Chapter 2

Children and adults watched as Lorlei and her uncles walked into Jalanthar with the four strangers. Their eyes immediately looked at the man with the silver hair.

These must be the ones who will help us fight the Wolves! thought many of the townspeople.

Lorlei, Ansil, and Hansil led the four heroes to the old school house where Elder Storn Cormmanth was waiting for them.

Like many of the townspeople, Storn's eyes went to Shadimir.

The hunter looked into Storn's eyes and noted the sadness in the man's eyes.

"Welcome to Jalanthar," greeted Elder Storn in a calm voice," please let us speak inside."

Storn Cormmanth began his tale by telling about the Wolves coming to Jalanthar twenty years ago. He described their appearance; humanoids wearing old grey scale mail armor with dark green cloaks and helmets and faceguards that were each molded in an image of a wolf.

Listening to Elder Cormmanth's story about how the Wolves abducted the children, drew shivers in Shadimir's spine. His daughter Dalla and Jepetto had been kidnapped by a monk who worked for a band of tomb robbers over a year ago; the same monk who had defeated Aliyah in combat.

Shadimir had been successful in rescuing Dalla and Jepetto, but whole ordeal had made him more protective of those he cared about.

Elder Storn Cormmanth finished his story with the cryptic message and the town meeting that happened three days ago. When finished speaking, he looked at Shadimir.

"We will discuss this on our own, if that's all right with you," Shadimir said softly.

Storn nodded. "You can stay at the Crowning Cockatrice and talk there if you like. The food there is pretty food, but I must ask that I have your answer by nightfall."

Deidra smirked," If your food is as good as you say, then you should have your answer in an hour."

The Crowning Cockatrice was a well-rounded building with two floors, fourteen rooms, and a well-decorated lobby. Scattered all over the inn were heads of animals that had been caught by local hunters.

Shadimir had finished his plate of roast chicken and sighed. Aliyah's eyes both hazel and white, were observing the different heads mounted on the walls. Deidra sang a quiet song as she was examining some jewels she had bought in Sundabar. Only Jepetto seemed to be focusing on the task at hand.

He looked over at Shadimir and asked," So we're going to help these people. Aren't we?"

The undead hunter smiled and turned to his friend. "You know me too well Mirt."

"That I do Durnan," replied the deep gnome. It was one of their little private jokes they shared between them.

Shadimir looked at his friend, noticing the questioning look on his face, and set his empty plate aside. "You don't have to stay Jepetto. I know you're eager to get back to Silverymoon."

The deep gnome shook his head and looked at Shadimir with big eyes. "It's not that Shadimir," he responded. "It's just we don't know what we're up against. What are these Wolves anyways? Are they some manner of undead creatures? Are they creations of Malar? Can we really defeat them? What if the townspeople don't help us?"

Deidra stopped her signing to listen to their conversation. After the gnome was finished, the halfling said," If what I've heard about Jalanthar is true, there should be many able bodied warriors who would defend their children and their town with their lives."

Aliyah quickly added," Besides we can always ask Alustriel for help. I'm sure she, or some of the Knights of Silver could aid us."

"If she's not busy fighting the Shade or some other foe," Shadimir added. but then noticing the anger in Aliyah's face," Now don't get mad Aliyah, it was a good idea. In fact, send the message tonight if you can."

Aliyah nodded and reached for her backpack. She brought out a small silver hawk figurine, a quill, and a piece of parchment. She began to write, then stopped. "Do you think she'd send help faster if I signed your name instead of mine Shadimir?"

Shadimir shook his head and laughed. "Just write it," he then looked over at Jepetto," and you need to lighten up Jepetto. Have a drink, enjoy the scenery."

They hadn't didn't see it, but Aliyah had signed his name anyways. After folding the letter and sealing it, she rubbed the hawk figurine twice and a the figurine shifted to a full large hawk right on the table.

"Now Rowlin deliver this to Alustriel in Silverymoon," Aliyah said cheerfully. The hawk gave a delightful squawk, then grabbed the letter with his right talon and leaped off on to Aliyah's arm.

Ignoring the looks of other patrons who were staring at them, Aliyah walked over to the nearest window and Rowlin took off with, flying off into the distance.

After Rowlin flew away, Shadimir rose from his seat and walked to the door. Jepetto looked up at Shadimir," Going out for some fresh air?"

Shadimir nodded. "If Storn comes looking for us tell him that we're staying to help." Deidra, Jepetto, and Aliyah each gave a nod.

With that Shadimir walked to the door and left the Crowning Cockatrice.

Shadimir walked to a small-secluded area surrounded by trees. The grass had a light green color to it. A good spot the undead hunter said to himself as he sat down.

He reached into the pocket and pulled a small piece of scrimshaw wood and a carving knife. The knife had a sapphire hilt to it with a diamond blade. It was a gift from Regis Rumblebelly, who had suggested to Shadimir to turn his hobby of carving and sculpting into a business.

Shadimir looked up at the tree and quietly said," Hope you don't mind," then began to carve the wood.

As he carved, Shadimir thought about his family. He wondered what techniques Dalla was learning from Lady Danica today. Letters from both Cadderly and Danica assured Shadimir that his daughter was doing fine, and that she was a fast learner.

He also wondered how Stephanie was doing with the twins. His son Jacen had silver hair, just like he did, and green eyes. Andreya had blond hair like Aliyah, but she had Shadimir's blue eyes. They were both very beautiful and he missed them terribly.

When they first born, the twins would wail every night, keeping both mother and father up for hours. When Shadimir had spent the two weeks in Sundabar, he didn't feel comfortably sleeping in an area that was filled with silence.

He loved his children, this is one of the reasons why he fought evil in Fauern.

This is why he was staying to fight the Wolves. For the children.

In the shadows, two pairs of feral eyes watched as the silver haired man carved the small piece of wood.