His Crown, Given to Ghalegha the Good.

Lodo found the door from the throne room to Kirisatt's bedchamber. Tharros and Stradivarius carefully carried the former Emperor's limp body and lay him on the bed. The luncheon guests sat on the various pillows and divans to wait for Ty'Aero and his students to come and inspect the body.

"I suppose you did not take this into account, Lodo, when you made your comments at his death."

"Do not mock me, Katla. I can not say I am not glad the bastard is dead."

"That is not what I meant."

"I know what you meant. This means that your beloved Ty'Aero will be more harbor more scrutiny towards our actions."

"Exactly, and he is not my beloved."

"Will you two quit bickering. I tire of breaking the two of you apart."

"I am sorry, Tharros. I just hate to be put into this situation. I feel helpless enough as it is." Katla stood and paced back and forth across the room.

Ty'Aero led a number of Black Wizards into the bedchamber to examine the emperor. He went to the bed and tore at Kirisatt's clothing to examine him further.

"I want to know everything that happened! This is a disaster to the people of this city and I know everything that happened!"

"Naurailoki, we were in the throne room drinking wine and becoming more cordial, when he tried to stand and fell over. He broke his neck. I tried to do what I could, but his soul had fled. There was nothing I could do." Katla burst into tears and held her head in her hands.

"Is there anything else? How long ago did this happen?"

"I sent the boy to you as soon as he fell. I knew there might be something else you might know to do."

Ty'Aero pulled Katla into his arms and tried to hush her flowing tears. He was aware that the death of the Emperor and the wave of energy coincided. He took a moment to think on the words Goylar had given him only a scant hour before.

"Do not cry, my love. I was constantly reminding him to keep away from drinking too much. It was not your fault. There is nothing we can do for him now but put him to rest. I am afraid resurrection spells do not work in this city. It has to do with the nature of the Jagged Palace itself. It is a ghost trap. His soul is among the rest of those who die here."

"Is there nothing we can do?"

"Nothing , my dearest. The only problem now is finding someone to take his place. He hated women, so left no heir."

"What if there was another heir secreted away?" Lodo piped up as he walked up behind Katla. His face put on a stern expression. He did not like the way that Ty'Aero was embracing Katla, or the manner that Ty'Aero was using with his speech.

"If there is, Lord Lodo, I would like to find him poste haste. The longer there is no one on the throne, the more likely that the Ancient Captive will escape. Please, take your men and leave me alone with Lady Katla for a few minutes."

"I will do no such thing!"

"I see that you are a rival for her affections. Jealousy does not suit that half elven face. I suggest you do as I ask."

"Go on, Lodo. If you are so concerned, stay just outside the door. If he makes an unseemly move, I promise to scream loudly."

Lodo grumbled as he led everyone out of the chamber. He did not want to have the pain of Katla be one more sin on his conscience.


As soon as they were alone, Ty'Aero reached carefully into his pocket and pulled out the small silver pin. "I want you to trust me, Katla. I want to show something I have not shown anyone in many, many years."

Katla gasped as she looked at the harp shaped pin in his hand. She ran her fingers over the worn, delicate features of the pin. She could not help the widening of her eyes as she wondered if the pin was a fake. Yet, as she felt the faint energy coming from the harp, she knew it was not only genuine and ancient, but that Ty'Aero was the proper owner of it.

"Do you know what this is?"

"Yes, I do." She replied as she fumbled to take her own Harper pin from its hiding place within her skirts.

"I see. The rumors were correct. I want you to know that you have absolutely nothing to fear from me. I would do nothing to put you in harm's way. I only want you to answer me one question. Before Kirisatt fell or as he fell, did you feel a wave of energy sweep through your very being?"

Katla gasped. "How did you know? Yes, as he fell, I felt a deep, disturbing pain in my chest. I have felt odd pain coming to my chest for several weeks. I have kept it carefully hidden from Lodo and my other retainers. If they were to find out, I would be spirited away. It would make it much easier for my enemies to find me if I were ill."

Ty'Aero sighed with relief. With the death of Kirisatt in her presence, he feared that the former emperor's assumptions might have been correct. She felt the power. He was happy to know for himself that she could not be involved.

"I will leave you to your retainers, my love. I need to have my students prepare the body. The funeral will be in three days. I would like to have you on my arm during the procession."

"I would be glad to accompany you."

Katla left the room with a heavy feeling. She knew that the admission of the truth to Ty'Aero about her chest pains might have just saved her life. Yet, how could she not tell the truth? He was a Harper.

