The Journal of Keledrial Nightstar

by Azurielle

Elven wizard and elven berserker, Keledrial's life has gone through one change after the next. How will he handle it all?

3. Chapter 3

I went back to the bar when I was down helping the guards get things in order, prisoner wise.  I found Tobias there, already drink.  Now, I have no idea what possessed me…but maybe it was that she had smiled at me earlier…I went up to the girl who ran the bar, and ordered a drink rather than take Tobias up on alcohol, as I usually did.  She smiled at me again, and I, foolishly, thought that, perhaps…well…hells, I don't know what I thought, only that she was pretty. I tried using everything that I had seen human men do, to impress her…and she kept smiling, but after awhile, I gave up, when nothing seemed to be working.  She probably thought I was an idiot, anyhow…or ugly…probably both, now that I think about it.

       So I took to drinking, to assuage my hurt feelings, and Tobias laughed at me…saying that if I stopped using the term wench, and took baths more frequently, that I might have a chance with a woman.  I glowered at him, reminding him that I did take baths, and the only reason I was dirty was because I had just killed a man who causing trouble in the girl's town.  Tobias just laughed again, then asked why I was bothering…especially when I had such distain for humans.  Well, into the drink by then, I answered with a roar, that there were no elven women about, and there was nothing wrong with human women, so long as you don't make half-elves with them.  When Tobias chuckled again, and the others came in to hear the last bit, I got annoyed and told him that if he was so smart, that he should seduce the girl, and see how far he got, to show me how it was done.  The Tobias started acting stupid, refusing out of hand, and saying he wasn't interested, anyhow.  Ranon asked Tobias if he was "funny," and Tobias seemed insulted, but still refused.  That was when I noticed that the girl had gone into the back room, behind the bar.  I listened carefully, and I hear her giggling…laughing at me, no doubt.  Stupid wench.  I had a few more drinks, and after that it didn't matter anymore…in fact, I was having a hard time concentrating on what the others were saying at all…again, in hindsight, I rather think I should have been.

       I woke up with a hangover, which a few more cups quickly cured…still, I wasn't all that drunk, when Ranon came in the door, later in the afternoon, with a weary looking Hank.  I must have looked incredibly stupid with my mouth hanging open, dumb-founded, but I could not help it.  I had assumed Hank was dead, and would stay that way…but the others had had other plans.  Apparently, they had spoken with Hank's spirit and asked Hank if he wished them to raise him…he'd said yes, and they used his portion of the reward money we would get for killing Navarro, to have the halfling clerics of Yondalla bring him back.  Needless to say, I didn't much like the idea.  The dead should stay that way, by my way of thinking…but I hadn't been paying attention, so they'd done this without my opinion, or knowledge.  Still, what was done was done…Hank was alive once more, and it would very well be nice to kill him again.  My complaints would earn me nothing, so I merely shrugged and told him he looked awful, and went back to drinking, doing my best to forget how much women dislike, especially with the…wench hovering moving about the inn, laughing at me the whole while.  Bitch.

       We left a few days later, after Hank had slept, and looked better than death warmed over, and after the others had managed to keep me from drinking, long enough to get sober.

       The trip back started out fairly uneventful…that is until we, once again reached the Stonebridge.  A storm had begun a few hours before we got there, and by the time we began to cross, the rain was a deluge, broken only by claps of thunder and distant lightning.

       We saw them, halfway across the bridge…a large group of people headed towards us from the opposite direction.  As we got closer, we saw that they were all on foot, wearing dark clothing…then Tobias told me that they were familiar to him…that there were several among them that he recognized…from the night that we, and the others in the adventurer's guild.  Then Ranon added that he, too, recognized one of them. 

       "Just keep going," Calvin ordered us.  "There's time for vengeance later…they outnumber us four to one."  I meant to do as Calvin wanted…truly I did, but when I looked up, and saw among them the miserable, drider kissing half-orc who had lured me into the trap that night, my temper snapped.  Airk…no…I went into a rage, and attacked him, without provocation.  Needless to say, they were surprised, and I vaguely recall that I cut the bastard down with one swing…he'd not been prepared, this time.  But I did not stop there.  I cut through them like fire wood, roaring to Corellon.  It was only when there were no longer any more near me, and the few remaining ran that I came out of my berserking, and took a look around.  We had killed fifteen of them, before the other had broken and run…I had killed ten on my own.  Tobias was standing nearly at the end of the bridge, trying to restring his bow, which had broken during the fight.  Hank was wiping blood from his swords, glaring at me.  And Ranon…Ranon was healing Calvin.  The paladin seemed to be in shock, and it only took me a moment to discern why.  On the ground near his feet was his shield; it had been cleaved in two.  Calvin's expression was pale, his eyes glazed as he stared in horror at his left arm...or what was left of it.  The leader of the band I'd attacked had been an Orog…half orc, half ogre…and he had attacked Calvin and cut Calvin's lower arm in half.  There was no sign of the limb, so I assumed it had gone over the bridge, and into the river. 

       Needless to say we did not travel any further that day…or night.  Instead, we found a dry place, on the riverbank beneath the bridge.  We left Ranon to deal with Calvin, while the rest of us looted the bodies, hoping to find some information…notes, anything on them to say why they were here…if they'd been following us for some reason, or if was a coincidence.  We found nothing. 

       We took our rest beneath the bridge.  Still, I was forced awake, halfway through the night.  I had had another dream…of another ancient battle. It was strange. I still had those dreams, but only in Waterdeep…and had not had one since we left…yet here, again, I had one.  I tried to keep silent, not waking the others, and so walked out into the rain.  Strangely enough, as I wandered around near the edge of the bridge, I sensed a powerful magic.  I leaned down, squinting in the dark and rain, and saw a glint of…something in the dirt.  I dug it out, and the minute my fingers touched it, I felt strong magic.  I went back down to the fire, and examined it, finding that it was a red gem, roughly the size of a walnut.  It looked a bit like a pommel gem.  I put it away, meaning to ask Tobias to identify it later. 

       Unable to go back into reverie…still haunted by the drams…dreams which I should not be having…I decided to take a bath.  The river was swift and storm swollen, but the rain was still coming down so heavily, that all I had to do was strip and soap up to get clean. 

       However, when I was done, the gem and the dream, both, were still nagging me, so I decided to wake Tobias and ask him if he knew aught about it…after all, I usually only had the dreams when I was around him…so maybe he had something to do with it.   So I woke him…by wringing out my soaking tunic over his head.  He shouted as he awoke.  Hank, who had been on watch glared at me, and Ranon woke as well, warning us to keep quiet and not wake Calvin.

       Tobias wiped the water off his face, not bothering to glare at me, or yell…in fact, he muttered something about how a bath was a good idea, but couldn't I have waited until morning.  Tobias is so odd.

       So I explained why I'd woken him…about the dreams I'd been having.

       "Dreams?" he asked.  "Like a human?"  I nodded.

       "Maybe you're turning into one," he jested.  My fist shot towards his face before I could think better of it…fortunately…for him…he dodged before I could connect.  He took a few steps back.

       "Woah!  Sorry…I didn't mean it."  I cracked my knuckles, letting him know, in my own way, that another crack like that would leave him in a world of pain.

       "All right…so you've been having dreams…of battles?  So maybe they're just memories.  Maybe it only seems like a dream."

       "You do not understand…these battles…they are not anything I would be remembering!  They are battles of humans, and orcs, dwarves and giants, and drow and elves…all kinds of battles."

       "So why couldn't you be remembering them.  Maybe you've just forgotten that you saw…"

       "Tobias!  Until I came to Waterdeep, I had never even seen a dwarf or and orc.  I only know what they are because I've read about them, in the histories" I explained, exasperated.

       "Well, there you go…maybe you're remembering things that you've read in book, then."  Hank muttered something derogatory about his doubts of my ability to read, but I wasn't in a mood to pay attention to his insults.

       "I'm not!" I protested.  "These are dreams…not reverie!  And besides…the people, when they speak, it is in languages I do not understand.  The common that the humans shout, is not the common I know…the dwarvish voices do not speak the language like they do…and the elvish is ancient! These are ancient battles…and the people in them speak languages I have no knowledge of…explain that if you will…or perhaps, you with your skill in languages already know?" I added.  "The dreams have only begun since we went to the mountains and fought the orcs…and every time I have had one, you have been near by…maybe this is some sort of spell, or game you are playing..." My voice rose warningly, angrily.

       "Woah!" Tobias protested, holding his hands up. "You know that I can't cast any spells like that.  And why would I?  So you could figure it out and beat me into pulp?  Do you think I'm crazy?  Besides, the only ancient language I know is elven…which you taught me, if you recall…long after the fight with the orcs," he added.  And it was true, for I had been teaching him ancient elven, and in return, he had begun teaching me how to read common…in secret, of course, since3 I did not want the others to know that I was learning to do so. 

       "So what then?" I asked, frustrated.

       "I don't know," Tobias shrugged.  "Ancient languages… battles…it could be some magic, but you know more about that than I would."

       "Perhaps it is a vision," Ranon suggested, from where he had been sitting, listening.  I turned to look at him.

       "What do you mean?"

       "Well, sometimes gods send vision…gods…or other creatures as well.  Perhaps you're getting a vision for some reason."

       "But what is important about ancient battles, long fought and over with? " I protested.  Ranon shrugged.

       "No idea…that's the problem with visions…you have to figure 'em out." 

       "Some help you are," I grumbled.  Finally, I decided to give up on the conversation.  It wasn't getting me anywhere, and it was probably just making the party see me as more freakish than they already did.

       I remembered the gem, about then, and gave it to Tobias and told him to identify it for me.  Yes, I know I could easily enough do it myself, but identifying spells are so tedious.  It's far easier to have Tobias do the dirty work, anyhow.

       I did bother to try to go back to sleep, but wandered about in the rain, for a while, thinking.  I went up to the top of the bridge and retrieved the broken pieces of Calvin's shield.  I suppose that what had happened to him, was partially my fault, for I had started the fight.  The least I could do was try to reforge the damned thing, when we got back to town. I saw that most of the bodies from the fight had been dragged away, and through the rain, caught a glimpse of a carrier crawler, which was enough to make me go back to camp.  Tobias had finished with the gem, and claimed that though it was powerful magic, he could not learn anything about.  I took it back and put it away, perplexed.  Still, the matter was quickly put from my mind, when Calvin awoke, as I warned the others of the carrion crawlers.

       The paladin was definitely not himself…the shock of his lost limb still with him.  His eyes were feverish, and he began to mutter under his breath…things that the Calvin we knew would never say.  He spoke of blood and revenge, tearing heads off, and tracking "them" down and butchering "them."  Very un-Calvinish, to be certain.  We tried to speak with him, but he responded to us with similar responses.  He was barely coherent, and Ranon mentioned that he thought a fever was setting in, despite his best healing efforts.  He looked down at his arm…what was left of it, in horror, and babbled about how he was useless, now.  In an attempt to shock Calvin back to reality, I made a derogatory comment about his horse.  Normally that would have had him jumping to defend the creature, but this time he merely asked "what horse?" 

       So we decided to drug him to calm him down.  I know a nominal bit about alchemy, but it was enough.  Using some of Hank's herbs, I recalled a formula I'd read about, and mixed a sleeping potion for the paladin.  It was easy enough to get him to drink it, since we slipped it in some ale, and ordered him to drink it. He responded a bit like a child would, to the command, and drank it down with out protest.  It worked well enough, and he fell back to sleep.  Tobias brought up an idea that we try to use an illusion spell to make Calvin think that his arm was still there, but the dwarves and I quickly vetoed the idea.  When the bard persisted, that it might "help" Calvin, I warned him that if he did not cease with his prattle, I'd throw him into the river, and we would see how much sea elf blood he had in him.  Needless to say, he left the idea alone, and went down by the river to bathe.

       Morning came, finally, and with it, the cessation of the rain and storm.  Calvin was still incoherent, and unresponsive, so we ended up tying him to his horse, and leading it, as we continued to head back to Waterdeep.

       It took us longer returning, that it had coming.  We had to keep the pace slow, for Calvin.  He did come down with a fever, as Ranon had predicted, and he was senseless with it for nearly a ten day.  When he came out of it, though, he still babbled on about revenge and blood and death, and so on, so we decided to keep him drugged to keep him calm.  As we got closer to Waterdeep, we lessened the doses we gave him, and then stopped them all together.  We hoped that the shock would wear off faster, if we kept him awake and aware.  However, things were not progressing very well.  By the time we returned to Waterdeep, some three weeks or so, later, Calvin had not improved in the slightest, save that his wound was healed, for the most part, and he could sit up straight in his saddle, so long as we tied his legs to it.

       Needless to say, we were all fairly worried, and the worry over Calvin had the four of us, Tobias and I, Hank, and Ranon working together with less bickering than usual.  Calvin, in a way, was the one who held us together, and stood as a source of common sense and restraint, when we otherwise might have just charged into a given situation.

       Now, as we had been no help to his recovery, we decided to take him to his church.  They would know him, as he had been trained there, and maybe priests of his own religion would better understand how to help him.  So with that, we took him to the temple of Tyr, just outside of Waterdeep.

       There was no one out front, when we got there, but the doors were open, so we went in, still leading Calvin on his horse.

       The priests, naturally, immediately approached us.  A few of them seemed to recognize Calvin, and one asked the paladin what was going on.  Calvin responded that he would" track them, and kill them, rip their heads off and drink the blood."  Needless to say, his fellows were shocked.  Ranon and Tobias began explaining what had happened as I untied Calvin from the horse, shaking my head. 

