Chapter 21: Pure Luck
Drizzt was bouncing a freshly changed Montolio on his knee when Donnar brought Zharlin into the room.
"How ye be doin, Drizzt?"
"Much better. Who is that with you?"
"He be sayin his name is Zharlin. Other than that we don't be knowin much what he says. He don't speak much common. I think that is why me sis went te find him. I was hopin ye could make head or tails what he be sayin."
"Where is Kyorlyn?"
"That Savage that she's been talkin te me about came out. She took yer sword and ran off down the tunnels. Ye not be worryin. I got some of me warriors after her at a distance. they'll be followin her until she calms down."
"I should go after her. It was likely the sight of my sword that called the 'Savage' forth. I know how she feels. I did much the same thing about ninety or so years ago, when the orcs attacked the Marches."
"Nah, ye best be restin. That be a bad cut. She'll calm down an we'll bring her back."
As Drizzt and Donnar were talking, Zharlin looked deeply into the babe, Montolio's eyes. He made a gasp, cow towed to the child, and mumbled prayers.
"Now what be the matter with ye?"
"Drizzt looked at Zharlin with a puzzled look. "Why are you being so reverent to me?" He asked in the drow language.
"I am sorry, I am just shocked and honored to see the holy child."
"My son, Montolio? A holy child? You must be mistaken."
"There is no mistake Lord Drizzt. We of the village of Elamshinae K'lar, the secret city of the Dark Maiden, have held prophecies made over one hundred years ago. A holy child, born of outcasts, will help all who have turned from the Spider Queen to find their way to Arvandor. His birth signals the end of the curse on our kind."
Drizzt furrowed his brow," I have heard no such prophecies."
"They are not commonly known. Clerics and priestesses of Eilliastrae keep the knowledge of the prophecies carefully guarded. If we did not, those that follow Lloth would pursue us with more fervor than they already do."
"I see. I have no reason to believe you. But, as long as you mean no harm to me and mine, you are welcome here."
Zharlin rose his head and sat on the floor. His face displayed a panicked expression. "Lord Drizzt, you and yours are in grave danger here. If the spider kissers know of that child's birth, they will destroy this place in order to possess him. The prophecy says that if the child is possessed of Lloth, a thousand years of blood will cover the entire world. The world will be cast into the shadow. Gods will wither and die. No prayer will reach the goodly gods of those that survive. "
"A fanciful tale. It doesn't matter to me. It does not change the fact that I would give my own life to keep my children safe, all of them."
"I, Zharlin, a minor cleric of the Dark Maiden, was sent to be a spy in the tunnels of the reformed House Do'Urden, now called House D' Ultrin. A reincarnated elven goddess came to our village seer, Aesir. It is she who warned us of this rogue drow house."
Drizzt handed Montolio over to Circa as he thought about his sworn brother. "It is possible that Solonund is not the only dead god that has reincarnated." he thought to himself," Is war among the heavens brewing?"
"What will you have me tell you about the fortifications and numbers about House D' Ultrin. I will freely give you and the all who fight against Lloth, any information you want."
"Who is this reincarnated goddess?"
"She is called Kalyaluhta, goddess of perception, perspective and strategy. She was the mirror twin sister of Aruashnee, who became Lloth. Lloth stole and tried to murder Kalyaluhta's son. Lloth then goaded her ivory pale, dark haired twin to suicide. Ninety years ago, Lokteruost, the son Kalyaluhta bore to Corellon, was found and ascended to godhood. When he did so, all of the mortals with something she called the god-spark awakened and started building themselves to reach the heavens. This is also written of in Aesir's prophecies as signaling the coming of the holy child."
"You are certainly long winded."
"It is natural when you have spent many weeks in a secluded prison surrounded by those who can't speak your language, and don't bother to teach you theirs."
Drizzt smirked and gave a slight huff," Tell me everything you know of House D' Ultrin. I will translate it to Donnar here, the heir apparent to Mithril Hall."
"Oh!" Zharlin said as he turned to Donnar and bowed.
"Drizzt, What the hell is he a doin?"
"I just told him you were a prince. He is showing his respect. He is a spy from a temple of Eilliastrae, the only good drow goddess. He will tell us everything he knows. I will translate. You had best get a scribe in here. I suspect it is going to be a long night.
Kyorlyn sat in the tiny cavern and shivered. He was gone. The one who had given her so much, and asked nothing in return, Drizzt, was dead. How else could that vile demon get her hands on Icingdeath. Her body was racked with pain.
She stared at Lindelea in her hand. Her sword glowed blue as it healed her, but it was not enough.
"What was it all for? I should have been left in ignorance. He should have never come to the garden. He should have never let me know the pleasure of his touch. I should have died in the garden when the volcano erupted." She said to herself.
