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A blue-robed woman met them at the door "Four?" she asked rhetorically "You really should have sent word ahead"

"Harkle sent us," Regis explained "We are not fronorance of your custo in We are actually unusually unbusy for this time of the year I am sure that I have room for your horses" She led them into the structure’s main room, a square cha, with sh for a cat-sized horse to stretch its legs Many were occupied, their na that they were reserved for particular members of the Harpell clan, but the woether and put the coet the each of thee of his particularhis handso her calm monotone "I had not heard of your arrival, but I ao! We have never seen one of your kind"

Drizzt nodded and did not reply, growing increasingly uncomfortable with this new type of attention Sorade hinorant peasants He understood the curiosity, though, and figured that he owed the wizards a few hours of conversation, at least

The Fuzzy Quarterstaff, on the back side of the Ivy Mansion, filled a circular chamber The bar sat in the middle, like the hub of a wheel, and inside its wide perimeter was another rooe ar the shiny surface of the bar, more to pass the time than to clean any spills

Off to the rear, on a raised stage, yrations of a white-haired, ielding wizard in black pants and a black waistcoat Whenever the instruments hit a crescendo, the wizard pointed his wand and snapped the fingers of his free hand, and a burst of colored sparks erupted froe

The co wizard They had their pick of location, for as far as they could tell, they were the only patrons in the room The tables, too, were circular, eer place I never heared of," gruned to the necessity of speaking with the Harpells

"Nor I," said the barbarian "And may we leave it soon"

"You are both stuck in the sis scolded "This is a place to enjoy - and you know that no danger lurks here" He winked as his gaze fell upon Wulfgar "Nothing serious, anyway"

"Longsaddle offers us a much needed rest," Drizzt added "Here, we can lay the course of our next trek in safety and take back to the road refreshed It eeks from the dale to Luskan, and nearly another to here, without reprieve Weariness draay the edge and takes the advantage froar as he finished the thought "A tired man will make mistakes And mistakes in the wild are, more often than not, fatal"

"So let us relax arid enjoy the hospitality of the Harpells," said Regis

"Agreed," said Bruenor, glancing around, "but just a short rest And where in the nine hells et to it yerself for food and drink?"

"If you want so, then just ask," caar and Bruenor both leaped to their feet, on guard Drizzt noted the flare of light within the green ge the setup He looked back over his shoulder at the barkeep, who stood beside a si device," the drow explained to his friends, though they, by now, had co in the middle of an eis had his head down, his shoulders rolling with his sobs of laughter

"Bah! Ye knew all along!" Bruenor growled at him "Ye’ve been takin’ a bit of fun at our cost, Ru how is looked up at the glare of his dwarven friend,it suddenly with a firm stare of his own "We have walked and ridden h cold winds and orc raids, brawls and battles with ghosts Allow ar would loosen the straps of your packs and see this place for what it is, you ar did smile Then, all at once, he jerked back his head and roared, throwing away all of his anger and prejudice, so that he saddle with an opento observe the spectacle of the barbarian’s soul-cleansing screahed Not an ahter that flowed up from his belly and exploded out his widethrown eht slipped over the bar, bearing to theht A few minutes later, all traces of the tensions of the road had flown, and they toasted and quaffed theirhis drink and staying alert to his surroundings He felt no direct danger here, but he wanted to keep control against the wizards’ inevitable probing

Shortly, the Harpells and their friends began to make a steady stream into The Fuzzy Quarterstaff The coht, and all of the diners pulled their tables close by, trading stories of the road and toasts of lasting friendship over fine meals, and later, beside a warm hearth Many, led by Harkle, concerned themselves with Drizzt and their interest in the dark cities of his people, and he had few reservations about answering their questions

Then caht the co up onto his table and proclaiain!"

Drizzt grew concerned Judging by the inquisitive reaction of the gathering, the name of Bruenor’s ancient hoend The drow didn’t fear any malicious actions by the Harpells, but he si, and possibly even preceding, hiht well be interested in learning the location of an ancient dwarven stronghold, a place referred to in tales as, "the mines where silver rivers run"

Drizzt took Harkle aside "The night grows long Are there rooe beyond?"

"Nonsense," huffed Harkle "You are uests and shall remain here The rooms have already been prepared"

"And the price for all of this?"