       "Calvin, for the love of Corellon…you shouldn't say things like that.  It is not like you.  You do not think of revenge and blood…I do," I told him.  He looked at me blankly for a moment, then replied,

       "We must find them."

       "And we will, when you stop acting madder than I am," I answered him, quietly.  He seemed to think on that, but did not respond again.  The priests pulled Calvin down out of his saddle, and said that we should go with them and speak with the High Abbot of the temple of Tyr.  Two burly, armored priests, started to help Calvin away, and I tried once more to get Calvin to respond, telling someone to do something with his "nag of a horse."  He only replied that "she is old."  I sighed, and walked with the others, further into the church.

       They lead us to a smaller chamber, adorner with the symbol of Tyr.  When we got to the door, Calvin said, in a voice far more coherent than usual, that he would like to walk in on his own…that he had lost his arm, and not his legs.

       We met with the high priest, an old man, who looked as though he had once been in a great many battles, and had once been an impressive warrior.  He seemed to know Calvin, and was distressed at the few garbled response he managed to get from Calvin.  Finally, he asked us for information on what had happened.  We told the man nearly everything that had happened to the party from the night we were all attacked, to what had happened at the Stonebridge.  I gather that there is a spell…divine in nature, that can regrows lost limbs…and the high priest tried to cast this on Calvin…and was very shocked when the spell did not work.  He asked, then, to see the pieces of Calvin's shield.  I drew them out and handed them over.  He mentioned that he had given the shield to Calvin some time back, as a reward for his deeds.  He cast another spell, and gasped. 

       "Some foul magic was at work in the weapon that destroyed both the shield, and removed Calvin's arm."

       "Is that why he is acting so odd?" I asked.  The human shook his head.

       "No…what ails him mentally is his own shock and horror, no magic spell.  The only one who can cure Calvin, is Calvin himself.  I think that he is unable to come to terms with the loss of his arm.  But the magic in the weapon that did this…"

       "An axe," I interjected, helpfully.

       "…the axe that did this…is evil.  Normally we would be able to regenerate Calvin's arm…but the evil is blocking the spells.  And I fear that until Calvin is whole once more…that he will not recover," the man added, grimly.

       "But we need him," Ranon protested.  I nodded, and after a moment, so did Hank and Tobias.  He was an important member of our group…and if we wanted to go after these shadow thieves, we would, indeed, need Calvin…sane and whole.

       The priest seemed to think about what we had said for a moment…then looked at Calvin, thoughtfully.  He rose, and beckoned us to another room. 

       "Stay here Calvin, we shall return momentarily," he told the paladin.  Calvin nodded, obediently, as a child would to a parent. We followed the priest to the next room.

       "There is a way, but I am not certain how easy it will be," the priest said without preamble.

       "Over a century ago, there was a paladin of Tyr, much like Calvin, who came to this church.  He, too, had lost his left arm through foul means.  In reward for his loyal service, though, Tyr had given this paladin a great gift…an arm crafted of great magic and metal.  This arm worked as well...if not better than the man's original limb.  When the paladin died, he had the arm given to a silver dragon he knew and was friends with.  He believed that it would be safe with her, and that, should another, worthy person have need of it, that the dragon would be able to judge whether or not they were of a nature to have the arm.  If it is your will to help Calvin, than this is the only path that I can think of at this time."

       "Where can we find this dragon?" I asked. 

       "We know only that she lairs somewhere in the Sword Mountains, to the north of here.  Beyond that, though…you would have to do the searching."  I looked at the others…their expression told me what I needed to know.  We were all of a like mind in this endeavor.

       "We will go, but we'll need time to get ready…can you keep Calvin here…maybe get him more coherent?" I asked.  The priest nodded.  There was a loud clatter from the room where Calvin was.  So we decided to go see what our erstwhile companion was up to. 

Calvin had gotten into his moneybag, and thrown the gold and silver coins all over the room.  We explained to him that we would be back in about half a week, but I am not certain if he understood us.

Once we got back to Waterdeep, we formulated a plan, so to speak.  Tobias would go about to the many places that bards knew of, and glean what information he could of the possible whereabouts of this silver dragon.  Ranon would take the gear and things we'd taken from the bandits, and the men from the bridge and sell it all, then take Navarro's preserved head, and get the reward for killing him.  Hank stated that he needed to replenish his herbs, and that he would take the bits of the black dragon, and the head and take them to a place where the hide could be tanned and the head could be stuffed.  Yes, I know it's odd, but I wanted the head stuffed, so that I might have a trophy of the battle. 

I went to the forge.  I meant to reforged Calvin's shield as quickly as possible.  I had it in my mind that perhaps Calvin's sanity was linked to his shield, seeing as it had been a gift from his church, and what not…and that, maybe if he saw it, good as new, and could wear it again, that he would get better.  I talked to Brian, of course, about what had happened, and what I needed to do, and he agreed.  Sometimes I wonder why he bothers to keep me as an employee, since I am so rarely there, and when I am, it hardly seems I do very much work for him.  Still, I took my time, spent all of a day and deep into the night.  When I was done, Calvin's shield looked as though it had never been sundered…although I could not repair the broken enchantments on it.  Even I was impressed at the work I had done on it, as it was some of my best yet.  Since I was doing so well, I did not stop there. 

I went back to Tobias' and my loft and retrieved the ice steel we had found with the hag in the mere of dead men.  It seemed a very long time ago…  I got a few hours rest, and went right back to work.  Seeing as there was bound to be danger in the mountains where we were going, and it could be a long time before we found the dragon's lair, I decided to catch up on some of the work I meant to do with the ice steel, to better equip the party.  However, since I did not have a lot of time, I decided to keep things simple.  I spent the next three days, barely moving from the forge, resting as little as possible.  The work was simple, and repetitive, after a while, as I was making arrow heads and bolts, but still, I felt a measure of satisfaction when Brian approached me, and asked if he might have some of the arrowheads, as payment for my use of the forge for personal reasons.  I gave them to him, with my thanks, and he mentioned something about "excellent work" and renegotiating our contract.  That will have to wait until later though.  By the night of the forth day back, I had finished nearly a hundred arrowheads, and forty bolts.  I had sent word to Hank earlier to make some shafts and fletching up for the arrows, and he had them ready for me, when I brought them to the tavern, where we all met, later that night.

In Calvin's absence, so to speak, the others seemed to turn to me for instructions, though why that is I cannot fathom.  I told them that they all had one more day to finish up business, and that we would be leaving to find the dragon, the morning after next.  Tobias informed us that he had found a bit of information, mostly that the dragon was said to lair somewhere in the northernmost part of the mountain range, somewhere towards the western edge.  Other than that, he could find nothing else, not even the dragon's name.  It would have to be enough.  Fortunately, we would not have to check out every mountain on foot, seeing as we had Ranon, and Tobias' falcon familiar to scout for us.  We split up the money from the last few encounters, saving aside Calvin's share for him.

Tobias also did a chore for me, taking the strange gem over to a sage to have it identified with a spell more powerful than what he or I could cast.  Meanwhile, I took a break in my working, to go speak with Celedor for a while.  I felt rather proud, for I have fairly managed to stop speaking about Airk as though he was a different person from myself.  Celedor did tell me that I was making progress.  Still, I explained to him about the dreams.  He was confused, and tried to puzzle things out.  He stated that trauma might be enough to bring such dreams, but that because they seemed more like visions, he was more inclined to think it was some sort of magic, or divine power that was causing them.  He had me think back to everything that I had done up to the point that the first dream started.  Then I remembered… something I had forgotten about in all that has happened since then.

The broken sword of Tempus.  It was still in my bedroll, in the loft.  I only had the dreams when I was there.  Why then, had I had the dream under the bridge, though?  I learned the answer to that quickly enough.  Celedor told me to go get the sword and bring it there, so he could examine it.  I do not know what he hoped to learn, but I complied.  I had gained the weapon, and was on my way back to the church when Tobias ran into me…literally.  He seems to think that I am some sort of break-wall to stop him when he is running.

He told me, in a quite out breath tone, that the gem was some part of a sword of Tempus, some lost artifact.  So the gem was once part of the sword, and that was why I had the dreams…first from the sword, and then under the bridge, because of the gem.

When I brought both items to Celedor, he told me that he was not surprised…that if the broken sword and gem were part of an artifact, even a broken one, it could, indeed be responsible for my dreaming. 

I put the sword on the wall, with the rest of my weapons that I rarely use, and have not had another dream yet.  It was a relief…and yet, I think that when I have some time, I will try to find out more about this sword…particularly where the last piece might be found.  It was a mystery, and I usually enjoy puzzling things out.

The last day in Waterdeep, I was quite busy.  I bought some enough supplies for myself and Sanhandrian, as well as another glove of storing, so I would not have to carry my axe or sword.  It considerably lightened the load of my adventuring gear.  Later in the day, moving on towards evening, I decided to get a start on locating a way to this Skullport place, as well as finding out a possible location for Handrax.  To that end, I returned, once more to the only real contact I had in the city.  Though he does not say so, I am beginning to suspect that Lord Craulnober is quite influential in Waterdeep, or at least he knows a great many people.  He led us to Navarro, and I could only hope he could help us with the next stage of our search.

He was not at his bar when I arrived, but the barkeep claimed that Elaith would most likely be there in a few hours.  I waited, attempting once more to explain the use of good armor to Sanhandrian.  I think that my familiar is weakening…at least on the armor argument.  I had only a few drinks while I waited, since I wanted to speak with Elaith while my mind was clear.

When he finally arrived, he invited me back to his office without delay.  Once there, I quickly updated him on just about everything that had happened.  His expression darkened when he heard that the shadow thieves were behind the attack.

"Shadow thieves?" he asked.  I nodded.

"Do you know of them?"

"Indeed, though it is to my misfortune, that I do.  If they are behind this, than there is nothing I can do, but aid you in this endeavor.  I can't have shadow thieves causing trouble in the city," Elaith explained.

"We need to find one of them, named Handrax…Navarro said that we would find him in a place called Skullport," I added. 

"I shall see what I can find out for you," Elaith stated. 

"Then once again you have my thanks, and I am in your debt…so far, I wonder if I will ever find us on equal ground again." I laughed.

"Indeed," Elaith replied calmly.  I've noticed that he is a very guarded fellow…very hard to read…but perhaps that comes from being a captain.  With business concluded, I rose to leave, explaining that I might not be back for several days…perhaps even weeks.

"Go.  Do what you must to aid you paladin," he said.  I thanked him once more, and left, to try to get what little rest I could.

We retrieved Calvin from the church, early the next morning.  I don't know what the priests there had done for him, but he seemed far calmer, more lucid than before.  He grinned when I gave him his shield back, and remarked that it looked better than before.  He put it on what remained of his lower arm.  I had widened and tightened the straps so that they would fit there.  That way he need not feel the limb was useless.  He was not quite Calvin again, though, so we headed out.  I noticed that the paladin had made a new purchase, as we left the city.  Strapped to his horse was a gleaming, new lance.  I wondered if he knew how to use it.

So we traveled north towards the Sword Mountains for three days, on the trade road.  We had been up this way a long time ago, back when we had fought the goblins that had been harassing the trading coster. Once we reached the northern edge of the range, we left the road and began moving westwards.  We had Ranon and the falcon flying into the upper reaches of the mountains, keeping a look out for any large caves or crevasses that could contain a dragon. 

The human goddess of Luck, Tymora must have been smiling on us, for we found the cave on our forth day out from Waterdeep.  Ranon caught sight of a huge, gaping cave mouth in one of the mountains, a few miles in.  He flew back to tell us this, then just as quickly turned around and told us he would "scout" the cave.  We all yelled for him to turn back, but he ignored us for some damned reason.  Stupid dwarf…the last thing we needed was for him to go in and anger the dragon before we had the chance to explain why we were there.

Fortunately, Tobias' falcon knew the way, and we followed it inward, towards the mountain.  It took us the better part of the morning to reach the mountain, and another hour or so to navigate our way up to the cave.  As soon as we got within sight of the cave, Ranon flapped up, his beard looking singed, his expression grave.

"Uh…do silver dragons breath fire?" he asked, nervously.

"No," I replied, irritatedly.  "Only red dragons do…oh."  I realized what Ranon meant.

"Could there be two dragons in the area?" Tobias mused.  I shrugged.

"I don't see why not…but a red and a silver…they would come to blows after a while."  Just then, Hank pointed something out…a glimpse of red in a deep crevasse near the cave.  The others were too nervous to check, so I went to the edge and looked down.  Sure enough, the red was a red dragon…a dead one, that is.  Its neck was broken, and there were large gash marks near its throat.  The dragon itself was huge.  Far larger than the black we had fought.  But the claws marks in its corpse were bigger still…the silver?

I returned and told them what I had found.  After a bit of debate, we decided to have someone sneak up, invisible, to the cave entrance, and see what was going on inside.  Perhaps the fire that Ranon had felt was from another red…but perhaps there was a battle going on.  If so, we could try to aid the silver, and she would have to give us what we wanted then.

At that point, Calvin piped up, asking why it was, exactly, that we were there.  The others and I exchanged glances.

"Should we tell him the truth?" Tobias asked me, in ancient elven…a language we knew that none of the others knew how to speak.  I shook my head. 

"Not yet…I don't want him balking, if it comes to a fight."

"Speak in a language that we all understand," Calvin demanded, sounding irritated.