She could hear the dwarves in the tunnel near the crawlspace leading to the cave, grumbling. They were waiting for her to come out.
Kyorlyn was not sure where within the dwarven tunnels she was. She was in the crawl space when the Savage subsided. She was alone in the small little oubliette rimmed with shining ore, and felt she belonged there.
She looked at her reflection in the blade of Icingdeath. "Beloved," she whispered to the blade. She brought the pommel to her nose. Drizzt's scent still lingered, permeated into the leather.
Kyorlyn wanted to plunge Icingdeath into her own side, so she could be with Drizzt, but she knew that would be selfish. Montolio was growing fast, but he still needed his mother. She refused to allow herself to make him completely an orphan. Kyorlyn could not force her son to endure the pain she knew all too well.
"I must find Twinkle," She thought to herself, "As soon as Montolio can lift his father's swords, he will wield them. That will make Drizzt proud."
Her mind wandered to earlier that morning, before the alarm rang out. She closed her eyes to savor the memory. The warmth of his body, the softness of his skin, the strength of his arms as he held her in his peaceful sleep.
She vowed to never forget the way his lips tasted when he kissed her, the way he hugged her tightly, or the way his eyes sparkled in the last moment she would ever see him again, alive. She would hold that image, and give it to their son when he grew up. Montolio would know how much Drizzt loved his mother. Montolio would know how much Drizzt loved him. She would make sure of that.
Kyorlyn curled up into a ball, crossed Icingdeath and Lindelea in front of her, and cried. She did not hold back the tears or loud sobbing coming from her throat. There would be time to hold her tears later.
"When in the hells do ye think she'll be comin out of there?"
"Dunno. But I be hopin it be soon. I want me some holy water."
Drizzt listened and translated as Zharlin spoke about the tunnels and caverns that Vierna and her new household inhabited. The information was useful, but tiring.
Drizzt wanted to leave and go look for Kyorlyn. He had a gut feeling that something was wrong, very wrong, with his wife. But, until Stumpet released him from leaving the room, he was not allowed to go.
Stumpet had come to Tarka's apartments as Drizzt started translating. The younger cleric who had treated him before, told Stumpet the severity of Drizzt's injuries. Stumpet decided it would be best if she continued to heal him herself.
Zharlin droned on about the way the roots of the trees were grown and formed to resemble spider webs including, how and where the ornately decorated tunnels were trapped.
Drizzt found it completely uninteresting until Zharlin told him about Vierna's personal dungeon.
"The intricate root work was done by a surface elf she keeps in her dungeon. Siriel is one of her favorite bed partners. This, she keeps a well guarded secret from her underlings. He pleased her by giving her a daughter. Then he angered her by giving her a son. After her son's birth, she gave the babe to a wean mother and she forced me into her bed. She did not even give her womb time to heal before she forced herself upon me. I am certain the is close to time for the birth of my child. I would like to take it from her and back to Elamshinae K'lar, to be raised among those who will love the child."
"Tell me more about this, Siriel. Do you know exactly how he makes the roots grow like he does?"
"He told me it was part of his family curse. A rumor among the harem is that his surname is Starym."
"That gives me a good reason to force my sister's house to fall. I will help you to rescue your child, if I can. I want to rescue Siriel as well. If he is who I suspect, His father mourns for him daily. It would do Noldo's heart good to know his son is alive. I wonder how he got his far west? He was last seen going to the north and east of his home."
"I can answer that easily, Lord Drizzt. Vierna brought him, the other surface elf slaves, and the babbians through gates in the mirror room."
"Mirror room?"
"Yes. There is a large cavern, full of portals. The drow did not create the room. It was created by the Fay'ri that held the tunnels before. The tunnels, were mostly abandoned when her forces, armed with refugees from Ched Nasad, took the three rooms still occupied. Those were what is now her throne room, her personal chambers and the mirror room. There are dozens upon dozens of portals in many sizes there. Some lead to Menzoberranzan and other drow cities. Most though lead to an area in the north near what is called Hartsvale. The slaves of Ilmryn, her house wizard, believe that the Fay'ri were looking for something specific. One surmised it might be to Aina'Talorn, the fabled city where the Tree of Souls from Evermeet was planted by Prince Lamruil and his wife, Princess Maura."
"I know what they were looking for, and you are not far from wrong. They were looking for the gate to what Noldo Starym called, the lost continent. It is called Nyärith."
"We can hear ye in there. When are ye gonna be comin out of that hole?" One of the dwarves shouted into the crawlspace at Kyorlyn.
"We still aint figured out how ye got in that little spot, but we'll be goin in after ye if ye don't come out. Drizzt an Donnar will be havin our hides if ye don't come out soon."
Kyorlyn could hardly believe her ears as she continued to listen to the two dwarves ramble on about Drizzt.
