Chapter 26: The Trap

The seven-foot tall stranger walked calmly through the cold marketplace of Lonelywood. No one saw what way the stranger came into the small town, only that he was there.

His height made some of the shopkeepers so nervous, that they closed their stalls as he strode past.

The stranger's hair, gray, with streaks of black hung down his back in a braid with leather lacing woven through it. His closely clipped beard and sideburns were more black than gray.

His brown robes and long leather tunic were held in place by a wide leather belt. Odd weapons hung from his belt. The weapons, white, made of bone, made musical sounds as he slowly walked.

He neither smiled nor spoke, but his golden eyes danced with a hint of merriment. He raised his nose to catch the various scents that wafted toward him on the wind.

One brave shopkeeper chose not to ignore the huge man. He held out a small piece of salted mutton for the stranger to sample.

As the stranger finished the bit of meat he was given, he pulled a pendant from his pocket. He offered the diamond surrounded by moonstones to the merchant as payment for a goodly amount of his wares.

The merchant blinked and accepted the payment. As he wrapped up the meat for his customer, he rummaged through the gold pieces he was using for change. The merchant was known for his honesty, and did not want to take advantage of his customer, despite the chance to do so.

Before the merchant could hand the stranger his change, the stranger held out a hand. "No," he said quietly. "I know your family is in great need. You have many children and your wife is expecting again. I thank you for the meat, and for your courage when none of the other merchants would come to serve me. Consider what you would have given me a birth gift for the two sons your wife will give you within the month."

"Th.. Thank you sir!" The merchant blurted out. He did not quite know how to thank the stranger. Only the midwife and himself knew that his wife would have more than one child. The money from the pendant itself would provide for them well. "May I have your name sir? I wish my children to know the name of the one who showed us such kindness."

The stranger nodded, "Wahyah." He said as he turned and made his way down the street towards the potter's shop.

Wahyah did not go to the door of the shop. He walked around the building, through Evangeline's garden and to the door of her cottage.

One of Evangeline's nieces, Minka, came to the door before Wahyah could knock. "I am sorry, sir. My aunt is not taking special orders right now."

"She is ill, and I, Wahyah am here to help her." Wahyah said softly as he made a humble bow to the girl.

"Oh, you are a priest. I should have recognized that from the odd mace you wear attached to your belt. I do not know it you can help her. If you can it will help all of us, especially grandfather, her father."

"Shh, now. Just lead me to her, little one, I will do what I can."

The dark-skinned girl nodded and lead Wahyah to Evangeline's bedside. Wahyah sat and studied Evangeline's palms.

Evangeline's most recent episode caused her to be completely incapacitated. She shook as if cold, and sweated as if she were feverish, but there was no fever. No matter what was done, none who came to help Evangeline could get her to wake.

"Ah, I see. " Wahyah said as he touched Evangeline's sweaty brow. "Something was stolen from her long ago. That which was stolen I can not retrieve for her. She left something in the depths of the frozen lake. That, I can restore to her."

Minka furrowed her brow. She had never heard a cleric or priest speak so cryptically before. "Um, how long are you going to be in the Ten Towns? I will have to ask my grandfather to give you payment."

Wahyah held up his hand. "I give this as a gift to Kyorlyn." he softly spoke, "I am here to meet my niece, who comes within a few days."

Without another word, Wahyah stood and showed himself to the door as Evangeline's niece stood in stunned silence.

Evangeline stirred, "Papa? I feel better papa. I had a good dream." She said before she opened her eyes.

"Auntie, your papa is not here right now, but he will be very happy that you are feeling better."

"Oh, it is you, Minka. I had this dream about playing with a big doggie. He dove into the lake and went all the way to the bottom. He came out of the water with a big shiny ball and he gave it to me. The ball went all swirly and all of the sparkles went into me. I felt good, but the doggie was gone. He was a real good doggie."

"Are you still sleepy?"

"Uh huh. I better get some more sleep. You think papa and my new mama will be back soon?"

"I am sure they will, Auntie."

Drizzt, Mord, Czan, and Thelan sat inside Mord's tent, looking at a map and making their battle plans.

"I have sent Jamnar to my helmsman. He has instructions to bring the Golden Doom here. It will be quicker."

