Chapter 5

Midsummer 1368 DR, Year of the Banner

It had happened all so fast. One minute they were in the lair with their companions and the deepspawn, and the next moment, the found themselves on the other side of the wall. Sawyer suggested they slipped on a loose plate in the floor, and they they were teleported to the other side. After two failed attempts of trying to find their way back, Sawyer and Virgo walked down a narrow path that led into a large chamber. In the middle of the chamber, sat a thin sarcophagus As they explored, Sawyer prayed to his goddess Mielikki, to watch over Erilett.

Virgo examined the sarcophagus, reading the elvish script that was written on the side. "Here lies High Priestess Serahina. May your soul be guided to the Forest Queen's loving arms."

Sawyer walked over to the sarcophagus, gently brushing it with his fingers. "The Forest Queen is another name for Mielikki."

Virgo rolled her eyes and threw the druid a smile. "You've only told me that a thousand times before darling." Her blue eyes spotted something else written on the side of the sarcophagus "Those highly favored by the Forest Queen will find a blessing in this sarcophagus" She looked at Sawyer, who shrugged.

Open the lid, Elowynn said in the druid's head. Sawyer glanced down at the blade on his belt. Just do it, the sword cried out of frustration.

Wishing that his animal companion and the others were here, Sawyer lifted the stone lid of the sarcophagus Laying inside was a skeleton with a thin green sheet wrapped around her body. The druid stared at the skeleton for a moment, then jumped when he saw the skeleton's hand stick up in the air. Sawyer stepped back over to the skeleton and gently touched her fingertips.

Virgo was speechless as a staff materialized in the skeleton's hand. It's wooden shaft was colored brown with small leaf designs carved into it. At the head of the staff was a tear drop shaped diamond with green vines wrapped around it.

Sawyer gently took the staff and held it close, feeling the strong energy pulsing through it.

The skeleton's hand slowly dropped back into place. Sawyer looked over at Virgo and noticed a part of the wall slip into the floor, exposing a small open area. Using the staff as a walking stick, Sawyer gently took Virgo's hand, and together they waked out of the chamber.

Sawyer could smell the open air as he and Virgo examined their new surroundings. Large decaying trees had been planted at one side and the clear night sky could seen up above.

This is the spot where one of my wielders fell, Elowynn said softly in Sawyer's mind. It was hundreds of years ago, but I remember it, as if it were yesterday.

"We can leave if you want," Sawyer told the green bladed sword.

No I am quite fine, the sword responded. It is nice to remember sometimes. Besides, you need your rest.

Sawyer smiled as he unbuckled his belt and unlaced his boots. He then laid down and gazed at the stars-that is until a naked Virgo climbed on top of him and kissed him deeply. The druid kissed her back and ran his fingers down her back as she unbuckled the rest of his leather armor.

Elowynn laid on the floor, next to the druid's boots. She then spotted a ghostly form hovering above in the air. She was about to alert Sawyer and Virgo, but after hearing the moans and other noises coming from them, she decided not to interrupt.

Bowie, Val, Roland, and Erilett found an abandoned library to rest for the time being. The bard sensed no danger in this room, except for the occasional book that would fall of a shelf and land close to Roland's or Val's feet.

The bard sat in an old chair, gently plucking the strings of his small silver harp. It was then that Sylune hovered into the room, looking at Bowie. "Sawyer and Virgo are safe," she said in her dreamy voice.

Erilett, Roland, and Val looked up at the ghost. "Are they all right?" asked Val.

"They're not hurt are they?" Roland added.

Sylune let out a girlish giggle. "Let's just say, there was much noise going on when I saw them."

Realizing what Sylune, Val and Roland looked at each other, then back at the ghost. "Thank you for filling our minds with that image Sylune," Val commented, shaking his head.

Sylune vanished, and Roland shook his head. "Well at least we know they are safe in each others-" his words were interrupted when Val hit him in the shoulder. Bowie sighed and continued to play his harp.

"Bowie, was your Harper trial like this?" Val asked the bard curiously.

"Somewhat," the halfling responded. "Storm gave me and Rouric the option of helping Danilo Thann and Mirt the Moneylender or to come and brave the dungeons of Myth Drannor with some fellow Harper recruits. Naturally we took the latter of the two choices."

"I know what you mean," commented Roland. "I would rather spend a night in a monster filled dungeon, then help those two."

Val looked at his best friend and said," Danilo is kind of a pompous ass, but Mirt isn't so bad."

"Not until he starts waddling around like he owns Faerun," Roland was quick to retort. "He's almost as bad as Vangerdahast."

"No one is worse than Vangerdahast," Val roared in anger. "I still can't believe he had us banned from ever going to Eveningstar."

Bowie sighed, remembering when he, Sawyer, and Virgo had gone to the small farming town of Eveningstar to offer Roland and Val to come to Shadowdale and become Harpers. When the bard began looking for the pair, he had learned that they had landed themselves in prison, for injuring many Purple Dragon Knights in a bar fight. Bowie had successfully managed to get them out of jail, but just as they were leaving Eveningstar, the royal magician Vangerdahast appeared and showed Bowie a charter, stating that Val and Roland were banned from entering the town of Eveningstar again.

"We got him good though," Val continued. "When we made that stop in Waymoot, we found him those two pleasure queens."

"I'm sure he loved that," Bowie remarked as he sat down and ate some rations. Truth be told, he had not remembered Val and Roland hiring any prostitutes in during their brief stay in Waymoot.

"He did," Roland said as he and Val brought out some food. "That is until he learned that those pleasure queens were really pleasure kings." He and Val roared in laughter as Bowie finished his rations.

"We'll show them though," Val commented. "We will come back to Cormyr as heroes, with riches far grander than all the snooty nobles."

Bowie nodded. "Follow your heart and dreams, and that just might happen Val."

"Spoken like a true bard," Roland and Val said at the same time. Bowie couldn't help but admire the two young men. For being only nineteen summers old, they possessed such wisdom, though it was disguised by their foolishness. They honored tradition and their elders, but weren't afraid of being honest.

"So Bowie, are there any kind of special Harper ceremonies?" Roland asked. "My Aunt Myrmeen told me of a few."

Val nodded and began chewing on an apple. "That would be something," he said in between bites. "To be apart of a Harper initiation ritual."

Bowie let out a smirk. "I'm sure I can think of something." His brown eyes looked down and watched the wolverine walk over and lay down next to his feet.

"The beaver has got the right idea," Val commented.

"Yes, we have a fight ahead," Bowie said as he stroked Erilett's fur. "So let's get a few hours rest and be ready."