him viciously. Zak enjoyed every minute of the run across the field, when the horse stopped trying to get him off through the fence. White hair blown back, he had a wide smile on his face. This was how Niranyarr felt when he was flying, that intense joy of freedom. Thinking it had surrendered, he was surprised when it stopped abruptly and lowered its neck. Carried by the momentum, Zak went flying, to be caught awkwardly by Niranyarr, who had come up quickly in front, anticipating such a move. Zak shrugged off the griffin's questions at his well-being, advancing to the horse, that stood like an ebony statue, looking at the strange creature that had dared to try and ride it. The fires of challenge were lit in Zak's eyes. This had become a personal test, and he waved Niranyarr away as the griffin started after the drow. Zaknafein began speaking to the horse in that rasping but soothing noise that he had observed the nomads make when patting their rides. It was imperfect, though clear enough. The horse's ears curved backwards as it looked with greater astonishment on the dark elf. Zak continued with small, unthreatening steps, still speaking that unbroken dialogue. Quivering, the horse allowed him to come. It was with a feeling of triumph that Zak ran a hand on the horse's graceful neck. Niranyarr looked on with amazement, while the nomads nodded approvingly from outside the paddock. Slowly but surely, Zak guided the horse towards the end of the paddock. The excited whispers of the nomads were heard behind their leader, as he gazed down at the dark elf. "Well done," was all he said, but to Zak, the words were like sweet music. Niranyarr bounded over the paddock to stand at a respectful distance, not wishing to scare the skittish creatures further. "The horse is N'ar'vel, or Chaser. No one has successfully tamed him, and it took three nomads to catch him and saddle him," The leader remarked. One of the nomads produced a bridle and threw it at Zak. The dark elf caught it easily, then looked at them expectantly. "Saddle him," the leader commanded. It took Zak seconds to figure out the straps, and then he approached the waiting horse, speaking to it soothingly. Then his fingers slipped over the horse's head and deftly strapped the bridle on. Surprised, the horse shook its head experimentally, chewing at the bit, then stopped and nudged Zak's neck with its wet muzzle. "Likes you, it does," Niranyarr laughed, as the dark elf yelped. Zak and N'ar'vel cantered beside the leader, at the head of the group, who Zak knew now as Limar. Limar was an unusual nomad. His voice was soft, a contrast to the harsh ones of the others, and he spoke as little as possible. He was also the only nomad that did not make signs to ward off evil when Zak and Niranyarr approached during camp. Zak found he rather liked Limar. The nomad leader was brave, and spearheaded every attack on the Striders, hairy, large human-bears that roamed the wilder parts of the Nomad Plains. The ride, however, was perhaps one of the most uncomfortable Zak had experienced. His rump now jarred painfully at every bump, and he found that he could barely walk when they stopped every now and then. Once, Limar took him aside to show him how to ride in the best comfort, but Zak still preferred walking. Other than this, actually riding was very enjoyable. That wild sense of freedom came with every stride of the black stallion, with every leap that N'ar'vel made. They made great progress through the plains with horses under them, and soon reached the lands of the furthermost Clan. Limar walked his horse forward, a bundle wrapped in fox skin hooked to his saddle. The leader of the other Clan too came forward, his bundle decorated with hawk feathers. At some unseen signal, their horses went down on one knee, facing each other. "Greetings from the Clan of the Fox," Limar intoned. "Why do riders from the Clan of the Fox pass through the Lands of the Hawk?" the other leader asked formally. Zak kept his hood down; not wishing to attract unwanted attention. Niranyarr had flown as high as he could go and then flown on ahead of them, and was to meet them later on, one of Limar's suggestions. "We go to seek the sorcerer of the ruins, to send him to N'ar'queran for judgement," Limar replied. N'ar'queran was the Horse god of the nomad people. The leader from the Clan of the Hawk nodded approvingly. "A noble quest. I wish you good hunting, and bless your passage." Saying so, the horses got up, and walked next to each other. The two leaders exchanged bundles, then the patrol group of the Clan of the Hawk stood quietly and watched as the other nomad group cantered past, their horses' heads held high and proud. The lives of nomads were governed by customs. On noon the next day, they looked at the ruins, where the sorcerer stayed. Pillars and stone blocks remained, of a previously impenetrable fortress. Of one section, the roof remained, though only two walls stood, and Zak thought that the sorcerer would be staying there. Dismounting, the horses were tied to an ancient pole obviously used for the same purpose, and one of the nomads stayed behind to watch over them. Zak got off N'ar'vel with mixed emotions, then handed the reins to the nomad. Niranyarr came diving out of the sky, but Zak motioned for him to stay up and scout. Bobbing his head, he swooped back. His claws sweeped out in front of him, one of many signals that he and Zak had agreed on, that said that he saw nothing in the ruins. Zak nodded, and took the point position, leading the others silently forward. They passed marvelous statues, now broken and scarred. Ancient writings covered a wall, and Zak could see clearly pictures of horsemen, racing over an open plain. Then they came to the ornate arch of the roofed chamber. Holding up his hand, Zak ran forward on silent feet, and peeked inside. A thin man sat on a stone chair, the wall on the left forming its back, intricately carved. His head strained upwards, eyes wide open and staring. His body arched forward, hands clutching the gargoyle arms of his stone seat, feet crossed in front of him. Unmoving, he was absorbed in some unnatural trance. Zak watched on in absolute amazement for some while, then motioned for Limar to come over to look. Poking his head in, Limar too widened his eyes, then looked at Zak blankly. The only survivor of the sorcerer had belonged to another Clan, and his horrifying tales of what the sorcerer did was not matching to this scene. High above, Niranyarr saw some strange structure at the other side of the roofed place. Flying closer, he recoiled in revulsion to see that it was a heap of bodies, still wearing what clothes they had before coming to the accursed place. The broken bodies of other animals too were mixed inside. Niranyarr gave a low trill of amazement, then slowly spiraled down to perch on another arch. Zak had specifically told him to wait outside in case the sorcerer tried to escape. Now that he had witnessed what the sorcerer had done, Niranyarr was uncertain of whether to continue to obey the dark elf's command. With a resigned look, Limar stepped cautiously into the chamber, followed by Zaknafein and the other nomads, sabers drawn. The sorcerer gave no indication of hearing their approach, still held in his trance. Shrugging, Limar walked up to the chair, and swung his saber. It stopped abruptly in mid air, sticking fast to some unseen barrier. No matter how the nomad heaved, it would not budge. Then it pulled sharply to the side, to fly at Limar with surprising speed. Startled, Limar parried its blinding moves, but could only take the defensive as the saber continued its relentless attacks. Back pressed to the wall now, Limar knew he was in trouble. Zak ran to the leader, blades upraised, hoping to distract the saber. It stopped suddenly when Limar's other saber flew across the room. Poised, it then plunged forward. Acting on instinct, Limar dived into a roll, and the saber only clipped his back as it sank deep into the stone. Getting up warily and ignoring the pain, Limar watched the saber, but it had become inanimate once again. He retrieved his other saber, and they started back to the group surrounding the sorcerer. "How are we..." Limar began, then stopped as the sorcerer twitched slightly. The group watched in surprise as the sorcerer twisted back to a normal sitting position. His eyes held a crazed light that Zak thought he recognized, his thoughts flying back to the old man in the marsh. "Run!" he yelled, and moved quickly to the side, the nomads automatically obeying. It saved their lives. The sorcerer burst into motion, his eyes blazing in outrage. "Monstrous!" he screamed. "You dare...!" His hands flamed suddenly, holding balls of fire so bright that Limar, taking cover beside Zak, averted his eyes. The two then could only watch in horror as the balls flew, hurled by the sorcerer, to burst through stone and strike two of the nomads dead. Shrieking in ear-splitting laughter, the sorcerer continued his deadly barrage, and Limar crept forward, not heeding Zak's voice, lunging suddenly at the sorcerer. The sorcerer turned his blazing eyes to the attacker. "Join your comrades in death, impudent thing!" he growled, lifting his hand in an arcing movement. Limar was suddenly lifted skywards, to be thrown forcefully into the opposite wall, then slumping down in a broken heap. The sorcerer laughed again. "You think you can defeat me?" he shrieked, continuing to down nomads with his fiery balls. A sword blade swung forward, cutting deep into his leg. Hopping in pain, the sorcerer turned to look at his attacker. To see the twin eyes of Zaknafein, a look that spoke eloquently of death. Blades hit the shoulders of the sorcerer in a dozen flickering movements, numbing his arms. The sorcerer shrieked again, this time in fright, and tried to scramble away from the drow, his arms falling uselessly to his side. Zak advanced, relentless, swords darting in. The sorcerer jumped back and spoke a word. Zak lunged forward again, and was stopped by another barrier. Furiously, he pounded on it, as the sorcerer began another chant. Behind the dark elf, a portal opened ponderously, swirling colors and light. It bared open into fruition, the light flaring impossibly bright, a chill wind howling through the roofed complex. Zak turned to stare at the portal, and the sorcerer yelled a last word, his voice ringing with triumph. The colors swirled faster and faster, and Zak suddenly felt himself, his soul, being pulled in. Crying out, he sheathed his sword and caught at a pillar, as the wind tore at his hair, the colors swirling faster and faster. The force became unbearable, and Zak watched in horror as his hands slipped from their grip, and he fell into the gaping hole. Disappearing into the depths. The sorcerer laughed again, dancing a frenzied dance. "Come out, and kill my enemies!" He cried. At this summon, the portal flattened, and something could be seen on the other side, a monstrous shape that snarled and spit. Niranyarr appeared suddenly behind the sorcerer, grabbing the screaming human and smashing him with force into the wall, again and again, his eagle eyes streaming tears. The portal wavered, then began to diminish. An anguished, unearthly howl was heard, and the monstrous shape pounded on the closed portal. Limar had gotten up, and he and the remaining nomad watched in fascination. Then a claw broke through, curling, pulling at the edges of the portal. The portal stretched, and the monster yelled triumphantly. "Help me!" Limar cried of his comrade, and they picked up a large stone block from the floor of rubble. Puffing slightly from the effort, they swung it back, then heaved it at the claw. It recoiled, and the monster cried out in pain, withdrawing the claw. The portal snapped shut.

Chapter 9: Planes

He fell downwards, ever downwards, then landed jarringly on a bridge of red stone. The place was dark, filled with jagged rock, and a river of burning lava flowed below the crudely carved bridge. An endless wail of anguish filled his ears, and his soul felt a wrench of wrongfulness at the sight of this place of anguish. He knew where he was, even before a tanarri charged towards him, snapping maw and evil, hungry red eyes glaring at him in fury. The hands of the monster ended in pincers, and Zak was reminded of his graduation from Melee-Magthere, so long ago. So far away. Automatically, his swords sprang into his hands. They parried the monster's thrusts, but he remained on the defensive, trying to think of some way that he could stop for a while so that he could push his mind, and his soul, up and out of this perilous place. Zak's swords took on an edge born of desperation, and they hit the glabrezu in a dozen places simultaneously as he weaved them in a single, spiraling move. Bellowing in pain, the monster swiped at Zak with one pincer, cruelly clamping, but the dark elf dived forward in a roll under the pincer, and came, catlike, onto his feet. The other pincer smashed downwards, and Zak darted forward, under the monster's legs. And saw, with sickening clarity, the other tanarri, approaching fast on their bat wings. The glabrezu whirled with great speed, leg kicking at Zak. The dark elf dived away to the side, and was promptly attacked by another, lesser monster. The glabrezu roared, and swiped at the other tanarri with one pincer, knocking it, screaming, into the river of lava. The puny elf was his, and his only. Zak scrambled quickly backwards as the glabrezu continued its advance. Bravely, he waded back into the fight, his swords biting into the monster's leg, hacking through the tough hide. The glabrezu swatted at Zak with his pincer, but Zak, feeling the sudden rush of air, stuck his swords behind him, blocking the blow but knocked to his knees by the force. Roaring, the pincer angled in to snap at Zak, and the dark elf pushed his swords out instinctively away from him, locking the pincer open. His arms shook with the strain, as the pincer inexorably closed. Zak knew he could not keep this up and he tucked his feet under him slowly, letting his strength gather into them. In a swift, fluid motion, the elf snapped his sword hilts together, and somersaulted upwards and over the pincer, to land safely back in front of the glabrezu. Absently, he dodged another swing of the pincers, noticing a curious thing. While the side that he was on swarmed with tanarri, watching the fight, the other side was clear. Leaping to the side, he parried another swing, this time allowing the momentum to push him backwards. Then he was running, running onto the bridge, to reach the other side in safety. Behind him, the glabrezu howled its frustration. Zak grinned, thinking himself rather clever, and his outline blurred as he began to reach outwards. He realized his mistake when more horrifyingly familiar shapes formed around him. Niranyarr dropped the now-unconscious sorcerer in an unceremonious heap on the ground, his shoulders still shaking. Limar limped up to the griffin wearily, followed by his comrade. "We are sorry," he started to say. Niranyarr turned to look at them. "Zak fell into portal. Sorcerer can pull him out," he said hopefully. The other nomad shook his head. "I recognized the words of the sorcerer. Your friend is in the deepest part of the Abyss now. He may not survive that long." He explained in his harsh voice. "Zak will!" the griffin cried, his tone anguished. "Wake sorcerer up. Make him pull Zak out." Limar nodded, but his eyes, and that of his comrade, spoke otherwise. He turned to his comrade and spoke a few words in the tongue of the nomads. Nodding curtly, the nomad started out of the chamber. "Gone to fetch water and potions." Limar explained. "Prop him up there?" he pointed at the stone chair. Niranyarr bobbed his head, easily picking up the limp form, then dumping the sorcerer onto the seat with a loud bump. Limar winced. The forms shifted, materializing. They looked like pillars of melted wax, their ugly, drooping mouths open, hands stretched hungrily towards Zak. Zak tried to head back, preferring to face the tanarri than to remain with the yochlols. Then one of the disgusting creatures stepped behind him, cutting off his escape. Leering, they advanced, closing the circle. Zak's form blurred more as he tried to complete his routine, but was interrupted by a tentacle of one of the yochlols, lashing out at him. His sword blurred out, slicing off the tentacle. The yochlol screamed in outrage, and opened its mouth. Suspecting what was going to happen, Zak ran blindly to the side, crashing into another yochlol, his swords whirling in front of him, slicing past the tentacles into the creature. The other yochlol slapped down at the impudent drow, its stinging tentacles trying to latch on to Zak's head, but his swords continued to whirl into an impenetrable womb, cutting into the tentacles and the yochlol. Zaknafein settled into a steady momentum, allowing instinct to take over while he continued to send his mind outwards, slowly so as not to attract the attention of the other yochlols, which were closing in to help their monstrous sister. Then they stepped back, and Zak stopped, his sword tips pointing to the floor in confusion. A beautiful drow female sauntered over in front of him, a vile smile on her evil, delicate face. Lloth, the Spider Queen. Zak backpedaled, but the yochlols formed a wall behind him, their tentacles wriggling out at him. Not knowing what to do, his swords raised up into a defensive position. "Sheath your swords, you will not need them here," she purred, and the force of her mind battered Zak. Fighting all the way, his swords went into his sheaths. He glared at her defiantly, hands shaking in rage. The female drow's smile only widened. "Come to me," she breathed in a low, throaty voice, one slender hand gesturing slowly. Zak found himself compelled to walk to few steps to the evil goddess, and he fought furiously against the impulse. Her mind's force came as a crushing wave, and he mechanically stepped forward, numbly lifting his feet one after another. Slowly, he reached further outwards. Then he stood before her, and looked into her endless pools of malevolent evil, heart shrinking, sinking into their depths... no. He yanked himself out of her sinuous charms, staring at the spider tattoo on the side of her beautiful face, that writhing thing that reminded him of what she truly was. Lloth smiled again. She would especially enjoy breaking this one, she knew. One of Morikan's favored 'adopted' children, and a Master of his School, at that. She ran her hands caressingly up his shoulders, feeling him tense, his dark orbs chillingly angry. Her hands cupped his neck, and she pulled him down. "Join me..." she offered, her face close. Too close. Zak's answer came as a snarl as he wrenched control, pushing her backwards. Lloth glared at him now, her hands clenching into fists at her side. "You're just making it more difficult for yourself." She told him in her sultry voice. Zak smiled suddenly, and Lloth looked at him in surprise. Her eyes narrowing, she searched for an answer, but was blocked by some impenetrable barrier. Unknown to Zak, his runed, patterned cloak was glowing silver, the form of a dragon coming into view behind the obscuring pictures, twisting and turning. "Join you? Damn you, Lloth. You and your followers." Zak said slowly, savoring every word, then suddenly exploded into motion, his mind far away, soul following quickly, pulling him out of Lloth's reach. Behind him, Lloth screamed in sheer rage. Zak flew upwards out of the other planes like a swift arrow, ignoring the sights, wishing to get back to the Material Plane. He was tiring quickly. Zak knew he could not keep up this momentum for long, and he stopped at a gray, featureless plane to rest. It seemed rather safe. Then his surroundings morphed into the Do'Urden training gym, its high ceilings and weapons rack still in place, untouched. Zak wondered what was going on this time. A familiar form wandered out from the corridor, white mane shifting as it came into view. Zak's heart leapt, then plummeted. It was Drizzt, but he did not wear his customary smile. Instead, a sneer of hatred and contempt twisted his features. His adamantite weapons were at the ready, and he lunged forward, attacking. Zak's weapons flashed into his hands, and he parried every move, but his confusion kept him at the defensive. "What are you doing?" he yelled at his student. Drizzt smiled, a wicked, evil smile. "Taking my place as the rightful weapon master of House Do'Urden," he replied, "With Matron Malice's blessings." Zak could not believe this. Drizzt's scimitars danced their familiar deadly dance, but something seemed missing, somehow. Zak nearly fainted when the answer hit him. His passion. Drizzt fought now as every other drow warrior did, a cruel, killing machine, without honor. "No!" he cried, pushing away the horrifying image, crying out with all his heart and soul. The gym suddenly flickered, then disappeared, Drizzt along with it. The plane returned to its featureless state. Zak suddenly understood. He was in the Plane of Nightmares. Hurriedly, he reached back outwards, drifting quickly away from the terrifying place. Water splashed again on the sorcerer's face, and the man woke up, choking. Immediately Niranyarr grasped his robes, lifting him high into the air, ignoring the man's ineffective punches and kicks. "Where is Zak?" he growled. "The Abyss, where he belongs!" The sorcerer howled, then laughed. Niranyarr shook the man violently, sharp-gloved claws cutting through his robe to poke painfully into his flesh. "Stop...!" The human cried out in fright. The griffin gave him a final shake to remind him of his predicament, then pulled him closer, his cruelly hooked beak in front of the human's face. "Get Zak out." Niranyarr growled simply. "Never!" the sorcerer yelled, a fanatic light coming into his crazed eyes. "Boiling oil often works," Limar, behind the griffin, observed. "Nails." His companion said firmly. "See?" Niranyarr growled again, as the sorcerer took on a frightened expression. "Get Zak out, or friend Limar and..." he paused, looking back at the other nomad. "Hanrar," the other nomad supplied. "Hanrar will make you." Niranyarr finished his sentence. "Put me down then, you stupid bird," the human said. Niranyarr shook him more violently. "Say that again," he suggested, his fierce eyes taking on a murderous glint. "Put me... down... please" the sorcerer finished through his jarring teeth. "One could get to like griffin," Niranyarr heard Hanrar's harsh voice behind him. "One already does." Limar smiled. Niranyarr dropped the sorcerer on his feet, then curled a talon around the hapless man's neck. "Inspiration," he growled again, "You send us through portal, I crush your neck." He promised in a deadly voice. The sorcerer's eyes turned to the nomads appealingly. "You'll get no help from me. You've killed our people, and if it were up to me,"Limar left the threat hanging. "You can try Hanrar," he added as an afterthought. "I would have buried the murderer for the Striders." Hanrar replied. "Start!" Niranyarr snarled, and his talons tightened slightly. The sorcerer squeaked, then his fingers began, hesitatingly; to weave a pattern in the air, while he chanted in a faltering voice. Hanrar's next words echoed the feelings in the other two's hearts. "This had better work." Zak stopped again, this time in a beautiful Plane. The harmony of the place pulled at his soul, and he sat against a tree to close his eyes in contentment. This was no evil plane. The starlit forest glowed, each tree with a visible aura, the many entities living inside moving in perfect tandem to the Plane, playing out their routines again and again, to the harmony of the universe. Nearby, a panther and an elk moved in an endless routine, their majestic movements and stunning counters making up the beautifully simple hunt. Guenhwyvar felt something enter the plane, and could see it's soul's aura, whatever it was, leaning against a tall ash, resting quietly. The subtle emanations identified it as a good spirit. Curiosity aroused, the mighty panther broke off from its routine, to pad softly over. The panther was surprised. The good soul was a drow elf; ebon skinned hands resting lightly on his chest, a wide smile on his features. Even more surprising, the drow elf reminded the panther of Drizzt. Perhaps it was the sheer similarity of his features, or the two swords that hung at his belt. Even more curious now, Guenhwyvar sat down in front of the drow, and simply watched. Zak felt the emanations of another entity in front of him, and his eyes snapped open. To see an enormous panther, saucer eyes staring at him. His hands moved reflexively to the hilts of his swords, and for a time the two just looked into each other's eyes. Zak thought he knew the panther's name. "Guenhwyvar," he spoke softly. Guenhwyvar recoiled, then settled back onto its haunches, still watching the strange drow. "Guenhwyvar, loyal friend of Drizzt Do'Urden." Zak said with greater confidence. The great cat mewled in surprise, then waited expectantly for an explanation. "My name is Zaknafein Do'Urden, ex-Weapon master of House Do'Urden," Zak told it. Guenhwyvar stared at the drow elf for a long minute, then bumped against his legs with a purr. Zak smiled, kneeling, then slowly stroked the rippling muscles of the panther, Guenhwyvar purred again. Zak grinned, then somehow decided to tell the unjudging creature about his adventures. It felt good to let out his opinions, the cat's calm eyes somehow spurring him on, to pour our more of himself. Zak felt better at the end of it, lightly scratching the cat's great ears. "Stay always at my son's side, Guenhwyvar," he said, getting up at last to leave. Then a mischievous twinkle got into his eyes. "That boy keeps getting into trouble." Guenhwyvar got up and yawned, then patted at the drow's foot and padded back into the forest. Zak's mind reached outwards again, but was interrupted by a jarring sensation to his consciousness. "Not again," he groaned, as another portal opened in front of him. Quickly, he drifted upwards, trying to escape its gaping maw, but was inexorably drawn in. "At last!" The sorcerer proclaimed in relief, as the portal spit out a familiar slender figure, to close once more. "Zaknafein!" Niranyarr cried in relief, and the disoriented drow found himself crushed in a human-like hug. He returned it in force when he realized whom it was, and laughed. "I missed you too, griffin, but do not be so quick to bruise my ribs." Niranyarr's smile stayed in his eyes, and then he turned to the sorcerer, whose attempt at escaping quietly was foiled by Limar's saber tip. "All yours," the griffin told Limar, whose eyes lit up. As did Hanrar's. "Have you been playing while I was gone?" Zak asked in amusement. Niranyarr made his coughing laugh. "Almost." He replied. "Almost." Then the griffin cocked his head as if remembering something. Turning to the sorcerer, who recoiled, he said, "Send us to Mountains of Lava." Hurriedly, the human started another chant, and a shimmering distorted the air in front of the chair. It flattened out to show a place with Black Mountains, smoke rising at their peaks. Bobbing his head, Niranyarr stepped into the Plane, to reappear at the other side. Zak shook the hands of the nomads, then followed. The gate shuddered, then closed on itself.

