Chapter 14 Surprise friend or foe, Jarlaxle!
Meanings: (yea i've found a source so the dialogue will sound nice, genuine)
Vel'bol ph'dos xundus ghil?: what are you doing here?
Ah xun naut tlu alarmed. Usstan inbal nau intention d'battling dos : do not be alarmed, I have no intention of battling.
gelyn : enemy
Xuat doer jala: Don't come any closer
A comb had been left at the mirror dresser in this spacious room. The other inns used to be cramp, where both had to share a bed. This place was in better condition than the rest of the inns previously, the walls were smooth, no chipped paint and the windows opened easily. The bedsheets were clean and had two separate beds.
Sedna took her time teasing out tangles. Some were snagged on which must have hurt, but the drow made no complaint. "This is blissful. I haven't let my guard down to have this done."
She smiled. "And I can do this too Drizzt." She kneaded his shoulders. Her fingers found the right spots and eased the tense muscles. He enjoyed the pampering attention.
"I am fortunate to have a nice little sister to help me."
She chuckled. "You are welcome. Feel free to ask me when you need more."
"Oh I cannot possibly." He said softly, checking they had all their belongings. His ears twitched, in what Sedna recognized as uncertainty and shyness. She sat on her bed, enjoying the scent.
Afterwards they partook of the meals provided by the local chef. Some were initially stunned by the dark skinned elf but at Sedna's disarming smile and effect of Spirit on them they calmed. Having regained his vigour from the rest, Drizzt suggested, "Shall we explore the town more thoroughly?"
"Sure, ok." She had been looking forward to a heart- to -heart chat in private, about his hidden grief. The girl really wished to find the solution to his pain, but he was avoiding it at all costs. When he got up, she held his hand. He was pleased. Apparently Drizzt loved to wander outdoors and find shortcuts and hidden routes just like in forests and mountain treks. His lavenders were alight with eagerness. It was good he was back to this explorer self.
"You are bored, my friend?" he asked when she made no comment. He usually did not talk this much.
"No, I am not. I'm just thinking… about why people in this world have to fight all the time. Since I came here, the orcs fight, big people also. Peace is not supported?" Sedna said, frowning.
"People are selfish, they want each other's domains and pride, honor. But I don't like to. Fighting regains or loses a person's honor. There are some who'd like to do it with pleasure, what is the word, for a hobby. Yes."
"That's nuts."
He smiled, she had used this word to describe his family when he told her how his family tried to usurp one another to kill him. She had wittled down his desire to keep a secret about his homeland. "Oh yea I liked hearing about your life. It was so cool, though no offence that I want you hurt. If I were not being hunted, I normally lead a boring predictable life, Drizzt."
The elf matched her pace. The sunlight did not hurt him as much with these… shades on. He returned them. "I am sure it was not too boring. If you have a choice, do you want to go back or remain here?"
She considered his words from a neutral standpoint. Previously she got the feeling he wanted to ditch her. "Here. It's got lots more places to see and run to. I want to stay with you. I don't ever want to be alone again." She tried to stop herself from whining. He rubbed her back.
"Very well. I don't plan to, it will not be responsible of me to leave you defenceless. Do not be hurt again." He blinked back tears, not from sadness but the glaring hot white light.
"I have to go now." They went back to their room and he hid from the daylight.
Spirit was sorely disappointed. It wanted to have the run of the place and bounce about using its power. But Sedna thought it was more advisable not to draw attention to themselves. Drizzt stirred. His eartips peeked out.
Hey stop driving me insane with this boredom! Tonight let's play!
I know but be patient. We cannot leave him here. He's so caring.
The serenity of Northrim did not last. Three days later, in the early evening, people came to stir up trouble. Sedna who was reading and making notes about her discovery in this world, checked out the window view. Beefcake- men warriors towering like giants marched upon the street and shouted challenges. They brandished crude weapons.
Using her sentient jewel, she judged them. They were hostile. Oh shit.
Sedna almost yelled, but hadn't the heart to wake him. The day before, they had gone exploring to humor Spirit which was fun. Though the elf did not mention he still felt a little sore in the injured spot. The farmers had cautioned against overstrain.
The situation outside did not lead to screaming yet, but terror and shock were the reactions when the hulks caught some people up by their shirtcuffs and flung them away.
A guy with a horned helm bellowed, speaking in an unknown dialect. His hand was the size of a giant sausage.