Harkle pushed Drizzt’s purse away "The price in the Ivy Mansion is a good tale or two, and bringing some interest into our existence You and your friends have paid for a year and more!"

"Our thanks," replied Drizzt "I think that it is ti ride, withthe road before you," said Harkle "I have arranged for a saddle He, ht be able to help steer your way"

"Very good," said Regis, leaning over to hear the conversation

"Thisholds a small price," Harkle told Drizzt "DelRoy desires a private audience with you He has sought knowledge of the drow for reed," replied Drizzt "Now, it is time for us to find our beds"

"I shall show you the way"

"What ti," replied Harkle

Regis laughed, then leaned over to the other side of the table where Bruenor sat holding a is gave the dwarf a little shove and Bruenor toppled, thudding into the floor without even a groan of protest "Evening would be better," the halfling rear was underneath it

Harkle looked at Drizzt "Evening," he agreed "I shall speak to DelRoy"

The four friends spent the next day recuperating and enjoying the endless marvels of the Ivy Mansion Drizzt was called away early for a uided by Harkle on a tour through the great house, passing through a dozen alche rooms, meditation chaned for conjuring otherworldly beings A statue of one Matherly Harpell was of particular interest, since the statue was actually the wizard himself An unsuccessful mix of potions had left him stoned, literally

Then there was Bidderdoo, the faain, a bad potionthe history of his clan, its achievements, and its often disastrous failures And he told theardt barbarians, the Sky Ponies, they had encountered, and of other tribes they lad that their relaxation carried a oal pressed in on him everyany gains toward Mithril Hall, even if he siuilt "Ye have to want it with all yer heart," he often scolded himself

But Harkle had provided him with an important orientation to this land that would no doubt aid his cause in the days ahead, and he was satisfied when he sat down for supper at The Fuzzy Quarterstaff Drizzt rejoined them there, sullen and quiet, and he wouldn’t say much when questioned about his discussion with DelRoy

"Think to theahead," was the drow’s answer to Bruenor’s probing "DelRoy is very old and learned Hethe road to Mithril Hall"

Bruenor was indeed thinking to the hout the es of his ho the unique beauty of Menzoberranzan

And the malicious hearts that had despoiled it

A short tiar to see the oldin lieu of another party at the tavern They met DelRoy in a sht heightening the ar caree with Drizzt’s observations of DelRoy, for decades of experience and untold adventures were etched visibly into the features of his leathery brown skin His body was failing him now, they could see, but the sheen of his pale eyes told of inner life and left little doubt about the sharp edge of his mind

Bruenor spread his map out on the room’s circular table, beside the books and scrolls that DelRoy had brought The oldthe line that had brought the cosaddle "What do you recall of the ancient halls, dwarf?" he asked "Land peoples?"

Bruenor shook his head "The pictures insound of iron on the anvil The flight of me clan started in mountains; that’s all I know"

"The northland is a wide country," Harkle rehold"

"That is why Mithril Hall, for all of its reputed wealth, has never been found," replied DelRoy

"And thus our dilein to look"

"Ah, but you have already begun," answered DelRoy "You have chosen well to coends of Mithril Hall stem from the lands east of here, even farther frosaddle and the great desert, though north or south, I cannot guess You have done well"

Drizzt nodded and broke off the conversation as the old e fell back into his silent exaic points and referring often to the stack of books he had piled beside the table Bruenor hovered beside DelRoy, anxious for any advice or revelations that h, a trait that allowed their crafting to outshine the work of the other races, and Bruenor kept his cal to press the wizard

So of all the pertinent inforo next," he asked Bruenor, "if no advice were offered here?"

The dwarf looked back to hisover his shoulder, and traced a line east with his stubby finger He looked to Drizzt for consent when he had reached a certain point that they had discussed earlier on the road The drow nodded "Citadel Adbar," Bruenor declared, tapping his finger on the hold," said DelRoy, not too surprised "A fine choice King Harbroreatly They have been there, in the Mithril Mountains, for centuries uncounted Certainly Adbar was old even in the days when the ha"

"Is Citadel Adbar your advice to us, then?" Drizzt asked

"It is your own choice, but as good a destination as I can offer," replied DelRoy "But the way is long, five weeks at the least if all goes well And on the east road beyond Sundabar, that is unlikely Still, you h I doubt that you would be able to take Harbromm’s infor"

"Then the choice seems clear," declared Bruenor "To Adbar!"

