The Crystal Shard by Salvatore R.A

Author:Salvatore, R.A. [R.A., Salvatore,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-06T14:32:42.046000+00:00

three giants; one by a door at the far end of the room, looking as though it wanted to leave,

and a second with its back to the hearth, being scolded by the third, an immensely wide and

tall frost giant. Drizzt knew by the twisted, lipless smile that he looked upon Biggrin.

"To tell Biggrin!" pleaded the smaller giant.

"Ye ran from a fight," scowled Biggrin. "Ye left yer friends t' die!"

"No . . :' protested the giant, but Biggrin had heard enough. With one swipe of its huge axe,

it lopped the smaller giant's head off.

* * * * *

The men found Guenhwyvar diligently on watch when they came out of the chimney. The

big cat turned and growled in recognition when it saw its companions, and Wulfgar, not

understanding the throaty purr to be a friendly sound, took a cautious step away.

"There has to be a side tunnel off the main corridor further down," Drizzt reasoned, having

no time to be amused by his friend's nervousness.

"Let's get this over with, then," said Wulfgar.

They found the passage as the Drow had predicted and soon came to a door they figured

would lead to the room with the remaining giants. They clapped each other on the shoulder

for luck and Drizzt patted Guenhwyvar, though Wulfgar declined the drow's invitation to do

likewise. Then they burst in.

The room was empty. A door previously invisible to Drizzt from his vantage point at the

hearth stood ajar.

* * * * *

Biggrin sent its lone remaining soldier out the secret side door with a message for Akar

Kessell. The big giant had been disgraced, and it knew that the wizard wouldn't readily

accept the loss of so many valuable troops. Biggrin's only chance was to take care of the two

intruding warriors and hope that their heads would appease its unmerciful boss. The giant

pressed its ear to the door and waited for its victims to enter the adjoining room.

* * * * *

Wulfgar and Drizzt passed through the second door and came into a lavish chamber, its

floor adorned with plush furs and large, puffy pillows. Two other doors led out of the room.

One was slightly open, a darkened corridor beyond, and the other was closed.

Suddenly Wulfgar stopped Drizzt with an outstretched hand and motioned for the drow to

be quiet. The intangible quality of a true warrior, the sixth sense that allows him to sense

unseen danger, had come into play. Slowly the barbarian turned to the closed door and lifted

Aegis-fang above his head. He paused for a moment and cocked his head, straining to hear a

confirming sound. None came, but Wulfgar trusted his instincts. He roared to Tempos and

launched the hammer. It split the door asunder with a thunderous snap and dropped the

planks - and Biggrin - to the floor.

Drizzt noticed the swing of the open secret door across the room beyond the giant chieftain

and realized that the last of the giants must have slipped away. Quickly the drow set

Guenhwyvar into motion. The panther understood, too, for it bolted away, clearing the

writhing form of Biggrin with one great bound, and charged out of the cave to give chase to

the escaping verbeeg.

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