Welcome back everyone, thanks to all the folks that offered their condolences about my friend's death. It is greatly appreciated! Here's the next chapter!
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Chapter 39--Taking A Stroll
After finishing breakfast Drizzt paid and they left the tavern and continued along the street.
Catti-brie took Drizzt's hand and squeezed lightly. She was delighted when Drizzt didn't pull away and smiled at her. "Ye look even more handsome when ye smile. Ye should do it more often," she said.
"You always are beautiful. So where are we going?" Drizzt asked.
"To be tellin' the truth I be havin' no particular place in mind, but I be sure we'll find somethin' sooner or later," Catti-brie admitted.
Drizzt just shook his head, looking amused.
They finally entered what looked like an open marketplace and Catti-brie's eyes brightened. "This be just the thing. Let's look around," she said.
Drizzt smiled tolerantly and allowed Catti-brie to lead the way.
Catti-brie stopped at a jeweler's booth and began to study the wares intently.
After twenty minutes Drizzt began to get a little restless. "Cat, I'm going to wander a little. I'll meet you back here in about a half hour," he said.
"All right, I'll be right here," Catti-brie agreed.
Drizzt nodded and walked off. He made his way carefully through the crowd. A couple of people spoke to him and he paused briefly then moved on. Finally he came to an armor and weapon shop. He doubted he'd find anything better then the weapons and armor he was wearing, but he decided to look around anyway.
Suddenly he chuckled. Habits die-hard. He had put on his weapons and armor. It seemed that the habit of keeping armed was stronger then he realized. After all Silverymoon was a safe city and well patrolled. He could've left his weapons and armor behind.
The man at the counter looked up when Drizzt entered. He took one look at Drizzt's weapons and Dwarven made armor and greed filled his eyes. "Good day to you, noble sir. How may I assist you?" he asked. "Are you selling old gear to buy new? I have the finest arms and armor in Silverymoon."
"Thanks, but I'm not selling. I just wanted to have a look around," Drizzt said, privately amused at being called noble sir. He turned his attention to the things for sale.
The man frowned a bit, obviously disappointed by Drizzt's answer, but said nothing.
Drizzt agreed that the man had fine wares, but as he expected none of it was better then what he had. "Thanks and a good day to you," he said and left. Once outside he peered towards the jewelry table and saw Catti-brie was in an animated discussion with the jeweler. He decided to look around a little more. He came to a tanner's and paused remembering that a new pair of traveling boots would be a good idea. His were getting a bit worn and patched. He went over.
Catti-brie paid for her purchase and tucked it away then looked for Drizzt. Spying him just a little ways down the street on the other side, she headed that way. She was walking past an alley when she heard a noise. It sounded like someone, a child, was crying. She entered the alley. "Is someone there?" she called. There was no answer. Catti-brie went a little further down, not noticing she could no longer be seen from the street. "Hello? Where are ye?" she called.
The crying got a little louder, but there was still no answer. Catti-brie began to get nervous about the whole thing and turned to leave. Suddenly something hard smashed into the back of her head. She didn't even have time to scream before everything went black. She never felt herself being picked up and carried off.
When Catti-brie woke up she was in a strange room. She was laying a soft bed, but her hands and feet were tied to the bedpost and she was gagged. Footsteps approached the door and it swung open….
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Arrrghhhh! The darned plot bunnies have done it to me again! *Grabs a shotgun. Plot Bunnies Hide* Hmph, R/R please. *Goes to find the Plot Bunnies*