"What is the matter?"

"I will tell you later, Lodo. Let's just go."


Solonund carefully inched his way along the streets until he came to the main doorway to the Billowing Towers. He was supposed to wait for Korko, but he just could not wait any longer. His son was in there, and he had to find a way to convince Thelan that he was in great danger. He opened the main door and went inside to the private pub.

He heard the raucous laughter as he slowly entered the main hall that led to the private docks. Solonund kept the cloak of his hood up as he made his way through the pirates and sat at the bar. he ordered a drink and sipped as he waited and watched the pirates engage in a game.

The pirates had set up a target and were aiming weapons at it. The closer the arrow, bolt or bullet to the center of the target, the wilder the cheers got.

"Enough you scallywags!" a voice cried out loudly from the center of the room. "It is time for the master to show you how it is done!"

The young, goldish-gray haired elf stood up and knocked an arrow into his bow. He hit the target nearest to the center. He dropped the bow, turned his back to the target, pulled a flintlock from his waist, aimed over his shoulder and shot the target. The bullet shattered the arrow. The crowd roared and laughed, knowing that the captain was showing off.

"That's the way to show 'em Thel!"

He tucked the flintlock back in his waist, picked the bow up again and fired off several arrows in succession with as accurate precision as the first.

"I dare any of you in here to beat me! It is no fun unless someone tries to best me!"

"I can best you." Solonund said slowly. He did not look up or remove his hood. He took his bow from his shoulder and knocked an arrow. "Remove the other arrows please."

Solonund waited as a cabin boy pulled the arrows from the target. He took careful aim and a deep breath. He knocked another arrow as soon as he let the first fly. The movement was so swift that it was difficult to see how many arrows he knocked and fired until he was finished with the barrage.

The crowd stared in stunned silence. The first arrow hit dead center. Every arrow following the first had split the arrow that came before.

"Shall I demonstrate my speed and accuracy with more than one arrow knocked next?"

"Who the hell are you!" Thel shouted. "This is a private party and I do not recall wanting another mate for my ship!"

"You should know better than to talk to me like that." Solonund said as he set the bow down on a nearby table. "And, you should know better than to make a marksmanship challenge when the old man is in the room." Solonund removed his hood , shook out his hair and held his arms open. "Thelan, my son."

Thelan's face turned ashen. "F, Father. How, how did you find me? Why didn't you..." His voice trailing off as his face filled with anger. He stomped past Solonund and shouted to the bartender to give him a full bottle of elven ale.

The crowd murmured to themselves. They wondered if it was the truth, yet they knew their captain and his temperament well enough to know it was the truth.

"Will you not embrace your father? I have been searching for so very long. I have never stopped thinking of you for one minute since you disappeared."

"How is mother?"

"You do not know?" Solonund said as he lowered his arms and let out a gasp.

"No, father. So did you leave her for one of your other paramours?"

Solonund frowned, and slung his bow over his shoulder. He stormed over to Thelan, threw the youngster over his other shoulder and headed out toward the private docks.

"Get your filthy hands off of me, father. "

"You will come with me any you will listen!"

Thelan's men did not raise a hand to aid their captain. Many of his men felt that Thel could use to be dropped a peg or two.

Solonund threw Thelan down on his behind on the dock. "You ungrateful whelp! Your mother died trying to protect you! If you had gone to the lifeboats like I told you to, your mother would still live!" Solonund paced and shouted at his son. "I was heartbroken! I tried to kill myself, but the gods refused to let me gain success! I searched and searched and followed every lead to find you! And, how do you repay me? You insult the memory of your blessed mother!"

"F, father. I did not know. I am sorry, I really didn't know."

"Now you listen to me, son! This foundry has fallen to Illithids. You need to get your ship and crew out of here! I came here to warn you that you are in danger! I lost you once, I will not do it again!"

"You are talking nonsense father. There are no Illithids here. The Elves that rule the city would not allow it."

"I know how Illithids are created! I saw how it is done with my own eyes. They murdered several of my dearest friends, transforming them. They may not have had a choice."

"Father, I hated you. I prayed for you to save me, and you never came. If it were not for the former captain, of the Darkening Doom, I would have continued to be a slave."

Solonund took a deep breath to calm himself. "I must thank him then, for caring for my son."

"He is dead. He died when my ship, the Jade Destiny was attacked."

"I'm sorry. Son, you need to get your crew and prepare to leave, unless you want to fight Illithids with me and my friends?"

