Chapter 27

Linu

Dorna and I were waiting back in the river area where Ryltar had told us to meet him, we had been waiting here for him for over three hours and I was strating to worry for him. Finally in annoyance I said still pacing the area, "By Sephaine! Where is that stupid drow!" I said throwing my hands into the air.

"You must have patience, Linu, Ryltar will not leave us alone for this long without a reason. We'll wait here till he comes back." Dorna said to me.

I was still worried for him, regardless of Dorna's words. I saw a rabbit over by the ege of the woods and reached out with my mind to it. It resonded in kind curious as to what I wanted. "Have you seen a dark elven male?" I inquired.

An image of Ryltar talking to a kobold in the woods came through my mind.I sighed glad to know Ryltar wasn't hurt. Several more images came to me then, showing Ryltar talking to a beautiful white stag. "Shadows Hart" Came through my mind as I saw the stag. "So, this is the stag the elven archer was looking for?" I thought. More images appeared showing several smaller white stage, its children. I also found out that Shadow Hart and its children were the last of their kind. Ryltar had agreed to help Shadow Hart, just as Dorna and I had agreed to help the elven archer.

As I was contimplating on this recent information, I heard a faint sound off to my right. Breaking contact with the rabbit I spun around readying myself for an attack. "Show yourself!" I said.

There were several trees around where I was and Ryltar dropped down right in front of me. Startling me. I fell back tripping on a tree root. Ryltar saw what was happening and qucickly grabbed me sweeping me off my feet. He gave me a slight grin. "Hmmm... if I remember correctly you tripped similarly in Neverwinter after we ate, no?" He said.

I got myself back on my feet, saying. "True, dear. But in that instance it was looking you over. Not from being scared to death from someone dropping from a tree." I said.

"Looking me over? HA, what is that your way of saying that even that early you liked my body?" Ryltar said laughing.

I gave him a seductive smile, "No, I was making sure you didn't have any hidden weapons on you."

He leaned in close to me, saying. "You still haven't found them all yet."

I returned his words with, "And you haven't found my either."

The look on Ryltar's face was priceless. I broke his stare saying. "Now then, dear did you get any of those items we were looking for? Or were you just talking all day with Shadow Hart?"

Ryltar looked surprised to see that I knew about Shadow Hart. "How?..."

"You've taught me much, dear. I can talk to the smaller animals pretty well now. A little rabbit told me over your adventures." I said.

"Well, that's good to know. Now if we can only improve your fighting style." Ryltar said scratching his chin.

"Did you or did you not find any items, Ryltar?" Dorna asked.

Ryltar pulled out a bag holding a broken tower statue in it. "Got it off a kobold named Deekin. It seems he's a bard of somekind. Had to free him from a white dragon. After Klauth though, I doubt there's few dragons left that could challenge me." He said.

I went to smack him over the head with my mace but he grabbed it in mid swing. "Work before pleasure, remember Linu?" He said grinning.

"Grrr..." I said gritting my teeth knowing full well what he meant.

"Well let's get this statue and the mummied hand back to Drogan's." Dorna said.

Ryltar looked at me at what we had done, it had taken some work but we got the hand back after killing a lot of people that's all I told him. He sighed taking the hand and statue back, to Drogan's.

End Linu

Alysaa (A/N: She's that Harper chick from before remember?)

I was tending to Drogan once more, it had been several days since Ryltar, Linu, and Dorna had left to search for the stolen artifacts. The front door swung open showing three figures, which revealed to be Ryltar, Linu, and Dorna. Rytltar tossed me a bag, saying. "Sorry, it took so long but we had to make a few detours on the way back, after getting the tower statue and the mummied hand.

I looked at the bag in shock opening it up I saw that inteed that all four stolen items were in there. I looked at all three of them in shoock. "How?... You... Damn... that was quick. Hell I don't think even our best agents could have brought them back faster then you did." I finally said. "Now, what is it going to cost us?" I said.

Ryltar looked at Linu who nodded. I held my breath worried how high there price would be. "You needn't pay anything to Linu and I, your thanks is enough. Besides we get enough to live on from scrouging from the enemies we defeat in our adventures." Ryltar said.

