Chapter 2

Aftermath

Dinin watched as his soldier's began looting the innards of House Hun'ett for valuables. Because their was no need for Dinin to help them in their work, he simply stayed and prepared for the retreat back to house Do'Urden.

Reports came in from left and right, most revolving around the devastation in the inner sanctums. When the forces had entered the inner chambers of the house they had found no resistance. In fact the only thing left alive had been the houses weapon master.

Dinin shivered at the thought of Drizzt, surrounded by the dead bodies of House Hun'ett. The carnage of the scene didn't bother Dinin, but the fact that Drizzt would receive praise for it on the return to House Do'Urden.

Again Drizzt would receive more prominence than Dinin in battle. This was something Dinin couldn't let stand, not this day.

Drizzt slowly walked down the flight of stairs that led to House Hun'ett's main entrance. He couldn't stand the sight of what he had done in those chambers. Drizzt was sickened when all the young soldiers looked at him with admiration for what he had done. He knew most couldn't wait to start training with him, and some even attempted to discuss tactics with him. He would brush off their comments as rudely as he could, and they would figure he was building down his battle sense.

When he finally reached the main entrance even more horrifying sights greeted him. Drow slaves were marched through the hall at the sound of whip snaps. Children who couldn't keep up with their elders were killed on sight. Even soldiers, who had willingly joined the house forces, were treated like dogs.

In the horrific scene, only one voice could be heard above the others. Standing on a pedestal giving out orders was none other than House Do'Urdens patron, Rizzen. Drizzt attempted to leave the house without gathering the patrons attention, but his plan was ruined when the patron's voice called out to him.

"Good work with the priestess's boy, Matron Malice will be pleased." Greeted the patron as he walked over toward Drizzt's location.

Drizzt only stopped long enough to give the man a cold look. That sniveling husk of a drow didn't even deserve Drizzt's presence. So he continued on his way out of the compound, leaving a fuming but reserved Rizzen behind.

Dinin was on riding his lizard when he saw Drizzt walk out of House Hun'ett. At first he was gonna make a point not to speak to his brother, but as he kept riding along he couldn't stop himself. He quickly rode his lizard toward Drizzt's location.

"You have done well brother, Matron Malice will award you greatly." Dinin said as he dismounted his lizard. "You might even get a reward for such a bloody assassination."

Drizzt looked at him only long enough to give him a cold stare. He then walked away, planning on heading back by alone.

"You should watch your back more often little brother." Dinin yelled after Drizzt with a biting tone. "Our older brother was also talented, but talent can't keep you alive forever."

The threat went into Drizzt's right ear and came out the left. He could care less what happened in the past. Not with a horrible future closing in on him like the oppressing blackness of the underdark did.

Drizzt had planed on returning to House Do'Urden immediately, but his steps began to lead him away from that. His thoughts whirled around in his mind, as he subcontiously lead himself to the turning point in his life. The spot where he had killed Masoj Hun'ett and Alton Divir had been striped of their bodies, but not of the signs of battle.

He sat on a large mushroom and contemplated his situation. It seems like a lifetime ago that he had killed the two-drow mages. After that he had sworn never to kill another one of his kind. Tonight he had broken that promise ten times over. He had killed the guards, the soldiers, and the priestesses, all in cold blood. At the time he had felt no remorse over their death, but now the guilt was devouring his entire soul. As he remembered the scene in all its horror, he saw that he had not spared anyone, not even those who begged for their lives. Even an underage drowling female, who had been present in the chamber, had cried for her life at the end.

Drizzt began to sob, and with that he reached into his pocket and pulled out the onyx figurine. "Come to me my shadow, come Guenhyvar." He then placed the figurine to summon his most trusted friend.

As usual the gray smoke filled the area around the statue until a dark form could be seen through it. And almost as if she had always been there, the 800lbs Black Panther stood looking at Drizzt with curious eyes. She slowly trotted over to him and laid her head on his lap.

Drizzt started rubbing her head, and began to speak to her. "I am a coward Guenhyvar, I do not have the courage to turn my back on this awful city. I am destined to stay here forever, surviving on a lie I can barely shoulder." He then broke down and laid his head into her neck.

Guen merely let him sob on her, knowing that he would stop when it was all out. She had truly not expected him to stay, but now that he had she didn't know what the future held for them.

Dinin arrived late to house Do'Urden with the last of the soldiers. Although he wasn't obligated to, he helped the men load up the last of the war engines and stolen wealth. Because of this he arrived unusually late into the throne room. The reason for this was due to the success stories of Drizzt roaming through the house. No doubt they had already reached Matron Malice's eager ears.

When he finally arrived in the throne room, he came to see his mother on her throne, Briza customarily at her side, and Rizzen bowing before them. Feeling that it were moments like these that he could enter without permission; he did so. Walking to his place in the half circle, he stayed silent until Rizzen finished his report. Looking around, he noticed gratefully that Drizzt was absent from the meeting.

He was deep in thought about the whereabouts of Drizzts, when Matron Malice called him up to give his report. She almost had to bark it another time before he reacted, and of course this would have been a dangerous mistake on his part.

"We have successfully routed House Hun'ett, we are now the 8th house of Menzoberranzan." He said with such extravagance that it was bordering on cliché. "The attack went well with minimal loss on our side. After the attack we rounded up over one hundred new drow soldiers and 350 slaves. All nobles from the house are dead, no witnesses survive to tale the tale of House Do'Urden's ascension." He finished, then bowed toward her.

Matron Malice looked down at him with a small smirk on her face. "That's nice Dinin, you've just told me information I could have garnered from a common soldier, or Rizzen." Dinin could only put his head down at that statement, for it was true. His mother continued on to say, "The report I was expecting from you was that of the whereabouts of your brother, it is unusual that he is still absent, on this glorious day. Especially since it seems he is one of the major factors for this decisive victory." She smiled again at this to Dinin's shame, for he also knew this to be true.

"Tell me Briza, how many did the reports say Drizzt lain?" Asked Malice with obvious pride in her eyes.

"Eight priestesses, two of them who had reached the high priestess status. Along with those he killed twelve female elite guards, 23 honor guards, and four Minotaurs single handedly. It is also evident that along the way to his entrance point, he killed two elite golums, and the house weapon master." Briza declared with great pride rarely ever reserved for a male, and never reserved for one like Dinin.

Malice laughed at the numbers her daughter had exclaimed and pointed at Dinin. "Tell me Dinin, how many did you kill on the raid?"

Dinin lowered his head even farther. "I slayed four slaves, and two soldiers, but I am the one who lead our troops to victory."

"Oh yes, a job that could have been given to any thrall, which leaves me to my next point. Are you so afraid of your brother that you allowed him to leave without permission? Answer me truthfully!" She asked him with a piercing gaze.

It took Dinin awhile to think about the question carefully. He knew that she could find out if he lied, but how could he admit so something so, undrow like. He was stuck in time as he thought over his answer, but he knows that he couldn't wait forever.

"Yes, I do fear him, Matron Mother Malice." He said solemnly and truly unafraid.

Briza growled as she unbuckled her Snake Whip. "Coward!" she yelled at Dinin, as he stood impassively.

Seeing this Malice yelled at her daughter and said, "No Briza! He has spoke truthfully, and that is all you can ask for in a male. Only Lolth herself can judge him for his cowardice now." She said calmly. "You cannot blame him anyway. Drizzt has surpassed all our intentions, even mine. We can be comftorable in the fact that Zaknafien's death was not in vein. But we do need to find Drizzt and return him to the house immediately. There is no telling what he will do on his own, outside in the city."