You taste good…
Your blood is warm and
sweet…
Come, embrace me and
drink mine…
Look into my eyes…
A bite and a gaze…
come to me, love…
Oh yes, she will weep…
Arietta, “A Bite and a Gaze”
A crooked grin cut Do’s features: behind the heavy door was Bodhi. Bodhi, who had Imoen’s soul. Bodhi, who tried to steal Do’s as well, by taking away Solaufein from her side. Do did not know herself that she cared so much for her recently-found drow companion. She looked at the legendary drow who was by her side now, ready for the battle: Drizzt DoUrden. Drizzt nodded to her: “It’s good you have asked for my aid, Do: the dungeon is full of undead…”
Do’s heart went very small: Solaufein of Ust-Natha was one of those undead, most probably… Drizzt saw the pain on the red-head druid’s face and gently touched her shoulder: “I can feel your grief and I am… I am truly amazed that you care for a drow elf. The most tragic day of my life, the one I still see in my nightmares, was when my paths crossed with Zaknafein, turned into a zombie. ” Do echoed: “Zaknafein?” Drizzt bit his lip: “My…my father…” explained he quietly. Do did the only thing she could: she extended her hand to the ranger and whispered in an innocently helpless fashion that always flies with the strong and silent type: “You help is invaluable, Drizzt… I am so scared to see him…like that, so scared…” Do’s palm closed around the hilt of her scimitar.
Kelsey interrupted the viscous silence following Do’s remark: “Do, dear. It will be alright, you will see…” and Do found herself in a comforting and soft embrace of her loyal sorcerer. She felt slightly guilty for being attracted to Solaufein lately and thinking of him in a way, which would make Kelsey furious, should he learn of it.
Partly because of this guilt she commanded harshly: “Let’s get going, friends…” Viconia, who joined the group a moment ago as a last minute replacement to the stolen Solaufein, hissed and spat at the last word. Drizzt chuckled at her reaction and mumbled: “you have much to learn still, oh priestess of Shaar”
Anomen casted few spells in a row, anything he could think of: protection from evil, chant. Do put resist fear on them, while Viconia worked on getting everyone to be warded from domination. The narrow tunnel was reminiscent of a madhouse for a second, filled with glow and words, words and words.
Then Do kicked the door open and all seven of them rushed into the room, crouching, knowing that there is no worse fate than to be caught in the doorway, where proper swings or maneuvers would be obstructed.
I was down to one man. Body count was five. Wait, Drizzt looks sort of alive. Judging from what I heard of him, he'd survive even if his abdomen is ripped by vampire's claws and his blood is pooling around him knee deep. What is he trying to hiss out? "Friend?" If he is hissing, then he is alive, I say.
Body count is four.
The smart ass of the poet is smoldering on the floor by my feet. I touch the body lightly with the toe of my boot. Not so fast anymore, Drow? By Sylvanus beard, I have never been so mad before.
Shy as a kid, sweet and tormented the man was. Mysterious and handsome, like a night of Midsummer Festival. I saved him from his crazed lover... I wanted him for myself. Yes, I did! But apparently drow males appeal to a variety of tastes. Bodhi wanted him too. She took my poor lamb. I fought as if it was my first fight, as if I indeed had lost something dear to me. I thought I did.
Fool! All women are fools. It is a sobering experience to see the warm body you wished to touch turned into dead flesh. Dead flesh willing to kill you. Being proud of his ability to kill you.
Men! All men are bastards. Take that martyr from Ust-Natha. Said he likes me... I played my custom gaping and staring, while planning the campaign against Irenicus, trick on him. And that little bit of encouragement led the drow to renounce his beloved goddess and moi for good measure! All that during short hour it took me to fight my way to him. He was drunk of his own power when we finally came face to face. Men!
Those, on the floor...
Viconia - female by decor, brutal male to my uneducated surfacer's eye. But since she will not accept that as a compliment, even if she would grace me with an effort to understand my point of view on male-female relationships, she... I have no clue what she is. Whatever, we'd part in few hours anyway.
Jan. At least I have half an hour without a turnip story about trice removed relative of yours. Nay, Jan, when I look at you I stop hating males. I start hating turnips. But I promise, you will be raised, Jan. Just as you asked me before being silenced by the vampire's hit forever... or for half an hour. Which is the same in your books...
Valygar... I am sorry, Valygar. I am so sorry. I saw you, I was coming to your help, but their circle of enemies around you was too tight. And the nets which the undead drow conjured hold me in their grip. I would never forget the smile you gave me before plunging down, taking another one of the beasts with you. I will never tell you, that I was consciousness enough to see that smile. Or that I smiled back. How dared you to die? You are such a bastard, ranger!
O, Sylvanus, what have they done to you, Sorcerer? Could it be that I kissed those cold lips last night? Never part with your loved ones... Or you might not recognize them. What have I done to you? May be I am like Viconia, a man with full breasts and legs and everything? May be I am bastard? Well, as soon as you are back to your health, you are out. Go, find your brother, open your shop selling small things, whatever… Bhaal’s daughter releases you…
What is it, Anomen? Yes, I have seen that you have conjured the pit fiend and that kept both you and me alive. Yes, I am watching your last strike at the evil beast. Wonderful. It would have been unsummoned in a nick of time anyway. But it was a good sport, wounded and exhausted by vampires!
You are as strong as Crom Fire hammer makes you to be. You have a question? A grin, no THE grin spreads over his face and he asks: "My Lady, should I raise your present lover, or the lover to be? Or...we are alone here, My Lady... And I did save you… Care for a companionship of the past lover?"
I laugh. Men are bastards.
"Raise Valygar." I say harshly. "And take a stroll after that. A very long stroll.”