Chapter 3
Back at the Crowning Cockatrice, some of the young rangers who had just gotten back from hunting had bought drinks for Aliyah and Deidra. Normally, Aliyah would be a little worried about her left eye scaring away the attention, but one of the young rangers complimented it, saying that it made her look exotic, which made her blush.
Aliyah and Deidra weren't the only ones who had drinks bought for them.
Sitting two tables way, a beautiful red haired gnome with light skin named Marlene called the bartender over and asked to pay for the drink the deep gnome was going to buy.
No sooner than she did this, Jepetto called the bartender over and ordered some ale. He reached into his pocket and placed two copper on the table, but the bartender told Jepetto that the drink was already paid for by the beautiful gnome lady two tables down.
Jepetto turned around, seeing Marlene sitting alone at her table. Her amber eyes looked up in his direction and she smiled.
Feeling a little embarrassed, he turned away. She was very pretty, he thought. "What should I do?" he muttered under his breath.
A small, but firm hand gripped Jepetto's left shoulder. "You should go talk to her," Deidra answered with a smirk. "Buy her a drink."
Jepetto looked at the dark haired halfling, then looked back at the lady gnome who had paid for his drink.
Taking a big swig of ale, Jepetto got out of his seat and walked over to Marlene's table. For a moment, his attention fell on the cotton blue dress she was wearing.
As Jepetto stared at the dress, a small orange tabby cat ran across the floor, causing the svirfneblin to trip and fall over a chair.
Marlene, Aliyah, and Deidra all quickly left their chairs and went over to help the fallen gnome. Being the first to arrive, Marlene helped Jepetto up, brushing the dust off of his shirt.
"That was a nasty fall," she said softly. "Let's go sit down." The red haired gnome helped Jepetto over to her table. "Are you all right?" she asked in a sweet voice.
Still shaken from his fall, Jepetto smiled at her. "I'm Jepetto, would you like to share a drink with me?"
Marlene giggled and nodded. "I'm Marlene and yes I would love to share a drink with you."
Aliyah carefully placed the chair back in its rightful spot, then looked at Deidra. "Good thing this didn't break, or else we'd have to pay for it."
"Yeah right, Shadimir can pay for it, he's rich enough," Deidra remarked with a laugh.
"From what my sister has told me, he's almost rich as a Lord of Waterdeep," a sultry feminine voice said from the door.
Both the halfling and Aliyah looked at the door, seeing a tall woman wearing master crafted plate armor. They noted that the woman bore a striking resemblance to Alustriel. She had long silver hair and wore a silver holy symbol of Mielikki on her belt.
Deidra and Aliyah both knew this woman as Dove Falconhand, a Knight of Myth Drannor.
The bartender looked at the door, then went back to serving drinks.
Dove Falconhand smiled and walked over to where Aliyah and Deidra stood. "You must be Aliyah Munoz. Alustriel described you well, and you must be Deidra, the expert jeweler from the East."
Aliyah looked up at the lady ranger standing before her. "It is an honor to meet you Lady Dove. What brings you to Jalanthar?"
"Alustriel got your message and she contacted me to help you," Dove answered with a smile. She turned to the bartender and ordered a mug of ale, then turned back to Aliyah," My sister sends her regards that she couldn't help you."
Deidra looked at Aliyah and asked," Shall I bring her up to speed?" After Aliyah nodded her head, the halfling turned to Dove," Well it's like this Lady Dove Falconhand..."
After blowing the dust from the small splinters of wood from his newly carved cat figurine, Shadimir heard the snapping of twigs coming from behind him.
Dusk had approached fast. The sun was slowly descending in the dark blue sky. Shadimir turned his head and scanned the area. He saw nothing that could have caused the noise.
Then he saw it.
From several feet away, the undead hunter saw what he thought was a snow-white tiger, only it was a little smaller and its stripes were a dark blue color. It's eyes were also dark blue, and it's teeth were very sharp.
