Disclaimer : Is there really any need for this? You guys know that I own
only the characters that can't be found in the FR books. And I let you
know when a new one is coming usually. Like Sulana, Ptolanomy,
Tirilaphaena, and Melkor(who is named after a character from Tolkein's 'The
Silmarilian').
Mirror Me Dark
By Semdai Bloodquill
Chapter Four : Lullaby of Darkness
Dagasta, House Baenre's Weapon Master and current Patron, lengthened his stride as he headed fro his destination. He pushed into Dantrag's first room and found the drow polishing his swords.
" What do you want," Dantrag snapped not looking up from his work.
" To talk," Dagasta replied, moving closer to Dantrag, who still refused to look up from his polishing, " I know what happened between you and Zandrath."
" So," Dantrag snapped coldly.
" Do you know what makes him that way," Dagasta questioned coolly.
" Do you," Dantrag shot back.
" Yes I do," Dagasta retorted, " you can't hide your thoughts from me, you know."
" So why come talk to me when you can just pick my brain," Dantrag asked sarcastically, finishing his first sword and moving on to the second.
" I consider that rude," the patron said simply, leaning against a wall and picking at the skin under his curving, claw-like fingernails with a long knife, " and it's such a waste of energy when I can just ask."
" What makes you think I'll cooperate," Dantrag reminded, " I hold no alliances with you." Dagasta grinned and his yellow eye twitched while his green eye closed halfway.
" Neither of us agree with Triel's plans," the patron remarked.
" An attempt at the conquest of the surface is what killed Matron Baenre and put Triel on the house's throne," Dantrag agreed.
" You speak of Matron Yvonnel Baenre," Dagasta commented, a statement that made Dantrag finally turn and face his visitor, a shocked look on his face.
" You knew my mother's real name," the former Weapon Master demanded, " how?"
" My sister picked the brain of that Matron years ago and told all of us," Dagasta stated simply, as if the information were as worthless as the news of a kobold's death, " we often used that knowledge to monitor House Baenre's actions and Matron Yvonnel's thoughts."
" Who are you," Dantrag demanded, the surprise still evident on his face and in his tone. Dagasta grinned again, his two-toned eyes showing his inner glee at having reached this point of his plan.
" You probably won't remember my original House," the patron stated, more to his knife than Dantrag, " you were still asleep when it was destroyed."
" Try me," Dantrag challenged.
" We were the tenth house in the time of the Hun'ett-Do'Urden war," Dagasta answered simply, again speaking as if the information meant nothing, " we became the eighth house after the fall of those families and soon became seventh after the fall of House Oblodra. Then my sister, a powerful Matron by then, betrayed and denounced the Spider Queen. She fled to the surface and most of our family was destroyed." Dagasta slid his dagger back into his belt and faced Dantrag with a wide grin on his face. He added, " but I am a survivor."
Suddenly a pain-filled cry shattered the air and brought Dagasta's oversized ears up.
" Zandrath," the patron realized, recognizing the voice of his golden-eyed son. As the drow turned to go, Dantrag grabbed his arm.
" What House?" Dagasta squinted his yellow eye at Dantrag before answering.
" House Daiblon Oculadae."
~*~*~*~*~*~
The night settled over the Sword Coast with its usual display of stars. They were sailing again. The four pirate vessels had each given a fraction of their crew to man the Sea Sprite, which their leader had obviously decided to keep as their own. There was a lot of singing between the ships, particularly Scarlet Gypsy and Spookshow. Robillard hated it.
It wasn't that the pirates had bad voices, quite the opposite actually. It was the songs they were singing, ghastly, haunting pieces of dark poetry made more disturbing by the instruments that many of the pirates played. Spookshow's crew played mostly flutes and pipes their high notes ringing the wizard's ears. Demon Pinion's pirates played guitars, violas, and other string instruments. One pirate girl from the Demon Pinion even played a magnificent harp, its frame and strings made from pure silver. Scarlet Gypsy played clarinets, oboes, and bassoons. But all the ships had singers, save for the silent Crimson Fell Beast, from which no sound emanated.
For the most part, the vocalists were females, most of them climbing to the corners of their respective ships and pouring out their voices, low sopranos and high altos mostly, giving themselves over to their strange lyrics.
" Atop this balcony, here I sit, nursing my wounds, clawed and bit..."
" Pay they will for I am back, through their wings my talons will rack..."
" Up from this balcony and into the sky, fangs bared and head high..."
" Backwing down, battle has begun, carry a war that's never done..."
" Sun has set surrendering to night, makes no difference in this fight..."
" Angry hissing, deafening roars, above the scene my dragon soars..."
" Lash out hard with claws and tail, push them harder, we will not fail..."
" A flash, and spurt of red, down falls our enemy, still and dead..."
" Song bursts forth, the war is done, rejoice my children, we have won!"
A great cheer burst from the three ships as the song ended and the pirate choir began to vocalize a series of high-pitched syllables that lingered in Robillard's ears. Words that sounded Elvish, yet made no sense to the wizard, but were somehow bone-chilling and sent shivers down his spine.
Abruptly all music ceased and Robillard looked around for the cause of the silence. His answer came in the form of a dozen dark shapes rising up from the water around Crimson Fell Beast and circling the five ships. The pirates of the other vessels all fell to their knees and offered prayers of thanks and honor as the shapes took their perches on the ships, one taking up residence just in front of Robillard's position.
The beast was an Umi, a cross between the great leviathans of the sea and the mighty dragons of the sky. This one stood on four powerful legs, the front two had hands that were slightly webbed and sported talons as long as Robillard's hand, the hind limbs were fully webbed, with smaller, but still deadly, claws. Its sleek, muscular body was a smoky indigo color with a short sail running from the crown of its serpentine head to the tip of its finned tail. Enormous wings had sprouted from its shoulders and were outstretched to their full length, their black membranes gleaming wetly.
