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Bryn Shander was unlike any of the other coh from the top of a hill in the middle of the dry tundra between the three lakes, just south of the southern tip of the dwarven valley No ships flew the flags of this city, and it had no docks on any of the lakes, yet there was little arguion but the center of activity as well

This here the major merchant caravans from Luskan put in, where the dwarves came to trade, and where the vast majority of craftsman, scrimshanders, and scrimshaw evaluators, were housed Proximity to Bryn Shander was second only to the quantity of fish hooked in deter towns Thus, Teros on the southeastern banks of Maer Dualdon, and Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval on the western shores of Lac Dinneshere, four towns less than a day’s journey from the principle city, were the doh walls surrounded Bryn Shander, as oblins or barbarians Inside, the buildings were similar to those of the other towns: loooden structures, except that in Bryn Shander they were ether and often subdivided to house several fah, there was a est taste of civilization a person could find for four hundred long and desolate reeted hiates on the northern wall of the principle city Though on a sreat cities of the south, the bustle and shouts of Bryn Shander’s open markets and plentiful street vendors reminded him of his days back in Calimport And, as in Calimport, the people of Bryn Shander’s streets were a cross-section of every heritage that the Real fair-skinned travelers from the Moonshaes The loud boasts of swarthy southerners and robustfanciful tales of love and battle in one of the is took it all in, for though the location was changed, the noise re down one of the narrow streets he could almost recapture the zest for life that he had known those years before in Cali’s business was so grave that it dampened even his ever-lifted spirits He had been horrified at the drow’s grier ould deliver it to the council

Away frois passed the palatial home of Cassius, the spokesest andin all of Ten-Toith a colu all of its walls It had originally been built for the s of the ten spokesmen, but as interest in the councils had died away, Cassius, skilled in diplo-arm tactics, had appropriated the palace as his official residence and moved the council hall to a vacant warehouse tucked away in a remote corner of the city Several of the other spokes towns could often exert some influence on the principle city in matters of public concern, they had little recourse in an issue as trivial to the general populace as this Cassius understood his city’s position well and kne to keep most of the other communities under his thumb The militia of Bryn Shander could defeat the combined forces of any five of the other nine towns combined, and Cassius’s officers held a monopoly on connections to the necessary ru place, but their dependence on the principle city would prevent theis was the last to enter the sathered at the table and realized how out of place he truly was He had been elected spokesh to want to sit on the council, but his peers had attained their positions through valorous and heroic deeds They were the leaders of their coanized the structure and defenses of the towns Each of these spokesoblin and barbarian raiders descended upon Ten-Towns more often than sunny days It was a siht, you couldn’t survive, and the spokeshters in all of Ten-Towns

Regis had never been intimidated by the spokes to say at council Lonelywood, a secluded town hidden away in a s fro fleet, the other three towns it shared Maer Dualdon with iis never offered an opinion unless pressed and had been careful always to cast his vote on an issue in the way of the general consensus And if the council was split on an issue, Regis simply followed the lead of Cassius In Ten-Towns, one couldn’t go wrong by following Bryn Shander

This day, though, Regis found that he was intirim news that he bore would ry reprisals He focused his attention on the two most powerful spokesos, as they sat at the head of the rectangular table and chatted Keed frontiersnarled and knotted arhtened friend and foe alike

Cassius, though, hardly seeray hair and a face that never showed a hint of beard stubble His big, bright blue eyes forever seemed locked into an inner contentment But anyone who had ever seen the spokesman froes on the field had no doubts concerning his fighting prowess or his bravery Regis truly liked the man, yet he was always careful not to fall into a situation that left hi what he wanted at another’s expense

"Coavel on the table The host spokes with the Fors of titles and official proposals that had originally been intended to give the council an aura of i especially the ruffians that sometimes showed up to speak for the eneration of the council as a whole, the For, to the regret of all ten spokesmen Consequently, the Forathered, and there had even been talk of eliether

When the list had finally been completed, Cassius turned to the ienda," he said, hardly glancing at the notes that were laid out before him, "concerns the territorial dispute between the sister cities, Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval, on Lac Dinneshere I see that Doriht the docu, so I turn the floor over to hiaunt, dark-co about nervously, nearly leaped out of his chair when he was introduced

"I have in my hand," he yelled, his upraised fist closed about an old parch and Caer-Dineval, signed by the leaders of each town," he shot an accusing finger in the direction of the spokesnature, Jensin Brent!"

"An agreeood will," retorted Jensin Brent, a younger, golden-haired e over people who judged hiar, and let the council view it They shall see that it makes no provisions whatsoever for Easthaven" He looked around at the other spokesmen "Easthaven could hardly be called even a haned," he explained, and not for the first tile boat to put in the water"

"Fellow spokes soun to creep in This saround gained by either side The issue held little importance or interest for any but the two spokes cannot be blaar "Who could have foreseen the Eastway?" he asked, referring to the straight and smooth road that Easthaven had constructed to Bryn Shander It was an ingenious move and proved a boon to the small town on the southeastern corner of Lac Dinneshere Co the appeal of a remote community with easy access to Bryn Shander hadco fleet that had swelled to nearly rival the boats of Caer-Dineval

"Who indeed?" retorted Jensin Brent, now a bit of fluster showing through his calrowth has put Caer-Dineval in stiff competition for the southern waters of the lake, while Caer-Konig sails freely in the northern half Yet Caer-Konig has flatly refused to renegotiate the original terms to compensate for the iis knew that he had to act before the arguot out of control Two previous s had been adjourned because of their volatile debates, and Regis couldn’t let this council disintegrate before he had told the to adain that he had no options and could not back away froentAlthough Drizzt had reassured him of the power he possessed, he retained his doubts about the true ic of the stone Yet due to his own insecurity, a trait co in Drizzt’s judgeable person he had ever knoith a list of experiences far beyond the tales that Regis could tell Noas the tiive the drow’s plan a try

He closed his fingers around the little wooden gavel that was set out on the table before him It felt unfamiliar to his touch, and he realized then that this was the first tihtly on the wooden table, but the others were intent on the shouting is reain and boldly pounded the gavel down

The other spokes, blank expressions stas, and then only when cornered with a direct question

Cassius of Bryn Shander brought his heavy gavel down "The council recognizes Spokesmanuhthe spokesis could guess that he had struggled to address the halfling’s request for the floor seriously

"Fellow spokes into a squeak "With all due respect to the seriousness of the debate between the spokes, I believe that we have a ar were livid at being interrupted, but the others eyed the halfling curiously Good start, Regis thought, I’ve got their full attention

He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice and sound a bit more impressive "I have learned beyond doubt that the barbarian tribes are gathering for a united attack on Ten-Towns!" Though he tried tonine apathetic and confused is continued in the saent tones, "the horde will overrun our co any who dare to oppose theis of Lonelywood," said Cassius in a voice he , "we have weathered barbarian raids before There is no need for"

"Not like this one!" Regis cried "All of the tribes have coainst one city, and usually we fared well But hoould Terainst the combined tribes of Icewind Dale?" Some of the spokes’s words; the rest began talking ary disbelief Finally Cassius pounded his gavel again, calling the hall to silence

Then, with faos slowly rose from his seat "May I speak, friend Cassius?" he asked with unnecessary politeness "Perhaps I ht"

Regis and Drizzt had made some assu’s actions at this council They knew that Easthaven, founded and thriving on the principle of brotherhood a the communities of Ten-Toould openly eainst the barbarian horde Likewise Termalaine and Lonelywood, the two ladly accept any offers of help