"My half-orc warriors are ready to join your men on your ship. I know you have told me a dozen times, but I still do not understand how a ship can sail over the land." Czan said.

"I suppose I will have to show you once it gets here. Drizzt, are you coming with us?"

"Yes. Kyorlyn will hold position with Halaur above the mines to serve as our second wave in case any of them get through. She was not happy about it, she doesn't like to miss out on all of the fun."

"I will be keeping my warriors spread above the camp near the west side of the mountain." Mord added. "The third wave, along with the ones on the cairn who can swoop down."

"Now all we have to do is wait for the ship." Drizzt said.

"Are you sure it will get here on time? I doona want Czan to miss the coming of the benefactor."

"The full moon is two days away, counting this evening. That is when your benefactor comes isn't it Mord?"

"Aye."

"I sent Jamnar yesterday before coming to last night's festivities. I expect the ship to arrive some time this afternoon, or early evening at the most."

"I am still uneasy about riding on a flying ship."

"It is disorienting at first," Drizzt said to Czan, "but it does not take long to realize that it is much like any other ship."

"You have sailed on one then?"

"Yes, Czan, well, it was not exactly an actual spelljammer, but the principle is the same. It was many years ago."

"I would like to hear that tale while we wait."

"My friends and myself were traveling to visit a cleric by the name of Cadderly at The Spirit Soaring..."

Iritr bounded along the tundra in wolf form. He usually could outrun his anger, but that day he could find no relief.

"How dare Sahlhar betray me? How dare that white witch undermine all I have worked for?" he thought as he rounded Kelvin's Cairn and made his way toward the dwarven mines.

Iritr had caught Kyorlyn's scent and decided that the only way to ease his anger was to kill her, and any of those who had the audacity to protect her.

Suddenly, a huge white monster burst out from a cave partially hidden by the remaining snow and attacked Iritr.

Iritr had fought yetis before, but he had always been with a pack, never by himself. Because of his rage, he did not have the will to back away from the formidable enemy.

Iritr jumped onto the yeti, ignoring the creature's huge claws . He landed several bites into the creatures thick furry hide before he realized that he was bleeding from several wounds.

The yeti grabbed him by his head and by his leg and prepared to rend him to pieces when a piercing sound rang through the air.

"Put him down!" A booming voice yelled.

The yeti fell backwards with Iritr still in its hands. It let go of him before it shuffled backwards on its butt, turned, stood and tried to run.

Iritr saw a huge man, nearly as large as the yeti, with a mace strike the yeti in the head. The man howled in rage as he chased the beast

Iritr was racked with pain from his various wounds. He thought he was going to die.

In his unconsciousness, Iritr was able to contemplate everything he had done in his life that lead him to the point of death.

He remembered when he was a child. The benefactor instructed them to seek out Mord's tribe.

Iritr and Sahlhar's father was the chieftain of their small tribe. Iritr expected to be the next chief, but when his tribe merged with Mord's tribe, and another tribe consisting partially of orc-blooded wolf changers, it was decided that Mord's son, also named Mord, would marry one female from each of the other two tribes and become chieftain over all three when he reached his majority.

Iritr, whom had a great influence over his younger sister, convinced Sahlhar that she should bear Mord a son, then kill him, making room for Iritr to become foster father to the infant.

But, that was before the drow babe, Montolio, threw all of his well laid plans away.

The more Iritr lucidly thought of his old plans, the less sense they made.

Iritr blinked a couple of times as he looked up at the clear sky.

"Are you awake?" A voice said quietly.

Iritr, having changed back into human form while he slept, bolted straight up, barely noting that a blanket covered his nakedness.

"I see you are. " The man said softly. "Here, have some salted mutton. It is very tasty." The huge man whom had aided him was sitting next to the blanket, chewing on a hunk of meat.

"Who are you?"

"Wahyah, but that's not important. What's important is why you chose to leave in such a rage that you put your own life in peril."

"My sister's turned from me. She's the only one I have, and now she's shunned me."

"That's a lie and you know it."

"Who are you to say? Perhaps I wanted to die. I hoped if I killed the white witch, everything would be as I wanted it again."

"That 's also a lie. Sahlhar birthed a girl. Your plans ended because of the girl-child, and no other reason."

