Chapter 7: The Trial
Solonund awoke in a small room. As his eyes focused, he realized he was in Kaimel's hunting lodge. On earlier travels east, he had aided Kamiel. Kamiel had promised Solonund that he would always have a room at the lodge whenever he passed through Cormanthor.
Solonund's head hurt. He had to shake himself a couple of times to remember what had happened to bring him here. He recalled the fight with the Drow warriors, and how Kamiel had knocked Drizzt to the ground. Where was Drizzt? What did they do to Drizzt?
************
Drizzt awoke in a small prison cell. His arms ached. He tried to move his shoulders to alleviate the pain, and found that he was chained to the wall.
He let out a sigh and thought, " At least these chains are low to the ground. They allowed me to sit in this prison."
Everything had been taken from him, including Guenhwyvar's figurine.
Drizzt glanced over to the cell next to his own. Chained to the wall in that cell was a dark skinned human with light brown hair. The young man's clothing was torn and dirty, but Drizzt could see how colorful the man's clothing was.
"That young human must be rich to have such finery," Drizzt thought.
The young man, who seemed to be sleeping , slowly raised his head and peered into Drizzt's eyes.
"You are not like the others they brought here," the young man said in heavily accented common.
"Like the others?"
"Yes, the rangers who reside here have brought several of your kind since they imprisoned me. You have a calm kindness to your spirit. You are not filled with bile or hate like the others were."
"It is obvious I was placed here because of the color of my skin, but why have they placed you here?"
"They think I am a warlock. They think I am an agent of the mind flayers. Some of them think I work for the Red Wizards of Thay. They think many things that are not true, because I can sense surface thoughts and sometimes foretell the future. It is a common trait among my people, but here in the west, they do not understand. Because they do not understand, I am feared by them. So they keep me here until they determine what is to be done with me."
"Why did you come to the west?"
"I was looking for a friend. I was once a great leader of a tribe of Annui, but our tribe was small. My tribe came upon a larger Annui tribe. Both tribes thought it best to combine the two tribes. I agreed. I was cast out because I refused to venerate the god Amunator, whom the westerners call Lathander, above that of my own goddess. I was cast out because of my faith."
" I can understand that completely. I am an outcast myself partially because of my faith."
The young man shook his head so that the hair covering the collar of his shirt was moved away. The high collar was green and intricately embroidered with the head of a white unicorn.
"You are a follower of Meilikki."
"Yes, I am a ranger and a follower of the Lady of the Forest. In the east, she is called Arayanni. The forests of the far east are different from the ones in the west, but the Lady is present in all forests."
"I am also a ranger," Drizzt replied quietly, "I also serve Meilikki. Yet those in this place do not seem to understand that a Drow can serve her."
The young man sighed and nodded.
A moon elf came into the room carrying a bucket of water. He splashed it on the young easterner.
"You have been told repeatedly to keep your mouth shut! If you open your mouth one more time, warlock, it will be gagged! As for you , Drow, it would be best for you to keep your mouth shut as well!"
The Moon Elf guard turned and left the room.
Drizzt sighed and closed his eyes. He knew he needed to conserve his strength. He was worried about Solonund. Was it possible that he was killed?
***********
Solonund tried the door to his room and found it was locked. He repeatedly pounded on the door and begged to be let out, but his pleading was only met with silence.
He moved back to his bed, sat down and put his head in his hands. Perhaps it was a mistake to convince Drizzt to come east.
The sound of the lock on the door being unlocked brought Solonund out of his depression. He leaped up to grab whomever open-end the door and came face to face with the angry Kamiel.
"Have you come to your senses yet? I had this door locked to keep you from running straight to the dungeon."
"Come to my senses? What are you talking about?"
"I mean traveling with that Drow and then claiming he is your brother. It is just a Drow. A murderer from the Underdark."
"Drizzt is no murderer!" Solonund shouted, " He may have been born in the Underdark, but he is not an ordinary Drow. He left the Underdark to escape the horrors of his race. He serves Meilikki. He befriended Montolio, my father. Meilikki appeared before him and blessed him. He is no murderer!"