"Look, we are here for a very important reason, but there's no time to explain now.  Just trust that we will tell you everything when this is through," I told him.  He seemed to think about it.  Then sighed, and nodded.

"Now then, since you are so found of scouting, I think you should do the honors, Ranon."  The cleric seemed to be about to object, then changed him mind, and nodded.  Tobias cast the appropriate spell, and Ranon, now invisible, sneaked into the cave. 

He came running back out, not three minutes later, and gasped out what he had seen. 

"Silver…dead…smashed eggs…red…lots of red…dead…one alive…huge…eating the silver…" Ranon gagged; a strange reaction from one who is so used to dealing with blood and wounds.

"Slow down…explain, slower," I demanded.  He complied.  The silver dragon was in the cave, but she was dead.  Scattered about the cave were four more red dragon corpses…the same size as the one in the crevasse.  There was still one red left, wounded, but alive, eating the corpse.  The silver had apparently been nesting, for Ranon claimed there were smashed eggshells all over.  That was probably why the reds had attacked…it was know that the chromatic dragons loved to eat the eggs and hatchlings of the goodly dragons. 

My anger burned, almost to the killing edge.  Silver dragons were something I was very familiar with.  With had several on Evermeet…golds as well.  They were said to be some of the most graceful, powerful creatures in existence…friends to the elves since ages past.  I had always envied the dragon riders of Evermeet, for their bonds with the dragons…and admired them.  To know that such evil had attacked and killed, not only a silver, but her brood as well…the thought sickened me, and made me furious.  How dare they?! 

       And the red was wounded…I turned to the others and presented them with the idea that had immediately jumped into my mind.

       "We attack…we need what is in there for one thing…and we cannot let this abomination go unchecked.  It's wounded…so we have a chance.  We fought one dragon and triumphed…"

       "Barely," Hank pointed out, dryly.  "And this one is considerably bigger."

       "But evil…damnit…and wounded.  We can do this…how many chances will we ever get, like this?  That…creature in there has killed one of the greatest goods in all of Faerun!  I do not wish to let it roam unchecked…to get away with its deed!  Calvin?" I turned to the paladin…he was, in a way, our leader, although he would, I think, hesitate to agree to the title, should we have put it too him.  Still the others respected his word…even so wounded as he was.  He nodded slowly.

       "I think we should do it…though I would know why we came here in the first place…later," he added.

       "Ranon?"

       "Aye," the cleric nodded, pulling out his mace, grimly.  I knew he had been shocked by the sight, horrified by it.

       "Tobias?"

       "Oh, why not?" he shrugged.  "We've come this far…besides, think of the coin we can get for the hides of the reds," he grinned.

       "Hank?"  The other dwarf seemed to think for a moment.

       "I think we'll probably be killed…but it is the right thing to do."  He nodded.

       So we came up with a plan.  We prepared our weapons, and our spells, protective and offensive.  Calvin volunteered to be the one to attack first…to charge the dragon, he held up his lance, with a grin.  Ranon cast spells of fire protection on both Calvin and the horse.  The rest of us, we decided, would use the cover of some of the red corpses to hide behind, and begin with missile attacks…arrows and bolts…trying to stay away from the dragon for as long as possible.  Inevitably, we would have to move into melee combat, though, and so we prepared spells for the occasion…

       Hoping that dragons could not see through invisibility, Tobias cast the spell on all of us.  A final spell of silence, assured that the dragon would not hear us coming, either.  So we moved in.

       Entering the cave, and moving quickly into position, I was more shocked at the sight before us than I thought to be.  The silver must have put up a great fight, for there were scorch marks, and claws marks everywhere.  He hoard was scattered about, and all of her eggs…were smashed.  Her body was lying near the bulk of her hoard, broken and battered, her head almost severed from her neck.  The last red dragon stood over the corpse, back to us, eating…the element of surprise was with us, but we had moments only, until it would hear, or scent us out.  Directly on either side of the cave entrance, there were the bodies of two red dragons.  The party split, as we had planned.  Tobias and I went behind one dragon, while the dwarves went behind the other.  As soon as Calvin attacked, and broke his invisibility, we would, all four of us, use our bows and crossbows, to try to keep the dragon from us for as long as possible.

       Calvin charged, silenced by Tobias' spell.  The dragon roared suddenly, as Calvin's new lance pierced its back.  It reared up, opening up several of the wounds near its neck.  I stepped from around the corpse, took aim and fired.  My arrow had been enchanted to become three instead of one, when fired.  The first arrow buried itself into one of the dragon's wounds, brining forth another roar.  The second and third struck true, as well.  Arrows and bolts flew out from Ranon and Hank's hiding spot as well.  Several struck the dragon, but not all pierced its scales. I heard the low chanting of Ranon's prayer…behind me, of Tobias' spells and songs.  Calvin abandoned his spear, and kept riding, past the wyrm, and behind another corpse, no doubt drawing his sword, and preparing for another ride by attack. 

       The dragon turned…saw me, and roared again.  I heard Tobias falter, cry out in fear, and though I did feel dread at looking up at the huge red, I shrugged it off.  It is not in my nature to be afraid…not anymore.  The dragon fixed its baleful gaze on me…the only one he could see, no doubt.  I had bare seconds to react, throwing aside my bow and summoning my sword.  The dragon…pounced, is the best way I can describe it.  It just jumped from its position, to directly in front of me.  Before I could attack, though, its tale swept around and connected with my chest.  The force of the blow threw me backwards, some twenty feet, into the stone walls of the cave.  The impact stunned, for the dragon's strength was so great that the stone where I had hit, was cracked.  I rather had a suspicion that several of my ribs were as well, but I was not deterred. 

       Calvin rode by again, slashing at the dragon with his longsword, as I pulled my self out of the wall, and off the ground.  The dragon turned towards the paladin, and though I could not see Tobias, I could hear his song begin, feel extra strength surge through me as the magic in his voice took effect.

       I could not see Hank or Ranon, but knew that they were there, heard the yells and prayers.  I got close enough to attack again, and hurled my great sword at the dragon with great force.  It imbedded in the wyrm's shoulder, going more than halfway in.  Again, it roared, the sound seeming to shake the very floor of the cave.  It swiped at Calvin, the claw flinging the paladin from his saddle. He landed with a clatter, but immediately gained his feet again, as he ordered his horse away.  Then the dragon fixed its attention on me. 

       I summoned my axe, but not quickly enough, for it jumped again, this time, landing on me.  For a moment, I was unable to breath, the massive weight of the dragon squeezing the air from my lungs.  I could do nothing, for its claws had me pinned.  For a moment, I though I might die, suffocated and crushed…but the dragon had other plans.  It grabbed me, lifting me from the ground, claws piercing my armor, painfully.  It looked at a spot on the wall, near the cave entrance.  Though I saw nothing there, I heard Tobias singing, still invisible.  Apparently the dragon was able to see though invisibility, or perhaps its sense of scent was so strong that it knew where Tobias was, regardless.  The dragon flung me…right at Tobias, claws rending my flesh, causing more wounds, as it did.  I landed heavily on the bard, whose song died with a squeak.  Though he saved me from further damage, I do not imagine that Tobias was unscathed from my landing on him…I am fairly heavy.

       I sat up slowly, for my wounds were very bad.  There were several large punctures, all bleeding freely.  I rose to return to the fight, and Calvin ran up, and used his paladin's ability to heal me.  The worse of the wounds closed, and the bleeding ceased. 

       Meanwhile, the dragon had jumped again, and the dwarves were having a go at the red.  Ranon was airborne, smashing the dragon in the head with his mace, as he flew by.  Hank was still using his bow, still trying to use the corpse as cover.  I picked up my axe, and turned to Tobias, who was looked pale and frightened.

       "I rage now…but if I fall in the rage, I doubt I will survive," I told him.  He nodded, understanding. 

       "We won't let you fall," he stated.  I knew that he…or Ranon would try to heal me, for once in the rage, I could not heal myself.  I looked to where the dragon stood, and began to run towards it.  I rose to the killing edge, and attacked, with a roar to my god.

       The rest of the battle blurs in my memory.  There was fire, as the dragon breathed at us, catching some of us in the breath.  I know that my clothes were burned away, and that my armor only survived because of the enchantment on it.  Hank was burned badly, but did not die.  The others kept their distance, still using spells, and ranged weapons to attack with, while Calvin and I were the only ones who stayed up close to the dragon.  I know I took several more hits…clawed and bitten by the dragon.  In the end, the force of our attacks, and the dragon's own weakened state conspired against it.  Calvin and I barely managed to get out of the way, as it fell, dead to the floor, joining the rest of the corpses.  I know that I hacked at it a bit more before dropping out of my rage, so angered was I at the loss of the silver dragon. 

       When the battle was done, and when Ranon and Tobias and Hank had finished healing everyone as much as they could, we looked about the cavern for what we had originally come for. 

       We found the arm, easily enough…a man sized appendage of solid mithral, with runes marked all over it.  We brought it over to Calvin, and explained to him that it was the reason we had come…to find this for him.  He looked at it suspiciously for a moment, noting the symbol of Tyr marked on it.  Tobias explained the story that the high priest had told us.  Calvin seemed to consider things for a while, and then seemed to come to a decision.

       "If it is made by Tyr, and if the high priest thinks this to be a good idea, and since we have come so far…then how can I not try it?" Tobias handed the arm to the paladin, and said that he should place it against the stump of his arm.  Calvin did as told…and then doubled over, howling in pain.  We watched as the arm destroyed what remained of Calvin's arm…all the way up to his shoulder, and grew to replace it.  After a few moments, the arm was fully attached, and had fitted itself to match Calvin's other arm in size.  Calvin sat up, and looked down at his new limb in wonder, face pale from pain.  The hand suddenly moved, and he almost seemed shocked by it, jumping a little.

       "There is no feeling…but I can move it, as though it were my real arm," he told us.  The hand twitched, convulsively.

       "This will take some getting used to," he smiled. 

       With Calvin taken care of, we all sat down to rest, and make some decisions.  The silver was dead, and so her hoard was ours.  Part of me wanted to refuse it, but I knew that it was foolish…if we did not take it, another group of adventurers would find it, and they would. However, the amount of gold was a great deal…more than we could carry, even with Calvin's horse.  Add to that the skins and claws, and so forth that we meant to take from the reds, and we would need at least two wagons to haul it all back to Waterdeep.  So, it was decided that we would send Calvin and Ranon back to get some wagons, while the rest of us stayed behind to guard the dragons and treasure.  Calvin would go because he knew the most people in Waterdeep, and could get the wagons easiest…he was acting much saner.  Hank and I would stay, mainly because we both knew of skinning, and I, of tanning…just a bit.  We would be able to remove the skins, and be done by the time the others returned.  Ranon we sent because he has wings, and can fly if the need arises.  And Tobias stayed because he is, in the long run, worthless beyond his spells and songs.  Besides, Hank and I would have him skinning with us before long.

       So it was set.  Ranon and Calvin left in the morning, with as much gold as they could carry.  Ranon had been given the key to the loft, as well as a note to Hacasian explaining who he was, and why he was there.  Ranon would leave the gold there, where it would be safe, and fetch me some new clothes…seeing as the only pair I has brought with, had been burned off, and I had forgotten to bring extras.  Hank had the same problem, and we were both wearing little more than our cloaks, and makeshift underclothes. 

       Once the others left, we three got to work.  We showed Tobias what to do, and left him to muddle his way through skinning one of the reds.  Hank was outside, working on the one we had seen, down in the crevasse.  I was piling the remaining gold and such in the corner, when I came across something I did not wish the others to see.

       Beneath one of the silver's claws, protected by a cocoon of gold, I found an egg…a whole one that had not been destroyed by the battle.  It was about the size of my head, with a dull, silver shell.  I gingerly lifted it out, and inspected it, finding no cracks.  The egg was warm to the touch, and as I held it, I could have sworn there was a whisper soft movement within it. 

       Needless to say, I was quite shocked at what I had found…and even more protective.  I thought for a few moments what to do.  Should I tell the others, or no?  What should be done with the egg… and so on.  It did not take me long to come to a decision.  I quickly went to my backpack, and emptied it of everything I did not need.  I wrapped the egg carefully in the blanket from my bedroll, and placed it into the pack.  It would be my secret.  I would not tell the other about it, if I could help it.  I feel I must explain why I came to this decision. 

       Hank and I had had an argument earlier.  He was a druid, and so thought that nothing should be left to waste.  He stated his intention to skin the silver as well.  I argued, stating that she had fought nobly, and should be left intact…to her rest.  I did not like the idea of defiling the silver's corpse, and thought that even if we did skin her, that only an evil person would which to wear her scales.  Hank told me I was being a fool, that she had given her life, true, but that, by taking her scales and using them, she would continue to help others, even after death.  I finally gave up on the argument, especially when I got no aid from Tobias on the topic.  I told Hank to do what he liked, but that I would have nothing to do with it…I would not skin her, cure the hide, nor use the scales.  Hank shrugged, indifferent, as always. 