"How stupid do you think I am?" Kyorlyn hoarsely yelled," Drizzt is not waiting for me." She inched her way further into the tiny cave, hoping they would leave her alone.
"Of course Drizzt is waitin fer ye. Why would he not be a waitin for his wife?"
"Drizzt is dead! Don't try to sweet talk me out of this little cave with his name! I will come out when I am good and ready!"
"What are ye talkin about? He be alive when I saw him." The heftier of the two dwarves said as the slimmer one took off his armor and made his way into the crawl space.
"There is no way he would give up Icingdeath! If that demon had his sword, then he is dead!"
"Now calm yerself down," the slimmer dwarf said as he stood up in the small cave, "Ye know it be me, Burakrin. One of em that were with ye and Donnar up top. Ye know I won't be lyin to ye. Drizzt be alive, just cut up a bit. That demon stole his sword, but he be alive. Let me get me some light in here, so ye can talk te me. If ye look at me, ye will know I not be lyin to ye."
Burakrin lit a small twig to give some light to the small cave. He was distracted by the reflective brilliance that surrounded him.
"Alright. I can see your face, but you will not still convince me that Drizzt gave up this sword while still drawing breath."
"Kyorlyn! Do ye know what ye have found?"
"A tiny cave to drown myself in so I don't cry in front of my son."
"There be no need for ye te be drownin yerself in anything. Drizzt be alive an he be worried about ye. Ye will be the one killin him if ye don't come outa this duk. Stumpet an hers is fightin tooth an nail te keep him in bed so he don't go openin his wound again."
Kyorlyn looked at Icingdeath. She still did not believe Burakrin, but she was in no mood to be fighting with anyone. Especially, that dwarf that had bothered to invade her space. She sheathed Lindelea and let out a deep sigh.
Burakrin carefully walked over to where Kyorlyn was sitting. Although he could stand, the ceiling still bumped his head. "Come on. Yer as white as a ghost. Ye need te get te Stumpet fer some healin yerself."
Kyorlyn nodded and rose to her knees so she could crawl out of the small cave. Her head began to swim and she vomited.
"Ye better be givin me Drizzt's sword. I'll give it back te ye when ye crawl out. Ye made yerself sick. Ye need yer strength te crawl out of this duk. Pembur is in the tunnel. He'll be helpin ye out. I need to be takin a sample of this ore before I crawl out meself."
Kyorlyn made her way on her belly through the crawl space. Her stomach churned and the dizziness did not go away. Once out, she had to rely on Pembur to keep her steady as she slowly stood.
Burakind slid Icingdeath out through the crawl space as he emerged. He strted to hand it to Kyorlyn, but decided it was not a good idea. He reached up his hand and felt her brow.
"Ye be burnin up with fever. Let me be caryin this sword. Pembur, ye get on that side while I be on the other. We need te be gettin this girl te Tarka's rooms."
Drizzt stood and winced as Pembur and Burakind dragged Kyorlyn into the room. Her eyes rolled back and she fell unconscious as she tried to walk towards Drizzt.
"Oh gods, she is running a very high fever!"
"Lemme see her." Stumpet said as Drizzt lay Kyorlyn on the floor. Stumpet gasped and cast a healing spell. Kyorlyn seemed to breathe a little easier, but it did nothing for her fever. Within moments, Kyorlyn started spasming.
Zharlin pushed Stumpet aside and forced Kyorlyn's mouth open. Kyorlyn's tongue was slightly swollen and was a blackish color.
Zharlin turned to Drizzt and said in drow, "She has been poisoned. Demon blood poison. I will cast my healing spells to slow the poison and keep it from killing her outright, but she needs the antidote to recover. Charinida, the demon's body, the antidote can be made from it."
Drizzt turned and translated to Stumpet and to Donnar.
Stumpet nodded left as Donnar lead her to the tunnel where the demon's body lie.
"She will be alright, Drizzt. I will make sure of it. I owe her much," Zharlin said, " It is good she killed Charinida. It will make preparing an antidote fairly easy. She should be fine in a couple of days."
"Good." Drizzt replied.
"Lucinda, " Burakrin said as he patted Kyorlyn's head and took the half fist sized piece of ore out of his pocket. "kin ye be goin te yer ma's lab and be testin this? Kyorlyn found it. If it be what I think, she as given the Hall another gift."
"Let me have a look. " Lucinda said as she passed Montolio over to Circa. She carefully studied the large pebble. It almost looked like marble. The silvery substance was veined with gold, black, and copper colored veins. Lucinda walked over to a desk, opened a drawer and pulled out a tiny hammer.
Lucinda carefully tapped along one of the black veins. The rock split, revealing small, watery blue crystals along the vein.