Chapter 10: Everflame Mountain

They stepped out into a land that seemed to be predominantly blackened. The destructive mountains that now blew wisps of gray smoke were black, and so was the graveled ground they walked on. Black from the burning of liquid fire. Niranyarr walked beside Zak, padded lion's paws making not a sound. "What happened to mountains?" he asked, comparing these mountains to his Eyrie home. "Volcano erupted. The lava cooled later into this black surface." Zak replied, then smiled mischievously. "If you dig deep enough, you might find a few diamonds to wear." Niranyarr cocked his head at Zak to see if the elf was speaking in jest. Tentatively, he bent and patted the hard surface, then snorted. "Too hard even for talons." "Too bad then," Zak replied unsympathetically, though the smile remained. Niranyarr snorted again. "When we go to the dragon's cave, you'll find jewels there beyond your imagination," Zak said light-heartedly. "Treasure if we kill dragon," the griffin corrected. "Dragon hard to kill, especially red one," he added, remembering the remmnants of a large raid on a dragon cave. Few had survived that one, and the dragon was a lowly brown. "Oh, we will." Zak said confidently. "Zak too confident," Niranyarr replied, unconvinced, "Only two, dark elf. Took fifteen griffin elite to kill one brown, let alone one elf and one griffin for a red." "You worry too much," Zak said gaily, continuing on his way. Niranyarr merely shook his head. Soon the two reached a ground that was still bubbling, the black surface broken by small veins of bright orange. "A recent flow," Zak remarked, then became insubstantial and drifted over, while Niranyarr peered more closely. "Hot?" he asked curiously, feeling the heat on his feathered face. "Very hot," Zak replied, tearing off a bit of cloth from his backpack, then throwing it down. It burst immediately into flame, and was consumed. Niranyarr shuddered, then flew into the air, over the still bubbling lava, to land quickly on the other, cooler, side. Zak floated over to join him, then materialized. "You will probably do better in the air, griffin. The fumes from this place will soon become poisonous." He pointed to the filmy grey mists that loomed ahead, that swirled sometimes, looking like pale ghosts in the dark black around them. Niranyarr seemed a bit reluctant to leave his friend's side, but complied. Zak preferred the closer contact too, but knew to do so now would be suicidal for the griffin. An already 'dead' being like Zaknafein did not need to breathe. They soon came out to look at the large river that was the life force of the farmers here. Fueled by many tributaries upstream in a cooler place, it defied the heat of this place, to provide precious water for crops and livestock. It shimmered a bright sapphire, a long, winding vein of water snaking into forks and dividing along the way. The other side of the river from Zak too contrasted the blackened mountains. A few mountains stood there, but they were covered in lush colors, the russet gold of vineyards, the rich green of vegetables, and the fresh brown of plowed land. A small village stood on the edge of the river, with a little jetty in front. "Rimar," Zak announced. "Rimar not afraid of fire-mountains?" Niranyarr asked. "The cooled lava is very fertile for crops, and the mountains do not erupt very often. The farmers reap many profits from their rich harvest," Zak explained, pointing at a gently sloping mountain behind the many farms. Niranyarr bobbed his head, looking down at the large squares of crops, as well as the little white dots of sheep and the bigger brown ones of cattle and other livestock. Then they saw the outermost fields leading to the village. Scarred and blackened in a single, trail, that circled and veered, it led to a few barns on the outskirts of the village, that were also charred but now rebuilt. "Fire-mountain?" Niranyarr remarked. "Not volcano. Dragon." Zaknafein replied solemnly. They would do the village a favor by getting rid of Rakaroajirac. "So strange old man correct," the griffin said grimly. "Dragon lives." "The trail comes from downstream. His directions appear correct, but we will need to verify them," Zak said, and started to the village. "Humans do not like dark elves." Niranyarr warned Zak unnecessarily. Zak nodded. "They probably won't speak to griffins either." He shrugged; still climbing down the treacherous slope on which they stood. "Shortsighted, they are," Niranyarr remarked, then bounded after Zak. The village of Rimar had been visited by a large red dragon a week or so before. The dragon came periodically; terrorizing the village and taking a few livestock then would sleep back in its lair for many years. Rakaroajirac was not stupid, and he did not wish to attract even more attention from other, more powerful cities. Especially the dwarven kind, that would not look kindly still on his treachery of long ago. Sometimes Rimar sent brave, deluded men to try and kill the dragon, but Rakaroajirac was possibly one of the most powerful of his red kind, and the men just added to his diet. He did not regret his exile, but only waited in his cave, dreaming pleasant, dragon dreams, to wait for the next adventurer to happen along. He was never disappointed. Niranyarr and Zaknafein approached the village after crossing the river. As they had expected, they had been seen, and the village was silent and locked. They stood on a wide dirt street, in front of the jetty, and looked carefully around the two lines of houses that lined the streets, the puddles of refuse haphazardly dumped on the ground, doors tightly closed. With a few dozen bows notched and pointed at them secretly, Zak supplied. Rimar was surprisingly well equipped for a farming village. A tavern sat at the end of the street, the sign of a rooster well painted, hung on the side. A blacksmith was situated to their right, the smithy abandoned, stairs leading up to the living quarters silent and dark. A shop selling potions had been built next to the smithy, its sign faded. Next to it was a butchers, and next to that a bakers. Charming, Zak thought with a slight tone of sarcasm. Considering this place now resembled a ghost town at the sight of a single dark elf. "Anyone here?" Zak asked of the silence finally. There was a brief wait, and then a man cautiously poked his head out of the window above them, in a more ornate house to their right that Zak assumed was the village spokesman's. "What do you want, dark elf?" He asked in a voice full of suspicion. "I wish they include me when they ask. Not stupid you know," Niranyarr whispered, eyes dancing suddenly, impishly. Zak glared briefly at his companion, then turned back to the speaker, "I wish to know where Rakaroajirac's lair is." He said politely. "The dragon? What does the likes of ye have to do with it? His friends are not welcome here." The man replied, eyes narrowing in suspicion as he appraised the two. "We seek to kill the dragon." Zaknafein replied curtly. "Ye?" The man asked, with a derisive chuckle. An arrow sliced through the air, but Zak had his swords out in a flash, batting it aside. The arrow, knocked from its flight, clanked noisily on the hard dirt floor. The man looked impressed by this, and backed down from his unhelpful stand. "Oh all right. Follow the river downstream, an' go down the longer fork to its first divide. The shorter divis'n ends in a clear pool, wit' a great hole of a cave at the side. The accursed wurm be there. Now be gone from this place." "One more question. Do any of you have a pole of lead?" Zak asked. The griffin looked at him curiously at this strange request. There was a slight movement on the stair of the blacksmith, and the smith himself, a burly man, walked down cautiously, eyes trained on the two. "I have. T'was actually for a bolt, but take it if you can kill the dragon, with my blessing," he said, picking up a pole from the side of his shop and throwing it at Zak's feet. Zak, with unthreatening movements, picked up the pole slowly, and fixed it to his backpack. Niranyarr looked even more mystified. "My thanks." Zak said to the smith's retreating back, and walked out of the street into the fields, then followed the river, the griffin flying overhead. "It is true then," Niranyarr said after a while. Zak nodded, "Some times I thought this was a false lead," he remarked. "What is lead stick for?" The griffin asked. "A surprise," Zak grinned impishly. Niranyarr sighed. "Elves." The way he said it, as always, sent Zak into a bout of laughter. A forest of dead trees stood on the opposite bank. The blackened trunks stuck up like deformed people, their clawed hands reaching imploringly to the sky. Harsh, unearthly sounds could be heard from the inside, now and again an inhuman scream. Zaknafein and Niranyarr were relieved that they were on the opposite side of the place, but they occasionally flickered quick glances to try and pierce the forest's black veil, accosted by the darkness of night that was upon them. Zak's swords were held in his hands, his senses on full alert, while Niranyarr flew over the river, keeping an eye on both banks. The forest retreated slightly behind a small beach of sand and shingle, which seemed to glow an unearthly white in the dim moonlight. Then a chittering came, that reminded Zak of the ants. He pushed his swords up into the air slightly, a warning to the griffin high above. Bobbing his head, Niranyarr flew higher up, then caught sight of hairy legs moving towards the beach. "Large spiders!" he cried, spiraling down over the clearing. Zak nodded, and became insubstantial, floating faster downstream. Then the spiders came out, their abdomens a dark blue, front legs tapering down into flat, blade-like legs. They were sword spiders, one of the most uncommon of Lloth's creatures. One suddenly reared up, bladed feet clawing the air. Its many-eyed face shifted, to form the features of a beautiful drow, that cursed and snarled, then shifted back. Zak felt a cold finger go up his spine, then crossed the back to materialize and face the first monster. Niranyarr looked down incredulously then swooped down on an unsuspecting victim to tear at its soft stomach. The spider writhed in pain, keening, then curled up in death. The griffin's moment of victory was short lived as it suddenly faced off with many others of the creatures, stepping over their dead comrade in their eagerness to get prey. Zak parried the spider's slashes, and then his blade flickered forward to plunge right through its mouth. Shuddering, it collapsed, while Zak's remaining sword blocked another swing from an attacking spider, while he strained to pull out his sword. With a shout, he wrenched out the blade, eyes flashing, a whirlwind of strokes leaving his unfortunate victim sliced dead in many places. "Come then, accursed things," he cried. Obligingly, they did. Niranyarr blocked a few swings with his metal gloves, and his powerful claws swiped out to scratch painfully at the spider's eyes. Blinded, it went berserk, smashing into one of its comrades viciously, killing itself and the other spider. "Good, stupid spider," the griffin growled, and a well-aimed kick sent another spider flying to smash into a dead trunk. His dancing blades deflected many more blows from two spiders, then he angled them slightly to whirl them down in a double stab movement, that took out one more of the disgusting things. A slashing counter too killed its companion after moments. Danger was Zak's greatest inspiration. Then the two friends were alone, the broken bodies of dead and dying sword spiders littering the beach. "Hate spiders," Niranyarr declared, and cleaned his claws on one of the things. Zak found himself heartily agreeing. "What cursed place is this?" a halfling asked of his companions, rotund belly stretching comfortably in front of hi as he sat down. The mountains ahead of them were as black as the night they walked in, smoke rising from some of their tips. "Everflame Mountains," a dwarf supplied, remembering some of the reports he had heard when he had been a king to his clan. The four of them were a strange lot, a halfling, a dwarf, a human girl, and most of all, a dark skinned elf, his white hair plainly showing, even in the dim moonlight. "Suren there'll be adventures to be had in that dark place," the girl said in a dwarven accent. The dark elf merely smiled. "Let us enter then," a strange light coming to his eyes. "Yer heart's gonna get ye into trouble soon, elf," the dwarf predicted in a sour voice, but the others, with the exception of the halfling, were discussing the plans in their camp. Grumbling slightly, the helmeted dwarf stirred the flames, then settled down to sleep without taking off his armor. "We'll go there next day then," the dark elf said with a smile on his face, finally deciding. The halfling merely groaned, while a snort could be heard from the dwarf's direction. "A strange place," the dark elf remarked to his friends as they looked down from the last rise to two very different domains. One was covered in the lush crops and fields of a farming village, the other dark and forbidding, the two realms divided by a single river that sparkled in the early morning sun. They could only nod in surprise. The halfling suddenly gasped, pointing at a charred, wide path that burned through some of the fields. "Dragon," he said. A fierce glint came into the dark elf's face. "All the more why we go down," he reasoned. "Ye be taking on dragons now?" the girl asked. "We go and split the ugly worm's head, fer burning them crops," the dwarf hefted his mithril axe with anticipation. The halfling sighed. "Is there any way I can talk you out of this?" he pleaded. The drow shook his head. "Coming?" he invited, then led the others down the rise. "They're mad!" the halfling said to himself, then hurriedly followed. "Wait for me!"

Part 3: Drizzt

Drizzt Do'Urden, my son, my friend, and student. Perhaps the only good deed I had ever done in my twisted, cowardly existence in Menzoberranzan. How often have I wished to see your smile, hear your smile, feel the rush of air as your scimitars meet my swords in a training session? Even in my heaven, I have watched you, watched your movements through the Material Plane, and my heart has swelled with pride. Perhaps it was your smile, Drizzt, that had prompted me to help you, to defend your passion with my words and actions against Matron Malice's corruptions. Perhaps the same smile preserved you in your ten years in the Academy, that allowed you to emerge, untouched, by its foul speeches and deeds. Perhaps it was that smile that gave me back my heart, above the lake of acid where we fought, relentless, while you tried to take me back from the controls of your evil mother. Vierna, your sister, who was finally taken by Lloth to go against you. Would that she had escaped, as you did. Would that your smile have found its twin on her beautiful face. She was not always so evil, I know. At birth, she too, could laugh, could smile, that same innocence I saw later on your face, was apparent in hers. The conclusion of the battles I fought with Malice over her was inevitable, I suppose, but that does not lessen the guilt, the guilt that doubled when I saw what you have become. Would Vierna have become so too, if I had won? In my heart, I hoped so, I hoped that she would survive the Academy. That was the source of all my cutting denouciations of your being a dancer, not a drow warrior, my anger when you exclaimed that you would carve your name on the walls of Melee-Magthere. For your sister had not survived. Dared I hope that you would, too? Your spirit, perhaps, uncrushable. Your morals... My morals, held you up, took you high enough above the web of deceit and treachery, so that you could see the wrongs around you, and escape. Drizzt Do'Urden, my greatest achievement. -- Zaknafein Do'Urden

Chapter 11: Rakaroajirac

"Fly up, griffin!" Zaknafein yelled at his sleeping companion. With a startled squawk, Niranyarr awoke, and automatically launched himself into the air. Two flaming arrows thudded where he had been sleeping. With a protesting hiss, the fire quenched itself in the cooling ground. Niranyarr looked down in confusion, to a few small, yarring shapes that lurked in the trees. Zak was no where to be seen. Then his location was revealed by a piercing squeal from one of the shapes. The hunters had become the hunted, and more squeals were heard. "Drow! Drow!" one screamed, then was abruptly cut off. Niranyarr bounded next to the dark elf, swatting away another of the small, doglike creatures that were armed with short swords and bows. The fight ended rather quickly, as the creatures were not good at defending themselves. Emerging back into the sunlight of the afternoon, Niranyarr kicked at one of the prone bodies. "Sneaking rats," he commented. "Not rats. Kobolds," Zak replied. He remembered them as drow slaves in Menzoberranzan, though he had known them to exist on the surface, he did not know why they carried such elaborate weapons. "Zak?" The griffin asked, bending over one of the bodies. Zaknafein walked over to look at what the griffin was holding, and then he shivered. A necklace with a spider pendant hung on the leader of the kobolds. "Lloth," Zak spat out the name as if a curse. So she had been behind the myriad of attacks that they two had endured when they reached this place. Zak had known it was she during the fight with the sword spiders, but did not know about the others. "Spider Queen?" Niranyarr asked, examining the trinket. "So she has been behind this," Zak said slowly, resigned. He should have expected it. "More fun for us then," Niranyarr grinned, then flew back over the river. "Nasty things," he stated his firm opinion of kobolds, then curled back up to sleep. Zak merely shook his head in disbelief. They had followed the directions, and now looked over a shining pool of clear water. It had been two days of almost continuous travel, and now, looking at their destination, Zak felt a strong sense of satisfaction. The cave loomed beside the pool, a huge cavernous opening that revealed the innermost secrets of the mountain that housed it. There was a golden glow inside, a glow that spoke of treasure beyond imagining. The treasure of Rakaroajirac, the Dwarvenbane. Skirting the pool quietly, Zak came to a stop in front of the cavern, carefully peering inside. The cavern, a huge tunnel, snaked abruptly, with only the insistent glow to hint of the dragon inside. Stalagmites stuck out from the floor like a dragon's teeth, towering above even Niranyarr, their cold stone showing an unremarkable gray in the dark elf's infravision. Strange pillar-like structures showed in the cave, formed when stalactites touched the stalagmites on the ground to form something that resembled two giant fangs, touching gently, yet firmly. Yet broken stone littered the floor, in a clear passage to the inside, claw marks raking that path. Zak pointed to the marks, and said somberly, "Rakaroajirac." Niranyarr bobbed his head, then impulsively put his talons next to a claw mark. The owner of the claw could easily hold both the griffin and the dark elf. "You stay here," Zak said firmly. Niranyarr crossed his claws over his chest stubbornly. Zak sighed and tried again, "The fire may not hurt me when I change. The dragon will hurt you though." "Seems I heard this before, Zak." Niranyarr said calmly. Zak wrung his hands in exasperation. It was no time to argue, and he gave in. "Oh, all right," he grumbled, and led the way in, noiselessly. The small, assorted group came into a clearer sight of the farming village now. "They'll know the way to the dragon's cave," the dark elf said. "Then we ask them the way," the dwarf replied, stumping down to the village. The dark elf pulled his hood more tightly over his head, to shield his eyes from the hot afternoon sun and also to conceal his drow heritage. They walked into the street that was filled with the comings and goings of villagers that eyed them dispassionately and then continued on their way. A big man strode up to them. "Your business in the village of Rimar?" he asked importantly. "The dragon," the dwarf stated succinctly "The red dragon, you say? Funny thing, a drow elf and a griffin passed this way two days ago, also looking for it. A strange pair," the man added, oblivious to the hooded figure, "The evil elves don't ever go looking for this kind of trouble." "You know somethin'?" the man said conspiratorially, "Ain't a bad thing if they're dead now, but the lone drow got a good chance, by me looks. Snapped an arrow out of the air like a fly with one of his swords." "Where's the dragon?" the dwarf asked impatiently. The man shrugged, then proceeded to detail the way. He paused at the end, as if remembering something. "Another funny thing, I've heard that dark elves don't like the sun. But that day, it was bright day, and the drow didn't wear a hood or anything, and he didna seem to mind the sun. Strange isn't it?" The man shook his head, then strode away. Mystified, the small group walked on out of the village. "Dark elf eh?" the dwarf chuckled. "Yer kind's bin poking their noses where they don't belong, me friend." The dark elf nodded absently as he considered the information. "I find it very peculiar, especially the part about him being able to see in the day." "Mayhap his eyes are better than yours, Drizzt," the girl bantered. "The drow ran away when the sun came up in Mithril Hall, Catti-brie. I agree with Drizzt," the halfling said seriously. "What's one more drow? He gets in our way, we squash him," Bruenor, the dwarf, declared. The halfling, Regis, did not smile. "Drow elves have many nasty tricks... sorry Drizzt... and whatever this one is doing here, I don't like it." "Whatever he's doing, he's not gonna beat us to the dragon." Bruenor said, walking on. "He has a lead of a few days," Drizzt pointed out. "Suren one drow and one griffin aren't going to defeat a red dragon," Catti-brie said doubtfully, and the four walked leisurely on. "Yer drow, elf?" Bruenor asked, pointing at the bodies of the strange, giant blue spiders, lying bloated in the sun with his mithril axe. They had been cut apart by wicked, precise slices, knife-like scratches and heavy blows, the latter two the handiwork of a powerful beast Drizzt presumed was the griffin. Drizzt nodded, pulling out Twinkle next to one of the cuts as a contrast. "A blade," he confirmed, "Sword, by its look." "The dark elf travels fast," Regis observed. The deaths of the spiders were recent. Catti-brie was holding Taulmaril the Heart-seeker in one hand, an arrow notched, looking nervously at the dark, forbidding woods that did not allow the revealing beams of sunlight to pierce their darkness. The looming trees seemed to be alive, dripping with malevolent evil, claws reaching out hungrily to them. "Tracks," she heard Drizzt announce, and saw him pointing to the other side of the river. "Ain't got no boat, how did the stinkin' elf keep jumping back an' forth?" Bruenor groused. Drizzt shrugged, and agilely leaped across to a rock, then picked his way through. "The tracks lead southwards," he said. Bruenor simply waded across, oblivious to the current, strong and sturdy as mountain rock, holding Regis above the water, while Catti-brie followed Drizzt's route. The forest of dead trees stretched further to the south, and the four of them kept coming across slashed bodies of monsters. "The drow's good at attracting trouble," Catti-brie observed. "Bah! He'd been leaving none for us," Bruenor grumbled, kicking at the body of a gibberling, its matted hair and purple, distorted body swelling in the heat. It too, like the spiders, had been killed, by a single neat stroke to the heart. Drizzt was reminded of the time he had spent in the Underdark with Belwar Dissengulp, the Most Honored Burrow-Warden, and shifted uncomfortably. The cuts looked vaguely familiar. Zak entered the cave, floating silently, while Niranyarr followed. They had never seen such splendor. Almost every inch of the enormous cavern was covered with rich treasure, gold coins and trinkets, crowns and necklaces. The heap of treasure shimmered, giving out their glow of promise. Niranyarr's talons closed reflexively as he considered a few of the baubles. That necklace, perhaps. Or that ring... Zaknafein's eyes were fixed on a single sword, sheathed in a scabbard decorated with images of fire and encrusted with precious stones. Its hilt was of purest mitril, and scribed with the runes of fire. The belt on which the scabbard was attached had another sheath that was empty. Then their eyes widened as they looked on the sleeping dragon. Rakaroajirac was covered in shining red scales from head to tail, creamy white horns arching backwards from his face, ending in cruel points. His eyes, almost as big as Zak's head, were firmly shut, a fact that Zak was thankful for. His great sail-like wings were folded over his back, while his claws crossed each other in front of him, his massive head resting on them. He almost filled the enormous chamber, and his tail snaked away from sight behind a stone formation. Wisps of smoke, evidence of his fiery breath, rose from his nostrils, while his great chest rose and fell gently in slumber. Strangely, he did resemble Morikan, and Zak's resolve to kill the beast crumbled slightly. Insubstantial, he floated over the treasure, to pick up Scorcher from the heap. The dragon's eyes snapped open suddenly. Rakaroajirac could tell when his most precious belongings were touched, and his serpentine head whipped around to see Niranyarr. With a shriek of outrage, he blasted the griffin with a tongue of searing flame that melted some of his golden coins. Niranyarr immediately launched into the air, up and away from the killing flame, his feathers slightly singed but otherwise all right. Landing behind the dragon, on his neck, his gloved claws bit into the scales, as he tried to claw his way through to the dragon's flesh. Zak sighed, and drew his weapons to materialize and leap up the bulk of the dragon to its neck, jabbing his swords into the flesh as the serpentine neck thrashed in agony and rage. Niranyarr climbed slowly upwards with his claws, to look down into the glare of the dragon's deep, beautiful orbs that burned with anger and hatred. Alarmingly, Rakaroajirac reared upwards, trying to crush the griffin with the ceiling. Hurriedly, Niranyarr leapt off, taking out his hand crossbow, to fire two precise bolts into the dragon's eyes. Screaming and blinded, Rakaroajirac slapped out with one claw, that clipped the griffin's left wing to send him spinning, dazed, to slam against the walls. A flick of the serpentine neck made Zak slam against the golden floor, breath knocked out of his lungs. He quickly rolled out of the way as a claw crashed into his position, catching and tearing off his sword belt. Zak stopped on a familiar object. Scorcher. He drew the sword, and charged at the dragon. The flames bathed him and melted more of the gold, but Zak emerged unharmed. Scorcher burned bright red as it bit into the dragon's neck, and Rakaroajirac screamed. Zak had become insubstantial when the flame reached him. Backing backwards with alarming speed, the dragon lowered his head to give another scorching blast. It was just what Zak had been waiting for, and he took out his leaden rod with one hand, and threw it into the gaping maw. The rod stuck fast, for Zak had spent the afternoons sharpening its edge. Rakaroajirac screamed in pain, the flames emerging anyway, then screamed again when the melted lead burned down his throat, to sear his insides. The rod had been Zak's trump. That trick had been tried in legend before, in the books of dragon lore. Zak leapt forward again, scorcher stabbing relentlessly at the dragon's chest, avoiding Rakaroajirac's thrashes. Niranyarr had gotten up from his fall, but could only watch in awe as the lone dark elf chopped into the dragon with his flaming sword, while the dragon mouth bled liquid lead. Then Zak saw the single, pumping baglike thing through the bleeding chest, and with a shout of triumph, he plunged Scorcher in. The dragon's death throes stopped abruptly with a final, earsplitting shriek that Zak thought would have echoed off the Spine of the World. Grinning, Zak drew out the sword, and looked at its blade, red with dragon's blood, and then almost dropped the sword in surprise as the red blood seeped into its actually colorless blade, staining it bright red. A sudden power rang through the sword and into Zak's hand, the blade flaring once again into an intense red light, sealing it to its master. Awed, Zak barely heard Niranyarr, coming up behind him. "You crazy, elf." He commented, looking at the immense, prone form in front of him. "A red... I'll never have believed it possible!" Zak smiled, and then the two started the more pleasant task of rifling through the treasure pile. Zak found a suit of dwarven-crafted chain mail,lightweight and tingling with enchantment, where Scorcher had been. He strapped on the sword then took another jewel-encrusted sword as its companion. He pocketed a few more gold coins, just for luck, then looked over at his friend. Niranyarr was happily rooting about the chamber, talons filled with necklaces and rings. He finally bounded back up, emptying the stuff inside his backpack, holding up a strange ring, and a scroll. The oddly shaped ring resembled a gate, and Zak felt its powerful magic. "We better not use ring until we know it," the griffin said, then handed over the scroll. Zak opened it carefully, the fragile thing almost collapsing from age. It showed an ancient picture of a few mountains and cities, with old names like "Foreste of Darke Magick". More important was a name: "Sea of Moving Ice." A large 'X' sat on the "Mountainnes of Ice", with a drawing of a blue sword on top of it. "Frostbite,' Zak said in excitement, pulling out his own, more modern map, and transferring the 'X' onto it. "There's more on the side," Niranyarr said, turning over the scroll. Zak read it out, "He who slayeth cursed Rakaroajirac with Scorcher wilt give the red sword the dragon's power. If ye raise the red sword with honor, then seek ye the blue one, its twin, in the Mountains of Ice." "The blue sword hath been given Iragkragfaran's strength, with our curse. If ye have heart enough, defeat its guardians, to claim yer prize." "Cross ye the Twin swords on your moment of victory, and ye will see the truth." With that cryptic line, the rest of the scroll had faded. "The Spine of the World," Niranyarr said with a resigned voice. "Ay, griffin, and we go there next!" Zak laughed, starting out of the cavern door into the welcoming sun outside.