"It has been some time since I got into a decent fight. You have my men, and both of my ships."

"You own both of them!"

"Of course. What else would you expect? I am Thelan Brasher, and much more brash than my father."


Korko flagged down Lodo and the rest returning from the Jagged Palace. He had gone ahead to complete the arrangements for the siege on the Billowing towers.

"Master Lodo!" he shouted. He came closer in order to whisper in Lodo's ear. "I have moved us to another safe house. Guards barged in and lay waste to our old lodgings. Kunne and Solonund managed to get your belongings out before the gold golems razed the building. thank goodness they were not looking for us. They seemed to have been ordered to destroy any temple not dedicated to the city gods."

"And the safe house was the temple of Selune."

"Correct. Solonund has disappeared. Fortunately I know where he went. he took my keys to the Billowing Towers. He is not a good thief. I saw him, but I could not blame him for wanting them."

"He is going to warn his son."

"That is what I suspect, Master Lodo. I will lead you to the new safe house. It is much smaller, but it has an entrance to the catacombs. "

"Lead on. We will need to take down the towers as soon as possible ."

"Lady Katla, is everything alright? You look ill."

"I am Korko. Get me to the new lodgings before I fall over."

Within the hour, they were ready. The warriors made their way to the billowing towers with ease. Solonund met them at the door, with his newfound army of pirates behind him.

"Uncle Lodo!" Thelan squeaked out when he saw the blonde wizard. "Father failed to mention that you were here too!"

"I am glad you remember me, Thelan, but we have work to do. We can reminisce later."

"I have some of my sailors waiting at the entrance to the docks. I will go lead them down the service tunnel. After we have raided the foundry rooms and the water rooms."

"Take care son. Make sure you get the collars off of the slaves, and destroy them. The Illithid young reside in the collars"

"Thank you for everything, father."

Solonund found a strange looking key from the ring and placed it into the only door he had not yet tried. It opened to a set of stairs that led down a narrow, moist corridor.

At the bottom was a long series of jail cells. People of all creeds and races reached out their hands and begged to be set free from their cages. All of the prisoners were wearing the Illithid collars.

"I smell the Mind Flayers. They are growing a brain." Tessirak pushed his way ahead of the others. His Githzerai face twisted in a leering smile.

An Illithid wearing the robes of a Black Wizard stepped into the hall from a side door. Before its tentacles could sign a warning to its comrades, Tessirak sliced it to pieces. He made a great groaning howl and ran off to find more prey.

Lodo and the others continued down the hall. They found another set of prison cages. These were filled with half formed illithid. Out of mercy more than anything else, Lodo cast off his fireballs to kill them. he managed to kill two fully formed Illithid that he had not seen as well.

"Spread out. A group take each of these doors. Kill anything that looks like a mind flayer."

"No arguments here, boss." Stradivarius harrumphed.

Solonund found the large service tunnel that led to the private docks, but Thelan was not there.

He turned to see a group of Illithids dragging Thelan and his crew through a side passage. He howled as he began firing off arrows in rapid succession. He reached into his pocket and drew forth Solaris' figurine and prayed that the mythal had been weakened sufficiently to allow his companion to come through.

His prayers were rewarded as the large hawk appeared out of the mist and headed down the side tunnel. Solaris screeched and managed to fend off the mind flayer trying to drag Thelan to a hidden ship dock.

Solonund screamed for help again. He knew he could not fend off the creatures alone .

A shout from Solonund came through the door that Tessirak had dashed through. Katla pulled her sword and rushed in after him. "I am coming, Solonund!"

Korko joined group of pirates pulled weapons and readied their spells as they rushed after Katla. He looked with amazement as Katla pulled her sword. It glowed with a strange green light. The light from the sword seemed to forge with her very soul as she wielded it with grace and deadly skill.

Korko pulled out his hand crossbow and pelted the score of Illithids that seemed to keep appearing from nowhere.

Katla sliced and spun as the eerie green light from her sword grew brighter with every slice into the evil creatures. The sword started humming as the blood of the evil creatures littered the floor.

Katla headed for the sound of Solonund's voice, killing anything that got in her way. Korko followed close behind her, readying a spell in case it was needed.

Thelvin pulled out a pair of specially made butterfly swords and shouted a battle cry in Dwarvish as he led his group through another door. He felled two Illithids before they could block his advance. A cleric among the pirates with him summoned up a group of tigers to aid them. It did not take them long to kill all the enemies in the room. They tore apart the garish machine that created the slave collars to house the Illithid spawn.

