Chapter 4

(A/N: I was going to originally have Ryltar and Mayra walk thorough the servant's area described but instead I'm going to skip ahead to when they are at the zoo)

My journeys through the servant's area were luckily quiet, because of the Wailing Death keeping everyone in there homes. So due to that I had an easy time getting into and over the wall leading to the Black Lake District. I kept to the shadows with Mayra following me, and both of us keeping a look out, we eventually made it to the Blake Lake Zoo. I walked up to the door and after paying my one gold piece to enter I walked in still wearing my hood and cloak around me. I shuffled with my gloves to cover my hands and proceeded into the animal area. Even more lucky was the fact they didn't ask why I had a wolf following me around the door man must have though she was a dog. It really didn't matter what the reason was, as soon as I entered the animal area I was appalled by the conditions that I saw. First off the cages were entirely too small, they were unbelievably unclean, and worst of all the food in all the cages were either old and moldy or too small proportions for the animals to get nutrients from. Off to one corner of the room area I noticed a young human girl, of about seven-teen, talking to a caged panther. Using my sensitive hearing I picked up what she was saying.

"That is so sad how they treat you here Caldon, I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, I know I visit you and it makes your day better, and I know you are suffering but I am only a kid." the child said. She obviously had some animal empathy skills in her, because it seemed the panther named Caldon understood her. I looked around and saw no one else near by so I went up near her.

Still with my hood tightly around my head I said. "Excuse me little girl I noticed you seem to be able to talk to that panther there. If I may ask how long have you been able to do this?" I asked quietly.

"Oh! Sorry you startled me. Well I've been talking to animals most of my life sir," She noticed Mayra and I picked up through our link that Mayra was explaining to her who I was and what I was. "I hope she added that I wasn't like the rest of my race."

"Oh so thats who what he is...Ryltar, may I see your face? I have never seen a dark elf before. Please?" She asked

"Curious bugger isn't' she?" I looked around once more to make sure that no one was around Mayra turned around so she could keep a better lookout and I loosened my hood letting it down part way. My light-silver gray hair fell around my shoulders as I shook my head. "Please don't be afraid young one I'm not like the rest of my race." I added quickly.

"You needn't worry Ryltar, Mayra told me I must say you are...interesting to say the least I had heard stories of a dark elf in the NeverWinter woods who guarded it, but no one ever told me his name. I glad to meet you. I wish there was something I could do to free these animals." She said turning back to Caldon sadly.

"That is why I am here tell me what is your name?" I asked now pulling my hood lightly around my face once more.

"My name is Elebereth Packdon." she replied "What is it you are here for Ryltar? Surely it isn't just due to the suffering of these animals?"

"Elebereth? An interesting name for a human. As to why I am in the city that is...classified information under orders of Lady Aribeth. For the reason I am here in the zoo, I am here to free them." I said

"The reason for my odd naming is because I am adopted by two elven parents they both died from the Wailing Death many days ago since then I have been spending most of my time here at the zoo trying to comfort these animals. I have nothing left to lose Ryltar and if you would let me I would love to assist you in freeing them. They are all I have left." Elebereth said sadly with a hint of anger.

"Do you have any skills with a blade Elebereth?" I asked

"I know how to work a sword if that's what your asking. I'm no expert but I am not weak." Elebereth said.

"Well then here take this," I said pulling an old longsword from my pack, and handing it to her.

Elebereth took the longsword from me and took a few practice swings with it. She wasn't the best I'd seen but she had talent, with a little training my me I figured she be a very good ranger. "Very well then Elebereth lets free these animals. I have here a scroll which will turn a tree out in the court yard to a portal which will transport these animals to the local druid Nytar."

"What about the zoo keeper?" Elebereth asked.

"Well I'm going to try to scare him into leaving the city or letting the animals go, however, I feel I may have to...stop his evil ways." I said slowly.

"You mean kill him? Right? I'm seven-teen Ryltar not six. Don't treat me like a kid I'm almost an adult go it?" Elebereth said annoyed.

"Got Elebereth, let's go." I said

I quickly informed the animals in all the cages about my plan. The were a little bit lacking in trusting me due to there years of treatment but were willing to give me a chance. After fighting my way through several rooms of zoo guards. Mayra spoke up.

"For nature's sake what does a zoo need with all these guards?"

"That I do not know nor care. All I care about is freeing these animals." I said this as my left hand scimitar lobed the head off the guard captain.

"Ryltar I have a question before we go any further." Elebereth said

Wiping the sweet off my face I said "Yes Elebereth, what is it?"