Iritr wrapped the blanket around himself and stood to look down on Wahyah. "How would you know?"

"I am Wahyah."

"That explains nothing."

"You don't speak the ancient tongue?"

"I never bothered to learn the old tongue. Only the shamans and some of the chieftains speak it now. It's rarely spoken, and mainly used for naming children."

Wahyah chuckled softly as he stood, "If it's still used for names, little one, then Wahyah should be enough for you to know. Come, let's get you back to the camp. You are needed, and important, in more ways than you can imagine"

Iritr frowned at Wahyah before trying to change back into his wolf form. He winced in pain, and stared at his hands. He could not change!

Wahyah looked at him and shook his head. "You were too badly hurt. I am afraid you will not be able to assume your other form for a short time. Do you want me to carry you?"

"I am long past being a pup."

"Suit yourself." Wahyah turned and slowly strode in the direction of Mord's camp. Every few steps, he looked behind to make sure Iritr was keeping up.

Iritr plodded along, trying to gather warmth from the blanket as he strode. No matter how hard he tried, he could not keep his mind off of the cold seeping into his bones.

Wahyah stopped when he noticed Iritr slowing down. "Are you certain you do not want me to carry you?"

"I'm certain." Iritr looked enviously at the odd mace at Wahyah's waist.

"I would keep your hands off of my weapons. "Wahyah said, "They get upset if someone wields them who is not allowed to."

Iritr blinked and made up the first excuse he could think of. "I was only admiring the mace. I have never seen its like before."

"It is one of a kind. I made it from the jawbone of a creature I had slain. And these," he said as he pulled several daggers from hidden folds in his robes, "are made from the fangs and claws of those I have killed. Their bones and hides make up part of my home. I waste nothing when I kill."

Wahyah made a leering smile as he put his weapons away and changed into wolf form.

Iritr gasped and nearly fell over.

Wahyah was a wolf-changer the size of a warhorse in his wolf form.

"I think I have changed my mind. I would not mind a ride back to the camp."

As soon as Iritr was astride his back, Wahyah gave a cheerful howl as he raced towards Mord's camp.

"Her she comes, gentlemen!" Thelan shouted as he spotted the Golden Doom heading towards the camp.

"It is a beauty."

Drizzt whirled around at the sound of Kyorlyn's voice. "I thought I told you to stay with Halaur."

"He told me that he could handle himself. I felt like I was in the way, so I came back."

"By yourself? With the thaw, the yetis will be coming out of their holes more often."

"She weren't by herself." Ganlarg puffed out his chest as he stepped from behind Kyorlyn. "Halaur wouldna be havin his sister traipsin around by herself."

Drizzt looked from the dwarf to Kyorlyn, shook his head and made a small smile. "I suppose I will never cure that stubborn streak of yours?"

"Never. Besides, I did not want to miss my chance at riding on Thelan's ship."

"I did not say you were going on the ship."

"But you did not say I wasn't. Oh, Thel, is it alright if Ganlarg and myself join you on this venture?"

Thelan looked at Drizzt's scowl and then to Kyorlyn and Ganlarg's hopeful faces. "Well, there is plenty of room, and I could use your healing skills if someone is injured."

"Then it is settled, we will go with you."

"No."

"Drizzt."

"I said no. It is too dangerous and you have to think of Montolio. War is not a game, Kyorlyn."

"I never thought it was. It certainly wasn't for me when babbians attacked me in the garden. It wasn't a game when the fay'ri attacked my cottage. It wasn't a game when the babbians and that black fay'ri invaded Mithril Hall. Quit treating me like a child. War and struggle are two things I know quite well, thank you. Or did you forget, I was caught in the middle of a war, between gods no less, when I was a child barely out of my flannels." Kyorlyn continued to ramble on.

Drizzt put his head in his hands and made several deep, controlled breaths. It was no use trying to argue, when it could cause both of them to loose control. The hunter and the savage did not need to get into their own private battle.

"Shh, Kyorlyn, ye doona need te be gettin yerself all worked up. Save it fer them Orcs." Ganlarg cut in.

Kyorlyn wiped the tears from her face and took several deep breaths. Perhaps, Drizzt was right. She was acting like a spoiled child the way she lashed out at him.