Thelvin gave another whoop and led his group back to the main hall so they could inspect another door.

Lodo, Stradivarius and the final group of pirates decided to try and hold the main hall from any Illithids that approached from any of the untried doors.

Thelvin rushed through each of the rooms those doors led to. He found the brine pools, and had Lodo set them alight. He found a store room containing several piles of gold and gems.

Tharros and Stradivarius took a set of the keys and rushed to free the uninfected prisoners.

Once satisfied that all of the doors had been searched, Thelvin and Lodo ran to help Solonund and those whom had followed him. They first found Tessirak.

"Master Lodo. I found and destroyed the brain. yet, many of them are fleeing. they have a secret dock. Follow me." Tessirak waved his arm and created a dimensional gate to the dock.

The dock was on fire, thanks to the few fireball spells that Korko and some of the pirates knew.

Katla was in the process of trying to rescue the captured pirates from the snail shaped spelljammer burning in the dock.

Lodo cast one spell after another.

It took less than an hour to completely free the towers.

Lodo and all who went to bring down the towers walked out of the front doors. The crowd of former slaves cheered them and thanked them.

Solonund carried an unconscious Thelan to Korko and his daughter, Silia.

"We will take him to the safe house. I think he is just injured. I hope."


The new safe house was a large, one roomed structure. Lodo used his spell to create the inner space of a mansion within the walls of their hovel. Several rooms and plenty of beds made it easier to rest.

The pirates had taken Thelan's two spelljammers and fled to their base somewhere in the tears of Selune. They believed Thelan to be dead, so they took his ships as forfeit. They also took as much gold as they could salvage quickly.

Solonund stayed by Thelan's side, wiping the sweat from the young elf's brow.

"You need to rest, Solonund. You have not taken reverie in nearly a week. I will keep using my healing spells on him. I wish I could do more."

"He is dying, isn't he? Katla, please tell me the truth."

"Not if I can help it. Go rest. The Illithid was interrupted before he could take his mind from him. There is a chance he will get better, if this fever breaks."

"I love you, Katla."

"What?"

"I love you. I have wanted to say it for nearly fifty years. Yet, somehow, the feeling is not the same as it was then. No matter. One less thing for me to regret. I have enough of those."

Solonund left the chamber and headed to his room.


As Thelan's breathing steadied, Katla reached into a bag of holding and pulled out the helmet belonging to Lokteruost. She looked at the crown that she had brought with her from Straankeep.

The crown was a simple circlet with a row of moonstones around the center. She studied it for several minutes before she slipped it over the top of the helm. It fit perfectly on the groove, as Thelvin had believed it would.

Suddenly, the moonstones on the crown began to glow.

Katla's breathing began to slow and she fell into a reverie that was not under her control.


Katla was standing in the middle of a frozen wasteland. She walked and called out for anyone to answer her.

A green patch appeared among a rocky outcropping. In the middle of the green grasses, stood Iasa. He was whole and beautiful as he had been before he was captured by drow and later by illithids.

Katla ran into his arms and cried. He was dead, but she still missed him.

"Do not cry. I love you, Katla. I have always loved you. I should have defied my father and married you properly, but I knew it would make you miserable. You love me, very much, but you are not in love with me. You depended on me for everything, perhaps too much. I could not make you miserable." Iasa and the patch of green slowly faded until Katla stared at an empty snow bank.

"Come back! Iasa, you coward! I need you!"

"Katla! Over here!"

"Solonund!" She ran to a spot in the snow that had become a small forest grove. She threw herself into Solonund's arms and gave him a tight hug.

Solonund pulled her closer and stole a kiss from her lips. "I love you, Katla. I have been in love with you since the day we met. No matter who I coupled with, it was your face I saw. Come with me. Let out that adventurous spirit. Let me worship your body. Let me show you this world and a dozen others. We will have a grand time."

"I love you as a friend. Do you love me more than your wife?"

"Oh! Anaiys, I miss her so!" Solonund and the forest slowly faded away.

"Solonund? Where did you go?"

"Katla! It's Lodo! Come over here."

"Lodo!" She ran through the snow and into Lodo's arms. He was standing on blood stained cobblestones.

"I love you Katla, and I will allow no one else to take you from me. You are my responsibility. Your father wanted you back, but I do not even know if I will give you to him. Tell me you love me, cousin. Let me lock you away where no one else can have you."