"Well, I won't go through all I have done without getting somekind of reward." Dorna said looking at me. "500 gold pieces." She said.

I sighed, knowing this would happen. I pulled out a bag that had only half of what she wanted. "I'm sorry but 250 gold is all I have extra on me. Will that do?" I asked handing her the bag

She took it from me quickly counting it. "Yes, that will be fine."

I heard a slight noise form behind me. We all turned towards seeing Drogan unsteadyily standing. "It is good to see you back. I... feel much recovered, though my nurse here seems to believe otherwise." He said.

"You should be in bed, you stubborn dwarf. Look at you! Your legs are shaking! The poison has still not completely left your system." I snapped at him.

"Enough, woman! I will not lay about like an invalid if I have the strength to stand! Especially not while Ryltar, Linu... and Dorna are running about endangering themselves for our benefit!" He snapped back.

"Suit yourself. Should you collapse before the hour's over, I'll not take responsibility for you." I said in defeat.

"Hrrumph! I'll take my chances. Better that than to be prodded by an over-concerned elf all day long. Tell me, Ryltar... how fares your hunt?" Drogan said to Ryltar.

I handed all the artifacts to Drogan. " It went well. Ryltar and his friends have all of the artifacts now." I said.

"So you do, so you do. Well done, Ryltar! Let's see them, shall we? What's this? This is definitely the tower statue, but it's been broken... and there's something inside of it? How very odd. " Drogan said looking over the tower.

"It was accidentally broken by the kobold I got it from, but I don't know what's inside it." Ryltar said.

"Broken by a kobold, you say? Hmmm. Well, believe it or not, that may have been a fortuitous turn of events. We do not normally go about breaking magical artifacts we find, you see... and so we would not have realized that this statue was a container and not the artifact, itself. And inside... a crystal. A crystal giving off far, far more power than we detected previously. Perhaps the statue itself was shielding the crystal from detection? How interesting. I must admit, however, that I've never seen anything of its like before. Is there anything you've learned about this crystal during your adventure, Ryltar?" Drogan asked.

Ryltar quickly brought everone up to speed on what they had done. "Seems that J'Nah was seeking it for someone else."

"But not why... hmmm. A true mystery, then. Well, it is no longer safe here. Whoever sent J'Nah to retrieve it will no doubt try again." Drogan said. "I will need to take this crystal and get it looked at by someone who knows of such things. Until then, Ryltar, I think you --" Drogan began I quickly interrupted him.

"Are you certain that is wise, Drogan? Whoever wants this crystal would be keeping an eye out for you, don't you think? They already felled you once." I said

" And what do you propose, Ayala? I will not huddle in my home out of fear" Drogan snapped.

"I'm simply suggesting that perhaps Ryltar an his friends might be better suited to taking this artifact to be identified. No-one will be watching them." I said.

"Where do you want me to take the artifacts?" Ryltar said.

"Whoever wants this crystal knows more about it than we do. We need to catch up, Ryltar so we will know why they want it. And, truth be told, I suppose I am not fully... recovered... from the poison. I would be no match for anything they would surely send my way. You've studied from me for four years, now. You've learned what I can teach you about controlling your gift. I can only ask you as a friend to a friend. Will you do it?" Drogan asked Ryltar I turned to him looking him, studying him.

Ryltar looked at Dorna and Linu both nodded there acceptance to follow him. "Why not? Sounds like fun." He said grinning turning back to us.

"Hah! I'm glad to see you don't let any of this business get to you. I think you will do just fine, dear boy. The man you will need to show the crystal to is an old friend by the name of Garrick Halassar. An expert in the field of dweomer analysis, as it were." Drogan explained.

"And where would we find this Garrick, dear?" Linu asked.

"Hmn. Now that's a good question. I'd assume he's still out in the Anauroch desert digging up Netherese artifacts. He took the caravan out of Hilltop headed there about a year back." Drogan explained.

I spoke up. "If you are referring to the halflings, Drogan, that caravan is in Hilltop now."

