Chapter 10: Changes
Yave'fini insisted that she sleep next to Kyorlyn for the next couple of days, in case the new mother was in need of healing. Montolio was placed in a bassinet on the side of the bed next to Kyorlyn.
Drizzt insisted to stay close to his wife and child. He pushed a lounge chair to the foot of the bed, and kept his scimitars in reach.
As they slept, a shadowy figure made its way through a window. He walked through the shadows, hiding, inching closer to the bassinet. The thief carefully looked at Drizzt. He sure the drow stayed asleep by casting a spell. Likewise, the thief put spells on Kyorlyn and Yave'fini.
He looked at the sleeping infant. Slowly his hands reached down to take the baby.
"Be gone from here." "rang in the thief's ears. The thief felt the sharp edge of a sword at his throat.
At first, he thought his sleep spell had failed, and Drizzt had awakened. He looked over to see the ranger still sleeping peacefully.
"Who are you?" the thief whispered.
"Your executioner if you do not step backwards to the window and leave." the one with the sword whispered back.
As the thief back stepped, he saw the golden glow of a katana, and the glow of pale green eyes in the darkness.
"Brasher. This is none of your concern."
Solonund smiled wickedly. "It is my concern. My master has made it my concern."
"You give fealty to a drow?"
"I give my loyalty to one much more powerful than the Queen herself."
"Traitor. You will die tonight."
"No, you will die and be judged by my master." Solonund's katana dug into the throat of the thief. A small amount of blood began to trickle down the thief's neck.
The thief pulled a dagger and plunged it into Solonund's side. Solonund did not move, wince, or bleed. The thief pulled his dagger away and felt at Solonund's form. His hand went right through.
"A trick?"
"No trick." Solonund said as his Katana made the previous nick more prominent. "I can kill you, but you can not touch me. If you wish to live, leave this room, go to the temple and pray. My master has given me leave to send you to the abyss if you do not."
The thief quickly backed his way to the window as Montolio began to cry. Solonund made a wave with his free hand, dispelling the sleep spell on the three adults. He slowly disappeared in a faint golden light as the thief tripped trying to exit the window. The thief fell noisily outside.
Drizzt woke to the noise of the thief. He looked up and saw a light fade next to the bassinet. Kyorlyn turned, took the baby in her arms, and bared her breast so Montolio could suckle.
Drizzt breathed a sigh and crept quietly to the window. The thief was out cold on the balcony. Drizzt took some of the cord that held back the large curtains. He hog tied the thief and carried him into the front room.
Drizzt locked the bedroom on his way back inside. He would deal with the interloper in the morning.
Drizzt woke to screams coming from the front room.
"It looks like the servants found him," He groaned as he got up, went to kiss his sleeping wife and son, and walked out to explain the presence of the tied up thief.
Zaknafien and Melina had woke to the screams of the maid and rushed into the front room.
"Who is that, Father?"
"He tried to steal Montolio last night."
"Than this fellow is lucky you just cut him. I would have killed him if he touched my son."
"I only tied him up. Someone else cut his throat like that."
The thief shouted vulgarities at them and demanded to be released.
"Call for the guards," Zaknafein said.
Solonund and Tauron, rushed through the front door. The first servant who screamed had sent for them.
"Drizzt! Is everyone alright? One of your servants fetched me. He said it was an emergency."
"Demon! Vile thing! Kill it! Solonund Brasher is a demon!" The thief screamed.
"Ektelle! What are you doing here!?"
"Sire! Kill Brasher!"
"You are the one who needs to explain why you tried to steal my child! Tauron, please have this piece of offal taken away from my sight before I kill him!"
"I will take him to the guard, Tauron." Solonund said as he drug the thief away.
"I will make sure this does not happen again Drizzt. Even if it means I stay in the same room guarding it myself. The council has called the meeting for this evening. Do you think Kyorlyn will be alright to attend?"