Kamiel softened his pose for a moment, but the hardness of his face did not waiver.
"Very well, allow me to test his loyalty to Meilikki. Your room will no longer locked, but I warn you, until my tests are over, do not go near the dungeon. I will lock you in there myself if you disobey. Remember, Ellifaine is my mother. As a leader of the Protectors, I am required to keep all the good who dwell here safe."
Solonund gave a sigh," I understand. Please, for me, do not torture him too harshly. You will not need to do that."
"You believe in him that strongly?"
"Yes, I do."
**********
A Drow female walked into the cell with Drizzt. He slowly looked up at her. As his violet eyes met the amber eyes of the Drow woman, a hint of fear ran through him. He wondered what she was doing there.
"Do not fear, I will not hurt you. I am here to help you."
"Leave me," Drizzt calmly said," Escaping from here only to be retuned to the Underdark? The Underdark and its depravity means nothing to me. I would rather rot here than return."
The Drow woman stepped back at Drizzt's words. She was more shocked at the calmness of his voice than his statement. Ilinsar had interrogated many followers of Vhaeraun in this very cell, but this male had none of the ire the others had. This male was of noble blood. He knew proper etiquette when speaking to a female, perfect submission. She knew she must use that to her advantage.
"Lady Ilinsar, may I speak?" the easterner in the adjoining cell said.
"What do you want?"
"Lady, this man worships Meilikki, he told me so himself before the guard forced us to be silent."
"You must know any word you say, warlock, will be scrutinized, so keep your tongue until I am finished with this prisoner."
The easterner sighed and shook his head.
"You show the respect taught to those of a noble house. Are you a noble, male?" Ilinsar said slyly.
"I was, my house is no more."
"I see, your house was eliminated?"
"Yes."
"What is your name?"
" Drizzt DoUrden."
Ilinsar gave out an exasperated gasp," DoUrden! The twelfth house of Menzoberanzzan? It has been eliminated?"
"Yes, by order of house Baenre."
"I see. So are you now in the service of the worshipers of Vhaeraun?"
"No. "
"Why did you come to the surface?"
"I hoped to find a home, a true home."
"I see. I am Ilinsar DeVir. I, being a daughter of one of the youngest daughters was living in Maerimidra. Matron DeVir felt that spreading her power in several cities and causing distress among the upper houses of the other cities would make her more powerful than Baenre herself. When the main house in Menzoberanzzan fell, the outposts followed. I escaped here with a group of house slaves. The slaves were worshippers of Eilliastraee. They treated me with love and kindness. I turned from Lloth. I became a priestess of the dark maiden. Prepare yourself. this is not the last of the tests. "
"Are you the one that Solonund learned the Drow language from?"
Ilinsar let out a gasp. "He told you of that?"
"He told both me and his father, Montolio DeBrouche. Mooshie showed me my heart and that Meilikki was always there. Mooshie treated me like a son. Because of that, and the blessings of Meilikki, Solonund and I are brothers."
Ilinsar' face twisted. "My lovers are none of your concern. I will be back for you within the hour."
***********
Solonund would normally not disobey Kamiel, but Solonund needed to see Drizzt. When he was sure he was not watched, Solonund made his way to the dungeon. He snuck in as quietly as possible. The guard had gone off to escort Ilinsar, so there was no one watching the prison.
"Solonund! Please help us!" the easterner said as soon as Solonund entered the room with the cells.
Drizzt looked at the easterner then up at Solonund.
"Shun! What are you doing here?"
"I was captured as I traveled west to find you. They think I am a warlock. My tribe merged with another Annui tribe, and I was cast out. I hoped to travel with you once again."
"Solonund, is there any way you can get us out of here?" Drizzt said.
"You are Solonund's brother. I am sorry, they took the scimitars from me when I was placed in here."
"Never mind that Shun, I have to get you out of here first. Can you dowse where the keys are?"
