** Warning, this chapter describes a surgical proceedure. I tried to not make it too graphic.**
A Question of Life and Death
"Solonund, calm down. What is inside of him. I can not help him or you if you get so uptight."
Solonund sank into a nearby chair and took a few deep breaths.
"If I can help, I will as well. I will take Catti to a more comfortable place to sleep, and I will be right back. Do not do anything until I get back." Drizzt said as he left the room.
Solonund looked at the knife and pondered. He dropped the knife and put his head in his hands.
"I do not even know where on his body to look."
"Look for what, Solonund?"
"Kordon's phylactery. That evil bastard put it somewhere inside this boy's body. I have always known Kordon was ultimately evil, but I did not think he would stoop so low. He used this boy as a way to spirit away his phylactery whenever he got into a bind. I fell right into his trap."
"This boy is dying. If he has had the phylactery inside of him for an extended period of time, it may be the cause. Removing it may save his life. Yet, I am not sure if that will help either." Lareal said.
"So that is why Kordon tried to get me close to him before anyone else could help. He wanted me to be the next carrier for his phylactery."
"It is possible, but I suspect there is more of a reason than that. I am certain Kordon wants you dead. If he found a use for you before he killed you, I am sure he would take the advantage."
"Is it possible for you to find out where inside his body the phylactery is, Milady?"
"Yes, just one moment." Lareal said as she wove a spell. A glow began emanating from the left side of the boy's chest.
"That monster! He put it under his ribs near his heart. How are we going to get it out from there, Milady?"
"Let's wait until Drizzt gets back here. We may need him. No offence, but in your agitated state, your hands are not steady enough to do this. If Khelben wasn't busy, he would be the best choice, but he is keeping Kordon occupied."
Andrak walked into the room in order to inquire about how Catti was doing. He heard what was going on and said," I will help. I still have some good spells left."
"How steady are your hands? Hold them up for a moment, Andrak." Lareal ordered.
Andrak did as he was bade. A full minute passed and they were very steady.
"Good, you will be the one to cut him open. Solonund, you find a sharper knife than that one, preferably one that is enchanted against evil. I will also need a small caldron for boiling water, as many rags as you can find, a small brazier, and two bottles of wine."
"Lady! This is no time to be drinking! What is the wine for?" Solonund blurted out.
"You will see. Now, just go get it!"
Drizzt rushed into the room in time to hear the last of Lady Lareal's words.
"Drizzt, go help Solonund. We need to get this done as quickly as possible. I am not sure how long Khelben and the others can hold out against Kordon. The litch is not smart, but he is powerful enough to leave a large hole in this city."
**********
Drizzt and Solonund went straight to work finding everything that Lareal needed. Most of her list of things to find were easy.
"What else do we need?" Drizzt asked
"A very sharp knife, preferably one warded against evil."
"Tall order. It will take us forever to find that.."
"Perhaps not, "Solonund said as he heard someone whistling a tune down a side hall.
Solonund rushed right into Danilo Thann.
"Danilo, I need your dagger, and your uncle needs your help. Give me your dagger and get to the graveyard."
"Why do you need my dagger?"
"Shut up and just give it to me."
"Alright, alright, Solonund. There is no need for you to get hostile. You know how uncle tells you to control your temper."
"I said SHUT UP!" Solonund repeated as he knocked Danilo over and grabbed the dagger out of the sheath in Danilo's boot, "Come on, Drizzt, we are ready."
"Asshole! " Danilo screamed as Drizzt and Solonund made their way back to the makeshift infirmary.
"Why Danilo's dagger?" Drizzt asked as they ran.
"One, I hate him, and two it is blessed so that it stays permanently sharp. I believe it also is protected against evil."
"Why do you hate him?"
"He got really drunk one night and thought I was a girl. The weasel found a way into my room, and I had to set him straight."
"That would make me hate him too."
"Plus, when he is around me, he tries to woo only the same women I do."