Katla pushed him away. "You are married. Your wife keeps you in tow. You are still bloodthirsty, but she has shown you to achieve your goals without bloodshed. Goodbye, Lodo."

Lodo faded away.

"Katla!" Her name called in the manner of a melodic voice. Kelarin stood in the grand ballroom of Straankeep Palace.

"I love you, Katla. Marry me and I will make you a queen. You will want for nothing. you will have the comfort you deserve."

"Do not be silly, Kelarin! You are my and Iasa's son! I gave birth to you! I can not marry you!"

Kelarin hung his head and disappeared.

"Katla. Come home."

"Your Majesty?"

King Zaor of Evermeet stood in his garden in his dirty clothes and broad brimmed hat.

"I love you, Katla. You are like one of my own daughters. Come home."

"I am sorry, Your Highness. I can not. I love you like a second father, but I have a task to complete."

Zaor smiled, nodded and faded away.

"Katla, my love."

Ty'Aero floated towards her. As he came closer, his robes gained beautiful green and blue color to them. His skin became paler, gaining a coppery hue. His hair faded from black to a beautiful shade of brownish gold. His eyes turned to pale blue. The taint of the Shadow Plane left him as he stood on the frozen ground.

"Katla, I love you. Please, help me. Save me, from myself. I need the power you have to re-create myself. I need your strength!"

"Naurailoki. I can be your friend, but I can not love you. I can not save you, you must do that on your own. I have no power that can help you do that."

Ty'Aero hung his head as he turned completely black again and slowly faded.

"Katla"

She sighed and wished that this ordeal would end. She tried to bring herself out of reverie, but she could not. She did not want to see any more men that reminded her in her lack of heart."

"Katla" The voice said again, more forcefully.

"I want to wake!"

"Turn around and look at me, Katla, and I may just let you."

Katla whirled around to see what male was going to tear her feelings to pieces this time. She gasped and nearly fell into the snow.

He stood there calmly. Reddish golden hair framed his radiant face. His golden tunic shined as if hit by sunbeams. His crown seemed to glow with unearthly brilliance. He had one hand on his hip and the other on the pommel of his sheathed sword. He took a deep breath and smiled.

"Katla. Out of all of these who came to your reverie, I am the one who has loved you best, who has loved you most, and who has loved you longest. Come to me. I wish you to be nothing more than who you are. You must seek your destiny, but do so in your own way. I love you." He reached out his arms to embrace her.

Tears of joy welled in her eyes as her face grew flush and her heart beat faster. This was the only man who truly brought out the best in her. The only one who made her blush with desire, yet the only one she felt she could never touch.

She rushed into his arms and held tight, begging him not to fade away as the others had.

"Corellon. I love you more than anyone. Why does love have to hurt so much?"

"It just does. You must learn to not let it."


Lodo tossed and turned in his sleep, unable to wake from his horrible nightmare. No matter what he did to escape, he could not.

Lodo was wading in a knee deep sea of blood. Lighting struck the liquid. Instead of thunder erupting from the flashes of light, hideously evil laughter boomed.

"Alright Lodo, it is time to wake up. This is just a dream and you don't want to fire off a spell you do not mean to just because of a silly nightmare."

"Lodo!" Came the strained scream of a female voice. A woman in a small boat was rowing towards him. "Give me your hand, before you drown!"

"Mother?" he shouted as the current dragged the small boat out of his grasp. "Mother! Come back! Please don't leave! Please don't die!" The sea of blood got slowly deeper as he tried to reach for her.

"You do not deserve her, Lodo."

"Father?" He looked at another small boat that came towards him.

"You murdered me in cold blood, your own father. I loved you above all of my other children and you murdered me. You do not deserve a good mother like her. Worse, you vowed to protect the ancient graves, then plundered them the first chance you got."

"Father! Please forgive me! Please!"

More small rafts and boats floated by. A few of the faces he recognized, but most he did not.

"Murderer! Butcher! Thief!"

"Brennan?" Lodo watched as his childhood friend come closer.

"You had me executed for accusing you of loosing your senses. I was your best friend, your most trusted confidant. It was not enough to keep you from having me beheaded in the square!"

More voices chimed in as the ghost of Brennan rallied them together.

"You burnt down our village and killed us all when we refused to lodge you."

"You sent us into battle with the drow to keep us from hindering you as you stole from our ancestors' graves."

"You used us to practice your deadly spells upon."

"You killed any wood elf that you happened to run across."