       Then I found the egg, and I thought of what the others might do if they knew.  Corellon knows, I trust the dwarves in that they are my companions, and competent in their jobs, both of them…but to deal with something like a dragon egg…no, I cannot trust them.  Hank was willing to sell the silver's skin…I would not allow him the temptation to have an egg to sell.  I am certain there would be hundreds of people willing to buy…and I will not let that happen.  Tobias is an elf, true enough, but sometimes he is particularly odd…he doesn't act like the elves on Evermeet.  I may trust him with my life, but I do not know how he would deal with this…he's far too flighty for the responsibility…I dare not let him know, either.  Finally, there is Calvin, the one whom I was actually trust the most to care for the egg as it should be looked after, but on the other hand, he is a human…humans see most dragons as creatures only to be conquered, for one thing and even though I do not think Calvin is such, I don't feel that he's stable enough to deal with anything more than his new arm at the moment.  Besides, Calvin pays too much attention to his horse…he would not be able to devote as much of his time to the egg as I can. 

       No…I will not tell the others of this, not unless a situation arises, dire enough for me to do so.  It will be my secret.  I will take care of the egg, guard it, and if it hatches, I will take care of the baby dragon as well.  I think of the many stories I have read…all the way back to the tale of Durothil.  He had once found and raised a silver dragon from the egg, with little knowledge on what to do.  I could certainly do the same…better, even that that ancient gold elf.  And if all goes well, I will certainly not let my dragon be killed by a red dragon. I will protect it from its mother's fate, and take it back to Evermeet, where it will be safe.

       Besides all of that…there is one more reason…and I must be honest with myself.  There is part of me that will always remember being a sickly child who could hardly walk without wheezing.  As that child, I read books and stories by the hundreds.  I would dream of being a warrior…and so I am one, now.  I dreamt of greatness, but not as a high mage…no. One of my fondest wish was to be a members of the royal guard, like Elaith…and even more rarely, I dreamt of being a great rider in the elven army, much like many of my fellow Nightstars are.  An eagle rider perhaps…and yes, I dreamt of being a dragon rider.  I knew, as that child, that none of that would ever come to pass.  But things are different now.  Everything has changed.  I have changed.  I still doubt my chances at being welcomed into any of those professions…at this point; I doubt that my welcome back to Evermeet would be a warm one.  I am a freak among elves, now…I know this, though Celedor tries to convince me otherwise.  I am certain that my cousin, Sylthas, should he still live, will not be glad to see me back…for in my absence, he is the heir.  My aunt and u8ncle may not want me back…and my parents…well.  I do not really wish to speak of them.

       My point is, that this is my only chance to be what I once dreamt of…a dragon rider.  If I could keep the egg safe, then the hatchling, I could raise it.  It would take a long time, certainly, for dragons age even more slowly than elves, but the hatchling would grow up.  I would be the one who raised it, so it would…hopefully, look to me as a child looks to a parent…or at the very least, as a friend.  Then, perhaps, I could convince it that I would be a good rider.  Perhaps, then, the elves would not care that I was a freak, only that I was a dragon rider, and a Nightstar.  It might work…it could work…but only if I keep the egg a secret.  I can't let the others know.  This is my only chance, and if it seems selfish, I cannot say that I care much. Everything I care about eventually is taken from me, and it is a hard battle to get back what I have lost.  As Corellon is my witness, I will not lose this chance…and I will not let any one take this egg from me. 

       It took a total of six days for Calvin and Ranon to return, with wagons.  Unfortunately, we could not get them up the mountain, so we had to carry everything else down…the skins, claws teeth, and so on.  It took us three days to get back, and those days passed without incident.

       We were given odd looks when we passed through the city gates.  I imagine that, despite our decision to try to keep things quiet about what had happened, that word would get out soon enough.  After all, hadn't we come back with two wagons, laden down with red dragon skins?

       The next few days I spent working…working a great deal.  I notice, that the others seem to think that, because I can tan skins and work leather, and because I work as a smith, that I am able to make or do anything pertaining to weapons and armor.  As it is, I have spent the past three days working the days, forging the ice steel into weapons and so on…basically they gave me a list and told me to make all of this.  I hardly recall being asked, but I am an idiot, and agreed to do the work, just the same.  Naturally, I had to give some of the things I made to Brian.  That is pretty much the deal I have with him now.  I am allowed to use the forge, as I wish, but on the condition that I must make at least one extra item, which I must give to him as payment.  I can still make money by doing normal work there as well.  He explained, that it the case of the ice steel, that it was a very hard to find metal, and I was an excellent smith…that he could make a great profit.  I didn't much care either way.

       At night, I managed to work on something for myself…mainly, a suit of red dragon skin leather armor.  I am nearly done, and am thinking about trading in my old armor, and getting this suit enchanted, as I am rather proud of the job I have done on it.  The skin is reddish tinged, and I sewed on several patches of scales in critical areas.  I have to finish up the design on the front, which will…naturally enough, be a dragon. 

       The others wanted me to make armor for them as well, but didn't seem to understand that I don't have enough bloody time in a day to make everything that they wish me to.  Not only that, but I'm really not all that skilled in making things out of dragon scales, seeing as I have never had the chance to before. I've hardly gotten more than a few hours of rest the past few days, and Sanhandrian is getting irritated with me, seeing as I haven't been paying much attention to him…although, he does seem to like the tiny suit of leather armor I made him, far better than the mithral chain.

       Still, I did take the time to go down to the wizard's guild, seeing as I wanted a special familiar pocket made that would be able to carry both the dragon egg…and possibly hatchling, and Sanhandrian as well.  I also wanted to find a book on silver dragons…hatchlings in particular, and a blanket that would keep the egg magically warmed.

       The book and blanket I found easily enough, and for a fair enough price.  However, I got rather irritated when I spoke with a mage about possibly enchanting my armor, only to find out that the man was a cheat.  He wasn't even trying to be sneaky about it, like he thought I was a fool, just because I do not look like a wizard!  So, I left, deciding to find a free-lance wizard to make the familiar pocket, rather than a guild wizard.  And believe me, I will not be sending any one to those…cheats for business, any time soon.

       I did manage to find a wizard willing to make the pocket, for a price that I knew was fair…better than any price I would have gotten at the guild, anyhow.  It will be done by the middle of the week. 

       I went to work again the next day, and finished up a set of mugs that Tobias had wanted to have made.  He said that since he supplied the party with all of their liquor…which he did…in fact he'd had a device of storing made, just for the sole purpose of storing his drinks and wines, and so on.  Actually, I was particularly proud of the mugs for some reason.  The cup part of each one was made of ice steels, and the handles of wood.  I'd used some gold and silver to create designs on each one.  Since there was one mug for each member of the party, I thought I was particularly clever, in that I put the symbol of the god each one of us followed, on the mugs.  Mine had Corellon, of course.  Tobias' bore Hanali's symbol…womanly symbol, though it is.  Hank's was for his goddess, Meilikki.  Ranon's was Beronar, and Calvin's was, of course, Tyr. 

       So, after I had finished up for the day, I decided not to go back to the loft, seeing as I was done with my armor, and did not particularly want to spend another night locked up in the room.  So I went to the usual bar, only to find that none of the others were there, for once.  Out, no doubt, harassing some other craftsman into doing work for them.

       Besides, I talk to them all the time, and drink with them even more often.  Since I was fairly tired from doing work…on items they had requested I make…with no payment for my work, I might add…I decided that I didn't care to look for them anyhow. 

       So I wandered about for a bit, sampling the beverages of the various taverns in the area, so by the time I reached the Trade Ward, I was a bit…calmer.

       That was where I met Rosaleen.  She was waiting the tables at a bar called the Dancing Dagger…a human wench, who was definitely on the fair side.  She had very pretty blond curls, and wide blue eyes. Except for that she was short, and more curvy, she rather reminded me a bit of some of the Ruathym women.  She's very pretty.  So I talked to her, smiling my very best smile, and trying not to do whatever it was I had done to make that girl back in Grassguard laugh at me.  I didn't call her wench, and I remembered to tell her how nice she looked.

       I don't know what I did differently…or if she was just simple, but she smiled back at me, and told me to wait until she got off work…then we could go somewhere and…talk.  So I waited.  As I told Tobias once, I am not above interest in human women…after all…there are no elven women about, anyhow.

       Now, as I am not a crass person, and as I still do remember some of my manners, I will not go into detail on what occurred between Rosaleen and myself.  Suffice to say that we went back to the loft together.  She seemed quiet enamored of me, for some reason I can explain.  She initiated everything, when she kissed me, quite suddenly.  It was the first time I have ever been kissed, and it was certainly not an unpleasant experience.  She did not draw back when returned the gesture.  Things went considerably further from there.    

       Now, I can hardly help but compare having sex with a very willing, and somewhat experienced Rosaleen with my first… experience.  I have come to the conclusion that a willing partner in the act is a vast improvement over an unwilling one, and I do not understand how so many men can enjoy raping women. The sound of a woman's moans is far preferable to her tears.  It confuses me, but then, perhaps it has something to do with being human, which I am not.

       In any case, Rosaleen spent the night with me…I vaguely recall Tobias coming in at some point, making a rude comment, which I threw a boot at him for…then he left.

     When I got up to go to work the next morning, Rosaleen also dressed and left, stating that, she, too, had work.  She did add, however, that she would certainly not mind it if I visited her at the tavern again, and reminded me of the hour that she would be finished with her job for the night. I suppose that I do not have to say that I did go back to see her, and she did come back to the loft again with me…every night, for the rest of the week.

       By the end of the week, I had finished all the work to be done with the ice steel, and my familiar pocket was done, the dragon egg wrapped in the blanket of warming, and stowed safely within.  It was rather a good thing, though, for I received a message to meet with Elaith not a day after I was done.

       So, I went to speak with him.  He had the information I had requested.  He had learned that Handrax was at an inn called the Hellhound's Muzzle in Skullport, near one of the Undermountain exits.  Undermountain, he explain was a series of tunnels…very dangerous routes to get from Waterdeep down into Skullport. He explained that there was only two ways to get to Skullport…by way of Undermountain, and by boat.  I told him to wait to explain the details until after I had spoken with the others.  He nodded, and told me to bring them to see him so that I would not have to repeat things more than once.

       So I sought out Tobias, and made him go get everyone else.  When everyone was together, several hours later, I explained what was going on.  Then I took them all to meet with Elaith.

       There was a bit of an awkward moment when I introduced them all to Elaith.  It went well enough until I got to Tobias.  When I told Elaith his name, Elaith raised his eyebrow, skeptically.  In irritation, I mentioned that Tobias was not his real name, of course, but that the bard had yet to consider anyone in the party worthy enough to know his elven name.  I suppose I must have sounded angry, and in a way I was.  I had entrusted Tobias with my true name shortly after we had begun adventuring…and though he used me as protection, and a shield to hide behind in dangerous moments…though he followed me around all the time, he had yet to extend the same courtesy. 

       The he really annoyed me.

       "You never asked what my name was," Tobias protested. 

       "I did so!" I almost shouted.  "Back when we fought the orcs…I told you my name, but you refused to give yours!"  He shrugged.

       "Don't get so huffy…my name's Raede, if it's so important."  And with that, he made me seem like a temperamental child for asking what should have only been common courtesy from one elf to another.  Fortunately, Elaith interrupted, and stated that there were more important things for us to be worried about at the moment.   

Elaith explained our options, saying that Undermountain was dangerous, but that so was the way by boat.  He added that when we got to Skullport, there were be all sorts of unsavory creatures there…beholders, illithids…drow.  He looked at me, in particular, and stated, that no matter how much we might dislike what we saw, that none of us should start trouble, or attack anything in Skullport…including the drow…that there were creatures who "ran" the city of Skullport called Skulls, that would kill us, or worse for any trouble we caused.

       I wanted to go by boat, thinking it would be easier, but there was, unfortunately, no boats going down to Skullport.  So we opted for the walking…once again under ground, in the dark, and so on.  I truly do hate being under ground, I have decided.  There is little quite as daunting as thousands of feet or stone hanging above one's head.

       Elaith told us to go to a place in Waterdeep called the yawning portal.  There was a magical entrance to Undermountain there, guarded by the owner of the tavern, a human by the name of Durand.  On our way, out, he mentioned to us that we should not mention his name to the human, for he and Durand were not on the best of terms.  I didn't see anything odd about the statement, but as I found out later, it appeared that Ranon did not particularly "like" what Elaith had said for some reason.

       So we grabbed our things, weapons and the like, and headed for the yawning portal the following morning.  The Durand fellow apparently did not have any problem with our choice to go to Undermountain, saying that he got adventurers coming through all the time with the same request.  All the same, he warned us that it was dangerous…but we were determined to go.

       We walked through the portal, and a moment later, we were in a pitch-black tunnel, slightly disoriented, with the definite feeling that the surface was far away,

       So we made our way downward, following the directions given us by Elaith as best we could.  Magical torches and lights, cast by Tobias and Ranon lit the way…and unfortunately seemed to draw unwanted attention.  Tobias was attacked by a creature know as a cloaker at one point…and I think we did more damage to him, trying to get it off of him, that the monster itself, did. 

       There was a second attack a few hours? later.  This time it was three displacer beasts. The beasts looked a bit like panthers with tentacles coming from their sides, and six legs instead of two.  It took us a bit of time to realize that they were not standing where they appeared, but several feet away from the location we saw.  Once we figured that out, they were little enough hindrance to us.  I skinned the creatures, for they had fine pelts, and Tobias mentioned that, should we wish, we might be able to make cloaks out of them that would grant a similar "displacement" ability.

       Ever onward and downward we went.  It was impossible to tell how much time was passing.  It might have been a few hours, or an entire day.  A while after we battled with the displacers, we entered a huge cavern. The first thing I noticed were the webs, clinging to the walls, and the ceiling, wrapped around the stalagmites and stalactites.  Then a bolt of lightning shot out from a corner at us, and there was a distinct sound of many legs scuttling about in the darkness.

