Chapter 1
Ches 26 1373 DR, Year of Rogue Dragons
Brushing the thin layer of warm sweat out of his silver hair, Shadimir Deachron sighed as at the newly finished marble sculpture of a wolf sitting, its head looking up at the early night sky. The undead hunter wiped the clay residue onto his brown leather breeches, then stared at the other pieces of artwork scattered around his work area that was surrounded by shrubberies, that were regaining their green color. "Wish you could be here to see this Alustriel," Shadimir whispered as he reached down and plucked a white shirt from the ground.
As he threw the piece of clothing over his slender, though muscular chest, Shadimir began to reflect on his friend's absence. Alustriel Silverhand, who was known to many as the Shining Lady of Silverymoon, had left her fair city several days before, telling no one of her departure, not even those closest to her.
Still, Shadimir knew in his heart that it wouldn't be long before Alustriel returned, inspiring her followers and cleaning out his pantries.
"You'll see it when you get back," Shadimir whispered as a nice spring breeze swept past his ears.
Smiling, the hunter walked towards his back porch, where he proceeded to go into his house to change his clothes for the night's festivities.
It's about time you arrived," said the handsome red haired bard Ronald Kythorn in a low voice as he met Shadimir outside of The Mudslinger's Ballroom, one of Silverymoon's many fest halls. Standing three inches taller than Shadimir, Ronald's flaming red hair just went below the ears.
"Don't you look dressed for a fight," Ronald said, noting the long sword and mace Shadimir wore at his side. "I see you are wearing the sword Stephanie gave you for Yule Tide."
The hunter smiled as his deep blue eyes went down to the long sword's green handle. "Ceresheart feels a little strange, but it's growing on me. Gabriel is being kept at the temple with the other priests. I see you're wearing the gift Minerva gave you as well."
Ronald rolled his eyes at Shadimir, who had to suppress his laughter as the bard's green and purple shirt glinted in the moonlight. "She has been pestering me to wear it," he said as he led Shadimir inside the crowded fest hall.
The Mudslinger's Ballroom was a two-story building that slightly resembled a dark and dirty fighting arena. Patrons who were willing to wrestle the Ballroom's staff would meet their opponents in The Pit, a large mud-wrestling ring that was placed in the middle of the fest hall.
Spectators were already filling the sears surrounding the Pit, ready to cheer for their favorite waitress, cook, or bouncer. Others shouted to the closet waitress, demanding why their order wasn't ready.
"The Ballroom is a great place for a bachelor party. Wulfgar is very exciting…and kind of nervous," the bard whispered as he and Shadimir as they pushed past a group of shoting dwarves who were striving to get seats close to The Pit.
"We will have to thank Drizzt for coming up with the idea to have the party here," Shadimir commented as he spotted the large wooden table reserved for their party. "I see them."
The two approached the table and took their seats across from the dark elf Drizzt DoUrden and the barbarian Wulfgar, who wore a worried expression on his face. Seated next to the bard, the svirfneblin Jepetto was just finishing his mug of spirits, his green lenses goggles draped over his eyes.
"What to I tell Catti-brie?" asked Wulfgar as he looked at Drizzt, oblivious to the arrival of their friends.
"You will tell Catti-brie that you wrestled three beautiful women in mud and won," answered the drow as his lavender eyes saw Ronald and Shadimir. "He is worried about wrestling in the Pit," he added, turning to the bard and the undead hunter. If she has any quarrels, you can just say that I entered you in a mud wrestling match with three women without your consent."
Jepetto set down his mug and looked at the two. "Drizzt, you did enter him in a mud wrestling match with three women without his consent."
"Marriage is a big commitment," Shadimir said as a sandy haired barmaid set five glasses on the table, all filled with spirits. "You will have to learn to trust each other. I'm sure if she were here right now, she would be cheering you on."
"She would probably want to join in," Ronald added, sipping his glass.
Sitting quietly in the living room of her home, Stephanie Deachron tied her long black and gray hair into a ponytail, then watched the three children-her twins Jacen and Andeya, as well as Minerva's daughter Hestia-as they played with the straw dolls and the wooden figurines on the floor. Hestia, whose newly dyed purple hair reached the small of her back, handed Jacen a small bottle, then reached down and grabbed the small wolf figurine that lay at her feet.
"Just look at them playing peacefully," said Minerva Kythorn as she entered the living room, holding a small bundle in her arms.
The bundle, which was the half-drow infant, Petyr DoUrden wrapped in a baby blue blanket, gave a soft cackle as his small hands reached out in an attempt to grab Minerva's dark blue hair.