Lightening struck close to where Lodo was trying to keep himself afloat. The crowd of voices came to a hush as three rafts came within arms reach of Lodo.

"So you have yet to learn your lesson?"

"Kuld Ramulas Kai! Master! Please help me!"

"I taught you all I knew about wizardry. You were my best pupil. I adored you, but you stole this from my banned treasure room. Such disrespect. You can keep it now. It did you no good." The aging wizard handed Lodo a rod of rulership.

"Anaiys! My dearest! Please help me. I still love you so deeply! My wife understands. I love her too, but my feelings for you have never faded!"

"You do not love me, Lodo. You made that clear many years ago. This is the only thing you love." She placed a jeweled crown on Lodo's head.

"I no longer want this. Anaiys! Come back!"

"I saved your behind , and all you can do is bully and wallow."

"Solonund?"

"I was told by my superiors in the Harpers to kill you. I risked my life when I opened a dimensional gate and plopped your butt in Sigil. That one action put me on Elminster's bad side. How do you repay me for saving your sorry life? You keep trying to get me killed. You bully and berate me at every turn. I may be a letch, but you are no better than me. Here, this is a model of this world you are swimming in. All Hail Lodo, he is finally king of the world, just not the one he wanted."

"Solonund! No! Please do not do this to me! You are my friend, one of the only few I have left! Please don't abandon me here!"

Lodo heard laughter as the blood slowly sank down to where it nearly disappeared.

"Remember this dream, and do not repeat your mistakes." An ominous figure floated above in and brandished a wicked looking staff.

"Azuth!"

"Remember!"


Tharros was running in a forest in his dire bear form. Next to him, a dire wolf moved to keep up with him.

He stopped for a moment and shape changed back into his half orcish form. The Dire wolf stopped, and shape changed back into Stradivarius.

"You are a changer as well!"

"I have tried to keep it hidden."

"Why?"

"If Ty'Aero of the Emperor knew, I would have never got my freedom. He ain't gonna let any of us go."

We had better get going. It is not safe here, Strad.

A mob of voices followed them as they ran deeper into the forest.

"What are we gonna do? They are gonna catch up to us eventually."

"Pray, Strad. Just keep running."

"We are gonna need to fight. We can't run forever."

"We need to run."

"We need to turn around and fight. I ain't telling you that we should kill them. I don't want to kill anymore. Just rough them up a bit so they quit chasing us."

Stradivarius stopped and waited for the mob to come to him as Tharros went to hide behind a large tree.

The mob stopped in front of Stradivarius. They were all orcs and half orcs.

At first, they wove their torches and trained their weapons on him. Slowly, they started trying to tempt him with riches and females and all of the food he wanted. All Stradivarius had to do was stay in his orc form and kill anyone they wanted him to.

"I have been down that road and it leads absolutely nowhere! I am not gonna be ashamed of who I am anymore! I am not gonna give up my freedom for creature comforts."

A huge orc in the back of the crowd stood taller than all of the others. He stared intently at Stradivarius with his one eye. "Kill them, kill them all."

Tharros gasped, "Gruumsh." He jumped from his hiding place and stood next to Stradivarius.

"I am not gonna kill anybody, you old windbag!"

"Strad. Be careful."

"I am not a gladiator anymore. I was not a slave by choice. "

"We are the children of Selune, Gruumsh. Get away from here and take your control off of the mob!"

"The little half breed coward dares to challenge me?"

"He ain't alone! I serve Selune! Not you! Now you get out of here!"

Shouts of 'blasphemy' and 'traitors' come from various orcs in the mob. They inch closer, goaded on their task by Gruumsh One Eye.

"Why do you follow this butcher? My people, Selune loves you. She will not send your sons into battle for no reason. She will not leave your sons for carrion fodder on the ground."

"All that one eyed freak has ever given me is sorrow and pain! Come with us! I ain't gonna give up on my own people! You don't have to follow that freak anymore!"

Some of the orcs in the crowd closed their eyes and shook their heads as to rid themselves of a bad dream. Slowly, one by one, several members of the mob joined Tharros and Stradivarius.

"See, Tharros. It is good to fight."

"But do not forget, Strad, there is always a point where you have to run. "

"I am not running afraid from you, you one eyed freak, anymore! I am not afraid of you anymore!" Stradivarius declared loudly.

"I am not afraid of you either! I will take as many of my people with me into the arms of Selune! Be gone! I fight you with my faith and my words! I will prevail!"