       Most of us managed to get out of the way of the lightning bolt, except for Ranon who seemed to trip and fall right into the path.  The dwarf priests was not killed, by the strength of bolt destroyed many of his magical items, including one of his maces and his armor.  I just know that some one will be asked to repair both…and I know for certain that it will be me who gets tricked into it, damn it all.

       In a counter move, I snapped my axe into my hand, and used one of the enchantments on it: the Everbright enchantment.  I had completely forgotten about it until that moment.  A blinding flash of light lit up the cave, then dulled to a glow, reminiscent of a torch.  Hopefully it blinded a few of our attackers.

       The attackers turned out to be driders…a foul crossing of drow elves and spiders.  They attacked us with spells, and weapons both.  Strange to tell, I did not enter a rage against them, for I wished to both remember and savor the battle, gratified in knowing that if I could not kill the drow I would inevitably be meeting in Skullport, then I could at least slaughter some loathsome driders. 

       And slaughter them we did.  Though they were tough, and we all took wounds, in did not take long for myself and the rest of the party to prove victorious.  We hacked them apart with our own spells and weapons, and the driders died amidst their own chittering shrieks. 

       When the battle had concluded, I approached the webs, and startled the party, I think, when I cast a spell of burning hands at it.  The web went up faster than a field of dried grass in an arid season.  Naturally I was yelled at for my foolishness when the bodies of the driders' victims fell from the webs, one almost hitting the dwarves.  Still, I wanted to make certain that we had gotten all of them.  Besides, we found a bit of treasure among the bodies and webs, things taken by the driders from people they had killed.  There were quite a few gems, and a few other items as well.  They did not object so strongly to treasure, I noted.

       We rested for a while in the cave, now free from vermin, regaining spells, and being healed by Ranon.  We got moving again, once everyone seemed rejuvenated by rest.  On a curious note, when I went to check the egg, as I do often, I found a small rodent in the pocket, curled up in the blanket of warmth.  I pulled it out and stared at it, confused.  How had it gotten there?  I doubted it could have crawled in…Maybe it was a fluke…I don't know.  All the same, I gave the thing…something called a hamster, to Hank.  Tobias started to pester me about what I was hiding, and I think I shocked him a bit, when I refused to tell him.  I guess he took it for granted that he could badger any information he wants out of me…but this time I will hold firm, damn it.

       I do not think it was more than another day, when we entered another large cavern.  This one contained a huge, one-eyed skull, big enough for us to walk through.  This, then, was the entrance to Skullport that Elaith had described to us.  We stood, awed for a moment by the sight, before entering.

       Immediately behind the skull, we walked out onto what appeared to be the petrified body of a huge purple worm.  There was a set of stairs leading down to a veritable maze of rickety catwalks.  Even farther below, we could see lights, and the shadows of buildings.  We had made it to the upper level of Skullport.

           I was immediately disturbed by the blatant evil of the place, and shivered at the feeling of magic…but a twisted magic…like a mythal gone wrong, I thought.

       We climbed down, each of us somewhat disturbed by the place, I believe.  There were scores of people moving about on the catwalk streets…people, and creatures.  Within the first ten minutes we saw humans, drow a beholder, several groups of gray, duegar dwarves, and a small group of illithids…the latter of which Tobias managed to annoy, remarking that their faces looked somewhat like what one would find in a salad.  Needless to say he was properly chastened when the illithids…mind-flayers, compelled Tobias to his knees and forced him to apologize for the insult.  I was more shocked, in that Tobias managed to keep his mouth shut for the next five minutes, or so.

       I sought out a semi-decent looking human, and stepped in the man's path.  He stopped instantly, looking up bewildered. 

       "Can I help…oh…you're rather large," he commented.

       "Where can we find the Hellhound's Muzzle?" I named the inn       where Elaith had stated that we might be able to locate Handrax.

       The man gave us a rambling set of instructions, which we immediately began following.

       We made our way down to the next level, and were heading towards the third level.  We passed by literally dozens of drow.  I could not help but glare at them as they walked by, wandering about, plotting nefarious deeds, no doubt.  I managed to control my temper, for which I am glad, for I did not wish to meet any of the "skulls" Elaith had spoken of.  Still, I could not help retching, when one of the drow women who passed by grinned wickedly at me, and winked, suggestively.  I hardly managed to keep my previous meal in my stomach.  The very idea…a drow…it sickened me.  The others seemed concerned, and Hank handed me some herbal concoction to drink, which calmed my stomach.  They didn't understand, naturally.  Why should they?  It was not their worst enemy who had winked at them, now was it?  Miserable little drow bitch.  By Corellon, the whole bloody race should be wiped off the face of Toril, and we would all be the better for it.

       I managed to get a hold of myself after a moment, hating that I was showing any weakness in front of the others.  Not that it matters, anyhow, I suppose.  I have heard them speaking…I know they think me mad. 

       We were nearly to the way down to the next level, when we passed by an alleyway, and Calvin suddenly ground to a halt.  I hardly managed to avoid running into him, and asked what he was about.  He peered into the alley, as though curious.  I stood still, and told Tobias to shut up, long enough to hear something…. something I did not wish to hear…the panicked cry of a woman…and the distinctive grunting and jeering of male voices...

       Before I could think twice about it, I strode into the alleyway to see what was happening…though in my heart, I think I already knew.  There were four orc…or perhaps half-orc men…it is so hard to tell…in the back of the alley.  One stood guard, while the other three blocked my view. 

       Now you must give me credit, I did try reason.  Not that the disgusting orc spoke common anyhow.  I warned it to move, but it refused.  I struck it once in the face, and he returned the favor, slamming a fist into my gut.  Angered, I hit him again, and this time it dropped.  I steeped over the body, hardly noticing that Calvin had come up behind me.  I caught a glimpse of what the orcs were doing.  Two of them were watching as the third held down a young human woman.  He was raping her.  She had brown hair. 

       I did not rage, but I wanted to, at the sight.  It sickened me…even more than the drow bitch had.  Even if it meant my life, or torture by the skulls, I could not have allowed them to continue their deeds.  She cried out for help, and I answered that cry.  My axe snapped into my hands, and I beheaded first one, then the second of the pair watching.  I jerked the last…the rapist up but the back of his neck, and saw fear in his piggy little eyes…just for a moment, before I cleaved him in two.  Tobias came up from behind me, as did the rest of the party.  My fellow elf handed me the head of one of the orcs and asked me if I wanted it back…like it was some sort of joke.  I tossed it away, and glared at him, then reached down, and gently…at least as gentle as I know how to be, helped the poor girl to her feet.  I stared at her, as Ranon pushed past me, healing her wounds.  In my mind, for a moment, she was the girl I had raped.  I saw myself as those orcs, and realized once more what a truly horrible creature I had become.  There will never be enough I can do to repay the pain I have inflicted on people who did not deserve it.  I am a disgrace to the elves…they will never welcome me back…no matter if I had a dozen silver dragons with me.

       We talked quietly, and decided to escort the girl back to where she lived.  Her voice was faint as she whispered the name of an inn to us.  Perhaps she feared that we had only rescued her to do her more harm.  Her skin was very pale…and she was shaking.  And I had done this same thing to someone… I thought of Rosaleen…how she smiled and laughed when she was with me.  She had been impressed…or so she said, by my strength, my size…that I am a warrior…would she still feel that way if I told her what I really was?  I liked Rosaleen…she makes me smile…and Corellon knows I enjoy being with her, if you know what I mean…but to think that anyone could hurt her…would rape her…it makes me ill.  What if this girl…this bar wench we had saved had been like Rosaleen?  What if the orcs had crushed the brightness out of her spirit?  She seemed so broken and scared…like a kitten that some one had kicked.  What if the girl I had hurt had been like Rosaleen…all smiles and laughter? What if she was like this now…because of me?

       We brought her back to her inn, where I gathered she worked.  It was a place not far from the port in Skullport, and the bar, a fairly dilapated place, was filled with all manner of drunk sailors, who leered at her as we walked in.  I gave my very best glare, and was rather glad to see a path clear before us.  Apparently no one wanted to deal with my anger.  And I think on that, and wonder, have I become such a person that people innately fear me in I do look happy?  Is this truly what I wanted? To be feared?  I cannot think so.  Fear is a far cry from respect, and thinking now on things that my party members have said, off-handedly…I know that they do not respect me.  They fear me, and they fear my temper.  I cannot call them friends…friends are not afraid of one another…they do not flinch when the other frowns.  And yet, that is what most of the others do to me.

       Dear Corellon…what have I become?!    

       We brought the girl up to the woman who seemed to be the owner of the place.  She was a large, tough-looking wench, with the foulest mouth I have ever heard on a member of the fairer sex.  It took me raising my voice to get her attention.  When she saw the girl, she rounded on us, looking fair ready to kill, as she demanded to know what had happened.  We explained what we had seen, and done.  She nodded, and took the girl behind the bar, called to another girl who led the first away.  I guess that the boorish wench thought we had come for a reward, for she offered us a round of the house brew.  I did not particularly want any, but she seemed insulted when Calvin tried to decline his mug, so I did not even bother. The liquor was thick, and a brownish hue of black that looked more like sludge.  I drank about half the mug, hardly managing to keep from gagging at the flavor.  Still, it burned its way down my throat, and continued smoldering in my belly. That small amount was enough to relax me, so I counted it as a fair drink, even though I am certain it was barley one step above poison. 

       Calvin had drunk some, even though he hardly seemed to care for any alcohol.  He and Tobias were both drunk, by one mug, and it took some doing to get them sober enough to continue, seeing as Calvin kept slurring that he wasn't drunk…that he never drank, and Tobias was giggling inanely to himself.

       We managed though, by way of a spell, and few potions to cure the resulting hangovers.  Finally, we managed to get moving again, but only after Tobias had purchased three bottle of the foul stuff.  

       So we found the tavern, but after a bit of asking, we learned that Handrax was not there.  The gnomish bar keep didn't seem to know who we were speaking of, but he pointed us out a strange fellow in a shadowed corner of the bar, who he claimed might.

       This fellow was definitely the far side of odd. His skin was a sickly yellow, and there was just something…wrong with his face.  It is hard to describe, but Tobias later mentioned that he thought he had heard of such beings…that they were called Githzerai.

       So we asked him if he knew of Handrax…or at least I did.  Strangely enough, the others seemed to be paying little to no attention to what was going on, instead watching people in the bar, and talking to each other.

       I asked where we might find Handrax, and the being replied, that for a bottle of a liquor, and the right price, he would give us directions to the Shadow Thieves guild house in Skullport.  I forced Tobias to give over a bottle of whiskey, and paid the man a handful of gold…out of the money we had found with the driders, and had not yet divided up.  He gave me the directions, but warned us not to charge in stupidly, that there were a lot of shadows thieves in there, and probably even more deadly traps.  I nodded, wondering again if the comment had been specifically pointed at me.  Do I truly look that dangerous and reckless?

       The others seemed surprised when I rose and strode out of the place, nearly stumbling over themselves in their haste to follow.  When they asked where I was going, my response to them was in clipped, annoyed tones.

       "I am going to the Shadow Thieves guild-house to find Handrax…so that we might finally have our vengeance…I thought that was what we all wanted."

       Calvin was quick to protest that he wanted justice, not revenge, and the others responses were of varying degrees, which were not pleasing to hear.  I rounded on them angrily.

       "Have you forgotten what they did to us?!" I nearly shouted. 

       "Have you forgotten your arm so soon, Calvin?  Or being bashed into the wall, Tobias, while people died around you? Or having the shit beat out of you at the ranger's station, Hank?  Or perhaps, being hit repeatedly in the head with a chair, after crying mercy, Ranon?  I know I certainly have not forgotten taking three arrows in the back!" I roared.

       They actually seemed surprised by my ire, and I wondered, not for the last time, what the nine hells was wrong with them.

       I turned my back on them, leaving them to follow in my wake, as I followed the directions to the guild house. 

       I found the place easily enough; an old building that looked near to falling apart in a collection of buildings that were even worse.  There were several empty buildings across the street, so I decided that we should wait in one of them, and watch to see the manner of people that would enter and leave the guild-house.  With luck, Handrax would be one of the ones to leave it, and we could grab him. 

       So we waited…and waited…and waited.  I saw all sorts of people and beings come in and out of the guild house, but no one who matched Hanrdax's description.  I was beginning to be irritated.  Finally, I figured that he wasn't coming out…maybe he even knew we were waiting out there.  So I decided that one of the people who kept coming out of the building had to have some answers.  I had Tobias cast invisibility on me, and I waited, patiently by the door, until a likely looking fellow came out…a halfling.  I figured, aren't most halflings thieves?  So I grabbed him, clapping my hand over his mouth, and dragging him into the building where we were hiding, before anyone had a chance to see or protest…before the as-yet unseen skulls caught me.

       The halfling proved a waste of time. He was a Skullport merchant, and yes, he knew that the shadow thieves were in there, but he did not know who Handrax was, or where.  He was not a shadow thief, so his information was no good to us. 

       So I tired again, this time grabbing a human man, knocking him out, since he was too big to lift up, and carry, as I had with the halfling.  We woke him a short while later, only to find that he was a messenger for some other merchant in the city, and knew nothing, begged us not to kill him, and wet himself, when I gave him a decidedly angry look…then passed out.