" How do you like my friends, Wizard," Seivriel asked from the back of the Umi. Robillard looked up to see the pirate leader seated comfortably on the back of the sea beast. She placed a hand on the Umi's dart-shaped head and scratched the ridges above its milky, gray eyes with affection. " Undyingly loyal and incredibly strong and agile," she remarked, " quite remarkable beasts."
" Demonic abominations and nothing more," Robillard spat. Umis were indeed an unintended species, created by a fanatical and essentially insane sorcerer, then dumped into the oceans, and left to die. But the sea beasts flourished and became masters of the water and sea air.
" Such harsh words for so beautiful a creature," Seivriel pouted, leaning against the Umi's long neck and brushing its slippery skin with her hand.
" Is a flame not beautiful as well," Robillard retorted, " yet when you touch it, it burns your flesh?"
" Beauty has its delusions," Seivriel agreed, " the drow elves are a fine example. They are a beautiful but entirely evil race. Except for your ranger friend, Drizzt Do'Urden." Robillard shifted uncomfortably. " I know you sent Deudermont to your drow friend, Wizard, you can hide nothing from me."
" And does that ability to read my mind make you a wizard as well," Robillard spat contemptibly, " or are you nothing more than a skulking witch?"
" Not quite either," Seivriel slid from the Umi's back and approached Robillard, " what do you think I am, Robillard?"
Robillard stared at her for a moment before answering, " I think you are a heartless and demonic witch warped by dark magic."
" I actually meant species wise, but that does seem like a fairly accurate description of my personality," the pirate leader laughed, " try and guess my species."
Robillard took a long, hard look at Seivriel for the first time. She was skinny and her bones were clearly visible, particularly her high, sharp cheekbones. Her black eyes, endless pools of ebony pitch, seemed too big and too angled and were made even darker by her silvery blonde hair, which was tightly braided and hung like a tail down the full length of her back. Her ears, which seemed to stick straight out of her skull, were long, pointed, and heavy with earrings. When she smiled, she showed pearl-white eye-teeth that were more akin to the fangs of a wolf (or possibly a dragon) than the canines of a mortal. Overall, she was like a fiendishly warped elf.
" Your ears tell me that you are at least part elf and your wasted figure hints at human blood, but your black eyes and fang teeth confuse me," Robillard decided.
" Oh very good, Robillard," Seivriel clapped, " you have guessed it almost perfectly. Part human and part elf I am, but the black of my eyes are not natural colors for either race. Nor are my fangs a trait of the two species."
" Then what makes your eyes as black and your teeth as fangs," Robillard asked. Seivriel smiled and produced her violin from thin air. She placed it under her bony chin and set the bowstring in place.
" My eyes are colored black from a race that has not walked freely on the surface for thousands of years," the pirate replied.
" Drow?" Robillard gasped.
Seivriel snickered, " For the origin of my fangs you may ask the other souls that Mizutatsu and I have consumed."
" Consumed," Robillard stammered.
Seivriel struck the first notes of her demonic melody.
This song was not made of the stinging, carrying notes Robillard had heard thus far in his stay with the pirates. These notes were quick and short but spaced far apart and each seemed to hang ominously in the air.
The Umis responded to the song by lifting into the star-filled sky and circling the Sea Sprite in clearly defined groups and patterns. The other pirates lifted their voices as the violin, Mizutatsu, burst into song, its voice born from the mouth of its wielder.
" Baneful creatures come to me... Over river, lake, and sea..."
Robillard felt a keen ache in his chest, as if his skin was being stretched beyond his limits. The Umis' aerial dance became faster.
" Gather 'round and do my will... Dance and sing and lastly kill..."
A great screeching shook the ships as nine Drakes, wicked, pygmy dragons black as charred flesh, joined in the aerial dance. Robillard winced as the ache doubled.
" Fiends of darkness and of night... Join with me and share my might..."
Huge, ebony-feathered birds trailing ashy blackness in their wake swooped down on the pirate ships, one even came so close that it sliced a deep gash across Seivriel's left shoulder. The pirate leader did not even flinch. The black birds, Mortuos Fowl by name, mingled with the Umis and Drakes. Robillard bit his tongue to keep from screaming, so great was the pull.
" Umis, Drakes, and Mortuos Fowl... Sing and let me hear you howl..."
The flying beasts let forth the loudest, shrillest, and most terrible cries they could muster. Many pirates fell to their knees clutching their ears in pain, so awful was the sound. But even the din of that dire howling was nothing compared to the screeching, frenzied wails of sound that emanated from Mizutatsu. Robillard was screaming in agony as the notes burned in his ears and mind. He thrashed and twisted, trying to free his hands so that he might shut out the monstrous sounds. His body felt as if it was being torn in two.
Suddenly the air was rent by the roar of a mighty, black dragon. The lesser pirates were afraid. Never before had Seivriel played so powerful a lullaby that it called a true dragon, let alone a black one. The frenzy only doubled as two red dragons, both young but still fearsome, joined the throng, followed by a large flock of Black Wyverns, the elusive bird dragons.
" Welcome all who love the dark... Feel my song and to me hark..."
A score of Harpies wailed a hellish greeting as they too joined the flock. Seivriel was beyond the simple satisfaction of the music. Never before had she and Mizutatsu called so varied and powerful a flock as this. Usually they only managed to bring Umis and Mortuos Fowl. Occasionally a Drake or Harpy would join, but never had so many come to their song.
