Chapter 23

This was not the ideal team for travelling through the dangerous Wilds of the Underdark. Tega who was half blind without spectacles and badly injured, one untrained surface elf, and one little half drow boy. At least Trilifeil was a good fighter and, with Dor'rolik's dagger in hand, she could be of fairly good use to Drizzt and Shirik while they made their way through the dark.

The boy, Vhassa, had taken a great liking to Drizzt and had begun following him around when they made camp and pretending to slice things with imaginary scimitars. It was all Shirik and Drizzt could do to keep him quiet, often snuggling him into Hala or Tega's arms to be distracted.

"This is going to take longer than it took us to get here," Shirik warned Drizzt in hand-code, "We are moving very slowly. I'm worried about rations."

"I am worried about being attacked," Drizzt said, glancing at the child who simply did not understand the dangers of making noise, nor did he have the dexterity to walk silently.

"We could put Tega and Vhassa onto Moxa, it would slow us a bit but keep us quieter," Shirik said, "She keeps tripping."

"I think taking an extra day or so would be preferable to being killed. I doubt that you and I and Trilifeil could ward off a serious attack with these four. Myradin seems somewhat capable but he is very green. Tega and Vhassa are sitting targets."

Shirik nodded, "I'm not used to moving with this pathetic a group. We could use four more soldiers."

"At least," Drizzt agreed, "But I will be glad to bring these captive back to freedom."

Shirik shrugged, not much concerned with the captives, "I will be glad to get Tega out of danger and contact Jarlaxle. I would hate to be the one who got her eaten- your cat is about to eat the boy."

Drizzt wheeled around, startled at Guen, only to find her happily letting Vhassa investigate her big teeth and bare his own little teeth back at her. Drizzt smiled and picked the boy up, letting him sit on Guen's back, who swished her tail happily when he snuggled her back, rubbing his face into her soft fur.

Shirik directed Tega to Moxa and, sitting on the lizard, Tega had never felt more vulnerable, nor missed Artemis Entreri so keenly. Even if he was a little abrasive, his skill in combat had been very reassuring in the Wilds last time. This time they both had more useless tag-a-longs, her included, and fewer combatants. And she could not even see this time, everything was a smeared sort of blur that gave her a headache.

And still, with all of that to think about, she could not shake the shadow out of mind of the scrape of her dagger on Dor'rolik's sternum, or the hot smell of blood. When it was too quiet she feared she heard his final, shuddering breaths over again in the dark. She told herself she was foolish. Everyone she knew had more blood on their hands than that. Jarlaxle of course had probably killed countless people, Drizzt even had, Artemis made a profession of it.

She was sure Artemis would tell her to get over it, or really just glare at her until she stopped bothering him about it. She wondered if Jarlaxle would even understand, or if he remembered the first time he'd killed someone. She maybe could ask Drizzt after they were safely ensconced in Mithril Hall, provided he'd let her in this time. She certainly could not ask him now while he was trying to keep them all safe.

Jarlaxle and his small band arrived in Ched Nasad on edge with how long the trip had taken. Jarlaxle had a little jet of white hair he didn't particularly like and he was certain his untended eyebrows were a nightmare.

He had a terrible fear that he'd made a bad gamble not involving Kimmuriel, surely arriving more quickly would have been worth the risk of using the psion who may or may not be working against them. A mean little worm in his belly wondered if he had ever seriously thought Kimmuriel had betrayed them, or if he just did not want to involve him. But it was done now and they were here, possibly too late, to save his accountant- his lieutenant rather.

His heart fluttered a little, unexpectedly, at the idea of rescuing her. He'd slept with Kar'Dritch too, more than once, and he was merely annoyed that he'd been betrayed. He frankly did not have time for this line of thinking, he needed to find these two-bit mercenaries and be done with this.

"Come on you two, let's buy some people some drinks," he said to Vaidril and Dirinar, swaggering into the first scummy little tavern he could find with his two companions.

"A round for myself and my companions," he said, all smiles to the male half-drow behind the counter. He tipped well and sat at the open bar with them, talking just a little too loudly, trying to eavesdrop on the conversations happening around them.

