Chapter 7
I awoke in a dark room, I felt a slight anxiety of worry cross my mind as I had a flashback of my fight out of the UnderDark. Shaking this off I recognized the room as a care room in the Temple of Tyr. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I felt a furry body on the floor. Looking I saw that it was Mayra, she was sound asleep and from her imprint in the floor, and the bone scraps nearby I figured she hadn't left the room in at least four days. "Four days!" I thought. "here I have been sleeping for four days while people suffer, and die outside this temple." quickly dressing and moving around Mayra so as not to disturb her rest, I went into the temple center. As I exited my room, a wave of dizziness swept over me. I shot my hand out to the left to catch myself on the way. Unfortunately, my hand came not in contact with the wall like I hoped but someone's face. "Hope it's that asshole Desther." I thought. Turning to face the person my eyes came to rest on a crumpled Linu holding her nose on the floor. "Smooth Ryltar really smooth." I thought kicking myself mentally.
Reaching a hand down to help Linu up I said. "Here Linu let me help you up." Pulling her to her feet I saw Aribeth, Fenthick, and Desther walk into the temple center, from the sanatorium. They seemed to be discussing my current condition. Desther noticed me with Linu and walked over with Aribeth and Fenthick.
"So the useless drow is finally up. As usual more people die and get sick while you lounge around uselessly." Desther said. I just glared at him.
Gritting my teeth to hold back my anger I said slowly, "Listen Desther, I've put up with everything you have thrown at me for the past week, if you are looking for a fight then just keep on doing what you have been doing. I warn you though my patience with you is wearing thin. The only reason I have been out for four days, is because of my injuries I have sustained from finding the Waterdavian Creatures. Had I not been injured I almost guarantee that three if not all four of them would have been found by Mayra, Linu and I."
Fenthick saw the anger that was in my eyes and pulled Desther away, directing his mind to other matters. As they walked away Linu said to me. "Ryltar if you are up to it I would like to talk with you...alone if you don't mind?"
"Not really, though you must understand that what you say to me Mayra will hear due to our mental link. Is that ok?" I asked.
"Yes I'm not as concerned with Mayra as I am others. Would the Musical Bard be alright? Its just after noon time and we could grab lunch if you want?" Linu asked. She seemed to have something else on her mind. I figured it was related to what she wanted to talk to me about.
"Of course that would be great I am extremely famished from my long rest. Aribeth is there anything I must do before Linu and I grab an afternoon meal?" I said wanting to make sure my responsibilities were taken care of before I left.
"No Ryltar you and Linu deserve some time to eat, go. When you get back we'll talk about the creatures." Aribeth said
"Well then Linu shall we go?" I asked holding out my arm for her to take.
"Don't flatter yourself Ryltar." Linu said jokingly. I was at first hurt but then as Linu took my arm, I smiled and together we left the temple.
After a short walk around the City Core to clear my head we arrived at the Musical Bard. Once more we sat in a booth which was away from the others, and more or less private. Situating myself, I looked at Linu she seemed to have something big on her mind and I was pretty sure it was about me. "Ryltar I know we've only known each other a week or so now, but if you'd let me there's a few questions I have for you that I'd like answered?" Linu asked shyly and slowly.
"Of course Linu ask away I have nothing to hide." I said. In truth I did but I was pretty sure her questions wouldn't revolve around that topic.
"Well first I've been watching you fight, I know you said you learned your fighting style in Melle'agthare, the fighter academy in Mezzodoran, however, but that wouldn't explain your technique. I know that two-handed fighting with two weapons is popular with the drow race, but yours is like a dance, it has more... finesse then strength behind it. I know you are stronger then most people I can tell just by looking at your arms." She smiled at me as she said that last part. Her smile brought a warmth to my heart which I had not felt for many years. "I guess my question is if you have that strength why don't you use it?" Linu just looked at me waiting for my answer.
"Well, thats a hard one to answer. I guess I only use my strength when I have to, so few times in my life I have ever meet any one that could match me in strength. But I guess... well let me ask you a question have you ever heard of the famous drow ranger Drizzt Do'Urden?" I said.
