Page 7 (1/2)

EXPEDIENCE

Bruenor is still angry with hiles had moved out ahead of them to look for fa their old ho, long time"

"And he loves his adopted children," Drizzt rery when first he learned that Wulfgar had left, and at a time when the world seeis

Drizzt nodded and didn&039;t disagree, though he knew the halfling rong Wulfgar&039;s departure had saddened hiered hirief of a dead wife, one he had let down terribly by ns of ar had to watch Catti-brie, the woman he had once dearly loved, wed his best friend Circuar, and had wounded him profoundly

But not mortally, Drizzt knew, and he sar had co but love for the other Companions of the Hall But he had decided to look forward, to find his place, his wife, his faar departed for the east, Drizzt harbored no anger, and ord had arrived back in Mithral Hall that following autuar was back in Icewind Dale, the news lifted Drizzt&039;s heart

He couldn&039;t believe that four years had passed It seear, it seeh he hadn&039;t been beside his friend in a hundred years

"I hope he is well," Regis stated, and Drizzt nodded

"I hope he is alive," Regis added, and Drizzt patted his friend on the shoulder

"Today," Torgar Ha up over a rocky rise He pointed back behind him and to the left "Two rinned "Five for a fat halfling"

"Who ate too les McRuff added,up to join his old friend

"Then let us be quick to the gates," Drizzt re theaway before the fall of night if Marchion Elastul holds true to his fored concerned looks, their exciterim reminder that they had left under less than ideal circu with many of their kin, more than half the dwarves of Mirabar, had deserted Elastul and his city over a dispute concerning King Bruenor Over the last three years, many more Mirabarran dwarves, Delzoundwarves, had come to Mithral Hall to join them, and not all of the hundreds forreed with Torgar&039;s decision to trust the emissary and return

More than one had warned that Elastul would throw Torgar and Shingles in chains

"He won&039;t ar said with determination "Elastul&039;s a stubborn one, but he&039;s no fool He&039;s wanting his eastern trade route back He never thinked that Silverymoon and Sundabar would side with Mithral Hall"

"We shall see," was all Drizzt would concede, and off they went at a swift pace

They passed through the front gates of Mirabar soon after, hustled in by excited guards both dwarf and hureeted by cheers - even Drizzt, who had been denied entrance just a few short years earlier when King Bruenor had returned to Mithral Hall Before any of the coest the pleasant surprise the four found thehly unusual circuar Haain," the old marchion - and indeed, he seear had left - said with a tone as warar, ever les "We co Bruenor Battleha to us and in reply to yer request for an audience"

"Yes, and I hear that went quite well," said Elastul "With the emissary of the Arcane Brotherhood, I ar assured hiar nodded "Holding up the pride of Mirabar, I hope"

"Don&039;t ye go there," the dwarf replied, and Regis sucked in his breath "Was one day I&039;d getfor Mirabar all the while Me axe&039;s for Bruenor now and Mithral Hall, and ye&039;re knowin&039; as e"

For a brief ar, but he suppressed his anger "Mirabar is not the city you left, ain Drizzt sensed that the sweetness of his tone was tearing the old rown, in understanding if not in size Witness your dark-skinned friend, here, standing before enerous, Moradin himself&039;d drop down and kiss ye"

Elastul&039;s expression soured at the dwarf&039;s sarcas himself back to a neutral posture

"I&039;ar Hammerstriker," he said "Full amnesty for you and any of the others ent over to Mithral Hall You rant you a commendation and promotion within the ranks of the Shield of Mirabar, because it was your courageous determination that forced me to look beyond my oalls and beyond the liain "Then thankto be," he said "I co and me friend And all hopes o&039; Mithral Hall are that we&039;re both for lettin&039; pastunpleasantness, pass The orcs&039;re tah and the route&039;s an easy one for yer own trade east and ours back west"

Elastul sluain on the verge of screa He looked at Drizzt instead and said, "Welcome to Mirabar, Drizzt Do&039;Urden It&039;s far past time that you enjoyed the splendors of my most remarkable city"

Drizzt bowed and replied, "I have heard of them often, and am honored"

"You have unfettered access, of course," Elastul said "All of you And I will prepare a treaty for King Bruenor that you may take and deliver before the blows of the northern winds bury those easy routes under deep snows"

He e, with Torgarto Drizzt as they walked out of the audience cha the tradebadly"

The city&039;s reaction to Torgar and Shingles proved to be as round city For every two s dwarves, the for feelings of betrayal, and few of the h their eyes surely weighed uncomfortably on the shoulders of a certain dark elf

"It was all a ruse," Regis re road as Drizzt passed her by

"Not all of it," Drizzt answered, though Shingles was nodding and Torgar wore a disgusted look