"Yes, one moment. It is difficult to do with my hands chained as they are."
Shun closed his eyes and concentrated . Beads of sweat flowed down his brow.
"In the next room, above, on a crude table."
"I will be right back, Shun, Drizzt. I will get you out of here."
As he left the dungeon, Solonund ran face to face with Kamiel and Ilinsar.
"Solonund, I knew you could not resist going to help your so called brother. Ilinsar has told me of her interview of Drizzt. She still has her doubts. You will go with her to the main hall. The last of the tests has been prepared for him there. If he passes, you are both free to go."
"I need another favor of you, Kamiel. The easterner, Shun, I know him. I want him released as well."
"The warlock? You keep very strange company, Solonund."
"He is not a warlock. He is a wizard. In the east, they call him a Wu Jen Adept. The eastern wizards sometimes learn what they call 'mind magic' in order to protect themselves from evil. His magic is dependant on adhering to his principles. One of the conditions for him to be able to cast magic is that he can not lie. If you ask him, he will be honest with you. Under his taboo, which is similar to a geas, he is forced to tell the truth."
"If he is so honest, then why hasn't he given us this information before?" Ilinsar spouted out.
"Probably because you didn't ask the right question. Easterners are wary to give information. He will only tell you an answer within the exact limits of the question and no more."
Kamiel looked at Ilinsar. Ilinsar furrowed her brow and looked at the floor. "I had not thought of that. " she said.
"Alright, because you have shown time and again that you are a true friend to the Protectors, I will honor your request and test them both. If they both pass, they will both be free to go." Kamiel said.
**********
Drizzt and Shun were escorted under guard to the main hall. Neither of them showed any resistance. As they entered the hall, Drizzt saw Kamiel sitting on some cushions at the head of the hall. Solonund sat on Kaimel's right and Ilinsar sat on his left. On the floor in front of them were two scarves with the unicorn symbol of Meilikki embroidered onto each.
The prisoners were forced to sit in front of the scarves, across from Kamiel.
"Now, each of you," Kamiel ordered, " I want each of you to pick up the scarf in front of you and look at the symbol on it."
Drizzt and Shun did as Kamiel bade them to do.
"Now," Kamiel said forcefully," Take the scarf in your hands, destroy it and denounce what the scarf represents."
Shun immediately placed the scarf back on the floor in front of him and cow towed to Kamiel
"Please, oh great one, you can not ask me to do such a thing. My goddess is precious to me, more precious than life. Please, if I have shamed you, take my head. I can not dishonor Arayanni, whom you call Meilikki, in such a manner! To do so is the greatest dishonor to me and I would rather die."
At the same time, Drizzt held his scarf to his chest, like a precious item given him by someone he loved dearly. " I can not destroy or deny the one who is deepest within my heart and soul," he said as he began to shed tears, " I would be nothing without her. Please do not ask me to abandon the Lady of the Forest."
"Drizzt is sincere," Ilinsar said plainly to Kamiel, " Drow do not cry. If he has the ability to shed tears for Meilikki, then he is not lying."
"What about the Easterner?" Kamiel asked.
" I know no person, who would wish for death due to the destruction of a simple scarf. I surmise he also must be telling the truth." Ilinsar replied.
Kamiel stood up and ordered," Hold! Both of you! You have passed my test, so as I have promised my friend, you shall both be set free. Your things shall be returned to you. I will give you rooms here in this lodge. Your clothing will be laundered for you. You may eat at my table. From now on, you both will be welcomed as friends to my lodge when you travel through. This place is a safe house for rangers. I apologies for your imprisonment, but I am a Protector. I must make sure you pose no harm to the good people who live here."
"If it is any consolation," Solonund added, " he put me in prison as well the first time I came here."
Shun raised his head and wiped the tears from his eyes. He placed his palms together and made a respectful bowing motion to Kamiel, "Thank you, Protector of the forest."
Drizzt stood up and offered his hand in friendship to Kamiel, and Kamiel accepted it wholeheartedly.
