Chapter 7 Chapter 5 Sincere Love

Wulfgar was the first to leave Sea Sprite when the pirate hunter returned to her berth on Waterdeep's long quay.The Savage jumped off the dock before the ship was even in place, and his steps toward the shore were long and steady. "Will you take him back to sea again?" Robillard asked Deudermont, the two of them standing amidships, watching Wulfgar leave. "I think your tone suggests that you don't expect me to," replied the captain, turning to his trusted mage friend. Robillard shrugged. "Because he interfered with your attack plan?" Deudermont asked.

"Because his reckless actions endangered the safety of the crew," the mage replied, but there was no malice in his voice, just a statement of fact. "I know what you feel you owe this man, Captain, though I cannot fathom why. But Wulfgar is no Drizzt or Catti-brie. Those two are disciplined and know how to be one of our crew .. this guy is more... more like Huck Hubbell, I think! He finds a way and walks down it, regardless of the consequences for whoever stays behind. Yes we won this voyage twice fought, sank a pirate ship, captured another—” "And the crews of both ships were captured almost intact," Deudermont added.

"Nevertheless," the mage argued, "in two battles we were on the brink of disaster." He knew he didn't need to convince Deudermont at all, knowing that the captain understood as well as he did that Wulfgar's actions were by no means worthy of flamboyance. "We've been on the brink of disaster," Deudermont said. "Too close to the edge this time," the mage insisted. "And over there is the bottomless abyss." The mage shrugged vaguely again. "I'd like to see Wulfgar from the trials of Sea Sprite in the Pirate Isles all those years ago," Robillard explained. "I wish to fight alongside Wulfgar, and that Wulfgar is a worthy member of the 'Hallmates,' or whatever name is used to call Drizzt Do'Urden's gang. That when the Dark Elves attack Wulfgar fought to retake Mithril Hall in the kingdom of the dwarves, to save the one who gave him new life, to save his friends. I've heard all the legends about this noble barbarian warrior, yet the Wolfgar I knew Fgar is one who is in the company of thieves like Morik, and is accused of trying to kill you."

"He had nothing to do with it," Deudermont insisted, but the captain did wince a little when he denied it, because the memory of the poisoning and the prisoner's carnival was so painful. Deudermont had lost a lot that day in Luskan trying to get Wulfgar a reprieve from vicious magistrates.With diplomacy, with a generosity that the local officials thought was completely unworthy, Deudermont and the leaders of the northern heavy port tarnished the reputation of the Sea Spirit.Because Deudermont stole their show, so unexpectedly absolved, and all this happened without any real evidence that Wulfgar hadn't been involved in the attempt to take his life.

"Probably not," Robillard admitted. "Whatever his faults, Wulfgar's performance on this voyage justifies your decision to forgive him, I admit. But his judgment on open water does not justify your taking him to Sea Sprite The decision was correct." Captain Deudermont took a moment to digest the mage's honest and fair words.Robillard may be stubborn and judgmental, with a bad temper and no mercy for those he believes are self-destructive.This time, however, his words contained honest facts, simple and undeniable observations.This fact stung Deudermont.When he met Wulfgar in Luskan, Wulfgar was a hotel bouncer, and he realized that the big man had fallen from glory, and he tried to lure Wulfgar away from this life.Wulfgar immediately rejected him, refusing even to admit his own true identity to the captain.An assassination attempt ensued, leaving Deudermont unconscious and dying, and Wulfgar was accused of participating in the incident.

The captain still did not know why he had refused the magistrate's dangerous entertainment that day at the prisoner's carnival, why his inner instincts contradicted public perception and so much circumstantial evidence.Even after such a display of kindness and trust, Wulfgar showed no trace of gratitude or friendship. On the day of the reprieve, when they parted outside the gates of Luskan, Wulfgar again refused the offer to sail with the Sea Sprite, much to Deudermont's pain.The captain had loved the man and considered him a friend to Drizzt and Catti-brie, who had faithfully sailed with him in the years since Wulfgar's fall.Yes, he deeply wished to restore Wulfgar to his old nobility, so when Wulfgar arrived at Waterdeep, with a woman and a child, on this very dock, he announced that he wished to sail with Deudermont, that he was Deudermont was overjoyed to find the lost Warhammer.