"I had better keep an eye on Catti then."
"That you had better, Drizzt. But wait until after we help Lady Silverhand."
**********
They arrived at the infirmary with the items needed.
"Did you get everything?"
"Yes, Milady. I even managed to filch Danilo's dagger from him."
Lareal gave Solonund a quizzical look, " Oh, and how did you do that? Danilo's dagger is perfect for what we need to do."
"Oh, Milady, how I usually get things from Danilo, threatened him with bodily harm."
"You never change, Solonund. You really should learn to control your temper."
"At least Solonund is not the big crybaby he was when we were younger," Drizzt added.
"That was low, little brother."
"Quit bickering you two. We have to get the phylactery out of this boy." Lareal said, " Pour the wine into the cauldron and add a ladle of water. Take it to the fireplace to heat. Drizzt, you start ripping up those cloths. Andrak, take some coals from the fireplace and put them in the brazier. Hold the dagger over the coals, but do not let it touch them."
"Alright," the three said almost in unison.
Once the watered down wine was fully heated, Lareal dipped some of the rags into it. She squeezed the cloth out slightly and carefully cleaned the Wild Elf's chest with it. She then took another wine dipped cloth and placed it on the area where they were going to cut open his chest.
"This will prevent the cut from getting infected. It will also make the skin softer and easier to cut. Drizzt, take some of the dry rags and hold them near where Andrak will cut. We need to keep the wound clean. Solonund, you take some of the dry rags and keep the sweat off of Andrak's brow. We do not need it in his eyes when he is cutting this poor boy open. I will be using my spells to try and keep the boy still. I will also try to help pull out the phylactery without harming the boy further. "
The four went to their bloody work.
Andrak pulled away the wine soaked cloth and made the incision next to the Wild Elf's breastbone. Blood spurted out in gushes. If Drizzt had not been so focused, he might have vomited.
The boy started to thrash. Solonund quickly went to hold the boy's shoulders down.
Lareal chanted her spells and touched Andraks wrist. She helped to guide Andrak's hand into the boy's chest cavity. Andrak felt his way past the liver and between the lungs to the area next to the heart where the phylactery was housed. As he pushed his hand slowly in, the smell of rot and bile began to eminate from the wound.
Once he was sure that he had the phylactery, Andrak slowly pulled it out through the incision.
More blood gushed, this time dark and black. It was old blood. Possibly the boy's body protecting itself from the evil object that had been placed within.
The old blood was rotten. It smelled of bile and mucous. All four had to try to keep themselves from gagging.
It was done. Drizzt helped to mop up the last of the blood while Lareal used her magic to close and heal the wound.
"Andrak, take the phylactery and place it in the caldron of wine."
"Yes. It does need the blood and bile cleaned off of it before it can be destroyed."
"Do you think you can remove the curse from him now?" Drizzt asked.
"It is possible, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. He needs to rest tonight. I will do what I can to keep him stable."
"Here is the phylactery. Is this the right item, Solonund?"
"Yes, and seeing as it is soaked with wine, it should burn rather well. May I try to burn it in the fireplace, Milady?"
"Use the brazier. Let me bless it first. I want to keep an eye on it in case Kordon rigged it to explode."
Kordon's phylactery was as long as Solonund's hand and nearly as big around as his fist. He wondered how much pain the Wild Elf boy endured having such a large item in his chest.
Once the brazier had fresh coals and twigs, Solonund placed the phylactery onto it. The hollowed out branch hissed and popped. The wax that plugged the ends slowly melted away, making the fire burn hotter. Within a matter of moments, the phylactery was nothing but ash.
"Thank the gods, it is finally over. Mother can truly rest in peace now." Solonund said.
************
Within the hour, Khelben returned home, exhausted, but glad.
"You did it, Solonund. You have become more responsible during your long absence. Danilo is fussing and fuming. I will leave him to you and Drizzt. For now, I need some time to rest, and to be alone with my wife, if you do not mind. You know which way the door to your room is."
