Hi everyone, I'm back! I was one of the lucky people to lose their power in the big blackout, but power is restored though I had to rewrite this chapter. I tell you…what a mess!!!
Chapter 31--Late Night Talk
Catti-brie rolled over in bed with a sigh, still half-asleep, she reached for Drizzt and her hand hit the mattress. That brought her fully awake and she sat up and listened. She heard Drizzt's voice coming from the nursery. She got up and pulled on a warm robe. She went to the door and paused in the frame to look at her son and husband.
Drizzt was sitting in an armchair talking to Zak, who stared up at his father intently as if he was listening to his every word. Drizzt must have heard her despite how quiet she'd tried to be because he looked up and smiled at her. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" he asked.
"No, I woke up and ye were gone. Is everything alright?" Catti-brie asked.
"Yes, Zak was fussing a bit. I was trying to get him back to sleep," Drizzt said.
Catti-brie sat down in the rocking chair. "I be kind of glad yer awake…I been wantin' to talk to ye about what happened," she said.
Drizzt frowned. "That's the problem. I woke up a couple hours ago and I've been trying to remember what happened, but it's all blank," he admitted, "and it bothers me."
Catti-brie hesitated, wondering. She had told the others to say nothing about the unicorn, but now she was wondering if perhaps she should. It might jog Drizzt's memory.
"Cat, how did I get back here and was I alone?" Drizzt asked.
"Some of the trainees and Arian found ye and brought ye here. They said ye were alone and that…" she began then stopped short.
Drizzt gave her a long look. "And what, Cat? Please tell me," he said.
Catti-brie took a deep breath and told him exactly what she had been told. "There's something else. While ye were asleep earlier I saw a tattoo on the nape of your neck, a unicorn's head in silver plus that other thing," she said. She told him about the amulet appearing when she thought he was dead after the accident.
Drizzt was silent for a long time when she finished. "I don't understand what is happening to me," he muttered at last. He looked down at Zak and saw he had fallen asleep in his arms while they were talking. He stood and laid him gently into his crib and made sure he was covered warmly.
Catti-brie stood and embraced him fiercely. "Have faith, Drizzt. Everything will be all right in the end. I know it will be. Come back to bed. It's late," she said.
"I suppose I should. I have to go to Bryn Shander tomorrow to start training those would-be rangers," Drizzt said, shaking his head.
"Maybe ye should call it off for just one day," Catti-brie said.
Drizzt shook his head. "I don't dare too. Kemp's already is trying to get the council to replace me. I don't dare give him any more things to complain about," he said ruefully.
Catti-brie snorted, sounding very much like Bruenor for a moment. "He be such a pompous arse. Sometimes I wish I could punch him right in the nose," she said.
Drizzt smiled at the image. "I can think of a lot of people who'd pay well to see you do that, myself included," he chuckled. "Come to bed, my il-sargtlin."
Catti-brie smiled and let Drizzt lead her back into the bedroom, but it would be awhile before they went to sleep that night.
Early the next morning Drizzt went to the stable to fetch Rouge who greeted him eagerly. Twenty minutes later they were galloping towards Bryn Shander. The weather was good so Drizzt made better time then he thought. He took Rogue to the stable and groomed him himself since he had time. After that was done Drizzt went to the training field where the trainees were to gather and waited. He was pleased when all of them showed up right on time, armed and ready. "Line up!" he called.
The trainees did so with very little talking and without argument, but Drizzt noticed one that seemed bettered dressed then the others. His weapons and armor were noticeably more fancy then the others. The trainee eyed Drizzt arrogantly. Trouble for sure, he thought.
"First thing is that you will not need your weapons and armor for some time though I am pleased that you brought them. In the wilds they will be one of your most important tools. Tomorrow you need not bring them," Drizzt said.
There was some muttering at that, but no one spoke aloud. "That brings up the next point. You may ask questions without fear of looking or sounding foolish. The only foolish question is one that's unasked," Drizzt continued.
"Sir, you said your weapons and armor is one of our most important tools, what are the other?" one trainee asked.
"Your wits and instincts," Drizzt said. "The wilds of the tundra are no place for the careless. The elements themselves are your enemies. You have to learn to adapt to nature because it won't adapt to you, believe me."
"So what, Ranger Do'Urden?" the arrogant trainee asked. "Do we try to think like a timid deer?"
"Without training those timid deer could outwit you, trainee," Drizzt retorted. "Respect is something else you must learn."
"For you?" the trainee asked rudely and snickered.
"As a teacher, yes, but I was thinking more of respecting nature," Drizzt said. "Your fancy armor and weapons won't help if you get buried in an avalanche because you didn't know the signs. By the way, I will not tolerate disrespect no matter how noble your birth is. If you cannot be respectful then you don't belong here." He turned away. The moment he did he heard the scrape of metal against leather….
Whoo, what's going on?! You'll see next chapter! R/R please!!!!!
