Chapter 7
Nightal 21 1372 DR Year of Wild Magic
"Milord it would not be wise to reveal yourself to the world," Maclin said to his superior as they sat in the dark corner of an abandoned warehouse.
The Grandfather of Assassins Targeth Cormaeril, glared at his lieutenant "It matters no more. Shadimir Deachron has revealed my identity to the authorities of Silverymoon. Soon all of Cormyr will know of our rebirth and it will only be a matter of time before the Regent acts. We must act swiftly and strike at the Feast of the Moon festival."
Maclin bit his lip. "Yes Milord, but how can we plan to overtake a city as large as the Gem of the North? We would need more than just the remaining forces you brought from Cormyr."
Targeth smiled. "You forget my friend that in these past days I have sought aid from others. I am sure you will be at ease when you see our allies break through Silverymoon's pearl gates and ravage the city. These comrades of course, will help you and your men on the outside while I take the rest with me to the palace. Before the year is over, Silverymoon will belong to us."
Like the years before, the Feast of the Moon festival was held in the central area of the city. Many of the citizens who gathered at the festival were celebrating the memories of those lost in the Cormyr war.
Several children and a snow tiger were gathered around one of the larger oak trees, listening to the priestess Stephanie Deachron tell tales about the dragons who have lived and passed on in the world. A few feet away, Minerva was singing a ballad to another group of children about the deeds of King Azoun Obarskyr IV.
At a small table, Shadimir, Jepetto, Drizzt, and Ronald listened to the druid's story about him and Virgo traveling back in time and how they saved a group of adventurers from a terrible demon by slaying it with his sword Elowynn. In the process the sword was destroyed.
"But how were you able to travel back in time?" the deep gnome asked curiously wondering how he could achieve time travel.
"A faulty spell cast by a couple of Cormyr's finest wizards," Sawyer quickly responded with a bit of sarcasm in his voice. "It is nice though, talking about adventures like that again. I'll miss her." The druid looked over, seeing Filfaeril and Alustriel talking with each other. Azoun V, who appeared to be cradled in Alustriel's arms, looked right at Sawyer.
The druid smiled back at the king, as Drizzt began telling a story about his old ranger friend Montolio.
"We're going to be late," Catti-brie commented as she and her lover got dressed.
Wulfgar kissed her as he slipped on his breeches. "Well love if you hadn't been so insistent on waiting to get intimate until everyone had left for the festival-" he stopped when he spotted Aliyah standing at the doorway.
The blond ranger smirked as her magical eye moved back and forth. "Don't worry. Despite having a magical eye, I didn't see everything, except the shadows of some Fire Knives who are entering the palace."
Strapping on her leather armor, Catti-brie's grew worried. "The children are at the festival with the others," she said quietly.
"Yes, but we should prepare for battle," Aliyah responded, holding onto her stomach. "I may not be able to put up a good fight in my human form, but in my dragon form I can have Catti-brie ride on my back while you Wulfgar fight along side us."
"What about Drizzt's child?" asked Wulfgar as he grabbed his magical war hammer. "Will he be safe?"
Aliyah closed her eyes and bowed her head as she stroked her belly. "I pray that he will be."
Just as Drizzt was about finished with his tale, Alustriel walked over and grabbed Shadimir by the shoulder. "Something is wrong," she whispered in his ear. "We have to go."
The undead hunter looked up at her. "At the palace? Are Wulfgar and Catti-brie safe? What about Aliyah?"
"They are safe for now," the High Lady of Silverymoon answered pulling him up," but we have to move with haste Shadimir, or else they won't be."
All dressed in black, the four assassins who had been ordered to go in first, walked slowly throughout the dark palace hallways. They turned a corner and stood in doorway that opened up into a large area. "Thus must be the throne room or something," one of them whispered.
One of the other assassins walked inside, striking a torch as he crossed the doorway. When he held it up, his eyes widened when he saw a long brass colored reptilian neck. "Dragon!" he screamed as he ran out of the room.
With Catti-brie on her back, Aliyah jumped from out of the banquet hall and breathed a long line of flames. The assassins fled for their lives, hoping to avoid the dragon's breath weapon.
When she saw the assassins attempting to run, Catti-brie drew her long bow Taulmaril the Heartseeker and fired a silver arrow towards the running assassins. After seeing the arrow hit one of the assassins through the back, the brass dragon began the chase, forcing the screaming intruders down the hallway from which they came with came.
"Where do you think they're going?" asked Drizzt as he and the others watched Shadimir and Alustriel run to the palace.
"Maybe the rumors about him and Alustriel are true," Ronald commented with a smirk.
Jepetto shook his head as he withdrew a wand "No, something is wrong at the palace."
The festival's music and storytelling came to a halt. Stephanie began looking around, her ears hearing the sounds of loud war drums approaching. Turning to Dalla, she said," Watch the children at the temple." Dalla nodded and quickly gathered her siblings, Hestia, and Colson to her. Praying to her god to watch over them, the doomguide quickly cast a mass teleportation spell that whisked the children away to the temple of Chauntea across town.
After the children were gone, Stephanie looked around, seeing everyone running as fast as their legs could carry them. Hearing a vicious growl coming from Elros, she drew her flaming bastard sword just in time to see a band of frost giants and assassins charged into the area, swinging their blades and axes at anything and anyone.
Ronald and Sawyer drew their swords while Jepetto pulled another wand. Before drawing his deadly scimitars, Drizzt placed his onyx panther figurine on the ground beside him.
"Guenhwyvar my shadow come to me," the dark elf whispered to the figurine. A thick gray cloud covered the figurine. When the cloud dissipated, a ten-foot long black furred panther materialized in front of the figurine and looked up at her master.
Setting her gaze towards the giants, Guenhwyvar waiting for Drizzt's signal to attack.