"Yes, most people that have met him say his speed is incredible, as is his adventures." Linu said in reply.
"Well shortly after reaching the surface, and meeting Mayra, Drizzt came upon me in the forest I had taken up as my home. We fought of course, both thinking the other was lying and neither having heard of the other." I was about to continue but was interrupted by Linu.
"Who won?" she asked.
"Well technically Drizzt did, but only because we were interrupted by several orcs. After dealing with them we were both tired and exhausted. Mayra came upon us about that time, and Drizzt called forth his panther Guwenyverr. Luckily before the fight could start again the panther and Mayra conversed both relayed the information they learned back to us, and an uneasy truce was called. Well long story short, we eventually proved to each other that the other was not evil. Drizzt took me under his wing and trained me, of course there was little I could learn fighting wise. I'm probably the only person in Fae'reun that could have any serious chance of beating him. So to answer your question my finesse style as you call it came from Drizzt. He taught me how to use both my strength when needed but to out pace my opponents when I could." I said finishing.
"I see, Ryltar, well it seems we've still got some time till our food comes so if you'll let me ask another question I will." Linu said.
"Linu you don't need my permission to ask questions about me. Like I said I've got nothing to hide, so ask away." I replied.
"Very well Ryltar. Tell me, how did you leave the UnderDark?" Linu asked.
"Well short version, a very long dragged out fight between the best assassins and fighters that the drow could throw at me. As you can guess I killed them all. I'm not proud of it but it was survival. Even when I kill someone for doing evil acts it doesn't sit well with me. I don't feel guilty defending myself, or killing an evil person, the problem is that it reminds me too much of what I almost became in Mezzodoran." I said quietly.
"What did you almost become?" Linu asked genuinely interested.
"Well in the city I always had a talent for hiding and moving silently, more so then other drow. As a result I was trained to become an assassin, this didn't' fit well with me. So once learning all I could from the teacher at the academy, I left, and headed for the surface." I said sadly.
"Why do you say that as though you lost something?" Linu asked me concerned.
"Not something, someone." I replied softly.
"Was she important to you?" Linu asked
"Well as important as a female drow could be. She was different like me, she acted like any normal female around others, but when it was only her and I. Well let's just say she was different. She treated me more like a person, then as a slave like every other male." I said sadly "She was special to me, and because of my inaction she died."
"Is that why you are so protective of Mayra... and me?" Linu asked reaching out to hold my hands.
Her words caught me by surprise. Sure she was beautiful, there was no denying that. But was I really going out of my way to protect her like I did Ren'ly? "I suppose you are correct Linu. Your grace, beauty, and personality all remind me of her." I said taking her hand into mine.
"What was her name?" Linu asked.
"Ren'ly Caluak'dor, she was the daughter of the third house in Mezzodoran" I said
"What happened to her?" Linu asked
"Well it was because of my inexperience that she was killed. I planned on taking her with me out of the UnderDark. We had always talked about it in private, and I was not about to leave the city with out her. Well it seems somehow the assassin academy found out about this. They followed me, and after restraining me killed her in front of me. I went berserk killing anyone that got in my way. Spells that hit me either didn't effect me or did little to slow me down." I said anger welling up inside of me at the memory. Linu must have felt me tensing up because she squeezed my hand tightly. After taking a few breaths I continued "I killed over thirty-five drow that day, both male and female, young and old. It showed what I was capable of and what would happen were I to ever loose the woman I loved again." I looked into Linu's eyes to judge her reaction to my words. I saw indecision cross her face time and again. I said. "Look Linu I'm sorry I shouldn't have made you feel this way just forget what I said..." I was interrupted by Linu leaning over the table and kissing me on my left cheek she said "Listen dear Ryltar I'm not sure how I feel yet, but knowing how you feel eases some of my fears, and worries." She sat back on her side of the table noticing that our food was now coming.
