Sorry, it's late…my plot bunnies are really pushing Topsy-Turvy right now…
Chapter 7--Rainy Day
They spent the night peacefully and left just a little after dawn. Delly cradled Colson to her and sang a soft lullaby as they traveled.
Drizzt found his eyes wandering to Catti-brie, admiring how the sun turned her hair into flame. He tore his eyes away, blushing. Wael, he thought and slid off his horse's back. He shoved the reins into Wulfgar's hand. "I'll scout ahead and make sure the way is clear," he said. He summoned Guenhwyvar and they moved off.
Guenhwyvar studied Drizzt with her intelligent eyes and nudged his hand. Drizzt sighed and rubbed her ears. "You sense my turmoil, don't you? I wish I knew how to settle it," he muttered. A long hour passed then another. It was about noon when it started to rain. Soon it was coming down in a torrent. Muttering curses, Drizzt jogged back to his friends.
Bruenor muttered dwarvish curses under his breath. "Suren it never fails, we be needin' to find shelter, Drow!" he called.
Drizzt nodded in agreement. This was no short downpour. He could see that. "I'll see what I can find," he said. He hurried off with Guenhwyvar loping along behind him. After searching a long while Drizzt found a cave that was large enough for all of them, including the horses.
They got inside and tended the horses, the beasts seemed content to get out of the rain. They started a fire and settled down to let the heat warm them and dry their clothes.
Thunder rumbled in the distance and there was a flash of lightening. "We won't be doing anymore traveling today," Drizzt remarked. "This will probably last all night." He was right. At midnight Drizzt sat by the cave entrance while the others slept and idly watched the rain. He had sent Guenhwyvar home some time ago.
It was then he spotted movement and tensed, peering out. The cold rain was messing up his vision a bit. Finally he spotted the movement again. He decided to go have a look and slipped out of the cave. There were ten of them…Humans carrying a lot of weapons and one that looked like a mage. Drizzt got as close as he could then hid himself to listen.
"Damned weather, we'll never find anything at this rate," one complained.
"Shut up, Rynar. We made out well enough these last few days that we can handle one bad day," the mage-seeming man said.
"Well, that merchant's money was useful and his pretty little daughter is sweet. Let's go back, Caleb, I could use some company," Rynar smirked. He turned towards Drizzt as he spoke and Drizzt then realized he was a Half-Orc.
"Another snickered. "No one will ever find the fat fool's corpse either," he said. "I want to go back too. Wouldn't want the little lady to get lonely."
Drizzt's eyes narrowed in anger. Zatoasten, he thought. He would follow them back to their lair then come back for the others. He followed as they moved off.
Their hiding place was a large deserted house with a dilapidated old barn about an hours journey from where they had taken shelter. Drizzt was glad he and the others had not found this place and taken shelter here. The men went to the barn and went inside.
Drizzt hesitated then slipped inside for a closer look. He had to see about the girl they were talking about. He saw her and it was all he could do to stop himself from rushing out and attacking the men on the spot.
The girl looked to be around sixteen and was bound spread-eagled and nude on the ground. Her appearance made it clear she'd been raped, probably more then once. She whimpered in terror as the Half-Orc walked over to her.
There were ten more men in the room. This was no small group of thieves, but a band of them. Drizzt knew he should leave and get his friends, but he heard the girl sob piteously as the Half-Orc knelt between her legs. Drawing his scimitars, Drizzt prepared for the attack…..
Twenty against one? Not the best odds! R/R please!!!