Lost, but Not Forsaken
There were guards still around Dragonsreach; but Ravenlight was a familiar sight, even at a late hour like this, and they met with neither resistance nor suspicion as they entered, or even as they went up the stairs in the back toward the more private quarters. Even the ever-vigilant Irileth, Balgruuf's housecarl, only glanced at them and nodded as they went past.
Then Ravenlight opened a door, and they went out to what was left of the Great Porch.
A few rocks bounced down the landslide as they approached, warning at how unstable the ground still was. Nevano edged just close enough to look down into wreckage.
"I think everything I've heard thus far has been a bit...understated?" Nevano whistled. "I think even the Titan would have had to work to achieve this."
"They...weren't clear on what actually happened," Ravenlight said. "All I know is Cattie-Brie suddenly raced past me like she was on fire and went straight to the Porch, despite never having been here before to know where it was. While we were following her, there was an ungodly splitting and creaking, and then a crash like...like the world was ending. We came out to see her standing near the edge of the destruction, using her magic to pull Veleth, Zak, and Drizzt out from near the center of the wreckage."
"Julekil am ot s'wit!" Nevano swore. "Those three okay?"
"Yes. I think she caught them just before it all actually fell. But they'd been pretty far out on it when it dropped." Ravenlight frowned. "Zak actually said something about it landing on Veleth at the early part of the fight, I think."
"Gods...could have killed all three of them were it not for Cattie-brie." Nevano frowned. "And it dropped on Bull? With the Ebony Mail? And left the two carrying two swords each who can move faster than blinking loose?"
"I don't think it was worried about their swords," Ravenlight said grimly. "Veleth, up to that point, was one of the few with a weapon that could really hurt the things. And it was incredibly venomous." She gestured at the fallen porch. "Apparently strong enough to eat through stone. Not only that, but it survived the fall and came back. Nearly dropped on me that time; would have got me, too, if not for Delphine-and Gyrmallion."
"And no one knows how it got here?" Nevano asked.
"Not a whisper of a clue." Ravenlight looked grim. "It's kind of why Nevusa and I were wondering about Sleepers, actually. We've never seen where these things actually come from, and this last one couldn't have lived for any length of time on our plane."
"Serana and I were talking about that." Nevano said. "And I'm starting to think we are probably right. Unfortunately."
"It's a nauseating possibility. But unfortunately, just the sort of thing we might expect from Bal." Ravenlight sighed. "We need to find these other Thalmor Delphine mentioned. Chances are good they know something we don't."
"Until then, just like Sleepers and Dreamers, you won't know they are one until it's in your face." Nevano waved at the breach. "Like this. The big question is...is it a ritual they are doing or is it something more like a potion?"
"I'm pretty sure it's a ritual." Ravenlight ran her hand through her hair, gazing out across the broken porch to the land beyond. "But...we're not sure. Not until we actually see it happen. I'm trying to decide how to go about finding these cells: whether to just take the Chii Chare we have, or wait until Gyrmallion's ready to travel again."
"Wait for him." Nevano said. "They'll be worried about him the whole time and he'll fret over them. Better together. In the meantime...we can think of other ways to find things out. We already have Jorun sniffing around but perhaps we should ask the Daedra Lords or the Divines."
Ravenlight nodded. "They weren't there when he went down, and I'm not sure whether that's better or worse. On the one hand, seeing four mages having to pour healing into one person just to keep him alive would be...unnerving. On the other, they got to hear every rumor that flew out of that incident, some of which claimed he did not survive. And I'm already planning to ask Azura a few questions about the xivkyn as well as how these spawn keep showing up, but I might ask Cattie-Brie to drop Kynareth a few questions as well."
"Shouldn't be hard to get Azura here. She's been in a rather happy mood for the past few days." Nevano smiled a bit. "Throwing a wedding makes her happy. That xivkyn might make her a bit tense though. Sure made us tense."
"And you weren't the one fighting it." Ravenlight smiled a little, but the smile slipped. "It's just...so much, all piling up. I'm going to go check on Gyrmallion before heading back to Jorrvaskr. Serana, I'm not really sure where to suggest you and Nevano go; Breezehome is pretty full. Though there might be a room or two left at the Bannered Mare, most folk are staying out of town in their camps before heading out."
"I wasn't fighting it...but I said the word xivkyn..." He straightened up. "Nerevar, you fetcher, you know about this. Start. Talking. Now." Nevano's eyes flashed as the internal war began.