" Moment of our ecstasy... OFFERED SPIRIT COME TO ME!" Seivriel and Mizutatsu screamed with pleasure and glee while Robillard screamed with pain and torture. The wizard's soul tore free of his body and was drawn into the violin, like water into a dry cloth. Above, the monsters howled and screeched and wailed and roared, showing their approval and pleasure. The pirates cheered and the mass of dark creatures exploded into sudden outward motion, spreading like waves into the air around the ships. Robillard's body slumped lifelessly against the mast.
Seivriel and Mizutatsu fell to the deck. Seivriel gasped for breath while the violin returned from the shores of ecstasy.
' We have played a more powerful song than ever this night,' the instrument cheered.
' Tonight we have called dragons, the very purest embodiments of power, to our song,' Seivriel agreed, ' we are truly powerful, my violin, my Water Dragon.' A tear fell from her eye and she kissed the bowstring of her perverted instrument.
" Commodore," a stunned crewman stammered, " the monsters." Seivriel turned her black eyes to the sky and was surprised. Not a single creature had departed.
" You are free," Seivriel declared, standing tall and proud, " leave as you would, mighty denizens of the dark." The pirate leader bowed low.
The Umis drifted lazily down to the water and disappeared beneath it without a sound. The Wyverns roared softly with happiness before catching the sea breezes that would take them away. The Drakes let out farewell howls and soared away on the ocean wind. The Harpies, too, wailed their good-byes and departed on the breeze. The Mortuos Fowl cawed gleefully and became clouds of ash, dispersing themselves to the air currents. The three dragons, however, would not go.
" Why do they linger, Commodore," the crewman asked fearfully when the three dragons landed on the ships. The biggest one, a red, took perch on Crimson Fell Beast's central mast. The other red landed on Scarlet Gypsy's deck and laid down like a great cat. The black beast set itself down on Sea Sprite's lower deck and stared at Seivriel with his great, slitted eyes.
" My ships and crew are honored by your presence, Great Dragon," Seivriel addressed, bowing low to the beast.
" I am Melkor, Son of Kurokeseid," the dragon stated, dipping his head to the pirate leader.
" The greetings of myself and my underlings, Melkor, Son of Kurokeseid," Seivriel bowed again, " I am Seivriel Versail of the pirate Vessel Crimson Fell Beast."
" I am Sulana, Daughter of Tirilaphaena," the red dragon aboard Scarlet Gypsy called.
" And I am Ptolanomy, Son of Hilluvistain," the red on Crimson Fell Beast echoed.
" We welcome you all, Melkor Son of Kurokeseid, Sulana Daughter of Tirilaphaena, and Ptolanomy Son of Hilluvistain," Seivriel greeted, " might I be so bold as to inquire the reason for your presence."
The three dragons spoke amongst themselves in a foreign language for several minutes. Finally, Melkor spoke again, " we have taken a liking to you, Lady Pirate who wields the instrument of our allies, and we have decided to spend some time with you."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Zandrath walked slowly down the hallway not really paying attention to where he was going. If he had been, he might have seen Antioch before the older Baenre jumped him. Antioch slammed Zandrath hard against the wall and had a dagger against his throat before the younger Baenre could cry out in surprise.
" What the," Zandrath stammered.
" Where's your calm now, Little Brother," Antioch taunted, pressing the dagger against Zandrath's neck, " or did you lose it when you cut the wound on your arm." He grabbed Zandrath's injured arm and twisted it.
" What are you doing," Zandrath demanded painfully.
" Fulfilling a request from Matron Triel," Antioch mocked gleefully. The Baenre son let go of his brother's arm grabbed his throat, pulling the younger drow closer to him. " She wants proof of your instability." Antioch drove his dagger into the soft flesh under Zandrath's left eye. He waited a moment as Zandrath screamed and jerked violently. Antioch got his arm around Zandrath's neck and began to carve out his brother's eye.
The younger Baenre screamed and howled in pain and tried to wrench free, but his brother held him too tightly. After several agonizing moments Zandrath's eyes slipped free of its socket and Antioch released his grip. Zandrath fell to the floor, holding a hand over his empty, bleeding socket.
" Mother will be pleased," Antioch smirked, wiping blood from the quivering eyeball in his hand. With a nasty grin splitting his face, Antioch disappeared into the shadows.
Zandrath slumped against the wall and tenderly felt the empty place where his eye had once been. The flesh was torn wickedly, and several patches of jagged skin clung grotesquely to the socket. Blood flowed freely from the wound like scarlet tears.
Swift footsteps to his left turned Zandrath's head in time for him to see Dantrag and his father, Dagasta, hurrying toward him.
" What's wrong," Dagasta asked kneeling beside Zandrath, who hand covered his empty socket again. Dantrag also knelt before the young drow. Curious as to the blood dripping down his nephew's face, Dantrag gently moved Zandrath's hand, and gasped at the sight. Dagasta carefully took his son's head in his hands and examined the wound, his breathing coming in shocked gulps.
" Who did this to you," the patron asked, anger evident in his voice and his yellow eye flashing.
" Antioch," Zandrath squeaked, " he attacked me and cut my eye out. Then he ran off."
" Did he say why," Dantrag pressed.
" Something about Triel wanting proof of my instability," Zandrath whimpered, tears of pain filling his remaining eye. Dagasta laid his cheek against his son's forehead and put his arms around him.
Dantrag stared at the father and son for several moments, confused by such an open display of an affection that was forbidden in their society.
" Come with me," the patron directed a moment later, helping Zandrath to his feet.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kimmuriel Oblodra surveyed the room before him. This was the infirmary. Usually this room was empty, save for the few soldiers who managed to substantially hurt themselves and even then they never stayed longer than a single cycle of Narbondel. Now the room was packed with drow, most of them lying on soft mats, moaning and tossing in their troubled sleep. Wizards knelt beside several of the mats, chanting softly and casting healing spells over the sick soldiers to no visible avail.