"Both of you, quit your bickering and get onboard!" Thelan shouted as he motioned for the gangplank to be let down to admit Czan's warriors. "We do not have time for this."

"He be right. Let's get ourselves on that blasted contraption." Ganlarg said as he nudged both Drizzt and Kyorlyn in his path towards the ship.

"All aboard!" Thelan yelled before sending instructions to his helmsman. "Drizzt, Kyorlyn, get your arses onboard before we leave without you!"

Kyorlyn ran to the ship with Drizzt closely on her heels.

Wahyah slipped into Iritr's yurt during all the excitement with all of the warriors boarding the spelljammer ship.

Iritr slid off of Wahyah's back and sighed. He quickly went to his pile of clothing and dressed. "I am surprised that no one noticed us coming into the camp."

"They could not see us. Only those I wish to see me, can see me. Since you were on my back, they could not see you either." Wahyah quickly changed into his human form and sat down. "I still have some salted meat. I know you are hungry, so eat."

"How do you know so many things?" Iritr growled.

"I am Wahyah."

"That again?"

"If you do not understand, yet, there is no use in explaining it to you. Sit, eat."

Iritr sat down and snatched the salted mutton from Wahyah's hand and chewed on it vigorously. As soon as the first bite his stomach, his stomach growled. He ate more quickly as Wahyah kept handing him more too eat. Soon he was full and feeling sleepy.

"I see you lost your sword on your run. I have new weapons for you. " Wahyah pulled two scimitars crafted of tooth and bone from his robes. "You will need these."

"I really can't accept a gift. I will find my own sword later, after I have rested. Make yourself at home in my yurt."

"You will not have time. An unexpected danger is coming, and I choose you to protect my niece, and the tribe. It is your destiny, and an honor."

"What kind of destiny? Who are you to tell me of destiny?"

"I am Wahyah."

"Uh huh." Iritr plopped down on the pile of furs that made up his bed and quickly fell asleep.

The Golden Doom clipped along at an incredible speed as it made its way floating above the tundra.

Thelan's helmsman had argued that it would be easier to just teleport the ship to the location of the band of orcs, but Czan was unsure exactly where the orcs location was. None wanted to over-estimate the distance and have to turn around.

Kyorlyn stood on the prow, laughing heartily as the cold wind blew in her face. Ganlarg tried to get her to step back, but she refused to listen to the dwarf. The sensation felt too good for her to stop.

"Can ye talk to her? She be yer wife. She'll be hurtin herself if she stays there."

"I understand how she feels. She should be fine as long as she keeps her hands on the ropes. I am tempted to join her. During my days at sea, that was my favorite place to stand." Drizzt inched his way over to where he could stand with Kyorlyn but not startle her and cause her to topple into the net below the prow.

Ganlarg huffed at Drizzt and looked around at Czan's warriors whom had gathered around the sides and marveled at the way the ship moved. "A bunch of durned idiots." he murmured as he headed toward the hold of the ship.

"Orcs ahead!" shouted the elven boy in the crows nest of the ship.

"I see them!" Kyorlyn shouted back, "Czan! Get up here, you can see them better from here."

Drizzt climbed the rope net that lead from the prow to the front mast so that he could get a better view, and so he could be out of Czan's way.

"Are you sure that is them? That does not look much like a huge army of orcs to me."

"It doesn't to me either," Drizzt shouted, "but they could have split into two groups."

"Most full-blooded orcs aren't that smart, even if it is tactically sound." Czan replied, "Who leadd the scouting party who found the orcs?" He said as he turned from the prow and asked on of his warriors.

"Iritr and Kuop."

"That explains much." Czan growled, "Iritr would want us away from the camp, Kuop blows things out of proportion when he is frightened. Thelan! Slow the ship! Where is Ganlarg?"

"In the hold."

"I will speak to him before we fight the enemy. I need to know what his people saw. Ganlarg!" Czan shouted down the stairs. "Get your arse up here!"

Thelan signaled for the ship to stop and hover.

"Ye don't need te be a shoutin' down 'ere. It make that durned wizard that makes this bucket move nervous." Ganlarg stomped up the stairs, climbed atop a stack of barrels and boxes, and held onto a rope to keep from falling. He stared directly into Czan's eyes and scowled. "Now whaddya want?"