He listened to the petty House gossip and the idle rumors of trysts and killings and daring adventures. Usually this sort of thing would entertain him but it grated on his nerves today. He didn't care what was happening with the thirteenth house if this city that wasn't his, he just needed someone to give him some sort of in about Dor'rolik or the Khazir.

He was frowning and looking on without really watching until all of his attention snapped onto Kar'Dritch who had come into the tavern, a warm bruise raised on his left eyebrow.

Jarlaxle caught his eye and smiled widely at him, too predatory a smile for Kar'Dritch to simply walk away from. He steeled himself then crossed the tavern and sat across from them. Vaidril's sword seemed to bristle.

"Captain," Kar'Dritch said softly, looking away.

"Captain?" He asked, "I would think I am more of a competitor than a captain these days."

Kar'Dritch played with his hands, the spot he'd chosen to sit put him in a very pretty glow of the fairy fires around the ceiling, "Dor'rolik was the one who captured her as a child you know, she told me. Her family was enslaved down here in Ched Nasad."

Jarlaxle narrowed his eyes, "And?"

"She killed Dor'rolik. She got her revenge. And found two of her sisters."

He smiled even if he had not known she had sisters, "Are you telling me this was an intricate gift, Kar'Dritch? Where is she now?"

"On her way back to Menzoberranzan. And I am here and I can give you the Khazir."

"Can you now?" He laughed and reached out, touching the bruised eye, "Your latest bed-mate doesn't appear to be gentle."

Vaidril and Dirinar exchanged glances when Kar'Dritch practically flinched, playing up his prettiness best he could, "No, Captain, nor is he clever, he won the race because I chose him for it."

"And why did you choose him for it?" Jarlaxle asked, playing with Kar'Dritch's hair.

Kar'Dritch shrugged, "He's easy to pull around, and not hard to kill."

"Ah, so this is more elaborate gift work."

"Is that how you would take it, Captain?"

Jarlaxle smiled, "No, I take it more as someone who betrayed me trying to get back into my good graces." A dagger extended from Jarlaxle's hand into a long rapier, cutting deep enough into Kar'Dritch's belly to show him he was a moment from death if Jarlaxle decided this conversation was over.

Kar'Dritch didn't move, but nor did he look surprised, "You mean to kill me then?"

"Why shouldn't I? You stole a very knowledgeable and valuable asset from me and gave it to my enemy."

"A friend of mine, you mean, whom I delivered to do what she'd longed to for years. The reason she ever came to your band, did you know that?"

Jarlaxle was not about to admit that he did not, nor that it caused a little slice of discomfort to worm its way into his belly, "Is that so? That hardly means she is not an asset."

"She had to flee the city before she could even find her little brothers."

On the side of the table Dirinar flashed in hand sign to Vaidril, "I wouldn't mind doing her a favor, it could only benefit us."

"I suppose a surface elf cares for her brothers," Vaidril signed back, "We wouldn't be handing her burdens."

"If they're like her they might even join up, Jarlaxle wants to expand to the surface."

"Do we need the traitor boy?"

Dirinar sized up Kar'Dritch, "Probably, I don't know this city."

Jarlaxle knew also that Tega would greatly appreciate her baby brothers being returned and slid his sword away, "You know that they still live?"

"I have heard rumors. I know from her that they are twins, and twin surface elves are few and far between here...Wild Elves particularly."

All three mercenaries stared at him for a moment, Vaidril speaking first in disbelief, "She isn't a Wild Elf, I've seen them, they're cunning and athletic."

Kar'Dritch raised a pretty eyebrow, "If you don't want to know where they are…"

"I am certain I could figure out where they are without you, as you say, not many twin Wild Elves around here."

Kar'Dritch shrugged, "You'd better run me through then."

Jarlaxle laughed and smiled at him, "Dritch, no need to be so dramatic yet, I believe this can still be mutually beneficial to you and I. Although," he said, putting an arm around the younger drow and tugging him close, "If Tega does not arrive in my office whole and unhurt, you will wish very much I had killed you here."

Kar'Dritch smiled at him in return, but swallowed hard.

Tega curled her unhurt arm around little Vhassa while he slept, both of them riding Moxa carefully through the Wilds.