Kimmuriel stopped beside a particular mat, on which rested a very miserable looking drow male who happened to be his lieutenant, Blasko. The suffering elf managed to open his eyes and stare at Kimmuriel. Blasko's eyes had once been blood-red, but they had faded to almost stark white, showing only faint, red slashes along the remains of the iris. Kimmuriel wondered if Blasko was blind.
" Blasko," he asked gently, placing a hand on his lieutenant's forehead, which was burning up with fever, " can you hear me?"
" Yes," Blasko moaned slowly, his head turning to face Kimmuriel, " but... I cannot... see you..."
Kimmuriel studied Blasko's face. His hair was matted by sweat and there were trickles of crimson fluid welled up in his ears, nose, and eyes. His whole body shook violently with chills and pain.
" Don't try to talk," Kimmuriel ordered, placing a finger on each of Blasko's temples, " project your thoughts to the front of your mind and I will read them."
Blasko closed his eyes and slipped deep into his mind. ' I hurt everywhere, Sir,' he said telepathically to Kimmuriel, ' my body feels like it's on fire and I can't move without something aching.'
' Don't move, Blasko,' Kimmuriel instructed, ' I'm going to try to ease the pain.'
' Don't Sir,' Blasko's mind cried, ' the sickness will pass to you!' Kimmuriel let go of Blasko.
" Don't you die on me, Blasko," the mercenary leader ordered, " it'll be too hard to replace you."
" I'm... sorry... sir..." Blasko went limp. Kimmuriel grabbed the lieutenant's shoulders and felt for a pulse at his throat.
" Don't you die on me now, Blasko," he repeated. Blasko remained silent and unmoving. " Damnit," Kimmuriel cursed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
" Lazuli, I'm not sure how to say this but," Artemis Entreri's brow furrowed and his gray eyes took on a distant look for a moment. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, " Jarlaxle is dying."
The statement almost killed Lazuli then and there. Her eyes widened and she pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Jarlaxle? Dying? How could that be?
The older Entreri seemed to know her thoughts.
" He said the failing of the old elvin magic is causing elves all over Toril to die of a mysterious illness," he explained. Somehow, he could not meet his daughter's eyes.
" I have to go to him," Lazuli cried, turning to run. Entreri reached out and grabbed her wrist before she could leave.
" You could catch the disease from him, Lazuli," he warned, his voice rising in volume, " if that happens and you die!" His voice stopped as he shut his eyes again. The old assassin buried her in a crushing embrace, his voice breaking as he spoke again, " I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, Lazuli!"
" Father," Lazuli hugged him back, " please understand. You and Jarlaxle are all I have, if I lose either of you," she buried her face in her father's chest and sobbed, " I love you both so much, I can't bear the thought of losing one of you! Please, let me go to Jarlaxle, if only to say goodbye."
" Go then," Entreri conceded, " go and see him." He released Lazuli.
" Thank you for understanding," she cried, then she turned and rushed to Jarlaxle's room.
" Lazuli?" The drow was awake, but he seemed so very weak.
" Yes, Jarlaxle," Lazuli choked, " I am here." She ran to his side and fell against his chest sobbing, " why didn't you tell me, Jarlaxle? Why?" Jarlaxle put his arms around the crying girl.
" I wasn't sure then," he explained, " but now I know," he paused and laid his cheek on Lazuli's head, " and so do you."
" There must be a cure somewhere," Lazuli insisted, " tell me and I will get it for you."
" There may be one who can point the way for you," Jarlaxle revealed, " but she will not be easily found."
" Who and where? Tell me and I will go," Lazuli demanded, looking Jarlaxle in the eye, " I wont let you die without a fight."
" You might as well tell her, Jarlaxle," Entreri remarked from the doorway, " she'll find out sooner or later."
" She and I were friends when she lived in Menzoberranzan, you will likely find her under the name of Seralon if she hasn't changed it," the drow began.
" Seralon," Lazuli repeated, committing the name to memory..
" She and her brood now dwell in the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale," Jarlaxle continued.
" Icewind Dale," Lazuli memorized
" Ask the dwarves of Kelvin's Cairn and they will point you to her. Tell them that I sent you and you should have little trouble," the drow finished.
" I shall prepare at once," Lazuli declared rushing to her room to collect the necessary items.
" She loves you dearly," Entreri stated flatly once his daughter was out of earshot.
" I thought as much," Jarlaxle smirked at the assassin, " will you go with her?"
" I'm too old for such adventuring," Entreri replied, shaking his head, " besides, I detest Icewind Dale."
" Because Drizzt called it home," Jarlaxle retorted. Entreri glared at the dark elf. " That's it, isn't it? You wont go because you don't want to face the dwarves who called Drizzt a friend."
" No," Entreri denied sharply, " it's like I said before. I'm too old."
" Seventy isn't so old," Jarlaxle quipped.
" For a dark elf maybe," Entreri countered turning his head so that he could see down the hallway.
" And what of Lazuli," the drow questioned, " you'll send her to Icewind Dale alone?"
" Now that I have no intention of doing," the assassin assured, cocking his head to face the drow.
" You won't go and I can't go," Jarlaxle stated, " so who will go with her?"
Entreri sighed heavily. " I'm going to the docks," he declared, standing upright, " make certain that Lazuli doesn't leave until I get back. I have to see if a certain ship is in port." He turned to go but stopped and added slyly, " remember, seventy is too old for adventuring and seven hundred is too old for filandering with the hearts of young girls."
To be continued...
AN: Who liked it? I find this chapter kind of tedious, probably because I have to make sure that I'm being clear and not getting sidetracked. Am I doing an Ok job? Please review and tell me, even if you already did for an earlier chapter, review again so I know I'm meeting expectations (and so I know that someone is still reading or else I'll just stop writing.) And how are the names I'm coming up with sounding? Please give me feedback.