       I was beginning to lose my temper, but I tired once more, taking another human this time, and resisting the urge to kill the drow that had walked out a moment before.  This one seemed more competent.  He wore black leather armor, and he was quick on his feet, my first attack against him missing, as he dodged my fists.  Annoyed, I picked up a stray board, and slammed him square in the face with it.  Thief or no, quick or not, I hit, and he went down like a sack of grain.  I picked him up, and dragged him back into the building, but not before I caught a glimpse of a strange, glowing, floating skull, moving down a nearby alley.  It was enough to make me nervous, and I moved fast to get inside the building once more.

       Ranon woke this once up, seeing as he required a bit of healing.  The human complained loudly that I loosed one of his teeth, and he pulled it put, spitting blood a moment later.  I was about ready to kill both Tobias and the halfling, seeing as they were both doubled over, laughing.  I growled and them, adding that if they had a better idea, I was more than willing to hear it.  Their laughter died to suppressed chuckles, but did not die completely.  Fortunately, some of the others recognized that my temper was hanging on by a thin thread, and told the man I had caught this time, that talking would be advisable.

       I asked him several times if he was a shadow thief, and he evaded answering the question, complaining, and demanding to know why I had hit him, until I must have looked fit to kill, and replied that if he did not answer me, I would hit him again, and this time he would not wake up so easily.   

       So, he was a shadow thief, and his name was Grestin.  I explained that we wanted to talk to Handrax, and wanted to know where he was.  Grestin replied that Handrax was in his office, in the building, where he always was, but added that we would never get in to see him without help.

       "Then you will get us in to see him, and no trickery, or yours will be the first throat I carve open," I growled at him.

       "Woah!  No need to be hostile," Grestin held up his hands.  "I'm just warning you.  I can get you in to talk to him, but if any of you try anything funny, you'll be killed faster than you can blink."

       "And if you betray us, I vow that your death will be painful, and lingering."

       "Whatever…so that's a deal then…I get you in, and you leave me the hells alone," he held out his hand.  I sighed, and took it.  There was no better choice, and the rest of the party certainly wasn't being very forthcoming with ideas.

       So we followed him in.  He did a series of coded knocks, and spoke in common, about laundry and the weather of all things.  I am certain it was some kind of entrance code, but cannot remember it at all.

       We were lead in a moment later, as the door opened, and shown into an entry room that was surprisingly clean and well-appointed, considering the outside of the building.  Grestin lead us through a door behind a desk in the entryway, and down a dizzying array of twists and turns, narrow corridors, and more doors to be opened with coded knocks.  Despite my attempts to remember our path, I was soon lost, which is, I suppose, what Grestin wished.  I think it would take a person with a mind as devious as these shadow thieves to find their way through this maze. Finally, after following Grestin's very precise steps down an obviously trapped hall, we came to a fairly plain, unassuming door, which again elicited another knocking pattern and more comments about laundry.  We were ushered in, and Grestin and the person who had been behind the door stepped back outside.

       We were in a spacious room, with a large mahogany desk, several plush, cushioned chairs, and a few tables.  There were tapestries and weapons hanging on the wall, all seemingly ornamental in nature, but I wondered.  Behind the desk was a being I felt an immediate threat from. 

       He had skin so black that it seemed darker than ebony, somehow, but he was not a drow elf.  His features were human for the most part, but his teeth were filed down to sharp, points, reminiscent of the teeth that lined a sahuguin's maw.  He had glowing red eyes, and a head of gray hair.

       He looked up as we entered, gestured to several chairs in front of the desk.  Most of the others did not sit, but I wasn't afraid, so I did.

       "Well, well…if it isn't the people who have been watching my guild house from across the street.  What can I do for you?"  The creature…Handrax stated in an almost cheery tone.  I refrained from shuddering, and waited for the others to speak up...Calvin at least, seeing as he's usually the best one of us to deal with any kind of matters of talking…no one spoke. 

       "Well? You've gone to a great deal of trouble to see me…what is it you want?" Handrax insisted.  "I am quite busy, so…"

       "We want to know who attacked the adventurer's guild on Midsummers!" I bit out, quickly.

       "Ah, good.  I thought that was what it was. You are the speaker of the party?" I quickly shook my head, and looked to Calvin, even as Ranon piped up that I was, and the others nodded assent.  I wondered kind of sadistic game they were up to now…they know I'm not good at talking with people...especially with people I want to kill…yet they insisted that I do the talking. 

       "So…you want to know who was behind the attack…but you already know it was the shadow thieves…why else would you be here?" Handrax said, in his hissing voice that grated on my nerves.  I shifted in my chair at the statement, growing more and more angry…he didn't even bother to hide his guilt, and for all that, I could not attack him, for if I did I suspected that every thief and fighter in the building would be down upon us in a moment.  I saw the number of people in the building, and I know when I am outnumbered. 

       "Now, now…attacking me would be a very bad idea, elf," Handrax stated, apparently sensing my barely-concealed fury.

       "I just want to know who actually did the attacking…I know we can't touch you…for now," I couldn't help but add the last.  Handrax merely grinned at that.

       "Well, I might be able to recall the name of the mercenaries we used for the task…for a small fee, of course" he said, ignoring my threat.

       "How much?" I demanded, my voice harsh…I could hardly believe that I was going to have to pay the worm responsible for the attacks.  I looked to the others for guidance, as Handrax told me to make him and offer, but they were be less help that usual, if possible.  Starting to lose my temper, I knew that we would have to end this quickly, before things got beyond my control.  In spite, I took some two of the gems we had found in the driders' cave and gave them to Handrax, thinking it fitting that if the party meant not to help me, I would spend their money. He accepted and gave me the name I wanted…the Stained Blade mercenaries.  He told us that we could find them Llorkh, a town near the Anauroch desert. 

       Once "business" was concluded, we left immediately.  I studied everything as best I could, for skulls or not skulls; I meant to make sure that this guild would fall…somehow. I just haven't figured out how yet.  Of course, if it were up to me, I would see that all of Skullport was obliterated.  It was such a foul place, that the taint of evil I felt there still seems to cling to my skin…and the corrupted magic of the place makes my stomach churn just thinking about it.

       Rather than walk back out the way we had come, and chance becoming lost or attacked again…by something worse than driders and cloakers this time, we decided to take a boat back up to Waterdeep.  There were no passenger boats, but by temporarily signing on as crew we did find passage on a boat, although we had to spend two more days in that foul place waiting to leave.

       The others were quite irritating, but that does not seem to be an unusual occurrence as of late.  When the wench who owned the ship asked them what they could do, most of them…even Calvin seemed a bit leery of doing any kind of actual hard labor, like rowing.  They also seemed surprised when I informed the woman that I was a sailor…haven't I told them time and time again that I grew up with the Ruathym?!  How the hells do they think that sea raiders get around?  By walking?

       Incidentally, I now know that the wizard I hired screwed up somehow on the pocket…seeing as I found an odd snake in the pocket the day before we left.  Great…that's all I need…a familiar pocket that seems to generate small animals, besides the ones that are supposed to be in there.  I swear…human wizards are so incompetent!

Needless to say, when we actual got aboard the ship, Tobias immediately started whining about having to row, but to his credit, he shut up when the first mate glared at him…the 1st mate was a rather unpleasant, large looking human with only one eye.

       The trip back up to Waterdeep did not take too long, but was quite amazing, in that we literally sailed up a waterfall to return to the surface.  It must have been powerful magic, for I had never heard anything like it.

       When we returned to Waterdeep, it was to find that the snows had come earlier this year…very earlier.  The air was very cold, and a thin layer of snow, and frost covered everything.  It was only the 17th day of Marpenoth, in the year of the unstrung harp.

       The party split up, each of us going our own ways, as usual.  Hank told us that winter this year was going to be hard, and long.  A week later, when the snows were beginning to get deeper, we realized that we would not be able to make our trip after the mercenaries till the spring came.  So, with that decision made, I went back to work.  I have advanced far enough that I began to experiment with enchanting some of the things I made at the forge.  My first few tries didn't quite work, but I got the knack of it after the second week, and Brian seems quite glad to make extra profit off the weapons.  He gives me my share of course, which is a good thing, I think, seeing as the egg should be near to hatching, fairly soon…I think.

       I am trying to find a way to beat the Shadow thieves, though I think it unlikely that the others are doing the same.  To that end, I did stop by and talk with Elaith.  Now, I know that as the former captain of the guard, breaking into things was probably not a subject that he was comfortable with.  He did agree with me that going after the shadow thieves at this point would be a bad idea.  I, and the rest of the party, was not the type to handle any kind of sneaking or stealth very well…and we would need to do both to even consider taking on such a powerful group of thieves.  However, he did give me one piece of advice that I decided to use: The best way to catch a thief is with a thief.  Now, I couldn't very well ask Elaith if he knew any rogue-types, and when I asked Tobias, he seemed bewildered by my questions, asking where I thought he would find a thief.  In irritation, I told him to never mind and go away.  So I asked the last person I could think of who might know someone… Rosaleen.

       Rosaleen proved to be more helpful than I had anticipated.  She informed me that she had a friend who might be able to help me…another adventurer, by the name of Lita Ravenlight. 

       So a few nights later, when I went down to the Dancing blade to see Rosaleen, she had her friend with her.  Lita is a human woman, not much older than Calvin, I think.  At first glance she seems almost plain, with mouse-brown hair, and hazel eyes.  But she was rather well proportioned, and had a voice that tended to draw the attention of all the men in the immediate area.  Fortunately, I am not a complete idiot, and knew that Rosaleen would probably not like it if I eyed her friend…besides, Lita may be interesting, but Rosa is prettier.

       So I spoke for a while with Lita, explaining a bit of the situation beginning with the attack on the adventurer's guild, and finishing with what we had learned in Skullport.  I explained to her that I needed a person who was good at sneaking about, and opening locks, and finding traps and such, to help us…that the only way I could think of to get us on even footing was to have someone who knew theirs ways, so to speak.

       She did not seem offended by the fact that I was all but calling her a thief as well, by insinuating that she could do all the things required.  In fact, she seemed almost amused.  After a bit of thinking, she agreed to join the party, and aid us in our goal.  Then she asked why I had been nominated to hire the thief.  I laughed.

       "I wasn't…it is just that none of the others know about my hiring you, for one thing.  Oh, and they usually seem to have a lack of ideas when it comes to what to do next, and so on.  I figured that I would make things easier for them, by solving one of our problems for them," I said.

       "So they don't even know I've joined them yet?" she grinned.  I shook my head.

       "There's always time for you to back out, if you want.  Once you meet the rest of them, you may not want to stay," I told her.  "We're all rather…odd…except for Tobias, who is pretty much just what you would expect him to be." 

       "So where can I find these others?" she asked.  I named a few of their favorite spots…Calvin's church, the tavern's Tobias played at, the ranger station where Hank spent most of his time, and the Plinth, where I knew Ranon worked, from time to time.  I told her she could seek them out if she wanted to talk to, or have a look at them.  She smiled again, and said that she just might do that.

       I have to say that I liked Lita after we talked, but I did get the feeling that there was something more that she wasn't telling me.  Still, I figure that we all have our secrets, so I did not pry.

Now halfway through our second week back, I had a strange encounter with the rest of the party…I can say, without a doubt, at this point, that I ruined everything with them.  They'll never trust me again, but I was so very angry at the time, that I didn't care.  The worst was seeing their faces as they lost whatever respect they might have had for me.

       It was night, and I was at the loft with Rosaleen. Tobias had not been around lately…and I almost missed having him as my shadow…I do not know what he was doing.  Rosaleen and I had just finished up, so to speak, when I heard a knock on the trap door to the room.  I knew it wasn't Tobias, for Tobias never knocks, merely barges and in and goes about his business, no matter what I am doing.  I told the person to hold on, and quickly dressed.

       When I opened the door, in came all four members of the party, of all people.  They looked fairly serious…at least Calvin and Ranon did.  Hank looked a little…out of it…and Tobias looked skeptical. Rosaleen noted that something seemed to be up and told me that she would go.  I didn't really want her to, but she seemed to think it was best.  She kissed me on the way out…and I blushed, like a stupid boy.  I'm certain it made a bleeding wonderful impression on the party…but then, considering the nature of the conversation they had with me a moment later, I suppose that they think I am both a child, and incapable of protecting myself in any way, any how.

       I borrowed a few of Hacasian's stools for them to sit on, since the loft was still pitifully bare of furniture, save for a large clothes cabinet that was empty for the most part, and Tobias' bed.

       "We need to talk to you," Ranon stated.  Calvin was very quiet, and seemed willing to let the dwarf do the talking. 

       "It's about your…um…friend, Elaith Craulnober." I sat up a bit straighter at that.

       "What about Elaith?" I asked.

       "Well…um…we thought you should know that he's having a bit of trouble with someone called the Serpent," Ranon mumbled.  At that Tobias laughed.

       "Elaith Craulnober is the Serpent," he told Ranon.

       "Shut up! You weren't supposed to tell…" Ranon protested.

       "This is a dumb idea," Tobias argued.  "And I have better things to do than to destroy Airk's illusions.  Let's go Hank," he turned to the dwarf.  It seemed to take Hank a few minutes to respond, but he did so rising to leave.  I noticed his eyes were reddened and he smelled of some strange smoke.  Curious.

       When the other two had gone, Ranon resumed his babbling. 

       "Well, you see Airk…your friend Elaith ain't what he seems."

       "What are you trying to say?" I asked, suspiciously, wondering what new game the party was about.