As Shirik had predicted, it was slow going, neither she nor the boy had his expertise in riding which prevented Moxa from doing what she wanted, like taking caverns sideways or upside down. Instead she had to plod along right side up and avoid the many tricks and shortcuts that would have gotten them to Mithril Hall faster. It didn't help that every one of them were now hungry, as Shirik had put them all on very strict rations.

Drizzt appeared as if from nowhere, returned from scouting ahead, he flashed in hand sign to Shirik, "Trouble ahead, a duergar mining camp."

Shirik scowled, this was double frustrating as it was indeed dangerous, too dangerous to tromp right through, but would have been so easy for him to avoid if he were alone. Just go up and over them quick as he could and they'd never notice. He glanced at blurry eyed Tega, the little boy, and untrained Hala and sighed.

He signed back to Drizzt, "I don't suppose you'd just jump on ahead and kill them all."

Drizzt glared at him, "They've done nothing to warrant that."

"So what do you suggest then? We can't very well go into their camp."

"...No, I wouldn't risk that. Do you know any ways around the cavern they're in?"

"Yes, but I am not sure we are all up for it. It will require climbing through some very tight spots."

"Better that than a fight."

Shirik stopped them going further and turned them east and downward, heading along a little ledge to a trail he knew that would take them back up in a mile or so. It was then, on their way back up, it would get tricky. The path, as much as it was a path, would head straight up like a chimney, in a narrow, jagged chute they would need to climb up, sometimes so narrow that they'd need to entirely unpack and send the baggage up bag by bag. Shirik hoped that even Drizzt's broad warrior shoulders would fit through. Trilifeil he thought would be alright, which surprised him, he wasn't accustomed to how slim surface elf females were, almost like males.

"So… it goes up like this for about four hundred feet. I'll go first obviously, send down a rope. Then Hala, the boy, Trilifiel, Myradin, Tega, Moxa, the baggage, and Drizzt."

"Why send Drizzt last?" Hala wondered to him.

He shrugged, "This will take time, I want someone down here to defend you if something sneaks up, I don't suppose Tega or Vhassa will be fast climbers."

"I'm the fastest climber," Vhassa said.

"My mistake, well you show your mother how it's done hm?" he said, fond of the boy despite how useless he was.

Shirik himself was excited for the climb, he hadn't been able to do much of it, and disappeared happily up the chimney. He didn't have to use much actual strength, with the Bregan D'aerthe insignia allowing him to levitate it was more about wriggling and pulling himself forward.

Awhile later a rope dropped down for the rest of them.

As he'd outlined, Hala took it up and disappeared up into the chimney. Vhassa went next, with his mother soon after, after Myradin went up, it was just Tega and Drizzt.

Tega stood by the rope with Drizzt, standing close to him so they could speak as everyone's hands were too blurry for her to make use of sign, "Have you made this sort of climb before?"

"Of course, I am assuming you have not."

"I'm not really very good at climbing."

"You won't be able to fall far, it's too narrow for that."

"Not exactly comforting."

He smiled apologetically, "We will be out of the Wilds soon, you've been doing well. You're good with Vhassa."

"I've never seen a half-drow before."

"Neither have I," he said, "I hope he likes the sun after he acclimates to it."

"I'm sure he will, you do, don't you?"

He smiled, some of his real self shining passed the serious thing he became down here, "Me? Yes, I wake every morning I can to see it rise."

"That's very sweet, Drizzt."

"I think it's your turn to go up," he motioned to the rope.

She nodded and took hold of it, needing a boost from him to get up into the chimney where she could at least scramble against the rocks. Her relief at reaching the chimney itself was short lived a few feet up with it narrowed considerably and rock pressed against her from all sides. She kicked her feet, pushing herself up, the rock scraping against her Khazir uniform. It was so tight that even not being able to levitate she didn't have to hold up her whole weight, which was a relief as one of her arms was still almost useless with the burn on her shoulder.

She closed her eyes and just tugged and kicked herself upward. If she let herself think too hard about all the rock that was above her and around her and how long she would have to be in this little space she'd have started to cry.

Something touched her foot and she gasped and almost shouted for Drizzt as she couldn't see her feet even before it licked her boot and she recognized it for what it was.

"Hello, Moxa," she said softly, happy for the unjudgemental company, "I'd give you scratches if I could, you're the sweetest lizard. I'm glad you're right behind me. You must think I'm slow as mud."

