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"Not ht," reer than the crusty old graybeard, but lookingand because he was the other’s son--Stuvie by name He wore a blue cap, flopped over to one side, while his father wore a sier’s beard was yellow, as the older dwarf’s had been not so long ago, before the salt and the sun and the years had turned it
"Sailed to Baldur’s Gate," Aris explained She almost added in the rest of the itinerary, but wisely cut herself short, for she didn’t want to give too many clues as to her previous visit to the city She wasn’t even using her na instead the naht be looking for her, after all, or worse, Draygo Quick
And so it was that a journey out on the open seas seemed a fine idea to the dwarf at that time
"Bah, Baldur’s Gate’s an easy sail," scoffed the younger of the McWindingbrooks
"Aye, but I ain’t been no lower on the Sword Coast," Aris lied "But I’m hopin’ to see the deserts o’ Calibrooks crinkled their faces in disgust at that
"Still!" A expressions "Ye can act like that because ye’ve seen it But forbut the halls o’ Citadel Adbar, the road to Waterdeep, and the ports o’ Luskan and Baldur’s Gate And I’ to see ood to have another kin and kind aboard," Deamus admitted
"Aye, and better that she’s a she, and a pretty lass at that!" Stuvie added, and lifted hisagainst his, enjoying the compliment, the sentiment, and the possibilities
She had to build her life anew She had to escape all that was behind her, both eht to return to Citadel Adbar, but given the news she would have to deliver, she realized that she wouldn’t be well-received, and particularly not if the leaders of that dwarven co a hostile Netherese lord their way!
This was the better route, and one she intended toand hoisted a second one, e another pitcher to the table
The McWindingbrooks were paying, after all
Hours later, tarves bobbed out of the tavern, walking shakily, laughing heartily, grabbing generously and both obviously quite drunk
"That one?" Tiago asked his companions
"That one," Saribel Xorlarrin replied, nodding "Aris, by name She sailed with Drizzt, and rode with him to Luskan from Port Llast"
The dwarves shaures in the deeper shadows of the alleyway
"Here ’ere for swied women!" the male said
"And to sailin’ with tall-, laughing and groping liberally So enmeshed and enamored with each other were they that they clearly didn’t even notice the three forlanced around, and seeing few others, began casting a spell Tiago, Saribel right behind him, hoisted Orbcress, his spider web shield, and quick-stepped to close the gap
"Ah, but ye do me well, me lady--" theinstead, for he had walked into so his mouth Indeed, both had walked into Ravel’s web, the fe froht, grabbed on stubbornly
Still spitting, theas he stu dark elf warrior
With a yelp of surprise, the dwarf drew a long and wicked knife fro sailed the Sword Coast forbeen trained by his father frobrook was surely no novice to battle He saw the approaching drow and his thoughts cleared immediately--almost, at least He instinctively reached behind him with his free hand and shoved Windy defensively back, and thus, further into the web
Then Stuvie executed a wonderful forward dive and roll, popping up to his feet and striking hard and fast and true
The long knife struck the drow’s shield, but if did not scrap or chiainst a metal buckler, nor did it ainst wood Rather, a muffled sound came forth, as if he had struck a thick blanket
Stuvie hadn’t expected the first strike to win out, but wanted to use it tothat shield out to the side a bit, and in that regard, he succeeded He retracted fast … or tried to
His knife stuck to that curious shield
"What?" the dwarf asked incredulously, and he yanked with all of his considerable strength, and did indeed tug free the blade But as he fell back, he felt the bite of a fine droord
It wasn’t acut across his left shoulder
Painful and burning
Burning with poison
Vidrinath, Tiago’s sas called, or Lullaby in the Coue, for it was infused with the infamous drow sleep poison The dwarf spun away He called for his companion to flee, but his words were slurred He lifted his long knife to defend or to strike, but his o bull-rushed, shield leading, and the dwarf swung desperately At the last h, but kept his shield do, picking off the feeble stab Up in the air, the drow reversed his hold on Lullaby and plunged the sword straight down as he descended
The fine blade, nearly translucent, but sparkling with the power of inner dia reflections of the street la off his collarbone and sinking deeper, easily piercingplowed through the thin webs of Ravel’s spell, Aris shrieked in horror and ran off