LINU
After an hour of talking about ourselves and eating a decent sized meal both Ryltar and I left the Musical Bard. Finding out that my ideas about Ryltar were correct surprised me. I had never been good at judging people, even with spells of truth to aide me there were times I had been lied too. More important was finding out that Ryltar did indeed care for me. I was glad he was willing to accept my feeling on how I felt at the moment. Part of me was worried that he would turn me away if I rejected him. This however was not the case.
Five minutes before
"Take all the time you need to decide Linu, decisions such as this should not be rushed." Ryltar had said.
"Yet you made your decision probably shortly after you met me did you not?" I asked half jokingly
"Linu you should have heard my inner dialog with myself and Mayra when I first met you," Ryltar said. "You would have thought I was nuts."
Changing the subject I said to Ryltar "Well dear its been about an hour if your ready perhaps we should get back to Aribeth?"
"Yes let's go." Ryltar had again got up and paid for our meal with out so much as asking how much my portion of the meal had cost. "He's so kind, and gentle. It's hard to imagine he was raised in drow soceity." I thought.
End Flashback
Continuing our walk back to the Temple of Tyr a more pressing thought entered my mind. "What would happen to me... us, if I was to return Ryltar's feelings? If we entered Evermeet they would most likely either kill Ryltar on sight, or not allow him entry. I would probably be exiled for even looking at him, much less having feelings for him. I guess I'm confused about this, its to soon." Bringing myself out of my thoughts, as we reached the Temple of Tyr, I thought "well how I feel about Ryltar can wait, for now there is more important issues to worry about."
End Linu
Aribeth
After having a long conversation with both Desther and Fenthick about Desther's attitude towards Ryltar, I left the sanatorium entering the temple center. Just as I exited through the door, Ryltar and Linu came in. Both looked like they had a lot on their mind, especially Linu. I hoped that whatever it was did not cause them to get hurt in their search for the Waterdavian Creatures. Linu saw me and gave me a smile as both she and Ryltar approached me.
"Enjoy your meal?" I asked trying to get a conversation going.
"Yes, the cooked chicken at the Musical Bard is quite good, the spices really give it a kick." Ryltar said. As Linu seemed to shift uncomfortably back in forth behind him. Mayra came out of Ryltar's room and walked over to him. She seemed to be smiling at him, being a wolf it was hard to tell for my knowledge of nature was limited. Ryltar and Mayra seemed to share a short conversation between them before Ryltar turned back to me.
"Lady Aribeth is there any information you could give me on where the other two Waterdavian Creatures could be?" Ryltar asked.
"Well there is a huge horde of undead in the Beggar's Nest, the people there die of the plague only to come back as undead in seconds after death. This as you are well aware is not normal." I said. "Further more, there were reports of a cult in the area, these cult rumors may or may not be true. If they are, however, it could be a lead as to who caused the plague. Finally strange hooded figures have been seen in the area's around The Nest. Keep a watch out for them."
Ryltar nodded saying, "If they are linked to causing this plague in anyway, then I will personally bring them to justice."
The way he said those lasts words made me almost pity any of those hooded figures, were they to attack him. The look in his eyes alone could have frozen a balor's blood. Nodding in agreement Linu, Mayra, and Ryltar turned and left.
Fenthick came up behind me startling me saying "May Tyr keep there path true, and keep them safe."
Turning to playfully slap him over the shoulder I said. "Fenthick don't scare me like that. Now about those rumors of assassination attempts on Lord Nasher."
End Aribeth
Ryltar
After a half a day journeying through the Beggar's Nest, killing, scores of undead, and skeletons. All three of us were physically and mentally trained. While we had sustained few injuries, rest is what Linu and Mayra needed.
"I should continue on without both of you, try to find the source of this plague while both of you rest for the day. After I have learned something I will come back for both of you." I said slightly annoyed. This was the third time I had brought this up to both of them. Mayra was concerned for me still after my injuries. But it seemed Linu while caring for me didn't' want me to leave her alone in this place. It was odd, as a cleric she should have wanted to do all she could to stop the undead horde. But I noticed that Every time we fought another group of them she seemed on edge. My thoughts were interrupted by several masked figures teleporting around us.