Chapter 12: Reunions

They rested by the pool outside the cavern, then continued on their way. Back up the fork of the river, until they once again saw the bleak, dead forest in front of them. Zak laughed at Niranyarr's rather inaccurate account of the dragon, and laughed again when he took out some of the amulets to try them on. Lighthearted and victorious, the two friends moved on down the river, bantering and jesting. "Ring is strange," Niranyarr commented finally, taking out the gate-shaped ring. "Cannot put claw in, hole big enough." He demonstrated by trying to poke a claw inside the hole, but some unseen force blocked it. Zak took the ring and tried, also failing. "Dwarven craft," he said, looking carefully at its inscriptions. "And very old, at its looks." Niranyarr bobbed his head. "Try on dwarf," he suggested. Griffins had a great curiosity about magical items. "We'll have to catch one first," Zak suggested dryly, then handed back the ring and continued up the river. They continued at leisure now, although but half of their quest had been completed. Zak was content, often fingering the hilt of Scorcher. Strangely, it burned with bright red flame whenever he touched it, and repelled the talons of Niranyarr. Zak wore the enchanted, dwarven crafted chain mail, that fit as well as drow crafted ones. It seemed to blend perfectly with his patterned Master cloak and his boots, as well as the scabbard hanging by his side. The belt he had picked up from the cave had a single buckle of a silver dragon holding its tail. Zak thought that very appropriate. They came across an ogre the next day. Strangely, or perhaps not that surprising, it was wearing armor, and held a two-handed sword. Roaring, it charged straight at Zak. Zaknafein's weapons appeared in his hands as he parried the first strokes. The ogre was skilled, and his strokes, containing great strength, crashed again and again on Zak's defenses. Zak's swords flickered and darted, parrying and thrusting, making and taking advantage of holes in the ogre's defense. Its clumsy sword did not match against the flickering dance of Zaknafein, Scorcher burning in his hand as he slapped away another blow to nick at the ogre's leg. Niranyarr watched silently from the side at the dark elf's swordplay. Likewise, unknown to the two, four other pairs of eyes watched from the dark forest of dead trees. "He's good," Regis said quietly, as the other four watched the lone elf. "The elf's got Scorcher!" Bruenor exclaimed suddenly, watching the red, burning sword. "Who?" Drizzt asked absently, trying vainly to look around the ogre, to see the drow's face. The strokes of the twin swords were painfully familiar, but his heart denied the possibility. "One of the Twin Swords. Made by dwarves and dragons. The last I heard of the tales, it was with the red dragon that helped to forge it." Regis said. "Suren Rakaroajirac was the dragon, then. Then the drow's..." Catti-brie stopped in an awed silence. "Killed it?" Regis squeaked, in relief. Drizzt's mind was in a confused whirl of emotions. Only one drow he knew would be remotely capable of such a feat. Only one could move with such grace. But what was happening now, that the drow was back? They watched as the lone drow feinted with the jeweled, normal sword, then cunningly twisted Scorcher around. The normal sword flashed under the ogre's parry, and both swords dived simultaneously into the monster's heart. The ogre toppled backwards, sword falling from his grasp. Numbly watching, his heart pounded as Drizzt watched the familiar cut of the other drow's features. Saw the griffin come over to say something that brought another more familiar smile to the other drow's face. His father had returned, and was his own master. "Zaknafein!" Drizzt cried joyfully, leaping out of his cover to stand on the opposite bank of the river. The pair spun at the sound, Niranyarr crouching into a defensive position. Zak stopped him with his hand. "Drizzt." He said simply, his eyes widening. This meeting, he did not want. Not now, not at this time. His heart hardened, as he knew what he had to do. "Rimar," he whispered quickly to the griffin, then disappeared into his soul form. Niranyarr whirled in surprise, then quickly understood when he did not see Zak. Bobbing his head, he launched himself into the air, wings pumping. Drizzt's anguished cry of surprise cut deep into Zaknafein's heart, but he started to turn away. Then he stopped, looking more closely at the other drow. Drizzt looked the same as before, except that his eyes were wiser now. More confident of himself. A tightening around them showed that he had been through much grief, had seen more of the world that was not necessarily good. Drizzt looked wildly around the other side of the bank, trying to see where Zak had gone. For a moment, he thought it had been an illusion, but the dead bulk of the ogre proved otherwise. "Yer father?" Bruenor said, stumping out behind him, along with Catti-brie and Regis. Drizzt could only nod, as his eyes brimmed. "Where did he go?" Then his eyes narrowed. "Guenhwyvar," he called, holding out the statue. "Be there," he pointed at the opposite bank. The mist started to change into the panther's corporeal form just as Zak realized what was going to happen. Hurriedly, he drifted up the river. Guenhwyvar came into view; the saucer like eyes looking at Drizzt curiously as it did not detect any danger. "Find Zak," Drizzt called across the river, and the panther immediately bounded away. Being an entity of the Planes, it could see the forms of others. It ran towards the fleeing spirit, claws digging into the soil, as it caught up quickly and sprang. Zak yelped in surprise as the panther landed on his soul as if he were in his material form, then it sat on him, calmly licking his paw. "Get... off me you big cat!" Zak said and swatted with his hand at Guenhwyvar. The panther ignored the feeble blow, then licked at Zak's face. Then it bounded aside as Niranyarr swiped viciously at it, the griffin guessing the nature of the panther's invisible seat. Zak materialized before the conflict blew out of hand. "Niranyarr!" he protested. The griffin stopped, as did Guenhwyvar, who had been crouching for a spring. Drizzt had nimbly crossed the river, and hurried up to his father. "Zaknafein?" he asked tentatively, his voice rather hurt. Zak bit his lip, not knowing how to answer. Niranyarr looked suspiciously at the fast approaching others, and at the panther, who was continuing to lick its paw. Zak had no wish to get involved in his son's life. Nor did he wish Drizzt to want to get involved in his. Drizzt was not yet ready for Sanctuary, where Zaknafein now belonged. "Father," Drizzt continued, relentless, when he saw that Zak did not meet him with a drawn sword, as he had in the illithid cavern so long ago, in the Underdark. He saw that Zak recognized him, but was not saying anything. Abruptly, Zak got up and began to walk away. Niranyarr was getting confused, especially by the younger drow's last claim. "Weapon master, what are you doing?" Drizzt cried at Zak's retreating back, running forward to block the other dark elf when his question went unanswered. Zak simply tried to step around Drizzt, but Drizzt leaped to block his path again, stubbornly. "Why are you here?" Drizzt asked. Zak gave up. "Trying to keep out of your life," he said sincerely, squarely facing Drizzt. Drizzt's eyes widened in surprise, even more when he heard the sincere tone behind the words. Openmouthed, he just stared at Zak. "Now, if you'll excuse me," Zak continued curtly, starting on his way. "No." Drizzt jerked out of his surprise, moving again to block Zak's way. Zak's eyes flashed, but the younger drow held his ground stubbornly. "I would think that my life includes my father," Drizzt said calmly, ignoring the sudden irritated expression on Zaknafein's face. "I do not know why you are here, or how, but you are my father, and I'll stay with you." This was exactly what Zak had feared, but with an exasperated sigh, he turned to look into Drizzt's lavender orbs. Drizzt tensed, waiting for some sarcastic, cutting remark, and was surprised when Zak growled in his face, "Do you never listen?" The younger drow recovered quickly. "No," he said truthfully, and grinned. Drizzt introduced Zaknafein to his friends, as did Zak to Niranyarr. The griffin merely seemed to take this new development in stride, often cocking his head curiously at Drizzt. Zak had described what had happened to him as they continued up the river to Rimar, then spoke of his quest when they set up camp for night. Drizzt, of his companions, did not look awed when Zak spoke of the dragon. "So ye killed Rakaroajirac?" Bruenor asked. "Yes," Zak replied. Bruenor sighed, "Robbed me of me fun," he grumbled. Zak laughed, a fact that caused Drizzt to look up in surprise. His father had changed, and seemed happier now. More at peace than when he had last seen him. Regis accepted the new drow into their party without fuss, but Catti-brie kept sneaking glances at Zak, curious and uncertain. As if she was thinking of his reaction to her. Zak knew all of Drizzt's companions from his watching on the Plane of Saints, and spoke to Catti-brie sometimes, knowing why she avoided him, but she remained uncertain. Guenhwyvar, also to Drizzt's surprise, seemed to know Zak already. The large cat often brushed against the other elf's legs, purring. "Ye know of Frostbite's location?" Bruenor asked when they set up camp that night. Zak nodded. "Regheld glacier," he commented. The four companions looked at each other in surprise. "Icewind dale." Drizzt said, the name bringing a load of mixed emotions. He remembered that first home, of meeting Catti-brie on Bruenor's climb, of Wulfgar's night lessons. Niranyarr looked up from where he had been playing with Guenhwyvar, then settled back to swatting at the cat with his talons. The panther easily avoided the half-hearted swing, to rub against the griffin's flanks. "Then there we go," Drizzt said firmly, looking at Zak's face. Zak had another resigned expression, though he was secretly glad at the other's decision. Zak sat up for guard duty the whole night. "I am not really alive, so I do not need sleep. You do," he added, as he watched Drizzt sit down beside him. "Two watch better than one," Drizzt explained easily. Zak snorted. "Soon you'll fall asleep," he predicted. Drizzt merely smiled, but after a few more hours, did just that. "I told you," Zak said to Drizzt's prone body, then gently tucked him in and returned to watch the area with his infravision. They arrived back at Rimar the next day, Zak not bothering to wear a hood, while watching his son shield his eyes from the intruding rays of the sun. They walked into the dirt street of the village. Now the streets were crowded, and the shops open. A familiar man came striding up to them. "Ye killed the dragon then?" the man asked, looking at them eagerly. Zak nodded. "The rest of the treasure's ripe for the taking. Rimar can have it, as payment for directions." He declared generously. Praise be! The accursed worm's treasure would do well for the healin' of the land it torched." The man said excitedly, returning to the interior of his house, shouting instructions. "I wonder exactly how much of the share each of them will take," Drizzt wondered. "Fighting will start." Niranyarr supplied. Zak shrugged. "That's what they get for being greedy." "Ye sure ye did right in givin' them the treasure?" Catti-brie asked, one of the only sentences she had said in the day. "It mostly belongs to me kin." Bruenor agreed. "The people will need it if they continue to live here," Niranyarr rebutted, looking at the smoke drifting out of the volcanoes. "How can they?" Regis shuddered, imagining a river of liquid fire burning its way through the russet gold of the vineyards. "Profit," Zak said, as if it explained everything. "But I never will understand why they place so much store on it." The adventurers continued out of the village that was now astir in excitement. "Looks like a portal ring," Bruenor grunted, as Niranyarr handed him the ring that he had taken in the dragon's lair. "I cannot put ring on," the griffin said. Zak sighed. "Griffins are overcurious about magical things." "Aren't you?" Drizzt asked of his father. "Well I suppose so, but not that curious." Zak lied, watching Bruenor intently as the dwarf continued to examine the ring. Bruenor easily fitted the ring on. "Now, ain't somethin' supposed to happen?" he wondered, looking curiously at the ring. "Look!" Regis cried, as a mist surrounded them. The world lurched.

Chapter 13: Dwarves

The mist cleared. They were standing in what looked like a dwarven king's court. An imposing, red-bearded dwarf sat on a jeweled throne, and armed dwarves guarded the entrance and the king. Courtiers stopped to stare and what looked like a human messenger turned around from where he had been kneeling before the king to take a look. The chamber was large and lined with huge magical weapons of legend, glittering, of any type dwarven weapon every made. Dwarves sat on benches behind them, for the purpose of allowing the commoners to look at the court. The king started forward as the six adventurers appeared, and after a moment of surprise, his guards came forward warily, axes raised in defense. There was a tense moment, and then Bruenor looked up from where he had been studying the ring. He looked backwards, then turned to face the dwarven king. "Harbromme?" he cried in surprise. "Bruenor?" the king replied with equal surprise, "Ye taken t' playin' wit' magic now?" "Wore the durned ring, then ended up here," Bruenor explained, taking off the ring then showing it to King Harbromme. "A portal ring," one of the clerics near King Harbromme identified. "Yer stupid bird, ye couldha' taken us to the nine hells themselves," Bruenor roared at Niranyarr, who was looking around with curiosity at the great hall. "Ring did not," he replied mollifying, drawing more stares. Few had seen griffins before. Then the stares switched to the two dark elves, unconsciously back to back, weapons drawn. "The drow's got Scorcher!" shouted a bard, probably, somewhere, and the dwarves looked at Zaknafein's red sword. Zak was beginning to get tired of this. "Won it fair an' square. 'E killed the red dragon," Bruenor said, drawing gasps from the crowd. King Harbromme had leaned back onto his throne, thinking fast (something unusual for dwarves) then he stood up, drawing the unwanted attention back to himself. "Leave us," he commanded of the other dwarves in the room, and reluctantly, they complied. When the room was empty but for the adventurers, he walked down to stand in front of them. "Is yer clan so fond of them dramatic entrances?" he asked Bruenor with a trace of his customary humor. Bruenor grinned, remembering the story of how a member of Clan Battlehammer had stumbled into this same throne room, almost half dead in wounds, to report of Mithril Hall being under attack. Zak and Drizzt had sheathed their weapons, to look at the King Harbromme. They were now certainly in Citadel Adbar, one of the few kingdoms of the dwarves left. King Harbromme was a little taller than Bruenor, but not as wild looking, his red beard combed and neat, a contrast to Bruenor's matted one. His crowned helmet was mithril, surmounted by jewels, and Bruenor's was an old helmet with a large dent, courtesy of Wulfgar, he had explained to Zak and Niranyarr. "Ye've been collectin' drow in yer time?" Harbromme asked, looking curiously at Zak and Drizzt. "They're friends o' mine. That one," Bruenor pointed at Drizzt with one stubby finger, as though pointing towards an inanimate property, "Is Drizzt Do'Urden." "That one," he continued, now pointing at Zak, "Is Zaknafein Do'Urden, the father of the other." Harbromme nodded, still full of questions, but waiting for Bruenor to finish the introductions. "Regis is the halfling, and the bird's Niranyarr Windsoarer, the griffin that got us in here," Bruenor glared at Niranyarr, who pretended not to notice. "And th' last one's Catti-brie, who came int' this very hall demanding we help her take back Mithril Hall" Harbromme finished, with a wink at the now-blushing Catti-brie. "Welcome all, then. Ye wanna tell my court the story of how you got the dragon?" Harbromme smiled at Zak, who was self-consciously fingering Scorcher's hilt, "They're all probably dyin' for the tale." Zaknafein shrugged. He didn't see any harm in the offer, and being at Adbar meant that they had saved weeks of travel back from the Mountains of Lava. "Even if a drow killed the dragon?" Zak asked. "Especially if the drow's th' father o' Drizzt Do'Urden," Harbromme replied, with a sly glance at Drizzt, who was twisting his foot on the ground. Zak grinned at Drizzt. "Perhaps Niranyarr would prefer to tell the tale," he suggested. Harbromme clapped his hands, and the rest of the court trooped back in. The strange dwarf king walked over back to his throne, and motioned for Bruenor and the others to take the seats of honor. Harbromme whispered something to a dwarf at the side of his throne, and the dwarf, probably one of the more unlikely looking heralds Zak had ever seen, formally (for a dwarf) announced their names grandly to the court. "Niranyarr's decided to grace us wit' a story of how he and th' drow defeated th' dragon," Harbromme announced at the end, then motioned for the griffin to walk to the center of the hall. Niranyarr got up gracefully, then padded over to the appropriate place. He paused dramatically. "Where should I start?" he wondered aloud, "Zaknafein was honor bound, to retrieve the Twin Swords of the dwarven kin, your kin, as a quest." Leaving it as that, he continued, "We learned the location of the foul dragon's lair in Silverymoon, and through a tremendous fight with a sorcerer in the Nomad Plains." Gasps around the griffin told him that the dwarves had heard of the trouble over there, "made that evil mage take us to the Everflame." Niranyarr passed quickly over their trip to the cave, then started to describe the cave itself. "The cave was large, a filled with treasure that covered every bit of its huge floor, treasure that glowed a golden light, the promise of wealth." Zak was amazed that the griffin's clipped speech fell away as he wove a story. "The dragon awoke when he felt someone hold his treasure, and he blew a foul blast of his fiery breath at myself. Quickly I flew upwards, while the tongue of flame melted a great mountain of gold." Niranyarr arched his wings upwards as though about to fly. There was absolute silence as the attention of all the dwarves were fixed on Niranyarr, an unlikely storyteller. Niranyarr, certain of their undying attention, proceeded with the normal tricks of a storyteller, altering the volume of his voice, sometimes imitating the dragon's roar. He altered his pitch and cadence. Spellbound, the crowd listened. As he spoke of the twin bolts he had put in the dragon's eyes, the dwarves cheered, and gasped as he spoke of how Zak had fallen off the dragon, and then got unarmed. "The magic sword burned bright with red flame, as the warrior sliced into the dragon's neck. Rakaroajirac screamed with pain and fright, for it had never been hurt in all the centuries of its life after the dwarven smithy." "Then it lowered its head to give a killing blast, and Zaknafein took out his leaden spear, and threw it into its gaping maw. The stupid worm let out his flames, and the melted lead burned down its throat, hissing, a silvery stream of justice," The dwarves cheered again at this trick. Niranyarr proceeded to detail all of Zak's sword strokes many times over, that were 'rewarded by rivers of blood'. Zaknafein sighed quietly, and Drizzt smiled. "He's enjoying himself," Drizzt whispered to Zak, who nodded, "I wish that I had seen that fight. Ours was less exciting." Drizzt's shoulders shook in silent laughter. "With a final shout of triumph, Zaknafein plunged the burning Scorcher into the dragon's heart. The dragon shrieked in denial and pain, then moved no more." There was a stunned silence at this pronouncement, then the applause of the dwarven kin echoed off the great walls. Niranyarr signaled for Zak to come and join in the 'appreciation' and they bowed to the applause. When the hall finally settled down, Harbromme, versed in the tales of his kin, stood up. "What o' th' sword?" "Scorcher dripped with the dragon's blood. Suddenly it seemed to drink in the blood, staining its blade bright red, and a fire of its own ran up that blade to my hand." Zak recalled, drawing out the sword to show the dwarves its red blade. Whispers permeated the crowd, excited whispers. Harbromme held up a short, thick hand, cutting off the sound. "Then th' sword's yours, fer it's sealed t' ye now, with th' dragon's blood. Well won, an' a masterful tale," he smiled at Niranyarr, who bowed again to the thunderous applause, pulling Zak along. "Ye'll be honored guests of Adbar tonight," Harbromme continued, "Or fer as long as ye wish t' stay here." "My thanks," Zaknafein said with a smile. There was a banquet in their honor that night, in which Regis ate more than was good for him, and Niranyarr was persuaded to eat the cooked food with less of his messy habits. After that they were called into the private meeting hall. It had a fireplace at the side, over which was a portrait of the founder of Harbromme's clan. Comfortable seats, though low to fit dwarves, sat in a circle around a table, not unlike that of Silverymoon's. The floor however, was of stone, like the rest of the building. "Ye'll be seekin' Frostbite next?" Harbromme asked of Zak. Zak nodded. "Frostbite's in an enchanted shrine, from what I know," Harbromme said. "'Tis guarded by the one o' the most powerful monsters that me ancient kin could conjure." "Meself, I don't know what the monsters are, but there's one thing I know for sure," he continued, "The shrine calls monsters to defend itself, an' ye'll be plagued by them from one end o' the glacier till ye see Frostbite itself." "More fun fer us then," Bruenor growled. "Ye'll leave early tomorrow?" he asked, sensing Zak's impatience. Zak nodded again. "Me kin will refill yer packs, and see ye on yer way." Harbromme said. Zak's eyes narrowed slightly, as if in speculation, and Drizzt, noticing the movement, looked at him curiously. "Ye'll get a well deserved rest t'night then. Bruenor an' I," Harbromme looked at Bruenor for confirmation, then continued, "Are going to continue a discussion." Catti-brie sighed. "Don't be up too late drinkin'" "Why, me girl," Bruenor protested. "I know what ye two are thinkin' of," Catti-brie said firmly. Drizzt paced the corridor of their rooms on silent feet. He had a certain suspicion about his father, that he would verify tonight, a suspicion partly fueled by his father saying that Niranyarr was happy to stay with him in his chambers. Sometimes Zak could be so transparent. He stayed in the corridor as a click could be heard, that of a door opening slowly. His father floated, insubstantial, a fact that Drizzt would probably never get used to. The griffin padded out of the room, hoisting his backpack. So he had been correct, Drizzt thought. Drizzt too, held a backpack. He had left a message with Regis, something that the halfling had not been happy to do so, then packed up quietly to stay in the corridor. He could still hear Regis' response. "Why do you always give me messages that would get me in trouble?" the halfling had wailed. Regis knew that Catti-brie most probably would not take kindly to this. Drizzt intended to set off alone after his father, knowing that the others would only hinder him. From what he had seen, Zaknafein could move very fast, tirelessly, and though he and Guenhwyvar would have a chance of catching up alone, the other three would not. He began to trail the both of them from a respectable distance. Zak looked back at the dwarven stronghold with relief. He had managed to get out without incident, and was glad to know that Drizzt and his friends were safely inside the Citadel. He would be able to leave them far behind before they even came out. Though he had enjoyed their company, his quest would soon become harder, and he did not wish them to get injured, physically or not. They may pass Luskan, where Zak knew Wulfgar was. That, if the other four were here, would be a hindrance, what with all the teary arguments and such, and Zak knew that both sides were not yet ready for such a confrontation. Perhaps he would bypass Silverymoon too. Zak ran swiftly on, thinking about his route, while Niranyarr, alert, flew high overhead. The mountains were on both sides of the friends, and that reminded the griffin, as always, of his beloved Eyrie. They were considering passing through those mountains again. Many miles passed under his tireless stride, and the sun rose on the horizon as they neared at the start of the River Rauvin. Zak smiled in satisfaction, and was about to tread on when Niranyarr gave a warning cry, swooping down behind him. Then he backed away from his target, a figure emerging from the tree-lined mountain passage that they were crossing. A very familiar looking figure. Zak walked towards them. "What are you doing, Drizzt?" he asked in exasperation. "I might ask you the same, weapon master," Drizzt said evenly, crossing his hands over his chest. Zak looked around and was surprised not to see any of his companions. "Go back to Adbar," he told Drizzt. "No," the stubborn younger drow said, then paused. "Perhaps it would be a good idea. Catti-brie and the rest are waiting there." "If you go with me," he finished, wiping off the smile of relief on Zak's face. "You don't understand..." Zak started, but Drizzt interrupted him. "Yes I don't. Why are you abandoning us to continue by yourself? If it's due to some obscure idea that you're protecting us, you're wrong. We've faced things from the Nine Hells themselves, and you'll never convince us of that." "Now, are you coming with me back to Adbar?" Drizzt said. "No," Zak replied firmly. "Then I'm coming with you." Drizzt said, just as firmly. Zak glared at him, then at Guenhwyvar, the panther sitting down quietly at Drizzt's side, who would probably neatly foil any attempt to escape now. Drizzt looked calmly at his fuming parent. "Like it or not, you can't stop me." "Your friends?" Zak growled, trying to find some way to make Drizzt get back to Adbar, or at least go another way of his own. "If you are willing to wait for me, which I doubt so, considering your behavior this night, I would go and fetch them." Drizzt replied. "I am not," Zak confirmed his answer. "Why?" Drizzt pressed. "I wish to get this quest over very soon so that I can return..." Zak paused, not allowed to mention the Plane of Saints. "Return?" "Never you mind. I am telling you for the last time, get back to Adbar, and live your own life." "No," Drizzt repeated. "You're trying to get rid of us because you think we'll slow you down? That... isn't very nice of you, Zaknafein. You should have at least said something." "What if I had told the lot of you to your faces then?" Zak challenged. Drizzt thought that over, then conceded his point. "I'm still going with you though," he said, "I won't slow you down. However," his eyes bored into Zak's, "I'll like your promise you won't do this again." Zak looked as if he may strike his former student, then calmed down abruptly. "Oh, all right," he said ungraciously, and stomped on. Drizzt smiled at the weapon master's back, and followed, Guenhwyvar bounding at his side, while Niranyarr looked at the two strangely alike elves with an amused expression, then flew back up into the sky.