       "Elaith is an evil bastard!" Ranon blurted out.  "Or at least he was." I went still, and listened as Ranon went on to list a great number of Elaith's supposed crimes…murder, embezzlement, thievery, tom-robbing, fraud, and so on…just about every thing you could imagine someone ever having done wrong.  With each thing he added, I noticed that Ranon flinched further and further away from me…as though he thought I would explode and kill him.  So much for trust.  Strangely enough I felt terribly calm for once…less like Airk and more like Keledrial, I suppose.

       "And do you have proof of these deeds?" I asked mildly. 

       "Well…no…but that's the thing…he's such a sneaky snake that no can prove what he did…even though everyone knows he did it."

       "Really," was my reply.

       "The man is notorious in Waterdeep," Calvin finally spoke.  "I had forgotten, but when Ranon spoke of it, and when we spoke to the priests, I recalled the stories."

       "Indeed…human priests, yes?" I asked.  He nodded…no doubt from his own church.  I rose, and once more Ranon moved away…out of hitting range, I guess. To his credit, Calvin did not, but I always did respect him for that.

       "Very well…you have accused Elaith of serious crimes…yet you have no proof.  You say that he is a notorious criminal, but I have only the word of human priests.  Fine.  We will go to the elven church, here.  If Elaith is so very despicable, surely they will have heard of him.  If Celedor tells me, I will have no choice but to believe it.  Let's go."  I gestured to the door.  Apparently they were determined to see this through.  They followed.

       We reached the church just before the middle of the night.  Celedor was not pleased when I dragged him from his rest, but to his credit, he came outside to meet the others.

       "I have been informed by my…friends here, that Elaith Craulnober is a criminal," I stated to him, stiffly.  I did not really believe it. Celedor glanced back and forth between me, and the others.  Then he sighed.

       "Keledrial, they are right.  Elaith has done terrible things, and most likely whatever story they have heard is true."

       "You see!" Ranon crowed. "I told you he was no good.  He's trying to use you…corrupt you." 

       "Corrupt me?" I laughed bitterly.  Before I could go on, though, Celedor interrupted.

       "However…there are things that you do not know.  Elaith Craulnober left his home when his moon blade rejected him, and it was then that he turned to his dark ways.  Yet, several years past, he went on a quest to reawaken the power of his moon blade…for his daughter.  He succeeded in his goal, by doing an act of great good.  The moon blade was reawakened, and it is my belief that Elaith has taken several steps towards mending his ways."  He then went to explain to Calvin and Ranon that a Moon blade was a powerful weapon that could judge whether or not a wielder was unworthy.  By reawakening, Elaith had proved himself worthy, and no truly evil person could do such a thing.  I knew that, and in a way it gave me hope…that if Elaith had done wrong and could change, then so, too, could I.  At least, that is what I hoped at the time.  But then I saw their faces, Ranon's and Calvin's…I read what they thought…in their eyes Elaith was still evil, moon blade or no.  It did not matter to them that it was a priest telling them these things…they had made up their minds.  And in a moment of cold anger, I said something to them I probably should not have.

       "Ranon…" I began in a deceptively calm tone. "What if a man…or an elf did terrible things, even though they were once a good person?"

       "Then they should be punished for their crimes," Ranon replied easily.  I believe Calvin nodded.

       "I see…and what if this person had killed innocent people… men and women…even children?  What if they had robbed and raped and hurt people who did not deserve it?" I asked, but then I did not let them answer.

       "And what if this person was truly sorry for what he had done?  What if he took up adventuring as a type of penance…killing monsters as a way to protect the people he'd once hurt?  What if this person went to church, and spoke with his confessor and prayed everyday for a way to be forgiven? Should that person be condemned for those crimes?  Or do you think they could have learned that they were wrong, and be given another chance?"

       "Killed women and children?" Calvin asked softly. 

       "Yes," I snapped, and in a way it was true.  In a rage, I killed anyone who held a weapon against me…be they a warrior, a woman, or a beardless youth.  True, I had never actually killed an innocent, or anyone unarmed…but I had done other things.  And they knew it was me…perhaps it was my tone, or the way I said it…but I saw that they both knew.  I damned myself with those words. I saw Ranon struggle not to give the answer he wished…that this person should be thrown away without a thought.  I could not even bear to look at Calvin…I knew his expression would be worse.

       "Well…um…I guess they should be given another chance," Ranon said…but he did sound as though he meant it.  The reality of what I'd done hit me.  I'd destroyed what fragile trust there was…the others would know before the week was out…Ranon with his big mouth would make certain of that.  With a sigh, I accepted my fate.  There was nothing to be done now.  With my own secrets out, I decided to, at the very least, defend Elaith.

       "If you truly believe that, Ranon, then you believe that Elaith must be given a chance."

       "He could send you into danger…and you owe him…by sending you, he could send us into danger," Ranon protested.  So that was what this was about…they were worried…not for me, but for themselves.

       "And you would follow someone like me?" I laughed, darkly.  "Not everything you hear of a person is true, Ranon.  And you can never know their reasons for why they did it.  In Ruathym, they called me Airk Woman-slayer, for a deed that I never committed.  Until I know better, I will not judge Elaith as I was judged.  Things are not always what they seem.  I will trust Elaith, and do so until he breaks that trust…if ever he does.  Sometimes…sometimes people can change.  If you are so worried for your own hide, then do not follow me…I never asked you to…you all asked me, remember?"  I said, quietly.  Then, turning to Celedor, I added.

       "I think this matter has been resolved enough.  I am sorry for disturbing you, Celedor.  I will see you on the morrow.  Good night…Calvin…Ranon," I nodded at them, as I walked stiffly away from the church stairs where we were standing…and out into the night.

       I was so angry that night.  I can hardly remember what I did.  I know I got drunk, for I woke up with a vicious hangover the next morning…in a cell at one of the guard stations.  I had been thrown in the place for being "drunk and disorderly"… a rather fancy way of saying that I got into a bar fight.

       I did not go into work that day…and I did not explain to Brian why I wasn't there.  A first for me.  Instead I went to Elaith's bar…and waited for him to arrive.

       He didn't show up until fairly late in the day, and I had had a bit drink by then, so I wasn't as clear headed as I would have liked when I spoke to him. I do not know what I wanted to hear from him…a denial…an affirmation of what they'd told me.  I think that all I really wanted to do was to tell him that I didn't care one way or the other.  As far as I was concerned, he had been the captain of the King's guard…and no one capable of true evil could ever hold that position. 

       When I said that to him, he raised an eyebrow, and I could not quite place his expression as he told me that people called him The Serpent for a reason…I shook my.  I did not believe it…especially not coming from the mouths of humans.  I explained to him my own "title" among the humans…and that it, too, was not completely deserved.  I think I might have mentioned something about how I was almost glad to know the truth…that I wasn't alone in my troubles…that I understood the things that we had to do to survive in the world beyond Evermeet.  I don't recall Elaith saying all that much…more that he let me ramble on, and kept plenty to drink on hand.  He never looked at me with pity when I told him my own actions, nor did he accuse me.  He just listened…and I got the feeling that maybe, he too, understood.  I told him that I still trusted him…no matter what they had told me…that I would trust him until he gave me a reason not to.  He laughed, and said that he hoped the day would never come that he would need to. 

       Finally, long after darkness had fallen, I took my leave, his final words ringing in my ears.

       "If you feel the need to talk, Keledrial, I will listen," he told me as I left.  And I was comforted, in that there was still one person left…besides Celedor, that is…who does not condemn. 

       Damn me…and damn the Ruathym for making me…by all the Seldarine…why did you save me, Corellon…only so that I can spend the rest of my life alone, and hated?  Or is this the penance I asked for?  Is this what I must suffer to repay my crimes?  If so, than I must accept it…but if not…why am I so disliked by all near me?  What is it about me that people so despise, be they elven, human, or otherwise?  

       I sought out Rosaleen, after I left, and found comfort and a distraction from my woes, with her. 

       The next morning, despite my pounding head ache, I went to work, apologized to my employer for being late, and spent the rest of the day there, into the night.

       I had a visit from the wizard's guild, a few days ago, today being the third of Nightal…or rather they sent a messenger to me and asked me to come to the guild.  Apparently, they did not like my bad-mouthing the guild wizards, and had heard that I have been telling people they are cheats, and incompetent.  Cheats over the armor, and incompetent because of the pocket…which I found a blackbird in the other day.

       They explained that it wasn't good business for them…especially not with my being a wizard and an elf… apparently being elf seems to give my opinions of magic more substance.  They said that the two wizards I had spoken with were only two among many, and that if I would but give them a chance, they would see that they were not all like that.  To assuage my ire at them, they offered to enchant the armor, as I had wanted, at a reduced cost, and take my other suit as the payment for it.  So I gave in.  I didn't have the skills yet to enchant the armor as I wished, and not having to pay anything for having it done appealed to me.  I gave them what they wanted, my word not to speak ill of the guild if the armor was done to my satisfaction.

       While I was there, I also inquired further on information pertaining to the broken sword of Tempus.  They stated that according to legend, it was a flaming blade of no small power.  It was a great sword, but I already knew that by looking at it…and they stated that it had been dedicated to the destruction of orcs…hence the reason for the dreams about great battles between the races and orcs, I imagine. Its name was The Fury of Battle, and as for the last piece they said that it was contained in a large gauntlet somewhere in the wilderness.  Not that that was much help, as far as a description went.  Oh well…perhaps I shall continue to be lucky and stumble across it…or perhaps I shall find some more competent wizards to locate it for me.

       I have been working a great deal…actually, come to think of it, that's about all I have been doing these past few weeks.  When I say a great deal, I mean that I am up before dawn and do not stop until well after dark has fallen.  And lately, reverie holds little enough comfort me…I use the work as a way to lose myself.  I do still see Rosaleen, fairly often, and she chides me foe letting myself become so upset about things.  I have not told her the whole truth, however, and never intend to do so.  The last thing I want to see is disgust for me in her eyes…and it would be there, I have no doubt. 

       Come to think of it, I have been getting the same "advice" from the only people who are still talking to me.  Celedor tells me that I must speak with the others…try to explain the circumstances.  I will not, though.  If they cannot accept that I am sorry, and am trying to make up for what I did on my vow alone, then there is no point.  Even Elaith, whom I have taken up on his offer, and spoken with on several more occasions, has counseled me to talk with the others.  He said that they might not feel as I believe they do…that jumping to conclusion can be dangerous, and lead to sorrow.  But I cannot, and will not, by Corellon!

       It has happened, as I feared it would, anyhow.  I have not spoken with any of them for all these weeks…and it is nearing the end of Nightal.  And it is not because I am being stubborn, but rather, because they are avoiding me.  They no longer come to the tavern where we all used to meet, and drink.  I know that the snows are heavy, but still…most of them live in Waterdeep, and the streets are all cleared by noon, for the most part…as for Hank…he is a ranger, and surely knows how to travel in the snow.  But they don't come anymore…and I never see them at any of their usual places, either.  Oh Tobias comes around once in a while, to sleep, but he rarely speaks to me, going into reverie straightaway, and leaving as soon as he awakes…and he only returned very few nights in the week.  Soon, I suspect, he will tell me that he is staying elsewhere, and I will be alone again.  I suppose that I have complained a great deal about him in the past, but I thought that we were friends, in a way.  He was always chattering at me, and telling stories…and I find that now that he is gone, that I rather miss his company…or anyone's company for that matter.  But, as my Ruathym mother would have said, I made my pallet, and now must lie in it.

       I must give Celedor credit, he did try.  He managed to find out where most of the party was, yesterday, and told me that for my own good, I must tell them that my name was not Airk, and they must no longer call me that…for therapy, he said.  Yet, I know his true purpose…he wants me to see them again…to have a reason to speak with them.  He thought that they would welcome me…ask where I had been…that perhaps it had all been a misunderstanding, their avoidance.

       He was wrong.

       We left Waterdeep, early in the morning, trudging down the main trade road, through the snow.  The weather was fairly warm that day, and the sun was out for once.  We found them not far from Hank's ranger station, some six miles out from the city, among a fair bit of activity. 

       A large section of the snow and ground was cleared out, and had been kept thawed by some magical means.  There was construction going on there…a building going up.  It took me a moment to locate them among all the workers…they were all standing off to the side, overseeing the work.  They were all dressed in winter clothes, and without armor, or weapons for the most part.  I don't know what they were saying when Celedor and I walked up, but the conversation silenced when I approached. 

       Celedor told me that I looked a bit like a truant child, dragged along by a parent at he time…dragging my heels, my head down, pace slowed…I'm sure he was right, but the truth was, I did not want to be there.

       Tobias laughed as we approached, saying that my being forced to do something was a sight he'd never thought to see.  Out of habit, I looked up and glared at him…and to my dismay; he took a few steps backwards and away from me.  I did not look up again at any of them for the rest of the encounter.

       They asked why we were there, and Celedor explained his purpose.

       "I know that you know him as Airk," he gestured to me.  "However, it is not his name, and I would ask that you no longer address him as such.  His true name is Keledrial, and that is what you must call him."

       "Why?" Calvin asked.

       "Keledrial came to the church requesting help to…recover from his time among the humans of Ruathym.  This is part of the process."

       "And do you want to be called this?" Calvin addressed me.  I shrugged, wanting desperately to leave, as I realized what was going on.  It was some sort of inn or tavern that they were building…the party members were building…all of them except for me.  They hadn't, apparently, decided to tell me, or thought to include me…and I know exactly why.  Well, to the nine hells with them anyhow!