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A Question of Life and Death
"Solonund, calm down. What is inside of him. I can not help him or you if you get so uptight."
Solonund sank into a nearby chair and took a few deep breaths.
"If I can help, I will as well. I will take Catti to a more comfortable place to sleep, and I will be right back. Do not do anything until I get back." Drizzt said as he left the room.
Solonund looked at the knife and pondered. He dropped the knife and put his head in his hands.
"I do not even know where on his body to look."
"Look for what, Solonund?"
"Kordon's phylactery. That evil bastard put it somewhere inside this boy's body. I have always known Kordon was ultimately evil, but I did not think he would stoop so low. He used this boy as a way to spirit away his phylactery whenever he got into a bind. I fell right into his trap."
"This boy is dying. If he has had the phylactery inside of him for an extended period of time, it may be the cause. Removing it may save his life. Yet, I am not sure if that will help either." Lareal said.
"So that is why Kordon tried to get me close to him before anyone else could help. He wanted me to be the next carrier for his phylactery."
"It is possible, but I suspect there is more of a reason than that. I am certain Kordon wants you dead. If he found a use for you before he killed you, I am sure he would take the advantage."
"Is it possible for you to find out where inside his body the phylactery is, Milady?"
"Yes, just one moment." Lareal said as she wove a spell. A glow began emanating from the left side of the boy's chest.
"That monster! He put it under his ribs near his heart. How are we going to get it out from there, Milady?"
"Let's wait until Drizzt gets back here. We may need him. No offence, but in your agitated state, your hands are not steady enough to do this. If Khelben wasn't busy, he would be the best choice, but he is keeping Kordon occupied."
Andrak walked into the room in order to inquire about how Catti was doing. He heard what was going on and said," I will help. I still have some good spells left."
"How steady are your hands? Hold them up for a moment, Andrak." Lareal ordered.
Andrak did as he was bade. A full minute passed and they were very steady.
"Good, you will be the one to cut him open. Solonund, you find a sharper knife than that one, preferably one that is enchanted against evil. I will also need a small caldron for boiling water, as many rags as you can find, a small brazier, and two bottles of wine."
"Lady! This is no time to be drinking! What is the wine for?" Solonund blurted out.
"You will see. Now, just go get it!"
Drizzt rushed into the room in time to hear the last of Lady Lareal's words.
"Drizzt, go help Solonund. We need to get this done as quickly as possible. I am not sure how long Khelben and the others can hold out against Kordon. The litch is not smart, but he is powerful enough to leave a large hole in this city."
**********
Drizzt and Solonund went straight to work finding everything that Lareal needed. Most of her list of things to find were easy.
"What else do we need?" Drizzt asked
"A very sharp knife, preferably one warded against evil."
"Tall order. It will take us forever to find that.."
"Perhaps not, "Solonund said as he heard someone whistling a tune down a side hall.
Solonund rushed right into Danilo Thann.
"Danilo, I need your dagger, and your uncle needs your help. Give me your dagger and get to the graveyard."
"Why do you need my dagger?"
"Shut up and just give it to me."
"Alright, alright, Solonund. There is no need for you to get hostile. You know how uncle tells you to control your temper."
"I said SHUT UP!" Solonund repeated as he knocked Danilo over and grabbed the dagger out of the sheath in Danilo's boot, "Come on, Drizzt, we are ready."
"Asshole! " Danilo screamed as Drizzt and Solonund made their way back to the makeshift infirmary.
"Why Danilo's dagger?" Drizzt asked as they ran.
"One, I hate him, and two it is blessed so that it stays permanently sharp. I believe it also is protected against evil."
"Why do you hate him?"
"He got really drunk one night and thought I was a girl. The weasel found a way into my room, and I had to set him straight."
"That would make me hate him too."
"Plus, when he is around me, he tries to woo only the same women I do."
"I had better keep an eye on Catti then."