**********
Solonund awoke in a small room. As his eyes focused, he realized he was in Kaimel's hunting lodge. On earlier travels east, he had aided Kamiel. Kamiel had promised Solonund that he would always have a room at the lodge whenever he passed through Cormanthor.
Solonund's head hurt. He had to shake himself a couple of times to remember what had happened to bring him here. He recalled the fight with the Drow warriors, and how Kamiel had knocked Drizzt to the ground. Where was Drizzt? What did they do to Drizzt?
************
Drizzt awoke in a small prison cell. His arms ached. He tried to move his shoulders to alleviate the pain, and found that he was chained to the wall.
He let out a sigh and thought, " At least these chains are low to the ground. They allowed me to sit in this prison."
Everything had been taken from him, including Guenhwyvar's figurine.
Drizzt glanced over to the cell next to his own. Chained to the wall in that cell was a dark skinned human with light brown hair. The young man's clothing was torn and dirty, but Drizzt could see how colorful the man's clothing was.
"That young human must be rich to have such finery," Drizzt thought.
The young man, who seemed to be sleeping , slowly raised his head and peered into Drizzt's eyes.
"You are not like the others they brought here," the young man said in heavily accented common.
"Like the others?"
"Yes, the rangers who reside here have brought several of your kind since they imprisoned me. You have a calm kindness to your spirit. You are not filled with bile or hate like the others were."
"It is obvious I was placed here because of the color of my skin, but why have they placed you here?"
"They think I am a warlock. They think I am an agent of the mind flayers. Some of them think I work for the Red Wizards of Thay. They think many things that are not true, because I can sense surface thoughts and sometimes foretell the future. It is a common trait among my people, but here in the west, they do not understand. Because they do not understand, I am feared by them. So they keep me here until they determine what is to be done with me."
"Why did you come to the west?"
"I was looking for a friend. I was once a great leader of a tribe of Annui, but our tribe was small. My tribe came upon a larger Annui tribe. Both tribes thought it best to combine the two tribes. I agreed. I was cast out because I refused to venerate the god Amunator, whom the westerners call Lathander, above that of my own goddess. I was cast out because of my faith."
" I can understand that completely. I am an outcast myself partially because of my faith."
The young man shook his head so that the hair covering the collar of his shirt was moved away. The high collar was green and intricately embroidered with the head of a white unicorn.
"You are a follower of Meilikki."
"Yes, I am a ranger and a follower of the Lady of the Forest. In the east, she is called Arayanni. The forests of the far east are different from the ones in the west, but the Lady is present in all forests."
"I am also a ranger," Drizzt replied quietly, "I also serve Meilikki. Yet those in this place do not seem to understand that a Drow can serve her."
The young man sighed and nodded.
A moon elf came into the room carrying a bucket of water. He splashed it on the young easterner.
"You have been told repeatedly to keep your mouth shut! If you open your mouth one more time, warlock, it will be gagged! As for you , Drow, it would be best for you to keep your mouth shut as well!"
The Moon Elf guard turned and left the room.
Drizzt sighed and closed his eyes. He knew he needed to conserve his strength. He was worried about Solonund. Was it possible that he was killed?
***********
Solonund tried the door to his room and found it was locked. He repeatedly pounded on the door and begged to be let out, but his pleading was only met with silence.
He moved back to his bed, sat down and put his head in his hands. Perhaps it was a mistake to convince Drizzt to come east.
The sound of the lock on the door being unlocked brought Solonund out of his depression. He leaped up to grab whomever open-end the door and came face to face with the angry Kamiel.
"Have you come to your senses yet? I had this door locked to keep you from running straight to the dungeon."
"Come to my senses? What are you talking about?"
"I mean traveling with that Drow and then claiming he is your brother. It is just a Drow. A murderer from the Underdark."
"Drizzt is no murderer!" Solonund shouted, " He may have been born in the Underdark, but he is not an ordinary Drow. He left the Underdark to escape the horrors of his race. He serves Meilikki. He befriended Montolio, my father. Meilikki appeared before him and blessed him. He is no murderer!"