A shaft of pale light shown on Gruumsh. He bellowed in anger and slowly faded away.

"You have done well, my children." Selune's gentle voice came from the pale moonbeam.


"Yer a bastard, Thelvin. Ye ain't got a da. If it weren't fer yer ma bein Bruenor's sis, ye would be left in the tunnels to die." The young dwarven children teased and taunted him.

"I do so have a da! I'm here ain't I?"

"Yer da left yer ma ta rot after he had his way with her. Yer a bastard!"

"My ma is a good ma!"

"Ye young uns shut yer traps! Suck up, Thelvin Battlehammer! If ye want te be a warrior, ye have to quit yer whinin'!"

"But Weapon Master!"

"No buts, Thelvin! Jest because ye are the King's nephew don't mean ye get any slack from me!"

"He should turn ye over to Pwent! Ye're no good ta anyone except as a gutbuster! Ye can't keep yer temper. Ye can't suck up and take yer punishment! Ye are nothin but a bastard!"

"I will show ye! I will show ye all that I ain't no good fer nothin!"

Thelvin picked up the notched battle axe and went at the Dwarven Weapon Master. He slashed and swung, but nothing hit."

"Ye're too slow, Thelvin! Ye ain't learnin yer discipline either! Ye ain't no good to the King or anybody else like that!"

"Ye're bein harder on me than anybody! I just want to defend me home! I want to be the best warrior anybody 'round here has ever seen."

"Ye're too tall! Are ye sure yer ma dinna sleep with a human?"

"Ye quit insultin my ma!"

"Yer ma is a whore. Why dinna she tell anyone who yer da was? Huh? Ken ye answer that?"

"I ken what I ken. I may not ken who my da is, but my ma must'a had her reasons. I got a good ma!"

"Weapon Master! Ye best not be teasin me nephew again."

"I ain't teasin him. I'm teachin him."

"No more." Bruenor Battlehammer boomed as he pulled Thelvin away from the rest of the students. "Ye ken he is bein' too hard on ye?"

"Yea, uncle he's bein too hard."

"I'm thinkin that he ain't. I'm sendin ye east with yer ma. She is gonna be negotiatin with some Dwarves that ain't heard of the Battlehammer, an think Mithril Hall be just a myth. I be thinkin ye will make a better negotiator than a warrior."

"No! Uncle! I wanna be a champion! I wanna be a defender!"

"An I be needin a diplomat. Ye will be defendin yer ma if ye feel ye have to defend somethin. I canna do anything else with ye. Ye angered every weapon master among me Dwarves. Ye got yer arse on ye shoulders when I gave ye ta Drizzt, now he doona wanna train ye until ye learn yer manners. an, I doona want ye ta be a gutbuster."

Thelvin's mother walked gracefully into the throne room where Thelvin had been taken to finish the conversation. Her eyes sparkled. Her red hair and beard were neatly trimmed. She smiled with delight.

"Yer uncle has told ye we are a goin east?"

"I doona wanna go, Ma. I wanna learn to be a champion. What if there be no weapon master fer me to learn from?"

"If ye think it is that important, I'll find ye a weapon master when we get there. Doona get yer guts in a bunch. Now go an get yer things. The ponies are waitin."

The trip east became a blurr.

"Ma, who is my Da?"

"I canna tell ye."

"Why not?"

"I promised yer da not ta tell any who he was. Doona worry. Yer da is a very good da. He keeps his eyes on ye. Ye'll understand when ye are older."

"Ma! Ye give me a human weapons master!"

"I wanted me son ta have the best an the best happens ta be human. What will yer da think? Ye have ta put away that stuffy pride of yers or ye will get nowhere."

"He's odd, even fer a human."

"He's from Kara Tur. He will show ye ta fight with yer hands as well as any weapon ye can pick up. Swallow yer pride. Learn some discipline. Yer da is wachin ye."

"I might as well lern from him. I'm a bastard. I don't have a da."

A voice cried out in a raspy whisper, "You do have a da."

Everything faded save for a bronze mask with two candles glowing in the eye holes.

"I am yer da. Doona forget it."


Solonund smiled at himself as he listened to the peal of feminine laughter.

He put a swagger in his step as he walked into a clearing. The clearing was filled with naked elven and human females. They played and beaconed to him.

"Hello ladies. Which of you wants my company first?"

The females simply giggled to themselves and beaconed him farther into the clearing.

The loud wail of an infant scattered the bevy of beauties. They ran into the trees in fright.

