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The spokesman wasn’t worried The people of Ten-Toere a hardy folk and lived under the threat of a goblin invasion every day Cassius knew that it would taketo iance between the towns at such a low point, few of the town leaders would take any action at all to convince their people to flee

As it turned out, Glensather and Agorere the only spokesates of Bryn Shander Nearly all of Easthaven stood behind their leader, but Agorwal had less than half of the people of Teros, itself nearly as well-defended as Bryn Shander, made it clear that none of its people would leave Many of Tere that Targos would gain over theive up theseason

Such was the case with Caer-Konig and Caer-Dineval Neither of the bitter enele person from either city fled to Bryn Shander To the people of these embattled communities, the orcs were but a distant threat that would have to be dealt with if it ever hbors was brutally real and evident in all of their daily routines

On the western outskirts, the town of Bremen re Cassius’s offer as a feeble attempt by Bryn Shander to reaffiran’s Hole in the south had no intention of hiding in the walled city or of sending any troops to aid in the fighting These tns on Redwaters, smallest of the lakes and poorest in terms of knuckleheads, could not afford any time away from the boats They had heeded the call for unity five years previous under the threat of a barbarian invasion, and though they had suffered the worst losses of all the towns in the battle, they had gained the least

Several groups filtered in from Lonelywood, but many of the folk of the northernmost town preferred to stay out of the way Their hero had lost face, and even Muldoon noed the halfling in a different light and passed the warning of invasion off as a reater good of the region had fallen beneath the lesser personal gains of stubborn pride, withunity with dependence

Regis returned to Bryn Shander to ar departed He had a friend cos, so he re in disar had held out so dooether, but now he came to believe that the dwarves’ decision to abandon Ten-Towns and lock themselves into their mines was the only option they had if they wished to survive

Regis partially blaotten careless When he and Drizzt had concocted plans to use political situations and the power of the ruby to force the towns into unity against the barbarians, they had spentthe initial responses of the spokes the worth of each town’s alliance This tiis had placed uring that he could si doubters of the severity of the situation

Yet Regis could not sustain his own guilt as he heard the arrogant andin from the towns Why should he have to trick the people into defending theh to let their own pride bring about their destruction, then what responsibility, or even what right, did he have to rescue the said aloud, sinning to sound as cynical as Bruenor

But callousness was his only protection against such a helpless situation He hoped that his friend froround

Akar Kessell sat on the crystal throne in the Hall of Scrying, the third level of Cryshal-Tirith, his fingers tapping nervously on the arreat chair as he stared intently at the darkoverdue with the report on the reinforcement caravan The last summons the wizard had received froreet his reply Now theall of the wizard’s attempts to scry out the room

If the mirror had been broken, Kessell would have been able to sense the shift in his visions But this washe could not understand was blocking his distance sight The dilemma unnerved him, made hiers continued to rap nervously

"Perhaps it is time to make a decision," Errtu, in its custoested

"We have not yet reached our fullest strength!" Kessell retorted "Many goblin tribes and a large clan of giants have not come in And the barbarians are not yet ready"

"The troops thirst for battle," Errtu pointed out "They fight with each other - you may find that your arreed that holding so erous proposition Perhaps it would be better if they marched at once But still, the wizard wanted to be certain He wanted his forces at their strongest

"Where is Biggrin?" Kessell wailed "Why hasn’t he answered ?" Errtu asked abruptly

But Kessell was not listening He rubbed the sweat froht about sending the less-conspicuous barbarians to the lair Whatif they found such an unusual co in their area? How uessed?

Errtu noted Kessell’s discori Kessell to strike es had stopped co , had continued to delay

"Shall I go to the troops?" Errtu asked, confident that Kessell’s resistance was gone

"Send runners to the barbarians and to the tribes that have not yet joined us," Kessell instructed "Tell theht beside us is to join in the feast of victory! But those who do not fight beside us shall fall before us! Tomorroe march!"

Errtu rushed from the toithout delay, and soon cheers for the onset of war echoed throughout the huge enca down tents and packing supplies They had anticipated thisthe final preparations

That saht, the vast arlair, the scrying mirror sat unmoved and unbroken, securely covered by the heavy blanket that Drizzt Do’Urden had thrown over it