Chapter 3
Nightal 12-13 1372 DR Year of Wild Magic
The young couple walked along Silverymoon's magically lit streets. They had just left Alustriel's palace and were on their way back home.
"Benjamin that was a delightful little galla," Alisa Hawkwinter said with a smile as they continued towards their home. "We got to meet the queen and see her beautiful grandson. That young man with the animal was handsome. Perhaps I should introduce him to my cousin Venessa back in Watedeep."
"Yes it was darling," Benjamin Swordhin answered, wrapping his arm around the woman he had been courting for a year.
As they continued down the streets, lost in the memories they had obtained by going to Alustriel's ball, they were oblivious to the quiet footsteps of the four killers that were following them.
On the other side of the city, the sound of an infant's crying could be heard from inside one of the larger houses that sat on the corner.
Shadimir Deachron stepped out of bed, his ears filled ringing from Azoun's screaming. Wearing only his leather breeches, the shirt he wore when he brought the baskets of food home, he walked past Dalla's room, tiptoed down the stairs. and stepped into the living room where a female war wizard was trying her best to calm down Azoun V, while two other war wizards were making their king's early morning breakfast.
"Now your majesty, you mustn't cry," said red haired Amirella as she rocked him back and forth," we will give you more milk when it is ready." Despite her best attempts, the war wizard could only shake her head in frustration as Azoun continued to cry and squirm.
Shadimir moved forward and held his hands out. "May I?" he asked, looking at both the war wizard and the crying child she held in her arms.. Amirella held her breath as she reluctantly handed the infant over to Shadimir. Azoun wiggled in Shadimir's arms for a moment, then calmed as the undead hunter patted his back.
After seven well placed gentle slaps, the future king of Cormyr let out a soft belch, then rested in Shadimir's arms.
With a smile, Shadimir handed Azoun back to Ariella, then quickly went back upstairs into his room. When he laid back down onto the bed, he felt Stephanie's head lay on his right shoulder.
"That was nice of you," she whispered in his ear just before she gently nibbled on his earlobe.
Shadimir laughed, but shook his head. "What about the war wizards? Not the ones downstairs, but the ones scrying on the house?"
Stephanie kissed his lips. "Then let's give them a show they won't soon forget and if any of the wizards in their living room want to give us any grief about it, then I'll throw them out of the door."
Stephanie and Filfaeril were in Alustriel's throne room the next day, helping the servants hang up the Yuletide decorations. As they finished with hanging up some gold tinsel near one of the windows, Alustriel slowly walked into the throne room, admiring the red and green tinsel the doomguide and the queen had wrapped around her throne.
:"I love the holidays," the Lady of Silverymoon commented in a joyous voice as she walked up to the priestess and the Queen of Cormyr. "Stephanie, I was just wondering what you have planned for the Feast of the Moon festival."
The doomguide placed a small red glass orb above the window. "I was thinking about telling stories about dragons this time. Honoring the wyrms that have lived and died in the world. Minerva said she might sing some songs about Cormyr, if that is all right with with Filfaeril."
"That would be fine with me," the queen said with a smile, reminding herself to later thank the vampire.
"Sounds interesting," the Lady of Silverymoon commented," Fee, I haven't seen Azoun or Sawyer around."
Queen Filfaeril smiled. "Azoun is sleeping at Shadimir's house while Drizzt and Aliyah watching him. Sawyer told me he went outside to gather some herbs."
Alustriel nodded, then noticed the large green tree in the corner of the room that lacked decoration. She raised an eyebrow and asked," Were you planning to decorate the tree at a later time?"
Stephanie winked," We were saving it for you, oh great one."
Shaking her head, Alustriel Silverhand began waving her hands, channeling the magic from the weave to help her decorate the tree.
Several glowing beams of green, red, and silver shot from Alustriel's finger and wrapped themselves around the tree's branches.
When the beams faded, the tree was fully decorated with gold and green ribbons, small red candies, and tiny crystals that glowed like the moon. At the top of the tree was a shimmering white haired angel playing a harp.
"I do so love the holidays," Alustriel repeated before she went to sit down in her throne.
Sawyer dug his fingertips through the hard snow and plucked a small herb from the ground, then placed it in one of the pouches on his belt. Erilett sat next to the druid, her eyes watching him closely.
The druid reached down and grabbed some snow once more. This time he playfully tossed it at the wolverine. Erilett shook the white clumps out of her fur, then began looking around.
As he was about to question what was wrong, Sawyer's nose caught the scent of oils and perfume. His ears heard soft footsteps coming from behind him.
Turning in a left semi-circle, Sawyer chanted a word in the druidic language and made a sweeping movement with his right arm. Hundreds of thin thorns that were no bigger than darts, shot from the druid's arm, and flew through the air.