"Your death has been declared by our benefactor drow now die." One of them said as they charged us.
My scimitars clashed with there swords and daggers. While the opponent I faced was not very skilled the fact that eight more figures teleported in after the fight started had me worried. Quickly parrying my opponent's sword high and disarming him of his dagger, I kicked him in the knee cap hard causing the bone to crack and splinter. Blood ran freely down his leg from my kick. He screamed in pain, taking advantage of this I disarmed his sword, and cut deeply into his chest area piercing his left lung with my scimitar. My other one cut into his ribcage. Pulling both out I spun around only to be once more engaged with two figures. These seemed to be better at the fighting arts and presented more of a challenge, requiring more concentration on my part to block there blows. Suddenly, I felt a dagger cut into my ribs, I yelled in pain throwing my left leg back to kick the person, before the dagger could do any more damage. A red haze swept over me as I sank into a rage.
End Ryltar
Linu
Evidently, the target of these attackers was Ryltar, and not Mayra or I. I pulled out my mace and pushed back a strike from, an attack on me his movements were out of sync with his attack, and I took advantage of this slamming my mace into the side of his head. My shield arm came up to block another swing at me from another figure, allowing me to use the movements from my previous strike to carry over to another on this one. The attacker evidently did not expect me to recover so quickly, and due to this left himself open to my attack. Blood sprayed over my shield as I crushed his skull and neck in. I heard Ryltar yell in pain, "Oh no Ryltar!" I turned to see a human sized figure plunge a dagger into Ryltar's ribcage. He recovered quickly and kicked back the figure from him before the dagger could do serious damage to him. However, the look on his eyes turned deadly as his movements became faster and stronger. The attackers seeing the threat he presented surrounded him, they also cut off any help from Mayra and I. I suddenly was knocked from the side in my distraction and fell to the ground as darkness overcame me. My last thought before I slipped into unconsciousness was "Ryltar please live through this."
"Please, wake up, I can't lose you like I have everyone else Linu. I love you. Wake up!" Ryltar said. I was slowly coming back to consciousness, and his words almost made my heart stop. "So it's true he does love me!" his tears covered my face like a small river. Reaching my hand behind me to sit up he moved back to allow me some room.
"Linu your awake! Are you ok? How are you feeling?" His questions came at me fast with concern.
"Ryltar dear, calm yourself I'm fine, during the fight I was just knocked out. I'm more concerned about how you are. You took that dagger in the ribcage, and I see that you have several other wounds on you as well." I said my heart breaking with worry as a strained look came over him. "Do you want me to heal you?" I asked getting ready to cast a healing spell.
Ryltar stopped me saying "No Linu I'm fine, there just flesh wounds, and the dagger in my ribs is fine, a healing potion took care of that." Relief coursed through me as he said this.
"Well then as long as Mayra is ok we can set off, wasn't there a house we were going to check out in the left corner of the Beggar's Nest?" I said. Noticing a paper on the ground however I grabbed it looking at it shock overcame me as I read it. "Ryltar! it seems that the Wailing Death is caused by some cult, and worse still there is a traitor inside NeverWinter helping them! Who do you think it is?"
"I... don't know Linu whoever it is will pay." Ryltar said slowly. I thought he might have an idea of who it was but I didn't press the issue. Standing back up I looked over Mayra, she didn't have any serious injuries so I turned back to Ryltar. "Well I'm ready to go whenever you are."
End Linu
Ryltar
After several more hours of intense street fighting, killing more hordes of undead and skeletons we finally made it to the refugee building. We had originally intended to head to a house which was rumored to house a cult but after the serious fights we had today we decided on resting for the evening as it was getting late in the day.
Pulling my hood up as we neared the door I said. "Linu you should take the lead here we don't need people worrying about drow when there's enough to worry about around here."
