Sorry, I'm late but $&#*$(#$ site wouldn't let me connect, but here's more!

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Chapter 29--Reprieve and Urgency

Drizzt winced when Uric grabbed his jaw roughly and forced his mouth open. He poured the contents of the vial in his mouth then stepped back as Glenna took his place. The fluid was foul and Drizzt reacted without thinking. He spit it out all over Glenna.

Glenna jerked back with a startled cry, wiping at her face. "Don't do that! The herbs in that are very rare and expensive!" she complained.

"Better be prepared to loose a lot of it then!" Drizzt retorted.

Glenna scowled and gestured to Uric and they left the room. The door slammed loudly behind them, making Drizzt wince. It looked like he had been given a reprieve for the time being, but how could he get himself out of this mess?

*Meanwhile*

Shandra was awake well before dawn and began fixing a quick breakfast. She was in a hurry to get going. "Tarion! Come on! Get up and eat, so we can get back on the road!" she called.

Tarion muttered a bit, but he got up and joined Shandra at the fire. He was forced to grab the plate she thrust into his hands, so it wouldn't end up on the ground. "Easy!" he said.

"No time to wait. We have to find Drizzt," Shandra said.

"He'll be fine, he is a warrior. He should be more than capable of taking care of himself," Tarion said.

"Even the best warrior can be defeated if he's alone and outnumbered. Stop talking and eat. We're wasting time," Shandra retorted. "Hurry or I'll leave with out you."

Tarion had intended to try to talk to her again that morning, but decided to wait until they were back on the road. He didn't want her to leave him behind. Someone had to stop her from destroying her life and all she'd worked so hard for.

Barely twenty minutes later they had mounted and were on their way again. Tarion tried to speak to Shandra several times, but she wasn't paying him any attention. Finally he got frustrated. "Shandra others are snickering about you chasing that Drow like a brazen who--" he began then stopped in mid word as Shandra whirled on him.

"Is that what you think? That I'm a whore? Leave then so I won't sully you with my presence. I'm not abandoning Drizzt," Shandra snapped.

"I'm here now and I won't leave you, please just consider what this will do to you and your oath," Tarion said.

Shandra scowled, but rode on. She was so angry with them. Small-minded bunch of self-righteous fools, I'm not chasing a lover. I'm trying to aid someone who deserves to be treated better then he has been. I'm definitely resuming my wanderings after this.

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Drizzt woke up from a light uneasy sleep when he heard the door open and then Glenna and Uric walked in, but they ignored him and went over to one of the table. Drizzt was irked to realize that they made him even more nervous by ignoring him.

A long hour passed before they came over to him. He watched warily as Glenna set a brazier on the table next to him. She started a fire then put a bowl on it then added herbs. After awhile steam rose from the bowl and she began fanning it towards his face.

After a few minutes Drizzt found he could barely keep his eyes opened. The herbs had been some sort of drug. He fought it as long as he could, but finally lost the battle and fell into a drugged sleep.

"Get the things we need. We need to finish quickly before he wakes up again," Glenna ordered.

"Right," Uric said and hurried off.

Glenna turned back to Drizzt and smiled down at him. "It will be alright. Soon it will be over," she whispered……

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Huh? What will be over? Oh yeah, I know 'cause I'm the writer…unless the plot bunnies are up to something. R/R please!!!