Serana's hand rose and lightly stroked his shoulder and neck. She wasn't sure if it would help...but she was willing to see. Nevano's head twitched a bit as the two clashed mentally. Nerevar knew something but was extremely reluctant to divulge for some reason. He was all but twisting Nerevar's arm and still he was getting nothing.
"Nerevar," a weak voice said from the doorway, "if you know something...we need to..."
Ravenlight whirled and flew at the door in time to keep Gyrmallion from collapsing. "What the hell," she hissed, "are you doing out of bed?!"
Nevano's eyes stopped flashing long enough to glance over at him. "Drelasa might finish what that demon started if she finds you missing. One moment. I'll get him talking."
"She's asleep," he managed to say, "or I wouldn't have come."
Nevano's head twitched, indicating he had sunk back into his internal argument.
"Xivkyn." Nevano's voice sounded a bit strange, not like him or Nerevar. Perhaps a mix of both. "Created by Bal. Dremora and Xivilai. Very powerful. Arrogant. Not without reason. Xivilai Dagon's commanders. Xivkyn even more powerful. Coldharbor Elite Guard." Nevano's head twitched again and his voice sounded a bit more normal. "Why did you not say this sooner? I know you heard us-OW!" Nevano jerked and fell over. "Sodding fetcher! The hell is his problem?"
"There's something connected to them he doesn't want to talk about," Ravenlight said grimly. "He sounds like Drizzt would whenever I would start trying to ask about something he really did not want to remember. We'll try again in a little bit; but first, we've got to get Gyrmallion back to bed. He can't walk there by himself, and I can't carry him alone."
"Yeah I'll talk to him later and see if he'll open up without me forcing it from him." Nevano got up and went over. "Before Drelasa notices..." Nevano's face paled a bit. "Hi 'Lasa! Please don't eat him alive."
"The thought is highly tempting." Drelasa strode over, her feet making no noise, yet every footstep felt. "Though he is doing a wonderful job killing himself on his own."
"We will grill him later on what exactly he was thinking, if indeed he was." Ravenlight said, looking up. "He's passed out. I'm astounded he made it all the way up..." She frowned suddenly. "Wait. Was he sleepwalking up here to try to talk to Nerevar?!"
"There is no way he should be awake." Drelasa growled. "He's drugged. He shouldn't make a peep until morning, if not later."
Nevano hastily helped pick Gyrmallion up, getting under one leg. "Back to bed with this one then!"
"I'll probably help you keep vigil." Ravenlight shook her head. "Sleepwalking. Of all the...and why now, when he's still so weak from that poison he should barely be able to move?"
"I think my talk with Nerevar has been moved up." Nevano sighed.
"Nerevar," Gyrmallion mumbled, his eyes still closed.
Nevano paused. "Is that all Gyrmallion?"
"I don't know." Ravenlight shrugged. "I don't know who else it would be, nothing he's done or said before has suggested he's got anything like you or I do. But it is possible that it's him, and he's so worried about what's going on he's trying to push himself even while more than half-dead."
"Half-dead and drugged." Nevano nodded, hauling him towards the guest rooms. "Maybe he'll stay put if I stay in there. Probably better, in case Nerevar decides he really doesn't like me pushing."
Ravenlight nodded. "At the very least, Balgruuf should not object. I'll stay here, too, just in case."
The four of them managed to carry Gyrmallion back into Serana, Ravenlight and Drelasa posted as guard, Nevano settled across the room. He wasn't about to remain standing this time, not with the harsh reaction he had gotten. Though this time he didn't go in with the intention of strong-arming Nerevar. He would be patient this time.
The room grew quiet again; it almost appeared that they had all fallen asleep. Then a hoarse voice whispered again. "Nerevar...please...we need to know."
"Been there." Nevano's voice was strange again.
"Been there?" This was Ravenlight, not Gyrmallion. She bent over the Altmer. "He's out, all right. Nevevar...you've been there. Do you mean...the Vile Lab?"
"Had...to save Sul." Nevano's voice wavered.
"Sul. I don't know much about your history, but...that was your friend, right? The one who didn't betray you?" She moved a little closer to him, having the odd sensation that Gyrmallion, unconscious though he was, was listening intently.
"Shield brother."
"Alandro Sul." Drelasa said. "He defeated the Nordic flank during the Battle of Red Mountain but was struck blind. He, and he alone, didn't betray Nerevar. He spent the rest of his life speaking out against the Tribunal. He is the reason the Ashlanders hated city mer and the Temple specifically."