Chapter 14: Miranae

The slender spires of Silverymoon were once again apparent in the distance, next to the snaking flow of the River Rauvin. Though this was a more roundabout route than Zak had intended, Drizzt had insisted on visiting Silverymoon, for 'scoping out the shrine'. Zak somehow suspected that Drizzt simply would like to see the Lady Alustriel. The terrain here, however, was less rough than if they had decided to cut through the large patch of forest near Citadel Adbar. Apparently it was called the Wolf wood, and for good reason, though the wolves there were beyond that of the normal gray wolves that were common in Icewind Dale. Zak did not wish his son to start a new life as a vampire. They walked now on the road connecting Sundabar to Silverymoon, a road that Zak had trod, on his way to the Nomad Plains. Drizzt dreaded the end of this quest. Though he did not fully understand what had happened to Zaknafein, he understood what would happen when Zak held the hilt of Frostbite. Zak would be taken away from him again, to some unreachable place, where they would only meet again in his death. They spoke often now, of inconsequential things, just for the sake of listening to each other's voices, for the sake of reinforcing the bond between them. Niranyarr padded by their side, sometimes joining in the conversations but most of the time simply listening, to Drizzt's tales of his adventures, that Zak had witnessed, but just heard again, to Zak's, and Niranyarr's adventures. They continued to set up camps in the afternoon, where Drizzt could rest his eyes against the glaring sun, and walk on in the more comfortable light of night. On one such night, however, Drizzt drew his scimitars with a flourish, and met Zaknafein's eyes. "A practice session?" he smiled, eyes twinkling. He had a few moves that he would like to try against his father. Zak merely grinned in return, getting up and drawing his own swords, Scorcher burning with bright red flame. Niranyarr sat down comfortably nearby to watch. Scimitars rang against swords in a familiar ring, so familiar that Drizzt was almost plunged back into his memories, of the high ceilinged gym of House Do'Urden. Zak stole the offensive at the beginning of the battle, his swords perfectly dancing in a flickering, darting dance that he had observed in Sanctuary, that poked and prodded relentlessly against his opponent, that kept forcing Drizzt's scimitars wide, then to plunge in with a series of wicked stabs. Drizzt somehow anticipated such a move, and his scimitars reversed direction quickly to receive the strokes, only getting a stinging slap on his thigh as Zak launched his next counter, one sword slapping at the scimitars, the other arcing low. Drizzt then wrenched back from the fight and began to turn in full circles, something that he had tried against Entreri, blades flowing around him like a screw, every turn bringing down their blades at different angles and positions. Zak however, had just happened to have been watching him that day, and he too went into a spinning rotation, his blades countering at every turn, the blue fire of Twinkle mixing with the red flare of Scorcher. Abruptly, Drizzt reversed direction, but Zak felt the sudden shift and reversed too, their weapons ringing again. "How?" Drizzt asked in surprise as he stepped back, then attacked again, his blades twisting out in many cunning darts. "I may watch you from my Plane," Zaknafein replied dryly, his swords parrying every stroke with perfection, and adding a few more of his own. Then he laughed at Drizzt's chagrined, slightly outraged expression, charging in and stealing the offensive. His swords leapt out in a haphazard, apparently undisciplined array of cuts and stabs, the favorite move of Winter, forcing down Drizzt's scimitars, all the while keeping them closer to his body, defensively, so as not to make her mistake. Drizzt too parried all the moves, as he had done so, blinking at Zak's strange move, then also saw the opening, and thrust in with Icingdeath. Zak's normal sword slapped it away, while the other plunged at Drizzt's chest. Twinkle came up then, smashing it away, but Zak lifted and turned his wrist to the side, and made another arc under the blue sword, moving too quickly away from Twinkle's down-cutting parry, to slap again at Drizzt's side. Drizzt grimaced, Icingdeath reversing back from the parry, but was again foiled by Zak's sword. Agilely, he danced backwards, his scimitars coming up hard at Zak's face, pushing up Zak's swords slowly, step by step, then twirling his body quickly, his foot making an arc at Zak's knee, trying to trip the weapon master. Zak saw it coming, and jumped over the leg. Drizzt twisted his body, Twinkle slicing in, but Zak smashed it away in mid air, to land perfectly. Drizzt used his momentum get his feet back under him, parrying another blow at his head, the other whistling low, to slap at Zak's leg. "Good move," Zak commented, then settled into a defensive route, to tire out his opponent. Drizzt recognized the move, and settled into an easier route, scimitars idly stabbing in, to reverse quickly but efficiently. Zak didn't want the fight to go on forever, so he went back in on a tireless, weaving movement, swords spinning in circles, blurring, slanting circles that allowed them to recover from parries at the fastest rate, all the while forcing Drizzt's swords downwards. Drizzt understood the idea, acting on instinct, his swords turned away, purposefully leaving an opening, that Zak was quick to oblige with a stab. Icingdeath slapped away the stab, darting down over Zak's thrust to try and nick his stomach, but Zak agilely twisted away, for it to pass harmlessly away. Immediately, Icingdeath slapped sideways, but the sword recovered fast, scratching Drizzt's shoulder. Zak continued his plan, the swords still forcing down Drizzt's scimitars, then snaked back and flew high, then raced down, unblocked, to stop an inch above Drizzt's head. Drizzt lowered his scimitars, eyes widening. "A good move," he commented. Zak sheathed his swords. "Actually intended for the use of a sword and shield, but still useful," Zak said. "A sword and a shield?" Drizzt asked, looking at Zak's two swords. Zaknafein did not use a shield. "I teach during the mornings in Sanctuary," Zak reminded Drizzt. Then he smiled. "I saw the end of that move from approximately the same way as you did." Drizzt's answering smile lit up his face, the memory of the words bringing an ache to his heart. We think alike. He had commented then, when Zak had spoken about another such move in the Do'Urden gym. And so they did. Catti-brie stalked into Regis' room, her angry eyes raking the halfling. Regis sighed, then stopped Catti-brie's advance by holding up one chubby hand. "I do not know why Drizzt keeps giving me these tasks, but it is not my fault that he left, nor is it my fault that he did not choose to tell you. I did try to persuade him, but he was adamant." "Where'd th' drow go?" Catti-brie said in a more normal tone. "After his father and the griffin, if he's not in his room now. He said something about expecting them to try and leave by themselves. He told the both of you to either wait here in Sundabar, or go on your way, for he said he'll find you at the end of the quest." Regis replied promptly. He did not want another bashing from the human girl. "I'm goin' after him," Catti-brie decided. "They have a long lead, and you do not have Guenhwyvar," Regis reasoned, "I would like to go with them as much as you do, but we'll never catch up, and you know that." "We'll meet them at Icewind Dale then," Catti-brie said, "Bruenor knows a faster way there, that Drizzt doesn't." "What if Zaknafein knows about it? Then Drizzt will come back to look for you when you're looking for him there," Regis challenged. "If they're not back here, they're not wanting our assistance. It isn't as if Drizzt is alone now, as he was when he tried to go into the Underdark. He's got friends, powerful friends," Regis said, thinking about the slain monsters on the trail to the cave. "Zaknafein travels very fast, and he's been hinting about wishing to complete the quest in the shortest time. We'll be hindering him in that, though Drizzt probably won't." Regis continued. Defeated, Catti-brie slumped her shoulders. The halfling was right. Unfortunately right. "How are we goin' t' tell Bruenor?" she asked suddenly. Regis' eyes widened. "I think I'll stay in my room," he announced, and climbed back on the bed. They had stopped over in Silverymoon, to Lady Alustriel's delight. Zak was compelled to speak of his adventures again, and Drizzt of his. Niranyarr had another treat as the royal kitchen went into another frenzy of activity. They sat down again later in the private audience room. "Guardians, you say?" Trinity asked, summoned again. Zak nodded. The scroll hadn't survived much of his backpack, and he had left it in Adbar for the dwarves to find. "Most of the guardians in legend sound like elementals," the bard said thoughtfully. Drizzt sighed. He did not like fighting elementals, though he had won the fight with the last one he had fought. Zak had been exaggerating slightly when he had informed Drizzt that he had killed a dozen elementals, but he was more experienced, and knew their moves. Though he suspected an earth elemental would not be found in the glaciers. "You will probably meet most of the beasts in Icewind Dale, if the legend is correct," Lady Alustriel said in her musical voice. "However there have been sightings of new, giant monsters lately there." "One more thing," she remarked seriously. "There have been rumors of trouble in Ten towns. My agents have been sent into the area, but I will only know of their findings in a week." "Is it widespread?" Zak asked. "Only around the towns themselves, apparently," Alustriel replied. "Good," Zak said under his breath. Then they could avoid it. "War again? Has Akar Kessell not taught them anything?" Drizzt said, a rhetoric question. He should have known, he told himself. The war was probably over fish, as usual. Of all the reasons for war that he had seen in the decades of his life, that was one of the most stupid. They stayed a day in Silverymoon, then started off in the cool embrace of night. The misty, enchanted forest of Moonwood. Their feet crunched gently on fallen twigs and leaves, as they slowed their stride to look at the wonderfully tall trees around them, interlocking leaves letting in clear shafts of sunlight, that fell in golden discs on the ground. Niranyarr, land-bound once more, had padded ahead of the drow elves in search of nourishment. He called the Moonwood 'boring', but the elves had merely smiled. To them, the wood was beautiful. And a safe haven away from the trolls of the Evermoors. There was a triumphant trill as the griffin, far ahead, spotted something with his eagle eyes. Niranyarr stopped before a curious heap on the ground, reaching out curiously to it, then recoiling suddenly as a scream was heard, a scream of a child. Drizzt and Zaknafein hurried up to see what was happening, but Niranyarr held up a claw, stopping them in their tracks. He stepped around the heap, placing his bulk between them and the bundle. Zak caught Drizzt's shoulder as the other drow started forward. "Trust in Niranyarr," he signaled in the silent drow code. Niranyarr started to trill in a soothing, light voice, a strange sound issuing from his fierce exterior. The two elves' sharp ears could pick up a few words now and again, like "Won't hurt you" and "friend" among them Their curiosity sharpened as the griffin started to stand up from his crouching position, claws held back as if holding something. The bundle. Niranyarr cradled the object, crooning slowly as he turned around. To the drow elves' absolute amazement, a small head poked out of the bundle, tawny-haired, with the golden hued skin of a surface elf. Her wide, blue eyes took one look at their dark skins and white hair, then squealed in fright and burrowed deeper into the griffin's fur. "Friends," Niranyarr assured the elven child. "These two drow different," he continued soothingly, and the child raised her head again to stare at Drizzt and Zak. Trustingly, she nodded, and continued to look at the two drow elves with a strange intensity in her eyes, that made the both of them feel rather uncomfortable. Niranyarr looked at Zak as if asking him what they were supposed to do with the child. "Where is your home?" Drizzt asked the child softly. The child flinched at his voice, then replied in a barely heard whisper, "Near Gruwald." Zak looked at Drizzt. The town of Gruwald was on their way, but he debated inside whether to backtrack to Silverymoon to give Lady Alustriel the task. Drizzt however, had plunged on, "We'll take you there," he said confidently. "Why are you here alone?" The elven girl stared at him, then burst into tears, her slender shoulders shaking with sobs. "Trolls," Niranyarr answered the question. "She smells of them. How she ran away I don't know." "Father and mother," the child's voice shook, "Trolls. They told me to run. They didn't follow." "You were brave enough to escape then," Zak assured her, but she shook her head. "You couldn't have done anything else. We'll look for them," Zak continued, and she suddenly smiled, a tearful smile. "Really?" Her voice was hopeful. "Yes," Drizzt said firmly, his mind calculating. His last trip through the trollmoors had been rather traumatic, to say the least. He did not believe that her family survived. "What is your name?" Zak asked. "Miranae, but Father and Mother," this elicited another sob, "called me Mir." "Then so will we," Zak smiled, "It is a beautiful name." Mir smiled shyly through her tears. Miranae was still shy of the drow elves, often retreating to Niranyarr's side. She found their idea of sleeping in the day rather interesting, more often than not napping in the shade of the griffin's great wings, then sleeping at night, cradled by one of the adventurers. When she recovered more of herself, she played small games with Zak in the afternoons, games that he had been taught in the Plane of Spirits. Drizzt too was pulled into the games sometimes, laughing, induced in by Zak or by Mir's bright smile and wide-eyed request. They did not really know why she accepted them so fast, but Niranyarr believed she needed friends after such an incident. Drizzt took out the onyx statue of Guenhwyvar one afternoon, showing it to Miranae. With her small, slender hands, she took it in delight, happily tracing the perfect carvings that made up the figurine. Drizzt took it back, and called, "Guenhwyvar, to me!" Miranae jumped back as she saw the mist swirling out, which formed into a great panther. With a squeal of delight, she jumped up to the panther, running her hands through its fur. "Beautiful," she commented, and proceeded to scratch Guenhwyvar's ears. Guenhwyvar purred, and licked her face. They played for the rest of the afternoon, while Drizzt slept safely, undisturbed for once, without little fingers suddenly tickling him unbearably or slipping off his boots and running a feather over his sensitive sole. Zak often watched this with silent amusement, Drizzt noted. He never interfered, and once even helped Mir in her pranks. Mir was very young for an elf, and small, so she sat on Guenhwyvar's back easily, more often riding with delighted laughter as the panther leaped in its great bounds, covering the forest floor. They soon began picking up fallen branches, for use in the trollmoors looming up ahead. Reluctant to go, their pace slowed, but still they advanced inexorably towards the ghostly place. Then they stood on the outskirts of Moonwood, facing the unnatural, unearthly mists of the Evermoors.

Chapter 15: Trolls

Drizzt looked out at the moors with a distinct sense of resignation. The moors were just as he remembered them, blackened, with fog swirling endlessly over the uneven, hilly surface, hidden bogs ready to suck in any foolish enough to venture on their surfaces. "Trollmoors," he heard Miranae say with an overtone of fright. "Where did you last see your parents?" Zaknafein asked of the elven child gently. "I... don't know. I ran, and don't remember... don't know," Miranae said quietly. "I'm sorry I cannot help much." Niranyarr looked at the two drow elves then flew up into the air, high over the Trollmoors. They watched his circling shape high up in the air, Miranae with hope, and Zaknafein and Drizzt with knowing resignation. Niranyarr swooped down suddenly, disappearing into the fog. Mir let out an excited sound, then her face fell, as he appeared again in the bright blue hue of the sky, seemingly empty-handed. He spiraled down to them, his claws holding out something to Mir. A silver engraved headband, and a pair of bracers. Also a sodden sling bag with the stitched design of a soaring bird. Mir did not touch the objects. "Nothing else?" she said in a small voice. Niranyarr made a low keen of sadness. "Torn cloth," he said, but his eagle eyes met that of Zak's then Drizzt's and they knew that he had found something else. Something too terrible to tell a young child of. Mir wailed, and Zak enfolded her in a hug. Niranyarr dropped the items in front of her, then motioned to Drizzt. "There's something else, isn't there?" Drizzt asked when they were safely out of earshot. Niranyarr nodded. "Eaten, they were." He shuddered. Drizzt blinked, then a fiery rage began to burn in his lavender eyes. Niranyarr looked at him, then began again. "We may continue northwards to eyries. Safer route for child." "I am going through the moors," Drizzt declared. Niranyarr sighed. "Then Zak will go, and so will I." "Mir?" Drizzt asked of the griffin. "One will see if Mir enjoys flying," Niranyarr grinned. They walked back to Zak. Zaknafein was rocking Mir slowly, saying something comforting, while his eyes burned with the same fire in Drizzt's. Mir seemed, to all appearances, asleep. "We cross moors," Niranyarr told him. "Mir flies with me?" Zak nodded. "Perhaps she will not be afraid of heights, and this route is the fastest now." "And the both of you want to kill trolls," Niranyarr finished. Drizzt nodded slowly, his hands on his scimitar hilts. Niranyarr sighed again, then crouched down in a corner, opening his backpack, and taking out a strange, padded bag made of hard leather, which curved up at the sides. "Passenger," Niranyarr explained to the curious drow. Then he carefully took out his vial of firebreath potion, along with another bag of small transparent spheres. With a swift movement, he picked up one of the spheres and inverted it over the top of the vial, which had a pointed top. The sphere filled with a swirling orange, then the griffin carefully put it on the ground next to him. "Bullets?" Zak asked. Niranyarr nodded. "Trolls do not need so much of the potion," the griffin said, filling another sphere, and Zak realized he spoke from experience. "So goblins are not the only ones griffins bother at night," he said with a smile. Niranyarr laughed. "Many, many more, Zak." Seeing Drizzt's mystified expression, Zak spoke of the griffin's nightly raids, while Niranyarr continued to fill the spheres. Mir struggled, and Zak let her go. She walked over to the griffin, picking up one of the filled orbs. Niranyarr hurriedly took it from her, placing it back into a bundle. "May I have some?" She said clearly. "Your aim good?" Niranyarr asked, knowing her intent when he looked at her hard eyes. She nodded. Niranyarr glanced at the two dark elves and shrugged then took out another bundle while Mir attempted to sit inside the passenger bag. Being small, she succeeded, and smiled in delight, something that Zak was grateful she could still do. He had no wish to see this child turning into a drow in spirit. Niranyarr deftly finished his spheres, and they decided to wait one more day in the safety of Moonwood, resting, for the five days of hard travel in front of them. The sun rose, and Drizzt immediately hooded his eyes against the glaring light, while Zak merely looked on the golden clouds, undisturbed. Niranyarr stood up, fixing the passenger bag in place at his side, then Zak scooped up Mir and placed her inside. Mir wriggled into a half-seated, half-reclining position, clutching her bundle of spheres to her side. "Is that safe?" Drizzt asked of Niranyarr, pointing towards the bundle. Niranyarr nodded. "Glass will eat away when flying down, not up, and bundle protects them from griffin flight." "One will fly low when trolls appear." He said, and Mir nodded, her small hands fingering the tight clasp at the top of the bundle. Zak gave the camp a cursory glance, then walked on down the rise to the Trollmoors. "Lead the way past bogs," he called back at Niranyarr. "It's surprising one did not see that," Niranyarr remarked with a trace of sarcasm. Zak smiled a little sheepishly, then walked into the mist, Drizzt at his side. "Ready?" The griffin asked of his passenger. Mir nodded, with an excited look on her face. Niranyarr leaped off the rise, wings flaring, soaring upwards, Mir letting out an excited laugh, peering downwards, not the least bit afraid. The griffin stabilized high up in the air, riding on the currents, and started to glide. "The world is beautiful," Mir said, almost unconsciously, looking out over the glistening green of a thousand hues of green that made up the top of the Moonwood forest. Niranyarr nodded, then flew lower a little, ahead of Zaknafein and Drizzt, his claws signaling the best way through the bogs. "We're making better time," Drizzt remarked later in the evening on one of the higher, steeper rises that they had chosen as a defensive spot to spend the night. Mir sat in the middle of the spot, her bundle open in front of her as she chewed on one of Drizzt's biscuits. "Way is clearer, up there," Niranyarr said, busily dripping a generous trail of oil around the rise. Zak was lining the oil with portions of dried material. "Did you enjoy flying, Mir?" he asked of the little elf, who was starting on another biscuit. "Oh yes. It's fun, I feel so free up there," she replied through a mouthful. "Mir not afraid of heights, make good griffin," Niranyarr grinned, agilely bounding up the steep side. Mir laughed again, her musical, bell-like sound lifting their hearts. "The air smells better there," she finished, crinkling her nose at the sickly sweet smell around them, that stifling stench. Drizzt found himself almost envying her. Zak began meticulously arraying their defenses, the tinderbox and a few spheres in reach, a few stakes hidden on the rise to slow down the trolls, and scattering some more of the flammable materials around, so that the flame would spread. Then he climbed up back on the rise. Night fell faster than usual, the deep black enfolding them like a choking blanket, that threatened to drive them mad. Drizzt and Zaknafein possessed the best infravision of the group, and they stood warily on the rise, weapons at ready, Scorcher dull grey in Zak's hand. Niranyarr picked up Mir, her eyes too glowing the red of infravision, her hands tightly clutching the opened bundle. Silently, he flew into the night, to circle above the encampment, ready and watching for movement. It was Mir who spotted the tide first. Leaning slightly out of her protective perch, she nudged Niranyarr's flank, then silently pointed downwards, far east of the makeshift fortress. A shambling tide, glowing red in their infravision, obscured now and again by the dead rises and bogs, heading surely towards the fortress. Some of the forms were oddly shaped, but Niranyarr clasped his talons together, and Zak, down below, nodded. "They come," he told Drizzt quietly, eyes burning with the light of anticipation. Niranyarr circled lower, and the shambling gait of the monsters quickened. Then Drizzt saw them, exactly as he remembered them. Lanky, greyish, lurching forms, moaning like the tortured wind, their clawed hands reaching hungrily towards the elves. Twinkle flared, and the trolls shambled towards the encampment, stupidly swatting at the stakes. Those behind clambered over the ones that were pulling at the stakes, and Drizzt and Zaknafein promptly stabbed at them, pushing them back. When they were surrounded, Zak picked up one of the spheres, and hurled it precisely where he had left the trail of oil. Their fortress was suddenly ringed in fire, and the trolls outside the burning moat fled in terror, while those inside, milled around, to be burned by Drizzt's torch, or by Scorcher's fiery blade. Niranyarr swooped down over the fleeing trolls, randomly picking targets and hurling his spheres, Mir doing the same, crying out with triumph whenever she scored a hit. The burning bodies of the trolls bumped into others, also setting them aflame. They chased them for a goodly distance, then returned to the fort. Drizzt and Zaknafein had finished torching the trolls inside, and they walked around busily inside their fort, pushing out the charred bodies into the intense flame of the 'moat'. Drizzt stopped in front of a charred form. "Look," he said in astonishment. Zak wandered over. Below was the charred form of a wolf, the sickly gray skin of a troll melting off slowly. "I was wondering about that one," Zak commented. "A troll in the shape of a wolf. It almost got over the rise." "Some spell?" Drizzt asked, pointing towards a hunting cat, the skin also melting off. Zak nodded. "It cannot be polymorph," he said. The creatures retained their shapes as a troll. "Something akin to it, but I'll not like the idea of trolls suddenly able to change other creatures into their species." Niranyarr landed softly on the rise, and Mir peeked out, her smile still firmly fixed on her face, her eyes retaining their fierce light. "I got fifteen of them," she announced as soon as she saw the drow pair. Niranyarr laughed. "She make good griffin," he lamented, "Pity." Zak looked closely at Miranae. The elven girl's eyes had lost most of their hard edge, and regained more of her former mischievous look, although they now contained a soft sorrow. Regret, perhaps, and something else. Zak realized that Mir accepted things as they were, as an inevitable part of life. She did not destroy herself with regrets and laments, and she could let go. An admirable quality, perhaps, but also a dangerous one. Zak hoped that she would not feel the same about killing. Murder without feeling, she would become another Artemis Entreri, Drizzt's opposite. "Is there a building or something around this place?" Drizzt was asking Niranyarr. Niranyarr cocked his head to the side as he put Mir down. "Maybe, maybe-not. Have to see tomorrow. Why?" "There may be some wizard living here. Look," he pointed to the now fully restored, dead wolf form. Mir walked over to the body before Drizzt could catch her. "I remember," she said suddenly, faltering. "There were wolf-like trolls in the... group that killed..." she stopped, her small face twisting slightly. Zak walked over, and scooped her up. She turned a sad smile to him. "They're in a good place now, aren't they? A place after death, where there's only joy? Sometimes, I envy them, I don't feel sad that they've left. I feel them watching, they're probably glad we're doing this, aren't they? I wish I could join them." She added quietly. Zak hugged her. "There is a place after death, and you're mostly right about it. You have a life to live, that they've given up theirs for, and you're not going to disappoint them." He said. "Oh I won't," she said quickly, with determination. "You're a brave girl, Mir, and I'm sure they're proud of you," Drizzt commented. Mir shot all of them a shy smile, then squirmed into a confortable position and closed her eyes, the ghost of the smile remaining. Niranyarr made an embarrassed sound, then tried to change the subject. "They won't come back tonight," he said, almost asking for confirmation. "No, I don't think they will," Drizzt said, remembering his experience. "Unless something else is controlling them. How long will the potion burn?" Zak asked. "Through the night, in this place," Niranyarr replied, looking at the dry ground they were on. "Three hours if it rains." "Powerful," Drizzt commented, averting his eyes from the bright flame. Spots were exploding in his eyes. "We sleep here then, and move on tomorrow," Zak decided, then sat down at the highest part of the small rise to keep watch, still holding Mir, a fact that Drizzt was grateful for. Mir enjoyed waking up suddenly during the night, and if she was with Niranyarr, she would play with the griffin's tail, to Niranyarr's dismay; if she was with Drizzt, then the drow would give up hopes of sleeping. If she was with Zak, she often slept on, strangely enough. Drizzt liked Mir, but he did not really enjoy her tricks. She had the hands of a thief, and sometimes he would wake to see her examining his pocket contents on the ground next to him. And his amulets, and bracers, and once even Twinkle. She didn't seem to be able to break this habit, and Drizzt knew it was only curiousity. He wished she would try picking Zak's pockets, for once, but since Zaknafein was always awake, he often indulged her by simply emptying his pockets for her inspection. Perhaps she found Drizzt's pockets more challenging. "Ye bumbling fools!" a troll shrieked, at the mothely gathering of sickly sweet smelling monsters before him. "I want the drow! And the griffin! Can ye not understand that?" it continued, waving its hands above its head. "Go! Go tomorrow. I want them alive!" The other trolls shambled out of the underground cellar, that had been long abandoned, leaving the troll alone. The troll had actually been a mage. An unfortunate accident (not uncommon with mages) had changed him into a troll, but he had retained his mind and speech. Now he used the same experimental fluid on other living beings that wandered into the moors, simply building up his army. Soon he would invade Silverymoon. In his warped, deluded mind, he believed, that he could gather enough to conquer that fair city, that he saw as the ultimate threat to his kingdom. He found that his transformed trolls retained much of their former knowledge, with the exception of having a strong inclination to obey him. All the better. Two drow and a griffin would make a good addition to his army. His army grew each day. A few Riders of Nesme had accidentally wandered too far into the moors, to the waiting arms of the trolls. His regret were a group of elven warriors, that had been surrounded. On the brink of capture, they had cut a path through the trolls, giving their children a running chance, and then burned themselves and the trolls around them. His revenge was to chase down the children, one by one. To all reports, only one had survived to Moonwood. Where he still could not, would not venture! The accursed wood irked him, drove him into a seething rage every day! What was good was the reports that the small party was nearing his base, to their everlasting regret, he knew, rubbing his foul, slimy hands. Soon, soon he would achieve his dream. Silverymoon would be crushed.

Part 4: Children

It is my firm belief that children are all born pure, that they are then twisted by others around them into what they are now. None will retain that pure state. That is why children are the best judges. They judge by virtue, and their hearts lead them in the right directions. Drizzt told me once that Catti-brie retained that precious form, that allowed her to see the others around her accurately, that others were constantly surprised by her striking observations about their well being. Yet that purity was destroyed partly, I believed, to the hardships she suffered on the way. Drizzt's was forcefully made, by the scheming of Malice and her evil daughters. The price of a drow warrior is high, I know, for I have paid it too. Miranae, sweet, mischievous, thieving Miranae, who could see quickly past Drizzt's, and my dark skin, our drow features, to look in our hearts. She judged us that day, I would think, and her judgement caused her to stay with us, and not some grasping at self-preservation and survival that drove her into our company. Perhaps there is no way to change this inevitable course that steals our purity. The world demands our participation in its purpose, and particularly in this harsh world, where we all raise a weapon sooner or later, illusions are easily broken, morals are easily swayed. Perhaps, but we still try. To preserve that innocence, or at least to push them down a better path than the one I have trod. A better path, one without weapons and war. A better path, without hatred. Would that I had the strength to do so, that I could forge a better future. For Miranae, or for the others, those children of the world. They are our future. -- Zaknafein Do'Urden

