Sigh, what a mess Drizzt is in, huh? Well, time to see if he can get out of it….
Chapter 26--A Way Out
The next evening Drizzt was led to an unfamiliar room. The guard gestured for him to enter then slammed the door behind him and locked it. There were no windows and the only furnishings were a table and two chairs.
Kiel was sitting in one of them and lying on the table were his sheathed blades. He noticed where Drizzt was looking and laughed. "You will get them back in time. Sit, dark elf, you'll need directions to his house and information about his defenses," he said.
Drizzt obeyed and listened. An hour later he had all the information he needed. He raised an eyebrow when he was handed a pair of normal scimitars.
"I'm keeping your finer blades as insurance for your return. You'll get them when it is done then you'll be free to leave," Kiel said. "You'll be given the gear that you'll need. If you're caught you'll certainly be executed so I'd be careful if I were you. You may leave."
Drizzt left the room and a guard gave him what was needed then led him out of the guild. He headed up the dark street in the direction the manor was supposed to be. He knew what he was planning to do was risky, but he could see no other way to do this. He reached the manor gates without any trouble. It was walled and a steel gate was tightly closed and locked. There was a bell on the wall. Drizzt took a deep breath then rang the bell.
A guard showed up with impressive speed. "What do you want?" he demanded.
"I wish to speak to the Lord of this house," Drizzt said.
"Lord Herrick sees no one without an appointment nor at this time of night," the guard said. "Go away until a decent hour and get an appointment."
Drizzt shrugged and walked away. He went down a long way then examined the wall. It was made of stone that was polished smooth, leaving no handholds. Drizzt nodded to himself, unsurprised. He pulled a grappling hook and some strong but light cord from the gear he had been given. He tossed the hook and heard a soft clink as it landed on the wall. He pulled gently until it caught on something. He yanked hard to make sure it was firmly caught then climbed up. He crouched on top of the wall and scanned the grounds. Nothing stirred, but the guild master had warned him that guard dogs roamed the manor's grounds.
A guard walked past on his patrol, walking directly under Drizzt without seeing him. To the nine hells with sneaking around, Drizzt thought and leaped down. I'll use the direct approach. He walked directly towards the manor as if he had ever right to be there. He was halfway there when three burly mastiffs bounded from the shadows and blocked his way.
The large dogs snarled, baring impressive fangs. One began to bark loudly while the other two kept Drizzt where he was. Drizzt didn't try to move.
Soon two guards showed up. "What in the nine hells are you doing on Lord Herrick's property?" one demanded.
Drizzt quelled several sarcastic responses before answering. "I'm here to see Lord Herrick with an urgent message. His life is in danger," he said.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" the second guard demanded.
"You don't, but can you afford to risk that I'm not?" Drizzt asked.
The guards looked at each other then one ordered the dogs back. "Give up your weapons then we will take you to him," the first one said.
Drizzt did and they led him inside the manor. They took him to a small audience chamber, plainly but well-decorated.
A blond haired, blue eyed man eyed him from his seat. "Who are you? Why are you here?" he asked.
"Who I am isn't important right now. As for why I was sent here to kill you," Drizzt said casually. He heard weapons being drawn and braced himself for an attack….
Cliffhanger!!!! R/R please! Or the Drow gets it!!!