Deudermont had correctly read long ago that there was a deeper meaning to it, and he knew then, as he knew now, that Wulfgar wasn't just looking for the lost weapon, he was looking for his past self. But Robillard's observation is also on point.While Wulfgar had done nothing wrong during the regular "Ten Days" patrol, in the two battles on the Sea Sprite, the barbarian did not fare well.brave?Yes.Hit the enemy hard?Yes.But Wulfgar was too wild, too violent, to fit into the crew, and hadn't embraced the more traditional, less adventurous strategy of using Robillard's spells to force enemies into submission from a distance, and he hadn't yet given the chances of it working.Deudermont wondered why Wulfgar had fallen into such a battle rage.The weather-beaten captain understood the ferocious nature of war, and the need to muster violent emotions to overcome legitimate fears, but Wulfgar's outbursts of rage seemed more than that, something of the barbarian tradition— Not a tradition that will benefit Sea Sprite's future.

"I'll talk to him before we sail," Deudermont suggested. "You have already talked," the mage reminded. Deudermont looked at him and shrugged slightly. "Then I'll talk about it again," he said. Robillard narrowed his eyes. "If that doesn't work, we'll put Wulfgar in the helmsman's post," the captain explained, before Robillard's apparently about to begin a string of complaints, "below decks, away from the fight." “Our crew at the helm is second to none,” Robillard emphasized. "They will appreciate Wulfgar's incomparable strength when performing the greatest gyrations."

Robillard snorted, looking far from convinced. "He'll send us headfirst into the next pirate ship we come across," the mage muttered, walking away. Despite the seriousness of the matter, Deudermont couldn't help giggling when he saw Robillard go off with his typical grumbling. Wulfgar was completely stunned when he opened the door to find Delly waiting for him.Of course he knew the woman, with her sly smile and hazel eyes, but he barely recognized her.Wulfgar had known Delly as a barmaid living in dire circumstances, a companion on long, dirty roads.Now, in the splendid home of Captain Deudermont, supported by all his servants and resources, she was almost a different person.

Before, her dark brown hair was almost always up, probably because of the lice she encountered at the Cutlass Tavern, but now it fell luxuriously over her shoulders, smooth and glossy, and looked even darker.This of course made her hazel eyes - remarkable eyes, Wulfgar realized - even brighter.Previously, Delly wore simple, almost shapeless clothing, simple smocks and shirts that made her slender limbs look frail, but now she wore a well-cut blue skirt and a low-necked white blouse. The Savage realized what an advantage rich women had over peasant girls in beauty in Faerûn, but only for a moment, as other things suddenly flooded his mind!When he and Delly first arrived, Deudermont threw a banquet that gathered many members of Waterdeep society.Delly felt out of place, and so did Wulfgar, but it was worse for a woman, since her little limited beauty was always being mentioned to draw attention.