Chapter 16: Master of the Moors

The fog swirled thickly around them, so thickly that it seemed that the moor was trying to choke them in its grey-brown embrace. Zak was forced to use his infravision to see Niranyarr's pointed directions. High up above, the griffin, unperturbed and unbothered by the heavy fog, scouted out the best possible routes. In the bright morning sun, Niranyarr could pierce the fog, even see the outlines of the stagnant bogs clearly, adn the pale olive green of the grassy ground. Mir slept soundly and safely in the passenger pouch, clutching the bundle of firebreath spheres and a long griffin flight feather, intricately barred and patterned naturally black designs against a tawny brown. Niranyarr had given the elven girl the feather to give her something else to do other than stroking his thick lion fur when he was flying. It was hard to concentrate when she did that, although the feeling was not unpleasant. Ahead of them, he saw, was a lake-sized bog that stretched for miles in his vision. Niranyarr paused, hovering, trying to see a way through. He called once, eagle like, drawing the attention of the two drow elves below, then clasped his left talon to his shoulder. The signal for them to 'wait'. Then he flew on ahead. Below, Zaknafein and Drizzt saw the signal, and stopped. Drizzt leant against a long-dead tree, bluish moss draping on the blackened, gnarled branches, where leaves had once been. Zak simply stood, often craning his head upwards to try and see if Niranyarr had returned. "Perhaps we have reached the big bog," Drizzt suggested in the drow code, thinking of the bog that he and his four friends had been forced to raft over. The thought of repeating the experience did not sit well with him. Zak shrugged. "Niranyarr will see a way across," he signaled back confidently. Drizzt, however, was not so sure. Zak was still turning over last night's events in his mind. He wished he knew how the trolls had located them so quickly, and suspected privately that someone had been controlling them, directing their movements. Perhaps the same wizard that had transformed the wolf and the hunting cat. Zak had no wish to interact with powerful wizards lately. Then Drizzt tapped his shoulder, and pointed up. Niranyarr was circling above them again, his right claw extending forward, pointing in a north east direction. Zak walked on ahead confidently, while Drizzt, at his side, continued to try and see where they were going. Niranyarr led them to a damp but solid path across the bog. At times, it was wide enough for twenty elves to pass, shoulder to shoulder, and at times, they had to walk in single file. The bog had claimed some of the path in places, and their boots were soon caked in squelching mud. This both elves bore stoically, Zaknafein promising himself that he would clean the mud off his runed boots as soon as possible. Though his magical boots made not a sound, unlike Drizzt's, the runes were becoming obscured, and he did not know if it would affect their magic. The waters around them were very shallow, deepening gradually, and they did not see any of the giant worms that Drizzt had encountered before on his search for Mithril Hall, though they did leave the ashes of six trolls smoking gently in their wake. Mir had woken up, and was reading Drizzt's book on dragon lore. She was no more than six years, but she read almost as well as an adult. Slowly but meticulously, she absorbed the information, to bombard Zak and Drizzt with questions when they stopped. Drizzt was grateful for the short interlude. With the book, she no longer (for the time being) disturbed his sleep. Another water troll rose out of the bog, its clawed hands reaching hungrily to Zak. Zak promptly drew Scorcher, batting away its hands, and plunging the burning sword into the monster. The troll caught fire. Zak pulled out his blade, and walked on, Drizzt dispatching another one of the creatures with a firebreath sphere. No other trolls rose to meet them, and they continued on their path, avoiding a muddy puddle on the way. Niranyarr looked down for a moment to see how the drow elves were doing, then continued onwards, his great wings effortlessly keeping him airbourne. Many hours passed in their trek, and they came on a squarish, grassy rise. A mound of leaves sat in the very middle of the rise, scattered, with only two narrow lines of green showing at the side of the rest of the rise. Drizzt walked straight on, then paused at the edge of the leaves. "That has to be the worst trap I have ever seen," he remarked. Zak strode over to take a look. Bits of netting showed under the cover of the leaves, as did a skeleton work of branches, crudely strung over what looked like a deep, empty pit. The leaves were mostly green, showing that they had been plucked, and no trees stood close by to even make the trap look natural. Zak smiled, then frowned. "The trap looks as if it were set for us," he said, squatting down to peer into the pit. It was too deep for two drow elves, standing on their shoulders, to get out, and its sheer sides too slippery with mud to climb out. "Who would do this?" Drizzt wondered. "The wizard that is here?" "Perhaps he finds that two drow-trolls would be better than troll-wolves." Zak replied grimly. Niranyarr spiraled down carefully in front of the leaves, to see what they were looking at. He whistled softly. "Someone want you two?" he asked. "Obviously," Zak replied. Drizzt started to step carefully around the perimeter. The ground beneath him suddenly wavered, then disappeared. Drizzt cried out in surprise, falling down a pit to land heavily on his backside. "Illusion," Niranyarr said in outrage, then unhooked a rope from his pack, lowering it to Drizzt. Drizzt was halfway up when the water around them exploded into trolls. Mir squealed in outrage and surprise, then proceeded to keep them away from the griffin with her spheres, Zak drawing his swords. He pushed one with his swords into the other perimeter, and the ground promptly wavered again, dropping the troll into the pit. Satisfield, Zak proceeded to burn the trolls with Scorcher on one hand, the other normal sword deftly prodding others into the two pits. Drizzt scrambled out of the pit, the trolls scattering under the barrage of the firebreath spheres that tripled under his, and Niranyarr's help. The trolls finally fled away into the water. Zak looked down at the pits, then selected two long sticks that had made up the cover of the decoy pit. Throwing them over to Drizzt, he floated across the traps, then materialized. "Now we will have to spend most of our time poking ahead with them," he explained, but Drizzt understood already. More slowly now, they moved ahead with their sticks, resembling blind men on a walk. Niranyarr flew back up into the air, worriedly hovering over the two drow elves, then flying onwards. The sticks revealed a few more traps, and these were avoided. Their boots became more and more caked with the mud, and their feet squelched noisily now with each step. Zak realised that even enchanted boots could not stand inches of thick mud. It drew attention. Log-like creatures floated closer by, longer than Niranyarr, with snake-like eyes. One suddenly burst out of the water towards Drizzt, revealing an impressive set of sharp teeth, and squat, clawed feet. Drizzt sidestepped its charge, but it swung its head, tearing at the elf's leg. Drizzt's eyes burned. He straddled the creature's neck, avoiding the slashing teeth with his agile feet, then he hooked the creature over deftly, revealing part of its softer underside. The creature abruptly stopped its thrashing, eyes closed in the sleep of death as Twinkle found its heart. Zak was beating off another of the creatures, Scorcher's bright flame searing its flesh. Still the creatures came. Some burst into flame as Niranyarr and Mir joined in, but they knew that the reptiles would keep coming. Drizzt impaled another of them with Icingdeath, Twinkle plunging quickly into another's maw. Zak was working his share, more than three twitching bodies lay at his feet as he deftly killed another with his swords. Still they came. Then the waters erupted again on both sides, and the trolls appeared. Zak changed his strategy, and began looking for an escape route. The trolls however, in their eagerness to get at the two elves, stepped on some of the reptiles, and the creatures reacted predictably. Soon the trolls and the reptiles had forgotten about the elves, and Zak and Drizzt ran on ahead of the quickly swelling riot. "Trolls are good for something after all," Zak commented. Drizzt could only nod. "Fools!" The troll-mage cried again in its underground lair. The adventurers had foiled all of his attacks, and were rapidly nearing the end of his moor! Not only that, a not-inconsiderable portion of his troops had been burned to death! "Intolerable!" he yelled, storming around the damp floor, "You will suffer for your insolence! All of you!" He knew they neared his lair. Quickly he rummaged through the debris on his lair, and picked up a spell book, its pages worn from use and grime. Flipping through the pages, he came to the incantation he was looking for. His eyes narrowed evilly as he yelled for his guards to surround the room. Quickly, he drew four circles on the ground with a stick, then added a few crude designs. It did not matter to him, as he was to use his magic to make them secure. The guards looked at him blankly, stupidly. The troll-ogre guard, the not-too-bright leader of the group, spoke up. "Orders?" he said in his guttural, gruff voice. "Protect me," the troll-mage replied, and launched himself into spell casting, his fingers weaving in front of him. The guards complied, forming a defensive diamond around the mage. "Ha'ralenwret reiawn n'wri'rarnre" he intoned, his splotched, green-gray hands moving stiffly in the intricate gestures. "Ni'renaenre lin're'enra Erin'wrie!" he yelled out the last and clapped his hands together. Blue, swirling planar doors opened in the circles, hissing with energy. "Come forth," the mage whispered. "Come forth, mine enemies!" They had finally stopped running, and continued to poke the ground in front of them, revealing more of the magical traps. They could see the end of the bog now, and moved faster towards it. Then swirling, blue mirrors appeared in front of them. A squawk of surprise from high up told Zak and Drizzt that the griffin too, had met one of the doors. Drizzt looked at the mirrors warily, then back at Zak. "Planar doors," Zak replied, his heart sinking slowly, "Run!" For all he knew, the unknown mage wished to send him on another trip back to the Abyss. The two drow elves tried to move away from the doors, to the end of the bog, but something was holding them fast. High above them, they could hear Niranyarr's cursing. The colors swirled faster and faster, then started to suck them in. Zak became insubstantial, but the magical energy simply strengthened, and they fell into the doors. Into a multicolored, worm-like burrow, falling down and down. This was very familiar to Zak, and he knew that trying to escape was futile. He tried anyway. Then they were yanked away, Zak breathing a sigh of relief, knowing that they had not fallen long enough to get out of the Prime Material Plane, let alone the Abyss. In a dank, dark room, the steady dripping of water louder here, like a reliable timepiece in the blackness of the hole. Roots hung down from the ceiling, and a small stream of water snaked across the moist floor in front of them. Overwhelming was the stench of trolls in the room, the sickly sweet smell choking them. A dim light appeared in the ceiling, allowing them to see their surroundings more clearly. Each of them, Miranae included, stood in a crude circle on the ground of moist earth. There was a troll in the middle of a diamond-shaped formation of a few troll-ogres and other 'changed', powerful beasts. Zak suspected the troll in the middle was the mage. His suspicions were confirmed when the troll held up a spell book that had been hidden behind him, then walked to their front. "Good," the troll-mage said, rubbing his disgusting hands together eagerly, "More recruits for my army!" "We'll never join you!" Drizzt replied in anger. He tried to walk out of the circle, hands already holding his scimitars, but it was as if he were trying to walk out of a solid wall. "We don't need to," Zak said, eyeing the troll-mage, "He'll polymorph us." Mir was looking around with frightened eyes, while Niranyarr was angrily trying to break out of his circle. "Smart of you." The troll-mage told Zaknafein. "With my army complete, I'll overrun Silverymoon, that disgustingly good city, and fill the world with trolls!" his voice raised to an exultant climax, hands raised above his head as if in ecstasy. "Our drow masters in Menzoberranzan will not look kindly upon this," Zak said evenly, trying to bluff his way out of the situation. "Drow do not go to surface," the troll-mage reasoned, his voice with a sense of doubt. "A cavern opening is close to here, in the mountains," Zak replied, his voice chillingly cold. The troll-mage suddenly smiled, evilly. "Good then. Drow that are trolls will be useful in my army!" He came forward to stop in front of Zak. "Let the big mouth be the first to change!" he continued loudly. "No!" Drizzt cried, still struggling against the invisible barrier. Niranyarr snarled, promising the troll-mage his death if he did not stop. Zak changed into his soul form, but the walls still stopped him. Unable to do anything but watch, he looked on as the troll-mage began another incantation. Then the mage's eyes looked back at him. "No use hiding. I can see you now." He said. "Ghosts who are half- troll make good warriors," he assured Zak, then pointed towards a wraith, greenish gray, also smelling of a troll, floating silently in the corner. Mir held the bundle of firebreath spheres tightly. She knew that the spheres would not be thrown out of the barrier, but she had to do something. She remembered the created faerie fire of her tribe. Perhaps it would burn the troll, she reasoned. She had never really tried it before, but Mir concentrated. The purple flames rimmed the troll-mage. He started, breaking his concentration, then laughed at them. "Faerie fire cannot burn," he reminded Drizzt teasingly, thinking that Drizzt had been responsible for the magic. Mir hardly heard him. She was reaching deeper into herself, her heart, pulling out energy from around her. "Burn," she commanded clearly at the troll-mage. He laughed at her, and continued with his incantation. Drizzt looked at Mir with a helpless expression. Faerie fire could not burn. Zak, however, understood her actions. He had watched the same thing, elsewhere in Sanctuary, but he did not think it would work in this place. Scorcher bounced off the barrier again and again as the drow elf tried to break through. Mir willed the troll the burn with all her heart and soul, her mind filled with pictures of the troll-mage in that state, that she avenged her parents. "Burn!" She cried out one more time. The purple flames suddenly turned white hot, searing the troll-mage, engulfing him in a ball of flame as he cried out in surprise and protest. His book collapsed into ash. "No!" he cried out in pain, holding up his flaming claws in front of him. "Stop! I beg... you" his mouth burned, and he soon collapsed into a smoking heap. Niranyarr and the two drow elves had been watching with absolute amazement. "Loremaster," Zaknafein said softly. Drizzt's ears caught up the sound, and he turned to look at Zak. "One of the World-Maker's Schools?" he asked uncomprehendingly. They had shared tales of their adventures before, on the road. "No. Mir has the magic," Zak replied, in astonishment. The other troll-creatures had suddenly reverted back to their normal form, and Niranyarr stepped out of the now-useless circles, picking up Mir. Miranae had collapsed with exhaustion, and the griffin gently put her back into his passenger pouch. Zak was shaking his head as they walked out of the small exit into the outside sun. "I did not think it would be possible here," he continued to say to Drizzt. "What does it do?" Drizzt said, slightly impressed that the magic did not seem to require any incantations or sort. "You use your mind to will things to happen, but only certain creatures can do it. It was a type of power created by Morikan. The World-Makers often create these types of powers and either randomly give it to creatures under them, or selectively." Zak distractedly repeated the lecture he had been given by Winter on the subject. A quest within a quest Morikan's voice came into Zak's mind. What do you mean? Zak asked, but the silver dragon's presence was gone. Zak disliked Morikan's tendency towards cryptic words, and he decided not to think about this particular saying. Shrugging, he continued on the path in the bog, glad to see that the traps had been revealed. "His magic dies with him," Drizzt said approvingly, looking at the stream of creatures, changed back by the death of the mage, running away in their opposite direction, not wishing to face the formidable drow elves. "It worked, didn't it?" Mir asked, when she woke up to see the sunlight and the clouds around her as Niranyarr flew in the air. "Very well," the griffin replied, making his coughing laugh, then he stopped. "How?" he asked rather bluntly. "I don't know... I just wanted it to happen, and I took this power around me and threw it at the troll," Mir rambled, her voice growing softer. "I don't know." She repeated quietly. Niranyarr bobbed his head. "Sleep now then," he said, and started to trill a soothing tune, that rocked the elven child into a deep slumber. They were very relieved the next day to see the River Laughing Flow, Mir even forgetting about the incident. For now.

Chapter 17: Longsaddle

"Guenhwyvar," Drizzt called, holding out the onyx figurine. The mist materialized, and the panther stood before Drizzt, lazily flicking its tail, ears alert for danger. Mir laughed with joy, and threw herself at the big cat, speaking to it and hugging it's great head. Guenhwyvar and Mir got along well. Zaknafein walked forward from where he had been keeping watch, and lifted Miranae onto the panther's back. Niranyarr would get a rest today from his 'passenger'. They had made good time past the River Laughing Flow, and through the crags without incident. Longsaddle was, after days of travel, finally in sight. The morning's crisp air acted as an elixir, and they felt fresh for the road. Mir rode her panther friend with the easy expertise of practice, without a saddle, her exclamations of joy at her steed's sudden jumps drifting back to the two drow elves as Guenhwyvar took the lead. Drizzt liked Longsaddle, and wished to visit his eccentric friends, the Harpells. Perhaps the most unintentionally destructive wizards in the Realms, the Harpell experiments were well known. They passed the outlying farms, as Drizzt had so long ago, the drow elves with their hoods on, as not to attract too much attention, but not only did Niranyarr run by their side, the black panther too bounded in front of them, still carrying its passenger; dispelling that hope. The heads of farmers tended to turn when griffins and panthers were around. Predictably, five armed riders then met them, that Drizzt knew as Longriders, the representatives of Longsaddle's watch. "Greetings, travelers," one said politely, trying not to stare at the griffin, "May we know your business in these parts?" "We've come to see the Harpells," Drizzt said, "We are friends on a visit." Saying so he lifted up his hood. The Longriders blinked. "Greetings, Drizzt Do'Urden, and well met." They moved aside, allowing the small party to pass, looking at them in curiosity now. Drizzt led the party to a hillock and the Ivy Mansion. It was mostly as Drizzt had remembered, seemingly unplanned, yet with an overall pleasing structure, except that a great hole had been blown out of one side of the mansion, blackening a few spires and niches. The turf around the hole was also charred. Somehow Drizzt was not surprised. "Explosion?" Mir asked, staring at the hole in astonishment. "Harpells," Drizzt replied, as if that explained everything. "Another of their unsuccessful experiments," Zaknafein continued to the griffin's curious look. "Recent, it seems," he added dryly, seeing that wisps of smoke still drifted up from the unplanned opening. A cluster of Harpells and their staff were gathered around the hole, arguing heatedly, probably, Zak thought, about some obscure tenet of the explosion and not to who was to blame. A carmine-robed man suddenly shuffled out of the crowd, which did not notice his movement, towards the gate. "Drizzt!" he said excitedly. "You're just in time. We've had a minor accident at the Mansion," he waved his hand at the gaping hole, "and we may need your help to solve it. We never did know that opening an extraplanar gate to the Virtual Plane would end up with an explosion. In my opinion its due to the different air here and the air there, they react," he stopped his rambling abruptly as it began. "Anyway, we need your help. They seem to be resistant to magic." "The Virtual Plane?" Zaknafein said in resignation. "Oh yes, we wanted to see for ourselves what one of the creatures in it really looked like, so we summoned a lesser one to a circle on the floor but the explosion burned the circle, but we don't know if the creature is still inside the building so we evacuated everyone." Harkle said in his customary rambling sentence of tumbling words, not even noticing Zak's skin color in his excitement. "Didn't you... know... about the Virtual Plane before... you opened a gate to it?" Zak grated out. Drizzt, Mir, and Niranyarr looked at his ire in surprise. "Well we wanted to get first hand information from one of the creatures themselves," Harkle said in an injured tone. With an effort Zak controlled himself. "So that... that thing is inside the building now?" his voice now chillingly calm. Harkle nodded, now seemingly oblivious to Zaknafein's irritation. "Oh yes, and it's causing quite a racket. Apparently it's wrecking the Fuzzy Quarterstaff now, and our scrying bowl's showing it, but we're quite divided over how it's doing its magic here, and..." "Send it back," Zak interrupted Harkle firmly. "Oh we would if we could, but you see it broke the circle so it's no longer under our control, but we shut down the gate, so you see..." Harkle started animatedly. "I suppose we have to," Zak said with a sigh, ignoring the wizard's words. "Oh. Do come in," Harkle said suddenly as he remembered that the five adventurers were outside the gate. Drizzt led them in through the third post, and into the strange compound. The crowd ignored their appearance, continuing to argue heatedly. "Something you have to tell us about monster?" Niranyarr suggested. "It can twist reality to create solid illusions," Zak said with irritation, "If it does this too long in the Material Plane, the entire fabric of reality here will be affected. Even if it were a lesser creature. You'll never know what is real and what is not." "That's frightening," Mir commented in her childish voice with its adult inflections. Reflexively, she patted Guenhwyvar's muscled back, as though to reassure herself that the panther was real. "That's how they do it? Twisting reality?" Harkle asked, with a tone of disappointment. "I thought that they used a type of magic that is summoned due to the mind and not through..." "I had better go in alone," Zak cut off the wizard again. "Why?" Drizzt asked, with an overtone of rebellion. "The thing can create illusions that are real, though most will not be for a lesser creature. By myself, I will not have to distinguish which is a friend, and which is a foe. He will be able to create images of people that we do know, or of ourselves, and we may end up killing each other," Zak said somberly. His companions struggled with this piece of reasoning for a while. "Still go," Niranyarr said firmly, Mir and Drizzt nodding their agreement. "You... I will be safer, if you stayed outside." Zak said reasonably. "Why you?" Drizzt asked bluntly. "Because I not only know what to do, I also can avoid most of his tricks." Zak replied coolly. "Teach us then," Mir said with enough authority to shame a queen. "Can you do this?" Zak challenged, becoming insubstantial, ignoring Harkle, who was standing close by in fascination. "A soul! How interesting," Harkle said enthusiastically, forgetting about the Fuzzy Quarterstaff and its inhabitant. "May I ask a few questions?" "Later, perhaps." Zak replied, then pointed at a circular chamber ahead of them, at the back of the weird mansion. "Is that the place?" "Oh yes," Harkle burbled. "How can you switch from being insubstantial to being material?" he asked. Zak ignored him again. "Stay here," he told the others, his voice carrying more of a plea than an order, then he drew his swords, Scorcher immediately burning with a red flame, stepping inside the wrecked door. The bar was wrecked, and a pile of twisted instruments sat at the side, that looked as though they had been stomped on, bent, then thrown forcefully against the walls. The circular tables had sported a gemstone in the center, but were now randomly splintered and scattered around the room. Then Zak saw the creature, an ever shifting, brown jelly like thing, vaguely in the shape of a human, half formed features ever changing, limbs ever sprouting from its sides to sink back in. It was currently contemplating the bar, that looked like the hub of a wheel, experimentally swinging a large pincer at it, then melting the pincer into a hammer, then into a sword and so on. It was engrossed in its game, and Zak thought that he could get in a lucky first strike to it's heart, cleanly, and end its torment. It was clearly suffering. The air here was different from its home, and it was breathing hard, in harsh gasps. Its destruction was probably caused by frustration. Zak, with cat-like movements, stole behind the monster, swords held dangerously low. An eye formed on the monster's back, briefly, then started to submerge back into the amorphous mass. Then it blinked, and stared at Zak. Zaknafein immediately charged, his swords whirling, but the monster stepped aside agilely, Zak only nicking his thigh. Or what was now a fishlike tail. Now a lion's great paws. Zak shook his attention away from the sinuous, hypnotic shapeshiftings, and quickly pushed up his swords to intercept a sword cut. He was surprised to see that he was fighting a mirror of himself. His determination was suddenly fueled by rage, and he spun and pirouetted, hitting away the illusion's awkward strokes to strike at its heart. The illusion puffed away with a hiss. A rushing of air behind him, his swords moving upwards of their own volition to block a stroke from a giant, his knees nearly buckling from the effort. His swords went into their deadly dance, Zak literally running circles around the slow creature, and Scorcher burned brighter as it plunged into the creature's heart. Zak then became insubstantial, floating through the other half-solid illusions, to arrive at the creature itself. With a roar, the thing extended two shapeless arms towards the drow, that suddenly split into many hands, holding many weapons. Zak took his soul shape. The weapons sliced harmlessly through him, and he continued forward. Confused, the creature lowered his defense for a moment, as it looked in Zak's general location. It could sense a soul's emanations, but being a lesser creature, could not actually see the soul. Swords angling upward into his heart showed him abruptly where the drow was. Drizzt continued to peer inside, restrained by Niranyarr. "Trust Zak," the griffin said calmly, its bulk preventing the slender drow from pushing past it into the doorway. "Zak?" Harkle asked, requesting for an introduction. Distractedly, Drizzt named his friends. "Your father?" Harkle repeated, unbelieving. "He came back on a quest," Drizzt said, trying to push through the griffin, but the half eagle, half lion stood on like a rock. "A spirit on a quest?" the wizards mused. "I really must speak with him later." Harkle decided. "I don't hear anything inside anymore," Mir remarked suddenly from her perch on Guenhwyvar's back. Niranyarr turned to look inside. "He won," he announced. Zak was walking back to them, sheathing his swords. The illusions, and the monster, were gone, sent back to the Virtual Plane. "Easy," Zak commented about the fight, stepping over a broken chair. "The bar, however, couldn't be helped." "Never mind about the bar," Harkle said dismissively. "We'll rebuild it, better." Zak spoke about what he had done, then about what the creatures could do, to quench the inevitable questioning of the wizard. They came out to the still arguing crowd, Harkle importantly announcing what had happened, and what the creature had really done, sparking yet another debate. "Harpells," Zak groaned, as Harkle was dragged inside the debate as well. "When this clears, it'll be time for the road," Drizzt remarked. Mir and Guenhwyvar went off to investigate Bidderdoo, the werewolf Harpell, the only resident in the Ivy Mansion not partaking of the debate. Niranyarr watched his friends attempting to extricate Harkle from the crowd with amusement, then retreated under the twin glares of Drizzt and Zaknafein as they noticed that amusement. Finally the crowd retreated into a semblance of order as DelRoy, the oldest Harpell in the Ivy Mansion, inexplicably and abruptly came to his senses and started organizing the motley band of mages. He turned towards the gaping hole, looking with disapproval at the many broken things inside. Then he began a chant, which apparently was very familiar to the other mages, as they too began incantations that were subtly different, but harmonizing with the old mage's chant. The hole suddenly sprouted a few spires, a birdbath, and a few notches, as a wall grew down in front of it. From what Zak could see of the inside, the broken things were quickly repairing themselves and fitting them back onto the shelves. The chant took a different note, and Zak supposed that they were repairing the inside of the Ivy Mansion and the Fuzzy Quarterstaff. DelRoy made a final, triumphant sound, then waved the crowd back into their places in the Mansion. Harkle shuffled back to the drow elves and the griffin, then looked over at Mir and Guenhwyvar. "Bidderdoo enjoys catching? Well I suppose it's a healthier habit than digging up the lawn and burying our wands, DelRoy just lost his favorite Wand of Summoning, and he's rather irritated about the manner, but Bidderdoo does not seem to be bothered," the wizard said happily, watching Guenhwyvar chasing Bidderdoo's dog form. The old mage walked over to the drow pair, looking curiously at Zaknafein, then at Niranyarr. "Welcome to the Mansion," he said at last. "You came at an interesting time, but rooms are ready for you already, and so is food in the new Fuzzy Quarterstaff," he said with a smile, then a frown came as he looked at Bidderdoo. "I really must find that Wand," he muttered irritably, then wandered off towards the werewolf Harpell. Drizzt found that he was enjoying himself. The new Fuzzy Quarterstaff sported a more elaborate bar and musical platform, but the tables were the same. Niranyarr looked around the chamber, filled with arguing Harpells and their staff. "Food?" he asked. Mir climbed on the table, ignoring Zak's, and Drizzt's remonstrations, to touch the gem tentatively. "Just ask," the gem said when she touched it, and she snatched back her small hand in astonishment, to glare collectively at the laughing drow. "It talks?" Niranyarr said in surprise. "It talks?" The gem answered, in mock surprise. Zak made an effort to stop laughing, found he could not, then gradually calmed down. "Do try to eat cooked food," he told the griffin. "Why?" Niranyarr asked innocently. "It's the custom here," Drizzt said glibly, and the griffin agreed somewhat reluctantly. The Harpells pulled their tables closer as they slowly noticed their tables, and started to bombard Zak with questions. What was he doing here? Where did he come from? How did he know of the the creature? Being the more popular of the questions. Zak answered the questions the best he could, amused at their thirst for knowledge. Drizzt was privately glad he was not the subject of prodding this time. Then the questions shifted to the griffin. Finally, Harkle thanked them for being understanding. "You're going to Icewind Dale then," he said, and Drizzt nodded. "There's war again in Ten Towns," he said. "Berkthgar and his tribes believe that the towns should relinquish some of their lands that they claimed. He believes in returning to the tundra, and Targos had recently discovered another good lake inside their territory, and insist on keeping it. They say they found it first. Anyway, Berkthgar was obviously not pleased, and so it's the barbarians over the people again. Seems he's been wanting to build his reputation through war," Harkle said, shaking his head. "We avoid Ten Towns then," Zak said, looking at Drizzt. "What if we were to try and defuse the hostilities?" the drow elf said hopefully. "It will take too much time. Perhaps on the way back," Zak replied firmly. Drizzt did not speak of the matter again later, but was privately thinking of something, Zak could see. They set off again the next morning, taking their farewells from the Harpells, and mounted on provided steeds. Zak rather missed N'ar'vel, and wondered how the black stallion was doing. Maybe after this mission, he could go and find out. They cantered on, leaving the Ivy Mansion behind.