       "I don't care," I shrugged.  Celedor gave me a dirty look at that, so I sighed, and amended,

       "You should probably call me Keledrial."

       "Why did you not tell us this when we met you?"  Ranon asked.

       "Most people have trouble with my elven name," I mumbled.  "Besides…I'm Airk, too."  That elicited another glare from Celedor.

       "I was Airk…anyhow," I muttered. 

       "Do you want to be called Keledrial?" Calvin repeated, insistently.

       "I…don't…care," I enunciated, seeing as he hadn't understood the first time. 

       "Then you won't care if we continue to call you Airk?" Calvin asked.

       "Call me whatever the hells you want to," I bit out, then turned to Celedor.

       "Can I go now…I told you they wouldn't care."  Celedor looked at the party, then back to me and sighed.

       "If you wish…I will see you later, then."   I stalked off…they did not stop me, or ask me to stay and talk or drink…or anything.  I should have known better, but I still hoped they would. It occurred to me, as I walked back to town, that none of them had even bothered to say hello.  So much for friendship, right?  As I left, I realized just what the building was, hearing workers speaking about it…they, the other party members that is, were building some sort of tavern, and greenhouse.  It appeared that they'd decided to prepare for their inevitable retirement from adventuring by building a tavern…figuring, no doubt, that after having frequented so many, that they could certainly run one.  The greenhouse part was Hank's idea…he seemed to be fond of smoking some sort of strange herb that he had bought from the halfling down in Skullport, while I was interrogating my other captive.  It seemed, that he decided to grow his own…perhaps that was the reason he seemed so out of things…I do not know.  All that I do know is that whatever their idea with this venture, they had made the decision not to include me, or indeed, even tell me about.  I don't care.  Let them waste their money…they always do.  I hope the business fails.  Gods, I hate them!

       Needless to say, I was in quite a mood when I returned to the city, and for several days thereafter. Fortunately, on the fifth day of Hammer, an event occurred that took up all of my focus and all of my time after that.

       The egg hatched.  It was the fifth day of Hammer.

       I had just finished a shift at the forge, when Sanhandrian began throwing a fit, barking and squeaking, as he stuck he head out of the familiar pocket, where he'd been sleeping.  I might have mentioned it before, but in recent weeks, I find I have been able to understand Sanhandrian more and more…so either I am going crazy, or I am learning squirrel.  And what I heard from him at that time was that the egg was cracking.

       Worried, I opened the pocket and peered in…the egg was cracking…hatching, in fact.  Remembering what I had read in the book about silver dragons that I had bought at the guild back, just after I had first found the egg, I headed home, stopping only long enough to purchase a large quantity of food, and some milk as well.  The book wasn't entirely clear on what baby dragons ate, but it did say that silver dragons liked human food…so I figured I would have to try different things.

       I made it back just in time.  As I carefully pulled the egg out from its cocoon of warmth, a large section of the egg pushed outward, and I saw a small claw.  A few moments later, the dragon was free from the egg, making little squeaking noises. 

       Now, as I cleaned the hatchling off, I was surprised to find that it was not silver in color, but rather a dark, bluish-gray hue.  I have since gone back to look at the book, and learned that the dragon's scales will not turn silver until she gets older. 

       That dragon is a girl, a fact I found out by comparing her to pictures in the book.  Her head is shaped a little differently than a male's would be, and she is smaller.  By small, I mean that she's just barely two feet long, from her head, to the tip of her tail.  Considering that the only other dragons I have seen were considerably larger, she is very tiny. 

       After she was cleaned, she stopped her squeaking, and curled up and went to sleep.  I swear…for the first few hours, I must have checked her every two minutes, to make certain that she was still breathing.  The hatchling woke up around midnight, with a wavering wail that sounded just like a regular baby crying.  I figured she was hungry, so I fed her, trying each of the different types of food I had bought.  I learned the hard way that I had to be careful, for she already has a set of tiny, needle-sharp teeth…and believe me I have the puncture marks on my fingers to prove it.  She seemed to like the milk, although seeing as I was using a cup to give it to her, I think I got more milk on her scales and my clothing, than in her mouth.  I swear the little thing ate more than I do in a day, all in one sitting.  Then she fell back to sleep.  I figure that this will be fairly easy.  All I have to do is feed her, and she goes back to sleep.  I've got my book…so how hard could it possible be to take care of one little dragon.  Oh yes, I've decided to name her Kaithseraly.  It is a combination of elven and draconic names, meaning something to the effect of silver dragon child.  Not very original, but at least it's truthful.  Sanhandrian doesn't seem to know what to think of her.  Oh…she's waking up. Better go and feed her.

       By all the gods of the Seldarine, I swear I will never be so naive again.  This will be easy?  Yeah, right.  What in the nine hells could I have been thinking?!  I have to be the most foolish elf in Faerun to have ever made a statement like that.  It has been over three weeks since the egg hatched, just to let you know how long it has been since I have had time to write anything down.  I am surprised I'm not dead…from exhaustion, if nothing else. 

       She's driving me to despair…I swear it.  Who would have thought such a little thing could be so much trouble?  The book made everything seem so easy… although it goes to show that I suppose one cannot believe everything written in a book.  She eats all the time…I mean ALL the time.  I do not understand when she could be putting it all.  If this keeps up, I'm going to run out money very quickly.  The first week wasn't too bad, in that at least she slept all the time.  Oh…and…relieved herself…usually all over the floor.  So aide from picking up dragon droppings…which were quite unpleasant, it wasn't too horrible.  Then, last week, she seemed to get over her lethargy. 

       Normal babies don't grow so fast…at least I do not think they do.  But she is.  She wanders about the loft, sticking her nose into everything…her claws aren't very good for getting into things, but she has already managed to destroy several of Tobias' shirts, and my favorite pair of breeches…a sheaf of Tobias' sheet music…and she's decided that the stuffed, black dragon head is her favorite thing to chew on…it is hardly recognizable as a dragon head anymore. How she managed to get it down, off the wall, I don't know.

       And she cries…all the time.  Whenever she wants to eat…she cries.  When she wants to play, she cries.  If I try to take anything away from her, she cries like I'd just broken her wings, or something! She leaves messes everywhere!  Considering how small the loft is, and how little Tobias and I keep up here, I wouldn't think it possible…but it looks like a hurricane has come through the place. 

       I haven't been to work since this began, and I'm running low on funds.  I'll have to start cutting into my Evermeet money if I don't start working again.  But I don't know what to do.  I can't leave her here alone…I can't take her with me.  Brian wouldn't like it for one thing, and announcing that I have a baby silver dragon seems like a bad idea to me.  I haven't spoken to anyone…and I do mean anyone in all this time…not even Celedor or Rosaleen.  I'm sure they all think I am on an adventure or something, and I just didn't tell them…although I wonder where they think I could go with all this damnable snow!  I haven't slept in I don't know how long.  I don't dare.  What if I fell asleep and she woke up, and got hurt?  Or what if Tobias came back suddenly?  He's been here a few times, but I always managed to hide Sera in the pocket and leave before he saw us.  He left a few notes asking what was going on…I assume that he meant why were his things ruined.  I left a return message saying that it was not his business, and not to worry.  I left some coins with the notes, and haven't found another one, so I assume he was satisfied. 

       I haven't been out of the loft except for to buy food, in all that time, and I am staring to feel claustrophobic.  I have not been inside this much…well…ever!  But I can't take any chances with Sera.  Maybe I didn't realize what I was getting into, but she's my responsibility now, until the day she's old enough to take care of herself.  I cannot fail to protect her.  I can't let anyone find out about her yet, either.  I don't know how people might react.  I mean, she is still a dragon.  Some people don't care about the color…only that as a dragon she would be worth a lot of money…alive or dead.  I can't let anyone hurt her.  But I know I can't go on like this for much longer.  I wish I had some help…some one I could trust enough to help me…just a little…all I need is a little help.  But there isn't anyone.  Damn the party!  Gods, I hate them.  Why can't they just give me a chance?!  Gods, I'm so tired.  I just need to rest a bit…Sanhandrian can wake me up…just for a few minutes, all right?

       Well, that is the last time I trust Sanhandrian to wake me up.  The miserable little fur ball decided that since I was asleep, and Sera was asleep, that he should be able to go to sleep, too.

       So he did not wake me up…Rosaleen did.

       To her credit, Rosaleen did not run screaming out the way she'd come when Sera awoke, and upon seeing a stranger, jumped on me and began clawing at me, wailing like a banshee.  I came out of reverie with a gasp, certain that it had only been a few minutes, since I did not feel at all rested.  I shoved Sera behind me, the cuts from her claws stinging as they started to bleed.  Like her teeth, Sera's claws are very sharp.  I grabbed my axe off the wall, readying for a fight, only to see Rosaleen standing by the trap door in the fading light, her blue eyes wide with surprise, her mouth open, in an almost comical manner.

       "Rosa…what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice rougher than usual. 

       "I…I...came to see you," she whispered, eyes still wide as saucers.  Then she seemed to compose herself.  "I thought that maybe you were sick…or that you…found someone else, since you haven't been around for three weeks now.  But now I see what you've been up to."

       "Rosaleen…" I began, warily.  "She's a baby.  She can't hurt anyone…"  Rosaleen eyed the bleeding wounds on my chest and arms with a skeptical gaze.  I looked down, frowning. 

       "These are accidents.  She doesn't know yet that she can hurt.  Please…please don't tell anyone.  People might hurt her if they knew…" I almost pleaded.  From behind me, Sera finally stopped her crying, and peaked her little head out from behind me, to look at Rosaleen, curling her tail around my arm.  Rosaleen stared at Sera for a moment, and Sera at Rosaleen.  After a minute, Sera looked away, and went over to the bag I kept her food in and slowly dragged it back to me.  She gave me a pleading look as she clawed at the bag.  She didn't not know how to open the clasp.  Knowing that the noise would began if I didn't feed Sera immediately, I looked away from Rosaleen, and took out some soft cheese, and brad from the pack, slowly began tearing bits off and giving them to Sera.  If I let her have the whole pieces, she would probably choke on them, the way she wolfs down her food.  I looked back to Rosaleen.

       "See…she's just a baby.  A silver dragon, Rosa.  Silver dragons are good."

       "I know," Rosaleen said, edging closer.  "But why do you have…her?" she asked.

       "Remember I told you how the others and I killed the red dragon?  Her mother was the silver dragon.  She was the only egg that wasn't destroyed.  I couldn't just leave it there…someone had to take care of it," I told her. 

       "And that's why you haven't been around?" Rosaleen asked.  I nodded.

       "I can't let anyone know about her…what she is.  Promise me you will not tell anyone," I insisted. 

       "All right…I promise.  But Keledrial, what are you going to do with her?"

       "Take care of her…protect her.  I have to."  Sera started whining when I stopped feeding her, so I quickly resumed. Rosaleen finally closed the distance between the door, and my furs, where Sera and I were sitting.  She gasped when she saw me more clearly.

       "Look at you!" she exclaimed.  "When was the last time you slept…or ate?" she demanded, reminding me for a moment of my mothers…or at least her tone did.  I shrugged.

       "What day is it?" I wasn't certain.  She told me. 

       "Um…I do not remember…" I admitted.  Rosaleen then proceeded to take over.  She told me that if I starved myself to death, there would be no one to take care of the dragon, now would there…she then left, and returned a while later with more food, and forced me to eat…not that she had to do much persuading.  She then informed me to go back to sleep, and that she would watch Sera while I did so.  I got enough rest that day that I did not feel like I was going to collapse.

       Rosaleen has been a great help to me…just enough, any how that I've been able to get some things done, and feel less out of control of things.  She works, though, so I still have to deal with Sera pretty much by myself.

       I am back at work though, for one thing.  I left Sera with Rosaleen…fortunately, the dragon seems to like her, and went down to talk with Brian a day of so after Rosaleen found out.  I explained to him that some things had come up, and that I wanted to come back to work, but that I would only be able to work at night for a while.  Brian asked why, and I told him that I was sorry, but couldn't tell him.  He seemed to think about it, and finally said that he would agree to it, on the condition that I would tell him, eventually, the reason. I agreed…eventually I would tell him…at least once Sera has learned to use her dragon abilities, one of which was the polymorph spell.  Once she learned how to change her shape to look, at least, like a regular child, it would be safer.  But while she was still only able to be in her draconic form, I could take no more chances. 

       Going back to work is a good thing, for several reasons... money being the most obvious.  Baby dragons are not cheap to take care, I have begun to learn.  I decided to work at night, for the forge is usually closed then, but Brian makes such a good profit off my work that I knew he would agree to it.  That way, I could bring Sera with me to work, and no one would see her.  It is my only option right now, for Tobias has come back to the loft more and more often.  He almost saw Sera before I managed to get him to leave.  Fortunately, she has decided that my clothes closet, which is, for the most part, empty, is her new favorite place.  She hides in it all the time, and was hiding there at the time. 

       Aside from that, I like working.  In a way, it relaxes me…allows me to work out my frustrations in a constructive way.  And at this point in my life, I certainly have more than a few frustrations.  Sera seems to like going to work with me well enough, for it is always warm at the forge, and strangely enough, the noise of the hammering seems to calm her…put her to sleep.  The only problem with that is that since she sleeps when I am working, she is always awake and wanting to play during the day…so once again I am running on very little rest.

       Of course I did have to bribe the boy who works nights at the forge, keeping the fires going to keep his mouth shut.  Five silver pieces a night, in fact…but since I make five gold on regular work, and even more when I do enchantments, I can afford it.