"Your fighting style who taught you?" she asked.

"Well I learned my general fighting techniques from my father, he was a slave to my House's Matron Mother. He told me that if I wasn't a successful fighter that I would be sacrificed to the evil drow goddess, Lolth. I was already afraid of my mother and sisters, and I hoped that if I could at least equal them in fighting skills they would treat me better then my father was. Sadly this wasn't the case, but I'm side tracking myself. After a few years of training with my father he was sacrificed to Lolth for a favor. I was entered int the drow fighter academy and after several years of training there I was graduated at the top of my class. I hope this answered your question?" I said.

"Yes it did thank you Ryltar, come lets find Monty" Elebereth said with a grin.

I nodded and opened the next door an arrow embedded itself into the door frame beside me and I pushed Mayra and Elebereth against the wall from the room we just came from. I saw a strong looking man with a very fancy looking longbow knock another arrow and fire. Again I dove out of the way and rain to close the distance between us. The man was quick I'll give him that he dropped his bow and brought out a large bastard sword my right scimitar clanged against it, showering us with sparks. My left scimitar came around to hit his left shoulder, however either he had magical means to protect him or he was extremely good at shrugging off wounds. He grinned at he and kicked me in the stomach, as I tried to back up to get some room between us I groaned in pain and backed up my hood came off from the blow.

He said "Ahhh so its a drow that I get to kill today, much better then killing these no good animals. Oh and what's this? A sweet young girl and a wolf...hmmm she'll make a fine carpet in my bedroom tonight."

Anger shot through me at the mention of him killing Mayra, while I was concerned for Elebereth's well being, I had known her only a short time. Where as Mayra was like a sister to me. I cried "Fool you have no idea of the danger you face before you!" I summoned a long unused talent of the drow which I still possessed after coming to the surface and dropped a globe of darkness on who I assumed was Montgomery Shureshot. I then outlined him with Fairy Fire and moved my eyes into the heat spectrum. I saw him on the verge of panic and moved behind him.

I said threateningly "Fool you thought you could out fight a drow warrior? I had killed hundreds of humans before you were eight!" He swung his sword around trying to hit me but it was sloppy and slow not coordinated like his first attack was. I easily dodged and again came up behind him. I had learned enough about his ways that persuading him to leave NeverWinter or releasing the animals was not an option.

I said "Forgive me fool but now you die." I quickly cut his throat and felt the blood rush down my blade and hand. Montgomery gurgled out a cry of death and feel to the ground in his own blood. Wiping the blood from my blades the darkness faded around me. Elebereth was startled at the sight before her Mayra nudged her from the scene. I pocketed a few gold coins from his body and a key to what I hoped was the animal's cages. A few minutes later after turning the tree in the courtyard to a portal, I returned to each animal and freed them. I then lead each of them out of the zoo they waited for me outside at the portal unsure of what to do. I said to each of them handing them each some fresh food saying. "Go through this portal it will take you to safety and into the arms of a waiting druid. All but the bear I had freed listened.

I asked it. "What is wrong animal friend are you hurt?"

"No, one known as Ryltar, I am fine I am more unsure about this person you so willingly put your trust into. I for one am not as trusting." the bear said.

"Please trust me bear friend he is a personal friend of mine and will release you into the wild as soon as you ware through the portal. I will be right behind you and if by some chance he does not I personally will deal with him. Agreed?" I said trying to persuade the bear.

"Very well let's go" the beer walked through the portal and I followed with Elebereth and Mayra following me.

Appearing in the city core next to Nytar he said "Welcome back Ryltar, it is good to see the animals are free and you my friend are safe. And who is this human girl you have with you?"

"Her name is Elebereth and it seems she was adopted by two elves who died from the Wailing Death a few days ago. It also seems she has some talent talking to animals. I wonder, if she'll let you that is, if you would be willing to teach her the ways of the forest?"

Nytar looked at Elebereth and said "It is up to you young one I am willing to teach you. Are you willing to let me?"

Elebereth looked first at me then at the animals we had just freed. She said "Yes Nytar I will. I have nothing left in this dieing city so I see no reason to continue my life as a fighter. I have always felt closer to nature then a sword. Very well when do we start?"

I smiled looking at Mayra I said "Come Mayra let's go see if Aribeth has a place we could stay at beside one of the local Inns."

"Well I sure hope so cause I don't think they allow animals in most Inns. I remember this one time..." she wen on to tell me about her past experiences as we walked into the Halls of Justice.