Chapter 18: Elves

The road, Drizzt's only real home. Here he could feel the breeze in his hair, endure its many trials for the sake of the sense of freedom at its end. He rode on his bay horse, not hooded, the comfortable darkness of night around him. They slept less now, for Zak was nearing the end of his journey, and getting rather impatient. Mir had loudly protested the decision to return her to her home near Grunwald, and had finally settled to sulking, casting reproachful glances at Zak and Drizzt on her perch on Guenhwyvar's back. Especially now that the forest was in sight. Zak was hesitant about meeting the other surface elves of Mir's tribe, and was sure that drow elves would not be kindly received, especially drow elves with an elven child. They traveled on the outside of the forest, Mir reluctantly and sulkily giving them directions. Guenhwyvar, saucer eyes as unjudging as always, moved fleet footed at the front, changing its route to Miranae's pointers. The forest around them was mostly consisting of high trees, which blocked out most of the sunlight. The ground was full of low shrubs and moss, and a pleasant woody odor permeated the forest. Birdsong was clearly heard, and sometimes they would meet a stag, grazing on the path, to look at the panther with frightened and affronted eyes, then bound off into the trees. The path they were on had clearly been made. Pebbles lined the sides, and the path glowed a yellow color. "Visitors are not allowed to get off the path," Miranae said, "It's a rule here that's very strict, but you're with me, and it should be all right." Niranyarr did not appreciate the confining trees, and he loped easily by the panther's side, eyes occasionally drifting upwards to the canopy. "We reaching?" the griffin asked nervously. Mir gave him an amused look. "Not really," she said, and the griffin sighed. As they entered the borders of Mir's tribe, elven eyes were watching them. The sentry set his fingers in his mouth, and made a long, mournful sound like that of a strange bird. Three times he did it, then he settled back to watching the adventurers on his perch on a tree, his slender fingers touching his bow. They were drow elves! And they had one of his own, her yellow hair and gold-hued skin identifying the elven child that was apparently enjoying herself on the back of a black panther. Miranae stopped her laughter abruptly, listening to the familiar sound. "We've been spotted," she said rather loudly to her friends, her eyes going knowingly to a certain ash tree next to them. "You're friends, but there are certain things that we have to go through," her voice reflecting distaste for customs. "Customs have to follow," Niranyarr said. Griffins appreciated traditions. Miranae snorted, tapping Guenhwyvar. "We have to stay closer together, in case my people decide to take pot shots at Drizzt and Zak, then say they thought the 'drow' were not from my party," she said dryly. Zak thought that she seemed to be talking to someone else, and his eyes went up the ash tree, seeing a warm figure with his infravision. A sentry, he concluded. Drizzt suddenly had this uncomfortable feeling between his shoulder blades at Mir's mention of archers. High on his perch, the sentry allowed himself an involuntary smile. The child was obviously from his tribe, to know their customs. But was she genuine, or an incarnation of the drow elves? He also did not know what to make of the magnificent creature at their side, eagle head proudly raised, powerful lion's paws carrying it along, wings folded on its back. They were worth investigating, but the sentry knew better than that. Noiselessly, he climbed along on the branches, interlocked by rope ladders, following them and waiting for the others to come. The child was alert, he admitted. Her eyes followed his every move on the rope-linked trees, with her bright sunny smile. Her drow friends were a little less confident, and one in particular kept following her eyes, staring at the sentry's tell-tale body heat. The sentry decided that he had better speak to the Elders about that. Many creatures had infravision, especially those that came out at night to forage in the forest. What was the use of having a Watch when the creatures could find them? However, the sentry heard some answering calls, long and mournful, coming closer to him. He called again, then stopped. The group had stopped at the elven child's signal, and they were waiting, the drow elves fingering their weapons, the strange creature using its eagle eyes to sweep the forest. The little girl seemed unconcerned, engaged in scratching the panther's ears, while the panther purred appreciatively. "They're coming," Mir said. "The welcome party?" Zak asked dryly. "Sounds like a war party," Drizzt agreed. Welcome parties, to his knowledge, did not use signals to tell others of visitor's presence. "Well, you can't expect them to accept dark elves on a first glance," Mir said defensively. Drizzt nodded, knowing that his dark heritage often caused him to be cast out of many places, unceremoniously. He bore this prejudice stoically, for he was content, he had his friends, and the road. "They think we're holding you hostage?" Zak remarked. "Probably," Mir replied, rolling her eyes. "Hostage?" Niranyarr started to laugh. Mir stuck her tongue out at the griffin. "Don't do that," Zak and Drizzt said sternly in unison. Niranyarr laughed harder. Then he stopped as ten elves appeared suddenly out of the undergrowth, as if the forest had spit them out to meet the intruders. The elves too had the hair of golden wheat, and skin of nearly the same hue, like Miranae. Their hands held an array of finely crafted weapons, and they wore chain mail. More like a war party, Zak had to agree. Ten elven warriors for two drow elves? "Why are you holding one of our kin?" one of them asked at last, in a musical voice. "I am with them through my own free will," Miranae said. "When my parents were lost, these took me in, for the purpose of returning me to the tribe." The speaker seemed a little taken aback that the child had dared to speak, in this type of situation. "Are you under a spell?" the leader said tentatively, "Drow warriors often employ the dark arts." Drizzt, Zak included, was getting tired of this. Drizzt stepped forward before Mir could give a sarcastic retort. "My name is Drizzt Do'Urden, a follower of Mielikki," he introduced himself, hoping that the elves here had heard of him. Normally, Drizzt did not enjoy fame, but he admitted that it had its uses. Apparently from the excited whispers, the elves had. Any idea that Drizzt was faking it was dispelled by his obviously lavender eyes. "Welcome then, Drizzt Do'Urden, and well met, your reputation precedes you. Your companions are welcome here, though the child will have to explain why her parents and herself were outside the forest," the speaker said finally. "My name is Miranae," Mir said calmly. "Miranae?" the speaker said, astonished. "Where are the others?" "The trollmoors," Mir said sadly. The speaker nodded sympathetically, and changed the subject. "May I ask why you are in this part of the world?" he asked of Drizzt. "My father wishes to complete his quest," Drizzt said, patting Zak's shoulder. "And that is?" the speaker asked curiously. "To retrieve the Twin swords, Scorcher and Frostbite," Zak said urbanely. "But is that not..." another elven warrior said in astonishment. "Scorcher is with a red dragon, and Frostbite is lost," agreed another. Zak decided to indulge himself for a while. "Scorcher was with a red dragon," he commented, drawing the said sword. As was its custom, it flared with red fire. The elves looked rather impressed, with the exceptions of his friends. Mir smiled, as did Drizzt, while Niranyarr snorted. Having friends that knew him too well was sometimes problematic. "Frostbite is in the glaciers near Icewind Dale," Zak continued. "That is partly why we are here," he looked pointedly at Mir, who pouted. He wondered if he should take Mir to Sanctuary. Her Loremaster capabilities would be better developed there than at this place in which practically no one knew about the magic. Untrained, it could be very dangerous, for there were certain rules in it that could not be broken. Maybe after his quest he would ask Winter to retrieve the young elf. The elven warriors formed into two lines around them, and the speaker walked with Zak and Drizzt, showing his trust. Zak found that he liked this sort of society, based on trust and friendship, instead of power and ambition. A joyful singing became louder as they neared the woodland home, the eldritch calling that Drizzt found so familiar, on the surface raid he had participated in long ago. More familiar scenes unraveled in front of his eyes. Around a glade, a ring of elves danced and sang, joyfully, to the tune of several flutists in the corner. Zak looked at the scene, thinking about what he had left on the Plane of Saints. It looked very familiar, and his heart started to ache for 'his' heaven. The dances stopped as the surface elves looked at the escorted adventurers. Especially at the dark skins of Drizzt and Zaknafein, and a profound silence replaced the song. "Guests of Miranae," the speaker of the warrior group announced, and Miranae signaled for Guenhwyvar to move forward. "The griffin is Niranyarr Windsoarer, this is Guenhwyvar, and he's Drizzt Do'Urden. The last one is Zaknafein Do'Urden." She said in introduction. Strangers to a tribe were always introduced beforehand. "Well met," an old elf walked out from the others, his clear, resonant voice uncharacteristic of the surface elves. "Do join in," he smiled at the festivities, which had begun again hesitantly, and were now back in full swing. The old elf patted Mir's long gold hair, then motioned to the speaker of the escort. The both of them walked back to the crowd. The other elven warriors had already disappeared. "Guests are accorded as much trust as the members of the tribe," Mir explained. Would that Menzoberranzan had been like this! Zak wished. Mir and Guenhwyvar were swept up by a crowd of laughing elven children, to play together at the side of the glade. Guenhwyvar enjoyed playing with children, and would gladly have made that its life work, Drizzt thought privately. Zak too, he added, watching his father move, automatically it seemed, to the play. The small group of children was reserved at first with this new, unexpected playmate, then, like Mir, looked past his dark skin. They liked this strange drow elf that knew so many games! The dancers had invited Niranyarr shyly to play the part of an eagle in their story, and the griffin complied enthusiastically, while another wide-eyed child dragged Drizzt into the game. The old elf and the speaker watched the guests, and smiled approvingly. "They are different," the old elf said, referring to Drizzt and Zak. The speaker nodded, then told the old man what had happened to Mir, and how she had met the group. "It is best not to speak of it then. Mir would just have to be given to another family," the old elf decided. "Very well, Honored one," the speaker replied, "However I wonder if she would wish to leave her friends." "They are friends only, Liranril," the old elf said. Liranril shook his head. "She treats them as family, and they have been family to her since she lost her own," "Let her decide then," the old elf said after considering Liranril's observation. He trusted the seasoned warrior's judgement. "She is young, Honored one," Liranril protested. "Miranae, from what I have seen of her when she was here before, is a bright child. She will know what to do," the old elf said firmly. "Now I have kept you too long, and I will speak to the four of them later." Liranril bowed and retreated into the crowd. The old elf sat on his wooden rocking chair. He was the leader of the tribe, but becoming too old for the task. His old limbs would no longer carry him through the dance, and he simply watched the others now, feeling pleasure at the sight of the children's play. They were now playing catching, a favorite of Zak's since he usually won, Drizzt having been tagged the earliest, and was now blindfolded. Unfortunately, he grasped the game quickly, and his years of tutelage under Montolio, the blind ranger, had taught him much. Quickly he tagged an elven child. They had told each other their names, but all of them felt the same to Drizzt, so he guessed, and lifted his blindfold. "Reianae?" he said hopefully. The golden haired girl grinned. "Right," she admitted, then took the blindfold. Guenhwyvar was exempted from the rules, partly because the panther could not speak, and partly because it was very obvious who it was when tagged. However Guenhwyvar did not get its share of tags due to its speed. The dance ended long into the night, and everyone walked, or was carried, back to their treetop homes. The homes were built at the canopy of huge oaks, and small steps wound down the massive trunks onto the ground. The homes were made of oak, not a single nail showing, their structure strange but supported through pegs and interlocked spaces. Most of the homes had flowers dangling down from the sides, and they were a feast for the eyes. Rope walkways linked up the platforms, which were also carved into pleasing shapes by the skilled elven craftsmen. They were escorted into guestrooms, Mir refusing the invitation of a family politely, preferring to disturb her friends. The temperatures were getting colder. Zak was unaffected by the biting wind, but Drizzt had started to wear warm clothing. Niranyarr, however was a problem, Zak could see. The griffin was not bothered about this phenomenon, and told Zak not to worry when the dark elf had asked. Zak concluded finally that the griffin probably had yet another strange potion that the griffin mages had concocted. Since griffins did not have many fingers, the designs of many spells could not be cast, and their mages often made potions instead. There was an exasperated exclamation from Drizzt's general direction, and Zak noticed that Mir's bunk was vacated. "Your toes are cold," Drizzt complained, but Mir snickered, then burrowed out of the sheets to lie against Guenhwyvar, at the foot of Drizzt's bed, the panther stretching contentedly. Drizzt pulled his sheets over his head at the sound of Zak's muffled laughter. There were limits to what he could endure, and he was sure that Mir had other plans in mind, probably regarding his property. They were woken the next day to more singing down below, to see Zak appearing in the doorway with a tray of food. "Each room is supposed to get their own, or join in down there," he explained. "However the situation down there has... um..." "Deteriorated into a food fight," Mir finished. "It happens rather often." She smiled. "Excuse me," Miranae lightly jumped down from Guenhwyvar's side, and flew down the stairs. The food was mostly fruits of different, succulent tastes, bread and a bit of cheese. Niranyarr declined the bread and cheese, eating most of the fruit, Zak walking back out to the balcony after he put down the tray. Drizzt joined him a moment later with a hunk of bread and cheese. On the glade, there were tables of fruit and other items, and benches for those who wished to eat down there. However, in the center of the glade a small riot had taken place, mostly made of children but with a fair number of adults. "Looks like fun," Niranyarr commented, padding onto the balcony with Guenhwyvar. "Looks like a mess," Zak corrected. "They're enjoying themselves, so what's a bit of waste?" Drizzt smiled. Mir's shape was apparent inside the riot. "Apparently Miranae's firebreath spheres have improved her aim," Drizzt continued. A table of what looked like some of the warriors was watching with wide smiles. Zak recognized Liranril among them. Then, as riots were wont to, the fight overflowed into their direction. "When are we going to start today?" Zak wondered aloud. It did not take as long as Zak had anticipated, but the tables were cleared and the glade cleaned. Mir was wearing a new dress, and had washed off the food from her. "Chief Wyranlil would like to see us," Mir said as soon as she spotted her friends, then led them up to an immense oak in the woodland home. The old elf was rocking in his chair, a look of dreamy content on his face. His chamber was more elaborate than the others were, but instead of the swords that customary decorated the rooms of leaders, his was tapestries and marvelous paintings. The room had a hallowed feeling to it, serenity in its walls. The floor had a simple carpet, and the bed was small and plain compared to the rest of the room. An ornate table sat at the side, lifelike sculptures of falcons on both sides of it. A portrait hung above the table, probably that of the founder of the tribe. "Welcome," Wyranlil said warmly when he noticed their presence. "We have to leave today," Zak informed him, slightly regretful. Wyranlil smiled. "May the gods shine on you and your friends for your quest," he said. "Miranae?" he asked of the elven child standing next to Drizzt and Niranyarr. "Would you stay with us, or with them?" Miranae bit her lip. She had known this question was forthcoming, but it was hard to make a decision. The group was the only family she knew now, and although she knew that they would split their own ways after the quest, she wished to go with them. Maybe she would come back here after the quest. "With them," she decided. Niranyarr felt secretly pleased at the child's decision, but could see problems ahead. Zak gave her an incredulous look, and started to protest, but Wyranlil smiled his approval. "We will give you supplies for your journey," he said, businesslike. "Now, something has come to my attention. Ten Towns has warred with the barbarian tribes," "We know of that, and are going to avoid the trouble," Zak said. "It's a little widespread," Wyranlil said, "and you will have to either pass Ten Towns or the tundra, or both to get to the glaciers." "Your son is a bit too well known in that part to stay neutral," the old elf said, with a smile at Drizzt. "What is the situation there now?" Drizzt asked. "The fishermen are still holding to the lake, and have hinted on a settlement there. They are getting support from Kemp of Targos, but the other town speakers are not so sure about helping them. The fishermen belong to Targos in the first place." Wyranlil said. "Targos alone is not strong enough," Drizzt said. "They know that, but Berkthgar knows that if he were to kill the people inside the village, he should expect reprisals from the rest, but he cares not. He hopes to build a reputation equal to Wulfgar's." Wyranlil explained. "Fools," Niranyarr said. "Over a small lake?" "For Berkthgar, more is at stake," Wyranlil said. "I do not even think that Wulfgar would be able to sway the barbarians now. The older ones know war, and they're more hesitant about this, but the younger ones are eager for battle." "We will try to avoid the conflict," Zak said doubtfully. "My thanks." "Just take care of Miranae," Wyranlil responded, patting the child's head again, Mir accepting this quietly, still held in her thoughts. They left in the afternoon, to the good-byes of the tribe, Mir sitting with Niranyarr, Drizzt and Zak walking behind. Drizzt wondered why war often did not teach the humans anything at all. Zak took Miranae aside for a while when they had lost sight of the wooded area. "The place we're going to is too dangerous for you," he began, Mir looking at him calmly. "I'm still going," she said. Zak opened his mouth to give a scathing retort, but yet another familiar voice permeated his consciousness. She's going with you Morikan said. Why can't I pick her up on my way back? Zak retorted. From the fascinated look on Miranae's face, she heard the conversation too. Because I said so Morikan replied smugly, then disappeared again. "Not a word," Zak warned the impishly grinning elven girl. He stalked back to his horse, and Mir burst out into laughter.

Chapter 19: Icewind Dale

"Yetis," Drizzt confirmed, as the two drow elves stood in the shelter of a frozen tree. The bear-like monsters shuffled around in front of them, quite oblivious to their presence. Zaknafein considered the four monsters, wondering if they should attack or leave them alone, but his decision was made for him. It suddenly rained fiery spheres on the yetis, two of them bellowing in rage and pain as they went up in flames. Zak ran out of the cover, swords held low, and attacked one of the yetis, his swords expertly dancing past the heavy blows of the yeti to angle into its heart. Drizzt had engaged the other monster, the bracers of speed on his boots allowing him to dodge quickly all the monster's blows, then Twinkle too touched the monster's heart. The other two yetis, under the insistent hail of scorching flame, died under the barrage. A stench of burnt flesh permeated the frozen, snow-covered ground, and the two elves moved quickly out of distance. High above them, Niranyarr and Mir hefted their dwindling supplies of spheres, swooping on ahead. It was colder high up, and Mir was wrapped in fur and blankets, quite comfortable, often ducking her head down to avoid the biting cold of the wind. Niranyarr did not wear any protection, unconcerned about the cold due to a strange bluish potion he had taken earlier in the day. The potions of the griffin mages were potent indeed. They were to stop by the dwarven mines, partly to rest, and partly for more information. Drizzt moved confidently towards Bruenor's Climb, a mound of rocks that he and the sour dwarf had sat on often at night, Bruenor to speak of his homeland, Drizzt to listen. Niranyarr landed softly, Mir poking her head out of the bundle. "Are we there yet?" She asked, placing her hands under the covers to try and keep warm. "Almost," Drizzt replied, pulling his cowl down to avoid the glare of the sun on the virgin snow. They went into a passage lighted magically, the two dwarven guards reaching for their weapons, then calming down when Drizzt lifted the top of his hood. "Stumpet'll speak to ye," one of the red bearded dwarves said, not looking surprised at the drow elf's sudden appearance, pointing vaguely towards a corridor of rooms. "Bruenor?" The other asked, looking at their party. "Bruenor's at Citadel Adbar, last I saw," Drizzt replied. Leaving the guards to mull over this bit of information, Drizzt led his friends into a room in the tunnels. Stumpet Rakingclaw whirled from where she had been examining a bottle at the sound of their entrance. "Well met, Drizzt Do'Urden," she began, looking curiously at his friends. "Well met, Stumpet," Drizzt replied with a smile. "We seek a place to rest," "Done. Yer friends have to sleep in the guest quarters, but ye'll get food and bedding. Where's Bruenor?" the cleric asked, noticing his absence. "An' Catti-brie, Wulfgar, an' Regis?" "Citadel Adbar," Drizzt said. "We separated there for a while," the dark elf continued. A mixed expression came on his handsome features. "Wulfgar left us earlier on, to take his own path." "Suren ye'll tell me why in yer time," Stumpet said. "Yer friends are?" Drizzt introduced his companions, Niranyarr lifting Mir out so that she could stretch her legs. "Yer good at pickin' up strange folk," Stumpet remarked, looking at Niranyarr, and at Zak. Drizzt smiled. "Very strange folk," he amended, with a grin at his father. Zak ignored it, looking around the plain stone chamber, with a table and drawers stacked full of paraphernalia, and a rack of mountain climbing equipment at the side. "The mountains be too harsh fer th' likes o' this one," Stumpet remarked, watching Mir crawl onto the low table to investigate the drawers. Zak hastily picked up the elven girl as she attempted to open one of the bottles. "She insisted on coming," he said, "and I really did not have much choice." "How is war in Ten Towns?" Niranyarr asked the cleric. "Rapidly worsening. We refuse t' take either side of the orc-brained folk, an' ye'll be wise to stay outta their way." The cleric said. Drizzt nodded. "Is there a clear way through?" "The damned barbarians took most o' the area fer their own, what with ancestral land, but they're few, and ye'll probably be able t' get through, s'long as ye don't near that lake." Stumpet said, picking up a map of the area from the depths of one of the drawers, and pointing at a blue blotch on the fading paper. "The lake's not much bigger than Redwaters," Drizzt said incredulously. "They'll fight over it?" "They not only did, they're doin' it now," Stumpet said. "We're not concerned 'bout them battles, just 'bout the business." Dwarves were largely a practical race. Zaknafein took out his map with the 'X' mark of Frostbite's shrine, comparing his map to Stumpet's. Quickly, he marked out a possible route through. "Yer lookin' fer somethin'?" Stumpet asked, pointing with one thick finger at the X. "Frostbite," Zak confirmed absently, looking at the markings on Stumpet's map that represented the barbarian territory. Stumpet stared at him, then her eyes moved unconsciously to his sword belt. "Ye got the dragon," she said, in a tone of awe. Zaknafein nodded. "A hard fight," he said offhandedly. "Now, do you think this route is possible?" he asked, tracing a path with his finger. The war had been sparked off a band of young people from Targos setting off for 'a lark'. They had wandered into the barbarian territory, unchallenged due to their roundabout route. They had come upon a small, sparkling lake, full of the knucklehead trout, and immediately marked it on their map, proclaiming it the property of Targos. Their return to that town had sparked a lot of interest, many fishermen packing up and moving to the lake, setting up another village called New Targos. Obviously Berkthgar was irritated by this random intrusion, and ignored every peace-keeping effort by the town-speakers, attacking and subsequently destroying New Targos with some of his warriors. Although he was advised by Revjak to try negotiation, he refused, saying, to thunderous cheers, that the townspeople had gone too far, and had invaded their ancient lands. Holding Bankenfuere, his great sword, he roared out that the barbarians had to prove their rights over the land, they had to defend it with their lives, if needed! Revjak could only watch the overwhelming support for Berkthgar's ideas with a shaking head. He had seen war many times, and had lost much along with it, but the townsfolk were really intruding into the tundra this time. Revjak knew that the barbarians would always follow their leader. Berkthgar wished to climb out of Wulfgar's shadow, through bloody deed if necessary. The fishermen gradually came back to New Targos, along with a regime of armed soldiers. They foolishly claimed ownership of the stocked lake, with Kemp's wholehearted support. Caer-Dineval and Bryn Shander opposed the war, trying to keep neutral, but they knew they would retaliate if Targos were attacked. The towns stood poised for war, Revjak knew. Another bloody senseless war. Woe to New Targos. They set off at night when the sun no longer shone over the gleaming snow, a night that still seemed bright to the drow elves. Drizzt and Zak walked along easily over the frozen tundra, a light snow patterning their cloaks. High above, Mir kept attempting to catch a snowflake and examine it, but it kept melting in her hands. Slightly miffed at the snowflake's lack of cooperation, she caught another, and it too melted. Niranyarr chuckled. "Your body heat melts snow," he explained. "No snow where you live?" he asked, slightly surprised. Grunwald was very close to the glaciers. "Enchantment keeps the snow out of the forested area, and I've only been out once," Mir said, her face clouding as she thought of why she had gone out. Niranyarr wisely did not press the issue. "Snow good to play," he commented. "Show you later down." Drizzt was a host of mixed emotions about returning to the tundra. He felt inclined to go and speak with the people of Ten Towns, and the barbarians, about this war. Neither would give, but Drizzt could think of a dozen alternatives to war. If only he could speak to Revjak, or Cassius, but Zak was adamant about continuing. "If we do not speak with them, more will die in this war," Drizzt tried again. Not slowing his pace, Zak turned his unhooded head to Drizzt. "Maybe after we get to the shrine," he said calmly. Zak did not wish to act as a mediating personage to stubborn, silly people who were willing to fight over fish, and Drizzt knew it. Drizzt however, felt inclined to try. "After we get to the shrine it may be too late," Drizzt said. "Stumpet said that hostilities were breaking out again." "Serves them right," Zak muttered under his breath. Drizzt pretended not to hear. "Icewind Dale was... is my home. I have to do something," Drizzt told Zak. "Then do it," Zak replied, his feet crunching in the snow. He realized he did not really like the pristine white blanket. The cold seeped into his toes, and his boots were getting wet and uncomfortable. It was beautiful though, like a single unspoiled painting. Drizzt looked at him in sudden hope then narrowed his eyes. "Together." He said. "It's really none of my business," Zak commented coldly, "If these people are willing to fight over fish, of all things, without seeing the other options, that is their problem." "I am trying to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives," Drizzt growled. "Lives have already been lost, and still will," Zak remarked. "Stop the 'will' then," Drizzt continued, his voice rising. "We could make them see the options, then there'll be no war." "Look," Zak said, his voice becoming colder, as cold as the snow around them, "do you think that this war, will be the only one? You've seen many wars in this place, you think this will be the last one? Even if you get Berkthgar to stop the war, what do you think of his successor? Or his grandson?" "It's a sad thing, but the barbarians are like that. What more do you expect from people who worship the God of War? Leave them alone. Unless you wish to spend the rest of your life cosseting them," Zak finished, and continued to plow through the snow. Drizzt mulled that over. Zak was right about some of the points. However Wulfgar had united the barbarians with Ten Towns once, and Drizzt had hoped that unity would stand. With the introduction of Berkthgar, and the young ones who had never seen war, it did not seem to last. How many more lakes like New Targos would be found? The fishermen would not be content to simply be told to stay out of the barbarian's territory. Nor did he have any proof that Berkthgar's people would leave the towns alone. He did feel obliged to do something. The idea of his home plunging back into war pulled at his heart. "If we see any of them on the way, we speak to them," Drizzt finally told Zak. Zak saw the remote possibility of that happening, but considering his 'enhanced' luck, it could. "Why?" he said bluntly, "They do not even accept you." "I had vowed a long time ago to serve as protector of this place," Drizzt said, "I should at least try something." "If we see them," Zak repeated. He did not wish to get involved, but he did not want to take a more roundabout route. Drizzt nodded. It was better than nothing. "What are they talking about this time?" Mir asked Niranyarr, peering down from the height. "Whether to get involved in war," the griffin answered, his sharper ears having caught the gist of the conversation. "Whatever for?" Mir said. "We leave them alone, they leave us alone, everyone is happy." "This is Drizzt's home," Niranyarr tried to explain. Mir looked unconvinced, but dropped the subject. Looking down on the snow made her eyes hurt. The sun reflected off the bright surface, blinding and glaring. How Zak could stand it, she did not know. The tundra was full of enemies, and her throwing hand improved tremendously. "Why does this harsh land contain so many monsters?" she wondered. "Harsh land have food too," Niranyarr replied, pointing at the distant specks of caribou with his talon, even as he continued to lead the pair of drow below him. Mir looked carefully at the perambulations of the brown spots. "But life here, so hard," she said, ducking her head away from another gust of the chilling wind. "For towns, they accept all outcast. For barbarians, they live here, and their ancestors. They won't go," Niranyarr stated. "Towns fish, bring money. People will live in Sea of Ice if it brought profit," he said with a slight tone of disgust. "But you can't even eat money," Mir said. "You can buy food," Niranyarr pointed out. "Griffins no use money. Ours is trade." The griffin decided to reserve the fact that griffins traded mostly in jewelry, which as also rather useless. "The world is mad," Mir said in conviction, then smuggled down to sleep, the griffin shaking in laughter. The deer ran swiftly as the wind, bolting away in all directions like a brown, breaking wave washing away from a single deer, that struggled to get up from the spear throw. Kierstaad wandered over the creature, killing it cleanly with another stroke, then paid his respects to the deer's spirit with a muttered chant. Nothing would be wasted, to honor the spirit. The hunting party picked up the meat, starting back to the tents. The parties had intensified their hunt for preparation against the war. Berkthgar smiled once at Kierstaad, showing his approval of the long spear throw, then his face settled back to that thoughtful expression he had worn of late. At least, Kierstaad thought, as he retrieved his spear, that Berkthgar had stopped his lies about Wulfgar. However he had his doubts about such a war. Revjak had tactfully tried to dissuade Berkthgar the night before and almost had to defend himself from an angry outburst. "We have to defend our lands!" Berkthgar had yelled at Revjak. Revjak, undaunted, reminded Berkthgar of the consequences of the first large war against the towns. "The dwarves are not joining in this one," Berkthgar had replied. Kierstaad knew that was a bad point for the towns. The dwarves had played major parts in winning the wars, but Stumpet, the current leader of the small group in the mines, had steadfastly refused to take part. Revjak had conceded that point. He agreed with Berkthgar that the towns had invaded their territory, but he did not agree with the war. The barbarian's numbers had dwindled, and he did not think they would win against a combined effort of the towns. Kierstaad wished Wulfgar was here, the old Wulfgar, and not the tormented one. Wulfgar would have seen a way out, with the support of his dwarf friend Bruenor, and Drizzt. Immersed in their respective thoughts, the hunting party made a quiet way back across the land. A sudden blizzard had buried quite a bit of the grasses, and the deer and moved farther away from the encampment, but the hardy people did not mind trekking back in the least. Especially, Berkthgar thought, if they could meet a few unwise townsfolk on another reconnaissance. Niranyarr made a warning call down to the drow elves, and they looked up. His claws deftly clasped his shoulders, then held up his talon twice. "Somebody's coming in a group of six," Zak said, translating the gestures. "People, probably," he added with a resigned expression. Either Morikan was feeling active today, or this was predestined. He hoped the people were aggressive. Then he could, he admitted, get rid of their company in the shortest possible time, instead of speaking to them. Drizzt was squinting at the small group. "Barbarians," he confirmed Zak's suspicions. "Friendly?" Zak asked. Drizzt nodded. "They will know me," he said. Their paths would meet, the barbarians closing in with what looked like a fresh kill along with them. A hunting party, but what were they doing this far east? The leader's face came into sight, and Drizzt groaned inwardly. He supposed that Revjak would be too old for a hunt, but he did have his hopes. Berkthgar held up his hands warily at the sight of the two figures, the drew his sword nervously as Zak's unfamiliar, but obviously drow features came in view. "My greetings, Berkthgar," Drizzt said calmly, raising his hood a little. Berkthgar relaxed, but did not sheath his weapon. "Why have you returned to the dale?" he asked bluntly. "On a quest that does not concern its people," Zak replied, just as bluntly. Berkthgar stiffened, and Kierstaad, at his side, looked uncomfortable. "Are you bringing your people into the dale," Berkthgar said, jerking at Zak's direction with his head. "No. What has happened in the dale?" Drizzt said innocently, feigning ignorance. Berkthgar stared at the two for a while, then looked up as he heard one of his comrade's exclamations. Niranyarr had circled lower, hovering over them, but out of a spear throw. "What treachery is this?" Berkthgar growled at Drizzt. "A friend," Zak replied calmly. "He will not attack." The other barbarians alternated watching the drow, and watching the griffin nervously. Berkthgar decided to continue. "The people of the towns have invaded our land, and they must be pushed out," "What will Berkthgar do when they have returned then?" Drizzt pressed. Berkthgar gave the drow a smile. "Have you forgotten about the war with your people and the towns?" Drizzt asked. "The people are diminished, and the dwarves will not join," Berkthgar replied. "They may," Drizzt countered. "As you think that the towns will not return for the lake, to take our land?" Berkthgar said. His friends behind him nodded slightly. Zak was feeling irritated about the entire business. "Have you tried speaking with the towns about the lake?" Drizzt said. "It is our land," Berkthgar replied simply. "Why ask them for permission to take it back?" "Mutual trade," Drizzt explained. "We do not need the trappings of wealth," Berkthgar said. "Now we will go," stalking past Drizzt, followed by his warriors. Kierstaad stopped in front of the drow. "Well met," he said hesitantly. "A full warrior now," Drizzt smiled at him, seeing Kierstaad's new adornments. Kierstaad nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "The war is inevitable," he warned Drizzt, calming down. "Best if you do not get involved." Then the young barbarian followed the elder hunters, leaving Drizzt to his thoughts about Kierstaad's assessment of the situation.