"What did the scouts from the dwarven mines see of the orcs that were headed towards Icewind Dale?"

"Nay much. Just said that there be a large group of them in armor marchin' to the southwest."

"So they could have been following our tribe?"

"I canna say anything te that, but I never thought of the notion afore."

"Come with me, I want you to see something." Czan scooped up Ganlarg and set him securely on his shoulders.

"Hey! What ye be doin!"

"I am giving you a better view, Ganlarg, now quit squirming."

Kyorlyn had Mievn'e out and an arrow already ready to knock. Drizzt was instructing her how to keep her feet secure in the rope nets as she looked over at Ganlarg and Czan. "We are ready when you are."

Czan ignored Kyorlyn as he pointed towards the group of orcs heading towards the ship. "Look there, Ganlarg. Does that look like an army to you?"

Ganlarg squinted his eyes and looked at the rag-tag bunch of orcs that had picked up the pace as soon as the ship stopped. "They doona look like much te me. It doesna even look like their armor be a fittin them at all. 'Tis like they just threw on whatever the got."

Drizzt climbed quickly up to the crow's nest and grabbed the spyglass form the boy. He peered through the lens to look more closely at the orc enemies. "Damn it all!" Drizzt shouted down to Thelan and the others. "It is a group of elderly, women, and children dressed in discarded armor!" He handed the spyglass back to the boy before sliding down the ropes behind Czan. "I think we have been lead into a diversion. We need to get back to your encampment, now! I think that the enemy wanted the orc- blooded warriors out of the way."

Czan's eyes widened. "That means there is a spy in my uncle's camp! What should we do about them?" He pointed to the group of orcs who had come close enough for their begging and pleading to be heard.

"We will take them with us." Thelan answered, "They might have more answers than we do."

The ship sowed and picked up the group of starving orcs. None of the refugees made any move to attack in any way, but Thelan had them detained in the cargo hold, just in case.

"Lets get back. Helmsman, do you remember the coordinates of the camp?"

"Yes sir!"

"Quick, teleport us as close as you can. The camp is being targeted."

"Aye, aye Captain!"

Ilmryn stared at the dead yeti and the dead human at his feet. The stench of the creature and the dead spy was horrible. At least his experiment had borne fruit.

Matron Vierna would be pleased. He had an army of slaves and males ready to march at a moment's notice.

Ilmryn had taken one of the non-functioning portal mirrors in the mirror room and re-directed its destination point. The process was difficult, took nearly a year, but he had done it. Once he got the first mirror to work, he stepped through the portal with an inactive mirror of his own making. He activated the second mirror once it was in place on the wall of a cave used by a small group of yetis. The second mirror stabilized the link between Matron Vierna's underground domain with the yeti cave.

Ilmryn cackled to himself. It was the perfect gift for Vierna and her newly birthed daughter, he felt it would outshine the gift that her fay'ri spawned daughters had given her.

The spy who worked for Vierna's daughters gave him all of the extremely valuable information he needed. With that information, he was able to finish the portal. His success would make him the closest thing to a king in Matron Vierna's budding empire.

"What authority do you think you have, male for calling me as if I were a slave! I have other concerns. Dwarves from Mithril Hall are constantly making it past our defenses." Matron Vierna snapped as she walked into the mirror room and slapped Ilmryn hard across the face. "And what is this stinking mess doing in here? Have it cleaned up this instant!"

"I am sorry, Matron. I only had a gift for you to commemorate Lloth's favor on you. I did not mean to seem forceful in any way."

"Oh, I see. You wanted to outdo the presents my two fay'ri daughters gave to me. Two flying ships and a large number of slaves, all surface elves, were gifted to me. I can not see how any male, including you wizard, can think of a better gift than that?"

"Just look there, my Matron," Ilmryn did not raise his face as he pointed to the portal mirror."

"And what is that?"

"A cave."

"I can see it is a cave, you idiot male. Where is this cave?"

"Just northeast of the Ten Towns. I also have an army ready to march on and gather up your relatives, if you wish. I must inform you that there is something much more interesting happening in that area, or so my spies have informed me."

"Go on."

"My Matron, how would you like to have the chance to kill a heathen goddess?"