Drizzt rolled over and sat up at the commotion. "What is it?" he hissed, padding over to stand beside her. From their vantage point, they could not be seen yet. The horned helm man seemed to be the chief, Drizzt noted. They all wore loincloths , savage looking and brandished clubs and swords. Yes they had just discussed about why people liked to do battle in this world.
She touched him and signed, can you understand? What's going on?
He nodded, and tuned in to their boded ill. He responded, Mostly they wished to seek shelter for free and not pay. We should leave now.
So quickly? But…
The drow nodded firmly and swept up their things. She took hers and scanned the room before following. He covered his hair with the hood, Sedna had none but she used a glamour to help her see in the night. Spirit had worked to make it a success.
Now the barbarians were laughing loudly. Someone went sailing past. Drizzt and her were down the stairs now and the crowds were scattering. She kept her focus on him.
The hulks cried an incantation. Wulfgar had intoned Tempus this was an opposing god Dranos. Drizzt frowned. He hoped to avoid a direct conflict, if they saw him it would not be ideal. Barbarians hate drow. Being hit by one would incapacitate him. Drizzt did not have the full capacity of his prowess yet. His side ached.
Ten more sauntered into the inn, more violent. Sedna noticed other races amongst the humans, elves, short people, hobbits, and what? A dark elf? He looked like her friend.
"Wait! Isn't he like your…. Race?"
He glanced. Red eyes, with a feathered hat and a black cloak. Yes one of the drow! Sedna noticed his face darken, lavenders smote with hostility. Then they were enemies. "When we have a chance, we will go to the forest behind. Don't bother about him. I cannot confront them."
Now they were among the crowd. The barbarians were cursing at the inn and swarming inside, looting. The tree line was still a long distance. Some people guarded as well. How? So many of them. You're still in pain?
He replied with a smile, I'm impressed. Not too painful, but I cannot afford to fight them all. Let us wait, patience. He hoped she would stay close.
She beamed. Then two groups rushed each other, gangsters in one of the humanly looking ones. The pointed ears folk were vexed and shook their heads. Some watched the show.
Jarlaxle had seen the child with green eyes and following the green ranger. He had found him! His treasures were never wrong. To ascertain that, Jarlaxle rubbed the magic ring on his index finger. Ah yes.
Drizzt spotted arrows aimed from above. He pushed Sedna back, calculating the trajectory of the sharp arrows. She gasped. They meant to attack the villains. But tough hides and armor meant the hulks were unfazed by these little things embedding their flesh.
Both of them were almost to the treeline. Ushering her into his cloak, Drizzt deduced they should run into the forest now. He broke out in sweat.
But that action was not to be, a burly voice cried out 'stop right there! Drow!' Lumbering steps pounded the ground.
"Go! Get to safety!" Drizzt hissed, pushing her. She ran halfheartedly, he was following, his swords out in a flash.
"Behind you!" she screamed a giant axe going for her friend. He feinted. The pillar structure gave way. The elf dodged every huge cumbersome blow. The man roared. Sedna waited.
The jewel jiggled, he says run run! Don't wait.
Gods! This giant was so huge he almost touched the treetops. He smiled wickedly, tossing aside the axe and crunching his fists. Drizzt said, "I do not wish to fight you. I want to be on my way."
"Mwahahha! Drow are filthy, and I gonna get meself a precious girlie to play with."
Sedna bristled, how dare he see her as a toy?
"Do not fall for his taunts. He will not get past my defences." Drizzt backed up till he was beside her.
She didn't want him to get hurt again! The shard changed form into a spiked thing. The barbarian guffawed. "What sorcery is this? It can't stop me!"
The giant reached out a hand to grab her and Drizzt stabbed with a scimitar. He cried out.
"Think what you may." Sedna had a silver white aura billowing and her voice became menacing. Drizzt touched her shoulder.
"We can leave now. More coming!" Shadows of companions were amassing to his cried. Crap! Sedna aimed at the heads of those who came into view, and let fly, opening her fist. The shard broke into millions of pieces spikes and impaled all of those who stood. They howled and covered their eyes.
Sedna smiled. Already Spirit reformed itself for another strike. He was bewildered, sheathing his blades. Instead of him hurrying her to move, Sedna knew where to escape to. Purposefully, she took his free arm and tugged, running.
Jarlaxle smiled. In the company of Drizzt do'urden was a girl mage? Ahh, what an unexpected turn of events! The older drow wanted to speak to him personally but he had to do something first like loot the bodies. For a young child, she had succeeded in a paralysis spell of midlevel range! Impressive.