"I will help her. Knowing her, she would attend even if she was in no condition."
"What!" Noldo shouted at the page who informed him of the near abduction of Kyorlyn's baby.
"Yes sir, but due to the quick thinking of her husband, the thief was captured. It is Ektelle."
"Thank you. you can go on now." Noldo paced back and forth through the dusty living room of his villa. "Ektelle?"
Ektelle had been begging for many years to be considered a student to the Master Songblade. Noldo always refused, first being too busy with his son and later being in no frame of mind to teach.
Over the past five years, since Tauron's arrival, Ektelle had made himself into an overwhelming pest to Noldo. Ektelle had gone so far as to get on his knees and beg Noldo to train him.
"Could that pest with no talent for song or for blade have been trying to secretly kill me?"
The council chambers bustled with activity. Heated conversations were erupting among the members themselves before Drizzt, Kyorlyn, Tauron, Solonund and Daelia arrived.
Kyorlyn tried to calm the fussy Montolio, but the noise was upsetting him.
"Silence!" Tauron shouted as he took his seat, "The first order of business is the attempted kidnapping of Montolio Do'Urden from his parents. Ektelle was captured, but I am sure he did not act alone. I want those responsible to step forward right now."
"Prince Tauron, do you accuse members of the council of being responsible?"
"I do."
Noldo Starym gasped. " None would stoop so low as to endanger an infant. Would any of you?"
"I know otherwise. Ektelle has already told us who hired him. I am merely allowing you to lessen your punishment by stepping forward."
"Ektelle is a fool who would say anything to get out of his punishment."
"It is you, Nimbreth Shadowstar, who are mistaken. You are one of the conspirators." Solonund said. The glazed look slowly washed over him again, "All who do not admit their guilt, and ask the forgiveness of the gods, will be punished, by me."
"You have no authority here, Solonund Brasher. Whatever luxuries you are afforded at Straankeep do not extend here."
"For hundreds years, this conspiracy has lasted. It is time to end it. If you do not punish your traitors, Tauron, this city will fall, as Cormanthor did."
"A drow threat?" a female member squealed, "Then shouldn't the drow that are here be put into custody?"
"The Do'Urdens are not the threat." Tauron said, "It is the traitors already living among us. Ektelle has warned that this city is about to come under attack, from within."
"That little snit!" Nimbreth shouted.
"Guards, take Nimbreth. The rest of you, this is your last chance. "Tauron said sternly.
None stepped forward.
"Very well, I am giving the list to the guards. All those accused will be escorted to the dungeons."
A shout of , "The Starym curse must end," sounded over the commotion as a dagger suddenly flew into the air towards Kyorlyn and the baby. Noldo Starym jumped in front of the dagger and took it's poison.
"I, I am sorry for being so upset at you. I was wrong." Noldo stumbled and pulled out the dagger. He fell, clutched the wound as his breath grew ragged and his eyes closed.
The guards wasted no time in gathering all the conspirators, including the one who had thrown the poison blade.
Kyorlyn handed Montolio to Drizzt.
"Hang on, uncle," she said as she pulled out the dagger and lay her hands upon him. She started to slowly and quietly hum.
A faint light emanated from her hands, and Noldo began to breathe slowly again.
"Get the clerics in here! Guards! arrest all on you list immediately!" Tauron shouted.
"The witch must die! The Starym curse must not be allowed to live!" One of the councilors shouted as he was being dragged away.
Tauron sat back at his place and asked if there was any more business to be discussed.
Noldo shakily stood up and said, "I have thought on this. I was concerned with her protection and the protection of her gift. I believed only the crown could protect her well. I was wrong. I, as the only living elder of house Starym approve of my niece's marriage to Drizzt Do'Urden. He has proven himself to be an excellent protector in my eyes. Therefore, I release any obligation Tauron has towards her."
"Thank you. This meeting is adjourned."
