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"No arguin’," Bruenor snarled, though none of his four friends standing beside him on the rocky slopes of the cliainst the decision In their foolish pettiness and pride, the majority of the spokesmen had doomed their communities to alar, Catti-brie, nor Regis expected the dwarves to join in such a hopeless cause
"When will you block the mines?" Drizzt asked The drow hadn’t yet decided if he would join the dwarves in the self-imposed prison of their caves, but he had planned to act as scout to Bryn Shander at least until Akar Kessell’s arht," said Bruenor "But once they’re in place, we’ve no rush We’ll let the stinkin’ orcs coht down our throats afore we drop the tunnels, an’ take ’eed his shoulders Though he was still shunned bysense of loyalty and wasn’t sure that he could turn his back on his chosen home, even under suicidal circuhtless underworld, even in the hospitable caverns of the dwarven town
"And what’s yer decision?" Bruenor asked Regis
The halfling, too, was torn between his instincts for survival and his loyalty to Ten-Towns With the help of the ruby, he had lived well during the last years on Maer Dualdon But now his cover had been stripped away After the ru out of the council, everyone in Bryn Shander whispered about the halfling’sbefore all of the communities heard about Kemp’s accusations and avoided, if not openly shunned, hi in Lonelyere nearing an end
"Thank you for the invitation," he said to Bruenor "I’ll come in before Kessell arrives"
"Good," replied the dwarf "Ye’ll get a room near the boy, so none o’ the dwarves has to hear yer bellyachin’!" He flashed Drizzt a good-natured wink
"Nay," said Wulfgar Bruenor looked at hi the barbarian’s intentions and wondering why he objected to having Regis beside him
"Watch yerself, boy," the dwarf teased "If ye’re thinkin’ ye’re to be stayin’ beside the girl, then be thinkin’ about duckin’ yer head fro o’ me axe!"
Catti-brie chuckled softly, embarrassed yet truly touched
"Your ar said suddenly "My life is on the plain"
"Ye forget that yer life is mine for choosin’!" Bruenor retorted In truth, his yelling was e of a ar rose before the dwarf, proud and stern Drizzt understood and was pleased Now Bruenor also had an idea of what the barbarian was getting at, and though he hated the thought of separation, he felt more pride in the boy at that moment than ever before
"My tian, "yet I have repaid my debt to you, ar!" he proudly proclaihtened with tension "No more a boy but ahis eves For the first tie barbarian and returned Wulfgar’s unyielding stare with a look of sincere adht I ask ye, on yer choice, if ye’ll stay and fight beside ar shook his head "My debt to you is paid, in truth And forever I shall name you as my frienddear friend But I have another debt yet to pay" He looked out to Kelvin’s Cairn and beyond The countless stars shone clearly over the tundra,the open plain seem even more vast and ehed and shuffled uncoue picture that Wulfgar was painting And she wasn’t pleased with his choice
Bruenor nodded, respecting the barbarian’s decision "Go then, and live well," he said, straining to hold his breaking voice even as he moved to the rocky trail He paused for one lastbarbarian "Yer a ue that," he said over his shoulder "But don’t ye never forget that ever ye’ll be ar whispered softly as Bruenor disappeared into the tunnel He felt Drizzt’s hand on his shoulder
"When do you leave?" the drow asked
"Tonight," Wulfgar replied "These grio?" Catti-brie asked, already knowing the truth, and also the vague answer that Wulfgar would give
The barbarian turned his aze back out to the plain "Ho But Catti-brie waited behind and motioned for Drizzt to do likewise
"Say your farewells to Wulfgar this night," she told the drow "I do not believe that he shall ever return"
"Ho that the news about Heafstaag joining Kessell had played a part in Wulfgar’s decision He watched the departing barbarian with respect "He has some private matters to attend to"
"More than you know," Catti-brie said Drizzt looked at her curiously "Wulfgar has an adventure in mind," she explained She hadn’t ured that Drizzt Do’Urden, above anyone else, ht be able to find a way to help "One that I believe has been put upon him before he is ready"
"Matters of the tribe are his own business," Drizzt said, guessing what the girl was suggesting "The barbarians have their oays and do not welcoree," said Catti-brie "Yet Wulfgar’s path, unless I a else ahead of him, an adventure that he has often hinted at but never fully explained I only know that it involves great danger and a vow that even he fears is above his ability to fulfil alone"
Drizzt looked over the starry plain and considered the girl’s words He knew Catti-brie to be shrewd and observant beyond her years He did not doubt her guesses
The stars twinkled above the cool night, the celestial do the flat rim of the horizon A horizon as yet un arh Cassius’s proclamation reached even the ees came down the roads to Bryn Shander Cassius had fully expected this, or he never would haveall ould come Bryn Shander was a fair-sized city, and her present population was not as large as it had once been There were s within the walls, and an entire section of the city, reserved for visiting merchant caravans, lay empty at the present time However, if even half of the people of the other nine coe, Cassius would be hard-pressed to honor his pledge