Vierna smiled wickedly, "How soon can you be ready?"

"Immediately."

Iritr woke to find Wahyah gone. He did not expect the man to stay, but his dreams filled him with questions he wanted to ask.

The two scimitars lay in finely crafted sheaths on top of a finely crafted set of leather armor. Draped across the top of the swords was a medallion on a strip of leather.

Iritr sat up and took the medallion to look at it more closely. He was not quite sure what to make of what he was seeing.

The medallion had the symbol of a hippogriff, intricately carved out of a piece of bone.

Iritr studied the armor next. It contained studs in the leather, but the studs were made of bone rather than metal. In fact, nothing in the pile that had been left for Iritr seemed to have any metal in it al all.

No'sha, a frequent member of Iritr's scouting party rushed into the yurt. His face was covered in sweat. He rushed to Iritr's side. "You must help me."

"What is the matter with you? And why did you rush in here without the courtesy of announcing yourself? I coulda been with a woman for all you know."

"It doesn't matter." No'sha said as tears streamed down his face. "Barada is dead."

Iritr stiffened at the words. "What happened?"

"We did something terrible. The two of us ran into a merchant who promised us that he could help bring Mord down and put you in his place. We didna know! I swear!"

"What are you talking about?"

"The man was a slave of a drow wizard! The wizard had Barada killed!"

"What!" Iritr shook No'sha, "You made a deal with drow!"

"We dinna know that the man had a spell on him that made him a slave! Now we are in big trouble."

Iritr shook No'sha harder, "You fool! Tell me! Tell me what kind of trouble!"

"The drow are gonna attack and kill us all, and they wanna kill the benefactor too! I heard the wizard say so. He dinna know I was with Barada. I hid while Barada tried to change the deal. He only wanted you to be chieftain like you were meant to be!"

Iritr threw No'sha to the floor. "Get out, you filthy cur! Neither you nor Barada had any right to meddle in my affairs! Go to your yurt! If you are not there when I come to fetch you, I will hunt you down and kill you myself!"

As No'sha scuttled out of the yurt, Iritr put on his new armor and swords. He looked at the medallion again, and put it on. "Anything to help will be good at this point." He smoothed out his hair and left to go to Mord's tent.

Mord, Oomanni and Sahlhar were sitting in the tent comparing what was written in the legacy with the pictures and writings in the book of Anthealda.

"What do you want ?" Mord growled.

Sahlhar's mouth flew open as she looked at what Iritr was wearing.

"What is the matter, sister? Don't you like my new armor?"

Sahlhar nodded, nudged Oomanni and pointed to the picture in the book of Anthealda. Oomanni nudged Mord and pointed for him to look at the picture as well.

Sahlhar turned the book and held it up so that Iritr could see the picture. The drawing depicted the god, Shadyyan, twin brother of Renshyyda, god of thunder, war and aggression. He wore no metal because his sister constantly struck him with her silent lightening when she was annoyed with him.

Iritr blinked. "A god?" He shook his head to clear his thoughts. "That does not matter. Mord, you have to ready the warriors and get the women and children into the gates of Lonelywood."

"We have not seen any orcs. I am sure that Czan, with all the help from Captain Thelan, has that taken care of."

"It is not orcs we need to worry about, it is drow. I just discovered that Barada and No'sha were giving out information to a human merchant. They did not know the man was under the spell of a drow wizard."

Mord stood abruptly and roared at Iritr. "Where're Barada and No'sha! They need to be punished! We need to know which merchant they were talking to."

"Barada is dead. The wizard killed him. No'sha is in his yurt, at least he is if he does not wish my wrath."

"Or mine as well. Oomanni, Sahlhar, gather the women and get them inside the gates. The family of Drizzt will help us. Iritr, question No'sha. Find out where that hole is and send someone to the Halaur of the dwarves. Make absolutely sure that you trust the messenger. The dwarves hate them drow as much as we do. They'll want to know where the drow hole is."

"As you command." Iritr said with a slight bow.

"Set the ship down in the lake by Lonelywood once we drop off Czan's warriors."

"Yes, Captain."

"Thelan, what did you do wit the refugees?"

"I put them in one of the cargo holds, Czan. It is the safest place for them right now."