"Cursed." Nevano's voice was definitely strangled, as if telling the tale was agony to him. "They cursed him."
"The Tribunal." Ravenlight said, fairly sure it wasn't a question. "They...gave him to Bal, didn't they." She closed her eyes. "Gods. I...I would have done the same thing as you."
"Couldn't leave him. I...was caught." Nevano's head twitched. "Evil place. Evil, evil place."
"Were you...able to escape?" Ravenlight shivered.
"With Sul. Yes."
"Good." She smiled, reaching out unconsciously to touch him. "I'm not sure how we could storm Coldharbor...but if he'd still been there, I would start planning."
Nevano's body did not release the tension that held him ramrod straight. His skin twitched and his breath became ragged.
"You remember it, don't you? The horrors there." She glanced at Serana, then moved over to Nevano. Gently, she stroked his face and head. "They don't go away. I know. The Soul Cairn isn't as bad, but...I still remember it."
"Sul...his soul twisted."
"Oh..." She stilled. "Oh, gods."
"Angry already over Red Mountain, over how his people were shunned." Nevano's body shook. "Bal twisted him. Rage, so much rage."
Serana joined Ravenlight, tears filling her eyes.
Nevano's body shook harder. "Too dark to return to Azura. She wept. Couldn't save her undying son...but he was dying."
"What happened?"
"I kept him with me. Between realms. Kept him safe, from becoming...nothing." Tears fell down Nevano's face. "Until...until I had to leave. To be reborn. It was time."
"Do you know if he's still...out there?" Ravenlight shivered, hating the thought of a loyal friend, trapped in the void between the realms.
"I know exactly where he is."
"Where?" She stroked his face again.
"I couldn't...I couldn't be there. I couldn't hold his rage in check." Nevano's teeth started to chatter. "I...begged for help."
Ravenlight suddenly gasped, her eyes widening. "Rage...Boethiah answered, didn't she? Veleth. Sul...is in Veleth."
"I didn't intend for that to happen!" Nevano burst out, tears falling freely. "I wanted him safe! Not back in the world that started it all!"
Drelasa's eyes were wide, her hands to her mouth.
"Nerevar..." Ravenlight wasn't sure what to say.
"He's safe," a new voice said. Everyone jumped and looked around. None of them had noticed Zak seated in the shadows at the end of the room previously.
"He is...because the boy...is healing him." Nevano said.
"He's safe because he's got a new chance. One he didn't have previously." The Drow gazed at him. "And...I don't remember what happened to me while I was dead. But one thing I am sure of: I was not dragged back to life. I came willingly. I wanted to come back. I wanted to be in the world with my son again. You think he didn't want, somewhere down inside, to be with you again?"
Nevano's eyes squeezed shut. "He never got over...not making it in time. I died before he found me. He is not in charge though. Just...there." Nevano's voice was steadier. "They are very alike."
"Then he should know that you're there. Nevano-Nerevar. And he has made it in time for you. Several times over now, I'd think." Ravenlight stroked his hair. "What he couldn't do before...he can do now."
A tiny smile quirked Nevano's mouth. "He has. Sul defeated Ash King Wulfharth by throwing himself in front of a Shout and, though struck blind, delivered a fatal blow. Veleth threw himself between Nevano and the shade of Dagoth Ur."
"Well then." Zak shrugged, leaning back. "He's healing. It's a second chance for him, one that shouldn't end with him cursed." He frowned a little, as if trying to remember something, before sighing and shaking his head.
"No. I just didn't intend for another to be caught up in it but..." Nevano's head tilted. "It's helped him as well. Though I hate when his skin turns dark and the claws come out. It's...it's what Sul looks like now. It's not Sul taking over but him giving his strength and power. It's them working together. I just do not like seeing what Bal turned Sul into."
"That...is actually helpful to know," Ravenlight mused. "Veleth's been struggling to keep that rage in control. Learning what-who-it actually is may help with that. Might even help Sul, too." She suddenly stiffened. "Oh-does Bal know that Sul is in Veleth?"
"Boethiah hates Bal. She wouldn't dangle two that belong to her as bait. Not unless she knows she would win." Nerevar's voice came through stronger. "If they learn to work together perfectly...then she might."
