**Sigh** Only 10 reviews--Discouraging, ah well, I don't give up that easily!!!

Chapter 13--The Hunt Begins

Drizzt was the first to recover from his surprise and he used it to his advantage, drawing Twinkle he lunged at the man. He barely nicked the man, but he yelled like he'd been run through then Drizzt was past him. There were only six other men in the next part of the cave and Drizzt could see the entrance. He was past them before they could react and ran out. He was on a beach and he could see a boat approaching the shore. It wasn't very far away. A large ship was anchored out further.

Behind him was a high cliff, which also blocked the beach to the left. Drizzt couldn't go that way, but to the right was a cluster of rocks that were climbable. The Drow headed that way as fast as he could. The men emerged from the cave an instant later, yelling towards the boat and gesturing.

Drizzt could guess what they were saying. He didn't slow down or look back. There was only one reason he could think of for someone to need a hidden base--Pirates!! The sand slowed him down somewhat, but not much. He had just started up the rocks when he heard the boat being dragged on shore.

"Captain, drow!" one of the men said, pointing.

"What are you fools waiting for?! Catch the damned dark elf!" the captain yelled.

Seven men rushed in the direction Drizzt had headed, the only way he could go and they knew it. They also knew their captain would have their heads if they allowed the Drow to escape. He knew about their base.

Drizzt reached the top of the rocks then stopped fast when he saw what was on the other side. The drop was straight down into a cove and the other side was out of reach. He spun, drawing his scimitars as the men reached the base of the rocks.

"All right, drow, come down from there, we have you trapped," one said.

Drizzt smiled challengingly at him. "Come up here and make me come down, human," he dared. Footsteps made Drizzt look past the men to see ten more men coming with a woman.

The woman had long raven hair and sharp blue eyes or at least one blue eye. The other was covered with a patch. She wore leather armor and a cutlass on her hip. She was lovely in a dangerous way, like a hunting cat. "What in the nine hells is taking so long?!" the woman demanded.

"He refuses to surrender, Captain Shauna," one man said.

The woman looked at Drizzt, frowning a bit. "You have nowhere to run, surrender and it will go easier on you," she said.

"Of course and naturally you'll let me go," Drizzt snorted. "I think not."

A rare smile found its way to Shauna's lips. "You're no fool, but you are at a severe disadvantage," she said. "Your only choice is to surrender, you can't get across the gap, it's to far to jump and the cove has jagged rocks on the bottom, not to mention sharks."

So I'm near an ocean, Goddess, how far did that underground river take me? He thought. "Am I? Your men will still have to climb up here. They won't be able to have a weapon out and ready," Drizzt said. "They can come up and get me if they dare."

The men exchanged nervous looks at that. None were to eager to climb up the rocks, especially when an armed Drow waited for them. None wanted to take him on alone.

Shauna caught the looks. "Damned fools, cowards, must I do everything?" she growled. She motioned to two men. "And hurry it up, I want this settled as soon as possible."

"Aye, Captain, at once," one said and they rushed off, heading back towards the boat.

Drizzt eyed the captain warily-- wondering what she was up too and how he was going to get out of this dilemma…

Got a standoff here, huh? I despertly need reviews so R/R everyone!!!!