"I am going to go stay with them. Chak can lead my men."

Thelan put his hands on his hips and shook his head. "Do whatever you want, but don't stay down there alone. "

Czan simply smiled and headed to the cargo hold.

"Kyorlyn, you stay onboard and don't get off the ship until it is docked at the lake."

"Drizzt, I can handle my own."

"I am quite aware of that. I need you to coordinate the forces within the towns." Drizzt gave her a sly smile. "Don't worry, I am certain you will not be missing out on any of the fun."

Kyorlyn made a sour face as she nodded to her husband. She did not feel that she was the best person for the task, but she vowed to herself that she would do her best.

"I am going up to Kelvin's Cairn to see if Nalfein has spotted anything. "

The occupants of the ship saw Mord's camp preparing for a battle as soon as they came into view.

The wolf-changer warriors onboard quickly made their way off the ship and took positions.

"Drizzt! thank the gods you sped back!" Mord shouted as he made his way through the men to reach the master ranger. He shoved and growled at several of the men who got in his way.

"So you also discovered that looking for the orcs was a ruse as well?"

"Yes, but I wish it were orcs we are fighting. We had a couple of traitors that I never woulda suspected. We have been sold out to the drow. The rotten buggers got a hole around here somewhere. all of those black..." Mord caught himself in the middle of his tirade, "Sorry Drizzt, I dinna mean you."

"I am not offended. Myself and my children are the exception to the rule of my wicked kind. Do you know where the tunnel is? My sons and myself have been all over these hills, and we have yet to find anything more than caves used by yetis and other such wild creatures."

"Come with me to the traitor's yurt. Iritr is interrogating him as we speak."

"I thought you did not trust Iritr?"

"He proved himself."

Drizzt followed Mord to No'sha's yurt. On the way, they came across Ganlarg nursing an upset stomach. "Come with us, Ganlarg."

Mord walked into the yurt to find Iritr bellowing at the top of his lungs. "Quit yelling at No'sha, Iritr. Let him speak. Night is coming. We don't need those stinking drow killing everyone in sight."

"I am sorry, Chieftain. This piece of offal insists that it is not a hole that the drow will be coming from."

"Please! Have mercy on me! I am telling the truth. The drow are using some sort of mirror with magic on it. It's in a cave near the bottom on the north side of the big mountain! It is in one of them yeti caves there."

"Kelvin's Cairn!" Drizzt said as he turned to leave the yurt. "There are only a few yeti caves there, and only one big enough to bring an army through. Ready your troops Mord and send word to the towns. I will go to the cave myself."

"Take me with you. I have to tell the dwarves of the danger." Iritr said as he followed quickly behind Drizzt.

"I can tell me own." Ganlarg blasted out.

"You can't tell the dwarves if you are dead. It is safer to travel in numbers."

Drizzt continued to run ahead. "Fine, come if you can keep up. I still do not trust you."

Iritr grabbed Ganlarg and switched to wolf form to allow the short dwarf to ride on his back.

Iritr was amazed to find that his armor shifted along with his form, providing him with protection when he would otherwise be vulnerable to attack. He caught up when Drizzt stopped by a large cave at the base of the mountain.

"Change back and lets go." Drizzt growled as he headed into the cave.

Just as No'sha has said, deep inside the cave was a large mirror with runes inscribed around the frame.

"Do you know where it leads?"

"No, Iritr, do you?"

"Of course not." Iritr said as he looked more closely at the black surface of the mirror.

"You wanted to usurp Mord as chieftain of your tribe."

"I had a divine revelation. I no longer want Mord's place."

Drizzt harrumphed.

"Change yerself back to a wolf Iritr. It'll be faster if I ride on yer back. Gotta tell the prince what we found."

"I will go to the top of the mountain and inform my son. He will be able to light a signal if he sees anyone coming out of the cave."

Kyorlyn and Thelan ran through the streets of Lonelywood chasing the merchant whom had sold her armor to her.

Every time the man tried to dart towards the city gates, but his way was blocked by the rush of guards assisting the women, elderly and children from Mord's tribe. He ducked into the pottery workshop, only to find out that there was no means of escape.

Thelan was blocking one door, and Kyorlyn was blocking the other.