Mirror Me Dark
By Semdai Bloodquill
Chapter Four : Lullaby of Darkness
Dagasta, House Baenre's Weapon Master and current Patron, lengthened his stride as he headed fro his destination. He pushed into Dantrag's first room and found the drow polishing his swords.
" What do you want," Dantrag snapped not looking up from his work.
" To talk," Dagasta replied, moving closer to Dantrag, who still refused to look up from his polishing, " I know what happened between you and Zandrath."
" So," Dantrag snapped coldly.
" Do you know what makes him that way," Dagasta questioned coolly.
" Do you," Dantrag shot back.
" Yes I do," Dagasta retorted, " you can't hide your thoughts from me, you know."
" So why come talk to me when you can just pick my brain," Dantrag asked sarcastically, finishing his first sword and moving on to the second.
" I consider that rude," the patron said simply, leaning against a wall and picking at the skin under his curving, claw-like fingernails with a long knife, " and it's such a waste of energy when I can just ask."
" What makes you think I'll cooperate," Dantrag reminded, " I hold no alliances with you." Dagasta grinned and his yellow eye twitched while his green eye closed halfway.
" Neither of us agree with Triel's plans," the patron remarked.
" An attempt at the conquest of the surface is what killed Matron Baenre and put Triel on the house's throne," Dantrag agreed.
" You speak of Matron Yvonnel Baenre," Dagasta commented, a statement that made Dantrag finally turn and face his visitor, a shocked look on his face.
" You knew my mother's real name," the former Weapon Master demanded, " how?"
" My sister picked the brain of that Matron years ago and told all of us," Dagasta stated simply, as if the information were as worthless as the news of a kobold's death, " we often used that knowledge to monitor House Baenre's actions and Matron Yvonnel's thoughts."
" Who are you," Dantrag demanded, the surprise still evident on his face and in his tone. Dagasta grinned again, his two-toned eyes showing his inner glee at having reached this point of his plan.
" You probably won't remember my original House," the patron stated, more to his knife than Dantrag, " you were still asleep when it was destroyed."
" Try me," Dantrag challenged.
" We were the tenth house in the time of the Hun'ett-Do'Urden war," Dagasta answered simply, again speaking as if the information meant nothing, " we became the eighth house after the fall of those families and soon became seventh after the fall of House Oblodra. Then my sister, a powerful Matron by then, betrayed and denounced the Spider Queen. She fled to the surface and most of our family was destroyed." Dagasta slid his dagger back into his belt and faced Dantrag with a wide grin on his face. He added, " but I am a survivor."
Suddenly a pain-filled cry shattered the air and brought Dagasta's oversized ears up.
" Zandrath," the patron realized, recognizing the voice of his golden-eyed son. As the drow turned to go, Dantrag grabbed his arm.
" What House?" Dagasta squinted his yellow eye at Dantrag before answering.
" House Daiblon Oculadae."
~*~*~*~*~*~
The night settled over the Sword Coast with its usual display of stars. They were sailing again. The four pirate vessels had each given a fraction of their crew to man the Sea Sprite, which their leader had obviously decided to keep as their own. There was a lot of singing between the ships, particularly Scarlet Gypsy and Spookshow. Robillard hated it.
It wasn't that the pirates had bad voices, quite the opposite actually. It was the songs they were singing, ghastly, haunting pieces of dark poetry made more disturbing by the instruments that many of the pirates played. Spookshow's crew played mostly flutes and pipes their high notes ringing the wizard's ears. Demon Pinion's pirates played guitars, violas, and other string instruments. One pirate girl from the Demon Pinion even played a magnificent harp, its frame and strings made from pure silver. Scarlet Gypsy played clarinets, oboes, and bassoons. But all the ships had singers, save for the silent Crimson Fell Beast, from which no sound emanated.
For the most part, the vocalists were females, most of them climbing to the corners of their respective ships and pouring out their voices, low sopranos and high altos mostly, giving themselves over to their strange lyrics.
" Atop this balcony, here I sit, nursing my wounds, clawed and bit..."
" Pay they will for I am back, through their wings my talons will rack..."
" Up from this balcony and into the sky, fangs bared and head high..."
" Backwing down, battle has begun, carry a war that's never done..."
" Sun has set surrendering to night, makes no difference in this fight..."
" Angry hissing, deafening roars, above the scene my dragon soars..."
" Lash out hard with claws and tail, push them harder, we will not fail..."
" A flash, and spurt of red, down falls our enemy, still and dead..."
" Song bursts forth, the war is done, rejoice my children, we have won!"
A great cheer burst from the three ships as the song ended and the pirate choir began to vocalize a series of high-pitched syllables that lingered in Robillard's ears. Words that sounded Elvish, yet made no sense to the wizard, but were somehow bone-chilling and sent shivers down his spine.
Abruptly all music ceased and Robillard looked around for the cause of the silence. His answer came in the form of a dozen dark shapes rising up from the water around Crimson Fell Beast and circling the five ships. The pirates of the other vessels all fell to their knees and offered prayers of thanks and honor as the shapes took their perches on the ships, one taking up residence just in front of Robillard's position.
The beast was an Umi, a cross between the great leviathans of the sea and the mighty dragons of the sky. This one stood on four powerful legs, the front two had hands that were slightly webbed and sported talons as long as Robillard's hand, the hind limbs were fully webbed, with smaller, but still deadly, claws. Its sleek, muscular body was a smoky indigo color with a short sail running from the crown of its serpentine head to the tip of its finned tail. Enormous wings had sprouted from its shoulders and were outstretched to their full length, their black membranes gleaming wetly.