Moxa obviously did not reply, but she did occasionally lick her foot or make soothing little hisses.

She moved up and up and up until, with a feeling like her heart was stopping, she jerked to a stop, a rock jammed into the back of her uniform and catching her like a fly in a web. She wiggled, she kicked and squirmed and half shrieked and did not move a single inch upwards.

Panic blossomed in her chest and she almost began to cry, thrashing helplessly, knowing a lizard was between her and Drizzt. Desperate for any help, she curled up her right hand that was lashed to her belly to keep her from hurting her shoulder more and slid off the ring, thinking loudly and desperately to Kimmuriel, many miles away though she was.

She knew he was not infinitely powerful and that she was too far away to help her, but she was so distraught she could scarcely tell the difference between a real voice in her head and an imagined one.

"Calm down." the voice commanded at once, "Don't be a fool. Your uniform is caught. I'm sure even you can figure this out."

"Shut up," she murmured softly, "You're a turkey." She wasn't sure if she was talking to herself or not but she steadied her breath, slid herself down a few inches and turned a bit, freeing the fabric and allowing her to continue her climb.

Near the top, Shirik's dark hand shot down and pulled her up the last bit, helping her sit on the edge and get into the open cavern, Moxa coming right up after her.

She was breathing a bit hard and closed her eyes for a moment, putting the ring back on her finger.

"I would have thought the Underdark would have made you a better climber," Trilifeil said, eyeing her.

"I don't really climb around much," she said back, "My work is done in an office."

"Right."

Tega frowned and turned away, going to Shirik's side to take the bags from him as he lifted them up.

Jarlaxle smiled at Rhyth, swirling his glass of mushroom wine idly, "I gather than congratulations are in order."

Rhyth reclined in his comfortable chair in the heart of the Khazir complex, looking better than usual with his practical armor traded out for a spider silk shirt embroidered with gold he'd pilfererd from Dor'rolik's things, "You heard right."

"Congratulations, commander," Jarlaxle said, "You have big boots to fill. Dor'rolik brought this little band a long way."

He waved his hand dismissively, "Dor'rolik was a slaver with small ideas."

"But not you, you have big ideas."

"Sure I do, and I know why you're here too."

"Do you?" Jarlaxle asked pleasantly.

"I'm not an idiot, you're looking for your stolen loot."

Jarlaxle laughed a little pitying laugh, "Sure, that as well, of course."

Rhyth's face brightened with heat, "Well spit it out then, I have mercenaries to get in order, I'm in no mood for games."

"You're working with the Baenres, aren't you?" he asked, not moving at all when Rhyth's guards bristled except to take a sip of his wine.

"So what? They're perfectly happy with us."

"I'm not concerned with that, but I am concerned with second rate competition in my city."

"You never came to Dor'rolik about it."

"I captured Dor'rolik about it."

"And he escaped in days."

Jarlaxle's smile widened, "And where is he now?"

Rhyth laughed a bark of a laugh, "Is that little elf what the Bregan D'aerthe considers and assassin?"

"Perhaps even a little Bregan D'aerthe accountant is more than a match for a commander of the Khazir. Imagine if I'd sent a real assassin." Admittedly, he'd have liked to see a Bregan D'aerthe soldier slice through Rhyth.

Rhyth shrugged, "So what do you want?"

"The right question, Commander Rhyth, is what do you want? I would imagine it is the mercenaries you just worked so hard for. And probably your life."

"Are you threatening me in my own court?" His guards drew their swords menacingly and Jarlaxle sipped some wine about it.

"I'm only being a good neighbor," he said, smiling, "This wine is a terrible vintage by the way. You have choices, one choice is to keep doing as you are now."

"I choose that one," Rhyth said, sneering.

"Alright, then we're all done here," Jarlaxle got up and stretched idly, like a cat after sunning itself, "I'd say my soldiers will be here in a day or two so you've got some time to try to prepare."

"Prepare? You mean to take us to war? A useless waste of time."

"I agree, to match your soldiers more than a quarter of mine might have to go out, and it might take a week to travel each way. If you figure in the day or two it'll take to slaughter all of you, that's a long time away from home."

Rhyth slammed his cup down so hard the wine sloshed onto the table, "What do you want, Jarlaxle?"