The man bolted into the room with the kilns. He opened what he thought was another exterior door only to be blasted off of his feet by intense heat.

"Evangeline will be upset if you ruin her creations. Now come out. We only want to ask you a couple of questions." Kyorlyn said as she blocked the door out of the hot room.

"I don't know anything."

"We haven't asked you anything yet. Now be a good boy and come out of there." Thelan said.

"You are gonna kill me."

"No we won't. I just want to know where you got the armor you sold to me, this armor."

"I took it off of a dead elf. I swear, I needed money to pay someone to help free me of a curse."

Thelan hung his head and sighed as he put away his weapon. "Where did you find her body? Her family wants to know what happened to her."

"What is your name? Perhaps I can help you. "

The man shuffled his way slowly out of the hot room. "They call me Aaron. And this," he said as he held up his right hand, "is what I need help with." On his index finger was a silver ring with runes carved into the band.

"Holy shit!" Thelan shouted. "That is a slave ring. He is under the control of whomever has the master ring. " Thelan grabbed Aaron's and jerked him to one of the tables in the workshop. Without allowing Aaron to utter one protest, Thelan pulled a dagger and chopped off the finger that held the ring.

Kyorlyn screamed, grabbed Aaron's injured hand and began to hum. In a matter of moments, a new finger grew in where the old one had been severed.

Aaron sat in a chair and looked at his hand in stunned silence, then he looked to the severed finger with the ring on it on the floor. "I am in your debt. I will tell you anything you want to know."

"They are sure taking their sweet time." Thelan said as he made sure his pistols were in working order. Dawn was coming up, but it seemed later because of the reflection of the light on the thick fog. "Kyorlyn, Drizzt will be upset if he knows you are back onboard."

"Regina is better at coordinating things than I am. Czan has the orc refugees under control, now that he has converted them to worship the Silverstar orcish gods. Montolio is safe with Zarra. I have nothing to do. Besides, I was curious about those things you are cleaning. What are they?"

"Flintlock pistols. The easiest way to describe them is that they are like slings, only no need to swing them. They happen to be my favorite weapon. I learned about them when I still was a pirate."

"Can I learn to use one?"

"Perhaps later. They are harder to manage than they look" He said as he carefully tucked the pistols in his belt. He looked up to see an odd flash of light. "What in the bloody hells?"

Kyorlyn looked where Thelan was looking. A swirl of fog showed a bit of the mast of a spelljammer. "Did you call Privateer's Port for help?"

"All hands, battle stations!" Thelan shouted as he jumped deftly to his feet. "Kyorlyn! Watch yourself, that is one of my missing ships! They are poised to ram!"

The dwarves cut down the drow warriors as they poured out of the yeti cave. Halaur made sure his warriors watched out for wizards and priestesses.

Two black skinned Fay'ri flew over the battle and barked orders. "Ignore these, we have to capture the heathen goddess for Matron Vierna!"

Halaur listened to the winged abomination's words and ran to the pyre the dwarves had made to signal Drizzt at the top of the mountain. He lit the fire and made his way up the mountain as quickly as he could.

"Drizzt needs to be knowin that me father's enemy has brought the battle north."

Mord paced back and forth in the fog as it suddenly started to part and swirl. A woman in full armor riding a winged horse and carrying a black halberd came to light just in front of Mord.

"You are early!" Mord sputtered, "We were not expecting you until later this evening, our revered benefactor, Great Goddess, Vala Renshyyda!"

"Now Mord, how can I resist a battle when it is practically handed to me."

"But you are not yet at your full strength! You have put yourself in much danger!"

"I will be here to defend the goddess!" Iritr said as he stepped forward and drew his scimitars.

"Shadyyan? but you are dead."

The prow of a spelljammer pushed its way through the fog. Harpoons shot out, narrowly missing Zephyris, the pegusus', head.

"To arms!" Vala shouted as she swung her halberd, Shatterer, in circles togather the fog intoclouds.

"No!" Iritr shouted as he jumped in front of several arrows aimed at Vala. He fought, never tiring as the drow landed the spelljammer and started pouring onto the ground.

Mord shouted to his men. "Attack!"

Note: Drizzt rode a "spelljammed" Sea Sprite in Passage to Dawn.

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