" How do you like my friends, Wizard," Seivriel asked from the back of the Umi. Robillard looked up to see the pirate leader seated comfortably on the back of the sea beast. She placed a hand on the Umi's dart-shaped head and scratched the ridges above its milky, gray eyes with affection. " Undyingly loyal and incredibly strong and agile," she remarked, " quite remarkable beasts."
" Demonic abominations and nothing more," Robillard spat. Umis were indeed an unintended species, created by a fanatical and essentially insane sorcerer, then dumped into the oceans, and left to die. But the sea beasts flourished and became masters of the water and sea air.
" Such harsh words for so beautiful a creature," Seivriel pouted, leaning against the Umi's long neck and brushing its slippery skin with her hand.
" Is a flame not beautiful as well," Robillard retorted, " yet when you touch it, it burns your flesh?"
" Beauty has its delusions," Seivriel agreed, " the drow elves are a fine example. They are a beautiful but entirely evil race. Except for your ranger friend, Drizzt Do'Urden." Robillard shifted uncomfortably. " I know you sent Deudermont to your drow friend, Wizard, you can hide nothing from me."
" And does that ability to read my mind make you a wizard as well," Robillard spat contemptibly, " or are you nothing more than a skulking witch?"
" Not quite either," Seivriel slid from the Umi's back and approached Robillard, " what do you think I am, Robillard?"
Robillard stared at her for a moment before answering, " I think you are a heartless and demonic witch warped by dark magic."
" I actually meant species wise, but that does seem like a fairly accurate description of my personality," the pirate leader laughed, " try and guess my species."
Robillard took a long, hard look at Seivriel for the first time. She was skinny and her bones were clearly visible, particularly her high, sharp cheekbones. Her black eyes, endless pools of ebony pitch, seemed too big and too angled and were made even darker by her silvery blonde hair, which was tightly braided and hung like a tail down the full length of her back. Her ears, which seemed to stick straight out of her skull, were long, pointed, and heavy with earrings. When she smiled, she showed pearl-white eye-teeth that were more akin to the fangs of a wolf (or possibly a dragon) than the canines of a mortal. Overall, she was like a fiendishly warped elf.
" Your ears tell me that you are at least part elf and your wasted figure hints at human blood, but your black eyes and fang teeth confuse me," Robillard decided.
" Oh very good, Robillard," Seivriel clapped, " you have guessed it almost perfectly. Part human and part elf I am, but the black of my eyes are not natural colors for either race. Nor are my fangs a trait of the two species."
" Then what makes your eyes as black and your teeth as fangs," Robillard asked. Seivriel smiled and produced her violin from thin air. She placed it under her bony chin and set the bowstring in place.
" My eyes are colored black from a race that has not walked freely on the surface for thousands of years," the pirate replied.
" Drow?" Robillard gasped.
Seivriel snickered, " For the origin of my fangs you may ask the other souls that Mizutatsu and I have consumed."
" Consumed," Robillard stammered.
Seivriel struck the first notes of her demonic melody.
This song was not made of the stinging, carrying notes Robillard had heard thus far in his stay with the pirates. These notes were quick and short but spaced far apart and each seemed to hang ominously in the air.
The Umis responded to the song by lifting into the star-filled sky and circling the Sea Sprite in clearly defined groups and patterns. The other pirates lifted their voices as the violin, Mizutatsu, burst into song, its voice born from the mouth of its wielder.
" Baneful creatures come to me... Over river, lake, and sea..."
Robillard felt a keen ache in his chest, as if his skin was being stretched beyond his limits. The Umis' aerial dance became faster.
" Gather 'round and do my will... Dance and sing and lastly kill..."
A great screeching shook the ships as nine Drakes, wicked, pygmy dragons black as charred flesh, joined in the aerial dance. Robillard winced as the ache doubled.
" Fiends of darkness and of night... Join with me and share my might..."
Huge, ebony-feathered birds trailing ashy blackness in their wake swooped down on the pirate ships, one even came so close that it sliced a deep gash across Seivriel's left shoulder. The pirate leader did not even flinch. The black birds, Mortuos Fowl by name, mingled with the Umis and Drakes. Robillard bit his tongue to keep from screaming, so great was the pull.
" Umis, Drakes, and Mortuos Fowl... Sing and let me hear you howl..."
The flying beasts let forth the loudest, shrillest, and most terrible cries they could muster. Many pirates fell to their knees clutching their ears in pain, so awful was the sound. But even the din of that dire howling was nothing compared to the screeching, frenzied wails of sound that emanated from Mizutatsu. Robillard was screaming in agony as the notes burned in his ears and mind. He thrashed and twisted, trying to free his hands so that he might shut out the monstrous sounds. His body felt as if it was being torn in two.
Suddenly the air was rent by the roar of a mighty, black dragon. The lesser pirates were afraid. Never before had Seivriel played so powerful a lullaby that it called a true dragon, let alone a black one. The frenzy only doubled as two red dragons, both young but still fearsome, joined the throng, followed by a large flock of Black Wyverns, the elusive bird dragons.
" Welcome all who love the dark... Feel my song and to me hark..."
A score of Harpies wailed a hellish greeting as they too joined the flock. Seivriel was beyond the simple satisfaction of the music. Never before had she and Mizutatsu called so varied and powerful a flock as this. Usually they only managed to bring Umis and Mortuos Fowl. Occasionally a Drake or Harpy would join, but never had so many come to their song.
" Moment of our ecstasy... OFFERED SPIRIT COME TO ME!" Seivriel and Mizutatsu screamed with pleasure and glee while Robillard screamed with pain and torture. The wizard's soul tore free of his body and was drawn into the violin, like water into a dry cloth. Above, the monsters howled and screeched and wailed and roared, showing their approval and pleasure. The pirates cheered and the mass of dark creatures exploded into sudden outward motion, spreading like waves into the air around the ships. Robillard's body slumped lifelessly against the mast.