"There's a reasonable boy, just ten percent."

"Of the Baenre gold?"

"Of the Khazir gold."

Rhyth sneered at him, and Jarlaxle waited.

"Fine," he spat, angry at Jarlaxle for asking and at himself for giving in.

"Smart boy," Jarlaxle said, and sauntered out of the room.

"Will you let us into Mithril Hall this time?" Tega asked as they neared the grand doors, mercifully now out of the Wilds.

"Yes, Shirik has already been inside, and no one else is much of a threat," Drizzt reached out to touch the small of her back, guiding her to step over a rock in her path that had blended in with the mostly lower path.

She scrambled over it, pink cheeked, "I'm glad, I am looking forward to being able to really sleep."

"I believe a friend of mine in Silverymoon may be able to find you new spectacles as well, it must be frustrating to be unable to see. And we can tend to your shoulder."

"I am looking forward to that," Tega said, "It still hurts badly."

"Where will you go after Mithril Hall?"

"...I don't know. I know that Tril will want to head straight to Calimport."

"Why?"

"Her husband is there, my brother. But we aren't ready to go on our own. She has no idea how to survive the desert for one thing and there's no way we can help him at all with just us."

"You would return to Jarlaxle then and wait for his help."

"Yes, he plans to go there anyway to work with Artemis."

"What does he see in Entreri? Jarlaxle seems like a sensible person. Not his fashion maybe but certainly in business."

"He's a good assassin I'm told, and Jarlaxle thinks he's funny, and handsome which never hurts with Jarlaxle."

"Funny and handsome?!" Drizzt asked in disbelief, "Entreri? You will excuse me if I disagree with your boss on this."

"He was a little mean, but I liked him in the end."

"...Yes I remember… I owe you an apology for how I behaved in the cave. It was irredeemable. I would have let him die."

"Drizzt," she said softly, "He's tried to kill you and your friends, you're allowed to try to let him die."

He smiled softly, "It doesn't feel right. Death still does not weigh lightly on me. I know that you know it can be a heavy burden."

"You didn't let him die," she said softly, touching his hand.

"Because you would have fallen with him."

"No need to dwell on what you might have done, Drizzt."

"Why were you willing to risk your life for his?"

"I knew I wasn't risking my life, first of all."

He blushed, "Thank you. But we will talk of it later, we're here." He knocked at the grand door and smiled at the dwarf who answered, "We've returned."

The door was swung wide and the dwarf allowed them to enter, Vhassa, overwhelmed now, huddling in his mother's arms to hide his face from the dwarf.

"Take me to the sun," Trilifeil asked of Drizzt, "Please, it's been decades."

"Yes, we will see the sun soon," he said, his pace quickening.

"Drizzt Do'Urden, ye stupid elf!" Catti-brie shouted, appearing at the top of a flight of stairs and sprinting at him. He hugged her happily when she got to him, letting her squeeze him too hard. "Runnin' into the underdark again, ye damned fool."

"I must-" Tega began, but she was cut off by Trilifeil.

"It is myself and my people who must apologize for that," She said to Catti-brie when she'd released Drizzt, "My young sister was in trouble and he came to assist her, helping to bring the rest of us to freedom along the way."

"Your sister? Oh- Tega, he found you, that's good. We been worried for ye after that Shirik came and told us what happened."

"Thank you for your worry," Tega said, glancing at Trilifeil, "It would have been difficult to escape without Drizzt's timely help."

Vhassa peeped up at her and reached out to touch her curly red hair.

"Hello there, little one," she said, smiling at him.

He hid his face again and his mother answered for him, "He doesn't know common. He will in time."

"He looks like a bright lad," she said, glancing at the odd party, both drow other than Drizzt standing to the side, unsure of what their reception would be. Shirik distracted himself by petting Moxa.

"Is it daylight?" Trilifeil asked eagerly, "I long to feel the sun on my skin."

"Almost, you can see the sunrise if you hurry."

Jarlaxle touched the coin in his pocket that reached out to Kimmuriel to come and join him. It did not take long for a blue portal to open and Kimmuriel to come out.

He glared at Jarlaxle, waiting for an explanation.

"She's on her way back to Menzoberranzan," he said simply, "I am told. In a trade caravan."

