Hey, this is falling behind on reviews…*Pouts* Don't make the plot bunnies angry!!!!
Chapter 25--Separate Trials
The griffon watched Drizzt even as she lowered her head to sniff the skins then she wailed in obvious grief before looking more intently at him.
Drizzt didn't move, not wanting to startle her. "I'm truly sorry about the loss of your babies," he said quietly. "I wish I could do more."
The griffon moved so close they were almost nose-to-nose. She sniffed then stared directly into his eyes for a long time.
Drizzt didn't move, if the griffon wanted she could easily bite his head off. He definitely wanted to avoid that.
After a long time the griffon backed off and returned to the skins. She picked them up gently then took flight.
Drizzt watched until she was out of his sight then turned and headed back to the village. When he got there he noticed people staring at him and saw that the mayor was waiting outside his house. "Is it dead?" he demanded.
"No, but she's gone and she won't be back," Drizzt said, somehow he knew this was true.
"You should have killed it! What if it comes back?" Kelt said.
'I told you that she won't, if your hunters hadn't murdered her young nothing would have happened," Drizzt said.
Kelt's face turned purple with rage. "Get out of our village! You are no longer welcome!" he said.
"Gladly," Drizzt said. He turned and walked away. "By the way you're welcome." He left and headed back towards Kern.
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Shandra and Alaric's blades came together with a clang as the duel began. They jumped back and Alaric struck at Shandra's arm. She parried neatly and struck at his thigh. He also parried and they circled. Each of them was looking for an opening. Neither intended to lose this fight. The streets were eerily silent except for the clashing of their blades. Shandra could sense that many eyes were watching them.
A strike at her head almost nicked her before she parried it aside. "First blood only, remember!" she said sharply.
"Of course I'll remember," Alaric said.
Shandra didn't like the tone in his voice. It was almost a sneer. She parried another blow aimed for her chest then struck back while he was recovering. Her blade cut a deep gash in his leg.
Alaric yelled in pain then collapsed as his injured leg gave out under him. "Damn you!" he yelled.
Shandra calmly touched the tip of her sword to his throat. "Do you yield?" she asked, ignoring the remark.
Alaric glared at her, but let go of his sword. "I yield," he said.
Dylan nodded. "Then this duel is over. Tyr guide you both," he said.
A couple paladins helped Alaric to his feet then all of them headed for the temple. The wound would be tended there.
Shandra cleaned her blade and sheathed it as she watched them leave. The victory made her feel somewhat better. She wondered how Drizzt was making out and when he would return, if he were planning to return. Nothing could be done about that. She'd have to wait and see.
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Drizzt paused for the third time in ten minutes and looked around cautiously. He sensed that he was being followed, but hadn't seen anyone yet. He'd been traveling about three hours when the feeling had come and it was getting stronger by the minute. His eyes searched the surrounding trees carefully, but he couldn't see anything. Finally he kept walking, but he resolved to keep an eye out. Another hour passed then Drizzt's sharp ears heard someone chanting. Drizzt reacted on pure instinct. He dove headlong to the ground. The glob of webbing flew over him and hit a tree. It had to be a mage, no spider chanted, that was for sure. Drizzt got back to his feet and charged towards where he'd heard the chanting.
Motion on his left caught his attention and he turned just in time to see a giant spider leaping at him. The wizard had brought friends or summoned some obviously. He dodged just in time to avoid the spider and saw three more emerge from the trees and scuttle towards him….
Spider Attack!!! R/R please!