"This is a very good ore. I can already tell." Lucinda said calmly. "The gold and coppery veins are made up of gold. The silver is, I suspect, almost pure mithril. But, it is these crystals that make it all worthwhile."
"What do they be?"
"Diamonds, blue water diamonds. Harder than average diamonds, and extremely rare. Just this cluster of pin sized crystals is worth the same as one of entire mithril shipments. Although, I would not sell them. I would imbed them in the tips of drillers."
"Kyorlyn either be a walking miracle, a saint, or just has the luck of a dozen rouges. "
"You may be right, Burakrin, you just may be right."
Kyorlyn slowly woke and looked around. She recognized Tarka's apartments. Circa was sitting in a chair beside the bed, playing with Montolio.
Kyorlyn held out her arms. Circa smiled and handed the baby to his mother.
"Hi little sweetie. Mama missed you."
"Mama, mama, mmm."
"You are getting so big, so fast. You are going to be a good man, like your daddy some day. You are going to be strong, and sweet, tough, yet romantic, all that your father was. I will make sure. You will know how much your daddy loved you. You will know, even if you can't see him."
Drizzt sat across the room and quietly listened to Kyorlyn. Her words were that of a widow, explaining why her son's father was not coming back. She did not know Drizzt was still alive, but Drizzt did not want to startle Kyorlyn. She could accidentally drop Montolio.
Montolio started to wiggle and fuss to be put down. Zharlin, who had become very attached to the child took the baby and set him in the floor to crawl around.
Drizzt slowly walked to her. "Kyorlyn," He softly said.
She looked up, and through her blurred vision, she thought he was Zharlin.
"What is the matter?"
"Kyorlyn, I am sorry for making you worry. I made a mistake, and that nearly made our son an orphan. It was selfish of me."
"Drizzt? Is that you? It can't be, you must be a spirit." She softly said as she turned from him.
"No, I am here. I am still among the living. Look at me, please."
Kyorlyn turned back to Drizzt and sat up. He sat on the bed next to her and took her into his arms. She took a deep breath and gave a relieved sigh. She would have felt overjoyed, but she was just too exhausted to do more than hold him. She relaxed and fell back asleep in his arms.
Drizzt, Zharlin, Donnar and Bruenor sat in the festhall going over the maps Zharlin had drawn of the tunnels of House D'Ultrin. The snow had finally started to melt after a winter that chose to last four and a half months instead of three. It was the perfect time to gather resources, allies, and attack before the spider kissers became more of a nuisance.
Drizzt wanted to destroy that mirror room, and rescue Siriel. Zharlin wanted to steal away his child from Vierna. Donnar and Bruenor wanted the drow gone.
Tarka was helping as well. He had messenger birds. He sent them to Silverymoon, Waterdeep, and Neverwinter, urging help in destroying House D'Ultrin.
As soon as a initial attack plan was laid out, Drizzt went back to his room to check on Kyorlyn. He brought her back to their room from Tarka's apartments earlier that day. Her injuries had healed and the poison had been purged. She was just suffering from sheer exhaustion.
Drizzt was tired as well. He decided to lay down next to her and get some rest himself.
Kyorlyn slowly woke and put her arms around Drizzt, holding him tight.
"Ouch, careful, my side still hurts. How are you feeling?"
"Better. I am sorry I did such a stupid thing, going to find Zharlin."
"It was not stupid. It was tactically sound. You had no idea how long the fight would last. Any advantage was worth the risk. You don't give yourself enough credit because you had to rely only on yourself for so long. I have to remember that, not so long ago, I was not much different."
"So when do we attack your sister?"
"As soon as Tarka's messages get answered. I want you and Montolio on your way to Icewind Dale before we mount the attack."
"No."
"Yes, you will go. You need to get Montolio out of here. If you choose to leave Montolio with one of his brothers or sisters and come back, you can. But, we can not let Vierna get her hands on our son. Before you go, talk to Zharlin. Make sure he tells you about the mirror room in Vierna's fortress. I hope after you hear what he has to say, you will choose to stay with our son."
"Where is Montolio?"
"Stumpet has him. She insisted that she have more time with him before you leave."
"You should come with us."
"And leave one of my oldest friends when he needs me?"
"Like you just told me, you could choose to come back once things are settled. I can not abandon the only father I have ever known, when he needs me."
"I will think about it."
"Plus, my other foster brother is in the mines up there. Doesn't make sense to gather help from Halaur? He needs to be informed that his father is off to war again. It makes sense to go and come back with reserve forces. If I learned anything from father, it is that having a backup is a very good idea."
Drizzt shook his head, "Bruenor has taught you well. At least you don't speak the dwarf pidgin constantly."
"I don't need to."
"Come here, you." Drizzt took her into his arms.
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