Not again, Wulfgar understood.If Deudermont gave another party, as he had done so many others, Delly Curty would shine brighter than any woman. Wulfgar could hardly breathe.He had always thought of Delly as pretty, even pretty, and her beauty had only gradually become apparent to him on their way here from Luskan, and he had appreciated her inner depths all the more.Now, with genuine respect and love, such an image is a bit too much for a savage who has spent three months at sea. He rushed over and hugged her tightly, interrupting her words with one kiss after another, easily lifted her from the ground, buried his face in the thick long brown hair, and gently bit her delicate Neck - Now it seems that it can be called delicate, not just slender.How tiny Delly looked in his arms, for Wulfgar was a foot and a half taller and nearly three times her weight. Wulfgar turned her easily to one side, and moved one arm under her knee, making her more comfortable in his arms. He noticed that she was barefoot, and her feet looked even prettier to him, and he smiled. "Are you making fun of me?" Delly asked, and Wulfgar noticed that her peasant accent was lighter than he remembered, and her articulation was clearer. "Teasing you?" Wulfgar asked, and laughed again, louder this time. "I'm fondling you," he corrected, before kissing her again, before beginning to swing her up and dance in circles as he moved toward their private bedroom. They had barely passed the limit when Colson began to cry. Later that night they found some alone time together and made love before dawn.As the first slanting rays of morning light streamed in through the east window, Wulfgar lay sideways beside his lover, his hands softly running over her neck, face, and shoulders. "You're fine at home," Delly said quietly, raising her small hand to rub Wulfgar's muscular forearm. "It's so lonely when you go out." "Perhaps my days of sailing with Deudermont are drawing to a close," Wulfgar replied. Delly looked at him curiously. "So you found your hammer?" she asked. "If you found it, why haven't you told me?" Before she could finish, Wulfgar shook his head. "No news of it, no news of Sheila Kerry," he replied. "As far as I know, the pirate sank to the bottom of the sea with the Fang of Aegis." "But you don't know that." Wulfgar lay on his back, rubbing his face with his hands. "Then how can you say that the matter between you and Deudermont is over?" Delly asked. "Why can't I?" Wulfgar asked. "Here with you and Colson? This is my life now, what a life! Risking my life after a weapon I no longer need? No, if Deudermont and his crew hear that Sheila Kree They will get her without my help, and I have great confidence that they will give me back the hammer." This time it was Delly's turn to prop herself up on her elbows, and the smooth sheet slid off her naked body.She shook her head in dismay, brushing the matted brown hair off her face, and fixed Wulfgar with stern condemnation. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she asked. "You would like me to go?" Wulfgar asked, a look of disbelief on his broad-jawed face. Over the years, the face had always held a childlike charm, an innocence reflected in Wulfgar's sky-blue eyes.But not anymore.He had shaved all over his face before exiting with Delly, but without the blond beard, Wulfgar's face didn't seem quite right now.Those lines and folds, moved by sincere mood swings, were not characteristic of a young man, even though Wulfgar was only in his twenties. "You're talking like a fool now!" Delly scolded. "You know I don't want you to go—you know that! You know no one else can sleep in my bed." "But you must go," Delly continued gravely, and lay back on the bed. "If you don't go out with Deudermont and his crew, and they find the pirate, and some die trying to retrieve your hammer, how long will you be tortured by this? When they bring you back How are you going to feel about the hammer and the bad news? You're always sitting in a safe place while they do what you're supposed to do for you." Wulfgar stared intently at Delly, scrutinizing her face, realizing how painful it was for her to tell him. "Stupid Jos Paddle, stole that damned hammer and sold it to pirates," she finished. "Maybe some will die," Wulfgar agreed. "Everyone knows that Sheila Kree is a violent fellow, and it is said that she has a terrible crew around her. Then according to your own theory, neither Deudermont nor Wulfgar should go out to search for her and Aegis tooth." "Not at all my own theory," Delly argued. "Deudermont and his crew chose the path of hunting pirates—that's none of your business. That's their calling, and even if Sheila Kree never held your hammer, they'd still be after her." "Then we're back again," Wulfgar reasoned, giggling. "Let Deudermont and his good crew go out and get the hammer, if they—" "It's not like that!" Delly interrupted him angrily. "Of course, their mission is to hunt pirates, and your mission is to stay with them until you find the hammer. Your mission is to find the hammer and yourself, and become yourself again." Wulfgar lay back on the bed and ran his huge callused hands over his face again. "Maybe I don't want to go back to what I was." "Maybe you don't want to," Delly said. "But you have no right to choose, until you really regain the old me. Only when you find out who you were before, my love, can you tell yourself honestly where to go. And if you only think about taking, it can only be forever Doubt is always flawed." Then she fell silent, and Wulfgar was speechless.Many times he sighed and tried to contradict her words, but each attempt inevitably proved to be a dead end. "When did Delly Curdy become so wise about life?" asked a frustrated Wulfgar after a short while. Delly snickered and turned to face him. "Maybe I've always been like this," she jokingly replied. "Or maybe not at all. I'm just telling you what I think, and all I think is that before you can climb higher, you have to get back to a certain height. You need to get back to where you were, and you will Discover the path you most want to take, not just the path you think you have to take." "I've been back to that place," Wulfgar replied gravely, a shadow passing across his face. "I was with them in Icewind Dale, just like before, and then I went, and that was my choice." "Because a better path is calling?" Delly asked. "Or are you not ready to turn back? That's a little bit of a difference." Wulfgar was speechless, he knew it.He wasn't sure if he agreed with Delly, but when Deudermont and Sea Sprite called him the next day, he accepted.