Kamiel softened his pose for a moment, but the hardness of his face did not waiver.
"Very well, allow me to test his loyalty to Meilikki. Your room will no longer locked, but I warn you, until my tests are over, do not go near the dungeon. I will lock you in there myself if you disobey. Remember, Ellifaine is my mother. As a leader of the Protectors, I am required to keep all the good who dwell here safe."
Solonund gave a sigh," I understand. Please, for me, do not torture him too harshly. You will not need to do that."
"You believe in him that strongly?"
"Yes, I do."
**********
A Drow female walked into the cell with Drizzt. He slowly looked up at her. As his violet eyes met the amber eyes of the Drow woman, a hint of fear ran through him. He wondered what she was doing there.
"Do not fear, I will not hurt you. I am here to help you."
"Leave me," Drizzt calmly said," Escaping from here only to be retuned to the Underdark? The Underdark and its depravity means nothing to me. I would rather rot here than return."
The Drow woman stepped back at Drizzt's words. She was more shocked at the calmness of his voice than his statement. Ilinsar had interrogated many followers of Vhaeraun in this very cell, but this male had none of the ire the others had. This male was of noble blood. He knew proper etiquette when speaking to a female, perfect submission. She knew she must use that to her advantage.
"Lady Ilinsar, may I speak?" the easterner in the adjoining cell said.
"What do you want?"
"Lady, this man worships Meilikki, he told me so himself before the guard forced us to be silent."
"You must know any word you say, warlock, will be scrutinized, so keep your tongue until I am finished with this prisoner."
The easterner sighed and shook his head.
"You show the respect taught to those of a noble house. Are you a noble, male?" Ilinsar said slyly.
"I was, my house is no more."
"I see, your house was eliminated?"
"Yes."
"What is your name?"
" Drizzt DoUrden."
Ilinsar gave out an exasperated gasp," DoUrden! The twelfth house of Menzoberanzzan? It has been eliminated?"
"Yes, by order of house Baenre."
"I see. So are you now in the service of the worshipers of Vhaeraun?"
"No. "
"Why did you come to the surface?"
"I hoped to find a home, a true home."
"I see. I am Ilinsar DeVir. I, being a daughter of one of the youngest daughters was living in Maerimidra. Matron DeVir felt that spreading her power in several cities and causing distress among the upper houses of the other cities would make her more powerful than Baenre herself. When the main house in Menzoberanzzan fell, the outposts followed. I escaped here with a group of house slaves. The slaves were worshippers of Eilliastraee. They treated me with love and kindness. I turned from Lloth. I became a priestess of the dark maiden. Prepare yourself. this is not the last of the tests. "
"Are you the one that Solonund learned the Drow language from?"
Ilinsar let out a gasp. "He told you of that?"
"He told both me and his father, Montolio DeBrouche. Mooshie showed me my heart and that Meilikki was always there. Mooshie treated me like a son. Because of that, and the blessings of Meilikki, Solonund and I are brothers."
Ilinsar' face twisted. "My lovers are none of your concern. I will be back for you within the hour."
***********
Solonund would normally not disobey Kamiel, but Solonund needed to see Drizzt. When he was sure he was not watched, Solonund made his way to the dungeon. He snuck in as quietly as possible. The guard had gone off to escort Ilinsar, so there was no one watching the prison.
"Solonund! Please help us!" the easterner said as soon as Solonund entered the room with the cells.
Drizzt looked at the easterner then up at Solonund.
"Shun! What are you doing here?"
"I was captured as I traveled west to find you. They think I am a warlock. My tribe merged with another Annui tribe, and I was cast out. I hoped to travel with you once again."
"Solonund, is there any way you can get us out of here?" Drizzt said.
"You are Solonund's brother. I am sorry, they took the scimitars from me when I was placed in here."
"Never mind that Shun, I have to get you out of here first. Can you dowse where the keys are?"
