A Light in the Dark
Chapter 6
A shadow figure sat on the ledge above the scouting party, silently watching them. The conversation was about the watcher and the one that it had left. Ten years had changed the silent shadow, and it hoped that if it managed to sneak into the party and back to the city, that its appearance would not be wholly recognized.
"They have to be around here somewhere," Dinin's voice floated up to the shadow. "Yet I fail to see where? For weeks we've searched for our siblings. How many? And all that time Sin ... Shi'nayne has been sitting at Matron Malice's side as you used ... "
Briza wiped around and grabbed Dinin by the throat. "You will watch your tongue, Dinin. Matron Malice would not question your death. Her sons have ever been trouble to her."
"I...apologize. I just don't trust her. She is not loyal to us."
"Fool. Shi'nayne is a high priestess. Loyal only to Lloth. As am I and our mother. What Matron Malice does, she does to return House Do'urden to the favor of the Spider Queen and glory."
"Yes, of course. In truth, I am simply dismayed that my own sisters, the true Do'Urdens, have been moved down in the hierarchy to make room for that one."
"Shi'nayne's rank is of no concern to you," Briza yelled at her brother. "she will serve her purpose as we will by finding Drizzt and Beanea."
The shadow watched the movements of those below it, wondering what had happened in the ten years that had passed since leaving Menzoberranzan.
"It is near," Briza said.
The shadow wondered how the group had managed to track it. It was not the same Elf that had left all those years ago, nor was the one that had been left at the oasis. The scouts fanned out in search of the one they have been hunting. As they did, the shadow produced from its neckpurse the house emblem that it and its companion had carried for years and figured it out. With another reach into the neckpurse, the shadow produced its emblem twin and knew it for sure.
"Go, Guenhwyver," the shadow whispered to the panther as she placed the neckpurse on it.
The panther raced off silently and the female shadow moved silently to do battle with those that remained behind at the forking tunnels. A silent form dropped down and took out Dinin with the hilt of one of her half swords. Spinning on her heels, Beanea held the tip of her other half sword at Briza's throat.
"Dear sister Beanea," Briza said with a smile. "The last I saw you, you were with child."
"W...Why are you here?" The words, hardly spoken with Drizzt and Zak, were hard to speak for Beanea.
"For you and brother Drizzt. The war with House Hunett is over. It is time for you two to come home."
"Home?"
"You two are needed. Drizzt is now the Weapons Master."
"Zak was Weapons Master. Why would Drizzt be... You killed him!"
Beanea attacked Briza, a large black mass coming down between them before Beanea could reach the Drow.
"Go back to your damnable mother, Briza. Tell her not to seek us out again," Beanea yelled.
There was something in Beanea's ice blue eyes that signalled something that Briza did not know. Even as the high priestess pumped her arm that held the six headed snake head, Beanea was ready. It seemed like a flash that Beanea was behind Briza, a half sword to her neck.
"Do it," Briza urged. "End it."
By now, Dinin was climbing to his feet behind Beanea, arming a crossbow. Beanea spun, keeping a half sword at Briza, and aimed the other at Dinin. Within the ice blue eyes that were slowly losing their glow, Dinin saw his death that will come, if not by Beanea's hands then Drizzt's. Dropping the crossbow, Dinin crossed his arms in the sign of surrender. A growl from Beanea sent the male Drow running. Briza tried to slip past her adopted sister, but met a half sword. It was then that Guenhwyver pounced down and allowed Briza to escape. The remaining members of the scout group arrived to see Briza running and Beanea standing there with Guenhwyver.
"Briza said that Zak's been killed," Beanea signed to Drizzt.
"What?!"
"That's what she said. I ... I nearly killed her."
Drizzt had paid attention to Beanea's tale of what happened at the forking tunnels. He too was losing the battle between himself and the hunter. Beanea had told him that she had fought for all these years against her own.
"I think its time that we leave," Drizzt signed.
"Where to? Our family will most likely kill us as much as welcome us home. And what about the Svirfnebli? You can't expect them to take us in after what we did to their mining party over ten years ago."
It was during one of the scouting patrols the two were one before leaving Menzoberranzan. Both had argued to spare the live of the leader; which resulted in the loss of just his hands.
"Where else are we suppose to go? The surface?"
"That be our best bet if Malice is going to continue the hunt for us."