The rest of the day, Noldo spent much time in the guest house with Kyorlyn and Drizzt.
"The House of Starym has always been criticized for our tolerance of humans, dwarves, halflings, and other non-elven races. We have also been under strict scrutiny because of the amount of songblades, and rangers among our house. My grandfather fought long and hard with the Cormanthor court on just that issue. The gift Corellon gave our house is partially what makes us so excellent at these endeavors."
"Then why such heated disapproval of Drizzt, uncle? He himself has counted all of those races his friends, and most of his own as his enemies."
Noldo rubbed his eyes. "Quite frankly, I looked at his coloration and let it cloud my judgment. Forgive me, but I do not put much credence in fanciful bard's tales. Once I took the time to verify the truth, I realized that Drizzt was a much better choice than Tauron. I am not too old to start training more songblades. They are the only type of bards that try to keep their tales as close to the truth as possible. They know, because they are often in the thick of battle themselves. I may be nearing four hundred, but I am in no way past my prime as many of these idiots here think. I still practice my bladedance at dawn. Occasionally, I still have young maidens come to watch me. Truth be told, I am grouchy because I have been itching to get into a fight, even just for sport. My council duties, and keeping Vari's location secret kept me tied down."
Noldo took a cup of moss tea from the tray left by one of the servants.
"If you knew where she was, why didn't you go and get her a long time ago?" Drizzt asked.
"We tried. The magic gates to that place would not work. I found master wizards to try and make a new gate so we could retrieve Eina and Vari. The magic around that place was too strong. The wards were made to keep Malar's servants from overwhelming the place, and finding the gate to Nyärith. If those beasts took the lost continent, they could use that valley to launch an attack against the place where Prince Lamruil has planted the sacred tree. "
"You could have used other means besides magic." Drizzt said tersely.
"We did. None of those we sent there ever came back. In the last fifty years, I personally sent a dozen rescue parties. One of them included my only son, my only child. I mourn his loss every day. I am amazed that you, alone, were able to get her out."
"We had divine help." Kyorlyn said, "Our goddess guided us."
Noldo smiled. "I must thank Meilikki then for delivering you safe. Drizzt, I would like to ask a favor of you."
"What do you want?"
"I would like to spar with you. I have plenty of time after my morning ritual. If you think you are up to it?"
"I am. I would like that."
"Good. Tomorrow, meet me on my patio behind my villa. Kyorlyn can come and watch if she wishes, as long as she promise not to giggle too much."
"What would make me giggle?"
"I spar in the nude. I would ask Drizzt to do the same."
Kyorlyn's cheeks reddened slightly, making Drizzt smile.
"I will see you tomorrow then," Drizzt said as he walked with Noldo to the door.
"My love, If you thing you can manage here for a while, I need to go talk to Solonund."
"I will be fine, Drizzt. I am a tough girl. I think I can handle Montolio. His care is easier than killing babbians."
Drizzt laughed," I will see you later."
Drizzt made his way to Solonund's villa. Thelan opened the door.
"Father is not here. He is in the grove, praying." He brushed aside some of his curly, blondish gray locks.
Drizzt cocked his head, "Praying? That is a bit strange, for Solonund."
"Father has gotten very odd in the last thirty years or so. He quit adventuring. He quit chasing women. He quit picking fights, unless they were fairly matched. He left Evermeet, then Straankeep and went into seclusion. He lives somewhere in the High Forest. I don't know exactly where it is, neither does Daelia. This outing to Evereska is the first time either of us has seen him in two years. Even so, he doesn't act like the father we know, except at small intervals. He has gone completely religious, and I have not the faintest idea why."
"Perhaps you should come with me to talk to him then. I am also concerned about his odd behavior."
"Alright, just let me send this pretty on home and let me grab my boots."
"Thel!" a feminine voice rang from inside the door.
"I can continue to seduce you later, sweet. I have family business to attend to."
"If you leave, I am not coming back."