"Yes, one moment. It is difficult to do with my hands chained as they are."
Shun closed his eyes and concentrated . Beads of sweat flowed down his brow.
"In the next room, above, on a crude table."
"I will be right back, Shun, Drizzt. I will get you out of here."
As he left the dungeon, Solonund ran face to face with Kamiel and Ilinsar.
"Solonund, I knew you could not resist going to help your so called brother. Ilinsar has told me of her interview of Drizzt. She still has her doubts. You will go with her to the main hall. The last of the tests has been prepared for him there. If he passes, you are both free to go."
"I need another favor of you, Kamiel. The easterner, Shun, I know him. I want him released as well."
"The warlock? You keep very strange company, Solonund."
"He is not a warlock. He is a wizard. In the east, they call him a Wu Jen Adept. The eastern wizards sometimes learn what they call 'mind magic' in order to protect themselves from evil. His magic is dependant on adhering to his principles. One of the conditions for him to be able to cast magic is that he can not lie. If you ask him, he will be honest with you. Under his taboo, which is similar to a geas, he is forced to tell the truth."
"If he is so honest, then why hasn't he given us this information before?" Ilinsar spouted out.
"Probably because you didn't ask the right question. Easterners are wary to give information. He will only tell you an answer within the exact limits of the question and no more."
Kamiel looked at Ilinsar. Ilinsar furrowed her brow and looked at the floor. "I had not thought of that. " she said.
"Alright, because you have shown time and again that you are a true friend to the Protectors, I will honor your request and test them both. If they both pass, they will both be free to go." Kamiel said.
**********
Drizzt and Shun were escorted under guard to the main hall. Neither of them showed any resistance. As they entered the hall, Drizzt saw Kamiel sitting on some cushions at the head of the hall. Solonund sat on Kaimel's right and Ilinsar sat on his left. On the floor in front of them were two scarves with the unicorn symbol of Meilikki embroidered onto each.
The prisoners were forced to sit in front of the scarves, across from Kamiel.
"Now, each of you," Kamiel ordered, " I want each of you to pick up the scarf in front of you and look at the symbol on it."
Drizzt and Shun did as Kamiel bade them to do.
"Now," Kamiel said forcefully," Take the scarf in your hands, destroy it and denounce what the scarf represents."
Shun immediately placed the scarf back on the floor in front of him and cow towed to Kamiel
"Please, oh great one, you can not ask me to do such a thing. My goddess is precious to me, more precious than life. Please, if I have shamed you, take my head. I can not dishonor Arayanni, whom you call Meilikki, in such a manner! To do so is the greatest dishonor to me and I would rather die."
At the same time, Drizzt held his scarf to his chest, like a precious item given him by someone he loved dearly. " I can not destroy or deny the one who is deepest within my heart and soul," he said as he began to shed tears, " I would be nothing without her. Please do not ask me to abandon the Lady of the Forest."
"Drizzt is sincere," Ilinsar said plainly to Kamiel, " Drow do not cry. If he has the ability to shed tears for Meilikki, then he is not lying."
"What about the Easterner?" Kamiel asked.
" I know no person, who would wish for death due to the destruction of a simple scarf. I surmise he also must be telling the truth." Ilinsar replied.
Kamiel stood up and ordered," Hold! Both of you! You have passed my test, so as I have promised my friend, you shall both be set free. Your things shall be returned to you. I will give you rooms here in this lodge. Your clothing will be laundered for you. You may eat at my table. From now on, you both will be welcomed as friends to my lodge when you travel through. This place is a safe house for rangers. I apologies for your imprisonment, but I am a Protector. I must make sure you pose no harm to the good people who live here."
"If it is any consolation," Solonund added, " he put me in prison as well the first time I came here."
Shun raised his head and wiped the tears from his eyes. He placed his palms together and made a respectful bowing motion to Kamiel, "Thank you, Protector of the forest."
Drizzt stood up and offered his hand in friendship to Kamiel, and Kamiel accepted it wholeheartedly.
**********