Seivriel and Mizutatsu fell to the deck. Seivriel gasped for breath while the violin returned from the shores of ecstasy.
' We have played a more powerful song than ever this night,' the instrument cheered.
' Tonight we have called dragons, the very purest embodiments of power, to our song,' Seivriel agreed, ' we are truly powerful, my violin, my Water Dragon.' A tear fell from her eye and she kissed the bowstring of her perverted instrument.
" Commodore," a stunned crewman stammered, " the monsters." Seivriel turned her black eyes to the sky and was surprised. Not a single creature had departed.
" You are free," Seivriel declared, standing tall and proud, " leave as you would, mighty denizens of the dark." The pirate leader bowed low.
The Umis drifted lazily down to the water and disappeared beneath it without a sound. The Wyverns roared softly with happiness before catching the sea breezes that would take them away. The Drakes let out farewell howls and soared away on the ocean wind. The Harpies, too, wailed their good-byes and departed on the breeze. The Mortuos Fowl cawed gleefully and became clouds of ash, dispersing themselves to the air currents. The three dragons, however, would not go.
" Why do they linger, Commodore," the crewman asked fearfully when the three dragons landed on the ships. The biggest one, a red, took perch on Crimson Fell Beast's central mast. The other red landed on Scarlet Gypsy's deck and laid down like a great cat. The black beast set itself down on Sea Sprite's lower deck and stared at Seivriel with his great, slitted eyes.
" My ships and crew are honored by your presence, Great Dragon," Seivriel addressed, bowing low to the beast.
" I am Melkor, Son of Kurokeseid," the dragon stated, dipping his head to the pirate leader.
" The greetings of myself and my underlings, Melkor, Son of Kurokeseid," Seivriel bowed again, " I am Seivriel Versail of the pirate Vessel Crimson Fell Beast."
" I am Sulana, Daughter of Tirilaphaena," the red dragon aboard Scarlet Gypsy called.
" And I am Ptolanomy, Son of Hilluvistain," the red on Crimson Fell Beast echoed.
" We welcome you all, Melkor Son of Kurokeseid, Sulana Daughter of Tirilaphaena, and Ptolanomy Son of Hilluvistain," Seivriel greeted, " might I be so bold as to inquire the reason for your presence."
The three dragons spoke amongst themselves in a foreign language for several minutes. Finally, Melkor spoke again, " we have taken a liking to you, Lady Pirate who wields the instrument of our allies, and we have decided to spend some time with you."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Zandrath walked slowly down the hallway not really paying attention to where he was going. If he had been, he might have seen Antioch before the older Baenre jumped him. Antioch slammed Zandrath hard against the wall and had a dagger against his throat before the younger Baenre could cry out in surprise.
" What the," Zandrath stammered.
" Where's your calm now, Little Brother," Antioch taunted, pressing the dagger against Zandrath's neck, " or did you lose it when you cut the wound on your arm." He grabbed Zandrath's injured arm and twisted it.
" What are you doing," Zandrath demanded painfully.
" Fulfilling a request from Matron Triel," Antioch mocked gleefully. The Baenre son let go of his brother's arm grabbed his throat, pulling the younger drow closer to him. " She wants proof of your instability." Antioch drove his dagger into the soft flesh under Zandrath's left eye. He waited a moment as Zandrath screamed and jerked violently. Antioch got his arm around Zandrath's neck and began to carve out his brother's eye.
The younger Baenre screamed and howled in pain and tried to wrench free, but his brother held him too tightly. After several agonizing moments Zandrath's eyes slipped free of its socket and Antioch released his grip. Zandrath fell to the floor, holding a hand over his empty, bleeding socket.
" Mother will be pleased," Antioch smirked, wiping blood from the quivering eyeball in his hand. With a nasty grin splitting his face, Antioch disappeared into the shadows.
Zandrath slumped against the wall and tenderly felt the empty place where his eye had once been. The flesh was torn wickedly, and several patches of jagged skin clung grotesquely to the socket. Blood flowed freely from the wound like scarlet tears.
Swift footsteps to his left turned Zandrath's head in time for him to see Dantrag and his father, Dagasta, hurrying toward him.
" What's wrong," Dagasta asked kneeling beside Zandrath, who hand covered his empty socket again. Dantrag also knelt before the young drow. Curious as to the blood dripping down his nephew's face, Dantrag gently moved Zandrath's hand, and gasped at the sight. Dagasta carefully took his son's head in his hands and examined the wound, his breathing coming in shocked gulps.
" Who did this to you," the patron asked, anger evident in his voice and his yellow eye flashing.
" Antioch," Zandrath squeaked, " he attacked me and cut my eye out. Then he ran off."
" Did he say why," Dantrag pressed.
" Something about Triel wanting proof of my instability," Zandrath whimpered, tears of pain filling his remaining eye. Dagasta laid his cheek against his son's forehead and put his arms around him.
Dantrag stared at the father and son for several moments, confused by such an open display of an affection that was forbidden in their society.
" Come with me," the patron directed a moment later, helping Zandrath to his feet.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kimmuriel Oblodra surveyed the room before him. This was the infirmary. Usually this room was empty, save for the few soldiers who managed to substantially hurt themselves and even then they never stayed longer than a single cycle of Narbondel. Now the room was packed with drow, most of them lying on soft mats, moaning and tossing in their troubled sleep. Wizards knelt beside several of the mats, chanting softly and casting healing spells over the sick soldiers to no visible avail.
Kimmuriel stopped beside a particular mat, on which rested a very miserable looking drow male who happened to be his lieutenant, Blasko. The suffering elf managed to open his eyes and stare at Kimmuriel. Blasko's eyes had once been blood-red, but they had faded to almost stark white, showing only faint, red slashes along the remains of the iris. Kimmuriel wondered if Blasko was blind.