The druid let out a prideful smile as his spell hit his intended target, which was the assassin that was approaching him. Several droplets of blood dripped from where the druid's darts had hit.
After letting out a soft moan, the assassin fell to the snow.
"Just one?" Sawyer asked, looking at Erilett. The wolverine shrugged her tiny shoulders, then observed the two figures she saw in the distance. She let out a low growl as she watched the other two assassins running towards them
Letting out a feral growl of his own, Sawyer's human shape quickly transformed into that of a white furred dire wolf. After barking a command to his animal companion to follow him, Sawyer charged at the assassin, his dark green eyes filled with fury and blood lust.
Holding Azoun with his left arm, Shadimir watched Jacen and Andreya play happily in the snow with Elros who had let his little masters bury him in the snow. Four feet away from them, Drizzt was sparring with Dalla. Though he had years of experience over the half-elven girl, Drizzt was surprised at how focused Dalla's movements were. While looking at his children with pride and love, the hunter gently rocked Azoun V and stroked his noble brow.
"And to think, Cormyr's future is a tiny infant," Ronald said with a smile as he approached Shadimir. "Though that has to be one of the latest cliches I am hearing from all over the city, it's true."
"No Minerva?" the undead hunter asked as Azoun slowly opened his eyes.
Ronald Kythorn shook his head. "She is napping with Hestia. You know Shadimir, she has been very excited since we moved to Silverymoon two weeks ago. Though I sometimes miss the danger and excitement of Waterdeep, I am glad you recommended that I move my family here."
"You're welcome, though I expect that Silverymoon is about to become as dangerous as Waterdeep." Shadimir claimed," I take it you were told about the Fire Knives."
The bard gave a nod. Like Stephanie, Shadimir, and Jepetto, Ronald and Minerva were members of the semi-secret Moonstars organization.
"I sent a letter to Blackstaff Tower this morning. There have been many murders going around the city. We'll have to speak to Alustriel about this."
"I agree," said Shadimir," but right now isn't exactly the best time. Jepetto is at home fixing on Battle-hammer, but later tonight he and I are going to the palace to do some research on the Fire Knives."
Ronald smiled as Shadimir handed him the infant king. "It must be hard being a child surrounded by courtly women and bastards like Vangerdahast."
"The main problem about being around Vangerdahast is the smell he carries with him," Sawyer declared as he and Erilett walked over to where Shadimir and Ronald were standing. Both the hunter and the bard noticed the red cuts and purple bruises the on the druid's face and arms.
"What happened to you?" asked Ronald," You look like you got in some kind of scuffle."
The druid wiped some blood off of his chin. "I was attacked by three Knives outside of the palace. If it weren't for, their smell, their footsteps, and Erilett, I probably wouldn't have known they were coming."
Shadimir looked at Ronald. "This complicates things. I'll have to carry weapons and wear armor with me when I go to the palace tonight."
Ronald scratched his chin and said," I'm sure you can have Alustriel stick close to you." The bard looked down when Azoun let out a cooing sound. "There you are Shadimir, the king is ordering you to come prepared to the palace."
"That or he is about to piss on you Ronald," Sawyer announced with a laugh.
"So the king actually had a bowel movement on Ronald?" Jepetto asked later that evening as he and Alustriel set a pile of books on the large oak desk that sat up against the wall in the palace library.
"When we got him to the chamberpot, he got in a shot at Ronald," Shadimir answered," Who knew the Obarskyrs were such good marksmen"
Alustriel set one last book on the desk, a large leather bound tome with a purple dragon on the front cover. "This is a book that is filled with Cormyr's history. Though there are more detailed books about Cormyr in the Vault of Sages , I can not allow either of you in there because that is where I am keeping everyone's gifts."
Shadimir shrugged as he opened the book. "I'm not allowing anyone in the study for the same reason-that is except for Filfaeril and Azoun when they want to sleep in private. Speaking of gifts, I think I have one last thing to get. A sword for the druid."
"That's awfully kind of you," the Lady of Silverymoon said with a wide smile." When I saw him arrive, I noticed that he carried no weapons of his own. A sword would be a great present, though an odd one for a druid."
"Mielikki lets her druids wield long swords," the undead hunter commented," and besides he is from Cormyr and as my mother used to say There is not a boy from Cormyr who grows up not knowing how to wield a sword, or something like that."
"Nevertheless, let's skip this talk of gift giving and begin," Alustriel said as she stood next to Shadimir and Jepetto as they both grabbed a book and began reading.
While they examined the pages of their research material, six figures hid in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to draw their blades and attack.