Epilogue

It was an hour after Shadimir, Alustriel, and Stephanie had left the palace. Everyone in the Deachron house was asleep, except for two people who were sitting in the study.

Alustriel brushed the wrinkles out of her blue dress as Shadimir finished his tale about Malice taking the King's Tear and telling him about her goal to create a powerful dracolich. "I am sorry that I let Malice escape with the gem," he said softly after finishing his story.

The Shining Lady of Silverymoon shook her head. "You are not at fault Shadimir. When I left your house the other night, several zombies attacked me. Then that vampire named Bella threw a cloak over my body and tossed me into that trunk. I would have escaped, but the lock she had on it was magical, and the inside of the trunk was an antimagic field."

Shadimir sighed. "I'm glad you're free though. Now we just have to deal with the dracolich Malice wants to create. What if it's as powerful as Nalavara the Red?"

"Even if it is, I think I know of a way we can fight it," Alustriel said with a smile. "It may take Malice a few days to complete the dracolich creation process. That will at least give us some time."

The silver haired hunter nodded. "It does. We still have to watches the cities of the Marshes, incase Malice does decide to attack. We will also need to warn Drizzt about Malice. I'm sure Aliyah and Deidra wouldn't mind doing that duty. Ophila and Stephanie can help us prepare the city of Silverymoon if Malice thinks about attacking here."

"The Wyrvenspurs can help too," Alustriel added, stretching out her arms. Shadimir nodded. From what he had learned about the Wyrvenspurs in Cormyr, the noble family possessed a magical heirloom of great power. When he heard that Cat and Giogi were sleeping in Dalla's room, Shadimir wondered if Giogi had brought the heirloom with him.

After they were done discussing matters, Shadimir asked Alustriel if she wanted him to walk her home. "Actually, I was wondering if I could sleep here tonight?" she asked him.

Shadimir blushed slightly. He was honored that the High lady of Silverymoon wanted to spend the night at his house. "Of course you can, but I thought Chosen of Mystra didn't need sleep."

"Every once in a while, I like to get a good nights rest. I'm sure it will help the both of us to be prepared for what lies ahead. I think the study will be a good place to sleep." Alustriel smiled and closed her eyes.

For a moment, Shadimir sat in his chair and watched Alustriel sleep. When she began to snore, the undead hunter quickly rose up from his chair. He strode over and kissed her cheek, then walked out of the study and up to his room.

Inside of the abandoned temple, Malice stood in the widely drawn summoning circle with the King's Tear in her left hand. She closed her eyes, hoping that the soul of a powerful dragon would come to her. She had performed the rituals Sammaster had written in the Tome of the Dragon. Now all she had to do was wait.

A moment later, she was surrounded by a bright green mist. "Who does summon the spirit of Beryllinthranox?" a powerful voice roared from within the mist.

Malice looked at the green mist that wrapped itself around her body. "Mighty Beryllthranox, I am Malice, a priestess of the goddess Kiaransalee. I have called your spirit to offer you to help me get revenge, and once again walk the world of the living as a powerful undead dragon. Your name would be greatly feared across the world of Fauern."

Fauern?" the spirit questioned. "What is a Fauern?"

Malice grinned wickedly. "We have much to discuss Beryllthranox."

There was a moment of silence, then Beryllthranox hissed," Call me Beryl, Malice." The green mist quickly disappeared.

Malice looked around for any sign of Beryl. She then felt a warmness coming from within the King's Tear gem.

"Let's begin our discussion," Beryl's voice said from within the gem," and if your offer sounds tempting, then I will accept."

For Opie and Chris