" Blasko," he asked gently, placing a hand on his lieutenant's forehead, which was burning up with fever, " can you hear me?"
" Yes," Blasko moaned slowly, his head turning to face Kimmuriel, " but... I cannot... see you..."
Kimmuriel studied Blasko's face. His hair was matted by sweat and there were trickles of crimson fluid welled up in his ears, nose, and eyes. His whole body shook violently with chills and pain.
" Don't try to talk," Kimmuriel ordered, placing a finger on each of Blasko's temples, " project your thoughts to the front of your mind and I will read them."
Blasko closed his eyes and slipped deep into his mind. ' I hurt everywhere, Sir,' he said telepathically to Kimmuriel, ' my body feels like it's on fire and I can't move without something aching.'
' Don't move, Blasko,' Kimmuriel instructed, ' I'm going to try to ease the pain.'
' Don't Sir,' Blasko's mind cried, ' the sickness will pass to you!' Kimmuriel let go of Blasko.
" Don't you die on me, Blasko," the mercenary leader ordered, " it'll be too hard to replace you."
" I'm... sorry... sir..." Blasko went limp. Kimmuriel grabbed the lieutenant's shoulders and felt for a pulse at his throat.
" Don't you die on me now, Blasko," he repeated. Blasko remained silent and unmoving. " Damnit," Kimmuriel cursed.
~*~*~*~*~*~
" Lazuli, I'm not sure how to say this but," Artemis Entreri's brow furrowed and his gray eyes took on a distant look for a moment. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, " Jarlaxle is dying."
The statement almost killed Lazuli then and there. Her eyes widened and she pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her gasp. Jarlaxle? Dying? How could that be?
The older Entreri seemed to know her thoughts.
" He said the failing of the old elvin magic is causing elves all over Toril to die of a mysterious illness," he explained. Somehow, he could not meet his daughter's eyes.
" I have to go to him," Lazuli cried, turning to run. Entreri reached out and grabbed her wrist before she could leave.
" You could catch the disease from him, Lazuli," he warned, his voice rising in volume, " if that happens and you die!" His voice stopped as he shut his eyes again. The old assassin buried her in a crushing embrace, his voice breaking as he spoke again, " I couldn't bear it if something happened to you, Lazuli!"
" Father," Lazuli hugged him back, " please understand. You and Jarlaxle are all I have, if I lose either of you," she buried her face in her father's chest and sobbed, " I love you both so much, I can't bear the thought of losing one of you! Please, let me go to Jarlaxle, if only to say goodbye."
" Go then," Entreri conceded, " go and see him." He released Lazuli.
" Thank you for understanding," she cried, then she turned and rushed to Jarlaxle's room.
" Lazuli?" The drow was awake, but he seemed so very weak.
" Yes, Jarlaxle," Lazuli choked, " I am here." She ran to his side and fell against his chest sobbing, " why didn't you tell me, Jarlaxle? Why?" Jarlaxle put his arms around the crying girl.
" I wasn't sure then," he explained, " but now I know," he paused and laid his cheek on Lazuli's head, " and so do you."
" There must be a cure somewhere," Lazuli insisted, " tell me and I will get it for you."
" There may be one who can point the way for you," Jarlaxle revealed, " but she will not be easily found."
" Who and where? Tell me and I will go," Lazuli demanded, looking Jarlaxle in the eye, " I wont let you die without a fight."
" You might as well tell her, Jarlaxle," Entreri remarked from the doorway, " she'll find out sooner or later."
" She and I were friends when she lived in Menzoberranzan, you will likely find her under the name of Seralon if she hasn't changed it," the drow began.
" Seralon," Lazuli repeated, committing the name to memory..
" She and her brood now dwell in the frozen tundra of Icewind Dale," Jarlaxle continued.
" Icewind Dale," Lazuli memorized
" Ask the dwarves of Kelvin's Cairn and they will point you to her. Tell them that I sent you and you should have little trouble," the drow finished.
" I shall prepare at once," Lazuli declared rushing to her room to collect the necessary items.
" She loves you dearly," Entreri stated flatly once his daughter was out of earshot.
" I thought as much," Jarlaxle smirked at the assassin, " will you go with her?"
" I'm too old for such adventuring," Entreri replied, shaking his head, " besides, I detest Icewind Dale."
" Because Drizzt called it home," Jarlaxle retorted. Entreri glared at the dark elf. " That's it, isn't it? You wont go because you don't want to face the dwarves who called Drizzt a friend."
" No," Entreri denied sharply, " it's like I said before. I'm too old."
" Seventy isn't so old," Jarlaxle quipped.
" For a dark elf maybe," Entreri countered turning his head so that he could see down the hallway.
" And what of Lazuli," the drow questioned, " you'll send her to Icewind Dale alone?"
" Now that I have no intention of doing," the assassin assured, cocking his head to face the drow.
" You won't go and I can't go," Jarlaxle stated, " so who will go with her?"
Entreri sighed heavily. " I'm going to the docks," he declared, standing upright, " make certain that Lazuli doesn't leave until I get back. I have to see if a certain ship is in port." He turned to go but stopped and added slyly, " remember, seventy is too old for adventuring and seven hundred is too old for filandering with the hearts of young girls."
To be continued...
AN: Who liked it? I find this chapter kind of tedious, probably because I have to make sure that I'm being clear and not getting sidetracked. Am I doing an Ok job? Please review and tell me, even if you already did for an earlier chapter, review again so I know I'm meeting expectations (and so I know that someone is still reading or else I'll just stop writing.) And how are the names I'm coming up with sounding? Please give me feedback.