Chapter 7
Shadimir had planned to take the children home later, but the girls had demanded they be taken back as soon as possible.
The undead hunter and his companions brought the children out of the mountain.
Some of the them complained about the sunlight. The blind child, who was riding piggyback on Shadimir's back just smiled. "I wish I could see the sunlight."
Shadimir smiled. The drow boy's name was Hanin. As they walked out of the stone fortress, he had told Shadimir that he was an orphan who cleaned the rooms inside temples.
Shadimir frowned when Hanin had told him this. He believed that children, whether they be human, drow, or lizard folk, should be playing with other children.
Deidra and Ophila walked with Shadimir and the children until they reached a tunnel into the Underdark. Shadimir assured them that he would be able to watch the children by himself. They rolled their eyes as Shadimir led them down into the tunnel, then went back to Jalanthar.
"Do you think we'll be getting to Menzoberranzen?" asked one of the girls as they walked down into the tunnel.
"Lolth will guide us safely," the youngest of the children answered as she held onto Shadimir's hand.
"Not as long as we have this human leading us," spat one of the other girls.
Shadimir sighed, hoping Andreya or Jacen wouldn't be like this when they were older. On his back, Hanin patted his shoulder," Don't mind them. They are just used to getting the special treatment." Hanin then went into a story about how the girls were scared when the Wolves took them from the temple of Lolth. One of the girls who was walking in front of Shadimir told the blind child to eat troll dung.
"Now, we will march into the castle, and take back the children!" shouted a voice from ahead.
Shadimir looked forward, seeing a short, but voluptuous drow female in black robes standing next to ten drow males in black armor. She looked forward, seeing the children. "They are safe. The children are safe."
The six little drow girls ran up to the drow in black robes. Shadimir looked back at Hanin and asked," Do you want to go back home?"
Hanin sighed and nodded. Shadimir gently placed Hanin down, but the little boy wouldn't move. He could hear the girls talking about their ordeal, telling them how the vampires kept them locked up. The drow female, who Hanin knew as the priestess Nerwenya, hadn't once called his name.
"Hanin, come join us," the sorceress said finally. "Just follow my voice."
Hanin moved in the direction where he heard the voice. Shadimir watched as one of the drow warriors stepped forward and tripped the blind drow child.
Hanin fell to the ground hard, chipping a couple of teeth, and cracking one of the lens on the goggles he wore over his eyes. "Get up runt," spat the warrior who had tripped the child. He looked down at Hanin, then placed a kick in the boy's stomach.
He reached down and pulled Hanin up, then grabbed the goggles off of his head. "What are these?" the warrior asked. The drow was ready to kick the boy once more, but a strong hand gripped his arm and twisted it.
"Do you like picking on defenseless children?" Shadimir asked, wrenching the drow's arm upward.
"Enough of this," the Nerwenya cried," Hanin will come back to Menzoberranzen and go back to the temple."
Shadimir shook his head and threw the drow warrior to the ground. "No he isn't because I'm taking him."
"He is a male and he is blind," priestess snapped. "The boy is worthless. He's not even worth sacrificing to Lolth. He's an abomination."
Nerwenya had no idea how much that comment had just offended Shadimir. His oldest daughter Dalla was mute, and it had angered him whenever someone teased her, or anyone else with a handicap.
"Hanin is braver than all those little girls," Shadimir remarked in an angry voice as he grabbed Hanin's hand pulled him back. He was going to say more, but he didn't a change to continue as Nerwenya drew a snake headed whip from her belt.
"Let him go," a voice called out from the shadows. A beautiful drow wearing a silk see through gown walked towards Shadimir. "He is favored by Lolth, and will be allowed to leave with the child."
"Favored by Lolth?" Nerwenya asked," but Jandiss..."
"Silence priestess," Jandiss snapped," He is favored by Lolth and will be allowed to leave with the child."
Shadimir stared at Jandiss. "Thank you," he whispered," then he and Hanin walked away from the drow.
The six remaining children and the eleven drow stared at Jandiss. Jandiss smiled, then turned to her fellow dark elves. "He may not realize it, but soon Shadimir Deachron will serve the Spider Queen's purpose.
Shadimir walked with Hanin into Jalanthar, where a big celebration was being held in honor of the defeat of the Wolves and the safe return of the children.
Deidra and Ophila watched as Shadimir brought Hanin into town.
Shadimir walked past the staring eyes of some of the townspeople and went up to Damon and Eliza, who were speaking with Storn Cormmanth. Damon smiled and looked down at the drow child.
"Who's your friend?" asked Elder Cormmanth.
The undead hunter smiled. "He was a boy we rescued in the Nether Mountains. His name is Hanin and he doesn't have a home. Damon, I was wondering if you and Eliza would like to take care of him."
Eliza's eyes lit up and Damon smiled. They had been trying to make a baby for along time, and had considered looking into adoption.
Hanin reached his hand out and said," It's nice to meet you both."
Damon smiled and shook the boy's hand. Eliza gently took Hanin by the hand. "We need to get you cleaned up Hanin. Would you like a bath?"
"Yes, a bath does sound nice," the drow child answered, then he walked with his new family.
"Thank you Shadimir," Elder Storn said after Damon, Eliza, and Hanin left. "Not just for saving the town, but for bringing happiness into my daughter's and son in law's life again."
"You're welcome," replied Shadimir, who now noticed the resemblance between Eliza and Storn. .
He walked away from Storn and began to look for Aliyah and the others. He found them, talking to Dove Falconhand.
Jepetto turned and saw his friend. "You almost missed the fireworks Shadimir."
Shadimir nodded, then added," Speaking of which Jepetto, that mannequin idea worked out really well."
"Yes, but we ended up with fifty wooden dolls left," the deep gnome remarked with a sigh. "Do you know anyone who would want to buy fifty exploding wooden dolls?"
"Well Mirt, we could always make a trip to Waterdeep and sell them to the Greyhands," the undead hunter answered with a laugh.
Ophila and Elros both walked up to Shadimir. Shadimir bent down and scratched the snow tiger's ears. "I hope you weren't too bored while I was gone."
"He was too busy trying to chase the chickens," Ophila remarked with a grin. "He's pretty hungry."
Shadimir sighed, then looked at the elf. "I know how he feels. We'll get something to eat, and tomorrow we'll leave for Silverymoon."
"We're leaving so soon?" Jepetto asked curiously.
"You and the others can stay if you want Jepetto," Shadimir responded," but I'm anxious to get back home and see my wife and little ones."
Ophila giggled," Speaking of which, you owe Dove Falconhand a kiss."
The undead hunter looked at the druidess with a nod. "So how many more kills did Dove have than Aliyah
"Aliyah won that bet," said Ophila," but they made another bet. Dove said that you would come back with at least one child. Aliyah said you'd come back with three."