Realms of the Elves by Philip Athans

Author:Philip Athans
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Action & Adventure, Fantasy Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, General, Short Stories, Forgotten realms (Imaginary place)
ISBN: 9780786939800
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2006-02-07T05:00:00+00:00

COMRADES AT ODDS

R.A. Salvatore

Winter, the Year of the Unstrung Harp

(1371 DR)

H e looked out at the night sky with an expression of complete derision, for the rogue drow, Tos'un Armgo, had hoped he would never again look upon the vast ceiling of the overworld. Years ago, during the drow raid on Mithral Hall, Tos'un had lost his companions and his House, preferring desertion to the continued insanity and deadly war that had gripped Menzoberranzan.

He had found friends, a group of similar dark elf renegades, and together the four had forged a fine life along the upper tunnels of the Underdark, and even among the surface dwellers-notably King Obould of the ores. The four had played a major role in spurring the invasion that had taken Obould's army to the gates of Mithral Hall. The drow instigators had covertly formed an alliance between Obould and the frost giants of the northern mountains, and they had goaded the ore king with visions of glory.

But Tos'un's three drow companions were dead. The last to fall, the priestess Kaer'lic, had been slain before Tos'un's eyes by King Obould himself. Only his speed and sheer luck had saved Tos'un from a similar fate.

So he was alone. No, not alone, he corrected himself as he dropped a hand onto the crafted hilt of Khazid'hea, a sentient sword he had found beneath the devastated site where Obould had battled Drizzt Do'Urden.

Wandering the trails of Obould's newfound kingdom, with smelly, stupid ores encamped all around him, Tos'un had come to the conclusion that the time had come for him to leave the World Above behind, to go back to the deep tunnels of the Underdark, perhaps even to find his way back to Menzoberranzan and his kin. A deep cave had brought him to a tunnel complex, and trails through the upper Underdark led him to familiar ground, back to the old abode he had shared with his three drow compatriots. From there, Tos'un knew his way to the deeper tunnels.

And so he walked, but with every step his doubts grew. Tos'un was no stranger to the Underdark; he had lived the first century of his life as a noble soldier in the ranks of House Barrison dePArmgo of Menzoberranzan. He had led drow scouting parties out into the tunnels, and had even guarded caravans bound for the trade city of Ched Nasad.

He knew the Underdark.

He knew, in his heart, that he could not survive those tunnels alone.

Each step came more slowly and deliberately than the previous. Doubts clouded his thoughts, and even the small voice in his head that he knew to be Khazid'heq's empathetic communication urged him to turn back.

Out of the tunnel, the stars above him, the cold wind blowing in his face, Tos'un stood alone and confused.

We will find our place, Khazid'hea telepathically

assured him. We are stronger than our enemies. We are more clever than our enemies.

Tos'un Armgo couldn't help but wonder if the sentient sword had included Drizzt Do'Urden and King Obould in those estimations.

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