"There is more you should know," said DelRoy "And this is the true advice that I shall give to you: Do not be blinded to the possibilities along the road by the hopeful vision at the road’s end Your course so far has followed straight runs, first from Icewind Dale to Luskan, then fro either of those roads to give a rider cause to turn aside But on the journey to Adbar, you shall pass Silveryacy, and the Lady Alustriel, and the Vault of Sages, as fine a library as exists in all the northland Many in that fair city may be able to offerHarbromm And beyond Silveryhold, where Helm, reknowned dwarf-friend, rules His ties to your race run deep, Bruenor, tracing back enerations Ties, perhaps, even to your own people"

"Possibilities!" beamed Harkle

"We shall heed your wise advice, DelRoy," said Drizzt

"Aye," agreed the dwarf, his spirits high "When we left the dale, I had no idea beyond Luskan Me hopes were to follow a road of guesses, expectin’ half andus to this spot, for we’ve found a trail of clues! And clues to lead to roup, Drizzt, Harkle, and DelRoy, and then noticed Wulfgar, still sitting quietly in his chair, his huge ar without any apparent emotion "What of yerself, boy?" Bruenor dear leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table "Neither my quest, nor my land," he explained "I follow you, confident in any path you choose

"And I alad of your mirth and excitement," he added quietly

Bruenor took the explanation as complete, and turned back to DelRoy and Harkle for soh, unconvinced of the sincerity of Wulfgar’s last state the expression in his eyes as he watched Bruenor

Sorrow?

They spent two h Drizzt was hounded constantly by curious Harpells anted more information about his rarely seen race He took the questions politely, understanding their good intentions, and answered as best he could When Harkle ca, they were refreshed and ready to get on with their business Harkle prohtful owners, saying that it was the least he could do for the strangers who had brought so much interest to the town

But in truth, the friends had benefited iven them valuable information and, perhaps even more importantly, had restored their hope in the quest Bruenor was up and about before dawn that lastto the road now that he had solooks over their shoulders, even froar, who had come in so steadfast in his antipathy toizards

They crossed the overbridge, saying farewell to Chardin, as too lost in his meditations of the stream to even notice, and soon discovered that the structure beside the e the face of the world!" Harkle assured the for a closer look Drizzt guessed his h-pitched bleating and cricketlike chirping Like the stable, the farh part of it had no roof and was actually a field within walls Cat-sized cows and sheep ed around the animals’ tiny feet

"Of course, this is the first season and we have not seen results yet," explained Harkle, "but we expect a high yield considering the shed Regis "Less feed, less space, and you can blow them back up when you want to eat them!"

"Precisely!" said Harkle

They next went to the stable, where Harkle picked out fine ifts, Harkle explained, only to be returned at the companions’ leisure "It’s the least we could do to aid such a noble quest," Harkle said with a lo to stop any protests fro on down the back of the hill Harkle stood for ahis chin, a puzzled expression on his face "The sixth post," he told hi on a ladder (another a curiosity - to see a ladder rise up above the phony rails of the fence and coainst the top of the invisible wall) caain?" he chuckled at Harkle "He pointed to the railing off to one side "Sixth post to your left!"

Harkle shrugged away his embarrassment and moved on

The companions watched the workman curiously as they passed from the hill, their mounts still tucked under their ar several reddish-brown spots fro birds," Harkle explained apologetically "But have no fear, Regweld is working on the problem even as we speak

"Noe have coh otten in the Ivy Mansion! The road takes you right through the village of Longsaddle You can restock your supplies there - it has all been arranged"

"Me deepest regards to yerself and yer kin," said Bruenor, bowing low "Suren Longsaddle has been a bright spot on a bleary road!" The others were quick to agree

"Farewell then, Cohed Harkle "The Harpells expect to see a small token when you at last find Mithril Hall and start the ancient forges burning again!"

"A king’s treasure!" Bruenor assured hisaddle’s borders before noon, theireasily with fully stuffed packs

"Well, which do ye prefer, elf," Bruenor asked later that day, "the jabs of a s of a wonderin’ wizard’s nose?"

Drizzt chuckled defensively as he thought about the question Longsaddle had been so different from anywhere he had ever been, and yet, so led him out as an oddity, and it wasn’t so much the hostility of his usual treat rear, riding beside hiht his mumbled reply

"The road"