"C'est La Vie." Thelan joined Drizzt outside and closed the door.
"I take it back. You are worse than your father was at your age."
"I must get the rest of my wanton ways from my mother then, she was no saint either." Thelan said as they rounded the corner and headed into the grove.
A huge group of statues portraying the court of the Seldarine, in natural looking poses, was at the head of the grove. Solonund was on his knees in front of the statue of Corellon Larethian, holding his talisman and chanting in hushed tones.
"Father?" Thelan gently placed his hand on one of Solonund's shoulders.
Solonund turned and looked up," Oh, hello son, is there something wrong?"
"Yes, there is." Drizzt said," You are not acting like yourself and I want to know why."
"Lets go over to that bench. It is time some things were said. I am loathe to say them, but I must."
Drizzt got a concerned look on his face," What kind of trouble are you in? You are not the type to go off and hide for no reason."
"I am not in trouble. I went into seclusion because it is what my master bid of me."
Thelan's eyes went wide, "Father! What master? What have you done, father?"
"You don't understand, he is my master." Solonund calmly said as he pointed to the statue of Corellon.
"Is that why you have gotten so penitent all of a sudden?"
"I made a promise, the day I saved Thelan, to honor his wishes. Corellon himself helped me to save Thelan. The price for my son's life was to become this." Solonund said as he held up the talisman.
"To become what? A talisman?"
"No, to become the god this talisman represents. This is the talisman of Pilin'Solor, translated, the arrow's surge. The Herald, the Pathfinder, the Renewer. Half-brother of Erevan Ilesere. Father to Lashrael and Felarathael. Elven god of battle mounts, fire, messengers, pathways, gates, fair play and fair fights. I met him after the freeing of Myth Fredaine. He told me that the god-spark of Pilin'Solor resided in me. It is the only reason I can use the talisman. In exchange for my son's life, I am forced to become a god. It is not entirely bad. I can do many things I was unable to do. I have not aged since that day. No blade or poison or much else can harm me. I was able to travel directly into your bedroom, Drizzt, and stop that thief before he could steal your newborn. I could not be hurt, but I could have killed him with one swipe. Unfortunately, that would go against my oath of fair play. I had to give him one chance."
"The faint light I saw when I woke!" Drizzt gasped.
"Yes, that was me. I have been charged to help to protect Drizzt's child until he can fend for himself. My master has not told me why, only that I must do it. The good thing about being mortal and serving mortal masters is that you can disobey from time to time and get away with it. When the master is a god, that option goes away. I am not unhappy with the decision, but it doesn't make me happy either."
"Solonund, I'm sorry." Drizzt stood, turned from Solonund and crossed his arms.
"Oh, father, I was not worth the misery I have caused you!"
"Both of you, calm down. I will get over it. Even my master is upset at my sudden sullenness."
"Is there anything I can do to help you, father?"
"You must help your uncle and aunt. I want you to make sure that once you visit Privateer's Port, you will look in on them. Your mere presence here, Drizzt, caused a large plot to be averted. Tauron is planning a party and festival in your honor. Plus, I think Tauron would use any excuse to have a party now that he has finally gotten his way."
"I must go, father, I have a pretty thing to apologize to." Thelan said as he rose and left.
"In son-speak, Solonund, I think he disagreed with your requests. I will go and leave you to your rituals. Do not hesitate to call on me if you need to talk."
"I will Drizzt."
Drizzt and Kyorlyn spent the remaining summer months in Evereska.
Yave'fini refused to allow them to leave until she was sure that Montolio was old enough to travel.
Tauron, concerned for their safety, wanted them to stay until Haori came to fetch them. So far, there was no sign of the giant owl.
Every morning Drizzt sparred with Noldo.
Kyorlyn had to avert her eyes more than once as she watched them spar together. It was not embarrassment, but self control which made her do so.