"No, I mean-"
"She means that demon earlier went for Veleth first." Zak had clearly put the same numbers together as Ravenlight. "We were all...relatively in range of it. Cattie-Brie said it was after the two of us specifically-but I wasn't wearing armor nearly as good. He was armored. It jumped on him, not me."
"There's no way to know...unless..." Nevano's eyes went wide. "The Titan...Sul showed briefly then."
"He did," Serana said, remembering. "He went...like I sometimes do. When I have to give a fight my all."
"Drizzt distracted the titan." Nerevar said. "Otherwise every demon would have gone straight for him. He's testing...seeing if it's true."
"It's going to get worse, then." Ravenlight sighed. "Not that we didn't know that already..."
Nerevar was quiet a long moment. "Daedroth, dremora, xivilai and xivkyn are not the only things Bal has. You saw the titans. There are also things he's called banekin, harvesters and grievous twilights. Banekin are scamps and imps he forced together. Harvesters will steal souls. They might come next...to try to steal Sul back. Grievous twilights are corrupted winged twilights. More twisted victims."
Ravenlight grimaced. "Ugh. Are there any sure ways to combat these things, or is copying the Ethos Knife and consecrating every weapon our army has the best bet?"
"Consecrate the ground if you can."
"That might cause a little friction, with people not agreeing on who to consecrate it to, but we'll give it a try. Probably amulets of the Divines on every neck we can drape them over, too. But the sword...worked very well. Better than I had been expecting, actually. The corpse of that thing burned in green and silver flames; nothing was left, no poison to eat through the rest of the building."
"Nevano is asking but I don't know how the...things are coming." Nerevar changed so suddenly to disgust and disdain it was impressive. "He did kill them but Bal wouldn't ever let souls just go. He has them all...but how they are getting here I don't know."
"I...no. No..." Nevano's head jerked so hard he nearly fell over. "It's not a good idea. I won't.." He shuddered. "Sul might know."
"He might." Ravenlight considered. "We'll have to be...careful how we ask...but he might."
Nevano's body started shaking again, though judging by the sweat dripping off him, it was now due to the extreme effort needed to remain as is. "Nevano...can...understand..."
"What?" Serana caressed his face, bending over him. "He can understand what?"
Nevano groaned and slumped forward, barely catching himself before he hit the floor face first. "Ran out there..." He panted, his voice his own again. "That was a lot."
Serana caught him, helping him back up. "It sounded like it. Both of you have...been through so much."
"I did not expect that but it explains so much." Nevano leaned against her. "I'll spare you the bits of memory I got while he explained. Leave it at...I get why it took him over a hundred and twenty years and a demon invasion or three to tell."
"I bet." Ravenlight shivered. "That...xivkyn we fought. Gloated over the idea of Gyrmallion ending up in the Vile Lab. That's how I knew about it." She glanced from the sleeping Chii Chare and back to Nevano. "Name like that, you know it's bad; when they gloat like that, it's probably...worse than we can imagine."
"Dremora and xivili...both are stupidly strong and smart. Together?" Nevano shifted. "And what he did to Sul was...cursing Sul like that was low even for the Tribunal."
"I agree," Serana said, her eyes darkening. "The bastards. I'm tempted to wish that same fate on them."
"Well, Almalexia went mad and tortured Sotha Sil to death in his own Clockwork City. I killed her and left them both to rot there." Nevano said. "No idea where Vivec is. No idea which Daedra Lord took the three. Doubt it's pleasant though. 'Lasa? You ok?"
Ravenlight quickly turned to the Dunmer woman.
Drelasa's face was pale. "Just...a lot to take in." There was an obvious amount of effort to keep her voice from shaking.
"I bet." Ravenlight put her arms around the woman's shoulders.
"I think he was hesitant to mention it because he is...respectful of what you can do." Nevano said.
Drelasa barked a humorless laugh. "A hundred years ago I'd have pulled him out of you by his tongue! Modyn isn't a child anymore though. As it was pointed out...they are helping each other. I just..."
"It's probably not something you expected-or wanted, for that matter-to hear." Ravenlight squeezed her a little tighter. "I'm sorry for blurting it out like that: it just all...suddenly came clear."
"Sudden or gradual, it would have been a shock either way." Drelasa put her hand on Ravenlight's arm. "I should have suspected something was different when Boethiah actively sought Modyn out and forced him to prove himself when he never showed any interest in worshipping her at all."
