Chapter 2

Nightal 13 1372 DR, Year of Wild Magic

Accompanied by two palace guards, Shadimir walked into the Silver Palace. Several portraits were lined up against the walls and a large detailed map of the Silver Marshes was painted on the eastern wall.

"She must still be in Sundabar," the shorter of the two guards as he turned and walked away.

The other guard smiled and told Shadimir that they would be waiting outside. Shadimir looked around the palace lobby. He had hoped Alustriel would be here this evening.

"Shadimir, what brings ye to Alustriel's palace this evening?" whispered a voice from behind him.

The hunter turned around, seeing the portrait of a tall, elderly man wearing red robes and a red pointed hat. The man inside the portrait smiled at Shadimir. "Elminster, are you actually inside of the portrait?" the undead hunter asked.

From inside the painting, the wizard named Elminster nodded. "Wizards like the Blackstaff and myself use paintings like these as portals. I'm actually on my way to Blackstaff Tower. I take it ye were here to speak with Alustriel."

The undead hunter walked closer to the painting and brushed the surface. It sure did feel like a painting. The hunter wondered what kind of magic could produce such an interesting item. He reminded himself to tell Jepetto about it.

After the elderly man let out a grunt to remind Shadimir that he had been asked a question, the undead hunter answered," I wanted to ask Alustriel if I could borrow her chariot to ride to Mithral Hall, but seeing as she isn't here..."

Before Shadimir could say anymore, Elminster shook his head. "Young man, do ye think that she would let ye use her chariot in the first place? Do ye even know how to drive it?"

Shadimir nodded. "I've driven it a couple of times yes."

"Well then, ye should just take it," the old mage said. "Just make sure ye don't scratch it too bad."

The hunter raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "Are you sure Alustriel won't mind?"

Elminster reached into his pocket and pulled out a pipe. "If it was anyone else, she would, but since it's Shadimir who wants do drive it, I think she'd be fine with it. Do ye know how to tie the horses and everything?" The undead hunter nodded, and Elminster added," Good. Ye know Shadimir, ye are always seen at the palace. If ye weren't married to Stephanie, I'd say ye were Alustriel's man, but don't tell Stephanie or Alustriel I said that."

Shadimir sighed and rolled his eyes before he thanked the old mage for his help. After that, he began walking to the stables where the chariot was kept, hoping that Alustriel wouldn't be too harsh when she discovered her chariot was gone.

Shadimir held the reins tightly as the fiery chariot flew through the night sky. The snowfall had ceased for the evening, but the air was cool and crisp. Behind Shadimir sat Jepetto and Elros, who looked down below, hardly believing that the great forests looked so tiny from up above.

Regis and Battle-hammer stood behind the gnome and the tiger. The halfling stared at the dwarven construct. He looks a lot like Bruenor, Regis said to himself, wondering what the dwarf king would think of his iron double.

Up in front, Shadimir's ears picked up a thumping sound hitting the chariot.

"Someone is shooting arrows at us," Jepetto shouted as an arrow hit below his feet. No sooner than that first arrow hit below the gnome's feet, another arrow hit close to where Regis was standing.

Shadimir scanned the area, seeing two orcs riding on the backs of large sized hideous looking buzzards. The orcs knocked their arrows and fired once more. One of the arrows flew into Shadimir's shoulder while the other missed the chariot completely.

After pulling the arrow out, Shadimir turned the chariot around and snapped the reins, commanding the two horses that pulled the fiery chariot, to charge at the orcs.

Jepetto reached onto his belt and pulled out a wand. He pointed it at one of the orcs and shouted the command word. A bolt of lightning shot from the svirfneblin's wand, hitting the orc in the chest. The orc let out a gasp before he fell off of the bird's back. The buzzard let out a shriek and flew off into the distance.

After Jepetto shot the lightning bolt, Shadimir handed him the reins and told the deep gnome to get closer to the orcs. When Jepetto was close enough, the hunter jumped off of the chariot and landed on the buzzard's back. The orc threw a punch at Shadimir, but the undead hunter ducked out of the way.

Back on the fiery chariot, Jepetto handed Regis the reins, then aimed his wand and fired a lightning bolt at the orc.

On the bird's back, Shadimir tried his best to keep his balance, but the hideous bird jerked left and right. The lightning bolt flew through the air and hit the buzzard instead of the orc, causing the bird to turn over in a circle, forcing Shadimir and the orc to fall off it's back.

The buzzard let out shriek and charged the chariot, but another lightning bolt from the deep gnome's wand, sent it flying away.

"Should we go back for him?" Regis asked Jepetto as they looked down.

The deep gnome shook his head. "Let's land in Mithral Hall first, then Battle-hammer, Elros, and I will come out here and look for Shadimir.

Regis Rumblebelly sighed as Jepetto took hold of one of the reins once more. Jepetto glanced at Elros, who kept his eyes closed. The snow tiger would know if Shadimir was dead. "Don't worry Elros, Shadimir will make it," Jepetto whispered.

Shadimir groaned as he opened his eyes. Snow was falling from the sky once more and lightly covering his body. The hunter looked over, seeing the dead orc's body, then he kissed the wedding ring on his finger, a golden band shaped of intertwined leaves. The ring itself had cast the spell feather fall, which allowed the hunter to slowly fall through the air and land safely on the ground.

The hunter stood up and brushed the snow off of his body, then preceded west. Though it was dark, Shadimir had walked his path with Drizzt DoUrden before, and knew that Mithral Hall wasn't too far away.

"Shouldn't be too much longer," he whispered as he noticed a large oval shaped rock near the trees. Next to the rock was a small egg.

Decided to prolong his journey to Mithral Hall for a few moments longer, Shadimir bent down and picked up the egg. He studied it close, then smiled when he discovered that it was an owl's egg he found. He began to look around, trying to find the nest it might have fallen out of. When he didn't see one, he tucked the egg into his pocket to keep it warm.

Then he proceeded on the night journey that would take him to dwarven kingdom of Mithral Hall.