"...she's unhurt?"

"She fought with Dor'rolik, killed him."

"She will be pleased about that," Kimmuriel said, sitting when Jarlaxle motioned for him too, "Why then are you still in an inn room in Ched Nasad?"

"I was hoping you would bring me home."

"Of course, but you would have begun with that, what further business is there here that you wanted me to come?"

"Her brothers are here, slaves somewhere."

"Khiva and Khorvosa, the twins," Kimmuriel said, "Her younger brothers."

"...hm… yes," Jarlaxle said, unhappy that between himself, Kimmuriel, and Kar' Dritch, he seemed to know the least.

"You called me here to free them. Why?"

"Do you need more reasons to try and appease Tega? She hasn't seemed fond of you of late. She's been looking elsewhere for comfort."

Kimmuriel's face did not move a single twitch, "You are my captain, are you giving me an order?"

"Yes," he said shortly, "See that they are brought back to headquarters."

"Why send me?"

"Consider it a gift."

"I will consider it the very logical fact that you do not want to be seen worming around Ched Nasad making deals for slaves."

"Mutually beneficial, Kimmuriel, then you can be the one who rides home full of glory to give her long lost brothers back to her."

Kimmuriel stared at him for a very long time before exhaling sharply, "It isn't as if you've given me an option, you may call it a gift but is it not simply an order."

"It is, but perhaps an order you won't dislike, Tega will appreciate it." His smile was sharp and Kimmuriel could read nothing into it.

"She is a lieutenant. Perhaps she should free her own brothers."

"She has other things to occupy her time than attempting another assassination. Rumor has it she was injured in her killing of Dor'rolik."

"Hm," Kimmuriel said, "What degree of injury?"

"I suppose we will see when she arrives home."

As this was Vhassa's first real taste of freedom, both of movement and from danger, it was understandable that the boy was going a little wild. They'd reached the city of Silverymoon a day ago, after a few weeks rest in Mithril Hall both for Tega to recover and for those who had been living in the Underdark to acclimate to the light. Shirik was more than happy to get to explore a new wilderness above ground, even if it was far too prone to cold and brightness to bring poor Moxa, who stayed behind. Myradin was less excited about the woods and trees but thrilled to pieces about an entire city of mages and wizards.

Vhassa was just thrilled, thrilled at the sun now that it had stopped hurting his eyes, thrilled at the people, thrilled at the flowers, thrilled at the trees, and right now, thrilled at the grassy hills to be rolled down.

On his third mad scrabble roll down the hill he popped up and sprinted back up to the rest of them, "Mama! Drizzt! Roll!" he asked in them, tugging their hands. Drizzt had already laid aside his swords and armor in order to walk around the city and its surrounding knolls so he acquiesced, fond of seeing the little drow so gleefully enjoying himself on the surface. The two of them rolled down the hill, their hair tangling around their faces, Drizzt unable to not laugh with the little one who couldn't contain himself.

Tega smiled, watching them blur down the hill, she was fond of watching Drizzt have fun like this. He was so serious in the Underdark. She too felt free here in this safe elf city, like something she hadn't known was restricting her breathing had finally loosened.

She turned from the playing boys and looked at the city, nestled so prettily in the glade. Her hand jerked and, triggered by nothing, she felt the ghost of her murder in her hand again, the scrape of the blade on bone, the shuddering, dying breath, the hot blood on her fingers. She clenched her hand into a fist and tucked it against her belly, steadying her breath. It irritated her that she was still shaken by this. If anyone had deserved death it was Dor'rolik Montplair. It was his fault she had ever gone through any of this. She had always heard it was satisfying to slay an enemy. Drizzt even had killed probably hundreds, Jarlaxle or Kimmuriel certainly had no qualms about killing.

"Tega, friend of Drizzt Do'Urden."

Tega spun around and found herself beside a tall and breathtaking woman with long silver hair falling over her shoulders.

"I- yes- hi," she said, having no idea who this is or how she knew about her.

"You've brought refugees to my city."

"Your city? Oh!" she blushed, "I'm - sorry."

"Sorry? For what? I am happy for them, I am told you freed them from imprisonment in a drow city. We are honored to have them. And skeptically receptive to the young drow you brought as well, he is already pestering the mages at our academy with questions."