Chapter 20: Regheld Glacier

"What are those creatures?" Zak breathed. The adventurers were crouched behind a weathered, gigantic rock, peering out at the host of equally immense creatures in front of them. The creatures could easily have towered over Errtu, their massive, brown bodies covered in matted fur. Supported by four trunk like feet, their tasseled tails almost brushed the snow beneath them. Most striking of all were the long, snakelike noses, and the beautiful ivory tusks. Their eyes gleamed with a certain benign contentment as they languidly used their noses to dig up the mosses and shrubs on the ground. "I've heard tell of tales, they're called 'mammoths' I believe." Drizzt whispered, "They probably will not bother us if we circle them far enough." "Mammoths," Mir rolled the strange word on her tongue. "One of them can feed eyrie for week," Niranyarr commented. "Well we don't need a week's supplies, so we had better be going," Zak said briskly, setting off on a route that gave the giants a wide berth. Niranyarr shrugged, and flew up into the air, his wings pumping noisily. The mammoths did not seem to bother, or care. And rightfully so, Zak thought. Who would bother them? Mir patted Guenhwyvar, and the panther bounded to the front, keeping within the shadows as much as possible. Zak's feet crunched on the snow, sinking him up almost to his knees as he plowed his way through, Drizzt following his path. Then the lead mammoth turned its giant head to regard the elves. Its eyes glowed blue, an icy, intense blue. Belatedly, Zak yelled "Run!" and lit off through the thick snow back to the rock face. Guenhwyvar stood its ground, growling a warning at the mammoth, Niranyarr making a swooping circuit to pick up Miranae, then flying upwards in a burst of speed. Zak felt as if an earthquake was happening as the giant creatures turned as one and blundered towards them in a thunderous tread, lifting their serpentine noses to trumpet, a shattering, nerve-racking sound. He took out Scorcher, using the sword's bright flame to melt the deep snow, allowing him to move faster yet in the snow. Drizzt hurried behind him, an image of a flattened drow elf all too clear in his mind as they raced for the large boulder jutting out of the snow a few yards ahead of them. Too high for the mammoths to get at them, it also looked too steep to climb, but it was their only hope. The mountainsides stood too far apart to reach in time. Spheres of fire went down in fiery comets to land accurately on the stampeding beasts, but this did not slow down the bulk of the beasts. Niranyarr and Mir had to hit the mammoths several times for the beast to notice the flames, and panic. Four mammoths went berserk in the burning pain, smashing and gouging their compatriots with their curving ivory tusks. This caused some minor dissention in the ranks, but Niranyarr noticed that the blue fire seemed to focus on the two fleeing elves, ignoring the wounds, causing the mammoths to charge on. Guenhwyvar growled at the nearest mammoth, but it ran on, oblivious to the great cat. With courage, the panther leapt onto the mammoth, snarling and swiping with its great claws, but hardly damaging it beneath the thick coat of shaggy hair. The mammoth simply ignored its attacker, charging on. Zak reached the rock first and promptly drifted up its steep slope, but Drizzt had problems with the climbing. However the image of the lead mammoth charging up his back proved an asset to his willpower, and he found grips and handholds through sheer determination, helped upwards by Zak, for them to scramble together to a seat at the highest portion of the rock. "Begone, Guenhwyvar," Drizzt called, seeing his friend's vicious attacks seemed to have no difference. Even when the panther attacked the mammoth's eyes, it just clamped them shut, ignoring the swipes. Guenhwyvar dissolved into the black mist. A mammoth finally fell, squealing, in a cloud of fiery flame, hit a dozen times. "Will not last," Niranyarr called, holding up his diminished bundle. Zak nodded, then hastily swiped at a mammoth trunk with his sword, as the prehensile thing attempted to grab his legs. "The light in their eyes is unnatural," Drizzt said, looking more closely at the blue fire in the mammoth's eyes. "Frostbite," Zak said with a sharp intake of breath, suddenly remembering the phrases. "If ye have heart enough, defeat its guardians." "Guardians? Are we close then?" Drizzt asked, slicing at another attempt by another mammoth.Six of the beasts surrounded their precarious perch, grunting and trumpeting in frustration. Zak shook his head. "I assume there are many more," he replied, looking longingly at the clear swath of snow that had been their route. "I wonder how they... it knew I was coming," he said. "Magic," Drizzt replied succinctly. "I wonder if it can counter this," Zak suggested, then shifted into his soul state. Drizzt almost fell off the boulder in surprise, but recovered quickly. The mammoths looked slightly surprised, if their features could show emotion, the blue fire flickering. Then it disappeared, and the mammoths now looked rather bewildered. Slowly, they moved off back to their feeding ground. Zak reappeared next to Drizzt, startling his son again. The mammoths stiffened in their tracks, and charged back, bellowing. Zak hurriedly tossed Drizzt his map. "Meet you later, continue," he said, then disappeared, allowing the mammoths to return to their benign state. Cautiously, Drizzt climbed down the rock, Niranyarr circling above, covering him. When the mammoths ignored him, he continued down the snowy valley, glancing at the map, then folding it back into his backpack. "Where's Zak?" Mir called. "Invisible," Drizzt replied. "He'll reappear somewhere safer." Drizzt felt rather alone, but continued stoically down the marked route, ignoring the cold bite of the snow and the hostile tugging of the wind. The sun's afternoon glare burned at his eyes, but he pulled his hood further down his head, marching onwards. When they were quite a ways down from the mammoth feeding ground, Zak reappeared, his swords casually in his hands. "Invigorating," Niranyarr called sarcastically. "What else you attract, Zak? An ice dragon?" "That would be fun," Zak admitted, actually sounding serious. Niranyarr gave him an incredulous snort. "That elf mad," he said with conviction. Drizzt started laughing, and couldn't stop. "What?" Zak asked, sounding irritated. Drizzt just continued laughing, feeling more lighthearted than he had for days. Gradually, the rest of them were caught up by his mirth, and the next mile was enlightened by the sound of laughing. They were nearing the place, they knew. Around the barbarian camp, preparations were being made. The war party's members sharpened their weapons, singing battle songs in loud, lusty tones. The defense party too joined in the songs, though more subdued in that they had to stay back and protect the camp from attack. They would attack again the next day, in greater numbers. No part of New Targos would be left standing, Berkthgar had proudly proclaimed. Hengorot would be raised before this night, the barbarians looking forward to the revelry and mead that came with such occasions. In the name of Tempus, they would prevail. Drizzt danced swiftly around a heavy swipe by the great bear. Pure white, it was bigger than Bluster, the brown bear that Drizzt had once spent a winter with. Its claws were hooked, and its fur coat was far deeper than that of any other bears. The coats of the 'white bears' as the barbarians called them, were greatly prized, and Drizzt could see why now. His finely edged scimitars thudded again and again into the creature, not even seeming to hurt it. Zak had less problems. Scorcher burned clear trails through the thick fur where it touched his opponent, and the bear, almost mad with pain, was making more and more aggressive swipes, which Zak easily avoided. Niranyarr and Mir had disposed of their bear, Guenhwyvar fight off hers, while Zak quickly killed his, then went over to Drizzt's. The fight was quickly over, the blue light dying from the eyes of the last bear. Zak thoughtfully wiped his swords. "Monsters meet us at every mile," he said, rather impatiently. "It's slowing us down." "What do you wish to do about it?" Drizzt inquired, sheathing his scimitars. "You walk to the shrine first. I'll materialize there. The magic seems to know that I am looking for Frostbite, while you are not. It probably won't trouble you," Zak said reasonably. Drizzt looked as if he would argue, but he knew he would tire quickly under the relentless assault. "Very well," he said, reluctantly. Zak nodded. "Happy travelling," he smiled, then shifted form. Niranyarr padded over. "We meet him there?" he asked, seeing that Zak was nowhere to be seen. Drizzt nodded. "Let's go," he suggested, starting quickly down the valley. Mir had fallen asleep where she was, and Niranyarr carefully lifted off into the air. Guenhwyvar stretched, then followed Drizzt, her padded paws hardly sinking into the soft snow, brushing against the dark elf. Drizzt affectionately patted his faithful companion, striding down the snow, his feet complaining at every step. A damp feeling quickly settled between his toes, uncomfortable, and he began to feel every bump in his boots most acutely. His fingers too felt as if they were peeling in the intense cold. To his right now loomed a giant, continuous wall of ice, in some sections resembling a frozen, breaking wave, at some sections a sheer wall. Delicate fingers of ice hung down from outcrops, their transparent shapes flickering patterns of light, that were in turn reflected again by the ice blue of the glacier. Drizzt marveled that such beauty could be found in so harsh a place. He did not see any life in the glacial area, the beautifully forbidding ice rebuffing most attempts of colonization. Around him, it was deathly silent, except for intermittent whispers and shrieks of the wind as it tore across the uneven ground. The drips of water would be silenced here, frozen into crystalline ice. Beautiful as it was, Drizzt found it unnerving, and he was always relieved when the distant call of a tern broke the silence. Niranyarr flew down to run at his side, the griffin and Mir providing conversation, a buffer against the cold silence of the glaciers. Guen had returned to its plane, the cold ate at its muscles constantly. Plants had stopped their growth here, the only other life the greenish stains of lichens clinging on to rocks jutting out of the snow. Mir had resolutely hidden herself in the folds of the passenger pouch, and gone to sleep. It was warmer there, she said. "Coming closer, we are," Niranyarr commented optimistically as they examined the map. Drizzt nodded. A few more landmarks lay along the way, then they would reach their destination. Zak, unseen, peered at the map, and felt a sense of fulfillment. His hard work would be repaid this day, or not. Smiling to himself, he continued to follow Drizzt and Niranyarr, floating above the snow, not feeling the biting cold. After a few miles, the glacier in front of them opened into a perfect semicircle, the sheer sides reflecting light into a spot in the middle, that melted the snow on it. Zak materialized. "This is the place," he said confidently. Drizzt and Niranyarr whirled at his voice, then nodded. Zak strode through the intercrossing rays of light, to the carved arch at the end of the semicircle. Mir had woken up by herself, intently studying the patterns of light. The semicircle of ice was clear and uncut, a sheer wall rising high above their heads. Only the light decorated the chamber, in harsh and unrelenting patterns, with sharp edges to them. The cave inside the arch was even more curious than the outside. The walls were also ice, but curiously no light penetrated. An enchanted globe affixed to the domed ceiling provided light, a soft, glowing one that lit up the entire cave. The cave was not cold as the outside, but a comforting temperature. The walls too were unadorned, but the floor held an immense circle of rock, carved with a huge symbol of Dumathion, the Keeper of Secrets. Once he had entered the cave, Zak's eyes had fixed on the sword at the very center of the cave, floating, unsupported, on top of the circle, its silver-blue blade unblemished, the hilt as perfectly carved as Scorcher's. A strange shaft of light was focused on the sword, courtesy of the enchanted globe, that enhanced its beauty in the golden ray. Three crudely carved statues flanked the sword, heads almost reaching the high dome of the cave. Their irregularity sparked a slight notice in Drizzt. They did look rather familiar. His hands went unconsciously to his scimitar hilts There was a tingling in Zak's hand, which usually held his other, normal sword. It yearned, called for Zak to put it on Frostbite's hilt. Zak found with astonishment that he was holding Scorcher, which the other normal sword was lying on the floor, his scabbards empty. "Zak," Mir said tentatively, "I don't think that is a good idea, somehow," Zak had advanced further into the cave, but did not seem to hear her. "Zak," Niranyarr called. "Zak?" Zaknafein's mind was detached from them, his goal was in sight. He barely heard them as his feet, unbidden, took him to the edges of the carved circle. Then he stepped on it. A grinding sound snapped him out of his trance, and his first instinct pulled him to leap at Frostbite, but a hard, huge hand knocked him spinning to land painfully on the outside of the circle. Drizzt charged forward, scimitars held low, at the animated statues. The final guardians of the sword. Ice elementals, towering over the adventurers, their heavy hands stretched forward hungrily. Drizzt ducked, rushing straight in on one of the elementals, nicking it. It howled, and tried to crush the dark elf. This was rather predictable, the same as the earth elemental that Drizzt had fought some time ago. Guenhwyvar ran in to help her master and friend, her attacks distracting the elemental. Niranyarr and Mir had hurled the last of the spheres at one ice elemental. It appeared to have the consistency of its name, and promptly melted in the blaze, hands held upwards in agony. "No..o..o" it moaned, dissolving. Zak was facing off with the last one, his eyes burning in rage and frustration. "One last obstacle," he gritted out, Scorcher randomly slicing and burning away at the monster. Drizzt was focusing on one of the elemental's legs, trying to overbalance the creature so that he could finish it off with a blow to the head. The ice elementals did not seem to be able to travel the planes, and did not try to escape, instead trying to squash Drizzt and Guenhwyvar. Another swipe and a scimitar got through, to thud on the leg, while the elemental howled, slamming its fists down on Drizzt's way. Knowing he could not block such a blow, Drizzt frantically dived to the side, the resulting shock caused by the impact of the blow nearly knocking him off his feet. Undeterred, the elemental then smashed a backhand at Drizzt, the dark elf barely managing to roll out of the way, then danced around quickly back to the leg. Guenhwyvar was already busy swiping at it. Niranyarr put Mir down, admonishing her to stay put, then half flew, half ran over to help Zak, who was still grimly hacking away at the elemental. Its leg almost gone, the elemental was almost losing the fight, but with the addition of several sharp griffin talons, it toppled finally, Zak agilely running up its back to chop with all his strength on its head. It split with a satisfying crack, and the elemental dissolved. Drizzt's elemental sat down stupidly, trying to save its leg, giving it better leverage against the drow and the panther. Guenhwyvar feinted to the side, and Drizzt's boots with the bracers of enhanced speed allowed him to rush up the elemental in a blur of speed. The last elemental dissolved, Drizzt leaping off to land, catlike, next to Guenhwyvar. Zak had walked up to Frostbite, hanging unsuspended in the air like a weird jewel. Slowly, his hand reached out for its hilt. It passed through the gold light, his skin prickling at the magical beam, to close unerringly on the carved blade. Silvery fire this time ran up the blade, up his hands. Zak felt compelled to cross his swords, and it happened with agonizing slowness, the twin blades clinking together. The fire burned bright, mixing, as the swords joined to their purpose that they had been made. Twin swords, forged by dragons, containing dragon's might, they accepted their master. The light flared.

Chapter 21: Quest's End

The light slowly cleared, the bright spots in Drizzt's sensitive eyes taking longer. When he could see again, he turned his head to regard his father. Zak had half-turned, his face in profile, staring with silent awe at the twin swords, his eyes with a faraway look in them. Then he seemed to break out of his reverie, sheathing the swords into the elaborate scabbards with a swift, fluid motion. Facing them, Zak's handsome features broke into a smile of relief and satisfaction. "I'm glad that is done with," he remarked, patting the hilts of the swords. Drizzt smiled along with him, then his heart sank. "And now?" he asked, dreading the answer. "I return," Zak replied, the smile also leaving his face. "I'll come and visit you whenever I can," he tried to assure Drizzt, "And the rest of you too," "Can't you stay?" Drizzt inquired hopefully. "No," Zak stated gently but firmly. "Duties." A mist formed at the edge of Zak's vision, and he moved to look at it. Ice blue, it danced to the left slightly, then materialized into a familiar figure. Drizzt let out his breath in a gasp, then charged, his scimitars held low. The figure held up a slender hand, and Drizzt bounced off some unseen barrier. Guenhwyvar leaped over her master, also to rebound from the shield. The figure looked at Zak with a bored expression. Zak grinned back. "This is Lin'Fayaenre Ra'Kest, or Winter, as she likes to be called," he explained to his friends. Winter smiled mockingly, then bowed flamboyantly. "Your son, I presume?" she inclined her head at Drizzt, who had scrambled to his feet. Zak nodded. "A little impulsive at times," he admitted. Drizzt stared at Winter. Zak had spoken of her sometimes during the journey, but he had believed that she was one of Lloth's minions, come to create more trouble for the group. Now, looking closer, he wondered why he had not realized that she was not of Lloth. Her robes, instead of the black and purple ones worn by Lloth's clerics, were a light blue and white, flowing but not hindering her movement, plain but for the small symbol of a white falcon on her chest. A leather belt hung on her shapely waist, and a long white cloth hung from behind the belt, the edges inscribed with symbols and runes. Her white hair was untied, touching her hips, her skin as dark as his own. More noticeable was that instead of the normal snake-headed whip that priestesses of Lloth's wore, she wore a sword belted at her side, the adamantite hilt ornately carved. The side of Winter's mouth quirked up slightly as she noticed Drizzt's scrutiny, in an amused expression, and he pretended to look away, hoping his dark skin would hide his flush. "New adornments?" Zak inquired dryly, indicating the runed, tapering cloth. "I am a full Loremaster now," Winter confirmed, "Morikan was a little irritated that I already had a weapon, so I've been allotted another quest." "Congratulations," Zak grinned. Winter bowed again, her ice blue eyes sparkling. "I've come to fetch you back," she said. "You've got a formal 'coronation' ceremony some time soon," Zak nodded again. "I am ready," he began, but Winter cut him off. "No, I don't think you are. Anyway, I believe Morikan has given you a day or so off in this world. A vacation, if you say," Winter smiled, and Drizzt's eyes brightened. "You are a Loremaster?" Mir asked suddenly. "What is that?" "What you are." Winter replied simply. Seeing Mir's uncomprehending expression, she continued. "You use your mind, to will things to happen. I share that ability, as do a few hundred more creatures, currently." "Why others can-not?" Niranyarr asked, overcoming his short state of numbness after so many surprising events. "Because this ability is hand-given by Morikan to people he thinks should have them," Winter explained in an air of finality. "I meant to ask you about something," Zak signaled in the drow sign language. Drizzt looked at him curiously. "Miranae? She has a choice - either come with us to Sanctuary, or stay here in the Material Plane," Winter signaled back. "Morikan somehow enjoys giving children choices, and adults coercion." An offended presence came into her mind, then left huffily as Zak began to laugh. The horde of barbarians materialized out of the tundra as the sun neared its climb to the zenith. On the flat snowy lands, stealth was not really an option, and the barbarians sang their war songs to Tempus, as they swept in an unstoppable tide into the hastily defended New Targos. A short storm of arrows raked the ranks, felling a few, but the barbarians, holding a crude battering ram, had already forced the equally crude gates apart, flowing into the settlements. The fishermen, trained by Targos for living here met them, and a few ugly skirmishes broke out, thinning both sides, but the barbarians overwhelmed the place. Taking out the torches that burned fitfully in the cold, they hurled them at the huts, the war songs rising in volume and victory. Then another row of archers rose out of concealment, their arrows finding marks on barbarian chests. Berkthgar ordered a charge, and the willing warriors ran across to the trench where the archers were. The archers notched arrow after arrow, the storm eating away at the ranks, and soldiers rose from behind the huts at the end to face the diminished invaders. This did not look good for the barbarians. Then a scream came at the other gate, a mighty crash resounding to the near defeated group, the song of Tempus echoing to the diminishing invaders. With new heart, Berkthgar attacked the archers with Bankenfuere, the great weapon chopping through the surprised defenders with every stroke. A backup had arrived. Like some giant, human vise, the two flanks of barbarians closed on the rest of the defenders in a pincer like movement, that crushed the resistance out of the rest of the fishermen. Berkthgar recognized the head of the unforeseen backup. Revjak, leading some of the older warriors, running with long strides to Berkthgar, an ambiguous smile on his rough-hewn face. "Thought you might need some help," he said mildly. Berkthgar smiled back, thumping the older warrior on his back. "I did not think they would try that," he admitted. "They know that even if Targos were to come in force, they would not be able to hold us back. Therefore they had to try something," Revjak pointed out. The two turned to watch the flames mount on the houses. Apparently the women and children had been evacuated sooner, as none of those were found. Groups of barbarians were even now fighting the last pockets of resistance, desperation giving the defenders strength, but the pockets fell one by one. The flames licked at the walls, consuming the wooden materials in the camp. Contemptuously, Berkthgar kicked a rack of dried trout into the flames. "The town people will be taught not to invade the barbarian lands," he said grimly. Revjak could only agree. Berkthgar was too buoyed by his battle rage to accept any slight recommendations against his ideals. The flames sent up a cloud of dense, gray smoke, clearly seen in the cloudless sky. Revjak watched it, his heart as dark as the smoke. The backup plan had been his idea - Revjak treasured his people's lives, and had quickly set out with a volunteer band after Berkthgar, when he had seen a few flaws in the leader's plans. However, he did not like the sight of the massacre. Younger barbarians were mutilating the corpses, and he turned away in disgust. The townsfolk had helped them against Crenshinibon. However, to come inside their territory without permission was an insult. What then, was proud Berkthgar to do? Try as he might, Revjak could not find an easy way out of the predicament. From his viewpoint, he knew Berkthgar was planning for greater glories, mayhap an attack on fortified Targos herself. Revjak knew the most possible outcome of such a war. Try as he might, he could not think a way to avoid it. He started from a hearty clap on his shoulder. Berkthgar stood behind him, no outward intent on his smiling face. "We will eat well tonight, and drink to our victory," he roared, and the barbarians in earshot cheered. Revjak gave another ambiguous smile, his thoughts churning inside his head. A cloud of smoke in the horizon could be seen from his lofty perch. Kemp of Targos watched the wraith-like thing with narrowed eyes. Behind him, his advisors also knew what it possibly meant. New Targos was burning. The plans had been thwarted again by the fierce barbarians and many of the families who would have lost loved sons or fathers in the blaze would come to demand revenge. Would they invade the tundra then? Kemp did know that burning New Targos would not be enough for the bloodthirsty tribes. They would soon attack Targos. Revenge would be come. Abruptly starting away from the depressing sight, he faced his advisors. "We will plan to fortify the city." He said, and the advisors bowed, walking away. Targos would fortify her walls and train her soldiers. And wait. Kemp gave the smoke cloud a backward glance, then strode back to his chambers. Leaving New Targos to burn. "Are you looking for two swords too?" Miranae asked. "No. I'm quite content with mine," Winter patted the adamantite hilted crystal sword. She drew the sword, showing the young elven girl the exquisite crystal blade. They were walking back to the tundra from the glaciers, Drizzt and Zak striding in front, heads bent in deep conversation. Niranyarr bounded by Winter's side, and Mir rode on Guenhwyvar's broad back. Winter had cast a short spell on the adventurers, pushing out the biting cold. She had given the wizardry arts a passing glance before. "It's beautiful," Mir said admiringly. "I thank thee," a strange, disembodied voice replied, the ancient tone varying with many harmonies, too complex to be natural. Drizzt and Zak both turned at the resounding voice, Drizzt looking around with narrowed eyes, Zak merely looking resigned. "I was hoping you had gone to sleep," Zak said. "That is too bad," the voice replied smugly. "I am here for the rest of thy trip. Forasmuch as thou wilt not enjoy mine stay." "Can't you make it sleep?" Zak asked Winter plaintively, "Those 'thees' and 'thous' grate on my ears." "Irr'liancrea is a sentient being," Winter said with amusement. "It's not mine to control." Zak grumbled to himself. Drizzt and Mir were staring with varying levels of astonishment at the sword. "Irr'liancrea?" Drizzt repeated, "What is it?" "Why doth all creatures treat myself as one who cannot think?" the crystal blade glowed with every syllable. Winter ignored the sword. "You're probably more familiar with Irr'liancrea's opposite, Crenshinibon." She said calmly. Drizzt's eyes widened. "So this sword is the good Crystal Shard?" "You have an amazing grasp of the obvious," Winter replied dryly. The sword chuckled, a weird sound emanating from the blade. "It's opposite in more ways than that," Zak said, "While Crenshinibon cannot speak," "Mine brother doth not wish to," Irr'liancrea interrupted. "Does not speak," Zak corrected himself, "this one does. The greatest distinction I can see is that while Crenshinibon is cunning and subtle, this one is crude and childish." He winked at Winter. The sword darkened briefly then returned to its normal clear state. "One will not answer that," Irr'liancrea replied primly. "One wilt accept sanctimonious insults from lower life forms." Niranyarr began to laugh, as did Miranae. "Irr'liancrea draws energy from around it, and does not require the sun, unlike Crenshinibon," Winter added, sheathing the sword, which now continued to glow through the scabbard's cloth. "Mine brother is more primitive than myself," the sword remarked, again rather smugly. Drizzt shuddered at the thought of Crenshinibon having that type of dependence, instead of the disadvantage of requiring sunlight. "Your quest?" Zak inquired. "I am to 'infiltrate' Menzoberranzan, to take a look at Crenshinibon's holder," Winter said offhandedly. "Jarlaxle is honorable in his way, and he will only use the crystal to manipulate the drow elves," Drizzt said. Zak agreed. "I have known Jarlaxle for a time, and he strikes me as eccentric, but does not go back on his word." "I still have to go, though," Winter said. "Lloth has agreed to let me in the city without harassment, and I think I will start with Bregan D'aerthe." "A dangerous choice," Zak warned. "A better choice than pretending to be a cleric of Lloth's," Winter corrected. Winter would travel with them for the rest of the day, then would transport Zak to Sanctuary. After staying for his 'coronation' as a full Sword Master, she would depart for her quest. "Which city were you from?" Drizzt asked. He was not comfortable speaking to a female drow, although the many restrictions he had been taught from birth about females had been erased from him. "Irinelaeran," Winter replied, "The trading city, closest to Skullport," Drizzt looked rather confused. "Skullport's an underground port for trade. Irinelaeran is thus the richest Drow city," she said, rather curtly. Drizzt knew that the subject was somehow painful for her, and did not press her for more details. Speaking together, tentatively at first, then more animatedly, Drizzt learnt that Winter was about his age, and a bit about life as a Loremaster, in which Mir interjected many questions. Zak was now talking to Niranyarr. To Winter, it looked as if he was trying to affix all of his friends into his memories, but she continued to skillfully fend off some of Mir's more revealing questions, in which Drizzt just as skillfully maneuvered around. The topic somehow shifted to religion, Drizzt upholding his long-standing belief about what he thought gods were, a power that existed everywhere, but that no tangible evidence was needed for his faith. Winter disagreed, saying that gods actually did exist on most worlds, helped into being by the spirits, and there was evidence around them. "Then we will be like sheep, herded around by a shepherd and his dogs," Drizzt said in his most reasonable voice. "It does not mean that a god would absolutely have to herd the lot of you around," Winter replied. "Most are happy to allow you to continue on your own destiny, to resolve your own problems. They do guide you sometimes, appear to you, but they will not pull you along a path of their choosing," Drizzt did not agree... The stars appeared, all too soon, in the velvet black sky, the air becoming more oppressingly cold in the night. The dark blanket that signified the day's end almost effectively cut off Drizzt's, and Winter's, more and more involuted argument about relative religions, which Mir had wisely kept out off somewhere around the middle. Drizzt found a mind whose sharp logic and intelligence would easily match his own, Winter found someone on whom she could test her more radical ideas about existence, with someone who did not look down from a pedestal of relative age and experience. Now Drizzt looked at Zak, his smile, saying all that needed to be said. Zak clasped Drizzt's hands warmly, then gave him a tight hug, clapping Niranyarr on the shoulders, the griffin making an affectionate sound. Mir looked on with a smile, and was rather surprised when Winter knelt down to face her at eye level. "You have a choice, Miranae," Winter said. "You may stay here with your tribe, or with your friends, or go with Zak and myself to Sanctuary to develop your powers." Miranae looked even more surprised at the blunt choice. She struggled briefly with the idea, considering it quickly from many angles. "I will go with you," she said finally. "If I may come back to visit whenever I can," Winter nodded, then stood up with a fluid motion, her ice blue eyes meeting Drizzt's briefly. Drizzt began to feel a little uncomfortable, but hid it well. "We go then," she said, bowing to Drizzt and Niranyarr. Zak patted Guenhwyvar's great head, picking up Mir. Mir smiled at her friends, a smile full of warmth, as Winter clasped her hands together. The mist began to swirl around the three elves, quickly enfolding them. The last thing Drizzt saw of them, was Lin'Fayaenre's ice blue eyes, surprisingly clear through the clouding mist.