Shadimir slowly walked up to the animal. His mind told him to stay back, but his heart told him that this creature wanted to be his friend.
The creature slowly walked over to Shadimir, keeping it's dark blue eyes on the man with short silver hair. Then the animal quickened it's pace, running up to Shadimir as if he was a friend he hadn't seen in years.
Shadimir bent down to pet the animal, stroking it's white fur and scratching behind it's ears. "What are you?" Shadimir asked.
The cat purred a soft answer, but a soft angelic voice answered," That is a snow tiger. Usually they are animal companions of frost giants, but it appears that this one wants to be your friend."
Shadimir and the snow cat turned to see a beautiful elven woman dressed in leathers walking towards them. She ran her hands through her think black hair, then she placed a hand on her belt, grabbing her maul. "He is your new animal companion Shadimir."
"Animal companion." Shadimir whispered, scratching the snow tigers ears," I hope you like playing with children." The undead hunter then looked up at the elf. "How do you know my name?"
The elf smiled and bowed. "My name is Ophila. I knew your father Alain. When we were in the Emerald Enclave together."
Both Shadimir and the tiger raised an eyebrow. Shadimir didn't know much about his father, who had died when the he was just a boy. His mother Aprilana, who had passed away after the twins were born, had told Shadimir that his father fell at the hands of orcs.
"My father was a ranger, but my mother never said anything about my father being a member of the Emerald Enclave."
Ophila sighed and nodded her head. "Aprilana had a good reason for not telling you Shadimir. She was afraid that you'd end up following me on some damn crusade like your father did. After he died, she told me that she never wanted to see my face again and that you would never be a member of the Emerald Enclave as long as she lived."
"But she's dead now," Shadimir stated in a cold voice. "Is that why you're here? To bring me into the Enclave?"
The elf druidess walked over to Shadimir. She stared at him for a moment, and looked into his eyes. "You have it all wrong Shadimir. I know that you're married and that the last thing you want to do is leave your family. I went to Silverymoon just before Aprilana died and we made amends."
"That's wonderful and all, but that didn't really answer my question," Shadimir remarked.
Ophila laid a hand gently on his shoulder and said," I came to tell you that you don't have to worry about the townspeople not helping you against the Wolves. Elder Storn and I have already made sure that you have the townspeople's support. Alain saved his life you know."
Shadimir looked at her, the tone of his voice was lightening up," He did?"
"It was when the Wolves attacked twenty years ago. Some of the children were trapped in a burning house. Storn and Alain went inside to rescue them. They managed to save the children, but Storn had gotten his leg stuck. Alain used all of his strength and helped Storn get his leg free. He then threw Storn out of the building, but in doing so, he collapsed inside. He didn't make it out alive."
Shadimir could see the tears in her eyes. Ophila took a deep breath and continued," I tried to save him, but the villagers held me back. I'm so sorry."
Shadimir remembered the last time he saw his father. He was young, about Dalla's age. Alain had told him that he needed to go somewhere in the West, and that he might not be coming back. Alain hugged his son and kissed his wife goodbye, saying that he loved them both.
The undead hunter gently embraced Ophila," My father died a hero. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. However I'm sorry that I was getting angry at you."
Ophila pulled back and kissed his cheek, then turned to walk away.
Shadimir watched her walk for a moment, then became curious about something. "Ophila? Was there something between you and my father? Were you two lovers?"
The elf giggled and turned back to face him. "You best get some rest Shadimir. We only have four days left, and we need to use them as best as we can."
Shadimir nodded, then looked down at the snow tiger. "Now that just leaves one last thing. What shall I call you?" He thought about it for a moment, then suggested," I'd name you Whiskers, but Stephanie just bought a cat named Whiskers. How about Elros? After Elros Oronar, a famous elven vampire hunter." Showing no objection to the name, the animal smiled, then licked his master's cheek
The snow tiger-now known as Elros-nodded his head then began walking with his master towards the inn.