"That you had better, Drizzt. But wait until after we help Lady Silverhand."
**********
They arrived at the infirmary with the items needed.
"Did you get everything?"
"Yes, Milady. I even managed to filch Danilo's dagger from him."
Lareal gave Solonund a quizzical look, " Oh, and how did you do that? Danilo's dagger is perfect for what we need to do."
"Oh, Milady, how I usually get things from Danilo, threatened him with bodily harm."
"You never change, Solonund. You really should learn to control your temper."
"At least Solonund is not the big crybaby he was when we were younger," Drizzt added.
"That was low, little brother."
"Quit bickering you two. We have to get the phylactery out of this boy." Lareal said, " Pour the wine into the cauldron and add a ladle of water. Take it to the fireplace to heat. Drizzt, you start ripping up those cloths. Andrak, take some coals from the fireplace and put them in the brazier. Hold the dagger over the coals, but do not let it touch them."
"Alright," the three said almost in unison.
Once the watered down wine was fully heated, Lareal dipped some of the rags into it. She squeezed the cloth out slightly and carefully cleaned the Wild Elf's chest with it. She then took another wine dipped cloth and placed it on the area where they were going to cut open his chest.
"This will prevent the cut from getting infected. It will also make the skin softer and easier to cut. Drizzt, take some of the dry rags and hold them near where Andrak will cut. We need to keep the wound clean. Solonund, you take some of the dry rags and keep the sweat off of Andrak's brow. We do not need it in his eyes when he is cutting this poor boy open. I will be using my spells to try and keep the boy still. I will also try to help pull out the phylactery without harming the boy further. "
The four went to their bloody work.
Andrak pulled away the wine soaked cloth and made the incision next to the Wild Elf's breastbone. Blood spurted out in gushes. If Drizzt had not been so focused, he might have vomited.
The boy started to thrash. Solonund quickly went to hold the boy's shoulders down.
Lareal chanted her spells and touched Andraks wrist. She helped to guide Andrak's hand into the boy's chest cavity. Andrak felt his way past the liver and between the lungs to the area next to the heart where the phylactery was housed. As he pushed his hand slowly in, the smell of rot and bile began to eminate from the wound.
Once he was sure that he had the phylactery, Andrak slowly pulled it out through the incision.
More blood gushed, this time dark and black. It was old blood. Possibly the boy's body protecting itself from the evil object that had been placed within.
The old blood was rotten. It smelled of bile and mucous. All four had to try to keep themselves from gagging.
It was done. Drizzt helped to mop up the last of the blood while Lareal used her magic to close and heal the wound.
"Andrak, take the phylactery and place it in the caldron of wine."
"Yes. It does need the blood and bile cleaned off of it before it can be destroyed."
"Do you think you can remove the curse from him now?" Drizzt asked.
"It is possible, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. He needs to rest tonight. I will do what I can to keep him stable."
"Here is the phylactery. Is this the right item, Solonund?"
"Yes, and seeing as it is soaked with wine, it should burn rather well. May I try to burn it in the fireplace, Milady?"
"Use the brazier. Let me bless it first. I want to keep an eye on it in case Kordon rigged it to explode."
Kordon's phylactery was as long as Solonund's hand and nearly as big around as his fist. He wondered how much pain the Wild Elf boy endured having such a large item in his chest.
Once the brazier had fresh coals and twigs, Solonund placed the phylactery onto it. The hollowed out branch hissed and popped. The wax that plugged the ends slowly melted away, making the fire burn hotter. Within a matter of moments, the phylactery was nothing but ash.
"Thank the gods, it is finally over. Mother can truly rest in peace now." Solonund said.
************
Within the hour, Khelben returned home, exhausted, but glad.
"You did it, Solonund. You have become more responsible during your long absence. Danilo is fussing and fuming. I will leave him to you and Drizzt. For now, I need some time to rest, and to be alone with my wife, if you do not mind. You know which way the door to your room is."
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