The fluid motion of Drizzt's naked form made her wish she was not so tied down to Montolio. The baby was always near, and sound asleep in a sling which hung across her chest. With the attempted kidnapping still fresh in her mind, Kyorlyn was loathe to hand her son over to anyone else's care. Even if doing so meant forgoing some of her creature comforts.
She longed for Drizzt to be finished with the match so she could take him in her arms. A giggle from a nearby bush brought her back from her lucid daydream.
"Shh," she said to whomever was spying from the bushes, "I know my husband and uncle are both incredibly handsome, but there is no need for you to disrupt their match."
"Oh!" a startled voice sounded. The bushes rustled and a long haired girl slowly made her way to sit beside Kyorlyn.
"I am not supposed to be here, but if I am talking to you, he might not go so harsh on me."
"Who are you?"
"Sara." the girl replied. "I have been watching Noldo for many years. He makes me feel so wonderful. I just have to watch him here. Usually, this is the only time he is alone, or not locked away in his study."
"I am certain the fact he is naked holds no appeal for you? Hmm?"
"That too, Lady Do'Urden." Sara put her hands over her mouth as her cheeks reddened.
"So have you told him? How you feel, I mean."
"No. I have tried, but I just can't find the words. I get so nervous around him. Nothing comes out right. When he does turn his attention to me, I run off, like a coward."
Kyorlyn smiled," It took Drizzt a long time to muster the nerve to tell me."
"He has caught me a few times. He always gets so upset."
"What does he look like when he catches you peeking?"
"Angry. His face turns red, and he stutters."
"Does his phallus rise?"
"I, um, well. I think it does. I try not to look."
"Why don't you just let him have his anger, then kiss him when it calms slightly."
"That sounds barbaric."
"No, it is practical. You have been in love with him for over twenty years. If he has caught you more than once, then, he knows you watch him. He may actually like it when you watch. Just follow my lead, I know by the way Drizzt fights that the match is almost over."
"I, I can't" Sara said with a deep blush coming to her cheeks.
"How old are you?"
"Two hundred six."
"Then you are old enough to do this." Kyorlyn said as she saw Drizzt deftly disarm Noldo, "It's now or never."
Kyorlyn rose and grabbed Sara tightly by the hand. Noldo looked over. His face got a tell tale redness to it.
"Just as I thought. He wants you to make the move. He is to reserved to do so otherwise," she whispered in Sara's ear.
Kyorlyn dragged Sara beside her as she went to embrace her husband.
"S, S, Sara, I have told you a thousand times, you are not supposed to watch my morning ritual."
"I, I wasn't. I was talking to Kyorlyn and watching the match."
"Nothing else?" Noldo said with a forlorn look on his face. He looked over to see Drizzt and Kyorlyn in a passionate kiss.
"It's now or never" Noldo grabbed Sara and kissed her, " I have been wanting to do that for a long time."
"You have?"
"I have lost two wives. I was afraid to love again."
"Come on, we need to get dressed, so Tauron can throw his party. I hope he doesn't expect anything formal, because I'm not dressing up fancy. I am sure Drizzt isn't either."
Drizzt smiled, "I am glad you agree."
The so called party was more like a street festival. There were games and booths all over the main plaza for everyone to enjoy.
Tauron was kind enough to not put Drizzt on the spot by demanding a speech or the like. He felt it enough to place banners all over the place saying," Thanks to Drizzt, we are safe." all over the place.
Drizzt must have shook hands with dozens of people.
Kyorlyn danced around, avoiding direct contact with people. She was having fun, but the crowds still made her nervous. She headed for the platform when she saw Haori fly overhead.
As soon as the enormous owl landed, Zaknafein and Melina quickly loaded their gear onto him. Drizzt slowly made their way through the cheering crowd to the platform.
"I will meet you in Icewind Dale" Solonund said as he held the crowd back so Haori could depart.
"Where is out next destination?" Drizzt asked Haori.
"Silverymoon."
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