The gargantuans lay gasping and blind. Jarlaxle took some of their jewel pouches and skipped off lightly. Night was at its peak.
Within the forest, the air was thick with humidity. She could easily see with the special glamour. As they ducked under branches and vines, the leaves parted and closed again. Did she weave a spell over them?
"Here, a bush covered entrance. Come!" she urged, stepping through. Drizzt glanced behind and followed. His side hurt a bit, but he did not think they would be able to rest here. The fronds concealed the narrow entrance.
"What did you do? They died?" he asked trying not to overreact.
Sedna looked stoic. "Either us or them. No they didn't. I just… blinded them."
Drizzt's lips were parted and his white brows furrowed. She added, "Let me see the wound." He unhooked his chainmail. Sedna nodded, seemed to have healed well. "Why does it still hurt?"
"Perhaps when I exert. I think it was very courageous of you, Sedna."
She smiled and squeezed his hand. He could not believe that they still wanted to take his life, though he protested. Drizzt shook his head, he saluted their persistence but this was madness. "Don't do that again. Let me handle the rogues." They rested, listening for any signs of pursuit. It seemed the giants lumbered past never noticing the place. Drizzt had covered the tracks.
His ears heard a whoosh and he touched his weapons. Sedna asked in sign, what is it?
Drizzt growled in a foreign tongue, "Vel'bol ph'dosxundus ghil?" He rose, glaring at someone.
The man had come in from …..? Sedna may have better vision with this spell but not hearing. The ranger faced him, hands on his hilts. She stepped behind Drizzt.
The person replied, " Ahxun naut tlualarmed. Usstan inbal nauintentiond'battling." Slowly he inched into the light on boots. He wore a rich blue suit, a feathered hat and a cape. This man had no hair! His eyes were reddish, and earrings hooked from both tips.
He winked at her. "Eh I don't believe we have met?" she ventured.
" Xuat doer jala , or I will show no mercy." Drizzt intoned in a louder voice.
The older drow bowed, gesturing his ring covered fingers. He said his name.
Drizzt stiffened, crossing his scimitars. In the next blink of a nanosecond, her companion pinned the intruder against a wall of the cavern with both scimitars out.
A drop of blood welled up. Yet, Jarlaxle calmly leaned back.
Drizzt gritted his teeth and repeated, "Why were you following us?"
Sedna was worried. He had changed so utterly in the face of this person. "He is no danger. You don't have to fight, please. Drizzt?"
Jarlaxle beamed and put a hand on Drizzt's right arm. "Yes she is right. See I brought nothing. I just want to.. talk. We haven't met in over a century."
The ranger frowned, but he only put down one blade. Without shifting his stare, he said to her, "He cannot be trusted. This drow schemed with the family to hunt me down." The young drow's voice was deadly.
Sedna watched them both, tensed. Whilst she did not think her friend would murder the guy, Jarlaxle did not worry or retaliate. A family feud? Sedna believed Drizzt of course.
They should talk about it.
Jarlaxle said something in their own dialect. Drizzt refused to reply. The other held out both hands in surrender. "So, where are the other companions the humans?" Jarlaxle rubbed his throat where the blade had cut in.
"None of your business." Drizzt ensured he blocked Sedna. The other guy was a smooth talker who persuaded her that he meant no harm. "Be gone. I want nothing to do with you."
"Zaknafein was my friend. He has told you about him, girl? I may have been misled to believe our ways are true. And I see she knows our signing. Good." The guy had a charming ease. Sedna frowned, how did he know that?
Her friend cursed something in a negative tone. She had never heard him other than his nonaggressive self before.
She slowly made the signs: I don't feel wrong about him. He just talks, can't there be an agreement reached? Talk?
Her friend used one scimitar to point that he was to stand away from them. Then he sheathed them. "It does not change a thing, I don't trust him." He confided, facing her.
She nodded. "Yep, we can't. But he has no weapons at all."
The ranger considered this. "Speak quickly."
"I will. I understand your hatred of my House of me. We run by different codes and moral values. I have connections to many societies. Drizzt there is no need for you to wander alone renegade. Your blood still burns."
Drizzt retorted heatedly, "I renounce their evil. I will never go back there! Where is he?"
