Sorry this took so long, I've been having some trouble with my Internet service lately…but here it is and thanks so much to everyone that reviewed!!

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Chapter 32--Escape

Glenna and Uric entered the room where the Drow was imprisoned to find him limp and motionless. "Damn!" Glenna exclaimed and hurried to the Drow's side.

"Is he dead?" Uric asked.

Glenna sighed in relief. "No, just unconscious. That will make moving him into the other room for the next test easier, since I won't have to force a sleeping drought down his throat. I'll go prepare everything," she said and left the room.

Uric undid the straps then tossed the limp body over his shoulder and headed for the door. Suddenly there was horrible searing pain in his back then nothing.

Drizzt went tumbling when Uric lifeless body hit the floor. He tried to stand, but he had been bound immobile so long that he couldn't stand. He crawled to the Human and yanked the dagger free. It was lucky that Uric had not felt Drizzt pull his dagger from its sheath.

"Uric!!" Glenna yelled. "Hurry up! Everything is ready!"

Drizzt knew he didn't have much time before Glenna came to see what was taking so long. He crawled to his gear and dug around until he found Guenhwyvar. "Thank Mielikki they left my gear in here," he muttered. He dropped the statuette to the floor. "Guenhwyvar, come to me, my shadow."

The panther appeared and stared at Drizzt. Soon she growled deep in her throat, as she understood what was going on and what to do. She hid herself and waited.

Drizzt shook his head to try to get rid of the dark spots swimming in his vision, which didn't help, and fought to stay conscious.

"Uric!" Glenna called. Footsteps came down the hall. "What is going on?" She came into the room and saw the empty table and Uric's body. She screamed and then Guenhwyvar pounced.

The panther's weight slammed her to the ground and she found herself staring up at sharp fangs. "Help! Call her off! Please!" Glenna cried. "Please! Mercy!"

"You mean like the mercy you showed me?" Drizzt retorted. "I ought to let her eat you." He looked at the panther.

Guenhwyvar smacked her with her paw. The powerful blow knocked her cold. The panther looked at Drizzt questioningly.

"Drag her over to the table, Guen," Drizzt said. He began digging in his pack while Guen did so. Soon Glenna was tightly bound with tough cord to the table leg and gagged. Drizzt pulled off his symbol and put it on Guenhwyvar. "Find Shandra," he said. "Hurry." He pictured her in his mind then after a moment Guenhwyvar bounded off.

Drizzt collapsed onto his side and let darkness take him.

*Meanwhile*

"How much further do we have to go? I'm worried about Drizzt," Shandra said.

"Drizzt? I was going to ask. Would that be Drizzt Do'Urden?" Kylia asked.

"Yes, do you know him?" Shandra asked hopefully.

"Only by reputation, he is the son of the late Zaknafein Do'Urden, the finest weapons master known," Kylia said.

"Late?" Shandra asked. "How? Why?"

Kylia shrugged. "All I know is that Zaknafein was sacrificed to Lloth," she said.

"That is horrible. It must have been awful…Is Drizzt someone…of rank?" Shandra asked.

"As much rank as a male can be. He was from a noble house, a page prince of the ninth house. There are eight ruling houses. So they were quite high on the ladder," Kylia said. "His house was eighth for a brief time."

"Why a brief time?" Shandra asked.

"Matron Malice fell out of Lloth's favor. It was…removed," Kylia said.

"Removed?" Shandra asked.

"So you want gory details? Very well. Eliminated. It was destroyed and every member of the household were slaughtered. It is a bad thing to lose Her favor. The house is doomed without it," Kylia said.

Shandra felt ill and even Tarion looked sickened. Just then a large black panther emerged from the trees and bounded towards them…..

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So Shandra and Tarion have learned a little about Drizzt's past…R/R please!