Chapter 22: Sword Master

Zak slouched on his chair, his left hand fiddling with the buckle of his cloak, fingers deftly flicking the clasp open, then shut, then open again. He wore the suit of enchanted dwarven chain mail he had discovered in Rakaroajirac's cave, along with a white surcoat with the crest of a dragon. The end of the cloak was carelessly draped on the chair, his runed boots tapping a staccato on the marble floor. The Twin swords hung on his scabbard, glowing faintly. Zak's hair was meticulously combed, something he had protested against, and he wore formal bracers on his wrists. All in all, it was making him very uncomfortable. The ceremony was but a few hours away, and Zak was frankly feeling nervous and excited at the same time. Having been excused from his duties for today - most of the city was, in fact. A celebration of a new Master of a School was a short holiday, much welcomed from work and training. Thus he sat on the chair, in a corner of the high domed Sword Hall, absently playing with his cloak, rather bored, with the tight sensation in his stomach of suppressed excitement. His companions were quite calm, in contrast to his feelings. Miranae sat on the lap of Silranter, the old human Head of the Warrior School, reading a book. Silranter, to all appearances, was fast asleep, light snores issuing from his prone body, his hands clasped loosely around the young elven child. Mir was having a welcomed break from the relentless training of the Warrior School. After trying out the weapons, she had rather promptly chosen a saber as her preferred weapon. Training had begun under Zak, and she was doing rather well so far. After her second level in the School however, she would have to learn the basics of the other weapons, which would consume many years of her life. Small wonder that few humans were in the Loremaster School. The training took up many decades, which a human's relatively short life span could not support. Mir had loved the Library, and its attendants. With the long-suffering Winter acting as her guide for the few days before the ceremony, she had breezed through a few sections. Zak noted the book she was holding, "Notable species of Wolves". He wondered where in the universe had she suddenly gotten this fixation on wolves. "Zak, have you seen a Flamedance wolf?" Mir asked suddenly. Silranter stirred then slumped back into sleep. "No. And I don't wish to," Zak said. Flamedance wolves existed on one of the lower 'neutral' planes reputed for their sharp cunning and intelligence, as well as their so-called 'True Samadhi Fire', the hottest type of fire that could not be blocked, even by magic. It was said that even spirits were not spared the fires, and Zak did not wish to find out. Mir looked at the fidgeting drow, and grinned impishly. "A few more hours," she said, as if assuring Zak. Zak sighed, his eyes wandering to the mosaic on the wall, tracing for the hundredth time the titanic battle etched on the picture. Multiple footsteps sounded on the entrance next to Zak, and he started sharply, glancing quickly at the ornate timepiece above the weapons rack. There still were a few hours, and he relaxed again. Silranter opened his eyes lazily, yawning. "Is it time?" he asked in his light voice. "No," Zak said half relieved. "Well, well," the old man suddenly smiled, looking out at the entrance. Zak decided to grace the stone arch with a glance. Lin'Fayaenre glided in regally, with enough grace to make a queen weep tears of joy. She stopped, and gestured, facing the entrance. Mir squealed with joy, struggling off Silranter's lap. Zak's jaw dropped as Niranyarr padded into the hall, sweeping up Miranae, making affectionate sounds. Then Drizzt strode in close behind, his face lighting up in a wide smile as Zak got up with alacrity, half-running over to give his son a bear hug. "How?" Zak asked Winter, next to Silranter, who had gotten up for the first time in three hours, groaning to himself and stretching his legs. "Guests. I asked Morikan the day before," Winter replied smugly. "You may think of a way to repay me later," she grinned. "I knew there was a catch," Drizzt said, his smile still on his face, taking Mir from Niranyarr. "I was only joking," Winter admitted, "I'd like to pick up on our last debate though." "Argument," Zak corrected, patting Niranyarr on his shoulder. "Why, have you been mistreating Zaknafein's friends with your overtly sharp logic?" Silranter asked in mock astonishment. "Hardly. For some reason," Winter winked at Drizzt; "This one can walk around my ideas, as I can walk around his. Our arguments always are circular." Drizzt gave an exaggerated bow, then handed Miranae back to Niranyarr. "Like to fly?" the griffin offered, and Mir nodded eagerly. "I'll show you out," Mir said, pointing to the arch. "Don't be late," Silranter called after them. "Now I'd be going too. See you." With that the old man walked out, with a surprisingly smooth stride that did not speak his age. "What a dear old man," Winter murmured. "Now, you're supposed to make sure Drizzt doesn't get into trouble..." "Hey," Drizzt protested, but Winter continued. "Get into trouble. However, Morikan believed the two of you can get into trouble yourselves without any help, so I'm coming along." Winter finished. "Really," Zak said, sounding slightly offended. Winter nodded firmly. Drizzt covered his mouth with his hands, to hide his grin. "Now why don't we show Drizzt around?" Winter suggested, "The library, for instance." "We'll never get him out of there," Zak disagreed. "I'm right here," Drizzt pointed out, feeling rather put out by their continuous reference to 'Drizzt' as if he wasn't here. "Why, so you are," Winter said in mock surprise, and Drizzt laughed. "A short walk then," Zaknafein said. Winter shook her head. "A custom. You're not allowed out of here, except to the Library." Zak sighed. "What's this Library?" Drizzt asked. "The biggest library in the universe, and all the dimensions." Winter replied. Drizzt's eyes brightened. "However, you will not be allowed to borrow any of the books out, as you're a guest to here." Winter continued. "For now," Zak muttered under his breath, too softly for the others to hear. "Oh hello," a disembodied, perfectly harmonized voice said from the general vicinity of Winter's scabbard. "Why can't you go to sleep?" Zak voiced his favorite complaint whenever the irritating sword spoke. "Because one doth not require rest," Irr'liancrea replied matter-of-factly. "A pity," Zak said. "Well can you take us to the Library?" Winter nodded, clasping her hand together. The mist surrounded them. Zak was fidgeting on a chair again, this time in the waiting area behind the raised ceremonial stage. It too was sheathed in the multihued mother of pearl that sheathed the city. Winter, speaking with Drizzt at the corner of the area, turned her head at the sound of the next 'click' as the clasp was flicked open, then closed. "Stop that," she instructed. "I can't help it. The formal position of the clasp's too tight, it feels like a noose," Zak said, flicking open the clasp again. Drizzt and Winter gave him identical, amused expressions, then continued with their 'discussions'. Zak had distanced himself from the debate a long time ago. As far as he could discern now, they were speaking about alternative dimensions. Niranyarr was busy examining the elaborate tapestry at the other end of the room, which showed a few griffins of different species, flying together in a perfect formation. His friends were wearing formal costumes, Drizzt also visibly uncomfortable, while Winter looked resigned and Niranyarr wearing his with certain flair. Drizzt wore his mithril mail, also with a borrowed surcoat of a unicorn, his scimitars at his sides, and a patterned cloak. Winter wore her more elaborate, formal Loremaster robes; the intricate patterns on it obviously made through magic. Irr'liancrea was glowing through its scabbard, probably concentrating on whatever was happening outside. Niranyarr wore priceless jewelry on his crest and neck, including the exquisite Laezral's tear necklace, that featured a thin gold chain, and a large, multifaceted clear blue gem, in the shape of a tear, among the most valuable precious gems in the universe. Bits of wispy gold and silver trinkets decorated his tufted 'ears', and he also wore bracers on his talons. They were to accompany him out, Drizzt and Winter flanking, Niranyarr taking the tail. Mir had the function of holding the cushion with the item that would proclaim him a full Sword Master, and was already outside. Outside, Silranter was nearing the end of his long speech that detailed a little of Zak's past life, and his accomplishments, and a short explanation about what was going to happen for the benefit of those who had not seen the ceremony before. Zak was quickly getting more and more self-conscious. Winter and Drizzt finally broke off their debates, and the female drow Loremaster sauntered over to Zak. "When the real music starts, we walk out of there," she gestured vaguely to the archway; "you go out holding your swords. Do try to smile a bit... and stop fidgeting. There'll probably be something spectacular of sorts. Don't look surprised. You've got to kneel in front of Silranter on the weird circle, but sheath your swords before..." They had gone through the routine many times already, and Zak could already hear the words in his heart even before she mouthed them. "You'll do all right," Drizzt tried to assure his parent. Silranter's voice could clearly be heard now. "I give you, Zaknafein Do'Urden." He announced dramatically. The music sounded, a complex weaving of at least thirty instruments that Zak could count at this time, playing different tunes that merged into a complete harmony. The first, light notes drifted inside the room, and then a fluting trill led it up into a sonorous march-like opening movement. Winter nodded to Drizzt, and they moved to the sides of the arch, Niranyarr falling into position. Taking a deep breath, Zak drew his swords, which flashed with their customary brilliant flames. He stepped out into the sunlight, noticing from the corner of his eye that Drizzt wore no hood. Probably some enchantment, he believed, but felt rather insignificant at the sight of the great, swelling crowd, perhaps larger than that of all of Menzoberranzan combined. With a stately walk, the party moved to the center of the platform, to the magnificently robed Silranter, who stood regally in front of an inscribed circle of pictures and symbols. Miranae, now in a formal dress, stood next to him, holding up a velvet cushion, with a mithril headband. The headband, known as Rikisran, symbol of rank, had a beautiful jewel on the center. It was said the jewel had many properties that were individual to each band. Behind Silranter were vaguely human like shapes of colors. Zak could feel the immense power of the spirits, and knew that they were the World-Makers, Morikan's silvery shape directly behind Silranter, his five other sisters and brothers flanking him. Zak walked inside the circle, and bowed once to Silranter, and another one to the World-Makers, as he had been instructed to, raising Scorcher in salute to the crowd, then sheathing both swords. Niranyarr, Drizzt and Winter stood on Zak's left, silently watching, as the music dropped to a low, anticipating melody, the crowd literally holding its breath. "Zaknafein Do'Urden," Silranter said in a solemn voice, as Zak knelt down in the circle. "With thy quest's completion, Kano will judge if thou hast rightfully earned thy rank." Kano, the top rank of World-Makers. Morikan pretended to consider the 'judgement', as was formality, then said in his resonant voice, "He has earned his rank, through true completion of the quest," he said finally. Silranter picked up the Rikisran band reverently with both hands. "I proclaim thee, Sword Master of Sanctuary," he said, his voice magically amplified, cutting through the entire ceremonial boulevard. The seconds seemed to crawl as Silranter's callused hands slipped the band on Zak's head. It magically tightened, to rest without slipping down his forehead, though not uncomfortable. There was a short silence as Zak rose to face the crowd, then the entire place erupted in cheers and applause. Zak found he wasn't paying attention, was feeling rather detached as he drew his swords to cross the two burning blades in front of him. Well done Morikan's voice echoed in his mind. The celebrations had finally ended, and it was thus in the deep night that the friends gathered again in the Sword Hall, Drizzt and Winter finding that they could not agree on the dimensions topic, and had shifted to another topic. Mir had fallen asleep, Niranyarr cradling her gently as he settled down on his haunches. Zak had slumped back into his favorite chair. "I'm glad that's over," he said. "Not really," Winter said, breaking off a short bout of histrionics in the current topic, "A few people who have inhibited too much tonight in your honor are probably going to feel the aftereffects tomorrow." She grinned. Zak snorted. "Eat was good," Niranyarr pointed out to Winter. "Of course," the Loremaster replied, "but I wonder how even the Masters couldn't see enough to stop drinking after a while." "Carried away," Drizzt said. Winter shrugged. "Now, about your idea of perfect racial harmony..." the two launched back into their topic of the day. Or hour, Zak corrected. "Are we staying?" Niranyarr asked, feeling a little tired. "No," Winter replied, her tone carrying a bit of regret. "I'll have to teleport you back soon." Zak nodded, exchanging a smile with Drizzt. There really wasn't much to say. Niranyarr made an affectionate sound directed at himself, and at Mir, then rose and gave Miranae to Winter. Winter made a gesture with one hand, while Drizzt clasped hands with Zak, then with Winter. His lavender orbs took on a faintly confused and troubled look as they had of late whenever he looked in her eyes. Winter smiled, and finished the gestures. The mist swirled, and they were gone. "I'll be putting this one to bed," Winter said, bouncing the soundly sleeping Miranae softly, "Then leaving tomorrow for the Prime Material Plane of your world." "What is your quest about?" Zak asked, more for the sake of a bit more conversation than curiosity. "Well, I have to keep an eye on Crenshinibon's wielder, taking whatever actions I require to contain the thing, but mostly to observe." Winter replied calmly. "For how long?" Zak inquired. "As long as I deem fit," Winter said. One of those quests, Zak thought. That could span a few days, or a few centuries. "I believe it's mostly to irritate Lloth, and keep her hands away from the relic though," Winter pondered. Morikan had appeared to be taking great pleasure in telling her about her quest. He enjoyed irritating people, she decided. Especially those that irked him. Zak's mouth curled up in a wolfish grin. "Good luck then," he said, meaning every word. Winter smiled. "My thanks," "And mine. One would like to see what mine brother is up to," Irr'liancrea's unearthly voice chimed in. Zak's face turned sour.

Epilogue

"Ah, Zaknafein. Could you get your young friend off my tail?" Tauron Thunderhoof boomed in his hearty voice, though it had a measure of a plea inside. Zak looked down from where he was descending the stone stairs, at the huge centaur, and the small golden-haired figure apparently plaiting his rust colored tail. Zak walked over to the counter, looking curiously at Miranae. "Well, she's interrupting my work. Every time I turn around to put her elsewhere she'll take a book from the arranged rack, or play with something important. When I turn back to catalogue this list, she plays with my tail," Tauron explained. Zak grinned. "But she's enjoying herself, aren't you?" Miranae nodded emphatically. Now the centaur's eyes had a certain look of desperation. Deciding to take pity on the Head librarian, Zak walked over to pick up Miranae, who pouted. "Training's starting," he said. "I thought this was a rest period after lunch." Miranae pointed out. "Training is starting. Early." Zak replied, silencing her protests. Miranae sighed, then tagged along with the Sword Master, no longer needing to be carried to catch up, her agility making up for her small, seven-year-old frame. They walked into the teleporting room, stepping into one of the tubes as Zak spoke the name of his destination. The mist cleared, and they walked out of the nearly identical room. Zak was now familiar with every nook of the giant Warrior School complex, and navigated his way with ease, greeting the odd Master that happened along the corridors, and nodding at the bows of the students. On his forehead, the gem glowed a bright green-blue, the colors constantly swirling in spirals and whorls. His hair fell carelessly over the band, rather unkempt, boots making not a sound on the corridor. They passed a few more corridors, Mir looking inside each one to try and discern what the inhabitants were doing, Zak hurrying her along in case of more 'diversions' that Mir was apt to create. They walked to an arch with the plate featuring the picture of crossed swords, the Sword Hall. Walking under the arch, Mir immediately perceived the beautiful mosaic, along with a few sparring groups taking practices in the spare time. An aspiring wizard sat on the platform, reading a book. Zak wondered briefly why all magic casters adored books, but greeted the figure anyway. "My greetings, Ryan." Zak said politely. The person looked up wildly, almost falling off his precarious perch. "Salutations, Sword Master," Ryan replied. Ryan was Lin'Fayaenre's replacement as the helper of the Sword Hall, arriving when Lin'Fayaenre had left on her mission to Menzoberranzan. He was very eager to assist, but the human sometimes proved as bumbling as a Harpell, a group of wizards on Zak's Prime Material Plane that were the most unintentionally destructive wizards of their clime. Therefore Zak always edged around Ryan's help cautiously. "Hello Mir," Ryan said with a smile. "Oh, did you know there's a new spell of summoning, it opens planar gates..." "No." Zak said firmly. "No?" Ryan said plaintively. "Absolutely not." Zak replied, then walked off to criticize the technique of two sparring opponents, an elf and a Myr, a half cat, half human being. Mir watched as Zak demonstrated the correct strokes, and parry, to the fascinated opponents, going into a crouch, weapons weaving in their deadly dance. She walked up to Ryan, holding out her hands, and the human lifted her to the platform. "Planar gates?" She asked softly. Ryan nodded, happy that someone was interested in his findings. "You see..." he began his lengthy explanation, that actually made sense. The sun mounted to its zenith, shining its harsh rays onto the fighting below it. Kemp had led his forces to the tundra, for revenge, and the barbarians had met them head on. The skirmish had waxed long, even though the intruders had a certain element of surprise. Berkthgar, always the cunning leader, had duplicated the pincer movement of Revjak's and the new barbarian flank was wreaking havoc with the intruder's back. The arrows had stopped their deadly fall, something that Berkthgar was grateful for, though the odd barbarian would still topple from a hastily strung arrow. The intruders had begun to use their swords, as the battle became tighter. To their ultimate demise, Berkthgar concluded. Kemp could clearly be seen from Berkthgar's spearheading position, or rather the path of havoc he was bringing with him. Berkthgar got a glance of the town speaker's face, twisted in rage and determination. That was one he would fight, and would conquer. "Move aside!" Berkthgar roared at the people in front of him. Startled, the barbarians hesitated, along with the townsfolk. "He is mine!" Kemp's answering call came. The barbarians and the townsfolk parted to two sides, glaring at each other, leaving the way open to Kemp and Berkthgar. They came closer, warily watching each other. "So this moment has come," Berkthgar said slowly. "To your demise," Kemp replied bitterly. "That has still to be decided," The barbarian leader stated calmly. They attacked, the sound of steel against steel sounding as the two sides of people watched on, unwilling to continue for the savagery of the battle. "Here," Winter said with a tone of satisfaction, pointing at a cavernous entrance. Bruenor peered in. "Yer sure?" he asked in his gruff voice. Winter nodded briefly. "I thank you for your company," she said genuinely. "Good luck," Catti-brie said, her smile also genuine. She had appeared as she teleported next to Drizzt and his friends, on the verge of their journeys, instead of outside Menzoberranzan. Lin'Fayaenre took this to mean that she had to travel with them to one of the many tunnels to the Underdark, and had promptly chosen the nearest one. Drizzt looked uneasy, as he considered the other drow's mission. The cavern looked like an endless tract of some unknown monster, ready to swallow up all who ventured within. "What if I come with you?" he offered, surprising himself. Menzoberranzan was the last place he would wish to enter. "Too dangerous, and I am supposed to do this one myself," Lin'Fayaenre said, shaking her head. Behind Drizzt, Regis looked relieved. "Farewell then," Drizzt said, his voice a little wistful. Winter smiled, bowing, then walked quickly away into the tunnel, not looking back. To craft her own destiny, Irr'liancrea glowing eagerly by her side. Travelling in the darkness was more comfortable than that of light, even through the protective spell she had cast on her sensitive eyes. It had been enjoyable walking the road with Drizzt and his friends. She particularly liked the gruff dwarf, Bruenor, and Regis 'Rumblebelly'. Catti-brie, however, was a bit confusing. Lin'Fayaenre sensed that the human loved Drizzt, and Drizzt her, but there was someone else... Wulfgar, was it? One of the facts disturbed her a little, though she did not wish to consider the implications. "A chasm ahead," Irr'liancrea supplied suddenly, and Winter stopped abruptly on a sheer drop, the nearness of her calamity unceremoniously dropping her back into reality. According to her memorized map, she was to head left of this chasm, and she complied, at a swift pace. There was a long journey to go. Behind her, the light faded, as if shutting off all sensations and outside memories, the Underdark looming on her every thought. Winter shivered. She missed Sanctuary acutely already, memories careening into her past experiences on that wonderful place. She pulled her thoughts back abruptly. This was the Underdark, where only the strong survived. So ends the tale of "Twin Swords"...may you have enjoyed your ride with Zak's adventures.

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