"Now don't run off like that. I am here. I will not hurt you. I will not let anything hurt you."

"Liar."

Solonund whirled around to see a disheveled girl with a baby in her arms. The girl would be a raving beauty if it were not for her raggedly dressed state.

The baby wailed and reached its arms out toward Solonund.

"What is the matter with the babe? "

"His father left me after he slept with me. Now I have nothing and neither does she."

"Who would do such a thing?"

"You. Here little one, reach for your father. Let him hear you cry."

"Yes," another destitute female said as she carried another child in her arms. "Let your father see how he has hurt us. Let him see how he has hurt all of us."

"You married me, but it did not make you faithful. You never loved me! I was your beloved Anaiys and you still would not stop fooling around!"

"I tried, Anaiys! I really tried! I do love you! I miss you!"

Solonund stood there stunned. The babies' wails became so loud that he closed his eyes and covered his ears. He knelt to the ground, begging the gods to make the sound stop.

"Stand up and open your eyes!"

"Drizzt! Little brother! Oh thank the gods you are here! Can you tell these crazy women..." He stopped mid sentence as he stood and looked around to see that all of the women and babies had disappeared.

Drizzt unsheathed his swords. "It is time for you to learn a lesson in responsibility, brother."

"Yes, Drizzt, and we will help you." Kellindil and Shun Arayanni stepped out from the woods, weapons drawn. Three of Solonund's most trusted friends, two of which he knew were dead, surrounded him and attacked.

"What is the matter with you? I have done nothing to any of you!"

"Done nothing? I spent days and nights a dozen dungeons to pay for your crimes. They believed you over me just because I am a drow! You may have gotten me out of them, but it does not change that I should not have been there in the first place." Drizzt whirled and slashed, barely missing Solonund.

"You left me at the mercy of my tribe. They drove me out because you convinced me to follow Meilikki above all others, when you yourself hold no allegiance to any one god in particular!" Shun used his scimitars and his Wu Jen spells against Solonund.

"You stayed behind when I told you to follow after me! As a result Roddy was able to kill me with no one else around!" Kellindil shouted as launched arrows at Solonund in rapid succession.

"I did not mean it! It was not my fault! I tried!"

"Enough you three." Montolio DeBrouche and Willwaren stepped into the clearing.

"Mother! Father! Tell these fools they are not making any sense!"

"But they are, my adopted son. You never take responsibility for your own actions. Look what it has cost you. you have dozens of bastards running around. You married a girl you did not love to satisfy your own inadequacies. You hurt or got your friends killed. You disrespect the gods that gave you your powers. You disappoint me."

"Father! Mother, please tell him he is wrong!"

"But he is not wrong. I saved your life dozens of times, my son, and what do you have to show for it? You have become an indentured servant to Isolder Wisteria for burning down part of his home. You let your wife die. You let the only son you claim to be captured by pirates. Your son lies dying because you convinced him to get into a fight he was ill prepared for. You left the one you call brother to fend for himself when you knew he was outnumbered. He may even die because of it. You shirk your responsibilities. It is time you pay."

"Mother! No! Don't go! I can change! I can try harder!"

"Natcooshie'pira. Come with me to hell. It is where you belong after all."

Kordon, the male wood elf whom was Solonund's real father, stepped out of the shadows. A collar was around his neck.

"Come. You are just as much a monster as I was. You make it less obvious is all."

"Get away from me! I will not allow you to touch me ever again! I am not a monster! I can be responsible! I do revere the Seldarine as well as Meilikki and Silvanus with the utmost respect!"

An arrow landed in front of Kordon, causing him to run back into the trees.

"I am glad you have finally taken a good look." Solonor Thelandira said as he stepped into the clearing.


Lokteruost sat on the edge of his cot and wept so deeply that his eyes were nearly swollen shut.

Although none of the memories or dreams were his own, he could see the pain and anguish all within the city were feeling, especially those who had come to rescue him.

"Gods have the worst nightmares."


Notes:

Although the technology on Faerun does not usually encompas firearms, people who travel the planes on spelljammer ships often do have flintlock pistols or rifles.

For more information on Solonund's past, read Kindred Spirits and A long way from Home. The easiest way to find them is to go to my author's page.

I am working on a who's who book encompasing all of my characters from Forgotten Realms, Planescape and Spelljammer, since they often make apearances in more than one story. Once finished, I will e-mail it to anyone who is curious.

I am also working on a webpage that will show drawings I or my husband has made of all of my original characters.

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