"She got quite a surprise when he not only won but he managed to break through and almost hit her!" Nevano nearly cackled but lacked the energy for it. "Azura was flaunting that one for months. Still does, actually. Nerevar was insistent Sul doesn't take control like Nerevar can me and I do believe him there. Veleth would never allow that. He hates being told what to do."
"I'm inclined to believe it myself. " Ravenlight looked at the ceiling and exhaled. "So...anyone have any idea how we should spring that on Veleth?"
"Bluntly." Nevano said. "Nerevar wanted desperately to protect Sul but if Veleth knows he was chosen to protect Sul rather than just a container, he'll be far more inclined to accept it. And I think I know what Nerevar was trying to say at the end there."
"What would that be?"
"I can understand. Meaning, because of Nerevar, I can understand and speak the dead Chimeri language. Nerevar knows common because of me. If Sul isn't connected to Veleth, then the poor bastard is blind and can't understand a word we say. Explains why they only meet up through rage and fighting. And..." Nevano nodded at Zak. "I don't think that eruption between you two was Boethiah. I think it might have been Sul reacting to realizing Molag Bal, his torturer, was coming to Tamriel again. Ebonarm might have been reacting to knowing what Boethiah did and, understandably, got a bit upset."
"Could have been." Zak half-shrugged. "He wasn't happy about those...things you called up that grabbed us, either. Though he definitely approved of you," he glanced over at Ravenlight, "shouting at her."
"Ah, the winged twilights." Nevano nodded. "I needed something strong and fast enough for the two of you. Won't be a regular occurrence though. I think everyone was amused watching Ravenlight go off on Boethiah!"
"I," Ravenlight said calmly, "was furious. That was the third time that day I'd had to come out and shout at someone to stay under control. If I had to scream at Boethiah to keep from having to come out a fourth time..." She shrugged a little.
"It was beautiful." Nevano grinned.
"How did you call those twilights, Nevano?" Drelasa asked, her eyes intense.
Nevano and Serana met each other's eyes, both seeming...slightly panicked.
"Nevano..." her voice held a very clear warning. "You can hardly bring up a finger of fire, never mind a very advanced conjuration spell."
"One story a night!" Nevano said, getting to his unsteady feet with Serana. "We're...gonna go find a place to sleep, let's go, sugar tooth! Bye! See you in the morning! We'll provoke Sul in the morning. Run, Serana!"
It was really astounding how fast she could actually move. They heard the door to Dragonsreach bang shut barely half a second after they left the guest quarters.
"I'm going to wring his neck." Drelasa muttered.
"I noticed some barely-healed wounds on his arms while I was out there screaming at Boethiah," Ravenlight mused. "And there was that point two nights prior when we all felt Azura's power touching the earth pretty strongly."
"Barely healed wounds..." Drelasa frowned. "I never saw him get...that bastard!"
"Got some idea of what he did?"
"Scarification! He deliberately cut runes into his arms!" Drelasa looked furious.
"And Serana," Ravenlight said, suddenly realizing something, "knew about it. For heaven's sake, she flat-out told us she snuck him into the house after he'd done something, but that he obeyed her when she told him to eat and drink, so she didn't tell on him." Ravenlight rolled her eyes. "Those two."
Drelasa groaned and fell back into her chair, her palm pressed to her head. "That's it. I'm grounding everyone under the age of two hundred."
"You'll miss Serana and get me," Ravenlight said wryly. "Silly girl's over five thousand, and I haven't quite seen my second century yet. I'll have a chat with Drizzt tomorrow and find them with Guen. Even Serana has some trouble trying to get away when there's six hundred pounds of panther lying on her, and if she can catch Nevano at the same time..."
"He won't leave her. Catch one, you got the other. And she's grounded by association." Drelasa glanced at Ravenlight. "I'll make an exception for those with children. Goodness knows you, Dreyla and Cattie-brie know how to behave. Drizzt too."
"Ground Farkas and Nevusa separately," Ravenlight advised, rising. "They're getting into enough trouble together as it is." She bent over and stroked Gyrmallion's forehead. "Well, looks like whatever restlessness was pushing him earlier has calmed down. I'm going back to Jorrvaskr until morning; and I'll try to catch my brother first thing, see if we can bag our two miscreants."
Drelasa nodded. "Where should we take Modyn to attempt to talk to Sul?"
"Someplace peaceful, that's for sure. Where...I'm not so certain." Ravenlight sighed. "I'll think on it. Try to figure out the best place."
Drelasa nodded.
The Bosmer bowed slightly. "I'll see you all in the morning."
