Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf by R.A. Salvatore

Author:R.A. Salvatore [Salvatore, R.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Forgotten Realms, Saga of Drizzt Do'Urden
ISBN: 9780786965700
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2015-03-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The Possessed

Gromph gave a little chuckle, one that surely did nothing to bolster Tiago’s hopes.

“The orcs are fracturing,” the archmage said.

“But that is not true,” Tiago protested, a bit too vehemently, he realized when Gromph scowled.

No one ever wanted to look into one of Gromph Baenre’s scowls.

“Hartusk is gathering his forces in Hartusk Keep…”

“In Sundabar, you mean,” Gromph quickly corrected, and in a tone that would brook no dissent. He had already made it quite clear to Tiago that he fully expected the powers of Luruar to retake the blasted city before the next winter.

“The warlord gathers his forces, all of them, and Arauthator and his son are soon to return, by your own account,” Tiago reiterated.

“The wizards of Silverymoon will fight them to the end,” Gromph replied. “Arauthator has already said that he wants no part of that powerful city.”

“Then we will bypass it,” Tiago said, and he turned to Ravel for some support.

“Everlund’s defenses are surely more conventional and less rooted in the arcane arts,” the wizard son of Matron Mother Zeerith Xorlarrin agreed.

“Moving Hartusk farther from Dark Arrow Keep and from Sundabar,” said Gromph with a chortle.

“It will be a quick and brutal assault,” Tiago insisted. “We will cripple Everlund, though not likely topple her, and then turn fast to strengthen our gains—”

“‘Our’?”

“Hartusk’s,” Tiago quickly corrected. “With Everlund wounded, Silverymoon will sue for peace.”

“You have forgotten three dwarven citadels and the forces of the Glimmerwood,” said Gromph.

He could not have been more wrong. The place that never left Tiago’s thoughts was one of those dwarven citadels, Mithral Hall, where Drizzt Do’Urden had taken refuge.

“Felbarr is fully sealed, Adbar in disarray by all accounts, and the folk of Mithral Hall have tried to break out—twice—and were put back in their filthy hole both times by the forces still arrayed about the three gates,” said Tiago. “The elves are a nuisance and little more. I would take Arauthator and his son over their lands and send the elves in full flight—those few who survived!”

Gromph seemed to be mulling that proposal over, at least.

“Please, Archmage,” Tiago pleaded. “We can inflict more pain and use that to secure the gains for Warlord Hartusk. He and his giant allies will keep the kingdoms of Luruar engaged for years to come. If we are taken from Hartusk’s side now, with Everlund and Silverymoon intact, the collapse will be swift for Hartusk and our enemies, I fear, will fast turn their eyes to Menzoberranzan and Q’Xorlarrin.”

The anxious tremor in his voice could not be missed, he realized, and so he was betraying his true designs. But it could not be helped, and Tiago could not turn away, not with Drizzt Do’Urden so near!

Gromph began to chuckle again, but this time it seemed more with true amusement. “Tarsakh is upon us,” he said, referring to the fourth month of 1485, which had just dawned. “You and your cohorts have until the dusk of Eleasis. Fifteen tendays, and then I will come for you and will hear no arguments.

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