"He's a good boy!" she defended immediately, "He helped me right away, he just wants a teacher."

"Yes, I believe he can be made into a good boy, he is a little unlettered in the school of morality."

"How could he have ever learned that?" She asked, almost angry at that unreasonable expectation, "His house fell when he was barely more than a child and he was scooped up into a mercenary army! He can't bear responsibility for being born in a vicious city!"

She pushed curiously, "Drizzt escaped his vicious city."

"That is an unreachable standard!" she protested, "He was an accomplished fighter and scout! And happened to have a father to show him the option! You can't expect every drow who might not be a born killer to find the means of personal escape. They're taught that the sun will destroy them, he never would have even thought to leave even if he could!"

This woman was smiling now, "I agree, I would like him to stay with your family."

"Stay?" She asked, "Who are you even?"

She laughed a true sparkling, beautiful laugh, which caught Drizzt's attention who loped up the hill with Vhassa to her.

"I am Lady Alustirel Silverhand, the High Lady of Silverymoon."

"Well-" she stammered, "Nice to meet you Lady Alustriel."

"Nice to meet you too, Tega."

"Did- did Drizzt or Myradin-"

"No, I didn't learn of you from them. I have heard about your accomplishments."

She thought of the now lost early stages House War project that now seemed so far away and of such limited importance, or cleaning up the books in the Bregan D'aerthe. "My accomplishments?"

"First in your class at LaVielle Mharduk Academy of Mathematics I am told."

She blinked, "I- yes I was. Have you- do you know Master Messitha?"

"I do," she said, "He spent time here and spoke very highly of you. He told me to induct you into our academy if I were able."

"I- well- what?" Tega was so taken aback by any of this, "I- I'm - I'm sorry I must - I have a headache you see and-"

"Are you well?" She asked, amused by Tega's rambling.

"My spectacles broke in the Underdark," she said, finally glad she could manage a clear statement.

"Well we will have to replace them, it must have been trying not to have them on your journey. Come then, Drizzt, join us? You and Tega and your friends will dine with me I am sure."

"Of course, my lady," Drizzt said happily.

She took their whole ensemble to her palace, leading them to their own lush rooms replete with attendants.

Tega's smiling elven handmaid helped her remove her Khazir uniform. Tsking when it almost dissolved under her fingers.

"It's torn, I am sorry, lady Tega," she said.

"That's fine, I didn't like it and it's drow make, which doesn't last long in the sun."

"We will get you something more fitting, but perhaps a bath first? You've travelled a long way."

"Oh yes, a bath sounds wonderful, thank you."

She had a large bath drawn with scented oils and soaps for Tega to soak in, which she did, spending perhaps too long luxuriating, almost falling asleep in the heavenly scents and warm water, with no threat of an enemy or an ambitious upstart coming in to affront her.

When finally she rose from the bath and wrapped herself in an enormous, fluffy towel, she found her attendant have given her privacy and clothes laid out for her, new clothes that were very much to her liking: a long pink skirt and neatly knit cream sweater. But atop the clothes was a little box she started with. She picked it up and slid it open, gasping. It was not jewelry but well crafted gold rimmed spectacles. They had the feel of magic about them, and she took them from the box and put them on.

The world slid back into focus and even colors seemed brighter. She squealed and practically danced into the rest of her clothes, spinning in her skirt and scampering from the room, almost running into Drizzt who was emerging from the room beside hers.

"Ah! You can see once again!" He said, smiling.

"Yes! I can see, and don't you look nice," he had been outfitted as she had, in a silvery shirt that suited him well.

"Lady Alustriel and her gifts," he said, blushing, but he offered her his arm to go to the hall where they would be joining the rest of their party, the lady herself, and all of her guests.

"My friends," Alustiriel said when they arrived, "Come now, sit, Tega, I have found friends who will be interesting to you, this is our own academy's Master Bazald, he has been discussing mathematics with his assistant, young Orthis."

"We are immersed in a discussion of predictive statistical modelling," he said to the two women.

Tega gasped in joy and joined them, almost forgetting to eat in her rush to speak with each of them.

The offer Alustriel had hinted it, joining the teaching ranks of the Academy at Silverymoon, hung at the back of her mind.