"Ryltar dear after everything you have done for the city I'm sure people will recognize you. After all I'm pretty sure you are the only drow in the city." this last part Linu said with a laugh.
"Hmm well I guess you are right still you take the lead better safe then sorry." I said pulling my hood down part way. "I guess I just don't like all the attention this mission is putting on me, I 'm not used to it" I continued nervously.
"Just relax dear, let's go inside get a bite to eat, and then rest for the night. Ok?" Linu asked squeezing my arm.
"Lead the way then Linu." I said opening the door for her.
"My such the gentleman." Linu said jokingly
"You don't know the half of it." I said smiling back at her.
Upon entering the building, a drunken human man approached us. "Sahey...sswe donsn't sssseve ssyour kind here." The man said drunkenly.
Another man this one shorter and having an air of authority, said "Please miss forgive Joe here, he has been drinking all day, come bring your companion and dog off the streets. My name is Barto De Myo owner of this building and runner of this inn."
"Barto would you happen to know who Ryltar Kost'dora is?" Linu asked.
"Ryltar Kost'dora well rumor is that he's a drow looking for the cure creatures, why you ask? if you looking for him, I'm sorry but I haven't seen him." Barto said
Linu pulled me to her pushing my hood down she said. "Well you have now."
"Linu!" I said surprised by her movement. I pulled my hood back to its previous placing saying "I told you I want to keep myself inconspicuous."
"Well it is you! I must say that I've been dying to meet you, Ryltar please understand that room and board are free, a person of your..." I interrupted Barto
"Barto if it's all the same to you I'll pay for both the rooms and food." I said.
"If that is what you want then I will not argue with it, you truly are a noble man please let me get you some food while I prepare a room, I'm sorry but we only have one open, I hope you and the lady don't mind sharing one." Barto told us.
"As long as it has two beds were fine." Linu said.
"Sorry its a small room..." I again intterupted Barto saying "Linu you take the bed I'll sleep in a chair or on the floor ok?"
Linu thankfully nodded in acceptance saying "Very well then Barto we'll take the room."
"How much will that be Barto?" I said pulling out my coin bag.
"Well normally I charge two gold pieces a night but with you being a hero and all." I gave Barto a stern look "One gold piece for the night?" he said.
"Very well Barto here." I said handing him the gold piece. With Linu and Mayra following me we went up the stairs nearby and avoiding the whispers and stares of those in the building went to our room. Unlocking the room's door we entered. "Well its not the best room in this place but it sure is nice... for people that is. You'd think they could put a place for animals in these rooms." Mayra said complaining. "Oh quit your whining Mayra you slept at the foot of my bed for four days! Now your complaining about one night?" I said to her. "That's different in that situation you were hurt and I was concerned for you." Mayra shot back. "Regardless just put up with it."
Linu went behind a dressing screen and changed into more comfortable clothes I being in leather amour and having many nights where I slept in it was fine. Sitting down in a chair next to the windows I thought. "So many people have died, why do I get the feeling even more will? Even if I do find the cure?" These thoughts troubled me, but my thoughts then drifted to Linu. "She so much like Ren'ly, sure she is a surface elf instead of a drow, but she's as beautiful, graceful, and though her fighting lacks a bit she has talent. Who am I kidding she may accept me as a friend but she'll never truly love me." Seeing Linu come out from behind the screen she went over to the bed, and after a few minutes was fast asleep. Moving the chair off to the side of the window, so I would not be seen were someone to enter I drew one of my scimitars and closed my eyes to rest.
(A/N: Hey all this will be the last update for a few days, I've been cranking these out pretty quick lately, and I think I'm going to do some error correctly on the earlier chapters. That said keep your eyes open for Chapter 8 some time on Sat or Mon. Oh for those that have asked Ryltar Is a 4th level Fighter, 1st level druid, and a 3rd level Ranger. Many people have asked why Ryltar doesn't use spells. The reason for this is he isn't versed well enough yet to cast them. Don't worry though I'll work them in soon enough. Please R/R all feedback is welcome.)