"Truly? That is most fortunate. They might even know exactly where Garrick is, then. There you go, Ryltar. You can travel with the caravan." Drogan said. "I'll make arrangements for you and the other apprentices to join them. Ayala and I, in the meantime, will contact the Harpers and do what we can." Drogan said. "Return here in a days time. We'll leave then."

Ryltar nodded. He left for the next room with Linu. I turned and helped Mischa finish cleaning up the school. Xanos had taken off into the night several hours after Ryltar had left. He still wasn't back. But from the way all his stuff was gone, it was most likely he wasn't coming back. I was walking back into the center room when Ryltar and Linu walked up to me.

"Excuse, us dear. But we have a quesiton." Linu said to me.

"Of course what is it?" I said.

"Well, you said early that the Harpers had always wanted one of Drogan's students to become part of them. Well... would you want Linu and I as members?" Ryltar said.

"We would have to see, while you resume is quite large, you race is something we will have to discuss." I said.

"I understand." Ryltar said he and Linu went upstairs then to rest for the coming journey.

End Alysaa

Ryltar

Dream

I was alseep once more, but I was also back in this grey empty realm. The figure representing Aribeth was gone. Now replaced by an imag of Drogan. As was the figure of Mayra, replaced by Drizzt. I looked at each of them saying. "Ok, what do you want now? I saved the world from Morag. I've passed your stupid tests, now tell me. What is it you want now." I said barely continaing my anger.

"Control yourself, chosen one. The foes you face in this trial are only a stepping stone to your greatest challenge yet." the image of Drogan said.

"You mean my darker side?" I said.

"Yes, a great battle looms before you, but when this is we don't know." The image of linu said.

"Why were the images of Mayra and Aribeth replaced?" I asked.

"Because at this time there images are not important, nor are they." the imag of linu said.

Anger sweeled within me. "NOT IMPORTANT! YOUR TELLING ME THAT MAYRA AND ARIBETH'S DEATHS AREN'T IMPORTANT! I should kill you where you stand!" I cried.

"Your power is vast, but even you cannot kill those who are not truly there." the image of Drizzt said.

"Where is my darker side now? Is he stronger for what I have done? Have I made a difference?" I said.

"He is always inside you always waiting for you to accept him, to embrace him. He is like a distant echo that you can barely hear. As for how strong he has become, he is as at least as strong as you are. Your difference will come when you are able to kill him." The image of Drizzt explained.

I took a deep breath trying to calm myself. "How, is he stronger? I haven't done a single evil thing!" I cried.

"As we said originally evil acts will only make him stronger then what you would be now. He takes a different path now, learning things that would aide him in your coming fight." The image of Linu said.

"But how is he gaining strength, through me? Is there anyway to stop this?" I said.

"You cannot stop destiny, just as you learn something in your travels he will find a way learn it from you." The image of Drogan said.

"So it'll be like fighting a mirror you mean?" I said.

"Correct." they all said.

I thought back on everything that had happened to me over the past several years. All I had learned, I then thought, how could I turn what I learned into something that could defeat me? I couldn't think of one thing. "You cannot plan for this fight, chosen one. Do not try in doing so you only reveal your plans to your enemy. Think well on this and sleep well." The image of Linu said.

End dream

I awoke in a deep sweet, Linu was still asleep next to me, I gently laid back down next to her, storking her hair, once more wondering what I would do if something happened to her again. "I couldn't go on. I barely was able to when she died in Neverwinter. It was only because of Aribeth that she..." my thoughts trailed off, as I thought of what Aribeth had done to bring Linu back to me. "Despair..." A voice said in my mind. It sounded like Aribeth, but I wasn't sure. Thinking that I was only imaging things, I once more closed my eyes and fell asleep.

End Ryltar

(A/N: I kow short chapter and I killed a ton of speeches that I could have done. I skipped the first chpater mostly cause its like the first chapter of the OC. Plus like the images said. There all just going to be push overs for Ryltar and Linu. I have a lot going lately so chapters will be later in comeing if they come quickly its cause there short ones. But depeiding on what support I get I'll make a long one come chapter 3 of SOU. I know I'm making SOU short but I really never liked it that much as I did the OC and HOTU, anyhow I might have Chpater 28 up by Mon night so check then if not then then later on in the week.)