Stephanie smiled, quietly muttering a prayer to her god Kelevmor, then looked to the door, seeing a very pregnant Catti-brie walking through the entering the home, followed by the doomguide's sister, Aliyah Munoz.
The cleric smiled at her sister and the pregnant woman. "How was the bachelorette party you two?"
"Yes, sorry we couldn't attend," added Minerva as she gently handed a now very excited Petyr over to his mother.
Aliyah shrugged as she pushed the back end of her blond hair out of her son's curious grasp. "The party itself was interesting. I haven't been in a room full of drunken dwarven maidens in many years. Well I assume they were dwarf women anyways. I still managed to beat all of them in a drinking contest..
"Only because ye had cast a spell that negated the affects of the alcohol," chuckled Catti-brie as she took a seat on the couch next to Stephanie. She then sighed as she watched the mother and baby playing with one another. Her hand went to her swollen belly, feeling a gentle kick from the life still growing inside of her.
Stephanie looked at Catti-brie and asked," How is the baby doing?"
The auburn haired woman parted her lips in a proud smile as her eyes looked at the priestess. "The priests say he will be a strong lad," she answered, her dwarven accent showing as she spoke. "Not just in physical strength, but in magic. Me father has been scouting different mages around the Marshes to teach his grandson. Harkle Harpell offered but me father said he would rather run naked while orcs paddle his bottom." Catti-brie paused for a moment as the baby gave another kick, then asked," Alustriel still missing?"
Stephanie nodded. "No word from her yet. Taern Hornblade paces the castle back and forth. Shadimir and I both think we will see her again." She stopped speaking as Elros the snow tiger walked into the room, his snow white fur sticking up as he looked at the two women.
"Is something wrong Elros?" asked Minerva when she heard the tiger growl padded over to the door.
The doomguide quickly rose from her spot on the couch and followed Elros to the door. "I'll see what's going on. Come on boy."
Upon opening the door, Stephanie walked onto the front lawn and saw her neighbors standing outside, their eyes turned to the sky above. Her hazel eyes follow theirs, and she too was now seeing the stone tower hovering in the skies above Silverymoon.
From their seats, Shadimir, Ronald, Jepetto, and Drizzt watched as Wulfgar wrestled the Ballroom's three strongest and most beautiful waitresses in bowels of the Pit.
Shadimir leaned in his chair as he watched Ashlyn, a blond haired voluptuous waitress, wrap her firm arms around the barbarian's waist just as his legs were being held by the other two waitresses; the dark haired Karin and the red haired halfling Janella. Wulfgar let out a mighty roar as he unlocked Ashlyn's hands and tossed her onto the Pit floor, then reached down and picked up the other two waitresses by the arms.
"Don't worry. Wulfgar can hold his own," Drizzt said as he downed his small glass of Evereskan Wine, drawing his friend's attentions away from the match. After letting out a soft belch, the dark elf rose to use the chamber pot. "I have seen the man take on giants in wrestling matches."
"I bet they were never as beautiful or as quick as the women he is wrestling now." Ronald smiled as he sipped his glass, then looked back into the ring, seeing a mud covered Wulfgar pin all three of the waitresses. "Hurray Wulfgar," the bared cheered in a slurred voice.
The rest of the feat hall had erupted in a mixture of cheers and insults as the tall and bulky brown haired bouncer Roberton handed the barbarian a large leather belt with a large silver medallion bolted in the middle. The barbarian smiled as Ashlyn gently took the belt from his hands and placed it around his waist.
"That would be an interesting story to tell your fiancé," Jepetto said as they watched Wulfgar help the waitresses out of the Pit. The deep gnome's fingers tapping the shaft of the war hammer Aegis-fang as it lay across his lap.
"Yes I'm sure Catti-brie's reaction will be a surprised one," Shadimir said as he, Ronald, and Jepetto toasted to the barbarian's victory.
Wulfgar walked over, mud dripping from his clothes as Jepetto handed over Aegis-fang. "I have to go wash off. It will only take a moment." Letting out a weary smile, the barbarian walked away.
Shadimir looked over his shoulder, seeing Drizzt walking back to their table, accompanied by a familiar silver haired elf dressed in expensive silks. Behind the elf were two more slender figures, draped from head to toe in black.
"Shadimir, this man says he knows you. He approached me from behind and I caused him to spill his drink on his shirt," Drizzt said the moment he arrived at the table. The hunter's eyes went to the elf's face. "My apologies Eliath. I am sorry I forgot about our meeting today. I had a project to finish and I must have lost track of time."
Eliath "The Serpent" Craulnober, a well-known figure in the Sword Coast, looked at the two elves behind him and said," Grab the silver haired one. Send the others along their way."