Sedna cast about, who? Her emerald floated, not speaking. Jarlaxle did not seem fazed or emotional at all. "Who, Artemis? He does not walk with me for the moment. Is it wrong to seek companionship with my own kind? Missy, what a beautiful jewel you own. Such exquisiteness."
Drizzt hoped she wouldn't respond. A small glint of metal moved from Jarlaxle's hand. Instinctively, Drizzt whipped out Twinkle and icingdeath. She thought he would curse 'fuck' if he was in her world. The other had some rapier, it was a small one and danced about. Her friend loathed the Underdark. They circled each other. Suddenly all went dark. This was the famed globe of darkness trick. Both had cast the spell at the same time. When she could see better, Jarlaxle had got free of it and sent his rapier towards his opponent. Sedna trembled.
Blades crossing, sparks flew as they parried. Drizzt somersaulted. He had his form highlighted by purple lines. He said a word which dispersed the thing. Jarlaxle actually laughed. Then both rolled aside only to engage again. The mercenary produced an ordinary looking saber or sword. The rapier clattered to the ground.
The man was a powerful magician! What if he cheated? Be careful, please be careful. Drizzt had almost lost his life to protect me, and he is still not fully recovered.
Sedna gathered her own power into the form of a snake. It curved about Jarlaxle's torso. If she timed it right….
Effortlessly, the mercenary danced away. What? Spirit enfolded around her to make a shield. He had vanished.
"Stay back," Drizzt cried. He gasped for breath. Now he spoke, "Zaknafein would still be alive had you stepped in. Coward." Drizzt could distance himself from that tragedy but he wanted to see if the other would respond. The elf checked behind them, nope.
Sedna thought Jarlaxle had gone until a sword went flying and stuck into the rock. Thankfully not Drizzt's! The duel ended as her friend sat astride him with both blades against his neck. His Hunter self had emerged, no feelings of hesitation in his actions.
"Stop! Don't hurt each other."
Drizzt noted her anxiety. His heartbeat slowed to normal, only sweat sheened both of their coal skin. "I won't kill. But I don't trust you, gelyn*," he hissed, tired and in returned to his calm state. Sedna came closer, uncertain if she could call him back.
Jarlaxle said, "Hm alright, I admit I'm a trickster and dishonorable. But I'm a mercenary. I would have helped Zak. Instead I know he would wish for me to aid you, Drizzt. You still blame me?"
The young darkelf swallowed and stepped away smoothly. Sedna said, "Jarlaxle I won't allow you to kick our ass." Drizzt smiled at her modern phrasing of words. "Don't move."
The bald guy lay back and smiled. "Ah I thought you had a soft spot for me lass. I will stay down. It was exciting to duel. A pastime for us." She glanced at Drizzt who shrugged. He sheathed his weapons.
"So give me a short answer, why were you following us?"
"To test my skills and see how partnership can work between us. Fine you won't travel beside me. I want to offer some items in exchange for a truce. This ring grants the wearer ability to levitate. Not all things can be run from or confronted."
Drizzt did not accept them immediately. He was still suspicious. His lips moved along in a whisper. Jarlaxle took off his hat and produced quite a number of objects. Sedna gaped. Then he held out one, sitting up. "And you do not want gold or silver?" Drizzt asked skeptically. They had another conversation signing very fast and their own dialect.
Finally Drizzt took the small things. "I hope we can introduce ourselves formally and in a more, civil manner. I am Jarlaxle of Baenre."
Drizzt said her name, smiling at her. She was delighted that his lavenders were those of his usual self once more. "And you are?" the guy prompted him.
"You already know me. Drizzt do'urden," her friend replied dryly, in a is-that-really necessary tone. The guy praised that she sounded like "a winter goddess and a powerful name" He held out his hand.
Both elves shook hands. Jarlaxle summoned the rapier back into his hat and consulted a pocketwatch. "Ah I must be going now. Shall watch over you both."
"No need, I am capable with my weapons alone." Sedna blinked at the easygoing drow. He strolled out with a dance in his step.
"Drizzt I got scared. You weren't gonna stab him, I hope." She asked, looking up at him. He sat down, assuring her he would not. "Hm this is the duel of honor kind? And nice language. Like a foreign movie."
He frowned. She had to explain what was movie. Then he held her close. Sedna should not have witnessed his berserker nature unfold. He was truly sorry for that. The girl took out a towel and wiped his sweat.
"And how about we all go for dinner? No need to duel with dangerous stuff." She joked.
He rolled his eyes. "I am not going to pay."