"Good night, darling." Drelasa said. When Ravenlight left, her shoulders dropped and she fell back into her chair, her hands over her face.
Zak watched uncomfortably, not knowing what to do...or how on earth to do it. She appeared to have forgotten he was there entirely. She swiped at a few tears, murmuring in her native shifted back slightly in his chair and closed his eyes, resting; but still alert for anything that might change. If nothing else...he could at least keep watch.
"Thank you." She said suddenly, quietly.
He stiffened, his eyes opening. "What?"
"Thank you." She said again.
"I...all right?" He wasn't entirely sure what she would be thanking him for.
"For being here." She said. "You didn't have to be. I appreciate it."
"Oh." He still appeared a bit confused. "I...don't plan to leave, so..."
"It's nice...having someone close by."
He nodded, settling himself back. After a few moments, he spoke again. "Does it...bother you? That this Sul is...in your son?"
"As I said: a hundred years ago I'd have gone on a warpath. He's a grown man and doesn't need me to leap at every slight," she admitted. "But it does. It does bother me. While it's been a boon, no one asked! No one asked me or Jorun or, most especially, my son! He was never given a choice in the matter. A lot of things he's been forced into and...it's not fair." She tried to wipe her tears away before they fell but they were too numerous to stem fully.
Zak looked down, not sure what to say. The concept of fairness was still foreign to him; and he had numerous stories of those who'd never been given any kind of choice. But at the same time...that sort of thing had always grated on him, and had been something he'd at least try to correct whenever it occurred to him to do so.
"He's stubborn though. Won't complain about it. He's learning to take it and do his own thing with whatever he's given and drive those that think they got one over on him insane. Even with this, Nevano was right. If he thinks he's helping, even protecting Sul, he'll do it." Drelasa was almost babbling now. "He won't say it but he's rather happy being out of Blacklight, doing this instead of guard captain. He just won't leave them by a thread or his wife and child."
"It...suits him. Taking on challenges like this."
"It does." Drelasa agreed. "Lights his blood on fire. I'm almost positive Dreyla would go along with him if he decided to go a different path but he's stubborn. Worse than his father in that."
"Anyone who could take his place in...Blacklight, you said?"
"Blacklight, yes." Drelasa smiled. "I'm pretty sure I could find someone who wouldn't run it into the ground in a week, unlike the one he competed with it for. Was a stupid lackey. Before he did that, he was head of the guard in Solstheim. Difference there is that he was often out in the wilderness and Morvayn was happy to hand full rein to him. Just keep the town safe and you can do whatever you want. Before that, he was a soldier and spent years in southern Morrowind, skipping his mandatory leave home multiple times. He would have still been there, had he not gotten injured and pissed off most of the councilors."
"Thinking on that...I wonder if Sul was the only reason he survived that." Drelasa mused. "He...when he was brought to us, he was barely alive. I didn't have time to be scared, I leaped straight to it but Jorun...I never saw him so scared in my life. The lines of poison and infection from that wound ran up Modyn's sides and around. It went over a week without proper treatment and a wild ride across Morrowind to boot. He should have died, but he didn't. If that was Sul...I shouldn't hold so much anger towards him."
"Might have been." Zak considered. "I don't know...for sure. But...if Sul did react with enough fury to get Ebonarm interested, because Molag Bal was clawing for this plane...it means he, unlike me, remembers what happened to him. Remembers where he was...before. He wouldn't want to go back. Not until he was...certain Bal couldn't get at him again."
"If selfish reasons kept my son alive, I'll take it." Drelasa said. "Though, if remembering like that led to so much rage, it's probably better you don't fully remember. I prefer you like this and not some raging horker of a being."
"I don't remember, but..." Zak's eyes briefly clouded. "I don't know if my memories would cause rage. Maybe there's...some other reason. Ravenlight has told me...numerous times...that she liked me better when she met me in Sovngarde."
"Perhaps, like my son, you simply haven't fully settled in the purpose of being back again." Drelasa said. "Makes anyone act out when they are not where they are supposed to be."
He gave her a small smile. "Maybe."
"I hope you find it." Drelasa said. "Despite being a bit of an anti-social bastard, you have a kindness that runs in there and a noble heart."
A real smile briefly softened his face. "He had to get it from somewhere. Drizzt, I mean."
Drelasa smiled fondly. "Very much takes after his father."
Zak went silent and looked down; but his ears had taken on a slightly purple tinge. And he was definitely smiling.
